FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY THE JOURNAL OF THE Bombay Natural History Society. EDITED BY R. A. SPENCE, F. Z. S., M. L. A., B. C. ELLISON, C. M. Z. S., F. R. G. S., and S. H. PRATER, C. M. Z. S. VOL. XXVIII. Parts 3 and 4. Containing 2 Coloured Plates, 41 Lithographed Plates, 1 Diagram, 3 Maps and 89 Text figures. Dates of PuhUeation- Part III (Pages 571 to 822) ... ». IV ( „ 823 to 1,150) ... ... 30th June 1922. ... 20th December 1922. LONDON AGENTS: DULAU & Co., Ltd., 34-36, Marg^aret Street, Cavendish Square, W. PRINTED AT THE TIMES PLE3S, BOMBAY. i CONTENTS OF VOLUME UVIII. No. 3. Page. The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. Part XXXII. (Genus Perdix.) {With a 'plate.) By E. C. Stuart Baker, f.l.s., f.z.s., m.b.o.u., c.f.a.o.u 571 Birds of the Indian Empire. Part VI. By E. C. Stuart Baker, f.l.s., f.z.s., m.b.o.u., c.f.a.o.u 576 Game Animals of Kashmir and adjacent Hill Provinces.^ Part III. {With 1 plate artd 4 text figures.) By Lt.-Col. A. E. Ward 595 Indi.\n Dragonflies. Part XIII. {With 5 text figures.) By Major F. C. Fraser, i.M.s., f.e.s 610 4 The Madras Aqu.^rium. By James Horuell, f.l.s., f.r.a.i. {With a plate and 6 text figures) 621 New and little known Indian Bombyliidse. {With a plate.) By Lt.-Col. C. G. Nurse 630 The Snare of the Giant Wood Spider {Nephila maculata) Part I. {With 2 text figures.') By Capt. R. W. G. Kingston, i.M.s 642 The Birds of Mesopotamia. Part III. {With 2 plates.) By Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, m.a., m.b.o.u 650 H.R.H. The Prince of Wales’ Shoots in India in 1921 and 1922. By B. C. Ellison, c.m.z.s. {With 9 plates and a map.) 675 Notes on New and Rare Indian Dragonflies. By Major F. C. Fraser, i.M.s. {With 2 text figures) 698 On Indian Parasitic Flies Part II. {With 2 plates.) By Harold Russell, f.l.s., f.z.s , 703 Records and Descriptions of Orthoptera from S.W. Asia. {With 2 text figures.) By B. P. Uvarov, f.e.s 719 The Identification of Indian Butterflies. {With 2 text figures.) By Lt.-Col. W. H. Evans, d.s.o., r.e., f.z.s., F.E.S 739 IV CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXVJIl,No. 3—{Contd.) Page. Egret Farming in Sind. [With2 plates.) By Capt. C. E. Benson, d.s.o 748 Egret Farming in India. By C. G. Chevenix Trench, i.c.s. 751 Rough List and Notes on the Birds found breeding in THE Gonda District, Oudh. By F. Field 753 I.-IST OF Mollusca of RANGOON. By Dr. H. Marshall 773 The Progress of the Natural History Section in the Prince OF Wales ’ Museum. By B. C. Ellison, c.m.z.s. 777 Review. — The Edge of the Jungle. By Wm. Beebe 780 Editorial. {With a plate) 781 Miscellaneous Notes : — I. — Editors’ and Readers’ comments on Articles and Notes which have appeared in previous numbers. 786 II. — Jungle Notes 792 III. — The Indian Lion. By T. R. Livesey 795 IV. — The occurrence of the Stripe-Backed Weasel {Mustela strigidorsa) in the Naga Hills. By J. H. Hutton 795 V. — The Tenasserim Tree-Shrew {Tupaia helangeri). By C. Primrose 796 VI. — Four-Homed Fat-Tailed Sheep. By H. J. Elwes.. . 798 VII. — Destruction of Birds’ Nests. By Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, T. de Greither and 0. C. Ollenbach 798 VIII. — On the Homing Flight of the Common House Crow {Corvus splendens). By S. Basil-Edwardes. 804 IX. — The White-Throated Ground Thrush {Geocichla cyanonotus) as a mimic. By A. P. Kinloch, F.z.s 805 X. — The occurrence of the Blue-Bearded Bee-Eater {Nyctiornis athertoni) in the C. P. By B. B. Osmaston, c.i.E., i.F.s. 805 ' • CON-TENTS OF VOLUME XXVIII No. 3— Contd.) Pagf. XL — Note on Nightjars in the Central Provinces. By E. A. D’Abreii 806 XII. — The Food of the Shikra {Astur hadius). By Lt.-Col. E. O’Brien 807 XIII. — The Marbled Duck {Marmaronetta angustirostris) in the Punjab. By H. W. Waite 807 XIV. — The occurrence, habits and breeding of the Spotted Sandgrouse {Pteroclurus senegallm) in the Bahawalpur State, Punjab. By R. C. Bolster, i.c.s 807 XV. — ^Crocodile shooting and snaring. {With a plate) . . 809 XVI. — Food of the Fat-Tailed Lizard {Eublepharis macu- larius). By S. H. Prater, c.m.z.s 811 XVII. — The senses of a Snake. By A. F. Abercromby. . . . 812 XVIII. — Pearl-bearing Mussels 813 XIX. — An unusual swarm of Moths 814 XX, — Occurrence of the Galeod Spider {Rhagodes nigro- cintus) in the South Arcot District, Madras Presidency. By S. G. Manavalaramanujam. . . . 815 XXL — A case of plant surgery. By L. B. Kulkarni, m.a. 815 Proceedings 817 • % No. 4. Page. The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. Part XXXIII. (Genus Ammoperdix.) {With a plate.) By E. C. Stuart Baker, f.l.s., F.z.s,, m.b.o.u., c.f.a.o.u. ... 823 Birds of the Indian Empire. Part VII, Bj- E. C, Stuart Baker, F.L.S. , F.z.s., M.R.O.U., C.f.a.o.u..' 830 Game Animals of Kashmir and ad.jacent Hill Provinces. Part I\7. {With a map, a plate and a text figure.) Bj' Lt.-Col. A. E. Ward 874 vi COM’IINrS OF volume XXVIII, No. 4.—{Contd.) Page, New and little known Indian Bombyliid^e, By Lt.-Col. C. G. Nurse 883 Dragonfly collecting in India. By Major F. C. Fraser, i.M.s., f.e.s, (With 4 text figures) 889 Indian Dragonflies. Part XIV. (With Z text figures.) By Major F. C. Fraser, i.M.S., F.E.S 899 The Snare of the Giant Wood Spider. Parts II and III. (With a text figure.) By Capt. R. W. G. Kingston, I.M.s 911 / Description of a New Gobioid Fish from Tuticorin. By James Hornell and Henry W. Fowler 924 Some Commensals of Indian Alcyonarians and Crabs. ( With 6 text figures.) By James Hornell, f.l.s., f r.a.i 926 The Birds of Mesopotamia. Part IV. (With a plate.) By Dr. C, B. Ticehurst, M.A., M.B.O.u 937 On Indian Parasitic Flies. Part III. ( With 3 plates.) By Harold Russell, f.l.s., f.z.s 957 A Survey Season in the Nicobar Islands. (With 4 plates.) By Major R. B. Seymour Sewell, i.M.s., b.a., f.a.s.b.. . 970 A Contribution to the Ornithology of Cashmere. By Hugh Whistler, F.z.s,, m.b.o.u., C.f.a.o.u 990 Supplementary Notes on the Coccid^e of Ceylon. Part IV. (With Z9 text figures.) By E. E. Green, f.e.s., F.z.s. 1007 Fish and Fishing in the Inle Lake. (With 3 plates.) By Dr. N. Annandale, D.sc 1038 Common Indian Spiders. (With 5 plates.) By F. H. Gravely, D.sc 1045 A New Stone Gecko from the Himalaya. By Capt. C. M. Ingoldby, r.a.m.c., f.r.g.s 1051 Scientific Results from the Mammal Survey. No. XXXIII. By Martin A. C. Hinton 1052 CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXVllI, No. 4.—{Contd.) vii Page. Scientific Results from the Mammal Survey. No. XXXIV. By Martin A. C. Hinton 1056 Scientific Results from the Mammal Survey. No. XXXV. By Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S 1067 A Description of the Nests and Eggs of the Common Birds OCCURRING IN THE PLAINS OF THE UNITED PROVINCES. Part I. (With a plats.) By E. H. N. Gill 1069 Shikar near and around Poona. By Major W. B. Trevenen 1075 Notes on Indian Wagtails. By Dr. Claud B. Ticehurst, M.A., M.B.O.U., M.R.C.S 1082 H.R.H. The Prince of Wales’ Shooting in India in 1921-22. Part II. (With Z plates and a map and 2 text figures.) By B. C. Ellison 1091 Dr. Ticehurst’s Appeal. By Hugh Whistler, m.b.o.u 1107 Zoological Investigations in the Persian Gulf and Iraq. ByCapt. R. E. Cheesman, f.r.g.s., c.m.z.s., m.b.o.u. 1108 Report of the Committee of the Bombay Natural History Society, 1921-22 1111 Review “ Indian Game Birds ” 1114 Some comments on and corrections of previous articles IN the Journal 1117 Miscellaneous Notes ; — • I. — -Note on Jackals (Canis indicus indicus), etc., in a compound. By C. M. Inglis, f.z.s., f.e.s., m.b.o.u. 1122 11. — Jackals attacking a spaniel in the compound. By C. M. Inglis, F.z.s. , F.E.S. , m.b.o.u 1122 III. — Notes on some sheep shot in Ladak. {With a block.) By J. S. E. Walker 1123 IV. — Notes on man-eating Tigers. By Victor N. Narayan. 1124 V. — Sore neck in Sambhar. By Lieut. R. A. H. McConnell 1 125 viii CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXVIII No. 4— {Contd.) Page. VI. — Corrugations on Elephant Tusks. {With a block.) ByJ. H. W 1125 VII. — Effect of storm on Animals. By Bernard C. Ellison, c.M.z.s 1126 VIII. — Notes on Oorial. By Major C. H. Stockley, D.s.o. 1126 IX. — The Breeding of Elephants in captivity. By J. C. C. Wilson 1128 X. — Further notes on Trapping. By C. Primrose. ... 1129 XL — The Common Indian Bee-eater {Merops viridis). By Lt.-Col. E. O’Brien 1130 XII. — Nidification of the Ceylon Thrush (0. imbricata). By T. E. Tunnard 1130 XIII. — Nidification of the Ceylon Arrenga {A. blight). By T. E. Tmrnard 1131 XIV. — Occurrence of the Desert Lark {Alcsmon desertorum) in the Punjab. By R. C. Bolster, i.c.s 1132 XV. — Eastern Solitary Snipe shot at Nalban Island, Chilka Lake on the 16th December 1921. By H. B. Tilden 1133 XVI. — -Is the Dhayal {Copsychus saularis) a mimic ? By Satya Churn Law 1133 XVII. — ^Description of chick of the Bengal Florican {Sypheotis bengalensis). By Chas. M. Inglis, M.B.O.U., F.Z.S., F.E.S 1133 XVIII. — Occurrence of the Black-throated Diver {Colymbus arcticus) in India. By A. E. Jones 1134 XIX. — Occurrence on the Nilgiris of a Partial albino of the Southern Indian Scimitar Babbler {Poma- torhinus horsfieldi travancoriensis) (Harington) B.l. No. 120. By Lt.-Col. H. R. Baker 1135 XX. — Breeding of the Indian Pitta {Pitta brachyura) and the Streaked Wren Warbler {Prinia lepida). Brig.-General R. M. Betham 1135 CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXVIII, No. 4—[Contd.) ix Page, XXL — Curious site for nest of the Bengal Red-vented Bulbul {Molpastes hcemarhoiis hengalemis). By Chas. M. Inglis, F.z.s., f.e.s., m.b.o.u 1135 XXII. — Curious nesting site chosen by the Purple Honey Sucker {Arachnethra asiatica). By W. E. Shipp. 1136 XXIII.^ — Woodpecker occupying nesting box. {With a diagram.) By B. B. Osmaston, c.i.E., i.f.s. . . 1137 XXIV. — Notes on the nesting of the Himalayan Tree-creeper {Certhia himalayana). By F. Field 1138 XXV. — Some notes on the method employed in catching Crocodiles in South India. By T. H. Cameron, F.z.s 1139 XXVI. — Notes on a collection of Snakes from Shembaganur, Palni Hills. By Col. F. Wall, i.m.s 1141 XXVII. — Gordius Worms. By Col. F. Wall, i.m.s 1142 XXVIII. — Python’s long fast. By A. G. McArthur .... 1142 XXIX. — Note on the operculum of the Turban-shells. By James Hornell 1143 XXX. — Some interesting specimens of the Pierid Genus Euchloe. By Cedric Dover, f.e.s. And note by Lt.-Col. H. D. Peile, i.m.s. {With 2 text ’figures) 1144 XXXI. — A note on the occurrence of a species of the family Raphididee in British India. By Cedric Dover, f.e.s 1146 XXXII.— A note on the reproduction of the Common Hydra of Bengal {Hydra vulgaris, Pallas). {With diagram.) By H. Srinivasarao, m.a 1147 XXXIII. — Folklore of Birds and Beasts of India. By Lt.- Col. E. O’Brien 1149 XXXIV. — A long neglected group of Insects. By B. P. Uvarov, f.e.s 1149 X ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. VOX.XXJVCX! xacviix, sros. iii sa xxr. Pack. Abercromby, a. F. ; The Senses of a Snake . . . . 812 Annandale, N.,D.Sc.,F. A.S.B.; Fish and Fishing in the Inle Lake, {With FlaUs) 1038 Baker, E. C. Stuart ; The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. Part XXXII. ( With a Coloured Plate) of {Perdix hodgsonice hodgsonice.) The Tibetan Partridge, The Kansu Partridge .. .. 571 Do. Part XXXIII. (With a Coloured Plate). The See- See 823 Hand-list of the Birds of India, Part VI . . . . 576 Do. Part VII . . . . 830 Baker, Lt.-Col. H. R., I. A.; Occurrence on the Nilgiris of a Partial-albino of the South- ern Indian Scimitar Babbler. (Pomatorhinus horsfieldi travancoriensis, Harington.) 1135 Basil-Edwardes, S.; On the Homing-flight of the Com- mon House Crow (Corvus spelendens) . . .. . . 804 Benson, Capt. C. E.; Egret farming in Sind (With 2 Plates .. . , . . . . 748 Page. Betham, Brig. -General R.M.; Breeding of the Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) and the Streaked Wren Warbler (Prinia lepida.) .. .. 1135 Bolster, R. C., I.C.S.; The Occurrence, habits and breeding of the Spotted Sand Grouse (Pteroclurus senegallus) in the Bahawal- pur State, Punjab . . . . 807 ■ — — ; Occurrence of the Desert-Lark. (Alce- mon desertorum) in the Punjab .. .. 1132 Bombay Natural History Society’s Mammal Survey of India. Scientific Results. No. XXXIII Note on Soriculus negrescens and its subspecies. By Martin A. C. Hinton 1052 No XXXIV. The House Rats of Nepal. By Martin A. C. Hinton 1056 No XXXV. Two New Rodents from the Mergui Archipelago. By Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S. .. .. 1067 Brander, Dunbar ; The Tiger making the “ Sambhar Call” 793 Burton, R. G.; The Game Animals of India . . . . 1 120 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Burton, Lt.-Col. R. W.; The Tiger making the “ Sambhar Call” Buxton, P. A., M.A., M.B.O.U., Ticehurst, C. B., M. a., M. B. 0. U. and Cheesman, Major R.E., M.B.O.U.; The Birds of Mesopotamia. Part III. {With 2 Plates) Partly. (With I Plate.) .. Cameron, T. H., F.Z.S.; Some Notes on the method employ- ed in catching Crocodiles in South India Cheesman, Major R. E., F. R. G. S., C. M. Z. S., M. B. 0. U., Ticehurst, C.B., M.A.,M.B.O.U. and Buxton, P.A., M.B.O.U.; The Birds of Mesopotamia, Part III ( With 2 Plates) Part IV. (With 1 Plate.) .. Capt. R.E., F.R.G.S., C.M.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Zoolo- gical Investigations in the Persian Gulf and Iraq Contributors ; Editorial notice to Copley, Hugh ; The Tiger making the “ Sambhar Call” ; Sambhar swing- ing by their horns . . D’Aereu, E. a.; Note on Nightjar in the Central Provinces Dover, Cedric, F.E.S.; Some interesting specimens of the Pierid Genus Euchloe . . ■ ; A note on the occurrence of a species of the family Raphididce in British India . . Editorial Editors ; Duck and Snipe in the Central Provinces Part II ( W ith 3 Plates, a Map ami 2 Text- figures) . . The Progress of the Natural History section in the Prince of Wales’ Museum of Western India (With 2 Plates) Comparison of Tiger and Panther Skulls Effect of Storm on Animals. . Elwes, H. J.; Four-horned Fat-tailed sheep Evans, Lt.-Col. W. H.; The Identification of Indian Butterflies ( With 2 Text- figures) Page. 793 Ellison, Bernard C., C.M.Z.S., F.R.G.S. ; H. R. H. The Prince of Wales’ Shoots in India in 1921 and 1922, Part 1 (Wit a 9 Plates and 1 .Map) 937 1108 1121 792 794 806 6.50 937 1139 xi Page. 1144 1146 781 794 675 1091 777 789 1126 798 739 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Page. Field, F. ; Rough list and notes on Birds found breed- ing in the Gonda District, Oudh 753 • ; Notes on the nesting of the Himalayan Tree-creeper (Certhia himalayana) .. 1138 Fowler. Henry W. and Hor- NELL, James; Description of a new Gobioid Fish from Tuticorin . . . . . . 924 Fraser, Major F. C., F.E.S.; Indian Dragonflies, Part XIII (With 5 Text- figures) 610 Indian Dragonflies (With 3 Texl-figvres) Part XIV . . 899 X’otes on new and rare Indian Dragonflies (With 2 Text-figures) .. .. .. 698 Dragonfly collecting in India ( With 3 Text-figures) . . 889 Gill, E. H. N.; A Description of the Nests and Eggs of the Common Birds occurring in the plains of the Cnited Provinces ( With a Plate) . . 1069 Gravely, F. H., D.Sc.; Common Indian Spiders (With 5 Plates) . . . . . . 1045 Green, E. Ernest, F.E.S., F.Z.S.; S II p p 1 e m entaiy Notes on the Coccidae of Ceylon, Part IV ( With 39 Text-figures) . . . . . . 1007 Greyther, T. De.; Destruction of Birds’ Nests • Page. Hingston,Capt. R.W.G.,I.M.S.; The Snare of the Giant Wood Spider (Nephila maculata). Part 1 (With 2 Text-figures) . . . . . . 642 Part II ( With one Text- figure) 911 Further Lessons from the Nephila .. .. .. 917 Home, Major W.M. Logan; Power of Scent in Wild Ani- mals 788 Hornell, James, F.L.S., F.R.A.I.; The Madras Ac- quarium . . . . . . 621 and Fowler, Henry W ; Description of a new Gobioid Fish from Tuticorin . . 924 Some Commensals of Indian Alcyonarians and Crabs ( With 6 Text-figures) . . 926 Note on the Oficrculum of the Turban-Shells .. .. 1143 Hornell, M.; Pearl-bearing Mus.sels .. .. .. 813 Hinton, Martin, A. C.; See Bombay Natural Historj" Society’s Mammal Surve}' of India. Hutton, J. H.;The Occurrence of the stripe-backed Weasel (Mustela strigidorsa) in the Naga Hills 799 795 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. xiii Page. luGLis, C. M., F.Z.S., F.E.S., M.B.O.U.; Some comments on and corrections of previous Articles in the Journal No. 1. 1117 Note on Jackals (Canis indicus indicus), etc. in a compound .. .. .. 1122 Jackals attacking a spaniel in the Compound .. .. 1122 Description of Chick of the Bengal Florican (Sypheoies bengalensis) .. .. .. 1133 Curious site for nest of the Bengal Red-vented Bulbul {Molpastes haemorrhous ben- galensis) .. .. .. 1135 Ingoldby, Capt. C. M.; R.A. M.C., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. A new stone Gecko from the Himalaya . . . . . , 1051 Jones, A. E.; Occurrence of the Black- throated Divpr(Golyr»- bus arcticus) in India .. 1134 Kinloch, a. P.; The White- throated Ground Thrush (Geocichla cyanonotus) as a Mimic . 805 Kulkarni, L. B.; A case of Plant Surgery . 815 Law, Satya Churn; Is the Dhayal (Copsychtis saula- ris) a Mimic ? . 1133 Livesey, Capt. T. R.; Birds of Mesopotamia 791 The Indian Lion . . 795 ; Birds of Meso- - Page. Lucknow Pro vinci.al Museum ; Appeal for Photographs .. 1113 McArthur, A. G.; A Python’s Long Fast .. .. .. 1142 McConnell, Lieut. R. A. H.; Sore neck in Sambhar . . 1 125 Manavalaramanujam, S. G.; Occurrence of the Galeod Spider (Rluigodes nigrocin- tus) in the South Arcot District, Madras Presidency. 814 Marshaia., Dr. H.; List of Mollusca of Rangoon . . 773 Morris, R.C.; Panthers and artificial light . . . . . . 789 Narayan, Victor N.; Notes on Man-eating Tigers .. 1124 Noble, K.; Notes on Lizards, Frogs and Human Beings in the Nilghiri District . . 791 Nurse, Libut.-Col. C. G.; New and little known Indian Bombyliidos. (With a Plate) 630 New and little known Indian Bombyliidee, Part II. . . 883 O’Brien, Lt.-Col. E.; The Food of the Shikra (Astur badius). 807 •; The Com- mon Indian Bee-eater. (Merops viridis) .. .. 1130 — ^ — ■; Folklore of Birds and Beasts of India 1149 0.smaston,B.B.; The occurrence of the Blue- bearded Bee- eater (Nyctiomis athertoni) in the C. P. . . . . . . 805 potamia 1119 XIV LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Page. CsMASTON, B. B., C.I.E., I.F.S.; Woodpecker occupying Nest- ing Box. (3 Diagrams to illustrate method of construc- tion of nesting-boxes) . . . . 1137 Patterson, Lt.-Col. J.; An unsual swarm of Moths . . 814 Peile, Lt.-Col. H. D.; Notes on Euchloe .. •• •• 1145 Prater, S. H.; The Tsaine . . 786 ; Food of the Fat- tailed Lizard {Eublepharis macularius) .. .. 811 Primrose, C.; The Tenasserim Tree- shrew {Tupaia belan- geri) . . . . • • 796 — ^ — •; Further notes on Trapping .. .. -- 1129 Proceedings . . . . . . 817 Reports; Committee of the Bombay Natural History Society, 1921-1922 .. .. 1111 Review; “The Edge of the Jungle ” . . . . . . 780 — ; Indian Game Birds . . 1114 Russell, Harold.; On Indian Parasitic flies, Part II ( With 2 Plates) . . . . . . 703 ; Part III . . 957 Sewell, Major R. B. Sey- mour, I.M.S., B.A., F.A.S.B.; .1. Surv’ey Season in the Nicobar Islands on the Iv.I.M.S. “ Investigator,” October 1921 to March 1922. {W ith 4: Plates) Page. Shipp, W.E.; Curious nesting site chosen by the Purple Honey-Sucker {Arachnethra I asiatica) .. .. •• 1136 Srintvasarao, H., M.A.; A note on the reproduction of the common Hydra of Ben- gal (Hydra vulgaris. Pallas.) ( W ith 5 figures) . . . . 1 147 Stockley,Major, C. H., D.S.O.; The Tiger making the “ Sambhar Call ” .. 793 Notes on Oorial .. 1126 Thomas, OLDFiELD;S'ce Bombay Natural History Society’s Mammal Survey of India. Ticehurst, Dr. C. B., M.A., M.B.O.U., Buxton, P.A., M. A., M.B.O.U, and Chessman Major, R.E., M.B.O.U. The Birds of Mesopotamia, Part III. (With 2 Plates) .. 650 Part IV. ( With 1 Plate) . . 937 Ticehurst, Dr. C.B.; Bird Col- lectors in India .. .. 790 — ; Destruc- tion of Birds’ Nests . . . . 798 — ; Notes on Indian Wagtails . . . . 1082 Tilden, H.B.; Eastern Soli- tary Snipe at Nalban Island, Chilka Lake, on the 16th December 1921 .. .. 1133 Trench, C. C. Chevenix ; Egret Farming in India . . 751 970 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. XV Page. Trevenen, Major W. B.; Shikar near and around Poona . . 1075 Tunnard, T. E. ; Nidification of the Ceylon Thrush. {Oreo- cincla imbricata) .. .. 1130 — — ■; Nidification of the Ceylon Arrenga (Arren- ga blighi) .. .. .. 1131 U VAROV, B. P., E.E.S.; Records and Descriptions of Orthop- tera from S. W. Asia. {With 2 Text-figures) .. .. 719 ;A long neglected group of Insects . . 114 W ; J. H.; Corrugations on Elephant Tusks {With a Bloch) .. .. .. 1125 Waite, H. W.; The Marbled Duck. {Marmaronetta an- gustirostris) in the Punjab. 807 Walker, J. S. E.; Notes on some sheep shot in Ladak. {With a Bloch) .. .. 1123 Page. Wall, Lieut.-Col. F., I.M.S.; Notes on a collection of Snakes from Shembaganur, Palni Hills .. .. .. 1141 Gordius Worms .. .. 1142 Ward, Col. A. E.; Game Ani- nals of Kashmir and adja- cent Hill Provinces, Part III ( With a Plate and 4 Text- figures) 595 Part IV. {With a Map, Plate and one Text bloch) . . 874 Whistler Hugh, F.Z.S.; A contribution to the Ornitho- logy of Cashmere . . . . 990 •; Letter on Dr. Ticehurst’s appeal for chicks of Indian Birds .. 1107 Wilson, J. C. C.; The Breeding of Elephants in Captivity .. 1128 # LIST OF PLATES. No. III. Page. The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon — Plate I. — Mrs. Hodgson’s Partridge {Perdix hodgsonicB hodgsonice) . . 671 Game Animals of Kashmir and adjacent Hill Provinces — Plate II. 1. — Himalayan Ibex (Capra si6in'ca) .. .. .. 595 2. — Himalayan Tahr (HemffragrwsjewZaicMs) .. .. 595 The Madras Acquarium- — Plate III. — Exterior view and ground-plan .. .. .. .. 621 Plate IV. — New and little known Indian Bombyliidae . . . . . . 630 The Birds of Mesopotamia — Plate V. 1 .— Chick of Large Pintailed Sandgrouse (Pterodes alchata caudacuta) . . . . . . . . . . . . 650 2. — Chick of Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterodes senegallus). . 650 Plate VI. A. — Valley in the Jebel Hamrin, N.E. of Baghdad, Haunt of See-see, &c. 672 B. — Nest and 4 eggs of Chettusia leucura near Amara 672 H.R.H. The Prince of Wales’ Shoots. — Plate VII.- -H.R.H. The Prince of Wales ; Patron and Life Member of the Bombay Natural History Society (Photo) 675 Plate VIII.- -Sketch Map of Chitawan for H.R.H. The Prince of Wales’ Visit to Nepal, 1921 .. 676 Plate IX.- -H.R.H. The Prince of Wales mounting into his Howdah on the first day’s shoot in Nepal 678 Plate X. (A) — On the trail after Rhino 679 (B) — Elephants crossing a Stream 679 Plate XI. (A) — H.R.H. waiting for the Tiger to break cover 680 (B)' — The Line of Elephants merging from the Jungle 680 Plate XII. (A) — The Royal Elephant in a typical Rhino Swamp 681 (B) — H.R.H. takes a Shot 681 \ LIST OF PL A TES. Plate XIII. (A) — H.R.H. takes a hand with his Kukri in decapitating a Rhino (B) — A further stage of the Ritual. (The dismembered head of the Rhino is seen on the right of the photograph, H.R.H. is an interested spectator at the ceremony) . . Plate XIV. (A) — Pegging out a Tiger Skin (B) — The Skinning Camp at the close of a day’s work Plate XV\ — H.R.H. The Prince of Wales with his Rhinoceros. H.R.H. is seen wearing his Nepal Kukri Plate XVI. A young great Indian Rhinoceros {R. iinicornis). One of a collection of animals and birds presented by H.H. the Maharaja of Nepal to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. The animal was photographed at the Victoria Gardens, Bombay, where the collection was housed prior to its despatch to England Indian Parasitic Flies — Plate I. 1. — Bonibyliiis major, 3. Pidicipkora sp. 4. Pipunculus sp. 4.\. Pipunculus extensus. Abdomen of $ Plate II. 5. — Coimps erythrocephala 9 6. Gyrostigma sumatrensis. Larva 6a. Gastrophilus equi, Larva 6b. Cobboldia elephantis. Larva . . Egret Farming in Sind — One of the Enclosures in a Sind Egret Farm Plate A. — Nesting Birds B. — Additions to the Family . . The Progress of the Natural History Section in the Prince of Wales’ Museum of Western India. {With 2 plates) — — View of the Exhibition in the Mammal Gallery of the Prince of Wales’ Museum of Western India, on the occasion of the Rox'al Visit to Bombay. November 1921 2. A. — The Game Section as seen at the time of the Exhibi- tion xvii Page. 684 684 685 685 690 691 703 703 703 703 710 710 710 710 748 749 749 777 778 3 xviii LIST OF PLATES. B. — “In Perpetuam Rei Memoriam”. One of the Society’s old rooms at 6, Apollo Street. Its overcrowded condition will show the ursent need there was for additional space The late Mr. R. C. Wroaghton, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. {Photo) Crocodile Shooting and Snaring in Sind — A. — Tying a rope round the Mugger’s neck after the hand net is in position B. — Pulling the reptile out of the water . . No. IV. The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon — The See-see {Ammoperdix g. griseigularis) Game Animals of Kashmir and adjacent Hill Provinces — Plate (A) — The Tibetan Gazelle . . (B)- — Goral Plate — Haunts of the Central Asian Gazelles {Map) The Birds of Mesopotamia. {With 1 plate) — Plate VII (A) — Nest and eggs of little Grebe. Near Euphrates Barrage. {Eggs uncovered for photo) (B) — Marshes near Kurna, R. Tigris. • Amongst other breeding birds in these parts are ; — P^'gmy Cormorants, Darters, Little Grebes, Reed Warblers, Gallinules . . Indian Parasitic Flies, {With 3 plates)— Plate III. Fig- 6c. (Estrus ovis. Larva. Fig. 6d. Hypoderma bovis, Larva. Fig. 7. Cepluilomyia maculata. Larva. Fig. 9. Hippobosca nmculala ? . . Plate IV. Fig. 9a. Hippobosca camelina ? . Fig. 10. Lytichia maura 5 . Plate V. Fig. 11. Nycteribia, sp. Fig. 12. Nycleribosca amboinensis. Fig. 13. Ascodipteron speiserianum 9 • Fig. 13a. Ascodipteron phyllorhina 9- Page. 778 781 SIO 810 823 876 876 880 942 942 . 958 . 962 . 966 LIST 01 FLATBS. XIX Page. A Survey Season in the Nicobar Islands. ( With 4 plates) — Plate (A). — Scare devils from a single hut. (B). — Tnuanga Village in Spiteful Bay, showing the two types of huts and numerous scare devils . . . . . . . . 974 Plate (A). — Western entrance to Nankauri Harbour. (B). — A Megapode Mound — Nankauri Island . . . . . . 982 Plate (A).^ — Part of the Coral Reef, off Reed Point, Nankauri. (B). — View looking across Barwell Swamp, Camorta .. .. 984 Plate (A). — The Artificial Lake, Camorta. (B). — A Bed of Alcyonarians in Octavia Bay, Camorta . . . . 988 Fish and Fishing in the Inle Lake. (With 3 plates) — Plate A. Fig. 1. — The Golden Sprat Barbel (Barileus auropurpureus). Fig. 2. — The Scaleless Minnowlet (Sawbwa resplendens). Fig. 3. The Crimson Minnowlet (Microrashora erythromurn). Fig. 4. — The Red-headed Minnowlet (Microrashora rvhescens). Fig. 5. — Browne’s Loach (N emachielus brunneanus) . . •. 103S Plate B. Floating Islands of the Inle Lake — Fig. 1. — The Islands in their natural state. Fig. 2.' — Islands used as gardens. Fig. 3. — In the Floating Village of Kale .. T. .. 1040 Plate C. Boating and Fishing on the Inle Lake — Fig. 1. — Inthas leg-rowing. Fig. 2. — Inthas making a fishing enclosure for the capture of Crosscheilsu latia. Fig. 3.' — Boats at the edge of the Lake on Market day . . 1042 Common Indian Spiders, (With 5 pates) — Plate I. Fig. 1. — in stridulating attitude Fig. 2. — Diagrams of nests of “ trap-door ” spiders. (a) Nemesiellus montanus, (b) Damarchus exca- vatus, (c) Acanthodon harhudensis, (d) Sason sp., (e) Diplothele ivalshi, (/) Sasonichus arthapophysis. * Fig. 3. — Stegodyphus sarasinorum Web on mango twig . . 1045 XX LIST Of PLATES. Page Plate II. Fig. 4. — Eucta javana. Fig. 5. — Nephila rnaculata ^ . Fig. 6. — Cyclosa confraga (a) Spider, (c) Profile, (d) Sternum and bases of legs, (e) Eyes, (/) Vulva, (g) Bople, (h) Web. Fig. 7. — Gasteracanfha arcuata efc G. remifer 1046 Plate III. Fig. 8. — Artema atlanta with eggs. Fig. 9. — Heteropoda venatoria ^ 1048 Plate IV. Fig. 10. — Plexippus paykulli Fig. 1 1. — Plexippas paykulli $ . Fig. 12. — Mymarachne Icetus $ and 5 (a) and its modei Sima rvfonigra (b) 1048 Plate V. Hersilia savignyii 105S Nests and Eggs of Common Birds of the U. P. (With a plate) — Plate (A).- -Nest and Eggs of the Jungle Babbler. (B) . — Nest and Eggs of the Jungle Crow. (C) . — Nest of the Rufous-bellied Babbler . . . . . . . . 1072 H.R.H. The Prince of Wales’ Shooting in India in 1921 and 1922. — Part l.\ {With plates) — Map of country around Bhopal for H.R.H. The Prince of Wales’ visit to Bhopal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1091 Plate (A). — The Royal Party changing Beats on 6th February 1922 . . 1094 (B). — The Cheetah at Baroda . . . . . . . . . . . . 1094 Plate (A). — Bag of Demoiselle Crane- — Kodamdesar, Bikaner, December 1921 1102 (B). — Bag of Imperial Sandgrouse — Gujner, Bikaner, December 1921 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1102 Plate Imperial Sandgrouse Drinking — Gujner, Bikaner, December 1921 1103 XlX-BiLS't;3:*a,i:;±ox3L voi^XT na z: acacvjcxx. Page. Acanthodon barkudensis, Dia- gram of nest, PI. fig. 2 (c) . . 1045 Aschna erythromdas. Terminal segments of abdomen 610 ornithocephala. Ter- minal segments of abdomen . 610 Ammoperdix g. griseigularis, Ph 823 Amphiceschna beesoni. Fig. — (a) Anal appendages . . 901 (b) Gem'talia 901 Antennarius hispidus . . 627 Aonidia columnifera, Fig. 3. — (a) Pygidium of nymph 1008 (6) Pygidium of adult 9 1008 (c) Male puparium 1008 mesochitinosa. Fig. Pygidium of adult 9 1009 mimusopis. Fig. Pygi- dium of adult 9 1009 Arachnethra asiatica, curious nesting site . . 1136 Artema atlanta, with eggs, PI. fig. 8. 1048 Ascodipteron phyllorhina, PI. fig. 13 A. 966 speiserianum. PI. fig. 13 966 Aspidiotus ambalangoda. Fig. 1, Pygidium of adult 9 . . 1007 calophyli, Fig. 2, Adult 2 1008 Asterolecanium gutta, Fig. — (a) Adult 2, ventral aspect 1035 (6) Marginal poses 1035 (c) Anal ring . . 1035 Pagk. Asterolecanium loranthi. Fig. — (а) Marginal poses . . 1036 (б) Posterior extremity of adult 2 . . . . 1036 (c) Adult 2 ventral as- pect . . . . . . 1036 — pseudomiliaris. Fig. — (a) Marginal and discal poses . . . . 1037 (b) Adult 2 .. .. 1037 (c) Posterior extremity of adult 9 • • • . 1037 (d) Test of adult 2 • • 1037 Austroceschna intersedens. Wings. 613 Avicuda radiata. Fig. 1, Wing- shells, commensal with a sea- fan 930 Barileus auropurpureus, PI. fig. 1 1038 Bhopal, Sketch map of coimtry around (H.R.H. The Prince of Wales shooting in India in 1921-1922, Part II) .. 1091 Bombyliidce, Plate . . 630 Bombylius major. Pupa, PI. 703 Calliptamus cceloayriensis. Tip of male ceroi 734 italicus, Tip of male cerci . . . . 734 Capra falconeri cashmiriensis . . 603 — falconeri . • 602 sibirica, PI. .. 595 Cephalomyia mac ulata , PI. fig. 7, Larva . . 958 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Qeronema fryeri. Fig. — (a) Adult 2 > side view. 1028 (b) Stigmatic cleft and spines 1028 (c) Dermal cells 1028 (d) Antenna 1028 iceryoides. Fig. — (a) Anterior leg 1029 (b) Dermal cells 1029 (c) Margin, with stig- matic cleft . . 1029 (d) Antenna 1029 (e) Anal operculum 1029 Chilobrachys stridulans in stridu- lating attitude, PI. fig. 1 1045 Chionaspis gynandropsidis. Fig. (a.b.c.). Various forms of the pygidial lobes 1017 lineasis. Fig. — (a) Puparium of adult 2 1018 (b) Nymphal pellicle . . 1018 (c) Adult female 1018 (d) Posterior extremity of larval pellicle . . 1018 (e) Pygidium of adult 2 1018 ten era, Fig. Margin of pygidium . . 1019 Cobboldia elephantis, Larva, PI. 710 Conops erythrocephala, PI. 710 Crocodile snaring in Sind PI. . . 810 (a) Tying a rope round the mugger’s neck after the hand net is in position . . 810 (b) Pulling the reptile out of the water . . 810 Crocodile, two Valans with a . . 1139 Page. Ctenochiton cinnamomi. Fig. — (a) Adult 2 . side view. 1030 {b) Anal operculum . . 1030 (c) Margin with spines and dermal cells . . 1030 (d) Marginal spines . . 1030 (e) Antenna, 7-jointed form 1030 (/) Antenna, 8-jointed form 1030 (g) Mid-leg 1030 (h) Foot 1030 (i) Stigmatic spines . . 1030 O') Tubular pose 1030 fryen. Fig. (a) Antenna 1031 {b) Mid leg 1031 (c) Foot 1031 (d) Tubular pose 1031 (e) Dermal cells 1031 U) Marginal and stig- matic spines 1031 oHvaceum, Fig. (a) Adult 2 , dorsal view 1032 {b) Posterior extremity 1032 (c) Anterior leg 1032 (d) Antenna 1032 (e) Left valve of anal operculum . . 1032 (/) Sockets of marginal spines . . . , 1032 {g) Marginal spines . . 1032 Cyclosa confraga PI. Fig. 6 (a) Spider . . . . 1046 (c) Prople , . . . 1046 (d) Stermun and bases 1046 of legs . . . . 1046 (e) eyes . . . , 1046 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. xxiir Page. Cydosa confraga, PI. fig. 6 — (/) Vulva . . . . 1046 (gr) Vulva, prople . . 1046 (h) Web, PI. fig. 6 .. 1046 Damarchus excavatus, Diagram of nest, PI. fig. 2 (6) . . 1045 Diaspis antiquorum. Fig. Pygi- dium of adult ? .. .. 1011 bambusoe, Fig. — (a)Adult2 1012 (6) Extremity of pygidium. 10 12 grandilobis. Fig. Margin of pygidium . . . . 1015 heneratgoda. Fig. P.Vgi- dium of adult $ . . 1012 mihiriya. Fig. Margin of pygidium . . . . 1014 orientalis. Fig. — (a)Adult 2 1046 (6) Margin of pygidium. 1013 phoenicis, Rig. — (a) Adult 2 1014 (6) Pygidium . . 1014 Diplothele walshi. Diagram of nest, PI. fig. 2 (c) . . . . 1045 Dorippe dorsipes, Fig. 5, carrying an anemone seated upon a shell . . . . . . 934 facckino, Fig. 2, Strip- ped of its masking organism to show the two pairs of spe- cialized thoracic limbs with their terminal hooked joints 932 Dragonflies, Indian, new and rare, with two figures . . 698 Indian, Part XIII, with 5 figures . . 610 Indian, with 4 figs. 889 , Indian, Part XIV, with 3 figures. . .. .. 899 Dromia sp.. Fig. 4. Under the mask of a stout silicious sponge. The lower figure depicts the sponge mantle Page. entirely hiding the crab from view, the upper one shews the underside of the pair, the crab esconced in a deep hollow in the mass of the sponge 934 Echeneis namrates 626 Egret farming in Sind (one of the enclosures in a Sind) — Egret farm, PI. 748 Nesting Birds, PI. 748 Additions to the family 748 Elephant Tusks showing corru- gations 1125 Etroplus suratensis 628 Euchloe, Text-fig. 1144 ■ — ^ ^ — behmia. Text-figs. 1146 Eucia javana, PI. fig. 4. 1046 E.raeretopus farinos2cs. Fig. — (a) Anal operculum 1027 (6) Stigmatic cleft. spines and setoe . . 1027 (c) Antenna 1027 (d) Tarsus of anterior leg 1027 (e) Dermal cells 1027 Fiorinia Icandyensis, Fig. — [a) Adult 2 , frons and antennse 1016 (b) Margin of pygidium 1016 (c,d) Different forms of the mesal lobes 1016 (e) Pygidial margin of nymphal pellicle . . 1016 Fish and Fishing in the Inle Lake, 3 Pis 1038-42 Gasteracantha arcuata (above) PI. fig. 7. .. 1046 remifera (below) Pi. fig. 7 . . . . . . 1046 Gastrophilus equi. Larva, PI. .. 710 XXIV INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Gazelles, Haunts of the Central Asian, Map . . . . . . 880 Goral, PI 876 Gynacaniha hagade.ra, Fig. 3, Anal appendage. . 905 • J'urcafa, Fig. 2, Anal appendage.. 905 - — - — ■ — khasiacar Wings, Fig. 903 Fig. 1, Anal appendage . . 905 ■ d’dondi. Fig. 4, Anal appendage . . . . 905 Gynacardhaschna Mkkirna wings 618 Gyrosiigma sumatrensis. Larva, PI 710 Halimus, Fig. 3, with carapace 1 and limbs decorated with j striped Sjmaptids from 1 protection . . - . . . 933 | Hemitragus jemlaicus, PI. 595, 606 | Heniochus macrolepidotus . . 626 j Hersilia savignyii, PI. fig. 13 . . 1050 j Heferopoda venaioria, J ,P1. fig. 9 .. 1048 Hippobosca camelina, PI. fig. 9 A 962 ■ — rnaculala. Pi. fig. 9. . 958 H. R. H. The Prince of Wales’ Shoots in India. — Photo of H. R. H. The Prince of Wales, Patron and Life Member of the Bombay Natural History Society, PI. . . . . 675 Sketch map of Ghitawan, for H. R. H. The Prince of Wales visit to Nepal, 1921 676 H. R. H. The Prince of Wales mounting into his Howdah on the first day’s shoot in Nepal, PI. . . 678 Page. (а) On the trail after Rhino, PI. . . . . 679 (б) Elephants crossing a stream, PI. . . . . 679 (a) H. R. H. waiting for the Tiger to break cover, PI. . . . . 680 (b) The line of Ele- phants merging from the jungle, PI. . . 680 (a) The Royal Elephant on a typical Rhino Swamp, PI. . . 681 (b) H. R. H. takes a shot, PI. . . . . 681 (а) H. R. H. takes a hand with his Kukri in decapitating a Rhino, PI. . . . . 684 (б) A further slage of the Ritual, PI. .. 684 (a) Pegging out a Tiger skin, PI 68 (b) The Skinning Camp at the close of a day’s work, PI. . . 685 FI. R. H. The Prince of Wales with his Rhinoceros. H. R. H. is seen wearing his Nepal Kukii, PI. . . . . . . 690 A yoruig great Indian Rhinoce- ros (R. unicornis), PI. . . 691 (One of a collection of ani- mals and birds presented bj^ H. H. The Maharaja of Nepal to H. R. H. The Prince of Wales. The ani- mal was photographed at the Victoria Gardens, Bom- baj% where the collection was housed prior to its des- patch to England ) . . 691 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. XXV Hydra vulgaris, 5 Text-figs. Page. 1147 Fig. 1. Budding Hydra with characteristic moni- liform appearance . . 1147 Fig. 2. Colony formation of Hydra by budding 1147 Fig. 3. Vertical fission of Hydra 1147 Fig. 4. Hydra bearing sper- maries in difierent stages of develop- ment 1147 Fig. 5. Hydra bearing sper- maries and a bud . . 1147 Hypoderma bovis, PI. fig. 60, Larva . . 958 Indian Spiders, 5 Plates 1045-49 Inle Lake, S. Shan States, Fish and Fishing in, 3 Plates 1038-42 Plate {a) Characteristic Fish of the Inle Lake . . 1038 Plate (6) Floating Islands of the Inle Lake . . 1040 Plate (c) Boating and Fishing on the Inle Lake. Inglisia chelonioides . Fig. — (a) Adult 9 , after treat- ment with potash . . 1033 (6) Tibio-tarsal joint of mid leg 1033 (c) Posterior spiracle . . 1033 id) Hind leg 1033 (e) Antenna 1033 (/) Marginal and stig- matic spines 1033 (9) Aberrant form of stigmatic spine 1033 Jagoria poeciloptera, wings 611 4 Page. Lambrus, Fig. 0. A crab that lives on shingly bottom : the carapace concealed by a mask of oyster-shells and barnacles . . . . . . 935 Lecaniodiaspis mimusopes. Fig. — (a) Adult 9 , dorsal view 1034 (b,c) Antennse . . . . 1034 (d,c) Anterior legs . . 1034 (/) Mid leg .. .. 10.34 (g) Hind leg . . . . 1034 (h) Setae from anal ring. 1034 (?) Paired poses . . 1034 Lecanium desolatu7». Fig. — (a) Marginal setae and stigmatic spine. (6) Anal operculum . . . . 1020 fmiforme, Fig.— (a) Adult 9 .. .. 1C21 {h) Stigmatic cleft and spines .. 1021 (c) Anal operculum .. 1021 ■ illuppalamcB, Fig. — (a) Anal operculum, typical form . . 102 1 (b) Anal operculum, varietal form . . 102 1 (c,rf) Stigmatic spines .. 1021 (e) Posterior margin, with setae . . . . 1021 ' — • — ■ — - — h-orcB, Fig.— (a) Stigmatic spines and marginal setae . . 1022 {h) Anal operculum . . 1022 latioperculalnm. Fig. — (а) Stigmatic spines . . 1022 (б) Marginal setae . . 1022 (c) Anal operculum . . 1022 xxvi INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. Pag®. Lecanium trij/artitum. Fig. — (а) Adult ? , dorsal as- pect . . . . 1025 (б) Stigmatic cleft . . 1025 (c) Marginal area with poses and dermal cells .. .. 1025 (d) Anal operculum . . 1025 Lecanopsis ceylonica. Fig. — (a) Adult 2 in situ . . 1026 (b) Antenna . . . . 1026 (c) Anal operculum . . 1026 (d) Third leg .. .. 1026 (e) Stigmatic spines . . 1026 (/) Posterior extremity of early nymph . . 1026 (ff) Antenna of larva . . 1026 Lepidosaph.es dilatilobis. Fig. Pygidium of adult 2 1010 Lynchia maura, PI. fig. 10 . . 962 Macromia cingulala, Semi-lateral view . . . . 701 flavocolorata. Semi- lateral view . . . . . . 701 Madras Aquarium, exterior view and ground plan . . . . 621 Mesopotamia, Birds of — (a) Valley in the Jebel Hamrin, N. E. of Baghdad, PI. . . 672 (b) Nest and eggs of Chettusia leucura near Amara . . 672 Plate (a) Little grebe nest and eggs near Euphrates Barrage (eggs uncovered for photo) . . - - . • 942 Plate (6) Marshes near Kurna, R. Tigris 942 Microrasbora eryt.hromicron, PI. fig. 3 . . . . • . 1038 Page, Microrasbora rube.scens, PI. fig. 4. 1038 M ymarachne laetus (a) c? and 2 . PI. fig. 12 1049 Nemachielus branneanus, PI. fig. 5 1038 N emesiellus montanus. Diagram of nest, PI. fig. 2 (o) . . 1045 Nephila maculata . . . . 642 Fig. 1 Diagram of the parts of a Geoniet r i c a 1 Snare . . . . 645 Fig. of Section of Snare . . . . 915 d (above) and 2 (below) PI. fig. 5 .. .. 1046 Nesting-boxes. Illustrating method of construction, 3 figs 1137 Nests and eggs of the Common Birds, United Provinces, PI. 1072 (a) Jungle Babbler, (b) Jungle Crow, (c) Rufous-bellied Babbler . . . . . . 1072 Nicobar Islands. A survey sea- son in the, on the R.I.M.S. “ Investigator ”. — Plate (a) Scare Devils from a single hut . . 974 Plate (b) Inuanga Village in Spiteful Bay, showing the two types of Huts and numerous Scare- Devils . . . . 974 Plate (a) Western Entrance to N a n k a u r i Harbour . . 982 (b) A M e g a p o d e Mound, Nankauri Island . . 982 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. XXVII Page. Plate (a) Part of the Coral Reef off Reed Point, Nankauri . . 984 Plate (6) View looking across Barwell Swamp, Camorta. 984 Plate (a) The Artificial Lake, Camorta . . 988 Plate (6) A bed of Alcyon- arians on Octavia Bay, Camorta . . 988 Nilgai Skin Water-Cooler .. 1100 Nycteribia sp., PI. fig. 11 .. 966 Nycteribosca amboinensis, PI. fig. 12 966 (Eslrus ovis, PI. fig. 6c., Larva. . 958 Ovia hodgsoni. Block of head . . 1123 Paralecanium mancum. Fig. — (а) Adult female dorsal aspect . . . . 1023 (б) Dermal cells . . 1023 (c) Marginal flabellae . . 1023 trifasciatum , Fig. — {a) Adult? .. .. 1024 (6) Anal operculum . . 1024 (c) Stigmatic cleft and marginal flabellae . . 1024 Parasitic Flies, Indian, PI. .. 703, 710 Plates III-V 958-966 Parlatoria cingala namunakali. Fig. Pygidium of adult ? . . 1019 Perdix hodgsonicB hodgsonice, PI. 571 Periceschna magdalena, wings . . 612 Pipunculus sp., PI. . . . . 703 eztensus, Abdomen Page. Plexippus paykolli, PI. fig. 10 6 , fig. 11. ? 1049 Plotosus canius . . . . • . 629 Pseudoparlatoria pusilla. Fig. Pygidium of adult 9 . • 1011 Pterocks alchata caudacuta. Chicks, PI 650 senegallus. Chicks, PI. . . 650 Pterodurus senegallus Nestlings 808 Pterois russelli . . . • • • 62o Puliciphora sp., PI. .. .. 703 Rhagodes nigrocintus .. .. 814 Sason sp.. Diagram of nest, PI. fig. 2 (d) 1045 Sasonichus arthapophysis. Dia- gram of nest, PI. fig. 2 (/) . . 1045 Sawbwa resplendens, PI. fig. 2 . . 1038 Sima rufonigra. Fig. 12 (6) . . 1049 Stegodyphus sarasinorum, Web on mango twig, PI. fig. 3 . . 1045 Tibetan Gazelle, PI. . . . . 876 Tropidopola cylindr ica, Hea,d. . 733 obtusa, Head . . 733 Views of the Exhibition in the Mammal Gallery of the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, on the occasion of the Royal Visit to Bombay, Nov- ember 1921, PI 777 The Game Bird Section as seen at the time of the Exhibition, PI. . . . . 778 “ In Perpetuam Rei Memo- riam,” PI. . . . . 778 Wood Spider, Snare of the Giant, 1 Text-figure . . . . . . 915 Wroughton, R.C., Photo of the late, PI. of, PI... 703 781 XXVlll errata. No, 4, Volume XXVIII. Page 850, line 23 from the top for Fmncolinus francolinus interposelus read Francolinus pondicerianus inter fosetus. 850, ,, 28 from the top for Francolinus francolinus niecranensis read Francolinus pondicerianus mecranensis. 864, footnote for Matthews read Matheus. 871, line 20 from the top for Malanogaster read Melano- gaster. 895, ,, 9 from the bottom for badly read hardly. 931, ., 20 from the top for austaliensis read australiensis. 982, ,, 13 from the top for Macropigia mad Macropygia. 983, ,, 11 from the top for challybeus read chalyheus. 985, ,, 25 from the top for Numeneus read Numenius. 985, ,, 29 from the top for Numeneus read Numenius. 1030, ,, 3 from bottom /or (a) read {e). 1034. ,, 5 from bottom for antannce read antenncc. 1119, ,. 4 from the top for Alavdidce read Alaudidce. 1119, ,, 11 irom iiie top ioT Pericrocut us mad Pericrocotus. 1119, ,, 11 from the top for perejurius read peregrinus. 1119, ,, 17 from the top for Alavdidce read Alaudidce. 1135, ,, 20 from the top for brachyara read brachyura. xxix 4 icia arabica Jinthurus ap 4 cipiter gularis . . nisus melanoschistus nisosimilis — virgatus affiiiis — - — besra t 1 J I iridium morbosum subulatum INDEX OF SPECIES. beta chaldea sp. ri. iagrion paludensis sp. nov. imouorhynchus vincens ridella antennata — ~ miniata . . robusta . . subulatum iridotheres tristis srocephalus babylonicus stentoreus . . steiitorea brunnescens crostoma variabile crotylus insubricus longipes damsia dansonia digitata idelarus bemprichi Egialitis dubia jerdoni . . Egithina tiphia . . Egypius monachus F.olophus strepens deserticola sub. sp Number. I 1101 Alcedo atthis pallasii 628 Alectoris grseca chukar . . 591 koriakovi 591 - — pallescens 591 werER 591 Alseonax ruficaudus 591 Alsocomus eljihinstonii . . 737 1 palumboides 698 1 pulchricollis. . 11311 — ^ — puniceus 725 1 torringtonii . . 725 j Amaurornis akool 725 — — — bicolor 725 j fuscus bakeri 734 I erythrothorax 725 1 — fuscus 757, 802, 996 j insularis 1110 ! phcenicura cbinensis 755 I insularis — — phcenicura 993 I 773 phoenicurus 730 ! Amniania rotundifolia Ammomanes deserti Ammoperdix bonhami griseigularis ter-meuleni • — — griseogularis 730 935 815 869 769 861 754 ‘ Amphiaeschna beesoni 582 ! Ampbiesma stolata V. : Amphipnous cuchia Number. .. 1002 849, 1005 .. 849 .. 849 .. 953 .. 996 .. 834 835, 981 .. 835 . 835 . . 835 .. 854 .. 854 .. 854 .. 854 .. 854 .. 981 .. 855 .. 855 .. 854 .. 767 .. 1041 .. 1110 823, 952 952 824 726 Anabas scandens . . . . .. 629 — strepens 726 Anaciaeschna donaldi sp. nov. . . .. 699 — — thalassinus . . . . . . 726 1 Anas acuta .. 654 ®thopyga seherise. . 760 1 angustirostris .. 655 \grates flammatra . . . . 814 , — boscas .. 1081 \l3emon alaudipes pallida .. 1110, boschas .. 654 _1 _ _ _ _ 1132 . . 6,55 Alauda gulgula . . 759 ' penelope .. 654 Alaudula raytal . . 759 platjTlij'ncha .. 65* “ griseogularis 823, 824, 849 ..901 .. 1141 .. 1039 XXX INDEX OF SPECIES. Number. Anas pcecilorhyncha strepera Anastomus osoitans Anax goliathus Anhinga rufus ■ — — chantrei — rufus Anisoptera Anogeissus latifolia Anous stolidus pileatus tenuirostris Anser albifrons . . - anser erythropus ferus indicus Antennarius hispidus — nummifer Anthracoceros albirostris Anthrax albofulva ■ argentiapicalis bipunctata — ^ — Candida < . duvancelli indicata . . ISIS obseura • sp. mcog. ■ subnotata ■ — ■ — umbra Anthropoides virgo Anthus roseatus . . rufulus ■ sordidus jerdoni ■ trivialis barineto Antilope cervicapra Aonidia columnifera — - mesochitinosa ■ — mimusopis Aphithemis nigricolar sp. n. Aquila chrysaetus daphanse ■ clanga ■ hastata ■ heliaca — maculata . . 653, lO" 75,1 10 081, 663, 85' 1081 654 770 900 1109 652 651 895 1101 873 873 652 652 5, 1081 1119 ,1117 627 627 761 886 884 885 884 884 883 885 885 885 885 885 6, 1081 999 759 999 999 878, 1100 1008 1009 1009 700 584 584 584, 772 584 772 Number. Aquila nipalensis nipalensis • — rapax vindhiana vindhiana . . Araehnecthra asiatica Araneus sp 760, 801 Arboricola atrogularis brunneopecta brunneopecta — • — mandelli — rufogularis intermedia — rufogularis tiokelli torqueola batemani millardi — ■ — — torqueola Arcyptera elegans Ardea anti gone — cinerea cinerea goliath cretzschm manillensis purpurea . . — — ■ — ■ — purpurea Ardeola grayi ibis ibis .. ■ — rallorides . . Ardetta cinnamomea sinensis . . Arenaria interpres . . — inter pre Argiope Argusianus argus Argya caudata earlii malcolmi Argyramceba olaripennis — intermedia nigrofimorata Argyrodes . . Arrenga blighi Arius sp. Artema atlanta Ascodipteron speiserianum Asio butleri Afic A!^i AiH i't 770, 658, 65£ 754 772 584 584' 7651^8] 113€l 1048 642; 84f 848 848 847 847, 847; 847 847 847 726 856. lOOSi 1110 658 770 112(| 658 856 770 658 11071 77® 77® 674' 858i 1047, 83S 1072 1071 1072 886 886 886 1048 112 62f 1046 96'‘ 55f ISDEX OF SPECIES. xxxi Number. Asio flammeus flaimneus 576 otus otus . . 576 Aspidiotus ambalangoda .. 1007 caloph}dli .. 1008 Assiminia sp. .. 775 francescias .. 775 Asterolecanium gutta .. 1035 — loranthi .. 1036 pseudoniiliaris . . .. 1036 Astur badius 766, 807 ■ badius .. 590 cenchroides . . .. 590 ■ — dussumieri . . .. 590 — poliopsis .. 590 butleri .. 590 gentilis schvedowi . . . . 590 obsoletus .. 590 • soloensis .. 590 trivirgatus rufitinctus .. 591 trivirgatus . . 590 Athene brama .. 763 Auchmerom;\ia 703, 710 Auricula jad£e . . 775 _ sp .. 775 Austcnia peguensis . . 774 Austroteschna intersedens 613, 614 A^iceda jerdoni ceylonensis .. 592 jerdoni . . .. 592 Avicula radiata 930, 931 Azadirachta indica .. 1101 Bambusicola fytchii f3dchii .. 845 hopkinsoni .. 845 Barbus compressiformis . . .. 1038 compressus .. 1038 sarana caudimarginatus .. 1039 steadmanensis .. 1038 Barilius auropurpureus . . .. 1039 Bassia latifolia .. 1101 Number. Blepharopsis mendica nuda 725 Bombax malabaricum 1101 Bos banteng banteng 786 — ■ — • birmanicus . . 786 - butleri , , 786 — lowi .. , , 786 porteri 786 — - sondaicus 786 Boselaphus tragocamelus . . 877, 1100 Boswellea serrata . . 1101 Botaurus stellaris 661 Brach}rpternus aurantius . . 760 Brachytrypes chopardi sp. n. , , 736 Bringha remifer . . 771 Bubo bengalensis . . 771 bubo bengalensis . . .578 coromandus . . 579, 763 tibetanus 578 turcomanus , . 578 Bubulcus coromandus 770 Burhinus oedicnemus astutus 664 857 indicus 857 saharce 664 Burria longixipha 725 Butastur indicus . . 587 livinter . . 587 ■ teesa 587, 765 Butea frondosa 1101 Buteo buteo japonicus 589 rufiventer . . .589 ■ ferox 589 — - — hemilasius . . 589 Butreron capellii . . 832 Caccabis bonhami . . . . . , g23 chukor . . . . . . 692 • kakelik koriakovi . . . . 849 pallescens . . . . . , 849 Cacomantis passerinus .. .. 771 Calamoherpe griseldis . . . . ..1110 Calappa 936 zxxu IXDEA' OF SPECIES. Numbek. I Numbek, Calidris arenaria . . canuta ■ tenuirostris Calliphora erythrocephala vomitoria Calliphornise Calliptamus italicus as. carbonar Callistoma imperator Callophasis burmauicUi . . humiw Callosciurus epomophorus fabaudius Callotes ophioniachus Calcenas nicobarica Caloptenus ciniticollis ccelesyriensis Caloperdix oculea oculca Calomis chalybeus Calotropis . . Caltrunguis havipes nigripes Caais aureus — ■ — - domesticus iudicus indicus Capra falconeri cashmiriensis ■ falconeri . . sibirica Capricomis sumatrensis humei Caprimulgus asiaticus macrurus . . monticola . . Cardiococcus bivalvata . . castilloae . . cenehiformis forminifer fossilis — — » umbonatus Carduelis caniceps caniceps Caridina sp. Carine noctua bactriana . . blewitti . . - — brama fryi pulchra . . tarayensis Carissa corondas . . . . GG7 Carpodacus erythrinus roseatus .. 99: 867, 985 Carpophaga acnea insularis .. 981 . . 867 palumboides .. 83i .. 710 ■ pusillia .. 83J .. 710 Casarca rutila 1075, 108) . . 710 Cassia fistula .. llOji .. 734 Casuarina equistifolia .. 81< .. 886 Catreus walliclii 692, 841 .. 841 Cavicolse 712, 711 .. 840 Centropus sinensis 762, 791 .. 1067 Cepalopyrus flammiceps . . .. 991 .. 983 Cephalaesclina acutifrous . . 61{ 833, 982 — lugubris .. 611 .. 734 masoni .. 611 .. 734 orbifrons . . .. OK .. 848 Ceijhalanthus occideiitalis .. 1041 .. 985 Cephalomyia maculata . . .. 71i .. 1101 Cephelomyia .. 711' . . 578 Cercomela fusca . . . . 7511 .. 578 Ceriornis blythi . . .. 844 .. 1100 Cerithidea sp. . . 77£ .. 692 Cerithium lemniscatum . . . . 771 .. 1122 Ceronema fryeri . . .. lOtt 601, 603 • iceryordes .. 101 .. 601 Certhia himalyana 993, lit .. 595 Cervus axis .. 1K| . . 874 unicolor . . .. IIW .. 806 Ceryle rudis leucomelanura .. 100! 762, 806 varia .. 76 . . 806 Chicromyia .. 71( .. 1034 Chretornis locustelloides . . . . 75( .. 1034 Chaimarromis fuliginosa fuliginosa . . 99:-^ .. 1034 leucocephala .. 99' .. 1034 Chalcophaps indica . . 692, 7 66, 833, 98!, .. 1034 Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus . . 86S .. 1034 dealbatus .. 86! . . 997 — peroni . . 86! .. 1043 ■ seebohmi .. 86; .. 581' apricarius .. 86 .. 581’ asiatica asiatica 671, 86 . . 580 coromandelicus . . 85; .. 581 ■ dubius curonicus CO .. 581 — dubius .. 86 .. 581 ^ jerdoni .. 86 .. 1101 — f ulvus . . 860, 89 Cl a a a a Q a a a a a a C: c a a INDEX OF SFEC1E6. Numbek. Cbaradrius geoffro.yi gregarius — — hiaticula intermedins tundrffi . . — — himantopus .. hypomelanus leschenaultii leucurns malabaricus . . — mongolus atrifrons . . mongolus placidus ventralis veredus Chaudhuria caudata Chaulclasmus strepenis . . Chelidon urbica Chettusia gregaria . . leucura . . . . 672, Chibia hotentotta . . Chilobrachys fumosus ■ — ■ — stridulans . . Chionaspis acuminata atricolor . . g^mandropsidis — ^ — linearis ■ tenera Chlamydotis undulata macqueeni Chlidonias leucopareia indica ■ leucoptera Chloriotes edwardsi Choetodon sp. Chrysomyia Chrysopelea ornata Ciconia ciconia ciconia ■ nigra CircacHus gallicus . . Circus scruginosus seruginosus . . • — cyaneus macrourus melanoleucus — pygargus spilonotus Cirrepedesmus Ciaticola cursitans .. 671 .. 860 . . 670 670, 862 .. 863 .. 860 671, 861 .. 860 .. 859 .. 861 .. 861 Cittocincla macrura Clarias batrachus Cobboldia . . elepbantis Coccj'stes coromandus jacobinus . . Coccyzura tusatea . . Cocblospernum gossypium Colas us monedula collaris. Columba aenas aenea .. 862 .. 860 .. 861 .. 1039 .. 1081 .. 999 672, 860 860, 1110 755 .. 1045 .. 1046 .. 1017 .. 1017 .. 1018 .. 1019 663, 857 . . 870 .. 870 . 857 . 625 . 710 . 1141 . 661 . 662 . 586 . 1004 . 589 . 589 . 588 . 589 . 589 . 589 . 862 . 756 agricola bicolor . . cambayensis capelbi . . cuprea . . fulvicollis hodgsoni hmnibs . . indica intermedia leptogrammica leuconota gradaria leuconota livia gaddi ^ intermedia neglecta meena . . ■ — ~ nicobarica oenas eversmanni orientalis palumbus phcenicoptera . . pompadora pulcbricollis risoria decaocto rupestris turkestanica striata . . — suratensis sylvatica tigrina . . tranquebarica . . turtur . . vernans £xxiis Number. . . 758 .. 1039 711, 713 .. 713 .. 1131 . . 762 .. 837 .. 1101 .. 991 .. 945 .. 832 .. 836 .. 833 . . 836 .. 832 . . 832 .. 831 .. 834 .. 837 .. 833 766, 1081 .. 837 .. 834 .. 834 .. 1004 . . 946 .. 833 .. 834 .. 835 .. 833 .. 834 .. 835 .. 945 .. 830 .. 830 . . 835 .. 836 .. 834 .. 838 .. 836 .. 833 .. 8S6 8: 7 . . 835 .. 831 xxxiv INDEX OF SPECIES. N UMBEK. Number. Colymbus arcticus suschkiiii Comatibis cremita. . Conocephalus breviceps . . • — incertus nitidulus ■Conozoa rogenboferi Copsycbus saularis Coracias indica Corvus cornix . . • coronoides intermedius niacrorlij-nehus . . 1134 662 735 735 735 729 ,1133 761 791 991 753, 800, 1069 . 758, 802, 1000 ■ splendens . . . . 753, 804, 991, 1070 Coryptoplectron ei-ythrorhynchus blewitti . . . . . . . . . . 846 erythrorhyn- chus Cotile sinensis Coturnix argoondah communis coromandelica . . coturnix coturnix japonica Cuterebra Cuticolae Cyclophorus auranticus Cyclopodia albertisi ferrarii hopei horsfieldi svkcsi C5'closa confraga sp. erytlirorhyncha Crateropus canorus Crex crex . . Crocethia alba Crocidura nicobarica Crocodilus biporcatus ■Crocopus chlorogaster phcenicopterus . . 846 . . 759 . . 846 767,1081 772, 846, 1081 846, 955 .. 846 .. 846 754, 1073 853, 943 .. 866 979 .. 986 1076, 1081 .. 766 chlorogaster . . 830 phcenicopterus 830 Cj'gnus olor Cyon dukhunensis Cyornis tickelli Cyphojrhorus tibialis Cyj)riuus carpio ■ intha Cypselus affinis ■ — • — — apus Cyrcna bengalensis Cyrtophora 703 , 716 774 968 968 968 968 968 1048 1048 653 1100 757 732 1039 1039 762 1003 774 . 1048 1 ■ viridifi Crossocheilus latia "Crossoptiloa harmani •Ctenochiton cinnamomi • .fryeri.. — oUvaceum ■Cuculus canorus . . micropterus Cun cum a leucogaster leucorypha Cursorius coromandelicus — gallicus gallicus . jamesoni 830 1043 843 1030 1031 1032 1003 771 587 587 858 664 858 Dafila acuta . . 1081 Decticus albifrons 735 Demiegretta asha . . 658, 1108, 1110 Dendrocitta rufa . . 754, 799, 800, 1070 Dendrocycna javanica .. 771, 985, 1081 Dendrophasa .. 830 Dendrotreron hodgsoui . . . . 834 Dericorys acutispina . . 732 albidula . . 732 Derocorystes curvipes . . 732 Dexiidae . . . . 705 Diaspis antiquorum .. 1011 • bambusie . . .. 1012 graudilobis .. 1015 heneratgoda .. 1012 miliirij’a . . . . 1014 orientalis . . . . 1013 — phoenicus .. 1014 Dicseum erythrorhynchus . . 760 Dicrurus aiinectens .. 755 INDEX OF SPECIES. XXXV Dicrurus ater. . ciBrulesceas Diospyros toraentosa Discognathus gravelji Dissura episcopus Dociostaurus crassiusculus hanensteini maroccanus Dorippe clorsipes facchino Diomaeschna Dromas ardeola Dromia sp. Dry o bates himalay Diicula badia cuprea griseicapilla ^ insignis Ncmbek. 735, 801, 803, 993 , . . 755 ' .. 1101 .. 1039 . . 7G9 . . 726 .. 726 .. 720 029, 934 932, 935 .. 013 674, 858, 1108, 1110 . . 934 .. 1001 Dumetia hyperythra Esacus recurvirostris Etroplus maculatus suratensis Eublepharis macularius Eucampsipoda hyrtli Euchloe belemia . . charlonia transca vernal is . . 832 ; 832 1 832 ' 1073 Euconocephalus incertus Eucta javana Eudroinias morinellus Eudynamis honorata Eulota similaris Eulota sp. Eunetta falcata Euplocamus diardi melanotus Eurycaremis laticeps Eurycorypha stylata Eurynorhynchus pygmaEu Euryzona canningi Exacretopus farinosus Excalfactoria chinensis spica Echeneis iiaucrates Egretta alba garzetta garzetta Elanus cseruleus . . cseruleus Elephas maximus . . Emberiza fucata arcuata Stewart i Epeira Epimys nitidus — vicerex Eremiaphila laevifrons sp. Erismatura leucocephala Erolia acuminata . . alpina alpina pusilla ferruginea . . — minuta minuta ruficollis subminuta . . temmincki 626 660 659 766 588 691 999 998 1048 1063 1060 719 657 866 667 867 67, 166 866 667 866 866 667, 866 772, 98 chinensis bunkutensis Number. 768, 858 . 628 . 628 . 811 . 968 . 1144 . 1144 . 1145 . 735 . 1046 . 672 62, 982 . 774 . 774 . 1117 . 842 . 842 . 888 . 735 . 866 . 854 . 1027 0, 1081 845 Exoprosopa abjecta sp. nov. — abrogata sp. nov. albida ■ — auripluva — disrupta dissoluta sp. nov. evanescens . . fusconota ■ — • gujaratica sp. nov. — ■ — ■ — insulata — — ^ — ■ interstitialis sp. nov iridipennis sp. nov. pennata sp. nov. punjabensis sp. nov siva sp. nov. tamerlan 846 635 637 634 640 641 638 636 634 6.36 637 6.33 639 6.35 640 6.34 633 XX XVI INDEX OF SPECIES. Number. Number. Falco cherrug cherrug ilvipes ■ chiquera chiquera columbarius insignis jugger naumaimi pekinensis — peregrinus bab3^1oaicus calidus — peregrinator severus indicus — — severus subbuteo streichi subbuteo ■ tinnunculus • interstinctus • tinnunculus vespertinus aniurensis Felis affinis bengalensis nebulosa pardus tigris . . Ficus indica — — — religiosa Fisclieria intermis sp. n. s^Tiaca Flormia kand,vensis Francolinus chinensis francolinus asise — — ■ henrici melanonotus 592 ' 593 593 593 j 592 i 594 1 592 592 Fulica chinensis cinerea Fuligula fuligula 55 85, 855 1081 1003 Galerita cristata . . . . 760 593 Gallicrex cinerea 768, 855 593 Gallinago ccelestis . . .. 1081 1004 gallinago gallinag o 666, 863 593 raddei . . 863 593 gallinula .. 1081 1004 media . . 666, 863 594 ■ ■■ -- - ■ megala . . . . 868 593 — — nemoricola . . 8634 593 — — — solitaria .. 868, 1133' 691, 690, 691, gularis pictus pallidus pictus pondicerianus vulgaris 1122 691 691 , iiooj 1099 .. 1101 .. 1101 .. 721 .. 722 .. 1016 .. 850 .. 849 .. 849 .. 849 692, 850 .. 1081 .. 850 . . 8.50 767, 1081 pondicerianus 850 interpositus 850 mecranensis 850 . . 767, 1005 — stenura Gallinula chloropus parvifrons erythrothorax poliocephala 868, 1081, 1181 .. 1005 855, 943 .. 854 Galloperdix bicalcarata . . lunulata — — ^ — • spadicea caurina — spadicea — — — — ■ — — ■ Stewart i Gallophasis horsfieldi Gallus gallus bankiva — ferrugineus — gallus ferrugineus . . lafaj’etti sonneratii . . arabistanicus Franklinia gracilis Fulica atra atra . .. 953 756, 803 .. 944 .. 855 Garra gravelyi Garruga pinnata . . Gasteracantha — — — ^ arcuata Gastricolse Gastrophilus equi Gavialis gangeticus Gazella gazella subgutturosa — picticaudata .. 855 .. 845 .. 845 . . 845 .. 844 .. 845 .. 842 .. 840 . . 840 .. 840 .. 767 .. 840 .. 840 .. 1039 .. 810 .. 1043 .. 1046 711,712 711,712,714 .. 712 . . 810 .. 881 .. 880 IXDSX OF SPECIES. xxx\di Numbek. Number. Geiinseiis albocristatus . . 692 Gynacantha baiiibriggei .. 905 RIO . . 908 — — iianiiitoni • ♦ horsfieldi horsfieidi 340 . . 906 842 . . 907 • leucomelanus . . 692 842 hanumana . . .. 906 lineatus lineatus 842 hyalina .. 910 , S4O . . 904 843 niillArrli . . 903 melanotus 842 — o’doneli 700, 909 • — nycthemerus nycthetnerus 843 — — saltatrix . . 907 843 subinterrupta . . 909 rufipes 843 Gynacanthreschna geu. nov. .. 618 Geocichla citrina . . 758 — — sikkima . . 618 . . 899 — V cliiulXOL tlS • • Geopelia striata striata . . 838 Gypaetus barbatus grandis 584, 1003 Glareola lactia 859 Gyps fulvus fulvescens . . .. 583 maldivarum . . 858 himalayensis .. 1003 — nordniaiini 665 himalayensis .. 583 pratincola pratincola . . 665, 80S indicus 764, 1097 Glaucidium brodei 582 indicus indicus .. 583 cuciiloides cuculoides 581 pallescens .. 583 • radiatuni 763 tenuirostris 583, 764 - — ^ — — — — ■ castanonotiim 581 G3Taulu3 convexiusciilus . . 774 malabaricum 581 GjTOStigma 711, 714 radiatum 581 Glaucion clangula 657 Glossina 703 Glossininse . . 709 Gorduis zavattarii . . 1142 Gorsachius melanolophus . . 982 Hsematopus ostralegus .. 673 Graucalus macei . . 757 longipes .. 863 Grus antigone 768 osculans .. 863 • leveogeranus 856 ostralegus .. 863 — lilfordi . . 855 Halcj’on sm^Tnensis 761, 803 • monacha 856 Haliaetus albi cilia .. 587 nigricollis 856 leucoryphus 765, 1003 ■ sharpii 856 indus . . 765 Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa . . 738 indus indus .. 588 Gryllus desertus . . . . 738 Halimus . . 933 domesticus 738 Haplochilus melanostigma .. . 629 tartaras obscurus . . 738 Heliastes lepidurus .. 987 Gygis alba . . . . 873 Heliopais personata . . 8.55 Gymnodactylus stoliczkse 1051 Helioscirtus moseri .. 729 walli . . 1051 Hemicordulia asiatica 698, 893 GjTiinorhis tlavicollis . . 759 ' Hemipodius dussumieri • . .. 852 XXXVlll INDEX OF SPECIES. Number. Hemipodius pliunbipes . . . . 852 ■ taijoor . . 8.52 Hemitragus jemlaicus 600, 691 Heniocbus macrolepidotus . . 026 Herodias garzetta . . . . 749, 751, 770, 980 Hersilia savignjd . . . . 1050 Hestiasula brunneriana . . . . 724 Heteropoda venatoria . . . 1048 Heterotropus indicus . . 887 pallens .. 888 Hieraetus fasciatus .. 585 pennatus f5.1003 Hierococcyx varius . . 762 Himantopus candid us . . 1005 himantopus . . . . 669 himantopus .. 803 Hippobosca camelina . . 959 ■ capensis . . 962 maculata 959, 962 equina 959, 962 Hippoboscidse 704, 709 Hirundo daurica . . 999 erjdhropygia .. .. 759 fluvicola . . 759 pratincola . . 858 ; rustica rustica . . . . 999 1 smithi . . . . 759 j Holocanthus sp. . . .. 625 Hoplopterus spinosus . . 673 1 ventralis 768, 800 Horeites pallid us .. 994 Huhua nipalensis . . .. 578 orientals . . .. 579 Hytena striata .. 1100 Hydra oligactis .. 1148 vulgaris .. 1147 Hydrochelidon hybrida . . .. 769 leucopareia .. 939 • . . j| « lllCliCu) • • lUUU 1 ooa 1 1 1 A 1 Hydrophasianus chirurgus 768 859, 1005 1 Hydroprogne caspia caspia . . 870 , Hypoderma 712, 716 1 bovis . . .. 7161 leniata .. 7161 j Hypotsenidia striata obscuriora . . I striata j Hj'psipetes psaroides Ibidorhyncha struthersi . . Ictinaetus malayensis perniger . Indoplanorbis exustns Inglisia chelonioides Inocellia crassicornis Inocotis papillosis Iranella gen. nov. eremiaphila sp. nov. . Iris persa sp. n. splendida sp. n. Ithagenes cruentus geoSrojd geofEroyi kuseri Ixobrj’chus minutus minutus IjnigilJicus hardvvickii Jagoria martini pceciloptera Julis sp. Juncella juncea JjTix torquilla japonica . . Kctupa javanensis flavipes javanensis zeylonensis nigripes zeylonensis . . Number. .. 853 .. 853 .. 993 863 585 774 1033 1146 1146 769 729 730 723 723 844 844 844 660 760 Oil Oil 025 926 1002 .. 578 .. 578 .. 763 .. 578 .. 577 INDEX OF SPECIES. xxxlx Numbek. Number. Laletris lanceolatus .. 992 Limicola falcinellus • • • 666 Lambrus .. a3u • falcinella falcinella 867 Lamcllidens marginalis . . .. 774 sibirica 867 Lanius eiythronotus 757, 801 sibirica . . 867 lathora . . 757 Limnoea acuminata 773 schach. erj’thronotus .. 996 pinguis . . 774 vittatus 771, 802 Limnocryptes*gallinula ... 666 Larina burmanorum 775 Limosa lapponica . . 609 Larus argentatus . . . . 937 lapponica 864 937, 970 1 • 669 brunneicephalus . . . . 869 limosa 864 - caniis . . 937 Liopicus mahrattensis 760 . fuscus .. 937 Lipoptena gracilis 960 870, 973 1 • 960 gelastes . . . . 938, 1108, 1110 pteropi 960 genei . . 869 Litorrh's’nchus collaris 630 heraprichii . . 869 j lar 630 ichthyaetus 869, 938 Littorina subintermedia . . 775 minutus . . 938 Lobipes lobatus 867 parasiticus .. 873 Lobivanellus indicus atronuchalis 859 ridibundus. . .. 1006 • -1 • oOy ridibundus . . 869, 938 Lophoceros birostris 761 Lecaniodiaspis mimusopis .. 1034 Lophastur leupliotes burmana . . 592 Lccaniiun desolatum .. 1020 leuphotes . . 592 fusiforme . . 1020 Loidiophorus impejanus . . 00 illuppalame .. 1021 refulgens . . 692 ixorse .. 1022 slateri 843 latioperculatum .. 1023 Lophoriorchis keineri 585 limbatum .. 1023 Lophura diardi 842 mancum .. 1023 rufa rufa 841 pilieris var namunakuli .. 1024 Lucillia serenissima 710 tessellatum var obsoletum .. 1024 Luscinia pectoralis 1000 trifasciatum .. 1024 suecica abbotti . . 1000 tripartitum .. 1025 Lutianus sebae 627 Lecanopsis ceylonica .. 1026 Ljunnocryptes minima . . 8f 8_ Lepidosaphes dilatilobis . . .. 1010 Lynchia exornata 9b'n , Lepeterodius sacer .. 985 Macacus rhesus 1100 Leptogorgia australiensis . . .. 931 Machserhamphus alcinus . . 591^ lutkeni .. 931 Machetes pugnax . . 667 Leptoptilus dubius . . .. 692 Macrochlamys sp. 774 Lepus ruficaudatus .. 1081 Macromia cingulata 701 Lerina seolopoides sp. n. . . .. 727 flav'acolorata sp. n. . . 701 702 buxtoni sp. n. .. 728 Macropterj’x coronata 762 Lerwa lerwa .. 851 Macropygia leptogrammica leptogram* Lestris pomarinus . . .. 873 mica 837 INDEX OF SPECIES. xl Number. TMacrop3'gia Icptogfammica tusalia .. 837 ■ rufioeps assimilis .. 837 • rufipennis 837, 982 Macrorhamphus semipalmatus .. 864 Macrotarsius bitorquatus . . .. 858 Maerothell vidica . . .. 1045 Mareea penelope . . • .. 1081 Mariobezzia griseohirta . . .. 887 Marmaronetta angustirostris .. 807 Mastacembelus caudioeellatus .. 1039 oatesi .. 1039 Megalornis antigone antigone .. 856 sharpii .. 856 =" grus .. 663 lilfordi . . .. 855 leneogeranus .. 856 • monachus . . 856 nigiicollis . . 856 Megapodius nicobariensis . . 851, 982, 1117 Melanoides scabra . . 773 tuberculata .. 773 Meleagris satyra . . .. 843 jMelursus ursinus . . .. 1100 Merganser serrator .. 1117 Mergus albellus 657 Merops apiaster . . .. 1002 philippinus .. 761 viridis 761, 1130 Metopidius indicus 768,859 Microhurax ccerulescens burmanicus . . 594 ccerulescens . . 594 fringillaris . . 594 melanoleucus melanoleucus 594 Microperdix manipurensis inglisi .. 847 • manij)urensis 847 blewitti .. 846 Microrasbora erythromicron .. 1039 • rubescens . . .. 1039 Microsarcops cinerius . . 860 Microthespis amitrievi .. 723 Milvus govinda . . 765 melanotis . . .. 1004 mi grans govinda . . . . 588 — — lineatus . . . . ' 588 ^hmosa pudioa .. 978 Number, Miniopterus pusillus .. 979 schreibersi 965, 979 Miocertus wagneri . . 729 rogenhoferi . . . . 729 Mirafra cantillans . . 759 ■ erythroptera . . 759 Mol pastes bengalensis . . 754 hsemorrhous bengalensis .. 1135 intermedius .. 802 IMonopterus albus .. 1039 Monticola solitarius pandoo . . 997 Morphaeris fasciata . . 729 sulcata . . 729 Moschus moscbiferus .. 691 Motacilla alba alba .. 1000 dukhunensis .. 1088 ■ liodgsoni . . 999, 1089 leucopsis . . .. 1089 ocularis .. 1089 personata .. 1000 borealis . . .. 1087 cinerea melanope 999, 1090 citreola calcarata 1082, 1085 calcaratus .. lOOO citreoloo 1000, 1082, 1085 feldegg melanogriseus . . 1085, 1086 — flava leucocepl'.ala .. 1088 ■ simillima .. 1088 thunbergi .. 1087 maderaspatensis 759, 1090 Mus sequicaudalis . . .. 1063 alexandrinus var. nitidus . . .. 1063 var. rufescens .. 1057 brunneus .. 1058 brunneusculus .. 1057 decumanoides 1058, 1057 ■ decumanus . . .. 1058 nitidus .. 1063 rattoides .. 1060 rattus . . .. 1060 Muscadivores senea aenea .. 832 insularis .. 833 pusilla .. 833 sylvatica . . .. 833 Muscicapaparva hypej'thra . . 996 IXDEX OF SPECIES. xli Number. Number. JIuEcicapa superciliaris . . 996 Numenius phaeopus 669 985 . • I 996 864 MusciclsB 709 tenuirostris 069 Mustela strigidorsa 795 Nyctea nyctea 579 Mjdophoneus temmincki temraineki 1001 N3’ctcribia allotopa 968 MjTnaracline laetus 1048 minuta . . 968 Myristicivores bicolor 833, 982 parvula 968 M}d.ilus curvatus . . 776 roylei . . 968 stichotricha 968 Xj'cticorax griseus 770 n3mti corax . . 1005 nycticorax 060, 1109 X3'ctiornis athertoni 761, 806 Najas minor 1038 X3’Toca baeri 1081 Narcine brunnea . . 628 ferina . . 656, 1081 ■ = — indica 628 fuligula 656 Nemesiellus montanus 1046 marila 657 Nemorhoedus goral 875 nyroca 657 Neophron ginginianus . . 764, 1097 rufina 1081 • percnopterus ginginianus 583 X3’Ssom3-zom3’ia ludlowi . . 983 percnopterus 583, 1003 Neopterus kapirat. . 1079 Nephila 1047 maculata . . 642, 911, 1046 Neptunus pelagieus 629 sang\dnolentus . . 629 CEdaleus nigrofasciatus . . 728 Nerita sp. . . 775 OEdicnemus indicus 857 Neritina crepidularia . . 775 magnirostris 858 sp 775 recurvirostris 858 Netta rufina 650 scolopax 768 Nettion crecca 1087 CEdipoa gratiosa . . 730 Nettopus coromandelianus 771 (Enanthe capistrata 1001 Niltava sundara . . 997 picata . . 1000 Ninox obscura 582 CSnopopelia tranquebarica 766 837 fY* 582 837 ■ ” • — ... clllllllS • ♦ 1- - • 582 hirsuta 582 barica 837 • lugubris 582 CE.stridse 704, 709, 711 Nipa fruticans 982 CEstrus .. 712, 714 Noctua flammatra 814 ovis 714 Notopterus notopterus 1040 Oligodon venustus 1141 Numenius arquata 669, 985, 1081 Onychothemis tonkinensis 891 ■ arquatus arquatus 863 Opeas gracile 774 • lineatus 864 Ophichthys colubnnus o«7 6 xlii INDEX OF SPECIES. OphioceiAalus hareourtbutleri . . striatus . . Ophrysia superciliosa Oreicola ferrea ferrea Oreocincla imbricata Oriolus kundoo melanocephalus . . oriolus kundoo Ornithomyia avicularia . . Orthorhamjihus magnirostris Orthotomus sutorius Osmotreron donivillii phayrei pompadora chloroptera Otis bengalensis . . cdwardsi indica . . maequceni orientalis tarda . . tarda . . tetrax Otocompsa cmeria • flaviventris Otogyps calvus Otus bakkamsena bakkamaena . . balli .. deserticolor . . lerapiji lettia . . plumipes semitorques . . brucei sagittatus scops minutus nicobarica pulchellus rufipennis sunia . . spilocephalus Ovis hodgsoni SP Tignei Ovula formosa N CMBElt. Number. .. 1039 Pachylabra conica .. 773 .. 1040 Palseornis cyanocephalus .. 763 . . 844 nipalensis .. 763 .. 1001 schistiecps 763, 1003 .. 1130 torquatus .. 763 757, 802 Pallasiella truchmana .. 726 .. 757 Palumbus palumbus casiotis .. 834 . . 996 torringtonii .. 835 .. 6C2 Panalirus sp. .. 629 . . 858 Panchax parvus . . . . 629 756, 803 Pandanus odoratissimus . . .. 978 . . 831 Pandion haliactus haliactus .. 582 692, 830 Pantala flavescens . . 894 00 Pantholops hodgsoni .. 878 . . 857 Parkinsonia .. 1101 . . 857 Parlatoria cingala uar namunakuli .. 1019 .. 857 rutherfordi nom. nov. .. 1020 . . 857 Parra indica .. 859 857 Parus atriceps . . 754 . . 663 major cashmirensis .. 992 . . 856 melanolophus . . 992 . . 663 Passer domesticus .. 759 . . 754 parkinii .. 997 . . 755 Pavo bicalcaratus .. 839 764, 1097 chinquis .. 839 .. 580 cristatus . . . . 692, 766, 839, 1081 .. 580 muticus .. 839 .. 580 Pelargopsis gurial .. 761 . . 580 Pelecanus crispus . . .. 650 .. 580 onocrotalus onocrotalus . . 650 . . 580 • roseus . . 650 .. 580 Penicillidia euxesta .. 968 . . 579 ien3Tisi .. 968 .. 580 Perdicula argoondah 846, 1081 .. 579 asiatica . . 846, 1081 .. 579 manipurensis . . .. 847 .. 579 Perdix asiatica . . 846 .. 579 bicalcaratus 845, 1659 .. 579 bonhami . . 823 .. 579 charltoni . . .. 849 .. 1123 chukar .. 849 .. 691 cinereogularis .. 824 .. 1123 griseogularis 823, 3849 .. 931 gularis . . 850 hodgsonise hodgsoniae 571, 850 INDEX OF SDECIES. xliii Number. N UMBER. Pcrdix hodgsoniae sifanica hepbui-ni pallida . . lerwa longirostris lunulata oculea picta sifanica • torqueola . . Periseschna magdalena . . Pericrocotus brevirostris . . ■ peregrinus . . Periophthalmus koelreuteri Pernis cristatus ruficollis Petaurista mergulus sp. n Petrorossia claripennis • intermedia nigrofemorata Phalacrocorax carbo subcormoran desmaresti fuscicollis graculus javanicus ■ P3'gma3us Phalaropns fulicarius hyperboreus . lobatus Phasianus argus . . . . 575 .. 850 . . 851 .. 849 . . 845 .. 849 . . 8.50 . . 575 .. 847 612, 613 771, 996 757 . . 985 . . 766 .. 501 .. 1067 . . 885 .. 886 . . 886 . . 651 .. 651 ! . . 651 ' 651 .. 769 651,1109 .. 867 665 . . 665 .. 839 Philomachus pugnax . . . . • • 865 Phoenicopterus antiquorum .. ..1117 — — - — ruber antiquorum . . 657 Plioenicurus ca;ruleocephala . . • • 997 ochruros phoenicuroides . . 997 Pliotodilus badius assimilis . . • • 576 badius . . • • 576 Ph3’’lloscopus collj'bita tristis . . . . 994 gresiolus . . . . • • 994 inornatus humci . . • . 994 nitidus viridanus . . • . 995 occipitalis occipitalis • • 994 Pitta brachjmra .. .. .. 760,1135 Planseschna . . . . . . • • 613 Platalea leucorodia .. •• ..1110 major . . • • 662 pj'gmsea . . . . . . • • 866 Platj'plcctrurus madurensis .. ..1141 Plat^’pterna pictipes sp. n. . . . . 725 tibialis . . . . . . 725 Plegadis falcinellus falcineilus . . 662 Pleurosicya annandalei .. .. 924, 929 Plexippus cuiicivorus . . . . . . 1049 pa3’kulli . . . . . . 1048 Ploceus ba3m . . . . . . 758, 800 Plotosus canius . . . . . . 628, 629 Plotus melanogastor . . . . . . 769 Pluvialis apricarius . . . . 670, 861 — cinereus . . . . . . 860 cruentus elegans . . gallus hamiltoni humite burmanicus humise impejanus leucomebanus . . lineatus malaccensis melanocephalus pucrasia roubroul rufus wallichii Phik-ematomyinse . . 844 dominicus fulvus 670, 860 841 Podica personata . . . . 855 840 Podiceps albipennis 771 842 cristatus cristatus 941 841 fluviatilis 942 840 nigricollis 942 843 ruficollis capensis 1006 842 Pcecilocerus arabicus sp. nov. 731 842 bufonis 731 840 pictus . . . . 731 844 "iittatus 731 841 var. calotropidis • . 731 845 Pcecilotheria 1045 841 Polioaetus humilis humilis 588 841 pliunbeus 588 709 ichtliyaetus 588 , 765 xliv IXO£X OF SPECIES. Number. Polioliierax insignis Polyonyx biunguiculatus Polyplectron bicalc-aratnm bicalcaratum chinquis germaini • malaccensis Pomatorhinus horsfieldi travancoriensis Porcellana quadrilobata . . Porph5Tio poliocephalus . . Porzana bicolor . . fusca bakeri parva porzana pusilla . . intermedia pusilla . . Potamides terebralia Pratineola caprata Prinia inomata socialis sylvatica . . Prunella albigularis ■ himalayanus • strophiatus jerdoni Pseudog5'ps bengalensis . . Pseudoparlatoria pusilla . . Pterocles alchatus caudacutus arenarius coronatus atratus exustus . . — indicus . . lichtensteinii arabicus 594 927 S39 839 840 840 1135 927 768, 944 poliocephalus.. 855 854 ■ orientalis ■ senegalensis erlangeri - senegallus .. 854 853, 943 853, 943 767, 943 853 853 985 757 756 756 756 1001 1001 1001 583, 764, 1097 .. 1010, 1011 . . 838, 950 . . 949 . . 838 . . 1076, 1081 1076, 1081 . . 952 .. 838 838, 949 . . 838 639, 838. Pteroclurus senegallus Pterois russelli PtiUnopus eljihinstonii Pucrasia macrolopha 62i -biddulphi . . - castanea . . - macrolopha - nipalensis 948 807 629 834 692 841 841 841 841 Number. Pupisoma lignicola . . 774 Pycnonotus hsemorrhous . . . . 993 leueogenys . . 993 Pycnosoma flaviceps ..710 Pyctorhis sinensis . . 803, 1074 PjTgodera armata . . 729 Pyrgomorpha conica . . 732 PjTrhulauda frontalis .. 1110 gris ea . . . . 760 Pythia plicata ..775 • trigona . . 775 Python reticulatus . . 983 Querquedula crecoa . . . . . . 656 oircia . . . . . . 1081 querquedula . . . . 656 Quiroguesia brullei var blanchardiaria . . 728 Rallina canning! . . . . 854 fasciata . . 854 superciliaris 8i>4 Rallus akool • . 854 ■ aquaticus aquaticus . . 852 indicus 853 korejewi 853, 942 benghalensis 869 crex 853 fasciatus . . 854 fuscus . , 854 interm edius 853 parvus 853 phoenicurus . - 854 porzana . . 853 pusillus 853 striatus 853 superciliaris • . 854 Ramburiella bolivari 726 hispanica 726 truchmana . . . . 726 INDEX OF SPECIES. xlv Number. Numbe®. Rana erythrsea . . 980 Raphidia herbsti . . .. 1146 Rattus nitidu.s .. 1063, 1065 rattoides . . .. 1060, 1065 rattus arboieus . . .. 1057, 1064 bruniieus . . . . 1058, 1065 brunueusculus .. 1057, 1064 rufescens . . . . 1057 vicerex .. 1061 Recurvirostris avocetta . . . . 670 avocetta . . 863 Rhagodes nigrocintus ..814 Rhinoceros unicornis 689, 691 Rhinoptiius bitorquatus . . . . 858 Rhipidura albifrontata . . 757, 803, 1098 Rhizothera longirostris . . 848 Rhopodytes tristis . . 762 Rhyncops albicollis . . 873 Riparia rupestris . . .. 999 1 Rissoina sp. .. 775I Rollulus roulroul . . . . 845 superciliosus . . 844 Rostratula benghalensis benghalensis . . 869 capensis . . 1081 Ruea unicolor ..691 Saefa hodgsonise . . 571 , 850 Sarcidiornis melanonotus 770, 1075, 1081 Sarciophorus malabaricus . . 768, 859 Sarcogrammus indicus 768, 1005 aigneri . . 673 Sarcophaga . . - . 710 lineatocollis . . . . 711 Sarcophagi d39 709, 710 Satyra macrolopha . . 841 temmincki . . . . • . 844 Sawbwa resplendens . . . . 1039 Saxicola caprata bicolor . . 1001 torquata indica . . . . . . 1001 Scintharista notabilis brunneri . . .. 728 Scolopax arquata . . .. 863 cinerea . . .. 864 crj*thropus . . 865 falcinnellus . . 867 lapponica . . 864 limosa . . .. 864 nebularia . . 865 pheopus . . 865 pusilla . . .. 867 rusticola . . 666 rusticola . . 867 Scops bakkamjena . . 763 giu .. 771 Serinus pusillus .. 998 Serranus sp. .. 628 Silybura nigra .. 1141 pulneyensis .. 1141 Siphonaria sp. 775 Sitta castaneiventris 755 Solenocaulon tortuosum . . .. 929 Sorex sikimensis . . .. 1053 Soriculus nigrescens caurinus .. 1054 centralis .. 1054 nigrescens .. 1053 pahari .. 1053 Spatula clypeata . . 654, 1081 Sphenocercus apicaudus . . .. 832 sphenurus 772, 832 Sphodromerus cceleos3 riensis .. 734 Spilornis cheela .. 765 albida . . . . 586 bassus . . .. 587 cheela . . .. 586 davisoni . . .. 586 richetti . . .. 586 — rutherfordi . . 5S6 - - spilogaster .. 586 elgini . . .. 587 klossi .. 587 minimus . . .587 Spingonotus balteaus .. 729 — • bnmneri . . 729 — — octofasciatus . . . . 729 xlvi IXLEX OF SPECIES. Number. Spingonofus savignyi Spizsetus alboniger cirrhatus andamanensis ceylonensis . cirrhatus — limnaetus iiipalensis kelaarti — — nipalensis 729 .589 .585 585 585 585 586 585 926 926, 929 758 670 860 721 1046 983 776 873 873 1101 873 872 872 872 872 1108 , 941 872 1108 1110 870 871 871 871, 940, 1110 870, 941, 1108 872 939 873 939 871 871 870 longipennis .. •• •• 871 media .. .. 941,1108,1110 minuta . . . . • . • • 940 Spongodes bicolor pulchra Sporaeginthms amandava Squatarola squatarola hypomelana Statilia ocellata sp. n. Stegodyphus sarasinorum Stegomjda assamense Stenothyra monilifera Stercorarius parasiticus para.siticus pomarinus . . Sterculia urens Sterna alba albifrons albifrons gouldi . . saundersi sinensis albigcna benghalensis anastheta anaetheta fuligula ■ anaethetus anglica .. .. 941, 1108, ■ bengalensis bengalensis zimmermanni - bergi cristata velox - caspia - dougalli korustes - fluviatilis - fuscata infuscata - hirundo . . . — — hirundo . tibetana - leucoptera Sterna melanogaster nilotica nilotica . . ihleata repressa . . sandvicensis sandvicensis seena sumatrana — tenuirostris StethophjTiia bolivari Stomoxydinae Streptaxis burmanicus Streptopelia chinensis ceylonensis — suratensis tigrina decaocto decaocto . . — xanthocycla — orient alis agricola . . meena — orientalis — risoreus — senegalensis cambay- ensis ermanni • . — suratensis suratensis — turtur arenicola turtur Strix aluco biddulphi nivi color badia biddulphi butleri Candida dercepstorfii . flammea indranee indranee -mamgayi -newarensis jauanica ocellata otus . . seloputo zeylonensis Sturnopastor contra Stumus vulgaris humii Number. 769, 871 . . 870 . . 873 .. 871 .. 870 769, 871 .. 872 . . 873 .. 726 .. 709 . . 774 . . 836 . . 836 . . 836 .. 947 836, 1005 . . 837 .. 836 835, 1105 . . 835 . . 947 836, 947 . . 836 .. 1005 835, 946 835, 946 . . 577 577, 1003 . . 576 . . .577 577 576, 771 . . 576 576, 763 .. 577 .. 577 .. 577 .. 576 .. 577 .. 576 .. 577 .. 577 .. 757 995 INDEX 01 SPECIES. xlvii Number. Number. Succinea scmiscrica .. 774 Tetraogallus himalaj-ensis himalayensis 851 Sus cristatus . . 1100 tibetanus przewalshii . . 851 nicobaricus . . .. 979 tibetanus . . .. 861 Sylvia althaea .. 994 Tetrax tetrax orientalis . . .. 857 curruca affinis .. 994 Thamnobia cambaicnsis . . . . 758 minula .. 994 Thereicer\’x zejdonicus . . . . 760 SjTiapta striata 933, 935 Thisoccetriis adspersus .. 734 S%Tichloe lucilla .. 1144 dorsatus . . 735 Sypheotides bcngalensis . . .. 857 inorbosus . . 734 ■ indica ■ . . 857 pulcher . . 736 Sj’pheotis aurita . . .. 772 Threskiornis sethiopicus . . 662, 1109 bengalensis .. 1133 T^chodroma muraria .. 993 S3’rnium maingayi . . 577 Tmcthis cisti . . 730 nivicolura . . .577 hotsoni sp.n. .. 731 occellatum 577, 7G3 — saussurei . . .. 730 S\'rrhaptes tibetanns . . 839 ab. violacea n. . . 730 Torgos calvus .. 583 Toria nipalensis .. 831 Totaiius acuminatus . . 866 calidris . . 985 — glottis .. 985 Taccoma lescheua;ilti .. 762 — maculatus . . 668 Tachinidae . . 705, 710 nebularius . . .. 668 Tadorna easai’ca . . . . 653 stagnatilis .. 668 tadorna . . 653, 1120 tenuirostris . . 867 Tarachodcs arabicus sp.n. .. 720 totanus tetanus . . .. 668 Tchitrea paradisi paradisi .. 997 Tragopan blj’thi bl3'thi . . .. 844 Tcctona grandis . . .. 1101 molesworthi .. 844 Temenuchus pagodarum . . 757 mclanocephalus .. 844 Terekia cinerea 666, 864 — sat3Ta . . .. 843 Terminalia arjuna .. 1101 temminckii .. 844 Terpsiphone paradisi 757, 801 Treron apicauda . . .. 832 Tetracerus quadricornis .. 1107 bisincta bisincta . . .. 831 Tetradrachmum aruanum . . 980 domvillii .. 831 Tetragnatha gracilis .. 1047 prsetermissa . . .. 831 Tetrao caudacutus . . 838 curvirostra nipalensis .. 831 eliinensis . . 845, 850 fulvicollis fulvicollis .. 831 — — — coromandelicus . . . . 846 ■ pompadoi-a affinis . . .. 831 , . 846 .. 831 indicus . . 838 phayrei .. 830 orientalis . . . . 838 pompadora .. 830 pondicerianus . . 8.50 vernans vernans . . .. 831 senegallus . . 839 viridifrons .. 830 spadicea . . 844 Tiigonocorypha angustata sp.n.. . .. 735 Tetraogallus himalayensis .. 1005 Ti'imeresurus cantori .. 983 xJviii INDEX OF SPECIES,. Numbeu. Number. Trimeresurus grainineus . . .. 983 Tui-nix tanki 1081 Tringa Ccinntus . . 867 — — blanfordi . . 852 859 852 erythropus .. 865 Turritella coluninaris 775 feiTuginea .. 8C6 Turtur cambaj'ensis 766 fulicaria .. 867 ceylonensis 836 ■ glareola GG8, 864, 1005 decaocto xanthocj’cla 837 guttifer .. 865 ermanni . . 836 hj’polenea .. 864 risorius 766 h3’polcneos .. 668 suratensis 766 • hj’poleneus 1005 turtur arenicola . . 835 indica .. 859 Tyto alba deraepstorfii 576 interpres . . .. 859 javanica 576 . . 867 576 miuuta .. 866 nebularia . . .. 865 ocliropus . . 6G8, 865, 1005 pugnax . . 865 ruficollis . . .. 866 stagnatilis .. 865 Uloborus geniculatus 1047, 1048 subminuta .. 866 Ulula newarensis . . 577 ■ temmincki .. 866 Upupa epops 771 totanus eurhineus .. 865 epops 1003 . . 860 762 Trochalopteron lineatum .. 992 Urocissa flavirostiis 992 Troglodj'tes troglodjdes neglectus .. 993 occipitalis 754 Tropidauchen cultricolle .. 732 Uroloncha malabarica 758 cscalerai . . .. 732 Ursus himalayanus 691 Tropicoperdix charltoni cliarltoni .. 848 . — cliloropus .. 848 Tropidopola cylindrica . . . . 733 obtusa sp.D. .. 733 Tupaia belangeri . . .. 796 Turbinella piruin . . .. 629 Vaginulus birmanicus 774 Turbo arg-VTOstoma .. 1143 V anellus vanellus . . 673 , 860 margaritaceus .. 776 Varanus salvator . . 986 Turdus ruficollis atrigularis .. 1001 Vinago bisincta 831 1001 nhlorngai?tftr 830 Turnix albiventris .. 980 sphenura . . 832 dussumieri 852, 1081 Viral va iiidica .. 870 . javanica Icggei .. 851 Vivipara bengalensis car digona 773 . . 852 var doliaris 773 . . 852 dissimilis 773 . . 852 heliciformis var viridis 77S pugnax 767, 1081 Vulpos bengalensis 1122 INDEX OF SPECIES. jclix VuJpes ferrilatus . . Number. ..691 Xantholaema haematocephala Number. . . 761 montanus . . 691 Xenorhynchus asiaticus . . . . 770 Vultur calvus . . 583 Xiphidium fuscum turanicum . . 735 monachus . . 582 Xylophis perroteti .. 1141 Wallago attu . . 1079 Zosterops palpebrosa 754, 801, Zygoptera . . 802, 803, 993 NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOMBYLIIDJi. By Lieut.-Colonel C. G Nurse. Index to Plate on page 630 of this Volume. Fig. 1, Exoprosopa interstitialis . . . .n. sp. 9 9. Anthrax indicata . . . .n. sp. d. wing. 99 10. Exoprosopa gujaratica , . . .n. sp. $. wing. 99 11. „ dissoluta .. . ,n. sp. 9. wing. 99 12. Ueterotropus pallens . . . .n. sp. 9. head in profile. 99 13. Exoprosopa siva . . . . . .n. sp. 9. wing. 99 13a. „ » • • • . . • abdomen. T9 14. „ iridipennis . , . . . .n. sp. d. wing. 14a. * f, r. • • • « 99 abdomen. :.1b .4 , _ . ' » ^ ■ •5 'iifV ;*i, jrt*.'^*:> 'V%“ '''-• ■ ' vu ' • • v\r-}i34» ^ V ■■' ■■* Wl*^‘ ~ itVj, i; •;;■• P' ;. - J,*v ..' , „ ,• ' >• . ' :> . ■<\Vv W*'' HfiiUh' ■ 4 ' • ■ ■ <• ' *‘t,' ' “I* j* « ’ \Vff* J'l .'<■ it*j5f »ijC ( 4V>J .61 ‘ /4t : SfSifws* -y ’■■v'E- ‘I'ii.* ■ »* -I'j i. ' V /f £xA H t': f i»; ;» .4^.. W' '■•4 V j • < ti L -'.i Joupn. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soe. PERDIX HODGSONIyE HODGSONI^. Mrs. Hodgson’s Partridge. V a f i ' A ^ %. #■ i. • 'Ti 'is.* « 1 V FURTHER LIZARDS AND SNAKES FROM PERSIA AND MESOPOTAMIA. a b c x5 Chin Shields of Phyllodactylus elisoe, Werner. This figure was omitted from Vol. XXVIll No. 1 of the Journal and should be included with Miss Procter’s paper on ‘Further Lizards and Snakes from Persia and Mesopotamia to face page 251.’ JOURNAL OF THE Bombay Natural History Society. June 1922. Vol. XXVIII. Xo. 3. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. BY E. C. Stuart Baker, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U. Part XXXII. (Conlinved from ])age 312 of this Yohtme.) (TTR/? a 'plote). Perdix hodgsoni.^: hodgsoxi^ The Tibetan Partridge. Scefa hodgsonice. — Hodg., J.A.S.B., XXV., p. 165, pi. (1837) ; (Tsang, Tibet). Perdix hodgsonice. — Gould, B. of A., VI., pi. 74 (1857) ; Adams, P.Z.S., 1859, p. 185 (Ladak) ; Leadb., P.Z.S., 1861, p. 19C (Haiilee, Tibet) ; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 544 (1873) ; Cock, and Marsh, S.F., L, p. 349 (1873) ; Hume, S.F., VII., p. 432 (1878) ; Hume and Marsh., Game-B., II., p. 65 pi. (1879); Oates’ ed. Hume’s Nests and Eggs, IIP, p. 438 (1890), (Indus Valley) ; Ogilvie-Giant, Cat. B.M., XXII., p. 194 (1893) ; id. Hand-b. Game-B., I., p. 150 (1895) ; Oates, Man. Game-B., I., p. 191 (1898) ; Walton, Ibis, 1906, p. 218 (S. Tibet) ; Dresser, Ibis 1906, p. 346 (Tibet) ; Bailey, J. B. N. H, S., XXI, p. 179, (1911) ; id. ibid. XXII., p. 367 (1913); id. ibid. XXIV., p. 78 (1915). Perdix hodgsonii. — Adams, P.Z.S., 1858, p. 503 (N. of Mussoorie) ; .Terdon, B. of I., III., p. 575* (1863). Perdix {Scefa) hodgsonice. — Gray, Hand-L., B. II., p. 267 (1870). Perdix hodgsonice hodgsonice. — Hartert, Vbg., Pal., IIP, p. 1936, (1921). Vernacidar Names.— Sahpa (East Tibetan) ; Rhahpa ( Central Tibet) ; Che-Tra (Kongbo Tibetan) (F. M. Bailey). 572 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. Description, Adult Male and Female. — Line round the base of the bill black, followed by a white line extending back over the eye as a supercilium ; a second black line is followed by the rich chestnut forehead and sides of the crow’n, the centre of the crown is browner and mottled with black and white ; nape and hind-neck greyish brown mottled with white and, to a less extent, with black ; a broad chestnut collar at base of hind neck ; back, rump and upper tail- coverts blue-grey barred and stippled with black and more faintly with fulvous ; the blue tinge is strongest on the inter-scapidars and upper back, and on the latter there are sometimes a few narrow centre lines to some of the feathers ; central tail feathers like the upper tail-coverts but more boldly barred, lateral tail feathers chestnut narrowly edged with black stippled fulvous ; wing-coverts and inner secondaries with bold central streaks of pale fulvous bordered with black, a few bold bars of deep chestnut and pale fulvous and the rest wdth fine stippled lines of black, grey and fulvous ; quills brovm bar- red, ^vith light chestnut and whitish; ear-coverts blackish chestnut with white bases ; hind cheeks black ; fore cheeks, lores, chin and throat fulvous- white with a black border which joins more or less with the black of the cheeks ; fore neck white, or creamy white, with a narrow chestnut band meeting that on the hind neck ; below white ; the centre of the breast with broad black bars, which sometimes coalesce and form a more or less complete black patch on the belly ; sides of breast and flanks marked with chestnut patches and with bold blacldsh-chestnut bars ; vent and under tail-coverts pale fulvous or fulvous-white, sometimes marked with tiny bars of speckly black. Colours of Soft Parts. — Iris brown or red- brown ; orbital skin deep velvety crimson in the breeding season, dull reddish-crimson at other times; bill pale horny green; legs and feet greenish brown or pale livid greenish. Measurements. — Length about 300 mm. ; wing 155 to 165 mm.; tail about 86 to 91 mm.; tarsus about 40 to 43 mm.; culmen about 15 to 17 mm. The Female is like the male but a little smaller ; wing about 150 to 155 mm., and the other measurements in proportion. The Young Bird has no tinge of blue-grey above, the chestnut is wanting everywhere, and the lower parts are a dull earthy buff, the breast with paler stri^ and indefinite narrow bars of dull black. The crown, cheeks and ear-coverts are dark brown with white apical spots. Distribution. — Tibet from the extreme Wiest to the East,, where it meets the race Perdix hodgsonice sifanica, a smaller and much less richly coloured race. On the West it is found in Ladak, and X.E. Kashmir, has been obtained in the N. E. Bhagiratho Valley near Gangotri. It occurs in Kumaon and is not rare in some of the higher valleys of both Native and British Sikldm. It does not occur, as has THE GAME BIRBS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 573 sometimes been claimed close to Darjiling, nor is the country there suitable for it. It is found in both the Abor and Mishmi Hills in the extreme North, but does not appear to be nearly so numerous there as it is in Tibet. Nidification.~The Tibetan Partridge breeds in great numbers over practically the whole of Tibet in suitable ground between 11,000 feet and 15,000 feet. Major Barnes took its nest at an elevation of over 16,000 feet, and Mr. Macdonald has obtained eggs for me at places which he tells me are at about 17,000 feet elevation. Pro- bably its favourite situations are on the huge plateau-plains between 12,000 and 14,000 feet. The nest is nothing more than a scratching in the soil, an inch or two deep, and 6 or 7 inches across ; in some wind-blown and fallen leaves and grass may collect in the hollows, but in other cases the eggs are laid directly on the bare soil. As a rule the site selected is one protected by rocks or bushes , sometimes it is scratched in amongst the low thorny bushes which cover so great a part of the Gyantse and similar plains, and sometimes, it may be placed at the foot of a single bigger bush or clump of grass. But the eggs may also be taken on ground which is absolutely devoid of all vegetation, in between a couple of rocks or under some boulder. In all cases, however, the nest is placed on the leeward side of the hill and to the leeward of the bush, rock or other protecting cover. The breeding season commences in the end of May and eggs are laid throughout June and early July, occasional clutches, perhaps second layings when the first have been destroyed, in the end of that month and early August. Prjevalsky found a few eggs laid in early May by P. h. sifanica in Kansu, though the hens were not then sitting. They lay from 6 or 7 to 11 and 12 eggs sometimes, perhaps, even more than this, as Prjevalsky speaks of clutches of 15 eggs and over ; probably, however, 8 to 10 is the most common number of eggs laid. In appearance they are very much like the Common Partridge’s eggs. The colour varies from a pale reddish bufi which is rare, through warm buff, olive buff or reddish olive to a warm, clear olive. The shape is normally a rather long oval, the smaller end well pointed and occasionally becoming almost peg-top in character. The texture is very close and fine, and there is a faint gloss, rarely very highly developed. One hundred and fifty eggs average 37 '6 by 27*2 mm.; the maxima are 43'0 by 26 3 and 39’8 by 28'4 mm., and the minima are 31'1 by 27 ‘8 and 38‘1 by 219 mm. The minima exclude certain pigmy specimens which are not uncommon in clutches of this Partridge’s eggs. The hen-bird is said to be a very close sitter and an excellent mother, and the cock-bird an equally attentive father and husband. Habits. — In summer the Tibetan Partridge is found principally between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, but wanders up to nearly 19,000 feet, 574 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol XXVIII. aii.i on the other hand is found down to about 11,000. In winter it keeps below 14,000, and has been found as low as 9,000 feet, though its visits to such comparatively low elevations must be very few and far between. Hume describes the country in which he found them as very bleak and bare. He says : “ The entire aspect of the hill where these birds were found was dreary and desolate to a degree — no grass, no bushes, only here and there, fed by the melting snow above, little patches and streaks of mossy herbage, on which, I suppose, the birds must have been feeding.” Colonel F. M. Bailey tells me, however, that the birds do not by preference inhabit the more rugged and bare portions of the Gyan- tse plain, but are found in places where there are crops, grass or good cover in the way of bushes. In these places they afford good sport, and bags of some size may be made. Colonel Bailey mentioning two days when he obtained 48 and 43 birds in addition to 25 and 34 hares. Elsewhere he records : “ Found in the crops in the Tsangpo Valley from Pea up- v/ards. They are found in flocks from 10 to 15. Their flight is like that of an English Partridge, but they are not so willing to rise though they are not very wild. VTien scattered they call each other with a curious buzzing sound. I once heard this exactly imitated by the creaking lid of a lunch-basket which we had out with us when shooting.” Mr. D. Macdonald and others have informed me that when in crops or cover, these birds do not run far, but rise fairly close, and give good shots, though the coveys bunch very much the first time they get up when it is often difficult to avoid “browning” them. After re-alighting they often scatter a good deal, and then afford fine single and double shots, as they rise oire after another. When on bare ground, instead of waiting until the shooter is close up to them, they run a great deal, and will often scuttle along in front of one for quite a long distance, stopping every now and then when a dip or hollow in the ground hides them temporarily from view. It is possible that the bird from the western portion of the range given above, i.e.. from Ladak, Kashmir, Garhwal, etc., should be separated as a geographical race. It is much paler than the Tibetan bird, and has little or no bluish tinge above. The broad, rich chest- nut collar in that bird is replaced with a narrow yellow-chestnut collar in the Western bird, and the under parts also are paler and duller with the black more extensive and forming a more definite patch. All these variations with the exception of the want of the blue-grey tinge above may be due to bleaching and abrasion, and at present there is not sufficient material in the British Museum to allow of their separation. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 575 PeRDIX HODGSOXI^ SIFAXIC/». The Kansu Partridge. Perdix sifanica. — Prjevalskv, Mongali Straua Taug. II., p. 124 (1876), (Kansu) ; Bailey, XXII., p. 367 (1913). Perdix liodgsonice sifanica. — Hartert, Vog. Pal.,p. 1937 (1921). VernarMlar Karnes. — Sakpa (East Tibet) Rhakpa, (Central Tibet) (F. M. B.) Description. — Similar to P. h. liodgsonice, but much less richly coloured, the blue-grey tint on the upper parts is either absent alto- gether or is confined to the upper back or interscapularies. The lower parts also are duller, and there is less chestnut on the flanks and sides of breast. The black on the cheeks is also less in extent than it is in P. h. liodgsonice, and never meets below the throat. Colours of Soft Parts as in the preceding bird. Measurements. — This is a smaller bird than the last, the wing measiu’ing from 140 to 1.53 mm., with the other measurements in proportion. Distribution. — N. E. Tibet, Nanschan, Koko Nor to Scetzschuan. K idification.—P^ggs, taken by Tibetans in extreme Xorth-East Tibet and sent to me by Mr. D. Macdonald are quite indistinguish- able from those of the Tibetan Partridge. Prjevalsky found young birds in August in Kansu, but the birds were not sitting in early May, and had only commenced laying. Habits. — Similar to those of the last bird. Bailey found it between 12,500 and 15,000 feet at suitable places at Litang to Dokeng in the Upper Irrawaddy Valley. Prj evalsky records : “ We found this bird in the Alpine regions of Kansu (it does not extend further northwards), principally in the rhododendron thickets about the sources of the Tutunga, where the mountains are covered with small tufts of Potentilla tenuifolia. It descends to the plains, which, how'ever, are not at a low^er elevation than about 10,000 feet above the sea level. Its habits are very similar to those of Perdix barbata, only the voice is different. When taking to wing, it utters a more squeaking but louder note than this latter, and its call note is also harsher.” Other observers have noted that the ordinary nuptial call of the breeding male is very like that of Perdix perdix, if indeed it is in any way distinguishable from it. Both this and the last bird eat almost any sort of seed or insect, and for the table Colonel Bailey tells me that he cannot see much difference between Perdix hodgsoniic and the English Partridge. (Jo be continued.) HAND-LIST or THE “WEDS OF INDIA.” BY E. C. Stuart Baker, f.l.s., f.z.s., m.b.o.u Part VI. {Continued from page 333 of this Volume.) ORDER STRIGES. 1535. (1152) Family Strigid/E. *Tyto alba javanica. The Indian Barn-Owl. Strix javanica Gmel., S.N., i., p. 295 (1788), (Java). The whole of India, Ceylon, Burma to Java, 1536. (1152) Tyto alba deroepstorffi. The Andaman Barn-Owl. Strix dercepstorffi Hume, S.F., in., p. 390 (1875), {Andamans). Andamans. >537. (1153) Tyto Candida. The Grass-Owl. Strix Candida Tickell, J.A.S.B., ii., p. 572 (1883), {Borabhum). The greater part of India except the W. and N. W. Ea.st to Formosa, etc. 1538. (1154:) Photodilus badius badius. The Bay Owl. Strix badia Horsf., Bes. Java., pi. 37 (1824), [Java 1539. (1155) Eastern Himalayas from Nepal to Assam, Burma to Java and Borneo. Photodilus badius assimilis. The Ceylon Bay Old. Phodilus assimilis Hume, S.F., ?., p. 429 (1873), {Ceylon). Ceylon only. 1540. (1156) Asio otus otus. The Long-eared Owl. Strix otus Linn., 8ys. Nat., 1, p. 92 (1758), {Sweden). Practically all Euroire and Asia. 1541. (1157) Asio flammeus flammeus. The Short-eared Owl. Strix fiammca Pontoppidan, Danske Atlas, i., p. 617, xxv. (1763), {Denmxirk). Practically all Eurojx*, N. Africa, N. America and most of Asia. *The generic term Strix was first applied to birds of another genus (the Tawny Owls) and not to the Barn-Owls. Tyto of Billberg, 1828 is the next name available for this genus and Strix must replace Syrnium of Savigny for the Tawnj'-Owls or Wood-Owls. BIJWS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 577 1542. 1543. • 544. •545. 1546. •547. • 548, •549. ‘550. i'1158) Strix aluco nivicolor. The Himalayan Wood-Owl. Symium nivicolum Bhjth, J.A.S.B., xiv., p. 185 (1845), {Himalaya). Himalayas from Garhwal to China, and N. Burma. (1159) Strix aluco biddulphi. Scully’s Wood-Owl. Strix biddulphi Scully, Ibis, 1881, p. 423 (Gilgit). N. W. India from Afghanistan and Baluchistan to Kashmir and Garhwal. (1160) Strix indranee indranee. The Brown Wood-Owl. Strix indranee Sykes, P.Z.S., 1832, p. 62 {Deccan). Ceylon and Hills of S. India, N. to Mahableshwar and Orissa. (1160) Strix indranee newarensis. The Himalayan Brown Wood-Oivl. Ulula newarensis Hodg., As. Res., xix., p. 168 (1836). Himalayas, East to Assam and the Hills of N. and Central Burma. (1160) Strix indranee maingayi. The Malay Broicn Wood-Owl. Syrnium mungayi Hume, S.F., vi., p. 29 (1875) {Malacca). Tennasserim. (1161) Strix occellata. The Mottled Wood-Owl. S}u’nium occellatum Less,. Rev. Zool., 1839, p. 389 {Pondicherry). The Plains of India to the extreme S. and E. to Lower Bengal. (1162) Strix seloputo. The Malayan Wood-Owl. Strix seloputo Horsf., Trans. Linn. Soc., xiii., p. 140 (1821), {Java). South Burma from Pegu, South to Java, etc. and E. to Siam and Cochin China. (1163) Strix butleri. Hume’s Wood-Owl. Asio butlc-ri Hume, S. F.. vii., p. 316 (1878), {Omara Mekran Coast). Mekran Coast and ? Sinai. Sub-family Bubonin^. (1164) Ketupa zeylonensis zeylonensis. The Brown Fish Owl. Strix zeylonensis Gmel., Syst. Nat., i., p. 287 {178S) {Ceylon). 578 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 155*. •552. •553. •554. •555. •556. •557. •558. Ceylon, India, East to South China and Hainan, nearly all Burma. (lldl) Ketupa zeylonensis nigripes. The Himalayan Broun Owl. Caltrunguis nigripes Hodg., J.A.S.B., v., p. 364 (1836), {Nepal). Himalayas from Afghanistan to E. Assam. (1166) Ketupa javanensis javanensis. The Malay Fish Owl. Strix javanensis Horsf., Tra7is. L.S., ziii., p. HI {1821) {Java). South Burma and Malay Peninsula to Java, Sumatra and Borneo. (116.5) Ketupa javanensis flavipes. The Tawny Fish Owl. Caltmnguis flavipes Hodg., J.A.S.B., v., p. 364 (18.36), {Nepal). Sub-Himalayas from Kashmir East to Assam, Manipur, N. Burma to China. (1167) Bubo bubo turcomanus. The Turkestan Great Horned Owl. Strix turcomana Eversni., Add. Pall. Zoog. Rosso- As., i., p. 3 (1835), {Caspian Sea). Transcaspia, Turkestan to N. W. Himalayas. Bubo bubo tibetanus. The Tibetan Great Horned Owl. Bubo bubo tibetanus Bianchi, Bull. B.O.C., xvi., p. 69 (1906), {Chitsu, Tibet). Central Tibet to Kan Schan, S. to Sikkim. (1168) Bubo bubo bengalensis. The Indian Great Horned Owl. Otus bengalensis Frankl., P.Z.S., 1831, p. 115 {Bengal) India from the South to the Sub-Himalayas and K.E. Burma. (1169) Bubo coramandus. The Dusky Horned Owl. Strix coramanda Lath., Ind. Orn., i., p>- 53 (1790), {Coro- mandel Coast). All Central and North India as far East as Bengal. (1170) Huhua nipalensis. The Forest Eagle-Owl. Bubo nipalensis Hodg., As. Res., xix., p. 172 (18.36), {Nepal). Himalayas and Mts. of S. India, Ceylon, Assam and Burma. BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIllE. 57!) 1559. (1171) Huhua orientalis. The Malay Eagle-Owl. Strix orientalis /7ors/., Trans. L.S., xiii., p. 140 (18211. {Java). S. Tenna<^serim, Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Java and • Borneo. 1560. (1172) Nyctea nyctea. The Snowy Old. Strix nyctea Linn., S.N., i., p. 93 (1858), {Sweden). Mardan, N.W. Punjab. Northern Europe and Asia. 1561. (1173) Otus scops pulchellus. The Eastern Scops Owl. Stryx pulchella Pall., Reise Prov. Russ. Reich., i., p. 456 (1871), {Volga). S. Eastern Rir'sia, straggler into N.W. India. 1562. Otus scops sunia. The Indian Scops Owl. Scops sunia Hodg., As. Res., p. 175 (1836), {NepaO. North and Central India. •5^3. Otus scops rufipennis. The Southern Indian Scops Owl. Scops rufipennis Sharpe, Cat. B.M., ii., p. 60 (1875), {Madras). Southern India. I56J. Otus scops nicobarica. The Nicobar Scop>s Owl. Ephialtes nicobaricus Hume, S.F., iv., p. 283 (1877), {Nicobar s). Nicobars. 1 565. Otus scops minutus. The Ceylon Scops Owl. Scops minutus Legge, A.M.N.H., (5), i., p. 175, (1878), {Ceylon). Ceylon only. ’566. (II741 Otus brucei. The Striated Scops Owl. Ephialtes brucei Hume, S.F., i., p. 8 (1873), {Bombay). West Turkestan, Afghanistan, Baluchistan and Kashmir, S. to Bombay. 1567 (1175) Otus spilocephalus. The Spotted Himalayan Scops Owl. Ephialtes spilocephalus J.A.S.B., xv., p. 8 (1846), {Darjiling). Himalayas, MuiTee to E. Assam, N. and Central Burma. 2 580 JOURlSiAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 1568. (1178) Otus bakkamcena bakkamcena. The Collared Scops Oivl. Otus bakkamcena Pennant, Ind. Zool., p. 3 ( 1769), {Ceylon). Ceylon and S. India. 1569. (1176) Otus bakkamcena balli. The Andaman Scops Oivl. Ephialtes balli Hume, S.F., i., p. 407 (1873), {Andamans). Andamans. 1570. Otus bakkamcena lempiji. The Malay Scops Owl. Scops lempiji Horsf., Trans. L.8., xiii., p. 140 (1821), {Java). Tennasserim, South to Burma. 1571. Otus bakkamcena lettia. The Nepal Scops Oud. Scops lettia, Hody., As. Res. xix., p. 176 (1836), {Nepal). Nepal and Garhwal to E. A.ssam amd N. Burma. •572. (1179) Otus bakkamcena plumipes. The Kashmir Scops Owl. Ephialtes plumipes Hume, My Scrap-book, p. 397, (1870), {Murree). N. W. Himalaj’as. 1573. Otus bakkamcena semitorques. The Japanese Scops Old. Otus semitorques Temm. tD Schl., Siebold's Fauv.^ Jap., p. 25 (1850), {Japan). Japan Southwards. Very doubtful record from Shan States. 1574. *Otus bakkamcena deserticolor. The Sind Scops Owl. Otus bakkamcena deserticolor Ticehurst, Bull. B.O.C., xlii., p. 57 (1922), {Sind). Sind, Baluchistan, ? Muscat and Bushire. 1575. (1177) Otus sagittatus. The Large Malay Scop>s Owl. Ephialtes sagittatus Cass., Pro. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., iv. p. 121 (1850), {India, Perak). Tennasserim, South down the Malay Peninsula. 1576. (1180) Carine noctua brama. The Indian Spotted Owlet. Strix brama Temm., PI. Col., pi. 68 (1823), {India). All India N. of 14^^, exc3pt extreme N. E. Assam and N. Chin Hills. * This bird may be Scops ssiucnoici Zariidy and Harm., Orn. Monatsb., X, p. 49’ 190.3. '577. '578. '579. 1580 is8i. 1582. 1583. '584. >585. BllWS OF THE INDIAN EMVIRF. r>3l Carine noctua fryi. The Southern Spotted Owlet. Carine brama fryi Stuart Baker, Bull. B.O.C., xl., j)- 60 (1919), {Paumbaum, Madras). Mysore, Travancore, Deccan, Madras, and Bombay N. to 14°. Carine noctua pulchra. The Burmese Spotted Owlet. Athene pulchra Hume, S. F., i., p. 469 (1873), {Pegu). Central and S. Burma, 8han States, Siam Yunnan, Cambodia. (1181) Carine noctua blewitti. The Forest Spotted Owlet. Heteroglaux blewitti Hume, S. F., i., p. 468 (1873), {Phooljan State, TC. India). Sambulpur, Karial, • Khandcsh tforests). (1182) Carine noctua bactriana* Hutton’s Owlet. Athene bactriana Hutton, J.A.S.B., xvi., p. 776 (1847), (Candahar) . A straggler only into N.W. India on the Afghan frontier. Carine brama tarayensis. The Baluchistan Spotted Oivlet. Noctua tarayensis Hodg., As. Res., xix., p. 275 (1836), {Nepal Terai). N. W. India, Baluchistan, Sind and Persian Baluchistan. (1183) Qlaucidium cuculuides cuculoides. The Large Barred Oivlet. Noctua cuculoides Vigoi's. P.Z.S., 1830, p. 8 {Himalaya). From Hazara to Assam, Burma and Siam. (1184) Qlaucidium radiatum radiatum. The Jungle Owlet. Strix radiata Tickell, J.A.S.B, ii., p. 572 (1833). India from the foot of the Himalayas and S. to Madra.s and Belgaum. Qlaucidium radiatum malabaricuni. The Malabar Jungle Owlet. Glaucidium malabaricum Sharpe, Cat. B.M., ii., p. 218 (1883), {Malabar). Malabar Coast to Ceylon and N. Ceylon. (1185) Qlaucidium radiatum castanonotum. The Chestnut-hacked Oivlet. Athene castanopterus apud Blyth, J.A.S.B, xv., p. 280 {nec. Horsf.), (1846), {Ceylon). Ceylon in the wetter, hilly country. r)8-2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. 1586. *(1186) Glaucidium brodiei. The Collared Pigmy Owlet. Noctua brodiei Burton, P.Z.S., 1835, p. 162 {Himalayas). Himalayas, Murree to E. Assam, Burma, China and Malay Peninsula. 1587 (1187) Ninox scutulata lugubris. The Indian Broivn Hawk-Owl. Strix lugubris Tickdl, J.A.S.B, ii., p. 572 (1833)> (Dliolhhum, Bengal). N. India from Rajputana to Bengal. Ninox scutulata burmanica. The Burmese Brown Hawk-Owl. Ninox burmanica Hume, S. F., iv., p. 386 (1876), {Pegu). Assam to Burma and Siam. Ninox scutulata affinis. The Andaman Brown Hawk-Owl. Ninox affinis ITytfer, Beamu, 76is, 1867, p. 285 {Andamans). Andamans and Nicobars. Ninox scutulata hirsuta. The Ceylon Brown Hawk-Owl. Ninox hirsuta Temm., PL Col., 289 (1824), {Ceylon). Ceylon. Ninox obscura. Hume's Brown Hawk-Owl. Ninox obscura Hume, S. F., i., p. 77, (1873), {Andamans) Andamans and Nicobars. ORDER ACCIPITRES.f Family Pandionid^.:{; 1592. (1189) Pandion haliaetus haliaetus. The Osprey. Falco haliaetus Linn., S.N. 10th ed., i., p. 91 (1758), {Sweden). Europe, Asia and Africa, winter to India. Family Gypid^. •593- (1190) /Cgypius monachus. The Cinereous Vulture. II Vultur monachus Linn., S.N., 12th ed. 1, p. 122 (1766) (Arabia) S. Europe, N. Africa, East to India and China. *This little Owl forms several geographical races which require working out. tThis order having just been completely worked by Mr. W. L. Sclater, he has very kindly allowed tue to make use of his Ms. and other work for this Catalogue. {Very doubtfully separated from the true Fah onidce with which it is linked by the genus Haltaettts- \\VuUur applies to a quite different genus and JESea and Suakim. (1193) Gyps himalayensis. The Himalayan Griffon. Hume, Rough Notes, i., p. 12 (1869), (Simla). Himalayas, West from Bhutan to Turkestan and Tibet. (1194) Gyps indicus indicus The Indian Long-hilled Vulture. Vultur indicus Scop., Del. Flor. et Faun. Instibr., ii., p. 85 (1786), (Pondicherry). Indian Pen., X. to Punjab and Rajputana. (1194) Gyps indicus pallescens. The Pallid Vulture. Gjt)s pallcsccns Hume, S.F., i., p. 150 (1873), (Ajynere). (1195) Gyps tenuirostris. The Himalayan Long-hilled Vulture. Hume, S.F., vii., p. 326 (1878), (Nepal). Bengal, Afsam and foothills of Himalayas, Burma. (1196) Pseudegyps bengalensis. The Indian White-hacked Vulture. Vu'.tur bengalensis G?«eC, *S'.X. i., p. 24-5 (1788), (Bengal). India and Burma to Malay Pen. and Annam. vll98) Neophron perenopterus perenopterus. The EgyjJtiun Vullure. Vultur perenopterus Linn.,S.N., i.,p.S~ (1758), (Egypt). Africa, S. Europe East to X.W. India. (1197) Neophron perenopterus ginginianus. The Smallet White Scavenger Vulture. Vu'.tur ginginianus 7n. 0/ «. i.,p. 7 (1790), (Gingee S. India). India, S. to Ceylon and E. to Chota Nagpur, etc. 584 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 1603. 1 604. 1605. 1606. 1607, 1608. 1609. Family Falconid^. Sub-Family Gypaetin^. (1199) Qypaetus barbatus grandis. The Eastern Bearded Vulture. Gypaetus grandis Storr., Alpenreise vom Jahr. 1781 — 4, p. 69 (Switzerland). S. Europe, East to Central Asia, Himalayas and China. Sub-Family Falconing. (1200) Aquila chrysaetus daphanae. Himalayan Golden Eagle. Aquila daphanae Hodg. in Gray's Zool. Misc., p. 81 (1844), (Nepal). Centi’al Asia, Tianschan and Altai to Himalayas. (1202) Aquila heliaca. The Imperial Eagle. Savigny, Descr. Egypte Says. Ois., p. 82 (1809), (Upper Egypt). E. Europe and N. Africa to Lidia. (1202) Aquila nipalensis nipalensis. The Eastern Stepjoe- Eagle. Circaetus nipalensis Hodg., As. Res., xviii., (2), p. 13 (1833), (Nepal). Mongolia and S.E. Siberia to the Altai, India and Burma. (1203) Aquila rapax vindhiana. The Indian Tawny Eagle. Aquila vindhiana Frank, P.Z.S., 1831, p. 114 (Vindhya Hills.) India to Persian Baluchistan. Not Assam or Ceylon, (1205) Aquila clanga. The Greater Spotted Eagle. Pall. Zoog. Rosso. Asiat. i., p. 351 (1827), (Russia and Siberia). E. Europe to Amur, winter S. to S. Asia and N.E. Africa. (1206) Aquila hastata. The Small Indian Spotted Eagle. Morphnus hastatus Less., Voy. hid. Bdanger, p. 217 (1834), (Bengal). India and Burma, not Ceylon. 585 \ BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 1 6 10. (1207) Hieraetus fasciatus. Bonelli’s Eagle. Aquila fasciata Vieill., Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris, ii., (2), p. 152 (1822), {Montpellier). S. Europe and N. Africa through India to China. 1611. (1208) Hieraetus pennatus. The Booted Eagle. Falco pennatus Grnel., S.N., i. (1), p. 272 (1788), (Spain). S. Europe and N. Africa to India, Burma and Ceylon. 1612. (1209) Lophotriorchis kieneri. The Rufous-bellied Hawk- Eagle. Astur kieneri de Sparre, Mag. ZooL, 1835, Aves, pi. 35 (Himalayas). India and Burma and Malaya to Philippines ; Ceylon. 1613. (1210) Ictinaetus malayensis perniger. The Indian Black Eagle. Aquila, pjrniger Hoij., J.A.S.B., v., p. 227 (1836), (Nepal), India, Ceylon, Burma, S. to Malay Pen. 1614, (1211) Spizaetus cirrhatus cirrhatus. The Indian Hawk- Eagle. Falco cirrhatus Gmel., S.N., i., p. 274 (1788), (India). Indian Pen. N. to Rajputana and Central Provinces. 1615. (1212) Spizaetus cirrhatus limnaetus. The Changeable Hawk-Eagle. Falco limnaetus Horsf., Trans. L.S., ziii., p. 138 (Java). Sub-Himalayan Tracts, Assam, Burma to Philippines, 1616. (1211) Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis The Ceylon Hawk-Eagle. Falco ceylanensis Gmel., S.N., i., p. 275, (1788), (Ceylon). Ceylon and Travancore. 1617. Spizaetus cirrhatus andamanensis. The Andaman Hawk-Eagle. Spizaetus andamanensis Tytler, P.A.S.B., 1865, p. 112 (Port Blair). Andamans. 1618. (1213) Spizaetus nipalensis nipalensis. Hodgson’s Hawk- Eagle. Nisaetus nipalensis Hodg., J.A.8.B., v., p. 229 (1836), (Nepal). Himalayas and sub-Himalayas, Hazara to Assam. .-)86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY SATUliAL HIST. SOCIF/TY, Vol. XXVIII. Spizaetus nipalensis kelaarti. Legge's Hatvk-Eagle . Spizaetus kelaarti Legge, Ibis., 1878, p. 202 (Ceylon). Cej'lon and Travancore. Spizaetus alboniger. BlgiJvs Hawk-Eagle. Nisaetns albonigev Blyth, J.A.S.B., xiv., 2>. 173(1845) (Malacca). Tennasserim and Siam and Malay Pen. to Borneo. Circaetus gallicus. The Short-toed Eagle. Falco gallicus G/weZ., (1), p. 259 (1788), (France). Central and S. Europe, N. Africa to India and China. Spilornis cheela cheela. The Indian Crestea Serpent-Eagle. Falco cheela 7»cZ. Oni., i., p. 14 (1790), (Lucknow). Himalayas, Kashmir to Sikkim, winter Southwards. Spilornis cheela rutherfordi. The Hainan Serpent-Eagle. Spilornis rutherfordi Swinh., Ibis, 1870, p. 85 (Central Hainan). Assam, Burma and Siam to Hainan. 1624. (1217) Spilornis cheela albida. The Lesser Serpent-Eagle. Falco albidus Temm., PI. Col., 4, pi. xix. (1824), (Pondicherry). Southern India. 1625. (1217) Spilornis cheela spilogaster The Ceylon Serpent- Eagle Hiematornis spilogaster Blyth, J.A.S.B., xxi., pi. 351 (1852), (Ceylon). Ceylon only. • 626. (1217) Spilornis cheela davisoni. The Andaman Serpent- Eagle. Spilornis davisoni Hume, S.F., i., p. 307, ( 873), (S, Andamans). Andaman and Nicobar Is. 1 327. (1217) Spilornis cheela ricketti. The Chinese Serpent- Eagle. Scl, Bull. B.O.C., xL, p. 37 (1919), (Yamakan, Fokien). Mt. of S. China to Chindwin, U. Burma. 1619. (1214) 1620. (1215) 1621. (1216) j622. (1217) .323. (1217) BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. , 587 % 1628. (1217) Spilornis cheela bassus. The Malayan Serpent Eagle. Falco bassus Forster in Le Vaill. Nat. Af. Vog., p. 55 (1798). Malay Pen. S. Tennasserim to Sumatra. 1629. (1218) Spilornis minimus. The Nicobar Serpent-Eagle. Hume. S.F., i., p. 464 (1873), (Camorta, Nicobars). Northern group of Nicobars. 1630. (1219) Spilornis elgini. The Andaimn Serpent-Eagle. Tytler, J.A.S.B., xxxii., p. 87 (1863), (S. Andaman Is.) Andaman Is. 1631. (1219) Spilornis kloss*. Kloss’ Serpent-Eagle. Richmond, Pro. U.S. Nat. Mus., xxv., p. 304 (1902) {Great Nicobars). Great Nicobars. 1632. (1220) Butastur teesa. The White-eyed Buzzard. Cirius teesa Frankl., P.Z.S., 1831-2, p. 115 {Ganges, Nerbudda). All India, E. to Burma. Butastur liviventer. The Rufous-winged Buzzard- Eagle. Falco liviventer Temm., PI. Col. 74, pi. 438 (1877), {Java). Burma, Siam and Celebes and ? Java and Timor. Butastur indicus. The Grey-faced Buzzard-Eagle. Falco indicus Gmel., S.N., i., p. 264 (1788), {Java). Breeding N.E. Asia, winter South. Straggler N. Burma. Cuncuma leucorypha. Pallas' Fishing-Eagle. Aquila leucorypha Pall., Reise. Russ. Reichs, i., p. 454 (1771), {Lower Ural R.). S. Russia to Transbaikalia and N. India and Burma. Cuncuma leucogaster. The White-bellied Sea-Eagle. Falco leucogaster Gmel., 8.N., i., p. 257 (1788), {New South Wales). Coasts of India, Ceylon, Burma and S. China to Australia. Haliaetus albicilla. The White-tailed Sea-Eagle. Falco albicilla Linn., S.N., i., p. 89 (1758), {Sweden). Breeding N. Europe and Asia, winter to India, etc. 1633 (1221) 1634. (1222) 1635. (12*23) 1636. (1224) 1637. (1225) 3 588 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL MIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 1638. (1226) 1639. (1227) 1640. (1227) 1641. (1228) 1643. (1230) 1644. (1232) 1645. (1233) Polioaetus ichthyaetus. The Large Grey-headed Fishing Eagle. Falco ichthyaetus Horsf., Trans. L.S., xiii., p. 136 (1821). {Java.) India, Ceylon, Burma to Philippines. Polioaetus humilis humilis. The Malayan Fishing Eagle. Falco humilis Miill. d: Schleg., Verh. Nat. Oesch. Aves., p. 47 (1840), (Sumatra). Sumatra, etc., Malay Pen., to South Tennasserim. Polioaetus humilis plumbeus. The Himalayan Fishing-Eagle. Polioaetus plumbeus Jerdon, Ibis, 1871, p. 336, (N. W. Himalayas). Sub-Himalayas, Kashmir to Assam and Upper Burma. Haliastur indus indus. The Brahmmy Kite. Falco indus Bodd., Tabl. Enl., 1783, pt 25 (Pondicherry). India, Ceylon, Burma, Malay Pen., Indo China and China. Milvus migrans govinda. The Common Pariah Kite. Milvus govdnda Sykes, P.Z.S., 1832, p. 89 (Deccan). India, Ceylon, Burma, Malay Pen., Siam to Hainan. Milvus migrans lineatus. The Black-eared Kite. Haliaetus lineatus Gray in Hard., III. Ind. Zool., i., p. i. (1832), (China). Central Asia S. to Himalayas, E. to Japan, winter widely spread. Elanus coeruleus coeruleus. The Black-winged Kite. Falco coeruleus Desfon., Hist. Acad. Roy., Paris. 1787-9, p. 503 (Algiers). Africa from Algiers, E. to India, Ceylon, Burma, etc Circus macrourus. The Pale Harrier. Accipiter macrourus S. G., Gmel., N. Comm., Acad. Petro., XV., p. 439 (1771), (Veronitz, Volga). Roumania to Altai ; winter to India, Ceylon, Burma and Africa. BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 689 ■ 646. 1647. 1648. 1649. 1650. 1651. 1652. '653. 1654. (1334) Circus pygargus. Montagu s Harrier. Falco pygargus Linn., S. N., p. 89 (1758), {England). Europe and N. Asia, winter South. (1335) Circus cyaneus. The Hen Harrier. Falco cyaneus Linn., S.N., i., p. 126 (1766), {Near London) . Europe and N. Asia, winter South. (1236) Circus melanoleucus. The Pied Harrier. Falco melanoleucus Forst. Ind. Zool., p. 12 (1781), {Ceylon) N. E. Asia, South in winter. (1237) Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus. The Marsh Harrier. Falco cvruginosus Linn., S.N., p. 91, (1858), {Sweden). Europe and N. Asia, winter southwards. (1238) Circus spilonotus. The Eastern Marsh Harriet Kaup. in Jard., Con. Orn., p. 59 (1850), {Asia, Philippines) Transbaikalia and Tibet, winter southwards. (1239) Buteo ferox. The Long-legged Buzzard. Accipiter ferox, S.G., Gmel. Nov. Comm. Acad., Petro., xv. p. 442 (1771), {Astrakan). S. and Central Russia and Central Asia to Himalayas. (1240) Buteo hemilasius. The Upland Buzzard. Temm. & Schleg. in Sieb. Faun. Jap., p. 16 (1845) {Japan). Eastern Asia, S. to Himalayas and S. China. (1241) Buteo buteo rufiventer. The Desert Buzzard. Buteo rufiventer Jerd., Madr. Jour. L.S., xiii., p. 165 (1844), {Nilghiris). Breeding S.E. Russia, Asia Minor and Persia, S.E. in winter. (1241) Buteo buteo japonicus. The Japanese Deser Buzzard. Falco buteo japonicus Temm. ds Sch. in Sieb. Faun. Jap., p. 16 (1845), {Japan). Breeding in Turkestan to Higher Himalayas. 590 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. NXVlll. >655. (1243) Astur gentilis schvedowi. The Eastern Goshawk. Astur palumbarius schvedoivi Menzh., Orn. Geogr. Eur., Russ, in Mem. s.c., Un. Imp. Mosc., p. 439 (1882), ( Transbaikalia ). Northern Asia and S. to N. India, Burma and Central China. 1656. (1244) Astur badius badius. The Ceylon Shikra. Falco badius Gmel., S.N., i., p. 280 (1788), {Ceylon). Ceylon and Travancore. 1657. (1244) Astur badius dussumieri. The Shikra. Falco dussumieri Temm., PI. Col. livr. 52, pi. 308 (1824), {Bengal). N. India from Kashmir to North Assam. 1658. (1244) Astur badius poliopsis. Hume's Shikra. Micronisus poliopsis Hume, S.F., ii., p. 325 (1874), {Thayetmyo). S. Assam, Burma, S. to Trang and E. to Hainan. 1659. (1244) Astur badius cenchroides. Severtzov's Shikra. Astur cenchroides Severtz., Turkes. Jevit., p. 63 (1873), {Tur- kestan). Turkestan to Baluchistan, Sind and Punjab. '660. Astur butleri. Butler's Shikra or Goshawk. Gurney, Bull. B.O.C., vii., p. xxvii. (1898), {Car Nicobar) Nicobar Islands. 1661. stur obsoletus. Richmond's Shikra or Goshawk. Richmond, Pro., U. S. Nat. Mus., xxv., p. 306 (1902) {Katchal). Nicobar Islands. 1662. (1245) Astur soloensis. Horsfield's Goshwak. Falco soloensis Horsf., Trans. L.S., xiii., p. 137 (1821), {Java). Breeding China, S. in winter to A^sam, Burma, etc. 1663. (1246) Astur trivirgatus trivirgatus. The Crested Goshawk. Falco trivirgatus Temm., PI. Col., pi. 303, (1824), {Sumatra) South India, May. Pen and Java, etc. BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 591 1664. (1246) Astur trivirgatus rufitinctus. The Great Crested Goshawk. Spizaetus rufitinctus McClelL, P.Z.S., 1839 p. 153 (Assam). N. India, Burma to Formosa and Hainan. 1665. (1247) Accipiter nisus nisosimilis. The Asiatic Sparrow- Hawk. Falco nisosimilis Tick., J.A.S.B., ii., p. 571 (1833), (Bengal, Borabhum). Breeding Turkestan to Japan. Winter India, etc. 1666. (1247) Accipiter nisus melanoschistus. The Indian Sparrow-Hawk. Accipiter melanoschista Hume, Ibis, 1869, p. 356 (Kotegarh). Himala3’as, Kashmir to Assam and N. Burma, etc. ‘ 1667. Accipiter gularis. The Japanese Sparrow-Hawk. Astur gularis Temm. & Schleg. in Sieb., Faun., Jap., p. 5 (1845), (Japan). Breeding N. E. Asia. Rare straggler to Burma in Winter. 1668. (1248) Accipiter virgatus besra. The Besra Sparrow- Hawk. Accipiter besra Jerd., Madr., Jour. L.S., x., p. 84 (1839) (S. India). S. India and Cejdon. 1669; Accipiter virgatus affinis. The Larger Besra Sparrow-Hawk. Accipiter afifinis J. E. Gray, Zool. Misc., p. 81 (1844) (Nepal). Himalayas from Pindi to Assam, Burma, China, etc. 1670. (1249) Pernis cristatus ruficollis. The Indian Crested Honey-Buzzard. Pernis ruficollis Less., Traite d'Orn., p. 76 (1831), ( Bengal), India, Ceylon, Burma, Malay Pen. to Siam and S. China. 1671. (1250) Machasrhampus alcinus. The Slender-billed Pern. Westermann, Bigd. t. d. Dierk, i. (2), p. 29 (1851), (Malacca). S. Tennasserim, Malay Pen. to New Guinea. 692 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 1672. (1251) 1673. (1251) 1674. (1252) 1675. (1253) 1676. (1254) 1677. (1255) 1678. (1256) 1679. (1257) 1680. (1258) Lophastur leuphotes leuphotes. The Black-crested Baza. Falco leuphotes Dumont, Diet. Sci. Nat., xvii., p. 217 (1820), (Pondicherry). Nepal Terai, Bengal, Travancore and Ceylon. Lopha&tur leuphotes burmana. The Burmese Black-crested Baza. W. L. Sclater, Bull. B.O.C., xli., p. 31 (1920), (Malucom), Assam, Burma, Siam, Indo China to Malay Pen. A viced a jerdoni jerdoni. Blyth's Baza. Lophastur jerdoni Blyth,, J.A.S.B., xi., p. 464 (1842), (Malacca). Sikkim, Assam, Burmese HiUs to Malay Pen. and Sumatra. Aviceda jerdoni ceylonensis. Legge's Baza. Baza ceylonensis Legge, S. F., iv.,p.2Yl (\%1Q), (Kandy Ceylon). Ceylon, Travancore, Wynaad. Fafeo peregrinus calidus. The Siberian Peregrine Falcon. Falco calidus Lath., Ind. Orn., i., p. 41 (1790). (India). Breeding N. and Clentral Asia. Winter S. to India, Burma, Ceylon, etc. Falco peregrinus , peregrinator. The Indian Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinator Sund., Phys. Sail. Tid., i., p. 177 (1837), (Indian Ocean). India, Ceylon and Burma in hill country. Falco peregrinus babylonicus. The Red-capped Falcon. Falco babylonicus Gurney, Ibis, 1861, p. 218 (Oudh). Breeding Mesopotamia to Turkestan and Baluchistan. Falco jugger. The Laggar Falcon.' Gray in Hard., III. Ind. Zool., ii., pi. 26 (1833-4), (India). India and N. Burma. Falco cherrug cherrug. The Saker Falcon or Cher rug. Falco cherrug Gray, op. cit., pi. 25 (1833-4), (India). S. E. Europe and Clentral Asia, winter S. to India, etc. BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 593 i68i. (1259) 1682. (1260) 1683. (1260) 1684. (1261) 1685. (1261) 1686. (1262) 1687. (1263) 1688. (1264) 1689. (1265) Falco cherrug milvipes, Hodgson’s Saker or Shanghar Saker. Falco milvipes Hodg., in Gray's Zool. Misc., p. 81 (1844) (Nepal). Central Asia, winter to India, etc. Falco subbuteo subbuteo. The Hobby. Falco subbuteo Linn., S.N., p. 89 (1758), (Sweden). Europe and N. Asia, straggler to India in winter. Falco subbuteo streichi. The Chinese Hobby. Hartert &Neum., Jour. f. Orn., 1907, p. 572 (Swatow, S. China). China, visitor to Burma. Falco severus severus. The Burmese Hobby. Falco severus Horsf., Trans. L.S., ziii., p. 135 (1822), (Java). Assam, Burma and Indo China to Philippines. Falco severus indicus. The Indian Hobby. A. B. Meyer Wiglls., B. of Celebes, i., p. 84 (1897)i (Calcutta). Himalayas to Travancore and Ceylon. Falco vespertinus amurensis. The Eastern Red- footed Falcon. Falco vespertinus var. amurensis Badde, Reis. Ost. Sib., ii., p. 110 (1863), (Blagowestschensk, Amur, SiOeria). Central and E. Siberia, S. in winter to Africa, India, China, etc. Falco columbarius insignis. The Asiatic Merlin. ..Esalon regulus insignis Clark, P.U.S. Nat. Mus., xxxi., p. 470 (1907), (Corea). Northern Asia, S. in winter. Falco chiquera chiquera. The Red-head^ Merlin. Falco chiquera Daudin, Traite, ii., p. 121 (1800), (Bengal). India, West to Quetta, East to Assam. Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus. The Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus Linn., S.N., p. 90 (1758), (Sweden). In winter to India, Burma and Ceylon. 594 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETl , - Vol. XXVIII. 1690, 1691. 1692. 1693. 1694. 1695. 1696. (1265) Falco dnnunculus interstinctus. The Indian Kestrel. Falco interstinctus McClell., P. Z. S., 1839, p. 154 (Assam). Breeding Mts. of India and Burma to W. China. (1266) Falco naumanni pekinensis. The Chinese Lesser Kestrel. Falco cenchris var. pekinensis Swinh., P.Z.S., 1870, p. 442 (Pekin). N. China, S. in winter to India, Burma, etc. (1267) Microhierax coerulescens coerulescens. The Red-legged Falconet. Falco coerulescens Linn., S.N., p. 88 (1758), (Bengal). Sub-Himalayas, Kumaon to Assam. (1267) Microhierax coerulescens burmanicus. The White-breasted Falconet. Swann, Synop., Accip. p. 116 (1920), (Thayetmyo). Burma, Siam, Cambodia, Annam. (1268) Microhierax melanoleucus melanoleucus. White- legged Falconet. lerax melanoleucus Blyth, J.A.S.B, xii., p. 179 (1843) (Assam). Assam, to Indo China. (1269) Microhierax fringillaris. The Black-legged Falco- net, Falco fringillaris Drap., Diet. Class. d’Hist. Nat., vi., p. 412 (1824), (Malacca). Tennasserim, S. to Borneo. (1270) Poliohierax insignis. Fielden’s Falcon. PoUohierax insignis Walden, P.Z.S., 1871, p, 627 (1872) (Toungo). Burma. Journ,, Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Himal.\yan Ibex (Capra sihirica) Shot in Baltistan by Maj. 0. H. Stocklcy. Himalayan Tahr (Hemilragus jemlaicus) Shot in Kishtwar by Maj. C. H. Stockley. (PliJhs conlrih tiled by Maj. C. H. Stockley.) 595 GAJIE ANDIALS OF KASmOR AKD ADJACENT HILL PROVINCES. BY Col, a E. WARD. Part III. {Continued from page 344 of this volume.) {With 1 plate and 4 text figures.) GOATS. No. 348. The Himalayan Ibex. {Capra sibirica.) Himalayan Ibex {Capra sibiric i) (From the Society’s collection. 45"). The “Kkeyl" of Kashmiris. The spring is the season for Ibex shooting, when they come down to the green grass from their winter quarters during the morning and evening hours. They may even stay in the valleys during the day, provided the country is un- disturbed, and there are no snow leopards on the prowl. In addition cliffs must be adjacent to the grazing grormds. An ibex seems to be only at ease when hung amongst the precipices from whence he can look down and watch the low ground whilst a “ nanny ” does sentry duty in the vicinity. In the spring the flocks of Ibex are fairly large, and all sizes are banded together, but in the summer the larger bucks wander off to the heights, leaving the females and kids on the lower ground. In the summer, say after June, shooting is difficult, many a stalk is spoilt by the mist which drives up from below, and lands the guimer in difficulties. Ibex come to grief in avalanches, for even in the winter they generally keep up at great elevations. In the Indus valley, Baltistan Ibex come low down in winter, for the cliffs on that river are at a low altitude. There is no other suitable ground at hand except perhaps in Dachin and the lower Ward wan, hence they have to remain high up. How do Ibex exist on the heights during the winter ? they must be endowed with the power of living on very little food. Places where Ibex have wintered can be found; one was between two almost parallel lines of cliffs on the 4 696 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. southern side of a hill ; from the foot of one lot of cliffs a steep slope ran to the top of the next line of precipices. The upper cliffs overhung the slope. Many traces remained, and hair, skin and the horns of females were lying on the ground. Very possibly the Ibex were starved to death, and bears or vultures got to work and broke up the dead goats. Another winter quarter was much trampled ; it was practically a large cave with a wide opening to the south. Hair was plentiful, but no sWn or bones, so probably all went well, but very short rations must have been the rule. Measurement of Ibex Horns. Omitting those from the Pamir. In- Measure- ments dex No. 1 Length 1 Girth Tip to Tip Name of Sportsman Date Locality, etc. 1 55 iH 35J Major B. E. M. Gurdon . . 1905 Gilgit. 2 53 lOi Major B. E. M. Gurdon. . 1904 Gilgit. 3 51| •• Major E. H. S. Thomas 1917 Gilgit. 4 51 lOi 29 E. W. Hodgkins 1908 Gilgit. 5 50^ m 35 Major Anderson . . 1908 Baltistan 6 50 11 26 Capt. Nugent Head . . ... 1920 Baltistan. 7 50 lOi 23 Capt. Bruce 1908 Baltistan. 8 50 lOi •• J. B. Somerville . . 1909 Baltistan (1 tip broken). 9 50 lOi •• Capt. E. W. Palmer 1909 Baltistan. 10 50 10 22J F. W. Hodgkins 1908 Gilgit. 11 50 10 •• , A. E. Ward 1887 Zogila (Formd dead). 12 49^ 10 27 F. W. Hodgkins 1909 Gilgit. 13 49 11 Col. Cuppage •• Lidarwat, Kash- mir. 14 49 11 •• Picked up by a shikari 1885 Lidarwat. 15 49 11 30 W. Wainright . . Gilgit. 16 49 lOi 33i H. H. Cripps 1909 Baltistan. 17 49 lOi 20 G. S. Cooper 1907 Ladak. 18 49 10 19i Capt. L. Murray 1907 Baltistan (Brai- der). In- dex No. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 GAME ANIMALS OF KASHMIR. mi r€ s Tip to Tip Name of Sportsman Date. Ix)cality, etc. 36 Capt. L. Murray 1907 Baltistan. 34 A. E. Ward 1881 Ward wan. Capt. R. A. Lowther 1921 Baltistan 31 R. H. R. BrockJebank . . 1905 Ladak. A. C. Charlington 1903 Baltistan 16 C. C. McGregor 1913 Baltistan. 23 K. A. Jenkins . . 1911 As tor. 25^ Capt. Purchas . . 1921 Kishtwar. •• C. M. Denkin 1911 Baltistan. 31 R. V. C. Bodley 1913 Baltistan (Brai der.) 32^ V. E. Byrnes 1919 Baltistan. Capt. Nugent Head 1920 Baltistan 34 R. H. R. Brocklebank . . 1905 Ladak. •• Capt. J. F. Barrington 1912 1 tip broken 14i J. G. Apcar 1906 Baltistar/. •• Capt. Campbell . . 1900 Gilgit. •• Capt. McConaghey 1901 Gilgit. 35 G. N. Deas 1920 Baltistan • • Capt. S. B. Patterson . . 1905 Ladak 35 Lady Constance Stewart Richardson. •• Baltistan. JO G. H. McGaw 1907 Baltistan. •• Capt. Miller Hallett 1918 Gilgit. Capt. Williamson 1919 Baltistan. 598 JOURNAL, BOMBA 1’ NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV 111 In- dex No. M CdO C easur ment O e- s Tip to Tip Name of Sportsman Date Locality, etc. 42 47 - . Major MacCullock 1920 Baltistan, 43 47 Capt. A. G. Eden 1913 Baltistan. 44 46J 11 Capt. Jeffereys . . 1905 Baltistan. 45 46J lOi G. Des Vieux 1910 Hushai. 46 46J n 25i G. P. RadclyfEe •• Baltistan. 47 m lOJ 23J Capt. Bogle 1904 Gilgit. 48 461 • • H. C. Strong 1908 49 46| Capt. Bickford . . 1917 Cherkila 50 46 11 A. E. Ward 1887 Astor. 51 46 11 •• Capt. S. B. Patterson . . 1905 Baltistan. 52 46 10^ m R. Walpole •• Baltistan. 53 46 loj 26| Major J. F. P. Langdon 1907 Baltistan. 54 46 m 31 V. A. R. Stokes 1911 Baltistan. 55 46 26} Warton . . 1904 Baltistan. 56 46 n m R. S. B. Aldsey. . 1904 Baltistan. 57 46 . . Major E. H. S. James . . 1917 Gilgit. 58 46 Capt. S. Stuart Mellow 1920 Baltistan. 59 46 Major MacCullock 1920 Baltistan. 60 46 L. G. McKinsuey 1921 Ward wan. Between 45" and 46" there is a list of 30 heads, of these one has a girth of 11^" shot by Mr. Lueas Tooth in Astor. Two girthed 11" one shot by Mrs. Hext in Baltistan, the other by A. E. Ward in Dumoot. Since peace was concluded twelve heads measuring between 45" and 48^" in length have been recorded. Ibex shooting within the watershed of the Jhelum is now prohibited. The records of old date prove that very big horns were got in Kashmir proper. Look at the measurements of Nos. 13 and 14. Not long ago a fine herd was seen in another branch of the Liddar Valley. It is an open question whether the prohibition regarding shooting will give good results. The best guardian of a shooting block is the license holder ; he can of course shoot up to his limit, but what is that compared with the number that the goat-herds can slay, and besides this the sportsman would naturally try to kill leopards and bears. A Botanist or a Field NaturaUst may now and again visit the heights of Kashmir, but on their own job, not to hunt game. GAME AlS'lMALS OF KASHMIR. 599 Tian Shan Ibex. Measure- ments ! 1 In- dex No. Length Girth Tip to Tip Name of Sportsman ■ Date Locahty, etc. 1 59^ 13^ 52i P, F. Hadow, Esq. 1907 Tian Shan. 2 56| lOi CO P. F. Hadow, Esq. >> 99 3 56 Picked up in the Tagdum- bash and measured by two travellers. 4 53J lOf 34 P. F. Hadow, Esq. 99 99 5 53 28| P. F. Hadow, Esq. 99 ” To hark back to the hill side and records of sport. A flock of Ibex were seen on the right bank of a snow-fed stream which was for the time being a torrent. The flock was too far off to tell whether any bucks were about, hence the necessity to climb and get nearer . The ascent had to be made up a ravine which joined the main nver higher up ; the ridge was then crossed and the ground searched. Nothing was to be seen. A move was then made to the “ snowed stream’’ where behind some rocks breakfast and a rest were taken. Opposite and across the stream were precipitous rocks along which narrow uneven ledges passed along the face of the chff. Reading the newspapers and writing up the journal took off attention, but the local shikari was on the alert, and crawling up he whispered “Kheyl” ! On the narrow ledge were two bucks, which had come from opposite directions and were a close at hand. As they approached one another both stood stiff ; one or the other was bound to turn, for if they fought at any rate one would faff into the torrent below and be swept away. After a time the bigger of the two raised him- self on his hind legs for a second and then stood stiff ; this was too much for the other, he turned, keeping his horns outwards very cleverly and fled. The big one then slowly advanced, affording a very tempting shot, but he would have fallen down the cliff and would never have been retrieved in the torrent. It does not take long to write up the story, but on the vast hill side, it is a different matter. Descending was a long job. The ridges above the rocks had to be negotiated until the forest was reached, and a couple of small trees shoved across a narrow gorge. On the far side of the stream the modest camp was pitch- ed just before dark. At dawn a man was sent up and told to try and find the flock, or the two bucks ; there was almost certain to be a flock for it was stiff spring time. Obedient to orders the man re, turned directly he had sighted the Ibex, but the wind was wrong and there was no chance of an approach from below. Very early on the next day a move upwards was made, the ground above the cliffs was easy going and the Ibex were soon located. On a slope above the rocks, two were playing ; rising on their hind legs they made a great show of (jOO JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXVIII. fighting but evidently they were not in earnest. Here and there the rest of the flock were feeding. Suddenly the “ nanny ” on guard whistled, at once the two stopped playing and with them all turned upwards. Amongst them probably were the two which met on the narrow ledge. There was no time to delay and what was evidently a grand beast was fired at. It was a nasty one-quarter-on shot and he staggered as the bullet struck him, and moved on, until the left barrel brought him to a recumbent position almost behind a big stone. When he was reached he could not get up. What a difficult shot it is when the quarry is feeding under a cliff and the gunner is trying to get into position by looking over from above ! Under these ciicumstances, it affords one very little comfort for the shikari to say he will hold on to one and stop a fall, somehow the rifle will not get into position and feels as if it must be dropped. Now and again this predicament is sure to come. For days three good bucks had been watched. On one occasion the mist came up, on another they fairly won the game by moving steadily away, they had not got the wind nor were they frightened, but went on and on over very difficult ground. At last it was settled to go to a cave high up in the hills, so food and bedding with a change of clothes were taken, and as luck turned out 4 or 5 men including the old gun bearer and local shikari. The cave floor was spread with creeping juniper boughs, and a small bundle of pitch pine splinters was taken in order to light the fire. After a long search the bucks were found under a cliff which stood erect bordering a small ravdne. They were not more than 100 feet below and it was from the top of this cliff that the attempt was made. The bullet struck the ground some distance beyond the Ibex. They rushed up the ravine and turned to the left gi\dng fairly easy shots. Two ‘500 bore rifles had been taken out and four barrels were in all fired. Fairly big bore rifles do not lend themselves to much fusilading, and there were consequently many wounded animals. One Ibex fell, a second was not fired at, and the third could not be seen for some seconds, then he was spotted slowly labouring upwards, very hard hit and on his last legs. He stopped and stood broadside on, and would have given an easy shot for a high velocity small bore, but was out of range for the ‘ 500. Watching through the telescope, the buck was seen to double his legs under him, slowly sink on his stomach and fall on his side. On reaching him the mark of the bullet showed in the middle of the ribs. The summer was advancing, and unsettled weather was coming from below. The local shikari fussed and wanted to cut off the Ibex head and bolt downwards, but the lust for meat caused the other men to skin and cut up the carcases. Before this operation was over, snow began to fall and a hurried return was made to the cave, where luckily a few half burnt sticks remained from the morning’s fire. Everything was thrown into the cave, and everyone collected juniper boughs until the snow was thick on the ground. For two days snow fell heavily, then the sun shone, and the soft snow began to slide down the slopes making a move impossible until the fourth day. Dry chupatties and a little revolting Ibex meat is poor food even when wash- ed down with brandy and smoky water ! One head was a very fine one and taped over 48 inches in length ; a typical Wardwan head of the best. The other horns were not diminutive but were too small to bother much about and as there was much to be carried they were left in the cave with the intention of sending for them later on. This however never came off. Twice has a cave been useful and practically afforded preservation. When there is no leakage from melting snow, it is all right being dry, although a bit dreary, but when there is no dry place except on a bundle of juniper boughs it is trying. GAME ANIMALS OF KASHMIR. 601 Probably it is even harder to kill game with the sun facing the gun than it is to do so when shooting directly downwards. A start is generally made in the early morning when the sun is behind the hills, but often a great deal of time is lost whilst getting over bad ground, and just as the last few yards have to be passed the sun tops the hill, and the difficulty of looking along the barrel and taking a fine sight is so great that a shot at 50 yards is often clean missed. What with the wind changing and regard ha\ing to be taken as to the sun, mist driving up, and bad ground, no one can expect successful sfjort after Ibex without much patience and endurance, and it may be added that good food is a necessity. If suitable ground for an approach is impossible, and the Ibex are in a ravine, they can be brought up to the gun, by sending a couple of intelhgent men to give them the wind. On two occasions this method came oS well, but often it fails. Whilst seated behind a rock just under the head of the ravine, in fact almost on the crest, a large herd streamed passed, but there were no males worth shoot- ing. In another drive, if it could be called so, the Ibex came in a flock and behind them was a Thar. This was luck, for the coolies were clamouring for meat, and were short of rice. The Thar supplied this want, and also saved the pricking of conscience, for enough Ibex had been killed during the trip, and somehow the proceedings did not seem to be fair. Long ago when there were no game laws the Governor of Leh gave an enter- tainment in the Basgo Nullah (on the road to Ladak) which in those days was full of Ibex. The camp was pitched close to the Ladak road, w'here a crowd of Ladakis had assembled with their dogs. Some very fine Baltistan dogs, not unlike the big lurchers, were also in camp, but they w'ere not'vicious, while on the con- trary no stranger dare go near tiie Ladaki hounds. The Governor explained that the Basgo ravine would be surrounded and the dogs would be let loose, the Ibex would go into the cliffs and probably stand. From the point of view of a strange sight the drive was a success on the whole, but as a sporting undertaking it was a mean advantage. Many of the Ibex broke through, but several were shot as they took refuge in the rocks, where the Baltis seemed to be almost as much at home on bad ground as the goats ! One buck stood looking over a clifi with his head over the edge below, but at some distance away dogs were barking furiously. Walking below and looking upwards it was a prettj sight, but to shoot at the poor beast was not to be thought of. Eventually that Ibex managed to get away. Nearly all those shot were females or very small males. To see much of the drive was impossible. Basgo is a big nullah, much shoot- ing was to be heard, and now and again a few Ibex and several dogs passed. Time makes changes. When the Game Preservation Department was started Basgo became a sanctuary, and efforts were made to stop the Ibex drives for if these come off in the snow, the results wei’e fatal to the game. On the next day another drive was xmdertaken elsewhere, but luckily the game got through the stops, and only left two or three behind which were probably slain. The impression left was that Game Preservation was urgent, sporting weapons were being steadily improved, and soon accurate nfles would supersede* the smooth bore, and these combined with the aid of dogs and snow would ex- terminate the hill animals. No. 349. Markhor {Capra falconeri.) The Markhor of Kashmir. The two varieties of this grand goat which exist within the limits of the territory dealt with in these articles are famiharly known as 1. The Astor {Capra falconeri falconeri) with a bold single twist which gives a massive appearance. 2. The Pir Panjal or Kajnag {Capra falconeri cashmiriensis) with 2 to 2^ spirals. 602 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Some of the Kajnag heads vary and almost approach the other variety in the curves. There is a third or Trans-Indus variety {Capra falconeri jerdoni) with 4 or more twists, but this is not an appropriate name, for the “ Astor ” is also a Trans-Indus animal ; the term Sulieman Markhor is a better one. There is also a Cabul Markhor {Capra falconeri megaceros). The Pir Panjal and Astor horns are generally measured round the curves, the Suleiman which have many twists are taped straight. The list of horns is not a long one, for very few big heads are secured, but doubtless several between 50 to 52 inches have not been recorded. A pair of Astor Markhor Horns. Length 53" (much weatner worn and rather uneven). Measurements of Astor Markhor horns from Baltistan {Astor) and digit. Index No. Length Girth Tip to Tip Name of Sportsman Date LocaUty, &c. 1 61J 12 47 Capt. Barstow . . 1907 Gupi’s, Gilgit. 2 57 III 37 Capt. Molesworth 1916 Gilgit. 3 56J 10| 37 W. P. Appleford 1910 „ 4 55 Capt. Haughton 1911 5 55J 11 38f Capt. Selous 1906 Astor. 6 52 11 40 A. E. Ward 1887 Gilgit. Above Dumoot in the Gilgit District amongst a pile of old horns, a much worn single one was found, this was carefully measured as 61 inches, and was GAME AXIMALS OF KASHMIR. 603 brought to Boonji, where many people must have seen it. Another single horn of 63 inches has been recorded. Having spotted a fine buck, the only thing to do is to follow it day after day and give up all idea of shooting inferior animals, until the big head is brought to bag or all trace of the animal has been lost, — try patiently. Luck does not always hold good, and this was the case in a very unlucky trip during which a big Markhor was followed for sev^eral days. The continual change of wind was fatal, and eventually the beast vanished. Another fine Markhor had been found higher up the nullah where stalking was easier. The shot was taken from a cliff with the buck below, as it was browsing with head slightly downwards, the bullet went through a horn and the core and then smashed tho skull below the second horn. The undamaged horn measured 52 inches. There are the grandest views in the country above Dumoot, this valley is also the field naturalist’s paradise, for here rare birds breed, and numbers of rodents live. Now all the country is closed to the visitor. Elsewhere there are many places where field research can be carried out, but very few places where the big-horned Ibex and Markhor can be shot. The sketches which were made from photographs represent horns from Astor and the Kajnag, and are of about the same size, i.e., measurements. PiR Pan.tal or Kajnag Markhor [C. falcon‘ri cashmiriensis.) A pair of Homs from Kajnag. Length a little over 53". The horns of this variety are often very long and vary greatly in curvature. As a rule they do not girth as much as those from Gilgit and Baltistan. The Kajnag and Shamshibri are now under the careful supervision of the Game Preservation Department from whom copies of the rules in force can be obtained. The Kajnag which is adjacent to the Vale of Kashmir and close to the main road was overshot in the eighties. There are apparently very few good heads left. However, when Malangan in the Kajnag is re-opened for sport, the big bucks may again be found, 604 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV HI. Measurements of Markhor Horns from Kajnag. In- Measure- ments dex No. Length Girth Tip to Tip Name of Sportsman Date Locality, &c. 1 59 lOf 36 Col. S. Turnbull. . 1903 Kajnag. 2 59 104 Major Sherves . . 1888 Malangan, Kajnag 3 58 lOf Major Knox 1909 Kajnag. 4 574 10 394 H. McLaughlin 1907 Kajnag(Malangan) 5 56 W. Mitchell 1888 Malangan. 6 56 104 Major Sherves . . 1888 Kajnag. 7 554 104 40 P. M. Hall 1916 Shamshibri. j" 8 534 104 32 A. E. Ward 1881 Malangan. 9 524 W. Mitchell 1888 Malangan. 10 52 Offered for sale at Rampur in a shop. 1880 11 51 104 A. E. Ward 1887 Shamshibri. 12 50 10 A. E. Ward . . . . 1881 Malangan. Records of horns from the Pir Panjal* * do not exist. The only two pairs of horns of a fairly good size known of, measured 45 inches. One was shot long ago after a prolonged search for a good head, and certainlj’ was bigger than any other seen. The other was brought in to Srinagar either in 1886 or 1887 and was measmed by Henri Dauvergne. The late Captain S. G. Allan often talked about his visits to the Pir Panjal, but stated he had seen no good Markhor heads even in the sixties. A few but very few big bucks are to be found in Poonch and are protected by the Rajah. So let a return be made to the Kajnag. Accompanied by a friend a move was made to the ground opposite to Rampur on the old Abbot- tabad route. Report had told of many big bucks high up in the Malangan cliffs, and in other rocky mountains. •t-(NoTE — Shamshibi’i Ranges are next to the Kajnag.) * In Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game the largest head from the Pir Panjal measures 53" (Maj. F. W. Walshe) ; other good heads from this area are 51 1" (Sir Edmund Loder) and 48J" (Mr. J. G. ^Millais). GAME AM MALS OF KASHMIR. 605 The autumn was coming on, the mists had cleared off, the fresh morning air was delightful and hope was in the ascendant. A well known old shikari who was lame, but who could get over any bad ground met the camp and gave his news. “ One big buck quite close and three a little further off!” His idea of close was probably 10 miles and five thousand feet up the mountain, the little further off “ turned out to mean a very long day's climb, and then two or three hours amongst almost vertical cliffs.” The single buck was found and bagged b\ the camp companion,the term “big” was an exaggeration, still the horns were well over 45 inches. Before daylight on the second morning after a very long tramp on the previous day the camp was on the alert. A few sticks were lighted and charcoal made for the samavars ; hot tea is an excellent beverage at early dawn. The start was made as soon as it was possible to see the exact place to tread, for the rocks although not very difficult, were rather friable and unsafe. High up under the main cliffs there is an open slope of some size, where grass and stunted birch grow, and where young birch bushes are crushed down by the snow and lie in tangled heaps. The slope can only be approached from one side. For some distance above the approachable side, the ground was broken up by rocks. It was there the three bucks were found. The lame old shikari ■“ Rahmana ” has now passed away, but he was generally very reUable and on this occasion absolutely^so. One buck was standing up close to a lot of birch, the Other two were resting on an open part of the slope. By crawling and dodging from cover to cover not more than 80 yards inter- vened between the rifle and the standing buck. It seemed to be almost impos- sible to miss, but the buck did not appear to even flinch but stood still — on re- ceiving the second bullet he subsided on to his side. Both bullets had hit behind the shoulder, the first had probably struck some nerve centre. Naturally the other two Markhor were off at once, but owing to the nature of the ground they had to come broadside on and shghtly above. This gave time to get hold of the second rifle, and drop the leading animal which fell dead and rolled into the dried birch. The third buck was still within shooting range but whether hit or not it is difficult to say and before there was time to reload he was out of sight. The shikari rushed forward and trod on a spike of birch wood which penetrated his grass shoe deep into the instep. By means of forceps which were in a roll of taxidermist tools the spike was pulled out, cotton wool and a bandage made the lame man fairly comfoi table and when this was finished, Ramana began to talk. He would have it the third buck was hit, and could not get away. Leaving the old man to take off the heads and skins of the slain the living buck was followed. The rocks were bad going from the first and after a short distance quite impossible, but the buck had gone on until he had reached a ledge, and there he stood, possibly over 300 yards away. He had crossed with his right side towards the rifle, but now as he turned round, his left side was exposed, but the glasses showed no wound which if it existed was probably in the middle of his body, for his legs were intact. The shot was too long for a rifle only sighted up to 200 yards, and the result of firing all but two or three cartridges only ended in hard smacks against the rocks, so leaving the cooUe, who seemed reasonably acute, to watch, a return was made to help the doubly lamed Rahmana. It was intended to return the next morning and to expend more cartridges, for when the coolie reached the temporary camp, where the night was spent, he said the buck was still there. In the morning he was not to be seen, and both men declared that he must have fallen over. Some days afterwards broken pieces of one horn, and a damaged 606 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL mST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVllI. head with half a second horn were brought into camp. The chances are this was the last of the three big bucks that were “ a little further off,” but who knows what tricks may have been played by the shikaris. On another occasion three shootable Markhor and two small ones w'ere said to be in a ravine not far from camp. This was years later. One head of 51 inches was obtained and the rest left, for Markhor were scarcer than in 1881. Old Kamana was still going and came on the trip. His foot had healed at once, still it w’as probable he had experienced a great deal of pain, which he bore without a murmur. No account of Markhor shooting would be complete without mention- ing ‘ Kennard,’ who wintered in Baltistan and shot many Ibex and Markhor. A number of the Markhor were got on the Indus or rather just above the cliffs. Amongst the heads were some fine massive wide spreading specimens, but the measurements are not just now available. The late Mr. Kennard probably shot more of the Hill Gloats than any other European; for he had the cream of the sport in the days when ffrearms of precision were scarce on the frontier. He also shot in the winter season, for there were no game laws, few men thought of the future and the legion of sportsmen who now come to Kashmir. Two hundred was then the limit of the number of visitors who could visit Kashmir. Many of these two hundred never went outside the boundary of the Vale or even to the Wardwan and Soroo and it was often possible to shoot over the greater part of Ladak and Baltistan without meeting more than two or three other sportsmen. No. 350. The Tahr {Hemitragus jemlaicus.) Horns of Tahr (H. jemlaicus) 13J" (From the Society’s collection) The Kras or Jagla of Kashmir. The Kart in the country bordering on Chamba. The Jhula of the United Province hills, but this name is generally used to designate the old males. The Pir Panjal, Kishtwar-Dachan and the lower Wardwan hold many tahr. On page 509 in the volume on Mammals (Fauna of British India Series) there is a drawing of this thick set goat which however is very active in the precipice. The trophy is a poor one, unless set up with the long hair of the neck. The Thar is an e\il smelling beast, but one that gives grand sport to those who love scrambling amongst the rocky forests, where deodars grow, and w’here pheasants Can be met with. GAME AEIMALS OF KASHMIR. 607 Measurements Index No. Length Girth Tip to Tip Name of Sportsman Date Locality, &c. ’ 1 14f 9 8 Capt. I. M. Cameron 1906 2 14J n 6 H. D. Anderson 1914 3 Capt. Dennys 1911 4 14^ Capt. Finlay 1910 5 14^ H Capt. Lewis 1904 6 14J 9 n Capt. Stockwell 1908 7 6 Capt. H. Percy 1904 8 14 9 Major Drew 1907 9 14 8i P. F. Hadow 1908 10 14 Capt. Sturges 1921 1 It is refreshing to be able to enter on the list of horns one of 14 inches shot in 1921. A very large number of htads 12 inches to 14 inches could be entered. Except for those who are keen on records there is a satisfaction in shooting any old Thar with a head over 12 inches, and many such are to be found. In former years when Kishtwar, which is attached to the Jammu province, was closed to the public, very few good heads were to be got. The lower Ward wan and the Pir range held little worth shooting, but one head of over 13J inches can be brought to mind, and that was shot in the Gwee-nye in the Wardwan Hills. A Collector’s Trip on the Borders of Kishtwar and Thar Shooting. Not far from where the Panjari-dar Mountain marks the boundary, a comfort' able camp was pitched amongst fine horse chestnuts and deodars, the object in view being to collect various small beasts and birds, and if luck was good a brown bear or in fact anything that presented itself. An expert in skinning was included in the following, for it is tiring work to be out early and inspect the many traps, then go out after birds and come back to skin and label them. On arrival, it was decided to halt and sort out what might be] required ; there were no villages, the sheep were not as yet on their grazing grounds, and by luck no one was about. During the halt, hours were spent in trying to find where the Speckled Wood pigeon made their nests. A pair of Bonelli's Eagles were located in some rocks, which chased a Monal pheasant which was put up, but they failed as the quarry dropped suddenly and took shelter in the forest. A brown bear and also a Serow were seen, the latter being put up by the sound of the collector’s 608 JOUBNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol XXVIII. gun, and disappearing before a rifle could be handled. The bear was left alone as it was a female. Marching on the next day through the forest of mixed trees was very pleasant, but nothing was seen until emerging from the trees a stream was reached and the sound of a watei-fall heard. Above the waterfall — there was no crossing below the fall — was a steep smooth slab of rock over which a wide stream of water flowed. On the far side of this slippery and smooth rock a herd of Thar were feeding quite unconscious of danger, whilst beyond them and above them were broken up cliffs. Between the forest and the stream there was sufficient scrub to cover the stalkei-, but the distance from the edge of the water to where the Thar were feeding was too far for a certain shot. Sitting amongst the bushes and watching was pleasant enough only for a short time, but this had to be endured or the idea of getting those Thar had to be given up. After a long wait the animals came towards the water, it seemed to be impossible that they could get a footing on the smooth slope. Anyway three - bucks came to the edge of the water and the leading one was not more than 50 yards away when he was shot, and fell forward into the water and in a second was at once swept downwards. A second buck hard hit, went upwards and then lay down perhaps two hundred yards away. Nothing definite could be seen, and several shots were necessary before he rolled out of the rocks on to fairly level ground below, and lay dead. The Kishtwaris are Hindus, so no throat cutting operations were necessary. A coolie was left to try and scare off vultures, whilst the rest of the party descend- ed the ravine to look for the first Thar that had fallen. Below where the smooth rock ended was a mass of snow. Adjacent to the rock it had been melted by the water, leaving an open space and, in this,between rock and snow,the body of the Thar was fixed. Evidently time would be required to get it out, so crossing on the snow, a return was m^e and the second Thar was picked up and sent into the main valley below. Without appliances there was no getting at the first Tharand it was not until a pole had been placed acro.ss the chasm and the guy ropes of the tents used, that a man could descend and fasten the ropes round the body, which could then be hauled up ; but this work had to be deferred until the next morning when a bedraggled mass of hair and goat was extracted. The snow shde was a boon, for it not only formed a bridge over the side stream where the Thar were found, but also over the main water of the valley, for the junction of the two waters was close at hand. During various trips on three occasions animals have fallen into crevasses or into the water below snow bridges ; twice Thar which were got out dead, but the third time a bear which unfor- tunately was wounded had to be left, poor beast ! There was plenty to do in camp for a day or two, and a fresh start was to have been made on the morning of the third day but the post coolie reported he had seen a sohtary Thar down the valley. The road, or rather cattle track which followed the small river was taken, then a halt was made and the glass got out, after along scrutiny the Thar was seen lying down under a deodar tree. To suit the wind the stalk had to be upwards. When almost vithin shootable distance the accommodating animal got up and crossed the narrow nullah imme- diately above. A long shot was taken, and the Thar fell, rolling dowm the steep incline to within a few yards of where we stood. The distance probably was over estimated for the bullet hit high up where the neck joined the body. The skin was given to the postal runner, as he explained that Thar skins, when cut into strips, were used to fasten the yoke of the ploughs on the cattle as caste forbade the hides of cows being touched. Three Thar heads were sufficient. As the five mountains (Panjendar) were only about 8 or 10 miles further up, the camp was taken on — what a difference there GAME ANIMALS OF KASHMIR 609 is between the preserved Deodar Forests, and the unprotected birch. The black dead stems of the birch were a dismal sight. The cattle and goat herds had stripped ofiE the small boughs of the birch and consequently the trees were ruined. Maple and horse chestnut trees were cut to pieces and were monuments of destruction standing stark and drear in the snow. This devastation is going on almost everywhere and has ruined many and many a fine Forest. A return was made by another valley. Thar were seen and left alone. A goral and a bear were shot. This ended a very pleasant trip and a most success- ful result from a field naturalist's point of view, for the upper valle3’s of Kishtwar hold many birds that are seldom to be seen in Kashmir. The views of the mountain peaks of Brahma are verj'' grand — the people are interesting and talkative. {To be continued) 4 610 INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. BY Major F. C. Fraser, I.M.S., F.E.S. Part XIII. {Continued from i>age 492 of this Volicme.) (With h Text-figures.') * Fig. 1. i. Terminal segments of abdomen of jEschna erythromelas showing {a) dentigerous plate, ii. The same of JEschna ornithocephala. Group — Brachyteon. The genera included in this group are characterized by the symmetrical fork- ing of B.S (5th nervure) and by the presence of only a single row of cells between Rs and Rs^l (5th nervuie and 5a ) and between Miv and Mspl (7th ner\mre and 7a). (An exception is Jagoria in which Rs is unforked.) The eyes are generally smaller and less contiguous than in group Anax ; the frons usually broad or very broad, the occiput small and simple. The wings are long and broad or narrow, the reticulation open or close, the base of the hind- wing usually excavate and angulated in the male, rounded in the female, the stigma variable, long and narrow or short and broad. The dentigerous plate of the female is variable, subrotundate, denticulate or forked. The anal superior appendages of the male usuaUy lanceolate, the in- ferior subtriangular. * This figure was omitted from the previous i>art and should have been included under the description of JEschna erythromelas. Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, p. 490, INDIAI^ DRAGOIS; FLIES. 611 Genus — Jagoria. Fig. 2. Wings of Jagoria posciloplera, Karsch. J (x 2’5). Jagoria, Karsch, Ent. Nachr., xv., p. 238, (1889) ; Laidlaw, Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. xxii, p. 76, (1921) ; Martin, Cat. Coll. Selys, Mschnines p. 155, (1908). Head moderately large ; eyes large, broadly or moderately contiguous. Wings moderately long and broad, reticulation moderately open, trigones short, with 3-5 cells, basal space (prearcular) entire, 2 cubital nervures in all wings, hyper- trigones entire or traversed by 1-2 nervures, Rs not bifurcated, only 1 row of cells between Rs and Rspl, 1-2 rows between Miv and Mspl, membrane short and narrow, not usually extending along the whole length of the wing — base, stigma braced, moderately short and thick, anal triangle of 3 cells, anal border moderately excavate. Legs long and rather slender. Thorax robust. Abdomen cylindrical, only slightly tumid at the base, constricted at the 3rd segment, widening again from 4 to 6 and then narrow and cylindrical as far as the anal end. Superior anal appendages longer than the 10th abdominal •segment, variable in shape, the inferior more or less cylindrical, long and bifid, rather more than half the length of the superior. The 10th abdominal segment in the female prolonged into a finely denticulate plate below. Anal appendages of female long and foliate. Jagoria martini, Laid., Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. xxii, p. 76-77, (1921). Female only known. Length of abdomen 40 mm. Hindwing 40 mm. Head. Labium, labrum and epistome orange brown, the upper surface of frons marked with a broad “ T ” shaped mark, brown in front and black against the •eyes, frons yellowish, vesicle and occiput black, the latter fringed with a tuft of black hairs. Prothorax dark brown. 6 612 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVllL Thorax dark brown marked with a pair of oblong, ov’al, bluish green, antehu meral bands which converge above but do not quite meet the mid-dorsal carina. From near the upper end of these bands, a pair of similar coloured, short, nar row bands run towards the humeral suture. On the sides two vivid green, broad bands, one at the middle and the other covering the entire metepimeron. Beneath orange brown. Abdomen black above, orange brown beneath. Segment 1 marked laterally with vivid, greenish yellow, segment 2 with a lateral, yellow band and a pair of small, semilunar, green, apical spots, segments 4 to C with similar green spots but smaller on Ijie latter. In addition segments 2 to 4 have each a pair of nar- row, transverse, green marks at about their centre and there is a small, basal,, yellowish green, triangular mark on the 2nd segment. Segments 7 to 10 unmarked. Anal appendages .small, about 2 mm. long. Dentigerous plate on the 10th abdominal segment almost squarely truncate posteriorly and is furnished at the apex with about 15 small, irregularly placed teeth. Legs black, coxae and trochanters and the bases of femora brownish. Wings hyaline, the bases saffronated as far out as the 1st antenodal nervure, trigones of the forewmgs 3-ceIled, of the hind 4-celled, hypertrigones entire, 16 to 17 antenodal nervures to the forewmgs, 9 to 11 in the hind, 7 to 8 postnodal nervures to forewings, 8 to 10 in the hind, stigma dark brown. Hah. Darjiling District. Described from a single specimen taken on Tiger Hill, Darjiling, 8,300,' 26-vi-18 by Mr. S. W. Kemp. Type in Lrdian Museum. Genus — Peri.bschna. Fig. 3. Wings of Permschna rnandahna, Martin. $ (x 2 5). Periseschna, Martin Cat. Coll. Selys, ^schnines, xix, xx, p. 157, (1908) Laidlaw, Rec. Lid. Mus. Vol. xxii, p. 81 (1921). Female. Head globular; eyes broadly contiguous; occiput small. Wings broad, a little rounded at the apices, reticulation open, trigones, elongated, of 5 to 6 cells, prearcular and cubital spaces and hypertrigones tra- versed, the latter 3 times, Rs bifurcated nearer the node (ban the stigma or at INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 613 least halfway between these two structures, Rspl running parallel to Rs and only 1 row of cells between them, stigma moderately short and stout, membrane moderately short and narrow. Legs shorii and robust. Abdomen slender. Anal appendages short and slender. Dentigerous plate forked with fine, needle-like branches resembling those found in Gynacanlha. Periaeschna magdalena, Martin, Cat. Coll. Selyj, Mschnines, xix, xx, p. 157, pi. vi, fig. 22 ; Laidlaw, Rec. Ind. Mus. Vol. xxii, p. 81, (1921). Female. Abdomen 67 mm. Hindwing 44 mm. Head. Labrum, labium, face and frons reddish browm, the base of the latter black with a medial prolongation forward. Prothorax and thorax blackish browm marked with a narrow, yellow, ante- humeral stripe on each side and 2 broad, yellow stripes laterally. Legs blackish brown, reddish at the bases. Abdomen tumid at the base, slightly constricted at the 3rd segment, and thereafter cylindrical as far as the anal end. Ground colour black marked with yellow as follows : — ^segments 1 and 2 with the sides broadly yellow and the dorsal Carina finely, the 3rd segment with a basal, lateral spot, segments 4 to 7 with similar but less evident spots, segments 8 to 10 unmarked. Superior anal appendages fine and short, but slight'}' longer than the 10th segment which is very short. Wings enfumed, costa dark bro^vn, stigma reddish, short and stout. All wings have a basal brown marking which extends outwards as far as the 1st antenodal nervure ; membrane white. Type female in Martin’s collection Tonkin, Assam. Dr. Laidlaw reports a pair from Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, which are now in the Indian Museum. Genus- -Austko-bschna. Fig. 4. Wings of Austrocesehna intersedens, Selys. (x 2'5). Austroaeschna, Selys, Bull. Acad, Belg. Vol. 3. p. 732. (1883). Acanthfeschva , Selys, ibid. p. 731, (1883). Fiance schna, Maclachlan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.), Vol. 27 (1895). Dromceschna, Forster, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg.), Vol. .52 (1908). Austrocesehna, Martin, Cat. Coll. Selys.), Vol. xix, xx (1908). «14 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Eyes slightly contiguous ; occiput small ; frons narrow as viewed from above ; ■face narrow, subglobular, fringed around with long hairs. Abdomen slender, tumid at the base, constricted markedly at the 3rd segment and from thence cylindrical till the end. Anal superior appendages long and slender, much longer than the 10th segment, inferior narrow and truncate, triangular. The dorsum of the 10th segment with a prominent carina. Oreillets robust. Wings moderately narrow, reticulation rather close ; trigones short, of ? to 4 cells ; prearcuiar space entire ; cubital space and hypertrigones traversed ; /?•< bifurcated well before the stigma ; only a smgle row of cells between Rs and Rspl and between Miv and Mspl ; anal border markedly notched ; anal triangle of 3 cells ; membrane short and slender, not quite the length of the anal border. Superior appendages long and slender, longer than the 10th segment ; inferior short, truncate, triangular. Dentigerous plate of female subrounded, finely denticulate. Appendages short. Hah. Australia. Represented by a single species within Indian limits. Austroseschna intersedens, Martin, 1. c. p. 101, pi. iv., fig. 14.; Laidlaw, Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. xxii, p. 79, (1921). Male. Abdomen 40 mm. Hindwing 37 mm. Head. Eyes green, moderately contiguous ; labium olivaceous ; labrum, face and frons bright yellow, the latter which is raised into a fine point at its centre, smoky brown along the crest. The crest and borders of the face fringed with a ruff of long, black hairs. Prothorax brown. Thorax maroon brown marked with bright yellow as follows : — 2 antehumeral stripes on the front of dorsum, separated by the dorsal carina and lying parallel to one another, the interalar sinus, tergum and some small spots at the bases of the wings. Laterally two broad stripes, one of which lies between the humeral and first lateral suture and the other covers the whole of the metepimeron. Wings hyaline, stigma black, 3 cells in trigone of forewing, 4 in the hind, loop very small, of 4 cells, 4 cubital cells in forewing, 4 to 5 in the hind; nodal index: — ^ ^ between Rs and Rspl ; 2 rows of cells between the bifurcation of Rs. Abdomen brownish black marked with yellow as follows : — 1st segment with a quadrate spot low down on the sides and a middorsal streak, 2nd segment with an apical, subtriangular spot low down on the sides and a middorsal streak Avhich gradually tapers apicaUy, the oreillets are also yellow, 3rd to 10th segments with a continuation of the fine, middorsal yellow line which broadens into a small triangle on either side the dorsal carina about the middle of the segments. In addition, there are on segments 3 to 9 lateral, subapical spots. Legs dark brown, the coxae and trochanters yellow and at the base of the mid pair this yellow is prolonged into the thorax for a short distance. Anal appendages long, sinuous and narrow, blackish brown. The inferior long, not quite half the length of the superior, narrow and triangular. Female very similar to the male, the abdomen being stouter at the base, not cons- tricted at the 3rd segment, the markings rather more pronounced. Anal appendages small, lanceolate, pointed. Dentigerous plate simple, prolonged into a spout-like structure, armed with about 8 small spines. Hah. Assam, Cherrapunji and Shillong. Genus — Cephaljeschna. CephalcBSchna, Selys, Bull. Acad. Bclg., (3), v., p. 739, (1883). Caliaeschna, Selys, et Martin, Cat. Coll. Selys, jEschnines, xix, (1908). XX INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 615 Cephalmchna, Laid., Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. xxii, pp. 77-79, (1921). Eyes broadly contiguous ; Irons raised in front or projecting markedly ; occiput small, its hinder border slightly raised. Thorax short, robust. Abdomen long and slender in the male, stout and robust in the female. Slightly tumid at the base in the male and slightly constricted at the third segment, the 10th segment with a prominent middorsal carina. Oreillets of male prominent, the posterior border armed with 5 to 6 robust spines. Anal appendages nearly as long as the 9th and 10th segments, slender at the base, broadening inwardly after the first third, with a prominent mid-rib, pointed at the apex. Wings hyaline or enfumed ; stigma markedly short usually braced ; trigones- with 3 to 5 cells ; hypertrigones traversed three times ; are strongly angulated ; arcular space traversed usually 5 times ; Rs forked, 2 rows of cells between the fork; loop with 5 to 8 cells, rather small, and stunted ; a basal antenodal nervure of the first series always present and continuous with the first traversing nervure of the basal (arcular) space ; base of hindwing in the male obtusely angular ; rounded in the female ; anal triangle with 3 cells ; Rspl and Mspl running parallel with Rs and Miv respectively and enclosing 1 or rarely 2 rows of cells especially near the margin of the wing ; antenodal and postnodal nervures numerous. liCgs long and rather slim ; hind femora with a row of closely-set, robust, short spines and 2 or 3 longer ones at the di.stal end ; tibial spines long and numerous : claw-hooks robust, situated nearer the base than apex, at which point the claws rapidly taper. Dentigerous plate of the female rounded and subdenticulate. Cephalsschna acutifrons, Martin, 1. c., Ris. Supp. Ent., No. 5, pp. 55-56, tab. 2, fig. 5, (1916); Laid. 1. c. (1921). Female. (Male unknown.) Length of abdomen 52 mm., of hindw'ing 47 mm. Face and frons olivaceous yellow, no markings above the frons which projects in front somewhat like the bows of a ship. Thorax dark brown with a humeral stripe of bright green on each side and two lateral stripes of yellow bordered with vivid green. Legs reddish yellow. Wings broad, especially the hind, hyaline but saffronated at the bases ; stigma small, reddish brown ; costa orange ; 25 antenodal nervures and 21 post- nodals in the forewing, 19 antenodal and 24 postnodal nervures in the hind. Abdomen broad and tumid at the base, the 2nd segment somewhat ovoid, the 3rd slightly constricted, dark brown marked with yellow' as follows : — the 2nd segment with 2 small, linear, yellow spots at the centre and 2 others at the base, segments 3 to 9 have similar spots, the medial ones very small and linear, the basal larger and more semilunar in form. Anal appendages very small, linear, dark brown. Hah. Type female in the collection of Selys, labelled, India, is probably from Assam or Bengal. Cephalsschna masoni, Martin, Caliceschna, Cat. Coll. Selys, Aeschnines, fig. 104, PI. Ill, fig. 12, p.lll ; Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. xxii, pp. 77-78, (1921). Male. Length of abdomen 55 mm., of hindwing 41 mm. Face yellowish, a fringe of hairs round its circumference, flattened ; frons yellow' bordered finely w'ith black. Thorax blackish brown marked with a humeral band of green in front on each side and tw'o lateral bands of the same colour. Wings rather broad, hyaline ; stigma blackish brown, very short ; membrane short, white ; anal triangle of 5 cells ; forking of Rs begins well liefore the stigma ; 616 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. NX VIII. 21 antenodal nervures and II postnodals to the forewing, 15 antenodal and 16 postnodal nervures to the hind. Abdomen long and slender, black, the 1st segment with reddish hair, the 2nd with a basal, dorsal, yellow triangle, 2 transverse, linear spots of the same colour on each side of the dorsal crest at the middle of the segment and at the apical ■end, segments 3 to 9 with a linear spot of yellow on each side of the dorsal carina about the middle of the segment and a larger semilunar spot at the apical end nearly confluent across the dorsal carina, 10 unspotted. Superior anal appendages long, slender at the base, then broadening spatulate- wise after the first third, the apex rounded, brovm. Inferior appendage half as long as the superior, triangular. Female unknoAvn. It is possible that C. acutifroi^s is the female of C. masoni. The venation differs rather widely but this character is so variable a factor that too much importance should not be given to it. Type male in the Selysian collection. Assam. Cephalseschna lugubris, Martin, 110, fig. 103, Syn. Cat. Coll. Selys. Alschnines, xix, xx (1908). CephaJceschna sikkima, Selys, in. litt. Cephalceschna lugubris, Laid., Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. xxii, p. 78, (1921). Male. Length of abdomen 48-51 mm., hindwing 41 mm. Head. Labrum, labium and lower epistome yellow, upper epistome green, frons in front shiny black, above yellow bordered with black, frons raised and narrow ; occiput small, black. Thorax short, blackish bro-wn, marked with a green antehumeral band on either side of the front and laterally with two broad, green bands. I>egs blackish brown, the bases of femora reddish. Wings hyaline, tinted with brown ; stigma very short ; brown ; membrane yellowish, trigones made up of 4 cells ; anal triangle with 3 cells ; 2 rows of cells between the forking of Rs ; 21-25 antenodal nervures and 11 postnodals in the forewings, 18-19 antenodals and 13-15 postnodals in the hind. .Abdomen long and slender, slightly tumid at the base, a little constricted at the 3rd segment, black marked with green as follows : — the 1st segment with a central, yellow spot, the 2nd with a dorsal, green line broken at its middle, 2 linear transvei-se streaks at the centre of the segment, separated by the ;niddor.sal carina, and finajly an apical, green annule, segments 3 to 8 with, similar, central, linear marks and apical ring, segments 9 and 10 unmarked, the latter with a prominent, middorsal crest. Anal appendages brown, nearly as long as the combined length of the last two abdominal segments, very slender at the base, broadly spatulate after the first third, the apex with a small spine. Inferior appendage triangular, about two- thirds the length of the superiors. Female. Very similar to the male but the abdomen shorter and stouter. The frons without the black stripe above, the face olivaceous green. The 10th abdominal segment very short above. Anal appendages short, very slender filiform and pointed at the apex, brown. Types in the ctrllections of Martin and Selys. Hah. Sikkim. Cephalaeschna orbifrons, Selys, Bull. Acad. Belg., (3) v. p. 739 (1883) Martin, Cat. Coll. Selys, Aeschniries, xix, xx (1908) ; Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. xxii, p. 78, (1921). ]\Iale. Length of abdomen 45 mm., hindwing 40 mm. Head : Labrum, labium, epistome and frons uniform olivaceous and quite unmarked ; eyes dark olivaceous, broadly contiguous ; occiput small, black. Prothorax dark brown bordered finely with yellow'. Thorax short but robust, dark brown marked with apple green, an antehumeral INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 617 ■streak on either side of the fiont, broad above, tapering anteriorly. Laterally two broad stripes of the same colour, the first a little interrupted above at its npper comer, the second covering the whole of the metepimeron and just separated from a small spot of green at the base of the hindwing. Legs blackish brown, the coxae yellow, long and rather slim. Wings hyaline, rather broad ; stigma black, moderately short and usually braced, that of fore-ning distinctly larger than that of the hind ; trigones very variable, that of forewing with 3 to 5 cells, that of the hind with 3 or 4 cells ; loop with 5 cells ; 2 rows of cells between the forking of i?s ; 7 to 8 cubital nervures in the forewing, 6 in the hind ; hvpertrigones traversed 3 times in all rvings ; re - 11-18 17-11 ticulation rather close ; nodal index : — anal triangle with 3 cells. 13-16 15-13’ membrane small, white. Abdomen long and slim, tumid at the base, constricted at the third segment, dark brown marked with green and yellow as follows : — 1st segment broadly greenish j^ellow on the sides, a doraal, green triangle at the base and an apical, oval spot of the same colour ; 2nd segment with the sides broadly yellowish green and the dorsum with 2 transverse, wedge-shaped spots about the middle, separat- ed by the dorsal crest, a basal irregular spot of green and an apical streak of the same colour on the dorsal carina w'hich is united wdth an apical, yellow annule ; 3rd segment with the basal half of the dorsal carina yellow and a lateral, basal triangle of yellow at its centre, 2 transverse, yellow spots ; 4th to 7th segments with the same central, yellow, transverse spots and apical annules of yellow ; 8th and 9th segments with only the apical annules ; 10th segment with only a lateral, yellow spot. Anal appendages dark brown, the superior with a prominent mid-rib, narrow at the base, broadening spatulatewise after the first third, the apex bevelled, pointed as seen in profile, the upper surface near the apical end furnished with long, stiff hairs, the inferior about two -thirds the length of the superior, trian- gular, curling upwards. Female. Length of abdomen 47-49 mm., hindwing 40-42 mm. Head : Labrum bright ochreous, rest of face, labium and frons olivaceous as in the male ; occiput black. Face as in the male, is fringed with a margin of long, stiff, black hairs. Rest of thorax and abdomen very much as for the male, the sides of the 2nd segment are less broadly yellow, the sides of the 3rd are more extensively so, reaching as far as the apex, this colour also extends along the sides of the 4th and 5th segments and there is a trace of it on the 6th and 7th, the sides of the 8th to 10th being broadly yellow. The other markings are as in the male but more pronounced and distinct. Wings hyaline tinted at the extreme base with pale amber or saffron. Trigone of forem'ngs with 4 to 5 cells, 5 in the hind ; loop with 4 to 5 cells ; hypertrigones traversed 3 times in all wings ; 5 to 6 cells in the anal triangle ; nodal index : — 19-20 11-14 19-12 , , . , . j . . . , , : a basal, antecostal of the second senes in all wings. 14-16 13-lo 15—16 Membrane ashy, small. Legs yellow, the joints black as also are the spines on femora and tibiae. Anal appendages extremely short, filiform, pointed at the apex, brown. Dentigerous plate rounded and subdenticulate. Hob. Bengal. Darjiling District. I am indebted to Mr. H. Stevens for the chance of examining a number of these insects. The male as far as I know has not yet been described. The co-type male is in my own collection. I find as a result of my examination that the venation of this species varies very widely and to a less extent, the same applies to the markings. From this I deduce that the number of species described by Martin will probably resolve 618 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. themselves into only two species. The coloured illustrations given in the Cat, Coll. Selys both for the Corduliince and the jEachnirue are exceedingly fallacious and to take one instance only, e.g., that of Hemicordulia asiatica, no one knowing the living insect would recognise it from the coloured illustration given in the work cited. It will be seen from the above descriptions that they will equally fit either Ingubris, acutifrons or orbifrons, not conforming to any entirelJ^ The descriptions have been made from Mr. H. Steven’s specimens and as an alterna- tive to giving them specific rank, I have placed them as C. orbifrons. Genus — Gynacanth.®schna, gen. nov. Gynacanthaschna, gen. nov. CephalcBSchna, Karsch, Ent. Nachr., xvii, No. 20, pp. 6-7, (1891); Laid., Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. xxii, p. 78, (1921). Similar to the last genus in most respects but the neuration diffem somew'hat as also does the dentigerous plate of the female. Wings rather narrower, usually a little enfumed; stigma markedlj’ short, usually unbraced (or it would be better to say that the brace has shifted outwards and meets the stigma distal to its inner, posterior comer), 2 to 3 nervures converge on the posterior border of the stigma especially in the female ; trigones with 3 cells in the forewdngs, usually 4 in the hindwing, other points as for Cephaloaschna. Dentigerous plate, of the female forking into two stout spines very similar to those seen in genus Gynacantha. Gynacanthseschna sikkima, (Karsch. ) 1. c. CalicBSchna sikkima, Martin, Cat. Col. Selys, .Eschnines, xix, xx (1908); MacLachlan, Ann. Mag Nat. Hist., (6) xvii, pp. 409-425 (1905).* Cephalmschna sikkima et Cepkalceschna sp. Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus. VoL xxii, pp. 77-81, (1921). Fig. 5. Wings of Gynacanlhmschna sikkima, Karsch, (x 2'3). Male. Length of abdomen 46 mm., hindMing 40 mm. Head. Labium, labrum, epistome and frons olivaceous brown, the lips some- what more ochraceous ; occiput black, small, fringed with black hairs ; a fringe of longish, black hair also margins the front crest of the frons and is continued down on either side of the face ; ej^es broadly contiguous, olivaceous green. Prothorax brown margined finely with yellow. INVIAK DRAGONFLIES. 619 Thorax short but robust, dark chestnut brown marked with green, tbe dorsum bearing apple green, antehumeral bands which taper slightly forwards, the sides entirely green except for a band of the ground colour at the middle which divides the green into a broad, anterior band and a broader, posterior covering the whole of the metepimeron. Wings slightly and uniformly enfumed, long and rather narrow ; stigma short, dark brown, over 3-4 cells in the forewing, only over 2 or IJ in the hind, usually unbraced but a sloping nervure meets the stigma a little distal to its inner end, the stigma of the hind wing is much smaller than that of the fore ; trigone of fore • wing traversed regularly 3 times,that of the hind 3 to 4 times and very irregularly, a nervure running from the base may join the first traversing nervure or run backwards to the outer side of the trigone, thus enclosing a triangular cell ; mem- 1 ,11 10-18 19-10 brane white; nodal index: — . „ . _ 13-15 17-13 I’cticulation rather close. Legs long and rather slim, the femora reddish brown except at the distal ends where they turn dark, tibia* blaok, armature of the legs as for Cephalcesckna. Abdomen long and slim, tumid at the base, constricted at the 3rd segment, cylindrical thereafter, black marked with green and yellow as follows : — segment 1 broadly yellowish green at the sides, segment 2 also broadly yellow at the side, and the dorsum bearing an apical annule which is contiguous with a short, linear stripe on the dorsal oarina, this itripe broken at the centre of the segment and here, on either side of the dorsal carina but not quite meeting it are 2 linear, transverse, yellow lines ; segment 3 has an apical, narrow annule, 2 triangular, small, yellow spots situated nearer the base than apex and slightly separated by the dorsal oarina, these spots are limited basally by the transverse ridge of the segment and low dowm on the sides at the end of this ridge is another small, yellow spot, finally at the base, on the sides is a largish, subtriangular spot ; segments 4 to 7 have the apical annule and the tw'O sjwts margining the trans- verse ridge ; segments 8 and 9 have only the apical annule, whilst 10 has merely a small, lateral, yellow spot. Anal appendages as long or nearly as long as the two last abdominal segments, slim at the base, broadening after the first third especially inward, traversed by a strong midrib, bevelled at the apex where they end in a small point, brown ; inferior about two-thirds the length of the superior, curling strongly upwards, triangular. Female. Length of abdomen 45 to 47 mm., hindwing 41 to 43 mm. Very similar to the male in colouring but a much bulkier and stouter insect, the abdomen tumid at the base and not constricted at the third segment, rather flattened from side to side, the 8th and 9th segments broadened from above down. Head. Labium and labrum bright ochreous, the rest of face and frons golden browm ; eyes brown ; occiput very small, blaok, with a crest of short black hair.'^. Thorax as for the male, the antehumeral bands are of almost the same width throughout but are rapidly pointed at the anterior end. Legs as for the male but the spines on the femora are more scanty. Wings long and broader than those of the male, hyaline, the bases saffronated, this paling as far as the arc which is acutely bent ; stigma only slightly smaller in the hindwing, the difference in size not nearly as marked as in the male, over 2 cells in all wings, braced but the brace not running from the extreme, proximal end of the stigma, dark brown ; trigones with 4 cells in all wings ; 7 eells in the loop ; Rs forked a long way from the stigma, 2 rows of cells between the branches of the fork ; nodal index : — Karsoh’s specimen ; Laidlaw’s * 12-15 16-13 9-19 19-12 „ 12-20 20-lc , , , l^Fs T(LT3 ’ 15145 ~I(n4' combmed number of ante and postnodal nervures in the forewings of the first two speci- T 620 JOUR^^AL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. mens comes to 31 for the right wings and 28 for the left whilst in both of the fore- wings of Stevens’ specimen there are 32. ) There is a basal antenodal of the 2nd series in all wings. Abdomen black marked w'ith green and yellow as follows : — 1st segment with a small, dorsal streak of yellow and the sides broadly apple green ; 2nd segment marked as in the male but the sides more broadly and the basal half green turn- ing gradually to yellow apically ; segments 3 to 7 have an apical, dorsal, yellow triangle formed by the confluence of 2 spots and a transverse, triangular spot on the transverse ridge. (This ridge has been named the “jugum”byDr. Laidlaw), this spot also formed by the confluence of 2 spots ; segments 8 to 10 are broadly yellow on the sides. Anal appendages very short and filiform, brown. Dentigerous plate which has been figured in the preface to the subfamily, strongly forked into robust spines, directed downwards. Hab. Type from Sikkim, in the Berlm Museum is a female. Laidlaw’s speci- men is also a female, from Cherrapunji, Assam, now in the Indian Museum. The male, which has not been described before is from Gopaldhara and I am indebted to Mr. H. Stevens for it. I hav« seen also a female collected by Mr. Inglis above Mangphu, 5,500’. The differences between the descriptions of Karsch’s C. sikkima and Laidlaw’s Cepkalceschna sp. are not greater than those between individual specimens collected by l\Ir. Stevens and Mr. Inglis so that I have no hesitation in treating them as one and the same species. [I'o he continued.) Journ , Bombay Nat. Hist Soc. The Madras Aquarium. Exterior view and ground plan. 621 THE MADRAS AQUARIUM. BY James Hobnell, F.L.S., F.R.A.I. ( With a plate and 6 text fgures.) In spite of the faot that the Madras Aquarium was opened so long ago as 1909, and that it has ijroved a wonderful success whether judged by the public interest aroused or by the cold verdict of finance, it has had no imitators on the Asiatic mainland. Until the last few years its reputation had not travelled beyond the confines ot Madras, for till that time no strong effort was made to advertise it and make its attractions widely knowm. The first enthusiasm aroused by its ener- getic and versatile creator, Mr. Edgar Thurston, the then Superintendent of the Museum, died down in large part when he retired, which unfortunately coincided ■with the completion of the building ; only when it was transferred to the care of the Department of Fisheries was any systematic effort made to extend its usefulness, and develop its possibilities to the utmost. To Mr. Thurston is due the credit for the inceiition of the scheme. As is well kno^vn he devoted an important section of his life’s work to the investigation of the marine fauna of the Gulf of Mannar ; his notes on this subject, all too few, are charmingly VTitten and full of interesting observations of great value to naturalists following in his tracks. The idea of an aquarium, where some of the wonders of the coral reefs that fringe the southern shores of the ^Madras Presidency might be brought home to the multitudes of Madras, must surely have been born on one of these collecting expeditions. At their best, what are stuffed fishes, dried sponges, corals and crabs, and colourless and shrunken specimens in jars, but faded and unsatisfying mummified remains ? To one familiar with the wonderful beauty of form and colour of the life of the shallower depths of our Indian seas, the desire to see these under conditions permitting close observation of habits such as is impossible in the sea itself, is ahvays present ; the designing of the Madras Aquarium was the outcome of this feeling in Mr. Thurston’s case. Curiously enough, the -writer, not then connected with Indian fishery dev’elopment, happened to be in Madras at the time when the plans were being roughed out, and his remembrance of discuss- ing with Mr. Thurston the details and arrangements of the tanks and fittings is vivid ; apart from the interest of the subject, the personality of the de- signer -was an arresting one, for Mr. Thurston had filled many roles in his career. Funds were not available for a very extensive or elaborate building ; simplicity and economy had to be studied, and both architect (Mr. Harris, Consulting Architect to Government) and contractors did wonderfully well to complete the building, virtually as it stands to-day, for the sum of Rs. 17,604 ; installation of electric lighting and fans subsequently cost an additional Rs. 4,778. It is located on the sandy sea-beach, opposite* the Presidency College, and midway between Fort St. George and San Thome — between what -ft'ere the original settlements of the Enghsh and the Portuguese at Madras. This long line of beach, bordered by a fine promenade, the ‘ Marina,’ the pride of Madras, has broadened considerably since the construction of the harbour works owing to sand accretion due to the northerly drift of sand along the coast in this loca- lity ; it is this accretion that has permitted of the erection of a building on the seaward side of the roadway at the spot chosen as the site for the Aquarium. Principally for ajsthetic reasons the design of the building had to be restricted to one floor ; that too is sunk some four feet below the general ground level. Originally it was less, but year by year drifting sand continues to raise the ground level ; increasing difficulty is experienced in coping with this trouble. 622 .JOVENAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. The building was opened to the public on 21st October 1909. It remained for ten years in charge of the Superintendent of the Museum, till in 1919, it was transferred to the Department of Fisheries for the two-fold reason that this Department has particular need for the possession of aquarium facilities for the prosecution of its investigations into the life-histories of the local food-fishes, and because of the greater facilities it has for the renewal of the stock of fish and other animals required for the tanks. The change of management has been fully justified for measures were at once taken to increase the number and variety of the exhibits, to remodel the table aquaria, to instal electric lighting and fans and to make the place and its attractions better known. By introducing electric light, it became possible to keep the aquarium hall open after sunset, and at present the evening has become the most popular time to visit the collection ; the brilliant illumination of the tanks shows up the colouring of the fishes to greater advantage than when viewed by daylight ; troublesome reflections, caused by bright sunshine jxjuring in through doors and ventilators are eliminated, and the ideal condition for viewing the inhabitants of the tanks is attained — the view from a darkened hall of the tanks lit from behind by brilliant lights hidden from the observer. By the use of electric bulbs, such flexibility is possible in the lighting arrangements that the illumination of each tank can be Studied individually and so lit at the best possible angle. In the year when the Fisheries Department took charge, the total number of visitors who passed the turnstile w^as 95,957 ; after the installation of lights and fans, and the introduction of other improvements the number rose to 163,517. To this success the issue of an illustrated handbook has greatly contributed and has proved the best possible means of advertisement. The first edition of 1,500 copies, priced at the nominal charge of one anna, issued in October 1919, W'as exhausted within four months. A second edition of 5,000 copies, and consider- ably enlarged, but still priced at the same low' figure was issued in February 19^, and was in turn exhausted by' the end of 1921, when a third English edition, again revised and enlarged to 39 pages, w’as published. This actually costs to produce thrice the price charged but for the sake of its educational V'alue and for the advertisement it affords. Government have sanctioned its continued sale at the original and popular price of the single anna. In addition to the English I edition, a Tamil translation has been published but curiously enough the English edition continues to be the favourite with Indian visitors. Two rates of admission to the Aquarium are charged, six pies and four annas, in order to jjermit the poorest to have an opportunity to visit it and also to allow the better classes to have the advantage of seeing it under less crowded conditions than otherwise would be possible. From 2 to 5-30 p.m. admission is half an anna, at all other hours four aimas. On Friday's the charge throughout the day' is at the higher rate. On the great Indian festivals when thousands flock to see the wonders of the local sea, a sp>ecial charge of one anna is made all day'. Finally in order that no obstacle may stand in the way of any section of the community' visiting it, a gosha day, when ladies only are admitted, is arranged for the laLst Monday in each month ; on these days women attendants are in charge of the building. The Aquarium Hall is a lofty rectangular room, 35'-6' in length by 50'-6" wide. To roof this great width, three ridged spans are employed, supported on four rows of slender ornamental pillars ; the outside row along each side, i s utihzed to carry two heavy brass barrier rails,spaced tw'O feet six inches from the front of the tanks. The two short sides are occupied by ten large aquarium tanks built into the walls. Four small rooms, with the entrance vestibule and turnstiles, form the front side, W'hile a large opening in the middle of tlie rear ^vall was provided in the original arrangement to jjermit of visitors seeing into a deep semicircular open-air pool, intended for such large animals as full-grown sharks and turtles which could not be accommodated in the wall-tanks on account THE MADRAS AQUARIUM. 623 of tlioif size. Experience has shown this plan to labour under two great disabi- lities : the great size of the opening, approximately one-third of the entire rear wall space, admitted such an excessive amount of bright sunlight as killed the lighting of the side tanks, while the arrangements did not even permit of the fishes in the tank itself being seen to advantage — partly by reason of the too great depth allowed and partly to reflection of the sky and clouds ; in rainy weather the arrangement sometimes led also to the flooding of the floor of the aquarium hall. Accordingly when ‘ Fisheries ’ took charge, it was decided to abolish this outside tank, close in the greater part of the opening in the wall and raise the low parapet wall over which visitors used to lean to view the contents of the tank, sufficiently high to accommodate a number of table aquaria. These alterations have proved satiafactory. In tne centre of the hall is an ornamental open freshwater pond sunk in the floor, with a central fountain. Tables carrying small rectangular glass-sided aquaria are disposed about the room wherever they can be conveniently placed, while the two end walls are utilized for the display of typical collections of preserv’ed specimens illustrative of the range of marine animals, dry and in fluid, available in the zoological supply section of the Fisheries Department for educational purposes, such as for dissection in i)ractical zoological studies or for museum display. The ten large tanks are constructed of masonry. They measure 7 feet in length by 4 feet from back to front, with a depth of 3 feet. The partitions separating them are of Cuddapah slabs (thick slate). Originally the backs of all the tanks were lined with white glazed tiles ; this has the great advantage of affording no lodgment for particles of uneaten food and dirt, a consideration of the greatest moment in aquarium management, but it does not satisfy the aesthetic sense and for this reason a rockwork background has been provided in a number of the tanks. Each glass front consists of a plate glass sheet, one inch in thickness, measuring 6'- 6" in length by 3 feet wide. The lower edge and the ends are bedded against a cement-formed ledge in the masonry frame, and after being caulked carefully with putty, an inner ledge of cement is added on the inside of the tank, so forming with the one formed originally on the outside, a deep groove within which the edge of the glass plate is secured. The putty used is a mixture of red lead, white lead and litharge powder amalgamated with boiled linseed oil by means of thorough pounding. In fixing the glass in position, a thick bed of this putty, mingled with oakum to give body, is placed in the half groove on the bottom and tlie edge of the glass rested on this. The space up each end of the plate is then filled in and only when this is set is the inner ledge of cement placed in position. This latter must not come into contact with the back surface of the glass; a space of ^th inch must be left, to be filled ultimately with the special putty. The upper edge of the glass is held in position by an ornamental wooden cross bar ; above this the space between the masonry pillars, between the fronts of neighbouring tanks, is filled in with wooden Vene- tians, with a door in the centre to permit access to the tank in an emergency. The bottom of the tank is three feet from the floor, a height found to be very satisfactory. The higher of the two barrier rails in front of each tank is 3'-6" from the ground and this, at a distance of 2 feet 6 inches from the glass front of the tank, has also proved to be the correct height. The method of daylight illumination adopted is from overhead by means of a large square of glass let into the centre of the roof tiling above each tank, the roo ing being a continuation of that over one side of the outer span of the aquarium hall. For evening illumination, electric light pendants are employed, 5 or 6 in each tank, with opal glass reflectors. When artificial lighting was first introduced bracket lights were used ; these proved unreliable, for the wiring was so subject to wetting and corrosion that short circuiting often occurred 624 JOVRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. and for this reason pendants were substituted as the wiring of these is far less liable to damage. The aeration of these tanks is dual, partly by the inflow of filtered sea-water from a high level reservoir, partly by means of an air compressor delivering air in a mist of tiny bubbles at the bottom of each tank. To obtain sufficiently minute division of the air stream, it is delivered under pressure through filter candles hung in the tanks. By this means, the water is kept so fully aerated that it is possible to maintain a permanent state of overcrowding seldom if ever found, even temporarily, in the open sea. Unfortunately it is not possible to regulate this super-aeration to suit the varjfing constitutiona' idiosyncrasies of every kind of fish. Some, in consequence, suffer from a disease that has been appropriately called ‘ gas-eye.’ It arises from an excess of air finding its way into the blood stream, by absorption through the gill-membranes ; the outward sign of the disease is the partial protrusion of the eye-balls. Many of the fish aff jjted ev^entually recover, and all do so quickly if transferred to ordinary sea- water. A proportion die either directly from what appears to be a form of asphj’xiation, or indirectly from the onslaught of the other fish in the tank, to whom the sight of a protruding eye-ball is the signal for attack ; the eye-ball in these cases is often plucked out and if the fish be small, it is often killed outright. The larger ones after losing an eye not infrequently recover and this accounts for the presence of quite a considerable number of the larger fishes in the tanks being short of one eye. The air circulation is effected by means of a manual air compressor which stores up compressed air in two cast iron cylinders, whence an outflow is led through tubing to the various tanks. The table aquaria successfully depend wholly on compressed air aeration, even in the hottest weather. The water circulation ai-rangements comprise three underground reservoirs which may be named A, B and C at the rear of the aquarium, a gravel filter bed, and a high level suppl}^ tank. A pipe from the sea margin conveys new sup- plies of sea water when required to the median reservoir A, whence it is pumped by hand into the filter ; from there it passes into the underground storage reser- voir B used normally for filtered water only. From this supplies are again pumped by a cooly into a high level iron tank, whence the water flows b}’ gravi- tation, controlled by stop cocks, to the several aquarium tanks. The overflow from these is at the surface, and flows back to storage reservoir C, to be pumped by hand into the filter bed, in order to be freed from impurities before entering again into circulation. Each tank is also provided with a clean-out pipe-exit at the bottom, for use when the tank has to be emptied for an}' purpose. The piping used is of galvanized iron, the stop cocks being of brass or gun metal. In spite of considerable corrosion, the original piping is still serviceable. The table tanks are of various types as the first patterns have been greatly improved upon of recent years. The most useful form is one where the base is composed of a single plank of teak (21 inches thick), carrying four stout up- right grooved pillars at the corners, into which the four glass plates forming the sides and ends are let. The grooving is puttied with the same material as in the larger tanks, and as an additional waterproofing precaution, a thick layer of asphaltum is poured hot over the wooden bottom on the inside. An ornamental wooden beading finishes off the upper edge of the tank and supports a protective cover-frame. The floor tank has not been a success as it has been found impossible to light it satisfactorily. Murrel and Gourami live well in it and the former have bred there several times, the parents watchfully guarding the nest ; they resent actively any prying into their domestic affairs on the part of visitors. The four rooms at the front of the building comprise two store rooms, a pump room, where the air compressor is located, and a curator’s room. At the rear of the building, an additional laborato has recently been built, as the need for such a convenience THE MADRAS AQUARIUM. 625 has long been urgently felt. The main hall and the principal side rooms are furnished with electric ceiling fans, an improvement of recent date and one greatly appreciated by visitors particularly on crowded days in the hot weather. All the fishes exhibited have been obtained in the neighbouring sea, within ten miles from Madras itself. Varied as is the collection, it comprises probably not one-tenth of the species available in these waters. Many among the common edible fishes, such as hilsa, mackerel and various sardines are too delicate to stand handling and transport to the tanks. The local fishermen too are reluctant to bring the better class of edible fishes, as they still entertain a belief that one object of the Aquarium is to breed fishes and they fancy that if this be done, there may be such a glut of fish that they will obtain but poor prices for their catches ! Other classes of fishes are unattractive or too bulky to exhibit. Fig. 1, — The Scorpion Fish (Pterois russelli). Among the most showy fishes are the Scorpion-fish ( Pterois russelli ), the Butterfly-fishes (various species of Choetodon and Holocanihus) and the Parrot- fishes {Julis spp.). The first named are magnificently ornate creatures that compel attention and admiration ; the pectoral fins have attained dimensions far beyond anything requisite for swimming and must have some other reason — probably that of warning, for this fish is endowed with virulently poisonous spines in the dorsal fin. This fish’s movements are those of a mannequin on show when it swims ; it sails along very slowly and gracefully, with a just perceptible fluttering of the great butterfly-like fins ; it often halts for moments together 626 JOURXiL, BOMBAY NAT[IRA.L KlSf. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. as though asking for admiration and at timss will even slowly rotate that one may view it from all points. Fig. 2. — Wllow-tinned Balterfly-fish {f/enii'chux macrolepid‘itnx). Another extremely pretty fish is the yellow-finned Butterfly-fish, Heniochus macrolepidotus. Its bold black and white vertical banding and yellow fins claim notice and admiration. The dorsal fin carries a long j'ellow streamer often missing however, as it is too tempting to other fishes, which generally bite it off. Like many other pretty creatures, it is of a vicious nature and is inclined to play the bully towards the wounded or the sick. Fig, ?. — The Common Sucker-fish {Echeneh naucrates). Small specimens of the Tiger-shark remarkable for the beauty and intensity of its black and white striping, are usually present in the tanks, living together with such other notable sea-creatures as the Muraenid eels and the curious sucker-fishes {Echeneis naucrates), often called ‘ Remora.’ These latter are so named from the presence of a long sucker organ on the upper part of the head, made up of a double row of transverse plates set in an oval frame. By THE MADRAS AQUARIUM. 627 its help these fishes are able to attach to ships, whales and tvirtles, and so get carried about without etfort on their jmrt. In some parts of the world this habit has been utilized by fishermen in the pursuit of turtle, a sucker-fish with one end of a strong cord tied to the tail being set free when a turtle is seen resting on the surface of the sea. The Kemora instantly swims to the turtle, as being a suitable object to affix to ; when attached, the fishermen haul in the line and tvith it both turtle and sucker-fish. Columbus described this custom as prac- tised by the Caribs. Though not now practised in the West Indies, it appears to be in use on the African coast and by the ever ingenious Chinese. A tank containing a large number of the Rosy-banded Snapper (Lutianus sehce) is very popular, so beautiful are these fishes, banded dark crimson and white. Like so many other fishes these snappers change colour on occasion. When spoiling for a fight or struggling for food their colour bands gain greatly in intensity, fading considerably when resting. Fig. I. — The Yellow A.'igler (.luteminriti.t kit .■itiuit). Other noteworthy fishes are the Yellow Anglers, Antennarius Mspidiis and A. nummifer. The former is quite common at Madras, and some are always present in the tanks. Like its well-known European relative, Lophius, (the Fishing-frog), the first dorsal fin ray is modified into a miniature fishing-rod with a fluffy white tassel at the end to represent the bait. It is a lumpy little fish, yellow in colour with numerous dark stripes, possibly colour markings that subserve a protective function. Its custom is to lie inert and motion- less, flicking their tassel-bait nervously to and fro to the end that some in- quisitive little fish may be attracted to enquire into what curious thing this may be. If he come close enough, a great gape of mouth opens suddenly and the little fish disappears. The feeding of these fishes always causes absorbed interest on the part of visitors. They are so accustomed to have their prey come to them and literally fall into their mouth that when feeding time comes, their more active tank companions give them no chance to get food. So the attendant has to transfix a morsel of fish on the end of a wire and dangle it above the face of the fish, which generally snaps it up just as the attendant’s patience is on the verge of exhaustion. 628 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIL The File-fishes {Balislidoe), the Spinetails {Acanthurns spp.) and the Puffers (Tetrodontidm), form other attractive exhibits either because of the beauty of their colouring or the curious form assumed. Small electric rays, (Narcine indica and N. hrunnea), are generally present to give sharp little shocks to visitors bold enough to handle them. Both the two local Cichlid fishes, Etroplus suratensis and E. maculatiis, remarkable for their adaptability to life either in salt or in fresh-water, are represented in the collection. The former, which may appropriately be termed the Pearl-spot, grows to a marketable size and has an excellent flavour ; it is assuming considerable economic importance in Madras for these reasons in the scheme now being put into force for the restocking of inland tanks with a better class of fish. Both species have peculiar nest-building habits, their eggs being adhesive and deposited on the under side of stones and logs in shallow waters. The Pearl-spot breeds equally well in fresh and brackish water and is altogether a remarkable and valuable species. Fig. 5. — The FenA-spot (Etrnplus iurziemis). Quite a number of the fishes have lived for many years in the aquarium tanks > notably several sea-perches of the genus Serranus. Three of these have lived in the aquarium between 10 and 11 years, having been brought in quite small, soon after the building was opened. Their growth has been considerable and now they must weigh from 20 to 25 lbs. each. They furnish living evidence of the healthy conditions prevailing in the tanks for their condition is perfect and any injuries received when fighting — they snap viciously at each other on occasion — heal rapidly and completely. Fig. 6. — A commoii Cat-fish (^Plotiisus caniiis'). THE MADRAS AQUARIUM. 629 Another old resident is a very large Cat-fish, Plotosus canius, that has a great attraction for visitors because of his superlative ugliness. An allied genus, Arius, is also often shown in the tanks and is perhaps even uglier than Plotosus ; a point of interest in certain species of Arius is that the male has the curious habit of receiving the eggs, as extruded by the female, into his mouth where he retains them till the yoimg hatch out. As the eggs are particularly large, about half an inch in diameter, the number that he can care for is limited. The eggs completely fill his mouth, so the poor father has to abstain from feeding till his family is born, and able to swim away. Of fresh-water fishes, the nest-building murrel and gourami find a home in the central floor pool, while a table tank accommodates examples of the curious climbing jierch Anabas scandens, called in Tamil by a descriptive name that translates into “ the Perch that climbs Palmyra palms ” ; in another are sho^vn scores of the little fishes Haplochilus melanostigma and Panchax parvus, that are now being bred in thousands by the Fisheries Department for the purpose of destroying mosquito larvae in ponds and pools. These are supplied at low rates to public bodies interested in combating the malaria scourge ; when properly cared for, these fishes thrive and multiply prodigiously and subserve this mosquito -larvae destrojdng purpose admirably. One tank is given up to various species of sea-snakes abundant in the sea off Madras. This exhibit has very great attraction for visitors, who look with awe on these super-poisonous creatures, possessing venom several times more deadly than that of the cobra. Actually they are most inoffensive creatures, except towards fish on which they prey, or in the rare case of being trodden on by some incautious foot. The attendants do not fear them nearly so much as they fear the pretty harmless-looking Pterois russelli. And there are always a few small sea-perches in the same tank that unconcernedly snatch fragments of meat from amid the wi-ithing coils of these snakes at feeding time. Little accommodation is available for other exhibits than fishes, but usually some of the more curious crustaceans and molluscs of the district are represented. Among the former are the spiny Crawfish (Pannlirus), various swimming crabs such as the blue-limbed Neptunus pelagicus, the three spotted N. sanguinolentus, and the strange little Dorippe dorsipes, camouflaging itself by holding a bivalve shell over its back with the aid of the two last pairs of legs that have been modi- fied specifically for this purpose. Of Molluscs, examples of the Sacred Conch, Turbinella pirum, and various spiny Murices are often present, together with small examples of the Octopus of a species caught in thousands by the fishermen of Palk Bay in curious shell traps, tied in large numbers on long lines laid in shallow water. 680 NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOMBYLIID*-E BY Lieut. -Colonel C. G. Nurse. { With a plate.) The publication of Brunetti’s Vol. I, Diptera Brachycera of the Fauna of British India series has stimulated me to attempt the determination of some of the Diptera I had collected while in India. My entomological energies during the last part of my Indian service were devoted chiefly to Hj-inenoptera, but I earefuUy preserved any conspicuous Diptera that I cams across, and thus amassed a fair amount of material. Having recently come to reside in Lon- don in close proximity to the Natural History Museum, I have had oppor- tunities of comparing my specimens with those in the national collection, and of access to the unrivalled library of the Museum. In working through the Bombyliidce I found that I had taken representatives of several genera which had not previously been recorded from India, and a considerable number of species which are either undescribed, or have only been recorded from outside Indian limits. I therefore decided to publish the result of my studies. I have to acknowledge the kind help of Major E. E. Austen, D.S.O., who has not only given me the benefit of his opinion from time to time, but has also placed at my disposal his private copies of several pamphlets dealing with the Bomby- liidce. The present paper covers only the genera Litorrhynchus and Exoprosopa, but I hope later on to work through the other genera of Bombyliidce as represented in India. Litorrhynchus, Macq. This genus, of which the original spelling was Litorynchus, was erected in 1840 by Macquart to include certain species of Exoprosopa which have a more or less rounded face, long proboscis, and peculiar wing pattern. Most subsequent authors, including Brunetti in Vol. I, Diptera Brachycera, have sunk it as a synonym of Exoprosopa. I follow Professor Bezzi (Tr. Ent. Soc., 1911, p. 629) in keeping the two genera distinct, although one or two of what he regards as the essential characters of the genus do not quite apply to the only two species known from India. In these the proboscis, though considerably longer than the head, is not twice as lonu, and the style is somewhat shorter than the 3rd antennal joint. The two Indian species may be distinguished as follows : — .Sides of 1st abdominal segment with white hairs . . . . lar. Fab. .Sides of 1st abdominal segment with black haii'S . . . . collaris, Wied. Brunetti sinks collaris as a synonj-m of lar, but I hold very strongly that they are quite distinct. The wing band in collaris is darker than in lar, and its outer border less rugged. The ground colour of the abdomen in collaris is black and in lar rufous or rufescent. In lar there are white hairs near the apex of abdomen, but these are absent in collaris. These difierences are not sexual, as I have both sexes of collaris. Both species appear to be widely spread in India ; Brunetti records them from various localities, and I found both at Deesa and Jubbulpore. The pubescence on the abdomen of most of my specimens of collaris is not at all rubbed, and the hair at the sides of the 1st abdominal segment is pure black, though there are a few white hairs on the thorax below the po.stalai calli. The figure of the wing (fig. 3, plate III) given in Vol. I, Diptera Brachycera, agrees better with collaris than with lar. The two specimens now in the British Museum mentioned by Brunetti on p. 196 as having been obtained by Col. Yerbury in Ceylon, belong to two different species, and should probably be assigned to Exoprosopa rather than to the JouRN. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Some Indian Bombyliid;e. ^Eir AAD LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOylBYLIlDjE. 631 present genus. The one labelled “ ? binotala Macq.” does not agree with Macquart’s description of that species. Exoprosopa, Macq. This is a very rich and rather heterogeneous genus, as Professor Bezzi remarks in Tr. Ent. Soc., 1911, p. 636. It will probably be split up eventually, and some of the species at present included in it will have to go elsewhere. In working out my specimens I was much puzzled by a species that occurs at Mount Abu, which has the neuration of Exoprosopa, but the wing pattern of Thyridanthrax. Looking over some insects which had recently been returned to the British Museum by Professor Bezzi, I found that he had described it as a Thyridanthrax from Africa, where it is widely spread. I also note that he now places Loew’s Exoprosopa Iceta in Thyridanthrax, although he recorded it as an Exoprosopa in Tr. Ent. Soc., 1911, p. 645. When the Indian dipterous fauna becomes better known, the number of species of Exoprosopa that occur in that country will certainly be increased by numerous additions. There are,bothintheBritishMuseumand in my own collection, a number of specimens which undoubtedly belong to undescribed species, but in most cases they are in indifferent condition, and to describe new species frcm examples more or less denuded of their pubescence is only to increase the difficulties of future students of Diptera. As regards the generic characters Brunetti makes a slight slip on p. 190 of Vol. I. His statement “ all tibiae without spinules ” should read “ fore tibiae ^idthout spinules, ” as most of the species, if not all, have spinules on the intermediate and posterior tibiae. The following key to the species recorded from India is based as far as possible on Brunetti’s table of species on pp. 190-192 of his work. It must not be taken as dividing them according to their affinities, but it ought to assist a collector to name his specimens, unless he obtains anything new to India. In preparing the key I have relied on Brunetti’s descriptions as regards the following species — flavipennis, otylata, puerula, annandalei, brahma, and vitrea. All the other species are represented either in the British Museum or in my own collection. Key to th£ Indian Species of Exoprosopa. 1. 1st posterior cell closed O Do. open . . .. 9 2. Wings bright yellow at base . . .. 3 Wings not bright yellow at base .. 5 3. Wings with two browm bands . . fiammea, Brun. Wings with only one brown band .. 4 4. Abdomen with the ground colour black . . flavipennis, Brun. Do. do. red . . tamerlan, Portschin- sky. 5. 1st posterior cell long stalked . . Do. short stalked or closed on .. 6 the margin .. 7 6. 4th longitudinal vein interstitial with cross vein connecting 3rd and 2nd longitudinal veins . . inter siitialis, n. sp. 4th longitudinal vein not interstitial . . fusconotaia. Beck. 7. Wings very dark brown at base . . siva, n. sp. Wings not dark brown at base .. 8 8. Apex of wings hyaline . . . . albida. Walk. Do. more or less infuscated . . *abjecia, n. sp. 9. Wings wholly black or blackish . . laUpennis, Brun. Wings not wholly black or blackish . . .. 10 * This species sometimes has the 1st posterior cell open, and therefore appears again below. 632 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Hind tibiae .with long and dense scales Do. without long and dense scales Sides of 1st abdominal segment with black hairs . . Do. do. w'hite hairs . . 1st posterior ceU with an additional transverse vein in its centre Do. without an additional transverse vein in its centre 2nd posterior cell twice as wide at base as at tip . . Do. as wide at tip as at base or wider Larger ; 14-18 mm. ; sides of abdomen with black hairs Smaller ; 8-12 mm. ; sides of abdomen without black hairs Baso-anterior half of wing considerably darker than the remainder Basi-anterior half of wing not or scarcely darker than the remainder . . Dorsum of abdomen with white scale-spots Do. -ttithout white scale- spots Larger ; 14 mm. ; antennal style normal 11 12 pennipes, Wied. pennata, n. sp. evanescens. Beck. 13 14 15 lateralis, Brun. gujaratica, n. sp. 16 21 17 18 maculiventris , Brun. Smaller ; 8 mm. ; antennal style as long as 3rd joint stylata, Brun. Clear part of wing without isolated dark spots Do. with isolated dark spots . . Abdominal ground colour, black or blackish Abdominal ground colour, red or bro^vn . . Baso-costal band flavous Do. not flavous . , puerala. Brim. 19 insnlata, Walk. 20 abrogata, n. sp. alexon. Walk. annandalei, Brun. sp. Wings more or less infuscated, though there is no dis- tinct baso-costal band Wings almost clear, though the marginal cell may be darkened . . 22. Tip of wings hyaline . . Do. not hyaline 23. Wings mainly tawny . . Wings not at all tawny 24. Thorax and abdomen with iridescent blue scales Do. white or grey scales 25. Cross veins more or less suffused Do. quite clear 26. Scutellurr; and antennae, black Do. reddish yellow or brown . 27. Antennae wholly black Some joints of antennae red or ferruginous . . 28. Larger ; 15 mm. or more Snialler ; 13 mm. or less 29. Thorax and abdomen wdth bright yellow hairs Do. without bright yellow hairs 30. Antennal entirely brownish yellow . . Do. only ferruginous at base .... . (In order to assist entomologists working in India, I have given below abbre- viated descriptions of any species now recorded from Indian limits whicti have already been described, but which are not included is Vol. I of Piptera Brachycera. 22 24 dissoluta, 23 auriplura. Walk. abjecta, n. sp. iridipennis, n. sp. 25 26 27 bengalensis, Macq. brahma , Schin. 28 30 niveivetiiris, Brun. 29 vitrea, Brun. punjabensis, n. sp. vitreipennis, Brun. hasifascia. Walk. ^'E W AND LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOMBYLIIDM. 633 Exoprosopa tamerlan, Portachinsky. Horae Soc. Entom. Ross, Vol. XXI, p. 185. ^ 9 Head, including antennae, thorax, and abdomen mainly or entirely red, covered ■with rufous scales and rather sparse pubescence of similar colour ; 3rd abdominal segment bears a small spot of white scales on each Side, but this is often obsolete or abraded ; legs mainly black, wings with a broad yellow bases costal band, margined posteriorly by a brown band, the latter varying consider- ably in width and intensity, apical and posterior margin hyaline ; 1st posterior cell closed, the 4th vein meeting the 3rd nearly half way between the fork of the latter and the wing border. Length 18-21 mm. This fine species is common at Quetta, where I obtained nine specimens which agree well with Portschinsky’s description, and also vdth the figure given in Becker’s Persische Dipteren. Originally described from Mei v, and Becker records it from Persian Baluchistan. Exoprosopa inter stilialis, n. sp. . Head ; frons at level of antennae rather more than one-third the width of head, not much narrowed at vertex ; upper mouth edge protruding, viewed in profile fully half the short diameter of the eye ; vertex black, with short stiff black hairs which extend nearly to the antennae, frons and face yellowish, covered with yellowish grey scales, below which a black spot is visible just above the upper mouth edge ; lower mouth edge very pale testaceous ; antennae brownish black, 1st and 2nd joints with stiff black haii-s, 3rd joint, excluding style, as long as the first two combined, gradually tapering, with style | of its length; proboscis rather long, blackish, palpi dark brown ; occiput blackish, with a fringe of white scales along eye margins. Thorax black, with a collar of pale yellowish grey scaly hairs, extending back towards the wing bases; disc covered with yellowish grey scales, bristles at base of ■wings and on postalar calli pale yellow ; mesopleurae with grey pubescence, scutellun reddish brown, with scales similar to those on the thorax ; marginal bristles pale. Abdomen mainly brick red, but all the segments are more or less black at base; disc with grey scales (partially denuded), and with a few short stiff hairs on apical margins of segments, especially towards the sides, which are thickly covered with greyish scaly hairs ; venter red, covered with grey scaly hairs. Legs chiefly red ; coxae with long grey pubescence, f^ora and tibiae covered with grey scales, tarsi bro^wnish, becoming nearly black towards apex ; inter- mediate and posterior tibiae with black spinules. Wings dark bro^vn, with a flavous tinge at base to beyond humeral cross vein ; there is a very ill-defined oblique median darker band, and there are dark suffusions on all the cross veins, but the following portions of the wing are sub-hyaline, viz., the greater portion of 2nd basal cell, base of anal cell, apical half of discal cell, and most of the marginal and posterior cells ; in the apical fourth of wing the discs of the cells are darker than in the immediate vicinity of the longitudinal veins ; the first posterior cell is closed and long stalked, the 4th longitudinal vein joining the 3rd at a right angle, and being interstitial with the cross vein connecting 3rd longitudinal vein with the lower branch of the 2nd ; most of the larger longitudinal nervures are reddish brown, the smaller ones appearing darker ; base of costa with numerous but very short bristles, and some golden yellow scales ; halteres pale yellow, fringe of alulae smoky. Length 15 mm. Described from a single specimen taken at Quetta in May. I cannot find among published descriptions any species which combines wing markings as described above with a closed 1st posterior cell. 634 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIl. Exoprosopa fusccmotata, Becker. Persische Dipteren., Ann. Mus. Zool. St. Petersburg, 1912, p. 566. Head yellow or yellowish, antennse black ; thorax and scutellum blackish brown, ■with yellow and white scales and yellow bristles. Abdomen blackish brown, with white interrupted bands on the first four segments. Legs black ; wings greyish, marginal cell yellowish brown ; a brown suffusion at the posterior corner of discal cell ; 1st posterior cell closed at a right angle, and stalked. Length lOJ mm. The four specimens taken at Quetta agree well with Becker’s description. Exoprosopa siva, n. sp. d $ Head ; frons at level of antennae one-third the width of head, at vertex about one-sixth in both sexes; black, covered with pale golden yellow scales and black hairs, which are longest on the frons; occiput with short whitish pubescence : antennae black, 3rd joint rather short, being not much longer than the style ; 1st and 2nd joints with black hairs, 3rd bare ; proboscis nearly twice as long as head. Thorax black ; pronotum and sides with rather long pale yellowish hairs, dor- sum -with pale golden scales, bristles at base of wings and on postalar caUi black ; underside of thorax black with black hairs ; scutellum black, with pale golden scales and black bristles, some of the latter being very long. Abdomen black; 1st segment with pale yellow hairs, 2nd with a narrow basal band of similarlj" coloured scales, 4th and 7th segments ■with broad basal bands of pure white scales ; venter black, sparsely clothed with greyish hairs and some yellow scales. Legs entirely black, with some pale scales on femora and tibiae. Wings brownish grey, with an oblique blackish baso-costal band reaching the tip of the 1st longitudinal vein, leaving the outer and posterior margins, including most of the anal and axillary cells, clear ; on the clearer portion are the following blackish spots or suffusions, viz., a spot near apex of upper branch of 3rd longi- tudinal vein, one at the fork of this vein, and one on the cross vein which joins the 3rd and 4th longitudinal veins, one at the apex of discal cell, extending into 2nd posterior cell, one smaller spot at lower margin of discal cell where it is joined by 5th longitudinal vein. The 1st posterior cell is closed a short distance before the marghi. Length 7-10 mm. Described from four good specimens from Matheran. There is a similar speci- men in the British Museum from Mahapur. This species is quite distinct from insulaia Walk, to which it bears a superficial lesejnblance ‘ (see remarks on that species below). It differs as follows ; the wings are somewhat shorter, and the 1st posterior cell is closed, whereas it is open in insulata. The latter species has apical bands of yellowish scales on the 3rd and following segments, that on 4th being the most conspicuous, whereas siva has broad basal bands of snow-white scales on 4th and 7th segments. The oblique basocostal band is narrower in siva, and the spots are smaller and differently placed. Exoprosopa albida. Walker. Five specimens from Deesa agree with the type and description of this species. The shape of the 1st posterior cell is evidently variable ; in the tj*pe it is closed and stalked ; one of my specimens agrees with the type, but in the others it is closed just on or near the margin. It varies considerably in size, my largest specimen measuring 16 mm., and the smallest 11 mm. This species is very doubt- fuOy distinct from E. bagdadensis Wled, which Becker records from Persian Bal- uchistan. The latter has the first two antennal joints testaceous, whereas in aliida the basal joint only is of this colour. NJ-:ir ASD LITTLE A'.YOir.V IXDIAN BOMBYLIIDM. 635 Exoprosopa abjecta, n. sp. cl $ . Head ; frons at level of antennae about | the width of head, at vertex rather more than half as wide as at antennae; blackish at vertex, reddish towards antennae, becoming paler near mouth edge ; facial bump viewed in profile about f the short diameter of the eye ; frons and face thickly covered with greyish white scaly hairs, which are longer near antennae ; antennae daik red, 3rd joint more or less darkened, gradually tapering, rather longer than the 1st and 2nd joints taken together ; style about half the length of 3rd joint ; 1st joint with thick greyish hairs, 2nd with short black bristly ones. Thorax blackish, covered with gi'ey scales ; pronotum wth a collar of very pale yellowish hairs ; thorax below and at the sides with rather long grey hairs ; scutellum dark red, with grey scales; base of wings, postalar calli, and scutellum with long yellow bristles. Abdomen both above and below covered with short greyish scales ; 2nd seg- ment above with a transverse apical band of dark brown scales, and 3rd segment with indications of a similar band ; the ground colour of the abdomen is black, but the sides and apical margins of all the segments are red. Legs red, tarsi blackish ; femora and tibiae more or less covered with grey scales, and with short black spinules on intermediate and hind legs. Wings light bro ’.n, darker at extreme base ; an ill-defined oblique darker band runs from the middle of the anterior margin to the anal cell ; the apical portion of the 4th longitudinal vein is strongly curved, the 1st posterior cell being either just open or closed on the margin (in one specimen closed and short stalked) ; all the cross veins have darker suffusions ; in the apical portion of wing the longitud- inal veins are lighter margined, leaving the middle of the cells darker ; the 2nd posterior cell is slightly wider at apex than at base ; base of costa with yellowish grey scales, mixed with short black bristles ; halteres yellowish white. Length 9-12 mm. Described from eight specimens obtained at Deesa in March and April. The oblique median wing band varies considerably in intensity ; in some speci- mens it is very noticeable, while in others it is scarcely darker than the rest of the wing. The ground colour of the abdomen varies from mainly red to mainly black. There appears to be little or no difference in the width of frons in the sexes. Exoprosopa penrvata, n. sp. (S . Head with frons at antennae about J the width of head, at vertex about J as vide as at antennae ; frons black; with short stiff black hairs and traces of white scales; face black, covered with sin'ilar black hairs and a few white scales near eye-margins ; antennae with 1st joint dark red, with stiff black hairs, 2nd joint black, 3rd dark red, blackish at base, gradually tapering, with similarly coloured style, which is about ^ the length of joint ; proboscis and palpi black at base, becoming reddish at apex ; occiput with whitish scales near eye-margins. Thorax black ; pronotum with a collar of greyish black hairs, dorsum covered with iridescent blue scales; a patch of snow-white scales near base of wings, the remainder of sides with stiff black hairs, mixed with a few grey ones; a few short black bristles near wing-base, and similar longer ones on postalar calli ; scutellum black, with traces of blue scales, and black marginal bristles. Abdomen black, covered with iridescent blue scales ; 1st segment with a conspicuous patch of snow-white scaly hairs on each side ; sides of the remaining segments with shorter and stiffer black hairs ; venter with the basal white patches on Is*' segment extended below, and traces of white scales on segments 2-5. Legs black, fore tibiae and tarsi rufescent, intermediate tibiae with several rows of moderately long spinules; a patch of white scaly hairs on posterior coxae; the posterior femora at tip and the whole of the posterior tibiae covered with long and dense browmish black scales. 9 636 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Tol.XXYIlI. Wings blackish brown, hyaline at tip and along posterior margin, the pale portion of wings limited by the tip of 2nd longitudinal vein and not quite reach ing the apex of anal cell ; 1st posterior and anal cells open ; alula with a fringe of whitish scales ; halteres brownish. 9 Similar ; frons a little wider. Length 16-18 mm. Described from 4 specimens in good condition from Quetta. Nearest to E. pennipes Wied, from which it differs in the antennae being mainly dark red, the patches of snow-white scales at sides of 1st abdominal segment, and the more extended clear portion of the wing margin. The dark portion of the wdng has in the present species a more brownish tinge than in pennipes ; in one of my specimens there are somewhat lighter portions in the 2nd basal, discal, and anal cells. The specimen from Karachi mentioned by Brunetti on p. 198 of Vol. I, Diptera Brachycera, evidently belongs to this species. Exoprosopa evanescens. Becker. Pei-sische Dipteren, Ann. Mus. Zool. St. Petersburg, 1912, p. 559. I have eight specimens from Quetta which exactly correspond with Becker’s description. Head, including 1st two antennal joints, scuteUum, apical portions of all ab- donrinal segments, coxae, femora, and tibiae, red ; 3rd antennal joint, dorsum of thorax, bases of abdominal segments, and tarsi, black or blackish. Head and thorax covered with pale yellow scales, abdomen with grey scales. Wings lightly infuscated, apical and posterior margins nearly clear, all cross veins darkened ; the 1st posterior cell is crossed near its centre by a transverse vein ( “ mit ciner iiberzahligen Querader ”). The latter character is uncommon in the genus Exoprosopa, though it occm-s in E. singularis Macq., and a few other species. In Becker’s type the 3rd antennal joint was broken off ; all my specimens have this joint black, rather long and slender, with the style, w'hich is about ^ the length of ioint, testaceous. Exoprosopa gujaratica, n. sp. ^ Head dull red, with short greyish pubescence, intermixed on frons with short, stiff, black hairs ; frons at vertex about the width of head, at antennae about ^ ; proboscis black ; 1st antennal joint j’^ellow, hairy ; second black at base, with apex yellow ; 3rd black on blackish, style thick, about ^ the length of 3rd joint. Thorax black above, rufescent below, with short but thick greyish-yellow pubescence ; pronotum and sides with longer light yellow hairs ; bristles irear base of wings and on postalar calli black ; scuteUum reddish brown towards apex covered with pubescence similar to that on thorax, with black marginal bristles. Abdomen broadly blackish above, but red at sides and on apices of segments, pubescence concolorous with that on thorax, no black hairs at sides or at apex. Legs red; coxae, tips of fore femora and tibiae darkened, aU tarsi black ; femora and tibiae sparsely covered with greyish scales ; intermediate tibiae and posterior femora and tibiae mth the usual spinules. Wings rather dark brown, with a narrow border, lighter but not hyaline, ex- tending from the point where 1st longitudinal vein joins the costa rather irregularly to the anal margin ; halteres yeUow. 9 Similar ; vertex slightly broader, length 8-12 mm. Described from six ^ and 2 9 9 from Deesa, all taken in October. This species is nearest to E. lateralis Brun, from which it differs in its smaller size, the absence of any black hairs on abdomen, and the extent of the lighter margin of the wings. In the present species the lighter portion is much narrower than in lateralis, amA less weU defined ; there is no lighter indentation running into JSE TV AND LITTLE KA O WN INDIAN BOMB YLIID^. 637 discal cell. A series of both species seen side by side appear quite distinct. I have lateralis from Mount Abu and Matheran, but did not obtain it at Deesa. Exoprosopa insulata. Walk. There are several Indian species with wing markings somewhat similar to insulata. Walk., and I found four distinct species standing over that name in the British Museum viz., (a) insulata ; two specimens, including the type, from ‘‘ East Indies ” — • also a specimen from Assam. (b) a specimen from Dehra Dun, not good enough to describe. It has a pure white band at the base of 4th abdominal segment, and the 1st posterior cell just open. (c) Two specimens from Ceylon (Col. Yerbury), not in good condition. These have the 1st posterior cell closed. (d) A specimen from Madhapur, with the 1st posterior cell closed. This agrees with my specimens from Matheran, which I have described above as Exoprosopa siva. Brunetti probably had two or more species before him when he wrote the description of insulata on pp. 203-5 of Vol. I, Diptera Brachycera, though the figure of the wing on Plate III corresponds well with Walker’s type, and with my specimens. I therefore give below the points in which his description differs from the type. The proboscis does not project beyond the tip of antennae, but just beyond the upper mouth edge, (in my E. siva the proboscis projects well beyond the tip of antennae). I should describe the abdomen as follows : — Ground colour black, covered mainly with black scales ; 1st segment with a band of rather long yellowish brown erect hairs, 2nd segment with a complete basal band of pale yellow scales, 3rd and following segments with apical bands of similar but rather lighter scales, those on the 3rd and 4th segments the most conspicuous and extending over the side margins, on the other segments these bands are narrower and sometimes hardly noticeable ; the whole of the dorsal surface of abdomen thinly covered with fine long black sinuous hairs ; venter blackish, with black hairs, except on the 1st segment where the yellowish hairs extend well over the sides. The wings have the dark colouring extending over the basal half of the discal cell, and the basal | of the anal and axillary cells, and the spots are situated as follows : — One at the bifurcation of 2nd vein, being merely an extension of the baso-costal band ; one right across the vein closing the apex of discal cell, connected anteriorly with the dark portion of the wing ; free dark spots as follows : two larger ones, one near apex of upper branch of 2nd longitudinal vein, and one over cross vein connecting lower branch of same vein with 3rd longitudinal ; two smaller spots towards apex of lower branch of 2nd longitudinal vein, and one each near apex of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th veins, some of the latter being very faint; both the 1st posterior and anal cells are widely open; the discal cell is broad at apex, and has a small appendicular vein from its lower corner ; the lower vein of 2nd posterior cell meets the discal cross vein just below the middle, and has a slight appendix into discal cell ; halteres yellowish, base of the club dark. I have nine specimens, including both sexes, from Simla, which exactly agree with Walker’s type. E. bengaUnsis is quite distinct, but I have not seen a specimen of brahma. Exoprosopa abrogaia, n. sp. Head ; frons at level of antennae ^ the width of head, at vertex about half this width ; face and frons rufo-testaceous, covered with yellowish white scales, with a few short blackish hairs ; antennae red, 1st and 2nd joints with a few black hairs, 3rd joint rather short, gradually tapering,excluding style about 1| 638 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL MIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. times as long as 1st and 2nd together, style about § the length of the joint, thicker at apex than at base ; facial bump rather prominent, viewed in profile about f the short diameter of the eye ; proboscis rufo-testaceous ; occiput rather wide, covered with greyish scales, the ground colour immediately behind the eyes darker than the posterior margin. Thorax blackish on disc, covered with greyish scales ; pronotum with a collar of light yellow hairs ; scutellum dark red ; bristles on postalar calli and scutellum yellowish. Abdomen both above and below light red, the segments more or less blackish at base, covered with grey scales (partially denuded) ; 1st segment with a tuft of light yellow hairs at each side. Legs rufo-testaceous, with some indications of grey scales on femora and tibiae ; all femora and tibiae with very short black spinules ; apical 2 or 3 joints of tarsi darkened. Wings with the anterior portion as far as the end of 1st longitudinal vein tawny yellow ; all cross veins and the apex of discal cel) with dark tawny suffusions, and there are similar but smaller suffusions near the apex of both branches of the 2nd longitudinal vein ; 1st posterior and anal cells open. The third posterior cell is divided by a veinlet which runs towards the apex of discal cell (both my speci- mens are alike in this respect, but it may be adventitious); base of costa with greyish scales and short black bristly hairs ; halteres yellowish white. Length 8 mm. Described from two specimens obtained at Deesa in February. Nearest to auriplura. Walk., but differs as follows : smaller, antennae red, not black, 3rd joint much shorter than in auripium. In the latter species the whole of the wings are tawny yellow ; in the present species the apical and posterior margins are, except for the suffusions on the veins, almost hyaline. Exoprosopa dissoluta, n. sp. 5 . Head ; frons at level of antennae about | the width of head, narrowing at vertex to 5 the width at antennae ; face slightly convex, viewed in profile the upper mouth edge, extends beyond the eye margin about half the short diameter of the eye ; vertex and frons reddish brown, becoming paler towards antennae, below which the whole face and mouth edge is pale testaceous ; frons with some short stiff black hairs, and covered with pale yellow scales, which extend to the mouth edge ; antennae with 1st joint red, with numerous short stiff black hairs, 2nd and 3rd joints bro^vn or blackish, 3rd gradually tapering, longer than the 1st and 2nd together, style short ; proboscis black, palpi pale ; occiput rather broad, black with some pale yellow scales, the indentation of the eyes with white scales; occipital fringe short, whitish. Thorax black, with portions of metapleurae and sternopleurae red ; pronotum with a collar of pale yellowish scale like hairs ; disc covered with short yellowish scales, among which are mixed a few short stiff black hairs ; patches of greyish white scale-like hairs above and below bases of wings ; bristles near wing base and on postalar calli black ; scutellum dark red, covered with scales like the thorax, and with black marginal bristles. Abdomen black, apical margins of segments narrowly reddish ; 1st segment with a patch of greyish scale-like hairs at each side, 2nd and following segments with basal bands of white scales, on the first three or four segments these bands cover about half the segment, those on the apical segments being wider ; last two segments fringed with black hairs ; venter almost entirely covered with short greyish scales, which become yellower towards apex of abdomen. Legs ; front coxse red, covered with long grey hairs and a few stiffer black ones ; remainder of legs brownish or blackish, with small black spinules on inter- mediate and hind femora and tibiae. Wings ; base as far as humeral cross vein dark brown ; an irregular infuscated band stretches from fore margin through discal cell and apex of anal cell,becoming NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOMDYLIID^. 639 narrower posteriorly, and hardly reaching hind margin of wing ; the infusca- tion is more pronounced round all the cross veins ; the discal cell has a small sub-hyaline spot near base, and another larger one near apex ; 1st posterior and anal cells open ; base of costa with some whitish scales and short black bristles ; halteres pale. $ Similar, except as follows : frons slightly narrower, covered with snow-white scales ; st3de of antennae longer, red ; occiput narrower ; abdomen red, 1st and 2nd segments wdth broad basal triangular patches black ; genitalia fringed with soft red hairs. Length 13-14 mm. Described from 1 $ and 5 9 9 from Quetta, mostly in good condition. The (S however has the abdomen somewhat denuded and has lost one wing. This is very near to E. undans. Walk., of which the locality is unknown. It differs as follows : the bands of white scales on the abdomen are broader in the present species, and more distinct ; the ground colour of the abdomen is darker, at any rate in the 9 ; the neuration is similar, except that undans has a slight appendicular vein from lower corner of discal cell. The wing markings in the present species are very similar to those in undans, but they are darker, and all my specimens have the cross vein connecting the lower branch of the 2nd longi- tudinal vein with the 3rd infuscated, whereas this ocin is clear in undans. The type and only specimen of undans is headless, so comparison as regards the head is possible. Both Major Austen and Mr.CoUin, who happened to be at the British Museum when I was comparing my specimens with Walker’s type of undans, consider the present species distinct, otherwise I should have hesitated to describe it. Exoprosopa iridipenn'S, n. sp. $ Head with the eyes almost touching at vertex, but the frons at level of antennae quite ^ the width of head ; frons and face nearly to upper mouth edge black, becoming much lighter at mouth edge ; frons with thick black pubescence down to the antennae, and some purple scales both above and below antennae ; proboscis rather long, blackish ; palpi thin, covered with bristle-like hairs ; antennae black, 1st and 2nd joints thickly covered with long black hairs, 3rd joint bare, tapering, style about half as long as joint, with a minute terminal bristle ; occiput with short greyish pubescence, and some purple scales. Thorax black ; pronotum and sides thickly covered with rather long bright golden hairs ; dorsum covered with iridescent purplish blue, scales, and with patches of snow-white scaly hairs near wing base ; below there are patches of similar hairs on the sternopleurae, no conspicuous bristles at base of wings pr on postalar calli ; scutellum brownish, with some purple scales at base, and numerous rather short black bristles along its apical margin. Abdomen black, covered with highly iridescent purple-blue scales ; 1st segment with a patch of whitish hairs at sides ; 3rd segment with a large oval patch of snow-white depressed scales on each side, extending over the side margins, and indications of a much smaller patch of similar scales on extreme sides of 6th seg- ment ; remainder of the pubescence black, except that there is on the posterior margins of the last two segments an admixture of scaly white hairs ; venter with the ground colour black ; 2nd segment with a triangular patch of snow-white scales, the apex of the triangle being at apical margin ; 3rd segment almost en- tirely covered by similar scales, 4th with similar scales at apex ; the black part of the venter is, like the dorsal portion of abdomen, covered with iridescent purple blue scales. Legs black ; all coxae covered with rather long greyish pubescence ; intermediate and posterior femora and tibiae with very short spinules. Wings hyaline and highly iridescent ; yellowish at base and in costal and sub- costal cells; base of costa and all the nervures testaceous ; costa at base with very 640 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. sliort black bristly hairs mixed with white scales ; squamse whitish, with moder- ately long white fringe ; halteres yellow ; the 1st posterior cell is unusually wide at apex. 9 . Similar ; the distance between the eyes at vertex about ^ the width of head ; the white scales on abdomen, both above and below, less apparent, piossibly because the specimen is somewhat rubbed. Length 13-14 mm. Deesa ; one specimen of each sex. This belongs to the group of E. hetrusca Fab., and is nearest to E. vitreicosia. Walk., described from a headless type in poor condition. The present species is considerably larger, and the colour of the iridescent scales on the black portion is bluish-purple ; in vitreicosta they are distinctly of a bronzy black ; the tvpe of vitreicosta has hardly indications of white scales on the abdomen. Exoprosopa punjabensis, n. sp. (J. Head; frons at level of antennse about ^the width of head, lessening to j of that width at vertex ; black above, paler below, almost white along mouth edges ; frons covered with yellowish white scales, mixed with short black hairs; face with yellowish white scales ; facial bump rather small, about J the short diameter of the eye ; antennae black, 1st and 2nd joints with black hairs, 3rd gradually taper- ing, longer than the 1st and 2nd together, style short; occiput rather broad, with snow-white scales. Thorax black ; pronotum with a collar of greyish hairs ; dorsum covered with long yellowish grey scales ; sides and below with long white hairs ; seutcllum with long yellowish grey scales ; bristles at base of wings, on postalar calli, and on margin of scutellum black. Abdomen black ; 1st segment and the’ bases of the remaining segments thickly covered with yellowish grey scales ; apical margins of all the segments except the first covered with black scales, which are mixed with longer black hairs on the last two segments; venter with the apical margins of segments broadly covered with long white scaly hairs; sides of 1st and 2nd segments with rather long grey hairs ; genitalia reddish. Legs black ; femora with grey scales. Wings rather short, hyaline and iridescent ; base and costal margin very pale yellowish ; all the nervures testaceous ; 1st posterior and anal cells wide open, 2nd posterior cell rather wider at apex than at base; base of costa with yellowish grey scales, mixed with short black bristly hairs ; halteres very pale testaceous. Length 10-12 mm. Described from 3 specimens from Ferozepore, Punjab. Very near E. vitrea. Big., but there are no bright yellow hairs on either thorax or abdomen in the present species, and all the abdominal segments except the first have entire black apical bands; from viteipennis, Brun., it differs in the antennae being black, and all the wing veins testaceous. This species, with its banded abdomen, bears a strong superficial resemblance to one or two small species of Andrena which occur in the same locality. Whe’n I captured my specimens I was chiefly interested in Hymenoptera, and thought I had caught bees until I examined them. Exoprosopa auriplura. Walk. By a misprint on page 212. Diptera Brachycera, Vol. I, this name is given as auriplena. Exoprosopa basifascia, Walk. E. semilvcida, Walk., should be sunk as a synonym of this species. The types of both are in the British Museum, and I can see no difference between them, not in Walker’s descriptions. KEW AND LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOMBYLIID^E. 641 Exoprosopa disrupta. Walk. Entomologist, 1871, p. 261. There is a specimen of this species in the B. M., labelled “ Ind.” My own specimens are from Lahej near Aden, and it i-eqnires confirmation as Indian. The following abridged description should enable the species to be recognised. ^ 9 . Black ; lower part of frons, antennae, and mouth edge red ; face and frons with short black hairs and white scales ; occiput with sparse white scales ; pro- notal collar pale yellow, dorsum of thorax with yellowish white scales, sides with longer grey scales ; scuteUum and abdomen more or less covered with grey scales, forming bands (often denuded) at the base of abdominal segments, which bands are usually most conspicuous on the 3rd and 5th segments; abdomen of the ^ more or less dark red ; femora and tibiae reddish ; wings with dark baso-costal bands and all the veins, but more espeeially the cross veins, broadly suffused. Length 8-13 mm. (to be continued.) 64-' THE SXARE OF THE GIANT WOOD SVTDER[NEPHILA MACULATA) BY Captain R. W. G. Hingston, I.M.S. PART I. {With 2 text figures). Some of my earliest observations in natural science were given to tbe won- derful work of the spiders that weave geometrical snares. It was in a beauti- ful and secluded valley of the Himalaya, and the spider which disclosed the secrets of the architecture was the humble and insignificant species, the Araneus nauticiis.* Eight years have passed since these investigations were made, and many a time have I reviewed the work and followed the stages of the architecture again. Often of an evening, when chance has offered, I have watched the exquisite fabric assume its geometrical beauty and shape ; I have noticed how the different species possesses each its own special peculiarities and ways, yet for a long time I met with none which made any wide or important deviation from the main principles originally observed. But fortune in the end will always favour those who watch and wait. At length the time arrived when another of the Epeiridae displayed her workmanship, and revealed a succession of varied secrets that satisfied my highest hojres. ■ Giant Wood Spider {N. maculata). (From the Fauna of British India ( Arachnida). The species is none other than the Nephila maculata ; in this vast country the most handsome and most powerful of its kind. How very different from the insignificant Araneus is this great conspicuous giant of the woods. The Araneus is a small and globular spider, a little brown species with stumpy legs, only one quarter to one half an inch in length. The Nephila is an elongated monster, variegated in brilliant colour, with long and slender limbs and four to six times as large. Equally wide is the difference between their snares. Both are of the same geometrical pattern ; but that of the Araneus is a fragile structure, on an average some ten to twelve inches in width; while the Nephila spreads out a strong sheet of silk with a diameter of five feet. I found the Araneus over the streams and pools that nestle amidst the rocky glens. I come on the Nephila inmove gloomy haunts. She is a resident of the dense and leafy jungle, a true inhabitant of the woods. I must briefly describe the splendid architect herself. It is of course the female which is responsible for the work. In front her head and thorax are welded * The architecture has been fully described in “ A Naturalist in Himalaya.” THE SNARE OF THE GIANT WOOD SPIDER. 643 into a quadrangular mass. It is clothed above in a pale yellow velvet, and armed in front with a pair of black massive jaws. Alongside the jaws are th? hairy palpi. Each is bright yellow in its proximal half, while the remainder is a dense black. Behind the thorax is the ponderous abdomen shaped like a truncated cone. The base is in front, vertical and abrupt, and connected with the thorax by a narrow moveable hinge. Behind it terminates in a blunt round point, and beneath the tip is a reddish prominence which supports the compact cluster of the spinnerets. The abdomen is strikingly decorated with a pattern of spots and lines. Its general colour is a dense black reliev^ed be- neath bj' a reddish tinge and a diversity of yellow spots. On either side of the cone the markings are more delicately laid. They consists of five longitud- inal streaks of pale yellowish wavy lines. On its upper surface the abdomen is more vividly adorned. A pair of bright longitudinal orange bands traverses it throughout its length, while in front are three broad transverse stripes of which two are brilhant orange and the intermediate one is black. The legs are extraordinarily long and slender, the fore leg being no less than three inches in length. All are black in colour with a yellow spot beneath the joints. They are clothed in delicate hairs and spines, and terminate in minute claws. Such is the largest of our Indian spiders. It has a span of six and a half inches, and its body is one and a half inches in length. The magnificent snare of this great spider can be spun only in some special site. In diameter it is almost the height of a man ; and consequently a clear wide space is necessary for the expansion of so immense a net. The spi- der knows well the most suitable place. It spreads it across some open clearing between the branches of the forest trees. It often selects a pathway or a shady water course, or it finds a tunnel in the tangled growth where the insects pass to and fro. Frequently it secures it above to the branches, and anchors it below by silken filaments to the low-lying foliage on the ground. It is only in these secluded spots that we find this marvellous sheet. There is no W’ork of architecture more worthy of our note. It is so delicate, so beautiful, so immense ; it has such a wonderful appearance of exactitude and of geometrical precision in all its parts. It is like a great transparent wheel, spread out as an invisible barrier and stretched tight between the forest trees. Given the favourable opportunity, we can witness no more fascinating work than the great Nephila at the architecture of her snare. She teaches us many detailed truths which the little Araneus could never show. She is of such size and bulk that all her complex movements are magnified to a much larger scale. Moreover she is so deliberate in every motion ; she performs every act so slowly, so decidedly and with such a movement of determination and precision that it is easy to follow the geometrical principles that underlie the intricate architecture of the snare. She thus yields more to observation than does the small and hasty Araneus, and I will endeavour to tell the additional facts she has disclosed. Though permitting of close observation, nev'ertheless she is timid and shy. At the slightest touch on her snare she immediately dashes away to the margin, and waits there till the danger has passed. She will work only in quietness and solitude and under cover of the darkness of night. It needs much patience and a quiet search to see this architect at her toil. None hav'e tried my patience higher ; none have rewarded it more. I now turn to the workmanship, and I ask the reader’s permission to repeat what I have elsewhere described. I must state again the essential features in the construction of the ordinary geometrical snare, for, unless the normal pro- cess is borne in mind, it will not be possible to realize the new lessons which the Nephila has to tell. Let us therefore first consider the ordinary geometrical snare. It is fashioned in this way. 10 644 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. NXVIIl. The hour of work is at hand, and the spider is isolated on a blade of grass stand- ing in a narrow stream. “ The first essentials are some foundation lines to serve as a framework for the snare. The spider begins. It climbs to the tip of the blade of grass ; it elevates its abdomen and from the spinnerets emits a silken filament to the vdnd. The light filament is wafted to the shore, becomes entang- led in another blade of grass, and the first foundation-line is in place. Backwards and forwards runs the spider along its line, adding each time a new filament, doubling, trebling, quadrupling the line until it is strong and sound. The first foundation-line is secure. For the second foundation-line the spider adopts a different procedure. It takes its stand about midway on the first line and sud- denly drops down suspended on a filament of silk. Perhaps it finds an attach- ment. If not, it climbs up again and drops down from another point. At length it meets a blade of grass and anchors its second line. By joining these points together with a filament of silk a triangle is formed of three foundation-lines, the simplest form of framework to support a geometrical snare. The spider reinforces these lines with additional filaments until it is satisfied with the strength of the scaffold. This is the first and elemental stage ; the construction of the foundation-lines. I now come to the second step in the architectme. A triangular framework is in position or if suitable connections can be found, a trapezoid figure is more to the spider’s choice. Whatever its shape, the spider next proceeds to construct the radii. These are the spokes of a wheel that diverge from a common centre to end at the foundation-lines. The spider constructs them with little trouble. It first runs a fine from side to side across the framework. Then, selecting a point on that line which will be the future centre of the snare, it carries a number of lines from that central point to the circumference of the snare. In this way it completes a series of radii, each equidistant from its adjoining radius. Each radius is in accurate position ; all diverge equally from the common point. The second stage is mathematicallj’’ complete. Now comes the third stage, the construction of a hub. The snare in its present state resembles a wheel. It has a centre, radiating spokes, and a rim formed of its foundation-lines. The spokes need some strengthening at the point where they leave the centre, the wheel requires a hub. This the spider proceeds to make. It winds five turns of a slender filament around and close to the central point, attaching the filament to every spoke. A hub is thus added to the wheel ; the spokes are bound together at their inner ends and the third stage is complete. The fourth step in the work is the formation of a temporary spiral. This adds a further strength to the snare, holding the radii still more firmly m place. The .spider takes four turns round the hub, stepping from radius to radius and attach- ing the filament every time it passes a spoke. A spiral of four turns, like the hair- spring of a watch, is thus wound about the centre. All the turns are parallel, all accurately placed. The work is perfect and precise. This is the fourth stage in the architecture, the construction of the temporary spiral. The spider now reaches the fifth and most important step in its work, the formation of the viscid spiral. It proceeds to the outer margin of its snare close to where a radius joins a foundgttion-liiiP. It now commences to wind another and much longer spiral round and round the snare, commencing at the circumference, working towards the centre and attachmg the spual at every spoke. To pass from radius to radius it uses the temporary spiral as a bridge. Now this viscid spiral is the vhai element of the snare. It is continuous in closely parallel lines from the circumference to the very centre. It is covered with a highly viscid fluid, while all the other lines, the radii, the hub, the temporary spiral are non -adherent to the touch. It is that part of the fabric that has the power of capture. The formation of the viscid spiral is a laborious task ; it occupies the spider more time than all the rest of the snare. It is a fir e THE SKATE 01 THE GIAKT WOOD SPIDER. 645 and subtle filament, often continuous from end to end. Every line is parallel, and the whole is a wonderful work of mathematical beauty and precision. The spider at length completes its viscid spiral. It anchors the end close to the centre, and the snare is finished. Fig. 1 Diagram of the parts of a Geometrical Snare. (а) Centre. (d) Radius. (б) Hub. (e) Viscid sjjiral. (c) Temporaiy spiral. (/) Foundation line. Such is the construction of the geometrical snare, a work of the most marvel ous texture. There are five successive stages in its architecture (see Fig. L). 1. The foundation-lines. 2. The radii. 3. The hub. 4. The temporary spiral. 5. The viscid spiral.” Bearing these main principles in mind , let us now inspect the work of the Nephila; let us see how she varies from the common mode of workmanship, let us consider the additional lessons which I find she is able to teach. Armed with patieiice and a lantern, we move out into the jvmgle by night. We pass to some dark secluded spot chosen by the spider for her snare. Ear- lier m the morning we cut away the structure leaving a few foundation-lines in place. All day long the Nephila has been hanging to a broken thread. She will not think of work until some hours after the sun has set. We sit doivn with the light near the fragments of the old snare. We prepare for a long and patient wait. In all likelihood it will end in failure ; for the Nephila will often resent our interference ; if so, then she will scramble away into the foliage and seek for some more welcome nook elsewhere. But we wait in the hope that she will reconstruct her architecture in the place where we have cut it away. The weary hours drag on the lamp flickers at our side ; later the moon sheds a faint gleam of light, and we are filled with a sense of solitude and wonder, a veneration for the great unknown. We hear the chuckles and the hootings of the birds of night, the trumpet of the sambhar, the growl of the leopard, the roar of the king of Indian jungles that reverberates through the peaceful woods. We see the ghostly shapes of the forest trees, the deep dark spaces beneath their dripping boughs, and we feel the awe-inspuing influence of nature in the dark and lonely silence of the night. But we must watch and wait alone. None would join us m a midnight sitting merely to contemplate a spider at her work. 646 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. We persist. At length we are rewarded ; the Nephila begins to move. She at last takes up the first thread of her wonderful work. Let us follow the suc- cessive stages of her architecture and observe what she has to show. She thoroughly explores the vicinity, wandering about the branches, searching everywhere with her long legs until in the end she satisfies herself that the place is suitable for work. Then she begins at her old foundation-lines, strengthening and repairing the injured framework so as to make it suitable to enclose the snare. She hangs back-dowmward from her lines ; she climbs backwards and forwards along them ; she doubles, trebles, and still further reinforces them until they are sufficiently firm and strong. With her slender limbs she sweeps the air as she slowly climbs along her threads. In this way she searches for suitable attachments. The act is very deliberate and precise. First she sus- pends herself by the legs of the right side and with the left ones she sweeps the air. Then she reverses the process. The left legs become the organs of suspen- sion and those on the right side commence to explore. We can learn a few little facts even in this early stage. We can observe that the spider’s non-viscid thread, though apparently only a single filament, is really composed of a number of strands fused into one line. Owing to the large size of the spider we are able to detect this. The cluster of three, or perhaps four, filaments can be seen to emerge from the spinnerets, and to blend into a single thread about an inch or less away. Sometimes they will remain for a distance of two or three inches as separate and independent lines. Another little point that we cannot but observe is the mode of fixation of the line. It is by no means just a simple touch with the spinnerets. This great spider shows us that it is a very definite and decided act. The spinnerets are first pressed against the point of anchorage, then the abdomen is rocked firmly from side to side ; a small quantity of viscid matter is squeezed out from the spinnerets, and this glues the non-viscid line in place. We inspect carefully the point of fixation and we see a tiny white flake of glutinous material; it is the substance by means of which the attachment has been made. A third fact easy to corroborate is that on all occasions a strain is necessary in order to draw the filament from the spinnerets. The spider has no power to emit it by muscular force. Indeed, on occasions, she may sometimes move a little backwards, and then the filament hangs loose owing to the loss of the external strain. The line is always drawn from the belly of the spider by some traction from the outside. She is incapable either of drawing in or of shooting forth her own slender thread. We now come to the next act in the architecture, namely the drop which the spider makes in order to fix her first vertical line. She falls, seeking an attachment below, and allows herself to swing at the end of her almost invisible thread. But the point to be observed is this. The spider does not swing in such a way as to permit a strain on her spinnerets. Indeed such a mode of sus- pension would be impossible. It would result in the line continually running out. The spider prevents this by stretching up one hind leg and hooking the terminal claws over the suspension line. The claws there act as a check ; it is they which take the weight and strain, and they prevent the suspension line from running free from the spinnerets. Nor are the other legs idle while the spider is swinging from her line. She spreads them wide apart ; they grope around and search the air. They are waved about in all directions, and, since they cover an expanse of over six inches in diameter, they supply the spider with an excellent means of finding a point for the fixation of her thread. Should the spider fail to secure an attachment, she will again climb up her line. Her mode of ascent is thus. She has been swinging head downwards holding her filament with a hind claw. She now turns about. She ascends by a hand over hand motion, employing the claws of all the three front pairs of legs to haul her up the thread. But the ascent is a wasteful mechanism for the spider, the THE SNARE OF THE GIANT WOOD SPIDER. 647 slack line which is drawn down cannot again be absorbed into the spinnerets and is thus permanently lost. As was observed in the case of the foundation-lines, so also is the single filament of suspension formed by the fusion of a number of threads. They can be seen escaping in a delicate cluster from the very front of the spinnerets. Now occa- sionally, while the Nephila is suspended in the air, she gives forth another filament which she permits to float away upon the breeze. She has failed to find an at- tachment with her long and raking limbs, and now she begins to search the air by the aid of an extensive line. But let us observe the act in a little detail. We will first detect the fact that the line given to the wind escapes from the posterior spinnerets, while the suspension line emerges from those in front. Excellent arrangement. The line given to the wind must float away behind the spider. Did it not come from the hindmost spinnerets then it would get entangled in the suspension line. But there is another point. The flotation line, that is the one given to the wind, is, like the suspension line, not a single but a complex thread. Yet its composition is the exact reverse of the suspension line. It emerges as a single filament and ends in a cluster of threads. This terminal brush is the aerial support which permits it to float freely on the breeze. This little fact I have elsewhere described. The new point revealed by the Nephila is that the spider can emit at the same moment two lines constructed on a reverse plan. The one is from the front of her spinning wheel ; it is a fixed suspension line composed of a cluster of strands which fuse into a single thread. The other escapes from the hindmost spinnerets ; it is a free flotation line con- sisting of a single filament which terminates in a sheaf of threads. What a wonderful and efficient spinning apparatus to produce such diverse work as this ! I pass now to the next stage in the architecture, the method by which the radii are distributed through the snare. Remember first the work of the Araneus. She spreads abroad her radiating spokes, about twenty in a moderate snare. They are all equidistant; they all diverge evenly from a common centre ; they form a perfect and symmetrical wheel. Now let us follow the Nephila, and see how she varies from the common plan. Like the Araneus she lays her radii haphazard ; a few on one side, then a few on the other, without working on any apparent scheme. The Araneus fixee her radii in this manner. She climbs out along one radius paying out her tilawent behind her ; she reaches the found- ation-line ; she takes four paces along that line there she halts, draws tight her filament, secures it to the foundation line , and her radius is in place. She then climbs back along this new radius, anchors her thread at the centre, and thus duplicates her spoke. Now, in what way does the Nephila act ? She also climbs out from the centre to the circumference, but in the first half of the journey she clings to a pair of radii; then she drops one of the two, and in the same way as the Araneus continues her climb to the end. An essential difference now occurs. She does not, like the Araneus, move forward four paces, fix her line, and then climb back again along it. She advances a distance of one inch, anchors her filament, and the radius is in place. But she does not halt here and return to the centre. She makes a second advance over an equal distance. Then she again fixes a line. This done, she climbs back along an adjoining radius, and at its inner end she attaches her thread. Thus, as a result of the return journey, a second radius in in place. This is therefore a very different mechanism from that employed in the ordinary snare. The Araneus at each journey to and from the centre lays out only one radius, but, since she climbs back along her new spoke, she manufactures it of double strength. The Nephila in the same journey constructs two radii, but since she returns along an adjoining radius, therefore each consists of only a single line. Now for another difference. All the radii in the snare of the Araneus diverge evenly from the centre in the same way as a series of spokes radiate from the hub of a wheel. It is otherwise in the architecture of the Nephila. She supplies 6i8 JOURNAL, BOMB AY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXVIII. her snare with a system of branching spokes. All her radii are not, as in the snare of the Araneus, clear straight lines undivided from end to end. On the contrary, many of them after a greater or less distance break into two, and thus reach the circumference as a pair of spokes. Let us investigate how this is done. The NepMla, unlike the Araneus, does not first complete her radii before com- mencing at her temporary spiral. Both stages occupy her at the same time. Now she lays out a few radii, now she takes a few turns at the spiral, then she resumes the radii again. Furthermore, while constructing her radii, she does not work from the centre, but rather from the last turn of the temporary spiral which she has laid down. If this statement is clear, then it should be obvious that, on the spider’s return journey after fixing one end of the second radius at the circumference, she does not continue all the way to the centre, but halts at the outermost turn of the temporary spiral and there anchors her thread. Thus at the point where the radius and the temporary spiral meet there the radius will appear to divide. As a consequence of this peculiar mechanism the radii are seen to branch in all parts of the snare. Some divide near the centre, others near the circumference, and the point of division is always where a radius and a spiral meet. Thus we cannot count the number of the radii, at least the number will be much less near the centre than near the circumference of the snare. An idea of this branching wiU be gained by making the circular count. An inch from the centre they number 28 ; four inches from the centre they are 80, and at the circumference 112. Indeed it is clear that, in a strict sense, they are not radii or spokes at all. I pass now to explain why these peculiarities exist, since there is always a good reason for everything we see. The great increase in the number of the radii depends of course on the immensity of the snare. They are the scaffolding of the architecture and must support it at every point. Twenty are sufficient for the little web of the Araneus ; over a himdred are required for the Nephila's sheet. Moreover the radii are much closer together than they are in the ordinary snare. This likewise depends on the vast area of the sheet. Com- pare it with a mechanical wheel. A small wheel can be made with only a few and widely-separated spokes ; they are sufficient to give it rigidity and strength. But increase the circiunference, and many more must be provided, and they must not be far apart. The rim must be supported at many and closely-con nected points, otherwise the structure will coUapse. The mechanism is essen- tially the same in our comparison between the two snares. At each journey the Nephila completes two radii, while the Araneus manu- factures only one. This deviation has a value ; it makes for economy in the architecture, an economy not only in time, but, since each radius is a single thread, an economy also in the expenditure of silk. The saving of time must be of some importance, since the laying of the radii is a tedious work, and a much more prolonged operation than in the case of the ordinary snare. So also is it a service to the spider not to waste her precious silk, especially in so immense a snare which contains such a multitude of lines. Possibly the strength of the architecture is diminished by the confinement of each radius to a single thread. But compensation is made for this by the great increase in the number of the spokes. The emplojTuent of branched instead of unbroken radii is another ingenious method of securing economy in material and of adapting the system of radiat- ing spokes to the extensive area of the snare. Indeed, without the adoption of some such mechanism, it would, I think, be quite impossible for the spider to extend so wide a sheet. She may be an inimitable architect. But it is beyond even her constructive powers to lay out over a hundred lines that diverge equally from a common point. At the point of divergence they would be so massed and crowded that the spider would be utterly unable to manipulate the individual threads. She could never separately distinguish them nor THE SNARE OF THE GIANT WOOD SPIDER. 649 distribute them evenly over the surface of her snare. Furthermore she would waste her material by collecting so large a number of radii all at one central point. She would only urmecessarily overburden that portion of her archi- tecture by placing there an excessive number of radii where a few would give sufficient strength. By making use of a branching system she obviates these defects. She adapts her architecture to the immensity of her snare. She simplifies her work ; she saves her material ; she more evenly distributes the strength of her scaffold ; she economizes her valuable time. The next point that needs consideration is the method by which the Nephila measures the distance between her spokes. For only by some geometrical operation could she produce so exact a work. The Araneus, I have said, per- forms the act in this way. She climbs out along a radius; she reaches the foun- dation-line; she takes four paces along it; and then affixes her thread. It is by the advance of four paces that she measures the interval between her spokes. By keeping strictly to this number she spreads her radii evenly through her snare. Now this method ^vill not suit the Nephila. If she made four paces between each pair of radii, then her spokes would be very widely spread, while it is essential that they should lie not far apart in order to support so large a wheel. She must adopt some other method, and this is how she gains her end. She moves out along the radius ; she reaches the foundation-line ; she advances along it. So far it is the same as the Araneus. But watch her hind leg. The claws at the tip are hooked over the radius along which she has just climbed out. She advances, but she does not release her clutch on the radius. As a consequence her hind leg becomes stretched tightly behind her. When this happens she lowers her spinnerets, anchors her filament, and secures a new spoke. She has measured off the distance for her first radius; it is the interval between her spinnerets and the tip of her hind leg! She now releases her hold . She again advances and hooks the same hind claws over the radius that she has just laid. She continues to advance until her leg is again outstretched in the same position as before. Once more she anchors her filament and the second radius is measured off. In this way she continues all round the snare, at every journey measuring a pair of spokes. AU her radii are evenly separated at the circumference, and the distance between the spinnerets and the tip of the hind leg is the simple measuring-rule employed. In this manner are the radii secured. I have tried to explain the various deviations, and to show the essential importance of each to the particular cha- racter of the snare. This laying of the radii is a wonderful sight. I know of no more striking architecture of its kind. Imagine, it is midnight in the silent woods. Before us is a great vertical wheel with a diameter as tall as a man. It is supplied with a hundred spokes, transparent, slender rays of silk which sparkle where we shine the light. Yet so delicate, they are all firm and strong ; yet so numerous, they are all geometrically exact; and they are spread abroad with perfect uniformity over all this immense sheet. Amidst them moves the great architect herself. She looks at first sight an unwieldy creature, groping aimlessly and fruitlessly with her limbs, and scrambling out over the invisible sheet as though she were climbing unsupported in the air. But it is not so. She is a marvellous and consummate architect. She works wdth a perfect regularity and precision; she weaves with an inimitable skill. Every movement of her widespread hmbs has a definite act in view. They are now feeling, now testing, now touching, now measuring ; they are building the most fascinating work of architecture that I have ever had the privilege to see. Let us pause. The construction of the radii is more than sufficient to engage our attention here. In the next chapter we will follow to its final completion the architecture of this geometrical snare. {to be continued.) 650 “THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA.” BY Claud B, Ticehurst, M.A., M.B.O.U., late Captain, E.A.M.C. ASSISTED BY P. A. Buxton, M.A., M.B.O.U., late Captain, R.A.M.C. AND Major R. E. Cheesman, M.B.O.U., 5th Buffs. Part III, {With 2 plates.) Continved from, page 427 of this Volume. 190. White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus. 1. Pelecanus onocrotalus onocrotalus. li. (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 132 — Africa) 2. Pelecanus onocrotalus roseus, Gm. (Syst. Nat. 1, p. 570, 1788 — Manila) 191, Dalmatian Pelican. Pelecanus crispus. Pelecanus crispus, Bruch (Isis., 1832 p. 1109 — Dalmatia). The information to hand about Pelicans is not at all satisfactory and fails to clear up the status of these birds. White Pelicans appear to be common. Mag- rath noted thousands on the Suveeikieh marsh in August and says they had quite small young with them. Elsewhere on the inundations huge flocks are to be seen from time to time as the state of the water is favourable or otherwise, as at Kut, Nukta, Amara, near Baghdad, etc., and nearly all records relate to the months of November to April while Pitman noted a migratory movement at the end of February, flocks then travelling north, and he says that Pelicans were absent from the Baghdad floods from April 23rd to the end of July. Of the Dalmatian Pelican we have but few records ; it was noted by Pitman at Fao and Amara in winter and seen occasionally at Tekrit by Logan Home also in winter ; Zarudny gives it as a winter visitor. Pelicans breed near Fao whence Gumming sent to the British Museum a number of specimens, chicks and eggs. These specimens Mr. Kinnear has kindly hunted up for me and examined ; of roseus there are three immature specimens and an adult, the latter is dated October 24th, 1886, the others bear no date ; of onocrotalus, there are two adults and two immature birds, one in Decembet’, the rest bear no date. There are two feathering chicks ; in the onocrotalus -roseus group the feathering on the forehead ends in a point, in the crispus-philippinensis group the feathering ends in a concave margin and judging by this Mr. Kinnear says these chicks are those of cmpMS. In the Ibis, 1891, p. 116, Sharpe referred an adult head, eggs and apparently these chicks (dated October 24th, 1886) to mitratus (= onocrotalus). Whether both species breed in Mesopotamia is a matter which requires future investigation as does the status of all three birds, and breeding specimens are desirable. i I CHICK OF LARGE PINTAILED SANDGROUSE CHICK OF SPOTTED SANDGROUSE (Fterocles alcliata caudacuta) {Pterocles senegallus) Both about the same age ; note smaller, weaker bill, smaller feet and paler colour scheme of senegalhts. THE BIHDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 6ol 192. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo. Phalacrocomx carbo subcormoranus (Brehm). (Ornis, I, p. 42, 1824 — Holland). The Cormorant is a not uncommon winter visitor to the rivers and deeper floods or lakes, from Teki'it and Ramadi to Fao ; it is recorded from October to May, on the 18th of which month Buxton saw a few on the Hamar Lake, but found no evidence of its breeding there nor are there any records suggestive of its doing so in any part of our area. It moves about locally in winter, doubtless as food supply directs. Cheesman noted that a passing flock flying high were much terrified on meeting an aeroplane and scattered in all directions, quite a different behaviour to Storks under a similar circumstance. Four specimens obtained: 9 > Sheik Saad, 13-3-17 (Ingoldby) ; 9 > Amara, 4-2-18, w. 334. B. 59 mm. ; 9> 4-2-18, wing 319, B. 61 mm. 9» Hamat Lake, 20-5-18., w. 340. B. 66 mm. (P. A. B.) These birds certainly belong to the smaller European- Asiatic race and not. tc our familiar form of the British Islands. •93- Pys?rny Cormorant. Phalacrocorax pygmseus. “El Echi.” Phalacrocorax pygmeeus (Pall). (Reise Prov. Russ. Reichs, ii, p. 712. 1773 — Caspian Sea). Common and resident, breeding in some of the marshes and moving out locally to the rivers and other marshes in winter. Tomlinson received a number of eggs on May 15th, which had been taken by Arabs in the marshes near Ezra’s Tomb. An Arab, who knew the marsh birds well, told Logan Home that the Cormorants at Abu Aran in 1919 had nested in April. Pitman saw Cormorants probably of this species in the marshes near Museyib on June 12th, and Cheesman saw many on the Horr Sanaf at the end of March, but no one seems to have actu- ally come across a breeding colony, though probably many must exist in the Euphrates marshes and those to the east of Amara and Ezra’s Tomb ; Buxton obtained adults on the Hamar Lake on May 20th. Specimens examined : 9> Horr Sanaf, 20-3-18 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.), 9> Hamar Lake, 20-5-18; (two) 9 (Ezra’s Tomb, 23-12-18; (three) <^,Horr Hawaize, 13-7-18 (P. A. B.). These all belong to the European form pygmeeus and not to the Indian java- nicus. The younger birds, in the brown dress, of javanicus never seem to have the white fllo-plumes on the flanks, rump, mantle and sides of neck which speci- mens of pygmeeus in similar state of plumage have. 194. Shag. Phalacrocorax, sp. ? Several observers noted Shags in winter ; Buxton says he saw them several times in November and December near Amara, Meinertzhagen saw one at Tekiit which he says was a very old graculus ; no specimens were obtained and so it is impossible to say what these birds were. Stoneham too saw many on islands below Baiji, and particularly noted some with crests. The Common Shag (graculus) is entirely a west European bird and the Mediter- ranean Shag (desmarestii) is not certainly known east of the Grecian islands, while the Indian Shag (fuscicollis) is hardly known west of Sind so it would be of gicat interest to know what these birds in Mesopotamia really are. 195. African Darter. Anhinga rufus. “Warda.” Anhinga rufus rufus (Lacep.) (Tab. Ois. Daudin, Buffon’s Hist. Nat. .xiv, p. 3i9, 1802). The Darter is common and resident in the huge marshes round Kurna and east of Amara and Ezra’s Tomb. Elsewhere we have no records of it. No one seems to have found it nesting but Tomlinson had a number of eggs brought to hini on 11 652 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. May 15th from the Ezra Tomb district by the Arabs. Only one specimen was obtained, a male from Ezra’s Tomb on February 23rd, by Buxton. I have com- pared the bird -with a large series of African birds ; these latter vary very much inter se according to age and perhaps individually, and I can match this Mesopotamian bird in every detail with many African skins. A race has been described from the sea of Antioch by Oustalet as chantrei (Ann. Sc. Nat., Paris, July 1882, art. 7). All the differentiating characters which Oustalet gives for his race are to be found in many African birds, as already pointed out by Tristram (Ibis., 1886, p. 41) ; whether chantrei is really separable from rufus I do not know, but as this Mesopotamian skin cannot be picked out from a series of African ones I must place the Mesopotamian birds as belonging to the typical race, at any rate for the time being. Mr. Jourdain informs me that of Darter’s eggs he received from Tomlinson (sub nomine chantrei) “ some were white, unmarked and some had the peculiar violet brown blotches already noted in the eggs of this species by Ottosson in eggs from the Lake of Antioch.” iq6. Grey Lag Goose. Anser anser. Anser anser (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed., x, p. 123, 1758 — Sweden). Grey Geese are extraordinarily abundant in the great marshes and swamps of lower Mesopotamia. The main flocks arrive about the last week in October, and from then onwards flock after flock may be seen passing over or arriving daily at their winter quarters, though the first flocks may arrive a week or two earlier. Early in March flocks may be seen again wending their way north and most of the winter visitors have gone by the end of the month. Both of these geese are abundant in winter and many are caught by the Arabs and brought into the markets, such as at Amara, alive for sale. The Grey Lag Goose besides being a winter visitor is certainly also a resident in small numbers, and very late and very early records probably belong to those birds which remain during the summer in the marshes. Thus Logan Home reports some stUl left, mostly paired, on May 5th, and there are quite a number of records of small numbers seen throughout July in such places as Suweikiyeh marsh, marshes near Ezra’s Tomb, and at Gurmat Ali and Akkarkuf in early August. On Maj^ 21st when Buxton was at the Hamar Lake he obtained three goslings from the Arabs who had caught them in the reed beds there ; two of these were eaten by mud turtles and the third Buxton preserved. Both Buxton and Chess- man say that they have never seen domestic geese in the country, nor any semi-tame Grey Lags in any of the villages ; so that it seems perfectly certain that some Grey Lags stop and breed in the marshes. “ Gaggles of Grey Lag used to fly in the early morning above no man’s land on the way to the Suweikiyeh marsh and were invariably greeted by a ragged Are from the Turkish front line. On one occasion a bird was dropped behind our front line trenches and was safely retrieved, although a machine-gun was laid on to it. The O. C. snipers in my battalion brought down one with his rifle ; and aeroplanes used to practise their Lewis guns on these birds. Many of the gaggles which frequented the marshes near Basra roosted during the day well out on the bare desert ” (Magrath). Flocks of Geese passing overhead afford tempting shots with a rifle but very few were obtained in this way. Three specimens examined : — Legait, 12-16 (Livesay); Samarra, 25-12-17 (C. R. P.); pull Hamar L. 21-5-18 (P. A. B.). 197. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons. Anser albifrons (Scop.) (Annus 1, Hist. Nat., p. 69, 1769— Carniola). There is little to add about the White-fronted goose, it appears to come and go at the same time as the Grey Lag. There is no suggestion that it breeds in THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 653 the country, nor is it likel_y to do so, as its known southern limit of breeding range lies much further north. It is very common in winter and large numbers are brought into Amara market alive. Five specimens examined: Samarra, 22-12-17 (two) (C. R.P.), Mesopotamia and (Bagnel), Amara (two) (P. A. B.) . 198. Lesser White=fronted Goose. Anser erythropus. Anser erythropus (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 123, 1758— Sweden). Apparently not at all common ; Buxton obtained one out of a small party on some wet irrigated plough land at Amara on November 28th and thought he saw others at different times. Thornhill recorded a flock of five at Wadi on March 20th ; Pitman saw a flock at Suweikiyeh marsh on December 3rd. Zarudny records it in winter and he also records Anser arvensis as a rare winter visitor ; we have no records of any Bean Goose and Buxton failed to meet with it among great numbers of geese in the Amara bazaar. Pitman seems pretty sure that he saw the Red-breasted Goose on several occasions round Kut, Kurna and Qalet SaJeli in winter ; Thornhill records that he heard of vague statements regarding geese which seemed suggestive of this species, so awaiting further evidence I do not definitely include it ; it is abundant on the south Caspian coast in winter and so might easily occur in Mesopotamia. 199. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor. Cygnus olor (Gm.) (S3'st. Nat. pt. 2, 1789, p. 501 — -Russia). Swans are evidently rather rare winter visitors to Mesopotamia. Butler has recorded (S. F., 7, p. 105) that he learnt through the telegraph people at Fao that swans occasionally occur at the head of the Persian Gulf and mouth of the Euphrates. In the winter of 1916 a herd frequented the Suweikiyeh marshes, as recorded by Thornhill and others ; but what species of swan it is that visits the country was unknown until Robinson secured an adult female at Kut on January 8th, 1918, and sent it to the Bombay Museum ; it turned out to be of the above species. 200. Common Shelduck. Tadorna tadorna. Tadorna tadorna (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 122, 1758 — Sweden). In lower Mesopotamia this species is a fairly common winter visitor to the shallower floods and is, as elsewhere, extremely wary ; round Baghdad however and perhaps elsewhere it must breed, as Pitman on July 22nd at L. Akkarkuf saw adults with young ones, and caught and reared four of the latter ; there are several other records which shew that some, at all events, are to be met with at a time when they might be supposed to be breeding ; thus Logan Home records seeing pairs in May, as also did Pitman at Nukta on May 28th, and Thornhill recorded seeing at pair at Hanna on July 11th ; one was seen at Azizieh on June 18th. Four specimens examined : Amara (P. A. B.), Mesopotamia (Macdonald) Busra (Wernicke) Juv. L. Akkarkuf, 15-8-17 (C. R. P.). 201. Ruddy Shelduck. Tadorna casarca. Tadorna casarca (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, 3, App. Anim., p. 224, 1768— Astrachan). On the Adhaim river and on the Tigris north of this to Tekrit and probably beyond, and also round Bund-i-kir in the Karun district, the Brahminy duck is resident and breeds ; to the rest of Mesopotamia it is a moderately common winter visitor. Pitman says that at Istabulat it breeds in ruins, cliffs, marl 6o4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. mounds and canal banks ; it was nesting in May and June, the holes going 14 feet in and 7 feet below the level of the ground. Thornhill, who found a nest of eight eggs in low hills near Samarra says the nest was situated 20 feet in and four feet down, they were nesting in April and May. Logan Home juit several old birds out of nesting holes in the cliffs of the Samarra-Tekrit area and found a duckling in June. Harrison says of the Adhaim river that the birds were paired off in April and were breeding in May. In the above districts it is fairly common. Tomlinson has recorded it breeding on the Gagar river in April 1908 and found young out in June ; on re-visiting the locality in 1913 no trace could be found of any breeding there and he was told by the natives that none had bred since 1913 ; Cheesman however saw pairs which were evidently breeding in much the same locality, i.e., near Bunder-i-kir on May 24th, 1917. Though it occurs on the Euphrates at Ramadi and Feluja in winter, there is no evidence as yet that it breeds there ; Pitman failed to meet with it at the latter place after May 7th. One specimen : Amara, 13-1-18 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) 1 will not swell the list of Mesopotamian birds by including the Egyptian Goose (A. cegyptiaca) which Weigold says he saw a pair of “ at a great distance ” at Urfa on April 1 1th ; one may be mistaken over birds seen at a great distance and further evidence is desirable before admitting this species to our fauna. 202 Mallard. Anas platyrhyncha. Anas pMtyrhyncha, L. (=boschas auct). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 125, 1758 — Sweden). 203. Qadwall. Anas strepera. Anas strepera, L. {,Syst. Nat. Ed. x., p. 125, 1758 — Sweden). 204. Pintail. Anas acuta. Anas acata, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 126, 1578 — Sweden). 205. Wigeon. Anas penelope. Anas pe.nelope, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 126, 1578 — Sweden). 206. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata L Spatula clypeata, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 124 — S. Sweden). Wild fowl are exceedingly abundant on the rivers, swamjjs and lakes of Meso- potamia ; the marshes round Kurna, Babylon and the Suweikiyeh marsh, to men- tion some of the best known, teem in winter with vast flocks of geese and all kinds of ducks, and both reed-girt and open pieces of water are indifferently used. But few arrive before mid-August or early September and the majority . come later than this ; most leave in March though in places plenty may yet be seen in April and even into May. On the Adhaim river huge flocks were seen going south during September early in the morning, but this movement ceased by the end of the month. The Mallard is somewhat unevenly distributed and, as in other places, this is probably due to suitability or otherwise of feeding ground, as it seems to be a more particular duck in this respect than some others ; thus while some found it to be the commonest duck, others reported that it was never very common, for instance in a bag of 100 duck at Nasariyeh only one JIallard figured, while at Ezra’s Tomb, Buxton considered it to be the commonest species; of course even in Mesopotamia the Mallard is well able to take care of itself, and this may partly account for its apparent scarcity, as it prefers places where a good look out can be kept, such as the river or the middle of large pieces of water. If it is doubtful if the Mallard breeds in Mesopotamia, at least there is no certain evidence. The late Captain Thornhill has recorded that he saw it in every month of the year and that it probably breeds ; I questioned him about it (and I know he was too good a shikari to have confused it with any other duck). THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 655 and he was quite certain about it, though he could give me no positive proof of nesting. Buxton thinks that on Akkarkuf lake on October 12th he saw flappers which “ almost certainly belonged to this species Some certainly stay very late; a flock of 20 were seen by Logan Home on May 21st, and some app>ear very early, by July, (Magrath) and a good many by mid-August ; so that it is within the bounds of. possibility that some may nest, though futher evidence is desirable. The Gadwall is another very common and widely distributed duck, but there is nothing particularly noteworthy to say about it. A few are recorded as early as August 1st and some stop late — May 6th, a pair at Feluja, May loth and 21st small lots seen on Euphrates inundation. There is no evidence at all that it nests. In places Gadwall make up a large proportion of the bag, 40 and 47 being re- ported in two bags made in January on the Euphrates inundation. Thrc'c specimens examined : $ , Sheik Saad, 24-1-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ^ Basra 1-19 (Hobkirk). Amara (P. A. B.). The Pintail is common enough and appears to arrive and depart with the mass, there being no particularly early and late records ; first seen September 13th and last noted April 13th ; just at the time of departure huge flocks congregate together on the inundations. The Wigeon is exceedingly abundant and is often seen in winter in great flocks on the marshes round Ezra’s Tomb and Amara, etc.; they move off early in March, the last seen was on April 9th ; they arrive late with the main mass, but early ones were noted in August near Baghdad. The Shoveler is exceedingly common and perhaps the best distributed, as almost any kind of water suits it and thus it may be found in places other ducks would scorn, such as canals, small pools and puddles as well as being found in the marshes, lakes and inundations. It is plentiful b}’ the first or second week in September and a few linger on into May, there being records on May 15th, 17th, 19th ; there is however no suggestion that it breeds. Being imiversally distributed and less wary than other ducks it figures largeh in the bag in some spots ; 20 or 30 are often got and in two bags of 100 birds, Shovelers formed 90 and 95 per cent., respectively. An albino was reported by Logan Home. Three specimens examined : 9> Samarra, 4-l-18(C. R. P.), Amara (P. A. B.); 9 Sheik Saad, 24-12-17 (Robinson). 207. Marbled Duck. Anas angustirostris. Anas angustirostris Menetr. (Cat. Rais. Caucase, p. 58, 1832 — • Lenkoran) . The Marbled Duck is a fairlj^ common resident ; it breeds in the vicinity of the Tigris and Euphrates in scrub along the banks to Baghdad and Feluja. It seems to prefer dry situations not far from the river or marshes ; Pitman found a nest, in a Sueda bush close to crops, at Hindia Barrage some hundreds of yards from a canal, containing 10 eggs, and fresh eggs were brought in on May 28th and June 9th ; in this locality it was plentiful. Thornhill found several nests below Kut and obtained two hard set clutches of five and six eggs on May 15th and 18th. Tomlinson records it breeding at Ali Gharbi, and Logan Home located a colony near Amara. At Shush and Shushtar it also must nest as breeding birds have been obtained by Cheesman and Tomlinson ; and Watts found it breeding at the former place at the end of May. Three specimens examined : Shush, 2-5-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) : near Basra (Wood) ; Amara, 21-4-18 (P. A. B.). 208. Falcated Teal. Anas falcata. Anas falcata, Georgi (Bemerk. Reise Russ., 1, p. 167, 1775 — Asiatic Russia). 656 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV III. Thornhill can hardly, I think, have made a mistake when he recorded that a male in full dress was shot on the river at Hanna on March 19th, 1916. Thorn- hill knew this and other Indian ducks exceedingly well and I personally interro- gated him about it, and I do not think there can be any doubt that he was correct in his identification ; it can only be a rare straggler so far west ; it has occurred at least twice in Europe. 209. Common Teal. Querquedula crecca. Querquedula crecca (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 125, 1758 — Sweden). The Common Teal is an abundant winter visitor some arriving verjr early ; large flocks were reported near Baghdad on July 17th, on the Euphrates floods on July 31st and on Suweikiyeh marshes in mid-August. The majority however come in September. It is very widely distributed as it not only frequents marshes and lakes, but also the smallest irrigation canals in bare desert country, , flooded fields, etc. Bags of 30 or 40 are often made and a bag of 64 is recorded. Most leave again in mid-March and the last were seen in the second week of April. Cheesman records that on May 2nd he found Marbled and Common Teal both “ evidently breeding ” in a rush and willow, covered Jheel at Shush ; this is the only evidence at all that this species nests within our limits and the fact requires further confirmation. Four specimens examined : Amara. (two) (P. A. B.), 9. Basra, 8-3-17 ^Stevens) ; Samarra, 5-2-18 (C. R. P.). 210. Garganey. Querquedula querquedula. Querquedula querquedula (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 126, 1758 — Sweden). The Garganey, though scarce, is fairly well distributed in winter, but is much commoner as a bird of passage in August and September and again in April. Flocks were seen as early as July 17th near Baghdad and as late as May 21st. In the marshes near Hindia Barrage, Pitman clearly identified at close quarters; a flock on June 12th ; Logan Home records seeing them also in June, while Mag- rath says he caught a duckling on the Suweikiyeh marsh which he presumed to have been of this species, as he saw adults. It is possible therefore that a few remain to nest, though further definite evidence is required. 21 1. Tufted Duck. Nyroca fuligula. Nyroca fuligula (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 128, 1758 — Sweden). 212. Common Pochard. Nyroca ferina. Nyroca ferina (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 126, 1758 — Sweden), “Harra.’^ 213. Red-crested Pochard. Netta rufina. Netta rufina (Pall). (Reise. Russ. Reichs. App., p. 713, 1773 — S. E. Russia). In the absence of any outstanding early records as we have with the surface feeding ducks, it may be taken that these diving ducks arrive in Mesopotamia later and it is probable that not many are seen before October. These three are widely distributed and common on suitable sheets of water and are often seen resting in flocks on the rivers themselves. Round Amara, Buxton noted that the Tufted was rarer than the Common Pochard, but in other places it appears to be common enough. The bulk of these diving ducks leave in March, but Buxton found that the Common Pochard in the main stayed longer, and both Tufted and this species may be seen up to the second week of April. The Red-crested Pochard is fairly common but hardly as numerous as the other two ; stragglers linger on till the last week in April. One specimen of each preserved. THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 657 214. Scaup. Nyroca marila. Nyroca marila (L.). (Fauna Suecica, Ed. 2, 1761, p. 39 — Lappland). Zarudny records it as a rare winter visitor to the Karun area. It is not likely that this species, which much prefers salt water in winter, will be found in the Mesopotamian marshes and lakes. 215 White=eyed Pochard. Nyroca nyroca. Nyroca nyroca (Giild.) (Nov. Comm. Petrop., 14 pt. 1, p. 403, 1770 — S. Russia.) The White-eye must be a common duck in winter but there are hardly any records of it. Logan Home says many were seen and a few shot on the Euphrates inundations, and Zanidny gives it as a winter visitor. 216. Golden Eye. QIaucion clangula. Glaucion clangula (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 125, 1758 — Sweden). This is not a common duck ; occasional birds are to be seen frequenting the rivers, singly or quite a small party together ; Ludlow saw a flock and shot one at Hit ; Thornhill obtained a male at Hanna on March 20th and there are odd records from the Tigris, Euphrates and Shat-al-Arab. 217. Smew. Mergus albellus. Mergus albellus (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 129, 1758 — Smyi-na). This species too is uncommon ; a few are recorded from the Tigris and Shat-al- Arab in winter, and like the Golden-eye it would seem to prefer the rivers to the lakes ; it occurs singly or in quite small parties. The acuity of vision of these and other species which obtain their living in the waters of the rivers must be very great, as the water is so loac^d with silt that to the human eye it appears quite opaque. Two specimens were obtained near Amara by Cheesman and Bagnall in Febru- ary and December, and two by Buxton at Amara. [The Goosander has been recoi-ded as having been seen fairly commonly on the Tigris by Meinertzhagen (Ibis, 1914). No other records of this species are to hand and no specimens have been obtained. The Merganser (M. serrator) has been obtained at Bushire but not so far in Mesopotamia.] 218. StifMail Duck. Erismatura leucocephala. Erismatura leucocephala (Scop.) (Annus. 1, Hist. Nat., p. 65, 1769 — N. Italy). A rare duck in Mesopotamia ; one was obtained by Hobkirk at Gurmat Ali on April 21st ; another near Kut by Thornhill on February 6th and a third on a jheel (Abu Jisra), 70 miles north of Baghdad, on March 23rd, 1920, by Major Chrystall ; possibly one or two others were obtained. 219. Flamingo. Phoenicopterus ruber. Phcenicopterus ruber antiquorum, Temm. (Man. d’Orn. 2, p. 587, 1820 — Europe). The Flamingo is a not uncommon resident and in some favoured localities it may be said to be abundant, such as in the marshes round Museyib. But almost anywhere where suitable inundations exist some may be seen in any month of the year, the flocks moving about locally according to the varying conditions of the marshes. Doubtless many move away to their nesting haunts in the breed- ing season, but a good many non-breeding and immature birds remain behind. According to Gumming it breeds on the Koweit side of the head of the Gulf, whence I believe he obtained from the Arabs many eggs which are now in the Karachi Museum. The Flamingo is generally distributed throughout our area. 658 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY. Vol. XXVII I. 220o Common Heron. Ardea cinerea. Ardea cinerea cinerea, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 143, 1758 — Europe). The majority of this species are no doubt winter visitors, but a number may be met with during the summer months in suitable places such as the marshes at Museyib, etc. As this heron docs not breed in its first year doubtless many of these are non-breeding biids ; though no nests were reported yet it is quite possi- ble some may breed in these extensive swamps, indeed Gumming had eggs brought to him at Fao said to have been taken on the Abdulla Banks ; they may have come from there or perhaps the marshes on the Koweit side ; Logan Home thought it might nest on the cliffs at Tekrit as he saw birds in the vicinity from April to June but no definite evidence was forthcoming. It is common in winter and widely distributed. Probably a certain number are passage migrants as Chees- man saw a flock pass over Shaiba, an oasis well out in the Arabian desert, on September 16th flying S. W, which direction would take them towards the centre of the Arabian continent. One skin examined : L. Akkarkuf, 12-8-17 (C. R. P.). 221. Purple Heron. Ardea purpurea. “ErKheawwi.” Ardea purpurea purpurea,, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, p. 236, 1766— East Europe ? ) The Purple Heron is reported in all months of the year as common and it probably is quite resident. We have however no definite information of its nesting and yet one can haidly doubt its doing so with such extensive marshes at hand so eminently suited to its requirements. It is reported as common in the breeding season in the marshes of the Amara-Kurna district and at Museyib. Pitman remarks that this species is not so common as cinerea, but where it is found, it swarms ; there are naturally many places where the latter may be found which do not suit the Purple Heron, which likes lakes and swamps with plenty of cover in the way of reeds and rushes. One bird was found which, in trjdng to swallow a three-quarter pound fish, had become hors de combat through partial suffocation ; however much smaller ‘ fry ’ does not come amiss as Buxton found a dragon fly of the genus Anax in the gullet of one he shot. Gumming obtained eggs at Fao which were said, like all his eggs of the Ardeidce, to have been taken near the Abdulla Banks, presumably from the marshes on the Koweit side. Ten skins examined ; ^ , Kurna, June 1916 (F Wall) ; Qalet Saleh, 7-7-17 (Elmhurst) ; L. Akkarkuf, 26-7-17, 26-8-17, 21-8-17 (G. R. P.) ; five, Amara (P. A. B.) 222. Goliath Heron. Ardea goliath cretzschm. Ardea goliath cretzschm (Ruppel’s Atlas Reise n. Afr. Vog., p. 39, 1826). In the extensive swamps of Mesopotamia this gigantic Heron is not imcommon and evidently resident. It is reported from the marshes that lie between Basra and Kurna, from those near Amara and Kut and round the Euphrates Barrage, while there are odd records from Feluja and Samarra. Sir Percy Gox obtained young ones from the marshes at Kurna and sent them alive to the Bombay Natu- ral History Society. Buxton remarks that in the field this species much more resembles the Purple than the Gommon Heron. This is one of those species which Africa may be said to have contributed to the Mesopotamian fauna, it is found throughout tropical Africa outside of which it is only known in Geylon and parts of eastern India, where it is rare and sjioradic, a very curious distribution. 223. Reef Heron. Demiegretta asha. Demiegretta asha (Sykes). (P. Z. S., 1832, p. 157, W. Goast of India). THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 659 The Reef Heron only occurs in our area on the Fao littoral. Armstrong found it fairly common at Fao and had eggs brought to him, said to have been taken on the Khor Abdulla, on May 20th, 1917. Gumming records it as also common there and obtained several birds and received eggs from the Koweit side. In the Ibis, 1886, Sharpe records two of these birds obtained by Gumming as gularis, the west African bird ; Mr. Kinnear has examined these birds afresh for me in the British Museum and he considers them to be nothing but asha. Both blue and white phases of plumage occur and Gumming considered the white to be the juvenile dress, an observation I cannot confirm. It is a quite resident species and being essentially a salt water bird is not likely to occur inland. 224. Buff'backed Heron. Ardeola ibis. Ardeola ibis ibis (L.) (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 144 — Egypr,). This Heron does not seem to be very common and its status is rather uncertain ; Gumming thought that it was resident at Fao and says it is supposed to breed near the Abdulla Banks, in the marshes on the Koweit side. All our records relate to the months of March to October so may be it is a summer visitor. Logan Home noted it at Abu Aran in June. Gheesman records that a flock alighted in a cottonfield at Sheik Saad on September 16tb and thinks they were on passage ; two, which he obtained there, were the only specimens preserv^ed. 225. Sqacco Heron. Ardeola ralloides. “ Mush-’bca Beda.” Ardeola ralloides (Scop). (Annus i. Hist. Nat., p. 88, 1769 — Garniola). The status of this bird requires further investigation ; all our records relate to the months March-September except two, viz., January 6th (Shat-al-Arab) and October 23rd (Ramadi), so that, on the face of it, it would appear to be a summer visitor. From the end of March it is common in suitable places in small flocks of eight to twent}^ individuals, and some were thought at this period to be migrating, as at Feluja, Basra, etc. On May 19th, Buxton found it at the Hamar lake and shot a specimen with the sexual organs enlarged, but he was told by the Arabs that it does not breed there; on June 5th near Amara he saw plenty ; Pit- man too, in the marshes around Museyib met with it commonly in June and July and supposed it was breeding, while near Baghdad it was common in July-August and September ; in many places in August and September it is noted as common. Gumming says it is resident at Fao and is supposed to breed in the marshes on the Koweit side of Fao. It seems therefore likely that the species will be found breeding in the marshes of Mesopotamia, though up to now there is no certain record. Eight specimens examined : d > Hamar Lake, 20-5-18; Baghdad, 31-3-18; Amara, 14-4-18 (P. A. B.) ; d , Nahr I"mar, 26-3-18; Feluja, 27-3-17; near Baghdad, 8-8-17 (G. R. P.) ; cf > Basra, 19-4-17 (P. Z, G. and R. E. G.) ; Basra (Hobkirk). I do not think this Heron can become adult at the first spring ; some of these are in adult plumage, others at the same time of year are in immature dress. Ardeola grayi has been recorded from Bushire ; we have no evidence of it occur- ring within our area. 226. Little Egret. Egretta garzetta. Egretta garzetta garzetta (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, p. 237, 1766. “ In Oriente ” ). As with several of the Heron tribe, the status of this bird cannot be made out with certainty. Gumming thought it was resident and recorded that it was supposed to breed near the Abdulla Banks. All our records are of small numbers seen in the months of April, August and September which suggests that it is a 12 660 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII passage migrant or possibly a summer visitor whose breeding quarters were not discovered by any observer, quite a possibility when the huge expanse of some of the marshes is remembered. Pitman records small flocks on passage at Feluja on April 26th and 27th ; the earliest date on which this species was noticed was April 14th and there are several records from the lower Tigris during this month. It was noted again on August 5th and, on and off, till early in September near Baghdad and in other places. Pitman obtained one specimen on August 23rd ; there are two others in the British Museum. 227. Great White Heron. Egretta alba. Not very common ; there are scattered records from widely separate districts from November to February so that probably it is a winter visitor in small num- bers. Logan Home records a pair at Samarra on May 12th. Zarudny gives it as a passage migrant in the Karun area. No specimens were obtained but it pro- bably is the tyiiical race which occurs. 228. Night Heron. Nycticorax nycticorax. Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax (L). (Syst. Nat., x, p. 142, 1758— S. Europe). The status of the Night Heron is not at all clear ; Gumming says it arrives at Fao in October and leaves in May and from other evidence it is quite clear that it is present in winter ; on the other hand there is good proof that in places it nests, so that perhaps at the most it is a local migrant. As elsewhere it seems to have its favourite haunts, so that where it occurs, hundreds may be seen together, whereas over large tracts of country it may not be met with at all. Thus near Qalet Saleh there is a very big roost where thousands come to spend the day in the date palms, and Buxton noted a fair sized roost at Amara in March, otherwise one may say it is generally distributed, though patchily. Tomlinson records that it breeds at Shustar in June and Logan Home found a colony six miles below Amara where the birds on April 11th were just begin- ning to build, while at Samarra he saw five or six fully grown young by the river bank on June 12th ; it probably breeds near Museyib, according to Pitman. Four skins examined : Lake Akkaruf, 18-8-17 (C. R. P.) ; Amara, 12-1-18 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Amara, two (P. A. B.). 229. Little Bittern. Ixobrychus minutus. “ Moodoo-wacha. ” Ixobrychus minutus minutus (Id.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, p. 240, 1766 — - Switzerland). Though Zarudny gives this species as a passage migrant and winter visitor, it appears from our records that the majority are summer visitors and some per- haps resident all the year. We have very few winter records and it is not until the end of March and early April that it becomes at all numerous. It breeds fairly commonly in lower Mesopotamia at all events, but appears to be commonest in the Basra district to Fao and Shush. Nest building commences in the first week of May or a little earlier and fresh eggs may be found from mid-May to early June. Tomlinson has found eggs as early as May 8th. According to Hobkirk and Logan Home the nests are situated in dense high reeds in the marshes and made of dead reeds and placed about two feet above the water ; an unusual site for a nest was found by the latter observer ; the nest was fifteen feet up in a mulberry tree growing by the water side, it was built of fine twigs and lined with green mulberry leaves, the male was standing on the empty nest on May 4th ; when visited again on the 17th the nest contained seven eggs, a number which was reported on two other occasions, though five or six is more usual ; the_ female, when incubating, sits very close. Four specimens examined ; cf , Kamisiyeh, 4-1-17 (Aldworth) ; Shush, 3-5-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; cf ? , Basra, 22-5-19 (L. Home), THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 661 230. Common Bittern. Botaurus stellaris. Botaurus stellaris stellaris (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 144, 1758 — Sweden). A winter visitor in small numbers to those lakes and marshes which afford suitably thick cover. In the marshes south of Baghdad it is not very uncommon and found singly as a rule, and usually one or two are flushed when out duck and snipe shooting. The earliest record is September and the latest April 20th and a straggler in May. Two specimens examined : 9> Basra, 8-3-17 (Stevens) ; Amara (P. A. B.). 231. White Stork. Ciconia ciconia. ’‘Haji Lug-a-Lug.” Ciconia ciconia ciconia (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 142, 1758 — Sweden). Common ; partly resident, also a passage migrant ; many no doubt are summer visitors and some spend the winter. To what extent the breeding birds are resident or summer visitors cannot be determined, as Storks may be seen in every month of the year and large numbers pass over Mesopotamia at the times of mi- gration; to the lower parts of the plains it is a winter visitor and passage migrant. The breeding range of the Stork in Mesopotamia is somewhat curious ; a line drawn from about Babylon on the Euphrates to Baghdad and then across to Mendali in the foot-hills makes the southern limit of the range except that a few nest at Shustar and Shush in Khuzistan (but not Ahwaz) ; to the north of this line every town on both rivers has its colony, and nests on houses, mosques and tall poplars are familiar to all who have been there, even Jonah’s tomb at Nineveh is occupied. They start to repair their nests early in the year ; on February 19th at Samarra, and on the 21st at Beled, operations had begun. Nesting is in full swing by April and feathered young were noted in June. After the breeding season they collect in the neighbourhood in vast flocks preparatory to migrat- ing or scattering further afield in the country, and so, from the end of July on- wards, Storks may be seen in those parts where they do not breed. From mid- September till the end of October they are common and well distributed through- out the country and during this period large flocks may be seen passing, circling round and round at a great height, drifting south before the wind, doubtless migrants from further north. In winter it is scarce, but some may be met with in favoured spots all the winter in many different places. Spring migration starts early and begins fairly regularly in the middle of February and lasts through March and up to the first week in April during which time they become common again and frequent flocks may be seen going over north or north-west. The migrations of the Storks are well known to the Arabs who suppose that they go on an annual pilgrimage to Mecca and are accordingly venerated by them for this, and because they select mosques for building their nests on, hence their title of “ Haji.” So much are they respected that when the question arose as to whether the golden tiles on the mosque at Samarra should be repaired the idea was abandoned as it entailed disturbing the Stork’s nest, until someone suggested that as “ Haji Lug-a-lug ” was away at Mecca the nest was, for the time being, not required and so the repairs might be undertaken !! Unlike some other species of birds, the flocks of these birds were not at all disturbed by aeroplanes flying close to them. The curious breeding distribu- tion seems inexplicable, it cannot be on account of climate, or lack of suitable towns, as these exist at Sera, Baghela, Kut, etc., and Sera is no great distance from Kerbela where it nests and both are about equidistant from Baghdad. It has been suggested that they have remained from time immemorial on the sites of ancient cities which formed their breeding quarters when lower Mesopotamia was under the sea, but were this so Nasariyeh, Ahwaz, etc., should have their nesting colonies. It has been reported as breeding at Fao (Gumming) and at Old Basra (Stoneham) on hear-say evidence ; our latest information is that it does not breed at Fao now. 6&2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 232. Black Stork. Ciconia nigra. Ciconia nigra (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 142. — N. Europe). Apparently a rather rare winter visitor ; Gumming obtained one at Eao on September 5th, Magratb saw it near Amara on May 20tb and there are a few records in winter. 233- Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia. Platalea leucorodia major. Tern, and Schl. (Faun. Jap. Av. p. 119, 1849 — Japan). The Spoonbill is either resident, or perhaps a summer visitor to Mesopotamia as we have no records between November 1 st and the end of March. It is common in the marshes of the Euphrates and Tigris moving about locallj' as its food supply directs. A good many flocks are recorded in these marshes during the breeding season and it may possibly breed there ; it certainly breeds somewhere as Gum- ming had a number of eggs brought him at Fao said to have come from Khor Moosa and the Abdulla Banks whence Armstrong also obtained eggs on May 20th. No specimens were obtained, but those Gumming got at Fao were examined by Mr. Ogilvie Grant and were referred to this larger eastern race. 234. Glossy Ibis. Plegadis falcinellus. “Slindei.” Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, p. 24, 1766 — Austria). The status of this species is obscure and records are not very numerous ; perhaps it is resident. Near Amara Buxton noted it in February, April, May and August and says it probably breeds. It is recorded in fair numbers at Kurna in January. It is noted as common near Baghdad from July to September and Magratb found it common in the Suweikiyeh marsh in August where it was “evi- dently breeding .” Buxton obtained one skin. 235. Red cheeked Ibis. Comatibis emerita. Comatihis emerita (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 118, 1758 — Switzerland). It would seem that this Ibis is but a straggler to our part of Mesopotamia ; Logan Home saw a few near Tekrit in February and thought it might breed in theFatah Gorge cliffs or in the higher rocky hills of the Jebel Hamrin, but there is no evidence that it does so. Gheesman who went all over the Fatah Gorge in the breeding season and w'as at Tekrit in every month of the year failed to find it ; however one was shot at Tekrit by Aldworth. There is of course a very well known colony at Beredjik consisting, so Weigold estimated in 1912, of a thousand, whence they wander out to other places, such as Bambudj, fifty miles south. One was brought home alive to the Zoo from Beredjik by Gapt. E. H. Buxton. The bird is considered sacred by the Arabs. 336. White Ibis. Threskiornis sethiopicus. Threskioniis cethiopicus (Lath.) (Ind. Orn. ii., p. 706, 1790 — Africa). White Ibises certainly occur and not very uncommonly in the district from Amara to Fao ; but there are no records from Baghdad and northwards. All records relate to the winter months and to small flocks seen, except that Logan Home records them jiaired off in Amara marshes but gives no date. Gumming says they are plentiful and Fao in winter and obtained one there on October 25th (recorded as melanocephala. Ibis. 1891, p. 1 1.1). Hartert ( Vog. Pal. Faun., p. 1226) states that the Sacred Ibis (T/i. aethiopicus) occurs at Fao and Zarudny mentions it (.J. F. 0., 1911, p. 231) as a very rare vagrant to the South Gaspian region. Mr. Kinnear therefore has been kind enough to hunt up Gumming’s bird THj^ BIUDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 663 in the British Museum and he tells me that it has been incorrectly identified as the Indian bird, melanocephala, and is undoubtedly an example of the African bird — the Sacred Ibis — Th. oethiopicn. 237. Common Crane Megalornis grus. Megalornis grus (L.) (Syst. Xat. Ed. x, p. 141, 17o8 — Sweden). The Common Crane is a not uncommon winter visitor and probably a fair number pass through on passage for quarters further south. It seems to be generally distributed in the marshes. Xo specimens were obtained. 238. Demoiselle Crane, Anthrrpoides virgo. Anthropoides virgo (L.) (Syst. Xat. Ed. x, p. 141, 1758 — X. Africa). There are few records of this Crane ; probably the status is much like that of the Common Crane but fewer in numbers. 239. Great Bustard. Otis tarda. The Great Bustard is almost confined to the rolling plains in the north of our area ; Meinertzhagen records that it was not uncommon round Jlosul in Januar<( 1914, where he saw droves of seven and fifteen birds. Thornhill saw seven near Wadi early in March 1916. There are somewhat vague and uncertain records of the bird from Kut and Feluja, but Watts saw a flocks of six, a day’s march from Amara ; Weigold saw two near Urfa in .April and Egerton obtained one at Kizil Robat. Exact status unknown. Xo specimens examined. 240. Little Bustard. Otis tetrax. The status of this bird is quite unknown, Tristram met with it at T7rfa in 1881 and it occurs over the Syrian boundary in that region. It was vagueh’ reported in several places in lower Mesopotamia, but the only record which seems certain is of a bird seen near Shush by Watts, and reported to me by Ludlow, who deseribed the characteristic “ butterfly” flight. Gumming relates that he once shot a smaller Bustard than the Houbara at Bushire and obtained another like it on board ship at Fao ; probably they were of this species although thev were never satisfactorily identified. Zarudny .says this Bustard occurs in the Karun district where also the Florican (Sypheotis auritus) is an accidental wanderer. 241. Houbara.. Chlamydotis undulata. Chlamydotis undulata macqueeni (Gray). (111. Ind. Zook, ii, 1834 India). The Houbara is pretty common in suitable places throughout Mesopotamia and is resident, or at the most a local migrant. It is, of course, a bird of grassy plains and desert country in which there is a certain amount of scrub. In the Samarra-Tekrit district it is common, occurring in parties of three to ten. some- times singly, and it is reported as fairly common from Hit downwards on the Euphrates and as far as Kut on the Tigris; below this it is rather less numerous, no doubt due to suitable ground being less extensive. In the foothills it is common again at Mendali, Shush, Bund-i-Kir and doubtless elsewhere and it inhabits suitable parts of the Arabian desert on the west side of the river. According to Mr. Phil by it is common in the Hinterland of Arabia and breeds freely there. Logan Home and Aldworth found two nests on May 5th in the Samarra district and another on May 19th on the grassy plains near the river ; the nests contained one, two and three eggs respectively, those taken on the 19th being very far incubated. Pitman reports it breeding in May and .Tune on the plain between Baghdad and Museyib, and it evidently nests round Kut, Rumailah and doubt- less in many other localities. There are eggs in the British Museum from Koweit 664 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. (Gumming), Zobeir (Marshall) and Diz, April 25th (Douglas). In the Bombay Museum there is an egg taken in March by Capt. Wilson in lat, (south of Baghdad). One skin examined : ^ , 25-10-18, Samarra (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.). 242. Stone Curlew. Burhinus oedicnemus. 1. Burhinus cedicnemus sakarce. (Rchw.) (J. f. 0.. 1894, p. 102 — Tunis). 2. Burhinus adicnemus astutus, Hart. (Xov\ Zook, 1916, p. 93 — F?o). The Stone Curlew is fairly common in suitable places and both the above races occur. Unfortunately the collections do not contain any breeding birds and so the status of the two races cannot be made out, but Stone Curlew are to be found throughout the year and breed in the country. Logan Home noted it as common on the shingle islands along the river at Samarra on June 15th, the birds were paired and were courting; it is also found all up the river to Tekrit, he also saw it at Shaiba in May and June. Pitman noted quite large flocks of twenty to a hundred individuals in the Adhaim area from September to Xovember, they spent the day in the scrub and flighted out to the plains at night, at which time they were very noisy ; specimens which he obtained at that time I refer to Sahara. On August 1st Buxton found Stone Curlews common in the stony desert at Khanikin whence they flighted to the valleys at sundown, one he ob- tained there is certainly astutus and the date is early enough to suggest that it was a breeding bird of the district ; on the other hand Pitman obtained a specimen of saharae at Lake Akkarkuf on August 21st. It would be very re- markable if both these forms breed in the same area, possibly one is a hill form and comes to the plains early in autumn and the other is resident in the plains. Further investigation is required on this point and some breeding birds from different areas are essential. Pitman obtained incubated eggs in the flat open country near R. Hai near Kut on June 15th and two stale incubated eggs on May 20th near the Es Sinn position. Stoneham says that this bird is quite good eating. (1) L. Akkarkuf, 21-8-17; Adhaim, 27-9-17, 9-10-17 (two) (C. R. P.); $, Shustar, 2-1-18 (F. M. B.) ; Frontier of Arabistan, 1916 (W). ; wing, 232-250, bill (base) 4P5-43 mm. (2) 5, Khanikin, 1-8-18; wing 243 (P. A. B.); Sheik Saad, 3-10-16; wing 246, bill (base) 43 ‘5 mm. (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; also a specimen from Fao in the British Museum. 243. Cream-coloured Courser. Cursorius gallicus. Cursorius gallicus gallicus (Gm.) (Syst. Nat. i, pt. 2, p. 692, 1789 — France). Without being called a rare bird the Courser, except perhaps in a few places, cannot be said to be common, and is rather local ; though no nests were found it undoubtedly breeds and is resident. Though found in the bare flat mud desert it would seem to prefer the sandier and more pebbly parts, such as the edge of the Arabian desert on the west of the Euphrates and in the Adhaim area, and the former district at any rate no doubt forms its chief breeding grounds, where Logan Home saw plenty in the breeding season and a family party of old and young were met with on May 25th at Shaiba ; at Chunabdah in the same area and near Hindia barrage it was also reported in the breeding season, while Magrath notes it at Kut in July. A good deal of local migration probably takes place in the autumn. Buxton says that some he met with in clay desert, when the sun was low and casting a heavy shadow, were most conspicuous. The young of the year moult their body-plumage and tails in the autumn, as with other Limicoline birds. THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. • 665 Five specimens examined: Amara, 17-12-17 ; juv. Basra, 19-8-17 (P. A. B.) ; Amara, 2-12-17, juv. Shaiba, 12-8-18. (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Basra, 8-9-19 (L. Home). These appear to me to be quite typical, wings 160-166 mm. 244. Common Pratincole. Glareola pratincola. Glareola 'pratincola pratincola {Sysi. Ed. xii, p. 345, 1766 — Austria). The Pratincole is a summer visitor and locally abundant. It arrives in the last days of March and by the end of the first week in April it is numerous in the oireas in which it inter ds to breed. There are many colonies dotted about in our area of which a few may be men- tioned ; it breeds at Feluja ; on the dicing edges of Lake Akkarkuf ; near Museyib ; at Chaldari, near Baghdad ; Samarra ; Suweikiyeh marsh ; Abu Aran ; near Fao ; and Ahwaz. The drying edges of marshes and inundations are favour- ite sites for colonies, the eggs being deposited in some depression such as a hoof mark in the dry hard mud ; at Samarra they were nesting on shingle on the edge of the river and at Ahwaz on sandy islands in the Karun below the rapids. At Chaldari and Sera, Cheesman found colonies on hard bare sun-baked desert some miles from the river. Fiesh eggs may be obtained at the end of April. Few birds are more demon- strative when they have young about than this species ; Cheesman says that on invading a colony, there were birds on the ground in all directions with drooping flapping wings, feigning disablement ; while Pitman, who wntnessed the same performance, notes that in some lights the effect was very curious and that the display to draw off attention gave the appearance of a snake coiling about or a big lizard moving along ! ! Buxton noted that birds flying over a recently dried marsh at Amara were nearly out of gunshot but two birds then obtained had their mouths full of small “ water-boatmen ” {Corixidee and N otonectidee) which must have been flying at that altitude in bright sunshine. Others, which Cheesman examined, con- tained Coleoptera and Locust remains. Stoneham says they may be seen feeding on Termite-n after rain. The Pratincole probably departs in August, the latest record is September 3rd. Nine skins examined: g, Amara, 15-5-18; g, $,7-4-18 (P. A. B.) • g $, Ahwaz, 30-4-17 ; g $, Sera, 2-5-19; $, Baghdad, 12-5-19 (P Z c’ and R. E. C.) ; Feluja, 15-4-17, (two) (C. R. P.). ‘ ‘ These appear to me to be quite typical. 245. BIack=wing:ed Pratincole. Glareola nordmanni. Glareola nordmanni, Fischer. (Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscow xv 1842 p. 314 — S. Russia). ’ ’ ’ There is little to record about this species. Pitman shot two at Feluja on April loth and saw them there and between there and Baghdad in May, where they were evidently breeding, as also at Hindia barrage. At the end of Julv and beginning of August he met with some on L. Akkarkuf. They were nowhere plentiful and were apparently breeding in the same colonies as the common species. The two birds obtained had their crops crammed with half grown locusts. ® 246. Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus lobatus. Phalaropm lobatus (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed., x, p. 148, 1758— Hudson Bay) (=hyperboreus, auct.). ^ Zarudny gives this Phalarope as a passage migrant and winter visitor. It may occur, though I never saw it, in the sea off Fao in winter, and might be found on passage in the marshes of our area. 666 JOURNAL, BOMBAy NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV III. 247 Woodcock. Scolopax rusticola. Scohpai rusticola,(V..). (Syst. Xat. Ed., x, p. 146, 1758 — Sweden). The country beiny unsuited to this bird’s requirements, it is only a rare or per- haps occasional winter visitor. In different years there are six records of it at Basra from November to February ; Aldworth obtained one at Tekrit in high crops on November 11th, 1918 ; and Thornhill records one at Kut on October 6th, 1916. In January and February 1918 they were said to have been “ rather plentiful ” in suitable places on the Diala river in the foothills district. It was met Muth also at Ahwaz. 248. Common Snipe. Gallinago gallinago. “ Jehalul ” or “Naja el Maya. ” Gallinago gallinago gallinago (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 147, 17.58 — Sweden). Common winter visitor, abundant in suitable marshes. The first may be seen as early as August 3rd, quite a few by the middle of the month, but the bulk do not arrive till later. Plenty are still present in mid-Apiil, most have gone by early Jlay and sti’agglers are noted at the end of that month. Ther-e is no evi- dence that any remain to breed. Pitman found it absent from the marshes in the Museyib district in .June and July. The Arabic name “ Naja-el-Maya ” means “ water-goat ”, evidently in reference to the drumming sound which, though constantly heard in the breeding season, may also sometimes be heard in the winter. In favourable localities a couple of guns may easily obtain 40 to 50 coujile in a day. Three skins examined; 9 > Amsra, 7-4-18 (P. A. B.) ; Samarra, 6-3-18 (C. R. P). 9, Sheik Saad, 26-1-18 (Robinson). Zarudny gives raddei also as a winter visitor ; I am unable to recognize this race. 249. Great Snipe. Gallinago media. Gallinago media (Lath.l. (Gen. Synop. Supp., i, 1787, p. 292 — England). Our records tend to show that this species is a passage migrant, though Zarudny records it in winter also. Thornhill records it at Haibi in April where a small patch of wheat and flooded grass seemed full of them. Gumming met with it at Fao in April and Buxton got one at Amara on April 14th ; it is also recorded from Shush in spring ; Logan Home met with single birds near Basra on August 3rd and 29th, and Connor obtained one there on September 16th. 250. Jack Snipe. Limnocryptes gallinula. Limnocrijples gallinula (L ). (Syst. Nat. Ed., xii, p. 244, 1766 — France), Generally distributed in winter in suitable localities throughout our area and common ; time of arrival was not noted, it was still common at the end of the first week in April. 251. Broad-billed Sandpiper. Limicola falcinellus. Limicola falcinellus (Pont.) (Danske Atlas, 1, 1763, p. 623 — Denmark). Gumming obtained .several at Fao in August and September where it must be common. We have no further records. 252. Terek Sandpiper. Terekia cinerea. Terekia cinena (Guld.) (Nov. Comm. Petrop., xix, 1775, p. 47.3 — Terek River, S. E. Russia). Probably common at Fao on the tidal mud flats where Gumming obtained several at the end of August and early in September. Essentially a maritime wader in winter. THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. . . 667 253. Little Stint. Erolia minuta^ Erolia miniita minuta (Leisl,) (Nach. zu Beehst. Naturg. Deutscli., 1812 p. 74 — Hanau, Germany). Buxton found this species abundant on spring and autumn passage in the marshes Magrath and Meinertzhagtn noted small parties along the rivers in winter. Exact status not fully known, probably a winter visitor and a passage migrant, as Zarudnj’’ states. Four specimens examined : c? 9 > Akkarkuf, 6-10-17 ; J , Amara, 7-4-18 ; J , Baghdad, 21-9-17 (P. A. B.). 254. Temminck’s Stint. Erolia temmincki. Erolia temmincki (Leisl.) (<. c. supra, p. 78). Winter visitor, fairly common in the inundations and along the rivers in suitable places. Some are probably passage migrants also. Five specimens examined : Samarra, 8-2-18. ; Akkarkuf, 16-8-17 (C. R. P.)y 9 , Amara, 24-3-18 ; 6 , 5-10-17 ; one, 30-12-17 (P. A. B.) 255. - Dunlin. Erolia alpina. ' . Erolia alpina alpina (L.) (Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 149 — ^Lappland). Common winter visitor, arrives early in August and remains till the middle of May. Apparently some remain all the summer as non-breeding birds, as Logan Home saw “ many ” at Ratawi on June 19th. Dunlins frequent edges of inundations, flooded fields, river banks, associating with Stints. Three specimens examined : Amara, 25-1-18 ; Sheik Saad, 18-12-16 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Samarra, 24-12-17 (C. R. P.) ; four, Amara, Jan.-April (P. A. B.). These belong to the typical race, with bills 32-27 mm., wings 116-119 mm., which in my opinion extends east to western Siberia. I have already pointed out (Bull. B. O. C., xxxiii, p. 99) that there is not sufficient difference between birds from Lappland and West Siberia to warrant the distinguishing of a separate race from the latter locality, so far as present material is available. Hartert (Vog. Pal. Faun., p. 1576) recognises this race from Siberia doubtfully and lists it as ? Erolia alpina pusiUa. Falk. 1786. If Tringa is used for the Stints, as is done in the B. O. U. list, then ptisilla cannot be used for this race even if it were recognisable as it is not the Tringa pusiUa of Linnseus, 1776. 256. Curlew Sandpiper. Erolia ferruginea. Erolia ferruginea (Briin.) (Om. Bor., 1764, p. 53 — Iceland) {=subarquata auct.) Meinertzhagen and Zarudny both record the Curlew Sandpiper in winter ; Buxton obtained examples at Amara in December and April ; probably it is a winter visitor and passage migrant. [The Knot is recorded from the backwaters of the Tigris near Baiji, but as no skins were obtained and there are no other records for Mesopotamia I omit it. It would be interesting to confirm that this species winters on fresh water and so far inland, as I certainly do not think it is usual.] 257. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria. Cahdris arenaria (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed., xii, p. 251, 1766 — England). Zaradny lists the Sanderling as a winter visitor,, presumably to, the head of the Gulf littoral. Probably common there. 258. Ruff. Machetes pugn ax. Machetes pugnax (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed., x, p. 148, l75S — Sweden).' 13 668 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII Status doubtful and there are few records. Pitman found a few on L. Akkar- kuf early in September, Livesay saw many on the Euphrates marshes on May 15th. Zarudny says it is a winter visitor to the Karun district, and Neumann recoi-ds it from Ras-el-ain on February 14th. Stoneham notes it at Ctesiphon on March 22nd and Ludlow at Ahwaz on the 29th. Probably a not uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. One skin examined : L. Akkarkuf, 2-9-17 (C. R. P.). 259. Redshank. Totanus totanus. Totanus totanus totanus (L.) (Sy^t. Nat. Ed., x, p. 145, 1758 — Sweden). Common -winter -visitor and generally distributed. It arrives at the end of July, but most come back in the middle of August and it is recorded up to the end of May, though most have gone a week or two earlier. Magrath records that he heard it near Amara on June 29th, so perhaps some non-breeders spend the summer. Four skins examined: Samarra, 22-1-18 ; 25-12-17 (C. R. P.) ; 9» Basra, 3-1-19 (Armstrong) ; 9 Amara, 30-12-17 (P. A. B.). Not distinguishable from W. European examples. 260. Spotted Redshank. Totanus maculatus. Totanus maculatus (Tunst.) (Om. Brit., 1771 — England). Zanidny records this as a winter visitor to the Karun district and Stoneham nited it at Samarra on May 17th. It is recorded from Biredjik by Weigold on May 1st and Ludlow shot two near Ahwaz in March. Probably it is commoner than the above records indicate. 261. Marsh Sandpiper. Totanus stagnatilis. Totanus stagnatilis Bechst (Orn. Taschenb., ii., 1803, p. 292 — Germany). Probably a net uncommon winter \dsitor ; recorded by Zarudny, and Buxton obtained one at Baghdad on March 13th. 262. Qreenshank, Totanus nebularius. Totanus nebularius (Gunn.) (Leem. Beskr. Finm Lapp. 1767, p. 251 — Norway). Fairly common winter visitor: some airive at the end of July; most of them in August ; leaves at the end of April. Two skins examined : 9 > Azizieh, 16-10-08 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; 9, Bagh- dad, 26-9-17 (P. A. B.). 263. Common Sandpiper. Tringa hypoleucos. Tringa hypoleucos (L.) (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 149 — Sweden). A -winter -visitor generally distributed on the rivers and canals but commoner as a passage migrant. It apparently arrives as early as mid-July and it is record- ed as leaving about the middle of May. Tomlinson says it is resident at Basra and “ immature birds were seen in the summer ” but this does not necessarily prove that it breeds in Mesopotamia. Pitman too thought he saw it in the Hindia barrage marshes in June and July. Quite possibly some may spend the summer in their usual winter quarters if they are not going to breed that year. Four skins examined : 9 » Amara 14-9-18 ; 9 > 14-4-18 (P. A. B.) ; d > Ahwaz, 24-5-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Feluja, 9-4-17 (C. R. P.) 264. Green Sandpiper. Tringa ochropus. Tringa ochropus, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 149, 1758 — Sweden). 265. Wood Sandpiper. Tringa glareola. Tringa glareola, L. (Sj'st. Nat., Ed. x,p. 149, 1758 — Sweden). THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 669 Both Wood and Green Sandpipers are fairly common. They arrive during August and both are recorded up to the middle of May by which time most have gone. Whereas the Green Sandpiper is certainly present all the winter, there are only two records of the Wood Sandpiper after October, odd birds being record- ed by Pitman in February and December, so that in the main the latter species is a i>assrge migrant and probably the former to some extent elso. 266. Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa. Limosa limosa (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 147, 1758 — Sweden). A common winter visitor frequenting the muddy margins of floods, etc. It arrives early in August and probably departs again in April and May. A certain number however spend the summer in the Euphrates marshes, as round Museyib and Ratawi ; these of course are non-breeding birds as is the case with many other waders. Six specimens examined : L. Akkarkuf, 12-8-17; 17-8-17 (C. R. P.) ; 9> Baghailah, 11-3-17 (Ingoldby) ; S 9>E- Akkarkuf, 10-17; S, Amara, 17-2-18 (P. A. B.). 267. Bar=tailed Qodwit. Limosa lapponica. Limosa lapponica (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 147, 1758 — Lappland). Recorded by Pitman from the mud banks of the Shat-al-Aiab in January.* It is probably common there. 268 Common Curlew. Numenius arquata. Numenius arquata (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 145, 1758 — Sweden). Common as a winter visitor and also as a passage migrant. Gumming says it arrives at Fao in July and leaves in March. Pitman records it as first seen in the Hindia marshes on July 10th, and huge flocks were passing over to the south- east during the first week in August near Baghdad. On the return passage he noted large flocks frequently from mid-April to May 25th at Feluja going north- east in the evenings. It is equally at home on the floods and marshes as on the foreshore at Fao. One skin : Amara, 8-1-18 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.). 269. Whimbrel. Numenius phseopus. Numenius phceopus (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 146, 1758 — Sweden). Common passage migrant, arrives in July and August and the passage lasts till the end of September. Passes through again in April and May. Some may overwinter as Gumming records it as a winter visitor to Fao, and odd ones may pass the summer since Magrath records it from near Amara on June 30th. 270. Slender-billed Curlew. Numenius tenuirostris. Numenius tenuirostris, Vieill. (N. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. viii, 1817, p. 302 — ' Egypt). Status quite unknown. Buxton saw many on December 16th, 1917, in a tempo- rary winter lake in a hollow in the bare desert ten miles north of Amara and secur- ed a specimen. This is the only definite record. 271. Black-wing’ed Stilt. Himantopus bimantopus. Himantopus himantopus (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 151, 1758 — Egypt). Resident and common in the larger marshes, spreading out in winter to tempo- rary floods, etc. Magrath records that it breeds in the marshes above Amara but was much disturbed by shell fire in 1916. Numbers breed on the Suweikiyeh marsh, some breed near Basra, and Pitman found it breeding plentifully in the Hindia and Museyib marshes. The first nest he found was on May 31st containing three incubated eggs ; the nest was 670 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV 111. just a hollow in spongy ground ; he found many more nests between June 2nd and 12th and all these nests were on mud mounds well above the general level and well out on the marsh ; the birds had apparently constructed these mounds themselves ; three or four eggs were the usual full clutch and the eggs varied very much in colour and markings. See plate. Five specimens examined ; L. Akkarkuf, 18-7-17 (C. R. P.) ; Amara, 24-1-18 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Amara, 22-1-18, wing 109, bill 15 (P. A. B.); 9 , Sheik Saad, 18-12-16, wing 109-5, bill 15-25 mm. (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.). These both belong to the typical race. 280. Caspian Plover. Charadrius asiatica. Charadrius asiatica asiataca, PaU. (Reise Russ. Reichs ii, 1773, p. 715— S. Tartary). Common, but rather local, on spring and autumn passages. Pitman saw flocks of thousands on the fertile plain on the left bank of the Tigris from Kut to Azizieh in the flrst week of March, and on the 19th he saw a flock on cultiva- tion at Feluja. Cheesman found it plentiful, feeding round gardens on desert land at Sheik Saad on March 26th. Cumming obtained a young one at Fao on August 11th, while Pitman saw a large flock on a semi-cultivated plain near Samarra on November 18th. Five specimens examined: Sheik Saad, 21-3-17, 25-3-17 ; 9> 25-3-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Kut, 2-3-17 (two) (C. R. P.). 672 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. All are in breeding dress except one ; they are finishing or have finished a body moult which seems to be complete below, but only partial on the upper parts where many feathers are worn and, as no new ones are coming through, these perhaps will be retained for the summer. The odd bird is in winter dress still. 281. Dotterel. Eudromias morinellus. Eudromias morinellus (L.). (Syst. Nat. 71758, p. 150 — Sweden). A common but local winter visitor. Pitman noted it as common on the un- dulating wastes covered with grass near Samarra during the winter, where it occurred in vast flocks. It is reported as plentiful at Feluja and common in the Karun district. Elsewhere it occurs according to our records sparsely and in quite small numbers. Last record April 7th. Seven skins examined : Arab village, 3-12-16 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.); Feluja, 11-4-17 Samarra, 20-1-18 (C. R. P.) ; Amara, 16-12-17 (P. A. B.) ; Feluja, 1-11-17 (Ludlow); ^ Khamisiyeh, 24-11-16 (Aldworth) ; Ramadie, 16-11-18 (Brooking). ^82. Sociable Lapwing. Chettusia gregaria. Chettusia gregaria (Pall). (Reise. Russ Reichs I, 1771, p. 456 — S. E. Russia). This species is a winter visitor and like the two previous Plovers it is very local, but where it occurs at all, good numbers may be met with. Logan Home recorded it in large flocks on the Tekrit uplands from October to February and Pitman met with it plentifully in huge flocks on the cultivated plain between Kut and Azizieh at the end of February. Cheesman found flocks on the desert near Tel-al-lahm 20 miles from the nver. It is recorded from Basra, Ezra’s Tomb, Urfa district and Ras-el-Ain. The latest record was on April 4th. Like the two previous species this bird prefers cultivated land and grassy uplands to marshes. Three specimens examined: $. Ezra’s Tomb , 3-12-18 ; Tel-al-lahm, 28-12-18 (two) (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) 283. White-tailed Lapwing. Chettusia leucura. “ Tatwa.” Chettusia leucura (Licht.). (Eversm’s Reise v. Oremb. nach Buchara, p. 137, 1823, between Kuwan and Jan-Darja). Very common resident, breeding round the inundations, temporary and perma- nent marshes ; in winter spreading further afield and some may even migrate. Unlike the last three Plovers this is a true denizen of the marshes and is never found far from water. The breeding season begins about the second week in May and full clutches are universal early in June. In the Euphrates marshes round Museyib and Hindia Barrage, Pitman came across great numbers of this species nesting in the first week of June. The nests were on the edge of the marsh or on semi-submerged islets, indeed many nests had been flooded out. So numerous were they there that he several times examined 50 to 100 nests in an hour, and a tiny islet might hold three or four nests. He describes the nest as being much like that of the Peewit ; the eggs four in number, vary a good deal in size and markings and are smaller and more clay-coloured than those of the Red- wattled Lapwing. Logan Home, who found a colony at Abu Aran on June 8th, says the nests were on the edges of islands in a marsh and usually 5 to 10 yards from the waters edge. These islands were sandy with small hillocks and patches of short grass here and there on them and were closed in by high reeds all round. The nests were of the usual Plover shape with a few bits of shell under the eggs. He says that, unlike the Pratincoles and Little Terns which were nesting there, these birds were very wary and would not go on to their nests while he was on the island. Like the Peewit they are very noisy at the nesting ground. JouRN. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE VI t3 fl W . I i Co 0) Mco % O Amara, 30-12-17, (two) 9 Amara' 26-2-18 (P, A. B.) ; 6, Basra, 19-3-18 (C. B. T.) 284 Red-wattled Lapwing". Sarcogrammus indicus. Sarcogrammus indicus aigneri, Laubm. (Falco 9, p. 10. 1913 — Las Belas in Beluchistan), It is of considerable interest to find this Lapwing, which is so common and familiar to everyone in India, has spread westwards along the Mekran and Persian Gulf into Mesopotamia. It is not uncommon, widely distributed and of course resident. Unlike the Indian Roller, which has but a limited distribution in our area, this Lapwing, which can adapt itself to almost any circumstances compatible with a Plover’s hfe, has extended throughout the length and breadth of Meso- potamia; from the Karun and Basra districts it may be traced up the Euphrates to Feluja and up the Tigris to Tekrit, Samaria and Mosul while it is found out on the Persian frontier at Shahroban and Khanikin. The breeding season begins in the middle of April and eggs are reported as late as June 6th. The nest un- like that of the W^hite-tailed Plover is placed “ high and diy,” generally some little distance from water and is a mere scrape after the fashion of its kind, nor is it colonial in its nesting habits like the last named, each pair jealously guarding its own territory. In ■winter it is subject to local migrations. Three specimens examined : 9 Amara, 1-12-17, -wing 229, bill 38 (P.A.B.) ; Sheik Saad. 2-11-16 w. 225-5, B. 36, (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) Sheik Saad 14-12-17, w. 233, B. 38 (Robinson). These are not to be distinguished in any way from Baluchi specimens, whence came the type of aigneri. 285. Spur-winged Lapwing. Hoplopterus spinosus. Hoplopierus spinosus (L.) (Syst. Xat., 1758, p. 151 — ^Egj'pt). Zarudny records this as a rare -winter visitor to the Karun district. Pitman seems certain he saw some near Kurna in Januan'. Weigold says he saw it apparently breeding at Bambudj and Beredjik just over the Mesopotamian boundarj" in Syria. The status of this bird jn Mesopotamia requu-es further investigation. 286. Common Lapwing. Vanellus vanellus. Vanellus vanellus (L). (Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 148 — Sweden). A -winter visitor in small numbers and widely distributed throughout orrr area. It apparently arrives late in the autumn, the first record being on October 22nd and the majority do not ari-ive till early November. Buxton, who found it common at Amara, noted that it disappeared at the end of February and the latest date we have any record of is March 4th. In some marshes it appears to be pretty common, but most records refer to small flocks or small numbers. Four specimens examined ; — Samarra, 13-12-17 (C. R. P.) ; Tekrit. 9-12-18 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Amara, 27-11-17. 10-12-17 (P. A. B.) 287. Oyster-catcher. Usematopus ostralegus. Hcematopus ostralegus, L. (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 152 — Sweden). The Oyster-catcher is not a very common winter visitor ; small parties may be met with on the inundations and mud banks of the Tigris and Euphrates in their lower reaches and it was once recorded as far north as Baghdad ; at Fao 674 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. it is probably not uncommon. There are several records of it during the breed- ing season, but there is no indication that it nests in our area. As it is recorded in nearly every month of the year it is impossible to say what its migratory movements are. One skin examined : Amara, 16-3-19 (Logan Home). 288. Crab, Plover. Dromas ardeola. Dramas ardeola, Paykull (K. Sevensk. Vet. Ak. Handl. 26, pp. 182-188, 1805 — India), This, essentially a maritime species, is only known in our district in the Fao littoral. Here Gumming obtained specimens in October and eggs from the dis- trict. Probably these came from the Khor Abdulla, as Armstrong, while at Fao, ascertained that it breeds there in large numbers and had eggs brought to him on May 20th from there. From the Arab who obtained them Armstrong ascertained the following facts. The Khor Abdulla, or Abdulla banks, are situated on the Arabian side of Fao, distant about 15 mUes, in an old estuary of the Shat-al-Arab; they are a group of rocks with much mud and sand silted up in between them, and round them is a huge mud flat at low water ; on the Khor the Crab Plovers nest in colonies, ex- cavating bm-rows two to fom- feet long into the sand, at the end of which one or two eggs are deposited. The breeding season is well known to the Arabs who do quite a trade both in birds and eggs in the country around. The birds are taken from the bmrows, put into baskets and taken to Basra for sale ; Armstrong who tried eight of them in a pie found they were very good eating ; they had been taken from nest burrows and all were females. This accoimt agrees very well with that of Huskisson and Nash who visited breeding colonies on islands near Bushire {Hume's Nests and Eggs 4, p. 328) except that they invariably found a single egg in each burrow and I think we may take it that this is the correct number. This aberant species lays a pm-e white egg, utterly unlike a wader’s egg, and is very large for the size of the bird. Comparatively, little is known about the nesting economy of this bhd and should any ornithologist be able to visit the Khor in the nesting season and make obser- vations there he would be well repaid for the discomfort of the heat. Eggs may be looked for early in May and both eggs and young early in June. Spirit specimens of both chicks and adults are great desiderata for working out the relationship of this anomalous bird. 289. Turnstone. Areiaria interpres. Arenaria interpres (L). (Syst. Nat. 1768, p. 148 — Sweden:) Probably not uncommon at Fao as a winter visitor. Finch obtained one on February 17th and Cumming shot one there on June 18th so that pro- bably some non-breeding birds spend the summer there. {To he continued.) JoUrn., BOm. Mat Hist SoC. 2:2 . H. R. R. The Pkince of Walf.s, Pateon and Life Member of the Bombay Natural History Society 675 H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES’ SHOOTS IN INDIA IN 1921 AND 1922.— Part I. By \ BERNARD C. ELLISON, C.M.Z.S' — {Naturalist to the Shoots.) {With Q plates and a map.) Nepal. To the average Englishman in India, but little is known of Nepal or its people. Brian Hodgson, to whom we are indebted for most of what we know of the Natural History of the country, gives an account of the physical characters of Nep>al dividing it into 3 distinct regions according to the elevation of the several districts. The lower region consists of the Terai, or Marshes ; the Bhawar or forest and the lower hills, with a climate approximating that of the plains of Hindustan, with a certain increase of heat and a great excess of moisture. Next comes the Central region composed of a “ clusterous succession of mountains ” varying in elevation from 3,000 — 13,000 feet, with a temperature of 10® to 20° lower than the plains ; and, lastly, the juxta-Himalayan region consisting entirely of high mountains whose summits are buried in snow for the most part of the year and whose climate has nothing tropical about it except perhaps the succession of seasons. Before describing the arrival of H. R. H. and staff in Nepal on the 14th December and the sport subsequently enjoyed by the party, it is necessary to explain shortly the arrangements made by H. H. the Maharaja of Nepal to take the utmost advantage of the extraordinary sporting re- sources of his country. General Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur, President of the Nepalese Committee relating to the Prince's visit and also officer-in-charge of the arrangements of the shoot, in a letter, says : — “ It was only in July (1921) that definite news of the Prince’s visit to India being available, the question of H. R. H. having a shoot in Nepal was raised. The Prime Minister of Nepal had pressed the Government of India to arrange the dates of the Royal Shoot to fall in January, or better still in February, so that a better bag of big game might be anticipated, but in view of the extended tour in India and the Far East, the 14th and 21st December were given as the only possible dates. The Prince’s stay in Nepal was, therefore, shorter than those of his father and grandfather. In 1910 previous notice of more than a year had been received enabhng the men to work for two seasons, i. e., on either side of the rainy season to erect 2 shooting boxes and camps in the interior of Chitone for the use of H. I. M. the King-Emperor in 1911. The short notice on the present occasion compelled the Prime Minister to abandon the idea of a shoot in Chitone and consequently Pathenghetta off Bairagnia was suggested, but considering the poorness of game that side, a camp at Thon, the gate of Chitone, was finally decided upon.” The venue for the Royal Shoot was the Terai which may be classed amongst the richest and most strictly preserved game tracts in the world. The shooting camp prepared for the Prince was about 2 miles from Bikna Thori Station on the Nepal Border. It was not the same camp which was used on the occasion when H. M. King George visited Nepal. His Majesty’s camp was about thirty miles away from the frontier, at a place called Kasra, where a per- manent pavilion was built for the use of His Majesty. The present camp had no wooden pavilion, but nevertheless it presented a most delightful spectacle being a mass of creamy white tents shaded by giant forest trees, flanked by and over- looking the river : beyond the river lay a great tract of forest land, and still further in the distance the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas. On all the other sides jungle of the thickest kind and then the Indian frontier. 14 676 JOVRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. There were really three different camps. The Royal Camp was on a plateau by itself directly overlooking the river bed. Descending from this one came to the Press Camp, which, though on a lower elevation, still commanded the same view. Opposite this was the servant’s camp which housed the huge following which generally accompanys a gathering of this description. About of a mile away through the forest lay H. H. the Maharaja’s camp. The locality covered by the camp before the middle of November had been rank jungle — the haunt of wild animals, which had left their tracks even after the grounds had been tramped. Both camps, that is to say H. R. H.’s and that of the Maharaja of Nepal were surrounded completely by pallisades and guarded by Nepalese troops. Great fires were lit at night to keep away a possible marauding elephant or wandering rhino or tiger. Such unwelcome visitors were always a possibility in a spot where wild animals abounded. A further provision against incidents of this dt^scription was a machan, termed very aptly a “Funk Machan,” designed as a haven of refuge in the event of a stampede of elephants or the visit of a wander- ing rogue. The greatest attention to detail was displayed in the lay out of the camp and every provision was made for the comfort and convenience of the guests. The roomy tents which were beautifully furnished and fronted by garden terraces flanked an open lawn scattered with chairs and tables where people might sit in the evenings. Here also a huge bonfire flared all night and a giant yule log blazed — quite the biggest I have ever seen. The whole camp, both inside and outside, was lit with electricity from the great arc lamps which hung picture- squely from the trees, under which all the trophies shot during the day's sport used to be shown before being banded over to the ministrations of my men in the skinning camp, down to the little reading lamp by one’s bedside which one could switch off before turning in. The Royal suite of apartments were simple, yet all that could be desired, and ornamented, as befitted the occasion, with emblems and trophies of the chase. The floor of the mess tent was carpeted -with Leopard skins pieced together as a great mat ; the effect, as can be gathered, was extremely rich and striking. The very appointments of H. R. H.’s writing table were all mementos of sport in Nepal being made up from Rhino hoofs, horns and hide, and even the waste paper- basket was made from the lower joint of a rhino’s leg. One cannot but refer to the beautiful albums on the tables of the mess tent, whose pages held the photo- graphie record of many a famous shoot in the Nepal Terai. The Camp had a well appointed Post and Telegraph office attached to it. On the eve of the Prince's arrival it was inspected by H. H. the Maharaja of Nepal who, though in indifferent health, insisted on previously visiting the camp wdth Col. O’Connor, the British Envoy, to see that everything was as it should be for the reception of the Royal Guest. Of an urbane and generous disposition H. H. the Maharaja impressed one immediately by his character brimming over with good nature and kindliness. I was also introduced to the Maharaja’s sons, all of them Generals. It is the custom in Nepal, I believe, to have all Royalty created Generals i>ractically simultaneously with their birth. I was much impressed with the youngest boy who, though only eight years of age, had a few days previously single handed accounted for his first tiger. Very efficient arrangements were made by the Nepal authorities for the dis- posal of the game after each shoot, and Lieut. Hem Bahadur Rajbhandair, the Nepalese officer attached to the writer, was most helpful. The skinning camp was situated about a mile from the main camp. This was a mistake in my opinion although the reasons for it were very good and sound. The people who placed it there, considered that for sanitarj’^ reasons it was advisable to have all the skinning done as far away as possible. On all the other shoots I asked to have the skinning camp within a quarter-of-a-mile of my own tent, and accommodation for my own men provided on the spot. This worked rurl«'>gt 0 Oh«bt '* «#A'* . , n^n<}»rih«>t 9'?ig i. nl^ ^ «»vj •' * T/iir Cf>^ Magiii Afl 8i^'6h«r C^oc ,4^<^^^noab» fiS *4fane/it|v4 Ptfiiuni/i DumrA >4ffm«n* BtiliijH Bl>r»<\pur Pii\tng$thhit , SKETCH MAP OF CHITAWAN I’OE H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES' VISIT TO NEPAL 1921. Scale I iocli‘2 MiWs ; /w. ) ^ A. 'w ‘ The road fiiui the Reya! Shootii f; Cini]! at BiknaThoii is nia)k(d in if d. At ditTerfrjt places cn this loute most of the beats mentioned in this narrative took plate. On the extumc left of the map is Kasia, wheie His Majesty Kiry Gtorpe V stayed, when he shot in Nepal in 1911. R. It. H. THE PRINCE OF WALEH' SHOOTS. 677 better, I found, as, after the animals came to the camp and had been viewed by H. R. H. and the people who shot them, thej' were immediately and without delay sent to the skinning camp and on arrival at once dealt with by our department. In shooting on a large scale celerity in skinning is a great point, particularly in the present instance where I had only two men* with me who could be trusted to attend to the more intricate points of skinning, such as the head and limbs. We obviated difficulties as regards nauseous smell, etc., which other\\ise would have made the skinning camp in Nepal a perfect Glolgotha by a plentiful scattering of lime and disinfectants. However in spite of this at times, when we had five or six disarticulated rhino ' together with numerous tigers and an odd bear in different stages of skinning, the stench was almost unbeai’able. Before describing the shooting I cannot but comment on the elaborate and extremely efficient methods adopted forgiving prompt and exact ‘‘khubber” about kills and the movements of game. This was accomphshed by a precise system of signalling, on a scale which I think has never been attempted before on a shoot of this description. The whole arrangement was under the direction of Lieut< Leonardj R.E., who had arrived in Nepal some weeks previously to put up a system of telephonic communication between the Roj^al Camp and certain suitable spots, within the forest for a radius of 30 miles. Lieut. Leonard was assisted by a party of English Sappers who dming the period during which they were engaged in putting up the necessary wires and installation spent a very thrilling fortnight alone in the jungles. Considering that these jungles in normal times abound with dangerous game of all description, and that parti- cularly at this period when in preparation for the Royal Shoot there had been a close season for some time, it can be readily understood that Lieut. Leonard and his party had some exciting experiences to recount of the time spent in the Nepal jungles. One of the receiving field stations was fixed to the trunk of a tree near by my tent and every morning on my visit to the skinning camp I would ring up for news and would be promptly informed as to the whereabouts of the last “ Kill ” or the location of a tiger 10 or 15 miles away. No rhino was untracked or tiger left to itself. The rhino no sooner began to doze off as the sun grew warm, as is his wont, than the tracker climbing up a neighbouring tree made signs to his mate on the ground who ran off to flash the news by the nearest telephone station. I give the following extract from my diary of the first day’s shoot : — Deceinber 14fA. — At Biknathori to-day the camp is aglow with excite- ment from early morning. I was awakened by the trumpeting of elephants and the shouts of an army of Nepalese attendants. I watched the little Gurkhas passing to and fro near my tent. What a noise these stout little fellows with the Kukris make ! Talk is of nothing else but the arrival of the Prince and the pros- pects of the shooting. A very large tiger had been seen and it was hoped that it would fall to the Prince’s rifle. Shortly after 9 a.m. a fanfare of bugles announce the arrival of the Prince. The Nepalese Guard present arms and the Royal Car sweeps into the camp followed by the cars of his suite. The Prince steps out, looking remarkably well and bojfish in light khaki Jodhpur breeches, shooting coat, and Sambhar leather shoes. A few minutes were spent in introductions. Then off we all go in the cars to the shooting beat. This is quite near the camp, at a place called Sarasvati Khola. We get out of the ears and mount the pad elephants which take us to the line of elephants, with howdahs, in position by the river bed. His Royal Highness mounts into his howdah which, by the * I brought with me from the Natural History Society two skinners — N. A- Baptista, a Goanese skinner of considerable experience who for many years had been in the employ of the Society, and my servant Rawjee Kaneira, a Hindu, who had a knowledge of skinning. Under my supervision they did all the skinning in the principal shoots in India and Nepal and worked exceedingly well. 678 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII way, is the same as was used by his father when he last shot in Nepal. The rest of the party are the Earl of Cromer, Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, Col. Worgan, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Capt. the Hon’ble Piers Legh and the Hon’ble Bruce Ogilvy and myself. Every-body is expectant though nothing happens for sometime. On the other side of the huge river bed, now reduced to a narrow stream, stretches the jungle for mile on mile. It is very hot, the elephants are impatient and every now and then one of them gives utterance to restless trum- peting. Suddenly there is a movement on the left hand side of the line and General Kaiser, the Master of Ceremonie.s, who had organised all the Shikar arrangements in connection with the shoots, rides in on a fast trotting pad ele- phant with news of a tiger and off we start. The elephants move forward with their wierd lumbering gait. H. R. H. leads the procession ; followed immediately by the party and then an army of pad elephants, and stiU more pad elephants to be used in case of accidents. Ponderously the line proceeds through the dense jungle, crossing many a placid stream, and emerging at times from the cool shade of the giant trees into some glade where the sun beat hot and fierce, only to plunge again into the cool depths of the evergreen jungle. One is instinctively impressed with the calm and twilit grandeur of these gigantic forests. Within their depths all is stillness and no movement is discernible. There is nothing to break the monotonous tread of the elephants save an occasional burst of drumming from cicadas whose shrill music subsides as quickly as it rises. Sud- denly there is a stir in the line. All the elephants begin to close up, shoulder to shoulder, and the great beasts stand to form the ring. All is expectancy : there is an outburst of shouting from the beaters ; out rushes a deer and escapes terrified into the jungle shortly followed by another and another. Then the real thing happens and there is a cry ‘ Bagh, Bagh ’ from the beaters. The tiger at last ! A glimpse of a yellowish form is seen in the long grass for the space of a few seconds and is at once lost to view. Once again it is seen behind a tree trunk. Closer advance the beaters, the tiger charges out, but he is a wary beast and seems to know intuitively where the guns are posted and gives them a wide berth. Again and again he is driven out only to seek cover in the long grass away from the guns. A Shikari climbs a tree and pelts him with stones. The manoeuvre succeeds, and once again we get a half length view of ‘ stripes ’ as he makes a spring at his tormentor in the tree top. The ring closes in upon him, but with a roar he dives into the long grass ; another roar and he show's himself quite near the Royal howdah. A moment’s suspense andH. R. H. fires and a second afterwards two more shots ring out. The Prince has hit. The tiger though mortally wounded has plenty of go in him and charges to the opposite side and is buried once more in the heavy cover. The ring closes in : a shot rings out : and the tiger rolls over dead. I descend from my how'dah and measure him. It was a striking scene this great circle of sportsmen, beaters, mahouts and elephants, waiting in silence while the measuring was done. The tiger taped 9 feet but he was a royal beast and looked splendid when I saw him later stretched out for the Prince's inspection near the great log fire in the Royal Camp. In the evening we had news of three more tigers having been shot by another party who had gone farther afield. There appears to have been much excitement, and no little risk, experienced on the occasion, as several of the party were filled more with zeal than with experience of tiger shooting, guns were pointed in all directions and the poor tigers eventually succumbed to a perfect fusilade of bullets. One of the members of the party contributes the following descrip- tion of the exciting episode : “ The tigress came out straight towards my elephant, but turned very quickly to its own right, and I fired just as it turned back into the jungle. I hit it on the near quarter, and broke its hind leg with the first barrel. The second barrel I fired as it was disappearing in the jungle and from what we Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist Soc, H. R. H. the Prince of Wales mounting into his Howdah on the first day’s shoot in Nepal, Journ,, Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc On the trail after Rhino. Elephants crossing a stream. . H. i?. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES' SHOOTS. 679 found afterwards apparently hit it on the tip of the tail ! There was a great difficulty in stirring the tigress out again from the jmigle, so we went in on our elephants when she suddenly came out and charged the elephant P. was on, which turned round so quickly that P. sat down on his topi and squashed it flat. The tigress was finished off, I think, by H. but I am not quite certain.” After dinner I went down to the skinning camp to see what had been done as regards the disposal of the trophies. It was an eerie experience tramping through the heavy jvmgle after nightfall. Of course in the present instance, with so many people about, there was not much danger though everj'where one saw the pug marks of tiger, and the tracks of elephants. Thanks to the efforts of my men the work of skinning the various trophies had been satisfactorily concluded and so with an easy conscience I went to bed. December \oth. — To-day was fixed for the first rhino shoot. We did not get off till 10 a.m. as there were several delays. Even after a start had been made there was a stoppage caused through a huge lorry breaking dowm on the very steep hill leading up to the entrance of the camp. None of the cars could get past the obstacle and there was nothing for it but to get out and push, and H. R. H. was the foremost of all in helping. At last we were all speeding along bumping over the forest road that had been specially constructed for the purpose of the shoots. The first part of the journey was through a dense piece of jungle. One realised how difficult a task a hunter would have in bringing his quarry to bag in a forest of this description. This is one of the main reasons why the ‘ ringing ’ method of hunting tigers is practised in Nepal. The dense jungle found in the foot hills of the Terai must be seen to be appreciated. Massive elephant grass up to 20 feet in height, and so thick as to almost obscure the elephant from the view of ihe Howdah occupants in his passage through it. Often it is not possible even to see the next elephant though it is only a few yards away . Our destination this morning is Thoba, a rim of 20 miles by motor. The road led for the most part of the way through the cool depths of the forest till the vicinity of Thoba was reached. Here the country was open with fields of yellow mustard on either hand. The machans erected in their midst told of the eternal warfare waged by the ryot against the jungle denizens. At the 22nd milestone we leave the cars to mount the pad elephants. Besides H. R. H. the party includes Lord Cromer, Admiral Halsey, Col. Worgan, Capt. Ogilvy, Lord Louis Mountbatten and myself. H. R. H. looked rather tired, as even after yesterday’s long journey and long shoot, he had been playing polo at 6 a.m. Before arriving at the spot where the ring was fonned it transpired that the tiger had broken back. Shortly afterwards the elephant in which the Prince was riding got bogged in crossing a stream and H. R. H. transferred to an ordinary pad elephant. The sight of a line of elephants crossing a stream is always impressive. I call to mind as I write, the stately array of elephants crossing the Thute river at sunset, the great grey beasts plunging through the swirling water, the red light of the setting sun, and the dark forest background, all combined to make an impressive and unforgetable picture. One quickly gets accustomed to elephants as a means of transport. A pad elephant is generally the most comfortable and certainly the best as far as celeri- ty goes, though possibly not the safest, as in the case of a charging tiger the man on the pad takes his chance of being mauled. All honour to the plucky mahouts who guide these great beasts sticking gamely to their posts often in moments of extreme danger. Many have paid with their lives for their coolness and daring. In fact one of the brave fellows was killed on a pad elephant a few days after the Prince’s departure. The occupant of a howdah is practically safe from the onslaught of a charging tiger, but there is one risk which is always present in shooting from an elephant in heavy forest and that is the possibility of the 630 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voh XXVIII. elephant taking fright, and bolting when mahout, howdah and occupants stand a very good chance of being swept away in the headlong rush of the beast through the jungle. To return to what happened. The party arrived at the spot where the shooting was to take place at 1 p.m. and an adjournment for lunch was agreed to with general acclaim. Several rhinos had been seen in the swamp in close proximity and the chances of a good afternoon’s sport seemed assured. After lunch we mounted our elephants and it was not long before a rhino was discerned in the thick grass cover. H. R. H., whose position was rather disad- vantageous, since he could scarcely see the animal from where he was, fired. Lord Louis Mountbatten fired immediately afterwards and the rhino made off. A pro- longed search was made for the beast. The blood -spattered leaves and grass showed clearly that the bullet had found its mark, but it was not till many days later that the beast was picked up dead. It was then too decomposed for pre- servation, but the skull and horn were recovered. It proved to be the best of all the rhino heads obtained in Nepal during the present shoot. A second rhino wounded on this day by Capt. Dudley North was picked up later under similar circumstances. As we blundered through the dense forest in search of the wounded rhino one could not help thinking of what would have been the effect on our ranks, if a rhino took it into his head to charge, bunched up as we were at the moment. The consequences would have been rather disconcerting as the resultant stampede would not exactly have been a pleasant experience. Just before the search was abandoned a tiger was seen, a ring was immediately formed and the animal was soon accounted for. H. R. H. fired at the beast but missed. The tiger took cover, but immediately reappeared giving Sir Godfrey Thomas a broadside shot at close range. Shortly afterwards H. R. H. returned to camp, but certain enthusiasts re- mained till dark without any results beyond a rather exciting five minutes with a pig. In the fading light an animal was discovered moving in the bushes. Everybody thought it was a panther or a tiger, a ring was formed. Whatever it was, it took a great deal of dislodging, but at last with a protesting squeal out rushed a much harassed and di.^gruntled porker who promptly dodged through the hnes of elephants and vanished into the jungle. Friday, December \&th. — There were several different parties on this shoot. H. R. H., Col. Worgan, Capt. the Hon’ble Piers Legh, Commander Newport and Lord Louis Mountbatten motored to the 13th milestone to a place called Bagliae. A ring had been formed about a half a mile from the road and after the party arrived H. R. H. himself posted the guns placing them at intervals of about 50 yards. Shortly after the beat commenced, a tiger broke in front of the Prince’s howdah. H. R. H. fired and was immediately followed by a right and left from Capt. the Hon ble Piers Legh. The next 20 minutes were sj>ent in an effort to dislodge the bea t from some heavy cover. Very suddenly “ Stripes ” put in a second appearance, but a shot in the leg from Mountbatten sent him limping back into cover. The ring now closed in upon him and the tiger making his last bid for liberty sprung gamely at Lord Louis’ mount and was dropped with a shot through the head. A subsequent examination showed that only the last two shots had taken effect and the trophy accordingly went to Lord Louis Mountbatten. H. R. H. returned to camp after lunch while the remainder of the party went off on a fruitless quest after tiger. A second party consisting of the Earl of Cromer, Capt. Dudley North and two others spent the morning after rhino at Kasra. One was secured which fell to Capt. Dudley North’s rifle. The party went into some very thick jungle bordering a lake where the shikaris had jireviously located a few rhino. The rhinos wei’ ■ heard moving about as the elephants approached Journ , Boirbay Nat. Hist. Soc H. K. H. WAITING Foit ttie'J'igek to BKUAK C'OVEH. Ihe line 6p Elephants merging from the .Jungle Journ , Bomba.y Na.t. Hist. Soc H- K- H. TAKES A Shot. The Foyal Elephant in a tyucal Rhino Swamp if. R H. THE PRINCE OF WALES' SHOOTS. 681 and presently one of them was seen by a young member of the Maharaja’s family, in the howdah with Capt. Dudley North, who urged him to fire. Capt. Dudley North had previously won the toss for the first shot and the occupant of the adjoining howdah who had also seen the animal excitedly point- ed him out : Capt. Dudley North witing to me said : “ I could see nothing and told my friend so, he however still urged me to shoot. I could not see anything so I aimed at what I presumed was the object he intended and fired. Absolutely nothing happened and the conglomeration of the tree stump and grass which might have been or looked like a rhino remained exactly where it was. Even the real rhinos in our vicinity did not stir. We continued groping about in the big grass and shortly afterwards two rhinos dashed out of the pool av'ay from us and in an impossible position for a decent shot. We tracked them for some dis- tance, and were in a small clearing on the edge of some very high grass when we observed a great commotion going on ncai- by. The top of the high grass was violently agitated as though some great beast was pushing through and there was no doubt that a rhino was coming our way and shortly afterwards he did, with a rush, charging straight at my elephant. The high grass parted and directly I saw the horn on the top of his nose, through the dense cover, I fired. Lord Cromer, on my left, fired two barrels in quick succes- sion and my elephant wheeled round immediately I fired, and was for getting out it, so I did not have much time to see exactly what happened. The impression was that the rhino stumbled and almost fell but i-ecovered and made off through the grass. Lord Cromer was of the same opinion and thought both our shots had taken effect. In the confusion of elephants trying to bolt no one had time to shoot at another rhino which came out on our right but went back into cover very quickly. There were blood traces which we tracked for some time but eventually lost. This rhino was picked up dead some days after the Royal party left Nepal.” After the above incident the party formed into line moving slowly through the jungle. Shortly afterwards a rhino was seen and very fortunately bagged by Capt. Dudley North. The beast was hit through the spine half way down its neck and dropped in his tracks needing only another shot to give it its quietus. Capt. Dudley North was using a double-barrelled ‘470 Gibbs Rifle with a solid bullet. Admiral Halsey with a party consisting of Sir Godfrey Thomas, the Hon’ble Bruce Ogilvy and Col. Harvey secured a tiger late in the afternoon of the same day. The morning had been blank and after lunch a second attempt was made. A very long trek through dense jimgle where everyone got more or less lost, brought no result. So a man was sent ahead to reconnoitre ; it seemed that all arrangements had failed, and a return to camp was decided on at 4 p.ir., a few minutes after however ‘ Khubber ’ was brought that a tiger had been ringed quite close by. Soon all the guns were in position and a few minutes later Admiral Halsey bagged his tiger with a shot through the neck. Saturday, December \lth. — H. R. H. spent the morning after small game and with his party accounted for some 25 head. The Admiral, Col. Harvey and Lord Louis Mountbatten motored to Kasra (30 miles) after rhino. They saw none and had a tiger beat which was also blank. The same morning Capt. Po3'nder and Capt. Dudley North both had a shot at a rhino which fell to the former’s rifle. She was a gravid female. When it was being skinned a calf was found in ntero. The animal gave no trouble and did not charge, but as Capt. Dudley North afterwards said “ she took a terrible lot of killing.” Tbe rhino shoots in Nepal showed very clearly the extreme difficulty of bring- ing these animals to bag without a vital shot. In the dense swamps of the Terai a wounded rhino is practically impossible to track and recover. In the present instance the rhine was spotted in a strip of grass jungle 682 JOZjRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. flanked on three sides by forest and on the fourth by a watercourse. ‘ Stops ’ were posted in trees on two sides and Capt. Poynder and Capt. Dudley North walked their elephants through the thick grass to a point from which the ani- mal could be seen. The rhino moved off on their approach, but was turned back by the tumult raised by the stops and blundered back to within 10 yards of the guns. It was extremely difficult to see in the heavy cover but both Capt. North and Capt. Po3Tider fired, putting 4 high velocity '470 bullets into it. The rhino lurched forward but got away and was again turned by the stops, some 200 or 300 yards off when the brute was finally dropped with a shot through the neck from Poynder’s rifle. All five shots had taken effect. Four of them in the region of the shoulder. The shot in the neck had finished it. But for this, and the ‘ stops ’ posted in the trees, the animal would have got away in all probabihty to perish miserably in the trackless swamps. A shot in the vertebrae in the forepart of the neck will drop a rhino in his tracks. This and the brain shot would seem to be the most effective. Mr. Percival Landon shot his large bull rhino at a 100 yards with a single bullet from a ‘350 rifle, placed three or four inches in front of the root of the ear. Another party consisting of Col. Worgan, Mr. Petrie, Sir Godfrey Thomas, Commander Newport and Capt. the Hon’ble Piers Legh left camp on ele- phants late in the morning. They went down to the river bed from Bikna Thori Station about 4 miles and changed from the pads into howdah ele- phants. The ring was formed and very soon a fine tigress gave Sir Godfrey Thomas a shot. “ It was not a difficult one,” wrote Sir Godfrey later, “and Rushbrooke Williams who was in my howdah is certain that I hit it. Perso- nally I am not at all sure as my elephant had no guts and turned round and more or less bolted as soon as the tiger appeared. I was on the floor of the howdah and Rushbrooke Williams nearly fell out while the elephant began to make for the woods. Luckily the mahout stopped the bnite and we got back near the line to see the tiger do^vn with everyone shooting at it. It took an awful lot of lead to kill it stone dead. An uproar then began down the line and we discovered that there were two cubs outside the ring. The lino closed in upon them as we had an idea of taking the beasts alive, but they were too big to catch Avithout nets and a good deal of preparation, and too young to leave, as in all probability they would not have lived without their mother. Col. Worgan got one and Commander Newport the other. All the way home the jungle was beaten but nothing was seen.” A tiger measuring 9 ft. 2 inches was also shot by Capt. Bruce Ogilvy on this day. Sunday, December \%ih. — It being Sunday there was no shooting to-day, and this was rather a relief to my skinning department, which had been working at high pressure the last few days getting rid of the great mass of material that had been sent in. I was up all night with my men, as, with so much already having come in and vrith great disarticulated limbs of rhino arriving continually I had to work against time to prevent anything being spoilt. Day and night oper- ations thus became the order. We had a generous supply of disinfectants which were scattered with a lavish hand, but even so it was an obscene business and not to be dwelt on more than is necessary. An entry I saw in the diary of a member of the staff succinctly describes the case. “ I visited the skinning camp where Ellison is dealing wth the stuff; there was an appalling stink there ! ! ! ” The skinning camp was guarded day and night by Gurkhas. Tigers’ claws, whiskers and fat and kindred articles are of much value to the native who has uses for them not dreamt of in our philosophy and with such a profusion of riches lying about one had to guard against the intrasion of the “ snapper-up-of-unconsidered-trifles.” One such gentleman we caught red-handed and his subsequent fate at the hands of the Nepalese officials was a sufficient deterrent against attempts of this nature. Anent the tigers fat. To me came H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES' SHOOTS. 683 diverse petitioners pleading for a modicum of the precious adipose, reputed as a panacea for many ills, but as Phaioah of old to his starving Egyptians, I com- mended them to Joseph, in this instance Baptista, my head skinner. To him in the course of his labours had fallen a bountiful harvest of the desirable un- guent and to the waiting multitude he bestowed his favours, with, I am afraid, a somewhat niggardly hand. Sunday afternoon was spent in the distribution of gifts and mementos from the Maharaja to his guests. Among these were a number of beautiful silver mounted kukris which were presented to various membei-s of the party% a fit- ting memento of their days in Nepal. According to time honoured custom H. R. H. was the recipient of a number of live animals and birds. A list of the collection is printed at the end. Among the animals was the famous ‘ unicorn ’ sheep of Nepal. These are normally two horned. When quite young the horns are bound closely together so that they grow up in contact nith one another giving them the desired “unicorn” effect. The birds included a very fine series of pheasants. Particularly striking were the gorgeous Monauls, the Tragopans with their crimson wlute-spotted breasts, and the little Blood Pheasants in green splashed over with blood-red markings. After being inspected by the Prince the collections were finally handed over to the writer and at the close of the shikar in Nepal were brought donn to Bombay where the animals and birds were temporarily housed in the Victoria Gardens previous to their being shipped to the London Zoo, their final destination. Monday, December \Wi. — On this day His Royal Highness shot a rhino at Sarasoti Kola. Capt. Dudley North describing the shoot w'ritts : “ I went out with H. R. H. after Rhino. We went to where one was reported and soon sighted a Rhino lying down. H. R. H. had not seen one properly before so that at fimt he did not recognisB it as they are so difficult to distinguish in heavy' cover. However when the brute rose he saw it. The Rhino moved slowly towards us and I suggested his firing a raking shot into it, but H. R. H. very rightly preferred to wait for a more advantageous position. The Rhino turned to the right and the Prince fired. His first shot hit, though rather high, and the beast swung round and H. R. H. fired again hitting it this time on the neck. We followed the beast into very heavy cover, but the trees were so thick that it was impossible to get a clear shot, the elephants were just getting clear of the trees w'hen the Rhino was dropped by one of the Nepalese officials* who had fired as he w'as under the impression the beast was going to charge. H. R. H. used my ‘470 Gibbs Rifle which I lent him.” A separate party consisting of Sir Godfrey Thomas, Capt. the Hon’ble Bruce Ogilvy and Lord Louis Mountbatten spent a fruitless morning after Rhino at Kasra. The day was not without its excitement however, as in the course of operations Lord Louis Mountbatten’s elephant suddenly went ‘ musth ’ while he was in the howdah. The party was going through what one of them described as “ the longest and thickest grass I have ever had the misfortrme to encounter ” it was several feet above the head of a man standing up in a howdah. Without any appreciable warning Lord Louis’ elephant attacked another animal on which a Nepalese Colonel was sitting and disappeared into the bush. For- tunately the mahout managed to stop him by slashing at his head with a kukri. Lord Louis was then rescued and transferred to another elephant. After that the party went through “ still worse country ” ; the noise the elephants made crashing through the tangle of tree and grass was sufficient to scare any game within a radius of miles, so the shoot was abandoned and the party retired to the base and motored back, reaching camp long after dark. Near Dhoba, one mile to the south of the 22nd milestone, the same morning Mr. Percival Landon, who was with another party, bagged a fine bull rhino with a single shot clean through the brain. I am indebted to Mr. Percival * General Kaiser Shamsher Jimg Bahadur. 15 eS4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Landon for the following graphic description of the day’s sport. “ The Rhino was shot after the first ring at which Lord Cromer secured a fine leopard as well as the largest tiger that had yet been shot ; the party divided as the beaters had reported two finds three or four miles away — some animal, probably another tiger, cornered in a dense bit of jungle, and a rhino in an open plantation. ]\Ir. M. A. Metcalfe, Capt. Poynder and Mr. Percival Landon went after the Rhino on elephants. By this time the sun was getting low. They made their way across more or less open country for about two miles and then entered the plantation. This was irregular in character, large woods of free grooving young sal alternating with treeless stretches of coarse shoulder-high grass indicating swampy soil, the whole being sur- rounded by a ring of thick and sometimes impenetrable undergrowth. The light was fading, tending to become yellow, a fact which only enhanced the unusual beauty of the surroundings. The party moved forward in silence broken only by the steady crash of what light undergrowth there was under the sal trees, or the tear and the squish of the high marsh grass. Several times, where the mud was exceptionally deep, they came upon signs of recent wallowings, but of rhinoceros they saw nothing though they spent over an hour in carefully quar- tering the plantation in response to the noise and whistles of the beaters on foot. They were on the point of giving up and returning to the rest of the jjarty when a soft but insistent whistle some distance to the right turned them back for a last chance. Mr. Landon was on the right hand elephant with a Nepalese officer and slightly in advance of Mr. Metcalfe and Capt. Poynder, when he suddenly came in sight of a huge rhino. He was standing sidewa3's motionless among sal trees well lighted for a shot. He stood about 6 feet high, and as rouehly paced out afterwards, was 9 ' 10" in length. In the low evening sun he locked as big as a locomotive. Mr. Landon fired twice, the first bullet hitting i t nearly opposite the centre of the spine, though whether the bullet did much work through the plate at that angle one cannot say. It did not seem to have any effect. With the second shot he hit it clean through the brain and the rhino sunk down in his track, without a movement, stone dead. The distance was just 90 j'ards and everybody came up to find the beaters already closed in and celebrating the occasion, with the amazing rites that alwaj's accompany the kill- ing of a Rhinoceros in Nepal. Everything that could hold blood was requisition- ed and the thick blood flo'wdng from the nostrils was collected with the utmost care. This was not a concession to the spirit of the monster, as in the rite of the dabbling of a tiger’s whiskers in his own blood. A Rhinoceros’s blood is apparently unrivalled as a viaticum for the d3dng, ensuring for the soul both a peaeeful departure and a happy rebirth on the other side. There are indeed many superstitions about a dead rhinoceros, but it is worth noting that its power for ensuring peace for the departed soul is retained by the mere empty shell — it is hard to call it skin — of the beast for years after its o\ra decease. The scene was a strange one and Capt. Pojmder aptly re-called the prehistoric as- sociation of ‘Tarzan of the Apes’ as half a dozen elephants closed in from no- where and ranged about the inconceivable scene of blood ritual which was carried a step further by the decapitation, amid fountains of blood, of the beast’s head. There was no time for witnessing the ‘ gralloching ’ of the carcase, ano- ther messy and obscene ceremony of great importance. The head was mea- sured from the top of the snout to the fold of the hide over the jaw bone and found to be a shade over 30 J inches straight. The horn was of no great height perhaps 8 inches but of massive construction. The colour was of an unusually light grey and the only mark on the head was that of the • 350 bullet three or foiK inches in front of the root of the ear.” In the afternoon news was brought to the Camp that a tiger had been ringed about six miles out ; the following party therefore went out after him : — H. R. H. The Prince of Wales, Col. O’Connor, Captain Dudley North, the Hon’ble Piers Legh, Captain Ogilvy and Captain Villiers. Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. I{. R. H. TAKES A HAND WITH HTS KUKRI IN DECAPITATING A RhiNO. A FURTHER stage OF THE RiTUAL. The dismembered head of the Rhino is seen on the right of the pothograph. IJ. R H. is an nterested .spectator at the ceremony. Journ , Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. The Skinning ('amp at the close of a day's wokk. H. R. H. THE PEIXCE OF WALES’ SHOOTS. 685 In about three quarters of an hour the party reached the spot where the tiger was surrounded, the ring being a fairly large one and the jungle in the middle unusually thick. The tiger, or tigress as she turned out to be, gave very good sport and was finally bagged by Captain the Hon’ble Piers Legh, who d ropped her with a very fine running shot clean through the heart. Information was then brought that there was another tiger not far off, which there was a chance of ringing if people liked to hurry out, but as it was getting late and the chances were not very great of reaching the spot in time. His Royal Highness and Col. O’Connor returned to the camp. The remainder, however, went on, on the off chance and after they had plunged into inordin- ately heavy jungle for the space of a further half hour, came to the spot where the Shikari said the tiger should be, and started trying to ring him. Captain Villiers thus describes what happened : — “ I suddenly saw a tigress cantering quite slowly diagonally across towards rrry elephant and after waiting till she was within easy range I fired and got her through the shoulder dropping her immediately, but not killing her outright since the shot just missed the heart ; I finally des]iatched her with a second shot. I was shooting with a 22 bore double-barrelled rifle made by Messrs. Manton & Co., which, I nray mention, is without any exception the nicest weapon I have ever handled ; it comes up to the shoulder just like a well fitting 12 bore and it was interesting to see how effectually this extremely small bore, but very high velocity weapon stopped the tigress. She proved to be a tigress measuring 8 ft. arrd was in excellent condition.” Judging from the trophies received at the skinning camp, this day, Monday, December 19th, provided the most successful sport. In addition to the rhino bagged by H. R. H. and the one shot by iMr. Landon a third rhino was accounted for by Commander- Newport. The Earl of Cromer shot a fine tiger, the largest obtained in Nejral, during the Prince’s shikar taping 9' 10", arrd a leopard- All this meant a considerable amount of work for my men, but it is to be recorded that they carried it through with the utmost zeal and fervour. December 20th. — H. R. H. did not go out in the morning but remained in camp till after lunch when he rode out with Sir Godfrey Thomas and a few others into British Territory where he shot small game. Lord Louis Mount batten and Col. Worgan motored to the 22nd milestone at Dhoba where a rhino was shot by the latter. They then joined up -with Col. Harvey, Col. O’Kinoaly and Capt. the Hon’ble Piers Legh and went to a tiger ring which proved to be blank. Later a ring was made for panther and pro- rided an exciting evening. On the elephants beating the ring a bear was found who caused a great deal of amusement charging round the ring and giving every one a chance of a shot. The shooting appears to have been “ promiscuous, ” but it is to be recorded that the bear eventually succumbed. After the firing subsided the presence of the panther became a matter of doubt as he had not put in an appearance diming the tremendous bombardment of Bruin, but on the ring closing up they flushed him, and he charged straight through the elephants and broke the ring. He was hit by Sir Geoffrey de Montmorency but was not deterred in his charge, and went straight through. The ring reformed rather raggedly, and the panther again broke through springing on an elephant’s trunk. He was dislodged but it was too dark to continue that evening and was shot the next day and proved to be a fine animal taping 7' 6". Lord Cromer and the Hon’ble Bruce Ogilvy each accounted for a rhino in the course of the day and Capt. Poynder bagged a bear just outside the Royal Camp. December 2\st. — This was the last day of the Nepal shoot. H. R. H. rode out after lunch with Col. O’Connor, the British Envoy, Sir Godfrey Thomas and others. 686 JOUIi^^AL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. In the course of the evening, near the village of Persanni, in British Territory, the Prince encountered a Hamadryad or King Cobra which he luckily killed. The party were walking up jungle fowl at the time. H.R. H. first shot at the snake as it was moving away and apparently hit it, for the brute turned and appeared to be about to attack him \vhen he killed it with his second barrd. The snake was brought into camp with the rest of the daj^'s bag. It was first assumed that it was an ordinary Rat Snake or Dhaman when examined in the fading light. Subsequently when the skin was examined at the Society’s Museum in Bombay the identity of the reptile was revealed. The Prince’s King Cobra taped 10' 3". The Hamadiyad, the largest known poisonous snake in the world, grows to about 15' in length. The record specimen now in the Society’s Museum measures 15' 5". Much has been written about the ferocity of the King Cobra, and its projxsnsity for making an unprovoked attack. When cornered a King Cobra may show fight, or a female will very probably attack should her nest or eggs bo endangered, but experience has shown that these serpents under ordinary cir- cumstances usually seek safety in flight. On the 21st morning a party consisting of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Sir Godfrey Thomas, Admiral Halsey, Col. Worgan, Commander Newport, Col. Harvey and Mr. A. Metcalfe went down to Dhoba near the 20th milestone where a tiger had been ringed. The following is an extract from Sir Godfrey Thomas’s Diary ■ — “ The ring was in very thick jungle and we spent sometime in getting the elephants to trample down a patch in front of each gun. Nothing happened for sometime till we got a fright when a big pig suddenly dashed out. Shortly afterwards we heard a tiger woofing in the middle but he could not be seen. Suddenly he appeared in the same place as the pig, and was just coming out when Mr. Metcalfe got him with a very good shot in the head. He could not see where he fell but he subsequently proved to be stone dead. Metcalfe was all for getting down to have a look at him but as they shouted out that there was another tiger in the ring we quickly resumed our places. Sure enough a tigress came dashing out again by an extraordinary’ coincidence right in front of us. Metcalfe missed with his first shot whereupon the beast charged the elephants on our left. There was a regular mix up, elephants trumpeting, squealing and going in every direction. I did not dare fire but Metcalfe took what looked like a pretty dangerous second shot, apparently without result. By then all the elephants had cleared off and seeing a gap the tigress went straight through. I turned round in my howdah and got a broadside shot just as she was disappearing, and thought I hit but couldn’t be absolutely certain. However they swung the elephant round and made a big ring round the place she was going to. They beat about in the middle for sometime V’ithout anything happening. I thought she had probably slipped right through, a,s had she been wounded, they would have known it properly. However they suddenly discovered her quite dead having burrowed right under some grass so as to be prac- tically’ invisible. Metcalfe and I were lucky’ in getting both beasts from the same elephant. My shot had gone right through about 6" behind the shoulder.” All the shooting was fiirished by 6 p.m. and the evening was spent in saying good-bye. H. H. The Maharaja and his sons went dou’n to Bikna Thori station to see the Royal Party off and the Roy'al Train steamed out of Bikna Thoii station at 6-30 p.m. Thus ended H. R. H. the Prince of Wales’ shoot in the Nepal Terai which certainly’ for the colossal scale on which it was carried out is to be ranked among the greatest in the annals of big game shooting in this country’. 687—888 GAME RECORD OK THE ROYAL SHOOT IN* NEPAL. December (o 21«f Deeemb^ 1921. Date. Place where shot. Total length. Girth of body. Height at shoulder. Sex. Shot by Remarks. 1 TI GER. Utb Dec. . . Sarasoti Khola Gbarar 9' 3' 9' 8' 51' 62' 3' 2* 3' 2J' Male . . Do H. R. H. The Prince of Wales Capt. E. D. Metcalfe. The tiger was hit twice by H. R, H. and Lord Cromer and eventually killed by CoL Woigon. It M Dbobasher 7' 9' 44* 3' 1' Female Capt. PojTider. Haria (Dhoba) about 20 miles from camp. 8' 4' 45C 3' 0' Do Capt. Dudley North, 15th „ . . 7' ur 41' 2' 10* Do . . Sir Godfrey Thomas. 16th „ . . Baghai 9' 7' 50* 3' 2* D.> Lord Lou's Mountbat* ten. This tiger hod a wound in the forehead caused by one bullet : one bole near the foro- psw. Odar 8' 9' 46' 3' 0' Do Vice-Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey. Two miles from camp. 8' 2' 46' 3' 0' Female Sir Godfrey Thomas. . Two shots in forearm, one shot in ehesi passing clean through; one shot above tlio eyebrow, and one in the back. 17tb ,, .. 6' 4' 23' 2' 2' Male cub Commander Newport. One shot on the forearm. The body of the tiger had been buried before I could answer Commander Newport’s question aa to whether there was a spherical bullet in it. 4' Hi" 23' 2' 2' Cub Col. Worgan One shot on breast. I5tb milestone 9' 2' 49' 3' I' Male .. Hon. Bi lice Ogilvy .. I wound on shoulder. 1 „ on forearm. 1 „ on hind left shoulder blade, 1 I. on right buttock. The mark of the Mger’s teeth where ho bad tried to bite a uound could be plainly lOtb „ .. Orar . . 7' 7' A4' 3' 0" Female Hon. Piers Legli. «• •• Tharar 9' lO' 51' 3' 2' Male . . Earl of Cromer Largist tiger obtained during the aboota Orar r 10' 44' 2' ID* Female Cant. Villiors There was some doubt about this tigress. One impression was that either Captain Legh with his second shot, or Captain Dudley North with his first shot hit it. and Captain Villiers hit it one second afterwards, and it was thought that it was not actually killed with a small bore* rifle. It was hit by Villiers with his '220 rifle. The jaw was partly fractured. This was caused by a smalt bullet Do 4' 3' 22' 2' (1" Cub Hun’blc Piers Legh. One bullet wound through the shoulders. 21st .. Two miles beyond Dhoba. 7' 4' 41' 2' 11' Female Sir Godfrey Thomas. One bullet half way down body. D<>. 9' 2' 48' 3' 0" Male . . H. A. F. Metcalfe. Esq One bullet wound ; point of entry juak bqlow the left eye. In addition to the 17 tigert shot a cub was taken alive and was included in tbecollcction oHive animals presented to H. R. H. by the Maharaja of Nepal. Date. Place where shot. Shot by Sex. Remarks, RHINOCEROS. 1 6th nth 19tb . . Kasra . . Do. . . Sarasoti Kholn Do. (Art jwi-nnumHen^jt tnkfn in Capt. Dudley North Capt. Poynder H. U. H, Prince of Wales . . Commander NcwiKirt . Dhoba . 15tb milestone . . Percival Landon, Esq. j ..'Lord Louis Mounthatten ..^Hon'ble Bruce Ogilvy Two rhinos wounded by H. R. H. and Capt. Dudley North respectively rhe bides were found to bo too decomposed to be of use. the . . Female. . . D.i. . . Male .. 1)0 . . A calf was taken in vtero. . . The horn was broken. Single '.I(!5 bullet through temple between jaw and the eye. One hole through right car, one hole near left eye and one Imlo on the left side of the neck. Female. Do. were subsequently picked up dead by the Nepalese after the shoots were oveb LEOPAUDf>. Ix-ngth. 19th Ghangar Lord Cromer 6' 2' 20lh 23rd milcBtnn' Sir G. DeMontmorcncy BEAUS. 6' 7' inth Thangnr 6' 0" There was much controversy almut this and in my opinion it was Col. Molesworth’s andnotCipt. Armstrong's ns was at first thought 21 shots wore fired at this Bear. The dcin is in possession of Col. Mo>os> worth. 20th Biknathori Royal Camp. Capt PojTider Small Game. On December 17/A. 7 Jungle Fowls, 2 Partridges, 16 Snipe, 1 Peacock were shot. 4' llj' This W8t bagged just outside the Camp. 7’oto/s- Tigera .. .. •• •• •• ..17 Rbino Leopards. . Bears Hamadryad 1 W;.‘ ^3 «<• A. ■ 7 'I ' ■* V ■ JSte^’ *• H. R. H. THE RRiyCE OF WALEH' SHOOTS. 689 NOTES ON NEPAL SHOOTING. Ehinoceros {R. unicornis). Throughout the shoots I never had the opportunity of measuring any of the animals in the flesh* as they were generally shot far away from camp, and were disarticulated on the spot and sent into the skinning camp in sections, this being the easiest method of transporting these big beasts. I am indebted to General Kaiser Shumsher Jung for the following note on the Rhinoceros in Nepal. General Kaiser gives the following measurement of a rhino which appeared to him as ‘unusually’ big : — Height at shoulder . . 6'-4" Length from nose to root of tail . . 10' -7" (measured between pegs) Tail .. 2'-r Neck . . 7'-6" Girth behind shoulder . . .. ll'-l" Maximum girth . . . . 12'-6" Horn . . . . 154" female shot by Col. O’Connor during the 'Xmas camp, after the Prince had left Nepal, taped o'-9" in height at withers, greatest girth 12'. The longest rhino horn obtained in Nepal, w^as one of an animal shot by Lord Curzon, then Viceroy in 1901, at Morang. The horn measured 21^ inches with a circum- ference of 24| inches at the base. The record horn measures 24* and was got by Mr. Briscoe in Assam. Hodgson gives the following measurement of a new born rhino length 3'-4* and height 2'. An animal 8 years old taped 9'-3" in length and 4'- 10" in height, the maximum girth being 10'-5". A fulljr developed calf in utero taken from an animal shot during the Prince’s shikar ih Nepal measured as follows : — Length between pegs . . . . . . . . 4'-l" Head and body . . . . '. . , . . . 3'-4" Girth . . . . . . . . I . . . 2'-9" Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 lbs. Commenting on the habits of the animal General Kaiser writes, “ I'hough it prefers swamps and high grass the great Indian Rhinoceros is also found in wooded jungles, up ravines and low hills ; along the numerous rivers it has its particular places for the evacuation of excreta. Along the runs to such places it walks backw'ards and falls an unsuspecting victim to poachers.” The period of gestation is given by Hodgson as 17-18 months though General Kaiser says it is believed to be one j’ear, and the cow produces one at birth. According to General Kaiser breeding takes place at all times of the year. Writers have commented on the longevity of the Rhinoceros, a hundred years being given as the age. General Kaiser is of opinion that as regards breeding and longevity the ‘ rhino ’ is ‘ first cousin to the elephant.’ ” Rhinoceros are still very numerous in the Nepal Terai, especially so in Chitawan and along the Rapti river. In January 1907, 28 rhinos were bagged, 14 males and 14 females, yet the forests in Chitawan were in 1909 so full of them that no appreciable diminution in the stock had been made. Many legends and beliefs are attached to the Rhinoceros in Nepal. Mr. Landon’s eloquent account of the scene at the death of one of these animals during the shoot in Nepal is sufiiciently illustrative of the esteem the animal is held in by the Nepalese in general. Commenting on the above General Kai- ser writes : — “ The flesh and blood of the rhino is considered pure and highly acceptable to the Manes, to whom the high caste Hindus and most Gurkhas offer libation of its blood after entering its disembowelled body. On ordinary Sradh days • With the exception of the Rhino calf in utero. 690 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. the libation of water and milk is poured from a cup carved from its horn. The urine is considered antiseptic : it is hung in a vessel at the principal door as a charm against ghosts, evil spirits and diseases.” The above beliefs are in no- wise confined to Nepal as the Chinese, Burmese and Siamese preserve practi- cally every part of the rhinoceros. The horn, hoof, blood, urine, hide and even the intestines being dried up and afterwards converted into various medicines. As regards shooting rhino in Nepal the importance of a vital shot has been already commented upon. Selous in his ‘ Hunters Wanderings in Africa ’ in writing about rhino says : — “ As with elephants it is very unsatisfactory work following up a wounded rhino as they do not go and lie down but walk on and on tnl their strength gives way. They die very quickly when shot through both lungs and the upper part of the heart, but if shot from the front, and the bullet only penetrates one lung, they will go on to all eternity though throwing blood out of their mouth and nostrils by the gallon. With a broken shoulder they wll run first at a gallop and then at a halting trot for more than a mile, but if the hind leg is broken they do not appear to be able to budge a step.” Conditions in Nepal are entirely different from the country in which Selous shot; owing to the nature of the terrain the tracking of wounded rhino is practically impossible and many a mortally wounded beast has been lost in consequence. A shot through the brain placed a few inches in front of the root of the ear would seem to be the most effective, or a shot through the forepart of the neck severing the cervical vertebrae. In the Society’s journal Mr. G. C. Shortridge records shooting an Asiatic two-horned rhino with a shot yun loaded with lethal bullet dropping him at 7 paces with a lucky shot in the head which sma through the skufl and lodged in the brain. shed Writing of the Rhinoceros of Somali Land (iJ. bicornis) Captain P. Z. Cox (Society’s Journal, Vol. XITT, p. 93 et seq.) describes his experiences and those of Donaldson- Smith, as tothe effect of variously placed shots with heavy rifles, the conclu.sion arrived at b.^ing that the “ knock out ” blow is a broadside shot in the belly, the reason probably being that in this part of the Rhino’s anatomy, there is such a number of nerve.« and blood vessels that a bullet planted therein causes him a violent shock to the system. Another writer commenting on the abo\^e on page 538 of Vol. XIII takes exception to the belly shot, states he has no faith in head shots, and consi- ders a shot behind the shoulder to be the most fatal. Tiger {F. tiyris). The method of ‘ ringing ’ tiger with elephants is I think peculiar to Nepal and certain parts of Assam and is necessitated by the dense jungle, found in the foot hills or Terai. This must be seen to be appreciated. Dense elephant grass up to 20' in height and so thick as to almost obscure the elephant from tlie view of the howdah occupant in its passage through it. The training of the actual elephants that beat the inside of the ring is astonishing. Time after time they beat through this dense jungle and in more than one instance have been mauled by the tiger. This also speaks volumes for the courage of the mahouts. The method of ringing was very interesting and exceedingly skilful. Two lines in a V advanced through the jungle where the ‘ kill’ was known to have been dragged to, one line beating up towards the other. As soon as the tiger was flushed the open ends of the V closed in an incredibly short time, and in only two cases failed to enclose the game.* * The vitality of one tigress calls for comment ; she and two cubs were ringed on, I think, the fourth day and was still alive and dangerous with 2 bullets through the head, one in the neck, one in the chest, two in the shoulders and one in the body. * For ftirther notes on Tiger Ringing in Nepal, vide Fi.'ld April 22nd and May tJth, 1922. Journ , Bombay. Nat. Hist. Soc. THE Prince of Wales with his Rhinoceros. 1 R. H. i.s seen wearing his Nepal Kukri. Journ , Bombay Nat Hist. Soc A Young Oueat Indian Hhinoceros {R. tiniconi's'^. H. R. if. THE PRINCE OF WALES’ HHOOT. 691 Elephants {E. maximus). The visitor to Nepal is struck with the numbers of elephants met with. The total roll-call of elephants used in connection with the Royal shoots was 423, which were divided into three sections according to the district, viz, , those assigned to Thore, those to Haraiya and those to Kasra. What the camel is to the desert the elephant is to Nepal — practically the only means of transport through its pathless jungles. In the wild state they are plentiful in the South of Nepal (the Terai). In some years they are more commonly found than in others. During the rains they visit the cultivated portion of the Terai doing a considerable ariiount of damage to crops, etc. For the greater part of the time they are buried in the dense jungle roaming in herds of 80 to 90 and, with the exception of an occasional ‘rogue’, doing a great deal of harm to life and property, these elephants unless molested seldom attack. Numbers are annually caught in Nepal and tamed, a young elephant being completely domesticated by the Nepalese in six months though an old elephant will often take a year to thoroughly tame. The pad elephant is perhaps more comfortable as a means of transport than the howdah-carrying beast. The danger of the animal bolting is a contingency which might at any time arise in hunting from an elephant in a heavy forest country, where an occurrence of this nature is fraught with extreme danger to the occupants of a howdah or indeed of a pad. A friend of mine related an exciting experience which befell him while shooting in the Terai. An infuriated rhino took it into his head to charge, and selecting the elephant on which he was seated made a terrific onrush. The elephant immediately turned and bolted for dear life, hotly pursued by the monster. My friend’s mount was frantic with fear and went crashing through the jungle. In a moment half the howdah was swept off by the branch of a tree, the great beast not abating the pace one jot went on and on. My friend thought he would be killed and stood an excellent chance of ending his career. The rhino was close behind and would certainly have ‘ got home ’ had she not been turned from her purpose by her calf, who stopped abruptly and the mother seeing she was unaccompanied turned and gave up the chase. The elephant swerved to the left fortunately striking an open bit of country, but she did not give up her headlong flight, till she had put a good 2 miles between herself and the scene of the adventure. Collection of Animals, Birds and Reptiles presented by H. H. The Mahar.aja of Nepal to H. R. H. The Prince of Wales on Sunday, December 18th, 1921, at the Shooting Camp, Biknathori. Mammals and Invertebrates. 1 Baby Elephant {E. maximus). 1 Rhino Calf {R. unicornis). 2 I.eopard Cats (F. bengalensis). 2 Himalayan Black Bears {V. himalayanus). 1 Black Leopard (F. pardus). 1 Clouded Leopard {F. nebulosa). 1 Tiger {F. tigris). 1 Tibetan Fox (F. ferrilatus). 1 Mountain Fox ( V. montanus). 2 Sambhar.s (C. unicolor). 1 Tahr (H. jemlaicusK 3 Musk Deer (.'/. moschiferus). 1 One-hornecl Sheep t^Ovis sp.). 1 Four-horned Sheep ( „ ). 1 One-horned Tibetan ShaM l Goat (Ovts sp.). 692 JOUliNAl, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIBTl, Vol. A'AT/ii, Mammals and Invertebrates — contd. 2 Tibetan mastiffs (C. domesticus). „ „ pups. 1 Monitor (F. bengalensis). 1 Python (P. molurus). Birds. 4 Nepal Kalij (G. leucomelanus). 1 White Crested Kalij Pheasant {G. albocristatus). 4 Monal Pheasants (X. refulgens). 4 Cheer Pheasants (C. wallichi). 2 Koklass Pheasants (P. macrolopha). 4 Chukore Partridges (C. chukor). Swamp Partridges (P. gularis). 2 Green Pigeons (0. phayrei). 10 Bronze-\\ inged Doves {C. indica). .3 Great Indian Adjutants (L. dubius). 1 Hawk . Pea-fowls (P. cristatus). The animals were brought down from Nepal to Bombay under the charge of the writer of this article and Capt. Shanka Bahadur Shah, a cousin of the Maharaja, and some Nepalese assistants and though there was a certain amoimt of delay they stood the journey very well and arrived in Bombay on January 10th without any casualties. BAGS* OF SOME OF THE SMALLER SHOOTS BETWEEN NOVEMBER 26th, 1921, UP TO BUT NOT INCLUDING THE MYSORE SHOOT IN FEBRUARY 1922— TOGETHER WITH SOME FIELD NOTES. SMALL GAIVIE SHOOTING AT UDAIPUR. 2&h November. First Party. A party consisting of H. R. H. the Prince of V^ales, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Col. Harvey, Capt. Dudley North, Commander Newport and ]\Ir. D. Petrie went out to the Pichola Lake and shot 1 1 Snipe and one Chinkara in two and a half hours. They also shot at Fateh Sagar and got 1 Goose, 15 Snipe and one Cliinkara. (The Chinkara were shot by Lord Louis Mountbatten and Capt. Dudley North.) Second Party consisting of Sir G. de Montmorency, Col. Worgan, and Mr. A. Metcalfe shot at Jaisamand and got 15 Snipe. A party consisting of Admiral Halse3^, Sir G. de Montmorency, Sir Godfrey Thomas, Col. IVorgan, Capt. Bruce Ogilvy and Mr. Holland, Agent to the Governor-General in Rajputana, went to Jaisamand. There were two beats for Sambhar and Leopard, but nothing was shot, though some Sambhar were seen. IMPERIAL SAND GROUSE AND SMALL GAME SHOOTING AT BIKANER. 3rd December. The whole party motored out from Bikaner to Kodamdesar to shoot demoiselle crane. H. R. H. and staff arrived at Kodamdesar at about 10 o’clock where they found a small artificial tank .surrounded bj' huts with decoy cranes placed around. Having got into their huts, lookout men were * Most of the Bags were taken from the Ro.val Game Book now in the possession of the Hon’ble Bruce Ogilvy. H. B. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES’ SHOOTS. 693 posted at various points who signalled when they saw flights of crane approach- ing. T1 ey were generally flying too high to start with, so people were told to let them fly round two or three times and let them get lower before shooting at them. In the morning at Kodamdesar the bag was 26 crane and 4 duck. In the afternoon the party shot duck in Gujner Lake. They got 299 ducks. Total bag of the day 303 ducks and 26 cranes. r->th December. H. R. H.’s staff at Gujner shot 5 Duck, 1,061 Imperial Rand Grouse and 324 Common Sand Grouse. Admiral Halsey shot at Gujner 1 Black Buck and 1 Chinkara. Gth December. H. R. H. and staff at Gujner shot 2 Duck, 885 Imperial Sand Grouse and 29 Common Sand Grouse. H. R. H. shot 2 Black Buck and 1 Chinkara. Lord Louis Mountbatten shot 4 Chinkara. BLACK BUCK AND DUCK SHOOTING IN BHARATPUR. Ith December. Lord Louis Mountbatten. 1 Black Buck.* Sth December. TT r> TT j T, \ 1 Black Buck. H. R. H and Party. | 2^200 Duck, t In the duck shoot the birds remained more or less low for the first 20 minutes. Some of the butts were nearly 2 miles’ walk from the edge of the lake. Conse- quently although people walked as fast as they could, the bugle for the com- mencement sounded 10 minutes before they could get to the butts. After this gun cases had to be opened so that some of the best part of the shooting was missed. * ELEPHANT AND SMALL GAME IN BURMA. 4th January. Commander Newport, Mr. Petrie, Mr. Foster. 4th January. Admiral Halsey, Mr. Petrie, Commander Newport, Mr. Thompstone. January. Sir G. deMontmorency. Col. O’Kinealy. 1th January. H. R. H., Col. Harvey, Commander Vibart. Lord Cromer, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Mr. Thompstone. ^at Mandalay 28 Snipe. 1 >at Mandalay 119 Snipe. J 1 ( 2-5 Snipe. ^Mandalay 85 Snii^e. ^-Mandalay 46 Snipe. J * One of Lord Louis Mountbatten’s Black Buck measured 264." t H, R, H. the Prince of Wales accounted for 65 birds. 16 694 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Admiral Halsey, Mr. Petrie, Sir G. deMontmorency, Col. Pringle. Commander Newport, Mr. Laidlaw. 1 y 68 Snipe. j I 29 Snipe. On January 2nd a party consisting of Capt. Dudley North, Capt. Piers Legh, Sir Godfrey Thomas, Capt. Metcalfe, Capt. Poynder and Capt. Ogilvy left Ran- goon for Mandalay en-route for Upper Burma. They arrived at Mandalay early- on the 3rd, and embarked on a steamer to go up the Irrawady. There were three different places at which to shoot and the party' was split up as follows : — Capt. Metcalfe and Capt. Poynder and Capt. Ogilvy. Sir Godfrey Thomas. Capt. Dudley North and Capt. Piers Legh. The elephant shooting party returned on the 8th, spending that night in Mandalay and reached Rangoon on the morning of the 10th. B'lg. Capt. the Hon’ble Piers Legh . . 1 Elephant. Capt. E. D. Metcalfe at Ingadi . . 1 „ Capt. F. S. Poynder ... ... ... 1 ,, 3 Elephants.* There were six guns in three parties in the Mogok (Ruby Mines) District. Two guns disembarked at Ingadi and Singu ; the remainder at Thabeitkyin, the terminus of the Ruby Mines road. In each case jungle was very thick, teak and bamboo being predominant, with some fine timber and spear grass. Fresh tracks of Tsaine and Bison were found in large quantity, but the density of the undergrowth and the consequent noise prevented close approach. At this time of the year, although there was an immense amount of game in the jungle, it was impossible to get up to it, owing to the leaves on the ground being so dry, and it was impossible to track properly. After a long trek, just as the sun was going down on the 5th of January, Sir Godfrey Thomas flushed a bull Tsaine who gave a bellow and was off. Later, when hot on the bull's track, he saw two herds of Tsaine. Then darkness came on. Capt. Ogilvy had a shot at a Bison, but again in such dense jungle that a certain sight could not be obtained. Capt. Legh got a fine tusker elephant (solitary) and his trackers flushed two large bull bisons. They were -within a 100 yards of him when he was inspecting a kill. On the 7th of January Capt. Poynder got a medium size Tusker (solitary'), and killed him with one shot between the ey^e and the ear. Sir Godfrey Thomas who started at 5-30 a.m. had a very hard day. He came across fairly fresh tracks and some quite fresh Sambhar blood. It was a sambhar that had been chased and attacked by -wild dogs. Capt. Metcalfe got a small tusker out of a herd and he took a dozen rounds to finally kill it. Large numbers of barking deer were very common and were often seen. Tracks of many sambhar were also found, and the jungle was full of monkey's — mostly Gibbons. Writing about these shoots Mr. V. H. T. Fields Clarke says— “ Capt. Ogilvy and I had 4 fairly strenuous days. The first day we went out after bison, but did not come across any sufficiently fresh tracks. The *Capt. the Hon’ble Piers Legh's Elephant tusks weighed 20 lbs. and 21 lbs. respectively. Their length from root to tip along the curve was 3'-6" and 3'-5" respectively. I did not have the opportunity of examining Capt. Metcalf’s or Capt. Poynder's Elephant tusks. U. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES' SHOOTS. 695 second day we went out after Saing, but could not find the herd. The jungle was very dry and bad for shooting generally. On the third day news of the fresh tracks having been brought in the day before — we followed the tracks of a solitary bison till about 3 p. m. when we came on the animal in dense young flowered bamboo jungle. Capt. Ogilvy got a shot, but where he hit we could never decide — anyhow it was not in a vital spot. The next day we followed up the animal again and although we were close behind it, it knew it w’as being followed and kept ahead of us. This day we left camp at 5 a.m. and did not get into Singu till 11 p.m. and must have done all told the best part of 30 miles.” The party covered more than 65 miles in three days ; mostly climbing, too, through very fine jungle. The hills there w'cnt up to 3,900 feet. SNIPE SHOOTING AT MADRAS. 14/^ January by a party of members of the stall . . 65 Snipe. \lth January ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, . . 44 ,, 21s^ January „ „ „ „ „ • • 21 „ Total bag . . 65 couple. This was very interesting shooting because the snipe were mostly in bushes. There was no water aitd the shooting was mostly overhead. BLACK BUCK SHOOTING IN INDORE. 2nd February. Capt. Dudle}' North, Capt. the Hon’ble Piers Legh and Capt. Ogilvy 3rd February. Capt. Dudley North, Capt. Piers Legh, .Sir Godfrey Thomas and Commander Newport 1 Black Buck. I ^2 Black Buck. J Total bag . . 3 Black Buck. The shoot on February 2nd was an ordinary stalk on a flatish plain. There were a great many buck, but at first no one could get near any of them. A pack donkey w'as conscripted and then Capt. Dudley North shot a buck. On February 3rd the party motored out from Indore about 8 miles where they found bullock carts. Sir Godfrey Thomas got bis buck after going about three quarters of an hour. There were a lot of herds about. Commander Newport also got a buck. The name of the district wLere shooting took place on both occasions was Bijasani (one of the State preserves). RIFLES AND GUNS USED BY H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND SOME MEMBEKS OF H. R. H.’S STAFF DURING THE SHOOTS IN INDIA. RIFLES — H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., M.C. 1. One '400 bore express double barrel rifle No. 21906 by J. Purdey and Sons, London. Barrels made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s fluid pressed steel, taking 47 grains low pressure Cordite and 230 grains bullet 696 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV III. 2. One ‘400 bore express double barrel rifle by J. Purdey and Sons, London, taking 3" case, 47 grains low pressure Cordite and 230 grains nickel base bullet. 3. * One '280 bore single barrel high velocity magazine rifle by Chas. Lancaster, No. 13097, taking 52 grains powder and 160 grains hollow bullet. 4. One ‘450 bore rifle supplied by H. H. the Maharaja of Udaipur. 5. One "470 bore rifle supplied by H. H. the Maharaja of Udaipur, Sir Godfrey Thomas, C.V.O. 1. One -450 bore rifle by George Gibbs. 2. One ‘280 bore Ross single barrel magazine rifle. Property of Lt.-Co). R. D. Waterhouse, C.B., C.M.G., Buckingham Palace. Capt. Dudley North, C.M.G., C.V.O., R.X. 1. One ’470 bore double barrel rifle by Gibbs. (Shot tiger and rhino in Nepal with this). This rifle was used by H. U.H. when he shot his Rhino. 2. One ’286 bore Mauser magazine rifle for Chmkara, etc. (Probably this is a mistake and ought to read '256 bore Mannlicker Schonauer.) Capt. F. S. Poynder, M.V.O., M.C. 1. One '470 bore double barrel high velocity rifle by ‘Chas. Boswell, charge 75 grains Axite and 500 grains bullet. This was a first class all round weapon which could not be bettered. 2. One -350 bore single barrel automatic rifle by Remington Arms Co. firing 200 grains bullet. Little used on this tour, but an efiflcient light rifle. Not recommended for normal all round use owing to delicate mechanism being likely to jam under unfavourable conditions of sand, etc. Capt. Poynder could not speak too highly of No. 1. He shot a tiger and an elephant each with one shot killing them instantly. It is very power- ful. not too heavy to be portable and hits like a sledge hammer. Capt. E. D. Metcalfe, M.C. 1. One '450 bore express rifle. Lord Louis Mountbatten, M.V.O., R.N. 1. One '450-400 bore double barrel high velocity rifle by Watson Bros. For Tiger and Rhino. 2. One '375 bore rifle by Watson Bros, for Buck and Gazelle. H. R. H. THE Prince of Wales. GUNS . 1. Two 16 bore double barrel guns by J. Purdey & Sons, London. (Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s fluid pressed steel). Capt. F. S. Poynder. 1. One 12 bore double barrel hammerless gun by Francis Scott, Birmingham. • II. M. the King in 1911 used the same t3rpe of rifle in Nepal. H. R. II. THE PRIECE OF WALES’ SHOOTS. 697 I am very much indebted to different members of H. R. H. the Prince of W ales’ staff whose names appear in my notes and to all who took part in the shoots for the help and encouragement they have given me in compiling these records, especially to Sir Geoflrej' de Montmorency, who most kindly read through the final proofs for me. The authorities in Nepal, in particular General Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur and Col. O’Connor, also helped me very much, and it is through the kindness of Col. Samar Shumsher, a nephew of the Maharaja, that some of the photos are published. But most of all I am grateful to Col. Burton, a big game hunter of great experience with whom readers of the Journal are familiar for his valuable advice and criticism, and my colleague Mr. Prater, who with his ever ready good nature, and his great experience, gave me most valuable assistance both as regards the editing and final arrangement, and the selection of material from a mass of rough field notes. I regret that exigencies of space, and the not-to-be-forgotten question of expense, has prevented me from publishing a large number of illustrations of the Nepal shoot (and other shoots mentioned in the narrative), from the photographic records in my possession. In a future number of the Journal will appear a report drawn up by Messrs. Hinton and T. B. Fry of the British Museum regarding recent Natural History collecting in Nepal. This collecting work was conducted by Lt.-Col. R, L. Kennion with the assistance of the Society’s collector N. A. Baptista, and the report deals with the physical configuration of Nepal, so that in this article I have not dealt further in the matter of describing the country. Bombay Natural History Society, 12th June 1922. 698 NOTES ON NEW AND RARE INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. By I Maj. F. C. Frasek, i.m.s. {With 2 Text Figures.) 1. Hemicordulia asiatica, Seiys. Up to the year 1918 this rare dragonfly was only known Irom 2 males both of which had been taken in Assam. In the year mentioned whilst going over a collection of specimens sent from the Agriculture Institute, Pusa, I found a pair of these insects which had been taken some time before by Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher at Sliillong and had remained in the Pusa collection for some time unidentified. i\Ir. Fletcher on his next visit to Shillong took a number of specimens both male and female on the Ward Lake and has sent me others since. It was thought that the insect was localised to the N. W. until this year when I received a letter from Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher who was staying in Kodaikanal stating that he had seen a Corduline on the lake there which much resembled Heinicorduiia asiatica., He finally secured specimens both by the net and others which he found caught up in spider webs on sedges, on the borders of the lake and on receipt I found them to be true H. asiatica. ilr. Bainbrigge Fletcher in his covering letter, wdien sending these specimens suggested that the insect would probably be found in the Nilgiris and in this he proved to be a true prophet. Two days after receiving his letter I had occasion to go down to Coonoor and there in a shady lane adjoining Sims Park took my first H. asiatica, a male, which was hawking insects up and down the road. The same day on returning to Ooty I ran doun to the lake and immediately saw a male and shortly afterwards several more, hawking along the banks. The insect is fairly common on the Lovedale lake as well as the Ooty lake from August to the 1st November, exuvia being common in September and larvse not difficult to obtain amongst the grass and sedges lining both lakes. 1 hope to obtain information of this insect from the lake in Newara-Eliya, Ceylon, next season and probably also from the lake at Mahableshwar. From the numbers seen it would appear that the insect is more common in the south than the far north. 2. Aciagrion paludensis, sp. nov. 2 males and one female at Masnagudi, Nilgiris, 4,500' ; 2 males Avalanche, Nilgiris, 6,500', Nov.-Dee. 1921. Male. Abdomen 24 mm. Hindwing 15 mm. Head. Face, cheeks epistome and lips pale blue -with a fine, basal, black line to the labrum and a broad transverse band across the epistome, also black ; eyes pale blue except for a broad, black cap on the upper pole ; occiimt and vertex black, the former with a transverse, oval postocular spot of pale blue on either side connected across the middle line by a narrow band of the same colour. Prothorax, with a fine pale blue colour anteriorly, the posterior border finely pale yellow and the sides broadly pale blue. Thorax black on the dorsum marked with narrow, pale j^ellow, humeral bands ; the sides blue marked only by two small, black, linear spots posteriorly ; tergum spotted with blue. Legs white, the extensor surface of femora striped vith black. Wings hyaline, stigma small, equal in all four wings, sepia ; postnodal nervures 9 in the forewing, 8 in the hind. Abdomen pale blue marked with black as follows segment 1 with an obdurate, dorsal, black spot separated by a narrow, blue, apical annule from a yOTJSS ON NEW AND RARE INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 699 dorsal, black, thistle-shaped mark on segment 2. The latter mark connected by a short, narrow stalk to a narrow, black annule at the apex; segments 3 to 7 with broad, dorsal, black stripes connected to apical, black annules and separated from each other by narrow, blue, basal annules ; segment 8 all blue save for a dorsal, black mark shaped like a chess pawn with its apex directed basal. In the Masnagudi specimens this spot extends as far as the base but in the specimens from Avalanche it falls far short of it ; segment 9 entirely blue ; 10 Avith a dorsal, broad, X-like mark of black. Anal superior appendages very small, foliate, triangular, strongly divaricate, black tipped with white ; inferior appendages small, conical and white. Female. Abdomen 23 mm. Hindwing 15.5 mm. Almost exactly similar to the male and differing only by the stouter abdomen, by the 8th segment having an uniformly, broad, black, dorsal stripe, segment 9, a large, basal, triangular, black spot and the 10th all blue. The anal border of the latter is strongly indented and raised into a prominent hump on the dorsum not hoAvever cleft on top as in the Ischmira. The spine on the ventral, apical aspect of segment 8 is white and very robust. Hah. The Masnagudi specimens Avere found among sedges along the borders of the drinking Avater tank, whilst those from the plateau above AAere found in marshes. They are very conspicuous although so small, by reason of their bright blue colour and can be easily picked out from the more sombre coloured Aciagrion hisopa Avith Avhich they mix. They are smaller and more slender than any of the other species of the genus. I have seen a pair collected by Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher at Simla, 23-5-1918, 7,000', AA-hich apjAarently belongs to this species or is a local race. They differ only in haAung 8 instead of 9 postnodal nervures in the foreAving, and the mark- ing on the 8th segment which in the male is a plain Avedge of black taiDering from the apex of the segment to its base and imidented on its sides. From hisopa and tilhjardi the species may be distinguished by the fewer postnodal nervures and also by the 8th abdominal segment bearing a black marking (immaculate in the tAA’o species mentioned). 3. Anaciaeschna donaldi, sp. nov. As the description of this ncAV species is shortly appearing in “ Indian Dragonflies ”, I refrain from here giving it in detail. Shortly it may be described as an Anacixschna of the size and bulk of Anax immaculijrons, Avith the AAungs deeply and uniformly enfumed from base to apices and vrith the general colouring of the body, dark warm brown marked with brilliant apple green. It is one of the largest and finest of the Indian dragonflies so far discovered. ilr. Bainbrigge Fletcher sent me a painting made by his Avife of this insect from Kodaikanal this year and from it I was able to recognise an insect which I had had in my possession since 1908 in which year I had taken it at Kodai. ( The note oc the packet stated that the insect’s colours were dark broAAUi and bright apple green, but the colours had so faded that I was unable to make out any such markings, and so was reluctant to publish the species until I had more reliable data). A few days later I took a female of the same insect on the Ooty lake and a Aveek later received another female from Mr. T. Hearsey from Yercaud BetAveen the three of us Ave secured 6 females and saAv probably another 6 (also females). Both ilr. Hearsey and Mr. Fletcher believe they have seen the males flAung SAviftly near the lakes, but I have not been as fortunate and up to date the whereabouts of the male and its appearance remain a complete mystery. I have recently found the larvae of this insect in considerable numbers in the Lovedale lake, Ooty, and both Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher and myself have found a number of exuvia. The venation on the wing covers of these latter has been very distinct and very easy to decipher. Quite a number of the exuvia and larvae obtained are males so their scarcity is hard to explain. Adjacent jungles have been searched in vain and the ponds have been visited at dusk in the hope that 700 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. the insect might be a night-flyer as is its cousin A. jaspidea, but all in vain. During the past week I have found it breeding in marshes at Avalanche, Nilgiris, and such spots are probably its natural habitat as all standing waters in these and the Palni Hills are artificial and of comparatively modern forma- tion. I have now a large number of larvae and should be able to breed out some males in the next few months thus settling the identity of this puzzling insect. 4. Gynacantha o’doneli, sp. nov. A single male from Hasimara, Duars, Bengal, collected by Mr. H. V. O’Donel. Male. Abdomen 41 mm. Hindwing 39 mm. Anal appendages 4 mm. Closely resembles G. millardi, Fras., from Poona and Malabar, but differs from it by the 3rd segment being more constricted, by all four wings being uni- formly enfumed and by its much smaller size which is equivalent to G. saltatrix, Martin. The relative sizes of abdomen and hindwing are however different, being 42-35 in saltatrix to 41-39 in o'doneli, and the dark T-shaped marking on the upper surface of the frons is absent in the latter. The thorax is an uniform, olive green, paler below and with no traces of humeral bands. Legs very pale brown with black spines. Abdomen olivaceous green and brown marked vuth darker brown and black, apical rings at and towards the end of the segments. The first 2 segments are largely olivaceous green especially on the sides. The oreillets are large and robust and bear 5 to 6 robust spines on the posterior border. Wings (very ragged in this specimen) deeply enfumed ; nodal index : — 13-22 I 18-13 ; trigones with 5 cells ; hypertrigones traversed four times ; 16-14 I 1.5-15 4-5 rows of cells between Rspl. and Rs. 3-4 between Miv. and Mspl. ; mem- brane absent ; anal triangle of 5 cells ; stigma dark golden brown, over 3-4 ceils braced. Anal superior appendages long and slender, almost straight on the outer border, a little dilated after the 1st quarter inw'ardly, fringed with long hairs, black and inwardly directed and meshing with those of the other appendage. Inferior appendage triangular, nearly half the length of the superiors. 5. Amphithemis nigricolor, sp. nov. One pair from Hasimara, Duars, Bengal, collected by Mr. H. V. O’Donel. Male. Abdomen 23 mm. Hindwing 23 mm. Head. Labium, labrum and epistome creamy white ; frons and vesicle metallic blue ; occiput black. Eyes reddish browm. Rest of body, thorax, abdomen and legs matt black, except abdominal segments 2 and 3 which are quite white with pruinescence. There is also some slight pruinescence on the tergum. Wings hyaline ; stigma narrow, very dark brown, non-braced, over about 2 cells ; extreme bases of wings slightly saffronated ; membrane very small, cinereous ; 2 rows of cells in the beginning of the discoidal field ; trigones entire ; subtrigones traversed once as also the hypertrigones ; Mspl. absent ; 1 cubital 8-11—12-8 nervure to the forew'ings, 3 in the hind ; nodal index ; the base of 9-9—10-7 the hindwing very narrow, bevelled sharply off, no vestige of a loop. Anal superior appendages resemble those of A. vacillans in shape, but the superior are only slightly longer than the inferior. The abdomen is very slender, cylindrical and of even length throughout. Female. Abdomen and hindwdng 23.5 mm. Very similar in shape to the male but slightly stouter and without its dainty elegance. The wings are broader, especially the hind where a distinct loop of 7 cells is found. 701 NOTES ON NEW AND RARE INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. The reticulation in the apices of both right wings is aberrant and the right hind stigma is double the length of any of the others. The basal saffronation is deeper and more extensive ; in the right hindwing there is an aberrant cubital nervure 7-12—12-7 situated close up to the trigone in the angle ; nodal index ; neura- &-9— 11-5 tion otherwise as in the male. Head similar to that of the male, but the labrum broadly bordered with black and the metallic of upper frons encroaching on the epistome. Prothorax yellow with a black band in front ; posterior lobe small and depressed. Thorax golden yellow changing to golden brown on the dorsum where there is a diffuse, humeral fascia only visible below ; a small, black streak on the upper part of the postero-lateral suture. Legs rather long, slim and blackish brown in colour. Abdomen blackish brown, segments 2, 3 and 4 having broad, light golden yellow, basal, annules, occupying l-4th, l-3rd and l-7th respectively of the basal end of the segments, segments 5 to 7 with a small, basal, subdorsal spot of golden yellow, the rest immaculate. Genital valves very similar to those of A. curvistyl , but the vulvar scale cor- rugated transversely. The male is easily distinguished from other forms by its uniform black colour, except A. vacillans which in the adult stage is also matt black with abdominal segments 2 and 3 pruinosed white. (Mr. O’Donel informs me that this white mark is very conspicuous and it evidently serves the purpose of a distinguishing sexual mark.) From vacillans, nigricolor may be distinguished by the abdomen and hindwing being of the same length in both the sexes and also by its smaller size. They apparently rest high as Mr. O’Donel informs me that he took the present pair by a swish of his topee whilst riding on the back of an elephant. 1. Semi-lateral^ view of Macromia cingulata. 2. Do. do. of Macromia jiavocoloraia. f02 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXl^IIl. 6. Macromia flavocolorata, sp. nov. A single female from Hasimara, Duars, Bengal, collected by Mr. H. V. O’Donel. Abdomen 43 mm. Hindwing 38 mm. Although the male of this insect has not yet been found, the markings of the female are so striking and different from other species of the genus that I have no hesitation in regarding it as new It resembles M. cingulata by its brilliant clearly defined markings and is evi- dently allied to that species which has hitherto stood alone in a monotypic group, but there is no possibility of confusing the two. The facial and abdominal markings differ widely from cingulata and the new species is a much larger insect. Head. Labium with the lateral lobes brown, the base naiTOwly yellow, mid- lobe yellow, its border and a medial prolongation backwards bro^vn; labrum shiny black with a transverse, bright citron yellow spot at its base ; frons and face metallic bluish green with a broad, citron yellow spot traversing the epistome; vesicle and occiput black ; eyes bluish green. Prothorax small, yellowish. Thorax metallic greenish blue marked vith citron yellow as follows : — The antealar sinus and middorsal carina finely moderately broad, antehumeral stripes not quite reaching the alar sinus ; laterally a broad, medial stripe and the posterior third of the metepimeron. Beneath white marked with 3 black, triangular spots arranged in a fteur-de-lys. Abdomen tumid at the base, somewhat compressed, dilating again from the 7th segment, glossy jet black marked with clear, well-defined citron yellow marks as follows ; — 1st segment wholly citron yellow save for a narrow, dark, apical annule ; 2nd segment similar but the annule rather broader, narrowing laterally and then sending a prolongation forwards beneath, on the dorsum the yellow invading it slightly ; 3rd segment with a basal, subdorsal, linear spot and a medial, smaller, subquadrate, dorsal spot finely separated from its fellow by the black, dorsal crest. These medial spots repeated on segments 4, 5 and 6, hut growing progressively smaller. On segment 7 the dorsal spots coalesce to form a very large, quadrate basal, spot occupying nearly half the segment and throwing a small projection analwards on either side of the dorsal crest. Segment 8 has a small, round, subdorsal, basal spot and a quadrate spot low down on the side at the basal end ; 9 and 10 are unmarked. Wings very patchily enfumed, with some slight evidences of dark saffronation at the extreme base ; stigma small, black ; 5 cubital nervures in the forewing, 4 in the hind ; hypertrigones traversed 2-3 times in the forewing, twice in the 9-15—15-6 hind ; nodal index : — 9-9—10-10 The clearly defined yellow markings will serve to separate this insect from all other Indian species whilst the more restricted and irregular abdominal markings will distinguish it from cingulata. JouRN. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Plate I. INDIAN PARASITIC FLIES. 1. — Pupa of Botnbylius major, L. x 4. 2. — A Cyrtid pupa (after Brauer). 3. — Wingless Phorid, PuZicipltora sp. (after Brues). x 38. 4. — Pipunculus sp. (Assam-Bhutan frontier). xlO. 4a. — Abdomen of Pip«ncMZ«s extensMs, Brunetti 5. (Occurs in Bengal.) x 23. 1 J 703 ON INDIAN PARASITIC FLIES. BY Hakold Russell, f.l.s., f.z.s. II With Tiro Plates {Continued from page 380 of this Volume.) III. The Muscoihea. The next five families that must be mentioned in connection with parasitism and Diptera {Taclnnidce, Dexiidee, Muscidee, Sarco- 'phrtgidcB and (Eslridce) all belong to the super-family Muscoidea of Townsend. It is very noteworthy that this Muscoidean stock has developed three separate and absolutely distinct types of parasitism, or at least feeding, on mammals. * All three have the same aim, which is to nourish the dipterous larvae at the expense of the Mam- malia. What is interesting is that each of the three has attained the same result in such fundamentally opposite ways. 1. In the first group come Cuter ehra {(Eslridce) and its allies. The end is attained by subcutaneous or internal larval endoparasitism. The larva does all the feeding and the imago takes no nourishment whatever. To such a complete extent does this prevail that the adult mouthparts are atrophied and do not function at all. The Oestrid habit of parasitism seems to be the oldest of the three. 2. In the second division we have Glossina {Muscidee) the genus which includes the tse-tse flies. The same result is attained by supracutaneous imaginal blood-sucking which strictly speaking is not ectoparasitism. This is the exact antithesis of the preceding. The adult fly does all the feeding by blood-sucking. But it retains and nourishes the larva within the oviduct until full grown. The larva is then extruded and almost immediately becomes a pupa without feeding any more. 3. In the third division we have the case of the Congo floor-maggot {Auchmeromyia), another of the Muscidae. The fly produces a blood-sucking larva. The desired result is here obtained by sup- racutaneous larval ectoparasitism. It is a remarkable method be- cause unique among dipterous larvae. The larva sucks blood ex- * C. H. T. Town.send. “The Taxonotn}' of the Muscoidean flies 1908) Snnithso- ®ian Miscellaneous Collections. Vol. 51. 17 704 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll, ternally by mechanical means. It pierces the skin of sleeping per- sons with its small sharp jaws and imbibes their blood. The habit is without parallel among Diptera. The larva is a footless maggot with very minute jaws and cannot attach itself to the skin of the host except by the mouth-parts. It cannot cling whilst piercing by any structure except the mouth-hooklets. Such a habit could hardly have arisen but for the fact that the African natives sleep on mats on the earthen floors of their huts. The larvae, which probably originally fed on foul liquids, are common beneath children’s mats which become stained with urine. The adult flies are attracted by the smell and lay their eggs under the mats. It has been stated previously that the parasitic habit of the (Es- tridae is apparently the most ancient. The Glossina habit comes next. The habit of blood-sucking of the Congo floor-maggot is evi- dently a comparatively recent development. The stages of parasi- tism can thus be placed in order. In the Hippoboscidae, which are imaginal parasites and which will be described in the section on Pu- pipara, the peculiar mode of reproduction of Glossina is carried a stage further. In Glossina the larva when extruded has sufficient power of movement to find a suitable place for pupating ; thereupon its integument becomes chitinized to form the pupal envelope. The Hippoboscid larva upon extrusion at once undergoes this change ; the Hipposboscid female therefore deposits the larva in a situation suitable for it to remain during the pupal period. The Hippohoscidce are probably an offshoot from the old muscid stock. The (Estridce are possibly an earlier off-shoot in an oppo- site direction from several stems of the same stock. Townsend regards the (Estridce as a polyphyletic group showing affinities with various sub-families and tribes of Muscoidea. Its preponderating characters are due to similar parasitic modes of life in the larvae with corresponding similarity in the adults. These suggestions are en- lightening when one tries to discover the origin of the different forms of parasitism among flies. J. Pantel in his “ Eecherches sur les Dipteres a larves entomo- bies ” has suggested ten groups of Muscoid flies fomided on re- productive and parasitic habits. * These may be compared with the five Tachinid groups of Townsend referred to further on and based also on reproductive habits. ToMmsend considers that Pantel’s • Two parts of this great and interesting contribution have appeared: I .Cara- teres parasitiques aux points de vue biologique, ethologique et histologique. La Cellule (1910) Vol 26 pp. 2 /-216. II. Les enveloppesde I’oeuf avec les formations qui en dependent; les degats indirects du parasitisme (1913) Vol 29 pp. 1-289. Each part contains a bibliography of the literature on parasitism in the Diptera. The earlier part of Pantel’s two papers has been reviewed and criticised in Eng- lish by C. H. T. Townsend : “ Review of work by Pantel and Poitchimski on Je- productive and early stage characters of Muscoid flies.” (1911) Proc. Ent. Soc. Wa- shington., Vol 13, p. 151. ox IXDIAX FABASITIG FLIES. 705 ^ouping becomes in a large measure a true and natural one though not founded on the ordinary taxonomic characters. The ten groups are as set out below : 1. Species which glue a short flattened macrotype egg to the host’s body. 2. Species which deposit on the food of the host a microtype egg containing the developed maggot and destined to be swallowed. 3. Species extruding large and strong larvae known as ordinary flesh maggots. 4. Species which deposit maggots (naked or in choria) in the path of the host. 5. Species which deposit maggots (naked or in choria) probably in the neighbourhood of the host. 6. Species which deposit maggots (naked or in choria) on the body of the host. 7. Species which introduce into the host’s body maggots (naked or in choria) by means of separate instruments of perforation and injection. 8. The same but by means of a combined instrument to perforate and inject. 9. Species destitute of incubating apparatus but provided with a variable chitinous ovipositor for introducing the undeveloped eggs into the host. 10. Species which deposit on the host a pediceled egg in which the maggot is already well developed. Examples of most of these groups will be met with in the five families now to be dealt with. Taohiiiidce and DzxiiicB. The habits and life histories of these two families are so much alike that the) can be treated together. The Dexiidce closely resemble the Tachinidce. Willistone consi- ders that the distinction between the two families is very difficult to make, if it be not actually evanescent. Townsend lumps most of the old Dexiidce with the Tachinidce. Both are smallish to fair- sized hairy flies with strong legs and conspicuously large squamae. The habits of the mature Tachinid flies are much the same in all the members of the group which is a large one. They are found on plants and on leaves or flowers which are the haunts of the hosts which they seek to parasitize. So far as is known all the larvae are parasit.c in habit and the parasitism is confined to the larval stages of other insects. The individual female Tachinid is not always particular in the choice of the species of larvae which she parasitizes. In the Muscoidean flies the integument is furnished with many large bristles called machrochaetce. In the Tachinidce this hairiness is most characteristic and is of some interest in connection with their parasitic habits which involve running about and searching for caterpillars. Osten-Sacken has pointed out that these bristles occur 706 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV Hi. almost solely iu flies with pedestrian habits and he concludes that the machrochaelce are organs of orientation which fulfil much the same function as a cat’s vibrissae or whiskers. If it be the truth that the bristles on the Tachinid and other flies are connected with pedestrian habits, it is worth noticing in confirmation that in another utterly different animal, namely the three-toed Sloth, whose habits are the reverse of pedestrian, facial vibrissae are absent. There can be little doubt that parasitism in the Tachinidce is fairly recent and not nearly so effective and well evolved as, for instance, in the parasitic Hymenoptera with almost similar habits. Unlike most of the parasitic Hymenoptera, these Dipterous parasites do not usually confine themselves to one particular host. By far the largest number of species are parasitic on lepidopterous larvae. The lives of some 400 species have been more or less studied. About 70 are parasitic on Hymenoptera. Then follow as hosts ; Coleoptera ; Orthoptcra ; Hemiptera ; and other Diptera in diminishing numbers. The precise adjustment of perfect parasitism has not yet been attained by these flies and they make two frequent blunders with disastrous results to their offspring . The first consists in laying eggs on a caterpillar which is about to moult ; the second, in laying eggs on a caterpillar which has been already parasitized, with the result that some or all of the young Tachinids perish of starvation. This points to the comparatively recent adoption of this mode of life. Yet when all is said the Tachinid flies are a successful family. To secure successful parasitism five forms of reproductive habit have been evolved in the Tachinidce. They are thus summarized by Townsend 1. Host-oviposition. 2. Leaf-oviposition. 3. Supracutaneous host-larviposifcion. 4. Subcutaneous host-larviposition. 5. Leaf-larviposition. These five forms of reproduction are arranged above in order of probable antiquity. The placing of the egg upon the host is thought to be the most primitive, and the placing of the larva on a leaf, where the host will pass, appears to be the most recent stage. From the commonsense view of the habits of these flies this seems natural ; and it is also confirmed by a study of the external characters of the flies.* A few words may be added on each of these five methods of reproduction. ]. Host-oviposition. The eggs are laid by the female Tachinid on the caterpillars. The eggs are usually thin shelled and in some * C. H. T. Townsend (1908) “A record of results from rearines and di.«sections of Tachinidae.” U. S. Dept. Agriculture. Bureau of Entomology. Tech. Series No. 12 Pt. VI. pp. 95-118. ON INDIAN PARASITIC FLIES. 707 species on pedicels. The maggots hatch out and penetrate the cater- pillars. In some cases the segments of the parasitic maggot’s body are furnished with rows of minute spines directed backwards. These help progression over the caterpillars skin and are aids to penetration also. In the .second .stage of the maggot’s life, having served their purpose, the spines for the most part disappear. A very marvel- lous adaptation appears in the third or penultimate stage. The pen- ultimate stage of many Tachinid maggots presents this strange pecu- liarity. During the. two first stages the maggot derives no air from the outside. In the third stage it protrudes a pointed posterior end through the skin of the caterpillar. The protruded end becomes highly chitiniscd from exposure to the air and ends in a pointed tube in the base of which lie the posterior stigmata. Through this pro- truded tube the maggot obtains air. The fourth and last stage of these maggots is passed living free inside the hosts. The cast skins of the penultimate stage remain fixed in their place protruding through the caterpillar’s skin. A few species remain as last-stage maggots within the chitinised cast skin and transform to pupm inside the caterpillar skin. Most Tachinids pupate outside the host and the exit is fatal to the host. 2. Leaf-oviposition. The suggestion that the parasitic maggot could obtain entrance into the host by the egg in which it is enclosed being swallowed by the caterpillar, was received with incredulity when originally put forward. The facts are now well established. The eggs are swallowed by the caterpillars and hatch within their alimentary canal. In such cases the eggs are minute, perhaps not a fiftieth part of the usual size, though the flies laying them may be larger than the average size. The piece of leaf swallowed by the caterpillars may be six or eight times the size of one of those eggs. Where a fly produces minute eggs it is certain that when matured they will be black and highly chitinised. They are intended to stand exposure and swallowing. Probably such eggs when depo- sited on leaves can retain their vitality for a long while. Probably also they are not laid until the embryo is well developed ; the diges- tive juices and the conditions in the alimentary canal act on the chitin, weaken the shell and release the maggot. It is certain that somehow the egg must hatch within a few hours of being swallowed else it would pass through the gut of the caterpillar and perish. A very small egg cannot have a thick chorion and is therefore provided with a chitinised thin one which withstands atmospheric conditions- better than an unchitinised thick one. Some eggs are protected by a reticulated surface which possibly preserves them from injury in the swallowing. Thus the history of the species can be read from' the uterine eggs dissected from the female Tachinid. 3. Supracutaneous host-larviposition . This brings us to anothei 708 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. phase of Tachinid parasitism but the leap from reproduction by living larvae is not so abrupt as it may seem. There are species of Tachi- nidce in process of transition. Female Tachinids of certain species may deposit eggs almost undeveloped, or at any stage of the develop- ment of the embryo, or may even perhaps deposit living maggots. When the larva is deposited on the skin of the caterpillar it is exposed to much the same danger as an egg ; it may be accidentally or pur- posely removed by the caterpillar and if the host moults before the maggot has managed to penetrate this is fatal. 4. Subentaneom host-larviposiiion. Another step forward is at- tained if the parasitic maggot can be immediately introduced beneath the host’s skin. The females of those Tachinids which have attained this higher grade of efficiency are furnished with a long curved sheath which tapers down to a point and is microscopically fine and sharp. The ovijDositor fits into the base of this organ and wdth this organ the female Tachinid punctures the caterpillar’s skin at the moment when the living maggot is being extruded. Until Townsend and his assistants worked at this group (1908) the habit of introducing the living maggot within the skin of the host was never suspected in the Tachinidee. 5. Leaf-larviposition. It is unexpected to discover that Tachinid parasitism reaches, apparently, the highest efficiency in those forms which deposit their maggots on leaves to wait the passmg by of a chance host. The maggots, in a fashion wonderful to relate, are securely attached to the surface of the leaf at the moment of biidh by a membranous cup-shaped case which holds the posterior end of their bodies. The maggot can reach out in all directions and moves constantly on feeling the proximity of a host. When midisturbed it lies at length on the leaf but on being touched it becomes excitedly active seeking to attach itself to the expected host. No sooner does it lay hold of a caterpillar than it is torn from the cup-shaped attach- ment by the motion of the caterpillar and its own exertions. It would be thought perhaps that the chances of parasite and host meeting under such conditions were very remote. But this is not the case, for the Tachinid female selects leaves and stems where cater- pillars have already crawled and usually deposits a maggot where a silken thread has been left by a caterpillar. Possibly the sense of smell guides the flies in selecting these silken threads. In such a case, where the caterpillar follows the thread back, it is sure to pick up the maggot on the way. A second- advantage is gained by this habit in the greater certainty with which a maggot can become attached to a caterpillar especially if one of a hairy sort. Being placed where the caterpillar will pass over it, the maggot can attach itself with greater ease to the under parts where hairs are sparse and short. If the female Tachinid tried to ox IXDIAX PARASITIC PLIES. 709 deposit it on the back of the caterpillar it would be much less certain of securing an attachment. The alarming size of the fly, the con- sequent frantic efforts of the caterpillar to shake off the maggot and the hairs which protect the back and sidis of the caterpillar with an almost impenetrable thicket, are thus circumvented. The maggots of this group are protected by a thicker and darker integument than the usual white and thin-skinned forms, since they have to pass a time exposed to the atmosphere. Tachinids form an enormous group of parasitic flies with wide geographical distribution. Over 300 genera have been established. Classification and nomenclature are in a state of flux. The Indian species have hardly been studied at all and must be very numerous.* Here is a rich and almost virgin field for Indian collectors and ob- servers. Muscidee and Sarcophagida'. Although most of the species in these two allied families are not parasitic at any stage of their exis- tence, others are always or occasionally parasitic as larvaj, and a few are blood-suckers in the adult stage. The frontier which divides these two families is undetermined. The Muscoidea are of extremely recent evolution ; in fact their evolution is still going on. In these two families we can see parasites in the making. It has already been pointed out that a promiscuous choice of hosts is evidence, and indeed a necessary result, of the recent origin of the parasitism. No fixed habits comparable with those of the Hymenopterous parasites are to be found in any parasitic Muscoidea except the (Estridee. Muscidee. To this family belong the only blood-sucking Cyclorihapha, other than Diptera pupipara if these latter are to be regarded as one of the cyclorrhaphous sections. The blood-sucking Muscids, which as everyone knows, are well represented in India, belong to the three sub-families following : (1) Philcematomyince : with a single genus and three species all Indian. (2) Stomoxydince : with some six genera and many Indian species. (3) Glossinince : with a single large genus : the African Tse-tse flies. These three blood-sucking groups contain perhaps some potential or embryo parasites. The pupiparous habit is highly developed in the last of the three ; and it is but a step to the Hippoboscidee with a completely parasitic life. The eggs of the Muscidee usually hatch in a day but sometimes larvee * Tliere is an excellent coloured plate (Plate LXVIII) of some Indian Tachinids, after Van der Wulp’s water-colour drawings in H. Maxwell Lefroy’s “Indian Insect I-#e ” Calcutta 1909. F. ^1. Van der Wulp’s “Catalogue of described Diptera from South .Asia.” The Hague, 1896, mentions under fifty Indian species and is otherwise far from perfect. 710 JOUR}^AL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV Hi. are deposited, the eggs having hatched within the body of the parent fly. In this respect the same conditions prevail as in some Sarcop- hagidcB and some Tachinidw. The typical Muscidse are house-flies, blue-bottles and blow-flics. In the sub-family Calliphorince there are several grades of parasitism. All the species are oviparous, so far as we know, and usually the eggs are deposited on dead bodies. The stages towards parasitic habits are as follows ; — (a) Some flies will occasionally lay their eggs in sores on the skin of living animals where the larvae can feed on the juices that surround them. The larvae of Calliphora vomitoria L. a com- mon European and American member of the blue-bottle genus, occasionally cause cutaneous myiasis in man and animals. The allied C. enjthwcephala Macq. is found in North India and may some- times have the same habit. Lucillia serenissima, Fabr., a greenish medium sized fly common about the meat stalls at bazaars in South India, as a rule deposits its eggs on dead meat. Occasionally it will oviposit on sore places in the skin of sickly cattle. This often happens during outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Madras. {b) The next stage begins where this has become the regular habit as is the case with many species belonging to several genera. Pycnosoma is a genus to which belong the Oriental representatives of the genus Chrysomyia which in tropical America cause serious myiasis in men and beasts. They are thick-set insects with character- istic red cheeks. P. flaviceps, Walk., a well known species in South India, deposits its eggs in the nostrils particularly of human beinga and camels. The female flies are attracted by foul breath. The larvae penetrate within the nasal and frontal sinuses producing ul- ceration, fever and sometimes death. (c) The latest stage of parasitism is the blood-sucking maggot. The two genera AvcJwieromyid and Chceromyia which have developed this habit are both African. The Congo floor-maggot has already been referred to. The larvae of Chotromyia inhabit the lairs of wart- hogs and aard-varks whose blood they suck. Sarcophagidcr. The flesh-flies, as they are commonly called, are a family of few genera but there are many species and they are difficiilt to distinguish. The larvae sometimes live as parasites in wounds and sores causing dermal myiasis. They have also be(m discovered in the nasal cavities of man and other mammals. Whether this is one of the regular reproductive habits of definite species is not certainly known. The genus Sarcophaga is sometimes and perhaps habitually larviparous. These larvae have been found living in the stomachs of frogs and under the skin of turtles. The larvae of several species have been also found in snails, beetles, grass-hoppers and in the larvae of moths. < These flies are common all over India. They may be recognised JoHBN. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Plate II. INDIAN PARASITIC FLIES. 5. — Conops erythrocephala, Fabr. J . x 4. Q.—hsiTwa, ot Oyrostigma sumatrensis, 'Bra.ner. (After Bau.) x2J. 6a. — Larva of Gastrophilus equi., Clark, x 3. 6b. — Larva of Gobboldia elephcmtis, Gohhold. (After Bau.) x 3. ON JNDIAN PAliASniC FLIES. 711 by their red eyes and grey thorax striped longitudinally with black. They are thick-set flies of moderate size and frequent the neighbour- hood of decaying animal and vegetable matter. The known Indian species nearly all belong to the genus Sarcophaga and the commonest Indian species is probably S. Imeatocollis Macq. In Gujarat it is not uncommon to see large sores on the human scalp full of the larvae of a species of Sarcophaga ; whether such larvae truly deserve the name of parasites depends on how far this method of nutrition is an estab- lished and regulai habit. (Estridee. The flies of this family are sometimes included among Calyptrate Muscoids but are best regarded as a distinct group which, has arisen from several Muscoid types and now is much specialised for a parasitic life. They form a small and well defined group with about seventy or eighty desciibcd species scattered over the world. The larvae are always parasitic on mammals and on mammals only. The hosts of the Indian species are horses, sheep, cattle, elephants, rhinoceroses and camels. The note-worthy feature in the life history of an CEstrid fly is that feeding is confined to the larval stage. This is the parasitic period when the growing insect lives surrounded by nourishment. Parasitism of the larval insects takes three principal forms. We have parasities (1) in the food canal, (2) in tumours formed by the larvae under the skin, and (3) in the normal cavities of the nose and throat. It is a general rule, with but few exceptions, that each species of CEstrid fly is confined to a single species of mammal ; and allied species of fly are parasitic in the same fashion upon allied mammals. The adults are free-living, large, hairy flies, which take no food and exist only for procreation of their species. The adult fly has a minute mouth and often such atrophied vestiges of mouth, parts that it is incapable of taking any food. Nevertheless some of these flies live for three or four weeks and display great activity. Brauer classified the CEstridee according to the combined characters of the larvae and the perfect insects*. He divided the typical CEstrids into three groups, which ^coincide with a classification based on the parasitic habits of the larvae. His three divisions are the following : — 1. Gaslricolce. Larvae found in the stomach and gut of Equi- dae (Horses, asses, etc), Bhinocerotidee (rhinoceroses) and Probos- cidea (elephants). To this group belong Gastrophilus, Gyrostigma and Cobboldia which are all three Indian genera. * Profe.ssor Friedrich Brauer of Vienna brought out his monograph in 1803. .1/o- nofjraphie der CEslriden, by Friedrich Brauer. Wien, 1863. It was an epoch-making work ami contains a complete bibliography of all the literature on the (Estridm up to that year. It is still a standard authority in spite of much recent work on t! e- group. See also “ Nachtrdge zur Monographie dir CEslriden ”, Wiener Eniom. Zeitung, (1887) vol. VI., p.4. by F. Brauer. 18 712 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 2. CavicolcE. Larvse found in the frontal sinus, nasal cavity and throat of Covicarnia ^cattle, sheep and other hollow-horned rumin- ants). Tylopoda or camels, Cervidce (the deer family), Probcscidea (elephants). The Indian genera are (Estrus and Cephelomyia. 3. Cuticolce. Larvae found under the skin of Gavicornia, deer, the horse family and rodents. Hypoderma, so far as I can discover, is the only recorded Indian genus. This is the group to which the warble-flies belong. Brauer enumerated sixteen genera in the whole CEstrid family and about half a dozen more have been established since his day. The adult flies belonging to this family are not difficult to recognise. They are fairly large and thick-set flies with big heads, of which the lower part is inflated, giving a sturdy appearance. The short, three- jointed antennae are sunk in the front of the head and hardly visible. The compound eyes are not prominent, and there are also ocelli, or simple eyes. The abdomen is short, conical and often hairy, somewhat like that of a bee. The veins in the wings are like those of house- flies and others of the Muscid stock, from which the CEstrids are doubtless descended. The second pair of wings (as in all Diptera) are represented by small balancers called halteres. In many CEstrid flies the halteres are protected by scales, usually large, which are known as squamae or tegula-. Much controversy has raged as to the manner in which the larval parasites reach their abiding place in the host’s body. It is now generally believed that the eggs, or young larvse, are, with some possible exceptions, taken into the mouths or nostrils of the animals which they infest, and so proceed, respectively, into the stomach, nose, throat and frontal sinus, or bore a way through the tissues of the body to the skin. 1. Gastricolce. — The genus Gastrophilus has many species and a world-wide distribution. All are parasites of horses, wild asses and zebras. These flies are therefore restricted as regards geographical distribution by that of the Equid.ee. Several species are common wherever men keep horses, and their larvae are the horse-bots well known to grooms and veterinary surgeons. Gastrophilus equi Fab. one of the typical species is widely distributed in India. The female buzzes about horses during the hot hours of the daj^ Hovering a moment, she deposits a yellowish conical egg which adheres, like the nit of a louse, by its narrow end to the hair. This egg remains se- curely attached, owing to a viscid matter which is deposited at the same time. The fore legs, which are most accessible to the horse’s tongue, arc as a rule the parts selected. The flies are somewhat hairy, with fawn-coloured faces and blackish thorax. The abdomen is mottled yellow, with darker brown irregular blotches. The abdomen of the female ends in a long ovipositor, which is doubled beneath ON INDIAN PABASiriC FLIES. 713 the body when at rest. Though hundreds of eggs may sometimes be seen glued to the hairs of a single horse, the future host does not seem to be troubled by the performance. Hatching follows after a few days. Perhaps it is the itching caused by the larvae which makes the horse lick the places. On reaching the alimentary canal, the parasites travel down and ultimately attach themselves by their mouth-hooks to the stomach wall. The place of attachment is marked by a depres- sion, and the head of the larva becomes more and more deeply plunged into the mucous membrane. During this parasitic stage, which lasts ten months to a year and includes two moults and three stages of larval growth, the larvse feed on the inflammatory products which exude from the minute wound. After the bots are detached from a horse’s stomach the pitting remains. The body of the CEstrid larva consists of twelve segments, of which the first two cannot be differentiated from the cephalic ring. No head can be recognised. The antennae are rudimentary membranous papillae. The problem of respiration during the parasitic time in the host’s stomach presents difficulties which are, however, successfully solved. On reaching maturity the larvae let go their hold and pass out of the horse’s body with the droppings . The larvae are then whitish oval maggots, about 20 millimetres long, with rows of brownish spines. They are at first lively, but soon burrow into the horse-dung or the earth, and there turn into rigid, dark-brown shiny pupae. This stage lasts a month or more. The fly emerges by forcing open the lid of the puparium, and the life-cycle begins once more. Indian elephants are the hosts of CEstrid larvae which attach themselves to the stomach walls and go through stages of development similar to those of the horse-bots. The flies belong to the genus CobboJdia. The parasites of Asiatic elephants are probably of a diffe- rent species from those which attach themselves to African elephants. The Indian insect, CobboJdia elephantis Cobb., is known, and is a large fly with conspicuous reddish head, black wings and body, marked with startling white spots at the base of each wing. Eggs of flies have often been observed in the erosions at the roots of elephants’ tusks. It may be that this is the usual spot chosen by the CEstrids to deposit their eggs. Since elephants do not lick their fore-legs or flanks like horses, a spot near the root of the tusk gives the newly hatched larvse the best likelihood of making their way into the gut of the proboscidean. The mature larvse, which have long been known in the stomachs of elephants, are much larger than horse-bots, though of the same type. Their mouths are furnished with only a single pair of strongly curved hooks which act as formidable organs of attach- ment to the stomach membrane. The history of our knowledge of this parasite of the elephant is interesting. Cobbold collected the first larvse from Indian elephants 714 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, VoL. KKVlll which succumbed to an epidemic in Sanger’s Circus. Di'. Livingstone, the explorer, subsequently sent home specimens from African ele- phants. Brauer's own account of how he reared the first known flics from larvte obtained from the dung of some newly arrived Indian elephants in the Imperial Austrian Menagerie at Schonbrunn is a delightful tale that may be recommended to all diptcrologists.* In this group of OEstrids there remains to be mentioned the genus Gyrostigma, which is parasitic on rhinoceroses. The larvae have been obtained from the stomachs of two species of Asiatic rhinoceros namely /?. sumatreiisis and R. lasiotis. They resemble in most characters the Gastrophili, or horse-bots, but are larger. Since both species of African rhinoceros are the hosts of allied OEstrid larvae it would be surprising if the rhinoceroses of the Indian peninsula were exempt from these parasites. Sportsmen who have an opportunity should examine the stomach walls of newly killed rhinoceroses and should detach the larvae, if they are found, without injuring them. They should be preserved in alcohol. Elephants, as is well known, are ancient types of mammal which have long existed on the earth. The evolution of mammalian host and insect parasite must have proceeded simultaneously during the long ages of the earth’s history. Cobboldia, the elephant para- site, is therefore of special interest. The imago is a synthetic type which unites the characters of almost all forms of genuine CEstrid flies. I’he origin of the elephant is lost in the obscurity of geological ages, whilst the horse and the rhinoceros are both more recently evolved types of mammal and allied to one another. It is also signi- ficant, when we appreciate the relationship of the hosts, that the parasites of the horse and the rhinoceros belonging to the CEstrid genera Gastrophihis and Gyrostigma respectively are closely related. The deduction which may be drawn from these facts is that the para- sitism of CEstrid flies on mammals is of ancient origin. Host and parasite have evolved into their present form side by side : and where the mammalian hosts are allied, the parasitic larvse, which live in their stomachs, will turn into more or less closely related flies. Cavicolcp. This group comprises some fifteen or twenty species of CEstrid flies, whose common characteristic is that the larvae live in the cavities within the skulls of a variety of mammals. Sheep, antdopes, goats, buffaloes, camels,deer, horses and the' African elephant and hippopotamus are the hosts of these remarkable parasites. In many cases only the larva has been obtained and the adult fly is still unknown. Six or seven species of the genus CEstrus are known, but the only recorded Indian species appears to be CEstrns ovis L. which has been known to man from ancient times. It is said to be • “ Beitrage zur Kenntniss aus5 „ tibiae 14 ,, „ „ metatarsi . . . . . . . . 4,5 The type is unique ; it has been taken by G. W. Bury at El-Kubar, S. W. Arabia (British Museum collection). This new species is easily recognised by its small size, very feebly armed hind metatarsus, not denticulated pronotum and the shape of supraanal plate. 5. Fischeeia syeiaca, Sauss. 1871. Fischeria hcetica, Ramb. var. syriaca, Saussure, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve, xxi, p. 109. 1915. Fischeria festoe. Gigho-Tos., Bull. Soc. Entom. Ital., xhni, p. 22. Gigho-Tos, in description of his F. festce gives exactly the same differences of it from F. bcetica, as Saussure gives for var. syriaca ; both being of the same origin, it is obvious that they are identical. The same species (or only sub- species of bcetica, Ramb.), and not the typical bcetica, Ramb., populates all desert parts of S.W. and Central Asia, and all previous records of hcetica from those countries must be undoubtedly credited to syriam. Male of syriaca, of which only female has been described by Saussure and Giglio-Tos, differs well from bcetica by its larger dimensions, and especially by longer elytra which extend well beyond the apex of abdomen ; wings are scarcely shorter than elytra. Dimensions of a male from Mesopotamia are, as follows : — Length of body Width of head Length of pronotum „ metazona Maximal width of pronotum Minimal „ „ Length of fore coxae „ femora hind „ ,, „ tibiae „ „ metatarsus elytra 72mm. 7.5 18 12 5, 5 3 13 17.5 21 25 6, 5 48 DESCRIPTIONS OF ORTHOPTERA FROM S. W. ASIA. 723 The specimens studied are from the following localities : Kut and Amara in Mesopotamia ; Bushire in S. W. Persia ; Aleppo, Syria (in British Museum and in Bombay N. H. Society). 6. Microthespis divutrievi, Wern. One male in British Museum from Bushire, S. W. Persia. The species has been described (Ann. Mus. Zool. Petersb., xiii, 1908, p. 120) from Djibouti and Harrar on the Somali Coast. 7. Iris persa, sp. n. S . Agrees in all essential characters with /. oratoria, L., but differs well from it in the shape of head, pronotum and elytra. Larger than 7. oratoria and more robust. Head transverse, a little less than twice as broad as pronotal dilatation ; facial cl3rpeus about one and half times as broad as high, with upper keel not sharp, slightly curved, developed in the middle only and disappearing towards the eyes, with short vertical median Carina, extending from upper margin to the middle of clypeus, where there are two raised points ; other four raised points are at the angles of clypeus. Oc- ciput distinctly convex. Pronotum rather thick ; prozona slightly narrowed anteriorly, with parabolic apex, with feeble median longitudinal furrow ; meta- zona about twice as long as prozona, gradually narrowed posteriorly in its fore half, while in the hind half its sides are parallel ; margins of pronotum expanded. Elytra extending but a httle beyond the apex of abdomen, about three times as long as they arc in the broadest part wide ; preradial area widened in its basal third and rather suddenly narrowed towards the apex ; the vena- tion agrees with this in 7. oratoria. Wings distinctly shorter than elytra, with apex parabolic ; hind margin almost straight. The armure of fore legs much the same as in 7. oratoria, but the coxae arc more strongly spined and granu- lated. Supraanal plate rounded ; cerci rounded, rather thick. Subgenital plate with hind margin rather broad, slightly convex. Greenish-pale; fore tibiae with inner surface reddish ; fore metatarsus black beneath. Coloration of wings as in 7. oratoria. Length of body Width of head Length of pronotum „ metazona . . Maximal width of pronotum Minimal ,, „ Length of elytra Maximal width of elytra . . Length of wings ,, „ fore coxae . . ,, ,, femora „ „ „ tibiae ,, ,, hind femoia „ „ „ tibiae 41 mm. 6.5 13.5 9 4.5 3 29 8.5 24.5 9 11.5 6 11 10.5 Four male specimens in the British Museum from Bushire, S. W. Persia taken in September 1890, by W. D. Cumming. The most striking differences from 7. oratoria are : the form of clypeus, which in oratoria is more than twice as broad as high, with well developed upper Carina ; the form of pronotum and especially the relative length of prozona and metazona ; the length and form of elytra. Co-typic specimens are of brick-red- dish general coloration, but I am not sure that this coloration is natural and not the consequence of immersion in spirit. 8. Iris splendida, sp. n. 2 . About the size of 7. oratoria, L., but more robust. Antennre thin, seta- ceous. Frontal clypeus about twice as broad, as high, flat, with two small 724 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIH tubcrcules in its middle, its upper carina not sharp, but fully developed, rounded ; vertex with two lateral furrows narrow, but very distinct. Eyes egg-shaped ; inner orbits slightly emarginate in upper part. Pronotum rather broad ; its margins dentieulate ; fore margin semicircular ; sides in prozona and in meta- zona parallel ; coxae dilatation but a little wider than prozona, while metazona is distinctly more narrow ; prozonal disc very convex, with two small oblique impressions near its apex ; its longitudinal sulcus scarcely perceptible in the hind part only ; transverse sulcus not interrupted, narrow, but very distinct, straiglit, with ends directed forwards ; metazona twice as long as prozona, less con vi^x, slightly selliform in profile, with two shallow impressions just behind the coxae dilatation, with middle carina entire, though feeble, better developed in the hind part ; the whole surface of pronotum, especially the middle part of meta- zona, bears scattered small gi-anules ; hind margin widely rounded, with shght, but sharp, emargination in its middle. Elytra shorter than abdomen, entirely coriaceous, slightly widened towards the apex, which is very widely rounded. Wings semicircular. Anterior coxae with numerous densely placed acute tuber- cles beneath ; interior surface with an irregular row of callous tubercles ; upper external carina armed with eight obtuse spines, with minute acute spinules, placed in interspaces ; upper surface slightly convex, smooth, with a few scar- cely perceptible spinules, placed in a longitudinal row along the middle. Fore femora and tibiae with an armure typical for the genus. Supraanal plate semi- elliptical, feebly carinated along its middle. Cerci short, thick, rounded. Sub- genital plate with apex divided in two lobes. General coloration greyish-yellow. Spines of fore femora and tibiie brownish, darker towards the tips. Fore tibiae orange red beneath. Fore metatarsi black on the inside, except the apices. Wings violaceous-black ; humeral field rose-violaceous, wdth an oval black spot near the apex ; the whole outer margin with a bright sulphurous border about 2-3mm. broad. Length of body Width of head Length of pronotum „ metazona Width of prozona in its middle ,, metazona „ „ „ „ coxal dilatation . . Length of elytra Width of elytra in their middle Length of wdngs Width „ in their middle Length of anterior coxae . . „ ,, femora . . ,, „ tibiae „ hind femora 48 mm. 6 12.5 8.5 4 3.5 5 17 7 15 12 9 11 5.5 10 The type is unique. It was brought home from Afghanistan by Dr. Aitchison of the Afghan Delimitation Commission, but somehow, probably because it had not been set out, it remained unnoticed and was not recorded by W. Kirby, who worked out the collection of the said Commission.* The species is so conspicuous by the splendid coloration of its hind wdngs, that there is no need for its comparison with other known species of the genus. 9. Hestiasula brunneriana, Sauss. Quetta, Baluchistan, 1 5 (British Museum). The single poorly preserved specimen agrees fairly well with Saussure’s original description, as well as with Wood-Mason’s drawings (Journ. Asiat. Soc., Bengal Trans. Linn. Soc , London, second series, Vol. V, part 3, pp. 137-14 •. DESCRIPTIONS OF OIITROPTERA FROM S. If. ASIA. 725 1884, Vol. liii, pi. xiii, fig. la, lb.) which according to the author (Revis. Mantid.> 1889, p. 22) presents the same species. The drawing of the head is, however, not quite exact, since it presents the lower surface of frontal appendix as convex, while it is entirely flat, as rightly described by Saussure. This species has been known from Sylhet, Calcutta and Mysore ; Quetta is, therefore, the most north-western known point of its distribution. 10. Blepharopsis mendica nuda, Giglio-Tos. 1917. Blepharopsis nuda, Giglio-Tos, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., xlviii, p. 70 (of separate copy.) Numerous specimens in British Museum from Arabia, Sinai, Mesopotamia, Quetta, etc. The characters of nuda are not quite constant ; especially variable and not characteristic for nuda is the degree of hairiness of the pronotum, on which Giglio-Tos has based his species. On the other hand the form of femoral lobes, specially those of middle femora, is rather constant : while in typical mendica (from Portugal, Canaries) these lobes are scarcely denticulate at all, the speci- mens from Desert Asia have the lobes strongly spined. As this character is, however, also hable to individual variation, I think it more right to regard nuda as but an Eastern geographical race of mendica. Phasmidce. 11. Bubria LONGixiPHA, Br. Watt. Aden, Arabia, 1 $ (British Museum). The genus and this species has been hitherto known from the African Coast of the Red Sea. Locustidce. 12. Acbidium subtjlatum, L. — Baghdad, ii. 17 (Bombay N. H. Society). 13. Acrid ELLA robusta, Uvar. — Persia : Pusht-i-koh, Chekerava, 540 m. above sea-level, 1907, de Morgan (Paris Museum). 14. Acbidella miniata, K1. — Amara, Mesopotamia, viii-ix. 16., Lt.-Col. F. P. Connor (Bombay N. H. Society). 15. Acridella antennata, Krauss. One male and two females v/ere taken at Ktubu, Arabia, by G. W.Bury. The species is easily recognised by its very long antennae and strongly attenu- ate hind angle of pronotum, apart from the peculiar dark coloration of wings. 16. Platypterna tibialis, Fieb. — Arabia, Percival and Dodson, 2 (^ . 2 5 ? , (British Museum). 17. Platypterna pictipes, sp. n. $ . Of medium size for the genus. Antennae rather short (their exact length unknown, the tips being broken), moderately compressed and widened in basal part. Front moderately reclinate, smooth, but not shining ; frontal ridge parallel, slightly dilated near the ocellum, gradually and very feebly widened towards the clypeus ; fastigium of vertex seen in profile subequal to one-half of the length of an eye ; foveolae reniform, rather broad, curvate, not strongly impressed, with margins rounded, the upper margins being especially obtuse and low, while the lower ones are better developed ; vertex seen from above obtuse, rotundat^'- triangular at the apex, as broad, as long, convex, with thick, but very low, shining median carina. Eyes oval, oblique. Pronotum feebly, but distinctly constricted in prozona ; lateral keels parallel between the fore margin and the second transverse sulcus, gradually diverging behind the latter, slightly convex in about the middle of metazona ; median keel sharp, straight, interrupted by the third sulcus ; metazona distinctly shorter than prozona, distinctly convex and raised above the level of prozona ; hind margin obtusely angulate, with the angle itself not rounded ; lateral lobes rather convex, narrowed downwards, with fore margin sUghtly sinuate, lower margin feebly bisinuate, with a very I 726 JOURNAL, BOMBAY .NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVllI. minute obtuse angle in the middle, hind margin straight, feebly sinuate ; fore and hind angles of lobes a little more than 90 , rounded. Elytra very long, parallel-sided. Hind femora moderately broad, rather robust, subapical filiform part not developed. General coloration is that of sand. Head with small brownish spots, forming two occipital and two postocular stripes. Pronotum with lateral keels shining, paler than disc ; lateral lobes darker along their upper margin and with a narrow whitish border beneath. Elytra sand-coloured in the basal fifth part and colourless in the rest, with a longitudinal row of brownish spots in the intercalate area and 3-4 smaller and more feebly colom-ed spots in the apical third, just behind the second radial vein ; several feebly coloured spots are also scattered on the whole apical half of elytra ; aU veins and venules are sand-coloured with small irregular darker knots. Wings hyalinous ; veins, especially near the apex, brownish. Hind femora with superno-median area of the general color- ation, while the externomedian area is whitish ; irmer surface unicolorous ; inner genicular lobe with a round dark-brown spot. Hind tibiae violaceous. their upper surface paler, especially towards the base ; brown tips. spines pale basally, with Length of body 33, 5 mm. „ pronotum 6 „ elytra 30, 5 „ hind femur 15, 5 Type : Muscat, Arabia, G. Jayakar. This species seems to be related to P. geniculata, Bol. (Novit. Zool., XX, 1917, p. 608, Xo. 9) from Algerian Sahara, but it is well characterised by the structure of frontal ridge, foveolae of vertex, shape of pronotum and coloration of hind tibiae. 18. DociosTAUEtrs CEASsiuscTJLUs,-Pant. (=hauensteini Bob).- — Persia : Poush- e-kouh, Ai'kovaz, J. de Morgan, 1904 (Paris Museum). 19. Dociostatteus maeoccanus, Thunb. — Persia : Abadch, Peter Paschen (Bombay N. H. Society). 20. Eambueiella teuchuana, F. W. — Syria, Aleppo, F. G. Aldous (British Museum).- — The genera Ramburiella, Bol. and Pallasiella, Kirby, are evidently identical, since Ramburiella hispanica, and Pallasiella truchmana, F. W., are undoubtedly congeneric. As Bolivar’s name for the genus is the oldest of the two, the genus must be called Ramburiella, and it includes three species ; R. hispanica, Ramb .,R. truchmana, F. W. and R. bolivari, Kuthy.* 21. HiloLOPtrs THALASsiNUs, Rossi. — Baghdad, ii., 17 (Bombay N, H. Society) . 22. HioLOPUS STEEPEN.s STEEPENS, Latr. — Syria, Aleppo, F. G. Aldous ; Bagh- dad (British Museum) ; Persia : Susa, J. de Morgan (Paris Museum). — This Mediterranean species has never been previously recorded from the Desert subregion and its occurrence in Baghdad and Susa in the typical form is quite interesting, since in S. W. Persia another race occurs, which is described below. 23. HllOLOPITS STEEPENS DESEETICOLA, Subsp. n. Differs from the typical Mediterranean form in the following characters : — Pronotum more distinctly constricted, less convex above ; elytra somewhat longer ; general coloration brownish-grey ; elytra with wider fight transverse bands : wings feebly infumate apically ; hind femora with black points along the lower carina of the area externomedia and with three indistinct fasciae in the same area ; inner side of femora pale with two black fasciae ; hind tibiae bluish with black base, and a pale subbasal ring, followed by a dark grey ring. * Described as Stethophyma bolivari Kuthy (Ann. Mus. Hung., 1907, p. 431), and again by me as Arcyptera elegans, Uvar. (Horae Soc. Entom. Rossicae, Vol. 39, 1910. p. 370; see also Bull. Mus. Caucase, xii, 1919, p. 156); this species is very closely related to R. hispanica, Ramb. and is pos.«ibly but a geographical race of the latter DESCIUPTIONS OF ORTROPTERA FROM S. W. ASIA. 727 5 Length of body . . 20 mm. „ pronotum ..4 „ elytra . . 19, 5 „ hind femur. . . ..12 Described from one male specimen, taken at Kazvin, N. W. Persia, 25, •, by P. A. Buxton.* 24. Lkrina a^olopoides, sp. n. ^ . Of the size of L. oedipodioides, Bol., but more compressed laterally. An- te niise very feebly flattened and scarcely dilated apically. Head in profile distinctly reclinate ; frontal ridge gradually, though feebly, widened towards clypeus, shallowly, but distinctly, impressed, with margins raised, rather sharp ; facial keels raised, almost straight. Fastigium of vertex distinctly longer than broad, pentagonal, with apex much attenuate, acute ; lateral margins raised, sharp, the anterior ones feebly concave ; surface very feebly sloping forwards, slightly concave. Temporal foveolae elongate, strongly narrowed anteriorly, triangular, feebly curvate, shallow, with raised margins. Eyes sUghtly higher than broad, less rounded anteriorly than posteriorly. Occiput with its surface uneven. Pronotum distinctly constricted laterally, much alike in its shape to that of Molopus strepens, Latr. ; disc subtectiform, feebly narrowed anteriorly ; median keel raised, slightly lowered behind the first trans- verse sulcus, interrupted by the hind sulcus, which is placed distinctly before its middle ; metazona with its hind angle acute ; lateral keels scarcely perceptible in the fore part of prozona, very obtuse in metazona ; lateral lobes higher than long, with their lower margins oblique in the fore part ; their fore angle obtuse, hind angle straight, widely rounded. Elytra with the fore ulnar vein sinuate ; false vein in discoidal area thick, distinctly tra,nsversely serrulate, approaching apically to the hind radial vein ; interulnar area more than twice as broad as the discoidal area, with the false vein distinct only near the base of the area, the rest of the latter being irregularly reticulated ; furcal branches of the ulnar vein, as well as the false vein in the interfurcal area and transverse venules in the same area, are distinctly thickened, callous. General coloration reddish-sandy with black and grey points and designs. Antennae unicolorous. Face whitish ; frontal and facial keels with black longitudinal spots. Pronotum with numerous blackish points. Elytra with three broad castaneous fasciae : sub-basal, median and pre- apical, all reaching the anal area, but not extending into it ; interspaces between the fasciae whitish ; apex hyaline ; anal area sandy. Wings feebly greenish basally, with an indefinite infumate preapical fascia, not reaching the inner margin. Hind femora out- wardly reddish-sandy in the basal half and blackish apically, with a reddish ring before the knee ; innerside and lower sulcus totally black, except a pale preapical ring ; knees blackish, except the reddish upside. Hind tibiae black, with apex and a narrow subbasal ring ivory white. Hind tarsi ivory white, with second joint brownish. Abdomen reddish with 3-6 segments black late- rally. Length of body . . . . . . . . 16, 5 mm. „ pronotum . . . . . . . . 4 „ elytra . . . . . . . . 18 „ hind femur . . . . . . . . 9, 5 The unique specimen of this species has been taken by A. S. G. Jayakar at Muscat, Arabia (British Museum). It is with some hesitation that I put this species into the genus Lerina, Bol. which has been described from one Indian * Specimens of this race recorded by me (Journ., Bombay N. H. Soc., Vol. -xxvii, 1921, p. 804) from Mesopotamia, seem to belong to a distinct species, which I am unable to identify with certainty now, owing to scarcity of material. 2fi 728 journal, BOMBAY natural HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTIII. species — L. oedipodioides, Bol. The new species itself is very striking by its close resemblance to Molopus strepens, Latr., by venation of elytra and by coloration of the same and of hind legs. 25. Lerina buxtoni, sp. n. cf , Of the size and habitus of the Indian L. oedipodioides, Bol. Antennae slightly flattened, feebly dilated towards the apex ; last joint truncate. Front in profile distinctly reclinate ; face impresso-punctate ; frontal ridge subparallel, rather suddenly narrowed near fastigium and very feebly widening towards clypeus, not reaching the latter, flat, with a small impression below the ocellum, with lateral margins obtuse ; facial carinae obtuse, rather thick, feebly curvate. Vertex slightly sloping ; fastigium much longer than broad, elongato-hexagonal, narrowly truncate anteriorly, shghtly concave, with raised margins ; foveolae long and straight, strongly narrowed anteriorly, almost triangular, shallow, with margins not sharply delineate. Eyes almost vertical, distinctly higher than broad, with fore margin straight. Pronotum feebly constricted and rounded in prozona, which is distinctly longer than metazona ; median keel in prozona scarcely distinct, interrupted by two transverse sulci, in metazona sharp, though low ; lateral keels in the shape of small, low tubercules near the fore margin of prozona and very obtuse in metazona ; fore margin of the pronotal disc slightly prominent, with a small emargination in the middle ; hind margin obtusely angulate, widely rounded ; lateral lobes much higher than long, with lower margin oblique in its fore part, fore angle obtuse, hind angle about 90° rounded. Elytra extending beyond the hind knees ; interulnar field about twice as broad as discoidal, with an irregular false vein ; intercalate vein in discoidal area approaching apically to the radial vein; two furcal veins and the false vein in the furcal area, as well as transverse venules in the same area thick, callous. Venation of wings as in L. oedipodioides, Bol. Hind femora short, broad ; hind tibiae shorter than femora. , General coloration is that of sand, with numerous greyish and blackish points. Antennae brown with numerous pale rings. Pronotum above brick-reddish, with two indefinite blackish longitudinal sinuate fasciae. Elytra with three irregular blackish bands and scattered brownish-grey spots. Wings hyalinous, very feebly coerulescent basally. Fore and middle legs with several brown transverse fasciae. Hind femora with two irregular transverse fasciae in area externomedia and with three on the upper side ; inside black, except a post- median and a preapical pale fascia ; knees black from inside and grey outwardly. Hind tibiae ivory white,with base, median and preapical rings, and tips of spines, black. Length of body 19, 5 mm. pronotum .., . . 3, 5 „ elytra .. 19 „ hind femxu- . . . . 9, 5 The unique type specimen has been taken by P. A. Buxton at Amara, Meso- potamia, 10. viii, 18, together with a paratypic male, which agrees with the type in all morphological characters, but has the elytra unicolorous, without any trace of fasciae or spots. 26. CEdaleus nigrofasciatxts, De Geer. — Persia; Bakhtyari Mountains, 1500- 4500 m., J. deMorgan, 1904 (Paris Museum). 27. .SciNTHARISTA NOTABILIS BRUNNERI, SaUSS. 1884. Scintharista brunneri, Saussure, Prodr. Oedipod., p. 121, No. 1. 1888. Quiroguesia brullei var. blanchardiana, Saussure, Add. ad Prodr. CEdipod., p. 35. The most careful examination of the cotypes of blanchardiana, Sauss., which are in British Musuem, and comparison of them with original description ot bninneri, Sauss., leaves no doubt in the identity of this form. It is evident, therefore, that the genera Scintharista, Sauss., and Quiroguesia, Bol., are identical DESCRIPTIONS OF ORTHOPTERA FROM S. If. ASIA. 729 and Saussure’s name has priority. I consider the Asiatic Sc. brunneri, Sauss., as a mere geographical race of the Western Mediterranean Sc. notabilis, Walk. (=brullei, Sauss.), the difference between them being too insignificant for separation of species. This race occurs in two different colour forms, which might be taken together, one with rose wings and another with yellow wings ; it is distributed all over the deserts of S. W. Asia, from North Kashmir and Bombay to Ordubad in Transcaucasia and to Southern Arabia, occurring even at Massowah, on the African Coast of the Red Sea. Specimens in British Museum are from following locahties ; — Aden, Arabia (Co-types of blanchardiavM, Sauss). ; Muscat, Dr. Jayakar ; Malakand, N. India, A. Begbie ; Campbellpore, N. India ; Hunza, N. Kashmir ; Quetta, Baluchistan. In the Bombay Natural History Society there is one female from Teghab Kelat, Baluchistan, 28, viii, 17, J. E. B. Hotson. 28. Morphaeris fasciata, Thunbg., &h sulcata, Thunb. — SjTia, 1 cj (British Museum). — Full synonymy of this species is given by me in another paper on the Indian Orthoptera. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 1921, p. 488). 29. Mioscirtus wagneri Ev. — Fao, Persian Gulf, v., 91, W. D. Cumming, 2 $ 5 — Specimens from Mesopotamia and Southern Persia are somewhat larger than those from the original locality of the species, which is Sarepta, North from Caspian Sea ; if this difference proves to be constant in large series of speci- mens, a distinct southern geographical race may be distinguished, which might be called subsp. rogenhoferi, Sauss. (described as Conozoa rogenhoferi, Sauss.). 30. Pyrgodera armata, F. W. — Jebel-Hamrin, River Diala, Mesopotamia, vii, 18, 1 d , H. D. Piele ; Ba^tyari, W. Persia, 29, vi. 11,1 d , G. B. Scott (British Museum) ; Abadeh, W. Persia, P. Paschen (Bombay Society) ; Eivar-i-kerkha, Persia, iv. Vol. 1907, I. deMorgan (Paris Museum), 31. Sphingonotus savignyi, Sauss. — Abadeh, Persia, vii-viii, P. Paschen (Bombay Society). 32. Sphingonotus brunneri, Sauss. — Abadeh, Persia, vii-viii, 1 5 , P. Paschen (Bombay Society). 33. Spingonatus balteaus, Serv. — Abadeh, Persia, vii-viii, 1 d > 2 2 2, P, Paschen (Bombay Society), 34. Sphingonotus octofasciatus, Serv. — Abadeh, Persia, v-vi, 2 d d , 3 2 2 - P- Paschen (Bombay Society). 35. Helioscirtus moseri, Sauss. — Benn-Chah-Bah, Baluchistan, 20. viii. 17, 1 2 > J- E. B. Hotson (Bombay Society). Iranella, gen. nov. General habitus not unlike that of Sphingonotus, but elytra and wings only half developed. Head rather large and thick. Front vertical ; frontal ridge above ocellum flat, broad, strongly punctured, below ocellum suddenly depressed and narrowed, with lateral margins raised, and totally disappearing half-way between ocellum and clypeus ; face broad ; facial keels strongly raised, rather thick, vertical, diverging downwards ; lateral ocelli touching the eyes and lateral margins of fastigium ; fastigium strongly sloping, shghtly convex, strongly rugose, with a short median sulcus which is widened anteriorly, then narrowed again and passing gradually into frontal ridge ; vertex between the eyes slightly concave, broad, with lateral margins straight, parallel, with a low median carinula, bifurcate anteriorily, very narrowly sulcate and extended into the occiput , the latter strongly rugose. Pronotum in prozona constricted and cylindrical intersected by three deep transverse sulci, the second one being bifurcate in that disc, so that the latter is intersected by four sulci ; lateral keels in prozona distinct, but interrupted in the middle ; metazona equal in length to prozona, slightly convex, strongly rugose and densely covered with small tubercules, while tubercules in prozona are large, but not densely placed ; median Carina in prozona replaced by a scarcely perceptible sulcus, while in metazona it is 730 JOVRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII well developed, very thin, linear ; hind angle of metazona straight, rounded ; lateral lobes about as long as high, strongly widened upwards, their fore margin slightly sinuate, lower margin oblique and very feebly sinuate in the fore part, hind margin very oblique, almost straight ; hind angle obtuse, rounded ; prozona in lateral lobes more than twice as long as metazona. Prosternum with its fore margin produced in a large, trapezoidal collar, widened and slightly bi- sinuate apically, with outer angles a httle less than 90°. Pectus very broad ; mesosternal lobes trapezoidal, a httle broader than long, with inner and hind margins straight, inner angles sharp, about 90° ; mesosternal interspace broader than long ; metasternal lobes extremely short, their interspace equal in breadth to the mesosternal one. Tympanum very large, oval. Fore and middle tibiae armed with 2-3 small spines both on outer and inner side near the apex. Hind' femora rather short, thick, with upper carina denticulate ; lower carina not widened, almost straight. Hind tibiae shghtly incurved and widened towards the apex, with 9 inner and 8 outer spines, without subapical spine on the outside ; outer spures twice as short as the inner ones. Elytra just a httle longer than abdomen, coriaceous, rugose, with the fore margin gradually rounded, hind margin almost straight, apex vddely rounded ; veins rather irregular, sinuate ; prc -radial area broad ; discoidal area open with an irregular intercalate vein ; anterior ulnar vein straight, reaching the apex of elytra ; anal area almost equal in breadth to one half of the whole elytra. Wings shorter than elytra, circular. Genotype : Jranella eremiaphila, sp. n. 36. Iranella eremiaphila, sp. n. d : Greyish ochraceous, rvith whitish and grey marks. Elytra beneath with several confluent round black spots in the pre -radial area and four smaller and lighter coloured ones in discoidal area ; all these spots are shghtly conspicuous (grey) on the upper side ; the hind radial and humeral veins, as well as all trans- verse venules of the anal field bluish-black on the lower side, but not distinctly coloured on the upside of elytra ; hind femora shghtly rose in the basal half of the inner side, with two scarcely perceptible greyish transverse fasciae in area extreno-media ; knees grey. Hind tibiae bluish-grey in the basal half, shghtly i-ose apicaUy, with spines sanguineous, black tipped. Length of body . . . . . . . . 15 mm. ,, pronotum . . . . . . . . 5, 5 ,, elytra . . . . . . . . 11 Maximal width of elytra . . . . . . 5 Length of hind femur . . . . . . . . 10 The type of this striking insect is unique. It has been taken by P. Paschen in Abadeh, Persia, vh-vih, 1916. This insect somewhat resembles Sphingonotus in the shape of the head and pronotum, but the disc of the latter is intersected by four sulci ; short elytra and wings give it a general appearance quite unlike any other genus of (Edipodince. The black spots on the underside of el3rtra remind one of the Jlantid genus Eremiaphila ; their biological meaning is quite incomprehensible without a careful study of the biology of the insect in its natural surroundings. 37. CEdipoda gratiosa, Serv. — Persia ; Abadeh, vii-viii. 16, P. Paschen (Bombay N. H. Society). 38. Acrotyltjs longipes, Charp. — Arabia : Muscat, Id, A. S. J. Jayakar (British Museum). 39. Acrotylus instjbricus, Scop.^ — Persia : Abadeh, vii-viii, 16, P. Paschen (Bombay N. H. Society). 40. Tmethis cisti, F.- — Syria : A1 eppo, F. G. Aldous (British Museum). 41. Tmethis .saussurei, Uvar., ab. violacea, n.— Differs from the typical blue-winged form only by the violaceous colour of wings, all morphological DESCRIPTIONS OF ORTROPTERA FROM S. W. ASIA. 731 characters, as well as dimensions, being the same. Types and several cotypes from Abadeh, Persia, P. Paschen (British Museum and Bombay N. H. Society). 42. Tmethis hotsoni, sp. n. 9 . Large, laterally compressed. Head narrow, prominent a bove pronotum ; front reclinate ; frontal ridge expressed above ocellum only, tot ally and abruptly disappearing below it ; fastigium of the vertex strongly sloping, longer than broaid, slightly widened anteriorly, transversely rugose ; eyes very prominent, oval ; occiput with an irregular median carina. Pronotum laterally compressed, especially so in prozona, which is considerably narrower and shorter than meta- zona ; prozona strongly tectiform, with median crista thick, deeply intersected by three transverse sulci, the hindmost of which is especially deep ; metazona as high, as prozona, thick, tectiform in its fore half, with thick elevated carina, which disappears on the apical third ; hind angle acute, rounded ; lateral lobes much higher, than long, with fore margin slightly sinuate ; lower margin sinuate anteriorly ; hind angle of lobes straight, rounded ; whole pronotum is covered with rather large, but not dense callous tubercules ; metazona rugulose. Eiytra very long, extending far beyond hind knees. Hind wings a little shorter than elytra. Mesostemal lobes nearly triangular, their inner margins being strongly oblique ; interspace much broader, than long. Metasternal lobes widely sepa- rated. Hind femora elongate, granulose, with upper margins slightly undulate ; lower margin straight. Second abdominal segment raised posteriorly in a rather thick median protuberance. General coloration whitish-grey ; pronotum feebly brick-reddish. Elytra ochraceous-grey, with indistinct grey marks. Wings light greenish-blue, with a 4-5 mm. wide black band, which starts from the middle of fore margin and runs straight backwards to the hind margin but does not reach it by about 5 mm., suddenly turning under a straight angle inwardly and reaching the inner margin ; two apical lobes brown. Hind femora coeruleous beneath, light blue inwardly, with inner knee lobes dark blue. Hind tibiae with inner and upper surfaces blue, with a pale ring near the base and a red apical spot. Abdomen pale with hind margins of basal tergits blue-black. Length of body . . 65 mm. „ pronotum . . 14 „ elytra . . 56 ,, hind femur . . ... . . 24 The female of this species has been taken by Lt.-Col. J. E. B. Hotson inMand, Baluchistan, 29, iv. 1916, on sand ; it bears the remark, ‘‘plentiful,” but only one rather damaged specimen has been included in collection sent to British Museum by the Bombay Society. The species belongs to the group of T. gibber, St., but is bigger, more constricted laterally, with longer elytra, than any other known species, and is also easily recognised by narrow band of wings, bent under a right angle. 43. PcECiLOCERtrs viTTATUS, Klug. — Arabia: Aden, Ktubu (British Museum). 43a. PcEciLOCERUS viTTATTJs var. CALOTROPiDis, Karsh. — A very large series of specimens in British Museum from Hadramaut, Arabia. 44. PcECiLocERFS PiCTTJs, F. — ^Baluchistan : Quetta (British Museum); Orma- rah, W. Gumming ; Nal, 21, ix. 17 and Greshag-Kalat, 28, viii, 17, J. E. B. Hotson (Bombay N. H. Society). — These are the most north-western records of this Indian species. 44a. PcRciLOCERTJs BUFONis, Klug. and ab. vulcania, Serv. — Very numerous specimens in Paris Museum from Sinai, J. Couayt, 1908, belonging both to typical form and entirely black ab. vulcania, together with several of inter- mediate coloration. 45. PcECLILOCERtrS ARABICUS, Sp. n. d . Size rather small for the genus. Antennae feebly flattened, distinctly longer than head and pronotum together. Front not very oblique, scarcely concave 732 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCLBTl, Vol. XXVUl. in profile ; frontal ridge between antennae strongly compressed, very narrowly sulcate, the sulcus slightly widened towards ocellum, suddenly narrowed below it, gradually widened and becoming more shallow towards the clypeus, not reaching the latter ; lateral facial keels more raised near the eyes, lowered below their middle. Fastigium of vertex attenuate, convex, rugosely punctate, with apex deeply furrowed. Eyes very prominent, short, oval. Occiput with a low median carina. Pronotum short, convex, its whole surface feebly coria- ceous ; transverse sulci very feeble ; median carina undeveloped in prozona and scarcely perceptible in metazona ; the latter a little shorter, than prozona ; hind margin very widely rounded ; lateral lobes with fore angles very obtuse, hind angles obliquely truncate. Elytra narrow, extending a httle beyond hind knees, marginal field feebly widened basally and gradually narrowed towards apex, the basal dilatation being, therefore, not as well marked, as in most other species of the genus ; apex of elytra elliptical. Wings shorter than elytra, with disc coloured. Hind femora slender, narrow. Supraanal plate obtusely triangular. Cerci short, slightly compressed, obtuse. Subgenital plate thick, rounded, carinated apically. General coloration grey. Antennae with basal joints blackish, with apical two-thirds irregularly annulated with browm, black and pale rings ; apical joints black. Face pale-brownish. Fastigium blackish from above. Occiput of darker shade than the cheeks. Pronotum unicolorous grey, -with hind margin narrowly shining black. Mesonotum and metanotum bluish-black. Elytra ash-grey, with numerous orange-yellow speckles. Wings rose, except the apex and hind border, which are hyahnous ; veins in apical part brownish. Abdomen dirty-yellow, with brown rings at the base of each segment. Fore and middle legs uniformly brownish-grey. Hind femora grey on the outside and black inwardly. Hind tibiae dark violaceous, with base almost black ; spines pale with black tips. Two basal joints of hind tarsi pale with brown spots ; last joint violaceous. Length of body 33 mm „ antennae .. 12,5 ,, pronotum . . 7 ., elytra . . 25, 5 ., hind femur .. 15 Arabia : Ktubu, G. W. Bury, 1 ^ (British Museum). - This species is very well characterised by its coloration, as well as by morpho- logical features, the shortness of pronotum and form of elytra rendering the best characters for separating it from its related species. 46. Pyegomobpha conica, 01. — Amara, Mesopotamia, F. P. Connor (Bombay Society). 47. Tropidauchen escalerai, Bol. — Persia, 1 9 (British Museum). This species differs from T. securicollis. Sauss. by but unimportant characters and is, probably, only a geographical form of the latter species. 48. Tropidauchen cultricolle, Sauss. — Afghanistan: Hari-rud valley, 1(J, 1 9 > 1 larva ; Badghis, 1 larva (British Museum). — These specimens have been recorded b/ Kirby (Trans. Lin. Soc. London, Zool. v, 3, p. 139, No. 11) as Eunapius granosvs, Stal. 49. Dericorys albidula, Serv. — Persia : Fao, 1891, W. Cummings (British Museum). 1839. Dericorys albidula, Serv., Ins. Orth., p. 639. 1853. Cyphopliorus tibialis, Fieber, Lotos, iii, p. 121, No. 2. 1875. Derocorys acutispina, Stal, Bih. Sven. Akad., iii (14), p. 27, No. 1. 1889. Derocorystes curvipes, Redt., Wien Ent. Ztg., viii, p. 29, No. 5. 1913. Dericorys albidula, Bolivar, Novitates Zool., xx, p. 613, No. 23. I am fully convinced by the most careful study of descriptions of all above quoted species, that there exists only one large species of Dericorys, which is \ DESCRIPTIOXS OF ORTHOPTERA FROM S. W. ASIA. 733 distributed from Transcaspia to Sahara and from Persian Gulf to Syria. The characters given by BoUvar (l.c.) as separating albidula, Serv., from curvipes Redt., are not specific but individual. 50. Tropidopola obtusa, sp. n. (fig. 2). Tn studying a rather extensive series of Tropidopola (\.2^ 139 9) taken in different parts of the Desert region, and comparing these specimens with those of Tropidopola cylindrica, Marsh, from Greece and Macedonia, I came to the conclusion that the desert species is not cylindrica, as it has been identified by all authors, including myself, but is well distinct from it. As it, however, agrees with cylindrica in all characters, except structure of the head, which is quite different and very constant throughout the series, I think it unnecessary to give a full description of the new species, and the following key together with drawings must be sufficient for separating it from cylindrica : — Fig. I. A. Tropidopola cylindrica 'Ma.rah, B. Tropidopola obtusa. sp. n. 1 (A) Head not thicker than pronotum, gradually narrowed anteriorly. Front long, more reclinate, in profile quite straight ; frontal carinm straight, converging gradually towards fastigium. Fastigium of vertex (fig. 1) distinctly longer than its base wide ; its sides straight, apex subacute. Eyes more elongate. Antennae distinctly flattened with median joints subquadrate , T. cylindrica Marsh. 2 (B) Head a little thicker than pronotum. Front shorter, less reclinate ; in profile slightly convex ; frontal carime subparallel, suddenly converging between the base of antennae and fastigium. Fastigium of vertex (fig. 2) not longer than its base wide ; its sides convex ; apex rounded. Eyes shorter and broader. Antennae scarce^ flattened with median joints distinctly longer than wide. Length of body of the type (female) 35mm. ; of pronotum 6, 5 ; of elytra 26 ; of hind femur 14, 5 T. obtusa, sp. n. The type is from Qualat-Salah, Mesopotamia, 6, i., 1918, P. A. Buxton. Other specimens of T. obtusa studied by me were from following localities: — Mesopotamia : Amara, Basra, P. A. Buxton ; S. Persia : Fao, D. Cummings, River Karun, Mohamarra, K. C. Mabbs (British Museum) ; Susa, J. dcMorgan (Paris Museum). Two specimens taken by Dr. Buxton in Mesopotamia (l^J from Basra,12, viii, 18 and 19 from Amara, 18, vii, 18) differ from all others by their fight green coloration, which is more fresh in 9 > while the male is slightly brownish from above ; both specimens are also larger than usual, and have longer antenme 734 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIBT. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. consisting of more elongated joints, than may be seen in typical specimens of obtusa. Without studying a larger series of this form, I cannot decide whether those characters are sufficiently constant to be specific, and I pro- pose in the meantime to designate it as var. vikescens ; n. The dimensions of the typical specimen (female from Amara, Mesopotamia) are, as follows : — Length of body 39 mm.; of pronotum 7 ; of elytra 28 ; of hind femur 16, 5.* 51. Thiscecelkus (?) moebosus, Serv. 1839. Acridium morbosum, Serville, Ins. Orth., p. 682, No. 44. 1870. Caloptenus cinciicollis, Walker, Cat. Derm. Salt. Br. Mus. iy, p. 689, No. 29. There is no doubt though the types of cincticollis, Walk., are lost, that this species is identical with morbosum, Serv., both insects having been described from Sinai ; I have seen two females from the same locality : Sinai, J. Couayt, 1909 ; desert Arabique, Mahamadieh, canal de Suez (Paris Museum). In British Museum there is one female of this species, which is labelled “ Spain” which is doubtless wrong and due to some mistake in labelling. I am not quite sure, whether the species belongs to Tkisoecetrus, where it is included by some authors, but the question cannot be decided, until male specimens are studied. 52. Sphodeomerus cceleosyriensis, Giglio-Tos (Fig. 3c, 4c.). 1893. Caloptenus ccdesyriensis, Giglio-Tos, Boll. Mus. Zool. An. comp. Torino, viii, N. 164, p. 10, No. 51, fig. 4. 1914. Calliptamus italicus, L. .ab. carbonaria, Uvar., Revue Russe d’Entom., xiv, p. 10. Shortly after I described carbonaria I had the opportimityof stud /ing extensive series of the same insect from different loca- hties in Transcaucasia, Persia and Kurdis- tan, as well as of maMng some field obser- vations on living insects, which enables me to state, that it is quite a distinct species from italicus, 1j. The examination of a single male in British Museum from Syria (Aleppo) enables me to identify carbonaria mth coelesyriensis. The species is rather variable in the development of lateral keels of pronotum and, as its coloration also varies from pitch-black to reddish-grey or clay-yellow, it might be mistaken for italicus. It differs, however, from the lat- ter species by shorter and broader hind femora, and, more distinctly, by the shape of end of male cerci, which in italicus is armed with two small teeth under the apical lobe, while in coelosyriensis there is only one tooth ; these differences are clearly shown in figures (see fig. 2). This species is distributed from Syria to Turkestan (Ferghana) and from S. E. Transcaucasia to Central Persia (Teheran, in Caucasian Museum ; Pusht-i-Kuh, B Fig 2. Tips of the male cerci. A — of Calliptamus ccelosyrien- sis, G. T. B — of C. italicus, L. these Paris Museum). 53. Thiscecetrus ADSPERSUS, Redt. — Mesopotamia: Sinn-Abtar, vii, 16, Shortridge ; Amara, viii-ix, 16, Connor ; Baghdad, 13, ii.l7 (Bombay Society). * Specimens of Tropidopola from Algeria, whence I have studied only three examples, are mor j alike obtusa, than cylindrica in the shape of fastigium, b:it they differ by the frontal carinse being gradually coiivergent, as in clylindrica. I propose to regard the Algerian Tropidopola as a geographical race of the desert o621,Vol. vii, p, 50. 739 THE IDENTIFICATION OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES. By Lieut. -Colonel W. H. Evans, D.S.O., R.E., F.Z.S., F.E.S. ( With 2 text figures.) 1. In a former paper, entitled “ Butterfly collecting in India,” I have described briefly the characteristics of Indian butterflies and how to catch and preserve them. The object of the present article is to exjilain in simple lan- guage how butterflies are to be identified. There are several means of doing this. Perhaps the simplest is to get an expert to do it for one ; anotlicr b}' comparison with Museum collections or coloured diagrams and lastly by wor- rying them out with a text book, such as Bingham’s or De Niceville’s. Muse- ums and coloured diagrams are inaccessible to the majorily of collectors except at rare intervals. Experts are few and far between and often somewhat un- satisfactory, so that the only thing remaining to be done is to work with a text book, v'hich method, I may add is the most satisfactory in the long run. I would warn the reader that the identification of the 1,500 odd butterflies to be ob tam- ed in the Indian Empire is no easy matter even for the Museum expert and, unless the subject is studied in a methodical manner, the results are likely to be most inaccurate. Still do not bs dismayed ; except perhaps for the Blues and Skippers, the names of the butterflies, that are ordinarily to be met wdth, can be picked up pretty quickly, while the rarer or more obscure species can be put aside until a museum can be visited or an expert consulted. 2. As a prelude to identification it is necessary to understand the system of classification in general use. Now the object of classification is to arrange the specimens being classified in the most convenient manner possible for refer- ence. With the various species belonging to the Animal and Vegetable King- doms the accepted desideratum is to follow what is called the natural order of evolution, the lowly bacteria being at the beginning of the list and man, in the opinion of himself, at the end. l!J Uj [\} I. !.i l!J LU IN I! 1 1 !J UJ l!.i ' !J ' !J LU U.J a\ A The system of evolution may be compared to a tree. Consider the butter- flies as represented by such a tree, which has sprung in the distant past from some older tree and so on from the earliest forms of life. Imagine our tree to be composed of a number of branches, from each of which has sprung a number of branchlets and from each of which again there have growm a number of twigs. The twigs represent the various sjiecies of butterflies and Hie problem is to arrange them in the best order possible. The correct solution of the problem is to take the lowest branch and to lay it on the ground ; on its right is placed the next branch and so on to the last or topmost ; the branchlets are then stripped off and laid above each branch in the same order 740 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vot. XXVIII finally the twigs are placed over the branchlets. Thus we manage to arrange the twigs or species in a reasonable order. It seems very easy, but unfortunately all that is left of our ti’ee, which has been growing for millions of years, are just a few of the tv'igs. In some of the other branches of Natural Historj' the Geologist can help the Zoologist to reconstruct their trees by means of fossils, but, as may very well be imagined, he can give us no assistance -vvorth the name with our tree. Thus it may be seen that the problem of butterfly classification is extraordinarily dififlcult, since all we have to go upon is the study of present day conditions, our knowledge of which may be said to have attained respec- table dimensions since the days of the pioneer Linnaeus at the end of the eigteenth century, but, as stated in my former paper, far more remains to be done especially in India. 3. The species Ls the basis of classification, but what constitutes a species is not so easy to define. Bingham in his volumes in the Fauna of India Series on the butterflies discarded the word as it was so open to misconception and used the word “ form ” instead. I think it is now generally accepted that, when two so-called forms fly together and do not interbreed, they are to be regarded as species ; where they do not fly together and present well defined differences, it is a matter of opinion whether they are to be regarded as species or geogi'a- phical races ; usually if they are structurally similar and of similar habits, it is probably prefsrable to regard the two forms as races, otherwise they should be treated as species. A number of allied species are grouped for the sake of convenience into what is called a genus. Usually butterflies that differ in struc- ture are placed in seiiarate genera, but no hard and fast rule can l>e laid down, since certain obviously closely allied species differ materially from each other in this respect, as also do rarely individuals of the same species, while cases are by no means unknown where the structure of the wings on one side differs from that on the other side. Some Naturalists divide genera into sub-genera, but except perhaps in the case of some of the larger and more unv«elcly genera this elaboration is undesirable. Genera are further grouped into sub-families and families. A reference to the diagram in paragraph 2 will indicate how the families, genera and species correspond to the branches, branchlets and twigs of the butterfly tree. 4. Without the history of the past to aid him, it will be realised that the Naturalist is groping in the dark w'hen he tries to discover the natural order in which butterflies should bo placed. All he can do is to examine the features of each species ; to ascertain and tabulate the differences between them in res- pect of every know'n character ; to decide w'hat value is to be placed on the differences that he has found and finally to adojet a grouping and order that appears most natural. Amateurs are ahvays blaming the so-called cabmet naturalist for changing the classification and nomenclature ; I share their an- noyance when some delver into the records of the past enforces what is called the law of priority, that is to say, changes a name because he has found that some defunct naturalist had produced some other name prior to the date on which the one in current use had been coined. But when the change is neces- sitated by a well founded advance in knowledge, the objection is a foolish one. The essential point to bear in mmd is that no hard and fast rules can be laid down for the definition of a species, genus, or family or for the value of any particular feature ; again and again a character that has been considered above reproach for defining species, etc., has turned out to be a snare and a delusion. The consensus of opinion of the best naturalists of the day is the only guiding principle that can be followed. I am afraid that the leading experts often differ a good deal, but at least the main principles of butterfly classification have now been settled. .5. Having outlined the principles of the system of classification in vogue aad its limitations, it is now' necessary to consider the various characters on THE IDENTIFICATION OF INDIAN BUTTEBFLIES. 741 which it is based and to explain in general terms the %’alue that can be placed on each. Broadly tlie characters may be divided into two main groujJs, those appertaining to the early stages and those to the butterfly itself. I will pass briefly over the features that concern the early stages. My j-easons are fii’stly that a knowledge of them is of no use to the amateur who is trymg to identify liis captures and secondly that they have been very fully described by Mr. Bell in his articles on the “ Common Butterflies of the Plains ” now being pub- lished m the joiu-nal ; for purposes of classification their importance is paramount. The principal characters are the egg, its shape, size, its delicate ribs and whether laid singly or in clutches ; the caterpillar or larva at birth and W'hen full grown, its shape ana clothing, wdrether of hairs, spines or tentacles, etc., the plant it feeds on and whether its habits are gregarious or not ; the chrysalis or pupa, its shape and mode of attacliment. Let us pass on to the perfect msect or imago as it is tecimically called. The featmes to be studied are firstly those pertaining to the body, i.e., the legs, eyes, antennae, j>alin and genitalia ; se- condly those pertammg to the wing, i.e., the shape, venation, cilia, markhigs and secondary sexual characters. I wall not discuss further the genitalia, which are to be found at the end of the body or abdomen, smee their examination is beyond the beginner ; their study is still incomplete, but since it was com- menced, a number of changes have had to be made in the arrangement of various species and genera. The remaming featirres should be studied carefully by the begmner : the procedure is perfectly simple, if the spirit is wdlling. To follow the descriptions it is as well to have at hand a freshly killed butterfly of com- paratively large size so that it does not dry quickly and which has not been mauled about too much durmg the process of killing. A good hand lens is a necessity and to make the veins of the svings easily visible apply pure petrol liberally by means of an ordinary fine paint brush. 6. A butterfly has six legs sprmging from the part of the body known as the thorax and each leg consists of four parts ; the coxa or hip next the body, usual- ly rather difficult to see properly ; the femur or thigh next to the coxa, usually long and directed upwards ; the tibia or shank, also usually long and directed domiwards ; the tarsus, which is m continuation of and in line with the tibia, is composed of a number of small joints and ends in a single or double pair of claws. The tibia of the foreleg sometimes bears a central spur and on the hind leg it may be furnished with one or two pairs of movable spines. In many butter- flies the forelegs are atrophied and unfitted for walking, sometimes, more par ticularly in the male, appearing as a brush pres.sed up against the body. Some times the legs are curiously swollen, often more or less hairy, while in some species of skippers the male has a prominent tuft of hair on each of the fore coxae or hmd tibiae. The difterences between the legs have proved of the very greatest importance in defining families and genera, perhaps more so than any other feature. In certain families the sex can be at once indicated by a glance at the forelegs. 7. The eyes of butterflies are compo.sed of an innumerable number of minute faces ; they may be absolutely smooth or covered with hairs, the density and length of which varies with the species. Whether the eyes are smooth or hairy (ciliated) serves very often as a useful and easily recognised character for sepa- rating genera. Usually the eyes are black or shining golden brown, but in some of the skippers they are blood red. 8. The antennae are the long feelers that spring from the forehead of a butterfly between the eyes. Usually they are close together at their bases but in the skippers they are wide apart. They may be smooth or scaled, plain or chequered, or smeared with white or ochreous colouring. Their relative length is an important matter, while the shape of the club at the end of the antenna is even more important. In some species, blues principallj', there is no club at all (filiform) ; in others there is just a perceptible thickening at the end (incrassate), 742 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. usually there is a well shaped club (clavate or pyriform) ; the club may be hollowed out below (excavate) ; in many skippers there is a long f^iform end to the club, which is bent over like a hook. The colour of the club varies and there may be a white band below it. The variations in the antennae are often found to be useful in defining genera. 9. The palpi are comparatively large processes, one on either side of the head springing from the edges of the mouth and curving forwards in fi’ont of the face and eyes ; between the palpi is protruded the proboscis. Each of the palpi consists of three joints, of which the first, nearest to the body, is hardly distin- guishable from the stout second joint ; the third joint is much narrower and varies very considerably in different species ; in some it is needle like ; in others entirely concealed in the second joint ; sometimes very long and stout; sometimes the third joint is what is known as porrect or extended forwards horizontally or it may be vertical, known as erect. The clothing of the palpi often fur- nishes a uiefnl mesns ol separating genera; it may be hairy, bristly (or seto.se) or scaly. 10. The beginner should master as soon as be can the venation (or neura- tion), that is to say, the arrangement of the veins (or ribs, nervures or nervules) that support the wing membrane and the nomenclature that is employed to describe them. The majority of the genera are based upon venation differences. B is the “ Base ” of the wing next the body. A is the “ Apex ” and T the “ Tornus ” or anal angle. The margin of the wing from B to A is known as the “ Costa ” or costal margin ; from A to T as the “ Termen ” or outer margin ; from B to T as the “ Dorsum ” or inner margin. C is an enclosed area known as the “ Cell,” from which it will be seen that most of the veins spring or have their origin. The veins are numbered as showm in the diagi’am. The vein bordering the upper edge of the cell from the base to the origin of vein 7 is called the subcostal vein (or sev for short) ; that bordering the lower edge of the cell from the base to vein 4 is the median vein (mv) ; the veins at the end of the cell betw'een veins 4 and 7 are the discocellulars (dev) ; between 7 and 6 it is the upper dev, between 6 and 5 the middle dev and between 5 and 4 the lower dev ; the middle and lower devs may sometimes be absent. There are normally 12 veins on the forewing (F or FW for short), but vein 8 and sometimes vein 9 also may be missing. In the majority of butterflies vein 8 and 9 and sometimes vein 10, rarely vein 6 as well, emanate from vein 7, but in the skippers all the veins spring from the cell. In some groups vein 1 (vl for short) is forked at the base; in others there is a small vein between vl and the mv ; via is only present in one group. The veins along the costa are sometimes bent towards each other, occasionally touching and more rarely 7 8 -A THE IDEXTIFICATlOy OF IXDIAX BUTTERFLIES. 743 completely coalesced or what is called anastomosed. In one group the basal portion of vl2, often also of the sev and oven of the mv is swollen. In the hindwing (H or H\V) there are only 8 veins, but via is present in the majority of species, as is also the short curved .spur near the base of v8, known as the precosta! vehi (pcv). In some species there is a small precostal cell formed either by a small vein between v8 and the sev or v8 and the pcv. Normally all the veins from 2 to 8 spring from the cell, but sometimes vs 3 and 4 may be forked bej’ond the cell. The middle and lower devs as well as vo may be absent or only faintly indicated. The secondary sexual characters often cause curious distortions or swellings of the veins. In the older text books vl is called the submedian, vs 2, 3 and 4 the first, second and third medians ; vs 5 and 6 F and vo H the discoidal veins, v5 also being knovTi as the radial ; vs 7 to 11 F and 6, 7 H the subcostals ; vl2 F and v8 H the costal. The dev is sometirnes called the transverse vein. Differences of venation are of variable value in different groups ; sometimes a diffei'ence will separate whole sub-families, while sometimes well marked differences are to be found between the sexes of the same species. As a rule the differences observable on the forewing are more important than those of the hindwing. 11. The shape of the wings is often an important consideration, though here again the value of the feature is variable ; sometimes the seasonal and sexual differences are remarkable. The presence or absence of one or more tails (cau- date) towards the tornus of the hindwing is usually important, though there are species, which may or may not have a tail. The tails may be very fine (filiform) or stout and fringed like the rest of the wing (ciliate). The costa may be straight or more or less highly arched and sometimes on the fore wing it is ser- rate or furnished with teeth like a saw, easily felt by drawing the tip of the finger along it from the tip towards the base ; on the hind wing the costa is occasionally concave. The apex may be rounded, sharply pointed or produced in comparison with the rest of the wing ; occasionally it is produced and the termen is concave below, when it is termed falcate. The termen or outer mar- gin may be sinuate or wavy, straight, convex or somewhat rarely concave ; crenulate or dentate, when produced at the end of each vein and concave between the veins. The dorsum may be straight or concave ; sometimes in the males it is highly convex. The tomus of the hindwing is often more or less produced, but more usually it is rounded ; it may be angled sharply ; sometimes, espe- cially in the blues, it is furnished with a more or less prominent lobe. 12. The cilia are the fringes, composed of two or three layers of scales that are to be found bordering the termens of the wings. They may be cinereous (ashy), white, yellow or brown ; or they may be more or less chequered. Their length is variable and often more pronounced at the tornus of the hind wing, where also they may be differently coloured. 13. The differences between the markings on the wings are used to separate species, but here again a word of caution is necessary ; the seasonal or sexual differences are often most extraordinary ; development under identical condi- tons often causes the species of widely separated genera or even families to look alike and an examination of the structure is necessary. In some genera the species are so alike that they can only be separated by an examination of the genitalia or of the secondary sexual characters. The variation between the individuals of the same species is often considerable and there is a tendency to the obsolescence of the markings, while so-called sports or mutations are occa- sionally to be met with. There are quite a number of skippers belonging to different genera which are plain brown insects bearing no markings whatsoever. A few technical terms are used when describing a butterfly, which the beginner should master. 22 744 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. The interspaces between the veins are numbered after the vein next below; thus space 1 is the interspace between veins 1 and 2 ; the space before vein 1 is la and that before vein la, when present, is called lb. Markings parallel to the veins are called longitudinal and those at right angles to them transverse. Markings internal to the centre of the cell are basal ; those about a line through the centre of the cell are subbasal ; those about a line through the end of the cell are central. The area between the end of the cell and the termen is known as the disc and the markings about the centre of the disc are discal ; those before the centre are prediscal and those after the centre are postdiscal. Markings along the termen are terminal or marginal and those just before the termen are subterminal or submarginal. Markings along the costa are costal, those about the apex are apical ; those about the tornus are tornal or anal and those about the dorsum are dorsal. The names subapical, etc., are used for markings near the apex, etc. The colour of the ground generally and of the markings is natm'aUy a matter of importance and is often very difficult to describe in words. Often it is iri- descent, presenting a different shade according to the light. Amongst the blues, it is quite impossible to define the exact shade. The shape of the markings have to be defined. A spot may be annular, if it is just a ring enclosing the ground colour ; reniform if it is kidney shaped; the words quadrate, rhomboidal, oval, elongate require no definition. If there is an eye in the centre of a spot, it is called an ocellus and the eye may be fur- nished with an iris ; if there are two eyes the ocellus is called geminate. A band or fascia may be continuous or broken, straight or curved, regular or ir- regular ; if broken or irregular, it is important to note at which vein or space this occurs. A band consisting of more or less conjoined spots is called ma- cular and, if the spots are annular, it is catenulated. A line may be sinuous, or if, as is often the case, it is composed of conjoined crescents, it is lunulate or lunular. Fine lines are called strigae and, if the wing or a portion thereof is covered with fine lines, it is described as striated. 14. The secondary sexual characters to be found in the males of certain species are of various types. Many authors separate oS genera on accomrt of differences in these characters, but unless a convenient group is formed thereby, the practice is to be deprecated. The features to be found are tufts of hair on the wings, legs or at the end of the abdomen, which may be recumbent or erectile ; brands on the wmgs m various positions, which may consist of narrow stigmas or of large circular or ova! patches and which may be covered with tufts of hair ; swollen or distorted veins ; pouches on the whigs, pendulous or flat ; the dorsum of the forewing bowed ; nacreous or scale-less patches about the dorsum on the unf or the costa on the uph ; pencils of hair that can be extended from the end of the abdomen. Except in a few isolated cases the females are devoid of these characters ; in two genera there is a corneous pouch, the shape of which varies with the sj>ecies, at the end of the abdomen ; and in the Blues there is a species with a peculiar tuft of close set fine hairs at the end of the abdomen. 15. The description of a genus comprises the following in the order given : Fore’whig (F), shape and venation. Hindw'ing (H), do. Body. Legs, Antennae, Palpi, Eyes. A note showing how the sexes differ and how the genus differs from its allies. For a species the description should be given in the following sequence : Above, general colouring ; cilia. Upperside foiewing (upf), shape and markmgs. Upperside hindwing (uph), do. Below, general colourmg ; cilia. Underside forewing (unf), shape and markhigs. THE IDENTIFICATION OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES. 745 Underside hindwing (unh), shape and makings. Colour of body, legs, antennae and palpi. The male ( cf ) is described first and then the female ( 9 ). Where seasonal variation occurs, the wet season form (wsf) is followed by the drj' season form (dsf). Individual and geographical variation is then described, ending ulth a comparison with its allies and a note on its habits, time of appearance, etc. -At the end of the description the expanse should be stated, preferably in milli- metres, the expanse of a butterfly is measured from the centre of the thorax to the extreme tip of the fore^ving and the figure so obtained is doubled. A butterfly scientifically bears two names, that of the genus followed by that of the species, thus Papilio polyies ; if the individual belongs to a particular geogi-ajjhical race a third name is added, thus Papilio polyte^ romulus, the first named race (name tj’pe or nymotypical form) being Papilio polyies polyies. Where a variety has to be specified, a further name is added with the prefix var. or V., and if pertaining to one sex only, the sex sign is also given, thus Papilio polyies romulus J v. cyrus. After the last name it is usual to add the abbre- viated name of the describer, thus Papilio polyies, L. (= Linnaeus). Some authors assign latin names to seasonal forms, but the suffixes wsf. and dsf. seem more suitable. Casual varieties and aberrations have been named, but the practice is undesirable, while the naming of slight varieties leads to endless confusion. Dimorphic forms and strongly marked varieties of reasonably frequent occiu'rence alone seem to be worthy of names as varieties. 16. The foregoing sketch will, I hope, enable the beginner to follow the text books on Indian butterflies, viz. — The Butterflies of India, Burma and Ceylon ; by Marshall and De Niceville. Lepidoptera Indica ; by Moore and Sudnhoe. Butterflies, Fauna of India series, b}* Bingham. The Macro-lepidoptera of the World ; by Seitz ; the Indo-Malayan section by Fruhstorfer and Jordan. DeATceville and Bingham give full descriptions of each species but very few illustrations ; they both give keys, whereby the patient student can work out the identification of his captures. Moore gives complete descriptions and a coloured figure of every insect, but no keys. Fruhstorfer gives the briefest of brief descriptions, no keys, but nearly every species is illustrated. It will be found that the nomenclature adopted by the above authors differs very mate- rially, partly because their ideas on ciassification differed, partly because of the progress of the knowledge in the interval and partly because errors in names required rectif5dng. When somebody catches a butterfly that he cannot iden- tify and thinks rightly or \vrongly that he has a species no one has given a name to, if he considers he is competent enough to do so, he describes it and gives it a name. He is supposed to describe a particular specimen, which is desig- nated the type and if he would only lodge the type in the British or other first class museum, all would be well, since any mistakes he may have made can be rectified in due course. But if, as is so often the case, he keeps the type in his own collection, it eventually gets lost and then the trouble begins ; reams may have to be written as to what he really meant, while others catching the same in- sect may describe it as new. If perchance a name has been used for a species that had already been used in the same genus, then bv the rules of priority the name cannot stand and another name has to be coined, but, if later on the species is put into another genus, the old name has to be dug out ; and so the game goes on. In the case of genera the rule is that you must not use a name that has been used for a genus already in any of the realms of Zoology, so that the game of changing names is almost as exciting as in the case of species. Owing to our nation not being the only pebble on the beach, the institution of a strict co- ordinating authority is hopeless, though efforts have been made in that direc- 746 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. tion with some success. Discarded names are called synonyms and many species have collected quite a number of them. 17. In ordei' to further the study of the Indian butterflies and to popularise it, what appears to be needed is a cheap publication, whereby identification may be effected with reasonable facility. Full descriptions bore the ordinary amateur, \\4»ile the really earnest student can refer to the text books ; good kej’s giving the main differences are more acceptable to the majority. Colom'cd plates are very expensive, but well executed photographs carry one a long way and have the merit of being accurate, which is more than can be said alwaj's of hand coloured plates. I propose to follow up the introduction to butterfl}^ catching in India contained in my previous article and the present one by a series of keys accompanied by about thirty plates, containing sufficient illustrations to enable a beginner to spot the genus to which a particular insect belongs, after which the key will enable him to discover the species. The i)hotogi’aphs are tx!Uig taken by Mr. Albert Jealdns of Simla, who being a Naturalist as well as a photo grapher, is taking the very greatest pains in carrjdng out the work. An at- tempt has been made to give trivial names to the species, not the races, since many a beginner will not face the latin names ; I have made an attempt to use the names prevailing at schools in the Hills ; JMr. 0. C. Ollcnbach has assisted me in selecting the names. The work, which has been carried out in my leisure moments, wdll not be quite up to the standard it might have reached had I had more time to devote to it and the opportunity of referring to a museum collection or library. It will, I hope, serve a u.seful purpose and later on it may be possible to produce an improved edition in book form, embodying any suggestions that members may care to make. 18. In order to shorten the work, full use has been made of abbreviations. Where I cannot personally vouch for a locality, I have added the authority in brackets. The families are lettered A, B, etc. ; genera are numbered serially within the family and species serially within the genus ; a particular butterfly can then be referred to as say B14-3. It will be seen that at the beginning of each paragraph in the keys there is a number followed by a number in brackets (in the families key letters in place of numbers), thus la (6a), if the de.scription under 1 a corresponds, pass on to 1 b, if it fails go on to the number in brackets 6a. The reason for using the order la, lb — 1 is to preserve the numbering of the species or genus as the case may be, w'hich always follows a number without the small letter suffix. Geographical races are distmguished by Greek letters. No synonyms will be given. I follow the order which appears to me best and most up-to-date. Small print notes will be found at the end of each section ex- plaining any departures from the hitherto accepted practice, notes on any new genera, species or races, etc. ; these notes are intended for the expert and the amateur need not bother to read them ; they will be made as short as possible. Do not expect perfection ; owing to the variation that occurs, the construction of foolproof keys is impossible ; remember too that the aim of the work is cheapness and that it has been executed in the spare time of an overworked official. Keys to Indian Butterflies. Families. Aa (I). F one or more veins cm.anate from v7. Antennae approximate at the base. Hind tibiae with only one pair of spurs. Ab (H). H with precostal vein (except a few Pierid se). Ac (Ca). Forelegs fully developed in both sexes. A (B). H via absent (present in all other families). Papilionidee. The Swallowtails. B (A). H via present. Pieridee. The Whites. THE IDENTIFICATION (>F INDIAN BUTTERFLIES. 747 Ca (Ac). Forelegs not perfect in botli sexes. Cb (G). Forelegs inipei'fcct in both scx;es (except in two genera). Ce (Ea-)- F H colls closed, devs present. C (D). F vl runs into the mv at the base. Danaidce. The Danai'h. 1) (C). Fvi runs into base free of the m\n Satyridee. The Browns. Ea (Cc). H cell open, devs absent (slenderly closed in a few cases.) E (F). Palpi small, narrow and sharp in front Amathusudoe. The Amathusiids. F (E). Palpi large, broad, rounded in front. F cell usually open. N ymphalidce. The Nymphalids. G (Cb). Forelegs imperfect and brush like in cf ; developed for walking in the $ . Erycinidee. The Erycinids. H (Ab). H no precostal vein. Forelegs perfect. Lycaenidee . The Blues. I (Aa). F all veins from the coll or base. Antennae wide apart at the base and often with a hooked club. All legs perfect. Hesperiidee. The Shippers. Notes. — 1 have followed tieiiz in adopting the above order and naniesj English authors place the Papilionidie and Pieridte after the Erycinidae; treat the Danaidee, Satyridae, AmathusiidtB and Nymphalidae as subfamilies of one family, the Nymphalidie ; call the Amathusiidse, the Morpbidse and the Erycinidas, the Nemeobidae or Riodinidte. The Hesperiidse are s< metimes treated as a separate suborder under the name Grypocera, the remainder of the Butterflies being the Rhopalocera. 748 EGRET FARMING IN SIND. • BY Capt. C. E. Benson, D.S.O. ( With 2 j)lates) Whilst spending a fortnight duck shooting in Sind, I took the opportunity of visiting one or two Egret farms. My object was to try and form some sort of opinion as to whether the method of farming, as practised by the villagers, was satisfactory or not. There are many difficulties which stand in the way of an individual who attempts to collect true information on a subject that closely concerns the pockets of the people from whom he is trying to collect that information. Not the least of these is, that one is usually mistaken for what one is not. As an instance of this, at Changro, in the Kambar district, near Larkana, — a busy centre of Egret farming, — I was mistaken for a Government of India official expressly sent down from Delhi, for the object of finding some just cause for levying an increased tax on Egret feathers. No assurances on my part could remove this idea from the minds of the villagers. The information obtained there was consequently entirely derived from personal observation, and any other facts, for the truth of w'hich I had to rely on the word of the villagers them- selves, were not probably strictly within the bounds of accuracy. Again, one of the most important features of Egret farming, is the actual method of plucking ; for it is in doing this that the greatest cruelty can be practised. If one cannot witness the actual operation of plucking, the next best thing is to be able to see the bird immediately afterwards. This I was able to do at an Egret farm on the Munnchur Lake near Boubak Road. The Mahanas on the Muimchur themselves proffered a great deal more information than any that I had been able to collect either in the Larkana or in the Kambar district— information that I was able to verify by personal observation. They were no strangers to me and consequently had no suspicions of my having any underlying motive for my enquiries. Here also I was lucky enough to meet an Excise Officer who had himself countless times witnessed the capture, breeding, transport and plucking of the birds, and consequently was able to add invaluable and reliable information to that which I had already obtained. In the following table I have endeavoured to collate aU the facts of importance, accuracy and interest obtained from the sources above mentioned, avoiding as far as possible any statements which I have not been able to prove either b}' personal observation or through reliable information. Though there are many Egret Farms in Sind and I have had the opportunity of visiting only a very few of them, I am nevertheless convinced that the methods practised in one are in the main those jx-actised throughout the whole of that country. Enclosures for Birds. 1. The size of the average enclosure is about 40 feet long, 20 broad and 5 high. 2. The walls and roof are constructed of poles and matting, or of woven reeds. 3. The floor is of hard mud and the general condition is extremely clean. 4. The number of birds to each enclosure varies from 80 to 120. 5. In some places birds are marked according to broods or enclosures by dyeing the breast feathers. 6. No perches are provided for the birds. Food and Water. 1. The food supplied consists of un-chopped small fry. EGKET FARMING IN SIND. One of the enclosures in a Sind Egret Farm. KOHl-rr FARMING IN SIND. Nesting Birds. Additions to the F/Uiily. EGEET FARMING IN SIND. 749 2. In all the places visited the supply of these fry was easily obtainable by netting in the neighbouring dhands and they were all fresh and clean. 3. The quantity given per bird per day was sufficient — about 1 lb. a day. 4. Water is supplied in earthenware bowls which are left lying on the ground and of which there are large numbers in each enclosure. 5. This water is obtained either from the well in the village itself, as at Changro where the villagers drink the same water as that supplied to the birds, or from the neighbouring dhand, as on the Munnchur. N.B. — As the condition of the feathers of the bird is improved by a good supply of both fresh food and water, it is certainly not in the inter- ests of the villagers to in any way stint them of these necessities. In all the enclosures I visited the birds appeared well fed and not in the least hungry, and there was never any visible sign of any shortage of either food or drink, both of which were lying about in every enclosure in large quantities. Mutilation. 1. No blind Egrets were seen. 2. The terminal joint of the wing of every bird is amputated. 3. Birds are never tethered in the enclosure. 4. Whenever the birds are moved, either by road or rail, the eyelids are sown up. The method adopted is as follows : — The lower lid of each eye is pierced by a fine needle and a piece of very fine cotton thread is drawn through. The two pieces of cotton are then tied over the head of the bird, thus causing the lower eyelid to be drawn up over the upper e5'elid. N.B. — With the exception of the Egret farm on the Munnchur very little transportation takes place. In fact the transportation of the birds is almost entirely confined to those times when the newly captured Egrets are brought by rail from the place where they have been originally caught to the farm in Sind which has bought them. As most of the farming is carried on by breeding, there is very little transportation taking place and therefore very little suturing. But on the Munnchur it is quite different. Here the Mahanas are com- pelled by floods to move their huts twice a year — once at the begin- ning of the rains from the borders of the lake to Bubak village, and again back again at the end of the rains. Hence the birds have their eyelids sown up twice a year. I carefully examined over 50 birds on the Munnchur Lake which had undergone the operation of suturing, but never discovered any visible ill affects caused thereby. But it must be remembered that as I visited the farm in February, no birds had been sutured for the last four or five months. Extraction of Plumes. 1. All the dorsal plumes of H. yarzetta are plucked once every three months, just before moulting would naturally take place. 2. The plumes are not plucked one by one, but all together, one man holding the bird while the other plucks. 3. The feathers are held in the centre and are jerked out; 4. The backs of the birds immediately after plucking show considerable laceration and a good deal of blood is draMoi during the process. 5. The occipital plumes of H. yarzetta are not plucked. N.B. — Curiously enough the bird, dming the actual plucking, does not show any obvious signs of pain. There are no bad after effects that I could see. The bird does not sulk but continues, on release, to walk about and feed as if nothing had occurred. What pain there may be would appear to be purely temporary. But from the con- 50 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. dition L>t the backs of the birds which I was able to examine care- fully on the Munnchur Lake, I am convinced that the pain inflicted by plucking, as the ^illagers do it, temporary as it may be, is certainly very considerable. It is also hard to believe that there are no permanent after effects, though I never found a single trace of one. The method they adopt however for extracting the feathers in Sind is undoubtedly disgraceful and all the pain inflicted could certainly be avoided. Breeding and Treatment of Young. 1. When the nesting season approaches, in some cases old Egret nests are provided ; in others dried sticks and grass are given the birds with which to make their own nests. 2. Sufficient quantities of nests or of other materials are provided to allow for every pair of birds who wish to nest. 3. No perches are provided and the nest has to be made on the ground. 4. The number of birds in each enclosure is not reduced when the nesting season approaches which leads to over-crowding. 5. The young birds are not removed from the parent birds, nor are they fed in any separate way or on any other diet. 6. The parent birds and their young are placed in separate enclosures and there is no interference with the natural bringing up of the young birds. 7. On the young birds being fledged the terminal joint of the wing is cut and the new brood is then placed in a fresh enclosure, the parent birds being returned to their original enclosm’e. N.B. — On the Munnchur the parent birds are allowed to wander free with their young outside the enclosure. But on the young becoming fledged the same procedure is followed as above. Capture of Wild Birds. 1. Comparatively speaking few wild birds are captured, and the stock is almost entirely renewed by breeding. 2. In the Kambar district the villagers say that they imjMrt their new birds from the Punjab and that no trapping of any sort takes place in their district. N.B. — This is probablj- not true, but I could obtain little information about this actual fact. 3. On the Munnchur, when wild birds are required, they are captured as follows : — A one inch mesh net is staked out on the ground when and where the Mahanas expect the wild birds to come. Round this net are placed stuffed decoys. When the wild bird alights he gets his feet entangled in the mesh of the net and is then easily caj)tured. The wing is then cut and the birds are put into an enclosure. 4. There seems to be no special method of taming the newly captured birds. 0. The method of starving wild birds as a means of taming them is not employed. N.B. — I myself know of one wild bird which was captured, slightly hurt, by a private individual. On being cured, which took only a few days, it was handed over to the Mahanas on the Munnchur who placed it straight into an enclosure with the other already tame birds. Transportation of Birds. 1 . The cages employed for transportation, either by rail or otherwise, are: Size : — 3 feet by 3 by 3. From 15 to 20 birds are placed in these cages. 751 EGRET FARMING IN INDIA BY C. C. Chevenix Trench, I.C.S. Thanks to painstaking enquiry and persistent re-iteration of the truth by observers in India, there is now no shadow of excuse for any intelligent inhabitant of the United Kingdom to doubt the existence, on a fairly extensive scale, of Egret farms in India, where the birds are kept in conditions favourable to their increase and whence the plumes are exported without the slightest danger to the life of the birds. The charges of ‘ bribed by the trade ’ so recklessly levelled by the home- keeping sentimentalist are now a matter of amused and contemptuous recollection. I suggest that the time has come for a brief survey of the position of Egrets in India and for determining the lines along which the efforts of the Society in their behalf should be directed. The following observations are, therefore, submitted, in all diffidence. («) Egrets (Lesser and Cattle) are at present extraordinarily plentiful nearly all over India. Their plumes are so valuable and so easily smuggled out of the country, that no amount of prohibitive, but unintelligent legislation, will prevent the export trade in au/rettes, which continues to-day as it has done in the past, in spite of the Plumage Act. (6) What has saved the birds from partial or complete extermination in the past, is the ignorance, apathy and conservatism of the Indian, and the Anns Act. (c) The ignorance, etc., is rapidly disappearing under economic pressure. (In November the Central Provinces are overrun by itinerant middle-men who buy up the plumes from petty local men, and either take them to “a gentleman ” in Calcutta or hawk them about Indian cities for a price which, in my experience, ranges from 10 to 28 times their weight in silver). The Arms Act, under pressure of the Reforms, is being relaxed. Provincial Councils cannot for much longer withstand the clamour of the Agricultural classes (70 to 80 per cent, of the population) for unlimited gun licenses for protection of crops, and soon every peasant will, if he likes, possess a gas pipe gun. (d) When both these tendencies come into full play, the extermination of the egret from India is, I consider, certain, and may take place in an astonishingly short time. Because the birds congregate in colonies when the plumes are at their best, and have a distinct tendency to locate their breeding colonies near or even in the heart of villages and towns. Thus they are accessible with no eS'ort and can be killed with the minimum of expense. We have the example of the American Bison to warn us. (e) In the competition between the gun-man and the egret farmer, for the supply of plumes, the latter will go to the wall, unless officially encouraged. No one who has watched the course of the times can doubt that it will soon be cheaper and easier to kill egrets than farm them, nor is there the faintest danger of interference by the local rural police, who, in the rainy, i.e., the breeding season, are powerless. (/) To save the egret the farming of the birds should be encouraged in every possible way, and the e-vport of fanned plumes l ennitted under license, {(/) This will be the founding of a virtually new cottage industry in India of which the profits are likely to be very large. The industry can be managed at least as humanely as Ostrich farming. In parenthesis, had it not been for the farming of the ostrich, the geographical range of that 23 752 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV 111. bird would by this date, have undoubtedly been restricted to the least accessible parts of Africa and Asia. (h) On economic as well as sentimental grounds, egret farms should be legalised and the present ill-considered prohibitive legislation which is leading to the extinction of the bird, altered at the next review of the Plumage Act Schedule. This can be done by influencing public opinion in Europe through the press and through leaders of Society. Photographs, propoganda, interviews, etc., are necessary. In March last I had the honour of interviewing the then Secretary of State for India Mr. Montagu, on the subject. A keen, practical ornithologist himself he listened with the greatest sympathy and under- took to look into the matter again after consulting local Governments in India. But as he is no longer in office, without a fresh effort it is probable that little or nothing will be done. The chief objection in official circles to the amendment of the Schedule in the direction suggested, appears to be the difficulty they anti- cipate, on the part of Customs Officers, of distinguishing between parcels of shot, i.e., illicit plumes and farmed plumes. This is a bogey and any Reve- nue Collector through his staff of Patwaris, Talatis and other Revenue officials, can discover in a single season the number and localities of the pro- tected Egret breeding colonies or Egret farms, in his district. He can also ascertain with equal ease the output in plumes almost to a tola, of each colony or farm. With little or no risk of gross error he will be in a position to ‘ certify ’ every consignment of plumes from his district. His certificate will accompany every parcel and state the weight of the parcel covered by it. All the customs authorities need do is to check the weight. I mention ‘ colonies ’ as well as farms because though farming egrets has not yet spread to my own, the Central Provinces, in one district a breeding colony on a riverain island has been protected for 15 years past with great profit by a half-witted Mahomedan, who picks up and sells the moulted plumes which drop at the colony. In 1910 I found this man tending the fire he had lit round the root of the nesting tree to keep off the pythons. There were then about 60 couples breeding. Neighbouring landlords were shooting his birds and after giving him what protection a Settlement Officer could, I left the district in 1912. In 1920 I revisited the colony. It has spread to over 100 nests, and established a branch colony on the mainland. The watcher had become a man of substance, purchased land, married his nieces. He called the colony his village and climbed in and out of the nests without the birds appearing to notice his presence. Spoonbills, snakebirds, little green bitterns, cormorants and purple herons had also joined this happy little republic of ‘ Cloud-cuckoo town.’ He sells his output yearly to a ‘ gentleman in Calcutta ’ for Rs. 6/- a tola. The moulted plumes from a colony in the compound of the Police station house in Raipur, C. P., used to be zealously collected and sold till the trees were felled a few years ago. All the evidence shows that the rural Indian takes very kindly and spontaneously to egret protection and farming. With a little official encour- agement, I am convinced that in a few years there would be thousands of farms and protected colonies scattered over the Peninsula and that public opinion would by then dispose of the murderous gun-man. The legislation now in force is an efl'ectual barrier to the realization of this much-to-be desired ideal. Well may the Indian egrets pray for protection from their friends. 753 ROUGH LIST AM) NOTES ON THE BIRDS FOUND BREED- ING IN THE GONDA DISTRICT, OUDH. By F. Field. A short description of the physical features of the District will not be out of place. The District of Gonda lies in the north of Oudh, between the outer ranges of the Himalayas and the Ghagra river, which are its Northern and Southern boundaries, to the West is the Bahraich and East the Basti Districts. The District is one of the largest in Oudh, it comprises 2,809 square miles between Lat. 26° 46' and 27° 50' N. & Long. 81° 33' & 82° 46' E. The District may be roughly divided into three classes of country. From the Nepal frontier, its Northern boundary is a belt of Government and Zemindari Forest, this belt is roughly from 5 to 10 or more miles in width ; below this is an open and low lying tract, chiefly under rice cultivation, termed ‘tora*,’ subject to frequent floods, as innumerable torrents from the hills debouch into this part; tWs portion is drained by the Rapti river, which practically cuts the Dis- trict in two. South of the Rapti, the country is upland, planted over with numerous groves of Mango trees and others, and well cultivated. This upland forms a rather narrow belt, running diagonally across the District ; along this belt flows the Kuhany river, a deep, but sluggish stream, both banks being covered with forests and jungle. Below this high land comes a lower lying tract, rich soil and heavily cultivated with numerous groves of trees. This fertile land is watered by two deep, but sluggish winding rivers, Tehre and Sarjoo. These streams have in the course of ages shifted their beds repeatedly, leaving numer- ous large lakes and jheels, these lakes are sometimes clear, but usually covered with aquatic plants, wild rice and taU rushes, reeds, etc. This great variety in the features of the District, giving tracts of dense forest, open plain, country covered by numerous groves of trees with rivers, lakes, marsh, etc., makes it an ideal country for variety of bird life from water birds to the submontane species. jVotes on nidification of Birds of the Gonda District. No. Scientiflc name. English name. Remarks. 4 Corvus macrorhyn- Jungle Crow Very common, more so than chus. C. splendens. Breeds from February to April. Generally away from human habitations. This is a very destructive bird to all small birds, robbing Doves, Bulbuls and all small birds’ nests. 7 Corvus splendens . . Common Crow Common about towns and villages only. Breeds in late May, June. 754 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. No. Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 12 Urocissa occipitalis. Red-biUed BlueMag- pie. Nest and eggs taken in forest North of District under Nepal hills. Nest placed in ‘ Bandha ’ in Rohini tree. May. 16 Dendrocitta rufa . . Indian Tree -pie Very common. Nests from April to June generally small trees. Destroys num- bers of small birds’ eggs. 31 Parus atriceps Indian Grey Tit One nest taken from old Nuthatch nest hole, 4 young and addled eggs. March. A pair were building under eves of an Inspection bungalow but were disturbed so deserted it. 105 Argya caudata Common Babbler . . Common in scrub jungle. Nests in thorn bushes. Has two broods, as eggs have been taken in March and also July. Jerdon’s name for this bird should be retained, i.e., •Jungle Babbler, as it is only seen in jungle. 110 Crateropus canorus Jungle Babbler This is the common Babbler ; occurs everywhere in the dis- trict about gardens, habita- tions, etc. Builds in trees at all seasons, chiefly during the Monsoon. 226 Zosterops palpebro- sa. White-eye Nest well concealed among large leaves of Mowah, Man- go and other trees. April to June. 243 j®gitliina tiphia . . Common lora A beautiful little cup shaped nest in bushes and small trees. June, July. 282 Molpastes bengalen- sis. Bengal Red-vented Bulbul. Very common. Nests in trees, low bushes, etc. May to July. 288 Otocompsa emeria.. Red-whiskered Bul- bul. Nests in curious positions some- times. A lot of grass had been cut and stacked, on the top of one of these stacks a pair had built their nest. A very favourite site is creepers against walls. May to July. BIRDS OF GONDA DISTRICT. 755 No. 290 Scientific name. English name. Remarks. Otocompsa ventris. flavi- Black-crested Ycl- 321 Sitta castaneiventris 326 Dicrurus anncctens. low Bulbul. Chestnut-bellied Nu- thatch. Crow-billed Drongo 327 330 Dicruius ater Dicrurus cterules- cens. 335 IChibia hotentotta 363 Acrocephalus sten- toreiis. Black Drongo White-belliedDronsrp Hair-crested Drongo Great Reed Warbler Breeds in the forests. General- ly in dense creepers, but one nest found was at the top of a fair sized Mango tree well concealed. May, June. Holes of trees. Entrance par- tially closed with cowdung, mixed with gum of fig or mango tree. February, March. A forest bird. The}' breed in the forests north of the dis- trict making the usual dron- go nest in forks of Dhow (Ano- (/eissus latifolia ) trees. Nest quite conspicuous, 3 eggs usually. Saw a monkey (-1/. rhesus) rob one of their nests, eating the eggs though savagely attacked by bird. Breeds in June. Common. Breeds in June. Has two types of eggs, a white and a spotted. Also a forest bird, except in the winter when it may be seen in nearly every ‘bagh’ in the district. It makes the usual Drongo nest in forest trees, placing it in the forks of slender boughs, eggs 3 — 4. June. purely forest bird. Breeds in the northern forests in June. Nest of the Drongo type in forks of Dhow .trees Eggs 3 — 4. Breeds among the reeds in some of the large jheels, nests at- tached to reeds growing in water, and about 18 inches above surface. I believe they have two broods a year as their nests have been taken in May, June and again in July, August. There are two, if not three types of egg. 756 JOVRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XXVIII. No. Scientific name. 1 English name. Remarks. 374 Orthotomus sutoriua Tailor Bird Nests built into leaves sewn to- gether, always soft-leaved and low-growing shrubs. Juno, July. 381 Citicola cursitans . . Rufous Fan-tai Warbler. A beautiful little nest, placed low down, almost on ground in thick grass. July to Sep- tember. 382 Franklinia gracilis. Franklin’s Wren- Warbler. Breeds in the Tikri jungles in August, nests in low bushes and grass. 392 Chsetomis locustel- Bristled Grass- Nest a rather large, globular • loides. Warbler. structure, entrance near the top, made of coarse grass, lined fine grass, down, etc., placed in thick grass near ground. A very shy bird, it she thinks she is observed she deserts at once. Male flies round in circles uttering a tri-syllabic note. Breeds from June to August. Is very locally distributed. 464 Prinia socialis Ashy Wren-Warbler. Common. Breeds in July, Aug- ust. Constructs its nest by sewing loaves of some soft-leaved plant together and lining it with fine grasses, down, etc., occasionally they make their nest in Muvj grass, when the grass is sewn to- gether like the nest of P. inornata only, socialis^ lines her nest and inornata does not. 465 Prinia sylvatica Jungle Wren-Warb- ler. Only found in the jungles, where they build their nest in small thorny bushes. July. 466 1 Prinia inomata Wren-Warbler Very common. Nest generally in grass or sugarcane, but also attached to leaves of small shrubs. There are three varieties of eggs found in this district. A blue, a white and a green, all having the usual markings. July to September. BIRDS OF GONDA DISTRICT. 757 No. Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 469 Lanins lathora Grey Shrike Builds in date palms and thorny trees, common in open plains, Babul jungle. February to April. 476 Lanius erythronotus Rufous -backed Shrike. Fairly common, breeds in July. Nests in thorny bushes, bam- boos, also trees. 500 Pericrocotus pere- grinus. Small Minivet June, July. Beautiful little cup shaped nest at ends of boughs of small trees, or even bushes. 510 Graucalus macii . . Large Cuckoo-shrike Nest, a pad placed high up in tall trees. June. Eggs 2. 518 Oriolus kundoo Oriole Common, June, July, 521 Oriolus melanocepli- alus. Black-headed Oriole. Breeds in the forests generally but a few in the plains. They migrate in large numbers to the forests to breed in May. 544 Temenuchus pago- darum. Black-headed Myna Very common. Nearly every tree has a pair nesting in one of its holes. April, June. 549 Acridotheres tristis. Common Myna Very common, any hole it can find unoccupied. 551 Acridotheres gingi- nianus. Bank Myna Holes in wells, also banks of streams. May, June. 555 Sturnopastor contra Pied Myna Fairly common, but rather local. May, onwards. 576 Cyomis tickelli Tickell’s Blue Fly- catcher. Forests. Nest in holes of trees. June. 598 Terpsiphone paradisi Paradise Fly*catch- er. In forests and plains, but more common in forests. May, June. 604 Rhipidura albifron- tata. White-browed Fan- tail Flycatcher. Fairly common. Constructs a beautiful Uttle nest on top of a thin bough, generally a small tree. One pair built on top of tie-rod of verandah. June, July. 608 Pratincola caprata . Pied Bush Chat March, April. Nests in holes of railway borrow pits, wells, etc. 758 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XNVIII. No. Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 629 Cercomela f usca Brown Rock Chat . . Has curious positions for its nest. A pair built on a ledge over the door leading into the Judge’s Court in Gonda ; two or three paii-s on the shelves in a newly built house before the windows were glazed. They invariably build up a sort of parapet of small stones behind which the nest is constructed. June, July. 661 Thamnobia cambai- ensis. Brown-backed Ro- bin. April to July. Nests in all sorts curious places, holes of walls, of trees, in banks, under bricks, one nest was made in a rat hole. 663 Copsychus saularis. Magpie Robin March to July. Holes of trees, buildings, etc. 664 Cittocincia macru- ra. Shama The forests North of District. Holes in trees, old Barbet’s hole. 686 Geocichla citrina . . Orange-headed Ground Thrush. One nest of this bird found, placed on top of a stump that had been broken off, and from which young shoots had grown. A typical Thnish nest. May. 720 Ploceus baya Weaver bird Very common. July to Septem- ber. 722 Ploceus bengalensis Black-throated Weaver-bird Common. Attaches nest to Munj grass. 723 Ploceus manyar Striated Weaver- bird. Common. Same positions as above. Very difficult to dis- tinguish these two birds apart. 734 Uroloncba malabari-j ca. White -throated Mu* nia. Very common. Thorny bushes and Babul trees. One nest contained ten eggs. 738 Sporaeginthus aman- dava. Red Munia Nest placed in thick grass, very well concealed. Octo- ber, November. BIRDS OF (WNDA DISTRICT. 769 No. J Scientific name. 1 1 1 English name. Remai’ks. 775 Gyinnorhis flavicolli.s Yellow-throated Sparrow. Holes in trees, one of the most difficult birds to obtain the eggs of you either find none or chicks. April to June. 776 Passei’ domcsticus Sparrow Very common. 809 Cotile sinensis Sand Martin Very common. Holes of river banks, wells, even banks of ditches. .January. Febniary. 818 [Hirundo smithii . . Wire tailed Swallow 1 Generally under bridges. One nest taken from a well. Feb- ruary to April. 819 Hirundo fiuvieola . . Clift’ Swallow January, under large railway bridges. 82.3 Hirundo erythropy- gia. Sykes’ Striated Swallow. Under culverts, and attached to roofs of old buildings. Sep- tember. 831 Motacilla maderas- patensis. Large Pied Wagtail. Nest with chicks among roots of tree in streams. Maj'. 847 Antbus rufulus Indian Pipit Very common. Grass of fie ridges in fact anywhere whe patches of grass are found. 868 Alauda gulguia Sky Lark . . Not common. Nest taken in short gra.ss on edge of jhed. April 866 Alaudiila raytal Ganges Sandlark . . / Only one place have I found this bird breeding, this was among sand dunes on the bank of a large lake. Nests placed in tufts of coarse grass. April. 869 Mirafra cantillans . Singing Bush Lark . Very local. Open grass plains, borders of rivers and marsh- es. April, May. 871 Mirafra erythrop- tera. Red-winged Bush Lark. Common, breeds from March to August, probably two broods, nest domed, and on ground, in grass or thorny busb. 24 760 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIl. No. Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 874 Galerita cristata . , Crested Lark Season from April to July. Nest built on the ground in stunted thorn bushes. 879 Pyrrhulauda grisea. Black-bellied Finch- Lark. Has two broods, one in Febru- ary to April, another from October. Nest always in open ground generally with- out any concealment. 882 .dCthopyga seheriae . Yellow-backed Sun- bird. Forests north of District. A nest under construction, but bird deserted it after laying one egg. Nest very like that of A. asiatica, but without porch. May. 895 Arachnechthra asia- tica. Purple Sun-bird Very common. Builds from March to .June. 919 Dicaeum erythro- rhynchus. Tickell’s Flower- pecker. Constructs a beautiful little purse-shaped nest, amongst thick bunch of mango leav- es, generally quite low down. March to May. 933 Pitta brachyura Indian Pitta Breeds in the forests all along the Nepal border. Constructs a large globular nest in thick thorny shrubs. May. 972 Liopicus mahratten- sis. Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker. Distributed all over District. Nest hole in mango stump generally March. 976 lyngipicus hard wickii. Pigmy Woodpecker. Often seen excavating its nest- hole but have not yet succeed- ed in finding the eggs. Com- mences operations in Janu- ary, but does not lay till March or April. 986 Brachyptemus aur- antius. Golden -backed Woodpecker. Common. Commences to dig its nest hole about January, but does not lay till March, April. 1008 Thereicf ryx zeyloni- cus. Green Barbet 1 Commences its nest hole in Nov- ember, but does not lay till April, May. BIRDS OF GONDA DISTRICT. 761 No Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 1019 Xantholsema hsema- tocephala. Crimson-bre a s t e d Barbet. 1 Very common. April to June. 1022 Coracias indica Indian Roller Holes of trees. April, May. 1026 Merops viridis Indian Bee-eater . . Burrows in banks, bunds, etc. May, June. 1027 Merops phihppinus. Blue-tailed B e e- eater. Partially migratory, comes here about March, April when it commences to look out for nesting site. They make their holes in river banks, field bunds, etc. 1031 Nyctiornis ather- toni. 1033 Ceryle varia 1043 Pelargopsis gurial . . 1044 Halcyon smyrnensis. 1053 Anthracoceros albi- rostris. Blue-bearded Bee- eater. Pied Kingfisher. Stork-billed Bling' fisher. White - breasted Kingfisher. Indo-Burmese Pied Hornbill. 1062 Lophoceros birostris. Grey Hornbill Breeds in holes of stream banks in the forests. Nest holes are sunk deep, 8 to 10 feet. Common along all the streams, in the banks of which they nest. January, April. Several of their nest holes exa- mined but no eggs found, they select the heavily- wooded streams in forests. Fairly common. Nests in banks, either streams, or tanks. Common in the northern forests here. Large holes in trees, the entrance to which is par- tially closed after the female has entered. Whilst she is sitting all her feathers fall off I am told ; how she manages, on being Uberated ‘informant sayeth not.’ Lay in April, May. Very common all over this Dis- trict. Lays in holes of large trees, partly closing entrance after female has entered, the hen does not lay her eggs im- mediately she shuts herself up, as I have on three occa- sions dug out the hole to find no eggs, although the male bird was seen feeding her. Lays in May. .762 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVUr. No. Scientific name. ! English name. Remarks. 1067 Upupa indica Indian Hoopoe Common. Nests in holes of building trees. February, March. 1073 Cypselus affinis Indian Swift Local. Builds in buildings, the jail a favorite place. 1086 Macropteryx coro- nal a. Crested Swift Two nests taken in the northern forests; the nest, a small bracket, is attached to a horizontal branch high up on a tall tree, the egg, a single one, is laid in this. The hen bird sits upright on it, as if she were perched on the bough, not l3dng as an ordinary bird does; ordinarily you would not suspect that the bird was sitting on a nest at all. June. 1093 Caprimulgus mac- runis. Horsfield’s Nightjar. .Common in the forests, la3’s on dead leaves, no attempt at nest. May, June. 1109 Hierococcyx varius. Crested Hawk-Cuc- koo. Egg taken in nest of Argya caudata with two of the latter birds. JUI3’. lli8 Coccystes jacobinus. Pied Crested Cnckoo Common in the rains. Lays in in nest of C. canorus. 1120 Eiidynamis h o n o- rata. Koel Lays in crows’ nests, taken 4 eggs from one nest. July. 1128 Rh0p0d3d.es tiistis . Large Green- billed Malkoha. Northern forests. Large glo- bular nest in thick creepers. June. 1129 Taccocua leschen- aulti. Sirkeer Cuckoo . . Thick and thorn\- creepers chmbing up trees. April to July. 1130 Centropus sinensis . . Coucal or Crow Pheasant. Large domed structure in heavy creepers generall3', but I once found one in a Babul tree without a leaf. July to Sep- tember. BIRDS OF GONDA DISTRICT. 763 No. Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 1135 Palieornis nipalen- sis. Large Paroquet Nests in holes of large forest trees. April, Ma_v. 1138 Palseornis torquatus. Ros3*:inged Paroqu- et Very common. Holes of trees. May, June. 1139 Palseornis eyanoco- phalus. Western Blossom- headed Paroquet. Common as above. 1141 Palieomis scliisti- ceps. Slat3'-headed Pa- roquet. In forests under hills. Eggs not taken, but nest holes ex- amined. 1152 Strix flainmea Screech Owl Very local. Lays about Feb- ruary, in holes of trees. 1161 Syrnium ocellatum . Mottled Wood-Owl. Common over district in suit able localities. Lays two eggs in hollow formed where branches separate. February, March. 1164 Kot'ipa zeylonensis. Brown Fish-Owl . . Generally spread over District. Eggs 1, 2, in the hollow form- ed where large limbs separate. Has a deep tri-s5dlabic call- hoot. 1169 Bubo coromandus. . Dusky Horned-Owl. Generally occupies an old nest of a vulture, kite or eagle, usually in a grove of trees, but occasionally on a solitary one, I found one pair had taken up an old A. vindhiana nest in a solitary Pipal tree. November to January. 1178 Scops bakkamoena . . Collared Scops Owl. One nest taken, from hole in mango tree. March. 1180 Athene brama Spotted Owlet Very common. March, April. Holes of mango trees. 1184 Glaucidium ladia- tum. Jungle Owlet Lays in holes of trees in March. 1187 Ninox scutulata . . Brown Hawk- Owl. A shikari brought the eggs (4) and part of the skin of this bird. He found the nest in the hole of a mhowa {Bassia latifolia) in the forest. March. 764 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. No. Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 1191 Otogyps calvns Black or King Vul- ture. 1194 1195 jGyps tenuirostris . . 1196 1197 Gyps indicus Long -billed ture. Vul Pseudogyps bengal ensis. Neophron gingini- unus. Himalayan Long- billed Vulture. White -backed ture. Vul- Small Scavenger Vulture. Nest built on top of solitary trees, generally Pipal, Janu- ary, Febuary. A plucky bird, I sent a man up to a nest on a large Pipal on which the bird was sitting; on the man’s approach she went for him, driving him off, he then got a stick, even then she refused to allow him to go near nest, she had a newly hatched chick so I called man down. Only one nest found, this was on top of soUtarj^ Pipal tree ; there was no doubt of the bird as I watched her with binoculars whilst the man was climbing tree. There are numbers of this and G. tenui- rostris in this District, and as there are no cliffs for them to build on, they have perforce to build on trees. December. I have found three nests of this bird, two contained eggs, the 3rd a chick, two were on top of solitary trees, the 3rd (7th January, 21), a hard-set egg, was an old P. bengalen- sis nest, occupied by that bird only last year. Decem- ber, January. Very common. November to January. Birds are common, but I have only found 4 nests. One pair have each year used the same site, i.e., about 30 ft. up a Pipal tree, where a large hmb separates; this pair have very handsomely marked eggs. March, April, BIRDS OF GONDA DISTRICT. 765 No. I Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 1203 Aquila vindhiana . . Tawny Eagle 1217jSpilornis cheela 1220 Butaster teesa 1223iHaliaetus leucory- ■ phus. . . Crested Eagle. Serpent White -eyed Buzzard Pallas’ s Eagle. Fishing 1226jPohoaetus ichthyae- Grey-headed Fishing ' tus. Eagle. 1228 Haliastur Indus 1229 Milvus govinda Brahminy Kite Common Kite A common bird in this District. Breeds from November to January ; places its nest on the very top of isolated trees nearly always a Pipal. Out of 16 nests examined, 7 had one egg each, 8 two, and 1 three. Breeds along the Kohany river, a thickly wooded and deep stream. Nest in large trees. April, May. Very common. Nests in thick trees. April, May. Builds a huge structure, general- ly on top of some large tree near a lake or jheel. Novem- ber, December. Locally distributed; found along well wooded streams or marshes in forests. Builds a large nest, well concealed, about the centre of some forest tree. They use the same nest year after year, even after it has been robbed; what is more, I took an egg from a nest on 9th November, on 6th March I again visited nest and she had laid again in same nest. Again on 15th March next year, the samu pair occupied the same nest, I took one fresh egg. On 31st March she was on the nest, on sending up a man there was an egg, slightly set. Lays in April and May, eggs 1 to 3. Commences carrying sticks in November, but does not lay till March or even later. 766 JOURI^AL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. No. 1 Scientific name. 1 English name. Remarks. 1232 I.Ianus caeruleus . . Black- winged Kite . This bird’s nest only found this year, it had only two eggs, this was on the 14th Decem- ber. I have often seen the bird about, but never found nest before. 1244 • Astur badius Shikra Generally distributed over the District. Builds in Bun- dha (mistletoe) that is so common on mango trees. April to June. 1249 Pemis cristatus Honey Buzzard Very local. Breeds in May, but very local, chiefiy in the northern forests. 1271 Crocopus phoeni- copterus. Bengal Green Pigeon Builds its usual fiimsy nests in small trees ; is very shy of observation ; will desert nest even with egg in it if she sees she is observed. March, May. 1291 Chalcophaps indica Bronze-winged Dove Breeds in the forests in May. 1292 Columba intermedia Blue Rock-Pigeon . Nests in wells, under railway bridges, under aves of houses, even in holes of trees. 1307 Turtur suratensis . . Spotted Dove V’’ery common. Nests every- where and all year round. 1309 Turtur cambayensis Brown Dove Not so common as last, but generally found all over Dis- trict. Breeds all year round. 1310 Turtur risorius Ring-Dove The most common dove, lays all year, and in all sorts of places. 1311 CEnopopelia tran- quebarica. Red Turtle-Dove . . Generally makes its nest in small mango trees in May and June, but I believe it has ano- ther brood later. 1324 Pa VO cristatus Peafowl Generally distributed all over District but very plentiful in the forests. Breeds in suit- able localities. April to June. 1 BIRDS OF GONDA DISTRICT. 76T No. Scientific name. English name. 1328Gallus ferrugineus. Red Jiingle-fowl ISooCoturnix communis Grey Quail 1372 1375 1382 1393 1401 Francolinus vul- garis. Black Partridge Francolinus pondi- cerianus. Turnix pugnax Porzana pusilla Grey Partridge Bustard Quail Remarks. Eastern Crake. Baillon’s Amaurornis nicurus. phee- White-breasted Water-hen. Only found in the forests, where it breeds in May, June. It is wonderful how the young chicks hide, I saw a hen with about 6 or 7 chicks, there was no cover except dry leaves ; we went quicklj’^ up, the hen flew off, and the chicks had vanished ; we searched very carefully, so as not to crush an\’ but not a chick could we discover, and yet they were there. Chicks seen in grass and thorn scrub in August, so she must have had her nest near by. The eggs have been brought to L. P. Hutchison by shi- kari. Fairly plentiful in the southern parts of District, where it breeds. A large number of their eggs are however des- troyed b}-^ mungooses, rats, snakes and also crows. I have found numbers of nests with egg shells scattered about. Their chicks too have a bad time. Only found along the jungles. Breeds in May, June. Plentiful in the grass jungles, where it breeds in June, July. One nest of this bird was taken in 1911. Consisted of a few weeds, piled on a water lily leaf, well concealed in wild rice. 2 eggs. August. Very common and a very familiar bird. Frequents \illage pools, breeds everywhere, generally, nest placed in thick bushes or bamboo clumps. July, August. 25 768 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII No. ■ Scientific name, j English name. Remarks. 1403 1 Gallicrex cinerea . . Kora or Water Cock.^ Nest a pad of wild rice stems pressed down, well concealed in dense wild rice. Eggs 5, 6. August. 1409 PorphjTio polioce- phalus. Purple Moorhen . . Breeds in the larger jheels, mak- ing its nest, which consists of bent down grasses to form a pad, well hidden in growing plants. July, August. 1409 Grus antigone Sarus A few pairs here and there about the District, where large jheels exist. Nest a huge pile of water weeds, collected together, over which they both labour for weeks. August. 1418 (Edicnemus scolo- pax. Stone-Plover Common, no nest, merely hol- low in ground, sometimes in a ploughed field, at others amongst scrub bushes. March, April. 1419 Esacus recurviros- tris. Great St one -Plover. On sand banks of the larger rivers. June. 1428 Metopodius indicus . Bronze -winged Jacana. Plentiful on all the larger jheels, making their nests, a pad of lily leaves, on top of a large leaf, or on lump of grass. Eggs 4. July, August. 1429 Hydrophasianus chirurgus. Pheasant -tailed Jacana* Very common on all pieces of water covered with lily leaves, on which they make their nest. July, August. 1431 Sarcogrammus indicus. Red-wattled Lap- wing. Common everywhere. Eggs taken from April to August. 1433 Sarciophorus mala- baricus. Yellow-wattled Lapwing. Local, where there are large open plains. Nest, a depres- sion with small clods of earth placed round it. April, May. 1435 Hoplopteras ven- tralis. ' Spur-winged Plover On sand banks of large rivers. April, May. BIRDS OF GONDA DISTRICT. 769 No. Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 144' ^^igialitis dubia Little Ringed-Plove r A few pairs breed here, where 1 there are sand dunes near 1 some large lakes. I have only found two nests, one 2 eggs, the other 3. February, March, 1496 Hydrochelidon hybrida. Whiskered Tern Very local, only breeds in cer- tain jheels in August. 1503 Sterna seena River Tern On the sand islands of the two large rivers flowing through District. 1504 Sterna inelanogaster .Black-belUed Tern . As above. 1528 Phalocrocorax javanicus. Little Cormorant . . Nests in colonies on stunted trees growing in water, along the banks of the Gogra river, where it overflows forming backwaters. In these places a great many kinds of aqua- tic birds congregate to breed. .July. 1529 Plotus inelanogas- cer. Snake-Bird Along with the previous noted bird. 1542 Inocotis papillosus . Black Ibis . . The only places I have found these birds breeding are on hugeSemalf Bombu.c malahari- cum\ trees on the outskirts of the forests, in May and June, They select a tree on which bees have made their hives, so the only way I could get their eggs was to get theBhars, who make a living by taking the honey to go up at night. 1548] 1 ! i ])issura episcopus . . White-necked Stork. This bird also selects these trees, and generally the same tree as the IbisJ, only they occupy one of the lower boughs, whereas the Ibis builds right on top. Here they breed in May, but in other parts they build in July, or later, perhaps they have two broods ? 770 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, VoL XX VIII- 1 No. Scientific name. i Engli.sh name. Remarks. 1549 Xc-norhynchus asia-| ticus. ! Black-necked Stork. Makes a huge nest of sticks on top of a high and solitary tree in November, Decem- ber. On one occasion 1 found two nearly full grown chicks and two fresh eggs, as already noted in the .lournal. 1553 Anastomus oscitans.' ! Open-bill ' . . Breeds in large colonies, gener- ally on trees growing out of jheels, or on large trees in villages. July, August. 1554 Ardea manillensi.s . . Purple Heron Nests placed in, and on dense reeds or on stunted tyees in jheels. gregarious. July, August . 1555 Ardea cinerea Blue Heron Builds on large trees, in colo- nies in July. 1561 Herodias garzetta . . Little P]gret Only found one colony, they were breeding together with A. grayi on a Pipal tree in a village on the bank of the Gogra river. July. 1562 Bubulcus coroman- dus. Cattle Egret Large numbers breed together on trees in villages. .July. 1565 Ardtola grayi Pond Heron On trees in villages. .July. 1568 Nycticorax griseus . Night Heron Large numbers nest together with the little cormorant and snake bird, they also build on trees in villages. I found one colony breedins in the latter place in April, but in the former in July. 1571 Ardetta sinensis . . Yellow Bittern In thick reeds in marshes. .July, August. 1572 Ardetta cinnamomea Chestnut Bittern . . One nest in a screw-pine on edge of lake, but usually among thick reeds. August. 1584 Saicidiornis melano- notus. Comb Duck oi Nukta. Holes of large trees. .July to September. BIRDS Of GONDA DISTRICT. 771 No. Scientific name. English name. Remarks. 1589 Dcndrocycna java- nica. Wliistling Teal Among wild rice. 1591 Netopus coroman- delianus. Cotton Teal Holes of large trees. August September. 1617 Podicep.s albijxmnis Little Grebe A pad of water plants, among weeds, July to September. List of hird.s whose eggs have not been, taken, but which are believed to breed in this District. 339 Bringha remifer Lesser Racket-tail Drongo. Occurs in the forests and is a permanent resident. 473 Lanins vitattus Bay- backed Shrike. Seen in the forests in May, so probably breeds. 495 Pericrocotus brevi- rostris. Short -billed INIinivet. Saw a single male in forest, appeared to be feeding female on nest. 1066 Upupa epops European Hoopoe. . Birds seen during breeding sea.son, but nest not found. 1107 Cucnlus micropterus Indian Cuckoo Appears each year in July, calls continuously day and night for over a month. 1112 Cacoluantis passeri- nus. Plaintive Cuckoo . . Heard and .seen it in June in forests. 1153 Sti'ix Candida Grass Owl . . Birds seen in grass patches, in October, November. Two eggs brought in by birdcat- cher, said to be this bird’s, to L. P. Hutchison from just over Nepal frontier. Found in heavy grass. 1168 Bubo bengalensi.s . . Rock Horned-Owl. . Birds fairly plentiful along cliffs of forest streams. Eggs not taken. 1173 Scops gin . . Scops Owl . . Hen bird caj)tured in forest that liad evidently been sit- ting on eggs. 772 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol XXVIII, No. j Scientific name. ' English name. Remarks. fl205 Aquila maculata Large or Small I am not sure which of these •i to or Spotted Eagle. birds has built her nest in a 1^1206 Aqnila hastata. large mango ‘bagh’ for the last two years, I did not shoot it as I wanted the eggs, but I was always too late for eggs, but I saw birds feeding 1283 Sphenocercus sphen-'i Kokla Green urns. Pigeon. 1354 Excalfactoria ensis. chin- Blue-b r e a s t e d ! Quail. 1356:Coturnix coroman-i Rain Quail I delica. | 1416|Sypheotis aurita 107 Likh or Lesser Florican. ArgA'a malcolmi Large Grey Babbler. young. Heard calling in forest in May, June. Twice seen pair in heavy grass and apparently feeding young. Said to breed here. Seen in breeding plumage in the large grass patches in the forests, Shikaris say they have eggs in the grass. This bird is very local, found in small parties in parts of the District where there are pat- ches of Babul jungle, and is a permanent resident, but 1 have not found the eggs. 773 L ST OF MOLLUSCA OF RANGOON. BY Dk. H. Makshall. (A.) Fresh Water Mollusca, la. Melanoides tuberculata, Miiller. — (F. B. I. No. 28. liara {Stnatella} tuberculata). This is a common species in Rangoon. The majority of specimens obtainable are very small, and light coloured. Some medium sized specimens were obtained from the Cantonment Garden tanks and JIunicipal tank in Creek Street. These are very dark in colour. 2a. Melanoides scabra, Muller. — (F. B. I. No. 60. Tiam (Flotia) scabra). Specimens of this mollusc were only obtained from the Roj'al Lakes. They are dark in colour and much decollated. 3a. Acrostoma variabile (Benson). — (F. B. I. No. 39. Tiara {Melanoides) tariahilis). This is not a very common species in Rangoon. The local variety bears as a rule strong longitudinal ribs and is very dark in colour, some specimens being covered with a thick black deposit. Very occasion- ally somewhat lighter and more delicate specimens are obtainable and these are marked with two brownish bands on the last whorl. Specimens which are almost smooth and of a light olive colour ornamented with brown bands on the last whorl are sometimes brought into the market with prawns. I have not been able to ascertain as to where these speci- mens come from. 4a. Vivipara bengalensis var ; digona (Blanford). — (F. B. I. No. 179. Vivi- para digona). This is a common species found in almost all tanks, ponds, and ditches. Very beautiful specimens are obtainable in the Kokin ^ Lakes. 5a. V ivi para bengalensis var : doliaris (Gould). — (F. B. I. No. 168. Yivipara duliaris). Specimens which I take to be this variety do not appear to be anything like as common as digona. Most of the specimens obtainable are small. i 6a. Vivipara keliciformis var : viridis. Reeve. — (F. B. I. No. 185. Vivipara (Idiopoma) helicifonnis var : viridis. Specimens which I take to be this variety were only found on one occasion. 7a. Vivipara dissimilis (Muller). — (F. B. I. No. 174. Virigiai-a dissimilis). Specimens of a uniform green colour with spire not much produced were obtained. I take these to be some variety of dissimilis. 8a. Pachylabra conica (Gray). — (F. B. I. No. 197. Fila conica). This is a very common species in Rangoon. Two varieties are obtainable, one unicoloured which is usually of a large size, the other variously banded with brownish bands. The banded specimens do not appear to reach the size of unicoloured specimens. This species is eaten by many classes of Natives, and many persons are employed in the trade who gather the Molluscs and take them round to private houses for sale. This mollusc along with Vivipara bengalensis, Indoplanorbis e.vustus, and Melan- oides tuberculata are largely collected by the Chinese duck farm owners for the feeding of ducks. 9a. Limncea acuminata, (Lam.) — (F. B. I. No. 211. Limneea {Limncea) acumi- nata). All specimens obtainable in Rangoon appear to be dwarfed. Two varieties have been found ; one something like variety amygdalum, Troschel, and the other variety nana, Amiandale (Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. XVI, Part 1, No. 6). This species is only obtainable from about October till the end of the year, after which it disappears. 1 r. bengalensis \&i : digona ha.% novi been merged ia doiinris (Rec. Ind. Mus. Vol. XXII. Part 211, Ko. 20, p. 272.) 74 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII, 10a. Limncea pinguis (Dohrn.) — (F. B. I. No. 222. Limnma {Gulnaria) pinyuis). Only a few specimens were obtained but have apparently been mislaid. I la. Indoplanorbis exustus, Desh. — (F. B. I. No. 227. Rlanorbis exustus). This is the commonest fresh water mollusc obtainable in Rangoon. This species is known to carry Schistosoma spindalis also a cercaria morpholo- gically identical with that of Schistosoma japonicum. 12a. Gyraulus convex iusculus (Hutton). — (F. B. I. No. 234. Rlanorbis (Gyraulus) convexiusculus). A couple of specimens were found in the Pazundaung quarter of the town. This species is fairly common in Kamaj-ut just outside Rangoon. Probably Gyraulus euphraticus, Mous- son, ■null also be found here. 13a. Lamellidens marginalis (Lam.) — (F. B. I. No. 310. Lamellidens margi- nalis). This is a fairly common species in Rangoon. The following varieties have been obtained : (1) generosus (Gould). Usually large specimens ; (2) corrianus (Lea). Not common ; (3) scutum (Sowerby). Fairly common. There are specimens of ■ var : zonata (Desh.) in the Indian Museum collection from Rangoon, but in spite of much searching I have not been able to find any. 14a. Cyrena bengalensis, (Lam.) — (F. B. I. No. 328. Cyrena bengalensis). After much searching a few living specimens were found at Dawbong and in a drain in Upper Pazundaung Road. (B.) Land Molldsca. lb. Streptaxis burmanicus, Blf. — (F. B. I. No. 6. Streptaais burjnanicus). A single dead specimen (small variety) was picked up in Kemmendine. 2b. ? Macrochlamys sp. — This species at first sight looks very much like Indoplanorbis exustus. Specimens of this were sent to J. Cosmo Melville and he was of opinion that this was probably a juvenile Plectophylis. The specimen sent was apparently imperfect. I am certain that even young specimens are not tomentose. 3b. Macrochlamys molecula, Benson. — (F. B. I. No. 195. Macrochlamys ? molecula). After much searching specimens have not been found. 4b. Austenia peguensis, Theobald. — (F. B. I. No. 297. Austenia pegue?isis). This is a common species at Hlawga which is about twenty miles from Rangoon. Only a single specimen has been taken locally. 5b. This small species was obtained in the Kemmendine Cemetery. I have not been able to identify it. (lb. Pupisoma lignicola, Stol. — (F. B. I. No. 49. Pupisoma liynicola). This species has been recorded from Rangoon by Hungerford, but I have not been able to obtain it. 7b. Eulota similaris, Fer. — (F. B. I. No. 173. Eulota similaris). This species is plentiful in Rangoon. All the specimens obtained were unicoloured. 8b. Eulota sp. — This is a small, extremely fragile, transparent, highly polish- ed shell. The animal is not able to withdraw itself within the shell. It looks very like a Eulota, but I have not been able to identify it. 9b. Opeas gracile, Hutton. — (F. B. I. No. .317. Opeas yracile). This is a fairly common shell in Rangoon, but no specimens of Ennea bicolor Hutton, were found associated with it. 10b. Succinea semiserica, Gould.— (F. B. I. No. 448. Succinea semiserica). This is a very common species in Rangoon. 11b. Vaginulus birmanicus, Theobald. — (F. B. I. No. 478. Vayinulus birma- nicus). This slug is fairly common in Rangoon. 12b. Cyclophonis auranticus, Schumacher. — This species is very localised, but where found is usually plentiful. Rangoon specimens appear to be somewhat like var : andersoni (Fauna of ]\Iergui, von. Jlartens, p. 159) LIST OF MOLLUSC A OF RANGOON. 775 but more white round the umbilicus. V'ery young specimens are almost transparent, and mottled with reddish brovur. Young specimens before the lip is formed are very deep reddish brown. Full grown adult specimens greyish brown. Very old specimens seem to lose their colour and become almost white, though the peristome never loses its colour. ’ (C.) River Mollusca. Ic. Cerithium lemniscatum , Qusay and Gaimard. — This .species is recorded from Rangoon by von Martens. 2c. ?? Cerithidea sp.—A large specimen something like a Cerithium was taken at Dawbong, Rangoon. I have also a specimen from Kyanktan, Burma. Having no books dealing with Cerithium and its allies I am not able to say what this is. 3c. Turritella columnaris, Kiener. — This species has been recorded from Rangoon by von Martens. I have not been able to obtain specimens. 4c. Littorina rubropicta, von Martens. — (Fauna of Mergui, p. 170). This is a very common species in Rangoon. Specimens obtained in Kyanktan, Burma, are much larger than Rangoon specimens. 5c. Littorina subintermedia, Nevill. — This specimen was kindly identified for me by Dr. Annandale of the Indian Museum. It is fairly common attach- ed to stones on the banks of the river. 6c. Assiminia francescice ?, Gray. — These specimens were very kindly identi- fied for me by Dr. Annandale as probably francescioe. 7c. Assiminia sp. — These specimens are red in colour and might possibly be A. brevictila, Pfeiffer, but unfortunately no books are available giving the description of this species. 8c. ? Rissoina sp. — These specimens were found on the river training walls. I am unable to say what they really are. 9c. Larina biirma riorum, Blanford ; — This species has been recorded from the Rangoon River (Burma, Its People, and Productions, Vol. I, p. 157). I have not been able to obtain any specimens. 10c. Neritina crepidularia, Lam. ; — (Fauna of Mergui, p. 171). Black (lower surface) coloured specimens {Dostia cornucopice) are usually found mixed with typical red (lower surface) specimens. The periostracum varies • from olive green to almost black. Some specimens being very prettily marked with black lines resembling somewhat Arabic writing. 11c. Neritina sp. — These are small and very dark being whitish below. I at first took them for young of N. crepidularia but probably they are a separate species. 12c. Nerita sp. — Only one specimen was taken and I am unable to identify it. 13c. ? Siphonaria sp. — This limpet is very plentiful. I cannot say whether it is really a Siphonaria or not. 14e. Auricula jiidoe, L.- — Specimens apparently representing this species have been taken near Monkey Point in decaying vegetable matter. They are not common. 15c. Auricula sp. — This is the common Auricula of Rangoon, and may, per- haps, be A. (j angelica. 16c. Rythia plicata, For. — This species is mentioned by von Martens as from Rangoon. Many specimens have been taken on trees from two localities. ( 1 ) trees on bank of tidal drain Lower Pazundaung Road, (2) trees in marshy land exposed to tide near Monkey Point. Auricula and Rythia have been so far found in the same localities, but Auricula has never been seen on trees. Rythia appears to be more of a land shell than a salt water species. 17c. Rythia trigona, Troschel. — This species is also recorded from Rangoon 26 776 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. by von Martens. It is much rarer than P. plicata, only having been taken from one locality in small quantities. 18c. Turbo margaritaceus, L. — This species has been recorded from Rangoon by von Martens, but after much searching I have not been able to find a specimen. 19c. ? A single specimen of a Mollusc somewhat broken was found. This is probably a Littorina of some kind. 20c. Mytilus curvatus Dunker ? ; — Some young specimens which might possibly be this were found on the training wall, but I am not able to say really what they are. 21g. ? Two or three apparently j’oung bivalves were taken from the river training wall. These may perhaps belong to the genus Modiolus. 2 2 Stenothyra monilifera, Benson , should be included in the estuarine fauna of Rangoon’ Journ , Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc i / i i THE PROGRESS OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SECTION IN THE PRINCE OF WALES’ MUSEUM OF WESTERN INDIA. BY B. C. Ellisox, c. m. z. s. 2 plates.) Since the scheme for the arrangement of the collections of the Bombay Natural History Section in the Prince of Wales’ Museum was brought out (a synopsis of which appeared in Volume XXVII, No. 4 of the Journal) matters have progressed more or less rapidly with regard to the trans- ference of the Society’s collections. On account of H. li. H. the Prince of Wales proposed visit to the Museum it was decided in August 1921 that the first arrangement of the collections in the New Museum should be made with a view to show him something about the Animal and Bird life of India. An exhibition was therefore arranged of some of the more representative animals and birds found in this country, the specimens being selected particularly from the point of view of sporting interest. By comparing the photos shown in the present number of the Journal and the photos which appeared in Volume XXVII, No. 4, one is able to see the transformation in the appearance of the galleries after three months work. Though not arranged in its final form, nevertheless a very creditable exhibition was made which was favourably commented upon both by the public and the press. A general guide book to all the Sections of the Museum was compiled^ the pages of which gave a brief account of the Natural History Exhibition in the Museum. This was illustrated with a map showing the areas covered by the Society’s Mammal Survey and photos of various game animals. A chart was also prepared giving the measurements of the best horns in the Society’s collection compared with hitherto published records. Three beautifully bound copies were presented to H. R. H. The Prince of Wales, the Viceroy and to H. E. the Governor of Bombay respectively in which were included some of the beautiful plates which have appeared in the “Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon” by E. C. Stuart Baker, r.z.s., etc. The principal exhibit in the Mammal Gallery illustrated the work of the Society’s Mammal Survey. Along the central row of tables a series of skins ranging from Primates to Pangolins were grouped according to classification. These were further embellished with photographs and maps showing distribution, etc. A separate exhibit illustrated the large number of genera and species which had been added to the list of the Indian Fauna through the agency of the survey. The Society’s fine collection of Big Game Horns was shown to very great advantage on the walls of the gallery. An endeavour had been made to procure the best photos possible of Indian animals shown under natural conditions. Through the kindness of many of the Society’s sporting members a good representative collection of these were obtained and were enlarged and framed and placed underneath trophies or side by side with the unmounted specimens. In addition to the enlarged photos were numerous others sent by members from all over India. These were shown especially for people interested in Big Game Shooting. There was a magnificent collection of fine photos presented by H. H. the Maharaja of Bikaneer and numerous members. H. H. the Maharaja of Dhar,' Mr. J. Ridland and others lent their trophies for the exhibition. One cannot but comment on the beautiful 778 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll. Tiger skins loaned to the Society by the latter gentleman. These formed an extremely striking- exhibit on the walls of the gallery. The labelling of the exhibits was a matter that demanded particular atten- tion. Experience has shown that the ordinary type of label is very apt to rapidly deteriorate under local climatic conditions, and a satisfactory expedient was found in having all the large printed ones framed under glass pari passu. In the Bird Gallery (which \ad been temporarily housed in the Gallery marked (/3) in the general scheme)- perhaps the most interesting exhibition besides the splendid display of s&ns and paintings of Indian Game Birds was the portion allotted to Egrets in the little gallery at the end of the alcove. Through the kindness of the Connsissioner in Sind, specimens of these birds procured from the farms, together with samples of plumes and photographs of the birds in various stages of development, were shown. The method of exhibiting specimens by means of plaster casts whereby a number of Mr. Prater’s beautiful life-like casts of the commoner Indian snakes were shown, att'-acted considerable attention. The Natural History Section was open to the public for a week during the time of the Prince’s visit. Sir Perry Eobinson, Special Correspondent of The Times, was one of many who spent an afternoon in the Natural History Section. He wrote a very appreciative article on his visit The expenses incurred in connection with the transfer of collections, iucliuiing the cost of tables hired and purchased, amounted to Rs. 10,068. The impression gathered by the visitor in many Museums is one of mustiness and decay. This has rather the efl'e^ of detracting much from the utility of these institutions, and turns them into caverns of mouldy antiquities. Every effort, therefore, was made in the present instance to avoid the above effect. Our object being to interest as well as to instruct. Early in January His Excellency the Governor and Lady Lloyd paid a private visit to the Natural History Section. Their Excellencies were met by the Managing Committee of the Society and conducted over the Section by Mr. R. A. Spence and Mr. Prater. The writer was unable to bo present on the occasion being in Nepal at the time. Their Excellencies expressed themselves very favourably as to the arrangement of the section. His Excellency showed a great interest in its future and very kindly pro- mised his assistance in furthering the plans put forward by the Honorary Secretary, which were chiefly concerned with the question of funds and the ways and means of their acquirements. The great drawback affecting the running of Museums and kindred institutions in ludia as elsewhere seems to be a cramping lack of funds. The writer is of opinion that disadvantageous as it may seem to the aims of a public institution such as a Museum, a small charge to visitors on every day of the week, except perhaps one, would go far towards remedying this deplorable condition. The exhibition hitherto arranged was purely of a temporary character and the specimens arranged on tables, etc., could not possibly continue in their present condition without the risk of infinite harm. Unless properly pr* Kk " "i 1’' • ^ ■ ' '. - r. P^:: ii‘ -\' ' ^V •' i. ., - .t - ^ *- . f. C-w V^A .— . . - - K- '' - t ^ : r * ■ ‘ >■ - •JC'-' j 1 " ’■ * * ' ' t 1. ■■ -> - *.- . ^ .. > ‘ 1» 'iL' ■■<’ • ^ » . ’ ■ ;.'•« ,-5" Di 1 JOMrn,, Bom- Nat- Hist- Soc- Thr late JIh. K. C. WROUGHTON, f.l.s., f.z.s.. m.b.o.u. “ It was typical of Wroughton's indomitable energy of spirit that lie slionld, after 70, and suffering from the grave illness of which he died, have planned and started on such a monu mental work as a new Blanford. But this was the key to the character of the man. No work was too laborious, too great, or too difficult for him to start on, if life were given him to carry it through to a successful conclusion.” Oldfield Thomas.\ 781 EDITOlUAL. Mammal Survey. — We have much satisfactiou iu acknowledging the receipt of a grant of Rs. 45,000 from the Imperial Government of India towards the expenses of the Mammal Survey. This grant was paid to the Society in two instalments of Rs. 22,500 for the years 1921-22 and 1922-23 respectively. The Mammal Survey has been further benefited by a grant of £ 100 from the Royal Society and a donation of £ 50 from the Zoological Society of London. It is with much gratification that we record these marks of appreciation on the part of the Indian Government and the premier learned Societies of the Empire. Our thanks are also due to all those members of the Society who gave us their generous support at a time when funds were urgently needed by the Society to complete the task it had set out to accomplish. With the financial aspect more or less assured the Society confi- dently hopes to complete the Survey as originally planned. Four collectors are at present engaged in the work. Mr. C. Primrose has recently completed the Survey of the Mergui Archipelago and Mr. Oldfield Thomas has written very appreciatively of his work among those Islands. Owing to the impracticability of continuing his work in Burma during the monsoon, Mr. Primrose has been transferred to Gwalior and our thanks are due to H. H. The Maharaja for permission accorded to our collector to work in his territories and for the facilities promised him. Mr. Wells is working in the Kangra District in the North Western Himalayas. His report recounting his experiences of “ Scrambling over frozen snow slopes ” reached us in Bombay on a particularly vicious day at the latter end of May. It is to be recorded that the temptation to exchange the office chair for a collector’s gun was successfully overcome. Our third collector Mr. McCann is carrying on the Survey in the Palni Hills in Southern India. He proposes to descend to the plains during the monsoon, his future venue being the Salem and Trichinopoly Districts. The Society will be grateful to members in Southern India for any assistance they can accord him while in their districts. W e are pleased further to report, that permission has once more been obtained from the Nepal Government for N. A. Baptista to resume the Survey work in that country, where Col. W. F. O’Connor, the British Envoy, has very kindly agreed to take over the work of his predecessor Col. R. L. Kennion in supervising the arrangements. Members are aware that the material obtained through the Agency of the Survey is being worked out at the British Museum by the members of the staff and also by the aid of voluntary workers siieh as the late Mr. R. C. Wroughton and Mr. T. B. Fry. Mr. Oldfield Thomas in a recent letter mentioned that there would shortly be a possibility of our having to secure the services of some one who would be willing to take over the work of cataloguing and labelling the Survey material. He writes that there must be many retired officials in England, who are simply pining for the want of something to do, who would be ready to take up this work as a hobby. Whether they take up the scientific side of the work or attend merely to its routine nature, they would in either instance be doing work of much value and would be rendering a great service both to the British Museum and to the Survey. Both Mr. Wroughton and Mr. Fry came to the Museum after retirement from official life and Mr. Oldfield Thomas would be glad to hear from any of our members who would be willing to help in any way. Bombay Fisheries.— Vf hen in 1917, the newly formed Government Department of Industries turned its attention to the fishing industry of the Presidency with a view to its development and improvement, and 782 JOUBNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIL declared in its first annual report ( for 1917-18 ) its appreciation of the need for scientific investigation, it seemed as if our authorities had at last become alive to a public duty recognised and acted upon by all civilised maritime countries, which had here been too long ignored. A decided step forward was taken in 1918, when it was resolved to acquire a steam trawler to investigate the unknown fishery resources of the deep sea, and at the same time to secure the services of a “ Marine Biologist with knowledge and experience of the scientific and economic sides of the industry, who will investigate the resources to be exploited and make proposals for the means of doing so and the necessary organi- sation." The above is quoted from the annual report of the Department of Industries for 1918-19, which further goes on to say : “This is a field for Government endeavour analogous to the exploration of the country’s mineral resources by the GedTogical Survey of India.” The Director of Industries qualifies and dilutes this point of view by adding: “ In the case of fisheries, however, I consider that mere exploration work should, at the outset, be subordinated to the policy of ascertaining definitely whether trawling will or will not pay in Bombay waters. If it does pay, and perhaps even if it does not pay, there will probably be for many years to come a rich field for scientific and economic enquiry.” By trawling here is apparently meant the operations of the Government’s experimental vessel. It appears to us that the Department of Industries showed an undue haste to get down to a commercial basis. Borrowing its own metaphor of the Geological Survey he would be a very short-sighted geologist who limited his attention in the field only to those minerals which could be immediately disposed of at a profit. The fishing scheme materialised in the appearance of the Steam Trawler “ William Garrick ” at Bombay in March 1921, and trawling operations were begun towards the end of May 1921. The explor- atory object appears from the outset to have been subordinated to the catching and landing of fish for the market. The experiment of plac- ing trawl-caught fish upon the Bombay market was doubtless an interest- ing and necessary one, but it is obvious that making the marketing a primary consideration would be a handicap, to systematic sea work and would make substantial inroads into the time available for the exploration of the virgin fishing grounds which are sufficiently vast in any case for a single vessel to trawl over. To put exploitation before exploration was on the face of it a case of putting the cart before the horse. We are informed that the operations were not a commercial success as at no time did the proceeds from the sales of fish approach anywhere near the working expenses. It was doubtless this circumstance, in the face of the financial straits in which the Government found itself in budgeting for the financial year 1922-23, which led to the abandonment of trawling at the end of last February, after a working period which barely exceeded 9 months. It seems a sad and untimely fizzling out of a big project which must have involved the Government in a very substantial capital outlay-sub- stantial enough to merit a longer period of activity one would imagine. Our present knowledge of the natural history of the food fishes of these parts is practically nil and therefore the publication of the details and the results of the work will be awaited with much interest, but it is clear that a fisher survey of the seas of a province with over 1,000 miles of coastline cannot have been carried very far in so short a period. It is to be hoped that although the Bombay Government has not been able to maintain its deep-sea trawling project — admittedly an expensive matter in the hard EDITORIAL. 783 times of to-day — it will nevertheless realise that the natural resources of the sea, no less than those which flourish on the face of the earth or lie buried beneath its surface, have a considerable present and still greater potential value to the state and to posterity. The present prospects for the continuance of fishing investigations are somewhat blank. There appears to be no provision for the appointment of a successor to the Marine Biologist who returns to England at the end of the year ; and the post of Assistant Marine Biologist which was only filled for a matter of about 5 months has been abolished, one of the minutice of Government economy. The inconclusive ending of a costly enterprise emphasises the fact that experiments of this nature are foredoomed to failure unless their conduct goes hand-in-hand with scientific investigation, and, if possible, under the direction of someone who combines knowledge of local fishing conditions from both the scientific and practical sides. We are satisfied from many facts already known that power-fishing — not necessarily steam-trawling — will some day become one of the great industries of the Bombay Presi- dency, and that the present setback is purely temporary and due to faults in the conception and carrying out of the scheme. What is wanted is enlightened commercial control working in close collaboration with informed (practical) scientific advice. It is evident that wide local knowledge of the life-history and habits of our food fishes is essential to ensure success. We must know at least the salient facts about them, their breeding seasons, spawning grounds, and the main factors control- ling the periodic migrations that are outstanding characteristics of some of our most valuable marketable fishes. Knowledge of this description intelligently applied will assuredly enable our sea-fishing industry to develop on modern lines and so obtain the largest possible quantities of fish in the best condition upon an expenditure low enough to permit of sale at reasonable prices ; perhaps in no other industry depending directly upon the spontaneous produce of Nature, can the possible result so amply repay the capital and labour expended upon it. But the practical scientist (zoologist) is essential to success and it is also needful that any extensive steam or motor fishery organization should have strong and patient financial backing and should he run in conjunction with a well-thought out and extensive cold-storage and distributing agency. It is probably an easier proposition to catch the fish than to dispose of the catches at remunera- tive rates. This is work that no Government department can iackle satisfactorily ; Government should confine itself to the investigations that are needful to supply the data essential to commercial success and should not try directly and through their own organization to develop commer- cially such capitalistic methods of fishing as steam-trawling. The Administration Report of the Department of Fisheries, Madras, by the Director, Mr. .1. Hornell, F.L.S., F.R.A.I., just to hand makes very interesting reading. Although such a department should not be considered a profit-earning department, as its resources should be devoted primarily and principally to investigation and research in ' the interests both of the fishing industry and the general community, it manages to cover the greater part of its expenditure by profits made on the departmental tank fishery and from the improvement of inland waters. The latter source of revenue is particularly noteworthy. The Department takes over tanks and rivers from the local authorities on payment of yearly com- pensation based on past rentals received, and then by applying up-to- date piscicultural methods for the improvement of these waters, is able to obtain largely increased rentals, which pay all the expenses of the section and leave a handsom-e surplus that goes far to c8ver expenditure 27 784 JOUBNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. upon scientific investigation that is not and cannot be directly productive however valuable its conclusions may eventually prove to the industries concerned. If the Director’s programme of research continues to be ade- quately supported by Government, about which some misgivings are felt, the operations of the Madras Department of Fisheries should become one of the greatest economic assets of that Presidency. The operations of the department have constantly expanded since its inception and include among other minor lines, a Zoological Supply section which we have much pleasure in bringing to the notice of schools, colleges and other educational establishments in India. The scheme was inaugurated by Mr. Hornell with the object of supplying schools and colleges where zoology is taught, with type and dissection specimens of our marine fauna for study in the class room. Until then, students to a large extent relied upon a study of text-book figures and had little or no familiarity with the animals them- selves. Tiiey could describe a sea-anemone or a holothurian with exacti- tude, but would fail to recognise either if they saw it alive in a rock-pool or on the sea shore. For school museums, Mr. Hornell has had prepared wall cases of typical mollusca, crustaceans and sponges. To render these more useful, he is engaged upon the preparation of illustrated handbooks descriptive of the types represented in these cases ; the first one, dealing with South Indian shells, has just been issued and he hopes shortly to complete a companion work on the larger Indian Crustacea, to illustrate a collection of our common crabs. Readers of our Journal will be interested to learn that Mr. Hornell has promised to write a series of descriptive papers on the common marine and fresh-water shells of India. In the present number of the Journal, we publish a paper by him on the Madras Aquarium while a future issue will contain a very interesting article on the Commensals of Indian Crabs and Alcyonarians. Nature Study in Schools. — While on the subject of Nature Study in schools we are pleased to state that as a result of representations made by the Society Government has been pleased to appoint a Committee “ to con- sider and report on the question of arranging for the formation, in co-operation with the Bombay Natural History Society, of a Nature Study Museum in Bombay, for the use of teachers and students of the subject.” The Committee will enquire into and submit proposals on the most advan- tageous methods of exhibiting suitable portions of the Society’s collections to European and Indian children in Government and recognised schools and will report on the best manner in which the Society can render guidance and assistance to teachers. The Committee thus constituted will also serve as a Standing Advisory Committee in future and will meet once a year to settle the lines of work. Mr. R. A. Spence has been appointed the Society’s representative on the proposed Committee and during his absence on leave in England, Revd. Father Blatter, s.J., f.l.s., will take his place. Egret Farming — In the present issue of the Journal we publish articles by Capt. C. E. Benson and Mr. Chevenix Trench, i.e.s., on the subject of Egret Farming. Members of the Society will recall the previous papers on the subject by Mr. G. Birch published in Vol. XXIII, No. 1. At the time of its publication Mr. Birch’s article roused considerable comment in England, especially during the period the Plumage Bill was before Parliament. Last year a proposition was afoot for a Government enquiry into the status of these farms, particularly with a view to establishing whether cruelty was being practised. The matter however was dropped for no very apparent reason. There can be little doubt that an enquiry intcfthis subject must eventually be undertaken. Numerous EDITORIAL. 785 unsupervisecl farms which have sprung up in suitable localities throughout the Province and the information to hand seems to indicate that the farming of egrets on humane lines is not an impossibility and that the cruelty at present practiced could be abolished. The present method of ‘ plucking’ as observed by Capt. Benson is both cruel and reprehensible. The suturing of the eyelids appears to be practiced only by a small section of the farmers who are compelled to transfer their establishments at seasonal periods. We once more urge upon Government the necessity of establishing the proposed enquiry. It will take time as the birds must be visited in the middle of the Sind hot weather, July-August, in the cold weather and in the early spring, but provided that the right men are sent and sufficient time given for a thorough investigation a valuable report could be obtained. We draw the attention of members to the excellent series of articles on the collection and identification of Indian Butterflies by Col. Evans the first of which appeared in Vol. XXVIII, No. 2. Col, Evans is supplying a very much felt want, i.e., a guide to the budding collector and to the recognition of the more common Indian Species. The series of articles will be illustrated with black and white photographs of various species and will be a great help to a large circle of people who are at present prevented from taking up a fascinating study for want of suitable and helpful literature. We have already commented on Mr. Hornell’s proposed papers on the Common Molluscs and are pleased to announce that a popular paper, on similar lines, on Spiders and Dragonflies will shortly appear in the Journal — the former by Dr. Gravely and the latter by Major Fraser, the two best authorities on the subject in the country. The editors of the journal are doing all they can to make their publica- tions interesting to those of their readers to whom a recondite scientific article is somewhat terrifying. At the same time the scientific aspect of our publications must be preserved. The accumulation of knowledge by the scientific worker, who places the results of his researches, in whatever seemingly unimportant sphere of study he may be engaged, within the reach of those that come after him, is helping towards the progress of knowledge and those conversant with that progress are aware that at any time some apparently insignificant discovery has thrown such a flood of light upon certain phenomena as to directly benefit the whole progress of our race. The Society is striving to meet the wishes of all its members, novices as well as experts, and the editors will always be glad to receive from their readers any suggestion whereby this publication may be improved or in anj’' way tend to become of greater benefit to those to whom it appeals. Our readers are aware that this Society is almost entirely maintained out of member’s subscriptions and if the high standard of its publications is to be continued the source of its income must remain unimpaired. The recent unavoidable increase in subscriptions has been to some extent dis- counted by a corresponding loss of membership, and the editors hope that members will do all they can to help the Society by making its work and the advantage it offers, more widely known to their friends. A strong membership roll with constant additions to its numbers means to' an amateur Society such as ours an increased vitality and a continuity of progress in the many spheres of its activity. 788 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. No. 1.— EDITORS’ AND READERS’ COIVIMENTS ON ARTICLES AND NOTES WHICH HAVE APPEARED IN PREVIOUS NUMBERS. The Tsaine (Bos banteng). (Vol XXVIII, No. 2. Misc. Note No. 6.) In his Catalogue of Ungulate Mammals Lydekker recognises 5 races of the Banting or Tsaine (Bos banteng) (Bos sondaicus of Blanford). The range of the animal is given as “ Java, Borneo, probably Sumatra, Bali ; apparently a portion of the Malay Peninsula, Burma as far as the north of Pegu and Arrakan and thence through the hiUs of Chittagong to Manipur, Siam and Cochin China.” The typical race (Bos banteng banteng) is from Java. Lydekker describes the colour of the adult bull as blackish brown to black, with face similar to the back, and the white rump patch very large and contrasting strongly with the dark area. The Bornean Banting (B. banteng lowi) is said to be more or less identical in colour with the Javan form. Lydekker distinguishes the Northern races from the two above described mainly by the white rump patch which is very much more developed in the Javan and Bornean races and by the colour of the adult buUs. In the Burmese Banting or Tsaine (B. banteng birmanicus) the colour of the old buU is given as “ dark tawny or chestnut appearing darker in some hghts than in others and shading to hght brown below. Very old bulls apparently become darker”. The white rump patch is described as covering a smaller area than in the Javan and Bornean races being confined to the hind surface of the buttocks and thighs. In the Siamese race (B. banteng porteri) (described from two fragmentary specimens) the colour is stated to be brown, flecked with white in contradis- tinction to the Burmese in which the body colour is said to be uniform. The Malayan Banting (B. b. butteri) is considered in all probability to be a feral race of the domesticated Bah Banting (which is largely imported into Singapore). The bulls are described as ‘ blackish ’. The last race mentioned by Lydekker to which no sub speciflc has been attached is from Cochin China. An interesting commentary on the above might be obtained from Major (now Col.) J. P. Evans’ notes on the Tsaine in his book on Big Game shooting in Upper Burma (1911) in which Col. Evans goes somewhat into detail in refer- ence to the colouring of the Tsaine ; also from a letter received from Major Stockley on the subject. Commenting on the “ white rump patch ” which Lydekker cites as a point of difference between the Southern and Northern races of Banting. Major Stockley writes : — ‘‘ Lydekker states that the rump patch is more developed in the Burmese. Siamese and Malayan races than in the Javan and Bornean. I am quite sme that individual variation is great in this respect and would fike to know how much material he had on which to base this differentiation. I also strongly suspect that the area of white on the buttocks and thighs decreases with age, as I have twice noticed yoimg bulls with the white area extending nearly all over the thighs : so much so that in one case, in which the bull was grazing tail on to me, I at first took him to be an animal of some new species.” As regards the colour of the body. Col. Evans, who has had considerable op- portunities of observing the Burmese Banting in a •ndld state, is of opinion that the cows and young bulls are of a bright chestnut with a white face, white stockings and a white patch on the buttocks. “ Young bulls have practically the same colour as the cows but often have white spots in the flanks which in MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 787 course of time merge into each other and turn a dirty grey.” Is it not pro- bable that the white flecked colouring described by Lydekker as distinctive of the Siamese race {B.b. porteri) is merely the colouring of an immature animal. Writing of the Siamese race Major Stockley says : — “ As for Bos banteng porteri, I consider the subspecific quite unwarranted. The type specimen of B.b. porteri was shot by Mr. Porter on groimd where several other tsaine had been shot previously, none of which had been spotted, or noted as such. I saw a photo of the specimen which was shovTi me by Mr. K. G. Gardiner, a keen and competent naturahst who has lived in Siam for nearly twenty years, and who doubted the validity of the race. The photo was pub- lished in the journal of the Natural History Society of Siam and showed a spot- ted bull with a poor head, which I would say was not quite mature, and cer- tainly did not look to be an old animal. The spots were distributed fairly thickly over the shoulders and decreased in frequency towards the rear. The second specimen of B.b. porteri was shot by Mr. C. Yates at the end of March 1917, and was one of the three shot by him in that month on the same ground. Mr. Elwes was with him all the time, and himself shot a bull tsaine. Neither Mr. Elwes’ bull or Mr. Yates’ other two were spotted, nor were any of the bulls which Mr. Elwes had shot on the ground in previous years. It is improbable in the extreme that there could be two races of tsaine hving in continuous areas of which specimens occasionally invade each other’s territory. I may say that I have photos of two buck Barking Deer {Cervulus muntiacus grandicornis) shot in the Yamethin district of Burma in the same week on the same ground : one of them has two parallel rows of white spots on its sides, the other is quite unspotted. WiU any sane person maintain that they are of different races ?” j\Iature bulls according to Evans are usually yeUovash brown, sometimes turning to dark grey colour on the sides and flanks. Old bulls usually have the face down to the muzzle a dirty white approaching to grey. They may be en- tirely grey (grey bulls according to Evans always possess magnificent heads) or the prevailing colour may be dull yeUovdsh red (the shade of a withered leaf, or the red of old brown canvas) occasionally the colour is almost dark chocolate and rarely black {the normal colour of the Javan race.) Thus we find in the males of the Burmese Banting a range of colour extending in the immature animals from bright chestnut, chestnut flecked with white to yello'wish brown mixed with grey and in the older animals ranging from uniform grey to red, chocolate and black. Evans states that ordinarily in Burma the older the bull the lighter he is while Lydekker is of opinion that “ very old bulls apparently become darker.” Major Stockley is in agreement 'ivith Col. Evans. He writes : — “ I differ altogether from Lydekker when he states that the colour of old bulls goes darker with age. The khaki coloured bulls, I am sure, do nothing of the sort. As I have said in my original notes, I think it possible that the grey and copper-beech bulls possibly become buffalo-blue and chocolate, respectively, eventually, in some cases, going quite black ; but this is merely a suggestion, and not even my opinion, as I think the matter is quite imcertain.” The question arises in the absence of complete data and material as to how far the colouration of the Banting can be made the basis for distinguishing the various races of animal. What exactly are the features or characteristics by which the various races can be recognised, as tending to become permanent forms inhabiting a definite area ? I think that a perusal of Major Stockley’s and Col. Evans’ notes ■null show how entirely unrehable colour is as a basis for determining the races of Bos banteng. Distinctions based on scanty museum material are not in many instances borne out by the subsequent observation of field Naturahsts and it would be better if decisions of this nature are deferred until sufficient material and data were forthcoming. Major Stockley writes : — 788 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. “ I have protested before in the Society’s journal against hasty differen- tiation of subspecies based on insufficient data [vide my notes on the horns of the Thamin) and I think that ‘ Wait and see ’ is the motto to adopt in the case of the Tsaine in this respect.” “ Recent correspondence in the ‘ Field ’ has shown what a terrible muddle has been made of the Waterbucks and Kobs through Museum workers rushing to append new names to specimens with insufficient material to work on, with the result that now the genera and species are so mixed, that it is difficult to say w'hat is a Kob and what a Waterbuck. Museum workers who do this sort of thing, put themselves in the position of staff officers who issue orders wdthout reference to the information received from the front line, or who make no attempt to ob- tain such information : the result in each case is the same — chaos.” The dependence of the Museum worker on the Field Xaturahst is here definitely expressed. He relies on the field observer not only for material but also for information as regards the conditions under which the species he is examining lives and has its being ; including data as regards the time when the particular specimen was obtained, the locality, the altitude, and whether any variations in colour have been observed due to sex, age or season in any given district. Col. Evans and Major Stockley’s notes on the Tsaine can be cited as an instance how far intelligent observation can go towards assisting in this direction. S. H. Prater, C. M. Z. S. Bombay Natural History Society. Power of Scent in Wild Animals. {Misc. Note No 1, Fol. XXVIII, No. 1.) Major W. M. Logan Home writes : — I have read Mr. Copley’s notes on “ The Power of Scent in Wild Animals”, in Vol. XXVIII, No. 1, with interest. I think however most sportsmen who have done much stalking in the Hima- la\’as will agree wrth me that Mr. Copley’s observations on lack of power of scent in wild animals do not in the least apply to Himalayan Game. It is well known, for instance, that bears have most remarkable powers of scent : I have known a brown bear scent me 1,400 yards off, and I have had many stalks after black bears spoilt by their getting our wind. The same appUes to Ibex and Markhor. I remember on one occasion, my shikari and I were sitting in full view of a small herd of Ibex, which were about 25 yards off and feeding past us ; although several of them looked straight at us, they continued feeding until they had got round to our wind side when thej’ suddenly snorted and rushed off downhill and I can remember many other in- stances of the same sort where we eluded detection by sitting motionless against rocks or trees until the beasts worked round into the wnnd. I remember losing the biggest Ibex I ever saw by neglecting to properly test the wnnd and as the incident might be of interest I give it below : — My shikari and I and a local Balti cooly had been lying all day on the top of a ridge watching the Ibex, 4 fine old males, and one a very big head, where shown 400 yards below us. The wind where we lay blew straight up towards us from below from both sides and along up the ridge. At about 4 p.m. I told the cooly to go back to camp the path led past the position of the Ibex but w'as hidden from view of the animals as it lay on the opposite side of the ridge. When he reached a point to the windward of the Ibex they suddenly got to their feet and rushed madly down in a direction away from the cooly halting after going about 200 yards and gazing bank in the direction from which they came. I reahsed then, to my disgust, that an eddy of wind had come round the ridge and carried the cooly’s scent to the Ibex. The latter made off right across the valley and I saw them no more. The cooly was in my view all the time and w'as MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 78d quite hidden behind the ridge. Col. Kennion in his fascinating book, “ Sport and Life in the further Himalaya,” relates a similar incident where the changing of the wind in the middle of the stalk lost him a big head. COMPAKISON OF TiGEE AND PaNIHER SkULLS. (Tol. XXVII, No. 4, Mi'sc. Note No. 2.) Mrs. Maxwell writes : — “ It may be of interest in connection with the photographs of skulls in the journal of 31st July 1921, page 934, to see a photograph of two tiger skulls, the occipital cond3des of which rest on the surface of the table, and to know that four out of eight tiger skulls in our possession have the occipital cond3des in contact with the table.” We have examined a series of 24 tiger skulls in the SocietA^’s collection and find that in 7 skulls the occipital condyles were in contact with the surface on which they were resting. The remainder were raised above. It would appear from this, that, as a jK)int of difference between Tiger and Panther skulls, Blan- ford’s test would be of little value, since the above mentioned character is to be observed in the skulls of both animals, though possibly to a less extent in th3 Tiger. B. C. Ellison, C.M.Z.S. Panthers and Artificial Light. (Vol. XXVIII, No. 1, Misc. Note No. 2.) Mr. R. C. Morris writes ;• — With reference to the note rmder the above heading wnitten by Mr. C. B Beadnell, the following accoimt should be of interest: In February 1921, m3' wife and I were sitting up over a “ kill ” in a shola. Soon after dark I decided to test the electric light apparatus and found that it was not working. There was no time or light to see what was wrong, and whist- ling for our sholaga shikaris, I instructed them to tie up a hunicane lamp over the kill. While they were doing so the panther came to the edge of the cleared patch round the kill and slimk back into the shola on seeing the men. I had to call out to the men, who had not seen the panther, to clear out. A few minutes later the panther walked out into the full light of the lantern and started his meal and paid the penalty for his daring. Another panther was killed, and yet another was missed, in lantern light last year on these hills and I know of no other instances. An instance of the extraordinary cunning of panthers is showm by the foUow'ing incident : — Recently my wife’s favourite dog was killed by a panther and we sat up over the kill until it began to rain, when we decided to return to our bimgalow. My wife did not like the idea of the panther turning up and devouring the dog’s remains in oim absence and so we had the carcase put up on the machan. On our visiting the spot the next morning we were astonished to find that the pan- ther had cfimbed up on to the machan and had devoured the remains of the dog. The machan was a considerable height off the ground. Living a life in the jungle one sees or comes across many strange and exciting jungle incidents and tragedies. Perhaps the most extraordinary sight that I have ever witnessed was the killing of a solitary bull bison by a solitary elephant. 790 JOUBNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Bird Collectors in India. {Editorial, Vol. XXVIII, No. 1.) Dr. C. B. Ticehurst writes : — With reference to the letter of Capt. Livesey quoted in your last editorial, and your remarks on his impossible scheme, I should like to say a few words. The impression given is that India is swarming with bird collectors, out to get any rare and beautiful plumaged bird they see. Broadly speaking, of course, there is no such thing as a rare bird, all being as common as Nature intended them to be, if looked for in their true habitation, that, however, is by the way. But where are aU these collectors Capt. Livesey complains about ? I should be glad to know as with so much yet remaining to do in India they should be encouraged. When I was in Sind I knew of three (besides myself) aU doing valuable work in parts little or not known, there may have been others I did not hear of, if so, they remain silent judging by the papers which have in the last few years appeared in the Journal. But since I left India, it appears, collectors have greatly in- creased in number, I rejoice to hear it, as doubtless now there will be no difficulty in obtaining desiderata which we in England are handicapped for the lack of ! If Capt. Livesey will give us a hst of collectors and their districts we can then inform them through the Journal what specimens are required thence for the British Museum, and the Curator of our Society could add his desiderata. Now as to his scheme, in the first place the Society surely has no power to prohibit “ the slaughter of rare and beautiful birds.” Tliis can only be done by an Act and the “ Prohibition of Export of Plumes Act ” gives protection against slaughter for trade purposes. Without a very wide and very special know- ledge of the whole of the birds of India, which no single man possesses, no one can lay down the law as to what should be the limits in collecting. Capt. Livesey suggests a typical series of skins of each species by which of course he must mean a series from the type locality, a very desirable object which neither the Bombay nor British Museum has attained as yet for every Indian species even. And what of races ? StiU less are these collections representative. To avoid collecting birds on the fringe of their ddstribution pre-supposes a pretty exact knowledge of the range of every species and race in India, and entails far more collecting yet ; the results when obtained would take the most skilled worker years to work out. No ! In my opinion Capt. Livesey has started at the wrong end and the required knowledge for his diagrams does not exist. As re- gards publication of diagrams, 12-15 quarterly, by the Society giving such in- formation as we possess up to date of geographic^ distribution, is it suggested that each Indian species should be put on one of these ? That is taking the num- ber as in the Fauna as 1617 (and it is many more now), is the work to be spread over 27 years, and who is to prepare this almost life’s work ? There is one suggestion, however, which I can find myself in agreement with and that is the pubhcation of a list of “wants”. I should not bother about “ do not wants ” as no well made skin with full data of practically any Indian bird from anywhere would ever figure among the “ do not wants ” at any Museum ; I should confine “ do not wants ” to scraps without data. I began a hst of “ wants ” last year with an appeal for nestlings of any Indian birds, a subject on which we know nothing (see B. N. H. S. J., XXVII, p. 931), an investi- gation any egg collector in India (and in my day they far out-numbered skin collectors) could help with, but up to date as a result I have received one specimen. I, and no doubt others, who work at the British Museum would send along fists of “ wants ” for various localities if there was any chance that the wants would be supplied. For example, certain birds are wanted, all common enough, from some locality between Benares and the Vindhya HiUs — say the area, Saugor- Jubbulpore-Ramnagar — as it was from this area Franklin described a good many MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 791 birds, but even to this day specimens thence are very poorly represented in the British Museum. If any response is forthcoming I shall be pleased to supply the names of the actual species. Collecting without method provided birds are collected properly is not a waste of time or bird life, though I quite grant more could be done if collectors knew what was particularly wanted in their area, but they must make themselves known first. Birds of Mesopotamia. ( FoZ. XXVIII, No. 1, page 222). In Dr- Ticehurst’s “ Birds of Mesopotamia” pubhshed in your last issue, he omits perhaps the one and only interesting fact in the nidification of the Hooded crow ( Corvus cornix) in Mesopotamia, which is, that in the absence of date palms it will nest in the dense reed beds (Hamar Lake). Kotah, Rajaputana, T. R. Livesey, Capt. 2bth February 1922. Notes on Lizards, Frogs and Human Beings in the Nilgiri District, ( Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, page 493.) A parallel to Col. Wall’s interesting researches into the habits of Reptiles and Amphibians in the Nilgiris pubhshed in Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, of the Society’s journal may be foimd in an interesting article pubhshed in the September issue of the Magazine of Natural History (Journal of the American Museum of Natural History). Mr. Kingsley Noble, Curator of Reptiles in the American Museum of Natural History, recounts the methods employed by him in his at- tempts to discover the life histories and habits of the reptiles and amphi- bians, especiaUy the remarkable frogs of the Andean region. The most interest- ing of these is the Marsupial Frog the female of which is provided with a pouch in which she carries the eggs until well developed. In the pouch the young are reared until an advanced stage in the tadpole existence. Many interesting details in the life history of this Frog remain unsolved. Little is known about its habits, its pouch, its egg laying and the manner in which the egg reaches the pouch which, by the way, is situated on the frog’s back. It was towards help- ing to solve some of these problems that Mr. Noble particularly directed his efforts. Col. Wall spent much time and patience in discovering that, the httle “ Castanet ” Frogs were the authors of the “ Clap like sounds ”, which every visitor to the Nilgiris during the rains is familiar with. Mr. Noble’s methods may therefore commend themselves to the gallant Colonel or anyone desirous of following in his footsteps. Mr. Noble writes: “There is only one way of delving into the home hfe of a frog, i.e., to steal upon him at night when his amorous caUing betrays his place of hiding. With an electric flash light the task is easy for the frog seems to be as little concerned over one’s presence as he is over the Are flies which flit across his world. His callings, love making, nest building, may be examined in as great detail in the open as in his structure in the laboratory. It was obvious that if we were to investigate the marsupial frog into reveahng any of his great secrets it would have to be done at night.” Recounting his esperiences Mr. Noble writes : — “ I started off alone toward a bannana patch where I had heard the previous evening the hammering of a dozen carpenters. There was something about the quaUty of the hammering which told me the ‘ Carpenters ’ 28 792 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. were not human. I thought of the carpenter frogs which come to our Jersey pine barrens in the spring. These are of a different family and their ham- mering has a clattering, less deliberate ring. The New Jersey ‘ Carpenters ’ always soimd to me like a crowd of boys laying shingles, while the clear measured clap of these hammers could be compared only with that of a skilled workman. First I followed an did agave-grown wall, then another stone wall running to the bannana field. It was a different world at night. My light fell first upon a giant centipede, more than eight inches in length, putting into service every one of its many legs for a rapid escape up the trail. Numerous jewels shone on the periphery of the light. Some of these on investigation proved to be nothing but drops of water, others of a deeper glow were the eyes of spiders. A little farther on a glimpse of two close-set headhghts, followed by a creature’s wild rush through a thicket, told me that I had disturbed an opossum in its nocturnal wanderings. The hammering became mucTi louder as I approached the bannana patch. I realized that the hammerers were not aU in the bannana plants ; some were in the old stone wall, and others in the agave plants. I started toward one of the performers, but another caUing nearer at hand turned me aside, and before I had fairly well started, it seemed much easier to run down a third. It was only after I had concentrated my entire attention on the pounding of one of these Huancabamba ‘ Carpenters ’ that I had any success at all, and then it seemed so easy. The performers were not the least disconcerted by the spot light. ” No. II.— JUNGLE NOTES. The Tiger making the “ Sambhar Call.” Mr. Hugh Copley writes to us on the above subject as follows :■ — “ When away on Christmas Camp and enjoying the blaze of a jolly fire we heard the call of a sambhar which every night came to drink below us within half a mile followed by the tiger ‘ sambhar ’ call if I might call it so. The sambhar and the tiger called after each other for ten minutes during which time we had called up two Bigas who confirmed each caU as it was made. Now the call although ahke (and would be sworn to as alike by the average man) is not so by any means. Firstly the sambhar call is higher in pitch, more musical and also shorter and finishes clear. The tiger ‘ sambhar ’ call is lower, more chesty, and not clear cut. This call given by itself might easily be mistaken but the two calling together educated the listener to the difference verj” quickly. It is known and proved by experiments that the ear drum of man has by evolution changed considerably since the time we were cave men, and is rapidly (used in its correct sense with reference to evolution) changing to receive wave lengths of much shorter length, such as the noises of civihsation heard towns, so that we cannot, as we once did, receive and interpret lower or longer wave lengths. You have only to see bush tribes (hunters) in Central Africa at work, to reahse how they receive and interpret lower wave lengths. Now the same thing occurs in a much greater degree with animals and I doubt very much if any animal mistakes the sambhar call for that of the tiger ‘ sambhar ’ call. Therefore this caU is not used by the tiger with any idea of luring the poor imsuspecting sambhar to his doom. Secondly it would be a cute animal to lure a C.F. sambhar to any doom. This view is also held by theBigas. It therefore must I think be a mate call but this vdll be a very difficult thing to find out.” MISCELLAISIEOUS NOTES. 793 ^Ir. Dunbar Brander wTiting to us in regard to this says : — “ The tiger’s noise is a mate call pure and simple, although very like a low sambhar bell no sambhar would mistake it. I have had a tiger make it at me when I walked him ofiE his kill in long grass and he thought I was his mate.” Major C. H. Stockley gives us the following experience : — “ Walking along a forest track in upper Burma in July 1914 about 11 a.m. I came to a small tract of open tree and grass jimgle bordering a deep ravine into which several small gullies ran from my direction. From the direction of the ravine I heard what I took to be a sambhar call, when I was only 40 yards from it. I walked towards it hoping to see a stag, when suddenly the call came from a small gully 15 yards away. I could not see the bottom but it looked much too small to hold a sambhar. I moved cautiously forward and found it was only three feet deep with a sandy bottom in which were the pug marks of a large tiger : the sand was still running down into them. I followed them to the main ra\nne and found the tiger had then gallopped off along the bottom. I surmise that he had heard me coming along the track, called, and then sneaked up the gully towards me thinking it was game (a cow tsaine perhaps) approaching, discovered his mistake and bolted. The call was quite possibly to attract his mate.” Lt.-Col. E. W. Burton in episiola says on this subject : — “ That tigers make a ‘ Sambhar-hke-call ’ has been noticed in the Journal of the Society (Vol. XXI, page 235) by writers from both India and Burma. Vide Vol. XXI, page 235, where Major H. H. Harington writes that it is a well known fact in Burma that tigers often ‘ call ’ like a .sambhar and he gives an experience of his own. Mr. J. W. Best also relates an occasion on which in the Central Provinces of India he actually saw a tigress making a noise which he at first thought to come from a sambhar. Mr. Copley now writing from the Central Provinces describes the ‘ call ’ and gives an interesting description of it as compared with that of the sambhar, both being heard at the same time, and thinks it must be a ‘ mate ’ call. I have on two occasions heard tigers make the ‘ Sambhar-like-call ’ (1912 Eastern Ghats) and agree with Mr. Copley that the call would not, probably, deceive an animal. No doubt the denizens of the jungle very readily recognise it for the imitation that it is : but Mr. Copley’s conjectme as to its being a ‘ mate ’ call is not borne out by the circum- stances related by the two writers previously quoted. So far as I know there was no tiger any where near when I heard the ‘ call ’ which was several times ’•epeated and it seemed to be a ‘ hrmting ’ note : perhaps tigers think themselves to be better mimics than tney are. It may be that animal curiosity causes sambhar to tarry in the vicinity and so enable the questing tiger, having ‘ called ’ in one direction, to slip round and gain a nearer approach. It is not difficult to call up ‘Kakur ’ (Muntjac) by means of a blade of grass or a leaf placed between the thumbs and blown upon edgewa3's. Moose are ‘called up’ as is weU known. Certain tribes in India — snarers of animals — can call up jackals to within a few yards. Such incidents can be added to from many parts of the world, so whj' should not the tiger have acquired the habit of caUing up a prospective dinner or at least inducing it to stay a while from headlong flight.- 794 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Probably sportsmen with wider experience than mine may be able to offer more definite information. It is curious that Mr. Inverarity and Mr. Reginald Gilbert, have made no mention of this habit in their various exhaustive articles in our journal : neither so far as I can call to mind have any other writers.” The papers by Mr. Inverarity and the late IVIr. Reginald Gilbert which Col. Burton refers to are evidently the following : — Sambhar and Sambhar Stalking by J. D. Inverarity, Vol. VIII, p. 391, and an article with the same title by Reginald Gilbert published in Vol. Ill, p. 224. We give particulars of the journal in which they appeared as some members who do not possess the earher numbers of the journal might hke to obtain them. Sambhar Swinging by their Horns. In regard to this Mr. Copley writes : — “ Not long ago I was watching a fine Cheetal Stag with attendant ladies grazing under a ‘ ber ’ tree which at this time of the year has a plum like fruit. This was as usual a pretty jungle scene, but what particularly interested me was the fact that several times the stag got up on his hind legs and swept his horns through the branches of the ‘ber ’ tree knocking the fruit to ground. Then quite bucked with the performance he ate, but would not allow the does to do so. Does this bear on the above question ? Mght a ,«ambhar also brushing off ‘ ber ’ fruit get caught hke Absalom? I cannot think that pleasure is expressed by males more than females. My experience is (certainly when watched, in big herds) that the females are always up to pleasure, generally being very skittish, and female sambhar who are apt to play much more than their lords and masters cannot try swinging for pleasure so why should the stags ? So if the kind gentleman who next finds the swinging places of sambhar stags will kindly tell us the name of the tree, heights, etc., we shall be much more nearer the truth.” Mr. Dunbar Brander comments as follows : — “ The sambhar stands right up on his hind legs during the rut and remains so quite a time. In doing so he not infrequently gets his horns over an overhang- ing branch ; the tree may be of any species — he is not after food.” Lt.-Col. Burton in his letter quoted before writes : — “ The legend of sambhar swinging by their horns as a pastime has not come to my notice either among the Marias or other jungle people with whom I am acquainted.” Duck and Snipe in the Central Provinces Can any of our members in the Central Provinces answer the following question by Mr. Copley ? “ Where are the duck and snipe this year in the Central Provinces ? From all the different districts I haye had no news, neither have I seen them myself. North, East, West and South they are absent, even in places which unhke this blessed place, have full tanks and have had plentiful rain during the season.” Will members of the Society, w'herover they may be stationed, send us copies of their Game books for the past season ? In Mr. Kinnear’s days we tiied to collect such information and though we had fewer rephes than we anticipated, the rephes received were of considerable use to Mr. Stuart Baker and the au- thorities at the British Museum. For the majority of our members such re- ports. elaborated a httle with personal notes on the shoots recorded, will be of considerable interest. We do not ask our correspondents to give away their favourite shooting grounds, the district is all that is necessary for record purposes. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 795 A summarised account of the cold weather season 1921-22 shooting in India and Burma, if only the response to this appeal will make it comprehensive enough, will be of benefit to members and perhaps be the means of increasing the membership of the Society. We ought to have far more members than we have but we fear some consider the journal “ too scientific”. There should be no reproach in our journal being scientific. It is the scientific papers which have made and do make it so valuable but in view of papers such as the above, the article on ‘ Butterfly collecting in India ’ by Col. Evans, Major Stockley’s papers, and so many others, is there not sufficient matter of interest for the most unscientific “ shikari ?” No. III.— THE INDIAN LION. A few months ago a lion was shot in the main street of the small and semi- deserted village of Shergarh in Kotah State. I have been able to obtain pos- session of the skin — or the remains of the skin — which I am sending to the Society as a donation from the Maharaj Kumar Saheb of Kotah. A Honess is reported to have been seen in the same vicinity. Rumours of a lion having been seen at Sawai Mahdopur, just north of this State, were current about a year ago. With regard to this skin, I have endeavoured to discover — in vain — where this lion came from. It is said that the hons liberated in Gwahor some years ago were all accounted for, though it would be as well to get this confirmed or contradicted. The only other Hons I have heard of were a pair Uberated in Bundi some 10-15 years ago. According to some accounts both these beasts (which are said to have come originaUy from Kotah) were shortly afterwards found dead ; according to others they were not seen again. It is just possible that they bred. Perhaps some member of the Society will be able to supply some information which win help to clear up this somewhat mysterious occurrence of a lion in Rajputana. That Hons were abundant here in the old days would seem apparent, for they are frequently depicted in the stirring shikar scenes which decorate the old Pala- ces, taking precedence as Royal game, over even the tiger. In conclusion I may say that the skin is a small one — apparently a male Hon 2 or 3 years old. We are trying to obtain the skull but it has probably been broken up and disposed of. T. R. LIVESEY. Kotah. March 2\st, 1922. No. IV— THE OCCURRENCE OF THE STRIPE-BACKED WEASEL {MU STELA STBIGIDORSA) IN THE NAGA HILLS. I write to report the occurrence in this district of Mustela strigidorsa, which as far as the authorities to which I have access go, has hitherto only been reported from the Himalayas. I was driving in a motor car in this district at a height of about 5,000 feet when the car had to be stopped to avoid running over two small animals fighting in the middle of the road. In spite of the fact that they were almost touched by the front wheel of a very ramshackle and noisy Ford, they continued fighting within a foot of the car, and the battle progressed for some minutes alongside the foot-board and eventually worked across the road into the gutter on the far side, when I got out to watch it at close quarters again. The bigger of the two was an enormous rat, probably a bandicoot or something 796 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVllI. very like it, while the smaller, whieh could not have weighed more than a third of its antagonist, was a weasel. I was able to observe it very closely. The body was about 11 or 12 inches long and its tail 4 or 5. The hairs of the tail were bristling out at right angles to the bone, and were shorter towards the tip. The general colour was a deep ruddy brown, with hint of something almost pur- phsh in it. The chest and throat appeared to be lighter and yellowish; there was no black tip to the tail ; from the neck right down the back, nearly to the root of the tail, ran a narrow white line, so clearly marked as to appear artificial, as though put on with paint. The head was that of a typical weasel, with the e5'es set very much on the surface and looking like protruding black beads. The weasel had the rat by the muzzle, holding on like a bull-terrier, and kept pull- ing him down, when the two would roll over until the rat managed to stagger to his feet again, when the process recommenced. The rat was obviously being worn out, as he was unable to run when the weasel let go (which he did not do till I was stooping over and almost touching him), while the weasel was able to run off exceedingly briskly. I have never seen this weasel before, and a Kuki who was with me said that it was unknown to him also, though he was a native of the district and an intelligent jungle man. Kohima, Naga Hills, J. H. HUTTOX. \^th January 1922. No. V— THE TENASSEREVI TREE-SHREW (TUPAIA BELANGERI). As this little beast is plentiful in the area I am working in and as hitherto tree-shrews have been looked upon by me, and I have no doubt the same applies to many of our members, as quaint rarities, I made it a point to try and learn something about it and I hope these notes may be of interest. The first thing I noticed about this little animal was the fact that it must have been named “ tree-shrew ” by some learned naturalist when feeling in a sarcastic mood, as, though an inhabitant of heavy and medium forests, up a tree is the last place I should advise a collector to search for it. Having learnt a good deal about this animal I should advise any one finding a tree- shrew up a tree to treat it exactly as recommended in the case of weasles caught asleep. So far as I have been able to observe, the tree-shrew is wholly diurnal in its habits but, being a confirmed skulker and an exceedingly timid one at that, it is not as commonly seen as one would expect from the numbers caught in traps. Its movements remind one forcibly of the days when, due to ground being under enemy observation or to points where snipers sniped from, one moved in the same way. Sitting perfectly quiet in the jungle after an absolute silence of perhaps a minute or two, one hears a slight rustling coming from a dense patch of tangled creepers messed up with a large fallen branch on one’s left. Very very gradually you turn your head towards the sound but, just as the spot comes into view, all sound ceases. You turned the least little bit too quick and have been spotted. You continue to stare hard at where you think the last sound came from but see no sign of animal life whatever and then a bril- liant idea strikes you. “ Confound it, it must have been one of those lizards that are always poking about under leaves” but just as you are thinking of tak- ing a look up at the trees a “tch tch” comes from the old spot. More eye strain and once again no soimd but, this time, you know that it is a bird, one of those wee ground babblers, and you are determined to spot it. Patiently you stare at the mass of creepers, working from right to left, from top to bottom and vice versa but no ! not a living thing can you see bar red ants on that tendril, and if you can see them your sight cannot be so bad. You decide to rest your eyes for a few seconds and then to have another look so you take a glance up at MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 797 that creeper bedecked tree as being a likely place for a squirrel. Hardly have you focussed on the creepers when there is a scuny from the old spot and you are just in time to see something small and brou-n disappear into a patch of tmder- growth some three or four yards to the right. Once again you freeze and stare but this time, just as yoiu- eyes are beginning to smart, there is a jump, jump, and you see something small and browm among leaves of the same colour, but it might be anything. Then once again there is the “ tch tch ” and a little brown beast starts to move, lifting each foot carefully and with its tail all of a bristle and “ half cocked ” if I may use such an expression. “ Tch Tch Tch Tch ” it calls and ■with each sound the tail gives a twdtch. It has now reached the edge of the cover and is deciding whether the next cover can be reached in one or two short sharp rushes. Its mind made up, it streaks across the open in a series of rapid jumps. Not half away across it spots you and becomes suddenly motionless, all four feet together, back arched and tail inclined almost parallel to its back. Thus it remains for a few seconds, too terrified to think properly, then making up its mind to chance it, it dashes across the remaining distance to cover. Curiosity is said to have done do’wn the cat but the tree-shrew, in common with all living creatures, has its full share and if you remain quiet you ■wiU see that this is so. There ! it jumped on to that creeper and is now behind that leaf. Another jump and it is in ftdl ^^ew directly facing you. Its head now starts to bob up and down in a hawk-like fashion and its tail, aU a bristle, t'witches simultaneously. It has settled in its mind that you are only a stump so hops along among the creepers and is on to the ground again nosing among the fallen leaves for insects. It pauses a moment with head bowed and mouth open while ■nith one paw it picks its teeth. While doing this one might almost imagine it a miniature mongoose, in fact in many of its movements there is some- thing very mongoose -like. Just when you are getting really interested in watching the little nerve ridden beast a squirrel gives the warning “ hawk over ” and the tree-shrew darts back into cover again. Though I never came across the young and am unable to give information as to the time of year in which they are born, I found that the adults were courting in January. During the period of courtship the tree-shrew is more in evidence though not, as I found, so often trapped. Love evidently aboUshes hunger ! The males as far as I could judge positively refuse to take NO for an answer, though whether like some married men, they afterwards wish to goodness they had, I know not. I watched for a considerable time a couple chasing around and while the chase was in progress an occasional shrill twittering cry would come from them both, no doubt meaning something as different in each case as the .sex which uttered it. Eventually (feehng no doubt exhausted) the female jumped into a creeper about two inches off the ground and turned facing the male. Though I was within a few feet of the pair I heard nothing beyond an occasional very low chortle but the tails of both kept up a continual twitching and doubtless that, and facial expression were ample language for the occasion. When the lady was rested she fled, screaming in the same shrill twitter “ I loathe you, nothing will ever induce me to become your wife.” “ Consent is the least part of it ” was the reply as her lover scampered after her and I thought at the time of an old song, in regard to a persistent lover, entitled “ The villain still pursued her.” The tree-shrew is an exceedingly agile little beast and can, like a mongoose, jump with the same rapidity backwards, sideways or forward. Being very tenacious of life quite a number escape from the traps and the more badly in- jured ones may sometimes be found at a little distance from the traps stiU en- deavouring to get away. I find that it is a good thing to look for blow-flies in a case where an animal has escaped as, if it is unable, as is often the case, to do more than crawl, these flies get busy on it and I think it is beyond doubt that where these flies are, something dead or smelly or both will be found. 798 JOURIS'AL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Fol. XXrill. Tree-shrews eat fruit picked up off the ground as well as insects, as an examination of their interior economy shows. From the article which appeared in the last number I gather that Mr. Fitz- patrick is a keen collector of animal folklore stories and if he wishes to add to his collection I have the true story as to exactly how the tree-shrew came about and why he is, what he is, a little brown, furry, longnosed, nerve ridden beast. Unfortunately the Editors tell me it is too long for inclusion here. Mergui, C. primrose. 20th March 1922. No. VI— FOUR-HORNED FAT-TAILED SHEEP. Can anyone tell me whether they have seen alive or dead a fat-tailed sheep with four horns ? I came across a passage in a book called a Summer in High Asia (Thacker 1899) by Capt. Adair, late Rifle Brigade. He says on page 199 that he saw in the possession of two travellers (mentioned only as “ P & C ”) who had wintered in Yarkand and were biinging down some flne heads of 0. poll from the Pamirs, where they had been deserted by their coolies in attempting to cross the Mustagh Pass, a four-horned sheep, one of the fat-tailed, from the Pamir. In addition to its ordinary ram’s horns it had two horns rather hke those of an Ibex, but straight and some 20 inches in length. It was quite tame and would eat from the hand. I possess the head of a four-homed ram from Kishtwar and have seen others from various parts of China but none of these were fat- tailed sheep and if such a thing now exists in any museum or collection I should be very glad to procure a photograph or measurements of it. , H. J. ELWES. COLESBORNE. GlOS., ENGLAND. 1th Janimry 1922. No, VII.— DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS’ NESTS. IFe publish below a number of letters received in response to Mr, R. O. Bolster's appeal for information on the above subject: — It is with interest that I have read Mr. Bolster’s account of mysterious dis- appearance and destraction of nests. This must be very common in India and has been noted by several people. Colonel Butler in the seventies recorded that if a nest with eggs was left for future visit, they always in the interval disappeared. During 2^ years in Sind I only remember one nest which on being left came to anjdhing, and that was a nest of the Indus Sand-Lark, which I spot- ted as I was riding across the Desert and looked at without dismounting. Every other nest disappeared, or at least, the eggs were taken ; I have even known a nest from which I had taken the eggs completely vanish. I think that there are several causes, firstly in many places, unless very lonely spots, there is a native about, and his curiosity, natural at all times, is aroused by the (to him) strange behaviour of anyone interested in natural history, and one is constantly being watched; when the coast is clear, he goes to see what the sahib was doing and takes the eggs of larger birds for food, and smaller ones possibly, I fear, from spite. Round Karachi I know crows and heron’s eggs were always taken, but there are other enemies to small birds, and I think Mr. Bolster is quite correct in ac- cusing lizards, but the worst thief of all is the House Crow. In the nesting season I always had a flock following me about all day in the cultivation and I am cer- tain they watch one’s doings with an eye, to future evil intent: so certain was I that they did this, that I have fooled them by being very interested in nothing MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 799 in a likely bush, and have afterwards seen them fly to the bush to investigate. Other enemies to groimd birds are Kites and Desert Foxes. I have seen the foot-prints of Kites at a nest of Saunders’ Tern, which the day previous held eggs, and I have found Fox “ spoor ” in amongst the colony after I had visited it, and, here again I was watched or more probably tracked by this very inquisitive little animal. Snakes too, may be guilty, but whether a nest is found or not there is a huge destruction by nature. One colony of Saunders’ Tei'ns owing to big tides and depredations of animals did not produce a single flying young, one year, and a colony of Sandgrouse, about 50 pairs, did not raise six yoimg; think what it would be if every bird brought out a full brood every year and none died for ten years. For a lecture I once gave at Karachi, I calculated the effect in the case of the House Crow and I estimated that in this town, every available inch of space, houses, ground and , trees in Karachi would be covered with birds, and above them a huge black pall oi those which had no room to settle! In an article on ‘ Birds and their enemies ’ in a recent issue of the “Pioneer” Mr. Dewar answers a question which is very often asked. My experience added to this might serve to throw some light on Mr. Bolster’s ‘ Destruction of Birds ’ Nests ’ which appeared in the last Volume XXVIII, No. 1 of your journal. The hot weather is come and with it have retmned a number of my feathered friends who spent the summer with me last year : the bulbul, the tailor-bird, the honeysucker and the brown munia are here again seeking to build nests, strange to say, about the same places where three out of the four pairs unsuccess* fully kept house last year. For years I had noticed the destruction of nests as described by Mr. Bolster, and only last year I discovered the cause. I watched a tailor bird build its nest in a vine which overhangs my study window and later I saw one of the birds sitting in the nest which I one day noticed contained three tiny eggs. Two or three days after I answered their calls of distress and arrived in time to drive off a tree pie which had torn one side of the nest and dislodged two of the yoimg. With a needle and thread I repaired the nest and replaced the little ones which I was glad to see take wing a fortnight later. On two other occasions the cries of the munias which had built in a creeping rose hard by my verandah steps, and of the bulbuls which had taken pos session of an aralia in my verandah, brought me out ; and on each occasion I saw the same bird rifle the nests. The honeysucker’s nest was destroyed in my absence but I have no doubt Dendrocitta rufa knew something about it. Another thief is the Crow-pheasant or mokok (Ceniropus sinensis) I saw him carry off a dove’s egg which he placed on my lawn and which I rescued before he had time to begin his meal. But it was no use, he had dented the egg in the act of carrying it. I had often noticed the mutri and the mokok hopping through the whole length of a hedge row and only last year discovered what their object was. Yes, garden hzards are responsible, not for the destruction but for the rifling of many a httle bird’s nest. In the one instance which came under my obser- vation the eggs were eaten in the nest and the shells left. I saw the hzard leave the nest. Lowestoft, England. \%th March 1922. CLAUD. B. TICEHURST, M.A., M.B.O.U. Late Capt., E. A. M. C. Lucknow, T. De GREYTHEE. 21th March 1922. 29 800 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCLETY, Vol. XXVILI. Having read IVIi-. R. C. Bolster’s note on the above subject, I am tempted to send observations made by me from time to time which I hope will be of some interest. During the months of May and June 1918, having time to spare, I gave a good deal of it to searching for nests with the view to finding out what is roughly the percentage of success in birds bringing out their young. The difficulties were far greater than I had expected but I give in the following list the results. The nests were visited by me frequently, but not daily and I always went rmaccom- panied, so that no human being knew of these nests, so far as I am aware. From the tables on the adjoining pages will be seen that 27 birds laid 77 eggs ; hatched 39 young, but only succeeded in taking out 26. The percentage of success is roughly 33 per cent. The members of the genus Lanius were most successful and reared all their young. This no doubt is due to their pluck in keeping off despoilers. Only in two cases were the robbers actually caught in the act and in both instances they were Jungle crows (0. macrorhynchus), but I would not place all thefts to their account. The greatest shiner in this respect is Dendrocitta rufa (Scop). (The Indian Tree Fie) and the destruction caused by this bird is appalling. I have noticed these birds for several years now and only wonder that any nests of the small birds escape destruction. Whether they feed their young on the eggs and young of other birds while they are nesthngs I cannot say, but they certainly do so after the brood is able to fly. For the past few years a pair of D. rufa have visited this place accompanied by their brood, from two to four almost full grown youngsters, and have made a systematic search of aU the trees and bushes in my garden. It is generally in early July that they come, and it is also just about the time when most birds have eggs or young. Dming these visits I have always found that aU the nests have been cleared out, and no matter how well a nest may have been placed, it never escaped destruction. During August 1919 I had over a dozen nests of Weaver Birds {Ploceus baya) (Blyth) imder observation. These nests were hung from some thorny bushes a few feet from the ground. I visited these daily and on 14th August noticed that some had young, as the parent birds were busy feeding them. The next day on my arrival I found the whole family of D. rufa (two parent birds and three young) engaged at the nests and were just finishing their work of destruction. They had torn a hole in each nest sufficiently large to admit their heaids just at the spot where the nest bulges and had extracted and devoured the contents. I have httle doubt that the monitor lizard (F. bengalensis) referred to by Mr. Bolster does a great deal of mischief, but I have offiy once seen him swallow the unfledged young of a Sun bird [Arachnecthra). The nest was hanging from a creeper just outside my window and on noticing that the birds were alarmed I looked out and saw him with one in his mouth which he proceeded to swallow alive. I hastened to the nest but was too late as the young had all gone. Name of Bird. Date. Position of Nest. Clutch. Hatched or not. Remarks. MISCELL A N ECUS NO TES. 801 Cscg CQ cc © C o O > a I ® s o > o -a c d QO o ^ ■** o S CO a G 00 o ^ ^ • iO 4^ F-H § oq 12; a fl . G 00 o ^ ^ I o o £ 3 fe ^ CQ o Ja( , O cS ^ o ed C 'O -*a ^ G< O a G o o o 3 8 S £-1 -> S CO .Q £ 2 cd •S O M ^ ® fl o » H ;§ o 12; &£) G S ►5 G O bo c P 00 CO I ® 2 Q> ^ >H b£) G P O >> bO fl P O >> §2 >H (M 8^ ^4- cS bO bo i ® o QQ (M CO CO CO CO CO cd p p s *0 •«* e* J •S E-i *<4 CO •«* ? 00 6 '1 •«* 00 . e p cs ^pq "o 9 2 ® ^■S ^ -2 p « © ?e >> p s p '1 V 1 ¥ 1 ^ © © F§^ © i.1 - i SM IS o w ■§ 00 I -P %02 © o p V p S 03 'S (D ® '& >» tT ^ 3 •S' ® 00 QQ V P ^ § 5? » 00 o> 802 J OURNAL, BOMBAY N ATX) RAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol.XXVIIl. s a ea W 3 o o B c3 fi pq a ce Ifl I cc t- » Xi c6 C ' s o c3 >5 «o ^ ‘5 it: . O c - CD ro > ^ CO I> fl o 5 .9 P3 s o o o H o o H o > cd d o o o H c8 O 5 o "fe "p ■§ l> o ^ o ® ^ o CQ o ^ c3 O S c- 9 5 OQ o ce >■ '2 ^ o o bX) o .5 a D ce «o C c o S 9 o , O o 12; c o bJD a d 00 "i CO “* bC d d o >> bc- G <. bJC C d o CO o 12; CO 0 d !» 07 to bc bX) bJO bX) bX) 0 0 _ (D *-> d *- o ^ O P o d b£)M-» bO ^ d . d ^ iO o 00 00 1 i> CM CO I rtc I O i CO ci ci —I (N e s a § a N r® O 02 s J ® o ^ § e cc .9 CO ^ 5^ O P5 5L, Cm O bC O ce . S ce 1 K *1 *c CB O} • Jh-^ S'i^ ^ d ,Ph . CD bC > »« 1 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 803 cd s > o tc bc W I (O 3 O o o Eh o o H C 3 J O O ^ o o ^ bO M 3 3 C o g§^ Tt< CO Eh >> o . 'O GO l> p 3 . O T3 S 1- >> o o 9^ f- ^ 4^ T3 CD -2 05 0? 05 ^ W) o CO S 0> bO 05 bJD c d o § GO o ^ 4^ ■ >> g « d CO . cn No 0? © 05 © - g © ® No No © 39 >H 1>I QQ 05 05 w 05 to oc 5 3 bC bO to to bX) to bo ^ o bc bX) to to bO © © © © © © © CO CO P-H lO CO cq CO d d d d d d O d 'H d d o Sd a o ^ -d . CO 4^ d a 05 2-J3 05 d s 3 HM (N d o T! d d o d o SH bO 4^ § S d d d d o -d d d d o T3 d d 2 05 bC ^ S d $ § ^ a d o d d P • tH O bC S d d o d ci ci^ (M I I> ci 4h t lO I 00 (N 00 X (-H 1 CO 1 CO 4^ 1 o cq CO a o •S © 5S 'S 5S d w CO © (Si .>H o IM O © e a, s a § a ^3 © w o E3 s • d . i> •.(N }Z} ^ p 05 a ^ ft :g O I. OLLENBACH, F.E.S. 804 JOURNAL, BOMB AY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. No. Vm.— ON THE HOMING FLIGHT OF THE COMMON HOUSE-CROW {CORVUS SPLENDENS). A friend of mine has recently furnished me with a most interesting account of an extraordinary flight of Common House-Crows {Corvus splendens) which he witnessed not long ago. As I have not had a similar experience, nor do I know of anyone else who has, I give below a brief description of what my friend saw. There are, possibly, some members of the Society who may have noticed a similar flight of crows, and if so, it would be interesting to know what explana- tions they have to offer as to the cause or causes of such flights. I imderstand that there is no record in our Journal, so that this note may be of some interest. Some who read this note will perhaps think that the facts are greatly exaggerated, but I am satisfied that there is very httle, if any, exaggeration. While undertaking a railway journey between Lahore and Ambala on the 14th January this year a large number of common house-crows was observed moving in the same direction as the train between the stations of Goraya and PiuUaur. The most noticeable featurej about this flight was the number of birds seen. My friend states that the crows were at least “ ten deep ” that they were in a solid phalanx about three miles in length, and that the number of crows he saw must have run into terhs of thousands. The birds were all flying in one fixed direction, viz., from North-West to South-East, and appeared to be coming in the direction of Phillaur from some point North-West of that statioa The birds were close to the train and were flying parallel to it, sometimes very near to the carriages and sometimes a httle distance away. The height at which the crows were flying was estimated at about 40 feet approximately, as they were above the tops of the trees (keekur and babool) growing in that part of the country through which the train was passing; the rate at which the crows were flying was estimated at 15 miles per hour; and the manner of their flight was a steady flapping. It is stated that some of the crows seemed to bo slowing down and gave the impression that they had flown for a considerable distance. This idea was apparently a correct one, because along the whole route many trees were covered with evidently tired birds. The time at which this extraordinary flight of crows were seen was between five and six o’clock in the evening. The atmospheric conditions were : an overclouded sky, a low temperature sufficiently cold to make one close the windows of the railway carriage, and a eutting breeze from the North. My friend is quite certain that the birds he saw were common house-crows {C. splendens), and further, that there were no other kinds of crows (e. g. C. macrorhynchus) or, in fact, any other species of birds which formed the enormous flock. The above are the main facts concerning this curious flight. What were the causes which led to it ? I cannot offer any explanation which I can say is correct. I am inchned to think that this flight was due to migration, which in turn was probably caused (?) either by (a) sudden change in chmate in the place from which the crows were coming, or (b) lack of food-supply in that place. These seem to me to be obvious reasons which would explain why the flight was undertaken, but can there be any other causes, and if so, what are they ? The facts that the crows were flying in such numbers, were aU flying in one direction and in a fixed manner, were slowly slackening in speed, and were resting on trees en route, aU point to migration. I do not think that it can be said that the crows were going to roost. Is the common house-crow a recognised migra- tory species in the sense that some ducks are ? Is it even a locally migratory species ? I should think that lack of food-supply would not have a strong influence in the distribution of so ubiquitous and omnivorous a species. Again, is it possible for the climate in a particular area in which crows are found to suddenly change in such a manner as to drive out the crows from that place P MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 805 Suppose we reject the migratory theory: what other theory could be advanced in support of this flight of crows in such large numbers ? If we must retain the migration theory, then can it be said that crows are a non-migratory species ? Delhi, 22nd February 1922. S. BASIL-EDWARDES. We submitted the above Note to Mr. H. Whistler who writes as follows : — “ I have read with care the note on a flight of crows which you have been kind enough to send me for perusal. In my opinion the writer's friend saw the flight as described by him, and the species was correctly identified. The flight was undoubtedly only the usual evening flight of Corvus splendens to its roosting place, which is a very familiar sight in portions of the Punjab. I am unaware whether similar flights occur in other parts of India, but in the Punjab they are noticeable in certain areas, where a suitable roosting place collects the birds for miles, around. These flights occur both in summer and winter, and the loitering about on the route (the ‘‘tired birds ” of the writer), is a characteristic of the flights. There is no question of migration and no question of food supply involved : had the writer passed the same way on other evenings he would have seen similar flights.” A reference to similar flights is to be found in the Ibis, 1916, p. 42. — Eds. No. IX.— THE WHITE-THROATED GROUND THRUSH {GEOCICHLA CYANONOTUS) AS A MIMIC. On the 28th January 1921 it was my fate to be abroad at 3-30 a.m. As I was returning to the bungalow at dawn, I observed a White-throated Ground Thrush {Geocichla cyanonotus) perched on one of the lower branches of a leafless rubber tree, beside the road. It was singing, and one so seldom hears its pretty song that I stopped to listen. I could hardly credit the evidence of my own senses, for out of that groimd thrush’s open mouth pomed forth the clear rollicking whistle of a spotted babbler, followed by a Nilgiri babbler’s song, then came a much poorer attempt at a racket tailed drongo’s bell-notes and finally its own tune was resumed. A. P. KINLOCH, F. Z. S. Nelliampathy Hills, Isi February 1922. No. X.— THE OCCURRENCE OF THE BLUE-BEARDED BEE-EATER [NYCTIORNIS ATHERTONI) IN THE C. P. In the Fauna of British India this species is stated not to have been reported either from Central India or the Central Provinces. In a list of the birds of Pachmarhi recently published in Vol. XXVIII, No. 2 of the Society’s journal I stated that I had heard on one occasion in the vici- nity of Pachmarhi the characteristic guttural call of this bird, but that I had failed to see the bird. Such evidence was, to say the least, unsatisfactory. I am glad to be able to report that I have quite recently watched a pair of these birds at close quarters at Nimbu Bojh within a mile of Pachmarhi, so that the occurrence of this bird in the Satpura hills is now an observed fact. Pachmarhi, C. R, B. B. OSMASTON, I.F.S, \6th January 1922. 806 JOURNAL, BOMBAl NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. No. XI.— NOTE ON NIGHTJARS IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. With reference to Mr. B. B. Osmaston’s notes on Indian Nightjars I am able to supply the following authentic instances of Nightjars in the Central Pro- vinces. The specimens themselves are all available for examination in the Nagpur Museum: — Franklin’s Nightjar (C. monticola.) No. Sex. Locality. Date. 767 $ Mouth of Tawa R. near Hoshangabad 25-1-1918 807 ? Gothangaon, Bhandara District 3-5-1920 27 6 Nagpur 16-3-1911 74 ? 16-5-1911 626 6 ii • • •• •• •• 15-6-1914 402 $ >> •• .. •• •. 22-8-1912 616 s >» . . . . • • • . 29-8-1913 788 6 Nagbhir, Chanda District 13-12-1918 Common Indian Nightjar (C. asiaticus.) 307 Sawargaon, Chanda District . . 17-3-1912 781 $ Nagbhir, Chanda District 12-12-1918 753 9 Kampa, Chanda District 16-12-1917 756 9 »> >> • • • • 18-12-1917 757 9 >> >> • • • • 19-12-1917 Horsfield’s Nightjar (C. macrurus.) 259 9 Sumnapur, Baihar Tahsil, Balaghat 16-1-1912 District. We have a clutch of C. asiaticus from Saugor and there is a clutch from the Bilaspur District sent in as belonging to the Jungle Nightjar by Mr. Dunbar Brander. Clutches of C. monticola have been taken by Mr. D. MacArthur in the Nagpur and adjacent Districts. C. monticola, which is the common species at Nagpur, has a pecidiar call re- sembling “ wakh, wakh, — wakh wakhoo”. Whether this call is uttered in the breeding- season only I am not quite sure. E. A. D’ABREU. Central Museum, Nagpur. 23rd January 1922. MISCELLA^EOUS NOTES. 607 No. XII.— THE FOOD OF THE SHIKRA {ASTUR BADIUS). On the morning of 6th February a Shikra caught a little Indian Kingfisher under a babul tree 4 or 6 yards from me. The kingfisher gave the shikra a useful peck but the latter was just attacking the former’s throat when I ran up and the shikra let go. The kingfisher flew off apparently unharmed. Somehow one does not connect a kingfisher with the idea of game for a small hawk. I felt rather virtuous at having saved the kingfisher from its cruel enemy but I smiled afterwards at my hj^crisy as I was on my way to my stand for a duck shoot. I see the Field has been giving instances of a variety bag with one shot. I got a quail and a field rat on the 3rd with one shot which seems unusual. E. O’BRIEN, Lt.-Col. Bhuj, Cutch, 8th February 1922. [The usual food of the shikra appears to be lizards, but it is not averse to seizing small birds, rats or mice, or even large insects. — Eds.] No. XIII.— THE MARBLED DUCK [MARMARONETTA ANGUSTI- ROSTRIS) IN THE PUNJAB. From what is said in Stuart Baker’s Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon (V ol. I, page 242) regarding the distribution of the Marbled Duck I gather that records of its appearance in the Punjab may be of interest. I have shot single specimens of this bird in the Punjab on four occasions : — 15th November 1908 'j >Ferozepore District. 28th February 1909 J 20th November 1918 "I Jhelum District (on the salt lake at Kallar > Kahar in the Salt Range, altitude 2,100 1st November 1921 J feet.) H. W. WAITE, Indian Police. Jhelum, Punjab, 2‘ith March 1922. No. XIV.— THE OCCURRENCE, HABITS AND BREEDING OF THE SPOTTED SANDGROUSE {PTEROCLURUS SENEGALLUS) IN THE BAHAWALPUR STATE, PUNJAB. The spotted Sandgrouse (Pteroclurus senegallus, Blanford) is, within my experience at any rate, sufficiently uncommon in the Punjab to justify my writing to you to record the fact that Col. O’Brien and I have recently shot it in this State. On one occasion these sandgrouse (the only kind of sandgrouse about) were from 200 to 300 in number. The weather here has been rather unusual (cool and rainy) which perhaps brings these birds. After writing the above I have had further opportunities of observing these birds and I am now able to give a definite assurance that this species breeds here also. 30 808 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll. On the 7th current I was dri\ung in a car through the desert at a place about 10 miles West of Ahmadpur East with a companion when I noticed a bird on the ground that seemed worth investigation. It was late in the afternoon, but we got out and looked. The bird proved to be a Sandgrouse, and, on ap- proaching nearer, we saw that there were two. Then a second pair came in view and, by the time I looked at the first pair again, I found there were with them a pair of yormg ones about one-third their size, but weU able to move on the ground. This was distinctly interesting, both because the date struck us as early for any Sandgrouse to be breeding and because we had both heard a note which assured us that this was senegallus, and were near enough to identify the coloming. We have both shot the spotted Sandgrouse recently and his note cannot be confused •with that of the black-beUied Pterocles arenarius or the common Pteroclurus exuslus. The old birds with their young ran on ahead of us, and the tactics of the old ones were perfect. There was only one tiny bit of cover in the near neighbour- hood in this waste of hard wind-swept clay, viz., a thin strip of dwarfish bush not more than a few inches high. In this the parents left their babies, while they themselves ran on ahead and went through the most approved decoy antics. We were not deceived however and proceeded to hunt for the nest- lings, which were soon found squatting very close with heads drawn in and looking exactly like the bits of dry camel dimg which are to be foimd about. My friend stalked one httle bird and caught it successfully in his hand, the in- fant not moving till it was secured. The other, either alarmed at the fate of its companion or because more advanced (there was a distinct difference in size between the two), got up as I approached and ran off, flapping its immature wings, but I secured it. There seemed a very good chance of our being able to bring the chicks up, so we determined to take them back with us. This we did, the old birds flying round us most persistently tiU the last. These nesthngs were densely covered ■noth yellowish down of a most com- pletely protective colom\ My photo shows the two side by side on a brick of regulation size. The day but one after, I went out and spent an hour and a half quartering the ground in the neighbourhood with a rope. I saw a flock of 14 of the same MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 809 species, but got no nests or eggs. Numerous smooth hollows in the ground hereabouts however were filled with convoluted droppings which I suspect to be those of this species. Xlieir number seems to suggest that the birds may sleep, as the Common Em’opean Partrige is said to do, in parties heads outwards, tails inwards, for purposes of protection, but it is a point which I have not veri- fied by personal observation. The nesthngs were aUve on the 10th April, and the man in charge of them, who has much to do with the care of domestic fowls, reported that they were doing satisfactorily, though he had to feed them by hand still. I then had to go away for several days and was distressed to find on my return that both had died. The precocity of the Sandgrouse and their congeners among “ nidifugous ” birds is well-known. I should imagine that these young- sters were a week to ten days out of the egg when we fovmd them. The place where our find was made is not less than 30 miles from the River Indus, which with the jheels and ponds near it, is where our winter species drink. This bears out what Stuart Baker has to say about the distance these birds breed away from water. How then are the young birds given the liquid they require ? A recent book of a type more scientific than it affects to be, viz., Pycraft’s “ History of Birds,” says that the parent Sandgrouse, after slaking their own thirst at distant water, wallow till their under-plumage is laden with water, which they are able to convey, after the long return flight, to their yoimg. Regurgitation, as with other kinds of birds, is perhaps a means of providing liquid or food of a semi-hquid kind. A last point for notice is that the chicks were able to give the call-note of the species, — which may be rendered “whit-hu", perfectly. It is not difficult for a human to mimic, and I could get the yoimgsters to answer me when I tried it on them. Stuart Baker gives the Sindi name as Gutu, which is no doubt ono- matopoeic hke the Vernaciflar names for the commoner kinds of Sandgrouse that I am familiar with in the Punjab. Dera Nawab N. W. R., R. C. BOLSTER. Bahawalpur State, 19th April 1922. No. XV.— CROCODILE SHOOTING AND SNARING. ( With a plate. ) Mr. Shortt’s good article was enjoyable reading. My own shooting has been confined entirely to Sind, and to crocodile in jheels, “ dunds ” we call them here. A year ago I spent a week at a group of “ dunds ” in the neighbourhood, they were full of mugger, but the beasts diffieult to shoot as the shores in most places were open maidan, with no cover excepting where too thick to penetrate. All the shooting had to be done on the same side, as the crocodile stalked was lying, as the water was too wide to fire across. As a result of some years’ experience at this sort of shikar, I have formed certain theories, and my methods of stalking are based on these. The occasion here related was the first shoot of sufficient length I had had, to give my methods a really good test. I may first of all say that I have never been successful in approaching mugger over open ground unless the wind was in my favour, excepting for odd animals sound asleep. I have frequently noticed that sheep, goats and cattle, however much noise they made when feeding naturally, and not galloping about in fright, never sent mugger into the water. I found that by getting on to my hands and knees at a long distance from the mugger, and appoaching 810 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII^ in a more or less irregular and zig-zag fashion avoiding a straight line, and pausing at intervals in the manner of a feeding animal, I could get easily within 40 or 50 yards. Previously I always used a H. V. magazine rifle, and relied more on the force of the blow at a longer range. When I discovered that by adopting the tactics described I could get up to a much nearer range I experimented with a hghter weapon, much easier to handle and with no recoil and httle noise, and which I could use much more accurately. I found, that provided the right spots, as described in Mr. Shortt’s article were reached, the result, H. V. or Low Velocity, was much the same. The mugger was either killed or more frequently knocked out sufficiently to allow him to be secured. In addition to the advantages the light rifle mentioned gives, one gets infinitely more chances of shots, and provided the securing and despatching is done with httle noise it is very common to find another candidate waiting round the next bend of the shore. During the first day’s shooting I secured 14 skins and actually had 5 lying on the shore in different parts of a large “ drmd ” awaiting the skinners, who were very much overworked that day ! ! I got 42 skins in the week, average 8 ft. I take with me four men, two of them are Bhils, for skinning. These two fol- low me, keeping out of sight all the time in the jimgle, until called up by a whistle The chief assistant follows me, stalking as I do, and at a few yards distance behind me. The second keeps well behind. If the stalk is successful every- thing is done as quietly as possible, without shouting, or loud expressions of satisfaction, and when the dead mugger is drawn up the beach to be skinned out of sight, I am ready to continue. I have often been amused at the gathering accompanying some sportsmen I have seen at work. There is nothing a mugger hates worse than a durbar, and no wonder that many people find they are hard to get under such circumstances. Curiously enough I have never seen mugger come up again after being wounded, excepting for one that I hit and for some reason he could not submerge. I have known them come out to die often enough, and one I remember came out half an hour afterwards, right to my feet. In the dimds I speak of they are all of the blunt nosed variety ( C. palustris ), rarely over 12 feet, though in a certain “ dund ” I know of, entirely siu’roimded by high sand hills, there are 5 or 6 big Ga vials ( G. gangeticus ), all about the same size, 14 feet, judging by one I got. I have heard it said that Gavials cannot climb over these hills and go from dimd to dund the way the other kind do. If this is so, it is interesting to speculate how they got there, or if they were imprisoned by the sand hills forming, as they do very quickly about here. I have been unable to find any reliable information regarding the age of crocodiles, and as they grow so differently under different conditions I think it must be impossible to tell. Once when fishing, I hooked and played and eventually landed a small Gavial, 2 ft. in length. He gave excellent sport, and just as I got him to the bank ex- hausted, a large turtle came up and bit off a forefoot. I kept him alive in a tank for some months. I have thrice hooked big fellows while fishing, but they have simply lain like logs and worried the cast through. A friend shot one, in the act of swallowing a wild cat, which was quite fresh and had presumably been seized while drinking. There are two methods known to me which are practised in Sind, by which mugger are taken alive. The first which I have not actually witnessed my- self is as follows. The water must be shallow enough to allow men to wade, say up to their necks. A man goes out on a hollow copper pot, the usual way of crossing water Journ , Bombay Nat Hist. 8oc. Tying a rope round the mugger's neck after the hand net is in position Pulling the reptile out of the water. Crocodile Snaring in Sind. ML%GELLANEOUS yOTES. 81] about here. He locates a mugger lying in the mud at the bottom, and places the stick he carries on the animal’s back, which remains motionless, for some reason or other. Other men then come into the water, and duck under and get a rope round him, and he is then pulled out. The other method I have seen. When the river water recedes the dunds are partially drained through narrow channels. Mugger wandering at night take refuge in the deeper spots in these channels and are tracked there. The first step is to burn away all overhanging grass and bushes, as the brute is invariably lying in a hole under the bank, head outwards, and under water of course. His head is located by a stick and a small hand net is placed over his head. I have never quite understood the reason of this, as it would be of no use to hold him or to protect the men. I believe that when a crocodile feels any pressure on his body or head he is disinclined to move, possibly through fright. Another man then gets into the water and with the head actually touching him, and facing him, ties a rope round the mugger’s neck, or forelegs. Until pulled to the surface he makes no movement of any kind, and the whole proceeding is the tamest and most unexciting affair imaginable. A wounded mugger is another proposition and feared by the men who do this work. Regarding the treatment of skins, I have found that they will keep indefi- nitely it put into a pit in the groimd after being well cleaned and kept in brine. Though the Railway do not accept wet skins it is possible to pack them while wet into a packing case and send them in this way. I attach two photographs showing the second method of catching crocodile aUve, and it will be noticed that the lower jaw of the animal depicted has been shot away partially at some time. We also found a number of hard lumps in which we expected to find bullets, but they only contained hard black sand or something similar. “ SIND.” 2nd February 1922. No. XVI.— FOOD OF THE FAT-TAILED LIZARD {EUBLEPHABIS MACULABIUS). As very little is known of the food of Indian Lizards it may be of interest to record that the Fat-tailed Lizards (E. macularius) living in captivity in the So- ciety’s rooms feed very readily on any Lizards introduced into their cage ; a young skink (Mabuia carinata) and a common blood sucker (Calotes versicolor) were both very easily accounted for. On one occasion an immature Fat-tailed Lizard {E. macularius) met with a similar fate. The two lizards have Hved in the Society’s rooms for the past 5 years. They were presented by Capt. W. B. Cotton from Wano Waziristan, and until quite recently they lived almost exclusively on Spiders and Insects, chiefly grasshoppers and cockroaches, and could even be tempted into eating the crumbs of a biscuit. Their vision by day strikes one as being rather defective as it is constantly noticed that they make several aimless snaps at food which is hterally under their noses ; this was strikingly displayed in the case of a i^kink who, hemmed in a corner by one of these hzards, repeatedly wriggled into safety owing to the blundering tactics of its pursuer. These lizards betray an extreme ferocity in attack, one of them sprung from the ground on to a branch about 8 inches overhead in an attempt to secure its victim. Since writing the above the writer introduced a scorpion into the cage occupied by the lizards. It was immediately seized and swallowed, repeatedly stinging 812 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL mST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. its attacker about the head and lips during the process. The lizard paid not the slightest heed to these demonstrations on the part of its victim, but sw al- lowed it in a few gulps and seemed none the worse for the experience. Bombay Nattjeal History Society, S. H. PRATER, C.M.Z.S. \&th Ma/y 1922 No. XVII.— THE SENSES OF A SNAKE. The sight of snakes is not good in the day time even in the case of diurnal snakes with round pupilled eyes. Those snakes that stalk their prey instead of way- laying it, do so chiefly by means of the tongue. The two branches of the forked tongue, flickering up and down, come in contact with the two footprints of the animal or reptile stalked and then dart up to its own nose, each branch convey- ing to one of the nostrils the scent of its prey. n a snake is watched stalking prey which it cannot see, in long grass for instance, it will be noticed that it follows the exact course, no matter how twisted, of the creature it is after, which proves that until the prey is sighted the snake depends on scent and not on hearing. It is uncertain whether the tongue of a snake is able to sense a scent spoor it- self, or whether it is entirely dependent on the nostrils of the snake to do this ; at any rate the tongue appears to act as the carrier of the scent to the nostrils. If the tongue itself could sense a scent spoor, it would no doubt receive it in the form of taste. It is, however, doubtful whether a snake possesses much, if any, sense of taste. Several instances have been reported, and I have seen a few cases myself, where snakes in captivity have seized and swallowed cloths, and, in one case even a stick, which had previously come in contact with, and absorbed the scent of rats, which the snakes, relying chiefly on their sense of scent, mis- took them for. It must, however, be admitted that in aU such cases I have heard of, the snakes in question have been Pythons, which, being nocturnal snakes, with eyes adapted for night work {i.e., elliptic-pupiUed), see badly in the day-light. One of the most notable examples of such an accident, was the case of a Py- thon at the London Zoological Gardens which seized and swallowed a rug. I do not know whether the snake was misled by feeling or by scent in this case, but it helps to show that snakes possess little or no sense of taste. A snake’s tongue appears to act as a guide as well as a scent carrier, playing the same part as whiners do in a cat. As, however, a snake is not totally blind and only bad sighted, it is curious that it uses its tongue as much as it does, when not hunting. Possessing no external ears, even in the form of ear-holes, the hearing of snakes is bad. Sounds appear to be conveyed to it chiefly through vibrations through the ground, and it is easily disturbed by footfalls, while often remaining deaf to louder noises above groimd level, and I have foimd that it is possible to approach closer to a snake without alarming it, when walking on a ground level above it, as for example walking on the bund of a paddyfield when the snake is lying below the bund. A. F. ABERCROMBY. Travancoee. \2th July 1921. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 813 No. XVIII.— PEARL BEARING IVIUSSELS. Mr. Laird Macgregor recently forwarded the Society a small packet of Pearls produced by a species of Mussel foxmd in a tank at Badas a few miles from Bel- gaum. Two examples of the Mussel were sent with the packet. Mr. Laii’d Mac- gregor wrote : — “ I do not suppose the pearls are of any value, but is it not rather unusual to find pearl bearing mussels in fresh water? ” The mussels and pearls were sent to Mr. Hornell, Director of Fisheries, Madras, for investigation and Mr. Hornell has sent in the following interesting re- marks in connection with them. “ The shells are of the common fresh- water mussel, probably Lamdlidens mar- ginalis. This species is often very abundant in fresh waterponds and streams and it is not uncommon for it to produce pearls. The quality is usually poor on accormt of the small size, poor lustre and frequent colouration. But when the mussels occur in large numbers and when they produce pearls freely, their collec- tion is remunerative ; such small pearls should fetch about Rs. 10 per tola weight and there is always the chance of finding a large pearl of fair lustre that may command a price of anything up to Rs. 50 or possibly even more. At Surada in Ganjam, fresh water Mussels producing pearls are so abundant that the villagers collect them for this pmpose and their pearls are often to be had in the village bazaars. Similarly in Bengal there is a well-known Zemindari fishery for these Mussels farmed out, I beheve, by the Zamindar for a considera- ble sum. Curiously enough these Mussels vary greatly in their pearl-producing quahty. In some localities, pearls are so seldom formed that collection of the Mussels is wholly unremunerative. This is due to the fact that the formation of pearls in these animals is due mainly to the presence of certain parasites. If these be absent, as in most localities, the Mussels produce few or no pearls ; if they be numerous, we may then expect pearl production to be abundant. The famous Scots pearls celebrated in the middle ages are produced by river- mussels closely related to those sent to me. As is well known these pearls are occasionally of considerable value. But they are distinguished by a pink tint which diminishes their market value. Those sent from Belgaum are simi- larly tinted. Several of these fresh-water pearl fisheries are still worked in the north of Scotland. Some Welsh streams also produce pearl-bearing Mussels. In North American rivers, the fishery for fresh-water mussels is a big industry emplojing hundreds of workers and a large capital. But while pearls are occasionally found of some considerable value, this fishery is conducted prima- rily to obtain mother-of-pearl for the pearl button factories. These consume many tons of these fresh-water Mussel shells. In India, this same industry has arisen in Bengal, where supplies of a species of Lamellidens are found in the rivers, sufficiently stout to permit of poor quality shirt-buttons being cut from the shell. I believe it might be worth while to ex- amine the streams and large tanks throughout the Bombay Presidency in order to ascertain if any species exists here with shell sufficiently thick and in good abundance, for if there be, then further quantities might be cultivated and the material sold for button making. Streams draining from or passing through a limestone region are the most likely to produce thick-shelled Mussels. Here in Madras, the streams are generally deficient in carbonate of lime and so our Mussels are almost wholly too thin shelled to be utilizable commercially.” 814 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. No. XIX.— AN UNUSUAL SWARM OF MOTHS. The Society recently received a number of moths which were said to be swarming in very large numbers round the cantonments at Amballa. Lt.-Qol. J. Patterson in forwarding the specimens wrote : — “ Numbers are found every morning in dark corners, such as behind pictures, inside topees, behind almirahs, curtains, etc. They get into strange places such as chests of drawers, the only way to which is by entering at the bottom of the chests of drawers, and passing up between the back of the drawers and the back of the piece of furniture. I do not think they can breed out in the drawers. I have asked the inhabitants here and they say that they have never seen an3dhing like these numbers of moths.” The moths were examined by Mr. T. R. Bell who identified them as follows: — The moth is Agrates flammatra, Fabricus; in England it is called the Black-coUar and is very rare. It is there known as Noctua flammatra-, I believe its new generic name is Rhycia. I do not know anything about the local food plant but it is probable that it feeds upon any low plant. The food plant in Europe is the Dandelion, Taraxacum densleonis and Strawberry (Fragaria). The larva is certain to pupate underground in the earth like others of the type. In some years it is certain to find that certain species of moths turn up in enormous numbers even though, ordinarily, they may be scarce. It depends mostly, I think, on absence of Natural enemies (Ichneumons, etc.) combined with suit- able climatic conditions. No. XX.— OCCURRENCE OF THE GALEOD SPIDER (RHAGODES NIGROCINTUS) IN THE SOUTH ARCOT DISTRICT, MADRAS PRESIDENCY. {With a 'photograph.) It may be o. interest to your readers that a male specimen of Rhagodes nigro- cintus (GaleodidcB, Arachnida) was obtained last September at Gingee in the South Arcot District of this Presidency. M ISC EL LA NE O US NO TES. 815 The interest of the specimen lies in the fact, I believe, that it is the seeoml specimen of the species on record and the first male specimen. The female spec!, men through which the species is known is 7'ecorded from Vellore and is in tl e British Museum (vide J. B. N. H. S., Vol. IX, p. 452). The present specimen is in the Indian Museum. I may state that I am confirmed in my identification by Dr. Gravel}' of the Madras Museum. Department of Zoology, S. G. MAXAVALAIIAMANUJAM. Madras Christian College, 2 which reason the tree is still known as “ The Execution Tree The tree has a very thick stem with a girth of 49 ft. at 3 ft., 50 ft. at 6 ft., and 58 ft. at 10 ft. from the ground. The largest measurement of Adansonia digitata, as stated by W. B. Bannerman from Madras in 1904, is 48’-2".* The tree di\ddes into 3 huge branches at about 10 ft. from the ground. The whole tree covers an area, of 10 gunthas. Thus it presents a huge appearance in the compound and attracts the notice of every passer-by. Being old, this tree was naturally attacked badly by rot and the main trunk near the base, where there was a hole, and the whole of the heart of tree had disappeared. Being afraid of losing the tree, Jlr. Elliot, the District Judge, first applied to the Private Secretary to His Excellency the Governor of Bombay for steps to be taken to rejuvenate the tree. The correspondence was forwarded by the Director ol Agriculture, Bombay Presidency, Poona, to the Economic Botanist to the Government of Bombay, Poona, and I was deputed for the work. Being encouraged by the successful results of similar work done on Casuarina and other trees in the Ganeshkind Botanical Gardens, Kirkee, I went there and observed the tree. In the base, a hollow was found of the dimensions of 15 feet by 17 ft. It was conical in shape. The following operations were made during the first week of September 1920. The hollow was filled in with rubble and mud and concreted over. The affected parts were first cut out and it was found that the rot was due to the grubs of a large beetle. Hundreds of these grubs were cut out of the tree. As soon as the woimd edges were cut dowm to sound wood, the wound was tari-ed over and then filled in \rith concrete. All other parts which showed signs of attack or suscejitibility to it, within a short time were tarred over and any spot where water was likely to lodge was filled in with concrete. The District Judge was pleased to remark in his letter, dated the 10th Feb- ruary 1921, addressed to the wiiter as follows: — “ The result has been a most workman-like job and the tree this year, though a famine year, at once reacted by producing a far finer foliage than was noticeable the year before. The whole job has been satisfactorily done and attracted a large crowd who had never seen such a surgical operation on a tree before.” * Journal, Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. XV, p. 718, 31 816 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL MIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXflll. Within my knowledge this kind of operation has proved successful on the following trees in the Deccan : Names : — (1) Garruga pinnata. (2) Casaurina equistifolia. I recommend this treatment with confidence to the attention of those who have an interest in saving their old mango and other trees. Poona, January 1922. L. B. KULKARNI, M.A., Assistant Professor of Botany. 8:7 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD ON THE 27th FEBRUARY AT THE PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM. The election of the following 7 members since the last meeting was announced : — Capt. C. P. Hancock, Bombay ; Capt. J. L. Longbottcm, Bombay ; Rev. J. C. Hall, Ahmeduagar ; Mr. W. W. Clifl’ord, Nadiad ; Mr. G. C. Phillips, Bombay ; Mr. P. G. Glendinning, Monlmein ; and Mr. R. M. Crofton, I.C.S., Amraoti. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. The following gentlemen were elected as Office Bearers for the present year ; — Pkesident. H. E. Sir George Lloyd, D.S.O., G.C.I.E. Vice-Pke'^ident. Mr. J. D. Inverarity, B.A., LL.B. The Hon’ble Sir Norman Macleod, Kt. H. H. The Maharao of Catch, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E. Managing Committee. Mr. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher, F.E..S., Mr. T. R. Bell, c.i.e., i.f.s. (Retd.) Major H. Benson, d.s.o., Rev. E. Blatter, s.J., Mr. B. C. Ellison, O.M.Z.S. Lt.-Col. W. H. Evans, r.e.. Major F. C. Fraser, i.m.s., Mr. A. E. Heflord. Mr. J. E. B. Hotson, i.c.s., Prof. V. N. Hate, m.a., Mr. C. M. Inglis, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Lt.-Col W. Glen Liston, c.i.e., i.m.s., Mr. F. Ludlow, i.e.s., m.b.o.u. Mr. P. J. Mead, c.i.e , i.c.s , Mr. H. P. Macnaghten, m.a., m.l.c., Mr J. C. Ridland. Mr. P. M. D. Sanderson, Major C. H. Stockley, d.s.o.. Dr. D. A. Turkhud. Mr. H. Whistler, f.z.s., m.b.o.u., c.f.a.o.d. Mr. R. A. Spence, the Honorary Secretary and Mr. H. F. Lodge, Honorary Treasurer being e.v-ojficio members of the Committee. SOCIETY’S REPRESENTATIVES IN ENGLAND. W. S. Millard, Esq., f.z.s., and E. C. Stuart Baker, Esq., m.b.o.t , C.F.A.O.TT., F.z.s. ALTERATION IN RULES. In accordance with the notice on the agenda Mr. R. A. Spence, the Honorary Secretary, moved that the following new rule be adopted and inserted between rules 2 and 3 : — 2 («) The Society shall consist of Life Members and Ordinary Members. The Committee are authorised to invite such persons as they may think tit to be Patron or Vice-Patrons of the Society. 818 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL Hl&T. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIU. THE HONORARY SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1921. With regard to the working of the Society during the past year the following may be of interest to members : — MEMBERSHIP. At the end of the year 1920 there wore 102 Life Members on the roll of tlie Society and 1,744 Ordinary Members had paid their subscription for 1920. In 1921 tinancial stress compelled an increase in the annual subscrip- tion and in the entrance fee with a corresponding rise in the Life Member- ship donation. Old members were however allowed six months in which to become Life Members at the old rate and this privilege was availed of by no less than 49 members. At the end of 1921 there were lol Life Members on the books and l,ld5 who had paid their subscription for 1921. PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM. The past year has marked an important epoch in the history of the Society, namely the comment ement of the Society’s activities in its new role of maintaining and providing a Museum for the benefit net merely of its members but for the benefit of the public of Bombay. The scheme for the arrangement of the Society’s display collections in the Prince of Wales Museum was prepared by Messrs. Ellison and Prater in March 1921 and at the time of His Royal Highness’ arrival in India the Curators had airanged for his inspection and for that of the general public a very interesting display of the Fauna of the Indian Empire. Unfortunately the exhibit has had to be temporarily closed to the public until the necessary glass show cases have been obtained as without the protection afl'orded by air-tight cases the specimens would be attacked by living Natural History Specimens of a type better dead than alive. Estimates have been prepared of the cost of show cases and also separate estimates of the cost of mounting specimens. The grant of Rs. 40,U0U already made by the Bombay Government is about a lakh of rupees short of the amount required to carry out the Curators’ Scheme in its entirety. It is evident from this that if the Public of Western India are to have a Museum worthy of the Prince of Walts and “ Urbs Prima in Indis ” a very generous response will have to be made to the appeal the Society is making for the provision of the necessary •funds. MAMMAL SURVEY. The IMammal Survey has been continued during the past year and will be carried on throughout this year mainly in consequence of financial assis- tance received from the Central Government. This assistance has been given because of the value the Survey is to the Country and because the Society had provided in the past over a lakh of rupees for the carrying on of the Survey and it is in the interests of Government to help those who help Government to save money. H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE SOCIETY. The past year will also be memorable on account of the connection of the Society with the visit of H. R. H. The Prince of Wales to India. It was with great pleasure that the Committee received intimation that their offer of the ser\iccs of t1 eir Curator, Mr. Ellison, and some of the staff to supervise the skinning and mounting of trophies obtained by H. R. H. and the party in India had been accepted. It is with greater pleasure PROCEEDINGS. 819 that the Committee record that the services Mr. Ellison and his party have been able to render have been appreciated and that H. R. H. has intimated his willingness to become a Life Member of this Society. It is hoped that the connection of H. K,. H. with the Society may become even more closel}^ marked. APPRECIATION OF WORK OF THE STAFF. The Committee take this opportunity of expressing their appreciation of the work done by the members of the Staff. The absence of the Honorary Secretary during part of the year and Mr. Ellison’s deputation on the Prince’s tour has thrown a good deal of work on to the shoulders of Mr. Prater. This extra burden he has cheerfully accepted and borne to the full satisfaction of all connected with the Society. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM. Mammals. 1 Indian Elephant Skeleton (E. 7>ia.vivius), Kanara, M. S. Tuggerse. 1 Golden Cat (F. temminckii), Moulmein from Togon Valley, Tenasserim, G. Hundley. 1 Tenasserim Giant Squirrel {R. mdanopepld), Moulmein from Togon V^alley, Tenasserim, G. Hundley. 2 Taylor’s Flying Squirrels (P. taylori), Moulmein from Togon Valley, Tenas- serim, G. Hundley. 1 Leopard Cat (P. beyiyalensis), Moulmein from Togon Valley, Tenasserim, G. Hundley. 2 Skulls of Brow- Antlered Deer (C. eldi), Punjab, Major C. H. Stockley. 2 Skulls of Indian Gazelle {G. hennetti), Punjab, Major C. H. Stockley. 4 Skulls of Bears {Ursus sp.), Punjab, Major C. H. Stockley. 1 Sind Ibex (C. hircus blythi), Punjab, Major C. H. Stockley. 1 Tiger cub skull (P. tiyris), Amraoti, R. A. Wilson. I Common Indian Mongoose {M. m. munyo), Amballa, A. E. Jones. 1 Albino Spotted Deer (A. a.tis), Mahomed Kharim Khan. 1 Indian Lion {Felis leo), from the Maharaja Kumar Sahib of Kotah. I Black Bear {U. hhnalayanuf) (Rug), Lt.-Col. H. D. Peilo. 1 Black Bear (TJ. himalayanus), (Head mounted on shield), Lt.-Col. H. D. Peilo. 1 Large Burmese Civet Cat {Vioe)-ra sp.), Eindayaza, Tenasserim, Salim A. Ali. 1 Burmese Leopard Cat (P. pardicolor), Eindayaza, Tenasserim, Salim A. Ali. 1 Striped Burmese Squirrel {T. wmccA/awdi), Eindayaza, Tenasserim, Salim A. Ali. 1 Golden-backed Squirrel (C. cumiceps), Eindayaza, Tenasserim, Salim A. Ali. 2 Taylor’s Flying Squirrels (P. tay/o/'i), Eindayaza, Tenasserim, Salim A. Ali 1 Langur {Pithecus entellus), Yellapur, Kanara, G. Amor. 3 Bats, Turjum Tea Estate, Darjeeling, Oscar Lindgren. 1 V’uuan Flying Squirrel (P. yunanensis), Sikhim, F. M. Bailey. 5 Bats, Rustum. Right Bank of Dyala River, Mesopotamia, J. F’ernandes. 1 Painted Bat (A', picta), Mandalay, Burma, C. C. Ghooh. Birds. I The Eastern Red-breasted Flycatcher (Sip/iia albicilla), Ghazipur, U. P., E. H. N. Gill. 820 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 1 Gull-billed Tern {Sterna anglica), Ghazipur, U. P., E. H. N. Gill. 1 Black Vulture {Otoyyi^s calrus), Ghazipur, U. P., E. H. N. Gill. 1 Indian White-backed Vulture {Pseudogypa bengalends), Ghazipur, U. P., E. H. N. Gdl. 1 Spoon-bill {Platalea leucorodia) , Jodhpur, Rajputaua, Miss P. Hawksley. 2 Quails {Micropcrdi c sp.), Manipur, Assam, Mr. Clarke. 2 Chinese Francolin {F. chinends), Mr. Clarke. 1 Western Blue-rock Thrush (M. S. pandoo), Khandalla, A. Fitzgerald. 1 Malabar Wood Shrike {T. pan dice rianus), B. E. C. Beadnell. 1 Peregrin Falcon {F. peregrinus), Bakloh, Punjab, Capt. Chas. Bilderbade. 2 Western Blossom-headed Paroquets (P. cganocephalui), Yellapur, Kanara, G. Amor. 1 Palm Swift (T. batassienai)<), Salem, D. F. Stileman. 1 Indian Grebe (P. albipennis), Salem, D. F. Stileman. 1 Large Pied Wagtail (M. 7>iadraspatensis), Salem, D. F. Stileman. I Indian Tree pie {D. rufa), Salem, D. F. Stileman. I Indian Bee-eater {M. viridis), Salem, D. F. Stileman. 1 Common Indian Hawk Cuckoo {H. varius), Salem, D. F. Stileman. 1 Common Indian Roller (C. indica), Salem, D. F. Stileman. 1 Black Drongo {D. ater), Salem, D. F. Stileman. A large collection of Birds. Bengal, C. M. Inglis.* 47 Birds, Munchar, Sind, Capt. C. E. Benson. 49 Birds, Yellapur, Kanara, Capt. C. E. Benson. 2 Birds, Burma, F. Kingdon Ward. 10 Birds, including 3 Tragopans (T. teminckii) and one Koklass pheasant (P. macrolopha), Nepal, B. C. Ellison. Birds Eggs. 1 Bird’s egg, Aurangabad, Deccan, Major C. C. Hicks. 4 Eggs (P. torquatus), Larkana, Sind, George Amore. 3 Eggs (Gallus soneratti), S. India, A. P. Kinloch. Birds Nests. 1 Nest of Nilgiri Babbler {Alcippe sp.). Silver Cascade, S. India, Chas. McCann. 2 Nests of Nilgiri Babbler {Niltaca sp.). Silver Cascade, S. India, Chas. McCann. Reptiles. Snakes. 1 Fasciolated Rat Snake {Z. fasciolatus), Thana, Bombay Presidency, Pur- chased. 1 Anamallay Viper {L. anamallensis), Silver Cascade, S. India, Chas. McCann. 1 Common Wolf Snake (/.. aidicus), '] 2 Common Keelbacks ( T. stolatus), 1 Green Keelback ( M. plumbicoln-), f F. Poole. 1 Russell’s Viper {V. russelli), J 1 Helen's Snake (C. helena), S. India, A. P. Kinloch. 3 Blind Snakes {S. brevis), S. India, A. P. Kinloch. 4 (Ablabes calamaria), Kangra District, Punjab, H. Whistler. 2 Common Keelbacks {T. stolatus), Kangra Distiict, Punjab, H. Whistler. * This is the largest collection presented to the Society since 1914. list will be published in a further number of the Journal. CO t-H PROCEEDINGS. 821 2 Himalayan Vipers {A. himalai/anus), K’^.ugra District, Punjab, H. Whistler. 2 Young Cobras (^Y. tripudians), Karachi, P. Wall. 1(17. grandis), F. Wall. 1 (D. pulverulentus), Matugama, Ceylon, F. Wall. 1 Tree Snake {Dipsas ceylonensis), Matugama, Ceylon. F. Wall. 4 (Acontia burtoni), Matugama, Ceylon, F. Wall. 1 Common Sand Boa {E. conicus), Ahmedabad, F. Wall. 3 Saw-scaled Vipers (jF. cannata), Karachi, A. Flynn. I Common Wolf Snake (i. aulicus), Igatpuri, District Surgeon. 1 Common Sand Boa (E. conicus), Igatpuri, District Surgeon. 1 (Lioselas7na spiralis 2), Henjam, P. Gulf, Capt. Mody. 1 [Lioselasma cyanocinctus), Henjam, P. Gulf, Capt. Mody. 6 Snakes, Nagrispur, Darjeeling, Oscar Lindgren. 1 Rat Snake {Z. mucosus), Yellapur, Kanara, G. Amore. 1 Common Green Whip Snake {D. mycterizans), Yellapur, Kanara, G. Amore 3 Large-scaled Vipers (Z. macrolepis), Silver Cascade, S. I., Chas. McCann. 1 Common Checkered Snake {T. tassellatus), Nahrumar, Mesopotamia, Capt. R. N. Seval. Lizards. 3 Eumeces schneideri, 3 Eumeces scuttatus, Eublepharis macularius, Agama isolepis, Aya77ia ruh7-oyularis, ^Capt. C. M. Ingoldby. Ayai7iu nupta, 1 Ayu7na caucasica, 1 A. Ih'ata, 4 Lyyosoma sp., 1 Gecko, Karachi, fi’. Wall, I.M.S. 3 D7-aco sp., Yellapur Kanara, G. Amore. 1 Gecko, Yellapur, Kanara, G. Amore. Fish. 2 Fish, S. India, A. P. Kinloch. I Octopus sp., Mahim Beach, A. F. Ferguson. I Fish, Hassimara Duars, H. V. O’Donel. Insects. 1 Glow Worm, Mysore, Van Ingen. 1 Giant Centipede, S. India, D. G. Cameron. I Vespa cincta, S. India, A. P. Kinloch. 1 Bos of Dragonflies, Bangkok, Siam, E. W. Trotter. 6 Moths {Ay7'otis fla77i7nat7‘a), Lt.-Col. J. Patterson. Minor contributions from J. Fernandes, Mesopotamia, A. Fitzgerald, Khandala, E. M. Van Ingen, Mysore, Capt. S. Jervis. Printed by E. (I. Pearson at the Times Press, Bombay, and unblisbed by U. A. Spence for the Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay— 691-22. ■^K7y > ■ ., • ■ ''■ '■ li.-, ■ '^ . . ^>' ■C.’ w ■* V7 ' t. ' 'j'iA.^VV*' . f Ijm-] 4\ M.' r - ^ i: ■ . ,|- -.;4-.. t • >v. ' ^ 4 i .yf, a0k5?\'<- ►/■ i"..'.'IfSM '/ tL •'•' • /* / nis is -^SJ , , , «v- ■ .■mss/T-’’'- , , •iSi' ■'.' ' / i ,(^ ■:■ i5. -_ rlPf,i*f, ' •Jr* ■;y: . ' '’’'f \y.’/- "if , X’i^^‘ . '.’■•iif t tai'. ' ' ' V >1 -’-^ ' s> V ' . , . ■•>.;, . '.; 'i jiffl^.' V'/^, 1> ., • .-2 ! ■ w- rt ‘ ■ ii£5- •■vw .srf .-.^ , ■ ■ ■i 'f'f f y2mii ’ '' ^7^.' :i i*:*i4,*y' 1 . '#‘, < ». ' I 3t ‘*.\j ri4MAr&«. •■■. .^A u'<:' - , • . ^* ' ■■ * ■ ■-v’*' .^*>4tifjli^.d T.» . T,. ,, . , V:^v .:V---;^/'*' . ;t ii,;' :m '/ CONTENTS OF VoL XXVIII, No. 4,~{contd.) ih Page Kotes on Indlvn Wagtails. By Dr. Claud B. Ticeliurst, m.a., ii.B.o.ir., m.r.c.s 1082 H.R.H. The Prince of Wales’ Shooting in India in 1921-22. Part II. {With 3 plates and a map and 2 text figures.) By B. C. Ellison 1091 Dr. Ticbhurst’s Appeal. By Hugh Whistler, m.b.o.h 1107 Zoological Investigations in the Persian Gitlf and Iraq. By Capt. R. E. Chees- man, f.r.g.s., c.m.z.s., m.b.o.h 1108 Report of the Committee of the Bombay Natural History Society, 1921-22 .... mi Review “Indian Game Birds’’ 1114 Some cobiments on and corrections of previous articles in the Journal 1117 ^Miscellaneous Notes ; — I. — Note on Jackals {Canis indicus indicus), etc., in a compound. By C. M. Inglis, F.z.s., f.e.s., m.b.o.u 1122 II. — Jackals attacking a Spaniel in the Compound. By C. M. LigUs, f.z.s., F.E.S., M. B.o.u 1122 III. — Notes on some sheep shot m Ladakh. {Withablock.) By J. S. E. Walker. 1123 IV. — Notes on man-eating tigers. By Victor N. Narayan 1124 V. — Sore neck in Sambhar. By Lieut. R. A. H. McConnell 1125 VI. — Corrugations on Elephant Tusks. {Withablock.) ByJ. H. W 1125 VII. — Effect of storm on Animals. By Bernard C. Elhson, c.m.z.s 1126 VIII. — ^Notes on Oorial. By Major C. H. Stockley, d.s.o 1126 IX. — The Breeding of elephants ui captivity. By J. C. C. Wilson 1128 X. — Further notes on Trappmg. By C. Primrose 1129 XI. — The Common Indian Bee-eater {Merops viridis). By Lt.-CoL E. O’Brien. 1130 Xn. — Nidification of the Ceylon Thrush {O. imbricata). By T. E Timnard 1130 Xni. — ^Nidification of the Ceylon Arrenga {A. blighi). By T. E. Tunnard 1131 XIV. — Occurrence of the Desert Lark {Aloemon desertorum) in the Punjab, By R. C. Bolster, i.c.s 1132 XV. — Eastern Solitary Snipe shot at Nalban Island Chilka Lake on the 16th December 1921. By H. B. Tilden II33 XVI. — Is the Dhayal (Gopsj/cAiis saidam) a mimic. By Satya Churn Law 1133 XVn. — ^Description of chick of the Bengal Florican {Sypheotis bengalensis). By Chas. M, Liglis, m.b.o.u., f.z.s., f.e.s II33 XVIII. — Occurrence of the Black- throated Diver {Colymbus arcticus) in India. By A. E. Jones 1 134 XIX. — Occurrence on the Nilgiris of a partial albino of the Southern Indian Scimitar Babbler {Pomatorhinus horsfieldi travancoriensis) (Harington) B. 1. No. 120. By Lt.-Col. H. R. Baker II35 iv CONT ENTS OF l/o/, XXVIII, No. 4.—{contd.) Page. XX. — Breeding of the Indian Pitta {Pitta brachyura) and the Streaked Wren Warbler {Prinia lepida). Brig.-General R. M. Betham 1135 XXI.— Curious site for nest of the Bengal Red Vented Bulbul {Molpastes hoemarrhous bengalensis). By Chas. M. Inglis, f.z.s., f.e.s., m.b.o.u. . . . 1135 XXII. — Curious nestmg site chosen by the Purple Honey Sucker {Arachnethra asv.- tica). By W. E. Shipp 1136 XXIII. — ^Woodpecker occupying nesting box. {With a diagram). By B. B, Osmaston C.I.E., i.f.s 1137 XXIV. — ^Notes on the nesting of the Himalayan Tree Creeper {Certhia hima- layana). By F. Field 1138 XXV. — Some notes on the method employed m catching Crocodiles hi South Lidia. By T. H. Cameron, F.z.s 1139 XXVI. — ^Notes on a collection of Snakes from Shemhaganur, Palni HiUs. By Col. F. Wall, i.M.s 1141 XXVII. — Gordius Worms. By Col. F. Wall, i.m.s 1142 XXVIII. — A Python’s long fast. By A. G. McArthur 1142 XXIX. — Xote on the operculum of the Turhan-sheUs. By James HonieU 1143 XXX. — Some interesting specimens of the Pierid Genus Euchlce. By Cedric Dover, f.e.s. And note by Lt.-Col. H. D. Peile, i.m.s. {With 2 text figures) 1144 XXXI. — A note on the occurrence of a species of the family Baphididce in British India. By Cedric Dover, f.e.s 1146 XXXII. ^ — A note on the reproduction of the Common Hydra of Bengal {Hydra vul- garis, Pallas) {With diagram). By H. Srinivasarao, M.A 1147 XXXIII. — Folklore of Birds and Beasts of Lidia. By Lt.-Col. E. O’Brien 1149 XXXIV. — A long neglected group of Insects. By B. P. LWarov, f.e.s 1149 JOURN. BOMBAY NAT. HIST. SOC. THE SEESEE Ammoperdix g. griseigularis natural size ) JOURNAL OF THE Bombay Natural History Society. t)FX\ 1922. VoL. XXVIII. No. 4. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. BY E. C. Stuart Baker, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U. Part XXXIII. {Continued from page 575 of this Volume). {With a plate). Genus— AM MOPE RDIX. The genus Ammoperdix contains two species of small partridges which are found from Egypt to South Arabia, A. heyi and its races, and through Persia, Mesopotamia, Afghanistan and Baluchistan to N. W. India, A. griseogularis and its sub-species. The tail is short, measuring about half the length of the wing, and consists of 12 tail feathers ; the wing is rounded, tho third or fourth primary the longest, and the first, second, fifth and sixth a little shorter and graduated ; the legs are strong and the tarsus fairly long. There are no spurs, but a few males show a small knob or incipient spur ; the biU has a very distinct cere, rather brighter in colour than the rest of the bill. The Indian bird A. griseogularis griseogularis is replaced in Arabis- tan and ? Mesopotamia by an allied form A. griseogularis fermeulin, Zarudny. Ammoperdix griseogularis griseogularis. The See-see Partridge. Perdix griseogularis, Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Pet., I., p. 3655, (1843), (India). Perdix honhami, Frazer, P.Z.S., 1843, p. 70, (Teheran) ; Des Murs, Icon. Om., pi. 29, (1849). Caccabis honhami, Gray, A.M.N.H., XI, p. 372, (1843). Ammoperdix honhami, Gould, B. of A. pi. I, (1851) ; Adams, P.Z.S., 1858, p. 503, (N. Punjab) ; Jerdon, B. of I., Ill, p. 567, (1863) ; 1 S-24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Hume, S.F., I, p.226, (1873), (Sind and Mekran) ; id. Nests and Eggs, p. 540, (1873) ; Butler S.F., III, p. 209, (1875), fSuliman HiUs) ; Dresser, Ibis, 1876, p. 323 ; Butler, S.F., IV, p. 41, (1876), (Guzerat) ; Blanf., E. Persia, II, p. 274, (1876), (Shiraz) ; Butler, Cat. B. of Sind, p. 54, (1879) ; Hume and Marsh., Game-B., II., p. 45, (1879) ; Barnes, S.F., IX, pp. 219, 458, (1880), (Chaman) ; Swinhoe, Ibis, 1882, p. 119, (S. Afghanistan) ; Sharpe, ibid, 1886, p. 498, (Bushire) ; Pleske, Mem. Acad. St. Pet., 7, XXXVI, 3, p. 47, (1888), (Bokhara) ; St. John, Ibis, 1889, p. 175, (S. Afghanistan) ; Oates, Hume’s Nest and Eggs, III., p. 433, (1890) ; Ogilvi e-Grant, Cat. B.M., XXII, p. 123, (1893); id. Hand 1. Game-B., L, p. 99, (1895); Blanf. and Oates, Avifauna, B.I., IV, p. 133, (1898) ; Oates, Man. Game-B., I, p. 185, (1898) ; Rattray, J.B.N.H.S., XII, j). 345, (1900), (Thull) ; Marshall, ibid XV, p. 353, (1904), (Quetta) ; Gumming, ibid, XVI, p. 692, (1905), (Seistan) ; Whitehead, Ibis, 1909, p. 269, (Kohat and Kur- ram) ; id, J.B.N.H.S., XX, p. 969, (1911), (Kurram) ; Meinertzhagen, J.B.N.H.S., XXIII, p. 363, (1914), (Quetta) ; Whistler, Ibis, 1816, p. 99, (Jhelum) ; Thornhill, J.B.N.H.S., XXV, p. 486 ; Gumming, J.B.N.H.S., XXVI, p. 294, (1918), (Fao). Ammoperdix griseogularis, Filippi, Viag. St. Petersb., I, p. 351, (1865) ; Meinertzhagen, Ibis. 1920, p. 187, (Quetta). Perdix cinereogularis, Cabanis, J.F.O. 1873, p. 458. Ammoperdix griseogularis griseogularis, Hartert, Nov. Zool. XXIV. p. 282, (1917). Vernacular Names — Sisi (Punjab, Sind); Tihu, (Persian). Description — Adult Male. — Forehead, supercilium and a narrow streak under the eye black ; lores and behind the eye white, turning to rufous behind the ear-coverts ; crown and nape ashy grey, turning to vinous red on the centre of the hind neck which is obsoletely barred with grey ; back and interscapulars vinous red, profusely marked with wavy bars of grey, the red varying much in depth and extent ; lower back, rump, upper tail coverts and central tail-feathers vinous buff, very finely vermiculated with grey and with tiny central arrow- head markings of black ; outer tail-feathers chestnut, with paler, faintly vermiculated tips ; sides of neck gre)' with broad white trian- gular spots ; chin fulvous white changing to pure ashy grey on throat, sides of head and foreneck ; breast vinous buff, becoming a more dis- tinct vinous on the lower breast and flanks and changing to a more yellowish tint on abdomen and under tail-coverts ; the feathers of the flanks and sides of the belly have internal edges of black, and external broad margins of chestnut paling to pearly white ; wings like the back, the primaries and outer secondaries light brovui, all but the first barred with pale buff on the outer webs. Colours of Soft Parts. — “ Legs and feet pale dingy wax yellow, in some greenish, in some dusky yellow ; claws pale brown ; the irides vary a good deal ; they are generally either bright yellow, orange, or THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 825 orange brown ; but in some specimens they were dull red, and in some a bright brown ; the bill is generally orange, somew^hat dusky on the culmen ; in some, however, it is a brownish orange-red, and in the females, especially, often brown above and orange below, or even yellowish brown or ripe olive ; the cere is generally a hoary orange red. sometimes only brown.” (Hume). Measuretmnts.—ljuxi^ih 250 to 270 mm.; wing 123 to 139 mm.; tail 60 to 68 mm. ; tarsus 32 to 34 mm. ; culmen about 11 to 12 *5 mm. “Weight, 7 to 8 ozs.” (Hume). Females have the head like the back, which is similar to that of the male but almost without the red tinge ; the wing-coverts are less finelv marked and the inner webs of the inner secondaries are much marked with brown ; the lower parts are coloured like the upper but paler, the throat and belly being albescent and the under tail-coverts buff. Colours of Soft Parts. — Similar to those of the male with the ex- ceptions noted above. Measurements . — The females average a little smaller than the males ; wings 123 to 133 mm. ; tail 59 to 62 mm. ; tarsus 31 to 33 mm. ; culmen 11 to 12 mm. Distribution. — “Greater part of Persia. West to Berijik and Kum-Kale on the Euphrates, North to Transcaspia and Bolchara, Afghanistan, Baluchistan to Sind and the Indus and across the Indus Valley to the Khariar Hills and Salt Range in the Punjab.” (Hartert). Nidification. — The See-see breeds during April, May and June at all heights from the lowest foothills and broken ground adjoining the actual plains up to some 6,000 or 7,000 feet. Whitehead found them breeding in Chitral, in the Kurram Valley and Kohat up to the latter height, and in Afghanistan, eggs have been taken at 7,000 feet. The nest consists merely of a scratching in the ground, lined only with such scraps of grass leaves as the winds may provide or, perhaps, a few fallen feathers of the parent birds. Occasionally rather more attempt is made at a nest, a few leaves and pieces of grass being collected by the bird and placed in the nest hollow, but such attempts are rare and, even then, the results but meagre. Tlie site selected is often on the most bare and stony gi-ound, with no more shelter than is provided by a boulder larger than the rest, or a tuft of the coarse yellow grass which struggles here and there for existence. Sometimes it is down in a ravine, well protected by an overhanging rock or a bush or, at other times, in an equally well protected crevice on the side of a steep hill. One nest has been found placed in the angle of the parapet on the flat roof of a temporarily uninhabited house. The eggs number anything from 5 to 14, but the normal clutch piobably varies from 6 to 9. In colour they range from a faint pearly 820 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI II. white to a decided cream or pale cafe-au-lait ; most eggs are a pale cream with a distinctly grey tint about them. As a rule they are rather dull coloured eggs even when quite fresh, and they are never very bright in tint or highly glossed. The texture is close and fine, the surface often much pitted with tiny pores, but at other times quite Jevoid of these. In shape they vary from sub-pyriform to long ovals, but 9 eggs out of 10 are well pointed at the smaller end. Fifty eggs average 35 '5 X 26-2 mm., whilst the extremes are, maxima 38‘7x26‘8mm. and 37 3x28’3 mm. ; minima 33'0 X 26 0 mm. and 34: • 1 X 24 ■ 7 mni. The hen is said not to be a very close sitter unless the eggs are far advanced in incubation when she will sit on until the intruder almost touches her. When the eggs are fresh she sneaks off quietly whilst the enemy is still far away. The cock-bird is said to wander about close to the vicinity of the nest and to assist in the care of the chicks as soon as they are hatched. . General Habits. — The See-see, even more than the Chukor is a bird of barren hills, bare broken ground and wastes of boulders, stones and sun-beaten soil. In forest they are never found and in bush jungle but seldom, on the other hand in the early mornings and late after- noons they frequent grass lands and crops for the purpose of feeding. In the middle of the day, however, they leave them for the shelter of the ravines and broken ground, generally seeking the protection from the sun afforded by the larger boulders and rocks, or by some deep crack, but occasionally lying up in a clump of bushes or dead grass. They seem to be curiously addicted to deserted stone buildings and ruins. Repeatedly they have been rei^orted as common about mins in Persia and Afghanistan, and Hume also refers to this trait. He writes : — “ They are generally seen running on the bare rocks or pecking about the droppings of cattle on the mountain paths ; but at Tobar — some 2,000 feet high, the rainy season residence of the miners, who, during the rest of the year, reside in the Khewra Gorge (some 700 feet above the sea) and work the neighbouring Salt Mines, — I saw several pairs rimning about the flat roofs of the houses. The males may often be seen perched on some rocky point, and the female, in the spring, though less commonly seen in exposed positions, will always be found close to her mate. They run very rapidly and fly smartly, always, if possible, down hiU.” Hume did not consider them much of a game-bird, though he records shooting eleven and a half brace in a day. At the same time a morning with the See-see may give much pleasure and enjoyment and is a welcome change from an office chair and everlasting report- writing. THE GAME BIRDS OF IBDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 827 Col. H. L. Haugliton sends me the folio \song accoimt of a morning’s shoot which is quite typical of the See-see and the sport to be obtained with this bird. “I once knew a Colonel who declared that he had shot every feather o£E a See-see and then it had flown away naked !!! “This may be somewhat of an exaggeration of the See-see’s powers of resistance to shot, but it serves to bear out my own limited experience that this little partridge is not an easy bird to hit, and that even when hit the bird is by no means always in the bag. “As regards the first proposition it may be said that the colouring of the See-see blends so well with the hues of the terrain in which he is usually to be found that he is not easy to see either dead or alive. Again, though he moves at a good pace it is not his speed but the fact that as often as not he is on the curve, dropping or fast disappearing round a corner that makes him difficult to hit against a backgroimd into which he merges so well. “ Supposing, however, he is hit. If he falls dead and you see him fall, mark the spot and pick him at once, well and good. If on the other hand, he has a spark of life left in him he well hide away in a manner which will cause you to lose many precious minutes looking for him, or you may lose him altogether. “A hole in a cliff, a cre\’ice under a rock, any nook or cranny will serve him as a refuge, and as the ground he haunts is full of such harbours of refuge it is wonderful how quickly he will disappear. To make matters worse you often cannot actually see him fall, for when you put him up he instinctively makes for some nullah or water course the edge of which he reaches just as you fire : down he goes over the- edge and sometimes you are in doubt as to whether you have hit him at all. “AJmost any low foothills or network of sandy, stony nullahs in the North West Frontier Province or the Northern Punjab hold See-see, and as typical examples one might take the Margalla Range which crosses the Rawalpindi-Peshawar Road, or the water-worn nullahs which, running from the Frontier hills, intersect the Peshawar Plain. A day after See-see probably means getting other game as well, such as grey partridge, a hare or two, possibly some sand grouse and in some places Chukor. In this respect the Phandu nullah near Pesha- war used to be in the old days a most attractive spot, and an entry in my game-book recalls a very pleasant and profitable morning spent there. My first impression of that day is scarcely a pleasant one for it consists of a recollection of a start in the dark and a drive in the bit- ter cold of a Peshawar morning before dawn. This early start was necessary in order to reach the ground in time to catch any possible sand grouse that might come to water at the shallow stream which in those days — though I believe no longer — meandered down the Phandu nullah from the Bara River. Ears tingled in the cold which brought 828 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll. the water to one’s eyes, and thick boots and gloves scarce served to keep a vestige of warmth in feet and fingers. And yet, looking back on it all, there was a wonderful fascination in skirting round the sleeping city whence came as yet no sound but the barking of a dog, the tinkle of bells from some shaggy camel drowsily shaking his head in the Kabul Sarai, the crowing of a cock or the voice of the Muezzin, each in his own way heralding the coming dawn, sharp and clear in the frosty air. Dawn breaks shortly before the nullah is reached and on arrival some conveniently placed straw, sticks, etc., are set alight and serve to make a cheerful blaze at which hands may be warmed for a moment before beginning the business of the day. “ The shikari had made arrangements for a couple of lads to meet us, and when a start was made the modus operandi was as follows : — “ The nullah at this point was too broad for both sides to be work- ed by one gun, so the shikari and I made our way along the bottom of the nullah, following the stream, whilst the two lads were to form line with us along the top of the cliffs which flank the nidlah on either .side, one keeping along the edge of the cliffs and throwing down stones into such cover as there might be, and the other keeping out some distance in the plain to round up any birds which might be out feeding on th? plain or in the scattered patches of cultivation which occurred here and there. We had scarcely gone a hundred yeards when out came a See-see from a deep waterworn fissure in the cliffs. Directly this bird takes wing, one knows it is a See-see for his fast beating wings make a sound which to me always seems to be rather a metallic “tinkle” than the “whirr” of the large partridges. I can see that bird now as he shot straight down the deep cleft towards me for a second and then, as mv gun went up he swerved abrubtly round the comer and up the main nullah, vnth the result that I missed him badly and ])lastered the | cliff with shot yards behind him. | “And so it went on up the nullah, several See-see being brought I dovm and several missed. Occasionally a bird would cross the nullah j from the cliffs on one side to those opposite, but generally it was a | case of a bird skimming away following the line of the cliffs and slip- ! ping round a corner, or of birds driven in from the edge of the plain 5 on top. These latter, put up by one of the boys, would drop like t stones into the nullah over the edge of the cliffs where they *thought i they were safe. The discovery that they had as it were jumped out of j the frying pan into the fire must have been a rude shock to them, j but they did not lose their nerve for long, and would jink, turn and swing away the moment thay saw one, often offering most puzzling shots in their sudden changes of direction. “ A couple of blue rock pigeon were added to the bag out of a good number seen, and some duck, disturbed higher up, and coming straight down the stream, gave me a beautiful shot which resulted in the death of their leader, a fine drake gadwal. A patch of scrub gave me THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 829 743. (1306) Streptopelia orientalis agricola. The Indian ^ Turtle-Dove. i Columba agricola Tick., J. A. S. B., u,, p. 581 ( (1833), (Borabhum). ) Practically all India, Assam, Burma to Tennas- serim. , I (1307) Streptopelia chinensis suratensis. The Indian Spotted Dove. i Columba suratensis Gmel., S. N., i., p. 778 (1789) j (Surat). j All India to E. Assam, N. of Brahmaputra. j i Streptopelia chinensis ceylonensis. The Ceylon | Spotted Dove. 1 Turtur ceylonensis Reichenbach, Vol. Nat. Tauben., Fig, 3373 (1861), (Ceylon). Ceylon and South Travancore. (1308) Streptopelia chinensis tigrina. The Burmese | Spotted Dove. j Columba tigriua Temm., Les Pigeons, p. 94 (1810) (Java). \ Assam S. of Brahmaputra, Burma to Malay Pen. and Islands. (1309) Streptopelia senegalensis cambayensis. The Little Brown Dove. i Columba cambayensis Gmel., S. N ., i., p. 779, I (1789), (Camhaya). India W. of the Hugh, Ganges and Kusi Rivers. Streptopelia senegalensis ermanni. The | Persian Little Brown Dove. \ Turtur ermani.i Bonap., Compt. Rend., p. 942 (1856), j (Bochara). ! Turkestan, Persia, Afghanistan, Baluchistan ij (Quetta). ) (1310) Streptopelia decaocto decaocto. The Indian j Ring-Dove. j Columba risoria decaocto Frivalszky, A. M. Tarsasag j Evk., p. 183 (1838), (Turkei). i Western Europe to India and Ceylon, China ' to Japan. ii I BIRDS OF THE INDIAF EM FIRE. 837 1744. (1310) Streptopelia decaocto xanthocycla. The Burmese Ring-Dove. Turtiir decaocto xanthocycla Newman, Av. Mag., iv., p. 324 (1906), {Burma). Burma, Siam, Shan States, Cochin China, Yunnan. >745* (1311) Oenopopelia tranquebarica tranquebarica. The Indian Red Turtle-Dove. Columba tranquebarica Herm., Observ. Zool., p. 200 (1804), {Tranquebarica). India from N. W. to Ceylon, E. to Behar and Bengal. 1746. (1311) Oenopopelia tranquebarica murmensis. The Sikkim Red Turtle-Dove. Harlert, Yog. Pal. xii., p. 1499 (1920), {Nepal). Nepal and Sikkim, East to Assam, N. of Brahmaputra. 1747. (1311) Oenopopelia tranquebarica humilis. The Burmese Red Turtle-Dove. Columba humilis Tcmm., PI. Col., jd. 44 (1824) {Bengal -Luzon). Assam S. of Brahmaputra, E. to China, Formosa, S. to Tennasserim. 1748. (1312) Macropygia leptogrammica leptogrammica. The Malay Bar-tailed Cuckoo-Dove, Columba leptogrammica Temm., PI. Col., pi. 360 (1833), {Java). Tenasserim S. to Java and Sumatra. 1749 Macropygia leptogrammica tusalia. The Indian Bar tailed, Cuckoo-Dove. Coccyzura tusalia Hodgs., J. A. S. B., xiv., p. 809 (1843), {Nepal). Himalayas from Simla to E. Assam, Burma, Shan States and Siam. •750. (1313) Macropygia rufipennis. The Andaman Cuc- ' koo-Dove. MacTopygia rufipennis Blyth, J.A.S.B., zi\, p. 371 (1846), {Andamans.) Andamans and Nicobars. I75I- (1314) Macropygia ruficeps assimilis. The Malay Little Cuckoo-Dove. Macropygia assimilis Hume, S. F., ii„ j). 441 (1874) {Burma), Burma and N. Malay Peninsula, ? Siam, 838 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Sub-family Geopeliinw. 1752- (1315) Qeopelia striata striata. Tine Barred Ground- Dove. Columba striata Linn., S. N., i., p. 282 (1766), {East Indies). S. Burma and Siam, Malay Peninsula. Order PTEROOLETES. 1753- (1316) Family Pteroclidae. Pterodes orientalis. The Large, Imperial, or Black-bellied Sand-Grouse. Tetrao orientalis itww., (S.iS'., 7., 161 (1758), {“In Oriente. ”). N. Africa, S. Europe, Asia to N. W. India. •754. (1317) Pterodes indicus. The Painted Sand-Grouse. Tetrao indicus Gmel., S.N., i., ii., p. 575 (1789) {Coromandel Coast). West, North-West and Central India. • 755. (1318) Pterodes lichtensteini arabicus. The Arabian Close-barred Sand-Grouse. P. 1. arabicus Neion., Orn. Monastb, p. 152 (1909), {Lahadj, S. Arabia). S. Arabia to India W. of the Indus. • 756. (1319) Pterodes coronatus atratus. The Coronetted Sand-Grouse. P. c. atratus Hartert, Bull., B.O.C., Peb. 1902 {East Persia). Syria, Arabia, Persia to N.W.India and to Mhow. *,757. (1320) pterodes alchatus caudacutus. The Large Pin- tailed Sand-Grouse. Tetrao caudacutus Gmel., Reise de Russ., Hi., p. 93 (1774), {N. Persia). S. Russia and Western Asia to N. W. India to Delhi and Sambhar. 1758. (1321) Pterocies senegalensis erlangeri. The Common Indian Sand-Grouse. P. exustus erlangeri Neum., Orn. Monatsb., p. 154 (1909), {Lahadj, S. Arabia). S. Palestine, S, Arabia to India. S. to Travan- core, E. to Bengal. • Sclater, Bull, B.O.C., xlii., p. 73, 1922, has shewn that Pteroclurns is only a synonym for Pterocics. I do not propose to separate the two genera but to retain all the species under Pterodes. BIliDS OF THE lyEIAF EMPIRE. S‘6» •759 (1322) Pterocles senegallus. The Spotted Sand-Grouse. Tetrao senegallus Lhin., p. r>26 (1771) (Sentf/al). Algeria to India, to Karachi and to Jodhpore. 1760. (1323) Syrrhaptes tibetanus. The Tibetan Sand- Grouse. Syrrhaptes tibetanus Gould, P.Z.B., p. 92 (I80O) {Ladakh in Tibet). Tibet W. to Ladakh, S. to Sikkim. Order GALl.IN/K. Sub-order A LECTOROPO I )E S. Family PiiASiAMUiC. Sub-family Phasianin ce. 1761. (1 324) Pavo cristatus. The Comnicni Feafoui. Pavo cristatus Linn., iS’.A’., i., p. 267 (1766), {India orien tali). Ceylon, practically all India to 'W. Assam and Cachar. 1762. (132,7) Pavo muticus. The Burmese Peafoui. Pavo muticus IJnn., S.N., i., p. 268 (1766), ( Java, Hartert). Looshai Hills, Chittagong, Burma, Siam, Cochin China, Malaya, Java. 1763. (I32G) Argusianus argus. The Argus Pheasant. Phasianus argus Linn., S.K., i., p. 272 (1766), {Malacca, Hartert). Peninsula Burma and Siam, Malay Peninsula, to Sumatra, 1764, (1327) Polyplectron bicalcaratum bicalcaratum. The Indian Grey Peacock-Pheasant. Pavo bicalcaratos JAnn., . 56 [Cochin China). E. Siam, Cochin China, Annam, (P Looshai Hills). J767. Polyplectron malaccensis. The ^lalay Peacock- Pheasant. Phasianus malaccensis Scop., del, Flor. et. Faun Insubr., ii., p. 93 (1786), [Malacca). Extreme S. W. Siam and S. Burma, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. *1768. (1328) Gailus gallus gallus. The Indian Jnngle-Fotvl. Phasianus gallu.s Linn., S.X., p. 158 (1758) [Bengal, Bangs and Peunard). Northern India tO Assam. 1769. Qallus gallus ferrugineus. The Burmese J ungle- Fowl.\ Gallus ferrugineus (Imel., S.X., i., p. 761 (1789) ( China). S. W. China to Burma, Siam, ilalay Peninsula. 1770. Gallus gallus bankiva. The Sumatran Jxingle Fowl. Gallus bankiva Temm., Pig. Gall., ii., p. 87 (1813) [Sumatra.) Sumatra ? 1771. (1329) Gallus sonneratii. The Grey Jungle-Fowl, Gallus sonneratii Temm., Pig. Oall., ii., p. 246 (1813), [India). South and South-West India, Central India, N.E. to the Godavery. 5772- (1330) Gallus lafayettji. The Ceylon Jungle-Fowl. Gallus lafayettii J.ess., Truitt d'Orn., p. 491 (1831), [Ceylon). Ceylon only. ^773- (lo31) Phasianus humiae humiae. Mrs. Hume's Pheasant. Callophasis humije Hume, S.F., i.r., p. 461 (1881), [Manipu>). Naga Hills, Manipur, Looshai, Chin Hills. * For the name our Bed Jungle-Fowls should bear see Bangs and Pemiard Pro New. Eng, Zool. Club, vii., p. 23 (1919), and Kloss, Journal Fed., Malay >States. I accept the above only provisionally for this Catalogue. BIRDS OF THE lyDIAX EMPIRE. 841 Phasianus humiae burmanicus. The Bur- mese Bar red-backed Pheasant. Collophasis burmanicus Oates, Ibis, 1898, p. 124 (Ruby Mines). Kachin Hills, Shan States, Yunnan and N.E. Central Burma. 1775- (1332) Phasianus elegans. Slone’s Pheasant. Phasianus elegans Elliot, A.M.F.H. (4), vi., p. :112 (1870), (Szechuan). W. Szechuan to Kachin Hills, Shan States Yunnan. 1776. (1333) Catreus wallichii The Cheer Pheasant. Phasianus wallichii Hardw., Trans. L.S., .vv., 160 (1827), (Almorah). Himalayas, from Hazara to Garhwal. I 111- 1778. 1779. 17S0. (13341 Pucrasia macrolopha macrolopha. The Kohlas or Piikras Pheasant. Satyra macrolopha Less., Die. Sci. Xat., li.r., p. 196 (1829), (Almorah, Griffith). Naini Tal to Garhwal, Simla States, S, Kashmir. Pucrasia macrolopha biddulphi. The Kash- mir Koklas. Pucrasia biddulphi Marshall, Ibis., 1879, p. 481 (Kashmir). Northern Kashmir. Pucrasia macrolopha nipalensis. The Nipal Koklas. Pucrasia nipalensis Gould, P.Z.S., l8o4. n. 100 (Xipal). AVesteru Nipal to PBhutan. Pucrasia macrolopha castanea. The Chestnut- mantled Koklas. Pucrasia castanea Gould, P.Z.S., 1854 v 99 (Kafi ristan). ^ Afghanistan and borders of N.W. Province. 1781. (133.0) Lophura rufa rufa. The Fire-hacked Pheasant. Phasianus rufus Raffles, Trans. L.S. .riii. /> ;5->l (1822), (Sumatra). ’ Peninsula Siam and Burma to Sumatra, * Mr. (Jhubb points out that Phasianus pucrasia Gray iii In 7nn1 T v.i an 0™ l.t have priority over .V. Irroiopfo rirf’ ^ however the almost certain date of the Diet. Sci. Nat. is also 1829 I do noi disturb the existing nomenclature. ^ y i ao not 842 JOUR^AL, BOMBAY NATURAL MIST. SOCIETY, Vot XXVIIL 1782. Lophura diardi. The Siam FirebacT. Euplocamus diardi Bonap., Compt. Rend., xliii., p. 415 (1856), (Cochin China). Siam, Aniiam, Cochin China, S. Shan States, Lao, 3Kareiini. *1783. (13^6) Qennaeus hamiltonii. The White-crested Kalij. Phasianus hamiltonii Griff’, cd. Cut. ATiim. Kin^d. Ares, Hi., p. 27 (1829), (Simla). Himalayas, Hazara to Kumaon. 1784. (1337) Gennaeus leucomelanus. The Nepal Kalij Phea- sant. Phasianus leucomelanus Zat/o, Ind. Orn., 633 (1790), (India, Nepal). Garhwal, Nepal and Nepal Terai. 1785. (1338) Gennaeus melanotus. The BlacTc-backed Kalij Pheasant. Euplocamus melanotus Bhjth, Hutton, J.A.S.B.,xvii.,. p. 694 (1848), (Darjiling). Extreme E. Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. 1786. (1339) Gennaeus horsfieldi horsfieldi. The Black- breasted Kalij Pheasant. Gallophasis horsfieldi Gray, Gen. B., Hi., p. 498 (1845), (India, Assam). Bhutan, Assam, East to the Irrawady, N. Arra- kan and Chindwin. 1787. Gennaeus 'horsfieldi w illiam si. William's Kalij Pheasant. Gennceus vvilliamsi Oates, Ylan. Game-B., i., ]). 342 (1898), (Kaleiva, U. Chinduin). Area between Manipur, Yaw, Oyu and Irrawaddy R. ; E. Arrakan. 1788. (1340) Gennaeus lineatus lineatus. The Bvrmese Silver Pheasant. Phasianus lineatus Vigors, R.Z.S., 1831, p. 24 (Straits of Malacca). Pegu Yomas, S. and S. Central Burma S. to r 12 1789. Gennaeus lineatus oatesi. Oates' Silver Phea- sant. Gennaeus oatesi Oyilvie-Grant, Cat. B.M., x.rii., p, 306 (1893), (Rrome). S. Arrakan, N. Pegu. * Mr. C. Chubb has kindly pointed out to me that P. haviiltonii o! Griffith 1829 antedates P. albocrislatus of Vigors, P.Z.S., 1830. BIRDS OF THF lyDlAX F.M PI RF. 843 1790. 1791. 3792. :793- 1794- 1795. 3796. *797- Gennaeus lineatus sharpei. Grant's Silver Phea- sant. Geiinieus sharpei Oaten, Man. Onme-B., p. 3-17 ^1898), {Salween). E. Central Burma, North-West Siam, S. Shan States. Gennaeus nycthemerus nycthemerus. The Chinese Silver Pheasant. Gennjeus nycthemertis JAnn., S.X., ed. .r., p. 159 (1758), {China). S. and S.W. China. Gennaeus nycthemerus ripponi. The Yunnan Silver Pheasant. Gennaeus ripponi Shaipe, RuU., B.O.C., .t iii., p. 29 (1902), {S. Shan States). Inter Salwin Mekong country. (1341) Gennaeus nycthemerus rufipes. The Ruby- Mines Silver Pheasant. Gennfeus rufipes Oates, Man. Game-B., i., p. 362 (1898), {Ruhy Mines). Irrawaddy Salwin District between 21° and 27° latitude. (1342) 343)^ Lophophorus impejanus. The Monal. Phasianus impejanus Rath., Ind. Orn., ii., p. 632 (1790), {India). Himalayas, Afghanistan to Bhutan. Lophophorus sclateri. Sclater’s Monal. Lophophorus sclateri Jerdon, Ibis, 1870, p, 148 {Mishmi Hills.) Himalayas N. of Assam, Dafla to E. Abor Hills Yunnan (Beebe). Crossoptilon harmani. Elwes' Horned Pheasant. Crossoptilon harmani Elwes, Ibis, 1881, p. 399 {East Tibet). Abor and Mishmi Hills and E. Tibet. (1344) Tragopan satyra. The Crimson Tragopan. Meleagris satyra Zm?r., 8.X., ed. p. \r>7 (1758), (Bengal), {Sikkim). Himalayas, Garhwal to Darrang. 844 JOUliXAL, BOMBAl XATVRAL HIkST. SOL’IBTr, f’ol. XXJ III. 1798. 1799. iSoo. 1801. 1802. 1803. 1804. 1805. 1806. (1345) Tragopan melanocephalus The Western Trago- jjun. Phasiamis melanocephalus Urnti in driff. ed. Cur., Hi., 2>, 20 (1820), {Ahnorah). Baghiratti Biver, West to Hazara. {1340) Tragopan blythi blythi. The Grey-bellied Trogo- ]wn. Ceriornis blythi Jerdon, P. A. S. B., 18 iO, p. 60 (Assam), (Henema, Naga Hills). Hills S. of the Brahmaputra to Chin Hills. Tragopan blythi molesworthi. The Tibetan Tragopan. T. b. molesworthi Stvart Baker, Bull, B. 0. C. XXXV., p. 18 (1014), (Tibet). Tse-la, Tawang, Tibet. Tragopan temminckii. TemmincVs Trago'pan. Satyra temminckii J. C. Gray, 111. Ind. Zool., i., pi. 50 (1830), (China, Szechuan). Mishmi and Abor Hills, Tibet. Chin and Kachin Hills, Yunnan, China. (1347) Ithagenes cruentus. The Blood -Pheasant. Phasianus cruentus Hardw.. Trans. L. S., xiii., p. 237^ (1822), (Nepal). Nepal, from the Uogra, East to Bhutan. Ithagenes kuseri. The Yvnnan Blood-Pheasant. Ithaginis kuseri Beebe, Zoologica, i.. (10), p. 190 (1912), (N. W. Ytinnan). Mishmi and Abor Hills to Yunnan. Ithagenes geoffroyi geoffroyi. Verreanx' Blood- Pheasant. Ithaginis geoff royi Verreaux, Bull Soc. d'Ac. (2), iv., p. 706 (1867), (Mujiin). Extreme S. E. Tibet, E. of the Dong and Brah- maputra to W. (!hina. (1348) Ophrysia superciliosa. The Mountain Quail. Bollulus superciliosus Gray, Knowsl. Menag, Av., pi. xvi. (1846), (India, Mussoorie). Mussoorie, Nainital. (1340) Qalloperdix spadicea spadicea. The Red Spur- Fowl. Tetrao spadiceus Grnel., S. N., i., pi. 2, p. 759 (1789)^ (Madagascar, Nilgiris). Himalayan Terai, Central India to E, Bengal Orissa. Madras, Mysore, etc. ' BIRDS OF THE IXDIAX EMPIRE. 1807. 1808. ■ 809. 1810. 181 1. 1812. 1813. 1814. 84'> Galloperdix spadicea stewarti. The Travan- core Red Spur-Fonl. G. 8. stewarti Stuart Baker, Bull, B. 0. C\, xL, p. 18 (1919), {Aneichardi, Travancore). Travancore. Galloperdix spadicea caurina. The M(. Abu Spiir-Foui. Galloperdix cauriua Blanf., Avi. B. /., »t'., p. 107 (1898), (Mt. Abu). Mt. Abu and surrounding country. (1350) Galloperdix lunulata. The Painted Spur-Foivl. Perdix lunulata Valenc. Diet. Sci.Nat., xxxviii.,p. 44(e (182o), {Bengal). \i. Bengal, Orissa, S, to Madras Hills, Nilgiris, etc., W. to Jhansi, etc. (1351) Galloperdix bicalcarata. The Ceylon Jimgle- Fov-i. Perdix bicalcaratus Former, Ind. ZooL, p. 25, pt. 14 (1781), {Ceylon). Ceylon only. (1852) Bambusicola fytchii fytehii. The Yunnan Bam^ boo Partridge. Bambusicola fytchii, Anderson, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 214 {Ponse, Tunnan). N. E. Burma to Yunnan and Siam. Bambusicola fytchii hopkinsoni. The Assam Bamboo Partridge. Bambusicola hopkinsoni Godic. Aus., P. Z. S., 1874,. p. 44 (,45sam). Assam, S. of Brahmaputra and Western Burma, (1353) Rollulus roulroul. The Green Wood Quail. Phasianus roulroul Scop., Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr.,. {{., p. 93 (1786), {Malacca). Tennasserim, Siam, Malay Peninsula, etc. (1354) Excalfactoria chinensis chinensis. The Blue- throated Quail. Tetrao Chinensis Linn., S. N.. i., p. 277 (1766) {China). Ceylon, India, except N. W., to Burma, China and Malaya, «46 JOURyAL, BOMBAY XATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 1815. 1816. 1817. 1818. 1819. j820. 1821. J822. Excalfactoria chinensis trinkutensis. The Trinkut Blue-throated Quail. Excalfactoria trinkutensis Richmond, Pro. Nat. Mus. U. S., XXV, p. 310 (1902), (Trinkut). Is. of Trinkut and Kamorta. (1353) Coturnix coturnix coturnix. The t'ommon Quail. Tetrao coturnix Linn, S. N. ed. x., p. 161 (17o8), (Stveden). Europe, N. Africa, Asia, E. to Lake Baikal and India. Coturnix coturnix japonica. The Japanese Quail. Coturnix japonica Temm. and Schleg., Faun. Jap., p. 103 (1842), (Japan). East Siberia to Japan. Winter S. to China and India (Assam and Burma). (1356) Coturnix coramandelica. The Black-breasted or Rain-Quail. * Tetrao coramandelicus Gmel., S. N., i., p. 764 (1789) (Coramandel Coast). Throughout India to. E. Assam and N. Burma. (1357) Perdicula asiatica. The J angle Bush-Quail. Perdix asiatica Lath., Ind. Orn., ii., p. 649 (1790), (Mahratta region). Ceylon and the whole of India, N. to the Jodh- pur Hills and E. Bengal. (1358) Perdicula argoondah. The Rock Bush-Quail. Coturnix argoondah Sykes, P. Z. S., 1832, p. lo3, (Deccan). N. W. Provinces, Punjab through W. Central Provinces to E. Travancore. (1359) Coryptoplectron erythrorhynchus erythro- rhynchus. The Painted Bush-Quail. Coturnix erythrorhyncha Sykes, P. Z. S., 1832, p. 153 (N. Konkan). Western Ghats from Bombay to Travancore. (1560) Coryptoplectron erythrorhynchus blewitti. Bleu'itt’s Bush-Quail. Microperdix blewitti Hume, S. F., ii., p. 512 (1874) (Karial, Raipur). Eastern Central Provinces to Eastern Benga' BIRDS OF THE ISDIAN EMPIRE. 847 1823. 1824. 1825. ■1826. 1827. 1828. 1829. 1830. (loOl) Microperdix manipurensis manipurensis. The Manipur Bush-Quail. Perdicula manipurensis Hume, S. F., ix., p. 467 (1880), E. {Manipur). Manipur, Cachar. Microperdix manipurensis inglisi. Inglis' Bush-Qmil. Microperdix inglisi Ogilvie-Grant, B. N. H. Jour., xix, p. 1 (1909), (Goalpara). Goalpara. (1362) Arboricola torqueola torqueola. The Common Hill-Partridge. Perdix torqueola Valenc., Diet. Sci. Kal., xxxviii., p, 43o (182o), (Bengal). Garhwal to E. Assam, X. and S. of the Brahma- putra. Arboricola torqueola batemani. Ogilvie-Grant' s Hill-Partridije. Arboricola batemani Ogilvie-Grant, Bull. B. 0. C. xvi., p. 68 (1906), (Chin Hills). Chin and Kachin Hills. Arboricola torqueola millardi. The Simla Hill- Partridge. A. t. millardi Stuart Baker, Bull, B. 0. C., xli., p. 101 (1921), (Koteghur). Simla Hills to Chamba, Kullu and Kangra. (1363) Arboricola rufogularis rufogularis. Blyth’s or the Rufous-throated Hill-Partridge. Arboricola rufogularis Blyth, J, A. S. B., xviii., p. 819 (1849), (Sikkim). Kumaon and Garhwal to E. Assam, N. of the Brahmaputra. (1364) Arboricola rufogularis intermedia. The Arrakan Hill-Partridge. Arboricola intermedia Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxiv., p. 277 (I806), (Arrakan). Assam, S. of the Brahmaputra, Chin, Kachin Hills and Arrakan. Arboricola rufogularis tickelli. TickelVs Red throated Hill-Partridge. Arboricola tickelli Hume, Game-B., ii., p. 77 (1880), (Mooleyit, Tenasserim). Tennasserim, S. Shan States, E. and S. Siam and N. Malay States. 848 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Yol. XXVIII 1831. 1832. >833. 1834. •835. 1836. 837- (1305) Arboricola atrogularis. The White-cheeked HiU~ Partridge. Arboricola atrogularis Blyth, .T.A.S.B., xviii., p. 819 (1849), (^S5am). Assam, S. and N. E. of the Brahmaputra, Chin and Kachin Hills, Arrakau. (loGO) Arboricola mandellii. The Red-breasted Hill- Partridge. Arborophila mandellii Hiivie, S. F., ii, p. 449 (1874) {Bhutan Duars). Hills N. of the Brahmaputra from Sikkim to E. Assam. (1307) Arboricola brunneopecta brunneopecta. The Broun-hreasted Hill-Partridge. Arboricola brunneopectus Tick., Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxiv., p. 276 (1855), {Termasscrim). Pegu and Eastern Burma, N. W. Siam and S. Shan States. (1368) Tropicoperdix charltoni charltoni- The Malay Green-legged Hill- Partridge . Perdix charltoni Eyton, A. M. N. H. {!), xvi., p. 230 (1845), {Malacca). Peninsular Siam (Gyldenstolpe), ? S. Tennas- serim, Malay Pen. to Borneo. Tropicoperdix charltoni chloropus. The Green-legged Hill-Partridge. Tropicoperdix chloropus Tick, J. A. S. B., xxiv. p. 415 (1859), {Tennasserim). Tennasserim, Eastern Burma to Bhamo Hills, W. Siam, W. Shan States. (1309j Caloperdix oculea oculea. The Ferruginous Wood-Partridge. Perdix oculea Temm., Piy. Galt, in., pp. 408, 732 (1815), {Sumatra). Sumatra to Tennasserim and S. W. Siam. Rhizothera longrirostris. The Long-hilled Wood Partridge. Perdix longirostris Temm., Pig. Gall., Hi., p. 323 (1815), {N. Sumatra). Peninsular Siam and Burma to Sumatra and W Borneo. liIRDS OF THE IXUIAX EMPIRE. 84» *1838. (1370) Alectoris graeca chukar. The Chukar. Perdix chukar Gray, Hardw. III. hi. Zool., i., pi- •*4 (1830-32), {India, Nepal). Hills of N. India and Himalayas, E. to Tibet and Sikkim. 1839. (1370) Alectoris graeca pallescens. The Nofthern Clmkar. Caccabis pallescens Hume, Lahore to Yar., p. 283 (1873), {Karbu in Ladalc). Turkestan to extreme X. Kashmir and Ladak. 1840. (1370) Alectoris graeca koriakovi. The Persian Chukar. Caccabis kakelik koriakovi Zarudny, Mess. Orn., j>. (1914), {E. Persia). E. Persia to Baluchistan, ? Sind and Quetta. 1841. (1371) Ammoperdix griseogularis griseogularis. The See- see Partridge. Perdix griseogularis Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Peters,, p. 365 (1843), (Transcaspia). ? Arabia, Persia, Transcaspia to Baluchistan,. Afghanistan, Sind, Punjab. 1842. (1372) Francolinus francolinus asiae. The Northern Indian Black Partridge. Francolinus asiae Bonap., Compf. Rend., xlii., p. 882 (1856), (Asio), (Gurgaon). X. India to W. Xepal ; S. to Deesa, Sambhur,. etc., E. to Chota Xagpore. 1843. (1372) Francolinus francolinus henrici. The South, Persian Black Partridge. Francolinus henrici Bonap., Cowpt. Rend., xHi., p. 882 (1856), (Sind). S. and E. Persia to Baluchistan, Afghanistan and Sind. 1844. (1372) Francolinus francolinus melanonotus. The Assam Black Partridge. Francolinus melanonotus Hume, S. F., xi., p. 305 (1888), (.455am). Nepal to E. Assam, Central and W. Bengal. * For a review of the genera Alectoris (Caccabis) and Ammoperdix, see Hartert Nov. Zool. xxiv., p. 276 (1917). For Francoh’/ms ibid, p. 288. ' ^50 JOURyAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIE'IY, Vol. XXVIII. 1845. (1373) Francolinus pictus pictus. The Southern Painted Partridge. Perdix picta Jarrf. <€• Set., III. Orn., pi. 30 (1828), • {Bangalore). Ceylon and S. India, N. to Kbandesh, Raipur and Behar. <846. (1373) Francolinus pictus pallidus. The Northern , Painted Partridge. Perdix hepburni var pallida Gray, III. In. ZooL, i., pi. 00 (1830-32), (Odypore). India, N. and W. of the preceding bird. 1847. (1374) Francolinus chinensis. The Eastern or Chinese Francolin. Tetrao chinensis Osbeck, Voyage en Chine, ii., p. 326 (1771), (China). South China to Chin Hills and Pegu. Hainan, Siam, etc. 1848. (1375) Francolinus pondicerianus pondicerianus. The Southern Grey Partridge. Tetrao pondicerianus Gmel., S. X., i., 2, p 760 (1789), (Pondicherry). South India and Ceylon. >1849. -(137.0) Francolinus francolinus interpositus. The Northern Grey Partridge. F. f. interpositus Hariert, Nov. Zool., xxiv., p, 288 (1917), (Oudh). N. W. India to Behar. 11850. (137.7) Francolinus francolinus mecranensis. The Sind Grey Partridge. Francolinus mecranensis Zarud. Kansu and Xan-Schan. 1856. (1380) Lerwa lerwa. The Snoic Partridge. Perdix lerwa Hodgs., P. Z. S., 1833, p. 107 (X region of Nepal). Himalayas froar W. Kashmir to W. China. Sub-order PEHISTEROPODES. Famih’ MKGAPODIDiE. 1857. (1381) Megapodius nicobariensis. The Nicobar Mega- pode. M. nicobariensis Blytk, J. .4. S. B., o:v.. p. 52 (1846) {Nicobars). • Xicobars, Car X'icobar, Battye Malve. Order HEMIPODIl. Family TcRXiciDyE. *1858. (1382) Turnix javanica leggei- The Ceylon Bustard- Quail. T. j. leggei Stuart Baker, Bull. B. O. C.. xliii « 9. (1920), {Ceylon). ’’ ^ ^ Ceylon only. Pugnax of Temminck (1815) is antedated by Javanica of Eafiuesque (1811 >. «52 JOVRyAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. >859* Turnix javanica plumbipes. The Burmese Bus- tard-Quail. Hemii)odin8 plumbipes Hodgs., Beng. Sport Mag., 1837, p. 346' (Nepal). Nepal to E. Assam, Burma, W. Siam, Fed, Malay States. ii86o. (1382) Turnix javanica taijoor The Cmnmon Bustard- Quail. Hemipodius taijoor Sylces, P. Z. S., 1832, jj. loo (Deccan). The whole of India S. A W. of the range of plumbipes. 1861. (1382) Turnix javanica rostrata. The Chinese Bustard- Quail. Turnix rostrata SwinJi., Ibis, 186o,^. o42 (China). Formosa, and thence through S. China to Yunnan and Shan States. 1862. (1383) (1384) (1385) Turnix dussumieri. The Little Button-Quail. Hemipodius dussumieri Temm., PI. Col., v., p. 454 (1828), (India). All India, Burma, Siam, Formosa, Hainan. Turnix tanki tanki. The Indian Button^Qnail. Turnix tanki Blyth, J. A. S. B.. zii., p. 180 (1843). All India, N. E. to Assam N. of the Brahmaputra. *864. (]38(!) Turnix tanki blanfordi. The Burmese Button- Quail. Turnix blanfordi Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxii., p. 80 (1843), (Thayetmyo, Burma). Burma, Siam, China to Manchuria and N. W. to Assam S. of the Brahmaputra. Order (jRALLyK. Sub- order FULICARIyR. Family Rallid^. 1865, (1387) Rallus aquaticus aquaticus. The W ater Rail. I’allus aquaticus Linn., S. N., i., p. 153 (1758), (Great Britain). Straggler in winter into N. \V. India. BIRDS Of THE INDIAX EMPIRE. 85.'5 1866. (13S7) Rallus aquaticus indicus. 'The Indian It'afer Tiail. Rallus iiulicus Blyth, J. A. S. B., xviii., p. 820 (1840), (Bengal). Japan, East Siberia, N, China to Himalayas ; S. in winter. 1867. Rallus aquaticus korejewi. Sarudny, Orn. Monatsb., p. 20^ (1905), (E. Turkestan). A common winter visitor to N. W. India, ^ Breed- ing Kashmir (Livesey). '1868. (1889) Hypotaenidia Striata striata. The Blue-breast- ed Banded Rail. Rallus striatus Linn., S. N., p. 202 (1706), (Philippines). Ceylon, India, N. and Central Burma. 1869. (1390) Hypotaenidia striata obscuriora.r/(c Andaman- ese Banded Rail. Hypotaenidia obscuriora Hume, S. F., ii., p. 302 (1874), (Andamans). Andaman Islands. 1870. (1391) Crexcrex. The Corn-Crake or Land-Rail. Rallus crex Linn., S. K., i., p. 153 (1758), (Stveden). A rare straggler into N. W. India in winter. 1871. (1392) Porzana parva. 'The Little Crake. Rallus parvus Scop., Ann. I. Hist. Nat., p. 108 (1769) (Kdrnthen). A common winter visitor to N. W. India. 1872. (1393) Porzana pusilla pusilia. The Eastern Baillons Crake. Rallus pusillus 'Pallas, Reis. Ri(ss. Reich., Hi., p. 700 (1776), (Dauria). Throughout Ceylon, India, Burma and E. Asia generally. 1873. Porzana pusilla intermedia. )yestern Baillons Crake. Rallus intermedins i/crm., 05-«. ZooL, p 198 (1804), (SirasburgJi). Europe, much of Africa, 'r Deesa. 1874. (1394) Porzana porzana. The Spotted Crake. Rallus porzana Lmn, S. N., i., p. 262 (1766), {France). A winter visitor to X. and Central India and X. Burma. • I have not worked out this species and its variations. 854 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII^ 1875. (13!'5) 1876. (181K>) 1877. (1397) 1878. U398) 1879 (1398) 1880. (1398) 1881. (1399) 1882. (1400) *1883. (1401) Rallina superciliaris. The Banded Crake. Rallus superciliaris Eyton, A. M. N. H., xvi., p. 230 (1844), {Malay Peninsula). Throughout Ceylon, India, Burma, Siam, Ma'ay Peninsula. Rallina fasciata. The Malayan Banded Crake. Rallus fasciatus Raffi., Trans. L. S., xiii., p. 328 (1822), (Malay). Assam, Burma, Siam, etc. Rallina canningi. The Andamanese Banded Crake Euryzona canningi (Tytler) Blyth, Ibis, 1863, p. HO (Port Canning, Andamans). Andamans. Amaurornis fuscus fuscus. The Buddy Crake. Rallus fuscus Linn,, S. X., i., p. 262 (1766), (Philip- pines). S. India, Ceylon, Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra, etc. Amaurornis fuscus bakeri. The Northern Buddy Crake. Porzana fusca bakeri Hartert, Nov. ZooL, 1917, p. 272 (Bhim-tal). Northern India and Burma. Amaurornis fuscus erythrothorax. The Eastern Buddy Crake. Gallinula erythrothorax Tenun. and ScJil., Faun. Jap., p. 121 (1849), (Japan). A rare straggler into extreme X. E. Burma ; Japan to Yunnan and Siam. Amaurornis bicolor. Elves' Crake. Porzana bicolor Wald.. A. M. X. H., (4) »r., p. 47 (1872), (Sikkim). ' * Nepal and Sikkim to E. Assam, N. and S. of the Brahmaputra. Amaurornis akool. The Brou n Crake. Rallus akool Sykes, P. Z. S., 1832, p. 164 (Deccayi). N. and Central India, S. to the Deccan and Mysore. Amaurornis phoenicura phcenicura. The Ceylon White-breasted Water-Hen. Rallus phoenicurus Pennant, Ind. ZooL, ix., p. 10 (1769), (Ceylon). Ceylon and Travancore. See Stresemann Nov. Zool., xx., p. 305, 1913. BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 8o5 1884. 1S85. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891, (1401) Amaurornis phoenicura chinensis. The Chi- nese White-breasted Water-Hen. Fulica chinensis Tabl. PI. Enl., p. 54 (1783), {China). India, Burma, China, etc. (1401) Amaurornis phoenicura insularis. The Anda-. man White-breasted W ater-Hen. A. insularis Sharpe, Cat. B. M., xxiii., p. 163 (1894), {Andamans). Andamans. (1402) Gallinula chloropus parvifrons. The Indian Moorhen. Gallinula parvifrons Blyth, J. A. 8. B., xii., p. 180 (1843), {Calcutta). Practically the whole of India and Ceylon. (1403) Qallicrex cinerea. The Kora or Water-Cock. Fulica cinerea Gmel., S. N., i., p. 702 (1789), {China). Ceylon, India East to China, Japan and to Phi- lippines. (1404) Porphyrio poliocephalus poliocephalus. The Indian Purple Coot. Gallinula poliocephala Lath., Ind. Om. Suppl., p. 68 (1801), {India). India, Ceylon, Burma, Siam. (1405) Fulica atra atra. The Common Coot. Fulica atra Linn., S. N., i., p, 151 (1758), {Sweden). Europe, Africa, Asia. All India. Heliornithid.e. (1406) Heliopais personata. The Masked Finfoot. Podica personata Gray., P. Z. S., 1848, p. 90 {Malacca). Assam, Burma and Malay Peninsula to Sumatra. Sub-order MEGALORNES. Familjf MegalornithidjE. (1407) Megalornis grus lilfordi. The Eastern Crane. Grus lilfordi Sharpe, Gat. B, M., xxiii., p. 252 (1894), {E. Siberia.) Eastern Siberia, Wintering in N. W. India. 5 8r,6 JOUBNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV JIl i8q2. Megalornis nigricoliis. The Black-iMcked Crane. Grus nigricoliis Przewahki, Mo7igol. Tang., ii., p. 135 (1876), (Koko-Nur). Tibet to the Koko-Nor. i8q3. Megalornis monachus. The Hooded Crane. Grus monacha Temm., PI. Col., 555 (1836), (Tesao and Corea). A rare straggler into India. (Assam and Manipur.) 1894. (1408) Megalornis leucogeranus. The Great White or Siberian Crane. Grus leucogeranus Pallas, Beise Reich. Russ., ii., p. 714 (1773), {Irtin and Ob Rivers). Hare visitor to N. W. Ind. 1895. (1400) Megalornis antigone antigone. The Sarus Crane. Ardea antigone Linn., S. N., i., p. 142 (1758), {India?/ Harte?'t). Northern India to W. Assam, 1806. H410) Megalornis antigone sharpii. The Burmese Sarus. Grus sharpii Blanf., Bull. B. 0. C.,v.,p. vii. (1896), ( Burma). Assam, E, and S. of the Brahmaputra, Burma and Siam. 1897. (1411) Anthropoides virgo. The Demoiselle Crane. Ardea virgo Linn., S. N., i., p. 141 (1758), {In ( iriente). E. Europe and W. Asia, wintering N. E. Africa and India. Sub-order OTIDES. Family OTiDiDi®. *1898. (1412) Otis tarda tarda. The Great Bustard. Otis tarda Lin?/,, S. N., i., p. 154 (1768), {Poland). Hare straggler into N. W. India. Europe and W. Asia. * Sarudny separates tlic Turke.stan (and Indian) bird as 0. t. korejewi. I cannot divide them. BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 857 1899. (1413) Tetrax tetrax orientalis. The Eastern Little Bustard. O. t. orientalis Hartert, Nov. ZooL, xxiii., p. •'’>•‘50, (1916), {Sarepta). S. E. Russia, AV. Siberia and Central Asia. AAMnter visitor to India. 1900. (1414) Choriotes edwardsi. The Great Indian Bustard. Otis edwardsi. Gray in Hardw., IH. In. ZooL, i., pi. 50 (1830-2), {no locality) (Khaiiawar). N. \W India. E. to Shahabad and Gaza, S. to about 11°. 1901. (1115) Chlamydotis undulata macqueeni. Macqueen's Bustard or Houbara. Otis macqueeni Gray, Op. cit.,pl. 47, {Himalaya^). N. W. India to a little E. of the .Tamna. S. K. Europe and A\'. Asia. *1903. (1416) Sypheotides indica. The Lesser Florican or Lthh • Otis indica Gm;I., S. N., i., p. 725 (1789), {India). The greater part of India in suitable localities. E. to AA'’. Bengal and Behar. 1903. (1417) Sypheotides bengralensis. The Bengal Florican. Otis bengalensis Gmel., S. N., i., p. 724 (1789), {Benyat). Bengal and A.ssam X. and E. of Gauges. Order IJMICOL^V Family Burhimd^:. 1904. (1418) Burhinus oedicnemus indicus. The Indian Stone-Curleu'. Oedicnemus indicus, Salva.. Att. Soc. Ital. Set. Nat., vii.,p. 381 (1866), {India). Practically throughout Ceylon, India, Burma and Siam. 1905. (1418) Burhinus oedicnemus astutus. The Sind Stone-Curlew. Hartert, Nov. Zool. xxiii., p. 93 (1916), {Fao, Perxia). Transcaspia, E. Persia, Baluchistan and Sind. • Mr. Iredale points out to me that timelin’s name indica is founded on the plate of Miller. This is undoubtedly Syphvotes auTitu and therefore indica must be retained. 8o8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 1906. (HlOj Esacus recurvirostris. The Great Stone-Plover. Oeclicnemus recurvirostris Cuv., Regne., Ani., i., p. oOO (1829), {India). Ceylon, India and Burma to Siam. 1907. (1420) Orthoramphus magnirostris. The Australian Stone-Plover. Oedicnemus magnirostris Vieill., Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., .v.vin., p. 231 (1818). Andamans and Cocos. Thence through Malay Arch, to Australia. Famil}" DromadiDjE. 1908. (1421 Dromas ardeola. The Orah Plover. Dromas ardeola Paykull, K. Svensk. Vet. Ak. H&nd-l. xxvi., p. 182 (1845), {India). Shores of Indian Ocean W. of Malay Arch. Family Glareolida:. 1909. (1422) Cusorius coromandelicus. The Indian Courser . Charadrius coromandelicus Gmel., S.N., i., p. 692 (1788), {Coromandel Coast), India and Ceylon. 1910. (1423) Cursorius gallicus jamesoni. The Eastern Cream-coloured Courser. Cursorius jamesoni Jerd., B- of I. App., p. 875 (1877) {Punjab). N. W. India, Punjab and Sind. Transcaspia, N. and E. Persia. 1911. (1424) Rhinoptilus bitorquatus. JerdorCs Courser. Macrotarsius bitorquatus Jerd., Blyth, J.A.S.B., xvii., p. 224 (1848), {E. Ghats). Madras, Nellore, Cuddapah, Sironcha, Badra- chalam. 1912. (1425) QIareoIa maldivarum. The Large Indian Swal- low-Plover. 1913. (1426) Glareola maldivarum lorster. Faun. Ind.,p. 11 (1795), {Maldives). Ceylon, India, Burma, Siam to Cliina, etc. Glareola pratincola pratincola. The Collared Pratincole. Hirundo pratincola Linn., S.N., i., p. 345 (1766), {Austria). Europe, N. Africa, .\sia to N. W. India. BIRDS OF THE INDIAIS EMPIRE. 859 1914. (1427) Olareola lactea. The Small Indian Pratincole or Swallow-Plover. Glareola lactea Temm., Man. d'Orn., ed. 2, ii., jp. 503 (1820), (Bengal). Cejdon, Inclia, Burma and Siau’ Family Jacanid^e. 1915. (1428) Metopidius indicus. The Bronze-winged Jacana. Parra indica Lath., Ind. Orn., ii., p. 765 (1790), (India). India, Burma, Siam, Malay Pen., Sumatra, Java to Celebes. 1916. (1429) Hydrophasianus chirurgus. The Pheasant-tailed Jaeana. Tringa chirurgus Scop., Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr., ii.,p. 92 (1786), (New Guinea). India, Burma, Ceylon, Siam, South China, Malay P. to Java, etc. Family Charadkiid^.* Sub-family Charadriince. 1917. (1430) Arenaria interpres interpres. The Turnstone. Tringa interpres Linn., S.N., i., p. 148 (1758), (Sweden), Winter visitor to India. S. to Ceylon. E. to Siam, etc. 1918. (1431) Lobivanellus indicus indicus. The Indian Red-wattled Lapwing. Tringa indica Boad., PL Enl., p. 50 (1783), (Goa). India and Ceylon. 1919. (1432) Lobivanellus indicus atronuchalis. The Bur- mese Red-wattled Lap>wing. Lobivanellus atronuchalis Blyth, Jerd., B. of iiii,, p. 648 (1864), (Burma). Assam S. of the Brahmaputra to Siam, Cochin China, Malay P., etc. 1920. (1433) Sarciophorus malabaricus. The Y ellow- wattled Lapwing. Charadrius malabaricus Bodd., PI. Enl., p. 53 (1783 (Malabar Coast). India and Ceylon generally, E. to E. Assam. * This paper does not attempt to deal with tlie question of Families and Sub- families which are left, pending further investigation, as in Blanford and Oates. 860 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 1921. (1434) Microsarcops cinereus. The Grey-headed Lap- wing. PluvianuB cinereus Blyth, J.A.8.B., xi., p. .587 (1842), (Calcutta). N. China, Mongolia, Japan. In winter, S. to India, etc. 1922. (143;')) Hoplopterus ventralis. The Spur-winged Plover. Charadrius ventralis Wagl., Syst. Av., No. ii. (1827), (Java). N. E. India, Burma, Siam and S. China. 1923. (1436) Vanellus vanellus. The Lapwing, Peewit or Green Plover. Tringa vanellus Linn., S.N., i., p. 148 (1758), (Sweden). Fairly common from N. "W. India to Assam and Burma (once). 1924. (1437) Chettusia gregaria. The Sociable Plover. Charadrius gregarius Pall., Reise. Reichs. Russ., i., p. 456 (1771), (Volga). E. aud S. E. Russia and Central Asia. Northern and Central India in winter. 1925. (1438) Chettusia leucura. The White-tailed Lapwing. Charadrius leucurus Licht. in Eversm. Reise. av. Orenb.nach Buchara, p. 137 (1823), (Kuwan). Syria, Persia, Mesopotamia, Turkestan. Winter in India. 1926. (1441) Squatarola squatarola hypomelana. The East- ern Grey Plover. Charadrius hypomelanus Pall., Reise., Russ. Reichs. iii.,p. 699 (1776), (Siberia). Siberia from Taimyr to Alaska. Winter to India, Ceylon, etc. *1927. (1439) Pluvialis dominicus fulvus. The Eastern Golden Plover. Charadrius fulvus Gmel., S.N., i., 2, p. 687 (1789) ( Tahiti). Breeding Siberia and wintering S. Asia, India, Ceylon, etc. * As the generic name Charadrius is applicable to the Ring Plovers, etc., we cannot use it for the Golden Plover. The next name available is Pluvialis Brisson Omith, V. p. 42, 1700. BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 861 1928. (1440), Pluvialis apricarius. The Golden Plover. Charadrius apricarius Linn., S.N., i.,p. 150 (1758), (Oland). Breeding N. Europe, straggler only into N. W. India. 1929. (1442) Charadrius leschenaulti. The Large Sand- Plover. Charadrius leschenaulti Less., Diet. Sci. Nat., xUi. p. 36 (1826), {Pondicherry). Winter, Sea-coasts of India, Burma and Ceylon. 1930. (1443) Charadrius mongolus mong-oius. Lesser Sand-Plover. Charadrius mongolus Pall., Reise. Reiches. Russ., Hi., p. 700 (1776), {Mongolia). Breeding Mongolia and E. Siberia, winter to India, etc. 1931. (1443) Charadrius mongolus atrifrons. The Centred, Asian Lesser Sand-Plover. Charadrius atrifrons Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 650 {Bengal). Breeding Central Asia. Winter to India, etc. 1932. (1444) Charadrius asiaticus asiaticus. The Caspian Sand-Plover. Charadrius asiaticus Pall., Reise. Reichs. Russ., ii., p. 715 (1773), {8. Arctic Steppes). Breeding Caspia to Central Asia. India, Hatna- giri. >933* (1445) Charadrius veredus. The Eastern Sand-Plover or Dotterel. Charadrius veredus Gould, P.Z.938. (1450) Charadrius placidus. The Long-billed Ringed- Plover. Charadrius placidus Gray, Cat. Mam., etc. Coll. Hodg., p. 70 (1863), (Nepal). Breeding N. E. Asia. Winter casual to N. E. India, Nepal to Assam and Burma. >939* (1446) Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus. The Kentish-Plover. Charadrius alexandrinus Linn., S. N., i., p. 160 (1758), (Egypt). Breeding Europe, N. Africa, N. Asia, etc.. Winter, S. Asia. 1940. (1446) Charadrius alexandrinus seebohmi. The Indian Kentish-Plover. C. a. seebohmi Hartert and Jackson, Ibis, 1915, p. 529 (Ceylon). Shores of Red Sea, Ceylon. 1941. (1446) Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus. The Chinese Kentish-Plover. Agialites dealbatus Swinh., P. Z. S., 1870, p. 138 (Chirm). Japan and China. Straggler Burma. 1942. (1446) Charadrius alexandrinus peroni. TheBornean Kentish-Plover. Charadrius peroni Schleg., Mus. Pay-Bos, sp. 33 (1865), (Borneo.) Resident Malay Coasts and Borneo. Extreme S. Tennasserim. • The type of the Genus is 7«ia India, Burma, Ceylon, etc. •959- (1463) Tringa stagnatilis. The Marsh Sandpiper. Totanus stagnatilis Becks., Orn. Taschenb. ii., p. 293 (1803), {Holland). Breeding Europe and Central Asia. Winter S. to India, Burma and Ceylon, etc. i960. (1465) Tringa erythropus. The Spotted or Dusky Redshank. Scolopax erythropus Pall., Vroeg’s Cat. Colt. Adurn., p. 6 (1764), {Holland). Breeds N. of Arctic Circle Europe and Asia ; S. in winter to Ceylon, etc. *1961. (1464) Tringa totanus eurhinus. The Eastern Redshank. Totanus totanus eurhinus Oberholser, Pro. U. S. Nat. Mus., xxii., p. 207 (1900), {Ladak). Breeds Central Asia and Himalayas. Winter India, Ceylon, Burma, etc. 1962. (1466) Tringa nebularia. The Greenshank. Scolopax nebularia Gunner., Leem, Beskr. Finm. Lapp.,p. 251 (1767), {Norway). Breeding N. Europe and Asia. S. in winter to Ceylon, etc. 1963. (1467) Tringa guttifer. Armstrong's Sandpiper. Totanus guttifer Nordm., Erm. Reise. Nat. Atl., p. 17 {1835), {Ochotsk). Breeding N, and Central Asia and Himalayas. Winter to N.-E. India, Burma. 1964. (14(;8) Philomachus pugnax. The Ruff and Reeve. Tringa pugnax Linn., S. N., i., p. 148 (1758) {Sweden). Breeds temperate Europe and Asia ; S. to India, Ceylon and Burma in winter. ‘ It is more than probable that a great number of our Indian migrants ari; Tn'njfa fotowMS especially in N. W' India. 866 JOURjSiAL, BOMBAY BATURAL UlST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII- 1965. (14G!)) Crocethia alba. The Sanderling . Crocethia alba Pall., Vroeg's Cat. Coll., p. 1 (1766), (NoAh Holland). Cosmopolitan breeder in Arctic Circle. S. to India, Burma, etc., in winter. 1966. (1470) Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus. The Spoon- hilled Stint. Platalea pygmaea Linn., S. N., i., p. 140 (1758), (Surinam). Summer N. E China. Winter China coasts, straggler Burma and N. E. India. *1967. (1471) Erolia minuta. The Little Stint. Tringa minuta Leisler, Nacht. Bechs. Nat. Dents, p. 74 (1812), (Hanau). Breeds N. E. Europe and Siberia. Winter to India, Ceylon. 1968. (1472) Erolia ruficollis. The Eastern Little Stint. Tringa ruficollis Pall., Reise. Reichs. Russ., in., p. 700 (1776), (Davuria). Summer E. Siberia to Japan. Winter S. China, etc., Burma, Bengal, Assam. 1969. (1473) Erolia subminuta. The Long-toed Stint. Tringa subminuta Midden, Reis. N. 0. and 0. Siber. (1851), (Stanaway). Breeds E. Siberia. In winter S. Asia to Austra- lia, S. E. India to Ceylon. 1970. (1474) Erolia temminckii. TemmincEs Stint. 1971. (1475) Tringa temminckii Leisler, Nacht. Bechst. Nat. Neut. p. 63 (1812), (Hanau). Europe, Asia, N. Africa. Winter to India Burma, Ceylon, etc. Erolia acuminata, fhe Asiatic Pectoral Sandjn- per. Totanus acuminatus Horsf., Trans. L. 8., xiii., p. 192 (1821), (Java). Breeds N. E. Siberia and Alaska ; winter China , etc. (once Gilgit). 1972. (1476) Erolia ferruginea. The Curlew-Stint or Pigmy Sandpiper. Tringa ferruginea BrimwcA:, Orn. Bor., p. tiZ (1764) (Iceland). Migrant to India and Burma in winter. * As Tringa takes the place of Tolanus for the Sandpipers, Erolia (Vieill., Anal. 1816, p. 55) takes the place of Tringa for the Stints. BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 867 1973. (1478) 1974. Erolia alpina pusilla. The Eastern Dunlin. Scolopax pusilla Falk., Beylriige, Rvss. Reich., Hi,, p. 371 (1786), {Tomsk). Breeding W. Siberia, S. to India in winter. Calidris canuta canuta. The Knot. Tringa canutus Linn., S. N., i., p, 149 (1758), {Sweden). Breeding N. Siberia, etc. Winter rare straggler into India. •975- (li’'7) Calidris tenuirostris. The Eastern Knot. Tetanus tenuirostris Horsf., Trans. L. S., xiii., p. 192 (1821), {Java). Summer E. Siberia. Winter S. E. Asia, straggler into India and Burma. 1976. (1479) Limicola falcinella falcinella. The Western Broad-hilled Sandpiper. Scolopax falcinellus Pontop., Danske Atl., i., p. 263 (1763), {Denmark). Breeding N. Europe and N. W. Asia ; winter to N. W. India. •977. (1^79) *1978. (1480) 1979. (1481) Limicola-falcinella sibirica. The Eastern Broad- hilled Sandpiper. Limicola sibirica Dresser, P. Z. S., 1876, p. 674 {China). Breeding N. E. Siberia. Winter South to X. E. India, Burma, etc. Lobipes lobatus. The Red-necked Phalarope. Tringa lobata Linn., S. N., i., p. 148 (1758), {Hud- son's Bay). Breeding N. Europe, Asia and America. Winter S. to India, etc. Phalaropus fulica rius. The Grey Phalarope. Tringa fulicaria Linn., S. N., i., p. 148 (1758), {Hud- .son’s Bay). Breeding circumpolar. S. in Asia to N. India, etc. Sub-family Scolapacina:. 1980. (1482) Scolopax rusticola rusticola. The Wood-Cock. Scolopax rusticola Linn., S. N.,i., p. 146 (1758), {Sweden). Breeding N. Europe and Asia. Wintering South to Ceylon, etc. * The Red— necked Phalarope and Grey Phalarope through so alike superficially are very distinct generically and cannot be retained in the same genus. 868 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Yol. XXVIII. 1981. (1488) Gallinago nemoricola. The Wood-Snife. Gallinago nemoricola Hodgs., J. A. S. B., vi., p. 490 (1831), {Nepal). Himalayas, Dalhousim to E. Assam, Burma, Bombay. 1983. (1486) Gallinago solitaria. The Solitary Snife. Gallinago solitaria Hodgs., Glean, in Sci., Hi., p. 288 (1831), {Nepal). Altai to Japan, Himalayas and N. Burmese Hills ; S. in winter. 1983. (1485) Gallinago gallinago gallinago. The Common, Fantail Snipe. Scolopax gallinago Linn., S. N., i., p. 244 (1758), {Sweden). Europe and N. Asia to Lake Baikal, S. whole Indian Empire. 1984. (1484) Gallinago gallinago raddei. The Eastern Fan- tail Snipe. Scolopax gallinago raddei Buturlin, Waders. Russ. Em. p. 56 (1902), ( E. Siberia). Eastern Siberia and N. China. Winter to S. China, Burma, E. India, etc. 1985. (1485) Gallinago stenura. The Pin-tail Snipe. Scolopax stenura Kuhl, Bonap., Ann. Star. Nut. Bol. iv., p. 335 (1830), {Sunda Is.). Summer N. E. Asia. Winter S. including whole Indian Empire. 1986. Gallinago media. The Great Snipe . Scolopax media Lath., Gen. Syn. Supp. i., p. 292 (1787), {England). Breeding N. Europe to Caucasus. Straggler into India. 1987. Gallinago megala. Swinhoe's Snipe. Gallinago megala Swinh., Ibis, 1861, p. 343 {Peking) Breeding N. E. Siberia and China. Winter South. Straggler into India and Burma. 1988. (1487) Lymnocryptes minima. The Jack Snipe. Scolopax minima Briinn., Om,., Bor. p. 49 (1764), {Europe). Breeding N. E. Europe and N. W. Asia. Winter South, whole Indian Empire. BIRDS OF rUE INDIAN EMPIRE . 869 Family Rostratulid^e. 1989. ''^ (1488) Rostratula beng^halensis ben^halensis. The Painted Snipe. Rallus benghalensis Liraw., 8. N.,i., p. lo.S (IT/iS), {Asia). N. E. Africa, S. Arabia, Persia, India, Ceylon, ’ Burma, China, etc. Order GAVI^. Family LARiUiE. Sub-family Larince. 1990. (1489) Larus ichthyaetus The Great Black-headed Gull. Larus ichthyaetus Pall., Reise. Reichs.\Russ., it., p. 713 (1733), (Caspian Sea). Breeding S. Russia to Iritisch. Winter India, Burma and Ceylon. 199'- (1400) Larus ridibundus ridibundus- T/ie RZac/. Gull. Larus ridibundus Linn., 8. N., p. 225 (1736), (Europe). Breeding Europe to Turkestan. Winter N. India to Bombay, etc. 1992. (1491) Larus brunnicephalus. The Brown-headed Gull. Larus brunnicephalus ,/crrf., JAfdr. J.A.6' , rii p ->25 (1840), (India). Breeding Central Asia. S. in winter, India, Burma, Siam, etc. 1993. (1492) Larus hemprichii. The Sooty Gull. Adelarus hemprichii J. F. Orn. 1853 « 106 (Red Sea). Coast of East Africa, Red Sea, S. Arabia. Mekran and Sind Coasts. 1994. (1493) Larus genei. The Slender-billed Gull. Larus genei Breme, Rev. Zool., 18.39, r4. ii., p 3->] (Africa). Mediterranean to Persian Gulf, Mekran, Sind. • This genus has little in common with the time Snipes and will have to be removed to a position leading from the Rails to tlie Snipe and their other relations. 870 JOTJBNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol XXVIII. 1995* (1404) Larus fuscus taimyrensis. The Dark-hacked Herring Gull. Larus affinis taimyrensis Buturlin, Mess. Om. 1911, p. 149 {Yenessei). Breeding N. Europe and Siberia. Winter S, to E. Indian Coasts. 1996. (1495) Larus argentatus cachinans. The Yellou'-legged Herring Gull. Larus cachinans Pall., Zooij. Russ. As., it., p. 318 (1827), {Caspiaii Sea). S. Europe, N. Africa, S. W. Asia, E. to Bay of Bengal. Sub-family Sternin,e. ,1997. (1496) Chlidonias leucopareia indica. The Indian Whiskered Tern. Viralva indica Stevens, Shaw's Gen. Zool., xiii., i., p. 169 (1832), (Cawnpore). All India to Ceylon. 1998. (1497) Chlidonias leucoptera. The White-winged Black Tern. Sterna leucoptera Temm., Man. d'Orn., p. 483 (I8I0) {Mediterranean). S. Europe to E. Asia. Tippera, Burma and Ceylon, etc. 1999. (1498) Hydroprogne caspia caspia. The Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia Pall., Nov. Com. Acad. Petro., xiv., i., p. -582 (1770), {Caspian Sea). In India breeding N. W. Coast and Ceylon. 2000. (1499) Sterna nilotica nilotica. The GuU-hilled Tern. Sterna nilotica Gmel., S.N., i., p. 606 (1789), {Egypt). Europe, X. Africa, Central Asia, India and Ceylon. 2001. (1500) Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis. The Sand- u'ich Tern. Sterna sandvicensis Lath., Gen. Syn. Suppl., i., p. 296 (1787), {Sandwich Island). Summer in Europe ; winter S. to Africa, Persian Gulf and X. W. India. 2002. (1501) Sterna bengalensis bengalensis. The Smaller Crested Tern. Sterna bengalensis Less., Traite d'Orn., p. 621 (1831), {Indian Coasts.) Mediterranean to Persian Gulf and X. W. India. BIRDS OB THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 871 2003. (1501) 2004. (1502) 2005. (1502) 2006. (1503) 2007. (1504) 2008. (1505) 2009. (1506) 2010. (1506) 2011. (1507) Sterna bengalensis zimmermanni. The Chinest, Small Crested Tern. Sterna zimmermanni Reichen., Orn. Monatshr., p. (1903), (Kiachao). East Coast China. ? Siam and Burma. Sterna bergii velpx. The Arabian Large Crested Tern. Sterna velox CrHzschmar, RuppdVs Atl., p. 21 (1826), (Coasts of Red Sea.) Red Sea to Persian Gulf and Ceylon. Sterna bergii cristata. The Australian Large Crested Tern. Sterna cristata Stephens in Shaw's Genn. Zool., xiii., p. 146(1826), (China). - Australia, S. E. China to Malay Pen., Siam and Burma. Sterna seena. The Indian River Tern. Sterna seena Sykes, P.Z.S., 1832, p. 171 (Deccan). India, Burma and N. Malay Pen. Sterna malanogaster. The Black-bellied Tern. Sterna melanogaster Temm., PI. Col., pi. 434 (1827) (Ceylon). All India and Burma. Ceylon. Sterna repressa. The White-cheeked Tern. Sterna repressa Hartert, Nov. Zool., 1916, p. 288 (Persian Sea). Sea coasts from E. Arabia and Persia to Laccadives. Sterna hirundo hirundo. The Common Tern. Sterna hirundo Linn. S.N., i. p. 137 (1758), (Sweden Temperate N. America, Europe, Asia. India to Ceylon. Sterna hirundo tibetana. The Tibetan Tern. Sterna tibetana Saunders, P.Z.S., 1876,^. 649 (Tibet) Tibet, Turkestan, Himalayas. Sterna longipennis. Nordmann’s Tern. Sterna longipennis Nordm., in Erman’a Reise., p. 17 (1835), (Ochotsk). Eastern coasts of Asia to New Guinea, Malay Pen., Ceylon (once). 7 872 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vd. XXVIIl. 2012. (1508) Sterna dougalli korustes. The Eastern Rosy Tern. Sterna korustes Hume., S.F., ii., p. 318 (1874), (Andamans). Ceylon, Andamans, Tenasserim Islands, etc. 2013. (1510) Sterna albifrons albifrons. The Little Tern. Sterna albifrons Pall., Vroeg's Cat., p. 6 (1764), (Holland). Temperate Europe, Central Asia. Winter, N. W. India, (sea-coasts). Sterna albifrons gouldi. Hume’s Little Tern. Sterna gouldi Hume, S.F., v., p. 326 (1877), (Upper India). Breeding on the larger rivers of N. India ; • extreme W. to E. Sterna albifrons sinensis. The White-shafted Little Tern. Sterna sinensis Gmel., S. N. i., p. 605 (1789), (China). Ceylon, Burmese and Malayan coast eastwards (sea coasts). Sterna albifrons saundersi. The Bloch-shafted Little Tern. Sterna saundersi Hume, S.F., v., p. 324-326 (1877), (Karachi). Itesident, breeding, on coasts of Sind and Mekran. Sterna sumatrana. The Blach-naped Tern. Sterna sumatrana Ruffl., Trans. L.S., xiii., p. 329 (1877), (Sumatra). Islands of Indian Ocean, Malay Pen. to Australia, etc. 2018. (1513) Sterna anaetheta anaetheta. The Panayan Tern. Sterna ansethetus Scop., Del. Flor. et Faun. Insuhr., ii., p. 92 (1786), (Panay). Japan to Ceylon. 2019. (1513) Sterna anaetheta fuligula. The Red Sea Brown- winged Tern. Sterna fuligula Licht., Forster's Descrip. Anim. (1844), (Red (Sea). Red Sea. Mekran Coast to islands off Malabar. • This bird is possibly a true species and not a subspecies but for the present I retain it as a race of albifrons (minula auct.; 2014. (1510) 2015. (1509) •2016. (1511) 2017. (1512) BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. 873 2020. (1514) Sterna fuscata infuscata. The Indian Sooty. Tern. Sterna infuscata Licht. Verv. Doubt. Mus. Berlin, p. 81 (1823), (India). Laccadives, India, Malay Archipelago, etc. 2021. (1515) Anous stolidus pileatus. The Philippine Noddy. Sterna pileata Scop., Del. Flor. et Faun. Insuhr. ii , p. 92 (1786), (Philippines). Japanese Islands, Philippines to Laccadives, to Nicobars, etc. 2022. (1516) Anous tenuirostris. The Slender-billed N oddy . Sterna tenuirostris Temm., PI. Col. d'Ois., ii., pi. 202 (1873), (Senegal errore, Seychelles). Tropical Seas. 2023. Gygis alba. The White Tern. Sterna alba Sparm., Mus. Carl., i.. No. 2 (1786), (India orientali errore. Ascension /.). Straggler Bay of Bengal. 2024. (1517) Rhyncops albicollis. The Indian Skimmer. Rhyncops albicollis Swains., An. in Menag., p. 360 (1838), (India). India, Burma, Siam. Family STEKCORARIIDiG. 2025. (1518) Stercorarius parasiticus parasiticus. Richard- son's Skua. Larus parasiticus Linn., S. N., i., p. 136 (1758), (Scandinavian Coast). Breeding almost circumpolar. Mekran and Sind Coasts. 2026. (1519) Stercorarius pomarinus. The Pomatorhine Skua. Lestris pomarinus Temm., Man. d'Orn., p. 514 (1815), (Holland). Moulmein, once. (To he continued.) 874 GAME ANBIALS OF KASHMIR AND ADJACENT HILL PROVINCES. By Col. a. E. Ward. Fart IV. (With a map, plate and one text block.) GOAT ANTELOPES. No. 352.— SEROW. The “Ramu” of Kashmiris ; eastward named “ Yahmu” and then further the “ Kurt ” or even the “ Thar ” is the name used by the villagers. A few years ago very few serow were to be found in Kashmir, as they had been neaily exterminated by the villagers who, when the snow was deep, drove them with dogs. When disturbed the serow dashes wildly down hill, leaping from rock to rock wdth extraordinary agility, which is unlooked for in a heavy built animal ; it is thin habit which gives the dogs a great advantage, for it gets driven down to the bottom of the vaUey and is mobbed in the soft snow. Apart from the snow the serow is not a good traveller on the flat, where it seldom goes, for its home is amongst rocks and forest, where the undergrowth is not heavy. At times however it will penetrate into masses of ringal and hide. After a rainy night comes often a sunny morning, the serow then takes to some rocky ledge and lies in the sunshine, often alone but generally within reasonable distance of a companion. In country which is not disturbed and is well preserved, a pair of serow will settle down in a small area, and apparently seldom leave it. In the Kashmir Game Reserves it is easy to find a serow, but not always so easy to get at it. Two settled down amongst some cliffs which bordered the road or rather the riding path, for in the Kashmir Game Reserves there are no public roads. Over and over again these serow were seen, some- times they would stand but if within 200 or 300 yards they would move off. Last year these serow were over bold and were wiped out by a guest of the State, but their place has been taken by others, enticed possibly by the shelter of the overhanging rocks, the trickling water, the feeding and comparative seclusion. Measurement of Horns. Length. Girth. Tip to Tip. Name of Sportsman. Date. Remarks. 9i" 4i" Left horn brok- en. C. E. Grenville Gough. 1920 9i" 5J" 4Jt" K. C. Tarzetzhy 1905 Erin, Kashmir. 9" 5" -• A. E. Ward 1911 Kashmir. CO Capt. Stockley 1911 Kistwar. (Owner's measurement.) 8i" 51// 4r A. Lathinson 1914 Sind Falley. 8|" R. S. L. Fowler 1913 Padar ,, 00 F. H. Hornsby 1913 Kistwar. 8i" •• •• R. N. Rashleigh 1913 Akahal, Sind. GAME ANIMALS OF KASHMIR. 875 These horns are a poor record, but Kashmir and the adjacent districts do not supply any better. It may be that the serow are overshot and do not reach old age, for many sportsmen want a specimen to complete a collection. In the United Provinces horns of 10 inches are not rare. 12" is a really good head but this length has been exceeded. A frightened serow utters a screeching whistle, which when once started it will continue for some time. On a winter’s day in one of the Game Reserves this noise was repeated over and over again. The verandah of the very rough shed in which residence had been taken up looked over the river and across an open flat space about 150 yards wide, then came a path following the line of the hills on the opposite side of the river. The serow w'as somewhere on the flat and upstream. It was a bright sunny day, and, as the snow was slowly melting, walking was not easy as the surface w'ould not bear but gave way with a jerk. Going round by the bridge and walking up stream along the path, which as mentioned skirted the opposite hill, took about lialf an hour. The path turned to the right and went round a few rocks which jutted out ; beyond this corner nothing could be seen except the bushes on the flat covered with snow, forming a number of pure white mounds. The path as usual was marked with deer tracks, but there w'as nothing to guide or to give a clue as to what animal had frightened the serow ; probably a leopard was on the prowl, but it might be that pigs were about. In order to see round the rocky corner an attempt to get off the path to the left was made, but the bushes and snow made bad going ; the serow stopped whistbng by the time the corner was turned, it was standing in the open on the flat, and the track of its move from the hills was plain. On the road opposite the serow were the marks of a leopard, also the sign in the snow where it had crouched and watched. When disturbed it had moved up the valley from there it crossed the riv'er by a bridge up stream of the hut and went into the hills. Unless accompanied by trained dogs it is not good enough to follow a leopard up hill in heavy snow, of this more will be written hereafter The serow was in luck for the leopard would in all probabihty have killed it when it went back to the hill side. The spring was at hand, and soon the migrating finches would arrive, the little anemones and the tulips would be in flower. The leopards would lose their advantage over the deer and serow, and most animal life would rejoice for there had been a very severe winter and heavy snow falls. The reports of kills by leopards were veiy numerous, seventeen deer having been accounted for in Achhabal Rukh alone ! It was vexatious to have been done by the ‘ pard,’ but probably the serow was saved. The difficulty in getting a shot at a serow is due to the ground it frequents. Standing absolutely stiU it is difficult to see amongst the trees and rocks ; prob- ably it is concealed and is watching the sportsman, then suddenly it dashes off and is gone in a second. If found on bare rock the serow is in an almost inaccessible spot where it has for some reason or other taken refuge, and is then much on the alert. When serow are plentiful sooner or later the sportsman after topping the crest of a ridge will get an easy shot. There is no rule which governs serow shooting, all that can be done is to make the best of the chance when it comes. No. 354.— GORAL. THE PIJUR OF KASHMIR. Not being concerned with the scientific side of sport and wild animals at present, let us adhere to Jerdon’s classification and class the serow with goral, leaving discussion to the future. 876 JOURNAL, BOMBAy NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. The Goral has a wide distribution, it inhabits any suitable ground from 2,000' to about 8,000' or higher, but it is not found in the hills, from which in winter it cannot descend below the snow line. It has been shot in the Sind, Kashmir, but probably had crossed the valley from the Baramulla hills. On the Murree road route into Kashmir, Kishtwar and Jammu there are goral which seem to carry fine heads. In former notes on sport mention was made of an 8^ inch goral head, and this was the longest seen out of many scores. Mr. P. F. Hadow now tops the list with 8f" measured, it is beh'eved, by Rowland Ward who was most exact. Measurement of Horns. Length. Girth. Tip to Tip. Name of Sportsman. Date. Remarks. 8f" 3|" ir P. F. Hadow 1908 sr ar 4 H. W. Anderson . . 1914 Kishtwar. sr R. Fernie . . 1918 Owner’s measure- ment. 00 CO % 1 Tip broken Col. S.D. Turnbull 1904 8" 3J" 34" Sir Boyce Combe . . 1904 8 " •• C. Crea. 1908 Owner's measure- ment. GO Col. Turnbull 1904or05 >> 99 8" Capt. Ramsbottam 1911 8' CO 91." ^ 2 H. R. Pownall 1911 8" •• R. Fernie. 1918 Owner’s measure- ment. 8" Capt. Travers 1921 99 99 Goral are to be found near most hill stations, and afford first class sport to those who care for a change from files and office routine, not to mention “ social functions.” A small bore rifle and “ a week end ” of leisure with a climb over the hills bring health and a sense of freedom from the “ prison ” feeling of secretarial duties. The lower ranges, especially the Siwaliks, are full of goral. They are not strictly speaking gregarious, but on the same hill-side several are often found. An Indian friend, a first class sportsman and shot, owned a Goral Reserve which once a year was driven. Opposite to the cliffs was a bush covered hill- side where the guns were placed. Along the cliffs the goral came, some times one by one then two or three, at distances of about 120 to 200 yards from the guns. How the httle goat-hke creatures hopped about, and how they were missed ! Now and again one would stand still and met its fate, but to kill more than two or three was the exception. Sitting on a flat rock with bushes on all sides, and intently watching the goral notice was taken of nothing else, until a bear’s growl was heard absolutely Journ,, Bombay Nat. His. Soc. GORAL, GAME ANIMALS OF KASHMIR. 877 within a few feet, then a loud explosion, and the bear fell back. An old shikari “ Gunga ” had slain the bear with the 12 bore gun whilst it was almost on us. Gnnga afterwards explained that he had seen the bear coming along the very narrow path which led to the post and had put ball into the gun ; then the bear's head reached the rock and no time was to bo spared. The bear probably was quite peaceful and only wanted to get away from the noise, and finding the track in the bushes had come along it. Those goral drives were pleasant days but the old friend is gone and his son reigneth in his stead. On a different occasion the afternoon was far advanced, a goral had been shot and despatched to the Camp, which was pitched about two miles away in an open glade amongst the outside hills which border on the plain, when another goral was seen, not in the valley where the first was shot but on a hill further from the road. There was no difficulty in getting at it nor in wounding it, but an hour or so was lost in following up and finally killing it. Then the light failed, there was nothing for it but to make a bee line for th“ plain, for the valley in which the road and camp lay could only be reached by climbing over a very difficult ridge, and this was not to be thought of in the dark. The small ravine down which the return had to be made was bound to reach the firohne at the foot of the hills, and once on the broad line, the rest was easy. The distance could not have been more than 2^ miles, but it was midnight before Camp was reached. There were no waterfalls, the bed of the little stream in daylight would have presented no obstacles, but at night every yard ahead had to be prodded with a stick. In high grass close to the fireline a wild beast of some kind or other growled and caused the coolies to drop the goral and bolt. Nothing would induce them to go back. Curious people, they had managed to get along very well carrying the goral with apparent ease, and all the time probably thinking why on earth the track was found so difficult and why everyone could not see as well as they could, and yet the growl was too much for them and they lost their goral, for by morning it had been eaten by jackals. No. 355.— THE NILG.^I ANTELOPE. The blue bull is held sacred in Jammu and many can be seen from the Railway carriage on the journey from Sialkot to Tawi Station. There are now prac- tically no other animals in the Jammu Game Reserves, and as the damage done by Nilgai in the crops is great it must be intensely aggravating to have to try and raise your food in fields alongside of herds of. Nilgai which are protected. In Kumaon it was bad enough, for the Nilgai are wonderful jumpers and used to clear a 6 foot high fence with eas’. However by shooting them down as opportunity occurred, male, female and young, the numbers were kept in check. It was understood that anyone who got leave to shoot in the jungles should help to diminish the number of this destructive Antelope in the Kumaon Forests. The meat of an old Blue Bull is very tough. Even the Mahouts do not care much about it, but they are very keen on getting the skins both for leather and also for selling as gigantic mussacks. These mussacks or inflated skins are used for carrying rafts, and stand a groat deal of bumping against rocks, which they certainly get in many of the rapids when the main livers leave the hills. As the Nilgai is a heavily made animal of nearly 14 hands in height, at- tempts are made in some places to tame them for draught, and they are generally used with a bullock as one of the pair. Not much success has attended this experiment. 878 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Yol. XXVIII. No. 357.— THE BLACK BUCK. There is no necessity to dwell on the “ Black Buck ” in sporting articles deaUng with the game of the hills. It need hardly be said that what few there may be are in the plains comitry of Jammu where visitors may not travel. No. 358.— THE TIBETAN ANTELOPE. The “Hekan” op Kashmiris, the “ Cheru ” or “ Choos ” of Ladakis. Head of Tibetan Antelope. This antelope is found only at very high altitudes from about 14,500, to the tops of the highest hills. Probably at these very great altitudes the herd is migrating. In the spring the sexes separate, only the very young males remain with the females and later on in the year females are seen alone. On the Karakoram, hundreds of does may be noticed in the summer, all intent on migration. It is difficult to give any tolerably exact dates on which this antelope can be found at any particular place or elevation, because the seasons in Northern GAME ANIM ALS OF KASHMIR. 879 Ladak and Tibet vary greatly, and all depends on the severity or the mildness of the early spring and in consequence the grazing. After searching the Changchenmo for a shootable buck a move was made across the passes when many big horned males were seen. On another occasion, very little later in the year, Changchenmo was full of bucks. Now and again a solitary male may be seen. No. 2 on the list was alone and not another antelope was found in the ra%’ine, but, as a rule, they are gregarious whether in their summer grazing grounds or when journeying from place to place. The list of horns is not encouraging. It may be that the Tibetan Antelope has taken to other locaUties but possibly sportsmen have not reported their successes, and the horns have not been put on record. Measurement of Horns. Index Measurement. Name of Sport Date. Locality, &c. No. Length Girth. Tip to Tip. man. 1 2?r 5f» 13i" P. F. Hadow . . 1903 2 26 r sr A. E. Ward •• Kyam. Chang- chenmo. 3 26" -5f" . . A. E. Ward Little Tibet. 4 26" H" 14" K. S. Fitze 1916.. Ladak. 5 25 r 13" Jliss Barber 1908 6 25" 5" 15^ Cajit. Bruce 1908 7 25" •• J. V. Allan •• Gogra, Ladak. The record horns were in the Hume Collection, they measured fully 28 inches shortlv after being killed, but were measured at home at 27^". All horny sheaths shrink when drying up, the shrinkage being from the end next to the skull. Occasionally on broken ground a close shot can be obtained, but as a rule the bucks stay out on a sandy plain or on a bare hill side. Crawling along sand and pebbles is ruinous to one’s woollen clothing, and this is a serious trouble when baggage has been cut down to a minimum. After about a week one of the two warm suits taken beyond Leh was in tatters. The time of the year was late in May and very early in June. Having during May been lucky with the wild sheep, it was time to have a turn at the antelope. Abstract from “ Dairy.” May 28th. — Tried for hours to get near two very fine bucks, but it was useless. Then came on six, and again on four but the country was far too open. May 29th. — Again saw six ; very possibly the same lot, the nearest cover was quite 300 yards from the bucks ; shelter was taken there and as time went on a single antelope strolled towards the cover, then suddenly wheeled roimd and bolted taking of course the others with him ; it was no use firing. 8 880 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCLETY, Vol, XXVIII. The camp was moving, so waited until it arrived and then towards evening tried fresh ground ahead. Four bucks were lying down in the sand having scooped out small hollows, as is their habit, consequently they did not show up well and were nearly overlooked. There was no chance of getting nearer than a short 200 yards so when the bucks rose the shot was taken and one hit, this was followed and come on whilst lying down, again he was wounded and at last found dead. The diary adds “ saw a hawk and two pigeons, the first birds of the season.” May and early June are too soon in the year for migratory birds in little Tibet. May 30th. — Had a long stalk and missed a hard shot at an antelope. June 1st. — The camp was high up in a side ravine, where stalking was easy, the antelope were in small bands and not very wild. In the morning got an easy shot under 200 yards and killed, then got another at about 100 yards, and again had commenced a third advance when a herd of 25 cow yaks were seen and the afternoon was spent in watching them. There was no bull but that did not matter for yak were not wanted. Light snow fell and gave an excuse for a rest on the next day. June 3rd. — Got close up to antelope and killed to the first barrel, and wounded another with the second, which was easily bagged. Then had shortly after an easy shot, but missed badly, or rather only slightly wounded it, this buck joined others in a herd about a mile or so further up the ravine ; killed out of that lot a buck which gave an easy shot, and missed the wounded animal. On the way back to camp had a long shot at a running buck which fell dead. That made the fourth in one day. The antelope must have been migrating for on the following day only one solitary animal was seen. For some days afterwards the hiU sides were devoid of any life except for a large black wolf, but its pursuit is another story. Since the above records were entered in the Diary, only one buck was shot, and the readers of this article may say “ a very good thing too. ” There were any number of antelope about ; where are they now to be found is the question ? They can scarcely have been killed off, wolves undoubtedly take many, but wolves, owing to the prices paid for the pelts, are decreased in numbers. There can be little doubt that high up in the Gogra and towards the Demjor lake the Tibetan antelope stHl is plentiful. The limited number shot can have had little effect on the vast herds that existed. The country has no inhabitants to kill these antelope, success seems to depend entirely on the chance of meeting the cheru whilst migrating. THE GAZELLES. The Gazelles which are found in Central Asia have in the “ Fauna of India been divided up into three species. It is not easy to agree to the distribution of the Persian Gazelle, and the ‘‘ larger species from parts of Mongolia ” when the notes of various travellers are studied. According to Blanford we have (1) The Tibetan Gazelle ; (2) Gazella sub- ffutturnsa or the Persian Gazelle : (3) Gazella guiturosa. If No. 3 can bo separated from the Persian Gazelle, it might be convenient to call it the Mongolian Gazelle, but Mongolia also harbours other Gazelles ; this is discussed in the next chapter. No. 361.— THE TIBETAN GAZELLE.— THE “ GOA ” OF TIBET. In the early eighties, that is from about 1880 to 1885, a large number of these Gazelles were killed. Apparently they were . never numerous even in their stronghold, which is in Northern Ladak on the plateaux, notably in Rupshu and Hanle, and by the Kyun Fresh and Salt Lakes, There in 1882 ten bucks were shot by sportsmen in 5 days. /ipproAim stely S400m^ HAUNTS OF THE CENTRAL ASIAN GAZELLES. GAME ANIMALS OF KASHMIR. 881 The Goa is found in small herds rarely exceeding 8 or 10 in number. Long ago when Kinloch, who is quoted by Blanford, was in Ladak the game was not as shy as at present, and perhaps this gazelle w'as less so than most other ani- mals, but that it is indifferent to the scent of man or to their enemies, the wolves, &c., is scarcely the case. Near the Nima crossing of the Indus, a small batch of Goa were lying on the plain just out of shot from the broken and higher grounds. From above was a good view of a ravine along which an easy approach could have been made but it was to windward of the game. After a long wait, the gazelles got up, and without waiting to look round dashed across fhe plain. From where they were they could not have seen into the small ravine but the glasses showed a wolf, the scent evidently caused the sudden departure. Other Goa were found a short while afterwards, but the wind was uncertain and the result a failure owing to this mishap. It was some time before any luck came off. The Ladaki Shikaris would insist that antelope also did not mind an ap- proach down wind so on two occasions, to test this, trials were made and on both the animals bolted. Ludlow sent notes on the Goa to the journal and. also a photograph of the 14J" trophy secured, hence there is no need to write more. The record of a few other horns is attached and a photograph of No. 6 showing the complete animal is furnished. Measurements of Horns. Index No. Length. Girth. Tip to Tip. Name of Sportsman Date. Locality, &c. 1 14i" 3i" 3|" F. Ludlow 1919 Ladak 2 isr 3r 5" Capt. R.W. Bruce 1911 99 3 isr 3i" 3^^ Capt. G.F.Mockler 1905 99 4 13v*' 6" Capt. Frees 1914 99 5 13" 3" 4" F.W.A. Wells . . 1905 99 6 13" ■ •• •• Capt. LG. Allan •• 99 In Rowland Ward’s records, there is another head carrying 14J inch horns owned by The Hon’ble Walter Rothschild, Goa do not appear to visit the Kuen-lun ; during two journeys in that country none were seen, there were hundreds of antelopes but no gazelles of any species. If this surmise is correct, it may help to elucidate matters when dealing with the rather vexed question of the distribution of the other Gazelles which are found in Turkistan, Mongolia and coimtries more or less adjacent to the Ladak boundaries. THE GUTTUROSA GAZELLE— THE DJERAN OF KASHGAR. The Hwang Yang or Yellow Goat of the Chinese. Blanford in his concluding sentence when describing the Persian Gazelle mentions this Gazelle. It is a far taller animal than the Goa, but is slighter built and paler in colour 882 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII The late Mr. Nsy Elias, a well-known explorer and traveller, gives this Gazell® an enormous distribution “Eastern Mongolia, all ov< r Western Mongolia from the northern bend of the Yellow River to the Altai mountains they were general- ly in large herds sometimes I should think four or five hundred or more to- gether.” Elias measured a buck as at the shoulder, he also took home a pair of horns to Blyth who called the animal “ A yutturom sub-genus Pro- capra.'" This head was got near the Gobi. Colonel Biddulph shot one on the road between Macallashi and Kashgar. Major Cumberland, Messrs. J. V. Phelps and E. L. Phelps also got their specimens in Turkestan. Blyth described the horns thus “resembles the Common Indian Gazelle except that the horns are longer and curve outwards, the tips being turned sharply inwards towards another.” Look at the sketch map of the country under discussion, and remember that from the Kuen-lun to the Altai is 1,000 miles in a straight line to the North- wards, and to the Caspian considerably more to the Westward, there is ample room for local differences in the Gazelles, or in other words suh-gutturosa'wh.vih. could conveniently be called sub-gutturosa and it is probably here that the Persian and Przewalskii’s Gazelles come in. No. 360.— THE PERSIAN GAZELLE. The only portion of British territory where this animal had been shot, as Sir Oliver St. John remarked, is near Pishin. He shot one here and thus brought it to notice, then others were obtained. This Gazelle is very rare in Baluchistan but not so towards Kandahar and in Afghanistan. That this sub-species “ extends through Turkestan to the Gobi ” is very doubtful for that is the home of the Djeran. There is considerable difl&culty in separating the varieties of the Central Asian Gazelles. In the future articles to be written for the Society it will probably be best to omit as being beyond our range. 1. Przewalskii’s Gazelle. 2. Persian species as belonging to Afghanistan and Persia, and deal only with 1. The Tibetan GazeUe (Goa). 2. The Gutturosa of Turkestan and Mongolia. 3. The so called Goitered Gazelle from the Altai. In order to make the notes on these Gazelles as clear as possible Col. Harry Ward has been asked to have photographs taken of the horns at home. {To be continued.) 883 NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOMBYLIIDAi. By Lieut.-Colonel C. G. Nurse. {Continued from page 641 of this volume.) Part II. When I began my studies of this family, I hoped to deal with the Lidian repre- sentatives of all the genera as fully as I have dealt with those belonging to the two genera, Litorrhynchus and Exoprosopa, included in my former paper. But un- foreseen circumstances have necessitated my removal from London, and I have no longer the opportunity of consulting the library at the British Museum, or of access to the specimens in the national collection. In the present paper, therefore, I confine myself to material I had prepared before leaving London, but as it brings forward representatives of several genera not previously recorded from Indian limits, it may probably be useful to dipterists studying the fauiia of Lidia. Some changes of nomenc ature are unfortunately necessary, as Pro- fessor Bezzi has pointed out that the genus hitherto known as Argyramotha should be known as Anthrax, while he has, very properly I consider, split up the old genus Anthrax. Such changes are very puzzling to students of insects who do not happen to be specialists, but as Professor Bezzi has been followed by Becker in his “ Genera Bombyliidarum,” which is perhaps the most up-to-date study of the family as a whole, I have conse- quently followed them in this paper. The genus Exprosopa has, as I anticipated when dealing with its Indian repre- sentatives, now been split up by Professor Bezzi (Ann. S. African Museum, Vol. XVIII, p. 138) into several new genera. Anthrax Scop. {Argyramoeba, olim). Before dealing with the Indian representatives of this genus, I should state that m 1908 Professor Bezzi erected a genus Petrorossia for the species which had, up to that time, been known as Argyramoeba hesperus, Rossi. He has since described in Trans. Ent. Soc., 1911, pp. 615-17, several new species of Peb'orossta from Africa. As representatives of this genus occur in India, it will be necessary to differentiate Petrorossia (which Becker places in a different sub-family) from Anthrax. The two genera may be tabulated as follows : — Prtefurca long ; 2nd longitudinal vein arising from the 3rd opposite or nearly opposite the anterior cross-vein . . Anthrax. Preefurca short ; 2nd longitudinal vem issuing from the 3rd further from the anterior cross-vein than the length of the cross-vein itself . . . . . . . . . , Petrorossia. Anthrax indicata, n. sp. Head ; frons at vertex less than -J- the breadth of head, at level of antennae about f ; frons and face blackish brown, covered with short stiff black hairs, mix- ed with a few grey ones near upper mouth edge ; a little white tomentum near eye margins ; antennae dull black, 3rd joint onion-shaped, its base with a little grey shimmer, style bisected at about f its length, its apex with the usual pencil of hairs ; proboscis short, blackish brown ; occiput dull black, deeply indented at vertex, with a little white tomentum along eye margins ; occipital fringe dark brown. Thorax black, covered above with black hairs, mixed with some greyer ones especially about the pronotal collar ; on the disc, especially about the wing bases, there are some very fine short yellowish grey scales ; below the pube- scence is rather long, entirely grey ; scutellum concolorus with thorax, and similarly clothed ; the marginal hairs, which are too fine to be called bristles, long and black. 884 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. Abdomen dull brownish black, similarly clothed to the thorax ; 1st segment with two small patches of grey scales near the middle of the apical margin, its sides with tufts of long white silky hairs ; sides of remaining segments clothed chiefly with black hairs, intermixed with a few grey ones ; apical 2 or 3 segments rather denuded, but showing traces of white scales ; genitalia red. Legs black, tibim, and tarsi more or less rufesceiit ; coxae with rather long grey pubescence, femora with white scales ; tibiae with numerous short black bristles ; pulvilli nearly as long as claws. Wings sub-hyaline ; the base as far as the humeral cross-vein, costal and sub- costal cells, dark brovTi ; on the clear portion are dark brown spots in the follow- ing positions : one, connected with the dark costal margin, and carried across base of discal cell as far as the anal cell ; one across anterior cross-vein and point of origin of 2nd longitudinal vein, not quite connected with the dark costal margin ; one at the pomt when 3rd longitudinal vein forks ; a smaller one at apex of discal cell, and one stiU smaller at its posterior angle ; the 2nd longitudinal vein forks just before the anterior cross- vein, but there is no appendiculation ; the upper branch of the 3rd longitudinal vein has an mdication of appendicula- tion ; first posterior cell open for nearly the distance of anterior cross-vein ; anal cell only narrowly open ; base of costa with black bristles ; halteres entirely black. L. 8mm. Described from a single specimen from Matheran. This is quite distinct from A. inslituta Walk., with the type of which I have compared it. It would run into Brunotti’s key with distigma and obscurifrons. Anthrax argentiapicalis, Brun. I have a male from Matheran. It is like the 9 described by Brunetti, except that the frons at level of antennae is fuUy f the width of head ; the femora are more or less rufuscent, there are a few white scales on apical border of the 3rd abdominal segment near the sides, and only the knob of the halteres in black, the other being pale. Anthrax duvancelii, Macq. I have 3 specimens of this species from Deesa, one of which was bred from the nest of a wasp. They agree absolutely with Brunotti’s description except as regards the abdomen, which I should describe as follows : — Black ; 1st seg- ment with an apical band of long white scaly hairs, which are longest at the sides ; remaining segments with apical bands of white or yeUowish-white scales, reach- ing over the side margins, those on the 3rd and 4th segments being very narrow and sometimes interrupted ; bases of segments with rather stiS black hairs. Anthrax Candida, Sack. (Die palaearktischen Spongostilien, p. 583.) This species was described from Persia, and Becker records it from Persian Baluchistan. I have two specimens from Quetta which correspond fairly well with Sack’s description, except that they are rather smaller than the measure- ments he gives. The following abbreviated description should enable the species to be recognis- ed : Frons black-haired ; face with grey scales ; upper mouth edge with long grey scaly hairs, and a pair of black bristles, the latter not always visible ; ant- ennae black, 3rd joint with a grey shimmer, onion-shaped, with a rather long black pencil of hairs. Thorax blackish, with white scales and black bristles near wing base and on post-alar calli ; sides and below with white scaly hairs. Legs black, with browai tibiae and tarsi ; coxae, especially the middle ones, with rather long black bristly liEir AND LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOMBYLIIDM. 8S6 hairs ; pulvilli large, yellowish white. Abdomen blackish, extreme spices of most of the segments lighter ; 1st segment with grey scaly hairs ; 2 — 4 segments with black hairs, their margins covered with white scales ; last 3 segments thickly covered with white scales, the bristles on their apical margins whitish, except for a few black ones in the middle ; venter eovered with white hairs and scales. Wmgs hyaline, a little yellowish at base and along costal margin ; slight infuscations near base of 3rd longitudinal vein and on cross-veins ; base of costa with black bristles and yellowish grey scales. L. 16 mm. My specimens are about 12 and 14 mm. Anthrax? subnotata, Walk. Walker’s description of this species was very meagre, and I have not been able to find his type in the B. M. collection. Sack records it with some doubt from Persia, and Becker from Persian Baluchistan. I have 3 specimens from Quetta which correspond fairly well with Sack’s description. Anthrax ? isis. Mg. I obtahied at Deesa two specimens which are probably this species. Anthrax obscura, Sake. (Die palaearktischen Spongostilien, p. 516.) I have a specimen from Quetta, and there are in the B. M. five specimens from Chaman, captured by Col. Swinhoe in 1880 (“ at Mess, 11 p.m.”). Becker records it as common in Persia, Seistan and Persian Baluchistan. I do not thmk it can be common at Quetta, as I only obtained one specimen during my two years’ stay there, and it is so conspicuous that I could hardly have failed to notice it. It need only be contrasted with A. bipunctata P., from which it differs in being rather smaller (14- 16mm.), having no white pubescence on 1st abdominal segment, and the 1st posterior cell closed. The 3rd joint of the antennae is onion-shaped in the present species. Anthrax bipunctata, F. Brunetti does not mention that the 3rd antennal joint of this species is conica and not, like most of the other species of this genus, onion-shaped. I have a specimen from Deesa, but have not met with it elsewhere. Anthrax, sp. inc. There are in the B. M. two specimens of an Anthrax, standing over the name of Mm6ra Walk., one of which is labelled “ N. Ind.” I have compared these with Walker’s type, and they are certainly not that species, though resembling it in size and the colour of the wings. The type of umbra, of which the locality was unknown, has the 3rd joint of the antennae onion-shaped. The two spe- cimens now referred to have only one antenna left, but the 3rd joint of this is conical, and they must thus belong to Sack’s subgenus Satyramceba, which in- cludes bipunctata F. and etrusca F. One of the specimens has the abdomen more or less denuded, the other has four minute spots of white scales on the 2nd ab- dominal segment, and two similar but rather larger spots on each of the remain- ing segments. If the locality is correctly given, this species will probably turn up at some future time in N. India, and I therefore caU attention to it. The B. M. speci- mens are not in sufficiently good condition for description. Petrorossia, Bezzi. The following should certainly be transferred to this genus : — Argyramoeba claripennis. Brim., deseribed as having the 2nd longitudinal vein originating half way between base of discal cell and anterior cross- vein. 886 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Argyraviceba nigrofemorata, Brun. I have a specimen from Matheran which agrees with Brunetti’s description, and is a Petrorossia. Argyramceha intermedia, Brun. I have examined the two specimens in the B. M. and they certainly belong to Petrorossia. Anthrax albofulva, Walk. The type of this species is headless, but the position of the origin of 2nd longitudinal vein marks it as a Petrorossia. I have specimens from Deesa which correspond so far as comparison is possible, with Walker’s type. The specimens described by Brunetti may not all belong to one species, as he mentions differences in the neuration. As regards the insect described by Brunetti as Aphcebantus ceylonicus (Dipt Brach. Vol. I, pp. 257-9), it is possibly identical with Walker’s Anthrax fervida. It is certainly not an Aphcebantus, as that genus has the 3rd antennal joint conical. I have a single specimen from Jubbulpore which corresponds with Brunetti’s description, and there are in the B. M. four specimens named by him. These all have the 3rd antennal joint onion-shaped. The pnefurca is even shorter than is typical Petrorossia, and the 3rd antennal joint bears a moderately long style, but no pencil of hairs. They are either an aberrant form of Petrorossia, or belong to a closely allied genus as yet undescribed. The following five species belong to genera hitherto unrecorded from Indian limits. I have not thought it necessary to give full generic descriptions, which may be found in Becker’s “ Genera Bombyliidarum.” The figures on the plate which accompanies this paper should enable students of Indian Diptera to recognise the genera Callistoma, Mariobezzia, and Heterotropus. As regards Eurycarenus, I have not included it in the plate, being somewhat doubtful whether the Indian specimens obtained by me are conspecific with African ones. Callistoma imperator, n. sp. (S Head ; frons below antennae about half as broad as head, narrowing at vertex to half this width ; black ; vertex with a rather narrow band of blackish bro^vn hairs, extending to the eye margins; frons and face thickly covered with white scales, and some longer whitish hairs ; antenae black, 1st and 2nd joints with some short black hairs, 3rd joint, excluding style, rather longer than the 1st and 2nd together, suddenly narrowed at about the middle, with a reddish style about half the length of the joint ; proboscis black, as long as the head and thorax combined ; mouth edge very narrowly testaceous ; occiput narrow, with a fringe of white hairs behind vertex, and some short scaly white hairs behind eyes. Thorax and scutellum black, covered with rather short yellowish grey hairs and some whitish scales on dorsum, below and on metapleurse with longer white hairs ; bristles near base of wings, on post-alar calli, posterior margin of dorsum, and scutellum, pale yellow. Abdomen black, long and rather narrow ; 1st segment rather thickly covered with greyish white hairs of moderate length ; 2nd and following segments with rather narrow basal bands of depressed greyish scales ; beyond these bands the hairs on the abdominal segments are short, black and depressed, and each segment except the first has a complete apical row of long yellowish bristly hairs ; the sides of the abdomen are thickly covered with moderately long greyish white hairs ; ventral segments 1 — 4 with the apical half of eaich segment covered with snow-white scales. Legs black ; femora and tibiae with greyish scales and rather short black spiniiles. Wings hyaline with a broad moderately dark band across the middle, its outer boimdary being at the apex of 1st longitudinal vein ; it includes the whole of discal cell, but is slightly narrowed towards the posterior margin bf wing ; base of wing as far as the humeral cross-vein, and the costal and subcostal cells, light brown ; alula smoke brown, with dark fringe, base of costa with NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN INDIAN BOMBYLIIDE. 887 rather long black bristles and a few grey scales ; halteres brownish, pale yellow at tip. 9 Similar ; vertex and abdomen much broader ; the abdominal bands of greyish white scales rather broader than in the d . L. 18 mm. Described from 2 d d and 1 9 in good condition obtained at Quetta in April and May. CallistoDM may be recognised from other Anthracince by the long proboscis, narrow abdomen, and radial vein diverging from the praefurca well before the discal cross-vein. The 1st posterior cell is closed and long stalked. The present species is much larger than any previously described in this genus, none of which exceed about 12mm. in length. The 4th posterior cell is twice as wide at base as at apex, whereas in C. fascipennis it is only 1^ times as wide. The 1st post- erior cell is closed nearer to the wing margin in my two ^ ^ than in the 9 > but this may be only an individual variation. The larva of the European species (C. /ascipew?u’s) is reported (Tr. Ent. Soc., 1881, XIV) to be parasitic on the egg cases of locusts. The genus appears to be confined to Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Mariobezzia griseohirta, n. sp. d Head ; eyes separated at vertex by about f the breadth of head, frons and face gradually widening towards mouth edge ; vertex narrowly black, the colour extending over the occiput ; frons and face whitish, the raised portion between the base of antennae and mouth edge reddish brown, with a darker line down the middle ; antennae black, 3rd joint three or four times as long as the first two together, style very short ; the facets on the lower third of the eyes are much smaller than those on the upper two-thirds ; the cheeks from the lower portion of eyes to the mouth edge, and the proboscis dark brown ; face, frons, and occi- put covered with greyish pubescence. Thorax and scutellum entirely black, with rather long grey pubescence. Ab- domen black, the apical margins of segment 1 — -3 with narrow white transverse bands, 4th segment at apex narrowly testaceous ; venter black, with apical mar- gins of first foTir segments more or less pale ; the whole abdomen covered with grey pubescence. Legs ; coxae and femora, except the extreme apex of the latter, black with grey pubescence ; tibiae pale at base, darkening towards apex ; tarsi dark brown. Wings hyaline, with a suffused patch or band from anterior margin towards discal cell, blackish on margin, becoming gradually less dark, and hardly notice able beyond discal cell ; nervures pale, tegulae dark, halteres creamy white. L. 6 mm. Described from one specimen obtained at Quetta in May. This species is much darker and more pubescent than either lichlwasdti. Beck or zarudnyi Beck, both of which are bare, and have the thorax mainly yellow. As regards neuration and the shape of the face it exactly agrees with Becker’s description of the genus in Genera .Bombyliidarum, p. 470. Heterotropus itidicus, n. sp. ^Head ; pale green, eyes touching for a space rather shorter than the vertical triangle, which is distinctly raised, and on which there are a few pale hairs ; antennae with the first joint pale green, the 2nd similar but rather darker above, 3rd joint pale yellow, the latter, excluding style,nearly twice as long as the other, two taken together ; style pale red, about as long as 3rd antennal joint ; proboscis and palpi yellow, the former dark brown at apex ; eyes with the lower third divided from the upper portion by a fine line, the facets on the lower part very fine ; above this line the facets are much larger about the middle of the eyes, decreasing in size on the upper third ; occiput with fine soft pubescence. 9 888 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol XXVIII. Thorax and scutellum pale green, with short pale pubescence ; dorsum with three brown longitudinal lines, the middle one shorter than the outer ones, none of them reaching the scutellum ; (these lines are often almost or quite obsolete, but usually traces of them may be observed). Abdomen eoncolorous with thorax, with similar pubescence, and a double series of small black longitudinal spots on segments 3—7 inclusive, but these are sometimes obsolete, or the whole abdomen may be more or less darkened. Legs j)ale green, with short soft pubescence ; fore coxae very long, more than half as Jong as femora ; motatarsi, except apex, pale, remaining tarsal joints blackish brown. Wings clear hyaline, all nervures pale, halteres light yellowish green. $ Similar to the ^ , but abdomen without dark markings, and those on the thorax very faint or obsolete ; the distanee between the eyes at vertex is about g the total w'idth of head ; the frons and face widen slightly towards the mouth edge ; the facets of the eyes are of equal size throughout. L. 6-8 mm. Described from 9 specimens from Deesa, most of which were obtained at flowers of Calotropis gigantea. Only two species of this genus have hitherto been described, viz., H. albidipen- ms Lw. and H. glancus Beck. The present species differs from both the above in its larger size and much lighter colour. Heterotropus pallens, n. sp. (5 Superficially very like H. indicus described above, but differs structurally as follows : eyes touching for only a very short space ; upper mouth edge consider- ably produced ; 3rd antennal joint longer, but terminal style shorter; first joint of antennae and apical third of 2nd joint pale, remainder of antennae reddish brown, style about i the length of 3rd joint ; the lower third of the eyes is divided from the upper portion by a fine line as in the preceding species, but the facets are of approximately equal size on the upper two-thirds. Thorax with some indications of two darker longitudinal lines, abdomen with longer pubescence and no black markings, though segments 1 — 3 at base appear somewhat darker underneath the pubescence ; tarsi much lighter, the first four joints at ajiex narrowl5% and the w^hole of the 5th joint reddish brown. $ Similar to the ^ , but the production of the upper mouth edge is much more noticeable, bemg almost rostrate ; view’ed in profile it equals about § the short diameter of the eye. The eye facets are more or less of equal size throughout. L. 6-8 mm. Described from 1 d and 2 9 $ obtained at Quetta in May. Eiirycarenus ? laticeps, Loew. This species w^as originally described from S. Africa, and appears to be widely distributed in E. and S. E. Africa. Bezzi records it from Nigeria and Kordafan, and there are specimens is the B. M. from Natal, Ehodesia, and Nyasaland. I can detect no difference betw'een my Indian specimens, obtained at Jubbul- ])ore, and those from E. Africa, but my only d is not in good condition, and I am inclined to think that the males of this genus differ more than the females. Bezzi wrote in Tr. Ent. Soc., 1911, p. 613, that only one species of this genus was known, as he considered that E. pachyceratus Big. may belong to another genus. I have, however, recently seen in the B. M. specimens from Africa, to which he has given new names, and which will presumably be described by him in due course. Colonel Yerbury informs me that a species of Eurycarenvs, which he believes to be undescribed, occurs at Aden, and it is quite possible that the Lidian pecimens may prove to belong to a distinct species when males in good condi- ion are available for exammation. 889 DRAGONFLY COLLECTING IN INT)IA. BY Major F. C. Fraser, I.M.S., F.E.S. {With 3 text figures.) I. The Pros and Cons of Dragonfly Collecting. Col. Evans in his able and helpful papers on eollecting and identifying Indian butterflies has much simplified my task of \vriting a similar paper on Indian dragonflies. Much of what he has said with regard to the distribution and evolution of butterflies is also applicable to the Odonata or dragonflies and it would be mere plagiarism were I to repeat it. I shall therefore confine my remarks to these two aspects in only so far as they differ from butterflies. Dragonflies are so familiar an item of the Indian land or waterscape that there is little fear of mixing them up with any other insect, nevertheless I am continually receiving specimens of ant-lions from amateur collectors, sent to me under the belief that they are really dragonflies. Ant-lions can be readily distinguished by their long antennse (or “ feelers ” as they are popularly called) which may or may not be clubbed. In dragonflies the antennse are very tiny objects and can be seen with difficulty. There are practically no other insects with which they may be confused even by amateurs. I shall go further into the structure of a dragonfly when discussing the question of classification. These insects are not nearly so popular with collectors as are butterflies or beetles and if one seeks to find the reason for this, they will be found to be any of the five detailed below. If I can dispel these seeming drawbacks I feel sure that many a collector, who has up to the present been confining his attentions to one of the more popular groups, will bestow a little time to the study of a much more interesting order of insects and thus find an added zest to life in the tropics. ( i ) There is a mistaken belief that the species are few in number and that a collection would soon be so complete as to lose interest. Amateurs examining my collection nearly always express their astonishment at the great number and variety of dragonflies found within Indian limits, which now number close on four hundred species. ( ii ) The brittleness and fragility of the insects which render them difficult to keep satisfactorily, especially by those who are accustomed to lengthy and frequent transfers. Kept and stored as detailed below, dragonflies will stand far more knocking about than a collection of butterflies. I frequently receive store boxes full of specimens and not a smgle one has been damaged or shaken loose, a striking testimony when one considers the merciless treatment meted out by the Indian Parcel Post. Dr. Ris tells me that he has sent large parts of his collection from Switzerland to America and back again without a single specimen being damaged. ( iii ) The rapidity with which the beautiful colours fade after death, thus rendering the insects comparatively unattractive objects in a collection. Prepared as detailed below the colours may be retained after death almost as vivid as they were in life. Colouration however is not the only attraction of a dragonfly, the real beauty and interest lies in its mngs, the study of the venation of which is one of the most fascinating branches in the study of evolution of species. If as it has been truly said, the story of evolution is written on the wings of a butterfly, then it is doubly so on those of the dragonfly. ( iv ) The large amount of room they take up when set out in store boxes, which is, it must be admitted, a serious objection. Especially is this so to the civil servant or military officer who is accustomed to frequent transfer from place to place. Store boxes multiply and take up a lot of room, which adds considerably to one’s kit. 890 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV 111- Personally I have given up setting out my specimens, as dragonflies lend themselves peculiarly to a paper collection. In store boxes it is best to set out three specimens of each insect, two males and a female. The former are placed side by side facing forwards, the latter between them facing in the opposite dkection — the three thus forming a compact group. I have also tried removing the wings of one side which de- tracts but little from the value of the insects and almost doubles the accommo- dation of a store box. The wings removed are kept in an album secured by a spot of cement at the base and thus form a very interesting eoUection illustrating the evolution of a dragonfly’s wing. A paper collection however will be found the most satisfactory for the worker in this comitry, not only on accoimt of its compactness but its readiness to access and reference. Dr. Ris, the greatest living authority on dragonflies, tells me that he has long ago given up setting out his specimens and now keeps them entirely in paper. Two cabinets of ten drawers each will accommodate about one thousand specimens and will take up only about two cubic feet each. The dragonflies with the wings folded flat are put into paper packets of the “ cocked-hat ” type described by Col. Evans in his paper on Indian Butterflies. I use clean foolscap for this purpose and as dragonflies vary enormously in size, make my packets after each shikar to suit the size of individual specimens. Each paper packet is now put into an envelope on the front of which is written (typing looks neater) the name, sex, place, altitude, date of capture and name of collector and lastly any brief notes that may be of interest. Envelopes of 5 X 3 inches are the most suitable to use. The drawers of the cabmets are made of a size to accommodate these and each should be long enough to hold about fifty envelopes. The drawers have labels on the front indicating the families to which the species belong. The cabinets should have a pair of folding doors in front to lock and enclose all the drawers. This will keep out damp and facilitate packing when moving about country. The dragonflies are arranged firstly accordmg to families and the families in alphabetical order so that a very eomplete index system is obtained enabling one to pick out any particular specimen at a glance. In addition I also keep a card index, corresponding to the arrangement of the eollection, which enables me to make any notes and thus keep a complete history of the collection. Dragonflies keep well and look extremely neat in a collection of this sort and as the majority have clear wings, nothing is hidden or lost to view by folding the latter. To examine the venation all that is necessary is to run a small slip of notepaper between the two pairs of wings and the vems will stand out clearly on the white background. In the case of species which have the wings coloured or opaque, one pair of the ■wings may be removed so that both sides of the remain- ing pair are brought into view. I find that a small printing outfit, to be purchased for a few rupees, saves a lot of time in labelhng the paper packets. After a day’s shikar which has been conducted m one locality, it is only necessary to prepare one stamp and impress the packets rapidly. If a large variety of species has been taken, it will be found quicker to write in the name of the species in lieu of assembling the type for each, but all other data such as the locality, date, etc., can be stamped on. (v) The last and perhaps the most serious drawback must now be dealt with. This is the scarcity of literature on the subject and the want of names to give our species, as well as the difficulty of identifying them. The absence of litera- ture forces the collector to fall back upon one of two expedients, either he must send his captures to an expert for identification or he must compare them witli those of a named collection. There are several of the latter in India and the most complete are those of the Indian Museum and Pusa collection. Smaller collections are to be found in the Forest Research College at Dehra Dun and in the Bombay Natural History Society’s Museum. My o^vn collection, which is nearly complete, is always at the service of collectors who may care to use it. DRAGONFLY COLLEOTING IN INDIA. 891 and I am always pleased to identify and return specimens sent to me for that pm'pose through the medium of the Bombay Natural History Society. Literature on the subject is extremely scattered, many of the most important works now being out of print. Descriptions of Indian species have to bo sifted out of a great mass of literature, mostly papers in Journals or Works on the world’s dragonflies written in a foreign language and many of these difficult or impossible to obtain. Descriptions of Indian species will be found in the following works Rambur, Ins. Nevrop., published in 1842. Baron Edmond de Selys’ ISIonographs on the Gomphines and Calopterygines, published in 1857 and 1854 respectively. By the same author, the S3mopses on the Calopterygines, Gom pliines, Aesch- nines and Agrionines, published from 1850 to 1876. Dr. Ris’ monumental work on the Libellulince, Cat. Coll, de Selys, IX- XVI, and his addenda, published from 1909-1916. Martin’s companion work on the Aeschnines and Cordulines, Cat. Coll, de Selys, published in 1909. Dr. Laidlaw’s notes on Indian Dragonflies, published in the Records, Lidian Museum, continuously from 1914 to 1921. Williamson’s Dragonflies of Burma and Siam, Gomphines and Calopterygines, published in the Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1904. “ Indian Dragonflies,” a series of articles which have been appearmg in this Journal since 1918. Lastly there are a number of individual descriptions which have appeared in numerous journals at Home and abroad by distinguished entomologists like Kirby, MacLachlan, Karsch, Calvert, Brauer, Hagen, Charpentier and others. For purposes of identification however this literature will be superfluous if the amatem’ will only take the trouble to master a few necessary terms, the employment of which is essential in describing dragonflies. A knowledge of these terms will enable anyone to work out for himself the identifleation of any spe- cies by employing the key given at the end of this paper. Having dealt with the seeming drawbacks of dragonfly collecting, let me now say something in compensation of the pursuit. (i) Dragonflies can be handled with impunity without fear of rubbing off their beautiful plumage, there are no coloured scales for careless handling to remove, and a cyanide bottle can be filled to the brim and emptied out at the end of the day without revealing a mass of mangled and spoilt specimens. (ii) They are far swifter and more cunning and wary on the wing than butter- flies and to those who possess the instincts of the shikari or fisherman will afford abundant sport. In 1917 when on War leave in Coonoor I used to run *clo-wn daily to Kallar at the foot of the Nilgiris. It was here that I one day spotted a dragonfly (Onychothemis tonkinensis ) which had not hitherto been taken within Indian limits. I failed to take it on the first day but saw it near the same sjiot on the following and again failed to secure it. On the third day I once more put it up and after wading about up to my hips in the Kallar river for the best part of two hours finally succeeded in taking it. Approaching it from behmd, it would wait until I was about five yards off and would then move up stream for some thirty yards. When I was almost within striking distance agam, it would take a chakar round me and move off do-wn stream again tc its original resting place. Struggling deep in the water, barking my shins on submerged rocks or tripping over them, hot and perspiring, I at length secui’ed my specimen by stooping under the overhangmg Ian tana bordering the stream and working my way steadily towards the insect until I was directly under it. Experience has taught me that dragonflies can sec very little below them and I took this particular one with a swift upward stroke. I probably spent four hours on the successive days stalking this specimen which is the only one that has been seen or taken within Indian limits. What finer and more exciting sport could one desire than this ? And you have something unique to show for it at the end 892 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. of the day! I can still remember the thrill I experienced when I finally bagged my prey. I have had many such thrills before and since. (iii) Besides the sport of collecting and the collection itself there are other interests underlying the study of dragonflies. These insects on account of their naked and strongly veined wings have lent themselves peculiarly to the for- mation of geological specimens. Thus a very large percentage of insect fossils are those of dragonflies and we are enabled with the mass of material avail- able, to trace their evolution in an almost imbroken chain of descent down to modem times. The venation is so diverse in spite of the basic scheme which runs through all, that even in modem species we can trace a chain of descent beginning from those resembling fossil species and ending in a very highly or- ganised and structmally perfect wing. Some present day dragonflies are so much akin to fossil species that they must be regarded as survivals from the past and here in India we find several of these. Any one who has the time and oppor- tmiity to visit the British Musemn should pay a visit to the lower insect galleries where I am sure ]\Ir. Herbert Campion Avill only be too pleased to show him the beautiful collection of fossil dragonflies. Here one will see the wings delineated on the slates of Solenhofen with the most wondrous exactitude. (iv) Dragonflies are amphibious insects spending the greater part of their life in a watery element. The larvae are chitinous or homy insects and, unlike those of butterflies or moths, can be preserved in the dry state without any difificulty. It is true that they are not objects of beauty but what they lack in this respect they more than compensate for by their interesting and curious formation. They have no resting stage correspondmg to the pupal or chrysalid state of the Lepidoptera but change direct from the larva to the winged insect. When a larva prepares to change into the aerial form, it climbs out of the water and ascends some reed or rock bordering the pond, tank or river in which it has been living, and it is in such places that the empty shells or “ exuvia” as they are called must be sought for. The exuvia make very interesting objects in a col- lection and can be mounted alongside the corresponding dragonflies. If one of the exuAria or larvae be examined they will be found to possess short wing cases and if these be further examined, it will be seen that they bear an exact repHqua in minatiu'e of the destined venation of the dragonfly that has or will eventually emerge from it. Thus it is often possible to tell by an exa- mination of the wing cases to what species the larva or exuvia belongs, even if we have not seen the actual dragonfly emerge. In June 1918 Dr. S. Kemp of the Zoological Smvey of India whilst hunting for exuvia and larvae near Ghum in the Himalayas Ashed up a specimen which looked very much like a Gomphme larvae. This has since been determined by Drs. Laidlaw and Tillyard as the larva of a new Epiophlebia, the venation of its wing cases corresponding to that genus. There is only one species at present" knoAvn of this very interesting genus, which forms a connecting link between the two big suborders into which dragonflies are divided. This species, which is the only representative of its suborder knOAvm to exist in the world, is found in Japan, so that the discover\- of a larva pointing to the existence of a second species is of absorbing interest. The Avinged insect belonging to Dr. Kemp’s larva is so far imknoAAoi — what a prize aAvaits the collector in that district ? In the Nilgiris last year I came across a new Anaciaeschna, a fine lai’ge spe- cies marked in dark brown and bright apple green. All the specimens Avere females and so far not a single adult male has been seen. The larvae hoAvever were easy and plentiful to obtain and from these I have succeeded in r.earing males. Thus it is possible for any collector to obtain larvae and possibly rear up imknoAvn or rare species. Dragonflies present many cmious and puzzling prob- lems like those mentioned above, the larvae of some of our commonest species being unknoAATi whilst the larvae of some of the rarest may be quite common. ^v) The Lepidoptera of India have been worked almost drjq the study of her dragonflies remains in its infancy, much remains to be .solved of their life- histories, many new species remain to be discovered so that there is ahvays the DRAGONFLY COLLECTING IN INDIA. 893 pleasant anticipation of coming across “ something new.” A new butterfly is a rare event now-a-days but new species of dragonflies are constantly being discovered. Since I have been in the Nilgiris, a space of only one year, I have found no less than ten new species and have received a larger number than this from various parts of India and Burma. (vi) The distribution of species is another interesting point on which ama- teur collectors can help to give information. Less than six years ago, Hemi- cordulia asiatica was only known from a couple of male specimens taken in Assam. Since then Mr. Bambrigge Fletcher, the Imperial Entomologist, has redis- covered it in Assam and last year foimd it fairly common at Kodaikanal in the Palni Hills. Since then I have found it quite common in the Nilgiris, a species which was thought to be conflned to the far North. Hemicordulia is an Australian genus so that it is evident that it has spread from the south to the north and I have no doubt but that we shall shortly hear of it from Cevlon and possibly Java. II. — How and Where to Collect Dragonflies. A few words first about the equipment the dragonfly collector needs. I usually carry a small haversack fitted with three small and one large pockets. In the small pockets are a couple of cyanide killing bottles to be obtained from any chemist and an empty large mouthed bottle fitted with a cork for carrying larvae in. In the large pocket is a small folding net of muslin and another with a strong iron rim, the material formmg the net being strong, rather open, dun- garee. This latter is used for dredging for larvae. A few small tins (Colgate’s shaving stick tins are very useful) are also carried in the large pocket for holding the surplus of our captures and any exuvia that may be happened upon. For all round work I use a large net of somewhat different type to that des- cribed by Col. Evans in his paper on collecthig butterflies. I find the weak part of his net is where the cane fits into the arms of the Y-piece. The constant swa5dng backwards and forwards of the net when in play, .soon causes the cane to splitj and break at this point. To remedy this defect I had a Y-piece made with the stem prolonged beyond the arms of the Y as shown in the diagram (Fig. 1). The stick rims right through the Y and is carried across the centre of the net to fit into a T-piece at the top. The cane is fitted into the arms of the Y and runs clean through the arms of the T-piece. Such a net is absolutely rigid and strong enough to last for years. My present one was made by a tmsmith in the Trichinopoly bazaar fourteen years ago. The stick in the middle of the net is no draw-back as one very rarely strikes a specimen with it and even when this happens, the insect passes on into the net without any appreciable damage. The measurements are 2 „ . 1 H f®ct and the material ordinary Fig. 1. ^Net u^d for collecthig dragonflies. Mosquito netting is useless as Note the three-armed Y-piece and jg terrible stuff to rip in tho length the top T-piece. j£ bump up against lantana or other thorny bushes your hunting is over for the day. 894 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NAl URAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. An extension to the stick as described by Ck)l. Evans is useful but must not be too long or you will lose the nice balance a net should always have. Mr. Bain- brigge Fletcher always uses a small folding net which clamps on to the end of a stick. I always carry one of these as a spare and can catch most things in it. Mr. Fletcher is very expert in the use of this net which can be purchased at the Army and Navy Stores or any Entomological dealers. Dragonfly larvae must be dredged for, as they lie up in weed or burrow in the muddy bottoms of streams. Leafy debris in pools of streams is a fruitful source for some species, whilst others cling to rocks and unless seen are difficult to obtain. The mass of weed, leafy debris or mud must be spread out on a cleared spot of groimd and left for a time as most species feign death after being taken from water. As soon as they begin to dry, they are stirred into activity and can be easily detected. Exuvia must be sought for clinging to reeds, grass, sedges or water plants, whilst others invariably ascend rocks bordering the tanks and streams they in- habit. Others scale trees and I have found exuvia at a height of over six feet from the gromid. Ywmg larvae unless rare or wanted for study should be replaced in their watery home, adults being the most likely to breed out into the wmged state. Larvae must be kept in surroundmgs closely assimilating those from which they have been taken and frequent aereation is essential. Weed should be added to the breeding tanks for this purpose and water poured in from a height daily. Too many larvae must not be kept in one tank as they are terrible cannibals, and rarities are best kept apart or they may fall victims to other commoner species. When dragonflies emerge they are soft, colourless insects and take some time in drjdng. At least 48 hours are necessary for the colours to develop and for this purpose I place my specimens in a warm sunny room where they can fly about or cUng to the curtains exposed to the sunlight. When netting dragonflies full account must be taken of their habits. Many species never come to rest save at the end of the day or when the sun goes in and then vanish to the depths of jungles or ascend far out of reach to the tops of trees. These must be taken when on the wing and it is safer to strike at them from behmd. A full face shot at a swift species on the wing nearly always fails, it is best to let them pass and then follow up with a swift stroke which will usually be suc- cessful. In stalking a dragonfly, it should always be approached from behind or below ; from behmd when in flight and from below and behind when at rest. Other species take short flights with frequent rests and for such it is better to allow them to come to rest before attemptmg to capture them, when they should be approached from below and behind where possible. Other species again, like butterflies, show great inquisitiveness and the steady, slow approach of a net appears to fascinate them so that the final stroke is almost invariably suc- cessful. Small species have fi-equently to be beaten up and are taken without any difficulty. Night flyers lie up under the cover of bushes and must be beaten up. Such species when roused soon seek a fresh shelter and with care and a keen eye- sight are traced to their new lair where they may be easily taken. Females as a general rule, only come to water when they wish to lay their eggs and so are less often seen than males. The weaker sex may often be found hiding up in jungle adjacent to water supplies and are usually perched on promi- nent or bare and dead twigs. Every large body of water will be fomid to possess its omi fauna, determined by the factor as to whether the larvae live in still or running waters. Some species of dragonfly are often foimd flying in local swarms far from water, e.g., Pantala flavescens, which I have never once seen over water although probably the commonest dragonfly in India. Modem species usually frequent open or cultivated areas, whilst archaic ones keep to jungles and jimgly streams. Weedy ponds are better than weedless ones, probably because the latter give no shelter to the larvae. DRAGONFLY COLLECTING IN INDIA. 895 Some species are cryptic in colouring and take advantage of this by selecting appropriate coloured surfaces to settle on, such as slab-rock, whilst others lurk in dark, shado^vy spots amongst the rocks of mountain streams. The ends of the two monsoons are the two best times of the year for taking dragonflies' and the close seasons between these periods the best time for hunting for larvae, so that one never need be idle — eollecting can go on all the year round. At the end of the day’s shikar no time must be lost in preparmg the captured specimens for the store box or paper collection. The abdomen contains a large mass of food and that of the female a large mass of eggs as well. This soon decomposes and unless removed leads to complete loss of colour in the specimens. The larger ones must be treated as follows : — With a pair of sharp pointed scissors open the abdomen below, at a point where it joins the thorax and slit it up as far as the anal end. In the case of the male avoid cutting through the genitalia which will be found beneath the 2nd segment from the thorax, and in the case of the female, below the 8th and 9th segments from the thorax — these structiu’es should have the incision curved round them. Now with a pair of forceps, seize the gut near the thorax and draw it out com- pletely in its length. The eggs should be scraped out with the blmit point of the forceps. The procedure sounds tedious and difficult but it is simplicity itself, especially with a little practice, and occupies only a mmute or so. Small species do not lend themselves to this treatment so must be strengthened by pass- ing a bristle (hog’s bristles or stout horse-hair are the most suitable) through the thorax and running it along to the end of the abdomen. The bristle should be sharpened by cutting it obhquely with scissors and must be entered between the second pair of legs, that is at the juncture of the prothorax with the thorax [Fig. 2. — How to bristle a dragonfly. The bristle a-h is passed through the body from between the second pair of legs to the end of the abdomen. The parts at a and b are merely shown to give the direction of the bristle, that at b being cut off as soon as the bristle reaches the end of the abdomen.] as shown in the diagram (Fig 2). After this is completed the specimens can be put to dry in powdered napthalinc which I find the best preservative for colours in the smaller species. A spirit collection of the smaller species may be made by putting them up in lengths of glass tubing and sealing off the ends in a blow lamp. They keep their colours absolutely perfect in spirit. Rapid drying after cleansing is essential for the preservation of colours and after papering my specimens I drop them into an ordinary drying tin as used for drying cigars for a few days. In the dry hot weather which one gets in the plains this is badly necessary as specimens dry rapidly and often preserve their coloms absolutely intact. To keep out mould or mites I find the best plan is to remove the drawers from the cabinet periodically and paint the recesses with creosote. Each drawer is thus surrounded with an atmosphere of creosote vapom- which will sterilize moulds and kill off mites. III. Classiflcation of Dragonflies. Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata and this is again split up into two large .suborders : — the Anisoptera and Zygoptera. 10 896 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Anisoptera have the fore and hind-wings unequal, the base of the hmdwing being with rare exceptions much broader than that of the fore. The eyes, ex- cept in one family — the Gomphince, are always more or less in contact with one another. Zijgoptera have both wings of the same shape, the hind in- some species may be broader but the base is invariably narrow. The eyes are invariably separated. For further classification it is necessary to master a few terms which with very little mental effort one soon grows accustomed to. The venation of the wings forms the main basis of classification, .so must be studied in particular. 1. The Wing. The foreborder of the wing is called the “ costa,” the hind, the “ termen.” The part nearest the body, the “ base,” and the part most remote, the “ apex.” Near the apex, on the costa will be seen a small opaque, thickened part, varying in shape, sometimes long and narrow, sometimes nearly square, rarely in one of the sexes (female) absent altogether. This is called the “ pterostigma.” The 3 Fig. 3.— A. Wing of an Anisoptera. B. Wing of a Zygoptera. (Only the base is shovTi.) 1. Pterostigma, 2. Postnodal nervures, 3. Costa, 4. Node, 5. Antenodai nervures, 6. Arc, 7. Sectors of arc, 8. Trigone in the Anisopterous wing. Quadrilateral in the Zygopterous, 9. Cubital nervure (known as ac.). 10. Median or arcular space, 11. Cubital space, 12. Anal triangle, 13. Loop, 14. Tomus or Anal angle, 15. Base of wing, 16. Termen or posterior border of wing, 17. Apea: of wing, 18. Radius, 19 Mi, 20. MU, 21. Rs or Radial sector, 22. Rspl. or Radial supplement, 23. Miii, 24. Miv, 25. Mspl or supplement to Miv, 26. Cui, 27. Cuii, 28. Bridge, 29. Membrane. 30 Anal bridge (known as ab.) nervures are best learnt from a study of the text figure (Fig. 3) but the .spaces at the base of the wing must be noted. A well marked triangle will in particular be noted in the Anisoptera which is known as the “ trigone.” The space immediately above the trigone is called the “ hypertrigone,” whilst the space below and behind it is the “ subtrigone.” The upper border of the DRAGONFLY COLLECTING IN INDIA. 897 trigone and one other nervure spring from a small, oblique nervurc called the “ arc ” and the space basal to this is called the “ arcular space,” whilst the space immediately below this latter is the “ cubital space.” About the middle of the costa will be seen a kind of rigid jomt which is called t he “ node ” and the small vertical nervures internal to this are called the “ antenodal nervures,” whilst those external to it are the “ postnodal nervures.” The antenodal nervures are split up into two sets by a nervure which runs trans- versely through them and it is to be noted that in some species the two sets cor- respond whilst in others they do not, that is, they are independent of one another, Li the Zygoptera the place of the trigone is taken by an oblique or squarish space called the “ quadrilateral ” and the adjacent structures are modified as will be seen in the figures. 2. The Head. The head consists largely of two large compound eyes, the “ occiput,” lying between and behind them, and the up of -lower Fig. 4. — A. Head of an Anisoptera full face. B. Ditto {OompMne.) C. Head of a Zygoptera. 1. Labrum (or upper lip), 2. Labium (or lower lip), 3. Eye, 4. Frons, 5. Vesicle, 6. Ocelli (or accessory eyes), 7. Occiput, 8. Nasus or epistome, 9. Aniennoe. “ face.” The latter is made the lips (labium and labrum and upper lips), the “ nasus ” or “epistome” which corresponds to the position of the nose and lastly the upper part of the face or fore- head which is kno\vn as the “ frons ” (Fig. 4). 3. The Thorax. This is made up of a small part immediately behind the head, the “ prothorax,” which bears the first pair of legs and a large bulky part carrying the second and third pairs of legs and the two pairs of wings, the “ synthorax.” The posterior part of the upper surface of the prothorax is of impor- tance in some species for purposes of classification, and is knovm as the “ posterior lobe.” The front and upper surface of the thorax is its “ dorsal ” surface, whilst the part to one side of this, correspondmg to our shoulders, is called the “ humeral region.” The sides posterior to this region will be seen to hare two false joints, the “ sutures.” The legs consist of the same parts as in the butterfly, viz., the “ coxa,” “ trochanter,” “ femur,” “ tibia ” and “ tarsus ” or “ claws.” The femur, tibia and the shape of the claws are the only parts used in classification. 4. The Abdomen. This is the long, narrow x^art im- mediately following the thorax and is made up of ten segments. The abdomen may be moderately short and stout, or long, or excessively 898 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol.XXVIll. long and narrow. At the extreme end, jutting out from the tenth segment, will be seen two pairs of appendages (“ anal appendages ”) in the male, and one pair in the female, which vary enormously in shape in different species. These appendages are used by the male for seizing the female prior to copulation. This it does by encirclmg the female at the junction of the prothorax with the thorax, that is just behind the posterior lobe of the prothorax. Beneath the second abdominal segment of the male will be found the genital organs, whilst in the female these will be found under the 8th and 9th segments. The female organ consists of a more or less well-developed ovipositor, small in some species, enormously developed in others. On the sides of the 2nd segment in some species, will be seen two curious, ear-like processes which are known as the “ auricles.” 5. The Larva. In the adult insect it will be noticed that the head is remarkably mobile, but in the larva, the head, prothorax and thorax are more or less fused and immobile. The wing cases of the larvae must be noted although they are not very apparent in very young larvae. The antennae here are much larger and more evident than in the adult insect and show marked family differences in shape. Beneath the head will be seen the “ mask ” or labium or lower lip, which is a highly specialized organ used for the capture of prey. It is capable of extension by means of jomts and fitted with nippers or formidable jaws by means of which, it grips its prey as the mask unfolds and shoots out with lightening rapidity. The shape of the mask varies widely in different families and is a useful means of classification. All the larv8B of the Anisoptera breathe by means of the rectum but the Zygopterous larvae have curious, leaf -like gills at the end of the abdomen which carry out this function and are known as the “ caudal gills.” These number two or three according to sub-families and serve to distinguish the larvae of the three sub-families. The comparatively few terms explained above should serve to help the amateur to read the keys which follow but for further convenience I shall append a glossary at the end of the latter. (To be conUnued.) 899 INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. BY Major F, C. Fraser, I.M.S., F.E.S. {With 3 Text-figures.) {Continued firom page 620 ofi this Volume.) Part XIV. Family— AESCHNIDA: (Cont.). Since the Ms. of Part XII went to the press, Mr. C. F. Beeson of the Forest Research Institute, Dehi-a Dun, has sent me several new species belonging to the family Aeschnidce and as these have not yet been described, I take this op- portunity of including them in our list. Gynacanthaeschna viridifrons, sp. nov. I ^ Gahan, Bashahs Div., Burma, 26, IX, 21, coU. C. F. C. Beeson. Type deposited in the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. (The specimen is somewhat crushed or flattened out by pressure in the paper packet, so that the shape of the head is doubtful.) Abdomen 41 mm. Hind^ving 40 mm. Anal appendages 4 mm. Head. Labium bright citron yellow, labnim greenish yellow, narrowly bordered with black ; epistome similarly coloured ; frons above bright greenish yellow changing to olivaceous brown in front ; eyes dark brown ; oeciput greenish. Thorax dark brown marked on the dorsiun with a bright yellow, antehumeral stripe, square at both ends, a small spot of the same colour just above the upper end of the stripe and also the antealar sinus. Laterally the whole of the mete- pimeron grass green as is also a broad, posthumeral stripe. Legs dark reddish brown, the distal ends of femora and tarsi black. Hind femora mth a row of extremely closely-set spines and two large ones at the distal end. Wings hyaline, stigma black, small, exactly similar to that of G. sikkima, the lu-19 1 19-15 brace meeting it distal to its proximal eiid ; nodal index : — 17-15 1 14r-16 3-4 cells in trigone of forewmg, 4 in that of hind ; 3-4 median nervures in forewmg, 5 m the hind ; 6-7 cubital nervures in forewing, 5-6 in the hind ; 5-6 cells in the loop ; Rs forked a long way before the stigma ; membrane white ; hypertrigones traversed 3 times in forewflng, 3-4 times in the hmd ; anal triangle wdth 4-6 cells. Abdomen reddish black to blackish brown marked with grass green as follows : the sides of segment 1 and 2 and the middorsum of the latter narrowly, segments 3 to 7 have the middorsal carina and a fine, apical, dorsal annule, segments 8, 9 and 10 have the dorsal carina finely yellow and 8 and 9 have also a lateral comma-shaped spot at the basal end. Segment 10 strongly keeled. Anal appendages. Superior nearly as long as the last two segments, curved, broad at the base, narrowing and flattening afterwards and dilatmg gradually 900 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVllI. towards the apex which is blunt, black, Inferior triangular, two-thirds the length of superior, bright yellow, curling strongly upward. Distinguished from sikkima by the bright colour of the lips and frons also by the bhmt tipped anal superior appendages, etc. Anax goliathus, sp. nov. 1 9 Magayi, Insein, Burma, 30, XI, 21, at dusk, coll. C. F. C. Beeson. Ty[)e deposited in the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Abdomen with appendages 56 mm. Hindwing 53 mm. Head. Eyes dark olivaceous brown, probably greenish in the living state . labium and labrum bright ochreous, the latter bordered narrowly Avith dark brown ; face greenish yellow, upper surface of frons sky blue, the base narrowly black with a small, triangular projection m the middle line ; vesicle greenish ; occiput yellow, the surface wrinkled, posterior border slightly concave, simple. Thorax mriform grass green, beneath violaceous brown. Legs black, the femora dark reddish brown, hind femora with a row of small closely-set, evenly sized spines and 2 to 3 larger ones at the distal end. Abdomen very tumid at the base, cylindrical and tapering thereafter, 7, 8 and 9 somewhat dilated. Segments 1 and 2 grass green except at the apical half of the dorsum of the 2nd which is blue, 3rd segment with a small patch of blue at the sides, basad, rest of abdomen dark blackish bro\vn, each segment marked w'ith 3 lateral, dark yellow spots, one basal, one apical and the third subbasal ; segment 7 has only 2 of these spots and 8 and 9 only one which is situated apical-ward. Anal appendages very short, spatulate, rounded at the tips, shaped very much like thbse of A. petalura. Dentigerous plate rounded, coated with minute, black spines, very similar to the plate of A. guttatus. Wings very broad and hyaline, the bases of the hind enfumed in the subcostal space and anal triangle ; stigma pale brown, very long and slender ; trigones of fore-^vings mth 6 cells, 4 in the hind ; nodal index 8-16 10-14 I 18-7 1 13-10 ’ membrane black, its extreme base white, very long ; 12 cells in the loop ; hypertrigones traversed 3 times in the forewing, 2 in the hind ; 5 cubital nervurcs in the forewing, 4 in the hind ; costa yellow. The species which belongs to the guttatus group is very similar to the female of .4. guttatus but is easily distinguished from all other .species by the distinctive character of its anal appendages. Genus — AMPmiESCHNA, Selys. Amphiaeschna, Selys, Trans. Ent. Soc., Lond., 1871,]). 413; Bull. Acad. Belg. (3) V., p. 737 (1883). Eyes widely contiguous ; frons rounded ; occiput small ; wings moderately broad and long, reticulation close, stigma small, membrane mediocre, trigones elongate, of 5 to 6 cells, cubital space and hypertrigones traversed several times, basal space traversed, Rs. bifurcated well before the level of stigma, 3 to 4 rows of cells between Rs. and Rspl. Abdomen long and subcylindrical, constricted at the 3rd segment in the male ; anal appendages sublanceolate, excavate on the inner border, the inferior appendage short and subtriangular. Female. Dentigerous plate denticulate, armed with (i spines. Ty])c. A. ampla, Ramb. Hob. Southern Asia. INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 901 Amphiseschna beesoni, sp. nov. 1 Magavi, Insein, Burma, 38, XI, 21. “ Taken at dusk,” coll. C. F. C, Beeson. Type deposited in the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Abdomen 46 mm. Hindwing 43 mm. Anal appendages 6 mm. Fig. 1 A. Anal appendages and B. Genitalia of Amphiceschna beesoni (male) Head globular, eyes dark biwni, very broadly contiguous; occiput very small, pale whitish green ; labium browmish yellow ; labrum, epistome and frons oliva- ceous, upper surface of latter with a subbasal, black line at its centre, not traversing its whole breadth. Face very narrow. Thorax dark olivaceous, with bright greenish yellow spots at bases of all wmgs. Xo other markings. Legs reddish brown, the knee-joints darker ; hind femora udth a row of close- ly-set, robust spines, gradually lengthening distally. Wings faintly saflfronated, the hind the more so and especially towards its basal half ; stigma pale bro^vn, rather small, that of forewing longer than that of hind; forewmg 3'5 mm., hindwmg 3'0 mm., outer border strongly bevelled, braced, the brace with a slight curve ; trigone of forewing with 5-6 cells, the hind similar ; a single nervure in the median space in all wings ; 7 cu- bital nervures in forewing, 5 in the hind ; 3 cells in anal triangle ; nodal mdex 12-221 22-12 1 ; 8 cells in the loop ; Rs. forked .some way before the stigma, 3 rows 16-151 15-16 between the forking ; 3 rows of cells between Rs. and Rspl. in forewmg, 4 hi the hind ; membrane grejnsh, almost absent ; hypertrigones with 5 nervures in forewing, 4 in the hind ; arc strongly angulated, sectors arising from its middle. ;)02 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVllI. Abdomen tumid at base, segment 3 constricted, cylindrical thereafter, the two last segments slightly dilated ; ore diets robust, with 3-4 robust teeth on the free border ; segment 1 olivaceous green as is also the basal half of 2, the apical half of latter sky blue, remaining segments pale olivaceous browm with black, apical rings. Superior anal appendages very long and highly specialized, considerably longer than the two last abdominal segments, shaped like the blade of a kukri, the edge directed inwards, tapered at base, broad at apex which ends in a sharp, outwardly curved point ; inner border with a deep indentation at its middle third and a broad, spine-like projection basal to it. The two mdentations, by apposition enclose a large fenestration. Inferior appendage less than one-third the length of superior, blunt at apex, broad at base. Dark olivaceous brown, the inferior paler at its base. The edge of the indentation of the superior is raised into a prominent rib which is studded with minute, black tubercles from each of which arises a long, brown- ish hair. This is the first record of any member of the genus Aw pTiiceschna from withm Indian limits. Genus — Gynacantha, Ramb. Gynacantha. Ramb., Ins. Nevr. (1842) ; Selys, Sagra, Hist. Cuba. Ins., p. 459 (1857) ; Hagen, Neur. N. Amer., p. 31 (1861) ; Kirby, Cat. Odon., p. 94 (1890); Martin, Cat. CoU. Selys. fas. XIX, XX, p. 167 (1909). Aoanthagyna, Kirby, Cat. Odon., p. 94 (1890). Selysyophlebia, Forster, Insekten-Bomeo (1904). Auslrogynacantha, Tillyard, Proc. Lin. Soc., N.S.W.V., 33 (1908). Head large and globular, eyes broadly contiguous, face deep and narrow, occiput very small ; wings long and broad, reticulation very close, trigones elon- gate, median space entire, submedian and hypertrigones traver.sed, Rs. bifurcat- ed,Rspf. widely separated from it so as to enclose 4-7 rows of cells between them, stigma usually rather long, membrane short, narrow or obsolete. Abdomen long and slender, the 3rd segment usually but not always constricted. Legs moderately short, the hind femora usually with a row of gradually lengthening, closely-set spines. Anal appendages very long and very narrow, sublanceolate, the inferior trian- gular, shorter than the superior. Dentigerous plate of female formed by a prolongation of the sides of the 10th segment, on the end of which are two, robust, long spines, separating like the prongs of a hay-fork. This genus comprises a large group of dull coloured dragonflies, all crepuscular in habits. Their \vings are so thickly studded beneath -with small spines as to give them a particular velvety feel analagous to a similar condition foutid in the genera Zyxomma and Thohjmis both of which are also crepu.scular in habits. The dull colours are in keeping with their nocturnal habits. Most are- insects of large size and none can be said to be small. The female deposits its eggs in dry or damp earth in the dried up beds of watercourses. From these sites the ova are washed down by the first freshet and quickly hatch out. The dentigerous plate is peculiarly fitted for this work, serving to steady the end of the abdomen whilst the ovipositor is driven into the earth Ijctween the prongs of the dentigerous fork. In this act the long anal appendages apparently get in the way and are soon fractured off. It is rare to find an old female with en- tire anal appendages. INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 903 All are iiortlioni species excejit one or two from Ceylon and O. millardi which extends widely throughout Southern India. Fig. 2. Wings of Gijnacantha klmsiaca, Maclach. (male). Gynacantha millardi, Fjas, Bombay Nat. Hist. Journ., Vol. XXVII, No. 1, p. 147 (1920); Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. XXII, p. 91 (1921). ^lale. Abdomen 46 mm. Hindwing 44 mm. Head. Eyes deep blue in some specimens, olivaceous green in others, vei’y broadly contiguous; in hill specimens the eyes may be a pale dove grey, pale yel- low behind and pale greenish yellow below. Face very deep and very narrow, pale olivaceous grey or putty coloured ; labium pale yellow as is also the occiput, in specimens from Poona the face, labrum and frons are pale green, the latter being unmarked. Prothorax and thorax bright foliage green, unmarked but the female some- times has the dorsum brownish. Legs brown, or yellowish, the femora with minute spines. Abdomen pale fawi or darker brown, the sides of the first three segments bright foliage green. Oreillets green or brown. The 2nd segment has a mid- dorsal, transverse streak of yellowish broken at the middle. The 3rd segment is hardly constricted, thus differing from the majority of the genus. Wings hyaline, long and broad ; stigma pale brown ; hypertrigones traversed 3 times; trigones with 6 cells in the forewing, 5 in the hind, 9 to 10 cells in the loop ; membrane absent ; 7 cubital nervures in the forewing, 6 in the hind ; nodal index 16-22 20-L5 14-16 1.5-17 Superior anal appendages long and slim, longer than the two last abdominal segments, fringed inwardly with long black hairs, the inner border distinctly sinuous, the outer straight. Inferior appendage not half the length of the superior, turning up, narrowly triangular. Female almost exactly similar to the male, the abdomen paler, the iuterseg- mental joints and jugal joints outlined in black. li 904 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY f^VoL X.\ VIII. Dentigerous plate shaped like a hay fork, the two prongs in extension of the produced sides of the 10th segment. Anal appendages shorter than those of the male and broadening towards the apex internally, reddish brown, the hairs on the inner side not so evident. Hah. The type and many other specimens were taken in the Empress Gardens, Poona, hiding up under the drooping branches of mango trees or cling- ing to the inside of green hedges. They took to the wing about dusk and con- tmued flying to long after dark. 1 have since received specimens from Mr. Hearsey, from Palghat, which do not differ in any way from the Poona examples. StiU more recently I have taken the insect and seen it widely scattered through- out the Nilgiris at elevations of over 7,000 ft. At this altitude, being cooler, it appears on the wing at about half past two or three and continues on the wing until about six when it apparently grows too cold for it. I have seen them hovermg at about a foot from the ground, in front of deodar hedges around the Ooty lake or describing figures of eight at a few inches from the ground, when they were well nigh invisible. Tropical, crepuscular dragonflies apparently become diurnal in colder climates. Gynacantha khasiaca, Maclachlan, Ajin. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), p. 429 (1895) ; Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. VIII, p. 340 (1914) ; Martin, Cat. Coll. Selys, pp. 202-203 (fig. 207), XIX, XX (1909). Male. Abdomen 54 mm. Hindwing 45 mm. Head. Eyes very large and broadly contiguous, green, paler below where they have a yellowish tint ; occiput yellow ; labium and lower part of labrum ochreous, the rest of face olivaceous with a slight ochreous tinting. Above Irons a black, T- shaped mark on a greenish backgroimd. Prothorax and thorax bright olivaceous green, the hind, lateral suture brown and a brownish tinting of the dorsum. Legs black, bases of femora and tibiae reddish brown. Hind femora with rows of robust, closely-set, gradually lengthening spines. Wings hyaline or in adults more or less deeply enfumed ; stigma light brown, braced, rather large ; 5-6 cells in trigones of forewing, 5 in the hind; nodal 18-27 I 25-17 index ; hvpertrigones traversed 7-8 times in the forewing, 5-6 in 20-19 I 18-19 the hind ; loop with 8 cells but its limits very obscure ; 7 cubital nervures in the forewing, 6 in the hind ; membrane very small, white. Abdomen very long and slim, tumid at the base, markedly constricted at the base of the 3rd segment, cylmdrical and of even width thereafter. Blackish brown, segment 1 pale on the dorsum, a broad, green spot on the sides, 2 with the dorsal carina narrowly green and a transverse stripe about its middle of the same colour vdiich does not quite meet the green on the carina, apically there is another green patch, whilst the oreillets and the sides are turquoise blue, except for a small spot of green beneath the oreillet, segment 3 has the basal and lateral part turquoise blue, whilst segments 3 to 6 have medial, transverse, green- ish marks and yellowish, apical markings on the dorsum. Anal appendages black, very long and slim, the inferior being about three- fourths the length of the superior. The latter are a little expanded at the apex where they end in a fine, long inwardly curved point. Female very similar to the male, the appendages shorter. This species is easily distinguished from all others by the relatively great length of the inferior anal appendage, about-three fourths that of the superior (in no others does it reach more than half the length of the superior)' The type is from the Khasia Hills, but it has also been reported from the Abor Country and I have a specimen from Lower Burma. The above description is taken from this INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 905 s|)«!cimen and differs in a few respects from the type but I have no doubt but that it l)clongs to khasiaca. I 1:' III IV Fig. 3. Anal appendages of : — 1. G. khasiaca. 2. G. furcata. 3. G. bayadera. 4. G .o’dondi. Gynacantha bainbriggei, Fras, Memoirs of Pusa. Vol. VTI, Nos. 7 and 8, ■June 1922. Male. Abdomen 50 mm. Hindwing 47 mm. Head. Eyes bluish grey, frons pale brown with an ill-defined, black, T-shaped mark above ; lips and face pale brownish yellow, unmarked ; occiput yellowish ; a fringe of long hairs along the ophthalmic suture. Prothorax black on the dorsum, brown on the sides. Thorax pale brown with diffuse, mid-dorsal and humeral blackish fasciae, each traversed by a dark line. No markings on the sides. Legs black, the femora brown at the base, sometimes entirely pale brown. Wings hyaline ; stigma pale brown, 3' 5 mm. in length ; hypertrigones traversed 6-8 times; trigones variable, traversed by 3-5 nervures ; loop with 11-13 cells; 21-26 I 25-22 nodal index 21-21 I 20-21 Abdomen pale broum marked with shades of grey and black and a pair of sky blue spots on the 2nd to 7th segments. On the 3rd segment are a pair of similarly 906 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCLETY, Vol. XXVJll. coloured spots at the base. The apical spots are edged apically and outwardly with black, this colour being continued forward subdorsally and tapering away until finally lost in the ground colour. The last 3 segments black, unmarked. Oreillets large, sky blue above, dark beneath, the posterior border minutely toothed. Anal appendages very long and very narrow, 7 mm. in length, fringed in- wardly with long hairs, inner border slightly sinuous ; inferior triangular, narrow, less than half the length of the superior. Female. Abdomen 53 mm. Hindwing 50 mm. Almost exactly similar to the male. The w'ings rather deejily enfumed, usually a dirty browi especially at the apices. Liibrum, labium and face distinctly ochreous. Thorax greenish. Legs a light brown, the hind femora with a row of closely set, gradually lengthening spines. Dentigerous plate as for genus. Anal appendages long and narrow, but in all specimens which I have seen they are fractured off about half way. Bainbrigge Fletcher, who discovered this species, has seen it ovipositing in dry earth, in a dried up water course. Eggs, which he secured from samples of the soil, developed into larvae in a few hours. The species was found at Gauhati and most specimens were beaten up from dry bamboo jungle durmg the day. Ovipositing was seen late in the afternoon. Gynacantha bayadera, Selys, Odonat. Birmanie, Ann. Mus. Genov., XXX, p. 400 (1891) ; Martin, Cat. Coll. Selys. XIX, XX, p. 198 (1909). Male. Abdomen 45 mm. Hindwing 41 mm. Labium, labi’um and face olivaceous ; frons yellowish, its crest black but nO’ T-shaped marking above. Occiput yellow, very small. Prothorax and thorax foliage green, unmarked. . Legs palest brown. Abdomen slightly tumid at the base, a little constricted at the 3rd segment or this scarcely noticeable, brown marked with yellow as follows : — segment 2 with an annule and two subapical lunules, 3 to 7 with basal annule, two median, linear spots and two terminal lunules ; 8 and 9 with longituduial, yellow markings on the sides. Wings broad, slightly enfumed, costa yellow ; stigma yellowish, of medium size ; membrane small, blackish ; Rs. forked just under the origin of stigma ; anal 12-22 I 18-17 triangle broad and short, with 3 cells ; nodal index — — . Base of 17-18 I 17-19 wings often saffronated. Anal appendages brown, long and narrow, the superior rather longer than the last two abdominal segments, rather sinuous ; inferior rather less than half the length of superior, narrowly triangular. Female closely similar to the male. Appendages brown, slender at the base long, foliate with slender, rounded ends. Abdomen 45-47 mm ; hindwing 40-41 mm. Reported from India and Burma (Sikkim, Bhamo). I have not seen examples of this species. Gynacantha hanumana, Fras., Memoirs of Pusa, Vol. VII, Nos. 7 and 8. p. 76, June 1922. Male. Abdomen 43 mm. Hindwing 44 mm. Anal appendages 4-5 mm. Head. Labrum, labium and face palest brown or fawn ; frons pale olivaceous marked with a thick, black T-shaped mark above ; eyes olivaceous, occiput yellow, very minute. INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 907 Prothorax blackish. Thora^ pale violaceous grey, clouded with sooty grey on the sides, the mid- dorsal qArina diffusely black. Leg^ pale brown, yellow ish, or ochreous ; hind femora with a row of very short spines with some longer ones at the distal end ; tibial spines long and numerous, claw-hooks basal, robust. Wings hyalline but distinctly enfumed ; loop wdth 12-13 cells ; stigma 3- 7 mm. in the forewdng, that of hindwing smaller, w'hitish brown wdth dark borders, braced sinuously; 8-10 cubital nervures in the forewing, 7 in the hind ; 6 cells in trigone of forewing, 5-6 in the hind ; nodal index— j ; hypertrigones ^ ® 20-19 I 19-21 ’ ' ^ ® traversed 6 times in the forewing, 5-6 in the hind. Abdomen very long and slender, the 3rd segment constricted at the ba.se, cy- lindrical thereafter to the anal end, transverse ridges on segments 2-8. Bluey grey in colour, dorsum of segments browmish black, broadly so at the apex, this colour gradually fading basally, the 3rd segment basal to the transverse ridge, jjalo greyish blue, tlve oreillets turquoise blue, narrowly margined with black, segments 3 to 7 have also a pair of apical, blue spots. Anal appendages long, narrow and pointed at the apex, blackish brown, the inferior two fifths the length of the superior, the superior fringed densely with black hairs. Type in the Pusa collection, taken by Mr. C. M. Inglis at Mangpu, 18-2-20, 5,200 ft, Darjiling Dist. Gynacantha furcata, Ramb., Ins, Nevr. p. 210 (1842) ; Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus. Vol. XXII, p. 91 (1921); Kirby, Linn. Soc. Journ. Zool. XXIV, p. 558; id. Cat. Odonata, p. 95 (1890). Male. Abdomen 53 mm. Hindwing 45 mm. Head. Labrum, labium and face greenish yellow' ; frons greenish with a black stripe across the crest but no tail converting it into a “ T ”. Thorax greenish yellow', unmarked. Legs reddish. Abdomen tumid at the base, constricted at the 3rd segment, cylindrical there- after. An oblique, subdorsal, yellow spot on most segments about the middle. Anal appendages long and slender Wings hyaline, reticulation open ; stigma broad and yellowish in colour. Martin’s male from Tonkin differs somew'hat from this meagre description. The legs are reddish wdth black articulations. The abdomen is mahogany brow'n with a greenish spot on the dorsum of the 2nd segment, and 2 median and 2 apical, yellow' spots on all segments from 2 to 7. The superior appendages are brown in the middle, black at base and apex, moderately slender at the base, enlarging towards the apex which is spatulate and pointed. The inner border sinuous. Inferior black, broadly triangular, a little more than one-third the length of the superior. The wings are enfumed at the base, the anal triangle is broad and short, the nodal index : — 18-28/24-20 in forewings. The female from Tonkin has the face olivaceous, the frons with a w'ell-marked T above, the thorax bro\vn, marked with blackish; other points as for the male. Martin is inclined to regard this species as a race of hyalina. The male in the Selysian collection has the abdomen 48 mm., hindwing 40 mm. Selys regards it with some doubt. The type male is in the Selysian ■collection, the paratypes, from Tonkin, in Martin’s collection. Kirby has reported it from Ceylon so I include it here, although w'ith some doubt. Gynacantha saltatrix, Martin, Cat. coll. Selys. Ease. XIX, XX (fig. 199), pp. 194,195 (1909) ; Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. XXII., p. 91 (1921). Male. Abdomen 42 mm. Hindwing 35 mm. 908 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIE Head. Labium, labrum, face and irons pale greenish yellow, the irons mark- ed with a thick, black T above ; occiput very small, pale yellow. Thorax broad, bro\vn above marked with obscure, green, humeral bands, the sides greenish. Legs pale yellowish brown. Abdomen tumid at the base, constricted at the 3rd segment, broadening again at the 4th and thereafter tapering to the anal end, reddish brown spotted with green. The 1st segment with a large blue spot at its base, the 2nd with a dorsal and two central green spots and two lateral, apical spots of green, 3 with an obli- que, medial line and an apical, slender line of green, 4 to 8 with the medial line and two apical spots, 9 with 2 subapical spots of yellow, 10 reddish, unmarked, bordered with black. Superior anal appendages longer than segments 9 and 10, slender, of even breadth from base to apex where they are slightly broadened and pomted, fringed internally with black hairs. Inferior about one-third the length of the superior, narrowly triangular, pale yellow with the apex black. Wings long and broad, hyaline, costa yellow ; stigma moderately long and slender, pale brown; membrane nearly obsolete, white ; Rs. forking a little before the stigma ; 5 cells in the trigones ; anal triangle with 3 cells ; nodal index : — 15-21 17-15 Closely resembles bayadera, differs as follows : — by the we 11 marked “ T ” on frons, by the tumid basal segments of abdomen, the very large oreillets, the 3rd segment of abdomen very constricted, and by the even sized superior anal ap- pendages. Differs from subMerrupta by its smaller size and by the absence of brown spots at the base of the wings. Type male in Martin’s collection. Laidlaw mentions a male from Mazbat, MangaldaiDist., Assam, collected by Mr. S. Kemp and now in the Indian Museum ( abdomen 42, anal appendages 6 mm, hindwing 39 mm.). The type is from Tonkin. Gynacantha basiguttata, Selys., Ann. Soc. Esp. XXI. p. 20 (1842); Martin, Cat. coll. Selys., XIX, XX, pp. 192-193 (1909); Kruger, Stett. Ent. Zeit. pp. 283-284, (1895) ; Ris. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. LV. pp. 246-247, fig. 13 (1911) ; Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. XXII, p. 91 (1921) ; Kirby, Cat. Odon. p. 95 (1890). Male. Abdomen 54 mm. Hindwing 45 mm. Head. Labium, labrum, face and frons brownish yellow, the latter yellow above marked with a black T ; occiput very small, brown. Thorax brownish, greenish brown or reddish brown, probably greenish during life. Legs all black. Abdomen very tumid at base, markedly constricted at the 3rd segment and then cylindrical to the end, black marked with yellow as follows : — segment 1 yellowish at the sides, 2 yellowish brown, the carina and a medial transverse line and the apical border black, 3 to 7 with a pair of medial and a pair of apical spots yellow, 8 with the median spots only. OreUlets large. Wings slightly tinted with brown, sometimes deeply enfumed and with a reddish brown mark at the base extending as far out as the 1st antenodal ner- vure ; stigma brown, very slender ; membrane very small, grey ; Rs. forking just before the stigma, with 7 rows of cells between it and Rspl ; anal triangle with 3 or rarely 4 cells ; tomus very accentuated ; nodal index 22-30, 26-23 in fore- wings. Superior anal appendages longer than segments 9 and 10, very slender at the base and for the basal three-fourths, then broadening and spatulate, fringed thickly with black hairs on the inner side at the ends. INDIAN DRAGONFLIES. 909 Liferior appendages one-fifth the length of superior, brown, black at the end, nearly linear, narrowly triangular at the base. Female similar to the male, the basal spot of wings more extensive, reaching to the 3rd antencdal nervure. Anal appendages veiy long and slender, broaden- ing foliately in the second half. Legs black (or yellow in teneral specimens). Type in the Selysian collection from the Philippmes. Reported from Burma. Gynacantha subinterrupta, Ramb, Ins. Nevr. p. 212 (1842). Acanthagyna subinterrupta, Kirby, Cat. Odon. p. 95 (1890); id, Linn. Soc., Journ. Zool., XXIV, p. 558. Gynacantha subinterrupta, Martin, Cat. coll. Selys, fasc. XIX, XX, p. 193, (1909). Male. Abdomen 58 mm. Hindwing 45 mm. Head. Labium, labruin and face olivaceous yellow ; frons yellow marked with a thick, black T above ; occiput very small, black bordered behind with yellow, slightly notched and ciliated. Thorax dark yellow or ochreous, rather darker on the dorsum, spotted with blue at the attachments of the wings. The sides yellowish. Legs reddish yellow. Abdomen very tumid at the base, markedly constricted at the 3rd segment, then cylindrical and of even width to the anal end. Oreillets large, bordered with 6 to 7 small teeth. Dark reddish brown, the bases of segments paler, each with a basal pair and an apical pair of ochreous spots, segment 1 is yellow at the base, 2 has only 2 median spots of yellow, 10 is red on the dorsum, black at its apical border. Superior anal appendages long and slender, browoi, considerably longer than the combined length of segments 9 and 10, very slender at the base, then dilated inwardly and again narrowing so that the inner border is sinuous; inferior very narrow, triangular, truncate at the apex which is turned up and slightly bifid. Wings moderately broad, reticulation close, a little reddish at the base; mem- brane very small, whitish ; stigma short, yellowish brown ; costa yellow ; some basal spots not very evident in the forewings but more marked in the hind between the subcosta and median nervures and submedian and postcosta ; Rs. forked a little before the level of stigma ; anal triangle with 3 cells ; tornus rather prominent ; nodal index 22-28, 30-22. Female similar to the male, the abdomen more tumid at the base and the 3rd segment less eonstricted. Anal appendages long, slender, foliate. Abdomen 57 mm. Hindwing 52 mm. Type in the Selysian collection is from Java. Other specimens are from Papua. Hagen reports it from Rhambodda, Ceylon. Gynacantha o’doneli, Fraser, Journ., Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. XXVIII, p. 700, 1922. Male. Abdomen 41 mm. Hindwing 39 mm. Anal appendages 4 mm. Head. Labium brownish, labrum, face and epistome yellewish green, very rugose : upper surface of frons dark olivaceous green, unmarked ; occiput bright yellow, rather small. Eyes brown but probably blue or green during life. Prothorax pale fawny, the posterior lobe fringed with a ruff of long, yellowish hair. Thorax olivaceous brown on the dorsum, greenish yellow on the sides. Legs palest brown or yellowish, the hind femora with a row of closel3^ set, evenly spaced, short but robust spines. Wings very ragged, deeply and evenl)' enfumed with brown ; stigma brown ; 13-22 18-13 nodal index : — ; trigones with 5 cells ; hypertrigones traversed 4 16-14 15-15 910 JOURNAL, BOM BAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII times ; loop with 15-16 cells ; 4-5 rows of cells between Rs and Rspl : membiane absent ; anal triangle with 3 cells. Abdomen olivaceous green and brown, marked with darker brown and black apical rings towards the end of the segments. The 1st and 2nd .segments are broadl}' green on the sides, the oreillets are large and bear 5-6 robust spines on the hinder border. Superior anal appendages long and slender, the outer border nearly straight, the inner slightly sinuous and coated with long black hairs, the apex bevelled outwards and ending in a small point. Inferior appendage triangular, nearly half the length of the superior, curled up strongly. The single male specimen of this in.sect was sent to me by Mr. H. V. O’Donel whom it is named after, from Hasimara Tea Estate, Duars, Bengal. It bears a close resemblance to G. millardi but is very much smaller. The 3rd abdominal segment is also much more constricted and the wings are deeply enfumed. In size it is equivalent to the smallest known Gynacantha saltatrix hut the relative sizes of abdomen and wings differ, being 42 to 35 mm. in saltatrix, to 41 to 39 mm. in o'donelU. It differs again by ha\dng the upper surface of frons unmarked. Gynacantha hyalina, Selys. Bull. Acad. Belg. (3) V., p. 19 (1882). Acanthagyna hyalina, Kirby, Cat. Odon., p. 95 (1890.) Gynacantha hyalina, Kruger, Stett. Ent. Zeit. p. 275 (1899) ; Laid. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. XXII, p. 90 (1921) ; Martin. Cat. coll. Selys. fasc. XIX, XX, pp. 198-199, (fig. 203) (1909). Male. Abdomen 52 mm. Hindwing 42 mm. Female. Abdomen 56 mm. Hindwing 51 mm. Male. Head entirely olivaceous, the frons only being marked with a thick, black “T” above. Prothorax and thorax olivaceous brown in front and on dorsum, olivaceous on the sides, yellow beneath. Abdomen blacldsh brown above, reddish beneath. The dorsal carina and articulations black. The 2nd segment bears very large oreillets, rounded behind and furnished with small teeth. The 3rd segment markedly constricted. Legs slender, reddish brown, the femora darker at the distal ends on the inner side. Wings hyaline, slightly enfumed and tinted with brown at the extreme base. Reticulation dark reddish, the costa brownish yellow. Stigma yellow, medium size, 0‘3 mm, over 4 cells. The hindwing very broad, the membrane rudimen- tary, pale grey. 18 postnodal nervures and 24 antenodals to the forewing. Superior anal appendages black, furnished with long hairs on the inner side before the apex, longer than the 9th and 10th abdominal segments together, 5 mm. straight, very slender, nearly cylindrical, a little thickened before the apex which tapers to a sharp point very slighth' inclined outwards. Inferior appen- dage subtriangular, blunt, a little more than one-third the length of the superior. Female. Similar to the male but the body and legs paler, the abdomen not constricted, the oreillets nearly absent. Stigma 4 mm. in length. Anal appen- dages broken, shape doubtful. Hab. Bhamo (June, July and August). Nilgiri Hills from 1,000 to 7,000 ft. This species varies much in size, the adults ate often enfumed as regards the wings and the antenodal nervures vary from 24-36 in the forewing. Sylhet. China, Loo-choo, Lucon, Borneo. The species is very similar to subinterrupta but there is no basal marking in the hind wings of hyalina. {To be continued''. 91i HE SNARE OF THE GIANT WOOD SPIDER {NEPHILA MACULATA). BV Captain R. W. G. Hingston, I. M. S. (Continued from page G49 of this Volume.) PART II. The Continuation of the Snare. one text figure.) I resume the architecture of the Nephilu. Her radii are in position, or, at least, the frame has been supplied with a system of branching spokes. Now comes the next stage, the construction of the hub. In the snare of the Araneus this is a distinct and separate act. The spider winds five turns of a slender fila- ment around and close to the centre anchoring it at every spoke. Its object of course is to strengthen the framework at the point where the radii meet. Now look at the snare of the Nephita. We see no sign of any thread just coiled a few times around the centre. There is, in an architectural sense, no trace of a hub. The next stage deserves more careful notice ; it is the construction of the tem- porary spiral. Remember the mechanism of the Araneus. Having completed her radii, she proceeds to lay down four turns of a spiral round about the inner half of her snare. It is but a temporary scaffold. At a later stage in the architecture she cuts it completely away. Compare the architecture of the Nephita with this. She does not first complete her radii and then apply herself to the winding of the coil. I see both operations in progress at the same time ; first the placing of a few radii, then the laying of a few turns of the spiral, then the resumption of the radii again. The spiral of the Araneus consists of about four turns separated widely in the snare. That of the Nephita is a much longer and more important structure. I count the turns in the snare under observation. They number forty-four. And it is a more closely wound and widely distributed filament. It is continued from the centre right out to the very rim. Near the centre the turns are very close together ; the distance between them being only half an inch. They gradually separate as they proceed to the circumference where they are as much as two inches apart. Again I have no doubt that the reason of the variation in the mode of ar- chitecture is the result of the difference in the size of the snares. Four turns in the inner half will provide a scaffold of sufficient strength for the few radii of a small snare. But this will not satisfy the Nephita. She needs a much more elaborate scaffold to support her longer and more numerous spokes. More- over, the spiral must be more closely wound and spread throughout the whole area of the snare. It is also an excellent provision for the turns to come near together at the centre and at the circumference to lie wide apart. For near the centre the radii approach one another and there require an additional support. t I must now enter a word of explanation with respect to the temporary spiral. I have called it by this name, though I doubt if I am strictly correct. I imagine that it only appears a temporary spiral, while in reality it is something quite distinct. Anyone after witnessing the architecture of the Araneus and then passing to that of the Nephita, could not but imagine that the two spirals which 12 912 JOVRI^AL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll. I have compared were essentially of the same kind. Nevertheless in a strict sense I doubt if this would be true. I suspect that what I have called the temporary spiral is in actual reality an immensely extended hub. Just compare a few points of detail. The hub is the first of the different spirals which the Araneus ap- phes to her snare. And so is the temporary spiral in the architecture of the Nephila, for, as I have before stated, she constructs no real hub. Again, the Araneus, when she extends her radii, at the same time manufactures her hub. And this is exactly what the Nephila does when she is constructing what appears to be her temporary spiral. But a more important point is this. The temporary spiral in the snare of the Nephila is not destroyed at a later stage as always occurs in the ordinary snare. It remains as a part of the architecture to the end. Thus in this point it differs markedly from the temporary spiral of the Araneus and agrees more closely with the hub. Indeed it is only for conve- nience of description that we can speak of it as the “ temporary spiral.” It appears as such ; fulfils that purpose as a scaffold, but close and strict obser- vation reveals that it is in reality more to be compared with the ordinary hub. Considered in this light the snare of the Nephila possesses an enormous hub and no temporary spiral at all. We have now reached the last stage in the architecture, the construction of the viscid spiral. The work bears a close resemblance to that of the Araneus ; never- theless it supplies some additional information and differs in some interesting points. The Nephila, of course, begins at the circumference and winds her spiral round and round the snare. >She draws out a thin transparent line which she affixes to every spoke. It is very delicate, pale yellow in colour, and a powerful light will disclose even to the naked aye that it is beaded with droj)- lets of gum. Now this laying of the viscid spiral is a very prolonged and tedious work. I have seen the Nephila commence her thread at 8-15 p.m. She worked inces- santly almost without interruption, and not till 1 a.m., on the following morn- ing did she finally secure the line. How different is this from the Araneus, The wea\dng of her viscid spiral is likewise her slowest and most difficult work ; nevertheless she will secure it to a moderate snare in from twenty minutes ta half an hour. Elsewhere I have told of certain forms of Araneus which destroy their architecture every evening and reconstruct a new one for the night. But such an operation would not suit the Nephila. The laying of this spiral is much too tedious to permit of such frequent architecture as this. Her immense sheet must fulfil its purpose for many nights and days. By means of the application of the viscid spiral the Nephila converts her naked spokes into a delicate and close-meshed net. She must travel a consi- derable distance in the operation ; she may circle one hundred and thirty or more times around her great wheel before she has completed the whole. It is at this stage of the architecture that the Araneus severs her temporary spiral. As soon as she draws her viscid line across two spokes then she cuts the tempo- rary thread away. Its work as a scaffold is over ; consequently it has no further use. Her final spiral is thus very exact, being composed of only a single viscid line. But the Nephila acts otherwise ; she allows her long temporary spiral to remain. Thus her snare is in a sense less perfect than that of the Araneus ; there is an intermingling of viscid and non-viscid lines. This results in some confusion and in a loss of symmetry in the architecture. The turns of the two spirals tend to become entangled wherever they happen to meet, and this detracts somewhat from the perfect and symmetrical appearance of the web. It is worth examining with a little care the more detailed mechanism of this tedious work. How is each long slender limb employed in the slow deliberate circuit round the snare ? Here is our opportunity. The little Araneus baffles us by her agility and speed, but we can follow the great methodical Nephila THE SNARE OF THE GIANT WOOD SPIDER. 918 and distinguish each separate act. She takes a position in line with the spokes her head is directed to the centre ; and in this attitude, with great deliberation, she moves sideways round and round her wheel. The Araneus, and others of the smaller kind, have to make use of their temporary spiral in order to pass from radius to radius. Between each attachment they have to run inward and cross over by the bridge. Not so the Nephila. She is independent of her temporary spiral. She need only reach across from radius to radius and pull herself over the spokes. Now each of her limbs has its special duty as she moves in the architectural round. Consider that her head is towards the centre, the tip of her abdomen close to her spiral, and that she is making her circle to the left. First look to the legs of the left or advancing side ; they are emploj’ed in the following way. The fore leg is stretched far out to the left and clutches one of the radii a considera- ble distance ahead. It is a long and slender limb, and near the circumference I see it grasp a radius as many as eight in advance. This fore limb, therefore, serves as an implement to pull the spider round and round her snare. Now look to the second leg, of course on the same side. It also is stretched out but the radius which it clutches in its terminal claws is only two in advance. The second leg draws in this radius towards the spider ; then it passes the line on to the claws at the tip of the third leg which is stretched out to receive it. In the same way the third leg passes on the line and hooks it over the claws of the hind leg ; and the hind leg then continues the traction until it finally anchors the line to the spinnerets. This last effort is a careful and decided pull. At the same time the tip of the abdomen is pressed down with decision upon the radius ; the spinnerets touch the line, and the viscid spiral is secured. But there is another detail ; the function of the left hind leg is not yet quite complete. Im- mediately after the attachment has been made, the hind leg then presses away the radius which before it had pulled in, and this has the effect of drawing some of the viscid spiral from the spider’s spinnerets. Now turn to the limbs of the right side. The first three do not perform any work quite so particularly precise. They certainly move with deliberation and care. They are stretched in towards the centre ; they clutch the turns of the temporary spiral, but they do not appear to fulfil any more precise function than just to support the spider in her circles round the snare. But it is other- wise in the case of the hind limb of this side. I have just said that the last effort of the left hind leg was to press the radius away from the spinnerets, but, after a short thrust, it then passes over the line to the care of the right hind leg, and this limb continues to press away the radius until sufficient of the filament has been drawn out. One other minute point ; the left hind leg works with its claws ; the right one thrusts with the joints of its tarsus. This, so far as I can see, is the rather detailed and complex mechanism of the movement, and it is one in which each leg has its own particular purpose to fulfil. The legs of the left side are mainly organs of traction employed to pull the spider on her course. Moreover the last three serve as a series of im- plements to pass the radius to its anchorage on the spinnerets. The legs on the opposite side act chiefly as organs of support, but the hind leg possesses the additional function of pressing away the radii so as to extract the sticky line. j: We watch the spider. We look with wonder at all this complexity, and we note the precision with which each member peifforms its particular work. When all of a sudden the Nephila halts ; she reverses her direction ; she has been mo- ving to the left ; she changes, and starts on a fresh circle to the right. Now again observe her limbs. Those of the right side take up the duties previously performed by those of the left side. There is no confusion ; each assumes its corresponding task, and, without a sign of any hesitation, she reverses the functions of her limbs. Excellent ai’chitect ; she is ambidextrous in a refined 914 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. NXVIll and elaborate degree, even in the complexity of delicate movements that enter into the manufacture of this spiral line. There is still a further point to consider before we leave this portion of the snare. By what mechanism does the Nephila measure the even distance be- tween her coils ? She is a skilful geometrician, and she must have some very efficient method of securing the perfect parallelism of her lines. Again I recall the work of the Araneus. She is so swift, so agile in all her movements ; she fixes her line so rapidly that it is difficult to observe with minute care the mode of measurement whicli she adopts. Nevertheless, I found by the aid of ex- periment that she works on a very simple plan. She converts her fore leg into a measuring rule in order to estimate the distance between the turns. While she is engaged at one turn she stretches out her fore leg until with the extreme tip she touches the turn which she laid down in her last circle. In this way she measures off a certain distance from her last turn and then she affixes her thread. At every point of fixation she makes the same measurement ; thus she ensures that the new line is parallel to the one last laid down. Let us look now to the slow and leisurely Nephila. There is no haste about her grave actions. She will surely tell us something ; she is so decided in every- thing she does. It is immediately evident that her mode of operation is quite distinct from that of the Araneus. At no time does she bring her fore leg so is to touch her viscid spiral ; indeed, I have already shown that these legs are employed in another way. We must look to the hind leg of the Nephila in order to discover how the measurement is made. I fear that I am very tedious, but it is worth observing this geometrical act with a little detail and care. The Nephila is circling to the left. Four turns of her viscid spiral are in place, and she is now engaged in anchoring the fifth. I have already explained how the hind leg on the left side receives the radius from the third leg, and then draws the line steadily in until it touches the spin- nerets. But let us fix our attention at the very moment of this act. The hind leg receives the radius ; the line is clutched in the terminal claws ; but the essential point to observe is that the claws take hold of the I’adius at the exact point where it meets the fourth turn of the spiral, that is the turn which has last been laid down. From that point it draws in the radius until the line comes in contact with the spinnerets about one-sixth of an inch away. The spider passes on from radius to radius, and at every anchorage the same mechanism occurs. The tip of the hind leg always takes hold of the radius at the point where it meets the last turn of the spiral. And as the leg is kept bent in the same position an equal distance is thus always measured off. It is the distance from the spinnerets to the tip of the hind leg. Thus each line is the same distance from each preceding line, and a perfect parallelism is secured. It is a very simple mechanism, but it is wonderfully precise. It stamps the Nephila as an accurate geometrician that works in a mathematical way. It is only by some such simple mode of measurement that this excellent result could be obtained. For remember that the Nephila is an ungainly creature with slender groping limbs that span over six inches across. Yet with such long and awkward implements see what a marvellous net does she produce. Every line is in perfect parallel, and they are only one-sixth of an inch apart ! By the aid of two experiments I confirm the fact that this is the mode of measurement employed to draw line parallel to line. The first experiment is a mere repetition of one previously made on the snare of the Araneijis. It fixes the junction of the last turn of the viscid spiral with the radius as the point from which the measurements are made. For if the spider places one turn by estimating the distance from this junction on the preceding turn, then if I remove the preceding turn, I will deprive her of this junction ; I will have taken away her point of measurement, and, as a result, she should fail to draw parallel lines. I perform the experiment ; I remove the turn in one THE ISNABE 01 THE GIAST WOOD SPIDER. 915 segment, and let us now look to the diagram (Fig. 2) and witness what has occurred. Fig. 2. — Loss of paraiielism resulting fiom division of one turn of viscid spiral in one segment. (a) Viscid spiral divided in segment X. (J) Result of spider’s work. Loss of parallelism in both • X and Y. Arrow mark the direction of spider s circle. Turn first to diagram a. Let w, x, y, z be four adjoining segments. Let x be the experimental segment, and let three turns 1, 2, 3 of the viscid spiral be complete. I divide the innermost turn in segment x. Now turn to diagram />. The spider circles on laying down the fourth turn of its spiral all round the snare. At length it reaches the radius between z and y. Here all is well. It stret- ches out its hind leg ; it touches the radius between the segments exactly at the jxrint o, that is the point where the radius meets the last turn of the viscid spiral. This point of measurement is intact. Therefore the spider makes an accurate judgment, and draws her line parallel across segment z. She passes on to the radius between x and y. She again stretches out to hook the radius .at the point wLere it meets line 3. But line 3 is gone, therefore she must touch the radius where it meets line 2. Her measurement is consequently incorrect. Her attachment is made in the wrong place, farther out on the radius, and the line drawn across segment y is out of parallel. The spider passes on. She reaches the radius between w and x. She stretches forward ; here she finds the line correct, and she anchors her filament in the right place. But the other end of that filament has found a wrong attachment, therefore the line across segment x is also out of parallel. To sum up ; the result of the experiment is this. One turn of the viscid spiral is removed from one segment. The point where it touches the radius is as a consequence destroyed. But, since this is the measuring point for the spider, therefore the next turn of her viscid spiral is incorrectly laid. Its parallelism is lost in both the experimental and the preceding segment. In the one the lines converge, in the other they diverge. The essential fact is that the point of measurement being removed then the parallelism is lost. Thus the clear conclusion is that each attachment of the viscid spiral is measured off from that point on the radius where it is touched by the preceding turn. So much is confirmed ; but we have not yet clinched the fact that the hind leg is the measuring rule employed. We must make certain of this observation, since it is directly opposite to the method of the Aranevs which measures by the aid of her fore leg. I satisfied myself of this by first amputating the legs and then witnessing the result. Let us attempt a similar experiment on the Eephila. But in her case it is the hind legs which we must first cut away. It 916 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll. is a simple matter to operate on these long limbs, much easier than on the little agile Araneus. But we are dealing with a very timid creature and we must be patient in waiting for the result. With a fine pair of scissors I snip off the tips of the two hind legs. The Nephila is very concerned. She does not soon return to work as did the mutilated Araneus ; she remains at the outskirts of her snare for as long as six hours. At length she does return and again takes up her spiral thread. I watch her movements, and it is clear in a moment that I have anticipated the result aright. It is the same as occurred to the Araneus after her fore leg had been removed. The Nephila, as a result of the mutilation, is immediately at serious fault. She advances in her slow methodical way. But no longer do the hind legs apply themselves to their task ; no longer do the claws clutch on to the radius ; the amputated tarsi are now held wide apart and tilted behind her clear of the web. Nevertheless she works persistently on ; she climbs across from radius to radius, and, though clearly hampered by the grievous loss, yet she sticks with a dogged determination to the work. Though her organ of measurement is gone, yet her instinct still impels her on, and, correct or incorrect, she must anchor a spiral of some kind to her spokes. Therefore hour after hour she struggles perseveringly on. Though she can no longer measure from her viscid spiral, yet she still has a rough and imperfect guide. She can work along the turns of her temporary spiral ; they will not help her to draw her lines parallel, but at least they will keep her in her circular course She thus looks to her temporay spiral for assistance in her present strait. She applies her third pair of legs to it, and, employing it as a guide, she works round and round her snare. With its help she lays down three or four turns of her viscid spiral, and anchors them in some way to the spokes. Then she passes in to the next circle of her temporary spiral, and, under the guidance of this, she lays down three or four turns more. Thus she advances to the centre employing the circles of her temporary spiral as a number of successive guides. They are certainly of value to her ; they help her to maintain her circular direction ; they prevent the most absolute and complete confusion ; they lend some slight aid to a spiral workmanship, but they cannot supply that dehcate adjustment necessary to ensure the parallelism of the lines. It is otherwise ; the viscid spiral is all chaos and confusion. The lines meet one another ; they cross ; they in- tertangle ; they are anchored here and there and anywhere, and always in the wrong place. Nevertheless she persists ; she struggles on to her last attachment, working for half the night. She secures the final touch in place ; she seals it with her usual care and precision, as though she had completed as harmo- nious a fabric as ever she had woven before in her life. It is an example of dogged determination, but it is a tangled and disordered work. The turns of the temporary spiral are distinct owing to the parallelism in their successive coils. But the viscid filament is only an endless tangle ; there is no trace of that exquisite and perfect parallelism which is the feature of admiration in the geometrical snare. Why ? The Nephila has lost her organ of measurement ; she has been robbed of her geometrical power. Just one final word of summary in order to contrast the architecture of the Nephila with that of a species such as the Araneus which constructs an ordinary snare. I will review only the most striking points. The web of the Araneus is twelve inches across ; the sheet of the Nephila is as tall as a man. The Ara- neus extends about twenty radii ; the Nephila spreads out a hundred or more. At each journey the Araneus lays a single radius ; the Nephila secures a pair. Each spoke of the Araneus is a double filament ; the Nephila makes a single line. Undivided radii is the system of the Araneus ; the Nephila prefers bran- ching spokes. By a four-pace interval the Araneus measures the distance between her radii ; the Nephila secures her interval by measuring from the tip of her hind leg to her spinnerets. At the centre the Araneus attaches a little spiral which serves the purpose of a hub ; the Nephila has nothing of the kind THE SNABE OF THE hIA^T WOOD SlUDER. 917 ’n her architecture unless her temporary spiral be an extended hub. The tem- porary spiral of the Araneus is a wide-open structure ; the Nephila weaves a close-wound coil. Four turns are enough for the Araneus, and they are confined to the inner half of the snare ; the Nephila makes over forty circles spread from the centre to the rim. The temporary spiral serves the Araneus for the purpose of a bridge ; the Nephila steps from spoke to spoke. In the snare of the Araneus it is subsequently destroyed ; the Nephila retains it permanently to the end. The viscid spiral of the Araneus is uniform through the snare ; the Nephila intermingles it with her temporary coils. The fore leg of the Araneus measures the distance between its lines ; the Nephila makes use of her hind leg to secure a similar end. The architecture of the Araneus takes half an hour ; the Nephila works for half a night. We have finished. We have watched the Nephila through the lonely hours, and we leave her now to take her station in her snare. The long night is over ; we even see the first faint streak of dawn. Let us go, satisfied with what we have seen. There are none who would join us in this silent vigil, yet the hours are not altogether lost. We have learnt something of beauty and of wonder from this marvellous geometrical snare. P.ART III. Further Lessoxs of the Xephila. I will now consider some further lessons taught us by the architect of this snare. We must take every opportunity to learn from one who is so large and so leisurely at her woi-k. The first is a matter in respect to he r architecture. It concerns what I have elsewhere described as the “ reversal of the spiral.” It is only on rare occasions that a little spider, such as the Araneus, will construct a viscid spiral of one single line continuous from end to end. That is the ideal nuthod, but in actual practice she has to modify the work. If we observe her with reasonable care we ■will often see the following occur. She is anchoring her 'vdscid spiral; all of a sudden she halts ; she seals off the end of her spiral ; she turns about and commen- ces a new spiral by circling in the opposite way. Moreover, we rvill observe that she always adopts this behaviour when the point from where her radii diverge happens not to coincide ■with the true centre of the web. On those occasions some of the radii happen to be long, others happen to be short. And the reversal, we observe, is a plan of architecture associated with the eccentricity of the snare. Furthermore, we will observe that she so arranges her reverses that their effect is to add additional turns to the long radii, and in this way make up for the eccentric nature of the work.* The Nephila adopts a similar plan. I have found certain of her immense sheets in which the so-called centre was very eccentric. I recall one of over five feet in diameter where the centre was only eight inches from the upper edge. While employed in the architecture of so eccentric a work the Nephila must reverse at almost every turn. If she circled in the ordinary way round and round her snare, she would very soon complete her spiral in the short and upper spokes, while the long and lo^wer ones would be almost empty of threads. To prevent this she must repeatedly reverse so as to keep her thread almost confined * The reversal of the spiral is discussed in detail in “ A Xaturalist in Himalaya.” 918 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIH. to the long spokes. I watch her in the ingenious work. She is moving across hoi lower and longer radii anchoring her filament as she goes. She reaches the shorter radii ; she reverses ; she comes back over her long radii again. Soon she approaches the short radii on the other side of the snare. But she will go no further ; again she reverses ; again she works back over hei long radii fi-ving her filament to the spokes. Thus she, so to speak, oscillates over her long radii; she largely neglects the upper and shorter ones; only on rare occasions does she make a complete circuit round her snare. So seldom indeed that, in this instance, there were 130 turns of the viscid spiral attached to the lower and longer radii, and only 3 turns to the upper and shorter spokes. Moreover, the Nephila employs this mechanism not only when dealing with her viscid spiral, but she introduces the same operation into her temporary .spiral too. And as with the viscid filament, she may sometimes do so to an extreme degree. In thi.s same .snare, for example, she attached 44 turns of her temporary spiral to the longer, and only 7 to the shorter spokes. Thus she is a spider which works with judgment and system. She can modifv her various lines to suit even the most eccentiic of eccentric snares. There is another structure in the arehitcctuiw of the Nephila w'hich I have not observed in ordinary snares. Xot only does she spread an extensive sheet, but she also constructs a special barrier in order to drive her %ictim more surely into the toils. She places it so as to face one surface of her .sheet ; it is at a slightly higher level than the main snare, and a little distance away. There is nothing precise or geometrical in its workmanship, it is merely a tangled maze of lines. They are poweidul filaments ; they are non-viseid ,• they m^et at all angles; they are spread about in every direction ; they form an entangled barrier through which no insect can pass. It is a strong and imixnetrahle silken wall, about two feet or more in depth, and secured by an anchorage of powerful cables above, below, and at the .sides. In some places its meshes are wide and ojxm, and strange insignificant spiders will then sometimes .seek a I’duge there. They rvill spin their own miniature but perfect webs amidst the entanglement of coar.ser lines. The object of the barrier is, I think, this. The main snare, though a vast sheet, is in texture rather fragile and thin. It is spread chiefly for the moths and flies that emerge from their concealment by night. It will not secure the larger prey. A locust will tear itself from the viscid grasp and easily break aw'ay. Thus without the aid of some additional resource many of the captures would certainly be lost. By means of the bax-rier this purpose is fulfilled. The victims w'hich break from the main snare strike the entanglement of lines ; they carmot advance ; they strive to escape, but are only driven back again into the snare. There is another feature in connection with this snare which it is worth our while to observe. The Araneus possesses the remarkable habit of swallowing completely the remains of her architecture as soon as it is worn out. It usually serves for twenty-four hours, after which time it is a tattered web. Then at evening we may see the spider demolishing all that is left. She eats up her successive radii, her viscid attachments, every little tag and shred, and all the tiny insects that happen to bo entangled on her lines. In fact she systematically destroys and takes back into he.’ owm substance all that remains of her imservice- able snare. I have little doubt that the Nephila behaves in a similar w'ay. Her architec- ture, of course, lasts a much longer time, and I have not actually seen the final desti-uction that occurs. But an experiment will indicate with sufficient certainty the manner in which the structure disappears. I sever the strong foundation lines all round an immense sheet. I leave just one attachment to the upper hoiizontal line. The snare collapses, its elastic sides fall in, its innumerable filaments gather themselves together, and, in the form of a sticky rope, it swings THE SNARE OF THE GIANT WOOD SPIDER. 919 like a pendulum in the wind. The Nephila is alarmed. She hangs for a while to her foundation-line, but at length she recovers and begins to look to her snare. Her first act is to gather up the tissue that remains. It is completely disordered, massed into a rope, and, of course, beyond any idea of repair. This is how the Nephila acts. She climbs down along the sticky rope paying out her filament behind. She must descend slowly and with care, for tMs is a viscid and a tangled ladder, and it sways in every breeze. At last she reaches the lower end, and there, at the extreme foot of the rope, she makes an attachment with her spinnerets. Immediately she starts to climb up again, and we now witness an occurrence which we have never seen before. We observe that the Nephila in her ascent actually pays out no thread. She makes use of the filaments for a very different purpose, she literally employs it as a hauling-line by means of which she drags up the foot of the rope behind her. When she has hauled it up a height equal to about her own length, she makes a second attachment and in this way she converts the lower end of the rope into a coil. Now she makes a second ascent, hauls up her coil, climbs an equal distance, makes a third attach- ment and thus bends another coil. In this manner, by successive stages, she continues to make her ascent. She gathers up behind her coil upon coil, and finally secures the well-wound rope to hei upper horizontal line. There it hangs for a little while waiting for the next step to occur. What an excellent and ingenious performance is tliis by wliich the, spider gathers up her rope ! As the seaman coils his cable on the ship, so does the Nephila wind into a coil the final rope-like fragments of her snare. How simple, yet how human like, are the ways of the Nephila and many of the acts she does ! It is not alone in the geometrical measurements of her construction, but also in the manner that she gathers together the last and tattered fragments that re mam. We wait for about five minutes when we see the next act begin. The spider returns and pays attention to her sticky coils. With her long legs she com- pres.ses them into a smaller bulk ; with her palpi she guides the mass into her mouth, and takes it between her ponderous jaws. Then, in this attitude, hanging by her legs to her foundation -line, she commences to devour her snare. It is Id a.m. when the process of mastication begins. She chews at it, she turns it about, she moistens it all over with her saliva, and moulds it into a roundish lump. It is now a dark yellow globule no larger than her own head ; and the huge sheet, five feet in diameter, has beem compressed into a firm ball. Apparently it is no easy matter to digest tliis globule of silk. The Nephila is tardy in all her actions, but in this she is slow and tedious in the extreme ; the most prolonged of all the operations of her life is the mastication of her own snare. I watch her for hours with the yellow ball fixed between her patient jaws. She digests it with such infinite slowness that it seems scarcely to diminish at all in size. All day long I I'eturn at intervals, and I visit her late at night. The globular mass is still there ; it has grown much less, but a nodule of half digested substance is still fixed between her jaws. I visit her again the next morning. The nodule has disappeared. A vast and beautiful sheet is now spread from tree to tree. The spider has devoured all her irrevious architecture ; not a particle of it is left, so that nothing has gone waste. She has digested it, absorbed it, assimilated it, and brought it foiih again. She has converted into her own substance the texture which I had destroyed, and has rewoven the fabric anew. Another lesson taught by the Nephila is the detailed method by which a spi- der overcomes its struggling pre;,. The Araneus will show us the main opera- tion, but from the large and leisurely Nephila we can learn some further points. The Nephila is in wait at her usual place, in the very centre of the snare. Hei- legs are spread out all round about her ; they touch the radii on every side, and thus she feels the gentlest quiver in any part of her web. An insect all of a sudden falls against the viscid lines. The Nephila is iinmediately on the alert. 920 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. She dashes out with unusual speed, much more rapidly than we should ever ex- IK?ct. She comes down upon her struggling prey ; she seizes it in her long fore- legs ; she draws it towards her and sweeps it into her jaws. She falls first upon the thorax ; it is there that she makes the deadly stroke. This is the vital spot, for Avithin lies the nervous centre and into its substance she must strike. She acts like the Hippasa, which weaves a non -viscid sheet, or the Tarantula of Fabre which digs a tunnel in the soil ; she behaves as though she knew the anatomy of her prey ; she first pierces the vital and essential point in the whole nervous chain. Nor is it any gentle thrust, for her fangs are suffi- ciently powerful to penetrate the human skin. I have watched her drive them deep into my finger, and have .seen the drops of limpid poison gather round the bleeding wound. The insect has little chance from such a deadly and unerr- ing stroke. At the first thi'Ust the nervous ganglion is reached. The poison is driven in ; the victim is struck motionless ; it can no longer struggle and beat its wings and injure the precious snare. The spider by her cunning has prevented this, for instant paralysis occurs. The swift struggle is over, and the insect prey is dead. She now takes it be- tween her palpi, and with her middle pair of legs secures it on either side. In this attitude for about half a minute she holds it tenaciously in her jaws. No doubt she is forcing in her fangs and injecting the poison deep into her prey. Satisfied at length that her capture is overwhelmed, she commences to drag it away. She takes it between the claws of her middle legs, tears it from its viscid attachments to the lines, and transports it to her station at the very cen- tre of the snare. Then comes the next process, the sheathing of the captured prey. She releases her jaws ; she thrusts her capture out in front of her, hold- ing it in position betweeir the tips of her middle legs. It also receives an addi- tional support from the palpi on either side. The next act is as follows. The Nephila bends in her long hind legs and brings the claws to the tip of her abdomen just behind the spiimerets. She hooks the claws round the project- ing line and draws the silk steadily out. But she does not pull forth the ordi- nary line ; she extracts a dense sheaf of many .slender threads, and these she slowly carries forward beneath her until they reach tJtre capture held out in front. Then she begins to rvind them round her victim. The hind leg of one side first makes a turn ; then follows the hind leg of the opposite side, and thus, by their alternate action, coil after coil is wrapped around the prey. Some assistance is given to the operation by the pecuhar use of the middle legs. By their efforts the prey itself is rotated ; and, since the coiling of the sheaf is in the opposite direction to the twisting of the prey, both actions help towards the same result. At length, after a number of turns, the victim is completely sheathed ; it is both closely imprisoned and dead. Then she lowers it a little and with a slender strand of silk anchors it near the centre of the snare. The capture is made, sheathed and anchored ; the Nephila now begins to feed. like evei-y other operation it is a slow and patient act. She commences at the head ; she brui.ses it a little and sucks from it all its juice. She then passes on to the thorax, deals with it in the same manner, and then turns to the soft and succulent abdomen. Into the entrails .she thrusts her greedy fangs; all the time they are working, sucking, masticating ; but there is little bruising of the victim's skin ; her object is to extract the soft internal tis.sues and suck out the animal juice . At length she finishes ; she has erfscerated her victim and nothing but a shrivelled carcass remains. She swathes a few more turrrs of silk around it and fixes it again to her snare. Occasionally she returns to it, takes it up again and tries to extract a further drop. At last it is completely gutted ; nothing is left but a mere husk, a dry and empty shell. This is no fur- ther use, so she drops it out of the snare. The little drama is over, and she waits for the next capture to occur. THE SNARE OF THE GIANT WOOD SPIDER. 921 It was proved by the ingenious experiments of Fabre why a geometrical spi- der does not become entangled in its own snare. He discovered in his usual simple way that on the integument of the spider there was an oily film, and that, owing to the presence of this unctious coat, the architect did not adhere to her own lines. It was a simple matter to substantiate this. By means of disulphide of carbon the oily film was dissolved away ; and then the spider, like any oi-dinary substance, adhered to the sticky filaments of the snare. I have had the opportunity of repeating these experiments, and they led me to the same result. But a point which did not come vathin the observation of Fabre was how and where this oily film is produced. At first it might naturally be suspected that the oil was some kind of a cutaneous secretion which oozed out from the spi- der’s skin ; but when we consider the character and structure of the integument it is difficult to understand from where the secretion could appear. We can scarcely imagine glands in the hard coat of a spider in any way like those in the human skin. But speculation on the matter is needless ; the Nephila supplies an excellent opportunity of obser%ing the source from where the film is derived. It occurs in this waj. The sim has almost set, and the Nephila is hanging suspended from a single line. Her snare has already been cut away, and the hour has not 3’’et come for her to commence the architecture anew. Her legs arc stretched out round about her ; one, of course, is fixed to the suspension line, and, in this attitude, she hangs stationary in the air. I see her now from time to time act in a very deliberate way. She slowdy carries a hind leg forward and carefully inserts the tarsus into her mouth. It is placed lengthways be- tween her jaws, and the palpi secure it on either side. It is held there for a little while ; it is thoroughly moistened with a clear secretion, squeezed out, I sup- pose, from the salivary glands ; indeed I can even see a drop of the liquid oozed out between the spider’s jaws. The tarsus is then withdrawn ; it is carried backward, and, while still wet with the secietion, it is gently stroked over the tip of the abdomen romid about the cluster of the spinnerets. I now see another leg brought in the same determined manner to the mouth. It likewise is mois- tened with secretion, then withdrawn, and then employed as a kind of brush along the full length of one of the opposite limbs. Then another change fol- lows. A third leg is taken to the mouth, and the same procedure occurs. In this behaviour the Nephila persists, all the while suspended from a thread. She brings each leg repeatedly and in succession to her mouth, moistens it, ex- tracts it, and then transfers the moisture elsewhere. It is a very slow and metho- dical operation, an act full of purpose and decision. Now what does it mean, for it is clearly a work of much importance ; it is so slow, so persistent, and I see her engaged at it for over an hour ? Its purpose is this. The Nephila is smearing her body with oil in order to prevent her sticking to the snare. She w'ill commence the ffist stages of construc- tion soon ; this is the prehminary to the work. Her oil, therefore, is no cutaneous secretion ; there are no delicate hair-glands, no minute perforations, that open on the surface of the skin. It is from her sahvary glands that she obtains the oil, and she applies it to the various parts of her body by means of her own legs. Now watch again with a Httle care. There are a few further points to note. She does not smear the secretion everywhere so as to cover her whole body in a film. She shows far greater care and discrimination than this ; it is offiy to certain particular parts that she applies her layer of oil. It is no doubt a pre- cious substance of which she has no profuse supplj’, she must therefore work with providence and apply it only where required. She pays most attention to her legs. Each tarsus, of course, is oiled in the mouth but she is also very careful to paint the legs throughout their whole length. For this purpose one tarsus is often carried across so as to smear a shank on the opposite side. Another point that gets much attention is the ventral surface of the tip of the 922 JOURNAL, BOMB AY {NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. abdomen in the prominent region of the spinnerets. The palpi are also thoroughly oiled. Each receives its greasy coat by being pushed into the cavity of the mouth, but. in addition, one is often employed as a brush to paint the palp of the opposite side. They also carry the secretion elsewhere ; from time to time they apply a little to the outer surface of the great jaws. But, with the exception of these special parts, the legs, the palpi, the* jaws, the ventral sur- face of the abdomen in the vicinity of the spinnerets, I do not see the spider attempt to apply her secretion anywhere else. None is placed on the back of the head ; none anywhere on the thorax ; none on the front of the imder surface of the belly, and the whole of the broad dorsal surface of the abdomen does not receive a single touch. The parts that receive it do so repeatedly and in profusion ; the remainder of the body is completely ignored. And there is a very good reason for this. The spider smears only those parts of her body which come in contact with her viscid Unes. Her legs of comse incessant- ly touch them as she moves from point to point ; the tip of her abdomen must often meet them whenever she affixes a Une ; the jaws and palpi come down upon then at the moment when she stiikes her prey. But the remainder of the surface of her body does not ordinarily touch her lines. She need not smear the surface of her belly, since, owing to the natural curve of her body, it is hfted away from the snare. For the same reason she can neglect the front of her thorax, and, since on all occasions she faces her architecture, she need apply none to the dorsal surface of her abdomen , nor indeed to any part of her back. It is therefore only to the special and essential points that she applies her pre- cious oU. I put this conclusion to the test by bringing the different parts of the body in contact with the viscid lines. I pulled off a leg and applied it to the spiral, but it did not adhere to the thread. I tried the same with the palpi, and I also ap- plied the under surface of the abdomen in the vicinity of the spinnerets. The result was the same ; those parts of the spider showed no indication of stick- ing to the viscid lines. I then touched them with the back of the thorax, and subsequently with the dorsal surface of the abdomen, and these parts immediately adhered just like an object of any ordinary kind. It is clear, therefore, that the spider applies her film of oil only where it is absolutely required. I have told before of her providence in architecture, and of her strict economy in the use of her valuable silk. We see here a further display of prudence in the fni- gality with which she apphes her oil. How wonderful must be the nature of the special glands that open near a spider’s mouth! At her other extremity there is wonder enough ; for we look with amazement at the marvellous spinning-wheel and the work which it brings forth. But in the secretions that escape near the mouth there is some- thing to marvel at too. They must have a powerful digestive function. They no doubt chemically alter the ingested food, and we have seen the slow but efficient manner in which they dissolve the viscid snare. But even more re- markable is the manner in which they give forth oil to prevent their owner sticking in her web. Nor must we forget that hereabouts too are fixed those glands that secrete the deadly poison for the prey. What a collection of strange and subtle fluids gathered in a spider’s head ! There is juice for diges- tion, poison for destruction, oil for locomotion, each with its own particular purpose and flowing at its appointed time. These are the chief of the additional lessons which we learn from the great Nephila of the woods. She tells us first how essential is the reversal of the spiral in order to ensure the symmetry of the snare. We had known it in part before ; but she shows how it can be carried to an extreme degree, and employed not only in the viscid spiral, but also in the architecture of the tempo- rary spiral too. Her second lesson also relates to her architecture. It discloses an additional feature in the handiwork which we had not before THE SNARE OF THE OIANT WOOD SPIDER. 923 observed in the snare. This is the barrier, a complex maze of tangled lines which serves to prevent the escape of the capture by driving it back again into the snare. Her third lesson leaves the construction and deals with the destruction of the work. We have not seen it destroyed in the natural way, but we have observed sufficient to indicate the manner in which the struc- ture must certainly disappear. We have witnessed her ingenuity in gathering up her fragments and her coiling of the suspended rope. We have watched her in the patient and determined manner that she devoius every particle that re- mains. In her fourth lesson we learn the minute details of how she deals with her insect prey. We marvel at her knowledge of the vital point, and at the unerring precision of her stroke. We follow the manipulations by which she sheathes her capture and deprives it of its animal juice. Her last lesson is, I think, the most interesting of all. She instructs us in the origin of the superficial film that prevents her entanglement in her own snare. She informs us that it is no cutaneous secretion, but that she manufactures it in her sali- vary glands. She displays to us the method by which it is extracted and ap- plied to the essential parts. And finally she leaves us with reflections of wonder at the fluids which she is able to produce. Excellent Nephila. She has supplied us with all that we could wish or hope. She has taught us many a lesson in geometrical architecture^ and she has told us other things of interest too. 024 DESCRIPTION or A NEW GOBIOID FISH FROM TUTICORIN. BY James Hornell, Director of Fisheries, Madras, and Henry W. Fowlp^r, of the Academy of Natural Sciences OF Philadelphia. Pleurosicya annandalei new species. Head 2| ; depth 4 ; D. 8, i ; A. I, 9, i ; P. 20 ; V. i, 4 ; 26 scales in median lateral series between suprascapula and caudal base ; 9 scales transversely between soft dorsal and anal origins ; 10 predorsal scales forward nearly to hind eye edge ; head width If in its length ; head depth at occiput If; snout 2f ; eye 3i ; maxillary 2 ; interorbital 4^ ; second dorsal spine 2^0 > second dorsal ray 2 ; second anal ray 3| ; least depth of caudal peduncle 3 ; caudal fin If ; pectoral 1| ; length of ventral disk If. Body elongately ovoid in profile, deepest at spinous dorsal origin, well compressed, edges all convex. Caudal peduncle strongly compressed, its least depth half its length. Head large, well depressed, convex over surface ; upper profile slightly convex and little more inclined than lower ; cheeks swollen moderately. Snout depressed moderately, convex over surface, broadly obtuse as seen from above, length about ^ its width at front of eye. Eye moderate, hind edge of pupil about midway in length of head and upper edge slightly impinging on upper profile. Mouth large, moderately inclined, jaws about even. Maxillary reaches nearly opposite centre of eye. Lips thick, firm, fleshy. Teeth firmly conic, simple ; uniserial in upper jaw, forward each side several enlarged slightly or canine-like, of which posterior largest ; band of fine firm teeth in lower jaw, widest all around front of mandible and inside forward pair of canines, though much closer ; no teeth on palate. Tongue thick, fleshy, free and emarginate in front. Nostrils well sepa- rated, simple, pore-like, close before eye ; anterior falls little behind last third in snout ; posterior close to front eye edge. Interorbital very slightly concave. Gill-opening forward opposite hind eye edge, deeply incised over wide isthmus, from which free or with only narrow fold anteriorly. Gill-rakers 2-1-6 short rounded tubercles, greatly less than gill-filaments, which are about length of eye. Branchiostegals o, with third quite divergent from fourth and fifth, these closely shielded along opercular apparatus. Scales large, firmly adherent, in even longitudinal rows on trunk ; absent from most of head, though above extend forward to each eye, leaving median triangular post-interorbital region and line of demarcation to occiput, scales not passing over ; breast, pectoral base and fins naked, except slight area on caudal base ; 2 median conspicuous interorbital pores, also one behind each posterior nostril with series of papilhe extend- ing forward from each just above front nostril ; two large pores behind each eye, from hind pore row of papillte extends along upper edge of opercle ; row of papillm along front edge of opercle, with median inter- secting branch backward ; two close-set parallel rows of papilL'e along preopercle edge, below extending along lower face of each mandibular ramus ; from below front nostril row of papillae extends down along preorbi- tal edge and then back across cheek ; scales with 14 to 17 basal radiating striae ; apical denticles 35 to 38 and circuli rather coarse. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GOBIOID FISH. 92o Origin of spinous dorsal little behind that of pectoral, front spines little curved, though third spine as depressed extends back as nearly as far as last. Soft dorsal inserted about midway between hind eye edge and caudal base, front rays highest. Anal like soft dorsal, origin slightly behind that of soft dorsal. Caudal small, rounded. Pectoral large, broad, rounded. V entral disk nearly third wider than long, rays all greatly branched and spines each with several flat cutaneous flaps in front. Vent close before anal, with slight papilla. Colour in life pink over entire body ; in alcohol faded pale brownish. Under a lens the alcohol specimen shows dull brownish dots dusted in small patch on cheeks and along side medianly. Fins all uniformly pale to whitish. Iris whitish, with greyish tinge above. Length 34 mm. Type, No. 51,094, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Loca- lity. Tuticorin, India. This interesting little fish is found commensal with the Alcyonarian Solenocaulon tortuosum Cray, in company with certain Alpheids and other crustaceans.* We are unaware that the commensal habit has been noted in the other species of the genus, Pleurosicya holdinghi Weber, obtained oS' Western New Guinea. The latter differs at once in the much higher soft dorsal and in the fin formulae. Weber’s examples were smaller, 22 to 31 mm. long, and were dredged at a depth of 32 meters ; ours came from 14 to 16 meters, sandy bottom. (Named after Dr. Nelson Annandale, in slight recognition of his work on Indian fishes.) * For details of the commensahsm of this fish and the associated crustaceans with Solenocaulon, see page 929 of this Journal. SOME COMMENSALS OF INDIAN ALCYONARIANS AND CRABS. By James Hoknell, F.L.S., F.R.A.I. (With 6 text figures.) No group of marine animals is more prone than the Alcyonarians to harbour uninvited guests, often of very varied zoological standing. Indian Alcyonarians or ‘ Soft Corals’ as we may dub them in common parlance, are exceedingly variable in form, ranging from the brick red Sea- whip, Juncella juncea, through the great assemblage of the Sea-fans, the Gorgonids proper, to the massive Sea- cauliflowers of which Spongodes is the tj'pe ; besides these are the Sea-pens — the thin starved rods of Virgularia, the pinnate fleshy Pennafula, typical of the group, and the great soft obese Cavernularia that Lives gregarious in muddy sand. Those that are greatly branched, offer the best shelter to small animals looking for safe hiding places and so it happens that Spongodes and its near relatives harbour a greater variety of commensals* than any other marine organism. The Commensals of Spongodes. — The common form of Spongodes met with in Indian seas lives from low tide level (Gulf of Kutch) to depths of about 10 fathoms. It is particiJarly common in 5 to 8 fathoms in the Pearl Bank region of the Gulf of Mannar ; the dredge and the divers bring it up in dozens when the right spot, fairly clean sandy ground, is met with. The term sea-cauliflower which, for want of any accepted English name, is what I propose to call it, gives an accurate idea of the general appearance of a well-grovTi typical colony, if we imagine all the outer leaves tom away and the terminal florets tinted some bright colour from yellow and orange to pink and dark lake. Each colony has a short massive stalk or rather trimk, giving off numerous branches which divide and subdivide till the terminal branchlets are reached, on which are set innumerable little polyps, white or lemon tinted, each protected by a collar of defensive coloured spicules. The whole is rooted in the sand by means of many sand-encrusted ‘rootlets’. The substance of the trunk and branches is permeated by a system of numerous wide canals and bj’ means either of flooding or partially draining these by the action of a net -work of fine muscles fibres, the colony is capable of assuming very different forms ; it may expand freely, spreading wide and loosely its many branches — its normal condition — or it may retract into a compact nearly solid mass if irritated, with every gradation between the two extremes. Preserved specimens exhibit many of these gradations, dependent upon the method of killing and the time that has elapsed between captrrre and preservation. This, in conjunction with the natural great variability of the common species, has landed systematists in difficulties. On the one hand we have lists of 80 or more species, and on the other, the opinion of such an able zoologist as Prof. Sydney J. Hickson, that possibly there is otrly one true species to which all the 80 may be referred. The conrmonest form of Spongodes on oirr pearl barrks is one where the ter- minal branchlets are suffrrsed some tint of red, usually a warm dark pink, the trunk (excepting the base which is dirty grey) and the main branches being white. This form approaches most closely to the species (? varieties) described by Prof. J. A. Thompson under the names Spongodes bicolor and S. pulchra. If specimens of this species be examined as soon as they are brought up by the dredge or by divers, a host of symbiotic animals can be located hiding among * To be strictly accurate, I ought to say .symbiotic organisms, for the term com- mensals should be restricted to animals that live together in partnership and share the same table. But in this paper I use it in a somewhat loose way as a convenient word to cover all animals that lodge with another and are not definitely parasitic. SOME COMMENSALS OF INDIAN ALCYONARIANS. 927 the branches ; the list includes at least a couple of brittle-stars, several crusta- ceans including a galatheid, a porcelain-crab, a clicking prawn, a colourless compound ascidian and a tiny little cowry. A sipunculid worm is often present among the anchoring rootlets, while last and most interesting is one of the velvet-crabs, belonging to the family Drojniidce. Omitting the last two, the others with the one exception of the alpheid, have the body ordinarily speckled, spotted or mottled with some tint of red. The most numerous of these uninvited guests is the little porcelain-crab, Porcellana quadrilobata. Several of these are usually met with in each colony, the yoimger and smaller either colourless (white) or faintly speckled with red, while the larger generally have the carapace well mottled with pink. Both colour- ations are protective as the white ones harmonize with the colour of the trunk and branches, while the pink-mottled are easily lost to sight amongst the pinktipjoed branchlets. The graceful Galatheid, Polyonyx hmnguiculatus, is also sometimes found, its upper surface mottled reddish brown. The Ophiuroid and the Cowry are still more distinctively blotched with red, and both seem to be consistently associated with this pai ticular species of Sj)ongodes for T have never seen them elsewhere. They are not however always present and they seem local in oc- currence. For example, out of 14 spongodes examined on one occasion on the Ceylon banks, 10 had this ophiuroid, while of 12 examined a few days later from the same depth of water (5 to 6 fathoms) but from a locality a few miles distant, in no case was this ophim’oid seen. It is a smooth -armed species of fair size ; the disc measures 10mm. across, the arms 3^ to 4^- inches in length. It lies securely lodged among the branches, the long arms twining ivy-like in and out among them. In colour it is whitish, with five groups of pirdcish red blotches on the aboral surface of the disc, and with band-like splashes of the same colour at regular intervals on the upper surface of the arms. The rmder surface is uniformly white. The upper surface of the aixus is actually in no place quite without red pigment ; tin}' points of red occur over the whole surface, but at fairly evenly spaced intervals they are greatly increased in number and this massing gives rise to the appearance so characteristic of this species of having the arms regularly banded with pinkish red. In some individuals the general pigmentation is much more intense than in others but it can be made out in all when they are carefully examined. When moving about over the host’s branches this scheme of colouring harmonizes effectively with the pinli and white of the terminal polyp-bearing twigs. The last of the commensal cmstaceans, the clicking-prawn, Synalpheus gravieri, never exhibits any red spotting. This is no disadvantage to it, for it is too large, active and pugnacious to fear any animal that is small enough or brave enough to penetrate within the spicule-beset branches of the host. In any case its pale white tint does agree with that of the inner recesses of Spongodes. Then there is the tiny little spotted Cowry (Cypraea). It lives among the outer branches where there is a good deal of mottled reddish coloming. Its mantle, normally reflected over the whole of the shell, is accordingly spotted red, harmonizing exactly with the red and white mottling of its host. The shell itself is marked with a few large brown blotches, quite different from the numerous small red spots on the mantle ; as the latter enwraps the shell completely, the colouring showu to the world of its enemies is that of the mantle. Normally the trunk of this species of Spongodes is entire and solid looking, but a considerable proportion of large-sized individuals from one particular area of the Ceylon Pearl Banks, namely the sandy ground to the east of the Cheval Par and around the Moderagam Pars, where it is particularly abundant, have either deep pockets in the upper part of the trunk, or have wide tubes passing down this main axis. These cavities do not communicate in any way with the intrinsic canal system of the Alcyonarian. In many instances the open central U !»i>8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. tube passes completely to tbe base of the colony, with an opening to the sand beneath, situated juore or less centrally among the “ rootlets”. The upper end coramimicates with the exterior usually by a simple wide opening, occasionally by two. Such apertures occur on the side of the trunk towards its summit, well concealed by the bases of the main branches which spring from this region. When the Spongodes colonies have lain about for some time after collection, the ‘ pockets ’ and tubes are found empty ; when examined immediately the divers bring them up, a small rounded crab, a Dromia, an inch to an inch and a half across the carapace, covered with a velvety coating of short golden brown hairs, is found lodging in many — not in all, for this Dromia can be activ'c at times wlien danger is apprehended and in the cases where his tube has an opening to the sand beneath, he sometimes has time to slip down and shake liimself free of the colony as this is being drawn by the diver from its at- tachment in the sand. His smooth velvet coat facilitates this escape through the lower opening of the burrow. One Dromia only is found in each Spongodes colony. Fragments of Spongodes branchlets, bearing polyps and having every apjiearance of having been nipped og recently, are frequently present in the tuhular burrow, giving rise to the inference that Dromia uses his host’s body not only as a dwelling place, but also as a constantly renewed larder ; in such case the intruder conics really within the dehnition of parasite rather than commensal. Very often the walls of the tubular pocket or tube wherein the crab lives, is tinted a distinct red. At hrst I took this for a development of red spicules in the walls, due peihaps to special irritation, but closer examination proved it to be owing to the presence of more or less broken spicules lying loose in a mucous layer on the inner surface of the tube. It is probable then that these broken spicules are detritus from the food consumed by the crab. Quite fre- quently the scars where branchlets have been nipped og, can be seen on the surface of these crab-frequented Spongodes. As showing the great frequency of this peculiar association, on one day out of twelve Spongodes colonies obtained from the Kallatidal Par (Ceylon Pearl Banks) from a depth of 5 to 5^ fathoms, gve contained these symbiotic crabs, lodged in tubular cavities excavated in the trunk. In three instances the cavity went right through the base and opened among the rootlets. In the other two it went far down the trunk, but did not perforate the base. The upper aperture of the tube was usually close to the summit of the main axis but to one side ; in one case two apertures were present close to the top, while in another the opening was only about half way up the trunk. My observations convince n»e that these cavities are induced by the O'ab, but whether they are formed by the crab forcing its way in by continued and persistent pressure or whether they are produced by the tissues of the Spongodes colony gradually growing upwards and around the crab, we cannot as yet say. It is a well-known habit of many species of Dromia to detach fragments of sponges and compound asci- dians from their original attachment, and to hold the fragment over the carapace rvith the aid of the specially modihed hinder thoracic legs until such time as the fragment has grown and shaped itself on the under side, exactly to the convex- ity of the crab’s carapace. How this habit has been niodihed in the case of Spongodes has yet to be discovered but I am inclined to think that the associa- tion is formed early in the life of both organisms, and that from a small depres- sion in which the crab hrst lodged for safety, the subsequent change to a long wide tube is due to the continued presence of the crab necessitating the axis to grow upwards as a hollow cylinder instead of a Solid one. I do not consider it to be a gall-like growth but merely an aperture in the tissues kept open by the mechanical presence, not necessarily causing irritation, of the intruding crustacean. Possibly however the crab may help mechanically in the forma- tion of the burrow by pinching and pulling the tissues. SOME COMMENSALS OF INDIAN ALC YONARIANS. 929 In species of Spongodes of more lax growth such as S. dendrophyta, where the stem is markedly elongated, I have never found Dromia present. The habit of such species would appear to make it less fitted for concealment than in Spongodes pvlchra ; the association also appears local in its range, for while common over a considerable area off the Ceylon coast in the pearl bank region, 1 have’ never found it to occur on the Indian side, where the same species of Spongodes is equally abundant. The Commensals of Solenocavlon tortuosum. Gray. — This species is common in depths of 8 to 9 fathoms on certain coarse sandy ground off Tuticorin, parti- cularly in the vicinity of the pearl bank known as the Melonbadu Par. It is perhaps the most handsome of Indian Alcyonarians, consisting of a strong stalk rooted at its base in the sand, the projecting part a foot and even more in length, the whole suffused with shades of pinkish red. Frequenth^ the stalk, at a height of a few inches above the ground, divides into two main branches, broad and foliaceous in appearance, giving off again secondary branches even more foliace- ous, which in turn give off numerous stout terminal branchlets, bearing most ele- gant yellow tinted po]}’ps. The stalk except at the base is usually tubular, as are also usually the primary branches. The secondary branches may be either tubular or merely grooved. Variation in form is however extreme and all possible modifications may be met with both in branching and in the extent of tubulation. In some, the tubular character is even restricted to the stalk ; in others it extends only into the primary branches, the remainder being grooved in varying degree from a slight inturning of the margin to a deep semi-circular gutter. On account of this great variation Prof. S. J. Hickson* united all the previously described species into one, and I consider he is correct in this attitude. He was also the first to put forward the theory that the origin of the tubulation of the stalk and branches is due to the constant irritation caused to the tissues by the running backwards and forwards of symbiotic crustaceans belonging to the genus Alpheus. Hickson notices the presence of these Uttle prawns in the tubular portions of many of the jireserved specimens from the Maldives which came under his examination. He hazarded the suggestion that the tubular character of Solenocaulon is “of the natme of a gall produced by an active crustacean and that the degree to which it affects the secondary and tertiary branches depends, not upon any inherent specific character of the Solenocaulon, but upon the number or activity of the symbiotic Crustacea.” He instanced the weU-known fact that in such corals as Pocillopora, Seriatopora, and Millepora, which often harbour a sjunbiotic crab, its presence affects growth at the place where it settles and there induces the formation of a spherical or oval gall, “ the margins of the affected part being hypertrophied and growing round and enclosing the animal that causes the irritation”; analogous gaU-like grow'ths are produced on the branches of various corals and gorgonids bj"' the settlement thereon of various species of cirripedes, whose presence causes a local disturbance of normal growth. He pointed out also how the hypertrophied surfaces in such cases show a smoothness of surface, and in Millepora, an absence of polyps of the same character as is exhibited by the grooved surfaces of the branches and terminal twigs of Solenocaulon. The new evidence which I have adduced above showing how similar and even greater tubes are formed in the related genus of Spongodes, goes far to prove the vahdity of his main inference. My observations show however that other animals live symbiotic lives with Solenocaulon, besides the Alpheid rrentioned by Hickson. The principal of these comprise an Anoraurid, a Porcelain-crab and, most interesting of all, a tiny Gobioid fish of an hitherto undescribed sjx^cies of the genus Pleurosicya. * “ The Alcyonaria of the Maldives” in The Fauna and Geography of the Maidive and Laccadive Archipelagoes, Vol. II, Pt. II, Cambridge, 1903. 9;i0 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. The Alpheid, which clicks loudly when disturbed, is pale in colour and lives Diogenes-like in the tubular portions of the host, which are usually white- walled within, so that the colourless alpheid is indistinguishable when lying in wait in his lair for any small animals that may be tempted to enter for shelter. The little fish also uses the tubular region as a permanent home. In colour it is suffused pink over the whole body. It appears to lead a much freer life than its companion, the Alpheid, issuing forth to search for food fre- quently, but ready to retreat to his burrow on the least sign of danger. The other two of the usual commensals living with Solenocaulon, do not seem to make any particular use of the hollow and grooved branches though doubt- less they do derive some protective benefit from these facilities for hiding. They are however generally found crawling over the branchlets and among the po- lyps with which their colour assimilates perfectly. Hickson suggests that grooving and tabulation are due to the irritation of the tissues consequent upon the constant running to and fro of the Alpheid. I am inclined to think that the irritation is more direct and specific ; whether the nippers of the big chela have anything to do with it, say by pinching, is worth consideration when some one with the needful opportunity turns attention to this problem. Commensals of Gorgonids. — Gorgonids of many species are abundant on rocky and stony ground everywhere in shallow water round thejindian Fig. 1. — Wing-shells (Avicula radiata) commensal with^a sea-fan. (Original), SOME COMMENSALS OF INDIAN ALCI ONARIANS. 931 coasts. In the Gulf of Mannar on rough bottom these sea-fans and sea-whips are particularly characteristic. Unlike Spongodes their surface texture is hard and coriaceous, and as their branching is usually in one plane, they do not afford such excellent hiding places to those small animals that elect to live as commensals. But as they are well defended from attack by their hardness and spicular texture, a number of animals never- theless do seek protection by association with them. These are much better known to zoologists than those of Spongodes and Solenocaulon ; it has long been noted, for instance by Thurston*, that delicate Ophiuroids commonly chng in numbers to the branches of the larger Gorgonids, while the beautiful little Cypraeid, Ovula {Sadhis) foimosa, is sometimes found crawling along the branches and mimicing their colour exactly, whether red or yellowish-brown. Aviculids (A. radiata) have also been noted, settled on several species of sea-fans, their narrow elongated shells oriented in such way that, at least when j-oung, they blend in shape with the branches and so escape detection ; they usually settle on colonies of brownish tint similar to their own. (Fig. 1.) All these I have frequently met ■with on Gorgonids on both sides of the Gulf of Mannar, together with several other less common or conspicuous commensals. Tiny Ophiuroids are by far the most plentiful. On one great specimen of Leptogorgia austaliensis having a spread of 6J in. in height by 11 inches in width, I counted 952 individuals, and on two smaller ones from the same locality (north end of the Periya Par, Ceylon), 159 and 109 were noted I’espectively. I had understood from previous \mters that these Ophiuroids followed the common commensal rule of assimilating in colour to that of their host. My actual ex- perience showed a noteworthy discrepancy. Taking the three specimens above noted, all of dark claret colour, two colour varieties of the ophiuroid were represented, one claret-coloured, the other orange. The former however predo- minated ; of the 952 on the largest Gorgonid, 622 were of this hue, while 330 only were orange ; upon the second, 85 were claret, 74 orange, while those on the third were divided into 69 claret and 40 orange. All the Gorgonid trees taken at this particular place were claret coloured. On another occasion, on the outer Vangali Par (Cejdon) in depths of to 9 fathoms, the same species was found in remarkable abundance, over 250 colonies being obtained in one morning ; the great majority were claret coloured as in the previous case but a few were orange -coloured. All colonies, irrespective of colour, were infested heamly with the same little Ophiotrix which again showed the same two colour varieties. Whether on the orange or the claret coloured Gorgonids, the majority of the ophiuroids were of the latter colour. Correlated wnth this we must note that by far the greater number of this (3orgonid (Leptogorgia australensis) are claret colomed ; only a small minority are orange. But the same ophiuroid is also found on other species and on none more commonly than on Lophogorgia lutkeni. Now this species is characteristically and consistently orange in colour and wherever I have found it bearing these ophiuroid commensals, the latter have all been of the yellow variety. The occurrence of the yellow form only on the orange coloured Lophogorgia lutkeni, whereas both coloiu’ va- rieties are found commingled on Leptogorgia australiensis, which is predomi- nently claret coloured and only rarely yellow, suggests that the yellow variety is the original colour of the Ophiuroid and that the claret coloured ones represent a variety in process of colour evolution with a view to adaptation to the tint of the claret-hued (and predominant) variety of L. australiensis. The colour has not yet become stabilized, seeing that a large proportion, roughly 35 per cent., are still yellow among those seen on the Gorgonids of claret tint. As the orange * Thurston E. “ Littoral Fauna of the Gulf of Manaar”, Madras Government Museum Bulletin, No. 3, Madras, 1895, page 104. 932 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. ophiuroids are extremely conspicuous on such hosts, these must tend to be picked o£E by those animals that feed upon them ; this must give such an ad- vantage to those strains that produce a majority of dark coloured offspring that there can be little doubt that here we have a distinct variety in the making, whereby a strain will be formed producing none but dark coloured young to Jive on a similarly coloured host. Masking among Indian Crabs, The habit of certain crabs to seek safety by masking their body with weeds and sponges and other organisms is well known ; the spider-crabs of the fa- mily Maiidae, the velvet crabs (Dromiidae), and the various species of the sand- crab Dorippe, are those that have developed this habit to its greatest extent. They adopt two principal methods ; the first, employed by the spider-crabs, is by trimming the carapace and often the larger legs, with fragments of seaweeds, sponges, zoophytes or ascidians, which are held in position by being hooked on recurved hairs developed for this purpose, and not found on any other kind of crab. The smlace of the carapace in these crabs is very rough, usually raised into numerous low conical tubercles ; these assist in heightening the disguise ana in one case, where I had a number ot the large English Maia squinado in confinement (Jersey) in a tank bereft of seaweeds, the crabs in lieu of anything better adapted to the purpose, selected suitable pebbles and balanced them carefully among these tubercles. The second method, that of the various genera of the Dromiidse and Dorippidse, is to hold either a mass of some im- attraetive sessile animal or a flattened shell over the back as a concealing cloak; to this end the hinder legs, either one or two pairs, are employed, and specially modified both in jointing and in the form of the terminal joint. This last in these crabs is sharp and exactly suits its purpose of being hooked into the sub- stance of the concealing sponge or ascidian in the case of the Dromiidse ; in the Dorippidae the two last joints are still further modified so that they form a fairly perfect hook, pecidiarly well adapted to grasp the thin edge of a shell held aloft over the body. (Figs. 2 and 5). Fig. 2. — Dorippe facchino stripped of its masking organism, to show the two pairs of specialized thoracic limbs with their terminal hooked joints. (Original.) In the weedy shallows of Palk Bay, a small stoutly built spider-crab, Halimus sp.. is fairly common. After the manner of its kind it usually decorates its SOME COMMENSALS OF INDIAN ALCYON ARIANS. 933 shell with fragments of seaweed, but occasionally I have met with individuals that have improved on this, hy camouflaging the carapace and limbs with many worm-like Synaptids, striped very distinctively purple and white {Synapta striata). These live normally as commensals with certain rough-surfaced sjwnges ; it is evident that the crab picks these off the sponge and transfers them to its own back and limbs. (Fig. 3.) The drawing given has been made from a preserved Fig 3. — A Spider-crab (Halimus) from Palk Bay that has decorated its carapace and limbs with striped Sjniaptids for protec- tion. (Original.) specimen, after several synaptse nad been removed, but even so, it shows how symmetrically the synaptse are arranged, and particularly the way in which each leg of the crab has its own synapta, arranged so as to conceal it effectually. In addition to concealing the crab, the S3maptte give it protection through their warning colouration ; their skin is full of tiny calcareous spicules of which many are in the form of ‘anchors’, the points (flukes) projecting, so that if touched the synapta adheres like a burr and is not easily shaken off. Except in regard to the association of one species of Dromia with Spongodes as above detailed, I have little to add to what is known of the masking habits of the velvet-crabs. Most usually a massive silicious sponge is used to hide the body, as shown in figure i. In this case the sponge has been so long held in position, that its growth has gone on to such an extent that it fits the body of the crab like a glove, indeed the crab appears to be occupying merely a cavity scooped out in the underside of a massive ball of sponge. Less frequently an ascidian colony is utihzed and on one occasion I noted that -the concealing cloak carried by a tiny Dromia, only a quarter of an inch across the carapace. 934 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. • was a ramifying mass of the fine branches of the calcareous sponge Leucosolenia gi-eenish yellow in colour. Fi4. 4. — A Velvet-crab (Dromia sp.) under the mask of a stout silicious sponge. The lower figure depicts, the sponge mantle entirely hiding the crab from view the upper one shows the under side of the pair, the crab esconced in a deep hollow in the mass of the sponge. (Original). At least two species of Dorippe are common on the Madras east coast, Fig. 5. — Dorippe dorsipes, carrymg an anemone seated upon a shell. (Original). SOME COMMENSALS OF INDIAN ALCYONAltlANS. 93.) D. dorsipes and D, facc.hino (Fig. 2). Both love sandy bottom, and Dorippe dor- sipes is particularly numerous at Madras ; numbers are often to be found in the rubbish tlnown aside from fisheimen’s nets. Their usual habit here is to carry over their back a vah'e of some species of thin bivalve shell, concave side down, of size suitable for effective concealment. The illustration given (Fig. 5) shows the usual appearance of this crab when carrying his buckler in position, held securely by the claws of the two last pairs of legs ; the points of these claws show over the edge on both the fore and hinder margins of the shell. In many cases, the defence is increased by the presence on the surface of the shell of a little pale-colouroi anemone. .lust as the association of Spnapla striata with the spider-crab already noted, gives added j)rotection because of the burr-like spi- cules in the skin of the synapta, so here the crab, perching an anemone upon the concealing shell, provides himself with a whole series of ready-made batteries of stinging cells, capable of frightening away any small fishes that might otherwise penetrate the disguise of the concealing shell. Hermit-crabs are known to transfer the anemone Adamsia from other gastropod shells to those which they use for their own habitation, so here it seems certain that Dorippe has a related habit, but whether it merely selects a shell on which an anemone already is settled, or whether it actually detaches the anemone from its first foothold and then transfers it to the shell which it has already selected for its concealing cloak is not known. This is one of those interesting points that can only be settled by keej ing these animals under close observation in am Aq uarium Fig. 6. — Lumhrvs, a crab that lives o i shingly bottc m ; the carapace in this case is concealed by a mask of oyster shells and barnacles. (Original). 1.0 936 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVllI. Figure 6 shows a form of masking brought about, not by deliberate action on the part of the crab, but through its pure passivity and slowness of move- ment. It is a Lambrus, whereon an oyster (Ostrea sp.) has settled, and grown so as to cover the whole of the carapace and the legs on the left side. This crab lives on pebbly bottom and when at rest with the chelipeds folded close to the body and the other legs tucked down, such an individual as this would look a worthless morsel to tackle. The association is of long standing, for on the ori- ginal oyster two younger ones have settled, together with over a dozen bar- nacles {Balanus). Lamhrus like Calappa shams death, when disturbed. !)37 “THE BIHDS OF MESOPOTAMIA.” HY Claud B. Tkjkiiukst, M.A., ^I.B.O.U., late Captain, ll.A.M.C. ASSISTED DY P. A. Buxton, ^I.A., M.B.O.IJ., late Captain, ll.A.M.C. AND Major II. E. Cheesman, M.B.O.U., 5th Bufik. Part IV. (^With 1 plate.') (^Continued from pa[ie G7 f of this Volume.) 290. Common Gull. Larus canus. Larus canus canus L. (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 136 — Sweden). A fairly common winter visitor, more particularly perhaps to the river from Sheik Saad downwards. Bu.xton did not observe it before December and it remained common at Amara till the end of March, when it left suddenly. Neumann records it from Ras-el-Ain in February. Six specimens examined : Sheik Saad, J , 14-i2-16 ; 9, 10-2-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; (J, Sheik Saad, 28-1-18 ; 5, 24-1-18 (Robinson) ; 9, Amara, 13-1-18, 11-2-18 (P. A. B.) 291. Yellow^Ieg-ged Herring Gull. Larus argentatus. Larus argentatus cachinnans Pall. (Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. 2, 1827, p. 318 — S. E. Russia). A common winter visitor ; very numerous at Eao and not uncommon up the rivers, particularly at the sites of larger towns where food supply in the shape of offal abounds, up to and beyond Baghdad. It is recorded in every month of the year, so some non-breeders must spend the summer ; it is recorded from Basra on May 28th and in August, while by September 7tli it is common at Baghdad, whence it is also recorded in mid-July and June ; Meinerzhagen records it scouring even the desert for food. There is no evidence of the European Herring Gull occurring in Mesopota- mia. One skin exaraied : Amara, 27-11-17 (P. A. B.). 292. Lesser Black'backed Gull. Larus fuscus. 1. Larus fuscus fuscus, L. (Syst. Nat., 1758. p. 136 — Sweden). 2. Larus fuscus tahnyrensis (^affinis a,uct.) Hut. (Mess. Orn. 1911, p. 149 — Yenissei). (1) While anchored at Eao bar on November 23rd, 1917, and again on March 16th, 1918, I saw several adults of this species. Round the ship were many taim.rjrensis and cachinnaiis quarrelling for scraps, and amongst them the almost 938 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVH1. black mantle ot these birds at once drew attention. whUe as they dipped for food their bright lemon-coloured legs were easily seen. There are no other records of this species, which is probably a winter visitor to Fao district in small numbers ; Fao must be about its limit east. (2) The Siberian Lesser Black-backed Gull is common, especially at Fao and what has been said about tlie Herring Gull applies apparently equally well to this bird, except that there is no record of it north of Baghdad. 293. Great Black=headed Gull. Larus ichthyaetus. Larus ichthyaetns, Pall. (Kcisc, Russ. Rcichs. 2, 1773, p. 713 — Caspian Sea). Magrath saw huge gulls with black heads on the Suwelkiyeh Maish in August which could only have been of this species. There is no other record, but it is a bird which of course is quite likely to occur. The Sooty Gull (L. /(ewpr/cAi) which certainly occurs in the Gulf is as yet unrecorded at Fao ; though on the look out for it, I failed to see it west of Bunder Abbas in Xovember and March. 294. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus. Larus ridibundus, L. (Syst. Xat. Ed. 12. 1766, p. 225 — England). A winter visitor, very common from Fao on both rivers to Hit and Tekrit respectively. It arrives back quite early, some being noted by mid- July near Baghdad, and some may still be seen at the end of May. Possibly a few non- breeders may spend the summer as in the case of the Herring Gull, though there are no actual records in June or July. Pitman says it was quite absent from the marshes of the Hindia Barrage, etc., in these months and there is no evidence that it breeds in our area. It assumes its breeding jjlumage before leaving in the spring. They become very tame and used to the various river craft which ply in the port of Basra, and Pitman relates that he saw a heUurn wallah actually catch one in his hand as it flew over his helium in Aschar creek. There is no record of melanocephalus in our area. (^9, Sheik Saad, 14-3-17 ; J , 20-3-17 (two) (P. Z. C. and K. E. C.), $ Sheik Saad, 15-1-18 (Robinson). Amara, 13-1-18 (P. A. B.) ; Basra, 20-11-7 (C. B. T.). 295. Little Gull. Larus minutus. Larus minutus. Pall. (Reise Rnss Rcichs. 3. 1776, p. 702 — Siberia). Zarudny records this as a passage migrant in the Karun district. There are no- other records ; it is not unlikely to occur in small numbers. 296. .Slender-billed Gull. Larus gelastes. Larus (jelastes, Licht. (Theinem,. Fortpf. Vog. Eur., pt., 5, p. 22 1838 — S. France). The Slender-billed Gull is eommon artd resident; in winter it is widely distrib- uted and may be met with frequenting the rivers in flocks from Feluja and Samarra southwaids, as well as flooded areas. In summer they congregate in tlieir breeding grounds, which are the marshes and lakes in the Hindia Barrage area and elsewhere. Here near Museyib, Pitman found them in thousands in June and July ; on June 12th he found a colony of grass-built nests on islands in the marshes which, tJiough no eggs were found, he certainly took to belong to this species. Buxton records that it probably breeds in the marshes 20 miles east of Amara, where he obtained a bird on July 10th. It certainly breeds near Fao. where Armstrong found an egg in June which had been flooded out of its nest by the tides somo- tini" previously. The egg was on .a small mound in that part of the mud-banks THE BlRDci OF ME80WTAMIA. 9;^9 which are liable to be flooded by spring tides, and which lie between fao and the Abdidla Banks ; from the latter neighbourhood Gumming obtained eggs on April 24th, 1884. Tomlinson found an egg of this Gull in the marshes near Basra about June 9th, 191.3. Just before and just after the breeding season this species may be met with in huge flocks on floods, such as existed at Akkarkuf near Baghdad. Three skins examined : Akkarkuf 6-10-17 : ^ , Halfayah, 6-7-18 (P. A. B.) ; Hindia Barrage, 8-7-17 (C. R. P.). 297. Whiskered Tern. Hydrochelidon leucopareia. H ydrochelidon leucopareia (Temm.) (Man. d’Ornith. 2nd Ed. 2, 1820, p. 746 — Hungary). Gumming has recorded that the Whiskered Tern is resident all the year at Fao though all the specimens he obtained were got in August and September. Pit- man says it first arrived near Feluja on April 23rd ; he saw many on the inunda- tions west of Baghdad at the end of May. In June he found it breeding in the marshes of Babylon, Kerbela and Museyib, on both banks of the Euphrates, and took two nests of one and two fresh eggs respectively on June 3rd, and obtained a breeding bird. The nests were quite large made of grasses and aquatic plants and were almost in the water on a semi-submerged strip of land in the centre of a large marsh ; he found also many empty nests. The eggs were pale stone and pale clay buff, sparsely spotted and blotched with brownish surface, and purple- grey and slate shell markings. They average P585xP215 inch or 40x31 mm. It is noted as common near Baghdad from mid-July onwards, also on Suw'ei- k3^eh Marsh and Gheesman obtained one at Sheik Saad on December 15th. 298. White=\vinged Black Tern. Hydrochelidon leucoptera. Hydrochelidon leucoptera (Temm.) (Man. d’Ornith., 1815, p. 483 — Mediterranean shores). A common summer visitor to the marshes of lower Mesopotamia ; it arrives about the middle of April till well on into May and may then be found feeding in flocks over cornfields, stubbles, etc., as well as marshes and on the rivers. So far as I am aware no eggs were actually taken but there can be no doubt that it breeds. Magrath sa}fs it nested on the shores of the Suw'eikiyeh lake ; Tomlinson saw pairs near Basra in the breeding season, and Buxton found it common near there on May 28th and saw some on the Hamar lake on the 15th. On the mar- shes round the Hindia Barrage, Pitman found it fairly common in June and July and obtained a bird on June 12th, he thought that probably some pf the empty nests he found there belonged to this species and that on June 3rd most of these and Whiskered Terns had hatched out. He saw plenty of young on the wing there on July 2nd. After the breeding season they spread out to other marshes and floods, and Pitman noted that in August flocks were coming to the marshes near Baghdad to hawk insects at dawn and in the evening, while they were absent during the rest of the day. Buxton noted flocks passing up the river, probably on passage, every day at Baghdad from September 7th to 24th and this letter date is the last on which there is any record. This species was recorded in many places from Tekrit to the Karun river, but the onlj' places where there w'as at all any evidence of its breeding are those mentioned. Zarudny curiously omits this Tern from his list, but says the Black Tern {H. nigra) is a passage migrant. We have no records of this species. 299. Common Tern. Sterna hirundo. Sterna hirundo, L. {=fluviatilis, auct.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, 1758, p. 137 — Sweden). The Common Tern seems to be resident in Mesopotamia moving about locally but as there few winter records perhaps the majority are summer visitors 940 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII^ Zarudny says it occurs in winter in the Karun river and Pitman records it all the year on the rivers and marshes but nowhere common except at the nesting places. By March 20th I found it common on the lower reaches of the Shat-el-Arab, otherwise all the other records relate to the breeding season. Tomlinson says it breeds near Basra early in June on sandy islets in the in- undation ; Cheesman found it breeding at Gurmat Ali and the Hamar lake, and Buxton on the drying marshes east of Amara. It probably breeds at Ahwaz. Pitman found large colonies nesting in June in the marshes of the Hindia Barrage; no nest was made, the eggs being laid in a scrape or natural depression ; over 100 fresh eggs were examined on June 2nd and 3rd and many eggs were destroyed through the rising of the water ; 49 eggs varied from l'33-l’6x P04 — P2 inches (or 33’75 — 40’5x26'5 — 30‘5 mm.) ; the ground colour varied through all shades of green to almost deep blue. This Tern probably nests in many other places, such as the Tekrit area where Logan Home saw it in June. Skins obtained : J - Basra, 19-4-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Hindia Barrage, 2-6-17, 25-6-17 (C. R. P.). * Several observers thought they saw the Arctic Tern in Mesopotamia, but so far I we have no evidence that it occurs. 300. Little Tern. Sterna minuta. | Sterna minuta minuta, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, 1766, p. 228 — S. Europe) The actual status of the Little Tern is doubtful, probably most are summer visitors, though perhaps here and there a few spend the winter. Thus Pitman says that at Kut some were seen after heavy rain in winter and I saw two over the river at Basra on November 23rd. On April 18th Cheesman noted parties flying up the river at Basra all day, evidently a movement up to some breeding ground ; Pitman records the arrival at Eeluja on April 29th. It breeds in many places from Tekrit to Fao ; the site usually chosen is the bare dry ground on the edge of a flooded area, or islands in marshes, and conse- quently, as with the Common Tern, many nests are destroyed when the floods rise. Two eggs form the usual clutch, but sometimes three are laid ; 13 eggs average P15 — L29X’9 — '97 inch (or 26'5 — 32’75 X 22‘75 — 24‘5 mm.) according to Pitman who says the ground colour in some cases was greenish stone. It breeds on sandy islands on the Karun at Ahwaz. The majority have left by the end of September, and Buxton records an apparent migration up the Tigris at Baghdad from the 7th to 26th. Four skins examined ; Fao, 12-5-18 (Armstrong) : Kurna, 8-6-19 ; Basra, 16-8-19 (Logan Home). ; Basra, 18-4-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.). Besides these there are a good many from Fao in the B. M. ; all belong to minuta, the typical race, and not one of them is saundersi (the type and a large series of topo-types of which I have examined). Saundersi has been recorded from Fao by Sharpe and is said to breed near the Abdulla Banks. Armstrong’s bird which was breeding on the dry mud above high water maik at Fao however, and all Cumming’s birds in the B. M. are m. minuta. Zarudny records saundersi as rare in winter in the Karun district, but at pre- sent I consider that it should be deleted from the Mesopotamian list. 301. Large Crested Tern. Sterna bergii. Sterna bergii relax, Cretzsch (Rupp. Atlas, p. 21, 1826). Camming states (Ibis. 1891) that he obtained six eggs at P'ao ; probably it breeds on one of the islands in the head of the Gulf and must occur off the Fao littoral and the entrance to the Shat-el-Arab where Harrison says he saw it : it is not likely to penetrate inland. According to Hartert it is the above race which occurs in the Persian Gulf, — I have seen no specimens thence. THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 941 302. Lesser Crested Tern. Sterna media. Sterna media hengalensis. Less. (Traiti, p. 621, 1831). The only record of the Lesser Crested or Allied Tern I can find is that of one shot at Fao in June 1900 by Mr. Ffinch ; it is in the British Museum. It must occur commonly off Fao one would think ; it breeds on an islet near the island of Arabe in great numbers (Hume’s Nests and Eggs 4, p. 299). Pitman thought he saw it on the floods near Baghdad but so essentially a sea tern is not in the least likel}' to occur inland. The White-cheeked Tern (titerna albigena auct) may occur off Fao ; it breeds on Allah island 40 miles east of Bushire (Hume 1. c., p. 312) in June. 303. Lesser Sooty Tern. Sterna ansethetus. Sterna ancethetus (Del. Faun, et Flor. Ins. 2, 1786, p. 92 — Phillipine Islands). This Tern breeds on Allah off Tungistan, east of Bushire in June and July (Hume t. c., pp. 300, 312). Its only claim to inclusion is Zarudny’s statement that he saw two skins which had been obtained at the mouth of the Karun river at Mohommera. 304. Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia. Sterna, caspia, Pall. (Nov. Comm. Petrop. pt. 14, 1, 1770, p. 582 — Caspian Sea). This fine Tern is resident in Lower Mesopotamia, and breeds on Warba island of the Khor Abdulla whence Huskisson obtained eggs and a parent bird for Butler on April 3rd, 1878 (Hume's Nests and Eggs 4, p. 296). In the non-breeding season it is not very uncommon on the rivers up to at any rate as far as Samarra and doubtless visits the lakes as well ; even in the breeding season odd non-breeding birds may be met with. It is commoner on the Shat-el-Arab than elsewhere. 305. Gull=billed Tern. Sterna anglica. Sterna anglica, Montagu (Orn. Diet. SuppL, 1813 — England). The Gull-billed Tern is also resident and is fairly common. I saw them at intervals all the way up the river to Basra on November 20th and again on March 16th. Cumming records that it is resident and breeds on both sides of the river at Fao. It also breeds on Warba island abundantly in a tightly packed colony, but on a different part of the island to the Caspian Terns ; eggs were obtained by Huskisson on April 3rd, 1878 (Hume's Nests and Eggs). Pitman thinks that some were breeding on dry islands in the flooded area of the Euphrates marshes near Museyib, but eggs he obtained in the first week of June are all far smaller than any known eggs of this species and measure about 43 •7x31 ‘75 mm. ; as he did not see the birds on the nests it is very doubtful whether these eggs belong 1.0 this species though it is quite possible they were breeding there as he saw and obtained specimens. Two skins examined : — L. Akkarkuf, 12-8-17 (C. R. P.), Basra, 21-11-17 (C. B. T.). 306. Great Crested Grebe. Podiceps cristatus. Podiceps cristatus cristatus, L. (Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 135 — Sweden). So far as is known the Great-crested Grebe is a winter visitant in small numbers to the rivers and inundations. Pitman obtained two adults in breeding dress on L. Akkarkuf on August 21st, so that it is within the bounds of possibility some may breed in our area ; all other records relate to the winter months. Five skins examined: — Amara, 17-12-18 (P. A. B.); S, Amara, 7-1-18 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.), 2 L. Akkarkuf, 21-8-17 (C. R. P.); Amara. 12-2-17 (Bagnall). These seem in no way different to west European examples. 942 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, VoL XXVIII. 307. Black-necked Grebe. Podiceps nigricollis. Podiceps nigricoUis nigricollis, C. L. Brehin. (Viig. Deutschl., 1831, j). 963 — E. Germany). Apparently resident in small numbers ; Pitman records that he found this species breeding in the marshes west of Museyib near the Barrage in May and June and that it was still present in July. He found two nests on June 2nd each containing a single egg ; these measure 1 • 83 X 1 ■ 21 and 1 ■ 74 x 1 • 23 inches. On L. Akkarkuf he often saw 6 or 8 adults together in August and obtained specimens. In winter this species spreads out and may be found in the rivers ; Xeuman records it from Ras-el-Ain. Fivm skins examined : Amara, 25-12-17 (P. A. B.) ; Kut, 18-3-18 (Hob- kirk): Sheik Saad, 13-12-16 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.); 9, Sheik Saad, 22-12-17 (Robinson). 308. Little Greb2. Podiceps fluviatilis. Podiceps fluviatilis capensis, Salvad. (Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova., (2) 1, p. 2.52, 1884 — Shoa). The Little Grebe is fairly common and resident. Pitman found it breeding commonly in the marshes west of Muse3’ib in June and during the first fortnight of that month found manj' nests, quite a number being in quite a small area. The nests contained 4 to 6 and even 7 eggs in various stages of incubation. These measured P305 — P51 X ‘915 — P09 inches (or 3.3 — 38’5x23 — 27 '5 mm.) they varied much in size and shape. Tomlinson recorded it breeding at Basra and found six nests in a small area on June 9th. In winter it spreads out and maj' be found on the rivers and inundations where it is not to be found in the breeding season. Three skins examined : 9 > Amara, 15-2-18 (P. A. B.); L. Akkarkuf, 19-7-17 (two) (C. R. P.). These are clearlj^ capensis and not the European bird ; in the latter the white of the flight feathers is alwaj^s confined to the inner webs of the secondaries ; in capensis the amount of white is more extensive on the secondaries and extends to the outer web also ; moreover the white extends to all except the first three or four primaries, alwaj'S on the inner, often on to both webs. 309. Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus. Rallus aquaticus Icorejewi, Zar. sOrn. Monats., 1905, p. 209 — N. E. Tm’kestan). The Water Rail is a winter visitor, probably fairlj'^ common, but, like all Rails, being unobtrusive few came under observation. It appears to be generally distributed in suitable localities and the records range from September 10th to February 9th. One was caught in a “ dug out ” at Samarra. Four skins examined: — 9. Basra, 9-2-19 (Armstrong); Samarra, 24-12-17 (C. R. P.); Sheik Saad, 10-9-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.); one Amara (P. A. B.). These I refer to the eastern race with the paler markings on the upper parts. 310. Spotted Crake. Porzana porzana. Porzana porzana, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, 1766, p. 262 — France). This Crake is not very uncommon on both migrations and most come under observation by being caught exhausted or being found dead under the telegraph wires. We have no evidence that it breeds or winters on Mesopotamia ; there are several records between March 18th and May 20th in the spring and August 27th and October on the autumn passage. I JouRN. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE VII. Photo. Capf. C. II. Pitma)i. A. — Nest and eggs of Little Grebe. 12-6-17. Near Euphrates Barrage. (Eggs uncovered for photo.) Photo. Capt. C. R. Pitman, B. — Marshes near Kurna, R. Tigris. Amongst other breeding birds in these parts are: — Pygmy Cormorants, Darters, Little Grebes, Reed Warblers, Gallinules. Birds of Mesopotamia. V V THE BIBDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 943 Six speoiin^iis obtiiiisd : Shaibi, 23-9-16: 9 , Saad, 7-4-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. 0.): L. AkkirkuF, 27-8-17 (C. R. P.); Amira, 20-.‘3-19 (L. Home); 2, Amaia (P. A. B.). 311. Little Crake. Porzana parva. PorziiVt px'v^, ScTp. (Ann. 1 Hist. Nat., 1769, p. 108 — Carniola). Apparently a winter visitor and not very uncommon. Chcesman obtained one at Sheik Saad on September 1.3th out of a melon bed. Pitman thought it was fairly common in the marshes of Kurna on Mai'ch 24th. Tomlinson records it from Basra in February and on May 16th. Zarundy gives it as a winter visitor. Four skins examined : Basra, 8-3-17 (Stevens) : 9 > Sheik Saad, 13-9-17, (P.Z.C. and R.E.C.);(^,Feluja, 23-4-17 (C. R. P.) ; Samarra, 11-3-18 (Hobkirk). 312. Baillon’s Crake. Porzana pusilla. Porz'in'x pusilla intermedia (Herm). (Obs. Zool. 1, p. 198, 1804 — - Strasbourg). • Cumming obtained one at Fao in October and records it as a winter visitor. Pitman says he saw several in the marshes at Kurna whilst shooting in January; Cumining’s bird belongs to the above race. 313. Corncrake. Crex crex. Crex crex (L.) (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 153 — Sweden). The Corncrake is a passage migrant in spring and autumn, it arrives during the last half of April and may be met with till the third week in May ; the return passage begins about the middle of September and lasts well into October. At these times it is not uncommon. Cumming has recorded that stray ones may be seen in .June and July and all have gone by the beginning of December; we have no evidence of it I’emaining to breed nor have we any winter records. It is interesting to note that this bird was found at the Oasis of Shaiba on the autumn passage and one must suppose that it intended to continue its flight across Arabia ; in slight confirmation of this I may mention that [ obtained some years age the wings of corncrakes from two lied Sea light-houses on spring and autumn migrations, together with those of a Scops Owl, Persian Bee-eaters. Rollers. Quails, Spotted Crakes, etc. (Sanganeb Lt. off P. Sudan and Daedalus Lt.). Four specimens examined : 9 > »5haiba, 17-9-16,4-10-16 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.): Feluja, 20-4-17 (two) (C. R. P.). 314. Water Hen, Gallinula chloropus Gallinula chloropus parvifrons, Blyth. (J. A. S. B. 1843, p. 180 — Calcutta). Common everywhere in the marshes in winter and also breeds in suitable places. Probably a certain number are winter visitors and passage migrants. Cheesman records that one was shot from the top of a 30-foot Tamarisk at the Oasis of Shaiba on September 30th which, had it resumed its migrations, must have taken it into Arabia. Logan Home found two nests at Basra on May 22nd and Tomlinson records finding eggs there from June 9th to 21st. Cheesman noted that a pair took up their quarters and apparently intended to breed in a small reed covered pool which after being dry and bare for six months had become filled by the river floods in April. Hobkirk found a nest of eggs on June 6th at Girdilaun. Four skins examined : 9, Basra, 6-2-19, w. 152 '5 (Armstrong); d , Kazimain. 6-5-19 (breeding), w. 166; d , Shaiba, 30-9-16, w. 170 (P. Z. C. and R, E. C.); 9, Amara, 6-4-18, w. 1.53 (P. A. B.). 16 944 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. From the smallness of these birds they must belong to the eastern race parvi- frons with which they well agree. Grant (Ibis. 1915, p. 47) in a revdew of races of the Water-hen gives as the measurements of this race: 155-175; $, 159- 162. Our birds come well -vvithin these measurements, in fact the two females are smaller than his minimum. It is interesting to find this race so far west and it is in keeping with what we know about the occurrence of not a few other eastern races in our area. 315. Coot. Fulica atra. “ Dijaj Mai.” FiiUoa aim, L. (Syst. Xat., 1758, p. 152 — Sweden). In its general distribution the Coot is very common in winter in all the marshes and inundations while parties may be met with on the rivers right down to Fao. Probably many are winter visitors but in some places, at all events it breeds. Thus Pitman found many breeding in the marshes west of Museyib near the Barrage in June and on the 9th found a clutch of five incubated eggs ; in July, August and September he saw many adults and young ones. Buxton met with several on the Hamar Lake on May 19th so it is quite likely that it breeds there also. Livesay also obtained eggs, probably in the Euphrates marshes. Magi-ath records that the Coots were very tame and familiar and used to swim round when “ Tommy ” was bathing and pick at the soap suds. The bridge of boats at Samarra was a constant source of annoyance to the flock of coots which used to live all day above it ; the current drifted them down to the bridge whence they used to flap up stream again to their chosen spot only to be drifted down again and so on ad infinitum. 316. Purple Qallinule. Porphyrio poiiocephalus. “Birhan.” Porphyria poliocephalus poliocephalus, hath. (Ind. Orn. Suppl. p. Ixviii, 1801 — India). Common and resident in all suitable large marshes, where reeds are plentiful; Cheesman records that it was apparently going to breed in the Horr Sanef. Bux- ton found it breeding in the Hamar Lake on May 19th — 21st where he found their nests containing three to four eggs, fresh to much incubated. Pitman saw plenty in the marshes west of Museyib and found a nest of four eggs on June 9th nearly hatching. Marshall and Tomlinson found nests at Kurna, three eggs on May 15th and four eggs on May 3rd. Logan Home found it breeding plentifully at Abu Aran in June. The nest built in reed beds, where the water is two to four feet deep, resembles a coot’s nest and is made of dead reeds with a few stalks bent over above to make a slight screen. The Arabs collect the eggs for eating. Ten specimens examined : (J $ , Horr Sanef, 20-3-18 (P. Z. C. and K. E. C.) ; (J, Amara, 12-5-18 : 3 J, 29> Hamar Lake, 20-5-18 ; Amara, 5-1-18 (P. A. B.). Besides these I have examined three others on the British Museum from Mesopotamia. The typical race comes from the peninsular of India ; there has been described a race — seistanicus — from Seistan by Zarudny and Harms (J.F.O., 1911, p. 240), differing from the Caspian bird by the paler coloration, and the Caspian bird has been described by Hartert as caspius (Novit. 24, p. 266) on account of its larger size as compared with the typical race. The question therefore arises as to what race tlie Mesopotamian birds belong. Hartert gives as wing measure- ments of ca.spiMiqJ , 270 — 286,9 259 — 266 mm. Our birds measure 257 — 272, 9 239-2.55 mm., and three unsexed examples 224, 250, 253, so evidentl}'^ our birds are not caspius, in fact they agree well in measurement with and are not at all paler than Indian peninsular examples. — Indian birds (both sexes) measure 237-271 mm. Nor can I find an_v difference b3^ which our birds maj' be differen- tiated from Indian birds either in size of bill or tarsi or feet, all of which vary very much. THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 945 Zarudny in his list of birds of the Karun district places P. ceruleus ? as a com- mon resident. The only information Zarudny had concerning Gallinules he ob- tained from the Arabs who described to him the birds and nests, and he supposed that it would be this species which occurred in the Hawaizie marshes. Jourdain informs me (in lilt.) that he has 12 eggs of seisfanicus from Mesopotamia ; I know not how he arrived at the determination of these eggs, the average measure- ments of which he gives as 50x37’5 mm. (almost exactly the same as Blanford gives for the Indian bird) ; if he was going on the eggs themselves it would only show that the eggs of these two races cannot be differentiated, as I am not aware that seistanicus occurs in Mesopotamia at all. As Hartert described caspins from five birds from Lenkoran and two from E. Persia, it would seem highly probable that caspius is the same as seistanicus. F. cceriiletis does not occur at all ; specimens, which were referred to this, in the British Museum from Mesopotamia are in fact poliocephalus. 317. Stock Dove. Columba senas. Columha cenas, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 162, 175S — Sweden). Woosnam found the Stock Dove plentiful on the Diz and Kerkha rivers in the Karun district, where Zarudny also records it as a winter visitor and passage migrant. Pitman thought he saw it at Sheik Saad in January and at Kut in November. There is a specimen from Baghdad in the British Museum obtained by Loftus. Cheesman met with it. Brooking has recorded that it was heard occasionally at Nasariyeh and Raniadi. Zarudny has described a TAce-hyrcana- from the S. Caspian region ; two specimens I have examined from near Shiraz in winter differ in no way from English ones. 318. Wood Pigeon. Columba palumbus. Columba pal ambus palumbus, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 163, 1758 — Sweden). The Wood Pigeon is extraordinarily local in Mesopotamia. Round Basra it is not uncommon and as there are records of it there in small numbers from March to August, it must certainly breed there. Gumming records that, in one year only, many visited Fao and built in the date palms there, but left again as sud- denly as they arrived. At Baghdad it appears to be resident and fairly common and it must breed there also, though no nests were reported ; Cheesman however was assured by the natives that they do nest there in the gardens. It occurs and is probably resident in the foothill towns of the Karun district as Diz, where Woosnam records it, and Shush, where Cheesman saw and heard them on May 3rd. Buxton, who was at Amara for some time, never met with it there nor at any other place during his wanderings except at Baghdad ; Pitman at Feluja, Museyib, and Samarra failed to see it and Logan Home only came across it at Basra. Brooking in his list of birds observed by him says the “ Ring Dove ” is common and breeds in the palm groves of the Euphrates, but he almost certainly refers to a Dove and not the Wood Pigeon. Hingston records it from Khanjedidah in Ajuil. Livesay obtained eggs but failed to supply any further details. It would certainly seem that this Pigeon is a bird of palm groves, but yet does not occur everywhere the palm does. Its status requires further examination. Cheesman says the cooing and love flights are exactly similar to those of the English bird, but he noticed a constant difference in the bill which he says is “ putty white,” nostril pinkish, instead of the usual coloration ; he verified this in about a dozen birds shot in winter. This difference is lost in dried skins, as those which I have seen from Mesopotamia differ in no way from the English birds nor could I detect any other difference by which they could be sepaiated ; to separate the Mesopotamian Wood Pigeon as a distinct race, therefore, only on coloration of bill in life would, I hardlj- tliink, serve an5' useful purpose. 946 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVII L Six specimens examined : 9 , Baglidad, 21-9-17 (P. A. B.); 9, Baghdad, 14-1 19, 22-1-19 (two); $, 11-2-19, 9-2-19 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.). The eastern form ci.yiotis does not, so far as I am aware, occur. 319. Rock Dove. Columba li via. Columha livia gaddi, Zar. and Loud. (Orn. Monats. 1906, p. 133 — Kanin R.). Common and resident wherever suitable places exist ; it swarms in most of the larger towns, as at Mosul and Baghdad, and is semi-domesticated, all being how- ever pure blue, none of the mongrel kinds seen in most places having as yet been introduced. In the towns it frequents houses and particularly mosques and so enjoys a considerable amount of protection. Elsewhere it inhabits ruins, and the arch at Ctesiphon swarms with them ; all along the cliffs in the Tekrit and Samarra districts it is abundant, and it nests in the Euphrates Barrage at Hindiyeh and in wells at many places. It is common enough in the towns of the Karun district and occurs in the Jebel Hamrin, as at Mendali, in cliffs many miles from any habita- tion. Where no suitable sites exist for it as at Kut, Ali Gharbi, Sheik Saad and Fao it is rare or absent. There is nothing very particular to note about its nest- ing habits ; as elsewhere more than one brood is reared and Pitman records fresh eggs and fledged young in June. At the Barrage no nest is made, the eggs being deposited on the bare shelves. Five skins examined: Mendali, 2-8-18 (P. A. B ); Adhaim, 15-11-17 ; Samaira, 7 3-18 (C.R.P.) ; Amara, 9-2-18 (P.Z.C. and R. E. C.); Shustar. 18-1-18 (F. M. B.). In addition to these five I have examined two others from “ Mesopota- mia one from Biridjik ; one from Kharag Is. off Bushire ; three from Palestine ; one from Muscat and a very large series from Afghanistan, Belu- chistan, X. W. India and Turkestan. As regards the Palestine, Mesopotani’an and S. W. Persian birds these are not the typical race, the upper parts are distinct- ly paler and the birds are smaller. Rock pigeons vary very considerably through- out their range and doubtless introduced stock in some places upsets all attempts at classification into races; but if one is going to recognize races of this pigeon at all, one must consider what race the Mesopotamian bird belongs to; it is certainly not livia as already pointed out, and it is equally certainly not intermedia. Several observers thought they saw intermedia in Mesopotamia because they saw Rock pigeons with bluish rumps. From the very large series I have seen from the above mentioned localities there was not a single example of intermedia (which is a fairly distinct race from Central and South India), and as for the colour of the rump in our Mesopotamian birds, it goes for nothing; some are pure white, others pale blue grey, and some are white tinged with this colour, but none has the slate grey of inter?nedia ; it is purely an individual variation. Zarudny and Loudon described gaddi from the Karun river, their description tallies well with our Mesopotamian birds and the latter are all quite similar to a topo-type of gaddi from Shustar ; quite the same also are the three birds from Palestine and the birds from Biridjik and Kharag Island — all are rather pale and rather small (wings 21.5 — 227 mm.) and therefore I consider palestinxB of Zedlitz (J. F. 0. 1912, p. 339) to be a .synonym of gaddi. The Muscat bird is paler than any others I have seen and more from this locality are desirable. 320. Turtle Dove. Streptopelia turtur. “ Tabaan ” 1. Streptopelia turtur arenicolor (Hart.) (Novit. Zool. 1894, p. 42 — Fao). 2. Streptopelia turtur turtur (I,.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x. p. 164, 1758 — England). The eastern race of the Turtle Dove is an exceedingly common summer visitor to the whole of our area and also a passage migrant through the country. The THE BIRDS OF MESOBOTAM lA. '.<47 first few arrive in the last days of March and they become numerous througliout April ; many leave during September and few are to be seen up to October 25th. Cheesman and Buxton found it rare at Baghdad and thought that it only occurred there on passage, its place being taken there, as a breeding bird by the Indian Ring Dove {S. decaocto); otherwise it breeds freely in all areas from Tekrit to Fao and Karun district. Nests ready for eggs may be found in the last days of April ; eggs are reported during the first week of May and are general bj’ the middle of the month and may be found well on into June ; its nesting habits do not appear to differ from those of the European bird. Large flocks probably of passage migrants were noted in the Samarra district in April and in the willow' jungles at Shush on May 3rd, while Magrath saw' flocks migrating over the Sanniyat position regardless of a heavy artillery bombard- ment. Elev'en specimens examined: Amara, 6-6 18, 24-4 18. 9, 26-10-18; d, Baghdad, 29 7 18 (P. A. B.). Sheik Saad, 2 4-17; Zobeir, 11-5-16; 9, Basra, 2 8-16. Baghdad, 11-4-19 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.). Wadi, 26-4-17 {Y) All these are arenicolor with paler wing coverts and sca.pulars, and usually paler mantle and head, than the European birds. One specimen shows the “rufous phase” which is also to be found in the typical race. (2) The typical race according to Wcigold passes through Urta on spring mig- ration from April 16th onwards. Sassi records it from RIosul, Zarudny gives it as a passage migrant in the Karun district. Vl'itherby identified one from Eeridan in W. Persia obtained by Woosuam on May 10th as belonging to this race. Pitman obtained two at Foluja on j).assage on Apiil 11th which from their dar- ker colour I assign to the typical race. They match British specimens well. 321. Indian Rin,2T-Dove. Streptopelia decaocto ( = risorius auct.) “Fuchtee."’ Streptopelia decaocto decaocto (Friv.) (A. M. Tarsasag Evkiinyvei, 1834-36, hi, p. 183, 1838— Turkey). Where this dove occurs it is quite common arid its bleeding distribution is evi- dently much influenced by the presence or absence of date palm groves. From Fao to Kurna it is resident and breeds, as also up the Eujjhrates where palm groves exist and also at Baghdad w'here it is common. In some places, such as Amara, Kut, Qalet Saleh it is a winter visitor and not at all common even then, a flock perhaps frequenting the same spot where food is plentiful, such as mule lines, etc., all the w'inter ; w'hile in other places, as Feluja and the Samarra-Tekrit area where the locality is not suited to it, it w'ould appear to be absent altogether. It nests usually in palm trees, sometimes as high uj) as 30 feet, and the nesting season is a long one, eggs being re2)ortcd eai ly in May up to Se2)tember. Four specimens e.xamined : Basra, 28-7-16; 9, Ka'/.imain, 30-3-19 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.): 9, Baghdad, 11-9-17, , 23-1-18 (P. A. B.) 322. Little Brown Dove. Streptopelia senegalensis. Streptopelia senegalensis camhayejisis (Cm.). (Syst. Nat. I. 2, jc. 779, 1789 — Cambay, Bombay Pres.) The status of this dove is quite unknow'n in Mesopotamia. Cumming obtaine Samarra. 22-2-18 (C. R. P.); 2 2> Amara, 11-16 (Connor) ; Shaiba, 6-16 (Graham) ; Shaiba, 6-16 (Ingoldby) ; pull, Mendali 3-8-18 (P. A. B.). Zarudny and Loudon have described (Orn. Monats. 1906, p. 132) a race bogdanovi from the Karim district. Mesopotamian birds compared with N. Persian birds shew no constant difference and I look upon this supposed race as being in- separable from caudacutus, and bogdanovi, therefore, a synonym. The downy chicks of nearly aU Sand-grouse are so little or else not knovn that I will give a description of the one obtained by Buxton. The chick has feathers sprouting and so the pattern is lost. Down Plumage — Clipper parts : Head, cheeks and ear coverts are a mixture running more or less in lines of (1) pale ginger brown with faint black tips, (2) creamy white ; back and scapulars — a mixture of (1) and (2), the black tips on (1) more marked. This down is being pushed out by first feathers. Under parts are covered by a long, rather hair-like, down which is being pushed out by pale isabeUine first feathers. Wing coverts — -On the lesser rows the dowm is pale ginger, on the rest creamy white. Everywhere the brown down canies long black hair-like filaments, espe- cially noticeable on the head and neck ; these filaments are carried one on each component of each tuft of down ; the white do'wn carries short white filaments longest on the coverts. Feathers of the upper parts nut-brown with blackish border and whitish edges. The do"wny young of this Sand-grouse was figured in the P. Z. S., 1866, plate 9. 326. Close-barred Sand=grouse. Pterocles lichtensteinii. This Sand-grouse is evidently quite rare or very local. Magrath assures me that two or three w'ere shot near Shaiba (whence the Society has a skin) and that he personally handled them, and he also met ■with it at Sanniyat. The Arabian desert, border is the most likely place for it, as rocky hiUs are not far distant and it might occur along the Jebel Hamrin foot-hOls ; however there are no other re- cords on which rehance can be placed. Zarudny records a supposed race of this Sand-grouse, arabicus, as a winter visitor, but of all Sand-grouse, I believe the rock haunting species to be the most sedentary. The Coronetted and Common Indian Sand-grouse were reported to have been seen but no specimens were obtained, and further confirmation is desirable ; Zarudny gives the latter as a rare winter visitor, and Gumming thought he saw it flying over Fao. 327. See See. Ammoperdix ^riseigularis { bonhami auct.) Ammoperdix griseigularis ter-meuleni (Orn. Jahrb., 1904 p. 221 — Karun District, S. W. Persia). Common and resident wherever hiUy country occms, as in the Ahwaz-Shustar district and all along the Jebel Hamrin range to Mosul, the cliffs and ravines of the Diala and Adhaim rivers and the Tigris from Sindia to Fatah Gorge, and at Hit on the Euphrates. It is eminently a bird of stony hill sides, ravines and broken nullahs ; on the plains proper it never occurs. Common where it occurs, it may be found in coveys up to twenty (which break up into pairs about February), but no large bags are made, as it much prefers running to flying, and it can get over broken ground far quicker than the sportsman can ! The breeding season is May and June. Cheesman found a female containing eggs on May 2nd, but full THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 9o3 clutches are not to be expected till towards the end of the month. Aldworth found a nest of two eggs on MaylSth in the ruins ofAl-a-jib in the Samarra district, and Thornhill a clutch of eight on May 24th in the same district. Tomlinson has recorded the finding of nests at Bund-i-kir. Here the banks of the Karun are steep and rocky and about 40 feet high; from a likely looking hole about 10 or 12 feet from the ground a See See was flushed from the nest about two feet down the hole, the nest contained 1 1 fresh eggs on I\Iay 28th . Another nest on the same day was also in a hole about two and a half feet deep, like a small jackal’s hole, in a sloping bank of a gully and contained 13 eggs. Mr. Jourdain informs me that the average of 23 Mesopotamian eggs is 36 X 25’8 mm. Pitman noted that See See hide up in the day time and come out on to the plateau, scrub and camp areas to feed and drink morning and evening. The squeaky eall note is rather like that of the Amrnomanes. Eight skins examined : (J $ , Mendali, 3-8-18 (P. A. B.) ; Maidan-i-Naptun, 29-5-17. Shush, $, 3-5-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; $, Adhaim, 1-10-17, 11-11-17 (two) ; $, Samarra, 7-2-18 (C. R. P.) There are also in the British Museum a pah from Bund-i-kir, a pair fromBushire and a male from “Mesopotamia.” Comparing this series with a series of typical griseigularis Mi-. Kinnear and I have come to the conclusion that Zarudny’s race is just recognizable (several sportsmen thought that the bhds they got were different to the Indian ones). The Mesopotamian birds are, in the males, more sandy on the back and more vinous on the head ; the more rusty coloration of the spots on the neck does not hold good ; the females are distinctly paler and more marked in difference than the males. Wings : c? ?, 121-140 mm. Young in down are desiderata. Zarudny gives the typical race also as resident jn small numbers in the Karun district, where his ter-meuhni is common ! 328. Chukar. Alectoris grseca. Alectoris graeca weroe (Zar. and Loud.) (Orn. Jahr. 15, p. 225 — S. Lauristan and Arabistan). There is little to record about the Chukar in our area, it certainly occurs in places in the Jebel Hamrin range as at Khanikin and Kizil Robat and probably elsewhere, while Brooking has recorded that a pair were seen in April near Hit on the Euphrates. There are two specimens in the British Museum labelled “ Bagh- dad” obtained by Loftus, probably from the Jebel Hamrin, and Logan Home thought he saw it at Fatah Gorge.* It is common round Mosul. No specimens were brought home. ‘ I have examined these two Mesopotamian birds and five others from S. W. Persia and I think that werce must be considered a distinct pale race. Wings : d ? 155-179 mm. , 329. Black Partridge, Francolinus vulgaris. Francolinus vulgaris arabistanicus (Zar. and Harms.) (Ornith. Monats, April 1913 — Arabistan). The Francolin or Black Partridge is common in suitable places throughout our area ; it is of course resident, inhabiting any thick scrub, especially tamarisk and liquorice, thick grass and cultivation of all sorts, a most favourite place being scrub along irrigation canals. Very good Black Partridge country is to be found between Kut and Sheik Saad and also up the Karun river. It is common in the scrub of the Tekrit flats, but at Samarra it is rare owing to unsuitable conditions. The breeding season is May and June ; Pitman at Feluja found three nests of five, seven and eight eggs respectively between the 6th and 8th of May and * Since writing the above, Stoneham assures me that he knew of several obtained by sportsmen at Fatah, and I have heard of others being obtained in the more southern parts of this range. 954 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol XXV III. Cheesman found a brood hatched out at Amara on May 28th. A nesb of eggs is reported from Basra on June 1st, and a covey strong on the wing at the end of June at Kut, while a clutch of 6 eggs just hatching was found there on June 23rd. These discrepancies in dates of laying are doubtless due to acci- dents to first nests. The eggs vary much in colour ; Gumming records four types — plain olive, dark olive, bluish olive and dark stone and the gives as measurements 1’6— 2'Ox 1 •2—1 ‘35 inches (or in millimetres 40‘5 — 50‘5x30'5 — 34’3). The nest is a mere hollow in the ground and is placed usually in scrub and near water. The young are easily hand reared on flies, grasshoppers and grain. The male starts calling early in March and calls up to July, a few do so in August and odd ones even in November, but as a rule it does not call in winter. Watts and Magrath, who both know the Indian bird well, considered that the call of the Mesopotamian bird was different ; Ludlow and .Thornhill both told me that the call had an extra syllable. The chicks make a noise like the chirrup of a cricket. When Baghdad was first occupied this Partridge was common there but it rapidly became rare, and it was only a beneficent army order which saved it here and in other places from very serious diminution, a close season being insti- tuted from March 15th to September 1st. They chiefly feed in the morning and evening, in the heat of the day they lie up in thick cover ; where scrub is not available they may be found in the thick reeds along irrigation canals. From one bird shot at Beled 284 grains of barley were taken, but there is also a balance on the other side as Buxton found the crop of another bird crammed with the harmful locust Decticus albifrons, and probabl}' the good they do outweighs the harm. Nineteen spe6imens obtained : X Kut, 9-8-18 ; Amara, 28-5-18, 13-7-18, 17-1-18, 3-4-18, 4-11-17 ?. 26-10-17, 20-10-17, 31-10-18 (P. A. B.) ; $ , Qalet Saleh, 25-11-17: (two) 9 . Kumait, 28-2-18; 9 • Amara, 25-12-17, 25-9-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; d, Kut, 11-16 (Perreau) ; d, Kut (Robinson); Basra 20-11-.17; cf, 21-11-17. (two) (C. B. T.) Besides these I have seen also in the British Museum three more males and four females (including three from Arabistan), making in all a fine series of 14 males and 12 females. Mr. Kinnear and. I had a very large series of the typical form, of Beluchi, Sind and N. W. Indian birds for comparison. The birds from Arabistan are quite the same as those from the Mesopotamian plains ; they cer- tainly do not belong to the tjq>ical form, which is a darker bird, and they match in coloration exactly the Sind race henrici but are larger.. The wings of the 14 males measure 163-178 mm., and of 12 females 154-168 mm. ; the Sind race does not even overlap these measurements. As a rule, but not quite invariably, the rump and upper tail coverts in the Meso- potamian birds are tinged with rust, occasional Sind birds shew this and occasional Mesopotamian birds do not. In all the races we examined, the white chin and moustache, a character some have relied on, was found to be very variable in occurrence ; it is a purely individual character. Also, the white check patch is very variable in all of these five races, both in shape and size, partly perhaps due to make of skin, but in vulgaris and arabistanicus the patch is usually more or less ticked with black, which in Sind and Beluchi birds is seldom the case. Another character in races of Black Partridge which has been relied on is the amount of white spotting on the under parts of the male, this is purely indivi- dual in all races examined and the apparent amount is often influenced by the make of the skin. The young in down of this race are desiderata, also half grown birds ; it is inter- esting to note that a feathered chick from Fao is so pale compared with a similar one from Nepal (melanonotus, the darkest race of all) that one would hardly guess they belonged to the same species. THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 9o5 330. Quail. Coturnix coturnix. Coturnix coturnix coturnix (L.) (Syst. Xat. Ed. x, p. 161, 1758' — Sweden), The Quail occurs chiefly as a passage migrant, arriving early in March ; the passage lasts throughout April and into early May ; as elsewhere they frequent scrub, grass land and crops. It is fairly common in suitable places on passage ; as a winter visitor it occurs sparsely, never very common, in suitable cover all over the country singly, in pairs, or in small lots. Some evidently stay to breed in the country as Livesay obtained eggs and Pitman saw a covey of cheepers at Kut in the middle of June and in July. The return passage apparently takes place in September. Bags of up to 27 brace were got on spring passage. Five specimens : Daur, 22-10-18 (two) (P. Z. C. and R, E. C.) S , Sulimania, 11-19 (Ross) ; Amara, 21-9-18 ; Kuwait, 28-12-18. (P. A. B.) C. B. T. Literature. 1870-72. Although it contains little relating to Mesopotamia proper, mention must be made of Vol. II of Eastern Persia on account of the Journeys of the Persian Bombay Conunission, 1870-72. Birds occupy pp. 98-304 of Vol. II, in which 284 species are recorded. Occasional references chiefly to the bird colonies in the Persian Gulf will be found in Hume and Oates, Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, 3 vols. (1889-90) and the Birds (4 vols.) of the Fauna of India by the same writers. 1882. Canon H. B. Tristram. Ibis pp. 402-419. Ornithological Notes of a Journey through Mesopotamia and Southern Armenia in 1881. 1886. R.B. Sharpe. Ibis. pp. 475-493. On a Collection of Birds from Fao in the Persian Gulf with field notes by W. D. Cumming (99 species, recorded, first account of breeding of Hypocolius ampelinus). R. B. Sharpe, t. c. pp. 493-199. On a Collection of birds from Bushire in the Persian Gulf (53). 1891. R. B. Sharpe. Op. Cit., pp. 103-116. Notes on a second Collection of Birds made by Mr. W. D. Cumming at Fao in the Persian Gulf (includes' 95 species and notes on eggs collected). 1899. W. D. Cumming. J. Bomb. N. H. S. XII, p. 760 (Letter on the nesting of Hypocolius ampelinus). 1903. H. E. Witherby; Ibis, p. 501-571. An Ornithological Joirrney in Fars, South-West Persia, (Notes on 163 species.) 1904-9. (In 1903-4 Zarudny travelled and collected in Western Persia and the Ornithological results of his journeys are embodied in a series of short papers and descriptions of new forms chiefly in the Ornith. Monatsberichte and the Ornith. Jahrbuch. A complete list of these papers will be found in the Joi
    Q0iOMCOC^l>;O00'^C5;O cccoioooi>c(Nt-‘CO’^ o o CO o OCQ*— IIOOCO^?OC50<— p-,*— 1,-Hr— I ^,— I.— I — . "OO OffO'^OC50(NI>-^<0 eoco^ t^^^^^ffyj^LOCOO^COCO ■*^(M— t* COCO^ ^ ^ lO cOt*t-.01t>'^t^ ^00Ol0)Co‘0'^oiot^crt CO ^ t- CO i050— le^oui i much worn OC^^»OCOXO(MCOOOO»-iiC-^CO-^OOCOOO'^CD «ocO’^C5co '•liti— «i>^«Dr^coc5ioicc500coc5 Mod i worE CS^O*OCDlOO^COOOOO'^*^^Ol>^t^’^^ CO-^C^I ^ ^ ^ 04^ Mod. worn. f^XTj<^C00004C'4’^^CC'lt^'*^<<0 CC (M-H Teeth : State of Wear:— ^C'4C0^»0?0l>«C:o^01C0'^iCC0I>0CCiO •■eTJT'eg Table I. — Measurements of skulls of Nepalese members of Raltus raltus group, {in millimetres) — (concluded.) SCIENTIFIC RESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SRUVEY. 1066 oo •ooSu'BqQ IC Much worn. i t-O-HtOWt-t-.— 00 — 00 OCO^COtO'^'MCOOXOSQO’^CO'—XCOO’^CO 4 ^ .-H •«* a (55 — -i(I>'MI>0000C^OlSC0I>C0»000 — o •^o^ineqx ? ZLZ Much worn oco-^ocO'^co:oc5Xooo'Tj4co-HXoir^’^o 367 o ! h ^0 Much worn. cooi>ooo>st>o» — roMoo 0000*000 •;o5iunqx «o^^'^OX«^l>'^t^ «C 2 4 to Much worn . 0 OLttTP-^CO(MXt^ COOdi(MCOCOt^I>iO OfO-HCO:0’^'MX«5X— 155 cd Hi d P t- |> ?D 50C50 '^OF-H<0l:~ — 00 COt-OOOOaiTlICOOO-^O irt !>► cq 0 cd Tti e^i 0 ^ LO X ri X 0 i> tfi g *Sh u o CO 1 worn. C5i>-^^i>*^X'^?0’^i> CO Tji ^ C'lC^^COOT*i'Ml>oO^^'^’^^00'nX»OI> cd c6 w 2^ Mod. h worn. C^— '•^COXdSC^Ti^OCOOCOCS'^ O^X •o 208 $ 1 Mod. j worn . (M10CDC0C5— C^l-H •ad^X CO 1 O 1 CO Mod. worn. ff^lC^OCOXt^CCX'^CDcO C510 Dimen- sion No. .. o 1 ^C'l ’^O'^t^XCSO^'MCO^lCCOt^XOO 1066 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. House Rats of Nepal. Table II. — Skulls : proportional measurements. Dimension. Rattus. r. arboreus. Nepal Terai. R. r. brunneuscuhis. Central Nepal. “ Inter- mediate ” Changoo. R. r. brunneus. Central Nepal. R. rattoides. Central Nepal. R. nitidus. Central Nepal. No. of Skulls 3 Lecto- type. u 3 Lecto- type. 6 5 2 1 38-3-^-5 36-7 36-4—43-6 40-3—44-9 44-2 42-2—45-2 39-1—40-9 40-1 40.7 39-4 39-7 42-4 43-7 39-6 , . 100 ioo 100 100 ioo IOC 100 100 ioo 2 104—107 106 184—108 104—106 104-5 102—107 102—106 107 107 IOS-3 106 104-8 104-4 105-8 3 50-6— 52-1 49-6 49-5— 55- C 50-5—53-4 si-8 50—53.5 51-5—54-7 52-4 5i-9 SI-5 52 51-9 51-1 53-2 4 14-3— 15-9 14-2 14—16-1 14-2—14-4 14-9 14-2—15-6 14-8—17-4 15 i5-5 15 15-2 14-3 14-8 16 5 41 -2 -43 -3 4i-4 37. 4-^4. 9 37—40 40-3 36-8-^ -3 40 -1-^2 -8 ■40-9 40-8 41-9 41-2 38-6 39 41-8 6 37—38-6 3^3 31-38-5 32-1—35 35-5 32-6—35-8 34-3—36-5 36-7 36-1 37-9 35-3 33-3 34.25 35-2 7 30-1—34-5 33-5 24-1—34.6 29—30 30-7 26.8-33.6 29-2—32-2 32-9 33-7 32 28.5 29-5 29.9 30-6 8 40-8—42-3 4i-2 38-6—43-6 38-1—40-2 40-3 39-2—43-8 39-5-41-2 4i-7 .39-6 41-3 40-3 39.4 40-5 40-1 9 24—24-6 24-5 22-7-26-2 22-7—24-1 23-5 22-1—24-7 23-7—24-4 24-5 23-6 24-4 24-2 23-4 23-6 24-1 . . 10 45-2-^6-6 45-5 43—47-4 46-5—47-9 46-6 46-5—47-9 44-7. — 46-1 45-7 45-5 45-8 45-3 47-1 47 45-4 , . 11 26-6—27-7 26-2 25-2—28-4 25-8—28-3 26-2 26-2—27-9 26—26-9 25-5 24-3 27 26-5 27 26-9 26-3 . . 12 37-3—38-9 38-7 37-1—40-9 37-2—38-3 38-5 35-3—39-2 39-^0 46-2 44-7 38-2 391 37-6 37.8 39-6 . . 13 11.4—12.3 ii-2 10.8—12.2 10—11-4 ii-1 10—12-1 12—13 11-2 ii-8 11-8 11-5 10-8 11 12-6 14 55.5—58.5 57-2 55.8—59 56-1—57-2 57-7 55-7—57-7 54-2—56-5 58-1 68 57-2 57-4 56-6 56-6 55-7 15 26-6—28-4 25-9 25.8—29 25-5—27-8 27-1 26-5—28-2 26-8-28-8 29-2 28-8 27-8 27-1 27 27-3 27-7 16 18-3—21-2 ig-4 18-4—20-3 18-3—18-6 ig-2 18-2—20-5 17-8-20-5 26-7 i9.9 19-5 19-4 18-4 19-1 19-4 17 7-3— 7-6 5-2 5-8— 7-3 5.3—6 6-5 5-6— 7-1 5-6— 7-1 6-2 7-4 7-4 6-6 5-6 6-3 6-1 18 19—20-3 17-7 17-8—19-8 18—18-8 i7-9 17-9-19-2 18-8—20 19-5 i9-2 1 19-7 1.8-5 18-3 18-5 19-6 19 10-9—11-4 io-9 10-6—12 10-7—11-4 ii-8 10 -9—12 10-5—11-7 io-2 io-i 11-1 11-2 11 11-5 11.2 . . 20 16-1—17-5 is-3 17—19-6 16-5—17-4 16-7 15-9—17-5 17-6—19-1 16-2 16-7 16-6 18-1 16-9 16-6 18-4 -- ! 6 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 7 73—79.7 81 61 -9—79 74-5—79-6 76-4 72-8—84 70—76 80.5 76-6 76.3 •• 69-2 76-4 76-8 73-1 • • SCIENTIFIC RESULTS IROM TEE MAMMAL SURVEY. 1067 SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF THE MAMMAL SURVEY. No. XXXV. Two NEW Rodents from the Mergui Archipelago. By Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S. (^Published hij permission of the Trustees of the British Museum.') Among the Mammals collected by Mr. C. Primrose in the Mergui Archi- pelago for the Bombay Natural History Society there are examples of the two following new species : — Petaurista mergulus, sp. n. Allied to P. cineraceuSy Bly., but very much smaller. Size, as gauged by skull, conspicuously less than in cineraceus. Colours essentially as in that animal, or at least as in the non-rufous specimens of it, for there is much variation in cineraceus as regard the presence or absence of rufous on the head and limbs. Back grizzled greyish brown with a slight olivaceus suffusion, the grey tips to the hairs not so conspic- uous as in cineraceus. Undersurface greyish white, the hairs whitish with their bases more or less grey ; chin and throat browner. Face greyer and less olivaceus than back. Eyes with inconspicuous blackish rings. Ears not very long, their proectote^short-haired, grizzled brownish white. Posterior part of outer surfaces (metectote) with long black hairs, which extend back on to the sides of the neck, and form a conspicuous post- aural black tuft. Fur on nape and across shoulders often with a rufous or fulvous tinge, but there is much variation in this respect. Upper surface of parachute washed with olivaceous. Hands and feet black. Tail grizzled hoary grey, the extreme tip inconspicuously blackish. Skull in general shape as in cineraceus, but much smaller ; the bullae also disproportionally smaller. • Dimensions of the type, measured in flesh : — Head and body 410 mm.; tail 400 ; hindfoot 70 ; ear 37. Skull, greatest length 66'7 (in cineraceus 78'7); condylo-incisive length 62 '2 ; zygomatic breadth 45 ; nasals 20 X 13 5 ; interorbital breadth 13'6 ; length of bulla 13'2 (in cineraceus 17) ; upper tooth series, exclusive of p.^, 14'5. Hab. Mergui Archipelago. Type and five others from Ross Island; one from Tavoy Island. Type. Adult male. B. M. No. 22-8-21-1. Original number 243. Collected 18 November 1921 by C. Primrose. Presented by the Bombay Natural History Society. Seven specimens. This Flying Squirrel is clearly most closely allied to the Tenasserim P, cineraceus, but it is so much smaller as to demand specific distinction. Two of the seven specimens are melanoid in colour, of a glossy blackish brown. Callosciurus epomophorus tabaudius, subsp. n. A dark insular form of the mainland epomophorus, the fore-back tending towards rufous. Size as usual in the group. Colour essentially as in C. e. davisoni of S. Tenasserim, but darker throughout. Epaulets well marked. Nape and fore-back strongly suffused with cinnamon, which is not redder towards •1068 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIL the sides as it is in some of the subspecies. Hind-back dark olivaceous ( near “olive-brown”). Undersurface about as in davisoni, dark grey, with a more intense median line on the chest, and dull rufous groin-patches. Ears grizzled whitish, the usual slight tuft scarcely developed. Hands and feet grizzled iron-grey. Tail darker than in other subspecies, the black rings on the hairs broader ; the hairs as usual ringed with buffy basally ; terminal black tuft well defined. Dimensions of the type, measured in the flesh ; — Head and body 242 mm.; tail 215 ; hindfoot 50 ; ear 20. Skull, condylo-incisive length 58. Hab. Tavoy Island, Mergui Archipelago, Type. Adult female. B. M. No. 22-8-21-2. Original number 118. Collected 21 October 1921 by C. Primrose. Presented by the Bombay Natural History Society. Five specimens. In this island subspecies the general colour is darker than in its allies, and the suffusion of the fore-back is both more uniform, and more tending to cinnamon, that of davisoni being more yellowish. Whether it occurs in other islands than Tavoy we do not yet know, but Mr. Primrose did not find it in Ross Island. 1069 A DESCRIPTION OF THE NESTS AND EGGS OF THE COMMON BIRDS OCCURRING IN THE PLAINS OF THE UNITED PROVINCES. BY E. H. N. GILL. (^With a plate.) Corvus macrorhynchus (4) . . The Jungle-Crow. Local name . . . . . . Kala-Kaowa. Anglo-Indian name . . . . Raven. This bird breeds commonly throughout the Province ; the most favoured months being February and March. In the eastern districts (those lying east of Benares) domestic operations are commenced as a rule in January, almost all the nests having eggs between the middle and end of February. I have taken slightly incubated eggs in the first week of March, and have found young ones on several occasions by the middle of March. By the end of March and beginning of April mostly all the nests contain young, and so far as my experience goes, it has been rather the exception than the rule to find fresh eggs after these dates. In the Western districts (those lying west of Benares) the period of nidification seems to be slightly delayed, but I would not go so far as to say that this constitutes a general rule. In Allahabad, Fatehpur, Cawnpore, and Lucknow, I have taken eggs in April, mostly all in various stages of incubation. But then I have also taken eggs in the same stations in March, so that the inference to be drawn is not conclusive. However, the Eastern districts not being subjected to the winter cold of the Western districts, the period of nidification in the latter would probably have a tendency to be longer delayed. The Jungle-Crow does not seem to favour any particular tree when choosing a site for its nursery, nor is any great importance attached to height. The top- most branches of a gigantic “Pipal” are as acceptable as the low, lean branches of some thorny acacia, or the leafy comfort of the “Mangoe”. Being by nature an outrageous buUy, scant attention is paid to any effort at concealment. In fact, in numerous cases it would seem as though every effort were made to render the nest as visible as possible. Both birds assist in building the nest, incubating the eggs, and rearing the young, but their powers of discrimination are as feeble as the parental instinct is strong ; for I know of one particular pair which nursed a golf-ball with loving care for weeks after their eggs had been removed. The nest externally^ is a crude structure of coarse sticks which serve the pur- pose of a substantial foundation ; but internally the egg cavity is a marvel of construction for such a clumsy bird. Beautifully cup-shaped, between 6 and 8 inches in diameter, and 4 to 5 inches in depth, and lined with fine grass-roots, and vegetable fibres, over which is placed a soft cushion of horse-hair carefully fashioned to the internal shape of the nest. From below all that is generally visible of the sitting bird are the tips of the bill and tail. I have never found more than three eggs in a nest, which I consider is the maximum number laid. So far as coloration is concerned the variation is not considerable, except that the groimd -colour in some specimens may be of a richer or lighter shade than in others, and the markings in some much darker, and more irregular than in others. The ground-colour of a normal specimen is what might be described as a greenish-blue with little or no gloss, more or less blotched and streaked with different shades of yellowish-brown. In shape they are typically long ovals, distinctly pointed towards one end, but.in size they vary considerably, even in regard to the eggs of one clutch. A normal egg would measure about I ’75 by U2 inch. 1070 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII Ck)rvus splendens (7) . . . . The Indian House-Crow. Local name • . . . . . Desi-Kaowa. Anglo-Indian name . . . . Common Crow. This species breeds, if anything, even more commonly than C. macrorhyn- chus ; but at a much later xwriod in the Eastern and Western districts alike. June, July, and August seem to be the most favoured months, though almost all the nests I have examined in August have contained yormg. Domestic opera- tions, as a rule, are commenced in May, but I have no notes of ever having taken eggs in that month. A few stragglers with other interests in life do not commence building tiU July, but the longer they delay the more they seem to be victimised by the Koels, which commence their depredations with the advent of the rains. I have examined hundreds of nests, and have come to the conclusion that those crows which nidificate early, in the beginning of June, are comparatively free from the attentions of these parasites, and it is only the stragglers who are bur- dened with the work of foster parents. This species, unlike the last, seems to prefer nesting on trees in the immediate vicinity of human dwellings ; while I have noticed several iirstances of more than one nest on the'same tree ; a domestic liberty which C. macrorhynchus would not tolerate. The nests, though smaller, are similar in structure to those already described, except that the egg cavity is usually not constructed with such elab- orate care, nor is so much discrimination exercised in the choice of materials ; course rags and wool often being incorporated. The normal number of eggs laid by this bird appears to be four, but Ihave taken six on more than one occasion. Departures from the normal, both as regards size and coloration, are more pronounced in this species than in the last. As a w'hole they are more glossy, and of a brighter blue, and the markings, though not as a rule so numerous, are in many cases much darker in colour, and more defined. Two eggs taken by me some years ago caused much speculation at the time as to their correct identification, but I was subsequently convinced as to their be- longing to this species. The nest was low down on a “Nim” tree which I found to contain a single egg of pale pure blue, without spot or blemish of any kind. There was no sign of any bird, so after watching the nest for a time I departed, and the following morning discovered a second egg of exactly the same type. Still no bird in sight, but as vfilage urchins had seen the nest as well, I considered it advisable to remove the eggs ; and though the nest was obviously a crow’s, I was at a loss to account for the abnormal colouring of the eggs. Subsequent visits to the nest were to no purpose, but about ten days later I was rewarded for my pains by seeing a crow in occupation. She must have been on the point of laying an egg for she hopped out at my approach and, sitting on an adjacent branch, laid her egg, which dropped to the ground and broke. I examined the shells carefully and found them to be of the same spotless blue ; thus eliminating all doubts as to the correct identity of the other two. To find one such egg in a clutch would not be extraordinary, but to have all going the same way certainly provides food for thought. In shape the eggs vary considerably ; pyriform, elongated, and globular varieties being common. Typically however, they may be said to be broad ovals, a good deal pointed towards one end. The size of a normal specimen would be about 1 • 45 by 1 • 05 inch. Dendrocitta rufa (16) . . . . The Indian Tree-Pie. Local name . . . . . . Mootri. Anglo-Indian name . . . . Long-tailed Jay ; Oglevie. This bird is common throughout the Province, is resident, and breeds ordin- arily from April to July ; though I have taken eggs in the Lucknow district as late as August. When commencing domestic operations the birds are invari- ably seen together, and are very noisy ; and if building a nest one has only to fol- low them about in order to locate it. One tree seems to suit their purpose as N£STS ANB EGGS OF COMMON BIIWS OF THE U. P. 1071 well as another, but a certain amount of attention is paid to concealment, with the result that trees with large leaves, and heavy foliage are specially favoured. The nests are rarely lower than 15 feet from the ground, and arc almost invari- ably placed in the fork of some high branch. As a rule they are of course twigs roughly put together, more or less circular in shape, the external measurement being about 7 inches across, and in a carefully constructed nest the egg cavity would be about 5 inches in diameter, and from 3 to 4 inches in depth. As a rule however, the egg cavity is shallow, and is lined with various kinds of grass-roots, and vegetable fibres. The eggs are of two distinct types, for which I can offer no explanation, apart from the suggestion that this peculiarity mightbe influenced by the age of the bird. The period of nidification does not seem to bear any significance whatsoever, for after taking careful note of the matter I have found that throughout the period of nidification the two types occur with comparative regularity ; though so far as my experience goes, I have found the salmon-coloured type to be more nume- rous ; a fact upon which I have based my suggestion of age. On the other hand I have found the two types as often in exposed and badly constructed nests as in concealed and well constracted ones, so that the theory of protective coloration would seem not to apply. Both birds share in building the nest, incubating the eggs, and rearing the young ; and are very intolerant of the presence of other species on or near their family tree ; another trait which renders the nest easy of location. In shape the eggs are typically elongated ovals, a good deal pointed towards one end, but broad ovals and globular specimens are common. The bread ovals particularly so. The variation as regards character and colouring is pretty wide but the eggs of the one clutch usually bear a close resemblence to each other. Of the two prominent types the ground-colour of one varies from a pale greenish-white to pale salmon, with markings of dark salmon and shades of pur- ple more numerous towards the large end. The ground-colour of the other is greyish or greenish-white, with markings which vary between dark grey and light browTi shades, sometimes profusely but usually thinly, scattered over the eggs more so towards the large end. Between these two types intermediate varieties varying in tone ajid character occur not infrequently ; some specimens greatly resembling those of Lanius lahiora. The size of a normal specimen would be about 1'17 by O' 86 inch. ' Argya earlii (104) . . . . The Striated Babbler. Local name . . . . . . ‘ Chilchil. Anglo-Indiam name . . . . Unknown. This species can hardly be described as being common in the Province. So far as my experience goes I have only seen it on a few occasions when touring in November over some of the grass-covered plateaux of the Vindhyas, at a point where they pass through the southern portion of the Mirzapur district, comprising part of the Benares division. Whenever I came across them they were in small parties numbering from six to a dozen. But whether they remain there to breed, or are purely vrinter visitors is what I was unable to ascertain. The natives of those parts are decidedly backward and unobservant, and were not able to sup- ply me with any reliable information. In fact I very much doubt whether they were capable of differentiating between this species and Argya caudata which was found to be extremely common. Consequently any preferred infor- mation was not to be relied on. According to Hume, Colonel Marshall foimd this sx>ecies breeding in the Saha- ranpur district of the U, P. during the month of March and April, so that it would appear to keep to the sub-mountain tracts during the breeding season, and mig- rate further towards the plains during the winter. The nest is described as a deep cup-shaped structure, rather neatly made of grass without lining, and woven in with the stems if in a clump of grass, or firmly fixed in a fork if in a bush or 32 1072 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. low tree. The int. rior diameter is about 3 inches, and the depth nearly 2 inches. I have never taken the eggs of this bird, but in shape they are described as ovals, rather thinner at one end, and of a clear, full, verditer-blue colour, measur- ing about 0- 88 by 0* 7 inch, Argya caudata (105) . . . . The Common Babbler. Local name . . . . . . Chilchil. Anglo-Indian name . . . . Bush-Sparrow. This bird is very common throughout the Western districts, and particularly in the jungle covered tracts of the Jhansi division, and southern portions of the Allahabad and Mirzapur districts. In the Eastern districts they occur, but never in any large numbers. Mr. Douglas Dewar in an article to the Pioneer some time back stated, I think, that this bird did not occur in the Ghazipur district, and he doubted if iu occurred at all in the Benares division. So far as my ob- servations go, I have seen small parties of this species in May and June on Baipur Island, not far from the civil station of Ghazipur, and in June found two of their nests ; while in the hilly tracts of the Mirzapur district(part of the Benares division) it is far and away the commonest bird to be seen ; occurring in small parties in almost every little patch of scrub. Indeed one has only to get down at Chunar railway station (E.I.R.) to find them comparatively common in the adjoining scrub jungle. The nest is typical, and when once .seen can never be mistaken for any other. As a rule the most noticeable points are, symmetery of form, cleanliness, the extraordinary thickness of the walls, and height from the ground ; while the egg cavity is as perfect a cup as can be imagined. They are constructed through- out of grass-roots, and vegetable fibres, usually unlined, but sometimes lined with fine grass stems and even horse hair; and are placed in low thorn bushes, the more thorny the better, and only occasionally in clumps of course grass. Exter- nally a nest would measure about 7 inches across, and the egg cavity from 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and from 1| to inches in depth. The period of nidification is much prolonged, March to September, some stragglers even extending domestic operations into October and November. The bulk seem to have eggs in March, April, and May, the young ones being fully fledged by the end of June. The popular idea seems to be that there are two, and even three broods a year, but I have not been able to accumulate any evidence to justify this theory ; in fact I am inclined to believe that there is not much ground for arriving at this conclusion. The eggs in shape are typically moderately elongated ovals, slightly compress- ed towards one end, but globular, and pyriform varieties are not imcommon. The shells are usually brilliantly glosy and of a delicate, spotless, pale blue colour, a shade which varies very little indeed. A normal egg would measure about 0.82 by 0.64 inch. Argya malcolmi (107) .. .. The large Grey Babbler. Local name . . . , . . Gangai, Sat-bhai. Anglo-Indian name . . . . Long-tailed Magpie. This bird is comparatively common, and breeds throughout the Province in suitable locahties. Here again the period of nidification is much prolonged, from about March to October, though nests are often found in December and January. The theory of two and three broods in the year seems to be applied generally to this species as well, but it would be difficult to substantiate this with rehable evi- dence. In the next species I have propounded a theory, or rather made a sugges- tion, which might be worth the consideration of any one sufficiently interested. Like Crateropiis canorus, this species associate together in small parties even when breeding, a departure from the general custom obtaining amongfst gregar- ious birds in regard to nidification, but where the former frequent gardens and groves, the present species are found more frequently in open spaces quite re- Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Nest and Eggs of the Jungle Babbler. Nest and Eggs of the Jungle Crow. Nest of the Rufous-bellied Babbler. NESTS AND EGGS OF THE COMMON BIRDS, UNITED PROVINCES. NESTS AND EGGS OF COMMON BIRDS OF TEE U. P. 1073 moved from human habitations. Nests are commonly found in thin scrub jungle, and especially on babool trees scattered about open plains. In fact I have never taken nests which were not on babool trees or thorny bushes. They are never placed at any great height from the ground, and are eonstnicted almost entire- ly of dry grass-roots, and vegetable fibres ; in numerous instances the outer layers being eomposed of thorny twigs, like the nests of Lanius lahtora. The egg cavity, which is more or less cup-shaped, is lined with close-woven roots of “khus-khus” grass, and similar vegetable fibres. Externally the nest would meas- ure about 6 inches in diameter, and the egg cavity from 3 to 4 inches in diameter, and from 2 to 3 inches in depth. As a rule the nest is fairly substantial, but is not to be compared for compactness with that of A. caudata. The normal number of eggs laid appears to bo four. In shape they are typical- ly rather broad ovals, somewhat pointed towards one end, but more or less elon- gated and spherical varieties occur sometimes. They are of a bright greenish- blue colour throughout, darker in some specimens than in others, with a decided gloss. A normal specimen would measure about 0.99 by 0.77 inch. Crate ro pus canorus (10) . . The Jungle Babbler. Local names . . . . . . Sat-bhai. Anglo-Indian name . . . . The Common Magpie. I should say that this bird without exception is the commonest in almost ever^ district of the Province. Every eompound and garden is frequented by them in large or small parties. In Ghazipur they are so numerous and aggressive, inflicting considerable damage in both flower and vegetable gardens, that they might very well be classified as vermin. The period of nidification is somewhat prolonged, from March to August, though I have frequently found nests in September. The associating together of small parties even when nesting is specially notice- able in this species ; but in all my experience I have never met with more than one nest at a time in the vicinity frequented by any one party. The young when fledged immediately swell the numbers of that party, but what seems most extraordinary is that it is not till the parents of one brood are busy feeding the fledglings that another pair take it into their heads to commence building. The birds certainly do not assist in feeding the brood from another nest, so that their parential instinct would seem to be stirred only by the sight of young birds in their midst. I have noticed this peculiarity in several instances, and if it consti- tutes a general practice, it would explain the long period of nidification, and dis- prove the existing idea of two and three broods a year. The nest resembles very much)that of A. malcolmi but is generally not so substantially constructed, nor as neatly put together ; and is more often than not to be found in groves and gardens adjoining human dwellings. Any small tree or scrub serves the purpose equally well, but as the nest is never placed at any great distance from the ground, a corrsiderable amount of attention is paid to concealment. Bushes and shrubbery are specially favoured. With regard to the division of labour the greater portion seems to be borne by the hen bird ; but the cock is invariably in attendance, if for no other purpose than to cheer her with his presence, and to assist in protecting the nursery against attack. The normal number of eggs laid appears to be four, and from a large series it would be very diflScult to separate them from the eggs of A. malcolmi, except that taken as a whole they are somewhat smaller and of a deeper blue ; a normal specimen measuring about 0.82 by 0 . 64 inch. Dumotia hyperythra (135) . . The Rufous-bellied Babbler. Local name . . . . . . Unknown. Anglo-Indian names . . . • Titmouse. This bird seems to have a curious distribution in as much as it is comparat- ively common in some districts, and rare in others. Its skulking nature does 1074 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV 111. not tend to bring it into prominence, so that one is apt to pass it by. I draw my conclusions, however, from the number of nests I have seen and taken. The only districts in which I have taken eggs are Lucknow and the southern portions of Cawnpore and Mirzapur, though I have seen the birds on several oc- casions at Rae-Bareli, Fatehpur and Allahabad. I have never met with them in Benares and Ghazipur. The period of nidification is comparatively short, June to August, though in the Lucknow district I found the eggs most common in July, after the rains had set in well. One had only to walk along certain railway embankments to find the nests in the grass. The nest is more or less globular, often egg-shaped, and the materials used in construction vary in regard to the position of the nest. In fact it may be regard- ed as a general rule that it is composed of material obtainable in the immediate vicinity. When placed in bamboo clumps it is made of bamboo leaves lined in- ternally with fine grass roots and vegetable fibre, and if placed in grass it is almo.st invariably made of broad grass-blades lined with fine grasses, hair, and vege- table down. The nest varies from 4 to 5 inches in diameter, and as a rule is well concealed, in some cases practically touching the ground, so that one has to search pretty carefully to find it. The usual complement of eggs appears to be four, though I have often taken only three. In shape they are short, broad ovals, very slightly compressed, and as a rule are characterised by irregular, smudgy, confluent zones, at the largo end, of shades varying between red, and brownish-purple. The groimd colour is white, pinkish-white, and bluish-white ; and the small end faintly spotted and speckled with reddish-brown. A normal specimen would measure about 0.67 by 0.53 inch. Pyctorhis sinensis (139) The Yellow-eyed Babbler. Local names . . . . . . . . . . Bara-podna ; Bara-piddi. Anglo-Indian name . . . . . . . . Reed-Warbler. This bird is to be found in most districts in the province, though I would not regard it as common. It seems to occur more abundantly in grass lands, and especially in the long, coarse grass along the banks of rivers and streams. I have noticed the birds on several occasions while out pigsticking, but I cannot claim to have taken many of their nests, and those only in the Lucknow district. The period of nidification apj)ears to be from the end of June to August and September, most of the nests being started after the rains have set in, and the grass is green and robust. The birds are frequently met with in gardens, while nests have been found in bushes and shrubbery. But the few nests I have seen have always been built in thick coarse grass, suspended between two or three substantial reeds, usually in the densest part. The nest is cone-shaped, the apex being at the bottom. It is strong, solid, and compact, being composed of long strips of strong grass and vegetable fibres, tightly wound round and kept in place with cobwebs and gossamer-threads. At the top of this structure is the egg-cavity which is beautifully cup-shaped, measuring about 24 inches in diameter, and 2 inches in depth, and lined with fine twigs and vegetable fibre closely interwoven. The fuU complement of eggs appears to be five, and they are usually very beauti- ful to look at. Some specimens are almost bright blood-red throughout with white, or pinkish-white, grornid colouring showing through here and there ; while in others the ground colouring is more conspicuous and is covered over with irreg- ular spots, blotches, and clumsy daubs of shades ranging between brick-dust red and palejpurple, intermingled sometimes with hierogl3^hic streaks. In size and shape they vary a good deal, but are typically very broad ovals, obtuse at the small end ; and a normal specimen would measure about 0.73 by 0.59”. {To he continued.) . 1075 SHIKAR NEAR AND AROUND POONA. BY Major W. B. Trevenen. In commencing this article I would first of all warn all readers who have shot in such favoured parts as are to be found in Sind, parts of the United Pro- vinces, Central Provinces and other districts, and who are accustomed to bring home bags of 100 head or more a day, that if they expect the same in this district and are not content with much smaller results, they had better read no further. During a period of nearly five years, during which time I have shot here regularly throughout each season, I have come to the conclusion that if a bag of 20 head per gun is obtained, such days may be considered good. The two best days I have had, were 69 and 73 head, the first occasion being in the cold weather of 1919-20 with two guns, and the second in the last cold weather with three guns, one gun however being only responsible for 7 head ! On both the above occasions the bag chiefiy consisted of duck and snipe. To my mind, one of the chief charms of small game shooting in this district is the variety of species of game to be met with, although their numbers may not compare favourably with other places. This is a fact which should appeal to the sportsman who is also a naturalist. As an instance, there are ten different kinds of Quail which it is possible to obtain. Eight of these varieties I have actually shot, but two of them, the Painted Bush Quail (Microperdix erythro- rhyncus), and the Eastern Painted Bush Quail (Microperdix blewitti ) I have not succeeded in bringing to bag as yet although I must have tramped nearly 500 miles in search of them. As however ‘ Hume and Marshall’ and Finn both state that the former has been shot near Poona, and it is possible that the latter might also rarely occur, I include them both in the list of “ possibles.” During the time I have been in Poona, I have shot fourteen varieties of duck and teal. Also in the cold weather of 1918-19 one goose, the Dwarf Goose (Anser eryth- ropus) which bird is rarely met with even in other parts of India. Hume and Marshal] only record the occurrence of 9 birds. I have also seen both the Comb Duck, or Nukta (S. melanonotus), and the Bar-headed Goose (A. indicus), but have not succeeded in shooting either of them in these parts. One of the latter I saw only a very short time ago in company with two Brahminies (C. rutila). I spent nearly three hours trying to get within range but eventually all three birds settled on an island where it was absolutely impossible to reach them without a boat. The Goose appeared to be by far the most confiding of the three, the Brahminies in each case giving the alarm. The usual varieties of Snipe, Pin-tail, Fan-tail and Jack are all fairly com- mon. As a rule the first to arrive in these parts is the Pin-tail which predomi- nates in numbers at the commencement of the season, whilst towards the end of the cold weather a greater number of Fan-tail generally appears in the bag. This season however has been an exception in this respect as regards the first arrivals, most of the snipe shot up to the middle of November being Fan- tails. This may possibly be accounted for by the fact that birds were unusu- ally late this year, and that possibly the majority of the first detachment from the East may have halted on their way owing to the super-abundance of water this season, and that the Northern contingent (Fan-tail) which usually arrive here later, were the actual first arrivals. It is a curious fact that although the present season is abnormally late and birds hitherto very scarce and only now coming in in any numbers (November 10th), yet both in the case of snipe and duck, I got my first bird earlier than in former years, the first snipe coming to bag on September 22nd and the first 1076 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. duck on October 1st as compared with September 27th and October 2nd, which were the earliest dates these birds had been shot by me previously. I have heard that snipe have been shot here on September 15th but have never been able to verify this. Another bird which is occasionally seen in large numbers is the ‘ demoi- selle crane,’ or ‘ kocnj.’ I have only twice seen any of these brought to bag in this district, once with a rifle at Yewat Tank on the Sholapur Eoad and once on the river Bhima below Koregaon. On three other occasions I have noticed a large flock of these birds circling round over Khadakwasla Lake, but only saw them settle there once, when, after a very short time, they all moved off again without giving a chance of a shot. As regards “ dry ” game I have already referred to Quail. Partridge, both grey and painted species, are fairly common. The Black Partridge, of course, is not found so far south. The Common Sand Grouse ( Pterocles exustus) are numerous in places and I have also shot the Painted Sand Grouse (Pterocles indicus) occasionally. The usual hare or two is generally to be found in the bag after a day’s shot. Florican are said to be occasionally seen and last season I heard of three Greater Bustard being shot, but did not see them personally. The common blue pigeon is plentiful in parts. In one place in particular, within fifteen miles of Poona, where there is a collection cf old disused wells, I have several times had a most enjoyable hour or so, four to six birds coming out of each well as soon as a stone was thrown in, and affording excellent practice. Green pigeon (Crocopus chlorogaster) a,ve fairly well distributed over the district and quite decent bags could be made by two or three guns when the Pipal trees are bearing fruit. There are several good spots for these birds on the Poona-Satara Road and also on the Poona-Paud Road. Peacock are fairly common, but, before killing any of these birds, it is always advisable to make enquiries first as to whether the mllagers object, or not. Do not believe your shikari in this respect (he will always tell you “ hu- kum hai ”), but find out from some of the actual inhabitants. As a general rule, one is usually fairly safe in shooting these birds so long as there is no temple or village close at hand, and they always form a welcome and substantial addition to the pot ! The Shikai'is in Poona are a poor lot. Very few of them have the remotest idea of shikar, or of making any bandobast. The only use I find for them, as a rule, is to act as interpreter if one does not happen to know the language of the district (Marathi), or to send them on overnight, or the day before, to fix up arrangements for coolies, etc., if an early start the next morning is intended. The pay shikaris demand in these parts, about Rs. 20 per mensem is far mC're than they are worth. I always make it a rule to give only Rs. 15 or Rs. 16 with a bonus on the number of head shot varying according to the species, which generally brings the amount up to over Rs. 20 per mensem, but has the effect of making them far more energetic as every bird shot means something to them as well. One can, of coimse, send a shikari out to a certain place to bring in “ khabar ” but even then they are not reliable and sometimes never go near the place if they think they can persuade the Sahib to the contrary. A new comer to the station is, of course, more or less dependent on them if he is only making a short stay in the district, unless he can get a friend who knows the ropes to take him out or direct him where to go. The shikaris will only take him out to a few stock places which they probably have not been near for weeks, their only “ khabar ” being either pure invention or hearsay from som3 other shikari who has been out there with another Sahib. My advice to the man who is going to remain any length of time in the district, is to send off at once to the Survey of India Office, Calcutta, for the SHIKAR NEAR AND AROUND POONA. 1077 lour 1* to the mile Ordnance Maps of the country round Poona. (Poona is, roughly, in the centre of these four maps) and then steadily explore the country around independently. By doing this he will not only come across the well- known places, about which he will very soon find out in any case, but will also incidentally discover many a useful little spot where none or few sportsmen ever go. There is, also, much more satisfaction in discovering some little “ pre- serve ” on one’s own apart from the fact that it probably has not been shot over for some considerable time. There are many of these little places around Poona if only a little trouble is taken to find them. An instance of this kind occurred to me only last season. I had been shooting on one of the larger well-known tanks and had noticed a lot of duck going off in one direction and appearing to settle at some spot some miles off. The following week I made up my mind to explore in this direction and after travelling some miles off the road and incidentally discovering a small tank on the way, on which there were a fair number of duck and snipe of which I took due toll, came across another small tank completely hidden from the surrounding country which was literally full of duck. It was, by then, after 1 o’clock in the afternoon, but nevertheless I managed to pick up twenty seven duck before they finally cleared off and on the way home bagged a buck from the driving seat of the car (a Ford, nothing else would have gone over the country I had to pass through). Not a bad result for one day’s exploring ! I went again a second time and did equally well, but on the third time found the tank bone- dry. On my first visit the villagers told me that no Sahib had shot the place for over 3 years. I might mention here that towards the end of December or beginning of January, when the tanks are beginning to dry up, the rivers around are well worth exploring for duck. By this time the rivers have also shrunk and a considerable amount of “ feed ” begins to show. There are several useful places on both the Mula-Mutha and the Bhima where a fair amount of cover is also available. It was from one of these spots that I shot the Dwarf Goose that I have alluded to above. To work the country in the manner I suggest, a motor of sorts is indis- pensable (a Ford for preference) as many of these spots are well off the road and there is often only a very “ kutcha ” road, or a bullock track or even less. Many of the tracks on which I take my old Ford, now nearly eight years old, would be impossible even to a motor-byke, and very few other cars have suffici- ent clearance or are light and strong enough to stand the jolting and bumps ! So far as big game shooting is concerned, it is practically non-existent within 50 miles of Poona save for an occasional panther around some of the neighbour- ing hills. The shikaries will always tell you of one that has just “ killed ” and that he is willing to go out and make a bandobast provided he gets an advance and the price of a goat, but in 19 cases out of 20 the result is the same — the goat vanishes and no panther ! To the man, however, who is content with Black Buck or Chinkara, Poona offers many opportunities, at any rate so far as numbers are concerned. The heads of the Black Buck average very small when compared with those up- country. An5rthing of twenty inches or over is above the average in this district. Occasionally one comes across a head of twenty-one or twenty-two inches but anjrthing larger than this is rare now-a-days. The largest head which I have seen from these parts was one shot by Mr. L. J. Sedgwick, I.C.S., in 1910, near Kalas, on the eastern side of Dhond. This is a remarkably fine head, and is, I believe, the record for the Deccan. The measurements from base to tip are 24| inches right horn, and 24f inches left horn. There are five complete spirals, but the spread is somewhat small for the length. I believe the buck to 1078 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. the east of Dhond average larger than those in the country on the Poona side, but this is from hearsay only. I always consider that, in proportion, the chinkara in this District have better heads than buck. Once, when shooting from Alandi, on the M. & S. M. Railway, I saw a chink which 1 put down to be well over 12 inches and another, which I put up once out of a nullah a little distance of the Sholapur Road when after partridge, was, I think, nearly as large. The biggest chink of all I have seen in these parts and which one would have been proud to have shot anywhere was one I saw off the old disused Poona-Bombay road which joins the present Bombay road somewhere about the nineteenth milestone. I spotted this chink one day when doing some exploring in the above direction and after a long and weary stalk under a mid- day sun got within a fair range and took my shot. To my delight he fell with hardly a struggle and my shikari and chokra who were watching from behind rushed up with shouts of glee to perform the necessary operations. To my disgust, however, just as they got within a few yards, the animal got up again and slowly made off in a direct line with the shikari so that I was unable to fire again. I followed as quickly as possible although he seemed to be going stronger every minute, but lost sight of him in some undulating ground and although I tracked him for a long way, eventually lost sight of his trail on some bare rocky ground and never saw him again. I went back to the spot where I had first fired but could find no trace of any blood. The bullet had evidently been high and must have either grazed his scull or one of his horns and tempo- rarily stuimed him. My remarks on this occasion had better be imagined than repeated ! I should not like to say what I put down his measurements to be, but it was certainly a better head than any I had got before up-country. Another little animal which cne comes across in some of the thicker jungles in the nallahs at the foot of the hills round about Poona is the four- horned antelope, locally termed “ bekri ” or “ bekr.” The fore horns however do not seem to develop in these parts. Both the heads that I have got, whilst having comparatively good posterior horns had merely an excrescence on the scull where the fore horns should have been and these were hardly notice- able until the scull was bare. In both cases I got these animals with a shot gun, when walking through thick jungles. The district round Poona also offers opportunities to the fisherman. The rivers Mula, Mula-Mutha, Indrayani and Bhima all hold Mahseer which can be caught occasionally with spoon, fly spoon, or small salmon-fly. I have never seen any large Mahseer in these rivers except in the Indrayani at Dehu in the pool opposite the temple, where, of course, one caimot fish. There is no objection to fishing a certain distance below, but I have heard that the large fish prefer to remain in their own special pool and are not to be enticed therefrom. I have never fished there myself. There is a belief among the local people that these fish, at a certain religious festival, held once a year, aU proceed some twelve miles down the river to Alandi, whence after being fed with appetizing morsels, they return again to Dehu when the festival is over. To what extent this fable is founded on fact I do not know, but I have been repeatedly assured by the inhabitants of both Dehu and Alandi that the fish do actually disappear from the former place at times and are seen at Alandi later, only to reappear shortly again at their former haunts. As regards the river fishing round Poona, I have done very little. Sir Charles Anderson, the late Army Commander, who was a very keen fisherman, used to catch a fair number, I believe, in the rivers near Poona with a small sal- mon-fly or fly spoon, but I do not think the size of the fish caught would average more than somewhere between two and four pounds. SHIKAR NEAR AND AROUND POONA. 1079 Above the Bund at Poona there are many large fish, particularly near the far bank just opposite the lower Boat Club and also up the backwater to the south of the island about a mile above the Bund. They seem to lie in a stretch of water between a small temple on the south bank of the backwater and the point where the latter joins the main river. It was here that I saw the biggest fresh water fish that I have ever seen. He turned over in the water in the middle whilst I was fishing towards the bank. He appeared to be nearly a foot in width, and, from the hasty glance I had, seemed to be something like a “Rohu”. I have never heard of any of these large fish being caught and cannot say for certain of what species they are, but I imagine they belong to the above named family. The only fish I have caught in the still water above the Bund are small species of Wahago attu, Tengra, Neopferus kapimt, and a fish which appears to be exactly similar to tb“ English Roach. The only place near Poona where fish of any size are to be had is in the lake at Khadakwasla, which is the Poona water supply. This lake is full of Mahseer and also holds Carnatic Carp, Wallayo attu. Megalops, all of which will take a spoon. The largest Mahseer I have taken out of this tank weighed 17^ lbs. and the largest I have actually seen caught was a fish caught by Lt.-Col. H. R. Brown, I. M. S., who fished this lake regularly a few years ago. This fish, as far as I remember, weighed 18| lbs., but it may have been larger. The best day I ever had on this water was on the twenty first of April 1919, the same day on which I caught my biggest fish. On this day I had six fish, one of 17^ lbs. one of 12 lbs. and four small fish weighing from 5 lbs. dowri- wards. There are, undoubtedly, fish in this lake well over 20 lbs. The best time is from January onwards, until the strong winds before the monsoon begin, (generally at the end of April or early in May) when the water gets muddy. The water is then always low and the best lure is a Bronze and Silver spoon from two to two and a half inches with a three inch .Jardine or spiral lead. In the early part of the cold weather when the water is high I have curiously enough, found a one and a half inch spoon with a two or two and a half inch lead decidedly more effective. All fishing is done from a boat. To use these boats it is necessary to become a member of the Royal Connaught Boat Club, Poona, to whom they belong. The fishing is all done by trolling and about forty yards of line should be let out. The boat should only be rowed just fast enough to make the spoon spin. A spoon that “ wobbles ” rather than spins is more effective, especially when fishing deep for large fish. The best spoon I ever had for this work was Copper and Silver, 2 inches, plain, not hogged, and on the deep rather than shallow style, and mounted with two triangles at head and tail respectively. The spoons sold in India that I have come across nearly always seem too flat or shallow to spin well when trolling. The rod should be fairly stiff but at the same time should have plenty of “ spring ” in it. I had a single jointed, eleven foot, Ringal rod made by Mantons in Calcutta in 1917 for tank fishing and found this made an ideal Mahseer rod for this kind of work. It is necessary to hold these fish very firmly at the start and to reel up quickly, otherwise, with such a length of line out, the line becomes slack and then “ Goodbye ” to the fish . I was constantly missing fish in this way until I hit upon the following plan. I generally use two rods, and formerly, as soon as I hooked a fish, my boat- man used to stop rowing at once in order to reel up the other line. The boat very quickly lost way and before I could really get a tight line the fish was off. Now, on getting a run, I make my boatman keep on rowing until I am really on terms with the fish and have got a large portion of the line on the reel, and not until then do I worry about the other line Of course there is just a chance 33 \am JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL RIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. that the lines might foul in this case, but it has never happened to me yet and I lose far fewer fish than formerly. . Of course when a fish takes the hook and goes off on a rush directly away from the boat and does not stop or turn round after a short run it would not make much difference either way, but even then it is better, I think, to keep a certain amount of way on the boat until a fair length of line has been recovered. The boat can of course be quickly stopped, or even backed, if found necessary, but to do this before the other line is reeled up, is rather asking for trouble. As regards the particular places of the lake on which to fish, I have practi- : cally confined my attention to the large sheet of water at the noi-th end of the lake. Towards the evening and when the water is low, the httle bay to the left of the bungalow when looking out ever the lake is good. There is a spit running out near here which can be seen when the water is very low and the fish seem to lie over this, particularly in the evenings. It is necessary to be careful not to approach too close to the shore here as the water is fairly shallow and the spoon will foul the bottom. There are, however, practically no “ snags,” and in the case of a foul, the spoon can nearly always be recovered by backing the boat over or beyond the spot where the hook is caught. Another good spot, especially for large fish, is in line w4th the two largest mango trees on the bank opposite the bungalow (the largest tree is nearest the bank). Keep these two trees more or less in line and troll backwards and forwards in the centre of the lake. When fishing here I have generally found it better to use a fairly heavy lead. One other place where I have had good fish is between the point running out from the near bank (lying in a half left direction from the bungalow) and the opposite creek. This point can easily be recognised by the fact that there are three or four isolated Mango trees almost on the apex. The fish seem to lie from 200 to 400 yards off the point. When the wind is blowing from anyivhere . between north and east it is often x>ossible to put up fish on the sheltered water in the north eastern corner of the lake close to the Bund. There used to be an idea that it was useless to fish this lake after about 4 p. m., and also when there was any wind, but both these ideas have been proved wrong. The best time to fish is undoubtedly between 10 a. m. and 1 p. m. with little or no wind but I have been able to catch fish with quite a strong breeze so long as the water remained clear. Once it gets muddy, it is useless to try any longer. Also, I have found that the fish are often on the “ go ” for about a half to three quarters of an hour at sunset and I once caught a decent fi.sh when it was nearly dark, but this is only possible when there is little or no wind and the evening is fairly warm. There are two or three good boatmen there whom I can recommend for fishing. The man who is in charge of the P. W. D. motor boat is far and away the best of them, but I have forgotten his name. The other two are Abu and Dhaku. The former of these is the better. There is another large piece of water. Lake Whiting, at Bhatgarh, a little over 30 miles from Poona, and lying to the west of the Poona-Satara Road. • There are, however, no club boats or boats for hire here, and to fish the lake it is necessary to get permission from the P. W. D. authorities for the use of a boat. I have also heard of good fish up to 7 or 8 lbs. being caught in the stream below the Bund. There is also another large lake at Lonavla, about 40 miles from Poona «n the Poona-Bombay road where I believe it is necessary to get tickets to fish, and which, I think, were obtainable at an office at the end of the Bund. So far as I remeiAber the price of the tickets was Re. 1 per day. This lake is one of those constructed by Messrs. Tata & Company. I have never fished there, but d believe there is a difficulty sometimes about obtaining a boat. SHIKAR NEAR AND AROUND POONA. 1081 One lake is now under construction by the same Company in the Andhra Valley, which hes in the same direction but rather nearer to Poona. This should be a good fishing place in a few years’ time. In conclusion, as some sort of general guide as to what may be expected in the way of small game shooting in this district, I give below a list of the various species of birds I have either shot or seen during my residence in these parts. Those marked with an asterisk were all included in last year’s bag, which amounted to a total of 583 head. Roughly two-thirds of these were duck and snipe, in about equal proportion. Those which I have only seen are marked with an -j- Geese. Scientific Name. 1. Bar-headed Goosef . . Anser indicus. 2. Dwarf Goose Duck. . . Anser erythropus. 3. Mallard* . . Anas boscas. 4. Spot bill* . .. . . Anas poecilorhyncha. 5. Common Pochard* . . Nyroca ferina. 6. Tufted Pochard* . . . FuUgula fuligula. 7. Red Crested Pochard* . . Nyroca rufina. 8. White-eye Pochard* Nyroca baeri. 9. GadwaU* . . Chaulelasmus streperus. 10. Pin tail* . . Dafila acuta. 11. Wigeon* . . Mareca penelope. 12, Brahminy* . . Casarca rutila. 13. Shoveller* Spatula clypeata. 14. Nukta or Comb Duckf Teal. . . Sarcidiornis melanonotus. 15. Common Teal* . . Nettion crecca. 16. Blue Wing Teal* Querquedula circia. 17. Lesser Whistling Teal Quail. Dendrocycna javanica. 18. Rain Quail* . . Coturnix coromandelicus. 19. Grey Quail* . . Coturnix communis. 20. Rock Bush Quail* . . Perdicula argoonda. 21. Jungle Bush Quail* . . Perdicula asiatica. 22. Bustard Quail* Turnix pugnax. 23. Indian Button Quail . . Turnix tanki. 24. Little Button Quail* . . Turnix dussumieri. 25. Blue Breasted Quail M iscellaneous. Excalfactoria chinensis. 26. Grey Partridge* . . .. Francolinus pondicerianuf. 27. Painted Partridge* Francolinus pictus. 28. Pin Tail Snipe* . . Gallinago stenura. 29. Fan Tail Snipe* . . Gallinago coelestis. 30. Jack Snipe* . . Gallinago gallinula. 31. Painted Snipe* . . Rostratula capensis. 32. Blue Pigeon* . . Columba intermedia. 33. Green Pigeon* . . Crocopus chlorogaster. 34. Common Sand Grouse* Pterocles exustus. 35. Painted Sand Grouse . . Pterocles indicus. 36. Peacock* . . Pavo cristatus. 37. Demoiselle Crane* . . Anthropoides virgo. 38. Curlew . . Numenius arquata. 39. Hare* . . Lepus ruficaudatus. 1082 NOTES ON INDIAN WAGTAILS. BY Claud B. Ticehurst, M.A., M.B.O.U., M.R.C.S. {late Capt. R.A.M.C.) Having for a number of jears paid special attention to some of the Indian Wagtails I thought it might be of some help to others to place on record the lesult of my researches. That the subject is a complex one may be gathered from the writings of earlier authors and I may say at once that I have seldom tackled so difficult a subject. One may be able to determine correctly most of one’s cabinet specimens but to put on paper any reliable guide which enable others to do so is a matter of extreme difficulty. When one finds that, with say the Yellow-hi adbd Wagtails, one has the two sexes differing in plumage in winter and summer, and the birds taking two years to become fully adult one may bc;gin to realise the complexity of the task which confronts one. Thus there may be eight or ten specimens of the same species before one and not one alike ! and all more or less similar to eight or ten more of a closely aUied form, not to mention the possibility of individiml variations. To try and differemtiate these in their various plumages and to tell others how to do so has been my aim and it is mainly the very carefully collected series obtained by myself and Mr. Whistler which had enabled me, I hope, to evolve a certain amount of order out of chaos. I,— The Yellow- headed Wagtails. Motacilla c. citreola and Motacilla r.. calcarata. In the Fauna of British India vol. ii p. 299, it is stated that M. citreola {=cal- carata) can be diffen ntiated from other Wagtails by the longer tarsus. I do not think these two Wagtails can be confused with any other at any si asor or age, the broad y. Uow supercilium and more or less yvffiow on the fon head being sufficient distinction. Moreover the statement about the length of the tarsus is not correct except for calcarata which certainly has a longer tarsus, for I find that out of 9 adult males of melanogriseus (feldeggi F.B.I.) and out of 10 heema, 8 of each are within the limits of measurement of the tarsus of citreola, viz., 23-25'5 mm. Summer Plumage, males. The. males can always bo differentiated. In the calcarata the back is black and the edg- s of the wing coverts tinged with y. llow, in citreola tlae back is grey with a black neck collar and the tidgos of the coverts white. One may find birds of both spici s in breeding dress which are not quite the same as adults and th so are most certainly birds of the previous yt^ar. In such sp :cimons of calcarata the black of the back is mixed with dark grey and in citreola there IS only a trace of the black collar and the yellow of the head is much sullied on the crown with dark heathers but in no state of plumage has citreola any black feathers on the back. Calcarata : Winter Plumage, males: Ccdcarat a is, dark T on the back than cifreoia and lacks the black collar which perfectly adult citreola generally shews, while the back fn quontly has blackish feathers intiumixed which citreola lacks. Occasionally the blackish f. athers on calcarata ar«; n- ar the nap-, of the neck and so do form an indistinct collar but if so there am generally some black feathers elsewhere on the mantle. The amount af b'ack in the upp>r-parts in this species varies a good deal and those with most ore adults and those with little or none, and whoso backs are grtiy brown and NOTES ON INDIAN WAGTAILS. 10S3 whose under-parts are less yellow, are birds of the year. These latter are rather like some first winter citreola but size will always differentiate. Another small difference between citreola and calcarata is that in the latter the under tail coverts are more strongly tinged with yellow, these parts being nearly white in citreola. Citreola ; Adult Winter, males. These differ but little from adults in summer plumage ; the head is usually less pure yellow, more sullied with dark feathers on the crown, and the black collar rather less well marked ; one finds many birds which are certainly not birds of the year and which differ considerably however from perfect adults. These are probably birds a year old. They differ from the adults in having the yellow on the head confined to the forehead and a broad supercilium running from the base of the bill to beyond the ear-coverts, the rest of the head being brown or olive brown tinged with yellow. There is no black neck band or collar and the ear coverts are sullied yellow instead of pure ; the upper-parts are more tinged with brown but the under-parts are yellow as in the adult. These birds probably become perfect adults at the next spring moult. First winter plumage, both sexes, and adult females. These are distinguishable at once from adults and one year old birds in having the under-parts whitish except that the chin and throat are always and the middle of the belly sometimes tinged pale yellow. On the upper parts they are browner, less grey and the only yellow on the head is confined to the super- cilium which runs forward to the base of the bill on each side and is never ab- sent. The cheeks and ear-coverts vary a good deal hut are more or less duskj', di'vaijs tinged with yellow ; in some there is a pectoral band of black spots. The yellow supercilium and tinge of yellow in the ear-coverts together with the lack of greenish tint on the upper-parts at once distinguish it from any Blue- headed Wagtail. So far as I can judge, in this plumage males and females are not distinguishable, and vary so much inter se that I cannot see any reliable guide to distinguish them from adult females. Calcarata ; Females in summer plumage. In this plumage two forms are found ; one, the adult, has blight canary yellow under-parts, supercilia and a tinge on the forehead (much as in winter) and the other, which is the first summer plumage is distinguishable from it at a glance by these yellow parts being very pale or whitish tinged with yellow (rather as in first winter). This was indicated by Whitehead (Ibis 1909 p. 242) and can be clearly seen in his specimens in the British Museum. From citreola adult it is distinguished by the greater size, blacker upper tail coverts and, whereas adult calcarata is as rich a yellow as adult citreola, the first summer calcarata is less yellow than any citreola. Citreola ; Females in summer plumage. In the “ Fauna of British India" it is said that the males and females are similar; this is not so. The adult female has neither the pure grey back nor the black collar of the male ; the upper-parts are greyish brown, the fore- head, supercilia and a good deal of the ear-coverts are yellow, the under-parts are as yellow as in the male . As in calcarata so in this bird, the adult plumage is not acquired in the first spring and the first summer birds are distinguished < from the adults by the less bright yellow coloration of the plumage, a yellowish olive brown crown, darker, less yellow, ear-coverts. Calcarata : Females in lointer. The adult female differs from any male in winter in lacking the yellow forehead, (the yellow on this part being confined to the base of the bill where the two supercilia coalesce) so that the whole head is dark olive with a yellow tinge instead of a yellow forehead and dark olive crown ; the lores, cheeks, ear- coverts are olive tinged with yellow instead of y'ellow ; there are no blackish 1084 JOURNAL, BOMBAL NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll. feathers on the upper-parts, the under-parts are as yellow as in the male, but the intensity varies in both sexes. The adult female differs from adult female citreola in having much brighter yellow under-parts (merely tinged with yellow in citreola) a brighter yellow supercdium, and rather darker upper-parts and ear-coverts. The female of the year differs from the adult female in lacking almost all yellow on the under parts, these being nearly white, the supercilium and feathers at the base of the bill are sullied white instead of yellow ; head and upper-parts dark slate grey instead of olivaceous brown. The lack of any yellow at once dis- tinguishes it from any male. In this dress it is very like the young of the year of melanogriseus, in fact except for the larger supercilia which meet over the base of the bill I can see no difference except for the size of the tarsi, toes and claws. The white supercilia and usually the lack of any yellow on under- parts help to distinguish it from first year citreola of either sex. Females differ in size from males only in the length of the ■wing and tail which average smaller : -wings 77-81 tails, 75-78 m.m. Juvenile or nestling plumage. Upper-parts rich bro-wn ; bufifish supercilia smmounted by a broad, nearly black line, imderparts strongly tinged -with bufifish brown, wWtish on vent and throat, -with a black moustachial line running down each side to the black spotted pectoral band ; calcarata and citreola are probably indistinguishable in this dress except that (in those examined) the white edges to the -wing coverts are broader in calcarata. The spring moult of citreola and calcarata is the same as that given for melano- griseus ; it starts towards the end of February and males are in full plumage about the middle of March, females somewhat later. I have already stated that the tarsus in calcarata is longer than in the other Wagtails and I find that the middle toe and claw as weU as the hind claw are also longer ; in fact calcarata is altogether a larger bird with a slightly longer bill, tail and -wing. Compared -with citreola the bill is nearly always 1 to 2 mn. longer (and this difference is more apparent to the eye than measmrements indicate) and though the measurements of -wings and tail overlap calcarata averages larger in both measurements. Compared -with beema and melano- griseus, calcarata is absolutely longer in all measurements (bill, tarsus, tail, and -wing ; extremes may just meet). M. calcarata. M. citreola. M, melano- griseus. M. beema. 1 M. calcarata. 1 Wing 12 d d 83-5-88 once 81 12c? 6 81-86 79-5-84-5 once 85-5 12 d c? 78-83 from orig. descr. A siatic Researches. — xix. Tarsus 27-28-25 23-25-5 22-5-24 22-5-24-5 1 . 19 inch.= once 26 once 26-5 once 25 30mm. Mid toe & claw . . 22-24 once 21-5 20-22 as in citreola as in citreola - 62 mid toe= 16mm. claw say 7mm.-:-23 Total 48-75-51-5 once 53 43-47 as in citreola as in citreola (53) • NOTES ON INDIAN WAGTAILS. 1085 t M. calcarata M. citreola. M, melanO’ griseu^. M. heema. M. ' calcarata. Bill exposed 13-14-5 11-25-12-5 as in citreola as in citreola -62= 16mm. Tail 74-81-5 once 84 72-77 67-76 70-5-73-5 Hind claw 12-15-5 once 11 10-12 once 13 as in citreola as in citreola 44= 11mm. The name calcarata of Hodgson for one of the Yellow-headed Wagtails has been dropped as it M'as considered that, as Hodgson described a winter bird, it could not be said which of the two Wagtails he had before him and therefore' Gould’s later name citreoloides* was substituted and used in the Fauna and other works. But a careful examination of Hodgson’s original description reveals that his calcarata must have been citreoloides and not citreola ; not only does of course the name itself suggest that he had before him a bird ■with an out- standingly long hind claw but his measurements at once reveal that they could not apply to citreola. His bird -with a tarsus of 1'19 (=30mm.) could only be' citreoloides. One does not know how he measured the bill so this measurement is of little account. His measurement of the hind claw is short and I find that this measurement varies according to the time of the year. In autumn and early ■winter the hind claw is longer as a rule than in spring and summer in all Wagtails, this is due to wear or breaking off of the very slender tip and in such examples of citreoloides the hind claw often measures about 12mm. whereas autumn birds have the hind claw about 15mm. The measurement of the tarsus and middle toe ■with claw is not a very easy one to take and no doubt different people would get different results on the same specimens according to where they considered the tarso-phalangeal joint to be (not always easy to see in a dry skin), but ■with care this measurement can be done witb accuracy. Measurement from the tuberosity of the tarsus on its outer side to the tarso-phalangeal joint ■will give the longest possible tarsal mea- surement, from this last (marked) point measure ■to the tip of the middle claw with the toe well extended. Though these two measurements may differ accord- ing to different observers, the sum of the two measurements should correspond, and it will be seen from the table given that in citreola the sum of the two varies from 43-47 and in citreoloides from 48’7o-53mm. This distinction holds for both sexes. II. — Yellow Wagtails. H the Yellow- headed Wagtails can be differentiated with fair certainty the . same cannot always be said for the rest of the Yellow Wagtails except for the adult males ; ■with females and more particularly with first ■winter birds the difficulty in many cases is to find specimens which from the locality in which they were obtained can only belong to one form, (for instance Yellow Wagtails obtained in Northern Scandina'via could only belong to the race thunhergi as no other form occurs there,) and some of these basic guides (if I may so call them) do not seem to be represented in any collection. ® Citreoloides of Hodgson was a 'nomen nudam. 1086 /0?7i2iV^.4Z, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, fol. XXV III. {i) Motacilla feldegg melanogriseus {=feldegg F.B.I.) Feldegg is the western form of the Black-headed Wagtail, melanogriseus is the eastern. Dr. Hartert (Vog. Pal. F. 296) says this race breeds in Tur- kestan and winters in India and may be distinguished at first glance from feldegg by the white chin and moustachial streak, shorter wing and some slight differences in the colour tone of the upper and under parts. I have examined 15 adult males in spring and find the following results : White chin present in 6, absent in 3, a trace in 6. Moustachial streak in 3, absent in 4, a trace in 8. Both characters are fully present in only 3 of these, entirely absent in 2, the rest have one character and a trace of the other. Now out of 24 Egyptian adult males 3 exhibit these characters of melanogriseus and 3 more partly so, so either both races occur in India and in Egypt, or these characters are variable ; I incline to the latter view. 15 adult males melanogriseus measure wings (78,) 79‘5-84‘5 (85‘5) mm. 24 adult males feldegg measure wings (82,) 83-87 mm. so that melanogriseus is on the average a smaller bird ; its wings measure mostly 80-83 whereas feldegg measure mostly 83-86 ; also I think that usually the tail is also shorter (mostly 68-72 mm.). Taking all these points I think that a sufficient percentage of specimens could be picked out to warrant recognition of the two races. Summer plumage. The jet black head of the male suffices to distinguish it from any other Indian Wagtail ; the female has the upper-parts brownish grey lightly tinted with olive green, the head darker usually mth some black feathers in it or, and these are probably older birds, the whole crown blackish, the ear-coverts and lores like the head ; a lew light feathers behind the eye is the only trace of a supercihum ; under-parts white tinge with yellow, most pronounced on the belly and under-tail coverts and often dark spots occur in the pectoral region. From female of thunhergi, the black on the head, the less richly yellow under- parts and usually less developed supercilia help to distinguish it, though some birds (? first summer) of each may be difficult. From female of beema easily distinguishable even in the field by darker ear-coverts and absence of a clear white supercilium, besides being less olive green on the upper-parts. Winter plumage. In the adult male the olive green back is not so bright as in summer, the under-parts a less pure bright yellow ; often some dark spots on the pectoral region. Whole head is now dark slate, tinged with oUve in fresh feather, with always a certain but variable amount of black feathers admixed, especially at base of biU, forehead, lores, and round eye ; no supercilium. Ear-coverts dark slate or brown, with odd light feathers. Easily distinguishable from all other Wagtails except adult thunbergi (=borealis) in the field; in the hand the black feathers on the head distinguish it from the latter. The adult female resembles the spring bird ; it is rather less bright in general coloration and has no black on the head, this part being greyer ; it is very similar to female thunbergi but is usually less richly yellow underneath and the super- cilia are not so well developed ; the same differences between this bird and female beema in spring also apply in winter plumage. Females are smaller than males: wing 75-77 ‘5, once 79; tail 64-72 mm. In the first winter {i.e. birds of the year) both sexes lack aU yellow and green tones in the plumage ; this at once distinguishes them from any citreola and beema. The upper-parts including the head and ear-coverts are brownish grey or dark slatey grey, somewhat variable, darkest on the rump and the upper- tail coverts, which in males are blackish (and this is the only difference between the sexes that I can see) ; a well marked whitish or huffish white supercilium from base of bill to well behind the eye, but not coalescing with that of the NOTES ON INDIAN WAGTAILS. 1087 opposite side over the base of the bill as in young female calcarata ; under-parts sullied white, often a huffish wash and a few dark spots on the pectoral region. I have already drawn attention to the similarity in this dress to that of female calcarata in the first winter plumage. The above description is taken from specimens which were collected in an area where thunbergi does not occur and checked by specimens moulting into summer plumage and so is undoubtably correct {rf. F.B.I. ii. p. 297). Spring Moult. Involves the whole of the body feathers, the inner three secondaries (=tertials) all, or all except the outer two or three, of the greater coverts, aU the median, all or part of the lesser coverts ; the central tail always, often the whole tail, but odd feathers may not be renewed. Moults in February ; by early in March males are in full plumage ; females about a fortnight later. {ii) Motacilla flava heema : Summer plumage. The wmZes cannot be confounded with any other Indian Wagtail. The pale french-grey head, large white supercilia; white chin and moustachial streak and pale grey ear-coverts mixed with white suffice to distinguish it in the hand as well as in the field. The females are also distinctive ; Avhole of the upper- parts brown with a strong olive green wash except on the head ; supercilia pronounced and white ; ear-coverts hke head but mixed with white ; chin and throat yellowish white with a buff tinge ; rest of under-parts pale yellow, much less rich than in the male. Distinguished from female thunbergi by the paler ear-coverts and lores and by the clear white supercilia. Winter plumage. The adult males are a dull edition of the spring birds ; the under-parts less rich yellow, dark spots in the pectoral region may be present, and the grey on the head is partially masked by an olive-green wash to the tips of the feathers. From melanogriseus and thunbergi by the clear white supercilia and paler grey crown, etc. The adult females resemble very much the spring females and are distinguished by the same characters from the other female Wagtails. In first winter plumage the sexes are not with certainty distinguishable. They are much like the adult female but usually less yellow on the under-parts. From young melanogriseus by the yellower belly and under-tail coverts and a certain, though variable, amount of olivaceous green on the upper-parts. Spring moult as in melanogriseus. {Hi) Motacilla flava thunbergi {=borealis F.B.I.) Summer plumage. The male is easily distinguishable by the dark slate grey head, absence of any supercilium (an old white feather or two behind the eye is oc- casionally present) and dark ear-coverts. The upper-parts vary somewhat ; some specimens are dull olive green, others bright olive green, these latter also being brighter yellow underneath. This may be a question of age, and I think it is very likely, or it may be an individual variation. I am satisfied that it is not a geographical variation as both forms breed in the same district (Yenesay River). The female exhibits two types differing from each other in the intensity of the yellow of the imder parts. This is probably due to age (as with the Yellow- headed Wagtails), those which are brighter yellow being adults and those which are duller being birds of the first summer. The head and upper-parts are dark olive brown, greenish olive on the rump, dark ear-coverts and lores, a weakly-marked whitish supercilium is present ; the pectoral region with or without spots. Winter plumage. The adult male resembles the spring male but the slatey-blue head is more or less marked by ohve edges to tips of the feathers, the under-parts are less bright yellow and the mantle is more olive-brown, not so olive-green. 34 1088 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXVIII. The adult female resembles in all essentials what I have characterised as the adult summer female ; the pectoral region may or may not have blackish spots. Yhe first winter plumage. I can give no distinguishing characters in this plum- age as I have seen no specimens which for a certainty belong to this race. (tv) Motacilla jlava simillima {=Jlava F.B.I.) The adult male in spring closely resembles that of thuniergi except that there is a well marked white supercdium behind the eye and more constantly has blackish spots on the pectoral region. It is doubtful whether the females and first year birds can be differentiated from thuribergi. The darker crown and ear- coverts distinguish it from the true jlava of Europe with which it was confounded in the Fauna. A winter visitor to the eastern parts of the Empire. (v) Motacilla jlava leucocephala. Spring males are distinguishable from any other Wagtail by the almost pure white crown and ear coverts, — even in the field. Females and winter birds I have not seen. III. — The Black and White Wagtails. (i) Motacilla alba dukhunensis. This is the common White Wagtail of a large pait of the Indian Plains in winter and is rather a poorly differentiated form of the European White Wagtail (M. a. alba.) The spring birds and adult males in winter are a shade paler grey on the upper parts, usually the white edges to the covert, s are wider so that the two wing bars coalesce to form a broad band as in personata, and the wings are a trifle longer on the average than in the typical alba. The first winter birds and adult females in winter cannot with certainty be differentiated ; some are a shade paler on the upper parts and some are not ; the ^ving bars do not coalesce but some have rather wider white edges to coverts than is found in alba ; on the other hand many others are indistinguishable in this respect; they average longer in the wing and, so far as I have seen, never shew the yellowish tinge on the white of the face which is often, but not always, found in alba in similar dress ; more- over they have often more distinctly white foreheads. There is no single charac- ter however which wiU invariably separate them. It is possible of course that these birds which cannot be differentiated are the typical alba ; on the other hand I have not seen any adult male which could certainly be referred to the latter race. Summer Plumage. Males and females when fully adult are not with certainty distinguishable; some females however have the white forehead less pure, ticked with black or grey, and less white in the wing coverts, these very likely are first summer birds. Sometimes females have a certain amount of white on the chin and throat but this is an individual variation. Winter Plumage. The adult male resembles the summer male, except of course for the white, not black, chin and throat, and the black crown is sullied posteriorly with dark grey ; the adud female has the crown grey, sometimes with a few black feathers and the forehead white, but less broad and less pure than the male. The males in first winter have the crown dark, a mixture of black and dark grey, very variable, and the forehead white, some are entirely grey on the crown and the forehead greyish, these latter resemble the first year female and are not to be differentiated ; in both sexes the wing bar is double. NOTJSS ON INDIAN WAGTAILS. 1089 Measurements. M. alba. alba. Norway, Sweden and W. Europe (20^ $ ) wing 88-92 ‘5 mm. (11$$) „ 84^88-5 „ M. alba dukhunensis. Sind and Punjab (21^ (S) „ 91-96 „ (7 $ $ ) „ 84-91 J/. aZ6a daMunejisis Yenesay (breeding) (17d^) » 91-96 ,> Dukhunensis is distinguished at all seasons and in both sexes from personata by the white, not the black, ear-coverts ; in winter also by the white throat, and always by the shorter tail. dukhunensis tail (82,84) 88-95 mm. personata tail (87,90) 93-102 mm. Spring moult involves body, always the central tail and fairly often other tail feathers ; inner greater coverts, usually the three tertials, aU the median and some of the lesser coverts. (ii) Motacilla alba personata. Summer plumage. Both sexes have white foreheads and black crowms and ear- coverts, also chin and throat. The black on the head in the female rather less wide than in the male, that is to say it extends not so far down on the nape, otherwise the sexes are similar. Males differ from males of hodgsoni in having grey, not black, lesser wing coverts and mantles ; some females almost indis- tinguishable from females of hodgsoni but in the latter the mantle and lesser coverts are usually grey mixed with black or almost quite black, in both sexes however hodgsoni has usuaUy a longer bill and shorter tail (89-95mm.) Broad white wing band much as in hodgsoni. Winter plumage. The mantle resembles the summer bird but the chin is white and the bases of the throat feathers are white so that a certain amount of white shews in this part. The female is much the same, usually the black on the head is less wide. In both the ear-coverts are black. Males in first winter resemble adult males, sometimes, but not always, the crown is less black, i.e., mixed with grey ; the broad white wing band is not so pme white. The female has black ear-coverts as in the males, the head is grey, forehead white bordered posteriorly with blackish feathers ; wing band as in male. Chin and throat in first year birds much as in adult ; the amount of black or white on the throat varies individually. Measurements. 6^ $ wing 94’5-98 tail mostly 98-102 bill from base 16'5-17'5 mm. 7$ V wing 87 '5-95 tail mostly 90-100 bill from base 15‘5— 17 m.m. (m) Motacilla alba hodgsoni. This is perhaps the most handsome of the Black and White Wagtails ; in summer plumage the male has the crown and all the upper -parts pme black, forehead white, ear-coverts, chin and throat black as in personata. Lesser coverts black and broad pure white wing band. The female varies somewhat, some, perhaps older birds, are as black on the upper-parts as the male, others are darker grey than personata mixed or not with black feathers ; these are perhaps birds of the previous year. In winter the black ear-coverts are retained and the bird is very like personata ; however the darker grey of the mantle with or without black feathers ad- mixed, the shorter tail and rather longer bill will differentiate it. {iv) Motacilla alba ocularis. Differentiated from all the other Wagtails at all seasons by a black line from the base of the bill through and carried on beyond the eyes. It has a gre mantle and white ear-coverts. {v) Motacilla alba leucopsis. A black-backed form like hodgsoni but has white ear-coverts, which at all seasons will differentiate it from the latter. 1090 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. {vi) Motacilla maderaspatensis. Mr. Stuart Baker puts this Wagtail (B.N.H.S. 27 p. 37) as a race of alba ; with this I cannot agree. It is possibly ti-ue that it does not breed in the area of hodgsoni, there being probably an altitudinal difference in habitat, though it undoubtedly does breed in the Himalayas ; yet in many points this species differs from the alba group. Firstly this bird is in habits unlike the latter group in being practically confined to water courses. Secondly, it is resident through- out most of its range whereas all the alba group are migratory. Thirdly, its very superior size ; fourthly, its total absence of white forehead which all races of alba shew in winter, fifthly the summer and winter plumages are alike and sixthly, so far as I have been able to ascertain, it has no spring moult. IV'. — The Grey Wagtail. Motacilla cinerea melanope. This is the Eastern representative of the European Grey Wagtail. It differs from the latter in having a shorter tail and some alleged differences in the outer three tail feathers, viz : — ( 1) outer tail feather brown on the middle of the shaft, (2) the next, some brown on the inner web and (3) the third, black on the inner web’s edge. I have examined 30 specimens as regards these characters and I find the following results : Character (1) Present in 23 out of 28 (2) „ „ 5 „ 28 (3) „ „ 15 „ 24 In only 4 out of 27 do the alleged characters hold good in aU three feathers, in only one do they fail in all three. On the other hand in M. cinerea cinerea I find — Character (1) Present in 1 out of 9 (2) „ „ 1 „ 9 (3) „ „ 7 „ 9 Hence it is obvious that characters (2) and (3) are useless and character (1) is of some slight help together with the length of tail in distinguishing these races. 30 specimens of melanope measure : — Tail 88-95, and 9 of cinerea 98-1 10 mm. Besides a wide breeding distribution in Asia, this bird breeds in the Safed Koh, (just over the N. W. Frontier) and in the Himalayas. JOURN.. BOMi NAT. HIST SOC- I 1091 H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES’ SHOOTING IN INDIA IN 1921 AND 1922.— Part II. By BERNARD C. ELLISON, C.M.Z.S. — {Naturalist to the Shoot'ng.) F.R.O.S. {With three plates and a map and 2 text fibres.) BHOPAL.* The Prince arrived at Bhopal on a bracingly cold morning, February 4th, 1922. But this account is not concerned with shivering officers dressed in white, nor with red carpets, bands, banners and booming guns, but with wooded hills and glades, and the free unfettered life of a shooting camp. Before we plmige into the jiuiglcs, a word to those to whom Bhopal is but a famiUar name. Thousands are hurled into the Bhopal railway station yearly and thousands pass on, little knowing, for the sight is not for them, that a mile beyond the utilitarian rows of station buildings lies one of the most beautiful places in all India, imique, with a charm wholly its o^vn. Here on the northern edge of two large sheets of water rises the city, white palaces gleaming amidst green trees, while tall minarets, their glittering spikes dominating all, mark unmistakably the religion of the Ruler. On the southern shore stands the residence of General Obeidullab IChan with its magnificicnt view over the lakes, and, at a lower elevation, the comfortable “ Lai Kothi ” in whieh His Royal Highness resided during the visit. This faces across the lower lake towards the group of old palaces, the grim city walls, and the Fatehgarh Fort which so stoutly withstood the Maratha hordes in the 18th century. To the west, towards Sehore, the coimtry is level and cultivated, but to the north and east the land is full of hills which, as one gets further from the eity, become rougher and covered with fine jungle, an ideal haunt for wild animals of every kind. The intervenhig time from the 4th till the evening of the 5th was spent in a round of fimctions and amusements comprising the State visits, the Banquet, Polo, Tennis, Yachting and Shooting, all provided by the hospitable Bi^gum of Bhopal in honour of her Royal guest. The shooting proper was to take place at Kachnaria, about 20 miles as the crow flies out of Bhopal, where had been pitched a standing eamp out in the jungle. Some sport was enjoyed roimd Bhopal before the party went to Kachnaria. Sir Godfrey Thomas went out from Bhopal for buck on the afternoon of the 4th February towards Duraha, but, although the country promised well, a glimpse of two Chinkara out of shot was all the reward he obtained for his exertions. Admiral Halsey who went towards Ashta also had a blank day. There had been a lot of recent traffic on these roads on account of the Prince’s visit w’hich had disturbed all buck and chinkara and made the herds go far from the main roads. Captain Dudley North, Captain Piers Lcgh and Commander Now'port went out after stiipe and had some sport, bringmg in 18| couple. A good morning was spent wdth sand grouse on the Sehore Road. A nullah was found where the grouse watered and about 1 5 brace were got, mostly pintail. Anoth- r party amused themselves on the lake at Bhopal with duek, wMeh were vt;ry numerous but difficult to got at. Attempts were made to circumvent them in boats, but it was of no avail. Staying out for Heir evening flight was tried by another party who had good sport at the top end of the lake among the • I am largely indebted to Colonel Luard for this article. 1092 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, fol. XXVIll. reeds. About twelve couple were accounted for among which were four couple of mallard. On the 5th of February the ^vriter left early by special train in order to see that his men, who had arrived some days previously, were properly settled in their camp. After a railway journey of about 30 miles through thickly wooded country with plenty of small hills and crags which augured well for prospects of good shooting he arrived at Salamatpur Station and was met by Colonel Iqbal Mohamad Khan, a nephew of Her Highness the Begum, and together they rode to the camp about five miles away. The Shooting box at Kachnaria provided for the Prmce’s accommodation was a magnificent white pavilion made of stone. This had boon built at the shooting camp by His Royal Highness’ host, the eldest son and heir of Her Highness the Begum, Nawab Sir Nasrullah Khan, himself a big game shot of high repute, who has shot over 130 tigers, mostly in Bhopal State. Some time ago the Nawab started erecting a country residence at Kachnaria, and as soon as the Prince of Wales’ projected visit was announced the building was rapidly completed, electric light was installed, and water laid on. Round it a large camp was pitched, as the house was only able to accommedate the Prince and a small portion of his staff. His Royal Highness was the first inhabitant of the house and consented that it should be named the “ Prince of Wales’ Farhat Manzil ” (Prince of Wales’ abode of delight) in memory of his visit. Some distance from the house at Kachnaria a special skinning camp had been arranged. It lay in a small depression and was surrounded by trees— the “ Wanton lapwing’s ” eternal cry of “Did you do it ” shewing that it was their favourite haunt. Sheds of bamboo with leafy tops had been erected. Here every arrangement was made for dealing with the animals shot. The whole place was delightfully cool and airy and both for this reason and on accoimt of the convenience of its situation so close to the rest of the camp was an ideal place for a skinning camp. Profiting from his experience in Nepal the writer made arrangements for each member of the shooting party to take out labels, giving them to each person every day after dinner at the end of the day’s shoot. This he found worked very well, as all confusion was thus obviated. There were generally several parties shooting and every person who secured a trophy affixed a label to the animal immediately after it was killed and saw that proper measurements were taken. Thus mistakes were impossible , measurements being taken and recorded at the time of shooting before rigor mortis had set in. The arrangements at the shooting camp had been personally supervised by Sir Nasrullah who had spent weeks in accelerating the work of preparing the house and in arranging the beats. 4: * * Leaving Bhopal by special train on the evening of February 5th, the Prince and his staff reached a way-side platform erected for the purpose about 6-30 p.m., whence they were motored along fair weather roads, made for the occasion, to Kachnaria about two miles away. A triumphal arch of green leaves had been erected at the entrance to the camp, and here the local populace had gathered to await His Royal Highness’ arrival. Most of these people were Gonds, a jungle tribe which inhabits these forests. They had prepared to greet the Prince with one of their dances, and women and men were already dancing, as their custom is, in separate groups, the men in white and the women in red clothes ; “tom toms,” cymbals and the monotonous chant with its emphatic caesura beat and occasional loud shouts adding to the weird scene. But alas ! a practice game of polo and H. R. U, THE PRINCE 01 WALES' SHOOTING IN INDIA. 1093 an inspection at General Obaidullah Khan’s house of the record Sambhar head (oOJ") shot by the General’s father delayed the start and His Royal Highness reached the cam only as darlmess fell. No bustling Police car (an un- necessary precaution there) announced H. R. H.’s approach and the Prince had come and passed the arch unrecognised before it was even suspected he had passed. However on another occasion, Avhen returning from a shoot, the Gond.s had their opportimity of performmg. While the writer was at the sliinning camp just before the Prince’s arrival news of a “ kill” some four miles away was brought in. As in Mysore, news generally came by an elaborate system of Heliographs on the surrounding hills. In the early morning from one’s tent the lights could be always seen flashing in the morning sun. To turn now to actual events. A glance at the map will show the plaees to which His Royal Highness went, these being marked “ P,” while blocks to which members of the party went are marked “ O ”. I have already noted that some shooting was done direct from Bhopal by members of the staff, who did not come out to Kachnaria but joined the camp for the day. 1094 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXVIII. The party at Kachnaria on the night of the 5th February comprised : — H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, Colonel Nawab Sir NasruUah Khan, The Earl of Cromer, Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, Colonel Worgan, Mr. Petrie, Commander Newport, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Colonel C. E. Luard, Political Agent in Bhopal. Colonel McConaghy, Agency Surgeon in Bhopal. Sahibzada HabibuUah Khan, Sahibzada RafiquUah Khan, Colonel Nawabzada ObeiduUah Khan, Lt.-Col. Nawabzada Hamidullah Khan, and the WTiter. The following diary extracts are the writer’s impressions of the shooting ; — 69 99 1 2 3 Captain Walker Mr. Holland Mr. Ashdown . . Kodamdesae • • 99 • • 99 1 2 3 4 HIS ROYAL HIGH NESS His Highness Sir Lionel Halsey The Earl of Cromer Picked up Gejnee 99 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The Maharaj Kumar . . Sugansagae His Highness the Maha- rajah Jam Sahib of Nawanagar . . . . „ His Highness the Nawab Sahib of Palanpur . . ,, Colonel Worgan . . ,, Mr. de Montmorency . . „ Sir Philip Grej’-Egerton. ,, Captain Metcalfe . . „ Captain the Hon. Piers Legh „ Captain Dudley North. . ,, Sir Godfrey Thomas . . „ Captain Walker . . ,, Mr. Petrie . . ,, Captain the Hon. Bruce Ogilvy . . . . „ Sir Harrj’ Watson . . ,, Mr. Ashdown . . ,, Lieut. -Colonel Harvey . . ,, Commander Fry . . „ Captain Boileau . . „ Mr. Holland . . ,, Captain Poynder . . ,, Black buck. Chinkaia. 3rd December {afternoon) — contd. olh December {morning). 65 138 87 45 322 55 51 46 42 36 33 32 32 30 28 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 19 H. R H. THE PRINCE OF W ALE N SHOOTING IN INDIA 1105 Black buck. Chinkara. Xame. Place. Number. Head. Number. Head. Bustard. Houbara. Demoiselle Crane. Duck. Imperial Sand Grmi Sand Grouse. Partridge. Snipe. < o b* Surgeon Commander Newport . . Sugamsagar 5< h Dec embe cc r {mo' ntd. rning )- 15 15 Mr. Metcalfe 15 15 Maharaj Sri Bijey Singhji 1 12 .. !»• 13 Lord Louis Mountbatten 8 8 Lieut. -Colonel O’Kinealy. 8 8 Picked up 2 670 672 Other visitors 6 Khaei 12 6 . . • . 18 Picled up . . 12 6 •• •• 18 Sir Harry Watson Kodamdesak 41 41 Captain AValker 40 40 Commander Fry 31 31 Mr. Petrie 28 . . 28 Lieut. -Colonel Harvey . 27 27 Colonel Worgan 26 26 Surgeon Commande Newport » • • 26 26 Captain Dudley North . 21 21 Capt. the Hon. Pier Legh 20 20 Mr. Ashdown 1 17 • • 18 Mr. de Montmorency . 99 • • 14 14 Mr. Metcalfe 12 . . 12 Captain the Hon. Bruc Ogilvv 6 6 Sir Godfrey Thomas 5 5 Lieut. -Colonel O’Kinealy 99 • • 3 3 Picked up -• 2 250 •• •• 252 Sir Lionel Halsey Gujxee (xeae Battia) 51 1 It Decembe 1 2U"I .. r (afternoo <1). 1 • Madholao ‘ 7|." 1 1 1106 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll. Black buck Chinkara. b o Name. Place. c o -Ji O 0^ *2 0) •2 3 ■2 b t) S b & o o> o o S a a a TJI 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 HIS ROYAL HIGH NESS His Highness Sir Lionel Halsey His Highness the Xawab Sahib of Palanpur Mr. de Montmorency . Lieut. -Colonel Harvey Capt. the Hon. Bruce ( Igih'y Commander Fry Major Jackson The Earl of Cromer Mr. Metcalfe Surgeon Commande Newport Mr. Petrie Maharaj Sri Bijey Singh ji Sir Godfrey Thomas Captain Dudley North . Captain Poynder Kumar Sri Bhawani Singhji Mr. Percival Landon Captain Boileau Colonel O’Kinealy Lord Louis Mountbatten Picked Up The Maharaj Kumar His Highness the Maha rajah Jam Sahib of Nawanagar Colonel Worgan Capt. the Hon. Piers .Legh Sir Philip Gret'-Egerton Picked up HIS ROYAL HIGH. NESS Lord Louis Mountbatten. SUGANSAGAK GU.JXER Qth December (morning) I &th December (afternoon). 1 Gujxee Bir. 1 20i" ») • • 1 18.1" Om Gujner Road NEAR Kotra . . 1 lor Near Pariridge Covert 1 lU" f > • • 1 11" ,, 1 9" Near Gujxer- Kodamdesar Road 1 9?" 54 69 64 5 5 508 120 90 50 49 30 300 20 34 3f 1107 Dr. TICEHURST’S APPEAL. Our members may be interested to learn that Dr. Ticehurst has just written to me wth reference to his appeal for spirit specimens of chicks of Indian or other birds which recently appeared in the Journal. He informs me that he has now examined the chicks of about 70 species of Indian birds and that this material, although of course insufficient for any definite results of A-alue, has sho\ra that the enquiry, if continued, is likely to be most interesting and to throw a good deal of light on classification problems. It appears however that very few members have responded to the appeal, the majority of the specimens being due to the efforts of two members only. I think possibly many people are deterred from helping from the idea that it is a matter for the expert alone, and also by the somewhat formidable thought of “spirit specimens’’. May I disabuse them of these ideas. Anyone can help with even a very slight knowledge of Indian birds. Every observer or sportsman automatically comes across a nest or two during the year, or meets with the downy chick of some game bird. At present almost every species is still a desideratum, so there need be no fear that any chick found is too com- mon to be wanted. So if only our members would make up their minds to save a specimen of any young chick they come across, it would help on the survey immensely and immediately. The only thing required is that the chick must be named, though some sfight latitude can be allowed in this respect. At the present state of the enquiry a Bee-eater chick for instance Avould be of A-alue even if the sender could not accurately determine the actual species. There is no need to be frightened of the idea of a “sjfirit specimen”; all that is requhed is to drop the chick into a small bottle of any common spirit, AvhateA er is hand}^ : jjersonaOy I find spirits of wine the best but others may har-e something else more handy. If more than one chick is obtained, to prevent subsequent confusion, a little card can be tied to one leg : on the card the name of the bird should be VTitten in pencil ; ink of course would wash out. If any member like to send his sjAecimens to me I can forward them to Dr Ticehurst in England. For posting, simply wraii each chick in a small bit Oj. cloth after it has soaked for about a week in the spirit, and damp the cloth with spirit. Then pack in the ordinary way in a tin or wooden box. If several specimens are obtained it is often easier to send them along in the original spirit bottle, though wrapped separately in cloth to avoid jolting ; all the spirit,' except as much as the cloth absorbs, can be poured out before packing : this saves postage and avoids leakage. May I remind our Oological members that the chick exhibits down before hatching, that is to say a hard set egg, Avhich cannot be saved for the egg collec - tion, will be of value to Dr. Ticehurst. Simply make a hole in the shell to admit spirit and add the egg to the spirit bottle. The most convenient way of labelhng, if several eggs are likely to be confused, is to wrap a piece of cloth round the egg inserting in it a slip with the name pencilled on it. To end up : — The eggs of most Indian birds are well known by now, but the chicks of nearly all are unknown. On the present state of our knowledge more is to be learnt from one chick than a dozen clutches of eggs. HUGH WHISTLER, F.Z.S., Dhakmsala, Punjab, 24dng young of the Bifasciated I.,ark were brought home but the Finch Larks were not .seen. On July 20th, 1922, La Personne arrived in Baghdad and though the breeding season was nearly over it was considered there might be just time to clear up a few' more points in the marshes around Musaiyib on the Euphrates whence well intentioned Shaikhs had sent in baskets of nameless eggs of marsh birds such as Terns, Grebes and many w'aders. Of first importance w'as to determine the status of the White-winged Black Tern (Hydrochelidon leucoptera). This bird had been constantly seen coming northwards in the spring but strange to say no reliable record existed as to its breeding in Iraq. The Gull-biUed Tern, Slender-billed Gull and three kinds of gi’ebe were all undoubtedly represented in the egg basket but required clutches and parents to confinn their position as breeders. There was also the possibi- lity that young in down of the White-tailed Plover ( Chettusia leucura) and othef waders would be encountered. La Persomie left for the Euphrates on July 25th and returned August 6th with 2 clutches of eggs of the White-muged Black Tern w'ith parents, which were probably the last of the year ; also an adult Wliiskered Tern. The other birds mentioned w'ere not forthcoming. For the last few weeks he has been occupied in WTiting up liis notes and aiTauging specimens of this year’s collections. The birds are being sent in batches to Di’. C. B. Ticehurst who in spite of fully occupied days has kindly consented to look them through so we may have on doubt as to their correct identification. “ Affairs of State ” have made insistent calls on time during the last two vears and it has only been possible so far to collect, label and list these and other specimens and keep the notes up to date and in an intelhgible form. It is our hope eventually to marshal the facts and summarise the results in the form of two or more papers to be offered for pubheation in the journal of the B. N. H. S. if so desired. [The Editors will be very pleased to publish further papers from Capt. Cheosman giving the results of his and Mr. La Personno’s investigations. They take this opportunity of expressing the pleasure the Committee feel over the good work done by their young collector.] 1111 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1921-22. The Committee of the Bombay Natural History Society have the honour to submit herewith their report on the operations and the progress of the Society covering a period from 1st August 1920 to 31st October 1922, Patron and Vice-Patrons. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, K.G., is the Patron of the Society and it is hoped that several of the Ruling Princes in India who are members of the Society will become Vice-Patrons. Administration. The administration of the institution is directed by a Committee consisting of a President, three Vice-Presidents, an Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and 20 members. The Museum and Library are in the charge of a Curator. The Editorship of the Journal is in the hands of the Honorary Secretaiy who is assisted by joint editors. The following is the personnel of the management for the current year : — President. His Excellency Sir George Lloyd, G.C.I.E., D.S.O. Vice-Presidents. Mr. J. D. Inverarity, B.A., LL.B. The Hon’ble Sir Norman Macleod, Kt., Chief Justice of Bombay. H. H. The Maharao of Cutch, G.C.S.L, G.C.I.E, Honorary Secretary. Mr. R. A. Spence, M.L.A., F.Z.S. Honorary Treasurer. Mr. H. F. Lodge, M.C. Honorary Editors. Mr. R. A. Spence, F.Z.S., Mr. B. C. Ellison, C.M.Z.S., and Mr. S. H. Prater C.M.Z.S. Curator — Mr. B. C. Ellison ; Assistant Curator — Mr. S. H. Prater ; Head Clerk — Mr. A. F. Fernandes. Managing Committee. Mr. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher, F.E.S. Mr. T. R. Bell, C.I.E., I.F.S. (Retd.) Major R. Benson, D.S.O. Rev. E. Blatter, S.J. Mr. B. C. Ellison, C.M.Z.S. Lt.- Col. W. H. Evans, R.E. Major F. C. Fraser, I.M.S. Mr. A. E. Hefford. Mr. J. E. B. Hotson, I.C.S. Prof. V. N. Hate, M.A. Mr. C. M.-Inglis, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Mr. F. Ludlow, I.E.S., M.B.O.U. Lt.- Col. W. Glen Liston, C.I.E., I.M.S. Mr. P. J. Mead, C.I.E,, I.C.S. Mr. H. Macnaghten, M.A., M.L.C. 37 1112 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vcl. XXVIll Mr. J. G. Ridland. Mr. P. M. D. Sanderson. Major C. H. Stocklej% D.S.O. Dr. D. A. Turkhud. Mr. H. Whistler, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. and the President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer and Honorary Secretary ex-officio. Membership and Subscription. At the annual General Meeting held in March 1921 it was decided that owing to the heavy increase in printing charges and the increased cost of administration the entrance fee should be raised from Rs. 10 to Rs. 20, the annual subscription from Rs. 15 to 25 and the Life Membership from Rs. 200 to Rs. 350. Opportu- nity was given to old members to comixjund at the old rate up to September 1921 and the result was a large increase in the number of Life Members, the mmiber now on the rolls being 160. The increase in annual subscription resulted in a small diminution in membership but the total number now on the rolls is 1,491. Prince of Wales' Museum. The woi'k of arranging the Society’s show collections in the Natural History section of the Prince of Wales’ Museum has made steady progress and the assist- ant curator, IMr. S. H. Prater, has gone on deputation to England for training in taxidermy and also to study at first hand the working of the principal Natural History Museums in the British Isles. Towards the cost of working the Natural History section of the Prince of Wales’ Museum, the Bombay Government has made an initial grant of Rs. 40,000 but it is estimated that the minimum cost of carrying out the scheme prepared by the curators will be over a lakh of Rupees and imless the scheme is to be abandoned a great effort must be made to obtain strong financial support from those who wish to see Bombay provided with a Natural History Museum worthy of the city. Society's Apollo Street Collection. During the period under review the Society received considerable additions to its mammal collections through the Mammal Survey, the w'ork of wdiich it was enabled to continue as a result of the Government of India granting in 1921 Rs. 22,500 per annum for two yeai-s for the work of the survey. The specimens sent in are being worked out by the authorities at the British Museum and it is hoped in due couree to publish the scientific results in the Society’s journal. Specimens have been received throughout the year from members in all parts of India and Burma and have been identified either by the scientific staff of the Society or by the authorities at the British and Indian IMuseums. A keen interest in the work of the Society is maintained by its members in all parts of India and Burma and despite the increase in subscription the active membership in the period under review compares favourably with the past. Publications. The Society is at present publishing amongst others the following series of articles in its Journal 1. Game Biixls of India, Burma and Ceylon, by E. C. Stuart Baker. 2. Birds of the Indian Empire, by E. C. Stuart Baker. 3. Scientific Results from the Mammal Survey. 4. The Game Animals of Kashmir and the Adjacent Hill Districts, by Col. A. E. Ward. REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE FOR 1921-22. 1113 5. Indian Dragonflies, by Major F. C. Fraser, I.M.S. 0. Identiflcation of Indian Butterflies, by Col. Evans, R. E. (A Guide to beginners in Butterfly collecting). 7. Dragonfly collecting in India, by Major F. C. Fraser, I.M.S. (A Guide to beginners in Dragonfly collecting). 8. Indian Parasitic Flies, by H. Russell. and has completed the series of papers on the Fauna of Mesopotamia and N. W. Pei-sia. The Society has published two volumes of the Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. H. R. H. The Prince of Wales' visit to India. The Society’s Curator, Mr. B. C. Elhson, was deputed to attend several of the shooting camps arranged in honour of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and imder his direction the trophies obtained by H. R. H. and staff were preserved and sent to England. Mr. Ellison also supervised the transit to Bom- bay of the live animals presented to His Royal Highness by the Government of Nepal. (Sd.) R. A. SPENCE, Honorary Secretary, APPEAL FROM THE PROVINCIAL MUSEIBI, LUCKNOW. With a view to forming a collection of photographs illustrating Wild Life in its natural surroundings for exhibition in the Natm-al History Department of the Provincial Museum, Lucknow, and preparing lantern shdes for circula- tion in schools and colleges, the Curator of the Provincial Museum, Lucknow, will be extremely obhged if any who are interested in the subject and have got any such photographs, for example pictru'es taken from a machan, would be generous enough to lend him photographs or negatives for reproduction. 1114 REVIEW. Indian Game Birds. The Editors offer no apology for borrowing from the “ Times Literary Supple- ment ” the subjoined review on Mr. Stuart Baker’s Game-Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. There have been several very good reviews of these books in the home journals and all have been favourable, but the one we reproduce is, we think, the best and an excellent example of what a review should be. May we take this opportunity of asking members, who have been so fortunate as already to possess copies, to show those copies to their friends and point out the desirability of their too possessing them ! Copies are obtainable from Messrs. Thacker Spink & Co., Calcutta; Thacker & Co. and Taraporewalla & Co., Bombay; Higginbotham & Co., Madras, and from the Honorary Secretary of the Society. The price in India is : — Vol. I, Rs. 63. Vol. II, Rs. 55. (Postage and packing Rs. 2 extra on each volume). The Game-Birds of India, Burma, and Ceylon. By E.C. Stuart Baker. Vol- umes I. and II. (The Bombay Natural History Society, London : Bale, Sons and Danielsson. Vol. L, £4 4s.; Vol. II., £3 13s. 6d.) The Bombay Natural History Society has earned and is maintaining a high reputation. Its museum work is excellent ; and it was unfortunate that circum- stances made it impossible for the Prince of Wales to visit the admirable exhibi- tion which it had especially arranged for his inspection. The survey of the mammals of India, which the Society has in hand, is an imdertaking of the first importance. The Society’s Journal is among the best of the publications of its class ; and one of the outstanding features of the Journal for some time past has been the series of articles by Mr. Stuart Baker which, amended and brought up to date, form the material of these two volumes, being the first half of what is to be a five-volume work. India has always been fortunate in its winters on natural history. Among the multitude of keen sportsmen who have gone out in the Government Services, whether Civil or Military, there have been a large proportion of good amateur naturalists ; and when the first-class men arose, like Jerdon and Hume, they had an immense amount of accumulated knowledge ready to their hand. Both Jerdon’s work and the volumes of Hume and Marshall remain to-day astonish- ingly good. No one, not Mr. Stuart Baker or any other, can ever work in the same field without drawing largely on these two great reservoirs ; but the mere passage of time, with the progress of science and the changes in nomenclature and systematic method, in the couise of nearly half a century makes any book out of date. There is, therefore, abimdant room for this work on the game- birds, as there is also room for other monographs in special fields, which will doubtless follow. The first of the present volumes is only in a very limited sense new, being, in effect, a new edition, improved, added to and brought up to date, of the same author’s “ Indian Ducks and their Allies,” which appeared fourteen years ago. The changes in matter consist chiefly in the incorporation of new records and the adoption' — irritating but necessary— of the accepted modern nomenclature. One new species, or sub-species, of duck is, however, admitted ; for Mr. Baker accepts now as a legitimate sub-species of the common SpotbiU the birds of the Burmese type {Haringtoni) which, in his volume of 1908, he had declared to have “ nothing to distinguish them from ” the yoimg of the established species. It is, or to the lay mind wiU seem, a small matter. No one is likely to shoot or see this particular sub-species alive in its wild state without going to Burma, the Shan States, or Cochin, the area to which it is practically confined. And only a naturalist, if he did shoot it, would recognise it as in any way differing from the common form which is found aU over India, to the West, or from the Eastern form (another sub-species) which spreads over Trans-Baikalia, Eastern REVIEW. 1115 Siberia and Mongolia to Japan and Northern China. A small matter, then ; but anyone who can teU just how and why these three forms arose, so nearly alike, will have in his hands the whole secret of the origin and distribution of species. Of illustrations, this volume, as compared with the earher publication, contains plates of the heads of two additional kinds of swan, and certain less formal photo- graphs of the bieeding-groimd of the bar-headed goose in Tibet. And here, again, is a problem. Why does the bar-headed goose, which comes down at other seasons to the more comfortable latitudes of a large part of India, choose to nest and rear its yoimg at a height of nearly 15,000 feet above the sea, and probably much higher ? The natural suggestion is that it retires into the remote sohtudes for the safety of isolation. Isolation from what ? For when the habits of geese wei’e fonned they can hardly have had to guard against the enmity of man. The commonly accepted assumption is, moreover, that the breeding- ground of a species is its original habitat. Did the bar-headed geese, then, originate on the Himalayan heights in some far-distant past, when climatic conditions were other than they are to-day ; and was it the increasing cold which, making their homeland foodless in winter, drove them down to the lower levels in search of sustenance, only to return each spring to their native haunts when the iron grip of winter was removed ? This, or something like it, is probably the cause which lies at the root of all migration. But it helps us but a httle way towards an imdeistanding of the marvel of migration as a whole. It is in the second volume, however, that English readers will find the greater fascination ; for here — besides the snipes and woodcock— are the birds more characteristic of the gorgeous East, all delightfully pictirred by Mr. Gronvold : the bustards, of which, including the houbara and the floricans, there are six species, and eight kinds of the lovely dove-’ike sand grouse. The Imperial Sand Grouse was one of the birds with which the Prince of Wales had good sport on his recent Indian tour. It is a tricky and difficult bird to shoot, coming in in flocks (it is usually shot from butts as it comes to water in the early morning), travelling at a disconcertingly high speed, with a knack of ducking— dropping, almost perpendicularly, like a stone — as soon as it catches sight of the gunner. As to the abundance of the birds at the right places, Mr. Stuart Baker quotes Hume’s statement that in the course of a fifteen-mile drive he saw over one himdred packs of grouse, the packs varying in size from four or five birds to nearly a thousand. A more recent and exact record, however, is now furnished by the records of the Prince and his party at Gujner Lake, as compiled by the Maharaja of Bikaner. On the preceding morning (December 4, 1921) the Maha- raja’s markers had reported that about 17,000 birds had come in to drink. On the two following days the party of 40 gims (of whom, however, a dozen at out- lying butts got but thirty birds among them) killed 1,946 birds, the largest individual bags being made by the Maharaja with 207 birds and H.R.H. with 119, the latter being a good record for any man shooting at so evasive a bird for the first time. Apart from their sporting virtues, all the sand grouse are beautiful creatures. The Painted Sand Grouse, the Large Pintailed Sand Grouse, and the Tibetan Sand Grouse in particular, are even more beautiful than the Imperial race itself ; and in his paintings of them Sir. Gronvold has evidently dehghted in his subjects. As often in human efforts to describe the voices of birds, there is a curious dis- crepancy in the rendering by different observers of the Sand Grouse’s note. The Imperial’s note is, we are told, described by some writers as “ a clucking soxmd difficult to write down in words,” while others call it a “ soft double chuckle.” The Special Correspondent of The Times with the Prince of Wales, however, speaks of the air, as the birds came in, being full of “ the sweet purring whistle ” of their calls. In view of the ineffectual efforts that have been made to re-establish the Great Bustard as a resident of the British Isles, we caimot help being a little envious 1116 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. of any country which can claim the noble bird as its own. India, however, is not much better off than we are in this matter ; for only six specimens are known to have been obtained in all India, and these have been young birds. This shows, as Mr. Stuart Baker notes, what other evidence has indicated, that yoimg birds, whether from inexperience or the heady adventurousness of youth, have a tendency to range farther on migration than their more prudent elders. But other members of the Bustai-d family are numerous. They have need to be ; for some are easy to shoot, and the wiles by which they are circumvented by native sportsmen are many. One method is to approach them on foot behind cover of a camel, walking the camel round the birds in diminishing circles imtil within range. Another trick is to go after them at night with a lantern and a cowbell, the birds being accustomed to the sound of the cowbell and knowing it to mean no harm. A more laborious plan is to stud the ground thick with nooses and then walk the birds carefully into the area where the snares are set. Bustaixis are a favourite quarry for hawking, and have been so hunted from time immemorial. But meanest of all the devices is that of the Bhils, who light a cir- cular fire round the bird’s nest, which the hen bird promptly tries to extinguish by beating it with her wings, so singeing them that she cannot fly and is then easily run down on foot. In Jerdon’s day the Great Indian Bustard was so plentiful that one man claimed to have shot over one thousand with his rifle. INIore recently a “ so-called sportsman,” as Mr. Stuart Baker describes him, in Assam shot sixty-four Bengal Floricans in a day, in the breeding season, by walking backwards and forwards across the narrow area amid waters where the birds were nesting. “ It would be excellent,” says Mr. Stuart Baker, “ if the shooting of females could be altogether stopped for some years to come, as there is no doubt that the Florican has been seriously decreasing in late years.” The nineteen coloured plates in the Second Volume, as well as the majority of those in the first, are all by Mr. Gronvold, the quality of whose work is always admirable. If there is any falling away from his high standard here, it is in the picture of the Cotton Teal, where the contempt of sportsmen for that pretty but impalatable fowl has perhaps reacted to damp the enthusiasm of the artist. The other drawings are by J. G. Keulemans and G. E. Lodge. The excellence of the former’s work is well knowm ; and it is a high comphment to the few plates by Mr. Lodge to say that they are not imworthy to stand beside the drawings of the other two masters. As for Mr. Stuart Baker’s own work, it would be difficult to say where to turn for a better model of what such a book should be. The author is himself a sportsman and nature-lover as well as a naturalist. He is excellent both in his literary style and in the judgment shown in the selection of material, whether from his own experience, from earlier authorities, or from other sources. 1117 SOME COMMENTS ON AND CORRECTIONS OP PREVIOUS ARTICLES IN THE JOURNAL. No. I. I should like to make some remarks and point out some errors, mostly clerical, which have appeared in the Society’s Journals and publications of late. Starting with Mr. Stuart Baker’s most interesting series on the “ Game Birds of India ” now being published in book form I should like to make the following comments. If I remember correctly, there was in a former volume of the Journal a most interesting photograph of the nests of the Flamingo {Phoenicopterus antiqu orum) ; it seems a pity that this was not made use of to illustrate the article on this bird in Vol. I of this work. With regard to the plates, besides agreeing with the reviewer in the Ibis of April 1922, p. 352, as to the bad reproduction of some of these, especially that of the Ruddy Skeldrake, I should like to remark on the beautiful manner in which Messrs. Vitty and Seaborne have reproduced those in Vol. II and it is to be hoped that Mr. Stuart Baker and the Society will see their way to have those of the remaining volumes printed by this firm. Grbnvold’s plate of the Bar -headed Goose {A. indicus) is a great success and a great improvement on Keuleman’s in the first edition. All Keuleman’s plates are very stiff and inartistic, and when one compares them wth the beautiful illus- trations by Thorbum and Lodge in Beebe’s “ Monograph of the Pheasants ” and with most of Gron void’s in the Game Bird Series, one realizes how inartistic those plates really are. I should like to remark on his (Keulemair’s) fondness of de- picting his ducks standing on rocks in water ; out of the eight plates painted by him for this series, six are standing on rocks ; one on a stump of a tree in water and one on dry land. The plate of the Bronze Capped Teal (N. falcata) is very bad. I have had considerable experience of these birds both in a dead and a live state, besides a good number of skins passmg through my hands, I have twice had live birds living in my aviary, one of the latter only died to- day. This duck is much deeper built in front than depicted by tlie artist and the crest never bristles like a porcupine’s quills set for action, but is pendant, even during excitement. The point of the long crest hangs down to the base of the hind-neck Avhen the bird raises its head to its full extent and when in a position of repose it lies along the upper back. The elongated sickle shaped tertials do not hang over the side of the body as shown in the plate but come right over each side of the tail completely hiding it when viewed from the side. The patch on each side of the lower tail-coverts is deep buff not pure white as given by Keule man and the black border in front of this is rather deeper in tint and more com- plete ; the white patch in front of this border is more this shape and it is also bordered by black in front. The colour of the feet in 7 specimens or live birds I have examined has been more of a gre y hue than depicted. The plate of the Red -breasted Merganser (Merganser serralor) has been by mistake placed opposite the description of the Eastern Goosander (M. m. orientalis) instead of opposite p. 328. The plates in Vol. II are excellent and that of the Painted Snipe (R. capensis) is a great improvement on the former one of the male of that bird. Now turning to the plates of the yet mipublished portion in book form, it seems to me to be rather a pity, when Gronvold did his plate of the Nicobar Mega- pode (M. nicobariensis), he didn’t depict it in the vicinity of one of its curious mounds as w-as done by the artist in Hume and Marshall’s illustration of this bird. 1118 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll. The plate of the Monal {Lophophorus impejanus), which is by the way mis- called L. refulgens on the plate, is rather unhappy. The birds are not very well dra-vra and the one representhig the cock fails to show the line of shining met- allic green, which extends from the lower side neck, backward from the mantte and breast as mentioned by Beebe. This is a most noticeable feature in full plumaged birds. It is to be hoped that a new plate of this species will be given when Vol. Ill of this series is pubhshed in book form. It is rather difficult to follow the exact area included by Sir. Stuart Baker in this series. He evidently includes Tibet which can hardly be called India, and what about the mclusion of such species as the Chinese Blood Pheasant {Ithagenes sinensis) ? He gives no distribution of this species, but Beebe in his monograph vTitmg of this bird says: — “The Northern Blood Partridge inhabits the subalpme slopes of the mountains of central China, the eastern Nanshan momitains m Kansu, and eastwards along the highlands of the Hoang - ho River, tbrough central and southern Shensi in the Tsinghng Range, and on into Eastern Honan. Southward we fhid it in north central Szechuan. Future thorough exploration vdll reveal much more of the range of this partridge, but at present we may roughly indicate its distribution by a triangle, with the points respectively at 102'^ E. 38^ N. m the north ; 111‘^ E. SI'’ N. m the east, and 103“ E. 31“ N. in the south.” The Chinese Eared Pheasant's (C. mantchuricum) distribution is given by Mr. Stuart Baker as “ The Moimtains of Manchuria and North-Eastern China.” This can hardly be called India. I also note that IVIi-. Baker includes Cabot’s Tragopan {Tragopan caboti) in his key but do not \mderstand why he does so, as he liimself says : — “ At present five species are known, aU of which, with the exception of (the italics are mine) the Eastern Chinese bird, Tragopan caboti, come within the areas included in these articles”. He also, for some unknown reason, gives aU the sjmonyms and the vernacular name of this species but does not continue with the descrip- tion. By a clerical error the Ceylon Spur-Fowl {Galloperdix bicalcarata) is called the Ceylon Jungle-Fowl. I do not know whether Mr. Stuart Baker intends to follow Beebe in his classification of the Kahj Pheasants, when publishing Vol. Ill of tliis series, but I may mention that the latter author relegates Gennaeus h. williamsi, G.l. oatesi, G.l. sharpei, G. n. ripponi, and G. n. rufipes to wild hybrids. He also includes Mrs. Hume's Pheasant (P. h. hurnice) and the Burmese Barred-back Pheasant (P. h. burmanicus) in the genus Syrrrvaticus instead of Phasianus, on accoimt of those birds wanting the disintegrated rump feathers of the true Phasianus and on account of their long central tail feathers. Now coming to the Partridges IVIr. Stuart Baker gives us in his key of the Francohns, F. p. pondicerianus, F. p. interpositus, and F. p. mecranensis, but up to date through some oversight none of the Grey Partridges have been described. I brought this to the notice of the Editors of the Journal sometime ago as soon as the articles on Arboricdla were started. In the last number of the Journal (No. 3 of Vol. XXVIII) Mr. Baker gives the trivial name of Perdix h. hodgsonice as the Tibetan Partridge but on the plate it is called Mrs. Hodgson's Partridge. Now coming to Mr. Stuart Baker’s “List of the Birds of India,” there are a good number of clerical errors which I would like to draw to the attention of the Editors so that when the list is published in book form they may be corrected. I ■will take number by number. In Vol. XXVIl, No. 2, the word Jungle has been omitted from the trivial name of No. 8 and in No. 170 the ii has been omitted from the name earlii. In No. 3 of the same volume, Mr. Baker -writes that Tesia and Oligura are probably Wrons, but does not seem to have put them into the Troglodytidce COMMEi^TS ON AND CORRECTIONS OF VARIOUS ARTICLES, 1119 and I have failed to find them mentioned anywhere, but perhaps I may have overlooked them. On page 462 he says Zosleropidce wiU be found near the Dicoeidce but places it next the Alavdidce and before the Nectariniidce and makes no mention of the family Dicceidte. On page 465, footnote, he says “ The genus Irena should probably be placed in the Tvrdidoe near Cochoa, but he places it some distance after that genus and with two subfamilies in between. No trivial name is given for No 539 Hippolais languida. In No. 4 of the same volume, the serial numbers of both Pericrocutus p. pere- jurius and P. p. vividus are given as 664 instead of 664 and 665. This will alter all the serial numbers subsequent to these. The trivial names of both Nos. 724 and 726 are given as Hume’s Myna and the trivial names of both Nos. 816 and 818 are given as the Pied Chat; also the trivial names of Nos. 960 and 961 are given as Chestnut-headed instead of Chestnut-beUied Munias. The trivial names of both Nos. 1122 and 1123 are given as Tarniy Pipit and no trivial name is given to No. 1 145 Alavda gulgula ccelivox. In Vol. XXVIII, No. 1, the family Dicceidoe should surely have been mentioned, but aU the Simbirds and Flowerpeekers are put under the family N ectarinidce. Tlie trivial name of No. 1236 is given as Ruby Throat instead of Ruby Cheek. In Nos. 1290 to 1293 the trivial names are sj>eltPygny instead of Pigmy. In the trivial name of No. 1297 there is a comma instead of a hyphen. In No. 2 of this volume the F.B.I. number in brackets of 1482 Cacomantis m. guervlus is given as 1118 instead of 1113. In the trivial name of No. 1632 the name Eagle has been omitted after Buzzard. The F.B.I. numbers in brackets of Nos. 1646 and 1647 should of course be 1234 and 1235 and not 1334 and 1335. In No. 1654 the t has been omitted from the word Desert. I think before pubhshing this list in book form it would be as well to ask Mr. Stuart Baker to revise it. In Major Fraser's paper on Indian Dragonflies on page 620, fine 19, he gives the name “ Mangphu ” ; the usual way of speUing this is “ Mangpu.” In Mr. EUison’s article on the Nepal shoot on page 691, line 16, from the bottom and on page 692, fine 1 at the top, he gives the word “Invertebrates” this of course is a slip and the word should be Reptiles. On page 790 Dr. Ticehurst wants the name of bird collectors. If he wiU com- municate with me I shall be pleased to help him in whatever way I can. I may also mention that I will always be happy to try and obtain for the Society any of their desiderata from this District or from anywhere else where I may happen to collect. CHAS. M. INGLIS, F.Z.S., F.E.S., M.B.O.U. Baghownie, Daebhanga, N. Bihar. 6t/j August 1922. No. II.— BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. To “ The Birds of Mesopotamia ” notes in your issue of June 30, I would like to add the following if helpful in any way. (i) Grey lag Goose. I observed these geese on the shores of the Hamar Lake at Legait pretty close- ly. I shot, more or less in the bare desert, 109 of these geese in a month and a half to my own gun — of which 74 fell to double shots (37 “ right and lefts.”) It 38 1120 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, VoL XXVIII. may be of interest to record two consecutive shots from a 16 bore loaded with No. 6 shot, i.e., one goose with the first barrel and two with the second- — and then two with the first and one with the second — all fljdng. Nothing is claimed beyond the “ fluke ” of it. I cannot bear out Magrath’s statement of geese “roosting during the day well out on the bare desert.” Surely geese roost at night and not in the day time ? I found it their custom to return to the water about 11 a.m. to rest and wash before gomg out to feed agam about 3-30 p.m. I found the geese at Legait frequenting the bare desert regularly in the mommgs from davm to nearly midday — and from about 3-30 p.m. to dusk for the purpose of feeding. I was much puzzled by watching them — as I have by the hour tlirough field glasses — feedmg reedily on apparently bare sand ; later I discovered that they cropped a fine grass from beneath the surface of the sand which explained mat- ters. I have never heard of geese going inland to sleep before. Has no one seen domesticated geese resembling grey lay geese very closely in Mesopotamia ? I seem to remember them but cannot say for certain now. The weight of these geese varied from 8-10 lbs. {i.e., the largest were heavy birds of their kind). (ii) Purple Heron. Doubt as to its breeding in Mesopotamia is expressed. I had several young ones brought me at Hilla and kept some in my aviary at Musaiyib where they were very tame and used to sit on their “ hocks ” in an amusing way. (iii) Woodcock. I shot one at Musaiyib in a date garden — but cannot recall the time of year, (iv) Common Sheldrake. I have seen several pairs in the desert in May — just before they were breed- mg — and definitely foimd their breeding burrows on two occasions : — (i) Lr the desert at Legait about ^ mile in from the Hamar Lake ; and (ii) Li the desert between the Euphrates and Tigris in the Musaiyib dis- trict and a long way from water. T. R. LIVESEY. NO. III.— THE GAME ANIMALS OF INDIA. I find Major Stockley’s “ Notes on Lydekker’s Game Animals of Lrdia”, in the Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, of the Journal, especially interesting in view of the fact that I contributed some five or six columns under the same heading to the Asian newspaper on January 22, 1901, on the appearance of the first edition of the book. In my Notes several of the matters referred to by Major Stockley were dealt Avith. I think the best account of the Gaur (Indian Bison) is that given by Mr. Inverarity in Vol. 4, No. 4, of the Journal, in 1889. My Notes above referred to point out that the Black Buck becomes more or less brown during the hot weather, and that the blackest hue is assumed during the rutting season, ■with which this form of coloration is probably connected. It was also remarked that it would be interesting to know whether a similar change of colour has been observed in other antelope, as for example the Blue Bull, but this does not appear to have been commented on elsewhere. In the Deccan some specimens of the Black Buck appear never to become black, and these are distinguished in the vernacular by the term “ Bahmani.” The finest head I have seen in the Deccan, with 24-inch horns, was from a buck almost as lightly coloured as a doe. COMMENTS ON AND CORRECTIONS OF VARIOUS ARTICLES. 1121 I also noted the author’s remarks on the Baluchistan Gazelle, and returned to this subject in the Journal for Vol. XVIII, No. 2, 1908. Dr. Lydekker ques- tioned whether the Baluchi chikara is entitled to rank as a distinct race, but he gave it sub-specific nomenclature. The grounds for this were that the horns of the female were distinctly ringed, the dark portions of the face dark brown instead of rufous ; and that the horns of the male are a little more curved back- wards, and slightly more lyrate when viewed from the front. These reasons were combated in my Note in the Journal above referred to. I have observed that the chinkara of the Deccan has distinctly annulated horns, while the colour of the face varies wth age, and the degree to which the horns of the chinkara are lyrate varies in individuals. So far as I am aware this question as to the Balu- chistan animal being a separate race has never been cleared up. But the most important question of controversy in “ The Game Animals of India ” was the statement that it was doubtful whether the Black Buck ever drinks, while it was stated that the Gazelle was believed by some observers, including Dr. Blanford, never to drink. On this I gave evidence in my Notes in the Asian to show that both these animals are addicted to drink, and this led to a controversy which lasted many years, although Dr. Lydekker in the end (vide Indian Field, August, 1910) acknowledged the correctness of my views, and said that if his “Game Animals of Lidia ” ever reached a third edition, he would modify his opinions on the subject. It is to be regretted that this distinguished naturalist did not survive to produce his third edition. An exhaustive monograph which I contributed to the Journal on “ The drinking habits of wild animals,” dealing -with these questions, will be found in the Journal, Vol. XVIII, No. 2, 1908. My experience as to the length of tigers and bears agrees with that of Major Stockley. The subject of the length of tigers has been discussed dovTi to the last stripe, and there appears to be little more to say about it. I find that skins in my possession, which have not been unduly stretched, measure from 14 to 20 inches more than the animal measured immediately after death, when measure- ments were taken between uprights and not along the curves. I have shot some very large tigers, but none exceeding 9 feet 8 inches in length, including three feet of tflil. \st June 1922. R. G. BURTON. TO CONTRIBUTORS. Will contributors when sending articles for insertion in th« Journal help the Editors to prevent mistakes ? The most fruitful source of “ clerical” errors lies in the original “copy.’’ If this were type VTitten — and type written only on one side— and not sent in manuscript, many mistakes would be avoided. This is not a counsel of perfection ; it is not meant to imply that if you do not possess a Wpewriter or the means of getting your articles typed you are not to send them in. Far from it — If you cannot send them in type, send them in in good plain legible script and then you can blame the editors for any mistakes. — Editoes. 1122 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. No. I.— NOTE ON JACKALS (CANIS INDICUS INDICUS) Etc., IN A COMPOUND. We have experienced a very hot May and all the water, except in the tanks, is dried up. Lr my fernery, a few yards from the bmigalow, is a reservoir to which jackals, foxes, and mungooses come to assuage their thirst in the heat of the day. On account of this dearth of water all the animals are exceedingly bold and may be seen at all hom-s of the day, but more especially between ten and three, rmming or strolhng about the compomid. A fox ( Vulpes bengalensis) is fond of sitting or lying down in the shade of a tall evergreen shrub Avith pale mauve floAvers, about 30 yards from where I Avrite ; jackals are seen singly or m pairs trotting backAvards and fonvards across the laAAii, and this morning about ten o’clock a pair of jmigle cats (Filis ajffinis) stealthily and slowly slouched across the path Avith true feline gait. About 1 p.m. to-day, AA'hile AATiting in the verandah, I saAV a jackal chasing another across the compomid. They Avent the fuU length of the gromid and then turned and came galloping towards the bungaloAV, jinking aromid the shrubs. I noticed that the hair on the neck of the pursuing one Avas erect and that it carried its tail right over its back, AA hile the hair on the other one lay flat and the tail hung doAvn. I could see them very clearly as they charged right up to the verandah steps, in fact I thought they Avere coming in, but they swerved as they reached them. Although I Avas only some 2 or 3 yards distant they never saAV me and AA’ent off. The pmsuing jackal evidently lost the other one as shortly afterwards it returned on the scent, folloAAing the latter up all over the compound. I could easily recognise the beast as it AA^as most repulsive look- ing, gaimt and mangy, a brute Avbose bite would be dangerous. What specially struck me was the different positions m Avhich the tails AA'ere held. The jackals care nothing for my dogs, a spaniel and a small terrier, but stand and shoAV fight Avhen chased, much to the dismay and aimoyance of the former. This is the first year I have seen so many animals in the compoimd especially diuing the hottest hours. Tavo otters {Lidra lutra ?) were killed by my coolies m a drain leading from my tank, but I did not know about it till the evening, Avhen it Avas too late to save the skins for the Society, as the “ dhangars ” had consumed both. CHAS. M. INGLIS, F.Z.S., F.E.S., M.B.O.U, Baghowote, Bihae, 26/A May 1922. No. II.— JACKALS ATTACKING A SPANIEL IN THE COMPOUND. A day or so ago, my spaniel spied a jackal crossing the compoimd and rushed out at it. The jack stood to fight and the dog also stood, at a safe distance, and kept barking at it. Li a few mmutes a second jackal came from the direction of the fernery where it had evidently been haAung a drink and com- ing behind the spaniel made a snap at it. The first jackal then advanced to attack, but the dog considering discretion the better part of valour, bolted, yelping, to the bungalow. I am certain had the dog been any distance from safety, both jackals would have attacked and killed it. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1123 Besides the cries mentioned by Blanford, the jackal utters a pure and simple bark of three or four yelps without any preceding wail. Has any reason been assigned to the chorus of barks and wails given by jackals ? Is it only a meeting of the clan ? CHAS. M. INGLIS, M.B.O.U., F.Z.S., F.E.S. Baghownie, Bihak, 10<^ June 1922. No. HI.— NOTES ON SOME SHEEP SHOT IN LADAKH. ( ii’ith a Block.) When examining the horns of some sheep shot in Ladakh I was struck by the similarity of certain markings on the horns to the “ stint,” or winter, marks on scales of Salmonidse. As j'ou are doubtless aware it is by counting these marks, caused by a check in development due to poor feeding, that the age of salmon and trout is now de- termined. From the very limited number of heads I have to work on (Two Ovis hodgsoni and three Ovis vignei) it seems probable that the markings alluded to also show the number of winters which the late owners had survived, and give a close approximation to age. 1124 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVII 1. I send heremth a photograph of head No. 1 on the following list, which shows some of the marks well. Those that are indistinct on the right horn are clear on the left. No. Species. Horn Measure- ment. Winter or Stint marks. 1 0. hodgsoni . . 45" 9 Much broken at tips. 2 Do. 38" 6 Do. do. 3 0. vignei 29r 4 or 5 One doubtful. 4 Do. 28" 4 5 25J" It is not probable that heads of 0. vignei from low elevations would show the marks to the same extent, if at all, as should my theory be correct, they are caused by recm-rmg periods of practical starvation during the severe winters of Ladakh. Ryajvi Factory P.O., J. S. E. WALKER. Darbahnga, Bihar and Orissa, 23rd May 1922. XO. IV.— NOTES ON i\L\N EATING TIGERS. For some months past, a family of man eating tigers had been doing a lot of damage about 18 miles from here. Their excursions extended dovTi a nullah seven miles or so long. We sent our head Jemadar to reconnoitre and he came face to face with 4 tigers, 2 of which he reported as being of a very light colour. Three days later we shot 4 tigers out of the same jmigle, and, extraordinarily enough, a big male leopard, 7'-9", which at one portion of the beat climbed a tree evidently in fear of the tigers. We thought we had bagged all the tigers, but on examination found that two were full growTi cubs, and two about three quarters «wown. The two fuU grovTi cubs were of the ordinary colour and marking of a tiger, 1 male and 1 female. Measurements about 6'-6". The three quarters gro-mi cubs were unique and to me seemed pure albinos. They had pink eyes and were evidently in very bad condition because before being shot at they only trotted along like big dogs, whilst the other two galloped hard. Another peculiarity was the long neck, quite unlike that of any tiger or leopard I have ever seen ; one was a male and one a female. As it was dark we could not beat anymore but two days later got the mother, a fine beast in the prime of life and condition. Measurement 8'-9". I forgot to mention the measurement of the freaks, viz., 6'-0". Such beasts have never been known of, or seen here, nor during the many shootmg excursions my father (the late INIaharaja Uripendra of Cooch Behar) made into Assam. I should be glad if any of the readers of your Magazine could give me any definite information on the subject. Could it be possible that all four cubs be- longed to the same litter ? VICTOR N. NARAYAN, Cooch Behar, 3rd May 1922. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1126 No. V.— SORE NECK IN SAilBHAR. Your notes on the above in a recent issue of the Journal, seem to explain an experience of a mine in the Southern Province of Ceylon. Whilst shooting one morning I encountered a sambhar hind, in a narrow game path, which was apparently incapable of movement. On closely examining the animal I found that the under part of the neck was covered with festering sores over an area of several inches. The hind was otherwise in fair condition, but made several unsuccessful attempts to rise. At the time, I attributed it to a wound mflicted by a leopard, but as the sore appeared to be superficial, I think the theory of disease, more probable. R. A. H. McConnell, Aden, \Qth May 1922. Lieut., R. I. M. No. VI.— CORRUGATIONS ON ELEPHANT TUSKS. {With a Block.) I enclose a snapshot of a pair of elephant tusks I bagged in May, which I think will be of some interest to you, and I should be greatly interested if you could explain any reason for the corrugations on the tusks. I have not heard of or seen a tame elephant which has this peculiarity, but heard of one other similar wild elephant being shot in the same district (Kele 1126 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. Valley, IT. Chindwin R., U. Burma.) This type of “ freak ” tusk is apparently known to the Jungle Burman but as being very rare — they refer to it by a word meaning (sugar) “ cane ” which is corrugated in this fashion. The corrugations are certamly not due to any rubbing on the part of the elephant, but are in the growth from the very root. I thought perhaps it was due to some disease when the elephant was young but the Burmans say no. If you could account for it in any way I should very much like to know as may be you have seen similar tusks. Rangoon, 7th July 1922. J. H. W, No. vn.— EFFECT OF STORM ON ANIMALS. During the writer’s visit to Mysore on the Prince of Wales’ tour, a shikari friend told me the following incident : — In 1912 or 13 the Colonel who narrated the incident said that he happened to be motoring through the jimgle ui the South of India. They had to make a stop on account of a thunderstorm. During the violent outburst nothing was to be seen of any of the denizens of the jimgle, who were probably cowering away in the thickest depths, in great fear. Immediately after the storm had subsided, about 4 p.m. in the evenmg when the sun had broken through the clouds and its rays were making all the beautiful trees, rendered doubly green by the sudden outburst of the rain, scintillate and glitter in the way one often sees them do at home after a June thunderstorm, they proceeded on their way. The whole road became one mass of animals. The sides were thick with every imaginable kind of jungle animal ranging from a panther to numerous members of the CervidM and smaller mammals, and numbers of peacock and jungle fowl. They were all sunning themselves in the space cleared in the jungle on either side of the road. The Colonel had often done this journey, but this was the only occasion on which ho had seen the place ‘ swarming ’ with wild life. I wonder if other members have had similar experiences ? BERNARD C. ELLISON, C.M.Z.S. Bombay Nattieai, History Society, June 1922. NO. VIII.— NOTES ON OORIAL. Life history. — Oorial are typical wild sheep, giving birth to one or, very occasionally, two lambs every year. I take the period of gestation to be 51 months, not six as is usually stated. I base this statement on the following observations. I have never seen any signs of the commencement of the rut in September. In the second half of September 1910 I was hunting oorial in the Shahpur district and right up to the end of the month the old rams were apart from the ewes. I then crossed the Indus and hunted markhor in the hills West of Kalabagh up to October 10th. There were oorial there also (I shot one ram) and no sign of the rut commencing. I returned to Massan and hunted oorial for a week in a jagir in the Talagang dis- trict and on October 17th I saw rams fighting and next day saw five rams chasing a ewe in season. In the third week of October 1920 1 was in the Nili rukh (Jhelum district), and the rut was in full swing. In November 1919 I was in the Kala Chitta Range (Campbellpore district) and saw four rams chasing a ewe on November 19th. I have frequently been on oorial ground in early December, and the rut MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1127 has always been finished by then ; the old rams having mostly separated into small parties unaccompanied by ewes. It seems certain therefore, that the rut falls normally between the first week of October and the last in November. The present close season is therefore based on, zoologically, incorrect data. 1 have always seen the first lambs in the first week in April and some are bom in the first half of May. The period of gestation therefore appeals to be 5^ months. Ewes are said to come into bearing in their fourth year, but it is possible that the third year is correct. Data on a point like this are verj' hard to obtain, and observations based on animals in captivity are not always applicable to wild animals. It seems certain that a ram is not fully mature till his eighth year, at which age his horns should measure from 24 to 27 inches according to the conditions of grazing in his youth. I would here emphasise the fact that oorial are grazing and not brow'sing ani- mals, and that during the recent drought the want of grass was a strong factor in the reduction of their numbers. Preservation. — It has always been found that on grounds where the old males have been shot off, that the heads never recover their strength, even with several years complete preservation, e.g. Red deer in Scotland and ibex in the Sind Valley in Kashmir. Once the immature rams have no difficulty in obtaining ewes, the stock weakens. There are at present a few old rams amongst the oorial, and a very promising stock of five to seven-year-olds. If these old rams are killed off now the stock bom next year will be weak and a danger to the race. Then, if as they mature, the others are killed, the competition for ewes will cease and the race may even die out altogether. A po.ssible alternative to complete cessation of shooting for five years is clos- ing for two or three years and then reopening to limited shooting with a higher size hmit : I would recommend 26 inches. Nature has a way of compen- sating for the unusual, and it may be found that next spring the ewes will mostly have bom twfins instead of the usual single lamb. As far as relative damage by sportsmen and villagers is concerned, it must be remembered that the modem young officer has still to be educated in the ethics of sport and the principles of preservation. There is a great deal of poaching carried out by Europeans in rukhs near the railway : notably Nili and Lehri Godari. I heard of three British officers basing their operations on Tarki railway station in the middle of last October, and killing 14 rams between them. I have personal knowledge of two other cases when officers from Rawalpindi motored to Sehawa and shot oorial under direction of a doctor (or veterinarj' officer) of a camel corps stationed there, he himself having no license. I found that much of this was due to ignorance of the shooting regulations, and after getting the Com- mandant of the Musketry School at Rawalpindi to post a notice on the subject, the practice ceased to a large extent. When I v/as in occupation of NUi rukh in the first half of December 1920, I twice saw Europeans shooting in my block, but was unable to come up with them on either occasion. I would suggest that the regulations on the subject bo posted in every club. Villagers' dogs are a fmitful source of damage, as they chase ewes heavy with young, and frequently destroy the new-born lambs. I recommend their absolute exclusion from rukhs. The' occasional visit of a sportsman to a rakh is an excellent thing, as it often reveals an outbreak of poaching or of slackness of a watcher, and certainly acts as a deterrent. During the war the game in the remoter portions of Kashmir is reported to have decreased considerably owing to the want of any check on the Game Watchers and the consequent increase of poaching. The proportion of rams to ewes should bo about 50 per cent, of all ages : this gives about 10 ewes to every fully mature ram. Any increase of this 39 1128 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. proportion should be dealt with by the shooting of a ewe before each ram is killed. Complaints as to destruction of crops would be met by such a regulation. There is no doubt that such complaints were justified in some few localities before this last disastrous season. Since writing my first letter on the subject to you, I had a conversation with a big land-owner of Jalalpur, whose name I unfortunately cannot remember. He told me that the oorial in Jalalpur ruldi had not suffered much from the drought, as they came down to the Jhelum to drink. This rukh is peculiarly situated, however, and I can think of no other with such advantages. The reports I have had from other rukhs are most depressing. Stanyon’s Hotel, Quetta, 3rd October 1922. C. H. STOCKLEY, D.S.O., Major. No. IX.— THE BREEDING OF ELEPHANTS IN CAPTIVITY. I have read with great interest Mr. Hundley’s letter of 30th August 1921, given in the last issue of the journal received by me. I have kept a record extending over a number of years and put the period of gestation at 22 months. An elephant may calve after 20 months, but if she does i t is due to over work or over marching and the calf if bom living will at first be weaker than a calf carried for the full period. More usually it is bom dead. My records comprise cases when I have seen the act myself and also cases when I know that a cow elephant has been covered by a bull within a period of a very few daj's. It is not necessary for the bull elephant to be “ musth ” to reproduce his kind and in fact a calf can be got by an immature, stiU growong, bull, which has never been on “ musth.” Among wild elephants a yoimg bull would be driven away by the bigger tuskers and also in cases where a number of tame elephants are working and grazing together. I differ from Mr. Hundley when he states that “ musth ” has little to do with the sexual instinct. Bull elephants on “ musth ” always become queer tempered at that time and many very dangerous both to men and to other elephants and have to be tied up and starved until “ musth ” abates. If a cow in season can be provided for the bull it wall tend to reduce his “ musth,” but he wdU drive away and even gore a cow which is not in season and will there- fore not allow him to cover her. We had a case only last April in our elephant rest camps, when a tusker — a dangerous man-killing beast even when sane — went musth and got loose with- out his hobbles. My two travelling elephants were fortunately close at hand and more fortimately still both in season. He covered them both repeatedly which so reduced his “ musth ” that our men were able to recapture him. He was then tied up and in spite of starvation his “ musth ” increased for some days and he would have nothing to do with another cow introduced to him. A cow elephant in season will very often have a shght discharge from the glands between the eye and ear, similar to the discharge from a “ musth ” bull but of course to a very much less extent, in fact merely a shght dampness visible when the skin of the elephant is dry. A bull going “ musth ” usually gives fair warning of his approaching condition by the glands of the temple swelling some days before the discharge commences MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1129 In a wild state, judging from cases I have knowm of wild tuskers coming down to worry our tame herds and occasionally induchag a tame cow to elope with them, “ musth ” usually comes on at end of December or in January when vegetation is at its best, but in tame herds, which are generally worked till the end of Feb- ruary, “ musth ” does not come on till later, after the elephants have had time to pick up and get into good condition. There is something radically wrong with any mature bull which does not come on “musth” at least once annually and if looked into the cause will be foimd to be ill-health or more usually over work which may have taken place one or even two years before. To my mind the only cure in either case is complete rest in a good grazing area for six months, a year, or even longer, though tonics may assist matters a bit. J. C. C. WILSON. Maihongsong, Siam, 19th July 1922. No. X.— FURTHER NOTES ON TRAPPING. In some earlier notes I attempted to describe my impressions of trapping m heavy jungle and at the time of witing them was of the opinion that trapping mider these conditions was the most trying pastime imaginable, wherein I was sadly mistaken, as the first day’s trapping in open coimtry forcibly showed me, and which I shall now try and describe. Imagine for your setting then, any part of the Plains of India, as plain as your imagination can run to. A cursory inspection on arrival had shown me a number of things of interest to the collector, such as the fact that every ridge dividing one field from another had a number of rat boles and runs along it, and that almost every suitable bush had a rat or mouse hole at its roots. This gave me a fair id 3a as to where the traps had best be placed, and I set out accordingly with a light heart to do so. Selecting a ridge that had a fair number of thorny stimted bushes growing on it I started to set traps or, I should say, nearly started, for, as I bent down to examine a promising looking rat run, I noticed a man, at work with a plough not 50 yards away, gazing at me intently. That rather spoilt that ridge, but nothing daimted, I started for an equally promis- ing looking one some way off. When I was about half way there a goat-herd appeared like a phantom from behind a bush that didn’t look big enough to conceal a quail. “ That’s that ” said I, and thanking providence and the local ryots for having arranged a liberal number of ridges per square mile, I made for another. “At last” I thought as I drew near it, “I’m safe”; just then a hare got up and offered me a very tempting shot which I took, this had very little effect on the hare, but drew excited exclamations from four urchins who I found had been following me unknown to myself. I turned on them and shouted to them to “ Jao ” and they responded vigorously. I then decided on a ridge in the distance ; and towards it I made, walking in a manner I reckoned should arouse little or no suspicion. I passed two boys en-route and was glad to see that they did not seem to be aware of my existence. On reaching the ridge I had a good look round to satisfy myself that I was not being watched and, seeing no watchers, started to set traps. I had just set my third, when my skinner who was with me touched me on the shoulder and pointed, and, following the direction his finger pointed to, I saw a head bob up and then as rapidly down again behind a bush. I felt like putting a charge of No. 6 shot into it but refrained from so doing. Now, being evening, time was an item not to be ignored, and knowing this I was getting irritable, but as a last venture I decided to make for a deserted garden that looked as though it couldn’t possibly hold more than rats, mice and cobra. I got into it and searched 1130 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. all round for watchers, and being convinced of their entire absence, started yet again to set traps. I got all bar three set when I noticed an Indian come quietly into the garden so I wended my way homewards deciding to set the remaining traps near the Bimgalow. The marking of the spots where traps had been set, with bits of paper or rag was as my readers will easily see highly inadvisable under the present circumstances, so I had not dared to do so, and the next morning the fun started at the commencement of our search for traps. My skinner and I both selected a different ridge as being the one on which the first traps had been set, and had not a Neophron tearing at something, that proved to be a trapped Gerbril, on a ridge some 50 yds. away led us to the right spot, we might still have been searching for those traps. Of that lot I found the last set had vanished, the urchin whose head I had contemplated filling with No. 6 shot no doubt having borrowed it. In the deserted garden I found one trap stolen by my visitor or so I presumed. News, and especially such news as “ Good rat and mouse traps to be had for the asking ” travels fast in India, and the next day I found a group of eager looking urchins loitering near the Bungalow in order to be able to join me from the start. Close scrutiny of this sort is very hard on one’s nerves and compels one, in trying to set traps without being seen, to behave in a manner usually associated with a lunatic with homicidal tendencies, which you will agree is infra dig. I strongly advise anyone contemplating trapping in the Plains of India therefore to think twice. After such an evening as that just described it is most annoying to pick up the Gazetteer and read something of this sort, “ The population of the District is scanty, the average for the whole being approximately P01739 per square mile” but then when were figures and facts found to agree on comparison and what is there to prevent a decimal having been erroneously inserted in the printing ? Sept. 1922. C. PRIMROSE. No. XL— THE COMMON INDIAN BEE-EATER. (MEROPS VIRIDIS) Last month I opened a Bee-eater’s nest at the end of a tunnel three feet long and found the young ones hatched out but not fledged. In the hope of saving them I made an artificial tunnel of country tiles with stones laid over them. At first the parent birds kept flying to the mouth of the tunnel and going away but at last the persistent calls of their young ones were too much for them and they essayed the great adventure and went in. After this they went in and out quite happily and the work of bringing up thj family proceeded in the normal manner. I imagine they would have deserted the nest if the eggs had not been hatched. E. O’ BRIEN, Bhuj, Cutph, Lt.-Colonel. 30lh June 1922. No. XII.— NIDIFICATION OF THE CEYLON THRUSH {O.IMBRICAT A). With reference to my note on 0. irnbricala breeding in Ceylon published in Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, pages 546 and 547, I was unable to obtain an egg drill and blower (mine having been lost during my absence on War service) so had to resort to the old pin method by making a hole at each end. The egg was very much incubated and I regret to say it got rather badly broken, though I did manage to patch it up. I continued to watch the nest daily, being anxious to obtain notes of the plumage of the nestling, etc. The bird sat cn her solitary egg for literally weeks and I began to suspect that all was not well. During one oif my daily visits I found the bird off the nest and on examining the egg discovered MISCELL A NEC US NO TES. 1131 a small hole in it and the ants hard at work cleaning it. The hole looked as if, the bird, becoming fed up with such a long sitting, had punctured it herself to see what was Avrong, and finding the egg a ‘ dud ’ had left in disgust. I had no diffi- culty in cleaning it as the contents simply ran out and besides the ants had cleaned about half of it already. I sent the whole nest and both eggs to the Colombo Museum where they now are but my conscience has pricked me ever since that I did not send them to you, still, after all, charity begins at home. 1 took my first egg, which as I mentioned was very much incubated, on 9th August 1921, and the second egg on 3rd September 1921 so that wretched bird was sitting for over a month. The curious part was that they started building again within 200 yards of the old site on the 30th September 1921 in a Dadap (shade tree) this time about 20 ft. up, and on visiting the nest on 1st October found the bird on so did not disturb her. On 2nd October the nest contained one egg exactly similar to the last only not quite so clouded with brown wash at the large end. I unfortunately was prevented from visiting the nest for about 5 days and when I returned, found it had been robbed and pulled down by coolies. I am convinced it was the same pair as 1 only know of one pair in that particular spot, though I have seen one or two more birds in an entirely different part of the estate. The birds are still there and I hope to get another nest this year. During the dry weather, when most of the leaves had fallen off the albizzias 1 found no less than three old nests which goes to prove that I have hit upon their usual breeding locality. Dandukelawa, Hatton, Ceylon, 2ith May 1922. T. E. TUNNARD. No. XIIL— NIDIFICATION OF THE CEYLON ARRENGA (A. BLIGHI). On March 30 of this year (1922) I foimd the nest of Arreaga hlighi containing one egg on the point of hatching, the shell being already cracked, so needless to say it was useless taking it. I was chmbing up a steep rocky ravine on the hunt for this particular nest when I saw one of the birds fly out from under a pro- jecting ledge of rock. I could not reach the place from the same side so had to cross a slippery face of rock and then recross again higher up stream in order to reach the spot from where I saw the bird fly out. I had on rubber soled shoes which are excellent for dry rock climbing, but worse than useless where the rock is at all wet. I first of all tried bare feet but that was as bad as wet rubber so put on my stockings and managed to crawl across on these, finding that wool grips quite all right on wet rock. There was the nest, about 7 ft. up, built on a fairly wide ledge under another projecting ledge of rock and quite sheltered from rain or any drips from above. The nest was a large, but neat and compact, structure composed entirely of moss and Uned with fine fern roots. The egg a rather broad oval with a large and small end fairly smooth and glossy. The ground colour whitish green with a few faint brownish streaks distributed over the large end only. I fancy that one egg is the maximum laid (compare previous and only Ceylon record, E. Green, Tabrobanian, 1887). Close to this nest on other ledges of rock I found three old nests of previous years in good preservation owing to their being placed in sheltered spots protected in each case from rain. Amongst uncommon Ceylon birds, I have seen here Legges Flowerpecker (Acmonorhyncus vincens) and the Red- Winged Crested Cuckoo (Coccys es coromandus). The latter on migration on 12th January of this year. T. E. TUNNARD. Dandukelawa, Hatton, Ceylon, 24th May 1922. 1132 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII No. XIV.— OCCURRENCE OP THE DESERT LARK {ALAEMON DESERTORUM) IN THE PUNJAB. I am not aware that the occurrence and breeding of the Desert Lark has been reported from the Punjab. Neither in the Faima of India, Birds, nor in Hume and Oates’ “ Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds ” is the Punjab mentioned. The following may therefore he of interest. On the 18th current, accompanied by my wife, I was looking in the desert country west of this place for possible nests of the Spotted Sandgrouse, when my wife called my attention to a curious nest that she had just found. It was like nothing that I had ever seen before, and there was no bird on, or near, it. It was late in the afternoon and we waited as long as we could afford to do, but no bird came, though there was one egg in the nest. We left and returned two days later. On this occasion I foimd a bird sitting. Our approach was not very quietly made and the bird got up. I felt sure that it was the Desert Lark, and so it proved, after full investigation, to be. There were now three eggs in the nest, which was placed in the middle of a vast expanse of perfectly bare, hard, dry pat under a small, bare, naked branch which had got stuck in the groimd on some occasion when there was rain. There was the “ layer of small branches,” or twigs, mentioned by Lt. Francis in “ Nests and Eggs”, about a foot in diameter ; it did not however raise the nest above the ground so much as make a fringe all roimd the nest. There was also the deep cup, lined in this case with wool and a httle fine grass. The nest was indeed “ very cons- picuous,” though the odds against any human being finding it in this great desert space were long. I let the sitting bird run away in order to use to the full the time at my disposal for observation. Her Plover-hke appearance (I take it this was the female, though, unfortunately, the underparts were, later, too damaged for certain identification of sex of the dead bird) and china- white, long, legs struck me at once. Once off the nest, the bird was wary, and her behaviom on this occasion was unhke that of Lt. Francis’ bird, so after following for a bit, I decided to wait at a distance till she should return. 1 then became aware of a loud melodious call, something like “tee, tee, tee” followed by a trill reminiscent to one long absent from England of the trill of the Nightin- gale. I looked round and saw another and similar bird, evidently the mate of the one I had disturbed. At times he ran, and once I saw him chmb into the air for about 30 feet and almost tumble down again, the white, grey and brown of the upper wing and the silvery wing-lining being very conspicuous in these aerial movements. The call was repeated several times, but out of one corner of my eye I was looking at the nest, and the original hird was now returning. I followed her and this time, my approach being more cautious, she let me get within six or eight yards of the nest, seeming to hope that she would escape notice. Rather rejuctantly she left, and I had no difficulty in shooting her. On examination, the specimen I secured measures 8.5" with a wing of a little less than 4.5." I note that the “ Fauna ” says the females are much smaller than the males, and that the maximum length given is 11". My specimen seems paler than normal, the outer tail-feathers and the primaries being very much more brown than black. The eggs in this clutch vary rather in markings, one being more profusely speckled, and with the speckles lighter in colour, than the other two. The colour is as described in “ Nests and Eggs.” R. C. BOLSTER, I.C.S. Deea Nawab, Bhawalpub State, Punjab, 20th April 1922. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 1133 No. XV.— EASTERN SOLITARY SNIPE SHOT AT NALBAN ISLAND, CHILKA LAKE, ON THE 16th DECEMBER 1921. While out duck shooting with Mr. T. McDonnell of 9, Theatre Road, Calcutta, at Chilka (Nalban Island), I flushed and killed a Solitary Snipe. As duck were fairly plentiful and flighting well at the time we did not trouble to fire at snipe. These were very plentiful and were being flushed almost every time we moved. This particular snipe however first attracted my attention by its loud cry. Then, noticing its large size, I shot it. (No. 5 shot. Smokeless Diamond). Mr. McDonnell identified it as G. solitaria and informed me that Mr. James Smythe of Calcutta had flushed several in the same locality in X’mas, 1920. We spent 3 days on the Chilka Lake and although we flushed and killed numerous Fantails and Pintails we saw no more Solitary Snipe. Unfortunately I did not skin and preserve my specimen as I then did not realise that it was so rare on the Chilka. I guess it weighed between 6 and 7 oimces. There were 18 tail feathers. Legs were olive green. I have no doubt that Mr. McDonnell’s identification was correct, H. B. TILDEN. Carlton Hotel, Bombay, 9th May 1922. ' No. XVI.— IS THE DHAYAL {COTSYCHUS SAUL Alii S) A MIMIC ? Legge says of CopsycAws saularis, “Its power of imitation is considerable, tempting it to mock the voice of fowls and other birds in the vicinity of its domicile ” {Birds of Ceylon, p. 435). To illustrate this habit of mimicry in the Magpie-Robin, he has quoted an anecdote related by Layard. The latter’s observation is that even in freedom the Dhayal can mock to perfection the voices of other creatures. If this observation be true, the birds’ behaviour appears quite singular, for even the parrots, which are past-masters in the art of mimicry, do not exhibit their apish propensity in their wild life. It is very strange, however, that aU the writers on Indian birds are silent on the Dhayal’s power of mimicry. We find nothing about it in the works of Frank Finn, Jerdon, Eha, Dewar, and Dalgliesh. Even the Fauna of British India does not touch the point. On the other hand, Gould, in the Birds of Asia, Vol. Ill, states positively that this bird is not “ degraded by apish tricks of imitation.” My own aviary has harboured Dhayals for a long time, but no effort on their part to mimic the voices of their mess-mates has come to my view. I am anxious to know if any of the readers of this Journal has any experience of the above trait in the character of the Dhayal. Information on this point through the medium of this Journal would certainly add to oih knowledge about the be- haviour of the bird. SATYA CHURN LAW. No. XVII.— DESCRIPTION OF CHICK OF THE BENGAL FLORICAN (SYPHEOTIS BENGALENSIS). » In a notice on Mr. Stuart Baker's game birds, published in the April number of the Ibis, there is the following remark : — “ Of the remaining Bustards, more especially the Bengal Florican, Sypheotis bengalensis, complete accounts have been given and we are suiprised to find that apparently the chick of that species does not appear to be known.” I am very certain that I sent Mr. Stuart Baker, when at Dacca, a series of Bengal Florican skins, including that of a chick, which I had acquired ; but as he 1134 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HiST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIL has not described it and, from the above notice, it presumably being undescribed, I do so now. Description. — Above and below warm rufous buff. Crown rufous mixed with rufescent brown and bordered by a stripe of the same colour from each side, meeting beliind at the nape and continuing partly down the back of the neck ; oar-covets bordered wth rufescent brown ; back and wings mixed rufous buff and rufescent brown ; a patch of rufous bordered by rufescent brown from lower neck to breast and a patch of rufescent brown on each side of the breast ; thighs with three broad rufescent brown bands on outer sides. “ Irides hazel brown ” (A. M. Primrose). This was collected by Mr. A. M. Prim rose in Goalpara on the 12th June 1916. Baghownie Laheria Sarai, CHAS. M. INGLIS, m.b.o.u., e.z.s., f.e.s. Bihar, ^th June 1922. No. XVIII.— OCCURRENCE OF THE BLACK THROATED DIVER {COLYMBUS ARC TIC US) IN INDIA. It is worth recording the fact that on February 19th, 1922, I shot a specimen of the above species on the Western Jumna Canal at Jagadhri, Ambala District, Punjab. Soon after daybreak on this date I had gone up the left bank of the canal after some Pintail duck which I had seen alighting in the shallows some half mile above the railway bridge. I may mention that the canal here partakes more the char- acter of a river inasmuch as the banks on either side are very irregular and on this particular day the water was very high, having in places inundated some extent of the adjacent low ground which usually is simply rush-covered mud, the haunts of Prinia flaviventris, Cyanecula suecica and Centropus sinerisis. I mention these details because the Pintail usually do not settle on the canal proper, but finding this inundated patch suitable as a resting or feeding place they had congregated there in some numbers, and had it not been for this fact I should have gone in the opposite direction. Ha\dng dealt with the duck, I was returning to the bridge when I saw this bird fishing near the bank. Waiting for it to dive I ran up and just before it reached the surface I could see the small frj>- leaping clear of the water before it’s approach. As soon as it appeared clear on the surface I shot it. Mr. Hugh Whistler, who kindly examined the specimen for me, in confirming my identification, tells me this is the first occurrence in India, adding that it is also the most southerly record, at the same time he adds in epist : — It apparently belongs to the race Colymbus arcticus suschkini (Sarudny), which according to Sarudny is found in Mongoha (Kobdo), Tomsk, the provinces of Ufa and Oren- burg, the Kirshis Steppes and Western Siberia to the Yenissai. Dissection proved it to be a female and Mr. Whistler is of opinion that it is a first winter bird. There was very little fat on the specimen. Colours of soft parts : — Irides red brown ; bill livid grey, culmen dark brown ; tarsi and feet dark leaden on upper surface, remainder livid grey. Measurements — Wing . . . . 290 mm. Tarsus . . . . 73 „ Bill from gape .. 83 „ Do. from skull - . 79 „ Do. from posterior margin of nostril -.51 „ Do. depth at commencement of feathering .. 17 „ Simla, A. E. JONES. 20lA April 1922. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1135 No. XIX.- OCCURRENCE ON THE NILGIRIS OF A PARTIAL ALBINO OF THE SOUTHERN INDIAN SCIMITAR BABBLER [POMATORHINUS HORSFIELDI TRAY ANCORIEN SIS) (HARINGTON). F. B. I. No. 120. Oil the 29th June of tlii.s year, Mr. G. Oakes of Downham, Kalhutty Sigur Ghat, Nilgiris (elevation 5,500 feet), very Idndly sent me a pair of these birds, shot in his fruit garden. One was the ordinary type, the other was a partial albino of which the following is a description ; — Length 8'5", wing 3'5", tail 3‘5", tarsus 1‘25", bill from gape P2". Bill orange yellow, the nostrils and a small portion of the basal part of the upper mandible greenish, legs and feet pale leaden blue, soles and claws yellow, iridcs red-brown. The whole lower plumage from the chin pure silky white, upper plumage, including the head, white streaked in places with pale brown, primaries and secondaries white faintly edged exter- nally with pale brown, tertiaries white, rather broadly edged on both webs with pale brown, tertiary coverts darker brown with white tips, the other coverts pure white, tail white, wth some of the feathers edged with pale browm. Prospect Lodge, Ootacamund, H. R. BAKER, Nilgiris, Lt.-Col., I. A. [Retd.) ZOth June 1922. No. XX.— BREEDING OF THE INDIAN PITTA {PITTA BRACHYARA AND THE STREAKED WREN WARBLER {PRINIA LEPIDA). In Vol. XXVIII. No. 1, Mr. R. C. Bolster, I.C.S., has notes on these two species. As I have had some experience of them, I venture to give this now. I have not access to my Natural History Magazines, but I know' I published notes in them regarding the Indian Pitta. This bird is fairly plentiful on the Ghats near Mhow, Central India, during the monsoon. In 1909-10, I took many nests through June and July. I was commanding at Dehra Dun in 1919, where the Indian Pitta arrived in June, and on the 17th of that month I obtained 4 fresh eggs from a nest in a shad}' nullah not far from the Body Guard Lines. As I had a fairly good collection of eggs of this bird, I did not woriy much about them. The impression I formed W'as that, although it was fairly common during the month, most birds moved further on to breed for I found no more nests. As they are most conspicuous, had they been plentiful they could hardly be overlooked. As regards the Streaked Wren Warbler {Prinia lepida) I foimd many nests during 1916-17, when quartered at Ferozepore and Lahore. The majority during July. The earliest date recorded is, however, 9th April 1917, and the two latest 9th and 10th October 1916. I have had very similar experiences to those of Mr. Bolster regarding the “ Destruction of Birds’ Nests ” and am at a loss to account for them. Mt'nas, Tree pies. Crows, Coucals and Shrikes, 1 know are not above suspicion, but there are many other enemies to small birds. Cape Town, South Africa, R. M. BETHAM, 15th March 1922. Brig. -General. No. XXI.— CURIOUS SITE FOR NEST OF THE BENGAL RED VENTED B\lUB\]'L{MOLPASIE8 HAEMARRHOUS BEN GALEN SIS). As is well known these Bulbuls usually nest on trees and bushes but a pair here have built a nest under the eaves of a thatched roof. The nest is placed resting 40 1136 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. on one of the bamboo butties and between it and the thatch ; as the house is low roofed and the eaves come well over, the nest is exceedingly well concealed and but for the bird flying out on several occasions when I passed the house I should never have noticed it. Baghownie Laheria Sakai, CHAS. M. INGLIS, N. Bihar, f.z.s., re.s., m.b.o.u. 1th August 1922. No. XXII.— CURIOUS NESTING SITE CHOSEN BY THE PURPLE HONEY SUCKER (ARACHNETHRA ASIATICA). I send you a photograph shewing a peculiar nesting site chosen by the Common Purple Honey Sucker. As you will see from the photo the nest is attached to the wire carrying the current and is within a few inches of the lamp itself. The lamp is suspended by a bracket placed at the entrance of the Officers’ Club, Ajmer, and is ahght from sun down till past 9 p.m. eveiy night. Eggs were actually laid in the nest and would probably have incubated in the usual course but some well meaning member thinking the nest required strengthening tied the upper jwrtion to the wire with string. This was apparently too much for the parent birds who deserted. Ajmer, W. E. SHIPP. 17 th June 1922. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1137 No. XXm.— WOODPECKER OCCUPYING NESTING BOX. Early in the spring this year I prepared a number of nesting boxes, in hopes of attracting birds, especially tits or nuthatches, and of inducing them to breed in my compound in Pachmarhi. The boxes were constructed as follows : DiagtiQins (b iSastrdk wethod of cons trued on of boY.es. FRorrr elevation. SIDE ELEVATION SECTION. Cylindrical sections of a yoimg tree, about 9 inches in diameter with the bark on and about 15 inches in length were prepared with a cross cut saw. Each such cyhnder was then cut across again, diagonally, into two unequal halves as shown in the diagram, the smaller half to constitute the hd of the nesting box. Both halves were then hollowed out with a stout auger and goudge, giving a cylindrical hollow 5 inches or so in diameter and 10 or 11 inches long, a thickness of 2 inches being left at top and bottom of the cavity. A circular hole IJ inches in diameter was then bored through the longer side of the lid section, communicating with the central hollow. Two stout headless nails were then driven into the margin of the lower half of the cyhnder on opposite sides of the hoUow and in a vertical position protruding about an inch above the level of the surface of the wood, and two corresponding holes were bored with a gimlet in the rim, at the base of the lid portion. The hd could now be firmly fitted into the basal portion of the cyhnder and could be easily removed and replaced again with no danger of its falling off. The nesting boxes were then hung up against the trunks of trees about 15 ft. from the ground, with entrance hole facing outwards. This was done early in February. Towards the end of February a pair of Golden Backed Woodpeckers {Brachypternus aurantius) became interested in one of the boxes; but the entrance hole having been made smaU (to exclude mynahs) they set to work to enlarge it. EventuaUy they enlarged the hole to 2j inches diameter and finding the cavity inside quite suitable for nesting purposes they adopted it without further excava- tion. On March 9th the nest contained 3 fresh eggs, pure white of course but pink from translucence. Incubation commenced the same day. From this date onwards I examined the nest daily and the birds gradually became accustomed to my visits. They always left the nesting box, however, on my commencing to cUmb the tree. The following notes are from my diary. March 19th Eggs not yet chipped. „ 20th All three eggs hatched. The young are quite naked. The upper mandibles are tipped with a conspicuous white shining scale. 1138 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI 11 March 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th A similar but smaller scale is present on the tips of the lower mandibles. One of the young birds opened its mouth for food and made the characteristic rattling sound of young wood - peckers. No important change. Nestlings still quiet naked but stronger. The elbows of the legs have a peculiar swollen comb-hke serrated appearance behind. Birds still naked. One is only about half the size of the others. No great change. Only two birds in the nest. The small one must have died and been removed by the parents. Yoimg birds growing rapidly . Otherwise no change. Also feathers and quills just beginning to Eyes just opening, show. „ 28th Feathers developing, especially a curious band or strip across the thigh. „ 29th Further development. „ 30th A tinge of red appearing on crown. ,, 31st to April 3rd. Steady development in feathering. April 4th Red caps and orange backs conspicuous. „ 5th to 8th Gradual fuU development of feather tracts. Birds very noisy. „ 9th Both birds left the nest. The nest box cavity was not enlarged by the parent birds. It was throughout kept scrupulously clean. This surprised me as I always understood that the removal of the fseces of the young was performed by Passerine birds only. No droppings or dirt of any kind were found in the nest until the last day before the birds left the nest. The young never returned to the nest after leaving it. B. B. OSMASTON, C.I.E., I.F.S. Gulmakg, Kashmir. No. XXIV.-NOTES ON THE NESTING OF THE HLMALAYAN TREE CREEPER (CERT HI A HIMALAYANA). The following note on the nesting of the Himalayan Tree Creeper (Certhia himalayana) may be of interest. Blanford, in the Fauna of British India, and also Hume, in Nests and Eggs, state this bird nests high up in taU trees, 40' to 50' from the ground. I have found three nests of this bird here, and they have all been quite low down near the ground. It is an early breeder, March and April, at least they must commence building in March. I had no experience of this bird’s habits, so judging from the above authors’ notes I spent hours watching them in hopes of discovering their nests, but failed to see them breeding till by accident I discovered the nest. On the 19th April I was sitting in the shade of a pine tree, when two creepers flew on to the next tree, each with an insect in its biU. They were much excited, peeping at me round the trunk of the pine, then one bolder than the other, flew down to the tree I sat near, and disappeared round the trunk. A few seconds later it went off without the insect, and shortly after the second bird did the same ; when they had left I examined the trunk and found a large piece of the back was detached from the stem, and on touching this to look behind, it came away disclosing the nest of 3 nearly full grown yoimg ones. They all flew out, and there was also one adled egg. I replaced one chick, the only one I could find. The nest was situated only 2 ft. from the ground and composed of a few ML^CELLANEOUS NOTES. 1139 soft feathers, etc., placed on top of coarse material such as dark chips and other stuff to fill up the cavity. The 2nd nest was in a nearly similar situation behind the partly detached bark of a dead cherry tree, about three feet from the ground and of hke materials. This nest was also discovered by seeing the parent birds feeding their yoxmg. After the young had flown (I did not hke to examine the nest for fear the chicks might be too young to fly) I examined the nest and formd one addled egg. This was on 14th May. The 3rd nest was destroyed by woodcutters breaking off the detached piece of bark behind which the nest was built. The remnants of the nest with a broken egg lay at the foot of the tree which led to its discovery. The site was only a foot from the ground, on a large pine tree at the edge of a foot path. Had I known these birds built so low down I might have discovered them earlier. My experience may assist others in further observations. I also saw a pair feeding their young very high up on a huge pine tree, so they do not always build low down, but I should think a number must, as subitale pieces of detached bark are more hkely to be found low than high up on trees. Rantkhet, U. P. F. field. lOth Angitst 1922. No. XXV.— SOME NOTES ON THE METHOD EMPLOYED IN CATCH- ING CROCODILES IN SOUTH INTHA. I enclose a photo taken of two Valans with a crocodile captured by them with their queer instruments which if you care to publish may be of interest to some of your readers. These ^Valans and Katal Arayan are Ashing castes of the Cochin and Travan core States. The name Valan is derived from Vala, meaning fish in a tank. The method employed by the two particular men who I witnessed catch this crocodile is novel and exciting to say the least of it. These Valans are, for their 1140 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. particular craft, expert rowers or perhaps I should say boatmen, and possess the special privilege of ro\ving from Thripunathura the boat of His Highness the Maha Raja for his installation at the Cochin Palace, when the Aravan “(or Aravar, the headman of their caste who is appointed by thitturam or writ issued by bis Highness the Maha Raja) ” with sword in hand, has to stand in front of him in the boat. However I am transgressing and to return to the method of capture I witnessed, I will explain it briefly as follows. Each man is provided with a long bamboo pole, at one end of which is fastened some 30' of rope, the pole itself is generally about 5 to 6' long, at the other end of which a 1' iron rod is sphced at the end of which is a 3 to 4" barb, and this weapon although not too well-balanced can be thro\vn with great force and accuracy up to 15 to 20'. Each individual is also provided with a “ one man ” tiny canoe, which can only be steadied by the paddle, or one end of the bamboo pole referred to, an axe is also carried and one then proceeds gingerly to the hunting ground, in the case of the European with as few clothes on as possible. I have to admit my boat bemg towed, as the diffi- culty for any European to balance one of these egg-shells alone and propel it for any distance without tremendous strain and considerable anxiety would no doubt be difficult for those who have not experienced it to understand, and is a feat that cannot be accomplished without considerable practice. However having arrived at our destination off the Vembanad lake in a small lagoon (the water here being slightly brackish) one of the Valans informed me there was a crocodile in the middle of the expanse of water in front of us, the water there eventually turning out to be about 6' deep. I cannot say I had noticed or could see anything, but he told me he had seen the ripple on the surface when it sank ; we proceeded carefully to the spot, 3 boats in a line about 15' apart and one of us in each. I had the embarrassing post of honour in the centre. The man on my right eventually stopped his boat and pointing into the water on his right said in a solemn imdertone, “ he is down there.” I am afraid I felt rather inclined to say “he is quite safe, leave him alone” especially as we had been told he was a twenty footer and swallowed cows whole! The boat on my left circled round to the other side of where he was said to be, and I was instructed to close up but assured them I felt sure I must be in the line of flight, whereupon I was left alone and felt able to breathe once more. However my respite was short, as one man kneehng in his boat gently lowered his pole into the water until onlj about a foot of the top was visible, then suddenly drove it down with all his might : the result was rather sudden and did not give one much time to think. A large crocodile shot up to the surface with a tremendous commotion between these two boats, one was capsized and its occupant made remarkable time for the bank holding on to his len^h of rope, his harpoon being firmly embedded, the other man had also driven his in as soon as the crocodile appeared and he also made tracks in his boat, for the bank which was only some 50 yards away. In the meantime the south-west monsoon appeared to have burst to my starboard and waves appeared to be running mountains high, however with my pole I managed to find bottom and there I held on as I should have been capsized in a second if I had let go. After some 5 minutes the crocodile went to earth about 15 yards from the bank, and I lost no time in getting ashore; the animal was then again stirred up and with the help of some 12 more men we got him up high and dry in about a quarter of an hour. The axe was not necessary as his brain had been pierced by one of the barbs. He was 9' 11" long, very fat and in fine condition. The men assured me they had often had much worse trouble. T. H, CAIVIERON, F.Z.S., Asst. Commissioner. White House, Peermade, Travancore, S.I., \Wh June. 1922. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1141 No. XXVI.— NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF SNAKES FROM SHEMBAGANUR, PALNI HILLS. (Circa 6,500 feet). " I am indebted to the Revd. L. Anglade, S. H. College, Shembaganur, for the privilege of examining a small collection of snakes collected locally, some of which are specially interesting. Family — Uropeltidae. Silybura pulneyensis, Beddome. One typical but rather shrivelled 5 . Ventrals 182 ? Subcaudals 8 ? I notice in this species the tip of the tail is invariably white, as it is in maculata and some others. Silybura nigra, Beddome. This would appear to be the commonest species in the Palni HiUs. Five speci- mens in all were included. 2 Ventrals 179. Subcaudals 7. $ 324 mm. (12J inches) long. Ventrals 185. Subcaudals 6 on the right side, 7 on the left. 2 Ventrals 178. Subcaudals 7. 2 Ventrals 178. Subcaudals 6 on the left side, 7 on the right. 2 237 mm. (9J inches). Ventrals 176. Subcaudals 5 on the right side, 6 on the left. This proved to be gravid, and contained four eggs in the oviducts, measuring 21x8 mm. These contained small embryos about 25 mm. long (1 inch). The size of the eggs, and the condition of the embryos lead me to think that this species is ovoviparous. Unfortunately the date of capture is not on record. The tip of the tail in all is black. Platyplectrurus madurensis, Beddome. Four specimens of this httle known species were received. 2 260 mm. (lOJ inches). Ventrals 171. Subcaudals 11. This contained two eggs 25x6 mm. long, with small embryos about 25 mm. long within. 2 311 mm. (12|^ inches). Ventrals 171. Subcaudals 12. This was captured on the 1st of April 1907, having just laid five eggs. The eggs measure 25 to 28 mm. X 10 mm., and con- tain small embryos about 25 mm. in length. The eyes in the embryos are con- spicuous. The heart and neighbouring viscera are still extra-abdominal. 2 • Ventrals 175. Subcaudals 10. c? U7 mm. (4| inches.) Ventrals 168 ? Subcaudals 15. This appears to be a hatchling. There is no record of the date of capture. Family — Colubridae. Amphiesma stolata, (Linne). One quite tjq)ical. Xylophis perroteti. Two examples. Oligodon venustus, Jerdon. One 2 specimen. Ventrals 161. Subcaudals 31. Chrysopelea ornafa (Shaw). A young specimen 317 mm. (12^ inches), appears to be a hatchhng. Date of capture not on record. F. WALL, Lieut-Col., I.M.S. Bangalore, November 1920. 1142 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. No. XXVIL— GORDIUS WORMS. Among the snakes sent to me by Father Anglade from Shembaganur is a Gordius Worm. I have now seen several of these curious nematodes, which are remarkable for the tenuity of their caUbre coupled with their length, re- minding one of a fiddle-string. One specimen was found in the mules’ drinking trough at Drosh, Chitral (circa 4,500 feet) in April 1910, during very cold weather when snow was on the ground. I sent this to Professor A. E. Shipley who forwarded it to Professor Camerano of Turin, and it was pronounced a Gordius zavattarii, Ca- merano. Another was killed in my outhouses in Almora (5,200 feet) on the 2nd of January 1911, on a bitterly cold day when sleet was falling. It measured 495 mm. (1 foot 7^ inches), and was exactly like an animated fiddle-string. Another came to my notice in Dibrugarh, Assam, date uncertain, but it was in the winter and the weather cold. Another was foimd in the drinking water supply inShiUong (circa 4,800 feet) where it created considerable excite- ment from its extraordinary activity. This was sent to me as a snake for identification. A similar worm was noticed by me i n a puddle by the road side left by recent rain, above Newara Ehya, Ceylon (circa 7,000 feet) many years ago, and astonished me by its activity. All of these appeared to me to be the same species. The specimen from Shembaganur however is very much compressed, and the body of greater cahbre than in the previous specimens I have seen, and is probably another species. When forwarding the first men- tioned specimen to Professor Shipley I asked for information about life habits, and obtained the following reply. “ The Gordian Worms fertilise each other, and lay their eggs free in water. They twist about amongst plants. The egg gives rise to an embryo, which bores into some water mollusc or insect, and encysts there for a bit. This moUusc or insect is generally eaten by another insect, such as a mantis or a beetle, and the larvae grow very largely in this second host, absorbing its tissue. After a time the worms emerge free, often a large number on the same day, giving rise to the idea that there has been a shower of worms.” Considerable mystery surrounds these extraordinary worms which appear as if by magic. Some natives declare they fall with the rain, and in Chitral they firmly believe they are generated during faUing snow. It is probable that many of our members are familiar with these nematodes, and it would be interesting to collect more specimens to determine the number of Indian species, and their distribution. Bangaloke, F. wall, November 1920. Lieut. -Col., I.M.S. NO. XXVm.— A PYTHON’S LONG FAST. The following is an extract from a neighbouring planter’s letter : — “ Herewith the facts about the python. I shall be interested to hear what the Bombay Natural History Society say about it, if you think it worth informing them. The python was a young one 9| feet long. It was caught, without being injured some time in 1911 or 1912. It was kept in a wire cage for 2J years. During that time it ate absolutely nothing. It was tried with frogs, and a pigeon was in its cage for 5 or 6 days. The pigeon had to be removed as it started bullying the python. It had a dish of water in its cage always, but there is no absolute proof that it drank. During the 2^ years it changed MISCELLA2^^E0US NOTES. 1143 its skin regularly and appeared in perfect health. At the end of the time it suddenly began to get thin and weak very rapidly, so we let it go in the jungle.” Toads and ducks were also presented. The author of the above story, IVIr. F. G. Ballantyne of the Poloi T. E., who kept the reptile in captivity, Col. K. St. J. Hickman, C.I.E., and Dr. Davis of the Bura Jalinga T. E. can vouch for the above facts. I would be glad to hear from any member of a similar case of the longevity of a python’s fast. Boro Jalinga T. E., Dwarband P.O., A. G. McARTHUR. Cachar, \lth June 1922. [We would refer members interested in this subject to Col. Wall’s exhaust- ive treatise on the common python which appeared in Part II, Vol. XXI of this Society’s Journal. “ A Popular Treatise on the Common Indian Snr.kes”. Illustrated copies of this part are obtainable from the Society — Price Rs. 10. — Eds.] ^O. XXIX.— XOTE ON THE OPERCULUM OF THE TURBAN- SHELLS. The object fonvarded by Captain T. S. Jervis is the stony operculum of one of the Turban-shells, gastropod inolluscs of the family Turbinidae. Possibly it belongs to the common Indian species Turho argyrostoma, abundant on rocky shores all round the coasts of India. This operculum is always plano-convex in shape and stony in structure. In life it is attached bj'^ the flattened side to the upper surface of the tail end of its owner, which is a snail-shaped mollusc allied to the pretty Top-shells (Trochidae) so common at home among rocks and boulders ; the latter, however, have an operculum thin and horny and marked with a closely set spiral, very different from the thick, stony and massive one characteristic of the Turban shells. When one of these animals retires into its shell, when alarmed or attacked, the operculum serves as a door or rather stopper to close the opening and so to keep the intruder out. The Turban shell operculum is particularly effective for this purpose ; it is too hard to be broken through or pierced and its rounded (convex) shape jirevents a po\^erful enemy from getting a grip at the sides in order to tear it out. The outer rounded surface of the operculum is usually more or less prettily mottled with green on a white ground ; that of one species found in New Zealand is so very brightly ornamented with green and brown that the Maoris value it highly as a personal ornament and set it in gold, particularly in the form of brooches ; they also employed specially large and fine ones to make the eyes of their weirdly fashioned wooden idols in former times. There are also species so large that the operculum is heavy enough to be used as a paper weight two inches in diameter. Such big .shells are valuable as a source of mother of pearl for the manufacture of pearl buttons in particular. In India the operculum of Turbo is one of several common objects of the sea shore that possess deep intere.st for tlie ])ilgrims and devotees who flock in thousands from all parts of India to worshij) at the most holy shrine of Rames- waram in the south. There, just within the main entrance to the temple, half a dozen shell vendors are allowed stalls ; on the floor in each are arranged trim heaps of shells of many sorts, all carefully separated according to their kinds. Here is a pile of several tliousand Money Cowiies from the Maldives, there a smaller one of the same shells but brighter in colour and larger in size from the 41 1144 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. reefs of the coi’al islands south of Pamban Pass, close by is a heap of the pretty Eyed-Cowry, and so on througli the whole series of local shells that are attrac- tive either because of their colour or their shape. And with them are always great heaps of thousands of the stony opercula of the Turban shells. The Tamil name for these is amhiUninn, meaning “ the disc of the moon.” The actual shells of Turbo, after the death of the occupants, are often appro- priated by hermit-ci’abs ; some of these are more at home on the beach above tide-mark than in the sea, and, in the Laccadive Islands, on turning big boulders in the screw pine scrub along tbc beach a crowd of hermit-crabs usually make off in a flurry hiding their soft tails in Turban shells. M.\nRAS, %th June 1922. .TAMES HOP NELL. NO. XXX.— SOME INTERESTING SPECIMENS OF THE PIERID GENTTS EUCHUE. ( With a te.it fiyuve) Among a collection of butterflies sent to the Zoological Surv^ey of India last year for identification by Mr. G. E. Shaw were seveial specimens of two forms of the Piei'id genus Euchlce, one closely related to E. charlonia transcaspica and the other to E. helemia. The form related to transcaspica was originally thought to be a race of the form described by Bingham as Sjjnchloe lucill'i, (but which IS now regarded as a race of E. charlonia ), differing only in being quite white. It is. however, more closely related to transcaspica, differing mainly in size, its whiteness and the paleness of the underside of the wings and the conspicuousness of the marginal white markings on the upperside of the forewings. Mr. N. D. Riley has very kindly compared one of the specimens sent to me with the twenty- four examples of transcaspica in the British Museum and finds that it disagrees in these points from all of them. He writes that if there are many specimens exactly like the one I sent him they should receive a name, but though I have .seen many specimens I have refrained from describing them as new as I hope Mr. Riley will do so himself. The object of the present note is merely to bring to the notice of the Society’s members the fact that the butterflies mentioned here are ajrparently new, and to ask them if they have arry specimens to send them to Mr. Riley at the British Museum, who will I think be jrleased to name them. The form related to E. helemia differs chiefly from the forma tijpica in its smaller size and the maikings on the apex of the forewings and the underside of the wings. The apical area of the upperside of the forewiirgs is almost en- tirely black, except for a small white spot near the costa and two ill-defined white dots. The apical area of the underside of the forewings is marked with yellowish* green stripes, which are considerably nairower than those of the tyjheal • I'lidcr a leas the •‘yellowisli green” stripes on Uie iiiulerside seem to me tote really blackish, with tiny yellowish-green scales superimposed. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1145 form, and the stripe adjoining the torinen is also much reduced and does not touch the margin. The underside of tlio liindwings is marked with similaily coloured stripes which are much narrower and liglitcr in colour than those of typical helemia. This form is either a new or a seasonal variety of E. heleinia. (See figure.) The form of charlonia has been taken in South Persia by Di'. C. L. Digsby- Roberts, and ^Ir. t!. E. R. Cooper of the Survey of India has also taken it from Turbal-i-Hindari to near Robat in Baluchistan, while his brother took it at Toba in Baluchistan in May, 1910. Dr. Roberts’ and ]\Ir. Cooper’s specimens were all taken from Febmary to IMay, 1918 and 1919. Mr. Cooper informs me that the form was very common round hill-tops and mounds. The form of belemia was taken by Dr. Roberts in Guhra,* South Persia, in May, 1918. The typical form occurs in South Spain, North Africa, the Canaries, Asia Minor and Syria. The Zoological fSurvey of India has two specimens of each of these forms and I believe Dr. Roberts and Mr. Cooper also possess examples of these butterflies. CEDRIC DOVER, Indian Museum, F.E.S. Calcutta, January 1922. We submitted the above note to Lt.-Col. H. D Peile who wrote as follows : — ■ “EucMce transcaspica, Stgr., seems to be the same form in Mesopotamia as in Persia ; and E. helemia, E., is also veiy probably the same for both these regions. Euchloe transcaspica, Stgr. A male of the typical transcaspica (2nd genei-ation) form, agreeing well with transcaspian specimens in the B. M., was taken by me on 11th April 1920, at Fathah, on the right bank of the Tigris on a small hill crest on the .Tebel Hamrin range, at about 500 ft. elevation. The 1st brood (Jan. -Feb.) has been named vernalis by Verity. Le Cerf records it from Danah Konh and says it is slightly intermediate. The Summer form of transcaspica, Stgr., from N. Persia and Turkestan is more yellow than the Spring form. Euchloe belemia, E. In Mesopotamia this varies very much in size, and in the markings of the upper and undersides, with the season. Capt. N. D. Riley has recently gone through a long series of this taken by me in Mesopotamia in 1919, and selected from them a series of 81 specimens wJiich are now' incorjxirated in the National Collection. The iVet season, form, (.Jan. -March) have the black markings above very pronounced, the. bases of both wings being black ; and on the underside well defined, daik green bands broader than the white bands between them. The Dry season form (Mar.-Apl.) has much less black above, and on the under- side narrow, broken up green and yellow streaks between wider w'hite portions ; this form being also slightly the larger. Five specimens indicated a partial third brood. Both ‘ w'ct ’ and ‘ dry ’ forms were taken in perfectly fresh condition in the last week of March. This seasonal variation is referred to more fully under this species in the article on “ The butterflies of Mesopotamia ” in Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, of the Society’s Journal. • This locality is knowa to most Europeans as Gotha, but Dr. Roberts informs me that the correct P»rsian name is Gahra. 1 14fi JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIll The accompanying transfer shows extreme variations in markings. The specimen sketched by iVIi'. C. Dover seems to be an intermediate one taken about he end of the wet season. Coloured sketches of the larva and pupa are with my specimens in the National collection.” No. XXXI.— A NOTE ON THE OCCURRENCE OF A SPECIES OF THE FAMILY RAPHIDID^ IN BRITISH INDIA. The family Raphididae is generally regarded as being allied to the Sialidae and uith it forms the comparatively new order Megaloptera. There are two genera : Raphidia and Inocellia, easily distinguished from each other by the fact that in the fonner genus three ocelli are present on the head, while in the latter they are entirely absent. In his recent account of the [family in Genera Insectorum, Megaloptera (191.3), Dr. Esben-Petersen gives the distribu'iou as Palaearctic and Neartic regions, one species being also found in the Neotropical region. This is Raphidia herbsti, Petersen, from Chile. The family has not hitherto been recorded from the Oriental or Australian regions. While putting away a collection of insects made by myself in the jungle around Calcutta in Novem- ber, 1920, I found a species of Raphididae among them, and a search through the collection of Neuropteroid insects belonging to the Zoological Survey of India revealed another, but badly damaged, specimen, labelled “Upper Burma.” Mr. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher very kindly informs me that he has specimens of the genus Inocellia from Shillong in the Pusa collection which he thinks might be new. These are being referred to Dr. Petersen for identification. With the assistance of Mr. H. Srinivasa Rao, M. A., I have identified the Cal- cutta specimen as Inocellia crassicornis, Schummel (cf. Petersen, loc. cit. p. 11, pi. 2, fig. 3) and the Burmese example probably belongs to the same species MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1147 certainly to the same genus. It might be of interest to mention that in my speeimen the first subcostal nervure of the right forewing is forked and so is Cm', while the venation of the loft forewing is perfectly normal and agrees with that shown in Petersen’s figure. I. crassicornis is apparently wid ly dis- tributed and has hitherto been rocortled from Sweden, Saxony, Westphalia, Silesia, Hungary, Italy, Siberia, and as close to India as Japan. Calcutta, 20f/i Janvuary 1922. CEDRIC DOVER. No. XXXII. -A NOTE ON THE REPRODUCTION OF THE COMMON HYDRA OF BENGAL {HYDRA VULGARIS, PALLAS). The following observations were made on Hydra vulgaris, Pallas, in the months of August and September, 1920. The polyps were reared in cylindrical glass ars containing weeds from a pond. * EXPLANATION OF FIGURES. Fig. 1.- — Budding Hydra with characteristic moniliform appearance. Fig. 2. — Colony formation of Hydra by budding. Fig. 3. — Vertical fission of Hydra. Fig. 4. — Hydra bearing spermaries in different stages of development. Fig. 5. — Hydra bearing spermaries and a bud. 1148 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVlll. Fission. — An instance of vertical fission was witnessed on the 26th August, 1920. Fission was more or less complete and the two j)olyps were still united by the basal j)art of the column. One had five tentacles and tlie other four. The contraction and e.xpansion of the column and tentacles of the polyps were independent. The gastro-vasculai' ca^•ities were continuous and small jmrticles were seen passing througli the fluid from the gastral cavity of one into that of the other. The ectoderm and endodenn were distinct, and at the base of the polyps were observed two endodcrmal prominences. The ectoderm in this region was slightly depressed. (See Fig. 3.) On the following day an endodcrmal wall Avas completely formed cutting off the gastro-vascular cavity of one polyp from that of the other. The ectodermal depression was invaginated. On the third day the ectoderm of the basal disc was formed and the polyps were sticking to each other by a secretion of mucus. The same evening they were observed to have separated. The difference in the number of tentacles of the two polyps was still maintained. Though several polyps were reared for over two months this was the only instance of vertical fission observed. In his account of Hydra in the Memoirs of the A siatic Society of Bengal, I, p. 344, 1906, Dr. Annandale states that he has only seen throe instances of vertical fission. Apparently this mode of reproduction is very rare. Budding. — Several individuals bearing two or three buds were seen during the earlier part of August. l\Iost of the buds were in a fairly advanced state Avdth, as a rule, the same number of tentacles as in the parent polyp. The lower half of the column was slender and transparent, and as a result of swell- ings the upper half was moniliform (Fig. I). Usually the buds were confined to a small zone about the middle of the column ; and it Avas remark- able that the column beloAv this zone did not present a moniliform appeaj’ance. This phenomenon Avas noticeable in the budding indiA’iduals only. That the SAvellings are different from buds is suggested by the fact that they sometimes disappear and reappear in the same place. The entire gastro- v-ascnlar cavity is clear, and any food particle too large for it can at once be seen. SeAmral in- dividuals AAdth the SAvellings Avere examined, and in none of them Avere they the result of distension by food particles or other foreign matter. The budding polyps Avere generally found attached to the bottom and sides of the glass- jar, and to the underside of weeds. The polyps attached to the sides lay usually inclined upside doAV'n Avith the tentacles fully expanded and hanging pendulously. A horizontal and rarely an erect position Avas hoAA^ever assumed by some indiAuduals. In the “ Fauna ” volume on Fresh-Avater Hydroids, Dr. Annandale states that he has never seen a bud giving rise to buds while attached to the parent hydra. I have seen an instance of this phenomenon on a single occasion (August 18, 1920). This polyp Avas found at the bottom of the jar. It aaus difficult to make out the order in Avhich the buds had arisen. Tliere AAere tAvo fairly Avell developed buds, one Avith five tentacles, and the other Avith six. The for- mer had one bud and the latter tAVO (Fig. 2). It may be suggested that the first parent polyp underwent A'eitical fission for some distance doAvn the column, Avhen budding started precauciously on each of the daughter polyps. There Avas hoAvever no clear evidence to shoAV that the colony formed as entirely due to budding or to vertical fission and budding. This branching hydra AA-as unfortun- ately devoured by a dragon-fly larva a foAV days later, and no further observation could be made on it. Branching in II . oligactis Avas noticed by Baini Prashad in Lahore.* Spermaries. — From about the last Aveek of August upto the 4th September, several polyps bore spermaries. Subsequent to this date sexual activity gra- See Journ., As. S.ic., Bengal, (N. H. 8.) XII, p. 143 (19] t> MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1149 dually slackened, and about the middle of September no polyps bearing sper- maries were observed. Bud-formation recommenced, lasting for a couple of days. The polyps were very thin and transparent. The spermaries generally arise as small mound-shaped sweOings on the upper half of the cohimn. They are however not restricted to this region, as occasion- ally several may be seen in the basal part of the column (Fig. 4). The nunrber of spermaries apparently varies, sometimes seven or eight being formed close to one another. They are found in different stages of development, and do not seem to be arranged in a definite manner. In the more developed .sper- maries the active movements of the spermatozoa can be observed under the low power of a microscope. As they mature a tine spray of sperms in the form of a faint white cloud is ejected from time to time from the papilliform process at their ape.x. Sometimes buds are also formed simultaneously with the spermaries but they are always found below the region on which spermaries arise (Fig. 5). One after another the spermaries discharge their contents, and the polyps become very thin. A few however recommence budding, but the buds remain unde- veloped. H. SKIXIVASAKAO, M.A. No. XXXIII.— FOLKLORE OF BIRDS AND BEASTS OF INDIA. I have read with much interest Mr. Fitzpatrick’s article in Vol. 28, No. 2, of the Journal on folklore of birds and beasts and would like to know if he has any stories connecting the actions of birds and beasts vdth a forecast of the monsoon. Sir Gilbert Walker, our chief rain-maker, may base his forecast on such things as barometrical iiressure in places in South America or Zanzibar, a low or high Nile, late sno\vfall in the Himalayas, etc., but we who live in agricultural districts know that the monsoon is really foretold by the blossoming of the nim trees and khed bushes, the direction of the wind at Holi and the lucky and unluclcy days on which lightning is seen. I remember last year there was lightning one day early in June and I was told there would be no rain for 72 days. There was none for about 45 days which was not a bad effort to fulfil the prophecy ! But the clinching test is the position of the eggs in the nest of a ‘ Did he do it ’ (Bed Wattled Lapwing). If the pointed ends all point to the centre of the nest a good monsoon is assured. This belief prevails in Cutch and Kathia- war and probably in other parts of India. Yesterday I found a ‘Did he do it’s ’ nest with three eggs in the happy position, so it is now up to the mon- soon to do its bit according to rule. E. O’BRIEN, Lt.-Colonel. Bhu.j Cutch, \lth May 1922. No. XXXIV.— A LONG NEGLECTED GROUP OF INSECTS. The purpose of this note is to draw the attention of the numeT'ous natural- ists who have the chance of collecting in desert and semi-desert parts of India, as well as in adjacent countiies (Pei'sia, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, etc.), to a groujj of insects which is always neglected by collectors. The group is Orlhoy- tera, i.e., gra.sshoppers, locusts, crickets, mantids and stick-insects ; all these insects are most numerous and various in dry ])l.ains, on stony hills, on sand dunes, and in dry gras.sy places with scattered shrubbery ; many species are 1150 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII- strictly attached to a certain kind of habitat and each of the above named habi- tats bears its special fauna. Collecting Orthoptera is, surely, not more difficult than that of beetles, though a stout butterfly-net is wanted to catch some strong flying species and to sweep the grass and shrubs ; many quite interesting species (particularly of gryllidae, or crickets) may be taken also at night. As for preserving, the majority of Orthoptera may be perfectly well preserved in paper packets, like butterflies and moths, or simply wrapped singly in tissue paper, with the date and locality legibly inscribed on it ; the packed insects must not be put into a tin box, but in a wooden or cardboard one, where they may dry quickly. Some very large species require special attention, as they are liable to jnould or rot ; in these the abdomen must be slightly cut open from the underside with fine scissors, and the moisture sucked out by slips of blotting paper stuck into the wound and changed several times ; in a dry and hot climate there is usually no necessity to take out the viscera and to stuff the insects with cotton-wool, a procedure which is supposed to be quite necessary and which makes a collector avoid taking Orthoptera altogether. It must be remembered that, for a specialist, even a badly preserved specimen may be of great value, though of course good series of well preserved and care- fully labelled specimens are more desirable. I mention long series deliberately, because it often happens that a collector does not care to take more than one or two specimens of what he considers to be a “ very common ” insect, while for a specialist it is always very important to study a series in order to find out the range of individual variability of the species ; besides, it is very easy for a collector to confuse more than one, superficially alike, species. Of equal im- portance is the collection of the same species in different localities as also in different habitats. As I have mentioned in my papers in this Journal (Vol. xxviii. No. l,p. 71, a.o.) the orthopterous fauna of deserts of S.W. Asia is almost entirely unexplored and even some of the most common and striking species are still undescribed. This gives a guarantee that every collection, however small, will contain new or interesting species and even genera, and this should surely make collecting of Orthoptera worth the trouble, the more so as I shall be very glad to work out collections of these insects without delay, being much interested in the fauna and having worked on it specially for many years. I hope that the Bombay Society will publish the results in its Journal, so that collectors maj^ see that their efforts are not wasted. Further enquiries and collections may be sent to me either through the Society or direct to me at the British Museum (Xatural History), London, S.W. 7. B. P. UVAROV, F.E.S., Assistant Entomologist, Imperial Burea2t of Entomology. 4 QHE JOURNAL OF THE Bombay Natural History Society. EDITED BY R. A. SPENCE, F.Z.S., B. C. ELLISON, C.M.Z.S., and S. H. PRATER, C.M.Z.S. VOL. XXVIfl, No. 3. Date of Pablicatiori, SOtli Juiie 1922. Price to Non- Memhers . .. ... 15-0-0 or £ 1-0-0 LONDON AGENTSi; OULAU & Co., Ltd., 34>36, Marg^aret Street. Cavendish Square, W. PRINTliD AT TllK TIMES PIIESS, -BOMBAY NOTICE TO THE BINDER. The contents of this number should be arranged in the follow- ing order when the second half (Nos. 3 and 4) of Volume XX VIII is being bound ; — Title page ... ... ... Frontispiece. Contents of Volume XXVIII j To follow the frontispiece (Parts 3 and 4). f in, this order. List of Contributors, List of Pla.tes, Index to Illustrations and Index of Species for complete volume will he issued separate ly as soon after the completion of No. 4. Vol. XX VI II, as possible and should he bound with the second half of the volume. CONTENTS OF Vol. XXVIIT No. S. Page L The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. Part XXXIT (Genus Perdix) a plate). By E. C. Stuart Baker, f.l.s., f.z.s,, m.b.o.d., cf.a.o.u 571 Birds of the Indian Empire. Part VI. By E. C. Stuart Baker, f.l.s., f.z.s., (Game Animals OF Kashmir and Adjacent Hill Provinces. Part III. {With I plate and 4 text Jiguies). By Lt.-Col. A. E. Ward 595 t Indian Dragonflies. Part XIII (Jrith 5 text fyures). By Major F. C. Fraser, i.m.s., f.e.s 610 \ The Madras Aquarium. By James Hornell, f.l.s., f.r.a.i. {With a plate and 6 te.vt figures) 621 New AND Little Known Indian Bombyliid.®. {With a plate). By Lt.-Col. C. G. Nurse 6-30 The Snare of the Giant Wood Spider {Nephila maculata) Part I. ( U'itk 2 text figures). By Capt. R. W. G. Hingston, i.M s 642 The Birds of Mesopotamia. Part III. {With two }dates). By Dr. C. B. Ticeliurst, m.a., m.b.o.u 650 H. R. H. The Prince of Wales’ Shoots in India in 1921 and 1922. By B. C. Ellison, c.M.z s. {With 9 plates and a map) 675 Notes on New and Rare Indian Dragonflies. By Major F. C. Fraser, i.m.s. {frith 2 te.it figures) 698 On Indian Parasitic Flies. Part II. {With 2 plates). By Harold Russell, F.L.S., F.z.s 703 Records and Descriptions of Orthoptera from S. W. Asia. {With 2 text figures). By B. P. Uvarov, f.e.s 719 The Identification of Indian Butterflies. {With 2 text figures). By Lt.-Col. W. H. Evans, d.s.o., r.e., f.z.s., f.e.s 739 Egret Farming in Sind. {With 2 plates). By Capt. C. E. Benson, d.s.o 748 Egret Farming in India. By C. G. Chevenix Trench, i.c.s 751 Rough List and Notes on the Birds found breeding in the Gonda District, OuDH. By F. Field 753 List of Mollusca of Rangoon. By Dr. H. Marshall 773 The Progress of the Natural History Section in the Prince of Wales’ Museum. By B. C. Ellison, c.m.z s 777 ii CONTENTS OF Vol. XXVIII, No- 3-(cmid.) Page Rfview. — The Edge of the Jungle. By Win. Beebe 780 Editorial. (W ith a plate) 781 Miscellaneous Notes: — I. — Editors’ and Readers’ comments on Articles and Notes which have appeared in previous numbers 786 II. — Jungle Notes 792 Ilf. — The Indian Lion. By T. R. Livesey 795 IV. — The Occurrence of the Stripe-Backed Weasel {Mnstela strigidorsa) in the Naga Hills. By J. H. Hutton 795 V. — The Tenasserim Tree-Shrew {Tupaia helangeri). By C. Primrose. . . . 796 VI. — Four-Horned Fat-Tailed Sheep. By H. J. Elwes 798 VII. — Destruction of Birds’ Nests. By Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, T. de Greither and O. 0. Ollenbach 798 VIII. — On the Homing Flight of the Common House Crow {Corvus splendens). By S. Basil-Edwardes 804 JX. — The White-Throated Ground Thrush {Geocichla cyanonotus) a,s& mimic. By A. P. Kinloch, K.z.s 805 X. — The Occurrence of the Blue-bearded Bee-Eater {Nyclioinia athertoni) in the C. P. By B. B. Osmaston, c.i.e.,t.f..s 805 XI. — Note on Nightars in the Central Provinces. By E. A. D’Abreu. . . . 806 XII. — The Food of the Shikra {Astur badius). By Lt.-Col. E. O’Brien .... 807 XIII. — The Marbled Duck {Marmaronetta angustirostris) in the Punjab. By H. W. Waite 807 XIV. — The occurrence, habits and breeding of the Spotted Sandgrouse (Pteroclurus senegallus) in the Bahawalpur State, Punjab. By R. C. Bolster, i.c.s 807 XV. — Crocodile Shooting and Snaring. (With a plate) 809 XVI. — Food of the Fat-tailed Lizard (Eublepharis macularius). By S. H. Prater, c.m.z.s 811 XVII. — The Senses of a Snake. By A. F. Abercromby 812 XVIII. — Pearl Bearing Mussels 813 XIX. — An L^nusual Swarm of Moths 814 XX. Occurrence of the Galeod Spider (Rhagodes nigrocirUtta) in the South Arcot District, Madras Presidency. By S. G. Manavalaramanujam 815 XXI. — A case of plant surgery. By L. B. Kulkarni, m.a 815 Proceedings 817 NEW OXFORD BOOKS. The Anchorite and Tales of other Stories Old Sind By By C. A. KINCAID, C V.O C. A. KINCAID, c v 0 The author’s latest book of Stories of Modern India. A handsome quarto volume splendidly printed and illustrated. Rs. 4-12. Rs. 8. Birds of an Indian Village. The Private Life of an Eastern King (1856) TOGETHER WITH By DOUGLAS DEWAR. Elihu Jan’s Story, the Private Life of an Eastern Queen (1856) By A small volume containing concise accounts of fifty different birds of India and forty-five illustrations. WILLIAM KNIGHTON. This book is based on materials supplied by a member of the King of Oudh’s household. Cloth back : Rs. 2-8. New reprint ; I2s. 6d. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS BOMBAY, CALCUTTA & MADRAS. Agents for CONSTABLE & Co., Ltd., LONDON. THE JOURNAL OF THE Bombay Natural History Society. EDITED BY R. A. SPENCE, IVI.L.A. F.Z.S., B. C. ELLISON, C.M.Z.S.. F.R36, Marg^aret Street, Cavendish Square, W. • PRINTED AT THE TIMES PRESS, -BOMB AY. CONTENTS OF Vol. XXVIII, No. 4. Page 1 The Game Birds of India, Bdejia and Ceylon. Part XXXIII (Genus Ammoperdix). J {With a plate.) By E. C. Stuart Baker, r.L.s., F.'z.s., m.b.o.tt., c.f.a.o.u 823 I Birds of the Indian Empire. Part VII. By E. C. Stuart Baker, f.l.s., f.z.s., i M.B.O.TJ., C.F.A.O.U 830 . Game Animals of Kashsiir and adjacent Hill Provinces. Part IV. {With a Map, a plate and a text figure). By Lt.-Col. A. E. Ward 874 . Xew and little known Indian Bombylmdae. By Lt.-Col. C. G. Nurse 883 Dragonfly- collecting in India. By Major F. C. Fraser, lm.s., f.e.s. {With 4 j text figures) 889 | Indian Dragonflies. Part XIV. {With 3 text figures.) By Major F. C. Fraser, || LM.S., F.E.S 899 ^ The SNARE OF THE Giant Wood Spider. Parts II and III. {W ith a text figure.) By Capt. R. W. G. Kingston, LM.S 911 Description of a New Gobioid Fish from Tuticorin. By James Hornell and Henry W. Fowler 924 Some Commensals of Indian Alcyonarians and Crabs. {With 6 text figures.) By James Homdl, f.l.s., f.r.a.i 926 The Birds OF Mesopotamia. Part IV. {With a plate.) By Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, M.A., M.B.O.U 937 On Indian Parasitic Flies. Part III. {With 3 plates.) By Harold Russell, f.l.s., f.z.s 957 A Survey Season in the Nicob.ar Islands. {With 4 plates.) By Major E. B. Seymour Sewell, lm.s., b.a., f.a.s.b 970 A Contribution to the Ornithology of Cashmere. By Hugh Whistler, f.z.s., M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U 990 Supplementary notes on the Coccidae of Ceylon. Part IV. {With 39 text figures.) By E. E. Green, f.e.s., f.z.s 1007 Fish AND Fishing IN THE Inle L-cke. {With 3 plates.) By Dr. N. Aunandale, d.sc. 1038 Common Indian Spiders. {With o plates.) By F. H. Gravely, d.sc 1045 A New Stone Gecko from the Himalaya. By Capt. C. M. Ligoldby, r.a.m.c., F.R.G.S 1051 Scientific Results from the M.y>imal Survey. No. XXXIII. By Martin A. C. Hinton 1052 Scientific Results from the Mamylyl Survey. No. XXXIV’. By Martin A. C. Hinton 1056 Scientific Results from the Mammal Survey. No. XXXV. By Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S 1067 A Description of the nests and eggs of the Common Birds occurring in the Plains of the United Provinces. Part 1. {With a plate.) By E. H. N. Gill . . 1069 Shikar near and around Poona. By Major W. B. Trevenen 1075 Books on Natural History and Sport THE WATER FOWL OF INDIA AND ASIA. By FRANK FINN. B.A. (Oxon.), F.Z.S.. Third Edition Revised with 21 Illustrations Price Rs. 4/8. Cloth Rs. 3/8. TROUT FISHING IN KASHMIR. By Lt.-Col. ALBAN WILSON. D.S.O.. i Late 1st Battn.« 8th Gurkha Rifles. ! Phototffa^ic Illustrations and a Sketch Map. CONl ENTS r— Description of Kashmir- Introduction of brown Trout in Kashmir— 'Purport of the Rules relating to Fishing in the Trout Water, 1919— The Trout Waters of Kashmir— A Last Day ' with the Trout — Remarks on Tackle, etc.— Reflec- tions on Artificial Trout Flies — Hints to New-comers. THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA AND ASIA. By FRANK FINN. B.A.. F.Z.S. With illustrations. Price Rs. 3^- LETTERS ON POLO IN INDIA. Written to a Beginner By “A LOVER OF THE GAME.” Price Rs. 3/8. THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. By FRANK FINN. B.A. (Oxen.), F.Z.S. Third Edition. Price Rs. 2/ 4. Fifth Edition. Just Published. Rs. THE INDIAN FIELD SHIKAR BOOK. By W. S. BURKE. Thoroughly Revised and Greatly Improved* The only book containing, under one cover* the Various Game Laws and Regulations throughout India. CONTENTS . — Preface— Big Game— Game Destroyers— Land Game Birds— Water Game Birds— River Sporting Fish— Estuarial Sporting Fish— Tank Sporting Fish— Care of Fishing Tackle- Camp Equipment— Guns. Rifles, and Ammuni- tion-List of Dak Bungalows— Shikar Wrinkles— Snake Bites and Treatment*"*Games Laws and Regulations. GAME, SHORE AND WATER BIRDS OF INDIA. With Additional References to their Allied Species in other Parts of the World, with 180 natural size illustrations from actual specimens. By Col. A. LE MESSURIER. C.I.E.. F.Z.S. Price Rs. 12/8. Just Published. Crown 8vo. Rs. 6. Fully Illustrated from Photographs* HOW TO KNOW THE INDIAN WADERS. By FRANK FINN. B.A.. F.Z.S.. M.B.O.U.. Deputy Superintendent. Indian Museum, Calcutta! Mr. Finn is not content with detailing the more important characteristics of each main group of birds ; he takes each Indian species separately and gives of it a pen-picture, both vivid and accurate.”— Field. K GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS OF INDIA. By FRANK FINN. B.A.. F.Z.S. Second Edition. With Seven Full Page illustrations. Price Rs. 3/8. A BIRD CALENDAR FOR NORTHERN INDIA. From Bengal to the Punjab. By DOUGLAS DEWAR. Author of ** Birds of the Plains.” etc. Price Rs. 5/» The Civil and Military Gazette says " Full ! of fascinating interest ..... we will do no more than to recommend it heartily to all bird-lovers.” THACKER, SPINK & Co., P.O.Box 54, CALCUTTA And REGENF HOUSE SIMLA. The INDIAN YEAR BOOK Edited by SIR STANLEY REED, K.B.E., LL.D. Issued early in each year. Nearly goo pages. A COMPACT and comprehensive reference book in which will be found up-to-date and reliable informa- tion on every subject of interest in the Indian Empire. Many maps and copious index. Price Rs. 7-0. V. P. Postage 11 annas. Some Press Opinions. We have tested the book upon a great number of questions and have never failed to get the information that was wanted. Statesman (Calcutta). It is certainly an indispensable volume. Advocate of India (Bombay). As a vade meciim to the political, economic and . social problems of the Indian Empire it has no rival. Civil and Military Gazette (Lahore), Whatever other books might be read with a view to a clear grasp of the essentials of the various problems of administration and government in India, this must be studied. Jam-e-Jamshed (Bombay). Many are the improvements making the book indispensable to both Europeans and Indians. Indian Daily Telegraph (Lucknow). The book is comprehensive and essential. Raiigoon Gazette. It is an original, independent survey of all things Indian and is in quality capable, impartial and authoritative. The Daily Gazette (Karachi). BENNETT, COLEMAN & COMPANY LIMITED, “The Times of India ” Offices : Bombay & Calcutta. and all Booksellers- Printed at the Times Press, Bombay, and published by B.. A. Spence for the Bombay Xatural History Society, Bombay. .rr-- ■ I I to • m ■P «s CM > 1 •i ■ iW V