THE JOU RNAL OF THE Bombay Natukal Histoey Society. EDITED BY W. S. MILLARD, R. A.'SPENCE and N. B. KINNEAR. VOL. XXV. Consisting of Five Parts and containing Eight Coloured Plates, Forty Lithographed Plates, Diag7'ams and Maps and Forty -four Text-Figures^ Part 1 {Paget 1 to 160) ., // (,Pages 161 to 32+) „ III {Pages 325 to 520) „ IV {Pages 521 fo 770) „ V {Lidex, 4-c.) Dates of Publicatiofi. • •• •• ••• •■• •» • • • ••• • • • • • ■ • •• ••• ••• 20(\: )K lO 511 742 the White-tailed Blue Robin (Nvtodela leucura) in the Buxa Duars District, Bengal. Ireland, S. G. de C, I.C.S. : Nidification of the Lesser or Common Whistling Teal {Dendroci/cna javanica) and Bonelli's Eagle {Hiercetux fascia tus) 3 '42 308 Page Jacob, J. li., I. P. ; An Arbo- real Panther . . . . 148 Kashyap, Shiv Ram, M.Sc, B.A. ; Liverworts of the Western Himalayas and the Punjab, with Notes on known Species and Descriptions of the New Species , . . . 279 Lane, Major W. H. : The (jrame Fishes of the Persian Gulf. Part II . . . . 121 Light, Major W. A. ; A large Carp from the Euphrates River . . LowRiE, Capt. A. E., I.A.R.O. ; The Indian Grackle, or '' Hill Mynah " (Graculus interme- dius) resident in Calcutta . . LuARD, Major C. E., I.A. ; The Bronze-backed Tree Snake (Dendrolaphis tristh) in Cen- tral India ; The varieties of Cobras in Central India . . Ludlow, F., I.A.R.O. ; Notes on the Bird Life of Ahwaz, Persia Mackenzie, J. M. D., M.B.O.U., F.Z.S.;A List of Birds from the North Chin HiUs 297 306 510 499 Some Further Notes on Cuckoos in Maymyo . . A few Notes on the Nests and Eggs of some of the Burmese Scimitar Babblers . . MACLEOD, R. D., I.C.S. ; A Fight between a Dog and a Porcupine 72 742 74R 491 XVIH LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Page McRae, W. ; A New Species of Phytophthora parasitic on the Para Rubber Tree . . . . 760 Magrath, Lt.-Col. H. A. F. ; Large Pintailed Sandgrouse (P. a. caudata) settling on water . . , . . . . . 149 Crows in Biisrah 741 Major, Lt.-Col. F. F. ; Ex- ceptionally large Saw Scaled Yrper {Echiscarinata). . 308 Marshall, A. H. ; Occurrence of the Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyUacea in the Punjab 502 Mattews, W. H. ; Birds nest- ing in the Bhillung Valley, Tehri Garhwal . . . . 495 Mitchell, F. J. ; Notes on Flies for Trout Fly-Fishing in Kashmir . . . . . . 757 Molesworth, Capt. A. L, ; Measurements of Markhor and Urial Heads . . . . 146 OsMASTON, B.B., I.F.S.; Fur- ther Notes on Birds nesting in the Tons Valley . . . . 493 Pat7ARDHan, G. B. ; Pheno- mena of Interchangeability of Vegetative and Fruit Structures in Opuntia elatior, Mill. ( With Plates land II). 513 ■ ; A Sport from Opuniia eluiior, Mill. {With I'late III) .. .. 514 Page Peile, Major H. D., LM.S. ; The Packing of Papered Butterflies for safekeeping or despatch by Post . . . . 309 Rao, C. R. Nayaran ; Notes on the RusseU's Viper , . , . 307 Rao, M. K. Venkata ; Note on the colour of Flowers in Dysophylla stellata, Bth. . . 312 — ; An in- teresting ase of distribution. 313 Rendall, H. D., I.C.S. ; Ka- thiawar Black Buck . . . . 147 Reviews : — A Bird Calendar for N. India 143 Rhe-Philipe, G. W, V. i»e, F.E.S. ; The Butterflies of Lahore . . . . 136 Richards, B. D. ; Note on the Habits of the Checkered Water Snake {Tropidi'iiotus picastor) . . . . . . 150 • ; Food of Bul- buls 503 Roos-Keppel, The Hon'ble Sir George, G.C.LE., K.C.S.I. ; Occurrence of the European Great Bustard {Otis tarda) near Peshawar . . . . 745 Savile, L. H. ; The Barton Shooting Seat. ( With a Plate). 515 Scott, Capt. F. B., I.A.; Notes on the Larva of Dilephila Uromica (Striped Hawk Moth^ 1£6 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. \\\ Page Sedgwick, L. J., F.L.S., T.O.S.; Herbaceous Monsoon Flora at Castle Rock and a Now Species of Balsam . . 482 The CyperaceiB of the Bom- bay Presidency Stewart, C. G. ; Feeding Habits of the Python {Phij- thou molurus) Stoney, R. F. ; The Weights of Pintail and Fantail Snipe ^ . Thomas, Oldfield, F.R.S. ; The Nomenclature of the Geographical Forms of the Panolia Deer (Rucervus eldi and its Relatives) A Selection of Lectotypes of Indian Mammals, from the Co-types described by Hodg- son, Gray, jilliot and others , See also Bombay Natural History Society's Mammal Survey of India. Thornhill, Capt. C. M. ; Some Notes on Game Birds in Mesopotamia . . 682 Fall of Seed in a Rainstorm. 764 150 306 363 368 486 Trench, C. G. C, I.C.S. ; Occurrence of Russell's Earth Snake {Eiyv conicus) at 2,200 feet altitude in the C. P. . . lol Page Waite, H, W. ; The Breeding of the Gull-Billed Tern {Stet-na angelica) . . . . . . 300 Wall, Lt.-Col. F., I. M.S., C.M.G., C.M.Z.S ; Notes on an interesting specimen of the Sea Snake {Hydrophis c eri3 scens) A Popular Treatise on the Common Indian Snakes. Part XXV, Caliophis niac- aellandi. ( With a Flate and a Diagram) . . 308 A Popular Treatise on the Common Indian Snakes. Part XXIV. Typhlops ( With Plate XXI V and Diagram) . 375 Occurrence of the Tree Snake {Dendrophis pictus) in Ku- maon . . . . . . . . 500 Notes on a Collection of Sea Snakes from Madras . . 599 628 Notes on a Gravid Hydrophis cyanccnctus and her Brood ( With a Diagram) . . . . 754 Notes on the Breeding of the Rasp-skinned Water Snake ( CherKTjdrus gvanulatus ), Schneider . . . . . . 756 Waite, H. W. ; The Breeding Walton, Lt.-Col. H. J., of the White-eared Bulbul I C.M.Z.S., l.M.S. ; On Red {Molpa ies leucotis) .. .. 297 J Sea Water 7f:I XX LLST OF CONTEIBUTORS. Page Watson, Major H. 11. ; Co- bras without the Cuncate Scale olO Whistlbk, H., M.B.O.r., F.Z.S.; Notes on the Birds * of Aiubala District, Pun- jab . . . . . . . . 665 An Additi(^i) to the Indian List of Birds . . .. .. 742 The White-necked Stork in the Punjab . . . . . . 746 Page WiCKHAM, P. F., P.W.D. ; Miscellaneous Notes on Some Birds in the Chin Hills, Burma . . . . . . 750 Wright, Major Robert E., I.M.S. ; The distance Mos- quitoes can fly . . . . 511 ! Phosphorescence in the Per- sian Gulf . . . . . . 512 Wrotjghton, R. G.—See Bombay Natural History's So- ciety's Mammal Survey of India. LIS T 0 F PLATE S. No 1 Page The Game Birds of India, Burma aud Ceylon. The Grey Jungle- fowl (Gallus sonnerati) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Palms of British India and Ceylon. XCVI-XCIX.— XCYl.—Eapkia niffia, Mart. 52 XCVII. — Wine Palm (liaphia vinifera, Palis de Beauv.) . . 56 XC VIII. —Sago Palm {Metroxylon safjus, Rottb.) . . . . 60 XCIX, — Rumph's Sago Palm {Metroaylonrumphii, Mart.) 61 Map of the Tharrawaddy and the Pegu Yoma, Lower Burma. . . . 104 No. 2. The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. The White-crested Kalij (GenncBus albocristatus) . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 The Palms of British India and Ceylon. C-CIII.— C. — Zalacca xvallichiana , Mart. . . . . . . . . 208 CI. — Plectocomia assamica, Gri^l. . . . . . . . . 214 CII. — Plectocomia elongata, Mart. . . . . . . 21o cm. — Calamus leptospadiXjGiXiS. .. .. .. .. 228 The Raptores of the Punjab — Wing of Vulture . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 Figs. 1. — Steppe Eagle (Aquila bifasciata). 2. — Bonelli's Eagle (Hieratus fasciatus), 3. — Laggar Falcon {Falco jugger), 4. — Shikra {Astur badius) . . . . . . . . 242 On the Determination of Age in Bats. Tooth wear as an Indication of Age in Rhinolophus. Figs. A-B & I-V . . . . . . . . 258 Colour Changes in Rhinolophus roua-i, I-II. — I.— Figs. 1-4 < .. .. 270 II.— Figs. 5-8 = 271 Genital Organs and Wing of the Dragon Fly Brac/igt hernia fuscoiml- liata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 The Cone of Helaginella pallidissima, Spr. Figs. 1-10 . . . . . . 284 The Late Fr. Dreckman, S.J. (Portrait) 293 The RusseU's Viper (Ft>em /-MS-seZZO- Figs. A-E 307 xxn LIST 01 PLATES. No. 3. The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. Mrs. Hume's Phea- sant (Phasiaiius huinice) A Popular Treatise on the Common Indian Snakes, XXIV , . Figs. 1-2 — Typhlops anutus. 3-5— Typhlops brahminus. 6-7 — Typhlops diardi. The Palms of British India and Ceylon. CIV-CVI.— CIV. — Calamus viminalis, Willd. CV, — Calamus rot any, L. . . CVI. — Calamus scipio')ium,, Lour. Indian Dragonflies. I-XIII. — I. — Dorsal Aspect of a Dragonfly . . II. — Head and Mouth Parts . . III. — Main Neuration of Fore and Hind Wings IV. — Atypical and Typical Wings of Libellulines . . V. — Fore and Hind Wings of ('ordulines and Aeschnines.. VI.— Figs. 1 & 2.— Wings of a Gomphid. Figs. 3 & 4. — Hind-wings of a Calopterix and Euphoea VII. — Wings of Agrionines and of a Micromerus VIII. — Agrionines pairing IX. — Sexual Organs and Anal-appendages of Dragonflies. . X. — Larvae of (I) Aeschnid ; (2) Gomphid ; (3) Microme- rus ; (4) Gomphid . . . < XI. — Larvfe of (1) Libelluline ; (2) Agrionine ; (3) Gom- phid ; (4) Libelluline.. XII. — Mask of Dragonfly Larvae XIII. — Respiratory System of an Aeschnine Larva . . Phenomena of Interchangeability of Vegetative and Fruit Structures in Opuntia elatior, Mill., I i^- IT Barton Shooting Seat No 4. The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. The Koklass Pheasant (Pucrasia maerolopha) A Popular Treatise on the Common Indian Snakes. XXV . . Figs. 1-3. — Callophis macclellandi, var, typica. Fig. 4. — Silybura occellata. Cultivation of the Edible Date Palm (^Pluenix dactylifei-a) in Southern India. 1. Date Palm in Flower ; 2. Two Bunches of Fruits. Page .32.5 388 .394 411 4.54 456 458 458 458 468 468 462 462 466 464 466 468 .513 515 521 632 763 Aeechnine, Head, PI. II. Larva, PI. X _ Respiratory System, PI. XIII Mask of Larvs©. PI. XII . . Page 456 466 468 .. 466 Mouth Parts, PI. II. 466 - Wings, PI. V Agrionine, Head, PI. II Larva, PI. XI =- Male Anal Appen- dages, PI. IX . . Mask of Larvae, PI. XII — .- Mouth Parts, Fl. II Wings, PI. VII Agrionines pairing, showing the two acts of copulation, PI. vin Agnonoptera insignis, Male Secondary Sexual Or g a n s. Fig. Wings, Fig Ampkitkemis curvistyla, Anal Appendages, Figs. . _ Sexual Organs, Figs. . . /;act7te?js, Anal Ap- p e n d a- ges. Fig. 468 466 466 462 466 466 458 462 622 622 626 626 626 Page Amphithemis vaciUans,M&\e Se- c o ndary Se X u a 1 Org ans, Fig. .. 626 Wings, Fig 626 Anax, Female Sexual Organs and Anal Appendages, PI. IX 462 Male Secondary Sexual Organs, PL IX . . 462 Aquila bifasciata, PI. . . . . 242 Argia gomphoides, Anal Append- ages,Male and Female, PI. IX. 462 Astur badius, PI. . . • ■ 242 Barton Shooting Seat, PI. . • 515 Bonelli's Eagle, PI 242 Bracht/themis fuscopalliata, Ge- nital Organs and Wing, PI. 282 Butterflies, packing of, for Safe- keeping or Despatch by Post, Figs. .- .. 309-312 Calamus aeanthospathus, BTanch. of Fruiting Spadix, Fig. .. .. 398 . didymocarpus, Portion of Fruiting Spikelet, Fig 410 erectus, Portion of Male Spike- let in Longi- tudinal Sec- tion, Fig. . . 224 Top Part of Branch of Spadix, Fig. 226 XXIV INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. Page Calamus erectus, Part of Fruit- ing Spadix, Fig. . . 226 fjrifflthianus. Female Flower with In- volucre still clo- sed, Fig. 217, 218 Female Flower cut open, Fig. 217 Female Flower with out In V o 1 u- cre, Fig. 217 Female Fl o w e r during Anthesis, Fig. . . 218 Fe m a 1 e Fl o w e r with In- vo 1 u c re during Authesis, Fig. . . 218 — latifoUus, Part of Stem, fig 407 ~ loptonpadix, Fruit,Fig. 228 Scales of Fruit, Fig. . . 228 ■ L o ngitu- d i n a 1 Sectio n of Seed, Fig. . . 228 Page Calamus leptospadLr Part of FlageUum of Female Spadix, Fig. . . 228 rotang, PI. . . . . 394 -— Flowers and Fruit, Figs. . . 395 — > 282 Dragonfly, Main Neuration of Wings, PI. Ill • • Masks of Larvie, PI. XII .. •• Sexual Organs and Anal Appendages, PI. IX Wing, PI Dragonflies, Indian, Pis. I- Xm . . 454, 456, 458, 462, 466, 468, Figs. 618, 620, 622, 625, 626. Dreckmann, The late Fr., S. J., Portrait Eagle, Bonellis, PI. Steppe, PI. Euphcea dispar, Hind-wing, PI. VI Falcojugger, PI. Falcon, Laggar, PI Gallus sonnerati, PI. Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon, Pis. XXI- XXIV . . 1, 161, 325, Gennceus albocristatus, PI. Glauconia blanfordi, Fig. Gomphine, Head of, PI. II Larva, Pis. X and XI. Male Anal Appenda- ges, PI. IX Male Secondary Se- xual Organs, PI. IX. Mask of Larvse, PI. XII Wings, PI. V 293 242 242 458 242 242 1 Hieraetus fasciatus, PI. Hydrophis cyanoeinctus, Varia- tion of Lepidosis, PI. Hylceothemis, Male Secondary Organs, Fig. . . ^- Wings, Fig. Jungle Fowl, Grey, PI. Kalij, White-crested, PI. 4 521 161 380 456 466 462 462 466 458 242 754 620 620 I 161 Koklas Pheasant, PI. . . Laggar Falcon, PI. Libelluline, Head, PI. II Larva, PI. XI Male Primary Se- xua Organs, PI. IX Mask of Larvae, PI. XII Wings, PI. IV . . Page . 521 242 . 456 . 466 Maps, Tharrawaddy and the Pegu Yoma, Lower Burma . . Metroxyiov. rumphii, PL , Corolla of MaleFlow- er, Fig. . Female !F 1 o w er, Part of, Fig .. — Male Flow- er, Fig. Pistill ode of Male Fl o w e r, Longi t u- dinal Sec- tion, Fig.. sagus, PI. . . Micromeru^. Larva, PI. X . Mask of Larvte, XII — lineatus, Fore-wing of Female, PI. VII . . Opuntia elatior, Phenomena of Interchangea- bility of Ve- getative and Fruit Struc- tures, Pis. I and II -, Sport rom, PL III 462 466 458 104 61 62 62 62 60 466 466 458 513 514 XXVI INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. Page Palm, Edible Date, PI. . . 763 Palms of British India, Pis. XCVI— CVI. 62, 208, 214, 215, 228, 388, 394, 411, Figs. 56, 57, 62, 209, 213, 216, 217, 218, 224, 225, 228, 393, 395, 398, 407, 410, 413, 414. Pegu Yoma, Lower Burma, Map of Phasianus humice, PI. . . Pheasant, Koklas, PI.. . Mrs. Hume's, PI. Phcenix dactylifera, PI. Pithecus harbei, Blyth. Head of. Fig Plectocomia assamica, PI. Scale of F r u i t, Fig- ■ ■ Sec t i o n of Seed. Fig. . . Seed, Fig. elongata, PI. Tip of Fe- male Spi- ke of Spa- dix, Fig, khasiyana, Sc al e s of Fruit, Fig. .. Sectio n of Seed, Fig. .. Seed enclosed in the Flesh, Fig. .. Tip of Spik e, Fig. .. 104 325 521 325 763 47 214 213 213 213 215 216 213 213 Page Raphia ruffia, PI. . . . . 52 Female Flower, Fig 55 Male Flower, Fig. 55 rinifeva, PI. . . . . 56 — Female Flow- Pucrasia macrolopha, PI. Python molurus, Fig. . . 213 216 521 150 er. Fig. . Seed, Fig. 57 — Male Flower, Fig. . . 67 i:>i Rhinolophus, Tooth wear as in- dicator of Age in, PI 258 rouai, Colour Chan- ges in. Pis. l-II . . , . 270 Rumph's Sago Palm, PI. . . 61 Russeirs Viper, PI 307 Sago Pahn, PI. . . . . 60 . Rumph's PI. . . 61 Selaginella jjallidissima, Spr., Cone of, PI 284 Shikra, PI 242 Shooting Seat, Barton, PI. . . 515 Silybura occellata, PI. . . . . 632 Anal Region, Fig. . . 634 Head Shield- ing, Fig. . . 634 Tail, Top of. Fig. . . 634 Snakes, Common Indian, Pis. XXIV-XXV. 378, 632 Dia- grams .. .. 380,634 Spider, Leaf-like, PI 760 Steppe Eagle, PI 242 Tetrathemis platyptera, Female Sexual Organs, Fig. . . 618 INDEX ro ILLUSTRATIONS. XXVll Page ^retrathMTiis platijptcra, Wings, Fig.. Tharrawaddy District, Lower Burma, Map of Tooth wear as indicator of Age in Rhinolophux, PI. . . Turtur cambayensis, curious po- sition of Nest, Fig. . . Typhlops acuius, PI. . . Fig brahminus, PI. Fig. diardi, PI. Fig. Viper, Russell's, PI. Vipei'a rusaelli, PI. 618 104 507 378 380 378 380 378 380 307 307 Page Vultur monachm, Figs. 1-3. 298-299 Vulture, Great Brown, Figs. 1-3 298, 299 .. 232 .. 161 5 Wing of, PI. White-crested Kalij, PI. Wine Palm, PI. Fig Wing of Vulture, PI. . . Zalacca Wallichiana, PI. Terminal Spike of Spadix, Fig. .. Upper Part of Spadi X, Fig. .. 57 232 208 209 209 XXVllI ERRATA. No. 1, Volume XXIV. Page 186, in column " length " line 8, for 7' 11" read 7' 1"- ,, ,, in column " Remarks" /or " 511 lbs.'' read " 565 lbs." No. 1, Volume XXV. Page_^80, line 22, for Engenii read Eugenii. No. 2. Volume XXV. Page 233, line 18, /or " Type C " substitute Type B. ,, 236 ,, in the middle of the page under Type " B " should be " C " and " C " should be " B " „ 237, lines 21 and 22, under Type, substitute " C " lor "B" and '^ B " for " C. " No. 3, Volume XXV. Page 475, line 25, for " a fine onmusth (tuskless male) " read " a Hine (= tuskless male) on musth. " 493 ,,, 18, for " Home-like " read " Hun-like." 494 ,, 8, from the bottom, for " big level " read " High-level. " 508 „ 14, delete "them." 508 ,, 6, from the bottom, for " dupped " read " dropped. " 513 ,, 14, from top, /or negative read vegetative. 513 „ 20, from top, /or 1914 read 1917. No. 4, Volume XXV. Page 669, 5 lines from bottom of page, for Certhia himalayan read Certhia himalayana. ,, 767, line 19, for Euhlephariui^ read Euhlepharis. JOURNAL OF THE Bombay Natural History Society, Mar. 1917. Vol. XXV. No. 1, Mroa:'xcx:. No. 5— THE INDEX NUMBER— OF VOL. XXIV has been delayed owing to the manuscript of the Index not having arrived from England. It will he published and issued to members as soon as possible and will also include a General Index of Volumes XVIII to XXIV, inclusive. The previous General Indexes were published as follows : — Vols. I to XIII, in No. 5, Vol. XIII. Vols. XIV to XVII. in No. 5, XVII. Editors, Journal, Bombay Natural History Society. March 1917. •ICO aic ail iLiiuiioiioj. vviuii a ucoiiv cioouui uuillU UllU W ILXl wattles or lappets either hanging from each side of the throat, as in all three of the Indian species, or with a single one from the centre of the throat as in the Simda Island bird, varius. The tail consists of fourteen feathers in our three species and of sixteen in the last mentioned bird. The wings are well rounded, the first primary being shorter than the tenth and the fifth the longest. The central tail feathers in the male are greatly lengthened, being from three to four times the length of the outermost, the shafts are pliant 1 XXVIH ERRATA. No. 1 Volume XXIV. Pag6 186, in column " length " line 8, /or 7' 11" read T !"• „ in column " Remarks" for " 511 lbs." read " 565 lbs." J> 3J No. 1, Volume XXV. Page__80, line 22, for Engenii read Eufienii, ,, — , — — ^^^y, j^. ij.ogauivo itiUjiXj vegetaiiive. „ 513 ,, 20, from top, /or 1914 read 1917. No. 4, Volume XXV. Page 669, 5 lines from bottom of page, for Certhia Mmalayan read Certhia kimalayana. ,, 767, line 19, for Euhlepharius read UuhU'pliaris. JOURNAL OF THE Bombay Natural History Society. Mar. 1017. Vol. XXV. No. 1. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. BY E. C. Stuart Baker, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Part XXI. With a Coloured Plate. PHASIANIDiE. ,Genus — GALL US. The Genus Gallus contains the true Jungle-fowl, of which there are fo^ir species entirely confined to the Indo-Malaj-an region. Jungle-fowls are closely allied to the true pheasants, like them the sexes differ in plumage, the males greatly exceed the females in size, and their haunts are well-wooded tracts with an ample water suppl3^ The principal external difference is in the tail which in the Jungle-fowl is sharply compressed whereas in the true pheasants it is flat ; it is linked however with these latter by many intermediate forms such as Gennceus, containing the Silver and Kalij Pheasants, Crosoptilon or Eared Pheasants, etc., in which the tails ai'e almost as compressed as in the Jungle-fowl. The males are all furnished with a fleshy crest or comb and with wattles or lappets either hanging from each side of the throat, as in all three of the Indian species, or with a single one from the centre of the throat as in the Sunda Island bird, varhts. The tail consists of fourteen feathers in our three species and of sixteen in the last mentioned bird. The wings are well rounded, the first primary being shorter than the tenth and the fifth the longest. The central tail feathers in tlie male are greatly lengthened, being from three to four times the length of the outermost, the shafts are pliant 1 2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. over the greater portion, and the feathers droop in a graceful curve when the tail is raised. The feathers of the neck and rump are long and lanceolate, forming hackles, the latter falling well down on either side of the tail. The legs are very powerful, and the tarsus, which is furnished with a long shaft spur, is longer than the middle toe and claw together. The females have no spur. Key to Species. A. — Comb and spurs highly developed. a. Neck-hackles red or golden-red with no spots. a\ Breast black G. banhiva j . l)^. Breast reddish orange G.lafaveUii ^. h. Neck -hackles blackish with golden bars or spots G. so7inerati r^ . B. — No spurs and comb rudimentary. c. Breast rufous-brown with faint pale shaft lines G. JianMva $ . d. Breast mottled brown and black and white - G. lafaveftii 5 . e. Breast white, each feather edged with brown G. sonnerati 5 . There are two very distinct races or subspecies of the Common Red Jungle-fowl inhabiting the one India proper excluding the Indo-Burmese districts and the other extending through Burmah, the Malay Peninsula, Cochin, China and Siam. In the outer Burmese Indian districts of Eastern Assam and Chittagong we find, as we should expect, an intermediate form between the two. The Indian form may at once be known by its pure, white lappets, the Burmese form having these red, but there are other differences also, the Indian bird, the true ferrugineus, has the hackles of the neck of a red much less deep than they are in the Burmese bird, moreover they are far more j^ellow or orange-yello^^' at the base of the neck, and in addition are more lanceolate, the Burmese form often having the ends comparatively broad instead of p;?oduced to a very fine point. Hume recognised the differences between the Burmese and Indian bird, and thus writes of them : — " I have referred to the Indian and Burmo-Malayan races of "this bird. The plumage of the latter is said to be redder, " and taking a large series there seems to be some truth in " this, though in'iividual birds from Dehra Dun and Johore, " for instance, can be entirely matched as regards plumage, " but in the Burmese and Malayan birds, the small ear lappet " is invariably red, whereas in the Indian it is almost equally ^ "invariably vhite ov imilcy vhite.'' I THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 3 The Burmese form will be known as Gallus hanhiva banJciva, Temm. Key to Sub-species A . — Ear lappets white G. h. ferrugineus. B. — Ear lappets red G. h. hankiva. The Red Jungle-fowl is generally accepted as the original an- cestor of the domestic fowl, but there is really nothing to prove this beyond the fact that the wild Red Jungle- fowl is extremely close in appearance to the domestic bird of the Game-cock strain. On the other hand Seabi-ights pencilled Hamburg's and many other domestic strains which are known to be of artificial origin are much more like the Grey Jungle-fowl than the Red, Remains of extinct and fossil birds placed in the genus Gallus, have been found in many countries in Europe and also in New Zealand, which date back to the Pleocene and Pleistocene periods and the most that can be said concerning the origin of the domestic fowl is that it is probable that its immediate ancestor may have been something like the Red Jungle-fowl. I have followed Blanford in not accepting Gallus r/allus as the name of the Wild Indian Jungle-fowl, but as hanldva is an older name than ferrvgineus the species must be known by this name, the Indian race or sub-species taking the trinomial ferrugineus. [Gallus bankiva ferrugineus. The Common Jungle-fowl. Phasianus ff alius. — Linn, Syst. Nat. I, p. 270 (1766). Gallus bankiva. — Jardine, Nat. Lib., Orn. iv., p. 175, pi. (India); Hodgs. in Gray's Zool. Misc., p. 85 ; Gray, Cat. ; Hodgs. Coll. B.M. ed. i, p. 125 ; Adams, P.Z.S., 1858, p. 498 ; Blyth, Ibis 1867, p. 156. Gallus ferrmjineus. — Blyth, Ann. Mag. N. H. XX, p. 387 (1847) ; id. Cat. Mus. As. Soc, p. 242 ; Adams, P.Z.S., 1859, p. 185; Irby, Ibis 1861, p. 234 ; Jerdon B. Ind. iii., p. 536 (part) ; Blyth, Ibis 1887, p. 154 (part) ; Beavan, Ibis 1868, p. 381 ; Brooks, Ibis 1869, p. 60 ; Bulger, Ibis 1869, p. 170; EUiot, Mon. Phas. ii., p. 184, pi. 32 (part); Hume, N. & E., Ind. B. p. 528 (part) ; Ball, Str. F. II., p. 426; Hume, Str. F. ii., p. 482 (part) ; Blyth and SValden, Cat Mam & B. Burma, p. 149 ; Hume Str. F., ibid III., p. 171 ; Armst. IV., p. 338 ; Hume and Inglis, ibid V., p. 44 ; Gates, ibid v., p. 164 ; Wardlaw-Ramsay, Ibis 1877, p. 468 ; Marshall B. Nest Ind. p. 59 ; Hume and Marshall, Game B. Ind. I., p. 217 pi. ; Anders, B. W., Yunnan p. 669 ; Hume and Davison, Str. F. VI., pp. 442, 521, Ball., ibid VII., p. 225; Hume, ibid, VIII., p. 68; Scully, ibid, VIII., p. 348; Bingham, ibid IX., p. 195; Fasson, ibid, IX., p. 205 ; Gates, ibid, X., p. 236; Marshall, Ibis 1884, p. 423 ; Taylor Str. F, X., p. 531 ; Hume, Str. F. XI., p. 304 ; Gates, ed, Hume's Nests and Eggs. III., p. 417 (part) ; Blanf., Avi. Brit. Ind. IV., p. 75 (part) ; Sharpe, Hand-L. B. I., p. 39 (part); Stuart Baker, Jour. B. N. H. S. XII., p. 436 (1899) ; Inglis, ibid, p. 676 (1899) ; Fulton, ibid, XVI., p. 61 (1904) ; Ward, ibid, XVII., p. 944 (1907) ; Inglis, ibid, p. 971 (1907) ; Magrath, ibid, XVIII p. 298 (1908) ; Gsmaston, ibid, XXII, p. 544 (1913). 4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Gallus gallus. — Ogil vie -Grant, Cat. B. B. M. XXII, p. 344 (part); id. Hand-L. Game B. II, p. 48 (part) ; Gates, Journ. B. N. H. S., X., p. 106 ; id. Game B. of In. (part) I.; p. 366. Vernacular Names. — Jungli Murgha, Bun Murgha J , Jungli Murghi, Bun Murghi 5 (Hin. Upper India) ; Bunkokra, Bunkukra, {Bengali) ; Bun kukur (Assamese) ; Natsu-pia, Magse-ya (Bhutia) ; Pazok-tchi, Tangkling {Lepcha, Sikkim, Dooars) ; Bir-sim (Eoles) ; Gera-gogor c? , Kuru $ (Gonds) ; Lall (Chanda Dist.) ; Ganga (Uriya) ; Daono (Cachari) ; Vok [Kuki) ; Inrui {Kacha Nac/a). Description — Adult Male, — Crown of the liead, nape and upper mantle, together with the sides of the neck, deep bright orange-red, changing to reddish gold or orange on the longest hackles, which are marked with black down their centres ; upper back, below these long hackles, black glossed with Prussian blue or green ; lower back deep maroon red, highly glossed and gradually changing into fiery orange on the long hackles of the rump ; these latter are more or less centred with black, the centres, however, being- concealed by the overlying feathers ; upper tail-coverts and tail- feathers black brilliantly glossed with green, blue-green or copper green ; the blue generally dominant, on the coverts, and the gloss absent or slight on the outermost tail feathers. Smallest wing coverts, and shoulder of wing black, glossed like the back with blue or blue-green, or pm-ple-blue ; median wing coverts like the lower back ; greater coverts black like the smallest; quills dark brown, in some specimens almost black; the primaries edged on the otiter web with light cinnamon and the secondaries with the whole of their visible portions of this colour except the innermost which are of a glossy blue-green with only a part of the outer webs cinnamon. Under plumage, under wing-coverts and under tail-coverts deejj brown or blackish, faintly glossed with green. Colours of soft parts. — Irides varying from reddish brown in the young bird, through red to bright orange red in old males. Comli generally a bright scarlet crimson, sometimes duller, more red and sometimes almost a brick-red ; wattles the same in colour, but sometimes a more livid red ; ear lappets white, sometimes touched with pinkish on the lower posterior portions, especially in Assam birds ; skin of face, throat and upper neck red, generally of a rather bluish or fleshy tint ; legs vary between greenish grey and a deep slaty brown, every intermediate tint being met with, the most common colour being a rather dark plumbeous with a faint tinge of brown or purple ; the spur is always more or less brown, almost black at the tip. Bill dark korny brown, the gonys and tip of the lower mandible paler and the former often reddish. The colour of the comb and wattles is much brighter in the breeding season than at other times, both in the male and female, just as it is in barn-door hens when they are in full laying. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 5 MeasuremenU.—^Sfxng 8" (203-2 mm.) to 9-6" (243-8 mm.); tail anything between 12" (304-8 mm.) and 15" (381-0 mm.); tarsxis about 3" (76-2 mm.) or rather more ; bill from gape abont 1-25" (32-6 mm.) and from front about -80" (20-3 mm.) ; the spur is generally about an inch (25-4 mm.) but I have seen one or two specimens with spurs a full 2" (50-8 mm.). Weight, according to Hume, lib. 12ozs. to 21bs. 4ozs., but one male shot by me in Cachar weighed oxi\j just short of olbs. and two or three others well over 2^1bs. The majority weight just under, rather than over, 21bs. Post nuptial lylumage. — The cock Jungle-fowl has a sort of post nuptial plumage caused by the moult of the neck hackles and the long tail feathers, the former being replaced by short blackish brown feathers. Often these same blackish feathers may be observed in patches on other parts of the body, principally the back and wing coverts. These feathers probably replace others lost by accident or some other abnormal cause. This post nuptial plumage is interesting in that it corroborates the theory that all extraordinary colouration or shape in any por- tion of a bird's plumage is due to excess vitalit}' and with a drop in the vitality to a sub-normal condition sombre colours or normal shaped plumage is assumed. In many cases this post nuptial plumage is never assumed and cock birds may be shot all the year round in perfect feather. When assumed it is most irregular and maj' be found in any month between May and October, though generally the hackles are dropped in June and July and reassumed in the September-October moult. [nvmature Male has the hackles less developed both on neck and rump, and the black centres to these feathers comparatively broader and far more visible ; as a rule also the neck hackles are more yellow and less deep orange in tint. The cinnamon of the wing- quills is darker, and the whole of their surface except at the basal halves of the outer webs are finely powdered and vermiculated with blackish ; the greater-wing coverts are also more or less powdered in a similar way. Colours of soft farts. — Iris brown, or reddish brown ; wattles and undeveloped comb duller than in the adult, and skin of face bluish or leaden colour. Quite young Males in their first feathers are similar to females of the same age. Adult Female. — Top of the head blackish brown, the feathers broadly edged with golden yellow. In most birds the forehead is more or less metallic crimson and this colour is produced backwards as supercilia above and behind the ear coverts whence they widen and meet on the foreneck in a broad gorget. In some specimens the red will be found to occupy nearlj^ the whole of the fore crown 6 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. and to deepen the yellow of the posterior crown to a deep orange. Feathers of the nape orange yellow, with broad blackish centres, changing to pale golden yellow on the longer hackles along the back. Upper plumage, wing-coverts and inner secondaries reddish buff or reddish brown, the feathers with pale shafts and vermiculat- ed all over with black or very dark brown ; primaries deep brown or brown, sometimes edged on the outer web with rufus. Tail blackish brown, the central tail feathers more or less mottled with rufus, which in some cases extends to the next two to four pairs of feathers on. their outer webs. Breast below the red gorget light Indian red with pale shafts, gradually becoming paler and duller on the lower breast, and shading into pale dull cinnamon on the belly, much vermiculated with brown ; under tail covers black or blackish brown. Colours of soft iKirts. — Iris brown or hazel; bill horny brown, gape and lower mandible plumbeous fleshy or fleshy grey ; comb and orbital skin reddish crimson ; wattles very rarely present and very small, like the comb but paler and more livid, legs generally dull plumbeous brown but varjdng in tint as in the male. Un- developed spurs are occasionally present. Tickell obtained such a specimen in Singhbhum and I have myself shot at least half a dozen females showing spurs, which in one case exceeded half an inch in length. Measurements. — Wing 7" (177-8 mm.) to 7*7" (195-6 mm.); tail from vent 5-5" (139-7 mm.) to 6*5" (165-1 mm.); tarsus about 2-5" (63-5 mm.}; bill from front about -75" (19-5 mm.) and from gape about 1-1" (27-9 mm.) "Weight lib. 2ozs. to lib. lOozs."— (Hume). Young femcdes in their first year are generally more yellow buff and less red below and have the feathers boldly mottled with brown on the breast and lower parts. The extent of the crimson or rusty-red of the head is also a sign of age, though a few females seem never to acquire this. Chick in down. — A broad band down from the centre of the crown to the end of the back a rich plumb brown ; a streak of similar colour from the posterior lores produced in a fine line over the eyes and as a wide line down the sides of the neck ; lateral bands of buff down each side of the back succeeded by other bands of the same colour at the centre. Sides of the body rich warm reddish buff changing to pale buff on throat, foreneck and centre of breast and belly. The wing feathers when they first appear are isabelline finety vermiculated with black, the quills gradually becoming more or less immaculate on the inner webs as they grow larger. The bills are fleshy yellow and the legs rather clear olive greenish. Distribution. — Hume's very full note on the distribution of the THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 7 red jungle-fowl leaves little to be added. Eliminating the areas in which the Burmese form occurs his summary' is as follows : — " Throughout the lower ranges of the Himalayas, the " Dhuns Tarais, and submontane districts and the Siwaliks " from the southern outer ranges of Kashmir to the extreme •' head of the Assam Valley bej^ond Sadiya. '' Throughout the whole of Assam including the less "elevated portions of the Caro, Kliasi and Naga Hills, Cachar "' and Sylhet, the whole of Eastern Bengal, including the " Sunderbans. Again in the hilly portions of Western Ben- " gal from the Rajmehal hills, through Midnapore, and •' westward of this, through the whole of Chota Nagpore, and " the northern and eastern portions of the Central Provinces, " it is the only jungle-fowl that is found. It is common " along the Kymore Range, and extends northwards to the " neighbourhood of Piinnah and Chairkhari, and south- " wards on the ]\Iaikal or Amarkantak Ranges. " Southwards and eastwards of these latter, it occupies the '' whole country north of the Godavari, Orissa, the Tributary "Mahals, Ganjam, Vizagaptam, and part of the Godavari " District, Joonagurh, Kareall, Nowagurh, Jej^pore and "other Feudatory States. It occurs also immediately below " Pachmarhi." Forsj^th has shewn that the habitat of this jungle-fowl is prac- tically that of the Swamp Deer (Cerviis duvauceli) and of the Sal- tree (Shorea robusta') and a curious corroboration of this is the occurrence of all three of these in the Deinwa Valley, near Pach- marhi, although there is an intervening country of some J 50 miles eastward before the three are again met with. At the same time it must be noted that the Red Jungle-fowl does not occur in Bhawalpore and Sind where the Swamp Deer is found, though not the Sal-tree. A'idijication. — The Red Jungle-fowl breeds, over the whole of its habitat, the season apparentlj^ not varying much in different locali- ties as it does with some birds. Thus even in the hot, drj^ portions of the Central Provinces and Punjab, etc., they appear to lay from April to June, not v.-aiting until the bursting of the rains ensures more food and a cooler temperature. At the same time it is certain that although the months just mentioned may be the principal breeding months a much wider margin of time than is covered by these miist be allowed for their nidification. I have personally taken their eggs in the Santhal Perganas, Chota Nagpore, Assam and Cachar in every month of the year except October, November and December. In the last mentioned month, however, I have seen just hatched chicks, so it would be unsafe to exclude any month of the year from their breeding season. In Assam 8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. undoubtedly most birds lay in March and April, many in February and June and the rest at odd times throughout the year. I have not known them breed above 6,000 feet, but have taken eggs at this height in the Assam Ranges, and have received a clutch of 8 eggs taken at Simla at this height by Mr. P. Dods- worth, whilst in the Naga Hills and hills in the extreme east of Assam they are found up to 7,000 and even 8,000 feet in summer, and almost certainly breed at this elevation. They nest in practically any kind of jungle, but undoubtedly prefer for this purpose the dense tangle of secondary growth which is found in deserted cultivation clearings. Next to this kind of jungle, bamboo forest which is dense and which has some undergrowth appears to be a favourite resort and, thirdly, broken hills well covered with dense bush and tree forest. As regtirds the nest, this may be either a depression scratched in the ground by the birds or a natural hollow sometimes devoid of all lining, or, on the other hand, well lined with fallen leaves and rubbish. Sometimes there is no hollow even, and the eggs are just laid on the ground under the protection of a bush or clump of bamboos, whilst often a mass of leaves, grass and rubbish is collected in a heap, a hollow formed in the centre, and the eggs laid therein. I have also taken several nests made in the centre of bamboo clumps, the eggs being deposited in the mass of leaves and rubbish which always fill up the inside of these clumps to a height of two to four feet. As a rule the nests are well concealed, especially where they are made in secondary growth, but I have more than once found them so placed that they could be seen from some feet away without any search having to be made for them. One such nest was placed on the ground in a shallow green mossy ravine running through ever- green forest. A certain amount of dead leaves, bracken and moss had been collected in a depression, whence a large stone had been turned out, and on these the eggs w^ere laid, conspicuous from about 20 feet in every direction, except from . the point at which they were screened by the boulder which still lay where it had been thrown on one side. Another quite unconcealed nest lay in a very open bamboo jungle, in a small bare space where nothing grew and here on a few dead bamboo leaves lay the five eggs, saved from molestation only by their resemblance in colour to the bamboo leaves. The period of incubation appears to be 20 days, equivalent in tropical countries to the 21 days the domestic fowl takes to hatch her eggs in more temperate regions. The hen sits close, and when forced to leave, creeps away silently through the jungle more like an animal than a bird, though occasionally when very suddenly disturbed she may get up with as much fluster and fuss as a barn- door fowl. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 9 The number of eggs laid is generall}'- 5 to 8, rarely 9, and whilst 5 or 6 is nndonbtedly the usual full complement, often only 4 are laid. Some hundreds of clutches have passed through my hands, or have been actually seen by myself in the nests, and Dr. H. N. Coltart must have seen almost as many,^ but neither of us have ever known more than 9. Jerdon states that they some- times lay as many as a dozen, but his zoological notes are not very correct, and he, like many others, who have made similar state- ments as to the number of eggs laid, have been probably misled by natives. In appearance the eggs cannot be discriminated from those of the common Indian domestic fowl, and ovXj differ from those of the English birds in being so much smaller. The}^ vary in colour from almost pure white merely tinged with cream to a deep cream buff or cafe-au-lait tint like that of a Brahma fowl's Qgg. Now and then one comes across a deep coloured set of eggs covered with white specks and spots, and I once had a clutch of bright pink-buff eggs marked with' white blotches and spots over the larger half. In length 200 eggs vary between l-5o" (39-6 mm.) and 2-05" (26-6 mm.), whilst in breadth the extremes are 1-27" (32-2 mm.) and 1-62" (4M mm.) The average of 200 is 1- 82" (48-2 mm.) by 1- 40" (35- 5 mm.)" It will be seen that the average size of my eggs is a good deal larger than those of Hume, but is slightly less than those of the British Museum, according to Oates. So many writers have constantly asserted that Jungle-fowl hens always cackle and call after laying an egg in the same way as the domestic bird does that I cannot pass over the subject without reference. Having read Tickell's and Kainey's remarks in Hume's " Game Birds " I made the most careful investigations, and must say that I have found nothing to support their asser- tions. It is true that time after time I have heard hens cackling and shouting as if full of pride at the recent achievement of laying an egg, but have never 3^et been able to find the agg so laid. Again, I have often heard hens when not breeding calling in the same manner, and sometimes several birds in one flock all giving vent to their feelings at once. As a rule I am quite sure the cry is the result of some fright and is merely the hen's way of ex- pressing indignation and not pride. A tiger or leopard stalking through the jungle will often be abused in this manner, and even a jackal maj^ ' be the mean cause of a similar commotion ; often myself when out shooting and stealthily going through the forest I have suddenly come on one or moi*e hens who, after flying a short distance have relieved their feelings by loud and prolonged cacklings. It seems hardly possible that a wild bird full of anxiety for its future young should announce to all the predatory world " here is an egg, come and eat it." It was this inherent 2 10 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX F. improbability in the idea that first made me investigate it, and I have no doubt that there is no foundation for it in fact. Another common theory which there seems good reason to doubt is that Jungle-fowl are always polygamous. Hume draws attention to this and^aj's : — " Lastly, I am quite certain that they are not always " polygamous. I do not agree with Hutton that they are " always monogamous, because I have constantly found " several hens in company with a single cock, but I have also " repeatedly shot pairs without finding a single other hen in " the neighbourhood." There is, however, a good explanation of the first mentioned condition of affairs, for I think that the J^oung cocks leave the family circle before the young hens do, and in consequence the male parent may often be seen in company with half a dozen hens and no cocks, so that whilst one seldom finds hens wandering about by themselves, unless they are incubating eggs, one often comes across young cocks, either quite alone or with one other young cock of like age ; probably a brother. It may be that the old cock drives off the young birds, but it is more likely that the latter being of a more roving, independent nature, clear off sooner than the hens. General Habits. — Jungle-fowl may be found in practically any kind of country in which there is sufficient cover, but there is little doubt that they prefer country consisting of shallow valleys, low hills and broken ground at the foot of big hills rather than open plains country or the higher hills. As already mentioned, they maj^ be found up .to, or even over, 6,000 feet, but they are mere stragglers to such heights, and it is below 2,000 feet rather than over that we must look for them if we want them in number sufficient to make the shooting of them a regular business. Another undoubted attraction is cultivation when it borders on forest or bamboo jungle ; nor does it seem to matter much what the cultivation is, whether grain, rice, mustard, cotton or chillies. Any kind of crop seems to offer food either in itself, in the insects it attracts or in its semi-open patches which supply an easy hunting ground. Jungle-fowl are extraordinarily numerous in the Garo, N. Cachar and other hills south of the Brahmapootra, and it is often possible to see hundreds in a morning's or afternoon's wandering. Once when shooting on the Kopoli River, a stream which divides the Khasia and N. Cachar Hills, I must have seen full}^ 500 birds during the day. It was then early in March, and the flocks of birds had not yet broken up into pairs to commence breeding, and every afternoon and evening they frequented the long stretches of mustard field which run along the banks of the stream. Although THE GAME BIliDS OF INDIA. 11 nowhere wide, seldom over a hundred feet or so, these patches often ran for lialf a mile or more withont the break of a patch of forest, and they formed simply ideal feeding' grounds for every kind of game, from the Jungle-fowl and barking-deer to elephants and bufialoes. The miTstard was high enough to afford good cover, so that in spite of the wiliness of the birds it was possible to obtain quite a good bag bv wandering alona' inside the edge of the iungle, whilst a couple of men beat through the mustard about 20 yards behind one. On the morning in question, whilst the sun was still invisible I had got to the first patch and was about to start along the edge of the forest whilst my men did the beating, when I caught sight of a barking-deer coming out of it and a snap shot with my express turned it over and so commenced a lucky day's shoot. The shot, however, disturbed every thing close by, so as we were only a few hundred yards from the camp, I sent one man back with the deer and waited for his return. By this time the birds had regained confidence and were out feeding once more and we had hardly started our beat before about a dozen Jungle-fowl were up with a tremendous fluster, and had dived headlong into the forest, leaving a fine old cock on the ground, whilst another bird escaped with a bad scare. A hundred yards furtiher on a second but smaller lot were flushed, and again resulted in a miss and a hit, another cock being added to the bag. After this a quarter mile's slow trudge showed nothing but a glimpse of a couple of hens as they scurried on foot into the undergrowth, too far way for a shot then a single cock gets up and is missed and within another 200 yards I managed at last to bring off a clean right and left at two hens, the last of a lot to get away out of the mustard. This sort of thing goes on until by about 9-0 a.m. I have got to the end of the cultivation, and have collected 8 Jungle-fowl, a couple of Kalij Pheasant and one Barking-deer, and have expended some 20 car- tridges. Of course the great majority of birds have got up well out of shot, and in one stretch of about half a mile of mustard well over 200 birds miist have been flushed without my firing off my gun once. In fact the majority of shots obtained were from tiny patches of mustard which lay so snuggled in the forest that the birds could not see us until we emerged from the forest tract into the cultivation. Even in there, however, as often as not we failed to obtain a shot, though the birds were there in numbers. All we saw as we peeped out of our leafy cover would be the last of a flock as it dis- appeared, an old cock bringing up the rear of his family, tail and head down as he ran for all he was worth into safety. Of course, on such occasions when it was possible a running shot was taken, and when shooting without dogs and especially when shooting to feed oneself and a hungry crowd of coolies, it ir, absolutely legiti- mate to do so or else go without any dinner. 12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Jungle-fowl ai'e jiist as great skulkei'S and runners as are nearly all other tropical game birds of the Pheasant tribe, and almost in- variably prefer to seek safety on their legs rather than b)^ wing, in fact except when one has good dogs or can work cultivated ground as above, it is absolutely impossible to get the birds to rise unless a regular beat is organised. We used to have quite good shooting for from 4 to 6 giTus in the N. Cachar Hills with a line of 20 to 40 coolies. Our method used to be for the guns to keep well ahead of the betters along jungle paths or the beds of streams, a gun on either side of these latter when possible, whilst two other guns went along the extreme wings of the lines. In the mornings and evenings the birds were always found low down in the valleys near the water, and \evj favourite haunts were the numerous scrub covered islets which were dotted all along the stream. The line of coolies worked down the stream and about a hundred or two hundred yards up the sides of the hills on either side. The birds generally ran some distance in front of the shouting line of coolies and then broke across the stream, flying up the opposite hill and so giving real sporting shots at good distances. In this way we would sometimes get 30 or 40 birds in a morning and evening, chiefly Jungle-fowl but with a few Black-backed Kalij, an old bambooo partridge or so and per- haps a deer thrown in. The Jungle-fowl is not an easy bird to kill and flies far faster and takes much straighter powder then a novice would imagine. A friend of mine who came out to India with the well-deserved reputation of being a real good pheasant-shot, at first when asked to do so absolutely refused to go out and shoot barn-door fowls, as he called them. He was, however, eventually induced to go out after Kalij Pheasant, and in the course of this shoot succeeded in firing well behind several Jungle-fowl which were put up to his gun. After this we heard no more contemptuous remarks against them, although, once he had taken their measure he became as fine a shot at these birds as at our home pheasants. I have never been present at any very big shoots at Jungle- fowl, our shoots being merely scratch affairs got up at a moment's notice when we could get a day or half a day off" work, but the railway oflacials under the leadership of Mr. Vernon Woods used to have an annual Jungle- fowl shoot at which very big bags were made. A great charm about Jungle-fowl shooting, whether in big beats or alone with a couple of shikaries or beaters is the wonderful variety of game one meets with, both large and small. It is many years now since Hume warned Griffs as to the necessity for being prepared for any eventuality when shooting small game in heavy jungle, and this warning holds good now just THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 13 as it did then. Hume describes how when out Jungle-fowl shooting in 1853 he once ran into a party of four bears, and was at once charged by an old female whom he succeeded in killing, but at such close quarters that he and the bear all fell over together. More than once I have had to shoot surely old boars who resented my intruding on to their feeding ground and once when I had foolishly left my rifle behind when going for an evening's stroll I had to retire in haste, whilst an ill-tempered cow buffalo grunted and pawed the ground in the middle of a mustard patch I wanted to shoot through. On another occasion I had a still more narrow squeak, walking straight on to a tigress engaged in finishing her meal off a wretched Mikir coolie whom she had killed. She was fortunately full and apparentlj^ did not quite understand what the object in front of her was, and eventually was good enough to make off, but as I only had a shot gun in my left hand and was too near her to risk changing it into my right, it was with no small relief I saw her leap to one side and rush away through the grass. The next year, curiously enough, when again Jungle- fowl shooting in the same place, I again saw her, this time at a safe distance, and was enabled to add her to my string of Jungle-fowl and Pheasant. The crow of a Jungle-cock is quite a game wild sound, very like that of the game bantam; it is, however, always recognisable by its shrill yet full note, and, above all, by its very abrupt termination. In the domestic bird the last note is the one usually prolonged and most dwelt upon, whereas in the wild bird the last note is the shortest. Even in those parts of its habitat where the domestic birds are for the most part so constantly crossed with wild birds that they are to all intents and purposes of the same breed I think the full abrupt note of the really wild bird can be always re- cognised. They do not crow much during the cold weather, though even in these months an odd bird or two may be heard throughout the day, whilst nearly every bird within hearing will be heard calling every morning and evening. In the breeding season, however, they not only crow several times just before daybreak and after sunset, but they crow constantly during the day, and are only quiet for the hottest hoiirs between noon and three or four o'clock. During the breeding season, they do occasionally crow when strutting . about on the ground, breathing defiance against every other cock in. the neighbourliood, but as a rule they mount some convenient stump, or perch on a bamboo or tree branch and from this point of vantage challenge other birds to mortal combat with many crowings and flapping of wings. Even, however, when they announce their presence thus to any sportsman who may be near, "they are so wily and so sharp of hear- ing that it takes a very careful stalk to enable one to get a shot. 14 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. The slightest snap of a twig or iTistle of a leaf and, even is in the middle of a crow, it collapses, and when you arrive the bird has gone. About the only time a Jungle-cock can be caught un- awares is when he is fighting, and then, so intense is his interest in the business on hand that I have known them caught by natives siuiph' throwing a cloth over the two struggling birds. They are quite as pugnacious in their wild state as sluj breed of game cocks, and often fight to the death, indeed on some occa- sions until both birds are h or s-de- combat. One such occasion came within my own knowledge when my coolies picked up a dead Jungle-cock on the forest path, and just beside it another cock, blinded and so weak that it made no attempt to escape when caught and died before it could be bro.ught into camp. They will also fight with pheasants and other birds, and I was once fortunate enough to see the whole of a fight between a Jungle-cock and a Black-backed Kalij. At the time this occurred I was seated behind a bamboo clump in a thicket of low bushes watching a Mikir attempting to call up Jungle-fowl. We had been there about ten minutes when his calls — made to simulate a hen chuckling and scratching about for food — attracted a cock who replied by crowing for two or three minutes, after which fluttering down from his bamboo perch, he strutted into the small open piece of ground immediatel}^ in front of us. At the same moment a fine cock Kalij also came into the open about five paces away, and without a second's hesitation the cock rushed at him, and taking him unawares bowled him over. The pheasant was, however, much the bigger bird of the two and apparently unhurt, though somewhat confused hj the rush tactics of his enemy, at once took up the gauntlet. For a few seconds the two birds faced one another, beaks low down to the ground and tails raised, and then like lightning the Jungle-cock rose and jumped over the pheasant, striking lustily as he passed and making the feathers fly. No real damage was done by this, and the pheasant wheeling once more faced his active little adversary. Again the two birds walked round like a couple of pugilists, watching intently everj' movement of the other ; heads never more than a couple of feet apart, until one or the other made his effort, with varying success, to pass over the other bird striking as he leapt. Similar proceedings went on for the next ten minutes, the pheasant occasionally taking the offensive, but seldom with anj- effect. By sheer weight he now and then succeeded in bowling over his enemy, but slowness in taking advantage of his momentar}'^ success always enabled the Jungle-fowl to slip away and again attack. At the end of the time mentioned it was a wearj?- and l)leediug pheasant v/hich faced a still alert and fresh Jungle-fowl ; THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 15 for a few more minutes however he still stuck to his guns, but then turned and fled, only to be at once caught and knocked over again and again as he tried to escape ; finally as he again turned to bolt, the cock struck fair, and his spur went right into the nape of the neck, and before he could disentangle himself from his victim, both birds were covei'ed by the Mikir's blanket. When we got them out of the folds of this the pheasant was dead, whilst the cock was almost unharmed beyond a broken spiir and a torn comb. To the Mikri's indignation I insisted on the release of the winner of the fight, who at once scuttled off into the bamboos and when at, what he considered, a safe distance flew into a branch and crowed victoriouslv. Although I have so frequentl}- come across the birds when fight- ing, I have never come across a regular fighting ground such as that described by Hume. He writes : — " No one specially notices the extreme pugnacity' of these " birds in the wild state, or the fact that where they are "numerous they select regular fighting grounds much like " Rufls. " Going through the forests of the Siwaliks in the north- " eastern portion of the Saharanpur district, I chanced one "afternoon, late in March, on the tiny open gi'assj' knoll, " perhaps ten yards in diameter and a yard in height. It " was covered with close turf, scratched in man)'' places into "holes and covered over with Jungle-fowl feathers to such an " extent that I thought some Bonelli's Eagle, a great enemy " of this species, must have caught and devoured one. Whilst " I was looking round, one of my dogs brought me from some- " where in the jungle round a freshh^ killed Jungle-cock, in " splendid plumage, but with the base of the skull on one side " pierced by what I at once concluded must have been the spur " of another cock. I put up for the da}^ at a Bunjara Perow, " some two miles distant, and on speaking to the men found " that they knew the place well, and one of them said that he " had repeatedl}^ watched the cocks fighting there, and that he " would take me to a tree close by whence I could see it for myself. Long before daj'light he guided me to the tree, telling me to climb to the fourth fork, whence, quite con- " cealed, I could look down on the mound. When I got up " it was too dark to see an}i;hing, but a glimmer of dawn soon " stole into the eastern sky, which I faced ; soon after crow- "ing began all round, then I made out the mound dimly, •• perhaps thirty yards from the base of the tree, and forty from "my perch; then it got quite light, and in a few minutes "later, a jungle-cock ran out on to the top of the mound and "' crowed (for a wild bird) vociferously, clapping his wings. (t 16 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. " and strutting round and round, with his tail raised almost " like a domestic fowl. " And here I should notice that although, as has often been " noticed, the wild cocks always droop their tails when run- " ning away or feeding — in fact almost whenever you see them " — yet I believe from what I then and once subsequently "saw, that, when 'challenging rivals, they probably always " erect the tail, and I know (having twice so surprised them "before they saw me when watching for Cheetul aii,d Sambur " from a machan, near water in the early morning) that when " paying their addresses to their mates, they do the same during " the preliminary struts round them. " I learned so much and no more ; there was a rush, a yelp ; " the jungle-cock had vanished, and I found that one of my "wretched dogs had got loose, tracked me, and was now " careering wildly about the foot of the tree. " Next day I tried again, but without success. I suppose " the birds about had been too much scared by the dog, and I " had to leave the place without seeing a fight there ; but put- " ting all the facts together, I have' not the smallest doubt "that this was a real fighting arena, and that, as the Bunjara " averred, many of the innumerable cocks in the neighbour- " hood did systematically fight there." In the Sunderbans, where, as Rainey and Hume both believed to be the case, most, if not all, the birds are derived from tame stock ; they are often caught by the cultivators who use a tame cock as a decoy spreading nooses round about him in which the wild birds who come to answer his challenge are caught. This method which is described by Rainey and quoted by Hume is the common way of catching Jungle-fowl over practically the whole of their habitat, but the hill tribes often catch them by nooses just set about and around some small patch which they bait with grain. They are very hard birds to domesticate, if kept in confinement they soon pine awaj^ and die, and if allowed to run about with the farmyard birds they nearly always clear off the following breeding season, though they may continue to haunt the vicinity for some time, months even, after they first take their departure. At the same time they often haunt the vicinity of villages attracted, of course, by the surrounding cultivation and by the droppings of grain, etc. In such cases it is no iTiicommon thing for a cock to take up his abode in some tree or bamboo clump in the immediate out- skirts of the buildings, where he sleeps at night and dail}^ visits the domestic hens as they wander about in the cultivation. The tame cocks seldom attempt to resent his appearance, and when they do they generally get such a troimcing that the attempt is not made twice. It is curious that although in some villages the hens are so THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 17 coutinually crossed with the wild cocks that to all intents and purposes the birds are nothing but wild birds pure and simple, yet the cocks never have the same robustness and fighting abilit)^ as the actual wild ones. In appearance they are one and the same birds until one examines the spurs and then it is seen that the spur of the wild bird is generally far longer, finer and cleaner than that of the village bird. One seldom meets with the short bulgy spur in a feral state and the texture also seems to be much harder and closer and naturally, as a weapon, is far more effective. The strength and vigour with which the Jungle-cock can use his spur is really astonishing ; in addition to the cases already men-, tioned in one of which the neck vertebrae were severed and in the other the eye and brain pierced, I have more than once known them to drive the spur full into their opponent's brain behind the comb, and on another occasion found a cock with his wing broken at the carpal joint. Sometimes so fierce is the blow given that the spur itself gets broken or torn awaj'-, and once that is done the owner is no more of use in the ring, however great his pkxck and determination. In spite of what Hume says to the contrary, for the table the qualities of the Jungle-fowl must be rated nearly as high as his pugilistic attributes. When shot round about villlages he maj^ sometimes be found to be a foul feeder, though this is not my own experience, but normall}' his flesh is excellent, even old birds are comparatively tender and sweet, except for their legs, whilst birds of the year are much better eating than are Kali] Pheasants of the same age. Like all game birds they are all the better for hang- ing when the climate permits, but when it is impossible to keep them for two or three days they should in the alternative be plucked, cooked and eaten as soon as possible after being killed. Like the domestic fowl the Jungle-fowl is practically omnivorous, but is by preference rather a vegetaiian than an insect eater. All kind of seeds, grain, etc., are greedily devoured, and also many kinds of roots, buds and yoang shoots. Bamboo seeds are a yqyj favourite food, and where there are stretches of bamboo which have seeded and the seeds are beginning to fall, these birds — and others — collect in almost incredible numbers into a very small area. I have known them eat in addition to their ordinarj^ seed and grain diet, worms and small lizards, insects of all kinds, tadpoles out of a little backwater in a hill stream, and, once, I saw a hen rushing about with a small grass snake in her bill pursued by two other Jungle-fowl. Whether they would have finished the snake or not cannot be said, as my appearance on the scene dis- persed the meeting. They are very fond of all kinds of wild figs and berries and also of the mowa flower when this ripens and falls to the ground. 3 18 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. As a rule Jungle-fowl feed almost entirely on the ground, scrat- ching about, turning over leaves and fallen rubbish and hunting for their food just as the domestic bird does in the back yard, but I have more than once disturbed them feeding in the Pepul and Banyan trees, scrambling about on the branches and picking the fruit as thej'" go. They are extremely clumsy birds when thus employed, and seem to easily lose their balance and fall over. The young birds fly within a ver^- few daj^s of hatching, and when the hen is forced to take wing follow her well and seem to have no difficulty whatsoever in keeping pace with her. At this stage of their development their wings appear to be very large in proportion to their bodies, and their flight is very quiet and sound- less compared with the noisy flight of the adult bird. GaLLUS BANKIYA BANKIVA. The Burmese Juiujle-Foivl. Phasianus bankiva. — Rafll., Trans. Soc, Lmu. XIII, p. 319, [Sumatra] (1822). Grand Gaille de la Chine. Sonn.; Voy. India Orient., II, p. 171 (1782), (China). Hackled Partridge.— Lath. Gen. Syn., II, p. 766, pi. 66 (1783), id., Gen. Hist., VIII., p. 307, pi. 129 (Cape ? ). Tetrao ferrugineus. — Gm. S. N., i., pi. 2, p. 761 (1788), China. Perdi.r ferruyinea. — Lath. Ind. Orn., ii., p. 651 (1790), Africa. Cotumix spadicea. — Bonnat. Tabl. Encycl. Meth., i, p. 218 (1791), China. Gallus bankiva. — Temm. Pig. et Gall., ii., p. 87 (1813), Java, iii., p. 654 ; Steph, in Shaw's Gen. Zoo., XL, p. 198 ; Horsf., Tr. Linn. Soc, XIII., p. 185 ; Griff, ed. Cuv., III., p. 20 ; J. E. Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. i., 43, fig. 3; Robinson and Kloss, Ibis, 1910, p. 672. GaUusfeyrugineus. — Jerdon, B. Ind. iii., p. 536 (part); Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 154 (part) ; Elliot, Mon. Phas., ii., p. 184, pi. 32, (part) ; Hume, M. and E., Ind. B., p. 528, part; Kelham, Ibis, 1882, p. I; Nichols, Ibis, 1882, p. 65; et? Ibis, 1838, p. 255; Gates, erf Hume's Nests and Eggs, III., p. 417 (part) ; Blanf., Avi. Bri, Ind., IV. p. 75 (part) ; Sharpe, Hand-L.-B., i., p. 39 (part) ; Bonhote, P.Z.S., 1901, p. 78 ; Ingram, Nov. Zool., XIX, p. 271 ; Barton, Journ. N. A. Siam, p. 108 ; Gairdner and Macolm-Smith, ibid, p. 151 ; Macdonald, Journ. B. N. H. S., XVII., p. 496 (1906) ; Baker, ibid, XVII., p. 764 1907) ; Harington, ibid, XIX, 309 (1909) ; Id, ibid, p. 365 (1909); Id, ibid, XX, p. 1010 (1911); Cook, ibid, XXI, p. 625 (1912); Hopwood, ibid, XXI, p. 1214 (1913). Galluii gallus. — Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B.B.M., XXIL, p. 344 (part) ; id Hand-L, Game B., II., p. 48 (part) ; Gates, Game B., of In. i., p. 366 (part). Vernacular Names. — Taukyet (Burmese). Description — Adult Male. — Differs from the common Indian Jun- gle-fowl in having the ear lappets red instead of white. The plumage above is generallj^ a deeper red, the neck hackles being less of a golden yellow or orange at their tips. It is also noticeable that the nock hackles are less attenuated and broader at their tips, though the characteristic is very variable, and ma}^ in some instances be due to an admixtm-e of domestic blood. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 19 Measvirements and colours of soft parts do not differ from those of the Indian bird except for the ear lappets, as already stated. Adult Female similar to that of Gallns h. ferruijineus . Young Male and C/iick in down cannot be distinguished from the same stages in the Common Indian Jungle-fowl until after the first autumn moult, when the deep red of the upper parts at once be- comes noticeable. The white ear lappets are replaced by red or deep pink even in very j^oung birds, and will always suffice to show to which sub-species a specimen belongs. Distrihution. — The whole of Burmah and the Malay Peninsula, Siam, Cochin, China, Sumatra and also Java, and many of the Islands of the Malay Islands, as well as in the Great and Little Cocos. In the Cocos the birds are certainly descended from tame stock, and probably in the majority, if not all of the Malay Islands, their origin is the same. Kidification. — The Burmese Jungle-fowl appears to breed princi- pally in the cold weather, from November to March, but in the hills rather later than this, generally in March and A.pril. Even here, however, it is often a very early breeder, for Harington tells me that he found them breeding in January and February in the Chin Hills, obtaining hard-set eggs in the former month and young chicks in the latter. Mr. C. B. Moggridge found broods of young birds as early as the 10th and 14th of January. In Pegu, Gates found them breeding from the end of February or beginning of March on into June and my collectors took eggs here as late as July, whilst Mr. Barton records finding a bird sitting on six eggs at Raheng in Siam on the 11th March. In the Malay Peninsula thej' are said to lay during February, March and April, and I have received eggs laid in these months from the vicinity of Taiping. There is nothing to distinguish either nest or eggs from those of the Indian bird. Gates says: " As a rule she makes no nest, but merely scrapes out a "hollow at the foot of a bamboo or other bush ; at times there "appear to be a good many leaves under the eggs. These " vary in number from 6 to 9 ; but Captain Wardlaw-Ramsay " once found 11 eggs in one nest ; in coloiir they are pale buff." Mr. C. S. Barton, to whom I have already refei'red, records find- ing a nest containing 6 eggs in an old stump. This is the only record I can find of the bird building off the ground, though it doubtless sometimes makes its nest in clumps of bamboos just as the Indian Jungle-fowl does. The usual number of eggs is 5, 6 or 7; often the}' only lay 4, and on the other hand 8 or 9 ma}^ sometimes be found. In size, shape and texture they differ in no way from those of the Indian bird. General Habits. — The Burmese Jungle-fowl seems to differ in 20 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. character from the Indian Jungle-fowl more decidedly than it does in outward appearance, and is probably even more closely allied to the domestic fowl than is the latter bird. It is on the whole less wild, less of a skulker, and far more amenable to restraint and domestication, for several writers record successfully rearing and keeping these fowls together with their barn-door fowls. A regards choice of country to live in both Indian and Biirmese forms seem to have similar likings. Gates writes : " There is no description of jungle from which this common " bird is absent ; but if it has a predilection for any particular " style of country, it is for the broken ground and ravines with " dense vegetation. In these localities (and there are many " such, especially at the foot of some of the Hill ranges) it is " abundant to a degree. Considerable numbers are generally " found together, the two sexes mixing freely together. In " Bur mail, I think, Jungle-fowl are more common near tiny " villages in deep forest than elsewhere, for in the neighbour- " hood of these hamlets there is always a certain amount of " paddy land, a good deal of low cover, and a running stream. " They feed in the mornings and evenings, and during the " middle of the day the}^ remain very quiet, either in some "tree or well-concealed under low bushes or grass." Mr. G. B. Moggridge (in a letter to the late Gol. Harington, which the latter had kindly made over to me with all his own notes) confirms what Gates saj'S, and also emphasises the Jungle-fowl's love of cultivation. " Anyone who has done much Jungle-fowl shooting soon learns to tell at a glance where the birds will fly when put up, but if one does not know the ground one is apt to take the first open space one finds, if it is fairly clear all round for shooting, with disastrous resiilts. The two best pla- ces I know are in Gargaw and Madaya^ but the former is the better as there are places where both sides of the creek are cultivated for miles, not with paddy, but in gardens. Here the favourite haunts of the birds were in Lu, a species of grain (^Milmm 'paspalu'in), Nantsi (Sessamer) and in gardens where a few Zeethe bushes had grown up among the others. All round the villages in Madaya you would find just as many birds as in Gargaw, but between the villages is where the latter gains, the cultivation extending so much further. We always found the beating very easy where there was a creek to stand in or beat over. Jungle-fowl like stajdng near water, and seem to haunt trees and bushes on the banks of the creeks, not onlj^ because of the water itself, but also because they prefer a clear space in which to spread their wings as they fly down from their nests, rather than having to dive down in and out through the closer set trees and bushes. At one place in the district, Gargaw, Mr. P.E, Cleaver got 97 birds to his own gun in one day." THE GAME BIRDS OF IN-DIA. 21 Jungle-fowl are probably more numerous in suitable places throiighoutBurmah than they are anywhere in India, for the gentle- man above quoted in other letters writes : — " Bell and I in 1904 in eighteen days shot 360 Jungle-fowl " and in 1905 in thirty days got 435 birds. The number of " days mentioned represents the total number of days we were " oiit in camp, and on some of these days we did not shoot at all, " being in jungles away from cultivation, etc. All our shooting " was done as we were on the march from one camp to another, " and no day was taken off work and devoted entirely to shoot- " ing. Under the same conditions as the above, and being " quite by myself, I shot whilst moving from one camp to " another between the 8th of January and end of February " 1910, 316 head of game, of which 127 were Jungle-fowl." They also seem to collect in larger flooks in Burmah than they normally do in India. In the latter place I have sometimes seen a couple of hundred in the same stretch of cultivation, but they were all broken up into flocks of a dozen or less, and anything over this number was quite exceptional. Davison and Hildebrand on one occasion counted 30 males and females seated on one enormous bent bamboo. This was in Pahporn in Tenasserim where Davison found them extremelj^ abundant. Again near Bhamo Major White- head once counted 40 birds together, but these were all cocks without ^a single hen. These cock-parties are not unknown in India where young- unpaired cocks often seek each other's society and assemble in small flocks of half a dozen or so, but I have never myself come across so large a party as Major Whitehead's, nor have ] any simi- lar record from any other observer outside Burmah. In regard to its food there is nothing special to remark upon, and as an article of diet itself it appears to be much the same as its Indian brothers and sisters. The crow is said to be distinguishable from that of the Indian Jungle-fowl, and to be more like that of the domestic bird, i.e., with the last note more prolonged and the crow as a whole le«s short and jerky, Gallus sonnerati. The Grey Jungle-foivl. Coq et I*oule sauvage des Indes. Sonn. Voy. Ind. Orient, II., p. 148, pis. 94-95 (1782). Wild cock.— Lath, Gen. Syn., 11., p. 698 (1783). Fhasiamcs r/allus. — Scop, (nee Linn.), Del. Flor. et B'aun. Insnbr. pi. 11., P- 93 (1786) ; Lath, Ind. Orn., IL, p. 625 (1790). Sonneraf s Wild Cock.— Lath., Gen. Hist., VIII., p, 181 (1823). Gallus sonnerati.—Teraxn. Pig. et Gall., 11., p. 246 (1813) ; 111., p. 659 ; Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool., XI., p. 200, pi. XII.; Temm, PI. Col. V., pis. 1 and 2 ; Griffith's ed. Cuv., 111., p. 19 ; Sykes, P. Z. S., 1832, p. 151 ; 22 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Jard., Nat Lib. Orn., p. 186, pis. XI. and XII. ; Blyth, Ann. Mag. N. H. XX., p. 388 ; iti., Cat. Mus. As. Soc, p. 243 ; Burgess, P. Z. S., 1856, p. 29 ; Jordon, B. Ind., III., p. 539 ; Bulger, P. Z. S., 1866, p. 571 ; Blyth, Ibis, 1867, pp. 154, 307 ; Elwes, Ibis, 1870, p. 528 ; Elliot, Mon. Phas., II., p. 34 ; Lloyd, Ibis, 1873, p. 401 ; Hume, N. and E. Ind. B., p. 531 ; Butler, Str. Fr., IV., p. 5 ; Fairb., ibid, IV., p. 262 ; Hume, ibid, IV., p. 404 ; Butler, ibid, v., p. 222 ; Fairb., ibid, V., p. 409 ; Marshall, B. Nests Ind., p. 59 ; Gould, B. Asia, VII., p. 56 ; Hume and Marsh, Game B. Ind., I., p. 231, pi. ; Davidson and Wend, Str. Fr., VII., p. 86 ; Butler, Cat. B. Sind, p. 53 ; Mclnroy, Str. Fr. VIII., p. 493 ; Vidal, ibid., IX., p. 76; Butler, ibid, IX., pp. 205, 421 ; Davidson, Str. Fr. X., p. 316; Davison, X., p. 409; Swinh. and Barnes, Ibis, 1885, p. 131 ; Taylor, Str. Fr., X., p. 464 ; Terry, ibid, X., p. 479 ; Gates, ed. Hume's Nests and Eggs, III., p. 420 ; id. Game B. of In., I., p. 364 ; Blanf., Avi. Brit. Ind., IV., p. 78 ; Sharpe, Hand-L., I.; p. 35 ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. B. M., XXI., p. 350 ; Barnes, B. N. H. S. Jour., VI., p. 3 ; Davidson, ibid, XII, p. 63 (1898) ; Betham, ibid, p. 363 (1900) ; Ferguson, ibid, XVI., p. 3 (1904) ; Finn., Avi. Mag. Feb., 1910, p. 129. Phasianus indicus. — Leach, Zool. Misc., II., p. 6, pi. 61 (1815). Fernacular names, — Jungli-murgha S , Jungli-murgi $ [Hindus) ; Komri {Mt. Abu); Pardah-Komri, {Gondki, Chanda Dist.) ; Ean-Kombada c? > Ran-Kombadi 5 {Marati) ; Kombadi {Deccmi) ; Kattu-Kozli or Koli (Tarn.) ; Adavikode (Teleffu); Koli, Kad-Koli, (Canarese) ; Geera-Kur (Marie Gond), Description — Adult male. — Feathers at the sides of the forehead dull rufous ; head, neck and hackles of the extreme upper back black with grey, fringes to the bases, and with numerous bars changing from golden j^ellow on nape and shoulders to pure white on the back ; on the longer feathers the black bars are glossed with purple blue. Feathers of the back, rump, and lesser win^ coverts black fringed with gray, and with broad white shaft streaks, the majority also Avith concealed longitudinal grey bars. Longest and lateral rump feathers highl}^ glossed with purple and with chestnut instead of grey fringes, in addition to which they are marked with pale yellow or white spots. Upper tail coverts l3lack glossed with violet, purple and blue, and edged with chestnut and buif. Median wing coverts and scapulars black, barred on the basal half with grey and Avith white shafts which expand at the tips for a length of about an inch into spatulate, flat plates of orange j^ellow about two inch wide ; the majority of which have fringes on the outer side of deep red. Greater coverts and quills blackish brown, the innermost quills and coverts with white shafts, and sometimes a small amount of whitish freckles near the tip. Lower parts from the hackles to vent dark grey brown to black with broad v/hite shaft stripes and grey or grey-white edges ; feathers of posterior flanks and a few of those on the abdomen with orange rufous edges. Feathers of vent and centre of abdomen dull rufes- cent brown ; under tail coverts black with white edges. Colours of soft parts. — " The legs and feet are yellow, or reddish yellow, and the claws black, but I have one specimen, probably a 3'oung bird, noted as having had the legs and feet greenish brown. THE (iAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 23 The bill is in the adult, more or less of it, black, the upper mandible often yellowish at the base, and the lower mandible also pale horny, Imt in younger birds the upper mandible is horny or greenish brown, and the lower mandible yellow. The irides of the adult are yellow or reddish orange, occasionally bright red, in younger birds yellowish bi'own." — (Hiinie.) Finn says that the legs of males in full vigour are a salmon red, and it appears that they are brighter and more red during the breeding season than at other times. The comb, bare face and wattles are crimson, brightest during the breeding season. Measurements. — " Length 28-0 to 32-0 ; expanse 27*0 to 31-0; wing 9'35 to 9"65 ; tail fi-om vent 14-0 to 16-0; tarsus 2-85 to 3-0; bill from gape 1-28 to 1-3; weight 1 lb. 10 ozs. to 2 lb. 8 ozs.; length of spur 1-3 to 1-75 inch." — (Hume.) The measurements of the birds which have passed through my hands somewhat exceed the above, two cocks having had a wing of full 10 inches (254 mm.) and one or two others nearly approaching it. I have also seen one bird with a tail of 18 inches. Youmj male. — Like the female, but much more rufous and more boldly barred and blotched. Young male on moulting from first plumage and before acquiring hackles has the whole upper plumage black, the feathers grey edged and with white shaft lines ; the wings and tails are like the female, but much darker, the underparts are like the adult but without the rufous on the flank and belly feathers. The median coverts and the scapulars where waxj- yellow and spatulate in the adult are marked with rufous in the young bird, and a few of the feather shafts are already somewhat flattened and spatulate. Colours of soft parts. — Legs dull waxy yellow, or horny yellow, never with an}- reddish tinge ; irides brown or yellowish brown ; bill horny, the culmen darker and the base of the upper and whole of the lower yellowish horn}'. The spurs are generally short and blunt, not exceeding 12 mm. in length. The rudimentary comb and wattles are dull crimson red, but the face is almost as bright a crimson as in the adult. The adult cock has a semi-moult during the rains, June to August, and loses his long neck hackles, and the long central tail feathers, the former being replaced by short feathers of dull brown black without the terminal sealing-wax spots of yellow. Adult female. — Upper part of the head dull pale brown, rufes- cent on the forehead and the feathers faintly white centred ; neck golden brown, feathers white shafted and with brown bands on each w^eb which increase in size on the mantle. Whole upper plumage, wing coverts and secondaries finely vermiculated pale sandy brown and dull black ;. tail dull rufous black mottled with rufous on the central feathers at the edges. 24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISr. fiOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Below white, each feather edged with dark brown and more or less speckled with brown inside this edging ; flanks mottled sandy brown and brown with broad white central streaks. Colours of the soft parts. — Irides red or yellowish red in fnlly adnlt birds, yellowish brown in the vounger ones and brown in birds of the first jear. Legs and feet dull waxy 3- ellow or yellowish brown, according to Hume brownish fleshy in younger birds : the soles are paler and the toes, generally, darker than the tarsus ;. claw dark horny brown or blackish. Bill horny brown, paler at the base of the tipper mandible and yellowish white on the whole of the lower. Rudimentary comb and bare facial skin dull crimson or brick red, less dull during the breeding season than at other times. Measurements. — "Length 18-0 to 20-0; expanse 26*0 to 27*0; "wing 7-8 to 8-3; tail from vent 6-0 to 7-0 ; tarsus 2-2 to "2-55; bill from gape 1-02 to 1-2; weight 1-lb. 9-ozs. to " 1-lb. 12-ozs.'" (Hume). Chicle in down. — Similar to that of the Bed Jungle-fowl, but with the lateral bands almost pure white instead of bright pale buff and the sides and lower parts dull grey instead of rich buff" and buff" respectively. HiTme considers that the northern birds, Mount Abu, " run rather larger and considerably heavier than the Nilgiri ones."' 1 can find nothing to confirm this, and have seen two bigger birds from the south of Travancore than from anywhere else further north. Distribution. — In 1898 Blanford thus defined the habitat of the Grey Jungle-fowl, and since that date [ have seen no record claim- ing and any further extension. " Throughout Southern and Western India in hill}^ and jungly " ground. This Jungle-fowl is found near the Eastern coast " as far no]"th as the Godaveri, and in the Central Provinces its " limit is some distance East of Sirmcha, Chanda and Seoni. " It is found throughout the Nerbudda Valley west of Jubbal- " pore, and in parts of Central India and Bajputana, as far as " the Aravalis and Mount Abu, but no further to the northward " or westward. It is met with near Baroda, but has not been " observed in Kattywar. It is common throughout the " Western Ghats and Satpuras, and it is found, though not " abundantly, on the tops of the Nilgiri and Palni Hills." South'\A'ards it is found almost, but not quite, down to the ex- treme south of Travancore. Nidif cation. — The breeding season, properly speaking, extends over Februarj^, March, April and May over the greater part of this bird's habitat, though Davison writing of the Western Nilgiris records October, November and December as the principal breeding months. As a matter of fact eggs, fresh and hard-set, and young, just hatched or nearly fully fledged, may be found in practically THE GAME BIRlJ.'S OF lABIA. 26 every month of the year. The months in which most will be foimd are those in which food is most abundant, a matter depen- dant upon the rains and other climate influences. In Travancore they breed steadily from March to -ruly, and Mr. T. F. Bourdillon took eggs as late as August 20th. They make their nests — when they make any — and la>- their eggs in much the same kind of country and jungle as do the Red Jimgle-fowl, and, like the latter birds, seem to specially approve of dense secondary growth and bamboo jiingle. They breed freely in the Sholas, or small woods, which nestle in the hollows in the Xilgiri Hills, but thej^ also breed in just as great numbers in the vast woods of Travancore and Mysore. Often they lay their eggs in a small hollow, either natui-al or scratched out by themselves in the shade of some bush or bamboo clump, and the nest consists merely of a slight collection of rubbish and fallen leaves. Sometimes the nest is formed of a mound of such material with a hollow in the centre for the eggs ; more rarely it is comparatively weW made of sticks, leaves, bamboo- spates, matted together in a solid mass whilst in still more cases it is perched up on a dead tree or stump or a clump of bamboos. The number of eggs laid is rather a vexed question. Miss Cock- burn, who was always extraordinarily lucky in the number of eggs laid bv birds with which she came in contact, says that the num- ber of eggs found in a nest is from 7 to 1 3 j Jerdon says from 7 to 10, and Davison says from G to 10. On the other hand Mr. J. Davidson tells me that he has never found more than 4 eggs in a nest, and Barnes mentions the number as 6 or 7, occasionally more. Mr. J. Stewart, through whose hands have passed a very large number of Travancore clutches, and who has seen an immense number in situ in a letter to me sa5^s, " I am sending you a clutch of 7 eggs of the Grey Jungle-fowl, an unusual number, for they generally lay only 4 or 5, and sometimes even less." There is a general tendency to overestimate the number of eggs laid by game- birds, and from the testimony of modern collectors I think it will be found that 4 or 5 eggs is the number most often laid, and that whilst a fair number of clutches of 6 or 7 eggs may be found, more than this is quite abnormal. The eggs are of coiirse very small, but can be otherwise all matched by varieties of the domestic fowl's eggs. The most com- mon type is fawn, or fawn-buff, but they varj- from very pale cream to a rich warrn bufl, generally quite immaculate, but sometimes covered with innumerable freckles of light brown, and occasionally distinctly spotted and speckled with light brown, dark brown, or reddish brown. In the latter case the spots are generally sparsely and irregularh' scattered over the whole surface of the egg and xsLry in size from that of a pin's head to spots as much as a couple of millimetres or more in diameter. These spotted and freckled eggs 4 26 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. are, however, exceptional, though comparatively a good deal more often met with than they are in Gallus hanMva ferrvgineus. As a rule the surface is ver}^ fine, smooth and glossy, but they vary from this to a surface which is densely pitted with tiny pores like those found on a guinea-fowl's egg. In shapes they are typical fowl's eggs, but in a large series a fairly wide divergence of shape may be met with, from a long narrow oval almost the same at either end to a broad scjuat oval with the smaller and distinctly pointed and compressed. In length the 50 eggs I have measured myself or of which [ have had measurements sent me varied between 1-72" (43-7 mm.) and 2-12" (53-9 mm.) in length and between 1-30" (35-0 mm.) and 1-46 (37'1 mm.) in width. The average of the 50 eggs is 1-80" (45-7 mm.) by 1-40" (35-5 mm.). Oates gives the variation in breadth of the series in the British Museum as being far greater than given above, but I have most carefully measured the series and find them ■ all to come within these limits. General habits. — Since Davison wrote his splendid description of this bird's habits there has been practically nothing further of value recorded, and so exhaustive and interesting ai"e these notes, that it is not likely that there will ever be much to add. He writes : " The Grey Jungle-fowl occurs but sparingij^ about the " higher portions of the Nilgiris, but is common on the lower " slopes, in the low country about the basis of the hills, and " throughout most parts of the Wynaad. I have found it " most abundant in the jungles between Metapolliem and " Kullar, and between this j^lace and Burliar about half-way " between Kullar and Coonoor, I counted 26 once (while " riding up to Cooncor early one morning) feeding along the " cart road here. " Unlike the Red Jungle-fowl, this species is not grega- " rious, and though occasionally one meets with small coveys, " these always consist of onlj' one or two adults, the rest " being more or less immature. As a rnle, they are met with •' singlj^ or in pairs. " The crow of the male is very peculiar, and might be " syllabled, Imck-haya-hya-lvuck, ending with a low, double syl- " lable like 'Jcyukun, hijuhvn,' repeated slowly, and very softly, " so that it cannot be heard except when one is very close to the " bird. Only the males crow, and that normally onlj'in themorn- " ings and evenings, though occasionally they crow at intervals " during the day when the weather is cloud3\ The crow is " very easily imitated, and with a little practice the wild " birds may be readily induced to answer. THE GAME BIRDS OF 2M)IA. 27 " They do not, however, crow the whole j'ear through, but " only from October to ]\lay, when they are in full plumage. " When flushed by a dog in the jungle, the}' flutter up into " some tree above with a peculiar cackle, a ' Kuch-lcuck-lcuck, ' " which, however, they onh" continue till they alight. " They come into the open in the mornings and evenings, " retiring to cover during the heat of the day, unless the '• weather is cloudy, when they, may be met with in the open " throughout the day. " Though found in evergreen forests, tliey seem to prefer " moderatelv thin and bamboo iungle, " Ordinarily, as already remarked, thej- are found scattered ; " but when a tract of bamboo comes into seed, or any other "particular food is locally abundant, they collect there in vast " numbers, dispersing again as soon as the food is consumed. " I remember on one occasion when the undergrowth of the " Sholas about Pykarra (which consists almost entirelj' of " Strohilanthes sjj.) seeded, the Jungle-fowl congregated there " in the greatest numbers. I mean by hundreds, and were '•' excessively numerous for more than a fortnight, when they " gradually dispersed, owing, I believe, not so much to the " seeds having all been eaten, as to what remained of them " having sprouted and so become uneatable. " In some ways they are not very shy ; by taking an early " stroll, even without a dog, along some quiet road by which " cattle and grain pass, several can always be obtained, but *• when they have been at all disturbed and shot at, they " become very wary, and even with a dog, before which they " ordinarily perch at once, they are very difficult to secure. In " such cases they run till they think they are out of shot, and " then rise, and instead of perching, take a long flight, often " of many hundred yards, and when they do alight, commence •' running again. " When out feeding they do not usually' wander far from " cover, and on any indication of danger they dart back into " this. They do not, however, go far in, generally only for a "very short distance, before stopping to listen, when, if all " seems quiet, they reappear in a short time within a few " yards of the spot at which they entered. If, on the contrary, " after listening thej- think that there is still danger, thej- " then retreat quietlj' and silently into the depths of the "jungle; occasional!}", after they have got some distance " flying up and hiding themselves in some bushy tree. '• When, however, as sometimes, though rarely happens, "' they are surprised some distance out in the open, they *' do not ran but rise at once and flv for the nearest cover, 28 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. " either perching in some leafy tree, or else dropping to the " ground. " The}^ are very punctual in their appearance at particular " feeding grounds, and when one or more are met with in any " particular spot, they are certain, if not disturbed in the " interim, to be found there again in the same place at about " the same hour the next or any subsequent day on which they " may be looked for. There was one particularly fine and " remarkabl}" shy and cunning old cock that frecjuented an " open glade in the forest (above the Government Cinchona " Plantations at Neddivuttum) in i;he morning, Avhereas in the " evening he always came into the plantation and wandered about under the cinchona trees, and along the plantation roads. He never, to ni}'^ knowledge — and I mvist have seen him fifty times at least — came into the plantation in the " morning, or into the glade in the evening. There was no ' ' doubt as to this being the same bird that frequented the two " places (nearly a quarter of a mile distant), for he was the " largest, handsomest, and to judge from his spurs, the oldest " C(5ck I ever saw. •' I loved that cock as a brother, I did, and " at last I circumvented and shot him.' " The best time to shoot the Jungle-cock is from October "to the end of May, as then his hackles are in the best " condition. " In June the moult begins, and the male gradually drops " his hackles and long tail feathers, the hackles being replaced "by short feathers, as in the female ; dming the rains the male " is a poor mean-looking object, not in the least like his " handsome self in the cold weather, and, fully conscious of " this fact, he religiously holds his tongue during this period. " In September, a second moult takes place, the short " feathers of the neck are again replaced by the hackles, the " long tail feathers reappear, and by October the moult is " complete and our Southern Chanticleer as noisy as ever. " The male usually carries its tail low, and when running, " it does so with the tail lowered still more, the neck out- " stretched, and the whole body in a crouching position as in "the Pheasants. " I do not know for certain whether the species is polygam- " ous or monogamous, but from what I have observed I should " think the latter ; for although the male does not, I believe, " assist in incubation, yet when the chicks are hatched, he is " often to be found in company with his mate and little ones. " These birds are, I believe, quite amtamable, even when " reared from the egg, and though in the latter case they may " not be so wild as those captured in maturity, they never take THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 29 " kindly to domestic life, and avail themselves of the first " opportimity for escaping-. It is needless to say that they " cannot easily be induced to breed in captivity. I have " known the experiment tried time after time unsuccessfully. " Numbers are trapped by the professional fowlers of South- " ern India and brought for sale, together with Pavo cristaius, " and Verdicula asictica to the stations on the Nilgiris, where " cocks in good plumage may be purchased for about 8 annas " each. Numbers are also brought to Madras from the Red " Hills, where they are even cheaper. When caught, the eyes " are closed by a thread passed throiigh the upper and under '• ej'elids and then knotted together ; a short string is then tied •• to one leg, and the other end made fast to a long stick. A " number of birds are placed side by side on this stick, which is " then carried about on a man's head. The poor blind birds " remain quiet, not attempting to flutter or escape. " Except for his feathers or as a specimen, the Grey Jungle- " cock is hardh' worth shooting ; the breast alone is really *' eatable, and even at the best the breast is very dry and " hard. " They roost on trees, continually in the earl 3^ mornings, " just at daylight, when out shooting Sambhur, I have disturb- " ed them from the trees on which they had spent the night. " Although armed with most formidable spurs, they are not, " so far as my experience goes, quarrelsome or pugnacious. " In the wild state I have never seen them fighting, and I for " many 3 ears enio3'ed peculiar opportunities for observing " them. In captivit3" half a dozen, with as many females, " will live in the same compartment of an aviary in perfect " peace. " Another proof of their non-belligerent character is to be " found in the fact that the native bird-catchers never peg " males out to attract others, as the3^ do in everj- part of the " East with all liirds that are naturall3'' pugilistic. Scores of " times I have listened to two cocks crowing at each other " vigoi'ously from closel3^ adjoining patches of cover, but " neither apparently ever thinking of, as an Amei'ican would " say, fioing for that other cock. " They are, I think, altogether less plucky birds than the " Eed Jungle-fowl, and thev are so extremely war3^, where " birds and animals of pi'e3- ai-e concerned, and wander such " short distances from the edges of cover, that I think ver3'- " few of them fall victims to an3^ enem3^ but man. There are " plent3'- of Bonelli's Eagle and some Hawk-Eagles too in " the Nilgiris, but 1 do liot think that these ever succeed in " capturing Grej^ as they do elsewhere Red, Jungle-fowl ; at 30 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. " any rate, I have never once seen the feathers of sonnerati " strewed about, as I have those of ferrugineus in Burma. " Their great timidity and watchfalness result in their " yielding much less sport than the Eed Jungle-fowl. You ■' may get these latter in standing crops and in many other " similar situations without any extraordinary precautions, but " the Grey Jungle-fowl never goes more than a few yards inside " the fields, and if a stick cracks, or a sound is heard anywhere " within 50 yards, he vanishes into the jungle, whence it is " impossible to flush him. Only when beating the narrow " well defined belts of tree jungle that run down the ravines •' on the hill sides in the Nilgiris, and which we there call " 'sholas,' is anything like real spot to be got out of them. " Then indeed the gam at the tail end of the shola may get " three or four good shots in succession, as they rise at the " end of the cover and fly ofi" with a strong well-sustained " flight to the next nearest patch. Even thus, working hard " and beating shola after shola, a man will be lucky to bag 5 " or 6 brace in a day. " The reason is, that all the well-defined sholas which can " be thoroughly beaten are in the higher parts of the hills, " where the birds are comparatively rare, while, when you get " lower down, where the birds are plentiful, the jungles are so " large that they cannot be effectively worked. If you merely " want to liill the birds, you might get perhaps 10 or a dozen " in a short time poking along some of the roads, but they " afford no sport thus, only a series of pot shots. " I remember once watching an old cock that my dogs had " driven up into a tree. For some time I peered round and " round (the tree was a large and densely-foliaged one) " without being able to discover his whereabouts, he all the " while sitting silent and motionless. At last my eyes fell " upon him, that instant he hopped silently on to another " bough, and from that to another, and so on with incredible " rapidity, till, reaching the opposite side of the tree, he flew " out silently, of course never giving me a chance at a shot. " As for food, they seem to eat almost anji^hing ; grain, ■' grass seed, grubs, small fruits and berries, and insects of " different kinds. I have sometimes killed them with " nothing but millet in their crops ; at other times quantities " of grass seeds, or again, after the grass has been recently " burnt, the tender, juicy shoots of the new grass." Gallus lafayetti. G alius laf ay etti. — Less. Traite d'Orn., p. 491(1831); Des Murs. Icon. Orn. p]. 18 ; Elliot Mon. Phas. ii., p. 33 (1873) ; Hume X. and E. Md. B. p. 530 (1875) ; Hume and Marshall, Game B. Ind. i., p. 241, pi. ; Hume, IHE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 31 Str. Featli. VII., p. 429; Legge. B. Ceyl. III., p. 736, pi. ; Gates ed Hume's Nests and Eggs, iii, p. 422; Ogilvie-Grant. Cat. B. 13. M. XXII., p. 349 (1893) ; id. Hand-L. of Game B.ll., p. 53 (1897) ; A. L. Butler, Jour. B.N. H. S. X., p. 311 (1896'!; Lewis, Ibis 1898, p. 339, 560; Blanf. Avi. Brit. Ind. IV., p. 77; Sharp, Haud-L. i., p. 39. Gcdlm stanlei/i.—Gmy, III., In. Orn. III., pi. 43 (1833) ; Blyth, Cat. B. A. S. B., p. 243 (1849) ; Jerdon B. of I. III., p. 540 (1860). Gallus li7mttus.— Blyth, J. A. S. B. XVI., p. 387 (1847). Vernacular names. — Weli-kukula S, Weli-kikili $ (Cint/.) ; Kada Koli (Ta7n.j Description, adult male. — Crown dull orange rufous ; feathers at the base of the naked throat in a patch about an inch long rich violet purple ; hackles on neck and upper back orange yellow shading into this from the rufous of the head and again into fiery orange red on the back ; the yellow feathers have black central streaks and the red feathers rich maroon ones, the black and the maroon marks grading into one another just as the rest of the col- ours do. Lower back and rump still darker, almost copper, red, the centres to the feathers here being deep violet blue, whilst the central and least lanceolate feathers have also a broad terminal patch of this colour ; a few of the longest upper tail coverts all black glossed with blue except for a narrow edge of fierj^ red. Tail black glossed with Prussian blue or blue-green, never apparently glossed with copper as in G. h. ferrugineus. Lesser wing coverts like the hackles of the neck, gradually merging into the median coverts which are like the back ; greater coverts black on the visible portions, deep rufous red or mottled rufous and black on the con- cealed portions. Breast and flanks like the back, the non-lanceo- late feathers next the abdomen rufous chestnut with broad black terminal bands ; vent and centre of abdomen dull brown-black with paler tips. Thighs black, most of the feathers with narrow chestnut fringes ; under tail coverts glossy blue-black. Colour 0/ soft imrts. — " Iris light golden yellow ; face, throat and wattles livid or purplish red ; comb bright red with a large interior yellow patch, brightest in front and blending into the surrounding colour; bill brownish i-ed, the lower mandible and tip of the upper pale ; legs and feet wax yellow, washed anteriorly with brownish, more especially on the toes." (Legge). Measurements. — " Length of examples with fine tails (which vary in length) 26-0 to 28-0 inches; wing 9-2 to 9-5; tail 13-0 to 15-0 ; tarsus 3-2 to 3-4 ; middle toe 1*7 to 1-8; claw (straight) 0-5 to 0-6 ; bill to gape 1-2. Length of comb from forehead to extremity 3-2 to 3-3 inches; spur 0-7 to 1-2." (Legge). " In the birds I have been able to measui'e the wings vary between 8-5" (215-9 mm.) and 9-5" (241-3 mm.) and the longest tail was 16" (406 ram.) whilst others were as short as 9" or 10" (228-6 to 254-0 mm.) "Weight 2-lbs. to 2-lbs. 5-ozs." (Hume). Yoiinfj males when they first acquire adult plumage appear to have 32 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. the centre of the belly and vent more rufous, the black bases to the feathers hardly showing. Younger birds still first acquire a certain number of semi-lanceo- late feathers intermediate in colouration between the adult and the first plumage ; the upper parts from the back to the tip of the tail are dark rufous, vermiculated with black, some of the back feathers shoAving small violet blue patches. Below the breast is a deep rufous chestnut, slightly barred and vermiculated with black on the upper breast and profusely so on the lower breast where it chan- ges into the dull dirty grej^'-black abdomen, lower flanks and vent. The under tail coverts are mixed rufous and black. " Young males in first plumage. — In the bird of the year the iris is light yellowish, the bill much the same as in the chick; the comb and spiirs but very little more developed and the wattles are absent. The head and upper part of the hind neck are yellowish rufous, the feathers with darker centres, deepening into chestnut red on the inter-scapular region, sides of neck, and breast ; in the lower part of the hind neck the feathers are somewhat elongated, with glossy blackish centres, and there are signs of the dark foreneck patch ; the metallic purple of the adult rump is present in small patches on the feathers ; the ground colour and tail, which is short, is ferruginous, mottled with blackish, with a greenish black wash on some of the tail feathers ; wings blackish brown, the secondaries and their coverts handsomeh" mottled with rufous and buS"; chin and gorge whitish, the feathers very short, lower parts rufescent, tipped with rufous." (Legge). Adult female. — Forehead dull rufous red, crown dull brown, the feathers finel}^ tipped black, nape, sides of the neck and sparse feathers of the throat dull rufous. Mantle, of which the feathers are far less lanceolate than in h. ferrugineus, blackish brown with pale shaft streaks and golden buif edges. Remainder of upper plumage pale buff*, rufous buff" or rufous brown vermiculated all over with black in fine wavy bars ; on the tail the vermiculations are bolder becoming irregular longitudinal barrings and blotches of black glossed with green. Median and smaller coverts like the back, but with sub-terminal bars of black and often white shafted ; the greater coverts and edge of wing are boldly barred with black and pale yellow buff ; primaries pale brown, mottled on the outer webs with black and bulf ; outer secondaries brown, boldly barred with black and buff" on the outer webs, inner secondaries vermiculated brown and buff along the centre, and boldly barred with black and buff on both webs and with chestnut vermiculations showing here and there. Below the almost semi-nude throat and foreneck a few feathers with broad glossy black edges take the place of the black patch in THE GAME BlliDS OF INDIA. 33 the male : upper breast, sides of the lower breast, and flanks vermi- ciilated black and rufous brown, remainder of breast, belly and thigh coverts white, each feather with a narrow black edging and one or two broad black bands near the visible base. Vent dull pale buff, under tail coverts black and rufous brown, much marked with white in some individuals. In some females which appear to be much younger birds the rufoiis brown of the upper breast extends low^er down, the brown of the flanks extends on to the breast, and only the centre of this latter is black and -white, a few red vermiculated feathers appearing amongst the others. In these birds it is also noticeable that there are no white shaft streaks to the upper pliTmage, and the general tone is more rufous and less earth-brown. The throat is, of course, comparatively well feathered with downy grey plumes. Colours of soft parts. — '■ Ii*is3-enowish olive ; bill, vipper mandible dark brown, lower yellowish ; tarsi and feet brownish in front, yellowish posteriorly," (Legge). Measurements. — "Length about 13"75"; wing 6-8 to 7*0; tail 3-5 ; tarsus 2-3 to 2-5 ; middle toe and claw 2-0 to 2-1 ; bill to gape M." (Legge). Wings of the females in the British Museum series and of a few others I have measured have varied between 6-5" (165*1 mm.) and 7-2" (183-8 mm.) Distribution. — Confined to the Island of Ceylon in which Legge describes its distribiition as follows : — " More or less scattered through the dry jungly districts of " the low country, and diffused throughout the hills of the " Southern and Central Provinces, It is rather rare in the "jungles of the maritime portions of the Western Province " and south-western district, and is not common even in the " forests of the interior .... On the eastern slopes of the " Morawah Korale where a drier climate prevails it finds a more " congenial home, and along the Wellaway River and from that " eastward it is numerous. In the maritime poilions of the " south-east it abounds . ,. , In the hills it is resident and "breeds commonly up to 6,000 feet." It is perhaps to some extent locally migratory, ranging higher or lower on the hills according to season, but beyond this appears to be resident wherever found. Xidijication.^lt is almost impossible to say that; the Ceylon Jungle-fowl has an}' real Ijreeding season, for throughout its range it woidd appear to be breeding during practically the whole year. Legge records that in the north of the Island it breeds princi- pall}- during the early part of the year, but that in the Hambantola district he found young birds in July, others in the neighbourhocd of Kadugannawa in December and others again in the Horton 5 34 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Plains in April, whilst he took eggs in Kukal Korale in August. Again writing to Hume he notes having seen j^oung birds with their parents in the South of the Island as early as February , Mr. W. E. Wait of the Ce3don Civil Service informs me that " the birds breed more or less throughout the year, and I have eggs taken in the months of Februar}'-, April, June and August," whilst I have seen others taken in some of the months already mentioned and also January, Ma}^ and November. As a rule the Ceylon Jungle-fowl makes its nest of- a pile of leaves and fallen rubbish in some natural hollow in forest. In his " Birds of Ceylon" Legge writes : — " The nest is almost alwaj^s placed on the ground near a " tree, under a bush, or beneath the shelter of a fallen log; a " hollow is scratched and a few dry leaves placed in it for the " eggs to repose upon. [ once found a nest in damp soil " between the large pi'ojecting flange-like roots of the Doon- " tree, containing two eggs partially incubated. "In 1873 Mr. Parker found a nest on the top of a young " tree about 30 feet high. He writes me that it had the ' appearance of a Crow's or Hawk's nest, of ^^'hich the Jungle- " hen had taken possession. She flew off and three eggs were " found to be in the nest." This curious habit of making its nest at some considerable height from the ground seems to be rather a characteristic of this Jungle-fowl. Many years ago I was told that such was the case by Mr. W. A. T. Kellow and by a jMr. W. Jenkins who collected for me in Ceylon and recently Mr. W. E. Wait again refers to tliis trait. He says : — " In one respect I differ from Legge's account of the nest- " ing of the Ceylon Jungle-fowl, or perhaps I should say '' siipplement what he says, for I would add that this bird's " nest is quite as often built off the ground as on it. The " most peculiar situation I have come across was in an oven- " shaped hollow about 8 feet from the ground in a fairly large *' tree which stood at the edge of a cart track running " through the jungle. A big braiich had been torn off at its "junction with the stem of the tree and the socket had rotted " out. In the hollow thus formed four eggs had been laid on " a soft layer of touch -wood which had crumbled to dust. On " another occasion I came across a nest in a biish overhanging " a dry water course. It was a mere depression in a matted " platform of dead leaves which had been swept down the " water course in some flood, and had been caught up by the " overhanging branches. " A favourite site is a stump of a tree which has been *\felled and left standing after the tree has been taken away. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 35 'In these cases there is a scant}'' bed of dead leaves which have " fallen from the stirroiinding trees and collected in the hollow " which generally forms on the upper surface of the stump in " a very short time." Other naturalists who refer to this habit of building in the stumps of old trees are Layard, Parker and Hart, so that it seems to be one well known both to the natives of Ceylon as well as to European observers. The Ceylon Jungle-fowl lays but very few eggs and we may dismiss Layarde's statement that they lay from 6 to 1 2 eggs without further consideration. The normal clutch would seem to be 2, 3 being sometimes laid and very rarelj' 4. Legge says : — " I have generally found that the eggs do not exceed 2 in "number, but sometimes 3, and occasionally 4 are laid." And Mr. Wait writes me that his own experience agrees with that of Legge and that whilsL he has but one clutch each of 4 and 3 eggs, he has taken many of 2, the majority of which have shown signs of incubation, slight or advanced. The eofo-g. when seen in a series at once strike one as differino- from all other Jungle-fowl's eggs, in that the majority are more or less spotted and speckled, whilst some are quite heavily marked in this way. I have now seen a considerable number of the eggs of the Ceylon Jungle-fowl ; 9 in the British Museum series, a fine series collect- ed by Mr. Wait, and a few others collected hj Jenkins, Kellow and others and some in the Ceylon Museum. In colour they are a pale stone, pale yellow buff or cream, in one or two slightly darker, but in none that I have seen do they ever approach the rich buff tint often seen in the eggs of the other species of Jungle-fowl. A few eggs are practically unmarked, but 3 out of 4 differ from those of the Red and Grey Jungle-fowl in being distinctly and profusely spotted with light brown or light purple brown. In some eggs the markings consist entirely of the finest freckles scattered over the whole surface of the egg in such numbers that at a short distance and casuall}^ examined the egg looks almost unicoloured ; in the majority of eggs, however, the tiny specks are accompanied b}- small blotches and larger freckles giving them a distinctly spotted appearance, whilst in others the shell is boldly blotched and marked with light brown, a few of the larger blotches measuring as much as 3 to 4 millimetres in diameter. One egg in Mr. Wait's collection has a pinkish stone coloured ground with numerous very fine freckles of dark red brown and a few small but bold spots and blotches of dark brown. The eggs in a clutch are not as a rule very evenly coloured, one being generally more spotted than the others, and sometimes 36 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. the contrast between the different eggs in the same clutch is veiy striking. The texture of the eggs is similar to that of the domestic fowl's egg, and varies to about the same extent. In some it is quite smooth and highly glossed, in others, just as hard and glossy, the whole surface appears to be minutely pitted with tiny pores, and in nearly every such case the pores contain the dark coloriring pig- ment which gives the freckled appearance. In shape they are remarkably constant, being broad short ovals, the smaller end differing but little from the larger. 1 have two eggs which are exceptionally long and narrow, and have seen one other which had the smaller end somewhat compressed. They vary in length between 1-65" (41-9mm.) and 1-95" (49-5 mm.) and in breadth between 1-27" (32-2mm.) and 1-57" (39-8 mm.), whilst the average of 28 eggs is 1-82" (46* 2mm.) xl-39" (o5-3mm.) The cock is apparently polygamous, though there is no very decided proof one wa}^ or the other. At all events, no one has yet discovered him taking an interest in his chicks, a trait which has been observed in the Grey Jungle-cock. The affection between hen and her chicks and vice versa has, however, been more than once commented on, and Legge notes how he once shot a hen whose half-grown chicks ran backwards and forwards about her where she fell uritil he had come up quite to them. The young would seem to remain with the hen until the succeeding breeding season, although the cock birds again mingle with the hens as soon as their duties of rearing their young are completed. General kahits. — On the whole the Ceylon Jungle-fowl appears to be a bird of the drier parts of the Island, being excessively com- mon in the maritime portion of the south-east coast in the dense Euphorbia Jungles which are there found in long stretches. It is probably resident wherever found, but it possibly only wanders into the highest hills during certain seasons of the year. Legge obser- ves : — " It is resident and breeds commonly up to about 6,000 feet. " On the Nuvara-Eliya Plateau and up on the Morton Plains ■ " it is very abundant during the north-east monsoon, coming " up from lower down on the hills, and probably to some " extent from the low country, to feed on the berries of the " nilloo. It is probable that many remain throughoiTt the " year in these uplands ; but, as I have only visited the Horton " Plains during the cool season I am unable to say if it is " found in that locality to any extent during the wet season." The Ceylon Jungle-fowl seems to be found in all sorts of jungle, fi'om the mafjnificent tree forest which covers the sides of the hills TRE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 37 and iiioiintaius to the low Euphorbia and other scrub jungle found on the sea coast and elsewhere. It is equall}- common in the bamboo-covered country, and may be found in bush, semi-culti- vation, or the dense secondary growth surrounding villages and old cultivation. They are extremeh* quarrelsome, pugnacious birds ; quite as fond of fighting as the Red Jungle-fowl and far more prone to this diversion than the grey birds. Layard says : — " The cocks fight most desperately in defence of their serag- " lios, the combat freqiiently terminating in the death of one " of the engaged parties." Their pugilistic tendencies often bring them to grief in other ways, however, for the natives are aware of them and, vide Legge, make use of them to decoy them within shot. " The sound of the flapping of the wings, which is of course " the invitation to battle, has the effect of always drawing two " birds together and the knowledge of this fact has given rise to " the device of imitating the noise, b}" doing which the sports- " man can bring the cock up to him, and if he be pi'operly con- '' cealed caueasih^ shoot him. * The natives make this sound by " clappitig against their thighs with the palm of the hand " hollowed, but Europeans can best do it by making a pad " with the handkerchief and beating it against the palm of the " other hand. By this means the exact sound can be made " and 1 myself once procured a very fine specimen in the " Ostenburgh Woods by adopting this plan." I have never heard anyone speak of making a regular business of shooting the Jungle-fowl in Ceylon as sportsmen do with the Grey Jungle-fowl in the Nilgiris and with the Red Jungle-fowl in many districts. Legge remarks that : — " This handsome bird, although so xqvj abundant in many ' parts is by no means easj' to shoot. It dwells entirely in ' cover, and though it is so fond of frequenting the vicinity of ' paths and tracks through forest, its sense of hearing is so ' acute that it removes to a safe distance at the sound of appro- ' aching footsteps, and though it will continue to utter its • challenge cry of "George Joyce", it gradually makes its ' way off behind some protecting hillocks or rise in the ' ground which shuts out the road or path from its view. The • north-eastern forests are well suited to its habits, the ground ' being covered with dry leaves, which do not decay so soon ' as in the humid jungles of the south ; and among these, ' hai'bouring a multitude of seeds, insects, and grubs, it ' scratches exactly after the manner of its domestic race. This ' scratching may often be heard on a still morning at some 38 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV, m " distance away, and if the bird be behind a mound, or little " eminence it can be approached if the sportsman is cautious " and makes no noise." Mr. W. E, Wait of the Ceylon Civil Service who has been so good as to send me some very interesting notes on Ceylon game birds, says that he thinks the words " Chuck joy Joyce " describes the cry of the Ceylon jungle-fowl even better than does the usually accepted syllables " george Joyce." He adds : — " The cocks often crow in the morning before coming down " from the branches on which they roost as I have several " times found when stalking a crowing bird. I have general- " 1}^ found them on a branch some 8 to 12 feet from the " ground, never very high up, although Legge says that they " roost on good-sized branches at a considerable height from " the ground. " Both cocks and hens feed along the grassy strips b}?" jungle " roads and paths in the mornings and evenings, especially if " the ground is damp after rain. They do not, however, stay " out very late, and by about 9-0 a. m. they have all entered " into the jungle again, and the cocks have stopped crowing. " Sometimes, however, if the weather is cloudy or wet and cool " the}^ will stay out feeding all day long, even when it is " actually raining. I remember once bicycling over a main " road through a forest in the North- Western Province on such " a da}' and within a distance of a mile or less I saw over a " dozen birds, mostly cocks. " Hens with chicks keep more closel}^ to cover than do the " cocks, leading their broods about in the undergrowth, " uttering a little squeaky metallic chuck as they go, ap- " parently a call note to the little ones. The broods remain " together until the chicks are almost full-grown, but I have " never seen cocks accompanying hens with chickens. The " cocks are polygamous, and I have frequently seen one feed- " ing with two or three full-grown hens, but he sheers off as " soon as family duties commence." It is a very common idea amongst the natives of Ceylon that when the Jungle-fowl eat the seed of the " nilloo", a species of iStrohilanthes which grows from 5,000 feet upwards, they become either blind or drunk, in which condition they are rendered so devoid of all sense or are so incaj^able that they are often caught. It is rather difficult to say whether there are grounds for this belief or not. Bligh wrote to Legge in connection with this belief: — " About that season of the jear if village fowls be brought " to the hills they rarel}^ escape a serious eye disease, which " rapidly spreads throughout a given district, and in many •' cases they become totally blind in two or three weeks. This THE GAME BIRDS 01 J^DIA. 39 " is the disease which the Jungle-fowl evidently catch, A " dog of mine caught a Jungle-cock with one eye lost, and " evidently from this cause." A collector working for me in Ceylon also once wrote to me that he had caught a cock sitting crouched under a bush, which made no attempt to fly as he approached, and which, when released, tumbled about for a bit on the ground, and then huddled itself up in some grass and allowed itself to be again caught. Nothing was observed to be wrong with this bird phj'sically, but its actions gave it the appearance of being hopelessly intoxicated. Mr. W. A. T. Kellow also once wrote to me and said that his collector informed him that it was no rare thing for them to catch Jungle- fowl in this — as they termed it — intoxicated condition. It may, however, be that Bligh's explanation is the correct interpreta- tion of these curious cases of apparent intoxication. That there is something which occurs at the time the Strohilanthes seeds, which renders the Jungle-fowl practically helpless is vouched for by Legge himself who asserts : — " Certain it is that at this period the Jungle-fowl in the " Horton Plains and about Naivara-Eliya do become affected, " and are apparently so intoxicated that they may be knocked " down with a stick." The crow of the Ceylon Jungle-cock has been described, as I have said above, as a call of " George Joyce" rapidly repeated. This call, according to Mr. Holdsworth, is uttered by the cock as he runs up and down some stout branch, raising and lowering his head at each call. Never having seen the bird in its wild state, I cannot say whether this is correct or not, but when in -captivity it undoubtedly " crows" much as a domestic cock does, stretching himself on tip-toes higher and higher as he proceeds, and often flapping his wings both before and after crowing. I have often seen the Red Jungle-fowl crow, and certainly this is the attitude always adopted by them, and it is most amusing to see a fine Jungle-cock caught in the middle of a crow ; his triumphant attitude of challenge to the whole world crumples up so instantane- ously as he leaps to the ground and skulks off" with head and tail down and body as close to the ground as he can get it. The Cejdon Jungle-fowl is not easy to bring up in captivity, and as a rule, does not long survive close confinement. At the same time a good njany birds have been successfully reared and domes- ticated, though 1 know of no instance in which birds allowed their freedom have not eventually cleared ofl" altogether. 40 SCIENTIFIC KESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SURVEY. No. XV. (A) The Indian Gerbils or Antelope Rats. By R. C. AVroughton. The group of animals represented by the name Gerbilhs wcZicws, m Blanford's Mammalia (No. 2C4), was recognised as a sub-genus of Gerhillus, by Lataste, in 1882 (Le Natnraliste, ii. No. IG, p. 126) under the name Tatera. In 1902 it was accepted as a full Genus, whose members were found from Cape Town, northwards throughout Africa, and thence eastwards through Persia and India to Ceylon. The tj-pe species of the genus w^as " Gerhillus inclictis, Hardwicke." The tail in all the African species (except in nigricmida, from British East Africa, which has a wholly black tail) is dark above and pale below, whereas in all the Asiatic forms the tail is dark above and below, and pale on the sides. Mr. W. R. Sherrin has recently called my attention to a skull character, viz., the shape of the parietal bone, which on examination proves to be quite as constant a distinguishing character as the tail pattern. I now therefore have no hesitation in separating the African forms as a distinct Genus, which I propose to call. Taterona, gen. nov. Genotype Taterona afra (Gerhillus afer, Gray.) The tail is dark above and pale i3elow (except in nigricauda, where it is entirely black), whereas in restricted Tatera, it is dark above and below and pale at the sides. The lateral sutures of the parietal, from the post-orbital pro- cess backwards, run horizontally for a certain distance, then turn vertically downwards for a greater or less distance; and again return sharply to the horizontal. In Taterona the length of the middle vertical part of the suture varies a little, but never ex- ceeds one-third of the distance between the post-orbital process and the downward turn, while in 'Tatera it is approximately equal to this distance. In Taierona the basi-sphenoid appears to taper forward to a point or narrow neck, owing apparentljj to the turning upwards of the lateral edges, almost to the vertical ; in Tatera, in which these edges are less turned upwards the basi-sphenoid does not seem to taper. Finally in Taterona the bridge over the ante-orbital foramen is relatively wider than in Tatera and the plate below the lachrymal formed by the flattening of the front edge of the orbit SCIENTIFIC RESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SURf'EY. 41 terminates more abnipth' at its OTiter end in Taterona tlian in Tatera, in which latter it is also usually broader. These last two characters however, though true in a very large number of cases, are not constantl}' reliable. The Geographical ranges of Tatera and Taterona correspond with the continents of Asia and Africa respectiveh'. When I studied these Gerbils some j-ears ago (A.]\I.N.H. 7, Vol. XVII, p. 474, 1906), the material available from India was so scanty that I was forced to content myself with recognising the two species indica and cuvieri. With the material now made avail- able by the Survey, I have been encoTiraged to make a fresh examination of the forms contained in the Genus Tatera as restricted above. The species of the Genus Tatera. The Genotype and earliest species? of Tatera to be described was G. iiidicns by Mr. Hardwicke in 1807. The type locality was given as " India." The type itself is in the National Collection, but faded almost bej^ond recognition and with its skull much dam- aged. In 1838 Mr. Waterhouse separated cuvieri, also giving the tj^DC locality as " India". Thist^-peis likewise in the National Col- lection, having been received from the Zoological Society so long as 60 years ago. A manuscript catalogue of that Societ3''s Collection before it was dispersed, which has recenth' been found shows that the specimen was from Arcot, Madras. In 1843, Mr. Gray, in his List of Mammalia, published the name G. liardwickei ^\■ithout any description, but he placed under it as synonyms " G. indicus, Waterhouse and Mus (Gerbillus) indicus, Elliot." Waterhouse in describing his cuvieri compares certain of its characters Avith those of an animal which he calls " Gerhillus indicus, Hardwicke", these characters, however, are such that an}^ determination of the exact animal referred to is impossible. Mr. Elliot, however, gives a very full description of the Dharwar Tatera (under the name Gerhillvs indicus, Hardwicke) of which several specimens, unfortunately in very poor condition, contributed by Mr. Elliot himself, are in the Kational Collection. As Mr. Waterhouse recorded nothing which does not apply to this animal we are entitled, indeed constrained, to accept the Dhar\A'ar Tatera as the animal indicated under the name hardAvicTx^i by Mr. Graj" and to consider Mr. Elliot's specimens as the co-tj-pes. . Ten j-earsago (A.M.N.H. 7, Vol. XVII. p. 499,1906) I named T. ceylonica, basing it on a single immature specimen very badl}' made up. The characters, I recorded, are, on more careful examination and comparison with Surve}' specimens, shown to be misleading. It is now clear that the type of cet/lonica is really a young animal of thespecies of which very long series were obtained in Cevlon bv Major Mavor. Next the series obtained by 6 42 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Fol. XXV. Mr, Prater in Sind, proves to be quite distinct from any other fonnd in India, resembling in its colouring as is not unnatural, the Persian species tceniura, i?ersica, &c. Finall}', some specimens collected by Col. Dunn, at Ambala, also rec|uire a name. There are thus six species inhabiting India and Ceylon (but not Burma) which may be arranged in a ke^^ as follows : — Key. A Feet and tail short, only exceptionally exceeding 40 ard 190 mm. respectively. a General colour bright bay (Central India and Behar). (1) Tatera indica, Hardwicke. b General colour drab grey (Sind) (2) Tatera sJierrini, sj).n. c General colour pinkish buff (Ambala, Punjab). (3) Tatera dunni, sp.n. B Feet and tail longer, at least 44 and 200mm. respective^. a Anterior palatal foramina very long (10mm.), general colour ba} (South Maratha Country) (4) Tatera hardivicJiei, Gray. b Anterior palatal foramina short (6-7mm.). aa General colour buffy (Soutli Madras) (5) Tatera cuvieri, Waterhouse. bh General colour reddish (Ce5'lon) (6) Tatera ceylonica, Wroughton. (1) Tatera indica, Hardwicke. Mr. Hardwicke describes this species as " bright bay, mixed with pencil-like strokes of dark brown longitudinall}^ disposed." Unfortunately no really mature specimens were obtained by the Survey in Kumaon, from whence so many of ]\Ir. Hard- wicke's specimens were obtained, but I think there can be no doubt that the bright bay animal found throughout Behar, Khandesh, Central Provinces. Kathiawar and Palanpur be- longs to this species. The dimensions given hj Mr. Hard- wicke (reduced to millimetres) are head and body 167; tail 175. The average of eight adult specimens from Behar and Khandesh is head and bodj^ 175 ; tail 190 ; hindfoot 40 ; and ear 24. The type skull is badly broken, but its greatest length is 4G mm. and from a skull of this length from Midnapur I record the following measurements, viz.: — Condylo-incisive length 41*5; zj^gomatic breadth 25.; interorbital breadth 7; diastema 13; nasals 20 ; anterior palatal foramina 8-5 ; posterior palatal foramina 2*5 ; and upper molar tooth row 7. SCIENTIFIC RESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SURVEY. 43 So far as material is available it seems that the range of indica is Behar, the United Provinces, the Dekhan, and Gnjerath. (2) Tatera sherrini, sp. nov. Size as in indica. Fnr soft, silky, and fairly long (20-25 mm. on lower back). General colour above "ecru drab", below pure white. Face with usual pale markings before and behind the eyes. Feet white. Tail quadricolor, blackish above and below buff" on the sides, tip (60-65 mm.) black, with lengthened hairs almost amounting to a tuft. Skull smaller than in indica ; the anterior palatal foramiaia short, the posterior exceptionally long ; bulte relatively large. Dimensions of the type. — Head and body 162 ; tnil 191 ; hind- foot 37 ; and ear 24. " Skull : — Greatest length 42 ; condjdo-incisive length 37"5 ; Zygomatic breadth 21 ; interorbital breadth 7 ; palatilar length 18-5; diastema 11-5; nasals 18; anterior palatal foramina 7; posterior palatal foramina 3*5 ; and molar tooth row 6. Habitat. — Sind. Type from Jacobabad. Tii2ye.— Old male. B. M. No. 15. 11. 1. 88. Original number 427.' Collected by Mr. S. H. Prater on the 21st February 1915 and presented to the National Collection by the Bombay Natural Historj- Society. Altogether 22 specimens were obtained by the Survey. The contrast between the drab colouring of sherrini and the ochraceous of indica, or even the buff' of diinni, is very marked, and in this sherrini seems to approach much more closely to taeniura, persica, &c., the Persian forms. 1 have much pleasure in naming this very distinct species after Mr. W. R. Sherrin, of the Natural History Museum, who has given such invaluable assistance in organising the storage of the Survey material and in many other ways. (3) Tatera dunni, sp. n. A Tatera of the same size as sherrini, from which it is distinguish- able by its pale buffy coloration. Size as in sherrini. Fur soft and silky, but shorter than in that species (15-20 mm. on the lower back). General colour above " pinkish buff"," below pure white. Otherwise as in sherrini. Skull slightly longer and stouter than in sherrini, the anterior palatal foramina markedly longer. Dimensions of the type. — Head and body 160 ; tail 190 ( ? the Collector recorded it as 203, but it bad obviously been distorted, the other specimens gave nvuch smaller figures); hindfoot, 37 ; ear 24. Skull : — Greatest length 44 ; condylo-iucisive length 44 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 39 ; zygomatic breadth 22 ; interorbital breadth?; palatilar length 20: diastema 12; nasals 19*5; anterior palatal foramina 8*5; posterior palatal foramina 2-5 ; upper molar tooth row, 6*5. Habitat. — Ambala, Punjab. T^jjs. — Old male. B. M. No. 9. 4. 6. 10. Original number 254. Collected on 11th Jantiary 1909 and presented to the National Collection by Col. H. N. Dunn, R.A.M.C. Eleven specimens are in the Collection. This species seems to me, judging by the skull, to be more related to indiea than to sherrini, and it is possible that, when more material is available from Rajputana and the Punjab, it may be found to intergrade with the former, (4) Tatera hardvncJcei, Gray. As recorded above Mr. Gray based this name on Mr. Elliot's des- cription of the Dharwar Tatera, which gave the colour as " uniform bright fawn" and the dimensions as : — Head and body 175; tail 202 ; hindfoot 50 ; ear 22*5 (these are converted measurements). These fairly correspond with those of the -Survey material in the Dharwar, Kanara, and Koyna Valley Collections, except in the size of the hindfoot. I have never seen a Tatera with a hindfoot of 50 mm., so no doubt Mr. Elliot's measurement was taken differently from the method now employed, which gives an average of 44 mm. (max. 45). The skull is noticeable for its very long anterior palatal foramina. The following are the dimensions of the skull of an adult male from Dhawar, viz.. Greatest length 48; condylo-incisive length 41-5; zygomatic breadth 25 ; interorbital breadth 7 ; palatilar length, 21; diastema 13; nasals 21 ; anterior palatal foramina 10; poste- rior palatal foramina 2-5 ; upper molar tooth row 7. This species extends from Dharwar District southwards along the wooded belt on the West Coast to Travancore, and north along the Konkan and Ghats, at least as far as Ratnagiri, We have not sufficient material to dogmatise on its extension inland, but we know that in the north it gives wa}^ to indiea in Ahmednagar, and in the south to cuvieri in Bellary and Mj^sore. (5) Tatera, cuvieri, Waterhouse. " General colour very bright cinnamon j'ellow" is Mr. Waterhouse's description, and be gives the dimensions as: — Head and body 177 ; tail 200; hindfoot 44; ears 15. These correspond very fairly with those of specimens from Seringapatam, Vijayanagar, Trichinopoty, &c., except that the ear measurement cjuoted is evidently not the same as that now in use. The type skull is badly broken, but I gather that its greatest length was about 44 mm. From the skull of an old female from Seringapatam, I can record the following SCIENTIFIC RESULTS FROM TRE MAMMAL SURVEY. 45 measurements, viz., Greatest length 45 ; condylo-incisive length 39 ; zygomatic breadth 25 ; interorbital breadth 7 ; palatilar length 21 ; diastema 12; nasals 19; anterior palatal foramina 8; posterior palatal foramina 2 ; npper molar tooth row 7 . The range ot'cuvieri seems to be Bellarj-, Mj'-sore and the whole coun- try soutli of them, except the wooded Ghat strip on the West Coast. (6) Tatera ceylonica, Wronghton. I regret to saj" that in making these species I M-as misled bj^ the condition of the solitary specimen, contributed by Mr. Kelaart. The fine series now available enables me to give a revised descrip- tion of the species. The general colour of the adult is very similar to that of harcl- toickei (not cuvieri, as would seem probable), but there is a somewhat larger admixture of black. The body dimensions are almost exactly those of cuvieri. The skull measurements of an adult female are as follows, viz., Greatest length 47 ; condylo-incisive length 40 ; zygomatic breadth 23-5 ; interorbital breadth 8 ; palatilar length 20; diastema 1 2 ; nasals 20; anterior palatal foramina 7 ; posterior palatal foramina 2 ; upper molar tooth row 6"5. Tatera ceylonica seems to be spread all over the Island. (B) The Slender Loris of Malabar. By R. C. Wroughton. When dealing with the Mysore Collection (Vol. XXII, p. 285^ 1913) Miss Ryley explained that the name gracilis for the Ceylon Loris must give place to the much older tardigradus, and that these Mysore specimens must be known as lydekkerianus, Cabrera, being practically topotypes of that species. Later, on receipt of the Coorg Collection, not having specimens from Ceylon for comparison, she recorded them (Vol. XXII,, p. 494, 1913) as tardigradus. Since then Major Mayor having obtained some specimens in the two Ceylon Collections (Nos. 13 and 18), I have now compared the three series of Loris and have come to the conclusion that the animals of Ceylon and Coorg belong to distinct species, and I propose to found a new species for the Malabar Loris under the name : — Loris malaharicus , sp. n. A Loris markedly smaller than either tardigradus or li/deJiJceriamis with a strong russet tinge. Size smaller than either tardigradus or lydelcJieriamis. General colour above "wood brown"^ darker on the nape and upper back, but without any sign of a dorsal median dark stripe as in the 46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Mysore Loris. Hairs of dorsal area tipped with silvery as in the other forms. Below buff, dull white in the other two species. Dimensions as below : — malaharicus. tardigradus . hjdeklierianus, Head and body 216 245 260 Tail 7 ■ • • Hindfoot 45 51-5 54 Ear 25 32 32 Skull: - Greatest length 48 55 55 Condylo-basal length 41-5 46 47-5 Zygomatic breadth 29 34 35 Upper molar tooth row 13 14 15 The Collector records that the type of mrtZct&aHc^^s had a tail 7 mm. long when taken. Probably all have a very short tail which is not appreciable in a skin. Hahitat. — Malabar. Type from Kutta, South Coorg. Tij]p6.—A. young adult female. B. M. No. 13. 8. 22. 3. Original number 2586. Collected by Mr. G. C. Shortridge, on the 21st February, 1913, and presented to the National Collection by the Bombay Natural History Society. The Survey obtained altogether four specimens while another from Travancore in the British Museum Collection also belongs to this species. (C) A NEW "LEAF monkey" FEOM THE ShAN StATFS. By R. C. Wroughton. When writing the Shan States Keport (J. B. N. H. S., Vol. XXII., p. 715, 1914) Miss Ryley recorded the local leaf monkey as P. ithayrei. In the Mt. Popa Report when true phayrei had been received, I suggested (Vol. XXIII, pp. 464-465, 1915) that the Shan States animal might be harhei. Three descriptions of harhei are available, viz. — Bh^th's original description (J. A. S.B., xvi., p. 734, 1847), another in his Cata- logue of the Mammalia in the Museum of the Asiatic Society (p. 14, 1863), and a third by Anderson (Ind. Mus. Cat., i., p. 48, 1811). Both Blyth and Anderson note that the shoulders and fore- limbs are pale (" silvered," " greyish brown "), but neither of them notices the radiation of the hair from a single central point on the forehead. I M'rote to Dr. Annandale of the Indian ]\Iuseum, Calcutta, who replied that the type of harhei " is an old specimen which has been mounted and exhibited for the last 70 j^ears. There is no crest on the top of the beast's head and no definite whorl of hair." Dr. Annandale had the head photographed and most kindl}" sent me a cop}- which is here reproduced. SCIEXriFIC RESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SURVEY. 47 Head of the t3-pe of FWiecus harhei, Elyth. This evidence seems to me conclusive that harhei belongs to the section of the lano-urs which have the hair laid straio'ht back from the forehead over the crown. The Shan States langnr has a dis- tinct centre from which the hair radiates, on the forehead, and cannot therefore be harhei, I propose therefore to describe it as new under the name : — Pithecus shanicus, sp. n. A leaf monkey with the hair on the forehead radiating from a single central point ; smaller than any other Indian species having this character; most nearlj- approaching (amongst them) hiipoleucos in general colour, bnt wanting the black limbs of that species. Size small. General colour above a slaty grey with a paler brown- ish tinge on the upper back ; hind limbs and base of tail slightly 48 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. washed with silvery ; a dull whitish collar extending across the nape between (and including) the whiskers. Upper and lower lips white. Hands and feet black. Below sparsel}'- haired, greyis-h white. Sknll more spherical (less elongate) and ninch smaller than in the true langnrs ; frontal ridges obsolescent, the flattened area immediately above them, so marked in entelhcs, schistacetis, &c., entirely absent, with a conseqnently shortened muz ale. Dimensions of type, — Head and body 690 ; tail 755 ; hindfoot 168; ear 33. Skull; — Greatest length 107; condylo-basal length 83; zygomatic breadth 79; breadth across orbits 65 ; palatal length 37 ; upper molar tooth row 28. Habitat. — Northern Shan States. (Type from Hsipaw, alt. 1,400'). 2'7j.>e.— Adult male. B. M. No. 14. 7. 8. 5. Original number 3080. Collected by Mr. .G. C. Shortridge, on the 26th May 1913, and presented to the National Collection by the Bombay Natural History Societ}'. In all 20 specimens obtained. Dv. Anderson in his Anat. and Zool. Besearches records having seen troops of monkeys, which he surmised to be P. barhei, but which were almost certainly these species " in the Valley of the Tapeng, in the centre of the Kakhyen hills " and again " in the defile of the Irrawaddy, above Mandalay, on the left bank of the river." These species fall in Blanford's key, into Section .A, on account of the whorl of hair on the forehead, this arrangement though conve- nient is quite artificial, for shanicus is in no way closely i-elated to the true langurs, but, as already stated, to the leaf monkeys such as obscurus, &c. (D) PaRADOXURUS NIGER AND HERMAPHRODITUS OF BlANFORD. By E. C. Wroughton. Of the five species placed by Blanford in his key to the genus Paradoxurns, one he places in a section, " B," by itself. This species is now general!}^ recognised as belonging to a distinct genus, Paguma, mainly on the characters used by Blanford. The two species aureus and jerdoni, from Ceylon and Malabar respectively, are such strongly marked forms that they too may be left out of consideration here. Thus there remain the two names niger and her maphrod.it us, undei' which Blanford has ranged all the true toddy-cats. On laying out all the available material for comparison, it at once becomes clear that we have not only two, but five forms, as follows, viz. : — (1) a northern peninsular form, (2) a southern peninsular form, (3) an Assam form, (4) a Burmese form, and finally (5) a northern Malay form, which extends into our limits, at any rate throughout Tenasserim. SCIENTIFIC RESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SURVEY. 49 The following is a list of the names given at various times to the .Indian toddy-cats, viz. : — 1778. V. h-irmaphrodita, (Pallas), Schreb. Saiig., iii., p. 426. 1820. V. 2?rehensilis, nigra and bondar, Desm. Mamm., pp. 208, 210. 1821. F. ti/pus, F. Cuv., Hist. Nat. :>ramm., pi. 186. 1828. r. leKcojms, Ogilb., Zool. Journ., iv., p. 300. 1832. P. pallasi, pennanti, crossi, and limmltoni, Gray, P. Z. S., pp. 65-68. 1836. P. hirsutus, Hodgs., As. Res., xix., p. 72. 1837. P. stridus, and qiiadriscriptus, Horsf., A. M. N. H. (2), xvi., pp. 105, 106. 1841. P.felimis, Wag., Schreb. Saug., Supp. ii., p. 349. 1855. P. (juinquelineatus, and musangoid£s, Gray, Ch. M. N. H., i., p. 579. 1864. P. nigrifrons, Gvaj, P. Z. S., p. 635. 1891. P. niditatans, Tayl., J. B. N. H. S., vi., p. 1910. P. vicinus, Schw., A. M. N. H. (8), vi., p. 230. 1914. P. hennapkryditus ravus, Mill. Sni. Misc. Colls., Ixi., 21, p. 2. The name liennapkrodAhis undoubtedly represents a Paradoxurus, Irat is specifically indeterminable, and was recognised as such by Desmarest so long ago as 1820. The habitat was given as " Bar- barey". Of Desmarest's three names the first, prehensilis, is 1 believe not specifically recognisable, the habitat is said to be Bengal. It is stated to be based on a drawing from a sketch by (?) B. Hamilton. The second name, niger, answers the description of the southern toddy-cat. Its despatch alive to Paris from Pondi- cherry confirms this diagnosis. It is true that Desmarest adds : "On la dit originaire des Molluques," but I attach little importance to this, which was more than probably the vendor's attempt to enhance the value of his goods. The third name, bondar, is again based on a sketch from one of (?) B. Hamilton's drawings, also with the habitat " Bengal ". I cannot place it at all certainly, and find it safest to accept it as a synonym of niger, of which also the i//j.>us of Cuvier is another, as are also leucopus, Ogilb., and niditatam, Taylor, these being albino examples from Orissa. Gray's names, pallasi, pennanti. crossi and hamiltoni, were all based on menagerie specimens and but for the fact that the types of crossi and pallasi are extant would all be indecipherable. These t\^es show that crossi is the same species as Itirsutus, Hodgson and niger, Desmarest. Horsfield's strictvs and qnadriscriptus represent the Assam form. Wagner's felinns and Gray's nigrifron.<(, quinqvelineatus , and mnsangljides, based on animals- in captivity^, are all equally beyond recognition. ^liller's ravus represents the Tenasserim form. 50 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL KIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. These five forms maj-now be arranged in a key, as follows, viz. : — A. Back and sides not or only obscu- rely striped and spotted. ; (North India) ... ... crossi, Gray. B. Back and sides distinctly striped and spotted. a. Smaller, hindfoot 75-80 mm., greatest length of skull 105-110 mm. Ground colour gray. (South India) ... ... ... niger, Desmarest. h. Larger, hindfoot 80-90 mm., greatest length of skull 115-120 mm. a^ Ground colour fulvous. (Assam) ... ... stridus, Horsfield. h^ Ground colour dull or buffy white d' Crown of head black (Upper Burma) ... hinnanicus, Wroughton. b' No black crown (North Malay) ... ravus, Miller. Paradoxurus crossi, Graj^ 1832. Paradoxiirus crossi, Gra}^, P. Z.S., p. 66. 1836. Paradoxurus hirsutus, Hodgson, As. Res., xix., p. 72. 1864. Paradoxurus niijrifrons, Gray, P.Z.S., p. 635. A Paradoxurus showing ordinarily a mere smear of blackish (often amounting to a dark mauve brown rather than to black) on a grey ground. Hair fairlj^ long but rather coarse. Rarely showing definite strijDes on the back and never the usual &T)ots on the flanks. Hodg- son records it from the Nepal Terai, whence it occurs westwards through Rohilcund, the Deccan and Central India to Rajputana. Paradoxurus niger, Desmarest. 1820. Viverra niger, Desmarest, Mamm., p. 208. 1820. Viverra bondar, Desmarest, 1. c, p. 210. 1821. Paradoxurus tyjjus, F. Cxiyier, Hist. Nat.. Mamm., pi. 186. 1828. Paradoxurus leucopus, Ogilby, Zool. Journ., iv., p. 30(> (albino). 1832. Paradoxurus jiaUasi, Gray, P. Z. S., p. 66. 1891. Paradoxurus nictitatans, Taylor, J. B. N. H. S., vi., p. 2. A smaller animal than the preceding and either of the following. The stripes and spots very heavily marked in deep black on a grey ground. The type was from Pondicherry ; it ranges however from SCIENTIFIC RESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SURVEY. 51 Orissa on the east to Ceylon in the south and the Southern Mahra- tha Country in the nortli. Paradoxurus strictus, Horsfield. 1837. Paradoxurus strictus, Horsfield, A. M. N. H. (2), xvi., p. 105. 1837. Parado.ntrus quadriscriiAns, Horsfield, 1. c, p. lOG. 1910. Paradoxurus vicinus, iSchwarz, A. M, N. H. (8), vi.,p. 230. A larger animal, about the size of crossi. Fur long and soft, the stripes and spots marked in black on a fulvous ground. Hodgson records it from the central region of Nepal, whence it ranges east- ward through Dai"jiling, Bhi^tan Duars, and Assam. Schwarz's vicinus is a very brightly coloured specimen, with smaller measure- ments, but it is quite a young animal. Paradomirus hirmanicus, sp. n. A Paradoxurus of fully average size, with distinct black stripes and spots on a very pale, almost white, ground. Size as in strictus and crossi. Fur shorter and coarser than in strictus. Head black, with the usual white blaze across the face, between the eyes and the ears. General colour above a dull white or very pale buffy gre}-, with the usual three median dorsal stripes, and with scattered spots arranged more or less in lines parallel to the stripes. Skull as in crossi, &c., but lighter and somewhat smaller. Dimensions of the type : — Head and body, 570 ; tail, 510 ; hind- foot, 85 ; ear, 48. SJndl: — Greatest length, 110 ; condyio-basal length, 109;z3-go- matic breadth, 60 ; palatilar length, 49 ; nasals, 25 ; back of m' to front of p', 19. Habitat : — Burma. Type from Mingun, near Sagaing, Upper Burma. T//^e:— Old female. B. M. No. 14. 7. 19. 89. Original number, 3261. Collected by Mr. G. C. Shortridge on 10th July 1913. Presented to the National C^ollection by the Bombay Natural History Society. This species seem to extend throughout Burma, including the Shan States, till it meets the intruding North jNlalay toddy-cat (P. ravus) in Tenasserim. It would seem also to extend eastwards into Siam. Schwarz's cochinensis from Camboja, and Kloss's JcuAensis seem both to be of this type, though both are much smaller, Paradoxurus ravus. Mill. 1914. Paradoxurus ravus, Miller, Sm. Mix., Colls., Ixi., 21, p. 2. Veiy similar to hinvnicus, but easily recognisable by the absence of the black on the crown. The type locality is Trong, S. W. Siam, but it undoubtedly ranges through Tenasserim, and probably into South Peon. 52 THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON,, INDIGENOUS AND INTRODUCED. BY E. Blatter, S.J. Part XVIII. (With Plates XCVI to XGIX and 3 text figures.) (Continued from page 6SS of Volume XXIV.) IV.— L EPILOG ARYINCE. Spadix branched once or more in a 2-ranked arrangement ; flowers in concinni or 2-ranked spikes with bracts and bracteoles round them, carpels 3, fast nuited, covered with scales ; fruit 1 -seeded, covered with hard scales ; feather or fan leaves, reduplicate. 4. — Mauritiece. Leaves fan-shaped with regularly or irregularl)^ divided, slightly reduplicate segments. Flowers dioecious 1, dimorphic. Distribution. — Tropical America, east of the Andes between 16° S. L. and 12" N. L. Mauritia L., Lepidocaryum, Mart. Not represented in India. 5. — Metroxijlece. Leaves paripinnate with regularly divided spinous pinnae. Flowers polygamous-hermaphrodite or diclinous. Distribution. — The moist tropics of the Old World. S'uh-tribe : EAPHIE^. Flowers polygamous-hermaphrodite, or male and female flowers on the same branches of the inflorescence. Ovary completely 3- locular. Embrj^o horizontal. Distribution. — Africa on the coast of Guinea and inland to the sources of the Nile, also in East Africa on the coast of Zanzibar and perhaps in Western Madagascar. BAPHIA, P. de B., Oncocalamus, Wendl. & Mann, Ancistro- phi/lhim, Hook., Eremospatha, Wendl. & Mann. 'rAPHIA, Beauv. Fl. Owar. I. 75, t. 44, fig. 1, 45, 46. Lam. lllustr. t. 771.— Gaertn. Fruct. t. 40, f. 1.— Sprgl. Gen. PI. 283 {Metro.ry Ion) ^Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. I], 53, t. 45, 47, fig. 5, 48 (irt^Ms) ,• m, 2] 6, 34.3— Kth. Enum. PI. Ill, 2J6.— Meissn. Gen. PI. 265.— Griff. Palm. British India, t. 182.— Wallace Palm. Amaz. 42, t. 2, 16. — Mann & Wendl. Trans. Lin. Soc. 24, 437, t. 39, 42.— Oerst. Palm. Centroam. 1858. Dnide in Fl. Brasil. Ill, 11, 286, t. 61, 62.— Benth. & Hook. Gen. PI. Ill, II, 935, 110.— Luers. Botan. II, 332.— Becc. in Webbia III (1910), 37— 130. JouRN. Bombay Nat. Hist, Soc. Plate XCVI. Raphia Ruffia, IMart. THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 53 Laz'ge trees ; stem short, stout, anuulated. Leaves gigantic, regular, pinnate ; leaflets linear with the midribs and edges spinu- lose ; bases of the petioles sheathing, persistent some way down the stem, the margins fibrous. Spadices growing from among the leaves about 3^ feet long, much branched. No common spathe, but many small, incomplete sheaths. Flowers monajcious, reddish-brown or greenish, male and female in separate bracts of the same branch, Male flowers : calyx campanulate, truncate ; corolla triphyllous ; stamens 6 — 8. Female flowers : calyx 3-dentate, corolla campanulate-infundi- buliform, o-partite half-way down. Ovar}' 3-locular ; stigmas 3, sessile. Berry with large imbricated scales, unilocular and 1 -seeded by abortion. Seed cylindric oval, elongate-erect ; embryo horizon- tal in the middle ; albumen ruminate. Species about 20. — Tropical Africa and America. RAPHIA RUFFIA, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 217 ; Kunth. Enum. PI. Ill, 217; Wright in Th. Dyer. Fl. trop. Afr. VIIl, 104 (partim) ; Drude in Engler Nat. Pflanzenf . I, 46, f. 36 ; Becc. in Agricolt. colon. IV. (1910), t. I ; Webbia III (1910), 47. — R. pedunculata P. Beauv. in Desv. Journ. Bot. II, 87, et in Fl. d'Oware et de Benin, I, 78, t. 44, f. 2, et t. 46, f. 2.— R. lyciosa et R. polymita Comm. ex Kuuth, Enum.. PI. Ill, 217. — R. tama- tavensis Sadebeck in Engl. Bot. Jahrbiicher, XXXVl (1905), 354 —i^. vinifera, Drude (non Palis, de Beauv.) in Mart. Fl. Bras. v. 111. pt. II, tantum in tab. 62, f. I. D.- — R. nicaraguends Oersted in Vidensk. Meddel naturhist. Forening, Kjtibenh. 1858 (1859^ 52. — R. vinifera var. nicarn- guensis Drude in Fl. Bras. 1. c. — Sagus farinifera, Gaertn. Fruct. et Sem. II, t. 120, f. Z.— Sagus Ruffia Jacq." Fragm. 7 ; No. 27, t. 4, f. 2.— Sagus pedunculata Lara. Encycl. Suppl. V, 13, et Illustr. Ill, 357, t. 771, f. 2, a-g. — Sagus laevis. Griff. Palms Br. Ind., tantum in tab. CLXXXII. — Metroxylon Ruffia Spreng. Syst. II, 139.* Names of the Tree. English : Raffia, raffia palm, rafia palm, raphiapalm, roffia, roffia palm. FrewJi : Mouflia, palmier de Mayotte, raffia; rafia, raphia. German : Bambuspalme, ]Madagaskarische Sagopalme, Raffia- bastpalme, Raffiaweinpalme. Butch: Madagascarsche sagoboom, sagodragendepalm. Names of the Fibre, In Madagascar : Rafia, English : Raffia, rafia fibre, French : Raffia, German : Bambuspalmenfaser, Raffia, Raffiafaser, Raphiastroh. Dutch : Raffia, raffiabast, raffiabindbast, rafiavezel, raphia. Description. — Stem up to 30 feet high and often (in very strong- specimens) 3j feet in diameter, ringed. Leaves rising straight • Synonymy ex Becc. 1. c. 54 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. 80CIETY, Vol. XXV. lip, reaching 50 feet in length. Petiole very stout, relatively short, abruptly dilated at the base into a short and broad sheath surrounding the stem, deeply excavated c>n the upper side, convex on the lower ; margins very acute, armed with short pale ascending spines, similar to those at the base of the segments. Segments very numerous, biseriate and more or less distinctly geminate on both sides of the rhachis, broadly linear, very slightly restricted towai'ds the base, long-acuminate, very thin- ly coriaceous, rigid for the greater part of their length, green and shining above, whitish-pulverulent below. The segments vary as to length and breadth on the same leaf according to their position : the lowest are very acuminate ; as long as the middle ones, but naiTOwer, about -| inch broad, and more spinous than these. The central segments are distinctly geminate, the bigger ones 4-4f feet long, sometimes up to 6 feet, and 15-lf inch bi'oad, spinulose on the margins, more or less spinulose on the median rib, or also entirely unarmed. The segments near the apex become gradually smaller as to length and breadth, less distinctly geminate and entirely unarmed. Spadix veiy large, rising successively from the axils of the highest leaves, first erect, then recurved and turned downwards ; the same plant bears several spadices at the same time and of different age ; they vaiy in length from 7-11 feet. Spadix cylindric, about 8 inches thick at the time of flowering ; peduncle stoitt, recurved, slightly compressed, about 5 inches broad, sheathed below by 2 coriaceous, about 3f feet long, spathes ; the outer spatlie acutely bicarinate ; then follow other empty spathes which surround the peduncular part ; and finally there are many others of which each bears in its axil a partial inflorescence. Partial inflorescences compressed, short and broad, 6-8 inches long, cimeate at the base, getting gradually broader towards the apex, divided into branches or floriferous spike- lets of unequal length. Each partial inflorescence arises from the axil of a primary spathe which is rather broader than long and which terminates abruptly in an acuminate apex, being, on the whole, longer than the corresponding inflorescence. Primary spathes thinly coriaceous, of chestnut colour inside, hazel outside. Each inflorescence has a very short peduncular part which is strongly com- pressed, 5-lf inch long, |^-± inch broad, and sheathed by a short secondary spathe ; this is narrowly sheathing, narrowlj'- 2-winged, prolonged at the apex to the right and left into a very acuminate subfalcate and acutely carinate apex ; the tertiary spathes, from the axils of which rise the spikelets, are close to each other, very shortly infundibuliform truncate at the apex, entire, non- ciliate, with a thin margin. Spikelets bearing perfectly bifarious flowers, vermiform, strongly compressed, slightly sinuose, about I inch broad at the base, getting very slightly thinner towards THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 55 the apex ; the lowest ones are larger and measure 3-G inches in length ; the upper ones getting gradually shorter. Female flowers ; ovate, acute ^ inch long ; involucellum membranaceous, yellow, form- ing a cupule almost complete or more or less split on the back, narrowly embracing the calyx. Calyx tubular-urceolate, truncate, tmtire and slightly narrowing at the moiith from which rise the conical apex of the ovary and the stigmas, which form a pyramidal trigonous, aci;te poinr. Corolla invisible externally, being entirely /^.i ry \j/ Fig. 1. — Raphia ruffia, Mart. Left: Female flower without spathellule. seen from the axile side. Middle : Male flower. Right : Median section of male flower. (After Beccari.) included in, r.nd slightly shorter than, the calyx, divided into 3 large, broadly triangailar, acuminate lobes. Staminodes forming a membranous cupule which is irregularly sinuous — 6-dentate, the teeth ])eing more or less triangular. Ovary ovate, stigmas o, triangular, acute, connivent. Male flowers perfectly distichous and uniseriate, •| inch long and .^L inch broad. Spathellule of male flower slight- ly longer than the calyx of its own flower, acutely bicarinate, shortly bidentate at the apex (fig. 1). Calyx tubular-cyathiform, superfici- ally and obtusely 3-denticulate, slightly shorter than the corres- ])onding spathellule. Stamens normally 6, sometimes 7-8, equal; iilaments stout, clavate-fusiform, abruptly conti-acted at the connective, connate at the base ; anthers linear, sagittate- auriculate below, obtuse. Corolla about twice as long as the calyx, subterete, divided to its lower fourth into 3 linear-lanceolate, thinly coria- i;eous segments. Fruits variable in shape and size, 1-2 inches long, 1^-1 5 inch broad, more or less turbinate, or globose-ovate, and slightly longer than broad, or subglobose, always slightly depressed at the apex and terminated by a very short conical top, more or less attenuate below into an acute and symmetrical base, more rarely rotundate at the base. Scales disposed on 12-13 orthostichies, of chestnut or 56 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. mahogany red colour, shiuing, strongly convex, deeply sulcate lon- gitudinalty, margin very narrow, scarious, blackish, fimbriate-ciliate, prolonged into an obtuse apex. Pericarp on the whole ^-|- inch thick. Seed obovate, rotundate at the apex, more or less attenuate and acute below, sometimes .^^--^^ i^^ch thick, and still thicker at the base ; albumen yevy hard, osseous, white and penetrated by intrusions of the integument which render it more or less ruminate. Embryo situated on one side, a little below the middle. Habitat. — Indigenous in Madagascar. Extensively cultivated on the Mascarene Islands. Naturalized in America. Illustration. — The specimen of Raphia ruffia shown on plate XCVI grows in the Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya. In the centre of the crown a fruiting spadix is visible. The palm was photo- graphed by Mr. Macmillan. RAPHIA VINIFERA, Palis, de Beauv. in Desvaux, Journ. de Bot. lb (1809) 87, et Fl. d'Oware et de Benin, 1, 77, t. 44, f. 1, 45 (excl. syn. Gaertn.) et tab. 46, f. 1. a. b. c. d. ; Martins Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 217 (ed. 1) ; Beccari in Webbia III (1910) 88. — Sar/us vinifera Lam. Encycl., Suppl. V, 13 {?)Safjus Ruffia rar. /5 Willd. Sp. pi. IV, A0i.—Metro.vylo7i mnifevum Spreng. Syst.veg. II, 139, n, 2. Names of the Tree. JEnglislb : Bamboo palm, Jupati palm, Pharaoh's date-palm, wine palm. French : Bourdon, palmier a vin, raphier. German : Bambuspalme, Echte Weinpalme, Weingebende Sago- palme, Weinpalme. Dutch : Raphiavezelpalm. Names of the Jujce. Engiish : Palm wine, todd}'. French : Vin de paime. German : Palmwein. Dutch : Palmwijn. Names of the Fibre, English : African bass, African bass fibre, Lagos bass, Lagos rafia, West African bass. West African bass fibre. West Afri- can piassava, West African rafia. Butch : West-Afrikaansche raflia. Of the fibre from the young unopened leaves. English : Rapliia grass. Description. — Stem comparatively short. Leaves rising nearly vertically from the stem, bending out on every side in graceful curves, forming a magnificent ph n.e.Spadices very large, com- poundly branched and drooping, growin i the whole ovate, strougly compressed, with the spikelets dense 1}^ arranged and distichous, about \\ foot long comprising the pedun- cular part which measures about 3 inches and which is sheathed by some tubular spathes, of which the outermost is bi-winged and prolonged on both sides into a falciforme acuminate apex. The general spathe of the partial inflorescence is much dilated at the base and ends in a broad and rather long acuminate point, is opa- que and hazel outside, shining and chestnut inside. Spikelets slightly arcuate, much compressed, of pectiform appearance on account of the regular arrangement of the flowers ; the bigger ones situated on the lower third are Sj-Sl? inches, long ; the upper ones become gradually shorter, about ^ inch thick comprising the flowers ; the spathellules are distinctly and densely ciliate-paleaceous on the margins. The flowers seem to be perfectly distichous. Male flowers (fig. 2) : small, when fully developed h inch long, curved calyx cyatiform, superficially o-denticulate and ciliate-paleaceous on the margin, corolla about 2^ times longer than the calyx, opaque on the outside, divided almost to the base into 3 linear segments. Stamens 9 ; filaments stout, subfusiform, free or more or less united at the base of the corolla. Female floANcrs (fig 2) : about ^ inch long and }. inch broad, acuminate, sliohtlv attenuate at the base. Fig. 2. — liaphm vinifcra, P. I>. B. Upper row — Left : Two female flowers. Middle : Sing'le female flower. Rigfht : Seed seen from below. Lower row — Left : Transverse section of seed with embryo. Middle : Male flower with bract and bracteole. Rigrht : Male flower opened ( after Drude). •Calyx not very deeply 3-lobed ; lobes obtuse, ciliate-paleaceous on the margin, especially at the apex. Corolla by about ^ longer 8 58 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Fol. XXV. than the calyx, divided half way down into 3 triangular elongate and accuminate segments. Staminodes united into a ring and connate with the corolla tube for the lower third of the latter^ divided in the free part into 6 large triangular elongate and subu- late teeth. Ovary pyramidal-trigonous ; stigmas convergent. Fruits cylindrical-ellipsoidal, equally broad below and above. Habitat. — Lower Nigeria. Uses. — A pleasant wine is obtained from Raphia vinifera. It is procured by cutting out the terminal inflorescence as soon as it makes its appearence ; the wine is then procured in large quantities. The petioles of the leaves are emploj^ed as poles upon which to carry palanquins. The leaflets are used for roofing. Illustration. — Mr. Macmillan was kind enough to take a pho- tograph of a fine specimen of Rapliia vinifera growing in the Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya. There arise from between the leaves about 6 flowering and fruiting spadices at different stages of development. (Plate XCVII.) Sub-tribe: CALAMEjE. Flowers polygamous-monoecious, diclinous-monoecious or dioecius. Ovary incompletely 3-locular. Distribution. — Scarcely touching tropical West Africa, the Cala- meas begin with a great nureiber of species on the tropical slopes of the Himalaya, pass through continental India to the Sunda and Malay Archipelago and finally to Poljaiesia on the one hand, and the tropical coast of Australia on the other. Eugeissonia, Griff:., Metroxyion, Rottb., Figafetta, BL, Zalacca, Reinw., Korthalsia, Bl., Ceratolohus, Bl., Fledocomia, Mart, Pleeto- comiopsis, Becc, Calamus, L., Daemoyiorho'ps . Bl. Key to the genera described below. A. Monocarpic palms, flowering once and then dying. I. Spadices axillar}^ from the upper- most leaves. 1 . Stem scandent. Spadix with long- am entiform branches clothed with large closely imbricating inflated spathels that conceal the spikelets of flowers 4. Pledocomia. 2. Stem scandent. Spadix much Ijranched, the branches having small iufvindibular spathels, each containing a small spikelet. Scales of fruit distinct 5. Pledocomiopsis^ II. Spadix very large, terminal 1. Metioxi/lon. THE PALMS OF liRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. .09 B. Poljxarpic palms, flowering annually, a. Leaflets acuminate, quite entire, ner- ves parallel. . 1. Stem elongate, spathes tubular, persistent G. Calamus. 2. Stem elongate; spathes cymbiform or open, deciduous 7 . Baemonorhops. 3. Stem short or absent ; spathes man)^, persistent 2. Zalacca. h. Leaflects rhomboid cuneate or oblan- ceolate, toothed ; nerves fla- bellate 3. Korthalsia. METROXYLON, Hottb., Nye Samml. Dansk. Selsk. Skrift. IT, 525, t. 1 (from the Greek " metra," the heart of a tree, and " xylon," wood ; in allusion to the large proportion of pith contained in the plant). Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 213, 343, t. 102, 159.— Griff. Palm. Brit. Ind. 21, t. 181, append. XX.— Becc. Males. I, 91.— Benth. k Hook. Gen. PI. Ill, II, 935, 109. Stem erect, short, stoloniferous, in the lower part irregularly annulate, in the upper closed with the bases of fallen leaves. Leaves terminal, lai'ge, almost erect, pinnate ; segments linear- lanceolate, acuminate, reduplicate, the edges and central vein often setose ; petioles and sheaths often armed with long spines. Spadices large, lasting for several years, lateral, decompound- distichously branched ; spathes tubulai-, coriaceous. Flo-svers poly- gamous-monoecious on amentaceous branches. Calyx semi-trifid or tri-dentate ; corolla tripartite. Male flowers : stamens 6, fila- ments imited at the base with the corolla ; anthers dorsifixed, subsagittate ; pistillode consisting of more or less distinct carpels. Female flowers : incompleteljr trilocular ; ovules erect, anatropous ; styles and stigmas forming a pyramid ; staminodes forming a six- dentate urceolus, barren anthers small or absent. Berry with dry flesh, imbricate with retrorse scales, unilocular and 1-seeded by abortion ; albumen deeply excavated or ruminate. Embryo dorsal. Species about 7. — Indian floral region. Uses. — Metroxylon furnishes the best sago. In order to procure it the trunk is split into logs a few feet long, their soft interior extracted, pounded, and thrown into water ; the water is then drained off from the pulpy mass, when the starch comes away with it, and upon being allowed to settle is afterwards prepared and purified by successive washings. A tree fifteen years of age will yield from 600-800 pounds. The sago-meal^ as it is called, is the form in which this starch is procured, although it is not commonly imported to Europe in this state. The usiial form in which it is brought to the market is called Pear Sago. We follow Bennet in 60 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. the description of the process by which this sago is prepared. The raw sago is a mass of rather soft consistence and of a dirty white colour, being mingled with several impurities. It first undergoes several different washings through cloth strainers. When the raw material is sufficiently clean, the masses at the bottom of the vessels are collected, broken into pieces, and placed upon platforms in the sun to dry, })eiug broken into still smaller pieces as the drying proceeds. As soon as the pieces are sufficient!}^ dry, they are pounded and sifted upon long benches through sieves made of the midrib of the leaves of the Ooco-niit Palm, and placed at certain distances in a longitudinal direction, so as to cause the pulverized, or rather broken, masses of sago to pass through it of the size required. Having been passed through the sieve, a certain quantity at a time is taken, placed in a large cloth, tied to cross sticks, in the form of a bag, hanging by a cord from the roof of the building ; the bag is then shaken forwards and backwards and the sago-powder itself must be occasiouallj^ shaken. This is continued for about ten minutes, when it is turned out granulated. It is then placed in small wooden hand-tubs, looking beautifully and delicately white, but still so soft as to break instantly with the slightest pressure under the fingers. It has then to undergo the dr3dng process in large iron pans over a fire, where it is constantly stirred about with a wooden instrument. After this it is resifted at another bench and rebaked, when it is considered pre- pared. It is then of a fine pure white colour, and, being spread thinly over a long and large bin, in course of time becomes both harder and of a darker colour. The sago is collected just before the tree begins to show its large terminal flower spike. This generally occurs at the age of seven or eight years. When the flower and fruit are allowed to develop, which is in two years from the first appeai'ance, the pith of the centre is found dried up, the leaves have fallen, and the tree perishes. METROXYLON SAGUS, Rottb. in Nye Saml. K. Dansk. Vid. Skrift. II, 527 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 147 : Becc. in Nuov. Giorn. Bot. tal. Ill, 29. — M. inennis Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 215. — Safftis Icevis, Rumph. Herb. Amb. I, 76 ; Blume Ruraphia II, 147, t. 86 ; Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V. 20 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 24 (not t. 182).— -S. Rumphii Blume 1. c. t. 126, 227.—? S. Koenujl Griff. 11. cc. 19, 22, t. 181.—- S'. inermis Roxb. Fl. Ind. Ill, 623. Names. English : Common sago palm, Rumphius's sago palm, sago palm, sago tree. French : Arbre au sagon, palmier du Japon, palmier sagon, sagonier, sagonier farinifore, sagoutier. German : Echte Sagopalme, Molukkische Zapfenpalme, Rumph's Sagopalme, Sagobaum, Sagopalme. JouRN. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Plate XCVIII. Sago Palm (Mctroxylon Sagna, Rottb.). JOCUN. BOMRAY NaT. HiST. SoC Plate XCIX. Rumph's Sago Palm* (Metroxylon Eumiyhii, Mart.). THE PALMS OF BlUTISR INDIA AND CEYLON. (U Dutch : Meelboom, uieelgevende paliiiboom, moluksche palm- boom, sagoboom, sagoeboom, sagopalm. Names of the Flouk. Eiujlish : Sago, sago floiir. French : Fariue de sagon. German : Ostindische Graiipen, Ostindische Tapiocca, Ostindi- scher Sago, PahneustJirke, Sago, Sagosttirke. Diitch : Bloem van sago, oostiudiselie sago, palmensago, sagoe, sago sagoemeel, sagome). Description. — Stem about 20 feet high, with many basal offshoots, as stont as that of the coconut-palm, annulate, covered above with the bases of fallen leaves. Leaves resembling those of the coconut, but more erect, unarmed ; segments linear, acute, keeled, smooth. Inflorescence developing when the tree is about 20 years old. Spadices several, terminal, alternately branched ; spikes 5-8 inches long. Spathes unarmed. Flowers minute, sunk in rusty wool, scarcelj" larger than a grain of mustard seed, bisexual. Fruit globose, size of a small apple ; scales shining, channelled (Jack). The fruit takes 3 years to ripe, Hahitat. — Malacca, Malay Islands. Illustration. — AYe have to thank Mrs. Burkill for kindly taking the photograph (reproduced on pi, XCVIII) in the Botanic Garden of Singapore, METROXYLON RUMPRII, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 213, 313, t, 102, 159 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 140 ; Becc. in Nuov. Jor. Bot. Ital. Ill, 30 ; Malesia I, 91 ; Becc. and Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, II, 'iSl.—Sagus Rumphii, Willd. Sp. PI. IV, 404 ; Roxb. Fl. Ind. Ill, 623.— .S. yenuina Blume Eumphia II, loO. — S. farinifera, Gaertn. II, 186, t. 120, f. 3 ; Paiinph Herb. Amb. I, 7o, t. 17, 18. Names. — Kumph's Sago-Palm ; Sagu (Malay). See also the names mentioned under foregoing species. Description. — Stem 25-30 feet high, soboliferous. Leaves 20 feet long and more ; leaflets linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 2-4 feet long, 1 — several inches broad, on the edges and central nerve setose; sheath coriaceous, 3 feet long ; petiole densel)^ covered with spines which are ^-1^ inches long. Spadix 12-15 feet long, the seeon- darj'- branches 18-12 inches long; spathes of the first and second order coriaceous tubular, obliquely truncate, armed with compres- sed, blackish spines. The catkin-like spikes cylindric, 2^ inches long of the size of the little finger, densely compact with bracts and bracteoles ; bracts suborbicular or transversely elliptic, 1^ lines long, coriaceous-membranous ; bracteoles 1 line long, cam- panulate, compressed. Calyx campanulate, trifid ; sepals ovate, 62 JOURNAL, BOMB A r NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. acute, longitudinally nervose, corolla trifid below the middle ; petal oblong-ovate. Male flowers (fig. 3): Stamens 6, as long as the Fig. 3. — Meti-oxylon Riunphii^ Mart. Upper left: Male Hovver. ,, ri■ . "." The Indian Bush Rat. '" ■ Synonymy in No. 1. (5 8, 5 6, Hasimara. {See also Reports Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 15, 19 and 22.) (43) Acanthion hodgsoni, Gray. The Crestless Himalayan Porcupine. 1847, Acanthion hodgsonii, Gray, P. Z. S., p. 101. 1847. Hystrix alophus, Hodgson, J. A. S. B., xvi., p. 771. 1891. Hystrix hodgsoni, Blanford, Mammalia, No. 316. (5 1, Hasimara. The specimen is a head — skin and skull of a quite young animal, there is however no sign whatever of a crest, showing that it is^not leucurus. 1 can find no authentic record of any specimen of bengalensis having been taken since Blyth described the species, and I have not access to the type. For the present it will be safest to call this specimen hodgsoni. Hodgson him- self called the animal alophus but his description was not published till August, while Gray's appeared in June. A good series of these small crest- less porcupines is a great desideratum, for though Blyth writes of it as the " common Bengal Porcupine " the National Collection contains only two or three specimens of hodgsoni contributed by Hodgson himself, and none of anything resembling bengalensis. AMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 71 (44) Lepus ruficaudatus, Geoff. The Uemjal Hare. Synonymy in No. lo. dll, $1, Hasimara; cfl, Bharnabari, (See also Reports Nos. 19, 21, 23 and 26.) (45) MUNTIACUS VAGINALIS, Bocld. The Benyal Rib- faced Deer. Synonymy in No. 20. d 1, Hasimara. {See also Report No. 23.) (46) RusA UNicoLOR, Bechs. The Sambhar. Synonymy in No. 5. $ 1, Bharnabari. {See also Reports Nos. 11, 15, 18 and 22.) (47^ Sus CRisxATUs, Wagn. Tlie Indian Wild Boar. Synonymy in No. 5. 2 1, Hasimara. {See also Reports Nos. 8, 10, 11 and 22.) 72 A LIST OF BIRDS FROM THE NORTH CHIN HILLS. BY J. C. HopwooD, I.F.S., M.B.O.U., AND J. M. D. Mackenzie, I.F.S., B.A. This list is the result of three short trips at dates varying from April 20th to May 18th. In 1913, Hopwood went up to the hills on May 6th and came down on May 16th, in 1914, he and I went up together on April 22nd and came down on May 9th, and in 1915 I was up in the hills alone from Api'il 20th to May 18th. Travelling in the hills is exceedingly difficult and expensive, and except in 1913 the weather was unspeakably bad ; in all three years, we had a certain amount of illness, and a good deal of work had to be done, ornithology perforce taking second place ; added to this, we both plead guilty to a desire for getting nest and eggs with the birds seciired. These things account for the somewhat meagre list produ- ced. It is given for what it is worth, as several very rare birds were found, and the district itself is interesting, lying between Manipur worked by Hume, and the Chin Hills worked by Col. Rippon and Capt. F. E. W. Venning, the former at Mt. Victoria, the latter at Haka. A little further North, on the South of Assam lie the unexplored (and unadministered) ranges of hills inhabited by Chins, Nagas, Abors, etc., including Mt. Saramatti, the highest mountain in Burma, of which the ornithology is absolutely unknown, except by inference. In the hope of adding a little to what has been recorded from this part of the world, which has been very little worked, we venture to give a list which has no pretensions to being pei'fect ; quite on the contrary, it comprises merely the commoner birds occurring in the summer. Only one or two specimens shot in the cold weather (and these all low down) are included ; unless othenvise stated, all the birds given were secured between April 20th and May 18th. The numbers in brackets refer to the Fauna of British India, and trinomials, when used, are either those given by the late Col. H. H. Harington, in his notes on the " Indian Timeliides and their allies", (J.B.N.H.S., June 1914, et seq.), or those in Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker's Indian Pigeons and Doves. Our thanks are due to both these gentlemen for a great many verj^ useful hints, and for very kindly working out some of the skins obtained . The area worked was about 23° 45' N. Lat. and 94° 0' E. Long. ; it is actually that part of the Chin Hills at present included in the niRDS FROM THE NORTH CHIN HILLS. 73 Upper Chindwiu forest division. The Northern boundary is Mani- pur, the Western the main chain of the Chin Hills, the Southern the main watershed of the Nankatlut Chaung, and the Eastern, the upper Chindwin Civil District, in all an area some 30 miles square. The country consists of steep hills rising up to nearly 7,000' with deep valleys (down to 2,000' or 1,500') between. The hills are covered with jungle, mostly of a scrubby nature (oaks, chestnuts, rhododendrons, and tree heather with an undergrowth of bracken, raspberry, etc.) mixed with patches, occasionally big, of dense evergreen jungle which are especially noticeable along the main Western ridge. There are also a few areas covered with an open growth of pine. Close to villages, "Ponzos" of all ages occur ; these are patches cleared for shifting cultivation and abandoned after one or more years. They are dense thickets of small trees of varjdng ages, elephant grass, grass, and weeds. The streams are all perennial, rocky, swift, and liable to sudden floods, and the valleys near them are generally covered with dense evergreen or semi-evergi-een jungle, re- placed higher up by bamboos and undergrowth with a few big trees, the higher parts being oak scrub. One area deserving special notice is a wind trap, through which the main road to Tiddim and Fallam passes. It is said by the Chins never to be without a wind ; when an ordinarj" breeze is blowing in other places, a gale is blowing here and when there is a gale elsewhere, it is impossible to stand. Con- sequently there are no trees, nothing in fact but short grass, and one or two juniper-like shrubs, although the jungle round is rather fine. I was unable to get to it in 1915, owing to fever, and so could not verifv the previous year's identifications which had been made in a huriy, without shooting birds. The area is about 2 miles long, and from a quarter to half a mile aci'oss. The measurements given are in inches and decimals. \^Note. — As Mr. Hopwood is on leave, I am writing these notes out here. He has seen a rough copy, and made additions and corrections ; but in re-writing I have occasionally used the first person, which is however intended to always include both of us unless the context shows the contrary.— D. M.] ^ 1. The .Jungle Crow — Corvus macrorhynchus. (4) Not common. 2. Indian House-Crow — Corvus splendent. (8) 3. Red-billed Blue Magpie — Urocissa occijntalis. (12) Foothills only as a rule. Obtained one nest in 1914, on the Manipur boundary at 3,500'. 4. Green Magpie — Cissa chinensis. (14) Nest and eggs of the usual type found at 3,000' on 7th May 1918, 12th May 1913 and 2l8t April 1914. Shot a bird only in 1915. 10 74 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 5. Indian Tree-pie — Dendrocitta rufa, (16) Foothills only. Nest with 6 eggs on SthMay 1913 and 2 nests on 20th April 1915 in the plains at the foot of the hills. 6. Himalayan Tree-pie — Dendrocitta himalayensis, (18) Very common at about 4,000'. We both got nice series of eggs at dates varying from April 20th to May 16th. The normal clutch was, 1 think, 4, but several nests, containing 3 hard set eggs only, were found. 7. Indo-Chinese Jay — Garndus oatesi. {26a) This rare bird was found in moderate numbers. We took 9 nests in 1915 and others in 1913 and 1914, the records of which are as follows : — 14th May 1913, C/3., Hard set. 28th April 1914, C/1., Fresh. 30th April 1914, C/3., Fresh. 29th April 1915, C/4., Set. 29th April 1915, C/4., Fresh. 22nd April 1915, C/5., Set. 1st May 1915, C/3., Set. 27th April 1915, C/4., 3 young birds, and one addled egg. 24th April 1915, C/3., Fresh. 29th April 1915, C/4., Set. 27th April 1915, C/4., Fresh. 27th April 1915, C/4., Very hard set. It seems that the usual time for nesting is April, but a few nests may be taken on into May. The bird is a very wily customer, and shy, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that I was able to shoot one off the nest. We failed in 1913. In 1914 the single egg taken on 28th April 1914, was found on 25th April 1914, and we spent many a cramp-stricken hour trying for the bird which would not come in shot ; eventually we had to take the egg, as we were moving camp. However in 1915, I got 2 birds off the nest, and one was trapped on the nest by a Chin. Owing to the bad weather, the skins came down in a terrible state. The eggs were of the usual garruline type and show the usual amount of variation, but the birds do not seem to build in colonies as G. leucotis does at Maymyu, and the nests are placed somewhat higher above the ground. One of my clutches has a very light sage green background thickly speckled equally all over with sage-green, Avith underlying markings of a fainter greenish grey, and some gloss. One or two dark brown hair streaks on the large end. In this clutch only one egg has traces of a ring, but generally a ring or cap is distinctly visible at the large end. The shape is a pointed oval with the big end rather more inclined to be pointed than usual. Texture, rough ; grain coarse to normal ; the shell of normal thickness, strong, fairly hard and opaque ; surface slightly pitted. In another clutch, the colour is rather brownish, and the markings are all more numerous at the large end. A third has a brownish white back ground with browny-green spots ( almost olive green); a fourth clutch is mottled with lolive, the superficial markings being few. JilRDS FROM tut: XOimi CHIX iinj.s. 76 Tliure are almost always dark brown hair like streaks on the eggs when found, but these wash off in blowing unless great care is taken. The streaks are very irregular and generally look like the track of an iuky Hy ; they are like the forked light- ning of tradition in shape, and may be as much as an inch in length ; they are up to l/oO of an inch broad. 1 think the nornuil clutch is 4, but I have found o, and have several times taken 3 hard set eggs. The nest is a shallow saucer, in a low tree, made of roots with sometimes a very little moss outside. Externally, it measures t)" X 2f", with the hollow 4^" x "2". It is placed at some little distance from the ground (10 to 15 feet) in fairly open jungle ; in spite of this, it is well concealed and not at all easy to ' spot". The bird was first shot in the Kabaw Valley by Thomson of the Forest Department and sent to Gates for identification. Since then, it has been shot by the late Col. Harington and by both of us in the Kabaw Valley, in the Upper Chindwin district, and b}'- me on the hills lying on the East of the Kabaw Valley at 2,o00', in all cases in the cold weather. It is by no means rare in the area now under discussion in April-May- June, but is said by the Chins to be much less common, or absent altogether in winter. I believe the bird has never been seen in the Kabaw Valley in the hot weather, and its nest has never been found except in the Chin Hills, always at of 4,000' to 6,000'. This seems to be a case of partial migration from the low valleys to the hills for breeding purposes such as has been noted in other jays, and might be expected in this bird. The average size of 28 eggs is 1-19" x "90", the length varying from 1-05" to 1-32", and the breadth from -85" to •93". 8. Indian Grey Tit — Parus atviceps. (31) Shot a bird on the Burma boundary at 2,000'. 9. Green-backed Tit— Parus monticola. (34) Fairly common. 10. Hume's Red-headed Tit — JEyithaliseus manipurensis. (36) Two nests, each containing 3 eggs, with parent birds brought in on 2oth April 1914 (Fresh) and 12th May 1913 (Hard set). Four nests in 1915, all of the same type. They were beautifully made little structures, hanging from a twig, twice in dense, and twice in open jungle. They were made of the finest stems of grass {i.e. that part attaching the seed to the main stem " grass-seed stems ") plastered all over with cobwebs, lichens, moss, fragments of grass, and leaves, feathers, etc., with a thick and wonderfully soft lining of feathers. The whole thing, when crushed, springs back to its original shape like a sponge. The bird appears to have a penchant for bright feathers for the lining ( minivets, jungle fowl, Phasianus humice, etc.) which may be due to a desire for a bright and cheerful internal decoration scheme, but which I think is probably due to their being easier to find. The average size of 8 eggs is -52" x '41", length from "ol" to "So" and breadth from -40" to -42", The particulars of 5 clutches are:— 25th April 1915, c/4. Set; 22nd April 1915, 76 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. c/5, Hard set; 6th May 1915, c/4, Fresh; 12th May 1913, c/3, Set ; 25th April 1914, c/3, Fresh. The usual time appears to be April, the normal clutch 3 to 5. The eggs are exceedingly fragile and white with a faint purplish ring round the large end. I have one egg showing a distinct ring of reddish purple speckles overlying a sub-surface clouded ring of faint purple. In this egg there are one or two speckles scattered over the rest of the egg, but in my others the marking is confined to the ring, which is a faint purple ; and there are one or two speckles on the ring of reddish purple (faint). One egg has only a very faint, clouded, discontinuous ring, almost invisible. The ordinary egg is white with a faint clovided purplish ring at the large end on which may be a few distinct speckles of reddish purple. The gloss is only very slight. 11, Black-spotted Yellow Tit — Machlolophus spilonotus. (41). Shot several birds, and found 3 nests containing 9 eggs. As they were all hard set and I found a nest with young, this bird probably breeds early in April. Average size of 7 eggs, "73" x •54", length from -70" to -75", breadth from -52" to -56". Nest and eggs both of the usual tit type. 12. Austen's Crow-Tit — Paradoxornis guttaticoUis. (52). Two birds, with nests ; each contained one fresh egg, •92" x "64" and '87" X "65" in 1915. Nests typical: 3 nests, containing 2 eggs each in 1914. 13. Suthora subsp. nov. Close to Suthora poliotis ripponi. It has not yet been described for want of more specimens. A single specimen, noted by Harington in his notes on the Ti7neliides, was obtained in May 1913. It was snared by a Chin, and we never saw another specimen, though we tried hard for more in 1914 and 1915. The nest was not procured. 14, Hoary-headed Crow-Tit — Scceorhynchus f/ularis. (61). {Psittijmrus gularis transftavialis) nests and eggs. Nests resemble those of F. guttaticoUis but the eggs are very different, being less fragile, and blotched pretty well all over with greyish and yellowish brown. The eggs measure about 0'78"x0"62". Dates as follows :— C/2 26th April 1914, c/2 28th April 1914, c/2 29th April 1914, c/2 1st May 1914, c/3 4th May 1914, c/2 4th May 1914, and two young birds, fully fledged, about the same date Several more nests in 1915. 16. Rufous-necked Laughing-Thnish — Dryonastes I'uficollis. (62). Nest 1914 at 2,000'. Foothills only. 16. Austen's Laughing-Thrush — Dryonastes galbanus. (68). Fairly common at about 5,000', but appears to be local. Mr. E. C. Stuart-Baker quotes Hopwood as saying that the nest and eggs resemble those of D. ruficollis. The nest certainly does, but none of the eggs actually taken by either of us had the slightest trace of blue. Mr. Stuart-Baker has a blue clutch. (" practically indistinguishable from the eggs of D. rujicollis'^), and several nests of D. galbanus containing blue eggs were B21iDS FROM THE NOETH CHIX HILLS. 77 brought in to me, in 191;"»; but I never got the bird oft' a blue chitch, and these eggs may have been substituted by the tinders. Mr. Stuart-Baker's bhio chitch shows that the bird may lay blue or white eggs, in the same manner as U. mnnio. The nest is generally built in the fork of a low bush or shrub, 2' to 10' high, in fairly open jungle, and is not difhcult to see. Outside it is roughly made of grass-stems with the ends left sticking out untidily in all directions and is lined with yellow grass seed stems ; in shape it is a large flattish cup, and there are often a few moss roots, and small twigs mixed with the main structure of the nest (but not with the lining). The general effect is a brown outside, lined yellow, as opposed to 1. cineracea of which the nest is brov/n outside, lined black. The eggs number 2 or 3 in a clutch (I only once found 4) and those of which we are sure were white, but there may be blue eggs as well. They are glossy, and of a satiny texture, but this, as well as the gloss, varies considerably. The shell is of medium thickness, fairly hard, and opaque, the grain is normal to fine ; the surface is sometimes smooth, sometimes closely and minutely pitted. The average size of 45 eggs is 1-02" X -73", length varying from "93" to 109" and the breadth from "70" to •79". In shape, they are typically rather pointed, the large end being roundish, and the small end tapering conside^abl3^ The eggs appear liable to a good deal of variation in all respects, and begin to be laid about May ; we only found a few in April. 17. Himalaj^an White-Crested Laughing-Thrush — Garnda.v leucoloj)hus leucolophus. (t)9). Common. 18. Black-gorgetted Laughing-Thrush — Garrulax pectoralis. (72). Common. 19. Necklaced Laughing-Thrush — Garrulax moniliger. (73). The above 3 species inhabit the bamboo jungle in the valleys. 20. McCleUand's Laughing-Thrush — Garrulax gular is, (74). I shot a bird which I identified as this in 1915, but the skin was very badly smashed up, and 1 am doubtful. 21. Ashy Laughing-Thrush — lanthocincla cineracea. (79). This is the common laughing thrush of the district, being exceedingly abundant between 4,000' and 6,000', and breeding in the raspberrj'^ canes and thickets near the villages. AVe obtained a large number of nests and eggs at the end of April, and beginning of May. The laying season seems to extend for about a month, as we got both hard set and fresh eggs almost every day. The earliest incubated eggs were found on April 20th ; this is dift'erent from D. ;/albanus, which does not begin to breed till about the beginning of Maj'. (My earliest eggs were a fresh clutch on 27th April 1915.) The nest is a small and flimsy copy of that of G. pectoralis, and is generally fairly conspicuous ; the bird obliges by sitting on it until you almost touch her, thereby rendering identifica- tion easy. The nests were generally placed in low thickish 78 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. bushes, 3' to 6' high, and made of grass stems and fine twigs, not very tidily put together, as all the ends stick out. The lining is of fine black and brown stems and a few moss roots, (see D. galbanus). In shape, a hollow saucer, about 4|" across and 2" deep externally, and 3" x If internally. Except for the lining, the nest and situation are very similar to those of D. galbanits. Both birds breed fairly high up, at altitudes of 3,000' and over. In shape and colour, the eggs are very like those of T, vivgatum, and T. lineatum, being a little smaller on the ivhole. The average size of 59 eggs is l'Ol"x '74'', the length varying from -91" to 1-08" and the breadth from -69" to -79". I have one egg which is 1'15" long, which is not included above, as it may possibly belong to a cuckoo. 22. Hume's Chestnut-headed Laughing-Thrush — Trochalopterum ery- throlmma. (83). (7'. erythrocephalu7n erythrolcema). Secured 7 nests, containing 12 eggs in 1915, mostly at the end of April. I am not quite certain what to make of this bird's eggs and nests. Hopwood got his first nest on 12th May 1913. " With parent bird, in bamboo scrub on the extreme summit of a hill, at about 6,000' ; the nest was a massive cup of moss lined with roots, and was placed in a small very thick ever green shrub about 4' from the ground."' Subsequently, in 1915, 1 came to the conclusion that the nest was generally placed 4' to 8' from the ground, and is — at times at least easily visible. They are massive deep cups of grass stems and twigs lined with fine twigs, moss roots, and roots fairly loosely put together. Some of the eggs are of a peculiar elongated shape, more or less elliptical ; others are shorter. In my own series, the ground colour was bright blue marked with dark blotches, spots, and streaks varying from dark purplish brown to black in colour, and in size from O'l" in diameter to mere specks. In one or two eggs, the spots are numerous round the large end, in another, there are only about a dozen small specks ; the usual type is intermediate, i.e., a few markings of various sizes scattered over the large end, and only one or two on the small end. Again, I have some eggs in which the surface is almost chalky, and rough, with very little gloss ; I think these must be due to immature hens ; the typical egg is glossy, with a satiny texture, giving the appearance of the background of a wedgewood plaque. The shell is rather soft, and thickish, and the grain normal. Average size of 14 eggs is l'20"x "80". This is I think due to the elongated eggs mentioned above. I think a more normal size would be say 1-20" x -83". The length varies from 1-10" to 1-30" and the breadth from 72" to -85". They are generally less broad than those of T, chn/sopterum, and T. erythrocephalum which 1 have in my collection, but in this connection, I think all the measurements of eggs seem smaller in the Chin Hills than in Cachar, and Assam. 23. Assam Crimson-winged Laughing-Thrush— Trochalopterum phoeni- ceum baheri. (87 a). Obtained nests in all 3 years, the clutch being either 2 or 3 (generally the f.^-rmer). The nests were generally placed in BIRDS FROM THE NORTH CHI A HILLS. 79 bamboos, ami uosts and eggs were precisely similar to typical T. phwriiceum. •2\, Manipur Streaked Laughing-Thrush — Tiochalopterum virgatum. (98). Moderately common : breeds a little later than /. cineracea ; j.^.,the tirst incubated eggs I got were in May 2nd. The nest is generally built in thick bushes in open jungle, or in the grass round the base of a bush. It is a neat structure made of grass and bamboo leaves outsiile, then a few ordinary tree leaves (dry) and creeper stems, lined with fine grass and rootlets. It is generally very thick at the bottom. The eggs are indistin- guishable from those of T. lineatum. Average size of 22 eggs r03"x "To", length varying from -95" to 1"12", and the breadth from -72" to -79". 25. Austen's Striated Laughing-Thrush — Gmmmatoptila striata austeni. (102). Nest with 3 fresh eggs on 29th April 1914. Both nest and eggs very similar to those of G. ijectoralis. 26. Spotted-breasted Laughing-Thrush — Stactocichla merulina. (103). Nest with 2 eggs and parent bird on 27th April 1914 ; as described in Harington's notes. 27. Grant's Scimitar Babbler — Pomatorhinus schistieeps mearsi. (116 «). Only found in the foot hills. 28; Phayre's Scimitar Babbler — Pomatorhinus ferruginosus, phaynii . {^1^) . The birds are not uncommon, and one or two nests were obtained, c/3., Fresh, 24th April 1914. c/3., Hard set, 10th May 1915. 29. Baker's Rufous-necked Scimitar Babbler — Pomatorhhms i-uficollis bakeri. (125). Fairly common. Took eggs in 1913 and 1914 but none in 1915. 30. McClelland's Scimitar Babbler — Pomatovhinus erythrogenus macclel- landi. (130). Extremely common. Normal clutch, 3. 31. Burmese Spotted Babbler — Pellorneum ruficepsminus. (143). Foothills. 32. Rippon's Babbler — Pelloi-neum ignotuni cinnamomeum. (148 a). Occurs, not rare. The nest is generally in the lowest branches of a thickish bush 1' to 4' high, being worked in with, the grass around, if there is any. I found one nest on the ground built into the roots of a tree, from which the soil had been washed away. The nest is built of grass on a foundation of bamboo leaves with a lining of moss roots, and is nearly always domed, often very slightly. The eggs number 2 to 4, generally 3, and are reddish white, freckled all over with red-brown markings generally to form a cap, or ring round the large end. In shape, 80 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. they are generally ovals, with bluntish ends. The gloss varies, but the eggs are generally fairly glossy. The average size of 22 eggs is -80" X -59", length from -73" to -84", and breadth from -57" to -62". 33. Tickell's 'Bdihhler—Drymocataphus tickelli. (151). Found nests and eggs which were referred to this species by Mr. E. C. Stuart-Baker. 34. Nepalese Babbler — Alcippe nepalensis. (163). Common at the higher levels. It is replaced lower down by 35. The Burmese Babbler — Alcippe phceocephala phayrii. (165). Nest, eggs and birds of both species were obtained. 36. Assam Black-throated Babbler — Stachyris nigriceps coltarti. (169 «). Shot one bird. Apparently not common. 37. Hume's 'B&MhleT^-Stachyrhidopsis nigrifrons. (173). Obtained one clutch of eggs referred to this species, but did not get the bird. 38. Yellow-breasted Babbler — Mixomis rubricapillus. (176). A bird shot in 1913. 39. Assam 'fit-Babbler — Schoeniparus dubius mandellii. (179). Very common. 40. Myiophoneus, sp. Identified it as emjenii in a hurry ; according to Gates, F.B.I., it should be temmincki ; probably intermediate. Fairly common along all streams. 7 eggs average l'31"x '96". 41. Grey Sibia — Lioptila gracilis. (205). Occurs at the highest levels, generally in pine forest. It is said by the Chin, who is a very nimble shot with his bow and pellets, to be one of the most difficult birds to shoot, as it runs along the branches, in and out of leaves, and keeps among thick foliage. The nest is very firm and neat, placed in a fork, generally of a pine and is made of grass stems, plastered outside with grass, leaves, cobwebs and some moss, all worked in with the green needles of the pine, and lined with grass-seed stems and rootlets. The nests were found between 1st and 5th of May, at 5,000' to 6,500' ; the eggs were fresh and numbered 2 to the clutch. There are two varieties of egg ; one bluish grey, like blackbirds, and the other (the less common of the two) distinctly pinkish. The general freckled character of the markings is ■ similar in both cases. The shell is very thin and fragile. The average size of 5 eggs is •91"X'67". Length from 'bO" to •94" and breadth from •65" to -71". 42. Rippon's Bar-wing — Actinodiim egertoni ripponi. (211i). Fairly common. Builds a largish nest, generally in a low bush (3' to 8' higli) carefully made of roots and grass stems, surrounded by bamboo leaves and moss, the whole thing being nicely BIRDS FROM THE NORTH CHIN HILLS. 81 rounded off. There is generally some lining of fine moss roots. Clutches number "2 or -, and the a'^erage size of 29 eggs is •8i)'' X -CG", length varying from -80" to -97" and breadth from •t50"to-71". 43. Chestuut-headed Staphidia — Staphidia castaneiceps. (216), The nest is generally in a hole in a bank ; I have a distinct recollection of finding at least one nest in the lowest branches of a small bush, but I cannot find any record of it in my rough notes. 'J'he nest is made of moss thickly lined with bark fibre, and grass seed stems, making a neat cup. The eggs are white with a faint bluish or greenish tinge, speckled pretty well all over with fairly large brown spots, with which are mixed a few pale purple ones. The average size of 44 eggs is '66'' x •52", length varying from -60" to -71" and breadth from -50" to -66". I found one clutch of 4 eggs, but the usual number is 3 and sometimes 'J eggs only. 44. Stripe-throated Yuhina — Yuhina gularis. (223). Shot a bird identified as this. The skm was very bad, and I was not certain about it. It was probably Y. G. yangpiensu (Sharpe). 4o. Swinhoe's White-eye — Zosterops simplex. (228). Two iiests and birds. The nests were hung between 2 twigs and made of cobwebs, lichens and grass lined with grass seed stems at d vegetable pappus. It is very flimsy and small, but seems fairly tough. 46. Yellow-naped Ixnlus — I.vulus flavicollis Jlaincollis . (232). Nest, (1) on the ground, in the roots of a tree, (2) a cradle-like arrangement, hung between 2 twigs. The one on the ground was a well made cup of moss, lined with moss roots. 1 found a clutch of 2 eggs hard set on April 29th. Six eggs average •7o''x*o6", length varying from u'd" to 77" and breadth from •55" to 58". 47. Red-billed Liothrix — Liothri.v lutia callipi/gus. (235). Nests and eggs. 48. Nepalese Cutia — Cutia nejmlends. (236). Common. Saw a couple of birds collecting moss on May 16th. 1913, but failed to get eggs. 49. Red-winged Shrike-Tit — Ptemthius erythropterus. (237). Common. Did not find nest. 50. Chestnut-throated Shrike-Tit — Ptcuthius melanotu. (239). Got two clutches of this ; c/2, 25th April 1914; and c/3, May 1914. 51. The Common lora — MyitJiina tiphia. (243). Common. Failed to get nests and eggs. 52. Orange-bellied Chloropsis — C/iloropsis hardwickii. (249). Obtained birds and nests ; all the eggs were broken. 11 82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, I'ol. XXV. oo. Sultan bird — Melanochlora sultanea. (253). Seen at Madan, 1913. Shot a bird from a flock at 3,500' in 1915. 54. Silver-eared Mesia — Mesia arc/entauris. (257). Several nests and eggs in all years. 55. Burmese White-throated Bulbul — Criniyer burmanicus. (264). One nest found, but the eggs were on the point of hatchinjr, and could not be preserved. 56. Himalayan Black Bulbul — Hypsipites psaroides. (269). Common. Nests and eggs. 57. Rvifous-bellied bulbul — Hemixus macclellandi. (275). Nest, with 2 eggs, found in June, 1913, and in other years. o?!. Burmese Red-vented Bulbul — Mol^jasfes burmanicus. (279). Very common. 59. Blyth's Bulbul — Xctnthixus flavescens . (287). Common. Took several nests. 00. Black-crested Yellow Bulbul — Otocompsa fiaiicentris. (290). Very common. Numerous nests at about 2,000'. 61 . Finch-billed Bulbul — Spizixus canifrons. (292). Fairly common. The nest alwaj^s appears to be made of corkscrewlike tendrils of some vine which are plaited together to form a shallow saucer. There is no lining, or onlj^ traces of fluff' or grass. It generally builds in scrub jungle 8' or 10' high. The first nest was found on the extreme top of the local mountain at Haingyan (6,300'). Size of the eggs, about 1-01" x '68". 6i\ Cinnamon-bellied Nuthatch — Sitta cinnamoineiventris. (316). Shot one at 1,000'. Go. Beautiful Nuthatch — Sitta formosa. (324). Three nuthatch eggs were brought in to me by u Chin, measuring -76", 79" and -78" by -55", -54", -54" with the shattered remnants of a bird, which T think was this. 64. Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch — Sitta fro7italis. (325). Not rare at 3,000' and over. Nest and eggs in 1915. c/o, measuring •64"x'52", 24th April 1915. Nest with young in a small hollow tree, yth May 1913. The birds were entering through a hole made by a chopper. 05. Black Drongo — Dicrurus atcr. (327). Common. 66. Grey Drongo — Dicmrus cineraceus. (333). Common . 07. Bronzed Drongo — Chaptia aneu. (334). Not common. Nests and eggs taken. lUliD^ FROM THE XOIiTIl ('J[IN HILLS. 83 08. Hair-crested Drougo — Chibia hottentotta, (i53o). Common. t)0. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo — Bhrinya remifcr. (339). Very common. The birds nost very low down here, often in a fork of a bamboo within reach of the hand. 70. Mt. Victoria Tree-Creeper — C-rtma rictona-. (344a). Shot a bird, identified as this by the late Col. Harington, in the south of the area, and another identified by us in 1914 as the next species in the North. 71. Hume's Tree-Creeper— C^ rMi« manipurensis. (34.'i). Shot off the nest a bird identified as this, in the extreme north of the area. Probably in this area, the forms are intermediate, approaching C. manipurensis in the north, and C. victoi-ice in the south. The bird identified by us as C. manipurensis was shot on the Chin Hills — Manipur boundary, (actually, I think about 2 yards inside Manipur). We obtained 2 nests with eggs of this bird, the eggs being of the ordinary type, and measuring •67", and •69"x-o0". c/3, slightly set, 29th April 1914 and c/4 1st May 191o (one egg broken), measuring -64'', -64", -64' x •45", •4o" and -47". The nests were in both cases pads of fibres, moss, and a few roots, with a feather or two in the lining, not large, and scarcely hollowed out at all in the centre, placed in holes in small trees, at 8' and 10' high. Elevation 6,000'. 72. Mt. Victoria Wren — Urocichla oatesi. (355 b). Eggs and nest, Cy'3, hard set, on oth May 1914. 73. Indian Tailor Bird — Orthotomus sutonus. (374). Nest, and bird, at 2,500'. 74. Franklin's Wren-Warbler — Franklinia gracilis. (382). 75. Beavan's Wren-Warbler — Franklinia rufecens. (383). 76. Tenasserim White-tailed Willow- Warbler — Acanthopneustc dacisoni, (430). Got a bird which I think was this and several moss nests containing tiny white eggs which I think must belong to it. 77. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher-Warbler — Abrornis supercilians . (440). A nest with 4 eggs, taken from a hole in a bamboo brought in with the parent bird in 1913. 78. Swinhoe's Reed- Warbler — Urosphena squamiceps. (457). I shot a single specimen of this in December 1914, in thick jungle, playing about among the rocks in a small chaung forming the Burma Chin Hills boundary. 79. Brown Hill-Warbler — Suya crinigera. (458). 80. Austen's Hill- Warbler —iSwya ^•Aas^rtwa. (460). 84 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV, 81. Anderson's Hill-Warbler — Suya superciliaris. (461). Nests of all these obtained. Numerous other small warblers were seen, which were not identified. 82. Indian Wren-Warbler — Prinia inornata. (466). Shot a single specimen on low ground in March 1915. 83. Bnrmese Shrike — Laiiius collurioides. (474). Nests and eggs. 84. Black-headed Shrike — Lanius nigriceps. (475). Nests and eggs. 85. Brown-Shrike — Lanius cristatus. (481). Fairly common. One nest and eggs. 86. Nepalese Wood-Shrike — Tephvodornis pelvicus. (486). Shot a bird. 87. Burmese Scarlet Minivet — Pericrocotus fraterculus. (491). 88. Rosy Minivet — Pericrocotus roseus. (499). 89. Small Minivet — Pericrocotus pereffi'inus. (600). 90. Dark-grey Cuckoo-Shrike — Campophac/a melanoschista. (505). Found 2 tiests with young, (May, 1913) and so did not shoot the parent birds. 91. Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike — Campophar/a sykesi. (508). Shot a bird, low dov.'n. 92. Large Cuckoo-Shrike — Graucalus macii. (510). Common. 93. Aahy Swallow-Shrike — Artamusfuscus. (512). Common in clearings. The Chins call this bird ' Pyalpya ' which is their general name for swallows, martins and swifts. 94. Burmese Black-naped Oriole — Oriolus tenuirostris. (515). rfhob a bird at 3,000'. 95. Maroon Oriole — Oriolus trailii. (522). Common. Got nasts and eggs, exactly resembling those of the Couiuion Oriole. 96. Indian Grackle — Eiil ibes intermedia. (524). 97. Grey-headed Myna — Sturnia malabarica. (538). 98. Graculi/n'ca sp. ? I believe it is burmanica. 99. Common Myna — Acridotheres tristis. (549). Mynas occur, but are not common. BIIiDS FROM THE NORTH CHIN HILLS. 86 TOO. Sooty Flycatcher — Hemichelidon sibirica. (558). 101. Little Pied Flycatcher — Ci/ornis melanoleucus. (569). A nest brought in with this bird, containing 4 eggs, raeaauring •66"x"o4'', of the same type as C. rubeculoides and C sujyercihans. Shot 2 or 3 birds, but did not manage to find a nest myself. 102. Blue-throated Flycatcher — Cyornis rubeculoides. (575). Common. 103. Verditer Flycatcher — Stopaiola melanops. (579). Fairly common. 104. Sharpe's White-gorgeted Flycatcher — Anthipes leucop.i. (584). A bird brought with a nest, a very deep cup, placed in the grass growing from holes in a tree stump. Nest made of grass, leaves, and a little moss lined with fine grass fibres, a few bamboo leaves, and skeleton leaves being worked into the out- side. The eggs were •69"X'53", and were white, spotted with reddish brown. 105. Grey-headed Flycatcher — Culicicapa ceylonensis. (592). 106. Large ^\\t2k\a.—Niltava grandis. (593). 107. Burmese Paradise Flycatcher — Terpnphone affinis. (599). A nest and bird from the Chin Hills — Manipur boundary. 108. Indian Black-naped Flycatcher — Hypothymis azurea. (601). 109. White-browed Fantail Flycatcher — Rhipidura albifrontata. (604). Shot a bird low down. It changes higher up into the next species. 110. White-throated Fantail Flycatcher — Rhipidura albicollis. (605). 111. Common Pied Bush-Chat — Pratincola caprata. (608). 112. Harington's Bush-Chat — Oreicola ferrea haringtoni. (615 a). Not uncommon. The nest is built in a bank, often along a path, and is large for the size of the bird. It is a deep cup, made of moss, grass and grass roots, or of moss only, lined with fine grass bark-fibre, roots, and often goat's hair ( or in one nest only, fine yellowish roots only). The sides and bottom of the nest are thick, and in two cases the nest was made entirely of moss. This was the only nest found in which hair was much used. The eggs are pale blue — almost "hedge- sparrow " blue — and have a series of faint reddish markings ( spots, or speckles ) round the large end of the eggs. These vary greatly, in some cases forming a distinct ring ( in 2 eggs a cap) and in others being only seen with difliculty ; in a few eggs, and in one whole clutch, they were entirely absent. Clutches generally numbered 4 or 5, but in one case I found 3 hard set eggs. Average size of 43 eggs is "72" X '56. Length from -67" to -78", and the breadth from 53" to -58. 113. Eastern Spotted Forktail — Henicurus guttatus. (631). 86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 114. Slaty-backed YorktaAl.^Henicurus schistaceus. (632). llo. White-capped Redstart — Chimarrhornis leucocephalus. (638). 116. Magpie Robin — Copsi/chiis saularis. (663). 117. Black-busted Ouzel — Merula protomomelana. (679). Fairly common. The eggs and nests of the usual meruline type, the nest being made of moss lined with roots, and placed in a fork at no great height from the ground, or actually on the ground itself. 118. Orange-headed Ground-Thrush — Geocichla citrina. (686). 119. Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush — Petropkila evythrogastra. (690). Shot a single specimen on the boundary in March. 120. Zoothera sp.? Seen on the road. Could not identify it further. 121. Cinclus sp.? Seen in the Nanpalaw stream. 122. Chestnut-bellied Munia — Munia atricapilla. (726). 123. Hodgson's Munia — Uroloncha acuticaudata. (727). 124. Cinnamon Tree-Sparrow — Passer cinnamomeus. (780). 125. Indian Sand-Martin — Cotile sinensis. (809). Seen in streams at low levels. 126. Syke's Striated Swallow — Hirundo erythropygia. (823). 127. Anthus sp.? I think it was striolatus. 128. Alauda gulgula ? These two species, of whose identification I am doubtful, were seen especially in the wind trap. 129. Larger Streaked Spider-hunter — Arachnothera onagna. (906). Two or 3 nests and birds. 130. Fire-breasted Flower-pecker — Dicoium iynipectus. (915). Shot 1915. 131. Green-breasted Pitta. — Pitta cucuUata. (935). A clutch of 3 eggs and the parent bird brought in by a Chin in June 1913. 132. Gould's Broadbill — Serilophus lunatus. (942). 133. Hodgson's Broadbill — Serilophus rubrijyygius. (943). 134. Long-tailed Broadbill — Psarisomus dalhousice. (944). 135. Black-naped Green Woodpecker — Gecinus occipitalis. (950). lilRDS FROM THE MiltTll VlllS HILLS. 87 l;Jl). lo7. Northern Pale-headed Woodpecker — Gecinulti^ yrantia. (958). 138. llnfons-bellied Pied Woodpecker — Hypopicm hyj^erythrus. (960). I am not quite satisfied with this identification, but think it is correct. 139. Stripe-breasted Pied Woodpecker — Dendrocopus atratus. (968). 140. Great Slaty Woodpecker — Hcmilophus pulverulentus. (996). 141. Rufous Piculet — Sasia ochracea. (1002). 14:*. Great Himalayan Barbet — Meyalcema mavshallorum. (1006). 143. Lineated Barbet — Thereiceryx lineatus. (1009). 144, Blue-throated Barbet — Cyanojjs asiatica. (1012). 14-3. Golden-throated Barbet — Cyanops franklini. (1017). Nest and eggs, 1915. 146. Crimson-breasted Barbet — Xantholcema hcematocephala. (1019). 147. Burmese EoUer — Coracias affinis. (1023). 148. Broad-billed Roller — Eurystomus orientalis. (1025). 149. Common Indian Bee-eater — Meroj)s vindis. (1026). This and the next 3 species aU seen in a deep valley. 150. Blue-tailed Bee-eater — Merops ])hilippinus. (1027). 151. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater — Melittophagus sivinhoii. (1030). 152. Blue-bearded Bee-eater — Nyctiornis athertoni. (1031). Nest and young, 1913. Nest and eggs, 1915. 153. Indian Pied Kingfisher — Ceryle carta. (1033). 154. Himalayan Pied Kingfisher. Ceryle luyubris. (1034). I saw a large pied king-fisher, which I think must have been this. 155. Common Kingfisher — Alcedo ispida. (1035). 156. Blyth's Kingfisher — Alcedo grandis. (1038). An Alcedo seen in the Nampalaw stream, not A. ispida Identification not certain. 157. Brown-headed Stork-billed 'Kingfisher— Pelaryopsis gurial. {104lS) . 158. White-breasted Kingfisher — Halcyon smyrnensis. (1044). 159. Great Hornbill — Dichoceros bicornis. (1051). 160. Indo-Burmese Pied Hornbill — Ant hracoce rots albirostris. (1053). 88 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 161. Malayan Wreathed Hornbill — Rhytidoceros undulatus. (1054). All these are common. They are valued by the Chins, as their feathers are much iised both as ceremonial head dresses (as are the tail feathers of racket-tailed drongos) ai:d for hanging round graves. The hornbill is the only bird of killing which a record is put on the grave ; that is, the custom is to cut into a teak plank or stone used as the head piece of the grave an image of all beasts killed by the tenant (including things from men and elephants to barking deer), but hornbills are the only birds so recorded. They are shot from a platform in a ficus- bound tree, with a bow and arrow, when they come to feed. 162. Indian Hoopoe — Upupa indica. (1067). 163. Brown-necked Spine-tail — Chcetwa indica. {?) (1078). I saw a flock one day which I think was this. 164. Common Indian Nightjar — Caprimulgus asiaticus. (1091). 165. Horsfield's Nightjar — Caimmulyus macrurus. (]093). 166. Chinese Nightjar — Caprimidgus jotaka. (1095 a). Two hard set eggs taken at Haingyan, which were unfortu- nately broken. 167. Great Eared Nightjar — Lyncornis ccrviniceps. (1096), Saw this bird in the Chin Hills and took two eggs (both single) in the Upper Chindwin Division. They were found in ' Tin-wa ' [Cephalostachyum j)crgracile) bamboo jungle, one on 2nd April 1914, very hard set, and measuring l-69''x 1'18", the egg being an oval slightly pointed at one end, and the other on 15th April 1915, Fresh, a perfect oval measuring l'66"xl"17". In neither case was there any nest, and the eggs were of the usual nightjar type. 168. Hodgson's Frogmouth — Batrachostomus hodgsoni. (1097). Six or seven nests brought in, one with young birds, four or five.with eggs, and the rest empty. Typical of the species. 169. Red-headed Trogon — Harpactes erythrocephalus. (1101). 170. Red-rumped Trogon — Harpactes duvauceli. (1102). Hopwood saw one in 1913, but was unfortunate in missing it. It was either this, or some species not included in F, B. I., as it was not fasciatus, erythrocepihalus or orescius. 171. Cuckoo — Cuculus canorus. (1104). Common. Took eggs from nests of M. argentauris, pale blue and measur- ing •92"x-71'', and •88"x-69". 172. Himalayan Cuckoo — Cuculus saturatus. (1105). I took two eggs from nests of (?) A.davisoni which are exactly like those which this bird lays, but did not shoot a bird. BIRDS FROM THE NORTH CHIN HILLS. 89 17y. Large Hawk-Cuckoo — Hierococcy:v sparverioidcs. (] 108). Common. I took eggs of this bird as follows : — (1) Ex. 130 {p. macclellandi) longish in shape ; li^ht blue, 1-29" X -83". Fresh, 24th April 1914 ; 3 eggs of 1\ maclellandi . (2) Ex. 79. (1. omemccrt) rather more obtuse and darker than (I), Slightly set, 1-27" x -85". 2 eggs of /. cineracca, 28th April 1915. (3) Ex. 130. Hard set ; shape as (2) but darker blue. 1-26" X -84" 2 eggs of No. 130, 28th April 1914. (4) Ex. 130. Like (1) 1-26" x '82", one egg of P. maclel- landi, 24th April 1915. (o) Ex. 79. Hard set. Very obtuse. Colour between (1) and (2), l-28"x-88". 2 eggs of No. 79, 3rd May 1915. In addition to these, which are in my collection, Hopwood has 3 or 4 more, of which I have not got particulars, one ex. G. 2)ectoraHs, one ex. 79, and one ex. 130. A young bird was obtained in 1914 in the nest of M. avgentauris \ and a bird was seen to get up off the path with something in its mouth ; I think it was an egg, but could not shoot the bird to make sure. 174. Common Hawk-Cuckoo — Hierococcy.v varius. (1109). Two eggs, both from the nests of /. cineracea, the first a light, the second a deepish blue, 1-01" x -82", and l-02"x-80", were referred to this species. 175. Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo — Hierococcyx nisicolor. CUIO). Two eggs from nest of C. rubeculoides, •84"x"57", and •93"x-65". 176. Drongo Cuckoo — Surniculus lu//ubns. (1117). 1 found a nest of B. remifer containing 3 eggs, left it for 2 days, and sent out a man to bring it in. It then contained only two of the original eggs, and a third which I think may be that of this species, which had not been there before. It seems too big for t)ie bird, being 103"x "79", but I do not think the man sent out to bring in the nest is likely to have played any tricks and do not know what else it can be, 177. Indian Koel — Eudynamis honorata. (1120). 178. Large Green-billed Malkoha — Rhopodytes tristis. (1123). 179. Large Burmese Paroquet — Paleeornis indoburmanicus. (1136). 180. Rose-ringed Paroquet — Palteoi-nis torquatus. (1138). 181. Burmese Slaty-headed Paroquet — Paheotiiis fmschi. (1142). 182. Red-breasted Paroquet — Palceoi-nis fasciatus. (1145), 183. Screech Owl— Stri.v Jiammea. (1152), Heard one evening. 184. Brown Fish-Owl — Ketupa zeylonensis . (1164). 185. Large-Barred Owlet — Glaucidium cuculoides. (1183), 12 90 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV, 186. Jungle Owlet — Glaucidium vadiatum. (1184). Shot a bird at 1,500' which I identified as this. It was badly smashed up. 187. Brown Hawk-Owl — Ninox scutulata. (1187). 188. Indian White-backed Vulture — Pseudogyps bengalensis. (1196). 189. Black Eagle — Ictina'etus malayensis. (1210). 190. Changeable Hawk Eagle — Sjnzaetus limnaetus. (1212). 191. Crested Serpent Eagle — Spiloi-nis cheela. (1217). Bird off the nest, which was about half way up a 600' hill at about 4,000', and made of sticks with a lining of green leaves. It was placed about 30' up in the fork of a 60' tree, the nest contained one egg, set, 2'75" x2'12". The tail and wing feathers of this, and all the big hawks and eagles are much prized by the Chins for ceremonial observances. They pay up to two annas each for them. 192. Pariah YLite—Milvm govinda. (1229). 193. Shikra — Astur badiux. (1244). 194. Crested Goshawk — Lophopizias trivirgatus. (1246). 195. Besra Sparrow-Hawk — Accipiter vivgatus. (1248). 196. Crested Honey-Buzzard — Pernis critatus. (1249). • 197. Shahin Falcon — Falco peregrinator. (1255), 198. Red-legged Falconet — Microhierax eutolmus. (1267). I saw several other hawks and eagles which I could not recognise. 199. Bengal Green Pigeon — Crocojms phcenicopterus. (1271). 200. Thick-billed Green Pigeon — Treronnepalensis. (1281). Nest at Madan in 1913. 201. Pin-tailed Green Pigeon — Sphenocercus apicauda. (1282). Several nests and birds. 202. Green Imperial Pigeon — Carpophaga cenea. (1284). Shot a bird at a low elevation. The next species is found higher up. 203. Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon — Ducula griseicapilla. (1287). 204. Bronze-winged Dove — Chalcophaps indica. (1291). 205. Indian TnrtlQ-Do-vG—Turturferrago. (1305). 206. Malayan Spotted Dove — Turtur tigrinus. (1308). 207. Bar-tailed Cuckoo-Dove — Macropygia tusalia. (1312). Many nests and eggs. Nest massive for a dove, having often some moss mixed with the twigs. Only twice got two eggs lilliD!^ Fh'OM rilE NORTH CIIIX HILLS. '.)] or young birds in one nest, the rest were all single. Hop- wood kept a bird snared oli' a nest for (5 months ; it did very well on a diet of rice, but died in the rains. 208, Red Jungle Vowl—Gallus fen-u(/ineus. (1328). 20i'. Mrs. Hume's Pheasant — Phasianus humice. (1331). Eggs, with a bird skin. The eggs were of the ordinary Phasianus type ; 3 clutches were obtained, all from about 6,500'. The bird seems to breed near the top of the main ridge. 8 eggs obtained on 1st May 1914, Hard set ; 7 eggs on Ist May 1914, Hard set; 10 eggs on 1st May 1915, Hard set. The average size of 15 eggs is l-85"xl-37". Length from 1-99" to 1-78", and breadth from 1-31" to 1-40". 210. Black-breasted Kalij Pheasant — Gennceus kors/ieldi horsjieldi. (1339). 211. Cuvier's Silver Pheasant — Gennoius h. cuvieri. (1340 d). 212. Williams's Silver Pheasant — Gennceus h. iciUiamsi. (1340 c). I was much puzzled by the variation in the pheasants, until 1 saw Mr. E. C. Stuart-Baker's paper (J. B. N. H. S., Vol. XXIIJ, p. 662), showing that these three sub-species all occur in a very narrow area, all three falling within the area worked by us. 213. Grey-bellied Horned Pheasant — Tragopan blythii. (1346). A female snared and brought in in 1913, eggs not obtained. 214. Western Bamboo-Partridge — Batnbusicola fytchii. (1352). Common. 215. Arrakan HiU-Partridge — Avboncola intermedia. (1364). 216. White.cheeked Hill-Partridge — Arboncola atrigularis. (1365). As far as I could make out, A. intennedia was the form in the AVest, A. atrigularis in the East. But there was a great deal of overlapping. 217. Chinese Francolin — Irancolinus chinensis. (1374). Eggs and bird obtained in 1914. 218. Woodcock — Scolopa.v rusticola. (1482). Undoubtedly occurs in the winter, and might remain to breed. We found none. 219. Great White-bellied Heron — Ardea insignis. (1557). Several herons, etc-, were met with in the streams at the foot of the hills. This was the only one identified. 92 A CATALOGUE OF NEW WASPS AND BEES (F0SS0RE8, DFPLOPTURA AND ANTHOPHILA) DESCRIBED FROM THE INDIAN REGION SINCE 1897. BY T. V. Ramakrishna Aiyar, B.A., F.E.S., P.Z.S., Acting Government Entomologist, Madras Agricultural College, Goimbatore (6'. India). Part III. {Gontinued from 'page 721 q/ Volume XXIV.) DIPLOPTERA. Megachile. M. sycophanta, Cameron, p. 131, Mem. Manch. Soc. XLl (4), 1897, Mussouri. M. implicator, Cameron, p. 132, do, do. do. M. maliyna, Cameron, p. lo3, do. do. do. M. purvula, Cameron, p. 135, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLI (4), 1897 do. M. chrysoguKter, Cameron, p. 136 do. do. do. M. niyricans, Cameron, p. 75, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLII (11), 1898, Ceylon. M. creusa, Bingham, p. 125, B.J., XII, Deesa. M. coelio.iysides, $ , Bingham, p. 126, B.J., XII. Bo. cS, Nurse, p. 150, J.A.S.B., LXX, 1902, Deesa, I)o. Cameron, p. 652, B.J., XVII I, 1908. M. studiosa, Bingham, p. 126, B..J., XII, 1898. M. studiosella, Cockerell, p. 314, A.M.N.H., VII, 1911, Simla. M. vera, Nurse, p. 150, J.A.S.B., LXX, 1901, Deesa. M. katinka. Nurse, p. 150, do. do. Matheran. M. patella, Nurse, p. 151, do. do. Simla. M. Ulrica, Nurse, p. 15], do. do. Matheran. M. otriailes, Ca-neron, p. 60, Fauna Maid., I, ] 902, Maldives. M. cinyras, Cameron, p. 61, do. do. Laccadives. M. nadia. Nurse, p. 546, A.M.N.H., XI, 1903, Murree. M. appia, Nurse, p. 546, do. do. Kashmir. M. sladeni, Friese, p. 245, Zeits. Hym. Dipt. Ill, 1903, Khasia hills.- M. monoceros, Friese, p. 358, do. do. do, M. khasiana, Cameron, p. 216, A.M.N.H., XIII, 1904 do. M. taprobane, Cameron, p. 15, Zeit. Hym. Dipt., IV, 1904, Ceylon. M. aberrans, Friese, p. 329, do. do. Nicobars. M. asiatica*, Mori, Nurse, p. 574, B.J., XX, 1904, Baluchistan. M. apicalis*. Spin., do. do. do. do. M. rotundata* , Fabr., do. do. do. do. M. desertorum* , Mor., do. do. do. do. M. viuraria^ , Ratz., do. do, do, do, M. phaola, Cameron, p. 1005, B. J., XVII, 1907, Deesa, *New to the reffion. A CATALOGUE OF NEW WASPS AND BEES. 93 M. lefroma, Cameron, p. 1006, B. J., XVII, 1907, Matheran. Same as M. saphira, (below) Meade Waldo, p. 403, A. M. N. H., XIV, 1914. M. nap/lira, Cameron, p. 1006, B.J., XVII, 1907, Matheran. M. decdatta, Cockercll, p. 224, Bull. Anier. Mus., 1907, India. M. gathda, Cameron, p. 650, B. J., XVII 1, 1908, Deesa. Same as M. nana, Bingham, 1897 — Meade Waldo, p. 403, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914. ^M. bombayensis, Cameron, p. 6o0, B. J., XVIII, 1908, Bombay. M. lissopoda, Cameron, p. 651, do. do. do. M. cathena, Cameron, p. 651, do. do. do. M. cratodonta, Cameron, p. 652, do. do. Deesa. M. suOfuscus, (Nurse — Ms.), Cameron, p. 652, B. J , XVIII, 1908, Matheran. M. indoAtana, Cameron, p. 653, B. J., XVIII, 1908, Deesa,. M. nif/icauda, Cameron, p. 653, do. do. do. Same as M. patellimana. Spin, (1838) — Meade Waldo, p. 403, A. M. N. H., XIV, 1914. M. lerma, (Nurse— .!/.«.), Cameron, p. 654, B. J., XVTll, 1908, Matheran. Same as M. Umhripennis, Smith, (lt53) — Meade Waldo, p. 403, A. M. N. H.,XIV, 1914. M. leptodonta, Cameron, p. 654, B. J., XVIII, 1908, Deesa. \M. erythrostoma, Cameron, p. 655, do. do. M. suaiida, Cameron, p. 655. do. do. M. niceiillei, Cameron, p. 41, Entomologist, 1908, India. M. obtusata, Cameron, p. 51, D. Ent. Z., 1909, Ferozepur. M. striolata, Cameron, p. 131, B. J., XIX, 1909, Simla. M. heterotiichia, Cameron, p. 132, do. do. M. semireticulata, Cameron, p 132, • do. Ferozepur. M. ferozepur ensis, Cameron, p. 133, do. do. M. Sinilcensts, Cameron, p. 133, do. Simla. » M, inelanoneura, Cameron, p. 134, do. do. Same as M. maritima, K. (1802) — Meade Waldo, p. 403, A.M.N.H,, XIV. 1914. M .inepta, Cameron, p. 135, B. J., XIX, 1909, Simla. M. punjabensis, Cameron, p. 135, B. J., XIX, 1909, Ferozepur. M. mi/stacea, F. Notes on— Bingham, p. 183, T. Z. S., 1909. M.funebricornis, Strand, p. 38, Jahr. Ver. Wies., 63, 1910, Ceylon. M. ladacensis, Cockerell, p. 252, Proc. U. S. Nt., Mus., 40, 1911, Ladak. M. rupshuends, Cockerell, p. 253, do. do. do. M. far eta. Binyham, Cockerell, p. 315., A. M. N. H., VII., 1911, Khasia. M. caroli. M. Cey/onn7sis, Bingham, ? , p. 482, F. B. I., I, 1897, Ceylor. M. caroli, Meade Waldo, p. 464, A.^I. N. H., X, 1912. (wrongly put as Ceylonica in Bingham's, F. B. 1.) M. stiilfa. Binyham. Notes on— Meade Waldo, p. 464, A.M. N. H., X, 1912. M. binyhami. M. bellula, Bingham, J, p. 476, F B. I., I, 1897. M. binyhami, {neio name) Meade Waldo, p. 465, A. M. N. H.. X, 1912. M. luculenta, Bingham; (a distinct sp. not same as M. Mystacea, see p. 479 of Bigham's, F. B. I., i, 1897)— Meade Waldo, p. 466, A. M N. H., X, 1912. M. semiiestifa. Smith. (^ , Meade Waldo, p. 467, do. do. (is the J, of M. Determinat Smitha, $ — Meade Waldo.) t These two are the same as M. hera, Bingrham (181 7J— Meade Waldo, p. 403. A. M. N. H., XIV, 1914. 94 JOURNAL, BOMBAY N ATI' RAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX] . M. atrata. M. atrata, Smith, ? , p. 182, Cat. I. M. viriplacea, Cam., S (1902). M. shelf ordi, Cam., $ (1902). M. atrata, Meade Waldo, p. 467, A. M. N. H., X, 1912. M. velutina. M. vetutina. Smith Cat., I, p. 180, $. M. Dimidiata, Smith Cat., p. 174, $ . M. velutina, Meade Waklo, p. 468, A. M. N. H., X, 1912. M. habroiwdoides, Meade Waldo, p. 472, A. M. N. H., X, 1912, Sikkim. M. striostoma, Cameron, p. 28, Ind. For. Rec, IV, (2), 1913, Dehra Dun. M. albifrons, Sinith, Food habits of— Burkill, p. 102, JA.S.B., VI, 1911. M. di.y'imcta and ixirevasjns ahdominalis. Distinctions — Bingham, p. -08, B. J., Xil, 1898. Aglaoapis ((/en. noo. 1901). A. brempennis, Cameron, p. 263, Enthomologist, XXXIV, 1901, Bombaj'. (This is a typical Dioxy's Lepel— Meade Waldo, p. 496, A. M. N, H.. XII, 1913.) Parevaspis. p. carbonaria, .S'»n•f/^— Meade Waldo, p. 227, A. M. N. H., VII, 1911. EUASPIS. E. smithi. Parevas^pis abdominalis. Smith, p. 79, Journ. Linn. Soc, 1859, c? . Eiuispis smithi, Friese, p. 137, Allg. Zeit. Ent., IX, 1904. Anxhidium. A.flavioentre, Cameron, p. 124, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLI (4), 1897, Poona. A. desidiosum, Bingham, p. 126, pi. A., fig. 12, B. .1., XII, 1898, Deesa. A. bingami. A. raternum, Bingham, p. 496, F. B. I., I, 1897. A. binghami {nov. name), Friese, p. 224, Zeit. Hym. Dipt., I., 1901. A. satlator, Nurse, p. 151, J. A. S. B., LXX, 1902, Deesa. Bo. do. p. 575, B. J., XV., 1904. A. viaticum. Nurse, p. 152, J. A. S. B., LXX, 1902, Matheran. A. conciliatum. Nurse, p. 547, A. M. N. H., XI, 1903, Kashmir. A. florntinum, Fabr.* ( ^.y _»_ -r> t ^nr\A r\ xj. « !f J.1 7 ; • TIT * > Nurse, p. 5^o, B. J., 1904, Quetta. A.fedtschenkoi,M.OT.'' S . A. jjhilorum, Cockerell, p. 242, Entomologist, 1910, Himalaya. A. temarium, Cockerell, p. 181, A. M. N. H., VIII, 1911, Quetta. A. lihilorum abotti, vav.new, Cockerell, p. 24i), Proc. L^. S. Nat. Mus., 40-1911, Ladak. DiANTHIDIUM. D. sinapinum, Cockerell, p. 179, A. M. N. H., VIII, 1911. Karachee. D. rasorium. Anthidium rasorium. Smith., p. 50, T. E. S., 1875. D. rasorium, Cockerell, p. 180, A. M. N. H.. VIII, 1911. Anthidium and Dianthidium — Composition — Cockerell, p. 136, A. M. N. H., VI, 1909. * New to the region. A CATALOGUE OF AL'll' U'A.sl'.s aMJ BEES. 9o PllOANTIllDU M. /'. solifei'um, Cockerell, p. IHO. A. M. N. H., VIIJ, 1911, Karachee. Camptopoeum. ('. rujiventre, * Mor. c. schewijrem, Mor y- -Nurse, p. •")"'), B. J., XV, 1904, Quetta. Ceratina. C. ornatifft-a, Cameron, p. 141, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLI, (4), 1897. Mussouri. C. inco(/nita, Bingham, p. 127, B. J., XII, 1898, Simla. C. muscatella, Nurse, p. 152, J. A. S. B., LXX, 1902. do. C. loquata. Nurse, p. l^S. do. do. do. C. ino, Nurse, p. 576, B. J., XV, 1904, Quetta. C. egeria, Nurse, p. 576, do. do. do. C comjKff. Nurse, p. 576. do. do. do. C. leevifrons, Mor.* noted by Nurse, p. 577, do. do. C. binqhami, Cockerell, p. 340, A. M. N. H., I, 1908, Calcutta. bo. do. p. 185, A. M. N. H.. 1911. C. ehurneopicta, Cockerell, p. 185, A. M. N. H., Vlll, 1911, Salsetta. C. comheri, Cockerell, p. 185, do. do. Karachee. r. bhaioani, {new form), Bingham, p. 360. Itec. Ind. Mus., I, 1908. Ceratina — Notes on — Cockerell. and Porter, pp. 404-406, A. M.N.H., IV, 1899. NOMOIDES. V. appendiculata . Ceratina appendiculata, Cameron, p. 59, Fauna Maid, I, 1902, Maldives. Nomoide.i do. Cockerell, p. 312, A. M. N. H., 1909. .V. Jcarachen.v<, Cockerell, p. 235, A. M. N. H., VII, 1911, Karachee. X, comheri, Cockerell, p. 236, do. do. do. = Ceratina punjabetisis, Cam., p. 1003, B. J., XVII, 1907. = N. comheri, Meade Waldo, p. 403, A. M. N. H., XIV, 1914. JN'. divisa. Ceratina divisa, Camerou, p. 1003, B. J., XVII, 1907, Quetta. Ceratina npilaspis, Cameron, p. 657, B. J., XVIII, 1908, Deesa. Nomoides cerea. Ceratina cerea, Nurse, p. 152, J. A. S. B., LXX, 1902, Deesa. Xomoides crea, Meade Waldo, p. 495, A. M. N. H., XI, 1913. Xomoides citrcilienata. Ceratina curvilineata, Cameron, p. 1004, B. J., XVII, 1907, Deesa. Nomoide.^ curvilineata, Meade Waldo, p. 495, A. M. N. H., XTI, 1913. Nomoides— Taxonomy, Cockerell, p. 236, A. M. N. H., VII, 1911. Allodape. A. pictifar-n.t, Cameron, j). 60, Fauna Maid.. I, 1902, Laccadives. A. pumilio, Cockerell, p. 182, A. M. N. H., VIII, 1911, Karachee. Heriades. (Eriades, Friese). E. teniae Nurse, p. 577. B. T.. XV, 1904. Mt. Abu. New to the rejrion. 96 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. CCELIOXYS. C. taurus, Nurse, p. 153, J. A. S. B., LXX, 1902, Deesa. C. stolidus, N.irse, p. 548, A. M. N. H., XI, 1903, do. C. canniscutis, Cameron, p. 213, A. M. N. H., XIII, 1904, Khasia Hills. C. khaaiana, Cameron, p. 213, do. do. do. C. latus, Cameron, p. 658, B. J., XVIII, 1908, Matheran. C. tumeri, Cockerell, p. 418, A. M. N. H., V, 1910, Assam. C. sulcispina, Cameron, p. 29, Ind. For. Rec, IV, 2, 1913, Dehra Dun. C.fulvitarsis, Cameron, p. 30, do. do. Mussouri. C. tenuilineata, Cameron, p. 31, do. do. Simla. Same as C.confusa, Smith (1875), Meade Waldo, p. 404, A. M. N.H., XIV, 1914. C.fuscipes, Cameron, p. 31, Ind. For. Rec, IV, 2, 1913, Simla. C. ruficaudis, Cameron, p. 32, do. do. do. Same as C. afra, Lep. (1841), Meade Waldo, p. 404, A. M. N. H., XIV, 1914. Ceratina species ; Cockerell, pp. 85-90, Psyche, XII, 1905. Crocisa. C. ramosa Lepel — Sleeping — Green, p. 214, Ent. Mag., 1899. C. kanhmirensis, Nurse, p. 548, A. M. N. H., XI, 1903, Kashmir. C. elecjans, Mor'.', Nurse, p. 578, B. J., XV, 1904, Qnetta. C. ceylonica, Friese, p. 4, Zeit. Hym. Dipt., V, 1905, Ceylon. C. rostrata, Friese, p. 6, do. do. Simla. Crocisa — Table of Indo-Australian species of — Friese, pp. 2-12, Zts. Hym. Dipt., v., 1905. PODALIRIUS. P. vedettus, Nurse, p. 582, B. J., XV, 1904, Kashmir. P. conne.rus. Nurse, p. 583, do. do. Quetta. P. serc/ius. Nurse, p. 584, do. do. do. P. picicornis, Fedt.* "1 i*. albif/eniis, Lap.* | P. orientalis, Mor.* | P.fulvitarsis, Brulle* }- Nurse, p. 585, B. J., XV, Quetta. P. atricillus, Ever.* | P. velocissimus, Fedt.* | P. khaisnnus. J llabropodafulvipes, Cameron, p. 211, A. M. N. H., XIII, 1904. Podalirius khasianus, Schulz., p. 253, Spol. Hym., 1906, Khasia Hills. P. bini/hami. Antkopkora crocea, Bingham, p. 526, F. B. I., 1, 1897. Podalirim bim/hami, Schulz.. p. 253, Spol. Hym., 1906. P. wickioari, Bingham, p. 122, Spol. Zeyl., V., 1908, Ceylon. Tetralonia. T. punctata, Cameron, p. 79, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLII (11), 1898, Poona. T. hredpennis, Cameron, p. 78, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLII (11), 1698, Allahabad. Characters of T. brevipennis Cam. — Nurse, p. 549, A. M. N. H., XI, 1903. • New to the regrion. A CATALOGUE OF AEW WASPS AND BEES. 97 T. ovatula, Cameron, p. 640, B. J., XVIU, 1908, Deesa. T. glabriocoitiis, Cameron, p. 649, do. do. T. pruinosa, Cameron, p. 47, D. Ent. Z., 1909, ^^erozepur. T. punctilabis, Cameron, p. 48, do. do. T. testaceitarsis, Cameron, p. 49, do. do. 7\ erythrocera, Cameron, p. 49, D. Ent. Z., 1908, do. T. Fimjauhensis, Cameron, p. 49, do. do. T. I'ufolineata, Cameron, p. .00, do. do. T, claripf^nis, Cameron, p. 51, do. do. T. leiicopoda, Cockerell, p. 183', A. M. N. H., VIII, 1911, Nasik. T. commixtana, Strand, p. 146, Archives Naturges, 79A, 1913, Ceylon. T. taprobanicola, Strand, p. 147, do. do. do. Tetralonia and Melissodes. — Comparison of generic characters — Cameron, p. 76, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLIl (11), 1898. Tetraloniella. T. aliena, Cockerell, p. 184, A. M. N. H., VIII, 1911, Xasik. T. calidula, Cockerell, p. 34, Entomologist, 1913, Salsette. EUCERA. E. medusa, Nurse, p. 578, B. J., XV, 1904, Quetta. E. diana, Nurse, p. 579, E. phryiie, Nurse, p. 579, E. pomona, Nurse, p. 580, E. cassatidra, Nurse, p. 581, E. melanostoma, Mor.*, Nurse, p. 579, E. spectabilis, Mor.*, Nurse, p. 582, E. turcestanica, Dalla Torre-*Nurse, p. 582, Eucerinae— List of spp. Cockerell, pp. 261-273, Proc. N. 5, Nat. Mus., 1912. Habropoda . H. krishna {form nov.), Bingham, p. 366, Rec. Ind. Mus., 1908, Darjiling. H. turneri, Cockerell, p. 308, Entomologist, 1909, Assam. Antuophora. A. deiopea, Cameron, p. 127, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLI (4), 1897, Mussouri A. rothneyi, Cameron, p. 142, do. do. do. A. cellularis, Cameron, p. 80, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLII (11), 1898, Poona. A. liriope, Bingham, p. 127, B. J., XII, 1898, Deesa. A. iole, Bingham, p. 128, do. do. Simla. A. antiope, Bingham, p. 128, do. do. do. A. zonata, L., varieties; Cockerell, p. 411, A. M. N. H., V, 1910, Dehra Dun. A. zonata var, puttalama. Strand., p. 147, Archives Naturges, 79 A, I'dlS Puttalam (Ceylon). A. cingulifeia. A. cinr/ulata, Fab. Bingham, p. 526, F. B. I., i, 1897. A. cinrjulifera, Cockerell, p. 410, A. M. N. H., V, 1910, Dehra Dun. (The true * cingulata ' according to Cockerell is a different species and Australian). A. meyarrhina, Cockerell, p. 413, A. M. N. H., V, 1910, Sikkim. A. do. var soluta, Cockerell, p. 414, A. M. N. H., V, 1910, Sikkim. • \ew to the reg'ion. 13 do. Kashmir do. Deesa. do. Quetta. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. 98 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. A. khambana, Cockerell, p. 415, A. M. N. H., V, 1910, Sikkim. A. jmlcherrima, Binf/ham, {var a), Cockerell, p. 413, A. M. N. H., V, 1910, Sikkim. A. orophila, Cockerell, p. 415, A. M. N. H., V, 1910, Sikkim. A. delicta, Cockerell, p. 235, Entomologist, 1911, India. A. anwlita, Cockerell, p. 237, do. do. do. A. comberi, Cockerell, p. 493, A. M. N. H., YII, 1911, Nasik. The homing of burrowing bees (Anthoplioridte) — Turner, p. 247, Biol. Bull., XV, 1908. Anthophora and Melecta — relations — Johnson, p. 427, Zoologist, 1913. Anthrena. A. brunneipennis, {form new), Bingham, p. 362, Ind. Mus. Rec, IT, 1908. A. burkelli [form neio), Bingham, p. 363, do. do. do. Xylooopa. A', ceylonica, Cameron, p. 32, P. Z. S., Pt. II, 1901, Ceylon. X. tranquebarica, Fabr* — Schulz, p. 273, Zt. Hym. Dipt., 1901. X. esica, Cameron, p. 61, Fauna Maid., i, 1902, Maldives. X. f/ardineri, Cameron, j). 62, do. do. do. X. amethystina, signiana — {new sub sp.), Cockerell, p. 310, A. M.N. H.. VII, 1911. X. collaris, Lepel, var binghami, Cockerell, p. 30, A, M. N. H., XIV, 1904. X. minor, Maidl., p. 250, Ann. Nat. Hist. Hof. Wien. 1912, Sikkim. X. amethystina, sigiriana — {new sub sp.), Cockerell, p. 310. A.M.N. H.. VII, 1911, Sigiri, N. W. India. X. madurensis, Friese, p. 88, D. Ent. Z., 1913, Madura. Xylooopa and acarid pouch^Green, p. 232, Ent. Mag., 1902. BOMBUS. B. yilyitensis, Cockerell, p. 223, A.M.N.H., XVI, 1905, Kashmir. B. loaltoni, Cockerell, p. 239, Entomologist, 1910, Himalaya. B. haemorrhoidalis, Smith — Habits — Burkill, p. 521, J.A.S.B., 1906. Bombus Habits of Fsithyruf! and — Sladen, p. 30, Ent. Mag., 1899. Hovering of Bombus-Saunders, p. 83, Ent. Mag., 1909. Apis. A. nursei. A. testacea, Bingham, p. 129, B.J., XII, 1898, Deesa. A. nursei, Cockerell, p. 319, A.M.N. H., VII, 1911. A. fiorea and dorsata — combs., Friese, p. 198, AUg. Zeit. Ent., VII, 1902. A. dorsata and indica — Habits — Hooker Agricultural Ledger, 1904, (Calcutta). A. dorsata — Its domestication — Harris, p. 12, Ent. Record, XIV, 1902. Tl'.'\^'//-xrtff/— Working hours— Burkill, p. 105, J.A.S.B., 1911. A. dorsata— VxJQse, p. 278, Ann. Mus. Hung. 7, 1909. A. Jiorea sub. sp., nasicana, Cockerell, p. 241, Tr. Amer. Ent. Soc.^ XXXVII, 1911. Apis — species and distribution — Enderleiu. p. 331, Stett. Ent. Zt., 1906. New generic names — ' Megapis ' and ' Micrapis ' — for dorsata and florea — Ashmead, pp. 120-122, Proc. Ent. Soc, AVashington, VI, 1904. Apis— specific characters — Cockerell, p. 177, Entomologist, XXXVI, 1903. * Newly recorded. A CATALO(,l'J'J OF Mill' HASPS AND liEES. 99 Melipona. .1/. cncciae, Nurse, p. ()19, B.J., XVII, 1907, Hoshangabad. Melipona— Nosts ami habits i)f, Schnlz., p. 250, Zt. Insbiol, I, 190">. Triiioiia - Nosts of— Watorhouso, p. 133, T. E. S.. 1903. Da.sypoda. D. com/x-ri, Cockerell, p. ■226, A. M. N. H., VII, 1911, Karachee. Melitta. .1/. altissima, Cockerell, p. 240, Entomologist, 1910, Himalaya. Lampuoapis. L. 7naciiiipenHis, Cameron, p. 420, pi. fig. 2, B. J., XIV, 1902, Simla. Epeolus. E. fervidus, Smith, recorded as from India before 1897, but not in Bingham. E.fervidus, Smith, Cockerell, p. 668, A. M. N. H., VIII, 1911. E. pictus, Nyl.*, Xurse, p. 570. B. .J., XV, 1904, Quetta. E.jwegrinu^, Cockerell, p. 234, A. M. N. H., VII, 1911, Nasik. Do. do. do. p. 668, do. VIII, 1911. E. assaiuensis, Meade Waldo, p. 94, A.M. N. H., XII, 1913, Assam. E. tihftaitiis, Meade Waldo, p. 9o, do. do. Tibet. Plesiopaxurgus {f/cn. nor. 1907). P. cineianus, Cameron, p. 131, B. J., XVIIl, 1907, Quetta. Thygatina {fjeii. nov. Cockerell, 1911). T. fumida, Cockerell, p. 237, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. (37), 1911, Ceylon. Melissixa (//i°w. noi\ Cockerell). M. viator, Cockerell, p. 670, A. M. N. H., VIll, 1911, Karachee. Trinchostoma. T. sladeni, Cockerell, p. 35, Cand. Ent., 1913, Khasia Hills. Ctenoapis {yen. nor. Cameron, 1901). C. hitea, Cameron, p. 117, A. M. N. H., VIII, 1901, Ferozepur. C. Jtavomaculata, Cameron, p. 117, do. do. do. Sexes of C. lutea, Nurse, p. 570, B. J., XV, 1904 (lutea $ and flavoraa- culata (S). Melanapis. M. violaceipennis, Cameron, p. 421, pi., fig., B. J., XIV, 1902, Ferozepur. M. ruifrom. Nurse, p. 567, B. J., XV, 1904, Quetta. AM>fOBATES. A. mlitarius, Nurse, p. 570, B. J., XV, 1904, Quetta. Pasitbs. P. maculatus, Jur, noted by Nurse, p. 570, B. J., 1004, Quetta. In addition to the numerous papers of Cameron, Bingham, Nurse, Meade Waldo, Cockerell, Turner, etc., often quoted in the body of the catalogue, • Xew to the region. 100 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL MIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. the following may be added as recent papers on Indian Aculeates in general : — Aculeate Hymenoptera of Barrackpore — Rothney, pp. 93-116, T. E. S., 1903. Life histories of Indian Hymenoptera — G. R. Dutt, Mem. Deptt. Agri. India, Ent. Series, Vol. IV, 1912. (a) Hymenoptera of the Abor Country — Nurse and Paiva. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. VIII, Pts. I— v., 1912-1914. (Z») Hymenoptera from the Himalayas — Paiva. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. I., 1907. The following supplementary list includes some new species recorded from the Indian region since the above list was prepared, A few references to already known species, some of which were overlooked by me before, are also added here : — " MUTILLID^. Mutilla. Andre in his paper on Ceylon mutillids has referred to the following species in addition to the new forms noted above (see p. 544), in the D. Ent. Zs., 1907 ;— M. sorror, Sauss, p. 253, M. insulavis, Cam., p. 253. M. humbertiana, Sauss, p. 255. M. bicineta, Sauss, p. 255. M. lillijyutiana, Andre, p. 256. M. ocellata, Sauss, p. '256. M. he.raops, Sauss, p. 256. M. acidalia, Cam., p. 256 (see p. 542 above). M. analis, Lepel, p. 257. M. indostana, Smith, p. 257. M. foveata, Cam., p. 257 (see p. 544 above). THYNNID^. Methoca. Methoca bicolor, Cam., name changed to M. rufonigra, Dutt, p. 186, Mem. Deptt. Agri. India, Vol. IV, 1912. BETHYLID^. Pristoceka (Klug). P, eironeformis, Turner, p. 245, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914, Pattikonda, S. India. SCOLIID^. Elis (Mesa). K crassipunctata, Turner, p. 246, A.M.N.H., 1914, Coimbatore, S. India. (a) Contains interesting notes on habits and life histories of a number of aculeates. (h) Contains chiefly references to knownf orms. A CATALOGUE OF h'EW WASPS AND BEES. 101 POMPILID^. PSAMMOCHAKES. v. nudatus* Vompilus nudatus, Sro., Cat., p. 133, 1855 (Trebizond). Pompilus cassias, Nurse, p. 84, B. J., XIV, 1902 (see p. 549 above). Pompilus horatius. Nurse, do. do. do. Psammochaves nudatus, Turner, p. 247, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914 (Coim- batore). P. detectus. Pompilus rejie.i-us, Bingham, p. 159, F.B.I., i., 1897 (wee. Smith), Sikkim. Psammochaves detectus, Turner, p. 248, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914, Palur, S. India. RHOPALOSOMID^. Rhopalosoma. Rhopalosoma — Early stages of a sp,, Hood, p. 145, Proc. Ent. Soc, Wash. Vol. XV, 1913. SPHEGID.'E. Ampulex. A. pilosa, Cam.— Turner, p. 250, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914 (see p. 555 above). Chlorion (sphex — Harpaotopus). C. subfuscatus, Dahlb.,* Turner, p. 250, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914, Coimbatore. GORYTES. G. coerulescens, Turner, p. 251, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914, Kandy, Ceylon. Nysson , N. excavatus, Turner, p. 253, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914, Coimbatore. N. decoratus, Turner, p. 254, do. do. do. N. dubitatus, Turner, p. 255, do. do. do. N. basalts, Smith, Turner, p. 254, do. do. do. Parapiagetia, (Kohl.*) P. wickwari, Turner, p. 256, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914, Colombo, Ceylon. Lyroda. L. nigra. Odontolarra nigra, Cam. (see p. 553 above). Lyroda nigra, Turner, p. 256, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914. LiRIS. L. ducttlis. L. ducalis. Smith, Bingham, p. 207, F.B.I. , i., 1897. L. nigripennis. Cam., Bingham, p. 206, do. do. Poona. L. ducalis. Turner, p. 257, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914. DIPLOPTERA. Notes on the nesting habits of some solitary wasps — Parker, p. 70, Proc. Ent. Soc, Wash., 1915. • New to the region. 102 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX} . Habits of a mud dauber — ^Eumenes latreille, Sauss'- — Girault, p. 28, Zt. fur. Wies. Ins., 1914. On the species of ' Alastor ' and other Eumenidie — Perkins, p. 563, P.Z.S., Pt. II, 1914. Notes on Belonogaster — Saussure, p. 199, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1909. ' Belonogaster' and Tachinids — Lamborn, p. XXXIX, T.E.S. II, 1914. Notes on Wasps and colours of wasps — Perkins, p. 677, T.E.S., 1912. ANTHOPHILA. APID^. Sphecodes. S. turneri, Cockerell, p. 430, A.M.N. H., XVII, 1916, Assam. Halictus. H. vinctus. Noviia cincta, Wlk., 1860, Ceylon. Nomia cincta, Bingh., p. 458, F.B.I. , i., 1897. Halictus lialutara, Cock, (see under 'Halictus' above). Halictus vinctus, Meade Waldo, p. 449, A.M.N.H., XVII, 1916. Nomia. Nomia — Notes on the genus and sub-genera — Meade Waldo, p. 454, A.M.N.H., XVII, 1916. N. exagens. Halictus timidus, Bingham, p. 429, F.B.I. , i., 1897. Andrena exagens, Wlk., p. 305, A.M.N.H., 1860, Cisylon (see under ' Andrena ' above). Nomia exagens, Meade Waldo, p. 459, A.M.N.H., XVII, 1916. N. aurifrons, Smith, Meade Waldo, p. 459, A.M.N.H., XVII, 191 6. N. fuscipennis, Smith, Meade Waldo, p. 459, do. do. N . scutellata. N. scutellata. Smith— Bingh, p. 458, F.B.I. , i., 1897, $ . N. albofimbriata, Cam. (see above under ' Nomia ', $ .) N. ustula,' Cock (do. do. Ceylon. J .) N. scutellata, Meade Waldo, p. 461, A.M.N.H., XVII, 1916. N. antennata var .ogkesiana,'West. — a well marked variaty, Meade Waldo, p. 461, A.M.N.H., XVI, 1916. N. carinata, Smith, Nelliotii Smith, Meade Waldo, p. 461, A.M.N.H., XVII, 1916. Megachile. Sense of locality of a leaf cutting bee, Muir, p. 375, B. J., XXIV, 1916. Tetualonia. Tetralonia — Note on the genus, Cameron, p. 76, Mem. Manch. Soc, XLII (11), 1898. T. duvacelH, Lepel, Sexes, Cameron, p. 49, D. Ent. Zs., 1909. Anthophora. A. rowlandi, Meade Waldo, p. 50, A.M.N.H., XIII, 1914, Assam. A. pseudobomboides, Meade Waldo, p. 53, do. do. do. Xylooopa . X. ametlnjstina, F. Friese, p. 88, D. Ent. Zs., 1913. A CATALOGUE OF XEW WASPS AND BEES. 10:! Apis. A. fntiffhavii var aladoni, Cock, p. 1;5, A.M.N.H., XIV, 1914, Khasia. Melitta. .1/. Iiorvictce. Anilrcna harvictiv, Bingh, p. 446, F.B.I. , i., 1897. Melitta altissima, Cockerell (see under ' Melitta' above). Mclittrt hairictce, Meade Waldo, p. 462, A.M.N.H., XVII, 1916. M. ant/iophoroides, Meac\e Waldo, p. 463, A.M.N.H., XVII. 1916, Sikkim. BoMBUS. B. lapidarius, L. var. ffilf/itensis. B. (/ilf/itensis, Cock (see under ' Bombus ' above).— Meade Waldo, p. 467, A.M.N.H., XVII, 1916. B. alietiHs, Sraitli,^ Meade Waldo, p. 468, A.M.N.H., XVII, 1916, Assam. B. lonf/icep=?, Smith,! Meade Waldo, p. 468, A.M.N.H., XVII. 1916, Kashmir. Epeolus. Synopses of Epeolinrc — Robertson, p. 284, Canad. Ent., 1903. Trixchostoma. T. assamensis, Sladen, p. 214, Canad. Ent., 191o, Assam. It is still possible that I might have omitted some new species or import- ant references. As such, I shall be very grateful to those of your readers who might be able to point out these omissions or any errors in my Catalogue, as it will greatly help me in the future. * Omitted by Bing^ham. t New to the res'ion. 104 BUTTERFLIES OF THARRAWADDY AND THE PEGU YOMA. BY E. V. Ellis, I.F.S. With a Map, The accompanying list deals chiefly with butterflies caught in the Tharrawaddy District, which lies on the western slopes of the Pegu Yoma, but for the sake of completeness reference has been made to others caught in Prome, Rangoon, Henzada and Toungoo Districts. The Pegu Yoma forests seem to house an interesting set of but- terflies, as they form the meeting place for Malayan and Assam types, and yet they are isolated by paddy plains and big rivers on both sides They begin at Rangoon and extend to Mt. Popa in Meiktila, more or less. The jungles of the Tharrawaddy District are chiefly at a low elevation, under 500 feet, but towards their Eastern boundary they rise to 2,600 feet in the main ridge. There are three main types of jungle, each inhabited by characteristic insects : — i. Deciduous bamboo jungle, fairly dry in the hot weather. This covers 90 percent, of the area. n. Evergreen jungle found in local patches near certain streams, very rich in species. Hi. " Indaing " jungle, low level gravel, etc., characterized by the presence of Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, the " In " tree. This is inhabited especially by Arhopala tounguva, hevdtsoni and centaurea and Elymnias tinctoria. Of the other districts mentioned, Prome adjoins Tharrawaddy on the north, and Toungoo adjoins it on the east, being on the opposite slope of the Yomas. Rangoon, situated at the tail of the Yoma, is surrounded by patches of evergreen forest in which rather more Malayan types appear. Henzada lies to the west across the Irrawaddy, and consists of broad and rather dry plains backing on to the hills of the Arakan Yoma which rises to 5,000 ft. The butterflies from the plain forests of Henzada are the same as those met with in Tharrawaddy plains forests, but the hill insects are rather different. The present list cannot pretend to be complete for such a wide area as the Pegu Yoma, but it represents four years collecting in Tharrawaddy, and should be fairly complete for that District. To finish the Pegu Yoma butterflies more research is needed in the moister forests on its eastern slopes in the Pegu and Toungoo Districts. It is hoped that the present list will assist anyone engag- ed on that work. Finally I must express my great obligation to Jour, Bombay Nat. Hist. 8oc. ^\ PakoLKu %\ Ch,n : i\Hill5 • Meikrila Mf Popa Scale approx. 1 =60 miles - = Disrncr boundaries Map of ti-ie Tmarrawaddy and the Pecu Voma, Lower Burma. BUTTERFLIES OF THARRA WADDY AND PEGU YOMA. 105 Major W. H. Evans, R.E., who has very kiudly identified all doubtful specimens and helped me in every way possible. Nymphalid^. Danaina;. 1. Danai)> aglea melanoides, M. Very common everywhere. I have obtained D. ac/leoides around Rangoon and from Bassein. In the former place, at any rate, it was flying with melanoides, but it seems to reach its northern limit about Rangoon and I have met with none in Tharrawaddy, Toungoo or further north. 2. D. limniace, Cr. Very common everywhere. 3. D. plexippus, L. Very common. 4. D. chrysippus, L. Very common. I have D. melanippus indicus, Fruh. From Rangoon but it comes no further north. o. Euplcea godarti, Lucas. This is the common Eupltea of Lower Burma, and it is found in profusion throughout Tharrawaddy. The dimorph, layardi, Druce, seems to be rare, and I only have one from the Henzada District. 6. E. alcathoe cssatia, Fruh. Not common. I got it once in the Thonze Reserve on 2nd March 1913. E. harrisi hopei should occur but I have not met with it. 7. E. mulciber, Cr. Very common. 8. E. crasm, But. Not uncommon and probably many could be got in the right place. Of four specimens that I have set, one, a rains form, might probably be called masoni, Moore, while the other three which are d. s. f. seem from the scanty descriptions in Seitz to be equally referable to crassa apicalis, peinbertoni or hurmeisteri. 9. E. diocletiana, Fabr. This is not common, but I obtained it in the Thonze Reserve in May 1912. Like E. alcathue andcra.ssa it prefers moister jungle than is usually met with in Tharrawaddy. Satyrince. 10. Ypthima hubneri, Kir. Very common everywhere. 11. Y. icatsoni, M. Fairly common in the forest and 1 obtained a good series in January, February and onwards. 12. Y. philomela indecora, M. As mentioned by Major Evans in Journal, B. N. H. S., Vol. XXII, No. 2, page 282. I obtained a good series of this insect in February 1913 at Yetho and Sanbok villages. I also find I have it from the Henzada District. 13. Y. baldus, Fabr. Very common. Whether I have mixed up sobrina and similis among my baldus I cannot say, but it seems likely. 14. Y. dohertyi, M. One specimen from the Kyanktada hill on the Yoma, 2,640', on" 16th November 1911. lo. y. sat-ara, G-Smith. Common from February onwards. 1 have met it in other parts of Burma where it was also common, from the Arakan Yoma in Minbu District to the North Shan States close to Yunnan. 16. Elites rotundata, de Nic. This is a local insect, but when found can be obtained in numbers. Particularly frequents bamboo jungle, and flies 14 106 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. weakly in their dense shade, settlinc; on their stems or leaves. All my specimens seems to be votundata and not annularis ; they are all d. s. f. The insect appears in February. 17. Lethe europa, Fabr. This is common in the forest and usually sits on the banks of dry streams, a habit all Lethes seem to have. 18. L. confui^a, Aurivill. Also common. 19. L. minerva, Fabr. One male and two females from the Taungnyo Reserve. Rare specimens taken on 18th February 1911 and 18th April 1911. I also have this from the North Shan States and from Toungoo. 20. L. mekarOf'M. Tia,th.er coramouev than cJitnidica ovvi7id/ii/a. Emerges in February also. I have record of seven Tharrawaddy specimens, ranging from 3lst January 1911 to 3rd May 1912 and one on 14th November 1911. They come from the Taungnyo, Bawbin and Bilin Reserves, and one from the Taungnyomyo. 21 . L. chandica, M. Not common. Emerges in March. Bawbin Reserve 14th November 1911, also Konbilin Reserve. 22. L. vindhija, Felder. Not common. Appears in February. Konbilin and Yetho streams on 16th February 1911 and 12th February 1912. 23. L. muirheadi bliima. Mar. Rare. I caught one (3rd May 1911) and saw two others in the Taungnyo Reserve — Pannyogale stream. Very common in the North Shan States in April and May. 24. Mycalesix anaxioides, Mar. One from the source of the Mokka stream, where there is perennial water and evergreen forest, on 20th Janu- ary 1912. 25. M. perseus, Fabr. Occurs all the year round, fairly plentifully. 26. M. mineuA, L. This also occurs, but rather sparingly and I have only taken a few. 27. M. perseoides, M.. This is the common Mycalesis of Lower Burma and is to be met with everywhere and at all seasons. 28. M. intermedia, M. This doubtless occurs, as I have it from Rangoon in November, but at present I have not been able to distinguish it from the preceding species. 29. M. malsara, M. This occurs fairly commonly in the forest. It appears towards the end of February. 30. M. mnasicles jJerna, Fruh. This appears in March and is only found in heavy bamboo jungle. The banks of dry water courses, especiallj"- quite small ones, are the usual places to find it. It seems local, but is not uncommon when the right locality is foimd. Konbilin in March. 31. M. myites, de Nic. Another species that does not fly in the cold weather but only appears towards the end of February. Then it is not uncommon and several may be got in any day's collecting if attention is given to mycalesis. They are found in bamboo jungle, and settle on the ground on the dead bamboo leaves, where the yellow of their undersides is not conspicuous. 32. M. meda, Fabr. This is very common : forms with the white stripe obsolescent are found not infrequently, flying with striped specimens so that this variation does not seem to be seasonal. M. visala, M.. does not seem to occur, and I have not differentiated M. subdita. 33. Melanitis Ma ismene. Cr. Very common. BVITERFLIES OF THAliliA ]]ADJ)y AXD PECiU YOMA. 107 o4. .1/. phedima beta. M. Not coninn.ii. Only a few taken. .'}.5. Anadehis diademoides, M. To bo found in the moistcr parts of the jungle and ospecially Hies along streams that contain running water. Obtained at the source of the Mokka at end of January and also in the Bawbin lioserve. .*j6. Eh/»inif(s hjipennnestm tnicfon'a, M. Occurs, but not commonly. Often found in Indaing jungle, December and January. 37. E. npsaca timandra, Wallace. I took four on the top of the Yoma, Kyanktada hill. 2,640 feet, on 16th November 1911. 3 cT and 1 $ . I have seen it nowhere else in Tharrawaddy. Morphinfc. o8. Clt'i-ome arcesilaus, Fabr. Not common and only fouml in evergreen forest. Thonze Keserve in May. 39. Thauria aliris intermedia, Crowley. 1 have got three, all at the sources of streams near the Yoma. Inhabits evergreen forest. 40. Discophora celiude continentalis, Stand. Seems to be rare. I have one S from the Bilin stream (3rd February 1912). From the Arakan Yoma in Henzada I have 1 d" and 2 $ taken on 2nd January 1912 ; 14th March 1912 and a rains 5 . 41. D. tiillia indica, Staud. Common but hard to take. It sits on the stems of bamboos well protected by the rest of the clump. Only found in the moister bamboo jungle. Appears at the end of February. 42. Enispe eutliymius,, Doubl. Fairlj^ common, and seems to occur in any kind of jungle. The form I have taken in the dry season is tessellata M. The prominence of the discal bar on the luiderside varies a good deal. y^ymphaiido' . 43. C'hara.ics pohjxonu hiera.i , Felder. Not very common. Occurs in January and February. 44. C.fabius suJphweus, Roth. Not common. I have taken it at the end of February. 4o. Eidfpix athamo.s, Drury. This is common and pugnacioxis. Usuallj- it is found sitting on some point of vantage whence it chases everything. 46. E. arja, Felder. This is not common. One from the Bawbin stream on 17th November 1911. I only have three others, one from Toungoo and two from Maymyo. 47. E. dec-phis concha, Wd. Eare. I have taken only two and seen no more. Koubilin Reserve, 12th February 1912, and Mokka Reserve, loth February 1913. 48. E. endamippus, Doub. Rare. I found this once at the source of the Mwegyi stream, Taungnyo Reserve (18th April 1911) and caught two out of a fair number seen. When alarmed they flew to the tops of trees and one specimen 1 fetched down very luckily with my net stuck precariously into a 30 foot dead bamboo. I have eudamippus also from the Minbu District in February (Dive stream) and the form niyrobasdlis, Lathy, from the N. Shan States in May. 49. Apatura amhica, Koll. I obtained one, a female, in the Taungnyo Reserve, Wetto stream source on 16th February 1911. This is the only one I have seen in Tharrawaddy. She was settled on a small bamboo-like grass which grows beside streams. 108 JOURJSAL, BOMBAY NATURAL RIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 50. A. parisatis, God. I have only seen one, a J . It was on the Kyauktada hill, Bawbin Reserve in November. 51. Euvipus halitherses, Doub. Again 1 have only seen one, a male, and that I caught in the Wetto stream, Taungnyo Reserve on 16th February 1911, at 500 feet elevation. 52. Dichorvafjia nesimachua, Boisd. I saw one, but did not catch it, at the source of the Bawbin stream, 600 feet elevation, in a rather evergreen bit of jungle. Usually it seems to occur at higher elevations than this. 53. Adolias dirtea, Fabr. Very common in the forest all the year round. The form that occurs seems to be jadeitina, Fruh. The submarginal series of spots on the upper side of the hind wing varies in size to a considerable extent, and to a less extent in shape. 64. Euthalia derma, Koll. Not very common and seems confined to moist evergreen jungle, but I have seen it in " Indaing"' jungle also. Thonze Reserve in May. Seywa in January. Kyini Reserve in February. 55. E. lepidea. But. The commonest Euthalia : found at all times of the year, rains forms are darker than d. s. f. 56. E. appiades julii, Bougain. Both sexes of this are common, and the form that flies in Tharrawaddy seems nearest to julii. 57. E.jahnu, M. This also is fairly common and I have taken both sexes. February-March. 58. E. anosia, M. One worn specimen taken in April in the Thonze Reserve. It insisted on sitting on the roof inside a bungalow, and after half an hour's chasing, during which it left the place once but returned, it allowed itself to be caught, in February I saw another, a fresh specimen, but had no net with me and it was not docile enough for the finger and thumb method. 59. E. kesava rangoonensis, Sw. I do not seem to have got this from Tharrawaddy, but it should occur. It never seems to be common any- where. 60. E. apicalis, Voll. I have one male taken in my garden in Tharra- waddy in April. 61. E. phemiua, Doub. One good specimen on 5th May 1912 in moist evergreen jungle in the Thonze Reserve. 62. E. lubentina, Cr. One female on the Taungnyo-myo in April, and I saw another in the Thonze Reserve in May. 63. E. (jaruda, M. Not so common as lepidea, appiades or jahnu. I got one on the Kyanktada hill, 2,640 feet, on 16th November 1911, and others at lower levels. 64. E.jama, Felder. 1 obtained what I take to be a female of this on the Kyanktada hill on 16th November 1911. 65. E. eriphyle, de Nee. Th.\s ^ies with. aj)piades and I did not distinguish the females at first. Both sexes were obtained in February and March, but either the female is commoner than the male, which is not usual with Euthalia, or I have been overlooking it as I only have the one worn male. Of the above species of Euthalia, appiades, jahnu and lepidea are the common ones which occur in most kinds of jungle. The occurrence of the other species is dependant on the existence of evergreen forest, "in patches of which single specimens have been found. B UTTERFLIES 01 THARRA WA DD Y A ND PEG U YOMA . 1 09 66. Pa)-tfie7iii.< f/ambrisius, Fabr. Not plentiful, as it prefers moisture forest than is usually found in Tharrawaddy. 67. Liminiiis procris, Cr. Fairly common in the forest, and 1 have also seen it in the railway town of Letpadan, quite 8 miles from the nearest bit of good jungle. 68. Lehadea martha, Fabr. Usually to be found when one meets with a patch of evergreen jungle. 69. Pantoporia 7i('fte inara, Doub. One from the Kj'^anktnda hill, 2,040 feet, on 16th November 1911. I have not seen any others in Tharrawaddy and think it prefers a higher elevation, over 3,000 feet. P. gelenophora and P. cama may also occur on the top of the Yoma, but 1 have not met with them. 70. P. kantva, M. I obtained this on the Yoma crest in the Kadin Bilin Reserve (1st February 1913) at an elevation of about 1,500 feet. Again in the Mokka Reserve in January and February 1913. 71. P. ranya, M. Two from the Kyanktada hill on 16th November 1911. Not seen again. 72. P.perius,\j. Very common at all elevations. 73. P. pravara, M. Obtained in the Thonze Reserve in May 1912, and again in the Mokka Reserve in February 1913. 74. Neptis hylas adara, M. Very common and various in size. All the year round. 75. N. soma, M. Also very common and exceedingly variable, some specimens being quite minute in size. January-February and all the year. 76. M. columella mavtahana, M. Common locally : it also seems to vary much, some specimens having the white markings so reduced as to give the insect quite a different look. (9th March 1912). 77. N. harita, M. Two or three specimens from the Thonze Reserve. (4th May 1912). 78. N. viraja, M. I got this from both the Kyanktada and Kaabalu hills in November 1911. Both are hills on the Yoma about 2,600 feet high. 79. N . heliadore, Fabr. This is not very common, but occurs at low elevations along with paraka, with which it is easily confused. 80. 3'. Aor(Zo?iJa, StoU. Very common at all elevations and at all times of the year. 81. iV. paraka, But. Also common, nearly equally with the last named from which it is not to be distinguished until caught. It always settles with its wings wide open, so that one has no chance of a glimpse of its under side. 82. Cyrestis visa, Doub. i These two forms fly together, and are to 83. C. rahria rahrioides, M. J be found chiefly in streams in moist jungle. I have record of their capture in January, February, October and December. 84. Junonia iphita, Cr. Common all the year round both in jungle and gardens. 85. J. lemonias, L. Still more common. 86. /. hierta, Fabr. Also very common everywhere. 87. J. orithya, L, Not quite so common. Most usually found on short herbage. no JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 88. J. atlites, Joh. Fairly common. Chiefly found in gardens. 89. /. almana, L. Very common. 90. Symbventhia lucina, Cr. Common in the jungle. I have found no Vanessa in Tharrawaddy, but 7'. cardui, should occur as I have it from the Prome hill in July 1909. 91. Rhinopalpa polynice hirmana, Fruh. Though I have not actually caught this, I saw it in the Mokka stream in January. 92. Yomasahinavasuki,Y)o\i.^xt. Common in the jungle. The rains brood is markedly darker than the hot weather brood that it succeeds. The d. s. f. begins to appear in February, and the insects flying at the end of April and beginning of May are very battered and pale. With the first good showers in May the w. s. f. appears. May 19 is a date I have noted for this. The insects are fond of settling on cattle-stamped mud round village wells, inside the wells on the damp bricks, or along roads through the jungle. Kangyi Reserve in May. 93. H.ypolimnuiibnlina,\i. Very common. I have not caught -ST. misippus L. in Tharrawaddy, but it must occur. 94. Penthema yoma, Mihi. Two specimens of this from the Myaung stream (Gamon Reserve) and from the Thabyu stream (Thonze Reserve), both in May, 1909 and 1912. It inhabits moist jungle, and seems to be the kind of Penthema peculiar to the Pegu Yoma forests. I have P. lisarda from the Henzada District and P. darlisa from the foot of the Karen Hills in Toungoo District. The type specimen of P. yoma is in the B. M. and was recently described by me in the journal of the B. N. H. S., Vol. XXII, page 585. February 2nd, 1915. 95. Kallima inachus limboryi, M. Not common, as there is not much of the evergreen jungle it prefers. It is sometimes found in "Indaing" jungle. 96. Issoria Sinha, KoU. Not very common. Occurs in the jungle. 97. Atella phalantha, Drury. Very common everywhere. I have not obtained A. alcippe cdcippioides aad find it much rarer and limited to Tenasserim and East Toungoo as far as my experience goes as yet. 98. Cupha erymanthis lotis, Sulz. Very common everywhere. 99. Cirroc-hroa mithila, M. Not very common, but I have records of it from the Bawbin Reserve on 13th November 1911 and again in April in the Thonze Reserve. 100. Eryolis ariadne, Johans. Never very common but to be found in most jungle. 101. Eryolis merione, Cr. About equally common. 102. Laiinya horsjieldi ylaucescens, de Nee. I obtained this on the top of the Yoma at 2,600 feet, three on the Kyanktada hill, 16th November 1911, and tw(j on the Kaubalu hill, 20th November 1911 — four males and one female. I have not seen it elsewhere in Tharrawaddy. 103. Pseudergolis wedah, KoU. Not very common. 104. Cethosia cyane, Drury. Not common, and seems to inhabit open Savannah jungle by preference, or gardens. Bingham records C. hypsirui, Fd., from the Pegu Yoma. I have not found it. 105. Lihythea myrrha, QoAiyrt. I have this from Henzada and Toungoo but seem to have failed to take it in Tharrawaddy. n I • TTlUiFLIES OF TRARllA U'ADDY AND I'Ed U YOMA. 1 1 1 \kM Kor.lD.K. 10(). Zemerosjleyyaf:, Cr. Fairly ooiuniou in moist juu^lu. 107, Ta.fila /laf/umus fasciota, M. i have obtained three specimens only in Tharrawaddy. The juujilo does not appear to be moist enough for them. One was from the Bawbin IJeserve on L'oth January 1911 and the others from the Mokka Reserve on 19th January 1912. 108. Abimra echerius anyulata, M. Very common and variable. Pre- sumably my specimens are this race. 1 have taken no Dodona in the Pegu Yoma as yet. I'apu.ioni]).!-:. 109, Fapilio helena cevberw, Felder. ) Both occur not uncommonly, and 110. 1\ (cacu.t, Felder. J are found either in or out of jungle. They frequent the white flowers of a flowering shrub. ni. P. zalettcuSfH-ew. Four, taken in streams in the forest. 111'. 1'. aiistolochice, Fabr. The race rjoniopeltis, Pioth., is common every- where, and is the commonest Papilio of the district. 113. V. eltjtia, L. Clytia and dissimilis forms are equally common and are especially found in gardens. 114. P. mahadeva, M. One specimen was obtained, caught in a hat ! Thouze Reserve. 115. P. demoleus, L. The form malayanus, Wall., is nearly as common as aristolochice. It inhabits gardens by preference, but is to be met with everywhere. 116. P. cliaon, Westw, Flies with helenus. One specimen, dated L^5th February 1912. 117. P. helmus, L. I first found this in November on the top of the Yoma at 2,600 feet, but later on 1 also found it at lower elevations. It usually seems to follow a well defined "- path " of its own, and I have not often found it loitering. Exclusively a forest insect, in this district at any rate. Kaubala Hill, 20th Novemberl9] 1. 118. P. polytes nmiulus, Cr. Common, but I have only found the polytes form of $ as yet. 119. P. inemnon ayenor,'L. Not very common, but sometimes met with in gardens on flowers of Hibiscus, etc. The dark males seem always to lack the red mark at the base of the cell on the underside of the fore wing. 1 have caught two forms of 9 ; ayenor, L. and alcanor, Cr. 120. P. palinufus, Fabr. I have caught two — one in my hand when feed- ing on wet sand, and I have seen two others. Rare, and appears to be confined to jungle. 121. P. nomius swinhosi, M, Common in the jungle, appearing towards the end of Feb. Often found settled in clouds on wet sand, 122. P. atisteus hennocrates, Felder, I have only caught two, and it was with the same sweep of the net that also caught two Sicinha-i. They were settled thickly by a pool on the sand, evidently intermingled. 1 could not find another though I netted innumerable 'Sicinhcei afterwards in a vain search. 12o. P. sarpedon, L. Not very common. 112 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 124. P. agamemnon, L. Not common. 125. Leptocircus meges virescens, But. I saw this at the source of the Mokka stream in evergreen jungle, but was unable to catch it. Feb. PlEKID^. 126. Leptosia xiphia, Fabr. Common at all times of the year in the forest. 127. Delias descombesi leucacantha, Fruh. From the top of the Pegu Yoma, at 2,600 feet in November 1911. 128. Delias aglaia, L. From the top of the Yoma also, in November. Delias seem to prefer higher altitudes than Tharrawaddy can provide, at I have agostina, hierta, and pyramus from the Arakan Yoma in the Henzada District. From the Toungoo district I also have hierte from low elevations, taken at flowers in my garden there. 129. Huphina nerissa dapha, M. Fairly common. 130. Huphina nadina, Lucas. I have no specimen of this from Tharra- waddy, but it must have been passed over. I have a § from Prome and several specimens from Henzada. Lea. does not come so far north in the Irrawaddy valley although it extends up the Sittang valley to Toungoo. 131. Ajjpias lyncida hippoides, M. Fairly common, but I did not take many. One female from Kyankwa on 5th May 1911, and a few males as difi'erent dates. 132. Appias libythea zelmira, Cr. Fairly common. Rains forms occur from the end of May until December. 1 have a fresh specimen of the w. s. f . from the Bawbin Reserve, dated 19th November 1911. 183. A. albina confusa, Fruh. Not common. I only have one female from the Pegu Yoma, 2,000 feet, dated 21st March 1912. 134. A. melania adamsoni, M. One specimen from Zigon in 1910. This is very similar to some paulina that I have from Ceylon. 135. A. indra, M. Only from the top of the Yoma. Two from 2,600 feet on 16th November 1911 and one from 2,000 feet on 21st March 1912. 136. A. lalage, Doub. Also only from the top of the Yoma. Two on 16th November 1911 from 2,600 feet elevation. Presumably they are the form argyiidina. But, they are certainly not lagela,, M,, which might have been expected. 137. Lnas pyrene latifasciata, But. I have never seen an Ixias in the Tharrawaddy District. It occurs in other districts all round, and I have it from Prome (6th July 1911), Henzada and Toungoo (December 1905). 1 have also seen it in Rangoon. 138. Catopsilia pyvanthe,\t. Very common at all times of the year. 139. C. crocale, Cr. I have at present one male of the form flavescens. Fruh. (21st April 1911) and no females. 140. C. pomona, Fabr. This occurs more commonly and the female form catilla, Cr. also occurs. Until lately I had not separated crocale from pomona and gave the combined species but little attention in Tharrawaddy. Nearly all my catopsilia of are earlier captures. Catopsilia is common in Tharra- waddy but I am not in a position to say which particular form they are. 141. Terias laeta, Boird. Occurs. Bawbin Reserve, 3l8t November 1909. 142. T. hecabe, L. Very common all the year round. BUTTERFLIE!S OF THA RliA WA DDY AND VEGU YOMA. 1 1 .; 143. T. nilhetana, Wallace. This also occurs and I have specimens from the Mokka Keserve, 19th January I91i', and from the Taungnyo Reserve, loth February 1912. 144. 7'. andersoni, M. I have specimens which 1 believe may be referred to this species, but 1 am not very sure about them. 14o. T. harina Inirmana, M. This occurs, but not very commonly. I have specimens as follows : — Kaubalu hill. 2,600 feet, 20th November 1911 ; Oamon Reserve, 3rd March 1911 ; ^ia\vbin, 2nd May 1911 ; Taungnyo-myo, 9th June 1911 ; Pegu Yoma, 2nd May 1911. The \v. s. f . has more black on the tip of the wing than the d, s, f. 146. Hebomoia ylancippe, L. Common, especially at flowers in gardens. May also be seen in clearings and along open streams in the forest. 147. Pavfronia Valeria hippin,V-Ahv. Fairly common. Flies along its own paths through the jungle, preferring dry open stream beds. Rather hard to catch. Females are much rarer than males, })ut both forms occur that with yellow most commonly. Lyc^nid^. Gerydince. 148. Geri/dus biggsii, Dist. One specimen of what must be this species was taken in the Yetho stream in March, but it does not agree very well with de NiceviUe's figure of G. gopara which = biggsi. I have not met with any of the more usual forms of Gevydus in Tharra- waddy . 149. Allotinus drumila, M, This does not seem to have been recorded from Burma yet. I got one specimen from the Sababontaung, 5,000 feet, on the Arakau Yoma, Henzada, on 6th April 1911. 150. A. subviolaceus, Felder. No allotinus is common in Tharrawaddy, but what I did catch were about equally divided between this species and horsjieldi, about six of each. Kyini Reserve. 151. A. horsjieldi, M.. A few. 152. A. nivalis, Druce. T got two of these in a wet and shady streamlet in the Thonze Reserve in May 1912. They might easily be passed over as small moths on the Aving. 153. Logania vmrmorata, M. One specimen which seems nearest to the form watsoniana, de N., was taken on 10th January 1913 at Panhle te on the Mokka stream. On the wing it exactly resembles Lampides celeno, which is very common, and what impelled me to catch it 1 do not know. Lycceyiince. 154. Pitkecojis hi/lar, Fa.hr. I have no specimen from Tharrawaddy but believe it occurs. I have it from Henzada. 155. Neopithf'cops zalmora. But. This is fairly common, but local. When the right locality has been found a fair number may be obtained, 19th January 1912 ; 14th April 1912; 10th May 1912. 156. Taraha hamada, Druce. I have only obtained one specimen in Tharrawaddy, in the Mokka Reserve in January 1913. Elsewhere, I found It very common in the North Shan States. 15 114 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 157. Cyanins marginata, de Nee. Probably occurs but I have no Tharxa- waddy specimen. 158. C. ^MSjw, Hors. I have specimens as follows: — Bawbin Reserve, 3rd January 1911; Pegu Yoma, 21st January 1912: Kanbalu hill, 2nd February 1911 and 20th November 1911 (2,600 feet) ; Kyanktada hill, 16th November 1911 (2,640 feet). It seems commoner at high elevations, but I have low level specimens from Prome hill, 200 feet, dated 6th July 1911. 159. C. jijnteann, de Nee. 1 have two specimens of this from the Kanbalu hill, 2,600', dated 2nd February 1911. No others were met with. 160. C. albidhca, M. A cyaniris near to this was found in the Mokka stream on 20th January 1912. 161. C. melcena, Dohert. Two from the Kyanktada hill, 2,600 feet, on 16th November 1911. 162. Chilades laius, Cram. Not very common, but is sometimes met with in gardens. 163. C. trochilus, Frey. Very common wherever there is short grass and weeds in dry paddy fields, or on dry land liable to inundation. 164. Zizera lysimon, Hiib. Fairly often found, in localities similar to the last. 165. Z./7a;7i;«, Fabr. 1 Both are common, in open grassy places, and on 166. Z.Otis, Yahv. J the bunds of paddy fields in the dry weather Z. w«Aa., Koll., does nob seem to occur in this district, although Bingham records it from Pegu. 167. Eoeres aiy/iades dipova, M. Not very common : found both inside and outside the forests. 168. Catochnjmps strabo, Fabr. Very common everywhere C. lithargyria I have nob been able to find. 169. C. pandava,'Rovs. Very common indeed. The form with confluent markings on the underside of the hindwing which is figured by deNiceville (Fig. 188, Plate XXVll, Vol. Ill) as the d.s.f. of this insect is not exclu- sively so iti Burma. The usual d.s.f. is very similar to the w.s.f.. but is a little darker below. The form with confluent markings occurs also in some places, but much more rarely. 1 have specimens of it from Tharrawaddy, Heiizada, and from an elevation of 3,000 feet in the Pakkoku Chin Hills (South Chin Hills). 170. C. cnejus,¥&\>x. Only four examples taken. It is rather easy to confuse it with Everes argiades at first glance. 171. Tanicus theo])hrastus, Fabr. 1 have two specimens from Henzada in May and from Prome in July 1909. It doubtless also occurs in Tharrawaddy but seems rare. 172. T. pUniw>,¥&hT. Very common everywhere. 173. Castalius rosimon, Fabr. Common throughout the district. 174. C. ananda, de Nee. I have obtained 3 specimens, Konbilin stream on 10th February 1012, Tonkyank stream on 0th February 1913 and Tlionze Reserve on 4th May 1912. The ouly previous record of this insect in Burma appears to be contained in Watson's list of butterflies from the North Chin Hills published in Vol. X, page 634 of this Journal. BUTTERFLIES OF THARUA VVADDY AND PEGU YOMA. 115 17/). C ro.nii^, Godeat. A fow spocinions from some evergreen jungle on tho MyaiMig stream in .July 15)11 and three from the Mokka stream in Fanuary 1912. 176. C. (lecidia. Hew. 1 got this at low elevations in Hen?ada so it should occur in Tharrawaddy, but 1 never found it. 177. Kiphanila crjmbia marcia, Few. This, if it may bo so expressed, is one of tho rarities that turn up fairly often. In all 1 have got six in Thar^a^^addy ; one from evergreen forest at the source of the Mokka stream on 21st January 1912, one from the Takawpi stream on 3rd February J913, and four from the Taungnyo stream in 1909. Elsewhere I found it commoner in the Pakokku Chin Hills at about 1,0C0 feet, and I have it from Maymyo. 178. Li/c(enesthes emoluK, God. Fairly common and often found on wet sand by jungle streams. 179. L. lyccenina, Felder. Not nearly so common as the last. 180. Nacaduba viola, M. One specimen from the Kyanktada hill, 2,640 feet, on 16th November 1911. 181. N. l-erriana, Dist. Seven specimens from the same hill and on the same date. This species seems to be a Malayan one, and to be somewhat out of place in Tharrawaddy. I have it also from the foot of the Karen Hills in Toungoo. 182. iV. vincrojMlialma, Felder. Three specimens of this from the same hill on the same date. On page 144 of Vol. Ill of his Butterflies of India, de Niceville mentions aTi aberrational form ot the male, from the Nilgiri Hills. 1 have seen this at the B. M. and I have specimens exactly matching it from Tharrawaddy (one from the Kyini Reserve). The blue colour on the upperside of all these aberrational insects is not the same as in typical macrophihnlma, but is paler and nearer to the colour of iV. pavana, Hors., of which species I should prefer to consider them aberrations. I have what I take to be typ'cal macrophthalma from two other localities in Burma. (Maymyo and Pathichaung in tho Toungoo district.) 183. N. pavann, Hors. I have what I take to be this insect from the Kanbalu hill, 2,600 feet, on 2nd February 1911 and from Myanle on 29th March 1911. 184. N. dana, de Nee. The male of this is quite common, being usually found on wet sand, but the female 1 have not yet found. IHo. N. nora, Felder. Also common, and frequently found in company with dana on wet sand. 180. N. noreia, Felder. Not very common. 187. N. calestis, de Nee. 1 have obtained seven, all males on various dates in January, February and September. 188. N. atrata, Hors. I do not seem to have gob this, but I should have it. 189. Lampides bochus, Or. Common, usually in streams in the forest. 190. L.pvm, '^■)-QQ^Y^QQQyj^^celenon\ostvlQrii\in\\y. 191. X, celem, Cr. ) ' 192. L. elpis, God. Fairly common, but the rarest of these four Lampides in Tharrawaddy. 116 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Poritiinoi. 193. Poritia heioitsoni, M. In the Tharrawaddy District I have taken three insects that I take to be this, (10th February and 21st March 1912), but they are not constant among themselves and they all three differ from my other specimens in the possession of a large, isolated, black mark in the blue area in interspace 1 of the fore wing. All three have very little in the way of blue apical spots, and one has a broad black submarginal band on the hind wing, upperside, reaching from the anal angle to veiu 4. These, however, would appear to be typical heivitsoni as they agree with Moore's description as given by de Niceville. I am considerably puzzled over P. heioitsoni and erycinoides. It seems easy to divide the males among these two species, heioitsoiii being recognized by its greener colour, its black cell and the small sub-apical blue marks on the forewing. The distribution seems curious ; I have the following : — 3 males from Tharrawaddy, elevation 800-2,000 feet. 2 males and 2 females from the North Shan States at low elevations. 1 male from Manipur. The males from the Shan States and Manipur lack the solid black mark in interspace 1. Of erycinoides I have : — A quantity from Maymyo (3,000 feet) both sexes. A long series from Thandaung (Karen Hills, 4,200 feet) all males. Of the Maymyo females, (one pair was taken in Coitu) there are two kinds, those with and those without orange streaks on the upperside of both wings. Thus nowhere have I found the two flying together, and if anything heivitsoni would seem to be the low level (or Assam) form and erycinoides the high level (or Malayan) form. 194. P. phalia, Hew. Two specimens from the Kyanktada hill, 2,640 feet, on 16th November 1911. 195. P. phalena, Hew. One specimen from the same hill on the same day which agrees exactly with the description of Harterti, Doh. 196. Cicretis Indis, Db. and Hew., Common. The form occurring is malayica, Fd., and has a white female. Thedince. 197. Ilerda epicles, God. One good female specimen from the Takavvpi stream on 3rd February 1913. In Tharrawaddy this insect must reach its southern limit. 198. Aphnceus syama, Hors. This is local in Tharrawaddy, but I found one spot where it was plentiful. The insects alighted on tall blades of grass, as ictis also does, and were of the form called peyuana, M. 199. A..lohita,Hoxa. One specimen of this, 3rd February 1913. A. ictis, Hew., does not seem to occur, but I have a specimen from Henzada taken in March at an elevation of 3,800 feet. This appears to be typical, but a long series obtained in the North Shan States in March and April is not as the orange patch on the fore wing is much smaller and the area glossed with blue is larger. 'O^ . Arhojalince. 200. Mahathalti ntkinsoni, Hew. I found these conmion, when I had no net with me, by the Mimbu stream in July, flj'ing around lopped trees and IWTTEIiFLIES OF TILARRA W'ADDV AMJ PFGU lOMA. 1 17 shrubs in the plains beside the stream. Later I got some, all battered. Again I saw it, apparently fresh, near Sanbok village on l/jth February 191l>. I have M. anicna from Henzada. I'Ol. Iraota timoleon, Stoll. I have obtained one male from the Kyank- tuda hill, 2, GOO feet, on 16th November 1911, where it was Hying in company with more numerous /. rochava. 1 also got a female which came into the rest house and was there taken on the wing at Nyanle in the Taungnyo Reserve on 30th April mil. 202. /. rochana, Hors. Four males from the Kyanktada hill as above and two more from the Kaubalu hill, 2.600 feet, on 20th November 1911, 1 have a female from the Gokteik viaduct caught in July 1913. These captures extend the range of what seemed like a Malayan insect, and Col. Tytler further records it from Manipur. 203. Amhliipoilia anita, Hew. Rare. I have only got one male from an evergreen stream in the Thonze Reserve, 3rd May 1912. 204. Surrendra quercetorum, M. Not common. From the Bawbin Reserve, 1st February 1911 and at Prome on the hill in July. 205. Arhopala ceiitaurus, Fab. Fairly common in the evergreen or *' Indaing " jungle. December 1912. Kadin Bilin, February 1913, Sanbok, loth February 1913. 206. A. amantes amatnx, de N. Very common in the beds of streams where it often settles on a willosv-like shrub that grows there {Hot/a). 207. -4. hazalus, Hew. One specimen in the plains in country that is inundated during half the year, Kyankwa, 2oth May 1912. An unexpected locality for an Arhopala. 208. A. atosia arid, Std. 1 obtained six examples of this in some ever- green jungle on the Thabelu stream, Thonze Reserve, in May. 209. A. eumolphus farquhan, Dist. A s nj'le specimen from the same stream in May. 210. A. heu-itsoni, B.B. This is very common in the " Indaing " jungle, settling on the broad leaves of the trees. 211. A. tounyura, Gr. S. Common in company with the last named in " Indaing " jungle. The female is a much paler blue than the male. In Tharrawaddy I chiefly got the blue female but in Henzada I got mostly the purple male, from similar jungle. There are two distinct kinds of A. UnuKjuva and they probably merit names as they certainly represent con- stant forms, and may be two species. The males from wet jungle are dadcer, both in the blue colour of the upper side and in the ground colour below. The underside is also washed with pink. The females differ below in the same way and on the upperside much more resemble the colour of the male but females can always be distinguished by the extent of the blue colour. This darker form inhabits wet and evergreen jungle, while the other form irhabits dry "Indaing" forest and is paler both above and below with scarcely any pink wash below. I have the dark variety from Rangoon and the Lower Thaungyin, the pale variety from Tharrawaddy, Henzada and Toungoo. From Rangoon I have one female of the dark kind which possesses a dull green fore wing, the corresponding wing being blue as usual, with just a dusting of green scales in interspace la. 212. A, abervans, de N. I have this from the Taungnyo Reserve. Also from Henzada. 118 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Deudovi(jina>. 213. Deudorix epijarha^, M. One male from the Kyanktada hill, 2,600 feet, on 16th November 1911. 214. Viruchola isocrates, Fabr. One male from the Kyanktada hill, 2,600 feet on 16th November 1911, and another from the Yoma top in the Thonze Reserve on Ist May 1912. A female from the Bawbin Reserve on 6th April 1911. 215. V. perse, Hew. One male each from the Kyanktada and Kanbalu hills, 16th and 20th November 1911, elevation 2,600 feet. 216. Rapala schistacea, M. Not very common. Obtained on 14th April 1912. Seems to fly at all times of the year. 217. R. petosii-is, ^ew. I have records from the Bawbin Reserve on 3rd April 1911, Taungnyo Reserve on .3rd May 1911 and from other places at various times from March to November. 218. R. suffum, M. This is less common and 1 have it from the Mokka Reserve on 8th January 1913. 219. R.jarbas, Fab. Quite common in stream beds, March to May. 220. Caviena icetoides, Elw. Four specimens that I take to be this form from the Kyanktada hill, 2,640 feet, on 16th November 1911. 221. Tajuria jangala ravata, M. Common from March onwards. 222. T. maculata, Hew. Two males from the Kyanktada hill, 2,600 feet, on 16th November 1911 and one female, which is smaller, from the Taungny Reserve on 12th February 1911 at an elevation of only 200 feet. 223. Hypolycaena erylus, God. Both sexes are fairly common, and come to wet sand, 14th November 1911, 25th January 1911, 9th May 1911. 224. Chliaria otliona, Hew. Not common, but now and again to be met with in moist streams, 7th February 1912, 10th April 1912 and 3rd May 1912, one female only. 225. C. merguia, DohL. From the Thonze Reserve on 4th May 1912 and the Mokka Reserve on 6th January 1913. On the latter occasion it was flying round some blue flowers beside the stream and 1 mistook it for Z. etolus or I could have got more than 4. 226. Biduana melisa, Hew. Twice in May 1912 in evergreen forest in the Thonze Reserve. 227. Cheritra freja, Fabr. Not very common in Tharrawaddy, but I have notes of it from the Mwegyi stream, Taungnyo Reserve, on 18th April 1911 and from the Thonze Reserve on 6th May 1912. 228. Zeltus etolus, Fab. Scarce in Tharrawaddy. 229. Loxura atymnus, Or. Common in long grass, 3rd March 1911. April and May. 230. Charana vimidarinus. Hew. Only from the Kyanktada hill, 2,640 feet, on 16th November 1911 ; two. 231. Cafapaeci/ma etegans, Dnice. Four males from the same hill on the same day. 232. Horaga moulmeina, M. Three, again from the same hill on the same day. I only spent one day on this hill top, but in practically the one spot I made a bag that I shall never forget and probably never equal, so many rare insects did I find there. 1 never got a chance to repeat the visit. HUTTERFHES OF THAKRA WADDY AND PEGU YOMA. 119 Hespbrid.*.. Hepet'iina. 238. CehenorrAinus leitcocera, KoW. I st February 191. '5, two. 234. C. munda, M. Occurs. 235. C. chaniunda, M. Took the male. 236. C. njfinis, Elw. and Edw. The male. 237. C. aunviitata, M. Bilin Reserve, 12th February 1913 and Taungnyo Reserve, 14th February 1911. 238. Coladenia indrani uposatha, Fruh. A few. 239. Ctenoptilnm vasava, M. Sanbok village, 16th February 1913. 240. ('. multir/uttata, de Nee. Bilin Reserve, 4th February 1913, Six. 241. Odontoptilum anyulata, Fd. Thewa Reserve, 2nd March 1913. 242. Capronn si/richfu^, Feed. Common in all forest. 243. C. ransotiuettu alida, de N. A single male. TIiIk wa.s common in the North Shan States. 244. Tafjiadea atticus, Fabr. (formerly i-avi khasiana). This was common and I have specimens as follows : — Mokka, 14th January 1913. Tharra- waddy, 11th June 1912. Tanbingon, 2oth December 1912. Taungnyo Reserve, 12th February 1911. Bilin Reserve, 28th January 1911, Kyini Reserve, 21st February 1913. 24-j. T. obscurus meetana, M, (formerly alica). I have this from the Taungnyo Reserve, February 1911. 246. T. litigiosa, Mosch. Thonze Reserve, 5th May 1911. 247. T. pimdlii, But. Occurs. 248. Satarupa bhagava, M. Kyini Reserve, 22nd February 1913. 249. Sarangem damhara, M. Tanbingon, 25th December 1912. Mokka Reserve, 12th January 1913. Bilin Reserve. 6th February 1913. Thonze Reserve, 3rd May 1913. Common. 250. Sancus pulligo subfasciatus, M. Seywa, 2nd January 1913, and Bilin Reserve in January. 251. Astictopterus henrici, Holland. Byanle. 252. Koruthaialos .ranites, But. Bilin Reserve, 30th January 1913. 253. Suada sicerga, de Nee. I have this. 254. Suaiitus greyniuK, Fabr. and this. 2.5.5. Taractrocera tiKfiius, Fabr. Not taken but it must occur. 256. Jambn.r salsara, M. Seywa, 3rd January 1913. 257. Afromachus indistincta, M. Sanbok, 16th February 1913, Mokka Reserve, 14th January 1913. Common, in company with 7'. moivius usually, on the heads of a yellow flower of the order, composit*. 258. Sebastonyma dolopia, Hew. Occurs. 259. Hgaratiit adraatux, Cr. Tanbingon. 25th December 1912. 260. Anietta atkinwrn, M. Mokka Reserve, 8th January 1913. Bilin Reserve, Slst January 1913. Kyini Reserve, 22nd February 1913. 261. Scohurri crphala. Hew. Bilin Reserve, 3rd February 1913. 120 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL RIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 262. Gamjara thyrsis, Fabr. I bred a lot from a caterpillar covered with a white fluffy excretion that I found rolled up inside leaves of Calamus erectus in my garden in Tharrawaddy. There appeared to be two distinct broods in the rains. I also saw the insect on the wing in Kangoon, outside the Pegu club in July. 263. Matapa aria, M. Common in the jungle all the season. Noticeable for its red eyes. Taungnyo Reserve, 14th February 1911. Pegu Yoma, Ist February 1913. Bawbin Reserve, Ist February 1911. Mokka Reserve, 12th January 1913. 264. Kerana diodes, M. Mokka Reserve, 14th January 191,1 265. Notacrypta fpisthamelii, Bdl. 266. N. restricta, M. Mokka, 10th January 1913. 267. Mdaspes folus, Cr. Pegu Yoma, 6th April 1912. Fairly common. 268. Cupitha purrea, M. 269. Telicota hambusce, M. Very common. Bilin Reserve. Slst January 1913— 4th February 1913. 270. T. dara, Koll. Also common. 1st February 191-3. 271. Halpe zenm, Hew. Mokka, 10th January 1913. Bilin. 6th February 1913. 272. H. moorei, Wat. Occurs. 273. H. burmana, Swink. Occurs. 274. -ff. sikkima, M. Occurs. 275. Iton semamora, M. Also occurs. 276. Parnara oceia. Hew. Seywa, 4th January 191 1'. Bilin Reserve, 4th February 1913. 277. P. mathias, Fabr. Sanbok, 16th February 1913. Mokka Reserve, 10th January 1913. 278. P. toona, M. (=contigua). 279. P. bada, M. 280. P. bevani, M. 281. lumene mahintha, M. 282. Badamia exclamationis, Fabr. Everywhere. The foregoing list has been finished rather hurriedly during 10 days' leave from the front, but it does not seem much use to postpone it further. It represents captures during five seasons, as 1 was posted at Tharrawaddy from April 1909 iintil March 1913. In this time 1 visited nearly every part of the district and had one collector helping me, but 1 did not get as many chances of visiting hills on the Yoma top as 1 should have liked. The few- visits I was able to pay to such hills were very prolific in their results. I think one conclusion to be drawn from this list is that many types considered typically Malayan, may extend to the Pegu Yoma in suitable localities : they also extend further north along the foot of the Karen hills, and I have found Cyi-estis periander at the Gokteik \-iaduct in the Southern Shan States. The map will explain the Districts. 121 THK (iAME FISHKS OK THE PE15SIAN (4ULF. BY Ma.iou W. H. Lane. Pakt II. {Continued from pac/e 748 of Vol. XXII',) In the previous paper (lealing with the game fishes of the Persian Gulf, it will be remembered that the merits and demerits of the surface feeders were fully discussed. The next group of fishes to which our attention will be directed is the FLY TAKERS. Every fly angler, whose heart is in the Highlands but whose duty, busi- ness or pleasure turns his footsteps to the Persian Gulf, will be delighted to learn that at Jask he can also indulge in his favourite pastime. There is one species of fish that provides excellent sport with a loch- sized trout fly. His local name is a regular jaw-cracker, and was discard- ed from the very out-set. Now, among the upper angling ten at any rate, he bears the homely name of The Tiddlek. This sobriquet has been handed down by each successive generation of military exiles, and doubtless the practice will be continued ad infinitum. Hut let lis array him for once in all his cognominal glory. Here he is :— Famili) = PERCID^. Species := Lufjanusfului/lamma. The characteristics of this lively little perchlet could not be adequatelj'^ portrayed by means of a photograph ; a description is therefore appended to assist identification. Teeth. — Sharp conical teeth on both jaws, villiform teeth on vomer palate, and tip of tongue. Et/e. — Large and situated laterally, iris a brilliant yellow. Fins dorsal. — There is one dorsal fin, but it is divided into two portions. The anterior portion is composed of 9 hard and sharp spines connected by transparent membrane. The posterior portion is rayed. Pectoral. — Termination of pectoral reaches to about 1st third of black blotch on lateral line. Caudal slightly forked. Anal. — Three spines situated anteriorly, of which the third spine is distinctly longer than the second. Lateral line. — Curves upwards from the gills and descends gradually towards the tail. 'Scales. — Smallish in size and transparent. Colour. — Back of a greenish hue and belly white ; caudal coloured yellowish green ; pectoral, pelvic and anal all golden ; five golden bars running longitudinally from gill plates to tail ; black blotch on the lateral line about .} way between the root of the tail and edge of the gill plates. The Tiddler is essentially a shore fish, and there are particular haunts round the rocky parts of Cape .lask, and in the adjoining creek, where fuhijlamma is found in shoals. The difference in level between high and low spring tides is 9 feet, and it can therefore be readily imagined that it is essential to select a suitable state of the tide. At low tide the favourite holts are high and dry, and the Tiddler has sought other retreats : on IK 122 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. the other hand at high tide the clefts in the rocks, behind the shelter of which the Tiddler lies secure from the buffetings of the waves, may be covered with six feet of water. In this case a trout-fly will probably not be seen. At about half tide, however, this game little fish will take a fly with aidity ; and, if the angler cares to work for a heavy creel, as many as 40 to 60 Tiddlers may be caught within the space of a few hours. Experience has proved that a dark-coloured fly is the most killing lure, such as the trout butcher, grouse and claret, alder, etc., but a winged fly would seem to be more attractive than a hackle, and in this connection it is interesting to note that a coch-y-bondu was absolutely despised. The average weight oi fuluiflmnma would be about three to the pound, but individual fish of f lb. have been recorded ; it may be accepted there- fore, without overstepping the mark, that the maximum growth of the Tiddler would be about 1 lb., and on a trout cast and fly a fish of even half this weight gives the sportsman a magnificent fight. In angling for Tiddlers one final word of advice is tendered — beware of the hamur. While playing a fish a hamur may also be watching the fun from his den, in which case if opportunity offers he will assuredly dash out and seize it. If such an incident does happen it is extremely unlikely that the Tiddler or trout fly will ever see the light of day again. The question will probably be asked whether none of the species men- tioned in the list of surface-feeders will take a fly. Experiments in this direction were never carried out, so that there is no practical basis on which to establish such claims. Other authorities, however, aver that the gar-fish (kharkoor of the Persian Gulf) can be caught on a fly. There would seem to be no reason to suppose that such species as the Susansir, Zayrpur, and small Saran should not rise to a salmon fly such as the Silver Doctor, or some other pattern that bears a shadowy resemblance to a white bait. In temperate waters the basses are fly -takers, and exploration in this field might prove that the " Surkhoo " or other species of genus Lutjanus would give the salmon angler the chance of keeping his eye and wrist in practice during the dog-daj's of enforced banishment in this Eastern Turkish Bath. Let us now pass on to an examination of the characteristics of the last group of fishes in our table, viz. , the BOTTOxM-FEEDERS. It is self-evident that no really hard and fast line can be drawrj separating the surface from th'^ bottom feeders. The pirao is essentially a surface feeder yet an occasional individual fish will be recorded by the locals when bottom-fishing ; similarly the giddie is one of the principal species caught bottom-angling though at times he will come to the gafl' on a trolled bait. On the other hand, there are some species which, owing to the conformation of their anatomy, and the range of their habits, are essentially sand-grubbers. In the following pages we will confine our- selves to a review of those species which are unable, or which refuse, to take a trolled bait. The occasions on which the writer indulged in bottom- fishing were very rare, so that any dissertation on the relative sporting proclivities of the diflerent species will be omitted. It may be taken for granted, however, that all those catalogued are game fish, and will afford sport to the fisherman whose particular bent is this form of angling. Just as we found with the surface feeders, so it will be seen with the bottom-feeders that the family CARANGIDAE takes precedence. THE GAME FISHES OF THE PERSIAN GULF. 128 The lirst caranx that presents itself for discussion is locally termeOl the KusH. Caranx ciliaris (?) The following description was recorded from a specimen weighing 4 lbs. Head. — Deep and compressed, mouth on the smallish side, but capable of considerable protrusion. Teeth. — Villiform on both jaws, palatines, and whole upper surface of tongue extending to gullet, both above and below. Eye. — Large and protruding, iris yellow after death. Ftns anterior dorsal. — Six sharp spines connected with transparent membrane. Posteiior dorsal. — Commences moderately close to termination of anterior dorsal, rayed and continued by a connected fringe up to a point distant from the root of the caudal equal to space between anterior and posterior dorsal ; the fringe terminates in a slightly elongated ray. Pectoral. — Long, slender, narrow, delicate and graceful. Pelvic. — Short and stiff and folding into a depression with anus situated at posterior end of this slot. Anal. — Commences posteriorly to the anus at a distance equal to double the space between the anterior and posterior dorsals ; the initial ray is long and flexible ; the rays in the anal gradually shorten and the anal proper is continued towards the tail by a fringe similar to the posterior dorsal fringe ; it terminates also in a slightly elongated ray. Caudal. — Rayed and deeply forked. Scales. — Absent. Lateral line. — Starts at upper termination of gill opening in an ascending curve descending to a point on the centre line about ^rds length of whole body to fork of tail. It is ridged throughout, but becomes slightly keeled towards free portion of tail. Body. — Deep and compressed. Colour. — After death a band of steely blue commences above ej^es and runs between lateral line and back up to caudal, broad at its commence- ment and tapering towards the tail. Above and below this band there is a space of brilliant iridescence. From the commencement of posterior dorsal to end of dorsal fringe, the space above this longitudinal band, is barred vertically from the base of each ray to the band with steely blue. Below longitudinal band and above lateral, line there is a row of large steely blue spots. Between the lateral and centre lines there are steely blue markings. Above the anal fin and fringe is a longitudinal band and transverse bars similar to the dorsal band and bars. Remarks. — The maximum weight to which this fish grows would be about 12 to 1.5 lbs. The next caranx of which observations w^ere noted bears the local name of KOBDAR. Caranx speciosus (?) Weight of fish examined = 2^ lbs. The kobdar is very similar in appearance and conformation to the kush, but the following differences were remarked. Head. — Much more convex. Teeth, — Absent on jaws and palate. Eye. — Relatively smaller and iris silver. Marks. — The steely blue marks are similar to those on the kush, but in addition 7 broad bands run vertically from back almost to belly. 124 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Colour. — There is more lemon yellow visible than on the kush, the cornea is tinged lemon yellow, likewise the cheeks, caudal, and all fins. Remarks. — The maximum growth reached by the kobdar would be about 10 to 1 2 lbs. Another caranx which is taken by the bottom angler is called bj" the locals IIUSHK. Caranx annatus {?) No actual notes were taken by the writer from a specimen of this fish, but almost every morning when the white bait nets were being dragged the rushk was obtained and these fish were casually examined and the prolongation of the first ray of the posterior dorsal was a feature that was particularly striking. The identification of these three species of caranx should be taken with reserve ; but it is probable that the species to which they have been assigned will on further investigation prove to be correct. The rushk would attain a maximum weight of 12 to 15 lbs. Although among the bottom-feeders the family of Carangidce has been assigned the first place, by reason perhaps of the better sport which may be anticipated from its members, yet in point of weight of indi- vidual fish which will compose the average creel of the bottom-angler the family of SQUAMIPINNES will certainly play an important part. Of this family the identity of one species has been determined ; it is known locally as the Shungoo. Drepane punctata. With this fish the hackneyed expression "once seen never forgotten" is peculiarly appropriate, as the general appearance of the Shungoo stamps him as a freak of nature for which no adequate reason can be assigned. The appended description will furnish the reader with a fair conception of the oddities of Drepane punctata. Head. — Very deep and compressed. In front of the eyes is a very hard, long well-marked prominence, which gives this weird fish the appearance of being beetle-browed. There is a second much less prominent bump vertically above the eyes. Eye. — Large and seated. No&e. — There is quite a nose on this fish formed by a cartilaginous and bony plate which is continuous from gill plate to gill plate. Mouth. — Is extremely curious. The mouth is quite small, but is capable of being protruded downwards to the extent of over an inch in a fish of •J lbs. weight. The mouth of a shungoo of this size will just accommodate one's little finger. A hard pad is situated on both upper and lower surfaces f)f the gullet which is furnished with sharp teeth. Teeth. — Villiform on a cartilaginous pad on upper and lower lips, crush- ing pad on palate and back of tongue. Fins anterior dorsal. — Six sharp spines of moderate length, connected by transparent membrane ; this fin fits into a socket. There are two short and sharp spines situated anteriorly to this fin which might be considered to form an integral part of it. Posterior dorsal. — Rayed and very much developed, the outer fringe forming a convex curve, the rays near the tail being shorter than those at the commencement of the fin. I'HE (lAME FISHES OF THE FEliSlAy tiULf. li>r, Anal. — Is similar to the posterior dorsal transposed, though the rays are not quite so long, but equally developed. There are three very sharp stout spines just anterior to anal tin. The root of the tail is very stumpy, but the rays of the caudal are very well-developed. Caudal. — Straight cut, but convex in the centre. iV/n'c. —First spine is hard but not sharp, remainder rayed, a peculiar flap of cartilage like the point of a triangular bayonet conies out of the rin-pit. Fectoral. — Very slender and long, the tip reaching to the base of the posterior dorsal tin — a black patch in the tin-pit. Lateral line. — Convex curve from top of gill plate to root of tail and slightly ridged. Scales. — Small-transparent. Colour. — General colour silvery; the upper half of the tish (specimen fxamined weighed 3 lbs.) is marked with black spots about the size of those on a pound trout. General appearance. — A very deep and compressed tish, almost as deep us it is long ; a line from the mouth along the belly and the first anal spine is practically straight. Remarks. — Day gives the local name of this fish as follows : — Belooch, Shuk : Arrakanese, Shengnaroet: Burmese, Nga-Shengua. The similarity between Shungoo and Shengua (for '"nga" in Burmese merely means fish) is most striking. Can it possibly be a mere coincidence that two countries situated so far apart as Burma and Fersian Mekran should each call the same fish by a name that is almost identical 'f Such a con- tention is inconceivable. It is a problem that should be of more than passing interest to the Etymologist ; more so as the intermediate Tamil and Telegu names bear no resemblance whatsoever to the Burma-Mekrau root. The maximum weight to which the shungoo grows would be about 5 lbs. Another fish which is extremely common in Jask waters is termed by the locals SUNGSEK. Holacanthus aanthurus (?) The identity of this species has not been fully established, a detailed description of a specimen is therefore appended. }Vei(/ht.—3 lbs. 10 oz. Length to tip of tail. — 1 ft. 8:^ inches. Girth. — 14 inches. Head. — Is remarkable for a prominent lump a little distance behind the eyes. Ei/e. — Large, iris iridescent, in some lights sky blue, in other lights olive green, shot with yellow. reeiA.—Villiform rows on the upper and lower jaws; they are entirely absent on the tongue and palate. The upper and lower portions of the gullet are composed of a moveable cartilaginous pad almost like very fragile and porous bone. These crushing pads support on their anterior edge an upper and lower strip of sharp villiform teeth. The remainder of both upper and lower pads is studded with hard conical teeth, some of wdiicli are more dome-shaped than conical. The inner edge of the gill situated anteriorly is furnished with soft projections (combings) surmounted by villiform teeth. Fins anterior dorsal. — Composed of 8 very strong and stout spines widely separated and connected by a thin transparent membrane. The extre- mities of the spines are extremely sharp. Protruding anteriorly from the 126 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. base of the first spine are 2 thick sharp spines unconnected \vith mem- brane, that situated anteriorly is about ^ an inch in length ; the second is about 1 inch in length. The whole of the anterior dorsal folds down in a well defined groove in the back. Posterior dorsal. — Commences immediately where the anterior dorsal terminates. They can be regarded as 2 distinct fins. Situated anteriorly is a single hard spine, followed by 14 soft rays in juxtaposition connected by a thin membrane. Caudal. — Nearly square-cut, rayed and powerful. Anal. — Posterior portion rayed and soft. Anteriorly are three spines, the first is a comparatively thin spine with an excessively sharp point. The second is an extremely thick and stout spine of moderate sharpness. The third is a sharp stoat spine about ^ an inch in length. Felvic. — Rayed and transparent, the anterior ray is continued for about i an inch by a soft whitish filimentous piece of cuticle terminating in a delicate point. Anteriorly is situated a hard spine. Pectoral. — Of moderate length, soft, rayed and transparent. Colour. — Head iridescent, general colouring being olive green. This hue is carried along the back to the tail. The sides are silvery and irides- cent, towards back olive green, gradually merging into light gold towards belly which is white. The colour of the tail is most distinctive. From anal fin to the commencement of caudal is bright gold which continues along bottom edge of caudal and terminates in a patch of colour between gold and orange f of an inch deep by about ^ an inch broad. The region of about 5th and 6th rays both on the upper and lower lobes of the tail are tinged pomegranate. The inside of the gill plates are remarkably coloured bright gold. The skin on the neck bordering the gills is an olive green turning into a bright gold where it merges into the mucous. Scales. — Transparent and of considerable size. The head is scaled as far as the eyes. Lateral line. — Well-defined curving upwards from the gill-plates and descending gradually towards the tad. Remarks. — The maximum growth attained by the Sungser is probably about 6 lbs. There is yet another bottom-feeder which figures largely in the catches of the villagers and he swims under the local name of Tkngun. Familij undetermined. The following description was most carefully recorded from a specimen, but all eftbrts on the part of the writer to settle the identity of this fish have signally failed. This failure may be attributable to lack of accuracy in observing the specific points but iu any event the notes as originally jotted down are here reprodiiced. Body. — Extremely convex and deep. Hye. — Large. Teeth. — Absent on jaws ; hard crushing plates on upper and lower surfaces of gnllot. Fins dvrsnl. — Soft and rayed, fm proper is long and curved backwards, and continued to free portion of tail by a connected fringe. Caudal. — Deeply forked and long. Anil. — Situated immediately below dorsal; rays are not so long as those in dorsal, and continued tailwards by a fringe similar to the dorsal frinjje. THE GAME FISHES OF THE PERSIAN GULF I '27 Pectoral. — Short soft and rayed. There are "no spines anywhere. Colour after death. Flanks tinged with light gold from tail to head including gill plates ; pectoral greenish yellow ; pelvic distinct lemon yellow ; anal and as far as anus, which is .V way between anal and pelvic, bright lemon yellow ; fringes tipped yellow green; lower parts pomegranate; caudal tipped yellow green. Lateral line. — Curved slightly upwards from gill plates and gradually descends to tail. Scales. — Small, and skin thick. Remarks. — The tengun's maximum weight would be about 6 lbs. Let us now proceed to the investigation of a variety of sea-fishes which i.s familiar to most of us by name both in temperate and tropical waters. Reference is made to the breams. Day divides the family of SPARID^ into 6 genera, of which two are represented at Jask. The most common genus is Pagras, and this genus possesses only one individual species in Indian waters which is locallj' termed the Cooper. Pagrus spinifer. The following description will serve to fix the identity of this bream. Weit/ht.—r) lbs. Lerifjth. — From tip of nose to cleft of fork in caudal 1 ft. 7f inches. Head. — Large. There is a characteristic protruberance in some fish ou the median line between the eyes. According to local report this bump is pecidiar to the male fish. Eyes — Large. Teeth. — Two rows of conical teeth on either side of both the upper and lower jaws, in addition 4 conical incisors in front ou both jaws absent on palate. Fins-dor ■fal. — Ts divided into two portions ; anterior portion consists of 10 spines connected with transparent membrane, the posterior portion con- sists ot 10 connected rays. Caudal. — Forked, span about equal to 5 of length of fish. Anal. — Th'-ee spines anteriorly remainder rayed. Pectoral. — Narrow and remarkably long ; first spine which is exceedingly stout almost equals span of caudal. Pe'vic. — Narrow and slightly more than ~ span of caudal. Lateral lin°. — Is well-detined. Scales. — Small and transparent. Odour. — The head has a gdt sheen overlying a pinky red hue, which extends along the back to the tail ; the dorsal and caudal is edged brick-red Remorkx. — The cooper is only a cold weather visitant to Jask, and when the angler happens to strike a shoal the fun is fast and furious. Th3 maxi- mum growth to which this fish attains is probably lo lbs., but a 10 lbs. fish is a fine specimen. On occasions when the report spread that the cooper were in, a paity of anglers would organize an outing in the cutter ; and the picnic would also be enlivened by the presence of eight or ten villagers in their dug-outs. The capture of a cooper was known to one and all by the sound of its being banged on the head with an improvised " priest." 128 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL lUST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. After dark when sport was slack the members of the party in the cutter would amuse themselves by beating one of the cushions violently every few minutes ! This continual hammering was usually a sure '^ draw " for the locals. One by one they would up anchor and row in closer to the cutter until it was ringed with a circle of dug-outs. The hoax would then be disclosed, and the victims would join heartily in the general laugh! The party in the cutter, which would probably comprise as many as 9 hand- lines, would frequently bring back dui'ing an evening's jaunt between 30 and 40 coopers, averaging from 5 to 6 lbs. each. The second species of sea-bream which the bottom- angler may encounter is a member of the genus Chrysophrys, and in local parlance is the DuKH Mullah. (Mullah's daughter) Chryso2)hvys liaffara. The following description was taken from a specimen weighing 1 lb. 9 oz. Head. — The median line from nose to fore-head is straight, neither con- vex nor concave. ■ Mouth. — There are distinct upper and lower lips which are non-prehensile. Teeth. — Are characteristic ; at extremities of upper and lower jaw an- four conical incisor teeth placed at the same angle as those of a rodent or very old horse. They are of considerable length and thickness and are set in tissue resembling very much the gums of a human being. On each side of the upper jaw are four rows of dome-shaped crushing teeth, and .!') corresponding rows on each side of the lower jaw. The gullet is provided with a pad above and below supporting sharp villiform teeth. Eye. — Large, immediately in front of each eye is a prominent bump; iris bright gold. Fins — dorsal. — Consists of one tin divided into two portions. Anterior portion is composed of 11 exceedingly sharp and strong spines con- nected by transparent membrane, the first is very short, the second is also short and about ^ the length of the third spine ; the remainder are pro- minent ; the anterior portion fits into a groove in back. Pectoral. — Rayed and of medium length. Pelvic. — Of considerable size, rayed, except exteriorly where there is a strong, hard and sharp spine. Anal. — Consists anteriorly of one small sharp spine, followed by a long and very stout sharp spine, and a third spine not so stout, but equally sharp. The remaining portion is rayed. Caudal. — Forked and rayed. Colour is distinctive. A broad splash of bright gold under each eye connected across bridge of nose by bright gold band ; dorsal fin bright gold ; caudal orange tipped with bright gold. Pelvic fin is black, streaked with milky white ; posterior portion of gill-plates bluish-black ; sides and belly a net- work of bluish-brown on a milky white back-ground. Lateral line. — Curves upwards from top of gill-plate and gradually descends to tail : it is very slightly ridged. Remarks. — This fish is by no means common. Like the cooper its flesh is excellent for table purposes. Its maximum growth would probably be; about G lbs. We have now arrived at the last family on the list of bottom feeders, w.;., the PEUClD.ii\ Of this family two genera are represented, each by one individual species. The first species termed locally the THE GAME IISHES OF THE PERSIAN GULF. lL'9 KirEK. Jjutjanus roseus. Has already been described in works dealing with Indian fishing ; a repetition will therefore be eschewed. The kher is very similar in colour and conformation to the surkhoo — Luf/anus arf/cnti»uiculatus — but it can be distinguished readily from the former by reason of its rounded caudal, the caudal of the surkhoo being forked. The following measurements were recorded from a specimen caught by a local in his net. U'eu/Zit—'AH lbs. Lenyth — 3ft. 9A inches. Girth — iMJf inches. The maximum weight to which the kher attains would probably be about GO lbs. ; it will be seen therefore that this species grows to much larger dimensions than its congener the surkhoo. The second bottom feeding perch bears the local cognomen of Bahilool. Serranus miniatus. Mouth. — Lower jaw is under-hung and powerful. Teeth. — Extremity of lower jaw is furnished with 2 sharp conical teeth, the upper jaw is similarly provided but the pair of conical teeth are some- what separated. Both upper and lower jaws support several rows of formidable villiform teeth, a cluster of similar teeth on the vomer, absent on tongue which is well developed. There are small villiform teeth on both surfaces of the gullet and on the gill fringes. Ei/es. — Small, sunk, iris tinged with gold. Fins dorsal. — Is divided into 2 portions ; anterior portion comprises 9 stout sharp spines connected by transparent membrane ; posterior portion rayed and markedly pointed at its extremity. Anal. — Immediately below posterior portion of dorsal and similar to it in character; anteriorly 3 stout spines. Pectoral. — Half fan-shaped. Pelvic. — Immediately below pectoral, exteriorly 1 hard spine. Caudal. — Long, rayed and rounded. Scales. — Small. Lateral line. — Slightly ridged. Colour. — Jaws, inside of mouth, and tongue deep crimson ; general colour of body red — dorsal, anal and pelvic edged with crimson ; pectoral crimson edged with a broad band of orange ; whole of body, head, caudal and anal speckled with pale blue spots. Remarks. — The maximum growth of this species would be about 5 lbs. It cannot be considered common in Jask waters. With the bahilool terminates our investigation of the bottom feeding game fishes of these latitudes. There is a question, however, on the tip of the tongue of the angler who has heaved a lead over the gunvvhale on a summer's night oft' the coast of the Emerald Isle. Do the waters of the Persian Gulf harbour any of the skate family ? In parliamentary language the answer is most emphatically in the affirmative. But when all is said and done can a skate be appropriately admitted to a place in the piscine aristocracy ? Hardly so — although in some localities in the western hemisphere fishing for skates is included in the realms of " sport." In any event the skate or pao is present in swarms and any estimate of his maximum weight is pure guess work. One sportsman is credited with a fight of some 6 hours duration with a monster skate ; at the end of which time the line parted. 200 lbs. would 17 130 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL RLST. ,'SOCLETY, Vol. XXV certainly be no exaggeration. Before leaving the subject of the Tnjgonidte one word of caution is ofl'ered. In handling a skate let the novice be exceedingly careful of the spine below his whip-cord of a tail. A prick from this weapon of defence, and he is an adept in its use, may develop into an exceptionally unhealthy sore. In addition to the skate the creel of the bottom-angler may be varied by the capture of an occasional soos (family Rhinobatidce) familiarly known as the " ground shark " ; and as for the " gulloo " or cat-fish, the angler is frequently obliged to up-anchor and change his vemte to avoid the vinwelcome attentions of this scavenger of the seven seas. Up to the present only the game-fishes of Jask have been introduced to the prospective angler. Let us take a tour, on paper, round the Persian Gulf and delve, metapherically speaking, into the delights of OTHER FISHING EESORTS and see what treasures live beneath the surface of this vast arm of the Indian Ocean. Starting from Karachi and skirting the coast of British Mekran the prow of the packet is headed for Ormara. During the cold weather months, sport in the waters of Ormara is report- ed to be of the first quality, the principal fish being the surmai or seer. There is a tale told in the Gulf ports that a gigantic surmai leapt into the boat of a local fisherman, and striking the unfortvmate wretch with his jaws in the pit of the stomach disembowelled him. Such a legend may savour of the proverbial fisherman's yarn, but anyone who has examined the mouth of a large surmai can readily imagine that it is not entirely beyond credence. Pasni and Gwadar are the next ports of call on our voyage of discovery, but no definite information is forthcoming concerning their potentialities for sport with rod and line, though dried fish and sparks' fins woidd seem to form the main items of export. In normal times the slow mail will next drop anchor in CHAHBAR BAY, a large indentation in the coast of Persian Mekran. The fishing at this tiny little British settlement, it must be admitted, is disappointing : saran there are during the hot months, but round the shores of the promontory they require a very large amount of coaxing. From local information it has been gathered that on the opposite side of the bight a distance of 8 miles, lie the favourite haunts of the saran, but the accuracy of this statement still requires to be put to a practical test. Passing the low-lying promontory of Jask, where the 100 fathom line curves within 3|^ miles of the Cape, we steer to the moiith of the Persian Gulf proper, and drop our anchor at HENJAM, a small island about half way along, and lying close to the southern shore of the larger island of Kishim. In the Straits fish are to be caught though of what variety there are no authentic records ; and in this con- nection the sportsman will have to take precautions as the tides run strong. Bunder Abbas, Linga, Bushire are other ports on the Persian Littoral, and the Shatt-al-Arab at the head of the Gulf has become famous within recent times. Still continuing round the Arab coast, we may touch at Bahrein, the centre of the pearl industry, and continuing over the Great Pearl Bank, we once again pass into the tidal race at the head of the Gulf of Oman and seek refuge in one of the fjords of the THE GAME FISHES OF 7 HE PERSIAN GULF. 131 MUSANDAM PENINSULAR. It is a problem which scientilic rosoaroh can only solvo whether the true pelagic fishes enter the Persian (.Julf proper or not. The author's personal opinion is that the limit of their western migration is the Peninsular of Musandam. Enquiries have boon instituted, and omitting Bushire the ports mentioned have all been visited on two separate occasions at an interval of 26 months. In no single instance were there any indications that the great families of pelagic tishes penetrated into those regions. Is there any solid foundation on which this hypothesis can be based ? A glance at the chart of the Persian Gulf proper will demonstrate the fact that, with the exception perhaps of one hole in the sea-bed south of Tanb Island, there are comparatively few st)inidings of over oO fathoms, through- out the length and breadth of this enormous basin. Contrast this actuality with the condition that obtains in the Gulf of Oman. At a point (> miles south-east of Cape Jask the sea-iloor has sagged to a depth of nearly 1,400-ft. It has already been remarked that the pirao when hooked over this shelf invariably heads for the open sea. Is not this settled impulse proof posi- tive that, in the throes of his struggle for life, instinct is driving him to seek refuge in his true home — the mighty deeps ? Is it at all reasonable to contend then that he will voluntarily abandon this habitat assigned to him by nature and migrate into a comparatively shallow trap which the same nature by intuition tells him is but a blind alley ':' By some sceptics such notions may be labelled " fantastic". Does any one but a bigotted atheist deny that some power guides the fowls of the air in their annual migrations ^ Does not this self-same power then also pilot the tishes of the sea in their yearly migrations ? But let us conclude our voyage by dropping anchor at Muscat. From the deck of the steamer, as we approach this port, the eye that is geologically inclined will discern at once that the Sultan's Capital is situated practically in the centre of what w^as at some prehistoric era a terrific volcanic upheaval. The crumbling slopes of the jagged barren bluffs drop sheer down into abysmal depths below. The fishing-grounds — and this expression is no Irishism — lie not in the harbours of Muscat and Muttra — few healthy game fish would frequent those polluted road-steads; the haunts of the true pelagic families may be looked for some three miles off shore. In these marine labyrinths the locals bottom-fish and catch surmai at an approximate depth of 60 fathoms ! Here also roams the ijeedur of 100 lb. and the seica and a host of other game fishes, whose identity is as yet undetermined. But lord of all these finny creatures is the world-famed sword-fish. There are records to shew that this Goliath has been hooked on rod and line, but unless the deeds of bygone anglers are being overlooked, never yet has this mammoth been brought to gaff by a western angler. " Tis better to have hooked and lost than never to have hooked at all " is perhaps some consolation to an angler, as it is reputed to be to the love-sick swain who has just been the recipient of a broadside from a super-virago. Still— the thought is bound to rankle — " if only I had etc., etc." The day may yet dawn, however, when the record for the heaviest fish caught on rod and line in Indian waters may pass over the Gulf of Oman from Jask to Muscat. From the foregoing dissertation the prospective angler should have derived a comprehensive idea of the sport that awaits him in the waters of the Persian Gulf. Let us therefore pass on to a consideration of the three remaining problems that were enunciated at the commencement of this paper. 132 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. METHOD TO BE ADOPTED. SURFACB-FEEDEKS. For the surface feeders trolling is undoubtedly the best method of securing sport. The line should be marked with silk at every 50 yards, and 50 yards should be let out behind the boat. No lead is necessary or desirable, certainly within the 15 fathom line. The pace should be just as fast as the boat can be rowed with comfort. If a fish has touched the bait and dropped it, do not stop the boat. Carry on for a short dis- tance and if nothing further happens keep the boat in motion and reel up slowly. As the lure approaches the craft it will skim along the surface of the water ; frequently this particular motion proves an irresistable temptation to the procrastinating rover. A final word of advice is tendered. Never under any pretext whatever, put the rod down in the boat while the bait is overboard. Such a procedure is merely steering a deliberate course to idtimate disaster, BOTTOM-FEEDEKS. For bottom-fishing paternostering is the most efficacious method, and two booms are recommended, with a large specially designed sea-float. In this form of angling local knowledge is paramount. Each variety of fish must be wooed in its own special location. It is perfectly useless anchoring over the sunf/ser beds and hoping to catch coopers. It is equally futile rowing out into the void and expecting to catch anything. The villagers have the different areas mentally fixed by crosscuts on promi- nent land marks. It is necessary either to engage one specially as guide and philosopher, or the other alternative is to join the merry throng that goes singing along somewhere about 2 a.m., and drop anchor in close proximity to the general conclave. The third subject that presents itself for discussion is the question of LURES. It is a matter of common-sense to suppose that the natural food of the larger predacious fishes, if persented in a scientific manner, is likely to prove a far more deadly attraction than any mauufactvired imitation. It can therefore be readily deduced that an artificial lure should only be employed when natural bait is not procurable, or when the stock has become exhausted. It may be argued that difficulty will i^robably be. encountered in procuring such natural goods ; but this contention is not applicable to the Persian Gulf. Arrangements can always be made with one of the villagers, and such will include the provision of a locally-made cast net of suitable mesh. The natural pabulum of the surface-feeders consists of the minnows ol the class pisces ; the varieties most commonly obtained will be described in detail. Mullet. Experience has proved that for general utility and in its killing proper- ties the family of Mut/ildce stands unrivalled. Of the mullets three species are common at Jask. Boi (pro7iou7iced " ho-i ") The bo-i is a tough silvery fish, which does not grow beyond about 7 inches in length, and can be distinguished by its comparatively narrow head, and by the fact that tlie posterior portion of the iris is coloured golden. It is in spawn in December. THE GAME FI^JIE^ OF THE PERSIAN GULF. 133 Bl-ACH. The bi-ach (the "ch" being pronounced as in "loch") attains a maximum weight of about 4 lbs., bat the smaller specimens up to 10 inches in length are suitable for bait. The bi-ach can be recognised by its broader and flatter head, and by the absence of the gold on the iris ; its scales also difl'er from those of the bo-i being larger and coarser. Pitt. This species of mullet is probably Miajil icaitjiensis and would grow to 10 lbs. at least in weight. One specimen of 7 lbs. was weighed and ex- amined, and its measurements are quoted as such may prove of technical interest. Lem/t/i.—'J ft. Girth. — 14 inches. In general colour the mature pitt is India-rubbery on back and sides, belly dull white and the pectoral is black. In the fry, however, the tone is much more silvery and the sides are marked with bands longitudinally. For purposes of bait however fish over 10 inches in length should be discarded. TIR-MUKNA. Occasionally the tir-mukna is taken in the cast net of the bait-catcher in company with the mullets and when, the angler can count one among his baits he may consider himself in luck's way. This fish is the " milk-fish " or " white mullet" of the Europeans in South Canara — family, Clupeidce ; species, Chcmos sabnoneus. The habits of this species are most remark- able. At certain seasons of the year the waters of the Persian Gulf are covered by extensive patches of a brick-red scum, about the origin of which there are several theories. In this scum shoals of large tir-muknas, up to 15 or 20 lbs. in weight, are frequently observed. On many occasions they were watched most carefully by the writer at close quarters from his dinghy. They swim about with their backs above water, and mouths \vide open. It was a most striking phenomenon to see a wide-spread pair of cherry lips suddenly appear above the surface ; in fact at times the apparition was quite uncanny. One can readily imagine how the mariners' tales of mermaids may have received their origin ! MORAN. In the early pages of this paper the moran received cursory attention, and a promise was given that a description would be recorded in due course. Appended is the geneological tree of the moran ; family, Scom- bresocidce ; genus, Hemirhamphus. In .Task waters two individual species are met with, i-iz., Hemirhamphus (jeoryii and Hemirhamphtis far. Both species are somewhat similar in appearance, but H. far is deeper and is marked with 4 vertical black blotches on its sides which do not extend below the lateral bar ; moreover in H. far the upper lobe of the caudal is bright yellow which characteristic is absent in H. (jeoryii. H. far is solely a cold weather visitant ; it vanishes with the advent of H. (jeoryii to spawn in March. The conformation of the moran is unmistakable. The body is elongated and cylindrical and a longitudinal bar like quick-silver runs from gills to tail. The lower jaw of the moran is prolonged into a mandible very similar to that of a jack snipe. When some dozen specimens of a single variety of fish are used daily as bait for six months continuous fishing it must be acknowledged that a wide scope for observation has been acquired. At first the function of this mandible was not apparent, but 134 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL RIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. when several individual fish were most carefully examined, and a slater- like crustacean was actually revealed in the process of being swallowed, its use became intelligible. The mandible is evidently employed for excavat- ing the prey from the sand or perhaps from holes and crannies in the rocks. The mandible of H. far is shorter than that of H. f/eorgii. The pace at which the moran travels in its aerial flights is scarcely conceivable. In the spawning season while the turmoils, which have already been alluded to are at their zenith, the moran is driven into a state of blind panic. It is pos- sible that when it is indulging in one of its atmospheric excursions the sense of vision becomes exceedingly restricted, if not actually eliminated, for it will invade the boat in swarms. The velocity with which a moran strikes the angler in the neck, arms or chest cannot be realized until it has been experienced ; and in this connection the fisherman is in some danger. A blow in the eye from the mandible of a moran would unquestionably cause the loss of that organ. The author can certify that a case was admitted to hospital in which a sepoy while bathing had the drum of his ear perforated by the flexible mandible of a moran. From March to August or September the moran forms the standard bait as the mullet is somewhat difficult to procure, Sakdine. At Muscat the sardine is the bait most commonly used, and it attains a considerable size ; on the Mekran side of the Gulf of Oman, however, this lure is not emploj'^ed unless all other species of natural baits have proved unprocurable. It possesses one great disadvantage as a hire, in that its flesh is soft and in consequence it is easily torn off the hooks. Flying Fish. The last of the lures for the surface feeder is the flying fish ; but it is pure chance whether a specimen is secured or not. This lure is naturally more effective in the open sea than it is on the shallows. Bottom-fishing. The lure available for bottom-fishing is of two varieties. A small fish like an anchovy is that most commonly employed, but it can be alternated by the use of the ordinary Crab. Two varieties of crab can be obtained ; the rock crab is of a dark-green hue, and is tougher than his brother the sand crab whose garb is a dirty yellow. However, it is one thing to have a crab in a can, it is quite another thing to transfer it successfully to a hook. The manoeuvre is an art in itself, and merits description. At the time of capture all the legs are broken ofi" except one on each side. This drastic operation serves two useful purposes. It keeps the wretched victim alive, and it also prevents it effecting its escape. At the time of use the two remaining limbs are torn off; then the point of the hook (size No. 1/0 is suitable) is inserted in each stump in turn, which is wrenched bodily out of the socket. The mutilated carcass is then heaved overboard ! If nothing else served to put any decent-minded angler off' bottom-fish- ing surely this barbarous practice should suffice ! There now remains but one point for discussion and that is the question of TACKLE. It is a most astounding fact that if a prospective purchaser enters almost any shop, and asks for sea-tackle, he will be shewn what can effectively be described in two words Absolute Rubbish. One can only THE (iAME FISHEiS OF THE PERSIAN GULF. isr, marvel why such down-right trash is ever inanufacturod, but presumably a market for it does exist, otherwise the trade would die a natural death. Quite recently a nephew of the writer, netat 10, sent him a calendar inscribed with the following moral : — " Keep your temper, it in worth more to you than anyone else/' — The probable outcome of the next meeting with this self-same nephew is no fit subject for this paper! However, this excellent precept is passed on to other followers of the Gentle Art, not from any personal motive, but purely with the object of emphasising the fact that if the angler in the Persian Gulf wishes to keep his temper and enjoy his sport he must rigidly eschew the purchase of any of the rubbish that is proffered under the title of " sea- tackle." There is nothing so trying to the temper as being broken by every heavy ilsh. The advice therefore is tendered unequivocally, and it is based on the experiences gained from nearly 2 years of continuous angling — buy the best tackle that is to be had in the market. This plan, if adopted, will prove far less expensive in the long run, and the pleasure derivable from catchiny fish instead of losiny them will amply repay the extra expenditure involved in the original outlay. From October to April inclusive heavy tarpon tackle is essential to success, whereas from May to September light tarpon tackle will prove sufficient to ensure the angler his much coveted and proverbial TIGHT LINE. 136 THE BUTTERFLIES OF LAHORE BY G. W. V. DE Rhe-Philipe, f.e.s. In recent issues of the Journal, we have been given papers on the Birds of Lahore and on the Earthworms of Lahore. The butterfly collector is not much in evidence in the Punjab plains ; but a list of the RhojJcUocera to be found in Lahore, and its immediate vicinity may find interested readers, and will serve as a reference and aid to anyone who may wish to take up the stud)'- in the future. The list is not a long one. For some months of the year — May to July and even later — the climate is exceedinglj' hot and drj^, while a heavy and almost continuous dust haze lies over every- thing ; and the winter months can be very cold. Conditions such as these are anj'thing but encouraging to butterfly life, and it is only for a few weeks in September, October and eai'ly November, that these insects show up in any real numbers. For the remainder of the year they are either absent altogether or are represented hj stray individuals of the more common and wide- spread species. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that so little attention has been paid to the Lahore butterflies. And yet, scanty as they are, they possess an interest of their own. Lahore was, not so very many years ago, a very dr^'- sun-baked district ; and the butterfly fauna had probably a close affinit}^ to the types found in the desert tracts to the south-west. The spread of irrigation in the last decade or two . has brought more humiditj- into the climate ; and, while the old affinity to desert types still persists in some directions, it is not improbable that the changed conditions will, in course of time, facilitate the spread westwards of some of the species characteristic of the damper country to the south-east. We alreadj^ have one or two not usually connected with a very dry habitat ; and it may be that a local list compiled, say twent}^ yesa's hence, will show a yet further change in the character of the butterfly fauna. I may explain that the list below refers only to Lahore and its immediate neighbourhood, to which my collecting and observations during the last four years or so have been restricted. It may, however, be taken as typical of most of the eastern and central Punjab districts outside the influence of the submontane country to the east and north-east and of the pure desert to the south and south-west. The countr}'- consists of a flat alluvial jDlain, cut up at intervals by the rivers and their spill channels. The greater portion of the culturable land is under crops. Waste land is TILE BUTTERFLIES Ot LAHORE. 137 covered with scrub juugle — (^ajypans and Satvadora ; and the trees (other than those introduced into gardens and plantations) are mostly the Tamarix, Sissoo, Acacia and occasionally a Zizyiilms. Among- garden shrubs which Bourish and which are affected by the insects, either in the larval or the imago stage, may be mentioned the Oleander {Xeriiim), species of Citrus, the Daranta and a plant with white jasmine like llowers much used for hedges. The list gives fifty-four species actuallj^ recorded ; and men- tions another fifteen or eighteen which should be or may be found to occur. The numbers quoted are those against which each species appears in Bingham's " Fauna of India " and in deNiceville's '• Butterfiies of India, &c." NYMPHALIDiE. Sub-family — Danaince. As may be expected, this sub-family is poorly represented in the dry Punjab plains. Only four species appear. 1. Danais ple.iippus, Linnpeus. (6Bing.;31 Aeis . SlS yenutia) . Is not rare in years when there is a good monsoon. It appears, as a rule, in July, and is on the wing throughout August and early September. A very occasional, and usually damaged, specimen may sometimes be seen during October, but after this the species disappears completely till the following rains. 2. Danais chrysipims, Linnoeus. (8 Bing. ; 28 deN.). To be seen throughout the year. Is very common during the rains and autumn, and only slightly less so in the winter. One or two may even be seen in the very hot months before the monsoon. The variety D. alcippus, Cramer. (29 deN.) is to be taken but is extremely rare ; the dimorphic form D. dorippus, Klug. (30 deN.) may possibly extend to the district, but I have not yet seen it, 3. Danais limniace, Cramer. (12 Bing. ; 26 deN.). Appears at very much the same time as D. ple.tippus and is favoured by the same condi- tions. The species disappeared almost completely in 1915, but this was an extraordinarily hot year without rain. It was, on the other hand, exceed- ingly common in July and August 1916, which were unusually wet mouths. Is very fond of the flowers of the Duranta. 4. Euplfpa core, CiSimeT. (31 Bing. ; 61 deN.). Appears with D.ple- xippus and D. limniace and is nearly as common. An occasional specimen may sometimes be seen well into the cold weather. Sub-family — Satyrinoe. The conditions of the locality do not suit the sub-family and it is almost completely absent. Only two species have been found and individuals are scarce. 6. Ypthima indica, Hewitson. (172 Bing. ; 214 deN.). Veryrarely seen, only two specimens being recorded, one in June and one in November. May possibly be more plentiful in favoured local spots. 6. Melanitis ismene, Craxaer . (191 Bing.; 249 deN.). Very erratic in its appearances and not common then. My notes of the four years' obser- vations show that a few were seen in 1913, one in 1914, none in 1915, while it was comparatively abundant in 1916. It is on the wing for a very short time only in August or September, and is markedly crepuscular in its habits. 18 138 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. The only other species of the sub-family at all likely to be found in the locality are Mycalesis perseus, Fabricius. (53 Bing. ; 96 cleN.), Orsotrioena meda, Fabr. (72 Bing. ; 92 deN.) and Ypthima asterope, Klug. (173 Bing. ; 213 deN.). I have, however, not come across any so far. Sub-family — NypJialince . The sub-family is fairly well represented. The species are those usually found all over the plains in Northern India and individuals of each are, for the most part, common. 7. Euthalia (/aruda, Moore. (302 Bing.; 514 deN.). Only a single specimen — a female seen in September^ — has to be recorded and the species is apparently very rare in the locality. It was, as might be expected, the dry tract type I described in the ' Notes on some Butterflies from the In- dian region' (Journal of the B. N. H. Soc, Vol. XX, page 759), The species will possibly, in the course of time, extend more commonly into the district from the west ; and should probably be found more plentifully in places where the mango, on which the larva feeds, is grown. 8. Junonia lemonias, Linneeus. (371 Bing.; 347 deN,). 9. Junonia orithya, Linnseus. (372 Bing. ; 350 deN.). 10, Junonia hierta, Fabr. (374 Bing. ; 349 deN.). 11. Junonia almana, Linn. (375 Bing. ; 344 and 345 de N.). All the above fovir Junonias are more or less abundant in Lahore from July on till towards the end of the cold weather, frequenting gardens and open spaces. J. orithya and J. hierta appear, as a rule, rather later than the other two, never being much in evidence till the rains are well over. J. hierta is always the least common of the group ; the other three are often to be seen in considerable numbers towards the end of and just after the rains, and stray specimens may be taken even in the coldest months. 12. Vanessa cardui, Linn. (376 Bing. ; 520 deN.). The 'Painted Lady ' appears regularly each year about the middle of November and is common throughout the cold weather, disappearing in February or March. It fre- quents gardens and open ground, and is particularly fond of flowers, chrysanthemums and yellow cosmos being always a great attraction. 13. Hypolimnas bolina, Linn. (397 Bing. ; 419 deN.). This beautiful butterfly is comparatively common, being in flight only during the monsoon months, July to September and early October. Lahore specimens are invariably smaller than those found in the damper country of Bengal and the United Provinces ; and the males always have light blue and white patches, the variety with very dark blue markings never being found. 14. Hypolimnas misippus, Linn. (398 Bing. ; 420 deN.). Is distinctly less common than the last and has to be looked for. It appears later and remains on the wing a much shorter time. I have taken only one — the ordinary — form of female, but the other mimicking D. dorippus possibly also occurs. 15. Atella phalanta, Drury. (416 Bing.; 314 deN.). Never found in the abundance one is accustomed to elsewhere, but it appears regularly and several may be taken any year between August and early November. It is not improbcible that, in addition to the above, which have been actually recorded, an occasional specimen of Aryynnis hyperhius, Johanssen. (435 Bing. ; 421 deN. : as niphe, Linn.) may also be picked up. PABILIONID.S:. The family is represented by three species only. One occurs very rarely, but the other two are common. 16. Papillio aristolochice, Fabr. (490 Bing.). Occurs but is very scarce. I have only seen one or two specimens each year, always in the monsoon months. THE liUTTEUFLIE.S OF LAUOliE. 1:39 17. Papilio demoleus, Linn. (o07 Bing.). Exceedingly common for the greater part of the year. It becomes scarce only for a few weeks during the very hot and tho very cold months. 18. Papilio pre plentiful than a single capture would seem to indicate. Sub-family — Famphilina. 49. Suastus yremius, Fabr. Not common, but a few specimens may u.sually be taken just after the close of the rains. 50. Padraona dara, Kollar. Like the last, not very common, but some may always be had between September and early November. I have almost invariably taken it on the flowers of the Duranta. 142 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 51. Chapra mathias, Fabr. Fairly common from the end of the rains till the early part of the cold weather. 52. Rarnara bevani, Moore. A damaged specimen was taken in No- vember, but 1 have seen no others though I have kept a look out for them. 53. Gegenes nostradamus, Fabr. Was recorded by Longstaffe as " com- mon in tJie gardens at Lahore "' in October-November. I have, however, not seen it. Sub-family — Ismenincs. 54. Parafa chromus, Cramer. Iri-egular, but when appearing, is common for a few weeks in August, September and October. A small leguminous tree, which is found in many Lahore gardens, is a special attraction ; one in my garden has always four or five of these insects around it. Records of distribution would indicate the addition of Sarangesa dasa- Jiara, Moore, Udaspesfolus, Cramer, and Parnaraf/uttatus, Bremer and Grey, to the above list. Personally, I have considerable doubt whether these species will be found to extend so far into the plains of the north-west.' 143 REVIEW. A BIRD CALENDAR FOR NORTHERN INDIA BY Douglas Dewar. {Thncker Spink i^- Co., 1916, price 6 ShiUinr/s). Mr. Douglas Dewar is well known as a popular writer on Indian Birds and ho has already a number of volumes to his credit ; his readers will be glad to welcome this addition to his writings, which is decidedly an improve- ment on anything that he has hitherto published. Mr. Dewar caters for that portion of the European residents in India who have sufficient interest in birds to learn a little of the noment'laturo, habits, and life histories of the more showy and distinctive forms around them, but at the same time are not willing to take their studies very seriously. As is to be expected from the title the classification of this book is one of the calendar; the book is divided into chapters for the different months and each chapter deals with the chief features of bird life for that month, prefaced with a slight introduction regarding the climate to be expected. These chapters give a very good idea of the salient features of the year's bird life for the United Provinces, but an attempt has been made to attract a larger public by tacking on — often in a somewhat slipshod manner — a number of notes regarding the Punjab. This is a pity: these notes have appeared in another form in our Journal ; they destroy the cohesion of the whole, and they fail to make for the Punjabi a convincing picture of the bird life of his own province, except in so far that the extreme southern districts (with perhaps some of the submontain tracts) resemble those of the I'nited Provinces. But this is a common fault in all books that deal with India ; the tendency is always to slur over rather than emphasise the divisions of the country, whereas a full appreciation of the divisions and the problems which they suggest add greatly to the zest of Indian studies. The real value of this book lies in its suggestiveness ; as he passes from month to month the reader cannot fail to notice the picture of great and unceasing changes which pass before the mind's eye — changes which are summed up in the word " migration ". There are few people in England who do not recognise in some degree the comings and goings of bird life according to the seasons, but it is far otherwise in India. Apart from the Sportsman's interest in the movements of Game and Waterfowl, no heed is paid to the migrations of the birds, although it is on a far vaster scale and more noticeable than in England. A perusal of Mr. Dewar's book should change all this ; but while his pages describe clearly the migrations of all best known species, it is to be regretted that ho omits to make mention of some of the most interesting forms. To take but a single instance : Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum passes through the Punjab in such numbers on the spring and autumn passage that its arrival and departure are most marked and form one of the clearest episodes to the observer interested in migration. Yet no attention is called to it under the appropriate months. This is no accidental omission or error in obser- vation. Mr. Dewar is a most skilled and patient observer as every page of his book bears witness. Yet everywhere he tends to avoid the more obscure points and describe again and again facts and habits which have been well- known to generations of Anglo-Indians. The reason for this is perhaps not far to seek. Mr. Dewar prefers to catch the popular eye in preference to working for the advancement of Ornithology. There are many who regret 144 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. his choice, for his style is not sufficiently good to make his works attractive for their own sake, while his abilities would make him a most welcome recruit to the ranks of scientific workers, now alas sadly depleted by the war. To quote Mr. Dewars own word, on page 161 he says : " Very few '•' observations of the comings and goings of the various raptorial birds '• have been recorded ; in the present state of our knowledge it is not " possible to compile an accurate table showing the usual order in which '' the various species appear. This is a subject to which those persons who " dwell permanently in one place might with advantage direct their " attention." This remark may with propriety be extended to refer to almost every species, save those which are known definitely to be entirely resident. Very little is on record regarding species which are known to be migratory while (as our author says again on p. 72) " the great majority of species, " probably move about in a methodical manner in the course of a year ; a " great deal of local migration is overlooked, because the birds that move " away from a locality are replaced by others of their kind that come from " other places." It is not necessary, however, to add the proviso "who dwell permanently in one place." All observations, however fragmentary, are of value in the present state of our knowledge, provided that they are published and left on record in print for future workers. If all who read this book are encour- aged thereby to make a few observations on their own account it will . not have been written in vain ; let all such make a practice of writing short notes to our Journal after the manner of the numerous class of corres- pondents who contribute to the "notes and queries" portion of the Naturalist columns of the " Field " newspaper. In conclusion it may be noted that the volume under review is neatly bound and printed and is remarkably free from errors both of printing and fact. Still in a future edition Mr. Dewar may care to correct his statement that no Owls and Vultures are migratory and to modify some of his theories. UN- ROLL OF HONOUR. W. J. Norwood Ryan. I regret exceedingly to iufcrni you that our member Mr. W. J. Norwood Ryan was killed in action in Egypt on September 5th. At the outbreak of the War Mr. Ryan was in a business house in London, but immediately joined an Officer's training corps and finally obtained a Commission in the Dorsetshire Yeomanry ; his exceedingly poor eyesight prevented his getting into the Infantry, and would indeed have been a sufficient excuse for the avoidance of Military duties. After a period of training he went to Galipoli and first saw fighting at Sulva Baj'- ; then after short periods at Imbros and Lemnos he rejoined his regiment at Cairo in time to take part in the fight at Agagieh. Some three months later he joined the Camel Corps and was moved to the Senusi front where he was eventually reported " missing " on patrol duty ; it is now known that he was killed. Mr. Rj'-an was a keen Ornithologist and devoted all his holidays to that pursuit. He was a close pereonal friend of mine and we did a great deal of collecting together. In his letters from the front he never omitted to men- tion the bii'd life that he came across. H. W. nth October 1915. r.i 146 • . MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. No. I.— MEASUREMENTS OF MARKHOR AND URIAL HEADS. In case you keep records of heads I think these two which I was lucky enough to get recently may be worth recording : — Ground. Leni/th. Base. I'ij) to Tip. 19-4-1916. Markhor. Kajnag. 57" 11^" 37" 29-12-1916. Urial. Kalla Chitta. 34" 10" 18^" These are both as good heads as have been shot for some years. Hassan Abdal, n.w.f.p., A, L. MOLESWORTH, Capt. ]4^A January 1917. No. [I.— JACKALS IN LOWER BURMA. It is a common belief that there are no jackals in Lower Burma, or at all events in the lower Districts of Lower Burma, so I send you the skin of one that I shot this morning, the 24th November 1916, in the North Myanaung Reserve of the Henzada Forest Division, Kyangin Sub-Division. I shot this animal when walking along an inspection path in the Reserve. He was evidently hunting game for he came running along towards me all the time looking into the jungle to his left. Twenty-nine years ago when I first came to the Henzada District, there were no jackals and very few hares in the District. Now both are fairly plentiful. About four years ago I caught a jackal cub in the eastern part of the Kyangin Reserve, and again three years ago I got two cubs in the Yenandaung Reserve, which is only forty miles north of Henzada town. I have on several occasions seen jackals in the Kyangin, North Myanaung and Yenandaung Reserves, and have come across their burrows. The jackals in this District seem to have acquired the hunting habits of the wild dog, for I have seen a pack of seven hunting deer not far from where I shot the one- this morning, and I have seen kills of barking deer and sambar near Tatkon where I shot the animal this morning, that were un- doubtedly those of jackals. These jackals have either come across the Arakan Yomas, or else they have worked their way down from the Thayetmyo District, possibly the latter. While on the subject of jackals I may here mention that the three cubs I got, we kept for quite a long time and they got quite tame and used to run loose in the house and were great friends with my dogs. The one 1 got first, got a nasty sore on his back. He evidently went into the kitchen and the cook threw boiling water on him. The skin came oft' and a nasty sore formed which attracted flies, and to avoid which the poor beast had to hide about in dark places. One morning he went into the Doctor's com- pound and hid in the godown under a box. Some servant found the poor beast and told the lady of the house that some terrible animal had got into the godown, so they were ordered to kill it, and so proceeded to go with long jjoles with which they jabbed at the poor beast. Eventually some one came and told my wife that our jackal had got into the Doctor's godown and that the servants were trying to kill it, so my wife sent men and rescued the poor beast and brought it back to my house. My wife noticed that the jackal could not eat meat, and one day thought that a bone had stuck in its mouth and so opened it to try and get it out. To her horror she found that what she took for a bone from the food was Jiothing more nor less than the poor beast's jaw bone which had got out of MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 147 placo anil was sticking in the nunith, tho jaw having been broken by the Doctor's brave body guard. My wife set tho bone back and kept the jackal tied up for several days and fed it on rice boiled in soup. In about a fortnight the jaw bono set and tho animal was eating bones as usual, it having made a wonderful recovery. lieing kept tied up in a dark room away from flies, the back also healed and the animal was as lively as ever. One day some months after, he was found lying dead in the hedge in the garden and we supposed that a snake must have bitten him. Tho second two cubs 1 got, went mad and died. I think they were bitten by a mad dog that came into tho compound. One of the cubs bit a valuable Airedale dog I had, and he also died of hydrophobia. As regards the hares in the District. They have spread right down to the Lemyethna Reserve which is right down in the southern end of the District. I have found them right on the summit of the Arakan Yoma hills at an elevation of 4,300 feet. The Burmese villagers kill numbers of hares at nights with the help of " Oksoungs " lights carried in a conical shaped basket. One man carries the light on his head and throws the light from side to side, at the same time jingling tiny bells that he has tied to sticks, one of which he carries in each hand. This is to drown the sound of the footsteps. Another man carries a spear or a dah with which he kills the hare. I have seen four and five brought in killed at night. The Burmans also kill deer and pig with the help of these " Oksoungs." In the Delta they also spear alligators in the same way, but here they go in a boat, the light being kept at the prow, and no bells are used. A man stands behind the light with a spear in his hand, whilst another man paddles the boat. C. W. ALLAN, Hexzada, Burma Forest Service. •24tth November 1916. Xo. III.— KATHIAWAR BLACK BUCK. When the minor Nawab Saheb of Junagadh was recently camping with Mr. Sladen and ourselves at Una in the south of the State, he secured a fine black buck with horns measuring exactly 25 inches, and giving a spread measurement of 20 inches. I have heard of even better heads being available on this side ; but during the past eleven years in Kathiawar I have personally seen nothing shot with a better length of horn than 24 inches. I think the above head is worth recording as a Kathiawar trophy, though no doubt better records have often been secured elsewhere in India. I may mention that Mr. Sladen and I both together personally Hieasured the length of horns very carefully from root to tip with a tight tape ; and if we had followed the curves of the horns with the tape, the length would have exceeded 2o inches. It may be worth recording that when we were recently moving camp in the Gir, a forest orderly riding in front of ourselves at 8 a. m. spotted a panther absolutely on the margin of the road in the grass. We had ridden by this spot with our dogs the morning before and luckily we had not them with us on this occasion. The panther when he saw the orderly close to him, quietly decamped ending with a bound into the scrub jungle ; but we were surprised at his bold and confident demeanour. H. D. KENDALL, i.c.s., Administrator, Junagadh State. Camp Gir, ^th December 1916. 148 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATUBAL mST. SOCIJSry, Vol. XXV. No. IV.— AN ARBOREAL PANTHER. In the Miscellaneous Notes of Volumes XVII of the Journal there was some correspondence about panthers putting their kills up trees. Though two members described the habit as " common " or "not uncommon," in the specific instances quoted the animals appear to havt> been deposited at no great height from the ground and the following account may provide some points of fresh interest. Last hot weather when camping at K. in this district I had goats out for 3 nights before one was killed. This was dragged some 50 yards and left practically intact hanging over the fork of a large pipul tree. The goat had been tied to a log, the exact dimensions of which I forget but it must have been 6 or 7 feet long and weighed perhaps 40 lbs. This had stuck in the fork 11 or \'l feet from the ground and the goat hung suspended on the other side. I. sat up in a well concealed machan till dark, but though the place was quiet and it was unlikely the panther had been lying up within hearing, it did not return. Next morning 1 had to move camp. At X'mas I was again at K. and had goats out in the same bit of jungle as well as in an isolated bit of rather light jungle a mile away and on the far side of the village, open fields and a broad tank. Here a panther made his X'mas dinner off one of them. It had been tied to a small bush and the panther must have tugged persistently to remove it, for neither rope nor bush had given away and the knob had finally slipped over the top, baring it of leaves and twigs. Thirty yards away lay a lot of the goat's hair but the goat itself was nowhere to be found. Finally we came to the conclusion that the panther must have finished it " with the bones and the beak" in honour of the day, and, it was decided to sit over a freshlive goat. We looked up to select a tree and there high above us was the goat ! It was in the fork of a ' mutti ' tree 23 feet from the ground by measurement. The tree was quite a slender one, 2 feet 9 inches in circumference at the foot and with only two branches below that over which the goat hung and one of these close below it. Though but little of the goat was eaten and as before there was little likelihood of the panther having heard the machan being built, yet it failed to return before dark and 1 had not the hardihood to wait below in the hopes of an overhead shot against the stars. Next morning the remains of the goat were found in a banyan tree about 100 yards away. Only the head and part of the skin were left and these deposited 12 or 14 feet from the ground. I sat up again that evening but with no better luck than before. It is interesting to speculate what induced this habit — presuming the .same panther to have been concerned in each case. A natural suggestion was that it was done to secure its meal from red dogs which are plentiful in the jungle in which the first kill occurred, but its actions must have been guided by instinct rather than reason, for in that case though the branch over which the goat hung was not less than 11 feet up, the goat itself suspended at the end of the rope stretched down to within easy reach of any dog. Possibly a further acquaintance with the same animal will throw more light on the question. The habit of only returning late to its kill may also be one of its characteristics. Dhakwar, Sth Jamtarij \^\7 . J. R. JACOB, i.p. No. v.— NOTE ON THE SCALY ANTEATER {MANIS CBA SSI CA UDA TA ) . About 3 p.m. on the llth February 1914, in the North Toungoo Division, I noticed close to my tent what I thought was a snake coiled round the MISCELLANEOUS^ JSUTEH. 149 top of ji small tree about \'2 feet from the ground. It was a large pangolin and was so tightly coiled round tho tree that a man who climbed the tree could not dislodge it and it was only freed from tho tree after the tree had been cut down. When it rolled itself into a ball it placed tho toes of its hind feet under the scales of its chest and it was very difhcult to straighten it out. It was infested with ticks of the kind one commonly I'nuls on snakes {Apomma r' ). I enclose a photograph* which shows tho strength of the prehensile tail, the whole weight of tho body being supported on the branch from which it hangs by tho extreme tip of the tail (the pangolin and tho binturong Felis binturonf/ both found in Burma are the only mammals of the old world with a prehensile tail.) In the evening I let it go in the jungle to the great disgust of the Burmans who said they could got Rs. 15 for it from any Chinaman. Chinamen use parts of these animals as an aphrodisiac. Burmans have a widespread superstition about this animal that it cries out and calls people by name. If the person called replies he dies at once. I was told bj- a fairly well educated Burman that a Forest Kanger who died suddenly at Fyinmana Forest School sometime ago died because he replied to a scaly pangolin. This superstition is a nuisance as Burmans are very reluctant to reply to shouts in the jungle. I have often noticed this when girdling teak or when belated dak runners are approaching camp after dark. It would be interesting to know whether this animal does cry out and whether its cry at all resembles the human voice ? S. F. HOPWOOD, I.F.S., K.P.A. France, 31s< August 1916. No. VI.— LARGE PINTAILED SANDGROUSE (Z^ A. CAUDATA) SETTLING ON WATER. I have occasionally wondered whether my eyes were deceiving me when I thought I saw Sandgrouse settling on the water to drink. But 1 have now been able to verity this habit, in one species at any rate. A day or two ago a pair of Fterocluius alchata caudata settled in front of me, on the R. Tigris, and about 60 yards from the bank. After slaking their thirst in a leisurely manner, they got up, and flew away. When on the wa'er they floated high, and looked like gulls. 1 do not know whether this habit has been recorded before in the case of Sandgrouse, or not, but mention it for what it is worth. Mesopotamia, \2th November 1916. H. A. F. MAGRATH, Lt.-Col. No. VII.— OCCURRENCE OF THE WOOD-SNIPE {GALLINAGO NEMORICOLA) IN SALSETTE. On January 18th I shot a Wood-snipe in the jungle, a few miles from Thana. The locality agreed with that described by Stuart Baker as being the one most favoured by this species {vide article on the Wood-snipe beginning on page 'IlO of Vol. XX of the Journal), that is to say the bird was flushed i ut of thick high grass bordering a long series of small rice helds in a narrow valley in the midst of thick jungle at a height of perhaps 100 feet above sea level. The time of day was 11 a.m. The snipe got up without any cry and flew straigVit for a narrow gap in the high grass where he meant to adopt Wood-cock tactics. He flew slowly and floppily and looked strangely big and most strangely dark. I had to take him before • Ud fortunately the photograph is too indistinct for reproduction. — Eds. 150 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, I ol. XXV. he dodged behind cover and consequently he was rather broken up. The bird was in good condition and was made over the same evening to the Society and his measurements recorded. Having shot a couple of this species in Kulu I was pretty sure of its identity but not knowing it to be so unusual did not question the shikari as to the frequency of its occurrence. He appeared to know of it quite well, but his knowledge may have been assumed. Only one specimen is recorded as having been shot near Bombaj' before, that of Mr. T. H. Moore in January 1896. Possibly the species occurs not uncommonly, but is not identified. The Wood-snipe weighed 5i oz. M. L. FERRAR, Major. Bombay, 31s< January 1917. No. VIII.— NOTE ON THE HABITS OF THE CHECKERED WATER SNAKE (TROFIDONOTUS PISCATOR.) A ew days ago I saw an interesting display of fishing by a snake. The basin in front of the sluices of Walwhar lake was being emptied through the 15th valve provided for that purpose and numbers of small fish were being shot through and as chey came out of the pipe were trying to jump clear of the stream of water. The snake was sitting on top of the pipe and darted its head at the fish in the air. I saw it catch one fish about 4" long but it only managed to hold it for a few seconds before it broke away. I killed and preserved the snake and am sending it down to you and should be much obliged if you would kindly identify it. B. D. RICHARDS. LoNAVLA, 2nd December 1916. No. IX.— FEEDING HABITS OF THE PYTHON {PYTHON MOLURUS.) I enclose a photo of a 1.3^ feet Python which I killed sometime ago in the Northern Shan States about 15 miles from Lashio. The reptile had MIISCELLASEOUS XOTES. ir,l only lately swallowed a 3 year old barking deor (male) which, when the Piiako was opened up, was found 3 green frog that has the thin white stroak from nose to rump tirmly attach- ed to the back of the ordinary frojjj and whon touched would not leave or let loose his grip. 'J'ho groon frog had the skin of tho other frog in its mouth and when teased ho jumped quite 2\ feet with the other frog in its mouth. N. DAVIDSON. Raichur, 19«A October 19 lb". [The ' two trog:s' when received were found to be a medium sized Bull Frofj {Rana tigrina) and a youn» 5, P. formosa »' » 6, P. metallica ?> » 7, P. striata >; >> 8, P. oinata, ,-> Ceyloi The males of 1*2 and 4 only were known, so there was much room for further research, but I am not aware that any further discoveries have since been made. 'Ihese spiders are not, I believe, as rare as is generally supposed, but living as they do, in burrows and trees, they escape observation. Last April, one was brought to me at Khandala, it havii g been found in a hole half way up a post in the stables at the Convalescent Home. Not a single person there, either European or Native, to whom I showed it, had ever seen one before. I have since had no difficulty in identifying it as P. 7-eyalis ; Pocock mentions having identified this species from Matheran, so it may be the commonest, if not the only species found in this part of India. I tried my best to get another specimen but with no success. In May last, I was more successful, when encamped at Potoli, Supa Taluka, North Kanara, where I captured two females, but they belonged to quite a different species which I have not as yet been able to identify. Their description tallies more nearly with that of P. metallica, than v^ith any of the others on Pocock's list, being of a uniform chocolate colour all over the body and legs, but wanting the single orange spots on the tibice, which is the distinguishing mark of P. metallica. At the first opportiinity I intend to have them identified at the Natural History Museum, when I will communicate the residt. The measurements of the largest of the two are as follows, n millimetres : — Total length of body . . . . . . . . 55 Length of carapace . . . . . . . . 26 Width of carapace . . . . . . . . _. . 20 SO 154 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Length of palp ' „ „ Ist leg „ „ 2nd leg „ „ 3rd leg „ „ 4th leg Patella and Tibia of Ist leg „ „ 2nd leg ,, „ „ 3rd leg „ „ ,, 4th leg Protarsus of 4th leg 47 74 66 55 70 28 25 20 25 16 Quite by accident, 1 came across a silk lined bvirrow, in the jungles, which I suspected belonged to one of these spiders. On introducing a stick into it, 1 however failed to move or feel anything, so placing a dead leaf over the mouth of the burrow, I left it until the following morning, when on my return I foun. Haefliger, Lyalluore ; Mr. A. N. Grieve, Purulia ; Mr. Duncan Macgregor, Lahore ; Capt. C. H. B. Borth, R.A.M.C., Basra; Mr. C. E. Lynch-Blosse, Junagadh; Mr. A. Mac- Donald, Champaran; Rev. A. F. R. Bird, Nandyal R.S. ; Lt. N. M. Adam, R.A., Mesopotamia ; Lt. D. P. Blair, If.A M.C., Bushire ; Prof. I.W. Johory, M.A., B.D., Indore; 2nd-Lt. R. E. Cheesman, Basra ; Mr. G. Wesche Dart, Bombay ; Mr. S. G. de 0. Ireland, I.C.S., Fatehpur ; Ca[it. G. H. Russell, Wano ; the Secretary, Central Circulating Library, S. 1. Railway, Trichino- polv ; Lt.-Col. C. D. Dawes, I.M.S., Bombay ; Capt. J. Crompfcon, Bannu, N.W.F.P. ; Mr. H. Parker, I.C.S., Homalin ; Mr. A. C. Morrell, Travancore; Lt. Ernest E. Cunnah, R.A.M.C, Meerut,U. P.; Mr. R H. Cassell, Moni- arah ; Mr. George D. Moore, Moniarah ; the Mess President, 94th Russell's Infantry, Tank, N.W.F.P. ; Mr. G. D. Traylen, Bombay ; Mr. W. K. Dods Calcutta ; Mr. W. E. Ley, I.C.S., Chauda, C.P. ; Mr. A. Hampson, Bombay. The contributions to the Society's Museum during the last four months are remarkable for the wide range of localities from which they have been received — localities extending from Mesopotamia to Siam and from Gilgit to Trichinopoly. Beginning with Mesopotamia the Society is much indebted to Sir Percy Cox and ijt. R. E. Cheesman, I.A.R.O., for 37 bird skins, all of which are of great interest. From Major-General Sir H. Keary come several spotted sandgrouse and two starlings very similar to the European Starling. Capt. C. R. S. Pitman has sent in skins of two kinds of sandgrouse and two birds of prey, an eagle and a buzzard, and Major F. P. Connor a nuniber of insects, snakes, lizards and birds and a scorpion alive. Lt.-Col F. Wall, C.M.G., I.M.S., and Lt. Livesay, I.A.R.O., have presented much wanted jackal skins and the latter has also sent the head and neck of a wild goose A.ferus. From Major G. A. Perreau a fine wild cat aUo several bird skins. From Capt. C. M. Ingoldby, R.A.M.C, comes a Persian robin, while Col. Stevens and Major Dickinson took the trouble to send down alive two small desert lizards of the genus Ayama. Lower down the Gi.lf, at Muscat, Major A. R. Burton has been active in increasing the Society's collections and he has sent in the skin of an Arabian fox, numerous lizards and snakes, as well as a number of birds alive, including some Arabian seesee and Close-barred Sandgrouse. On the other side of the Gulf, in Persian Baluchistan. Capt. J. E. B. Hotson, I.A.R.O., has done much on the Society's behalf and two small but interesting collections of mammals, birds, snakes and insects, as well as botanical specimens have been received from him. Coming now to the borders of India proper, Capt. W. B. Cotton, LA. R.O., from Wano, has presented two fox skins, a couple of AfghaL nares, also a skin of a cat which appears to be a hybrid between a domestic and a desert cat F. 01-nata. Major Humphrys from Miranshah sent in a live fat-tailed lizard perfectly harmless, but often considered by natives to be a poisonous 158 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. species. From Gilgit Major A. D, Macpherson has presented a Levantine viper, a European species only occasionally found in India. A number of interesting bats from the Teesta Valley have been received from Mr. A. Primrose and Mr. F. Field. Palamau has contributed several snakes and mammals and from Dr. Malcolm Smith in Siam has come a welcome collection of snakes, lizards and frogs. A number of Imperial Sandgrouse skins have been presented by Col. H. H. the Maharaja of Bikanir and from Simla Mr. G. 0. Shortridge, who was there on sick leave from Mesopotamia, sent some butterflies. Mr. T. R. Bell has generously handed over to the Society a collection of shells made at Karachi as well as a large number of butterflies, moths and other insects, comprising some 1,900 specimens all perfect specimens from Kanara. It is hoped to be able to furnish a detailed list of this collection shortly. The Honorary Secretary acknowledged the following contributions since the last meeting : — Contribution. Locality. Donor. Three mammals : Tibet Marmot, ^ A.himalayanus,^2i\e Weasel, f M. temon, Large-e a r e d ^ Mousehare, O. aurita. ) 1 Common Wolf, C. jicillipes 1 Andaman Palm-civet, P. tytleri. ! 1 Jackal, C. aureus and head and neck of Grey Lag Goose, A. ferus. r> Mammals : 2 Desert Foxes,] V. leucopus, 1 hybrid ? De- \ sert cat, F. ornata, 2 Afghan i hares, L. tibetanus. J 1 Jackal, C. aureus 6 Mammals, including, Panther, F.pardus, Afghan Hedgehog, E. megalotis, Persian Low- land Hare, L. craspidotes, 2 mice, a bat and a fox, 33 birds, 4 fishes, 33 snakes, 2 lizards, 3 scorpions, 2 centi- pedes and a number of in- sects and botanical speci- mens. 1 Fisliing Cat, F. viverrina 1 Jackal, C. indicus 1 Bamboo Kat, C. badius Garhwal Etawah, W. P. Port Blair Mesopotamia Wano Mesopotamia Pers. -Baluchistan Frontier. Habb river Henzada, Burma. Taungdw i n g y e, Burma. Chin Hills Mr. A. E. Osmaston, I.F.S. U. P. Govt. Mr. F. B. Leach, l.C.S. Lt. I. R. Livesey, LA.R.O. Capt. W . B. Cotton. Lt.-Col. F. W a 1 1, I. M.S., C. M. G. Capt. J. E. B. Hot- son. Mr. R.L. McCuUoch. Mr. C. W. Allen. Mr. F. C. Purkis. Mr. A. Wright. riiOCEE DINGS. 159 Contributiou. Locality. Donor. Muscat . Mesopotamia 1 Arabian Fox, T. aiabica, 2t snakes, T.f/ tint hen', Z.rhodor- achis, 2 lizards, 1 centipede, 6 scorpions and some insects, also o Close-barred Sandgrouse, P. lichtensteini, \ Arabian Seesee, A. heyi, liarbary Falcon, F. harharus ? 4 Persian Turtle Doves, i*>. t. orenicola and 1 Blue Roch Thrush, M. sa.vatiles. Four mammals, including a Per- 1 sian Mungoose, M. j>ersicus, and a Syrian Hedgehog, E. calliiioni, and 3 birds, 1 Blue cheeked Bee-eater, M.persi- )■ cus and Pin-tailed Sand grouse, P. a. caudata. 3 Lizards 1 Tree Frog and a number of I insects. J Five Mammals : 1 Short-tailedGopaldhara Mole, 7'. micrura and four bats 3 Mammals : 1 Smaller Bandi- coot Kat, -B. nemoricaya, 1 Fulvous Leafnosed Bat, H. f ulcus aud 1 pipistrelle, 1 bird. 5 Snakes : Brown Tree Snake, )- D. triyonata. Painted Tree Snake, D. pictus, Green Pit Viper, L. yramineus, Kukri Snake O. suOyriseus and Green "WTiip snake, D. mycterizans. 1 Scorpion . . 18 Bats Major A. R. Burton. Niterhat D i s Palamau. Major F. P. Connor, LM.S. Mr. H. Stevens. t., Mr. F. Field. Teesta Valley Mesopotamia 1 Jungle Cat, F. chaus ; Three 'j birds : 1 Montagu's Har- '• rier, C. cinevaceus, 2 Spotted j Sandgrouse. P. sencyallus and j I 1 Black Partridge. F. rulyaiisj | 1 Snake. Coluber hoJysoni, alive. ^ \ 1 Spotted Himalayan Scops V Dharumsala Owl, 6'. spilocephalus. ) 5 Snakes: Koj'al Snake, Z. ") diadema, Iridescent Earth I Snake, A', unicolor, Buff"- | j striped Keel-back, T. sftolatus, 1 Banded Krait, B. fasciatus \ \ and '. stellaris 2 Lizards, Agama isolepis (alive) . . 25 Imperial Sandgrouse, P. are- nariw.. 2 Coronetted Sandgrouse, P. coronatus. 1 Water Cock, G. cinerea Deolali , = Siani MonacheraP.O. Gilgit Mesopotamia Do. Do. Bhamo Mesopotamia Bombay Dist. Busra Bikanir . . Kohistan Mamiufrao 1 Persian Robin, E. hyrcanus . . Mesopotamia 1 Fat-tailed Lizard, E. maculaiia ^ochi Valley and a buprostid beetle. A number of snakes, fish and centipedes in spirit, a large number of butterflies, moths, diagonflies, grasshoppers, mantids, cicadas, hemip- ! tera, diptera and spiders, a \ qviantiby of shells and four eggs of common peafowl, P. eristatus and four of com- mon sandgrouse, P. e:rustus. ^ A few birds, fish, lizards and|KaTwar insects. Capt. Malone. Dr. Malcolm Smith. Mr. W. Short. Major A. D. Mac- pherson. Maj-Gen. Sir H. Keary. Capt. 0. R. Pitman. Sir P. Z. Cox and Lt. Cheesman. Capt. A. C. Frere. Mr. A. F. Forbes. Col. Stevens and Major Dickinson. H. H. the Maharaja. Mr.R. L.McCuUoch. JMr. W. Coen. iCapt. C, M. Ingold- I by, R.A.M.C. Major F. H. Hum- i phrys. Kanara and Kara-Mr. T. R. Bell, chi. Mr. N. B. Kinnear. Hi B o H H > 5 EH ?* ^ ^ a H 3! H y^* I!1MLI3RAR Y) 30 JOURNAL '^^""^ OF THE Bombay Natural History Society. Sept. 1917. Vol. XXV. No. 2. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND T'EYLON. BY E. C. Stuart Bakee, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Part XXII. With a Coloured Plate. PHASIANIDiE. GQUU&—GENNJEUS. In 1915 I wrote a revision of this beautiful group of pheasants, which appeared in tlie Journal of this Society, Vol. XXIII, p. 658 (May 1915). I then gave at considerable length my reasons for retaining some of the species and sub-species which had been described by Gates and others, and for eliminating a large number which, with the greater material then available, were found to be untenable. Since this review was published, there are only two points upon which I have been able to obtain further evidence and material to show that the deductions then drawn require alteration. The first of these necessitates the suppression of cuvieri. There appears to be no doiibt that this so-called sub-species has no definite geographical range, but crops up here and there where the lower habitat of horsjleldi meets suddenly the higher habitat of nijdhemerus ruiipes, icilliamsi, or oatesi. The skins which I have been able to examine show that ciwieri is either a hybrid between totally distinct species, or merely forms a very thin, ill-defined 1 16-2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. line of connection between horsfieldi and various other sub-species. Nowhere is this line sufficiently defined or wide enough to justify curieri being retained as a good sub-species. Secondly, the discoveries of Robinson, Guildenstolpe, Herbert, Kloss, and others have shewn that the range of true lineatus has to be very greatly extended, though still further material is required before we can say definitely what is the range of lineatus and what of sharpei. It would appear, however, that Silver Pheasants of some kind very nearly related to, if not the same as, Gennceus lineatus lineatus, are to be found as far South as 12'*, and also East well into many portions of South and West Siam. At what particular point lineatus merges into sharpei has still to be worked out with exactness, and to do this will require a much greater mass of material than is now available. I retain ripponi for tfie present, though with a good deal of hesitation, and if more specimens for examination are obtained from the Trans Salween and Mekong River areas this sub-species may also have to be suppressed. The Genus Gennceus contains the pheasants popularly known as Kalij and Silver Pheasants, and are certainly the most closely allied of all our Indian Pheasants to the Jungle-Fowl. They are heavily built, powerful birds with comparatively short rounded wings ; tails compressed, of sixteen feathers, either of great or moderate length, and 's\ith the central feathers longest ; their legs are short and fairly long, and are armed in the males with powerful spurs, one on each leg, and only abnormally two. The head is crested in both sexes, and the sides of the head are bare and highly coloured. Key to Species : Males. A. Crest white light brown albocristatus. B. Crest black. a. Upper plumage black, feathers with pale edges, and rump barred with white, breast laro-elv whitish leucomelanus. ft. Upper plumage wholly black, breast largely whitish melanonotus . f. Upper plumage black ; rump boldh' barred with white ; breast black Jiorsfieldi. d. Upper plumage gre^^, formed by narrow vermiculations and bars of black and white lineatus. e. Upper plumage almost white with sparse, narrow bars of black... nycthemerus. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 163 Key to Sprcie:s : Females. -I. Lower plumage more or less mottled or squamated and with pale shafts but not with white or bufi" streaks, (' . Rather paler below alhocrisia ttis. h. Rather darker belo^-. a'. Central tail feathers well mottled and distinctlj^ leucomelanius. grey about neck melanonotus. //. Centi'al tail feathers not much mottled and no grey on neck. a". Central tail feathers dark chestnut, contrasting greatly with lateral ones., horsfieldi horsjieldi. h". Central tail feathers pale chestnut, con- trasting greatly with lateral ones, horsjieldi ivilliamsi. ]J. Lower plumage with white or buff and not squamated c'. Central streaks buff and confined principally to breast aud flanks lineatus oatesi. d'. Central streaks white, numerous everjnvhere, but narrow ; under plumage bright rufous, lineaius lineatus. e . Central streaks white and broad, lower plumage much darker and not so rufous lineatus sharpei. < '. Lower plumage white, buffy white, or buff with bold bars, or edges of dark brown. f. Lower plumage white ... nydhemerus nycthe- merus. 'is as in alhocristatus. Measurements. — Length about 20" (508 mm.) ; wing 7'8" to 8-7" (198-1 to 221-0 mm.) ; average of twenty birds, 8-1" (205-7 mm.); tail 7-3" to S-6" (185-4. to 218-4 mm.) ; tarsus aboiit 2-7" (68-5 mm.) ; crest about 2-5" (Go- 7 mm.). Chick in down. — Head chestnut, palest on forehead and behind eye ; a dark streak running from behind and below eye to neck. Centre of back chocolate brown with broad lateral bands of pale buff, sides dull chestnut ; chin and throat pale yellowish white, remainder of lower parts pale yellowish grey. " Young. — A chick captured on the lOtli June, whose \\ing '•measured only 2" had the feet oi'ange and the bill greenish ■-yellow-horny; the head was rufous-brown, the body above -• dark brown ; each feather of the wing-coverts and scapulars " having a blackish subterminal bar, and a fulvous tip ; beneath '• sullied fulvous. Young birds of both sexes about three •- months old resemble the female, but have the bill livid at " tip, the orbital skin pale fleshy red, and the feet livid "brownish; at this stage the black subterminal bars on the "upper feathers are still well marked The young male " assumes the black plumage when about five months old -• (such, at least, was the case in two specimens I had in con- •' finement) ; but at this age it still shews traces of the original •' brown colour about the feathers of the neck and upper ^'back." (Scully). Distribution. — Nepal at practically all heights between 2,000 and 9,000 feet. In the extreme West of Nepal across the Gogra it is doubtful whether this species may not be replaced by the White- crested Kalij, and again, in the extreme East of Nepal it is possible that the Black-backed Kalij may be found. .Scully writes that the Nepal Kalij extends as far East as the Arun River, and this is probably correct ; certainly birds which I procured at Jalpaiguri, and which had come from the vicinity of Dhamkhata were all melanonotus. Dliamkhata is a village on the Tamra, a small stream running into the Arun River, and the birds were collected for me by Nepalese who traded in Pankabari and Jalpaiguri. li is interesting to note, also, that these birds shewed no signs of grading into Uucomelanv.s. It is true that one or two shewed white lines on the edges of the rump feathers, but I find 174 JOURNAL, BOMS AY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. that this is a feature which crops up here and there throughout the whole range of nielanonotus . Nidification . — As far as I can ascertain there is nothing authen- tic on record about the breeding of this Pheasant. Scully says nothing about their nesting habits. Hume says : •' The habits and nidification of this species are, of course, " very similar to those of the other Kalij Pheasants." This, however, in so far as it relates to the nidification is merelj- guess work on Hume's part, though undoubtedly correct. Ogilvie- G rant says of the nest and eggs "very similar to those of G. albocristatus", a statement very possibly founded on Hume's. There are no eggs of this species in the British Museum, nor did Hume ever obtain any, and I think the first eggs ever taken were two brought to a Mr. Ferry by Nepalese from the hills immediately above Bettiah. These were given b}^ him to Dr. H. N. Collart, who in turn made them o^^er to me. Later I obtained a second clutch of five eggs from the same place together with the skins of the females. In appearance the eggs cannot possibly be distinguished from those of the other Kalij Pheasant ; the surface, texture and shape are all quite normal. In size the}^ vary in length between 53' 1 mm. and 40*2 mm., and in breadth between 34-2 mm. and 31-1 mm., the average of eighteen eggs being 50'4 mm. by 33*6 mm. The two clutches were taken on the 23rd May 1908, arid 25th June 1907, respectively. Habits. — The Nepal Kalij Pheasant is a bird of comparatively high elevation, for though in the cold weather it wanders down to some 2,000 feet and even to the foot hills still lower than this, it is most common between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, seldom breeding below the former level, whilst it is common up to 9,000 feet and perhaps even higher. Hodgson has left little on record about this Pheasant, and was in fact somewhat doubtful as to its status. He remarks : " This is by far the commonest Pheasant in Nepal. Its '• range is the central region ; it is never found in the Terai, " seldom in the Cachar (the most elevated portions of Nepal). " Where Galkis ferrughieus ends there the Kalij begins and " extends, though in diminishing numbers, to the region of " the Monal and the Tragopan.' The notes of Scully in " Stray Feathers " written in 1 880 are still practically the only record we have of this bird's habits, and are quoted as follows : — " G. leucomelanus is common, wherever thick forest is found, " from Hetoura in the Dan to the Valley of Nepal ; in all the " wooded hills surrounding the latter up to an elevation of " nearly 9,000 feet; and in every forest about Noakote. It is THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 175 " usually seen in pairs or in parties of from 3 to 10, often " feeding on the ground near cultivated patches at the border •' of fores^t. The birds seem very fond of perching on trees, '• and it is usually in this position that one comes across them " in forcing ones wav through forest which has a dense under- •• growth. On such occasions the Kalij first gives notice of its " whereabout b}^ Avhirring down with great velocity from its •• perch and then ninniug rapidly out of sight to the shelter of •• some thicket. In the winter the birds roost on trees at the •' foot of the hills, and the plan for making a bag is to post ■• oneself about sunset under some trees which the}' are known •* to frequent and to await their coming. The birds are then ••soon heard threading their way through the jungle to their " favourite trees, and at once fly out and perch. When once '• settled for the night in this way thej^ are not easily alarmed, " and I have shot 4 or 6 birds in quick succession before the " rest of the part}' would clear oiit to quieter quarters. "Occasionally too one can get a shot at the Kalij as they '• cross a hill path through the forest on their way to or from " some streams. •' Great numbers of the Nepal Kalij are snared and brought " into Khatmandu for sale ; the birds bear confinement in the " valley ver}- well, and I reared several chicks to maturity." GEXNiEUS MELANONOTUS. The Black-hacked Kalij Pheasant. r Phasianus muthura, Gray, in Griffiths' Ed. Cuv. III., p. 27 (1829). h Gallophasis muthura, Gray, Gen. Birds 111., p. 498 (1845). Evplocamus melanonotus, (Blyth) Button, J.A.S.B, XVII., pt. II., p. 694 (1848) (Darj.eelins) ; Blyth, Cat. Mus. As. Soc.j p. 244 (1849). (Gallophasis melanonotu-^, Mitchell, P.Z.S. (1858), p. 544, PI. 149, fig. 2 ; Jerdon, B. of Ind. III., p. 534 (1863) ; Hume. Nests and Eggs. Ind. B., p. 527 (1873) ; Marshall, B. Nests Ind., p. 59 (1877). Euplocamus melanonotus, Hume and luglis Str. Feath., V., p. 42 (1877) ; Hume, ibid VII., p. 429 (1878). Euplocamus melanonotu.<. Hume and Marsh., Game-B, Ind. I., p. 191 (lb78) ; Gates, ed. Hume Nests and Eggs 111., p. 415 (1890). Gennceus muthura, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds B.M. XXII., p. 301 (1893) ; Ghigi, Mem. Acad. Bolongna (6), V., p. 145 (1908). Gennceus melanonotus. Ogilvie-Grant, Hand-L. Game-B. 1, p. 263 (1895) ; Gates, Man. Game-B. Ind. 1., p. 331 (1898) ; Blanf., Fauna B.I. IV., p. 91 (1898) ; Gates, Cat. Eggs B.M. I., p. 54 (1901) ; Stuart Baker, Jour. B.N.H. See. XXIII., p. 668 (1915). Vernacular Names. — Kar-Hhyak (Lejtcha). I follow Blanford in refusing to accept muthura as the specific name for this Pheasant. The description is that of a bird " the size of a tin-key " which is, of course, too big for any of the Kalij Pheasants ; this, however, would not debar the name if the descrip- tion was otherwise sufficient, for there is no doubt it is meant to 176 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. apply to one of the Kalij Pheasants, but the description does not suffice and moreover the trivial name employed " The Chittagong Pheasant " would seem to shew that it is equally as likely to be the Black-breasted Kali] as the Black-backed bird. Under these circumstances J retain Blyth's name of melanonohts as the earliest certain name for this Pheasant. Description — Adult Male. — Whole upper plumage black, glossed with deep violet blue, greenish in some lights and slightly purplish in others, each feather from the hind neck to the shorter tail-coverts with an unglossed velvety black edge to the tip, broadish on the rump, and also with white shafts ; these Avhite shafts shew up well on the scapulars and upper back, but are often almost entirely con- cealed on the rump and upper tail-coverts. Longest upper tail- coverts and tail feathers black-glossed with blue-green or green. Wing-coverts like the back ; quills brown, the outer secondaries glossed with greenish violet on the outer webs and the innermost glossed with the same on both webs. Chin and throat blackish brown, the tips of the feathers next tlie breast gradually becoming palev ; the long lanceolate feathers of the breast white with brown bases, the white decreasing and the brown increasing in extent towards the lower breast, abdomen and poste- rior flanks ; venc and extreme centre of abdomen brown ; under tail- coverts and thighs blackish brown. Many fine males have the scapulars and wing-coverts very narrowly edged with white, in some the white being pure and well- defined, and in others more or less broken up with velvety black. In two specimens in the Hume Collection the feathers of the scapulars have small smoky white spots at the tips of the feathers instead of distinct white edges. The under parts of individuals of this species vary considerably, in some specimens the white portions of the feathers are so exten- sive that the whole breast appears to be white, whilst in others the brown bases shew through everywhere, giving this part of the plumage a mottled brown appearance. Colours of the soft 'parts. — Iris brown, hazel brown to orange brown ; facial skin and lappets crimson red, bright red, or crimson ; bill yellowish or greenish horny, palest at the tip, and blackish at the base as far as the nostrills ; legs and feet pale horny brown, greenish brown or fleshy slate ; spurs paler than the legs at the base, then darker, and usually with a light tip; the soles are generally pale fleshy slate colour. Measurements — " Length 25-0 to 24-0 ; expanse 26-5 to 29-0 : weight " 2-lbs. 6-oas. to 2-lbs. 12-ozs." (Hume). Wing 8-5" to 9-5" (215-9 to 241-3 mm.); average of forty birds, 8-94" (227-0 mm.). Tail 9-4" to 12-3" (238-7 to 312-4 THE GAME BIRDS OF IXDIA. 177 mm.); average of fortv birds, 11-2" (284*4 mm.); tarsus 3"1" to 3-3" (78-7 to 83-S "mm.); spur about -75" (IG-D mm.); bill at front 1-20" (30-5 mm.) ami from gape 1-35" (34-2 mm.); ei-est up to 3" (7G-2 mm.) ; generally about 2V' (03-5 mm.). Advlt Female. — Only cUfllers trom the female of lencomelanus, in having the nape a less bright chestnut than the crest and upper l)ack, so that when the crest lies down it shews quite plainly against it. On the whole it is like leucomeUmns perhaps, darker than albocrisiaiutf, and has the tail feathers more chestnut. Col-otirs of the soft jjaris as in lencomelanus. Measurements — "Length 18-0 to 21-0; expanse 25-0 to 27-0. Weight " 1-1 b. 14-ozs. to 2-lbs. 4-ozs."' (Hume). Wing 7-7" to 8-8" (195-5 to 223-5 mm.); tail 7-9" to 9-2" (200-G to 233-6 mm.); tarsus 2-7" to 2-9" (G8-5 to 73-6 mm.); bill at front about 1-15" (29-2 mm.), and from gape aboiit 1-25" (31-7 mm.) The crest is roughh'- about 2" (50-8 mm.), and rather scanty. Yoxu'i Male in p'rst plnmarie resembles the female, but is gene- rally darker beloAv. A young bird of a few months old — probably about three — has the greater and median wing-coverts reddish brown with fine bars of black vermiculation, a broad bar of black near the tip, then" a bar of chestnut with one fine bar of black on it, and finally a white tip ; a few feathers of the back and scapulars have bold black bars ; the rest of the plumage is that of a very dull adult female. Distribution. — From the extreme West of Sikkim and over the greater part of Western Bhutan. Its exact boundaries both East and West have not hitherto been defined. To the West the Arun River in Nepal is prohablii its Westei'n boundary, for. as already recorded, some birds sent me from a small Easterv tributarv of this stream were all of this species. At the same time exact data of native-collected specimens are always to be regarded with caution. In this instance they are probably correct, as they were alleged to have been trapped within a short distance of the village to Avhich the Xepalese belonged. The birds found in the hills North of Jalpaigiu'i are all tjpical melanonotas, but North of C^oalpara one gets into the range of horsjfeldi, though birds of this district often shew traces of white on the breast, as is, however, the case through- out the whole of the range of typical horsfleldi. These are the birds named mearsi bv Oates. the tvpe of which was killed at Nanywa, Chin Hills. Nidification. — The Black-backed Kalij breeds from late in March up to the end of June, but eggs may also be taken a good deal earlier than this, and also later. In the lower elevations at which these Pheasants bred, say from 1,500 to 3,000 feet, March and 3 178 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. April are the two months in which most eggs are laid ; from 3,000 to 4,500 feet, the 25th April to end of May or early June are the favourite breeding months, whilst in the highest ranges they breed from May to the end of June, or even Jul}^, and I have had hard-set eggs sent me which were taken in August below Darjeeling. The nest is generally a very poor affair, nothing more than a col- lection of dead leaves and grass gathered together by chance — less often by the birds themselves — lying in some natural hollow under the protection of a bush or tree. They are also sometimes found in bamboo jungle, and in these cases the birds seem to scratch a hollov\' in the ground, and fill this with bamboo spates and leaves, then they work a hollow in the centre of these for the reception of their eggs. I have never seen a nest of this species myself, but all my correspondents agree that the nests are almost invariably verj- well concealed ; favourite positions for them are either in ravines, in dense evergreen forest, or in the almost impenetrable secondary growth, which in a couple of j^ears covers deserted cultivation. When bamboo jnngle is selected, it is nearly always very closel}' growing, and the eggs are deposited well in amongst the roots, so that they are not easily sj)otted. They also sometimes make their nests in among tea-bushes in Tea Gardens after these have come into full flush, and the undergrowth has sprung up again so as to afford sufficient cover. I imagine, however, that few of these clutches of eggs ever hatch out, for now- a-daj^s tea is so highly cultivated that the weeds are constantlj' hoed outj and the eggs are then discovered and eaten by the coolies. At the same time there is yet plenty of land in the Terai all round about the Tea Estates which is too broken up to be worth cultivat- ing for tea, and here the Kalij still flourishes and breeds without much molestation, for the small native boy does not emulate his white brother in his birds' nesting proclivities. Thus Hume's fear that within a few years of his writing his " Game-Birds, " the Black- backed Kalij would become very rare, has fortiinately not been fulfilled. The eggs varjr in number from G to 10, 7 or 8 being the numbers most often found. They differ in no way from those of other Kalij Pheasants, that is to say, they are very similar to the eggs of the common domestic fowl. In colour they vary, as do these, from practically pure white, as recorded by Tickell, and seen also by myself, to a warm, rich cafe-au-lait or buff, whilst they cover the same differences in shape, being normally a broad oval, but slightly compressed at the smaller end. The texture is that of a fowl's egg, usually quite smooth and slightly glossy, sometimes pitted, some- times having the tiny white specks occasionally found in most game-bii'ds' eggs. The eggs I have seen, including Hume's series in the British THE (.ami: iniiDS OF IMHA. 179 Museum, vary in length between l*70" (44-0 mm.) and 2'05" (o'l-O mm.), and in breadth between 1-3G" (o4-5 mm.) and 1-54" (39-1 mm.), the average of 58 eggs, being 1-92" (48-7 mm.) bv 1-47" (37-3 mm.). [lalnfs. — The Black-backed Kalij is a bird of somewhat lower elevations than either of the two preceding birds, but at the same time is not normally found at so low an elevation as that haunted by the Black-breasted Kalij. It is most numerous at 2,000 feet to 5,000 feet, but is common enough round about Darjeeling and in the interior of Sil^kim up to 0,000 feet, and perhaps even higher than this in the hot weather. At 7,000 feet, however, it is only a casual w-anderer, though it has been met with up to 8,000 feet. Beavan, on the other hand, found it at Pankabari at the foot of the hills (where it has been known to breed), and the natives say that in the winter it wanders into the broken land in the Tea Gardens, though the planters themselves say it is but rarel}'- they come across one when oat shooting. Higher up amongst the Tea Gardens in the Darjeeling Terai it is still extremely abundant in many places bordering the non- cultivated areas. Hei'e there are wide extents of land planted w ith tea, broken up and surrounded by ravines, steep hillsides and rugged pockets, either retaining their original virgin forest or with this replaced by a matted growth of secondary jungle even thicker than the other. These patches are a very favourite resort of the Kalij, not only on account of the protection given by their dense cover, but on account of their bordering the tea lands, which furnish good feeding grounds, and the crops of the native cultivators, of which they take due toll. But if these places afford refuges to the birds from the encroach- ments of civilization, thej^ also form, in a way, traps which lead to their destruction, for they are comparativel}- easy to beat, and are thus often worked by sportsmen in pursuit of them. When the i-avines and hillsides are beaten, the birds on fivino- out always follow two rules ; firstly, they invariably make for the heaviest forest near by, and secondly, when there is a choice bet- ween two or more similar forests, the}- choose the one which will enable them to fly downwards. Although 1 have never heard of big bags being obtained in this way, a couple of guns in a morning's beat will soDietimes pick up 3 or 4 brace in addition to other odds and ends that the beaters flush. Like all the Kalij Pheasants, it is a tremendous runner, and when worked with beaters only, will seldom rise until it reaches the very edge of the forest or bushes, when it gets up with a rush and a flurry of wings, soon getting up a considerable pace. If flying downhill, it alternately sails and flies with rapid beat of wings until 180 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. it sails out of sight, di'ops to the gun, or descends headlong into the sanctuary of the further forest. With dogs it gets up quicker, and often perches, and if the dog distracts its attention, will then often allow the gunner to walk right up to the tree before it quits by the opposite side. In the mornings and evenings it comes into the open to feed, both in cultivation and along the edges of roads and forest paths ; in these and similar places it often aflfords a running shot as it scurries away on being disturbed, but it is exceptional for it to take to flight under such circumstances unless rushed b}^ a dog. Writing half a century ago, Gammie speaks of the Black-backed Kalij as of a shy bird, but now-a-days, it appears to be just as wild and as clever as an}^ of its near relations in avoiding the sportsman. Gammie writes : " Usually it is a silent bird, but when suddenly alarmed, it '•utters a sharply repeated ' /roorc/ii /^oorc/ii A"oo)-c/a ' as it rises " on the wing. When, however, the males are in the fighting "humour — which the}^ usuall}' are about breeding time — their " call, as they advance towards each other, ' lioor Iwor ' ' waah " vaah ' ; the former being the threatening and the latter the " attacking note. They also at times answer each other's call " in the jungles. " In fine weather the male often makes a sharp drumming " noise by beating his wings against his sides, somewhat after " the style of the wing flapping of the domestic cock pvejoara- " tory to crowing from some elevated place ; but instead of the " cock's few leisurely flaps, the Kalij sti'ikes oftener and "smarter producing a sound more like drumming than flapping. " From the same spot he repeats the noise twice or thrice at " short intervals, but gives no voice along with it. It seems " as though he was in such a jojdul mood that he must give " expression to his delight somehow, but inherited experience " had effectually taught him that any attempts at crowing in " the jungle was likely to attract the attention of Avild beasts, " and that he must stick to his drumming and leave the crow- " ing part to the domestic cock, who can safely indulge in that "amusement. " The natives look on the drumming of the Kalij as a sure " sign of approaching rain. It is heard at all seasons of the " year, but most frequently before the setting in of the rainjr " season ; at other times generally just before a fall of rain. " The food of the Kalij is varied in the extreme. It eats " almost everything in the shape of seed, fruit and insects, but " is particularly fond of the larvio of beetles out of cow-dung " and decayed wood, and several of the jungle 3'ams which bear ■' tubers along their vines at the axils of the leaves. When the TRi: (lAME BIRDS OF INDIA, 181 '• vino tubers are exliansted. it will scratch away the soil to get '' at those aindergrouud." CTainniie considers the llesh poor eating, b\it most sportsmen in India are pleased enough to get it for the table, especiallj'- in out-of- the-wa}^ spots where variety in food is not easily obtainable. Old cocks are, of course, toitgh, but young birds in the autumn are ex- cellent eating; like all Indian Pheasants, they should be eaten as soon as possible after being killed, unless the weather is cold enough to allow of their being kept some days. They are quite easy to keep in captivity once they liave got over the first few daj^s, during which they must be carefully watched to prevent them dashing themselves against the sides' of their cage, and so killing or maiming themselves. GENNiGUS IIORSFIELDI HORSFIELDI. The Blacl-hreasted Kali} Pheasant. Gallophasis horsJielfJii, C4ray, Gen. B. III., p. 498, PI. CXXVI (1845). Euplocomas hovffiekU, Blyth, Cat. Mns. As. Soc, p. 244 (1849) ; Hume, Str. Feath. VII, p. 429 (1878). Euplocamus horsficldi, Hume and Incjlis, Str. Feath. V, p. 42 (1877) ; Hume and Marsh.', Game-B. Ind. 1., p."l98, PL (1878) ; Fasson, Str. Feath. IX, pp. 203-.J (1880) ; Hume, Str. Feath. XI, p. 303 (1888) ; Gates, ed., Hume's Nest and Eggs, HI, p. 416 (1890). Euplocomus cuvieri, Hume and Marsh., Game-B. Ind. 1, PI. only (1878). Gennreus prendpr;/a!09 All evergreen, large, tufted, steiuless or almost steniless palm, 1 2-20 teet high or somewhat higher, all parts glabi'ous. Leaves 15-20 feet, long, pinnate; petiole 8t10 feet long, sheathing at the base, copiously armed with \-\\ inch long, flat, sharp, somewhat retlexed spines arranged in broken spirals ; the rhachis similarly armed, hnt the spines becoming gradually solitary towards tiie upper part ; leaflets iuequidistant and alternate, broad-lanceo- late, 3-ribbed, 2-3 feet long, distantly spinulose-ciliate, green on both sides, subulate and almost tendril-like acuminate, the upper leaflets confluent, 2-cleft, with as many lobes as leaflets united. Fig. 1— To the left : Terminal spike of spadix of Z. icallichiana. Mart- To the right : Upper part of spadix of the same (after Griffith.) Spadix elongate, fastigiately branched, dimorphic, one male only, with densely tomentose spikes, the other monoecious, very dense- flowered (fig. 1 ) ; each bract seems to correspond to a cluster of o flowers, a female between 2 males or neuters, and with 2 densely tomentose bracteoles j rhachis densely but shortly browii-scurfj'. 210 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Flowers small, rose-coloured, in short, cylindrical, pale rose- coloured, villous spikes, about 3 or more times shorter than the narrow, variously ruptured, partial spathes. Calyx divided to the base, sepals obovate-oblong, about 1^ lin. long; corolla nearly twice as long, rigid, rose-coloured. Drupes in dense heads, obovoid, apiculate or almost acuminate, 1 inch long or more, densely retrorsely scaled, 3-1 -celled with as many arillate seeds, the scales brown, rather rigid, cordate-ovate, only the upper parts exposed and terminating in a reflexed brittle bristle up to 1^ lin. long. Habitat. — Frequent in the tropical forests all over Pegu and Martaban down to Tenasserim, Penang and Singapore; Siam ; Banca. Flowers during the cold season ; fi-uit ripens in June and July. Illustration. — The specimen of Zalacca u-alUcliiana which is figured on PI. C. may be seen in the Botanic Gardens of Sibpur. The photograph was supplied by Major Gage. ZALACCA BECCARII, Hook. f. in Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 474. Leaflets 18-24 inches long, 1^ inches broad, apparently equidis- tant, strict, concolorous, shining on both surfaces, elongate-ensiform, acuminate, tips shortly filiform, margins with strong straight setse almost throughout their length, mid-rib stout, lateral slender, all with few scattered, black, ^-^ inch long bristles ; very young leaf- lets pale beneath, with very long, slender, pale bristles on the ribs ; rhachis with short, hooked, black claws. Female spadix 3 feet long or more ; rhachis brown woolly ; lower spathe 1 foot long, upper 4-6 inches long. Spikes 2^ inch long, I inch in diameter ; bracts wooll}'' ; flowers \ inch long ; sepals and petals subequal, broadl}^ ovate, acute. Fruit apparently small, fruit-scales pale chestnut, with broad bases and paler recurved spinous tips. Can easily be distinguished from Z. iccdlichiana by the long, strict leaflets with long bristles, short tips, and margins armed throughout their length. (Hooker). Habitat. — Rangoon. KOBTHALSIA, Bl. in Rumph. II, 166, t. 130, fig. 2. (After Peter Korthals, a botanist of Haarlem, who explored the East Indies.) Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 210, 343. t. 17l\ fig. 1.; Bl. Rumph. HI, t. 157, B {Ceratolobus). ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 74. 750, Suppl. 591. ; Griff. Palms Brit. Ind. 26, t. 183, 184 {Calamosa(/us).; Walp. Ann. Ill, 492.; Knrz For. Fl. II, 512. ; Wendl. Bot. Zeitg. 1859, 174. ; Becc. Males. I, 87 ; Benth. & Hook. Gen. PI. Ill, 11, 932, 104. ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 474. Scandent, spinous, leaves pinnatisect ; leaflets more or less CTineate or trapezoid and erose ; rhachis flagelliferous ; petiole short, sheath often produced into a large ligule (ochrea). THE PALMS OF niUTlSH INDIA AND CEYLON. -211 Spadix axillary, loosely branched, peiululoTis, sheathed with tubular persistent spathes ; bracts membranous ; bracteoles reduced to hairs. Flowers bisexual, crowded in cylindric catkin-like spikes; sepals orbicular or oblong ; petals ovate or lanceolate, valvate ; stamens C or more, filaments short, antliers linear ; staminodes 6 or more ; ovary imperfectly 3-celled ; ovules basilar. Fniit globose or ovoid, 1 -seeded; pericarp thin, tessellate with recurved shining scales. Seed erect, top hollowed, chalaza lateral ; albumen ruminate ; embryo ventral. Species about 20, Indian and !Malavan. Cultivation in Europe. — An elegant genus of stove palms. When young, they are most effective as drawing or dining room decora- tions ; and Avhen in a more mature condition, they are excellent as stove ornaments and for exhibition purposes. They are easily cultivated in a compost of equal parts loam and vegetable mould. Plenty of water is required. They are propagated by seeds. KORTHALSIA LACINIOSA, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 211 ; Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLIII, II (1874), 207 ; Becc. Males. IT, 74 (excl. pi. Salangore) ; Hooker, Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 475. — K. scaplmjera, Kurz 1. c. 206 (excl. omnib. syn.), t. 20, 21 ; For. Fl. II, 513 (not of Mart.). — K. andamanen- «s, Becc. Males. II, 76. — Calamosagus laciniosus, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 23, t. 1 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 27, t. 183. Stems slender, ^ inch in diameter. Leaves 2-4 feet; leaflets subapproximate, 4-7 inches long, rhomboid, ovate or trapezoid, about as long as broad, acutely erosely toothed, terminal one broad- est, fugaceously white tomentose beneath ; ochrea dilacerate, sparing!}^ armed; petiole 1^-2 feet long, with straight spines, angular above, slightly convex below ; rhachis and flagellum with revei'sed claws. Spadix much branched, and covered with imbricate, smooth spathes, with short, oblique, acute, suberect limbs ; branches axillary, widely spreading, similarly covered with spathes, from which the spikes project. Spikes 3-4 inches long, 3-4 lines broad, tawny- tomentose, verj^ compact, the pedicels almost entirely enclosed. Bracts rounded and imbricate, the lowermost empty, a little longer than the villous bracteoles. Flowers appear to be solitary, half immersed in the wool, which is exceedingly dense. Calj^x short, with 3 broad, acute teeth. Corolla deeply tripartite, segments oblong, spreading, exserted. Stamens 6, united to the corolla at the base of its segments ; free portion of the filaments broad, very short, united into a short annulus ; anthers large, linear, subsagittate. Ovary occupying the corolla-tube, surrounded by the filaments, covered with toothed scales, after fecundation becoming exserted. Style subulate, rather long, minutely 3-toothed at the apex. Fiiiit "I incli long, obovoid, mucronate, with greenish, brown- margined scales. Seed with a large excavation superiorly, filled 212 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL MIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. with a brown, cellular substance ; albumen hornj-, ruminate. Embrj'o obconical, ventral. Habitat. — Burma, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. rLECTOCOMIA, Mart, and Bl. Sclmlt. Syst. VII, 2, 1333. (From the Greek " Plectos, " plaited, and " come," hair.) Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 198, 325, t. 114, 116, Fig. 11, 12. ; Bl. Humph. Ill, 68. 1. 158, 159, 163 ; Kunth Enum. PL HI, 202. ; Griff. Palms Brit. Ind. 103, app. 20, t. 217-219. ; Bot. Mag. t. 5105. ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. III. 78. suppl. 592. ; Kiirz. For. Fl. II, 514. ; Walp. Ann. Ill, 474. ; Wendl. Bot Zeitg. 1859, 165. ; T. Anders. Journ. Linn. Soc. XI, ]] ; Benth. and Hook. Gen. PI. Ill, II, 9.34, 107. ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 477. Scandent, monocarpic, spinous palms ; stem verj^ long. Leaves flagelliferous ; leaflets linear-lanceolate. Spadix simply branched ; branches very long, pendulous, clothed with closely imbricating distichous, inflated, coriaceous, persistent spathes which conceal the spicate, dioecious flowers. Spikelets short, male many-flowered, female shorter, few-flowered ; bracts and bracteoles subulate. Male flowers : Calyx cupular, 3-toothed, petals lanceolate, valvate ; stamens 6-12, filaments cuneate below, anthers linear. Female flowers larger, perianth accrescent; corolla 3-fid, lobes valvate ; staminodes 6. Ovary 3-celled ; ovules basilar. Fruit globose, 1-, rarely 3-seeded, beaked; pericarp thin, tessellated, with reflexed shining scales. Seed erect ; albumen equable ; embryo basilar. Species 6 — Himalaj^an and Malayan. Ctdtivation in JSurope. — Very handsome stove plants and of easy cultivation. A compost of loam and peat, in about equal parts, is suitable. Freely propagated by suckers. PLECTOCOMIA KHASIYANA, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 106 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 106. t. 218 ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 199 ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 478.— P. Assamica, Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 1505 (excl. syn.). Stem 60-80 feet, as thick as the arm. Leaves 30 feet, including the flagellum ; leaflets 8-16 inches long, 2-3 inches broad, broadly lanceolate, strongly 3-ribbed. finely furfuraceous beneath tip, not filiferous ; rhachis armed beneath with very short digitate spines. Male spadix branched from the base ; branches 3 feet long by 2 feet across the spathels, which are 1^ inch long, oblong, white, with broad, green, acute or acuminate tips and a broad, brown, interposed band (fig. 3). Spikelets 1-incli, many-flowered ; petals ^ inch long, elongate- lanceolate ; stamens 8-12. Female spadix: Spathes of the peduncle with erect, oblong-lanceolate limbs ; flower- bearing branches 1-2 feet long, secund, pendulous ; spathes at the base half amplectent, rather distant, distichous, and laxly imbricated ; outline obovate, towards the apex broadlj^ obcuneate, margins below this part incurved ; spikes concealed by the spathes, furfuraceous, THE VALM^ OF /iRiriSIl INDIA AM) CEYLON 213 3 or 7-flo\vtM-o(l ; Jlowers distichous, large ; calyx ilat, small, divided almost to the base into o triaiigidar, mucronate, smooth teeth ; c^orolla divided almost to the base into 3 ascending, lanceolate, acuminate segments, 4-44 lines long ; staminodes 6 ; ovary broadly globose, covered with exceedingly numerous, shortish, very iimbriate scales with multifid points, 3-celled ; style* very short, stout, with 3 stout, subiilate, spreading branches as long as the petals, channelled and stigmatie on their inner faces. Fig. 2— Upper row : Plectocomia khas'iyanri,. Left: Scales of fruit much masjnified. Middle : Section of seed, natural size. Rig'ht : Seed enclosed in the tlesh, natural size Lower row : Plectocomia assamica. Left : Section of seed. Middle: Seed. Rig'ht : Scale of fruit (after Martius). Fruit 1-1^ inch in diameter, globose, abruptly beaked, surrounded at the base by the calyx, and corolla now flattened out, dark brown ; scales veiy numerous, rather small, either nearly smooth, or with ciliate margins and recurved, split, fimbriate points. Seed covered with a rather thick, brown, cellular, spongy substance ; albumen solid, horny; embrvo basilar (fig. 2). Habitat.— Khasia Hills, 4-5,000 feet. PLECTOCOMIA HIMALAYAN A, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 100; Palms Brit. Ind. 108, t. 219; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 199 ; T. Anders, in Journ. Linn. Soc. XI, 12; Hooker FL Brit. Ind. VI, 478.— P. montana, Herb. Ind. Or. Hook f. «.t Th. 214 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Tol. XXV. Names. — Takri Bet (Nep.) ; Raiml (Lepclia) ; Rattan Palm (Engl.). Stem 1 inch in diameter. Leaves 6-8 feet long, including the flagellum ; leaflets 12-16 inches long, \-l\ inch broad, alternate, linear-lanceolate, very acuminate, narrowed into filiform tips, 2-3 inches long, with five pi'ominent veins on the upper surface, margins with short, sub-appressed spinescent teeth ; rhachis scurfy ; the pinniferous part of the petiole armed below with stout, hooked prickles, confluent at the base ; prickles in increased number on the flagellum ; petiole unarmed or margins spiny ; sheath tubular, scurfy ; spines whorled. Spadices erect ; branches 2-3 feet long, covered with rust coloured tomentum ; spathes almost stem-clasping, conduplicate, coriaceous-scarious ; spathels 1-2 inches long, rhomboid, acute ; spikelets o-7-flowered, scurfy, tomentose. Male flowers supported by 3 narrow, bristle-pointed, scarious bracts, sub-distichous ; calyx cupular, with 3 short, rounded teeth ending in bristles ; petals :^ inch long, ovate-lanceolate. Stamens 6, united at the base into a short cup ; filaments stoutish, subulate ; anthers large, linear-oblong, obtusely sagittate. Female flowers ? Fruit \ inch in diameter, depressed -globose ; scales very small, fimbriate, tips appressed. Habitat. — Sub-Himalayan ranges about Darjeeling, 4-7,000 feet, common. * PLECTOCOMIA MACROSTACHYA, Kurz. in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. XLIII, II, 207, t. 16, 17 ; For. Fl. II, 514 ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 478 ; Brandis Ind. Trees, 650. Name. — Kyeinbam (Burm.). An evergreen lofty climber, all parts glabrous. Leaves pinnate, the petiole and rhachis spiny, spines straight, up to ^ inch long ; leaflets (median ones) somewhat approximate by pairs, linearlanceolate, -^-2 feet long, long-acuminate, white-powdery beneath, 3-ribbed, 2 of the ribs marginal, coriaceous, but rather flaccid. Branches of male spadix 4-5 feet long, pendulous, closely covered with broadly obovate distichous imbricating spathels, brown with black border, in the axils of which are the spikelets, shorter than bracts with alternate, distichous flowers. Male flowers : calyx wide, cup-shaped, about 1 line deep, shortly 3-toothed, the teeth acute, bordered, especially in their sinuses, by a dense, brown, wooll}^ tomentum ; petals rigid, falcate, lanceolate, sharply acuminate, about ^ inch long or somewhat longer, sulcate outside; stamens 6, Drupes |-1 in diameter. o E-t o o 03 El •«! >< <: c o oq « o « a o o o Oi JoURN. Bomhay Nat Hist. Soc. I'r.ATK CII. ricctocomin elongata. Mart. THE PALMS OF liinriSH INDIA AND CEYLON. 215 Habitat — Tenasserim : Bithoko rr^nge, between the \'unzaliu and the Salween at Great Rapids, 3,000 feet elevation. PLECrOCOMIA ASSAMICA, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 07, Palms Brit. lud. 107, t. 218, a; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 199, t. 17G f. 11. Leaves very large; leaflets 18-24 inches long, 2-2^ inches; broad, white, finely furfuraceous beneath, tip not thread-like, ribs slender, lateral ribs marginal; petiole 1^ inch broad, with short, stout, marginal spines and short, seriate, scattered clusters of more slender, dorsal ones. Branches of fruiting spadix 4-5 feet long b}^ 4-5 inches across the large, subacute, nearly glabrous spathels, scurfy, rhachis rusty tomentose ; spathels 2|-inches long. Spikelets 8-10-flowered. Male calyx cupular, 3-toothed, sepals broadly ovate, ^ inch long, petals lanceolate, ^-^ inch long. Fruiting sepals broadlj' ovate, ^ inch long ; petals lanceolate, ^ inch long. Fruit, when dr^-, of a rich ferruginous brown colour, about 1 inch in diameter, surrounded at the base by calyx and corolla, terminated by a style tripartite almost to the base with subulate connivent branches, one-celled, very villous from the highly ciliate, fimbriate, split, recurved points of the scales. Albumen cartilaginous, solid, its tissue radiating from the centre ; embryo basilar (see fig. 2). Habitat. — Upper Assam. Illustration. — The tuft of Pledocomia assaniica represented on PL CI grows in the Bot. Gard. of Sibpur. We have to thank Major Gage for the photograph. PLECTOCOMIA ELOXGATA, Mart, in Roem. & Sch. Svst. VII. 1333, Hist. Nat, Palm. 199, t. 114 and 116, f. 1 ; Kunth Enum. Ill, 202 ; Blume Rumphia, III, 68, t. lo8 and 163 A; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 479.— C. maaimus, Reinw., ex Blnme Cat. Hort. Bogon. 59. Leaves very large; petiole short; leaflets 1-]^ foot long, 2 inches broad, rather membranous, sparsely white furfuraceous beneath, tip not filiferous, costas 3, very slender, lateral costa) marginal. Branches of spadix 3-4 feet long, 2-3 inches across the spreading spathels (fig. 3). Spathels 1^ inch long, sub-3-lobed, acute, glabrous. Flowers very small ; cah^x of male minute, 3-toothed ; petals \ inch long, obliquely oblong-ovate, acute. Cal3'x of female larger, nrceolate, 3-toothed, ijetals small, linear-lanceolate. Fruit 1 inch in diameter, densely villous from the long lacerate spreading tips of the scales. Habitat. — Penang, Sumatra, Java. Illustration. — Mrs. Burkill was kind enough to take a photo- graph of the specimen of Pledocomia elongata which grows in the Bot. Gard. of Singapore (Plate CII). 216 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXf. CALAMUS, L. Gen. PI. ed. 17G4, 173, No. 436. (From the Greek " Calamos, " a reed or cane). Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm, 111,207, 331, t. 112, etc.; Gtertn. Fruct. II, t. 139 ; Bl. S-Kumph. Ill, 28, t. 146, 154, 163.; Griff. |Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. (1,26; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 103, 719.; Kurz For. Fl. II, 515.; Benth. Fl. Austr. VII, 134.; Wendl. Bot. Zeitg. 1859, 158; Drude Bot. Zeitg. 1877,637; T. Anders. Journ. Linn. Soc. XI, 8.; Luers. Botan. II, 381.; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 436;Becc. in Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. XI, 61. A ;i\. i c.\ Fig, 8— Left : Tip of female spike of spadix of PIcctocomia elcmgata. Rif^ht : Tip of sjiike of PIcctocomia Icliasiyana. Perennial, armed, tufted pahns, rarely erect, usually climbing means of hooked spines on the rhachis of the leaves, or by whip- THE PALMS 01' BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 217 like spinous prolonS OF [ililTISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 221 Group II. — Leaflets lunnerous, elongate. Priraaiy spathes elongate-tubular, more or less lacerate in their upper part. Fruit- ing perianth explanate. Involucrophorum short, not pedicelliforni. Seed (wiiere known) witli equable albumen and basilar embryo : a. Spikelets not inserted at the bottom of their respective spathes and therefor not or very shortly pedicellate : * Kot scandent. Spadix not flagelliform, and armed only with straight spines. 3. C. arboresceus. ** Scandent. Spadix flagelliform, clawed on the axial parts between the partial inflorescences. 4. 0. longisetus. 5. C. thiuaitesii. 6. C. leptospadix. Ii. Spikelets inserted at the bottom of their respective spathes and provided with a distinct pedicellar jDart. 7. C. dilacerahis. Group III. — Leaflets very few, pinnate, digitate or radiate. Primary spathes very narrow and elongate-cylindric, very closely sheathing. Leaf-sheaths flagelliferous. Spadices (male and female) simply decompound^ very slender and flagelliform ; partial inflore- scences and spikelets inserted at the mouth of their respective spathes (not with a pedicellar part). Fruiting perianth explanate. Involucrophorum not pedicelliforni. Seed with ecjuable albumen and basilar embryo. 8. C. pachystemonus. 9. C. dujitat'us. 10. G. radiat'us. Group IV. — Leaves pinnate. Leaf-sheaths provided in the scan- dent species (when not bearing spadices) with a long-clawed flagel- lum ; in the non-scandent species the flagellum rudimentary or none. Primary spathes very elongate-tubular, closely sheathing, sometimes split longitudinally in their upper part, but never entirely opened longitudinally and laminar. Spikelets inserted at the mouth of theii" respective spathes. Involucrophorum not pedicelliforni. Seed (where known) not ruminate ; embrj^o basilar. a. Fruiting perianth (where known) explanate or subcal- lous at the base, not or slightly pedicelliforni. f Leaves pinnate with few often broad-lanceolate or elliptic or more rarel}' elongate, 3-5-costulate leaflets, all the costse reaching the apex. * The two terminal leaflets highly connate. Li. C . jloribund'us . ** The two terminal leaflets free at the base. 12. C. kingianus. 222 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. If Leaves with numerous leaflets, these narrow, often fascicled, usually gradually decreasing towards the apex, the two of the terminal pair the smallest and free at the base. * Fruiting perianth entirely explanate. 13. C. viminalis. 14. G. concinnus. 15. C. rivalis. 16. G. fseudo-rivalis. 17. G. metzianus. 18. G. ijseudo-temds. *■* Fruiting perianth slightly callous at the base and more or less pedicelliform. 20. G. delicatulus. 21. G. helferianus. 22. G. vicobaric'us. h. Fruiting perianth distinctly pedicelliform. * Leaflets numerous, narrow, equidistant, gradually becoming smaller towards the apex of the leaf. 23. G. tenuis. 24. G. rotang. 25. G. delessertianus. ** Leaflets not very numerous, and distinctly fascicled. 26. G. Brandisii. *** Leaflets more or less inequidistant, but not fascicled, many-nerved. 27. G. acantliosioatlius. 28. G.feamts. Group V. — Leaflets elongate. Primary spathes very long, tubular and closed at first, later longitudinally split and open, loriform or laminar. Involucrophorum not pedicellate. Seed (where known) not alveolate, with equable albumen. 29. G. guruba. 30. G. nitvpus. 31. G. plaiyspathus. 32. C. myriantlitis . 33. G. hypoleucus. 34. G. leucotes. Group VI. — Leaflets elongate. Leaf-sheaths flagelliferous. Pri- mary spathes at first tubular, later more or less split longitudinally and partly laminar. Involucrophorum distinctly pedicellate. Fruit- ing perianth pedicelliform. 35. G. tr av anconeus . 36. G. rheedei. Group VII. — Leaflets elongate. Leaf-sheaths flagelliferous. Pri- mary spathes tubular, strictly sheathing, not split or lacerate. In- THE PALMfS OF BlUTISH INDIA AND CEYLOS. 223 vohiorophonini distinctly pedicellato. Fruiting perianth pedicel- litorni. Seed with deeply ruminate albumen. 37. C. ImetjeUanas. 38. C. (jaml'lei. Group VIII. — Leaflets elongate and narrow. Leaf-sheaths flagelliferous. Primary spathes strictly sheathing. Involucropho- rum in the female spikelets not pedicelliform. Fruiting perianth pedicelliform. Seed deeply ruminated. 39. G. (jracilis. 40. C. melanacanthus. B. — Leaves distinctly cikriferous. Group IX. — Leaf-sheaths not flagelliferous. Spadix not flagelli- ferous at its apex, usually shorter than the leaves. Primary ftpathes elongate-tubular, closely sheathing. Male spadix ultra-decompound. Female spadix simply decompound, differing considerably from the male one. Male and female spikelets stalked or inserted at the base of their respective spathes by means of a distinct pedicel. Fruiting perianth explanate. Seed with ruminate or equable albumen. 41. C. zeylanicus. 42. C. ovoideus. 43. C andamanicus. Group X. — Leaf-sheaths not flagelliferous. Spadices usually shorter than the leaves, not or slightly flagelliferous at the apex. Spikelets not stalked, inserted near the mouth of their respective spathes. Fruiting perianth pedicelliform or almost explanate. Seed vfiih. more or less superficial intrusions of the integument or distinctly ruminate ; embryo basilar or slightly shifted to one side. 44. C. palustris. 45. C. latifolius. 46. C. doricei. 47. C. polydesmus. 48. C. Jchasianus. 49. C. naonhariensis. 50. C. inermis. 51. C. un'ifaritis. 1. CALAMUS ERECTVS, Roxb. Fl. Ind. Ill, 774 ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, IIH. ; Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 35, and Palms Brit. Ind. 43, PI. CXC, A. f. i. (as C. acanthospatkus) ; Kurz in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. XLIII, PI. 2,209, PI. XXIII and XIV (excl. C. lonf/isetus, Griff.), and For. Fl. Brit. Bur. II, 516, and Rep. Veg. Pegu 90 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 439 (excl. C. schizospathus) ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 197, and Ann. Roy. Bot. Gar.. Calcutta, XI, 121. — C. macrocarpus, Griff, in Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 333, t. 176, f. X, et t. ZXVIII, f. XXIV ; Griff. Palms Brit. Ind. 40, PI. CLXXXVI, A. f. I-II. — C. erectus macrocarpus, Becc. in Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 439.— C. coUinus, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 31, and Palms Brit. Ind. 39 {excl. descr. fol.) t. CLXXXV (spadix tantum) ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm III, 332. — C. erectus, var. collina Becc. in Hook, f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 439. '■2'-2^ JOURNAL, BOyiBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCLETY, Vol. XXV. Names. — Kadam bet (Beng.), Thaing (Burm,), Sun-gutta (in Sylhet). Description. — Stem erect, robust, with a crown of large leaves. Ochrea very large, divided into two large hispid auricles. Leaves 3-5 m. long. Leaflets very numerous, equidistant, elongate-ensiform, green on both surfaces, mid-rib sparingly bristl)^, secondary nerves naked on both surfaces. Leaf-rhachis armed beneath with long straight spines. Spadix not very shortly flagelliferous at its apex (fig. 6). Primary spathes loosely sheathing, speedily lacerated Fig. G. — Calamus erecUiS- 1. Outline of riprht hand figure to show the relative position of the spathels {h) and of involucre (6). The dotted line completes that portion of the margin of the spathel which is not seen in the right hand figure. 2. Portion of a male spikelet in longitudinal section. The involucres {h) are half immersed in the spathels {k). In the upper part is the calyx ((/) of two flowers still attached to their involucre- ' Enlarged 0 diam. (From Beccari). ■/'///; I'.iL.ys OF mil I'lSiH jMfj.i .imj cj-vloa. ami luarcesceiit. Fr. o-l i;ni, loii^' ellipsoid. Seed oblong or ovoid, circular in transverse section, h^mbrj^o basilar, eccenti-ic (iig. 7). Fl(;. 7. — Calamus eiectus. Left : Top part of branch of spailix. Right : Part of fruiting- spadix with one fruit (After Griffith). Habitat. — Sjdhet, Kliasia Hills, Upper Assam, Chittagong. Uses. — In Sj'lhet the poorer natives use the seeds as a substitute for that of Areca (Roxb.). CALAMUS ERECTUS, Roxb. var. schizospathus, Becc. in Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc, XI, l!2.5. — C. schizospathus. Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 32 ; Pabns Brit. Ind. 41, PI. CLXXXVIT ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. IH, 3.3i' ; T. Anders, in Journ. Linn. See. XI (1869), 71 ; Gamble Man. Ind. Timb. 423 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind, II, 197. — C. erectus, Becc. (partim) in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 438. t^p Names. — Reem (Lepchas), Phekri bet (Sikkim). -I V< Description. — Leaflets with a secondary nerve on each side of the mid-rib, sparingly bristly beneath and sometimes also above. 3Iale flower with the calyx half (not almost entirely) projecting from the involucres. Habitat. — Sikkim. Uses. — According to Gamble the stem is about 5 cm. in diameter with hard wood and closely packed fibro-vascular bundles ; the canes, however, are useless. CALAMUS ERECTUS, Roxb. var. Urmannieus, Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 197, and Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 70 and 126. Description. — Female spadix more slender than in the type, produced into a rather long (75 cm.) flagelliform aculeate appendix. Fruit smaller. Habitat. — Burma, on the Karen mountains at 1,000 — 1,200 m. 2. CALAMUS FLAGELLUM, Griff, in Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 333, PI. 176, f. IX ; Palms Brit. Ind. 48 ; T. Anders, in Journ. Linn. Soc. 9 226 JOUBNAL, BOMBAY NATUJRAL MIST. ISOCIETY, Vol. XXV. XI (1869), 8 ; Gamble Man. Ind. Timb. 423 ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind, VI, 439 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surr. Ind. II, 197, and Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 70, 127.— C.jenkinsianus, Gritf. Palms Brit. Ind. 40, PL CLXXXVI A. f. iii (non pag. SQ').—C. pohjgamus. Roxb. Fl. Ind. Ill, 780.? Names. — Rabi Bet (Nepal). Reem (Lepchas), Nagagola Bet (Assam). Description. — Scandent and robust. Leaf-sheaths with very unequal never seriate spines. Ochrea marcescent. Leaf-sheath- flageila up to 6-7 m, long. Leaves very large. Leaflets numerous, equidistant, green on both surfaces, broadly ensiform, strongly unicostate ; the mid-rib with a few subspiny bristles, secondary nerves naked on both surfaces. Leaf-rhachis clawed on the back. Spadix elongate, flagelliform. Primary spathes tubular, closely sheathing, lacei'ated at apex. Fr. about 3 cm. long, broadly ovoid. Seed ovoid, circular in transverse section ; embryo basilar. Habitat. — N.-E, India, Assam, Khasia Hills, Eastern Bengal, Sikkim. Uses. — The fruit is edible (Hooker). The canes are soft and useless (Anders.). CALAMUS FLAGELLUM, Grifl'. var. karinensis, Becc. in Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 70, 129. Description. — Leaf-sheaths armed with very unequal spines, some being large and others small and seriate. Habitat. — Burma, Karen mountains at 1,200-1,400 m. 3. CALAMUS ARBORESCENS, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 33, and Palms Brit. Ind. 42, t. CLXXXVIII A. B. C ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 332; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 113; Kurz in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bang. XLIII, Pt. II, 208, t. XXII, and For. Fl Brit. Burm. II, 516. and Rep. Veg. Pegu (1875), 90 ; Gamble Man Ind. Timb. 423 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 439 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. iSurv. Ind. II, 198, and Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 70, 131. — C. hostilis, Hort. Calc. Names. — Thanoung, Danoung, Kyeubankven, Damon, Danoung Thain (Burm.). Description. — Csespitotse. Stem erect, robust, 4-6 m. high. Leaves large. Leaf-sheaths, petiole, and leaf-rhachis armed with large, laminar, almost black, shining, seriate spines. Leaflets equidistant, broadly ensiform, green above, white underneath. Male spadix elongate, pendulous. Primary spathes tubular, rather closely sheathing, lacerated and fibrous in their upper part, armed only with straight black spiculsB and never with hooked spines or claws. Secondary spathes clavate, sub-inflated and usually lacerated and blackened. Spikelets large with flatlj^ bifarious flowers. Habitat. — Pegu in Burma, common and gregarious in evergreen forests. 4. CALAMUS LONGISETUS, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist V, 36, and Palms Brit. Ind. 44, t. CLXXXiX A B.; Mart. Hist. Nat. t'alm. Ill, 333 ; Mif.t AXD CEYLON. 2l>9 7. CALAMr-S DILACERATUS, Beco. in Hoc. But. Surv. liul. 11, 198; Ann. Roy. But. (Jard. Calc. XI, 72, 141. Description.— Tufted, probably not scandent. Female spadix erect, paniculate. Primary spathes short, membranous, dry, lace- i-ate, armed with ihie black spicides ; secondary spathes tubular- infundibuHform, dry, thin in tcxtnre and mnch lai^erate. Female spikelets with a pedieellar portion 1-1^ cm. long. Fruiting perianth of 6 spreading, equal, lanceolate parts. Fr. small, ovate, 12 mm, long. Seed subglobose with an even surface. Habitat. — Nicobar Islands. 8. CALAMUS PACHYSTEMONUS.'n\^^^. Enum. PI. Zeyl. Addenda, 431 ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 422; Becc. in Kec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 201 ; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. 74, 16o. — C. f/racilis, Thw. 1. c. 330 {wm Roxb.). Trimen Fl. Ceyl. IV, 333. Description. — Stem slender, scandent ; sheaths sparingl}- tubercled and armed with small flattened pale spines. Leaves 1-2 feet long, pinnate, upper bifoliate; petiole short, slender; vhachis armed with solitary, stout, recurved spines, rhachis about 3-7 inches long, not flagelliferous ; leaflets 4-7, irregularly disposed, 5-12 inches long and -1-2^ inches broad, oval, subacute, or obtusely acciiminate, o-5-veined, margins and midrib beneath smooth, cross- venules distinct, upper pair sometimes connate with a spinous rhachis. Spathes funnel-shaped, truncate, cuspidate, armed with small prickles ; spathels and spathellules cupular or patelliform. Spadix very long, slender, decompound, branches few, spikes many, alternate, ^-^ inch long, crowded, scorpioidly recurved. J\[ale flowers in many series, ^ inch long, linear, curved ; calyx cupular, striate, lobes short, obtuse ; petals twice as long, linear- oblong, acute, striate, connate in a column at the base ; filaments thickened at the base, then sitbulate. tip not inflected. Fruit unknown. Habitat. — Ceylon. Moist low country below 1,000 feet, rare. Kukl, Korale, Kalutara, Galle. Flowers. — In November and December. 9. CALAMUS DIGIT ATUS, Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI. 442 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 201 ; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. 74, 166.— C. imchystemonus, Thw. Enum. PI. Zeyl. 431 {partini). Name. — Kukula-wel (Singh.). Description. — Stem very slender, scandent ; sheath not flagelliferous (?), copioiisly beset with long and short, strong, straight, flat spines and conical shorter ones, mouth with a rather large ochrea ; petiole 6-8 inches long, slender ; rhachis furfuraceous, unarmed, or with a few distant, recurved, large or small spines. Leaves diaitatelv 2-4-foliate; leaflets 8-12 inches long and 1-3 inches broad, oblanceolate, cuspidatel}^ acuminate. o-7- veined, base scurfy beneath, margins and veins smooth, upper pair 230 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATUEAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. sometimes confluent with a spinous rhachis for half their length. Lower spathe elongate, cylindric, unarmed, upper very slender, mouth truncate, entire, spadix very long, slender, decompound, very sparingly spinous, branches distant; spikes very many, i-l inch long, spathels short, patelliform, imbricate. Male flowers ^ inch long ; calyx tubular, striate, lobes short ; petals twice as long or more, narrow, straight or falcately curved; connate at the base ; filaments very short, conical, tip subulate, straight. Fr. seated on the slightly enlarged perianth, globose, ^ inch in diameter, pale yellow ; beak very small ; scales 6-7 in a vertical series, very broad with scarious brown margins and an obscure channel in the middle ; endosperm subruminate ; embryo basilar. Habitat. — Ceylon. Moist low country below 1,000 feet, rather rare. Reigaur and Pasdun Korales, Hiniduma, Galle. — Endemic. Flowers. — In March. 10. CALAMUS RADIATUS, Thw. Enum. PI. Zeyl. Addenda, 431 (1864) : Hooker f . Fl. Br. Ind. VI, 442 ; Trim. Fl. Ceyl. IV, 333 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 20; Ann. Roy. Bot. '^ard. Calc. XI, 75, 168. Name. — Kukula-wel (Singh.). Stem very slender, scandent : sheaths flagelliferous, densely armed with short acicular spines which are free or are connate below in transverse ridges mixed with long bristles, upper trans- versely rugose. Leaves radiately G-8-foliolate ; petiole 2-4 inches long ; rhachis rather slender, bearing small scattered recurved spines. Leaflets 8-12 inches long and f inch broad, linear acumi- nate, tiiin, 3-veined, midrib beneath and margins quite smooth. Spathes few, very long, clavatel}^ funnel-shaped, cuspidate. Spadix polygamo-dioecious, very long, slender, decompound, armed with small recurved spines ; primary branches 2-6, 2-3 feet long; spikes ^-f inch long, rather distant, reflexed, 3-15-flowered, naked. Spathels and spathellules cup-shaped. Male flo\\"ers: Calyx short, cylindric, striate ; petals much longer, connate below in a short tube; filaments conical, tip subulate, straight; pistillode oblong, 3-fid. Female flowers J^ inch long ; calyx cupular, lobes broad, acute, striate ; petals short, acute, striate. Fruit seated on the slightly enlarged perianth, globose. ^ inch in diameter, shortly beaked ; scales about 8 in a vertical series, broadly triangular, dull yellow with narrow red-brown entire margins, and an obscure median channel ; endosperm ruminate ; embryo basilar. Habitat. — Ceylon. Moist low country below 1,000 feet, rather common, Hiniduma, Hewesse, Kalutara. — Endemic. Flowers. — In February and March. (7'o he continued.) THE RAPTORES OF THE PUNJAiJ. [^ BY (.;. H. Donald, b\ Z. S. ( With 2 Plates.) The writer has beeu asked, frequently, to write a small pamphlet dealing with the Birds of Prey of the Punjab, in simple language, and in such a way, if possible, as will save the layman from wading through pages ot printed matter couched more or less in technical languoge, to arrive at the species of any particular specimen. in a Province, rich in llaptores, it is strange how very little is really known about them and since even a scanty knowledge of the birds and beasts around one, materially enhance the joys of camp life, manj^ more people would take up the subject, if it was possible to do so, without taking up too much of one's time. The Birds of Prey lend themselves particularly in this respect and considering the total number of species in the Province is under three score, it is by no means a comprehensive subject, and t do not think it is an exaggeration to state that quite 60 per centum of them can be recognised high up in the air, and very nearly the same percentage could be identified by touch alone, blindfolded, from skins of normal specimens, with a little practice. There are now numbers of books which make the study of our feathered friends a pleasure, but very few, unfortunately, do more than just touch on the Birds of Prey, and yet they amply repay a little trouble on their behalf. In this paper, it is not the intention of the writer to go into minute details, and colouring will not be described at all, except in a very general way, or where some species displays some peculiar characteristic in that respect, which is also a constant feature. Most Raptoi'es change their entire dress from the nestling to the adult stage and hence colouration is a broken reed to depend on. It will be seen from the keys appended that there are other and much more reliable factors than colouration to go on, for the identification of species. From the keys here given, it will be possible not only to place any given specimen in its proper genus, by merely looking at its legs, head, beak and wings but in about 90 per cent, of cases, to also name its species. There are some half a dozen species which will need a closer study of their characteristics than will be found in this paper, but since the search will then only be confined to one of two species in each case, it reduces one's work to a minimum. The actual details and measurements here given lay no claim to originality. They are all to be found in various books of reference, 232 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI . with one or two additions Avhich the writer has noted for himself, as rare exceptions, biit the method of bringing out the characteris- tics of a genns or species, is, I believe, original, and if not on scien- tific lines, it at least lays claim to simplification of identification, which is the chief object of this paper. The details of the keys in most cases have been taken from Blanford's Fatina of British India, Vol. 111., which cannot be im- proved upon and in the few instances in which the specimen to be identified is not discoverable by these keys, a further reference to the above mentioned Volume will dispel all doubt. I have already said that the Birds of Prey are but little known, as a general rule, and to give but a couple of instances will suflfice to show how easy it is to go wrong from descriptions, when colour is depended on too much. Not many years ago, the writer saw a very fine specimen of a Golden Eagle, in its first phniiage, in an up-to-date museum marked " Aquila heliaca, the Imperial Eagle'" and a legend beneath informed the visitor that " this bird some- times catches chikor" ! On another occasion a Golden Eagle in its transition stage of plumage was the innocent cause of a controvers}^ which lasted for several months, and the specimen was finally sent home for identi- fication. The reason for this is not far to seek. In its first plumage, the Golden Eagle is marked very like an Imperial Eagle in its adult plumage. Both are a ver}' deep brown, almost black generally, both have light brown or buff lanceolate feathers on the head and neck, both have a lot of white on the tail and a white patch in the centre of each wing and a large female imperial would be very nearly as big as a small male Golden. But here the similarity ends. To any person acquainted with the habits of the two birds, they are as the Poles apart. One is a mighty hunter with a very large and powerful foot and claws, an easy graceful flight during which he holds his wings well above his back and shows a large ex- panse of chest, whereas the other is nothing more or less than as Mr. Hume has very aptly called him, a " great hulking kite". He is no more capable of catching a chikor except a wounded or a tame bird, than is the Lammergeyer capable of pulling down an ibex or a " ghoorel", as he has been accredited with doing in all seriousness. One look at the comparatively weak foot and small talons precludes any such possibilit3\ In flight the true Eagles, with the exception of the Golden Eagle, very much resemble the Vultures, except that they appear very much lighter on the \Aing and show a little more tail, protruding beyond the line of the wing. As a rule when the Vultures are soaring, their wings appear to be broader tban the Eagles and the tail when spread, as it frequently is, forms almost a continuous line with the edges of the wings. I say almost a line, as it is not exactly a continuous one and it looks 9i ■r. c 0) :<-i ii i- b i<^ O ^- i! r ^ S 5 a S e4 O C * • Ch -*-* ■A OJ C3 O ^ o rt ;; oj 0^ o c c 4. ei ^2c ^ tH n S . ■"* ^ 4_i a 01 f aj rt o :4-i 4J c -^ Qh 4^ S P S a H rrr « ^< 0; P ?3 3 ^ pq P^ fa 0 0 cc xi W -A PQ 1-^ 0 ^ H Pli oj P3 pa W H y o e ^ z E 0 ■ c 3 0 THi: llArKUiES OF TILE PUNJAB. 23:'. as tliongli a small piece had been cut out on either side, where thn tail feathers touch the tertiary wini^" quills, and the tail itself jirojects just the least bit beyond the line ot" the wiuos. I will endeavour to show the difTerence between the flights of" the various genera later on in this paper. It is not too much to say that it is very often easier to identify a bird on the wing than it is, at a casiial glance, in the hand. The nomenclature in every case is the same as that given in the Fauna of Br. India (Blanford) but I have sub-divided the Families and Sub-Families into " Types " and have changed the sequence of the genera as giveii in ihe above book, to suit the purposes of my " Types."' To give an example as to how the ke}s are worked, let us imagine we have got a specimen of some large llaptores which we wish to identify. Look at the following points : — A. Has it got feathei's on its head and neck or only down? Feathers, well it cannot be a A'ulture, so we can leave out of count Type " C." B. Examine next its legs ; has it got a feathered tarsus, i.e., does the feathering extend to the base of the toes, back and front ? It does, so the specimen must come under Type "'D," therefore it must be either a true Eagle, a Lammergeyer, or Hawk Eagle, but which ? Next you look at the wing. Fold the wings against the body in the same waj* as the bird would naturall}^ have them when sitting down and see if the longest primary quills reach to Avithin an inch or less of the tip of the tail. You find they do and that the hind q\i\\\ (without the toe) is the longest claA\', so you straight away eliminate all the Hawk-Eagles and know that your specimen must be a true Eagle and belong to the genus A'piila. You have thus got rid of 24 genera and some 50 species and have now onl}- got 5 species to go through and that will be found as simple as arriving at the genus, and jow proceed as follows : — .1 . Look at the nostril and see whether it is elliptical or ear- shaped and higher than broad, or if it is round and as broad as high. You find it to be distinctly elliptical and higher than it is broad, so it cannot be that of ^. macukda. II. You next measure the length of its tarsus and find it to be just 4" so you know that it cannot be either an Imperial (A. heliaca) or a Tawny (/I. vindhiaud) and must be either a Golden (A. chri/saehis) or a Steppe Eagle (A. hifasciata) . (.'. Having arrived at this conclusion you next look at its foot and claws. A huge foot, in which the claws are capable of meeting round your wrist, and the hind clav.- well over 10 234 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV 2" in length, round the curve, dispels all further doubt and you know j^^our specimen is undoubtedly a Golden Eagle. After a very little practice it will not be necessary to go through the process of elimination and the specimen will be placed in its proper genus at the first glance. In the above example it will be seen that the specimen selected is of a Type that contained other genera with very similar characteristics, so we will try another and a simpler one. A very large bird, with tarsi feathered and a heardj of stiff bristles depending from the chin. Straight off you have the genus Gypaetus and since there is only one species representing this genus, your specimen is Gypaetus harhattis, the Lammergeyer. By placing all the different genera with a common characteristic into one Type, it reduces one's search from some 55 to 14 species, by merely looking at the head, feet or beak, as the largest Type, viz. : — " G," has 14 species, whereas o have only one species each, and having found your Type you know exactly how many genera and species have been automatically eliminated and how many remain. I now proceed to give the keys for, (a) the Types and (h) for the genera and species. THE BIRDS OF PREY DIVIDED INTO '• TYPES." ORDER ACCIPITRES. Families . . Sub Families Types PaNDIONID^, VuLTURIDi?5, FaLCONID^. Gifpaetince, Falconince. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. Geneka and Species. Type A. . . (ienus Pandion r VULTUE Otogyps Type B. . . Genera J Gyps PSEUDOGYPS Neophron Species P. halicetus, The Osprey. ,, V. monachus, The Cinereous Vulture. ,, O. calvus, The Black Vulture. { G. f ulcus, The Griffon Vul- ture. G. himalayensis, The Hima- layan Griffon. ■{ G. indicus, The Indian Long- billed Vulture. G. tenuiroNtrix, Himalayan Long-billed Vulture. J*, benijaleiisis, Indian White- backed Vulture. N. (jinyinianus, Smaller White ►scavenger Vulture. N, percnopteruK, Large White Scavenger Vulture. THE liArrORES OF THE PUNJAB. 286 Type C. ..Genus Gypabtus Species. AguiLA Type D. . . (jlenera .^ HiERAETUS ICTINAETUR Spizartus Type E. Type F. . Geniis Archibuteo (" Elanu.s MiLVUS Haliastur .Genera { Pernis BUTEO fClRCAETU.S Spilorni.s bctastur Type G. . .Genera ■< Haliaetus polioaetds CiRCU.S G. barbatus, The Lammcr- goyer. A. chnjsaetus Eagle. A. heliaca, Tho Golden The Imperial Eagle. A. bifasciata, Eagle. The Steppe A vindhiana, Eagle. The Tawny I A. mactdata. The Large L Spotted Eagle. f H. fasciatus, The Bonelli's \ Eagle. J H. pennatus, The Booted ( Eagle. /. malayensis, The Black Eagle. t S. limnaetus, The Changeable J Hawk-Eagle, "i 6". nepalensis, Hodgson's (^ Hawk-Eagle. A. hemiptilopus, Himalayan Rough-legged Buzzard. E. coeiuleus, The Black- winged Kite, f M. govinda, Common Pariah j Kite. -( M. melanotic, The Large I Indian Kite. yM. migrans. The Black Kite. H. zw^M.s, The Brahminy Kite. P. cristatus, The Crested Ho- ney Buzzard. f B. fero.r, The Long-legged Buzzard. B. ieucocephalus, The Upland ; Buzzard. ! B. desertorum, The Common I. Buzzard. > c. » I? d. M )> e. !' • . f. >' )» g- *1 ;» Ty)>e. Genus. A. Pandiok B. Gypaetu.s <-'. VULTUK ,, Otogyps .. (iVPS ,, PsEUDOGYPU ,, Neophron D. Aquila ,, HiEKAETUS. „ loTINAETUS. ,, Spizaetu.s . Size. Charactcristicti . . Medium . . The same as for the Type. . .Very large . . The same as for the Type. ,, . . a. Nostril round ; b. tail of I'l feathers. ,, . . a. and b. As for Vultur ; c. fleshy wattle on each side of the neck. „ . . a. Nostril a narrow vertical slit ; b. tail of 14 feathers. s . . „ . . a. As for Gi/2)s ; b. tail of 12 feathers. . .Medium . . a. Nostril a narrow horizontal slit. Large to medium d. Primaries exceeding secondaries by more than length of tarsus ; e. claws much curved, hind claw longest ; f . primaries reaching to the tip of tail in closed wing, or very nearly. ,, . . d. and e. As for Aquila ; f . primaries not reaching to within a couple of inches of tip of tail. .Large . . d. As for Aquila ; e. claws but little curvedj inner longer than hind claw. .Medium . . d. Primaries exceeding the secondaries bj'^ less than length of tarsus ; e. as for Aquila ; f. primaries only reaching to just over half way down the tail in closed wing ; g. an occipital crest pre- sent. 238 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV Type. Genus. Specias. E. Archiboteo. .Large F. Elanus ..Very small „ MiLvus . . Medium ,, Haliabtuk ,, BUTEO „ Pernis Ci. Haliaetos ,, POLIOABTUS Large Medium „ CiKGABTUs ..Large „ Spilornis . . Medium „ Butastur . . Small Circus . Medium 75" to 3 75" in length, ,. AsTUK . . Medium to small „ AcciPiTEK . . Small H. Falco . . Medium to small q „ iEsALON ..Small ,.q „ TiNNtJNOULU.S. . Characteristics. The same as for the Type. h. Tarsus very short, under 1^" in length. h. Tarsus over 2", scutellated in front, not behind ; i. tail forked ; j. colour dark brown. h. As for Milviis; i. tail rounded; j. colour in adults maroon above, white below. h. Tarsus from 2 with transverse shields behind. k. Bill compressed and weak ; 1. lores and sides of h^ad covered with small scale like feathers. h. Tarsus with some scutellse broader than high, over 4" in length ; m. claws grooved beneath. h. As for Haliae'u^, but under 4"; m. claws rounded beneath, outer toe partially"- reversible. h. Tarsus reticulated throughout, no scutelliB broader than high ; n. no crest. h. As for Circaetus ; n. broad nuchal crest-.. h. Scales in front of tarsus larger than those behind, iiot scutellated behind. Those in front practically the same size from base of tarsus to near the base of mid-toe and not diminishing in size gradually, o. irides white in adults. h. Tarsus with transverse shields in front and smaller polygonal scales be- hind. The scales in front largest near the top end and rliminishing in size lower down, where they become gradu- ally absorbed in the reticulation near base of mid- toe. o. irides yellow or light brovvn. h. Tarsus scutellated beh-nd and in front : p. bill from gape ^/3rd to f of mid-toe without claw. h. As for Aatur ; p. bill from gape about ^ mid-toe without claw. 2nd quill longest, 1st much longer than 4th ; i. tail rounded ; r. upper plumage grey or brown, q. 2ik1 and 3rd quills longest and sub- equal, 1st and 4th, also subequal. i. Tiil graduated, a di'ference of IV'to 2' between the middle pair and outer tail feathers a broad dark band on end of tail, the cKtreme tip white; r. upper plumage reddish. THE RAPTOIIES OF THE PUNJAB. i39 Key to the Specie^' of the Bapiores. Type. Genus. Species. Cha A. Pandion . . P. hatia'etus . As for genus. C. Gypaetus . . G. barbatus . As for genus. ■ VULTUR . . V. vionachuK . As for genus. Otooyps . . 0. calvus . As for genus. Gyps . .G. f ulcus . a. Larger, win Characteristics. 15. Nbophkon Aquila D. ^ HiERAETUS )> .. ictinaeius Spizaetus L Archibuteo E. Elan us f MiLVUS F. ^ Haliastur Fekni.s BUXEO . G. himalayensi!' . G. indicus . G. tenuirostris . N. (/inginianus . N. percnopterus A. chrysa'etus . A. heliaca .A. bifasciata . . a .A. vindhiana . . a, . A. maculata , H. fascia fits . If. pennatus . I. malayensis . S. limnaetus .S. nepalensis A. hcmiptilopus . E. cceruleus . M. yooinda primary longest ; lower plumage with narrow shaft stripes. a. As for G. /ulcus; b. 4th pri- mary longest; lower plumage with hroad shaft stripes, a. Smaller, wing 22-25'5" ; b. crown of head with scattered hairs, a. As for G. indicus ; b. crown of head naked, a. till yellow in adults; length about -24". a. Bill dark horny at all ages, length about 26 inches, a. Nostril elliptical, higher than broad ; b. tarsus 4'' in length ; c. hind claw over '2h". a. As for A. chiysaetus; b, tarsus under 4"— 3-5" to 3-85". a. and b. As for A. chrysaetus ; c. hind claw well under 'J'. As for A. chrysa'etus ; b. tarsus 2-75" to 3-25". Nostril round Much larger Smaller, wing 14-16^" . As for genus. . a. Feathering of tarsus does not extend to division oi toes ; b. crest rudimentary. . a. Feathering of tarsus extends to basal portion of mid-toe ; b. crest 3' to 4". . As for genus. a. a. a. as broad as high, wing 19-21". As for genus. or rufous with in adults ; b. , M, melanotis M. migrans (rare) R. indus . P. cristatus . B. fcro.i: I a. Head tawny black streaks length 24" or under, a. As for M. yocinda ; b. length about 25" or over, a. Head whitish with black streaks ; b. length about 23". As for genus. As for genus. a. Wing over 16"; b. tarsus half feathered, naked part in front scutellate. 240 JOURNAL, BOMBAY XATURAL HIST. .SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Type. Gpnv.s, BUTEO Species. Characteristics. F. ClRC^TUS Spilornis butastur Haliaetus G. -I Circus ASXUR ACCIPITEK f Fal<;o H. .) 2/3rd front , B. desertorum C. gallicus , S. cheela B. teesa . H. leuconjphus PoLiOAETUS . . P. ichthijaetufi B. leucucepludux . . a. Wing over 16" ; b. tarsus feathered, naked part in reticulated. a. Wing under 16". As for genus. As for genus. As for genus. a. Tarsus 4"-4-2"; b. tail about 12", rounded, the outer feathers not much shorter than middle pair, white band across it, about 3" from the end ; c. feet dirty white. a. Tarsus 4/3"; b. tail about 13", wedge shaped, middle feathers considerably longer than the outer pair, white except at the extreme tip ; c. feet yellow. Basal f of all tail feathers white, in adults, mottled in young ; b. length about 27"-29", tarsus 3-7." Middle tail feathers brown . li. albicillu a. . P. humilis . C. macrurus . C cijaneus . C. eeruginosus .A. palumbarius . A. badius .A. nisus . A. virgatus . F. peregrinus throughout ; b . length about 1\ peregrinator F. bnrbarun , a. Outer web of 2nd, 3rd and 4th primaries notched but not of oth ; b. wing 14i-" ; tarsus under 3". a. Outer web of ."ith quill notched; wing under 15", tarsus about 3" a. b. Wing over 1()" and tarsus 3V' about, a. Size large, wing 12" to lo". a. Size small, wing 7" to 9". a. No gular stripe, 5 or 6 dark bars, one terminal, on 4th quill in adults, a. Generally a dark gular stripe ; 7 or 8 bars on 4th (juill in adults, a. Length 16" to 19" ; b. 1st pri- mary longer than the 3rd ; c. cheek stripe broader than the eye, no nuchal collar ; d. crown dark grey, breast very slightly rufous, a. Length 15" to 18" ; b. and c. as for above ; d. crown blackish. breast generally deep rufous, a. Length 15" to 1 7" ; b. as for ab<»ve ; c. cheek stripe narrow, a bufl' nuchal collar, head ashy grey or rufous. THE RAPTORES OF THE PUNJAB. U\ Tj/pe, Genus. Species. Fa lco. . . F. juffffer. H. < ^SALON . . F. chenu;/ . . F. miloipes . . F. siihhuteo , . F. sevenis . .A. regulus „ . .A. chiqiicra TiNNUNCULUS. . T. alaudanus Characteristics. a. 16" to 18" length ; b. 1st pri- mary suboqual to 3rd or short- er; adults not banded above; c. A distinct narrow ohoek- stripe, middle tail feathers outiroly brown in adults. a. Length 195" to 22" ; b. as in F. jufjger ; c. no cheek-stripe, middle tail feathers usually brown, with white spots on both webs. a. Length 20" to 23" ; b. as for F. jugr/er, adults banded with rufous on back, wings and tail. a. Smaller, length under 13" ; breast white or buff with brown streaks. a. As for F. suhbuteo ; d. breast deep rufous, spotted in adults. a. Crown grey or brown dark- shafted. a. Crown chestnut. As for genus. Hov to Icnom the Raptores on the Wing. As I have already stated, most of the Birds of Prey can be as easily re- cognised on the wing, at a long distance oft", as they can from specimens in the hand, but it is not so easy to describe what one can see for one's self, and in many cases, the diSerence is so very slight that it would be impossible to put it into words. I will not attempt to describe the very subtle distinctions between some species of the same genus, but they are there all the same and to a man who is accustomed to watching birds on the wing, they are plain enough. I had an old falconer who could differentiate at a glance between the various falcons and between the male of a sparrow-hawk and a female Shikra. I was very sceptical at first as I could not see any difterence between the two, until I went out of my way to catch the hawk regarding which I was doubtful, two or three times, and found him right every time. This degree of efliciency can only be acquired by long practice, and most men will be more than satisfied if they can get the length of recognising the majority of birds one comes across during a day's ramble, or see circling round their station. Though colouration has played a very small part hitherto in this paper, it will be much more prominent now and will considerably aid the beginner in his search, though it is by no means always reliable. For instance, in describing an adult Imperial Eagle on the wing, the predominating colour to look for is black, whereas the same bird in its first year plumage would be very like a Steppe Eagle and the predominating colour would be brown. If very near, the marking on the breast would serve as a clue, as the young Imperial has a spotted breast, whereas the Steppe would have a plain brown one. The Steppe again can generally be identified by having two buft' or whitish lines running parallel to each other, which extend the whole length of his wing, which are lacking in the Imperial. 11 Then again^ the Tawny sometimes has one very distinct line •242 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT . and very occasionally a second, similar to the Steppe, which inalies it rather confusing, bnt these are rare exceptions and as a general rule, identification is a fairly simple matter. I will first take the very large birds according to the predominating colours and endeavour to show the difiference between them though the colouring is similar. Very large birds in vjJiich hlaclx is the inedmainating colour. 1. Otogyps calvus, Black Vulture. '2. Aquila chrysaetus, Golden Eagle. 3. Aquila hcliaca, Imperial Eagle. 4. Aquila maculata, Large Spotted Eagle. 5. Ictinaetus vialayensis, Black Eagle. (j. Haliaetus leucoryphus, Pallas's Fishing Eagle. 7. Haliaetus alhicilla, White-tailed Sea Eagle. The Black Vulture, like all vultures (except Neophnm) has a very heavy iiight, but unlike the others, he will be found to soar with his wings held well back, more like a hunting Eagle than a Vulture. To explain what 1 mean by wings being " held well back." If a straight pole was placed across the back of a bird in flight, from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other, it would be found that the back of the bird would lie some inches below the centre of the stick, and the bird thus appears to show a great expanse of chest. In most big birds the tips of the primaries have an upward tilt, when soaring, particularly in a strong wind, and light can be seen between the first few quills, i.e., they do not touch each other near the tips. The Hunting Eagles and the Black Vulture, however, do not rest content with tilting up their primaries only, but the entire wing, from the body, curves ofi at a distinct angle, upwards. The above will explain what I mean when I again refer to the wings being held well back. In the Black Vulture, the tail projects only a very little beyond the line of the wings, the actual extent depending on whether the bird has got it spread out like a fan, or not. Colouration. — More or less a deep black, with a line of whitish running down the centre of the whole wing. A white spot on the crop and another on each thigh, make this bird unmistakable. If near enough, red skin will be seen near the white patches above mentioned, and possibly the red wattles on his neck. Aquila chrysai'tus. — Wings curve back very considerably. The tail projects a long way beyond the line of the wings. In an old bird, practically no marking will be seen unless very near, when it will be noticed that the head is a light brown, or at least lighter than the rest of the bird and the middle of the tail may show traces of whitish. In a young bird the head and nape are much lighter than the body and a very conspicuous white patch in the centre of each wing, and a white bar on the tail, can be seen a long way ofi". This Eagle (the Golden) will not be found on the plains and except in the winter, seldom descends below 7,000 ft. Not at all likely to be found near any station in the hills, Aquila hdiaca. — Flight heavy ; wings held in a line with the body. Tail projects beyond the line of the wings only a little more than in the case of a Vulture. Marking very similar to that of a young Golden Eagle except that the head and nape are much more conspicuous, there being much more white about the head than in the young Golden. The plumage of the young Imperial is entirely different, and will be described later, among birds in which brown predominates. Aquila maculata. — Smaller than any of the foregoing. Flight very like the preceding species but not so heavy. No distinctive markings of any Journ., Bombay Nati Hist, Soc. 1. THE KAPTORES OF THE PUNJAH. 1 . A Stejipe Eaule {Aq7tiln bifasciata). Primaries in closed wiiv^- rfacliiivj' tip of tail. 2. A Bonellis Eaule {Hieroctim fasciatiis). The jiriniaries in clo.^ed wiivj- do not reach to within 2 or H inches of tip of tail. H. A Liiyj^ar Falcon (Falco jugcjer')- Lon.u and pointed winjrs. 1. A Shikra (^-Is^Hr baclius). Winus verj- short. THE ItAP'IOliES OF THE PUNJAB. iMy sDrt, but sometimes minuto patches of whito may bo soon on tho body or wiugs, being tho whito basis of foathors showing through. Ictinaetna malai/e/isis. — Flij;;ht dosoly resembles that of A. chrysaetus and tho wings aro held well back. Tail also projects well beyond tho lino of wings. No markings of an}- sort anil tho whole bird appears jet black when tlying past. If near, a small patch of brilliant yellow may be seen in tho lower portion of tho body due to his feet showing. Haliaetua leiicori/p/ius. — Very like .1. hpliaca on the wing, but greatly given to flapping. Wings in lino with body and as a rule, even tho tips of the primaries do not curve upwards. When soaring, shows much more white about tho tail than does A. heliaca. Extremely noisy. Tail pro- jects a little more than in A. heliaca, a broad terminal edge of black on tail. Haliaetus alhicilla. — Very similar to the preceding species, except that the whole tail appears to be pure white and the broad terminal band of black which is seen in H.. lencon/plms is wanting. At a very close range a very narrow edging of black on the tip of the tail may bo seen. Dark Brown Birds of Large Size. Vultur inonachus. — Size very large ; wings appear to be very broad, held in a lino with the body and the tail projects only a little beyond the line of the wings, usually spread out like a fan, when the bird is soaring. Colour a very deep chocolate brown throughout. Gijpa'etus harbatus, immature piumaye. — Size very large. Wings long and comparatively narrow, much more pointed than in the Vultures. Tail long and wedge-shaped. Colouring very variable ; very dark trown, almost black about the head and neck shading to a somewhat lighter shade on the body and under portion of the wings. Frequently with ineirular patches of white, buff or lighter shades of brown, showing on the body and wings. Back and tail usually a dark greyish brown. Flight easy and graceful, wings held in a line with the body. The young of — A. heliaca may all be found in a very deep brown plumage, but A. bifasciata seldom of a uniform shade throughout. Lighter and A. vindhiana darker feathers will be found irregularly dotted about in various portions of the body and wings. A. heliaca and A. bifasciata axe much bigger than A. vindhiana and A. bifasciata, even in immature plumage, can be identified by two narrow parallel lines of buff or white running along the whole length of the wings. , , ., , , . ^., . All the Buzzards may appear in a very dark ArchibiUeo hemtpttlopus p^^^^g^^ ^ut will almost always display a Buteofeio.i lighter patch in the centre of each wing, and Buteo leucovhelm regular markings of a lighter brown on the Buteodesertorum ^^.° ^^ and tail. Not much given to soaring, but when they do soar, the flight is easy, bold and graceful. The wings are held slightly back but do not curve upwards nearly so much as in A, chrysaetus. . All dark brown throughout, with sometimes irregular Milms yomida ^.a^kings of whitish buff or light brown. In M. mel- ,. melanotis ^^^^^^-^ ^-^Qve is a big buff wing patch, which is also „ miyrans ^jgi^jQ ^q a lesser degree in M. yomida. All the kites can be identfied by their forked tails. Flight is easy and light but irref all Eagles with feathered tarsi). One phase of plumage of this species is a light to dark brown generally, with irregular lighter and darker patches and mottling on wings and body. Flight light and easy but not exactly THE liAl'TORES OF I' HE I'UyjAE. 24^, bold or ijraceful. Wings hoUl level with the body and often, like a Kite's, the tips of the primaries appear to be on a lower level than the body, and bent front the wrist, backwards and downwards. The nsual plumage is not unlike " Neophron", i.e.. a dirty white throughout the untlerparts, with a blaek marginal band running along the tips of the wings, about 1" or so wide. The back is a mixture of dark brown and black as also the upper portions of the wings. Tail projects well beyond the tertiary quills. Sphactm Umnartux ^'""listakable in Might Wings very short and Spizactmnepalensh i-omul. held very far back and the tai projecting tar beyond the Inie of wings. The underparts may be a uniform light brown or, in old birds, the breast may be almost as white ».&mH.fasciatus,h\\tTi\OT& mottled with dark brown spots. Soars well and is often seen to give several short sharp flai>s after a bout of circling on steady pinions. Size about that of a Kite. Usually found over heavy pine or oak forests. CircaetuA gallicus. — A very light silvery brown throughout, almost a greyish white sometimes. Soars well. Wings held slightly back, the tips curled well up. If seen near, a dark streak will be noticed near the chin and another black line near the extreme end of the wing. Generally found over grassy plains and is one of the live Birds of Prey which hover. At close quarters his breast Avill be seen to be pure white, closely barred and mottled with brown. Upper parts dark grey. Large birds, black and white or dark-grey and Vultures. white. Very large birds with a true Vulturine flight. Colouring, chiefly a dirty creamy white dypsfulvus throughout with a deep band of black along the Gyps himalnyensis edge of the wings. Young birds vary. Smaller than the above with a similar flight. (ryps indicus Predominating colour black or a very dark Gyps tenuirostris grey with a line of white on the wings. In Pseudoyyps bengalensis many cases the wings appear to be half black and the other half white, mixed with grey. The last species displays a great deal of white on the back, as he turns. These Fishing Eagles are not given to Polioaetus ichthyaetus soaring and are usually to be found sitting on Polioa'etus hiimilis trees overlooking some mountain, river or stream, or flying up and down it. The flight is rapid and the beats of the wing sharp and full. Colouring a deep grey ou the back. Light grey on the head and neck and upper breast, fading to white on the abdomen. Pandion /laliaetus.— The Osprey is not often found soaring high in the heavens, though he might easily be seen circling over a tank or jheeL Underparts white with brown streaks and mottlings. AVings and back dark grey or brown, quills blackish. W^ings held in a line with the body, often slightly bent from the wrist backwards and down- wards. Much given to hovering and dropping head first, like a King- fisher, right under water, whence he will emerge and almost invariablj' shake himself as he rises out of the water. This disposes of most of the bigger birds and leaves the Falcons, Hawks and Harriers and the little Black Winged Kite. JElanus ccendeus. — About the size of a pigeon, but with longer wings. Colour black and white. Underparts of the body and half the wings white. The quills black and the upperparts a very dark-grey to black. Flight jerky, with long full beats of the wings. Not given to soaring but a past master in the art of hovering. Found over scrub jungle as a rule. L»4G JOVIiNAL, BOMBAY .\ATUIiAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. The True Hawks. The first named is easily identified by his greater . . / ; • size, so far as the female is concerned. , ^ ^, T All the Hawks have very short rounded wings and . • 7 . • , . ^o"g tails ni comparison to their size. All soar well ", ? ., .' . but do not keep up circling like the Eagles. After Accipiter virnatun j.j. • • j i • t,j. lu -ii v i. ^ "^ attaining a good height they will be seen to go off in some particular direction and then suddenly close their wings and drop straight down, either after birds or merelj'^ into a tree. In the course of circling they will be often seen to give a few short rapid beats of their wings and then continue circling. Falcons. — Are the antithesis of Hawks. They have long pointed, swallow like wings and shorter tails and may be identified as such at any height. They all soar well. When soaring the wings are held straight and on the same plane as the body, but when flapping, the wings are usually bent as though preparing for a stoop. Of the falcons, the Laggar is perhaps the commonest and the most easily identified, in the case of an old bird, on account of the white breast and the white marking on the wing lining. They usually hunt in pairs. While the identification of the Falcons is by no means difficult inmost cases, to describe the subtle differences between each is, I am afraid, beyond my power. Merlins .—These, little birds seldom or never soar. The " Turumti " nearly always hunt in pairs and may be seen flying very low along the ground at an incredible speed, when their keen eyes have detected small birds feeding on some open " maidan, "' or over the tops of the trees, never very high up. Their little grey wings work at a tremendous pace and the white body is a certain guide. The Merlin {A. rec/ulus) does not hunt in pairs and is much darker in colour. It generally flies very fast with sharp short beats, with half closed wings. Butastur teesa.—Th.e flight of this bird is not unlike that of a true Hawk, except that his wings are longer and more pointed, though not nearly as long or pointed as that of a Falcon's. Given to soaring a great deal in the spring. From below has the appearance of being silvery white. The flap is slower and more deliberate than that of a Hawk. Talks a lot when he is soaring. A not unmusical 3 note call which sounds something like " whityu-whyu." Usually display^s a very light buff" patch on the nape. Dark grey above and light grey beneath. Breast much mottled. The Honey-Buzzard {Pernis cristatus) very much resembles the Goshawk in flight, except that it is a good deal bigger. Generally found in gardens aad groves or along Canal banks. Flias rapidly and hurriedly from one tree to another and usuallj'' pursued by crows, mynahs, king crows, &c. Does not often soar but is occasionally found high up during the spring. Birds in vjhich White or IA(/ht Colours predominate. Gypaetus barhatus.- — The Lammergej'er in adult plumage is unmistakable. 1 have already said with reference to the young bird that his long narrow wings and the wedge-shaped long tail are sufficient to proclaim him at almost any height, and when, added to that you have a bright golden, head, neck and body with grey wings and back, he is hard to mistake for anything else. This bird is often seen flving low along a hill side with very bent wings, and in that condition they appear exceedingly pointed. The Harriers. — I have already described the female of the Marsh Har- rier. The males of the Hen Harrier and the Pale Harrier, in adult plum- age, look pure white below, with a line of black running along the edge of 77//; RM^rokEs (>/•• ////•; ruyjAii. 247 tho wings. The \\\^\wv parts, whoii seen vary from light grey to almost black. Tho male of the Marsh Harrier in adult plumage is rufous about tho breast and body generally and there is a lot of light blue-groy ab«mt tho wings, the tips being black. The hens of tho two first mentioned are a light brown throughout, profusely speckled and spotted along the undor- parts, the brown being darker and more uniform above. A light buff col- lar is freipiontly visible as the bird ilies past. A patch of white is visible «atu<, both having long narrow wungs and a wedge-shaped tail, but the latter is, of course, more than twice tho size. Wings are held in a level with the body, and tho flight is light, easy and graceful and the bird, in the air, cuts a very different flgure to tho ungainly, untidy bird one is accustomed to see on the ground. When once the flight has been mastered it is extraordinary how very simple identiflcation becomes, even in abnormal specimens. Take for ins- tance a Kite without a tail, a common enough sight, yet there is no mis- taking it for what it is, in spite of the fact that a forked tail is its chief characteristic. I have been told on more than one occasion, that to know a Kite is simple enough, but a Kite will not go far to help one to recog- nise other species. The Kite will not help you but familiarity will. Everybodj' is familiar with the deportment of a Kite and can recognise it under anj' circumstances, simply because it is almost impossible to go out of a house without seeing one and the average person, unwittingly, takes in the various tricks of its flight and becomes gradually fami- liar with them. Tho same is possible with all other species, once a beginning is made and one has got into the way of watching for the characteristics. From the above it must not be presumed that a mistake is impossible, but given normal specimens, I do maintain that in 80 per cent, of cases it is fairly easy to arrive at the -correct conclusion with a little practice. N. B. — Mr. Hume in " Rough Notes" gives some very interesting measure- ments of the wings of Eagles from which it will be seen that in some speci- mens the tip of the primaries in the closed wing fall short of the tip of the tail by as much as 2| inches. This might possibly be the case in certain individuals but these must be treated as rare exceptions. In a specimen in which the tail has moulted and attained its full length before the prima- ries for instance, but as a general rule the wings of tho true Eagles will not fall short of the tip of the tail by more than an inch or so, whereas in the case of the Hawk-Eagles 2 A" will be the minimum and as a rule a good 248 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. deal more. The genus Hieraetus though more of a Hawk-Eagle than a true Eagle, has longer wings than the S^nzaeti and his method of hunting is essentially that of a long-winged Eagle or Falcon, i.e., in the open and not among trees. 2. The measurements of the tarsi of the Imperial Eagle (Hume's " imperialis ") is given by Mr, Hume in his above work as varying from 3'75" to 4"06" but it must be remembered that Mr. Hume has ignored the Steppe Eagle as a species and has treated it {A. bifasciata), as merely a phase of the Imperial in its transition stage of plumage, and hence his measurements of the tarsi of the Imperial, include those of the Steppe, as well. In its lineated or immature plumage the Imperial bears a close resemblance to the Steppe but whereas the Steppe is never mottled on the breast and is always a more or less luiiform shade of brown, the young Imperial has the feathers of the breast brown with whitish shaft stripes. That is, the centre of each feather is lighter than the rest of it, giving it a distinctly mottled appearance. Whereas the tarsus of the Imperial is shorter than that of the Steppe, the foot and claws are bigger. 3. Occasionally a specimen may be met with which will be difficult to identify as either a Steppe or a Tawny, and bearing a very close resem- blance to both. That the species occasionally interbreed is, I think, possible and I can give two instances which make me think they do, but as neither case proves anything definitely we must wait for further instances and more conclusive proof before accepting the theory. On one occasion I saw an undoubted female Steppe Eagle carrying sticks to a nest off which I had caught a male Tawny only an hour or two previously. On yet another I shot what I took for a Tawny, very high up in the Himalayas, just about the time when the Steppe Eagles would be finding their way down to Northern India (in the autumn). This specimen had undergone a complete moult, with the exception of a few back and head feathers, and yet did not show a single trace of the white wing stripes. The tips of the secondaries and the feathers of the wing underlining were a rich brown like the rest of the wing. The size too was that of a Tawny and yet the tarsus measured just over 4" and the fact of the bird being found so far up in the hills pointed to it being a Steppe. The tarsus is, however, a sure indication between these two species so long as the type is true to the species and abnormal specimens or possible hybrids need not' be taken into count. ON THK nE'rKJ?]\IINATl()N OF AGE IN BATS. BY Km'd Andkksen, f.z.s. The (.jues^tion was out-e put to me hy a fellow zoologist: " What is the possible age of one of our small insectivorous bats, supposing it is allowed to live its normal span of years without accidents of any kind ?" 1 had to confess that we knew practically nothing about it. Insectivorous bats, any species, are extremely difficult to keep alive in captivity, and Horseshoe-Bats are among the most intractable of all ; 1 am not aware that any species of these latter has been kept in confinement for moi-e than a few weeks. But even if this were otherwise, the length of its life in captivity would of course, give us no reliable information of the age the indi\ddual might reach under the totall}^ different conditi^nsof Nature, though it might in the most favourable cases give us an idea of the lowest possible age of the individual under natural conditions. There is another way to approach the problem, so long as we have no better facts to judge from. The length of the period of immaturity will, as a general rule, in some \'ague sort of way enable us to form an opinion of the normal age the individual is destined to obtain ; a mammal which quickly becomes full grown will probably have a rather short series of years to live as adult, and vice versa. There raiij be hundreds of exceptions from this rule among lower verte- brates, but I doubt that there are many among mammals. In- sectivorous bats have only a short period of immaturity, species of the size of the Rufous Horseshoe-Bat of India (lihinolophus rovxi) hardly more than about six months (I am speaking of the period of growth, not of the time required for sexual maturity, of which we know but little in the case of most bats), and their life-time may therefore be supposed not to be very long. A more definite answer it has, to my knowledge, till now not been possible to give. Although I do not deny that it might be interesting to be able to answer the question just referred to, there is another problem, closely connected with this, and which in ni)^ opinion is of more practical importance. It is this. If an insectivorous bat is placed in our hands, have we then anv means by which to determine its age y The question may be answered both ways. It is easy enough to decide whether it is innnature or adult (by examining the epiphyses at the distal ends of the metacarpals, which can be done by simple exterior inspection, without injuring the individual). Supposing it to be adult, it is again easy enough to tell, by the degree of wear of its teeth, whether it is a youngish adult, a middle 12 250 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. aged, or an aged individ^la1. But when it comes to the question of months or years, we must give it up. I consider this question, as to the actual age of a given individual, for practical purposes more important than the question of its possible extreme span of life (but the solution of the forcter will, of course, ultimatel_y lead to the solution of the latter, as we shall spe later on). To give one instance among many. Certain Horseshoe- bats show a truly bewildering " variability" in the colour of their fur, and the Indian Rhinolophns rouxi is in this respect one of the most perplexing of all. Have these coloui- "variations" anything to do with the sex or season (these questions it ought to be possible to settle at once by reference to the labels of the specimens) or with the age of the individuals ? ] have had to attack this problem lately, when working out for the British Museum " Catalogue of Chiroptera" the unusually fine series of Eli. rouxi collected by Mr. Gu)^ C. Shoi'tridge for the Bombay Natural History Society's Mammal Survey of India,'* and it has naturally induced me to study more closely the different stages of wear of the teeth, with the object of finding in them a possible means to determine the age of each individvial. This paper gives my conclusions. A few words to explain my method. To eliminate, as far as possible, all sources of error, should be our first consideration. An ideal material would therefore be this : — We require, as a basis, to begin with, a series of specimens all collected approximately on one day or at least within the space of about a month, and showing all stages of wear of the teeth ; provided they really show all degrees of Avear found on that date or in that month, we shall be able to sort them out in so and so many stages, separated by one year. In many cases we should require an enormous series of individuals in order to have all stages represented, in others, with more good luck, a much smaller series will contain all the stages. Further, this series ought to be collected, if not exactly on the same spot, at - least within the same faunistic area, to make reasonably sure that differences in food have not influenced the degree of wear of the teeth. If we have succeeded so far, we still require oxry amount of material of the same species from every " other month of the yeai- (but preferably from the same area), in order to check the results we obtained by our first series. It would be too much to say that the Shortridge material fulfils, absolutely, these ideal conditions, but it comes sufficiently close to them to be workable. It contains forty individuals, not from one month, but from two consecutive months, viz., October aiad Novem- ber, all from the same district, and 1 have reason to believe thai * See my paper " On the so-called colour i)hiises of the Rufous Horscshoe- batof India" {Rhinolophns rouxi, Temm.), this Journal, infra. DETEliMiyATWHi OF A(n: I\ /iAT!^. i'r,l they show all stages of wear, possibly (not certainly) witli fxceji- tion of an extreme senile stage. It has fiu'ther the advantage oJ' being from (October and November, thus containing a good number of individuals just adult (supposing the young ot this species, in that particular region of India, to be born in April or May, which, judging from ihe foetuses I have seen, they probably are, as ;i rule), showing the llrst stage of wear, that of adult specimens abouf. six months old. It further contains sixty-four adult specimens from the same zoogeographical area, not from the ten other months of the year, but from four (January, F(0)ruary, April and ^lay). sufficientl}^ distant to check the results derived from the October November series. Those not familiar with the molar structure of a l\hinolophiii< shoxild examine fig. B, on the plate accompanying this paper, and the explanation of that figure on p. 258. before proceeding to read the next paragraph. The different i^ttuje^ of v;ear of ihe anterior upper vnolar in Odoher-Novem her individ u ols. First stage (fig. I). — The molars in this stage are so little worii tliat it requires some care, and often the use of a good pocket lens (or better still, a dermatoscope), to discovei- the traces of wear. The commissures (1-4, 2-4, 2-5, and 3-5 ; see fig. B) are no longei absohitely sharp-edged, as in the perfectly unworn tooth ; that is, they show, not one single line (like a razor edge), but distinctly two sub-parallel lines very close together, and between these lines an exceedingly narrow sublinear flattened edge. Similarly, the ridge of cusp G is not single-edged, but shows two more or less parallel lines ; its central portion is aiwaj's a little more worn than the ridge in front of and behind it, because it, being the highest point of the ridge, is more energetically acted upon by the corresponding tooth of the lower jaw (cusp 5 of m^). Viewed in profile from the inner side (a' and b') cusps 4' and 5 will be seen to be not absolutely shai-p-pointed, but alreadj- with the points slightly blunt. The individual variation in the degree of wear at this stage is small. Figs. la and a' show the minimum, figs. 1 b and b' the maximum amonor eleven individuals from the months of Octobei- and November. Second stage (fig. II). — The worn edges of the commissui*es are in this stage twice to three times as broad as in stage I ; the breadtli (side to side) of the worn edge of cusp 5 is almost 1/2, or in any case nearer 1/2 than 1/3 (in stage I roughly 1/4) of the total length of commissure 2-5, The worn edge of cusp 6 begins now to assume in its central portion a pronounced subtriangular (irre- gularly triangular) shape, but is still sublinear in front of and 2o2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. behind this central portion. Viewed in profile from the inner side (u' and b') cusps 4 and 5 are seen to be distinctly lower than in the first stage ; the height of cusp 4 is now hardly equal to (in stage I rather more than) the distance between the tips of cusps 4 and 5 ; the height of cusp o is still equal to or a little more than (in stage I eonspicuoiisly more than) the same distance. Twelve individuals in this stage have been examined. Figs. Ila, a' and lib, b' represent the minimum and maximum of wear. Third stcKje (fig. III). — The worn surfaces of the commissures are considerably increased in area ; the breadth of cusp 5 is now between 1/2 and 2/3 of the total length of commissure 2-5. Equally, if not more, characteristic is the shape and enlargement ofthe\vorn surface of cusp 6 ; the '-'triangle" occupies now not merely the central portion of the ridge, but extends forward to the very Ijase of cusp 4. Cusps 4 and 5 are worn considerably lower (Ilia' and Illb'); the height of cusp 4 is much less than (about 1/2-2/3) the distance between the tips of cusp 4 and 5, the height of cusp 5 is somewhat less than the same distance. There are seven individuals in this stage in the material from October and November. The minimum and maximum of wear are shown in fig. Ill a, a' and b, b'. Foiirth stage (fig. IV).— Easily distinguished from the third stage by the increased breadth of the worn surfaces of the commissures, the much enlarged triangular surface of cusp 6, and the consider- ably lower cusps 4 and 5. The breadth of the worn surface of the commissures at cusp 5 is now 3/4, or more than 3/4, of the total length of commissure 2-5. The triangular surface of cusp G tapered in stage III to a point at the foot of cusp 4, now it is quite bi-oad in front, and the tooth worn quite thin at its antero-interior corner. Cusp 4 is now so low that it only rises a little above the worn surface of cusp 6, its height being about 1/3-1/4 the distance between the tips of cusps 4 and 5 ; cusp 5 is correspondingly lower its height about 1/2, or less than 1/2, of the same distance. Six individuals show this stage. Fig. IV represents as usual the maximiim and minimum of wear. Fifth stage (fig. V).— The final stage, at least so far as my mate- rial goes ; the molars are now worn down to the level of the gums. The characteristic features of this stage are these :— Cusp 4 has disappeared, having been worn completely down to the surface level ; the worn surfaces of commissures 1-4 and 2-4 are therefore now perfectly confluent with the " triangle " representing the worn surface "of cusp 6. Cusp 5, which from the very beginning is higher than cusp 4, has either nearly or quite disappeared. Although these differences iu the degree of wear of cusp 5 are only individual (not indicative of different " stages ", as the word is here understood) it is important to note them, as they happen to give a DETERMISATIOS OF A(;i: IS HATS. j.-,:5 ilitierent aspect to the surface of the tooth. If cusp 5 lias very uearly, but not quite, disappeared, the inner (median) maroin of the conthieut worn surfaces of commissures 2-5 and o-o closely approaches, but is not in contact w ith. the opposite margin of tlie worn surface of cusp 0 (lig. V aj. V'ig. V b represents an indi- vidual in which the two margins actually touch each otliei'. Final- iv. Fig. y c, an individual in which these margins have disappeared, so that the worn surface of cusp G is coulluent not only in front with commissures 1-4 and 2-4, but also posteriorly with commis- sures 2-5 and 3-5, and the deep pit, which in the less worn tooth separates cusp 4 from cusp 5, has been transformed into an island pit in the centre of the tooth. I have alread}^ alluded to tlie fad that these degrees of wear of cusp 5 are undoubtedly purely indi- vidual ; the five October skulls representing this fifth stage of wear show perfect intergradations in this respect. These are the stages of wear represented in a series of forty skulls of Bldnoloplius r. roiAxi from October and November (Soutli Mysore and South Mahratha Country). \"arious reasons have led me to the conclusion that they are five consecutive stages, with one year between : — First, the amount of wear leading from stage I. to II. is similar to that leading from II. to III, or from III. to IV, or from IV. to V, if we bear in mind the fact that the ratio of wear is gradually acce- lerated in proportion as the enamel coat is more and more comple- tely worn away from the surface of the tooth. With this necessarj- Cjiialification the stages are evidently equidistant so far as the amount of wear is concerned, and it appears reasonable to deduce that they are equidistant in point of time as well. Second, I have submitted this conclusion to the test of all other available skulls of Eh. r. roiixi in so far as these are exactly dated. Apart from the forty October-November skulls, I have examined sixty-four from the months of Januar}^, February, April, and May, all from the same geographical district (N. Kanara, Savantwady, Konkan). Every one of these sixty-four skulls is easily referable to one or other of the five stages described above, allowing of course for the slight additional wear due to the more advanced season ; the main point is, that there is no trace of the existence of any other " stage." Our series really seems to be complete, so far as it goes. It may be necessary to add these words, " so far as it goes," for it is just possible that a sixth stage occurs, one year beyond the fifth. I should hesitate to consider it probable, seeing- that in the fifth stage the molars are practically reduced to the very level of the gums, but on the other hand it is not absolutely inconceivable that a sixth stase exists, thouo;h it would no doubt be rare. Presuming, therefore, that our series is complete, we liavo of 2o4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. course only to determine the age of the individuals of the first stage, which will give ns at once the age of each of the subsequent stages. As to that question there is no uncertainty at all. The actual degree of wear in this first stage would be sufficient to tell us that the individuals can be only just adult, that is (supposing they were born in April or May) about six months old. This con- clusion is further supported by the fact that in the case of five individuals in this stage I am able to say, on the strength of cer- tain external characters, that they are " bats of the years."* We are thus enabled to fix the ages of our October and Novem- ber individuals as follows : — First stage, about 6 months ; second, about 18 months ; third, about 2^ years ; fourth, about 3^ years ; fifth, about 44 years. If to this we add a minimum of half a year and (supposing that a sixth stage does occur occa- sionally) a maximum of a year and a half, we arrive at five or six years as the extreme possible age of this bat. If one should have nazai'ded a simple guess at the probable age limit of a bat of this size, it would have been very much the same. Strictly speaking, both the facts and the conclusions recorded above are, of coui'se, only valid for Rli. rouxi, or more narrowly still for individuals of this species from South and Central India. [ should think, however, that other bats of about the same size, with the same molar structure, and dependent on a similar diet, would not differ very much in this respect. My object has been to determine the probable age of each in- dividual in the series under consideration, and I have therefore confined myself to what was necessary for this purpose. To grasp the alterations taking place, from year to year, in a single tooth is really all that is needed, and by focussing the attention on one tooth, rather than describing in detail the alterations by wear in the whole tooth row, I hope I have made my paper not only much shorter, but clearer as well, and the facts more easy to remember. Still I ought perhaps in conclusion to add a few words about the other teeth. The first upper molar is one of the teeth best suited for our present purpose ; it is one of the most complicated in structure, and therefore shows most readily the effects of wear. The second molar differs in no very important point from the first, and might almost as well have been selected for description here ; the surface wear affects it very nearly in the same way, and it reveals the age • They are individuals who had just completed their first (autumn) moult, and the new coat of which was changin}? from the dark to the firsc (auburn) " I)hase". Their numbers are 194:5 and 1947-1950, all from iSeringapatam, !?outh Mysore, 18th October 1911. (See the paper already referred to, on the colour phases of Bh. rouxi.) DETERMiyA I l(t.\ (>1-A(,1:L\ HATls. •_'-;.-> of the individual almost as clearly as m'. The third (last) molar is somewhat deaeneratt'd, and both lor this reason and owing to its position farthest batk in the row the five stages of wear described above are not nearly so sharply separated from each other as in the case of m' and m". The posterior premolar behaves somewhat ditierently from the molars ; its sharply pointed cusp is the highest in the postcauine row, and its function is no doubt (so long as it retains this shape) chiefly to keep the food in position while it is acted upon by the molars ; being not a " crusher"' like the molar, but rather (together with the canine) a "fork," it is differently afiected by the wear ; in the earlier years of the individual it is more slowly worn than the molars, but a time comes (usually some- where about the fourth stage) when the originallj- high cusp is worn low and at the same time all molars much flattened down, and it would seem that now the animal finds it advantageous to use it more as an additional crusher ; from this period onwards it wears down much more quickly ; as an indicator of age it is on the whole too capricious, too irregular in wear. The anterior premolar is a small rudiment ; and the only remark it calls for in this connection is that, in spite of its minute size, it cannot be functionless ; it is eas}'^ to see that it is acted upon by the high cusp of the posterior lower premolar, and it shows progressive stages of wear like all other teeth (with one exception pointed out below) ; even in extreme old age it is never absent. The upper canines are so simple, hook- like in shape, as to be of little value for our present investigation ; the sharply pointed tip is, of course, worn blunt and the tooth graduallj' shortened, but it follows rather the rule of the posterior upper pre- molar, i.e., the effect of the wear is slower in the earlier than in the later years, and the progress of the w^ear is somewhat irregular ; in the majority of sktills in the second stage the tip of the canine is clearl}^ slightly blunt, but there are other skulls in the same stage in which the canines would be hard to distinguish from those in the first stage. The minute upper incisors show very distinct signs of wear ; they bite, not against the lower incisors (which close in far in front of the upper ones), biit against the inner cingulum of the lower canines. The lower molars have a simple W-shape, i.e., three cusps (1, 2, and 3) on the inner, two (4 and 5) on the outer side, cusp 6 and the heel (7) are absent ; but in spite of the fact that they are considerably less complicated than the upper molars, I find that any of them might be used to measure the wear and age of the individual, though they are much more difficult guides than the first and second upper molars. The rudimentary middle lower pre- molar is usually squeezed out to the external side of the tooth row, though occasionally (in about 15 per cent, of the individuals) it is halfway or completely in row ; it is sometimes external on one side of the jaw. more or less in row on the other ; though even 256 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. smaller than the first upper premolar it is very rarely absent (in one skull only, among 134; this individual is not very old, little more than 2^ years) ; it shows stages of wear, being acted upon, in certain positions of the jaw, probably by the tip of the upper canine. Of all teeth the lower incisors are the least affected by wear ; I fail to see that they can possibly come into contact with any other teeth ; even in the oldest individuals their edge very often, perhaps as a rule, remains trilobed. In the imworn and little worn stages, the highest cusps in the upper molars are those in the middle row (4 and, even more, 5), in the lower molars the anterior outer cusp (4). The upper molars, therefore, slope from the middle outward, while the lower molars are highest at their outer side anteriorly. 'I'his is completely alter- ed by the wear of the teeth. Owing to the fact that the lower tooth rows are much closer together than the upper, the lower molars act most vigorously on the middle and inner portions of the upper teeth, and the upper molars most strongly on the outer side of the lower teeth, with the result that in the final (fifth) stage of wear, when the molar surfaces are nearly or quite flat, the upper molar surfaces slope strongly and evenly from the outside inward, the lower molars from the inside outward. Ages o/'104 individuals of RhinolopJms rouxi. Subjoined are the details of all the dated specimens examined. All except seven were collected by Mr. Shortridge for the Mammal Survey of India. 1. October and November individuals. 28 specimens (all adult females), Seringapatam. S. Mysore, 18th and 19th October, 1912. 12 specimens (4 c^' ad., 8 5 ad.), Devi- kop, 26 miles south of Dharwar, S. Mahratha Country, 21st and 25th November, 1911. The November specimens are marked with an asterisk. Total number, 40. Stacfe I (about 6 months old). — 10 individuals, G.C.S, 1943, 1947,1948, 1949, 1950, *137, *139, *141, *174, *177. Stage II (about 18 months old).— 12 individuals. G.C.S. 1936, 1939, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959. 1960, 1962, *134, *138, *178. Stage III (about 2^ years old). — 7 individuals. G.C.S. 1934, 1937, 1946, 1956, 1963, *179, *181. Stage IV (about 3^ years old). — 7 individuals. G.C.S. 1935, 1938, 1944, 1961, *14^, *180. Stage V (about 4-^ years old), — 5 individuals. G.C.S. 1940, 1941, 1945, 1951, 1964. DETERMINATION OF AGE IN BATS. 257 2. Januari/ and Fehruanj individuals. '2 specimens ( j ad.), Sii'si, N. Kauara, 11th Januaiy, 1000. 19 specimens ( 4 cJ ad., 15 $ ad.), Potoli, south-east of Supa, N. Ka- uara, 1 8th and 19th January, 1912. 3 specimens (1 5 ad., 2 $ ad.), Dandeli, 15 miles east of Supa, N. Kauara, 21st Jamiary, 1912. 2 specimens ( c? ad.), Barchi, 10 miles east of Siipa, N. Kauara, 28th January, 1912. 1 specimen ( cj ad.), Yellapur, N. Kauara, 20th Februar)-, 1900. The single February specimen is marked with an asterisk. Total number, 27, Stage I-L (about 9 mouths old). — 11 individuals. B.M. 0-4-1-G G.C.S. 519, 520, 522, 529, 54-1, 546, 547, 556, 557, 564. Stage II -1- (about If years old). — 12 individuals, B.M. 0-4-1- 7 and *0-4'l-8. G.C.S. 523, 524, 525, 526, 528, 540, 542, 544, 548, 563. Stage III + (about 2f years old) —3 individuals. G.C.S. 527, 543, 545. Stage IV + (about 3f years old).— 1 individual. G.C.S. 558. Stage V + (about 4f years old). — None. A2yi'il and May individuals. 1 0 specimens (all adult males), Sirsi, N. Kauara, 8th to 12th April, 1912. 3 specimens (Id ad., 2 $ ad.), Nerur, Savant- vadi, 17th April, 1911. 21 specimens (15 c? ad., 6 $ ad.). Hulekal, near Sirsi, N. Kauara, 18th to 26tli April, 1912. 1 specimen (sex uncertain), Asgani, Konkan, 3rd May, 1911. 2 specimens ( j ad.), Gersappa, N. Kauara, 19th and 23rd May, 1912. The May specimens are marked with an asterisk. Total number 37. Stage 1+ (about 1 year old).— 21 individuals. B.M. 11-7-18- 3 and 4. G.C.S. 853, 898, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 962, 964, 965, 966, 967, 987, 988, 989, 1009, 1012, *1158. B.M. *ll-7- 18-1. Stage II -I- (about 2 years old).— 12 individuals. G.C.S. 847, 895, 896, 897, 899, 900, 910, 990, 994, 996, 1011,*1120. Stage III + (about 3 years old). —4 individuals, B.M. 11-7-18- 2. G.C.S. 889, 961, 1010. Stage IV 4- and V + ( 4 and 5 years old). None. The total number of individuals in stage I or between I and II is, therefore, 42 (40-4 per cent.) ; in stage II or between II and III, 36 (34-6 per cent.) ; in stage III or between III and IV, 14 (13-5 per cent.); in stage IV, or between IV and V, 7 (6-7 per cent.) ; in stage V, 5 (4*8 per cent.). If this series taken as a whole, gives anything like the normal proportion of individuals found in nature at the different stages of age, it will be seen that individuals up to 13 258 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. two years old (^ of the extreme possible age) form 75 per cent, of the total " population " ; individuals up to the three years limit (half the extreme span of life) no less than 88"5 per cent. But 104 is, of course, far too perilously small a number to serve as a basis for an age census, and I do not attach too much importance to the percentages here arrived at, though it is a fact that they agree veiy -well indeed with my experience as to the great abundance of individuals with little or moderately worn teeth and the relative scarcity of aged and senile individuals in any series of bats, of any species. Twelve different localities are represented in this series of 104 specimens, but only in one single place was the oldest stage (V) secured, Explanation of plate. All figures are of the subspecies Rliinolophus rouxi rouxi, and all individuals are from October or November. Figures I — V repre- sent the anterior upper molar (m') oi' the left side, viewed from the surface and from the inner side, and in about 10 times natural size. Those marked I are in the " first " stage of wear as defined in this paper, those marked II in the second, and so on. In all figures, a and h (and c, if present) are surface views, a' and h' (and c') inner and somewhat oblique side views. Figures A and B (top of plate) are given for the information of those who are not familiar with the dentition and molar structure of this bat. Fig. A. — Palate view of left half of skull, to show dentition, ap, anterior premolar ; pp, posterior premolar ; m^, first, m^, second, m^, third molar. About 2-8 times natural size. ( $ ad., Se- ringapatam, S. Mysore, 18th October, 1912, G.C.S. 1943). Fig. B. — Anterior upper molar, left side, enlarged, to explain struc- ture. 1, 2, and 3, the three cusps of the outer row ; 4- ^.nd 5, the two cusps in the middle row ; 6, inner cusp ; 7, heel. The commissures are marked co ; co. 1-4- is the commissure between cusps 1 and 4 ; co. '2-4, the commissure between cusps 2 and 4 ; and so on. (Same specimen as fig. A.) Fig. I. — First stage of wear (individuals about 6 months old), a (surface view) and a' (inner side view) represent the minimum of wear found in this stage ( 5 ad.; Seringapatam, S. Mysore, 18th October, 1912, G.C.S. 1943). h and />', maximum of wear in this stage ( S ad. same place and date, G.C.S. 1949). Fig. II. — Second stage (about 18 months old), a and a' minimum of wear ( $ , Seringapatam, S. Mysore, 19th October, 1912, G.C.S. 1957). & and &', maximum of wear ($, same place, 18th October 1912, G.C.S. 1939). Fig. III. — Third stage (about 2\ years), a and a' , minimum of of wear ( $ , Seringapatam, f8th October, 1912, G.C.S. 1937). J> and h' , maximum ( § , same place and date, G.C.S. 1934). JOURN. BOMBAY NAT. HlST. SOC. apv pp m' m* m^ A 1 TEJ^zr. Ila' Ilia IVa' Va MENPCS PRESS. WATFOnO Tnnth wear as an indicator of ace in RHINOLOPHUS. DETKRMiyATlON OF AGE IN BATS. 259 Fig. TV. — Foiirth stage (about 3i years), a and a', minimnni of wear ( $ , Seringapatam, I8th October, 1912, G.C.S. 1938)./; and //, maximum ( $ , same place and date, G.C.S, 1944). Fig. V. — Fifth stage (about 4^ years), a and a', minimum of wear ( 2 , Seringapatam, 18th October 1912, G.C.S. 1940). handb', medium degree of wear ( $ , same place, 19th October, 1912, G.C.S. 1951), c and c', maximiim ($, same place, 18th October, 1912, G.C. S. 1945). 260 ON THE SO-CALLED COLOUR PHASES OF THE RUFOUS HORSESHOE-BAT OF INDIA {REimLOPHUS ROUXI, Temm.). BY Knud Andersen, f.z.s. • (With Plates I and 11.) It has long been known to Mammalogists that certain species of Bhinolophus, Oriental as well as Ethiopian, show an extraordinaiy variability in the colour of the fur. The extremes of these colour types, or " phases " as they have been called, are often so strikingl}^ different, the one being dull mouse-brown, the other brilliantly orange-chrome without a trace of brown anywhere in the pelage, that one can hardly be surprised that they have in some cases been described as different species.* Such extremes are often repre- sented among specimens from the same locality, and if the series obtained is large enough it will often show several intermediate " phases." No wonder that as soon as it was realized that all this was merely " individual variation," some authors refused altogether to consider the colour of the fur a character of taxonomic value in bats. Rliinoloiihus is by no means the only genus showing colour vari- eties of this kind. More or less similar phases occur in many species of the allied genus Ili'piJOsideTos (e.g. in the commersoni, hicolor, speoris, galeriius and caffer groups) ; further in Asellia, Trioeno'ps and Rhinonycteris, all of which are closelj' allied to Hippo- sideros ; again in Nyct, and in some Phyllostomatidue, Emhallo- nuridce, Molossidce, and Vesp)ertilionidai . They may be found to exist also in other families of Chiroptera, — in any case it is evident that their occurrence is a rather common phenomenon in bats. Hitherto nothing has been known of these phases beyond the mere fact of their existence. Whether they are seasonal, or whether the individual moults " true " to its phase during the whole of its lifetime, are questions which, so far as I am aware, no- body has attempted to answer. The scarcity of large, carefull}^ dated and sexed series of skins sufficiently explains why nobody has felt tempted to attack the problem. Owing to the fine work recently done by the collectors for the Bomba}^ Natural History Society's Mammal Survey of India this scarcity of material no longer exists so far as certain Indian species of Rhinoloplius and Hippiosideros are concerned. And it happens • The Rufous Horseshoe-bat of India is a case in point. Kelaart's Bhinolophtis cinerasccns ('Prodromus Faunie Zeylanica», ]8r>2^isthe dark, his Bh. rammanika an intermediate, and his lih. rubidus the orang'e " phase " of Rh. rouxi (see P. Z. S. 1905, ii, p. 99; . COLOUR PHASES OF rUJi: RUFOUS JLOIl{>ESJlOE-BA'l\S. 261 that one of the Horseslioe-Bats most richly represented in the Sur- vey collections, viz., llh. roii.vi, is a species which exhibits tlie colour extremes in their strongest contrasts, and at tlie same time presents the widest range of intermediate phases. The number of skins of this bat thus far brought together during tlie progress of the Siu'vey amounts to 98 ; in addition there are 18 specimens preserv- ed in alcohol, and I have had six do.ted skins from other sources, giving a total of 122 specimens. All specimens are adult, repre- senting every degree of wear of the teeth, from the practically un- worn condition (" stage I," i.e., individuals about six months old*) to the stage in whicli the crowns are worn down to the gums (" stage V, " four and a half year old individuals). 46 are males, 76 females. They were obtained in South Mysore (Seringapatam, 34); South Mahratha Country (Devikop, 12) ; various places in North Kanara (Gersoppa, Hulekal, Sirsi, Barchi, Dandeli, Potoli, Yellapur, 72) : Savautvadi (Nerur, 3), and Koukau, (Asgani, 1), — places sufficiently close together to be regarded, even in the narrowest sense of the term, as one geographical district. They all belong to one subspecies, i?^, rorm 5wmf, and all the Survey specimens (116) were collected by Mr. Guy C. Shortridge. It is one of the finest series of specimens of any form of Ixliinuloiolius that has ever passed through my hands. Although certainly large and varied enough to illustrate the remarkable variability of coloiu- shown by Rh. rouxi, this series is on the other hand not complete enough to allow one to follow the changes in the fur through ever}^ month of the year, It was not, it should be remembered, collected for this special purpose, but simply as part of the general Mammal Survey of this portion of India. Only six months are repi-esented in the series, viy.., Octo- ber, November, January, Febniary, April and May, that is, the cold season (about October to Januar}'^ and February) and the hot and dry season (February to May) are represented, whereas there is * See my paper. ' On the determination of age in Bats, " this Journal, ontea. t The distribution of Bh. rouxi, so far as it is as yet traceable; is as follows: — It is krown from many places in Ceylon : in the Peninsula from the Nil^iri Hills in the south, through South Mysore, South Mahratha Country, Xorth Kanara, Savantvadi, and Konkan, as t&v north as Bombay. Ceylon specimens are apparent- ly indistinguishable from those from India proper, and I refer them all to the subspecies Rh- r. rouxi (with the necessary reservation that I have not yet had an i:)pportunity of examining Temminck's types in the Leyden Museum). Xorth of Bombay there isabig gap in the known distribution of the species, though whether it is a real breach in the area inhabitated by this bat, or merely a gap in our material, it is impossible to say. Passing north from Bombay we meet the species again in Masuri (Dehra Dun), Kumaon, Nepal, Darjiling and Bengal ; and further i-ast it turns up again in South China (Anhwei, Lower Yangtse). Specimens frOm all theseplaces (Masuri to Anhwei) are distinguishable as a subspecies {Rh. r, sini- cixs). It is possible, though by no means certain, that the t«o subspecies are con- nected with each other along the east coast of India, which has not yet been worked by the Survey. 262 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. not a single specimen from the whole of the rainy season (June to September). As it is, however, the series is sufficiently complete to solve the principal problem, namely, what do these colour " phases, " this unparalleled variability in colour mean? The first question we have to settle, before trying to unravel the mystery of the colour phases, are naturally these : — When does this bat change its coat ? Does it moult once or (as usual among Mammals) twice a j^ear ? And what is the new coat like ? Does it show the same " individual variation " in colour as exhibited when glancing down the whole series of specimens befoi'e us ? Fortunately the material gives clear answers to these preliminary questions. Bh. rouxi moults twice a year, in this part of India in October and again in May, and in both cases the new fur is dark brown above, grey on the underside of the body, — the ordinary bat colour, or very much like the coloar of a House Mouse. Where then do the brilliantl}^ orange and the intermediate phases come in ? To give the facts at once, before entering into details, these phases are due tn a (jractual, and on the whole evidently rather rapid, change of the colour of the full grown hair. In order to follow the changes of the coat and colours in detail we must now examine the appearance of the specimens month by month, so far as the material allows. There are twenty-eight skins dated October (1912), all from one locality (Seringapatam, S. Mysore), and very nearly of the same date (18th and 19th) ; all are females and all fully adult* (epiphyses of metacarpals ossified) ; the actual ages of the individuals are as follows : — Five are about six months old, nine about eighteen months, five two and a half years, four three and a half years, and five four and a half j^ears. For reasons explained below we must put the youngest generation ("bats of the 3''ear," six months old) on one side ; they require special description. The remain- ing twenty-three specimens may conveniently be divided into two groups, those in the process of moulting (fifteen), and those which have just completed, or practically completed, their autumn change of coat (eight). (1) Fifteen October individuals, aged from one and a half to four and a half vears, showing^ various stages of moult from the old orange to the new dark brown coat.f — Three specimens (1935, 1 936, 1 940) exhibit the initial stages of the change of fur. They are nearly orange-rufous (II, 11, h to j ±) above, approximately mars- * That is, full grown ; which does not necessarily imply that they are all sexually mature) this is certainly not the case with the youngest class of indivi- duals) those only six months old). t Collector\s numbers. G.C.8. U»34-1941, 1944— 194f., 19.31, 19.59, 19(jl, 1964. _ t All colours are determined from Ridg-way's " Color standards and Color Nomenclature," Washington, 1912, and the references between parentheses are to the plates of that book. COLOUR PHASE i OF THE RUFOUS HORSES HOE-B ATS. 263 yellow (III, 15, i) or ochvficeoiis-orange (XV, 15') beneath. The new dark hairs appear on the back of the neck and anterior dorsum ; on parting the fur of these regions of the upper side it looks, on a hurried inspection, as if the coat had dark bases to the hairs ; the dark '• bases " are in realit}- the new short dark-coloured crop of hair. On the underside the new grey coat appears on the throat, chest, anterior portion of flanks, and anal region, leaving the breast, belly, and posterior flanks mars-yellow or ochraceous-orange. One ot these specimens (1935) is figured on pi. 1, fig. 1. The twelve other October specimens of this group illustrate the gradual progress of the moult. The new dark brown (mouse-coloured) fur spreads on the upperside from the back of the neck forward, over the head, and backward, over the middle of the dorsum, so that the last remnant ot the old orange coat is, as a rule, an orange stripe along each side of the rump, next to the membranes (as in specimen 1944, figured on pi. I, fig. 3) ; at the same time the new grey hair of the underside spreads from the throat outward to the sides of the neck, and from the flanks and anal region mediad and forward over the bell}*, so that the last portion of the old mars-yellow coat to disappear is, in most individuals, a transverse stripe or cres- cent across the thorax (same specimen, pi. I, fig. 3). (2) Eight October specimens (same ages as above) showing the completed moult.* — These are in new coat without trace or with only very slight traces of the old. The pelage of the upperside is roughly dark brown (approaching clove-brown, XL, 17 ' ' ', m), but faintly powdered with greyish, owing to the extreme tips of the hairs being of this colour, and the base of the fur is again paler ; the underparts are nearly uniform mouse-grey (LI, 15 ' ' ' ' '). One (1958) is figured on pi. I, fig. 4. Let us pause for a moment to consider what these two groups of October specimens have taught us. Tn the first place, we have seen that this bat has an autumn moult j, which, at least in this part of India,, takes place in October ; we must, of course, even within the same province, allow for some variation of the exact date ; some indivi- duals may begin moulting already late in Septemlier, others perhaps as late as early in November, though of this there is no direct evi- dence in our material. Secondly, the old orange fur is replaced not by a new orange coat, but by a coat of dark brown and grey (mouse- coloured) hair. What happens to this new very plain-coloured coat we shall see in a moment, but first we must examine the bats of the year, • Collectors Numbers, G.CS. 19.-,4-19.-,S, 19r.U, 19tj2-l9(;:s. t It seems to me unnecessary to chanjre these terms, '• spring moult "" and '•'autumn moult," " summer coat ", an J "winter coat" when dealinjr with a tropical Indian mammal. The moults (in this bat) in fact take place very nearly at the same time of the year as in temperate climates, and the terms can hardly cause any confusion. 264 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. (3) Five October specimens, aged about six months.* — One of these individuals (No. 1941)) is perhaps the most interesting in the whole Survey series of this species. It is a bat of the j^ear which (1) has ah'eady completed its first autumn moult, and (2) happens to have been killed while it was changing the colour of this new coat from dark brown into auburn above, and from mouse- grey into ochraceous-tawnj^ beneath. That this individual is in its first adult coat, not in the coat of the immature, is evident foi- two reasons : — The coat is new and fresh, not old and worn, as it would obviously be, if it were the baby coat ; and anybody familiar with the peculiar dull testaceous tinge of the coat of the immature Rh. rouxi will see at a glance (although the colour is already, even where it is darkest, somewhat aftected by the change into a brighter " phase ") that it is not the tinge of the immature pelage. But the second statement, viz., that the hair, in the moment the bat was killed, was changing colour undoubtedly needs strong evidence to be accepted. Some reader looking at the figure of this individual on pi. II (fig. 5) might say : — " What I see is a specimen which (speaking of its upperside only) is roughl}- half auburn and half brown ; why then is this not an individual like those of group one above, that is, an individual in moult?" There are at least three reasons why this is not so ; each of them would be sufficient in itself, and the combination of them therefore certainly places the matter beyond reasonable dispute. I'irstly, if it were moulting it must either be moulting from the auburn into the brown phase (like the older October individuals, under group one, above, though those individuals were, of course, not auburn but orange), or vice versa ; there are no other alternatives. If it were moulting from an aubui-n to a brown coat, it would follow that the auburn coat was the old one, i.e. (remembering it is a bat in its first autumn) the baby coat ; but in all my work with Horseshoe-Bats (now extending over a series of years during Avhich I have handled thousands of specimens belonging very nearly to every form known) I have never yet come across a single immature specimen in bright (auburn or orange) coat ; whenever an auburn or orange specimen tiTrned up, it was always adult ; at least so far as Rkinoloplnis and Tliijpoi^ideros are concerned, the bright phase may safely be said to occur only in the adult. Turning then to the other alternative, that this individual might have been moulting from a brown to an auburn coat, we find it ne- gatived by the facts already pointed out above, that the brown hairs are not old and worn, but (even though examined under a derma- toscope) as new and un abraded as are the auburn, and that the brown tinge of these hairs is certainly not that of the coat of the immature. Secondly, if this bat were moulting, it must, judging • Collector's Xumbers, G.C.S. 1943, 1947-1950. COLOUR PHASES OF THE RUFOUS HORSESHOE-RATS. 26r> iVom the tact that the auburn and brown areas are about equal in extent, be only about halt-way throug-h the nioiilt, and in that case we should find somewhere in the fur evidence of new hair coming up, shorter than the rest; but there is no evidence whatever of this kind, all the hairs are full grown, all of their proper length, there is on the whole surface of the animal not a single spot showing a new crop of hair. Thirdly, the moult, as we have already seen (Octo- ber specimens, group one, above), proceeds along definite lines, the new fur of the upperside first appearing on the back of the neck, spreading outward to the sides of the neck and backward along the median line of the dorsum, so that the last portion of the old fur to disappear is an orange stripe on each of the back and rump along the lateral membrane (see figs. 1, 2, and 3). A glance at fig. i will show how entirely difierently our specimen behaves, both above and beneath. For these reasons there can be no doubt that our specimen w^as killed while changing the colour of its new full grown coat. This result is further supported by an examination of the four other individuals of this groiip, all of which are of the same age. The change of colour is in all four carried a aood deal further than in No. 1949, is in fact nearlij completed. The upper- side is approximately auburn (II, 11, m) above, this colour gradu- ally lightening to cinnamon (XXIX, 15") toward the base of the hair, while the underside is ochraceous-tawnj^ (XV, 15', i). But the change is only " nearly " completed ; there is still, in all four examples, a conspicuous amount of greyish colour on the throat (this disappears, as we shall see, in the follo\A ing month), and in one specimen (1948) there is a small patch of grey left on the belly. To the conclusions derived from groups one and two of the Octo- ber individuals (see above) we can now add those obtained by our examination of group three, viz., (Ij Bats of the year undergo an autiimn moult, like the older individuals; (2) this new coat is quite similar to the new coat of older individuals, dark brown above, mouse-grey beneath ; (3) but this new coat (at least in the indivi- duals we have seen thus far) when fully developed changes its colour into auburn above, ochraceous-tawn}^ beneath ; (4) this colour change probably takes place comparativeh^ rapidly. Even if we had never seen the five October specimens of " group three " we shoiild have been forced to the conclusion that shortly after the autumn moult the colour of the new coat "tnust change. We have seen that when orange specimens moult in October they put on a mouse-coloured coat. But we shall find that already in November (and then throughout the " winter ") plenty of aiiljurn and orange specimens occur. How could this fact be explained, otherwise than by a change of colour of the fuUgrown hair ? We are now evidently well on the way to a better understanding of the colour phases in this bat, andean proceed to examine more 14 266 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. closely the specimens from the next following months, as far as our material goes. The November series (twelve skins *) shows some further bright- ening of the colours. The darkest individuals ( 5 ad.. No. 138, age, about a year and a half, figured on pi. II, fig. G ; j ad., No. 139, about six or seven months) are very similar to the auburn October specimens just described, except in so far as the last traces of gvQY on the throat and belly have now disappeared, having been changed into ochraceoxis-tawny. In the most advanced November individual ( ^ ad.. No. 174, six to seven months old) the colour of the whole of the upperside has brightened into light Sanford's brown (II, 11, j) or hazel cinnamon-rufous (XIV, H', j) toward the base of the fur; that of the underside into a tinge approaching ochraceous-orange (XV, 15', h). Better than by any description the difference between these two November extremes will be appreciated by comparing the patterns " auburn " with " Sanford's brown " and " hazel " on plates II and XIV of Ridgway's " Color Standards," and " ochraceous-tawny " with " ochraceous-orange " on plate XV. The nine other November skins fit in between these extremes. I have seen no specimens from December, but twenty-four skins in the Survey collection show the appearance of the fur in the month of January, f One individual ( ^ ad., Dandeii, No. 556, probably about nine months old) has remained very nearly in the aubiirn phase (see October and iSIovember, above), the only tangible difference being that the " auburn " of the upperside is perhaps a tone paler (more approaching to argus-brown, III, 13, m), and the ochraceous-tawny of the underparts a faint shade lighter. Several skins are similar to the brightest November individual described above. But the majority exhibit more advanced stages of colour modifications (see pi. II, fig. 7). The head and upperside are orange-rufous or a shade paler still (II, 11, i and h), brightening to orange-chrome (II, 11) at the base of the hairs; the undei-parts between ochraceous-orange and yellow-ochre (XV, 16'). The palest individual of all ($ ad., Potoli, No. 522, about nine months old, figured on pi. II, fig. 8) has the upperside nearly xanthine-orange (III, 13, iorh), the xmderparts pale yellow-ochre (XV, 17', a). It is closely approached by some other specimens from January, and practically exactly matched by the single skin from February * Four adult males, eight adult females ; Devikop, S. Mahratha Country : November 2lst and 25th : ages, from about seven months to three and a half years ; Collectors Numbers, G. C. S. 134, 1H7-141, 174, 177-181. t Seven adult males, seventeen adult females : Barchi, Dandeii, and Potoli, three places situated quite close to Supa, North Kanara ; .Tan. i8tb, 10th, 2lst and 28th, ages, from about nine months to about two years and nine months : Collec- tors Numbers, G. C. S. :,\Si, .520, 522-529, 540-548, 550-558, 503, 504. COLOUR PHASES OF THE RUFOUS HORSESHOE-DATS. 267 (cf ad. Yellapur,N. Kanara, 20th February, B. M. O. 4. 1. 8, about one year and nine months old) and by several from April. In'dividnals wliich liave passed into this brilliantly orange colour phase no doubt remain there till the " spring " moult. As stated above, the only February skin I have seen is in this phase ; from lilarch no skins are available ; but I have before me a long series from April, a considerable number of which are as bright-coloured as the brightest January specimens. It is probable, however, that shortly before the next moult sets in (May) the colours lose a little of their gloss and brightness. I have unfortunately no " spring " specimens moulting from the orange into the dark mouse-coloured phase, but October specimens changing from orange to dark pelage exhibit this slightly duller appearance of the old orange coat. Such are the colour changes from October to April-Maj?- in indi- viduals which run throiujh all phases. But a very important fact I now have to call attention to. Although the individuals which pass through the whole scale of colour changes are decidedly in the majority in my dated material (the whole of which, it should be remembered, is from the region of the Peninsula between S. Mysore and the Konkan), a certain, and by no means small, percentage of specimens stop short at an intermediate please (never, throughout the half-yearly period here under consideration, passing beyond that stap-e), ivhile others can even hardly he said to pass into am/ bright phase at all, the coat being subject only to a rather ordinar}-" fading of its colours. I will deal with these two categories of specimens separately: — First, individuals remaining at an " intermediate " colour phase.— The first phase into which the freshly moulted (mouse-brown and mouse-grey) October coat passes is (as we have seen above) the auburn phase. We found already in October some individuals which were either on the point of changing the colour of the coat into auburn or had practically completed this change, and I took this as evidence that this colour change must take place rapidly ; further, we found the fully developed auburn phase in the November series. But, as mentioned above, there is in the Survey series from Januar}'^, that is, at a time when most individuals have passed into a bright orange phase, one indivi- dual (a nine months old male. No. 556) which has remained in the aubui-n stage : and there is in the British Museum collection another skin from January ($ ad., Sirsi, North Kanara, Jan. 11, 1900, No. 0.4.1.6, about nine months old) in exactl}^ the same phase. Even much later in the season the auburn phase is met with. The April series numbers thirty-four, and of these four are auburn, while a few others are onh* a little more advanced. There 268 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISr. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. is no doubt, therefore, that some individual remain in the auburn stage throughout the whole season. Secondly, individuals which hardl}^ assume any bright phase at all. — In the British Museum is a skin from January ( J ad., Sirsi, North Kanara, Jan. 11, 1900, No. O. 4.1.7, about one year and nine months eld) which has not even entered the auburn stage. And in the large April series there are nine of which the same may be said* If these ten skins are placed along with the freshly moulted, " mouse-coloured "' October individuals, it is easy to see • that the colour has certainly altered to some extent. The upper- side has in six specimens turned from the original rather dull mouse-brown (finely powdered with greyish) into a warmer brown tone, somewhat approaching to sepia and bister, and the originally greyish bases of the hairs have acquired a slight ecru tinge ; further , the under parts are no longer mouse-grey, but rather drab-grey (XLVI). In the four remaining specimens the brown of the back is distinctly ''diluted" or "washed" with a pale yellowish tinge, but not sufficiently so to alter the general lirown total impression of the colour ; and the tinge of the undex'- parts is a decidedly warmer drab (not quite as bright as " avel- laneous ", XL). None of these could trul}^ be desciibed as belong- ing to the first, auburn phase, while on the other hand the colour is decidedly altered slightly in the direction of that phase. That some specimens retain this colour right up to the spring moult is proved by two of the three May specimens before me. These two are the only individuals showing the spring moult. One is rouohlv bister, the other of a warmer brown above, but not auburn. The new fur is exactly like the fresh October fur in colour. Not a single specimen is available from the whole period June- September. But that the " summer" coat passes through a series of colour phases similar to those described lor the '' winter " coat, is hardly open to doubt, if we remember the fact that the October material contains numerous individuals moulting from the orange phase into the dull mouse-brown. One very curious fact remains to be mentioned. It is not only the fur that changes its colour, eve')L the claws, those oj the feet as loell as that of the jiollex, partake in these chanr/es. The details are as follows :■ — In all the specimens moulting . from the orange to the mouse- brown phase (October) the claws are of the usual transparent horn- • The April material C^4 skins; 81 of which beloiiyr to tlie Indian Survey collection) therefore sho^vs the followinfi' colour stages :— 9 brown (aj>es, one to three years), S auburn or a little beyond (one to three years), 17 oranjj^e (one to three years). COLOUR PHAiiKS OF THE RUFOUS IIORSESHOK-BATS. ii69 colour, without a trace of ajiy other tinge. In the next colour stage of the fur, the auburn ]>hase, the claws are either unchanged, or they begin to show a distinct deep reddening at the tips. In this phase we often find one or two claws of a foot unaltered in colour, while the others begin to change into deep blood-red. As a rule the claws of the feet are affected a little earlier than that of the pollex. Finally, in the orange phase of the fur, we find invariably the claws red. The colour always starts at the tips of the claws, spreading backward, though it is comparatively seldom that it reaches risfht to the exnosed bases of the claws. The tinoe is a beautiful blood colour, totally different from the original colour of the claws ; it looks as if the claws had been dipped in blood, some- times the tips onl}^, often for half their length or more. It will be noticed that the colour changes of the claws progress pari passu with those of the fur : — never an}' red in the claws in the non- orange phases, but the more brilliant the orange of the fur, the more extensive the red colour of the claws. The red colour is not superficial, but goes right through the horny substance. The colour changes in the full grown hair described above are perhaps without true parallels in the whole class of Mammalia, outside the order of Chiroptera. There are, of course, numerous instances of even very remarkable fading of colours. One of the cases which no doubt would most readily occur to the minds of British Mammalogists is the very striking and somewhat rapid change of colour in the tail of the British Squirrel*. Biit I fail to see any real parallel in that case. What happens in the Squirrel's tail is a fading from seal-brown through gradually paler tinges of brown to pale buff or nearly white ; in other words, a gradual dilution, and finally complete or almost complete disappearance, of all pigment in the hairs of the tail. In Rh. rovxi (and probably in other bats \\'ith similar phases) the pigment does not disappear, but (as we shall see in a moment) it gradually, though rapidly, changes from one colour into a totally different one. There may be (in fact, I believe there are) better parallels among birds. Every ornithologist will know of scores of cases of alleged colour change (without moult) in full-grown feathers, but I am not aware of any case in which the whole of the plumage of a bird (like the whole of the pelage of Rh. rou.ri and many other bats) is affected by the change. Together with my friend Mr. Mai-tin C. Hinton (who is engaged in investigations of the hair structure of certain Rodents), 1 have examined the hair of Rh. rcmxi microscopically. The pigment • Oldfield Thomas. The seasonal changes in the Common Squirrel ; The Zoologrist, November 1896, pp. 401-407. 270 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. consists of minute granules arranged in longitudinal rows so as to produce a striated appearance of the hair (magnification, 710 dia- meters). In the newly moulted, mouse-coloured fur (dorsal region, specimen No. 1955) the colour of the pigment is some tinge of olive; in the bright phase (dorsal region, specimen No. 520) this colo^tr of the pigment has chancjecl to orange. How this change is eflfected is, of course, a question for the bio-chemist, but it appears probable that it is due to oxidation. If this is so, one may perhaps hazard the hypothesis that in individuals which show no colour change of this kind, or which stop short at an intermediate (auburn) phase, the oxidizing element may either be entirely absent or wholly or partly cou^nteracted by some other factors. Summary. (1) The coat of the young i^/imoZopA.?(s (any species) is darker (duller, more matt) than that of the adult. I have seen very few immature individuals of Bh. rouxi, but those examined are of this dark and dull tinge. An immature individual in the bright (auburn, orange) phase I have never seen in any species of Txhino- lophus or Hipposideros ; it is improbable that the coat of the imma- ture ever shows such colour. (2) Rh. rouxi moults twice a year. In South Mysore and North Kanara the " spring " moult takes place in Ma}^, the " autumn " moult in October. Whether there is any considerable variation in the time (month) of the two annual changes of coat, either among individuals inhabiting the same geographical area, or between individuals from widely separated areas of India, are ques- tions not answered hy my material. The autumn moult is certain- ly complete {i e., affects the whole of the pelage). The same is probably the case with the spring moult, but the material available is very small (two examples only). (3) The fresh fur, both in spring and autumn, is mouse-brown above, mouse-grey beneath. C4) In a large number of individuals this colour of the new, full grown coat changes (probably rather rapidly) into much brighter tinges, the upperside through auburn and Sanford's brown to orange-rufous or even xanthine-orange, the underparts through ochraceous-tawny to ochraceous-orange or even yellow ochre. This explains the enormous " individual variation " in colour in this species (as it no doubt explains similar or corresponding colour variations in other bats). In autumn the colour change takes place immediately after the moult, in October and November ; the exact time when it occurs in the spring coat is not shown by Tnj material but it will proliably be found to be in May and June. Every hair of the coat, and the whole of every hair, from tip to base, is affected by the colour change. L Bombay. Nat,. HisT: Societv. Mammai, Suhvbv. ^LT. 7 Z33/ /--*— Coll. G C. Shortridoe /'S BcMBAv Nat: H,st , Soc.r,. Manual Su.v.t. ^ /^ O./ . /i _ /J M // v V^ G> C. Shortrimc- X D O Qi D I CL O o 2 X c o >-l "o O ' ^ BonBAv. Nat; Hist: Societ Mammal Sukvcv. "^. Coll. G. C. SHONTKioce. H A B ^^ Tl ^^ H^MS U ) // a. < H 1. Kr 46 O O H < 2 >- < OQ 2 O OQ D o 5 /o..^.. .„,, „„, s«,.„^i::::n:;;;7— J> B«...v N.r H,ST Soc,.„. H.-H.. S..v., ^^3/ >-.- dbti G C Smortridoe O^ H * P tl „ M, ,S U I /J Z t,. a: tic c o D _o o O COLOUR VHASES OF THE RUFOUS JWRSESROE-BATS. i'71 (5) Not all individuals pass through the whole scale of colour changes. A not inconsidi'rable number would seem to remain in the auburn stage; such individuals have been obtained not only in October and November (when we should naturally expect them), but also in January and April, together with specimens showing the extreme of the orange phase. Others show an even more limit- ed " colour plasticity," the colour of the upperside changing only into sepia or bister, with or without a distinct yellowish " wash," the uuderparts into drab-g•re3^ Such individuals are represented in the material from January, April, and May (moulting). (G) The claws (feet and pollex) change colour together with the fur turning from transparent horn brown to deep blood red. The degree of coloiir change of the claws seems to be directly propor- tional to the degree of colour change of the fur ; i.e., the dark brown phase shows no colour change in the claws, this begins only with the auburn stage, and reaches its maximum (both in the inten- sity of the tinge and in the area of the claws afiected by the change) of the bright orange phases. The red colour invariably shows first at the tip of the claw, spreading toward its base. (7) The change of colour of the fur is due to a change of colour in the pigment (from olive to orange), probably owing to oxidation. The fact that Bome individuals exhibit no colour phases at all, while others remain in an intermediate phase, may be due to absence of the oxidizing element or to some factor which wholly or partly neutralizes this element. Explanation of plates. By the " four colour process " employed it has only been possible to give an approximately correct idea of the true colours of the spe- cimens figured. All figures are about 3/5 natural size. Fig. 1. $ ad., 18 October 1912, Seriugapatam, S. Mysore, G.C.S. 1935, age, three and half years. Autumn moult beginning. The fur on the back of the neck and shoulder is purposel}'' disarranged, to show the new dark coat coming up underneath (it looks in the figure, and, on hurried inspection, in the specimen as well, as if the orange hairs had dark bases ; this is not the case ; the orange fur is always uniform to its extreme base, or if anything lighter at base ; what looks like dark bases is, of course, the new dark coat). The oi'ange fur, being old and worn, has lost some of its brillianc}^ Back between Sanford's brown and orange-rufous (II, 11, j), under- parts nearly ochraceous-orange (XV, 15'j with the new mouse-grey coat beginning to appear on throat, flanks, and anal region. Fig. 2. — Same sex, date, place, and age as foregoing, G. C. S. 1938. Autumn moult well advanced. Old orange fur chiefly 272 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. confined on upperside to sides of back, on underside to chest and part of belly, though the new fur, both above and below, is still thinly sprinkled with old orange hairs. Several stages connecting those represented by figs. 1 and 2 have been seen, all from October. Fig. 3. — Same sex, date, place, and age as foregoing, G. C. S. 1944. One of the final stages of the autumn moult. Old orange pelage now restricted on upperside chiefly to a narrow stripe on each side of the dorsum, along the lateral membranes, and on underside to a V-shaped patch on the chest ; new fur on back still with a very thin admixture of old orange hairs ; on belly a few tiny bunches of ochraceous-orange hairs among the new grey hairs. Several stages between " Fig. 2" and " Fig. o" are in the collec- tion, all from October. Fig. 4.— $ ad, 19th October 1912, same place, G. C. S. 1958, age, about a year and a half. Moult practically completed (faint traces of orange hairs behind the ears and on chest, but these are discernible only on very close examination). Upperside mouse-brown, i. e. a dark shade of brown approaching clove-brown (XL) or fuscous (XLVl), but finely powdered with greyish owing to the narrow grey tips to most of the hairs, these greyish tips being longest and most conspicuous on the shoulders and back of the neck ; base of fur paler ; underparts nearly uniform mouse-grey (paler than LI, 15 ' ' ' ' ' ). Similar specimens from October are in the collection, but none from any other niontii. The new " summer " fur (May) is probablj^ of the same colour, but only specimens in the first stages of the spring moult have been seen. Fig. 5.— $ ad., 18th October 1912, same place, G. C. S. 1949, age, about six months. A perfectly full grown bat of the year (epiphyses of the metacarpals ossified). It had completed its first autumn moult, and was killed while the colour of its new coat was changing from mouse-brown to auburn above, and from mouse- grey to ochraceous-tawny on the underside of the body. This individual has been so fully dealt with in the text (p. 8) as to need no further description here. Notice the entirely different " pattern" of this specimen, both above and below, as compared with the moulting individuals, figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6.— $ ad., 21 November 1911, Devikop, S. Mahratha Country, G. C. S. 138, age, about a ye^v and a half. To show the perfectly developed auburn phase. There is now no trace of mouse- brown or mouse-grey in the coat. Upperside pale auburn (very nearly auburn Sanford's brown, II, 11, 1), gradually lightening (almost to cinnamon, XXIX, 15") toward the base of the fur ; underparts warm ochraceous-tawny (XV, 14', i). This phase begins to make its appearance immediately after the autumn moult, in October, but specimens from that month (five from Seringapatam, COLOUR r II asks; of rni: rufous iiorsksiioe-uats. j7;j S. Mysore) are fitiier only half .luhurn (one, see fig. 5), or have at least some grey coloTir left on lh«' throat, or both there and on the holly (the othei's). In the November material (Devilcop, S. Mah- ratlia Country) the full auburn ])ha?:e, a?; figured here, without trace of mousf-t'olour, is absolutely })redominaut ; and the same phase oecurs, though (so far as the material goes) much more sparingly, in the later months of the season. The summer fur (after the spring moult in May) will ])robaV)ly be found to have its corresponding aubiirn phase, but material from that season is lacking. Fig. 7.-- 2 ad, 18th -January 11)12, Potoli, S. E. of Supa, North Kauara, (J. ('. S. 528, age, aboiit one year and nine months. To show an average tinge of the orange phase. LIpperside almost orange-rufous (closely approaching II, 11, i), the tinge being slightly brigliter and more glossy (II, 11, h) at the concealed base of the hairs; underparts abnost ochraceous-orange (XV, 1-3' or IG). Xo specimens comparal)le with this have been seen from the month of October (except, of coarse, those moulting from the orange to the dark phase, in which, however, the orange has lost considerably in brilliancy) ; a few individuals from Xovember (S. Mahratha ( ountry) approach it but do not quite match it in hue ; no Decem- ber specimens are available ; in January this t^'^pe of colour (or even brighter hues) isdecidedl}- predominant and remains so till April and ^lay, though in the latter month (spring moult) it has probably as a rule lost some of its brightness and gloss. The fact that the Octo- ber series contains a a'ood number of orano-e individuals in inoult .shows that the smnmer fur also has its orange phase. Fig. 8. — Same sex, date, and place as fig. 7, G. C. S. 522, age, aliout nine months. The palest extreme of the orange phase. Upperside nearly xanthine-orange (III, 13, i orh), underparts pale yellow ochre (XV, 17' a). Quite or approximately similar indivi- duals have only been seen from January to April. The summer fur of some individuals may change into similar hue. i:. 274 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY'S MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. Report No. 28. IvALiMroxG (Darjiling). By R. C. Wroughton. Collection ... ... No. 28. Locality ... ... Kalimpong (Darjiling). Date ... ... June-October 191G. Collected by ... ... N. A. Baptista. Earlier Reports . . . . No I, East Khandesh, Vol. XXT, p. 392, 1912; No. 2, Berars, Vol. XXI, p. 820, 1912; No. 3, Cutch, Vol. XXI, p. 826, 1912 ; No. 4, Nimar, Vol. XXI, p. 944,1912; No. 5, Dharwar, Vol. XXI, p. 1170, 1912 ; No. 0, Kanara, Vol. XXII. p. 29, 1913 ; No. 7, Central Provinces, Vol. XXII, p. 45, 1913; No. 8, Bellary, Vol. XXII, p. ."iS, 1913: No. 9. Mysore, Vol. XXII, p. 283, 1913 ; No. 10, Kathiawar, Vol. XXII, p. 464, 1913 ; No. 11, Coorg, Vol. XXII. p. 486, 1913, No. 12, Palanpnr, Vol. XXII, p. 684, 1913; No. 13, South Ceylon, Vol. XXII, p. 700, 1913 ; No. 14, Shan States, Vol. XXII, p. 710, 1914; No. 15, Knmaon, Vol. XXIII, p. 282, 1914 : No. 16, Dry Zone, Central Burma and Mt. Popa, Vol. XXIII, p. 460, 1915 ; No. 17, Tenasserim, Vol. XXIII, p. 695, 1915 ; No. 18, Ceylon, Vol. XXIV. p. 79, 1915 ; No. 19, Bengal, Vol. XXIV, p, 96, 1915; No. 20, Chindwin, Vol. XXIV, p. 291, 1916; No. 21, Gwalior, Vol. XXIV, p. 309, 1916; No. 22, Koyna Valley, Vol. XXIV, p. 311, 1916; No. 23, Sikldm, Vol. XXIV, p. 468, 1916 ; No. 24, Sind, Vol. XXIV. p. 719, 1916; No. 25, Chin Hills, Vol. XXIV, p. 758, 1916; No. 26, Darjiling- District, Vol. XXIV, p. 773, 1916 ; No. 27, Bhutan Duars, Vol. XXV, p. 63, 1917. Oil completion of his work in the Bhutan Duars, reported in No. 27 (J., B. N. H. S., XXV., p. G3, 1917), Baptista, the Societjr's Collector, moved on to Kalimpong, where Dr. Sutherland had consented to supervise his movements. The present collection represents his work there during live months, June-October, 191G. Unfortunately no notes on the topography are available, but I gather from the Gazetteer that Kalimpong is a tract in the Darji- ling District, situated at about 27^' N. Lat. and 8 8 ''30' E. Long., east of the Tista River, west of Ni-chu and Di-chu, and bounded by Bhutan on the north. The tract is made up of a series of steep ridges and the valleys bet\A'eeii, and is largely under trees. The area is just over 400 stj. miles, of which slightly more than half is Reserved Forest, situated on the tops of the ridges and the bottoms of the valleys, i.e., above 5,000' and below 2,000'. Ilie fauna seems to be identical with that of Darjiling and the MAMAf.lL SLRVEY OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON, 'im \^\\\\\^^\^ Duals. Init the collection, though a fairly large one in iiiiinbers, has not a wide range in species. In all there are sotne 560 sptM-iniens divided among 21) species and subspecies), in 'I'l genera. There is nothino- new to the Surve\- list in the collection, l)ut the series of yi/ctalus and Barliastella are most welcome, as so far only single specimens had been obtained, (1) KoUSETTUS LESCHEXAULTI, Desm. The Fulvous Fi-uit Bat. (Synonymy in No. 11.) Pedong, c? 1 ^juv), $ o. (.SW' also Reports Nos. !•'>, IG, 17, 22 and 27.) {2) Rhinolophus rocxi, Temm. The Rufous Uorsc-x/ioc Bat. (Synonymy in No. o.) Ximbong, c? <'• (iVe also Reports Nos. 0, 9, 13 and lo.) (3) Rhinolophus monticola, K. And. The Mussoone Horse-shoe Bat. (Synonymy in No. 20.) Nimbong, c? 2, $ 12; Pedong, 2 1; Sangser, J 3. (4) HiPPOSIDEKOS AKMIGER, HodgS. TJie Great Himalayan Leaf-nosed Bat. (Synonymy in No. 14.) Nimbong, § 2. (.See also Reports Nos. 1-j, 1G, 20, 2o and 26.) (o) HiPPOSIDEKOS FULAis, Gray. The Bicoloured L.eaf -nosed Bat. (S^^nonymy in No. 3.) Nimbong, J 5, $ 12 ; Sancser, cf 6, $ 9. (.Sec also Reports Nos. 3, r,-10, 12-14, 16-20, 22-24 and 27.) (6) Barbastella darjelingensis, Horsf. The Eastern Barbastcl. (Synonymy in No. 26.) Nimbong, J 6, $ 12. (iSee also Report No. 27.) (7) Tylonyctehis fulvika, Blj-tli. llw (lull-footed Bat. (Synonymy in No. 2(5.) Kalimpong, d" f>, 9- 1"'; Nimbong, d 1: Sangser, S 1. (.See also Reports Nos. 14, 17, 20, 23 and 2.">.) ■27(> JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATUltAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. (8) Nyctalus labiaxus, Hoilgs. T/ip Indian Noctule Bat. Saiigser, 6 i, 2 ^- _ This animal at first sight looks like a Scotophilus, but is at once recog- nisable by the very short fifth finger. A naked spot between the shoulders is so constantly present as to be a character of almost specific value. (9) PiPISTRELLUS COKOMANDRA, Gray. The Corumandel Pipistrcl. (Synonymy in No. o.) Mimbong, c? 2, 2 1; Pedong, d ^-^ ? i^6 ; Kalim- pong, S -, $ 1 ; Sangser, J 1. {S('<- also Reports Nos. 2, o, 9, 11, l3-lo, 19, 23, 26 and 27.) (10) MURINA TUBINARIS, ScuUy. Sculli/'s Tube-nosed Bat. (Synonymy in No. 2~).) Sangser, J 3. (See also Eeport No. 26.) (11) MURINA CYCLOXIS, Dobs. The Bound-eared Tube-nosed Bat. (Sjmonymy in No. 23.) Sangser, c? 1. {See also Reports Nos. 2') and 26.) (12) TUPAIA BELAXGERI (JHINEXSIS, And. 'T/ie Assam Tree S/ireic. (Synonymy in No. 23.) Nimbong, r? 2. {See also Report No. I'T.) (13) SoRicuLUs CAUDAXus, Horsf. Hod(ison''s Bronn-toothed Shrev. (Sj'non3miy in No. 15.) Sangser, $ 2. {See also Reports Nos. 2'i, 26 and 27.) (14) Pachyura sp. Tlie Musk-rat. Kalimpong, J 15, 9 26; Nimbong, J 2 ; Pedong, J 5 9 5 ; Sangser, J 1- {See also Reports Nos. 1, 3-7, 9-13, 15-19, 22, 23, 26 and 27.) (15) Felis affixis, CJray. The Jungle Cat. (Synonymy in No. 1.) Nimbong, $ 1. {See also Reports Nos. 3-7, 10-12, 15, 16, 18-20, 22,24 and 27.) MAMMAL SUR1'i:y OF /.V/>/J. lirUMA AND CFA'LON. -JTT {]('<) Fkms (i/iDuestic). (17) VlVKKHA /1I^ET^IA. L. /7ii' Lari/c Indmn Civet. (Synonymy in No. 14.) Ninibdug, o 1, 2 1- (Sfr also lleports Nos. 20, 23, 2">, 26 and 27. Nos. 14 and 17. separated as sub-species pridnosa.) (18) Canis ixdicus, Hodgs. The Benr/al Jctchal. (Synonymy in No. 5.) Pedong, d 1. $ 1. (&f also Reports Nos. 14-16, 19, 20, 23, 2.'5 and 27.) (10) Martes flavigula, Bodd. The Northern Indian Mart(m. (Synonj'mj'^ in No. L";.) Pedoug, $ 1. {>>f'e also Reports Nos. 20, 23, 25 and 27.) (20) LriKA LUTRA, L. The Common Otter. (Synonymy in No. 11.) Pedong, 2 1. (no skull.) {^ee also Ueports Nos. \'), 18 and 2;j.) (21) Katufa gig antra, McCl. The Assam Giant Squirrel. (Synonymy in No. 14.) Sangser, J 2, $ 1. {See also Reports Nos. 23 and 26.) (22) ToMEXJTES LOKROIUES, HodgS. The Hoarij-bellied Himalayan Squirrel. (Synonj'uiy in No. 23.) Ninibong, S 1 ; Sangser, $ 2. {See also Reports Nos. 23 26, and 27.) (23) Vandeleukia dumeticola, Hodgs. Hodifson^s Tree Mouse. (Synonymy in No. 16.) Kalimpong, (5 1. {See also Reports Nos. 23, 25, 26 and 27.) (24) Mrs i>rBiu.s, Hodgs. The Nepal House Mouse. (Synonymy in No 15.) Kalimpong, d 18, $ 28 : Nimbong, J 1 : Pedong, (S 5, ? 12. " {See also Reports Nos. 23, 26 and 27.) 278 JOURNAL/BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT\ (25) Mus HOMOURTJS, Hodgs. The Himalayan Houae Mouse. (Synonymy in No. !•">.) Kalimpong, J 6, $ 2 ; Nimbong, c? 2, $ 1 ; Pedong, S 12, 2 14; Sangser, c? 1, $ 1. {See also Reports Nos. 23, 26 and 27.) (26) Mus PAHAKi, Thos. • The Sikkim Hill Mouse. (Synonymy in No. 2.3.) Pedong, 2 1 (juv) : Sangser, $ 1. {See also Report No. 26.) (27) Rattus fulvescens. Gray. The Chestnut Rat. (Synonymy in No. lo.) Nimbong, c?2, ? 1; Pedong, d 1, $,2. (*<• also Reports Nos. 14, 17, 23, 2o and 26.) (28) Rattus NiiiDus, Hodga. Hodgson's Grey -bellied Rat. (Synonymy in No. 1^).) Kalimpong, $ 1; Nimbong, J 6, $ 1 ; Pedong, J 1- 2 1, Sangser, S 3, 2 3- (, 2 ^• {See also Reports Nos. 20, 23, 26 and 27.) •J7'.> LlVKIMVOlJTr^ OK THK WKSTKIIN HIMALAYAS AM) TI[K IMN.IAH. WITH XOTKS ON- KNOWN SPKCIES AND DESCKIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. 11 Y Shiv n^M K \siiY \i>, M.Sc. (Pnujab), B.A, (Cantab.), Profeimr of h'otani/, Gorcrnment C(>Ue(/p, JaiUovi'. II. Maruhantiales — (ctinchuled). (^Continued from page .I'lO of V>,/. XXI 1.) Flmhriaria reticulata, n. s. Ditecious. Thallus yellowish lin'Oii, thin, nnbrancheil, npto 6 mm. long and 4 mm. broad, obovate with a tlec'i) notch at the apex. Margins entire. Dorsal snrface l!at. Stomata not prominent, each bounded by one ring of t)-7 cells ; air chambers empty in two layers. Ventral surface greenish ; scales purple ovate, appendage ovate entire. Midrib broad, elliptic — oblong in transverse section, slightly projecting ventrally, rather suddenly passing into the wings. Carpocephalum — stalk naked reddish at base upto 4A^ mm. long ; receptacle Hat, stomata only slightly raised spor<\gonia upto 4; pseudo-perianth hyaline, S exserted. Spores, elaters and antheridia not seen. The apical part of the thallus in sterile plants becomes narrowed and thickened, and persists in this con- dition through the dry period. Habitat. — Kashmir, 8,000 ft. in a shady place along the road. Fla(/iochasma ^imlensis, n. s. Dioecious or mon(Ccious. Thallus closely creeping, bluish green, branched, upto lo mm. x4 mm. Margins entire or slightly crenulate. Dorsal surface smooth, plane ; stometa not at all prominent, very small, pore minute bounded by 4 or •"> cells ; upper epid- ermis thin walled, trigones small. Ventral surface i)urple ; scales over- lapping, triangular, entire, appendage not sharply constricted off from the body, purple or hyaline. Transverse section of the thallus biconvex in the middle gradually thinning towards the margins. Female receptacle sessile or shortly stalked (stalk when present upto '1 mm.), concave dorsally. Sporogonia 1 or '2. Spores broadly reticulate-lamellate ; margin spinulosc ; about lli^ n. Elaters closely o-4-spiral, broad large, occasionally bran- ched, 340-400 u. Male receptacles in a middorsal row, either on dilierent lobes of the thallus bearing female receptacles or on difterent plants, cushion like, circular or notched anteriorly. Habitat. — Simla, below Chota Simla, near a small stream, August. The "aestivation " of the involucre is similar to that of other species described by the writer before, (New Phyti>logist, Vol. XIII, No. i)), one valve being iolded and the other being fullj^ opened out. Jungermannialex. liie/fa in(lira-blong or linear in very moist places. No distinct midrib. Main shoot «np to eight cells thick, biconvex lenticular in transverse section : cells all alike or epidermal cells rather small. Habitat.— C\rii-VAm?iv\ road, 0,000 ft. on a moist cliff. Pangie in running water. The Pangie specimens were much longer up to L^o mm. but the older parts were dead. They were also thinner and the ultimate lobes were oblong or linear oblong. Metzfferia 2)ube.^cens (Schrank) IJaddi. Mussoorie about 5,000 ft. Chamba- Pangie mad. about 10,000 ft. The chief interest of this species lies in its great variation. The plant can be readily recognised owing to the presence of setjie on both surfaces everywhere. 'The European specimens, however, are described as dis- tinctly pinnate vvith 8 to 11 cells forming the epidermis of the midrib. The Pangie specimens were more or less pinnate but the number of epider- mal cell's on the midrib was 6 or 7. The Mussoorie specimens were dis- tinctly dichotomous and the number of epidermal cells on the midrib was only 4. In other respect the plants resemble the European forms. Metxfjeria Himalayanfi^ n. s. Plants deep green, dichotomous upto lo mm. r more long and upto 1 mm. broad. Lobes upto 4 mm. long. Midrib biconvex, lamina plane or undulate, occasionally interrupted. Long hairs present on the undersurface of the midrib and the margins, the rest naked. Midrib 4-o cells thick and 3 cells broad through the centre. Epidermal cells f. Lamina in old parts upto 14 cells on each side ; cells 32 n. Xi'4 n. Cah/cularia crispula, Mitt. Dalhousie-Chamba road ; Oarhwal, near Gauri Kund. J'ellia calyeiiui (Tayl). Nees. Common in tho Himalayas ; Simla, Mus- soorie, Mnrree, Pangie, Garhwal. (> LiVERU'oins OF riii: westeux Himalayas. jmi J'iiiiSfi»i/>ii'>ii'a /ii)iia/iii/ru-l<>;,'ist, XI\'. NO. 1). Mussooric ; Chiunba-l':iu<;ie road; iSinila. The wiiiijless terminal stalk- liki) portion bearin. — The leafy Jiivf/crmann'talt's will be taken up later on. Anthoci-iotales. Anthoceros himahtyensis, Kashyap. (Xew I'hytologist. Vol. XIV, Xt>. 1). Haltitat. — Many parts of the Himalayas ; Simla ; Mussoorie : rarely on tile banks of the IJavi in Lahore. Plant growing under water or where tiiey are constantly moistened by dripping water do not form the charac- teristic tubers. Juh'-September. (In Lahore about March). Anf/ioccroo erect /(■•>, Kashyap. (New Phytologist, Vol. XIV. Xo. 1). Mus- soorie, Simla. July-September. A.nt/ioceros chambe7isiA n. s. Thallus closely creeping firmly fixed to the soil, in dense circular or irregular patches, lobes often overlapping, margin toothed slightly raised upwards. Patches upto o cm. or more in diameter. Lobe.s thick flesh^^ with large mucilage cavities inside ; greatest thickness in the middle upto 16 cells : upto 1 cm. broad. Xo distuict midrib. Epidermal cells 32m.x20m. IJhizoids mostly smooth, some granular. Dirccious. Involucre tubular narrowed above, with truncate mouth ; l''0 nun. Sporogonia ^'o cm. long, solitary. Pseudo- elaters thin walled usually branched, upto 100 u. long, slender. Spores opaque faintly granular, 40-48 u. Male plants not seen. Habitat. — Chamba-Chauri road, moist rock : sterile plants were also fnund by the late L. Bashanibar Das near Sialkot. Xotot/n/la-i levievi, Schtfr. Plants densely overlapping in small thick patches, ascendiu'.^, fixed ouly at the base ; patches projecting outwards from vertical rocks. Thallus thin, delicate, largest circular in outline upto 1 cm. in diameter ; smaller plants usually obovate : margin lobed, lobes narrow, small, toothed ; Xostoc colonies scattered. Greatest thickness upto 6 ceil.s in the middle gradually thinning towards the margins. Dioecious. Sporogonia marginal between the lobes equal to or smaller than the full grown adjacent lobes, entirely within the involucres Avhich often arise in pairs ; upto 2 mm. long x i mm. broad. Epidermis without stomata ; radial walls of epidermal cells very thick and brown, cavity very narrow : epidermal cells 00110 u. x 18-20 u . Spores opaque dark brown, minutely granular, .36 u. Sterile cells with oblique curved thin bands or incomplete spirals, 4-") u. x 22-40 u. Habitat. — Simla ; Mussoorie July-September. 1<: ■282 THE FEMALE OF THE DRAGONFLY, BRACHYTHEMIS FU!SCOPALLIATA (Pas). BY C.TT. F. C. Fkaskr, I. M. S. {With a riaU') The male has been described by Ris and also hy Seh's and Kirby nnder the synonyms of Trithemis fuscopalliata and Cacerijatps fuscopalliata respectiveh'. The description by Ris in 1910 states that the female is unknown and his description of the male, made from dried specimens, is not complete. In March of this year, I took a fair number of specimens above Abadan on the iShat-el-Arab which Avere all males and a few daj's later secured four females at the month of a creek opposite Basra. They are very sh}^ insects and keep well out in the stream, so that it was only by wading oat up to the hips that the specimens were secured. Male. (Amplified from the description by Ris.) Expanse 58 mm. Length 38 mm. Pterostigma 2-5 mm. [lead of moderate size : eyes contiguous for a very sliorfc distance, dark-brown, almost black above, sej^ia tint beneath : occipital triangle small, strongly rounded posteriorly : epistome strongly rounded, witliout a marked, free border : sutures practi- cally flush : vesicle high and narrow, deeply notched above and in front : occiput, ^'esicle, and upper part of clypeus dark brown A\ith a black streak across the lower part of the latter : labrum and labium 3'ellow. Prothorax hidden almost entirely beneath the head, the posterior lobe small and rounded. Black. Thorax nroderately robust, downy with a ruff of longer liairs along the dorsal anterior border which meet and interlace with a ring of cilia3 projecting backward from the rim of the occipital cavity. Colour uniformly black with a patch of ferruginous at the attachment of the wings on the side. Lek. Leije. yellow, streaked iu their length with black. Spines similar to male. Winqs. — Antenodal nerviires 8^-7^, the fiiuT.1 one complete or incomplete , this lack of sjmimetry sometimes seen in the opposite wings of a single specimen, and some of the nervures often bifurcat- ing in the costal space. Trigone in forewings traversed by one nervnre ; only ous row of cells in the space between the subnodal sector and the supplementary nervure. The black fascia found in the male, entirely absent in the female : the antenodal nervures bright yellow as is also the pterostigma. Anal ajipendarjes ochreous, tipped wiih black, widely se])arated. cylindrical, nearly as long as in the male, straight. Sexual orrjans. — Vulvar scale, two triangular, stOTit organs, slightly separated with concave, opposing borders aiid a minute point at their extremities. Ahdoiiieii olivaceous-green with a black, mid-dorsal line and a brown, subdorsal fascia: the edges, narrowly black. Extent ot markings variable, iu some these preponderating over the gromid colour and in juvenile specimens, the latter preponderating. Expanse G2 mm. Leng-th oo mm. Pterostigma 2--j. 284 THE CONE OF .sELAGnXELLA PALLIDISSIMA, Sn;. BY S. L. (^HO.sE, ^[.Sr.. ^IssistiCiit I'rofessor nf liotnruj, (lovenimeut College, l.,''liori:'. ( With a jihdf.) in this paper the writer proijoses to describe the cone of HclaiiiaeUa imlli(lix>>i)na, not so much its internal structure as some points about its external m(»rphology such as its size, and the form of its sporophylls, especially in relation to their protection of sporangia. Besides, a comparison between its sporophylls and those of the cones of some other species of the genus is attempted with regard to their protection of sporangia. A paper on ' The Cones of the Genus Selaginella' was published in the 'Annals of Botany" in July 1910 by Miss M. G. Sykes and Mr. ^\ . Stiles, where also the ditierent kinds of sporophylls were described in relation to their protection of sporangia, but the peculiar conditions found in the species S. palH(U:>dm(i, were not noted (9). The material of 'S'. ^j«//7H(«, >S. chnjsocaulo'<, and S. chrysorrltizit.'' was collected by Professor Siiiv Kam Kashyap of the Lahore Government College and the writer at Simla at a height between o.UOO and 7,00r) feet above the sea level. Part of it was preserved in alcohol, and the rest dried up. rs' by assuming that the ' inverse-dorsiventral flowers' are more utilitarian. The wide occurrence of the species 'S. pulUdi^sima, therefore, in the North-west Himalayas becomes (juite interesting, especially when com- bined with some abnormal conditiv {For Explanation of I ujuies, sec end of article-) COXJ: of SELAdiyEI.LA PALLIDI^SIMA. L^s.-» roproductiitn in some Indian SelnjJiinellus' has described ' surface-tubers' in .S. c/iri/s'icdKl-js, which provide for vegetative proiuiiiatiou in that species {2). The buds in V. jxillidi.-^simu are nuieh smaller, though (piite as compact as those of 'S. chiy. mm. in the lower and 'lo nun. in the upper si)orophylls — from each other, so that portions of the axis lying between the consecutive leaves are clenrly visible through the upper sporophylls (Fig. ^^, ax). The sporangia, as a rule, lie in the axil of the sporophylls of the lower plane onlj', the upper sporo- phylls being generally sterile. This peculiaritj' is very interesting, because as far as the writer could find out it is supposed that in the genus >Se/fi>/i)ir-lla each of the sporoi)hylls, except sometimes the basal ones, has a sporangium in its axil. Miss Mitchell in her paper on 'The Anatomy of the (ienus Selagineila" writes, ' The leaves,' meaning those of the cone, • are hollowed to acconmiod;ite the sporangia which arise one in the axil of each leaf' (8). Bower in his book ' The Origin of a Land Flora ' says: 'In fai't its (of sporangium) position may vary in diti'erent species, though the numerical relation of one to each leaf is strictly maintained' (3). These assertions might n\ean that only ow sporangium — imf tiro cr more — is found in the axil of each sporophyll, or that cncli sporophyll bears a sporangium in its axil. Miss Mitchell actualU' says that in the elongated cones of S Iwhetica, .">'. Walichii,S. orei/ana and S.JlnheUata the middle region is freipientl}' sterile (8). Campbell, however, clearly writes on this point that ' the basal leaves of the strobilus may be sterile, but usually each sporophyll subtends a sporangium ' (4). In all the species which the writer examined, except X. imlVulUdma each sporophyll did subtend a sporangium. The total absence of the sporangia from the axil of the upper sporophylls, therefore, becomes very characteri.stic. The distribution of sporangia on the cone is usually indiscriminate, the megasporangia not alwaj's being confined to the basal regions. In number the latter are comparatively fewer than the microsporangia. A megaspor- angium on an average measures -8 mm. across, and a microsporangunn •6o mm. along the long axis, the latter being ' saddle-shaped'. Inequality in the size of mega-spores is also not uncommon, sometimes the whole cone having its megasporangia each containing two large and two small megaspores. The megaspore ordinarily measures about ••'Jo mm. across, but in cases of inequality of spores, the big megaspore measures about •4 mm. and the small one about "1 mm. in diameter. The microspore measures about 'Ol mm. across. The colour of megasporangia is yellow and that of microsporangia brownish red. The sporophylls are dimorphotis and ' homostachous'. Those of the lower plane are ovato-cordate, erecto-patent, shortly ciliated and slightly i'86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETl , Vol. XXV. imbricated, measuring about 1"7 mm. in length and 1 mm. in breadth (Fio-s. 4 & 5). The long axis of each sporophyll is at an angle of about ()0° to that of the stem bearing it (Fig. 3). The sporophyll is clearly oblique ; the half nearest the stem-axis is much bigger than the one away from it, and is besides much more lengthened out, and rounded at the base than the other half (Figs. 4 & o). This stretched out portion partly goes under the stem-axis, and has a depression for lodging the sporangium. The rest of the sporophyll is quite flat and there is no dorsal flap or ridge at all as described by Sykes and Stiles iu the species IS. jrumJla, iS. helvetica, and orophyn8 also proves the same fact (vJ). Thus it can be easily eoiicluded that -S. jic/fii/fi^uiKt is onu of the simplest of the dorsiventral species of Scla'jinclla. Sterilization of iip]>er sporophylls, however, seems to show that the cone is not so primitive as it otherwise appears to be. Tiie line of sterilization in this species is qnite dill'erent from that of other species. Sterilization in other species begins from the base i>f the fertile branches and proeieds towards the apex ; but in S. /la/liifisfimd sterilization takes place ni the sporophylls of the upper plane only. In this connection it is interesting to note that Professor Kashyap informs the writer that he in very rare eases actually found one or two sporophylls of the upper surface having sporangia in their axils, forming as it were an intermediate stage. As already pointed out, this kind of sterilization is utilitarian, because it helps in the protection of sijorangia besides preserving ' the balance between the spore producing and the vegetative parts." This also explains the fact why the cone has a loose nature and is much bigger than that of most of the other species. The peculiar arrangement for the protection of sporangia and specially the absence of any dorsal flap in the sporophylls becomes interesting in view of the assertion of Sykes and Stiles, who believe that the enfolding of the sporangia by the associated sporophyJl is higher than the dorsal flap arrangement (9). For this purpose the cones of the following species were also examined to see the nature of dorsal flap in their sporophylls : — I. IJadial Cones — (a) S. spinosa,^.^. Aethog., has a very slight dorsal swelling. (//) >S. Emmclianci, Van Geert., and 'S'. viticulosa, Klot, have a slight dorsal ridge (Fig. 7). (c) iV. sei-pens, Spr., has a better developed dorsal ridge with lateral prominences (Fig. 8). {(1) S. Martensii. Spr., has better formed lateral projections on the dorsal ridge. {e) S. krausnfina, A. Br. (Figs. 9 A: 10) has a very well formed dorsal flap, with a depression in the middle and a promi- nence at each side with a socket in each, in which the spor- angium from below flts. The sporangium vertically below the sporophyll tits in the middle depression. II. Dorsiventral Cones — («) In S, chryxocaulos, Spr., the smaller sporophylls, that is those of the lower plane, have a shallow depression at the base, and a big free dorsal transverse wing, a little notched in the middle. The bigger sporophylls or those of the upper plane are a little folded and have a long dorsal flap along its long axis, as figured in Goebels 'Organography of Plants, ' Vol. 11, page o07 {'•>). Besides, each has a transverse dorsal ridge prominent at one side, namely, that underthe stem. This little projection takes part in protecting the sporangium of the lower plane, situated just below the sporophyll. The si)orangium is thus protected by the associated sporophyll, projecting from the higher sporophyll of the upper plane, and the dorsal transverse flap of the higher sporophyll, of the lower plane. {b) 8. c/i)-i/soir/iizos, Spr., has the same conditions in the sporophylls as •S. chri/socaulo!' except that the upper sporophylls have a better formed dorsal transverse ridge, and also that the lower sporophylls have a bigger dorsal flaj) with no notch in the middle. It is interesting to note that according to Hieronymus these species make an ascending series (7). Thus the series of the radial cones would be 1^88 JOURyAL, BOMBAY XATURAL HL'ST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. arranged as »S'. spmoscf. S. Euniudiana, S. riticulosa, S. serpen.?, S. Martenallidi.-^. ^plnosa, S. Emniel iana . .\ serpens, >S. Martensii, S. krausxiana, 'S'. c/aysocaulos and 'S'. cliri/sorrkizos, tend to show that the presence of the dorsal flap in the sporophylls of Sdaffinelln is not primitive, but has been evolved in the genus. The writer's cordial thanks are due to Professor Shiv Ram Kashyap for kindly allowing him to use his material and for many corrections and sug- gestions in the paper. Literature Cited. 1. Baker, J. (i. — • Handbook of the Fern-allies,' 1S87. 2. Bancroft, N, — 'Note on Vegetative Reproduction in some Indian Selaginellas.' Annals SeU((jineIla, Spr., Part I, The Stem.' Annals of Botany, Vol. VTIl. 7. Hieronymus, (!., in lingler and Prantl's ' PHanzenfamilien under Selaginellacte. 8. Mitchell, (Gertrude. — ' Contributions towards a Knowledge of the Anatomy of the (renus Selaginella. Spr., Part V, The Strobilus'. Annals of Botany, Vol. XXIV., No. XCIIL Jan. 1910. 9. Sykes, M. G., and Stiles, W. — 'The Cones of the Genus Selagi- nella". Annals of Botany, Vol. XXIV, No. XCV, July 1910. com: of SELAdlMlLL.l l'ALLlI)IS>iIMA. i>8!> Exi'LAXATION OK TIIK FllilRES. Figure 1 — A snuill branch of S. paUidiKninHi to show vegetative biuls at B. (;x by .-,). Figure "J- A whole branehoil cone of S. ralli'Iissiina, seen from the lower surface. Sp. s|ioraiigiuni. (x by "j). Figure 3 — A small portion of the eone of ). Figure •") — IJight band sporoi>hyll of the lower plane (jf -V. jialUdisaima. D. depression for the sporangium. ( x by 2(J). Figure (i— llight hand sporophyll of the upper plane of S. palliditaima. vXbyi'O). Figure 7 — Sporophyll of S. Emmolianft seen from the dorsal side. D. 1.'. dorsal ridge. ( x by '20). Figure 8 — Sporophyll of >'. sfi-pens, seen from the dorsal side. ( X by '20). Figure 9 — Sporophyll of >S'. kraux-^iana, seen from the dorsal side. M. D. middle depression ; L. S. lateral sockets. ( X by 20). Figure 10 — Sporophyll of the same, seen from above. L. S. lateral sockets. ( X by '20). 29(1 PRELIMINARY NOTES OX A RECENT BOTANICAL TOUR TO THE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAIN (S. INDIA). BY E. Blattek, S. J., AND Pkof. F. Halldekg. Early this year we asked Major Gage, the Director of the Botanical Survey of India, to suggest a spot which was not known botanically. It so happened that he was just touring in S. India, looking out for land suitable for cinchona plantations, and he had visited the higher levels of most moun- tains of S. India. He advised us to pay a visit to the High Wavy Moun- tain, provided we were ready t<> rough it. As to the latter point there was not the slightest reluctance on our part: but before we start on a tour, we always like to know, at least approximately, the geographical [lositiou of the country to be visited. So far we knew we had to go south ; Lut this was about all. We consulted the Imperial Gazetteer, but the High Wavy Mountain was not to be found, and the sheets of the Atlas volume are not on a sufficiently large scale to contain many of those multi- syllabic names of the Tamil language. We procured the latest Survey maps of S. India, and on one of them we came across the name of the High Wavy Mountain. But the contours were not given. There was only a blank space with the following words printed in it : " High W^avj' Mountain, forming the source of the Shurly, overrun with dark impenetrable forest." That much at least was sure that the mountain in question was situated in the south-western corner of Madura District, on the frontier of Travan- core. We expected more detailed inforjuation from the District Gazetteer i)f Madura ; but we were sadlj' disappointed. The essence of all the infor- mation derived from it may^ be expressed in the Gazetteer's own words : •• The High Wavy is the least known part of the hills of Madura, and is infested with elephants." If Major (iage had not indicated the route we had to take, 1 am afraid we should still be in search of the High W^avy Mountain. We left Bombay at the beginnuig of Ma^^ accompanied by Mr. Almeida, Assistant Professor of Biology at St. Xavier's College, who was expected to pay special attention to the ferns, Mr. Prater of the Bom- bay Natural History Society who was sent as collector for the Mammal Survey, and Mr. Vakil who intended to collect the fungi and lichens of that area. In Madras we made a last attempt to get a good map of the country we were to examine. All we were able to i^rocure was the Madura District map (without hills) for the use of touring Officers. AVe continued our railway journey down to Amraayanj'^akkauur, perhaps better known under the name of Kodaikanal Koad Station. Here we bought oar provisions: a sack of rice, flour, salt, pepper, cofl'ee and sugar. We had to do (iO miles in a bullock cart before we could expect to reach Kambam, a small town at the foot of the High Wavy. Our road first went due west to Perij'^akulam, a town south of the Palni Hills. From there we entered the Kambam Valley in a south-western direction, walled in on both sides by high pre- cipitous mountains. To the right we had the continuation of the Palni Hills, the so-called Cardamom Hills, and to the left the Varushanad and Andipatti Kange, an outlier of the Western Ghats. We did the journey in '24 hours, without a break. We were not sorry when we arrived at Kam- bam and M'ere allowed to have a day",s rest at the Forest Hanger's Office, which Mr. Jackson, the Conservator of Forests, had kindly put at our isposal. To the east of Kambam a beautiful waterfall is visible in the upper third <>f a high mountain. This was pointed out to us as the river that drains the High Wavy. At last we had got a glimi>se of the mountain that nobody A bOTAMVAL lOlU 1 .\ s. IM)IA. I'Hl set'ini'J to know . It rost- boforo lis. stot>ii and precipitons. We wore told that a forest road k-ads np to tlio top, wliuro a forust hnt woidd bo ready ti> receive us. We ilecided to start early next niorniug. Bnt it was not sToinii to be early, owintj to the late arrival of the coolies. It was a stiff" climb of ten miles in the scorching heat of the snn, with no food and with very little and bad water. All onr scientific interest was j^one and we did not care a straw for plants during those hours, and I made up my mind never to go in for botany in future. It was t)idy later on during our di'S- cent that we ni>ticed that the lower slopes are well covered with deciduous forest. The lower region contains a C'l/acs, one or two species of Plianix, Anof/tissus latif'ilid, Ad'tna cordlfn/in, /ht/fn-r'/ia pfitiicii/ffta, I'tcrucarpus mrir- .iu»i, Sc/iIcicJiera trijui)a, and other marketable timber trees, and also the rare AquUana (if/aUoc/ia, the " scented eagle wood " of commerce. The upper part of the deciduous zone produces blackwood (JU(l/)pr(/ia latifnHa), Ldj/t'i-xtriviiiia )uicrocarpa, and some teak of fair size. Above the deciduous zone there follows a belt of bare, rocky grass land. The top of the hill tjonsists of an \nululatiug plateau, perhaps l-l scpiare miles in area, which is entirely covered with a continuous, dense evergreen forest which runs down in long irregularly shaped masses for a considerable distance into the valleys on either side. It was in this part of the mountain, at about o,I00 feet alti- tude, that most of us reached the forest hut towards sunset. We had to cross an elephant trench in order to reach it, and the two rooms were just biir enough to accommodate our camp beds. As we wanted to make this hut our headquarters, the first thing to do was to make a time table and to fix on a menue. We decided to go out at daybreak, to return be- tween 1 and 4 p.m., after that to press plants till sunset. The menu caused us very little trouble. Tli-^re was no quarrel about the choice and sequence of the courses : Early morning: Cafe noir with native bread. Lunch : l\ice and pejiper sauce with cafe noir. Dinner : Rice and pepper sauce with cafe noir. It happened once or twice that Mr. Prater shot a giant squirrel, and when he had removed and bottled everything that science claimed, we were alLnved to make a meal of the rest. In spite of the meagre fare we have been able to make a complete botanical survey of the whole plateau, i.e., of a belt between 4,000 and 5. .100 feet. The Sur\-ey map speakes of a dark impenetrable forest. This is literally true. You are free to examine the vegetation only along the solitary forest road, or on a path where an elephant has trodden before, or along a water course, if you like to walk for half a day in water up to your knees. A very few small bare patches exempted, the whole plateau forms luie huge evergreen forest. The trees stand dense, have generally a rounded head, and rise to an enormous height. It is, therefore, very difficult to get at their flowers and fruits. In most cases it is impossible to climb the trees. Itopes and hooked knives on hmg sticks are useful under •ordinary circumstances, but up there they could rarely be used. In many cases the gun was the only instrument to get leaves and flowers down. The stems are usually straight and so close together that huge trees, whose lower parts have decayed, are kept in position by their neighbours. The upper part of the stem and the branches are covered with epiphytic vegeta- tion, usually ferns, orchids, species of I'lprr, and especially of Kcndiiclda nalheri, one of the most beautiful plants liulia has produced, not to men- tion a great profusion of the most varied mosses and lichens and parasitic species of Lorfmthn.^ and Viscuiii . The undergrowth of the forest is dense and high, and perfectly impenetrable, uidess you constantly use your hatchet. It is, however, no pleasure cutting down siliceous bamboos and spinous 292 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Calami, when you have to disentangle yourself after every stroke. The elephants have done pioneer work in that direction. We are only sorry that we never met one of that tribe in order to express to him our deep-felt gratitude. We must, indeed, be grateful to them ; but for them our harvest would have been a poor one. We are strongly in favour of a law protecting that most scientific of Indian animals. There is scarcely any herbaceous vegetation under the trees. The evergreen forest can at once be distinguished from the deciduous one by the almost total absence of grasses. It was only on bare rocky spots or along the water courses that we found a varied herbaceous flora. Several species of Impaiirms and Bef/onia, Utricularia, Klufjia notoniana, Viola, Thalictrum Jacanicum, Polyyala, Drosera, Burmanni<'., Lobelia, Kalancfw, etc., were found in those localities. The ferns deserve a special note, and I have to thank Mr. Almeida for it. A few hundred feet from the foot of the mountain we meet those ferns which are able to withstand the heat of the sun and long periods of drought. Adiantum caudaium first makes its appearance. Higher up the beautiful little Actinopteris, which is likewise an inhabitant of dry rocky places, attracts our attention, and from the crevices in the rocks project the heart-shaped fronds of Hemionitis. The hardy Sc/iizoloma ensifolia and the bracken fern {Pteiis aiiuilina) occur higher up at about 3,000 feet elevation. But the favourite habitat of the ferns is the evergreen forest, where shade, shelter, and abundance of moisture have given rise to their most luxuriant development. There in the twilight of the forest, the Aspleniece vie with each other in the delicacy of their foliage. Of the Aspidieee the most interesting plant is Oleundra musafolia whose stem, resembling a serpent, hangs down from the rocky ledge. The most favourite spots, however, are the mossy banks of the brooks. It is here that we find the gigantic tree-ferns. One of these, Cyathea spinulosa, acquires in some places a height of 15-20 feet. So far the general aspect of the vegetation. As to the exact composition of the flora we shall be able to give accurate data after having worked out the material. In the meantime it may suffice to indicate the chief distinc- tive characters of the flora of tlie High Wavy Mountain, when contrasted with the vegetatian of the Deccan. It is firstly the presence of a great number of GuttifercE, Dipteroca)pace(e , Mijristicaceu, I'ulmcii, and Bambusea, secondly, the great excess of species of Malayan type, especially Sterculiacew, Anacardiacca:, Mcliacew, Avipelidace^:':, Gesneracea;, Piperacecc and Orckidacen;. We have examined only a small part of about 2,000 specimens brought home. The result seems to be satisfactory. Of Orchids we have described (i new species and several varieties, of Vines about o species. Other orders, too, seem to promise well. It is not astonishing in the least that there should be many new species. If we consider that Fj'son has discov^ered 13 new species on the Nilgiri and Palni HiJls (above 6,500 feet) which had been explored repeatedly by many botanists in the course of 150 years, it is only natural that unknown forms should be found in a somewhat isolated area, which has never been visited, not even by a collector. There are many similar spots in India and of a much wider area, which are practi- cally unknown from a botanical point of view. Journ,, Bombay Nat. Hist. 8oc. The Late Fh. DRECKMANX, S.J. •2\r.\ OIUTrAUV NOTICE. It is '>ur paiurul duly to record iu Ihii^ .loiirnal the death ot" two, (.four uieuibers. r/,v., the Kev. Father V . Dreckuiauu, s..i.. and Lt.-Col. K. Iv. Kirtikar. i.M..^. (Hetd.) VxVA. I' ATI IKK I'. DillK'KMANN. s..i. Fr. Dreekmann was lioni at Soest iu Westphalia ou the 1 J th August 18-10 and joined the Society of Jesus at the age of nineteen. After going tlirough tlie usual comprehensive course of philosophi- cal, scientilic aiul theological studies, he was sent to India. It is in- teresting to note that he was posted to this coimtry b}'' a mere acci- dent. It was arranged that he was to goto Ecuador as Professor of Physics, and lie had already begun to study Spanish when an inquirj'- came from his superiors if he would proceed to India. He willingly consented. Six weeks were all that was allowed to him to learn the language iu iMiglaud, and at the end of that period he sailed for India and arrived in Boniba}- ou the loth November 1874. He was posted to St. Xaviers College. Being appointed to superintend the boarding establishment for a few months, he was soon made Professor of Physics. A former student of his writes ot this period : '• Being of a scientilic turn of mind and having a natural predelection for scientific pursxiits, Fr. Dreek- mann had devoted considerable attention in his student days to the study of science and thoroughlj?- mastered its principles. Alathe- matics and Phjsics were his speciality. Having a clear intellect and a powerful memory, thouiih hampered by a weak husky voice, he soon succeeded iji arrestino- attention and oainedthe confidence of his students. Talkiny' of his memory, I am reminded of his habit of working out the most difiicult problems in Trogonometry and Physics from memory alone, without touching the black-board, and inculcating the same habit upon us. Whetlier it was a problem iu Heat or Soiind, or a complicated example in the co-etiicient ot friction, the same method was followed, and when, at the end, the qiiestion was put to us, as was his wont, ' \^ it clear?", and the whole class with one voice answered : ' No, Father, it is not ! ' it was a stud}- to watch his face, simple, innocent, guileless, won- dering for the nonce how a set of rational beings could reall}^ be incapable of understanding 'such a simple thing.' "" In 1884, Fr. Dreekmann was made Principal of St. Xavier's College. In 1882 already he had been elected a Fellow of the Bombay University and was a member of the Syndicate for over '20 j^ears. That his work in the educational line was appreciated w'Q may judge from a few remarks made l)y the Director of Pidjlic Instruction in his oflicial report for 1902-07 : " The Principal, Fr. Dreekmann, is one of the oldest members of the University, -and one of its wisest and most trusted advisers."' 294 JOURNAL, BOMBAY XATUliAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX]'. But thei"e were other splieres of his activit}' in ^\']lich he was- .equally useful. He was a zealous and enthusiastic student of Natural History and a prominent member of our Society almost from its very beginning. He contributed some interesting notes to tlie earlier volumes of our Journal and the very first plate published liy the Society belongs to an article on " An Undescribed Hamalopsida" from the pen of Fr. Dreckmann. He was a member of the jNIanaging Committee, acted as one of the Vice-Presidents for a number of years, and was President of the Reptile and Fish Section. I'rom early youth he took a delight in watching reptiles and birds and later in life he made a special study of the snakes of the Bombay Presidency. Dui'ing his holidays, which he alwaj^s spent at Khandala, he would wander about in the wild romantic ravine that stretches out between the '• Reversing Station " and the " Duke's Nose," and study its fauna and flora. Bloodsuckers, scorpions, spiders, jungle cats, snakes and other interesting denizens of the wilds of nature were the most favourite objects of his observations. He knew how to catch alive the most deadly snakes, with an almost uncanny calmness, and would watch their habits in captivity. A considerable part of the biological collections of St. Xavier's College consists of reptiles Avhich he had caught and prepared himself, b'r. Dreckmann was not a writer and very little has been published itnder his name ; but many a scientific article written by others, has been enriched by his valuable accurate observations. In 1910, Fr. Dreckmann retired from the post of Principal which he had occupied for a full quarter of a century-. He would lui\e no farewell meeting or ceremonies of any kind. He disappeai-ed from Bombay and took refuge in his favoui-ite place, Khandala. Biat the loneliness of St. Xavier's Sanatorium, and the piercing- winds that blew there from the Deccan during the cold season, were too much for him, and by the middle of Febriuar}^ 1911 he returned to the College. There he spent some quiet years, till about 18 months before his death the sufferings of old age confined him to his room. This was a severe trial for one of so great natural energy and intei'est. Fr. Dreckmann died on the 7th June of this year. We liave lost in him a man of deep conviction, transparent sincerity, and unflinching courage in expressing liis opinion. He would stand no nonsense, there was no humbugging with him, lie hated cant and Jiypocrisj^, he liked to deal with men who were sincere and upriglit and anything savouring of underhand dealing was detestable to him. All who have met him will remember his robust figxu-e, his dee])-set piercing blue eyes, his l)lutt manner, and at times his scowling looks, but they will, at the same time, never forget, that under the grim exterior there beat the kindliest of hearts. E. R. ouirvAUY sorici:. -iwr, I. ii-n. -('(■!.. K. i;. KiirriKAU. i.M.s. (ni-Ti>.) Lii'ut.-Col. Kirtikar \v;vs l)oiii in Bombay on 21t]i .May Id-l'.V After tlio usual (N^llc^e iHlucalion lio joined the (Jraut ^fedical ('ull»'l^-e in 1871 . Three years later lie left for England to compete for the Indian Medical Service. He returned to India in 1877 and was placed on general duty in l^oniba}-. When the Afghan \\;n- hroke out he was on field service from 1878 to 1880. For his gallant hehaviour at the battle of ^laiwand, Surgeon Kirtikar was appointed Civil Surgeon of Thana in 1881. The following years saw him in a ureat variety of offices. He was Fellow of the Bombav University. Sj'ndic in .Medicine, Professor of Anatomy, ]5otany, and Materia ^ledica at the (irant ^ledical College, and held in addition a number of medical appointments. In 1902 he became Brigade Surgeon- Lieut.-Col. In 1904- he retired after completing the 55th year of his age and 27 years of useful and distinguished service. The interests of Lieut.-Col. Kirtikar were many and varied, social, literary and scientiiic. There is specially one subject for which he has shown not only a keen interest but also a marked talent throughout his Avhole career, viz.. Botany. It was shortly after his retirement from public service that I j>aid him a visit at Andheri, which he had chosen as a residence" for the rest of his life. I toiuid him amidst his books, chieHy botanic, and he delighted in showino' me his valuable volumes, his microscopes, his collections of dried plants, his water-colours of Alga? and Fungi, and many other things that interest only an enthusiast. All this was the result of his spare hours (for he had been a busy man) ; he had kept liis e\-es open, he had read a good deal, he had seen much in many lands, he had taken notes on many botanical subjects and jotted them faikan(la grass. H. W. WAITE. Ferozpore, Prx.TAii, lit April 1017. Indian Police. [In the British Museum there are two clutches from Jask taken by Mr. S. Butcher on 23rd and 2i)th March lespectively — Eds.] 27Lh >? ?? i egg 28th >» 7? 2 egg " •* )' 'J • » '? l> ' • )? 3 !! •» "^ J1 31st ., >> 3 „ No. II.— THE INDIAN GlIACKLE Oil "HILL MVNAH " {GRACULUS INTEUMED1U!S) RESIDENT IN CALCUTTA. 1 send you the following information as it ma}- interest some of j'mir readers. Last month while spending a week end at the Botanical C4ardens, Sibpur, I was walking round the Gardens with the Curator and on approaching some fine tall trees 1 was greeted by a familiar sound which 1 tlid not expect to find down here. On peering about I spotted a fair number of Hill Mynahs in among the topmost branches of the Casuarina and Mahogany trees. On pointing the birds out to my friend, he told me that Lady Prain some 14 years ago lot 4 pairs of Gnaulux intfyhiedius loose in the gardens and that ever since they had stayed and bred here. I think this fact of the Hill Mynah having gone back to his wild state and doing well in a climate like Calcutta is interesting. A. E. LOWKIE, Capt., i.a.k.o. COXTINENTAL HoTEL, CALCUTTA, \'2th June Vm . [Thoujrh called the " Hill "" Mynah this bird is not confined to the hills. It is found in the Himalayas. Assam and Burma to Malay Peninsula, and in the Nepal Terai, where it breeds and Ball recorded it from Ganjrpur, Jaipur. Bn-itar. iV:c. A race is found in the Andamans.— Ed.s.^, 18 298 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIHTY, FoL XNJ\ Xo. 111.— NOTE ON THE GREAT BROWN VULTURE (VULTUE MONACHUS) IN CAPTIVITY. Last May (1915) this young bird was brought in by a Wazir, who stated tliat he had taken it out of a nest in the Marwattai mountains, N. W. of the Wano Phiin, after shooting the parent bird. He said that the nest was at the top of a large lir tree. The previous year when L was up in the Mar-wattais in about the same phxce as this nest is said to have been found,! saw a nest of a hirge vulture containing one young bird, and watched it from the to[) of a cliff with my glasses. I think it was very probably the same nest. When this young bird was brought ni to me it cannot have been more than a few days old, and it was then covered with brovvnish-grej'^ down. The cere was light pink and bill darkish at tip, irides yellowish, legs and feet creamy white, and claws black. I fed it on raw meat and it grew very fast. Photo 1 shews it as it was at about a month old. It had Xo. 1. then begun to grow long dark brown feathers on its oack. body' and wings, and also the ruff at the back of its neck. At this time it was not strong- enough to stand up. At hrst it would (uly feed from my hand and would open its mouth like any other young bird to have the food dropped into it, but after two or three days it took to feeding itself from a plate. I kept it in a stable and after some days I noticed that the walls all round up to about IS inches from the ground were covered with its excreta. I could not understand tliis until one day 1 noticed it shuffle backwards till it reached the wall, when it lowered its head, raised its tail and squirted its excreta up on to the wall. Apparently it always went through this perfoi-mance when it wished to relieve nature. The only reason that 1 can think of for this is that while in the nest it was probably in the habit of getting to the edge and relieving nature over the side, and it was trying to do the same still. It did not MISCJJJ.A .\ EOl'.S M) IJ-HS. m\ V -s ^^ .No. _. show any inclination to Hy for a long time and when it did seem to wish to. it did not know how to. It would spread and flap its wings and jump up into the air, but never got any distance off the ground until it was about o mouths old, when it gradually took to taking short flights. It is now a Xo. 3 ::500 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL lUST. SOCLETY, Vol. XXV. yeai- old and can fly quite well, but it never leaves the Fort. It is quite tame but does not (lare about being handled, although it will submit to having the back of its head I'libbed. The last photo shews the bird in its full plumage. It is now beginning to mult. The description of the adult bird as given in Jerdon is correct, except that the cere of my bird is almost salmon-pink, and the naked part of the neck is dirty white with a very slight tinge of red. The leggs are creamy- white and not dusky-yellow. I have never seen another specimen of this vulture round Wano, though the Common Brown Vulture and Bearded Vulture are common. I have occasionally seen a pair of them on the banks of the Indus near Dera Ismail Khan, and also near Murtaza at the foot of the hills. [The above was written by the late Major F. L. Hughes, 20tli Brown- low's Punjabis (South Waziristan Militia) about May 1916. The vulture eventually disappeared in February 1917. having been in Wano Fort for nearly '2 years. Major Hughes presumed that it fcew away of its own accord.] No. IV.— OCOUIIRENCEOFTHE ASHY W00D-PIC4E0X (ALSOCOMUS rULCMRICOLLLS) IN THE JALPAlGUia DISTltlCT. "While spending a holiday in the Duars with my friend Mr. E. O. Sheb- beare of the Forest Service, he told me that he had procured this bird at Gorumara on 1st May 1909. I failed to get the bird there myself and so was very pleased when he sent me a skin of this bird a short time ago which had also been got at Gorumara by Mr. W. P. Field and sent to him for identification. Mr. Field has shot this bird before also at Goru- mara during the cold weather, I miderstand, his second specimen being got in March or April 1 believe. Gorumara is about 13 miles as the crow flies from the foot of the hills, the bungalow being situated in the forest. The general level of the country where the bird is got is about 80U ft. above mean sea level and so is very much lower than any of the elevations givf>n by Mr. Stuart Baker in his "Indian Pigeons and Doves." Mr. Baker writes '' this Pigeon is found in Nepal, Sikhim, and Tibet at elevations between 7,000 and 10,000 feet, possibly descending a good deal lower than this in winter. " The lowest elevation mentioned by him is 4,000 feet. It will be seen from those Duars specimens that this bird is got at a very low elevation in summfr and not only in icinter as presumed by Mr. Stuart Baker. It would appear that this bird is a permanent resident at any rate in that part of the Duars. From what Mr. Shebbeare writes, I understand they are fairl3' common round about Gorumara. There is no mistake in the identification as I know the bird well having shot it near Darjiling. Through the kindness of Mr. Shebbeare, I have been able to send this interesting note. CHAS. M. INGLIS. IJaghownik Fty., Lahekia Sakai, ith June 1917. No. v.— THE Bl!EEDIN(i OF THE GULL-BILLED TEKN ( the fact that the eggs of the latter species w'ere mostly in various stages of incubation. All their nests were grouped together on one side of the bank, not far from the water's edge. 1 found 3 eggs in one nest, but this was the only case in which there were more than two. A solitary pair of Black-bellied Terns [Sterna utelanof/aster) were noticed flying over the bank, and their nest was afterwards discovered on the main- land, some lo or 20 yards from the water's edge, lower down the river. It contained two slightly incubated eggs. This was the only nest found of this species. There were a few nests of (ilareola lactea in the vicinity, none of which contained more than one egg. H. W. WAITE, Ferozepoke, Punjai!, Indian Police. Zrd July 1917. No. VI.— LATE STAY OF TEAL {XETTIVM CRECCA). On the evenings of the 27th and 30th April and "ind May of this year about 6-30 1'..m. 1 have seen three large flocks of teal flying north. Is this not very late in the year i" 1 was standing in the same place on each evening and on each occasion the flocks flew straight over my head. I should be interested to hear whether it is usual for teal to stay so late There were uncommonly scarce in these parts this year during tho shooting season. AcJAK, Malwa. C. I., E. J. D. COLVIN, Capt. 3/vZ Mai/ 1917. :JO-J JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATUliAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. No. VII.— THE HEIGHT AT WHICH BHIDS AKE ABLE TO FLY. On page 006, No. 3, Vol. XXIV of our Journal, Mr. Hankin asks for information on the above point, so the following may be of interest to him. A few years ago I was stalking a herd of Bhurrel {Otis nahura). The herd was browsing on the hill side about 1,000 feet above me and a sentry was on the look out, motionless, on a iDrojecting ledge, so it behoved me to be particularly careful. I had been for sometime reclining against a rock, screened from those all seeing eyes by a juniper hedge, and biding my time until thej^ should move on for their midday quarters. I had been amusing myself watching a flock of choughs circling over a peak straight above the sheep, with a powerful pair of Zeiss glasses (12 magnification), when into my vision there came, what I, at iirst, took for a white feather floating across the sky. This was followed by another and still another and interested me not a little. I then steadied my glasses against my knees, and my head against the boulder and looked niore carefully. I then thought they must be white pigeons, but could not iniderstand what pigeons could be doing at such heights. When they came directly over me, 1 was able to see that they were not pigeons, as 1 could just make out the slow deliberate beat of the wing of some very big bird, There were five altogether and they came from the direction of the plains and were passing over in a north- eastevl3'^ direction. i could see no marking of any sort on them and they all appeared to me to be pure white. The flight was that of a stork or crane. A few slow deliberate flaps, and then a bout of sailing on still pinions, the former indulged in at very long intervals. The birds were obviously migrating though rather late in the year (end of May), and assuming they were storks or Siberian Cranes, i.e., birds about 10 feet or so from tip to tip, at what height must they have been flying above me, to appear the size of piget)as through a powerful glass, on an absolutely clear morning, in such clear atmosphere Y I was at the time at between 14,000 and lo,000 feet above sea level. They crossed the range of mountains into Spiti. In conclusion 1 may add that the Lammergeyer {Gjipa'ctus havhattut), the Himalayan Grifl'on {Gj/ps Idnialni/ensis) and Choughs (yellow-billed) (Pijrr/io- cura.r aljmms) may often be seen at 16 to 18,000 feet. Dhakmsala, 10th April 1917. C. H. DONALD, f.z.s. [Various observers have reiiarded the heights at which birds have been seen In 18S0 W. E. D. Scott ijublished a note on two birds he observed thron.tih an as- tronomical telescope at Prince town, U- S. A. He calculated the heiyiit the birds were tiyinsi' at as bsin.u' about half a mile and he thoui^ht he could recog'nise the species. Later F M. Chapman — in the " Auk" we believe — recorded some similar observations in which he ^'ave the hei.uht to be from GOO ft. to 1,000 ft. and from :!,nno ft. to l."),000 ft. Others have written their observations taken under similar conditions but only r),40(J ft. ajipears to be tlie limit of altitude at which they have observed birds in fli.yht. — Eu.s.] No. VIII,— THE SPAN OF LARGE BIRDS. On page 606 of No. 3 of Vol. XXIV of the Bombay Natural History Society's Journal, Mr. Hankin asks the above question. He men- tions having heard of an Adjutant, presumably LcptuptHux i)airs of these birds breeding on ati island in mid stream MISCELLAXJJOUS yOTEs. :]().', just below the Ahwa/. rapiils. Clutchos varied from -J-'.'j. Nest a meix- hollow in the sauil genoniUy under the shade of the Camel Thorn bush {Al/t(/t/i manorum). Ked-wattled Lapwing (Sarcoyrammus /«^/tcMA}).— Fairly common. Breeds in April and May. Lapwing or Peewit ( Vanellus vulgans). — Found sparingly in the winter months. Disappears in March. White-tailed Lapwing {Vhcttusia leucuia). — Common after rain. Caspian Sand-Plover {.Ei/ialitis asiatica). — Arrives in March and is found in tlocks on the open plains. Disappears in April. Kentish Plover [.Eyicditis ale.iandrinn). — Very common. Breeds in April and May. Clutch normally three, sometimes two. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus candidus) — Commcni after rain. Avocet {Recitrvirastris avocetta). — Common in winter after rain. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa beU/ica). — Common after rain. Spotted Redshank {Totamm /msc^«.«).— Shot two near Ahwaz in March 1917. Ruff {Pavoncella puyna.x). — Shot a specimen at Ahwa/. on 29th March 1917. Saw a few others. Dunlin [Triw/a cilpina). — Shot a specimen on 18th March 1917. Common Snipe {Gallinayo cmlestis). — Common. Woodcock (Scolopa.r rvMicola). — Recorded from Shush by Major Watts. Laughing Gull {Lams ndibundus). — Common around Ahwaz in the spring. White-winged Black Tern {Hydrocheledon leucoptera). — Saw a pair flying up the Karuu, 13th May 1917. Common Tern {Sterna Jiudatilis). — Saw 2 or 3 pairs around Ahwaz in May, where it probably breeds. Little Tern {Stei-na mimda) Black-shafted Ternliit {-Sterna munde •.««). — Either one or the other, or possibly both of these species are found sparingly on the Karun around Ahwaz, where thej-^ breed on the islands. 1 did not shoot any specimens. Conimon Cormorant {F/ialacrocora r cnrho). — Saw a few small flocks of these birds in the winter. White Stork {Ciconia alba). — Common at Ahwaz in February and March after rain. Common Heron {Ardea cinerea). — Found sparingly on the Karun near Ahwaz in winter and spring. Bittern {Botauru-' stellaris). — Shot asingle specimen at Ahwaz in February 1917. Grey Lag Goose {Anser ferus). — Found occasionally around Ahwaz in the winter. Sheldrake {Tadoitia cornuta). — Saw a pair at Ahwaz in February 1917. Mallard {Anax boscas). — (*ommon. (iadwall {Chaulelasinus xtreperus). — Shot a J in February 1917. Com- mon at Shush. Common Teal {Nettimn crecca). — Common. Pintail {Da/ila acuta). — Common. Shoveller {Spatula dypeata). — Common. Marbled Duck {Marmaronetta angustiroxtris). — Major Watts records this bird as breeding at Shush in May 1916. This is interesting. I have already secured eggs of this species at Sonmeani on the Baluchistan coast. Mr. Aitken also records it breeding on the Khushdil Khan Lake, Quetta. It is almost certain also that it breeds sparingly in Sind. I quote the following from ray note-book, 28th December 191o : — '• Have just returned from the Manchar Lake, Sind. The Mohannas tell mo that the Marbled Duck breeds on the lake iji fair numbers in 19 306 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. favourable years. I have no reason for doubting this information as it was volunteered, and moreover these Mohannas know the Sindhi and English names of every duck to be found there. It seems to me that the Marbled Duck must now be regarded as a regular breeder in Sind and Baluchistan. Pochard or Dun-bird {Nyroca ferina). — Shot a J in February 1917. Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, F. LUDLOW, Mmj 1917. No. X.— THE WEIGHTS OF PINTAIL AND FANTAIL SNIPE. Since writing to you on 18th January 1915 on the subject of the com- parative weights of Pintail and Fantail Snipe, I have now compiled the figures for the past three seasons in this neighbourhood, and submit them, as I think they may be of some interest. I shall be glad to hear if others have carried out similar experiments, and to compare their results with mine. Season : September 1914 — March 1915. The average weight of 375 Pintails was 3'90oz. while that of 151 Fantails was 3" 25 oz. Season: October 19l5--A2ml 1916. The average weight of 998 Pintails was 3-81 oz. while that of 84 Fantail was 3'51 oz. Season: September 1916 — March 1917. The average weight of 974 Pintails was 4'07 oz. while that of 63 Fantails was 3"48 oz. Very occasionally a big Fantail would be found, and 1 have a note of one weighing 5^ oz., shot on 20th February 1916 and one of 5 oz. shot on 11th March 1917. The above appears to be conclusive that in Southern India at any rate the Fantail Snipe is decidedly the lighter bird. Jack Snipe have weighed from If to 2 oz. The past season has been somewhat remarkable for the fact that not a single specimen of Jack Snipe was seen, either by my shikari or myself, though I know of two having been shot by another sportsman. My previous experience has been that they make about ] per cent, of the bag. Madura, S. India, R, F. STONEY. 24th June 1917. No. XL— THE BRONZE-BACKED TREE SNAKE (DENDROLAPHL'^ TRISTIS) IN CENTRAL INDIA. I send a snake. Is it not Dendrolaphis tristis? If so, Wall says: — ^Jour- nal Vol. XIX, p. 786 — "It has not been recorded from Central India. They are by no means uncommon in the teak forest here and are called by the Bhils " Urni Saup," i.e., the flying snake. It is believed, as usual, to be deadly. The Agency, Manpuk, C.I., C. E. LUARD, Major. 4tk May 1917. [ The snake sent by Major Luard proved to be Dendrolaphis ^m^^s.— Eds.] No. XII.— THE BRONZE-BACKED TREE SNAKE {DENDROLAPHIS TRISTIS) IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. In Vol. XX, p. 857, Mr. Bernard Cooke records the occurrence of this snake at Dhaura, which is about t.vo miles beyond the boundary of these Provin- ces, and the other day I secured one at Nagpur ; it being the first I have seen during the last six years. The great gap in its distribution in Central I3- a> OS ;3 CO o 05 ,,;<. Qj 'I o o 0 (0 z z (« £ E o a e 3 0 >*^ ^. ( k < / ■/,i ^ k; a> rt > Hi C^ a -r* s 1— t £^ P^ &» K^ r^ cc^ ■ — ' 0 t3 S-t; ^ y. g s ^ a *, H r— I' 02 < 0-0 -tj w ,0 0 iXi ^ -^ 0 ^ tJ 1^-= aj '^^ w s 5j oi c g § H 'i'i^ c3 0^, -t^ -r ai 0 11 ^ 0 8 0 0 -^C;5q MISCELLAMIOUS NOTES. 307 luilia is thus briil^'td ovou by thc-so rucords, and it now remains to tiiid out how far it extends northward into the United Provinces. There were no specimens of it in the Lucknow Museum, when I examined the snakes there in December 1008. My specimen, which is deposited in the Nagpur Museum, is a typical one, except that the scale rows reduce to 13 at about 3 inches before the middle of the body. The ventrals are 193 and the sub-caudals in 12() pairs. K. A. D'ABUEU, k.z.s. Cbntual Museum, Nagpur, C. P., 8th June 1917. No. XIII.— NOTES ON THE RUSSELL'S VIPEK. {With a Plate.) The following notes relate to the young ones which a Russell's viper pro- duced in the Central College Museinu. An adult female specimen, measur- in"- about 4 feet, was obtained locally towards the first week of December 1916, and on the 8th June 1917, the young ones were born. Assuming that fertilisation took place in November, — there is no other evidence for this assumption than the testimony of the snake charmers who are unreliable in such matters — the period of gestation has occupied in this case roughly seven months.' Of the six young daboiae that were produced, three were still-born, and in addition three eggs were deposited. Except in one egg, no trace of development could be made out in others and it is doubtful whether these latter were impregnated at all.- The eggs are translucent, reddish and are soft : the leathery shell of the eggs belonging to the Ela- pinse group is replaced by a soft membrane. They are held together by a gelatinous twisted cord which may be of immense length sometimes and which hardens on exposure. Each egg measures .30 mm. along the longer axis. The young ones moult soon after rupturing the vitelline membrane. The following are the measurements of the largest specimen : — Total length 225 mm. Round the thickest part . . . . 38 mm. Tail 30 mm. Fang along the outer curve . . . . 5 mm. The parent exhibits little concern about her oflFspring and interfer- ence with them extorted from her nothing more savage than a prolonged hiss. In the newly-born male specimens, the copulatory sacs are external and are four coecal outgrowths.^ The colouration of the young ones difl'er from the adults in certain particulars and the more interesting of them refer to a large diamond-shaped mark on the head, edged with white. A conspicuous white cross on the head behind this blotch is another interesting feature. It may be noticed that in the adults, the former practically disappears and the latter broadens out into a chocolate brown patch on the occiput. The dark rings (thrown into relief by a white outer border) in the adult enclose oval brown areas, but in the newly-born specimens, the rings are solid, black, oval or circular patches edged with white or may '. Fitz Simons g-ives the same period in the case of the puflf adders of S. Africa. {Vide p. 222, South Afr : Snakes). Major F. Wall grives the same period. (.Tonrn. Bombay Nat. Hist. Sec, Vol- XVIII ) ■^ . The occurrence of unfertilised efffrs anterior in position to those in advanc ed state of development in the enlarr MediM^vn VcLptjr tvia.n^te. 810 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. safe from injury (see sketch 3). Do not place it with body against the fokl (see sketch 4) as in this position the antennge almost always dry sticking out and eventually get broken off in handling the paper or specimen. 4>» ^Apt^'r triangle. cloSe«i. If papered butterflies be massed together in a box any particular speci- men cannot be got at without many being handled, resulting in damage to some sooner or later. B. Making Packets for papered specimens. The paper triangles should be kept in packets of corresponding standard sizes, so that these packets, fitting closely in an ordinary biscuit-tin, eco- nomise space and enable any one packet to be easily taken out without disturbing its contents. The paper triangles should be so placed in a packet that the bodies of the specimens are alternately to left and right and so lie evenly; if not so placed they form a lopsided pile, and space is wasted and pressure is all on one side. All packets should be of uniform height, — 1 inch — so forming 2 or 3 tiers in the tin according to the kind of biscuit-tin used ; and each packet should contain just so many specimens as not to be loose in it, and then the vertical sides of the packets take any weight or pressure. A medium sized packet has its longest side about 3^ inches ; larger packets can be made double, or smaller ones half the size of this one. Stout paper such as Parchment-note answers best. Attached is an outline pattern (reduced half size) for making such a packet (Fig. 1). Cut along the outside continuous lines, and fold backwards at the dotted lines. This pattern may be used for outlining others with a pencil, keeping the centre portion of the pattern fixed with the fingers of the left hand, and turning up each portion after outlining as one works inwards. Paste A to underside of B so that C is between the two ; then paste underside of D on to E with F between them. To close the packet inset the flap between G and H. A number of these outlined and cut out for packets, but not folded, can be kept ready to be made up into papk<'ts as they are wanted. MlSCELLANEOVfS SOTES. .311 The pattern for packets should be of tough paper so that it will last a long time, and if somo coloured paper be used for it the pattern will not get pasted together for a packet in mistake for one outlined from it. The lower sketch (Fig. 2) shovvs an open completed packet. (reduced half size.) 1. Diagram o shows an arrangement of three sizes of packets,^ say in the uppermost tier in a small biscuit-tin, a space in the middle being] conve- niently left for naphthaline. 312 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Each packet is numbered and a list of contents pasted on the outside of the tin. Finally the tin is closed against damp and insects by a strip of 1 inch adhesive plaster all round the edge of the closed cover. «»f tin Lox C. For despatch by post. Tin boxes must be enclosed in a wooden one or they will be crushed For sending 50 specimens or less small boxes made from cigar-box wood, taking a few packets only, and with a diagonal partition inside to prevent the top or bottom being crushed in, are useful. Put postage-stamps on a tie-on label, not on the box. Bannu, N.W.F.P.. 1st March 1917. H. D. PEILE. No. XVIII.— NOTE ON THE COLOUR OF FLOWERS IN DYSOPHYLLA STELLATA, Bth. This species of Dysophylla is very common in South India and has purple flowers and staminal hairs in nature. The plant is apparently ver^'' vari- able in appearance so much so that Cooke in his Flora of Bombaxj includes the species D. (/racilis and D tomentosa of the Flora of British India as mere varieties of D. stellata. Recently specimens collected by me at Talaguppa in the extreme Western Ghats of Mysore showed a few plants of jD. stellata with absolutely white flowers and white staminal hairs. In one of Wight's sheets in the Madras Herbarium (now at Coimbatore) the corolla is white and the stamens pink. This variation in colour of flowers has also been noted by Mr. Rangachari in Asystasia coromanddiana (yellow and white flowers) in Striya lutea (white, yellow, pink and brown corollas) and by Mr. Tadulingam in Evolvulus alsinoides (blue and white flowers). While the colour variation in the above plants is a common feature, the white flowered type in Dysophylla has been very rare. The few specimens collected by me were in a mass of the pink flowered speci- mens and no intermediates were observed by me. There is another minor difference in the colour of the stem near the inflorescence between the two types, the white flowered type being comparatively white or slightly pink. I therefore propose the name Dysophylla stellata, var. alba for the new plant. Bangalore. Hth March 11)17. M. K. VENKATA RAO, Senior Assistant Mycologist, M ISC ELLA XEO UH SOTEb. No. XIX.— AN INTEKESTINO CASE OF DlSTI!Jm TION. Tho genus I'o(/17, M. K. VENKATA KAO, Senior Assistant Mycologist. No. XX.— FALL OF SEED IN KAIN STORM. ( )u the night of April li*th last there was a heavy rain storm over a wide- spread area of the Junagadh State registering from i^O to 7o cents in the various villages. Over the whole area tlie rain was accompanied by a fall of seed locally known as Lai Jowari (or red jowari). I enclose a specimen of the seed collected. The phenomenon is recognised bj^ the villagers and in their opinion presages a tine season and generally good luck. This seed does not occnr in Kathiawar and must have been blown in from some neighbouring province. I am informed by the oldest Jain priest here that such falls occur at intervals of five or seven years and are invariably followed by a bumper season. Perhaps some of our members may have noticed similar occurrences in other parts of the country ? E. BIJOOK-FOX. JUXAGADU, KaTHIAWAK, nth April 1917. [The seed sent is a variety of Snrghiiin viilgarc. Pers. — Eds.] t-'O 314 PROCP^EDINGS OF THE MEETING HELD ON Isr MARCH 1917. A Meeting of members and their friends of the Bombay Natural History Society took place on Thursday, 1st March 1917, the Hon'ble Mr, Justice N. C. Macleod presiding. The election of the following 13 members since the last meeting was announced: — Mr. G. G. Fletcher, Bombay; Mr. Fred. Hallberg, Bombay; Mr. E. G. Barter, I.C.S., Salem ; Capt. E. J. Gumming, Ahmednagar ; Mr. S. A. C. Green, I.C.S., Shahbandar ; Mr. J. M. Conder, I.C.S., Kawkareik ; Capt. W. B. M. Newland, I. M.S., Mesopotamia ; Mrs. 0. Fowler, Bombay , Major J. Husband, I. M.S., Bombay; The Honorary Secretary, Vellore Club, Vellore ; Miss M. E. N. Holmer, m.a., Delhi ; Capt. C. M. Thornhill, Mesopotamia, and Major Robert E. Wright, I. M.S., Bomba}^. ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE. The following gentlemen were elected as office-bearers for the present yea,T.—Preside7it.~'a. E. The Right Hon'ble Lord Willingdon, G.C.I.E. ; Vice-Preside7its — Mr. J. D. Inverarit}'^, the Hon'ble Mr. Justice N, C. Macleod and H. H. The Rao Saheb of Cutch, G.C.I.E. Manmjing Commit- tPe-M.T. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher, F.E.S. ; Mr. T. R. Bell, I.F.S. : Mr. C. L. Burns ; Rev. E. Blatter. S.J. ; Mr. E. Comber, F.Z.S. ; Lt.-Col. G. H. Evans, CLE. ; Major M. L. Ferrar ; Capt. F. C. Eraser, LM.S.; Prof. G. A. Gammie, Mr. F. Hannyngton, I.C.S. ; Mr. G. S. Hardy, I.C.S. ; Prof. V. N. Hate; Mr. N. B. Kinnear; Lt.-Col. K. R. Kirtikar, I.M.S. (Retd.) ; Major W. Glen Liston, CLE., I.M.S. ; Mr. F. M. Mackwood ; Mr. L. H. Savile ; Mr. R. A. Spence ; Lt.-Col. F. Wall, C.M.G., I.M.S., C.M.Z.S. ; Mr. John Wallace, CE. Hnnorar!/ Secretary — Mr. W. S. Millard. Hononarif Treasurer. — Mr. L. Robertson, C.S.I , I.C.S. CONTRIBUTIONS. Contribution. Locality. Donor. 1 Persian Mungoose, Miingos ' 1 persicus. 1 Syrian Hedgehog, JErinaceus calliyoni. 2 Babylon Sheath-tailed bats, i 'i'aphozoua babylonica. 1 Mouse, Mus sp. 3 Shrews, Crocidura sp. v_ I Caspian terapin, Clemmys caspica. II Snakes Mesopotamia 1 Lt.-Col. F. Wall, LM.S.. CM.G. 3 Lizards . . . . . . 1 ] Toad j 1 Scorpion 1 Cockroach . . . . 4 Tibetan Hare, Lepun tibetanus. . Wano, Waziristan Capt. W. B. Cotton. I Jungle Cat, Fells chaus (alive) II Birds ■ Mesopotamia i Col. Sir P. Z. Cox. VROCEEDINGS. 315 Contribution. Locality. Donor. ::! Kut, Mesopotamia D. Do. Mekrau I Jackal, Vanis auvcmf . . 4 Hares, Lepus sp. II Birds 1 Syrian Hedgehog, i-JnHreceMsJMesopotaniia calliyoni. 1 lj\tt\Q Grebe, Podiceps alOipen-"] nis. I 1 Smew, Mergus albelluA . . ' 1 "White-fronted Goose, Anser j albifro7is. j 1 Tatera .s^?. . . , . . . J 1 Jungle Cat, Felis chaui^ 1 Large Spotted Eagle, Aquila maculata. 1 Panther, Felis pardus 3 Foxes, Vulpes sp. 3 Mungoses, Muni/os mungo 2 Porcupines, Hystrir sp. 1 Persian Hare, Lepus craspe- dotis. 1 Gazelle 1 Palm Squirrel, Funambulus pennanti argeu tescens. 8 Snakes 48 Birds 1 Indian Jungle Cat, Felis affinis.. 1 Wood-Snipe, (r«/^mff^o nemoricola 1 Sheldrake, Tadorna cornufa 1 Grey's Snake, Zcimenis ventrima- culatus. 2 Wild Dogs, Cuon dukhunensis juv (alive). 1 Painted Stork, Pseudotautalus leucocephalus. j 1 Bar-headed Goose, Anser i«- Novvshera dicus. ! 3 Yellow-legged Herring-gull, 1 Larus cachinans. j 1* Dark-backed Herring-gull, I Larus affinis. i 2 Brown -headed Gull, Larus ] bruneicephalus . J Capt.C.K.S. Pitman. Mr. J.M. S. Culbert- son. Capt. 11. Bagnall. Lieut. Brewster. Legait, Mesopo-lLieut. T. li. Livesey. tamia. Capt. J.E.B. Hotson. Nowshera Thana, Bombay Larkana, Sind Muscat . . Narsinghpur Delhi Bombay . Major W. H. Lane. Major M. L. Ferrar, Mr. G. A. Shillidy. Major L. Haworth. Mr. P. S. Patuck, LC.S. Mr. W. E. Ashton James. Major C. W. Pre- scott. Mr. S. H. Prater. COLLECTION OF PLANTS. With reference to the collection of plants which Capt. Hotson had for about a year, been sending to the Society from Persian Baluchistan, the Kevd. E. Blatter made some interesting observations. In the course of his remarks he said : — His collections are of great interest to the student of ecology as well as of nlant geography, Persian Baluchistan is virgin soil 316 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISr. SOCIETy, Vol. XXV. for the botanist, as no collections have ever been brought home from that region. There have been travellers passing through that country, yet bota- nical science has not profited by them. We know a good deal about the flora of British Baluchistan {i.e., British Baluchistan proper, the Agency Territories, and the Native States of Kalat and Las Bella). William Griffith Superintendent of the Hon. East Indian Company's garden at Calcutta, was the first to collect in Baluchistan. In November 1889, he joined the Army of the Indus in a scientific capacity, and penetrated, after the subjugation of Kabul, bayond the Hindu Kush into Khorasan, whence, as well as from Afghanistan and Baluchistan, he brought collections of great value and extent. In 1843 a book appeared entitled " Narrative of a Journey to Kalat," written by Masson, a surgeon. It contains numerous botanical references but on the whole it is more the book of an adventurer than of a botanist. The second botanist who visited Baluchistan was Dr. J. E. Stocks. In 1848, he crossed the Hab River and reached Shah Bhilawal. In 1850, he made another and longer trip into the country via Shikarpur and the Gundava Pass to Kalat, Quetta and Nushki. Between 1877 and 1880 extensive collections were made by Doctors O. T. Duke and Hamilton. Their plants were preserved at the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta. A few years later (1884-1885) we find Dr. J. E. Aitchison attached to the Afghan Delimitation Commission. He collected between Quetta and the Helmand river along the northern border of Baluchistan, and his results are em- bodied in the " Botanji- of the Afghan Delimitation Commission," which was published in the Transactions of the Linnean Society. Of more recent botanists who increased our knowledge of the Baluchistan flora we must men- tion J. H. Lace who was stationed in that country from 1884 to 1888 as Deputy Conservator of Forests, besides, J. S. Duthie, at the time Director of the Botanical Department of Northern India. He collected chiefly near Quetta on a visit to Baluchistan in 1888 ; and finally Lieut.-Colonel F. P, Maynard who, in 1896, accompanied the Baluch-Afghan Boundary Commission as medical officer. The results were published by I. H. Burkill and D. Prain in the records of the Botanical Survey of India (1897). Whatever in the way of publications, or specimens had been contributed towards the botanical exploration of Baluchistan during a period of 70 years, was collected and examined by I, H. Burkill and published in his "Working List of the Flowering Plants of Baluchistan" (1909). His final conclusion is that ''the flora of Baluchistan is Persian in character, and very much less northern than that of Afghanistan -, but it is northern enough to contain a violet, a primula, the English hawthorn, an anemone, a gentian, a juniper and plants of many genera familiar in north-western Europe." So far we possess a fair knowledge of the country lying east of Persian Baluchistan. Much less is known of the parts adjoining it on the west, namely, of Persia proper. In the Northern Provinces of Gilan, Mazanda- ran, and Astarabad on the Caspian, from the shore to an altitude of about 3,000 ft. on the northern slopes of the great mountain range which separates those fjrovinces from the high lands of Persia, the flora is similar to that of the Mediterranean region. At higher altitudes many forms of a more northern flora appear. As v/e approach inner Persia, the flora rapidly makes place to steppe vegetation in the plains, while the Mediterranean flora predominates in the hills. The steppe vegetation extends in the south to the outer range of the hills which separate inner Persia from the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Beyond this outer range and along the shore of the sea, the flora is that of the Sahara region which extends eastwards to Sind. 1 need not point out that the conclusion arrived at by Burkill applies to the flora of Baluchistan as a whole, and it is easy to see what the verdict PROCEEDiya^. " 317 will be if wc ilistiuf^uish, r. Henzada Mr. C. W. Allan. 1 1 Golden Cat {Felis temviincki) . . 1 Ked Cat-bear {Ailurus fulgens)... • I Burmese Tiger-Civet (Prionodon 1 maculosus). 2 Weasels . . 4 Flying Squirrels (Fetaurista sp.). 4 Rats y Burmo-Chinese Frontier. P. M. 11. Leonard. 2 Squirrels {Sciwns sp.) . . 1 Water Shrew {Nectof/alc sp.) 1 Blood Pheasant {Ithagenes kuseri) 1 Jackal (C. aureus) j Shaiba, Meso- 1 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops Lieut. T. K.Livesey. persicus). j" potamia. 1 RoUer (C. affinis) 1 Small Indian Civet {V. malac- Chanda, C. P. . . Mr. D. 0. Witt. censis). 1 Small Indian Civet ( V. malac- Karachi Dist. Mr. H. D. Basker- cc-nsis). ville. 1 Small Indian Civet (J', malac- Jubbulpore Mr. G. Evans. censis) . 1 Marmot {Arctomys sp.) . . } Sikkim Mr. C. H. Dracott 1 Leopard Cat {F. bengalensis) . . ^■^fc M. ■ '^^ ■ ■ ■ t ^b' ^ W ^^ ^mT V W * 1 Phayres Leaf Monkey (P. 1 phayrei) . 1 1 1 Burmese Palm Civet {Parado.v- 1 VMagwe Mr. F. C. Purkis. urus burmanicus). 1 2 Malay Vampire Bats {Meyaderma 1 1 spasma). ; 1 Green Imperial Pigeon {Carpo- i phaya cenea). 1 Burmese King Dove {Streptopeha V Mogok Mr. F. Atlay. xanthocycla). J 2 Sooty Gulls {Larus hempricht) . . Aden Capt. Armitage. 320 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV Contribution. Locality. Donor. 1 Bittern (Botaunis stellaris) 1 1 Teal {Nettium crecca) 1 Eastern Baillon's Crake {Por- . Mesopotamia . . 1 Col. H. Stevens. zana pusiUa). J 1 2 Short-eared Owls {A. acci- ' petvimis) . 4 Spanish Sparrows (P. /lispani- I olensis). I I Bunting {Emberiza sp.) . . )■ Do. Capt. C. n. S. Pit- man. 1 Corn Bunting (E. milaria) . . j 1 Falcated Teal {E.falcata) . . Delhi Major A. H. Cun- ningham. 1 Solitary Snipe ( Charbar Capt. J. E. B. Hot- Lizards and some Insects . . i ! i son . :vil >- I- IJJ o o CO CI ?» ^ by c^ '^ q: O co C8 >^ o O o es -- rt — ^ ^ ooWM-r;oa5ait.~or3r:-4«:ox?o 33 u • :2 a-: .2 I . 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"3 32 ^ 0 5 0 0 ■3 -< «». ^ _^ >> _ ^ ^ „ ^ ^ frt m Cl O 00 X ts le 0 M •M 00 "^ CT 00 0 « 10 OO CO X -!< -^ -^ -* o o e^ d o t^ j c: ^ o C5 ^^ o =■ cc 2 o QQ B O a a B) a [>) o a] eo ^ 2 2 ■< n a o a cS 3 3 CO a ^ s o o ca eS P4 a c8 - « "3 a o '■*3 o eO to 25 5 o ,? ^ P4 a 13 •a a> 3 O a o a -•a > Vi ^ 2 2 fe o a o o Q o a o o _e8 ,0 a a 3 O a > o >a 'S O 324 c ^ XT. 00 c o o 5 o o OS o o o r* 00 la « 02 H lu) PQ 9< E M «3 M >< - EH W s 0) "S 0) 61) o d dl o c: VI .^ a> o 1-1 M ft fL, >. „ m " • o ^ fl m o hJ P3 1 Ti s -1^ •¥ . m cS C bo o o 8 pa a o -*3 ^ S r^ 3 ■*^ bo u 11) > B O 03 >> -*^ +-• O a; ^ -+a c3 ft ft ^ O n o Pi ^ d o •8 S « g : : <> (S ta m w QC O en -^ C9 CO ft I— I o d •a 03 o o o o C5 00 X. Si. c2 CO o ^ E-i O P5 •T3 ^ < o 22 /^Al- JOURN. BOMBAY ■■{^. AT. HiST, SOC. MENPES PRESS. WATFORD PHASIANUS HUMIy^. Mrs. Hume's Pheasant. S^\^^^Wr> JOURNAL OF THE Bombay Natural History Society. Jan. 1918. Vol. XXV. No. 3. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. BY E. C. Stuart Baker, F.L S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Part XXIIl. With a Coloured Plate. PHASlANIDiE. iieuns—GENNjEUS. Genn^us lineatus lineatus. The Burmese Silver-Pheasant. Phasianus lineatus. Vigors, Phil. Mag. (1888), p. 147. Gennceus lineatus, Gates, Str. Feath., V., p. 164 (1877) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. B. M., XXII., p. 304 (18.93); Id, Hand-List, Game-B., 1.. p. 272 (1895); Blanf., Fauna, B. I., IV., p. 92 (1898); Gates, Man. Game-B., I., p. 351 (1898) ; Id. Ibis, 1903, p. 100 ; Id, Cat. Eggs, B. M., 1., p. 55, P. C. VI., Fig. 5 (1901) ; Ghigi, Mem and Acad, Bologna, 0, ( y). P- 140 (1908) ; Evans. Boin. N. H. S. Journal, XVI., p. oi^O (1905) ; Wall, Ibid, XX I., p. 4(!0 (1912); Hopwod, Ibid, p. 1215 (1912). Pkaiianus fasciatus, McClell, Calcutta, Jour. N. H., II., p. 14G, PI. III. (1842). Euplocomtis linsatuK, Blyth, Cat. Mus. A.8. See. B., p. 244, part (1849). Gallopha'iis lineatus, Hume, Str. Feath., II., p. 482 (1874). Euplocamiis lineatus, Hume. Nests and Eggs, In. B., p. 525 (1873) ; Id.. Str. Feath.. 11 r., p. 165 (1875); Fielden, Ibid, p. 168 (1875) ; Humo and Marsh., Game-B., Ind , p. 205, PI. (1878) ; Hume and Davis., Str. Feath., VI., p. 436 (1878): Anderson, Zool. W. Yunnan, II., p. 669(1878): liins- ham, Str. Feath., IX., p. 195 (1880) : Gates, Ibid. X., p. 236 (1882); Id., B of Burma, II., p. 316 (1883) ; Id., 2nd Edit., Hume's Nests and Eggs. III., p. 416 (1890). Lojmophorus cumeri, Hume, Str. Feath., III., p. 166 (1875). 1 326 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATVRAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Nycthemerus lineatus, Blyth and Walden, Cat. Mam. Birds of Burm., p. 149 (1895). Euplocamux cuvieri, Gates, B. of Burm., II., p. 318, part (1883). Gennceus lineatus lineatus, Gyldenstolpe, Swedish, Exped.. Siam, p. l-O? (1816). Vernacular Names. — Yit, Kayit (Burmese); Rak (Arrahan) ; Synkloiik (Talain) ; Phugyk (Karen). Description — Adult Male. — Forehead, crown and crest black, glos- sed, especially on last, with blue-green or, more rarel}', purple blue. Whole of the upper plumage, sides of the neck, wing coverts and exposed portions of the wing quills silver grey in general appearance, palest on the neck and longest tail coverts and darkest on the wing quills and greater coverts. The grey appearance is formed by in- numerable fine wavj^ bars of white on a black ground, these being finest and most numerous on the neck and largest on the wing- quills. The primaries are brown with wavy lines of buff or pale brown on both inner and outer webs, these gradually changing colour until the black and white of the inner secondaries is attained. The ends of the upper tail coverts have the white exceeding the black in extent, the longest being almost pure ^^'hite at their tips. Outer tail feathers black with fine longitudinal lines of buff or buffy white, each succeeding pair having more white and less black, until the central pair, or two pairs, are more or less immaculate over the terminal two- thirds of their length, the fine black lines running further up on the outer than on the inner webs. Below from chin to tail coverts in- clusive black, the neck, breast and sides of the flanks more or less glossed with bluish purple ; sides of neck, breast and flanks w^th white centres to the feathers, these white streaks sometimes extend- ing over the greater part of the breast and generally vermiculated with velvety black on the flanks. Colours of the Soft Parts. — Iris brown, hazel or yellow brown; facial skin and lappets ci'imson, vivid crimson red or scarlet crimson; bill greenish or yellowish-horn}-, darker on the culmen and at the base as far as and surrounding the nostrils ; legs and feet plumbeous, greenish plumbeous, slate grej', rarely with a greenish bro^vn tinge. " The legs and feet were generally pinkish fleshy or pinkish "brown; sometimes a sort of bluish horny or plumbeous brown." " The irides seem to vary a great deal; some Avere brown, of " different shades, usuallj^ more or less tinged with red ; others " are noted as ver}^ pale pink, or even fleshy white." (Hume.) Measurements. — The series in the British Museum and other specimens which have passed through my hands, in all some 50 birds, shew an extraordinarv variation in size, even in birds which are all undoubtedly adult. Wing from 8-G" (218-4 mm.) to 10-3" (261-G mm.); tail from 9" (228-G mm.) to 13-6" (345-4 mm.); bill from front about 1-15" (29-2 mm.) and from gape about 1-45" (?G-8 mm.); tarsus 3" to TUE a ami: iiiiw:s of india. 327 3-5" (7G-2 mm. to 88-9 mm.); the crest runs from about 2-5" (65-5 mm.) to 3-2" (81"2 mm.). The average wing measurement of this series is 9-5" (241-3 mm.). H\ime's measurements given of birds measin-od in the flesh shew nearly as great variation as the above. ''Length, 2o-0 to 30*0; expanse 29-75 to 3275 ; tail from "vent 10-0 to 13-5; wing 9-25 to 11-5; tai-sus 3-0 to 3-62 ; -bill from gape, 1-35 to f-5 ; weight 2-5 to 3-0 lbs." Adult Female. — Whole upper surface of the plumage a golden })rown formed by very fine wavy bars of black or blackish brown on a golden buff ground, varying on some birds to a reddish buff; crest rather darker than the rest of the upper plumage with the black bai-s broader and closer together ; feathers of the neck and xipper back with white V-shaped marks, narrowly bordered with black ; these V-shaped marks are very irregular, and sometimes become mere central white streaks, especially on the upper back ; wing coverts and exposed portions of the wing like the back, the primaries and outer secondaries bi'own on the inner webs. Two central paii-s of tail feathere buff with narrow bars of black running across at an angle of aboTit 4-5° to the shaft, but often practically absent over the terminal half of the inner web of the central pair ; outer tail feathers rich chestnut with broad, but very irregular bars of white, bordered with black, and often spotted with the same ; these feathers are also mottled with buff at the tips, very slightly so on the outermost, broadly so next the buff central feathers. Chin and throat smoky buff, changing to rich pale rufous on the breast and flanks, each feather from the neck to the abdomen with a wide lanceolate white streak, edged with black and with more or less black and rufous along the shaft ; abdomen and vent dull rufous buff, with a little white mottling ; under tail coverts rich rufoi^s, darker than the breast with white streaks centred and edged with black. Colours of Soft Parts. — Irides brown or wood-brown; facial skin crimson or dull crimson ; bill greenish or yellowish horny with ^ O K.' *> darker culmen and black at base to end of nostrils ; legs and feet gi-eenish or slate horny, sometimes with a pinkish or fleshy tinge, never red or scarlet. "Iris dark amber, bill and legs dirty greenish white; skin "efface dark lake." (Wardlaw-Ramsay.) Measurements. — The Miiseum series of about a dozen birds and fourteen othei's measured by me show far less variation in size than occurs in the males, a curious fact, which is confirmed by Hume's measurements. Wing 8-0" (203-2 mm.) to 9-2" (234-7 mm.); but only one bin- has a wing over 9-0" (228-G mm.); tail 8-5" (215-9 mm.) to 10" (254-0 mm.); tarsus 2-75" (69-8 mm.) to 3-15" (80-0 mm.); bill at front about 11" (27-9 mm.) and from gape 1-4" (35-5 mm.). 328 JOXIRISIAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. The average wing measurement of twenty-six females is 8*7" (221-0 mm.). " Weight 2 lbs. to 2-5 lbs." (Hume.) The crest is considerably shorter than in the male, varying from 2-2" (55-9 mm.) to 2-75" (69-8 mm.), but is generally about 2-5" (63-5 mm.). Young Male. — Similar to the adult female. Chick in Down. — Head above rufous, forehead and above eyes paler ; a streak behind the eye extending over the ear coverts rich chestnut, much darker than the crown ; above dull rufous brown, darkest along the back and paling on tlie sides ; below dirty bufFy white with very faint indications of a chestnut collar at the sides of the breast. The variations in plumage in the male birds are not great, though in the extreme East and North of its rana^e the markino-g become somewhat bolder on the upper surface and the extent of white on the sides of the breast and Hanks somewhat more plentiful. The females vary considerably ; in many the white markings on the breast are streaks, and not V-shaped marks, the black edges to these marks are obsolete or absent, and the general colour is duller and darker. In some females also the white marks on the upper plumage commence on the nape, whilst in others the forehead and supercilia are freely marked with white. The proportion of black and chestnut on the outer tail feathers also varies extremely, as does the depth of the buff on the central ones. Bistrihution. — The fact that on all the boundaries of its habitat this form grades through its various subspecies into nycilietnerus and horsfiddi makes it extremeh' difficult to define its range with any exactitude. On the West the Irrawaddy undoubtedly divides it from oatesi, biit at the same time one meets with numerous spe- cimens in the extreme South and East of the Arrakan Yomas which approach tj'pical linfatn-'^ very closply, and this magnificent river does not form as sharplv cut a defining boundary as similar great rivers do with many other species of birds. To the North it extends up to Thaungja, i.e., 20° about, but West of the Sittang, where the Northern parts are more mountainous it appears only to be found as far North as Thauugoo, Thardoiing and Kolidoo. In the higher hills of the Bree Countrj'- and again East of the Sal win in the Soutlieni Shan States it is replaced by sharpei. West it crosses the Sal win South of Dargwin, and has been reported from Rahang on the JNIewang River, but here, on the higher hills at all events, a bird more closely allied to sharpei is the common form. South of Muleyit it again appears to wander East across the Klang River, and stretches as far South as 14° and quite possibly much farther South than this, as Gyldenstolpe records a Silver Pheasant as far South as 12°. THE a A Ml-: /ilED^ OF INDIA. 329 As regards Siain, its range is ver}- indefinite, and Gyldenstolpe's notes are invaluable ; he records " Silver Phejisants belonging to this species were rather "common in the dense evercjreen iunsfles which cover the hills, " dividinif Tennasserim and Assam. In the neiirhbourhood of " Hat Sanuk (lat. N. 12°) especially, they were exceedingly '• abundant J)nring mj'- staj' in North- Western " ISiam I once caught a glimpse ot a Silver Pheasant when I was " climbing up one of the steep hills at Doi Par Satring (lat. "N. 20°) It looked much more white than " (t. lineatiis, and was probably G. nyclhemerus ripponi.^' It will be seen from Count Gyldenstolpe's discoveries that the map given on page 62 of Vol. XXIII of the Society's Journal will require some alteration and a great extension of the green colour shewing the area inhabited by this pheasant. A large amount of material is still required before we can work out the limits of the varioiis geographical races ol the Silver Pheas- ant, and Field Naturalists should remember that very careful minutiae are necessary with the data tickets of specimens to enable the Museum Naturalist to formulate an outline of their different ranges. Thus when birds are got near places on rivers, it is no use merely to mark " shot near so and so", but it is imperative that we should know whether it has been got North, East, South or West of the place mentioned, and that the altitude also be given. In many cases we may get two forms, or even three, within shooting distance of one spot, yet a river may divide two races, whilst the other two may Ve divided b}!" elevation alone, as appears to be the case in this instance between typical lineatus and the two subspecies oatesi and sharpei. Nidificaiion. — The breeding season of the Burmese Silver Pheasant commences in early March, and continues throughout April and Ma}'-, but, as usual with this genus of Phensaut, nests and eggs may be found at odd times through a great part of the year. 1 have records from various sportsmen of eggs taken in February, March and April, and again in July, whilst Capt. Fielden obtained recently hatched young in August at Thayetmyo. Hume also records eggs having been found in the middle of May. It seems to breed more often in Bamboo Jungles between 2,000 and 3,000 feet than in the heavier jung'es and evergreen forests below the former height, or in the lighter deciduous and evergreen forests above the latter. Its favourite breeding haunts are, perhaps, in the mixed bamboo and lis^ht deciduous forest which forms a ieatiire of some of the Pegu Yomas, but the nest itself is nearly always placed in the bamboo patches and not in the forested parts. It is certainly found as high as 4,000 feet during the breeding seasons, and aSO JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. possibly a good deal higher, but, on the other hand, descends practi- cally to the plains. The nest is the usual rough collection of leaves and bamboo spates, deposited in some natural hollow and more or less protected b}'' a clump of bamboo, bush or tree. Not infrequently it is placed well under a clump of bamboos in amongst the roots, so that it is com- pletely hidden from the passer by, but at other times it may be found almost in the open. The bn-d is a close sitter, and will remain on her nest until an intruder is very close, she then, however, sneaks away so quietl}^ and stealthily that it is very easy to overlook her. The number of eggs laid appears to vary between 5 and 10, whilst 6 or 7 are the number most often found in acomplete clutch. The statements of natives quoted by Hume, to the effect that these Pheasants sometimes lay 14 or 15 eggs appear to be without any fou.ndation. The eggs are typical Gennceus eggs, that is to say like small eggs of a domestic fowl. Hume thus describes them : " All the eggs we have obtained are of the usual hen's egg "shape; they are, of com*se, unspotted, and vary from a pale " yellowish to a warm pinkish cafe-au-lait colour. The shell, " though fine, is very full of pores, and these with some eggs " being filled with whitish chalky substance, give them the " effect of being stippled all over with white specks. None " of the eggs that I have seen have had any very perceptible " gloss, and as a rule, they seem to be, for game birds of this " class, very dull eggs." " The eggs vary from 1-81 to 2*03 in length, and from 1*4 "to 1-52 in width, but the average of neai'ly 30 eggs is 1-97 "by 1-46." The few eggs I have seen including some of those described by Hume which are now in the British Museum, agree well with the above description, but the eggs strike one as being singailarly level in colouration. All are a pale stone buff, varying very little in depth of colouring, and I have seen none which would really come under Hume's description of " warm cafe-au-lait." A few have a tinge of this colour and one pretty clutch of G, given to me by Mr. Wickham, is quite a bright, though pale, pinkish buff. The texture is fine and close with a faint surface gloss in fresh eggs, and the shell is very stout and compact. My series, a poor one combined with Hume's and others gives a much smaller average size, 1-8G" X 1-42" (47-3 x 36-1 mm.), than that recorded above. Oates says that : " The chickens, as soon as they are hatched, are very strong " on their legs and run with great speed. I was fortunate " enough to capture portions of four broods. It is astonishing THE (iAME lillWS OF INDIA. ;!31 " ill what a short time the little birds make themselves invisi- " ble. It is (litiieult to secure more than two birds out of one "batch. It is a case of poiincing" on them at once or losing "them, 'i'he mother is a great coward, running away at the " slightest alarm, and thus contrasting very unfavourably " with the Jiingle Fowl which keeps running round and round " the intnider with great anxiety until the young ones are in " safety." (retii'ml Hahifs. — The prevailing colouration of this Pheasant gives an excellent clue to its haunts and the general chai'acter of the country it inhabits. It is not to be found in the humid, ever- green forests beloved by the Black-Backed Kalij which finds concealment in their black depths as deep in shade as its own sombre plumage. Nor on the other hand must it be looked for in the high open grasslands frec{uented by the whiter forms of the Chinese Silver Pheasants whose pure w^hiteness find no gi'eat contrast in the sunlit grasses round them. As might be expected, the Burmese Silver Pheasant, with its dark silver npper plumage, will be found either in thin deciduous forest or in bamboo jungle. Here the glare of the tropical sunlight is filtered and broken by the intervening branches into thousands of specks or spots, bold bars and dashes of alternate light and shade of gleaming white, grey, or black. In such places with every passing breath of air the whole medly quivers and melts into an ill-defined greyness much like that on the back of the bird itself. Davison, writing of the true Uneaius from the neighbourhood of Moulmein, says : — " They come continually into the open to feed about rice- '• fields and clearings. They are shy, and usually run in " preference to flying wdien disturbed, except when put up by "a dog, when they immediately perch. Captain Bingham tells " me that on bright moonlight nights they constantly come out "into the clearings. Their food consists of grain, seeds of " various kinds, young leaves and grass, grubs and insects." "They seem to prefer bamboo, or moderately thin tree "jungle to dense forest." Gates' description does not agree well with the above in all respects, as he writes of it as a rather tame bird avei-se, however, "to all cultivation, even to the extent of shiuiningthe yaks " or hill gardens of the Karens, though these may be some " miles from the nearest tay or village." He writes of this Pheasant's favourite haunts as follows : — " It is rare or common jiist in proportion as the country is '■ level or mountainous. In the plains or undulating country " of Upper Pegii it will be met within small numbei's if the " ravines and nallas are sufficiently precipitous to suit its tastes ; :^;V> JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. " but in these places, at best, only one or two will be shot in a " long morning's work. It is not till we get to the foot of the " hills that this Pheasant can be said to be common. Here the " nallas, with their pools of water and rocky beds, are particu- " larly favourable to it. As we mount higher it increases in " numbers to such an extent it is no difficult matter to knock " over half a dozen in a morning while marching, and that " without leaving the path." During the breeding season the cock Pheasant of this species in- dulges in the same form of challenge to other cocks as that already described in regard to previous species, viz., the drumming sound made by beating the wings against the sides of the body as the bird sits on some elevated position, such as an ant heap or some log or stump. Gates says that the sound of the birds' wings may be very fairly imitated by holding a pocket handkerchief by the two opposite corners and then jerking one's arms apart, and he adds that he has himself on two occasions shot cock birds ranning excitedly towards the sound thus made. Davison also refers to tins method of challenge, which he calls buzzing, and remarks that the Burmans trap a great number of these Silver Pheasants by the aid of a decoy bird which is induced to " buz " and so call up other males around him, when they are caught in the noozes laid down for this purpose. Like all Kalij Pheasants the Burmese Silver Pheasant is an in- veterate skulker, and without a dog it is almost impossible to make them take to wing as tliey scuttle away to safety on foot with great speed. With a dog they are easy to flush, but even then when put up they, like the rest of their tribe, generally take to a tree or bamboo perch and then glide away from the opposite when the would-be shooter approaches. The easiest way to get them where they are at all numerous is to wander along the edges of cultivation, or along some jungle path in the early mornings and evenings and trust to luck to coming across them and getting a snap-shot as they run for the nearest cover. Of course, sometimes, the birds can be forced by beaters out of isolated patches of cover, and when such a proceeding is possible, fair sport may be had as the birds fly well when once started. Like most pheasants — indeed, like most game birds — they fly down-hill but always run up-hill when disturbed. Although Oates found it very hard to rear the young, others have been more successful, and I am informed that they become very tame and domesticated, though if allowed to run loose, they gene- rally disappear when the breeding season approaches. They feed on both grain and other vegetable food and on insects. Whito ants, or Termites, and ordinary ants are a very favourite food THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 383 and they also cousume grasshoppers, beetles, worms and other similar forms. Shoots of many plants, all grain, bamboo and grass seeds, the ditlerent i'u-i, which are so plentiful in all Indian forests, yams, ginger and other ground roots all contribute at various times to their support. They are said to be good lor the table, but rather dry, though tender enough if eaten when killed or if hung for two or three days. The males have a short harsh crow which, however, cannot often be used, for most writers make no reference to it, and Gates says that the only s^iind he has heard them utter is a low chuckle fre- quently uttere:!, both when the bird is alarmed and when it is going to roost. GENNiEUS LiNEATUS OATESi (Ogilvie-Grant). Oates' iSilvcr Pheasant. Gennceus oatesi, Gilve-Grant, Cat. B. M., XXIT., p. 306 (1893); id, Allen's Naturalist's Lib. Game-li., I., p. 276 (189i) ; Oates, Ganie-B , India, I., p. 348 (1898); Gates, Ibis, 1903, p. 103; Ghigi, Mem. Acad. Bologna (6), V., p. 141 (1908). Gennceus lineatus caiesi, Stuart B.iker, B. N. H. S. Jour., XXIII., p. 677 (1915). Vernaadar Names. — Yit (Burmese), Eak (ArraJcan). Description. — Aditlt Male. — Similar to Uveatns lineatus, but with the vermiculations on the upper parts slightly bolder and better defined, though imnning across the feather as in that bird, and not followinsr the contour as it does in the more Eastern and Northern forms. There is still a faint indication of the barring on the inimp, thoucfh this diffei-s in extent in different individuals. In a male from Thazi-Thaungi this barring is quite strongly developed, but in the type, which is merely labelled Arrakan, the rump bai-s are very faint, though still sufficiently plain to contrast with the back. The sides of the breast are well streaked with white. Colours of the Soft Parts. — Apparently similar to those of the Burmese Silver Pheasant. " The legs are brown or dark flesh colour, and the skin of the face is crimson." (Oates.) Meostcrements.—Wmg 9-2" (2,'53-7 mm.); tail 11-G" (294.-6 mm.); tarsus 3-35" (85-1 mm.); spur I'O" (25-4 mm.); bill from forehead 1-3" (33-0 ram.) and from gape 1-4" (3G-0 mm.); crest 2-2" (55-4 mm.). I have only been able to obtain the measurements of three males. Adult Female. — Differs from that of harsfieldi in having the whole tail chestnut brown or chestnut rufous, barred in-egularly both above and below with brown. Of the three specimens in the British Museum Collection, two have the rectrices a dull pale chestnut brown, and the third has them a chestnut nifous. In each case the 2 334 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. central rectrices are somewhat paler and more of a rufous bulF than the others, but not sufficiently so to cause them to contrast with the other as they do in liorsfieldi in similai" cases. The type female has no pale markings on the back, but is redder than are most female horsjieldi, the two others are both marked \\ith these central pale striae, though to a less degree than in lineatus. All have pale buff striae on the breast and flanks instead of Avhite striae as in lineatus. Colours of Soft Parts. — Not recorded, but probably similar to those of lineatus. Measurements.— \Ying 8-1" (205-7 mm.); tail 8-3" (210-8 mm.); tarsus 2-9" (73-6 mm.); bill at front 1-2" (30-5 mm.) and from gape 1-4" (36-0 mm.); crest 2-15" (54-6 mm.). Distribution. — -The Arrakan Yomas from about 20-5*^ lat. in the North to the extreme South of Arrakan. To the East its boundary is the Irrawaddy River, which divides it from the area inhabited by the true lineatus. The dividing line between Oates' Silver Pheasant and the Black- Backed Kalij is not easy to deflne, for wherever there are dense evergreen forests with low-lying well-watered vallejs the latter bird is found encroaching South into the Arrakan Yomas ; next these haunts of liorsfieldi, we find a number of birds with an extraordi- narily varying plumage, scattered here and there over a very narrow and broken area. These birds I previously accepted as a subspecies under the name of cuvieri. Now, however, I find that it is impossi- ble to allocate to this supposed subspecies any definite range in which there is a consistent type of plumage obtainable, it is also impossible therefore to permit it to rank as a geographical race or subspecies and it must be suppressed. The reason is merely that in the North-West the transition be- tween oatesi and horsfieldA is abrupt because the climate and geogra- phical factors also vary abruptl)', and in consequence it has been impossible for a staple or permanent form to establish itself over any definite area intermediate between the two. In the North-East of its range the change between oaten and ivilliamsi is very gradual, as are the geographical changes, but in the centre between the two there is some very dry coimtry, too dry even for the grey forms of Silver Pheasant, so that we have a well-defined area into which no pheasant penetrates, except as a straggler, and on the outskirts of this dry area we have the two good subspecies tvilliamsi North and oatesi South. Nidijication. — There is at pi-esent nothing on record concerning the breeding habits of Gates' Silver Pheasant beyond the fact that Capt. Fielden obtained young birds in August near Thayetmyo in Central East Arrakan. The bii'ds appear to breed principally in March. April and May. THE (iAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 335 and the tew etjfgt* in my collection have been taken in these months between tlie 20th ]\Iaroh and the 1 0th May. The nests, as far as one knows at present, are always placed in bamboo forest or in the thick secondary g-rowth wliich so qnickly covers deserted cultivation patches in the same forest. Jt is cpiite possible that they have two broods in the year, though 1 do not think this is usual with birds of this genus. Probably a full clutch of eggs is nominally 7 or 8 as in the other pheasants, but I have so far only records of o to o eggs, undoubted- ly, with one exception, incomplete clutches. They are exactly the same in every respect as the eggs of lineatus lineatus, and the average in size of 10 eggs 47'0 x 37'] mm. General Jlohits. — Capt. Fielden ^\■rites regarding Oates' Silver Pheasant, though he did not differentiate between the various forms of lineatus : — •' This bird is tolerably conniion in the hills West of Thayet- " myo, liut appears to be unknown to any but Burmese. It '• seems to require rock and very steep hillsides, covered by long ■■ grass for shelter, and flat alluvial soil, bare of grass and cover- •• ed with brushwood and young trees, for feeding ground; in •• fact, its feeding ground is exactly the. same as that of the Black •• Woodpecker, and I have several times lost a bird of each •■ species by being undecided which to fire at. '■ An old male is a most extraordinary looking bird. The "tail only is seen moving through the long grass, and I in- '• variably thought at first that it was some new porcupine or •■badger, or some animal. The note, too, adds to the deception. •• It reminded me a little of the cries of young ferrets. •' The}' run with great rapiditj^ but rise readily before a dog, " and would not be difficult shooting, but for the steepness of "the hillsides upon which they are found, and the nature of the '• soil, — gravel just stuck together with the material that forms '• the petrified M-ood so common there. This covered by gra^s " or dried bamboo leaves makes the footing so slippery that any •• attempt to raise my gun hurriedly generally brought me to " ray knees. •' These birds feed a great deal on tlie young shoot of a kind ■ of Orchis, which rather resembles a large Roselle flower, and •' its juicy leaves enable these pheasants to live for some time '•faraw^ay from water; but in the middle of the hot weather "thej'^are forced to retire from the Thayetmyo Hills by the " long grass being burnt. They return at the beginning of the " rains. They hatch in August." To the above I can add but little, but most of my correspondents. who know these birds and their haunts, seem to consider them birds which fJ^i require to have water within reasonable reach for their 336 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. morning and evening drink. Their flesh is said to be good, though rather dry, and perhaps inferior to that of the Jungle Fowl shot in the same jungles. Mr. J. P. Cook, writing from the same place as Capt. Fieldeu, but in 1912, more than thirty years later, says that this pheasant is still very common there, and that in a comparatively short time he shot some thirty specimens, but could only preserve three, two males and one female, lie found them frequenting either the same descrip- tions of cover as that described by Capt. Fielden or in bamboo covered slopes. They were most common between 1,000 and 2,000 feet, and did not appear to be birds of high elevation, though they were, on the other hand, sometimes found on the plain at the foot of the hills. Genn^us lineatus sharpei (Gates). GranVs Silvsr Pheasant. Gennceus sharpd, Gates, Man. Game-B. I., p. 357 (1398) ; Gates, Ibis (1903), p. 101 ; Ghigi, Mem. Acad. Bologna (6), V., p. I'lO (1908); C. S. Bartan, Journal Nat. His. See, Siam, 1.. p. 108 (1914); Stuart Baker, Jour, B.N.H.S., XXIII., p. 078(1915); Guildenstolpe, Swedish Exped. Siam, p. 167 (1916). Vernacular Names. — Yit {l^vrmese). Description. — Adult Male. — Similar to the male of the Common Burmese Silver Pheasant, but the lines on the upper siu-face are well defined regular black and white lines following, for the most part, the contour of the feathers ; even on the neck next the bare crimson face the markings could hardly be called vermiculations, whilst the lines on the sides of the neck lower down are quite dis- tinct. At the same time the black bars and lines aT*e not so far apart as they are in rufipes and, broadly speaking, sha/rpei may be said to be more black and white than lineatus, but less white in general appearance than rufipes and its other neighbours East and North of it. Colours of Soft Parts. — " Facial skin deep crimson ; bill pale bluish horny ; legs and " feet dark pinkish lleshy." (Davidson.) " Legs reddish horny. " (Cook.) A male taken by Herbert's collectors at Korat is descinbed by him as having the " facial skin red, irides brown, legs bright red." Measurements of Tijpe. — Total leneth SO'O" (Davidson). Wing 9-8" (249-0 mm'.) ; tail 13-9" (353-0 mm.) ; tarsus 3 4" (8G-3 mm.); spur 1-3" (33-0 mm.); bill i'rom forehead 1-4" (36-5 mm.) and from gape 1-G" (40-G mm.) ; " Weight 2-75 lbs. " (Davidson). A second male procured by P. C. Cook, Esq., had a wing of 9*9" (251-4 mm.) and a tail of 14-5" (348-3 mm.). The crest is shox-t, 2*5" (63-5 mm.) or under. THJi GAME BIIiDS OF 12^1)1 A. 3S7 Adult Female;. — The type specimen obtained witii the male can only be dihiinguished from the tem.ile of lineaius by the great breadth of the white marks on the lower surface of the body. Three females obtained at Miileyit and a fourth shot with the male obtained by Mr. P. C Cook, all have the lower parts much darker than in any specimen 1 have ever seen of lineaius. The chestniit or rulmis is in fact almost entirely absent on the lower plumage, and the feathers may be described as smoky black or dull dark brown with broad white centres not V-shaped. It will probably be found that the lower plumage of the female ranges from a red, little darker than that of lineaius to the deep smoky brown of the Muleyit birds. Colours of the Soft Parts. — " Facial skin deep red; irides brown, bill pale horny colour; legs, feet and claws pinkish brown." (Davidson). J/ea.s«rme?/i*-.—" Expanse 29-75"; length 23-5"; weight 2-25 lbs." (Davidson). The measurements of the five females referred to above are as follows :— Wing from 8-4." (213-3 mm.) to 9-5" (241-3 mm.) ; tail from 8-9" (22G-0 mm.) to 10-5" (2GG-7 mm.); tarsus about 3-0" (7G-2 mm.) ; bill at front about 1-25" (31-7 mm.) and from gape about 1-45" (3()-8 mm.) ; the crest is about 2-2" (55-8 mm.) or rather less. Disirihution. — The distribution of this fine subspecies is not yet known with any certainty, and much more material is required before one can say where it meets lineatus on the West and South, rufipes on the West and North and riyponi on the North. Where it meets other forms to the East is still quite unknown. Its range would appear to run from Dargwin North a little way into the South Shan vStates, East over the Sittang and Mewaug Rivers at least up to the Mennaui River ; South to Rareng and Muleyit and possibly in the higher hills as far as the 15" latitude. In the Noi-th, Gyldeustolpe saw a bird at Doi-Par-Saken which he describes as being too white to be of this subspecies, and as nearer rip2>oni in its veiy white appearance. To the South on the 14° latitude at both M. Rat Bouri and M. PetchaBouri the true lineatns is said to be common. It will probably be found to run up towards the ^lekong River, but as yet the Silver Pheasants of this part are not known, atd it is not possible to say where Grant's Pheasant will meet the forms known as annamensis and heli which are found in Annam and South-East Siam. The furthest point to the South-T^ast at which we Icnoin it to be found is the Korat Hills which lie roughly 15" latitude by about 101° — 102-5° longiluda. At this place Pheasants of this subspecies were obtained by Mr. E. G. Herbert's Dyak collectors, the males of 338 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT. which were fah'ly typical sharpei, but the females of which shewed a near approach to true nydhemeTUs. Nidification . — Nothing recorded. General HaJdts. — Nothing recorded. Apparently this bird is not uncommon between 2,500 and 4,500 feet on the Hill Ranges witliin the limits of jts habitat as described above, but it is such a skulker that it is still very little known, even by the few Eviropeans who have worked this part of the country. Messrs. E. G. Herbert. Williamson and others have done their best to obtain specimens, as also haye Kloss and Robinson, but with little result. It would appear to be a form of lineatiis replacing this bird in the higher, more open hills, especially on those hills which have more or less wide expanses of grass-land covering their crests and sides. They stand captivity well, and Mr. Herbert has been successful in keeping adult birds for some time. Genn^us nycthemerus nycthemerus. The Chinese Silver Pheasant . Vhasianus nycthemerus, Linn. S. N., I., p. 272 (1768) ; Latham, lud. Orni. II., p. 631 (1790). Euplocomus nycthejnerus, J. E. Gray, III., Ind. Zool., II., PI. 38, Fig. 2 (1834) ; Blyth, Cat. Mus. As. Soc, p. 244 (1849) ; Gray, Hand-L., II., p. 260 (1870). Gallophasis craivfurdii, Gray, Gen. Birds, III., p. 498 (1845). Gallophasis nycthemerus, Gray, Gen. Birds, III., p. 498 (184o). Euplocamus nycthemeruss, Gould, B. of A., VII., PI. XVII. (1859) ; Elliot, Mon. Phas., II., PI. 21 (1872) ; David and Ous., Oiseaux Chine, p. 416 (1877). Genneeus nycthemerus, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds, B. M., XXII., p. 307 (1893) ; id., Hand-List Game-B., I., p. 277 (1899) : Gates, Cat. Eggs B. M., I., p. 55 (1901) ; Ghigi, Mem. Acad. Bologna (6), V., p. 138 (1908) ; Ingram, Nov. Zool., XIX., p. 270 (1912); Stuart Baker, Journal B. N.H. S., XXIII., p. 679 (1915). Vernacular Names. — Yit {Burmese), Wuri (Kachin). Description — Adult Male. — Forehead, crown and crest black with a strong pui-ple sheen ; nape to end of upper tail coverts white with from 5 to 7 narrow wavy lines of black on each web following the outline of the feather, but completely dominated by the white ground ; on the nape the lines are comparatively faint, and on the ear coverts and sides of the neck obsolete or entirely wanting. Whole visible por- tions of the wing like the back, but with only two to four lines on each web of the feathers, and these lines stronger and bolder than those on the back ; tail with the tM^o, three, or even four central pail's white, with a few irregular broken longitudinal lines on the bases of the outer webs, outermost tail feathers white with two or three bold black lines on either web ; intermediate feathere grading THE ilAME lilRDU OF INDIA. 339 tVuni uuo tu tlu' other. Below from chin to end of" under tail i'overts velvety black with a deep purple-blue gloss. (hlours of Soft Paiis. — hides brown or red-brown; bill greenish or yellowish horny, the cuhnen and base darker ; bare facial skin bright crimson red to almost vermilion red ; legs brilliant coral red. Measurements.— Whig from 0-8" (248-9 mm.) to 10-8" (274-3 mm.), the average being lOo" (2G1() mm.), tail from 21-C" (548-G mm.) to 27-8" (70G-1 ram.) in fully adult birds ; tarsus from :3-75" (05-2 mm.) to 4-0" (101-6 mm.); bill at front 1-2" (30-4 mm.), and from gape about 1-5" (38-1 mm.K The crest varies between 3" and 3-5" (70*2 and 88-9 mm.), being generally well over 3-2" (81-2 mm.). The spur is generallj^ well developed and i-uns from about -75" (19-0 mn..) to 1-2" (30-4 mm.), being generally well over the inch in full-grown birds. Adult Female. — Whole of the upper plumage golden brown, the t'dge of each feather siighly darker, and with everj^where a po^^der- ing of dark brown, so minute as to be hardly visible -without a close examination ; terminal half of crest black, gradually grading into the brown of the crown. Two central pairs of tail feathers pale ashy buff, marked with fine broken bars of dark brown, lateral tail feathers black with straggling broken lines of white. Below, chin and iipper throat pale ashy, (dianging to asln' brown on the lower throat and upper breast, the latter becoming paler and much mottled \\ith brown spots and bars ; lower breast still paler and with bolder bars and markings; remaiudei- of lower plumage and flanks rather dingy white with bold, broad bars of dark brown ; centre of belly and vent duller, and with fine bars of brown instead of broad ones. Colours of Soft Parts. — Irides brown, golden brown or hazel ; liill greenish or yellowish horny, pale at tip and dark at the base of the upper mandible ; facial skin bright crimsom red, crimson or dull ci'imson ; legs brilliant coral red. Measure^ments.— Wing from 8-8" (203-5 mm.) to 9-9" (251-4 mm.), wuth an average of 9-2" (233-G mm.) ; tail from 98" (248-9 mm.) to 12-3" (312-4 mm.), generally about 11" (279-4 mm.); tarsus about 3-5" (88*9 mm.) ; bill at front about 1-1" (27-9 mm.), and from gape about 1-4" (35-5 mm.); the crest, which is rather meagre and thin, runs up to nearly 3" (7G-2 mm.), and is usually about 2-5" (G3-5 mm.). young Males and Females in First Plumage. — Similar to the above, l>ut with the whole of the lower parts from throat to under tail <-oveits more or less uniform buffy brown, varying in depth from a pale, almost albescent buff (see B. M. specimen. No. 39-4.15.66.) to a deep umber, almost chocolate brown (see B. M. specimen No. 1907. 12. 31. 121.). In all specimens the shafts are paler than the webs, and shew up as faint or conspicuous streaks according to the depth of colouring adjoining. 340 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL MIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. The extent of mottling, vermicnlations, or bars on breast, flanks and abdomen seems to vary in every individual ; in some they are hardly perceptible, in others the centre of the breast and abdomen alone is faintly mottled or vermiculated, in others again the greater part of the lower plumage is thus marked, while in one or two the biiff or brown is broken up everywhere with comparatively bold barrings or spots as well as with a sprinkling of white. It would appear that these Pheasants take at least two years to acquire their fiill plumage, and that ev3u tha females go through the three moults before acquiring the beautiful black and white, or deep brown and white, under plumage. Young Mobles in Second PlmnaKje appear to resemble the females in adult plumage, and to go through the same variations and phases, though in some cases they moult direct from the first to the final plumage, and in others go througli two moults to acquire this without ever assumino; that of the adult female. There are two 3'oung males in the B. M. Collection, one from Kuatun, and one from Canton, which app3ar to be changing from the mottled plumage into the adult, though it is evident that this moult would not have been complete for the feathers are parti- coloured, many shelving adult black bases and juvenile mottled tips. On the other hand a young male specimen of the subspecies ripponi shews that it is changing from the more xmiform juvenile garb direct into the adult black and white. At ihe same time some j'oung birds in the possession of Mr. E. G. Herbert in Siam, which were brought in as young birds of the year, moulted in the same autumn into the complete male plumage without any intervening stage. A very remarkable fact about Mr. E. G. Herbert's birds was that prior to moulting some of the feathers appeared to have assumed a partial adult coloui*abion by the pigmentation of the dead fea,thers ; these bacame marked with white or with black, the same in depth and tone as the feathers which came in their place. Distribution. — "South China, Fokien, Chiukiang" (Grant), In my Rsview of this genus I wrote that " the Chinese Silver Pheasant appears to be found from latitude 28° to about latitude 22° on the Eastern watershed of the Sahvin, bxit not in the lower lying country adjoining the river between latitude 22° and 24;°." " Salwin " is, of course, a lapsus calicmmi for Mekong, West of which River within the latitudes given the Chinese Silver Pheasant is not found. It is possible that when the range of habitat of this Pheasant has been more completly worked out, we shall have to extend the area into the Northei-n parts of Siam South and West of the Mekong to latitude 19-50° or even further South. From the neishbourhood of Rabeng we get a form of Silver Plu'asaut which appears ti) be most closely allied to sharpei as do othei- specimens obtained by Mr. E. G. Herbert at Korat (lat. 15°, long. 102*5°), but these latter birds have brilliant red legs, and not ilesliy gvey or fleshy livid ones as in sharpei. There still remains a great deal to be done in 8iam and the adjoining countries before we can definitely lay down the areas occu- pied by the various siibspecies of Gennaeus. General Habits. — The Chinese Silver Pheasant is normall}^ an in- habitant of the highest and driest hills and plateaus above 6,000 feet and up to 9,000 feet or more. Also, as w^e should expect, it haunts the more open forests or countr}'- which is grass-covered and only intersected with forest by the lower ^'ing valleys and ravines. It is doubtful whether this Pheasant ever really enters any part of the area covered by these articles, and it cannot be considered an Indian bird ; at the same time the dividing line in appearance between true nijcthemerus and its subspecies ripponi is so narrow that we may eventxTally find that the latter cannot stand, and, in this case, the bird will then have the status of an Indian, or rather, Burmese, Game-Bird. GENNiEUS NYCTHEMERUS RIPPONI. The Yunnan Silver Pheasants Gennoim ripponi, Sharpe, Bnll, B. O. C, Xlll., p. 29 (1902) ; Ghigi, Mem. Acad. Bologna (fi), V.. p. 139 (1908) ; Harington, Jour. B. N. H. S., XX., p. 377 (1910) ; Stuart Baker, ibid, XXIII., p. 684 (191o). Gennceusjonesi, Oates, Ibis (1903), p. 97 ; Ghigi, in loc. cit. (1908). Vernacular Names. — Yit {Burmese^, Wuri (Kachin). Description — Adult Male. — Only differs from true nydhemerus in having the black bars a trifle broader in comparison so that the upper parts at a short distance do not appear to be so piire a white. The sides of the neck are seldom so pure a white as they are in the Chinese bird, the tiny black vermiculations beino; more numerous and more pronounced. The tail also averages shorter. Colours of the Soft Parts. — As in nycthemerus. Measurements.— \\mg lO-l" (25G-5 mm.) to 11-9" (302-2 mm.); tail about 18-0" (457-2 mm.) to nearly 25" (635 mm.); tarsus 3-75" (95-2 mm.) to 4-05" (102-8 mm.); spur up to 1-25" (32-7 mm.), and neaidy always over an inch (25*4 mm.) ; crest from 3" (76-2 mm.) to 4" (101-6 mm.). The average length of wing of tw^elve adult males is 10-9" (276-8 mm.), and ^of tail 22" (558-8 mm.). The bill at front is about 1-2" (30-4 mm.) and from gape about 1-5" (38-1 mm.). Adult Female. — To the extreme East of its range closely resembles the females of nycthemerus, but appears never to have so much white 3 342 JOUMNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIHT. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. on the lower plumage and always to have a certain amount of rufous barring on the feathers like the hen of rufi'pes. To the East of its range the female more closely approaches rufyies and has still less of the white and more of the rufous barring below. The tail is on an average decidedly longer than that of the Ruby Mines Silver Pheasant, yet shorter than that of the Chinese bird. I have been able to examine very few females of this species, but the colours of the soft parts and the dimensions seem to agree with those of the Chinese Silver Pheasant. Distribution. — This subspecies is confined to the inter Salwin- Mekong country from latitudes 21° to 25° certainly; possibly farther North than the former and probably further South than the latter. Where this bird meets s/iarpei is at present unknown, but there is probably a line where the two subspecies meet, and are not definable one from the other, on the ridges and hills which run East and West from Karen-nee to Doi-par-Sakem, or a little South of this in Siam. Nidification. — Nothing known. General Habits. — So far nothing has been recorded of the habits of this very doubtful subspecies, which will not, however, be found to differ in any respect from those of true nycthemerus. Like that bird it is found on hills covered either with a sea of grass, with light deciduous forest, or in places where these are mixed with and broken up by ravines and pockets of more dense jungle, often more or less evergreen in character. It appears to prefer wide stretches of grass-land boi'deredby forest in which it can conceal itself in case of necessity, and especially does it haunt such as are rough and rugged and a good deal broken up with out-crops of rock. It is not, as far as is known at present, found bf^low 5,000 feet elevation, and is found up to the highest altitudes of 9,000 feet or more ; that is to say, this bird, a trifle darker in general tint than its Chinese i*elations, is also found at slightly lower elevations. It would appear to be most common in Yunnan in the Trans- Salwin Hills at about 7,000 feet, where it is found in great numbers in the thin oak foi-ests which are scattered about in small patches in the higher grass-lands, and where the only really dense vegetation is to be found in the wild tangles of growth on the borders of some of the streams and in the larger ravines. Writing of such a country as this, a correspondent says iv epistola : — " I'm afraid I cannot give j'ou nearly as much information " about this beautiful bird as you may expect. In spite of its " being found generally in grass rather than in heavy trees or •' bush cover, it is not an easy bird to find, and still less easy /•///; (,.IMK nillDS OF IMJlA, 343 "to briiifj to ba blackish brown, the outer tail feathers darker than the central ones. Under parts nitons brown to, rich blackish brown, the feathers marked with bold concentric bars of rich fulvous, these bars following- the contour of the feathers, and not in longitudinal stria9 as in lineatns. Colours of the Soft J\irfs. \s in ni/dhemerus. 2\[€asurements.—Wmg 9" (228-6 mm.) to 10-1" (256-5 mm.) with an average for twenty-one birds of 9-6" (243-8 mm.); tail from 9-2" (233-6 ram.) to 12-0" (304-8 mm.), with an average of about 10-8" (274-3 mm.); tarsus about 3-3" (83-8 mm.); bill at front about I'l" (27-9 mm.) and from gape about 1-3" (33 mm.); crest about 2-0" (50-8 mm.). In adult females there is generally an indication of a spur shown bv a knob which sometimes protrudes from the tarsus as much as •15' (3-7 mm.). " Wei(]hts. — The average weight of the male is 3 lbs., and that of the female 2^ lbs. The above averages have been obtained by weighing some twenty specimens." (Nisbett.) Distribution. — Roughly speaking, the range of this bird is bounded by the Irrawaddy and Salwin Rivers on the West and East respec- tively, on the North by latitude 27^" and South by latitude 21°. It must, however, be remembered that Gennceus horsfieldi horsfieldi wanders down the Irrawadd}^ over the greater part of this area on the banks of the river and lowest hills, and that between the habitat of the two birds there is a no-man's land which is occu- pied not only by birds which are in a geographic (or climatic) transitional stage, but by a very great number of pheasants which are hybrids, the result of direct crossing between true horsfieldi and?i. rujipes. The article by Mr. Finn and Capt. Nisbett in this Journal XIII., p. 521, is of the gi'eatest interest, and it is remarkable that this combination of acute observers should have got so much nearer the truth in regard to the subspecies and species of Gennceus than did Oates with nearly ten times the material to work on. Capt. Nisbett remarks : — " The lower in altitude and the nearer the Irrawaddy one '•finds them, the more they partake of the Black-Breasted " Kalij in character; and the higher one gets towards the " Chinese frontier, the more they partake of the appearance of "the Silver Pheasant." Mr. Finn adds to this : " There can be no doubt that the veiy interesting series of " forms of Gennchus forwarded bj^ Capt. Nisbett and described " above, are hybrids of various grades between the common " Black, or Black-Breasted Kalij (^Gennceus horsfieldi) and 346 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. " Crawford's or Anderson's Silver Pheasant with which I unite " Mr. Gates' G. rufipes from the Ruby Mines." Mdification. — Nothing recorded. I am told by my correspon- dents that March and April are the two principal breeding months for this Pheasant, though none of them have so far been successful in taking eggs or chicks. "It is probable that they will be found to breed in the two months mentioned and in May as well. General Habits. — Captain Nisbett writes as follows: — " These birds are found at an altitude between 3,000 and " 5.000 feet. They are generally found in parties of 8 to 7, "though the males often wander about by themselves. They " generally keep in the nullahs near the water during the heat "of the day, and in the early mornings and towards evenings " feed along the hillsides and on high ground, being especially " fond of long flattish spurs or knolls covered with open ever- " green forest. They are intensely shy, and one rarely has an " opportunity of seeing them, as they make off very quickly on "hearing anyone coming, and then rarely take to flight, unless "run down by dogs, when they fly up into the trees. They " are confirmed runners, and it is often hard to make them " take flight even with dogs. Their food consists entirely of "jungle seeds, insects and acorns. My usual way of obtainino- " them was to walk very quickly along a jungle path until I " heard the sound of their scratching up the dry leaves in "search of food. I would then send a cooli, who always " accompanied me, to take a circuit in the jungle and get " round them ; and on his advancing towards them, they " nearly always came within shot. This sounds like poaching, " but it is the only way of getting them : shooting them in a " fair way is impossible. On my first acquaintance with "them, it took me over a fortnight to get a single specimen, " though I met them every day. " The breeding season begins about April, when the cocks " can be heard challenging one another in the early morning. "When breeding, they appear to leave their usual haunts " in the open jungle, and disappear altogether, probably in "the thick undergrowth. Since the end of April I have " hardly come across a bird, though I constantly met them " before. " I have not been successful in obtaining any eggs, though " I have asked Kachins to try and get me some." All that can be added at present to the above is that after April the birds probably go into the still higher hills to breed, which would account for Capt. Nisbett never putting the birds up, and for the Kachins failing to obtain eggs. rilK (tAME birds of INDIA. 347 (3! envLS—rilA SIANU8. True Pheasants . The True Pheasants form a genus of which the Common and Ringed Plieasauts are well-known examples. The tail which is of IG or 18 feathers, is longer than the wing in both sexes, and in the male often reaches a very great length ; it is strongly graduated, the outermost pairs being fre(|uently much shorter than the upper tail coverts. There is no crest, but usuall}'' two short thick tufts on either side of the crown behind i he eye, which are, however, very small in some species. I'he males are brilliantly coloured with both ordinary and metallic colours, whilst the females are plain brown birds more or less mottled with varying amounts of bufi', rufous, black and white. The wings are rounded with a small Urst primary intermediate in length between the 7th and 10th and the tarsi and feet are strong and well-formed for running, and are furnished with a spur in the male which is rudimentary or absent in the female. The space round the eye is bare in the males, and in some species is developed into wattles, in the female the eye area is feathered or bare in a less degree than in the male. There are two species of true Pheasants found within our limits, Vhasianus huinice hamice and Fhasianus elegans, and a second sub- species of the former P. h. hurmannicus. These birds have often been referred to the genus Callo]jliasis, a genus created by Elliott for Callophasis eUiotti. — I do not, however, see sufHcient reason for dividing the two genera. Elliott gave his reasons for dividing them as follows : — (1) In the genus Callophasis as represented by elliMi the bare skin of the face never developes into the heavy wattles found in all males of true Phasianus. (2) The feathers of the lower rump " are rounded and proceed in regular rotation down the back " and form an abrupt, distinct line ju at above the upper tail " coverts, leaving them entirely exposed "... In all " true pheasants these are long, loose, split and of a hairy-like "texture, very dense and almost, if not entirely, conceal " the upper tail coverts." (3) The spur is in shape and character nearer to Gennceus (Euplocomns) than to Phadanus. Of the three reasons given (1) is only a matter of degree, (2) is to some extent a matter of degree, and (3) is not correct for the spur is actually much more like that of Phasianus than the Gallme spur of Gennrhus. 348 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. As regards the female, Elliott observes that it " exhibits to an even gi-eater degree than the male, characters " not found in any species of Pheasant belonging to existing "recognised genera" ( ? species) "and in her relation to " him, differs in a more marked manner than is to be witnessed " among the females of any of the species of the genns " Phasianus." The characters to winch he refers are (1) the naked space round the eye, (2) the comparatively short tail, and (3) the indication of a spur. Here again, (1) is the only point which needs to be dwelt upon, (2) is entirel)^ a matter of degree, and (3) is incorrect, for there is an indication of a spur in the females of nearly all the Pheasants, whilst actual spurs are by no means uncommon. The differentiation between Calloiihasis and Phasiamis rests there- fore entirel}^ on the supposed structural differences in the rump feathers of the male and the bare orbital skin of the female. Under these circumstances, as I have said above, I retaiji all the sj)ecies under the one title of Phasicums. Key to Species and Subspecies. A. 16 tail feathers, cross bars on central tail feathers an inch or more apart. Crown green in males. a. Rump steel blue and white in equal portions ... ... ... I'.li. humioi. h. Hump ):)lack and white, the latter predominating ... ... ... P.h.hurmannicus. B. 18 tail feathers, cross bars under one inch apart in both sexes ... ... ...P. elef/ans. Phasianus humi^ humi^ (Hume). Mrs. Hume's Pheasant. Callophasis hwnice, Hiune, Str. Feath., IX., p. 461 (1881) ; id, ibid. XI., p. 302 (1888). Phasianus Immice, Godwin-Aus. P. Z. S. (1881), ^. 715, PI. LI. ; Ogilvie- Grant. Cat. Birds B. M., XXII., p. 335 (1893) (part) ; Blanford, Fauna B.I., IV., pp. 80, 486 (1898) ^part) ; Finn., Jonr. A. S. Beng. (2), LXVI, p. 523 (1897) (part) ; Finn and Turner, ibid, LXIX., p. 144 (1900); Venning, Jour. B. N. H. S., XXI., p. 632 (1912) : J. P. Cook, ibid, XXII., p. 270 (1913); Mackenzie and Hopwood, ibid, XXV., p. 91 (1907). Calophasis hximla', Ogilvie-Grant. Monograph Game-B., II.. p. 42 (1897) (part); Sharpe, Hand-L., I., p. 38 (1899); Finn, ibis (1898), p. 311 (part) ; Gates, Man. Game-B., I., p. 304 (1898). Finn, Indian Sportins-B., p. 201 (1915). Vernacular Names. — Yit (Burmese), Wuri {Kachin) ; Loe-nin- koi (Maniiniri). THE (.'AMI-: niliD!S OF INDIA. ;549 Description — Adiilf Malt'. — Crown brown, tinged with olive, the feathers next the bill unci over the eye next the bare orbital skin dark brown, faintly glossed with green, chin and upper throat black; neck, iipper breast and upper back deep velvet-black with broad edges of deep steel blue, the black centres concealed, or merel}^ shewing on the posterior parts as half hidden round spots; the blue of the upper back sometimes descends on to the centre back, almost to the lower back, and in all cases the chauge between the two colours is gradual, patches of metallic blue occurring even on the lower back ; iutei-- scapulars and back with iiame-coloured copper instead of green edges ; lower back and rump steel blue, much paler in tint thxT,n the back, and each feather with white edges and a white bar bordered above and below with black ; upper tail coverts grey, faintly vermi- culated with white and with an obsolete broken black bar across the centre ; tail similarly vermiculated grey with bars of black, more or less mottled with chestnut on the central pair of feathers, and with a broad sub-terminal bar on the four outer pairs, increas- ing in width towards the outermost ; two or three pairs of these are also tipped with mottled white. Lesser wing coverts and median wing coverts like the back, the former with a broad baud of white, nai- rowl}- edged with steel blue and with bases of glossj' blue-black, and the latter with a broad bar of black glossed with the same steel blue as the rump ; greater coverts deep chestnut, those next the quills with broad white edges and blue-black sub-edges, forming a third double bar across the closed wing; primaries brown, edged chestnut, secondaries entirely chestnut on the exposed portions except the innermost, which have white tips with a narrow sub-terminal bar of black. Lower breast like the upper back, gradually merging into deep bright chestnut on the flanks and abdomen ; thighs and centre of abdomen about vent mottled brown and chestnut; under tail coverts black with a faint blue-green gloss. "Male. — Length 33-0 inches; expanse 26-0; tail (of six- "teen feathers) from vent 21; wing 8-6; tarsus 2-75; bill "from gape 1-3. Weight 2 lbs. G ozs. The legs, feet, claws " and spurs (the latter 0-85 length) all a pale delicate drab " brown ; the facial skin an intense crimson ; irides orange ; "bill greenish horny, dusky on cere and base of upper man- " dible. and pale yellowish horny towards the tip of both " mandibles." (Hume.) Measurement)}. — The small series 1 luue been able to examine or obtain measurements of, viz., 6 in the British Museum, 2 at Tring, and 3 in the Museum of the Natural Histoiy Society of Bombay, have measurements as follows: — Wing from 8-1" (205-7 mm.) to 8-8" (223-5 mm.); tail from 15-8" (401-3 mm.) (a bird in very poor condition) to 21-5" (534-6 mm.); tarsus 2-3" (58-4 mm.) to 2-6" (66-0 mm.); bill at front about M" (27-9 mm.), and from 4 350 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. gape about 1-3" (33-0 mm.); spur from -33" (8-3 mm.) to -7" (17-7 mm.), generally under the half inch (12-7 mm.). The average length of wing is 8*5" (215"0 mm.). Young Males. — In otherwise fully adult plumage, have the wing quills mottled brown and dull chestnut, but not barred like the females. Adult Female. — Upper parts of the head reddish brown, the feathers of the crown with more or less well-defined black centres ; sides of the head, lores, ear coverts and chin dull fiilvous, sparsely spot- ted posteriorly with black ; neck sandy brown above obsoletel}' barred with blackish and more boldly so on the sides ; upper back and scapulars the same, but with bold velvety black edges and bars and white arrow-shaped mark in the centi-e of each feather ; lower back rump and upper tail covei'ts mottled sandy-brown and black with in- definite black centres to the feathers, more pronounced on the romp where there are also some white marks, and on the upper tail coverts. Central tail feathers like the tail coverts with ill-defined mottled bars of dark brown ; outer tail feathers chestnut with black bars and broad white tips. Below, the breast is pale sandy or greyish brown with a few black spots; lower breast, flanks and greater thigii coverts sandy rufous, barred with very pale grey ; thigh coverts a darker sandy brown, and the vent and centre of the abdo- men duller and paler than the flanks ; under tail coverts mottled brown, white and sandy, the longest chestnut with black, bai-s and broad white tips. Visible plumage cf the wings mottled grey, brown and sandy rufous with bold markings of black, and with whitish edges to the median and greater coverts, which form narrow and faint white bars across the wing ; primaries brown, mottled with rufous and with broad pale buff bars on the outer webs. Measurements. — The only female 1 have been able to measure has a wing of 7-8" (198-1 mm.) ; tail 7-5" (190-5 mm.) , and tarsus of 2-4." (G0-9mm.) ; the bill at iront is about 1-0" (25-4. mm.), and from the gape 1-2" (30-5 mm.). It should be noted that Godwin- Austen gives the length of his specimen's wing in the flesh as 8'25'', and the tail as 7-0" only. Colours of Soft Parts. — The only note I can find on this point is in Godwin- Austen's description, in which he says : " A nude red patch surrounding the eye." DistrUmtion. — Until very recently all that was known of this bird's habitat was Hume's description in Stray Feathers, and Godwin- Austen's in the Zoological Societj^'s Proceedings. The former recorded them as being found in the Kamhow district of South Manipur, Eastern Looshai and North- West Independent Burma, while the latter obtained specimens, as had Dr. Watts, in North- Kast Manipur close to the Naga Hills. THE GAME JilliDiS OF INDIA. 351 Latterly they have been repeatedly shot on the Chin Hills as fai- South as Fahini and Fort White, whilst Venning reports them as not uncommon still further South at llaka, where he saw Hocks ot as many as ten birds together. Again East and North-East ol Mauipur on the hills bordering the Chindwin and Oyu lUvers, it has been seen and shot, and it certainly extends as i'ar North-East as the Patkoi Hills, as 1 have seen its feathers on the baskets of the Nagas trom this district. At present there is nothing to show what is the boundary between htimitc and harmaynnicus, and this may prove to be either the Chindwin or the Inawaddj^ as, so far, no birds of this genus have been found in the inter-land of these two rivers. Probably, however, consideiing the distribution of humia'. in tlie N. E. >iaga and Patkoi Hills, the latter river will be found to be the Western limits of P. h. bunnannicus. Nidifi cation. — As far as I know, the only collectors wdio have hitherto succeeded iu finding the nest and eggs of this most beautiful bird are Messrs. Wickham, Hopwood and Mackenzie, to whom I am indebted for specimens of the eggs and many valuable notes. The two latter gentlemen, when touring iu the North Chin Hills, had a clutch of 8 eggs brought in to them in the end of April 1914 by the Chins, said to be those of Mrs. Hume's Pheasant; unfortunately they were on the verge of hatching, and it was only possible to save 4 eggs out of the clutch. The eggs were, however, not such as had been expected, so that it was with the greatest delight the same two collectors had the good luck to themselves to take a second nest and see the parent bird within a few dajs of receiving the first. This nest, which was found on the 1st of May, contained only 7 eggs. In the following year, near the same spot and on the same date, Mr. Mackenzie obtained another nest with 10 eggs, whilst on the 20th April and the 1st May two other clutches were brought to him by Chins, containing respectively 6 and 7 eggs. In neither oi' these two instances were the parent birds trapped, though the Chins produced some feathers to support their story ; the eggs are, how- ever, exactly similar to those taken personally by Mr. Mackenzie, and there does not seem to be any reason to doubt their authenticity. All these eggs were taken from a ridge above and to the West of Haingyan, near Hankin, at au elevation of some 7,000 feet. Mr. Mackenzie {in he. cit.) gives a brief note on the breeding of the Pheasant, but unfortunately tells us nothing about the nest or where it is placed. He writes : " Eggs, with a bird skin. The eggs were of the ordinary " Phasiavtis type : three clutches were obtained, all from about " 6,500'. The bird seems to breed near the top of the main ridge." 3oi? JO URNAL, B 0MB A Y NA TURAL HIST. SO CIETY, Vol. XXV. The eggs are certaiiil}^ not in the least like what I should ha\-e expected, being far more like small, fragile eggs of the Jungle- Fowl than those of the True Pheasants. At the same time, even if Mr. Mackenzie had not, as he informs me in a letter, on the one occasion seen the bird leave the nest, it would have been difficult to attribute them to any other bird than Mi's. Hume's Pheasant. The Jungle-Fowl does not breed at 7,000 feet in this part of Burmah, and the eggs are much too small for any of the forms of Silver or Kalij Pheasants which are to be found in the Chin Hills and, more- over, though superficially just like Jungle-Fowls' eggs, those I have seen are more finely grained, with a closer texture, slightlj^ glossed, and with much thinner shells in proportionto their size. Eggs very similar to those in my collection — which I owe to the generosity of the above-named gentleman-— are four eggs laid by P. elegans in the Zoological Society's Gardens in Regent's Park, and which are now in the Natural History Museum. Both Phasianus, scintillans and P. elliotti also lay cream or stone-coloured eggs, so that there is really nothing extraordinary in Mrs. Hume's bird doing the same. In shape they are broad ovals, but little compressed towards the smaller end, and do not appear to vary much, but one egg in Mr. Mackenzie's series is a comparatively long oval measuring 1-99" x 1-31" (50-5 X 33-2 mm.). In length the 30 eggs of which I have measurements vary be- tween 1-78" and 2-03" (45-2 and 52-8 mm.), and in breadth between 1-31" and 1-48'' (33*2 and 37-6 mm.), the average of the same number being 1-88" x 1-39" (47-7 x 35-3 mm.). These Pheasants would appear to be earlj^ breeders, for both the clutches obtained in the end of April were so hard set that they must have been laid in March, and, though it is hardly safe to generalise on such scanty material, the 1 5th March to the 1 5th May is probably the limit of their breeding season. General Habits. — This beautiful Pheasant, according to reports made to Hume by his Kamhow collectors, is found " In dense hill forests at elevations of from 2,500 feet (the " height of the lower end of the Manipur Plain, or, as it is "mis-called, valley) to fully 5,000 feet. They prefer the " neighboui-hood of streams, and are neither rare nor shy." This description of their habitat is probably not correct. For fifteen years I lived in the North Cachar Hills next to Manipur, and yearly visited the Jhiri Valley, and worked it and the adjoining hills most exhaustively up to 5,000 and 6,000 feet, but never saw nor heard of this bird being found there. All my Manipuri collec- tors, also, assured me that the bird was not found until one got into the far higher country running from the Naga Hills round the far North and Fast of tlie Manipur Plain at elevations from 4,000 feet THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. ,000 01- more up to 9,000 or 10,000. Tlic lowest point at wliicli (i win-Aiisteii got it ^vas ou the Shiroifnra peaks at between 7,( and 9,000 feet; in the Eastern Chin Hills it is fonnd lietween 4,000 and 7,000 feet, and at Haka at about 1,000 feet and upwards, whilst in the extreme North of the Chin Hills it is found from G,000 t<> 9,000 feet. It may, of course, wander down sometimes as low as 2,500 feet in the coldest part of the cold weather, but 1 think such occasions must be of the rarest. Again it does not appear to be a denizen of the dense, tropical and more or less evergreen forests of the hills of the lower eleva- tions, but to haunt the more open oak, pine and other forests and grass lands which are to be found fiom 4,000 feet upwards. Mr. J. P. Cook found it frequenting heavy patches of grass and dwarf date palm in more or less open grass land mixed with patches of forest and found that they had been feeding on acorns. Again, near Fort White one of my correspondents informs me that he always obtained these pheasants " in forest growing on very rocky, broken hillsides, where the " undergrowth was light, except for open patches of bracken " and grass, and the trees, for the most part, stunted and grow- " iug well apart from one another. If not in this kind of " forest, they were to be found in the open grass-land, feed- " mg in the more open land, and lying up during the hotter "hours in the denser patches." Finn, who was the first writer to draw attention to the differ- ence between ]Mrs. Hume's Barred-Back Pheasant and the Eastern Burmese form, quotes at some length an interesting letter from a Mr. Turner. " I had left my camp, which was pitched some six miles " from Fort White, on the evening of Gth March, to go after '•some Hill Partridges, which one of my men had seen just ''below my camp; not seeing any signs of them, I Avalked " on for about a mile, and w^as returning along the road " (the Fort White-Kalemyo Koad) w^hen, glancing down the " liJmd, I saw something grey disappearing in the long grass "just below^ me. I immediately started to go after it, when "I saw what appeared to me to be a light blue streak just dis- " appearing. I immediately fired, but it was with faint hope " I walked up to the spot, as not only did I think the bird "had disappeared before I shot, but I had just at the moment " of shoo\ing, slipped. I was therefore very much delighted " when I saw the blue streak tumbling down the l-hnd below " me. I immediately went after and secured him ; as I was " descending the original gi*ey bird, which was evidently the " female, got up and flew a short distance. I walked lier up. 354 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. " and my dog again pnt her up ; tinfortunately, owing to "the thick jungle, I was unable to get a shot. Walking " on, however, 1 again put up another, whether a cock or hen, " I could not saj', as it was already dark. I fired, but the " bird flew away, and although I believe it dropped, I " could not find it. These birds, when I saw them, were " feeding amongst the dead leaves which littered the ground. " The next evening I tried the upper side of the road, and "put several (four at least) of the same birds out of the long "grass on a steep hillside. I only managed to geb one long "shot which was not successful. I again tried the next morn- " ing, and was successful in bagging another ; my dog put it up " on our right, and flying ver}^ low thmngh the bushes, it " crossed just in front of me. Unfortunatel}^ the bird was not " well skinned, and I had to throw it away. " The specimen that I have retained is a full-grown cock; the " other one was a young cock without the long tail, the plumage " was otherwise identical with that of the other bird. The "hill on which I obtained these specimens was between 4,000 " and 5,000 feet high, being one of the spurs of the Chin Hills "running down into the Kale Valley, and the birds were " close to the Fort-Kalemyo Fort White Road, just about at " milestone 20. The latitude is approximately 23" and the "longitude approximately 9G°." Mr, Cook in a letter to me writes : "P. humvK I often saw and shot. The birds were generally " to be found in somewhat open jungle, where the trees are " principally oaks and similar species, and where one finds an " undergrowth and open spaces of long grass, or long grass and " bracken mixed. Near Minkin I found them in steep grass " slopes, and here they were by no means uncommon, and " associated in small flocks or family parties. On one occasion " 1 flushed no less than eight or ten birds from an ant-hill " overgrown with grass and crowned with a clump of dwarf " dates, upon the fruit of which I think the Pheasants were " feeding. On another occasion I saw a couple of hens with " a cock at Pine-Tree Camp in similar jungle and at about the " same elevation (7,000 feet). "As far as my experience goes they do not fly very far " when first flushed, and as a rule they fly low down, seldom, " if ever, rising above the tops of the trees ; nor does their " flight strike one as being at all fast, and, indeed, compared "with the English Pheasant, it seems very much slower. " They are not hard birds to flush, especially the first time, "but as I have nearly always had a dog out with me when THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 366 " fifter these birds, I cannot, speak with much authority on "this point. When aligliting after the first flight, they often " run considerable distances, but at others one may put a "bird up lime after time from almost the exact spot at which '• he drops. " They are such beautiful birds that their very beauty has "sometimes saved their lives when 1 have really wanted them " very badly ; their skins as specimens and their ilesh for the " pot. To see half a dozen cock birds rise almost at one's "feet and then scatter in all directions, the wonderful blue and " white feathers of their rumps shewing up like flags against " the rest of the brilliant plumage, is a most extraordinary " sioht, and I have tound the blaze of colour so gorgeous and " attractive that 1 have sometimes been arrested m the very " act of raising my gun to fire, and have instead stood to " watch them and enjoy the sight. " I think wherever 1 have found this bird there have been " outcrops of rock here and thtre in the grass they frequent. " In some cases these outcrops are scattered and tew, but in " some cases very thick and plentiful, so that the patches of " grass form little roads in between them. " The only sound I have heard them make, and which I " can with certainty attribute to them is a low grunting call, " exactly the same as that made by Fhasianus hurmaniiicus, a "bird I'knew well in the South-East of these Hills." The discovery of this beautiful Pheasant by Hume in 79 was always considered by him to be one of the, if not the, most im- portant and interesting of his numerous discoveries. His atlention in the first place was drawn to some feathers in the head-dress of a Manipuri Official sent to assist him in getting about in Manipur, which he at once saw belonged to a J'heasant unknown to him. These he was told were feathers from a bird called Loe-nin-Koi which occuired in the extreme South of the Manipur territory and in the Eastern Lushai country. It was weeks, however, beibre he succeeded in going with a small force of Manipuris into the Kamhow district, and even then it was only with the greatest ditticulty that some Kamhow refugees were induced by a mixture of threats and promises to secure for him two specimens, one of which was alive. Of the living specimen Hume wrote : "The live bird, though a full-grown cock, became perfectly " tame in a few days, and a great favourite in the camp. It " would eat bread, boiled rice, winged wdiite-ants, moths, " taking them gingerly out of our hands." Unfortunately this bird was eventually killed in a fire, so never reached its destination, the London Zoological Gardens. 356 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX T. Phasianus humi^ burmannicus (Gates). The Burmese Barred-Bach Pheasant. Cafophasis burmannicus, Gates, Ibis, 1898, p. 124 ; Sharpe, Hand-List, B., IV., p. 38 (1899); Finn, Ibis, 1898, p. 311 (part); Harington, Jour. B.N.H.S., XX., p. 1010 (1911); Gates, Man. Game-B., I., p. 308 (1898): Finn, In. Sporting B., p. 301 (1915). Phasianus humiai, W. L. Sclater (nee Hume), Ibis, 1891, p. 152 (part) ; Gates, Jour. B.N.H.S., X., p. 112 (1895) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. B. M., XXII., p. 335 (1893) (part) ; id, Mon. Game B., II., p. 42 (1897) (part) . Blanford, Faun B. I., IV., pp. 80, 486 (1898) (part) ; Finn, Jour. A. S. B. (2), LXVI., p. 523 (1897) (part) ; id, ibid (2), LXIX., p. 144 (1900); Cook, Jour. B. N. H. S., XXI,, p. 632 (1912) ; id, ibid, XXII., p. 270 (1913). Vernacular Names. — Yit (^Burmese), Wuri (J\.acMii). Description — Adult Male. — Similar to P. humioe Mimioe, but with the steel blue of the upper parts confined to the extreme upper back, and much more sharply defined from the copper-coloured mantle ; the rump is black and white instead of blue and white, and even when there is a certain amount of blue gloss, as is some- times the case, this is of a deeper tint than it is in Mrs. Hume's Pheasant ; the white fringes are also broader and more dominant than they are in that bird. The colour of the tail bars, given Ij}- Gates as one of the dis- tinguishing features, is not of much use. Generally there is more chestnut on those of F. h. harmannicus, but this is not invariably so, and in some birds there is no moi'e than in the type of humiai. Again, Gates' definition of the differences in the colour of the bases to the feathers of the lower white wing bar does not hold good. He says that in humiai the concealed bases to these featiiers are black, whereas in burmannicus they are " chestnut with a firm black bar." This is practically coirect as far as the types of the two subspecies are concerned, though the bases of the innermost feathers are well- marked with chestnut in the wing of h^imice, hnt in other specimens this difference is not maintained. In hurmoMnicus the central black wing-bar is often mixed with maroon or copper colour, but this is not always so, and in one specimen in the British Museum series this black wing-bar is broader than in any specimen of humiai, and is equally free from all admixture of maroon. Measurements and Colours of Soft Parts. — The same as in humia'. In the series of 16 males in the British Museum and at Tring the wing varies between 8-5" (215 mm.) and 9-3" (236-2 mm.), with an average of 8-85" (224-9 mm.) ; tlis tails run up to 26-5" (673-1 mm.), and average about 22" (554-8 mm.), tarsus, spur and bill measure within the extremes given for humvje. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 357 Adult Female. — Similar to that of humiie. Measurenmits.— Wing from 7-7" (195-8 mm.) to 8-3" (210-8 mm.) ; tail 7-7" (195-8 mm.) to 8-G" (218-4 mm.); tarsus about 2-1." (Gl-0 mm. ) , bill at front about 1" (25-4 mm.) and gape 1-2" (30-5 mm.). Distribution. — Yunnan, Northern Shan States, and the greater part of the Southern Shan States. To the West it appears nowhere to cross the Irrawaddy, which River probably forms the dividing barrier between this and Mrs. Hume's Pheasant. To the East we do not yet know for certain how far it extends, but up to now there is no record of its having been seen or obtained East of the Sahvin River. I have records of its having been obtained at Myitkjma, Sadon, N. E. of Nilamka, Mogok, Maymyo, Kalaw, Taungyi, Fort Stedman, and Loimai. South of this again, North of the Bree country, a Pheasant has been seen which will assuredly prove to be of this species, and almost equally certainly of the present subspecies, but no specimen has been actually secured. Nidification. — There is at present absolutely nothing on record about the breeding of this beautiful Pheasant, but, with the care and industry with which our field-ornithologists are now working Burmah, the finding of the nests and eggs cannot be long delayed. General Habits. — Like its cousin, Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, the Burmese Barred-Back Pheasant frequents the mountninous regions of Eastern Burmah between 4,000 and 9,000 feet, keeping more to the open than to the very heavy forests, though even in the former there are always pockets and ravines which liave the trees and undergrowth very dense and tangled. It is also found on gi'ass-covered hill-sides, well away from any large tree forest, and seems to keep together in small flocks, probably composed of the cock and hen and the last hatched brood. Mr. J. P. Cook writes in the Bombay Journal of this Pheasant : " I saw this beautiful bird, or it maj^ have been P. bitrmannicus •' 1331a" (this it proved to be) " several times, and generally " in the open jungle on rocky grass-hills. On one occasion I ■' put up five birds singly at intervals of aboiit a minute or "two. At one time I thought I had found a nest, as a hen • ' bird rose at my feet, but I hunted everywhere without suc- " cess. These Pheasants do not seem to be quite so gi-egarious -'as 6r. lineatus, nor so partial to the proximity of water. I "should like to have shot one or two, but when I saw them I "always had my little -410 with me only, which would not have •' been sufticient to have bi'ought them down. On one occasion "I put up a Pheasant out of so)De wild raspberry bushes " amongst long grass, the fruit of which it was perhaps " feeding on." 358 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. HOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Phasianus elegans (Elliot). stone's Pheasant. Phasianus elegans, Elliott, Ann. and Mag. N. H. (4), VI,, p. 312 (1870) ; Sclater, P.Z.S., 1870, p. 670 ; Elliott, Monog. Phas., II., PI. VIII (1872) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds B.M., XXII., p. 329 (1893) ; id Hand-L. Game-B., II., p. 31 (1897) ; Blanford Faun. Brit. Ind. Birds, IV., p. 81 (1898) ; Gates, Man. Game-B., I., p. 299 (1898) ; Styan, Ibis, 1699, p. 298 ; Davies, Ibis, 1901, p. 408 ; Buturlin, Ibis, 1904, p. 411, id Ibis, 1908, pp. 574, 576, 685. 592 ; Harington, Jour, B. N, H. Soc, XiX., p. 309 (1909); Sclater Ibis, 1912, p. 554 ; Ingram, Novit. Zool., XIX., p. 271 (1912); Bailey, Geog. Journal, XXXIX., p. 346 (1912) ; id Jour. B. N.H. Soc, XXII., p. 367 (1913) ; Bangs and Phillips, Bull. Muse. Comp. Zool., LVIII., No. 6, p. 269 (1914). Phasianus sladeni (Anderson MSS.) Elliott, P.Z.S., 1870, pp. 404, 408 ; Anderson, P.Z.S., 1871, p. 214; Swinhoe, P.Z.S., 1871, p. 378 ; David and Oustalet, Ois, Chine, p. 411 (1877) ; Anderson, B.W. Yunnan Exp., p. 671, PI. 11. (1878). ? Phasianus sucJischanensis, Bianchi, Bull. Acad. St. Petersb., V, Ser. T., XXIV., n. 1-2, p, 83 (1906) : Buturlin, Ibis, 1908, p. 574, Vernacula/r Names. — ?Wucrii (^Kachin), Tso-ka (Tibetan). Bescrqytion — AJalU Male. — Crown from forehead to nape and hind neck bronze-green, the ear tufts darker and more bine ; chin and throat deep green ; neck in front and on the sides deep purple blue with purple copper reflections in some lights, this colour passing- round the base of the neck as a collar behind ; upper back golden chestnut, changing into deep chestnut on the back and scapulars ; the feathers next the neck are centred with black and their tips are notched with the same ; the feathers of the back and the scapulars have black centres mottled and sub-oiit-lined with buff, and the same notches as on the upper back, but the black obsolete. Lower back, rump and tail coverts pale green-grey with sub-terminal bars of lusti'ous emerald green, and each feather with the concealed base black with buff concentric bands. Tail feathers rufous brown with broad black bars, narrowly edged above and below with golden buff; the central pair have wide margins of pink-grey, across which the black bands are continued as dull crimson purple marks ; on each succeeding pair the pink edges are reduced in size, and are absent on the outermost pair, and sometimes on one or two of the next pairs also. Wing-coverts pale green grey with emerald green reflections, and with the innermost greater coverts splashed with maroon, broadly on the outer and narrowh^ on the inner webs ; quills brown, the primaries barred with bufl' on the outer webs and Avith broken bars on the inner ; secondaries broadly edged with olive brown and irre- gularly marked with buff on both webs. Below, breast deep glossy green, each feather narrowly margined with velvety black, and those on the lower breast notched, though less conspicuously so thaai on the back ; flanks and sides of the breast golden copper, becoming almost purple copper next the green of the THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 359 breast, each feather with a bold edging of velvet black, which runs down the end of the shaft towards the greenish base, vent, thighs, and centre of abdomen dull brown ; under tail coverts chestnut with black marks. Colours of the Soft Parts. " Legs and feet of the male lead colour, inclining to flesh "colour; naked skin around the eye scarlet." (Elliot.) Measurements.— Wing SS" (210-8 mm.) to 9-0" (228-Gmm.), with an average for 20 males of 8-6" (218-4 mm.); tail 15-4" (391-1 mm.) to 19-2" (487-6 mm.), generally between 17" (432mm.) and 18" (457 mm.); bill from front about 1-2" (30-4 mm.), and from gape aboiit 1-4" (35-5 mm.); tarsus 2-5" (63-5 mm.) to 2-7" (68*5 mm); spur about -4" (10-1 mm.). Adult Female. — Crown and neck dark brown or black with narrow bars of buif, sometimes with a distinct tinge of chestnut ; back and scapulars chestnut with white sub-edging, and very fine eds-es of black aud a bold bar of the same between the chestnut and the white ; remainder of upper plumage pale grey brown with narrow buff edges and black centres with here aud there a tinge of chestmit shewing very irregularly. Central tail feathers pale olive brown with narrow paler cross bars broadly margined on either side with black ; remaining tail feathers dull chestnut with similar bars ; in all the tail feathers the markings are irregular, aud some- what mottled, giving a mottled appearance to the whole. Below, the chin and throat are pale buffish, obsoletely barred with dark brown ; foreueck and upper breast with bolder bars of black and black centres and washed with a pinky reddish tinge, lower breast, flanks and abdomen dull greyish buff with numerous faint vermiculations of grpy-brown, and with visible centres of deep chestnut brown ; under tail coverts the same marked with chestnut. Three females from Chang Youn, in China, are more richly colour- ed above than any of the more Western birds, but, at the same time, have practically no dark markings on the lower breast and abdomen ; the flanks and thigh coverts are, however, fully as boldly marked as the other birds. Colours of Soft Parts — not recorded. Measurements.— ^Ymg 7-8" (198-1 mm.) to 8-2" (208-3 mm.); tail from 9-7" (246-4 mm.) to 10-7" (271-8 mm.); tarsus 2-4" (60-9 mm.) to 2-6" (66-0 mm.); bill at front about 1-1" (27-9 mm.), and from gape about 1*3" (33-0 mm.). Bistrilmtion. — Western Szechuan, Eastern Tibet, at least as. far West as Batang, Yunnan and the Northern Shan States and Kachin Hills and Southern Shan States. As regards Tibet, Bailey says : " I shot a specimen of this on the Fei-Y'ueh-Ling Pass, South- " East of Ta-chien-lu. It was plentiful at Ta-chien-lu itself, and 360 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCLETY, Vol. XXV. " a few were seen in suitable places tip to Batang again in " Yangtse Valley, two days South of Batang and near theKia-la." Harington obtained a male at Ta-shio-tang, Tawnio State, Trans- Salwin; Major J. Whitehead got another male at Namsang-yang between Talawgyi and Lawchen, and a third was also obtained by Captain Bard in the same district close to Myitkina. It is apparently found as far South in S. Shan States as 21°. Nidification. — I can find nothing on record concerning the breeding of this Pheasant in a state of a nature. I have two eggs in my collection which I owe to the generosity of Mr. Charles M. Inglis. They were laid by the hen of a pair kept by him in an aviary in Tirhoot, and are two of a clutch of 7. In appearance they are typical Pheasants' eggs, exactly like many laid by torqxicUus and colchicus, in English woods and spinneys, and not like the Gennceus type of egg laid by Phasianus humia\ In colour they are a clear, deep fawn-brown, and in shape typical pheasants' eggs, though not of the extreme peg-top shape. The surface is very smooth and fine grained, and has a slight gloss. They are rather fragile eggs for their size, considerabl}'- thinner than the shells of eggs of tne Silver Pheasants. The two eggs measure respectively 1-75" (44*4 mm.) x 1*35" (34-3 mm.) and 1-75" (44-4 mm.) x 1-34" (34-0 mm.). General Habits. — Elliot records of the two specimens of this bird first brought home to England and deposited in the Gardens of the Zoological Society that they were very wild, and endeavoured to hide from anyone who approached their cage. He also say that : " The voice of P. elegans is harsh and guttural, very different " from that of any of its relatives." On the other hand Harington says that its call is exactly like that of the English Pheasants. Capt. Davies agrees with the latter, he writes : " Stone's Pheasants are common in Western Yunnan. They " are not usually found much below 4,000 feet, and are most "plentiful near the tops of the ranges at an altitude of from " 6,000 to 8,000 feet, in long grass and fern, or in fir woods. " I have usually met with them singly or two together, but on " one occasion I saw a covey of ten. The crow of this bird is "hardly distinguishable from that of the English Pheasant, " and the noise the cock makes when flushed is also the same. " I have not often seen it in the Tibetan part of the country " (W. Szechuan) though I shot one a few marches South- West "of Li-tang at 10,500 feet." Harington never succeeded in getting a second specimen, though he often heard them crowing. Those he came across were all on the almost bare hillsides covered merely with dry weeds and grass about four feet high, but with no trees or bushes. (To he continued .) 361 SCIENTIFIC RESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SURVEY. No. XVII. (^l). — The Shan States Langur. — A Correction. BY R. C. Wkoughton. In the last number of this Journal (p. 4G) I described a series of laugurs obtained by our Survey in the Shan States. I took (and gave) much trouble, in making sure that the species could not be barbel, Blyth, and concluded to give it the name shanicus. I regret to say that I completely overlooked a specimen in the British Museum Collection, obtained at Bhamo, by Fea, which Dr. Elliot made the type of his species melamervs, (A. M. N. H. S. 8, p. 267, 1909). This cannot be distinguished in anj^ way from shanicus. The Shan States langur must, therefore, be known as P. melamenis, Elliot, with P. shanicus, as a synonym. (B). — A NEW Indian Hare. BY R. C. Wroughton. In connection with a summary of the results from our Mammal Survey, I have recently had to re-examine all the hares in the British Museum Collection. Among them I have found a series sufficiently distinct from the rest to deserve a name of its own. It consists of four specimens, taken near the Sambhar Lake, in Rajputana, more than thirty years ago. These are allied by their brown-coloured scuts to ruficaudatus, Geoff., but their general coloration is so markedly and evenly like that of so many animals inhabiting sandy wastes, and at the same time so distinct from the coloration of all their neighbours, that it seems to me that I am justified in giving them a name. I propose to call them LePUS RAJPUT, sp. n. A hare about the size oi ruficaudalas, Geoff., or simcoxi, Wr., but differing from both by its bright buff colouring. General colour above " tawny olive." The individual hairs of the lower back are white at their bases (8mm.) and thereafter a band of buff (12mm.) between a black band and a black tip (each 3-5mm.). Tail coloured like the back above, white below. Face and ears coloured quite like the back, but with the usual white blaze through the eyes. The nape and limbs ochraceous. The chin and belly pure white merging gradually into the buffy flanks. 362 JOURNAL, BOMB AY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Dimewsioiis of the type. — Hindfoot, lOSmni. ; ear 105nim. (The dimensions of another very similar specimen are recorded by the Collector as follows: — head and bod}^, 462mm.; tail, 112mm.; hindfoot, 107mm. ; ear, 130mm.). Skull. — condylo-basal length, 78 ; z5^gomatic breadth, 42 ; greatest length of nasals, 41 ; posterior breadth of nasals, 21; breadth of nasals anteriorly, 16; palatal foramina, 21 ; diastema, 24; upper molar series, 15. Habitat. — Eajputana. (Type from Sambhar Lake). Type.— Adult male. B. M. No. 85, 8. 1. 342. Collected by Mr. R. M. Adam and presented to the National Collection by the late Mr. A. 0. Hume, I.C.S. There seems to be no connection between roj'put and either dayanus or simcoxi; in the coloration of its nape and scut it resembles ruficaudatus, of which it is possibly a desert form. The question of the exact status of the various named Indian hares is a most complex and difficult one, and I propose, for the present, to treat them all as species. Mr. Adam took three specimens of rajimi near the Sambhar Lake, and Blanford a fourth in Alwar. 363 THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE GEOGRArHICAL FOilMS OF THE PANOLIA DEER {RUCEUVUS ELBI AND ITS RELATIVES). BY Oldfield Thomas. Owing to the somewhat piecemeal way in which the vSangnai or ^Manipur Deer, commonly confused with the Thamin, was discov^er- ed, and the divided authority for its early description, a good deal of error has arisen as to the nomenclature of this Deer and its rela- tives, such as the giving and later withdrawal of the name cornices by Lydekker. And I now find that in the latter's latest work* certain essen- tial points in the history of the animal have been overlooked, so that its nomenclature is still far from correct. Recognizing Eucerinis as a full genus, and raising to specific rank the three forms admitted by Lydekker, we may for the sake of clearness define them as : — A. — With naked pasterns, Manipiir ( '■^frontalis " of Lydekker). B. — With hair}- pasterns ; the horns not palmated. Pegu, Burma, &c. (" eldi "). C. — With hairy pasterns ; the horns more or less palmated terminally. Siam and Hainan Q^ platijceros "). But if the nomenclature of each species is carefully investigated it appears that all the existing names applied to these animals (except platiiceros and siamensis) were given to specimens originally from Manipur, as will be seen by the following synonymy : — Nondescript species of Deer, McClell. Calc. Journ. N. H., I, p. 501, 1841, Manipur. Cervus elcli, Editor (McClelland) Calc. Journ. N. H., II, p. 417, 1842. (Published at the suggestion of a correspondent, in a note to Lieut. Eld's account and drawings of the Manipur " Sungraee "). Cervus (Riis a) frontalis, McClelland Calc. Journ. N. H., Ill, p. 401, 1843. (Based on Capt. Guthrie's specimens from Manipur). Panolia acuticornis, Gray. List Mamm. B. M., p. 180, 1843. (Based on the account and figure in the Calcutta Journal, 1842, in which the name 0. eldi was only incidentally men- tioned in a note. Locality therefore ^lanipur). Cervus U/ratus, Schinz, Syn. Mamm., II, p. 395, 1845. (Based on McClelland's "Nondescript species of Deer" 1841), (Manipur). • Cat. Ung. B. M. IV, p. 100, 1915. 364 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HL'^T. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Panolia acvticauda, Blyth. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 370. {Lapsub calami for acuticornis). Cervus eldi cornipes, Lyd. Nature LXIV, p. 257, 1901. (Based on a head and foot from Manipiir, presented by Major C. S. Cumberland; B. M. No. 1. 7. 13. 1). The whole of these n^mes without exception refer to the Mani- pur stag, and to that alone. Consequently it is A, and not B, which should bear the name eldi, Avhile frontalis, acuticornis, and the other names referred to are synonyms of it. For this animal also we may adopt the Vernacular name Sangnai and so avoid the term Thamin, which belongs exclusively to the next species. The peculiarly modified naked pasterns of the Sangnai form a special character far greater in systematic value than anything that would be used merely to distinguish a subspecies. For B, the Pegu Thamin, unspotted brown in the adult, with hairy pasterns and non-palmated horns, there appears to be no name available, and I w^ould suggest that it be called Rucervus thamin. The adult male mounted in the Museum, from Pegu, presented in 1900 by Major (now Colonel) G. H. Evans, No. 0. 7. 23. 1 might be selected as the type. Col. Evans has given a good account of the animal in our Journal* and now tells me that the type was shot at Mohaingjd Escape, about 20 miles north of Pegu Town. With regard to C, the palmated-horned Siamese and Hainan form, our knowledge is very imperfect. But the close similarity between the tj^pe horn (B. M, G95. h.), Schomburgk's fine skull No. 65. 11. 2. 1, and the highl}^ characteristic horns from Annam collected by Dr. Vassal (8.11.1.18.) shows that the animal is suflS- ciently distinct to have a name. This, if JR.ucervus is recognized as a genus, should be 'platyceros, for Gray's Panolia ]ilatyceros is then not invalidated by Cuvier's Cervus 'platyceros, as Lydekker took to be the case. Whether the Western Siamese form is platyceros or thamin remains to be proved, and it is possible that the two will be found to grade into each other, but I think it most convenient now to use a binomial for the comparatively Avell-known Burmese animal. With regard to the Hainan representative of II. platyceros I am inclined to believe it forms a distinct local subspecies, which may be termed Rucervus platyceros hainamis, subsp. n. Horns smaller and weaker than those of true platyceros of corres- ponding ages. Snags at the junction of the brow-antler and the beam almost or entirely absent, these being large and conspicuous, often three in number, in true platyceros. • J. Bomb. N. H. Soc, Vol. IX, p. aSC, ISitr,. GEOGRAPHICAL FORMS OF THE PANOLIA DEER. 365 Hah. — Hainan. Type. — Frontlet and horns, said to be of a five-year-old male ; figured by Swinhoe, P.Z.S., 1869, p. 655, fig. 2;'B.M. No. 70. 2.10.72. Ost. Cat. 695. q. The older horns also figured by Swinhoe on the same page are imfortunatel)^ no longer in the Museum, but the drawing shows the very slight development of the basal snags, in marked contrast to their number and size in old horns of true iilatijceros. And if they are drawn to anything like the same scale as the others, they must have been very miich smaller than old lAalyceTos horns. All the references to Formosa in relation to the Museum speci- mens of this Deer should be deleted from Lj^dekker's Ungulates and be replaced by Hainan. The error seems originally to have been made b}' Gray or Gerrard. With regard to the distinction of the different forms of these Deer by the antlers, it may be said in a general way that the horns of the Saugnai (R. eldi) are long, thin, and rather smooth, without or with iDut small and few extra basal snags at the junction of the beam and the long brow-tine. In the Thamin (B,. thamin) on the other hand, the horns are comparatively rough, and basal snags are always present, commonly 3-6 inches long, and in one fine pair of horns from Thatoue (Hume Coll.) the extra snags on each side are no less than 11 and 8 inches in length. And in addition more than one snag may be present on a single antler. Similarl}' in the more Eastern group the horns of jplatyceros are greatly roughened and may have from 2-5 basal snags on each horn, these occasionally attaining a length of 5 inches. Even a j-oung pair of antlers (Coll. Sir R. Schomburgk) has three distinct "buttons" on each horn, one behind the others. In hainanus on the conti-ary, in five pairs one onlj^ has one small button on each horn, one has one on one side only, and the remainder are entirely' without any trace of them. The much older horns figured bj- Swinhoe have two small knobs on one side and one on the other. Of course throughout the series this development of knobs and snags is subject to the greatest variation, and wide departures from the normal must be expected in individual heads, but the above characters, based on the whole Museum Collection, give a general idea of the antlers found in the different forms. P. S. — Since the above was written, the National Museum has received as a donation from Mrs. Manby a first and liberal selection of a very fine series of sporting trophies collected in Burma by her late husband Mr. C. W. A. Bruce, the author of several notes on Burmese shooting in Lydekker's "Great and Small Game of India, 1900." Inchided in this valuable present are some skulls and horns of 6 366 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV the Thamin (Rucervtis tliamhi) from the Pegu Plains, and also two of the same genus from the Ruby Mines District. ' These two latter, however, coming from quite a distinct area, appear to me to represent a special subspecies of the Thamin, which I propose to name in honour of the sportsman by whom the specimens were shot. RUCERVUS THAMIN BRUCEI, subsp. n. External characters, including foot structure, unknown. Skull as in R. thamin, except that in both specimens the ridge which bounds on the upper side the lachrymal pit is comparatively little developed, its edge rounded, as compared with the strong and shai'p edged ridge found in other members of the group. Horns with much roughened surface. Brow-tine and beam not, as in all the other Thamins, in the same, or nearly the same, continuous line, but the former bent up at an angle more approach- ing what is found in the Swamp deer (^R. duvauceli). Viewed from the side the ordinary Thamins have the brow-tine at about lyO^-iyS" with the beam, that is, nearly straight, while in U.t.brucei it is slanted upwards at about 130°-140°. The same slanting .up produces an angle of about 65° with the occipito- premaxillary line, as compared with about 40°-45° in others members. of the genus. Viewed from above the two beams are directed more backwards, comparatively little divergent from each other, the middle third of one beam forming an angle of 70° to 75° with the middle third of the other, therefore decidedly less than a right angle. In E. eldi and thamin, on the other hand, the two beams diverge widely outwards from each other, the middle third of one forming considerably more than a right angle (110°-120") with the middle third of the other. This curvature is quite uniform in all the available adult specimens of R. eldi and thamin. The tips of the antlers tend a little towards the broadening found in R. platijceros, but less developed than in that animal. The extreme tip consist in each case of two small subequal tines. Supplementary tines at the junction of beam and brow-tine of moderate development, the type having one of 5 inches on one side and two small ones on the other ; the second specimen has two small ones on each side. Dimensions of the type : — Skull, greatest length 345 mm. j condylo-basal length 320 ; zygomatic breadth 129 ; upper tooth row 82, Horns, length round curve from base 772 (30-4 in.). Circum- ference of base 153 (6 in.) length of brow-tine 412 (16*3 in.). The longer horn of the second specimen is 830 mm, in length. GEOGRAPHICAL FORMS OF THE PANOLIA DEER. 367 Hah. — Ruby ^Mines District, Upper Burma. Type from Thim- baung-gwin Plain. T,/^,<.._01cl male slaiU and horns. B. M. No. 17.7.8.17. Shot by the late C. W. A. Bruce, Esq. Presented by Mrs. Manby. The fact that the district from which these two skulls come is a considerable distance from the type locality of any described form, and that they are qiiite like each other, the different curvature of their main beams, the bent up brow-tines, unlike those so charac- teristic of the present group, and the lesser development of the lacrymal ridges, taken together, appear to justify the distinction of the Ruby Mines Thamin as a special subspecies. This I have much pleasure in dedicating to the fine sportsman who discovered it, Mr. 0. W. A. Bruce, to whose widow the National Museum is indebted for the specimens. 368 A SELECTION OF LECTOTYPES OF INDIAN MAM- MALS, FROM THE CO-TYPES DESCRIBED BY HODGSON, GRAY, ELLIOT AND OTHERS. By Oldfield Thomas. Nothing has so much contributed to the difficulty in working out Indian Mammals, and the confusion that has reigned in their arrange- ment, as the vagueness with which the identification of the typical specimens of the early Indian describers has been dealt with, and there could certainly be no greater lesson as to the vital advantage of an original selection of tjrpes than a study of the histoiy of Indian Mammalogy for the last 80 years, with the confusion and innumer- able errors which non-selection has given rise to. Such an original selection was not of course practised by, or known to early writers, and even Blanford, so well balanced and sensible in other things, was at first inclined to be against selection, and it was only as he graduall}^ absorbed the lesson referred to, that he was induced towards the end of his life to select types of the species he described. The primary difficulty in the case of Indian Mammals was an out- come of the wonderful work done in Nepal by Brian H. Hodgson, who described and figured in various journals both in India and England the many mammals which he discovered. Writing in Nepal, away from books, collections and Museums, he not unnatur- ally made many mistakes, and indeed it has been sarcastically said that " every animal in India has two names, one its proper name, and the other which Hodgson gave it," but in spite of all, he was the real pioneer of Indian Mammalogy, and the maker and donor of the finest collection ever made in that country until the inception of the Bombay Natural History Society's Mammal Survey. Now Hodgson described mammals in the country as he got to know them, stich knowledge coming from living specimens he saw or kept alive, and the collection that he gradually built up. No particular individual was ever selected as a type, and as more and more later specimens were added to the collection, great difficult}" was found in obtaining any exact definite idea of the animals to which his name should technically be attached. Owing moreover to the fact that he sent other specimens to Cal- cutta, to the Museums of the Zoological Society and the East India Company and further collections to the British Museum, and that most of these gravitated into the National Museum in course of time, the series representing his species is often very large, and it has often been with great difficulty that specimens which could be called typical have been identifiable. Gradually however in recent years, with the help of Messre. Wroughton and Lj^dekker, the supplementary and later specimens SELECTION OF LECTOTYPES OF INDIAN MAMMALS. 369 have been elinuiiated, aud " co-types " selected for many of Hodgson's names, s\ich co-types being so far as practicable chosen from the collection ho sent as forming a fii"st typical set to the National Museum in 1813 and 1845. Now however in connection with an important paper by Mr. Wroughton summarizing the progress of Indian Mammalogy since the date of Blanford's ]\[ammals of India, a paper in which the types of all the described Indian jMammals will be designated, it has seemed advisable for the oflicial Zoolocjist in chare-e of the ]\Iuseum collection of Mammals to select definitelj- " Lectotypes " from the co-types, so as to avoid the perpetuation of the confusion that has hitherto reigned. Such a formal selection, made after comparison, with the other co-types, and examination of the original descriptions, entries in registers and other pertinent notes, published and unpubli- shed, is a proceeding which gives these lectotj^pes the status of full types (holotypes) and is not liable to later reversal unless definitely proved to be erroneous. The whole subject will therefore be very materially simplified. Although the Hodgson types are the most important, owing both to their number and the diverse methods in which his species were published, yet it has been thought advisable to treat all the other Indian IMammals in the same way, including those of Elliot, Gray, Hoi-sfield, Blanford and other writers. The following list therefore designates a lectotype for eveiy Indian species which has not already had a single type nominated for it. The designation is simply by the Museum register number in each case, and no detailed account of locality, or specification of other co-types, is now thought necessary, as these details, if wanted, are obtainable from other sources. In fact most of them will be found in Mr. Wroughton's forthcoming paper. Since however when one of the several co-types is selected as a lectotype, the others lose their primaiy typical status, I have thought it advisable so to label the latter that later workers shall not be led astray by making comparisons with specimens marked as "co-types " without further indication. These specimens being now placed, in relation to their respective lectotypes, exactly in the position that paratypes are in relation to types, when originally selected as such, I have labelled them as " lectoparatypes " my selection of them as paratypes corresponding to the selection of their preferred brothers as types, that is lectotypes. With regard to the very difficult question as to what generic na- mes the species should be placed under in such a list as the present, I have cut the knot by assigning every one to the genus to which it would now be referred, irrespective of that imder which it was first described. 370 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. With the help of Blanford's Mammals, and Wroughton's forth- comiiig list, the proper identification of every name should be quite withou.t difficult}^, while the complexity resulting from putting the original names, and thus perhaps rising several different names in a single genus, is avoided. The same difficulty is treated in the opposite way in L^^on and Osgood's Catalogue of types in the United States National Museum, 1909, but that is so large and important a work as to carry its own explanations with it. It should be understood that the publication of the present list is only in preparation for the more complete paper by Mr. Wroughton, who has thought it better that the selection of lectotypes should be done by the person officially responsible for their custody. Pithecus schistaceuSjUodgs. Skin and skull cJ . 43.1.12.1. Loris lyclekkerianus, Cabr. Skin and skull 3.2.19.1. Pteropus leucocephalus, Skin and skull j . 45.1.8.273. Hodgs. Ciinopterus marginatus cey- In alcohol. j . 68.10.19.12. lonensis, Gray. Cynoptems m. ellioti, Gray. Skin and skull j • 40. k. Bhinolop)hustragahis, Hodgs, In al. ,5 , 43.1.12.135. IIip)p>osideroslankadiva,l^e\. Skin and skull c?. 7.1.1.311. ,, armif/er, Hodgs. In al. j. 43.1.12.132. 8cotophilus heathi, Hodgs. Skin and skull j. 7.1.]. 446. Kerivoula jnda, FalV In al. ^. 67.4.12.342. Plrinaceus megalotis, Bly. Skull only 79.11.21.515. Soriculus caiidafus, Horsf. Skin and skull 79.11.21.479. Felis erythrotus, Hodgs. Skin and sku^ll 43.1.12.6. Viverra melcmura, Hodgs. Skin and skull j . 43.1.12.25. Prionodwi par dicolor, Hodgs. Skin $. 13.1.12.10. ,, maculosus, Blanf. Skin and skull c?. 85.8.1.28. Mungos vrva, Hodgs. Skin and skullf s • 43.1.12.33. (and cancrivorus, Hodgs.). ,, jerdoni, Gray. Skin and skull c? • 46.11.9.5. ,, nyula, Hodgs. Skin and skull $. 43.1.12.18. ,, auropunctatus, Skin and skull j . 43.1.12.20. Hodgs. Vulp)es f err ilahos, Hodgs. Skin only 45.1.8.213. Martes totifcviis, Hodgs. Skin only 45.1.8.262. Mustela temon , Hodgs. Skin and skull j . 58.6.24.115, „ suhhemachalana, Skin 43.1.12.12. Hodgs. Ailuriis ochraceus, Hodgs. Skin and skull 43.1.12.35. * cf. P.Z. S. 1892, p. 316. t Skull separately registered ; 15.1.8.54 ; 1416. SELECTIOy OF LECTOTYPES OF INDIAN MAMMALS. 371 Lidra macrodus, Gray. Eupetaurns cinereus, Thos. Fetaurista philippeims, Elliot. ,, parietal and postparietal — Subequal. Nasals — Quite divided ; the suture above the nostril much longer than that below ; the latter extending to the praeocular; not in contact behind the rostral. Prceocular — Large, A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. Explanation of Diagram. A 1, 2 and 3. Typhlo];js bramintis (much enlarged) A 4. Glauco)da blanforcli (much enlarged). B 1, 2 and 3. Typhlops acutns (x 4). 0 1,2 and 3. Tijphlops diardi ( x 2). F. Frontal. I. Interparietal N. Nasals. Oc. Ocular. P. Parietals. Po. Postocular. Pr. Prae frontal. R. Rostral. S. Supraocular. Su. Subocular. T. Temporals. 1 to 4. Supralabials. ^ E (S ^J <^ Vj to k^ cAI ^^ §^ P?J -\^ X^,^^,^^ g(eL->X>-y WVV\Z5' 7-/"^ mf- -'^ VSa^w'a^O' «q Q ?-. I— I c IK tn ?: o o o s o e (0 z z E 0 a c 3 e ^ THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 381 in contact with the 2nd and orrl labials. Ocular — Tonchinj^ the 3rd and kh labials. Suhocidar — Absent. Temporal — One. Suyrala- bials — Four. Costals — In 20 rows in whole body. Distribution. — South Asia from Arabia in the West, throughout India, Assam, Burma, and the Malayan Continent to South China. 'Hie ^lalayan Archipelago to the Philippines. Islands of the Indian Ocean, Ceylon, Cocos, Andamans (not hitherto recorded from the Nicobars), Maiiritius, j\Iadagascar, Comoros. Africa at ( 'ape Colony and North America. It is quite a common snake in every part of the plains I have visited. TYFHLOrS BIAIWI. Diard's Bund Snake. Described by Dr. Schlegel in 1844. After hraminus this is much the commonest of our blind snakes. In Burma it is called •• mywe-hsin-pjdt " meaning literally " elephant darting snake."' There is a legend that it can spring off the gTound and strike its foe, and it is believed to be so venomous that if it strikes even an elephant the creature will soon sicken and die. Identification. — The scale rows are 24 or 26. It will be recogni- sed if it has 24 rows, by the partial suture above the nostril, and the absence of pits beneath the snout. If the rows are 26 a rounded snout will ditierentiate it from acutas, the only other species wdth a similar number of rows. General characters. — Snout rounded, nostrils lateral. Ej'e fairly distinct; beneath the ocular shield. Neck not apparent. Body stout, cylindrical, of uniform calibre throughout. Diameter ,/,j to 3^3 the total length. Tail short, with a small spine terminally directed downwards, and slightly backwards. Length. — Up to 17 inches. Colour. — There are two varieties (a) tyjnca. This is black or blackish above, lighter below. The eyes very distinct, (b) cinereu^ (Wall). Pale grey like a new slate pencil, the eyes very indistinct. The latter I have only seen in Assam, where it is much the scarcer of the two. Habits. — This the largest of our blind snakes with the single exception of acutus lives like the other species for the most part beneath the soil. It is rarely seen on the surface unless thrown up with recently disturbed soil, dislodged from beneath stones and debris, or swamped out of its natural haunts by heavy rains. When unearthed it struggles most strenuously to regain safe quarters beneath the soil, which if loose it burrows into with great ease, and is soon lost to view. Its movements above ground though energetic are not conducive to progress. In water it swims expeditiously and strongly. The high polish on its scales s 382 JOURNAL, BOMBAY yATUUAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. makes it a most difficult creature to maiutain in one's grasp, and it wriggles unceasingly. It is quite unable to bite one, the mouth being too small to gain a grip on the skin. Under excitement it protrudes the tongue which is a bifid organ as in other snakes. Dentition. The upper jaw bones are placed transversely in the mouth, and each bears 4 or 5 teeth. There are no other teeth at all. Food. — Its food consists in the main of the larval, pupal, and adult forms of ants, but other insects in their various metamorphic stages are also devoured. Breedinr/.— Iri Assam and Burma it breeds in the hot weather. I obtained gravid females in April, and Captain F. E. W. Venning a gravid specimen in the Chin Hills in June. The embryos attain a considerable degree of development inside the egg before the latter is discharged. We do not know yet whether the egg is voided as such or whether the embryo develops to such a degree that it is able to rupture its envelope inside the mother, and be born alive as in the case of most vipers, sea snakes, and some other ophidians. It is probable however that the embrj^o attains but a limited degree of development in the egg before it is dis- charged, as we know to be the case with some snakes notably certain species of Bendrofliis, and Dendrelaphis, Lachesis monticola, etc. From 5 to 8 eggs have been observed in oi:ie female. Lepidosis. — Rostral — About one-third the width of the head. Prcefrontal, frontal, and interparietal — Subequal. Sujrraoctilar and prceparietal — Broader than the postparietal. Nasals — Semi-divided ; the sutui'e above the nostril nearly reaches the rostral, and is about one-third to one-fourth the suture below it ; th*^ latter suture passes to the 2nd labial. Prceocidar — Laro-e, in contact with the 2nd and 3rd labials. Ocular large, in contact with the ord and 4th labials. Suboctdar — Absent. Temporals — Two. Supralabials — Four. Costals — In 26 rows anteriorly (rarely 24), 24 or 26 rows in midbody, 22 (sometimes 24) behind. Habitat. — The Teesta and Hooghly Rivers form its Western boundary and it extends from there through the Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy-Salween, Menam, and Mekong Basiiis and as far South as the MalayaT) Peninsula. It has been recorded from the Eastern Himalayas (Paniaghatta and Buxa Dooars) by me, from the Khasi Hills by me, from the Abor Hills by Dr. Annandale and from the N. Chin Hills by Captain F. E. W.Venning. Our plate is in every way excellent. (7'o be continued.') TWO NEW LNDIAN hKACiONFLlES. r.v t'MT. K. C. FUASKII, i.M.iS. 1. rUlLLOMAVliOMlA MLaiRLE^SIS n. sp. ,V/a/<' luikiiDwi). Fenude: Expanse 68 mm. Length 41 mm. Head broad, very large : eyes Jiirge, br07 ; Ann. Uoy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 94, 307. Daemono- rops hypoleucua, Kurz. in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLIII, III, 208 (partim). t. XVIII. {e.vd. t. XIX.). Description. — Stem slender, scandent, as thick as a goose-quill without the sheaths. Leaves 2-3 feet long, not flagelliferous; sheaths flagelliferous ; leaflets G-9 inches long, alternately and interruptedly approximate by twoes on each side, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, ciliate towards the apex, many-costate, white beneath ; petiole short, armed with long and short conical, straight and recurved spines ; rhachis with scattered recurved spines ; sheaths densely spiny with unequal spines 1 inch long and less. Female spadix 1 2 inches long ; peduncle about 1 inch long, spinous ; spathes oblong-lanceolate, spathels tubular, small, distant. Female flowers distichous ; calj'x 2V inch long, shortly o-lobed ; corolla twice as long, segments acute. Habitat. — Burma ; Thoungyeen, 34. CALAMUS LEUCOTES, Becc. in Ann. Roy. Bot. Card. Calc. XI, 95, 309. — C hi/poleucus, Kurz Fl. Brit. Burm., TI, 523 {quoad gpadic. masc. titntum). — Dcemonorops hypolencus, Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLIII, ii {quoad tab. XIX. tantum). Description. — Probably scandent. Sheathed Stem 2 cm. in diameter. Leaf sheaths very densely armed with ver}^ unequal, small and large, ascendent spines. Ochrea short. Leaves rather robust and large ; petiole robust and long. Leaflets few, grouped, with very long vacant spaces interposed, firmly papyraceous, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, up to 40 cm. long and 5*5 cm. broad, plicate, many-costate, green above, covered with a crustaceous chalky coat- ing beneath. Male spathe elongate, rigid, with a robust axis. Partial inflorescences strict, cupressiform, much shorter than the primary spathes ; primary spathes elongate, open, flat. ]\Iale flowers 3 mm. long, acute. Habitat. — Burma : Yoonzuleen. 35. C. TRAVANCORICUS, Bedd. mss. in Herb. Kew. ; Hook, Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 452 ; Brandis, Ind. Trees 653; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. 402 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Ind. II, 207 : Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 95, 310; Rleede Hort. Mai. XII, t. 64. — C. gracilis {non Roxb.) Grifl'. Palms Brit. Ind. 64 [quoad tab. Rheedeanam tantum). Name. — Tsjeru tsjtirel (M.al.). Description. — Stem very slender, scandent. Leaves 18-24 inches long ; leaflets 4-6 inches long, ^-f inch broad, broadest about or above the middle and thence tapering to a capillary point, in dis- tant opposite groups of 3-5, narrowly oblanceolate, thin ; costae 3, very slender, naked above, sparsely setulose beneath ; rhachis and petiole very slender, armed with small straight and recurved spines ; sheath armed with slender, straight, flattened prickles ; petiole 4-G inches long, dorsally rounded, mai'gins acute, much compressed towards the base and there chieflj^ spiny. Spadix 2-3 feet long, slender, flagelliferous ; peduncle short, flattened, young white scurfy, margins shortly spiny. Inflorescences about 2 inches long, shorter than the membranous flat spathes, male decompound with spreading very slender branches bearing short, flexuous, almost capillar}^ spikes of flowers ^ inch long ; female inflorescence with simple, distichous, recurved spikes and rather larger flowers. Lower spathes tubular, compressed at the base, with shortl}^ spi- nous angles, produced into a long, membranovis, sheathing lamina ; upper spathes and spathels tubular, obliquely truncate, spathellules short, acute, calyx strongly striate ; corolla twice as long as the calyx, not striate. Habitat. — Deccan Peninsula ; from Malabar to Travancore. 36. C. RHEEDEl, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 73 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 36, 83 ; Hook. Bl. Brit. Ind. VI, 452 ; Brandis Ind. Trees 653 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 207 ; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 95, 313.— Daemonorop& rheedii, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 330; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 100 ; Walp. Ann. Ill, 479, V, 828 ; Rheede Hort. Mai. XII, t. 65. Name. — Katu tsjurel (Mai,). Description. — Leaflets in very distant groups of 3 on a long rhachis armed with scattered, short, recurved spines, linear-lanceo- late, acuminate. Fruiting spadix with the flat open acute spathes longer than the ovoid dense clusters of ellipsoid or oblong fruits. This plant is onl}^ known from llheede's plate and has never been described from living or dried specimens. Habitat. — Malabar. Uses. — The seed of this Calamus dried and powdered ' genuum ulcera sanat ' (Rheede). 37. C. HUEGELIANUS, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 338 ; Walp. Ann. HI, 488, V, 831 ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 452 ; Brandis Ind. Trees 652 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 207 ; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 100. 314.— C. wightii, Griff. Palms Brit. Ind. 102, t. 216 G.—C. melanolepis, H, Wendl. in Kerch. Palm. 2'67 .— Dae77ionoro])s melanolepis, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 331, t. 175, f. XI ; 342 under C. dioicus and t. 116, f. XI ; Walp. . CO. 481 and 829. THE PALMS OF BRITISH I.\DIA AND CEYLON. 403 Description. — Leaflets many, equidistant, 12-lG inches long, ^-1 incli I>voacl, elongate, ensifonn, acuminate, strongly 3-costate, margins smooth, unarmed above, beneath pale and with a very few longf bristles on the lateral costa3, the very distant bristles on the lateral nerves beneath sometimes absent, at others nearly ^ inch long ; petiole stout, scurfy when young, back rounded with very stout, short, recurved spines ; rhachis pale ; sheath armed with very stout scattered long and short spines. Female spadix stout, erect ; spathes sparingl}^ armed with stout claws, narrowly tubular, truncate. Fruiting branches 6-10 inches long, very stout, spikes recurved, calj'x pedicelled, cupular, with spreading lobes. Fruit globose, •|-| inch in diameter, very shortly beaked, black shining; scales subaciite, with fimbriate margins, not channelled. Habitat. — Nilghiri Hills, 5-0,000 feet high : Sisparah, Nadu- vatam. 38. CALAMUS GAMBLEI, Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 493 ; Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 207 ; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 96, 316. DESCRiPriox. — Probabl)^ scandent and of moderate size. Leaves large. Leaflets 6-7 cm. apart, ensiform, 60-65 cm. long, 25-28 mm. broad, with three on both surfaces more or less bristly-spinulous cost«, margins remotely ciliate-spinulous. Female spadix with somewhat arched, 25-30 cm. long, partial inflorescences. Spikelets arched, sub-scorpioid. Female flowers pointing upwards, ovate, 5 mm. long. Fruit globose-obpj-riform or turbinate-globose, tapering towards the base, 22-25 mm. long, 17-18 mm. broad. Scales usually in 21 series, pale yellow, shining, stronglj- gibbous, distinctly channelled. Seed globose, ovoid. Habitat. — Nilghiris in the Makurti forest at about 5,000 ft. CALAMUS GAMBLEI, Becc. var. spliaerocar'pus, Becc. 1. c. Description. — Fruit spherical, not tapering to the base, 18 mm. in diameter. Seed almost spherical. Habitat. — Nilghiris. 39. C. GRACILIS, Roxb. {non Blanco neque Thw.) F]. Ind. Ill, 781 {e.icl. Syn. Hort. Mai. XII. t. 64 ;) Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 338; Kunth Enum. Ill, 209 ; Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 54 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 64, t. 196 : Walp. Ann. HI, 488, V, 831 : Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLIII, II, 212, t. 31 C ; For. Fl. II, 520 ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 453 ; Brandis Ind. Trees 653 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 208 ; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 96, 318. Name. — Mapuri Bet (Beng.) ; Oahing Bet (Assam). Description. — Slender, climbing to a great extent ; naked stem not thicker than a quill ; all the j-ounger parts included towards their extremities in the armed sheaths of the leaves and then being: about as thick as a man's little finger. Leaves 2-3 feet long, alternate, recurved; leaflets 5-7 inches long, collected in opposite groups of 3-5 on each side of the slender rhachis, elliptic-lanceolate, 404 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI. acuminate, 3-7-costate, costae very slender and more or less setose above, mai-gins obscurely bristly except at the tip v^here the bristles are long ; petiole very short and rhachis and sheath armed with short hooked spines ; rhachis fugaciousl}^ scurfy; sheaths green, glabrous. Spadix elongate, slender, drooping, flagelliferous. Spathes tubular, acuminate, sparingly spinous, fugaciously brown- scurfy, Tipper unarmed, spathels not imbricate, unarmed. Corolla thrice as long as the calyx. Fruiting calyx sessile, shortly cylin- dric, pedicelliform, lobes very short. Fruit oblong, | inch long ; scales straw-coloured, with or without a narrow, brown border, channelled. Seed wrinkled. Habitat. — The Khasia Hills up to 4,000 feet ; Upper Assam ; Oachar ; Chittagong. Flowers. — In May. 40. C. MELAN ACANTHUS, M.&Tt.m&t.^a.i. ^&\m. Ill, m'6, t. 11(3. f. 13 ; and t. Z. XXII, f . X ; Kunth Enum. Ill, 211 ; Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 49 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 59 ; Walp. Ann. Ill, 484, V, 830 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 119 ; Palm. Archip. Ind. 27 ; Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLIII, 11, 215, t. XX, B ; Hook Fl. Brit. Ind. VI. 453 ; Brandis Ind. Trees 652; Becc. Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 208, Ann. Roy, Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 96, 321 ; Wall. Cat. 8606 B. Description. — Scandent. Leaflets many, 6-1 3 inches long, ^ inch broad, upper ones much shorter (2-3 inches), equidistant, mem- branous, linear with capillary tips, 3-costate, shortly setose or naked on the costse beneath, tips sparsely bristly or naked, rhachis with a single row of short re-curved black spines ; sheath with sub-whorled spines. Female spadix decompound, ending in a flagellum. Spathes shoi'tly sparsely spinous, upper nearly unarmed. Fruiting calyx sessile, campanulate, pedicelliform. Fruit ellipsoid, f inch long, shortly beaked, scales greyish yellow with very narrow brown margins, channelled ; albumen deeplj'^ ruminate ; embryo lateral. Habitat. — Tenasserim : Chappedong. 41. CALAMUS ZEYLANICUS, Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 455; Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 11, 210; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 103, 379; Trim. Flor. Cey., IV, 335 — C. rudentum {non Lour.) Moon, Cat. 26 , Thw. Enum. 330 {eai. omnibus smn. at C. P. e.rsicc. No. 2874). Names. — Mamewel, Wanderu-wel (Singh.) Description. — Stem very stoiit, scandent ; sheaths not flagelli- ferous. Leaves 4-5 feet long; petiole stout, armed with 3 fid recurved spines ; rhachis very stout, its stout flagellun) armed with large, broad, decurved, palmately 5-10-cleft, claw-like, woody spines, broader than the rhachis, young scurfy. Leaflets many, equidistant, ^-2 feet long and 1-1^ inch broad, ensiform, long, acuminate ; veins 3-5, very sparingly setulose above, naked beneath. Lower spathe acute, armed with very short scattered THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 4().'j spines, upper striate, unarmed or sparingly spinous, uppermost fuunel-sluvped, truncate. Male spadix decompound, the long spreading spikes with short spaihels benring short broad flat spikelets, ^-1 inch long, of most closely imbricate spathelKiles. Female spadix very stout, with much longer spikes. Flowers deep- ly sunk in the tnincate spathellules, ovoid nearly ^ inch long ; calyx deeply 3-lobed ; petals broad, connate at the base, both striate. Fruit seated on the enlarged perianth, globose, ^ inch in diameter, yellow-brown; beak long, stout, conical, scales 8-10 in a vertical series, tumid, with narrow white furfuraceous margins and a deep central channel ; seod globose, endosperm deeply rumi- nate, embryo lateral. Habitat. — Ceylon : Moist low country, rather common below 1,500 feet. Kalutara, Sabaragamuwa frequent. — (Endemic in Ceylon). 42. CALAMUS OVOIDEUS, Thw. ex Trim, in Journ. Bot. XXIIT, 269 (1885); Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 457 : Trim. Fl. Ceyl. IV, 335: Becc. in Kec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 21 1, Ann. Key. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 104, 382. Name. Ta-mbutu-wel (Singh.) Stem stout, scandent. Leaves 14 feet long, including the fla- gellum, and more; leaflets 10-24 inches long and :^-l inch broad, equidistant, alternate, broadly linear, aciiminate, tip bri&tly, 3- vein- ed, setulose beneath, margins smooth ; rliachis fugaceously sc\iify, margins prickly, doisally rounded, with solitary hooked spines; tiagellum armed with short, broad, many-toothed spines ; sheath densely armed with rings of flattened, deflexed, often lacerate, black spines. Lower spathes armed with short, black, reflexed spines. Flowers not seen. Fruit seated on the shortly pedicelled slightly enlarged perianth, | inch long; obovoid, strongly beaked, scales 10-12 in a vertical series, tumid, deeplj'^ channelled in the centre, pale yellowish-grej^, boruered with orange-brown. Habitat. — Ceylon : Moist low country, rare, Sabaragamuwa. — Endemic in Ceylon. 43. CALAMUS ANDAMANICUS, Kmtz in Jowrn. k8\at. Soc. Beng.. XLIII, pt. 2 (1874), 211 pi. XXVII-A and >.XVIlIand Vol. XLV, pt. 2 (1876), 151 ; For. Fl. Brit. Burm. II, 519 ; Hook. F. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 457; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 211, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 104, 385. Vernacular Names, — Chowdah, Charab (Andamans), Nat (Nicobars). Description. — Stem lofty, scandent, as thick as an arm (with the sheoths on). Leaflets 2-2^ feet long, 1 inch broad, alternate, equidistant, linear, subulate-acuminate, 3-costate, margins thick- ened and costaB setose ; petiole and rhachis armed with stout, recurved spines ; petiole with blackish, tuberous-based spines mixed with long black ones, sheath red brown, covered with seriate whorls II 406 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. of capillary black and broad flat black spines. Spadix decompound, nodding; spathes siibcompressed, armed with strong, reflexed, solitary and ternate spines, partial nnarmed. Fruit distichous, elliptic-ovoid, about ^ inch long, uniformly brown ; scales rhom- boid, greenish, bordered with chesnut-brown, rather flat, not furrowed, tips prolonged into a lanceolate, pale brown, opaque acute, ciliolate, membranous appendage, longer than the scale itself. Seed semiconvex, grooved ; albumen equable. Habitat. —Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Coco Isles. Uses. — The radical (not cirriferous) leaves are employed for thatching, and then the plant receives the name of Hok-Neak (yx Becc). 44. C. PALUSTRLS, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 62, Palms Brit. Ind. 71, t. 199 ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Pahii. Ill, 339 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 131 ; Walp. Ann. Ill, 490, V, 831 ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 458 ; Brandis Ind. Trees 654 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 211, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 106, 401. — C-. latifolius, Knrz {non Roxb.) in Jour. As. Soc. Beng. XLIIl, II, 210, t. 31 A ; For. Fl. II, 518 (partim). Vernacular Names. — Yamata (Burma), Wai (Andamans). Description. — Stem scandent, glabrous throughout, with the sheaths about 2-3 inches in diameter. Leaves 8-12 feet long, short-petioled ; leaflets 1-2 feet long, 3-5 inches broad, rather thin, uniformly green, alternate, the median approximate in pairs, broadly elongate-lanceolate, acuminate with bristly tips, 3-costate and many-nerved, margins not thickened and costas smooth ; petiole with 1-2 rows of short, very broad, fascicled or simple hooked spines with swollen bases ; sheath green, sparingly armed with short black or broad hooked spines. Spadix bifariously de- compound, elongate, drooping. Sj)athes tubular, obliquely trun- cate, armed with recurved spines ; spathels glabrous. Fruiting perianth stellate. Fruit ellipsoid-oblong, about ^ inch long ; scales obtuse, slightly biconvex, hardly channelled, pale brown with a blackish border. Seed almost semi-convex, grooved and irregularly wrinkled. Habitat. — Tenasserim, Perak, Andaman Islands, Nicobars. Flowers. — In October. Uses. — This calamus is used by the natives of the Andamans to make knives known by the name of Wai-cho (Man, ' The Anda- man Islanders,' ex Becc). 45, C. LATIFOLIUS, Roxb. Fl. Ind. HI, 775 ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III. 339,t.l60, f. 5 ; Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 60 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 68, t. 198 {e.icl. cit. Hort. Malab.) ; Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLIII, II, {eacl. t. 31 A) ; For. Fl. II, 518 (partim) ; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 455, {e.vcl. C. inennis, T. Anders.) ; Brandis Ind. Trees 653 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 211, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 107, 406.— C. macracan- thus, T. Anders, in Jour. Linn. Soc. XI, 10, — C kumilis, Roxb. Fl. Ind. Ill, 773, THE I'ALM^ OF j;Ul ll>ilL ISDIA AND ('HYI.ON. I()7 Fig- 4- Part of stem of Calamus latifoUus. Names. — Korak Bent (Beng.); Yamata ( Burm.), Ruebee Greem and Phekori-Bhet (Lepchas). Description. — Stem stout, as thick as the thumb. Leaves with the flagellum 10-15 feet; leaflets 1-2 feet long, 1-2^ inches broad, scattered or binate, upper sometimes flabellately clustered or connate at the base, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, o-9-costate, tips setose, margins aculeolate, costa3 naked on both surfaces, cross nervules very many and close ; petiole short or long, sometimes bearing the leaflets far up the flagellum ; rhachis flagelliferous very stout, variousl}^ armed with scattered spines ; sheath densely covered with very short broad whorled spines and a few very large straight flat solitary or whorled ones. Spadix ver}^ large, decompoiTud. Spathes short, subcompressed, sparsely spinous, mouth oblique ; spathels short. Male spikes densely imbricate. Fruiting calyx- sessile, pedicel liform, broadly campanulate, lobes short. Fruit subglobose, pale dull yellow ; scales convex, deeply channelled, shining, margin very narrowl}^ scarious. Habitat. — From the Sikkim, Himalaya and Assam (2,0()0 feet) to Tenasserim. Flowers. — In November and December. CALAMUS LATIFOLIUS, Roxb., viir. marmoratus, Becc. in Ann. lloy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XII, 107, 409. Veknacular Name. — Ruebee (Lepchas). Description. — More slender than the type. Leaf sheaths about 2 cm. in diameter, marbled with meitly and dark green spots and 40S JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. .-u-med with verticillate broad-based and smaller interposed spines. Leaves smaller, with fewer pairs of leaflets ; leaflets 25-28 cm. long and 6 cm. broad at moFt. Habitat. — Sikkim, Himalayas. 46. CALAMUS D0R1A£I, Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 456 ; llec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 11, 211, Ann. Koy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 111, 430, Description. — Apparently rather large and scan dent. Female spadix with rigid, arched, partial inflorescences, which terminate in a slender barely spinulous, tail-like appendix. Spikelets spreading, callous at their axils, arched, zigzag, sinuous, up to 6 cm. long, with 7-9 horizontal flowers on each side. Fruiting perianth de- pressedly ventricose. Fruit elongate-ellipsoid, stoutly beaked, 22- 25 mm. long, 11-12 mm. broad. Scales in 21 series, narrowly and deeply channelled. Seed oblong sub-cylindric, pitted ; albu- men superficially ruminate ; embryo sub-basilar. Habitat. — Burma, Karin Gheccu mountains, 47. CALAMUS POLIDESMUS, Becc. in Ann. Roy. Bot, Gard, Calc. XI, 111,430. Description. — Scandent, apparently rather robust. Leaflets distinctly grouped in fascicles of 2-3 on each side of the rhachis, linear lanceolate, accuminate, 20-22- cm. long, 18-25 mm. broad, sub-5- costulate, the costae quite smooth on both sufaces ; margins spinulons-serrulate. Female spikelets spreading, callous at their axils, aboiit 10 cm. long with 9 distichous flowers on each side. Fruiting perianth cylindric. Habitat. — Central Burma. Fruit. — In March. 48. CALAMUS KHASIANUS, Becc. in Ann. Roy, Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 111, 431. Description. — High scandent and very robust. Sheathed stem 5 cm. in diameter, naked canes 2^-3 cm,, the internodes about 25 cm. long. Leaf-sheaths armed with very large laminar spines. Leaves yqvj large ; petiole very short. Leaflets numerous, 2-4 approximate on each side of the rhachis, with long vacant spaces interposed, lanceolate ensiform, 40-50 cm. long, 2^-3^ cm. broad, 3-5-costulate, the costee almost smooth on both surfaces or sparing- ly spinulous above ; margins spinulous. Female spadix difl'use. l*2-l-5 m. long, with many partial inflorescences, which are arched and spreading with distinct callus at their axils. Spikelets zigzag sinuous, up to 20 cm, long, with 15-16 flowers on each side; spa- thels asymmetrically infundibuliform. Fruiting perianth cylindric. Fruit almost sphoeric, 26-27 mm. long. Scales in 18 series, deeply channelled. Seed globular, coarsely pitted ; albumen superficially ruminate ; embryo basal. I THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 409 Habitat. — Khasi.i Hills. Uses. — Fruit edible. 49. CALAMUS NAMBARIENSIS, Becc. in Ann. lloy. Bot. Gard. Oalc. XI, HI, 4o3. Veknaculak Name. — Hoka Bhet (Assam). Description. — Scandent, rather robust. Leaf-sheaths 3-4 cm. in diameter, armed with large, broad, sub-seriate, horizontal or deflexed spines intermingled with smaller ascendent ones. Leaves 3 m. long in the piuniterous part; petiole very short. Leaflets spreading, remotely sub-equidistant, lanceolate-ensifoim, about 50 cm. long, 4 cm. broad with 3 or sometimes 5 smooth costse ; mar- gins obsoletely spinulous. Male spadix simply decompotmd or par- tially supra-decompound ; spikelets callous at their axils, spreading or deflexed, 3-4 cm. long, flowers on each side. Spathels closely packed, concave, ovate, bracteiform. Fruit apparently similar to that of C. Khasianus. but more ovoid and with scales in 21 series. Habitat. — Assam. 60. CALAMUS INERMIS, T. Anders Jour. Linn. Soc. XI, (1869) 11 ; Gamble Man. Inrl. Timb. 424. — C. latifolius {non Roxb.) Becc. in Hook, f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VL, 455 {partim). Description. — High scandent and robust. Leaf-sheaths 5-6 cm. in diameter smooth. Leaves about 3 m. long in the pinniferous part ; the cirrus 2 m. long, powerfully clawed ; petiole short, smooth. Leaflets numerous, inequidistant, in pairs on each side of the rhachis, 3-9-costulate, the lower ones ensiform, 40-50 cm. long, 3-4 cm. broad, the others shorter and broader, lanceolate ; the costaa smooth on both surfaces ; margins spinulous. Female spadix strict ; partial inflorescences and spikelets not callous in their axils; spikelets inserted inside the mouth of their spathe, 8-10 cm. long, with 8-1 0 flowei'S on each side, zigzag sinuous between the flowei-s. Fruiting perianth ventricose. Fruit ellipsoid, 27-29 mm. long, 13-14 mm. broad. Scales in 18 series, deeply channelled. Seed ovoid, sinuously grooved. Habitat. — Hot and damp valleys of the Sikkim Himalaya. 51. CALAMUS UNIFARIUS, H. Wendl. in Bot. Zeitg. XVII (1859), 158; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 749 et De Palmis 28; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 212, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI, 114, AP^Q.—Calamvi^ spp. No3. 9 et 14, Zoll. Syst. Verzeichn. 79. VAR. PENTONG, Becc. iu Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 458, Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 212, Ann. 114, 458. Vernacular Name. — Pentong (Nicobars). Description. — Scandent, robust. Leaf-sheaths 3-3^ cm. iu diameter, armed with long acicular bulbous spines. Leaves large, 1*7 m. long in the pinniferous part. Leaflets not very numerous, anbequidistant, 6-10 cm. apart, lanceolate, or lanceolate-ensiform, 410 JOhRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV, with 5-7 slender costae whicli are smooth on both surfaces. Male spadix ultra-decompound with several panicled-pyramidate partial inflorescences. Spikelets (fig. 5) distinctly callous in b Fi I. 1 . Portion of flowering spikelet of C. unifarius var. pentone/. ^. Portion of a fruitinp: spikelet of C. didymocarpus for comparison rt=involncrophortim. fc=involucrc. c=areola. /i=scar of areola. •i=axillary callus. 7(;=spathel. (After Beccari). JouBN. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Plate CVI. Calamus Scipionuin, Lour. THE PALMS OF BRITISH l^^DIA AND CEYLON, J 11 the axils, very slouder, arched, their axes filiform, 1-3 cm. long, with 5-15 distichous iiowers on each side; involucre calyculi- Ibrm, subtending and not enveloping the flower. Feniale spadix siniply decompound, similar to the male one, terminating in a rather elongate flagellitbrm appendix ; spikelets slender, 5-8 cm. long with 15-20 bifarious flowers on each side ; involucro- phorium more or less distinctly pedicellate. Fruiting perianth pedicelliform. Fruit globose, 1 cm. in diameter. Scales sub- squarrose in 15 series, not distinctly channelled. Seed irregularly globular, coarselj' pitted, albumen sub-ruminate; embryo basal. Habitat. — Nicobar Islands. 52. CALAMLS SCIPIONUM, Lour. Fl. Cochinch. 3,210; Liim. Encycl. VI, y04, non Illustr. and e.vcl. si/n.) ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Pahn. ill, 342 ; Kunth Ejium. Ill, 206; Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 35; Palms Brit. Ind. 43 : Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 138 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 461. — C. micmnthuA Bl. Kumph. Ill, 53 (fol. tantum), t. 157 {crcl. spad. and anal. /.}.— Clung, Griff. 11. cc. 37, 46. Description. — Stem 40-60 feet high, sheath 2-3 inches in diameter. Leaves 4-5 feet long ; flagellum 10-12 feet long ; leaf- lets numerous, firm, equidistant, upper gradually smaller, elongate- lanceolate or subensiform, aculeolate, tips bristly ; rhachis as thick as the little finger, smooth except from the scattered spines, obtusely trigonous iTT ; costa3 5-7, naked on both surfaces or sparsely aculeo- late beneath ; margins of leaflets nearl}'" smooth, uppermost pair connate at the base ; petiole armed with very stout conico-subulate scattered recurved spines. Spadices very long flagellifero\is ; lower spathes very long, tubu- lar, unarmed, or their keels armed. Male spadix about 20 feet long, lemale about 10 feet; spathels 1 inch long, tubular, truncate, smooth, unarmed, or with a few conical tubercles ; branches of female spadix long; spikes 2-4 inches, rather distant, spreading and recurved, stout ; spathellules and bracts very short imbricate ; female flowers sessile. Fruiting calyx very small, pedicelliform, broadly urceolate. base truncate intruded, mouth much contracted, lobes very short, l^^ruit small, ovoid or globose, abruptly mammillate, brown, scales shining, tumid, with broad pale scarious margins. Seed when young sub- ovoid, alveolate, embryo basilar. Distribution. — Malaka, Perak, Borneo. Sometimes found in Indian gardens. Illustration. — Plate CVI. UNRECO(iNIZEI) SPECIES. C. QUINQUENEEVIUS, lloxh.¥l Ind. 111,777 ; Kunth Enuni. Ul. 209; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III. .'USD ; Griff', in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 412 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 61 ; Palms Brit. fnd. 72; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 460; Brandis Ind. Trees 654 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. II, 215; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. XI. 503. Names. — Hurnur-gullar (in Silhet). Description. — Scandent, stem when cleaned about as thick as a man's finger throughout, the joints from 6-8 inches long. Leaves flagelliferous ; leaflets few, remote, alternate, equidistant, narrowly lanceolate, 5-nerved. Spines in belts, distinct, few, short and strong. Spadix decompound. Fruit spherical. Hooker and Beccari have not been able to recognize this species. Habitat. — Silhet. PLEGTOGOMIOPSIS, Becc. (From Plectocomia (cf, foregoing genus) and " opsis " appear- ance). " Characters of Plectocomia, but upper leaves reduced to sheaths with long flagella and no leaflets, spathels small, infundibular, and frait clothed with very miniite, almost microscopic scales, arranged in vertical series. Seed globose, smooth ; albumen equable ; embryo basilar. Species 3, Malayan." (Hooker.) Fledocomio'psis paradoxus, Becc. in Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 480; Br.andis Ind. Trees 650. — Calamus jyaradoxus, Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. XLIII, II, 213, t. 29, 30; Forest Fl. II, 521. An evergreen, extensive climber, all parts glabrous ; stem with the sheaths 1-2 inches in diameter ; leaves pinnate, 5-7 feet long- terminating in a whip-like hooked-thorny tendril ; petiole short, along with the lower part of the rhachis indistinctly puberulous and armed underneath and near both margins with more or less straight, sharp thorns; sheaths armed with yellowish, sharp, flat spines arranged into combs; leaflets 1-1^ feet long, up to 1 inch broad, of a thin texture, alternating by pairs and i-emote margin- ate, shortly acuminate, inconspicuously and remotely appressed- ciliolate. Male spadix bifariously decompound ample, drooping ; spathes all smooth, tubular, with a truncate, shortly acuminate limb ; spathules similarly shaped, but much smaller, embracing the base of the very short (1-3 lin. long), distichously imbricate bracted male spikelets ; bracts spreading, ovate, acute about 1 lin.. long, brown, glabrous. Male flowers : cah^x about 1 lin. long, deeply 3-cleft, striate ; petals rigid, connate at the base, nearly 2^ lin. long, oblong, acute ; stamens 6 ; filaments rigid, the lower part linear-oblong, longer and broader than the anthers, terminat- ing in an infracted thi-ead, from which the anther is versatilely suspended ; pistillode hardly any. Habitat. — Martaban ; in the evergreen tropical forests ofPalawa Zeik, east of Tounghoo. Flowers in April. THE PALMS OF liltlTISH INDIA AND CHi'LON. 413 DJEMONOL'OPS, BlumeUimiph.il., t. 131 ; III., 2, t. 138-145. (From the Greek " daimou," an evil spirit, and " rhops," a low shrub). Mart. Hist. Nat. raliu. III. 203, 326, t. 117, 125, 175-177 ; Kunth Enum. Pi. Ill, 204 ; Miq. Fl. Incl. Bat. Ill 81, siippl. 90, 255, 592. Luers. Botan. 11, 329 : Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 452. The general characters are the same as those of Calamus, but the outer sheaths or spathes are cymbiform, deciduous, at first enclosing the inner; the flowers are often more pedicellate (fig. 6.). Fig. 0. — Cirrhus of a Dcsmonorops. Species about 80. Distribution : — That of Calamus. DACMONOKOPS Jenkinsianus, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III., 327 ; Walp. Ann. HI. 475, V, 827 ; Hooker Fl. Brit. Ind. VI. 462 ; Brandis Ind. Trees 650.— n. 7iM^awf//?orM.-,-, Mart. 1. c. 3i'6 ; Walp. 11. cc. 474 and 827. — Calamus jenkinsianus, Griff, in Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist V, 81 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 89 {excel, fruit et t. 186 A. f. 3) : T. Anders, in Jonrn. Linn. Soc, XI, 11. — Calnmis nutaidijlorus, Griff, in Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. Vc. 79; Palms Brit. Ind. 8^, t. 208. Name. — Gola Bent (Ass.). Description. — Stem scandent, very stout, with the sheaths 1^ inch in diameter; young parts grey-pubescent. Leaves large; leaflets 2 feet by §-| inch, equidistant, linear, finely acuminate ; costae 3, all sparsely setose above with ver}'- long bristles, the central only beneath, margins setulose. Petiole, rhachis and flagellum with many marginal and dorsal hooked spines or 3-5-fid claws ; sheath armed with very long flat, deflexed and shorter more slender spines. Spadix elongate, decompound ; outer spathe 1-2 feet long, flattish, 2 keeled, armed with flat spines, narrowed into a long s.jinescent beak, spines i-f inch, inner spathe 12-18 inches long, lanceolate, long-acuminate, quite smooth. Male spadix thyrsi- form, dense-flowered; calyx oblong, 3-dentate, petals and bracts 12 414 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL ULST.. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. deeply grooved. Female spadix with spreading branches, fruiting erect ; calyx cuptilar, not pedicelliform ; petals twice as long. Fruit globose, apiculate, f inch in diameter, pale yellow brown ; fruiting calyx nearly flat ; scales deeply channelled, margins narrowly scarious. Seeds subglobose, smooth ; albumen punctate, or the surface ruminate l>y very slender channels, (fig. 7.). Fio. 7. — Left : Vertical section of fi-uit of Dcemonorops je^Jikiiisiamts. nia<>-nified. Ri{2:ht : Young- fiiiit of Calamns Griffithianiis. mag-uified (after Martius.) Distribution.. — Sikkim, Himalaya, Assam, Khasia Hills, Bengal, Chittagong. ByEMONOROPS MANII, Becc. in Hook. Fl. Brit. hid. VI, 46.';, Brandis Ind. Trees 650. " Leaflets very many and narrow, naked beneath, setulose on the 3 costae above; spadix very long, slender ; peduncle compressed, hardly armed ; outer spathe very long, gradually narrowed into a long, pale, dorsally keeled beak, spines few, large, flat; inner lanceolate, acuminate. Fruiting spadix erect, glabrous ; fruit globose, shortly mammillate; scales pale, slightly channelled, margins pale, tip not discoloiu-ed." Hookei'. Habit.'VT. — Andaman Islands. rilE PALMS OF lllil ri!SH 1M)1A AAJJ CKYl.OX. 4ir, n.EMOyOROPS KUHZIANUS, Hook. f. FI. Brit. Ind. ; Brandis lud. Treos 650. — D. giandi*, Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLIII, II, 208 (not ^\i\ri).— Calamm ;/randi^, Kurz For. Fl. II, ^^S (not of Hriftith). A lofty climber, the slioatliod stonis as tliick as the arm, the canes np to 1 inch in diameter. Leaves 4-6 feet long, sliortly petiolecl ; leaflets 1-2 feet long, 1-1 :}■ inch broad, very many, equidistant, elongate, ensiform, aciiminate, margins minutely aculeolate, tips ciliate, costa^ '^-~^, naked or with a few long bristles above; rhachis enormonsly stont, H inch in diameter, semi- terete, flat above witii short scattered spines on the margins, dorsally convex and unarmed, ending in a clawed flagellum ; petiole very stout, armed below with long, flat and short recurved spines ; sheath with whorled spines. Outer spathe cymbiform, scnrfy, with seriate spines ; inner linear, nnanvied. Fruiting spadix erect, branches very stout. Fruit globose, -| inch in diameter, very shortly beaked, pale brownish yellow ; scales deeply channelled, mai'gins brownish with a very naiTOw scarious edge ; fruiting calyx with a very short base and broad, striate lobes ; petals twice as long, striate ; seed subcompressed ; albumen punctate, or the siirface ruminate by very slender channels. Habitat. — South Andaman Islands. Uses. — D. Jairzianus is the only species hitherto reported as affbrdinof the so-called " East Indian Drao-on's blood." This is for the most part prepared from the fruits of several species of Calamus, growing in Eastern Sumatra, South Borneo, and Penang. The gum exudes naturally from between the scales of the fruit, but inferior qualities are obtained by boiling the fruits or by tapping the stems. The false Dragon's blood of the Indian market is imported into Bombay from Sumatra, Penang, etc., in large cakes or compressed in Bamboo tubes. The true Dragon's blood if procured from Sokotra. aiul is obtained by tapping the stems of several species of Dractona. 416 NEW INDIAN SCROPHULARTACE^ AND SOME NOTES ON THE SAME ORDER. BY E, Blaiter, S.J., AND Prof. F. Hallberg. BON NAY A, Link. & Otto. Bonnaya bracteoides, sp. nov. (near B. brachiata, Link. & Otto). Stem erect, up to 8 cm. high, subsimple or dift'uscly branched. Branches stout, rigid, quadrangular, grooved, glabrate or with a few minute haira. Leaves opposite, sessile, ovate-elliptic, up to i^mm. long and 11mm. broad, in some specimens only |-^ as large, very sharply spinous-serrate ; teeth about a dozen pairs, up to I'Smm. apart. Flowers in terminal or axillary racemes. Pedicels terete, stout, 1-bracteate, in fruit reaching 5mm., opposite, but with a tendency to collect into whorls or clusters, especially at the top of the raceme. Bracts : the lowest pair leaf-like, the next smaller, narrower, elliptic or linear, toothed, then linear-spathulate with about one pair of teeth near the apex, at last very small, entire, subulate, generally of the len<,;th of the pedicel. Calyx in flower 4, in fruit 5mm. long, subequally 5-lobed nearly to the base, lobes linear-lance- olate, acute, margins with minute stiff hairs directed upwards. Corolla 7mm. long, white, spotted with pink, tube 4nim. long, narrow, cylindrical, outside with minute capitate hairs, lower lip 3mm. deeply 3-loDert, midlobe larger ; upper lip a little over 2mm. long, rectangular, half as broad as long, emarginate. Stamens 2 perfect, inserted near junction of lips ; filaments very short, rather stout, glabrous : poUen globose. Staminodes 2, inserted on the throat of the lower lip, reaching higher than the stamens (up to the sinus of lower lip), their lower half broad, connate with the coroUa, the upper narrow, bent outwards. (They are very similar to those of B. brachiata, L. & O., but only obscurely glandular, not pubescent). Style 4mm. long, glabrous, stigma bilamellate. bent over to oi.e side, lobes about equal. Capsule 10mm. long, terete, glabrous. Seeds subglobose or pear- shaped, with a minute tail, obscurely rugose. • This species is distinguished from B. brachiata chiefly by its bracts, the diflerent arrangement of its flowers and the glabrous staminodes. Locality: Found in October 1916 in various places of Mt. Abu, 4,000 ft. (Herb. St. Xavier's College, Nos. 1514, 1515, 1516.). Common among grass on wet ground. Bonnaya estaminodiosa, sp. nov. (near B. oppositifolia, Spreng.). Stem erect, ficni. high, stout, quadrangular, nearly glabrous, sparingly branched. Leaves opposite, except the uppermost which are opposite to a pedicel, sessile, erect, linear, 30 x 5mm., distantly, shaUowly serrate (teeth about 3mm. apart), penninerved, midrib very ]iromineut, the others obscure, margin v\ith tubercles and some minute stifl' hairs. — Flowers in lax terminal and lateral racemes, consisting of about 5 distant pairs of pedicels and, in addition, some solitary leaf-opposed ones below. Bracts of about the same length as the pedicels, rather broad at the base, keeled acuminate, (hairiness like that of the sepals). Pedicels up to 7mm. in fruit spreading, stout, flat above, convex below. Calyx in flower 4, in fruit 6mm. long, divided nearly to the base ; lobes 5, snbcqual, subulate ; margins and midrib scabrous with minute distant stiff bristles. CoroUa 5"5mm. long, white, lower lip spotted with pink ; tube straight, 3mm. long, narrow, not widening, with a few minute capitate hairs. Lips about equal in NEW INDIAN SCROPIIULARIACEA:. 417 length. I'ppcr lip oroct, entire, slij;htly more than Innn. broad, tip rounded, with a fow bhort bristles ; htwer lip .spreading, ii-lobed, lobes about equal, tips like that of the upper lip. Stamens 2, subineluded ; lilanients very blmrt. a little conipiessed, glabrous ; anther reaching about half-way up the lower lip ; pollen globose. Staniinodes absent. Style :imm., rather stout, glabrous ; stigma bilamellate, bent over to one side ; lobes broad, one slightly larger. Ovary ovoid, glabrous. — Capsule 10 mm, terete. Seeds ovoid-globose, rugose with numerous circular depressions in rows. The distinguishing character of this species is the absence of stami- nodes and the ctdour of the flowers. Found in November 1916 at Mahim, Bombay Island, among grass (Herb. St. Xavier's College, No. 1517). Bonnaija qtanqvelaba, sp. nov. (near li. oppositi folia, Spreng). Stem erect, Oocm. high, sparingly branched. Leaves, bracts, and pedicels like those of i)'. ('js<«?/.j'//r;a, except lor the lowest leaves which are subentire —Flowers in terminal or lateral raceiKes, the lowest flowers axillary. Calyx like that of li. tracttoidcH. Corolla (nm. loi]g, tube 3mm., cylindrical, rather ^\ide, outside with a few minute capitate hairs. Upper lip 2mni., entire, erect, tip rounded. Lower lip sliaUov\ly /5-lobed. Midlobe the largest, the two adjacent ones not much smaller, the last two very small, but distinct, one larger than the other ; all lobes rounded. Corolla white, lower lip with pink-purple spots. Stamens like those of U. e.^taminoiiiusa. ^ta.n\\i\Oi.\ia 2, not reaching as high as the stamens, very small, narrow, linear, acute, inserted on the throat of the lower lip, straight, glabrous. Style 3'''nim. long, glabrous. — Capsule 9mni. long, l|mm. broad, tapering, acuta, minutely striate. Seeds irregularly ellipsoidal, rugose, with numerous minute circular depressions. The main distingui.shing characters of this species are the shape and colour of the coroJla, the absence of leaf opposed flowers below the raceme. Leaf-opposed flowers are present in B. estauiinodiosa, and, according to Koxb. Corom. Plants 11. lo7, also in B. oppositifulia, Spreng. Found in Novtmber 191t) at Bhandup in Salsette, in rice- fields (Herb. St. Xavier's College, No. 1/)18). Bonnai/a micrantha, sp. nov. — A small herbaceous plant. Stem up to 10cm. high, with a few pairs of decust^ate branches, which may again branch in a similar manner, ^tem and branches rather stout, quadran- gular ; angles hairy with short stifl' tapering hairs. Leaves o[iposite, sub- sessile, up to io X H'mm., broadly ovate or suborbicular, regularly strongly serrate-dentate; licrves o-7, fiom the base or neatly so, tomttinus the midrib which is strongest, with 1-3 j^econdary nerves, all prominent beneath ; both suriaces of the leaves nearly glabrous, margin hispid with minute stiti hairs (or teeth minutely serrulate). — Profi.sely flow em g from all the axils, even the lowest ; the flowers are either sessile, crowded in the axils, or with slender subqnadrangular pedicels, reaching 2cm. in length, which are either glabrous or nearly so ; the sessile flowers are apparently always present, while the pedicelled ones are absent in some specimens. There seems to be no law as to the distribution of the latter. In one specimen (Igatpuri) the main stem is terminated by an umbel with a peduncle 3cm. long, which is slender, 4-grooved, slightly hispid, bearing 4-pedicelled flowers Bracteoles miimle, triangular, acuminate, spinous- serrulate, one at the base of each pedicel or subtending a sessile flower. Flowers very minute, but the calix is much enlarged in fruit, when it attains 3mm. in length, teeth 5 the len;:th of the tube, ovate-acute, minutely spar- sely hispid. I -nerved, nerves running down the tube as ribs ; fruiting calyx almost always split down to the base on one side. The corolla is white, 418 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT. 2-lipped, divided half way down, cylindrical, rounded at the tip (the lobes remaining as in bud, upper lip external), 1-l^mm. long, lips equal in breadth, upper lip suborbicular, hooded, tip emarginate or with a few irregular teeth, lower lip equally 3-lobed, as long as the upper and with Buborbicular lobes or shorter than the upper and with oblong lobes. The corolla is persistent as a small cap on the beak of the growing capsule. Perfect stamens 2 ; filaments very short, stout, as long as or shorter than the anthers, anthers 2- celled, cells equal, situated at about the same height, slightly diverging below, anticous citamens reduced to minute staminodes, cjdindrical, eglandular or with a lower, swollen glannular and upper sub- clavate eglandular part. Style very short, stont, conical ; stigmatic bran- ches conspicuous, longer than the style, reflexed, unequal in length. — Capsule elongate ovoid, 7mm. long, broadest below the middle (2-5 mm.), acutely beaked by the enlarged style, bivalved, the valves separating from the septum, but remaining united with each other at the apex. Seeds brown, ovoid, with a minute tail at one end, faintly longitudinally ribbed, obscurely rugose, sometimes slightly echinulate. Locality: Mt. Abu, on walls, Oct. 1916 (No. 1734), Igatpuri, Sept. 1917 (Nos. 1735, 1736), Lonavla (No. 1765). This is a very distinct species and of interest from several points of view. It differs from the other species of Bonnaya with regard to the capsule and the nervation of the leaves. — The corolla is eafily overlooked, the most conspicuous feature of the plant being the profusion of fruits. The corolla never opens and, thus, self-pollination is the only possibility. It is perhaps worth mentioning that so far no corolla has been observed in the pedicelled flowers. The pedicel may have developed after flowering. Bonnaya brachiata, Link & Otto. — This plant is very common near Bom- bay during the rains. In addition to the localities given by Cooke wo have obtained the plant from Bombay Island (No. 1526), Salsette (Nos, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504, 1505, 1506), Khandala (No. 1507), Igatpuri (Nos. 1509, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513). It varies considerably with regard to the size of all its parts, branching, form and colour of the corolla, etc. The bracts are always uniform, subu- late. The staminodes are shaped like those of B. bvacteoides, but the broad lower part is pubescent, the hairs being either white or assuming the colour of the corolla. In this species as well as in the three species described above, we have always found a few minute cai^itate hairs on the outer side of the corolla. Extreme measurements of the corolla : 11mm., white with purplish blue spots (No. 1512), 5*5mm., pink (No. 1505). Bonnaya veroniccefoUa, Spreng. — This plant seems to be rare about Born- bay. We have seen specimens only from Kakeri (No. 1519) and Kodai- kanal Iload (No. 1520). Bonnaya y randiflora , Spreng. — This, on the other hand, is rather common. It was obtained from Campooli (No. 1521), Salsette (No. 1522), Penu (No. 1523), Begur in Mysore (No. 1524). Bonnaya verbencefolia, Spreng. — It is not common. We have got it from Castle Rock (No. 1525) and from damp spots on the slope of the High Wavy Mountain in Madura, alt. 3,000 ft. (Nos. 505, 506). As regards B. veronicc(ffolia, B. yrandijlora, and B. vevbmcpfolia, there is apparently no reason why they should not be regarded as distinct species. J. D. Hooker has brought the last two under the first as varieties. The habits of the plants, however, are entirely difterent, and agree well with the figures in Itoxb. Cor. PI. II. 154, 179. and Wicht Ic. t. "^1412. taken in M:ir iMJi.ix svuophulaiuacea:. 411) order. Only tho staininodes aro not drawn accurately. They are yellow- in all our specimens, united with the corolla for about § of their length, parallel ; the lower portion is broad, yellow-pubescent ; the free upper part narrow, glabrous, much bent outwards and on itself, tip glandular, obtuse. When straightened out tho tip reaches beyond tho sinus in tho lower lip. The measurements given in Hooker's Fl. Brit. Ind. and Cooke's Fl. B. Pr. for the corollas of tho three plants in question are contradictory. As a matter of fact, all have rather large flowers, up to 12mm. long, B. i/randiftura perhaps the largest. The seeds are always rugose with small circular pits arranged in rows. The citation of "Wight Ic. t. 144 for B. veronicccfolia is sorawhat doubtful, because of the close serraturo of the leaves in the plant figured. It may be B. icptans, Spreng., a plant which has not been observed by us in the tield. In our opinion the character of the genus should be widened in order to include B. eiftamuwdioso. The genus Bonnai/a should, therefore, be distin- guished from Ilysanthea by havincf no staminodes at all or entire ones, whilest lhjsa7ithi'S would be characterized by bilobed staminodes. Further, researches into the relationships between Vandellia , llyscmtlies and Bonnaya will probably show that it is impossible to separate the three genera by good characters and that they should be united into one. ILYSANTRES, Kaf. It appears that considerable confusion prevails in the nomenclature of this genus as regards the two Bombay species : Ihjsanthes /ryssojnoides, Benth. and /. parvi/ioia, Benth. This seems to be due to some erroneous citations of Bentham's in DC. Prodr. X, 419-20. Under /. /lyssopioides he gives as synonyms : Gratiola hyssopioides, L. (correctly) ; Koxb. Cor. PI. Ill, t. 203 (wrongly, as this plate gives Rox- burgh's original Gratiola parvijiora) ; Bo7inaya hyssopioides, Wight Ic. Ill, t. 857 (wrongly). Similarly under I. parvijiora, Benth., Gratiola parviflora, Roxb. Cor. PL III., t. 204 (wrongly, it ought to be t. 203). These mistakes are retained by J. D. Hooker, Avho adds to the confusion by expressly saying that Gratiola hyssopioides, Roxb. Cor. PI. II, t. 128, as well as the corresponding description in tho Fl. Indica do not refer to /. hyssopioides, Benth. Hooker refers the plate in question to Dopatrium lobelioides, Benth. (Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 274), an entiretydifferent plant, correctly figured by Wight (Ic. t. 859, also cited by Hooker). Cooke in his Fl. B. Pr. is evidently at a loss, and excludes all references except Wight, Ic. t. 857, which he, too, wrongly refers to /. hyssopioides, Benth. These mistakes should be corrected as follows : — Ilysanthes hyssojnoides, Benth. in DC. Prodr. X, 419. Syn. — Gratiola hyssopioides, L. Mant. 174 ; Roxb. Cor. PI. II, t. 128, Fl. Ind. 1, 141. Bonnaya hyssopioides, Benth. Scroph. Ind. 34. The plant is apparently rare, at least in the Bombay Presidency. The localities given by Cooke must be regarded as very doubtful. They refer in aU probability to i. pari-ijlora, Benth. W^e found the plant at Khan- dala in August 1917, growing in a damp place near St. Peter's School (Herb. St. Xavier's College, kos. 1527, 1528). It agrees in every respect with Roxburgh's figure. In order to clear up doubtful points we give a description of the plant. Stems several from the base, very weak, but rather stout, succulent 420 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV, simple or branched just above the ground. Leaves ovate or lanceolate, quite entire, subacute, up to 10 X 3mm. Pedicels attaining 3cm, in fruit, when they become reflexed. Corolla bluish-lilac, tipper lip bilobed, with rounded lobes. Sfcaminodes large, stout, clavate, glandular, yellow ; near the tip and overtopping it a long nanowly linear or filiform apend- agre, hardly glandular ; at the base of each stamiuode a tuft of clavate yellow hairs which continues along a line down the tube almost to its base. Seeds elUpsoid, subacute at one end, and with a minute tail at the- other, .somewhat compressed, the faces with a few strong longitudinal ribs, minutely transversely rugose. In Roxburgh's figure the appendage of the staminodes cannot be distin- guished. The plant was also found on the slope of the High Wavy Mountain (Madura District), altitude 3,000 feet (Herb. St. Xavier's College, No. 1529). In this instance the plant has a more slender steyi and smaller leaves than in the Khaudala specimens. The leaves are ur» to 8nmi. long, linear or linear-lanceolate, acute coi-olla lilac with purple veins on upper lip ; tube wider ; upper lip bifid ; lobes subacute. Tlie lateral appendage of the staminodes much shorter, not reaching beyond the tip, somewhat thicker, cylindrical. Ilysanthes pardjlora, Benth. in DC. Prodr. X, 419. Syn.— Gmfio/rtjo«rm'/?ora, Roxb. Cor. PL HI, 3, t. 203 ; Fl. Ind. 1, 140. Bonnaya hyssopioides. Wight Ic. t. 857. — Bonnaya pavviflora, Benth. Scroph. Ind. 34. A very common plant at all times of the year, often frequenting rice- fields during the dry season. Tl.e leaves are generally subserrate, and the flowers white or nearly so. The length of tlie corolla cannot be a distin- guishing character in the identification of these two species. 1. pavviflora may have the corolla 1^-4 times as long as the calyx in the same specimen. Also with regard to this species the staminodes have not been figured correctly by Roxburgh and Wight. Roth represent them as subequally bilobed, whilst in reality they resemble those of I. hyssopioides, although they are smaller. The usual height o? the plant is about 10cm. We have, however, found specimens at Mt. Abu (No. 1546), measuring 33 cm. We have specimens from the following localities : — Bombay Island (No. 1530), Uran Island (No. 15^1), Penn, Colaba District (Nos 1532, 1533, 1534, 1535, 1536), Khandala (Nos. 1537, 1538, 1539), Igatpuri (Nos. 1540, 1541), Khandesh (Nos. VA', 1543, 1544), Mt. Abu (Nos. 1545, 1546, 1547, 1548) Kambam, Madura District (No. 499), in which case the corolla is lilac. KEY TO THE TWO SPECIES. (1) Stems several from the root, simple. Leaves entire. Pedicels a taining 3cm. Corolla bluish or purphsh I. hyssopioides. (2) Stem diffusely branched. Leaves often subserrate. Pedicels rarely exceeding 1cm. C 'roUa usually whitish I. parviflora. The seeds in the former are twice as Icirge as those of the latter and the lower lip of the corolla at least twice as broad. VANDELLIA, L. Vandellia Crustacea, Benth. — We give some additional characters to the description furnished by Cooke (Fl. B. Pres. II, 295). Stem sharply quadrangular, nearly glabrous (No. 1;53) or v\ithafew minute upwards directed bristles on the angles (No. 1752), reaching 12cm. .V.fc' »' INDIAN VCliOI'Jl ULAIU. J CE.i:. Jil with a few sparsely divitlod branches from the base (No. 1763) or with deiiso, diliuse interlaced branches (Nos. 174L', 174.'5), the latter IGcm. high. Smallest specimen 1cm. hi<,'h with only two llowers and very small loaves (No. 17ol). _^Leaves generally strongly dentate, teeth variable in number (Nos. 17o'J,17o3), or margin 8ubentiro( Nos 17o4, 1 7.);'i, 175(5), or quite entire (No. 17ol), broadly ovate or ovate elliptic, subobtuse, the lower sometimes narrowed into a petiole 7mm. long (No. 1719); margin generally minutely spinoiis-serrulate. Calyx -ribbed, in (lower folded, m fruit expanded by the capside, ribs with a few (No. 1763) or numerous (No. 17-02), minute spinous serratures, sometimes tlie whole calix minutely stili'-hairy. Upper lip of corolla broadly ovate-oblong, with tivo large rounded lobes (No. 1753), or ovate-acuminate, lip shortly (No 17o2) or deeply (No. 1755) bitid, or broadly ovate-emarginate (Wight Ic. t. 863). Colour of corolla : Purphsh, tube darker outside, lobe nearly white with darker margin, with a transver-se purple bar across mid lobe of lower hp (Nos. 1752, .75 ), or corolla more or less uni- formly purplish. Appendage on longer filament inserted high up (No. 1753) or near the base (No. 1752, 1755); it may be from very small, wart-like (No. 1753) to half as long as the part of the filament above it (Nos. 1752, 1755, and Wight Ic. t. 863), generally narrowly cylindrical with sub- clavate glandidar tip, never subulate. Seeds ovoid, with a minute tail at one end, echiuulate (No. 1753) or pitted (No. 1738), sometimes irregular (No. 1745). " The fjlant is very common, especially during the rains, but flowers at all times of the year. Locality : Bombay Island (Nos. 1738-174-3, 1745, 1752, 1756), Salsette (No. 1755), Khandala (Nos. 1744, 1740, 1747), Igatpuri (No 1748), Mt Abu (Nos. 1749,1753), Madura District '^No. 17-50), Mauantoddy, Malabar (No, 1751). Varxlellia hirsuta, Buch.— Ham.— This plant is rather difficult to recofrnize from the descriptions in Hooker's Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 280 and Cooke's Fl. B. Pres. II. 295. We give the folloaiug additions and correction < : Stem acutely quadrangular, more or less succulent, especially diiriuo the rains. Sometimes erect, undivided, short, l-3cm. glabrous (No. \1{\) or with a few densely hirsute sub.rect branches from the base (Nos. 17.58. 1759. 1760. 1763), or stems many, prostrate, reaching 15cm. dividing at the first node into 5 branches in one plane (No. 1762); branches often glandular upwards. Leaves minutely bristle-serrulate on the margin, which may be almost entire (No. 175-<) or sinuate (No. 17(il) or generally distinctly serrate-dentate (Nos 17ti2, 1763, 1764) ; sometimes they areglabrons or nearly s.) (No. 1761), sometimes hirsute on both surfaces (No. 1758), but in general only on the upper surface and on the nerves beneath (Nos. 1759, 1760) : th*-. last men- tioned specimens have the largest Kavei, 4 x 2cm. narrowed into a 2imm. broad petiole. Inflorescence racemose with opposite flowers, lowest'pair often axillary (Nos. 1761, 1762), pedicels stout, flattened on the upper side subglabrous (Nos. 1758. 1761), or hirsute and glandular (No. 1759) or slender and spansely hairy (Nos. 1762, 1763). Calyx subglabrous (No. 1761) or with short stiff upwards directed bristles ; Nos. 1758, 1759, 1762, 1763) Corolla from 5mm. (No.s. 1761, 1762, to 8mm. (No. 17.58). upper lip a».out half as long as the lower, pale greyish-yellow or brownish, obscurely notched margin finely irregularly serndate ; lower lip white or nearly so. 3-lobed' lobes obtuse, the mi-Ulle one suborbicular ; throat with some yellow- pubescence in?ide. Anteriov stamens with long arched filaments, visible from above outside the closed corolla, each with a small oblong sessile gland at the base ; pollen globose. Stigma bilamellate, lobes serrulate Capsule subglobose (No. 1758) or more elongated (No. 1760), glabrous Seed shaped hke a truncate coue, with a minute tail at one end, ribbed ]S 422 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. minutely echinulate (No. 1760), or cylindrical, longitudinally ribbed, obscurely rugose (Nos. 1758,1762). Localities : Bombay Island (Nos. 1767, 1760, 1761, 1762, 1763, 1764), Penn, Colaba District (No. 1758), Salsette (No. 1759). — It is fairly common about Bombay, flowering at all times of the year, but chiefly during the rains. We have never found a plant with the corolla bluish-white as given by Hooker ex Griffith. Vandellia laxa, Benth.- — This species was found on the slope of the High Wavy Mountain, Madura District, alt. 3,000 feet (No. 359). Hooker makes it a variety of V. scabra, Benth. (Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 281), and he is of opinion that it deserves not even varietal rank. He adds that the stem is dichotomously branched. We think that 7'. laxa, first described by Bentham, should be retained as a distinct species. The inflorescence is difterent from that of V. scabra, and the fruiting calyx is about twice as long as the fruit. Bentham (in DC. Frodr. X (1846), 414) describes the inflorescence of Y. laxa in these words : " The racemes are slender, the pedicels elongate, remotely falsely verticillate. The racemes, especially the terminal one, contracted into a 4-6 flowered umbel ; a branch arises below the umbel, which is again umbelliferous at its apex." This is exactly the mode of branching in our specimens. We add the following characters in order to complete the description : Branches up to 25cm. long, angular, sparingly strigose-hirsute, very slender, internodes up to 4.5cm. long. Leaves up to 1cm. long and almost as broad ; tip rovinded, obtuse or subacute, margin coarsely serrate ; upper surface and nerves beneath sparmgiy hirsute. Pedicels slender, strict, erect ; reaching 12mm. in fruit. Corolla with a 3-lobed lower and emarginate upper lip ; lobes of lower lip subequal, orbicular. Filaments compressed ; anterior stamens with rather long filaments, which have rounded auricles at the base ; posterior stamens included, filaments very stout, subulate ; anther-cells subequal. Style glabrous, stigma bilamellate. Capsule sub- globose about half the length of the enlarged strigose-hirsute calyx- segments which attain 5mm. in fruit. ( Y. scabra, Benth., has the capsule equalling the calyx-segments. Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 281). TORENIA, L. Torenia hirtella, Hook, f., Avas found to be common on the High Wavy Mountain, Madura District, on the slope as well as on the plateau, 3,000- 4,500 feet (Nos. 504, 1549, 1550). In order to complete Hooker's description in the Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 277, we add the following : — Branches difluse, very slender, up to ^m. long, internodes up to 8cm. long. Leaf-margins and nerves below slightly strigose. Corolla pale lilac, each lobe of lower lip with a large purplish- blue spot, throat bluish. Stamens purple. The tooth at the base of the longer filament is as long as the filament itself, stout, cylindrical, obtuse, glandular. The Fl. Brit. Ind. gives 2,000 feet as the maximum altitude for the species in Ceylon. Torenia cordifolia , Roxb., seems to be rare in the Bombay Presidency. We have found only two specimens. One is from the Kanary Caves, Salsette, Aug. 1917 (No. 1551), the other from Kasara Ghats, Sept. 1917 (No. 1652). Both specimens have a lilac corolla, with the throat and midlobe of lower lip purplish. — Cooke, Fl. B. Pres., describes the leaves as glabrous, while Graham, Bot. Mag. t. 3715, has them hairy above, glabrous .\J:II IM>1A.\ ISVROI'HULARIACE^E. 428 below. In our specimens they are distinctly hairy on both surfaces, on the lowor surface chieHy on the nerves. SUTEliA, I'toth. Suteni ;/la7nli(losa,lloth., is somewhat variable with regard to the colour of the eorolhi. Hooker {¥\. Brit. Ind. IV, rioH) gives it as nearly white, while Cooke (¥1. B. Pres. 11, l'8o) says it is white. ^Ve found the corolla white (Nos. l(J()o, 160(i), and pinkish-white (No. ItiU?) in Khandesh along the Tapti river. In a specimen from Kliandala, in a deep ravine, the corolla is white with a pink longitudinal line on midlobe of lower lip (No. ItJOH). The plant is not common and prefers sandy river beds. MIMULUiS, L. Mimulus gracilis, R. Br. — Hooker (Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 259) seems to be mistaken when saying that the calyx-lobes are rounded. Both Benth. (DC. Prodr. X, 3(39) and Cooke (Fl. B. Pres. 11, 287), give them correctly as acute. Hooker says that the corolla is white or pale blue. We found the plant at Alt. Abu flowering in October (No. I(j09), fruiting in May (No. liJlO). The former specimen had a compressed corolla, I'-grooved on the lower side of lower lip, pinkish in colour and with brown spots on midlobe of lower lip. A flowering specimen from the Tapti river near Bhusawal (No. 1611). found in December 1916, has the corolla white with a pink tube and pink spots on lower lip. The plant does not generally turn blackish in drying, as Hooker has it. Our specimens show ciliolate coroUa-lobes, thus agreeing with Bentham's, but not with Cooke's des- cription. MA/jUS, Lour. Mazus McCannii, sp. nov. — A small annual erect plant, either stemless with a scape 5-9cm. high or with a slender leafy stem, reaching 16cm. including the raceme, glabrous or minutely hispid, often glandular, simple or sparsely branched and with internodes 8^cm. long ; there are no runners rooting at the nodes, but sometimes a few branches at the base of the plant, resting on the ground, possibly developing into runners ; the leaves on these branches are opposite or alternate, subentire, subspathulate, 2-5 X 7mm., with petiole l-lmm. long. The other leaves are either radical up to 42 X l8mm. or cauline and opposite, reaching 35 X 15mm., thin, obovate, narrowing into a petiole variable in length and keeled below ; margin obscurely crenate-dentate or sinuate, lower surface quite glabrous, upper with a few short soft bristles. Flowers about 10 in lax terminal or lateral racemes, the basal branches sometimes bearing a few flowers. Inflorescence acropetal. Pedicels distant, stout, alternate, up to 5mm. long in flower, 10mm. in fruit, glandular, ebracteate, 1-bracteolate, bractcole inserted about 1mm. up the petiole, subulate, the lowest (largest) 2-5mm. long, glabrous. Calyx in flower almost regular, 5mm. long, 5-lobed more than half-way down, in fruit much enlarged, 8mm. long, irregularly deformed, with spreading lobes. Lobes ovate-lanceolate, sub- acute, one-nerved. Tube obscurely 10-ribbed, rihs with minute glandular hairs. Corolla 8 or 9mm. long, tube 4-5mm., upper lip 2mm., external in bud, erect, pale lilac, triangularly ovate, tip elongate, bifid, lobes narrow, 0-5 mm. long, margin minutely serrulate ; lower Jip nearly white, 6mm. brv)ad , 3-lobed, lobes 1mm. long, rounded, midlobe the smallest, in- cisions in lower lip continued on the outer surface of the corolla by deep 424 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. depressions which run down for some distance along the tube ; correspond- ing with those depressions there are rounded ridges on the inner side with about 6 yellow transverse bands which are also visible from outside ; in the lower part the ridges are minutely pubescent and have a number of long clavate scattered hairs. Stamens didynamous ; filaments glabrous, in- serted in the tube at about equal height, arched ; anthers touching in pairs; longer filaments bent at the place uhere they leave the tube; anther-cells small, equal, muticous, diverging, distinct; pollen ellipsoidal white; shorter pair of stamens included, longer exserted. Style 6mm. filiform, glabrous ; stigma large, bilamellate, one lobe larger, recurved, lobes oblong, papillose on their inner surface. Ovary o\oid, slightly compressed, glabrous. Capsule included in the calyx, loculicidally bivalved, com- pressed, obtuse. Seeds numerous, angular, slightly falcate, brown. Locahty : Victoria Gardens, Bombay, March 1917 (Nos. 1718, 1719,1766), flowers throughout the year ; Igatpuri, September 1917, collected by Mr. C. McCann (Nos. 1720, 1721, 17:^2). Stemless with radical leaves in the dry season, with elongated stem during the rains. There is some probability that this plant is identical with Wight's Mazus surculosus (Ic. IV, iii, p. 1, t. 1407). Wight says that the drawing was sent to him by Edgeworth from Mussoorie. Now the calyx in Wight's figure comes very near that of our plant, but Wight says that the lobes are shorter than the tube. Hooker f. (Kl. Brit. Ind. iV, 260) puts Wight's plant under M. suickIosks, Don, but with a sign of interrogation (the figure is wrongly cited as t 1467) and adds that " the figure in Wight's Icones represents the calyx very incorrectly." As a matter of fact, Al. surculosus,. Don, should have the calyx-lobes ^ the length of the tube. That Wight's drawing does not belong there is evident, and we have better reasons to include it under the new species, although we refrain from doing so for the present. It is not impossible that the slight diflerences will be found to be due to climatological factors. Mazvs rvgosus, Lour.- — I>alzell and Gibson (Bombay flora, 176) mention this plant as occurring in Thana, Salsette : "On garden-walks in the rains. '" Cooke (H. B. Pros. II. 310) excludes this species from the Bombay Presi- denc\ , on the ground that neither he himself nor any of the I'oona plant- collectors have found it in Thana, although they have often searched for it. He mentions, however, that there is a sheet of DalzeD's in Herb. Kew with the note : " Found in a garden, but I do not think mdigei ous." It seems probable that, although no locality is given on the sheet m question, this was the identical | lant referred by D. & G. It appears that the distribution of the genus Mazvs offers many points of interest. We should be much obliged for any communications regarding the occurrence of the species of Mazus. LINDENBERGIA, Lehm. Lindenhergia pnlyantha, Eoyle, should be reduced to L. urticccfolia, Lehm. There are apiarently many doubtful points in the genus Linden bergiu which, in the course of time, must be cleared up. We are making an attempt with regiird to the two sptcies mentioned above. Bentham (in DO. Prodr. X, 876) makes two subdivisions of the genus, one comprising the species with a hard, perennial or woody stem, the other with slender annual stems. In the latter division he places L. uiticcsrolia and L. polyantlia. These subdivisions cannot be maintained. We have numerous specimens of L. urtiecefolia which are woody below and in all probability perennial. NEH' INDIAy SCROriLULAltlACEA!:, 426 Our reasons for reducing L. polyantha to L. urtic(^folia are these : (a) No distinguishing character of value can bo found in the various descriptions pubhshtd. {b) There is an unbroken chain of intermediate forms uniting the two old species. There are ovun spuciinens which, in their ditferent parts, exhibit characters of both the old species. (c) The various descriptions of the plants are often contradictory, which seems to indicate that the Botanists concerned found it dilhcult to sharply separate the two species. Beuthaiu, v.y , says that the corollas in both species are glabrous. Hooker f. (Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 2tJ2) gives the corolla of Jj. urtic'efoUa as sparsely hairy, while Cooke (Fl. B. Fres. II, 3U7) states that both plants have a hairy corolla, and gives a detailed description of the epiilermal appendages, with which our specimens agree. Siimilarly Bentham says that the ovary is glabrous in both, which is contradicted by Hooker and Cooke. As regards L. polyantha, it does not even deserve varietal rank. Several of our specimens could, with much better reason, be regarded as belonging to distinct varieties; but as intermediate forms between them are likely to be obtained in future, we confine ourselves at present to enumerating the following forms : — (1) The form as described by Cooke under L. urticcefolia : herbaceous, slender lU-20cm. high, stem brittle, villous. Leaves large, broad, up to 6x2-5cm. petioles up to locm. Serratures very coarse, absent in the lower part of the leaf. Flowers solitary, axillary, far apart. Locality : Bombay Island, common (Nus. \o&2, 15(33, Io(J4), Bassein (JNos. 1565, 1724), Cvitch (No. 1566). Generally growing on walls. (2) Small stunted half shrubby, woody below, st»m brittle, branches villous. Leaves much smaller and closer together. Locality : Khandesh (No. 1567), Cutch (No. 1568). Generally growing on rocks. (3) Large, much-branched, half shrubby, woody below, stem brittle, villous. Plant reaching 60cm. Leaves like form (1). Locality: Karanja Island (No. 1569), Koad up to Mt. Abu (Nos. 1570, 1571). Generally growing on sandy soil, road banks, etc. (4) Herbaceous, very slender, sparsely branched or with simple, flexuose, slightly hairy stem. Leaves similar to form (1). but glabrate, very thin, membranous. This i« the common Mt. Abu form (Nos. 1..7i^, 157a), general- ly growing in moist, stony places or on cultivated ground. Also found in Khandesh in the bed of the Tapti river (No. 1574). (6) Stem slender, up to 15cm. simple, flexuose, pubescent, flower-bear- inl!int has spreiid over l!irj:;o iiroas of British Tiulia. Hookor (Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 188.">, I'^i)) says : "Though now a superabundant Bengal plant according to Mr. Clarke, it was unknown in Roxburgh's time, and occurs in no Indian Herbarium except Clarke's. Voigt mentions it (184/3) as found about Serampore, whence probably it has spread quite recently." Dalzell and Cibson in their Uombay Flora (18(51) do not mention the plant. Woodrow (Journal Bombay Natural History Society, XII, 175) obtained it in a salt swamp, Bombay, Nov. -Cooke (Fl. B. Pres. II, 1908, 310) mentions this, but adds that he has not seen Woodrow's specimens. At present the plant is to be found all over Bombay Island, as the following list of loca- lities shows. Mazagon, Aug. (No. looo), Mahim, Nov. (No. Ioo6), Matunga, September (No. 1557), Sion, November (No. 1558), Fort, November (1559), August (No. 1560). Of other localities we mention Manantoddy, Malabar, November (No. 1561), Kambam, Madura Distr., May (No. 498). The specimen from Kambam is quite shrubby. fJEltOXICA, L. Veronica anaijallU, L. — Hooker (Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 293) and Cooke (Fl. B. Pres, II, 301) describe the seeds of this plant as bi-convex. In all our speci- mens which without doubt, nmst be referred to this species, the seeds are plano-convex. "NVe have specimens from Mt. Abu, taken in May and October 1916, (Nos. 1623-1629) and from Khandesh, Tapti river, taken in Dec. 1916 (Nos. 1620, 1621, 1622). In both localities the plant is common. In addition to the typical plant we found two of the varieties given in Hooker of which we wish to complete the descriptions, and two other varieties which have not been described as yet. Var. punctata, Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. IV, 293. — The specimens collected by us attain 7cm., the leaves are all petioled, up to 13 x6mm. elliptic, oblong or sub-spathulate, lower sometimes obscurely serrate, the upper entire. Pedicels 5-lOmm., bracts 2mm., linear, lowest pair often larger, leaf-like. Locality Mt. Abu, Oct. 1916 (No. 1631). Var. montioidea, Boiss. — Very small (3cm.), stem with a few branches, leaves and bracts uniform, 2mm. long, eUiptic-oblong ; pedicels about twice as long ; flowers few. Locality : Mt. Abu (Uria), May 1916(No. 1632). Var. bracteosa, var. nov. — Stem about 6cm. high, rather stout, with a few spreading short branches at the base. Internodes few. Leaves longer than the internodes, oblong, sessile, 3*5 x l'5om. subserrate, obtuse. Racemes axillary, many flowered, shorter than the leaver; peduncles 17 cm. ; bracts twice as long as the pedicles, elliptic, or oblong, subacute attenuate at the base, reaching 5 x l'5mm. Locality : Mt. Abu (Uria), Oct. 1916 (No. 1633). Var. calycina, var. nov. — Stem about 6cm. high, rather stout, with a few slender branches, below. Leaves attaining 3xlcm., elliptic or obovate attenuate at the base, irregularly toothed, tip rounded. Racemes from nearly all the axils, very much elongated, lax, the lowest reaching 11cm. and thus by far overtopping the stem, many-flowered. Bracts generally a little longer than the pedicels, linear-oblong, attenuate at the base, acute, entire. Calyx-lobes much enlarged in fruit, attaining a length of 4mm., one pair 2mm. broad ovate, generally enclosing the capsule, the other pair 1mm, broad, spreading, shaped like the bracts ; all lopes are obtuse or subacute. Locality : Khandesh, Tapti river, Dec. 1916 (No. 1634), One specimen only. Veronica beccabunya, L. — The specimen has been sent from Chamba (No. 1635), 428 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. Veronica beccabunga, L. var. attenuata, var. nov. — The plant is robust, up to 20cra. high, with thickened nodes, the lower of which are rooting. The leaves are large, from broadly ovate (7x3-5cm. ) to ovate-elliptic (7x2-5cm,), very coarsely dentate or serrate, 3-nerved, attenuate at the base into a petiole about 1 cm. long. Loc. Uria (Mt. Abu), May 1916 (Nos. 1636, 1637). The specimens were not in flower. Veronica diltiyera, Wall. — We have specimens from Ohamba (Nos. 1638, 1639). The latter specimen has the leaves distinctly petioled ; petiole about 1mm. long ; in the former the leaves are sessile, agreeing with Hooker's description (Fl. Brit, Ind. IV, i'9i^). SO PUB I A, Buch.-Ham. Sopubia delphinifolia, G. Don. — This plant is very variable. We shall give an account of some of the forms observed. They pass into each other and it is not possible to make distinct varieties. (1) Height i6cm. ; stem with two branches, 3cm. from the root, itself continuing only two cm. from the node, flowerless. Leaves simple or nearly so, liuear, up to 25 x 1mm., margins strougly puberulous. Plant not hairy. Pedicels omm., bracteoles 3-4 mm. Calyx up to 1cm., lobes narrowly subulate as loug as or longer than the tube. Corolla 22mm. long, rose-purple. Loc. Mahim, Bombay Island (No. 1767). Similar specimens, but with slightly more divided leaves and larger calyx were found in Khandesh (^JNos. 1768, 1769). (2) Plant reaching Im. in length. Stem stout, woody below. Branches erect, slender. Leaves very numerous, profusely divided ; lobes very long and narrow ; margins slightly puberulous, as are also the brac- teoles and calyx, which otherwise are similar to those of (1). Pedicels 3mm., stout. Corolla rose, with large pink-purple spot in throat (1732). Loc. Bassein (No. 1732), Salsette (No. 1770), Bombay Island (Nos. 1771, 1772), Trombay (No. 1773). The last specimen less luxuriant. (3) Stem stout, woody, below, nearly 1 m. high. Leaves compara- tively few, almost absent below for about 25cm., and also on the inflorescence, which gives the plant a habit different from that of {2), much divided, mar- gins slightly puberulous. Pedicels 6mm., bracteoles up to 5mm. Calyx 8mm., lobes broad at base, generally shorter than the tube. Fruiting calyx much enlarged, distinctly ribbed ; tube 7mm. long, lobes deciduous. Corolla 20mm., long, rose-purple. Loc. Bhandup, Salsette, (No. 1774). (4) Stem about ^ui high, slender, leafless only at the base. Branches arising from about the middle of the stem, ascending. Leaves like those of (2), but smaller, and fewer, not so much divided. Pedicels reaching 8mm., slender. ; bracteoles 7mm ; corolla 15mm. long, Loc. Khandala (No. 1775). (5) Stem reaching 20cm. slender, slightlj' hairy, simple, or with a few short branches. Leaves numerous, much smaller than in (4), much divided, crowded ; margins of leaves and lobes of calyx puberulous ; pedicels and bracteoles 3mm. Calyx di\ided half-way down, 5-6mm. long. Corolla 12mm, long. Loc. Panchgaui on Table Land (No. 1776). (6) Stem very slender, 20cm. high, simple or sparsely branched. Leaves hardly exceeding 1cm., generally trifid and like the calyx-lobes much puberulous. Pedicels 3mm. ; bracteoles 2-3 mm. Calyx in flower 4mm., in fruit 7mm. Lobes hardly as long as the tube, narrow. Loc. Igatpuri (No. 1777). NEH' INDIAN HCROPIIULAIUACEA':. 429 (7) Stem scarcely branched, 40cm. high, puboscont below. Leaves numerous, short, I'cm. long, puberulous. The upper leaves with many narrow lobes, those near the base of the stem with few much broader (Luun.) lobes with obtuse tips. The change between the upper and lower leaves rather sudden. Pedicels and bracteoles r)nim. long. Loc. Brahmagiri, alt. 4,000-0,000 ft. (No. 1778). (8) A small plant, reaching 1 ">cm., with llexible stem, naked in its lower half, profusely branched ni the upper. Leaves very small, rarely reaching 1 cm., liuear-entire or nearly so. Flowers numerous, small ; pedicels 2-4 mm. ; bracteoles omm. (Jalyx in flower ti mm., in fruit somewhat enlarged ; lobes narrow, only half as long as the tube. Loc. High Wavy Mountain, Madura Dist. (No. 503). On dry grassy hillsides, alt. 4,000 ft. (9) A small plant, IG cm. high, branched from the base ; branches slender, erect. Leaves up to lomm. long, narrowly linear, entire or with two lobes at about the middle, 7mm. long. Pedicels reaching 6mm. Calyx lobes subulate, shorter than the tube in flower, as long as the tube in fruit. Loc. High Wavy Mountain, Madura Dist. (No. 1782). One specimen on dry grassy hillside, ait. 4,000 ft. The species has been found in flower in the month of May in the Madura Dist. About Bombay it flowers from August to January. Sopubia trijida, Buch.-Ham. This species, too, is a variable plant. We note the following forms : (1) Short, stout, !-lightly pubescent, little divided. Pedicels 9, calyx 7, corolla 10mm. long. Floral leaves linear, twice as long as the pedicels, puberulous and hispid, entire or tritid, bracteoles reaching ymm. in length. Loc. Panchgaui (^No. 178o). (2) Plaut 30cm. high, branched from about the middle. Leaves generally linear entire, puberulous and hispid, the floral ones as long as or slightly longer than the pedicels which attain 10 mm. in fruit. Bracteoles reaching 1 mm. Loc. Poolachee (No. 1784). (3) A much larger plant, reaching 80 cm. Stem stout, woody below, much branched from about the middle. Lowest leaves very few, sometimes lanceo- late-acute, 12x2^mm., leaves near the middle of the stem, numerous, up to 30mm. long, generally much divided, puberulous and hi^^pid. llorai leaves linear-entire, some much longer, but some also shorter than the pedicel."^ which attain lOmm. in fruit. Bracteoles about iimni. long. Calyx •5, corolla only .5mm. long, yellow, throat with a purple spot. Stamens purple. Loc. High Wavy Mountain, Madura Dist. (Nos. 262, 1785, 1786), on dry grassy slopes, alt. 4,000 ft., fairly common. We have always found that the bracteoles are opposite, not alternate as stated by Cooke (Fl. B. Pres. 11, 306). H 430 THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. (INCLUDING THOSE MET WITH IN THE HILL STATIONS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY). BY T. R. Bell, i.f.s. (Gontinv.ed from page 672 of Vol. XXIV.) Part XIX. 3. Genus — Megisba. There is only one species of the genus, Megisba malaya, the one des- cribed below. The distribution is given under the description. It is rather like Neopithecops zalmora in appearance and markings, but difiers in the shape of the wings ; the hind wing may be with or without a tail. 129. Megisba malaya, Horsfield. — -Wet-season brood. — Male and female. Upperside : from dull somewhat pale brown to dark brown, some specimens nearly uniform, others with a more or less distinct, pale, discal patch on fore wing. Hind wing: uniform; a slender, short, filamentous tail at apex of vein 1, very often absent. Underside : white. Fore wing : with the following brown markings : — a .spot in the cell, a transverse, short line on the discocellulars, a postdiscal, curved series of transverse spots or very short bars that cross the wing from costa to dorsum and are in irregular echelon one with the other ; fallowed by a slender, transverse, broken line ; a subterminal series of broader, transverse spots and an anteciliary, slender line ; at apex of wing the markings are diffuse and form a very small, brown-shaded patch while, further inwards, along the costa, veins 11 and 12 terminate in a minute, brown dot, and there is another further in above vein 12. Hind wing : three spots near base in transverse order ; a large, conspicuous, rounded, subcostal and a small, similar spot r.ear the middle of the dorsum, black ; between the latter two : a thin line along the discocellulars and five irregular, much paler brown, transverse, serial spots and dashes which are followed, as on the fore wing, by an outer postdiscal, very slender, brown (here lunulate) line ; a subterminal series of brown or black spots and a black, anteciliarly line. Cilia of fore and hind wings white, turning to dark brown at apex of fore wing. Antennse, head, thorax and abdomen dark-brown, the antennse ringed narrowly with white ; beneath: palpi, thorax and abdomen snow-white ; the third, slender, acicular joint of the palpi conspicuously brown ; antennal club tipped chestnut. Dri/ season brood. — Male and female. Very similar to the wet-season brood, but the fore wing, on the upperside, bears a large, oval, obliquely- placed, conical, white patch that extends from the middle of the dorsal margin to vein 4. In certain specimens this white bar or patch is continued on to the hind wing. Underside : similar to that of the wet-season form but all the markings broader, coarser, more prominent. Fore wing : costa and apex in some specimens broadly shaded with diffuse fiscous brown ; the outer, postdiscal, brown line formed into a series of lunules that extend outwards, slenderly, along the veins and join the anteciliary brown line, thus enclosing, in the interspace, a series of spots of the white ground-colour, each of which is centred with a black, or dark brown, subtriangular spot. THE COMMON RUTTKliFLlES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 431 Hind winjjj : terminal niiirlvinfiS niodilitHl as on tho fore wing ; the spot in interspaco 8 of the subterniinal series larger and more prominent than the others, the larger, subcostal, black spot often broken by an anterior and a posterior silvery spot superposed on it. Antenn:o, head thorax and abdomen as in specimens of the wet-season brood but slightly darker above. Expanse : male and female, 1^3-33 mm. Larra. — Of the tailless form thwaiten in Ceylon, as described by Moore in his Lepidoptera of Ceylon, ho gives the description as •' light green, vermi-form, middle segments swollen." Not very lucid.** Pupa. — "Thick, blunt at the ends." From the same author. Ilahifft. — The butterily is very similar to Neopithecoj^s zalmora and is very difficult to distinguish from that species when on the wing, frequenting as it does similar localities in the evergreen jungles and their outskirts, flying low near the ground amongst vegetation and having the white undersides which make that species so easy to see when flying. The ilight is, perhaps, more rapid than that of ;V. zalmora and the insect is, certainly, far less common. The larva is said by Moore to feed upon Sapindacecv, (probably Bemigyrosu, Erioglossum, Schleichera, Har^ndlia; all, with the exception of £>io;//oss2wn, common trees of the Ghats in Bombay). The butterfly has a wide distribution which Colonel Bingham gives as " the Hymalaj'as from Kumaon to Sikkim ; Peninsular India ; Calcutta, Orissa, Ganjam, Poona, the Nilgiris, Travancore ; Ceylon; Assam; Burma; Tenasserim ; Andamans ; Nicobars ; extending far into the Alalaj^an Sub-region." To this may be added, under Peninsular India, the Districts of Belgaum and Kanara along the Western Ghats in the Bombay Presidenc}^ 4. Genus — Lyc^exopsis. This genus was formerly known as Cf/aniris. It is nearly allied to the genus Li/Cfsna, the largest in the whole family of Li/ecenida- and more or less palsearetic. Some 20 species of Ci/aniris occur within Indian limits if we include under that term Cejdon, the Nicobars, the Adamans and Burma. Onlj'^ four of these are noticed here. The Holly Blue of England is Ctjaniria argiolus, the only representative of the genus to be found there. 130. Lycsenopsis akasa, Horsfield. — Male. Upj^crside -. fore wing: black; a medial triangular area that extends from base outwards to the disc white, suffused at base and anteriorly with iridescent blue that spreads upwards on to the black of the costa ; along the dorsum the black ground- colour is much paler, in most specimens dilluse fuscous. Hind wing : white, basal third and costal margin broadly sufl'used with fuscous, the fuscous at base posteriorly overlaid with iridescent blue ; a subterniinal series of fuscous-black dots and a distinct but very slender, black anticiliary line. Underside : white, very slightly tinged with bluish ; markings all fuscous- black, minute and very slender. Fore wing: a short, discocellular line followed by an anteriorly strongly curved, discal series of very short, detached lines and a more or less obsolescent, transverse series of subter- minal dots. Hind wing : three subbasal dots in transverse order ; a short •• Note : — Since writing- this, three specimens of the butterfly have been bred from larva; found in Kanara on flower-spikes of Allophylhts lobba in company with those of Nacaduba ardatcs from which, however, they were unfortunately not distinguished. 432 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. line on the discocellulars ; a spot below the middle of the costa with a smaller spot below it ; a posterior, discal, irregular, sinuous series of five or six minute spots and a perfectly regular subterminal series of similar spots. Cilia of both fore and hind wings white. Antennse, head, thorax and abdomen blackish, the antennre ringed with white ; beneath : the palpi, thorax and abdomen snow-white. — Female. Very similar. Upperside: the white area much more extended on both fore and hiud \\ing8. On the former it spreads well into the cell, on the latter three-fourths of the wing are white ; the dusky basal and costal areas much more restricted than in the male. The iridescent blue suffusion is in many specimens entirely absent, in a few very faintly indicated ; the subterminal series of black dots so distinct in the male are generally faint and obsolescent. Underside : as in the male but the markings less distioct. Antennse, head, thorax and abdomen as in the male. Expanse ; male and female, 28-29 mm. Larva and Pupa. — The life history of the species, as far as in known, has not been discovered. liabiU. — Likewise unknown? Nowhere are they described. The species has been included becaiise it is faii-ly common where it exists and may occur occasionally in the Plains of Southern India. It is found in the Nilgiri, Anamalai and Pulni Hills of that region ; Cej'Ion ; extending to Java. 131. Lycsenopsis albidisca, Moore. — Male and female. Very closely allied to C. ^;i