Xm%M*v#h*U
THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
ivi . i»«ii»soKrs c.irc.z
Honorary Secretary.
VOLUME VI
1891.
Consisting of Four Parts and containing
Sixteen Illustrations*
FEINTED AT THE
EDUCATION SOCIETY'S PKESS, BYCULLA.
1891.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME VI,
PAGE
List of Members . 1
Nesting in Western India. {Continued) (with a Plate.) By
Lieut. H. E. Barnes, F.Z.S 1
Notes on a Collection of Butterflies made in the Chin
Lushai ExrEDiTiON of 1889-90. By E. Y. Watson 26
The Genus Chloropsis, By E. C. S. Baker 59
A List of the Odoriferous Grasses of India, with a descrip-
tion of a New Species of Andropogon. By Mrs. J. 0.
Lisboa •••• G4
Curious Instance of Abnormal Infloroscence of Cmalpinia
(Poindana) pulcherrima {with a Plate) 71
Landscape Gardening in Native States. By G. Carstensen,
Superintendent, Victoria Gardens, Bombay
72
List of Birds' Eggs in the Society's Collection on 1st January,
1891 83
The Preservation of Insectivorous Birds, Birds of Plumage,
and Game in the Central Provinces 87
Reviews of New Books —
"The Reptilia and Batrachia of India" 100
"Hume's Indian Oology" 104
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Concerning the presence of the Taraxacum officinale in the
Nilgherries 100
2. — A Variety of Butea frondosa 107
3. — Harpooning Crocodiles 107
4. — A Man-eating Panther 108
5. — The Cultivation of Oranges, Lemons, and Figs in India Ill
6. — Distribution of Indian Crocodiles 116
7. — Victoria Crown Pigeons breeding in Confinement 117
8.— Indian Otters 117
9. — Our Hymenoptera 118
Proceedings 118
The Proposed Introduction of Game into the neighbourhood of
Bombay 119
Pithecolobium unyuis . . 124
Nesting in Western India. {Continued.) By Lieut. H. E. Barnes,
F.Z.S. {with a Plate.) 129
Bombay Ferneries. By G. H. Carstensen, Superintendent, Muni-
cipal Gardens , 153
The Butterflies of the Central Provinces. Part IV.
By J. A. B 175
On Abnormal Horns of the Indian Antelope, with some
Remarks on their Probable Causes, (with a Plate). By
A. W. Morris, F.Z.S 384
Bombay Grasses. (Part TV.) ' By Dr. J. C. Lisboa, F.L.S 189
Notes on a rare Fungus found growing on the Drumstick
Tree. By Surgeon-Major K. R. Kirtikar, I.M.D. (wi h a
Plate.) 219
On the Gaur (Bos yaurusj ' and its Allies. By W. T. Blanford,
F.R.S, F.Z.S ,. 222
Agricultural Entomology. By E. C. Cotes 230
The Locust of North-Western India. By E. C. Cotes,
(with a Plate) 242
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Shingle and Shells from the Beach at Umbargaum 262
2.— Leaf Weevils 263
3.— The Temerity of Rats 264
4. — Dalberyia spinosa • 264
5. — The Destruction of Life by Wolves in the Hoshangabad and
Narsinghpur Districts 265
6.— The Migrations of Birds 268
7. — Alocasia macrorhiza 270
8. — Douin Palms in India 271
5207S
11
CONTENTS. . PAGE
9. — A Gall on Tamarix dioica 273
10. — A Variety of Butca frondosa 273
11.— A Panther Eating a Panther 274
12.— A Man-killing Bear 270
13.— Price of Tigers' Skins in England, &c 278
Proceedings 2'8
The Protection of Wild Birds and Animals 281
- Statements of Accounts from 1st January, 1800, to 31st
December, 1890 _ 283
Nesting in Western India. (Continued.) By Lieut. H. E. Barnes,
F.Z.S., {with a Plate.) ;. 285
The Butterflies of the Central Provinces. Part V.
By J. A. B , • 318
Notes on Nidification in Kanara. By J. Davidson, Bo. C.S. ... 331
On New and Little-Known Butterflies from the Indo-
Malayan Region. By Lionel de Niceville, F.E.S., C.M.Z.S.,
&c., (with Plates F. and G.) 341
Substances used as Incense in the East. By W. Dyniock,
Brigade -Surgeon, Retired 399
Protective Mimicry. By Mrs. W. E. Hart 410
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — The Natural Enemies of the Locust 416
2. — Taming a Heron 417
3. — Snipe Shooting in the Neighbourhood of Secunderabad 418
4. — Memory Versus Reason in Cats 419
5.— The Breeding of Snakes 420
0. — How the Monitor or Ghorapad ( J'aranus bengalensis)
defends itself 421
7. — Bombay Ferneries .. 421
8.— A Fasting Snake 424
9. — The Sagacity of the Langoor 424
Proceedings , , 425
Description of a New Species of Palm -Civet (Paradoxurus)
Found in Orissa. By James Taylor (with a Plate) 429
A List of the Butterflies of Travancore. By II. S. Fergu-
son, F.L.S 432
Description of a New Species of Lizard obtained by
Mr, H. S. Ferguson in Travancore, Southern India. By
G. A. Boulenger 449
Description of a New Species of Frog obtained by Mb. H.
S. Ferguson in Travancore, Southern India. By G. A.
Boulenger 450
On the Value of the Plant Pangala (Pogostemon parviflorus)
in Cases of Bites by the Phursa Snake (Echis carinata).
By Brigade-Surgeon W. Dymock, Retired 450
Notes of the Mammalia of Somali Land. By J. D. Inverarity,
(with six Plates) 457
Landscafe Gardening in Native States. By II. St. John
Jackson 478
Miscellaneous Notes—
1. — Note on Cassia grandis, Linn, and C. marginata, Roxb 485
2. — Branching Palms and Tree-Ferns 480
3.— The Protection of Game in Sind 487
4. — Geographical Distribution of the Pin-Tail Snipe 4X8
5. — Protection of Larvte 489
0. — A new Method of Preserving and Mounting Zoological
Specimens , 489
7.— The Poison of the Toad 494
8. — Tigers in Sumatra 496
9.— "Has the Bakri a Keen Sense of Smell '? " 497
10.— The Temper of Animals 498
11.— The Crested Grebe breeding in India 501
Proceedings 501
List of Books in the Society's Library 504
ombai) |J;itur;tl Ipsterg ^ot\t%
LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS.
Iprfsibcnt.
H. E. the Right Honorable Lord Harris.
iUcc-'jJrcsibrnts.
Dr. D. MacDonald, m.d., b.s.c, cm.
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Birdwood, M.A., ll.m. (Cantab.)
Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
Tioit. Sctrdarjj.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
tion. treasurer.
Mr. Andrew Murray.
(Bbitor.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
luamightg Commits.
The Hod. Mr. Justice Birdwood.
Dr. G. A. Maconachie.
Dr. D. MacDonald.
Mr. G. W. Vidal, c.s.
Rev. F. Dreckraann, s.<fc
Dr. T. S. Weir.
Dr. Kirtikar.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Mr. W. S. Millard.
Mr. Andrew Murray, ex. officio
Mr. H. M. Phipson, ex officio.
Mr. W. F. Sinclair, c.s.
Mrs. W. E. Hart.
Major W. S. Bisset, R.E.
Lieut. H. E. Baraes.
Mr. J. C. Anderson.
Mr. E. L. Barton.
Mr. Reginald Gilbert.
Mr. R. M. Branson.
Mr. G. Carstensen.
1st Section. — (Mammals and Birds.)
President— Mr. J. D. Inverarity.. .
Secretary — Lieut, H. E. Barnes.
2nd Section. — (Reptiles and Fishes.)
President— Mr. G. W. Vidal, c.s.
Secretary— Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
3rd Section. — (Insects.)
President— Mr. L. de Niceville, f.e.s.., cm.z.s.
Secretary — Mr. E. H. Aitken.
4th Section. — (Other Invertebrata.)
President — Dr. G. A. Maconachie, M.D., CM.
Secretary — Mr. J. C. Andersen.
5th Section. — (Botany.)
President — The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Birdwood, m.a., ll.m. (Cantab.)
Secretary— Surgeon K. R. Kirtikar, e.s.m. (France), f.r.cs.
A
'Sombitn ftahual lrst0tn Sffdftrii
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Abercrombie, A. ... ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Acworth, H. A. (C.S.) ... „.. ... ...Bombay.
Adams, J. B. D. ... ... ... ... ...Europe.
Aga Khan, H. H. ... ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Aea Shaikh Mahomed ... ... ... ...Goolburirah.
Aitken, E. H. ... ... ... ... ...Karwar.
Alcock, J. B. (c.S.) ... ... ... ...Dhulia.
Alexander, Capt. F. G. ... ... ... ...Neemuch.
Almon, W. ... ... ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Ameerudin Tyabji ... ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Anderson, Lieut. H. R. F. ... ... ...Bombay.
Anderson, J. C. -.. ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Anderson, Capt. W. R. ... ... ... ...Simla.
Appleton, A. F. (A.V.D.) ... ... ... ...Europe.
Arnott, Dr. J. ... ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Ashburner, Khan Bahadoor Rustomji J. ...Bombay.
Ashby, Capt. J. S. ... ... ... ... ...Berbera.
Babaji Gopal ... ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Baddeley, Lieut. -Col. ... ... ... ...Cawnpore.
Bailward, Major (r.A.) ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Bainbridge, Dr. G. ... ... ... ...Europe.
Baines, J. A. (C.S.) ... ... ... ...Simla.
Bajana, H. H. Prince Joravarkhanji ... ...Bajana.
Baker, E. C. S. ... ... ... ... ...Gunjong.
Banks, Dr. S. O'B... ... ... ... ...Bombay.
Barclay, Capt. ... ... ... ... ...Europe.
Barker, Dr. F. C. ... ... ... ... ...Rajkot.
Barnes, Lieut. H. E. (f.Z.S.) ... ... ...Aden.
Barrow, H. W. ... ... ... ... .. Bombay.
Barton, E. L. ...Bombay.
Baumbach. R Bombay.
Bayley, The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Bombay.
Bayley, V. B. F Bombay.
Beardmore,_E. B Europe.
Becher, Major E. F. ... ...Jabalpore.
Beaufort, A. F Bombay.
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Ill
Bell, T. R, D
Bengallee, S. S. (CLE.) ...
Benjamin, Isaac
Bennett- D.
Bergl, Louis
Bctham, G. K.
Bediam, J. A.
Betham, R. M,
Betliam, \V. G.
He van, J. B. F,
Beynon, Erasmus ...
Bhatavadekar, Dr. B. K. ...
Bhcnvnugguf, H. H. Takhtsingji, G.C,
Bicknell, H.
Biddulph, Col. J. ...
Bingham, Major C. H.
Birdwood, tlie Hon'ble Mr. Justice
Biscoe, Capt.
Bishop, Capt. (I.N)...
Bisset, Major W. S. (r.e.)
Blackwell, G. F. ...
Blackwell, H. F. ...
Bland, T. A
Blathwayt, Mrs. G. C.
Blood, B. W.
Boniface, Lieut.
Bonus, A. R.
Boustead, Dr. R. ...
Bovis, F. de
Boyd, Dr. H. W
Branson, R. M.
Brendon, C. R,
Brockman, Dr. E. H. Drake (f.Z.S.)
Bromley, Herbert ...
Brooke, Miss Ada...
Bristed, John
Brown, Dr. E. H. ...
Brown, J. W.
Brunton, R. P.
Buckland, H. W. ...
Buckle, Major E. ...
Bulkley, E. A
Burder, H. C.
Burn-Murdoch, Capt. J. (r.e.) ...
Bushby, W. H.
Butcher, L. H.
Butler, Capt. J. B. R.
...Canara.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Alibao'.
...Jabalpore.
...Europe.
...Nasik.
...Bombay.
... ...Bombay.
.. Bombay.
S.I. ...Bhownugcmr.
...Europe.
...Deoli.
...Burma.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Burma.
...Bombay.
..s. Bombay.
...Europe.
...Ajmere.
...Raichur.
...Burma.
...Europe.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Malvan.
...Mean Mir.
...Bombay.
...Barsi.
...Bombay.
...Jalna.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Karachi.
...Ratnagiri.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Jacobabad.
IV
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Byrne, C. H.
Bythell, Lieut. W. J. (R.E.)
Cameron, W. L. (c.E.)
Campbell, Lord Colin
Campbell, E. W.
Campbell, John
Campbell, J. M. (c.S.) ...
Camulsey Premji ...
Candy, R. E. (c.S.)
Cane, Rev. A. G. ...
Cappel, E. L. (c.S.)
Carleton, S.
Carroll, E. B. (c.E.)
Carrington, Col. ...
Carstensen, G.
Cates, Dr. W. E
Cates, Capt. G. Hyde
Chalk, F. ...
Chalmers, H.
Channer, Dr. O. H.
Charles, F. L. (C.S.)
Chatfield, K. M
Cheetham, J.
Chico, J. R. (C.E.)
Childe, Dr. L. F. ...
Chrystal, J. S.
Clark, Capt. A. C.
Clerke, W. J. B. (c.E.) ...
Clifton, C. N. (c.E.)
Collie, Dr. R.
Collister, J. G. H. ...
Conder, H.
Conroy, A.
Cooke, Dr. T.
Cooper, Arthur
Coode, J. M.
Cooper, C. P.
Cornforth, J. P.
Cotton, G.
Couldrey, H.
Cowasji Dady Limji
Cox, A. F. (M.C.S.)
Crawford, Leslie
Crawley-Boevey, A. (c.S.)
Clowes, Major P. L. (a.d.c)
...Bombay.
... Europe.
...Hyderabad (Sind).
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Satara.
...Europe.
...Alibag.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Poona.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Baroda.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Belgaum.
...Sholapur.
...Poona.
...Europe.
...Baroda.
...Bombay.
...Hubli.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Kaira.
...Kharagora.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Poona.
...Bombay.
...Bislampur, C. P.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
... Europe.
..Bombay.
...Dharwar.
...Poona.
LI 1ST UF MEMBERS.
Creagh, Capt. R. 1\ (i.m.)
Crofts, Dr.
CulTe, T. W.
Cumberley, N. R.
Curjel, H. ...
Cursetji, C. M.
Curvven, II....
Cutch, H. H. the Rao of...
Dady, Homejee C. Dadysett
Dalby, C. J.
Dalgado, Dr. D. G.
Davidson, J. (C.S.) ...
Davies, C. A. W. ...
Davies, Harry S. (c.E.) ...
Deane, H. H. (c.E.)
Dempster, F. E.
Denso, Max...
Dharampur, H. H. Prince Baldeoji
Ditmas, A. R.
Divatia, Verman B.
Dobbs, Major G. C.
Dodgson, C. G. (C.S.)
Doig, S. B. (c.E.)
Douglas, Mrs.
Dreckmann, Rev. F. (S.J.)
Dubash, Sorabjee D.
Duigan, S. A.
Dumayne, F. G.
Dumbell, H. C.
Dunn, G. O. W.
Dunsterville, J. H. C.
Duthie, J. F.
Dymock, Dr. W
Ebden, E. J. (c.S.)
Edgelow, F. •
Edulji Nussurvanji, Dr.
Edulji Dinshaw
Elliott, A. (c.S.)
Elliott, C. F
Elsworthy, E. H ,
Eunson, H. J. (c. E.)
Evatt, C. B. .'
Ewart E. M
...Bombay.
...Gwalior.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bhuj, Cutch.
...Bombay.
...Sambulpore.
...Sawantwady.
...Europe.
...Berars.
...Ghadechi.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Dharampur.
...Bombay.
...Nandod.
, Kamptee, C. P.
...Khandeish.
...Ahmedabad.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Malegaon.
...Thana.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Karachi.
...Yeotmal.
...Quetta.
...Bombay.
...Kolhapur.
...Dongargarh, C.P.
. . . Ambassam udrum.
Fairbank, Rev S. B.
...Ahmednuggur.
£>&'
VI
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Farrell, Rev. Chas.
Fairclough, J.
Fenton, Capt. L. L.
Ferguson, Dr. A. F.
Ferguson, H. S.
Fernandez, T. R —
Fleming, W. N. ...
Fletcher, G....
Flower, F. M.
Forbes, C. H. B.
Forrest, Hon'ble Mr. L. R. W.
I * ) \ , v . Jj • •■• ••• •••
Fowler, F. D.
Forel, Professor Aug. (Hon. Cor. Mem
Framji Nussurvanji Patell
Francis, Capt. J. C.
Franke, A. ...
Fraser, S. M. (C.S.)
Frost. C. E. (C.S.)
Fry, T. D....
Fuller, J. B. (C.S.)
Fulton, E. (c.S.)
Furcloonji Jamsetji
Gaddum, F.
Gama, Dr. A. da ...
Gamble, J. Sykes (M.A., F.L.S.)
Gay, E.
Gaye. Dr. A. C.
Gaye, W.
George, D. ...
Gibbs, H. M
Gilbert, R. ...
\J 1 IGS5 J j. • • • ••• • • •
Gleadow, F.
Goldsmid, F.
Gompertz, Rev. J. F. W. ...
Gompertz, R.
Gonne, H. ...
Gonsalves, Dr. J. F.
Goodenough, Lieut. H. L....
Goodfellow, Col. G. R.
Gostling, D.
Goverdhundass K. Muckunji
Graham, W. D.
Grant, Dr. D. St. J.
Gray, Cecil ...
• • *
• * •
...Sehore, C.P.
...Bombay.
...Rajkot.
...Poona.
...Travancore.
...Surat.
...Bombay.
...Agra.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
ber) ...Switzerland.
...Bombay.
...Baroda.
...Bombay.
...Dharwar.
...Ahmedabad.
...Thana.
...Nagpur, C. P.
...Rangoon.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Dehra Dun.
...Europe.
...Europe.
...Secunderabad.
...Sukkur.
...Surat.
...Bombay.
...Ahmedabad.
...Thana.
...Bijapur.
...Kampti.
...Yercaud.
...Karachi.
...Bandora.
...Erinpura.
...Palanpur.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Dharamsala.
...Bombay.
LIST OF MEMBERS.
VII
Gray, Dr. Temperley
Gray, Dr. Wellington
Gr;eme, Col. R. C. ...
Greany, Dr. J. P. ... ... ...
Greaves, W.
Green, Dr. J. S. ...
Grieves, Rev. A. C.
Griffiths, J. ...
Gunthorpe, Lieut.-Col.
Gwyn, Capt. A. (i.m.)
Greenwood, E.
Hall, Rev. E. S.
Hallen, J. H. B. (A.V.D.)
Hamilton, Capt. A. R. Cole
Hamilton, W. R. ...
Hare, R. D.
Hargrave, H. J. B
Harris, H. E. Lord...
Hart, G. H. R
Hart, W. E....
Harvey, \V. (c.S.)
Haslam, A. J. (A.V.D.)
Hatch, H. F.
Hatch, Dr. ...
Hemming, H. J. R.
Henderson, Dr.
Hexton, W. S.
Hervey, H. L. (C.S.)
Hawkins, C. R.
Hibbert, Col. J.
Hill, F. J. A. '
Holland, W. J.
Hio-orins, A....
Horbury, G. H.
Hogg, A. J
Hore, Lieut-Col. W. S.
Hornidge, S (C.E.)
Hudson, C. W. M. (C.S.)...
Hughes, Col. C. F...
Hughes, W. C.
Hunter, H. C. V. ...
Hussey, Col. C. E
Indore, H. H. the Maharaja Holkar
Inverarity, J. D
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Belgaum.
...Bombay.
...Kampti.
... Europe.
... Bombay.
...Amraoti.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Simla.
...Secunderabad.
...Bombav.
...Yeotmal.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Thana District.
...Bombay.
., .Bombay.
...Ahmednuggar.
...Karachi Dist.
...Belgaum.
...Parel.
...Poona.
...Bombay.
...Khandeish.
...Yeotmal.
...Bombay.
...Hubli.
...Deesa.
...Sholapur.
...Karwar.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Kashmir.
...Deolali.
...Indore.
...Bombay.
vni
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Jackson, Col. F. H.
Jacob, H. P.
James, Mrs. C. C. ...
James, H. E. M. (C.S.)
Jamsetjee, C. Jamsetjee ...
Jardine, Mrs. J.
Jardine, James
Jeejeebhoy, Sir Jamsetjee, Bart....
Jeejeebhoy, Pherozshaw M.
Jenkins, J. L. (b.A., C.S.) ...
Jeyker, Dr. A. S. G.
Johnson, J. R. Kirby
Jones, Capt. G. Sutton
Jones, H. W.
Jones, H. H.
Kabraji, Kaikhushro N. ... ...
Kama, K. R.
Kane, C. E.
Kantak, Dr. Shantaram ...
Keys, H. W.
Kay, Dr. W. ... t
i\.er, Li. L>. ... ••• ••• •••
Kennedy, Capt. W. P.
King, Alfred
Kirtikar, Dr. K. R.
Kittredge, G. A. ...
Knight, D. ...
Kuywitt, Ross
Lang, F. (c.E.)
Lang, Walter
Langley, Dr.
Latham, The Hon'ble Mr. F. L. ...
Lathi, H. H. the Thakore Saheb of
LaTouche, Brig.-Genl.
1 /t'dS l\ ^ J . ••• ••• ■•■ » • •
Lawder, Dr. E. J. ...
Lawley, Capt. the Hon'ble R. T.
Lee-Warner, W. (c.S.)
Leslie, A.
Leley, F. S. P. (C.S.)
Lester, Lieut. C. D.
Lester, C. F. G.
Lewis, Rev. A. Goldwyer...
Leville, Mon. H. ...
Light, Lieut. R. H.
...Baroda.
...Karachi.
t
ansa.
...Ahmedabad
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe,
...Bombay.
...Bombay,
...Karachi.
...Muscat.
...Europe.
...Deoli.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Godhra.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Cambay.
...Bombay.
...Than a.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Nagpur, C. P.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Lathi.
...Kandy, Ceylon.
...Bombay.
...Hyderabad.
...Trimulgherry.
...Poona.
...Bombay.
...Surat.
...Berbera, Africa.
...Ahmedabad.
...Europe.
...Pondicherry.
...Somali Coast.
LIST ul MEMBERS
IK
Lisboa, Dr. J: C ...
Litchfield, E.
Little, F. A.
Little, T. D.
Littledale, H.
Lingard, Dr. Alfred
Logan, R. (b.c.S.)
Loch, Major W. W.
Lovell. E. C. F.
Luard, E. S.
Lynch, C. B,
Lynn, G. R. (c.E.)
Lyon, Dr. I. B.
MacCartie, Dr.
Macaulay, Capt. K.
Macaulay, R. H
Macaulay, W. M
Macdonald, Miss (m.d.) ...
Macdonald, Dr. D.
Macdonald, J.
Macdonald, W. M.
Macleod, Norman C.
Mackenzie, J. Muir (c.S.)
Mackenzie, Col. Kenneth
Mackinnon, P. W.
Mackenzie, T. D. ...
Macnaghten, Chester
Macpherson, Major T. R. M.
Maconachie, Dr. G. A.
Maguire, J. L
Maistry, Dosabhai B.
Mair, A
Major, Col....
MalIins,5Dr. C.
Mangles, Lieut. W. S.
McCahn, W. H.
Mant, R. N.
Manser, Dr. R.
Martin, Major G
Mason, Geo. E.
Maneckshaw, Dr. D.
McCorkell, G. (c.S.)
McClelland, W. S. (m.i.c.e.)
McLaren, Mrs. G....
McKenzie, Alex. ...
.\L Mullen. G C. ...
...Bombay.
...Dehra Dun,
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Baroda.
...Poona.
...Bombay.
...Jodhpur.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Belgaum.
...Amraoti.
...Masuri.
...Europe.
...Rajkot.
...Poona.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Hingoli.
...Karachi.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...London.
...Bombay.
...Ahmedabad,
...Europe.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Karat hi
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Melvin,W. F
Menezes, Anthony P.
Mercer, F. ...
Meredith, Richard,
Merevvether, Col. G. (r,e.)
Merriman, Col. (R.E., CLE.)
Messent, P. G. ...
Metha, P. R.
Myer.e O
Middleton, T. H. ...
Middleton, W. H
Millard, W. S
Miller, E. ... ...
Miller N
Millett, G. P
M inter Capt. J. S. ...
Modi, Bomanji Edulji
Monie, H. ...
Monk, Lieut. R. P
Monks, Dr. ...
Monod, E. C.
Mont6, Rev. Dr. B de
Monte, Dr. D. A. de
Morris, A. W- (f.z.s.)
Morris, D. ...
Morrison, A.
Moscardi E. H. (c.S.)
Mull, Alfred
Mure, J. S. ...
Murray, A. ...
Murray, W,
Narine, Rev. A. K. (Hon. Cor. Member)
NazarM. H. • ...
Newborn, C.
Newnham, Lieut. A.
Nic6ville, L. de (Hon. Cor. Member)
Nicholson, C.
Nicholson, E. F.
Nutt, Col. H. I
Oates, E. W. (Hon. Cor, Member)
O'Callaghan, I.
O'Connel, J.
Oliver, G. ...
Olivier, Capt. H. D.
Ollivant, E. C. K. (c.S.)
LIST OF MEMBERS.
xi
Ommaney, H. T. (c.S.)
Opiumvvalla, Dor'b. E.
Ormiston, Geo. E. (C.S.) ...
O'Shea, F. Bernard
Osnian, C. \Y.
Oxenham, Professor E. G.
Owen, VV. S.
Ozanne, E. C. (C.S.)
Palliser, H. G.
Parker, J. C.
Parmenides, A. C. ...
Parmenides, J.
Parukh, Ruttonji jamsetji F.
Patell, N. M
Parsons, The Hon'ble Mr. Justice
Pawalla, Jamsetji Cursetji ...
Parry, Lieut. L. H. (r.a.)
Pearson, T. W.
Pearson, Mrs. H. ...
Peart, Lieut. D. J....
Pechey-Phipson, Mrs. (m.D.)
Penny, Mrs. L.
Pentland, Capt. R. C
Pestonji Jewanji
Penton, John E. ...
Peters, Dr. C. T
Petit, The Hon'ble Bomanji Dinshavv
Petit, The Hon'ble F. D
Petit, P. C
Peyton, Lieut. -Col. W.
Phipson, H. M
Pilcher, Geo. E.
Pinhey, Lieut. A. F.
Porter, Capt. G. M. (r.e.)
Porebunder, H. H. Prince Kumar
Singj'
Portman, Col. A. E.
Pottinger, Brig.-Genl
Fowlett, Col. H
Prall. Dr. S. E
Pratt, E. M
Preston, F. J.
Prickett, L. G ,\
Raikes, E. B.
Kadcliffe, Majbi G. B. E
Shri
...Dhulia,
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Porebunder.
...Poona.
...Bombav.
...Europe.
...Poona.
...Dharwai .
...Calcutta.
.. Bombay.
...Timievelly.
...Bombay.
...Bombav.
...Bombay.
...Bombav.
...Hingoli.
...Bombav,
...Kharaghora.
...Sehore.
...Bombav.
...Bombav.
...Europe.
...Nulgunda.
...Jacobabad,
...Bijapur.
...Bombav.
...Bombav.
...Bombav.
...Dharwar.
...Bombav.
...Bombav.
...Bhuswara.
...Bombav.
Bhao
...Rajkot.
...Europe.
...Poona.
...Jodhpur.
...Deesa.
...Alibag.
...Bhosawal.
...Sambulpore.
...Bombay.
...Bombav,
XII
LIST Ol UKMBERS.
Radcliffc, Capt. W. C. A....
Raghunath Muckund
Raja Murli Manohar, Bahadoor
Rawlins, Col. A. M. (R.A.)
Rayment, G. J. (A.v.D.) ...
Readymoney, N. J.
Reddie, F, ...
Reid, G. B. (C.S.)
Rennick, Col. H. de P.
Reynolds, B. (c.E.)
Richardson, Capt. W. St. John
Riddell, R. ...
Rimington, F. C. ...
Rippon, Lieut. G. ...
Ritchie, A. M
Rivett-Carnac, L. ...
Robb, Dr. ...
Roberts, R
Robertson, B. (C.S.)
Robertson, Major D.
Robinson, Mrs.
Robinson, G. P.
Rose, F.
Rogers, Chas. G. ...
R
ogers.
Th
OS.
Russell, L. P.
Russell, B. B.
Rustomji, H. J.
Rutlam, H. H. the Maharaja of ...
Ryrie, J. M....
Sage, Major C. A. R. (S.C.)
Samut Singji, H. H. Prince
Sansom, T. E.
Sassoon, Mrs.
»J cLVlIC j i • D. • • • • • i »•• »• •
Scarborough, Earl ol
Scott, The Hon'ble Mr. Justice ...
Scott, M. H. (C.S.)
Scully, Dr. J.
Selby, Major H. O. (r.e.)
Servai, Cursetji N.
Sewell, R. A. D. ...
Shipp, W. (C.E.)
Shopland, Gapt. E. R.
Shrimant Hanmantrao Gopalrao Nimbalkar
Silrock, H. F. (C.S.)
...JEuroj" :.
..Bombay.
...Hyderabad, D.
...Poona.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Ahmedabad.
...Yeotmal
...Baroda.
...Poona.
...Europe.
...Europe.
...Burma.
...Hyderabad, S.
...Bombay.
. . .Europe.
...Secunderabad.
...Nagpur, C. P.
...Rewa.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Jabalpore.
...Dehra, N-W. P.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
. . .Europe.
...Karachi.
...Rutlam.
...Bombay.
...Dharamsala.
...Bombay.
...Japan.
...Bombay.
...Bombay,
...Europe.
...Cairo.
...Dhulia.
...Calcutta.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Nellore.
...Jabalpore.
...Bombay.
...Kolhiipur.
...Almi' dil
LIST OF MEMBERS.
xin
Simkins, A. R. M. ...
Simpson, A. F.
Sims, Ernest
Sims, Proctor
Sinclair, Dr.
Sinclair, W. F. (C.S.)
Sladen, J. (C.S.) ...
Slater, D. McLauchlan
Slater, E. M
Smith, Mrs. Yorke ...
Smyth, R. Bateman (C.S.)
Spalding, C. S.
Soane, G. de
Spence, L. H.
Spencer, F. A.
Squire, W. W. (C.E.)
Squires, Mrs. R. A.
Starling, M. H.
St. Clair, Capt. W. (R.E.)...
Sterndale, R. A. (f.Z.S.) ...
Steward, A. B. (C.S.)
Stewart, R. B. (C.S.)
Stiven, J.
Stone, S. J....
Straw, R. A. ... ...
Street, Capt. H. A. (i.m.)...
Street, Dr. A. W. F.
Stuart, M. Scott
Sukhtankar, Sitaram V.
Summers, Thos.
Surveyor, N. F
Swan, H H.
Swinhoe, Col. C.
Sykes, C.
Syers, H. C.
Symington, J. H. ...
Symons, J. L.
Symons, H. S.
Symons, N. S.
Talyarkhan, Maneckshaw J.
Tata, Dorab. J.
Taylor, A. ...
Taylor, Chas.
Terry, G. W.
Tenmlji, Dr. B. N....
Thacker, \V. ...
...
...
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bhownuggur.
...Bhownuggur.
...Kolhapur.
...Thana.
...Viramgaum.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Madras.
...Bhownuggur.
...Bombay.
...Kaira.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe,
...Europe.
...Europe.
...Ahmednuggur.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Europe.
...Madras.
...Poona.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
. . . Bombay.
...Europe.
...Cutch Mandvi.
...Malay Peninsula.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
sir
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Thatcher, Capt. J. F.
Thompson, P.
Thompson, R. H. E.
Thomas, Col. R. M.
Thompson, Mrs.
Thompson, B. W. O. ... ... .««
Tod, J. H. ... ... ...
Tod, F. H. ...
Tomlinson, S. (M.I.C.E.) ...
Traill, John ...
Traill, W. H. ... ...
Tudball, Chas. (c.E.)
Tudball, W. (b.c.S.)
Turner, Mrs. A. F.
Turner, M. C.
Uloth, H. W
Vaidya, Dewan Bhahadoor Luxumonrao
gonath ... ...
Vandravandas Purushotumdas
Vidal, G. W. (C.S.)
Vinayekrao R. Luxumonji
Wadia, The Hon'ble Mr. N. N
Walker, A. C.
Walker, T....
Wallace, James
Wallace, John (C.E.)
Wallace, L. A.
Walton, Rienzi (C.E.) ...
Ward, Frank
Watson, E. Y.
Wasey, Geo. R.
Waterhouse, Col. J.
Webb, W
Welch, Dr. John L. (M.A., M.B.)
Weir, Dr. T. D.
Welter, F
Wenden, H. (C.E.)
Westall, J. ...
Westmacott, Col. ...
White, T. C. H.
Whitehouse, Lieut. B. (R.N.)
White, G. Gilbert ...
White, W. H. (C.E.)
...Deolali.
... Rewari.
...Nagpur,
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Thana.
...Ratnagiri.
...Ahmedabad,
...Bombay.
...Vizagapatam.
...Jhansi.
...Porebunder.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
.Europe.
Jag-
Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Bombay,
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Cawnpore.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Europe.
...Burma.
...Goa.
...Calcutta.
...Bombay.
...Malay Peninsula.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
... Poona.
...Thana
...Europe.
...Nagpur, C. P.
...Ghadechi.
LIST OF MEMBERS.
XV
Whitby. Smith, H
Williams, Lieut. E. G.
Whyte, Lient. T. C.
Willis, R. A.
Wilson, W. G
Wise, H. S.
Wimbridge, E.
Wodehouse, Lient. F. W....
Wolff, W. H. (C.E.)
Woodward, W. (c.S.)
Wright, H. C
Woodrow, W. R. ...
Wright, Fred.
Wroughton, R. C. ...
Wylie, R. ...
Yeld, Dr. H
Yeo, Edwin W.
Yerbury, Major
Young, A. P.
Young, G. S.
Young, W. ...
Younghusband, A. D« (c.S.)
Yule, Major J. H
...Bhownuggur.
...Rawal Pindi.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Bombay.
...Kirki.
...Ahmedabad.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Sirsi.
...Ellichpur.
...Poona.
...Europe. •
...Calcutta.
...Bombay.
...Trincomalee.
...Poona.
...Europe.
...Bombay.
...Nandod.
...Burma,
Journ.Bomb Nat. Hist .Soc. 18 31. Vol VI.
At! .
3?**,
8.14.
84.1.
«0
8.14
837
835
H I li del .
840 JSrsormk rnRnMAlln^;^^^ QuaiL 837' H0UBARA MACqUEEN I, J.LfoHouUa Busted.-
840 CURSORiUS COROMANDELICUS.Gn. Indian Couner Plover. 8+3 GLAREOLA LACTEA.Tem Small SwalW Plover
850. /EGIALITIS Ml NUTUSJUlleaser Ringed Plover.
JOURNAL
OF THE
BOMBAY
No. 1J
BOMBAY, 1891.
[Vol. VI.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA.
By Lieut. H. E. Barnes, F. Z. S.
(Continued from page 337, Vol. V.)
803.— THE PEACOCK.
Pavo cristatus, Lin.
The Peacock is not indigenous in Sind, but has been introduced,
and in some parts of the country appears to thrive tolerably well,
and is in a fair way to become naturalized. It is somewhat rare in
Ratnagiri, but occurs not uncommonly in all other* suitable places
in Western India.
In Guzerat, and some other parts of the country where the birds
are considered sacred, and are in consequence protected and encour-
aged by the villagers, they are very tame, roosting at night in the
topes in the neighbourhood, or even inside the village boundaries,
where there are high trees.
In those districts where, in the estimation of the people they are
not sacred, they are extremely wary and shy, and are most
difficult to bag. They occur as a rule in great numbers in the
groves in the neighbourhood of the temples, and are generally
abundant along the wooded banks of rivers, ravines, and on the hill-
sides where' the undergrowth is rank.
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891,
They arc much persecuted by shikaries, Phansi Pardis, and pthei
for the. f the beautiful tail — or rather I should Bay train— whi
they commence to assume early in May, and which attains its greatest
perfection about the middle of June; these trains, as well as the back
and breast, always command a ready sale in cantonments.
The day when this handsome bird will become extinct cannot be
far distant, unless some stop is put to the enormous traffic in their
plin ..is now carried on, I notice in the last number of the
: Hie 21st, 1800, that Cross in that week alone imported no
less than 70,000 bundles of their feathers.
The eggs are laid during July and August, and are from six to
eight in number, occasionally more ; they are generally found on
the ground, in the centre of a bush, in long grass.
They are delicious eating when fresh, and always fetch a good
price ; they are often purchased and placed under a hen ; the chicks
when hatched are easily reared if left to themselves, more especially
if they get a plentiful supply of their natural food, particularly
white ants.
The eggs are very game-like in appearance, having a great resem-
blance to those of the common guinea-fowl, but are of course much
larger ; the usual shape is a broad oval, more or less pointed at one
end, but they vary a good deal, the average size being two a'ld
three-quarter inches in length by a little more than two in breadth.
The shell is very strong and thick, is somewhat glossy., and is covered
all over with minute pores ; in colour they vary from white to pale
reddish- or buffy-whitc, occasionally they are freckled with pale
reddish-brown.
813.— THE GREY JUNGLE FOWL.
Gall us sonnerati, Tern.
The Grey Jungle Fowl is most abundant at Aboo, occurring all
along the Aravelli range as far as and beyond Erinpoora. It occurs
more or less commonly on the Satpooras, and all along the Sahyadri
range, but it is somewhat rare in Ratnagiri. At Bclgaum it is fairly
common.
The skins are eagerly bought up by visitors to thp hills, and were
il aol : l the impenetrable nature of the bamboo jungle, which forms
msftNG i\ )YEsn:nx India.
splendid coverts it. i J . . -y would soon become practically
«'x(inc(. as it is, its queer broken crow is trd so frequently as
formerly. The^ ty, and unless with th& assist-
ance of dogs O) they arc very difficult to slioot. The
native plan is to make a bower, near a spring, and wait patiently
until tlic birds come to drink; should there he more than one spring
in the neighbourhood, they hang pieces of cloth on the bushes to
frighten them hack. In this way they shoot two or three in a
morning, besides an occasional peacock or spurfowl and a few
partridges.
They breed from March to about the middle of June, the eggs, six
or seven in number, occasionally more, are deposited on the ground,
under a bush, in a slight depression, scratched by the bird itself, lined
with a few dead leaves; the hen bird when leaving the nest usually
covers her eggs with leaves, and they are often overlooked in
consequence.
The eggs vary a good deal in size, shape, and colour ; they average
l-84 inches in length by rather more than 1*38 in breadth ; one type
is a long smooth egg, of a pale creamy- wrhitc colour, much like that
of the common hen ; another is much coarser, being pitted all over
like that of the Peafowl, of a rich deep buffy colour : these types are
linked together by intermediate forms ; some of them are thickly
speckled with brownish-red.
The young if hatched out under a fowl, make their escape as soon
as they can fly, and they learn to fly very soon.
I once shot a hybrid bird between this and the common fowl.
Mt. Aboo, March to June.. R. B. Barnes.
811.— THE RED SITU FOWL.
• ■•/?.
The Red Spur Fowl occurs in much the same localfitie the
drey Jungle Fowl; it is however much more common. It is a perma-
nent n over found, breeding during the hot season,
that is, from the end of February to the commencement of
The eggs, from five to eight in number, seldom more, ar< . I in
a hollow, .scratched for the ptirpc _ nerally in a dense ' of
4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
undergrowth or almost impenetrable bamboo clump ; the nest is
merely a few bamboo leaves and grass.
The eggs vary in shape, but are typically the same as those of the
common hen, measuring 1*65 inches in length by rather more than
1*2 in breadth ; in colour they range from pinkish-buff to creamy-
white.
They are quite as wild as the Grey Jungle Fowl, but" often, when
waiting for a shot at a Sambur, by remaining perfectly quiet, I have
seen them scratching and pecking within a couple of yards, vanishing
the moment I made the least movement.
ML Aboo, March io May. H. E. Barnes.
Baroli, near Necmuch, April. Do.
815.— THE PAINTED SPUR FOWL.
Galloper dix lumdatus, Valenc
The Painted Spur Fowl is very rare, an odd specimen or so has
been procured near Belgaum, and I myself possess the skin of a bird
shot in the neighbourhood of Neemuch.
These are, I believe, the only recorded instances of its occurrence
in Western India.
The birds are not given to wandering, and as a rule breed where-
ever found, but the only eggs I have, I took at Saugor, Central
Provinces, where the bird is the common spur fowl of the country.
They breed in much the same way as the Red Spur Fowl, and
their eggs are identical.
818.— THE BLACK PARTRIDGE.
Francolinus vulgaris, Steph.
Within our limits this fine game bird is practically confined to the
province of Sind, and the more northerly portion of the Runn of
Cutch.
In Upper Sind it is particularly common, becoming less abundant
towards the south, and only occurs as a rare straggler south of the
Runn of Cutch.
They breed about June and July, making a nest of grass and roots,
usually in tamarisk jungle , sometimes under a bush in a more open
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 5
spot, this latter but rarely, I have only found one such in three years.
I have never found more than five eggs in a nest, but they were
always fresh, and the shikaris speak of finding as many as ten or
twelve.
The eggs are peg-top shape (sphero-conoidal), and measure 1*55
inches in length by nearly 1*31 in breadth.
They vary in colour from a greenish-fawn to a darkish stone or
drab ; they are usually somewhat glossy.
The birds are very fond of tamarisk jungle.
Hyderabad, Sind, June and July. II. E. Barnes.
819.— THE PAINTED PARTRIDGE.
Francolinus pictus, Jard, and SeL
I do not think that the Painted Partridge is found further north
than Kathiawar. I found them abundant on the plains at the foot
of Mount Aboo, and in the vicinity of Deesa and Ahmedabad.
They occur also at Poona and Belgaum, but appear to be absent
from Ratnagiri and Kanara. I once shot a bird at Karli, on the
plateau just below the Caves.
Roughly speaking, the birds are absent from the north and south
of Western India, but are common in suitable places elsewhere ; they
do not frequent the hills or forest-clad districts.
The eggs are laid in a depression on the ground, loosely lined with
grass and roots, generally under the shelter of a tussock of coarse
grass or small bush. I have never taken more than seven eggs in a
nest, and have often found five fully incubated.
The eggs resemble those of the Black Partridge in shape, but are
much smaller, measuring 1*4 inches in length by 1*15 in breadth.
In colour they vary from faint greenish-white to stone colour.
They have scarcely any gloss, and what little there is disappears
if the eggs are at all incubated.
They breed during the rains from the latter end of June to the
middle of August.
Neemuch, June to August. H. E, Barnes.
Deesa, June and July. Do,
6 JOURNAL, fit >M BAY SATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
S-20.— THE CHUKOR.
Caccqbis chukor, Gray.
The Chukor occurs ou the hills that divide Sind from Khclat ; it
is very common all along the Bolau Pass,
I have personally only met with it in the latter place, and on the
Khoja Amran Hills in South Afghanistan, where it is particularly
common, and from whence I procured a splendid series of eggs,
during the latter part of April and all through May, during
the war in 1880. I never noticed what might fairly be called a nest ;
the eggs were placed on the ground in a hollow, under the shelter
of a bush, with perhaps a few straws that appeared to have come
there by accident, rather than with any intention to form a nest.
Eight is the largest number that I ever found in a nest, but the
Afghans, some of whom are intelligent and close observers of nature,
assert that they often find fifteen or twenty.
I once saw a hen bird with quite the latter number of chicks, but
that they all belonged to the same brood I am not prepared to say.
The eggs are somewhat peg-top shape, but not to such an extent as
those of the Francolins. They average 1'36 inches in length by
about PI in breadth. In colour they are pale stone, darker or lighter
in different specimens, speckled and blotched with lavender -brown.
821.— THE SEESEE,
Ammopcrdic henhami, Gray,
The Sccsce Partridge frequents the same localities as the last, but
it is only in the Bolan and Khojak Passes that I have met with them.
They breed from the end of April to the commencement of June.
The nest, if it may be called such, is a few scraps of grass and roots,
lining a slight depression on the ground in a similar manner to that
of the Chukor. I have never taken more than six eggs in a nest,
but I understand that they often lay ten or twelve. The eggs
resemble a common type of those of the Grey Partridge, pale smoky -
white, at times inclining to fawn.
They arc absolutely unspoiled; they measure 1-36 inches in length
by about 1*1 in breadth.
I \\i h\ iyi:sT]-:h\ asm.; 7
12.— THE CoMMi>}, GKKY CARTRIDGE.
Ortygornis pondiceriana, Gm.
Willi the exception of Ratnagiri, the Grey Partridge is common
throughout Western India, but occurs more sparingly on the hills.
They commence breeding about the end of February, and eggs may
be Eound up t<> the end of April. I am inelined to think that they
1 1 a \ i 'in! brood in the autumn (August), as I hare repeatedly seen
young birds at that season, though not so often as in the spring
months, and they may have been the produce <>f birds that had lost
their hist eggs through an accident.
The nest, composed of grass and roots, is a more or less compact
pad, placed in a depression on the soil, under cover of a clod of earth,
tussock of grass, or small bush ; occasionally there is no nest.
I found one nest at Deesa in the side of a grass stack ; it was quite
three feet from the ground, and although there was not the slightest
necessity for it, consisted of a substantial pad of grass, the materials
of which had been collected from the stack itself ; this nest contained
three fresh eggs only, but the bird would have laid more, and perhaps
did, as I molested neither her or her nest.
The eggs, from six to nine in number, are slightly elongated
ovals, pinched in more or less at one end, measuring about 1*3 inches
in length by not quite an inch in breadth, In colour they varv
from almost pure white to deep smoky or brownish-white. I have
a clutch taken at Saugor, that are well spotted with clayey brown.
K26.— THE JUNGLE BUSH QUAIL.
Perdicu/a a-siatica, Lath.
Occurs I believe on all the hills of Western India, with the
exception of those in Sind. It is very common on Mount Aboo, and
I found it breeding at Gungrar in Rajpootana ; the bird is easilv
distinguished from the Rock Bush Quail by its much brio-]iter
colours. The nest was a rough pad of grass," and was placed
under a thick bush, and contained five fresh eggs, white like those
of the Rock Bush Quail usually arc, and slightly smaller, but it is
impossible to generalize from a single clutch.
The eggs measured 098 inches in length by 0-S in breadth.
Gungrar, Rajpootana, September. H, E. Barnes.
S JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
827.— THE ROCK BUSH QUAIL.
PenUeula argoondah, Sykes.
The Rock Bush Quail is rare in Sind, and I believe altogether
absent from Ratnagh*i and Kanara.
In all other parts of the Presidency, where the Jungle Bush
Quail is absent, this birds abounds. I do not think that the two
epecies are ever found together.
The Jungle Bush Quail frequents the hills, especially when there
is low scrub jungle, and the Rock Bush Quail is addicted to the
plains. They breed from August to February, but September and
October are the months in which most eggs are to be found. The
nest is a very slight circular pad of grass, placed in a hollow under
the shelter of a tuft of coarse grass or clod of earth. The eggs,
from five to seven in number, are moderately broad ovals in shape,
pinched in at one end, and measure about an inch in length by about
0-82 in breadth.
They are unspotted smoky-white in colour, occasionally almost
pure white. They are exact miniatures of those of the Common
Grey Partridge.
828.— THE PAINTED BUSH QUAIL.
Microperdix erythrorhynehus, Sykes.
I have never met with the Painted Bush Quail, but believe it
occurs all along the Sahyadri range, and in some parts of the Deccan.
The eggs in my collection came from Southern India, and do not
differ except in size from those of the Rock Bush Quail ; they are a
great deal larger, measuring 1"2 inches in length by rather more
than 0-9 in breadth.
830.— THE BLACK-BREASTED QUAIL.
Coturnix coromandelica, Gm.
The Black-breasted or Rain Quail occurs more or less commonly
throughout the district, but is less common in forest clad or hilly
districts.
It appears to be a mere straggler in Ratnagiri, and in many places
it is only found in the rains, and I think it is alwa}rs much commoner
everywhere at that time. Many no doubt are permanent residents,
but a large percentage come to breed only.
NESTING W M •■;•: STERN INDIA. 9
They breed from the latter end of August up to the commencement
of October, and occasionally later. I have always found the nests in
standing crops, usually through the aid of reapers, who, for the sake
of a few pice, will readily point out any nest they find.
The eggs arc deposited in slight hollows in the ground, with but
the faintest apology for a lining. The eggs, from five to nine in
number (I once found cloven), are usually broadish ovals in shape,
pinched in at one end, measuring 1*1 inch in length by 0'84 in
breadth .
In colour thoy vary from smoky to yellowish-white or even stonc-
c dour, speckled, spotted, blotched, and clouded with sienna and
blackish-brown.
They are subject to much variation, but as a rule the eggs of one
clutch seem to be all of the one type.
Dcesa, July to October. H. E. Barnes.
832. -THE BLACK-BREASTED BUSTARD QUAIL.
Turnix taigoor, Sykes.
I do not think that the Black-breasted Bustard Quail is very
common anywhere ; I have never met with it on the hills, and it
appears to be rare in Ratnagiri. It is not uncommon at Deesa, and
I shot it at Mhow and Neeniuch. It is more common perhaps in the
Deccan. In Sind I have never met with it.
Thoy breed during the rains ; the eggs, four in number, arc placed
in a hollow, generally scratched by the birds themselves, at the
base of a clump of sarpat or other coarse grass, which it lines
scantily with a few grass blades ; the eggs are peg-top shape,
measuring 093 inches in length by about 0*79 in breadth. They arc
greyish-white in colour, thickly speckled and freckled with reddish
and yellowish-brown, with here and there a black spot.
Dcesa, August and Sejrtemhcr. II. E. Barnes.
834.— THE LARGE BUTTON QUAIL.
Turnix taigoor, Sykes.
I do not think that the Large Button Quail is common an}' where
in Western India, with the exception perhaps of northern Guzorat
and some parts of Rajputana : it has been recorded from most parts
10 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
of the districts, but it is rare in many of them, more especially in the
southern portion of the Presidency.
It does not appear to ascend the hills to any height. During the
hot season a single bird may now and then be met with, but towards
the beginning and the middle of the rains they appear to become
much more common.
Even in the rains they appear to be very locally distributed. In
one coorun near Neemuck, I put up seven or eight pairs and found
three nests ; the next coorun, although exactly similar, did not
contain a single bird ; and although I was searching particularly for
them, I did not meet any other until I had traversed several miles.
The following year I found them again in the same fields, notwith-
standing that it had been cultivated in part with jowari and bajri.
They breed from about the middle of the rains quite up to the end
of September ; the nest is usually placed at the foot of a small bush
or tussock of grass, in thin grass jungle, and is composed of soft
blades of grass and fine roots. The eggs, four in number, are very
broad and round at one end, and much pointed at the other (pegtop-
shape, without the spike, exactly describes them) ; they are glossy,
and some of them are very handsome.
The ground-colour is usually dirty yellowish-white, densety
speckled, spotted, and blotched with brownish-black and pale dingy
yellow, with an occasional spot or blotch of inky-purple : in some
eggs, the inky purple blotches almost cover the large end, forming
an irregular cap, but in most cases it is confined to spots and specks.
The eggs in my collection, taken at Deesa, Neemuch, and Saugor,
Central India, average 0"88 inches in length by nearly 0'7in breadth.
Deesa, 20th July to 19th September. H. E. Barnes.
Neemuch, 18th August to 20th September. Do.
835.— THE SMALL BUTTON QUAIL.
Turnix dussumieri, Tern.
The Small Button Quail occurs in much the same places as the
last ; it is however often overlooked on account of its small size and
skulking habits.
II frequents open tracts of country, thin grass jungle, and such-
like places, avoiding the hills and forest-clad districts. It is, I think,
STING IN WE&TERN INDIA. 11
more or Less a permanent resident, but appears to be more eominon
during the rains, at which season it breeds.
Mr. Davidson found many nests ia the Khandeish district. The
birds are very common during the rains at Deesa, but the only place
where I have taken eggs, in that district, was on the Commissariat
Bhir or Coorun (Worlee Farm) scarcely a mile from cantonments,
but I have often caught young birds both there and at Neemuch ;
they are easily reared, and become quite tame and fearless. Those
I had were quite at home in a large aviary, and did not molest the
other birds.
The nest is small, cup-shaped, composed of grass stems and roots,
lined with a few hairs, and is placed in a depression on the ground,
generally in a hoof print. The eggs, four in number, are much
like those of the preceding, but are smaller, and I have not noticed
any showing that tendency to form a confluent cap of inky-purple,
as is occasionally the case with the others. The eggs I have, most
of them received from Mr. Davidson, measure 0*8 inches in length by
0-65 in breadth.
Neemuch, 20 th July {nestlings). H. E. Barnes.
Deesa, June and July. Do.
836.— THE INDIAN BUSTARD.
Eupodotis edwardsi, J. E. Gr.
The Indian Bustard is rare in Upper Sind, but is not uncommon
in the lower portion of the Province, more especially in the Thur
and Parkur districts. It is not uncommon in the Runn of Cutch,
and is said to be abundant in Kattiawar. Mr. Davidson procured it
in Khandeish. It is not uncommon in many parts of the Deccan, and
is plentiful in Rajpootana and some parts of Gruzerat.
It is a bird of the bare open or undulating plains and grass jungle,
eschewing marshy and forest tracts, and never ascending the hills
to any height ; as might have been expected, it does not occur in
llatnagiri or Kanara.
These birds appear to be very regular in their habits, frequenting
the same spots at about the same hour, for days together, if unmo-
lested, for feeding purposes. They are very fond of large grasshop-
12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
pors and locusts. They are not migratory in the true sense of the
word, but wander a good deal in search of food ; at one season of
the year they are common in one part of the country, moving to
another as the breeding season approaches. I think most eggs are
found in July and August, but occasionally they arc met with as
oarly as March and as late as September.
The egg, there is only one, is placed on the ground, at the base of
a tussock of grass or stunted bush, generally in a small depression.
The eggs vary much in shape, size, and colour. They are all
more or less oval ; some are moderately broad ovals, pointed at one
end ; others are longish ovals, similar at both ends ; others again are
long and cylindrical.
They vary from 2'75 to 3*42 inches in length and in breadth from
2 to 2-45.
The shells arc thick and strong, and very commonly exhibit
pimples at the large end; in colour they vary from a sort of drab (the
usual type) to dingy olive-green. Earthy-, olive-, and pale reddish-
brown, and more rarely pale leaden-blue all occur. The markings
also vary in like manner, both in extent and in intensity ; blotches,
clouds, and streaks of a deep reddish-brown, occasionally clearly
defined, but more often so faint as to be mere mottlings, are the
usual characters ; not uncommonly the markings form an irregular
cap at the large end, and occasionally they are altogether wanting ;
some eggs are brilliantly glossy, while others are dull and have little
or no gloss.
Personally) I have only taken one egg, this was near jSocmuch, but
I have received them from Sholapur, and am indebted to Mrs.
Pearson of Jhinjhinwara for a good series taken in the Runn of Cutch.
Nccmuch, July. H. E. Barnes.
Runn of Cutch, July and August. Mrs. Pearson.
837.— THE HOUBARA BUSTARD.
Houbara macqueeni, J. E. Gr.
During the cold weather the Houbara is common in Sind and
Cutch ; it occurs but is rare in the country around Deesa. I shot
one on the plains near Mount Aboo, and another quite close to Deesa.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 13
Captain (now Colonel) Butler shot a pair between Ahmedabad and
Deesa.
I feel sure that a few at least remain to breed, both in Sind and
Cutch ; a friend of mine avers that he has seen eggs in the latter place,
but as he did not preserve them, he may have made a mistake, but he
is too good a sportsman not to know a Houbara when he sees one.
Mr. Doig had excellent reasons for believing that the Houbara
bred in the desert between Godra and Renahoe.
Colonel Butler long ago placed on record, that a perfect egg had
been extracted from the oviduct of a female, at the island of Han jam
oil the Mekran Coast, in the month of April, and that one or two
pairs were breeding there.
Mr. Cumming had eggs brought to him at Fao in Persia, said to
belong to the Houbara ; I examined five of these eggs, and also four
others that had been sent to Major Babington Peile from somewhere
in Persia.
They were intermediate in size between eggs of the Indian
Bustard and those of the Lesser Florican, and they resembled a
common type of the former in colour, but the markings are more
decided. They are in fact what one would call typical bustards' eggs.
The}- are broad oval in shape, very slightly pointed at one end.
The ground-colour is a dark reddish-, or greenish-brown, in some
inclining to a darkish drab ; the markings consist of clouds and
blotches of reddish-, and blackish-brown.
The average of the nine eggs was 2*4 inches in length and 1*8 in
breadth.
839.— THE LESSER FLORICAN.
Si/pheotidcs aurita, Lath.
The Likh or Lesser Florican, if it occurs at all in Upper Sind, must
be very rare ; in the lower portion near Karachi, a few couples are
phot annually during the rains.
It is very common at this season in suitable places throughout
Rajpootana and Gujerat.
It is apparently a permanent resident in many parts of the
Dcccan, but occurs very rarely in Ratnagiri and Kanara.
It frequents grassy plains and growing crops, avoding thick tree-
jungle, and does not ascend the hills to any great height.
1J- JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
They appear to be getting scarcer every year, owing- to the
merciless manner in which they are shot by sportsmen and others
during the breeding season, which lasts from the end of August to
the commencement of November, most eggs being laid towards the
middle or end of September.
In the early morning, and even all day long when it is cloudy, the
cocks during the breeding season have a habit of springing in the
air, uttering at the same time a frog-like call, evidently to attract the
females.
Native shikaries take advantage of this habit, and go out to likely
places at day-break and mark them down, their masters coming out
later in the day, have these spots beaten, as the birds remain in the
vicinity for days together. The cock bird usually falls a victim at
these times, not from any mercy shown to the females by the gunners,
but owing to the greater difficulty in flushing them, they having a
habit of running some distance under cover before taking wing ; the
cocks on the other hand usually rise freely and offer easy shots.
It would be very difficult to prevent them from being shot at this
season, and nothing less than the most stringent gaaie laws, rigidly
and impartially enforced, seems likely to be of any use.
People argue that if they don't shoot them others will, and if they
did not shoot them at the breeding season, they could never shoot
any at all, as the birds disappear soon after the breeding season is
over, and they would only be benefiting people in far-off districts.
The eggs, four in number, are placed in a depression in the ground
sheltered by a tussock of grass or stunted bush (there is no nest to
speak of ) generally in thin grass jungle. They are hard to find.
In shape they are broadish ovals, pointed more or less at one end,
the ground-colour is usually a dark oily-, or olive-green, streaked and
clouded with reddish-brown.
Dark olive-brown, clear almost sap-green, drab, and stone-coloured
varieties occur, and the markings vary from reddish-brown to brown.
They averagel'87 inches in length by rather more th an 1* 6 in breadth.
Baroda, August and September. H. Lititedak, B. A.,
Deesa, September to October. H. E. Barnes.
Neemu&h, August t<> October. Do.
Whow, September. Bo.
N E STl NG IN / 1 ' EST W H N IMn i 1 ••
840.— THE INDIAN COURIER PLOVER.
Cursor iits coroinande/iciis, Gm.
In Upper Sind the Indian Courier Plover is comparatively rare,
« big replaced to a great extent by the European Courser.
I have myself however observed the present species as far north
us the plain near the Chota Polan Pass.
Mi*! Doig found the present species breeding in the Eastern Narra.
Mr. Davidson records it from Khandeish.
It is common in suitable places in the Deccan and the rest of
Western India, with the exception of Ratnagiri and Kanara, where
it is rare.
It frequents open sandy plains and cultivated ground, before the
crops are much grown, and again after they are reaped, when the fields
are covered with stubble. They avoid marshy and forest tracts, and
do not ascend the hills.
I believe it is more or less a permanent resident where it occurs,
but the only place where I have personally taken eggs is at
Neemuch, where the birds are very common ; at times flocks of them
come on the parade ground, quite close to the barracks, and on the
large open plain near the Parsee Tower of Silence they simply swarm
at all times of the year.
The eggs, two in number, occasionally three, are deposited on the
ground in small hollows scraped by the birds themselves, in the most
open places, and without the slightest pretence to a nest.
They are, however, very difficult to find, as they assimilate so closely
in colour with the groimd on which they are lying. I have often
all but trodden upon them, while searching for them, although I
knew from the movements of the birds, that eggs were close at hand.
They are almost spherical in shape, measuring about D19 in length
by about 0*97 in breadth ; the ground-colour varies from cream to
bright buff, or yellowish-stone colour, and they are blotched and
spotted with pale inky-grey, and above this are lines, scratches, and
streaks of dark-, or blackish-brown. These markings are generally
small and close set, with an occasional inky-black smudge or smear
intermingled.
Neemuch, March and April. H. E. Barnes,
Eastern Narra, Sind, July. B. S. J)ouj.
16 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1391.
t
840.— THE EUROPEAN COURIER PLOVER OR CREAM^
COLOURED COURSER.
Cursorius gallicus, Gm.
The Cream-coloured Courser is absent from the southern portion of
Western India ; it occurs as a more or less common cold weather
visitant in Guzerat and Rajpootaaa and in Upper Sind; in suitable
places it is fairly common, and said to be a permanent resident, breed-
ing in July.
The eggs, two or three in number, cannot be distinguished
from those of the preceding.
Mr. Hume, to whoso kindness I am indebted for a clutch of eggs,
Avhich he received from the Sirsa district, thus describes them : —
" Typically the eggs are very broad ovals, only very slightly
compressed towards one end, but here and there slightly elongated
varieties occur, except that the ground-colour is yellower and more
buffy, many of the eggs, both as to shape and markings, appear per-
fect miniatures of some of the varieties of Esacux recurvirostrin (the
Large Stone Plover).
" They have of course no gloss.
" The ground-colour is pale-buff or creamy-stone colour, and the
most characteristic feature in the egg is the huge dull half- washed-
out inky clouds which underlie the brighter or primary markings,
which latter vary from black to olive-brown.
" In some eggs, the secondary markings cover half or more than
half the surface of the egg, and are sooty black ; in others they arc
not only smaller but much less conspicuous, being a faint inky-
purple.
" Typically the primary markings are very niggly in their character,
a combination of specks and spots and fine irregular lines, some
black or blackish-brown, some olive-brown, thickly sown over
the whole surface of the egg. Not unf requently, however, some few
among the markings are bolder and coarser, and stand out more
or less conspicuously from the general scratchy, mottled mass of
markings.
" In some eggs the olive-brown is wholly wanting, and in one egg
before mc, the only representatives of the primary markings arc a
number of large blotches and spots of a very rich olive-brown.
NESTING JN WESTERN INDIA. 17
" Occasionally the primary and secondary markings are so dense,
that between them every particle of the ground-colour is concealed.
Some of the eggs not a little resemble those of Glareola pratincola
both in size and appearance, but the majority arc larger and have
smaller and more niggling markings than the eggs I have seen of
G. pralincola." — (Hume's Next* and Eggs of Indian Birds, p. 567.)
842.— THE LARGE SWALLOW PLOVER.
Glareola orientalis, Leach.
Mr. Davidson records the Large Swallow Plover from the Deccan,
haviDg seen birds on the Bhima River, about 40 or 50 miles south of
Sholapur ; I am not aware of any one else having met with it, so that
it must be extremely rare.
They appear to be not uncommon in suitable places in Sind,
notably in the Eastern Narra district, where Mr. Doig found them
breeding in company with the Collared Pratincole.
He does not describe the eggs. I, therefore, reproduce a descrip-
tion by Mr. E. W. Oates, who found them breeding in Burma,
during April and May,
" The ground-colour is stone or bull-coloured, and the whole shell
is thickly blotched with blackish-brown and underlying smears of
paler brown sunk into the shell. Other eggs are so thickly blotched
as to appear black, when viewed at a short distance off. They are
without gloss and plover-like, one end of the egg being much pointed.
In size they vary from P25 to 1*12 inches in length, and from 0-90
to 0-9 in breadth, but the average of a considerable series is 1*8 by
0-93."— {Stray Feathers, Vol. III., p. 50.)
To this Mr. Hume adds a footnote, —
[This is especially noteworthy as showing that, in its eggs, this
species diverges widely not only from Glareola lacfea, but from its
extremely closely allied congener, Glareola pratineohi. The eggs of
the former ****** are not in the least plover-like, but
rather tern-like, and of the latter Mr. Hewitson says : — "In shape
and colour they bear a much closer resemblance to the eggs of
the Black Tern, than to those of any other British bird; they
are not at all like the pointed eggs of the true Waders," by which he
means to refer to the Plovers, Godwits, Snipes, &c]
3
18 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
; 842^,— THE COLLARED PRATINCOLE.
Glareola pratineola, Lin.
Mi'. Vidal obtained a specimen in Ratnagiri ; this is the only re-
corded instance that I can find of its occurrence within our limits
outside the Province of Sind.
Mr. Doig found them breeding in company with the Large
Swallow Plover (G /areola orient all*), and I cannot do better than
reproduce the account he gave of it in the pages of Stray Feathers* : —
"On the 4th May I came across a lot of birds, which were new to
me, so I shot some to identify ; from the persistent way in which
the others kept flying round and round, I concluded that they must
be breeding, and on searching for their nests I found some half-dozen
all empty, and so thought that they were beginning to lay.
" I accordingly left the place and returned on the 7th, when I
found after searching about that what I had taken for new nests were
really old ones, the place round about being covered with the broken
egg shells ; however, by patient searching I collected over fifty eggs.
The breeding ground was about fifteen acres in extent (the actual
portion where most of the nests were placed was only about an acre),
and was a salt plain with patches of coarse sedge here and there on
it, the whole being surrounded by dense tamarisk and rush jungle,
and was situated about half a mile from the bank of the Narra.
" The nests were slight hollows scraped in the ground, and were
generally situated close to where the soil had been rooted up by wild
pigs, or in the centre, or by the side of, a lump of dried cowdung: this
latter was the favourite situation. The greatest number of eggs in
any nest was three. This seemed to be the normal number, but some
contained only two, and one had a single egg, and one young one,
just hatched. I shot several specimens which I have preserved and
sent to Mr. Hume, for identification, along with their eggs. As one
or two of the specimens appear to me to be undoubted orientalis, I
have entered this note against both, as I conclude that both must have
been breeding in company. I also found Cursorius coroniandclicm and
Lobimnellus indicus breeding in the same place.
" These birds have a most peculiar habit of lying stretched on the
ground with their wings spread out ; they not only did this while I
* Stray Feathers, Vol. III., p. 375.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 19
was visible, searching1 for their eggs, but, when I had disappeared and
lay hid in the dense jungle, I saw them through my glasses going
through the same antics. As far as I could judge, it was done when
any other bird approached the nest or young, and was evidently a
sign of ansrcr. Two birds which I shot while thus extended were
both males. The ground-colour of the eggs is a light dirty green in
Bome, in others drab, covered all over with dark purple blotches,
denser in some than in others, and sometimes forming a zone at the
broader end ; some are in shape broad ovals, others nearly spherical ;
they vary in length from 1*1 to 1°35 and from 0*8 to l-05 in width,
the average of 52 eggs being ]"2G in length and 0*95 in width."
843.— THE LESSER SWALLOW PLOVER.
GJareola lactea, Few,
The Lesser Swallow Plover occurs along most of the larger rivers
in Western India,
Mr. Davidson found it to be not uncommon during the cold weather
along the river Bhima ; Mr. Littledale found it breeding near
Baroda, and I myself found it breeding in some numbers on the
sandy islands in the bed of the river Indus, near Kotri ; it had
not previously been recorded from Sind. I find from my note
book, that I shot my first specimens on the 20th February, 1881 ;
on dissecting them I found the testes very large and the ovaries
well developed, showing that they were about to breed. Early iu
March I sprained my knee, and was unable to go after them, but on
the 10th I managed to drive along the banks of the Indus, and about
a mile down stream I found a small island, literally swarming with
birds, evidently breeding. They comprised the following kinds :
Sterna seena, Sterna mekmogastra, Rhynekops albicollpi, Glareola lactea
and a pair of Esaeus remrvirostris. I made arrangements next day to
have the eggs taken. I could not go myself, as I could scarcely put
mjT foot to the ground, so I sent a Bhil shikaree, with my gun, (as I
wished him to shoot specimens, to prevent mistakes as much as pos-
sible), but he was arrested before he had gone half a mile for carryino-
arms, and the gun was taken from him, and it was only after a deal
of bother that I got it back. On the 15th I again drove down, but
found that during ths night the river had unexpectedly risen, and the
20 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
sandy island was submerged. On the 3rd April I again went down,
and crossing the river made as thorough a search as was possible.
On a sandy bank, just below Kotri, I found it very trying work, as my
crutches (I could not dispense with them) sank several inches into
the sand at every step. My diligence was rewarded by finding three
nests (or holes would be the more correct term) containing, respectively,
two, two, and one egg, all much incubated, not so much but they made
decent specimens.
The two pairs were of the usual type, but the single egg was very
deficient in colour, and densely clouded at the larger end with pale
underlying patches of inky-purple. The spot where I procured these
eggs was not an unfrequented one, neither was it a spit of land running
into the water, and scores of boatmen and others passed it daily, yet the
eggs were not in any way concealed. At the time I attributed the
cause of their being but one or two eggs in each batch, to the birds
having commenced to lay upon the island before it was flooded,
and were forced to finish lajdng in the nearest suitable place.
I now think that they do not, in "Western India at all events,
usually lay more than two eggs, as in 1887, I was again stationed at
Hyderabad, Sind, and again found them breeding, during March and
April, in the same place, but in no single instance did I find more
than two eggs or two young in the same nesthole. Mr. Littledale's
experience tallies with mine ; he found them breeding, early in April,
on a small rocky island, a mile above Sehora on the Mahi ; he found
about 18 eggs altogether, but never more than two in one place.
Mr. Hume and others give four as the maximum number, but
state that two only, fully incubated, are often found.
The eggs are deposited in shallow holes, scraped in the sand, often
out in the open, exposed to the full rays of the sun, but usually they
are placed under the shelter afforded by a tuft of grass, or small
tamarisk bush. These depressions are scraped by the birds them-
selves.
Mr. Littledale found eggs on the ground under a ledge of rock.
The eggs vary a good deal, but are typically broad ovals, pointed
at one end ; the ground-colour varies from a pale greenish-white to
fawn colour. Occasionally eggs are found having the ground-colour
a pure white, and others much darker, approaching to reddish-brown ;
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 21
the markings consist of specks and streaks of different shades of
olive and reddish-brown.
They average rather more than an inch in length by about 0-82
in breadth.
Kotri, Indus, Sind, March and April. H. E. Barnes.
Schora, Mahi, Guzerat, April. H, Littlcdale.
848.— THE KENTISH RINGED PLOVER.
JEgialitis cantianas, Lath.
The Kentish Ringed Plover occurs all along the coast and on the
banks of the rivers near the sea. It is occasionally found some
distance inland. Practically it is a cold- weather visitant only, but it
has been proved, beyond a doubt, that some few do remain behind
and breed, but for reasons fully detailed in the Society's Journal,*
I believe that, as a rule, these are young birds.
To Mr. J. W. N. Cumming belongs the credit of being the first,
and up to date, the only collector, who has obtained their eggs in
continental India. He found a clutch of three eggs, near Karachi,
on the 25th April, 1887, and on the 9th May he found three nestlings.
He shot one of the parent birds, which he sent to the Honorary
Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society, for identification,
and it was inspected by myself and others. It was however a young
bird (not being in adult plumage), which would perhaps account
for the eggs being rather smaller then the average of European ones.
These eggs were found in a slight depression in the sand, at the
base of a small hillock not far from the sea ; the nestlings also were
found in a similar situation, near the same place. Mr. Cumming
kindly sent one of these eggs for my nspection, and I carefully
compared it with European eggs in my own collection, and found that
with the exception of being slightly smaller it was exactly similar
both with regard to ground-colour, and character of markings : on
the other hand, it differed considerably from eggs of the Lesser Ringed
Plover : in the first place, the markings are larger and more distinct,
and have not that scratchy and speckly appearance that characterizes
the latter, and, secondly, the egg is somewhat larger than any egg
I have ever seen of the Lesser Ringed Plover.
* Joum. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. II., p. 107.
22 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
This egg measured 125 inches in length by 0*87 in breadth.
Colonel Lcggc obtained the eggs in Ceylon ; Doctor Scully found
them in Eastern Turkestan, and Colonel Butler caught a young bird,
unable to fly, on the sandy plain at Jashk, just outside our limits.
849.— THE INDIAN RINGED PLOVER.
JEgialitis (labia, Scop.
The Indian Ringed Plover occurs in suitable places (that is, along
the banks of rivers and on the shores of the lakes) throughout the
Presidency.
It is stated to be a permanent resident, but I cannot help thinking
that some mistake has been made, as both myself and others have
found that all the eggs of the Ringed Plovers, taken by us, have
unmistakably belonged to the next species.
850.— THE LESSER RINGED PLOVEE.
JEgialitk minuta, Pall.
This is, I believe, the Common Ringed Plover of Western India,
and occurs in similar places to the last. It is a permanent resident,
breeding abundantly during March and April. There is no nest ; the
eggs, three in number, are placed on the sand, in the bed of a river ;
they are oval in shape, much pointed at one end, and are of a yellowish
stone-colour, marked with thin scratchy streaks of blackish-brown.
They measure 12 inches in length by about 0*83 inches in
breadth.
These tiny plovers exhibit great anxiety if any one approaches the
spot where they have incubated eggs or young- : a detailed account of
this is given in the 1st volume of the Society's Journal, page 57.
Decsa, March. II. E. Barnes.
Nccmuch, March and April. Da.
W. Khandesh, Do. J. Davidson, C.8.
Baroda, April. II. Littlcdalc, B.A.
855.-THE RED-WATTLED LAPWING.
Lobivanellus indicus, Bodd.
The Red-wattled Lapwing is common in the vicinity of rivers,
tanks, and marshes throughout the Presidency.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 23
They are permanent residents, breeding during April, May and
June. Eggs may be obtained as early as the first week in March and
as late as the third week in August, but the majority of the birds
lav in the months stated. I do not think that they have more than
one brood, as a rule, but if the first eggs be taken, and the birds bo
not otherwise persecuted, they will lay a second and even a third
time in the same vicinity.
They are not particular in choosing a site for a nest, provided
that water be not very far off ; melon fields, irrigated gardens, borders
of swamps, banks of rivers, and such like places, until the monsoon
breaks, after which they prefer drier spots, often some little distance
from water. There is no nest, the eggs, invariably four in number,
are placed in a depression on the ground, in many cases surrounded
by a border of small stones, clods of earth, or loose sand. The eggs
are very broad at one end, and much pointed at the other, but they
are subject to variation.
They average about 1*65 inches in length by nearly 1*21 in breadth.
The ground-colour varies from pale olive-green to reddish- or
yellowish-buff, and the markings, consisting of blotches, streaks, and
spots, are deep brown, almost black in some specimens ; besides these
markings, many have pale washed-out underlying patches of faint
inky-purple.
The anxiety exhibited by these birds when any one approaches the
spot where they have young, and the wiles they make use of to entice
him away, quite equals all that has been written about the Peewit.
856.— THE YELLOW-WATTLED LAPWING.
Lobipluvia malabarica, Bocld.
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing is more or less common in suitable
localities throughout Western India, but is somewhat rare in Eatna-
giri. It is not found in the vicinity of rivers and marshes as a rule,
being more a bird of the uplands, where it breeds during the months
of April and May . The eggs, always four in number, are placed in
a depression on the ground, usually out in the open, rarely is advan-
tage taken of a tuft of grass or bush.
These depressions are often surrounded by a ridge of loose sand, or
small stones, much in the same way as those of the Red-wattled
24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Plover. The eggs are of the typical plover-shape, measuring 1*45
inches in length by about 1*05 in breadth. The ground-colour varies
from yellowish -buff to greenish-stone ; the markings, consisting of
spots, streaks, and blotches, are pale olive-brown and dingy purple.
Necnmch, April and May. H. E. Barnes.
Nassick, do. J. Davidson, C.S.
Panch Mahals, April. H. Littledale, B.A.
853.— THE GREAT STONE PLOVER.
Esacus recurvirostris, Cuv.
The Great Stone Plover is very common in Sind along the Indus,
wherever there are sandy and stony islands ; it is not uncommon in
similar places on the rivers of Guzerat and Rajpootana, but appears
to be more rare in most other parts of Western India.
Mr. Littledale found them breeding on the Mahi, Colonel Butler
met with it on the river between Ahmedabad and Deesa, Mr. David-
son procured it in Western Khandeish, and I shot a single specimen
on an island in the river near Neemuch.
They are chiefly found on rocky and sandy islands in the bods of
the large rivers, bat occur occasionally on the sea coast.
They breed from early in March to about the middle of April ;
the eggs, two in number, are placed in a hollow on the ground,
generally on an island that is not much frequented, especially if it
is interspersed with rocks ; of course it is only on the larger rivers
that such islands are found.
They are broad oval in shape, somewhat pointed at one end, but
not so much as those of the Red- wattled Lapwing.
Usually the ground-colour is a stony-drab, but cream and pale
olive-brown varieties are not uncommon ; they are streaked and
blotched with olive-, umber-, and blackish-brown, and have faint
underlying spots and clouds of faint inky-purple.
They vary a good deal in size, but the average is about 2*15 inches
in length by 1*6 in breadth.
They seem to lay their eggs on the same spot year after year.
Kotri, Indus , March. II. E. Barnes.
Sehora, Make, April. H. Littledale, B.A.
NESTING IX I! ESTEPN INDIA. 25
8 :•". ■;.».— THE STONE PLOVER.
J&Sdicnemm ncolopax, S. G. Qm.
The Stone or Norfolk Plover is common in suitable places in most
parts of Western India, but appears to be rare in Ratnagiri and the
South generally.
They frequent sandy, scrub-covered plains, low bush jungle, and
thin grassy groves. They are permanent residents where found.
A few eggs may be taken as early as February and as late as August,
but the majority of the birds lay in April. Their eggs, two in num-
ber, occasionally three, are laid on tne ground, under the shelter of
a bush or tussock of grass, amongst dead leaves, which match the
eggs so perfectly that they are often overlooked, even when one is
in search of them. Were it not for seeing the parent birds creep-
ing away, with heads bent down, the}'" would often be passed over.
The eggs are broad oval in shape, and the ground-colour varies
from a yellowish-white to a pale buff brown, streaked, speckled, and
blotched with olive- and blackish-brown, and having a few faint
spots of inky-purple.
They average 1*9 inches in length by nearly L39 in breadth.
Deesa, April. H . E. Barnes.
Jseemuch, April, 8th May. Bo.
861.— THE CRAB PLOVER,
Dromas arcluola, Pay.
The Crab Plover is not uncommon on the sea coast, and although
so far as I know the egg has not been taken within our limits, yet
I feel sure that sooner or later it will be.
They breed abundantly in some of the islands in the Persian Gulf ;
Colonel Butler gives a very full account of them, in Stray Feathers,
Vol. viii., p. 381, et &eq.
Contraiy to what might have been expected, considering the affinities
of the bird, they do not lay two stone-coloured, well-marked eggs,
on the ground, but only one, and that is placed in a burrow in the
sand.
The egg is pure white, oval in shape, pinched in at one end, and
measures 2*54 inches in length by 177 in breadth.
They breed during the months of May and June.
i
26 JOIRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF BUTTERFLIES MADE IN
THE CHIN-LUSHAI EXPEDITION OF 1889-90,
By E. Y. Watson.
The following collection was made from the Burmese side in the
Chin-Lushai Expedition of 1839-90, and so differs considerably from
that made from the Chittagong side, of which a list was recently
published in the Journal ; * in fact, I only met with forty-six of the
eighty-four species there recorded.
This collection was made almost entirely in the Yaw district,
between October, 1889, and May, 1890, though a few species were
obtained at Loungat (1,500 feet) and Choungkwa (1,760 feet) in the
Chin Hills, during May.
The Yaw district for the purposes of this paper may be considered
to begin at Pauk, about 50 miles west of Pokoko on the Irrawaddy,
and to extend another fifty miles west to Tilin on the Maw river
which forms the western boundary of the district. The Maw runs
due north from Tilin, falling into the Myittha after about 30 miles,
which latter river continues to flow north for another ] 50 miles,
finally falling into the Chindwin ; collections, however, were only
made as far as Kan, about 70 miles north of Tilin.
Nearly the whole of the collection was made at Tilin, between De-
cember and May, but during November a certain number of butter-
flies were caught at Pauk, and along the road from Pauk to Tilin,
but nearly all the species then obtained were subsequently met with
at Tilin. During September two Native collectors from the Phayre
Museum, Rangoon, were employed in catching butterflies in the
neighbourhood of Pokoko, one of whom during October went as far
as Tilin, collecting en route, but returned at the end of that month
utterly incapacitated through fever, and I had to send him back to
Rangoon. The other continued to collect round Pokoko till the end
of October, and then accompanied me to Tilin, from which place he
went sick in February. It was most unfortunate his going sick so
early, as all the spring broods appeared during March and April ;
* Journal, Duiiilay Natural Uiotuiy Society, Vol. v., No. 3, p. 295 (1890).
XOTKS OX ilHX-LUSUAI BUTTFAIFL1 ESI 27
these bring far and away the best, months. The collections made by
these men at Pokoko are also included in the following paper.
Round Pokoko the country is sandy, covered with low scrub, and
quite devoid of big jungle; this description of country continues
pretty well as Ear as Pauk, and is not productive of many species.
lievond Pauk, the nature of the country entirely changes, and the
greater part of the road to Tilin leads through fairly thick tree-
jungle. About a couple of miles from Tilin the forest changes to
what is known in Burma as eng jungle, the eng being a tree with
large shiny leaves bearing a distant resemblance to teak, the soil in
tliis jungle being a quartzy gravel. This description of jungle is
nearly devoid of life, animal or insect, almost the only butterflies
occurring in it being Arhopala, and these in no great numbers.
At Tilin the collection was made almost entirely in two small
nullas about a couple of miles in length, which fall into the
Mflw ; as these two nullas were almost identical a description of one
will suffice. The nulla itself is a few yards wide with perpendicu-
lar banks nine or ten feet in height, above which the sides slope up
steeply to about a couple of hundred feet. However, at each bend of
the nulla the perpendicular bank on the inside is converted into a
gentle slope covered with small bushes. Here and there in the lower
part of the nulla are small pools, but these quite cease after the
first mile or so, and the bed consists of dry quartzy gravel to its
source. For the greater part of the way the eng is separated from
the nulla by a belt of bamboo and other jungle, but towards the
source of the stream the bamboo disappears and the eng meets from
cither side. The elevation of Tilin is about 1,100 feet, there being a
slight ascent from Pauk, which is about 800 feet, though on the
road between two ranges of hills are crossed, both of which slightly
exceed 2,000 feet.
As already stated, the best months were March, and April, and
during the former month in certain places where the nulla runs
between perpendicular banks, the air would be thick with number-
less Neptes, while every step roused up dozen of Ifelanifis and Lethe
europa, and here and there an assemblage of Euphea and Danais
(chiefly E. godartii and D. mdanoides) would be seen dotting the
sides of the banks. In the upper part of the nulla, where water
28 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 1891.
entirely failed, these species disappeared, and were replaced by Arho-
'pala, which, were very numerous both in species and individuals.
At the end of May I made an attempt to get from Kan to Haka,
the latter being the military post recently established in the Chin
Hills from the Burma side ; however, I was knocked over with
fever at Choungkwa the second march out, and had to return ;
but still on the road out I was fortunate enough to obtain several
species I had not before met with. Choungkwa is at an elevation
of only 1,760 feet, but though not much higher than Tilin, it is very
differently situated, as Tilin is practically on the highest ground
for some miles round, while Choungkwa is iu a hollow surrounded
by hills on all sides, those immediately over it rising almost unin-
terruptedly to a height of between four thousand and five thousand
feet.
It will be seen that of the 276 species recorded no less than 257
were obtained at Tilin, and this list is by no means exhaustive, as
during the last fortnight of my stay there I caught nine species not
previously obtained. The months during which the collection
was made practically represent the dry season, as normally the rains
cease in Yaw about the end of October and commence again in June,
though as a matter of fact in 1889 the rains were unusually late,
and did not cease till the end of November ; still this did not affect
the butterflies to any great extent, as there had been a longish break
early in November, and consequently almost entirely dry-weather
forms were obtained. In connection with these forms it is worthy
of note that during the last week in March and during the whole of
April and May, Junonia a^teric, which is almost without doubt the
dry-season form of J. almond, occurred with the latter in about
equal numbers. I am unable to account for this in any way ; there
was a mango shower early in March, but absolutely no rain from
then till the end of April, so it cannot be accounted for by the
chrysalides having been affected by damp and the imagines so
modified, as is probably often the case. The two forms of Cato-
dhrj/sbps pandava also appeared without any particular regard to
their proper seasons. I am unable to say what the rainfall is in
the Yaw district, but at Tilin it is probably about 100 inches ; at Po-
koko the rainfall is usually something under 30 inches.
NOTES ON CMX-Ll'SUAl BUTTERFLIES. 29
Nymph m.id.k.
(Spefcies marked * have been identified by Mr. de Niceville.)
1. Dana is melanoideSi Moore.
Tank, September; Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin,
December to May ; Choungkwa, May. All much smaller
than specimens from North India.
2. Da mi ix limnietce, Cramer.
Pokoko, Pauk, September ; Tilin, November to May.
3. Da a nix scptciitrimiix, Butler.
Tilin, February, March. Only two specimens obtained.
4. Danais ehrysippus, Linnanis.
Pokoko, Pauk, September; Pauk to Tilin, November;
Tilin, December to May.
5. Danais genutia, Cramer.
Pauk, September ; Tilin, December to May.
6. Euplcea rogcnliqferi, Felder.
Tilin, December. A single female,
7. Euplcea rricJtsonii, Felder.
Tilin, March and April. Three males and two females ;
the males all of the form apicalis, and both females of the
form pembertoni.
*8. Eiiphiu klugii, Moore.
Pauk, October; Tilin, March to May. Fourteen males
and five females, showing considerable variation in the
markings, some specimens having complete marginal, sub-
marginal and discal rows of spots on forewing as well as a
spot in cell, and others having only a submarginal row,
all other spots being absent. All these specimens are
glossed with purplish-blue to the extreme edge of the
forewing, and are readily recognisable as klugii.
In addition to the above, I obtained the following seven
males of this species. To all appearance they are very
distinct from klugii and might belong to seven different spe-
cies. However, I have submitted them to Mr. de Niceville,
and he has decided, by the aid of the specimens at his com-
mand, that they are all varieties of klugii. As none of them
* Proc. Zool. Soc, Lond., 1883, pp. 306, foil.
30 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
agree with the varieties described by Moore,* (indigo/era,
imperial is, etc.), I have described them separately below: —
Variety 1 — Of large size. Upperside, /omw'w/, dark bnrwn, brilliantly
shot with deep indigo-blue to extreme edge of wing, a
submarginal row of eight white spots, the lower three
dusted with violet, and a marginal row of twelve white dots
in pairs, no discal spots. Hinduing, paler brown, faintly
shot with blue in cell, with prominent marginal and sub-
marginal rows of white spots, obsolete anteriorly. Under-
side, reddish-brown. Fore/ring, paler along inner margin*
one subcostal spot above end of cell, four discal spots, four
apical submarginal dots, and complete row of marginal
dots. Hinduing with spots as on upperside.
Sexual Brand, long and narrow. Expanse: 3-9".
A single male obtained at Pauk in September.
Variety 2 — Of smaller size. Upperside, foreuing, very dark brown,
shot with deep indigo-blue to extreme edge of wing, five
submarginal white dots, otherwise unmarked. Hinduing,
dark brown without blue shot, three submarginal apical
white dots, remainder of row very faintly traceable as pale
brown spots, marginal row also very faint and pale brown.
Underside, reddish-brown. Foreiring, with one subcostal
spot above end of cell, four discal spots, submarginal row
incomplete at both ends, and marginal row of minute dots,
these spots all white . II 'induing with two complete rows
of prominent white spots.
Sexual Brand, short and oval. Expanse : 3"6".
A .single male obtained at Tilin in April.
Variety 3— Upperside, dark brown. Forewing very broad, shot with
brilliant blue as far as submarginal rows of spots, five
apical submarginal white spots, of which the third is the
largest, ten marginal white dots in pairs, three very faint
discal violet streaks, and one minute subcostal violet spot
above end of cell. Hinduing paler, faintly shot with blue
in cell, a submarginal row of six white spots, of which the
first two are very prominent and remainder minute, a
marginal row of minute white dots. Underside, brown.
XOTES OX CHIX-LUSNA1 BUTTERFLIES. 31
Foreicing, with one subcostal and four discal white spots,
five api-'ul minute dots, and a complete row of marginal
dots. Unuhri,,,/, with two complete rows of prominent
white spots.
Si. xi \\. Bhanh, short and oval. Expanse: 3'3*\
A single male obtained at Tilin in 31 arch.
Var'uty \ — Uppekside, dark brown. Fore/dug broad, shot with
purplish-blue to extreme edge of wing, eight submarginal
spots, of which the first two are small and remainder
decreasing from the third, which is largest ; a complete row
of marginal white dots in pairs, the third, fourth, and fifth
of the submarginal row coalescing with the corresponding
pair of marginal dots, disc unmarked. Ilindtcing, paler,
faintly glossed with blue in cell, upper three of submar-
ginal row white and prominent, remainder faint, complete
row of marginal white spots. Underside, similar to the
preceding variety, except that the submarginal row of
spots on forewing is complete.
Sexual Brand, short and oval, Expanse : 3-2".
A single male obtained at Tilin in March.
Variety 5— Of very small size. Upperside, fore icing, dark brown,
shot with blue to extreme edge of wing ; and with the
following violet-white spots : — one in cell, one subcostal,
three discal, six submarginal, of which the second is largest,
and five minute submarginal ones towards inner angle.
Hindicing, paler, shot with blue in the cell, three upper
minute white submarginal dots, remainder of row and whole
of marginal row wanting. Underside, paler. Forewing,
with four discal, one subcostal, and incomplete rows of
marginal and submarginal white dots ; liindicing with
two complete rows of small but prominent white dots.
Sexual Brand, short and oval. Expanse : 2*8*.
A single male obtained at Tilin in May.
Variety 6 — Upperside, dark brown, with broad paler margins. Fore-
icing, shot with purplish-blue to just beyond cell, two
minute discal violet streaks, eight submarginal spots, of
which the third is large and remainder small, and an in-
32 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1801.
complete row of minute white dots. Ilinduing, faintly shot
with blue in cell, three upper submarginal white spots,
remainder of double row wanting. Underside, paler.
Forr/cijifj, with one subcostal and three discal white
spots, and a double incomplete row of white dots. II ind-
iting, with two rows of prominent white spots.
Sexual Brand, short and oval. Expanse : 3-1".
A single male obtained at Tilin in May*
Variety 7 — Upperside, pale brown. Foretring, darker towards base,
where it is shot with purple, two minute violet discal
streaks, seven submarginal spots, of which the upper two
are minute, remainder equal-sized, round and very promi-
nent, no marginal dots. Hinduinfy, shot with blue in cell,
with three upper submarginal white dots, remainder of
double row wanting. Underside, paler. Foretcing, with
one subcostal and four discal spots, all very minute except
lowest discal spot which is large and prominent, two in-
complete rows of white dots. Hindtciug, with two com-
plete rows of white spots.
Sexual Brand, oval and very faint. Expanse : 2,95*'.
A single male obtained at Tilin in April.
9. EupJoea linnm, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, October, November ; Tilin, December to
May.
10. Eu.plcea subdita, Moore.
Pauk, September ; Tilin, March. Two males.
11. Eiipkea godartii, Lucas.
Pauk, September ; Pauk to Tilin, October, November ;
Tilin, December to May.
12. Euplcea binghami, Moore.
Tilin, February, March. Two males. This species can
readily be distinguished from E. subdita, by the absence of
the blue gloss, and by having the apical spots on upperside
and underside of f orewing less prominent . From E. godartii
it can only be distinguished by the absence of the violet
apical patch, and may be only a casual variety of that
XOTES OX CUIX-LVSII.n BUTTERFLIES. 33
species, since in E. gddartiii the patch varies greatly in
extent, and in sonic specimens is scarcely traceable.
l'J. Euplcea deione, West wood.
Tilin, December, April, May. Two males, two females.
In these four specimens the white dots on upperside of
forewing vary from one to four, the spots on the under-
side of forewing being also very inconstant, one female
having two complete rows of marginal spots and the other
having only three dots near anal angle. The males are
shot with blue to the extreme edge of the wings, the
females have an unglossed black border along outer
margin, and extending along costa about as far as the
white costal dot. i
14. Euplcea binotata, Butler*
Tilin, December to May. Six males, two females. This
species varies greatly in the prominence of the spots on
the upperside of the forewing, and also in the number of
the white submarginal dots on upperside of hindwing. My
specimens apparently include E. microsticta, Butler, but
not E. hopei, Felder, (E. hoped, Marshall and de Niceville,
= E. hi no fata, Butler), E. tegina, Moore, or E. pygmcea,
Moore.
15. Mycalesis runekd, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin, December to May.
Only the unocellated form obtained, the white discal band
of underside is frequcntty wanting.
1G. Mycalesis persons, Fabricius.
Tilin, January. A single unocellated specimen.
17. Mycalesis milieus, Linnaeus.
Occllated : Pauk, September. Two specimens.
Unocellated: Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin, December
to April. Numerous specimens.
18. Mycalesis lepcJta, Moore.
Occllated: Pauk to Tilin, November.
Unocellated: Tilin, March to May. The dry season form
of this species is, according to Mr. de Niceville, not
sparable from M. hpcha, but the rainy-season form is
:U JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
very distinct from H. makara on underside, being in fact
almost identical with M. mineus.
19. Mycalesis mystes, de Niceville.
Ocellated: Pauk to Tilin, November.
Unocellated: Tilin, March.
The ocellated form is superficially very similar to
M. mineus and tbe unocellated to M. langi ; both forms
however are readily identified by tbe presence in tbe male
of a black tuft of bair on tbe upperside of tbe bindwing
along the submedian nervure. This species will shortly
be described by Mr. de Niceville as the type of a new
subgenus.
20. Mycalesis mnasicles, Hewitson.
A single very worn specimen at Choungkwa in May.
*21. Lethe rindhya, Felder.
Tilin, March. Three males, one female. The female
differs from the male only in having the fuscous band on
upperside of forewing paler, and. therefore more distinct,
and on the upperside of the hindwing in having the ocelli
larger, and the margin from tail to anal angle suffused,
with chestnut-red.
22. Lethe mekara, Moore.
Tilin, May. One male, one female.
23. Lethe europa, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, November to May.
Very common.
24. Lethe dryta, Felder.
Pauk to Tilin, October; Tilin, March and May. Two
males, one female.
25. Lethe rohria, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin, March. Three males,
one female. Differ from specimens from Upper Tenasserim
in being blacker on tbe underside, instead of having the
ground-colour a chocolate-red.
*26. Neope bhima, Marshall.
Pauk to Tilin, October, November ; Tilin, November,
April, and May. Nine males, four females. Those caught
NOTES ON CH1N-LUSHAI BUTTERFLIES. 35
at the end of the year were in poo* condition ; the spring
brood appeared about middle of April, and did not differ
in markings from the autumn brood. It settles almost
invariably on tree-trunks, on which I usually obtained it
in the very early morning : it is crepuscular in its habits,
but does not seem to frequent very dense jungle. The
female is larger than the male and has all the ocelli larger.
All my specimens differ from the figure in " Butterflies
of India," in having only four ocelli on the underside of
the forewing, the lowest blind ocellas being wanting.
When seen either at rest or on the wing, this species
seems altogether out of place in this fauna, and one would
rather expect to find it sitting on stones in the hills in
company with Hipparchias. It rests with its wings closed
over the back, its underside harmonizing well with the
bark of tree-trunks.
27. Yphthima philomela, Johannsen.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to May.
All unocellated except those caught in November.
28. Yphthima savara, Grose-Smith.
Tilin, March, April. A few specimens, all with small
ocelli.
29. Yphthima huebneri, Kirby.
Typical : Pauk, September ; Pauk to Tilin, November.
The unocellated form, T. hoicra, Moore, obtained, Pauk to
Tilin, November ; Tilin, November to April.
30. Yphthima omnia, Moore.
Strongly ocellated : Pauk, November. With small ocelli,
Tilin, March and April. A few specimens only.
31. Melanitis leda, Linnaeus.
Typical : Pauk, September ; Pokoko, October. Two
specimens.
The unocellated form M. ismene, Cramer, obtained, Pauk to
Tilin, November ; Tilin, November to May.
32. Melanitis aswa, Moore.
Tilin, December. A single specimen. This is in all pro-
bability the rainy- season form of 31. beta.
36 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
33. Mclanitis bela, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to April.
Occurred commonly.
34. Mclanitis danjodana, Felder.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin, November, December.
Three specimens only. Possibly the rainy-season form of
the following- species.
35. Melanitis zitcnius, Herbst.
Tilin, November to May. The commonest Melanitis met
with.
36. Ehjmnias undularis, Drury.
Pauk to Tilin, October and November ; Tilin, November
to May.
37. Discophora spiloptera, de Niceville and Moller.
Tilin, March and April. Five males, four females. The
males are not quite typical, as they have the middle row of
spots on forewing blue, not yellow.
38. Ergolis merione, Cramer.
Tilin, December to May.
39. Ergolis ariadne, Linnaeus.
Tilin, January. A single specimen.
40. Capita cry uta nt It is, Drury.
Tilin, December to May.
41. Atelta sinlta, Kollar.
Tilin, March ; Choungkwa, May.
42. Atclia phalaatha, Drury.
Pokoko, September ; Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin,
December to May.
43. Ccthosia ci/anc, Drury.
Tilin, December. A single male.
44. Apatura iiamotuta, Doubleday.
Six males on 30th May at Choungkwa.
45. Apatura part/satis, Westwood.
A single male at Tilin, early in December.
{{'). Precis iphita, Cramer.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tiliu, December to -May.
NOTSS ON CUIX-LUSHAI BUTTERFLIES. §7
47. Junonia asterie, Linnaeus.
Tilin, March to May. One of the specimens taken in
March is intermediate between a^wawaanji astcric, the shape
of the wings being that of the latter species, while on the
underside the ocelli arc minute and all the markings
indistinct.
48. Junonia almana, Linnocus.
Tilin, November to April.
49. Junonia atlites, Linnaous.
Tilin, December to May.
50. Junonia lemonias, Linnanis.
Pokoko, Pauk, September ; Pauk to Tilin, November ;
Tilin, December to May.
51. Junonia hierta, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to May.
52. Junonia orithyia, Linnaeus.
Tilin, March.
53. Ncptis hordonia, Stoll.
Typical : Pauk, September ; Pauk to Tilin, October,
November ; Tilin, December, and single specimens in
February and March. Transitional to plagiom : Pauk to
Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to April. Plagiosa :
Tilin, March and April, and a single specimen in January.
These last have all the yellow bands very broad, the dusky
border on outer margin is obsolescent and only represented
by a few dark spots, the yellow discoidal streak is not
indented from above, and the extreme margin of kindwiug
is yellow towards anal angle. This form is very distinct
from typical hordonia, but my series is bridged over by
the forms separated above as " transitional." It will be
noticed that only two typical hordonia were obtained
after December, and only one typical plagiosa before
March, the intermediate forms occurring from November
to April.
The above remarks are based on about forty specimens.
54. Ncptis satianga, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, January to April. Varies
38 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 18SWL
considerably in the prominence of the markings on the-
underside, those caught in November being much more
strongly marked than those caught later.
55. Neptis tiga, Moore.
A few -specimens caught in company with preceding,
which I believe to be the same species, the only point of
distinction being that the present species has a yellow
marginal line often very faint, on upperside of hindvang,
which is wanting in N. sattanga.
<56, Neptis miah, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, October, November ; Tilin, March. Five-
specimens.
57. Neptis viraja, Moore.
Tilin, March, April. Three specimens, all smaller than
those in my collection from South India.
-58. Neptis burmana, de Niceville.
Tilin, February to April. A few specimens. The second
submarginal line on underside of hindwings is very faint,,
but it can be distinguished from all allied species by the
markings of the upperside.
59. Neptis varmona, Moore.
Pauk, September ; Pauk and Tilin, November. Also two
specimens transitional to kamarupa, Pauk and Tilin,.
November.
■60. Neptis kamarupa, Moore.
Tilin, January to May. Almost certainly the dry-season
form of varmona.
61. Neptis eurymene, Butler.
Tilin, April, May. What I separate as this species is-
similar to kamarupa, but is considerably larger than
either it or varmona, and has all the white markings much
larger and more prominent. It may also be a seasonal
form of varmona, but I am inclined to consider it
distinct, as I have never met with it except in Burma.
62. Neptis astola, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, October and November ; Tilin, March and
April.
NOTES OS CHIN-LUSHAI BUTTERFMES. 3&
<;:>. Neptis khasiaua, Moore.
Tilin, December to April. Not common,
64. Neptis soma, Moore.
Tilin, December to April.
65. Neptis adipala, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to May. Both
this and the preceding species frequently have the streak
in cell undivided on the underside.
66. Neptis nandina, Moore.
Tilin, April.
67. Neptis ophiana, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, October and November; Tflfnr December
to May. The specimens caught from November to
February are dark brownish-ferruginous on the underside,
with edges of markings blurred, those caugbfc later are
bright ochreous with sharply-defined markings, A single
specimen obtained answers to the description of N.
martabana, but it is almost without doubt a slight variety
of N. ophiana,
68. Hypolimnas bolina, Linnaeus.
Pokoko, September and October ; Paukr September ; Tilin,.
December to May.
69. Hypolimnas misippus, Linnaeus.
Pokoko, October; Tilin, December. A rare species in
Burma.
70. Parthenos gambrisius, Fabricius.
Tilin, May. One very battered specimen of the variety
lilacinus.
71. Lebadea ismene, Doubleday and Hewitsoo.
Pauk to Tilin, October ; Tilin, December to May. All my
specimens seem to approach attenuata in the breadth of the
white band, with the exception of a single specimen
caught in October which is typicial ismene.
72. Litmnitis procris, Cramer.
Tilin, February to April.
40 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
73. Athyma. perius^ Linnaeus.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to April. Not
common.
74. Atlvyma pravara, Moore.
Tilin, March. A single specimen.
75. Athyma mahesa, Moore.
Tilin, March. A single specimen.
76. Athyma selenophora, Kollar.
Pauk to Tilin, October; Tilin, November to March. Nu-
merous males and one female. The commonest Athyma
that occurred.
77. Bymphcedra dirtcca, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin, February to May.
Common.
78. Euthalia derma, Kollar.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, January to May.
Occurred commonly, but usually in very bad condition ;
the spring brood appeared in March. All specimens are
of a much more olive-brown than Distant' s* figure, but
not green like erelina.
79. Euthalia lepidea, Butler.
Tilin, November to May.
80. Euthalia appiades, Menetries.
Tilin, March. Two males, one female ; the latter differs
from typical females of appiades in having both bands on
both wings straight ; typically the inner band is conspi-
cuously lunulate on forewing and less so on hindwing,
the outer band alone being straight.
81. Euthalia jahnu, Moore.
Tilin, December to March. Seven males, two females.
82. Eut Italia gar u da, Moore.
Tilin, February to May.
Sr3. Euthalia lubentina, Cramer.
Tilin, February and May. Two males, one female.
* Rhop. Malay., pi. xix., fig. 4.
NOTES ON CHIN-LUSUAI BUTTERFLIES 41
84. \'t>itrs;:<i CCtiH'eC, LilinOBUS.
Path to TiJin, November ; Tilin, November to May. Not
common. Found flying- singly up and down the stony
beds of streams.
85. Symbrenthia hvppoclus, Cramer.
Tilin, February, March, Two males, two females. One
of the latter (taken in February) has the bands on the
upperside narrower and the submarginal band of hindwing
dotted with black, so is presumably referable to S. kkasiana,
Moore, a doubtfully distinct species.
86. ILhinopalpa vasulii, Doherty.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to May. Very
common in March, but specimens though fresh were
terribly battered, I caught dozens, but only got six worth
killing and keeping, and none of these are quite perfect.
87. Cyrestis thyodamas, Boisduval.
Tilin, November. A single specimen.
*S8. Cyrestis rahria, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November to March. Not uncommon. It
varies considerably in size and depth of coloration.
89. Kallima limborgii, Moore.
Pauk, October ; Tilin, November. One male, one female.
These specimens differ from a single male I have taken in
Upper Tenasserim, in having the yellow band paler and of
less extent, and in being much smaller, S 3*3, $ 3*6 inches
as against 3*9 inches. A female of inachis in my collection
from Barjiling measures 4"7 inches.
90.. Charaxes eudomippus, Doubleday.
Tilin, February. Two specimens,
91. Charaxes athamas, Drury.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, February, March ;
Choungkwa, May. There are two distinct forms of what
I recognise as this species, both of which have a greenish-
yellow fascia of varying width on the upperside, but dif-
fering considerably on the underside ; one form having a
greenish fascia and the other a golden-yellow fascia
42 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
narrowly outlined with white. Both these forms have one
large and two small subapical spots.
92. Gharaxes arja, Felder.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to March ;
Choungkwa, May. "What I separate as this species was
decidedly commoner than the preceding. It also varies
considerably in the breadth of the fascia, which in very
pale bluish-green, almost white, without a trace of yellow,
both above and below. It has one large subapical spot and
occasionally another near the apex, but the latter is always
minute and generally absent, the submarginal row of
spots on underside of hindwing is inconspicuous.
93. Charaxes fabius, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, October ; Tilin, March.
94. Charaxes harp ax, Felder.
Pauk to Tilin, October ; Tilin, March and November ;
Choungkwa, May. Four specimens only ; they all differ
from one another, and none agree exactly with any of the
descriptions in " Butterflies of India."
95. Charaxes hierax, Felder.
Pauk to Tilin, October. A single male agreeing best with
this species.
*96. Charaxes bernardus, Fabricius.
I have twenty-two specimens of this group taken at
Choungkwa on the 29th and 30th May. They vary consi-
derably in the prominence and purity of the discal white
band, in the number of fulvous spots on the black margin
of the forewing, and in the black submarginal border of
the hindwing, which in some specimens is almost conti-
nuous, and in others broken up into spots and almost
obsolete at the anal angle. I have submitted six specimens
to Mr. de Niceville, and he informs me that none of them
agree with any of the described forms, and might equally
well be described as six new species.
* Rliop, Malny, pi. xix. fig. 4,
NOTES ON CHIN-LUSHAl BUTTERFLIES. 43
Lkmonlid/k.
>7. Libythea myrrha, Godart.
Tilin, December. A single specimen.
98. Libythea libera, de Niceville.
Tilin, March. A single specimen which I have compared
with the type in the Phayre Museum, Han goon, with
which it is absolutely identical.
00. Abisara neophron, Hewitson.
Tilin, March. A single specimen.
100. Abisara chela, de Niceville.
Pauk to Tilin, November. A single specimen.
101. Abisara echerius, Stoll.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, March to May. Numerous
specimens, some quite indistinguishable from specimens of
A. sujfusa in my collection from the Nilgiris and Mysore,
though the great bulk are of the form angulata more or
less t)rpical.
LyoSSNIDjE.
102. Gerydvs symethus, Cramer.
Tilin, March. A few specimens.
103. Gcrydus biggsii, Distant.
Tilin, March, April. Three specimens. This species is
Aery close to the preceding.
104. Gerydus boisduvali, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, March. Not uncommon,
but local.
105. Paragerydus horsficldi, Moore.
Tilin, November and December. Two specimens.
10G. Poritia hewitsoni, Moore.
Tilin, March. A single male.
107. Pithecops hylax, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin, November to May.
Fairly common.
108. Neopithecops zalmora, Butler.
Tilin, November to April. Four specimens.
U JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, ISfll.
109. Taralm hamada, Druce.
Tilin, March and May. Two specimens.
110. Megisha ma lay a, Horsfield.
Tilin, March. A single specimen of the tailed form.
111. CJnlades laius, Cramer.
Pokoko, September. A single male of the rainy-season form.
112. Ghilades trochiliis, Freyer
Pokoko, September ; Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin,
March, April. Seven specimens, none of which have any
yellow on upperside of hindwing, and which are all very
small as compared with a single Indian female in my
collection from Quetta, but agreeing with other specimens
from various localities in Burma.
113. Cyaniris puspa, Horsfield.
Pauk to Tilin, October, and November ; Tilin, December
to May. Three males, four females,
114. Cyaniris placida, de Niceville.
Tiliu, March. Two females.
115. Cyaniris jynteana, de Niceville.
Tilin, May. A single female.
116. Zizera lysimon, Hiibner.
Tilin, April. Only a single male caught, but occurs
commonly.
117. Zizera gaika, Trimen.
Tilin, April. Also occurs commonly.
118. Zizera otis, Fabricius.
Tilin, November to April. Differs slightly in markings
from Indian specimens.
119. Azanus gamra, Lederer.
Pokoko, September. A single female.
120. Azanus ubaldus {?), Cramer.
A single male caught at Tilin in April, is referred to this
species by Mr. de Niceville pending receipt of further
specimens. It differs from typical Indian specimens in
being considerably larger, and in having a narrow sharply
defined dark border to forcwing on upperside. On
underside it is more strongly marked than any of my
NOTES ON CH1N-LUSHAI BUTTERFLIES. 45
Indian specimens of ubakhis, and the pattern of the
markings is sightly different. No species of Azanus has
previously been recorded from Burma, nor are there any
in the Phayre Museum, Rangoon, but it is probable
that at least two species occur not uncommonly in the
" dry zone " from Thayetmyo north, which has never been
properly worked.
IE1. LyccencsfJies emulus, Godart.
Tilin, December to May ; Choungkwa, May. Males very
common, females rare.
122. Lycamesthes lyceenina, Felder.
Pauk, September; Tilin, November. Two males, one
female.
123. Talicada nyseus, Guerin.
Pauk, October, November ; Tilin, December to April
Differ from Indian specimens in my collection from
Ganjam, the Nilgiris, and Mysore, in the small size of the
marginal and submarginal series of white spots on the
underside of the forewing, and of the submarginal
white spots on underside of hind wing. The black spots
on underside of hindwing vary as usual from the full
complement of thirteen to as few as six, those caught
in March and April having almost invariably thirteen.
Common, but very local, being found at Pauk on one
small hill, and at Tilin being confined within the limits
of a single pagoda wall.
124. Everes argiacles, Pallas.
Tilin, February and April. Two males, one female.
Usually a rare species in Burmah, though I have met
with it in Tounghoo lately in considerable numbers.
125. Nacaduba coelestis, de Niceville.
Pauk to Tilin, October ; Pauk, September ; Tilin, March.
Three males.
126. Nacaduba ardates, Moore.
With tails : Tilin, December to May. Four males, four
females. Without tails ; Pauk, September ; Tilin, Novem-
ber to April. Nine males.
46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
127. Nacaduba dana, do Niceville.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December and March.
Four males.
*128. Nacadziba hampsoni, de Niceville.
Tilin, April and May. Two males. This is a very dis-
tinct species, on the upperside it is a violet-blue with a
brilliant gloss. The markings on underside very pro-
minent.
129. Jamides bochus, Cramer.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, November to May.
Males and females equally common ; hardly any difference
between dry- and rainy-season forms.
130. Lampides elpis, Godart.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, March and April.
131. Lampides coruscans, Moore.
Tilin, February and March. Two males of this species
or variety.
132. Lampides adianus, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, March and May. Also
one male and one female at Tilin in March which seem
referable to L. pura of Moore.
133. Catoclirysops strabo, Fabricius.
Pokoko, September ; Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin,
November to May.
134. Catoclirysops lithargyria, Moore.
Tilin, March. Two males.
135. Catoclirysops pandava, Horsfield.
Dry-season form : Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin,
December and May. Hainy- season form: Pauk to Tilin,
November ; Tilin, April and May ; also several interme-
diate varieties during November. These two forms
occurred together, and do not seem to be very closely
restricted to the dry- and rainy-seasons, respectively,
though undoubtedly of the same species.
136. Tarucus theophrastus, Fabricius.
Pokoko, September ; Tilin, May. Three specimens. These
specimens agree exactly with the detailed description of
I'KS ON CUIN-LUSHAI BUTTERFLIES. 47
this species in " Butterflies of India," and have the under,
side bro/ru. They also agree with specimens in my col-
lection from Ahmcdnagar, Deccan.
Nam, Kollar, Tokoko, September ; Gangaw, February. Two
females. These specimens differ from the preceding in
ha\ ingtlie marking-son the underside black, andare therefore
apparently nam ; they also differ slightly in the pattern of
the hindwing on the underside. I have since (in August)
caught four specimens at Myingyan which aoree in
markings with the two Yaw females.
137. Tunicas plinius, Fabricius.
Pokoko, September, October; Tilin, November to May.
138. Castalius rosimon, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, September and November ; Tilin, Decem-
ber to May.
139. Castalius ethion, Doubleday and Hewitson.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, January to March. Even
commoner than C. rosimon.
110. Castalius decidea, Hewitson.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, January to April. Seven
specimens all of the form interriqjtus.
111. I'olyommatus bwticus, Linnaeus.
Tilin, December. A rare species in Burma except at
high elevations.
142. Ambly podia anita, Hewitson.
Pauk, September ; Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, Decem-
ber to May. Numerous males and females, all purple.
143. Iraota timoleon, Stoll.
Tilin, May. A single female.
144. Surendra quercetorum, Moore.
Tilin, April ; Choungkwa, May. Two females.
1 l~>. Apporasa atkinsoni, Hewitson.
Tilin, March to May. Nine specimens. They settle on
trunks of trees, the bark of which agrees exactly with the
coloration of their underside.
110. Arhopala centauries, Fabricius.
Tilin, February to May. Very common. Also numerous
48 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
females of a closely allied species, which differs from
typical centaur us, in having on the upperside the blue of
the hindwing confined to a spot at base, and on the under-
side in having the fourth spot of the discal band moved out-
wards, and in having a large dark spot from angle of sub-
medium interspace, extending towards the outer margin to
as far as the discal band. On the underside this species
is nearest to amantes, but has no anal lobe. As none
of my specimens are in good condition this species will
not be described by Mr. de Niceville.
147. Arliopala silhetensis, Hewitson.
Tilin, April. A single worn male.
148. Arliopala amatriv, de Niceville.
Tilin, May ; Loungat, May. Allied to A. amantes, from
which it differs in both sexes in having a broader black
margin to both wings. This species will shortly be de-
scribed by Mr. de Niceville.
149. Arliopala abseus, Hewitson.
Tilin, March. A single specimen.
150. Arliopala atrax, Hewitson.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, November and May ;
Choungkwa, May. Numerous specimens.
151. Arliopala rama, Kollar.
Tilin, March to May. Three males, one female.
152. Arliopala alemon, de Niceville.
Tilin, March, April, May. Very numerous specimens.
This species, which is allied to the preceding, will shortly
be described by Mr. de Niceville.
153. Arliopala adriana, de Niceville.
Tilin, March. A single male.
154. Arliopala helenore, Doherty.
Tilin, March. A single male.
NOTES ON CIUN-LUSI1AI BUTTERFLIES. 49
155. Arhopiila ti)itn<ittru, Grose-Smith.
Tilin, March; Clioiuigkwa, May. One male, four females.
The female is of a much brighter blue than the male, which
is almost purple.
15G. Acetina <tL<-rra>i«, de Niceville.
Tilin, December to May. Occurred very commonly in
company with the following species, but with the exception
of the spring brood which appeared in May, was nearly
invariably in bad condition.
157. Acesina arisba, de Niceville.
Tilin, January to May. Fairly common. Will shortly be
described by Mr. de Niceville.
158. Curetis dentata, Moore.
Tilin, January to May. Eleven males, one female. What
I separate as this species has the disco- cellulars marked
with black, and a black patch from base of hindwing. Bed
area large. The female has white patches on the upperside
of similar shape and extent to the red patches of the male.
159. Curetis malayica, Folder.
Pauk to Tilin, October ; Tilin, January to May ; Choung-
kwa, May. Six males, four females. This form has the
red area of similar extent to the preceding, and also has the
disco-cellulars marked with black, but has no basal black
patch on hindwing. The female has the forewing as in the
male, but white, with slightly wider borders ; on hind-
wing it only has a narrow white band extending from
middle of costa to half way across disc.
1G0. Ilerda epicles, Godart.
Tilin, November and March. Choungkwa, May. Five
males, one female.
161. C amena cleobis, Godart.
Tilin, April. A single pair.
162. Apltncem syama, Horsfield.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, May. Occurred commonly.
163. Aphnceus lolnta, Horsfield.
Tilin, February to May. Not so common as preceding
species.
50 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
164. Tajuvia hidra, Moore.
Tilin, March, April. Three males.
165. Tajaria janyala, Horsfield.
Tilin, February. A single specimen.
166. Hypolyccena erylus, Godart.
Pauk, September ; Tilin, December to Ma}^.
167. Chliaria othona, Hewitson.
Tilin, November to May. Seven males.
168. Zeltus dolus, Fabricius.
Tilin, March. A single male.
169. Ticherra acte, Moore.
.Tilin, November, December. Two females, both of the
rainy-season form.
170. Oheritra freja, Horsfield.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; November to April.
171. Drupadia boisduvalii, Moore.
Tilin, January. A single female.
172. Loxura atymnus, Cramer.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, March to May.
173. Zinaspa distorta, de Niceville.
. Tilin, March, April. A single pair of what I believe to
be this species.
174. Rapala schistacca, Moore.
Pauk, September ; Tilin, December to May.
175. Rapala orseis, Hewitson.
Pauk, September ; Tilin, December to May.
176. Rapala petosiris, Hewitson.
Tilin, March to May.
177. Rapala melampus, Cramer.
Pauk, October; Tilin, March to May. One male, seven
females.
178. Rapala jarbas, Fabricius.
Pauk, September, October ; Pauk to Tilin, November ;
Tilin, December to March ; Choungkwa, May. The
occurrence of this and the preceding species together is
worthy of note, as Mr. de Niceville remarks in " Butterflies
of India " that he has no record of both species occurring
NOTES ON CHIN-LUSHAI BUTTERFLIES. SI
in the same locality. The present species is the typical
Burman one, and occurs commonly throughout Burma.
R. melampus has not previously been recorded east of
Calcutta.
Papiliomd.k.
Fir viva.
L79. X//rJ, if ana xiphUt, FabticiuSi
Tank, November; Tilin, November to May.
180. Delias hierte, var. indica, Wallace.
Tilin, March.
181. Defias rfeseoDibcxi, Ilcwitson.
Tilin, December, May. Two males.
182. Delias agostina, Hewitson.
Tilin, November and March. A single pair.
18-3. Delia* pyramus, Wallace.
Tilin, December. A single specimen.
184. Delias pasitlioe, Linnaeus.
Tilin, December to May. Fairly common.
185. Catopsilia cat Ufa, Cramer.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, March.
186. Catopsilia crocale, Cramer.
Pokoko, September, October ; Pauk, September.
187. Catopsilia pijrantJtc, Linnaeus.
Pokoko, September, October ; Tilin, May. Probably the
wet-season form of the next species.
188. Cafopsifia gno/i/a, Fabricius.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December.
189. Mancipium canidia, Sparrman.
Tilin, end of December to beginning of February.
190. Terias harina, Horsfield.
Pauk to Tilin, November. A single specimen.
101. Terias fee fa, Boisduval.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December, April.
192. Terias hecabe, Linnoous.
Typical: Pokoko, Pauk, September ; Tilin, November to
May-
52 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
JEsiope : Pauk to Tilin> November; Tilin, December to
May.
Purreea : Tilin, December to February.
193. Terias sari, Horsfield.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, November to February.
194. Terias venata, Moore.
Pauk, November. A single specimen.
195. Ixias pyrene, Linnaeus.
I obtained altogether fifty-six specimens, which, though
probably all of the same species, were of four distinct
forms easily separable by the markings on the underside
of the hindwing.
Variety a : Ten specimens of a large form, with the
underside clear yellow moderately striated with brown ;
and with three to six brown ocelli on hindwing. This
form occurred at Tilin in December, January and March,
being commonest in March,
Variety b : Seventeen specimens of a much smaller form,
also with clear yellow underside, with few striations and
three or four brown ocelli with white centres. This form
occurred at Pokoko in September and October, and at
Tilin in April, being commonest in the former months.
Variety c : Twelve specimens of a form of the same size
as the last, also with a clear yellow underside, but abso-
lutely without striations, and with no trace of ocelli.
This form occurred at Pokoko in September and October,
at Pauk in September, and at Tilin in April and May.
Variety d : Seventeen specimens of a form with an orange-
yellow underside densely striated, and with a varying
number of ocelli. This form occurred at Tilin in January
and February only. Varieties a and f/are presumably dry-
season forms and b and c rainy-season forms. If that is
the case the dry-season forms have the underside of hind-
wing more densely striated than the rainy-season ones.
196. Catophaga Ubythea, Fabricius.
Tilin, January. Five males which Mr. de Niceville consi-
ders may po ' \\ be the dry-season form of this species.
NOTES OX CHIN-LUSHAI BUTTERFLIES. 53
l!)7. Caiophagd pqmtina, Cramer.
Loungafc, May. One female.
198. Hifoscritia laiagc, Doubleday.
Tilin, December. One female doubtfully referred to this
species by Mr. dc Niceville.
199. Huphina noma, Doubleday.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin, December to February <
Five specimens only.
200. Hwphma pJir;/nc, Fabricius.
Pokoko, September and October ; Pauk to Tilin, Novem-
ber. Numerous specimens of the Burmese form of this
ubiquitous species.
201. Iluphina lea, Doubleday.
Pokoko, September. One female.
202. Apptas zelmira, Cramer,
Pauk, September and October ; Pokoko, September ; Tilin,
December. Very numerous specimens.
203. Hcbomoia glaucippe, Linnrcus.
Pauk, September ; Pauk and Tilin, October, November ;
Tilin, November to May. Swarmed in November.
204. Nephcronca ga>a, Felder.
Pauk and Tilin, November ; Tilin, November to April.
PAPILIONIX-Ti,
205. Qmitltopivra rhadamanthus, Boisduval.
Pokoko, October ; Pauk, November ; Tilin, December to
March.
206. Papilio androgens, Cramer.
Form cilix : Tilin, March. One male.
Form mestor : Tilin, November and March. One male,
two females.
207. Papilio polytes, LinnsDiis.
Pauk, September ; Pokoko, October ; Pauk to Tilin,
November ; Tilin, December to May.
208. Papilio aridolocltice, Fabricius.
Pauk, September; Pokoko, October,8 Pauk to Tilin,
November; Tilin, December to May.
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
209. Papilla helenus, Linnaeus.
Choungkwa, May. A single specimen very much worn.
210. Papilio onpape, Moore.
Tilin, March. Two specimens.
211. Papilio dissimilis, Linnocus.
Tilin,. March to May ; Choungkwa, May.
212. Papilio nomius, Esper.
Tilin, March to May.
213. Papilio paiis, Linnaeus.
Tilin, March; Choungkwa, May. Two specimens.
214. Papilio erithroulus, Cramer.
Pokoko, October ; Pauk, September ; Pauk to Tilin,
November ; Tilin, December to May,
215. Papilio sarpedon, Linnaeus.
Choungkwa, May. A single specimen.
216. Papilio eurypylus, Linnaeus.
Tilin, February. A single specimen.
217. Papilio mcelstewi, Distant.
Choungkwa, May. A single specimen. The scarcity of
Paplllos in this district is not a little remarkable.
Hesperiid^e.
218. Baclamh cxc/amalloiilx, Fabricius.
Pokoko, October ; Pauk, November ; Tilin, March, April,
not very common in Burma.
219. Choaspes harlsa, Moore.
Tilin, November, March.
220. Choaspes amava, Moore.
Tilin, November. A single male.
221. Ismcne iiinhln'ha, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November. Comes to flowers of varieties
of pumpkin at daybreak and dusk.
222. Paraia eh ramus, Cramer.
Tilin, March and May.
223. Jlafaj>a aria, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to May.
Occurs commonlv.
NOTES OA lUIX-LVSIIAT BUTTERFLIES. 55
224. Matapa drum, Moore.
Tilin, March. Two mules.
225. Matapa sasivarna, Moore.
Tilin, March. A single m:ile.
226. Matapa shalgrama, de Nioerilla.
Tilin, March Two females.
227. Baoris oceia, Hewitson.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, November to April.
Nineteen males with from two to eight spots, usually
seven or eight, the uppermost of the subapical ones being
frequently wanting. The two cell-spots also were obsolete
in nine specimens. Twelve females with from one to
nine spots varying similarly to the males. In both sexes
the two lower discal spots wei*e present in all specimens
with the exception of one female, in which the upper of
these was wanting.
228. Chopra mat Mas, Fabricius.
Pokoko, September, October; Tilin, January, March.
229. Chopra sp.
Tilin, March. A single male. Readily distinguished
from all described species of Chopra in having no white
spots on underside of hindwing, but instead a discal series
of four brown spots, though possibly a sport.
230. Parnara mango/a, Moore.
Pauk, November. A single specimen.
231. Parnara bada, Moore.
Pokoko, September ; Pauk, November ; Tilin, November to
April. Distinguished from preceding by having no spots
in cell, and by having the spots on underside of hindwino-
smaller but arranged in line and not in a semicircle as in
P. colaca.
232. Parnara colaca, Moore.
Pokoko, September, October; Pauk, November; Tilin,
January, March. Twelve specimens. This species as I
identify it has seven white spots on forewing, three sub-
apical, three discal, of which the lowest is the largest, and
one on submedian vein ; it also usually has an additional
5G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
minute spot at the end of the cell. On the upperside of the
hindwing it almost invariably has a single minute spot.
On the underside, the apex and costal margin of forewing
and whole of hindwing is suffused with greenish. On the
forewing three white spots are as on the upperside, on the
hindwing there are four white spots, of which the second
upper is minute and occasionally absent. I also have this
species from Mysore.
233. Parnara bevani, Moore.
Tilin, March, April, May. Seven specimens. Very simi-
lar to P. colaca, but slightly smaller and with differently
shaped wings, the forewing being shorter and broader.
The spots on the forewing are smaller, the upper discal one
and the one on submedian vein being frequently absent.
The underside is similar to that of P. colaca, but with
spots less prominent. I also have this species from the
Nilgiris and Toungoo, Burma.
234. Parnara sp.
Tilin, January. A single specimen. Allied to P. colaca.
Differing from it in having only six spots on forewing, the
one on submedian vein, which is invariably present in colacay
being wanting. No spot in cell. Hindwing unmarked
above and below. Base of the forewing and almost the
whole of the hindwing clothed with long greenish hairs
on upperside. On the underside the apex of the forewing
and whole of the hindwing are greenish.
235. Parnara assamensis, Wood-Mason and de Niceville.
Pauk to Tilin, November. A single male.
23G. Parnara toona, Moore.
Tilin, April. A single specimen.
237. Parnara amteni, Moore.
Tilin, April. Two specimens. I am unable to distin-
guished this species from P. cahira or P. farri.
233. Parnara scmamora, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin March, April. Common.
NOTES ON CHIN-LUSHAl BUTTERFLIES. 57
SJ39. Parnara tqatsmn, do Nieeville.
Pauk, September and November ; Pauk to Tilin, October,
November ; Tilin, November to May. Very common,
240. Suasfus gremws, Fabricius. ^""ni
Tilin, December to May. Loungat, May. /\V ^
241. Sarmgesa dasahara, Moore. /^Vo^0* ^X'^Un
Pauk, November ; Tilin, November to May. ' / /•* ^fr4^ <*A ^
242. Telicota augias, Linnaeus. ^ ( L I B, R A R Y J soj
Pokoko, October ; Pauk, November. Two males.
243. Telicota bambusm, Moore.
Tilin, February. Three males.
244. Padraona goto, Moore.
Tilin, November. A single specimen,
245. Padraona nigrolimbata, Snellen.
Pauk, September, November. Two specimens. This is a
well-marked, and easily-distinguished species ; it is the
smallest of the genus, being about the size of A. maro.
246. Padraona dara, Kollar.
Pauk to Tilin, November; Tilin, November, December.
Numerous specimens which I doubtfully assign to the
species.
247. Padraona sp.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, March, April. Three
specimens which I am unable to identify.
248. Ampittia maro, Fabricius.
Tilin, November; Gangaw, February. One male, one female.
249. Taractrocera mccvius, Fabricius.
Pauk, November ; Tilin, May.
250. Cupitha purreea, Moore.
Tilin, March, April. A few specimens.
251. Ilalpe beturia, Hewitson.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, November, March.
252. Ilalpe meiktito, de Nieeville.
Tilin, March. A single specimen. This species will shortly
be described by Mr. de Nieeville.
253. Isotcinon subtestaceus, Moore.
Tilin, March. Three specimens.
■8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
254. Isoteinon masoni, Moore.
Tilin, March. Four specimens.
255. Isoteinon satwa, de Niceville.
Tilin, March, April. Three specimens.
256. Isoteinon cephala, Hewitson.
Tilin, December to May. Very common.
257. Isoteinon fiavipennis, de Niceville.
Tilin, March. Three specimens.
258. Satarupa bhagava, Moore.
Tilin, March to May. Common.
259. Satarujja phisara, Moore.
Tilin, March. Two specimens.
260. Tagiadcs rati, Moore.
Tilin, December and March. Seven specimens.
261. Tagiadcs khasiana, Moore.
Tilin, November, December and January. Five specimens.
262. Tagiadcs menakd, Moore.
Tilin, March. A few specimens.
263. Abaratha syrichthus, Felder.
Loungat, May. Three specimens.
264. Abaratha, n. sp.
Tilin, March. A single specimen. Will shortly be
described by Mr. de Niceville.
265. Hyarotis adrastus, Fabricius.
Tilin, March.
266. Coladenia dan, Fabricius.
Tilin, November to April. Common.
267. Coladenia indrani, Moore.
Tilin, April. A single specimen.
268. Udasj)es folus, Cramer.
Pauk, September ; Tilin, March.
269. Celcenorrhiiius leucocera, Kollar.
Tilin, March, April ; Choungkwa, May. Very common,
270. Notocrypta restricta, Moore.
Tilin, November to March. Very common,
271. Tapena thwaitesi, Moore.
Tilin, May. A single specimen.
THE GENUS CHLOROPSIS. 69
272. Tapena agni, de Nic6villa
Tilin, March. A single specimen.
2 73. Asticfopterus olivascens, Moore.
Tilin, April. Two specimens.
274. Astietopterus sakala, Moore.
Pauk to Tilin, November ; Tilin, December to May.
275. Kerana aurivittata, Moore.
Tilin, November to April. Common in company with
C. leucocera, both species frequently caught together sitting
on the underside of the same leaf.
276. Ilcspcria zebra, Butler.
Pauk, September, November ; Tilin, March. Three
specimens.
THE GENUS CHLOROPSIS.
By E. C. S. Baker.
(Read at the Meeting of the Bombay Natural History Society
on 31st March, 1891.)
It is with a thorough sense of my inability to treat the subject as it
deserves, that I venture to write the following remarks on the place
which the genus Chloropsis should hold in the Avifauna, but at the
same time I trust that it will induce others more competent to come
forward and either correct or support the views taken by myself.
In the first place, I will quote Oates' words on the subject in full,
and will then take them in detail. The paras, will be found in the
"Fauna of British India Birds," Vol. I., p. 234 : —
" Ch loropm is always placed amongst the bulbuls, but with the
exception of the very short tarsi, there is nothing in common
between the two to point to any close relationship.
" In this genus the bill is slender and curved, and about as long as
the head ; the tip is notched, and the nostrils are oval ; the rictal
bristles are weak ; the frontal feathers are advanced up to the
nostrils ; the head is not crested ; the wing is rounded, and the tail
is short and square; the tarsi are very short, shorter than the middle
toe without the claw."
60 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Taking these alleged differences in detail —
" Bill slender and curved" Can the fact of the bill being slender
be advanced as a reason for dividing this bird from the Brachy-
podince, a Sub-family, which admittedly includes birds having such
opposite forms of bill as are exhibited in the two birds, Hypsipetes
and Sjrizixns ? Which, I ask, shows the greater difference, a com-
parison between the mandibles of these two genera, or between those
of Chloropsis and the former ?
As regards the bill being curved, the majority of the bulbuls
possess this attribute strongly, all more or less, " and about as long as
the head.'" Here, again, we may refer to Spizi.vus as having about
the shortest bill of any bulbul, scarcely exceeding one- third the length
of the head; in Alucurus the bill is a little under one-half the length,
in many bulbuls it is about, or rather more than half the length of
the head ; in Iole we find that is equal to three-quarters, whilst in
Hypsipetes the length of the bill is the same as the head. So that
in this genus the proportionate length of the bill is the same as in
Chhropsis.
" The bill is notched " This is also a characteristic of the bills of
Oates' Sub-fam, Brachypodince.
" The nostrils are oval." Again the same as in that Sub- family.
" The rictal bristles are iceak." This is certainly a feature which is
rare in the Sub-family as curtailed by him, but even in this case
there are many degrees of strength and length. Thus in Hypsipetes
the rictal bristles are decidedly less developed than in many of the
other genera, and again there is a vast difference in the stoutness of
those found in the birds Alucurus and Ilcmixu.s.
" The frontal feathers are advanced up to the nostrils. In Spizixus
we actually find that they not only come up to the nostrils but
assume an enlarged character, and they are called by Oates
" plumelets," these same plumelets partially overhanging and
obscuring the nostrils.
" The head is not crested." Nor have all the bulbuls crested heads, as
for instance Alophooxus, etc. Indeed, in the Sub-family the form
of the head feathers range from such as are found in the full-crested
birds Ilypxi/H'frs, Spizivus, and others through Molpastes (see Oatca'
THE GENUS CHLOROrSIS. 61
sketch of M. teacofcs and others of this genus ) to that remarkable
bird, Track i/comux ocltroccpkalax.
" Tkc wing is round 'd.'' A characteristic of the wing of the Bracky-
podiii'r in common with the other members of the C rate ropod idee.
" The tail is short and square. " This again is a point to which not
the slightest importance can, to my mind, be given, in a group of
birds in which the type of tail graduates from the long-forked
tail of Sypsipetes to the short rounded one of Mieropm*
" Tarsi arc very short." An extremely strong characteristic
of the Sub-family Brackypodimc.
The absence of the nuchal hairs is not important, as they are not
always present in the members of the Sub-family, and again are
present in others separated by Oates from it, as in Irene.
The main difference therefore lies in the fact that the sexes are
differently coloured, and to those who deem this in itself a sufficient
reason for the removal of the genus from the Sub-family
Brack ijpodinoi-, I would suggest that these birds be placed by them-
selves in a separate Sub-family coming after the bulbuls and leading
into Irene and Orioins.
Having thus, I fear but indifferently, shown the weakness of the
reasons for separating this bird from the Sub-family, I may now
state reasons, which I consider to be very strong, why they should
be retained in it.
First, as regards food and their manner of feeding. In this
I think nothing can be advanced as a reason for separating them,
whereas the fact that many bulbuls and Chloropsis feed on the same
food and feed in the same manner, is evidence to a certain extent
showing that they should be placed in the same group. Some time
ago, in an article to the Asian on some of the Ckhropsis, I men-
tioned the fact that I had seen them feeding on white ants which
they captured on the wing, and at the same time I mentioned the
fact that I had also noticed this trait in Molpastcs and in Otocompsa
(both cmeria an&ftatircnfris).
Then their flight is that of a bulbul's, nearly approaching that of
Otocompsa, but less jerky and perhaps quicker.
Voice. — It is quite true that in this respect there are certain differ-
ences, but to no greater extent than exist amongst bulbuls themselves.
62 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Many of the notes are almost indistinguishable from the notes of
Otoconipsa. I have often listened to these birds when they have been
feeding- in company with 0. flavlvcntrls, and have noticed that certain
of the lower notes used by them cannot be ascribed with certainty
to either bird. Again, a harsh note that they often use when irritat-
ed, is exactly like a common cry of Sypsipetes concolor. The song of
the male is a most typical bulbul's. Another trait that they show
in common with many bulbuls is their aptitude for imitation.
I have frequently heaid birds of this genus, more especially
aurifrons, imitating the cries of Shrikes and other birds. That
the common form of bulbuls do mimic other birds is a well known
fact.
Sociability. — Oates states that these birds are to be found either singly
or in pairs. With this statement I most emphatically disagree ; every
year I see hundreds of these birds, and my experience tells me that
throughout the cold season Ohloropsis aurifrons and harduickll always,
and jerdonl generally, are to be found in flocks, these flocks being
often of considerable size. Nor by this do I merely mean to say that
many individuals are to be sometimes found feeding on the same tree,
for should they be frightened away, they still keep together and do
not disperse, as they would do had they no connection with one
another. Again, I have repeatedly watched a flock of these birds for
some length of time at a stretch, and can confidently assert that they
keep together when on the wing, whilst" outlying and straggling
birds repeatedly call to and are answered by other members of the
flock, which they always rejoin in a few minutes.
Nldlfication. — Here I think is most plainly shown the position of
these birds amongst the Avifauna, showing the very strongest
affinity to the bulbuls.
The nests. — I have seen many of C. jerdonl, hardtclckll, and aurifrons,
which are in every essential, almost, if not quite, indistinguishable from
nests of H. psaroides and concolor, a few being of the same type as
that of Hemiros flavala.
Like the nests of Sypsipetes those of Chloropsis are generally
placed in some small horizontal fork of a branch of a high tree, and
like them are, more often than not, placed at a considerable height
from the ground, and close to the top or outside of the tree.
THE GENUS CHLOROPSJS. -Vj
If the eggs arc closely examined they too prove to be of typical
bulbul's character ; and I think that almost any one, not knowing
■what they were, would unhesitatingly declare them to belong to an
individual of the Sub-fam. ^rachypoditim.
I have one clutch of eggs of C. hanUciclcii that can be matched by
many eggs of Mypsipetes coneolor, agreeing with them both in size
and general colouring ; another clutch of eggs (C. aurifrons) is very
like some eggs of A/ucunis .striatus now in my possession, and like the
latter eggs the markings are of a more decided brown tinge than is
common amongst bulbuls' eggs.
In texture the eggs differ in no way from the common kinds of
bulbuls' eggs, that is to say, they are fairly close-grained and
smooth, showing little or no gloss, and are, in proportion to their size,
rather fragile.
I have ventured these few notes, not for a moment under the
impression that I am an authority on the subject, but because
I have had, what I believe to be, very exceptionable opportunities of
watching this genus in a state of nature, and because every trait that
I have noticed leads me strongly to the belief that these birds are
true bulbuls ; whether worthy of a sub-family to themselves or not,
I leave it for better ornithologists to determine.
I must also observe that I cannot help thinking, that it is both
more natural and convenient to classify birds by their external
characteristics taken in conjunction with their habits — nidification
especially — than to assign them a place in a system worked out almost
entirely on the internal structure of the bird. Again, the latter system
entails immense extra labour, as in a dry skin the internal parts
are wanting, and in dried, carbolized specimens, they are generally
mutilated and incomplete, thus entailing the necessity of the orni-
thologist obtaining his own specimens for the work of classification,
a matter not only of great difficulty, but often absolutely impossible.
In conclusion, I think I may say that as regards this genus in
life, it shows stronger affinities to the Sub-fam. Braehpodinw than to
any other, that in its external characteristics many points confirm
this connection, whereas they shew no strong reason for dividing
them from the Sub-fam., with the one exception of the different
coloration of the sexes.
64 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
A LIST OF THE ODORIFEROUS GRASSES OF INDIA,
WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF
ANDROPOGON.
By Mrs. J. C. Lisboa.
(Read at the Society's Meeting on 31st March, 1891.)
In my paper on the Odoriferous Grass's of India and Ceylon, read
at the Society's Meeting held on the 7th August, 1889, I enumerated
several Andropogons which are found growing wild or cultivated
in different parts of India and Ceylon, and which yield aromatic
oils and other scented products, illustrating my notes of some of
the grasses therein mentioned, with drawings and specimens which
were then available. Since then, specimens of all the known scented
grasses of India have come to hand, some being kindly lent by
Mr. Duthie of Saharanpore. These I have the pleasure of exhibiting
here to-day, together with the description of a new species of
Andropogon hitherto inedited. The following are the chief species
of Andropogons enumerated by me in the aforesaid paper.
Andropogon Nardus, Linn. This magnificent tall grass is repre-
sented by several sub-species and varieties, some of which are confined
to particular countries only, and their extreme forms differ consider-
ably from one another, but are joined by intermediate ones. The
beautiful plate in Dr. Trimen and in Bentley's work, The
Medicinal Plants, refers, according to Professor Hackel, of Poltan,
Hungary, to one of these.
The whole plant, (especially the leaves, when bruised,) is sweet-
scented, and grows wild in Ceylon, and is, I am informed, named by
the Singalese Pangirimana, or aromatic mana. It is cultivated near
Galle and other parts of the Island, and also in Singapore, for its oil,
known as Citronelle Oil.
Andropogon JDtasianus, Munro, described by Hackel as a variety
or another sub-species, grows in Sylhet. It closely approaches the
last, differing from it by its branches being erect, not geniculate,
and the hermaphrodite spikelet being aristate. A specimen of this
is on the table.
Andropogon distans, described as a distinct species by Nees in
Steudel's St/nop. Plant. Glum., Vol. I., p. 387, is considered to be a
ODORIFEROUS GRASSES OF INDIA. 65
variety "I Nard/US, to which it is joined by numerous intermedial e
forms. Some specimens of these, found in this Presidency, and
others in the N.-W-. Provinces, and kindly lent by Mr. Duthic of
Saharanpore, are laid on the table.
A. citrattLS, D.C. This grass, the leaves of which arc sold in the
bazaar, .under the name of Oil and Lili Cha (green tea), yields
lemon-grass oil, or the " oil of verbena " of commerce. In India it
occurs in the cultivated state, being found only in gardens. In my
paper above-mentioned, I have, following Munro and other authors,
described this grass as growing wild in Ceylon, side by side with
A. Nardus. I pointed out the close resemblance it {A. citvatus)
bears to the latter {A. Nardus), and that this would seem to suggest
the idea that it is only a cultivated variety of A. Nardus. In
the monograph on Andropogone recently published for DeCandolle's
Prodromus, in April, 1 888, Professor Hackel says : " A. citralus,
mentioned by DeCandollo, in the catalogue of the Herbarium of
Montpcllier, without the description of flowers, belongs either to
A. Nardus or A. Sclttcua/tthus," thus confirming my surmise.
Please compare plate 280 given by Wallich in his Plant ce
Asiaticce Rariores, under the name of Andropogon Sc/twiiaidl/us, with
the plate of Trimcn and Bentley above referred to, and the two
dry specimens exhibited here, one collected in the garden of the
Bishop of Damaun at Colaba, and the other sent by Mr. Duthic, and
marked A. Nardus. These specimens closely resemble each other.*
A. Sclacnairfhus, Linn., known to Europeans as ginger-grass, and
to the people of this country as Rosha, Boos/ia, &c, is, as I said in
my former paper, the best known of all the scented Audro])<v/oux.
It is found growing wild all over India, Ceylon, Macao, and Africa.
In this Presidency it is common everywhere. Those who have
been in Poona or Mahableshwar will have found its hi<>h culms
hanging by the roadsides, specially as one approaches Panchgani.
In Khandcish, an oil named Rosha oil, is distilled from it.
A. irr.veolor, Noes, Steud. Synop. Plant. Glum., Vol. I., p. ?jS*, is
given by Hackel as a variety of A. Schcenanthus, Linn. It grows in
Ceylon, the Nilghiris, Africa, and Mauritius; see a specimen on
1 _ — _
* At the time I read my first paper, I had nut scea Hackel' s . iph.
9
66 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the table, which is not easily distinguishable from some belonging to
A. Sc/avnant/ias.
A. Lanigcr,~De$i., FL Ail. Vol. II., 379. — This is a small, beautiful,
slender grass, known as Woolly Andropogon, common in arid tracts
of Africa and Asia. My specimens are from Sind and Baroda. Its
roots are, as stated before, used in some places as Kashas for making
tatties, &c.
A. Lcarancusa, Roxb., FL LuL, Vol. I., 27-5 ; Trim, iSp. Gram. Tab.
326. It is a tall grass with erect culms, 2 to 6 feet high, and a long
linear intercepted panicle, consisting of numerous flowering branches,
or spikes densely fasciculated. It grows in the plains, near the foot
of the Himalayas, Hurdwar, Nepal, and Karachi ; also in various
parts of Africa. Dalzell and Gibson, the authors of the Bombay Flora,
state : — " It is particularly mentioned by Arrian in his account of
Alexander's journey through the Punjab and Sind, and was gathered
by the Phoenician followers of the army in Lus, who called it Spike-
nard." It is common about Karachi, and is used as a scent by
natives. It may be found in the Amdabhad Zilla, but we think that
there must be some mistake as to its having been found in the
moist Konkan, as stated in Graham's Catalogue of the Bombay
Plants. Now, this plant, or some of its varieties, are not easily
distinguishable from A. Laniger, Desf., as you may gather by com-
paring the specimens of the two plants laid before you. In fact, in
my former paper, this difficulty in distinguishing one grass from
the other was thus mentioned : " Roxburgh, in his Flora Indica,
describes an aromatic species of Andropogon under the name of
A. Iwarancusa. Some botanists, however, think that the description
applies partly to A. Laniger and partly to A. Schccnanthus. Others
believe that there is in Northern India a grass with white hairs which,
though closely allied to A. SehcenantJius, is a distinct species."
The whole plant — roots, leaves, and inflorescence — is aromatic. It
is however not known whether any oil is distilled from it. It is
said that the aromatic roots are used by the people of Northern
India in cases of intermittent fever. Plants ' belonging to this
group of Andropogons or the following four species are described
by Munro, Thwaites, Hamilton, &c. : —
ODORIFEROUS GRASSES OF INDIA. 67
1st — A. commutatus, Steud, Synop. Plant. Glum., Vol. I., 387,
growing in Sind and Abyssinia.
2nd— A. Gidarba, Hamil., Steud., Syn. PI. Glum., Vol. I., 387,
t. hiikI in Monghyr. Both these are noted for tcrcbenthine acrid
odour and taste.
A. Ilooleri, Munro, M. S. Hack. Androjwijonca' 614, allied to A.
conrimctatus, and supposed to grow in Bhutan.
A. liridm, Thur., Enum. PL Zeylan., 367, found in Ootacamund
and Ceylon. Both these grasses are sweet-scented, but the odour is
slight and weak.
A. .sqitiirrosKs, Linn, fd., Suppl. 433; A. muHcatus, Rets, Oh.,
Vol. III., 43. It grows all over India, especially in humid warm
places, In this Presidency it is cultivated, and is also found wild in
all provinces. The plant is called bala and vedem, and its fragrant
roots, named Kashas, are well known throughout India, and used for
making tatties, fans, &c , and formerly for thatching bungalows in
the Deccan. The flowering branches of this as well as of other
beautiful grasses are sold in the bazaar.
A. PryfH.sas, Willd., Sjk, Vol. IV., 922 ; Roxb., FL Inch, Vol. I.,
2o9. This grass has an extensive range, being found all over India,
Afghanistan, Ceylon, Mauritius, Timor, Java,. Africa, and even in
some parts of Italy. It is very common in Poona, at the end of the
rains, when it is very conspicuous by its beautiful purple panicle,
consisting of 4 to 6, in some cases, even 10 spikes, congested at the
top of the long peduncle. Its vernacular name is Payen. Oania-
innrrvl, Palican, Panval, Pahca. These names are also given to
species of A. arymlqtus. Forstr.,and^l. intermedins, R. Br., the culms
of which, like those of pertnsns, are terminated by a crown of purple-
coloured spikes. The spikelets of this species have, when crushed
between the fingers, an agreeable aromatic odour, as may be ascer-
tained by examining the specimens exhibited here. None of the
agrostologists who have described this plant have, so far as I am aware,
alluded to this property. Mr. Duthie, having had his atten-
tion drawn to it, says: — " The grass enclosed in yours of the 16th
( (rtober, 1890, is certainly Aiiaropogoh pertust^. I was not aware
of its being scented." The leaves are inodorous. The cattle do
not seem to relish the plant.
08 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
A. odoratus. Under this name I have described in my last paper
a tall grass with beautiful purple-coloured inflorescence, growing- in
various parts of this Presidency. It is very abundant in Lanowli in
the fields beyond the woods, and all along the railway line, as far
down as two or three stations on this side of Poona, where it is to be
seen at the end of the rainy season, and it is called there Gaiatt wedde.
As you must have noticed, it has a close affinity to A. intermedins
of R. Br. I believe it is owing to this affinity, that in a letter
dated September 2nd, 1890, written to Dr. Lisboa, Mr. Thiselton
Dyer, Director of Kew Gardens, says : — " The claims to specific dis-
tinctness of A. odoratus are rather small." But Professor Hackel,
who has, as stated before, written a monograph on Andrqpogonece, as
late as 1889, by far the best work we have on the subject, in a letter
written to Mr. Duthie, says : — " As to Andropogon odoratus, Lisb.,
of which you sent me a specimen, I believe that it can be maintained
as a species, though the differences from A. intermediatus are slight
ones, consisting chiefly in the amount of hairiness on the rachis
and outer glumes. But the fact of the plant containing points of
aromatic oil, which A. intermediatus is almost devoid of, indicates a
true specific difference." The well-known botanist, Dr. Trimen,
Superintendent of the Gardens in Peradenyia, Ceylon, in a letter
written to Dr. Lisboa, says : — "I have to thank you for the specimens
of your grass, Andropogon. oeloratus, which is a very interesting plant.
So far as I can ascertain here, you are quite justified in describing
it as new. It is possible, however, that it may prove to be the
A. Kuntzeaniis, recently described in Hackel's monograph of the
Andropoganece, but his description does not quite fit it in all parti-
culars, nor does he mention it as being scented. It came from
Asirghar, Central India."
I am glad that Professor Hackel and Dr. Trimen support the
view I had taken of the grass. The following characters led me to
think that it is distinct from A. intermedins. The leaves are com-
paratively short and broad, cordate at the base, scabrous and scented,
with long hairs, sparingly sprinkled here and there. Nodes, always
covered with long white hairs, the rachis and the spikelets being
also very hairy, and the whole plant, the leaves and inflorescence,
especially the latter, highly scented.
ODORIFEROUS GRASSES OF INDIA.
In A. intermedins the nodes vary, with or without hairs; these
when present being shorter and scanty; the leaves longer, narrower,
and inodorous, smooth and tjlahrous, except at the base, which is
limbriated, the pedicle and glumes of the spikclets arc sparingly
pilose. If there is any scent in the spikclets, it must be a very faint
one, or, as Ilaekel says, " A. intermedins is almost devoid of odour."
P. Brown, who first described A. intermedins, G. Bcntham, and other
subsequent botanists, as far as I am aware, make no mention of the
scent. Mr. Duthie, who has paid especial attention to Indian grasses,
in his book, The Fodder Grasses of N. India, thus describes the
grass : " A tall, rather coarse-looking grass with thick fibrous roots
and long narrow leaves. It resembles A. Iscluemum and A, pcrtusus
in general appearance. But the panicles are more elongated and
much more loose." Here he makes no allusion to its odour. There
are on the table side by side specimens of A. odoratns (dry and fresh),
A. intermedins, and A. Iuoitzeanus.
A. Ischeemum, Linn., Spa. It grows in Europe, Asia Minor,
Africa, Afghanistan, China, Northern India, Pawal Pindi, the
Punjab, Jeypur, Pajputana, Aligarh, and Allahabad, and is like A.
2)ertusus and A. annuiatus, named Pahean, &c.
A. mierantlms, Kunth., Ennm. PL, Vol. I., 504. It is found in
various parts of India, and also grows in Australia, China, Japan,
Philippine Islands, and Abyssinia. It is faintly odorous.
A. villosus, Steud., Sf/n. PL Glum., I., 397. It is found in Nepal,
the Khasia mountains up to 1,800 to 2,000 feet, Kumaon, Pajputana,
and China.
The specimen on the table is kindly lent by Mr. Duthie. It is
to be noted that this Andropo/jon is described by Hackel under A.
micranthus, as one of its varieties.
The following is a new Androporjou, hitherto undescribed : —
A. Iliifjetii, Hack., var. A. fwtidus, Hack. Vern. — Podan, Padra,
Kooii, Sipi, Kuilus, Patau, and Patang. Culm 2^ — 4 feet or more,
slender, branching or decumbent, and sometimes rooting near the
base, roundish, grooved on the side of branches and leaves, smooth,
glabrous, of a pale purple colour. Sheaths smooth and polished,
lower ratlicr loose, upper appressed and somewhat carinate, glabrous,
shorter than the nodes. Nodes bearded with soft white hair. Ligula
70 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
1 line long, truncate, ciliated. Leaves 5 — 8 in. long, 5 lin. broad ;
upper smaller, linear lanceolate, narrow rotundate at the base,
terminated generally into an acute point, sparsely sprinkled with
hairs on the lower surface, few or none on the upper, scabrous on both
surfaces and margins, and distinctly divided into 2 unequal parts by
a white rib, prominent on the lower surface. Panicle 5 — 7 inches ;
long, erect, much branched, supported on a long peduncle without a
sheath. Rachis of faded purple colour, smooth or scabrous, from
minute tubercles. Nodes 6 — 9 or more, lower internodes longer.
Branches many at each node (6 — 12 at the lowest), alternate, capillary,
smooth or scabrous, semi-verticelled, unequal in length, the longest
often 5 — 6 nodes. Nodes of both the primary rachis and of the
branches slightly swollen, bearded with soft white hairs. Primary
branches give out at each node 2 — 3 secondary branches, and these, in
their turn, yield smaller tertiary branches, the ultimate branches
and the smaller primary ones bearing 3 terminal spikelets, one
sessile, and two pedicellate, and generally three pairs below the
triplet. Racemes very fragile, supported on peduncles free from
hairs. The articulation of racemes and pedicels of the pedicellate
spikelets short, hairy. Both sessile and pedicellate spikelets about
l|f lin., dull yellowish-white, or dingy-green, with a tuft of hairs at
their base. Sessile spikelets linear, oblong. 1st glume 7 — 9 nerved,
apex obtuse, margins slightly turned in, often ciliate, the dorsiun
scabrous ; 2nd glume equal to the first, rather broader, obtuse at the
apex, 5-nerved, glabrous ; 4th a very slender awn, nearly 1 inch long,
twisted to a little above the middle. The twisted part dark brown,
the upper portion straight and light-coloured. An hermaphrodite
flower in the axil. Pedicillate spikelets linear oblong ; 1st glume
obtuse at the apex, ciliolate at the margins towards the upper half,
many-nerved ; 2nd glume similar to the first, 3-nerved ; 3rd glume
hyaline, obtuse, nerveless, shorter but broader than the last two. 4th
none. No awn; stamens 3; anthers one lin. long.
Common all over the Presidency, especially in Bassein, Thana, and
over the Ghats. Specimens are received from Thana under the name
of Podcui, Koolce, Sippee ; from Bassein with that of Tain, Kullus ; and
from Bhewndy , where it grows along the embankments and in Mahals,
and is known as Padra. Used as fodder : no oil extracted. The
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ABNORMAL INFLORESCENCE OF CMSALPINIA. 71
inflorescence is scented, the odour being soft and very pleasant, or in
the language of Mr. Duthie, "deliciously scented." Hence the
name, A. fcetidus, given to this plant, is, you will admit, inappro-
priate. But, perhaps, the sense of smell like that of taste may
differ in different individuals. So far as I know, no agrostologist, not
even Mr. Hackel, has as yet described it. When towards the end of
L889, we were informed that Hackel, considering the specimen sent
to him by Mr. Duthie, belonged to a new Andvopogon, had named it as
above, it was suggested by me that A. Hackelii would be more
appropriate. To this in a letter, dated 13th November, 1890, Mr.
Duthie answered, "I think A. Hackelii, Lisb., would be a far more
appropriate name. I should think he would have no objection to
the alteration. I had better ask him." I would have still described
it in honour of Professor. Hackel, but for the following letter of
Mr. Duthie, dated 31st January last: — "Professor Hackel now
reduces his Andropogon fcetidus to a variety of Iliicjelii, Hackel.
He first gave the name A. fcetidus to specimens collected by me in
the Nimar district two years ago. He did not reply to my question
regarding the inappropriateness of the name fcetidus. He has
probably written out a description which will shortly be published."
I am not aware that Professor Hackel has as yet published his.
There is no doubt a close affinity exists between A. Hugelii, described
by Hackel from the foot of the Himalayas, and A. fcetidus, found
growing abundantly all over the Presidency, the North-Western Pro-
vinces and other parts of India, but the examination of the speci-
mens of the two Andropogons exhibited here, show there are at least
some apparent differences. The pcdicillate spikelet is destitute of the
fourth glume, whilst it is present in A. Hugelii.
CURIOUS INSTANCE OF ABNORMAL INFLORESCENCE
OF CMSALPINIA (POINCIANA) PULCIIERRIMA.
The accompanying plate contains an illustration of a curious
instance of abnormal inflorescence of Ccesalpinia (Poi)tciaiia) pulcher-
rima, which was exhibited, some months ago, at a meeting of our
Society, by Mr. E. S. Luard. In this case the peduncle and rachis
72 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1391.
were excessively developed and flattened, being about lh inches
broad. On the two flattened surfaces the flowers were crowded
together in great numbers, producing a very gorgeous effect.
Though the normal inflorescence is generally simple and un-
branched, as shown in the figure, it very frequently happens, in the
case of vigorous plants, that the inflorescence while continuing to
grow towards its top also throws out several lateral branches. The
abnormal inflorescence shown may be supposed to have been destined
for a very large and branched inflorescence, which by some cause or
other, the nature of which cannot be easily guessed, has been sud-
denly stopped in its axial growth, whereby the growth of the lateral
branches has been so much accelerated, that they have not had time
to assume their natural divergence, and originating in close proximity
to each other, with their buds struggling to obtain the most favour-
able position for development, they have been so twisted and con-
torted, that they have all been united with the axis.
A photograph showing the normal inflorescence is also given for
sake of comparison.
G. CARSTENSEN.
LANDSCAPE GARDENING IN NATIVE STATES.
By G. Cakstensen, Superintendent, Victoria Gardens, Bombay.
Very little seems to be generally known of the present state of
gardening in Native States, though there is no doubt that as rapid
strides arc being taken in this respect in those territories as in
administration and education. I have, therefore, ventured in the
following remarks to give a sketch of the more important gardens
I lately have had the opportunity of visiting. Though the last place
I visited, I shall first mention Baroda, because it undoubtedly
occupies the first place from the point of view of the landscape
gardener. The splendid new Luxmivilas Palace, now in the last
stages of completion, can hardly be surpassed in architectural beauty
or costilincss of interior decoration, and it is very rare in modern
buildings to meet witli so perfect and faultless a harmony of outlines.
A building of this extent and beauty deserves to be surrounded by
LANDSCAPE GARDENING l.\ NATIVE STATES. 73
garden winch will not only rival it in beauty, but at the same time
will assist in adding to the effect of its architectural features. H. H.
the Gaekwar must, therefore, be congratulated on having perceived
the necessity of allotting a large area to be laid out as garden and
park, under the immediate supervision of an English specialist, Mr.
Ooldriug, and of not saving any expense in endeavouring to obtain
as successful results as possible. The work of laying out the grounds
is still in its earlier stage, only the preliminary work of clearing away
villages, outhouses, regulating nullahs, &c, having been completed.
The works of road-making, terracing, rock-building, and planting-
are still in progress. From the various plans, models, &c, to which
Mr. (xoldring kindly gave me access, there appears, however, to
be no doubt that the grounds, when completed, will represent
features not found in other Indian gardens, and that the work will
involve an expenditure quite unprecedented in India. It is im-
possible, at the present stage of the works, to form a correct judg-
ment of the eventual results. It may, however, be hoped that they
will be such as to justify the expenditure and labour bestowed upon
the wrork. Among the principal features of the grounds there will
be a sunk garden, ornamented with marble fountains, statues, and
electric light; facing the palace will be another sunk garden,
exclusively reserved for the Maharani and her lady-companions, and
an architectural garden, all in the immediate vicinity of the palace.
These are all features which, though more or less remnants of old
styles of gardening, in which the art of design prevailed over the
observance of natural beauty, still have their justification in the im-
mediate vicinity of buildings, and other art objects. They prove
most attractive when strictly in harmony with the adjacent buildings,
so as to form a complement to them, and when the plants selected
for decorating such gardens are of such a nature as to complete the
harmony. In this last respect some difficulty will be found, both in
the original planting and the maintenance of the gardens, and Mr.
Goldring will deserve very great credit indeed if he succeeds, in
such a climate as that of Baroda, in obtaining the effects so essential
to a successful result in this branch of gardening. Another prominent
feature is the embellishment of a nullah with artificial rocks, built in
masonry and coated with a composition that gives them a natural
10
71 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
colour. This kind of work is obviously of the very greatest difficulty
unless carried out on a very large scale, so as to assume the pro-
portions of natural rocks ; where this is not feasible the result too
often is that even the strictest attempts at a successful imitation of
nature lead to the directly opposite result, and the artificial structure
becomes prominently apparent. In this case the features are too
small to assume any likeness to natural rocks, and even without
considering the common occurrence of imposing rock-scenery in
India, it is very doubtful whether its imitation is advisable in this
climate, as the vegetation which is necessary to give relief to the
artificial rocks, will probably in the course of time entirely hide the
original outlines, unless it is permanently and severely restricted.
The gardens in the interior courts of the palace, which are laid out
in strict harmony with the building and in accordance with the style,
are ornamented with basins and fountains, and are very attractive,
and as it is possible here to maintain an artificial damp atmosphere,
palms and ornamental foliage plants, such as crotons, alocasias, ferns,
&c, which are such essential accessories to decorative gardening in
India, are likely to flourish. The grounds surrounding the palace
are richly studded with fine specimens of old and well- grown trees,
among which chiefly some splendid tamarind trees are worthy of
notice. They lend themselves excellently to the formation of a hand-
some park, though not possessing great variety of surface, nor offer-
ing specially attractive surroundings. The beauty of the future park
will therefore almost solely depend on the effective distribution of
plantations and open spaces, and much regret will be felt at the ne-
cessity of felling a considerable number of fine trees, without which,
however, it will not be found possible to obtain the desired effects.
The supervision of this work by such a specialist as Mr. Groldring
ought, however, to be a sufficient guarantee for the due consideration
of all pros and cons. Intimate as he is with English park scenery,
no one knows better how to deal in the most judicious way with
difficulties arising out of this or similar causes. Of planting so very
little has been undertaken thus far, that a judgment cannot yet be
pronounced. It may, however, be mentioned that large trees have
been successfully transplanted by the aid of a transplanting machine
(Barron's). This is, I believe, the first experience of this kind in
LANDSCAPE GARDENING IN NATIVE STATES. 75
India, and may be found occasionally useful, though obviously not
possessing the same advantages us in English gardens, as most trees
in India do not require a very long period to uttain a considerable
size. Several temples, wells, und buildings are found scattered in
the grounds, and will undoubtedly add to the variety, and become
more or less attractive features.
The gardens at the Makurpuri Palace, the present residence of
H. H. the Graekwar, are in a more advanced state. They are, like the
palace, which has no great claim to architectural beauty, planned
partly in the Italian style. This style of gardening is better suited
for the peculiar vegetation of Southern Europe, with its evergreen
trees and shrubs, all of a more or less compact and stiff appearance,
than for the drier parts of India. To obtaiu a harmony between
this and the picturesque style of gardening to which the remainder
of the grounds are being devoted is a task of no mean difficulty, and
its success must principally depend upon the choice and distribution
of plants. This part of the work has, however, not as yet been
completed, so it would be unfair to base a judgment of the final
appearance of the gardens on the present few attractive features
which it possesses. The first attempts at embellishing the Italian
gardens, undertaken during Mr. Groldring's absence in Europe, has
proved an utter failure, and it appears to me very doubtful if complete
success can ever be obtained in the dry climate of Baroda. I shall
not tire the reader with a description of the band-stand, fountains,
and other accessories of the gardens, but restrict my remarks to the
principal feature of the gardens, the rock-garden. This includes
water-courses of rjleasing appearance, a large grotto, a water-fall, &c,
and is no doubt a remarkable work, on which large sums and great
labour have been expended, and with which no similar work in India
can be compared. But to everybody acquainted with Indian rock
scenery, or any of the numerous Buddhist caves, it cannot fail to
seem more like a beautiful toy, than a work of art, which is the more
regrettable as Mr. Goldring has taken infinite pains in obtaining an
effective result.
The gardens surrounding the JNTussarbagh Palace, the former
residence of the Court, have undoubtedly been neglected for some
years past, but bear evident traces of having been laid out with o-reat
76 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
taste, and in strict harmony with the palace. If property kept up,
and retained in their original style, the artificiality of which is so
prominent in the white marble-paved walks, fountains, and covered
walks, and by the predominance of lime-trees in the plantations, they
would remain one of the finest specimens of architectural gardening
in India.
The Public Park in Baroda, situated between the native town and
the camp, is very extensive (about a hundred acres, I believe) ancl
attractive. The river Vishwamitri winds its course through the
park, and is crossed by several more or less ornamental bridges.
The steep river-banks are here and there varied by the presence of
an ancient picturesque temple, or by solemn thick groves of shady
old tamarind- trees, by clusters of graceful bamboos, or bits of
babul- jungle, and are almost everywhere thickly studded with
clumps- of arundo and munj-grass — (Sacchancm sara) — which latter
by its graceful feathery silver-like flower-spikes, come3 near to-
rivalling the well-known pampas-grass in beauty. Following the
course of the river, many bits of beautiful scenery and objects pleas-
ing to the eye are met with, but at the same time the intelligent ob-
server cannot fail to see what excellent conditions for scenery of far
greater beauty and of imposing grandeur present themselves, but at
present are not made the most of. Another special feature of the park
are the numerous clumps of bamboos, of which several kinds are met
with. The park is just old enough to have acquired the peculiar
attractiveness which old and well-grown shady trees always lend to
garden scenery, and contains several fine specimens of trees, many of
which are but rarelv met with in Indian gardens. I could obtain
no information, as to who originally designed the plan of the park,
and should the name be known, it had better remain unpronounced^
as the designer has evidently been totally ignorant of the art and
requirements of landscape gardening, and even perfectly destitute
of taste, the principal qualification for landscape gardening. The
most prominent fault, a fault that too often betrays the hand of
amateurs in landscape gardening, is the far too great number of
roads and footpaths, the majority of which are perfectly aimless, and
too often do not serve any other purpose than to destroy effects which
in their absence might be pleasing and attractive. The original
LANDSCAPE GARDENING IN NATIVE STATES. 77
plan is defective also with regard to the distribution of plantations,
and from the beginning- the unelVective treatment of light and shade
has been further sinned against by subsequent planting, without any
noticeable thinning of the original plantations. The consequence is
that the park is at present not much more than a wilderness without
character, instead of the beautiful park which the local conditions and
the unusual advantage of charming river-scenery are so eminently
favourable for creating, and almost seem to claim as a necessity.
Great improvements could, however, easily be obtained, and a very
few weeks' work with the felling axe, under able supervision, would
entirely alter the character of the park and vastly add to its attrac-
tiveness and beauty. I understand it is H. H. the Gaekwar's inten-
tion to have the park entirely remodelled, as soon as the new gardens,
now being laid out, have been completed. The Park contains a
rather large plant house, of which the chief attractions are a few
large palms, among which is an unusually fine and large clump of the
cane-palm [Calamus rotaivj) ; but the almost entire absence of ferns,
to which plant-houses in Bombay owe their principal charm and
beauty, is strikingly felt. The zoological collection, which contains
the common kinds of wild animals, as tigers, panthers, lions, bears,
besides a few deer, is greatly in need of better accommodation, as
will be easily perceived from the fact of the deer being tied up to
trees by ropes, but also in this respect improvements are under
contemplation. As the able Superintendent of the Park, Mr. T. M.
Henry, was absent on leave during my visit, it would be unfair,
from the present state of the Park, to form any opinion as to its
general maintenance.
Though not a garden, the Camp must be mentioned as a feature
of unusual grandeur and beauty. The "maidan," one of the largest
and finest in India, surrounded by beautiful groves of old trees,
bears ample evidence of the presence of a masterhand in creating a
most perfect picture. The broad avenues, the thick clusters of trees,
and the few but wonderfully fine trees scattered over the large open
space, present a scenery, the beauty of which could not be obtained
except by judicious co-operation with nature, and may, as far as my
information goes, be credited to the hand of the late Sir James
Outram.
78 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
There can be no doubt that Baroda, as regard's the extent of its
gardens, and the annual expenditure incurred in their maintenance,
far surpasses any other town in this Presidency. Though the cli-
mate is of such a nature as never to allow of that luxuriance in
vegetation, which forms the principal attractiveness of Bombay gar-
dens, the gardens in Baroda will, owing to the almost unlimited
expenditure on their laying out and maintenance, eventually possess-
features which never can be dreamt of in Bombay. It is, however,
a consolation to know that the specially favourable climatic condi-
tions of Bombay make it possible here to obtain far greater and
more impressive effects at a comparatively low expenditure.
Another flourishing Native State, Bhownugger, which presents
in all respects most interesting features, and which, when the works
now under construction are completed, will possess some of the finest
modern buildings in India, has also with regard to gardening kept
pace with the times, and it is well worthy of notice that what in
this respect has been successfully accomplished has been done with-
out the assistance of a European gardener. The public gardens,
called the Peile Gardens, are a proof of what successful results
may be arrived at by energy and skill, aided by practical judgment
and a liberal expenditure. The site now occupied by the gardens
was but six years ago a piece of waste ground. The area of the
garden is limited, and its shape airything but a desirable one for a
garden. Though the gardens do not pretend to closely follow the
principles of landscape-gardening, no serious or apparent sins against
these principles, which are but too often overlooked in gardens of
this kind, are met with, and the talented State-Engineer, Mr-
Proctor Sims, to whose genial taste and skill this, as almost all of the
many remarkable public works in the State are due, deserves very
great credit for the results obtained. If any objection can be taken
to the design of the gardens, it is a perhaps a little too close adherence
to straight lines; but the destribution of trees and shrubs, has been
so successfully planned and carried out, as to perfectly counteract
any undue uniformity and stiffness that is generally likely to
result from this cause. Whether it be accidentally or intentionally,
the general effect is to make the gardens appear considerably larger
than they actually are. The excellency of the turf in the well-kept
I INDSC.-LPE GARDENING IN NATIVE STATES. 79
lawn* is a feature whicn is rarity mot with up-country, and which is
not surpassed even in Bombay. This fact proves that the main-
tenance of lawns, one of the most useful ornaments of gardens, is
possible in even a comparatively dry climate, when sufficiently
supplied with water. The size, shape, and choice of trees show how
rapidly and successfully the growth is fostered under climatic
conditions that arc generally considered less favourable than those
prevailing in Bombay, while it is quite out of the question to expect
certain trees, as the nim, the tamarind, the millingtonia, the horse-
radish tree, to grow to such perfection, and to assume such well-
regulated shapes in Bombay as the case is here. The almost entire
absence of crotons and other brightty-coloured shrubs in the gardens
is a striking contrast to the ordinary features of Bombay gardens.
But several fine specimens of palms, and not least, the very effective
and ornamental manner in which an approach to an old well is
decorated, amply prove that a luxuriant tropical vegetation is
possible, even where the choice of plants is so severely restricted by
the climate as here. The more or less accessory ornaments in the
gardens are all in excellent taste. The band-stand, at which H. H.
the Thakore Saheb's band performs twice a week, is a very attractive
feature. It is an octagonal rustic pavilion, covered with creepers, at
the summit of the roof is a carved figure apparently of Orpheus,
while the rafters which carry the roof are most skilfully terminated
in various animals' heads, and show signs of no mean skill in wood
carving, an art for which Bhownugger is justly celebrated. The
plant-house is a handsome structure, in the centre of which is a large
oblong ornamental tank, and is tastefully studded with groups of
palms, crotons and other foliage plants, but here, as in Baroda, owing
to the dryness of the climate, ferns are almost entirely missing. It
is occasionally used for festive banquets, and must when lighted up
present a very attractive appearance. A spiral staircase leads to a
kind of gallery from which a bird's-eye view may be obtained not
only of the interior of the plant-house, but also of the whole of the
gardens. The cages in which the small collection of wild animals is
housed, deserve to be mentioned as appearing to be comparatively
inexpensive, very simple and admirably adapted to resist the heat of
the Indian sun, while they are at the same time well ventilated and
80 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
arc not wanting in ornamental appearance. According to modern
ideas they have the fault, however, of not being isolated, and of not
being sufficiently raised above the ground. Each cage consists of a
spacious cell, enclosed by thick walls on the western and eastern
side, while the south side is furnished with bars. As the sun is
never low enough to enter the cage from this direction, the inside is
as cool as possible, and coolness is further guaranteed by a roof of
corrugated iron -plates, supporting a moderately thick layer of soil,
which is turfed and constantly kept cool by watering. This cell,
which seems to be the favourite resort for the animals at all times of
the day, is on the northern side separated from an outer open-air
cage of similar size by gratings with doors. The collection contains
among other animals, a remarkably fine pair of Kathiawar lions,
which like the other animals seem to be in a very flourishing and
healthy condition. The deer-park, which is simply fenced with
barbed wire, is fairly large, but contains only a few kinds of deer.
A white peacock, some very fine cockatoos, and a good specimen of
a sea eagle, may be noticed in the collection of birds. The garden
at Moti Bagh is, like the palace, without pretensions to beauty, but
is now being remodelled. The nurseries of plants are well kept, and
contain a good stock of healthy young plants. The cultivation of
fruit trees is rather an important feature of the Bhownugger
gardens, and a visit to the Dewan's summer-house, which is sur-
rounded by probably the best orchard in India, well repays the
short drive from the town.
The admirably systematic arrangement, the flourishing and well-
regulated growth of the trees, as also the unusually neat appearance
of the whole orchard, forcibly reminded me of well-kept market
gardens at home, naturally allowing for the diiferencc of trees and
the entirely Indian system of irrigation. The principal fruit-trees
found here are pomegranates, limes, figs, oranges, plantains, and
papayas, of which each occupy a separate quarter. I do not quite
recollect if custard-apples, mangoes, and cocoanuts are cultivated
here, but the first of these are successfully grown in other
gardens, while the cultivation of the two latter kinds is rarely
attended with success. Pomegranates, limes, and figs arc
extensively cultivated in the neighbourhood of Bhownugger,
LANDSCAPE HARDENING IN NATIVE STATES. 81
and are, T was (old, principally exported to Bombay. About
two miles from the town the site reserved for the Victoria
Park ia reached. It forma partofthe Blur, an extensive stretch
of uncultivated land, principally covered with babool jungle, of
which an area of 450 acres was fenced in by an earthen embankment
during the lasl famine a few years ago, and, by the well-known libe-
ral it v of H. H. the Thakorc Sahcb, reserved for the formation of a
park, which His Highness is anxious should in every way be worthy
of the lii»li and distinguished name it bears. The natural conditions
are almost without exception in the highest degree favourable for
the formation of a park of unusual beauty. The great variety in the
surface, in a few places rising to hills of not inconsiderable elevations,
the beautiful natural lake surrounded by babool forest, the numerous
exceptionally fine trees, and not least the varied objects of interest
or picturesque effects in the surroundings, are all features that by a
considerate assistance of nature, a suitable selection of trees, and the
effective grouping and distribution of plantations, will make it pos-
sible to create a scenery of great aesthetic effect and of rare beauty,
without having recourse to any artificial means, which, unless em-
ployed with the very greatest skill, and executed on such a scale as
to compare favourably with the natural objects they are supposed to
represent, are generally in bad taste, and calculated to mar the effect
of natural park scenery. Several gardens, the European cemetery,
and a large plantation, chiefly consisting of casuarinas, also deserve
to be mentioned as bearing evidence of the great interest taken in
1 tec-planting, a feature which is also prominently noticed at Ghadechi,
the not very distant Railway depot, which can even boast of having
a public garden of its own, though this is Very small and unpre-
tentious. Xo visitor to the neighbourhood of Bhownuo;2:er can fail
to observe the splendid condition of the crops, principally cotton, and
tin iionally high state of agriculture, a not very common fea-
t ure in India. It may perhaps interest the reader to learn that
Hhownugger possesses an incinerator, in which the town sweepino-s
and night-soil are by combustion rendered fit for supplying a most
valuable and largely-used manure. About ten miles distant from
Bhownugger, at Mohwar, the State possesses a very extensive plan-
tation of cocoanut-palms, date-palms, and bamboos, which I however
11
82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
regret not to be able to describe, as I had no opportunity of visit-
ing it. In reviewing my general impressions of gardening in
Bhownugger, I eannot but arrive at the conclusion that though
Baroda has been mentioned in the first place, as regards the extent
and number of its gardens, it is especially when the disadvantages
of the climate in Bhownugger are considered, excelled by the latter
State in respects to practical results. Gardens and plantations of
some importance are, I believe, found here and there in Kathiawar,
but as Bajkot was the only place I had the opportunity of visiting,
I must confine my remarks to this place.
Bajkot is, as is well-known, situated in the centre of Kathiawar,
and might be supposed to me most unsuitable for gardening, when
the scantiness of the annual rainfall (averaging 18 inches) and the
dryness of the atmosphere are considered. It is therefore as wel-
come as unexpected a surprise to enter, what may be almost called
an oasis in the desert, after having traversed the barren and scantily
cultivated districts through which the Morvi Railway passes. The
principal object of interest is the Bajkumar College, a handsome
building in pure Gothic style, to which an extensive garden is attach-
ed. The garden, though laid out without pretensions to aesthetic
effects, leaves a pleasing impression, the trees and plants being in a
flourishing condition and the gardens well kept. An avenue of the
Sumatran Cassia (Vilaite And), which here forms a very handsome
and shady tree, is very effective. Though the choice of kinds is ne-
cessarily limited, I was very much impressed by t^Q successful results
of planting. It may be hoped that the daily contemplation of such
pleasing surroundings may strike root and awake an intorest in
planting among the native princes who here receive their education.
The success may, I believe, be solely attributed to the talented Brin-
cipal of the College, Mr. MacNaughten, who is, I was told, himself
considerably interested in botany and gardening — a fact which is a
promising guarantee for the wider effects of the successful results.
The so-called Bublic Bark is located near the College, but has no
pi ('tensions whatever to its high-sounding name, being only a very
narrow strip of garden, of which the less said the better. The
[•den surrounding the Residency is rather extensive. and contains
sral objects of intere The present Bolitical Agent, Mr.
LIST OF BIRDS- EGGS.
S3
E. 0, K. Ollivant, whose warm interest in gardening has
accomplished such excellent results in Bombay, is vapidly im-
proving the garden, and lias already introduced several plants,
hitherto unknown in Rajkot, and will no doubt materially encourage
gardening there and assist in bringing it to a high degree of perfec-
tion. The fernery, lately erected near the Residency, and which is
approached by a most ingeniously laid-out garden, guy with coloured
shrubs and annuals in flourishing condition, bears witness to Mr.
Ollivant 's great taste and skill. It would lead too far here to enter
into a detailed enumeration of the plants which succeed in Rajkot.
Suffice it to mention that roses, geraniums, stephanotis, and many
other choice plants here grow to great perfection. It is, however,
found necessary to grow most plants in hollowed beds, with the object
of retaining: the water, or on banks enclosed by stones which tend to
retain the moisture. Lawns are a hitherto unknown feature in Rajkot,
but I have no doubt that repeated attempts will eventually prove
successful, if the water-supply will suffice for their maintenance.
Having observed the successful results of tree-planting in Rajkot
on the road-sides and near all stations of importance — such as
Wadhwan, which is notoriousl}- dry, and where tree-planting was
originally initiated by the Hon. Mr. Justice Birdwood, when residing
there several years ago — I have no hesitation in expressing my belief,
that a great deal might be effected by judicious tree-planting in
Eathiawar. It might even be probable by this means, eventually,
to counteract some of the most important defects of the climate, and
at the same time to add varietjr and picturesque beauty to the present
desolate and uninteresting features of the greater part of the country.
(The above appeared in the Bombay Gazette on the 22nd and 29th
November, 1890.)
LIST OF BIRDS' EGGS
IN THE SOCIETY'S COLLECTION
On 1st January, 1SD1.
84 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
LIST OF BIIi])S' EGGS
85
Jerdon's
No.
Scii'iit ilic Xn'iH'.
Popular Namo.
No. of
Eggs.
397
407
410
412
422
432
435
430
488
452
458
400 bis.
461
402
408
470
475
479
480
494
515
530
535
538
539
543
545
547
549
551
582
589
600 .
631
660
663
674
677
682
683
Dumetia hyperythra, Frcmkl
Garrulas leucolophus, Haraw. ...
Garrulax rulieollis J. Lard 8f Sclb
Garrnla pectoralis, Goirfd
Trochalopterum phcjeniceum,
Gould.
Malacocercus terricolor, Hodgs...,
Malacocercua Bomervillei, Sykes..
Argya malcolini, Sykes.
Chatarrhoea caudata, Dum. ...
lxus luteola, Less
Otocompsa leucogenys, J.E. Gr...
Otocompsa fuscicaudata, Gould...
Molpastes pyga^us, Hodgs
Molpastes hoetnorrhous, Gm
Iora tip hia, Lin
Oriolus kimdoOj Sijkes
Copsychus saularis, Lin
Thainnobia fulicata, Lin
Thamnobia cambaiensis, Lath. .
Cercomela fasca, Bhj
Rh\Tacornis fuliginosa, Vig.
Ortliotomus sutorius, Forst.
Prinia stewarti, Bly
Prinia gracilis, FranJd
Cisticola cursitans, Frankl.
DrymcBca inornata, Sykes...
DryniCEea sj-lvatica, Jerd. .,
Snya crinigera, Hodgs
Suya atrigularis, Moore ....
Franklinia buchanani, Bhj.
685
687
694
695
Sylvia affinis, Bly
Motacilla maderaspatensis, Gm.,
Corydalla rufala, Vieill
Zosterops palpebrosa, Tern
Corvus macrorhyuchus, Wagl. ...
Corvns spleudens, Veille
Dendrocitta rnfa, Scop
Dendrocitta frontalis, Mc. Clell...
Sturnus nitens, Hume
Starnopastor contra, Lin
Acridotheres tristis, Lin
Acridotheres ginginianus, Lath
Sturnia pagodarum, Gm
Ploneus philippinus, Lin
Ploceus manyar, Horsf.
The ftnfous-bellied Babbler ..
The White-crested Langhin
Thrash.
The Rufous-necked Laughing
Thrush.
The Black-gorgetted Laughing
Thrush.
The Crimson- winged Laughing
Thrush.
The Bengal Babbler
The Rufous-tailed Babbler
The Large Grey Babbler ...
The Striated Bush Babbler
The White-browed Bush
Bulbul.
The White-cheeked Crested
Bulbul.
The Southern Red-whiskered
Bulbul.
The Common Bengal Bulbul .
The Common Madras Bulbul
The White-winged Iora
The Indian Oriole
The Magpie Robin
The Indian Black Robin ....
The Brown-backed Indian
Robin.
The Brown Rock- Chat
The Plumbeous Water Robin
The Indian Tailor Bird
Stewart's Wren Warbler —
The Malabar Wreu Warbler.
The Rufous Grass Warbler .
The Common Wren Warbler...
The Jungle Wren Warbler
The Brown Mountain Wren
Warbler.
The Black-breasted Wren
Warbler.
The Rufous-fronted Wren
Warbler.
The Lesser White Throat
The Pied Wagtail
The Indian Titlark
The White-eyed Tit
The Bow-billed Corby
The Common Indian Crow ...
The Common Indian Magpie ..
The Black-browed Magpie ...
Hume's Starling
The Pied Starling
The Common Myna
The Bank Myna
The Black-headed Myna
The Common Weaver Bird
The Striated Weaver Bird ...
2
2
4
3
2
1
2
4
9
1
5
2
3
4
2
9.
7
6
1
5
3
7
o
15
4
2
1
3
2
8
4
2
2
3
1
3
3
4
4
4
80 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Jeidon's
No.
Scientific Name.
Popular Name.
No. of
Sees.
oct.
696
D98
099
703
706
724
756
760
765
7S8
794
79'>
796
802
803
803
814
816
819
820
822
823 bis
826
830
832
836
843
847
855
856
858
859
863
873
900
yoL
902
903
905
907
909
'.) i 3
920
!)23
1)25
926
1*27
929
930
933
937
938
939
940
941
Ploceus bengalensis, Lin.
Amadina rubronigra, HoJgs ,
Amadina punctulata, Lin
Amadina malabarica, Lin
Passer dornesticus, Lin
Melophus melauicterus, Gm
MiratVa erythroptera, Jerd
Pyrrhulauda grisea, Scon
Spizalauda deva, Syles ,
Culumba intermedia, Strichl
Tartar senegalensis, Lin
Turtur snratensis, Gm
Tuitur risorius, Lin
Pfcerocles exustus, Tern
Pavo cristatus, -Lin ...
Megapodius nicobaricus, Bly. ...
Galloperdix spadiceus, Gm
Tetraogallus himalayensisG.R.Gr
Francolinus pictus, Jerd
Caecabis cbukor, J. E. Gr
Ortygornis pondicerianus, Gm. ...
Perdix hodgsoniae, Hodgs ,
Perdicula asiatica, Lath ,
Cotttrnix coroniandelica, Gm. ...
Turnix taigoor, Sykes
Eupodo+Us edwardsi, J- E. Gr. ..
Sypheotides aurita, LntJi
Glareola lactea, Tern
JEgialitis mongola, Pali
Lobivanellus indicas, Bodd
Lobipluvia malabarica, Bodd. ..
yl'isacns recurvirostris, Guv
^Edicnemus scolopax, S.G. Gm...
Grus antigone, Lin*
Rhynchsea bengalensis, Lin
Parra indica, Lath
Hydrophasiarias chirurgas, Scdb.
Porphyrio poliocephalas, Lath .
Fulica atra, Lin
Gallinula chloropus, Lin
Erythra phoenicara, Penn
Por/.ana maruetta, Loach
Hypotrenidia striata, Lin
Dissura episcopa, Bodd
Ardea cinerea, Lin ...
Herodias torra, B. Ham
Herodias intermedia, Hass
Herodias garzetta, Lin
Bubulcus coromandus, Bodd. ..
Ardeola grayi, Si/hes
Anletta cinnamomea, Gm
Nycticoras grisea, Lin
Tantalus leucocephalus, Forst. ..
Platalea leucorodea, Lin
Anastomus oscitaas, Bodd
Ibis melanoeepbala, hath
The Black-throated Weaver
Bird.
Tbe Chestnut-bellied Mania...
The Spotted Mania
The Plain Brown Mania
The House Sparrow
The Crested Black Bunt ins ...
The Bed-winged Bush Lark ...
The Black-bellied Finch Lark.
The Small Crown Crest Lark .
The Blue Rock Pigeon
The Little Brown Dove
The Spotted Hove
The Common Ring Dove
The Common Sand Grouse ...
The Pea-Fowl
The Nicobar Mound Bird
The Bed Spur-Fowl
The Himalayan Snow-Cock ...
The Painted Partridge
The Chukor Partridge
The Grey Partridge
The Tibetan Partridge
The Ruck Bush Quail
The Black-breasted Rain Quail
The Black-breasted Bustard
Quail.
The Indian Bustard
The Likh
The Small Swallow Plover ...
The Lesser Sand Plover
The Red- wattled Lapwing
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing .
The Large Stone Plover
The Stone Plover
The Sarus.
The Painted Snipe
The Bronze-winged Jacana ...
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana ...
The Purple Coot
The Coot
The Moor-Hen
The White bellied Water Hen.
The Spotted Crake
The Blue-breasted Rail
The White-necked Stork
The Blue Heron
The Large Egret
The Smaller Egret
The Little Egret
The Cattle Egret
The Pond Heron
The Chesnut Biitern
The Night Heron
The Pelican Ibis
The Spoonbill Heron
The Shell Ibis
The White Ibis
2
1
5
o
2
2
5
1
2
1
2
4.
3
4
1
4
1
1
2
2
9
2
5
(i
1
5
a
5
6
3
1
2
3
4
4,
G
1
3
3
4
1
2
1
1
3
3
1
5
4
4
3
5
4
6
G
ERVAT10N0P INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS, fyc.
Jortlon's
No.
Scientific N:
Popular Nam
N'u. "I
94 I
950
91S9
M70
972 bis.
975
984
985
38 (cr.
its:)
990
] '04
1007
lUUS
1 hoenicoptertis ani [quorum, T\ m
Sarcidiornia mclanonot us, /'. ,> n
Fuligula nyroca, Quid
Fttligula marila, Lin,
Meruus serratbr, Lin
Podiceps minor, Qm.
aelidon hybrlda, Pall
: Da fern;!, 8ykes
Sterna sanndersi, Hume
Sterna b< rgii, IAcht
Sterna media, Horsf
Pelecanus Philippensis, Gm. .. .
Phalacrocorax fuecicollis, Step ..
Phalacrocorax Pygmseua
Plotus melanogaster, Perm
Tetra tetrix
St ruthio cameras
Dromaius novx -hollandiae
The Flamingo
'l':.. Comb Duck
The \\ hite ej ed Pochard
The Scaup '
The Eted-breaated 3Wergan
The Dabchick
Marsh Tern
The [Arge River Tern
Saunder's Little Tern
The Large Sea Tern
The Smaller Sea Tern
The Grey Pelican
The Lesser Cormorant
The Little Coromorant
The Snake Bird
The Hiack Grouse ...
The Ostrich (laid in Boml
The Emu (laid in Bombay) ..
1
4
O
I
4
7
4
6
2
8
3
3
•>
i
2
1
THE PRESERVATION OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS, BIRDS OP
PLUMAGE, AND GAME IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCES.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Chief Commissioner, Central Provinces, in
the General Department. Dated Nagpur, the ord January, 1890.
RESOLUTION.
Tke question of doing something to protect the insectivorous birds and birds of
plumage, and to stop the indiscriminate slaughter of game at all seasons of the
year, has been for some time past Under the consideration of the Chief Commissioner.
After consulting Colonel Doveton. the Conservator of Forests, and Mr. R. Thomp-
son, late Deputy Conservator of Raipur (now Officiating as Conservator of the
S ruthern Circle), Mr. Mackenzie has come to the conclusion that, although the
subject can perhaps only be effectually dealt with by legislation, it is possible to
take some tentative steps in this direction Under the provisions of the Forest Act
and the Rules regulating the grant of licenses to Use fire-arms. The necessitv of
early action in the matter has been pressed upon the Chief Commissioner from
various quarters. The destruction of birds, for the sake of their feathers, has in
some districts been carried to such lengths as to threaten the extermination of
several interesting species, and the operations of Native Shikaris are similarly
bringing about the extinction of various kinds of deer and antelope.
2. In October, 1888, Mr. Thompson, whose authority as a naturalist and sports
man is beyond dispute, submitted to the Chief Commissioner a rough draft of a
88
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
list of those birds which in his opinion ought to be protected. He divided his list
into two classes, thus ; —
Class A.— Birds which destroy insects and other pests injurious to vegetation.
Class B. — Birds the flesh of which is used for human food.
Class A again was sub-divided into —
(1) Birds which prey upon mice and rats, animals which are injurious to
agriculture 5 and
(2) Birds which eat insects as their natural food.
Class B was sub-divided thus :
(1) The so-called game birds.
(2) Other birds not ordinarily treated as game, but the flesh of which is
eaten by certain castes.
Birds of Class A he proposed to protect at all seasons of the year s of Class B
only during the breeding season.
In submitting these lists, Mr. Thompson remarked that he had followed Jerdon's
nomenclature, as Jerdon's works were to be found 111 all District libraries. He
also pointed out that in the Central Provinces the natives were singularly indis-
criminatiug in their nomenclature of birds— and had indeed no terms at all to
denote many species. Mr. Thompson added that his lists did not pretend to
scientitic accuracy, as his object was entirely practical.
I!. The lists were returned to Mr. Thompson with some criticisms and sugges-
tions by Mr. Fuller, Commissioner of Settlements and Agriculture, and Mr.
Thompson was asked to revise and settle them, and also to report on the proper
close seasons for those Mammals which ought to be protected.
4. Mr. Thompson has now submitted four lists as follows : — •
A. — A list of the more common Insect-eating birds of the Central Provinces.
This list comprises : —
Systematic name.
(1) Vernacular name.
(2) Common English
name.
Brief note of habitat.
Breeding season
(close season).
1. Swallows and
Swifts-
llirumlo rustica ....
,, filifera ....
,, daiuica...,
Cotvle sinensis ....
,, concolor
Ababil. Common
Swallow.
Ababil. Leislira.
Wire-tailed Swal-
low.
Ababil. Red-rumped
Swallow.
Abali. Bank Martin.
Abali. Crag Mai tin
4.11 three swallows
are permanent
inhabitants of
wooded and hilly
districts of the
Central Provin-
ces.
Lives in the vicinity
of sandy rivers and
nallas
Bare. Hilly and
wooded districts.
From March to
October, accord-
ing to locality.
From November
to June.
PRESERVATION OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS, fyc.
89
Systematic name.
(1) Vernacular name.
(2) Common English
name.
Brooding seasou
(close season).
Cypselus affinis
Ababil, Bubila. In-
dian Swift.
batassiensis Tari- Ababil.
Swift.
Dendrochelidon coro-
nata.
2. Night -Jars or
Goat-Suckers.
Caprimulgus indicus
,, albonotatus
„ asiaticus ...
,, monticolus.
3. Bee- Eaters.
Palm
Merops viridis
Merops pbilippensis
4. King-Fishers.
Halcyon fuscus
5. Woodpeckers.
Picas mahrattensis...
Yungipicus Hard
wickii.
Chrysoeolaptes sul
taneus.
,, goensis
Gecinus striolatus ...
Bracbypterus auran-
tius.
,. chrysonotius.
,, dilutus
Yunx torquilla
Crested Tree-
Swift.
Common everywhere,
nesting within
buildings.
Only where the tod-
dy palm is found.
Iu open forests.
Jungle Night-Jar ...
Dubki. Large Night-
Jar.
Chippak. Lesser
Night- Jar.
,, Franklin's
Night- Jar.
Patunga. Common
Bee-Eater.
Buna Patunga. ,,
Kil-killa. Kingfisher
Throughout the
year.
| From November
| to June.
The Night-Jars
occur in all the
forests and well
wooded districts
in the Centra
Provinces. They
j> also occur, some
times, as garden
visitors in such
open country as
that surrounding
Raipur and Na
pur.
Throughout the Ccn
tral Provinces.
Larger sandy rivers.
Throughout the Cen-
tral Provinces.
Much sought after
for its skin and
feathers.
All Woodpeckers
are known to
natives unilei
} one general
! name, Lokar-
phor, / <■ . wood-
splitter.
J
The Woodpecker
inhabit the whole
of the wooded and
hilly tracts in the
Central Provinces
Several occur in j
gardens and in the
avenues of tree
planted on road
sides.
! From November
to June.
From November to
June.
From February to
July.
From Februaiy to
July.
From February
to August,
according to
local it v.
J
Cold season visi
tor.
12
90
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 189!.
Systematic name.
(1) Vernacular name.
(2) Common English
name.
6. Cuckoos.
Cuculus canorus
„ micro ptera.
Hierococcyx varius..
Polyphasia nigra
Surnieulus dicruroi-
des.
Coccystes malano-
leucos.
7. Shrikes.
Lanius lahtora
,, erythronotus.
„ nigriceps
„ Hardwickii...
,, cristatus
Tephrodornis pondi-
ceiiana.
Volvocivera Sykesii.
Volvocivera mela-
chistos.
Graueulus Macei
Kuphoo. Cuckoo.
Kuphoo.
Papaya.
Brief note of habitat
Breeding season.
(close season).
Arrives in the Cen-
tral Provinces dur-
ing May, and de-
parts during July.
Forest bird
In all wooded dis-
tricts
Do.
Forest bird
Wooded districts, not
very common.
From April to
August accord-
)■ ing as their
respective
hosts breed.
1st April to 31st
October.
Lahtora. Grey Shrike.
Lahtora. Rufous
backed Shrike.
Lahtora. Black-head-
ed Shrike.
Lahtora. Bay-backed
Shrike.
Lahtora. Crested
Brown Shrike.
— — Wood Shrike.
Back-headed Cuckoo
Shrike.
Dark-grey Cuckoo-
Shrike.
LargeCuckoo-Shrike.
8. Minivet s.
Pericrocotus spe-
cioses.
„ peregrinus
..Drongo Shrikes.
Dicrurus macro-
cercus.
,, cerulescens ..
Edolius paradiseus ...
Saliili. Large Minivet.
Sath-Sahili. Small
Minivet.
Open jungly districts.
Do.
Wet localities.
Open jungly districts
Wintervisitor. Affects
gardens and groves
Open jungly districts
Do.
Open juDgly districts
Do.
Forest bird.
Open jungles.
1
Bojanga. Common
Drongo.
Pahari-Bojanga.
White-bellied
Drongo.
Bhimraj. Racket
tailed Drongo.
Open cultivated dis-
tricts.
Wooded hilly locali
ties.
1st February to
j 31st July.
Does not breed in
the country.
i 1st July to 31st
i October.
1st July to Slst
October.
1st March to
31st October.
Forests
f. March to July.
PRESERVATION OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS,
91
Systematic name.
(1) Vernacular name.
(2) Common English
name.
Uriel note of habitai .
Breeding season
(close season).
10. Fly- Catchers.
Tchitrea paradisi ...
Myiagra azurea
11. Ground Thrushes
Pitta bengalensis
12. Babbling
Thrushes. .
Malacocercus terri-
color.
,, Malcolmi..
13. Starlhir/s.
Sturnopastov contra.
Acridotheres tristis...
14. Sparrows.
Passer indicus
Shah-Bulbul. Para
dise Flycatcher.
Blue Fly-catcher.
Nourang.
breasted
Thrush.
Yellow-
Ground
Forests
Do.
Do.
Sat-Bhaini. Goungai
Babbling Thrush.
Goungai
flavicollis.
Ablak'. Ablaka
Starling.
Mnina. Dudhi. Star-
ling.
Gouriya. Sparrow
Jungly Gouriya....
May to Septem-
ber.
May to Septem-
ber.
Woods, gardens, and
low jungle.
Open jungly plains.
Moist, wooded locali-
ties.
Spread throughout
the country.
Common house spar-
row.
Jungly districts.
breeds in trees.
> From April to
j December.
From May to
November.
All seasons.
March to July
Mr. Thompson furnishes the following note upon List A : —
The more prominent species have been selected for preservation. The Raptorial
birds have been excluded from the list ; because — 1st, the majority of the species
are only visitors during the cool season ; 2nd, they are rarely or never shot ; and
3rd, those species which breed in the country are rarely even molested.
A large number of insectivorous birds, which breed in the forests of these Pro-
vinces, have also been omitted from the list, as their protection during the breeding
season, and at all times, can be best secured by the action of the Forest Depart-
ment. These birds are the Forester's friends.
In the list the breeding season with dates is given. A few birds, such as
starlings, swallows, and sparrows are trapped and eaten by the lower-caste Hindus
and aborigines, but the great majority of the birds whose names appear in the list
enjoy ;i certain immunity from their human enemies. The protection of all tin
f>2
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1691.
birds given in the list should not be confined to the breeding season alone. Such
birds are useful adjuncts to all agricultural and arboricultural operations and to
the growing crops, and ought therefore to be permanently protected for the
services which they thus render.
I have not attempted, in any of the lists now submitted, to quote any authority
for the dates of the breeding season. The reason why authorities, whose notes are
available to the reading public, vary so much in their dates for the breeding
season, is because the ruling factors which govern bhe breeding seasons are both
heat and moisture together, which mean abundance of food at those seasons. But
as these factors vary with the varying conditions imposed on a locality by its geo-
graphical position, topographical features, and general environment, so also do
the breeding seasons vary in their periods of times according to locality. Hence
what is true as regards a given locality or tract of country, may not be true for
another tract of country differently localised.
The dates which I have ventured to insert in the lists have been acquired by
personal observation, continued and corrected by a residence of more than twenty
years in these Provinces. For the dates of breeding seasons given in the accom-
panying lists I am solely responsible.
A kingfisher (Halcyon fuscus) has been introduced in List A. But the fact is
that the habitual food of this kingfisher consists of lizards, mice, crabs, and a few
insects. This bird is, however, trapped and killed for the sake of its feathers in
ever-increasing numbers everywhere in these Provinces, and unless speedy protec-
tion is afforded to it, this kingfisher is certain to disappear from the living fauna
of the country. It has already, during the course of the last 20 years, become
extremely rare in the Southern, Western and Eastern districts of the Central
Provinces. It is in these districts that the operations of the professional bird-
catchers have been and are still being carried out with fatal effect against this bird.
I therefore venture to hope that any measure now introduced for its protection is
justified for reasons above given.
B. — A List of Game Birds which breed in the Central Provinces.
PRESERVATION OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS, «yc.
93
Systematic name.
Vernacular name.
Brief note of habitat.
Breeding season
(close season).
3. Jungle-Fowl.
Callus ferrugineus
„ Sonneratii
4. Spur-Fowl.
Gallopcrdix spadi
ceus.
„ lunulatus
t>. Partridge.
Francolinus vulgaris
Jungly Murgbi
Jungly Murghi
Choti Jungly Mur-
ghi.
Choti Jungly Mur-
ghi.
„ pictus,
Ortygomis pondice-
riana.
6. Quail.
Coturnix coroman-
delica.
7. Bush-Quail.
Perdicula argoonda. .
, , ftSlcLTlCcl • • •
Micvoperdix blewitti.
8. Bustard- Quail.
Kala tittir
Kala titur
Gora titur
Chinuk
Turnix pugnax
,, joudera
,, dussumieri ..
9. Bustard.
Eupoditis Edwardsii.
Lawa
Lawa
Sirsi-Lavva
Gundru ....
Gundru —
Tura-Dubki.
Hoom Tokdur
Forest bird. Eastern
portions of the
Central Provinces.
Forest bird. Western
portion of the
Central Provinces.
Forest bird. Thick
jungles and low
hills.
Forest bird. Bambu
thickets.
Eastern and North
ern portions of
Sambulpur only.
Well distributed in
open jungles and
grassy glades.
Low jungle round
cultivation. Live
hedges.
"1
J» 1st March to
I 30th November.
J
Grass plains
Rocky wastes
Jungle bird
Grassy glades in
heavy forests near
water.
1
! 1st March to
| 3 1st November.
J
1
}-lst June to 30th
November.
I
J
1st January to 30th
June.
1st May to 30th
November.
Jungly wastes.
Do. .
Grass plains .
Wide rolling plains
near hills.
1
! 1st May to 30th
f November.
J
1st May to 30th
November.
? 1st May to 30th
$ November.
91
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Systematic name.
Vernacular name.
Brief note of habitat.
Breeding season
(close season).
10. Lik-Florikan.
Sypheotides aurita...
11. Spurred-Goose.
Sarkidiornis melan
notus.
* 12. Goose-Teal.
Nettapus coromande
lianus.
13. Whistling-
Teal.
Dendrocygna arcuata
14. Grey-Buck.
Anas pcckilorbyncba,
Tun-Mor.
Grass plains
Nukta
Tanks and jheels
Breeds in trees.
Girja
Silli
Do.
do.
1st May to 30th
November.
1st June to 30th
November-
1st June to 30th
November.
Do. do.
Garmpai
1st June to 30th
November.
Tanks and jheels in
wooded districts.
1st June to 30th
November.
The following is Mr. Thomson's note on List B : —
The list includes all the recognized game birds which breed in the Central Pro-
vinces. It does not include the only snipe that breeds in the country — namely,
the " Painted Snipe," which can scarcely be considered a game bird. Nor does it
include the Plovers and Lapwings for the same reason.
The close season for the game birds will be the periods embraced within the
dates specified for dates of breeding season. Game birds which do not breed in
the country aud only visit it during the cool season are omitted altogether from
the list.
The authority for dates of breeding seasons given in the list rests on my per-
sonal observations, and for these 1 am solely responsible.
PRESERVATION OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS, Srp.
*J5
C. — A List of other than Game Birds which breed in the Central Provinces
whose rlesh is largely eaten by certain castes and tribes.
Systematic name.
Vernacular name
Brief note of babitat.
Breeding season,
(close season )
1. Green Pigeon.
Crocopus phcenicop-
terus.
„ chlorigaster...
2. Blue Rock Pigeon.
Coin tuba intermedia.
3. Doves.
Tuvtur mcena ..
cambayensis
Ilarrial
Harrial
Kabutur
:■■>
suratensis.
risorius....
senegalensis...
4. Herons and
Egrets.
Ardea cmerea
„ purpurea
Herodias alba
,, egrettoides
„ garzetta ...
Buphus coromandus.
Kulla fachta
Tortru fachta
Cbitroka fachta
Dhor fachta
Seroti fachta
Kabud
Nari...
Burra bugla...
Sufed bugla...
Clioti sufed bugla
Gai bugla ...
Forests and wooded
districts, feeding
on various wild
fruits.
Haunt large build-
ings, such as chur-
ches, mosques,
tombs, old forts
and the like, and
also large solitary
trees. Of wide
distribution
Mountain forests.
Elevation above
sea level 1,500 to
2,000 feet.
Cultivated and popu-
lous districts ; also
jungles.
1st February to
3lst July.
1st November to
30th June.
1st May to 31st
July.
Do.
Do.
Do.
do.
do.
do.
Tanks and marshes.
Do.
Do. ; also river
banks.
Tanks, marshes and
river banks.
Do.
Usually found in
company with
eraziny; cattle.
1
I
J-
I
J
1st February to
31st July.
1st November
to 31st May.
■ 1st June to 31st
October.
Mr. Thompson notes as follows on this list : —
This list includes the more common birds usually sought for because of their
flesh being esteemed as food by a large portion of the population of these Pro-
vinces. The flesh of Herons and Egrets is largely eaten. But there has arisen
within the last few years an ever-increasing demand for the plumes with which
96 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1391.
these birds are adorned during their breeding season only. Hence the wholesale
destruction of these birds by the professional Shikaris and bird-catchers at the
breeding season, can only end in the total extinction of these birds. As far as
this wholesale destruction has yet extended, the birds within those areas are prac-
tically extinct.
The close season for these birds is specified in the list opposite the name of the
species in the column headed " Breeding season."
D. — A List of the Game Mammalia which breed in the Central Provinces and of
mammals the flesh of which is largely eaten by certain castes and tribes.
PRESERVATION OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. $c
The note is as follows :—
This is ;i complete list of the mammalia usually denominated "game." It
includes the Hare, Pig, Deer, Antelope, Gaur, and Wild liutfalo.
The dates for the close season - i opposite to the names of each species applies
only to the Hinds, Does, females, and their young. The males require no close
season except as regards autlered deer. In their ease a close season is necessary
for the full development of the horns, which are usually shed and renewed once a
year.
I would therefore venture to propose the following dates for the close season of
such deer ; —
o S Gouni 1st May to 31st October.
■2S $ Sambur 1st April to 3lst Qctober.
Stag ... ... Chitul 1st September to 1st March.
It is during the above given periods that the majority of the stags shed and
renew their horns. The periods during which the stags are in their best condition
for spurt are, as regards the —
Gouni or Barasinirha — between the 1st November and the 30th April-, about
this latter date stags which have shed their horns may frequently
be seen.
Sambur — between the 1st November and the end of February ; after which
date they begii) to shed their horns.
Ohi'ul — between the 1st March and the loth August-, after which latter date
the stags which are worth shooting begin to shed their horns.
I would also venture to suggest that all Shooting Licenses given out under the
Rules recently framed under the Forest Act, have now a close season for the
autlered deer inserted as a condition to be observed by sportsmen. And also that
the shooting or killing in any way the Hinds, Does, females and their young, of
any species specified in the List D be strictly prohibited to sportsmen taking out
Shooting Licenses in the Government Reserved Forests.
5. It appears to the Chief Commissioner that what is required is to prevent
the slaughter of insectivorous birds at all times and to allow the slaughter of game
and edible birds at row save the close season. Subject to further consideration
hereafter, Mr. Mackenzie proposes to protect absolutely Herons and Egrets, which
are only eaten by a few low castes, and which are destroyed solely for the sake of
their plumage, and that chiefly at the breeding season.
Sir. Thompson's lists do not refer to migratory birds, chieflv of the water and
marsh or shore varieties which visit these Provinces only in the cold weather,
There is of course no necessity for protecting these, and this will be made clear in
the orders issued.
6. As regards mammals, the Chief Commissioner does not propose to protect
' pig,5 which is extremely mischievous to crops, nor does he think it worth while
to protect hare. In the case of deer and antelope, though Mr. Thompson would
allo.v the shooting of does and hinds at times other than the close season, the
Chief Commissioner proposes for the present to protect the females and fawns of
13
98 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
these species throughout the year. They have been shot down of kite y?nr
such numbers by sportsmen (not only native, but European) that it will be well
for a time at least to stop their destruction. The close season for stags of
antleied deer and antelope will be as suggested by Mr. Thoaipssn.
7- For the terms of the close seasons, the Chief Commissioner aeeepts- provi-
sionally Mr. Thompson's suggestions, in which Colonel Doveton concurs, —
although perhaps in some instances extreme limits taive been taken. There is
nothing regarding which move differences of opinion a?e to be found, and tins
Chief Commissioner will be glad to receive suggestions a»d information from
naturalists and sportsmen with a view to the improvement of the lisSs in this and
other directions.
8. The orders which the Chief Commissioner has decided to issue are set forth
in Notifications Nos. 7493 and 7-194 of this date. These Notifications supersede
incomplete Notifications bearing the same numbers, which were prematurely
published in the Central Provinces Gazette of the 2lst December, 1889, before the
Chief Commissioner's final orders had been received from camp. The Rules under
the Arms Act do not affect European sportsmen shooting outside the Government
Forests, but it is hoped that all true sportsmen will conform to them.
L. K. LAURIE,
Offg- Secretary,.
NOTIFICATION.
Bated Nagpur, the 3rd January? 1890,
No. 7493.— The Chief Commissioner is pleased to make the following Rules>
under Section 25 (i) of Act VII. of 18>78 (the Indian Forest Act), in continua-
tion of those published in Central Provinces Gazette NotificntionsNo, 6925, dated
the 29th November, 18SS, No. 1505, dated the 8th March, 1889, and No. 731:3,
dated 11th December, 1889, and in supersession of those contained in No-
tification Nc. 7493, published in the Central Provinces Gazette of the 21st
December, 1889:—
XL — Independently of any restrictions made under Rule II, clause (2), a
permit issued under these Rules does not authorise the destruction of any kind
of Birds, other than the game and edible birds included in the following list —
Systematic Name. Vernaculab, Name.
1. Sand Gratis',
Pterocles fasciatus ... Bhut-titur. Dongar-kouri.
,, exustus ... ... Bhut-titur.
'I Pea-ford.
Pavo cristatus ... ... Mor Munjur.
3. Jungle-fowl,
Gallus ferruguieus ... Jungly Murghi.
,, sonneratii ... ... Do.
4. Spur-fowl,
Galloperdix spadiceus ... Choti Jungly Murghi.
,, lunulatus ... Do. do.
PRESERVATION OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS, $c.
S9
100 JOURSAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
(i. Quail
7. Bush-Quail
8. Bustard-Quail
9. Bustard ...
10. Lik-Florikan ...
11. Spurred Goose ...
12. Goose Teal
13. Whistling Teal ..".
14. Grey Duck
1j. Green Pigeon ...
16. Blue Bock Pigeon
1 7 . Doves —
TortuT meena
,, eambayensis
,, suratensis...
,, risorius
senegalensis
18. Deer and Antelope —
Does, Hinds and Fawns.
i Gouni ... 1st
Stags ... Sambur... 1st
'. Cliitul .,, 1st
1st May to 30th Xovember.
Do. ' do.
Do. do.
Do. do.
Do. do.
1st June to aotli November.
Do. do.
Do.
Do. do.
1st February to 31sl July.
1st Xovember to 30tb June.
1st February to 31st July,
' lsi November to 31st May.
.. The whole year.
May to 31st October*.
April to 31st October.
S» ph mber to 1st March.
L K. LAURIE.
5
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS'.
"THE BEPTILIA AXD BATKACHIA OF INDIA."*
" The Eeptilia and Batra.eh.ia of India," in the vulgar tongue, its reptiles
and frogs. This is the fourth complete volume that has appeared of the seri -
of handbo >k.s of Indian Natural History published underthe title of the " Fauna
of Biitish India, including Ceylon and Burmah," by authority of the Secretary
of State for India, and under the editorship of W. T. Blanfoxd. In on s
tbis was more wanted than any other volume of the series, for the student of
Indian snakes, lizards, and frogs has been dependent hitherto on Dr. Gunti
E ;t quarto, published in 1S64, and Theobald's descriptive catalogue, both of
which, we believe, have long been out of print. How much has been done
since these books were written may be judged by the fact that the work e
under review describes 130 lizards, 82 snakes, and 187 frogs more than Gunther's
work, and ol lizards and 39 snakes more than Theobald's catalogue. And yet,
if this book gives anything like the stimulus it should to the observation
and collection of reptili s in this country, it will itself be out of date in a few
* '' The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon anri Burmah," published under the
authority of the Secretary of State for India. Edited by W. T. Blanford. Rkptilia
and B.ATBi.CHU, by George A. Bouleager. London: Taylor and Francis, Bed Lion
Court, Fleet Street; Calcutta : Tli icker, Spink and Co.j Bombay : 1'hacker aud Co.,
LI. ; Berlin : R. Friedlander and Sohu, 11, Carlsfcr isse.
BOOK NQTIGES. Wl
years. Within the last year Trimeremrua trigonocephctlus, a poisonous sunk-:,
scribed in its pages as an inhabitant of Ceylon, has been obtained by our
Natural History Society from North Canara, and we have not a doubt that
many otber rare species will be found in regions which they are not now supposed
to inhabit. In committing this workto Mr* Boulenger, of the British Museum,
we must assume that thos i ncerned were making the best choice in their
power. Mr. Boulenger, we learn from the preface, has been on ga.<red for the
last eight years in classifying and describing all known species of crocodiles,
s, lizards, chameleons and batrachians in catalogues of the British
Museum. But, unfortunately, he does not appear ever to have heen in India.
The book has exactly the merits and the defects which might hare been anti-
cipated from these circumstances. Of c tbras, tree-frogs, monitor.-, and geckos,
as they present themselves inspirits oi wine, we have a most discriminating and
without doubt a most accurate account; but We are almost led tor forget that
they ever presented themselves in the flesh at all. Barely do We meet with even
an allusion to the habits of the living animal. Even those strange habits which
illustrate the most striking peculiarities of structures are severely unnoticed.
Here is a description of the tsngue of the chameleon :—*" Tongue cylindrical
extremely extensde and projectile, sheathed at the base, club-shaped and viscous
at the end, with an exceedingly elongate, glosso-hyal bone." This is most
a Imirable, but nowhere do we find even an allusion to the purpose for which the
creature is provided with this strange organ, so extensile and projectile and
club-shaped and viscous at the end. Again we are told that Draco possesses " a
large, lateral, wing-like membrane, folding like a fan, supported by the last five
or six ribs, which are much produced." Does Mr. Bouleng'er not know that the
Dracones are flying lizards, or does he consider the circumstance too trivial to
mention ? These two instances illustrate the whohi book. Lizards, snakes, and
frogs follow each other in even rows, as they did on the shelves of the British
Museum, where Mr. Boulenger examined them, easily distinguishable by then-
labels to those who know what the labels mean. Add to this that the book is
very sparingly illustrated, and it will readily be guessed that it is not cal-
culated to be generally interesting. To curators of museums and professors of
biology we are quite sure it will be very useful ; indeed, we may go further and
say that anyone who betakes himself to the study of reptiles, with the dissect-
ing knife in hand and a large collection of specimens at his command for com-
parative purposes, will find it an admirable guide. But the number of such
persons in India is very small, while the number of men who take an intelligent
interest in Hving creatures and wish to be able to identify those species of
beasts, birds, and reptiles Avhich come under then- observation is comparatively
large and has increased rapidly of late years, and we imagine that it was to
meet the needs of the latter class and so promote the study of Indian Fauna that
the publication of this series was undertaken. And we must candidly say that
this class will not find the book by any moans stimulating, or even so helpful
102 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
as it might have been. If this is the result of editorial " compression," then
Mr. Boulenger lias our sympathy, for he has been squeezed much drier than
Dr. Day or, Mr. Oates. But we are more disposed to think that We see in this
booh nothing but the natural result of those eight years spent at the treadmill
of catalogue-making in the British Museum. We have yet one fault to find
with the book, for which both author and editor must be held responsible, and
that is the Want of a glossary of technical terms. There is no attempt at such
;•< thing. There are indeed some diagrams of skeletons, in winch the names of
the different bones are given, but these are troublesome to refer to and quite
insufficient. Let us take a few examples. Wo are studying the frogs, and
read that the Bdnidoe may be distinguished from the Engyst&mtdas by the dila-
tion of the Diapophyses of the saoral vertebrae. A tolerably liberal education
has left us still ignorant of the precise nature of a Diapophysis ; Ave turn to the
diagram hi vain ; We must evolve it from our inner consciousness. Further on
we meet vath Zygapophyses, Choame, Canthus Eostralis and many more. A
glossary explaining all these would scarcely have added two leaves to the bulk
of the book, and might have survived the severest compression. So much for
the faults of the book. As we said, it has its merits, and they are solid ones.
Beginning with the crocodiles, Mr. Boulenger describes three species only,
regarding Porosus and Pondicerianus as the same. This species, he says, has not
been recorded from the west coast of India. Our Mugger is G. Pal list ris. The
third is of course the Gavial, Gavialis gangeticus, of which he remarks that it feeds
entirely on fish, for seizing which its narrow jaws are specially adapted. This
is certainly the generally received opinion, but what of that specimen whose
gigantic skeleton adorns the Victoria and Albert Museum, which was shot
while feeding on the body of a Woman ? A number of bangles and other orna-
ments, said to have been found in its stomach, used to be exhibited in a bottle
beside it, but some visitor thought he could put them to a better use than the
gratification of idle curiosity, and they disappeared. Passing on to the
tortoises and turtles, the author describes 44 species, of which the " soup"
turtle, the fresh water tortoise, which natives are so fond of introducing into
our wells, and the land tortoise, found commonly hi Guzerat, are probably the
only ones that most of us have seen. The majority inhabit the Burmese region.
The lizards, numbering 222 species, come next, and are divided into eight
families, four of which contain familiar forms, the Gechonidce, or house Geckos,
the Agamidce, to which belongs the garden " bloodsucker," the Varwridw, or
monitors, and the Sa'iicidce or skinks, of which one species at least often steals
into our houses, with its gentle, snake-like motion, in search of ants and other
insects. The classification of the snakes in this volume is new, and though we
cannot but think that the worst system of classification would bo better than
the licence which in these days permits any man who writes a book to remove
all ancient landmarks and become his own Linnaeus, we must admit that the
changes introduced by Mr. Boulenger are in the right direction. He does not
BOOK NOTICES. 103
multiply, but reduces sub-division. He abandons the old division oi ana
into venomous and non- venomous, rightly considering it unscientific. The
poison fang is in truth only a modification of a common tooth, and that
modification is carried to varieus degrees, reaching perfection in the Long
erectile and perforated fang of the vipers. The fang of a cobra is a much less
finished instrument, but, for practical purposes, efficient, as we know. In
other snakes, though tin' apparatus in an elementary form, is there, it is only
fitted to paralyse the small animals on which they feed, and these we pronoun
harmless. Mr. Bouiengcr calls them " suspected," and our readers will be
shocked to learn that DryopMs myderizahs, the slender, green whip snake,
whose gentle ways charm the most uncompromising serpent-hater, is a hypo-
crite and belongs, to this class. Of distinctly poisonous land snakes 3 i species
are enumerated, but many of these are only found in the Burmese region, and
others are too small to be dangerous to man. In this Presidency there are
only seven or eight, which can really be regarded as dangerous, and among
these there are only four which anybody is likely to have a chance of seeing
unless he searches for them diligently, namely, the cobra, Russell's viper, the
Krait (Bungarus coeruleus), and the abominable little • carpet-snake (Echis
carinata). The sea-snakes, which number 27 species, are all venomous ; but
they are as helpless on land as a piece of string, and in the water it must be a
very curious accident which can put a man in the way of being bitten by them .
As far as we know there is no case on record of death from the bite of a sea-
snake.
We have said that the classification of snakes of this book is new. It follows,
that many well known names hive disappeared, and new ones have come in
their places. The king cobra is not Ophiophagus ehips, but Naia bungarus,
there being no good reason for putting it into a different genus from its younger
brother. So also our familiar friend — or enemy — Ddboia elegans, has become
Vipera russellii. The book closes with the frogs, toads, and newts. There is
only one newt, but there are 102 frogs and 17 toads, so completely have the
No's carried the day in the question of tails or no tails. We have complained
of the paucity of notes on habits, but among the frogs we light upon one too
many. After describing Bana tigrina, our great bullfrog, whose joyous
bassoon celebrates the advent of the monsoon, the author says : "It is essen-
tially aquatic, and is said, when frightened, to jump over the surface of the
water much in the same way as on land." The editor corrects this statement, and
indeed no one who had seen the great frog at home could have made it. Even
to say that ho is essentially aquatic is incorrect. He inhabits tanks and marshes.
but stays about their margins, and is more out of the water than in it. He
wanders freely about the garden in wet weather, and lies in wait for tender
chickens, which he will catch and swallow without much caring whether you
behove it or not. When he falls into a well he lives a very unhappy life, for he
cannot float with comfort. His legs hang down, and only his nose remains
104 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
above the surface. He is quite incapable of the feat attributed to him by Mr.
Boxdenger, which is characteristic of one or frwo species much smaller in size and
aquatic in a stricter sense. They live almost entirely in deep water. Moating at
the surface with perfect ease, and living chiefly on the insects that fall into
the water. Fishing for these with a rod and line is very good sport. A hook
i^ not necessary. The bait, consisting of a grasshopper, or any tough insect,
may be tied to the line and traded along the surface, past the nose of the frog,
who will seize and bolt it at once. He must be whipped out of the water
without delay, for the line tickles the lips, and after one or two efforts to wipe
it off with his paws, he will disgorge the bait. We must close this notice now,
and wish Mr. Boulenger an early call for a second edition, that he may have
an opportunity of putting flesh on the dry bones and making his book an inva-
luable addition to the to 3 small library of an Indian Naturalist. Of the print
and get-up of the book we need say nothing. It is the same as the other of
the series.— f Times of India, Dec. 2, 1890. )
HUME'S INDIAN OOLOGY.
Thk history of this valuable re-issue of Hume's " Neshs and Eggs" is told by
the author and the editor in the prefaces prefixed to the volume now issued,
Mr. Allan Hume, whose unrivalled collection of Indian birds is now safely deposited
in the national collection, states that after the first rough draft appeared, he went
on laboriously accumulating materials for a re-issue ; these have heen now placed
by him in the hands of Mr. Eugene Oates for publication. Unfortunately, how-
ever, not the whole of this store of knowledge was available, for on one occasion,
durinf Mr. Hume's absence from Simla, a native servant broke into his museum
and stole several hundredweights of manuscript which the unappreciative thief
sold as waste paper. This MSS., bemoans the author, included the life histories
of no less than 700 species of birds, with detailed accounts of their nidification.
All the small slips of paper, writes the bereuved author, were left, but the full-
sized sheets were abstracted. In this dilemma Mr. Oates came to the aid of the
author, not merely arranging the materials as editor, but adding largely to the text
from his own stores of knowledge. As the historian of the Birds of India, a work
which has recently been the subject of detailed notice in our columns by
Mr. Bowdler Sharpe, Mr. Oates was the fittest} person to supervise the publication
of the work under notice ; and Mr. Hume states that he knows of no one else to whom
he could have entrusted the task. The manuscript has been placed unreservedly in
the editor's hands, who has re-arranged the species so as to accord with his own
work in the official Fauna of British India. The classification is not on the
svstem adopted by Jcrdon and other writers familiar to Indian ornithologists, but as
the deposition of the old arrangement was merely a question of time, Mr. Oates
rightly regarded the present as a convenient Opportunity, and adopted an arrange-
ment better suited to the present state of scientific knowledge.
BOOK NOTICES. 105
D
111 Hie "Fauna of British India" the restriction of space necessarily submitted to
by Mr. Dates has rendered his work less full of details than Jerdon's ; but the
publication of the present volumes supplies the deficiency in great part, as most
interesting details' of the habits, &c, of the species are given. As an example of
the readable manner in which scientific information can be conveyed, the following
extract which bears strongly on the questions recently raised in our columns on the
breeding of polygamous birds is most interesting. Writing of the King Crow, or
Black Drongo, Dccruris ater, Mr. Hume says : —
" Of this bird we have already taken during the last six weeks at least fifty nests,
and in many cases where we had left the empty nest in statu quo, we found it a
week later with a fresh batch of eggs laid therein. Many birds will never return
to a nest which has once been robbed, but the others, like the King Crow and the
Little Shrike {Lanius rillatns), will continue laying even after the nest has been
cleared of perhaps four slightly incubated eggs ; a fresh one that otherwise would
assuredly never have seen the light is laid, and that, too, a fertile egg, which, if not
meddled with, will be hatched off indue course. It might be supposed that, imme-
diately on discovering their loss, nature urged the birds to new intercourse, the
result of which was the fertile egg, and this in some cases is probably really the
case, martins and others of the swallow kind being often to be seen busy with
' love's pleasing labour' before their eggs have been well stowed away by the
collector. But this will not account for instances that I have observed of birds
in confinement, who separated from the male before they have laid the full num-
ber, and then later, just when they began to sit, deprived of their eggs, straight-
wav laid a second set, neither so large nor so well coloured as the first, but still
fertile eggs that were duly hatched. But for the removal of the first set these
subsequent eggs would never have been developed or laid. Now the theory has
always been that the contact of the sperm and germ cells causes the development
and fertilization of the latter. In these cases no fresh accession of sperm cells
was possible, and hence it would seem as if in some birds the female organs
were able to store up living sperm cells, which only work to fertilize and develope
ova in the event of some accident rendering it necessary, and which otherwise
ultimately lose vitality and pass away without action."
Regarding the vexed question as to whether birds ever leave their eggs to be
batched by the heat of the sun, Mr. Hume has some very interesting experience
to relate. Writing of the common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), Mr. Hume
described the building of a nest in a hole in a wall of his verandah, stating that the
pair seemed present at all hours of the day. He then goes on to state :
" I made certain that they had not even begun to sit, and behold, there were four
fine young ones, a full week old, chirping in the nest ! Clearly these birds are not
close sitters down here ; but I well remember a pair at Mussoorie, some 6,000 feet
above the level of the sea, the most exemplary parents, one or other being on
the eggs at all hours of the day and night. The morning's sun beats full upon
the wall, in the inner side of which the entrance to the nest is ; the nest itself is
14
10G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HJSTOUY SOCIETY, 1891.
within four inches of the exterior surface; at 11 o'clock the thermometer gave 98°
as its temperature-. I have often observed in the river terns [Seem aurantia, Rhyn-
chops albicollis, Sterna lavanica) and pratincoles ( Glareo lactea) who lay their eggs in
bare white glittering river sands that so long as the sun is high and the sand hot
they rarely sit upon their eggs, though one or other of the parents constantly
remain beside or hovering near and over them ; but in the early morning, in
somewhat cold and cloudy days, and as the night draws on, they are all close
sitters. I suspect that instinct teaches birds that, when the natural temperature
of the nest reaches a certain point, any addition of their body heat as unnecessary
and this may explain why, daring the hot days (when we alone noticed them\ in
this very hot hole, the parent mynas spent so little of their time in the nest whilst
the process of hatching was going on. "
That the scientific pursuit of ornithology is most interesting and engrossing all
those who ever attempted to follow it are fully aware, and we can imagine no
better relief to the tedium of a quite location in India than the possession and
utilization of Hume's " Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds," and Oates's " Birds of
British India."
It may interest our readers to know that four admirable autotypes are inserted
in the text, being those of the well known ornithologists, Allan Hume, Brian
Hodgson, the late Dr. Jerdon, and Colonel Tickell, whose writings were so familiar
to the older readers of The Field over the nom de plume of M Ornithognomon."
(The above appeared in The Field.)
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
L— CONCERNING THE PRESENCE OF THE TARAXACUM
OFFICINALE IN THE NILG BERRIES.
In his " Flora of British India," Hooker s:»ys expressly about the Taraxacum
officinale, Wigg. " It is remarkable that this common Himalayan plant should not
be found in the Khasia or Nilgherry mountains, even as a garden escape*' *
Perhaps when the renowned botanist vv rote those words, this plant did not
grow in the Nilgherries. Be that as it may, I met it several times, both at
Wellington and at Ootacamund, and a year and a half ago it coold be found
plentifully in the latter place. Its height is generally small. As this species
is extremely variable, 1 do not see anything that could induce one to look rtpon
the specimens of the NUgherries as a new variety of the Taraxacum, officinale.
F. II. LEVEII.LE.
Pondicherry, Feb., 1891.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 107
11.— A VARIETY OF BUTE A FRONDOS&.
With the uiontli of March the glory of the Pallas [Bu/ea frondasa) is rapidly
passing away. Before it disappears entirely I should like to bring to the notice
of the Society a curious and beautiful sport of the tree which is to be occasionally
seen in this- neighbourhood. Lfc is very rare, and 1 have personally seen only one
tree in hundreds of miles travel, but I have heard that others exist. Instead of
the dazzling blaze of orange with which we are all so familiar, this tree blossoms
into a pale yellow. The basis of the petals are primrose yellow, and they shade
oft* to a creamy tint on the edges and on their reverse sides. The corolla contrasts
everv beautifully with its rich olive-brown downy calyx. Except in the colour
of the corolla, the tree seems to be in all respects precisely the same as the common
Pallas. It is the first of the kind I have seen after 20 years' residence in India, and
it is certainly very uncommon, for the books do not mention it.
I have six seedlings of last rains in my gardens from seeds reputed to have
been gathered from a yellow tree.
H. T. OMMANNEY,
Bo. G. S.
God-lira, Punch- Mahals, 1st March, 1891.
III.— HARPOONING CROCODILES,
Captain G. Sutton-Jones, of the Deoli Irregular Force, who is a keen
sportsman, sends us an account of the method adopted by him of destroying
crocodiles in village tanks. The presence of these loathsome reptiles in village
tanks and reservoirs is, as far as we know, productive of nothing but evil, as they
are most destructive to the fish and. wild fowl, and not infrequently drag goats and
even children into the water.
Captain Sutton-Jones writes as follows : —
" The rainfall in these parts being far below the average, the water in the
tanks is clear, and in few instances more than eight feet in depth. I was accom-
panied by Captain Penrose, of my Regiment, our chief intention being to shoot
in the neighbouring jungles, and we only spent an hour or two with the crocodiles
in the morning and evening before and after shooting.
" The modus operandi was simple. Our harpoon had a movable head, with a
ring at the end, to which about 50 yards of rope were attached and coiled neatly
in the boat (a small flat-bottomed iron punt). The shaft of the harpoon was a
well-seasoned bamboo about 10 feet in length. Our shikari was a man of the
' Keer' or fisherman caste, by name Gopala. One of us accompanied Gopala in
the boat and punted quietly about the tank, carefully looking amongst the
openings in the weeds for the crocodiles which we found lying at the bottom of
the water in fancied security. It was an easy matter to drive the harpoon into
the reptile and to withdraw the bamboo shaft It was then necessary to retreat
quickly, as a pair of snapping jaws came up to the surface ready to seize anything.
"108 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
While we punted away the crocodiles invariably brought about their ov\n destruc
tion, by entangling themselves in the weeds until they were unable to move.
Finding that we could not haul them into the boat, we landed and dragged them
out on to the shore, when a shot in the neck put an end to their misery.
"Occasionally the crocodiles would see the boat approaching them and make off
as fast as they could along the bottom. It was most exciting work then punting
after them. It frequently happened that as soon as we caught them up they
would purposely stir up the mud at the bottom, so that we could not see them.
" We managed to get 18 crocodiles in this way, out of two tanks, but in no case
did they exceed 9 feet in length. They were all the ordinary thick-snouted
Crocodile or Muggur {Crocodilus palustris).
" The harpoon we used was of this description : —
" If it struck against the scales or plates on the back of the reptiles, the harpoon
would not penetrate, but in no case did a crocodile succeed in getting off after the
spear-head had once been well driven in near the hind or fore quarters."
IV.— A MAN-EATING PANTHER,
I BEG to forward three fingers of a boy of about 12 years of age, found in the
stomach of a man-eating panther, shot on the 13th of last month. He was the
only son of a Banjari woman, who with some 10 or 12 others, had put up in
the open for the night, on her way to the Nizam's Dominions, in a tigerish-
looking country, surrounded by hills covered with brushwood. It had rained a
a little during the first part of the night, and the partjr did not, though
fatigued after their journey, get to sleep till after midnight. Shortly after,
the mother was disturbed by feeling the covering over her boy roughly dragged
away, and, missing her son, who had gone to sleep by her side, raised an alarm,
but the intense darkness of the night, and in absence of a light, rendered
anything like a snceessf ul search impossible ; and nothing remained for the
poor mother, stunned with the horrible fear of what had happened, but to
wait for the break of day, which, to her, came slowly indeed, and when it did
come, afforded no relief, but brought with it the confirmation of her worst
fears that her son had been carried off. Spots of blood here and there, and
th • murks on the grass of a heavy dragging of a holy, simplified the tracking,
that was taken up by a local shikarry ; and in the dry bed of a small mountain
stream, close by, the skull was found stripped of its flesh and hair. Further and
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. - 100
further went the trail, until it ended, half way up a dark ravine, and at the foot
of a large moha tree, and on its fork, live feet from. the. ground, they saw the
coarse cloth, which the fond mother had tied round her child's neck, covered
with blood. Looking up higher, the headless trunk of the unfortunate boy
Avas seen balanced skilfully across a large bough, with the legs crossed, and
one arm stiffly extended. The poor villagers frightened, not only at the awful
occurrence, but by the skUl shown in the disposal of the body, hastened to the
District Officer's camp, which fortunately happened to be only five miles off.
The appeal was unmistakeable, and it became a duty to respond to it. After
a hurried breakfast, for which all appetite had been dissipated by the above-
sickening details, a move was made, and, true enough, the body, cloth and the
ghastly remains of the boy were found in the exact position reported. A
consultation with the native shikaries followed, as to the best means of getting a
shot at the animal which had showed such extraordinary ingenuity, and which,
it was expected, would be followed up in avoiding danger by exposing itself.
The first essential was to so conceal oneself as to tempt it to come boldly up to
the tree to take down its ghastly quarry. This was no easy matter, as the
ground was rocky, and no natural cover available. However, by dint of hard
labour, a small hole was dug, sufficient to hide in, and a covering of thorns
was soon put up over my head, and in this cramped position, the brute had
to be watched for from 5 p. m., till it got so dark that the trunk of the tree
could not be distinguished. Reluctantlly a retreat was ordered, but before
leaving, efforts were made to get the men to bring away the body, so as to
prevent its being still further fed upon, but in vain. Neither money, nor
threats, could conquer their superstition, that the spirit of the dead boy had
already tinned into an animal, and was acting in sympathy with the panther,
and had warned him of the trap laid for him. As an alternative thorns were
put to a considerable height all round the tree in the hope of preventing the
panther from cbmbing up, but on visiting the place early in the morning, it
was found that we had again been baffled. The thorns were pushed aside.
The cloth and the body had both been removed. Tracks led fui-ther up
the same ravine, and it was evident that the panther had taken up its abode
there for the day. It was at once settled that we should beat it out and do
our best to destroy it. Men were soon collected, and with drums beating they
entered at one side, while the writer posted himself at the other. A third time
we were out-generalled. An opening which was left by the cowardice of some
men was avafied of, and unseen by all, except one, the brute crossed an open
glade at full speed and disappeared into another ravine. This time the duty
of carefully posting men at all the outlets but one, was properly discharged,
and the brute was driven straight ahead, but, somehow, kept out of my way.
It looked as if it came to know that its safety iay in giving a wide berth to the
gunner. Three times it thus dodged by doubling back, but the beaters were
determined that it should give a chance, and drove it at last into a small ravine
110 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 1891.
which could be and was completely hemmed hi. Slowly and continually they
descended, throwing stones until they actually reached the very bottom, and
from their very feet up sprang the miserable creature, and still refusing the
opening left to it, ran up the hill, and crossed the firer at a distance of 1'50
paces, as fast as it could go, offering a very difficult and uncertain shot. It
had however to be accepted, as little of daylight remained, and fortunately
the aim proved true, the bullet striking the neck, and turning it head over
heels. A shout of joy burst forth from all, and the body was soon slung across
a xiole, and taken with acclamation to the village at which the tents were
pitched. I was much struck by the resemblanca of one of their exclamations
to that mentioned by Meadows Taylor in the "Story of My Life." Eepeatedly
they shouted "Davies saheb ki jae." In passing through the village, the
women turned out, each with a brass dish, furnished with a small lighted wick,
red powder, and two pice. The first was waved over the dead animal, a pinch
of the second affixed to its forehead, as also to that of the bystanders, and the
third was given to one of the beaters. This ceremony was intended to lay the
spirit of the deceased and to prevent its molesting them even after death. I
had to decline with thanks the honor of my own forehead being painted with
red powder. A post-mortem carefully made led to the finding of the
accompanying three fingers of the unfortunate lad, who met his death in such
a sudden and tragic manner. The discovery proved, beyond all doubt, that
the slaughtered animal was the one we determined to get rid off, and avenge
the bereaved mother, to whom, however, it was but a poor satisfaction, for
nothing could console her for the loss of one so dear to her heart, and to whom
she looked as the mainstay of her old age. It was the general opinion of
these present that had the end not come as soon as it did, other victims by
the score would have fallen to gratify an abnormal and an increasing appetite
for human flesh. Already it had killed two persons, and severely mauled a
third, within a period of two months. The panther had a very good coat
was a female, and in milk, and it seemed as if it had taken to kill human
beings to supply its young ones with tender meat. The cubs we did not come
across, and hope they were too young to walk, and have perished by
starvation.
The theory above suggested, as to why the animal became a man-eater, is a
new one, but is not without good reason.
It was noticed that the dogs of the villages within a 4 mile radius were
frequently carried away, and when the supply diminished, a baby fell the first
virtim — the door happening to be left open offered an opportunity which was
not lost; then followed an attack on an elderly woman; and lastly the boy,
who tonus the subject of this narrative.
Basim, Berars, C. A. W. DAVIES,
2JS/th March, 1891. i ,/,/. Deputy Commissioned.
.1/ J 8< ' B LhA mO I 'S xo TE S. 1 1 1
V. THE CULTIVATION OF ORANGES, LEMONS, AND FIGS
IN INDIA.
A.— Oeanges.
(1.) The best orange grown for profit in India is the "Cintra," a name
commonly assumed to be deiived from the Portuguese town, but lately de-
clared to be a corruption of a Sanskrit word, which should be pronoimced
" Suntra." The tree which bears this fruit is of
Description of varieties. . . , , , .. . •„ • .1 . , , ,.
upright habit, m this country rarely exceeding 12
feet hi height and S feet in expansion of branches. The leaves measure 1^ x £
inches and 2^ X 1J inches — the winged joint being very slightly developed.
The flowers are £ inch in diameter, have 5 petals, 20 to 24 stamens, and 9 to 10
carpels. The fruit is found of two varieties, one, having the skin remarkably
loose and evidently overgrown the pulp, and the other having a smooth,
tight-fitting skin. As grown at Nagpur this has been declared by people, who
have travelled much, to be the finest orange known in the world. The
inner skin is very delicate, and the liths (carpels) so slightly cohering that it is
easy to break up for eating. Well-grown specimens have only 2 or 3 seeds.
The flavour of the two varieties is equal if grown under similar conditions, but
the loose-skinned variety has an imposing appearance, and is rather more
easily pealed ; consequently it is the market f avourite. Ordinary market specimens
of the fruit average 8 ounces in weight, but 10-ounce specimens are common.
(2.) The Mozambique orange tree is evidently a distinct species of strong
growing habit, producing an irregularly globular
Other sorts grown in India. head and bearing leaves measuring j£ X 1£ to
5A x 3| inches, entire or very slightly and irregularly serrate, the apex being
pointed or cut out. The leaf stalk is J inch, the wings on one of the joints
attaining J inch in width, often less, and sometimes wanting. The flowers are
1A inches in diameter, have 5 slightly oblique petals which are glandular on the
outside, and 20 to 24 stamens. Average specimens of the fruit grown in India
weigh 8 ounces, but specimens 13 ounces in weight imported from Mozambique
are common. In shape it is globular, slightly compressed vertically ; the skin
is medium in thickness, tight-fitting, and marked by numerous small vertical
furrows and a circular smooth mark, about 1 inch in diameter, on the upper
end; The pulp is usually pale yellow, but when dead ripe becomes of the
brownish-yellow that may be called the medium tint of orange pulp. In
flavour it is sweet, but without the piquancy of the best varieties ; the inner
skin (endocarp) is tough, so that this orange can only be sucked. They keep
in good condition about two months.
Ladoo Orange of the Deccan.
The tree which bears this variety produces long branches apt to spread out
considerably as the tree attains size. The leaves are from li x £ to 2| x 1J inches,
with the winged joint of the stalk very slightly developed. The open flowers
are f inch in diameter, of o petals, 20 to 24 stamens, and 9 to 10 carpels.
112 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The fruit attains 8 ozs. in weight, is in shape a much depressed globe, with a
distinct nipple at the stalk, and within the skin on the upper end generally
has an extra orange, about £ inch in diameter, with 5 to 7 liths (carpels). The
skin is of a dusky yellow colour moderately rough and loose and of medium
thickness ; the inner skin (endocarp) very thin and enclosing juicy s-weet pulp
of pieplant flavour and medium tint of colour. This is a fine orange, but it
does not bring a high price, on account of its indifferent appearance.
Lull Ladoo of the Deccan.
I have identified this orange with the Mandarine orange of books. The tree
resembles the "Ladoo" in habit, leaves and flowers, and shape of fruit, but
the skin of the fruit is a deep orange colour, smooth, loose, enclosing 11 liths,
having a stronger inner skin than the " Ladoo,'''' and 20 seeds — a very handsome,
attractive fruit.
Cowla, a small-sized, indifferent orange, which becomes yellow on the tree
before it is sweet.
The Sylhet orange, which is common in the Calcutta market, is grown in
the country whose name it bears. It averages o
ounces, has a tight thin skin and good flavour.
The Malta and St. Michael's oranges have been introduced, but are not making
progress wherever it is possible to grow the " Cintra."
(3.) The finest oranges in India and, in the opinion of some, in the world,
are grown near Nagpur, which lies in north
latitude 21" 9', and east longitude 79° 11', about
350 miles from the sea, and at an altitude of 1,025 feet above mean sea level.
The orchards are fully exposed to the sun and oh level ground, having a
dark-coloured, stiff, loamy soil not less than 3 feet in depth, and overljing a
sub-soil of open nodular limestone. The soil is formed of disintegrated basalt.
(4.) The climate of Nagpur is shown in the following table, which is
compiled from the Government Meteorological
Reports : —
Climate details.
Introduced foreign oranges.
Locations.
Climatic influences.
Note. — The climate details are average for five years.
It may be described as comparatively hot and moist from June to September
inclusive, cool and dry from October to February, hot and dry from March to
May. It must be noted that the temperature is taken under standard meteoro-
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 113
logical arrangements, which require llio thermometer to be shaded from
direct sunshine and from radiation at nigW ; mean insolation or excess of
temperature obtained by exposing the thermometer to the sun as compared
with the shade temperature being 59*8" and the nocturnal radiation or decrease
from the shade temperature when the thermometer is exposed to the shy
varies from 12*8' in January to 2-7" in July.
There are two distinct seasons in which the trees will flower and ripen fruit ;
and to obtain high class fruit, the cultivator must
Senaoa of flowering Bud clect ^ob. season he will work, as the trees will
fruiting.
not bear properly at both seasons. The finest
fruit is obtained from flowers that open in June — July and is on the market
from February to May ; the second flowering is in February — March ; this
ripens fruit from December to February.
(<3.) The trees arc kept dry during May or December according to the
season at which fruit is wanted ; at other seasons,
irrigation is carried on sufficient to provide.,
with the rainfall, at least 1 inches of water over the entire surface per month.
The irrigation water is drawn from wells, about 30 feet in depth, by means of
a leathern bucket containing about 2-5 gallons, which is drawn up by bullocks
that go down an incline, pulling a rope which passes over ;i simple pulley.
The cost of drawing water 32 feet is about 1 anna (at par nearly 3 cents) per
1,000 gallons.
The water is turned into small surface channels made by drawing up a pair
of parallel ridges 18 inches apart and 9 inches high, and given a slope of 1 per
1,000. One channel serves two lines of trees, and from it the water is passed
into sunk beds round the stem of the tree, extending as far as the sweep of the
branches. About 1 to 2 inches in depth is given once in 10 days. The soil is
kept moist from the flowering till the fruit is all gathered.
(6.) and (7.) Soil is kept clean and open on the surface by ploughing 4
inches deep 3 times yearly. For the crop that
ripens during February, March — April, water is
withheld, the soil is opened up during April — May, and the roots exposed
during 1 b days, so that the trees get a check sufficient to cause the greater part
of the leaves to fall. Then 100 lbs. weight per
tree of old, moist cowdung of a reddish-brown
colour is mixed with the soil, and the roots covered up and watered heavily if
rain does not fall soon. This causes the trees to burst into bloom and fresh
growth ; thereafter the soil is kept moist till the fruit is gathered.
The same operation carried out in December brings ripe fruit during
December, January and February,
(8.) Clearing away suckers from below the graft and cutting out weakly
or decayed branches only. Excessive pruning
Pruning, °
must be avoided, as it tends to cause the trees to
" run to wood,'' and prevents flowering.
15
114 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
(9.) Fruit continues to attain full development during a month on each
"break" of trees that has been started into
growth together, and it is picked over at inter-
vals of a few days.
A faint trace of yellow in the skin of the fruit indicates maturity. When
fresh from the tree this fruit has a delightful rich piquancy of flavour that is
to a great extent lost by being packed up for a few weeks, but the fruit
remains in good condition 2 months if not closely rjacked.
No special curing is given, unless the fruit has been gathered unripe ; in
that case close packing with soft hay in a box is sufficient. Such fruit is al-
ways inferior.
In packing, 30 to 40 lbs. weight of oranges are placed in a very sliru basket
without any packing, and the lid tied down. None of the fruit is shipped as
merchandise.
(10.) The trees are planted about 12 feet apart each way.
(11.) Seeds of Citrus medica, a large coarse citron of vigorous habit, are
sown, and when the stocks are two or three years old are budded. The form
of budding used is peculiar, and, I think, advantageous in unskilled hands. No
transverse cut is made in the bark ; having made the vertical cut, the operator
bends the stems gently towards the side having the cut. This causes the cut
to gape open, and the bud having been inserted, the stock is released, and
springs up, closing in the shield of the bud. A bandage consisting of a strip
of banana stem is then applied. I think the want of the cross cut saves the
gumming that ensues if the cut is made too deep. Occasionally the sweet
lime, Citrus limetta, is used as a stock, and it is believed by some to ensure
more sweetness in the fruit. I have not proved this, and do not think it can
affect the degree of sweetness.
(12.) The best varieties are invariably budded.
Seedling or budded. Seedlings take so long to bear fruit as to be useless
in practical fruit-growing.
(13.) The orchards generally measure from
Size of orchards. v ' J
5 to 10 acres.
(14.) The trees begin to bear at 3 years from
the bud, carry the heaviest crops between the 6th
and 10th year, and after the 15th year rapidly decay.
(15.) An important insect enemy is the caterpillar of Papilio erithronius^
which eats up the foliage during June — July. Hand-picking is the chief
remedy employed. An imdetermined wood-boring insect attacks the trees as
soon as decay sets in, and is commonly supposed to be a cause of decay. I
think it is rather a sign of decay. Hot tar poured into its holes kills the
insect, but does not arrest decay when far advanced. If there is any sound
wood left, it is advisable to cut back severely, but trees so treated do not fruit
for 2 or 3 years after the operation.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 115
It is doubtful whether any insects are beneficial, but the entomology of
Indian fruit culture is but fragmentary as yet.
(1(>.) Lemons are not exported. The large citron can be produced in
quantity very cheaply, but, except by dyers for the acid, it is Uttlc used and
brings a very low price.
(17.) The latest edition of my own book is the fullest account available,*
but that is superseded by this report, as far as oranges and lemons are
concerned.
B.— FIGS.
(1.) — (3.) Figs are not dried in India to any considerable extent, as the
local consumption absorbs the supply.
Varieties of figs are not named in India, except with the name of the village
they come from, which is not distinctive. The variety widely cultivated
in the Deccan is inverted conical, green at the stalk, and gradually deepening
to brown at the broad end ; it has alternating stripes of green and brown, and
good examples weigh |th lb.
(4.) The neighbourhood of the village of Khed Shivapur, 14 miles south
of Poona, which city stands in north latitude 18° 28', east longitude 74* 10';
altitude of Khed Shivapur about 2,200 feet. Exposure to sun full.
Land of the orchards is nearly level, but the orchards are on the slope of a
range of hills of 3,500 feet altitude. The altitude of the plantations is 2,200.
Soil and sub-soil. — Poor calcareous loam. Sub-soil, marl, a mixture of lime
and clay on disintegrated trap.
(5.) Temperature averages about 75*, minimum 48°, maximum 100°.
The village is shut in on the north, east, and west by hills, which keep out
hot winds.
.Rainfall about 50 inches, falling chiefly from June to October. The falling
of rain sets the trees growing and determines the ripening of fruit.
(6.) Irrigation from wells, 2 inches per month from end of October till the
fruit is ripe. Cultivators do not usually make special efforts to get sweet fruit,
but the small quantity of water given has that effect.
(7.) Cidtivation. — Ploughing 4 inches or hoeing at end of rainy season.
(8 ) Fertilizers. — Village sweepings, 50 lbs., well decayed, per tree applied
after the crop is gathered.
(9.) Pruning. — After the tree has been caused to send up 5 or 7 branches
from near the base by shortening the shoots sent out by the cutting, little, if
any, prunning is given, broken branches are cut out, and such as have gone
higher than a man can reach with the hand have the points taken off, and
are cut out to the base after all the fruit has been gathered, but the less prun-
ing that is necessary the better.
* Since this was written, Dr. Bonavia's " Cultivated Oranges and Lemons, &c,
of India and Ceylon" has been published.
110 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
A few are grown as standards, the branches proceeding from the central
stem at a height of six feet and spreading out horizontally.
(10.) Picking. — The picking is done when the fruit is full grown, and shows
a slight yellowing of the stalk. Early in the morning is preferred, because if
protected from the sun, fruit so picked retains a delicious coolness. For local
use each fig is wrapped up in a leaf when it has attained this stage, to protect
it from birds, and is left on the tree a week longer. This improves the quality
greatly, but carriage to a distance is impracticable in such a case. No boxing
or curing is done in India.
(11.) The trees are planted 10 — 12 feet apart.
(12.) By cuttings of 1 year old wood planted in a shady bed in February.
(13.) Orchards are about 2 — 3 acres in extent only, because the situation
on a hill slope does not admit of large level spaces fit for irrigation.
(14.) Trees attain 1 5 years ; are fruitful about 12.
(15.) Eed spider is a serious enemy. No futile attempts are made against
it by the cultivators ; they think sacrifices to idols effectual.
(16.) I have never sent cuttings of figs so far as to America, but I think
that if cut in February, packed in moist sand in a tin-box, and sent by post, a
few would survive the journey.
(17.) Government of India does not issue such matter regarding fruit. The
latest edition of my book, "Gardening in India", gives the fullest account
available, but it is not as full regarding figs as this report.
G. H. WOODROW.
Poena, 1890.
VI.— DISTRIBUTION OF INDIAN CROCODILES.
In the latest volume of the Fauna of British India, that on the Reptilia
and Batrachia, Mr. Boulenger mentions that Crocodilus porosus has not been
recorded from the West Coast. I can now say that it does undoubtedly occur in
North Travancore. I was first led to take up the question of the distribution
of the two species by my friend "Smoothbore" of Madras, and on examining the
skulls in the Trevandrum Museum, I found one that appeared to me to be a
specimen of Crocodilus porosus ; it had been presented on the 3rd November,
1857 by the then Resident, General Cullen, who sent the following note
with it : —
' ' The animal was killed several r years ago in the backwater between Alleppy
and Cochin, at a place called Tunneermookum. It had killed several natives,
and on the last occasion seized a woman, far advanced in pregnancy, as she
was washing ; she died of the injuries she received, and the husband and others,
vowing vengeance against the brute, at last caught and killed it. They brought
it with another one and left it for me at Cochin. It was about 10 feet long.
I have records, however, of crocodiles up the river at Cochin near Verapoly of
18 to 22 feet hi length. I will look for the reports and send them to you."
MISCELLA NEO US NOTES. 1 1 7
Not satisfied with my own identification, I took the skull with mo to Madras
and showed it to Dr. Thurston, the Superintendent of the Madras Museum,
who agreed with me that it was undoubtedly a skull of ( 'rocodilua pekpsus. My
only doubt then was whether the specimen might not have been mixed up with
others in General Cullen's possession, and have been sent to the Museum with
notes that applied to another skull. To clear up this, the only way was to got
another specimen from the same locality. The natives here are agreed that
there are two sorts of crocodile, one they call " Chingany," the other " Muthala,"
and after trying in vain to get any satisfactory description of the difference
between them, I offered a reward for specimens of the " Muthala."
Specimen after specimen of pulustris was sent in to me, and some were
identified by the natives as undoubted "Muthalas," and still they failed to show
any difference or to explain why they gave different names. At last, from the
same locality as General Cullen's specimen, came an undoubted Crocodilus
porosus, about 7 ft. 6 inches long ; it is now in the Museum, and the curious
thing is that the natives can see no difference between it and a specimen of
',' pedustris," and do not admit that it is a " Muthala."
H. S. FERGUSON.
Trevandrum, March, 1801.
VII.— VICTORIA CROWN PIGEONS BREEDING IN CONFINEMENT.
Victoria Crowned Pigeons (Coura Victoria?). — In 1888, three specimens, a male
and two females, were received in the Trevandrum Zoological Gardens from
Calcutta. This year the females began to fight and had to be parted. The pair
left began to build a nest, and being supplied with sticks and fibre made a
flat arrangement on a platform there was in the cage, about 8 ft. from the
ground. One egg was laid, and in about three weeks a young one was hatched,
and is now just fledged and goes about with its parents. I should think it is
unusual for these birds to breed in captivity, and so record it.
Continuing the subject of breeding, I may mention that the Mouse Deer
(Mcmina indica) have bred in the gardens, and the period of gestation is, as
near as possible, five months.
H. S. FERGUSON.
■Trevandrum, March 1801.
VEIL— INDIAN OTTERS.
In the first volume of the "Fauna of British India" Mr. Blandford says that,
"owing to the circumstance that the next species, L. Ellioti, has only lately
been clearly distinguished, the relative distribution of the two (L. vulgaris and
L. Ellioti) cannot be precisely ascertained." Both occur in Travancore, but
L. vulgaris is by far the commoner and is fairly abundant. There was at one
time a specimen of L. vulgaris and two of L. Ellioti in the gardens at the
same time, both species having been captured close to Trevandrum ; the differ-
IIS JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
enee in the shape of the head is very obvious when the animals are seen
together, that of L. vulgaris appearing almost spatulate in comparison with
the other.
H. S. FERGUSON.
Trcvandrum, March, 1S01.
No. IX.— OUR HYMENOPTERA.
In my paper on " Our Hymenoptera" (Vol. IV., page 26,) I recorded : —
"Very little seems to be known of the life history of Mutilla. The general
opinion seems to be that the $ makes burrows in the sandy soil, provisioning ber
nest with flies. I feel certain, and I hope, shortly to have convincing proof, that
sjme at least of our MutilUdee are parasitic, not by means of lurking house-tres-
pass, like the Chrysidida, but by burglary on the mud nests of other Hymenop-
tera." I have just received a letter from Major Yerbury, in which he writes : " I
took some mud nests off the walls of the bungalow at this tank (Periyakulam,
Ceylon), and from one of them bred two Mutillm^. ." I think this interesting fact
is worth recording.
ROBERT C WROUGHTON.
Poona, April, 1891.
PROCEEDINGS.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING ON 14th JANUARY, 1891.
The usual Monthly Meeting of the Members of this Society took place on Wednes-
day last, the 14th January, and was largely attended. Mr. G. W. Vidal, C.S.,
presided.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society : — The Hon. Mr.
N. N. Wadia, CLE., Rev. Charles Ferrell (Sehore), Professor R. G. Oxenham
(Bombay), Mr. F. T. Bird (Castle Rock), Mr. C. V. Osman (Bombay), Mr. R. A. D.
Sewell (Nellore), Mr. A. F. Beaufort (Bombay), Mr. Varman B. Davatia (Nandod),
Mr. E. C. Monod, and Mr. W. G. Wilson (Bombay).
Mr. H. M. Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, then acknowledged the following
contributions to the Society's Museum : —
CONTRIBUTIONS DURING DECEMBER.
Contributions.
2 Young Hysenas (alive)
1 Krait
1 Nest of Common Honey-
sucker
A number of Teredos and
other marine animals.
2 Cobras ,
1 Ruddy Shelldrake
2 Pintail Snipe
2 Jack Snipe
1 Painted Snipe
Description.
Hyaena striata
Bungarus arcuatns
Cinnyris zoylonica..
From the Prince's Dock
Naga tripndians ,
Casar rutila
Gallinago sthenura
Gallinago gallinula
Rhynchsea capensis
Contributor.
Mr. Baboji Gopal.
Mrs. Solly-Flood.
Dr. Kirtikar
Mr. Geo. Ormiston.
Mr. C. E, Kane.
Mr. E. L. Barton.
Do.
Do.
Do.
PROCEEDLWS.
119
Contributions.
1 Gazelle's Skull
1 Hyaena's Skull
A number of Snakes..
2 Snakes
1 Tortoise (alive) ,
1 Leopard Cat (alive)
1 pair Sambur Horns
A Dhaman (alive)
Flamingo.
1 Bittern.
1 Muntjac ,
1 Civet' Cat
2 Snakes ...
Description.
From Africa
Eyeena maculata
From Berbera ...
Doboia eleeans ...
Contributor.
Felis bengalensis
From the Berars
Ptyas mucosus
Phoenicopterus antiquormn
Botaurus stellaris
Cervulus aureus
Viverricula malaccensis ...
Daboia elegans, and Zamer-
nis fasciolatus
Capt. R. H. Light.
Do.
Do.
Mr. Gr. de Soane.
Mr. F. Blyth.
Dimmock.
A. Wilson.
G. de Soane.
W. Gaye.
Mr. Alfred Mull.
Mr. C. F. Van-Ingci
Mr. F. BJ. Stephen.
Mr. C.E.Kane.
Dr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Minor Contributions from
Mrs. Hojel, Mr. F. L Goldsurid, Dr. Bourne, and Mr. C. R. Brendon.
Contributions to the Library,
Fauna of British India : —
Fishes, Vols. I., II. (interleaved). Mr. W. P. Sinclair, C.S.
Birds, Vol. II. ( do. ). Do.
Reptiles. ( do. ). Do.
Geological Survey Report, Part 4. In exchange.
Water Birds of India, Vol. II. From the author.
Two Photographs of Birds at Jeypore Zoological Gardens. Mr. G. W. Vidal, C.S.
Notes on Indian Rats and Mice (W. L. Sclater). The author.
Journal, Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. L1X., Vol. 3. In exchange.
Accounts for 1890,
A statement of the accounts of the Society for the year ending 31st December,
1890, prepared by Mr. B. M. Slater, the Honorary Treasurer, was laid Upon the table.
It was resolved that the accounts be passed, subject to the audit of Mr. J. Wallace,
C.E.
THE PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF GAME INTO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
OF BOMBAY.
Mr. H, Littledale, of Baroda, in bringing forward his proprsal, said .'-*»
" I beg to suggest that an attempt should be made to introduce the Chukcr into thia
part of India. Such an effort would certainly succeed on the AraVellis and Vindhyas,
along the big rivers. Again, the Painted Partridge is our only Southern-Bombay
bird; the Black Partridge, afar finer bird, ought to take advantage of tho R.M. Railway
and settle in our grass birs. He flohrishes on the hot grassy plains of Rajpootaua,
amid the tamarisks of the Indus, and along the banks of the Jhelum in Cashmere ;
any climate seems to suit him, Wet or dry.
120 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The Chukor stretches across Asia, Africa, and Europe, from the Chcnab to the
Rhone; I have found its nest, at 11,009 feet, in Baltistau, and it ranges through the
low hot levels of Mekran and Arabia. It is a very gamey bird, and, if a fair chance
were given it, it would certainly thrive on our ghats everywhere.
The Bengal Florican might also be tried. Game is said to be getting scarcer.
Shikarics should try and introduce new blood.
Again, the Markhor might flourish on the Neilgherries ; it lives at 7 to 9 thousand
feet in the rainy Pir Pinjal, and the Neilgherry climate would suit it perfectly. There
are several African animals, antelopes and so forth, that would thrive in India, and
might be easily introduced.
Let our Sectional Committees take this suggestion up, if they think it worth acting
on. Money would certainly be forthcoming for a well-considered scheme of introducing
to the Bombay side animals that would probably thdve there and give good sport to
future generations of sportsmen. I look to this, rather than to vexatious game
laws, to provide such shikar in the future as has been enjoyed in the past "
Mr. G W. Vidal said that he had received a letter from Mr. E. C. Ozanno, the
Director of Agriculture, in which lie offered to allow the Society to make use of the
Government farms at Budgaum, Poona, and Aligaum for experiments in connection
with the acclimatization of game birds. Mr. Vidal also pointed out that land suitable
for Black Partridges existed in the neighbourhood of Poona, where experiments might
be made, such as the large areas round the Powder Works and the Yerrowda Gaol.
No doubt Mr. Meakin would also allow similar experiments to be made on the land
round his brewery.
Mr. N. S. Symons addressed the meeting as follows : —
"With regard to the proposals before us, it would be well to know some facts before
we vote money. I will, with your permission, give some facts, many of which will be
in favour of Mr. Littledale's proposals, but some against a portion of them. I confine
my remarks to the Bombay Presidency and Sind. I will first take the Black Partridge
or Common Francolin. Many specimens of this bird have been found in Catch. It
was in past years very common in Sind. It is now comparatively scarce there, so
Bcarce, indeed, that we need not expect to get any stock from Sind. The destroyers
of birds for their feathers have cleared that province of all surplus stock. But anv
number of birds, dp to the quantity wo are likely to want, can be obtained from
Bengal. The Black Partridge, like all Indian Partridges, is very fond of tamarisk
jungle, of which there is plenty in this Presidency, and also of high-grass jungle
particularly if there are wheat fields near. It is not partial to rice food— and so
it may be difficult to acclimatize in the Konkan. It is not a runner like the Sad-
legged French Partridge, or the Grey Partridge, or the Chukor. It feeds also largely
on insects and larva?, grain, and seeds of dry crops, and, like Grouse, also on tender
shoots of herbs. They do not, as a rule, hatch more than two or three youu<r ones out
of a nest. The average weight of males and females is about 10 oz.
I now come to the Painted Partridge or Southern Francolin. This is the only
Partridge, I bolievo, to be found in the Konkan, or, at any rate, within fifty or sixty
miles of Bombay. The malo bird resembles tin- female Black Partridge very closely
in plumage, but, curiously, Nature has defined the limits of each variety, ami rarely
PROCEEDINGS. 121
have both specimens been fonnd in the same locality. This species is very common in
the Konkan. 1 hare heard of as many as ten brace having been killed by one gun
within eighteen miles of Bombay this season in a short clay's sport, and there are vast
tracts in the Konkan whero the bird is indigenous. But, owing to the want of pro-
tective game laws, this partridge has already become scarce compared to what it was
ten or twenty years ago. As an instance of this, I may stato I walked over several
miles of partridge country in the Konkan- on the 11th of this month, with a line of
beaters, and only saw sis Painted Partridges all day. I remember eleven years ago
that two Bombay sportsmen shot twenty odd brace in a morning's sport.
The Painted Partridge is somewhat of a runner, but is not to be compared in that
respect with his brothers, the Grey Partridge or the Chukor. He is a good bird to
eat when properly cooked. He is a good breeder, generally hatching six to eight. I
look upon him as the very best bird to be saved from destruction by Bombay natural-
ists— whether by game laws or otherwise. The average weight is about 10 oz.
I next mention the Grey Partridge. I dismiss him as quite unworthy of our atten-
tion. He does not exist in the Konkan. He is a dirty feeder, and is always to be
found near the filthiest spots round villages in Guzerat, &o.
I now corno to the Chukor. This species is one of the red-legged sorts, therefore a
runner, and is not, from a sportsman's poiut of view, as well worth attention as the
Black Partridge or the Painted Partridge. It is chiefly found in mountainous districts,
and I very much doubt if it would thrive on low-lying lands. Very few years ago
some sixty brace of Chukor were sent through mo (by Captain Allen) from the low
hills of the Himalayas to Ootacamund in the Neilgherry Hills. Hardly a single bird
was lost in transit, but I believe I am correct in saying they were a failure.
However, I must qualify that by saying I have not had any information on the point
for a whole year. Only I do know that I shot for nearly a month over the grounds
where they were turned down near Ootacamund, in the autumn of 1889, about two or
three years after they were forwarded, and I never saw one, or heard of one. And
there were usually quite a dozen Spaniels present at those hoots. After this experi-
ence I am not an advocate for introducing Chukor into this Presidency. But I take
the opportunity of suggesting that we make an experiment with pheasants. 1
thoroughly believe that if pheasants were turned down in the grass lands and teak
jungles near the Western Indian Ghats, and protected, that a splendid stock might be
reared. Every kind of suitable food is present in those jungles for pheasants, and
there is plenty of water. I should add about the Bengal Florican that it would be a
most interesting experiment, as the bird is not known west of the Gauges. That it is
possible it would thrive on the same lands and food as its smaller half-brother, the
Lesser Florican or Likh, which is not uncommon in the Deccau and at the Null in
Guzerat. I should doubt, however, our being able to obtain the Bengal Florican in
sufficient quantities. I should also suggest the introduction of the African Guinea
Fowl. Whatever we do now, we shall do more for the next generation probably than
for ourselves. The proposal about Markhor can only be taken as a suggestion to offer
to the Neilgherry Game Association.
Something might also be done for the preservation of other indigenous game in
this district, namely, Peafowl, Bekri, or fuur-horncd Antelopes and Cheetal
w .-
%
122 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Begarding those last I have no hesitation in stating, from personal experience, that
the stock has decreased to one-tenth from what it was twelve or twenty years since.
My remarks, it will be seen, are confined chiefly to the Konkan, or, say, thelow-lying
grounds below the ghats within, say, sixty miles of Bombay. But my opinion and
experience is that both in Gnzerat (North and South) and in the Deccau there haa
been a huge decrease of indigenous antelopes and indigenous game birds in the past
ten to fifteen years. Apart from trappers, to whom this decrease is largely due, I
think there has been a great increase of birds of prey — Eagles, Harriers, and Hawks.
If any Game Acts were introduced, there would be naturally keepers or watchers who
would trap vermin. At present I think such vermin are so plentiful that even the
" survival of the fittest" is hardJy possible amongst the indigenous game birds. I do
not look upon the Owl as a poacher, but he is increasing in numbers. On December 26"
1889, my brother and I flushed 42 owls from a small patch of high grass in the Konkan*
Although I have given you these facts, some of which, as you will see, are not wholly
in accordance with the proposal before the meeting, I wish it to be understood that
I am very much in favour of our Society taking up the subject on the general line
suggested by Mr. Littledale. We might form a strong committee of members of this
Society, drafted from our local naturalists and sportsmen, and from up»country
members, the opinion and advice of whom would be of infinite help in carrying on
the present proposals. This is especially to be remembered when we look over the
list of members, which includes many names of the highest Princes and Rajas of this
Presidency, and members of the Civil Service and of Forests, who have the means, and
who have one and all always been most generous and far-sighted in helping onwards
this most useful Society. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you will vote
for the appointment of a strong committee, and allow that committee to allot a
substantial sum of money (of course, within the limits of the Society's means without
embarrassment) to further this proposal. From a naturalist's point of view, apart
altogether from that of sport, it is well deserving of support from our Society ; and I
have no doubt that such a committee as I suggest will cover much more ground than
I have ventured to advocate.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity and Mr. R. Gilbert having spoken in favour of experiments
being made by the Society, the following resolutions were passed :—
Resolution No. I. — That the following members of the Bombay Natural History
Society be asked to form a Special Committee (with power to add to their number)
for the purpose of carryiug out experiments with a view of ascertaining what game
birds and animals can be introduced into this Presidency with a fair prospect of
success -. — Messrs. E. H. Aitkin, Ameerudin Tyebjee, J. C. Anderson, Captain W. R.
Anderson, Captain J. S. Ashby, Mr. E. C S. Baker, Lieut. H. E. Barnes, Mr. T. R. D.
Bell, Dr. Banks, Mr. J. A. Betham, Mr. E. L. Barton, Mr. H. Bicknell, Major W. S.
Bissett, B E., H. H. the Thakore Saheb of Bhownugger, Dr. Boyd, Mr. A. W. Crawley -
Boevey, C.S., Capt. G. Hyde Cates, Dr. Childe, Mr. C. P. Cooper, Mr. L. Crawford,
H. H. the Rao Saheb of Cutch, Messrs. S. B. Doig, C.E., C. F. Elliott, Eeg. Gilbert
F. Gleadow, C. Gray, Col. Gunthorpe, Capt. A. Gwyn, Mr. F. Goldsmid, Mr. E. Giles,
Dr. Hatch, Mr. W. J. Holland, Col. W. C. Hore, H. H. the Maharajah Holkar of Indore,
Mr. H. E. M. James, C.S., Mr. C. E. Kane, Capt. R. H. Light, Mr. H. Littledale, Col.
PROCEEDINGS.
123
Kenneth Mackenzie, Messrs. W. S. McClelland, W. S. Millard, G. P. Milletfc, Col.
Merriman, R.K., Messrs. A. Morrison, Win. Murray, R. II. Macaulay, Col. H. L. Nutt,
Capt. A. Newnham, -Messrs. E. W. Oates, H. T. Ommaney, C.S., E. C. Ozanne, C.S.,
Col. W. Peyton, Mr. Y. E. Penton, Capt. W. St. John Richardson, Messrs. A. M. Ritchie,
L. P. Russell, W. Shipp, C.E., A. F. Simpson, Procter Sims, W. F. Sinclair, C.S.,
N. S. Symons, W. Thacker, E. Thorn, R. H. E. Thompson, Chas. Taylor, G. W. Vidal,
C.S., H. Wenden, C.E., Col. Westmacotb, Mr. W. H. White, C.E., Mr. A. D. Young-
busband, C.S-, Major J. H. Yule, and the Honorary Secretary of the Society.
Resolution No. II. — That the sum of Rs. 500 be placed at the disposal of the
Special Committee to defray the cost of their experiments.
The Meeting then ended with a vote of thanks to Mr. H. Littledale for coming down
from Baroda in order to bring forward the above proposal.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING ON 18th FEBRUARY, 1891.
The usual Monthly Meeting of the Members of this Society took place on Wednes"
day last, the 18th February, and was largely attended. Dr. D. MacDonald presided.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society : — Major W. W.
Loch (Jodhpore), Mr. Charles E. Frost, C.S. (Ahmedabad), Mr. F. S. P. Lely, C.S.
(Surat), Mr. F. Welter, and Mr. E. B. Raikes.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, then acknowledged the following con-
tributions to the Society's collections : —
CONTRIBUTIONS DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
Contributions.
Descriptions.
Contributors.
1 Wild Ass's Skull
2 Persian Gazelles (alive)..
2 Guinea Fowls
1 Persian Gazelle (alive)..
1 Python (alive)
1 Skin of Klip-springer ..
2 Snakes (alive)
1 Mnntjaj (alive)
1 Malabar Squirrel (alive)
1 Persian Gazelle (alive)..
1 Snake
1 Russell's Viper
1 Black Buck's Head
1 Screech Owl (alive)
From the Somali Coast
Gazella subguttrosa ...
From the Somali Coast
Gazella subgutturosa .
Python molurus
Orcotragus saltatrix ....
Sillybura sp
Cervulus muntjak
Sciurus indicus
Gazella subgutturosa....
Lycodon anlicns
Daboia elegans
Deformed
Strix javanico.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Capt. Houston.
Capt. Plommer.
Do.
Mr. W. C. Clements.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Mr. C. Smith.
Mrs. E. Wilkin.
Mr. F. A. Hill.
Capt. Gimlette.
Mr. N. S. Symons.
Mr. G. de Saone.
Major Feutou.
Mr. M. Melling.
Minor contributions received from : — Mr. W. F. Sinclair, Col. C. D. La Touche, and
Mr. E. L. Barton.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
The Canadian Entomologist, Vols. XXII., XXIII. ., in exchange; the Entomolo-
gical Society of Ontario, Report for 1333, in exchange ; the Victorian Naturalist,
Vol. VIII., No. 9, in exchange; Annali del Museo de Stovia Naturale di Genova,
Vols. VII. to IX., in exchange ; and Notes on Indian Horned Game, by W. L. Sclater,
from the author.
124 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
BOMBAY GRASSES.
Dr. J. C. Lisboa read the third part of his paper on Bombay grasses, illustrating
his remarks with dried specimens from his herbarium, together with numerous fresh
grasses collected by him for the occasion. Dr. Lisboa stated that he had named one
of the grasses, which was new, Arunclinella campbelliana, in honour of Mr. J, M.
Campbell, C.S., CLE. , the Compiler of the Bombay Gazetteer, who had rendered the
greatest assistance in the collection of grasses through Forest officers in Gujerat, the
Deccan, the Konkan, aud in other districts of the Bombay Presidency.
MARKHOR SHOOTING IN EAST AFGHANISTAN.
The Honorary Secretary read a paper received from Mr. John E. Penton, District
Superintendent of Police, Jacobabad, describing his experiences while shooting
markhor, the straight-horned variety, in East Afghanistan, whose habitat Kinloch
gives as Yasufzaie, the Khaibar, ani other parts of Northern Afghanistan.
A WOUNDED BEAR CHARGING UP A TREE.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity then gave a graphic account of an adventure which hapjjenod
to him in the Central Provinces on 17th May, 1890, when a bear, which he had
wounded iu two places, charged him while he was seaLed in a tree 13 feet from the
ground. The claw marks on the tree showed that the boar had reached to within a
few inches of the sportsman's feet before he could reload and fire. A lithographed
plate, from a photograph taken on the spot, illustrating this uncommon incident,
was exhibited.
THE BENGAL WATER-COCK.
Mr. H. Littledale, of Baroda, recorded, for the first time in Gujerat, the Bengal
Water-cock (Gallicrex cristatus), a specimen having been shot near Baroda in his
presence on 25th September, 1890, by Lieutenant Percy Bell.
RED ANTS' NEST.
Mr. E. H. Aitken sent an interesting account, which was read at the Meeting, on
the manner in which the red ants {Ecovilla, smaragdina) construct their nests in
trees
PITHECOLOBIUM UNGUIS.
Mr. G. Carstensen, the Superintendent of the Municipal Gardens: — The flowers
and fruit from this tree (exhibited on the table) are of so highly ornamental a charac-
ter that the tree in question seems to deserve general cultivation in Bombay gardens.
The plant now in flower and fruit in the Victoria Gardens was raised from seed
received from the well-known seedsmen, Audronze & Co., of Paris, in 1588. Of about
ten seeds only one germinated, which remained in the seed pan for about a year,
when it was planted out in the ground in 1889 among other trees of the same order
(Leguminosce). It has now attained a height of about 8 feet, and seems to grow into
a much branched tree. Of the other representatives of the same form genus
Pithecolobium dulce (Inga dulcis) is a well-known tree in all Indian gardens. The
present kind is distinguished by broad -r leaflets, considerably larger and almost showy
flower heads, narrower and longer, less fleshy, bright red, curiously twisted pod,
which when bursting show the black seeds, imbedded iu a scarlet seed-coat (arillus).
Both the feathery greenish -yellow flower heads and the coral -like graceful pods give
a peculiar attractive appearance to the tree. The typical kind is an extremely
common tree in the West Indies, and owes its name to its paw-like thorns. The
variety is, however, unarmed and is stated to have been found in Guadeloupe only.
PROCEEDINGS.
125
The Meeting then ended with a vote of thanks to the gentlemen who had con-
tributed papers.
PROCEEDINGS OP THE MEETING ON 31st MARCH, 1891.
The usual Monthly Meeting of tho Members of this Society took place on Tuesday,
the 31st March. 1891. Dr. MaoDonald presiding.
The following gentlemen were elected members of tho Society: — Colonel A. M.
Rawlins, R.A. (Poona), Lieutenant L. H. Parry, R.A. (Hingoli), Lieutenant II. L.
Goodenongh (Erinpura), Dr. D. St. J. Grant (Dharmsala), Mr. A. Mair (Bombay),
Mr. Pestonjee Jowunjee, C.S. (Nakrakal), and Mr. J. Fairclough (Bombay).
Mr. H. M Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, then acknowledged the following
ERRATA.
At p. 124. For Pithecolobium unguis, read Pithecolobium unguis.
Cate-Var. Guadeloupense
At p. 124. For Andronze & Co, read Vilmorin, Andrieux & Cie.
1 pair or norns
1 Porcupine (alive)
J Owl (alive)
Fossil Crabs
1
1
1
1
1
Sambhur head
Porcupiue (alive)
pair of Sambhur Horns...
Sea Gull (alive)
Leopai'd Cat
6 Black Buck Heads ... (
2 Chinkara head ^
Thumb and Forefinger of
a Boy.
uvis amnion ,
Hystrix leucura
Strix javanica
From Burma
Deformed
Hystrix leucura
From Deoli
Larus brunneicephalus.
Felis bengalensis
1 Sea Turtle
4 Snakes.
1 Ratel (alive). ..
A quantity of
Lizards, &c. ...
1 Krait
Snakes
From Kattywar
Found in the stomach of a
panther
Lapt. ii. V. Benett.
Mr. Chester Macnaghten.
Mr. T. Le Messurier.
Major F. W. Snell.
Mr. F. T. Bird.
Col. Gerard.
Major Thornton.
Dr. T. S. Weir.
Mr. W. F. Sinclair, C. S.
Major Fenton.
Chelonia viridis
Tropidonotus plumbicolor.
Silybura macrolepis
Trimeresurus striatus
Lycodon aulicus
Mellivora indicus
From Kiiuara.
Bungarus arcuatus.
2 Lizards iEublepharis hardwickii ..
Head of the White-faced
Stiff -tailed Duck Shot at Sialkot
Cavia cobaya...
2 Long-haired Guinea Pigs
(alive).
2 Young Panthers (alive).
4 Crocodiles' Eggs
Head and Dorsal Fin of
Sword-fish.
1 Krait j Bungarus arcuatus
Felis pardus ,
Crocodilus palustris
Histiopharus brevirostris...
Mr. C. A. W. Davies.
Dr. De Monte.
Mr. T. R, D. Bell.
Mr. Fillis.
Mr. E. H. Aitken.
Col. A. Mayhew.
Do.
Lieut. C. Kendall Bushe.
Mr. J. Collett.
Mr. F. R. Desai.
Mr. Ja*. Lindsay.
Mr. A. H. Unwin.
Mr. C. E. Kane.
124. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
BOMBAY GRASSES.
Dr. J. C. Lisboa read the third part of his paper on Bombay grasses, illustrating
his remarks with dried specimens from his herbarium, together with numerous fresh
grasses collected by him for the occasion. Dr. Lisboa stated that he had named one
of the grasses, which was new, Arundinella campbelliana, in honour of Mr. J, M.
Campbell, C.S., CLE. , the Compiler of the Bombay Gazetteer, who had rendered the
greatest assistance in the collection of grasses through Forest officers in Gnjerat, the
Deccan, the Konkan, and in other districts of the Bombay Presidency.
MARKHOR SHOOTING IN EAST AFGHANISTAN.
The Honorary Secretary read a paper received from Mr. John E. Penton, District
Mr. H. Littledale, of Baroda, recorded, for the first time in Gujerat, the isengai
Water-cock (Gallicrex cristatus), a specimen having been shot near Baroda in his
presence on 25th September, 1890, by Lieutenant Percy Bell.
RED ANTS' NEST.
Mr. E. H. Aitken sent an interesting account, which was read at the Meeting, on
the manner in which the red ants (Ecovilla smaragdina) construct their nests in
trees.
PITHECOLOBIUM UNGUIS.
Mr. G. Carstensen, the Superintendent of the Municipal Gardens : — The flowers
and fruit from this tree (exhibited on the table) are of so highly ornamental a charac-
ter that the tree in question seems to deserve general cultivation in Bombay gardens.
The plant now in flower and fruit in the Victoria Gardens was raised from seed
received from the well-known seedsmen, Andronze & Co., of Paris, in 1S88. Of about
ten seeds only one germinated, which remained in the seed pan for about a year,
when it was planted out in the ground in 1889 among other trees of the same order
(Leguminosce). It has now attained a height of about 8 feet, and seems to grow into
a much branched tree. Of the other representatives of the same form genus
Pithecolobium dulce (Inga dulcis) is a well-known tree in all Indian gardens. The
present kind is distinguished by broader leaflets, considerably larger and almost showy
flower heads, narrower and longer, less fleshy, bright red, curiously twisted pod,
which when bursting show the black seeds, imbedded in a scarlet seed-coat (arillus).
Both the feathery greenish -yellow flower heads and the coral -like graceful pods give
a peculiar attractive appearance to the tree. The typical kind is an extremely
common tree in the West Indies, and owes its name to its paw-like thorns. The
variety is, however, unarmed and is stated to have been found in Guadeloupe only.
PROCEEDINGS.
]25
The Meeting then ended with a vote of thanks to iho gentlemen who had con-
tributed papers.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING ON 31st MARCH, 1891.
The usual Monthly Meeting of the Members of this Society took place on Tuesday,
the 31st March. 1891, Dr. MacDonald presiding.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society: — Colonel A. M.
Rawlins, R.A. (Poona), Lieutenant L. H. Parry, R.A. (Hingoli), Lieutenant H. L.
Goodenongh (Erinpura), Dr. D. St. J. Grant (Dharmsala), Mr. A. Mair (Bombay),
Mr. Pestonjee Jewunjee, CS. (Nakrakal), and Mr. J. Fairolough (Bombay).
Mr. H. M Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, then acknowledged the following
contributions to the Society's Museum : —
CONTRIBUTIONS DUBING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
Contributions.
2 Pups of Wild Dog (alive).
2 Dusky-horned Owls
(alive)
Specimens of Deep-sea
Soundings
Nest and Eggs of African
Weaver Bird
1 pair of Horns
1 Porcupine (alive)
1 Owl (alive)
Fossil Crabs
1 Sambhur head
1 Porcupiue (alive)
1 pair of Sambhur Horns....
1 Sea Gull (alive)
1 Leopard Cat
6 Black Buck Heads ... (
2 Chinkara head ^
Thumb and Forefinger of
a Boy.
Descriptions.
Cyon dukhuuensis.
Bubo coromaudus.
Red Sea
From Berbera ,
Ovis amnion ,
Hystrix leucura
Strix javanica
From Burma
Deformed
Hystrix leucura
From Deoli
Larus brunneicephalus.
Felis bengalensis
From Kattywar
Found in the stomach of a
panther
Contributors.
1 Sea Turtle
4 Snakes
1 Ratel (alive)
A quantity of Snakes,
Lizards, &c
1 Krait
2 Lizards
Head of the White-faced
Stiff -tailed Duck
2 Long-haired Guinea Pigs
(alive).
2 Young Panthers (alive).
4 Crocodiles' Eggs
Head and Dorsal Fin of
Sword-fish.
1 Krait
Chelonia viridis
Tropidonotus plumbicolor..
Silybura macrolepis
Trimeresurus striatus
Lycodon aulicus
Mellivora indicus
Mr. A. Elliott, C. S.
Mr. H. Bulkley.
Capt. Scott Smith.
Lieut. C. D. Lester.
Capt. H. Y. Benett.
Mr. Chester Macnaghten.
Mr. T. Le Messurier.
Major F. W. Snell.
Mr. F. T. Bird.
Col. Gerard.
Major Thornton.
Dr. T. S. Weir.
Mr. W. F. Sinclair, C. S.
Major Fenton.
Mr. C. A. W. Davies.
Dr. De Monte.
> Mr. T. R, D. Bell.
Mr. Fillis.
From Kauara Mr. E. H. Aitke
Bungarus arcuatus...
Eublepharis hardwickii
Shot at Sialkot
Cavia cobaya....
Felis pardus
Crocodilus palustris
Histiopharus brevirostris...
Bungarus arcuatus
cen.
Col. A. Mayhew.
Do.
Lieut. C. Kendall Bushe.
Mr. J. Collett.
Mr. F. R. Desai.
Mr. Jas. Lindsay.
Mr. A. II. Unwin.
Mr. C. E. Kane.
126 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
Mr. G. De Saone, Mr. H. E. Cooke, C.S., and Mr. H. S. Davies.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
The Indian Forester, Nos. 10-12, in exchange.
The Flora of British India (Sir J. D. Hooker), from Government.
The North American Fauna, Nos. 3 and 4, in exchange.
On Megascolex cceruleus, with a theory of the course of the blood in Earth-
Worms, by Prof. G. A. Bourne, presented by the author.
Bulletiu de la Societe Zoologique de France, January, 1891, in exchange.
The Locust of North-West India (Acridium peregricum), by E. C. Cotes, presented
by the anthor.
The Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XXIII., No. 2, in exchange.
The Victorian Naturalist, Vol. VII., No. 10, in exchange.
A Catalogue of the Mantodea, by J. Wood Mason, presented by the author.
THE WHITE-FACED STIFF-TAILED DUCK..
The Honorary Secretary stated that he had received a letter from Lieutenant C.
Kendall Bushe, stating that he had killed a White-faced Stiff-tailed Duck (Erismatura
leucocephala) in the neighbourhood of Sialkot, which, according to Hume and Mar-
shall, has not been recorded in India before.
A MAN-EATING PANTHER.
The Honorary Secretary read a letter received from Mr. C A. W. Davies, of
Basim, Berar, containing a graphic account of a man-eating panther, shot by him on
the 13th Peoruary last. The panther appears to have attacked an encampment of
Banjaris, and carried off a boy who was sleeping close to the rest of the party. The
skull, stripped of its flesh and hair, was found the next morning in a nullah close by,
and the trunk of the boy's body was eventually discovered lying across the branches
of a large moha tree where it had been skilfully hidden, a considerable distance
above the ground, by the cunuing creature. Mr. C. A. W. Davies eventually
succeeded in shooting the panther, and removed from the stomach several fingers of
the boy, two of which had been forwarded to the Society in spirits.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity stated that it was by no means an uncommon occurrence for
panthers to hide their food in trees, and he had himself met with a case id which the
body of a spotted deer had been dragged up a tree, a considerable distance from the
ground, by a panther.
It was resolved that Mr. Davies' letter should be published in the Society's Journal.
HARPOONING CROCODILES.
The next paper laid before the Meeting was from Captain Sutton Jones, of Deoli, Raj-
pootana, containing an account of how he had, with the assistance of Captain Penrose,
suceeeded in destroying 18 crocodiles (C. palustris) in the village tanks, in the neigh-
bourhood of Deoli, by spearing them under water, and dragging them to the shore by
means of a rope attached to the spear-head.
BOMBAY FERNERIES.
Mr. G. Carstensen, the Superintendent of the Municipal Gardens of Bombay,
then read a very valuable and interesting paper on Ferneries, illustrating his remarks
with numerous specimens of ferns, palms, foliage plants, and orchids. Mr!
Carstensen divided his paper into three parts, dealing with the construction
PROCEEDINGS. 1J7
management, and conteuts of what are usually termed ferneries, but for which a more
comprehensive name was required; The paper, which is supplementary to the
lecture en Bombay Gardens recently delivered by Mr. Carstenson, was listened to
with much interest by those present at the meeting, and will be printed in full in the
Society's Journal.
THE ODORIFEROUS" GRASSES.
Mrs. J. C. Lisboa then read extracts from a paper which she has written for the
Society's Journal, containing a complete account of the odoriferous grasses of India.
Mrs. Lisboa also placed before the meeting a large collection of these grasses
together with a description of a new species of Andrcpogon hitherto inedited.
Journ.BomL.Nat.Hist.Soc.1891 .Vol .VI.
: • * * -*
900
*S ' V - • •
■-<•*:'?* iff*1*
> * • * <Jbc » » • *^ slC
^ .* * ,t #. . • "^t^Cys
898
H F. B del. Mintern Bros . Chromo lrtH. London.
873. RHYNCH/EA BENGALEN5IS, Lin The Pamted Snipe. 896. HIMANTOPUS CANDI DUS.Bonn.The Stilt..
900.PARRA INDlCA.I.aih, Bronze-wmgedJacana. 301. HYDROPHASIANUS CHI RURGUS.Sccp.EKeasant-tailedJacana.
902 PORPHYRIO POLlOCEPHALUS.I.ath, The Purple Coot 904.GALL1CREX CI NEREUS.Gm.. The Water Cock.
307. ERYTHRA PHCENICURA. Perm, White-breasted Water Hen. 908. PORZANA AKOOL, Sykes, The Brown. Rail.
913. HYPOT/ENIDIA STRIATA.Lm. Blue -"breasted Banded Rail .
JOURNAL
op titi-:
BOMBAY
fet0im ^(u%
No. 2.] BOMBAY, 1891. [Vol. vi.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA.
By Lieut. H E. Barnes, F.Z.S.
(With a plate.)
{Continued from page 25, Vol. VI.)
863.— THE SARUS.
Grus antigone, Lin.
ilougkly speaking, the Sams Crane does not occur in the southern
half of Western India ; is very rare immediately north of Bombay ;
becomes less uncommon in Khandeish ; is very common in Guzerat,
Cutch, and Rajpootana ; again becomes uncommon in Lower Sind,
and does not occur at all in Upper Sind.
They are permanent residents where found, breeding towards the
middle of the rains, making a huge nest of rushes and reeds, in some
spot either surrounded by water, or in the centre of a marsh. Some-
times the nest is commenced in the water itself, in which case the egg
cavity is about eight or ten inches above the water. The eggs, almost
always two in number, are elongated ovals in shape, a good deal
pointed at one end, measuring from 3*8 to 4"48 inches in length, and
from 2'35 to 2-75 in breadth, but the average of a good many was
3-06 by 2-56.
17
130 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The shell is hard and strong, and is generally somewhat glossy,
frequently exhibiting creases or wrinkles, more especially at the
larger end.
The ground-colour varies from pure white to pale sea-green and
pinky- cream colour. Occasionally they are quite devoid of markings,
but generally they are more or less blotched and clouded with pale
yellowish-brown and purplish-pink.
They pair for life. At the breeding season they assume a pure
white collar, immediately below the crimson papillose skin of the
neck, which also becomes brighter in colour, and in old birds
the tertiaries and some of the scapulars become white and more
lengthened, hanging over gracefully and exceeding the tail.
The Sarus occasionally breeds in the cold weather, thrice have I
found eggs at that season, once at Gangrar, 60 miles from Neemuch,
on the 5th February ; again at Jeerun, 12 miles from Neemuch, on
the 3rd March; and once at Saugor, Central Provinces, on the 18th
February. A note on this subject was published in the Society's
Journal, Vol. II., p. 149.
Mr. Littledale found eggs on the 4th October in a nest from which
he had previously taken eggs on the 21st September, and on the 3rd
October he also took eggs. This is late.
873.— THE PAINTED SNIPE.
Rhynchcea bengalensis, Lin.
The Painted Snipe occurs more or less commonly in suitable locali=
ties throughout Western India, but is somewhat locally distributed.
It frequents swamps and marshes, and is common on the borders of
tanks and j heels, and along the banks of rivers, where these are
fringed with rushes, reeds, and grasses.
They are permanent residents, but necessarily vary their quarters
a good deal, as the tanks and jheels dry up or otherwise, but they
appear to be much more common in the rains and cold weather than
at other times.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 131
*
They breed at different periods, in different localities, and I am
inclined to think that they have two broods, but the majority of the
birds lay during the middle of the rains.
The nest is a more or less compact pad of sedge and grass, usually
sheltered by a patch of reeds or rushes, but it is occasionally quite
exposed, but always, I believe, in a wet place.
The eggs, usually four in number — I have thrice taken five — are
moderately broad ovals in shape, pointed at one end. They are hard
in texture and moderately glossy. The ground-colour is pale buff or
warm cafe-au-lait, thickly and boldly streaked with rich brown, almost
black.
They measure 1*4 inches in length by about an inch in breadth.
Deesa. September and October. H. E. Barnes.
Hyderabad, Sind. May to July. Do.
Ncemuch. May and September. Do.
Baroda. September and October. H. Littlcdale, B.A.
m93.— THE COMMON SAND PIPER.
Tringoides hypoleucos, Lin.
The Common Sand Piper occurs as a cold weather visitant through-
out Western India, frequenting the sea coast, banks of rivers, borders
of ponds, tanks, and j heels, in short, wherever there is water. They
breed abundantly in Cashmere, laying four eggs.
They do occasionally breed in India, as Mr. Doig records the fol-
lowing note in " Stray Feathers. *
" On the 3rd July my man found a nest of this species containing
two eggs, he shot the parent bird, which he saw sitting on the eggs,
as it left the nest. This he carbolized and sent to me ; the eggs
being hard set, he was unable to preserve them. I sent the fragments
of the carbolized bird to Mr. Hume, who identified them as belong-
ing to this species. The nest was a few shells and sand scraped
together near the water's edge of a salt deposit, and on these the eggs
were laid. These eggs my man described as being similar to those
of JEgialitis miitntHs, but larger and more strougly marked."
* Stray Featkers, Vol. IX., p. 282.
132 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891..
Captain Cocks' account of the nest and eggs is as follows* : —
" I found the Common Sand Piper breeding plentifully on the hanks
of all the streams that run into the Cashmere Valley, and took many
nests on the Sind river in May and June.
" The nest is placed a few yards from the water in an open situa-
tion in stony localities amongst low sage bushes. It is on the ground
in a slight depression, generally to the north of a low bush, and con-
sists of a few little pieces of stick or a few fragments of dead leaves.
It always contains four eggs, the pointed ends of which are placed
together in the centre. The bird gets off the nest very slowly, as if
it wished to attract attention to itself."
The Ggg* are described as being typically ovate-pyriform in shape,
fine' and close in texture, and slightly glossy. The usual colour
is a pale creamy-stone, with a bufry cafe-au-lait, or sometimes even
a pinky tinge. The markings are a rich red-brown, occasionally
almost black, and consist of speck and spots, intermixed with under-
lying clouds and spots of reddish, sometimes pale inky-purple.
The markings are usually more dense at the larger end, occasionally
forming an almost confluent cap.
In length they vary from 1'35 to 152 and in breadth from l'O to
I'll inches, but the average is 146 by 106.
«98. THE STILT.
Himantopus Candidas, Bonn.
The Stilt or Longlegs is a common cold- weather visitant to all parts
of the Presidency, but is said to be rare in Pvatnagiri, It is a per-
manent resident in Sind, Mr. Doig having found it breeding on the
salt deposits on the Eastern Narra in June.
Mr. Hume gives a concise account of their breeding at the Salt
Works at Sultanpur.f He says : —
"They collect together small pieces of kunkar or the broken lime-
lining of the pans into a circular platform from seven to even twelve
inches in diameter and from two to three inches in height ; on this
again they place a little grass, on which they usually lay four eggs,
but not unfrcquently only two or three. They begin to lay, accord-
ing to season, towards the end of April or the beginning of May, and
* Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, p. 588-
t" _ f Indian Birds, p. 589, et aeq.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 133
by flu1 beginning of Tunc numbers of young arc to be seen about,
and by the 1st July most of the eggs then remaining are hard set.
The majority of the birds lay in June, early or late according to
season.
" In shape and general appearance they are very lapwing-like,
reminding one much of the eggs of Lobwanellus indieus ; they are,
however, as a rule, smaller, more pointed, with less numerous, but
more clearly defined markings. In shape they are moderately broad
ovals elongated ; and in some pinched out, as it were, towards one
end, reminding one of the eggs of the Red-shank.
" The texture is very fine and compact, and the eggs have, man}'
of them, a certain amount of gloss, entirely wanting in the Red-
wattled Lapwing's eggs. The ground-colour appears to vary as in
the Plovers : in some it is a darker or paler olive-brown, in others
a- greenish- stone colour, or pale cafe-au-lait. The markings consist
of specks, spots, blotches, and streaks irregularly sprinkled over the
whole surface of the egg, but most thickly so, as a rule, towards the
large end. The markings are black, blackish-brown, and rich umber-
brown. As a rule, the markings are all clearly defined and are much
of the same colour. The secondary markings of pale inky-purple, so
characteristic of most of the Lapwings' eggs, are normally almost
totally wanting on the Stilt's.
" In length they vary from 1*5 to 1*8 and in breadth from 1*1 to
1 32, but the average is 164 by 1-21"."
Eastern Narra, Sind. 8. B. Doig.
900. THE BRONZE-WINGED JACANA.
Parra indica, Lin.
The Bronze-winged Jacana, although probably a permanent resi-
dent, occurs but sparingly in the southern half of the Presidency,
and appears to be very locally distributed. Mr. Hume gives his
opinion that the Bronze- winged Jacana docs not occur in Sind,
Cutch, Kathiawar, Jodhpore, or in part of Rajpootana. I can only
say that Mr. Littledale found them breeding at Baroda, and that
I found them breeding at the Milana tanks near Dcesa, and abundantly
on all the large tanks near Neemuch. I have not seen it in Sind.
They breed from the latter end of May to the beginning of October,
but the months in which the majority lay are June and July.
131. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
1
The nest, composed of rushes and weeds, is usually placed on a
floating lotus leaf ; occasionally they deposit their eggs on a heap
of floating weeds, without preparing any nest at all.
The normal number of eggs is certainly four, but they are stated
to lay from eight to ten.* I have had exceptional facilities for not-
ing this bird, and must have examined hundreds of nests ; I never
found more than four eggs in a nest. A clutch of five was once
brought to me by a fisherman, which, he stated, all came from the
same nest. I also note that Mr. Doig found a nest containing five
eggs, but these are exceptional cases.
The eggs are oval in shape, pointed at one end, and are generally
of a rich cafe -ait- la it. One clutch I have has the ground-colour a
dark olive-brown, while in another it is very pale stone-brown ; the
eggs of this last clutch are abnormally small.
The markings consist of a net-work of entangled lines, and vary
from deep blackish-brown, at times almost black, to a deep reddish-
brown.
The eggs are highly glossy and are extremely handsome. They
measure 1*47 inches in length by nearly 1*02 in width.
Deesa (Milana), June. H. E. Barnes.
Neemuc/i, July and August. Do.
Saugor, C. P., Mag to October, Do.
Baroda, August and September. H* Littledale, B. A.
901. THE PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA.
Hydrophasianm chirurgus, Scop.
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana occurs in suitable localities throughout
Western India, but appears to be much less common in the southern
half of the Presidency. It is, I believe, a permanent resident where
found, flocking together as the breeding season approaches and retiring
to the nearest suitable spot to breed. In many places it is spoken of
as being a cold weather visitant. Thus at Deesa, for instance, Colonel
Butler says that nearly all the birds leave that part of the country at
the end of the cold weather, yet I found them breeding abundantly
on the Milana j heels only 18 miles away. Mr. Littledale found them
• Bombay Natural History Society Journal, Vol. I., p. 221.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA, 135
breeding also near Baroda, and on all the tanks and jhecls of any
size near Ncemuch they breed in great numbers.
The nest, eoraposed of weeds and aquatic plants, is placed on a
floating mass of decaying vegotable matter, amongst thick reeds and
rushes ; sometimes the nest is smaller and is placed on a lotus leaf.
The eggs, four in number, are peg-top shape, and arc of a glossy-
rufous or greenish-bronze colour ; often they are almost black.
When hard-set they lose their glossy appearance and become much
paler in colour. They measure 1*46 inches in length by about
11 in width.
Dcesa (Milana), July to September. H. E. Barnes.
Neemuch, August to September. Do.
Baroda, September. H. Littkdak. B,A.
Sind (E. Narra), July to August. S. B. Doig.
902. THE PURPLE COOT.
Porphyria poliocephalus, Lath.
The Purple Coot appears to be uncommon m the Deccan, and
only occurs as a straggler in other parts of the southern half of
the Presidency. Further north, in Rajpootana, Guzerat, Sind, and
the northern half generally, they are very abundant (in suitable
localities), breeding freely from June to the beginning of October.
Eggs may be found both earlier and later, but the majority lay in
the months named.
They frequent reedy, rushy, and lotus-covered jheels and swamps.
In the early morning they come out to feed, and may be seen on
the borders of the jheels or edges of the tanks, sometimes on the
shore, walking about sedately and jerking their tails at every step,
just like the water-hens do ; at other times they keep in the shallow
water, but as soon as the sun is well up they all retire to their usual
haunts in the dense beds of rushes and reeds that fringe the border
of the jheels and lakes. Here they keep up such an incessant row
that it gives one the idea that they arc quarrelling and fighting.
The nests, built of rushes and reeds, are floating, but not free ;
occasionally on the ground, often they merely trample down the
136 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
rushes and form a kind of platform, and on this they make the
nest.
The eggs, five to eight in number, arc normally of an oval shape,
but are subject to much variation ; they vary considerably also in
size, but the average is about 1*93 inches in length by nearly 1'4 in
breadth.
Mr. Hume says* all the birds in the same swamp both lay and
hatch off about the same time, and that in two different j heels only
a few miles apart there may be a difference of fifteen days or so in
the periods of laying in the two colonics. My experience is very
different. I have often taken fresh and incubated eggs from the
Milana j heels, and at the same time have seen good-sized chicks
in the water. Again in the tanks near Ncemuch I noticed the same ;
and on the Saugor lake I have taken eggs from June to October ;
and although I did not go there so often, still I have taken fresh
and incubated eggs at the Chundrapur lake, 22 miles away,
Mr. Littlcdale notes that he found nests on the 28th and 29th
September containing 4, 1, 2, and 5 eggs, respectively, and one
containing 4 chicks and two eggs ; of these the clutch of five was
much incubated, but the others were fresh ; we may therefore con-
clude that in Western India they do not breed simultaneously,
whatever they may do elsewhere. The eggs vary from a pale
pinkish-stone colour to pure salmon-pink, but they fade very soon ;
they arc thickly sprinkled, speckled, and blotched with red-brown
and secondary markings of pale purple.
Ncemuch, August to September. U. E. Barnes.
Decsa, July to Sejytember, Do.
Baroda, September. II Littlcdale, B,A.
Sind, Eastern Narra, June to August. S. B. Doig,
903. THE BALD COOT.
Fulica atra, Lin,
The Bald Coot is common in suitable localities in Western India
but is now rare in Ratnagiri, and some other places in the southern
half of the Presidency:
* Nesic (aid E<jfjs "/Indian. Bir<h<, p, 594.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 137
It ls, 1 believe, a cold weather visitor to mosl places; Colonel Butler
found a aest a1 Belgaum, and Lieut. Burgess found one containing
thr< t;s on the Singwa tank, 18 miles north of Ahmednuggur ;
these are, I believe, the only recorded instances of the nest having been
taken within our limits. It most probably breeds on the Munchur
lake in Siud and on some of the larger lakes in Rajpootana. I shot
a pair during the rains on a small pool of water near Ooria on
Mount Aboo, and have once or twice seen them on the Aboo lake.
.Mr. Hume says* that they breed throughout India in large j heels
and lakes that contain water all the year round. The nests are some-
i iines very large conical masses of reeds, rushes, and weeds, built
amongst beds of rushes and rice, in water from six to eighteen inches
>p, but based on the ground, and rising several inches above the
water level, those built, in shallow water are less massive. They
breed during July and August. The eggs, from seven to ten in
number, vary greatly in size and shape, but are very uniform in
colour, and in the character of the markings ; they have no gloss.
The ground-colour is a pale bufty-stone, and the whole surface is
closely and evenly stippled with black and blackish-brown specks.
They average 1'98 inches in length by 1*4 in breadth.
904. THE WATER COCK.
Galiicrex cinereus, Gm.
The Water Cock occurs sparingly in some parts of Siud ; it has
not been recorded from any other part of Western India.
I shot a female with the ovaries much developed, during the raius,
near Hyderabad, Siud, and have a clutch of eggs, said to have been
taken in the Province. These were given to me by a friend who could
give me no particulars as he did not take himself, but he was sure
that they were taken in Sind, because the person who gave them to
him had a local collection only.
Mr. Doig had reasons for thinking that they bred during June in
the Eastern Narra, but I am not aware whether he ever succeeded in
finding eggs.
The nest is said to resemble that of the Coot, but to be much
* Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, ]» 595.
IS
138 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
smaller, and occasionally to be only a slight one, composed ©f tine
rashes and grass, placed on a floating lotus leaf.
The eggs are oval in shape, fine and compact in texture, but nut
glossy; the ground-colour is very pale yellowish-white, thickly
blotched and streaked with red-brown and brownish -purple. They
measure 1*7 inches in length by '27 in breadth.
The number of eggs is said by boatmen and others to be eig'ht or
ten ; Mr. Hume personally never found more than five, and Mr.
Irwin found two nests — one containing two fresh and the other
containing two incubated ones. My clutch consists of four eggs.
&05-, THE WATER HEN.
Gallinula chlompus, Lin.
The Water Hen occurs sparingly in suitable localities throughout
Western India ; it is more common in Sind than in any other part
of the Presidency.
They breed during the rains, making an untidy nest of reeds
and rushes, placed sometimes on the lower branches of trees,
growing in the water, but generally amongst the reeds and rushes
that fringe the borders of so many of the tanks and jheels.
The eggs, from five to nine or ten in number, are oval in shape,
compact in texture, but not glossy ; the ground-colour is a pale si on y
drab or whitish-brown, more or less sprinkled with spots, specks,
streaks, and small blotches of reddish-brown and purple. They
measure 1 '62 inches in length by about T2I in width,
Milana, near Deesa, July. H. E. Baruct^
lli/ilcrahad, Sind, June to August. Do.
Eastern Narra, Sind, Jane, S. B. Boig,
907. THE WHITE-BREAST F.I) WATER HEN.
Erythra phcehicura, Penn.
The White-breasted Water Hen occurs in all parts of Western
India, that is, of course, in suitable localities.
They are found chiefly in thickets and wooded nullas, especially
when the banks arc rugged and steep ; along hedge-rows and patches
of jungle near water. They may often be seen in the morning
creeping silently about amongst the reeds and rushes on the borders
of u tank or nulla or iu the shallow bed ©f a stream, coming out
tffiSSXNQ IN WJSSVBiRN ISJilA. 13^
ioiiaJLj m ilu- open, one moment walking) along ima dignified
manner, pocking herd and theire amongst the gravel, the next for no
apparent reason running rapidly away, always with the tail erect,
rurt.'ly taking flight.
They climb into and eareejo about the dense thorny thickets with
the greatest ease. After they have hidden, themselves in one of
these places of refuge, they are very difficult to dislodge. I
have even had to poke thern out with a long stick before I could
make them move.
They breed from May to August. The nests are, as a rule, placed
in the branches of douse bushes or trees close to the water,
occasionally some distance away. The nest is generally an untidy
mass of weeds and rushes. Sometimes the nest is built amongst the
reeds and rank grass on the ground.
The eggs, from four to seven in number, are subject to much
variation in shape, size, and colour ; these differences exist even in
eggs of the same clutch. Normally they are moderately broad ovals
in shape, measuring L\6 inches in length by about 1T8 in breadth ;
the ground-colour is a pale pinkish-stone, darker or lighter in
different specimens, beautifully marked, as a rule, with bright
reddish-brown and brownish-purple streaks and blotches.
Some eggs arc almost devoid of markings.
Deem, July. II. E. Barnes.
Neemueh, May to August. Do.
Veh'ir Lake, Bombay, August. Do.
Baroda, August to September. H. LitUe<Iaa\ B. A.
908. THE BROWN AND ASHY CRAKE ;
OR THE BROWN RAIL.
Porzaiai ffko'il, Sykes.
The Brown Rail is a not uncommon permanent resident in
Guzerat and in some part of Rajpootaua. I do not think that it
occurs in Sind, and it is decidedly rare in the Deccau, but is more
anion about Belgaum.
I think they are permanent residents where they occur. Colon 'd
Butler procured eggs at Belgaum, and I found a nest containing
140 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
five eggs at Milana, 18 miles from Deesa, and I have also tak< :n eggs
at Saugor, in the Central Provinces.
I think they have two broods in the season — the first in May and
June, the other later on in August and September.
The nest is not unlike that of the Common Water Hen. but is,
of course, much smaller, and is placed in similar situations.
The eggs, from four to eight in number, are broad ovals in shape,
slightly compressed at one end ; they measure 1*49 inches in length
by about 1*18 in breadth. The ground-colour is white, with a
barely susceptible tinge of salmon-pink, which is very evanescent ;
the markings consist of streaks and spots of purplish and reddish-
brown wTith underlying blotches of faint purple. The texture of the
shell is fine, but they have scarcely any gloss. They are similar in
their habits to the Common Water Hen, skulking amongst long
grass and bushes, and are with difficulty flushed. They occur on the
hills as in the plains.
Milana, near Dersn, Au>just. II. E. Barnes.
9,]0. THE PIGMY KAIL,
Porzftivi bailloni. Vieili.
Baillon's Crake, or the Pigmy Pail, appears to be not uncommon
in most parts of the Presidency, but appears to be verv loyally
distributed. Most of the birds are probably cold- weather visitants,
as the nest has been taken so seldom. At Milana, near Deesa, they
are very common, breeding from July to September.
The nest is similar to that of the Water Hen, but is very much
smaller, and is placed amongst the bulrushes, two or three feet above
I lie water; others are placed just above the water, amongst rank grass
and reeds.
The eggs, six to eight in number, arc oval in shape, slightly
pointed at one end; the ground-colour is pale olive-stone or greenish-
drab with faint dusky clouds and streaks, chiefly aij tin- hn-ger * aid ;
they men -ai'' i I inches in length by neatly 0-81 in breadth.
Milana., Deesa, July to September H E. Bon'.
NESTING l\ WESTERN IHD14 HI
&I3. the Bi;ri:-i;i;i;AsTi;i) banded kail.
Hypotaviilia striata, Lin.
I do not, think that the Bluc-breastcd Bjimlc id 1,'ail occurs north
of Bombay; it appears to be not uncommon iri'manj parts of the
Deccan, breeding during August and Septembbr. I have never
seen a nest, arid cannot find a description of one.
The eggs in my collection Were taken in a rtfedy swamp heal
Knandala during August: Tlio eggs- throe in number, were
perfectly fresh, and the bird would probaoly have laid more. These
eo-o-s are broad ovals, of a pale brownishi stone colour, much blotched
at the large end with brownish and cinnamon-red and purplish-grey ;
they measure 1*3 inches in length by 1*02 in breadth.
917. THE BLACK-NECKED STORK.
Xenorkynchm asiaticus, Lath.
The Black-necked Stork appears to be very uncommon in the
Deccan and south generally, but. is more common towards the north,
frequenting the borders of tanks and j heels, and the banks of rivers
and streams.
It is a permanent resident, breeding just after the rains are over,
that is, about the beginning of September, and eggs may be found
quite up to the middle of December.
The nest is very massive and is saucer-shaped, composed of sticks
well lined with grass, rushes, and water weeds. It is placed on the
top of a high tree.
The eggs, four in number, occasionally three only, more rarely
five, are typically broadish ovals in shape, compressed at one end,
but are subject to variation. "When fresh the eggs are almost pure
white, but soon become discoloured, and are then a dingy yellowish-
white. In size they vary a good, deal, but the average is 2'9 inches
in length by about 2'12 in breadth.
Deem, October. H. E. Dan/ex.
Barodd, September. H. Lfflledctk, B,A.
Sind, Eastern Narra. Octobei to December 8. B. Voiy,
142 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
920. THE WHITE-NECKED STORK.
Dissura episcopa, Bocld.
The White-necked Stork is fairly common in suitable localities
throughout Western India, frequenting the banks of rivers, borders
of swamps and jheels, open plains in well-watered districts, and suck-
like places.
They are permanent residents, breeding from August to December,
making a saucer-shaped nest of sticks and twigs, lined with straw,
leaves, feathers, &c.
The eggs, usually four in number, vary considerably in shape,
some being broad ovals compressed at one end, others are long
narrow ovals equally pointed at both ends. They are faint
bluish- white in colour, sometimes pure white when perfectly fresh,
but they soon get discoloured, and when they are much incubated,
they present an uniform yellowish earthy-brown appearance. They
average 2*5 inches in length by about 1*83 in width.
Baroda, September. H. Liitkdale. B.A.
Sholapur, December. J. Davidson, G.S.
923. THE BLUE HERON.
Ardea cinerea, Lin.
The Blue Heron is common in suitable localities throughout the
Presidency. I cannot find any record of its nest having been
taken in the Deccan, and Mr. Vidal notes it as a cold weather
visitant only to Ratnagiri. They breed freely in the E.istern Narra
in Sind, and in parts of Ghizsrat an I Rijpootana.
They breed in colonics generally in company with other water birds.
The nest is a platform of sticks, with a depression in the centre in
which the eggs are placed ; this hollow is occasionally lined with
grass.
The eggs, three in number, are moderately broad ovals in shape,
and are of a glossless bluish-green colour, which fades ra|jidly,
especially if at all exposed to the light.
They measure about two and a quarter inches in length, by almost
one and three quarters in breadth.
Dccsa, August. H. E, Barnes.
Sind, Eastern Narra. S. B. Duly.
hKSTLXa 1M J) KSTEl{.\ iyi)IA. 14:'.
<>-!4. T1J1-: purpli-: ileuon.
Ardea yurxnirea, Lin.
Tke Purple Heron, although not so common as the Blue Heron,
occurs in suitable places in all parts of the district. It is stated to
be a cold weather visitant only to the Deccan and Ratnagiri.
I have never myself seen a. nest in Western India, but I have
hikenihe eggs at Saugor, in the Central Provinces, in the hot weather.
They frequent dense beds of rushes and high reeds in swamps and
marshes, and are seldom seen far from water.
As a rule they breed in colonies amongst these reeds, but occasion-
ally also in trees in company with other water birds.
The eggs, four or five in number, are very similar to those of the
Blue Heron, but are rather smaller, averaging 2-17 inches in length
by about l"5o in width.
Sind, Eastern Narra, ' S. B boig.
925. THE LESSER WHITE HERON.
He radius torra, B. Ham.
The Lesser White Heron, or, as Jerdou called it, the Large E^ret,
occurs on all the rivers and marshes in Western India, abundantly
in Sind, less common elsewhere.
It is probably more or less a permanent resident, but I am not
aware of the nest having been taken in the southern half of the
district.
1 saw several pairs on a tall tamarind tree, growing in the com-
pound of a hut, close to the railway station at Wassind, about fifty
miles from Bombay. This was in the latter part of July, and the
tree was crowded with nests of the Little White Heron (fferodius
inter media); the Little Egret {Herodias garzetia) ; Cattle Eo-ret
(Bubulcus coromanda); and the Pond Heron (Ardeola grayi) ; all
these were sitting on their nests ; but although I watched them
through my binoculars for a very long time, I did not see a single
Large Egret on a nest, so I cannot be sure that they were breeding
although in all probability they were.
144 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
It jis this habit the Herons have of breeding in company that
causes so much confusion amongst their eggs in collections.
The nest is a loose ragged platform, constructed with sticks and
twigs, with scarcely any hollow for the eggs, which are from three to
five in number, and are very similar to those of the Blue and Purple
Herons, but average rather smaller. They measure about 211
inches in length by 1*55 in breadth.
Baroda, -July to August. II. Littkdak, B. A.
Sind, Eastern Narra, July to August. S. B. Doig.
926. THE LITTLE WHITE HERON.
Herodias intermedia, Hass.
The Little White Heron has a similar distribution to the last ; the
nest does not appear to have been taken in the Deccau. It is com-
mon in the northern portion of Western India, and breeds freely on
trees in colonies.
The eggs are similar to those of other Herons, but are perhaps
rather finer in texture, and slightly paler.
They measure 1'9 inches ia length by 1-44 in breadth.
Wassind, riecer Bombay, July. H. E. Barnes.
Baroda, July and August. II. Litlledule, B. A.
ISind, Eastern Narra, July and August. S. B. Doig.
927. THE LITTLE EGRET.
Herodias garzetta, Lin.
The Tattle Egret is found in the same localities as the other herons,
mid like them they seem to disappear from the Deccan during the
breeding season.
I found them breeding at Wassind in July and at Deesa in July
and August. In the latter case the nests, of which there were a
great number, were all built in a large tree about two hundred yards
lroin the river, and in the middle of a block of huts on the outskirts
of the town. The Cattle Egrets and Pond Herons were also breed-
ing in the same tree. The nests were like those previously des-
cribed, and the eggs, five or six in number, were of a pale blue
\ /■ S3 ' / A '< • f V M ' F S T F ft iVIWiM
ci>16ur, which however soon faded. Tlmy averaged 173 inches in
length by 102 in breadth.
I'tcsa, July to August. II. E. Barnes.
fPassma, near Bombay, July. Do.
Baroda, July. IT. Littledale, B.A.
Stud, Eastern jyaria, July and August. S. B. Voig.
928. THE ASHY EGRET.
Demiegretta gularics, Bose.
The Ashy Egret or White-throated Reef Heron occurs along the
sea coast ; it is very abundant near Kurrachee, and is said to breed
on the tops of the mangrove bushes in the harbour, making a
slight stick nest, some five or six feet from the high water level.
The eggs in my collection measure 1*68 inches in length by 1/3
in breadth.
They are rather paler in colour than those of the last.
929. THE CATTLE EGRET.
Bubulcus coromandus, Bodd.
The Cattle Egret is more or less common in all suitable localities
in Western India. Some of them remain to breed in the Deccan,
but most of them appear to leave that part of the country at tie
approach of the breeding season.
Thev are very common in the whole of the northern half of the
Presidency, where they are permanent residents, breeding freely
during July and August ; occasionally a colony may be found to
consist of them alone, but generally they breed in company with
other species.
The eggs, four or five in number, may be distinguished from those
of all other herons by their excessive paleness. They being white,
with a faint tinge of blue or green, much resembling in colour the
eggs of the Shikra (Astur badins.)
They measure 117 inches in length by 1 ;>»:2 in breadth.
Deesa, July and August. H. V- Bames.
Wassind, near Bombay, July. Do.
Baroda, July, J J Littikdaks B.A.
id\ Eastern Wrra\ July and A»gusl. .S. B. D»uj.
19
146 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
930. THE POND HERON.
Ardeola grayi, Sykes.
The Pond Heron is a common permanent resident in all parts of
the country, breeding from May to August ; making a platform-
nest of sticks and twigs on trees, sometimes isolated, at other times
in small colonies, and often in company with other species of herons.
The eggs, four or five in number, are deep sea-green or bluish -
green in colour ; they are oval in shape, compressed a little at one
end, and measure P48 inches in length by about 117 in breadth.
I found a small colony at Neemuch, in a large banian tree
growing over a small but deep masonn^ well in the middle of a
village and quite a mile from any other water.
Deesa, May to August. H. E. Barnes.
Neemuch, June to August. Do.
>Sind, Hyderabad, July. Do.
tiind, Eastern Narra. Jane and July. S. B. Doig.
Baroda, May to July. H. Llttlcdale, B.A.
931. THE LITTLE GREEN BITTERN.
Batorides javaniea, Hors.
The Little Green Bittern or Heron is a not uncommon permanent
resident throughout the district.
They frequent secluded well-wooded nullas, banks of rivers and
mangrove swamps; they remain hidden all day in some densely-'
foliaged tree or other thick cover, coming out at sunset to feed ;
owing to this habit they appear to be much less common than they
really are.
They breed from June to August, making a small stick nest whi< h
is always well hidden. Those I have found have always been placed
on trees or bushes overhanging water, but I believe they do
occasionally place them amongst tall reeds and rushes.
The eggs, three or four in number, are pale sea-green or green ish-
blue in colour, oval in shape, compressed as a rule at one end, and
measuring 1'62 inches in length by P35 in breadth.
Tliey arc, I believe, always solitary.
Dt'esn. JI. E Barnes.
Neemuch. Do.
Sind, Hyderabad. S. B. Doig.
NESTING IN WESTERN 1SDIA.
147
The following table may be of some use, as it. gives the avera
dimensions of the eggs, but they are so much alike that it is
advisable always to shoot a Bird <>1V the nest to avoid mistakes : —
.J.'idon's
number.
Name.
Dimensions
of Eggs.
Length. |Breadth
Colo
ur.
923.
9241
92§i
926.
927.
928.
929.
930.
9:37.
Ardea cinerea
Ardea purpurea
llerodias torra
llerodias intermedia
Ilerodias garzetta
Demiegretta gularis
Bubuleus coromandus ..
Ardeola gravi
Butorides javanica
Ny cticorax grisens
2-27
2
9
V
1
1
17
11
90
73
68
1*71
1-48
1-62
1-92
1-Cfi
5G
55
1-44
32
30
1-32
117
1-21
1-35
Delicate bluish -
green.
Do.
Do.
Do., but paler.
Do. do.
Do., but still
more pale.
White, faintly
tinged blue or
green.
Sea-green or
greenish-blue,
Greenish-blue.
Do.
932. THE BLACK BITTERN.
Ardetta flacicolUs, Lath.
I do not think that the Black Bittern has been recorded from any-
where in Western India, with the exception of Sind, where
Mr, Doig found it breeding in June and July. He says : — *
" The nests are formed of tamarisk twigs, with some few
aquatic weeds, on which the eggs are laid ; they are generally placed
about five feet over the water, either in a dense tamarisk bush or
thick clump of reeds, and are about 9 inches in diameter and
three inches in thickness, and have a very slight depression, in which
the eggs, always four in number, are laid. The eggs are for the
most part very broad ovals, sharp at both ends, and very nearly
white in colour. The eggs vary in length from 1*5 to 1#85 inches
and in width from 1*15 to 1*3, the average length of 53 eggs being
1-66 and width 1-26."
'Stray Feathers, Vol. MIL, p. 377.
H8 JOURNAL, BuMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
;. THE CHESTNUT BITTERN
Ardetta dinnamomea, Gni.
The Chestnut Bittern is oommon at Belgaum, where k breeds
during the rains.
Mr. Doig found it to be not uncommon in the Eastern Nana
district, where also it breeds. It is probably very rare, even if it
occurs at all in most other parts of Western India.
Mr. Doig, referring to a nest he found in the Eastern Narra,
writes : —
" Found a nest of this species on the 3rd August in a thick clump
of reeds in the middle of a swamp : it contained four fresh eggs. The
nest was a platform of coarse grass and reeds. The eggs were nearly
perfect ovals of a chalky-white colour." (Stray Feathers, Vol. IX.,
p. 282.)
!KU. THE YELLOW BITTERN.
Ardetta sinensis, Gmel.
The Yellow Bittern is not very common in Sind ; it occurs also in
Guzerat, but is rare in the Deccan.
Colonel Butler found it breeding at Milana, near Deesa. He
writes : —
"On the 21st August, 1876, at Milana, I found a nest of the
Yellow Bittern. It was built of sedges and rushes near the outside
of an immense bed of tall bullru^hes, in one of which it was placed
about ten feet from the level of the water. It was a small nest and
not unlike that of a small rail, and contained three eggs, but un-
fortunately so near hatching that I only managed to extract the
contents of one of them. The eggs are long and cylindrical, in fact
much in shape like Nightjars' eggs, about 1^ inches in length ;
white, faintly tinted with skim-milk blue.
"On the 24th instant I found another nest exactly similar in every
respect, but built in a clump of bullrushes growing quite on the
outside of the bed. The bird rose off the nest within a yard of me,
but there were no eggs, and when I returned a few days later the
nest was deserted." (Stray Feathers, Vol. V., p. 2.16.)
Sind, Eastern Narra, May to August. S. B. Doig.
Deesa, Mi tana. August. Colonel Butler.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 149
936. THE LITTLE BITTERN.
Ardetta minuta, Lin.
With the exception of Bind, the Little Bittern docs not occur any-
where in Western India. Mr. Doig, who found it breeding iu the
Eastern Narra, says: —
" I took my first nest of this bird on the 26th. May; it contained
four fresh eggs. They are elongated ovals, pointed at both, ends and
pure white. The eggs vary from L3 to 1*4 in length and from
095 to LOS in width ; the average of seven eggs being 1*34 in
length and 100 in width." [Stray Feathers, Vol. VIII., p. 379.)
937. THE NIGHT HERON.
Nyctieora.it griseus, Lin.
The Night Heron is a common permanent resident in all suitable
localities in Western India. It is particularly common on the
islands in the Vehar Lake, where it breeds, as also in the island of
Elephanta in Bombay Harbour.
They breed from June to August in colonies, on large trees, often
in company with other species.
The eggs, four or five in number, are greenish-blue in colour
quite as deep as those of the Blue Heron. They vary a good deal
in shape and size, but typically they are ovals, measuring 1*92
inches in length by rather less than 1'35 in breadth,
Bombay; Vehar, August. H. E. Barnes.
Kind, Hyderabad, July and August. Do.
Sina\ Eastern Narra, June and July. S. B. Doig.
938. THE PELICAN IBIS.
Tantalus lencocephalus, Forst,
The Pelican Ibis is generally distributed throughout the Presidency,
with the exception of Ratnagiri and Kanara, where I believe it does
not occur,
They are permanent residents, breeding at very different times in
different places. In the Deccan, Lieutenant Burgess records them
$s breeding in February ; Mr. Littledale found them breeding near
150 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIF.TY, 1891.
Baroda in October ; Mr. Doig says that in the Eastern Narra District
they breed in October and November.
Personally I know of only one breeding place, and that is at the
village of Hir, about ten miles from Neemueh ; at this place they breed
early in March.
The river runs for some distance between high sloping well-
wooded banks ; here and there where the banks- are low, or rather
where there is no bank at all, the river widens out into broad shallows ;
the village stands on a high rocky bank ; the water on the village
side is very deep, and ruus some distance under the bank which is
shelving, but on the opposite side is a low sandy plain, and the river
forms a broad shallow lake which teems with fish. There are a great
many very high trees, some of them in the village itself, and on these
trees there were some fifty or sixty nests.
Considering the size of the birds, these nests seemed very small ;
they were constructed of sticks and twigs, and are mere platform s
quite unlined. The eggs (I have never found more than four in a
nest, but they were fresh, and possibly the birds may lay more) were
elongated ovals in shape, pointed at one end ; they are fine and
compact in texture, and are unspotted, white in colour. They vary
considerably in size and shape, but the average of a large series was
2*76 inches in length by about 1*9 in breadth.
Baroda, October. H. Littledale, B.A.
Sind, Eastern Narra, October and November. S. B . Doig.
Neemueh,, March. H. E. Barnes.
939. THE SPOONBILL.
Platalea kucorodia, Lin.
Generally speaking, the Spoonbill is fairly common in "Western
India, but appears to be somewhat rare in Ratnagiri and Kanara.
They breed in Sind during the months of October and November.
I have no reliable information of their breeding in any other
portion of the Presidency, but they undoubtedly do so. I heard of a
colony at Naigaum, near Neemueh, but was unable to verify the fact,
and I have been informed that they breed freely in the Runn of Cutch.
Occasionally a few pairs may be found breeding by themselves, but,
NESTIM; IN WESTERN INDIA. 151
as a genera] rule, as the breeding season draws near, they assemble
together and form immense colonies.
The nests, which are placed on high trees, are large stick platforms
two or three feet in diameter.
The eggs, four or five in number, vary much in size and shape,
but typical!}- they are elongated ovals, much pointed at one end ;
ey average 2*7 inches in length by 1*81 in breadth. In texture
they are rather coarse and slightly chalky ; when fresh the ground-
colour is a glossless white, but gets soiled as incubation proceeds. The
markings are usually scanty and almost confined to the large end.
They are ill-defined and consist of smudgy spots and blotches of a
dingy yellowish-brown or rusty-red colour ; occasionally they are
bright or reddish-brown, rarely almost black.
iSi.iul, Eastern Narra, October and November. §. B. Dohj.
940. THE SHELL IBIS.
Anastomus oscitans, Bodd.
The Shell Ibis appears to be not very common, and does not, I
believe, occur at all in Kanara and Ratnagiri. They are more com-
mon in Sind when they breed.
They form large colonies, placing their nests, which are large
stick platforms as a rule, on the topmost branches of high trees, but
in Sind they breed in thickets, and the nests are only a few feet above
the water.
The eggs, four or five in number, are usually oval in shape, but
are subject to variation. When first laid they are spotless creamy-
white, but as incubation proceeds they turn to a dull earthy or
yellowish-brown. The texture is smooth and close. They average
about 2 24 inches in length by 1*6 in breadth.
Sina, Eastern Narra, October and November. S. B. Doig.
941. THE WHITE IBIS.
Ibis melanocephala, Lath.
The White Ibis is fairly common in suitable localities in all parts
of the Presidency, and is probably more or less a permanent resident
where they occur.
152 JOURNAL, BOMBAY <XATCRAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
They form small colonies generally by themselves, occasionally
associated with other species.
The nests, made of sticks and twigs, are moderately sized plat-
forms having a central depression, and are placed in high trees.
The eggs, two to four in number, are subject to much variation,
size and shape, but are typically elongated ovals. Mr. Hume says
(hat his longest egg measured 2*82 inches, the shortest 2'1 ; the
broadest was 1'82, the narrowest 1*5, and that the average of over
one hundred eggs was 2'54 inches by T7.
When fresh laid they are delicate bluish or greenish-white, but
soon become soiled ; most of the eggs are plain, but some are spot led
Wiitii yellowish-brown.
Sitid, Eastern Narra, October to December. S. B. Doig.
942. THE BLACK IBIS.
Inoeotis papillosus, Tern.
The Black or "Warty-headed Ibis is a common permanent resident
in most parts of Western India; it does not occur in Ratnagiri or
the more southern portion of the district generally.
It is often called the King Curlew.
The nests are as a rule solitary, but occasionally two or three will
be found in close proximity ; it is placed as a rule in a fork near the
top of a high tree, and is composed of twigs and sticks, and the egg
cavity, which is often three inches deep, is lined with fine twigs and
straw. Sometimes they take possession of an old nest of the Fishing
Eagle or King Vulture.
The eggs, three or four in number, are usually moderately long
ovals in shape, more or less compressed at one end ; they are . subject
to much variation in size, but the average is 2*43 inches in length
bv about 1*7 in width.
In colour they are deep sea-green, as a rule unspotted, but
occasionally they are thinly specked and streaked with brown or
3 (llowish -brown.
I am inclined to believe that they have two broods in the year.
Sholapur, November and December. J. Davidson, C.S.
Jjeesa, October. II, E. ttarr)t>
Sind, Eastern Narra, June to October. <S'. B. Doig.
BOMBAY FERNERIES. 153
94a. THE GLOSSY IBIS.
Falcinellus igneus, S. G. Grnel.
The Glossy Ibis is not uncommon in Sind, and occurs in some
parts of Guzcrat and llajpootana.
Mr. Vidal found them on the river near Satara, and Mr. Davidson
has recorded a single specimen from near Sholapur ; these are the
only instances that I can find of its occurrence in the southern half
of the Presidency.
Mr. Doig found them breeding in June and July in the Eastern
Narra, and I am indebted to him for a clutch of their very beautiful
eggs ; he says : —
" In May, 1878, I observed these birds in pairs, and sent men after
them to find their breeding grounds but in vain, and so being
unable to go myself, in consequence of work, I was obliged to give
up the search. This year (1879), however, in June I was able to
search myself, and found them breeding in great numbers on trees
along: the banks of the lar^e lakes inside the sand hills along the
banks of the " Narra." The nests were found in the tops of Kimdy
trees, and were constructed of sticks, about the size of those of
P lotus melanogaster ; on the same trees I found Inocotis papillosus and
Ibis melanocephalus breeding, while close by were numbers of nests
of Herons, Egrets, and Cormorants.
" The eggs are of a beautiful green colour, roughly pitted over
with slight indentations giving the shell a rough appearance ; they
are oval in 6hape, pointed at both ends.
" The normal number of the eggs is three, and they vary from 1:8
to 2*15 in length, and from 1*8 to 1'55 in width, the average of
thirty-five eggs being 2'01 in length and 1*4 in width." (Stray
Feathers, Vol. VIII., p. 377.;
BOMBAY FERNERIES.
By G. H. Carstensen, Superintendent, Municipal Gardens.
{Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 31st March 1891.)
A few months ago, I had the honour to read before this Society a
paper, entitled " Bombay Gardens." The sirbject then dealt with
20
154 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
is, however, so wide and comprises so many various features, thai r
was not possible on that occasion to do more than merely allude
to what in Bombay are generally called Ferneries. These possess
however in themselves so many interesting features, that they quite
deserve to be dealt with as a separate subject, though many of the
remarks preceding the sketch of Bombay Gardens refer equally well
to our Ferneries, and are quite necessary for explaining several
circumstances that might not be found sufficiently clearly accounted
for. This paper should, therefore, be taken as a continuation and
complement to the paper on Bombay Gardens,
Bombay Ferneries correspond, to a certain extent, with our conser-
vatories, greenhouses, store and hot-houses at home, in that by their
aid it is possible to cultivate a great number of plants, which, under
ordinary circumstances, could not at all, or at least only with the
greatest care, be grown in Bombay Gardens. The number and
variety of plants for which these structures are essential or at least-
beneficial, is so great and their uses for decoration so important for
the embellishment of our rooms and verandahs, that Ferneries will
deserve the attention of every inhabitant in Bombay who is fond of
a bright and cheerful home.
The name Fernery is undoubtedly, to a certain extent, misleading,
as it applies to any structure calculated to afford shelter, and a
somewhat different climate to any kind of plant, and not only to struc-
tures exclusively devoted to the cultivation of ferns. Such words
as plant-shed, plant-house, or conservatory, would be far more correct
expressions, if it were not for the fact that structures bearing these
names at home are of so entirely different a character that the use
of these terms would easily convey a wrong idea. In other parts of
India, where different materials are used in the construction of
Ferneries, such names as grass-house, betel house, chick-house,
lattice-house, &c, are applied, and following this system we might
call our Bombay Ferneries "coir-houses," but it is not a well-sound-
ing name and would be as much Greek to people unacquainted with
Bombay as " grass-house" is for most Bombayites. It will, therefore,
I believe, be preferable to retain the well-sounding name of Fernery,
except in such cases, which however still are almost unknown in
Bombay, where the structure is devoted to a single class of plants
BOMBAY FERNERIES.
!.(.»
only, such as ferns, orchids, palms or others, when the proper terms
would of course be fern-house, orchid-house, palm-house, &c.
Before considering the construction of such ferneries, it may be
advisable to study the natural conditions under which the plants we
wish to cultivate are found in a wild state. For this purpose we
may class our plants into three groups : ferns, foliage-plants, and
orchids. We all know that the best places to search for ferns are
the ravines of our hills, near water-courses which in the monsoon
often assume the character of picturesque waterfalls or raging torrents,
while during the dry season a few brown pools here and there anion o*
the boulders, peculiar hollow depressions in the solid rock or the
chaotic masses of fragments of rocks, of boulders and pebbles every-
where obstructing our way through the jungle, remain as the only
traces of the roar and the splash of the immense volume of water
that during the rains is hurried down through the ravines, to feed
our rivers, to flood the rice fields and indirectly to supply the food to
by far the greater proportion of this densely populated country.
These waterways are always distinguished by a peculiar .vegetation, as
if nature herself would mark out their importance, by here strewing
her choicest ornaments of the vegetable wrorld. Among beautiful
evergreen trees and often conspicuous flowering shrubs and herbs, but
always in more or less shaded positions, we here find the favourite
resorts of most of our ferns ; and here also we may look for many of our
Begonias, which both by their graceful flowers and by their varied
and often highly ornamental leaves, are such valuable additions to
our Ferneries. A practical examination of these localities teaches us
that a rocky soil, shelter, shade, moisture, and at certain seasons an
ample supply of water, are the principal points in favour of this
peculiar vegetation. The great accumulation of fragments of rocks,
of boulders and stones is however quite the essential feature in this
respect, as it causes large quantities of moisture to be retained, favours
a constant and rapid evaporation, resulting in coolness of the air,
while at the same time the heat-absorbing powers of the rocks and
boulders act as a safeguard against sudden changes of temperature.
Several ferns, and amongst them some of the largest growing kinds
as the brake fern, the Marattiafraxinea and others, are however found
in quite different localities, or are, as the common silver-fern, not
156 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1391.
particular as to habitat, but in such cases their periods of growth and
rest are generally very marked, and their growing period generally
limited to the rainy season.
A few foliage plants are found in the same localities as ferns, but
by far the greater nuniber prefer a deeper soil and a warmer and
denser atmosphere than that at their disposal in such places. Their
favourite resorts are hot moist valleys or plains, overshadowed by
tall-growing trees, where the soil is deep and principally composed of
mouldering leaves and twigs, where the dense foliage of the trees
above does not easily allow the vapours of the fermenting vegetation,
abundantly impounded with dioxide of carbon, to escape. These are
the haunts of that dreadful foe, the jungle fever, but just when most
dangerous, so fascinating and charmingly attractive that it is difficult
to resist an attempt of an intimate acquaintance with their charms. I
shall never forget the impression the first view of such a place
made upon me — everything seemed new, so perfect was the beauty of
every part of the living picture before me. There were gigantic leaves,
seen before in hothouses, flowers known from pictures, plants described
in books, but all so infinitely surpassing all previous ideas of tropical
luxuriance, every detail so much grander, so fascinating and inde-
scribable that I was entirely lost in admiration, and for the first time
understood the wonderful effect of a truly tropical vegetation, a fact
which until then I had seriously commenced to ascribe to the imagi-
nation of such travellers in whose books the howling and roaring of
wild animals and the hissing of poisonous snakes are the principal
features. Nature has also here, in these dens of fever and malaria,
put up her warning sign-posts, in the shape of quaint, but often
gigantic and beautiful flowers, exhaling a most repulsive odour.
Everybody liable to be attacked by fever, will be wise to take heed of
this gratuitous but sound advice, and leave the exploration of this kind
of jungle to the dry season, when, however, much of its charm is gone.
In such places many highly ornamental foliage plants have their home,
while also a few palms and certain kinds of ferns seem to prefer such
a locality, where the prevailing conditions are heat and moisture,
dense shade, and a rich soil.
It is rather more difficult to refer orchids to specially charac-
teristic localities, their variety is so gj'eat, their habits so different,
BOMBAY FERNERIES. 157
and their requirements so variable, that we may come across repre-
sentatives of this vast order in almost any locality. Most of the
tt rrestrial, or ground-orchids, prefer open, fully exposed situations,
while others appear to prefer shaded and moist localities. Of the
epiphytical or tree-orchids, some are met with in covered jungles,
others on isolated solitary trees. There appears however to be this
difference, that the former generally prefer trees which, at certaiu
times of the year, are next to leafless, while the latter generally are
found on trees with dense ever- green foliage. From this fact it
appears evident that orchids, though requiring more or less shade,
still prefer exposure to sunshine at certain periods of the year, or in
the early and late hours of the day. Orchids art not, as a rule,
parasitical ; it is, however, certain that they prefer certain kinds of
trees to others, and are in this Presidency generally found on mango -
trees, monkey fig-trees (Unibar, Ficus glomerata), iron-wood-trees
(Jfemecylon edule), and occasionally on Jambul-trees (Eugenia Jam-
bolana) and a few other less common trees. The thick fleshy roots
of these orchids generally embrace the branches, often for a great
length, they adhere closely to the bark and are frequently surrounded
by moss. They have thus always access to moisture, however scanty
it may be, partly from atmospheric sources as rain and dew, probably
from the bark by diosmosis, and partly from the surrounding moss,
which is well known to possess great moisture-absorbing qualities.
These remarks refer to the localities where the plants of the
various classes are found in this country. I have, however, but
little hesitation in supposing that the same or very similar charac-
teristic features prevail in other tropical countries, from which the
multitude of plants cultivated in our Ferneries hail. Descriptions of
vegetation in other parts of the world, scattered through the accounts
of voyages and travels by various celebrated naturalists, all seem to
confirm this view.
Though a close adherence to natural conditions is not generally
to be recommended in regard to the culture of plants, and would
probably result in eventually reducing our greatly improved cultivated
forms, to their original wild state, exception must be made in
regard to atmospheric conditions, which, as a rule, do not allow of so
much deviation as other local circumstances, such as soil and
158 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL ill STORY SOCIETY, 1891.
exposure. It is therefore necessary, in the construction of artificial
homes for plants to try as far as possible in these to obtain atmos-
pheric conditions similar to those prevailing in such localities, where
the plants these homes are destined to contain, flourish in a wild
state. The plants cultivated in Bombay Ferneries do, however, as
shown above, differ considerably in their requirements. A structure
which unites the greatest number of peculiar advantages for any of
these plants will therefore be the most suitable, and to obtain all
advantages will only be possible where it is intended to devote a
separate structure to each particular class of plants. Modern
Bombay Ferneries do, as far as possible, answer all purposes. I am
unacquainted with the facts regarding the introduction of coir-
matting for the use of ferneries, and regret not to be able to record
the name of the person to whom the credit of this innovation is due.
It was, however, a most happy idea, by which the character of Bom-
bay Ferneries has been considerably improved, not only in respect to
usefulness, but probably also in appearance, as I have little doubt
1 hat coir matting in Bombay was preceded by the very ugly and
unsightly roofing of split bamboos, which still is commonly used
in Poona and other places, and, as I learnt the other day when visiting
a rather interesting native garden in Matoonga, has not yet entirely
disappeared in Bombay. The great advantages of the use of coir
matting are, that it is possible, according to the mesh chosen, to
obtain more or less subdued sunlight, that a free circulation of air is
<marauteed, while at the same time sufficient shelter from strong:. winds
is provided; that the force of a heavy downpour of rain is lessened,
though the quantity of water is not considerably reduced ; that mois-
ture is absorbed from the air, and the escape of vapours arising from
the ground, tanks and plants inside the structure is checked ; finally,
a Fernery covered with coir-niatting, neatly fixed and well kept in
repair, has a fairly good appearance. The only serious drawback of
this material is its very limited durability, which in Bombay rarely
extends over more than two years. Several kinds of coir-matting,
(which I need hardly state is manufactured from the Cocoa-nut
fibre) are used for Ferneries. The cheapest kind, which is the
only one sold in the bazaar, and is imported from the Malabar coast,
is rather too closely woven to be useful for ordinary ferneries,
BOMBAY PEtttiMkfEd. 1*9
and requires strong supports on account of it & cuinpara lively great
weight, especially when soaked wilh water during the monsoon,
when its threads also swell out and leave less space for the light to
pass through. For structures exclusively devoted to foliage-plants,
I should, however, prefer it to the lighter kinds, partly because the
denser shade in this instance is beneficial, and partly because the
dense texture causes a closer atmosphere in the structure. For all
other Ferneries, the coir-matting, manufactured at the local jail,
va lying in mesh from ^ to ^ inch, is more suitable. That
manufactured at the Tanna Jail is double woven and
consequently more expensive (by measure) than that prepared
at the Bombay House of Correction, and is generally
considered more durable. I have, however, not found its dura-
bility sufficiently superior to that of the latter to compensate for it*
greater original cost. Though the roofing is the most necessary
part of a Fernery, the way of fixing and supporting it has also to be
considered, and is by no means unimportant, A flat roof is not only
unsightly, but also considerably less efiicacious in obtaining the full
advantages of the coir matting, than a sloping, or an arched roof,
which not only affords greater protection against the midday- sun, but
at the same time just sufficiently breaks the rays of the morning and
afternoon sun. A roof having a slope of 65 — -70° (the angle formed
by the level of the ground and the slope continued till it cuts this
line), towards E. and W., will generally be found most useful. The
unchecked vertical rays of the sun will only enter, such a roof a
short time in the morning on one side and a short time in
the afternoon on the other side of the structure, so that only one
half of the interior of the structure will, at these times, be exposed to
the vertical rays, while the other half will only receive oblique and
consequently less active rays. The supports of the roof may be of
hollow bamboos, rafters, or posts, all depending on available means,
desired durability, or other circumstances. A Fernery that is meant
to be a permanent structure, should, however, be built of solid teak
posts, set in masonry foundations, and connected at the top with a
central beam and the ribs of the roof, across which battens should be
fixed for supporting the matting. The matting, which is generally
procurable in rolls measuring up to 100 yards long and 1 yard wide,
160 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
should be stretched across the roof from eaves to eaves, and the
various lengths sewn together with coir twine. The outer post?*
should be covered with trellis work, for which teak battens crossing
diagonally or strong hand-made wire netting are the most suitable
materials. Creepers should be planted along the trellis-work, which
they should entirely cover, but they should on no account be allowed
to encroach upon any space of the roof. The interior of the Fernery
may be variously laid out and disposed of. If the object in view
is to cultivate only a few but all excellent specimens of plants,
chiefly required for decoration of drawing-rooms, etc., stages, shelves
or stands will be found most useful. If, on the other hand, the
principal aim is to create a picturesque effect in the Fernery itself,
it is desirable to lay out the ground so as to present an irregular
surface, and to sink the pots in the ground, a practice which
possesses very great advantages for the successful culture of most
plants. Another plan, which, as far as possible, meets both objects,
is to arrange the plants in groups on the level surface of the
ground. The posts should always, when feasible, be covered with
creepers, and no Fernery should be without one or more compara-
tively large water tanks, which not only offer an easily accessible
water-supply, but also in a very high degree benefit the plants by
keeping the atmosphere moist and refreshingly cool. A regularly
shaped Fernery is the easiest to construct, the cheapest, the most
economical in respect to space, and the most suitable for the plants we
desire to cultivate, and should, except in quite special cases, always be
preferred. The interior may however be laid out quite in
accordance with the owner's taste. A simple and not at all ineffec-
tive way is simply to group the plants round the posts and along
the side of the Fernery, leaving sufficient room for paths and
passages between them. It requires a little more considera-
tion, and a good deal more individual taste, to arrange the
plants so as quite to obscure the strictly regular features of the
structure, but this is not impossible, especially if the surface of
the ground is here and there slightly varied. The paths in the
Fernery should never be less than three feet wide, and should
be covered with a thick layer of shells or small pebbles, which
besides presenting a neat appearance have similar physical effects as
BOMBAY FERNERIES. lol
l.inil.lfi^, etc. Tin -re ui'-' n.'s.mmI accessory elements, which may copi-
tribule not only to enhance the picturesque effect of the Fernery, but
at (bf same time to benefit the plants. .Rockeries, for instance,
emu posed of boulders or clinkers may be constructed so as to be very
ornamental, and most useful for the growth of ferns and club-mosses.
Clinkers are generally preferred for such work, on account of their
irregular shape and because they can easily be procured, but when
the principal object is to promote a luxuriant vegetation, fragments
of Late rite, of Trap, or even of old masonry will be found to contain
more nourishment for the plants, and to possess greater physical
advantages than burnt clinkers. It may be here incidentally men-
tioned that lime-rubbish or old ehunam is a very valuable addition
to the soil in which it is intended to grow ferns, and serves as a very
useful substitute for gravel, which has at home long been considered
a beneficial admixture to soil for ferns. Old twisted roots or stumps
or even crooked stems of dead trees are useful ornaments ; bits of
branches are the medium on which to grow tree-orchids ; hanging
baskets of wire, wood, or cocoanut-husks are frequently most effective.
Fountains of small dimensions add to the beauty of the Fernery, and
produce the pleasant trickling sound which associates so well with
vegetation, and refresh and cool the atmosphere. Ferneries formed
of certain kinds of growing trees, as of Casuarinas, have been occasion-
ally suggested, but though they may prove serviceable for a great
number of plants, it is never possible in such groves or recesses to
obtain the same advantages of atmospheric conditions, nor the splendid
luxuriance which is often displayed in artificially constructed ferneries.
The Fernery should, where possible, always be built on a site that
is sheltered against strong winds, but still sufficiently open to allow
the access of the sun during the whole of the dav. Overhan<rin»:
trees should be particularly avoided. The level of the Fernery should
be slightly raised above the surrounding ground so as to prevent
flooding during the monsoon.
The work required in a well kept Fernery is very detailed and of
such a delicate nature, that very few malis will be found suffi-
ciently skilled to perform any but the coarser part of it satisfactorily,
and I am quite convinced that we should soon discover a most delight-
ful change in the general appearance of our Ferneries, if the ladies
21
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HI STOR} SOCIETY, 1891.
of the house more commonly than at present would spend a
short time daily id them, and there find an interesting and
pleasant occupation in the care and nursing of their plants. It
will perhaps be remembered what excellent specimens of ferns
and other plants from Ferneries were exhibited at last year's
flower-show, and I should be singularly mistaken if such splendid
results were not in several instances due to the tender care of ladies,
and as a fact a lady carried off a great number of prizes for parti-
cularly well-grown plants. I am not an advocate of the recent
proposal, that ladies should enter upon the field as market-
gardeners; I know by personal experience that this branch of gar-
dening to be carried out profitably requires a great amount of per-
sonal labour for which a lady is physically quite unfit, and that the
market-gardener's life is so rough that nobody who is acquainted
with it could seriously think of ladies carrying out this calling
without at the same time throwing overboard the belief in the many
qualities of ladies, by which they are and always will remain
superior to men. The work in the Fernery, however, is just suitable
for ladies, it principally requires neatness and patience, and to a
very great extent a certain kind of nursing ; I must however not
avoid to mention, that the most serious enemies to the plants are
caterpillars, crickets, bandicoots and rats, which however are not
of a very savage nature, and certainly do not deserve so much re-
spect, as, I am afraid, most ladies think is due to them. Frogs,
toads and occasionally snakes are other inmates of the Fernery,
these however should be rather encouraged as they are quite harm-
less, and do much good. Spiders in charming variety, from the
size of a butterfly to almost microscopic dimensions are generally
friends of the plants (the red spider has no chance of living in our
damp atmosphere) and should not be destroyed as long as their pre-
sence does not interfere with the tidy appearance of the plants or the
Fernery. The principal work required in a Fernery is potting,
propagation, watering, syringing, cleaning and training. Potting
should be done carefully, a good rich but porous soil should be used
for some kinds of plants, as most foliage plants adding a liberal
quantity of decayed manure, while for ferns only fertilisers of vege-
table origin, such as leaf mould, rotten fibres of palms, refuse of
BOMBAY FERNERIES. 163
decayed wood, charcoal, etc., should be used. The pots should in nil
les bo well drained by a layer of crocks or broken bricks at the
bottom, which may with advantage be covered with bits of tin
fibrous network surrounding the leafstalks of the Cocoanut palm.
The soil should not be fine, the coarser and more lumpy it is the
bitter, it should not be rammed firmly in the pots, but be allowed
to settle wTell by shaking and beating the pot against a hard surface,
the top layer should be gently pressed and smoothed with the hand.
The size of pots naturally varies according to the nature and dimen-
sions of the plants, but in most cases comparatively large sized pots
will be found the most useful for full-grown plants in this climate,
where frequent re-potting is not advisable, and the evil conseauen
of over-watering need not to be feared. It is difficult to fix the
most suitable season for potting in this country, where thia
operation may be performed at almost any season without injury to
the plants, when sufficient care is bestowed upon them. Where
however distinct periods of rest and growth can be easily ascertained'
potting should be preferably undertaken when the new growth has
just commenced, thus for many ferns in March, for most foliage
plants in May and June, and for all tuberous and bulbous plants
when signs of renewed vegetation appear. Propagation may be per-
formed at all seasons, for plants in the Fernery it is generally limited
to division and the striking of cuttings, in rare instances layering
has to be resorted to, and occasionally the sowing of seeds or spores.'
The necessarily limited space of this paper does not admit of a
detailed account of the various processes, which however also seem
to be sufficiently known for all general purposes. Watering should
be very carefully attended to, and every pot examined, before being
supplied with water. No plant should ever be allowed to flag for
want of water, but, on the other hand, a certain dryness of the soil
is at times beneficial for plants, and nothiugis more dangerous than
a water-logged soil. To the frequent questions regarding the
watering of f>lants, there is but one reply, to water when the soil
is dry, i.e., when it does not leave any touch of moisture when pressed
with the fingers. It is quite impossible to lay down a hard and
fast rule for the requirements of any particular plant, which can only
be ascertained by experience and intimate acquaintance. Watering
1<U JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
of the Fernery should be performed iu the morning as soon as the
heat of the sun has caused the last trace of dew to disappear ; it will
then be the best time easily to ascertain what plants are dry and
which do not require watering. The best way to apply water is by
a small watering-can with a long and pointed spout, but without a
rose. By each application of watering the pot should be filled to
the brim. Syringing is a work that should always be kept distinct
from watering, though it of course considerably lessens the necessity
of that operation. An India-rubber hose, a Hydronette, a hand-
syringe, or, in the absence of either, the rose of a watering-can may
be used for this work. Syringing should be applied on all sunny
days, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and during the hot weather when
the nights are hot and dry again at about 4 or 5 p.m. The object
of syringing is partly to clean the plants from dust, etc., but prin-
cipally to check a too rapid evaporation of the plants and to produce
additional atmospheric moisture. Care should therefore be taken
that all parts of the plants are thoroughly wetted, as also the ex-
posed sides of pots, the paths, woodwork, etc., but at the same time
as little water as possible should be allowed to lodge in the pots.
Cleaning consists in removing dead or withered leaves, in keeping
the foliage clean, for which purpose a small sponge is often useful,
in destroying and removing destructive insects, caterpillars, eggs of
butterflies and moths (which are frequently deposited on the leaves),
etc., in uprooting weeds and stirring up the soil in the pots, which is
best done with a pointed stick and should be performed frequently.
Training consists in supporting the plants by stakes and ties, and
should never be resorted to when a plant is sufficiently vigorous to
support itself and naturally assumes a handsome and useful habit.
By culture many plants however overgrow themselves and lose in
f trungth what they gain in luxuriance, so that some kind of support
becomes necessary. The supports, be it as stakes, rings, or trellis-
work, can all be made of the ever-useful bamboo, which even when
cut very fine is strong and fairly dm-able. The supports should as
far as possible be concealed by the foliage of the plants. This work
should never be entrusted to the rnali, who, if he aims at neatness,
which however is not at all likely, will endeavour to show off tho
rfection of his skill in manufacturing supports at the expense of
BOMBAY FERNERIES. 165
the beauty of the plant, or he will in nine eases out of ten make the
supports so course and untidy that they cannot fail to beau eyesore.
Other operations may occasionally occur in Ferneries, such as pruning,
pinching, etc., but they are of such rare occurrence, that they need
not be referred to here.
The arrangement and grouping of the plants in the Fernery, and
their use for embellishment of drawing-rooms, etc., are works well
calculated to demonstrate the individual taste of the operator, and
for the correct performance of which no fixed rules can be laid down.
As general principles it may however be observed that strict regu-
larity should generally be avoided, though symmetry is desirable;
that the individual plants in a group should be sufficiently distin-
guishable as to each form a separate object of attraction, without
being so conspicuous as to detract the attention from the entire
group ; that no plants contrasting widely in habit or foliage should
be placed in close proximity to each other, that no naturally low-
growing plants should be so raised above others of taller growing
habit as to assume the appearance of an unnatural habit, and that all
pots should be as far as possible concealed.
Regarding the plants generally cultivated in Bombay Ferneries,
I shall try in the following sketch to point out those that are most
distinctive and most desirable. It has already been remarked that
all pillars and posts should be covered with creepers, when possible.
The selection for this purpose is fairly varied and great, so it is easy
to produce a striking and highly decorative effect. Of all creepers,
none is more ornamental, nor more grateful for the shelter offered
it by the Fernery, than the beautiful Vitis {Cissus) discolor, which
when clothing the pillars from bottom to top with its magnificent
velvet-like dark purple elegant leaves, densely blotched with silver-
patches and when appending its younger dark red shoots as grace-
ful garlands and lovely festoons between the woodwork of the roof,
is a truly magnificent object. A beautiful and striking contrast to
this is the feathery climbing Selaginella laevigata (sometimes
called S. uncinata or S. Willdenowii) in which the horizontal grace-
fully drooping fronds vary in colour from the loveliest emerald-green
to a beautiful metallic lustrous blue. Bignonia Ruezlii, with small
purple leaves, charmingly netted with rose, violet or white, and
166 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
forming pretty miniature-garlands, Passiflora trifasciata, with
olive-green silver-streaked hand-shaped leaves, Philodendron verru-
cosum (Ph. Carderi) with warted velvety leaf-stalks and large satiny
green heart-shaped leaves, veined with brown, several Pathos, Raphi-
dojphoras, Scindapsus and Dioscoreas of rarer occurrence, are other
highly effective creepers, while the graceful, light green, climbing
fern Lygodium microphyllum, is most useful for concealing small
objects, and its congener Lygodium scandens, which many visitors
to our hill-stations will often have admired in* its perfect wild state,
may form an attractive object during the rains, but is unfortunately
dormant the remainder of the year. Of recently introduced creepers
which have proved valuable additions to our Ferneries, Schizandra
(Sphcerostema) marmorata with large silvery leaves, and Tecoma
( C amp sidium) Jilicifolia, with small fern-like leaves, may be men-
tioned. Bombay offers so many advantages for the cultivation of
ferns, that this class of plants will in most cases be numerically
strongest represented in our Ferneries. Among them the most
popular are Maiden-hair ferns (Adiantums) of which a great
number of kinds are represented. The most common of these is
the vigorous and rather tall-growing Adiantum tenerum, easily
distinguished by its large, yet finely divided, and gracefully
arching light green fronds, which in its variety A. t Farleyense
assume a more drooping habit, and have larger and lighter
green, beautifully fringed segments. This variety is generally
supposed to be sterile, but at last year's flower-show a well-
known fern-cultivator in Bombay, Mr. E. S. Luard, exhibited a
fine lot of young plants, unmistakably belonging to this variety,
which were raised from spores. A striking contrast to the preced-
ing kinds occurs in the common and easily cultivated A. trapeziforme
with very broad angular segments, which sometimes attains a height
of 3 to 4 feet. Similarly-shaped segments are found in the varieties
A. t. St. Catherines, and A. t. pentadactylon which however are
distinguished by a lighter green colour and by a very different, less
vigorous habit ; in the magnificent A. peruvianum with large, grace-
fully arching fronds, and iu the quaint A. macrophyllum with
almost vertical fronds, and drooping often rosy-tinged seg-
ments. A. digilatum (speciosum), with its large spreading
BOMBAY FKliNlillias. 1«7
fronds, with rathe* leathery round-lobed segments is a most
distinct, kind, hut, very fare in Bombay* A. gracillimum is the acme
of perfection as regards gracefulness and minute division, and pre-
sents a lovely contrast to the finely-divided A. cxci.ium multifidum.
-with wedge-shaped segments, while for compactness of habit, coupl-
ed with minutely-divided foliage none can be compared in beauty
to the lovely dark green A. Neo-Guinensc, the almost equally at-
tractive A. cuncatum mundulum or the charming almost crested A.
amcinnum Fleminr/ii. Variety in habit and in shades of colour is
further presented in the narrow-frouded bright green A. concinnurn.,
and in the singularly beautiful greyish-green .4. inter medium. In
A. formosum with its dark green, graceful, triangular, finely-divided
fronds we come across a different type, which in the highly orna-
mental, often rosy-tinged tall-growing A. tetraphyllum gracile, and
in the dwarf-growing A. dlaplianum, A. hispidulum, A. crenatum
Wilidanum and A. t&tfapkyllum assumes differing characters. Our
homely Maiden-hair/^. CapiUus Veneris, is but poorly represented
in Bombay, but one of its varieties A. G. V. Victorice is a very
flourishing and handsome dwarf-growing kind, and another beauti-
fully crested, almost moss-like form A. G. V. Luddemannii may per-
haps still exist in a few Bombay Ferneries. The indigenous A.
caudatum with light-green, somewhat rust-clad, rooting fronds,
and the dark green tender-fronded A. lunulatum, which in the
rains beautify our walls and the inside of wells, are sufficiently
ornamental to deserve a place in every Fernery. A rather curious
variety, A. Buasii, which has many admirers, though generally
presenting an appearance as if flagging for want of water, is too
common to be omitted, while a great number of other kinds are
so rare, that they cannot in fairness be mentioned as distinctive
features of Bombay Ferneries. Among other ferns, commonly
met with in Bombay, Gold and Silver-ferns are perhaps the most
generally appreciated, such as the exceedinglv common Gymno-
gramme calomelanos, with large dark green fronds, silvery- white
on their back ; G. chrysnpJiyUum, which much resembles the former,
but has a more elegant and spreading habit, well calculated to show
off the golden-yellow back of the fronds ; G. Mertensii Dobroydense
with dwarf finely divided, golden-powdered fronds ; Gheilanthes
168 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
farinosa, the common Silver-fern of our hillsides ; Aspletiium
aureum ? with golden fertile fronds, contrasting beautifully with
the dark, almost blackish-green sterile fronds ; and a few others of
rare occurrence. We further observe graceful and finely divided
fronds in several Davallias, as in the effective D. bullata and the
beautiful D. fijiensis plumosa, in a few Aspleniums, as A, Belangeri
and A. bulbifernm, &c. Almost endless variety of habit, form of
foliage, and shades of green, occur in the numerous kinds of Ane-
mia, Aspidium, Nephrodium, Nephrolepis, of which the charming
N. Duffii has become a great favourite in Bombay ; while few Ferns
are so strikingly effective as N. davallioides fur cans, with its often
repeatedly cleft feathered leaves, Poly podium, Pteris and Asplenium
(often subdivided into variously-named forms, such as Lastrcea,
Cyrtomium, Pleopeltis, Litobrochia, Pellcea, Gymnopteis, Drynaria,
&c, all referable to one of the above named forms). Conspicuous
by their size are the beautiful Blechmim orientale and B. brasilienses,
the only tree-ferns that are successfully cultivated in Bombay ; the
yet rare, but attractive Lomariabagiba ; the magnificent indigenous
Marattiafraxinea which with its large, spreading and repeatedly
divided light green fronds, occasionally reaches quite gigantic
dimensions, in which respect it is only rivalled by the striking
Australian variety of the Bird's-nest fern, Asplenium Nidus, of
which enormous specimens, in which the simple black-ribbed light
green fronds occasionally have more or less forked tips, form a
centre of attraction in many Ferneries. The very strong-growing
tall and spreading Pteris podophylla also deserves to be mentioned
for its great dimensions, as well as Asplenium marginatum for its
very dark green, broad, and long fronds, and Asplenium esculentum
for its unusually elegant habit. Of Club-mosses, Selayinellas and
Lycopodiums, closely allied to Ferns, a number of beautiful kinds
occur in Bombay, of these Selaginella rubella, with large spreading
triangular fronds changing colour from delicate green to dark
coppery-brown, the bright green S. caulesnsceamoena S. Vogeli
with dwarf flat pale green, often in the centre yellowish-tinged,
fronds. 8. Willdenoivii distinguished by its small, neat, dark, dull
green, graceful fronds, and the compact erect-growing 8. Martensii,
are the most common. Lycopodium denticulatum, with its bright
green drooping fiend.-, s'< ems to alight on every available space in
the Fernery, and is, like a few oftier not clearly identified kinds,
most useful for covering rock work, &cv while the charming metal-
lic blue &, caesium presents a pleasing contrast in colour and is very
■ fiective for hanging baskets.
Some of the noblest inhabitants of Our Ferneries are the Palms,
which also occur in great variety. Many of the same kinds, which
Have been mentioned as inhabitants of our gardens, find in their young
stale a congenial home iu our Ferneries, and are even there valuable
for decorative purposes, Besides these, however, rarer kinds, which
have not as yet found their way to the open ground, are occasionally
met with. Among these ChrySalvddcaipics Intescens (Areca iutescens)
forms a most striking object, by its bright yellow stems, contrasting
beautifully with its glossy green, gracefully arched, feathery leaves.
Martiriezid caryotcbfolia has the appearauce of a compact, miniature
fish-tail palm, except that the back of its leaves and the stem are
clothed with long black spines. Thrinax elegans is a most elegant'
dwarf palm, with finely divided fan-shaped leaves, Calamus lepto-
padix with palo green, feathery, prickly leaves, Latania Commer-
soni, conspicuous by its dark red large fan-shaped leaves, Phtenix
ntpicola by its graceful habit, Tubeea spectabilis and Gocos Wedelliana
by their feathery very finely-divided leaves, in gracefulness even
surpassing the favourite Cocoa plumosa, arc a few of the most orna-
mental forms, while a pleasing variety may be presented by kinds
of Arckoiitoplueitix, Bacularia, Bactris, Calamus, Calyptmgyne,
uAanicedored, Dypsis, Euterpe, Geonoma, Iledyscepe, Hetcrospafhe,
Howea, Pinanga, Rhopalostylis, etc., still too rare in Bombay. A
few kinds of lately-introduced palm-like Carlo dovicas represent the
natural order of Cyelanthcracece, while the Screw-palms \Pethdanem)
are represented by the effective and handsome Pandanus ntilis, and
the very luxuriant unarmed P. gramiiiifolius (?) The vast order of
Arum-lilies (Aroidem) is amply represented, chiefly by foliage-plants,
Among these none can equal the numerous varieties of Caladium in
pect to beauty of foliage, exhibitingan endless variety in hue and
colour, from satiny green to silvery- white, golden-yellow and shm
ing red, and the most delicate designs in the veined, blotched^
:ied or netted leaves, Variations of colour also occur in 6he
22
170 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
beautiful spotted Homalomenas [Curmeria), in the silvery Schisma-
toglottis, in the exquisitely marked aud manifoldly varied Dicffenba-
clrias, while it is of secondary merit in the many kinds of Alocasia,
which are principally effective by the grandeur of their foliage,
though some of the kinds, as Alocasia Lowii, A. Injbrida, A. longiloba,
'A. cuprea, A. Thibautiana, and the allied Gyrtosperma Johnstonii and
Xanthosoma violacoum, present beautiful contrasts of colour. The
luxuriant Schizocasia Portii is perhaps one of the most striking
objects in our Ferneries. The Anth.nriumz are distinguished by the
grandeur of their very variable foliage, often by pleasing contrast
of colour, as in the beautiful silver veined dark olive-green satiny
shining leaves of A. crystallimwi and a few other kinds, and not
unfrequently by beautiful flower wrappers, as in A. Ferrierense, with
magenta-red, A. Lindenianuvi with pale rose~coloui*ed and A. omatum
with pure white wrappers (spathes), the only kinds which have as
yet flowered regularly and successfully in Bombay; and finally
beautiful scarlet shining berries occasionally succeed the flowers, as
in A. digitatum. Spathiphyllums are equally effective by their large
leaves and by the beauty of their snow-white flower-wrappers, the
latter character being of secondary merit in the great number of
Philodendrons, which are principally effective on account of the
magnitude and elegant shape of their leaves, in which respect
Ph. Selloum is perhaps unsurpassed, though less common than
the attractive white- veined Ph. glorlosum. Several other Aroidecc
are occasionally met with, but are less common than those men-
tioned above. Curculigo recur vata, a representative of the curious
ground-flowering Hypoxidece, is remarkable for its compact habit
and folded palm-like leaves. Of" the large, almost exclusively tropical
order of Gingerworts (Scitaminece) the Plantain tribe is represented
by two magnificent Meliconias. H. aureo-slriata, of recent intro-
duction, with beautiful large aud broad dark green leaves, brilliantly
striped with golden-yellow, and if. vinosa, of tall but compact habit,
with dark olive-green pointed leaves, suffused with rich vinous
purple. Flowers of large size and striking beauty occur in the lately
introduced rose-flowered Kvmpferia [Cienkoiuskia) KirJdi, and in
the indigenous white flowered K. scaposa, while the smaller pale lilac
flowers of K. rotundasnid K. Galanga, appearing when the plants are
BOMBAY FERNERIES 171
destitute of their ornamental leaves, are very pleasing. The highly
eulogised Burbidgeanitidah&a not as yet flowered iu Bombay. Though
beautiful or quaint flowers occasionally are met with in the many
varieties of Calaihea and Maranta, these arc principally conspicuous by
t heir magnificent loaves, presenting an almost endless variety, in shape,
1 and colour. The tall-growing broad-leaved Calathea princeps
with purplish and yellowish marked leaves, the charming Calathea
zebrina with drooping satiny green leaves striped with velvety black,
the neat C. regalis with small leaves, densely veined with bright red
or white, the panthcr^spotted C. pardina, the compact and elegant
G. Leiizii, and the highly effective creamy-white variegated Maranat
amindinacaefol.pol. var. are among the best of the numerous varieties
found in Bombay Ferneries. The Lily order (Liliacew), which is so
rich in beautifully flowering plants, is curiously enough in our
Ferneries only represented by plants conspicuous by their foliage.
Such are the Cordtjlines and Draccenas, which by the brilliant colour
of their leaves, varying in all shades of green, yellow, red, white,
and almost black, coupled with a graceful habit, are well calculated
to range ajnong the most effective ornamental plants. It is needless
Kere to enumerate the numerous varieties and kinds represented in
Bombay, only one of which, Dracama surcvlosa maculata, is of so
entirely a different type, that it is rarely recognised as a Dracama,
it is distinguished by its compact shrubby habit, its shining
pale blotched small leaves, and by drooping tassels (umbels)
of small white flowers, often succeeded by bright scarlet berries.
Anthericum (P/dangium variegatum), with tufted, linear, creamy white
iped leaves, is another effective foliage plant, belonging to the
same order, as does also the recently introduced, still rare and charm-
ing Asparagus plumosus, which in fineness even surpasses the
most beautiful fern. Plants of the order Amaryllideace, are, or should
at least not as a rule be, permanent inhabitants of the Fernery,
but they are, when in flower, not only most beautiful ornaments, but
they also generally benefit greatly by their temporary stay there,
and subsequent removal to a dry and sunny position, which treat-
ment in most instances results in a successful development of
flowers. The brilliant Eippeastrum (Amaryllis), whose scarlet,
crimson, orange, 01 occasionally pure white or rose-coloured,
172 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
frequently striped flowers, are beautifully set-off by being surrounded
by the graceful fronds of fprns, many kinds of Crinum, such as the
white flowered C. braeteatum, the rosy tinged C. lonyijlorum,
C. scabrum ;md 0. amabile, the pure white flowered Pancratium
zeylaniiewm, Eymenocallis rotata and H. speciosa, the broad-leaved
compact flowering Eurycles Australasica and E. Cunninrjhamii are, as
11 as the various kinds of Eu eh avis, all handsome flowering plants^
well calculated to break the monotony of a collection of foliage plants.
The small order Hamadoracect is represented by a beautiful
Japanese plant with tufted linear leaves, striped and flaked with
creamy white, and sometimes producing beautiful blue berries,
Ophiopogon Taburan foi. var. The pine-apple order (Bromeliacece),
which contains so many interesting and beautiful flowering plants,
is far too scantily represented. The peculiar habit of these plants
is always attractive, and many of them possess when in flower a most
glorious beauty. JEchmea discolor and A. fitly ens, both with brilliant
scarlet flower-spikes, and the magnificent^, paniculviera, with lovely
rose coloured shield leaves (bracts)and purple flowers, are occasionally
met with. The incomparable Bilbergia zebrina, with its quaint
erect blotched leaves, and its large drooping flower-spike, wrapped
in delicately pink velvety shield-leaves, which add a peculiar charm
to the greenish flowers, and the white, mealy flower stalks and cups,
is of exquisite beauty. B. Moreli, B. Saundersii (chlorosticta) are
less conspicuous, but still valuable. The dwarf-growing Cryptan-
thus acaulis is interesting ' and attractive by its hierogryphically
marked leaves, while Kuratas spectahilis is another beautiful plant,
with bright scarlet crowded spikes of blood-red, white and bluish-
violet flowers, and is easily recognised, when out of flower, by the
blood red blotch on the tip of its leaves.
Orchids are unfortunately not easy to cultivate in Bombay, ami
several attempts to grow the splendid Cattleyas, Odontoglossums,
Lcelias, Lycastes, Masdevallias, Maxillarias, Oncidiuvis, Stan-
hopeas, etc., which form the cream of Orchid collections at home,
have hitherto been unsuccessful, and it is even very rare to see
other less-conspicuous and almost indigenous forms of this magni-
ficeut order flowering regularly and profusely. Of the Aerides, several
grow at our hill-stations, as the beautiful Ae. crispum with large
BOMBAY FERNERIES. 173
drooping clusters of delicate rose-coloured, sweet-scented flowers ;
the smaller but darker-coloured Ac. maciclosum, and the beautiful
strongly scented Ae. odoratum; but none of them are very regularly
flowering when established in our Ferneries. Of the African Augrce-
cums, the beautiful large white-flowered A. stsquipedale has flowered
well in a well-known orchid-collection in Bombay (Mr. M. C,
Turner's), Bletia ht/acinthina and B. verecunda, ground-orchids with
handsome dark crimson flowers, deserve some attention as they
seeth to flower regularly. The Cahmthes, also ground-orchids, are
well represented by the pretty white- flowered 0. veratrifolla which
is quite hardy, even in the open ground, and flowers profusely, and by
the lovely varieties of the rose and white-flowered, exceedingly
beautiful C. Veitchu and C. vestita which also flower well. A few
tree-growing Cymbidi urns with their long drooping sprays of brownish -
yellow flowers are among the freest flowering orchids of our Ferne-
ries. The liighly interesting and often exceedingly beautiful Cypri-
I'l'ditiin? or Lady's slippers are represented by a few kinds, but are
very rarely seen in flower. The De.ndrobiums undoubtedly contain
the most attractive kinds of our orchids and occur in great variety.
Among the best and most regularly flowering, DendroMvm aureum
is very conspicuous by its bright golden-yellow flowers, while D.
barbatvhum, which is common at our hill-stations, is attractive by
its graceful sprays of bell-shaped pure white or sometimes flesh-
coloured small flowers, and the white-flowered D. cretaceum
is peculiar by its long drooping whip-like stems, often
entirely covered with rather large flowers. D. Dalhou-
sianum with large pale yellow flowers, blotched with purple, is of
striking beauty, and belongs with splendid purple-flowered D. nobile
the charming, very large flowered pure white, D. formosum and
D. Picrardi with white, yellow and bluish-tinged large flowers on
long drooping stemstothe best representatives of this form (genus),
but. unfortunately they are but rarely seen in flower in Bombay
except when freshly imported. The rather common D. secundum
with tooth-brush-like rose-coloured flower spikes is more peculiar
than beautiful. The Epldendrums are represented by one kind
only, E. elongatum, with small rose-coloured flowers, and of very easy
cultivation. The beautiful Ilahcnaria {Phrfanthcra) Susanna, from
174 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
our hills, with large fringed, long spurred, pure white flowers, in a
tall spike, would prove a valuable addition to the collections at home,
where to my knowledge at least it is hitherto unknown, while
several other kinds of iJabenaria Fiuhfphia and other interesting
indigenous ground orchids flowering in the rains, might prove
valuable additions in our Ferneries. Of all ground-orchids cultivated
in Bombay, none can however equal the beautiful Phajus Wallichii
(Blelia Tankervillce), whose tall, often numerous spikes of very large
white, purple, brown, and yellow flowers often continue in flower for
4-6 weeks, and are freely and regularly produced. Phajus albus
(Thuuia alba) is a handsome tree orchid, with large delicate white
aud lilac flowers, appearing during the rains. The charmingly
beautiful Phalanopsis, of which PA. grandiflora with lovely pure
white flowers is the most common, and the pretty Saccolabiitm
(jiyan/eum with dense clusters of white and rose-coloured flowers,
almostnever fail to flower, while the not uncommon Vanda Roxburgh i
and Vanda teres very rarely flower in Bombay.
All the plants hitherto mentioned belong to flowerless plants and
to one-seed-leaved plants, and form the vast majority of the plants
represented in our Ferneries. Two-seed-leaved plants are as a whole
but very poorly represented. One particular order however, that of
Begonias, is very fully represented by both flowering and ornamental
leaved kinds. Of the many handsome flowering kinds, Begonia
plat anif olio- with large white flowers and beautifully shaded leaves,
the delicate rose-flowered B. hydroeotijlcefolia, the creamy whit.
flowered B. manicata, the bronze-leaved pink-flowered B. erecta
multiflora, B. dipetala with its silver-spotted leaves and large pink
flowers, B. maculata( argyrosiigma) with white-dotted leaves and
pink flowers, and B, semperjlorens Saundersii with bright coral red
flowers, are a few of the most common. The list of ornamental
leaved kinds is naturally headed by the great number of varieties
sprung from B. Rex, to which the pretty B. Richardsiana Diadema
with silver-spotted lobed leaves, the broad-leaved and beautifully
marked B. rubella, the small velvety silver blotched B. imperialist
the metallic hued jB. emtallicd, the satin leaved silver-dotted
B. Olbia, the finely netted B. sceptra, the neat and compact habited
white-dotted P>. albo-picta, are valuable additions of recent
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 175
introduction. Slightly resembling Begonias, though belonging to a
very different order, Urticacem or the Nettle-order, the Pelliouias
with beautifully variegated leaves are charming plants for hanging
baskets. The beautifully flaked and many coloured Iloffmannias
of the order Eubiaeecs are general favourites-, while the order Gesne-
•lic is represented by such beautiful plants as Episcia (Ccntrosolenia)
bullata with durk purple-bronze warted leaves, the bright scarlet
flowered velvety-leaved Episcia (Cyrtedeira) fulgida, several
Oesneras and Sinnin.gias (Gloxinia), the latter of which are however
but rarely successfully grown in Bombay. The order Melasiomace.ee
has a beautiful representative in the singularly handsome Miconvi
(Oyaruyphyllvw,) mag>tijica-i whose dark olive-green, satiny light
arch- veined leaves almost baffle description. The Peperomias of the
Pepper-order (Piperacece) with silvery or netted leaves, and the
ornamental-leaved Aphelandras, Filtonias and Gymnoptackiumti of
AcantJiacecc, conclude the choice of plants generally found in
Bombay Ferneries.
In conclusion, I only beg to remark, that as in our gardens so in
our Ferneries, there is still room for great improvements and valu-
able additious, which to a very great extent depend upon the indivi-
dual efforts of the residents of Bombay, to whom I hope the contents
of this paper may prove of some service in this respect.
THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES.
By J. A. B,
Part IV.
(Continued from Volume V., page 28G.)
FAMILY 3, LYCiENlD^.
We now come to the family of the "blues," "coppers," and
"hair-streaks," which, as Mr. Aitken has remarked, can well be
divided off into the "feeble" and the " robust folk." The "feeble
folk Hitting mostly near the ground, or resting on low bushes writh
their wings slightly opened;" the others "robust in body and
biilliant in colour, swift and wary, given to basking on high trees."*
* Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. I., p. 215.
176 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The order in which Mr. de Nicevillc has placed these butterflies
gives the " feeble" ones precedence. Most of the " blues" are of small
size ; some are, as far as is yet known, the smallest of the whole butterfly
tribe. None in this country exceed a breadth of more than 3*10 inches,
aud this is only reached in Liphyra brassolis, which, in appearance
at any rate, hardly seems to be either a " blue," a " copper," or a
" hair-streak," though it is one nevertheless. This family has many
interesting features about it, the chief, I think, being the way in
which many of their larvas are attended by ants. Some very
interesting instances are given in Mr. de NiceVille's valuable work.
It is also stated in Mr. de NiceVille's work ( page 56, Vol. III.,
Butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon) that a carnivorous larva
has been discovered in Ceylon, though this requires confirmation.
It would be most interesting to know if this statement has been since
verified. Very many of the butterflies of this family arc adorned wi( li
lobes and tails varying in number and length. Of the tails some
look just as if they were mere prolongations of the hair-like fringe
which border the wings, while others are as long or longer than the
depth of the hindwing to which they are always attached, and are
curled and feathered in various ways. All the butterflies of this
family have the habit of moving their hind wings one over the other
when settled, something like the motion gone through with one's
hands when making up a pellet in the palms. "When this is done the
opposite tails and lobes come in contact and are agitated. It is
probably done to show off their ornaments, just as the peacock
spreads its tail and rattles its feathers. Very many have the hind-
wings decorated with eyes, and the motion is evidently gone through
with a view to display all the ornaments to the greatest advantage.
Numbers of these little butterflies, especially the males, are fond of
alighting on the ground where it is damp and there sucking up f&@
moisture. Just outside the bath-room, which is always more or less
moist, is a favorite spot for many varieties, and the}r share this
predeliction with many of the family of the " whites " aud some
of the " swallow-tails," as will be noticed hereafter.
53. Chtiades tains, Cramer (672). This butterfly is very common
almost everywhere, and is a very tiny insect. It flutters about the
grass and low bushes, but is a pretty little creature nevertheless.
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 177
Hie colour of the male is a purplish-blue with a blackish border
to the wings ; the underside is silvery-grey, with various splashes
and dote. The female is brownish. This butterfly has two forms,
the one which is procurable in the dry-season having a large dark
blotch on the underside of the hindwing, partially covering it and
obscuring the markings. The larva looks like a little green grub,
especially (as is generally the case when disturbed) if the head is
not seen. This latter is black, and can be completely hidden beneath
the second segment of the body. When feeding the little black
head is protruded. On the eleventh segment is placed an organ
from which exudes a clear liquid of which the attendant ants
are very fond. The larva feeds on the leaves of the lime or on
the pomolo tree, and is always attended by one or more ants which
run over its body and keep on touching it with their antennae.
The ant which I found attending it appears to be the common
one, which curls its body up over its back when disturbed, and lives
in trees building paper nests.
5 '4. Ch 'Hades trochilm, Freyer (673). This is a very tiny little but-
terfly, the smallest (except perhaps Zizera gaika) in India. Both sexes
are very much alike, brown above and a little lighter underneath.
It is marked below with dots and splashes ; but the distinguishing
feature is a row of brilliant metallic spots or eyes bordered with
yellow on the hindwing. These spots can be seen faintly on the
upperside. It is common everywhere and affects the ground,
fluttering low about the grass and weeds.
55. Ofdniria puspa, Horsfield (681). I have taken this at
Pachmarhi and in the Sambalpur District. The distinguishing
feature is the white centre or disc of the forewing, which is bordered
with brownish in the female and blue in the male, the hindwing
having also a dash of white. It does not seem to be very common
about the Central Provinces.
56. Zizbra vmha^ Kollar (694). This is a common little "blue. "
It has a silvery or greyish sheen upon the wings which have a black
border. The female is of a brownish-purple colour. I never came
across it in Chhattisgarh, though at Pachmarhi and Jabalpur it is
very common. A.11 the butterflies of this genus fly low.
57. Zizrra gaika, Trimen (~02). This shares with 0. trochilus,
23
-178 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891,
already mentioned, the distinction of being the smallest butterfly
in India. It looks like a miniature of the last-named species, but
the dark bolder to the wings is not so well defined.
58. Zizern li/shnon, Hiibner (699).
59. Zizera otis, Fabricius (703). These are both more or leas like
the others mentioned of the same genus, are smaller than Z, maha
and larger than Z. gaika.
60. Emrs argiades, Pallas (716). This is a little, bright blue
butterfly with silvery underside; near the tail, on the underside of the
hindwing, there are some orange markings, below which are a couple
of black spots. It is fond of settling on the ground and sucking up
the moisture in damp spots. It is found almost all over the world.
61. Nacaduba ardates, Moore (730). This is a purplish -coloured
insect with the underside brownish, marked with fine white waving
lines. It is peculiar in having a tailed as well as a tailless form.
Just above the tail, when present, on the underside, there is a small
black spot marked with greenish scales.
62. Jam ides bochus, Cramer (733). This is a most lovely little
creature, the most brilliant, I think, of all the "blues," and only
approached in the depth of its brilliantly metallic lustre by Tajuria
longinus, though the blue in the latter has a greener tinge, whereas
in J. bochus it is of a deep blue. It is wonderful to see this butterfly
flashing among the bushes and trees, looking like a sparkling gem as
it darts hither and thither. When it rests it disappears ; but as soon
as it rises the flash of colour from the wings reveals its presence, and
the beholder is struck with admiration.
63. Lampides elpAs, Godart (734). The three genera of Nacaduba,
Jamides and Lampides are very close to one another, the colours on
the upperside of the wings being the chief difference between them .
The markings on the underside are very similar, and are disposed
in the same manner in each species of the three genera. In Jamides
the blue on the upperside is very deep ; in Lampides it is very pale,
almost milk-white in some species, while in Nacaduba the shade of
colour appears to be something between the other two genera.
L. elpis is a beautiful insect, the colour of the upperside being a pale
though shining blue ; the underside is similar to J", bochus, but paler ;
the markings are disposed in very much the same manner.
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES 179
&fe Umipuks trlianus, Fabricius (7:58). This is a delicate and'
fragile butterfly, and in flight is more feeble than the two preceding.
[ts colour is a very pale blue, almost milk-white. The underside-
is pale brown with wavy white lines, and sometimes some of these
lines enclose a darker ground and form a figure resembling the
letter Y, this latter being the form which is found in the dry cold
season. It is fond of shady glades and woods.
05. Catochrysops slrabo, Fahricius (743). This is a delicate
silvery-coloured insect, the blue of the wing being pale and with
a satin-like sheen. It is fond of sucking up moisture from the
ground.
66. Catochrysopt omjtts, Fabricius (745). This very much resembier,
the last, but can be distinguished from it by the underside being of
a browner tinge.
61. Catochrysops pandnva, Horsfield (750). Very like the two
former, but of a darker blue altogether; the underside too is distinctly
darker.
68. Tarncus theophrastus, Fabricius (752). A deep blue, almost
purple butterfly, with a small black mark about the middle of the
f urcwing on the upperside. The underside is white with black spots
and splashes, and there are some metallic spots near the outer margin
of the hindwing. The female is almost white above, with a little
blue at the base of the wings.
69. Tarucus plinius, Fabricius (758). Not much like the preced-
ing. The underside is marked with larger splashes than the fore-
going, the splashes being of a brownish colour. It is a pugnacious
little creature, and in common with many other " blues" when engaged
in aerial combats ascends high into the air.
70. CastaUus rosimon, Fabricius (759). A black and white but-
terfly something like the female of Tarucm theophrastus, which it
greatly resembles when on the wing. The spots on the underside
seem to vary in size according to the season, being darker and running
into one another in the specimens appearing during the rains.
71. Castalius decidea, Hewitson (766). Very much like the pre-
ceding, except that it has a brownish tint on the underside of the
wings.
72. Vobjornmatus butivus, Linnaeus (767). This is what is
180 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
culled the " long-tailed blue "in England, where it is very rare, though
common enough on the continent. The upperside of the wings
in the male appear to be frosted from the long scales with which the
other scales arc overlaid. It is very common, and a swift flyer. The
underside is brownish, with some narrow pale bars and one
conspicuous bar across the disc. It is found almost all over the world,
America being about the only portion it does not affect.
73. AmbJijpodia naradoides, Moore (772). We now come to the
" robust folk " spoken of at the beginning of the " blues," the habits
of which are quite different to all the others hitherto mentioned. It
is extremely difficult to follow the flight of these robust creatures :
they seem to go past you with a " whirr," and as the Paddy said
of the snipe, " Before you can see them, they are out of sight, bedad."
A. naradoides is 'a purplish insect on the upperside, but the] under-
side is marked very like a dead leaf, and is in miniature like the
underside of the butterflies of the genus KalUma. The shape of the
wings when folded is also leaf -like, and when seated on the ground it
is difficult to distinguish the little creature from the dead leaves with
which it is surrounded. I met with this species in Chhatisgarh and
nowhere else.
7 If. Iraota miecenas, Fabricius (776). I have only three ragged
males of this species, all taken by myself at Pachmarhi. I have
not met with it elsewhere in the Central Provinces. From the
appearance of the fragmentary specimens I possess, I should
imagine this to be a most lovely little insect, as the blue on the wing
is so vivid. The underside is reddish-brown, adorned with silvery
spots and marks, quite different from those of any other " blue "
I know of.
75. Arhopala amantes, Hewitson (791). This is a most glorious
creature. The male is of a brilliant, intense blue colour, and the
female is even lovelier, as the blue is bordered with deep black. It
is a large insect as "blues" go, measuring something more than
two inches across the expanded wings. It flies very fast, and the
only way to catch it is to watch where it alights, and then, either
with a vigorous sweep or by dropping the net over it, capture it.
One year it appeared in numbers in company with the next
described species. on a faka tree (G trivia asiatico) in my garden. at
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 18!
Raipur immediately after the first heavy fall of rain in June. It is
common at Sambalpur and is not uucommon at Jabalpur.
76'. A rl/ojxi la at rax, llcwitson (801). This is a miniature of the
above ; but the wings are of a much duller colour and purple rather
than blue in tone. It is very common at Paehmarhi, and a smart
blow given with a stick on almost any shrub on the plateau wilJ set
scores of them Hying. It has the same habit as A. airiaidcs of hiding
away in the leaves of trees and shrubs.
77. Curctis t/ictis, Fabricius (850).
7S. Curctis bulls, Doubleday and Hewitson (85S). The genus
Curctis consists of butterflies of a peculiar and striking coloration.
The males arc of a brilliant coppery-red above and silvery-white
underneath, while the females are either white or ochreous above
(in a Japanese form dull bluish) and silvery- white underneath. In
both sexes the upperside has a black border varying in width, so
that in some specimens but little of the ground-colour is seen, while
in others as little of the border is apparent. The effect of the rich
red and silvery-white while in the act of flight is charming and not
a little surprising. In C. thctis the black border is much narrower
than in C. bulis, and does not extend along the inner margin of the fore-
wing. In C. bulis (to which C. awjulata (856) and C. dentata (857)
are very nearly related, if they are not actually the same species) the
black border extends along the inner margin. Both forms are ob-
tainable at Paehmarhi and also at Sambalpur. The transformations
of this genus are very curious, and. the account given of them, in
" The Butterflies of India," by Mr. de Niceville, will well repay
perusal.
79. Zesius chysomallus, Hiibner (890). I have only succeeded in,
procuring a few specimens of this butterfly, all at Sambalpur. The
female is much larger than the male and in appearance is totally
unlike, it being of a bluish colour, while the male is of a bright
copper colour, and not only this, but the female has three tails to
each hindwing, while the male has but two. I always found the
females flying near the ground where the ground was marshy, and
near tanks, while the male darted about among the leaves of trees
like most others of the " robust folk ; " the female in this respect
resembled the " feeble folk."
182 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
80. Aphnceus vulcantis, Fabricius (903). This is a small butter-
fly of a bluish-black colour above, the male blue-glossed, with several
bars of orange on the forewing. Underneath, the wings have several
reddish bands across them, each band with an inner streak of bright
silver. The underside is more beautiful than the upper! The butter-
flies of this genus fly very fast ; but they seem to haunt one particular
chosen spot, sporting about a space of some twenty or thirty square
yards, and resting on a leaf or the topmost twig of some shrub every now
and then. From three to half past four or perhaps later in the after-
noon seems to be the time they choose for this sort of play. Some-
times it is one alone who frequents a certain spot, at other times there
are several engaged in this sport, and when they meet in their gyra-
tions they ascend rapidly into the air for some distance, most likely
in furious combat, and then descending, go on with the same rapid
movements as before and that have thus been interrupted. They are
fond of settling on the flowers of the common marigold, Tagetes erecta,
when that plant puts forth its brilliant attire. This last habit is
shared with many other Lyecenidce.
81. Aphnmis trifurcata, Moore (915). This is very like the last
except that the colour on the forewing is bluer, and it bears only one
small orange mark. The silver streaks underneath are bordered
with black. The habits of this butterfly are the same as those of
A. vulcanus.
82. Tajurla longinus, Fabricius (931). The male of this species
is a most lovely little insect, the upperside being a brilliant greenish-
blue with a deep black border. The underside is silvery-grey, with
a few small narrow curved black marks disposed in a sort of band
across the wings. The female is pale blue with a dark border to the
wings on the upperside ; the underside is the same as in the male.
It is a forest-loving insect and settles on the leaves of trees.
83. Taj aria jehana, Moore (932). This very closely resembles,
in both sexes, the female of the last-named butterfly.
8!/.. Loxura atymnus, Cramer (977). This is a peculiarly-shaped
butterfly, as the hindwing is lengthened out into a long tail ; the
forewing is sharply pointed. The colour of those captured by
me is a pale orange with a black border to the forewing, narrower in
the hindwing. It has a weak flight, and is unmistakable on the
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 183
wing from its peculiar shape and colour. It has to be haudled very
gently, as its tails arc so easily broken. It appears to frequent the
outskirts of forests, among bushes aud clumps of bamboos. I have
found it nowhere else,
85. Rapala schixfacea, Moore (995). I only caught one male
specimen of this butterfly in Kalahandi. The colour is a dark blue
with a beautiful gloss in some lights.
86. Rapala melampus, Cramer (1006). This is a brilliant little
butterfly ; the colour of the forewing being of a vivid red, bordered
with black. It is very common in the Central Provinces, and is found
almost everywhere. It seems to be a hardy and bold little creature,
for I have frequently noticed it in the hot weather flying about and
settlino- down near the " khas-khas tattie " for the sake of the water
which drains away from that very necessary adjunct to one's comfort
in this part of India during the hot season.
87. Virachola imcratcs, Fabricius (1012). This is a fairly
large "blue," the colour being a greyish-blue with a small patch
or spot of orange on the forewing, which spot is more conspicuous
in the female. The caterpillar of this species is remarkable, as it
feeds inside various kinds of fruit with a hard rind or hard seeds,
such as the guava (Psiditim guava) an<j~ pomegranate {Punka
granatum). It has the instinct to attach the fruit to the tree by a
slight but strong web, so that, should the fruit get detached, it cannot
fall. These remarkable features in its life-history are well and fully
described in the third volume of " The Butterflies of India, Burmah
and Ceylon," by Mr. de Niceville, pp. 478-480. I can testify to
its swiftness of flight and difficulty of capture as deposed to by
Mr. Aitken. I have never reared it, but hope to do so this rains,
for I have captured it on two or three occasions in the station in
which I am now living, and as there are plenty of guava and
pomegranate trees about, a patient search should reveal some larvae.
184 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 189!.
ON ABNORMAL HORNS OF THE INDIAN ANTELOPE,
WITH SOME REMARKS ON THEIR PROBABLE CAUSES.
By A. W. Morris, F.Z.S.
( With a plate.}
Perhaps no group of animals lias puzzled and perplexed the
systematic zoologist more than the Ruminantia, and the splitting
up of the tribe into subordinate types has proved no easy task even
to the best classifiers.
The horns have been relied upon almost exclusively by some writers
on the subject as affording the best means of separating the different
families, while others, again, have based their arrangement on various
points of structure as supplying important characters for the division.
Although the ox and deer tribes may be said to have taxed the
ability of classifiers thus severely, the antelopes, however, with a few
exceptions, do not appear to have given the same amount of trouble
in their arrangement, the shape of the horns having been taken as
supplying important and well-marked character for their separation
from the rest of the Ungulata of which they form a sub -tribe.
Resembling the deer in many respects, they are yet abundantly
distinct from these animals, and may readily be distinguished from
them by the character of the horns, which are hollow at the base,
set on solid bony cores like those of the ox and permanently retained,
whereas among the deer they are periodically shed and renewed,
a stag in "velvet" being a familiar example of this process. Their
shape is usually "lyrate" or conical and set above the eyebrows,
which is one of the important distinguishing characters, and never
misshapen or distorted, as is so often the case with many of the
other members of the family, so that any obvious departure from the
normal growth must be considered as abnormal, and as such deserves
to be noted and recorded.
From being permanent and not deciduous, it stands to reason
that any particular direction they may assume cannot at a subsequent
period be modified or altered to the usual shape, so that as they are
influenced at the start, so must they remain for all time. The cause or
sit of causes, however, that operates in this way and gives rise to
JOL'RN: BOMB NAT HIST SOC
VotW
Is tut c Benjamin
School vf.Jrf Bom6ay
ABNORMAL HORNS ofthe INDIAN ANTELOPE
(antelope, belzoartica)
ABNORMAL HORNS OF THE INDIAN ANTELOPE. 185
these abnormalities and other monstrosities is, as yet, not very
apparent, and on no condition or relation, so far as we know, do they
appear to be dependent, though certain theories have been advanced
to account for them which require further confirmation for final
acceptance. At the present moment it is the generally received
opinion that bodily accidents are mainly instrumental in inducing
abnormal growths, and that injury to the testis in particular is the
primary cause of producing these aberrant types; but nowhere, so
far as I know, is there evidence to prove beyond doubt that this is so.
Blvth, as noticed by Jerdon, suggested thai the example of an antelope's
deformed horn as then known was probably the result of an injury
to the animal's testis on that side ; but the statement is not put
forward as authoritative, but only suppositional, so that, in the
absence of subsequent confirmation, much weight cannot be attached
to it, notwithstanding the observation made at page 249 of the
Mammals of India, that "there is a wonderful sympathy between the
generative organs and the growth of the horns," which remark
I do not interpret as applying to all ruminants for obvious
reasons. In dealing with the question, perhaps it is just as well to
remember that the horns of deer and antelopes are formed of quite
different material — the antlers of the Cervidae partaking more of an
osseous nature, while those of the Bovidae are of another substance
which is capable of easy deflection ; so that trivial causes that may
have no effect in the one case may operate powerfully in moulding
aberrant types in the other. I very much doubt if an antler could be
made to describe a circle ; but with horn this is easily done, and it is
doubtless pretty generally known that the Kaffirs and Zulus are in
the habit of training the horns of their cattle by different methods
into various and fantastic shapes to suit their tastes, so susceptible
are they to manipulation ; and though these are artificial ways of
producing desired results, something of the kind may come into play
in nature when intent on accomplishing some of her many freaks.
In some cases, perhaps, health has a great deal to do with the
production of abnormal horns, and we all know what an important
factor it is in the proper development of man, as well as of the lower
animals ; but on this point, unfortunately, no record seems to have been
left for subsequent inquiries, so that we are utterly in the dark when
24
185 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
moving on this conjecture. I am strongly inclined to suspect, however,
that severe injuries to the skull, inflicted either during battle or through
some accident, are the main causes' that produce abnormalities, the
horn on the injured side being thrown out of its natural course by
the concussion or damage sustained. In an interesting article " On
Abnormalities in the Horns of Ruminants" at page 123, Vol. I. of
the Society's publication, Mr. Sterndale suggests that possibly the
osseous core has something to do with deflecting horns from
their natural direction ; but if this be the case, the question would
naturally suggest itself — This is an abnormal condition also : by
what means did it arise, and how would it affect the shape of horns,
which usually present deformities away from the region of the osseous
prominence ? This is, I believe, an important consideration, if we
are inclined to accept the suggestion, though in certain cases, as we
shall see further on, the core may, with some show of reason, be
supposed to give the direction. Theories, however, may be multi-
plied as to the possible cause of these deformities, but till such
time as closer observation and research are brought to bear on the
question, no satisfactory or conclusive results can be arrived at to
account for them.
In the accompanying plate some very abnormal types of horn
are figured for the purpose of illustrating the various and peculiar
shapes some of them have assumed, which, I believe, are of more
frequent occurrence in nature than we either imagine or suppose
from our very limited knowledge of their existence, and which I
shall now proceed to notice.
As is well known, the horns of the Indian antelope (A. bezoartiea)
are graceful objects to look at, and compare very favourably -with
those of the other members of the group in beauty and symmetry
of shape. They are large and long for the size of the animal, and
spiral in form, diverging at the tips, and marked nearly their entire
length with strongly developed rings. They vary greatly in diver-
gence and degree of spiral twist however, and cases where the}- have
grown almost parallel instead of the usual V shape are not unknown.
Fig. A in the accompanying illustration represents a pair of very
symmeterical and well-formed horns of this type, grown almost
parallel with each other. In cases of this nature it will not be
ABNORMAL HORNS OF THE JNDIAX ANTELOPi 1*7
difficult to suppose, as suggested byMr. Sterndale, that the bony core
may be mainly instrumental in giving the upright direction here
i il. Fig; B is an example of a horn which, in addition to being
malformed, has also i d broken oif beyond its middle, what there is
of it having: erown outwards and then inwards behind the other one.
Wo do not know, of course, at what particular period of its growth
fcui occurred or how it happened, though there is ample
ion for supposing that it must have been during an early period
< f development, and the theory of injury may here come in with some
he damage could have but resulted from something of this
are, either in battle or through some accident.
At Fig. C we have a very curious and unnatural example in this
of animal, the females of which, like those of most of the Cervidae
I Autelopiune, are entirely hornless ; but in this case the horns are
said to be those of a doe antelope which have grown out wards and down -
wards in a most uuusual manner. They are reported to be very thin,
only an inch and a quarter in circumference at the base, though 1(ȣ
inches in length on the outside curve, and perfectly smooth, with neither
rings nor flexures on their surface. All known examples of these
horns seem to agree in being perfectly thin, though varying in length,
and at page 46, Vol. II., of the Society's Journal, Mr. Sterndale has
figured and described a pair of very similar horn.s in which the rings,
however, were very apparent. These monstrosities are certainly of
rare occurrence, but few instances of the kind being known to
us, Jerdon mentioning three cases only as being on record in which
the horns were " thin and much curved, 'gyring round like those of
Ovu amnion.' " Hermaphroditism is undoubtedly the promoting cause
of these abnormalities.
Figi D represents the head of a fine buck at present in the Mysore
Government Gardens at Bangalore. In this case the left horn
bulges outwards almost at its base, a3 with the sheep, goats and
some species of African antelope, sweeps downwards at about half its
length, and then twists back upwards and inwards, meeting its
fellow-horn near the tip. As this is a living animal, perhaps it is
just as well to remark here that it appears a perfect and well-
developed specimen of its kind in other respects, with no indication
whatever oi disease or other anaemic conditions. Closerinvesl igation,
188 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
however, may possibly reveal certain signs which would help us,
in -some measure, to account for these various eccentric growths.
Fig. E has already been illustrated and noticed at page 323,
Vol. I. of the Society's publication by Mr. Sterndale, and affords a
curious and interesting example of the many malformations these
horns are subject to. Here we have the right horn perfectly natural,
whereas the left one sports in an amazing manner, curving out-
wards, backwards, and finally upwards behind the right ear, looking
very much as if some strain during growth were accountable for
the deforming.
At Fig. F we have another type of abnormal growth, and one
which, so far as we know, is rather uncommon and peculiar. In this
case the horns, one of which has been broken, are exceedingly fiat,
and the rings, which are much closer than usual, appear on their front
surface only, the left horn further having one flexure at the base,
while the other twists once only at the tip. In this instance also some
severe injury to the skull may easily account for the deformity, and
eventually perhaps some such cause will be found to give rise to
these malformations, and it is much to be desired that as full particu-
lars as possible may be recorded by those that have the opportunitjr
when cases such as these fall under their observation, as then and
then only can we hope to arrive at a satisfactory solution of this
difficult question.
In concluding the subject I must not forget to mention that it is
mainly through the kindness of Mr. Phipson, who has also furnished
me with some rough notes on the different sketches, that I have been
enabled to bring together Figs. A, B, C, E, and F, which are
from specimens in the Society's collection, while D represents the
head of a fine buck in the Government Gardens at Bangalore, on
seeing which I was at first induced to draw up the present imper-
fect paper.
BOMBAY GRASSES
BOMBAY GRASSES.
By Dr. J. C. Lisboa, F.L.S.
PART IV.
[Continued from p. S&9, Vol. V.)
Dimeria, B. Brown.
D. Hohenacheri, Hockst. Hohenaok. PI. Ind. Or.; Psilostachys, Hohe-
narheri, Steud, Syn. PI. Glum. I. 413. In North Kanara, collected
by Mr. Talbot. Also grows in Mangalore.
D. OrnitJtopoda, Trin. Fundam ; Andropogon filiformis, Roxb. Flor,
Ltd. I. 250.
Var. D. tcncra, Trin.
At Mali ablesh war and Lanowlee. In the latter place it is not
uncommon.
D.fuscescens, Trin. Mem. Ac. Petersb. Culm slender, 14-16 inches
long, glabrous. Sheaths with a few hairs towards the junction with the
laminae, or none. Nodes glabrous. Ligula very small, truncate,
membranous. Leaves linear, acuminate, 2-3 inches long by 2 lines,
rather rigid, covered with numerous hairs. Racemes terminal,
secund, 2 or rarely 3, 2-2 j inches long, one sessile, and the other on a
peduncle 3 lines long, enclosed in, or emerged from, the last sheath ;
one raceme is often branched. Rachis almost glabrous, convex on
one side, and notched or depressed on the other.
Pedicels, distant, separated from each other by 1 line, glabrous ;
very small, nearly £ line long. Spikelets of light yellowish-brown
colour 2-2j line long, inserted singly and alternately on the notches.
1st or outer glume 2 line long, narrow, linear acute with hair
or ciliate on the margins.
2nd glume, broader, a little longer (about 2£ line), acute with
ciliated margins.
3rd, transparent, smaller (about 1 line), narrower and thinner than
the last two glumes ; no hairs.
4th, nearly the. size of the third, 2-dentate with a twisted and
bent awn, arising from the top between the teeth. Stamens 2.
Grows in Lanowlee, in the fields, in front of the bungalows of the
(J. I. P. Railway employes. Also in Bengal, Kassia, and Nepal.
0 JOURNAL, BOMBAY. NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
B. gracilis, Nees, Steud. Syn. PL Glum. 413. D. laxiuscula, Thew.
Trimen's Journal of Bot., 1885, p. 272. This is not common like
the latter species, is found in our gMts. Both grow among other
grasses, specially amongst Arthraxon echinatus, and have a peculiar
withered look in consequence of their light brown or yellowish-white
inflorescence. Cattle do not seem to touch it.
Imperata; Cyrill.
Imperata arundinacea, Cyrill ; Sascharum cylindricutn , Roxb. FI.
Ind.
Ver. Dhub. In moist places all over our Presidency not common,
Widely dispersed over Northern India, both in the plains and on the
hills, more especially on clayey soils, where water is near tie surface.
It forms a very large portion of the pasturage in Bengal, where,
as Roxburgh observes, the fields are white with it when in flower
after the first rains in April and May. Cattle relish it, when
young. The Telingas make use of it in their marriage ceremonies.
In Australia it is called ' blady grass ; ' and the young succulent
foliage, which springs up after the occurrence of a fire, is much
relished by stock. I have observed the same effect resulting from
periodical fires on certain parts of the Himalaya, where the grass-
is plentiful.
In external appearance it resembles the following grass, and i»
known to natives by the same vernacular name.
Saccharum, Linn.
S. spontaneum, Linn. S. JEyyptiacum., Willd. Enum,, herb. Ber.
I. 82. S. semidecumbcns, S. canaticutatum, Roxb. Fl, Ind. I. 236
and 246.
Ver. Kan, Bochri, Dharbi. (West Khandeish.) Common all over
India in the plains and on the Himalayan slopes up to 6,000 ft.
Used as a fodder for buffaloes and also for thatching. Young
elephants also feed on it. In Ceylon it is very common in gardens
and fences, and its long white silvery panicles and tall culm& give it
a very gaudy appearance. The leaves make good mats, used for
various purposes.
8, officinarum, Linn., Daly and Gibs., Bomb. FL Suppl. 100.
Vex. Uss, Serdi, Crhcndt-ry (bits <>f the cane sold in the bazaar).
BOMBAY GRASSES. 191
There arc several varieties of sugarcane which, whether for
fog or for being used in the manufacture of sugar, arc more or
less largely cultivated throughout India. The reed, after juice has
"been extracted, yields a strong fibre used in the manufacture of
paper, for torched, and ay fa el in certain parts. The leaves are
given as fodder.
i following varieties of sugarcane are cultivated in the Bombay
Presidency : —
Pundia is thick, white, soft cane, yielding a comparatively watery
juice, but gradually driving all others out of the field, wherever
sufficient water is available for its cultivation, as it is vigorous and
yields good crop. I believe this is the Mauritius Cane.
Striped Cane or Bamunee. It is of less vigorous growth, but is
somewhat richer in sugar than the former.
Dark purple, or 'Kala.' It is hard and gives rich juice ; is hardy
in respect of living with less irrigation than the others, but it flowers
every year, and this must lead to a loss of sugar.
There is a fourth variety, that grows to a great length with the
thickness of the thumb. It is grown in the Mawal districts and
thrives with very little water. The most profitable of all is Pundia.
The fibres left after the juice is expressed are regularly used as
fuel to boil the cane juice, very little other fuel being used for this
purpose.
S. ciliare, Anders., S. munja, Rox. Fl. Ltd. I. 244.
Yer. Sar, Kana, Kairh, Munj. Seen only in cultivation in Bombay
gardens. It is of too coarse a nature to be used for fodder, except
when quite young ; it is used, however, in districts where it grows
spontaneously, for many other purposes ; e.g., in the manufacture of
matting, rope, paper, and for thatching ; the stems are made into
screens, sieves, and baskets, the thicker portion of the stem is used
for lining walls and in the construction of chairs and couches. In
the Jhang district of the Punjab, it is stated that in the cold weather
the leaves are often the only pasturage for the cattle. They (the
leaves) arc also chopped up and mixed with b/nisa, with grain,
oilcake, or green stuff. In the early spring the grass is fired and the
cattle graze on the green shoots that quickly sprout again. {Jhang
Settlement Report, page 23, vide Duthie.)
192 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, mi.
Pollinia, Trin.
P. argentea, Trin. Act. Ac. Petersb. ; P. tristachya, Thw, Enum.
368, Andropogon tristachius, Eoxb. Fl. hid. I. 256.
Ver. Chota Kussal, Eoira (Boida).
Common in Lanowlee and all over the Presidency and other parts
of India. Eaten by cattle when young. Used at Poona for brooms
and thatching. When old it is not suited fqr fodder, the fibres being
hard.
P. eriopoda, Hance in Journal of Bot. IV. 173 ; Spodiopogon
angustifolins, Trin. Spec. Gram. 336. Is said to exist at Mahabieshwar —
not seen by me.
Spodiopogon, Trin. Fundam.
S. Albidus, Benth. Jour. Linn. Soc. XIX., 66.
Andropogon rhizophorus, Steud. Syn. PI. Glum. I. 381,
It is found all over India ; not common. My specimens are from
North Kanara.
Arthraxon, Beavv. Agrost.
A. Lanceolatus, Hockst. in Flora. All over India, in Deccan and
Nepal, and in China.
A. echinatus, Hockst. m Flora; Batratherum echinaium, Nees in
Edin. Phil Jour.
Ver. Marvel, Kaduha-marvel. All over India, very common in
Lanowlee and over the ghats, Said to be ' good cutting and grazing,'
especially when young. It is not eaten by horses. The murication
on the external surface of the outer glume of the hermaphrodite
spikelets varies in different specimens. This grass is described by
Prof. Hack el as a variety of the last.
A. microphy Hits > Hockst. in Flora, Common all over India.
A. lancifolius. Hockst. in Flora. Andropogon lancifolius, Trm,
Mem. Ac. Petersb., is a variety of Arthraxon mycrophyllus, Hockst.:
also Arthraxon Mollis or Batratherum Molle, Nees, is a variety of the
last species. In both these varieties sessile spikelet is solitary,
especially on the upper part of the spikes. Their vernacular name
is Furadyache gavai. They are common in the rainy season in
Bombay, Lanowli, the Western GMts in general, Poona and Nasik.
Often seen growing on the top of old walls. Good fodder for cattle.
MilA V tlliASSES. l»f
J. ciliaris, Beauv. Agrost Plat? XL, fig. 6. Ver. name Ztawfc,
Turde. l-.amd in Lano^li and Sat tarn: eaten by cattle. ,
A. nudus, Benth. in Linn. Soc.'s Journal. Batratherum nudum,
Nees in Steud. Syn. PI. Glum. I. 383.
S ^a-farcta, Naugnr-,nodi, Gonial, Morel (Thana name).
, uncommon over the Ghats, Lanowli. It is eaten by cattle.
This is described by Prof. Hackel as a variety of A. dlians.
A. quartiams, A. Richard, Tent. FL Abyss. II. 448, Piute 99;
/'/,. uroplitis phunbsa, Nees, Steud. Syn. PL Glum. I. 414, Found all
;• ghats in Kanara and other districts of this Presidency.
A.micans, Hockst. in Flora; Batratherum mwans, Nees in Anal.
and Mag. Nat. Hist. Found in Poona and over Ghats; also Dehra
Dun and AgarwaUa. Not common. Described by Prof. Hackel as
a variety of Arthraxon cuspidatus, Hockst.
Apocopis, Nees.
A. Wightii, Nees; Andropogon courtallumensis, Steud. Syn. Pi.
Glum. I. 377.
There are in the collection received from North Kanara speci-
mens which agree in all particulars with the plant described as
-iib-species A. Var. A. typicus, except that the culm is not
branched. It appears, however, that these specimens are from plants
collected inGanjam, Madras.
Ophiurtjs, R. Br.
0. corymbosus, Gaertn. fil, Carpol. Plate 181 ; RottbceMa eorym-
bua, Roxb. Corom. PL Plate 181.
Ver. Sputter, Sut, Sonthi, Katia, Karvel. Very common all over
India. Used for thatching and tying bandies of grass ; as fodder
when young, or before flowering, and when other kinds fail.
0. perforatum, Trin. in Mem. Ac. Petersb. ; Rottbaellui perforata;
Roxb. Corom. PL Plate 182, PL Ind. I. 356.
Ver. Sassur, Sutgiina Kvrhe.
All over this Presidency, in Madras, Neilgherry, in Bengal, and
in Himalaya up to 5,000 ft. Also in Nepal and Ceylon. It is said to
be common at Satpuda, West Khandeish (in iiplands), and used as
fodder for cattle. It is not uncommon in the low -lying land in
25
194 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the plains of the N.-W. Provinces, where cattle eat it when young
and green.
Rottbcellia, Linn. fit.
R. exaltata, Linn, fil, Suppl. 114; Roxb. Corom. PL Plate 157,
Stegosia Cochin- ChincHsis , Loureira PL Cochinchinens, 51.
Ver. Barsali, Buret, Sooate, Konda, Ranookoo. Grows all over India,
Ceylon, Burma, Cochin-China, Java, China and Philippine Islands ;
also in Africa and North Australia. I received specimens from
Yellapa in North Kanara. In Himalaya it ascends up to 4 — 5,000 ft.
R . r/ibbosa, Hack.
An erect grass. Stem 2 feet and more, leafy, smooth and glabrous,
when devoid of the sheaths, branched from the upper half or two-
thirds. Branches small, sheaths shorter than the internodes, striated,
closely appressed, rather smooth or slightly hisped with few hairs.
Nodes with a ring of hairs. Ligula 1 lin. long, fimbriato-celiolate.
Leaves 5 — 6 in. long, 5 lin. broad in the middle, acuminate at the
end and narrow at the base, ending gradually into the sheath,
scabrous, studded with hairs minutely tubercled at their base ;
middle rib white, prominent. Panicle long, terminal, consisting
of many branches with a bract or leaf sheath at the base of each
branch. Spikes of a pale yellow colour, friable, slender, glabrous,
about h — 1 in. long, 1 — 2 in the axils, solitary on each peduncle with
a close sheathing bract at the base of each. Articles equal in length
to sessile spikelet. Sessile spikelet broadly oval, obtuse, 1 lin. long.
1st glume rather gibbous at the lower part, and there bearing very
short sparsely scattered hairs, chartaceous 3 to 5 nerved ; the edges
are slightly turned in at the upper part. 2nd glume a little smaller,
ovate, chartaceous, but thinner than the first, indistinctly 3-nerved.
3rd glume smaller than the second, hyaline, with no trace of
flower in the axil. 4th smaller than the 3rd, palea not seen. In
some spikelets seeds are found. Pedicillate spikelet consists of a
single lanceolate, or rather of a spatulate glume, with the upper end
being slightly bent inwards or towards the rachis. No hairs.
This grass has a very close affinity to R. formosa, R. Br., except
that the hairs on the lower part of the first glume, which is bulged
out or gibbous, are very few and short. No hairs on the upper part
of the articles. The pedicillate spikelet has no wing.
BOMB A'* GRASSES. 195
In Septehrbe* <-f tost yeak1 (1890) Mr. Talbot of Kanara sent me
specimens of this grass marked" New species of Maiusuris." Finding
however that it was a Bpecies of RottbcelHa, hitherto undescribed,
I wrote <lm\ ii in my note-book the deseription above given, naming
it R. Talbbfr after Mr. Talbot. In February last (1891) Mr.
Duthie wrote me saying that in the collection of grasses sent by Mr.
Talbot to Polten, Hungary, Mr. Hackel had identified one as a new
species of Rottballia and named it R. gibbosa, and in May last, at my
request, kindly forwarded me a specimen, which turned out to be
the one I have described above. T think the name of R. Talboh
ought to have the honour of priority if Professor Hackel has not
as yet published his description.
R. diccn/ens, Hack. Androp.
A small cespitoae plant named A/arc/ at Mahableshwar.
Culm, slender, straight, or slightly geniculate, 6 — 9 in-, branching
from the base, glabrous. Nodes 2 or 3 only, hairy. Sheath 1 — 1£ m
long, shorter than the internodes, loose and carinate. They and the
leaves with numerous hairs form a minutely papitose base. Ligula
about I lin., hairy, jagged. Leaves 3 — 4$ in. long by 2| lin., straight,
acuminate, complicate, arising insensibly from the sheath without
outward sensible distinction (only the ligula marks the distinction
between the 2).
Racemes of light or pale yellow colour, somewhat compressed,
generally falcate, simple, solitary, 1—1^ in. long, rather thick,
terminal, elevated each on its filiform, jointed, sheathed peduncle of
various lengths. The end of the peduncles and the articles of the
rachis from which the racemes or spikelets have fallen oft", are
marked with a round cavity.
Rachis glabrous. Spikelets 2, pedicillate and sessile. Sessile
spikelets 3 lines long without the awn. 5 lin. with the small
awn.
Outer or first glume, coriaceous, elegantly muricated at the lower
half with the crooked points turned upwards ; the upper part sur-
rounded on each side by a thin white (somewhat transparent) mem-
branous wing with a small awn, 3 lin. long arising from the inner
margin of each wing, straight but slightly diverging, from the awn
' the opposite side.
196 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
2nd glume thin, acute, membranaceous unawned, not murica'ted,
ahout 1 — 1^ Hn. long.
3rd glume 1£ lin., transparent, acute.
No flower seen in the axil.
4th glume 1 lin. long with a seed.
As the grass was in seed no stamens nor pistil could he found.
Pedicillate spikelet. Pedicel, about 1 lin. 1st glume, chartacious
with several (7) nerves, not muricated, with transparent, rather
triangular wing, as in the first glume of the sessile spikelet, on one
side only.
2nd glume smaller, thinner, boat-shaped, with a transparent wing
on the upper part of the keel, terminated by a short straight awn.
No other glumes, stamens, nor pistil seen.
This grass is named R. dkcrgcns in consequence of a suggestion
thrown by a high authority in England. It appears, however, to be
a distinct species of Rottbcellia, differing from R. divergens, chiefly by
the murications and awns of the first glume of the sessile spikelet
and awn of the oxvter glume of the pedicillate spikelet.
Manisuris, Swart. Fl. hid. Oetid. I. 186.
Mnnisuris granulans, Linn, fil Nees. Gram. Gen. Roxb. Corom,,
PL Plate 118 ; Dalz. and Gibs., Bomb. Fl. 300.
Ver. Kangni, Datura Ghas. Very common on barren land in
this Presidency and all over India, on Himalaya up to 5,000 ft.
Also in the Neilgherries, Kamaon, Nepal, Assam, Kassia mountains,
Java, China, Brazil, Peru, and in all tropical and sub-tropical
countries. " Mr. Coldstream says that it is both grazed and stacked
at Hissar, Punjab, but it is not much relished by cattle. At
Ajmere it is considered to be a good fodder grass."'
TuELEroooN, Roth.
T. elegant, Roth. Nov. pi. spec. 62 ; Jardinea A?)t/6sinia, Steud.
Syn. PI. Glum. I. 360.
Ver. TirpHd, Kadi.
This is a beautiful grass 2— 3£ ft. high. Its spikelctsresemhlinp:
externally those of Ischdemtirii rugownn. Is common in Poona,
Nasik, and all districts of this Presidency. It grows on the sid-
of the roads and boundaries of the cultivated fields : also in tropical
BOMBAY GRASSES. 197
Africa, Hills oi Abyssinia, and is said to bo used by cattle and
horses when young and green.
Tschaemum, Linn. Gen. riant. ; I. aristatum, Linn. Spec. Plant.
Several varieties are described under different names by different
authors. Dalz. and Gibs. Bo?nb. FL 306.
1 . /. imberbe, Retz. obs. VI. 35 ; /. aristatum, Burm. FL Ltd.,
Plate 21, fig. 3 (not good).
2. I. mangalnricum, Hack. Androp. 204.
3. /. gcniculatum, Roxb. FL Ind. I. 322.
4. /. datum, Hack. Androp. 205 ; Mcoschium e/atum, Nees in
Steud. Syn. PI. Glum. I. 376.
Ver. This variety is known to natives as Bangadi, Khanden,
It grows all over India, Ceylon and at Hong-Kong. The plant seen
by me in Lanowlee is rather small.
It is a good fodder, eaten readily by cattle.
/. conjugation, Roxb. Fl. Ind. I. 321, Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb.
FL 305, Andropogon cordaiifolius, Steud. Syn. PL Glum. I. 376.
Ver. Ber, Bher, Bar, Khanden, Bhangadi. Mr. Davidson of the
Survey Department and others state that it is a very good fodder.
Received specimens from Konkon, Kanara, Malabar. It grows
also in Bengal and Ceylon.
/. rugosum, Gaerten. Carp. Suppl. p. I. PI. 181 ; Dalz. and
Gibs. Bomb. FL 305.
Ver. Laz, Bardi, Bar, Bher, KarJtel, Tiki, grass. Common all
over India, Serampur, Karaaon, Silhet, Nepal, China, Canton,
Philippine Islands and Timor. Good fodder when young: not fit to
cut or stock, as the stems are easily broken when dry. Grows with
rice plants and injures it. Davidson.
/. semisagitaium, Roxb. FL Ind. I. 321.
Ver. Dalaga, Ber, Sy'-Kadi or Kari (Mahim name). Not com-
mon. Received specimens from Kanara, Thana and Sattara. Mr.
IVrgusson says it is a good fodder grass.
/. ciliare, Retz. Obs. VI. 36 ; Andropogon in Retzu and A. cert us,
Steud. Syn. PI. Glum. I. 375. Professor Hackel describes several
varieties. /. prorepens, Hack ; under which is placed I. tenellum,
Roxb. FL Ind. 1. 323.
1. villosum, spodiopogon villosus, Nees ; /. malacophyllum, Andro-
198 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
pogon malacopht/llus, Steud. Syu. PL Glum. I. 372; /. aristatum,
Roxb. Fl. hid. I. 319. All these varieties are seen by me ; a few-
others mentioned by Hackel, 1. c. have not come under my observa-
tion.
Ver. Bara, Bher. All over India, Burma, Ceylon and China;
seldom used as a fodder grass. Mr. Fergusson, under Spodiopoyon
obliqicivalvis, describes 3 varieties or forms. " The larger hairy form
occurs at a considerable elevation on the hills." Another form of
this grass, reserved in fields and under the shades of cocoanut
trees in and near Colombo and extensively brought into town as
fodder for cattle, is well-known as the Rat-tana, literally red -grass,
of the Sinhalese.
It appears that Fergusson describes two species of Ischmnum under
the name of Spodiopogon obliquivalvis.
I. Timorense, Kunth., Revis. Gram. I. 369, Plate 98 ; Spodiopoyon
Blumii, Nees., Steud. Syn. PL Glum. I. 376. A slender grass. Culm
8 — 20 in. long, somewhat compressed, creeping and rooting from
the lower nodes, branching from the middle ones ; the upper part
reduced to a naked peduncle. Nodes short-bearded. Sheath glabrous,
ciliate at the mouth. Ligula short, truncate. Leaves very narrow
at the base, linear-lanceolate, 3 — 4 in. long, acuminate, scabrous at the
margins and sprinkled with adpressed hairs. Racemes 1 — l^in. long,
2 in number — one sessile, and the other on a short (about 31 in. long)
pedicel, yellowish. Rachis and pedicels of spikelets with yellowish
hairs. Sessile spikelet : 1st glume 3 — 5 nerved, hairy at the base,
glabrous on the dorsum. 2nd glume bidentate, one of the teeth drawn
into a slender awn-like point. 3rd glume hyaline, thin, with a male
flower (anthers and palea) in the axil. 4th glume by a line divided
into 2 lobes, and sending a slender bent and twisted awn about 4 — 5
times longer than the spikelet. A hermaphrodite flower in the axil of
this glume. Pedicillate spikelet: 1st and 2nd glume with a short
straight awn. The remaining glumes as in the sessile spikelet.
Received specimens from North Kanara. It grows also in Ceylon,
Java, Timor, Pegu, Martaban and Singapur. Nothing is known of
its uses.
I. petiolare, Spodiopoyon petiolaris, Trin. in Mem. Ac. Petersb.
Pollima Latmanni, "W. Ar. and Nees PL Meyen. 186. Andropogon
BOMBAY GRASSES. 199
petioiarifi, Steud. Syn. Pi. Glum. I. 398. A. petiolatus, Dalz. and
Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 303.
Ver. Xunjdi, Rhalphil, Philphil, Kallil, Pharavi (the latter name
is also given to I. •pillosum). Said to be good fodder for cattle.
I have not seen specimens of the leaves of I. petiolare with a
petiole 4 in. long, nor does any author, so far as my reading goes,
describe it of that length. I have not observed petioles longer than
f — \\ in. Mr. Dalrell says: "A remarkable grass (I. petiolare), the
existence of a distinct petiole being extremely unusual in grasses."
It is strange that none of the Indian botanists have described the
petiole which exists in some forms of /. semisagitatum, Roxb. and
I. con jug at urn, Roxb. This omission has caused great embarrassment
to the students of grasses. I know of instances in which specimens
of I. semisagitatum were sent to me for identification of the specific
name. It is stated by Prof. Hackel that the leaves of Spodiopogon
a Ibid us are also distinctly petioled.
I. pillosunv, Wight, Madras Jour., Sc. Dabr., and Gibs., Bomb.
Fl. 305 ; Spodiopogon pilosus^ Nees, Steud. Syn. PL Glum. I. 373.
Ver. Koorida (also named Pharari).
Common in the Deccan. I have received specimens from East
and West Khandeish, Bhooj, Sholapoor and Sattara, where it is
called Koonda or Dungri Koonda; it grows also in Maisur, Assirghar,
Bellari and Chauda. It is a good fodder. One report from Poona
says it is a good fodder when young.
1. l/.rion, R. Br. Prodr. 205 ; Ilologamium nervosum, Nees, in Edin.
N. Phil. Jour.; Andropogon nervosum, Rottb. ; Ischaemum nervosum,
Thwait. Enum. PL Zevl, 365.
Yrr. Suc/cal, Shall, Skeda, Pavna, Bal. All over the Presidency,
also in Ceylon, Australia, Abyssinia, Arabia and Cape Verde. Said
to be a good fodder. Often used for thatching in West Khandeish.
This is often confounded by natives with Reterpogon contortus;
Roem. and Schult, being named Bal, name generally given to
the latter.
/. sulcatum, Hack. Andropogonea?, 248.
Ver. Sheda, Pavna. Species received from Sattara and Sholapoor,
from Malsiras (Sholapoor taluka). Nothing is known about its uses.
/. ramosimmum. Hack. Andropogoneae 249.
208 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Ver. Diedia, Bajla, Bal-Garut, Kadbrieb&r, Bhas (name also of
Apluda avistata) Barcthi Canther
Very common afc Lanowlee, Khandala, and over the ghats down to
the foot.
In my notes taken three years ago I had named it /. nutans, on
account of its numerous noddiiig spikes, believing it to be a new
undescribed species. At that time Prof. Hackel's monograph had
not been published, and I received a copy of it only last year. The
plants seen in our ghats differ in a few particulars from the
description given by Haekel.
Heteropogon, Pers.
H. eontortus, Roem and Schult II. 386, H. hirtus, Pers. Syn. II.
533. Andropogon eontortus, Linn. Roxb. Fl. lad. I. 258; Dalz and
Gibs., Bomb. Fl. 300.
Ver. Suckali Koossal, Pandri-Suckali, Bed, Sukery, Bate,
Mussaneh, Suckal, Itall- Suckal, Dakli Suckal (small suckal —
to distinguish it from the next large species). Spear grass of the
Europeans.
Very common all over India, ascending up to 1,000 ft. on the
Himalaya and Afghanistan ; all over Africa (Central Africa, Serpa
Pinto), Timor, China, Macao and in Brazil.
This grass is very troublesome, the dry spikelets with their long
twisted awns which fall easily, acting like barbed arrows. All the
awns are twisted together like the strands of a rope.
From the reports received from all parts of the Bombay Presi-
dency, it appears to be considered a good fodder grass, especially when
it is young and green. In East Khandeish it is used as a thatching
material. Mr. Duthie says : " In Rajputana and Bundelkand,
where this grass abounds, it is cut and stacked after the rains are
over. It is also cut for hay in the Hissarbir, and Mr. Coldstream
states that it will keep good in stack for 12 years. On Mount Abu
the people consider it the best fodder grass they have. In other
districts it is said to be eaten only by buffaloes, or by cattle when they
are hungry and cannot obtain other kinds of grass. It is much used
for thatching. The spears when the spikes are ripe, adhere in
masses, are called salt at Ajmere. In Australia it is looked upon as
BOMBAY GRASSES. 20J
a splendid grass for a rattle run, as it produces a great amount of
feed. In this Presidency it is not credited with such high properties.
And ropogon poly stachius, Roxb. Fl, Ind. I. 261 ; Dalz. and Gibs.,
Bomb. FL 301, is a variety of Heteropogan contorlus with fasciculated
spikes. The authors of the Bomb. Flora say " Rather a rare
grass. Our specimens were found on the western side of the
Mahableshwar hills." This variety is found in Lanowlee, Khandalla,
and other districts of this Presidency, growing along with the
typical species.
S. insignts, Thwart. Enum. PL ZeyL 437 ; Andropogan triticenst
R. Br. Prodr. 201.
Ver. Motti Kussal, Bale, Patang.
All over the Presidency ; also in Burma, Ceylon, Philippine Islands,
Java and Australia.
LOPHOPOGON, Hack,
L. tridentatus, Hack. Andropogon. 254 ; Andropogon tridentatus,
Roxb. H. Ind. I. 257 ; Apocopis trident ata, Benth. Jour. Linn.
Soc. xix. 67.
Ver. Reda, Yerke, Alli-Kussal {Alii means buffalo), Gondat
Chirka.
Grows all over India. Common in this Presidency, very common
in Poona, where large tracts of fields occupied by this grass have a
peculiar yellowish (ferruginous) look. Cattle do not seem to relish
it ; it is eaten only when young ; said to be eaten by buffaloes in
Sholapur.
ANDROPOGON, Linn.
A. fastigiatus, Sw. Prod. 26 ; Fl. Ind, sec. 207.
This is a tall grass with long narrow leaves and long leafy panicle,
and, I believe, it is rare in this Presidency. My specimens are from
Kandwa, sent by Dr. Dymock. It is also found in Central India,
tropical Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Peru, Venezula,
Abyssinia, &c.
A. fovcolatus, Del. Descr. de l'Egypt, Plate 8, Fig. 2. A.
monostacnyns, Spreng. Pug. II. 9.
Ver. Maricel, Bowri, Kard gandhel. In East and "West
Khandeish, and in the Deccan on rocky grounds. Also all over
India, Sindh, and tropical Africa. Admitted to be a good fodder.
26
202 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
A. strictus, Rox. Fl. Ind. I. 261. In the Deecan and in North
Karwar. This is described by Hackel as a variety of A. favcoluhis,
Del.
A. pachyarthus, Hack, Androp. 449. A. humilis, Wight ; A di-
missus, Steud. Syn. PI. Glum. I. 388.
Ver. Lull gavat (so named on account of the red colour of the
spikelets), Tambrut, Gondad, Chifnan Chira, Malakava. Very com-
mon in Poona, in Khandeish (West and East), Karwar, and all
over India. It resembles very much A. pumilus, Roxb. Reckoned
to be a good fodder grass, especially before it flowers. Duthie says
that it is " good for cattle, but not for horses."
A. pertusus, Willd. Spec. IV. 922.
Ver. Ganya marvel (Sattara and Sholapore name), Pay en, Paha,
Palwan. It is common in Poona, also in Sattara, Sholapore, Kanara,
and all over the Presidency, and in other parts of India, in Africa and
Abyssinia. It is reckoned as a good fodder grass. It is said " This
grass, which is met with all over the plains of Northern India, is
universally esteemed as a good fodder grass, both for grazing and
stacking. In Australia also, it is highly valued, being regarded as one
of the best grass to stand long droughts, while it will bear any amount
of feeding. It is useful also as a winter grass, if the weather is not
too severe." I have not seen it eaten by cattle. There are two
varieties of this species — one with two piths on the outer glume of
the pedicillate spikelet, and the other with three piths. This was
collected by Major Serpa Pinto in Central Africa. The infloresence
of this grass is scented, a circumstance which is not noticed by any
agrostologist I know of.
A. intermedium, R. Br. Prodr. 202 ; Benth. Fl. Austral. VII.
531 ; A. fascicularis, Thwait. Emm. PI. Zeylon, 437.
Ver. Kolum. It is intermediate between A. ischcBmum, Linn.,
and A. pertusus, Willd. Resembles these species in general appear-
ance, but the panicles are more loose and more elongated. Grows
all over India ; it is a tall and coarse grass with long narrow leaves ;
is used in Mahableshwar for thatching.
A. punctatus, Roxb. Fl. Ind. I. 264. A. perfossus, Nees Steud.
Syn. PL Glum. I. 391.
Ver. Kunda. My specimens are from Poona and East Khandeish.
BOMBAY UP. A SSKS. '<>:J
Iu the latter place it was collected in the villages of Jalgaon,
Amalwar and Pachora. Said to be used as fodder and in thatching.
Pro!'. Hackel describes it as a variety of A. intermedins, R. Br., it is
distinguished by a shallow pith on the outer glumes of the sessile
and pedicillatc spikelets. " It occurs in the hilly parts of Northern
India, and is abundant on the Himalaya up to moderate elevations.
The Seoni specimens have three shallow piths on the outer glume
of the sterile florets, and one deep pith on the outer glume of the
hermaphrodite floret."
A. glabcr, Roxb. FL Lid. I. 267 ; Trim Sp. Glum. Plate 328.
Ver. Tambat. The spikelets are marked with piths as in A.
punctatus, but not always even in the same spike. It is also de-
scribed by Hackel as a variety of A. intermedins, R. Brown. Is one
of the common fodder grasses of the Deccan. Roxburg states that
it is thinly scattered on rather elevated spots over Bengal. In
the North- Western Provinces it is found in localities similar to
where A. annulatus, Forsk, grows, but not in such abundance.
A. montanus, Roxb. Fl. Ind. I. 267. Specimens received from
Dharwar. It is an elegant grass, reckoned to be a good fodder.
A. g/aueop&is, Steud. Syn. PI. Glum. I. 397 ; A. subrepens, Steud. 1. c.
At Dharwar ; also in Nepal and Burma, specimens received from
Mr. Talbot,
A. odoratus, Lisb.
Vern. Bhos, Vedi-Gavat, Tambrut. Under this name Mrs. Lisboa
has described a beautiful, tall, highly-scented grass, very abundant
at Lanowlee, and the neighbouring villages, Thana, Jalgaon, Cho-
pada, in East Khandeish, and, perhaps at Khandalla. It has a close
affinity to A. intermedins, R. Brown, but is distinguished from it by
not branching as much as the latter, the leaves being shorter, and
branches not so long and narrow as in A. intermedins ; nodes being
always covered with long white hairs, the rachis and the spikelets
being also very hairy, and the whole plant, leaves, and the inflo-
resence highly scented. It is named Weddi-Gavat by the inhabitants
of Lanowlee.
The following description is taken from Mrs. Lisboa's paper read at
the Bombay Natural History Society Meeting on 7th August, 1889.
" Culm erect, 3 — 5 ft. high, sometimes branching from the lower
204 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
part, glabrous. Nodes long-bearded. Leaves lanceolate, cordate at
the base, acute or acuminate, with a few long hairs ; the lower cauline
leaves long, the upper small, but their sheaths very long. Ligula
small. Spikes numerous, erect, branched, pedicellate (the pedicel
of the lower spikes longer) and congested at the end of a long pe-
duncle without a sheathing bract, and forming an erect, dense, ovoid
panicle. The rachis, pedicel, and the spikes covered with long silky
hairs. The spikelets nearly two lines long, of a purple colour ; the
sessile and the pedicellate similar. Outer glume of the sessile spike-
let rather thin, many-nerved, somewhat obtuse, and covered with long
silky hairs, with a pith in some spikelets of the same plant and absent
in others ; second glume as long as the first, or a little longer but
broader, thin, and keeled ; third glume thinner and hyaline, fourth
glume smaller or an awn ^ — 1 inch long, with an hermaphrodite
flower at the end of the pedicel. Pedicel of the pedicellate spikelet
with white hairs, but the spikelets almost free of hairs. Outer glume
with five or more nerves, not prominent, almost obtuse ; second glume
thinner, with three nerves, somewhat broader but as long as the first ;
third glume hyaline, smaller ; fourth glume very small, hyaline, or
none ; no awn ; at the top of the pedicel three stamens, not well
formed, and not as large as in the hermaphrodite flower.
" This grass is common at Lanowlee on the right side of the station,
in the fields beyond the woods, where it grows along with Pollinia
tristachya, Thw., Ischcemum laxum, R. Brown, ArundinaecaNepalensvi,
Trinn., and other annual grasses. The purple-coloured spikes of
A. odoratus and Pollivia tristachya congested at the end of long
peduncles, form a most elegant and beautiful feature of the scenery
of the field towards the end of the rainy season. It is said to be
not uncommon at Khardi, Thana. I have found it in the collection
received from this district."
" From the description and from the specimen laid on the table,
vou will see that this Andropogon belongs to the section Gymnopogon,
and is different from all other aromatic Andropogons, and as I believe
it to be a new species, I have called it, as I have said above, A.
odoratus. The leaves and the infloresence also, when pressed
between the fingers, emit an odour altogether different. If you
examine the small quantity of oil, of a beautiful gold yellow colour,
BOMBAY GRASSES. 205
which UB on the table in a tiny little glass tube marked A. odoratw,
and eompare it with that of A. Martini in another similar tube, also
on the table, extracted by Mr. Prebble of Messrs. Kemp and Co.,
you will certainly pronounce that the odour of the new species is
soft, sweet, and more agreeable than that of .4. Martini', and if it
be manufactured on a large scale with great care and by an improved
process, if practicable, it may prove superior even to that of A.
nardus, and A. titratHs."
Atidropogon Hilgelii, Hack.
Var. Andropogon • fuetidm, Hack.
Ver. Chiman-Sar (Salsette name), Podan.
The following is wrhat Mrs. Lisboa says about this grass in her paper
read at the Bom. Nat. Hist. Society's Meetings, held on 3rd April, 1891.
This is a new Andropogon, hitherto inedited. Mr. Madon, Forest
Officer of the Thana District, was the first to send to Dr. Lisboa a
sweet-scented grass named Podan on Jan. 7th, 1889, and some better
specimens of the same in November of the same year. At his
request Dr. Lisboa informed him of having identified it as A. Hugelii.
" Culm 2h — 4 ft. or more, slender, branching, decumbent and some-
times rooting near the base, roundish, grooved on the side of branches
and leaves, smooth, glabrous, of a pale purple colour. Sheaths
smooth and polished, lower rather loose, upper appressed and some-
what carinate, glabrous, shorter than the nodes. Nodes bearded with
soft white hairs. Ligula 1 lin. long, truncate, ciliated. Leaves 5 — 8
in. long, 6 lin. broad, upper, smaller, linear, lanceolate, narrow,
rotundate at the base, terminated gradually into an acute point,
sparsely sprinkled with hairs on the lower surface, few or none on the
upper, scabrous on both surfaces and margins, distinctly divided into
2 unequal parts byr a white rib, prominent on the lower surface.
Panicle 5 — 7 in. long, erect, oblong, much branched, supported
on a long peduncle without a sheath. Ptachis of a faded purple
colour, smooth or scabrous from minute tubercles ; nodes 6 — 9 or
more ; internodes longer.
Branches many at each node (6 — 12 at the lowest), alternate,
capillary, smooth or scabrous, semi-verticelled, unequal in length,
the longest often 5 — 6 noded. Nodes both of the primary rachis and
of the branches swollen and bearded, with soft white hairs.
506 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1801.
Primary branches give out at each node 2 — 3 secondary branches,
and these in their turn yield smaller tertiary branches ; the ultimate
branches and the smaller primary ones bearing 3 terminal spikelets,
one sessile and two pedicellate, and generally 3 pairs below the
triplet. Racemes very fragile, supported on peduncles free from
hairs. The articulations of racemes and pedicels of the pedicellate
spikelets short, hairy. Both sessile and pedicellate spikelets about
1| lin., dull, yellowish-white or dingy -green with a tuft of hairs at
their base.
Sessile spikelet linear oblong, 1st glume 7 — 9 nerved; apex obtuse ;
margins slightly turned in, often ciliolate ; the dorsum scabrous.
2nd glume equal to the first, rather broad, obtuse at the apex,
5-nerved, glabrous.
3rd not seen (absent in all the specimens examined).
4th a very slender awn nearly 1 in. long, twisted to a little above
the middle. The twisted part dark brown, the upper portion straight
and light-coloured. An hermaphrodite flower in the axil.
Pedicellate spikelets linear, oblong; 1st glume obtuse at the apex,
ciliolate at the margins towards the upper half, many-nerved.
2nd glume similar to the first, 3-nerved.
3rd glume hyaline, obtuse, nerveless, shorter but broader than
the last two.
4th none, stamens 3, anthers one lin. long.
"It is common all over the Presidency, especially in Bassein,
Thana, and over the ghats, Specimens have been received from
Thana under the names of Podan, Koola-Sippie ; from Bassein, under
that of Tarn, Kullus ; and from Bheundy, where it grows along the
embankments and in the Mahals. In the latter place it is called
Padra, and is used as fodder, but no oil is extracted. The infloresence
is scented, the odour being soft and very pleasant, or, in the language
of Mr. Duthie, "deliciously scented." Hence the name A. fcetidus
given to this plant is, you will admit, inappropriate. But perhaps the
sense of smell like that of taste may differ in different individuals.
So far as I know, no agrostologist, not even Mr. Hackel, has yet
described it. When towards the end of 1889 we were informed
that Hackel, considering the specimens sent to him by Mr. Duthie
as belonging to a new Androjwf/on had named it as above, it was
BOMBAY GRASSES. 207
sueeested bv me that A. Hackelii in honour of Professor Hackel would
bo a more appropriate name. To this, in a let lor dated 13th
November, 1890, Mr.Duthie answered" I think A. Hackelii, Lisbon,
would be a far more appropriate name. I should think he would have
no objection to the alteration, I had better ask him." I would have
still described it in honour of Prof. Hackel but for the following
letter of Mr. Duthie, dated 31st January last.
11 Professor Hackel now reduces his Andropogon fictidus to a
variety of Hugelii, Hackel. He first gave the name A. fcetidus
to specimens collected by me in the Nimar district two years ago.
He did not reply to my question regarding the inappropriateness
of the name faiidxs. He has probably written a description which
will shortly be published."
The description given in this paper is mine : so far as I know,
Mr. Hackel has not published his.
A. mitiacens, Roxb., FL hid. I. 273.
Schult. Mant., II. 448.
Torn. Farms, Bhcndu.
Poona (rare), Lanowlee (saw only one specimen). Also mountains
north of Oudh (Genl. Martini Roxb. Fl. hid,)
This is a very tall stately grass, presenting a beautiful appearance
when in infloresence, which is of a purplish colour. Nothing is
known of its uses as a fodder grass.
A. squaro8its, Linn. fil. suppl. 433. A. muricatiis, Retz. Obser.
III. 45 ; V. 20 ; Dalz. and Gibs, Bomb. Fl, 302.
Vera. Varelu or Vale} urn, Walla and Ushir, Vittiver (South India
name, Roxb.). Hence it is named Vetiveria odoratahy Vircy. The
long aromatic roots are known as Kashas.
It is common in southern districts of India, but rather rare in
Thana and in other parts of the Bombay Presidency. In these, it is
cultivated in gardens. Generally distributed throughout the plains
of Northern India, especially on moist low-lying lands. It affords
good fodder when young, and is much relished by buffaloes. It is
not stacked as fodder, and the cut grass is given to cattle only in
seasons of excessive drought. This grass is used largely as a
thatching material, and the fragrant roots, known under the name of
khas khas are used all over Northern India in the manufacture of
208 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
tatties. In the Sirsa Settlement Report it is stated that the roots
are dug up by the villagers, who sometimes pay the owner of the
ground a small fee of 4 annas per digger, and that they are sold at
about a rupee a maund to banyas, who send them to Lahore and
Ferozepur. In the Jhang Settlement Report mention is made of the
tough roots being used for making rope, and also the brushes used
by the weavers for arranging the threads of the web. The brushes
of the Saharampur and Dehra Dun weavers are of the same material.
Baskets are made of the steins (sink) which are sometimes dyed. At
Bhira, in Oudh, a perfume called itar is extracted, and used
medicinally under the name of uraiya.
It is well-known that the roots of this grass, when dry, and then
gently moistened, emit a pleasant kind of fragrance, they are
employed to make large fans commonly called Vissaries and also
screens which are placed before windows and doors, which, being
kept moist during the hot winds, render the air that passes through
them both cool and fragrant, Rox. Id. Lid. I. p. 266. Small fans
are also made of the roots, and these dried and put into almirahs are
useful in many respects. " Inscriptions on copper plates lately
discovered in the district of Etawah, south-east of Agra, and dating
from A. D. 1103 to 1174, record grants of villages to Brahmins by
the Kings of Kananj, and enumerate the imposts that were to be
levied. These include taxes on mines, salt pits, and the trade in
precious metals, also on Mahwah ( Ectasia) and Mango trees, and on
Cuscus grass. Pro. Asiatic Society of Bengal, August, 1873, p. 161.
See Fergusson, Roxburg, and Duthie.
A. carico&us, Linn. Sp. ; A. serratus, Rctz. Obs. V. 21 ; Trin. Sp.
Gram, plate 329 ; Heteropogon concinnus, Thwait, Enum, PL
Zeyl. 368.
Ver. Telia, Jetara, Chaoria, Patang, Maricel (the latter name
is common to more than one sp. of grass).
Specimens received from Lanowli, Shapur, and Khardi in Thana,
Tapti valley, Callian ; grows also in Central and North-Western
Provinces, also in Ceylon and China. It is esteemed as a good fodder
grass ; eaten by cattle.
A. mollicomits, Kunt. Revis. Gram. Plate 96 ; Dalz. and Gibs.
Bomb. Fl. 301.
■-
BOMBAY GRASSES 209
Vera Qanya Mamcl, whilst A. caricosus, Linn, fil.j is known as
It grows in Bombay, Nassick, Poona and Surat, and specimens
ived from Jamner and Bussawal where it is used as fodder. It
vs also in Mauritius and Timor. " This has been hitherto
supposed to be confined to Mauritius and Timor, but it is common
i)i the black soil around Surat. It grows to the height of 4 to 5
feet." Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. Fl. Ilackel reckons it as a variety
of A. caricosus, Linn.
A. tendlus, Roxb. Flor. Ind. I. 254 ; Dalz. and Gibs, Bomb. 301.
I have not seen this grass, which is described by the authors of the
Bomb. Flora as a delicate tall grass, and found by them in Surat.
It has a close affinity to A. caricosus, Linn. ill. A. binnatus of
Roxb. is thought to be approaching A. caricosus, Linn.
A. annulatus, Forsk. Fl. JEg.-Arab 179 A., Bladhii, Roxb. Fl. Ind,
I. 259. Trin. Sp. Gram. Plate 325.
Vcrn. Sheda, Sam, Paycn, Palwan. Poona, China, Macao, and
tropical Africa.
Near Bamburda, Poona, said to grow up to 5 feet, and is esteemed
as good fodder grass fit for cutting, stacking and grazing. Grows
generally on river banks and mawal hills. It is a common grass
about Colombo, where it is considered to be an excellent grass either
in a green or dry state, and cattle are very fond of it.
Common all over the plains of Northern India by roadsides and
in bushy places. It yields a considerable amount of fairly good
fodder, which is largely made use of. It is very similar in habit to
A. Ischaemum and A. pertusus, differing from the former by its blunt
glumes, and from the latter by the absence of pith on the back of the
outer glumes. Specimens with the outer glumes 3-dentate at the
apex have hitherto been referred to A. Bladhii, Retz., but Prof.
Ilaekel informs me that the true A. Bladhii is a Chinese variety
of A. annulatus." Duthie.
A. scandens. Roxb. Fl. Ind. I. 258 ; Dalz. and Gibs Bomb.
Flora. 301.
Vern. Mariccl (name given also to A. caricosus). Common in the
Deccan, where it is considered to be a good fodder. Roxburg
however observ< a that it is a coarse grass. Cattle are not fond of it.
27
•210 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1S91.
A. Bladhii, Retz obs. 11. 27. A. obtusus. Nees in Hook, and
Arn. Beechys voy. 243, exchcs. syn. Roxb.
It it said to be a variety of the last mentioned species of Andropogon,
and is distinguished from it by the outer glumes being 3-dentate and
the spikelets being loose and more remote from each other. It is
named Loari in Bengal. Found all over the Presidency ; Roxburgh
says "It is a native of hedges and roadsides, but chiefly of old
pasture ground."
Like A. annulatm, Forsk., it is a good fodder grass.
A. laniger, Desf. Fl. Atl. II. 379, A. eriophorus, Willd. Sp.
IV. 910, A. Olwieri, Bois. Diagn. PL Or. V. 76.
Ver. Iaramkush, Azkhir, Khari, Qaridel, Ritna, Dabsulo, Khair.
It is rare in the Bombay Presidency ; grows in Baroda, Sind,
North Kanara and the Deccan. Also in the Punjab, Rajputana, aud
parts of the N.-W. Provinces, and in all arid mountainous places
such as Afghanistan, Himalaya Occid., Tibet, Morocco, Arabia, aud
Persia.
It is not esteemed as a good fodder ; eaten only when young aud
green by cattle, to whose milk it imparts its scent.
" This is one of the sweet-scented grasses, the roots of which are
sometimes used like Khas kJias in the manufacture of tatties. It is
common on uncultivated land in Sindh, the Punjab, Rajputana, and
parts of the N.-W. Provinces; it is also recorded from Tibet at an
elevation of 11,000 feet. As a fodder grass it does not rank high in
reo-ard to its nutritive qualities. It is, however, largely made use of
by cattle when it is young and tender. Its scent is said to affect the
flavour of the milk. It is often stacked, and forms a useful supply in
times of scarcity. Mr. Coldstream says that it will keep good in
stack for upwards of 10 or 12 years. For horses it is not to be
recommended. Mr. J. B. Hallen tells me that the natives of Chattar
in Baluchistan state that the cattle eat it with impunity, but that
horses suffer from colic after feeding on it. Col. Strong also
mentions the same circumstance. In the Jhang Settlement Report it
is stated that the Khair grass grows in hollows where water collects,
and seems to prefer kaMdr ; that cows graze upon it if hard pressed,
but not otherwise ; also that the housewives use wisps of this
crass to clean out ws-vls used for churning and holding milk A
BOMBAY GRASSES. 211
perfume is manufactured from it, and the aromatic oil is sometimes
used as a cooling medicine. For further information regarding the
history and medicinal properties of this grass, reference should be
made to Dr. Dymock's " Vegetable Materia Mcdica of Western
India," p. 850.
A. Itorirancusa, Blanc, Phil. Transact., vol. 80, Plate 16 ; Roxb.,
FL Lid., vol. I. 276; Dak and Gibs., Bomb. FL, 301, Trin. Sp.
< nam., Plate 326.
Vcr. Ibarankiisha^Iwarankusha, Kuranhusha (Hindust. and Bengali
names, Roxb.) Dalz< and Gibs state, "The whole plant is aromatic.
It is particularly mentioned by Arrian in his account of Alexander's
journey through the Punjab and Sindh, and was gathered by the
Phoenician followers of the army in Lus, who called it Spikenard,
It is common about Karachi, and is used as a scent by the
natives. It may be found in the Ahmedabad Zillah, but we think
there is some mistake as to its having been found in the moist
Concan as stated in Graham's Catalogue."
Grows also on the plains at the foot of the Himalayas, Hurdwar,
Nepal, Nubia, Sennar, and Abyssinia. Mr. Hackel describes 3
varieties of this grass, and states that Andropogon proximus, Hochst.,
one of the varieties in Schimp. PI. Abyss., cannot always be dis-
tinguished from A. taniger, Desf.
A. diatom, Nees, Steud. Syn. PL Gram. I. 387, found in various
parts of India but rare. Received specimens from North Kanara,
and from the confines of Bombay near Madras, or rather from
Raichorc.
Mr. Hackel describes numerous varieties of A. nardus, Linn. Sp.,
A. distorts being one of these.
A; citratm. This grass named Oil cha or lili cha (green tea) yields
k'tnon grass or oil of verbena of commerce. It is found only in the
cultivated state, and as it bears a close resemblance to A. nardus,
Linn., it is probably one of its varieties. Mr. Hackel, Andropogonece,
p. 608, says, " A. citratus D. (Cat. Hort. Monp. 78, sine discriptione
floriun, ant ad A. n.ardant out A. Scluenantkuut pertinet."
A. Schcenanthi's, Linn., Sp. A. Martini, Roxb. FL Ind.I. 277.
A. packnodes, Trin. Mem. Ac. Petcrsb. >Sp. Gram. Plate 327,
212 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
A. nardoides, Nccs, Fl. Afr. Austr. 116 ; Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. FL 302,
A. Calamus aromaticus, Royl. Must. Him. Bot. 97.
Ver. Rosa, Rosha, Rose ; Ginger grass of Europeans, very common
all over India, Australia, Ceylon, China, Macao, and Africa.
In this Presidency it ascends as high as Panchgunny, rare on the
*op of Mahablcshwar. Of all the scented Andropogons, this is the
best known, and an aromatic oil, called Rosha oil, is distilled from it
at Khandeish. The cattle cat it, especially when young, the scent of
which is said to be imparted to the milk. The dry grass is used by
natives for thatching the roofs of their huts, and occasionally for
making tatties. It appears from the Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. 12, that
in Khandeish people distinguish two varieties, one with bluish and
the other with white flowers. The oil produced from the first is of a
green colour and is called Sophia, that from the other is white, and is
called Motia. It is stated by Mrs. Lisboa in her paper read at the
Bombay Natural History Society's Meeting held on 7th August, 1889,
that the same plant bears infloresence bluish, white, and red at differ-
ent stages of its growth, and that the colour and density of its oil
may vary according to the process of distillation employed or accord-
ing to the age at which the plant is cut and used. Dr. Dymock says
that a large quantity (above 40,000 lbs.) of the Rosha oil is annually
exported from Bombay to Red Sea Ports and to Europe. It is much
used by Arabs and Turks as a hair oil, and by people of this country
in rheumatism. But the most remarkable use made of this oil is
that of adulterating A Mar of roses in European Turkey. The Bombay
dealers know nothing of its thus being employed to adulterate Altar
of roses. In India sandal wood oil is used for the purpose. Sec
Dr. Dymock's "Vegetable Materia Medica," and Mrs. Lisboa's paper
above alluded to.
Chrysopogon.
C. Grt/lls, Trm. Fundam., 188.
This presents several varieties ; I have seen only the variety kno'W n
as C.glabratus, Trin. in Mem. Ac. Pctursb., A. glabrats, and A. Roy-
luinus, Steud. Syn. PL Glum. 395 and 397. I received specim
from N. Kanara sent by Mr. Talbot. It is reckoned to be a good
fodder in Australia*
BOMBAY GRASSES. 213
0. Mrticillatus, Roxb., Fl. Ltd., I. 263; Dak. andGibbs, Bomb. FL
(under - lw*ropo</o»). I have not seen this, nor do the authors of the
Bomb. Fl. state the locality where they had found it. Roxburgh
says that it is a native of mountains, flowering about the end of the
wet season. Uses not known.
C. moManus, Trin, Spreng. neue Entdcek, 1193. Andropogou
monticola, Schult ; Mant. III. 665; A. Sprengelii, Kunth. Rcvis.
Gram. 166.
Vcr. Tl'jori, Kami (Duthie).
Dharwar and Mount Aboo ; also in hilly parts of Northern India.
On Mount Aboo it is reckoned a good fodder grass, and the grain
used by the natives as food.
C. sorrulatus, Trin. Mem. Ac. Petersb. ; Sp. Gram., plate 331 ;
Andropogon Trinii., A. ciliolatus, A. cceruleus, Stcud. Syn. PI. Glum.
395, 396.
Vcr. Goyad, Ghoda or Ghora, Band.
This beautiful grass, especially when in flower, is- common all over
the Presidency in the rainy season, also in Nepal, tropical Himalaya,
Kumaon, Afghanistan, Ceylon and Africa. Said to be good fodder
and used in Poona, but reports from other districts arc unfavourable.
C. aciculatus, Trin. Fundam 106. Rhaphis trivictis, Lourciro. Fl.
Cochinch. 553. Trin. Sp. Gram, plates 8 and 9; Andropogon acicu-
latus, Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 303.
Roxburgh gives the following vernacular names: — Sans, Shun
tince, Chora-pooslipce, Keshinee, Chora Kanta (Bengali name).
Grows all over India on barren moist pasture ground ; its seeds
arc exceedingly troublesome to those who walk where it grows ; they
stick in the stockings and produce a disagreeable itching. Cattle
arc not fond of this coarse grass (Roxb.). This grass, named Tutor I
or Flat-tutor i in Ceylon, is very common there.
" There is a story told about the late Sir Emerson Tcnnent having
come in from a walk in Kandy covered with this grass, and on
king a Modliar what it was, got in reply " only a Tutteri, Sir"!
The knight mistaking the information for bad English, indignantly
plied " only two or three millions!"
11 •■ ropogon contortus and Aristida ccerulescens arc also very trouble-
d ' . sportsmen or others, who have to walkthrough them, as they
2U JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
stick in their clothes and with their rough bristle? create consider-
able irritation. See Fergusson,
Sorghum, Pers.
8. halapeme, Pers. Syn. I, 101 ; JJolciis halapensis, Linn. Spec,
1047; Roxb. Fl. lucl, I., 269; Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. Fl. Suppl.
99, Andropogon halapensis, Brot., Fl. Lusit. I. 89; Sibth. FL Grceca,
I. tat. 68.
Ver. Bajra, Barru, Bam, Kartai, Dade, Batal
It is a tall grass, 2 — 5 ft. high or more. Nodes glabrous. Sheath
compressed. Ligula ciliolate. Leaves narrow at the base, 8 — 12 in.
long and 1 in. broad, glabrous. Panicle pyramidal, 3 — 4, in. to above
1 ft. long, branches numerous, dense or in some cases, loose. Herma-
phrodite spikelets oblong, lanceolate, 2 — 3 lines long, greenish- white
or pale purple coloured. First glume coriaceous, 5 — 7-nerved ; second
glume nearly equal in length, 5-nerved, with a few hairs at the
base ; third glume a little shorter, thin membranaceous ; fourth or
flowering glume, small, hyaline, 2-lobed, with a fine short awn from
the notch.
Pedicelate spikeiet male or rarely neuter, oblong, lanceolate, nearly
equal to the sessile, with a few short hairs at the base.
This grass grows all over the Deccan, Guzerat, Dhulia, and Basscin,
where it is considered to be a good fodder grass for cattle. Mr.
Duthie says : " Common all over Northern India in cultivated and
uncultivated ground. It is considered to be a good fodder grass, both
for grazing and as hay. Various reports, however, indicate its in-
jurious effects on cattle if eaten when too young, or when the plants
are stunted by drought. The same results have been observed to take
place in the case of juar {Sorghum vulgare). Dr. Stewart was told in
Hazara that cattle after eating it are often attacked by fatal head
affections. In Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Shahpur districts it is said
to be poisonous until the rains are over, when the cattle eat it with
impunity. Tod in his " Rajasthan," Vol. II., p. 70, mentions that
the seed of this grass is collected and mixed with bajra Hour (Sorghum
vulgare), and is eaten by the poorer classes in Bikanir. In Australia
it is valued both for pasture and hay, and is much sought after by
cattle. Native pens are made from the stems of this plant. No
BOMBAY GRASSES. 215
allusion is made regarding the injurious properties of this gra
when young either in Australia or in the United States. In the latter
country, where it is known as "Johnson Grass," "Cuba Grass,"
■■ Mears Grass" and " False Guinea Grass," it is highly valued, as
the following extract from Dr. Vascy's "Report on the Grasses of
the South," pages 16 and 17 (1887), will show :—
• Mr. N. B. Moore has cultivated this grass for 40 years and
p refers it to all others, is perennial, as nutritious as any
other, difficult to eradicate, will grow on ordinary soil, and yields
abundantly. Horses and cattle are fond of it, both in its dry and
green condition. Probably no grass gives better promise for the dry
arid lands of the West. This grass is best adapted to warm climates,
and has proved most valuable on warm dry soils in the Southern
States. Its chief value is for hay in regions where other grasses
fail on account of drought. If cut early the hay is of good quality,
and several cuttings may be made in the season.
" In California it is known as Evergreen or Arabian Millet. It
roots deep in the sub-soil and where that is at all alkaline, it grows
enormously, but at the same time absorbs so much of the unpalatable
alkali, that stock will not eat it. It is excellent for dry hills, free
from alkali."
Andropogon lames, Roxb. Fl. Bid. I. 271. This is probably a
variety of A. (Sorghum) halpapensis, Brotero, with loose panicle.
Andropogon Wig //tit, Hack, Andropogonece, 511, is probably a variety
of A. (Sorghum) laxus of Roxb. I have received specimens from
Thana and Nassick.
S. purpureo-sericcum, Hochst. in Schimp. pi. Abyss. 1887, Rich.
Tent. Fl. Abyss. II. 469 ; Andropogon sorghum, Var. variegatum,
Hack, Andropog. 554. Culm erect, rather strong, 2 — 3 ft. high.
Sheaths striated, compressed, glabrous, much shorter than the inter-
nodes. Nodes bearded with a tuft of long white hairs. Leaves 3 — 5 in.
long and 2 — 2\ in. broad, glabrous, or with a very few short scat-
tered hisped hairs, and with scabrous margins. Panicle ovate, 4 — 5
in. high. Rachis smooth, glabrous. Branches filiform, flexuose,
numerous, 2 or 3 at each articulation, almost verticillate at the
lowermost articulation, pedicels and articles ciliated with long rufous
or purplish hairs, which cover the spikelets. First glume of the
216 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
sessile spikelet thick, cartilaginous, pubescent, tho margin^ like inc.
articles, with long coloured hairs. 2nd glume thick, cornice*.
nearly equal or a little longer. 3rd glume shorter, a little thinner.
4th glume smaller, hyaline, with a yellow awn about 1 in. long.
Pedicellate spikelet male or neuter, linear, lanceolate, paler than the
sessile, with very few short hairs at the base.
It is to be observed that the spikelets are at first whitish, but in
time they become purple and ultimately brown.
Ver. Barroo ? Almost all the sorgha are named Barroo. It is not
uncommon over the various districts of the Deccan.
S. mlgare, Pers. Synop. I. 101 ; Holeus sore/hum, Linn. Sp. 1047,
Roxb. Fl. bid., 1-269; Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. Fl. Suppl. 9$
Andropogon sorghum, Brotero. Fl. Lusit. I. 88. Holeus sorghum,
Roxb. Fl. Ind. I. 299.
Ver. Juhndla, Juwaree, Juar, Burroo.
It is cultivated in various districts of this Presidency chiefly in
the Carnatic, Berar, where its grain is the common food of the poorer
classes. It is also extensively cultivated for fodder only, the seeds
being sown in close proximity to one other, when the stalk grows
very tall, and is named Karbi.
" The stalks are extensively used as fodder, and when chopped up
is known by the name of karbi. When specially grown for fodder
purposes it is called chart. It is a valuable and favourite fodder for
cattle, but is said to have injurious effects if eaten too young." See
Duthie.
S. ccrriuum, Host. Gram. Austr. Plate 3, Andropogon cernuums,
Kunth. Enum. 1. 501, Andropogon compacius, Brot. Fl. Lusit. I.
88, Holeus ccrnuus ; Dalz. and Gibbs, Bomb. Fl. Suppl. 99.
Ver. Shalloo, Soondia.
Is chiefly cultivated for its grain in cold weather in some parts of
the Deccan and Gujerat. In the Broach collectorate this is grown
in the Dcybarra and other districts under tho name of Soondia.
The stalk as a forage for cattle is unsurpassed. It contains a great
deal of saccharine matter, and is thus very nutritive. Dalz. and
Gibbs, Bomb. Fl.
" This grass is said to be found growing wild in various districts
of Bombay."
BOMBAY GRASSES. 21?
S. saccharatwn, Pers. SynOp. 101, Nees. PL Afr. Austr. 86; Holcus
naccharatus, Linn. Spec. 1047 ; Dalz. aud Gibbs, Sypl. Bomb. FL
It is cultivated throughout Africa not so much for the sake of its
erain as culm ; in America for the extraction of
sugar, and in Italy f6r making brooms, &.c.
It is stated in the Bomb. Flora thai; it was introduced into Bombay
under the name of "Imphee," about the year 1849, for the manu-
facture of sugar. It is not known whether this grass is still cultivated
in this country.
Anthistiria, Linn. FL
A. cymbaria, Roxb. Fl. Ind, I. 251 ; Dalz. and Gibbs., Bomb.
Fl. 304.
Ver. Kavar, Ful-garat.
This tall, rather coarse grass, is very common, and grows all
over the presidency. Cattle eat it, and hay is made of it.
A. ciliata* Linn. Fil. Suppl. PL 113 ; A. scandens, Roxb. FL Ind.
T248 ; A. ciliata, Dalz. and Gibbs, Bomb. FL
Ver. Batani, Bunden, Bungrat, Karad, 3Iarar, Musani, Bhoru.
This grows everywhere, and is used as a good fodder.
A. tre inula, Nees, Steud. Syn. PL Glum. 1401.
Ver. Bhatandi, Gandi, Bungrat (Poona name), Barki.
Grows over Ghats. Specimens received from North Kanara, and
from various districts ; it is said to be a good fodder.
A. heteroclita, Roxb. FL Ind. I., 249, Andropogon heteroclitus,
Nees. Fl. Afr. Austr. 115, Hack. Andropogonece. Received specimens
collected at Kasarsai, Poona, where it is said to be common on hilly
ground, and used chiefly for roofing (thatching).
Nees and Hackel classify it (and perhaps rightly) under And ropogon.
It is distinguished from other Andropogons by each receme containing
2 sessile spikelets. Roxburgh states : "This species may be
immediately distinguished by its umbellets (racemes) being composed
of two hermaphrodite awned florets and three male ones."
ISEILEMA, Anders.
I. Wightii, Anders. Nov. Act. Soc. Scient.251 ; Anthistiria prostata,
' This and the preceding are generally found together in the same field ; they
form (.he greater part of the best specimens of hay in the country.
28
213 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Willd. Spec. IV, 901 ; A. cuuicina, Edgew. As. Jour. 1852 ; p. 182.
Anthistria Wightii. Nees, Steud. Syn. PL Glum. I., 400.
Ver. Sana or Achigrass, Tambrut, Tambit, GondwaL
Grows all over the Presidency ; specimens received from East
Khandeish, Poona, Satara, Sholapur, Konkan and Kanara, also from
Northern India.
" ! n Bundelkhand and Central Provincesit is frequently the prevail-
ing grass on the black soil, its reddish coloured stems and spikelets
rendering it a conspicuous object from a considerable distance."
Duthie.
/. laxum, Hackel, Andropog., 082; I.prostrata, Anders. Nov. Act.
Soc. Scient.
Ver. Shata, Gandwel, Tambit, Tambrut.
< < tows everywhere in Bombay, in Bundelkhand, Central Provinces,
Patna, Pondicherry, Ceylon. In Bundelkhand this grass is abundant
and largely used as fodder, and i< prized above all. other kinds.
It is sweet-scented when fresh. Mr. Coldstream says that it is very
common in Hissarbir swamps, in good land, and that where it will
grow, wheat will grow. It is both grazed and stacked, and is much
eaten by buffaloes. Report from East Khandeish says that its uses are
not known there ; from Poona that it is not much valued, used
for grazing when young.
The two grasses are similar, but /. Wightii is more diffuse and
generally quite prostrate. The clusters of its spikelets are smaller
and usually more excerted from the bracts; and the keel and edges of
the bracts are papiiose. Both these grasses are common near the
Yeroda jail and other parts of Poona.
I believe that one or two more species of Is&ikmq are growing in
this Presidency. They require an examination.
Apluda, Linn. Gen. Pi.
A. ansfata, Linn. Amsen, Ac. IV. 303. Lin. 111. gen. Plate. 841,
Fig. 2; A. GryllusL, Beauv, Agrost. 23. Fig. 5.
Ver. Phulse, Tuk>, Paodi, Khavas, E ■ Eharwel, Tambiti,
Chickwar, Thambat, Eurdia, Pokilia, Pockli, Phulaer, Bhas, Makkhd.
Botanists have described several varieties, such as ( 1 ) A . micro&tachya,
Nees, PL Meyn. 193.(2; A. c&mmunis, Nfces. I.e. 194,; A- *>/;■> ,
RARE FUNQUS. 219
which is A. aristata of Roxb. Ft. Ind. L o'2G, (3) A. rostrata, Nees
I.e. 194, (4) A. ci/iata, Anders. I Tack, Andropog. 200.
All these varieties grow in India, and the above vernacular names
are applicable to all of them. The leaves of A. rostrata are petioled,
the petiole of A', communis is short. THis grass in hedges and
bushy places lv elongated, and assumes a ('limbing habit.
•Slid to be a good fodder iu some places. It is eaten only when
young and green'.
Report from Poena 3ays : — "Good fodder for buffaloes when young,
but it easily breaks down when tall, bence not fit for cutting and
stacking."
NOTES CMS A RARE FUNGFS FOUND GROWING OX
THE DRUMSTICK TREE.
By Surgeon Majob I\. R. Kirti'kar, T.M.D.
( With a plate,)
Read before the Bombay National History Society on 29th June 1891.
In December, 1887, I came across a recently cut stump of the
Drumstick tree — Moriuga pterygosperma, — at the foot of the "Worli
Hill iu Bombay. The fungus, pictured in the plate accompanying
this note, was found growing all along the cambium layer of the
maiil stem. It was in large masses grouped, all round the woody
tissue but not growing from it nor sending its mycelium along the
loose cellular tissue of the porous medullary rays. The mycelium
appeared to be chiefly scattered over the recently cut cambium layer
thickly covered over with the gummy exudation so often seen on the
bark and fresh cut surfaces of the plant. I have seen several fungi
of this " Pleurotus" sub-division growing on the dead bark of
Noringa pterygosperma many a time since, but I have not yet come
across another specimen which has had all the characteristics I
observed in the particular specimen I am now describing. It appears
to me to be a distinct species in itself. If I were to give it a
name — and indeed a name is required as it is a fungus neither
Jdvered dor described before— I should call it Agartcuk(PThufotus)
220 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
moringanus; i. e., moringanus growing on Moringa pterygosper?na3 ami
partaking of its odour,
Description.
Pileus. — Covered with fine down when young. Smooth when full-
grown ; partly membranaceous, partly spongy, especially in the centre ;
revolute, cream-coloured, varying from one inch to thr^e inches in
length, £ to 4 inches in breadth ; \ inch in thickness. Yeil evanes-
cent, very finely fibrillar when young ; disappearing very early.
Ring absent.
Stem. — ^ to one inch long, lateral, confluent and homogeneous with
the hymenophore, cream-coloured ; membranaceous, spongy in the
centre, often repand. Margin entire in young specimens, deeply
curved forward ; in full grown specimens, deeply involute, sinuate,
and cracked.
QUls. — Cream-coloured; of two kinds, long and short ; breadth
\ inch ; rather crowded, with tough trama of a spongy kind. The
long gills decurrent, gradually lost in the substance of the stem all
the way down ; the short gills, broadly and distinctly rounded behind,
and quite in contrast with the other known species of this Agaric
growing on the Moringa or elsewhere.
Habitat. — Growing direct from the cambium layer. Mycelium firm
white. The habit of the fungus is caespitose.
Spores *003 X -007 m.m., elliptical.
Odour that of the plant.
Bemarks. —The points of interest connected with this species are
chiefly with reference to its habitat and its odour. I have not yet
come across a fungus growing from the cambium layer and so quick-
ly, for it appeared that the tree had been cut down the day previous.
It is verv seldom that a parasitic fungus partakes of the odour pecu-
liar to its host. The Drumstick tree is a familiar figure in the
Konkan fields and kitchen gardens. It is largely cultivated for its
twisted trilateral follicles wrongly called " pods," which contain a
rich fleshy pulp. This pulp when cooked with butter, salt and pepper
yields an agreeable and by no means unwholesome dish. Its root
is used in the place of Horse-raddish at English tables in India.
Though a little coarse in fibre, the scrapings of the root are quite ae
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RARE FUNGUS. 221
good a substitute as one could expect to have in point of flavour and
pungency. The flavour and pungency are due to an essential oil
which is abundant in the loose parenchyma of the bark of the Moringa.
The soft and porous woody tissue also contains this essential oil.
JNo wonder then that any parasite throwing its mycelium on its most
vitaHy active cells should imbibe the esseutial oil and retain it in its
«wn tissue.
The odour of this fungus seems attractive to a certain kind of insect.
It is a small weevil of the size of a pea. I hope to investigate this on
a future occasion, as I find that it commonly infests the Moringa
aod burrows into its bark, cambium layer and even wood. This weevil
attacked the whole specimen I am describing within two days after
I had collected it, chiefly destroying the inner spongy tissue and leav-
ing the bare " epidermis " of the pileus if I may so term it. The
major portion of my fungus was thus destroyed. The chief point
for congratulation is that following the principle of " striking while
the 'iron is hot," a principle always well worth following in the
study and sketching of fungi, I had Mr. Isaac Benjamin — my gifted
artistic friend who has always been an invaluable prime aid to me in
all my botanical sketches — to draw the fungus on stone on the spot,
the very day I observed it.
The question strikes one as to whether this peculiar horse-raddish
odour has an attraction for the weevil that destroyed my fungus,
for we find that it certainly, I ought to say presumably on account
of that odour, attacks the host, even in the living state of the latter.
Everybody who knows the habit of the Moringa pterygosperma
can call back to memory the gum- studded stem of this tree marked
with.burrows and furrows clogged with the millet-seed sized globules
of the weevils' excreta bound up in innumerable chains with flocculent
fibres not unlike a cobweb. Does this weevil find any special
charm in the odour which the fungus inherited from the Moringa ?
Mr. M. C. Cooke— that indefatigable veteran mycologist of
England who has kept British mycology abreast of the most advanced
mycology of Europe, in writing in a recent number of his Gre-
villea (December, 1890), on the attractive odours in fungi — mentions
that the well-known fungus called Russella fotans seems to be attrac-
tive to slugs, since it is usually found more or less eaten bv them.
222 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
" Has odour any attraction ?" he asks. There are other odorous
fungi, however, Mr. Cooke says, " Such as the Agaricus odorus and
Agar-icus frngrans which are not attacked by slugs." There is a
species of Agari'Vis camped ris, which I have gathered in Thana for
several monsoons past which smells strongly of aniseed oil, but which,
however, is not liable to the destructive attacks of insects or. small
filiform slugs any more quickly than the inodorous Agaricns campestris
gathered in almost its immediate neighbourhood. The point is
worthy of investigation, and I commend it to the careful study not
only of those who are interested in the study of fungi, but also of
those who watch the habits of the insects and molluscs which destroy
our plant life.
ON THE GAUR (BOS GAURUS) AND ITS ALLIES.
By W: T. Blanfobd, F.R.S., E.Z.S.
( From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London,
page 592, 1890.)
Very little has been added to our knowledge of the classification,
habits, and distribution of the wild Indian Bovidce since Blyth, thirty
years ago, wrote an excellent account of the " flat-horned taurine
cattle of India."* But an important addition to the opportunities
hitherto afforded to residents in London of studying the living
animals of this section of the genus Bos has been made by the
arrival at the Society's Gardens of a young male { Gaur ' or ' Sladang,'
Bos gaurus, in the autumn of 1 889. f Despite many previous attempts
to introduce this animal, no other individual is known to have reached
Europe alive. Examples of both the other species beloning to
the same section have lived in the Gardens.
The young animal+ now in the Gardens at Regent's Park was
* J. A. S. B., XXIX., p. 282 (1860). The substance of this paper was sub-
sequently republished with additions in a series of articles on " Wild types, and
sources of Domestic Animals " that appeared in c Land and Water,' Vol. iii, 1867,
pp. 287, 345, 395, 422, 476, 630.
t See P. Z. S., 1889, p. 447.
J This animal is now (Nov., 1890) in excellent health and '-onrlition, and has
grown to nearly his full stature.
bos cArurt. 228
one of a herd of twenty-four animals captured by the Sultan of
Puhang in the Malay Peninsula, as described by \Ir. A. H. Wall, in
the ' Field' (June 1st, 1889, p. 767). A stockade or kraal, similar
in form to that used for capturing elephants, was constructed on
;i promontory, covered with high grass and bushes, on the Pahang
river, and the herd of Gaur were driven into the enclosure by about
1 ,500 beaters. The frightened animals charged and fought each other
until one-half were killed or mortally wounded, the survivors were
driven into a long narrow passage leading to the river and isolated
from each other by bamboo poles.
The section of the genus Bos comprising Bos (/auras and its allies
was separated by Hodgson* under the name of Bibos in 1837. It
comprises three well-marked forms, and is distinguished by the horns
being flattened or sub-elliptical in section, especially towards the base,
by the tail being short, only reaching the hocks, and by the spinous
processes of the dorsal vertebrae being long and those of the
I umbra vertebrae short, the change in length taking place abruptly,
so that there is along the anterior half of the back, from the shoulders,
a high ridge which terminates suddenly about balfway down the
trunk. This character, however, is less marked in Bos sondaicus
than in the other two species, and the flattening of the horns is less
conspicuous in females than in males, and is sometimes not to be
detected in cows of the species just named.
All the species have a peculiar and characteristic coloration, the
old males being dark brown or almost black, the females and younger
males, paler or reddish-brown, the legs from just above the knee and
hocks downwards white or whitish.
* J. A. S. B., vi., p. 747; see also J. A. S. B., p. 447, aDd xvi., p. 706. Blyth, in
his • Catalogue of the Mammalia in the Museum of the Asiatic Society,' 1863, p. 100,
adopted the generic term Gavceus, Hamilton Smith. In this he was followed by
Jerdon (Mammals of India, p. 301). I cannot fiud any publication of the name
Gavceus as a generic term by Hamilton Smith. In Griffith's ' Cuvier,' iv., p. 40r;,
and v., p. 375, the Gayal is described under the name of Bos gavceus, and placed in
the snb-genus Bison. Hodgson subsequently, in 1847 (J. A. S. B., xxi., p. 705),
separated the Gayal from Bibos, and made it the type of a distinct genus Gavceus,
and both genera were admitted in Horsbeld's ' Catalogue of the Mammalia in the
Museum of the Hon. Eaat India Company.'
224 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The three known forms may be thus distinguished :-—
A. No white caudal disk ; dorsal ridge high. Females dark umber or sepia-
brown.
a. Forehead very concave ; a high ridge, the upper border of which
is very convex, between the horns. Horns curving much, the
points turned inwards. Bos gaurus (the Gaur).
b. Forehead nearly flat, no elevated ridge between the horns. Horns
curving but little, points not turned inwards. Bos frontalis
(the Gayal or Mithan).
B. A white caudal disk. Females reddish-brown approaching chestnut.
Dorsal ridge much lower, termination inconspicuous. Forehead narrower
and skull longer than in the other species Horns smaller and more
curved than in either, the points turned in. Bos Sonduicus (the Banteug).
Coloured figures of the Gayal have already appeared in the So-
ciety's Proceedings' ( $ , 1866, pi. i., $ and young, 1882, pi. x., p.
233). Excellent coloured representations of the Banteng are to be
found in Sal Miiller and Schlegel's ' Verhandelingen Nat. Gesch.
Ned. overz. Bez.' The accompanying figure* (Plate XLIX.) of the
young male of Bos gaums, now in the Gardens, is probably the first
taken from a living example, though many figures have been given
in illustration of Indian sporting and Zoological works.f Not one
of these, however, appears to me to be a really good representation
of the animal, and I am doubtful whether the portrait of the young
tame bull now published will convey a correct idea of an adult Gaur
in his native haunts. The photograph of a dead Gaur (apparently a
bull just mature), which I now exhibit (see woodcut, p. 594), affords
a better conception of the animal than any drawing I have ever
seen*.
A figure of the bull Gayal (Bos frontalis), which serves to shew
the proportions, and to some extent the differences of the type, is
given in another photograph, kindly lent to me for the purpose
* This figure is copied from photographs taken in the Gardens by Major J.
Fortune Nott, F.Z.S., who has very kindly allowed them to be used for the Plate.
f The most spirited and artistic is that by \\ elf in Col. Walter Campbell's 'My
Indian Journal,' but it is incorrect in several points. Figures of it are given in
Forsyth's ' Highlands of Central India,' Sanderson's ' Thirteen years among the
Wild Beasts of India/ Storndale's - Seonee,' the same author's ' Natural History of
the Mammalia of India and Ceylon,' and Hornaday's ' Two years in the Jungle.'
% I am indebted for the loan of this photograph to Dr. V. Ball, C.B., and Mr. A.
1). Wynne. ! >•; .<■ t i - ■> that the original photographer is nut known.
BOS GA.URUS. 225
by Dr. J. Anderson, who had the original in his possession in Calcutta.
It was a superb specimen, and was intended for the Society's
Gardens, but unfortunately met with an accident, from the result of
which it died, when being shipped for England. The shorter legs,
large dewlap, shorter head, and differently formed horns are shown
iu the photograph (see fig. 2) .
I cannot concur in the view taken by Hodgson, Gray, Blyth, and
Horsfield that there is a difference amounting to generic distinction
between this group of flat-homed bovines and typical Bos, e. g., B.
ta urns and B. indicus : indeed I feel grave doubts as to the generic
distinction of the Bisons and Buffaloes from the taurine cattle.
Bos soudaicus is in some respects intermediate between Bos gaurus
aud the typical forms, whilst the distinctions between Bos caffer and
Bos bubalus, or between Bos bonassus and Bos grunniens, appear very
similar in kind to those between Bos taunts, Bos bonassus, and Bos
ba.balns, and not very different in degree. But if the genus Bos be
divided, the most natural sections appear to be the taurine, bisontine,
and bubaline ; and the members of the flat-horned section agree far
better, as has been, I think, shown by Lydekker in his discussion of
the fossil forms, with the taurine than with the bisontine subdivision,
although they were referred to the latter by Hamilton Smith and
others.
Our present knowledge of the range of the three species of this
section of Bos may be thus summarized : —
Bos gaurus. — The Gaur is found in all the larger forest-tracts of
the Indian Peninsula from the Ganges to Cape Comorin, but not in
Ceylon. Its extreme north-western range, at present, I believe, to be
in the neighbourhood of the river Nerbudda, east of Broach, and
west of long. 80 ° E. the valley of the Nerbudda forms approximately
its northern limit, though it may in places exist a little further north.
It does not inhabit the grass-jungles of the great Indus and Ganges
plain, except to the eastward in the neighbourhood of the Himalayas ;
fact this animal is seldom, if ever, found far away from hilly
ground. It occurs in the forests along the base of the Himalayas as
far west as Nepal, and is met with in the hill-regions south of Assam,
and thence in all suitable localities throughout Burma and the other
countries immediately east of the Bay of Bengal down to the
29
226 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1892.
southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula where its occurrence is n&
mew discovery, for Blyth recorded its existence there in the pape^r
already quoted.* The range of the Gaur in Siam, Cochin China-
Tonquin, &a, does not appear to have been ascertained* with any cer-
tainty ; it is said to occur in Siarn, but I can find no record of its-
occurrence further east, and no mention of the existence of any fiat-
* ml
horned bovine in South China is made by Swinhoe.
The Gaur is unknown in the Malay Islands and in Ceylon, but the
statement has repeatedly been made that it formerly inhabited the
latter. I am disposed to think this doubtful, and I quite agree with
Sandersonf in my surprise that the Gaur should have disappeared
from a region where wild Elephants are still found in large numbers ■.
Throughout the Peninsula of India the reverse is the case ; the
Elephant has7 I think, clearly been the first to disappear, as in the
Satpuras, the Northern Syhadri, and throughout parts of Chutia
Nagpur, where the Gaur still occurs. A belief in the former occur-
rence of Bos gaurus in Ceylon is partly founded on the fact that
Knox, writing in 1681, mentioned under the name of Gnavera, an
animal kept tame at Kandy, and partly on Kelaart's statement^
that " the Kandyans also say that the Goura once roamed through
those forests which to the present day are called after the Goura —
Goure-Ellia, Goura-Koodie, &c." On the other hand, it is by no
means improbable that the Gaur, like the Tiger, never inhabited
Ceylon, a circumstance very possibly due to the animal not having
migrated into Southern India until after Ceylon had been separated
by sea.
Bos sondaicus. — The Banteng is entirely confined to countries east
of the Bay of Bengal. The northermost localities from which it
has been distinctly recorded are Northern Pegu and Arrakan west
of Pegu; but Blyth has Shown (J. A. S. B., XXIX., p. 294) that it
probably occurs in the ranges east of Chittagong. It is common in
Tenasserim, and is probably found in Siam, the Malay Peninsula, -
,
* Cantor too, in 1846, stated that the Gaur was " numeroos in the Malayan
Peninsula." (J. A. S. B., xv, p. 273).
f ' Thirteen years among the Wild Beasts of India,' p. 243.
X Prodromus Faun. Zeyl., p. 87. In Griffith's ' Cuvier, v., p. 410, too, it is stated
that the wild ox or Guavera of Ceylon was shot by British parties daring the war
with Kandy. But the animals shot may have been Wild Buffaloes,
BOS GAURUS. 22$
and Sumatra* It occurs in Java, Bali, and Borneo, and besides the
wild animals largo herds exist in Java and perhaps in Sumatra in a
domesticated state.
Bos frentaUs.—l have left this to the last, as the question of the
range and even of the existence of the wild animal is disputed.
The Gfayal or Mithan is kept tame by the hill-tribes on both sides
of Assam valley and throughout the Chittagong hills as far south as
the neighbourhood of Akyab in Arrakan. According to the earlier
accounts, both wild and tame animals are found in the hill-ranges
south of Assam ; and an elaborate account was given in the Linnean
Transactions, Vol. VII., p. 303, by Mr. Macrae (quoted by Mr. Lam-
bert) of the manner in which the Kukis captured the wild herds by
the help of the tame (xayals. It is quite possible that this story
may have been devised by the inventive faculty of Mr. Macrae's
informant, though the account in itself has more innate probability
than most of the legends about animals that we owe to the imagina-
tion of the natives of India, whether civilized or not. Some recent
writers, and especially Mr. J. Sarbo* who writes apparently with
good opportunities for knowing, declare that there is no such animal
as a wild Bos frontalis known, at all events in the country extending
from Assam to Arrakan. Blyth too,f only notices the wild race as
numerous in the Mishmi hills and other hill-ranges bordering on
Upper Assam, and states that it is the domestic race that extends
southward to near Akyab.
It has even been suggested (though certainly not by Mr. Sarbo,
who clearly appreciates the distinction between the two) that Bos
frontalis is a domestic race of Bos gaums. This is not impossible,
but at the same time it is not, I think, a probable view, because if it
were the case, as both animals inhabit the same forests, and as the
tame herds of Bos frontalis are said to roam freely during the day,
merely returning at night to their owner's village, the two would
assuredly interbreed ; and it is incredible that the difference between
Bos gaurus and Bos frontalis should be so constant as it is, and so
very much more marked than in the case of the wild and tame
Buffalo, although the range of the tame animal in the latter case is
* P. Z. S. 1883, p. 143.
t Cat. Mamm. Mus. As. Soc, 1863, p. 162.
223 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
very far from coinciding with that of the wild race. Hybrids bet-
ween Bos frontalis, and the humped cattle B. indicus are said to be
common ; but the skulls of B. frontalis brought from localities as far
apart as Upper Assam and the Chittagong hills appear, so far as car;
be judged from the accounts given, to be similar to each other, and
to be all similarly distinguished from those of B. gaurus. Further
information on this point is desirable ; but as to the absolute distinc-
tion of the two and the absence of intermediate forms we have
the important testimony of so good and trustworthy an observer as
Mr. S. E. Peal.*
There are two facts that should be borne in mind in any endeavour
to disentangle the somewhat complicated history of Bos front a/is.
1. The names of animals used by various nations and tribes are
just as carelessly and loosely applied as English terms are employed
by English-speaking people. In America the English term selected
for the Bison is the name of that particular bovine to which perhaps
the Bison is least related and which it least resembles — the Buffalo
— whilst in India the common English name for Bos gaurus is Bison.
It is not therefore surprising that terms like Gaur and Gayal are inter-
changeable. In fact, in a number of Indian languages, the name
applied to Bos gaurus means wild buffalo.f I have myself heard
the name Gayal used for Bos gaurus in Orissa, where Bos frontalis is
unknown. Probably the same name Gayal is used by such inhabi-
tants of Tipperah, Chittagong, &c, as speak Hindi or Bengali (foreign
languages to the majority) indifferently for Bos gaurus and Bos
frontalis. Mr. Peal states that in Upper Assam both are known as
Mithan. It is easy to understand the confusion that may thus have
been caused to naturalists of a generation or two back, who appear,
judging by their writings, to have regarded such names as restricted
to particular species.
2. Blyth has gisTen at lengthy some very curious evidence ob-
tained by him, which, if correct, certainly appears to show that
* Nature, Nov. 5th, 1885, Vol. XXXIII., p. 7.
t Ran-hila, Ran-pada in Mahratti and Guzuratti, and Jangli Khulga, as quoted
by Jerdon. I have even heard the name Arna, the correct appellation of a wild buf-
falo, applied to Bos gaurus,
X J- A. S. B., xxix., p. 294; see also Cat. Mamra. Mas. As. Soc, p. 1G2, Guvceus
us, specimen D.
BOS GAURUS.
Bos gaurus itself is domesticated by some of the hill -tribes in the
Tipperah hills. If this were substantiated, it might account for the
descriptions by Mr. Macrae of the taming of the wild ' Grayals ' by the
Kukis, the Gayals in question being Bos gaurus. As I have already
stated* Mr. Macrae's story has a distinct appearance of truth.
I think it highly probable that Mr. Sarbo is right in his opinion
that Bos frontalis does not exist wild south of Assam. It is true that
we know very little of the great hill- area south of Manipur between
the Kyendwen river and its tributaries to the east, and Tipperah,
Chittagong, Arrakan, etc., to the west. But it is scarcely probable
that three wild forms so nearly allied as Bos gaurus, Bos frontal)
and Bos sondaicus should be found living wild in the same area.
It is far from improbable that Bos sondaicus is the representative in
comparatively level country of the hill-loving Bos gaurus, and that
the two do not actually inhabit the same tract, but both Bos gaurus
and Bos frontalis are distinctly inhabitants of hill-forests and are
splendid climbers.* It is more probable that these two are repre-
sentative species inhabiting distinct areas. Bos frontalis may be
the wild ox of the Mishmi hills and of the mountains extending
eastwards from Assam. These hills have scarcely been penetrated
by any Europeans, and are extremely difficult of access. In some
MS. notes, for which I am indebted to Mr. Hume, he gives measure-
ments of the horns on a skull, which was sent to him as that of a
wild animal from the South Mishmi hills. The measurements are
those, I think, of Bos frontalis, the tips of the horns being 37 inches
apart.
There is one more point on which a remark is necessary. The
animal described briefly by Mr. Davison, t as the ' Sapio ' of the
Malays may be Bos sondaicus. It is not impossible that the white of
* To the powers of Bos gaurus in this respect I can speak from personal obser-
vation. I have seen them go at speed down slopes where I could only follow by
holding on to the bamboos and shrubs, and all observers have remarked on the
climbing propensities of -Bos frontalis. Bos sondaicus is, as Birth points out, a more
leggy animal than its two allies, and I think B. gaurus has proportionally longer legs
than B. frontalis.
t P- Z. S., 1889, p. 448. It is worthy of notice that Cantor (J. A. S. B., xv.,
p. 272) in his Catalogue of the Mammalia inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula and
islands, does not mention Bos sondaicus, and gives Saki utan (which means, I believe,
simple wild cattle) as the Malay name of Bos gaurus.
230 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the * stockings ' may be rufous in some individuals of either Bos
gaurus or Bos sondaicus (I have seen them deep yellow in a bull
Bos frontalis)* The insides of the legs are not unfrequently of a
golden-brown and may occasionally be chestnut. It seems hardly
probable that an additional species besides Bos gaurus and Bos sondai-
cus remains to be discovered in the Malay Peninsula.
* Since the above was written, 1 have seen the bull Gayal in the Society's
Gardens, with a distinctly ferruginous tinge on parts of his white ' stockings.' I
can well believe that all the lower parts of each leg may be stained red in some
animals. The coloration is due, Mr. Bartlet tells me, to an exudation, that becomes
much more copious in hot weather.
AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY.
(Being a Lecture delivered by E. C. Cotes before the Agri*
Horticultural Society, Calcutta, on Idth March, 1891.)
Five years ago it would have been a simple matter to give a lecture
<on the agricultural entomology of India, for at that time so little
kad been ascertained about either the insects which injure crops to
any serious extent, in this part of the world, or about those which
are useful to man, that a short account of what was known of the
whole of them might have been included in a single lecture. Now.
however, the case is very different ; for, owing to the system of
collecting information which has been pursued of late, such a large
amount of material has accumulated, that the only difficulty has
been to pick out what should be sufficient to give some slight idea of
the subject, and yet be such as could be gone through within the
hour.
Magic lantern illustrations seemed likely to make it easier to
explain about the insects, so it was decided, in the first place, only to
tell you about those of which I have lantern slides. This restriction,
however, still left a very much larger field than could possibly be
dealt with, so it was further decided only to touch upon such of the
insects as had been injurious to crops during the past year, and to
leave out all mention of the silkworms and other useful insects
AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY. 231
which have also been under investigation. Even then a good deal
more material remained than could be dealt with, so I propose only
to touch upon the better known and more important species, and to
omit altogether a very considerable number of different kinds of
insects which have been sent to the Indian Museum during the past
year as injurious to crops, but which, so far as our information at
present goes, are of lesser importance.
The locusts which have over-run nearly the whole of India during
i he past two years, and whose life-history has lateby been traced, are
perhaps the most prominent of the insects which I have to show to
you to-night. But as a diagram is in preparation to explain what has
been found out about the locusts, I will to some extent reverse what
would otherwise be the natural order of things, and take the other
insects first, leaving the locust to .be shown to you at the end if time
allows.
The first slide, then, which I have to show to you to-night is a
photograph of the moth Leacania extranea, which I reared from a
caterpillar sent by the Collector of Rungpur, where the insect was
very destructive to paddy in the early part of the past cold weather ;
the Manager of the Wards' Estates, Rungpur, indeed reporting that
many of the cultivators had been ruined by it. The caterpillars live
in holes in paddy fields where the water has subsided, and sally out
at night to cut off the unripe ears of paddy, which they drag to their
holes in the ground where they devour them at their leisure. This
is all that has yet been actually observed in India about the insect,
but comparative examination of it shows that it belongs to that
section of the zoological group of Noctues moths, whose caterpillars
are known in the United States as cut- worms ; and the habits of such
a number of forms belonging to this group have been so closely
observed in other parts of the world, and have proved so constant for
the different forms, that we can predict with almost absolute certainty
that those of the present insect are as follows. The mother moth,
after meeting with a mate, lays her eggs on plants, and the young
caterpillars, which are born from these eggs descend into the ground,
and burrow for themselves holes where they live until they arrive at
their full growth. They then molt their skin and become little
brown ehrysalids. The chrysalid Kes in the ground until the moth
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
is ready to emerge, when the skin cracks down the back, and out of
the dried-up ckrysalid's case creeps a soft fluffy moth which crawls
out of the burrow and spreads its wings to dry in the air, as a
preliminary to taking flight and starting a family of its own. The
whole of the life of the insect, from the time it is laid as an egg by
its mother to the time when it lays eggs of its own, only occupies a
few weeks, so that several generations are gone through in the
course of the year. But it is only for a short time of the year
that the paddy fields are a suitable dwelling place for this insect.
For we know that throughout the whole of the rains the paddy
stands in water, so it would be quite impossible for the caterpillar
to burrow into the ground, and if it remained on the paddy plants
during the day time it would be almost certain to get eaten up
by the birds, which are very fond of it. It is only the autumn
generations of caterpillars that can feed on rice, and the spring and
summer generations must live on some other plant. If, therefore,
we could destroy the plants upon which the spring and summer
generations feed, we should get rid of the pest altogether, for
there would then be no moths to lay their eggs upon the rice
plants in the autumn. The first thing to do is, of course, to find out
upon what plants the caterpillar feeds. The only other upon
which the insect has yet been observed to feed is the oat plant, but
there is every probability that it feeds upon a number of grasses. Now
in Bengal, we know that during the greater part of the rains almost
the only grasses which are not submerged are those which grow upon
the bunds between the paddy fields, and there is thus very considerable
probability that if the bunds were kept clear of all rank grass during
the rains, there would be no moths to lay their eggs upon the rice
plants in the autumn. In fact, we shall see that, when practicable, it
is a good thing to keep the rice bunds as clear as possible all the year
round, for another very destructive paddy pest, the paddy borer, about
which I will tell you presently, is also propagated in the rank grasses
which spring up around the rice fields. With regard to other means
of dealing with the paddy cut-worm, a number of suggestions have
been made, but for the most part they are only applicable to crops
which are more elaborately cultivated than rice, and with which there-
fore more costly treatment is practicable.
ICRhll/rURAL ENTOMOLOGY. 233
Wv have spout so long ovov the paddy cut-worm that I must hurry-
over the remainder of the insects belonging to this group, and will
only notice that in Oudh last cold weather the young rabi crops,
including opium, suffered severely from cut-worms belonging to the
species Ochroplmra fiammatra and Agrptis stiff asa, which. I now
show to you. The only remedy found effective was irrigation, which,
brought the caterpillars to the surface, so that the birds could get at
them. In Maisur, also, during the past few months, young coffee has
suffered badly from cut-worms, one of which we have reared in the
Museum, and found to belong to the cosmopolitan species, Agrotis
segetum, which now appears upon the screen. This insect was in such
numbers that it destroyed fifteen thousand fine young coffee plants
on a single estate, in spite of the fact that the manager put on all the
coolies to collect the caterpillars by hand, with the result that consi-
derably over a lakh of them were destroyed.
From the Murshidabatl, Tipperah, and Jalpaiguri districts also
come accounts of injury to young rabi crops by cut- worms. The
produce indeed of two thousand bigahs of land in Murshidabad is
said to have been destroyed by them last cold weather. Enough,
however, has already been said to give you some idea of the nature of
the pest.
The next slide which we come to shows a caterpillar of the paddy
borer, with a bit of rice straw which has been tunnelled by it. This
insect is reported to have done considerable injury during the past
two years to paddy in the Thana district of Bombay. It was pre-
viously described in a paper by Mr. "Wray as destructive to paddy in
Perak. The insect tunnels the rice straws, thereby lowering the
vitality of the plant and spoiling the crop. I have not as yet been
successful in rearing the moth of this insect in the Museum, but the
caterpillar is so closely allied to the rice stalk borer of the United
States, that we are quite safe in concluding that the two insects have
identical habits. These habits are as follows : The eggs are laid in
batches at the base of the leaves, some hundreds of eggs being some-
times laid by one female. The caterpillars hatch rapidly, and after
feeding for a short time upon the leaves they tunnel into the stalk,
the chrysalis being formed either in the leaf sheaths or stalks.
Several generations, each of which takes about two months, are gone
30
234 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
through in the year. Two or three of these generations take pi ace
between the reaping of the rice of one year and the springing up of
the succeeding crop in the next year. These intermediate generations
are said to be passed in the self-sown rice and big grasses whic h
spring up in and around the rice fields. In this pest therefore we find
an additional reason for encouraging the keeping down of the growth
of rank grasses around rice fields.
The next slide is intended to represent the Variolas phases
in the history of the maize borer, which has been sent to me,
by the Secretary to the Municipal Committee, Am ritsar, as responsible
for the destruction of what has been variously estimated at one-sixth
to one-tenth of the maize and millet crops around Amritsar last year.
This insect is, so far as we at present know, the same as the one
which is so often destructive to sugarcane. It damages the stalks by
drilling: holes in them, the result being that moisture finds its way
into the stalk and sets up putrefaction, which in the case of both
sugarcane and sorghum, is of a particularly offensive nature. The
tnsect is referred to by Duthie and Fuller, in their admirable work on
field and garden crops, under the name of salai or nihil when it
attacks maize and sugarcane, and under the name of bhaunri when it
attacks sorghum. In the case of sorghum the morbid putrefaction
which it sets up in the stalks is said to render the plant poisonous to
rattle. The moth lays its eggs at the base of the leaf sheaths and
the larvae tunnel into the stalks, where the chrysalids are also found.
Several generations are gone through, in the warmer months of the
year ; and the insect passes the cold weather in the caterpillar stage
in a dormant condition in its burrow in the stalk. Old cane stalks
therefore are the most fruitful source of the spreading of the pest,
and anything that tends to keep the old stalks away from the grow-
ing crop must likewise tend to reduce the evil. This insect attacks
sugarcane in all parts of the world, and very numerous remedies have
been tried with a greater or less measure of success. But the only
measure which seems to be universally recommended is that of keep-
ing the fields clear of all old stalks and cane trash, in which the
insect would otherwise find shelter. It may be noticed that this
insect occurs chiefly in dry seasons, and that some varieties of cane
are more subject to it than others. The explanation which has been
IGMCULTURAL ENTOMOWQY 23$
offered of this i'ad is that in cases when the cane is growing vigor-
ously the insect gets suffocated by the juice which accumulates iu its
burrow, so that it is only when the flow of juice is not very vigorous
that the insect survives. This therefore points to the utility of
irrigation for fields that are attacked, and explains the fact that in
fields which are kept clean and are well cultivated the insect does
much less damage than in field? which are < lovenly
manner. Hhis feature is of very wide application in connection with
boring insects of ail kinds, and it explains Mime very curious points
in connection with insects that bore into wood, notably with the
bamboo borer and the sal girder, about these I will tell you at the
end of the lecture, if time allows, iu illustration of the fact that, at
least in the case of boring insects of all kinds, healthy plants not only
recover much more rapidly when the\ have been attacked than
unhealthy ones, but are actually much less liable to be attacked in
the first instance. Talking of the - which tend to keep down
this pest, I should naturally pass to the parasites which are sometimes
so effective in destroying it, that they entirely defeated the attempts
which I made some time ago to rear the moth from sorghum shoots.
I must go on, however, to the next insects, as we shall otherwise not
get through our pi-ogramme within the hour.
The next slide is a photograph of a few of the apple twigs, which
have been sent to me in connection with the great injury which has
been done during the past two years to apple trees in the Xilgiri
Hills by a minute insect which proves to be Schizoneura hunger a, the
American blight of Europe and the United States. The slide shows
the characteristic gall-like growth, which arises both on the branches
and roots, from the irritation set up by the insect in feeding upon the
juice of the tree, also the fluff -like secretion which serves to protein
the insects themselves. For mwra /a nigera, unlike most other
aphids, has not entered into any defensive league with the ants. The
habits of this insect have been observed by Lichtenstein, who found
that the winged individuals, like the one which you see on the slide
now before you, beget in the autumn the wingless male and female,
which do not take any nourishment, and whose only function it is to
produce the winter egg. Each female lays but one winter egg, and
then dies. The winter egg lies through the winter upon the bark
236 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
and hatches in the spring into a little wingless creature like the one
in the slide now before you. This minute insect sticks its proboscis
into the bark and begins f eeding on the juice. It grows rapidly, and
after molting its skin several times, it lays a number of eggs, each of
which develops into a little wingless creature like its mother. These
second generations of so-called females have exactly the same habits
as their mother, and soon lay a large number of eggs. This process
goes on all through the warmer portion of the year, innumerable
multitudes of the little wingless females being in this way 'produced and
the result is that a tree which is once attacked rapidly becomes infested.
These little wingless females crawl all over the branches and roots, and
wherever they settle they raise the characteristic galls which I have just
shown to you, so that the whole tree becomes knotted and distorted and
weakened to such an extent that it is quite incapable of bearing fruit.
All through the summer the insect, not possessing wings, is only able
to crawl slowly along, and does not spread to any great distance except
when carried by accidental agencies, such as birds or high wind, from
one tree to another. With the first cold of autumn, however, the esrs:s
of the little wingless females produce winged females which fly from
tree to tree, and thus carry infection to considerable distances. They
then settle down and produce the wingless males and females
by which the winter eggs are produced. With regard to remedies
for this insect, spraying and washing affected trees with kerosine
emulsions and caustic washes has been found to a certain extent
successful, and when properly applied these washes undoubtedly kill
the insect wherever they touch it. Though the difficulty in getting
at the roots and crevices between the branches is so great that many
people are of opinion that once a tree is affected the best thing is to
cut it down and bum it to prevent its becoming a centre of infection,
On the whole, however, there is every reason to hope that as the
insect is only able to fly for a short time in the year, much may be
done by planting lines of trees to serve as wind breaks and prevent
the blight from being carried from one orchard to another, and also
by keeping a sharp look out in the spring and destroying with
kerosine oil emulsion or by caustic washes, any small colonies that
may have arisen from the offspring of winged individuals that have
been blown across from affected orchards in the preceding autumn.
AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY. 2P.7
The slide now before you is a photograph of a stump of a four year
old poplar tree, cut down the middle to show how it lias been tunnelled
in all directions just above the ground by an insect. This insect is
the caterpillar of one of the clear- winged moths allied to, but distinct
from, the well known poplar borer of Europe. According to Mr.
Cleghorn, who discovered the insect, a very large proportion of the
poplar trees around Quetta are attacked in this way, the result
beiug to throw back their growth by several years. Now as the
poplar is the chief timber tree of Baluchistan, Avhere it takes the place
of the bamboo of Bengal, this means a very serious loss to the
country. The caterpillar chiefly chooses young trees for its attack
and kills a very large proportion of them down to the ground. The
tree then throws out fresh shoots from the roots, and though these
may in their turn be attacked, yet some of them usually survive to
form a fresh tree. On the screen you now see figures of the cater-
pillar, chrysalis, and moth of the insect. Also the curious nest-like
structure in which the chrysalis is formed. The life- history of the
insect has not as yet been completely traced, but sufficient evidence
has been collected to make us conclude that it is as follows : — The
eggs are laid in the bark by the mother moth, soon after she emerges
in the autumn from the chrysalis. The young caterpillars hatch out
from these eggs, and tunnel into the wood, where they remain
steadily feeding and growing throughout the whole of the following
spring and summer. About September they make a regular nest for
themselves close to the opening of the burrow, and then shuffle off
their larval skins and transform into chrysalids, so that when the
moth emerges in October she has only to push through the thin
partition of chips which lie between her and freedom. The colours of
the moth are brilliant yellow and brown, and this, in combination
with her transparent wings, make her look almost exactly like a big
wasp. In fact the resemblance is so deceptive that even when one
knows that the insect can only be a moth, which never has a sting,
one hesitates to touch her, and this no doubt also prevents the birds
from molesting her. For birds, like children, know only too well
the unpleasant results of trying to swallow a wasp.
With regard to remedies there is at present little to suggest, except
that in the case of the poplar borer, as in that of the maize borer,
238 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
anything that tends to check the healthy flow of sap in the tree, and
especially any mechanical injury to the stern, must tend to render
the tree suitable as a residence for the caterpillars. This fact we
find clearly indicated by the comparative freedom from attack which
is enjoyed by the shoots thrown out from the roots of trees that have
lost their stems. The explanation being that these shoots have a
large amount of root upon which to draw for nourishment and mois-
ture, so that the caterpillar tends to get swamped with moisture in
its burrow.
llicroglphn.s furcifer. — This insect did a good deal of damage in the
latter part of the rains last year by eating up paddy plants in several
pai-tsof the Bombay Presidency (Broach, Thana, Panch Mahals, and
Rajpipla State), also in the Sambalpur district in the Central
Provinces. It is related to the insects which are known as locusts,
and no doubt has a very similar life -history, though so far as we at
present know it does not migrate to any considerable extent in nights.
The injury done by the insect must have been very considerable,
for the loss it occasioned in some of the villages of the Panch
Mahals is estimated at ten per cent, of the crop, whale the area over
which it extended was a large one. The insect is said to lay its
eggs in the ground in the early part of the cold weather, the young
hatching out in the beginning of the following rains, but this requires
confirmation. Little seems to have been done by the cultivators to
combat the pest, but it was noticed in Broach that heavy rains
cleared it off the fields.
Anjoumois moth. — The slide now before you shows the various
stages of a moth which has recently been reported as destructive in
Kulu granaries. This insect proves to be the grain moth {Gelechia
cerealeUa) of Southern Europe and the United States, where it attacks
stored wheat, barley, maize, and other grain. It is usually known as
the Anjoumois moth, owing to its having first attracted attention in
the old Province of Anjou about a century ago. According to the
observations of European and American entomologists, the first eggs
of the year are generally laid in grain standing in the fields. The
eggs are then laid on the ears, and the larvae tunnel into the grain.
The second and subsequent generations are spent in granaries. The
normal number of generations being two, though further generations
AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY 239
occur when conditions are favourable. The caterpillar tunnels mtoa
single gram, and us in the case of the wheat weevil it remains
invisible until just before it transforms into a chrysalis. It then cuts
a small round valve-like door which is -pushed open by the emerging
moth, after it lias worked its way through the slight silken cocoon
in which the chrysalis is wrapped. The insect passes the winter in
the caterpillar stage inside grain stored in granaries. A temperature
of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, when continued for two days, is said to
have been found sufficiently high to destroy the insect, which is
therefore essentially the inhabitant of temperate regions, and is little
likely to prove destructive in the plains of India, though it may do a
good deal of damage in the hills.
In this connection I may observe that there is a somewhat similar
insect, which may perhaps be Tinea graneUa, which attacks stored
dhan in Bengal to a considerable extent. It differs from Gelechia,
cerealetta in living to a greater extent outside the grains, and in
spinning the grains together into a silken web, also in pupating in
cracks and corners of the granary. In both cases, however, old
infested granaries are the sources from which infection arises, so that,
clearing up the old granaries and removing all the old infested gram
before bringing in the new crop is certainly likely to be of use,
though the fact that the eggs of the Anjoumois moth are sometimes
laid upon grain standing in the fields makes its eradication more
difficult than is the case of such a purely granary pest as the wheat
weevil and the dhan moth.
The next insect which I have to show you is the palm weevil
(Bhynchophorus ferruginem) , which has been sent to me during the
past year, as attacking date palms both in Saharanpur and Lucknow,
The insect has long been known as destructive to cocoanut palm trees
and often does a great deal of damage. According to Mr. Ridley
who investigated the habits of the insect in Singapore, the beetles fly
at night and deposit their eggs at the base of the leaf stalks, any
mechanical injury, and especially holes made by the rhinoceros
beetle in the stalks, being taken advantage of for the purpose. The
arvae tunnel into the heart of the trees, the chrysalids being formed
in Gocoons made of fibre in the burrow. When badly attacked the
trees generally die, but wThen they are only slightly attacked they
240 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
often recover. The only measure that seems to have been tried for
combating the pest has been the collecting of the beetles by hand.
We now come to the Boll worm (Heliothis armigera), which has
long been known as attacking the bolls of the cotton plant in the
United States and the pods of the opium poppy in India. These two
plants, however, form but a very small proportion of the diet of this
nearly omnivorous caterpillar, which will eat almost any succulent
seeds or shoots that it comes across, and is even said to fall upon other
caterpillars and devour them when more natural food is scarce. This
is believed to be the caterpillar which has been reported during the
past year as destructive to paddy plants in Backerganj and Khulna ;
the injury in one Sub-division of Backerganj indeed being estimated
at an anna in the rupee. It has also been reported by the Bengal
Excise Department as attacking the hemp plant in Bengal. The
habits of the insect no doubt vary to a certain extent with the loca-
lity in which it occurs and the plant upon which it feeds. For
instance, in cotton fields in the United States the chrysalis is formed
in the ground, while iu Indian poppy fields this stage is passed
inside the seed capsules of the poppy. But it seems pretty certain
that in each case the caterpillars pass the whole of their lives upon
the plants, several generations being gone through in the course of
the year. One way and another this insect undoubtedly does a great
deal of damage in India ; but as yet the only remedy which seems to
have been tried has been that of collecting the caterpillars by hand,
which does not seem a very promising way of getting rid of so small
an insect, though more can be done by hand-picking than is usually
supposed.
We now come to the red spider, which perhaps should not come
within the category of the insects I have undertaken to tell you about
to-night — in the first place because it is not an insect, and in the
second place, because nobody took the trouble to send it to me
last year, though I feel quite safe in saying that it gave a lot of
trouble to tea-planters last year both in Assam and the Himalayas.
The fact is that the red spider is a mite which is almost always to be
found in the dry weather on tea bushes, under a fine web which it
spins on the old leaves.
The damage which it does is due to its sucking up the juice of the
iUC ULTURA U ENTOMOLOGY. 2<U
,..--, and thus causing them to dry up and wither. My chief object
in calling your attention to it to-night is in order to notice its connec-
tion with the rust mite which attacks oranges in Florida, and which
seems from the reports of United States entomologists to have been
extent successfully kept under by spraying the bushes with
washes made of soapy water in which has been mixed some finely
powdered sulphur. I suggested this treatment for red spider in a
paper published some years ago by the Agricultural Society. Last
year I heard of one tea garden in Darjiling where they were talking
of importing a quantity of sulphur for the purpose, but I do not know
to what extent the experiment was successful, though the great injury
done to the tea industry by the pest would seem to make the matter
one of some importance.
I will now show you a few slides of insects which have proved
injurious, but on which I will not detain you long. The first
illustrates the toon bcrer, Magiria robusta, which has been seriously
injuring a" large number of toon trees in Dehra Dun — the caterpillar
year after year tunneling into and destroying the leading shoots
of the young toon trees so that the trees become a mass of stunted
branches of but little value for timber purposes. The insect has
been previously reported as injurious in Ceylon, but little is known
about it, beyond the fact that in Ceylon, moths were obtained in October
from larvae which were full fed in the end of September. The second
slide shows the rice sapper {Gandhi makhi), which has been again
destructive to paddy in Bengal (Champaran). It destroys the paddy
grain when still immature, by sticking its proboscis into the unripe
ear and sucking up the milk -like juice of the rice. It occurs all
over India on rice, and sometimes destroys a large proportion of the
crops, especially when the rains set in early. But little is known of
its life-history, and with regard to remedies, though smoking the
crop by burning vegetable refuse to windward has been recommended
by some people, there is nothing to show that it is of any real use.
The third slide shows the rice Rispa, which is another very injurious
insect, which has again been reported from several parts of Bengal
and Burma. It eats away the green parenchymatous tissue of the
young rice leaves, and does a great deal of damage. Little has actually
been observed of the habits of the insect ; but from its zoological
31
242 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 18&1.
affinities we believe that it spends the whole of its life upon the
leaves of rice and other grasses, and that it passes through a number
of generations in the year. The keeping down therefore of grasses
around the rice-fields would seem in this case too to be desirable.
The fourth slide shows a Buprested beetle which I reared last rains
from cotton stalks sent to me from Nagpur, where the insect was
said to have been doing some damage to country varieties of cotton
by tunnelling into the stalks, the American varieties escaping.
The fifth and last slide shows an insect which was sent to me by
your Society last rains. It is supposed to have been responsible for
the indigo blight of last year, which was estimated to have destroyed
a third of the indigo crop. A s yet however our information on the
subject is very imperfect, and I only show you the insect on account
of the very large amount of damage attributed to it.
THE LOCUST OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA.
ACR1DIUM PEREGRINUM.
{With a plate.)
In the summer of 1889, when the locust Acridium peregrinum began to appear
n .. . in North-Western India, the Trustees of the Indian
Preliminary.
Museum undertook, at the request of the Secretary
to the Government of India, in the Revenue and Agricultural Department, to
collect information and to furnish a report upon the subject. With this end a
preliminary note was issued showing briefly how the question then stood, and
indicating the points upon which further information was required. Help was
freely afforded on all sides, both by the Government and also by private individuals,
a large number of reports and specimens were received ; and, in the beginning of
the present year, a second note was issued showing the progress made in the
investigation. Since then the locust plague has continued unabated, and, though
much still remains to be ascertained, it is thought advisable to issue the report, in
order to bring the information up to date and to indicate the points which are still
uncertain, this being the more necessary as the inquiry has shown that the plapue
has extended over a very much wider area than was at first supposed, — Persia,
Baluchistan, and probably South Afghanistan and Arabia being implicated, as well
as North- Western India, — while the Natural History of the insect has proved to
be very much less simple, when it occurs over this vast area than when it occurs
in the regions of Northern Africa, where it has long been studied by French
entomologists.
Journ., Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc, Vol. VI.
A C R I D I U M PEREGRINUM
With its t r a rmations
1 . Bundle of eo e s .
2 "6 Larvae in various stages of developm
7 & 8 Mature Locusts .
Skin.
Photo-etching from the original Drawing - Survey of India Offices, Calcutta,January 1831
THE LOCUST OF NORTH WESTERN INDIA. 24:;
In the second note, prominence was given to the fact that the evidence points
to the region of sand hills in Western Eajputana
lVrmanenfc breeding
grounds. as tne permanent home of this locust. Subsequent
reports, while confirming this point, seem to indicate
that though most of the nights issued from this breeding ground, others invaded
India from breeding grounds which probably lie along the Suliman Range, or
even perhaps, in some cases, beyond India's Western Frontier, in the sandy
deserts of Baluchistan, Southern Afghanistan, and Persia, though the reports
received from these regions are so fragmentry that no very definite conclusions
can be formed from them.
The nature of the country, which forms the chief permanent breeding ground
of Acridium peregrinum in India, is well described by Surgeon -Major Moore, who
wrote as follows in his report on the locust invasion of 1869 : —
" The locusts breed in the most sandy and desert districts of Raj pu tana, especially
in the teeburs or sand hills of South- Western Manour and Mullanni. The locality
mentioned presents a succession of sand hills from 50 to 200 feet high, and some
miles long. As a rule, they run in a south-easterly direction. This remarkable
tract extends over thousands of square miles, commencing near the Runn of
Cutch, and forming a broad belt of country towards Bhawalpur and Bikauir.
During the monsoon season it is fairly green from the growth of a species of
Mimosa on which the camels feed. At other periods it presents a bright blinding
whitened appearance."
With regard to the habits of the insect, there still remains a good deal to
ascertain. In Algiers, where Acridium peregrinum is
periodically very destructive to agricultural crops,
flights arrive from the Sahara about May, and lay their eggs soon afterwards ; and
the young locusts which are produced from these eggs, become adult by about
July, and by August have usually taken wing, eggs not being again deposited
until the following year ; but over the wider area, which extends through North-
West India into Baluchistan, Persia, and Arabia, it appears that breeding is by no
means confined to any one period of the year. Information on the subject is
incomplete, but so far as it goes, it seems to show that eggs can be laid at any
period in the warmer portion of the year, provided the conditions of soil and
moisture are suitable ; the close of the winter rains in the North-West Punjab,
and the commencement of the south-west monsoon rains in Rajputana, being two
of the chief periods during which egg-laying goes on in India.
If we divide that portion of North-West India, in which breeding usually takes
place, into two regions, viz. (1) Rajputana, including the south-east corner of the
Punjab and extending into the North-Western Provinces, an area which generally
receives its locusts from the permanent breeding ground in the sand hills of
Western Rajputana ; and (2) the North-West Punjab, including most of the region
bordering upon Afghanistan and Baluchistan, where the locusts seem generally to
come from breeding grounds along the Suliman Range or beyond the frontier; we
L*U JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
find that in the Rajputana area egg-laying generally takes place at the beginning
of the south-west rains, in June or July, and again, if the conditions happen to
be favourable, ahout October ; while in the North-west frontier area, egg-laying
generally takes place in March or April, and again, if the conditions are favour-
able, about August. To this rule, as will be seen from the following analysis,
there have been several exceptions, which may, however, perhaps, be explained by
supposing that flights from the one area have been carried by chance winds, so
that they have oviposited in districts which are usually visited by flights belonging
to the other area : —
The records which have been found of egg-laying in the invasions of 1889-90,
1869 aud 1863, in all of which the species Acridium peregrinum was concerned,*
are as follows : —
Invasion of 1889-90. — In 1889 egg-laying took place in June and again in October
in Jodhpur and Ajmere-Meruara, and in August and September, and again
in October, in the Dera Ismail Khan district. In 1890, in March, in the Pesha-
war, Rawalpindi, and Shikarpur districts ; in June in the Jodhpur and Bikanir
States, and in the Gurgaon district ; in August, in the Koliat, Amritsar, and
Ferozepur districts.
Invasion of 1869. — Egg-laying took place in the end of May in Jodhpur; in
July in Deesa, Tonk, and Hissar, and again in the latter part of September and
beginning of October in Hissar ; while in the Dera Ismail Khan district egg-laying
took place about April.
Invasion of 1863. — Egg-laying took place in February and March in the Shahpur
district, and in July and August in the Hissar district.
Isolated flights. — Turning now to the records of more isolated flights which have
appeared in other years, and which no doubt in most cases were composed of
insects belonging to the species Acridium peregrinum, though there is no direct
evidence to this effect beyond the fact that they appeared in regions subject to the
invasions of that species. In 1821 eggs were laid on about the 20th of June in
Etawah ; in 1864 about] July in Hissar ; in 1865 about the beginning of June in
Hissar ; in 1866 about July in Hissar, and also in Bikanir ; in 1870 in August in
Amritsar; in 1872 about July in Jodhpur, also in the early part of July in Roh-
tak and Jhelum ; in 1879 early in March in Meerut; in 1880 in April in Jullundur.
"With regard to this last there is some doubt as to the identity of the species
owing to the fact that Jullundur is sometimes invaded by other species, such as
Acridium melanocorne and Acridium succinct um.
With regard to the breeding of the insect in the vast area extending from the
Indus to the Red Sea, too little is known to throw any light upon what goes on
* Specimens taken from a flight which visited the Mozaffurgarh district in 18f»3
preserved by Mr. W. Coldstream, establish the identity of the 18R3 locust; while the
united witness of a number of the reports leaves no room to donbt all that the locust
.,i ISO'.) was idontical with that of 18G3 and of 1889-90, though no authentic specimens
;.^v" yel !ieeu discovered.
THE LOCUST OF NORTH WESTERN IXI'lA. 2455
the information hitherto received being confined to the following: — Accord-
ing to a native report, dated 1890, about thirty years ago, " in the beginning of
spring," locusts deposited eggs in the Barkhan tahsil in Baluchistan; while with
regard to Persia, egg-laying was reported in September, 1889, in Shargah, and in
February, 1S90, in the Bahrein island.
All the well-known locusts, hitherto studied in other parts of the world, includ-
ing Paohyty his migratorius of the Palsearctic zone, Caloptenus spretus of North
America, Stauroaotus cruciitus of Cyprus, Stauronatus inaroccannus of Northern
Africa, and Acridium succinctum of theDeccan, have invariably been found to pass
through but one generation in the year ; and this has also proved to be the case
with Acridium peregrinum when it occurs in Algeria. The rinding, therefore, that
in North-Western India, egg-laying goes on more than once in the year in the
same locality, has been rather a surprise to entomologists, and it has not yet been
definitely ascertained whether the insect really passes through more than one
feneration in the year, or whether the eggs found in the Autumn are only a
second brood laid by the insects which bad already oviposited earlier in the year.
The evidence hitherto obtained on the subject is somewhat scanty and contradic-
tory,* but on the whole tends to show that in India the insect passes through
more than one generation in the year, the autumn broods being the offspring of
the young locusts born in the spring ; and this supposition becomes still more
probable when it is remembered that warmth almost invariably tends to increase
the rapidity of insect development, and that if the same set of locusts laid both the
early and late batches of eggs, it is impropable that there would be any very well-
marked interval of time such as generally occurs, between the two periods of
oviposition.
The egg-laying generally takes place shortly after slight rain has fallen : the
parent insects copulate, and the female forces her ovipositor for an inch or more
into the ground, sandy soil being usually selected for the purpose. In the hole
thus made, she deposits a mass of from fifty to one hundred eggs which are
gummed together and completely enveloped in a mass of frothy mucilage, which
hardens into a spongy solid that fills up the top of the hole and serves to protect
the eegs. The eggs take from a fortnight to three weeks to hatch, and the young
* It is as follows : — (1) The locusts, which oviposited in Deesa in the beginning of
the rains of 1869, were observed by Colonel Swiuhoe to die off rapidly afterwards, so
that they could not have been the parents of the autumn brood of that year. (2) In
the Hissar district, which is very subject to invasion from Bikanir, young locnsts
born about July, are reported by the Naib Tahsildar of Sirsa to be said to oviposit
about October, when there has been rain in that month. (3) In the Rawalpind
division in 1890 Captain H. A. Deane observed that the locusts which oviposited in
August were brighter in colour, more vigorous, and, he believed, younger than those
which had oviposited in the previous spring. (4) On the other hand, there is the fact
that the locusts, observed by Dr. Ross in Rawalpindi in 1890, appeared to be as vigor-
ous as ever after depositing their eggs, and mi^'lit therefore have been the parents
of a subsequent brood.
•2tG JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 1891.
locusts take from about three weeks to two months to become full-grown and to
acquire wings, the length of the time spent as eggs and wingless larvae appearing
to depend chiefly on the temperature and moisture, cold retarding and heat acce-
lerating the devlopement* When first hatched the young locusts are grass green
in colour and quite helpless, but they speedily become almost entirely black in
colour, and are then able to hop about five or six inches at a time and begin to
feed ; after this they change their skins at intervals and grow, becoming more
vellowish in colour after each molt. Imperfect wings appear during the last two
stages of larval life, and the insect creeps out of its last larval skin with salmon-
pink body and fully developed mottled wings, which serve for flight as soon as
thev are dry. The change from green to black, which takes place a few hours
after the larval escape from the eggs, is no doubt due to the molting of the green
skin, but this change takes place so rapidly that the actual molting of the skin
has not been observed. t After this, two molts take place before the insect
changes its skin for the last time, to emerge as a winged locust, so that altogether
the insect molts its skin four times. After acquiring wings the young locusts soon
take wing and form the flights which travel about the country, sometimes for
months, alighting at intervals to feed upon the crops, until the time comes, either
to oviposit, or else to die off owing to the inhospitable nature of the areas into
which they have penetrated. As they get older the colour of the winged insects
changes from pink to yellow — a transformation which in Algeria has been sup-
posed to mark the sexual maturity of the insect, though from what has been
observed in India there would seem to be some doubt about this point.
As far as the present information goes therefore, it seems likely that the life-
history of Acridium peregrinum in India is shortly as
Summary of the life follows. But it should be borne in mind that several
of the points, especially in connection with the parent-
age of the second generation, are not definitely established, and may prove to be
erroneous. Permanent breeding-grounds lie in the sand-hills of Western Rajputana
and in the Suliman Range. Here the flights remain comparatively inactive
* In the spriug of 1890, eggs both in Rawalpindi and in Shikarpur took about three
weeks to hatch. Larvae reared in Rawalpindi took about eight weeks to develop,
while larvae from Shikarpur eggs, reared in Calcutta, became full-grown in a month,
a marked acceleration in development occurring after they had been supplied with
water. In Hissar, in 1889, eggs were said to have hatched in fifteen days, and the
young locusts to have acquired wings three weeks after hatching out.
t The shortness of the period passed by the insect in this stage, combined with
the fact that its surroundings are the same when it is green as when it is almost
black, would seem to indicate that the green stage is a survival, probably presenting
the predominant coloration of the ancestral form, and hence indicating that this
desert species is descended from some inhabitant of more fertile lands where green
foloration would be as advantageous in rendering it inconspicuous amongst foliage
as its present black coloration no doubt is in the desert, where the birds are likely to
mistake it for the black sha low of a pebble upon the sand.
THE LOCUST OF NORTH WESTERS IND1 I 217
during the cold weather, waiting for the warm showers to soften the hard sandy
soil in which they lay their eggs. These showers come in the latter part of tho
winter rains of the North-West Punjab, and in the beginning of the south-west
monsoon in Western Rajputana. Egg-laving therefore takes place about March
and April in the North- West Punjab, and about June and July in Rajputana.
Each female after copulation lavs an agglutinated mass of from fifty to one hun-
dred eggs, about the size of small dry grains of husked rice, in a hole about an
inch deep, which she bores with her horny ovipositor in the sand. She may
perhaps lay more than one of these masses, but it is believed that neither of the
parents long survive the laying of the eggs, though the yellow individuals, often
found in small numbers amongst the young salmon-pink locusts which chiefly
compose the autumn flights, have been supposed to be survivors from the flights of
parent insects which are found in the spring. The eggs hatch in about three
weeks, and from them emerge young wingless locusts, which hop along the ground
devouring the crops, and gradually increasing in size until they are about one or
two months old, when they acquire wings. Shortly after this they take flight, and
fly about the country in swarms, which descend at intervals to devour the crops,
and often penetrate right across India. Those insects which leave the dry sandy
country of their home and penetrate into the damper regions of the North-West
Provinces, the Central Provinces, Bombay, Bengal, Madras, and Assam seem for
the most part to die off without ovipositing. The flights, however, which remain
in the drier regions of the Punjab and Rajputana are believed to lay their eggs
towards the latter part of the rains, in August, September, or October, the young
locusts acquiring wings in the beginning of the cold weather and forming the
flights which oviposit in the following year, while the parent insects gradually die
off' like their own progenitors in the previous spring.
Although nearly every district in North- West India has been visited, at some
Damage occasioned. time or other during the past two years, by flights
square miles in extent, and sometimes so thick as to
hide the sun from sight, as they passed in the air, and to break down with their
sheer weight thick branches of the trees upon which they settled, yet upon the
whole no very serious damage seems to have been occasioned to the crops, though
no doubt sparsely-inhabited areas, such as parts of Western Rajputana, have in
some cases sustained considerable injury. The explanation of this lies in the fact
that in the case of the winged insects the flights usually passed rapidly from place
to place, so that a very large number of districts were visited by a comparatively
small number of swarms, which usually only stopped in one place long enough to
damage a small area, and then passed on to levy contributions elsewhere. The
result of this has been that the very large amount of total damage, that must
have been occasioned from first to last, has been spread over too wide an area to
be particularly felt in any single district. In the case of the wingless insects on the
other hand, which are known to be capable of most disastrous ravages, eggs were
only laid in a few cases in British districts, and even then not in ovciwhelmin<
248 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
numbers, and the vigorous measures taken by the District Officers in destroying the
young insects wherever they emerged seem to have been attended with such success
that no very serious damage occurred. It is only therefore in some of the States
of Western Raj put an a, where the insects were very numerous and the people too
sparsely scattered and apathetic to cope with the evil, that any serious injury has
been sustained, and even of this no definite estimates have been received, and the
fact can only be inferred from such expressions as " great damage," " immense
harm," and " considerable damage," which occur in the reports received from the
Jodhpur, Jeysulmere, Sirohi, and Bikanir States. Slight damage to the crops
has been reported from Sind, the Punjab, North- West Provinces, from several of
the States of Eastern Rajputana, and from the Central Provinces, Bengal, Bombay,
and Madras, but in almost all cases it seems to ha>'e been confined to compara-
tively small areas, and uo general estimates have been received of its total amount.
And the chief point to notice with regard to it is that the amount of damage done
by a swarm generally becomes less and less as it wanders away from its home in
the North-West into the (to it) inhospitable regions of the more fertile and thickly
populated provinces. The flights which visited the North-West Provinces in the
cold weather of 1889 were generally reported by the District Officers as doing
but slight or trifling damage, the following being the worst cases : — In theFateh-
pur district the damage was estimated at two annas iu the rupee; in the
Hamirpur and Bahraich districts at one anna in the rupee ; in Jaunpur at six
pies in the rupee ; in Jhansi as considerable in ten or twelve villages; in the Tarai
as considerable in one pargana. The total damage done in the Ajmere-Merwara
district in 1889-90 was estimated at about Rs. 20,000, and this was thought by
the Collector to be slightly exaggerated. In the case of the flight which visited
the Anakapalle taluk in the Vizagapatam district, Madras, on 18th November,
1889, the damage done to the rarji crop was estimated at about Rs. 150.
The chief crops reported as injured by the locusts have been cotton, indigo, til,
bajra,juwar, wheat, gram, and grass, but the insects are evidently not very parti-
cular in their tastes, and will probably eat almost any field or garden crop they
come across. They also attack the foliage of various trees with great avidity,
sirris, pepul, chir, and various Acacias having been noticed as particularly
suffering. One writer even describes how the hard red bark of babool trees was
gnawed so as to lay the wood bare and white from root to top, and almost the only
plant to which they seem to show an aversion is tea — a fact which was noticed
both some years ago when a flight visited Dehra Dun in the North-West Provinces,
and again in November, 1890, in Dhubri, Assam, where a stray flight did some
damage to garden crops, but scarcely touched the tea boshes.
There seems to be no doubt but that where the population is fairly dense and
combined efforts are made by the cultivators to
JESSE iocu^pted destr°y fche insects> m»ch ™^y to the cr°ps can be
prevented without any undue expenditure of labour.
The best time to attack the insects is shortlv after they hatch out from the
THE LOCUST OF NORTH- JVESTERN INDIA. 249
• . when they are little helpless creatures, which can easily be destroyed by
driving them into |>its or lines of burning straw, or even by crushing them on the
ground; hut useful work can also be done by collecting the eggs and by beating
the winged insects off the crops upon which they settle. The precise measures
" inch are most appropriate for adoption in each case must of course depend to a
great extent upon the nature of the ground and the labour and appliances that are
available; but the experience of the past invasion, especially in Rawalpindi, Pesha-
war, Kohat, and Hissar, has shown conclusively what excellent results can be
obtained when the officials organize the measures of attack, and impress upon the
people the fact that combined and energetic action on their own part is more
efficacious than charms and votive offerings in saving their crops from destruction.
In Rawalpindi the Deputy Commissioner reports that he had no difficulty,
except where tahsildars were careless, in obtaining accurate, information as to the
laying of eggs. Men were specially employed to note where the flights rested,
and during April, 1890, whenever they stayed on sandy soil for the night, eggs
were usually deposited. These were at once dug up, and in no spot so dealt
with were young hatched. Mere ploughing of land in which eggs had been
deposited was thought to be useless, as the eggs were found to hatch out easily
even when detached from the egg tubes and exposed to the air. In this way
about five hundred maunds of eggs were destroyed, and after about the same
quantity of young locusts had been accounted for, the Deputy Commissioner
was able to report that the pest had been thoroughly stamped out without damage
to the crops.
In the Peshawar Division one hundred and twenty-nine maunds of young locusts
and eggs were destroyed by the tahsildars during April and May, 1890; and the
pest seems to have been to a great extent stamped out, in spite of the refusal, on
religious grounds, of the Afridis to co-operate by destroying the young locusts in
the neighbouring hills. The method generally adopted was that of driving the
young locusts into trenches ; Cyprus screens,* however, being also used in a few
places.
In Kohat the Deputy Commissioner reports that vigorous measures were taken
by the tahsildars for the destruction of the locusts, by driving them, when very
* The Cyprus screen system consists of a series of cloth screens from two to three
feet high, bound along the upper edge with a strip of oilcloth to prevent the locusts
from climbing over. A long line of these screens is erected in front of an advancing
swarm of young wingless locusts, so as to form an impassable barrier for them ; pits
are dug at intervals, close to the screens and at right angles to them, on the side
towards the advancing swarm. The edges of the pits are guarded by frames, made
of cloth and wood, with overhanging zinc edges, arranged to prevent the escape
of the locusts from the pits. The swarms, on arriving at the screens, are found to
turn to the right and left, apparently endeavouring to go round them, and when
they come to the pits they pour into them, and, being unable to escape, can be
destroyed wholesale.
250 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
young, into pits, and later on, when they could hop further, by driving them
on to bushes which were then burnt. Vast numbers were in this way destroyed
(over a thousand inuunds of young locusts being reported as destroyed in a single
tahsil), and the pest was, at least for the time, almost completely stamped out.
In the Hissar district, according to the report of the Deputy Commissioner, pits
were used for destroying the young locusts ; also the bushes on which the young
locusts rested during the heat of the day were beaten with branches to kill the
insects, and as they grew bigger they were destroyed by piling thorns round the
bushes on which they rested and setting fire to them.
In the Bikanir Agency in 1890 (according to the official diary) efforts were
made to destroy the young locusts by sweeping them into trenches, hut they were
in such numbers that success was only partial. In the Marwar, Jeysulmere, and
Sirohi States also, it is reported that the Rajput cultivators and landowners
destroyed many of the insects by means of trenches, but the destruction seems to
have been unsystematic and to have done but little good.
The keeping of the winged nights off the crops by lighting fires, beating tom-
toms, waving sheets in the air, and beating with palm leaves, seems to have been
generally adopted, in many cases with considerable success— vide numerous
reports from different districts in the Punjab, North- W est Provinces, the Central
Provinces, &c.
The following extract from report by the Collector, Ajmere, is of interest in
connection with the measures that can be adopted: —
" The first reports regarding locusts were received about the 15th July, 1889. It
was then stated that young locusts had come out of the earth in great numbers
in the low sandy tracts in Marwar (Jodhpur) bordering the Marwara hills, and
that they were advancing towards Marwara. On the 27th July the first swarm
reached our border, and as others were approaching, I went to the spot with
Mr. Egerton in order to take such measures as might appear appropriate. The
locusts had got imperfectly developed wings and were unable to fly. The West-
ern Marwara border runs through rocky forest-clad country, and our object was
to prevent the locusts from penetrating the forest which, on our side of the frontier,
is 2 to 4 miles broad, and behind which the cultivated area extends. A large num-
ber of villagers were called out, and in order to enable them to come, and to
make sure that they would stay, they were allowed to bring their cattle and
sraze them in the forest reserves near the border. It was also supposed that the
cattle might help in destroying the locusts, but though they did eat them, they
could not be said to be of any real use. They were organized in gangs, and wher-
ever the locusts appeared they were beaten down with strips of bark about 4 feet
long and 1 foot broad taken off the neighbouring trees. The bark is very tough
and each stup served for many days. Large numbers of locusts were killed in
this way. It was impossible to dig trenches in the rocky soil, and the procedure
adopted was a complete success. Nothing was touched on our side of the border,
while not a blade of grass was left on the Jodhpur side, where nothing was done
THE LOCUST ()F NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 251
id prevent the destruction. The struggle with these wingless insects went on
for about a month. They appeared continually in different places, though not in
very great swarms, and were as regularly beaten down. The total length of bor-
der attacked was only about 20 miles long, extending from Dooderia to Chala.
Towards the end of August the locusts took flight, and from that time till January
they invaded at intervals almost every part of the district. In this stage it appears
impossible to destroy them, but it appears possible to prevent them from settling
in the crops, if a sufficient number of men can be collected in time. I have
frequently seen large swarms of locusts, just settling down, take to flight again
when the villagers ran through the fields beating the plants with clothes. It also
appears that the firing of guns is useful : a shot fired into a swarm of locusts will
immediately clear a space of about F>0 yards in circumference."
Generally speaking, the people seem not to have made use of the locusts as
_ , „ , food, though there is evidence to show that they are
Locusts as human toocl. ° J
by no means unpalatable. But a large flight which
visited Hardoi in Oudh iu June, 1890, was reported by the Deputy Commissioner
to have afforded welcome food to the poorer classes. In Dharmsala, also, in
November, 1890, the natives were said to have largely utilised the locusts as food;
while in the case of the Marwar, Jeysulmere, and Sirohi States of Western Raj-
putana, it is reported that, where the Musalmans predominated, the poor collected
and boiled the locusts in salt water, obtaining in this way a supply of food both
for themselves and for their horses and camels, which will eat the locusts and
are said to thrive upon them.
The entire disappearance of the flights which invaded the North-West Pro-
vinces in the cold weather of 1889 indicates that the
Diseases and natural mortalitv amongst the locusts was very much greater
enemies of the locusts. -
than could be accounted lor by the measures adopted
by the people- The insect is essentially the inhabitant of the desert, and it is un-
doubtedly the case that the dampness of the more fertile regions into which it has
penetrated is totally unsuited to its constitution, though as yet little is known of
the parasitic animals and fungoid diseases by which it is likely to be affected.
Some alcoholic specimens indeed from the Red Sea were accompanied by the larvae
of a dipterous insect which is likely to have been parasitic upon them, but nothing
of the kind has yet been discovered in any of the numerous individuals which
have been kept under observation in cages in the Indian Museum. In the case
of the flight which visited Calcutta in November, 1890, the insects were very
weakly, and were being so rapidly eaten up by birds of all kinds, and especially
by kites, that there seemed every probability of their being speedily exterminated
by that agency alone. In Rawalpindi also, Captain H. A. Deane wrote that they
were much attacked by a yellow wagtail (scientific name not recorded), which was
in very unusually large flocks in the district, and congregated wherever locusts
were hatched. Bears also in Dharmsala were said to have gorged themselves so
thoroughly on the locusts that several of them were shot close to the station.
252 J0( RNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
In this connection it is probable, that much remains to be discovered, as the
observations made upon other locusts in different parts of the world make it likely
that the Indian species is subject to the attack of many more predaceous animals
and parasites than have yet been recorded.
In compiling this account of the movements of the locusts during the year
1889-90, it has been found that much reliance can-
d ^iSwSo* thelOC°8t8 not always be placed upon the notices given m the
reports of the tracks followed by the flights, as it is
quite evident that in many cases the first arrival of a night in a district was
unnoticed, and the direction, therefore, which has been given as that of its origin
is often little more than the direction in which it happened to be moving when it
crossed over some station, after it had been wandering about the district for some
time, this direction being consequently in many cases entirely different from that
from which it originally came. It has therefore been impossible to trace with any
approximation to accuracy the actual wanderings of each particular flight, and in
the following notes it is only the general directions of movement which are
indicated at all, and these only in cases where the information seems to be reliable,
The locusts were first reported in June, 1889, when flights were observed in
Sind, and also in the Jodhpur (Marwar), Jeysulmere, and Sirohi States of Raj-
putana. The only notice of the origin of this flight is in one of the Rajputana
reports, where they are said to have come partly from Sind and partly from Bika-
nir. Much reliance, however, cannot be placed upon this isolated statement, the
probabilities being that the flights in Western Rajputana originated chiefly in the
sand hills of that region. The origin of those in Sind is somewhat more problem-
atical, the most likely supposition being that they originated locally in the
sparsely vegetated sandy hills which are to be found in Sind itself, though it is
also possible that they flew across either from Baluchistan or from Western
Rajputana.
In July, flights were noticed in Bikanir, whence they penetrated northwards into
Sirsa and westwards into the Jeypore State. Flights of uncertain origin were
abo noticed in the Shahpur district in the Punjab ; while young locusts hatched
out both in Jodhpur and in Ajmere-Merwara showing that winged flights had
been present in both these areas in the previous month, though they were not
noticed in Ajmere-Merwara.
In August, 1889, young wingless locusts were present in the Jodhpur (.Marwar)
State, and in Ajmere-Merwara, acquiring wings towards the latter part of the
month. Winged locusts were again reported in the Jeypore and Bikanir States,
while a flight of uncertain origin appeared in the Dera Ismail Khan district of the
Punjab and deposited eggs.
In September, 1889, the young locusts noticed in Jodhpur and Ajmere-Merwara
in the previous month seem to have commenced spreading in flights, as locusts
were noticed in all parts of Rajputana (Jeypur, Ulwar, Kerowli, Bundi, Shahpura,
Jhallawar, Ajmere-Merwara, and Bikanir). At the same time further spreading
TEE LOCUST OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 258
took place in the Punjab, the Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, and
Shahpur districts being invaded. The origin of these flights has not been satis-
factorily traced, but the fact that the eggs were deposited both in August and
September in the Dera Ismail Khan district, and in the early pait of September
in the Dera Ghazi Khan district, would seem to point to their having had, at
Least in this case, an origin other than Western Rajputana, where the breeding
season had recently terminated. Locusts were also reported in this month in
Sbikarpur and in Ahmedabad. In the case of Ahmedabad, however, no specimens
were obtained, and there seems to be some doubt as to the identity of the locust
which was said to have appeared. It was in this month that the first locusts were
reported as being noticed in Persia ; Shargah being invaded by flights which were
said to have deposited eggs, and not to have disappeared until about June, 1890.
Flights were also reported as present in parts of British Baluchistan. The Per-
sian and Baluchistan reports, however, are from too limited areas to admit of any
very general conclusions being based upon them.
In October, 1869, flights were agaiu reported from Sind, the Western Punjab
(Multan, Shahpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan), and Rajputana i^Jeypur, Ulwar, Bhurt-
pur, Tonk, Bundi, Shahpura, Jhallavvar, Ajmere-Merwara, and Jodhpur), as well
as from Allahabad in the North-West Provinces, and from Ahmedabad, Baioda,
and Khaudeish to the south. They also appeared in the island of Kishim in the
Persian Gulf. There is evidence to shew that eggs were laid both in Jodhpur and
Ajmere-Merwara about this lime, but the precise dates are somewhat uncertain.
Eggs were also reported to have been laid in this month in the Dera Ghazi Khan
district, and it is thought probable that these eggs, unlike the eggs deposited iu
this district in September, were laid by a stray flight from Rajputana.
hi .November, 1889, young locusts hatched out in Ajmere-Merwara. Flights
were again reported in many parts of Rajputana ^Bikanir, Ulwar, Bhurtpur,
Kerowli, Dholepur, Bundi, Shahpura, Touk, Kotah, Jhallawar, Ajmere-Merwara,
and Jeypurj, aud there was a general movement towards the east, the whole of
the North- West Provinces (Muttra, Aligarh, Jhansi, Etah, Hardoi, Hamirpur,
Banda, Agra, Bara Banki, Fatehpur, Jalaun, Kheri, Rae Bareli, Cavvnpur, Etawah,
Bareilly, Kuinaou, Shahjahanpur, Unao, Tarai, Bahraich, Gonda, Jaunpur, Lalit-
pur, and Sultanpur) being visited at intervals by flights which appear to have
flown across from Rajputana. A stray flight also reached the Vizagapatam,
Kishna, and Godavari districts in the Madras Presidency, but the precise route
taken by it has not been traced. In this month the locusts appear to have been
widely prevalent over a vast area to the west, their presence being uofciced all up
the Persian Gulf and also in the Red Sea.
In December, 1SS9, flights were again reported from Rajputana (Jeypur, Ulwar,
Bhurtpur, Jhallawar, and Ajmere-Merwara), the North-West Provinces (Rae
Bareli, Fatehgarh, Naini Tal, Muttra, Azamgarh, Basti, Gharwal, Fyzabad), the
Vizagapatam district in the Madras Presidency, the Goona Agency iu Central
India, and from parts of British Baluchistan (11 ami route between Sibi and Sharig,
254 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Khort-Kharmai, and further camp stations). The cold, however, appears to have
begun to tell upon them, as reports of their appearance in this month are very
much less numerous than in November.
In January, 1890, there seems to have been still less activity amongst the flights,
as the only report of their presence in Rajputana is from Ajmere-Merwara, though
they spread to some extent over parts of the Punjab (Lahore, Ferozepur,
Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, Rawalpindi, and Jhelum);
and were noticed in parts of Sind, also in Agra in the North-West Provinces, and
in the Kistna district in Madras, a big flight being also indefinitely reported as
present in British Baluchistan.
During February, 1890, flights were still to be found in the Punjab (Lahore,
Rawalpindi, Dera Ismail Khan, Jhelum, Amritsar, and Shahpur), and in Sind
( Shikarpur and Upper Sind Frontier), as well as in British Baluchistan and in
Persia. They were also said to have bred in the Bahrein Island in the Persian
Gulf, and, according to a native report from Quetta, young locusts hatched out
in Afghanistan near Kandahar. Much reliance, however, cannot be placed on
this last information, and it is thought not improbable .that the young insects
referred to had been seen, some time in the summer of 1889, in the sandy Rajis-
tan desert, which is very likely to be one of the regular breeding-grounds of the
insect. The flights which had invaded the North-West Provinces and Madrasseeru
by this time to have died off, as nothing was heard of them after January.
In March, 1890, flights were reported from Amritsar, Dera Ismail Khan, Pesha-
war, and Rawalpindi in the Punjab ; from Shikarpur and the Upper Sind
Frontier in Sind; as well as from British Baluchistan and from Persia ; and eggs
were laid in considerable numbers in the Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Shikarpur
districts.
In April, 1890, young locusts hatched out in large numbers in Shikarpur, and
also in Rawalpindi. In Shikarpur most of the hatching seems to have taken
place in the early part of the month, and some of the locusts reared in Calcutta
from eggs sent from Shikarpur acquired wings before the end of the month ; but
in Rawalpindi the brood was somewhat later, most of the hatching taking place
about the middle of the month.
In May, 1890, flights were reported in the Hyderabad, Upper Sind Frontier, and
Karachi districts, the direction of their origin appearing to be chiefly from the
west, though much reliance cannot be placed upon this statement for the reasons
already indicated.
In June, 1890, on the 1st of the month, the young locusts in Rawalpindi were
said to be acquiring wings, and shortly afterwards numerous winged flights were
reported from Sind (Shikarpur, Hyderabad, and Upper Sind Frontier); while there
is indirect evidence to shew that they were largely present in Rajputana, though
actual reports of their appearance have only been received from Bikanir and Bhurt-
pur. There was also a general movement across the North -West Provinces and
Oudh, flights being reported from Agra, Hardoi, Sultanpur, Partabgarh, Fyzabad,
THE LOCUST OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA.
Cawnpur, Banda, Farukabad, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Aziragarh, Mnzuffarnagar, Etah,
Allahabad, Jaunpur, and Lucknow. Towards the latter part of the month, flights
appeared in the Gurgaon district of the Punjab from the west and laid eggs from
which emerged young locusts, which were still being destroyed in the beginning of
August; when the report was received. No information has been received about
the movement of the locusts in Baluchistan and Persia during this month, but the
steamer Yang-t*e is reported to have passed through vast masses of locusts which
were found floating over some S00 miles of her course in the Red Sea.
In July, 1890, flights were again reported from Sind (Karachi, Shikarpur,
Hyderabad, and Upper Sind Frontier), also from parts of the Punjab (Lahore,
Umballa, Amritsar, and Delhi), while notice was incidentally received of their
presence in Shiraz (Persia). But the most important feature to notice in this
month is the very extensive breeding of young locusts which took place in the
Jodhpur and Bikanir States of Rnjputana, as it is probable that these insects
were the ones which compose the flights that afterwards invaded the whole of the
Central Provinces and the Presidencies of Bombay, Madras, and Bengal. The
young locusts already referred to were present during the whole of this month in
the Gurgaon district of the Punjab, but they appear to have been comparatively
few in number : they were no doubt the offspring of some stray flight from Bikanir.
In August, 1890, egg-laying took place in the Kohat and Amritsar districts.
Flights were reported from various parts of the Punjab (Muzaffargarh, Kohat,
Multan, Dera Ismail Khan, Shahpur, Ferozepur, Amritsar, and Lahore), also
from Sind (Karachi, Shikarpur, Hyderabad, and Upper Sind Frontier) and from
Agra; while young locusts were still being destroyed in the Gurgaon district.
Outside Imlia, the Peninsular and Oriental ship Rome passed through vast flights
both along the shores of Arabia near to Aden, and also for two days after entering
the southern portion of the Red Sea- Winged locusts also were reported from
Quetta, though in what numbers is uncertain.
In September, 1890, in the beginning of the month, young locusts were reported
from Ferozepur; also egg-laying in several villages of Kohat. Flights were
reported from Agra and various parts of Sind (Karachi, Hyderabad, and Shikar-
pur), and a general move was made into the Central Provinces, the Hoshangabad,
Nagpur, and Balaghat districts being visited by large flights which seemed
generally to come from the North-West, and which did a considerable amount of
injury to the crops in the villages where they settled.
In October, 1890, flights were reported in the Hyderabad, Upper Sind Frontier,
Karachi, and Shikarpur districts in Sind, in the Ajmere district, and in Bikanir,
Bhurtpur, and Alwar States in Rajputana; also in the Dera Ismail Khan, Shahpur,
Amritsar, and Lahore districts of the Punjab, and in the Agra, Fatehpur, Hamir-
pur, and Fyzabad districts of the North-West Provinces. Flights also reached
the Himalayas (Kumaon, Nairn Tal, Simla, and Bashahr), passing and repasse-
m<* over the outer ranges. But the most noticeable feature in this mouth was the
general movement that was made by the flights, through Central India, into the
256 'JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Central Provinces (Hoshangabad, Seoni, Chindwara, Nagpur, Bhandara, Jabalpur,
Bilaspur, Raipur, Saugor, and Balaghat) ; and thence eastwards into Bengal;
southwards, through Berar and Hyderabad, into the Ganjam, Kurnool, Cuddapah,
and North Arcot districts of Madras ; and westwards into the Alnnadna^ar, Poona
and Dharwar districts of Bombay. The flights were said to have caused some
injury to crops, especially in Sincl and the Central Provinces, cotton, arar, urd,
tili, kutki, kodajagni, tur, andjowar being all reported as suffering, as well as
trees, such as the chir [Piuus excelsa) ; but the people seem to have had little
difficulty in keeping them off the crops, and the injury occasioned does not appear
to have been of at all a serious nature.
In November, 1890, flights were reported from the Punjab (Lahore, Amritsar, and
Dharmsala), from Sind (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, and Upper Sind Fron-
tier), also from the Bhopawar Agency in Gwalior, and from Sambalpur
in the Central Provinces, while they continued to spread throughout the Bombav-
Deccan, Madras, and Bengal, penetrating even as far as Dhubri in Assam. In
Bengal they were reported from Lohardugga, Bankoora, Maldah, Bogra,
Furreedpur, Calcutta, Howrah, the 21-Pergunnahs, Dinagepur, and Rungpur ;
in the Bombay-Deccan, from Sholapur, Poona, Bijapur, Dharwar, Kanara, Satara,
Ratnagiri, Broach, Rajpipla, and the Mahikantha tract ; in Madras, from Ganjam,
Cuddapah, Bellary, Anantapur, and North Arcot. Slight injury to the crops was
reported fiom parts of Sind, Bombay, Bengal, and Madras, but the flights do not
seem to have been very large ones, and in the case of the one which visited
Calcutta, the insects were so weakly, and were being so rapidly eaten up by birds
of all kinds, and especially by kites, that there seemed to be every probability that
they would speedily be exterminated by this agency alone.
The following is a summary of the records which have been collected
_ . . of previous invasions of locusts which, at least in
Previous invasions or
Acridium peregrinum in most of the cases, are practically certain to have
India, belonged to the species Acridium peregrinum. These
records cease with the year 1880, and no information has been obtained of the
presence of locusts likely to have belonged to the species Acridium peregrinum
between the years 1880 and 1889. It is probable therefore that during this period
the insect was unusually scarce and confined itself to its permanent breeding-
ground in the desert, where it would be little likely to attract notice.
In the year 1812, according to Hunter's Gazetteer, locusts did some injury
in Ahmedabad and Broach. In 1821 they visited Etawah, the following being
an abstract of the account given by Playfair (Trans. Med. Phys. Soc, Cal-
cutta, 1825);—
On 20th June, 1821, a large flight of locusts appeared at Etawah and settled in
the fields ; vast numbers of the locusts then copulated and hovered about the place
for about a month before taking their departure. On 18th July vast swarms of
young locusts emerged and proceeded to move slowdy over the country, devouring
the vegetation as they went. The cultivators tried to sweep them back from
THE LOCUST OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 257
their fields, and by driving and sweeping them into heaps, which they hurnfc, they
destroyed vast numbers; the birds also destroyed threat numbers of them. By
lighting fires round their fields, the*cultivators endeavoured to prevent their entry.
The numbers of the locusts, however, seemed to be unaffected, and the invasion
proved too vast for any individual action to be of much service. The fires could
not be kept constantly burning, and as soon as they went out, the locusts crowded
across them. The locusts were observed up to 31st July, by which time many of
them had transformed into pupae; great damage had then been done, and this,
combined with the previous drought, ruined many of the cultivators. About 31st
July flights of winged locusts were seen to pass overhead. When rain was actually
falling, it drove the young locusts into the trees and fences for shelter, but seemed
to have no permanent effect upon them.
In 1834, according fco Hunter's Gazetteer, locusts ate up the crops in Kaira, and
remissions in the revenue amounting to £19,655 were sanctioned ; in Ahmedabad
also, where the rainfall was deficient, the distress was increased by vast swarms
of locusts. In 1843-44 Rawalpindi suffered severely, the following being an
extract from Hunter's C4azetteer on the subject : —
The locusts " appeared just in time to devour the whole autumn crop of 1843;
they remained for the succeeding spring crops, and at last took their departure
after utterly destroying the autumn harvest of 1844. Rawalpindi is still suffering
from the remote effects of this terrible visitation. The Sikh authorities insisted
upon realizing the utmost farthing of their revenue from the starving cultivators,
who were obliged to have recourse to the trading classes, and so commenced a svstem
of chronic indebtedness which has not even yet entirely passed away. The tenures
of land were completely revolutionized, to the great disadvantage of the pro-
prietary class, as the Sikhs admitted tenants to share the burdens and privileges
of the landowners, in order the more readily to collect their exorbitant imposts.
The British Courts were for long flooded with litigation arising from the dis-
organization of this unhappy period."
In 1863 there was a wide-spread visitation of locusts in the Punjab and Raj-
putana, but no very complete records have been found of their history. Specimens
from Muzuffargarh, preserved by Mr. W. Coldstream, shew that the insect be-
longed' to the species Acridium peregrinum. As in other invasions the insect
seems to have bred in the early spring in parts of the Punjab, and in the begin-
ning of the south-west monsoon in the districts bordering upon the Rajputana
desert; and the fact that a considerable flight reached Dacca in the cold weather
(report of the present Commissioner of Chittagong) would seem to show that the
plague continued throughout the greater portion of the year.
In the Shahpur district (according to the report of the Deputy Commissioner)
large flights appeared in February and March, but they were little noticed.
When, however, the eggs were expected to hatch out, rewards were offered for
them, and 186 maunds of eggs were brought in by the villagers and destroyed, the
total cost being about Rs. 305. Rewards were also offered for young locusts, and
2,272 maunds of them were destroyed at a cost of Rs. 710, most of them being
33
258 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
brought in bv the villagers for the reward and some being destroyed locally by
driving them into trenches and fires. But little damage was done either to the old
rabi or to the young kkarif crops. The young locusts which escaped destruction
acquired wings and afterwards flew about the district, but they were not allowed to
settle on the crops, and did little damage.
In the Hissar district (Deputy Commissioner's report) flights appeared in
February and March, and again in still vaster numbers in June and July. Eggs
began to be found about July, and ploughing was largely tried, but was generally
given up as useless. In the latter part of July young locusts emerged in vast
numbers : rewards were offered for eggs and young locusts, trenches were dug in
all directions, and vast numbers were destroyed. In the latter part of August
more flights appeared and eggs were again deposited, the measures taken for des-
troying the eggs having to be continued vigorously until the middle of October.
On the whole, however, very little damage was done in the district.
In the Muzaffargarh district (Mr. W. Coldstream's notes) a large flight, from
the Rajputana desert, appeared in the early part of July and did some damage.
The above is all that has been ascertained on the subject of the invasion of
individual districts in 1863, but the following extract from a report, dated 29th
July, 1863, by the Secretary to the Punjab Finance Commissioner, shows the
serious nature of the evil : —
" The young locusts, I regret to say, have begun to be hatched at Lahore itself,
where there was previously no suspicion even of eggs having been laid, as also in
the Gurdaspur district, in vast numbers. The old locusts have been laying their
eggs at Sirsa, Hissar, Rohtak, Patiala, and other parts of the Sutlej, while they are
stated to be laying them broadcast in Bikanir and other parts of Rajputana. In
the Derajat and Peshawar divisions, as well as in Rawalpindi, and, it is to be
feared, throughout the Salt Range and elsewhere in the north, the same process
appears to be going on ; so it appears certain the coming crops must be devasta.
ted far and wide, more especially the cotton crops, which have already begun to
suffer, if the most resolute efforts be not made to destroy the eggs and young
broods before they attain to maturity.""
From 1864; to 1868 inclusive, the only records of locusts likely to have belonged
to the species Acridium peregrinum are from the Hissar district (report of the
Deputy Commissioner), where a very careful record seems to have been kept. In
this district, in 1864, flights appeared in July and August and laid eggs which
hatched in the middle of August, very slight damage being occasioned : in 1865
flights appeared in June, July and August, and agaiu in November, young locusts
being found as early as the end of June ; in 1866 a few locusts appeared in June,
and young hatched out in August. In 1867 a small flight appeared in July.
In 1869, after prolonged drought, the whole of Rajputana and the Punjab* were
•Tlits steam ship Euphrates was said to have had to plough her way through
locusts for three days and nights in the Bed Sea towards the end of October iu
this year (Swinhoe), bu< there is do evidence to show to what extent the invasion was
a general one iu the intervening countries.
THE LOCUST OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 259
invaded by vast flights of locusts, which arc reported to have conic in the south from
the teeburs, or sandhills, of "Western Rajputana, and to the north from the direction
of the Suliman Range. They did a great amount of injury, especially in Siorhi,
Ajmere, and Marwar, where the distress caused by the drought and consequent
famine of 1868-69 was much increased through the destruction of a great portion
of the remaining crops by the locusts. In the Dera Ismail Khan district flights
from the Suliman Range appeared in the end of April and in May ; eggs and young
locusts were also found, about this date, near the hills in the sandy tracts of the
same district. Flights were also reported in the early part of May from Amritsar.
But throughout Central Rajputana and in the more southern districts of the
Punjab (Mulfcan, Sirsa, Ludiana, Dera Ghazi Khan, Hissar) the main flights ap-
peared about the commencement of the south-west monsoon in June and July.
The eggs laid by the invading flights were distributed throughout the whole of
Central Rajputana, and also in the Hissar district of the Punjab, and the young
locusts became full-grown and acquired wings in August and September, and were
said to have been the progenitors of the second batch of eggs which were laid about
the end of September in the Hissar district. The crops were damaged, in the
first instance, by the young locusts before they acquired wings, and afterwards by
the winged swarms which seem to have flown about the whole of North-West
India throughout the autumn and winter of 1869 and settled at intervals to
devour the crops. Records have been found of measures, such as trenching, &c,
which were adopted with considerable success in the Hissar district in the Punjab
and also on the Deesa Commissariat Farm in Rajputana, for the destruction of the
young insects in their wingless stage ; while from Amritsar and Lahore there are
accounts of how the villagers collected with tom-toms and drove the winged
locusts off their crops, so that but little damage was done. Throughout Raj-
putana, however, the measures taken for the destruction of the pest seems to have
been very much less successful, partly perhaps because they were carried on
unsystematically, but chiefly no doubt because of the vastness of the numbers of
locusts by which the country was invaded and the comparative sparseness of the
population. Thus a vast amount of injury was done in Marwar, Ajmere, Kishen-
garli, Tonk, Sirohi, and the northern part of Meywar, the crops being damaged
both by the young locusts and also by the winged flights.
The following extract from a report, dated 9th December, 1870, by Colonel
J. C. Brooke, Officiating Agent to the Governor-General in Rajputana, shows the
extent of the calamity : —
" A breadth of land equal to half the usual quantity was sown. The grain every-
where sprouted splendidly, and all reckoned that the famine bad passed, when
another scourge visited the country in the shape of locusts. They entered Marwar
from Jeysulmere at the end of May and laid their eggs in every direction. These
hatched as the rains set in, and by the end of August the young locusts had spread
over the whole famine tract, laying fresh eggs wherever there was sand. The
broods from these eggs appeared early in September and, moving in dense masses
260 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891
backwards and forwards, destroyed every living thing in their way. Crops were
eaten down, so that the ground had the appearance of never having been sown.
By degrees the locusts got their wings and flew hither and thither over the country,
devouring the ripening grain which the young broods had spared. Each swarm, of
which there must have been hundreds in Rajputana, settled every night, covered
every green plant over an area of 12 or 15 square miles, and left ifc bare as they
flew away in the morning. The loss to the country by the locusts was about 75
per cent, of the crop, which originally was only half a crop.
" Usually locusts confine their ravages to Marwar and Bikanir, but in 1889 they
spread over Ajmere, Kishengarh, Tonk, and the northern part of Meywar. The
same complaint was everywhere heard that the locusts had destroyed from
one- quarter to three-quarters of a splendid harvest, and that another year of
famine, though not so bad as the former, had to be endured.
" Marwar suffered most, and many villagers, especially in the north, were again
compelled to emigrate. They were now in much more reduced circumstances
than previously. They flocked to the Ajmere poorhouses for relief, but would
not take work. Those that remained in Marwar supported themselves on the
bhoorut grass (Ackyrantkes aspera\ which now gave a means of subsistence to all
who would take the trouble to collect it ... .
" The rains commenced at Tonk most auspiciously. Wheat at this time had
risen to seven seers, and barley, the cheapest grain, to nine seers the rupee. Sav-
ing the high prices, all went on prosperously till the locusts came. The hist
flight appeared at the end of July, but did not do mueh harm. They deposited
their eggs in the few dry sandhills in Tonk and in the sandy beds of the rivers. In-
termediately the heavy rains had commenced, and the Bunass river rose to its bum
and flowed down a muddy torrent 500 to 1,000 yards in width and 30 to 40 feet
deep. After it had subsided, during a break in the weather, when the usual time
for hatching had arrived, the young locusts, about the size of small ants, issued
from the sands of the river in myriads and at once formed their phalanxes to go
forth and devour the land. They swam the deep pools in the rivers, they escalad
ed the walls of Tonk, entered the city, and took possession of the town ami of
every house — literally driving out the inhabitants. They cleared the land of its
crops and committed great devastation throughout the country. When they had
got their wings, sundry flights which were moving about settled aud destroyed
what previous ones had left. This visitation intensified the calamity of famine-
The price of grain rose with the destruction caused by the locusts. In July and
August, 1869, wheat was 6h aud barley 10| seers per rupee. In September wheat
was 6 and barley 7 seers; in October they were 5^ and 0| respectively, and only
in November did they begin gradually to fall."
In 1870, eggs laid by the cold-weather flights of the previous year hatched in
March in the Jhelum district, and the young wingless locusts did some damage
to the rabi crops. The people did what they could to prevent the winged locusts
from alighting, and afterwards destroyed the young by trenching. In the
THE LOCUST OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 261
beginning of July of this year, locusts appeared in bhe Hissar and Ainritsav districts.
There is no record of what became of the Hi<sar insects, but in Amritsar,
according to the district report, they did a little damage to the crops, and
young wingless locusts appeared in the end of August and early part of Septem-
ber, but were all destroyed
In 1872, in the Punjab, locusts were reported in July and August from Rohtak,
Multan, Bannu, Jhelum, Dera Ghazi Khan, and llissar. Eggs were laid in
Rohtak in the early part of July, and young hatched out in Rohtak and Jhelum
at the end of the month. The Dera Ghazi Khan district, however, is the only
one in which any damage was recorded. In Rajputana a flight was recorded by
Surgeon-Major Moore to have passed over Sirohi on the 31st of May of this year.
According to Surgeon-Major Hendley's report vast flights appeared in August in
Marwar, and great numbers of young hatched out about the end of August or
beginning of September, occasioning "much damage" to the crops.
In 1873, flights were reported in the Jhelum and Amritsar districts, eggs being
laid and some damage done to the crops. In the Amritsar district the villagers
are said to have followed the flights and destroyed all the eggs and young locusts
that could be found.
In both 1876 and 1877, locusts were observed about July in the Hissar district.
In 1878, besides being reported from Rajputana, they are noticed in the district
reports as having appeared in Dera Ghazi Khan in May and in Hissar in the
end of June.
In 1879, according to a notice in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society
of London, locusts appeared early in March near Meerut, covering a tract of
country about 15 miles long by 2 or 3 miles broad, and gradually moving north-
wards up the Anupshahr branch of the Ganges canal. They laid eggs over the
whole area, and before the end of the month the ground was covered with little
black larvae. Considerable damage was done to peas and mustard, but not much
to the grain, which was then being cut. In the district reports also locusts are
noticed in this year in Hissar, coming from the Rajputana desert in April and
again in July, as well as in Dera Ghazi Khan, where damage was done in
September.
In 1880, in July and August, flights appeared in the Dera Ghazi Khan district
and did much damage to the kharif crops. Considerable damage was done about
this year in Jeypur by a large flight recorded by Surgeon-Major Heudlev, who
also writes that the trains on the Rajputana-Malwa Railway found it difficult to
proceed owing to the rails being made slippery by the dead bodies of the locusts.
A flight also, which may have belonged to the species under consideration,
though other locusts also visit the district, appeared in Jullundur in April, 1880,
and deposited eggs, which were all destroyed by the people.
The reports, out of which the foregoing account has been pieced together, have
Sources of information. been to° numerous for individual reference in the
text. The majority of them have been furnished
26-2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
through the Central Agricultural Department, the Directors of Land Records and
Agriculture of Bombay, the Punjab, North-West Provinces, and Bengal, the
Board of Revenue, Madras, and the Agent to the Governor-General in Rajputana.
The dates of appearance of many of the swarms have been taken from the Crop
and Weather Reports issued by the Local Governments. The following is a list
of the chief sources of information : — Reports, in most cases accompanied by
specimens, from the District Officers of Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Amritsar,
Azamgarh, Bahraich, Banda, Bara Banki, Bareilly, Basti, Bijapur, Bogra, Broach,
Cawnpur, Chittagong, Cuddapah, Dacca, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan,
Etah, Erawah, Farukhabad, Fatehpur, Fyzabad, Garhwal, Gonda, Gurgaon,
Hamirpur, Hardoi, Hissar, Jhansi, Jaunpur, Jalaun, Jhelum, Jullundur, Karachi,
Kheri, Kistna, Kohat, Kumaon, Kurnool, Lahore, Lalitpur, Muttra, Muzaffar-
garh, North Arcot, Partabgarh, Peshawar, Poona, Rae Bareli, Rajshahye,
Ratnagiri, Rawalpindi, Rungpur, Sambalpur, Shahjahanpur, Shahpur, Shikarpur,
Sholapur, Simla, Sukkur, Sultanpur, Tarai, Unao, and Vizagapatam ; the Acting
Political Agent, Mahi Kautha tract, Bombay, the Political Agent of Haiaoti and
Tonk, the Forest Officer in charge of the Bashahr Division, the Manager of the
Jevpur Estate, the Chairman of the Fureedpur Municipality, the Political Agent,
Aajpipla State, the Political Agent, Bikanir, the Secretary to the Musahibala,
Marwar, the British Agent in Shiraz, the Resident in Lingah, the Residency
Agents in Bahrein and Shargah, the Coal Agent, Bassidore, the Secretary to
the Municipal Committee, Amritsar, the Superintendent, Government Horticul
tural Gardens, Lucknow, the Superintendent of the Government Central Museum,
Madias, Colonel E. C. Ross, Major C. A. R. Sage, Captains H. A. Deane and
Barbara, Surgeon-Majors Ross and Hendley, and Messrs. F. W. P. Macdonald,
W. Coldstream, W. Haxworth, W. D. Cumming, G. H. Kearney, C F. Elliott,
J. Cleghorn, M. Donaldson, R. Blechynden, and B. C. Bosu.
Reference has also been made to Hunter's Gazetteer, and to reports, in the
Proceedings of the Revenue and Agricultural Department, by Surgeon-General
W. Moore, Lieutenant-Colonel Swinhoe, Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford, Colonel
J. C Brooke, and Mr. Henvey; also to a'report on the rainfall in Rajputana,
furnished by the Meteorological Reporter to the Government of Bengal.
E. C. Cotes,
The 1st December, 1890. Indian Museum, Calcutta.
(Published with the permission of the Trustees of the Indian Museum, Calcutta.)
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No. I.— SHINGLE AND SHELLS FROM THE BEACH AT
UMBARGAUM.
Here in Bombay we are accustomed to expect only trappean pebbles on the
shore, or, if we find a bit of sedimentary rock, to refer it to "' ballast from some
boat," and this one degree and more to the north and south of the harbour.
M ISCELLANEO US NOTES. 263
was therefore interested in finding at Urnbargaum, near Daman, the volcanic
shingle almost replaced by very different materials and collected a pocketful of
all sorts.
It will be noticed that the nice pebbles are mostly of sandstone grit or breccia,
and that they seem mostly to be of recent and contemporary formation, though of
very various character.
There are many pieces of concretionary limestone (or kankar), which seem to
have been formed on vegetable nuclei, and one or two pieces of sandstone present
the same appearance. A few volcanic pebbles appear; and a fragment of pumice
bears witness to the great eruption of Krakatoa in 1 883, which covered the Indian
seas with that material for two years after.
I have omitted to preserve a fragment of Welsh slate, and one of coal which
bore witness to the presence of civilized man, a bone of a whale, and some lumps
of Madrepore, much more abundant than hereabout; but I include a couple of
half-petrified oyster shells. The neighbouring soil is sand, mostly wind-blown,
overlying beds of recent sandstone, breccia, and conglomerate. These again rest
upon trap reefs.
The molluscs of the beach seem to be much the same as here ; but the Muricidee
are better developed, especially a Fasciolaria. Placena placenta, the Window
Pearl Oyster, common near Bombay, is not present, nor is any trace of Solen.
Boring bivalves appear to be very common: two pebbles in every three are drilled
by them. The dead shells observed were all of Pholas; but probably there are
other genera, and their abundant presence is presumably due to that of sedi-
mentary rocks, more workable than basalt.
W. F. SINCLAIR, Bo. C. S.
Tcmna, April, 1891.
II.— LEAF WEEVILS.
I am sending you a few specimens of oak leaves (Quercus incana) rolled up
by a kind of weevil, one or two of which I also send for identification.* Their
method of working may be of interest.
The beetle first cut across the leaf, at about i an inch from its base, from
the outside edges to the centre rib, and this too she cut partly through, I
presume, in order to stop the sap running up the leaf and so preventing further
growth. She then walked all over the upper side of the leaf and appeared to
me to be eating the soft whitish powder that lies on a young oak leaf, but
possibly she might have been applying some gummy substance to the surface
of the leaf, as soon after she folded the leaf together along the rib, the
upper side of the leaf inside.
She then commenced rolling the leaf up. To do this she placed herself on the
rib of the leaf with her head towards the base, and worked with her legs
sideways to the right and upwards, every now and then crossing over to the
* A species of Apoderus of the family Curculionidw (identified through Mr. L,
de Niceville, Hon. Secy., Insect Section).— Editor,
264 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
outer edge to push in with her mouth any refractory projection that would not
roll smoothly.
Having rolled up the leaf three or four turns, she then bit a hole in it as deep
as her head and neck would allow, and then in this hole she deposited an egg.
She then recommenced the folding of the leaf and rolled it up till she reached
the cut.
The insect I watched only laid one egg, but I have found some leaves with
two eggs in them. The eggs appear to take ten days to a fortnight to hatch
into the grub which feeds on the leaf inside the roll.
C. A. R. SAGE, Major,
Dharsala, May, 1891. 2nd Goorkhas.
III.— THE TEMERITY OF RATS.
Numerous stories have been told of the temerity and impudence of rats when
in search of food, but I have not heard of any similar to my late expeiience.
My house is overrun with rats, and I find that traps and " Rough on Rats"
do not seem to have any effect. The rats demolish skins, braces, whips, &c,
and one night I awoke, feeling a rat gnawing at my toes: of course I kicked him
off on to the floor. I may mention that this happened in spite of a dog (a good
ratter) being in the room. A few days ago I was watching my pony being shod,
and noticed the hoof apparently cut away all round the coronet, wherever it
was soft. I accused the nalband of doing this in addition to the usual rasping
of the hoof to suit the shoe. The syce then told me that the rats had done it,
and that they came at night and ate away not only the pony's hoofs but those of
the goat and kid, and that these animals were greatly tormented by the rats.
I examined the hoofs and found beyond doubt that such was the case, the
marks of the teeth being plain ; and, moreover, I found that the horns of the kid,
which had been about J an inch high, were eaten flush with the head. Next
morning too we found a large rat in the bedding under the horse, evidently
killed by a kick from him.
R. LIGHT, Captain.
Aden, May, 1891.
YV.—DALBERGIA SPINOSA.
(Read at the meeting on 1st July, 1891. ^
As far as I am aware, Dalbergia spinosa, a plant belonging to the N. O. Legu-
ninosce, has not yet been included in the catalogue of plants indigenous to
thv Bombay Presidency. It is said to grow on the shorts of the Eastern and
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Western Peninsulas, and in Chittagong. Three years ago I met with a plant
of this species at Mulleachevad about 4 miles from the shores of Eadi, and
lately another at Majgaum, a village about 17 miles inland. Its characters
correspond exactly with those given in the Flora of British India. Roxburgh
in his 'Flora of India states that the fruit of tlri.s 8] i I id, 1 ' - *
the specimens examined by me, the fruits were sometimes t'.v.
Graham nor Dalzell and Gibson make mention of this species. It flowers in
May, and bears fruit at the end of the rains. The flowers appear, as in many
other Leguminosce, while some of the dry fruits are still upon the plant. The
wood is of too small a size to be of any extended economic use ; it is strong,
hard, close-grained and slightly ^elastic ; the annual rings are not distinctly
marked. The cattle are very fond of the leaves, so that the lower branches
within their reach are often naked and bare.
Dr. Watt, in his " Dictionary of Economic Products of India," gives, on the
authority of Kunth, the following properties of this plant :■ — " The roots
powdered absorb alcohol, and a spoonful of the powder in a tumbler of water is
said to be sufficient to destroy in loss than half an hour the effects of alcohol
even in cases bordering on delirium tremens. The wood is soft, beautifully
silvery white, close and straight grained." I have not had any opportunity
to verify the use of the root, but the hard wood found even in small branches
is neither soft nor silvery white, on the contrary it is very hard and dark brown,
with darker longitudinal veins resembling very closely that of the sissoo.
This plant brings the total number of indigenous species of the important
genus Dalbergia to 10, out of which 4 are trees: D. sissoo, D. latifolia,
D. lamceolaria, and D. paniculata, all of them being valuable timber trees,
the first two yielding the blackwood of Bombay. One, a shrub, D. spinosa:
5 climbers, D. sympathetica, D. notubilis, I), conferti folia, D. Stocksii, and D,
monosperma. It would be seen that D. spinosa forms a connecting link between
the trees and the climbers.
Specimens of leaves, flowers, fruits, and wood of J), spinosa are forwarded
for the Society's herbarium.
D G. DALGADO.
Sawantwady, June, 1891.
V.— THE DESTRUCTION OF LIFE BY WOLVES IN THE HOSHANGA-
BAD AND NARSINGHPUR DISTRICTS.
In the Supplement to the Central Provinces Gazette, 6th June, 1891, Colonel
K. C. E. Ward, CLE., Commissioner of the Nerbudda Division, while
forwarding Mr. Playfair's Memorandum on wolf-killing operations in that
district, to the Chief Commissioner, Central Provinces, reports as follows:—
In consequence of the depredations which wolves were committing in this
Division, Mr. Playfair's services' were placed at my disposal in your No. 778-41,
266 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
dated the 9th February, 1891, and soon after that date he reported his arrival
to me, and finally closed his operations at the end of April. During this period
he submitted weekly reports of his action, and the Chief Commissioner was
regularh kept informed of their contents.
In the Narsinghpur District there were 23 persons killed and 2U wounded,
and in the Hoshangabad District the loss of life was reported to be 95 persons,
13 large wolves and 25 cubs were destroyed; of these, 6 wolves and 15 cubs
were disposed of before Mr. Playfair commenced operations, and 7 wolves and
10 cubs were destroyed under Mr. Playf air's supervision. The expenditure
incurred by Mr. Playfair in rewards for the animals destroyed and other
incidental expenses amounted to Es. 254-9-0.
There have been no deaths reported since the 13th March, so that we may
fairly hope that the action that has been taken in the direction of wolf-des-
truction has lid this part of the country of a dangerous scourge. There is still
one she-wolf left in the Bankheri circle, but I hope that it may be destroyed
before the rains by the people who are now looking for it.
MEMORANDUM ON WOLF-KILLING OPERATIONS IN 1891.
i E the beginning of August, 1890, wolves appear to have taken to killing
children in the District of Hoshangabad, and when the Dhoodhee river became
shallow they appear to have crossed and carried on their depredations in the
Narsinghpur District, but chiefly in the Sainkheri Out-post circle bordering
the Hoshangabad District.
The cause of their having turned man-eaters is difficult to assign. People
say that it was probably due to their having eaten the corpses of people who
had not been sufficiently deeply buried. It is well known that wolves
frequently kill children up-country, but not in the wholesale manner they have
done in Hoshangabad.
The one great difficulty in hunting down the wolves is the inability to find
any clue to their retreats, and the distances travelled by them after committing
any depredations. They generally lie in the open in "Dal," Hemp or
" Jowra" fields and in little patches of Babul or Mowa jungle, but they do not
keep to the same spot, but frequently move. Before they took to man-eating,
a pack of seven or eight used frequently to be seen in the Anjun river by
villages Deori and Oodeypur, and little children could drive the whole p
away, but since August tbey have become more erratic in their movements.
Except when they have their young and are driven to it through fear, they do
not live in holes ; and in the case of the Kookurpa cubs the mother used to go
into the hole and feed the young ones, while the old male apparently remained
outside. Their staple food appears to be goats and young ponies, and they are
said by people not to eat carcases of animals, but this I think requires modifi-
'on. as I have heard instances to the contrary from good authority.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 267
The pack with which I have heen concerned is said to have originally
consisted of 7 or 9 wolves, and sometimes only five were seen to make attacks
From the. manner in which Ives killed, I think that one pack occasionally
split up and killed in different directions, meeting again afterwards. Like
ollect by call.
During August, September, October and November kills were almost entirely
confined to the Bankh ion-house circle and the Oomerdha and Piparia
Out-post circles, but were compai in the latter.
• the 17th December the kills seem to have occurred west of
Piparia and Bankheri, and after that date until the end of December in the
Bankheri circle. Then, curiously eRongh, the wolves appear to have run right
away east to the Jubbulpore border in the ghpur District, along the
main read to Jhansighat, steadily killing on their way at every 10th or 12th
mile.
I was on the 16th February. 1891, placed on special duty by the Chief Com-
missioner to hunt down these wolves, and, after a preliminary visit to Nar-
singhpur, commenced operations. Up to that time 25 cubs had been caught,
but the depredations continued. Having made myself acquainted with general
facts as now described, I considered it impossible to cover as much ground as
that in which kills occurred, so I confined myself to a tract of about 100 square
miles in the Bankheri Station-house and Sainkheri, Oomerdha and Piparia
Out-post circles. I personally visited most of the villages in all these circles,
with a view to making myself known to the people and getting assistance from
them. Having engaged the help of malguzars and kotwals, I arranged- —
(1) that pits should be dug in every village ;
(2) that early information of any kill should be given to me at once ;
(3) that when a villager saw a wolf he should follow it up quietly from a
distance and inform the malguzar of the village. The malguzar was
then to surround the animal and send off information to me.
(4) I also stationed Shikaris in selected spots where from the kills I thought
it likely they would meet the wolves, and I also had the carcases of
animals killed by wolves poisoned through the Police.
Plan 1 was a complete failure ; the people opposed it, as several bullocks fell
into the pits. The plan appears to be of use only in instances when the
regular runs of wolves are known. Kotwals generaUy carried information
quickly, but villagers appeared too frightened to do anything beyond letting
the animal disappear and then mention the fact on return to the village at
night.
Plan 4 — poisoning — is no doubt the most effectual. It is true that it takes a
lot of poision to kill a wolf ; but a moderate dose sickens him and gives one an
opportunity of coming across him somewhere round about his kill. This was
no doubt why I managed to get near the first two wolves shot in the open.
One othpr plan occurred to me at the close of operations, the result of which
268 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
1 had not time to see. It was to build, in whatever village herds of goats
were, pens some distance from the village and keep the goats in there at night,
with a good Shikari sitting up over it. The smell of the goats -will attract the
wolf, who in attempting to take his prey should be shot.
The most effectual, but at the same time the most difficult plan, is to surround
a tract of country to which wolves have been tracked, stop the holes in it and
beat it as one would for game. This cannot, however, be left to the people or
malguzars, as they have no idea of working together, and apparently take
little interest in the hank until the animals are surrounded at the finish. Every
mile or so should be supervised by a Government official, and every man should
be shown his place, and instructions given him some days before hank. By
means of beats of this kind I secured several wolves.
I would also state that the ordinary village Shikaris, who occasionally shoot
fish, are also useless. The only persons of any use are those who really have
a liking for sport, and who will work all day and not come back discontented
from a blank day.
I think every inducement should be made to get wolves killed off as much as
possible, and in circles where they are abundant their kills should be poisoned.
They are useless animals for sport, and though as a rule they do not do much
harm to human life, yet when they do take to killing people they are difficult
animals to get at, whereas in their ordinary state they can be easily approached.
Shikaris should be warned that when they come across any holes containing
wolf cubs, they should first kill the parents and then catch the young.
From August to the 28th February, 6 wolves and 15 cubs were disposed of,
and from March last, when I began operations, to the 25th April, 7 wolves and
10 cubs have been accounted for. It may be said that the pack which com-
mitted these depredations is now destroyed.
H. A. PLAYFAIR,
■Mth April. 1891. District Superintendent of Police,
VI.— THE MIGRATIONS OF BIRDS.
The migrations of birds have of late attraoted a great deal of attention in
Europe, and the subject gains in interest with every accession to our knowledge
of it. In this country unfortunately Ornithologists have as yet been too much
occupied with the identification, or discrimination, and distribution of species
to give much attention to their wanderings. I do not refer only to the annual
arrival and departure of those " upper classes" which winter in a warm climate
and summer in a cool one ; but to those periodical migrations from the hills to
the plains, or from one district to another, which so many birds make for
reasons at which we can only guess. An example which will suggest itself to
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 2M
every Sportsman is that of the Florican. Others, hardly ever noticed, but more
curious, are at our doors. I will mention a few.
The familiar green Bee-eater (Merops viridis), which is not generally
regarded as a migrant, disappears from Bombay about the beginning of April,
and does not return till the end of the rains. On the coast of Canara it stays
later and breeds, but disappears before the rains commence. I do not know
where it goes.
The Bedbacked Shrike {Lanius erythronotus) also disappears from Bombay
and I think from Poona too, during the hot season and monsoon. I never
found a nest in either place. In Canara it is not generally a common bird, and
I cannot say with certainty whether it goes away for the monsoon, but it stays
till May at least and breeds.
The common Kite disappears from Karwar entirely from the middle of May
till about the end of September, and allows us to rear our chickens inr>eace. In
1889 one ragged, loaferish individual (probably an invalid) tried to stay; but
it has not repeated the experiment. I believe that the majority of Bombay
Kites also retire to some drier region during the monsoon, but many remain.
The White-headed, or Brahminy Kite, being half a waterfowl, braves the rain.
Of the seven kinds of Drongos which are found in Canara, six breed on the
coast. The Hair-crested Drongo, or Hairy Hottentot {Ohibia hottentota),
disappears during the breeding season. I have no idea where it goes.
On the other hand, some birds which are supposed to be migratory are not
truly so, though they may wander a good deal, and attract more attention at
one season than another. The little green Lovebird (Loriculus vernalis), which
Barnes speaks of as a "cold weather visitant," may be found in the monsoon
not ten miles from Bombay. On the coast of Canara it is very common at all
seasons, but owing to its small size, green colour, and pecubar habits, it easily
escapes notice. In December and January it gets noisy, and I suspect that at
that season it is breeding ; but no one appears ever to have found its nest, and
I can get no information from natives about it.
All lovers of birds would Hke to know more about their periodical movements,
and the reasons for them, but very little information can be collected by any
single individual, however observant. What is required is that observers in all
parts of the country should combine to take notes and compare them. No
great knowledge of ornithology is required. For example, everybody knows
the common Kite. The only bird which can be confounded with it is a young
Brahminy Kite, and to distinguish these two at a glance you have only to
remember that the tail of the Pariah is always forked and the tail of the Brah-
miny rounded.
Now I can assert with some confidence that there is not, at present, one
Pariah Kite in Karwar or its neighbourhood. Two months ago there were
hundreds. If one or two men in Bombay, one in Belgaum, Dharwar, or
Sattara, one or two in the Nasik district, one or two in Guzerat, and so on,
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 1891.
would keep their eyes upon the Kite population about them, and at the end of
the monsoon collate their observations, we should soon know where the
nuisances go. The same thing might be done with other common birds. This
is a work which I think the B. 1ST. H. Society is peculiarly qualified to carry
out. Let the Ornithological Committee invite the co-operation of all members
who are known to take an interest in birds, and make out a short list of species
to be kept under observation. I am sure there would be a hearty response
from many quarters, and the result would be of value to the whole ornitholo-
gical world.
E. H. AITKEK
Karwar, 20th June. 1891.
VII.— ALOCASIA MACBORHIZA .
(Bead at the Meeting held on 1st July, 1891.)
The specimen on the table is the infloresence of the large Aroid so common
in our gardens, generally called in Bombay Alocasia macrorhiza, and described
by Graham as Caladium grandi folium. Graham remarks that it seems never
to flower. Being uncertain whether it might not have changed its habit of
not flowering since Graham's time, I consulted Mr. Carstensen, who informs
me that he has never seen it flower in the Victoria Gardens where there must
be thousands of plants. A plant in my garden growing under the shade of
a mango tree and left to itself has formed a thick stock about 18 inches in
length and has flowered several times. If you examine the infloresence you
will find that it agrees exactly with that of Alocasia indica, Schott., which is
the plant which Roxburgh describes as Arum indicam, Lour., the Man-kachoo
of Bengal, where the starch obtained from the stem is much valued as an
article of diet for invalids, and the stems and small tubers which grow upon
the rootlets are eaten by all classes. In Bombay the economic value of this
plant appears not to be generally known, though I have met with some Brah-
mins who use it. Of course it requires to be cooked with the same precautions
as other aroids owing to the irritating action of the numerous needle-shaped
crystals of oxalate of lime which are present in all parts of these plants.
Cooking and the addition of vegetable acids changes the f onu of the lime salts,
and thus removes their irritating property. x The method of cultivation
followed in our gardens is probably the only reason that the plant does not
flower ; the long-naked stalk being unsightly is not allowed to develop. Rox-
burgh says it will grow from 6 to 8 feet in height, though seldom allowed to
reach mure than 18 inches in Bengal.
W. DYMOCK,
Bomhay, 1st July, 1R91. Brigade-Surgeon, Retired.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 271
VIII.— DOUM PALMS IN INDIA.
(Head at the Meeting held on 1st July, 1891.)
Among other objects of interest, which attracted my attention during my
visit to Baroda in October, a number of young palms planted in the public
Park gave rise to some enquiries and further investigations, the result of which
I now have the honour to lay before the Natural History Society, with the
object of soliciting further information regarding the Indian Doum-Palm.
The palms referred to in the Baroda Park were in all respects very similar
to our common Palmyra-Palm (Borassus flabelliformis), the principal difference
being that the leaf-stalks were almost golden-yellow and armed with promin-
ent, hooked spines, in the place of the very close-set and minute teeth that
edge the leaf-stalk of the Palmyra- Palm, and that a few of the plants, being,
I presume, 5 — 6 years old, were commencing to bifurcate. The plants were all
seedlings from the Doum-Palm growing in a wild or at least naturalized state
at the Gaekwar's possessions near Oomrad in Surat. They, however, appeared
to me to widely differ from the well-known specimens of Doum-Palm
in the Sewree Cemetery, and still more from seedlings in the Victoria
Gardens raised from seeds obtained from Aden. Mr. Hardy, Assistant
Engineer in Bhavnagar, had informed me of the occurrence of branching
palms in Mahuva near the sea in the Bhavnagar State, and has kindly sent me
photographs of two of the largest specimens. He writes, " I think they are
wonderfully graceful. From one stem four main branches rise, each of which
again branches into two (and two only) even up to the tiny twigs, which are
not as thick as a finger. There are several about, and I am sending
the photos of the best specimens that I have seen. The villagers call them
1 Rawun Tadd,' Eawun being the name of one of their gods, who had a lot of
arms." At my request for further particulars and specimens of leaf, flower and
fruit, he kindly forwarded the specimens now laid on the table, and writes : —
" I am sending you the leaf, fruit, and flower of a male and female branching
palm. The height of the larger one, whose photograph I sent you, is 58 feet.
The main stem measures 19 feet round, and the circumference of the 4
trunks that branch from it are 5 feet 9 inches, 5 feet 9 inches, 5 feet, and 4 feet
9 inches. The other one is 50 feet in height, the main trunk 14 feet 10 inches
round, and its two stems 4 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 4 inches in circumference.
They are both according to the villagers about 180 years old. The female
palm is much the same to look at, and grows in a neighbouring field. Some
months ago, Mr. Henry, the Superintendent of Public Gardens, Baroda, kindly
sent me seeds of the palm in the Baroda territory, and from the appearance
of these, as from the similarity of the leaves sent, to those observed in Baroda,
I feel convinced that the palms in both localities belong to the same kind, and
are different from the tree at Sewree and the seedlings of seeds from Aden.
The literature at my command is very limited regarding references to the
different species of this genus Hyphozna. Bentham and Hooker's Genera
•272 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 1891.
Plantarum gives a full description of the genus, under which it is remarked
that 9 species are known as inhabitants of Tropical Africa, Arabia, and
Madagascar. Gsertner, in his " Be Friictibus-et-seminibus Plantarum," gives a
description and illustration of the seed of Hyphcene coriacea, which in all respects
corresponds well with the Indian form, and of the entire fruit of H. crinita,
which corresponds with the Sewree form. Baron Ferd Von. Mueller in his Select
Extra-tropical Plants mentions the following kinds : Hyphcene Argun, Mart., Nubia
to 21° N. L. ; H. coriacea., Gcertn., Equatorial Eastern Africa, the dichatomous
Palm of the sea coast regions. It attains a height of 80 feet ; H. crinita, Gcertn.
(H. thebaica, Mart.) The ginger-bread palm or Doum-palni ; Abyssinia,
Nubia, Arabia and Egypt, as far as 31° N. L. and southwards to the Zambesi,
Nyassa and Sofala. In Arabia to 28° N. L. (Schweinfurth.) up to the plateau
of Abyssinia (Drude). It is much branched, and attains a height of about 30
feet. The mealy husk of the fruit is edible. Grows away from the sea.
H. ventricosa, Kirk, Zambesi, loftier than the other species, stem turgid
towards the middle, fruit large.
Major Casati in his "Ten years in Equatoria" frequently refers to the
Doum-palm, Palma Bourn, in the first part of his book, evidently referring to
H. thebaica, while having travelled further south and approaching the sea-
coast he mentions Cucifera trees, evidently referring to another species (Cucifera
is a synonym for Hyphcene), probably H coriacea.
The two or three species now before us are the wild Doum-palm from Mahuva
and Oomrud and the cultivated Doum-palm from Sewree Cemetery and seed-
lings from Aden.
The first of these is distinguished by large fan- shaped, flat, simply folded-
leaves, borne on strong yellow leaf stalks, edged with distant black hooked
spines, by very large irregularly pear-shaped fruits, near the stalk furnished
with two small protuberances, probably formed by the two undeveloped ovules,
and thus approaching the allied 3-seeded Borassus flabelliformis. The rind of
the fruit is reddish -brown, shining, warted, fleshy, and encloses a very thick
layer of. fibrous matter covering the kernel. The tunic catkins ;ire long and
whip-like, more or less bent, and generally appear in bundles of 2, 3 or 4,
rarely more. This kind must probably be referred to Hyphcene coriacea, Gcertn.
The species of which a male and female tree are found in the Sewree Cemetery
is mentioned in the Supplement to Dalzell and Gibson's Flora under the name
of Hyphcene coriacea, Sprg., and II. thebaica and H. crinita are cited as
synonyms. It is stated to be the Doum-palm of the upper Thebaid, and
so far fairly well corresponds with the scanty information contained in Lindley's
Treasury of Botany, where a plate is given, which, however, is anything but a
good illustration. The leaves of this plant differ from the preceding kind by
the recurved midrib, giving the leaf a peculiar graceful shape, by the fibres
between the divisions of the leaf being darker coloured, and by the hooked
spines of the yellow leaf stalk being larger and less distant. The male catkins
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 273
are straight, shorter than in the preceding kind, and generally appear in
bundles of 4 — 9. The fruits are very numerous and closely set, irregularly egg-
shaped, and not half the size of the fruits of // a; their rind is smooth and
shining, when ripe reddish-brown, dotted, hut not waited, and encloses a thin
husk, in which the fibrous matter is freely mixed with • lil tie mealy substance.
Tins kind is said rarely to attain a greater height than 25 — 30 feet. This species
is undoubtedly the //. crinita, Goertn. {IL thebaica, Mart, of Egypt).
Finally, we have before us a leaf of a Dourn-palm raised from seed from
n. If this belongs to the same species, it is at least of a different variety
from the Sewree trees. The leaves seem very different; they represent the same
characteristic feature of the recurved midrib, but are considerably larger, their
divisions thinner and more pointed, and their stalks perfectly green and desti-
tute of spines. As this has not as yet flowered, it is, however, impossible to
even approximately identify it as a third species.
Ti\ conclusion, I will only add that any information regarding the occurrence
of Doum-palms in India will be most welcome and may tend to solve the
question whether the Doum-palm is really indigenous or only naturalized by
Is having been washed ashore after having travelled across the seas from
tropical Africa.
G. CAESTENSEN.
Bombay, 1st July, 1S91.
IX.— A GALL ON TAMARIX DIOICA.
SoyrE months ago my attention was attracted to the occurrence of a white
substance on the branches of Tamarix dioica. They at first appeared as small
white spots of a sticky substance, and I thought them to be a kind of fungus.
They, however, very soon increased in size and assumed a regular shape, and by
examining them I found the sticky matter to contain a larva. They must,
therefore, be considered to be a kind of gall. Now it is a well-known fact
that several kinds of Tamarix in Sind, Afghanistan and Persia produce galls
which furnish a kind of manna. The creamy nature of the galls in question
seem to be very probable that they might furnish an edible substance. I should
be glad if any of the entomologists of our Society could throw a little more
light on this question.
e d G. CAESTENSEN.
Bombay, 1st July, 1891.
X.— A VAEIETY OF BUTEA FRONDOSA.
Ix addition to the information contributed by Mr. H. T. Ommanney* regard-
ing his interesting sport, I may state that I noticed a single tree of this
variety in the jungle behind " the Duke's Nose" at Khandalla in 1889, and was
very much struck by its great beauty. Mr. Ommanney has kindly sent me
* See page 107 of this Vol.
35
214 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Is of this variety, so it is to he hoped that this variety will find its way int o
our gardens, though it is very questionable whether the seeds will reproduce
the variety, though the fact that other plants belonging to the same X. O.
Leguminosod, such as the white-flowered varieties of Arbus precatorius, and of
Erythrina indica, are reproduced from seed seems to promise success in regard
to this variety also.
G. CAESTEXSEX
Bombay, 1st July, 1891;
XL— A PAXTHEE EATIXG A PAXTHEE.
Ox looking through the Society's Journal, Vol. IV. of 1889, I see a letter
from Mr. H. Littledale, dated September, 1889, headed " Bears being eaten
by Tigers," which at the time escaped my notice, or I would have sent an
account of what happened when I was down in Ceylon.
In 1883 I was living at Haldamulla, in the Ouvah district. My bungalow,
being 3,300 feet above the sea, stood on the edge of a precipice and commanded
a splendid view of the low country between Hambantota and Galle. Gamo
was fairly plentiful : elephants, buffalo, panther, and sambhur could be
obtained within eight miles of my bungalow, so most of my spare time was
taken up stalking them, as "beating" was out of the question.
On the 17th June, 1883, I started about twelve o'clock, leading my
pony down the hill for the first two miles, as it was too steep to ride. I
then rode across a plateau and again led my pony down a path used by tabulum
bullocks until I reached the "Wellawa Gunga. This river I had to cross two or
three times, after which the path alongside the river was good going until I
reached my destination, a village consisting of two or three huts, called
Nellwayao, 13 miles from Haldamulla. I arrived about 5 r.M. and immediately
asked for my tracker, a Cingalese by name Keralli. They told me he had gone
out to look for elephant tracks, so I had nothing to do but wait for his return :
he came back about half-past seven, and I asked him what he had seen. He
told me he had not come across any fresh tracks of elephants, but that as he
was going up a dry nullah, about two miles off, and close to the place where I
had killed an elephant a month before, he saw a panther come out of the
jungle into the nullah, and immediately afterwards another, only larger,
panther also appeared from the same side a few yards further up. Keralli hid
In hind a large rock and saw the larger panther attack the smaller one, and
they both commenced fighting about fifty yards from where he was hidden.
He took a shot with his rifle and hit the smaller one, which was underneath
and seemed to be getting the worst of the fight.
Most of the Cingalese in the low country possess a gun of sorts, and in the
dry weather sit up'over water holes and on the banks of the rivers and pot deer
when they come down to drink ; and it is not an uncommon thing to meet them
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 275
with half a dozen skins on their heads going 1" some village or town to <h-pose
of them. I believe a license is necessary both for carrying a gun and also to
kill sambhur, but the law seems to be very little in force in these parts, and
consequently the game suffe mendous extent. I have frequently heard
five of sis shots tired 'luring the night within i mile or two of my camp.
Immediately after Keralli had fired, the panthers separated and returned to
the jungles by th< paths by which they had ft] led the nullah, and
Keralli thinking he had done enough, and that discretion was the better part
of valour, especially as it was getting dark. baok to me. Not under-
standing Cingalese, the foregoing was inter] ireted tome by my servant, and
Keralli, going through a pantomime while relating his adventures, made
me grasp the state of affairs better than I should otherwise have done.
At daylight next morning, there being no fresh tracks of elephants about, I
decided to go and look up the wounded panther, as Keralli declared he was
certain that he had wounded it. On coming to the nullah there were the marks
of the scuffle shown quite plainly, and also the pug to and from the jungle. We
then took up the tracts of the wounded panther, and a short distance up the
bank came on blood. The jungle here was fairly open as regards trees, but
the whole ground was covered with nillao about 3 feet high. " NiHao" is
a sort of weed with a straight stem, and grows to a height of six or eight feet
close together. It then dies, and it is very difficult to force one's way
through it. It is said to flower once in seven years, when all the bees and
jungle-fowl for nrdes round flock to it. We continued the tracking along the
path through the nillao for about thirty yards when we came on a pool of blood
and found pugs of the larger panther about — the two had evidently had
another scuffle — and then continued together along the path for about twenty
yards, where I came on the panther dead and a considerable portion of the
hind quarters eaten. I examined it carefully without allowing it to be
touched. It was a full-grown female panther in very poor condition ;
the carcase was quite fresh, and the other panther could have only left a vcrv
short time before we arrived. I left one of my men to put up a machan in a
tree close by, and gave strict orders that the body was not to be touched, as 1
intended to sit up over it that evening, and then left with Keralli to see if we
coidd find any elephant tracks. I may state that we looked carefully over the
ground around the kill and could find no pugs of either jackal, pig or
any other animals, except the two panthers, the pugs of which were quite
distinct and very different in size. I got back to camp about 4 p.m. havino-
come across no fresh tracks of elephants, and found the man I had left behind
to build the machan awaiting me. He said that, having cut some sticks, he came
back and found the dead panther had been dragged about fifteen yards furthei
into the nillao, and thata large panther was standing over it, which slunk away
on his approach. He then built the machan in a (ice close by, and everyth
was ready. I had some food, and then started "'it with Eeralli and a couph
276 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
of men. On arrival at the place I found the man had, in order to save the
carcase being carried further away, tied the forelegs together and driven
a stake through into the ground, and had also cut the nitlao down all round, so
as to give me a better chance. I told Keralli and the two men to go back about
a quarter of a mile down the nullah and remain there until they heard me
shout to them. I then sat up in the machan until about nine o'clock, but as
nothing appeared and there was very little moonlight, I shouted to the men,
when to my astonishment and indignation they answered me back from the nullah
about sixty yards off. On going to them I found they were sitting
round a small fire they had lighted close under the bank and which I had not
noticed, as I had been sitting with my back towards them. This, I have no
doubt, accounted for the panther not putting in an appearance. I went back
to camp in a very bad temper, and started at daybreak next morning for Hal-
damulla. I, however, sent Keralli out to look after the panther, and he came to
me and reported that the panther had come back and pulled the carcase about
fifty yards further into the jungle and eaten a considerable portion more of it, but
he had not seen the panther. I should like to have got the other panther, to see
whether it was a male or female, but I feel certain from the size of the pugs
that it was male ; and if I am correct in supposing it to be a male, the question
arises, was the struggle that Keralli the tracker witnessed a fight between two
hungry animals of the same species with the ultimate intention of the victor
making a meal off the vanquished, or could it have been only a lovers' quarrel
which, ending in death, had furnished the male with food ?
E. L. BARTON.
Bombay, June, 1891.
XII.— A MAN-KILLING BEAR,
On the 24th May, 1891, Mr. E. L. Barton and I were encamped in the
State of Dharampore, near the Nassick Frontier, where Ave had gone on a short
shooting trip. About 9 A.M. on this day a man came running to our camp
to say that a man had been badly wounded by a bear near a village five miles
off, and that the bear had been marked down and surrounded by villagers in a
jungle close by. We started off as soon as possible, and after a long ride up a
hill, we came to the village where the man was who had been mauled. We found
him sitting in a hut and examined him. We found half of his face torn away
and hanging by shreds, his head deeply cut with a claw- wound, and his back
also badly mauled by the bear's claws. We got some water, cleaned his wounds,
and bound up his face with my pocket handkerchief. A desultory conversation
then went on between various members of the crowd and the man's wife as to
whether the man would live or not. There was a strong consensus of opinion
that the man woidd live, in which, I may say, I never for a moment shared.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 277
We then enquired into the facts. Ii appeared the man, with a little boy, was
silting or lying smoking a beerie on the ground near a path about 2oO yards
from the village in the early morning, and whilst so engaged abear came behind
him and at once, without any provocation, attacked him. The little boy ran off
at once for assistance, and the bear, after severely mauling the man in the way
1 have mentioned, left him. Several men were near at hand, and they marked
the bear with two cubs into a jungle close by, where she laid up for the day.
Men got up trees all round this jungle, and there they remained till we came up.
We went to the spot where the struggle took place, and then we saw the
marks of the bear's feet on the ground ; but this was not very plain, because a
part of the struggle took place on sheet rock. There was a path from the
village close by with trees growing about, forming a grazing jungle. The spot
was on a table-land about 8U0 feet above the plain below, and close by was a
thiek jungle on the side of the hill, in which the bear and her cubs were fast
asleep. I should say that the bear was making to this jungle for the purpose
of spending the heat of the day therein, and that she saw this man in her
road and at once went for him.
We had very little trouble in killing the old she-bear and her two f -grown
cubs. We had a large number of beaters and the beat was arranged excellently,
our trees being chosen with great judgment by our Shikari. Mr. Barton
killed the old she-bear ; he hit her well behind the shoulder and she ran into a
nullah with her cubs, and there I had a shot at her also. The cubs kept close
to her and we killed them both close to the mother.
The man died on the second day.
From inquiries we made we found tbis bear had, without provocation, in the
last year attacked four or five other people in the neighbourhood and mauled
them, but we heard of no one being actually killed by her. When we got her
home and were taking her skin off, we found a bullet in her forearm surrounded
by a thick sac of a tough sort of skin, and close by was a large splinter
of bone about \L\ inches long. The wound had quite healed up, but
there was a deal of pus near that part of the bone from whence the splin-
ter had come. It was evident that this splinter had been giving great pain to
the bear, and to this I attribute its man-killing proclivities. The pain was
probably always sufficient to keep the bear's recollection alive to the fact that
the primary cause of that pain was attributable to man, and whenever a man
came anywhere near, the bear's anger was aroused, in just the same way that
a wounded tiger will always attack any one coming near him.
It has been frequently said that a bear always attacks a man's face when
he goes in at him. If this is so, this is another instance of the correctness of
this rule.
REGINALD GILBERT.
Bombay, July, 1891.
•278 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1391.
XIII.— PRICE OP TIGERS' SKINS, Etc. IN ENGLAND.
WHEN in England quite recently I went several times to Rowland Ward's
shop in Piccadilly. They told me that they had just given the largest price
that had ever been paid for a tiger's skin. It was a skin from Manchooria
measuring over 13 feet, with thick deep wool on it like a bear. The price paid
was £63, and the skin was not set up. I did not see this skin, but I saw and
measured one in the shop which also came from Manchooria ; it measured
13' 4" and had deep fur, more like the snow-leopard than any other animal I
know. There was no ballet mark on it ; and I was told that all the skins
obtained from those parts are those of animals which had been poisoned.
They had also in the shop two boars' heads which had come from Siberia ; they
were immense — bigger than those of any Indian boar. They Vere probably
Sus acrofa and not our Indian species. The tusks were very thick, but I
do not suppose the best out of the two pairs was 8".
I was rather disappointed at the heads of Mr. Littledale's Ovis Poll in the
Natural History Museum at South Kensington. He has about eight animals set
up, but the biggest ram is not so large, I should fancy, as the head in our
Society's collection. They told me also in Rowland's that they had had several
Ovis' heads larger than Mr. Littledale's.
W. St. JOHN RICHARDSON, Captain.
Poona, July, 1891.
PROCEEDINGS.
Proceedings of the Meeting on IsL July, 1891.
The usual monthly meeting of the members of this Society took place on Wednes-
day last, the 1st July, when Mr. W. E. Hart presided.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society : — Mr. W. C. Taylor
(Orissa), Mr. J. Moray-Brown (England), Lient. H. Wells-Coles (Bombay), Mr. P. H.
Clutteibnck (Chanda), Mr. C. B. LaTouche (Bombay), Mr. M. D. Mackenzie, C. S
(Kurracb.ee), Surgeon-Major G. H. Gimlette (Sutna), Mr. F. E. Fletcher (Tellicherry).
Lieut. G. Rippou^U pper Chindwin), Mr. E. Fulton, Bombay C. S. (Rangoon), Mr-
Frank Chalk (Bombay), Dr. E. J. Lawder (Hyderabad), Dr. F. C. Barker (Rajkote)
Lieut. S. H. Westropp (Bombay), Lieut. J. G. Westropp (Kolhapur), Major A. C.
Bailward, R. A. (Bombay), Mr. Charles Maries (Gwalior), Mr. W. Robarts Hamilton
(Bombay), Mr. R. T. Gibbs (Jhansi), Mr. R. A. Jenkins (Bombay), Dr. Govindrao
Bhav Prabhakar (Bombay), and Lieut. C. D. Lester (Berbera).
PROCEEDINGS
279
Mr. IT. M. Phipsou, the Honorary Secretary, then aokmd'wleclged (he following
contributions : —
CONTRIBUTIONS DURING APRIL, .MAY, AND JUNE.
Contribution.
Descript ton
2 Snakes
1 Vampire Bnt
1 Cobra (alive)
A number of Fossil Bonos.
1 sViake (alive) ■
2 Chameleons (alive)
] Snake (alive)
A number of Sea Shells....
1 Wolf's Skin and Skull ..
1 Squirrel's Skin
2 Aracan Silver Pheasants.
1 Snake
I Panther Cub (alive).
A number of Shells and
Insects
1 Pair of Buffalo Horns
Typhlops brnhininus...
M egaderma lyra
Naga tripndians .
from ( lull' of ( Jam
F\ codon aulicus
Chamajleon calcaratus
P| vas mucosus
From Tana District ...
Canis palipes
N'iurus Elphinstonei ...
Euplocamus cuvieri ...
H.-iU s himalayanus ...
Felis pardus
5 Lizards (alive)
1 Spotted Owlet (alive)
1 Large Aviary
Prom Mysore
26 inches in circumfer nee..
Uromastix Hardwickii
Varanus bengalensis
Carine brama
Containing 21 Birds
2 Chameleons (alive)
1 Lynx's Skull
A number of Fern Roots...
112 Birds' Skins
1 Monitor (alive)
A Collection of Butterflies
1 White-breasted Water
Hen
1 Snake (alive)
2 l'ied Crested Cuckoos
(alive)
i Yellow-breasted Ground
Thrush (alive).
Wolf (alive)
Gadwall (mounted) .
Red-crested Pochard.
Red-headed Merlines
A collection of Lizards,
Scorpions, Centipedes...
1 Pied Crested Cuckoo
(alive)
1 Snake
Chairaeleon calcaratus..
Felis caracal
Acteniopteris radiata. ..
From North Canara
Varanus bengalensis ....
From Ganjam
Erythra phoenicura.....
Passerita mycterizans.
Coccystes jacobinus
Pitta bengalensis
Canis palipes
Chaulelasmus streperns.
Fuligula rufina
Falco chiquera
From Burma
Coccystes jacobinus...
Passerita mycterizans.
Contributor.
Mr. G. W. Vidal.CS.
Do
Mr. G. Carstensen.
Mr. W. F. Sinclair, C.S.
Eon Mr. Justice Parsons.
Mr. J. A. Bel ham.
Dr. T. S. Weir.
Mr. W. F Sinclair, C.S.
Mr. H A. Flu vf air.
Mi-. J. C. Anderson.
Col. W. P. Symons, C.B.
Mr. H. Fowl her.
Mr. W. P. Hamilton
Mr. W. Mahon Daly
IF H. the Nawab Saheb of
Junagarh.
Co'. W. S. Horo.
Mr. A. P. Pleader.
Deposited by Mr. Geo,
Ormistou.
Col. Wm. Scott.
Major G. E. Money.
Mr.' S. B. Doit;-.
Mr. E. H. Aitken.
Capt. Robertson.
Mr. R. T. Deaue.
Rev. F. Dreckmann.
Do.
Mr. H. Wenden, C.E.
Dr. J. Munday.
Mr. W. L. Harvey, C.S.
Mr. C. Maries.
Do.
Do.
Dr. C. T. Peters.
Mr. Vithal.
Mr. C E. Kane.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. XXIV., Part III., in exchange.
Land Birds of the Pacific District (Belding), in exchange.
A Revision of the Cat Fishes (Eigenmann), in exchange.
280 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Teratologioal Evidence as to the Heredity of Acquired Conditions (Windle), from
author.
Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Archives, in exchange.
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. LIX., Nos. 4 and 5, in exchange.
The Victorian Naturalist, Nos. 11 and 12, in exchange.
The Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XXIII., in exchange.
Catalogue of the Ferns in the Herbarium of the Government of India at Saharan-
pur, from J. F. Duthie.
Pharmacographia Indica, Part IV., from Dr Dymock.
Memoirs do la Sociere Zoolo^ique de France, pour 1890, in exchange.
Proceedings of the Linnseau Society of New South Wales, Vol. V., Part 3, in
exchange.
Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, 1890-91, in
exchange.
Several large photographs of animals, from Mr. G. W. Terry.
EXHIBITS.
A Large collection of beautifully-executed sketches illustrative of the rarer birds
found in North Cachar, by Mr. E. C. S. Baker, were exhibited and greatly admired.
The Honorary Secretary stated that it was proposed to reproduce many of the plates
in the Society's Journal, and that he hoped Mr. Baker, who was an excellent orni-
thologist, would contribute a series of papers in the birds of that region.
Mr. E L. Barton also exhibited a tiger's head and two bear' heads mounted by
himself, which attracted much attention.
SUBSTANCES USED AS INCENSE IN THE EAST.
Dr. Dymock then read an exceedingly interesting paper on this subject,
illustrating his remarks with specimens of Frankincense, Aloe or Eagle Wood,
Benzoin or Benjamin, Ustnrak, Storax, Ammoniacum root (the Boi of the Parsees),
Costus or Kust, Sandalwood, Common Camphor, Borneo Camphor (Baras), Cinnamon,
Cassia, Deodar Wood, Dhupa, Himalayan Juniper, Himalayan Cypress, Morina
coulteriana, Myrrh, Bdellium, Rala (or Dbnua), Sambrani, Vateria indica, Gokal
dhup, Galbanum, and many others. The lecture will be printed in full in tha
Society's Journal.
The following papers were also read (in whole or part) at the meeting :— Donm
Palms in India, by G. Carstensen ; the Butterflies of the Central Provinces
(continued), by J. A. Betham ; Description of a Rare Fungus, by Dr. K. R. Kirtikar ;
Note on Dalbergia Spinosa, by Dr. D. G. Dalgado ; Leaf Weevils, by Major C. A. R.
Sage ; and the Temerity of Rats, by Capt. R. Light, all of which will be published
in due cource in tho Proceedings of the Society.
PROCEEDINGS. 281
THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS AND ANIMALS.
The following letter has been addressed to Government by the Bombay Natural
History Society on the subject of protection of birds and animals in the Presi-
dency :—
From
The Honorary Secretary, Bombay Natural History Society,
To
The Acting Under-Secretary to Government, Bombay.
Sir,— I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1575 of 28th
February last, containing draft rules, under section 25 (I) of the Indian Forest Act,
proposed by Mr. A. T. Shuttleworth.
The Rules have been submitted to a large number of the members of this Society,
and I am now instructed by the Committee to say that, in their opinion, the rules, it
passed (with exception of Nos. 1 and 4), will be most unpopular and will prove a
constant source of irritation and annoyance to everyone. The Committee of the
Society have carefully considered the question from its various standpoints, anil
are strongly of opinion that the subject is of such importance that Government
should pass a special Act with a view of establishing a ''Close Season," during
which all indigenous wild birds and harmless wild animals should be protected.
Considering the wanton destruction of birds for the sake of their plumage, which
is of late taken place in many parts of the country, and which appears to be on tlu*
increase, the Committee are of opinion that protection should not be restricted to
game, but should extend to all indigenous wild birds, as well as to harmless wild
animals, and that a measure based on such liberal and comprehensive lines would
meet with the approval and sympathy of Naiivus as well as Europeans.
In the meanwhile, the Committee of the Society would be glad to sea all the
forests in this Presidency closed for the monsoon mouths (say from 15th June to
loth October), during which time the majority of indigenous wild birds and harmless
wild animals breed.
I beg to attach, in an appendix, several extracts from a large number of letter.^
which have lately been sent to this Society from Sind and other parts of tin*
country. — I have, &c.
H. M. PniPSON, Honorary Secretary,
Bombay Natural History Society.
6, Apollo Street, 16th April, 1891-
Ar-PFXDix.
" There can be no doubt that, unless some steps are taken to prevent it, the time
is not far distant when the indigenous game birds of Sind will be well nigh extermi-
nated in the more open parts of the country. Having had some experience all over
this district, I know that the Black Partridge has decreased greatly in number,
especially in the Rohri and Shikarpur districts. It was in the Rohri district that
rhey were netted for their plumage in enormous numbers a few years ago. I believe
the number was as mentioned by Mr. Symons — some 40,000. The shooting grounds
3o *-*
o
*
282 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
-i'>rmt Milligram, in the Shikarpur district, are now worthless. As regards other
birds, a considerable traffic in plumage goes on in a quiet way, and one only
occasionally hears of it. A year or two ago there was a great demand for certain
hers of the common paddy bird, for which Bs. 22 per "tola" were paid. As
very few feathers from each bird are taken, and these small ones, the number of
birds required to produce a "tola" weight of these feathers was considerable. I
expostulated with the zemindars about it, but I heard that several men had made a
^ood deal of money by slaughtering the birds for the sake of these few feathers. I
do not think this sort of thing ought to be permitted."
Sind, February, 1891.
" 1 am afraid the figures reported to you were anything but exaggerated. Seven or
eight years ago it was rumoured that 80,^00 Black Partridge skins had been sent off
from one station in the Rohri Division (Shikarpur district). In this (the Eastern
Nam) district large numbers of large blue Kingfishers and Egrets used to be killed,
an 1 last year I came across a band of Madrassees engaged in trapping King6shers.
The awful destruction men of this class must cause may be imagined, when it was
worth their while to come every year this long journey from Madras, and they were
aide to pay all expenses and make a living out of the sale of the skins they procured
in their cold weather tour."
Hyderabad. Sind, Feb., 1891.
The above are extracted from a large number of letters received by the Society,
all testifying to the rapid destruction of birds, &c, in various parts of the Presi-
dency.
H. M. Phipson, Honorary Secretary.
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JOURNAL
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OF THE
iittmpil |pt0jffi jtotetig*
No. 3.]
BOMBAY, 1891.
[Vol. VI.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA.
By Lieut. H. E. Barnes, F.Z.S.
{Continued /torn page 153, Vol. VI)
With a Plate,
944.— THE FLAMINGO.
Phcenicqpterus antiquorum, Lath.
The Flamingo is very common in Sind ; it is not uncommon near
Bombay, and occurs as far South as Ratnagiri.
I do not think that any of them breed in India, but as Mr. Hume
remarks, speaking of the Salt Lake at Sambhur, they have an untidy
habit of dropping their eggs about before leaving the lake for their
breeding haunts.
They breed in great numbers at the head of the Persian Gulf, and
there is (or was) a splendid series of their eggs, obtained from thence,
in the Frere Hall Museum, Karachi.
The eggs in my collection are moderately long ovals in sbapc
somewhat pointed at both ends, and measure 3*64 inches in length by
2-28 in breadth.
37
286 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The true egg is a very delicate bluish- white (skim -milk blue), but
this is altogether obscured by a friable chalky covering which i*
easily removed.
944 Jw, —THE LESSER FLAMINGO.
Phcenicopterus minor, G. St. Hill.
At times the Lesser Flamingo is very common at the Sambhur
Lake, and has been occasionally observed in Sind. A specimen has
also been recorded from Secunderabad in the Deccan.
Like the last, none remain to breed in India, but it has the same
slipshod way of dropping its eggs about before leaving. Mr. Hume-
has received several from that locality.
A Sindhi fisherman, who used often to accompany me on nesting
trips, brought me an egg which he bad found on a sand bank on the-
Indus, some miles below Kotri. The egg was discolored and quite-
rotten, and burst when I attempted to clean it ; it must have been
lying on the sand for weeks. It was very similar to eggs of
Phcenicopterus antiquorum, but from its small size I feel sure that
it belonged to the present species, still it is quite possible that it was
only an abnormally small egg of its larger congener.
I most carefully examined the huge series of Flamingo eggs in the
Frere Hall Museum, Karachi, but failed to detect any so small,
although they differed in size a good deal,
950.— THE NUKTAH.
The Black-headed Goose.
The Comb Duck.
Sarcidiornis melanotus, Tern.
The Nuktah is not uncommon in parts of Guzerat, Rajputana, and
the Deccan. It appears to be absent from Sind in the north, and
from Ratnagiri in the south. In most other places it occurs as an
occasional straggler.
Although strictly speaking it is not migratory, yet it wanders
about a good deal, occurring in some parts only during the breeding
eeason, but as a general rule they are permanent residents where
found.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 287
At the breeding season the fleshy knob on the bill of the drake
becomes greatly enlarged, and it is to this that it owes its vernacular
name [Nuktah), and also the name of " Comb Duck," by which it is
known to most sportsmen.
They breed during the rains ; the nest being generally placed
in a large hole in a tree, occasionally in a hollow formed by two or
three large branches where they spring from the trunk, and according
to Jerdon, more rarely amongst the sedges and rushes on the borders
of a jheel.
Personally I have never met with a nest in the latter situation.
The nest is composed mainly of sticks well lined with grass, leaves,
and feathers, occasionally they are said to make use of old nests pre-
viously occupied by an eagle or large owl.
The eggs, from seven to twelve in number, are regular ovals in
shape, slightly pointed at one end. The shell is smooth and compact
in texture, and when fresh resembles polished ivory, but they soon
become soiled. They measure about 2*3 inches in length by about 1*7
inches in breadth, but are subject to much variation in size, eggs of
the same clutch even differing. Mr. Hume records finding a nest
containing forty eggs, and was inclined to believe that they were
the produce of a single bird.
I found two nests in the middle of the rains, both in holes in trees,
one contained two eggs, the other was not quite finished. On visiting
the place a fortnight later, I found to my disgust that a party of
Brinjaries had only the day before snared the parent birds and had
ate them and the eggs. They said that the nests contained eleven
and nine eggs respectively.
Neemuch, August. S. E. Barnes.
Barocla, August (eggs). October (young). H. Littledale, BA.
951.— THE COTTON TEAL.
Nettopus coromandelianus, Gmel.
The distribution of the Cotton Teal in Western India is very
irregular. It is a common permanent resident in all the large tanks
in the vicinity of Neemuch. Has been found breeding in a small
tank near Baroda. Occurs in one or two of the rush -covered jheels
between Ahmedabad and Deesa. It is not uncommon in some parts
288 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
of the Deccan, and occurs in a few localities in Ratnagiri. In places .
where they are not much interfered with, they are very hold and
confiding, allowing one to approach quite closely ; hut in the vicinity
of garrison towns they are much more wary, keeping well out of range
in the centre of the jheel or else hiding themselves amongst the
rushes and lotus leaves on the borders.
They breed during the rains in holes in mango or other soft-
wooded trees ; occasionally in holes in old wells and buildings ; more
rarely still amongst patches of reeds or rushes.
The eggs are often laid without any attempt at making a nest,
but usually there is more or less of a lining, consisting of fine grass and
feathers, and occasionally a well-made nest is met with. When
the nest is built amongst rushes, it is semi-floating, and is more care-
fully made.
The eggs, eight to twelve or fifteen in number, are very large for
the size of the bird, averaging fully 1*7 inches in length by 1*3 in
breadth, they are oval in shape and are of a delicate ivory white
colour, but are not so glossy as those of the Nuktah, nor so liable to
become discoloured.
Baroda, September to October. U. Littkdale, B.A.
952.— THE LESSER WHISTLING TEAL.
Dendrocygna javanica, Hors.
The Lesser Whistling Teal or Wood-duck is a common permanent
resident in Sind, and is far from uncommon in Central India and
Rajputana, but in the Deccan it appears to be a somewhat rare
winter visitor. They breed from about the middle up to the end of
the rains. The nest is sometimes placed amongst the sedges, rushes,
&c, along the borders of the j heels, which at this season are generally
large sheets of water ; just as often they occupy old Crow, Kite, or
Heron's nests, and less frequently build a crow-like nest themselves
amongst the branches of a tree, at from six to ten feet above the
ground, generally in the vicinity of water.
The materials of which the nest is composed, consist of thin sticks
and twigs, lined with grass and feathers. The eggs, eight to
fourteen in number, are usually broad ovals, compressed a very
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 289
little at one end ; in colour they are pure white when fresh, but
become sullied after they have been a few days in the nest.
Thoy arc1 very different in texture to eggs of the Cotton Teal and
Xuktah ; they vary a good deal in size, but the average of a large
number was 1*86 in length by rather more than 1*5 in breadth.
Deesa {Milana)t Jul// and August. II. E. Barnes.
Hyderabad (Sind), Do. Do.
Necmucli, Do. Do.
953.— THE LARGE WHISTLING TEAL.
Deiidroajgna fulra, Gmel.
The large Whistling Teal occurs in Sind, and is stated to be very
rare in the Deccan The only eggs I have seen were sent to me from
Maldah. Although I have been twice stationed at Saugor, from
whence the only eggs Mr. Hume ever received were obtained, yet I
never once met with the bird, and I kept a good look out for it, more
especially during the rains. At Hyderabad, Sind, I found a nest in
a babool tree in the very centre of a deep and rather large jheel.
I could see the bird sitting on the nest. I waded in as near as I could,
but was too far away to hit the bird, although I fired to make her
show herself, and then I felt certain that I had at last seen the long-
sought-for Large Whistling Teal. The next day I turned up with
a large plank, which I used as a raft, and sitting astride with one
leg dangling on each side, I paddled off to the tree, but the bird was
gone, so were the eggs, and the nest was pulled to pieces. My shikari
told me afterwards that a sepoy of the Beluchi Regiment, hearing
my shot, came to see what I had been firing at, and spotted the bird
and nest, and so I lost them. I discovered afterwards that the tree
could be easily approached from the opposite side. I have always
had a private opinion that my shikari took a much more active part
in the matter (even if he was not the principal actor) than he chose
to admit.
The eggs in my collection are not larger than large eggs of the
Lesser Whistling Teal, and I am doubtful about their authenticity.
They measure 1*9 inches in length by 1*6 in breadth.
290 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
959.— THE SPOTTED-BILLED DUCK.
Anas pcBcilorhyncha, Forst.
The Spotted-billed Duck is more or less common in suitable places
throughout the Western Presidency, and appears to be a permanent
resident wherever found, moving about of course as water is more or
less plentiful.
They breed during the latter half of the monsoon, or as soon
as the grass and rushes, amongst which the nest is placed, is
sufficiently grown. Occasionally, but not often, the nest is placed on
a flat branch of a tree, just above the surface of the water, but most
often it is on the ground. The nest, which is well made, is composed
of rushes and grass, and is lined with feathers from the mother's
breast.
The eggs, six or seven in number, are broadish ovals in shape,
and are of a greyish-white colour, getting dingy and sullied as
incubation proceeds ; they vary a good deal in size, but the average
is about 2*15 inches in length by 1*7 in breadth.
I have often shot flappers in January, and have found them very
good eating.
Mhoic, August. H. E. Barnes.
Neemuch, August and September. Do.
960.— THE PINK-HEADED DUCK.
Rhodonessa caryophyllacea, Lath.
Colonel Swinhoe found the Pink-headed Duck to be not uncom-
mon at the Depalpore Lake, near Mhow. I never had an opportunity
of eoing there, neither did I ever see a specimen from thence, and I
cannot help thinking that a mistake has been made, and it would be
satisfactorv if some sportsmen or other interested person would
kindly verify the fact. At the same time, it must be remembered
that the place is very strictly preserved, and very secluded, and is
just the place suited to them, and although, so far as I know, this
duck has not been reported from any other portion of the Presidency,
it is not unlikely to occur there : if it does, it would of course breed.
I therefore give a description of the nest and eggs. The nest is
placed on the ground in long grass, is fairly well made, and is much
the same as that of the Spot-billed Duck.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 291
The eggs, six to seven in number, are quite unlike any other duck-
vgg known to me, being nearly spherical, measuring T78 inches in
length by I '66 in breadth.
The shell is compact but not particularly smooth in texture, and is
of a dull whitish colour, generally a good deal sullied.
The only egg I have was given me by the Curator of' the Indian
Museum, Calcutta.
961&W.—THE MARBLED DUCK.
Chaulelasmus angustirostris, Menetr.
I had some small duck eggs given to me years ago by the Curator
of the Frere Hall Museum. At the time he said they belonged to
the Blue-winged Teal. They came from the Mekran Coast, together
with eggs of the Crab Plover. Colonel Butler, who received similar
eggs about the same time, was of opinion that they were undoubted
eggs of the Marbled Duck, consequently mine must be the same.
They are of a creamy-white colour, but are much soiled, and the
lapse of years has not improved their appearance.
975.— THE LITTLE GREBE.
The Dabchick.
Podiceps tumor, Lin.
The Little Grebe is found everywhere, wherever it can find water
deep enough to swim in. It breeds towards the end of the rains,
making a large floating or semi-floating nest, composed of aquatic
weeds and rushes ; it is a mere pad or mass, with a depression in.
the centre for the eggs, which are usually five in number, and
when fresh laid, pure white in colour, but they soon become sullied,
and when incubated are often of a deep smoky brown, This is
owing to the birds covering their eggs with wet weeds whenever
they leave the nest. In fact, so inveterate is the habit, it seems
impossible to prevent them from doing it. Many pairs breed annually
on St. Mary's tank, Poona ; the Commissariat Store compound forms
one side of the tank, and I have often crept noiselessly up in the
early morning, just opposite to where I knew there was a nest, with
the intention to surprise the sitting bird and make her leave the eggn
292 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
uncovered, but the moment I would show myself, the bird would
give a few vigorous pecks, and disappear almost instantaneously,
and the eg^s would be covered ; only once did I succeed in erettino: the
bird to leave the egg (for there was only one, and that was apparently
just laid) uncovered. The nest was within five yards of the bank,
and she dived as soon as she saw me, but even as I looked the e»"
disappeared I waded out to the nest, and found that the egg
had been covered as usual ; the bird had simply dived and returned
with only its beak above water, and silently but effectually covered
her egg ; after this I discontinued my experiments.
The eggs are longish-ovals, usually pointed at both ends, but
they are subject to much variation. They are slightly chalky, but
fairly close in texture.
They average 1*4 inches in length by barely an inch in breadth.
981/er.— HEMPRICH'S GULL.
Lanes hemprichi, Bonaj).
Although the eggs of the Gulls and Terns are well represented in
my collection, yet personally I know very little of their breeding
habits. Mr. Cumming, the present Curator of the Frere Hall Museum,
knows more about the breeding of the Indian Gulls and Terns than
any man living, but he has placed little or nothing on record, and was
too busy to respond to an appeal I made to him for information. I
have had therefore to fall back on Colonel Butler, who did so much
in his time for Indian Ornithology and Oology.
Hcmprich's Gull is common in Karachi harbour and all along
the Mekran Coast. It is one of the commonest Gulls about Aden,
and breeds quite close, but I have not been able to get away to search
for eggs, and I could not induce anyone else to do so.
The Arabs here are most indolent and will not do anything that
they are unaccustomed to ; for instance, I once shot a black-necked
Grebe (Pon'iceps nigricollis) and, although there was a fisherman in
his boat within fifty yards, he refused to pick it up for me, notwith-
standing that I offered him a rupee to do so, and I had no alternative
but to strip and fetch it myself, which was rather a risky thing to
do, as the sun was high, and sharks by no means unknown, but the
specimen was worth running some risk for.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 293
Colonel Butler obtained the eggs from the island of Astolah, on
the Mekran Coast, on the Cth August. The boatmen stated that the
nests were similar to those of the crow, and were placed in the
Salsola bushes on the top of the island ; he heard afterwards from
others that they sometimes laid upon rocks, but the nests are
always well hidden, and are consequently hard to find. The maximum
number of eggs appears to be three. They differ a good deal both
in shape and size, but typically they are oval in shape, often a little
pointed at one end. The ground-colour is a pale brown buffy-stone
with numerous irregular blotches and spots of various shades of brown ;
in dark coloured varieties the markings approach to a coffee-brown.
The eggs vary from 2-l to 2*45 inches in length and from 1*45
to 1'72 in breadth.
98lquat.— THE SLENDER-BILLED GULL.
Lams gelastes, LichL
The eggs I have of the Slender-billed Gull were given to me by
Mr, Cumming, who took them personally somewhere near Fao in
Persia, he told me at the time the exact place and date, but my
notes have been mislaid, and I cannot quote them ; Colonel Butler,
through the agency of a friend, obtained them from a swamp, some
eight miles from Ormarra, about the end of May.
The nests consisted of substantial pads of grass, raised a few
inches above the ground, on mounds of sand, and were very solidly
constructed. The eggs, usually three in number, are broadish ovals
in shape, often pointed at one end. The ground-colour is dull white,
rarely with a creamy tinge, and the markings, consisting of spots and
blotches, are burnt umber, in some cases almost black and pale
grey lilac. When the markings are small, they are generally
distributed over the whole surface of the egg ; if large, they are
generally collected at the big end, forming a cap or zone.
They average 2*18 inches in length by about 3/52 in breadth.
982.— THE CASPIAN TERN.
Sterna caspia, Pall.
The Caspian Tern is not uncommon near Karachi, and occurs
all along the Coast as far south as Ceylon. Colonel Butler received
38
294 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the eggs from the island of Warba, at the head of the Persian Gulf,
early in April. The nests were abundant and built in colonies.
They consisted of small mounds of sand, scraped up four or five
inches high, and about a foot apart, with a few small sticks and
twigs on the top. The eggs, usually three in number, are broadish
ovals in shape, occasionally pointed at one end ; the shell is compact
but rather coarse in texture. In colour they are greyish-white
tinged faintly with creamy or buffy-brown, sometimes but not
often they are of a brownish stone-colour. The markings are small
and thinly set, and consist of spots and specks of brown of various
shades, with faint underlying spots of lilac or pale inky-purple.
They vary in length from 2 -3 to 2'75 inches and in breadth from
1*71 to T89. The eggs in my collection are intermediate in size
between these two extremes.
983.— THE GULL-BILLED TERN.
Sterna angiica, Mont.
The Gull-billed Tern is not uncommon in the cold weather, but
I do not think that any of them remain to breed within our limits.
Colonel Butler received eggs at the same time and from the same
island, but from a different part of it, as the preceding.
The nests were similar to those of the Caspian Tern, and like
them were placed on small mounds of sand about a foot or so
apart. The eggs, three in number, are hard, fine and compact in
texture, but quite free from gloss. They vary in colour from greyish-
white to a decided brown, the markings consists of specks and
spots of various shades of sepia-brown, with underlying clouds and
blotches of inky-purple or greyish-brown.
They vary from 1*83 to 2 -2 in length and from 1'35 to 157 in
breadth. My eggs measure 1-9 by L48.
985.— THE INDIAN RIVER TERN.
Sterna seena, Si/kes.
During the cold weather, the Indian River Tern occurs more or less
commonly throughout the greater part of Western India, the
exception being the Konkan, where its occurrence appears doubtful.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 295
Some few remain to breed in Rajputana and Guzerat, as I have
taken eggs in both these districts in April.
In Sind it is very common and is a permanent resident breeding
in great numbers during April and May, on the sandy islands, in
the bed of the River Indus. On one of these islands alone, a small
one, about a mile below Kotri, I counted over one hundred nest-holes,
and most of them contained three eggs each, some few had four.
Although there were so many nests, they were a good deal scatter-
ed, and required looking for, as they are difficult, especially to an
unpractised eye, to see, as they assimilate so perfectly with the
sand on which they are placed.
The eggs are laid in a small depression scratched in the sand ; in
shape they are rather broad ovals, fine and smooth in texture,
measuring about 1J64 inches in length by l-24 in breadth; the
ground-colour varies from pale greenish-grey to a warm buffy-stone,
and they are streaked, spotted and lined with various shades of dark
brown, with the usual underlying clouds and blotches of faint inky-
purple or lilac.
Mr. Hume, in his Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, 1st edition, says
that these two type& are commonly found in the same nest, and infers
that they are the produce of one bird, I feel sure that this is a mis-
take. I have had opportunities of inspecting hundreds of nests, and
although now and then I have found a greenish-grey egg with three
buffy ones, or a buffy egg with three greenish- grey, yet ordinarily
they are all of the same type and depth of colouring ; and it seems to
me quite obvious that the odd egg has been dropped into, the nest-
hole by another bird.
Neemuch, April M. E. Barnes.
Deesa, I)o. Do.
Hyderabad (Sind), March and April Do.
987.— THE BLACK-BELLIED TERN.
Sterna melanogastra, Tern.
The Black-bellied Tern seems to be a more or less common per-
manent resident throughout the Western Presidency, but I do not
think that it occurs in the Konkan. Colonel Butler did not meet
296 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
with it in Northern Guzerat, but I cannot help thinking that he has
overlooked it. They breed during March, generally ten or four-
teen days before its larger congener, the Indian River Tern.
Although a good many pairs breed together, yet the nests are as
a rule a good deal scattered, and like those of the preceding are hard
to discover. The eggs are placed in small depressions scratched in
the sand ; the number seems to vary. I found a clutch of four near
Neemuch and had another clutch of four brought in, but on the sandy
islets of the Indus I never found more than two eggs or two
nestlings.
The eggs are moderately broad ovals in shape, pointed at one end ;
they measure about 1'25 inches in length by 0*96 in breadth. They
vary in colour a good deal, but are typically buffy, and the markings,
consisting of spots and specks, and occasionally blotches, are of a
purplish or reddish-brown, with faint underlying clouds of inky-pur-
ple.
They are often found breeding in close proximity to the Indian
River Tern.
Neemuch, March. E. E. Barnes.
Hyderabad, Sind, Do. Do.
987 &»«.■— THE WHITE-CHEEKED TERN.
Sterna albigena, Licht.
During the cold weather the White-cheeked Tern is very common
all along the Coast, from Ratnagiri in the south to Karachi harbour
in the north, continuing to be common on the Mekran Coast. They
breed on the islands at the head of the Persian Gulf.
Colonel Butler received eggs of this species from the island of
Allah on the 10th June, and as I am indebted to Mr. Hume's
kindness for one of these very eggs, I cannot do better than quote
his note in full.
[Colonel Butler received eggs of this species from the Persian
Gulf. The gentleman who took them thus writes : — " As requested,
I made another trip on the 10th of June to the island of Allah, about
40 miles east of Bushire, where the eggs you got were taken from.
At low tide it is one island, but at high tide becomes two, from low
ground in the centre becoming submerged. Sterna albigena was
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 297
breeding on one, and Sterna anmthefa on the other. The former
(Sterna albigena) lays in the open on the bare ground ; no nest, but
in some instances, a few pieces of twigs were observable. Eggs,
in number one or two, not more. One egg was peculiar, being almost
white without any spots, the bird was shot off the nest, so there
could be no mistake. The eggs of this species, like those of most
of the Terns, vary a good deal in shape, size and colour. Typically
they are moderately broad ovals somewhat pointed towards the small
end, but some specimens are quite of the hen-shaped type, others
are broader and slightly pyriform, while I have three or four very
elongated ovals markedly pointed towards the small end. Typically
the ground-colour is a moderately pale brownish-yellow-stone colour,
but occasionally this brightens to a warm cafe-au-lait ; in many it is
only creamy, and rarely it is almost pure white. Typically, again,
the markings are neither very large or very dense. Moderate- sized
blotches, ' specks and spots of a brown, varying from deep umber
brown, almost black, through a variety of shades to almost sepia
brown. In some eggs all these primary markings are very small.
One egg in twenty exhibits a few good sized blotches. Beside these
primary markings, all the eggs exhibit more or less numerous
grey or pale inky-purple sub-surface looking streaks, clouds and
spots.
In one or two eggs the primary markings are altogether wanting,
and they exhibit none but these secondary ones. One egg we got
had the groimd white and was absolutely devoid of all markings.
Variations like this occur in most species ; even in highly coloured
eggs, like CEclicnemus scolopax, similar white varieties occur. The
texure of the shell is fine and compact, but it is entirely devoid of
gloss. •
The eggs vary from 1*48 to 1*71 in length and from 1"07 to 1*21
in breadth."
Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, 2nd edition, Vol. Ill, page 811.
988fer.— SAUNDER'S TEEN.
Sterna saundersi, Hume.
The Little Tern occurs during the cold weather as far south as
Ratnagiri ; at Karachi it is very common, and is a permanent
298 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
resident, breeding abundantly during May and June on the plain
between the Camp and Clifton, where I, in company with Mr.
Murray, have taken many eggs, A friend, to whom I wrote two
3'ears ago, informed me that the birds had all but deserted the place,
and that it was only by the most careful search and after going
several times that he managed to secure two clutches for me. The
eggs, two in number,, never more, are placed in slight natural depres-
sions in the ground, in hoof prints, cart ruts, or else on tiny hillocks,
but always where the ground is comparatively hard and dry, and
slightly elevated above the surrounding damp soil ; they do not seem
to scratch holes for themselves.
In shape they are moderately broad ovals, a good deal pointed
towards one end. They are fine in texture, but very fragile.
The ground-colour is a clayey-brown, and they seem to keep fairly
true to the type, not exhibiting such extreme variations as most
Tern-eggs do. The marking are specka and spots, thinly scattered
over the whole surface of the shell, with here and there a niggly
scratch or line, with an occasional blotch or smudge of the same
shade of colour ; the secondary markings are larger, and, if anything,
more numerous, and are of a faint soft lilac-grey or pale inky-purple.
They average about 1*2 inches in length by nearly 0*9 in breadth.
Karachi, May and June. H. jE. Barnes.
989.— THE LARGE SEA TERN.
Sterna bergii, Licht.
The Large Sea or Crested Tern is common all along our coasts,
and breeds abundantly on the island of Astolah, on the Mekran Coast,
on the islands at the head of the Persian Gulf, and I myself have
procured large series of eggs from islands off the Somali Coast.
Colonel Butler found them breeding during May, but mine were
obtained in August.
They breed in immense colonies, the birds almost touching each
other as they sit, this they do to protect their eggs from the Gulls
and other birds, who destroy them whenever they get an opportunity.
The full number of eggs in a clutch is three, but occasionally two
fully incubated eggs will be found ; there is no nest, the eggs being
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 299
placed in depressions scratched in the sand ; they are broad ovals
in shape, very much pointed towards one end, but variations
from the type are not uncommon ; they have no gloss, but the texture
of the shell is firm and compact. The ground-colour varies a good
deal ; white, greenish-, and pinkish-white, pale yellowish, pale buff,
pinkish stone-colour and warm salmon-pink, all occur.
The markings are also very variable, consisting of specks, spots,
streaks, blotches and jagged lines of a deep burnt sienna-brown, in
some eggs almost black ; the secondary markings are the usual pale,
washed-out underlying clouds and blotches of lilac and faint
inky-purple.
They are usually very handsome eggs. They vary a good deal
in size, but not more so than those of most large Terns do.
The average of a large number was 2*45 inches in length by about
1*7 in breadth.
Doctor Bartlett, of the Indian Medical Department, sent a fisher-
man from Aden to look for eggs in August, the man returned having
been to Obok, a French settlement on the Somali Coast, with a
great number of eggs of the Large Sea Tern [Sterna bergii) and the
Smaller Sea Tern [Sterna media). There were some others, a few of
the Sooty Tern [Sterna fuliginosa), and one pair of the White-cheeked
Tern [Sterna albigena), and several that I felt doubtful about, as I
had no eggs for comparison, having left my collection behind at
Saugor, C. P., and it does not do to trust one's memory. He kindly
gave me as many of these eggs as I wanted.
990.— THE SMALLER SEA TERN.
Sterna media, Mors.
The Smaller Sea Tern is very common about Karachi harbour,
and occurs for some distance along the coast.
They breed abundantly on the islands at the head of the Persian
Gulf. Colonel Butler obtained a large series from the island of
Arabe in the Persian Gulf. He does not state the date on which he
got them.
I received eggs from an island of the Somali Coast, and others
from an island near the French settlement of Obok in August.
300 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The full complement of eggs is three, and they are laid on the bare
ground, after the manner of those of its larger relative ; they are oval
in shape, occasionally moderately broad, and are pointed at one end,
the texture is fine but glossless. The ground-colour is white, rarely
bufly- white, the primary markings, which are as a rule thinly scattered
over the whole surface of the shell, are very dark in colour, almost
black, there are generally one or two large blotches of this colour,
blackish in the centre, but becoming reddish-brown at the edges ; the
smaller sjDots, too, are often surrounded by a kind of reddish nimbus,
which adds much to the beauty of the egg ; the secondary markings
are pale lilac or faint inky -purple, and have the appearance of lying
beneath the surface of the shell, but they are few in number and often
not very apparent.
They vary greatly in size, from 2"36 to 1*9 inches in length, and
from 1*5 to 1*37 inches in breadth, but the average of a very large
series, carefully measured, was 2*15 by 1*44.
990.6m.— THE SANDWICH TERN.
Sterna cantiaca, Om.
This Tern is not uncommon on the Sind and Mekran Coasts, where
it is stated to breed, but I have never seen an egg, neither can I
find any description of one, and I only notice it here, in the hope
that some one more fortunate may be able to supply the information
required.
992.— THE BROWN-WINGED TERN.
Sterna ancestheta, Scop.
The Brown-winged or Panayan Tern is common along the sea-coast,
Mr. Hume found thousands of rotten and addled eggs on the
Vingorla Rocks when he visited them in February. They had
apparently been lying there since the monsoons. Many dead birds,
both young and old, enabled him to identify the species to which
they belonged.
Colonel Butler has left on record two or three notes on the breed-
ing of these birds near Bushire, which I reproduce : —
" A few eggs of the Panayan Tern (at least said to belong to this
species) were taken for me by some fishermen about the 8th June,
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 301
1878. They were found on mud banks on the island of Tungistan,
about 40 miles east of Bushire, in the Persian Gulf, and the nests,
which contained from two to four eggs (considerably incubated) each,
were simply round depressions in the ground, scratched by the birds
themselves. The eggs vary much in ground-colour and markings,
some of them reminding one of the eggs of Sterna saundersi. I have
no doubt about these eggs, as a skin of Sterna ancestheta was forwarded
with them, and a note saying that there were no other Terns laying
in the island at the time they were taken."
He adds a couple of notes : — " A quantity of eggs taken on an
island 16 miles south of Bushire on the 18th July, 1878. The nest
consisted of a slight depression in the sand, just above high-water
mark. Seldom more than one egg in a nest, sometimes two, but
never more.'
JtJO
"Lays but one single egg, very similar to the egg of Sterna
albigena, but rather larger. They burrow about one to one-and-a-half
feet under shrubs or tufts of grass. Sometimes they lay on the
ground under shrubs without burrowing, but never in an exposed
situation. The eggs are always carefully concealed, and consequently
difficult to find. The eggs I found were all in a patch of grass and
shrubs about 80 yards long, growing thickly together. No nest."
Mr. Hume thus describes the eggs : —
Joo
" In shape the eggs seem to be normally very much that of a hen's
egg, though somewhat more pointed and elongated examples occur.
The ground-colour appears to vary from nearly pure white to a rich
pinky-stone colour. The primary markings, often small, never
apparently very large, and never very thickly set, are a rich reddish
or burnt-sienna-brown, becoming black in some spots ; besides these,
chiefly towards the larger end of the egg, a certain number of pale
purplish-grey specks and spots are observable, occasionally they are
pretty densely set about the large end, but in many eggs they are
very sparse and small. The shell, as usual in these Terns, is very
fine and close, but entirely devoid of gloss.
The eggs vary from 1*61 to 1*88 inches in length, from T16 to
1-29 inches in breadth." Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, 2nd Edn.t
Vol III., p. 300.
39
302 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
992&IS.—THE SOOTY TEEN.
Sterna fuUginosa, Gml.
I am indebted to Mr. Gumming for an egg of the Sooty Tern. It
was taken on an island at the head of the Persian Gulf, but I am not
in a position to give the particulars. I have also seen a couple of
eggs that were taken from an island on the Somali Coast.
Having but a single egg, I cannot do better than quote Mr.
Hume's description : —
" The eggs of this species are very variable, both in size, colour, and
markings. Typically, they are moderately elongated, rather regular
ovals, somewhat pointed, as a rule, towards the smaller end, but some
are of the ordinary hen-egg shape, and a few are markedly elongate.
The shell is very fine and compact, but has no gloss. The ground-
colour varies from white to pinky-white, and from this latter to a
yellowish-pinkish stone-colour. The primary markings consist of
large blotches, spots, streaks and specks of a very rich brown, which
on the pinkish eggs is often decidedly red, and on the rest is a sienna-
brown (burnt or raw). The secondary markings, which look more
or less as if they were beneath the shell, consist of spots and blotches
of pale purple-lilac, purplish -brown or grey, the shade varying in
different specimens.
The extent and character of the markings vary much. In some
eggs all the markings are small and spotty, in others the majority
are large and bold ; in some they are scattered evenly over the whole
egg, in the majority they are most numerous about the large end ;
in some the markings are pretty densely set, in others they are very
sparse.
In length the 23 eggs I was able to preserve varied from 1-86 to
2-03, and the breadth from 1-26 to 1'45, but the average of the lot is
1-96 nearly by 1-34." Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, 2nd Edn.}
Vol. III., p. 303.
995.-THE SCISSOR BILL.
The Indian Skimmer.
Rhijnc/iops albicollis, Swains.
^ The Scissor Bill is very common on the Indus, and I once saw one,
just before the monsoons, skimming over the lake at Jeerun, about
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 303
12 miles from Ncemuch, Central India ; it has also been seen once on
the Nukki Talao at Mount Aboo : and on one of the big lakes
near Khanpur, in the Oodeyporo district. It is however a bird of
the larger rivers, and these instances are very exceptional.
They breed on the sandy islets in the bed of the river Indus, along
with the Indian River Tern (Sterna scena), the Black-bellied Tern
(Sterna melanogastra) , the Small Swallow Plover (Glareola lactea),
and the Large Sand Plover (JEmcus recurvirostris).
They scrape a small hollow in the sand, make no nest, the eggs,
usually four in number, being placed on the bare sand ; they are
moderately broad ovals in shape, usually pointed at one end, averaging
1*6 inches in length by rather more than P18 in breadth, but they
vary a good deal in size.
The ground-colour is very various, faint greenish -white, greyish-
white, salmon- colour, pale pinkish-buff, and creamy-stone all occur.
The markings are bold, consisting almost always of large blotches, or
streaks, chocolate, reddish-brown, and rich umber, and underlying
clouds and streaks of pale inky-purple and lilac ; the markings give
the eggs a most peculiar appearance, as they are not parallel but
are twisted round the egg in a slanting direction. I have a clutch
of Snipe eggs (Gallinago gallinaria), which I procured in England,
when on furlough, almost identical in the character of the markings.
Hyderabad, Sind, April. H, E. Barnes.
1001.— THE WHITE PELICAN.
Pelecanus onocrotalus, Lin.
I believe this Pelican (which I have shot near Hyderabad, Sind),
to be quite distinct from either the Lesser "White Pelican (Pelecanus
javanicus), or the Grey Pelican (Pelecanus philippinus). It is a much
heavier and larger bird then Pelecanus javanicus, and never, so far as
I know (and I have seen a goodly number here in Aden), assumes
that lovely delicate rosy hue, that transfers the Lesser White Pelican
from comparative plainness to positive beauty. Young birds have a
good deal of grey about them, but not so much as the birds I used to
shoot near Deesa during the rains, and which besides was a smaller
bird. Colonel Butler identified this bird as Pelecanus philippinus,
and I believe his views were fully endorsed by Mr. Hume*
304 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
At all events, whatever its name, orocrotahis or crispus, this large
white bird breeds near Fao in Persia, as owing to the kindness of
Mr. Cumrning, I have an egg taken personally by him in that
locality.
This egg is pure white and is much larger than any I have seen of
Pelecanus philippinus, * measuring 3'5 inches in length and 2'3
inches in breadth.
I -have included this bird, the Gulls, Terns, and Flamingos,
although they have not all of them, strictly speaking, been found
breeding within our limits, yet their eggs are to be found in most
"Western Indian Collections of any note, and as they most probably
breed in many of the islands off our coast, during the monsoons,
when they are most of them practically inaccessible. We know
this to be the case on the Vingorla Rocks, and broken eggs-shells
have been found on several of the others.
1005.— THE LARGE CORMORANT.
Phalaerocorax carbo, Lin.
The Large Cormorant is very rare, even if it occurs at all, in the
Konkan, and it has not, so far as I know, ever been recorded from
Ratnagiri, but in most other parts of Western India it is a more or
less common visitant. In Sind it is a permanent resident, breeding
during the months of July, August and September.
Mr. Doig, to whom I am indebted for eggs of this bird, as well
as for many others, found them breeding in a vast colony in a large
swamp in the Eastern Narra District. The breeding ground was
about a mile long and eighty yards wide.
The nests were platforms, composed of sticks and twigs more or
less scantily lined with rushes and grass. They were placed on
tamarisk trees growing in water, and were from four to six feet
above the water, so that he could easily reach them by standing up
in the boat. They use the same nest during successive seasons,
adding a few sticks to the old nest. Mr. Doig remarks that owing
to this habit, many of them were as much as three feet thick.
The eggs, usually six, occasionally only four or five, and very rare-
ly seven in number, are long ovals in shape, pointed at the small end ;
* Pelecanus manillensis, Oates.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 305
they measure 2-4 inches in length by 1'55. They are covered with
a friable chalky deposit, which is easily removed, and frequently falls
off partially in the nest, giving the egg a mottled appearance ; the
colour of the shell beneath being of a pale bluish-green, approximating
to those of the Heron family.
I do not think that any of them breed on rocks within our limits,
but in other parts of India they do so.
Mr. P. W. Mackinnon, of Masuri, informs me that he has often
seen them breeding on the cliffs overhanging the river Ganges, a good
way up near the snow.
Eastern Narra, Sind, November. S. Doig.
1006.— THE LESSER CORMORANT.
Phalacrocorax fuscicollis, Step.
There still seems to be a great deal of doubt as to whether the
Lesser Cormorant occurs permanently in Western India anywhere
outside of Sind. I have shot birds at Neemuch, Deesa and Aboo, at a
time when they ought to be breeding, which, I at the time, identi-
fied as Phalacrocorax ftiscicollis, but I may have been mistaken.
There is no doubt about its being a permanent resident in Sind,
as Mr. Doig found them breeding abundantly in the Eastern Narra,
in company with the Snake Bird (Plotus melanogaster), and the Small
Cormorant [Phalacrocorax pygmceus).
The nests are similar to those of the Large Cormorant, but are
rather smaller ; the eggs 4 or 5 in number are exact counterparts, in
regard to shape and colour, of those of its larger relative ; they are
much larger than one would expect from the size of the bird, and are
barely distinguishable from those of the Indian Snake Bird which is
a larger and heavier bird.
They measure from 1*98 to 2-25 inches in length, and from 1*28
to 1*6 in breadth.
Eastern Narra, Sind, July to December. S. Doig.
1007.— THE LITTLE CORMORANT.
Phalacrocorax pygmceas, Pall.
The Little Cormorant is, I believe, a permanent resident in most
parts of the Presidency ; Mr. Vidal was of opinion that they leave the
306 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Ratnagiri District during the breeding season, but I fancy they do
not go very far away. All the birds of this family, as well as the
Snake-birds and Herons, have a habit of breeding in immense colonies,
and the birds from many miles around congregate together at some
favoured spot, as the breeding' season approaches, and one may
at that season travel many miles without seeing one of them, and
would therefore be under the impression that they had left the
country.
They seem as a rule to prefer Babool, or other thorny trees grow-
ing in the middle of some swamp or pond. Both nests and eggs are
miniatures of the two preceding.
The eggs, four or five in number, measure about 1*75 inches in
length by 1*16 in breadth.
Eastern Narra, Sind, June to December. S. Doig.
Milana near Deem, November. H. E. Barnes.
] 008.— THE INDIAN SNAKE BIRD.
THE DARTER.
Plotus mclanogaster, Venn.
The Indian Snake Bird occurs generally throughout Western India,
breeding during the monsoons. Mr. Doig found them breeding in a
huge colony in the Eastern Narra, Sind. I found them breeding in
some numbers on one of the lakes at Milana, about 18 miles from
Deesa, and got a good lot of eggs, which, however, were much
incubated. The villagers assured me that they bred annually on
these very trees, but I did not see any very large nests, like those
Mr. Doig observed, belonging to the Large Cormorant. I took a fully
formed egg from the ovaries of a bird I shot at Deesa, but I could
find no nests, neither would the people near give me any information
They place their nests on trees, Babool preferred, generally grow-
ing well out in the water. The eggs, three or four in number,
closely resemble those of the Cormorants.
They average 2*12 inches in length by l-37 in breadth.
Eastern Narra, Sind, June to December. S. Doig, Esq.
Milana, near Deesa, September. H. E. Barnes.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 307
These notes are now finished, and I must ask my brother oologists
in the Western Presidency to overlook their many shortcomings ; the
omissions and mistakes are possibly many, but this is to be looked for
in the present imperfect state of our information.
Should the publication of them result in calling the attention of
naturalists and sportsmen to the meagre extent of the knowledge we
possess of the breeding of birds in Western India, more especially in
the outlying portions, such as Ratnagiri and Kanara in the south,
theRunn of Cutch in the west, and Upper Sind in the north, and lead
them to place on record in the pages of the Journal of the Bombay
Natural History Society all they already know, and any new facts
that they may learn hereafter, the object for which they were
written will be accomplished.
Many of the names used have long been obsolete, but at the time
I commenced the compilation, now nearly four years ago, the latest
complete information within my reach was Mr. Hume's catalogue,
published in Stray Feathers, and as most Indian collections were then
arranged on this basis, I thought it best to adhere closely to it, although
in many instances I was of course aware that the names were out of
date, and it would have been easy to have made partial corrections.
The publication of Hume's "Nests and Eggs," 2nd Edition, edited
by Mr. Oates, has now made this an easy matter to rectify, and I
have added a list that will make the notes intelligible to those in
possession of that invaluable book.
In the earlier parts I had the able assistance of Mr. Davidson,
C.S., who kindly examined the manuscript before publication, and it
is to his extensive knowledge of birds and their ways that many of
the notes are due. Unfortunately for me, he went home on furlough,
and I lost his help and advice.
To Mr. H. Littledale, B.A., of Baroda, my thanks are also due.
He generously made over to me all his notes on the breeding of birds
in his vicinity. I have most unhesitatingly made use of all infor-
mation accessible to me, more especially from the pages of Stray
Feathers, where most of the experiences of Captain (now Colonel)
Butler and Mr. S. Doig are recorded.
I regret that I have been unable to make much use of the 2nd
Edition of " Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds," as almost all of these
notes were completed, and indeed printed before its publication.
308 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
I must also thank our energetic Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. M.
Phipson, for the support he has given me; had it not been for
his kind persuasion and encouragement, they would never have
aPpearCd- H. E. BAENES,
* *
*
(The above concludes the Series of Papers on t( Nesting in Western
India," by Lieutenant H. E. Barnes, F.Z.8., which ivere commenced in
Vol. III., Part IV. of 1888, and the author is now anxious that
members of this Society should send him Notes on the subject, containing
either additions or corrections t to be published in a few months as a Sup-
plement. It is to be hoped that readers of this Journal mil respond to
Lieutenant Barnes' appeal, so as to enable him to place on record, as
far as possible, the present state of our knowledge as to the breeding of
birds on this side of India. — Editor.)
LIST giving REFERENCES to Hume's Nests and Eggs of Indian
Birds, 2nd edition, edited by Mr. E. W. Oates, and correct scientific name.
No. and Name in Hume's Catalogue.
Reference.
Remarks.
2
Sbis.
4bis.
9
11
16
17
23
28
29
30
33
35
38
39
39bis.
42 '
43
48
55
56
57
59
ORDER RAPTORES.
FAMILY VULTURIDJE.
Otogyps calvus, Scop
Gyps fulvescens, Hume
,, pallesceus, Hume
Pseudogyps bengalensis, Om.
Neophron ginginianus, Lath.
FAMILY FALCONIDiE.
Falco peregrinator, Sund
,, jugger, J. E. Gray
„ chicquera, Band
Cerchneis tinnuncnlus, Lin .
Astur badius, Qm
Aquila clanga, Pall
,, vindhiana, Frarikl
,, ha stata, Less
NisaiJtus fasciatus, Vieill ....
Limnaetus cirrhatus, Gm
Circae'tus gallicns, Gm
Spilornis cheela, Lath
„ melanotis, Jerd
Haliatus leucoryphus, Pall. .
„ leucogaster, Gm
Butastur teesa, Frankl
Haliastur indus, Bodd
M ilvus govinda, Sykes
Pernis ptilorhynchus, Tern. .
Elanus ccorulous, Desf.
Tinnunculus alaudarins,
Lin.
Spizaetus cirrhatus, Gm.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA.
309
No. and Naniv in Hume's Catalogue.
Reference
Remarks.
SO
«5
69
70
72
7'5tei:
7. ">•/'<<
7i
76qnt
77
7S
84
85
86
89
HO
98
100
102
]03
104
107
108
111
112
113
114
117
118
123
127
129
134
I346ts.
136
40
FAMILY STRICID.K.
Si ri\ javanica, i )m
Syrniam ocellatam, Less
linbo beugalbUsis, Frankl.
,. coromandus, Lath
Ketupa oeylonensie, Qm
Scops bakkamuua, Jf'orst
,, malaharicus, Jerd
Carine bra ma, Tern
Heteroglaux blewitti, Hume ■■ ■
GJaiicidiura radiatum, Illy
„ malabaricam, Tick
ORDER IN^ESSORES
FAMILY lilUlNIUNLl-LF.
Hirundo filifara, Steph
,, erythropygia, Sykes.
„ fluvicola, Ji-rd
Cotyle sinensis. J E Gra
,, concolor, Sykes
Cypse'us melba, Lin
,, fitrinis, .7. K. Gray
„ batassiensio, J.E.Gray.
Collocolia unicolor, Jerd
Uendiocbeliduu coronata, Tick....
FAMILY CAPRIMULGID^E.
Caprimulgns indicus. Loth
,, kelaai ti, Bly
,, atripennis. Jerd.
,, asiaticus, L'lth
,, mahratteneis, Sykes
,, monticolus, Frankl. ..
FAMILY MEROPIDJE.
Merops viridis, Lin.
,, philippinus, Lin.
FAMILY CORACIAD^.
Coracias indica, Lin
FAMILY HALCYOXID.K.
Pelargopsis gurial, Pecirs.
Halcyon smymensis, Lin
Alcedo bensjalensis, Gm.
„ ispi la, Lin
Cervle rudis, Lin
III.
Ill
III.
in.
in.
in.
in.
in.
in
in.
ni.
in.
in.
til
93
115
99
101
9(5
105
107
108
112
113
Hirundo smithii, Leach.
Ptyonoprogne ccncolor.
Sykes.
3b Macroptervx coronatus,
Tick.
GO
63
53
310 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
No. and Name in Hume's Catalogue.
Keference.
Remarks.
140
341
144
145
147
148
149
151
158
160
164
ltibjns.
Ifi7
175
179
180
181
182
192bis.
194
197
199
203
212
214
216
217
217 qnt.
219
220
222
226
232
233
234
FAMILY BUCEROTIDJE.
Dichocevos cavatus, Shaw
Hydrocissa coronata, Bodd
Ocyceros birostris, Scop
lock as griseus, Lath
FAMILY PSITTACID^.
Paleeornis eupatria, Lin
,, torquatus, Lin
,, purpureas, P.L S. Mull
,, columboides, Vig
FAMILY PICIDJE.
Picus sindianus, Gould
„ mahrattensis, Lath
Yungipicns nauus, Vig
Chrysocolaptes delesserti, Main-
,, festivns, Bodd .
,, chlorigaster, Jerd.
Micropterus gularis, Jerd
Brachypternus aurantius, Lin ..
,, puncticollis,3/aZ/i.
,, dilutus, Bbj
FAMILY MEGALAIMIDiE.
Megalaima inornata, Wald
., viridis, Bodd
Xantholoema hsemacephala,
P. L. S.Mull
FAMILY CUCULID^.
Cuculns cnnorus, Lin
,, micropterus, Gould
Coccystes jacobinns, Bodd
Eudynamis honorata, Lin
Rhopodytis viridirostris, Jerd ...
Centrococcyx ruflpennis, III . ...
„ maximus, Hume...
Taccocua leschenaulti, Less
„ sirkee, J.E.Gr.
„ affinis, Bly
FAMILY NECTARINID^l.
iEthopyga vigorsi, Suites
Cinnyris zeylonica, Lin
„ minima, Sy~kes
n asiatica, Lin
III.
III.
III.
III.
ni.
in.
n.
n.
n.
ii.
n.
ii.
ii.
ii.
ii.
68
74
82
85
87
89
303
305
306
313
312
309
S22
325
329
H. 379
Dichoceros bicornis, Lin.
Derrdrocopus sindianus,
Gould.
Liopicus mahrattensis,
Lath.
Iyngipicus hardwickii, Jerd.
Okrysocolaptes gutta-
cristatus, Tick.
Megalaima caniceps,
Frankl.
Cyanops viridis, Bodd.
Arachnechtkra zeylonica,
Lin.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA.
311
No. and Name in Ilamo's Catalogue.
Reference.
Remarks.
235
238
239
240
253
25c
25fi
257
2G0
265
267
268
270
272
276
277
278
280
281
282
285
287
288
290
292
293
306
3:i2
345
35 i
359
385
389
390
397
398
399
404
404ter.
[■ A M I LY XECTA UlNIDiE.
continued.
Cinnyris lotenin, Jerd
Dicceuui erythrorhynoba, Lath .
,, concolor, Jerd
na agile, Ti ■'• ,
ila frontalis, Horsf
FAMILY UPUPID^.
Upupa ceylonensis, Reich ..
FAMILY LANIADJ3.
Lanias lahtora, Sykes
,, erythronotus, Vig
,, vittafcus. Vol
Tepbrodornis pondicerianns, Qm
Ileniipus picatns, Sykes
Volvocivora sykesi, Strick
Graucalus macii, Less
Pericrocotus flammeus Forst
,, peresrrinus. Lin
,, erythropygius, Jerd
Buchanga atra, Herm
11 longicauda, Hay
„ cceralescens, Lin.
Chaptia aenea, Vieill
Dissemurus paradiseus, Scop
Artamus fuscus, Vieill
FAMILY MUSCICAPID^E.
Muscipeta paradisi, Lin
Hypothymus azurea, Bodd.
Leucocerca aureola. Vieill...
,, leueogaster, Cm.
Cyornis tickelli, Ely
FAMILY MERULID^].
Myiophoneus horsfieldi, Vig ..,
Pitta braohyara, Lin
Geocielila cyanotis, Jerd
Merula nigropilea, Lafr
Pyctorhis sinensis, Qm
., griaeognlaris, H
Alcippe poiocephala, Jerd
atriceps. Jerd.
Dumetia ra
., albognlaria, Bly
Pellornenm ruficeps, Sws
Pomatorhinns horsfieldi, SyJc ...
,, obscnnih, Hume
I. 313
I. 311
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
I.
II.
II.
II.
II.
II.
I.
II.
II.
II.
I.
332
327
346
348
336
339
344
198
203
209
210
217
350
27
31
38
7
124
285
98
91
95
Piprssoma squalidnm, Bur.
Sitta frontalis, Horsf.
Campopbaga sykesi, Sir.
Dierurus ater, Her.
,, longicaudatus, Hay.
„ coernlescens, Lin.
Terpsiphone paradisi, Lin.
Rhipidura albofrontata,
Fron.
„ pectoralis, Jerd.
Pycl-orhis alfcirostris, Jerd
Al.ippe phceocepha!a,
Jerd.
Rhopoeichla, atriceps,
Jerd.
312 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
No and Name in Hume's Catalogue.
Reference
Eejiabks.
433
<134
435
All
4T8
4?9
40
441
412
4.3
44S
450
452
455
457
4"9
4T bis.
4"2
4^3
4<H
4R8
41fcbi's.
4R9
470
471
472
475
47R
479
4S0
4S1
4s9
4®2ter,
494
515
530
532
5"4
535
538
539
f>43
FAMILY MEKULID^E —
continued.
Malacocercns fcerricolor, Hodgs..
„ griseus, Lath
„ nialabaricus, Jerd.
„ Botnervillei, Sykes
Argya malcolroi, Sykes
Layardia subrufa, Jerd
Ghatar.heea oaudata. Bum
„ earlii, Hly
Megalurus palnstris, Hors
Chaetornis striatus, Jerd
Schcenicola platynrus, Jerd
Laticilia burnesi, Ely
FAMILY BRACHYPODIDiE.
Hypsipetes gnneesa, Sykes
Criniger icterieus, Sid
Isuss luteolus, Less
tiabigula gularis Gould.
Brachypodius poiocepbalus, Jerd
Otocompsa leucotis, Gould
,, fuscieaudata, Gould.
Pycnonntus hasniorrhous, Gm..
i hyllorni.s jei'doni, Ely
,, nialabaricus, Gm
Lira tiphia, Lin
,, nrgrolutea. liar
Iron a puella, Lath
Oriolns kundon, Sykes
,, indicus, Jerd
„ melanocephaltrs, Lin..
FAMILY SYLVIA DiE.
Ccpsyclms saularis, Lin
Ceicotrichas macrura, Gin.
Thanmobia fulicata, Lin
,, canibah-nsis, Lath..
Pratincola caprata. Lin
>axic .la picata, Ely
./Ed on familiai is, Neve
Cercomela iusca, Bly
Ac •ficephahis stentorius, .4rs....
Orthotomus sutorius, Forst.
l'rinia naviventris, Decess
„ socialis, Sykes
,, stewarti, Ely
,, hodgsoni, Ely
Cisticola cursitans, Prankl..
Drymoeca inornata, Sykes
74
I. 74
I. 359
Crateropus canorns, Lin.
in part.
,, giisens. Gm.
,, cacorus, Lin.
in part.
,, somervillei, Sykes.
Argya subrufa, Jerd.
„ candafca, Dmn.
„ earlii, Ely.
Chaetornis locustelloides,
Bly.
lole icterica, Strickl.
Pycnonotus luteolns, Less..
,i gularis, Gould.
Micropus phceoccphalus,
Jerd.
Molpastes leucotis, Gd.
Mol pastes hsemorhoHs.Gw.
Chloropsis jerdoni, bly
,, malabaricus, Gm.
./Egithina tiphia, Lin.
,, nigiilutea, liar.
Gittaeincla macrura, Gm.
Franklmfa gracilis. Author
Prinia inornata, SyJiea.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA.
313
No. anil Name in Hume's Catalogue.
Reference
Remarks.
544bts.
545
545 bis.
550
551
553
553 b is.
589
600
031
6-15
040
647
048
000
074
678
BSHt's.
683
684
685
B86
686bis.
687
688
089
692
694
695
696
697
099
701
703
704
705
706
709
711
7206 it.
724
FAMILY SYLYIAILK —
continued.
Drj'moeca rufescens, Hume
„ Bylvaticns, Jerd
,, insignia
Hnrm'sia gi'acilis, Rupp
Franklinia buchantmi, Illy
II ypnlais I'aina. Slkes
Sylvia nana,, H. 8f Eltr
Motacilla maderaspatensis, 6m
Gorydalla rut'ula, YiviU
FAMILY AMPELIDJE.
ZoPterops palpebrosa. Tern
Paras nipalensis. Hndys
,, nudialis, Jerd ,
Machlolophus xanthogenys, Vig
„ aplonotus, Bly
FAMILY CORVID^.
Corvus inacrorhynchus, Wagl...
„ splendens, Vieill
Dendrocitta rufa, Scop
,, leucogattra, Gould
FAMILY STURNID^E.
Sturnns minor, Hume
Sturnopastor contra, Lin
Acridotherestristis, Lin,
,, ginginianns, Lath...
,, fuscus, Wagl
,, mahrattensis
Stnrnia pagodarum, Gm
,, malabarica Gm
,, blythii, Jerd
Eulabes religiosa, Lin. ...
FAMILY FBINGILLID^.
Ploceus philippinus, Lin
,, manyar, Horsf.
,, bengalensis, Lin ,
.Amandina malacca, Lin
,, punctulata, Lin
,, striata, Lin
,, malabarica, Lin
Estrelda amandava, Lin
,, formosa, Lath
Passer domestieus, Lin
,, pyrrhonoius, Bly
Gymnoris flavicollis, Frarikl
Emberiza striolata, Licht
Melophus melanicterus, Gm
I-
397
I. 2S7
T. 243
I. 254
II. 202
I. 213
I. 110
I. 31
38
39
I. 4
I. 8
I. 19
I. 22
IT. 114
II. 121
II. 120
n. i2o
TI. 141
II. 133
II. 130
II. 147
II. 145
II. 159
II. 162
II. 157
II. 170
II. 173
Primia sylvatica, Jerd.
,, lepida, Bly.
Anthus rufulus, Vieill.
Parus atriceps.
Machlolophus haplonotue,
Bly.
-<3I!tbiopsar fuscus, Wagl.
Ploceus baya, Bly.
Mania malacca, Lin.
,, punctnluta, Lin.
,, striata, Lin.
,, malabarica, Lin.
Sporceginthus amandava,
Lin.
Stictospiza formosa, Lath.
314 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA.
315
No. and Name in Home's Catalogue.
Referonco-
Remarks.
818
819
820
821
822
826
827
828
829
830
832
834
835
830
837
839
840
8-lObis.
842
'6 12 bis.
843
848
849
850
855
85G
858
859
861
865
PA M I L Y T ETR AON I DJE .
Fancolinus vulgaris, Steph
„ piotus, Ji'rJ. am
Caccabis chukor, Gray
Ammoperdix bonliami. Oray. ...
Orfcygornis pondiceriana, Gm. ...
Perdicula asiatica, Lath ,
,, argoondah, Sykes
MicroperdiK erytbroibyncbus,
Sykes
Coturnix communis, Bonn
,, coromaudelica, Sykes ...
FAMILY TINAMIDyE.
Turnix taigoor, Sykes
,, joudera, Hodgs
,, dussumieri, Tern. ...
ORDER GRALLATORES.
FAMILY OTIDIDJE.
Eupodotis edwardsi, J. E. Or..
Houbara macqueeni, J. B. Gr...
Sypheotides aurita, Lath
FAMILY CURSORID^].
Cursorius coromandelicus, Gm..,
„ gallicus, Gm
FAMILY GLAREOLID^}.
Glareola orientalis, Leach
,, pratincola, Lin
„ lactea, Tern-
FAMILY CHARADRlDiE.
^Edicnemus scolopax, S. G. Gm
./Egialitis cantianus, Lath
,, dubia, Scop
„ minuta, Pall
Lobivanellus indicus, Bodd
Lobipluvia malabaricn, Bodd. ...
Esacus recurvirostris, Cuv. ......
FAMILY H^MATOPID^E.
Dromas ardeola, Vayk
FAMILY GRUIDJE.
Grus antigone, Lin
III. 367
III. 370
III. 371
III. 375
III." 380
III. 323
TIL 325
III. 319
III. 318
III. 320
III. 331
III. 338
III. 340
III. 340
III. 345
III. 335
ni- 337
in. 327
in. 372
Turnix tanki, Buch Ham.
iEgialicis jerdoni, Tern.
316 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCETY, 1891.
NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA.
317
No. and Name in Hume's Catalogue.
Reference
Remarks.
944
9Ubis.
950
951
952
953
959
960
9616is.
975
981 ter.
HSlquat
98a
983
985
987
9876t's.
9S8£er.
989
990
9906t's.
992
992 lis.
995
lOOlbis.
1005
1006
1007
1008
ORDER NATATORES.
FAMILY PHCKX U'OPl'ERIDiE
Pbreuicopterus antiquorum,
Lath
„ minor, G. St. Hill.
FAMILY ANSERIDiE.
Sareidiornis melanonotus, Penn..
Xettopus coromandelianns, Gm.
Dendrocygna javanica, Hors
„ fulva, Gut
FAMILY ANATID^E.
Anas pcecilorhyncha, Forst......
Rhodone?sa caryojjhyllacea, Laffo.
Cbanlelasmas angustirostris,
n ,
FAMILY PODICIPIDyE.
Podiceps minor, Lin
FAMILY LARID^E.
Larus hemprichi, Bonap.
„ gelastes, Licht
Sterna caspia, Pall.
,, anglica, Mon
„ seena, Sykes
„ melanogastra, Tern.
,, albigena, Licht
,, sanndersi, Hume....
„ bevgii, Licht
„ media, Horsf.
j, cantiaca, Gm
„ anseitbeta, Scop....
„ fuliginosa. Gm
Rhyncbops albicollis, Sws.
FAMILY SULHLEE.
Pelecanus onocrotalns, Lin.
FAMILY GRANCULIDJE.
Phalacrocorax carbo, Lin
„ fuscicollis, Supth.
„ pygmeeus, Pall....
Plotus melanogaster, Penn
IIT. 282
III. 280
III. 284
IU. 286
m. 289
IE. 2j0
III. 291
III. 401
Tacbybapte3 fluviatilia,
Tunst.
41
318 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES,
By J. A. B.
Part V.
(Continued from Vol. VI., page 183.)
FAMILY IV., PAPILIONIDJK.
Subfamily 1, Pierin^:.
86. Nichltonia xiphia, Fabricius.* We now come to the sub-
family known as the "Whites," of which the butterfly named above
heads the list, so far as the Central Provinces is concerned. It is
very like what is known as the "Wood-White" at home. lis
wings are not so narrow, however, and are more rounded. It is
pure white, with the exception, of two dark brown or black marks —
one at the apex and another spot near it — both on the forewiug.
Underneath the inner spot is reproduced, while the mark at the apex
is wanting. The hindwing underneath bears a few faint greenish
marks or striae. It is a very feeble little creature, and seems to
prefer shady nooks and lonely glades in forests.
87. Terms hecabe, Linnaeus. This is one of the commonest of
Indian butterflies, sharing with D. chrysippus the honour of being-
found all over India. The least observant person must have noticed
it at any time he may have taken a walk, except perhaps in the very
hottest or in the very coldest weather. It is a small bright yellow
butterfly, with a black border to the wings, which is deeper on the
forewing than on the hindwing. The border on the forewing is
irregular and deeply indented. The caterpillars of all the species of
this genus, as far as is known, are pale green, and so are the chrysa-
lides usually. Sometimes, however, they assume different colours,
assimilating themselves to the surroundings on or near which they
are suspended. The chrysalis is a queer looking object : the wing-
cases forming a deep keel, and the palpi-cases produced into what
looks like a long and pointed snout.
The underside of this butterfly is subject to many variations — in
the hot weather it is sometimes almost entirely pale yellow, while in
the rains it is marked with lines and splashes of a reddish colour,
# The numbers in brackets after the name of each butterfly have now to be
omitted, as we have got beyond the published portions of " The Butterflies of
India, Burmah and Ceylon," by Mr. Lionel de NiceVille.
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 319
and in some specimens there is a very large rust-coloured splash on
the costa close to the apex of the forewing.
88. Terias cesiope, J\lcnctries. This is very like the former
butterfly, but the buck border to the wings is more even, and that on
the forewing is not so much indented. The marks ou the underside
differ, being more of the nature of streaks and of a black colour.
89. Terias rubella, Wallace. This is very like the last, but the
blac'.v border to the wings has a distinct brick-dust-red fringe, and
the veins on the hindwing are defined with yellow, as they pass
through the border. The wings underneath are fringed with a
narrow reddish border.
90. Terias Iceta, Boisdnval. At first sight this closely resembles
the butterflies of this genus already described, but it can be at once
distinguished by the different shape of the forewing at the apex,
which is pointed instead of being rounded as in the others. The
hindwing underneath is marked in quite a different manner, being
more or less clouded all over with a reddish-brown hue, which is
concentrated in two places into bars, the upper of which is longer
than the lower. The male has a differently-shaped and placed
"sexual mark" to species of the hecabe group. All the four butter-
flies just described are very common and are found everywhere.
They have a weak flight and are easily captured. They sometimes
settle in swarms on damp spots on the ground. The larvas feed ou
various kinds of leguminous plants.
91. Terias harina, Horsfield. I have captured only one speci-
men of this species. It is a larger butterfly than those already
described and is altogether of a lighter colour, bearing the same rela-
tion in this respect to its congeners as the " clouded-yellow" and
"pale clouded-3Tellow" do at home. While the others remind one
of the colour of the Indian oriole, Oriolus hundoo, this reminds one
of the colour of a primrose. The only relief to the uniform pale
yellow is a dark tip to the forewing ou the upperside. I took one
specimen in Kalahandi. It has no " sexual-mark " in the male.
92. Catopsilia catilla, Cramer. The butterflies of this genus are
very common, each of the four species to be mentioned being about
equally so. C. catilla is the largest of these to be found in the Central
Provinces. The males are pale yellow, almost white, but this deepens
320 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
towards the inner portion of the wings near the body. There is a
slight black tip to the forewing, which is continued as a narrow
border some way along the cos La or upper margin and also on the
outer margin, but here the black is rather disconnected. The thorax
is clothed with silky hairs, which are longer near the abdomen.
There are also some long silky hairs on the hindwing near the
body. On the inner margin of the forewing there is underneath a
kind of brush formed of the same kind of silky hairs, and on the
corresponding upper portion of the hindwing there is an oval patch
of scales closely pressed together and of a different structure to the
scales which form the colouring of the wings, for these appear under
the microscope to be hollow like bladders, whereas the ordinary
scales are flat and tile-like. The underside of the wings is always
marked with reddish streaks, and on the forewing (underside) there
is one silver-pupilled ocellus encircled with red, while on the
hindwing (underside) are two similar ocelli. The use of the peculiar
brush and patch of scales on the wings is not known, but all the
males of this genus possess them. In fresh specimens there is a
peculiar faint perfume something like primroses to be observed in
the male only. The female is of a deep rich yellow, the forewing
with a similar border as in the male, with the addition of a black
spot in the middle of the wing; underneath the mai-kings are more
decided and of a richer tint. In some specimens the ocelli are
surrounded by a richly coloured patch, in which pink, brown and lilac
are mingled. The antennse are pink. The flight cf all the butter-
flies of this genus is very vigorous, and they always settle with their
wings closed.
93. Catopsilia crocale, Cramer. The male of this species is on the
upperside very much like that of the last, but is rather more
pervaded with yellow. It is not quite so large as a rule, and the
black tip and border to the forewing are slightly more perceptible.
The underside is almost unmarked and of a pure yellow, slightly
paler on the forewing, where it is covered by the hindwing when
the butterfly is at rest. The female has more black than any other
of the genus, as both wings are bordered with that colour, and there
is a sort of inner border formed by a series of dark marks, while the
base of the forewing in some specimens is suffused with black.
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 321
There is also an indentation from the border on the forewing from
the costa, marking the place where the discoidal cell ends. The
underside is not of so pura a yellow as in the male, and there is a
kind of sheen upon it. The caterpillar feeds on various leguminous
plants, the chief being the "amaltiis" (Cassia fistula), or the Indian
Laburnum, a beautiful tree with its long drooping clusters of pale
yellow flowers, followed in due time by long black pods like ebony
rulers, only not quite so straight. The first thing the caterpillars
do on changing their skins is to eat that cast-off garment. The
chrysalis is usually pale green, but assumes other colours when near
objects which it desires to resemble for the sake of concealment.
The antennas are darker than in the foregoing species.
9J+> Catopsilia pyranthe, Linnaeus. The male of this butterfly is
white with a faint greenish tinge. It has the black border and tip
as described in the former species, and in addition there is a black
spot at the end of the discoidal cell in the forewing. Underneath it
resembles C. crocale, except that both wings have faint streaks of a
darker colour all over them. The female is the same, except that
the border to the wings on the upperside is deeper and extends
from the base of the forewing to the inner margin of the hindwing,
and there is as if an attempt had been made on the forewing to
begin an inner border, but the effort had ended half-way. The
underside has the same sheen as is found in C. crocale. The
caterpillar and chrysalis closely resemble those of the last species,
and it feeds also on leguminous plants. The antennas are dai'k.
95. Catopsilia gnoma, Fabricius. The male of this butterfly is
white, the border and tip to the forewing being less broad than in
the species already described ; there is a black spot on the upperside
of the foi'ewing at the end of the cell. Underneath the coloration
and markings closely resemble those of C. pyratithe, but both wings
have a reddish spot at the end of the cell. The female looks like a
pale specimen of the female of C. catllla ; but the underside is marked all
over with streaks like 0. pyranihe. On the forewing (underside)
fhiere is an ocellus at the end of the cell, and on the hindwing
(underside) there are three silver-pupilled ocelli, the largest within
the cell, and one of the two others on the nervules defining the cell,
while the third is just beyond the cell. The last two ocelli are of
322 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
about equal size. It is more than probable that C. pyranthe is the
dry-season form and C. gnoma the wet-season form of one species,
which will stand under the former name.
96. Belenois rnesentina, Cramer. This butterfly is very common
in parts of the Central Provinces. It is a variable insect in the
depth of its colouring. The upperside is white. The forewing has
a black bar across the apex of the wing, which is bordered with
black, and between the bar and the apex the veins are marked wich
black, so that the white ground is broken up into spots. There is
also a black mark like a comma reversed, defining the end of the
cell on the forewing. The hindwing has a scalloped border in black.
Underneath, the black markings are all more defined, and the veins
of the hindwing are clearly marked with black. In some specimens
the underside is quite pale, in others it is more or less suffused
with pale orange, which is more decided over the hindwing and the
apex of the forewing. In the female the markings are all more
defined than in the male. The caterpillar and chrysalis are both
pale green. The caterpillar feeds on a thorny plant with small
leaves, the name of which I do not know.
97. Huphina phryne, Fabricius. This is also a very variable
species. It is difficult to describe the varieties so as to bring
them within the scope of an unscientific paper as this professes to
be. It very much resembles the last butterfly in colour and habits,
but its forewing is a little more rounded than in B. rnesentina, and
the black mark on the forewing defining the cell is not found in
H. phryne except in the specimens occurring after the rains, when the
whole cell is defined as well as the rest of the veins with black. The
specimens taken in the winter and hot weather are altogether paler
than those taken in the rains and early autumn. The latter have the
veins distinctly marked, especially on the underside, and the wings
are bordered with black, while the yellow suffusing the ground-colour
is of a richer tint. In the pale specimens the yellow sometimes is
only just a tinge of colour over the white. The female at all seasons
is darker altogether than the male. Both B. rnesentina and
H. phryne frequent hedgerows and low bushes, and settle constantly.
98. Catophaga paulina, Cramer. The male of this butterfly is
pure white unrelieved by any other colour with the exception of a
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 323
suspicion of a faint black border at the apex and outer margin of
the forewing. Its forewing is of a pointed and elegant shape. I
only possess one specimen captured by myself at Saugor.
99. Nepheronia gcea, Felder. This is a beautiful creature.
The male is of a delicate pale blue, the wings bordered and the veins
defined with black. The female is paler blue, with all the black
markings deeper and broader. Underneath, in good specimens, there
is a sheen on the wings like mother-of-pearl. Some specimens have
the hind wing suffused with yellow. This variety has been called
N. hippia. The female is a good mimic of D. limniace. This
butterfly frequents shady woods and glades, and seems to have paths of
its own. I have often watched the males with their elegant flight
flitting along through the mazes of the jungle, and have noticed that
they invariably return the way they went, repeating the trip over
and over again. The females are less active, and prefer resting in
shady nooks and corners. This lovely butterfly is like the
embodiment of some sweet, shy, wood-nymph clad in the colours
of a waterfall deep hid among the sequestered shades of its own
wild domain.
100. Delias eucharis, Drury. This is a well-known, common and
distinctively-coloured butterfly. The ground-colour is pure white
with all the veins clearly marked with black, especially on the fore.
■win°\ A short distance from the outer margin of the wings there
is a black line forming a sort of inner border. The female has all the
black markings darker and more distinct. In some specimens the
dark markings almost cover up the white, so that the butterfly looks
as if it were almost black. Underneath, the veins and inner line are
all clearly defined in both sexes. The forewing has the apex suffused
with yellow, which is more distinct in the female than in the male.
The hindwing is also suffused with yellow as far as the inner border,
and it is further adorned with a border of brilliant scarlet spots
bordered internally with black, the shape of the petals of a
flower, the broad ends pointing inwards. D. eucharis is a very
early riser and may be seen, before any other butterfly begins to
stir, making its way with a slow flapping flight through the topmost
boughs of high trees. It is easily captured, and can be seen almost
the whole year round.
324 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
101. Delias indica, Wallace. This butterfly very much resembles
D. eucharis, but lacks in both sexes the inner dark line or border to
the outer margin of the wings, and the red spots on the underside
of the hindwing are not bordered internally with black. The female
in some specimens shows the yellow at the apex of the forewing on
the underside through, so that it is perceptible on the upperside.
It seems to be more of a jungle-loving insect than D. ejxharis, which
latter largely frequents gardens.
102. Ixias marianne, Cramer. This looks like an enlarged
edition of the European "Orange-tip" (Euchloe cardamines) at first
sight. Its flight, however, is much more rapid and stronger, and it
is altogether a more robust creature. The ground-colour is pure
white, enriched on the forewing by a brilliant orange patch at the
apex of the wing, which is bordered internally by a black line. The
wings are bordered with black also. The female has a few small
black spots in the orange patch. Underneath it is of a pale yellow,
with the orange patch on the forewing showing through faintly
On the forewing there is a black spot or ocellus with a white centre,
which shows through on the upperside as a kind of black notch on
the inner border already mentioned. There is also a row of
rust-coloured spots between this ocellus and the outer margin on the
underside of the forewing. The underside of the hindwing has a
curved row of whitish spots bordered with brown, and there are
also a brownish spot on the costa and a white-centred brown spot
on the vein defining the discoidal cell on the hindwing. It has an
irregular flight like that of H. pkrijne or B. mesentina, and flits
along hedges and ditches.
103. Txias pyrene, Linnasus. This is very like I. marianne, but
the ground-colour is yellow while in I. marianne it is white.
10!+. Callosune dande, Fabricius. This is also like the English
" Orange-tip," but instead of having orange tips to the forewing, it
has a crimson tip, which in some lights assumes a faint purple tinge.
It has a black border to both wings, and the crimson tip is also
bordered on the inside with black. Underneath the tip of the
forewing is yellowish, and there is a curved row of black spots about
the middle of this yellow space, and a black spot on the disco-cellular
nervules. There are also two blackish spots below this row and
BiTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 325
close to the outer margin of the wing. There is also a curved row
of black spots on the hindwing, and a black spot centred with pink
at the end of the discoidal cell. It is also fond of hedgerows and
ditches and settles mi damp spots. I have found it in Nagpur where
it is. common, but have conic across it nowhere else in the Central
Provinces. The female has a few black marks showing on the
crimson tip, which are similarly disposed as the row of spots on the
underside of the wing.
105. Cattosune (Sp.?) I have several specimens of a butterfly
very much like 0. dan'de, but very much smaller. The colouring is
not so bright as in C. Janae, as the black border is wanting in both
wings. I captured this at Burhanpur, and have seen it nowhere
else.
106. Cattosune (Sp.?) I have also several small orange-tipped
butterflies belonging to this genus of which I do not know the names.
They were taken fit Iloshangabad, Singanama, and Kesla. They
are most delicate lovely little creatures.
107. Cattosune (Sp.?) I took several specimens of a Cattosune
in company with those taken at Burhanpur. It is yellowish-white
with a deep black border to the wings, and there are a few whitish
spots in the black border at the apex of the forewing. Underneath
it is yellow, and the forewing has a few black spots on it. I do not
know its specific name.
SUBFAMILY II. PAPILIONIN^.
108. Papillo polymnestor , Cramer. I begin the subfamily with
this butterfly as it is the largest I have captured in the Central
Provinces. The expanse of its wings is sometimes fully six inches.
Its colours are velvetty-black and azure-blue disposed on the fore-
wing in a band of blue commencing near the anal angle of the wing
near the outer margin, and running towards the upper margin where
it, in some specimens, curves inwards. The blue band narrows
rapidly as it runs upwards. The rest of the wing is pure black.
The hindwing is much more richly decorated. There is only a
triangular black patch at the base of the wing, the rest is bright azure,
and bear3 two rows of black spots. The spots in the upper row are
somewhat pear-shaped, in the lower row they are more circular.
42
326 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Bach vein, moreover, is tipped with black. Underneath, near the base
of the wings, are some oval dull red spots, which in some specimens
show through on the upperside. The female is as a rule larger and
the blue colour is paler. The dull red spots at the base of the wings in
the female are seen plainly on the upperside as well. Although it
belongs to the " swallow-tail" family, this butterfly is devoid of tails,
and the wings are narrow and long not deep and broad. The flight of
this glorious butterfly is on a par with its size and beauty of colour-
ing. It shows, as might be expected, great power, and sails along
"aaiestically. It seems fond of a moist climate and of forest glades
and oid gardens where the vegetation is rich and luxuriant. The
time of the day it is most likely to be about is from about 8 till 10
o'clock in the morning. After this it takes a siesta and may be
found in company with other butterflies, chiefly " swallow-tails," also
resting with wide-spread wings in some shady and secluded spot. I
witnessed the rather peculiar capture of one of these beauties on
one occasion by a Mahomedan lad who was out with me. We were
in an o\r: garden surrounded by thickets of the Female or Kattang
Bamboo, and full of guava, mango, lime, orange and custard-apple
trees. On one side of the garden was a large tank Overgrown
with white, red and blue water-lilies, the Lotus of India; on
the other side was a road shaded by bamboos and mango trees,
and beyond the road a large river. The place was an ideal one for
butterflies, and numerous specimens of many varieties were flitting
about. Every now and again a P. polymnestor or P. crino would
appear and be at once given chase to. We found, however, that as a
rule they all seemed to affect a particular path of their own, and
were constantly passing up and down their own road among the
trees. We therefore gave up chasing them and waited till they
came back, when a rapid onslaught was made, sometimes successfully,
sometimes otherwise. In the latter case our thoughts at miss-
ing such prizes were too deep for utterance. At last the boy afore-
said made a swoop with his net at a fine P. polymnestor, but instead
of being secured within the folds of the net. the insect fell fluttering
to the ground. The boy fell upon it, and finding it was a good
specimen, he added it to those he had already caught. When our
time was up to go back home, I examined the butterfly, and found
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 327
that the strong nerve or rib of the costa of the {brewing was broken
completely across. The butterfly was going in the opposite
direction to that in which the swoop was made, and coming in
contact with th.3 cane of the net had been disabled in the manner
described. I have only obtained this butterfly in the Central
Provinces from the Sambalpur District, and from Kalahandi and
Bastar. An easy way to catch P. polymnestor and other quick-
flying, wandering, seldom-settling butterflies, is to place a captured
specimen (dead of course) on the ground with open wings in their
path of flight. Every specimen passing that way will stop an
instant or more to examine the specimen on the ground, and give
a chance of a shot.
109. Papilio crino, Cramer. This is another glorious creature
resplendent in velvetty black and iridescent green. The colours are
disposed in somewhat the same manner as in P. polymnestor, but the
wings are deep and broad, and each hindwing is adorned with a
lobed tail bearing a brilliant green , spot. The green on the
wings of this butterfly changes according to the light in which it is
seen, from an intense brilliant emerald green to an equally intense
and brilliant sapphire blue. The black of the wings is more or less
irrorated or dusted over with green scales of the same colour. Un-
derneath the colours are very sober — a dull sooty-black being the
prevailing colour, relieved by a row of pinkish eyes on the hindwing.
It has very much the same habits as P. polymnestor, but the effect
of the changing colours on the wings as it flies along is indescribably
beautiful. The green and blue flash out with a radiance I have
never seen equalled, and the impression to the sense of sight is one
of overpowering beauty. It is from this very fact I have captured
so few, for when I have seen them I have been so absorbed
in admiring their loveliness and watching their movements that
most I have seen have been allowed to go free. Iu fact I have only
brought myself to catch the first I ever saw; the novelty was so
great, I could not resist the innate impulse of adding it to my collec-
tion. I have received one from Bastar, and these two are all I pos-
sess. One met with an unfortunate accident, but though shattered
and pieced together it still is an object of admiration. Its habitat
in the Central Provinces is the same as P. polymnestor.
328 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
110. Papilio dissimilis, Linnaeus. This is a very good mimic of
Danais Umniace, but the ground-colour is more yellow than blue.
It is probable that this and P. panope, which is as good a mimic of
Euplcea core, are one and the same species. The ground-colour in
P. dissimilis is pale yellow, in P. panope it is deep brown. They
both have the habit of settling on the extreme end of dry twigs just
the same as do the butterflies they mimic. When startled, their flight
is rapid and powerful, otherwise it resembles that of D. Umniace and
E. core in its ease, elegance, and general demeanour of lazy grace-
fulness. They are both tailless species.
111. Papilio panope, Linnaeus. This insect has been touched
upon in the preceding paragraph.
112. Papilio erithonius, Cramer. This is a very common butter-
fly, almost rivalling the genus Oatopsilia in its ubiquity. It is a very
handsome insect, and resembles superficially the English " swallow-
tail," P. machaon. The colours are the same, but somewhat
differently disposed, the black prevailing more than in the English
butterfly. It, however, lacks the series of blue spots on the hind wing,
which is such an attractive feature in P. machaon, and also has no
tail to the hindwing. The larva affects the trees of the orange tribe,
and a careful search is sure to reveal some of them on any orange^
lime, pomolo or citron tree in the garden. When young it resem-
bles the droppings of some small bird, but after the second or third
change of skin it assumes a dark green colour like the leaf it feeds
on, and is marked transversely with dark bars relieved by white.
When irritated the caterpillar, in common I believe with all others
of this genus, has the power of protruding from a point just behind
the head — the nape of the neck as it were — a forked process of a red-
dish colour and translucent. It looks like a bit of coloured gelatine,
and is flexible and covered with a moist exudation of a peculiar and
penetrating odour, somewhat resembling the scent of oranges. It
also feeds on a common weed called Bemchi or Bewachi in this part
of India by the country people. The botanical name of this plant
is Psoralea coryllifolia, and it grows plentifully upon the bunds of
tanks. It is a marked feature in the larvae of the "swallow-tails"
that they are all found feeding on the upper surface of leaves. It
would appear as if there were two varieties of this butterfly, — one a
BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 329
pale yellow, while the other is of a darker colour. As far as I can
speak from experieuoe, the pale ones are the fresh specimens while
he darker ones are older ones, fur when captured the darker ones
are generally more ragged than their paler brethren. I do not
remember to have seen any dark ones produced from the numbers-
of larvae that I have had in confinement. There is no d-mbt that
P. erithonins is a very variable species, varying not only in the above-
mentioned feature, but in the disposition of the yellow and black
markings, and also in the eye-spots at the anal angle and apex of
the hiudwing of both upper and undersides. This butterfly has a
vigorous and bold flight. The eg;<^ is globular and smooth anci of a
pale yellow colour. It is easily found on the tender and young
leaves and shoots of the trees mentioned above.
113. Papilio polytes, Linnaeus. Thi- and P. pammon are one
and the same species. It is the common black and white " swallow-
tail" to be found almost everywhere. The prevailing colour is black
or very deep brown, and in the male this is relieved by a border of
white or pale yellowish spots to the forewing and a line of larger
similar spots on the hiudwing. On the underside the colouring is
much the same, but there are in addition on the hiridwing a few
reddish and blue markings. It has three forms of female — the
first almost exactly resembles the male, the second is a mimic of
P. aristolochicB, and the third imitates P. hector. All four forms, that
is one male and three females, have a spatulate tail to each hiudwing.
The second form of the female has a series of brick -red or claret-
coloured marks following the direction of the margin of the hind-
wing, and there is a conspicuous white patch in the middle of that
wing. The ground-colour of the forewing, which is black or dark
brown, is much paler on the outer half ; underneath the colouring
is much the same as above, but paler in the forewing and brighter
in the hiudwing. The third form of the female has on the forewing
two broad white bars at about right-angles to the costa of the wing.
The inner bar is broader and longer than the outer. The hindwin"
has the white patch in form No. 2 replaced by a claret-coloured patch.
The colouring underneath is very much the same as it is above.
The larva of this butterfly resembles that of P. erithonius very
closely, but is rather paler in tone I think. It also feeds on trees
330 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
of the orange tribe. The chrysalis is much the same as in P. eritho-
nius; the points on the head are more produced, and it has, as it were,
elbows about the middle. In both of these species the chrysalides
are very variable in colour. I have reared green, black or dark
ashy, grey mottled with brown, green and grey, and pale pink ones.
When disturbed the chrysalis has the property of moving the body
with a jerk and emitting a faint creaking sound.
114- Papilio aristolochice, Fabricius. The ground-colour of this
butterfly is very deep blue almost approaching black in its depth in
fresh specimens. In faded specimens the colour is browner. On
the hindwing there is a white patch surrounded by a few pale red
marks. Underneath, the colour of the forewing is the same as above,
of a dark blue or brown approaching black in its depth; but the
hindwing has a white patch in the centre which is surrounded by
brilliant scarlet spots. It can be distinguished from its mimic, the
female of P. polyte*, at once by its having a scarlet and black body
and head. The hindwing is also adorned by a spatulate tail. It
appears that this butterfly is naturally protected by an odour which
pervades its body, and is therefore mimicked by other butterflies.
The shape of the wings is peculiarly elegant, the forewing being long
and narrow, and the hindwing being long and narrow in the opposite
direction. It has a peculiar fluttering- kind of flight.
115. Papilio hector, Linnaeus. This grand butterfly resembles
the preceding one in general shape and manner of flight, but it is
altogether larger and more brilliantly coloured. The ground-colour
is of a deeper tone of blue even than in P. aristolochice. The fore-
wing is adorned with two conspicuous white bars arranged as in the
third form of the female of P. polytes, its mimic. The hindwing
has two rows of brilliant scarlet spots or half moons following the
bend of the margin of the wing, and each hindwing has a rather
narrow tail in addition. The wings are further bordered by a very
narrow white band. The underside is just the same as the upper.
The appearance of this butterfly is very rich and striking.
116. Papilio nomius, Esper, This is a very delicate fragile-looking
" swallow-tail," of extremely elegant appearance. The ground-
colour is pale green — " eau de nil" I suppose it would be called by
ladies. The forewing is bordered with black on the outer margin,.
NOTES ON NIDJFICATION IN KANARA. 331
and about the middle of this border there is a row of diamond-
shaped spots. There are five black bars on the forewing paralle
to the body, the two inner ones extending across the wing and
ruuuing down the anal angle of the hindwing, which has also a
black border on the outer margin relieved by a few moon-shaped
markings, and ending in a patch of greyish scales. The hindwing
h is further a long, very narrow, black-bordered, white tail. The
ground-colour of the underside is pale green, with all the markings
which are black above tinged with a bronzy hue beneath. The inner
stripe on the hindwing is reddish-brown, the outer one consists of
a series of pink markings ending in a curve at the bottom. At the
aual angle of the hindwing are three grey and black '' eye spots."
It is fond of scrub juugle, and, in common with many other butter-
flies of this aud other genera, is often seen seated on the ground in
damp spots sucking up the moisture. It also affecrs nalas. It is
very common at the foot of the Pachmarhi Ghat, near Singanama,
where there is a hot spring. All along this spring it can be seen in
■quantities, and is so very tame that it will settle on your hat or
clothes as you walk along the banks of the stream.
NOTES ON NIDIFICATION IN KANAKA.
By J. Davidson, Bo. C.S.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society, on 9th Dec. 1891.)
I was stationed for 18 months in Kanara, in 1889 and 1890, and
as it is possible I may never be there again, I send you a few notes
on nidification in that district. These were made subsequently to
Mr. Barnes' paper in your columns.
111.— THE GHAT NIGHT-JAR.
Caprimulgus atripennis, Jerd.
This Night-Jar is not uncommon in Kanara, but it is very shy, and
only commences to call well after sunset ; it is therefore a difficult bird
to procure even where it is by no means scarce. The first nest I obtain-
ed was a happy termination to a whole host of misfortunes. On
332 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
April 5th, 1890, one of my servants found a single Night- Jar's egg laid
on the bare ground under a bamboo clump, in thin jungle, within a
hundred yards of a travellers' bungalow above the ghats. As the
mai'kings on the egg almost certainly showed it belonged to this
species, I was anxious to obtain the bird, and gave the strictest
orders that no one was to go near the nest till the middle of next
day. On my returning from a morning's ride, my feelings were
perturbed by my dog boy smilingly informing me that there were
now two eggs, and while I was preparing for my ablutions, they
were further ruffled by a villager bringing in two eggs of the same
type. I asked where he got them. His answer was, " quite close."
He was ordered to show the place, and I followed after a very
hurried toilet. To my dismay he pointed out the identical spot
I had so carefully marked down. I rushed back to the bungalow
for the eggs, only to find my skinner had already drilled a hole in
each, and had almost finished blowing one. Having snatched them
away, I replaced them, and they were soon glued to the ground.
In an hour the bird was again announced as sitting. She, however,
sat till I was quite close, and then dodged through trees, and after
half an hour's pursuit I returned without a shot, In a couple of
hours she was again on the nest, and I tried to drive her, but she
broke back. I waited till 4, and, as she did not return, I nearly gave
up all hope, and took away one of the eggs, leaving the other as a
last chance. Just as it got dark she again returned. I fired at her
with a small specimen gun as she sat on the nest, and fortunately
secured her without injuring the other egg. I obtained another nest
the following day, also with two fresh eggs. The eggs differ a good
deal from any other Night-Jars' eggs I know. They are a rich cream-
colour with a few small black or dark-purple spots on them.
120.— THE EGYPTIAN BEE-EATER.
Merops quinticolor, VicUL
This Bee-Eater I did not notice in Kanara in the summer of 1889,
but from December, 1889 to April, 1890, I noticed it in most places
where there was heavy jungle and water. I took many nests between
the 21st March and the 7th of April ; the nest-holes were generally
from 3 to 5 feet deep, and were placed on river banks, and in all
NOTES ON N1DIFICAT10N IN KANARA, 333
cases singly; the number of eggs was 4 or 5 in each case. They
appear to me indistinguishable from those of Alcedo bcngalcnsis.
122.— THE BLUE-NECKED BEE-FATER.
Nyctiornis athertoni, Jerd. and Sclby.
This is a very sh)r bird, and not at all common anywhere I
visited; I noticed it, however, occasionally both above and below
the ghats from February to July, and it is probably found
throughout the year. I obtained several nests; these were, as
might have been expected in an orthodox bee-eater, all in holes
in banks, most frequently adjoining roads ; they were as a rule
very deep, sometimes over 6 feet, and were at once recognizable
by the fact that the tunnel always contained many wing-cases
and other remains of bees, wasps, and beetles. The holes ended
in a large chamber, completely filled with these remains, and
the eggs were completely hidden beneath them. I carefully ex-
tracted the contents of a nest in which the eggs were hard
set, and, with a slight admixture of earth, it nearly filled the
top of a " solah topee ' Three and four were the number of
e'-H'S:^ and young I found in the nests ; they are quite indistinguish-
able from those of Haleyoi frnensis; fortunately, however, both
the blue-necked and chestnut-headed bee-eaters allow themselves to
be dug out, so there can never be any doubt about the identity
of their eggs. All the eggs I took were in the end of March ; in
April the nests contained young. The Public Works coolies
employed on the roads had an abominable habit of digging out and
eating the birds and eggs of this species, and many nests so destroyed
came to my notice.
140.— THE GREAT HORNBILL.
Dichoceros carat us, Shaw.
I found this much the scarcest of the four Hornbills found in Kanara,
and certainly did not notice a dozen specimens in the eighteen months
I was there. On the 12th February, 1890, I was shown a nest at
Kutgul, just below the Devimane Ghat, and was told the birds had
bred there for many years, though the villagers generally killed the
old one, and the one young one (the villagers said there never Mas
43
334 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
more than one), as soon as the latter was half- grown. The tree was
a very high one, situated in a " kan " or wood of evergreen jungle.
It was branchless for about 40 feet, where there was the stump of a
small dead branch ; 4 or 5 feet further up a large branch had been
torn away and left a sort of crevice, and in this the nest was placed.
To get at it was no easy task ; a bamboo ladder some 10 feet long
was, however, placed against the trunk, one of great circumference,
and was tied to it by creepers every 3 or 4 feet ; a couple of men
then climbed to nearly the top of this, and fastened a second ladder
in the same way, and after some 4 hours work, they reached the
small branch and stood on its stump, having tied a rope (creeper)
round the tree to enable them to hold on. On a man putting his
hand to the hole, a regular growl was heard, and the hen struck at
his hand, nearly knocking him off the tree. A long knife was
accordingly sent up, and, after a struggle, the poor bird was .stabbed
and pulled out. The nest contained one fresh egg (the only one
that would have been laid). The cock called occasionally, but
I never saw him ; the natives were very much afraid of him, and
refused to attempt the nest, unless I stood below with a gun to shoot
him if he attacked them.
145.— THE JUNGLE GREY HORNBILL.
Tockus griseus, Lath.
This is the commonest Hornbill in Kanara, and is generally
distributed, though Ooyceros birostris almost entirely replaces it in
the east of Sirsi. Its breeding habits are similar to those of Birostris,
and I obtained a number of nests in February and the beginning of
March. These contained each 2 or 3 eggs ; they vary in size,
and are, I consider, undistinguishable from those of Birostris. The
latter, however, frequently lays as many as 5 eggs, and they are, as
a rule, a month later.
151.— THE BLUE-WINGED PAROQUET.
Paleomis columboides, Vigors.
This is the common parrot of the Ghats, and the jungles imme-
diately below them. I have been, however, very unlucky in finding
its nests, and the only one I got containing eggs, was taken on
NOTES ON NIDIFICATION IN KANARA. 335
9th February, 1890, at Kutgal in the Kumta Taluka. It contained
two hard-set eggs.
179.— THE MADRAS RUFOUS WOODPECKER.
Micnopternus gularis, Jerd.
This is a common Woodpecker in Kanara, and though I have
never taken their eggs, I have often found their nests. I think
the birds continue to inhabit their old nests, as I have found
them about a nest I had known for months, and there were no signs
of any intention to lay again. The birds make a small tunnel into
one of the nests of a small tree ant, and hollow out a largish chamber.
I have always found the ants still there, and have been well stung
on examining the nest -hole. I think this bird breeds as a rule in
the rains, but in the middle of March a villager brought me 3 wood-
pecker eggs ; I could not properly understand his dialect, and on his
stating that the nest was an immense distance off [to enhance the
value by proving he had taken a deal of trouble in finding it], as a
protest against his taking the eggs himself instead of bringing me
to them, I flung them on the ground. One of my sepoys afterwards
told me, the same man had told him he had got them from an ant's
nest half a mile off. This was no doubt the truth, but I was too
disgusted to go to the place to see.
THE GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER.
Thriponax Eochoni, Jerd.
This Woodpecker is not common, but one sees it occasionally in all
the heavy jungles. I have never taken the eggs, but I saw a pair
close to an enormous dead and rotten tree at Kutgal, in February.
The tree contained several old nest holes, and one of the birds entered
and left one of these. The tree was so rotten that no one could pos-
sibly climb it ; I, however, visited it again in the early morning and
again in the evening, and on both occasions fired a shot at it ; as on
neither occasion did I see anything of the birds, they cannot have
been breeding there at that time, though no doubt it was an old nest,
which like most other woodpeckers, they occasionally return to. At
Sirsi, at the very end of February, two eggs, apparently Woodpecker's,
were brought to me late one evening. The man said he had taken
336 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
them from a hole in a tree, a mile or two away. They were much
larger than eggs I possess of Ch. Festivus, and if Woodpecker's must
have belonged to this species. Indeed if there had been only one,
I might almost have accepted them without question — I have, however,
never seen more than three of this large Woodpeckers together, and
expect it generally at all events, only lays one egg. I was busy at
the time, and returned them to the man who brought them, and
who promised to replace them, and to bring me to the nest in the
morning. He, however, never turned up, and though I had any
amount of people searching for him, I never saw him again. I sus-
pect he must have broken them in taking them back, and was afraid
to show his face, having received a considerable reward.
181. — Brachypternus puneiieollis, Math.
This woodpecker certainly does not take the place of Aurantius,
in Kanara, as 9 out of every 10 golden-backed woodpeckers there
are certainly An ran tins. At the same time I have procured two or
three specimens with the dark throat, very distinct in appearance
from Aurantius. I have unfortunately never obtained the pair when
I shot a bird of the Puncticollis form ; I have however shot pairs in
which both male and female were Aurantius. I caught a female
Puncticollis on her nest in the Sirsi Taluka in March, 1889. It
contained two hard-set eggs undistinguishable from those of
Aurantius.
198.— THE CRIMSON-THROATED BAEBET.
Xaiitholcema Malabar tea, Bly.
This is the most provoking bird I know. It is excessively
common wherever there is thick jungle, and indeed in the " kans"
among the cultivated land ; its nest holes are everywhere, placed in
dead branches in positions similar to those chosen by Hcemaeephala.
To get its eggs, however, I have found a very difficult matter. You
devote a day in a place they abound to searching for their nests ;
you see or hear perhaps 30 couples ; you start 6 birds out of their
nest-holes ; you have these carefully cut open. In 5 cases the
holes are so easily placed, that even a fourteen- stone man like my
unfortunate self could get at them without assistance ; these, however,
contain in one case small young, in another, young nearly fully
NOTES ON NWIFICAT10N TN KANAKA. 337
fledged ; while in the three other cases, the holes though completed, or
almost completed, contain Dothing. The sixth nest, <m the other haud,
is at the exl reme end of a dead branch, high up. You take every care,
have a rope tied round the branch, and haviug successf ully cut it,
proceed to Lower it ; it is however no use ; just as you get a hold of the
cut stump, the top breaks, and the eggs are scattered at your feet.
This has happened to me more than once, and I possess but one egg,
taken at Ekambe, in Sirsi, in March, 1890. It is impossible to judge
from one specimen, but it seems smaller, and thicker-shelled than
the majority of the eggs of Hcemacephala.
224.— THE LITTLE SPIDER HUNTER.
Arachnothera longirostra, Lath.
This is a shy bird, and one, I think, rare in Kanara. I have only
seen it on a few occasions, and these all in gardens above the ghats.
I have taken, or had brought to me, 4 or 5 of its nests ; and most
wonderful structures they are. The bird chooses a large plantain
leaf a few feet from the ground, and to its underside sews its nest.
This is composed of skeleton leaves an inch or two thick, and nearly
a foot, in some cases, in length. It has an entrance at each end, and
in the middle there is a hollow thickly padded with fine grass. I
have always found two eggs or young ; the nests have always been
found by me in February or March. The eggs resemble both in
size and general appearance those of Pratincola caprafa, but are
slightly smaller, they are a pale pink, with a narrow, but very dark
pink ring round the larger end ; altogether a very striking egg, not
mistakeable for any other I know.
233.— THE TINY HONEY-SUCKER.
Arachnechthra minima, S//kes.
This is the commonest Honey-sucker in Kanara, in the imme-
diate neighbourhood of the ghats, but is not found in the east
of the district. It breeds from the middle of December to February.
Its nest is a very beautiful one, built of green moss, adorned with
the white webs of spiders and red ants. It is a neat little pocket,
slightly smaller than that of either Zeylonica or Asiatica. I have
found it occasionally suspended from bamboos or branches up to
twenty feet from the ground, but two-thirds of the nests are on the
338 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
"Karwe" [Strobilanthus]. They are hung from the tips of the
plants, generally from 4 to 6 feet from the ground, and generally
on the outside of a clump. I have always found two eggs or young.
The former have been all of one type, not in the least resembling
those sent from the Neilgheries, and which are described as similar
to Asiatica but miniatures. I have seen at least twenty clutches, and
all were exactly alike, the ground-colour being pinky-white, and the
larger end being well spotted with reddish-purple, a zone being
formed in some cases ; the eggs are also much smaller than those of
Asiatica. If the Neilgheri eggshave been rightly identified, it seems
strange that this bird should lay such different types of eggs.
235.— THE LARGE PURPLE HONEY-SUCKER.
Ar achnechthra lotenia, Lin.
This bird is not uncommon in Kanara, and breeds both in
the end of the rains and during the hot weather along the coast.
Above the ghats though I have often seen the bird I have never
taken the nest. Mr. Aitken has already fully described the nest in
this Journal, and the few I have seen agree with his description.
The eggs are of the Asiatica type, and except being larger, cannot,
I think be discriminated with certainty.
239.— THE NEILGHERY FLOWER-PECKER.
Dicaeum concolor, Jerd.
This flower-pecker is found in Kanara, at all events above the
ghats, but I have only one or two specimens, and I expect it is much
rarer than Erythrorhynehus. Unless in the hand it is almost impos-
sible to distinguish the one from the other, and one cannot keep
shooting all the poor little birds one sees in order to find out exactly
what they are. I shot one, however, from a nest in the Sirsi Taluka
on the 28th March, 1890. The nest was about ten feet from the
ground, in a tree newly come into leaf, and was close to the main
road, and I was able to take it without dismounting ; the nest and
eggs were undistinguishable from those of Erythrorhynchm.
264.— THE MALABAR WOOD-SHRIKE.
Teplirodornis Sylvicola, Jerd.
This shrike is a permanent resident in Kanara, and fairly common
all over the district. It breeds in March and the early part of April.
NOTES OS N1D1F1CATWN IN KANARA. 3.39
The nests are in forks of leafless trees, frequently pollards, and are
large masses of roots, bordered with green moss and ornamented
with the webs of red ants. They exactly match the branch they are
built on, and are exceedingly difficult to discover, building, as this
bird does, where there are thousands of suitable trees. The bird,
however, like its smaller ally Pondicerianm is a restless one, and
constantly flies to and from its nest in pursuit of insects ; conse-
quently if a pair are noticed in the breeding season, it only requires
an hour or so of careful watching to mark one or other bird on to the
nest. I have never found more than two eggs or young in any nest,
they are very broad ovals ; the ground-colour is a greenish-white
but a very clear white, and they are richly marked with brownish-
purple at the larger end.
267.-THE LITTLE PIED SHRIKE.
Hemipus picatus, iSykes.
This bird is common in Kanara. I have, however, only found two
nests ; both were situated like the one I found previously in Nasik,
on horizontal branches of the Silk-cotton tree, and both were only
about twelve feet from the ground. Both nests were found in May.
282.— THE BRONZED DRONGO.
Chaptia aenea, VieilL
This is very common bird in Kanara, and I obtained many of its
nests. They were always neat little cups generally of light coloured
roots and grass placed in forks of trees from ten to fifteen feet from
the ground.
404.— THE SOUTHERN SCIMITAR BABBLER.
Pomatorhinus horsfieldi, Sykes.
This bird is common in Kanara. I however only obtained
two nests. Both were large oval masses of grass, placed on the
ground on a bank in thin jungle, but close to some heavy thickets.
They were taken in February, 1890, and each contained three par-
tially incubated eggs.
464.— THE MALABAR GREEN BULBUL.
Phyllornia Malabavicus, Gm.
This bird I consider rare in Kanara, and I have seen but few
specimens. Jerdoni on the other hand is common everywhere. I
340 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
obtained a nest on the 18th February at Sampkimd in the Sirsi
Taluka. It was a cup of very light- coloured grass or roots suspended
between two branches on a tree in thin jungle. It was about 20 feet
from the ground, and as it contained two very small young, I did not
disturb it.
781 bis.— THE SOUTHERN INDIAN CARPOPHAGA.
Carpophaga cuprea, Jerd.
At page 329 of Vol. 5 of the Journal there is a note as to the
nidification of Carpophaga insignia. This however is the result
of a stupid clerical error on my part, and the note really refers
to this species.
814.— THE RED SPUR FOWL.
Galloperdix sptadiceus, Gm.
This bird was very common in Kanara, as also in several other
districts in which I have served. I have found its nests at all times
during the hot weather ; i. e., from February to June.
I notice Mr. Barnes following nearly every other writer ; states it
lays from five to eight eggs, seldom more. Now in the various
districts I have found this bird breeding, I must have seen 30 or 40
nests and I cannot recollect ever finding more than three eggs.
I have now before me the records of fifteen clutches, nine from
Kanara and six from Nosik. All contained three eg-ars, and in most
of the cases the eggs were well incubated. I therefore think it is
probable that the large clutches mentioned by others must at all
events in some cases have been the produce of more than one hen.
936 bis.— THE MALAYAN TIGER BITTERN.
Goisakius melanolof>Jius, Buffi.
The bird, I believe, is not only very shy, but also very rare
in Kanara, and I only twice came across adult birds. These were in
each case single specimens. One was at Siddapur above the ghats,
and was in May ; the other was at Karwar in the middle of the
rains. The bird must however breed in Kanara, as a young one,
unable to fly, was brought to me alive in the beginning of October.
The man who brought it said he caught it in a rice field adjoining
thick jungle. I was unable to find time to go with him and see if
any further specimens were about the place.
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE tNVO-MALAYAN REGION. 341
ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES
FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION.
IK LlONB] Dfi NicfcVTLLE, F.E.S., C.M.Z.S., &c.
(With Tlates F and G.)
Family NYMPHALIDJE.
Subfamily Satyrinje.
Genus MYCALESIS, Hiibner ; subgenus MYRTILUS, nov.
Malk. FoRewing, costa strongly and regularly arched; apex
rounded; outer margin nearly straight] inner angle acute; inner
margin at first slightly emarginate, then just beyond the middle
strongly bowed outwards ; costal nervure swollen at base, ending on
the costa beyond the apex of the discoidal cell ; first subcostal nerval-
emitted at about one-fifth before the end of the cell, terniinatin "■
on the costa about opposite to the origin of the third subcostal ;
second subcostal originating a little before the end of the cell, ending
on the costa a little before the origin of the fourth subcostal ; third
subcostal arising exactly midway between the apex of the cell and
the origin of the fourth subcostal, terminating on the costa about
midway between the origin of the fourth subcostal and the apex
of the wing; fourth subcostal short, ending at the apex of the
wing ; terminal portion of subcostal nervure longer than the fourth
subcostal nervule, ending on the outer margin below the apex
of the wing ; upper disco-cellular nervule extremely short ; middle
disco-cellular about one-fourth as long as the lower disco-
cellular, straight, strongly inwardly oblique ; lower disco-cellular afc
first strongly inwardly oblique, in a straight line with the middle
disco-cellular (this portion being a little longer than that vein), then
suddenly curved and strongly outwardly oblique, straight posterior
to the curve ; median nervure strongly swollen at base ; third median
nervule strongly curved ; second median arising long before the lower
end of the cell ; discoidal cell reaching exactly to the middle of
the wing; sub median nervure swollen at base, beyond this swollen
portion distorted and deflected downwards, afterwards straight
to the outer margin ; a large patch of androconia occupying
the lobe -like dilatation of the inner margin, and extending as
44
342 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
far as the middle of the submedian interspace, placed on the
underside of the wing. Hindwing, coda arched at base, then
almost straight to apex ; outer margin slightly curved, gently
scalloped; abdominal margin almost straight; precostal urn are short,
simple, directed towards the apex of the wing ; costal nervure short,
not reaching to the middle of the costal margin, regularly curved
throughout its length ; first subcostal nervule carved, arising just
before the apex of the cell, and terminating at the apex of the
wing ; second subcostal nearly straight, ending on the outer margin
below the apex ; discoidal cell short, its lower end not reaching to
the middle of the wing ; disco- cellular nervules almost straight,
strongly outwardly oblique, the lower a little longer than the upper ;
third median nervule strongly curved ; second median originating
immediately before the lower end of the cell} submedian nervure straight,
distinctly swollen towards the base for some considerable portion of
its length, ending just anterior to the anal angle; internal nervure
short, recurved ; a large patch of androconia about the apex of the
cell, occupying a considerable area in the subcostal interspace, the
base of the first and second subcostal interspaces, and extending into
the apex of the cell ; a strong tuft of hairs of a brown colour arises-
from near the base of the cell and is directed outwardly, lying
across the anterior portion of the androconial patch ; there is also a
second strong tuft of hairs of a black colour arising, close to the
base of the submedian nervure and lying along the swollen portion
of that vein. Eyes hairy. Antcniue a little less than half the length
of the costa of the forewing, with a rather large, well-formed club.
Type, Mycafesis (Myrtilus) mystes, de Niceville.
This subgenus falls into Mr. Moore's third group of the
subgenera of Mycalesis* which possesses two tufts of hairs on the
hindwing in addition to a glandular patch of scales differently formed
to those on the rest of the wing (androconia), and another patch on
the forewing. This group has hitherto contained one subgenus
only, Loesa, Moore, which shares (as far as Mr. Moore's diagnoses
tell us, in numerous cases the veinlet in question is not mentioned at
all, as Mr. Moore never seems to describe his genera on any recog-
nised or constant plan) with Lohora, Moore, — a subgenus of the
* Trans. Enfc. Soc. Lond., 1880, p. 177.
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 343
second group which possesses one tuft of hairs only on thehindwing, —
the peculiar character of the second subcostal nervule of the fore-
win^ being emitted beyond the apex of the discoidal coll. In Myr-
tilus it is omit led well before, which appears to be the best character
by which it can be distinguished from the subgenus Loom, but
possessing no specimen of my <>\vn of the latter lam unable to bleach
the win irs and examine the neuration critically so as to give a full
detailed comparative description.
1. MYCALESLS [Myrtilus) MYSTES, n. sp.
Habitat : Upper Burma.
Expaxse : 6 , 2'0 inches.
Dry- Season Form, PL F, Fig. 1, £.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings brown, the extreme
outer margins paler, bearing two very fine darker brown lines. Cilia
cinereous. Forewing with three very small (the posterior rather the
largest) blind black ocelli, one each in the two discoidal and upper
median interspaces, each surrounded with a fine outer yellow line
(the two posterior ocelli absent in one specimen) ; a similar large
ocellus in the same straight line as the other ocelli, and touching
the lowermost, in the first median interspace, which it slightly
overlaps, centred with a minute silvery pupil. Hindwing unmarked.
Underside, both wings ochreous-yellow, the basal darker than the
outer half; a prominent perfectly straight discal band, not quite
reaching the costa of the forewing nor the abdominal margin of
the hindwing, this band is formed of an inner dark brown line, which
becomes lost in the ground-colour, outwardly sharply defined by a
whitish line, which also soon becomes lost in the ground-colour ;
beyond this prominent discal band is a nebulous band of a darker
shade than the ground, and bearing in the forewing four (in one
specimen five), and in the hindwing seven, most minute pale blue
dots, one in each interspace, these being the pupils of obsolete ocelli ;
a waved submarginal band.
Described from two male specimens captured by Lieutenant E. Y.
Watson at Tilin Yaw, Upper Burma, on the 1st and 19th March,
1890.
344 JOURNAL, BOM HAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, "1891.
Wet- Season Form, PL F, Fig. 2, 6 •
Description : Male. Upperside, both icings brown, the extreme
outer margins paler, bearing two wavy fine darker brown lines.
Cilia cinereous. Forewing with a single round black ocellus in the
first median interspace, beyond which it does not extend, pupilled
with white, with a narrow outer pale ring. Hindwing unmarked.
Underside, both wings brown, the outer margin bearing two yellow-
ish waved lines, the disc crossed by a narrow prefectly straight pure
white band which does not quite reach the costa of the forewing nor
the abdominal margin of the hindwing. Forewing with four ocelli
enclosed in a single outer yellowish line, the two upper ocelli small,
equal-sized, the third the smallest, the fourth and lowest the largest.
Hindwing with seven ocelli, also enclosed by one line, of which the
first (uppermost), the fourth, and the fifth are the largest, the third
and the seventh equal-sized and the smallest.
Described from a single example captured by Lieutenant E. Y.
"Watson at Yedu Yaw, Upper Burma, on 23rd November, 1889.
The dry-season form of M. mijstes is easily recognisable by the
curious ochreous-yellow colour of the ground on the underside, but
the wet-season form is so precisely similar to many speoimens of the
same seasonal form of M. (Calysisme) mineus, Linnaeus, that it might be
easily confounded with that speoies. The male, however, has the
conspicuous tuft of black hair on the upperside of the hindwing,
springing from near the base of the submedian nervure, which is
characteristic of this subgenus, and is not found in Calysisme, and
by which it can be easily recognised. In the subgenus Loesa, this
tuft is yellow not black, and springs from the middle instead of
near the base of the submedian nervure. The females of the wet-
season form of M. mystes will, probably, be difficult to discriminate, as
in neuration and markings they will, probably, be found to be almost
exactly like M. mineus.
Subfamily Morphinje.
2. CLEROME KIRATA, n. sp., PL F, Fig. 3, 6 .
0. Ttirata, Doherty, MS.
Habitat: Padang Rangas, Perak (Doherty) ; Borneo.
Expanse : 6 , 2'5 inches.
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE 1ND0-MALAYAN REGION. 345
Desceiption : Male. Upperside, both icings rich fulvous, darken-
ing- towards the outer margins. Hindwing rather brighter and richer
coloured than the forewing. Underside, both icings ochreous-brown,
with a distinct glossy sheen in some lights. Foreicing with a short
deep brown streak towards the base of the discoidal cell ; a broad band
across its middle, extending posteriorly into the submedian interspace ;
a still broader irregularly-edged discal band, commencing near the
costa, ending on the first median nervule ; a very obscure marginal
line ; a regularly scalloped submarginal line ; within which and nearer
to it than to the discal band is a series of six round ochreous dots
placed one each on the internervular folds, the anterior dot of all out
of line, shifted inwardly. Hindwing, with the anal half of the wing
deep brown, in which the deep brown markings of the anterior half
of the wing become entirely merged ; a deep brown spot towards the
base of the discoidal cell ; a subbasal band crossing the middle of
the cell ; a discal band ; a submarginal line — all much as in the
forewing ; a series of seven dots as in the forewing, but curving re-
gularly across the disc, one in each interspace, except the submedian,
which has two.
C. kirata may be known from specimens of C. arcesilaus, Fabricius,
from all the localities from which I have received the latter (many
parts of Assam and the Malay Peninsula, Java, and Borneo) by the
much greater breadth of the deep brown bands of the underside,
these becoming quite lost in the dark anal half of tht hindwing ; in
C. arcesilaus the hindwing is concolorous throughout, and the bands
(which are so narrow as to be lines rather than bands) are plainly
visible throughout their course.
Mr. Doherty has kindly *ent me his unpublished MS. description
of this species, from which the following is extracted: — "The pre-
hensores present strong differences. Seen from the side the uncus
of C. kirata beyond the usual globose base runs obliquely downwards
for some distance, and ends in a short vertical drop with a single
acute point, the branches are regularly curved forward from their
bases. In C. arcesilaus the uncus is sinuous, and ends in a long in-
curved hook ; the branches are also sinuous and distinctly angled
about half-way from the base, slender and straight beyond the angle.
In C. gracilis, Butler, from the Malay Peninsula and North Borneo,
346 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the uncus is much as in C. kirata, but thicker and shorter, with the
branches clavate at tip. The clasp of C. arcesilaus seen from the side,
is beyond its swollen base narrow and gradually tapering, the upper
contour slightly concave throughout and unarmed, the point gradu-
ally acuminate. In C. kirata the clasp beyond the swollen base is
constricted to a long narrow neck, thereafter expanding to a broad
blade, the upper contour obviously convex and roughened by numer-
ous raised lines, the point rather blunt and abrupt. Described from
a single male taken near Padang Pangas, Perak, in deep forest.
The prehensores of Chittagong and Malayan specimens of C. arcesi-
laus are exactly alike."
Described from two males from South-Eastern Borneo in my
collection.
Subfamily Nymphalin.e.
3. APGYNNIS MACKINTOSH, n. sp., PL F, Figs. 4, 6 ; 5, $ .
Habitat: Basahir, N.-W. Himalayas.
Expanse: $ , ToO to P60; $, 1*55 to 1*65 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings bright fulvous, the
base more or less heavily irrorated with black. Forewing with the
usual double zig-zag black lines across the middle of the discoidal cell,
a black streak closing the cell, and exactly midway between these
streaks is another narrowest one extending across the cell ; the disc
bears three series of black spots — the first is placed irregularly just
beyond the cell, and consists of six irregularly-shaped spots, the
second consists of a regularly sinuous series of seven round spots, the
third of eight cordiform spots following the outline of the outer mar-
gin ; this latter is narrowly black ; a small triangular black patch on the
costa placed just within the middle series of black spots. Hindwing
with a pair of elongated streaks joined at both ends at the end of the
cell, a curved, series of spots immediately beyond the cell, then an-
other series of five or six rounded spots, followed by a series of seven
lunulated spots, between these latter and the black outer margin is
a series of pale fulvous spots which are much more distinct in some
specimens than in others. Underside, forewing bright fulvous ; all
the black spots of the upperside present but much smaller ; an oblique
apical rich castaneous streak, inwardly marked with two, outwardly
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 347
by four silvery spots. Hindwing with the ground-colour much more
yellow than in the forewing, the base bearing large blotches of rich
castaneous, with prominent discal and marginal bands of the same
colour ; with the following silvery spots :— a small one placed on the
precostal nervure, one tilling the base of the costal interspace, and a
large one placed obliquely across its middle ; a small round spot in
the middle of the cell, a large elongated one filling its outer end,
joined to another elongated spot in the discoidal interspace
reaching to the outer edge of the discal rich castaneous band, this
latter bears on its outer edge a series of seven more or less wedge-
shaped spots, the uppermost of which in the costal interspace is
much the largest ; an elongated narrow silvery streak in the sub-
median interspace, which springs from the base of the wing and ends
on the inner edge of the rich castaneous discal band, the streak is quite
separated. or broken into two portions at about its middle ; there is a
second narrow streak in the internal interspace, which commences
opposite the point where the streak in the submedian interspace is
broken and reaches the abdominal margin ; a very indistinct some-
what ocellular series of spots placed in the middle of the band of the
ground-colour between the discal and marginal rich castaneous bands ;
the latter bearing a prominent series of more or less oval silvery spots,
one in each interspace. Cilia of both wings on the upperside pale
fulvous, of the forewing on the underside oil the apical half of the
wing pale fulvous alternated with darker, on the hindwing pale
fulvous throughout. Female. Upperside, both u-ings darker fulvous
than in the male, all the black spots larger, the black basal irroration
much more extensive, completely filling the sutural area of the fore-
wing, the outer margin broadly black, bearing a series of very pale
yellow (almost whitish) spots. Underside, forewing as in the male,
but all the markings more prominent. Hindwing with the ground-
colour more of a greenish tinge, the rich castaneous bands and the
silvery spots more prominent. Cilia very pale yellowish, almost
white, on the forewing prominently, on the hindwing obscurely
alternated with darker.
Very close to the Argynnis altissima of Elwes,* ten specimens
• Proc. Zool. Soc Lond., 1882, p. 403, pi. sxv, fig. 8, ? male. In Trans. Ent.
Soc. Lond., 1889, p. 539, Mr. Elwes refers to this figure as taken from a male.
348 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
of which were obtained on one occasion only, and never since, by
Mr. H. J. Elwes' native collectors somewhere on the high passes of
native Sikkim ten years ago. Mr. Elwes has figured the species,
but I am not able to judge from the figure whether the specimen
delineated is a male or a female. He describes the male sex only,
but the two specimens) I possess, kindly given to me by Mr. Elwes,
are certainly females. A„ niackinnonii differs from the same sex of
A. altmima on the upperside in its deeper and richer fulvous
ground-colour, the marginal series of very pale yellow spots more
rounded and usually smaller, the darker ground-colour of the
underside, the presence especially of the rich castaneous markings
of the hindwing, which, as Mr. Elwes says in his description, and
is borne out by my specimens, ''are almost absent" in A. altissima ;
the silvery streak in the submediaii interspace of the latter species
is also unbroken ; the series of spots placed in the middle of the
band of the ground-colour between the discal and marginal rich
castaneous bands is far less distinct in A. mackinnonii ; lastly, the
silvery marginal spots are considerably shorter and broader in the
latter species.
Mr. P. "W. Mackinnon (after whom I have much pleasure in naming
it) obtained through his native collectors seventeen specimens of
this species last August below the Gonas Pass on the north face of
the hill, about half-way between the Pass and the Baspa Valley, at
nearly 11,000 feet elevation, Basahir. The Mia Pass is at the
summit of the Nila and Baspa Valleys ; through the former runs
the Nila River, S.-E. into the Ganges, while the Baspa River runs
through the latter W. into the Sutlej. The Nila Pass is the
boundaiy between Tehri Gurwhal and Basahir. The Gonas Pass
is one of three or more passes from the valleys to the south which lead
into the Baspa Valley. None of these passes are much used by
Europeans, so there is not much information available regarding
them.
1 may here note that if the genus Brenthis, Hiibner, is mainly if
not wholly based on the fact that the second subcostal nervule of
the forewing is emitted from the costal nervure beyond the apex of
the discoidal cell, and is maintained as distinct from the genus
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 349
Argynnis, Fabricius, by Mr. Samuel H. Scudder and others, it is
apparently a character not at all to be relied on even in the same
species. In my tvro female specimens of Argynnis altissima, Elwes,
one lias this nervule emitted some considerable distance beyond, the
other exactly at the apex of the cell ; while in the ten specimens of
A. maekinnonii that I have examined, nine have the veinlet given
off well beyond, while one has it at the end of the cell. In typical
Argynnis the nervule in question is given off before the end of the
cell. We have, therefore, in the genus Argynnis the second sub-
costal nervule emitted before, at, and beyond the end of the cell,
and in t^vo Indian species at any rate the position of this veinlet is
inconstant.
4. NEPTIS JSTAR, n. sp., PL F, Fig. 6, $ .
Habitat : South Andaman Isles.
Expanse : $ , 2'7 inches.
Description: Female. Upperside, both wings black. Cilia black,
a small portion white on each internervular fold. Forewing -with a
lengthened increasing ochreous band occupying the posterior half of
the discoidal cell, hardly separated from a triangular ochreous-white
spot beyond ; three outwardly-obliquely-placed conjoined subapical
ochreous-white spots, their edges tinged with darker ochreous, the
uppermost spot linear, very small ; a sinuous submarginal, a more
straight marginal obscure sullied line ; four inwardly-obliquety-
placed discal ochreous-white spots, arranged two and two, from near
the middle of the inner margin to the second median interspace ;
the uppermost spot a small clump of ochreous scales only, the next
rounded, the two posterior divided only by the submedian nervure.
Hindwing with a broad anteriorly-decreasing almost pure white dis-
cal band, just faintly tinged with ochreous only, commencing from
the abdominal margin, but not reaching the costa ; an obscure much
narrower submarginal sullied band. Underside, both icings blackish-
brown, all the white markings of the upperside suffused with pale
violet. Forewing with the discoidal streak joined to the triangular
spot beyond, but anteriorly notched at the end of the cell ; the discal
spots larger c.nrl whiter ; the two lines on the margin broader,
purplish-white, prominent. Hindwing, with a short basal pure
45
350 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
white band on the costa, between which and the broad pure white
discal band of the upperside is a short basal pale violet band ; just
beyond the broad discal band is a narrow pale violet band, beyond
this again is a broad pale violet band, then a narrow straight sub-
marginal line.
AT. nar has no near ally, as far as I am aware ; it is an abundantly
distinct as well as beautiful species. It obviously comes into the
group containing AT. sankara, Kollar,* N. amba, Moore, N. amboides,
Moore, and N. carticouks, Moore, as it has the short basal band
on the underside -of the hindwing between the costal and discal
bands, which is a marked feature of all these species, and with which
also it agrees more or less in size and outline ; but the ochreous -
sullied markings of the upperside, and the very purple coloration of
the underside, will distinguish AT. nar at a glance from all its allies.
Described from two examples lately sent to me by Mr. R.
Wimberley. It must be very rare, as during the past twelve years I
have examined many thousands of butterflies from Port Blair, and
these are the first and only specimens I have seen.
5. EUTHALIA APPIADES, Menetries.
In the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London for
1890, pp. xi and xii, Colonel Charles Swinhoe gives "Notes on
certain species of the genus Euthalia." In this paper he strives to
maintain that E. sedeva, Moore, is a good species, and that E.
balarama, Moore, is its opposite (male) sex, though in the Proceedings
of the Zoological Society of London for 1865, p. 766, Mr. Moore
himself placed his sedeva as a synonym of E. appiades, Menetries.
Quite recently, while at Oxford, I had an opportunity of seeing the
specimens from "Buxar," Bhutan, on which Colonel Swinhoe based
* I recently had the opportunity of examining what is probably the type specimen,
of Limenitis sankara, Kollar, in the Natural History Museum at Vienna, where appa-
rently all the type specimens described by Kollar in Hiigel's Reise Kaschmir are to
be found. The specimen is a female, and is the species from the Western Himalayas
described as N. amba, Moore, in " The Butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon," vol.
ii, p. 88, n. 308 (1886). Whether the true N. amba, Moore, described from Nepal, and
subsequently identified from Yunan by Mr. Moore, is a species distinct from N. sankara,
must remain a question for future solution. Till now Neptis sankara has been un-
identiBed, as it was placed by Mr. Westwood in " The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera,"
vol. ii, p. 274, n. 6, and by subsequent authors, in the genus Athyma.
BUTTERFLIES FROM WE INDO-MALAYAN- REGION. 351
his remarks, and a pair of which he kindly gave me. Regarded
superficially, these "Buxar" specimens might (specimens from other
localities being left out of consideration), by straining a point, in fact,,
be admitted to be a species distinct from the immensely common
Euthalia appiades, Menetries, of Nipal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, &c.
The points on which Messrs. Swinhoe and Moore rely in distinguishing
these two species are that in the forewing, on both sides, in both sexes
the double discal band is contracted and approximates in the lower
discoidal interspace, and that inthe female it anteriorly expands beyond
that point, forming large white spots on both sides of the wings.
To take the males first. E. sedeva is not a local race confined to
one particular locality, as Colonel Swinhoe admits that it occurs with
E. appiades at Buxar, and I possess- exactly similar specimens from
Sikkim on the west and from Cachar in. Assam on the east. The
contraction of the discal band is also characteristic of E. xiphiones,
Butler, which occurs to the south of Assam in Burma and in the
Malay peninsula. E. xiphiones may, however, be known in the male
by its broader blue border to the hindwing on the upperside.
Then as to the females. Their characteristic feature is a white
discal macular band to the forewing much expanded anteriorly. I
have not ypical specimens of this form from Sikkim, where the females
of E. appiades appear to be very eonstant ; but directly one goes
east of Sikkim into the next State, Bhutan,, one finds all forms rang-
ing from t}rpical E. appiades to typical E. sedeva, as is also the case
in Assam and Burma. I maintain, therefore, that although extreme
specimens of E. appiades may be picked out and are typical E. sedeva,
that intermediates between the two forms occur, and that E. sedeva
cannot be maintained as a distinct species or even as a local race, as it
inhabits no restricted area as has been shewn above.
In the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, sixth series,
vol. v, p. 354, n.2 (1890), Colonel Swinhoe describes i?. khasiana from
the Khasia Hills. He compares it with E. appiades, Menetries, but
says the blue coloration of the upperside of the hindwing in the male
is either confined to a " few greyish-blue scales on the outer margin
towards the anal angle," oris "obsolete" altogether, the latter form
being typical E. adima, Moore. In the Journal of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal, vol. lvii, part 2, p. 278, n. 6 (1888), I have at some length
352 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
pointed out how very variable E. adima is. Mr. Doherly [1. c, vol.
lviii, part 2, p. 127 (1889)] has also done the same, but at less length.
Colonel Swinhoe has apparently not seen these two papers, or he
would, I think, hardly have described his E, hkasiana, which species
is an absolute synonym of E. adima, and is, in my opinion, nothing
but a local race of E. appiades confined to the Khasi Hills and Upper
Assam. Since I wrote my note on E, adima quoted above, I have
obtained additional specimens still more closely linking it to
E. appiades, so that I think the time has now arrived when the two
species may be safely united.
Lastly, E. anphiones, Butler, belongs to this group. It is a common
species throughout Burma, and has been recorded from Perak in the
Malay peninsula by Mr, Distant. The male differs chiefly from
E. appiades, in having the blue border on the upperside of the hind-
wing a little broader ; the female is very variable, having the discal
band of the forewing sometimes white, as in typical E. sedeva,
sometimes as in typical E. appiad.es , with every gradation between
them, one of which is E. parvata, Moore. I think the synonymy of
this group should be thus arranged : —
6. EUTHALIA APPIADES, Menetrie's.
Adolias appiades, Menetries, Cat. Mus. Petr., Lep., vol. ii, p. 120, n. 1263, pi. ix,
fig. 4, male (1857) ; Adolias sedeva, Moore. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., new series, vol. v,
p. 68, n. 10, pi. iv, fig. 3 j female (1859); id., Swinhoe, Proc, Ent. Soo. Lond., 1890,
p. xi; Adolias halarama, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1865, p. 766, pi. xli, fig. 3,
male.
Habitat: Nipal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam.
Local race adima, Moore.
Adolias adima, Moore, Horsfield and Moore, C.it. Lep. Mus. E. I. C, vol. f, p. 194,
n. 392 (1857) ; idem, id., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., new series, vol. v, p. 76, n. 29
(1859); Euthalia adima, de NiceVille, Journ. A. S. B., vol. lyii, pt. 2, p. 278, n. 6
(1888) ; Tana'ezia adima, Doherty, 1. c, vol. lviii, p. 127 (1889) ; Euthalia khasiana,
Swinhoe, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., sixth series, vol. v, p. 354, n. 2 (1890).
Habitat: Khasi Hills; Mar gherita, Upper Assam.
Local race xip//iones, Butler.
Adolias xiphiones, Butler, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1868, p. 609, n. 60, pi. xlv, fig. 6,
male; Euthalia xiphioves, Distant, Ehop. Malay., p. 439, n. 22, pi. xxxvi, figs. 10,
male ; 9, female (1886) ; Adolias parvata, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc, Lond., 1878, p. 831,
pi. lii, fig. 3, female.
Habitat: Burma, Malay peninsula.
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 353
7. EUTHALIA ERIPHYL^, n. sp., PL F, Fig. 7, $ .
Habitat : Tenasserim.
Expanse : $ , 25 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings shining' greenish-
brown. Foreicing with a short fuscous bar near the base of the
discoidal cell; a quadrate patch of the ground-colour enclosed by
a fine fuscous line across the middle of the cell ; then a quadrate
patch of fuscous ; lastly, an oval patch of the ground-colour closing
the cell ; in the submedian interspace is a short curved fuscous line
close to the base, and a ringlet spot at the point where the first
median nervule is given off ; a very broad discal fuscous band,
which anteriorly bifurcates in the lower discoidal interspace and
encloses a triangular patch of the ground-colour, and posteriorly
encloses two spots also of the ground-colour, the anterior spot in
the first median interspace linear, the posterior spot in the sub-
median interspace round. Hind-wing with the basal two-thirds
fuscous, beyond which is an obscure series of diffused fuscous spots
between the veins, neither reaching the costa nor the anal angle ;
a fuscous ring-s]3ot at the end of the cell enclosing a space of the
ground-colour. Underside, both wings paler than on the upperside.
Foreicing, discoidal cell crossed by the four usual curved fuscous
lines ; a submarginal curved fuscous band, anteriorly attenuated and
ending in an irrorated patch of bluish-white scales at the extreme
apex of the wing, posteriorly in a rather large rounded spot on the
submedian fold. Hindwing with the usual fuscous linear lines in
and around the discoidal cell ; no other markings whatever.
Nearest to E. garuda, Moore, and at first sight giving the impres-
sion that it is only a suffused aberration of that species. As,
however, Mr. H. J. Elwes, to whom I am indebted for the specimen
described, possesses several other specimens exactly similar from the
same locality, I think it probable that the species is a good one.
From E. garuda it differs on the upperside of the forewing in having
the two well- separated dark bands across the disc in that species
run together in the middle ; on the hindwing the basal area is
much darker, and the prominent submarginal series of blackish
spots of E. garuda is obsolescent. On the underside the
submarginal band of the forewing ends at the apex, while in
354 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
E. garuda it reaches the costa far internal to that point; lastly,
in the hindwing there is no submarginal series of black points
whatever.
Described from a single male from Tenasserim obtained by Major
C. T. Bingham. Mr. H. J\ Elwes possesses several additional
specimens obtained by the same gentleman in the same locality. I
am indebted to Mr. Elwes for the gift of the specimen described
above.
8. SYMBRENTHIA HIPPOCLUS, Cramer, PL F, Fig. 10, ? .
Papilio hippoclus, Cramer. Pap. Ex., vol. iii, p. 46, pi. ccxx, figs. C, D, male
(1779) ; Symbrenthia hippoclus, de NiceVille, Journ. A. S. B., vol. li, pt. 2, p. 57
(1882) ; id., Doherty, Journ. A. S. B., vol. Iv, pt. 2, p. 122, n. 72 (1886) ; idem, id.,
I.e., vol. lx, pt. 2, p. 172 (1891); id., de NiceVille, Butt, of India, vol. ii, p. 240, n. 53
(1886) ; id., Wood-Mason and de NiceVille, Journ. A. S. B., vol. Iv, pt. 2, p. 362,
n.94 (1886) ; id., Elwes and de NiceVille, 1. c, p. 421, n. 46 ; id., Holland, Proc. Bost.
Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. xxv, p. 63, n. 39 (1890) ; Hypanartia hippocla, Hubner, Samml.
Ex. Schmett. (1816-1824) ; Laogona hippocla, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1865,
p. 762 ; id., Wallace, Trans. Ent. Soc Lond., 1869, p. 344, n. 1 ; Vanessa hyppocla, Godart ,
Enc. Me"th., vol. ix, p. 298, n. 5 (1819) ; Suppl., p. 818 (1823) ; Laogona hyppocla,
Doubleday, Gen. Diurn. Lep., vol. i, p. 191, n. 1 (1848) ; id., Horsfield and Moore,
Cat. Lep. Mus. E. I. C, p. 153, n. 315 (1857) ; Symbrenthia Ivyppocla, Moore, Proc.
Zool. Soc, Lond., 1874, p. 268, n. 27 ; Symbrenthia hyppoclus , de NiceVille, Journ. A.
S. B.,vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 50, n. 18 (1881) ; id., Moore, Proc. Zool. Sue. Lond., 1882, p. 243,
pi. xi, figs. 4, larva ; 4a, pupce; id., Staudinger, Ex. Schmett., pt. 1, p. 96, pi. xxxvi,
male (1885); id., Kheil, Rbop. der Insel Nias, p. 21, n. 39 (1884); id., Distant, Rbop.
Malay., p.431,n. 1, pi. xlii, figs. 4, male ; 5, female (1886); Papilio lucina, Cramer, Pap.
Ex., vol. iv, p. 82, pi. cccxxx, figs. E, F, female (1780) ; Symbrenthia lucina, Semper,
Schmett. der Philipp. Ins., pt. 1, p. 114, n. 134, pi. xxi, figs. 7, male ; 8, female
(1688) ; Symbrenthia claruka, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1874, p. 570, pi. lxvi,
fig. 10, male / Symbrenthia anna, Semper, Schmett. der Philipp. Ins., pt. 1, p. 114,
n. 135, pi. xxi, figs. 5, male ; 6, female (1888); Symbrenthia hypatia, Wallace (?),
var. dissoluta, Staudinger, Iris, vol. ii, p. 49 (1889).
Habitat : Amboyna, China ( Cramer) ; Sikkim, Himalayas, Assam,
Burma {de Niceville) ; "Kumaon, Eastern Ghats, Sambawa, Eastern
Java {Doherty) ; Cachar ( Wood-Mason and de Nice'tille) ; Tavoy {Elwes
and de Niceville) ; Celebes {Holland) ; Bengal, Kashmir, N. India,
Kangra District {Moore) ; Java, Celebes, Moluccas, India ( Wallace) ;
Java, Amboyna, China {Godart) ; N. India, Java [Doubleday) ; Java,
Darjiling, Bhutan, N. India {Horsfield and Moore) ; Nias Island
(Khiel) ; India, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Amboyna, Celebes, Batjan,
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE 1ND0-MALAYAN REGION. 355
Luzon, Palawan [Staudinger) ; Malay peninsula, Borneo {Distant) ;
Philippine Isles, Batjan, Ceram {Semper) ; Perak, Malay peninsula
{coll. Perak Museum) .
Ilerr Semper, in his work on the Butterflies of the Philippine Isles,
does not apply the name hippoclus to the species of this genus occur-
ring in the regions of which he treats, but uses instead the second
oldest name, lucina, also of Cramer. His reason for this appears to
be that Cramer figured 8. hippoclus with an outer discal series of
white instead of violet spots on the underside of the hindwing. No
author from Godart to the present day has, however, ventured to
keep hippoclus and lucina distinct on account of what is probably
a slight inaccuracy of colouring only, nor has Herr Semper been
able, as far as I am aware, to produce a specimen agreeing with
Cramer's figure of hippoclus. Till this is done, I think it desirable
that this species should be known by the older and long-accepted
name. Dr. 0. Staudinger, in his "Ex. Schmett.," says that only
one species occurs in Amboyna, which must, therefore, be the true
S. hippoclus. As regards Herr Semper's new species, 8. anna,
he has sent me male specimens of it from the Philippines which
do not differ at all, as far as I can see, from male specimens of
S. Ivcina he has also sent me from the same region. To judge from
his figures of S. anna, the female appears to have the markings of
the upperside white tinged with yellow. It is probable, therefore,
that S. hippoclus is dimorphic in the Philippines in the female sex,
and that the albino form equals S. anna.
M. Godart describes the female of S. hippoclus as differing from the
male in that the bands of the upperside of the wings are white
instead of yellow ; on the underside they are paler, and the
abdomen is whitish ringed with brown. One of the localities he
gives for this species is Java.
In the "Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera," vol. i, p. 191, it is
stated that the female of " Laogona hyjipocla has the fulvous colour
of the upper surface replaced by white."
Mr. A. R. "Wallace says that the Indian form of S. hippoclus,
with a white female, is probably distinct from the form which
occurs in Java, Celebes, and the Moluccas, and has not yet been
named ; that the type of S. hippoclus is given by Cramer as from
356 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Amboyna ; and that the form from Celebes differs considerably in
markings, and may be distinct.
Mr. W. Doherty states that in Eastern Java he found that the
female of S. hippoclus is dimorphic, one form having- the yellow
spots replaced by white ones, so that it resembles a white Neptis
instead of a yellow one. No intermediate forms were seen.
Dr. 0. Staudinger in " Iris," vol. ii, p. 49 (1889), mentions
incidentally the occurrence in Java of a white female form of
8. hippoclus, in describing his S. hypatia, AVallace (?), var. dissoluta,
from Palawan, which is said also to have a white female. Dr.
Staudinger is evidently quite unacquainted with the true S. hypatia,
which is, perhaps, the most distinct species in the genus ; and should
have made his dissolata a local form of S. hippoclus rather than of
S. hypatia.
These are all the references I can find to the white female form
of 8. hippoclus, which I take this opportunity to figure from one
of two Eastern Javan specimens very kindly given to me by
Mr. Doherty. I think Mr. Wallace must have meant Java when he
said that the form in India has a white female. I cannot agree with
him that the Indian and Javan forms are distinct and should bear
separate names. The males of the two are quite indistinguishable,
and the white form of the female (which is the only one I have seen
from Java) differs from the ordinary form only in having all the
yellow markings replaced by white. Dimorphism in the family
Nymphalida} is extremely rare, and I am glad to prominently direct
attention to Mr. Doherty's discovery of the phenomenon in this genus.
9. SYMBKENTHIA HYPSELIS, Godart, PI. F, Fig. 8, $ .
Vanessa hypselis, Godart, Enc. Meth., vol. is, Supp]., p. 818, n. 5—6 (1823);
Laogona hypselis, Boisduval, Sp. Gen., vol, i, pi. x, fig. 3, male (183G) ; Symbrenthia,
hypselis, de Niccville (part), Butt, of India, vol. ii, p. 241, n. 535 (1886).
Habitat : Java (Godart, and coll. de Niceville).
Expanse : 6 , 2'0 to 2*2 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, loth icings black, with rich dark
fulvous markings. Forewing with a discoidal streak, its upper edge
irregular, its lower edge very irregular and extending well below
the discoidal cell ; a short subapical streak divided into two portions
by the lower discoidal nervule ; a discal oblique broad band from the
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 357
second median nervule to the inner margin. Hindwing with a
narrow pale yellow costal streak ; a discal band in continuation of
that on the forewing, but narrower, extending broadly and diffusedly
on to the abdominal margin ; a broader submarginal band anteriorly
very attenuated; a narrow marginal line, disconnected in the second
median interspace at the base of the tail. Underside, both wings,
ground-colour pearly-white, blotched with burnt-sienna brown or
ferruginous ; heavily tesselated with black. Forewing with a narrow
black submarginal line, within which is another black line, discon-
nected, reaching from the costa to the second median nervule. Hind-
wing with a submarginal series of five more or less cordiform black
spots profusely powdered with metallic green and bounded by an
outer fine black line ; two fine marginal black lines, the inner one from
the third median nervule to the abdominal margin broadened out
and powdered with metallic green ; a metallic green streak anterior
to the anal indentation, bounded on both sides by a fine black line.
Described from four male specimens collected by Mr. "W. Doherty
in Java. I have not seen a female, which sex was unknown to Godart
when he described the species. Boisduval's figure clearly represents
this species, and not the Indian form which I have described
below as S. sin is.
10. SYMBRENTHIA SINIS, n. sp., PL F, Fig. 9,6.
Laogona hypselis, Doubleday and Hewitson (nee Godart), Gen. Diurn. Lep., vol. i,
p. 191, n. 2, pi. xxv, fig. 1, male (1847) ; id., Wallace, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,
1869, p. 344, n. 4 ; Symbrenthia hypselis, de Niceville (part), Butt, of India, vol. ii,
p. 241, n. 535 (1886).
Habitat: Nipal; North Bengal {Doubleday and Hewitson) ;
Eastern Kumaon (Doherty); Sikkim; Bhutan; Assam; Naga Hills;
Cachar ; Karen Hills, Dawnat Burma ; Perak, Malay Peninsula.
Expanse: 6 , 2*0 to 2'2 ; ?, 2*1 to 2-3 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings as in S. hypselis,
Godart. Underside, both icings with the ground-colour whitish
washed with yellow instead of pearly- white ; the black tesselations
on both wings and the metallic green markings on the hindwing the
same; but the blotchings are dark gamboge- colour instead of burnt-
sienna brown * throughout.
* Godart calls them j 'err uyineuse.
46
358 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
I am indebted to Mr. W. Doherty for four male specimens of the
true 8. hypselis, Godart, from Java. The above given differences
between it and the North-East Indian and Malay Peninsula form may
appear to be trivial, but if specimens of the two species are com-
pared, it will be seen at a glance that the coloration of the underside
is totally different.
11. CYRESTIS IPMiE, Forbes.
C irmee, Forbes, A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern Archipelago, p. 274
(18S5) ; id., II. Grose Smith, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., sixth series, vol. iii, p. 313
(1889) ; id., Waterhouse, Aid, vol. ii, pi. clxxvi, fig. 2 (1889) ; C. rnwnalis, var.
surnatrensis, Staudinger, Ex. Schmett., p. 133 (1886).
Habitat : Hoodjoong, Palembong Residency, Sumatra [Forbes) ;
Sumatra (Staudinger); Perak, Malay Peninsula,
Expanse : 6 , 2*0 and 2*2 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both icings pure white, all the
veins black. Forewing with the base of the costa very faintly tinged
with ochreous; a short broad longitudinal subcostal black band,
which is followed by two broad approximating black lines crossing
the discoidal cell obliquely from the costa to the median nervule,
and enclosing a narrow space thickly dusted with black scales, these
two lines are continued as a single line to the orange anal area of
the hindwing ; a strongly outwardly-curved black line crosses the
cell, its anterior end joined to the outermost of the two lines crossing
the cell described above ; a narrow black line defining the disco-
cellular nervules, which touches the last- described curved line at its
middle ; immediately beyond the disco-cellular line are a pair of
broad black lines from the costa to the third median nervule, enclos-
ing posteriorly a narrow space of the white ground-colour, continued
across both wings as a single narrow line until it also becomes lost
in the orange anal area of the hindwing ; an outwardly curved black
line crosses the disc of the forewing, very widely dilated anterior
to the lower discoidal nervule, forming in fact a wedge-shaped
figure with its base on the costa, this line is also continued across the
hindwing till it reaches the orange anal area, a sinuous very broad
black lino crosses the outer discal area of the forewing from the
costa (where it is widely dilated inwardly into a large square-shaped
patch) to the inner margin ; followed by five broad black lines which
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 359
are placed so closely together as almost to form one uninterrupt-
ed black band occupying the whole of the outer margin, the
innermost, however, broken near the middle of the wing, leaving
an oval space of the ground-colour; the third line also is
shorter than the others, leaving a small portion of the ground-
colour in the first median interspace ; a round orange patch bearing
two black dots in the middle occupies the anal angle of the wing.
Hindwing has the abdominal margin broadly black ; there are three
outer-discal approximating broad black lines, which enclose two
narrow bluish lines ; the outer margin also bearing three other
broad black lines, which enclose two very fine pure white lines ;
between these two groups of three lines there is an elongated wedge-
shaped space of the ground-colour, which extends from the discoidal
nervule to the costa, its narrowest portion towards the anal angle
of the wing ; the anal lobe, and the anal area widely as far as
the second median nervule orange, bearing seven small round
black spots. Underside, both icings marked very similarly to the
upperside, except that all the black lines are narrower, especially
those on the outer margin of the forewing. Foreicing with the
orange area at the anal angle smaller. Hindwing with the orange
area at the anal angle also smaller than on the upperside, and bear-
ing three black spots only, these being larger than those on the
upperside. Thorax, and abdomen black, obscurely streaked with
whitish above, beneath white. Palpi above black, beneath white.
Nearest to C. mam a lis, Erichson, of which species I possess
four male specimens from Manilla and Mindoro, and from which it
may be at once distinguished by the three black lines from the base
common to both wings being narrower, and by the middle one
of them in the hindwing leaving the fine black line which defines
the disco-cellular nervules free, instead of covering them entirely ;
the orange area of the hindwing is also more extensive; again
the prominent steel-blue line crossing the outer-disc of the
hindwing and reaching to the second median nervule of the fore-
wing in 0. mcemlis, is obsolete, being replaced by a bluish line ;
the veins of the upperside which in C. man a I is are only partially
black, are wholly so. From 0. nivea, Zinken-Sommer, and G.
nivalis, Felder, it may be known by the three common black lines
360 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
from the base of the wing being much broader, and all the veins
being black, instead of only partially black ; from C. nivea alone it
may be known by the black costal area of the forewing being
discontinuous and not joined to the black apical area, the orange areas
at the anal angle of both wings are more extensive and of a deeper
shade of colour ; from C. nivalis alone it may be at once distinguished
by the strong dilatation on the costa of the forewing of the third
common black line from the base of the wings, whereby the white
portion of the costal area is greatly reduced ; and by the orange area
of the hindwing being much more restricted, and ending on the
second median nervule instead of extending to the discoidal nervule.
Mr. J. Wray, Junior, Superintendent of the Perak Museum, has
kindly sent me three specimens of this pretty and distinct species
taken in the Perak Hills at an elevation of between three and four
thousand feet above the sea.
Family LYCLENID^E.
Genus SIMISKINA, Distant.
Simislcina, Distant, Entomologist, vol. xix, p. 12 (188G) ; idem, id., Rhop. Malay.,
p. 450 (1886) ; Massaga, Doherty, Journ. A. S. B., vol. lviii, pt. 2, p. 429 (1889) ; idem,
id., 1. c, vol. lx, pt. 2, p. 35 (1891).
Both sexes with neuration apparently much the same as in Poritia,
Moore ; but in the male the hindwing has, in addition to the long tuft
of almost colourless hairs which spring from near the middle of the
discoidal cell, and which are directed forwards and are covered by the
inner margin of the forewing, the second tuft of long black hairs
placed in a different position ; in Poritia it springs from near the base
of the submedian nervure and lies along the abdominal margin, in
Simiskina it arises at the lower end of the cell and lies along the
base of the third median nervule. Type, Simiskina fa/gens, Distant,
equals Poritia potina, Hewitson.
The above diagnosis will perhaps suffice for the present to distin-
guish the males of this genus from the allied genera. As stated in
"The Butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon," vol. iii, p. 38,
footnote, I am unable to use Mr. Doherty's genus Massaga, of which
the type species is potina, Hewitson, (Mr. Doherty in his second paper
says that pediada, Hewitson, is the type of his genus Massaga !), as it
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 361
is almost certainly the same as Mr. Distant's genus Simiskina. I
have seen the type specimens of Simiskina fulgens, Distant, in
Dr. Staudinger's collection, and find that they are conspecific with
"Poritia" potina, Hewitson. The name Massaga is also preoccupied,
having heen used by Mr. Francis Walker for a genus of African
Moths in part ii. of his " List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous
Insects in the collection of the British Museum," page 358 (1854).
I give below a key to the genera of the Poritia group by which it
should be easy to recognise them all.
Key to the genera of the Poritia group of Lyccenidce.
A. Both sexes, forewing, first subcostal nervule completely anastomosed with costal
nervure, except a very short free basal portion.
a. Both sexes, forewing with four subcostal nervules.
a1. Male with no secondary sexual characters.
Z AEON A, type jasoda, de NiceVille.
b1. Male, hindwing,upperside with a cellular tuft of long hairs (Distant) #
DERAMAS, type livens, Distant.
b. Both sexes, forewing, with three subcostal nervules ; male with a tuft
of hairs on upperside of hindwing springing from middle of cell.
a1. Male, hindwing, upperside with a second tuft of hairs springing
from near base of submedian nervure, and lying along abdominal
margin.
PORITIA, type fiewitsoni, Moore.
b1. Male, hindwing, upperside with second tuft of hairs springing from
lower end of cell, and lying along base of third median nervule.
SIMISKINA, type potina, Hewitson.
12. SIMISKINA PHARYGE, Hewitson, PI. F, Fig. 11, 9.
Poritia pharyge, Hewitson, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1874, p. 345; idem, id., 111.
Diurn. Lep., p. 215, n. 5, pi. Ixxxviii, figs. 8, 9, male (1878) ; id., Distant, Rhop.
Malay., p. 450, n. 8, pi. xli, fig. 8, male (1886) ; Zarona ? pharyge, de Niceville,
Butt, of India, vol. iii, p. 35 (1890).
Habitat : Borneo (Heivitson) ; Perak (Distant) ; Renong, Western
Siam (Doherty).
Expanse : 9 , 1"5 inches.
Description : Female. Upperside, both wings and cilia shining
smoky-brown without markings. Underside, both icings paler brown
than above, without gloss ; a rather indistinct darker brown disco-
cellular line ; a discal and a submarginal irregular darker brown line,
the discal line outwardly, the submarginal line inwardly, defined by a
362 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
line of a paler shade of brown than the ground-colour, the discal line-
on the forewing is dislocated at the third median nervule, its posterior
portion being shifted inwardly ; on the hindwing this line is highly
zigzaged throughout its course, and whereas on the forewing it is
straight, on the hindwing it is highly curved, following the outline
of the outer margin of the wing ; there are also traces in the hindwing
of a third line from the third median nervule to the abdominal
margin placed anterior to the discal line, this inner discal line being
very prominent in the male ; the submarginal line much more distinct
on the hindwing than on the forewing, more lunular, and towards the
anal angle outwardly denned with black narrowly ; a conspicuous
marginal lia-ht blue line from the third median nervule to the anal
angle, narrowly defined on both sides with black and constricted on the
interspaces between the veins ; this blue line is followed by a very
fine orange line on the extreme margin.
Nearest to Poritia pediada, Hewitson, from which it may at once
be known by the presence of the light blue marginal line on the
underside of the hindwing.
I am indebted to Mr. J. "Wray, Junior, for a pair of specimens of
this lovely species captured in Perak ; from one of these the above
description is taken. The male on the upperside hardly differs in
the smallest detail from the same sex of SimisHna pediada, Hewitson,
of which Mr. Doherty has lent me a specimen taken by himself in
Mergui, Burma. On the underside, however, the two species differ
widely in both sexes.
13. SIM1SKINA PHEPETIA, Hewitson.
Poritia pheretia, Hewitson, Trans. Enb. Soc. Lond , 1874, p. 346 5 idem, id.,
111. Diurn, Lep., p. 217, n. 9, P. plieretria, pi. lxxxix, figs. 17, 18, male ; 16, female
(1878) ; id., Distant, Rhop. Malay., p. 200, n. 5, pi. xxii, fig. 9, male ; 10,
female (1884) ; id., de Niceville, Butt, of India, vol. iii, p. 46 (1890).
Habitat: Singapore {Hew itson); Perak.
Mr. J. Wray, Junior, has kindly sent me a single damaged male speci-
men of what I believe to be this species. The blue coloration of the
upperside is much darker and richer than is shown in Hewitson's
figure, being of quite an ultramarine-blue tint ; the blue spots on the
forewing are larger, as is also the black spot in the middle of the
blue area on the hindwing, which really consists of two conjoined
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE JNDO-MALAYAN REGION. 363
spots in my specimen. On the underside of the forewing there is an
indistinct submarginal whitish line not mentioned by Hewitson in his
description of the male, but stated to be present in the female ; all the
markings of the hindwing less distinct than in his figure. The tufts
of hairs on the upperside of the hindwing in my specimen have been
largely destroyed, but sufficient remain to enable me to place the
species in this genus with considerable certainty.
14. CYANIRIS COALITA, n. sp., PL F, Figs. 12, 6 ; 13, ? .
Habitat: Java.
Expanse: 8 , 1*4; $, 1*1 to 1'3 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings rather pale lavendar-
blue. Fore icing, costa narrowly black, with an indistinct irrorated
patch of white scales in the middle of the disc, almost obsolete
in one specimen. Cilia anteriorly black, white at the anal angle,
and for a short distance thence along the inner margin. Hind-
wing with an irrorated patch of white scales from the middle
of the costa to about the discoidal nervule ; a black anteciliary
thread. Cilia white, but bearing a black line towards the base.
Underside, both icings bluish- white ; the termination of the discoidal
cells marked with a brownish line as usual ; a submarginal lunulated
line, enclosing an elongated spot in the forewing and a round one in
the hindwing between it and the margin in each interspace, except
the submedian interspace of the hindwing which has two. Fore-
wing with a prominent spot below the costa about midway
between the disco-cellular streak and discal band, the latter consisting
of four distinct and prominent portions, one in each interspace from
the upper discoidal to first median nervule, and almost coalescing with
the submarginal lunulated line. Hindwing with the basal and discal
spots as usual in the genus. Female. Upperside, both icings fuscous.
Forewing with a large patch of white occupying the whole of the disc,
extending from the middle third of the inner margin to the sub-
costal nervure ; this patch in some lights irrorated with very pale
metallic blue. Hindwing bearing a similar patch on the disc.
Underside, both wings marked as in the male, but the spots (especially
the discal macular band on the forewing) more prominent.
364 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
G. coalita is very near to C. dilectus, Moore, and on the upperside
the males of these two species do not differ. On the underside,
however, the discal macular band of the forewing almost runs into
the submarginal band (it quite does so in the female) in C. coalita,
Taut is quite distinct and well- separated from it in C. dilectus. The
female of 0. coalita differs from that of C. dilectus — as identified by
me from Simla specimens — in the presence of a large pure white
discal area on the upperside of both wings glossed with metallic
pale blue; and the hindwing having the outer margin broadly
and regularly black, while in C. dilectus there is no trace of
such a band, but instead there is a submarginal lunulated black
line, beyond which is a series of round black spots, one in each
interspace. I trust that there will be no difficulty in recognising
this species ; it appears to be quite distinct.
Described from two pairs captured by Mr. W. Doherty on Mount
Arjuno, Eastern Java, at an elevation of from 4,000 to 5,000 feet
above the sea.
15. LAMPIDES LATIMARGUS, Snellen, PL F, Fig. 14, s .
Cupido latimargus, Snellen, Tijds. voor Ent., vol. xxi, p. 19, n. 88, pi. i, fig. 4,
male (1878) ; Lampides latimargus, Holland, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. xxv,
p. 72, n. 90 (1890).
Habitat : Celebes.
Expanse : 6 , 1*0 to 1*8 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings pale purplish-blue,
with broad fuscous outer margins, the linear white markings of the
underside shewing through the wings faintly by transparency.
Forewing with the fuscous band on the outer margin bearing in its
middle an indistinct pale line. Hindwing with the fuscous band on
the outer margin bearing a double series of white lunules, those in
the first median interspace enclosing a deep black spot. Underside,
both wings pale stone-colour ; the outer margins bearing three whitish
lines, the ground-colour between them rather darker than the rest
of the wing, the middle line on both wings, and the inner line on
the hindwing, lunulated. Forewing with the characteristic white
lines or strigoe arranged as follows : — Nos. 1 and 2 from the base of
the wing parallel and continuous, commencing on the costal and
ending on the submedian nervure ; No. 3 is broken and curved,
SufTEkFLlES PROM THE 1ND0-MALAYAN REGION. 305
commences on the cost a and ends on the second median nervule ;
No. 4 also broken and curved, commences on the costa and ends on
the third median nervule. Hindwing crossed by the usual basal
lines ; a large round black spot on the margin in the first median
interspace, narrowly crowned with dull orange, and bearing a few
metallic blue scales on the edge nearest the anal angle ; the anal
angle bears two minute clumps of metallic blue scales.
L. latimargus is probably the largest species in the genus, the
above described specimen measuring 45 mm., though Herr Snellen
gives only 25 — 38 mm. for the specimens he described. The breadth
of the outer black border to both wings on the upperside is also a
very noticeable feature. It comes into the group of the genus
which is represented in my collection by
1. L. eljris, Godart.
2. L. kdnkena, Felder [L. insularis, Rober, is a synonym
of this species).
3. L. kpndulana, Felder (L. ccerulea, Druce, is probably a
synonym of this species) .
4. L. latimargus, Snellen.
5. L. caUistus, Rober.
6. L. bochides, de Niceville.
In all these species the characteristic strigss are similarly arranged,
and are as described above.
In the next group represented in my collection by
1. L. suidas, Felder.
2. L. pseudelpis, Butler.
3. L. corilscans, Moore.
4. L. philatus, Snellen.
5. L. subdita, Moore.
6. L. osias, Rober.
the characteristic striga3 instead of being continuous throughout
their course are arranged as follows : — Nos. 1 and 2 are short, and
extend from the subcostal nervure to the third median nervule only,
while JNos. 3 and 4 are long, and reach from the subcostal to the
submedian nervure, but that portion of each of these striga3 posterior
to the second median nervule is dislocated and shifted inwards
towards the base of the wing, so that the lower portion of No. 3
47
365 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURRAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
striga is joined to No. 1, or lies between it and No. 2, thereby
forming1 with them a Y-shaped figure, of which the Nos. 1 and 2
strigae represent the converging arms ; while the lower portion of
No. 4 striga is joined on to, and is continuous with, No. 3. This
arrangement of the characteristic strigae is found usually in the
L. celianus group, which, however, may be known from the two groups
above mentioned by the males being coloured bluish milky-white
on the upperside instead of metallic azure-blue ; and more notably
still by the characteristic strigae Nos. 1 and 2 being1 continued right
up to the costa in disconnected dots, this feature never obtaining in
the other two groups. This third group is represented in my collec-
tion by
1. L. celianus, Fabricius.
2. L. celeno, Cramer.
3. L. aratus, Cramer (L. mam, Doherty, is a synonym of
this species).
4. L. cleodus, Felder.
5. L. kinkurka, Felder.
6. L. pura, Moore.
I have re-described L. latimargus from a single example, for which
I am indebted to the collector, Mr. W. Doherty.
I made a terrible muddle of three species of this genus in "The
Butterflies of India," although there is no part of that volume on
which more care was expended. Having since visited Europe and
examined the types of L. contscans, Moore, L. kondulana, Felder,
and L. kankena, Felder, I am now able to correct my previous
mistakes. L. coruscans is a very distinct species, and is probably con-
fined to the island of Ceylon. It is very deep rich blue on the up-
perside in the male approaching my L. bocMdes in that respect; on
the underside of both wings in both sexes the second and third white
lines from the outer margin are highly zigzaged, which character in
Indian species is only found in L. subdita, Moore, a species which
in other respects is abundantly distinct.
With regard to L. kondulana, Felder, all my remarks on page 175
of my book refer to L. kankena, Felder. L. kondulana is what I
mistook for L. coruscans; my remarks on pages 163 and 164 refer,
therefore, to L. kondulana. The male is rich blue on the upperside,
and the species may be known from L. elpis, Godart, by this colour
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGTON. 367
being of a deeper shade. It is also a smaller insect to judge from
all the specimens of it I have seen. The female is unknown. It
occurs in the Nicobars, Burma, and the Malay Peninsida.
With regard to L. kankena, I have carefully described it on page
173 of my third volume under L. kondulana. It is a good species,
and is represented in my collection by specimens from the Nicobar
and Philippine Isles, from which latter locality it has been described
by Herr Rober under the name of insularis.
All these three species seem to be extremely rare. I trust that
no one will now have any further difficulty in identifying them
should they obtain specimens of them.
16. LAMPIDES BOCHIDES, n. sp., PL F, Fig. 15, 6.
Habitat : Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo.
Expanse : $ , 1*45 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both icings rich dark metallic
blue, rather darker and of a more purple shade on the forewing
than on the hindwing. Forewing with a narrow black outer
margin, widest at the costa, fining down to nothing at the anal
angle. Hindwing with a fine white line within the black anteciliary
thread ; two fine black lines, the anterior half the length of the
posterior, at the anal angle, divided by a fine white line. Under-
side, both wings dark reddish stone-colour, the whitish markings
arranged as described for L. latimargus, Snellen, but they are
all much narrower, and the third characteristic striga of the fore-
wing instead of being continuous, has its lowest fragment in the
second median interspace shifted outwards, so that this fragment
forms the basal portion of a Y-shaped figure, of which the upper
portion of No. 3 striga and No. 4 striga form the two arms.
Hindwing with the large anal black spot surrounded by a broader
and deeper orange ring than in L. latimargus.
L. bochides appears to be a connecting link between the eljris group
of the genus Lampides and the genus Jamides. It is certainly the
richest coloured species yet described, though still the metallic lustre
comes far behind that of Jamides bochus, Cramer. Next in richness
of colouring follows L. coruscans, Moore, apparently confined to the
Island of Ceylon, and to be known J: rom its near allies by the highly
368 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
lunate character of the second and third lines from the outer margin
of both wings on the underside ; then follows L. kondulana, Felder,
of which I possess specimens from the Nicobar Isles, whence it
was described, and from the Malay Peninsula. The markings and
ground-colour of the underside in L. bochides are almost exactly
the same as in J. bochus.
Described from a single example from S.-E. Borneo, kindly given
to me by Mr. W. Doherty.
17. LAMPIDES PHILATUS, Snellen, PL F, Fig. 16, 6 .
Cupido pMlatus, Snellen, Tijds. voor Ent., vol. xxi, p. 21, n. 89, pi. i,]fig- 5, male
(1878); Lampides philetus, Holland, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. , vol. xxv, p. 72,
e. 91 (1890).
Habitat : Celebes.
Expanse : 6 , 1*4 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both icings pale blue with a very
slight gloss. Forewing with the outer margin rather broadly
blackish, fining away to nothing at the anal angle. Hindwing
with an anteciliary fine black thread.; then a similar white thread
broken on the veins ; then a series of five oval blackish spots placed
one in each interspace ; beyond which, lastly, there is a series of
hastate blackish marks also one in each interspace ; the submedian
interspace at the anal angle bears two parallel blackish lines in
place of the oval spot and hastate mark of the other interspaces.
Underside, both wings dull hair-brown, basally somewhat paler ; a
fine pure white anteciliary thread, followed by two fine zigzag white
lines, the inner one of these on the hindwing is extraordinarily
zigzaged ; the space on that wing enclosed by these two lines deep
black. Forewing with two short fine parallel lines at the end of
the discoidal cell ; a pair of fine discal lines starting from near the
costa and ending on the submedian nervure, slightly broken and
shifted inwardly posterior to the second median nervule. Hind-
wing with the usual basal and discal broken fine white lines, but
those towards the base obsolete.
L. philatus is probably nearest to L. subdita, Moore, from which
it may be known by its paler blue coloration on the upper-
side, the broad blackish border to the forewing, the prominent
marginal markings of the hindwing, the second and third white
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE 1ND0-MALAYAN REGION. 369
lines from the outer margin of both wings on the underside being
more strongly zigzaged, and especially by the entire absence (as in
L. anops, Doherty) of an orange subaual spot on the hindwiug in the
submediau interspace, which is so large and conspicuous in L. subdita.
L. philatus is a very distinct species.
Described from a single example, which I owe to the generosity
of my friend, Mr. W. Doherty.
18. ACESINA ARISBA, n. sp., PL F, Fig. 19, 6 .
Habitat: Burma (Tilin Yaw and Maulmain).
Expanse : 6 , 1*3 to 1'5 ; ? , 1*2 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings shining bluish- purple.
Forewing with the costa narrowly, the outer margin somewhat broad-
ly black, broadest at the apex ; cilia anteriorly black, becoming white
towards the anal angle. Hindwiug with the costa broadly, the outer
margin less broadly and decreasingly towards the anal angle black,
bearing from the anal angle to the second median nervule a very fine
marginal bluish-purple line. Tail narrow, black, tipped with white.
Underside, forewing with the ground-colour of the basal half brown,
of the outer half grey ; the markings similar to those in A. paraganesa,
de Niceville, but differing from A. aberrans, de Niceville, in that the
discal band is continuous instead of strongly broken in the middle.
Hindwing similarly coloured and marked as in the same wing of
A. aberrans. Female. Upperside, forewing as in A. aberrans, but
having a single whitish spot beyond the disco-cellular black spot
only, and lacking the two black spots divided by the second median
nervule more or less present in that species. Hindwing as in
A. aberrans. Underside, both icings as in the male.
The male may at once be known from A. aberrans by the outer
black border to both wings on the upperside being over a millimeter
in breadth, instead of being reduced to a fine line only ; the female is
distinguished by having one whitish spot only on the forewing ; both
sexes may be known by the unbroken discal band of the forewing on
the underside.
Described from four males and a female in my collection taken by
Lieutenant E. Y» Watson at Tilin Yaw, Burma, in March and April,
1890. He has also kindly sent me four males and two females of
370 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
A. aberraiis, taken by him in the same locality and at the same time.
I took a single male at Maulmain in October, 189] .
19. ARHOPALA AMATRIX, n. sp., PL G, Figs. 23, 6 ; 24, $ .
Habitat : Burma.
Expanse : d , 2"0 to 2*2 ; $ , 2'2 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, forewing shining ultramarine-
blue, the costa narrowly, the outer margin broadly — especially at the
apex — black. Hindwing with an elongated basal patch of shining
ultramarine-blue occupying the whole of the discoidal cell and
extending beyond it on all sides, crossed by the black veins ;
the costa, outer, and abdominal margins broadly fuscous ; tail
broad, rather long, fuscous, tipped with white, a small tooth-
like projection from the termination of the second, and a smaller
one still from the third median nervule. Underside, both icings
brown washed with pale lavender. Forewing with a small rounded
dark white -ringed spot towards the base of the discoidal cell, a larger
one across the middle, and a still larger one closing the end of the cell,
its outer edge very irregular ; a rounded spot at the base of the first
median interspace ; an elongated brown streak or band in the sub-
median interspace, occupying its basal three-fourths ; a discal macular
band of five rounded spots, the middle one cordate, much out of line
with the rest, shifted outwardly ; two obscure marginal bands.
Hindwing with four subbasal rounded spots extending across the
wing, another spot in the costal interspace, touching the costal
nervure, one in the middle of the cell ; a highly irregular discal
bifurcated macular band ; a waved submarginal band, and a
marginal obscure band bearing from the second median nervule
to the anal angle some very obscure dark green metallic scales ;
anal lobe bearing a prominent round deep brown (almost fuscous)
spot. Female. Upperside, forewing with the blue coloration much
more restricted than in the male, bounded anteriorly sharply by the
disco-cellular nervules. Hindwing as in the male. Underside, both
wings as in the male.
Close to A. amantes, Hewitson, from Ceylon and the continent of
India, from which it differs in the blue coloration of the upperside
being much more restricted in both sexes, and in the outer
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 371
black borders being hence much broader. It is a little peculiar too
in having the blue coloration of the hindwing of equal extent in
both sexes, in A. amanies it is more restricted in the female than
in the male, in the female of A. a/natri.r, however, it is of less extent
than in the same sex of A. amantes. In " The Butterflies of India,"
vol. iii, p. 240, I wrote under A. amantes ;— "I possess a single
female specimen from Maulmain, Burma, which differs from the
typical form in that the anal lobe on the underside of the hindwing
is centred with reddish-brown instead of deep black ; the blue color-
ation of the fore wing on the upperside extends well above the discoi-
dal cell nearly reaching the costa and beyond the cell also, in the
hindwing it is more restricted to the base." These remarks apply
to the male of A. aniatrix, true A. amantes apparently not occurring
in Burma.
Described from three males and two females from Tilin Yaw,
Upper Burma, captured by Lieutenant E. Y. Watson in April,
May, and June, 1890, one female from Maulmain obtained by
Major C. H. E. Adamson, and another female from Nubboo Chang
captured by Major C. T. Bingham.
20. ARHOPALA ALEMON, n. sp., PI. F, Figs. 20, 6 ; 21, $ .
Habitat : Burma.
Expanse : tf , 1/5 to 1-6 ; 9 , 1'7 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings rather dark obscure
shining purple. Forewing with the costa narrowly, the outer margin
evenly and rather broadly black. Hindwing with the costa, oviter, and
abdominal margins more broadly black than in the forewing ; tail
rather long, moderately robust, black tipped with white. Underside,
both wings pale brown washed with shining violet. Forewing with the
inner margin broadly paler ; a small rounded dark pale-ringed spot
towards the base of the discoidal cell, an elongated spot across its
middle, and a third closing the cell ; two spots below the cell divided
by the first median nervure ; a discal slightly curved regular macu-
lar band ; two indistinct marginal fascia). Hindwing with the four
usual spots arranged across the base of the wing, a fifth below the
middle of, but touching the costal nervure, a sixth in the middle of
the cell — all these spots very small ; an elongated spot closing the cell,
joined posteriorly to two other spots divided by the first median
372 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
nervule, these three spots together forming an inner discal fascia^
which is quite separated from the outer discal fascia, this latter
consists of two spots touching each other and divided by the first
subcostal nervule, then four spots forming almost a straight line and
separated from the two costal spots, being shifted outwardly out of
line with them, then two or three spots placed internal to the four
on the middle of the disc, curved upwards to the abdominal margin ;
two submarginal fasciae more prominent than in the forewing ; a
small anal lobe centred with reddish-brown. Female. Upperside,
both icings with the purple coloration more restricted than in the
male, and of a lighter and brighter shade. Forewing with a prominent
black spot at the end of the cell, on either side of which is a small
shining whitish patch more distinctly visible in some lights than in
others. Underside, both wings paler brown than in the male, less
silky, and usually barely washed with violet ; all the markings
larger, but less prominent than in the male.
Very near to A . rama, Kollar, which occurs probably all along the
Himalayas, in Burma, and in Central China. Both sexes of A. alemon
differ from those of A. rama in having the purple coloration of the
upperside more extensive, the tail of the hindwing twice as long (in
A. rama it is little more than a tooth) ; the female differs conspicu-
ously in possessing a black patch at the end of cell of the forewing
flanked on either side by a shining whitish patch, a feature
wholly wanting in A. rama. The ground-colour of the underside of
both sexes is also paler, and the discal band of the forewing broader
and more regular. In the " Butterflies of India," vol. iii, p. 252, I
expressed the opinion that these Burmese specimens were not suffi-
ciently distinct from A. rama to warrant their description as a
distinct species ; but Lieutenant E. Y. Watson, who has taken both
species side by side in the Tilin Yaw, Upper Burma, assures me that
they are quite distinct, so I have at his suggestion described them. It
is also allied to A. hhamti, Doherty, from Margherita, Upper Assam,
but wholly lacks the " large subanal ocellus bordered with metallic
green, which extends to the first median nervule" and the " dark
spot edged with whitish in the first median interspace " of the hind-
wing on the underside, which are said to be characteristic of that
species.
BUTTERFLIES, FROM THE INDO-MALAVAN REGION. 373
Described from six males and four females taken in the Tilin Yaw
in March and April by Lieutenant Watson ; a male from the Meplay
Valley taken in January, a female from the Donat Range, also taken
in January, and another in the Thaungyin forests taken in March,
all by Major C. T. Bingham.
21. ARHOPALA BASIVIIUDIS, n. sp., PL G, Fig. 22, 6 .
Habitat: Malay Peninsula ; Borneo.
Expanse : $ , 17 to 2*0 ; $ , 1'8 inches.
Description : Male. Uppersiue, both wings and cilia fuscous.
Foreicing with the basal third brilliant refulgent metallic green,
occupying the discoidal cell entirely and extending slightly above
it, reaching to the inner margin and extending along it two-thirds of
its length. Hindwing with a smaller similarly- coloured basal patch,
which occupies the whole of the discoidal cell and extends a little
beyond it on all sides. Underside, both wings dark hair-brown.
Foreicing with the inner margin broadly a little paler ; a round spot
towards the base of the discoidal cell, an oval larger spot across the
middle, and a still larger quadrate one closing it ; above the latter
is a spot on the costa ; below it is a spot occupying the base of the
first median interspace ; a large ill-formed spot in the submedian
interspace below the middle spot in the cell ; the discal band consists
of eight well-formed spots, the band broken in the middle, the four
lower spots shifted inwards considerably ; the usual submarginal and
marginal lunular lines. Hindwing with the usual four round basal
spots, an oblong spot closing the cell and joined to the irregular
discal band and forming therewith a somewhat Y-shaped figure ;
marginal and submarginal lines as in the f orewing ; the anal angle
bearing a prominent round deep black spot, with two smaller oval-
shaped ones, one on each side of the tail, all three spots surmounted
by rich metallic green irrorations ; tail rather long, slender, fuscous
tipped with white. Female. Upperside, both icings as in the male,
but the green colour (which is of the same extent) replaced by
rich purple. Underside, both wings as in the male.
This species appear* to have been twice described before, first by
Horsfleld as the female of A. eumolphus, Cramer, as follows: —
Female. Upperside, both icings " black, the greenish golden lustre
4S
374 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
beino- limited, in the forewings to a medial patch, extending- to
the base, and in the hinder to a triangular spot occupying the
basal areolet ;" and recently by Mr. Distant, thus : — " Female [of
Naratkum farquhari, Distant]. Resembling the male in hue, but
the anterior wings above with a broad costal and outer marginal dark
fuscous fascia ; this dark colour being broadest at the apex." Both
these authors have mistaken the sex of the specimens they described,
as the females of the green group of Arhopalas are always blue
or purple on the upperside.*
A. baswiridis differs from all the species of the A. eumolpJius
group in having the peacock- green colour of the upperside in the
male restricted to the base of the wings, and the ground-colour
of the underside dark hair-brown without any gloss whatever.
Described from two male examples from Johore in the Malay
Peninsula and a pair from Borneo, all kindly given to me by Mr.
~W. Davison of the Raffles Museum, Singapore. It has also been
obtained by Mr. W. Doherty ("Butt. India, Burmah and Ceylon,"
vol. iii, page 227, note), who first pointed out its distinctness, in the
Malay Peninsula and Borneo, and I have seen specimens of it at
Dresden in Dr. O. Staudinger's magnificent collection. Mr.
Doherty informs me that he has obtained it in Lower Tenasserim,
S.-VV. Sumatra, and probably the same species in E. Java.
Genus SATSITMA, Murray.
In "The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine," vol. xi,p. 168(1875),
the Rev. R. P. Murray characterises the genus Satsuma, the type
species of which is the Thecla frivaldszTtyi of Lederer, = TJtecla
ccenilescet/s, Motschulsky, —LyccBiia ferrea, Butler, a Japanese and
Amurland butterfly. Two other species have recently been added to
the genus by Mr. J. II. Leech, vide " The Entomologist," vol. xxiii,
* The green group of Arhopalas, as far as I know them, consists of the following
species : —
1. A. eumolphus, Cramer, Nipal, Sikkim, Assam, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Java.
2. A. farquhari, Distant, Burma, Malay Peninsula, S.-E. Borneo.
3. A. basiviridis, de Niceville, Malay Peninsula, Borneo.
4. A. hellenore, Doherty ( = A. viridissima, Swiuhoe), Burma.
5. A. aurea, Hewitson, Borneo.
6. A. trogon, Distant, Malay Peninsula.
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 375
pp. 43 and 44 (1890), both described from unique male examples,
S. chalybtia from Chang Yang, and 8. pratti from Ichang, in Central
China. A fourth species from the Khasi Hills will probably have
to be added, as I have recently received an undoubted female
Satsuma from the Rev. Walter A. Hamilton, by whose native
collectors it was obtained last year. Most unfortunately, ants,
those horrible pests of the tropics, got at this and other specimens
of mine on the journey from Bombay to Calcutta, and completely
devoured the abdomen. I have, however, had the specimen, which is
otherwise quite fresh and perfect, drawn (Plate F, fig. 17, $ ),
but owing to its mutilated state, and the females of two out of
the hitherto known species of the genus being undescribed, shall not
give it a name. It may be described as follows : — Female. Upper-
side, both tcings pale blue. Foreicing with the costa broadly black,
that colour reaching to the subcostal nervure, the apex very broadly
and the outer margin also broadly but decreasingly black. Hindwing
with the costa and apex rather broadly, the outer margin narrowly
pale fuscous ; a fine black anteciliary thread ; the cilia cinereous.
Uxderside, both tcings ferruginous, rather darker on the hindwing.
Foreicing with an irregular darker discal line, commencing on the
costa and ending on the first median nervule, outwardly defined with
whitish ; the inner margin broadly pale fuscous. Hindwing with
very indistinct discal and submarginal lines ; the abdominal margin
and anal lobe heavily sprinkled with black scales. The upperside
of this species agrees with the description of 8. chahjbeia, but
the underside is ferruginous not grey, and the forewing has no
discoidal spot. The markings and ground-colour of the underside
are almost exactly as in Japanese males of 8. frivaldszkyi in my
collection, but the latter is considerably paler and the former are far
less distinct : whether these are specific or sexual differences I am
unable to say. Lederer's figure i ppears to portray a very small
female specimen, though he describes it as a male. The figure is
very rough and barely recognisable.
As regards the genus Satsuma I think it should be sunk as a syno-
nym of Thecla, Fabricius, as restricted in " The Butterflies of India,
Burrnah and Ceylon," vol. iii, p. 207. In neuration it is practically
identical with true Thecla. Mr. Murray in his diagnosis of the genus,
376 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
lays stress upon the fact that the second subcostal nervule of the
hindwing is given off further from the base in Satsuma than in Thccla,
but obtains to such a trifling extent as to be hardly worth mentioning.
The males of Satsuma have precisely the same curious "male-mark "
in the forewing as is found in Thecta, the neuration at the apex of the
discoidal cell in consequence differing in the opposite sexes. Satsuma
has the outer margin of the forewing slightly, and of the hindwing
more prominently "elbowed," and the anal angle of the latter wing-
is produced into a lobe, but all these features are found also in the
type species of the genus Strymon of Ilubner, which I also consider
to be a synonym of Thecla.
22. EAPALA EEFULGENS, n. sp., PL F, Fig. 18, 6 .
Habitat : Khasi Hills.
Expanse : 6 , 1 "4 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings black, but more or
less overlaid with a rich purple gloss of almost exactly the same
shade as is found in the male of Lehera eryx, Linnaous. Forewing
with the purple gloss confined to the basal half of the wing, leaving
the costa, apex, and outer margin all broadly black. Hindwing with
the outer margin narrowly black, the costa and abdominal margin
broadly pale fuscous ; anal lobe black, bearing outwardly a few
turquoise-coloured scales, inwardly orange, anterior to which again
is a small white patch on the extreme margin. Cilia of the forewing
black, of the hindwing also black but narrowly tipped with white.
Tail black with a white tip. Underside, both icings uniform pale
buff. Forewing with two short dark lines (the outer one outwardly
defined with whitish) at the end of the discoidal cell ; a particularly
even slightly recurved prominent darker discal band, not quite reach-
ing the costa, ending posteriorly on the submedian nervure,
made up of an inner darker portion outwardly sharply defin-
ed on both sides by a fine white line ; an inconspicuous darker
marginal fascia. Hindwing with the discoidal markings as in the
forewing, but larger and more prominent ; a similar discal band but
strongly dislocated in the middle, broken up into three portions, the
posterior portion curved upwards to the abdominal margin ; a
marginal series of whitish lunules ; the anal lobe large, jet-black ;
BUTTERFLIES, FfiOM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 377
above it is a short line of orange defined on both sides by turquoise-
coloured scales ; a large round subanal jet black spot in the first
median interspace, broadly surrounded with orange ; the space be-
tween it and the anal lobe sprinkled with turquoise-coloured and
white scales ; a fine white marginal line, outwardly defined by an
antccilary black thread.
I do not know any species to which R. refulgens is closely allied,
or with which it can be compared. The purple gloss of the upper-
side is visible in all lights, which is quite an unusual feature in the
males of species of this genus. I am still unable to identify
" Deudorix" rectivitta, Moore, from North Cachar, but my species
obviously differs from it by the character of the anal and subanal
spots of the hindwing on the underside.
Described from a single example kindly given to me by the Rev.
Walter A. Hamilton, by whose native collectors it was obtained in the
Khasi Uills.
Family HESPERIID^.
23. CALLIANA PIERIDOIDES, Moore, PL G, Fig. 25, 9 .
C. pieridoides, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1878, p. 087, pi. xlv, fig. 2, male ;
id., Doherty, Journ. A. S. B., vol. Iviii, pt. 2, p. 133 (1889).
Habitat : Assam.
Expanse : $ , 2*8 inches.
Description : Female. Upperside, both icings and cilia dull
hair-brown. Forewing with a very large oval spot occupying the
outer end of the discoidal cell, but not quite reaching the disco-cellular
nervules ; a circular spot towards the base of the second median
interspace, an oval spot rather larger than the spot above it in the
middle of the first median interspace — these spots lustrous semi-trans-
parent white ; the spot in the cell is anteriorly continued broadly to
the costa in an opaque snow-white patch. Hindmng with the black
spots of the underside shewing through obscurely. Underside, both
wings with the ground-colour a little paler than above, slightly wash
ed with vinous. Forewing with the spots as above, but with an
additional small rounded opaque white spot in the middle of the sub-
median interspace placed somewhat near the outer margin. Hind-
wing with a large rounded black spot close to the outer end of the
378 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
-cell, with eight smaller black spots round the cell placed one in each
interspace, of which the fourth, fifth, and seventh are smaller than
the others. Thorax and abdomen concolorous with the win^s.
Palpi (all except the short third joint which is deep black) bright-
ehrome-yellow.
Though the female of this species differs so markedly in coloration
from its brilliantly snow-white male, I have no doubt whatever that
I have correctly paired the sexes. The position of the large spot at
the end of the discoidal cell of the forewing and the black spots on
the disc of the hindwing is the same in both, otherwise the sexes are
strikingly dissimilar in appearance. The palpi are bright chrome-
yellow also in both sexes, all except the terminal joint ; but the
thorax of the female is brown throughout, while in the male it
is anteriorly bright chrome-yellow. Mr. Doherty (1. c.) was evi-
dently perfectly correct in conjecturing that the female of this rare
butterfly would be " dark-coloured."
Described from a single example in Mr. H. J. Elwes' collection
obtained by the Revd. Walter A. Hamilton's native collectors in
the Khasi Hills, Assam. Mr. Hamilton has given me three males
from the same locality.
24. CELJENOERHINUS CLITUS, n. sp., PI. G, Fig. 2G, 6 .
Habitat: Assam.
Expanse: 6 , 2*2 inches.
Description: Male. Upperside, both wings fuscous. Forewing
with the base overspread somewhat sparsely with yellow hair-like
scales ; three subapical dots, which form an oblique line whose inner
edge is straight, but the outer irregular owing to the spots varying
in size, the uppermost being oblong, and twice the size of the middle
smallest spot ; two small elongated spots divided by the lower discoi-
dal nervule placed below the subapical series and about co-equal in
size with the uppermost of these ; a large irregularly-shaped spot
across the discoidal cell at about two-thirds of its length from the
base, the inner edge of the spot straight, its lower half outwardly
produced, and therefore larger than the anterior half; a narrow out-
wardly-obliquely-placed spot in the middle of the second median
interspace ; a much larger one across the middle of the first median
interspace ; three spots in the subniedian interspace, the two anterior
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 379
ones placed against the first median nervule, the posterior one
against the submedian nervure, the innermost spot somewhat round-
ed, placed a little beyond one-third of the length of the wing from
the base, the outermost spot narrow, placed inwardly obliquely some-
what near to the outer margin of the wing, the third spot co-equal
in size to the first, and placed half as near to the second spot as it is
to the first — all these spots lustrous semi-transparent white. Cilia
fuscous. Hindwing bearing eleven large rounded bright chrome-yellow
spots in three series, the upper of two, the middle of four, and the
lower of five ; the base and abdominal margin of the wing clothed with
long yellow seta). Cilia anteriorly -fuscous, posteriorly and along
the abdominal margin bright chrome-yellow. Underside, both ivings
with the ground-colour of a duller, more hair-brown shade. Fore-
icing with an obscure dull yellow streak at the base of the discoidal
cell ; the inner margin sharply bounded anteriorly by the submedian
nervure pale ochreous; the spots as above. Hindwing with the spots
as above but rather larger and of a duller shade of yellow ; some
short obscure dull yellow streaks at the base and along the abdominal
margin of the wing; an additional irrorated spot near the apex of
the wing. Antennce with the shaft and club anteriorly dull ochreous,
posteriorly fuscous. Thorax concolorous with the wings. Abdomen
narrowly but prominently striped with yellow.
It is difficult to say to which species C. clitus is nearest allied,
though perhaps it exhibits a greater resemblance to C. flavocincta, de
Niceville, than to any other species. The disposition of the spots on
both wings is very distinctive, those on the f orewing being apparent-
ly scattered evenly over the entire surface, in the hindwing arranged
in regular rows.
Described from a single example in Mr. H. J. Elwes' collection
obtained by Mr. W. Doherty in July or August, 1889, in the Naga
Hills, Assam, at an elevation of 5,000 — 8,000 feet.
25. NOTOCRYPTA NE^RA, n. sp., PI. G, Fig. 27, $ .
Habitat: Perak.
Expanse: d, $, 1*25 to 1*35 inches.
Description : Male and Female. Upperside, both ivings shining
brownish- fuscous ; cilia concolorous with the wings. Foremng with
a broad medial tripartite semi-transparent lustrous white patch,
380 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
which is made up of a large quadrate portion towards the end of
the discoidal cell ; a similar portion below it, but 'shifted outwardly
somewhat, towards the base of the first median interspace ; and a
very small portion occupying the base of the second median inter-
space, its outer edge extending beyond the outer edge of the portion
below it. Hindwing unmarked. Underside, both Kings dark brown
without any gloss, thinly sprinkled with yellow scales (to be seen
only with a magnifying glass), which gives the surface a frosted
appearance. JBorewing with the inner margin paler than the rest of
the wing ; the discal white patch anteriorly extended slightly towards
the costa, but not reaching it in front of the subcostal nervure.
Hindwing unmarked. Antennae black, but with a most brilliant
glistening white ring at the base of the club. Head, thorax, and
abdomen dark brown, the latter sordid white beneath.
Nearest to N. albifascia, Moore, from Burma and Sumatra (doubt-
fully), and to N. monieithi, "Wood-Mason and de Niceville, from Cachar ;
differs from both in having the white patch of the forewing abruptly
ending on the first median nervule, instead of extending below it
into the next interspace ; it is also a much smaller insect, and is
probably the smallest of the genus hitherto described.
Described from a single female example in Mr. H. J. Elwes*
collection obtained by Mr. W. Doherty at Perak in January-Feb-
ruary, 1890, and two males and a female also from Perak in my own
collection.
26. NOTOCRYPTA SIGNATA, Druce.
Plesioneura signata, Druce, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 360, n. 3, pi. xxxiii,
fig. 8 ; Notocrypta signata, de NiceVille, Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc, vol. iv,
p. 191, n. 14 (1889).
Habitat : Borneo (Druce) ; Victoria point, Lower Tenasserim ;
Perak, Malay Peninsula; Siam; S.-W. Sumatra; S.-E. Borneo
(Doherty).
Expanse: P33 inches (Druce); P75 (Druce's figure); 1*95
(Perak, $ , <? ).
Description: "Upperside, both wivgs dark chocolate-brown. Fore-
vring with a large bluish-white oblong spot in the middle, commencing
in the cell and extending almost to the anal angle." (Druce, 1. c.)
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. S3!
Mr. Druce's description given above is so inadequate and the
figure of the species so rough (moreover the two do not agree, as the
spot in the forewing can hardly be said to extend almost to the anal
angle) that it is with some doubt that I have identified thePerak speci-
mens taken by Mr. W. Doherty in January- February, 1890, as the
signata of Druce, and which I describe more fully as follows : —
Male. Upperside, botli icings and cilia deep rich brown (almost
fuscous), with a distinct dark purple bloom. Forewing with a snow-
white lustrous semi-transparent discal patch divided into three
parts by the median nervure and first median nervule ; glossed (on
both surfaces) in some lights with pale violet ; the anterior portion ex-
tending across the whole width of the cell towards its outer end, the
outer edge of this portion concave, the inner edge convex, attenuat-
ed anteriorly, so that this portion of the patch is of half the width
where it touches the subcostal nervure as it is at the point where it
rests on the median nervure ; the second portion of the patch is
triangular, and occupies the base of the second median interspace ;
the third portion of the patch is the largest, and reaches from the
first median nervule to the submedian nervure, with all its edges
evenly rounded except the anterior one resting on the first median
nervule. Hinduing unmarked. Underside, both icings dark dull
brown, but entirely lacking the purple gloss of the upperside. Fore-
wing with the white patch as above ; the inner margin paler. Hind-
uing unmarked. Antennae, black, the club anteriorly ochreous*
Palpi black, but the first and second joints with a patch of rich,
chrome-yellow scales on either side, and a similarly-coloured ring
round the eyes. Female. Differs only from the male in the discal
band of the forewing being narrower, of the same breadth through-
out, with qiute regular edges.
Described from a single pair of specimens kindly given to me by
Mr. II. J. Elwes. Mr. Doherty has given me the numerous localities
(given above) for this most beautiful and remarkable species in
which he has caught it. He tells me that " It flies with immense
rapidity, and rests on the undersides of leaves with wide-spread
wings. The wings of the male give off a faint sweet odour." The
s of my solitary male specimen are almost entirely destroyed, but
part of one hind leg remains, which bears at the base of the tibia
4U
382 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
a thick tuft of long ochreous hairs nearly as long as the joint itself.
This character, in addition to the habits of the insect being so
foreign to that of true Notocryptas, forces me to the conclusion that
this butterfly is not rightly placed in this genus.
Dr. 0. Staudinger, in " Iris," vol. ii, pp. 151-153 (1889), refers
to the Plesioneura signata of Druce, and according to his identification
of the species considers it to be an aberration of Notocrypta alysos,
Moore, lacking the small white spots beyond the outer discal band of
the forewing, usually more or less present in that species. I quite
agree with the writer that the presence or absence of these spots is
probably of no specific importance whatever in JV. alysos, but if I
have correctly identified P. signata, I cannot agree with him as to
its being an aberration of JV. alysos, as almost certainly it is not a
true Notocrypta at all, but should be placed in another genus.
27. TAPENA LAXMI, de NiceviUe, PL G, Fig. 28, 6 .
Plesioneura laxmi, de Niceville, Journ. A. S. B., vol. lvii, pt. 2, p. 290, n. 21, pi.
xiii, fig. 5, female (1888) ; Celcenorrhinus laxmi, id., Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc, vol.
iv, p. 186, n. 32 (1889).
Habitat : Upper Tenasserim ; Perak.
Expanse : 6 , 1 *4 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both icings dark olive- greenish ;
an obscure rather broad blackish marginal band. Forewing with three
subapical spots arranged in a crescent, the upper the largest ; a discal
macular band consisting of an oblong spot on the costa, a large qua-
drate spot at the end of the discoidal cell, a small spot at the base of
the second median interspace, a larger spot in the middle of the first
median interspace, with a minute dot below it in the submedian in-
terspace— all lustrous semi-diaphanous white ; an oval black spot to-
wards the base of the submedian interspace ; a broad submarginal
band of a darker shade than the ground. Hindwing with a black spot
below the costa towards the base of the wing ; two parallel discal
series of suffused black spots. Undekside, both wings rather paler
than on the upperside. Forewing marked as above, but with two
dots in the submedian interspace instead of one forming part of the
discal macular band, and surrounded with a black ring. Hindicing
with all the black spots smaller, more compact and better defined
than on the upperside. Cilia, head, and body concolorous with the
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO MALAYAN REGION. 383
wings. Antennw with the shaft brown, ochreous below just before
the base of the club ; the club deep black above, paler below, tip
ochreous.
The male differs from the female (previously described erroneously
as a male) in its smaller size, darker coloration, smaller spots, espe-
cially the uppermost spot of the discal macular band of the f orewing,
and in having one diaphanous and one black spot only in the subme-
dian interspace instead of two of each, as in the female.
This species evidently belongs to Mr. Moore's genus Tapena, the
male agreeing very well in outline with the male of the type species
of that genus, T. thcaitesi, Moore, from Orissa, South India,
Ceylon, and Myitta in Burma. In both species, the hind leg
of the male is furnished with a very thick tibial bunch of hairs,
each one of which is, as seen under a strong lens, strap-shaped, being
quite flat, of equal length throughout, and very thin. I have
no doubt that " Celcenor-rhinus" buchananii, mihi, also belongs to
the genus Tapena, and that, now that both sexes of T. laxmi
are known, it will prove to be quite distinct. It appears to
me in the highest degree probable that T. laxmi has been described by
Mons. Charles Mabille in "La Naturaliste," 1888, p. 98, under the
name of Nctroeoryne atilia, from Minahassa in the island of Celebes.
~No copy of this periodical is available to me, but I am led to believe
that atilia and laxmi are one and the same species from the de-
scription of a local race of the former from Palawan and some other
islands of the Philippines, described by Dr. 0. Staudinger under the
name of palawana : in "Iris," vol. ii, pp. 157, 165, pi. ii, fig. 11, male
(1889). Dr. Staudinger's description and figure applies exactly to
my T. laxmi. As " Nctroeoryne^ atilia and" Plesioneura" laxr. ii were
described in the same year, it may be difficult to ascertain which
name has precedence, should the two species prove to be one. Dr.
Staudino-er very correctly points out that this butterfly cannot be
included in the Australian genus Netrocoryne, Felder, as that genus
has the costa of the forewing of the male folded over as in the
Indian genus Lobocla, Moore, and many extra-Indian genera.
Described from a single example in the collection of Mr. H. J.
Elwes, obtained by Mr. W. Doherty in Perak in the Malay Penin-
sula, in January or February, 1890.
334 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1391.
The " Plesioneura agni* mihi, should also be included in the genus
Tapcna, as the hind leg of the male is furnished with the bunch of
hairs typical of the genus. It is found in Sikkim, the Khasi Hills
(Rev. Walter A. Hamilton), and the Naga Hills (Mr. W. Doherty,
in collection Mr. II. J. Elwes).
28. PARNARA PUGNANS, n. sp., PI. G, Fig. 30, 9 .
Habitat : Malay Peninsula ; Island of Mas.
Expanse : <S , 1*4 to 1'5, Q , 1*5 inches.
Description : Male and Female. Upperside, both icings rich
glossy-brown. Forewing with eight semi-transparent lustrous
ochreous spots, viz., three minute subapical, the posterior the largest ;
two narrow elongated, separated by the third median nervule only ;
two in the discoidal cell placed obliquely near its end, the upper
the smaller, a mere dot touching the subcostal nervure, the lower
three times as large, touching the median nervure ; a large spot
in a line with these towards the base of the first median interspace ;
a streak of long hair-like ochreous scales in the basal half of the
submedian interspace. Hinduing immaculate. Underside, both
icings as above, except that the entire surface of the hindwing, and
the costa broadly and the apical half of the forewing are thickly
sprinkled with ochreous scales, giving the ground-colour a more
yellow appearance than on the upperside. Cilia and antcnnce concolor-
ous with the wings, the club of the latter below ochreous ; body with
long hairs, a little paler than the wings.
In general appearance this species is very similar to Isotoinon
iapis, mihi(Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. v, p. 213, n. 15, pi. E,
fig. 9, male (1890), but the male entirely lacks the tuft of long
black hairs attached to the inner margin of the forewing and turned
underneath and forwards, which is characteristic of the genus
Isoteinon, as well as the long hairs at the anal angle of the hindwing,
which is also a male sexual character in I. iapis, being absent in the
female. It also markedly differs from that species in having the two
spots of the forewing divided by the third median nervule strongly
* Plesioneura agni, de Niceville, Joum. A. S. B., vol. Hi, pt. 2, p. 87, n. 32, pi.
x, fig. 4, female (1883); id., Elwes, Trans. Eut. Soc. Loud., 1888, p. 462, n. 531 ;
Celanorrliinus agni, de NieeVille, Joum. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc, vol. iv, p. 186,
n. 31 (1889).
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 3S5
approximated instead of being well separated, and all the spots
of a deeper shade of yellow. The name I have given to this species
is in allusion to the marked pugilistic nature of the butterflies
of this genus. They often have the habit of resting with half
expanded wings on the upper surface of a leaf, frequently on
or close to its tip, whence they rush forth to do battle with
any intruder who closely approaches, especially with another
individual of the same species, the two insects circling round each
other with immense rapidity, and flying high up into the air.
After a while the butterfly is almost certain to return to the
same leaf from which it started for its last encounter. Specimens
of Parnaras are often terribly battered and worn from these
frequent aerial fights, and of many species it is often difficult to
capture a single specimen fit to put into a collection.
P. pugnans is described from three male and two female speci-
mens from Perak in the Malay Peninsula obtained by Mr. W.
Doherty in January-February, 1890, another male from the same
localitjr sent to me by Mr. W. Davison, and a fourth specimen, also
a male, from the Island of Mas taken in 1887 by Mogdiliaui, and
kindly given to me by Mr. H. J. Elwes, who possesses other
specimens in his magnificent collection.
29. PAPNARA MIOSTICTA, n. sp., PI. G, Fig. 31, 6 .
Habitat : Malay Peninsula.
Expanse : 6 , 1'6 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both icings rich dark shining
brown; cilia ochreous. Forewing with two spots in the discoidal cell
towards its end, one above the other, the upper a mere dot, the lower
somewhat elongated ; two subapical dots, and four in a straight line
across the disc, commencing with a dot in the lower discoidal inter-
space, a little larger spot in the upper median, a pyramidal much larger
spot in the lower median, and a small spot touching the submedian
nervure in the submedian interspace ; all these spots semi-transparent
(except the last which is opaque) lustrous yellowish. Hindwing
immaculate save for a minute yellow dot in the middle of the disc
answering to a spot on the underside in the first median interspace.
Underside, both icings dark brown, but almost the entire surface over-
laid with golden- coloured scales. Forewing with the semi-transparent
386 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
spots as above, but the one in the submedian interspace developed on
the underside into a large quadrate pale ochreous patch. Hindwing
with three minute yellowish dots in the middle of the disc placed one
in each interspace outside the discoidal cell between the discoidal and
first median nervules, the middle dot the smallest and placed nearer
the outer margin than the other two, each dot surrounded by a dark
line ; one or two very obscure subapical dots. Antenna black, but
each joint marked with yellowish beneath, giving it a semi-annulated
appearance ; club beneath except extreme tip ochreous. Body con-
colorous with the wings.
In general appearance this species closely resembles Isoteinon
microstictum, Wood-Mason and de Niceville ( Journ. A. S. B., vol. lv.,
pt. 2, p. 385, n. 232, pi. xvii, figs. 3, male ; 3r/, female (1886), from
Cachar, but I place it in the genus Par nam as it entirely wants the
slate-grey setae attached to the inner margin of the forewing and
turned under and upwards over a satiny-ashy patch which is found
in that species. The markings of the forewing differ considerably
in detail also ; in P. niiosticta there are two well- separated spots in
the discoidal cell instead of one geminate spot ; the spot in the first
median interspace is very much larger and cone-shaped ; there is also
an additional spot in the submedian interspace. The markings of the
hindwing on the underside differ considerably also.
Described from a single male example in Mr. H. J. Elwes'
collection captured by Mr. TV. Doherty in Perak in January-
February, 1890.
30. PARNARA ? MEIKTILA, n. sp., PL G, Fig. 32, 6 .
Habitat : Burma.
Expanse : 6 , 1*3 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings glossy pale brown,
with almost a golden sheen in some lights. Foreicing with the
base and two-thirds the inner margin clothed with long golden-
coloured hair-like scales; an elongated irregular-shaped spot towards
the end of the discoidal cell; three increasing conjoined subapical
dots; two equal-sized somewhat cone-shaped spots on the disc placed
obliquely inwardly, divided by the second median nervule ; and a
third spot in a line with the two last-mentioned spots placed in the
submedian interspace and against the submedian nervure. Cilia
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE 1ND0-MALAYAN REGION. 387
cinereous. Hvndwing with a very large tuft of long mane-like black
hairs below the costa ; the disc of the wing clothed with long golden-
coloured hair-like scales, leaving a somewhat broad outer border of
the ground-colour. Cilia pale ochreous. Underside, both wings pale
ochreous. Forewing with the spots of the upperside, the inner mar-
gin extending somewhat widely on to the disc, very pale fuscous.
Hindmng unmarked. Head, thorax and abdomen above clothed with
long golden-yellow hairs, beneath and legs pale ochreous, the latter
inclined to reddish. Antennce black above, pale ochreous below, the
club and tip reddish.
Described from a single example in the collection of Major C. H.
E. Adamson, who captured it at Meiktila in Upper Burma, 900 feet
above sea level, on 15th February, 1890, and who writes to me that
" It was flying on a sandy road, which in the rains becomes a water-
course between two hedges." I place this species most doubtfully
in the genus Parnara, not knowing where better to locate it. The
" male-mark " is quite unique in my experience, and this little desert
butterfly has no near allies as far as I am aware.
Since the above was written, I have seen two more male specimens
of this species in Lieutenant E. Y. Watson's collection, both taken in
Burma — one at Poungadaw. They differ from the type specimen
in lacking on the upperside of the hindwing the long golden-
coloured hair-like scales on the disc ; these are probably androconia
and being deciduous are often wanting in more or less worn specimens
like the ones under notice. On the underside of the same wing also
the ground-colour is pale brown, the overlying pale yellow scales
seen in the typical specimen have disappeared, leaving a sub-
marginal series of yellowish spots and numerous rather indistinct
spots covering the disc. These worn specimens, therefore, have
a very different appearance from the freshly- emerged specimen, but
they all certainly represent one and the same species. Major C. T.
Bingham has also sent me a single male specimen taken in the Ataran
Valley, Burma, in February. This is even more aberrant than the
two specimens noted above, as it is quite prominently marked with
numerous ochreous spots placed upon a dark ground on the underside.
The species appears therefore to vary considerably ; nevertheless the
male can always be distinguished at a glance by the curiously- shaped
388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
mark in the cliscoidal cell of the forewing, and the large patch of
black seta3 on the upperside of the hindwing below the costa.
I take this opportunity to figure on Plate G, Fig. 29, the type
male specimen of Parnara wutsonii, mihi, described in this Journal,
vol. v, p. 223, n. 19 (1890).
31. CHAPRA C^RE, n. sp., PI. G, Fig. 33, 6 .
Habitat : Thaungyin, Burma.
Expanse : 6 , 1*8 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both icings dark brown, with a
slight vinous gloss. Forewing with eight semi-diaphanous pale
yellow spots — two placed inwardly obliquely above one another
towards the end of the discoidal cell, three minute subapical, three
discal increasing, the uppermost a mere dot ; an oblique fine white
line across the submedian interspace, this being the typical " male-
mark " of the genus. Cilia anteriorly brown, posteriorly becoming
pale yellowish-cinereous. Hindwing immaculate. Cilia pale yellow
at the anal angle, gradually shading oif into brown towards the apex.
Underside, forewing as above, except that the white "male-mark"
of the upperside is black. Hindwing unmarked. Head, antenna,
and body dark brown.
There is no species in the genus Chapra with which this can be
compared, as it differs widely from all those described. It is, how-
ever, the " male-mark" being leftout of consideration, remarkably and
startlingly like several species in the genus Pamara. In the forewing
it agrees in markings with P. canaraica, Moore, but does not possess
the two discal white spots on the underside of the hindwing said to be
found in that species. P. austeni, Moore, is similar in the forewing,
except that it has two subapical dots only, the cilia also are said to be
cinereous-white. The female of C. ccere will probably prove difficult
to discriminate, owing to its likeness to females of the genus Pamara.
Described from a single example collected by Major C. T. Bing-
ham in January, 1891, in the Thaungyin Forests, Burma, and kindly
given to me.
32. HALPE HYRIE, n. sp., PL G, Fig. 34, 6 .
Habitat: Naga Hills.
Expanse : 6 , 1*4 inches.
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE IXDO-MALAYAN REGION. 389
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings dark shining brown.
Cilia ochreous, black at the tips of the veins. Forewing with five
semi-transparent lustrous yellowish spots ; two small quadrate equal-
sized closely-adjacent subapical spots ; a large spot towards the end
of the discoidal cell, constricted in the middle, its anterior portion
smaller than its posterior portion ; a spot in the second median in-
terspace equal in size to the subapical spots ; a larger spot in the
first median interspace. Hindwiny unmarked. Underside, forewing
fuscous, the costa somewhat narrowly, and the apex reddish-ochreous ;
the spots as above. Hindwing reddish-ochreous throughout ; a pro-
minent pale yellow small rounded spot below the first subcostal
nervule ; some very indistinct streaks darker than the ground-colour
on the disc between the veins. Antennae black, the tip of the club
reddish, the upper portion of the shaft below ochreous. Body con-
colorous with the wings.
This species is perhaps nearest to II. kumara, mihi (Journ. A. S. B.,
vol. liv, pt. 2. p. 121, pi. ii, fig. 10, male (1885) ), from Sikkim and
Bhutan, with which it agrees exactly in the character of the oblique
inconspicuous "male-mark " on the upperside of the forewing across
the submedian interspace ; differing, however, from that species
in the much larger size of the spot in the discoidal cell of the fore-
wing, across which the spot in question entirely extends instead of
being reduced to a small spot touching the subcostal nervure.
There are considerable differences on the underside also, the presence
in the hindwing of H. hyrie of a prominent subcostal sj)ot being
particularly noticeable.
Described from a single male taken by Mr. W. Doherty in the
Nao-a Hills at 5,000 — 6,000 feet elevation in August — September,
1889, kindly given to me by Mr. H. J. Elwes, who possesses other
specimens fiom the same locality.
33. HALPE ALBIPECTUS, n. sp., PI. G, Figs. 35, 6 ; 36, ? .
Habitat : Burma.
Expanse: 6, l'l to 1*3; 2, 1'2 inches.
Description: Male. Upperside, both wings dark shining brown.
Forewing with seven very small translucent diaphanous spots, viz.,
three conjugated minute dots below the apex, two on the disc in
50
390 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the median interspaces, the lower a little the larger, two towards
the end of the discoidal cell placed somewhat inwardly obliquely.
Hindicing unmarked. Underside, foreicing with the middle dark
brown, the costa, outer, and inner margins greyish -ochreous ; the
spots as above; a submarginal regular series of small pale dots
placed one each between the veins ; a large oblong pale patch in
the submedian interspace ; two anteciliary fine black lines ; the
cilia ochreous-grey. Hindwing ochreous-grey, the surface bearing
numerous dark brown streaks and spots between the veins, and other
less conspicuous smaller spots of a pale ochreous colour, the principal
of these being a prominent discal series of elongated dark streaks,
which is continued in a semi-circle below the costa to the base of the
wing ; two fine black anteciliary lines, and the cilia ochreous-grey as
in the forewing. Body above concolorous with the wings ; first
and second joint of the palpi and breast white, abdomen beneath
greyish. Female. Upperside, both icings as in the male, but of
course lacking the male sexual duplicated tufts of modified scales
characteristic of the genus on the upperside of the forewing in
the submedian interspace; this "male-mark" in this species being
extremely inconspicuous. Underside, both wings as in the male,
but the ground-colour and all the markings paler and more
obscure.
This species belongs to the group of A. beturia, Hewitson, and
appears to be nearest allied to Baoris? insignis, Distant (Rhopalocera
Malayana, p. 391, n. 1, pi. xxxv, fig. 22 (1886) from Singapore,
from which, however, it appears to differ in having all the spots of
the forewing smaller, in having three instead of two subapical spots,
and in lacking the small subcostal sjiot above the two spots in the
■cell ; the differences on the underside, too, appear to be considerable.
The type male of this species was taken by Major C. T. Bingham
at Thaungyin, Burma, in January, 1891 ; he has also sent me other
two male specimens (which differ from the type in having all the
markings of the underside much darker and more prominent) taken
in the Ataran Valley, Burma, in February, 1891 ; another male was
taken by Dr. N. Manders on 10th March, 1888, at Mairgyi in the
Shan States ; the type female was also taken by the same gentleman
in Burma— these latter specimens are in Mr. II. J. Elwes' collection,
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION. 391
who has kindly lent them to me with several others for description
in this paper. I possess two males taken by Major C. T. Bin-
gham in February j 1880 and 1882, one in the Meplay Valley, the
other in the Thaimgyin Forests.
34. SARANGESA SATI, n. sp., PI. G, Fig. 37, 6 .
Habitat: Kutch; Pajputana.
Expanse: *95 of an inch.
Description: Male, Upperside, both icings shining fuscous. Cilia
long, fuscous, prominently marked with seven pale ochreous spots in
the f orewing and six in the hindwing. Forewing sprinkled with very
minute white spots. Hindwing dusted with greyish speckles. Under-
side, both icings paler than above, marked with numerous minute whitish
spots. Forewing with a spot at the end of the discoidal cell and one
above it ; three subapical spots, two below these on the disc divided
by the first median nervule ; a very irregular submarginal series con-
sisting of about nine spots. Hindwing covered evenly throughout
with small spots.
This genus has hitherto consisted of three species — 8. purendra
Moore, & dasakara, Moore, and S. albicilia, Moore — from all of which
S. sati may be known by its much smaller size, the minuteness
of all the spots on both surfaces, and the strongly and regularly
checkered cilia. It is a very distinct species, and appears to be con-
fined to a well-defined desert region.
Described from two examples from Kutch — one in Mr. H. J. Elwes',
and one in my own collection, and a third specimen, also in my col-
lection, from Deesa in Pajputana, the last of which is the type.
35. ISMA INAPIME, n. sp., PI. G, Fig. 38, 6 .
Habitat : Perak.
Expanse : 6,1-3 inches.
Description: Male. Upperside, hot h icings dark brown strongly
glossed with vinous in some lights. Forewing with seven lustrous
semi-transparent white spots, viz. : — two elongated spots placed
inwardly obliquely towards the end of the discoidal cell, the upper
rather the smaller ; two conjoined subapical, the lower rather the
larger ; another spot equal in size to the posterior of the subapcial
spots in the lower discoidal interspace ; a large cone-shaped spot at
392 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the base of the second median interspace ; a very large quadrate
spot towards the base of the first median interspace ; an eighth opaque
quadrate spot about coequal to the spot in the second median inter-
space in the middle of the submedian interspace and lying against
that nervure ; cilia anteriorly cinereous, posteriorly becoming faintly
tinged with yellow. Hindwing with a dot in the cell and three
spots placed around the eell all semi-transparent lustrous white, the
one in the first median interspace the largest and very elongated, the
one in the second median interspace also elongated but much smaller,
the one in the discoidal interspace a mere dot ; cilia very pale yellow.
Underside, forming dark brown, the costa somewhat broadly and
the apex widely thickly sprinkled with golden-coloured scales ; the
opaque spot in the submedian interspace on the upperside developed
into a large ill-defined diffused patch below ; the other spots as above.
Hindicing golden-yellow throughout ; the s])ots as above, but more or
less outwardly defined by a very fine dark brown line ; an additional
dot in the lower subcostal interspace. Body above dark brown, below
yellow. Antenna above black ; below becoming more and more
marked with ochreous till the club is reached, this being entirely
ochreous except the tip.
This species is evidently closely allied to Isma bononia, Hewitson,
from Singapore (figured inDistant's "HhopaloceraMulayana,"p. 386,
n. 2, pi. xxxv, fig, 20 (1886) ), but differs in having an additional
spot in the discoidal cell of the forewing and one in the hindwing,
all the spots, to judge from the figure, being much smaller in
/. bononia than in L inarime.
Described from a single example in Mr. H. J. Elwes' collection
taken in January — Februar}', 1890, by Mr. W. Doherty in Perak in
the Malay Peninsula.
36. TAGIADES TPJPUKA, n. sp., PL O, Fig. 39, $ .
Habitat: Perak.
Expanse : $ , 1'2 inches.
Description : Female. Uppehside, both icings shiuing fuscous.
Foremng unmarked ; cilia fuscous. Hind/ring bearing two large pure ■
white triangular patches towards the anal angle ; cilia anteriorly
fuscous, posteriorly pure white. Underside, forming fuscous, the
apex and inner angle sparsely sprinkled with white scales.
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION 393
Hind wing pure white, the costa, apex and abdominal margin narrow-
ly fuscous ; a small fuscous spot at the apex of the discoidal cell,
another of the same size near the middle of the first median
interspace, and a much larger one in the middle of the submedian
interspace. Head and thorax above fuscous, abdomen anteriorly
fuscous, but the four or five posterior segments, as well as the
extreme tip, ringed with pure white ; hody beneath grey.
Near to T. minuta, Moore (Lep. Cey., vol. i, p. 176, pi. lxviii,
figs. 4, 4a (1881)), from which it may at once be known by the
large white patches on the upperside of the hindwing and the
terminal segments of the abdomen being ringed with white. It is
evidently allied also to the Heteropterus ? {Sferopes) scopas of
Staudinger ("Iris," vol. ii, p. 161, pi. ii, fig. 12, wale (1889) ), from
Palawan, from, which it may be known on the upperside by
not possessing three considerable-sized spots placed in the form
of a triangle on the middle of the disc ; the hindwing also in
H. ? scopas does not appear to be blotched with white ; on the
underside the hindwing is a good deal like T. tripura, but the latter
lacks the black marginal spots present in H. ? scopas. Furthermore,
T. tripura is even more closely allied to the Heteropterus ? catoleucos,
also of Dr. Staudinger, from Palawan (1. c., p. 162, pi. ii, fig. ]3^
male (1889) ), but lacks the one (or two) subapical spots present
in the forewing of that species, and the white area of the hindwino-
is far less extensive on both surfaces, but esj:>ecially so on the
underside.
With regard to the genus Sferopes, Boisduval, used b}^ Dr. Staudinger
for one of the two species above referred to, it cannot be used for
Lepidoptera as it is preoccupied in CoJeoptera. The type of the
genus Heteropterus, Dumeril, is morpheas, Pallas, which occurs in
Europe and Northern Asia, and can have, I think, nothing in
common generically with minuta, scopas, catoleucos, and tripura.
For the present all these species had better, perhaps, remain in the
genus Tagiades, in which Mr. Moore has placed minuta, the first-
described of this group.
Described from a single example in Mr. H. J. Elwes' collection
captured by Mr. W. Doherty in the Perak State, Malay Peninsula,
in Januarv-Februarv, 1890.
391 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
37. ABARATHA ALIDA, n. sp., PL G, Fig. 40, 6 .
Habitat : Tilin Yaw, Upper Burma.
Expanse : 6 , 1'55 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wings dull pale ochreous-
brown. Cilia white, inwardly defined by a fine dark line, and
prominently spotted with darker at the ends of the veins. Forewing
with a small round white transparent spot about the middle of the
discoidal cell, outwardly defined with black ; an irregularly- shaped
similar spot at the end of the cell; three conjoined subapical spots,
the middle one the largest ; two minute dots below these, placed
inwardly obliquely, divided by the lower discoidal nervule ; below
these again are four more spots, the first (uppermost), third and fourth
equal-sized, small, the second much the largest, the first is placed in
the second median interspace, the second in the first median inter-
space, the third and fourth in the submedian interspace ; immediately
beyond the above-described nine spots which completely cross the
disc is an indistinct series of nine small dark lunules placed one each
outwardly against each of the spots. Hindmng practically unmarked,
though there are traces of darkish spots on the disc. Underside ,
both icings thickly overlaid with large pure white scales, so that the dark
grouud-colour is entirely hidden except narrowly along the outer
margins, the whole wing-surface having the appearance of being
thickly strewn with hoar-frost. Forewing with the eleven trans-
parent white spots as on the upperside. Hindwing unmarked.
Head, thorax, and abdomen above and beneath concolorous with the
wings. Legs white, the foreleg with the usual long tuft of deep
black hairs attached to the coxa. Antenna?, blackish, the shaft
finely ringed with ochreous, the club beneath ochreous.
A. alida has the spots on the forewing practially the same as in
A. ransonnetii, Felder, and A. taylorii, mihi, but smaller; but it
differs in the tone of the coloration of the upperside, the former
being very dark brown with a good deal of ochreous, while the latter
is almost entirely ochreous ; the underside of A. alida is, however,
conspicuously different from either, being frosted with white
throughout except very narrowly along the outer margins of both
wings.
Described from a single male example captured at Tilin Yaw, Upper
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE INDO-MALAYAN REGION, 395
Burma, on 10th March, 1890, by Lieutenant E. Y. Watson, in whose
collection it is deposited.
Genus SANCUS, nov.
Male and Female. Fore wing, elongated, narrow ; costa strongly-
arched at base, then almost straight to apex ; apex rather acute ; outer
margin convex ; inner margin slightly convex in the male, slightly
concave in the female ; costal nervure not reaching to opposite the apex
of the discoidal cell ; first subcostal nervule given off at about the middle
of the discoidal cell, strongly deflected upwards soon after its origin,
and touching the costal nervure for a little distance, ending on the
costa about opposite to the apex of the cell ; second subcostal origi-
nating a little nearer to the base of the third than to the base of the
first subcostal ; fourth subcostal originating half as near to the base
of the third as that nervule originates from the base of the second,
terminating at the apex of the wing ; subcostal nervure terminating on
the outer margin well below the apex ; discoidal cell narrow, long,
extending considerably beyond the middle of the wing ; upper disco-
cellular nervule short, strongly outwardly oblique ; middle and lower
disco-cellulars straight, strongly inwardly oblique, the middle a little
longer than the lower ; median nervules originating at nearly equal dis-
tances apart, the second long before the lower end of the cell, the first
at about the middle of the cell ; submedian nervure slightly sinuous.
" Male with a curious impressed elongated oval brand placed so
immediately behind as to touch the median nervure, and extending
for one-third of its length along the first median nervule " on the
underside of the wing. Hind wing with the costal, outer, and abdomi-
nal margins strongly arched ; costal nervure long, curved ; first
subcostal nervule originating a little before the apex of the discoidal
cell ; discoidal cell broad, rather short, not quite reaching to the middle
of the wing; upper disco- cellular nervule straight, inwardly oblique;
lower disco-cellular also straight, equal in length to the upper disco-
cellular, outwardly oblique ; discoidal nervule obsolete, can barely be
traced ; second median nervule originating a little before the lower
end of the cell ; first originating twice as far from second, as second
is from third ; submedian nervure straight ; internal nervure straight.
Type, the " Astictopterus " subfasciatus, Moore.
The structure of the type species of this genus is very curious ; the
396 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY., 1891.
f orewing is imicli elongated, the hindwing is orate ; in coloration it
resembles several species of the old genus Astictopterm (such as- diodes,
Moore, olivaseem, Moore, butleri, Wood-Mason and de Niceville),
but according to Mr. Distant, differs widely in structure from that
genus as restricted by him in that the second median nervule of the
fore wing originates at about the same distance fro-m the base of the
first as from the base of the third, instead of being about twice as far
apart from that of the first as from the third. It agrees, however,
with the type species of Astictopterus (jama, Felder, from the
Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Javar and Bantam) according to Mr.
Distant, in that the first subcostal nervule of the forewing originates
about opposite to the base of the first median nervule. The type
species of Sanctis is quite unique amongst Hes per iidm as far as I am
aware in having the first subcostal nervule of the forewing touching
the costal nervure for a short distance, and in the position and shape
of the " male-mark," which is composed of a very dense mass
of androconia. I am unable to give a detailed comparison between
Sancus and Astietopterus, as I have not seen the type species of the
latter genus, nor does Mr. Distant give a detailed diagnosis of it in
his " Rhopalocera Mai ay ana."
38. (1). SANCUS SUBFASCIATUS, Moore.
Astietopterus mbfasciatus, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1878, p. 842; id., Wood-
Mason and deNiceVille, Journ. A. S. B., vol. lv, pt. 2, p. 380, n. 204, pi. xviii, figs. 1,
1 a, male (1886) ; id., Harapson, 1. c, vol. Ivii, pt. 2, p. 305, n. 223 (1888); Tagiades pul-
ligo, Mabille, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, fifth series, vol. vi, p. 272, n. 20, Bulletin, p.
xxvi. n. 20 (187fi)i Astietopterus ulunda, Plofcz, M$, ; Astictoptentit {Psoitis) ulnnda,
PlOtz (pulligo, Mabille), Standing-er, Iris, vol. ii, p. 147 (18S9).
Habitat: Ahsown in Upper Tenasserim; South India (Moore);
Silcuri in Cachar (Wood-Mason and de NiceviUe); western slopes of
the Nilgiris, 500—3,000 feet (Sampson) ; Malacca; Java (Mabille) ;
Palawan; Java; Jolo, Sulu Islands (Staudinger); Modah, Upper
Burma (Butler) ; Wynaad in South India ; Cachar ; Upper Tenasserim
(coll. Indian Museum); Nilgiri Hills; Sibsagar in Upper Assam ;
Akyab, Rangoon, nenzada, Dawnat Range, all in Burma ; Perak in
the Malay Peninsula; Borneo (coll. de Niecville).
I have experienced much difficulty with regard to the synonymy of
this species, and though I have written to Dr. O. Staudinger, M.
Charles Mabille, and Heir V. C. T. Snellen with regard to certain
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE 1ND0-MALAYAN REGION. 897
species described by them and allied to or synonymous with the type
species of the genus Sancus, a specimen of which I sent to each of
these gentlemen, I am still unable to give the synonymy with any
certainty. Dr. Staudinger writes to me that subfasciatus, Moore, is
certainly the same as Astictopterus (Psolos) ulunda, Plotz, and Ta-
giades pulligo, Mabille, as given by him (Dr. Staudinger) in his paper
on the Butterflies of Palawan in " Iris," vol. ii, p. 147 (1889). The
name i( ulunda" appears to be a MS. one, which I have been unable
to trace either in any of the late Herr Plotz's papers or in the
Record of Zoological Literature. The genus "Psolos" of Mabille also
seems never to have been described, and I am unaware what species
M. Mabille takes as the type.
Judging from the figure of Tagiades ? fuscula, Snellen, Tijd. voor
Ent., vol. xxi, p. 42, n. 183, pi. ii, fig. 3 (1878), from Bonthain,
Bantimoerong, Mangkasar, all in South- Western Celebes, I thought
that that species also was synonymous with subfasciatus. Heer
Snellen writes to me that he does not think that this is so, as fuscula
is a " long-winged " species. But it appears to me that this elonga-
tion of the wings is one of the most marked characteristics of sub-
fasciatus. Heer Snellen tells me distinctly that while pulligo has the
curious "male-mark" characteristic of subfasciatus, fuscula lacks it
entirely; and, moreover, that Staudinger's celunda from Celebes [Iris,
vol. ii, p. 146 (1889)] is a synonym of the T. ? fuscula, Snellen, from
the same island. But to complicate matters still further, Dr. Stau-
dinger distinctly states that the characteristic male-mark of my
genus S uncus is found in celunda, while Heer Snellen says it is not
present in the male of fuscula. How, therefore, can the two species
be the same, as Heer Snellen considers them to be ?
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
Plate F.
Fig. 1. Myealesis {Myctilus) mystes, n. sp., 6 , dry-season form, p. 343
„ 2. „ „ „ „ „ wet- „ „ p. 344.
,, 3. Clerome kirata, n. sp., 6 , p. 344. s^"C\C~A
„ 4. Argynnis mackinnonii, n. sp., 6 , p. 346. /&* - ^ /\
„ 5. „ „ ,, 9, p. 346.
„ 6. yeptis nar, n. sp., ? , p. 349.
51
398 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1591.
Fig. 7. Euthalia eriphyla, n. sp., 8 , p. 353.
8. Symbrenthia hypselis, Grodart, 8 , p. 356.
9. „ siiu's, n. sp., 8 , p. 357.
10. „ hippoclus, Cranier, $ , p. 354.
11. Simiskina pharyge, Hewitson, $, p. 361.
12. Cyaniris coalita, n. sp., 8 , p. 363.
13. „ „ „ $, p. 363.
14. Lampides latimargiis, Snellen, J , p. 364.
15. ,, bochides, n. sp., 8 , p. 367.
16. „ philatus, Snellen, 8 , p. 368.
17. Satsuma sp., $ , p. 374.
18. Rapala refulgens, n. sp., 8 , p. 376.
19. Acesina arisba, n. sp., 8 , p. 369.
20. Arhopala (demon, n. sp., <3 , p. 371.
21. „ „ „ $, p. 371.
)>
Plate Gf.
Fig. 22. Arhopala basiviridis, n. sp., 8 , p. 373.
„ 23. „ amatrix, n. sp., J, p. 370.
„ 24. „ „ „ $ , p. 370.
„ 25. Call tan a pieridoides, Moore, $ , p. 377.
„ 26. Celcenorrhinus clitus, n. sp., 8 , p. 378.
„ 27. Notocrypta necera, n. sp., $ , p. 379.
„ 28. Tapena laxmi, de N., $ , p. 382.
„ 29. Parnara ivatsonii, de N., £ , p. 388.
„ 30. ,, pugnans, n. sp., $ , p. 384.
,, 31. „ miosticta, n. sp., <5 , p. 385.
tJ 32. ,, ? meiktila, n. sp., J , p. 386.
„ 33. Chapra ccere, n. sp., 8 , p. 388.
„ 34. Halpe hyrie, n. sp., 8 , p. 388.
,, 35. ,, albipectus, n. sp., 8 , p. 389.
„ 36. „ „ „ $,p. 389.
,, 37. Sarangesa sati, n. sp., d , p. 391.
,, 38. iswfl marline, n. sp., <3 , p. 391.
„ 39. Tagiades tripura, n. sp., $, p. 392.
„ 40. Abaratha alida, n. sp., 8 , p. 394.
'. cevili-e , Joum Bomb. Nat Hist. Soc.
PI.K
IB L Dos. del.
INDO-MALAYAN BUTTERFLIES.
Mmtern- Bros . Chromo lith. London..
je Nicevili-k .Joum .Homb.Nat.IHst.Soc.
PI . G.
B L.Dos del
NDO-MALAYAN BUTTERFLIES.
Mintern. Bros . Chromo lith. London.
SUBSTANCES USED AS INCENSE IN THE EAST. 399
SUBSTANCES USED AS INCENSE IN THE EAST.
By W. Dymock, Brigade-Surgeon, Retired.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 1st July, 1891.)
Incensation or sacrifice is the chief element of all the ancient
religions, and the most primitive form of it was the sacrifice of human
beings ; children offered to Moloch or Baal, captives burnt by the
ancient Greeks and Gauls, the Merieh sacrifice of the Khonds, and the
sacrificial cakes of Peru soaked in human blood. Primitive man
offered what he thought would be most acceptable to his deity, in
a more civilized condition he substituted burnt offerings of animals
for human sacrifices ; to these he added perfumes, and lastly the fire
and perfumes only remained as the symbol of sacrifice.
In the Book of Genesis (8, 20) we are distinctly told that burnt
offerings of animals were made, and that '' the Lord smelled a sweet
savour." In Exodus (30, 34) Moses is directed to take sweet spices
stacte, onycha, and galbanum, with pure frankincense for use as
incense in the tabernacle. In India, animal incense, in the form of
ghi or clarified butter, is still used by the Hindus in the Horn
sacrifice, and in the arthi or incensation of idols and important
personages, such as the bridegroom by the bride.
Incense burning is all that remains as a symbol of sacrifice in the
Christian Charch, and is used at the daily sacrifice of the Eucharist.
Amono- the Parsees fire is considered to be the son of Horniuzd, and
to act as a mediator between the faithful and the divine being.
Sacrifices of bread, meat, and the juice of the Homa plant are made.
Among the ancient Arabs fire alone appears to have been used in
sacrifice, and also fire upon which salt was spriukled.
What was the practice of these two ancient nations in pre-historic
times' we do not know, but we may infer that it was similar to that
of uncivilized man elsewhere.
The principal plants which furnish the incenses used in the East
are : —
Ailantus malabarica, D. C, which yields the Baga-dhup incense
of Canara.
Boswellia, several species growing in Arabia and Africa which
yield Olibanum or Frankincense.
400 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Boswellia serrata, Roxb., growing in India and yielding the
Guggalu of Sanskrit writers.
Aquilaria Agallocha, Roxb., and A. moluccana, Larcik., yielding
Aloes or Eagle-wood.
Styrax Benzoin, Dryander, yielding Benzoin or Benjamin.
S(y rax officinalis, Linn., yielding the bark sold as Usturak in the
bazars.
Liquidamber orientalis, Miller, yielding Liquid storax, the Silaras
of the bazars.
Dorema Ammoniacum, Don, yielding the root sold as Boi in the
bazars.
Sanssurea Lappa, Clai'ke, yielding Costus or Kust^ best known in
Bombay as Upnlet.
8 ant alum album, Linn., yielding Sandal-wood.
Laurus Camphora, Linn., yielding Camphor.
Dryobalanops Aromaticat Gartn., yielding Borneo camphor, the
Barc/3 or B himseni-kapur of the bazars.
Cinnamomum, several species, yielding Cassia and Cinnamon.
Cedrus Deodara, Lond., yielding the Deodar-wood of the bazars.
Finns longifolia, Roxb., yielding Sarala-drava.
Jurinea macrocephaloi, Benth., yielding a root which is used as
incense under the name of Dhupa at Rampur and elsewhere in
Northern India.
Juniperus communis, Linn., /. recurva, Ham., and /. macropoda,
Boiss., 'yielding Juniper-wood and resin, used as Dhupa in Northern
India.
Cupressus torulosa, Don, the Himalayan Cypre?s, the wood and
resin of which is burnt as incense in the Hindu temples of the
North.
Morina Coulteriana, Royle, which furnishes a root used as incense
in Kashmir.
Balsamodendron, several species, yielding Mtjrrh and Bdellium.
Shorea robusta, Gartn., yielding the Bala or Dhuna of the bazars.
Shorea Talma, Roxb., yielding the Sambrdni incense of the
Wynaad.
Canarium bengalense, Roxb., yielding the Gokaldhup incense of
the Lepchas in Sikkim.
SUBSTANCES USED AS INCENSE IN THE EAST. 401
Valeria indisa, Linn., yielding the Vellai-kingiliyam incense of
Southern India.
Ferula galbaaiflua, Boiss. et Buhse, yielding Galbanum used as
incense by the Jews.
The Baga-dhup of Canara is a fragrant resin of the colour of the
glass used for making Hock bottles, it is used in Malabar by the
Saraswat Brahmins as a substitute for the Sarala or oleo-resin of
the Himalayan Pinus longifolia.
It is hardly necessary to say much about frankincense as it is so
well known, but it is curious that the botauical source of a substance,
which is one of the oldest articles of commerce, has only been ascer-
tained within the last 50 years. The Book of Exodus, and the recent
discoveries of Prof. Diimichen of Strassbourg in the temple of Dayr
el Behri in Upper Egypt, shew that it was a well known article of
commerce 1 700 years before the Christian era, and one of the inscrip-
tions at the temple states that thirty-one of the trees producing it
were brought to Egypt from the land of Punt (the Somali coast)
as an offering to the god Amnion. The name which frankincense
bears iu the East is of Semitic origin and signifies " milk," from the
juice being milky when it first exudes from the tree ; in Hebrew it
is Lebonah and in Arabic Luban, the latter word being in use among
the Musalmans of India. The Hindus call it Visesha. Formerly
this gum-resin was supposed to be obtained from a kind of Juniper,
until Colebrooke in the 11th Vol. of the Asiatic BesearcJies described
the Bosivellia serrata, of Roxburgh growing in India, and erroneously
supposed that he had discovered the source of the commercial article.
This mistake was not corrected until Carter, in 1846, brought spe-
cimens of the true Olibamim plant from Ras Fartak on the S.-E.
coast of Arabia (Joum., By. Br., El. As. Soc, II. (1848, 380) tab. 23).
Lastly Birdwood, in a monograph (1870), described some specimens
of the Olibanum tree from the African coast, also Carter's plant
which was still growing in Bombay {Linn. Trans., XXVII. 111-148).
It is probable that this incense was brought to India in pre-historic
times by Arab traders, and we know that Alexander, B. C. 325,
found a vessel loaded with it at the mouth of the Indus. The bark
of the frankincense tree, called by the Arabs Kishar—kundar or
Kashfa, forms a separate article of trade, which is known in India as
402 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Dhnpa or incense. Frankincense is more generally used than any-
other kind of incense, and together with benzoin, storax, myrrh, and
cascarilla bark forms the incense now in use in Europe.
Tlie exudation of the Indian olibanum tree appears to have been
formerly used in this country, under the name of Guggalu, as an
incense to a considerable extent; but, owing to the facilities for
communication which are now afforded, it has been ousted by the
commercial article, and is no longer collected. It differs from true
olibanum in containing a much larger proportion of gam, and there-
fore does not burn so well, and is less fragrant.- When collected by
cutting the trees in the cold weather, it is a semi-fluid substance
like Canada-balsam, but the specimen I now show of the natural
exudation collected in May. last bears a considerable resemblance to
commercial olibanum of inferior quality.
Aloe or Eagle ivood. — The use of this precious wood as a perfume
and incense is of great antiquity. Together with myrrh, cassia, and
other products of the East it is mentioned in the sacred writings of
the Jews (Num., xxiv. 6 ; Psalms, xlv. 8 ; Prov. vii. 1 7 ; Cantic. iv.
14) under the name of Ahalot or Ahalim. It is the Agallochon of the
ancient Greeks which is described by Dioscorides as a wood brought
from India and Arabia. Later writers from iEtius' time call it
Zulaloe or " aloe wood," the name by which it is still known in Europe.
The same substance is the Agaru of the Hindus, the Garu of the
Malays, and the Chin-lieang of the Chinese. In Sanskrit medical
works it bears the synonyms of Rajarha, iC worthy of a prince';
Visva-rupa, " taking all forms" ; Krimi-ja, " produced by worms";
Anarya-ja, " produced in a non-aryan country" ; Kanaka, " golden" ;
Ealiya, " black," &c. As aloe wood bears the Sanskrit name of
Anarya-ja, it is probable that it was used by the aborigines of Eastern
Asia before it became known to the Hindus, but that at a very early
date it was carried overland to Central Asia, India, and Persia, and
from thence reached Arabia and Europe. The eai'ly Arab travellers
appear to have collected a good deal of information concerning the
commerce and sources of supply of the wood. Yohanna bin Sei'apion
mentions four kinds — Hindi, Mandali, Sainfi, and Kamdri; and Ibn
Sma, after enumerating a number of varieties of the commei'cial article,
remarks, " the tree is said to be buried to promote the formation of
SUBSTANCES USED AS INCENSE IN THE EAST. 403
aloe wood." This we now know to be correct. Ibn Batuta speaks
of Kamdrl aloe wood as soft like wax. Abu Zaid calls it Kdmaruni,
and says it is the best kind. Abulfeda states that Ood comes from
the Kamarun mountains. The Kamarun of the Arabs is what we
know as Cape Comorin, which they considered to divide the
country and seas of India from the country and seas of China.
The former region was also called by them Belad-el-fulful or filfil,
"the pepper country/' and the latter Beldd-el-ndr, " the fire or
incense country." Other names applied to different qualities of
aloe wood were Kdkuli or J awl, " coming from Java or from
Kakuleh," a place in Java; Saimuri, ''coming from Saimur or
Samar," an island in the Eastern Archipelago ; and Mawardi,
"smelling like rose water." The term Sinn or Sainfi is probably
derived from Champa, a province in Cambodia, and Mandali
from Mount Mandar or Mandal, south of the modern town of
Bhagalpur. Haji Zein el Attar (1368) calls aloe wood Ood-el-juj,
from Juj or Juju, the name of a town in Cathay. After translat-
ing Ibn Sina's article on Ood, he gives his own opinion in the
following terms: — " The author of this work (Ikhtiarat) says the
best is called Kalambak and comes from the port of Jena, which is
ten days' sail from Java. It is sold for its weight in gold. You
would think it odourless, but when warmed in the hand it has
a very sweet persistent odour ; when burnt the odour is uniformly
sweet until the wood is consumed. Next is Mandali and Samanduri,
both, from Sofala in India. The best of these is of a golden colour
and heavy. Kaludi is like the Indian, and is generally in large
pieces marked with black and yellow lines ; then there is Kamari,
golden brown, without streaks; it comes from the Kamarun country,
and Sainfi from Samf, it is hard and sweet ; then Sahali and
Afdsi, a moist kind from China ; then Maatai, Randi, Halai, and
Laufi, all of about equal value. And in Manta (Southern China)
there is a tribe who call the wood Ashbuh, and it is of two kinds :
one of these is in large pieces weighing from 5 to 50 maunds,
without much odour, and used for making combs, knife-handles, &c.
It must not be supposed that all these names indicate so many varie-
ties of wood ; they appear to have been simply trade terms originat"
ing from accidental circumstances : for instance, it appears that the
404 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
name Halai arose from the wood being brought to the West over
the Hala mountains in Sind by Multani merchants."
Ruinphius describes two kinds of true and two of false aloe wood.
The first kind of true aloe wood, he says, is called Kihim ovHu-kilam
by the Chinese and Calambac by the Malays, and is produced by a
tree growing in the provinces of Champa and Coinam, and in Cochin
China. (This tree has been described by Loureiro under the name
of Aloexylon Agallochum, but it is unknown to modern botanists.)
The second kind, called Garo, is the product of A. malaccensis, Lamk.,
which he figures : this is the Chin-heang of the P wn-tsaou-kong-muh,
or great Chinese Herbal.
Modern investigation has shown that aloe wood (a corruption of
the Arabic Al-aod, or " the ivood par excellence "), is obtained from
two species of Aquilarico growing in Sylhet and extending, through
Manipur, Chittagong and Arakan, to Mergui and Sumatra. It first
reached Europe through China and Northern Asia or through India,
but when the early Arab navigators found their way to China, the
route was gradually changed. The collection of the wood in Sylhet,
where the tree was found by Roxburgh, has been described, and
confirms much of what has been said by the early Mahometan writers
above quoted. It appears that the trees are felled, and afterwards
searched to find the pieces of dark-coloured resinous agar which
occur here and there in the naturally soft white wood of the trunk
and branches. The blackest and heaviest portion, which is known
as gharld, because it sinks in water, is worth in Sylhet from six to
eight rupees per pound. From the specimens on the table you will
see how very limited the resinous infiltration often is.
At the present day aloe wood is imported into Bombay from
Bankok, usually via Singapore or Batavia. Some of the Parsee silk-
merchants also import it from Hong-kong. Only two kinds are
known — Muwardi and Gaguli ; the first appears to be the produce of
A. malaccensis, and the second that of the Indian A. Agallocha.
There are several kinds of false aloe wood in the market ; the most
important of these is Taggar, a wood from Africa or Madagascar, of
which I show you a specimen.
Aloe wood is now hardly known in Europe, but in former times
the most expensive perfumes were sought for to be used as incense
SUBSTANCES USED AS INCENSE IN THE EAST. 405
Pliny animadverts strongly (Books 12 and 13) upon the extravagance
of the Romans in this respect, especially at funerals, and contrasts
it with the simplicity of the Greeks at the time of the Trojan War
when incense was not used in sacrificing to the gods, but only the
iudigenous juniper and citrus wood necessary to burn the animals.
Benzoin, the Luban-Jawi, or Java frankincense of the Arabs, which
they began to bring from the Beldd-el-ndr, or "incense country/'
about the middle of the fourteenth century, was not known to the
ancient Hindus or to the inhabitants of Europe ; but they used a
somewhat similar substance obtained from Styrax officinalis, which
is now no longer an article of commerce, though the bark is still
used as incense, and appears occasionally in the Indian bazars under
the name of Usturah. Benzoin appears to have rapidly gained the
favour of the users of incense both in the Bast and. in the West. It
is used all over India. Bombay imports annually about 6,000 cwts.,
and large quantities go to Europe, where it is used as an ingredient
of the incenses used in the Greek and Roman churches. The
modern storax of commerce was introduced in the sixth century
apparently to replace the original storax, the source of supply
of which had become insufficient to meet the demands of
commerce, which were very considerable both in Europe and
in the East. We learn from the author of the " Periplus of the
Erythrean Sea " tbat as long ago as the first century, Silhaka
(storax) was exported to India, and about this time it is mentioned
as one of the imports of Thana, on the Western Coast. The Arabs
also carried it to China, and it appears to have been known in the
Indian vernaculars as Ast-loban, " Western frankincense." ' Upon
the decline of the port of Thana the trade was transferred to Surat,
then to Goa, and afterwards to Bombay, which still imports from 300
to 400 cwts. yearly. Storax is an ingredient in European incense.
In the trade statistics of the early European traders in India it is
called Rosa Mallas and Rose Malloes, a name which it still retains,
and the origin of which is doubtful, though some suppose it to be
derived from Rosamala, the Malay name for Altingia excelsa, a tree
which produces an odoriferous resin in Java and Burma. That the
latter supposition is incorrect I think there can be little doubt, as
the only Rose Malloes known in Bombay is the European storax ;
52
406 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
tlie name appears to have been applied to it incorrectly through a
confusion of this substance with the honey or manna collected from
toees, the Bpa-a-o/ieXi of the Greeks, and the Bos melleus of the mid-
dle ages. The author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya says : — " Rasimi-
litis is a Greek name for a kind of incense called in Arabic Dukhan-
el-daru and in Hindi Ast loban. In another place, speaking of
Daru, he says that its Greek name is Fazugus. Zugos (fryos) is
the modern Greek for the storax tree (Liquidamber orientalis).
Ammoniacum root, the Boi of the Parsees, is regularly imported
into Bombay for use in Parsee ritual as an incense. It is popularly
spoken of as a wood, and is traditionally understood to be one of the
fragrant woods mentioned in the Avesta. It is remarkable that
before Persian ammoniacum was known in the west, the gum-resin
of an Ammoniacum plant growing about Oyrene in Libya and in the
neighbourhood of the temple of Ammon was used as an incense
under the name of Thus Libycum, or "Libyan frankincense." The
use of this substance appears to be now entirely confined to the
Parsees.
Costus was one of the fragrant substances which the Arabs
obtained from the Hindus and introduced into Europe to satisfy the
ancient demand for perfumes to be burnt upon the altars of the gods
and at funerals. They themselves considered it to be the best of
j) erf times for fumigation. The Hindus and Chinese used this root
for smoking as a narcotic before opium was known in the East, and
it is still exported to China in enormous quantities, to be used as an
incense. Baden- Powell says : — "In every Hong it is found; no
mandarin will give an audience until the patchak incense smokes
before him ; in every Joss-house it smoulders before the Tri-budh
deity ; in every floating junk in the Chinese rivers, the only home of
countless hordes, Budh's image is found, and the smoke of the
patchak religiously wends its way heavenward." It is now hardly
known in Europe, but the Arabs and Chinese esteem it as highly
as ever as an incense, and the Hindus use it as a perfume and
medicine.
Sandal wood must have been used in India from prehistoric times,
as it is mentioned in the Mrukta, or writings of Yaska, the oldest
Vedic commentary extant. It is principally consumed at the funeral
SUBSTANCES USED AS INCENSE IN THE EAST. 407
piles of wealthy Hindus, aud even comparatively poor people will
expend as much as 40 to 50 rupees worth at a funeral. In China it
is burnt as an incense, and the Parsees also burn it. There would
appear to be no evidence of its ever having found much favour as an
incense in the West, which is strange, as it was known to the
Romaus in the first century of our era. A false sandal wood is im-
ported into Bombay from Zanzibar, of which I show you a sample :
it is used as a substitute for the true article. Several kinds of false
sandal are also in use in China.
Common camphor is used as an incense in India, especially in per-
forming the arthi ceremony already mentioned; whilst the expensive
Borneo camphor is largely used at the funeral rites of the Batta
princes, whose families are often ruined by the lavish expense of
providing the camphor and buffaloes which the custom of their
obsequies requires. In Western India it is used in small quantities
by the Jains, and costs from 80 to 100 rupees per maund.
The Cinnamon and Cassia of the ancients appears to have been
used as incense, as we find Cassia turiana mentioned as a substance
upon which duty was levied at the Roman custom-house at Alexan-
dria, A.D. 176-80; and a thick kind of cinnamon bark, called
Pisin-puttai or Piskoo-puttai in Tamil, is still used in India 'for this
purpose. It has a delicious fragrance, but hardly any cinnamon
flavour. Mr. Hooper informs me that it is ground to a powder,
mixed with water, smeared on reeds, and dried. The reeds are
burnt at Mahometan festivals. There is a thick variety of Cassia
which fetches about 56 shillings a pound in China : possibly it may
be the same article.
The wood of Cedrus Dcodara, the Deodar ivood of the bazars,
contains a large quantity of a very fragrant turpentine, and is much
used all over India in making pastiles. Pinus longifoliais the Sarala
of Sanskrit writers, who call the turpentine obtained from it Sarala-
drava ; it does not resemble our turpentine, but has the colour and
consistence of ghi. Popularly it is known as Ghir-pine oil or Gan-
dha-biroja.
The roots of Jurinea macro cephala, a composite plant common in
the Western Himalaya, are used locally as incense (dhnpa). Dr.
Stewart records that seven maunds from Bissahir were exposed
408 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
for sale at the Eampur fair in 1867 ; and Dr. G. Watt saw the dhup
being prepared from the roots in Rampur, and also higher up on
the neighbouring hills, the plant being collected to be sent to Ram-
pur. This substance is also said to be exported from Kashmir to
Tibet for use as incense.
The wood, twigs, and resin of the Himalayan Junipers and of the
Himalayan Cypress are used as incense in the Hindu temples of
Northern India, and it is interesting to remember that the European
species of these trees were used in the Trojan War in burning
sacrifices to the gods.
In Kashmir the root of Morina Coulter iana, belonging to the
Dipsacew, is in local demand as an incense. It is said to be some-
times mixed with Gostus for export.
Myrrh and Bdellium are chiefly used as incense in China, but
some European receipts for incense contain a little myrrh. The
odour of bdellium when burnt is not agreeable, still it appears
to have been used in Europe by the ancients, as Pliny states that
its quality may be tested by its odour when burning. The refine-
ments of civilization have greatly modified our appreciation of
perfumes. In England three centuries ago our forefathers placed
Valei'ian in their wardrobes and considered it an agreeable perfume ;
nowadays we should as soon think of keeping a polecat in our
cupboards. In India, which has been stationary as regards refine-
ment for the last three thousand years, Valerian is still used as a
perfume for clothes, and is considered an agreeable addition to the
hair douche. Bdellium has a decidedly musty odour, but Plautus
in his "Curculio" uses it as a term of endearment : "Tu crocinum et
cassia es, tu bdellium ;" which may be freely translated, " You are a
spicy darling." To his taste bdellium cannot have been musty.
An idea of Solomon's taste in perfumes may be gathered from his
Epithalamium : it would hardly meet with the approval of a
modern bride.
The Rala or Dhuna of India is an interesting substance. I iden-
tify it with the Cancamum of the ancients. If we refer to Dioscorides,
we find that he speaks of it as an Arabian gum, something like
myrrh in appearance, used for fumigation on account of its fragrance
and administered medicinally to reduce corpulence and to cure spleen,
SUBSTANCES USED AS INCENSE IN THE EAST. 409
&c. ; it was applied locally to remove opacities of the cornea and
improve the sight, also to cure toothache ; according to Paulun
^Egineta it was considered to be laxative. I think there can be no
doubt that this substance was the Kankahan, Kaikahar, or Kaigha-
man of the Arabians, a kind of resin which they describe as having
exactly the same properties as those attributed to Cancamum by Dios-
corides. Haji Zein (A. D. 1368) describes it as having the appear-
ance of Copal, and the Indian Mahometan writers on Materia Medica
identify it with the Bala or Dhuna of India, which is Shorea resin,
and which is used throughout the East as an incense. Pliny men-
tions Cancamum and Tarum (aloe wood) as coming from the country
which produces cinnamon and cassia, and states that it was brought
to Europe by the Nabatgean Troglodyte, a colony of the Nabatsei.
Another species of Shorea, 8. Talura, Roxb., yields the Sambrdni
incense of the Wynaad, and Vateria indica, Linn., belonging to the
same family, the Vellai Kungiliyam incense of the Tamils, which
burns with a clear steady light, giving off a pleasant smell and very
little smoke. The Gokal-dhup of the hill tribes of Sikkim is obtained
from Ganarium bengalense, Roxb., an immense forest tree ; it is a
clear, amber-coloured resin, having something of the qualities of
Elemi, a fragrant resin obtained from Manilla, the botanical source
of which has not yet been satisfactorily determined.
Qalhannm, the Chelbenah of the Jews, was an ingredient of the
incense used by the ancient Israelites (Exod., xxx. 34), and it is
now used in the Irvingite churches in London. It is brought to
Bombay from Persia and is known in the bazar as Jawdshir, an
Arabic corruption of the Persian name Gaoshir, " cow's milk." Its
odour is by no means agreeable, and when burnt decidedly offensive,
so that it is difficult to understand its being used as an incense. In
Persia it is used to keep evil spirits from the houses of parturient
women, and the Greeks and Romans used it to drive away noxious
animals. Virgil in his third Georgic, speaking of the diseases of
sheep, says : —
"Disce et odoratam stabulis accendere cedrum,
Galbaneoque agitare graves nidore chelydros."
( '* Learn also to burn the fragrant Juniper in the folds, and to
drive away the fetid Chelydrus with the fumes of galbanum. ,; )
410 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
We do not know exactly what the Chelydrus was. Nicander
describes it as a kind of snake ; some think it was a kind of tortoise ;
anyhow it was supposed to be injurious to the flock.
I will conclude by giving you a modern recipe for incense which
appeared in a recent issue of the "Chemist and Druggist' ' news-
paper : —
Olibanum 6 ounces.
4
Dry storax ...3 „
Benzoin 3 „
Myrrh 1 ounce.
Cascarilla 1 ,,
Lavender flowers ... 2 ounces.
Powder coarsely and mix.
PROTECTIVE MIMICRY.
By Mrs. W. E. Hart.
{Mead before the Bombay Natural History Society on 27th July, 1891.)
The particular form of mimicry I propose to discuss is that similarity
iu appearance borne by creatures of one species to those of another
which enjoy some special immunity from attack by reason of the
possession of some peculiar quality not possessed by the imitators. It
is, of course, involuntary, and the result of evolution through long
time, perpetuating and intensifying, until they become permanent
and specific, accidental and variable resemblances which have proved
useful in the struggle for existence. The instances, perhaps, most
familiar to us in India are those of some common but very curious
and interesting species of butterflies, which being edible themselves,
and on that account liable to attack by insectivorous enemies,
resemble in coloration and habit of flight certain other species
which, by reason of their unpleasant taste and smell, are avoided
rather than sought by the natural enemies of their race. Before
proceeding to consider instances in detail, the fact is worthy of notice
that this kind of mimicry seems to be far commoner among tropical
than among English butterflies. The reason would be an interesting
PROTECTIVE MIMICRY. 411
question, of which several solutions not unworthy of examination
and discussion readily suggest themselves. For instance : — (1st) It
may be that as edible insects have more enemies among the
carnivorous birds, reptiles, and insects of a tropical jungle than
in the woods and meadows of England, they require more means
of protection in order to perpetuate their species; or (2nd), as the
breeding season of insects is generally of short duration in a
climate subject both to long droughts and torrential rains, it is
necessary that they should have every means of protection against
other foes; or (3rd) perhaps the race of butterflies is more ancient
in the tropics than in temperate regions, as would seem to be
indicated by the existence of a larger number of species, and
therefore they have enjoyed a longer opportunity for the perfect
evolution of accidental, variable likenesses into permanent, specific
ones.
But whatever the reason, the fact remains that many species
of butterflies not sought as food are imitated, sometimes very
closely, in appearance by other species, which, not being blessed
with a deterrent smell or taste, would, were it not for this likeness,
be seized by every bird and lizard in search of a meal. Of the
species protected by their evil smell or taste it is further to be
remarked that they are generally of pretty large size, with a slow
fluttering flight, and conspicuously coloured, as though they actually
courted notice — hanging out danger signals, so to speak, for the
purpose of warning off their enemies.
I will instance first Danais chrysippus of the family of Danaince,
almost every member of which has a strong unpleasant smell, and none
of which are sought as food by bird or lizard. The male and female
of this species are alike in general appearance, of a bright terra-
cotta colour, strongly contrasted with the black and white tips
of their forewings. They flutter lazily about on the flower heads
whence they draw their sustenance. Among them a quick eye
will detect the females of Hypolimnas misippus, also a common
butterfly, but not so common as Danais chrysippus. Even when set
side by side, the likeness is so strong that it might well deceive
an unpractised observer into the belief that the two specimens are
individuals of the same species. Again, some females of Hypolimnas
412 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
misippus, without the black and white tips to the {brewings,
imitate Danais dorippus, a species, if distinct at all, very closely
allied to D. chrysippus. But the occurrence of this variety of
H. misippus in fairly plentiful quantities in the island of Bombay,
where Danais dorippus seems not to be found at all, supports the
view that D. dorippus is not a distinct species, but merely an acci-
dental variety of D. chrysippus.
But the male of Hypolimnas misippus, with its dark wings, eyed
with purple on the upper side and brown and white beneath, is
so unlike the female that it might well be mistaken for a member
of a different species. Unlike it is also in its habit. Being of a quick
restless flight and quarrelsome disposition, it does not associate
either with the swarms of Danais chrysippus or with its own
females, but inhabits generally some particular bush or shrub,
which it seems to consider its own property, for it resents the
intrusion of any trespasser with all the fury of a game-preserving
Squire, making short quick dashes at any creature approaching
its domain, even if it be but an inoffensive biped armed with a
green gauze net.
Another larger species of Hypolimnas, H. bolina, has also,
though not in so marked a degree, this characteristic of a difference
in coloration between the male and female, the latter imitating
another species of the Danaince, Euploea core. The male of
Hypolimnas bolina is distinctly and conspicuously eyed with spots
of a brighter purple than H. misippus; but in the female these spots
are reduced to a faint streak, which brings the general appearance
of the insect to a closer resemblance to the brownish-purple hue
of Euplcea core than of its own mate.
Euploea core, besides the unpleasant taste common to its family,
enjoys a further protection in the possession of a pair of yellow
brush-like plumes which the male can at pleasure protrude from the
end of its abdomen. This is not a feature peculiar to Euploea core,
certain species of the genus Danais also possessing it, but it is not
common to the whole family of the Danaince. These plumes seem
to be charged with a concentration of the unpleasant smell of the
family, and the use of them may be to ensure the pursuer getting
a good mouthful or noseful of it before he seizes the fugitive, and
PROTECTIVE MIMICRY. 413
thus be more certainly deterred from the intended capture. The
bright yellow colour contrasting forcibly with the dark brown body
no doubt acts as a danger signal to a pursuing enemy.
The possession of this additional protection would, of course,
operate to make Euplcea core additionally unpleasant to its enemies ;
and perhaps that is the reason why it is imitated in appearance
by more than one unprotected species. For instance, Papilio panop*1,
a butterfly about the same size, in the general brownish-purple
coloration of its upperside, and the row of whitish markings
round the posterior edge of the hindwings, bears a strong resem-
blance at a distance to Euploea core. So, again, in the light buff or
cream-coloured wings strongly veined with black of Papilio
dissimilis and clytia, as well as in their slow lazy flight, so unusual
in members of the genus Papilio, we trace a likeness to several
species of the Danais protected by their bad smell and taste.
These resemblances are the more interesting as they tend to show
that the likeness is a true imitation, the result of gradual evolution,
and not a mere persistence, or survival of or reversion to an old
type common to the whole race. For Euploea core and Hijpolimnas
bolina, though belonging to the different subfamilies of Danaince and
NymphalincE, are yet members of the same family of Nymphalidce .
It might, therefore, be plausibly argued that the resemblance
between them is but a reversion in both to some feature in a
common ancestor. But the members of the genus Papilio belong
to the wholly different division of the Papilionidce. If, then, we are
to infer that these resemblances are imitations evolved in the
process of time for the purpose of protection, we are led to the
conclusion that the imitating species is a later development than
the imitated. For it would only be after the latter had proved
by experience the value of the feature in which the resemblance
lies that it would be found of service to the former. We thus
arrive at an interesting conclusion regarding the relative ages of
different species, which would seem to show that the whole division
of Papilionidce is of later birth than the Nymphalidce — a theory
which seems to derive additional support from the fact that the first
pair of legs in the Papilionidce are strong and perfectly developed,
while in the Nymphalidce they n.re imperfectly developed, as though
53
414 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the latter had in the course of a longer existence departed more than
the former from the type of a perfect insect with six fully-developed
legs.
Considering the size and streugth of most species of the genus
Pamlio, their quick high flight, and their generally restless habits,
it may seem strange that they should require any additional
protection in a resemblance to members of another species. Yet the
species I have mentioned are by no means the only ones that enjoy
it. There is a common but very curious butterfly of the same
genus, Papilio polytes, the females of which occur in three different
forms. The first, black, with a row of cream-coloured spots round
the posterior margin of its hindwings, resembles its own male ;
but the females of this type appear to be barren, never, so far as
has been ascertained, laying any eggs. The fertile females imitate
two other species, not, as in the instances I have yet mentioned, of
another genus, but the same, viz., P. hector, which has the body and
hindwings marked with red, and the tips of the forewings with
white ; and P. aristolocluce, also red and black, but with a large distinc-
tive blotch of white of irregular shape about the middle of each
hindwing. Indeed, the whole life of that remarkable insect,
P. polytes, would seem to be one long course of deception. When
first hatched, the larva, which is of sluggish habits and feeds on
the upper side of the leaves of the sweet lime, where it would
naturally be conspicuous to passing birds, so exactly resembles
both in colour and shape the droppings of some small bird, that
it may well deceive any except the most careful eye. As it grows
too large to avail itself of this resemblance, the larva gradually
changes in colour from its first dirty white and gray to the exact
shade of green of the leaf on which it feeds. When it assumes
the pupa form, it is of a bright green colour and is in shape exactly
like a bent leaf with its edo;es curled inwards. It then attaches
itself by the tail end to the stem of the food plant with its head
upwards, and inclines its body outwards at a angle of about 45
degrees. In this position its resemblance to a leaf is so complete
that it can with difficulty be distinguished on the spray even by
those who know it to be there. Then when the imago emerges,
if it bo a fertile female, on whom the perpetuation of the species
PROTECTIVE MIMICRY. 415
is to depend, it will be one of two types, resembling the individuals
of a wholly different species. But the pupse of larva; hatched
from the same brood of eggs result indifferently in males and
in females of all three types.
From the foregoing remarks you will have gathered that, among
butterflies, it is generally in the females and not the males of a
species that you will find the mimicry of another species.
The reason for this is obvious, in as much as it is the females
which lay the eggs that are of the most importance to the species
in perpetuating its existence.
In the instance last given, you will have noticed that the female
of Papilio polytes does not resemble an individual of another genus
protected by its bad smell or taste, as is the case with the two
species of Hypolimnas and those of Papilio first mentioned;
resembling Vanais clirysippus, Euploea core, and other species of
Dauais. But the two types of fertile females of Papilio polytes
resemble individuals of other species only of the same genus Papilio,
and whether these other species of P. hector and P. aristolochice are
protected by any bad smell or taste seems doubtful, most of the
Papiliones being certainly edible. There must, however, be a reason
for the resemblance in this case also. If it be not the same as in the
other instances, possibly the more brilliant coloration in the fertile
female is to make them more conspicuous to the males of their own
species, and thus ensure its perpetuation. In one sense this would
also be a protective mimicry, though it would be protective rather
indirectly of the species than directly of the individual.
The few instances I have mentioned have proved suggestive
of several interesting questions which are still awaiting a correet
solution, and the whole subject of Indian butterflies will be found
a wide field for enquiry, fertile in important questions of great
interest, not to the entomologist alone, but to the student of
Natural History in all its branches. Does not, for instance, the
establishment of the fact of the mimicry by one species of another
protected by its evil smell or taste from attack by its enemies, point
to the conclusion that there must be in these enemies some faculty
of remembering and communicating individual experiences and of
profiting by the instruction of others ? For, unless the results of
416 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
experience were widely spread among its enemies, we sliould hardly
find a system of mimicry among its different species sowidely spread
as we do in the race of butterflies.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No. I.— THE NATURAL ENEMIES OF THE LOCUST.
Acridium peregrinum.
At a meeting of the Asiatic Society of Bengal on Wednesday night, 3rd June,
1891, in the Society's house in Park Street, Mr. E. C. Cotes exhibited two
insect enemies of the Punjab locust Acridium peregrinum, also a magic lantern
slide, illustrative of what may, perhaps, be a contagious disease of the same
insect. Locusts are now prevalent to an alarming extent both in Northern
India and in Africa, so that the appearance of insect enemies and disease
among them is of some importance, it being known that the increase of locusts
to a great extent depends upon the presence or absence of parasites and disease.
The first insect exhibited was a parasitic fly not unlike a small house fly,
which has been reared in large numbers from locust eggs sent to the Indian
Museum last March by the district officers of Peshawar and Eawalpindi.
Only a portion of these eggs produced locusts, the remainder yielding the
parasitic flies, which were no doubt nourished at the expense of the locust eggs.
These parasitic flies appeared in such numbers that they quite blackened the
sides of the rearing cages. They have been identified by the well-known
dipterologist, Monsieur J. M. F. Bigot, as a hitherto unknown species of the
genus Anthomyia, to which also belongs the species Anthomyia angustifrons,
which is an important parasite of the Eocky Mountain locust of America.
The precise life-history of the Indian species is not yet known, but it is
probably similar to that of its American relation, which, according to Dr.
liiley, the United States Entomologist, deposits its own minute eggs in the
ground close to where the locust has previously laid its eggs ; minute maggots
vapidly hatch out from the fly's eggs, and bore their way into the egg mass
of the locusts where they feed upon the contents of the locust's eggs, and
finally transform into little brown pupa3, from which the flies emerge ready to
lay more eggs, and thus repeat the cycle of then existence.
The second bisect is one that had recently been sent from Peshawar by Mr.
Merk, the Deputy Commissioner, who wrote that it had appeared in vast num-
bers in his district where it was feeding voraciously upon the young wingless
locusts. This insect is known to entomologists as Calosoma orientate, and
I » 'longs to a group of carnivorous beetles which feed upon other insects
throughout the whole of their existence, and which are consequently likely to
prove of considerable use in destroying the locusts.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 417
The magic lantern slide, illustrative of what may perhaps be a locust disease,
comprised drawings made under a microscope magnifying 230 diameters, of
blood taken respectively from healthy and dead locusts which have been lately
reared in the Indian Museum. These locusts, after hatching out from the eggs
and living for some time in apparent health, began to sicken and die off in the
most unaccountable manner, and the microscope shows that the blood of those
that have died is simply swarming with minute corpuscles which are not
present in similar blood taken from healthy individuals. The corpuscles have
much resemblance to the ones that characterise the disease, known as pebrine,
which is often excessively destructive to silkworms. But further investigation
will be necessary to ascertain whether the corpuscles, found in the locust's
blood, characterise a contagious disease, or whether the locusts have been
dying from some other cause, in which case the corpuscles might perhaps be
accounted for by post mortem changes that have occurred in the blood.
Upon the whole, it may be concluded that the appearance, both of parasitic
insects and also of what seems likely to prove to be specific disease amongst
the locusts, is a hopeful sign for next year, as it points to an approaching end
of the locust plague. But at the same time it must not be forgotten that the
rainy weather breeding season is now coming on, when every effort ought to
be made to destroy the young locusts which may shortly be expected to appear
in Eajputana, in the Punjab, and, possibly, also in some parts of the Western
Districts of the N.-W. Provinces, for the number of winged locusts now flying
about the North-West is so vast that if anything should go wrong with their
natural enemies and diseases, terrible damage would certainly result to the
crops, unless the most energetic measures are taken by the people to destroy
what they can for themselves. It has been abundantly shown by what was
done last year in some of the districts of the Punjab, that when the locusts
are in their early wingless condition, they can be effectively stamped out,
wherever they appear, provided well organized and sustained warfare is waged
against them by the cultivators .
II.— TAMING A HERON.
One day during the recent monsoon a young Egret or Heron* with a
greenish-brown neck and body, white tipped wings, and green legs, flew into the
verandah of my house, apparently in search of food. I caught it and for about
ten days kept it under a large basket, feeding it with raw meat. I then gave
it its liberty, but it refused to leave. It grew very tame and would feed out
of my hand. Occasionally it would indulge in a bath in one of the dog's tins,
and afterwards sit on a chair in the verandah. In the evening it flew away
to roost in one of the large neem trees in the compound. It showed no fear
of any of my dogs, and would give any of them who came too near a vigorous
* Butorides javanica (The Little Green Heron).
418 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
dig with its long bill. It remained with me for about six weeks, when, as
my Regiment was under orders to march, and I was afraid if left behind it
would meet with an untimely end, I carried it down to the river about two
miles off and left it there.
W. S. HOEE,
Lieut. Colonel.
Deesa, September, 1891.
III.— SNIPE SHOOTING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
OF SECUNDERABAD.
It may be of interest, both to sportsmen and to Naturalists, to record the
relative proportions of the four species of Snipe which fell to my gun during
the past three seasons in the neighbourhood of Secunderabad. I was not
shooting between January and March, 1 889, so have nothing to compare with
that period in 1890, but the results of the three seasons tend to show that the
Fantails and Pintails are as nearly equally distributed in this neighbourhood
as are the Jacks and Painters.
MISCELLANEOUS XOTES.
419
Recapitulation.
Secunderabad, Deccan.
W. GAYE.
IV.— MEMORY versus REASON IN CATS.
The following incidents connected with a Persian cat of mine seems to show
that some cats at least do not reason, though they possess and exercise
memory.
Incident No. 1. — The cat had two kittens in the corner of a bed room not in
use. She was seen by me the day before yesterday to pass through the dining
room with one kitten in her mouth, changing her quarters evidently. I
followed to see where she would lie up, and found she had chosen a corner of the
writing room. As she had only fetched one kitten I thought I would save her
the trouble of going back for number two, so went and brought it. As I
returned and got near her place the kitty mewed and the mother came to
meet me. I handed her the little one and she took it in her mouth and laid it
down beside number one and coiled herself up alongside. I returned to the
dining room and in about ten minutes she trotted passed me back to the old
corner in the first room and commenced a vigorous mewing and search as if she
had remembered that she had left a kitten there, and had not carried it away.
She returned in a great state of excitement to the kittens, sniffed them, lay
420 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
down for a little, but again suddenly jumping up went to the corner in the
first room and instituted a fresh search. How long it was before she was
satisfied that she had not been deprived of a kitten I cannot say, for I had to
go out, and by the time I returned she had settled down.
Incident No. 2. — The same cat turning up while I was at breakfast to-day,
I sent a servant to see if the kittens in the writing room were all right.
They were reported not to be there, but I was told that yesterday she had
been seen transporting the kittens to a coach house near the stables, some
150 yards away from the house. I sent to have them fetched and shown to
the mother, then I had them taken to an almirah in my bed room which
formerly she had much affected. She followed the servant who carried them
up, saw where they were deposited and returned to me to the dining room
to finish her breakfast. She then immediately went back to the almirah and
removed the kittens one after the other back to the coach house !
I trouble you with these incidents only because facts, however trivial, may,
at some time or other be of use to those interested in such matters. You will
observe that I am careful not to condemn all cats as wanting in reasoning
power, as the data on which I draw my conclusions are furnished only by the
conduct, under observation, of a single cat.
KENNETH MACKENZIE,
Colonel.
Amraoti Camp, Berar, 6th October, 1891.
V.— THE BREEDING OF SNAKES.
As little has been recorded about the breeding of snakes the following may
be worth noting : —
On July 30th this year a large green tree-snake, Dryophis mycterizans, was
brought to the Public Gardens here. On the 27th September she gave birth to
12 young ones, thus proving that this particular species is viviparous. The
size of young snakes is usually about one-sixth of that of the adult, but the
yoimg in this case were about seventeen inches in length, the mother being
about four feet six inches long. It is possible that the ride only holds good
for those snakes that are hatched outside the body of the parent.
HAROLD S. FERGUSON.
Trevcmdrum, 30th September, 1891.
Wo have had several gravid females of the above mentioned snake in the
Society's Rooms, and although the young ones were, in the majority of cases,
produced alive, in one instance they did not hatch out until the day after
the eggs were laid. Dryophis mycterizans may therefore be described as
being avo-viviparom, and I strongly suspect that all true tree-snakes are the
same. Until steps are taken to keep Indian snakes, under observation, in
M1SCELLA NEO US NOTES. 421
properly constructed serpentaria, in this country, our knowledge regarding
their habits will remain as limited as it now is.
H. M. PHIPSON,
Hon. Secy., Bo. Nat. Hist. Society.
Bombay, 6th October, 1891.
VI.— HOW THE MONITOR OR GHORAPAD {VABANUS
BENGALENSIS) DEFENDS ITSELF.
To-day, whilst reading in the verandah, I heard an unusual sort of noise,
as of some creature careering over the gravel, and immediately got up
to see what it was. A terrier, who had been asleep on the verandah
steps, had also been disturbed by the noise, and when I looked up I found
him standing face to face with a Ghorapad, or Monitor Lizard, about 3 feet
long. They both appeared to be much astonished at the other's appearance •
The Ghorapad evidently came to the conclusion that if there was to be a row
in such an open space it ought to be fought out at once, and prepared himself
accordingly, arching his back, swelling out the pouch under his throat,
darting out his tongue in snake-like fashion, and hissing furiously. The dog
for some time did not know what to make of such a strange creature, but
eventually caiue to the conclusion that it ought to be worried and killed. He
commenced the attack by rushing at his opponent's head, but the big lizard
was equal to the occasion, and by suddenly turning round, presented his
tail to the enemy, lashing out furiously with it and sending the gravel
flying in all directions. Two or three times the dog returned to the attack,
but always to find a tail where the head ought to be. Meanwhile a patiwala,
hearing the noise, came on the scene, but quickly disappeared muttering
something to himself of which only the words distinctly heard were " Kama
ki waste." He shortly reappeared with a broad grin on his face and a thick
blanket in his hand which he carefully threw over the Ghorapad, but the
active creature slipped from under the cumbli and scuttled off for dear life
towards the flower beds into which he escaped, thus saving his skin from
adorning the family tom-tom, and depriving Gopal of a most tasty dish.
GEORGE K. WASEY.
Marmagoa, Sth October, 1891.
VII.— BOMBAY FERNERIES.
"With reference to the paper on " Bombay Ferneries," it has long appeared to
me that the delightful recreation of gardening is much neglected in our large
sea-side stations, and Mr. Carsteasen will be doing Bombay a service if he
succeeds in setting on foot a more active love of fern-growing — I say active
advisedly ; for growing ferns, or, indeed, any plants, in a vicarious way by
61 -^V
422 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891,
malts without intelligent and loving supervision by the owners, is after all a
poor apology for gardening in the best sense of the word, and though a
beautiful result may possibly be attained, it will generally be found, sooner
or later, that the labels of valuable plants have been misplaced ; that the
collection is in confusion ; and the plants themselves suffering from want of
attention to such minutiae as watering and drainage.
Ferns and crotons seem to form the chief attractions and to receive the
greatest amount of attention in our Presidency gardens, but neither of these
afford the pleasure to most people that is given by beautiful flowering forms
of the vegetable kingdom, and it is, I think, a great mistake to imagine that
a moist and warm climate is only, or chiefly, suitable for the cultivation of
foliage plants.
Old residents in Bombay who had the privilege of visiting- the beautiful,
garden of Mr. Lloyd (then Judge of the High Court) will remember the dis-
play made there by a profusion of lovely flowering plants carefully selected to
suit the climate, and lovingly tended by his own hands — such treasures as
Dipladenia's, Allamandas, Poivreas, Combretums, Hoyas, Ixoras, Sonerilas,
Anthuriums, Amaryllises, Aphelandras, and a hmidred other choice " stove"
flowering gems, to which a fine collection of ferns acted as a most effective
background.
Is it true, as I am informed, that since those days, some twenty years or
more ago, no such gardener has arisen in Bombay ? If so, with the greater
facilities for obtaining water that now exist, I can quite understand the
necessity of Mr. Carstensen's lectures. In the few notices I have seen of late
years of horticultural exhibitions in Bombay, I have been surprised to observe
the very scanty mention made of orchids, a family of wondrous beauty, and
universally admired wherever shown in good condition, a family, too, of which
many of those most worth growing, would, I feel sure, thrive admirably under
a thin coir matting shed in Bombay.
Amongst the Indian or Eastern varieties suitable for the Bombay climate
I think the following best worth growing -.—brides, Acanthophippiums,
AnaBctochilus, Calanthes, hi many varieties, Ccelogynes, Cymbidiums, Cypripe-
diums, Dendrobes — the two latter families in a hundred varieties, all beautiful —
Saccolabiums and Vandas. Then amongst the still more lovely and rare species
from South America and Africa a large selection may be made commencing
with Angrcecum sesquipedale — probably the most wonderful of known orchids —
from Madagascar, Cattleyas ; from the warm moist valleys of Columbia, Brazil,
and Venezuela, several Lselias, and orchis, Peristeria elata, "el spirito santo"
of the Spaniards, from Panama, Vanilla Aromatica and all the Miltonias.
The " cool" Orchids from the New World, such as Odontoglossums, Lycastes
and Masdevallias, which thrive so well in the open air under coir matting in
my garden, would not be suitable for your climate but most of those termed
- stove" orchids shoidd find a congenial air in Bombay, Karachi, Calcutta
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 423
and Madras, and the " cool" varieties mentioned would probably do well at
Mahablcshwar, or even at Matheran.
To the great beauty of this class of flowering plants may be added as an
inducement to growing them the lasting value of their blossoms ; for though
some are evanescent, others remain in full beauty from 1 to 4 months, and a
few, as the Denbrobium swperbiens, for even six months.
The wonder is that orchids are not more frequently grown by those fond of
beautiful flowers. If I can, in any degree, assist any person inclined to enter
on this facinating branch of horticulture I shall be very glad to do so if they
will address me on the subject.
FRANK GRIFFITH.
Kotagiri, Nilgiris, 6th October, 1891.
BOMBAY FERNERIES.
I have read with some interest Mr. Frank Griffith's letter,* under the above
heading, and I quite agree with him that people hi this country are not parti-
cularly enthusiastic about the cultivation of those charming ornaments cf the
vegetable kingdom — ferns, which are picturesquely described by a well-known
writer on horticulture, as belonging to that extensive class called Cryptgams.
" which celebrate their marriages in the dark." The same apathy is discerni-
ble in the cultivation of orchids. I am, however, of opinion that this apparent
want of appreciation of the beauties of these two genera is due rather to a
mistaken idea that they are extremely difficult of cultivation, than to any want
of appreciation of their merits as ornamental plants. Another reason I believe
to be the migratory character of European life in this country. People as a
rule are disinclined to lay out money in gardens and plant-houses, which they
may be called upon at any moment to leave behind, to meet the exigencies of
the service, perhaps just as they had succeeded in rendering their home sur-
roundings beautiful, by gathering around them a fine collection of plants.
Those, however, who are more or less domiciled in this country may certainly
do more than they have done to poptdarise the art of gardening, especially in
the large presidency towns in India.
Native Chiefs, such as Jeypore, Oodeypore, Gwalior, Indore, and some
others, have in recent years given considerable encouragement to high-class
gardening by having large public gardens laid out at then- capitals with
generally a skilled European gardener to direct operations. But they might
do more by spreading the knowledge and love of horticulture among their
subjects by the training of apprentices at these large public gardens. 'When
I was Superintendent of the magnificent " Ram Newas " public gardens at
Jeypore some years ago, I had a number of lads under training, who proved
very apt pupds, and are now, I believe, holding responsible posts as head
malices in different parts of Rajputana. But since the death of the late
* This letter appeared in the Bombay Gazette on 10th October, 1891.
424 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Maharaja no European gardener has supervised those gardens, and I hear
they are not exactly in the condition in which I left them.
In conclusion, I would add that I also, like Mr. Griffiths, will be glad to
assist with hints and suggestions those who desire to cultivate ferns and
orchids successfully.
H. St. JOHN JACKSON.
Allahabad, Uth October, 1891.
VIII.— A FASTING SNAKE.
On the 29th September,- 1890, a Python (Python molurus) was brought to
the Public Gardens here, and we tried it with various animals regularly every
fortnight, but until the 9th October, 1891, it ate nothing, when it took a
single white rat, and two days afterwards it took two more. It was therefore
without food for a year and ten days, during which time it changed its skin
more than once, and always looked glossy and in perfect health.
HAROLD. S. FEKGTJSON.
Trevandrum, S. Travancore, October, 1891.
IX— THE SAGACITY OF THE LANGOOR.
The following story was related to me by Ballaji, Patel of Kusba Serazgaon,
yesterday, when I was encamped there ' —
" About a year ago," he said, pointing to a well in a garden by the roadside,
surrounded with high tamarind trees, "a woman of the Mali caste left her baby
3 months old in a swing by the well, and went into the garden to work. After a
while she returned and found the child gone. It had on a red garment. Search
was made everywhere, and at last a monkey was noticed at the top of one of the
high tamarind trees with something in its arms, and there was no doubt it was the
child. They did not dare to do anything, but went off to a distance from the tree
and watched. After some time the monkey c.une down and put the child back in
the swing. It was found unhurt and the little boy is alive now."
The monkey was a female, and belonged to the common species known as
" Langoor."
FRED. WRIGHT.
Ellichpur, 6th November, 1891.
PROCEEDINGS.
425
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING HELD ON 27th JULY, 1891.
The usual monthly meeting of the members of this Society took place on Monday
last, the 27th July, Surgeon-General W. E. Cates presiding.
ELECTION OP MEMBERS.
The following gentlemen were duly elected members of the Society : —
Captain P. J. B. Campbell (Jhansi), Mr. P. R. Hutchinson, P. W. D. (Bombay), Mr.
Harrington Bulkley (Kharagora), Colonel William Scott (Palanpur), Mr. G. C. Whit-
worth, Bo. C.S. (Nasick), Captain S. C. Smitb, R. A., (Colaba), Mr. F. W. P. Fletcher
(Tindivanam), Mr. T. Rogers Rean (Bombay), Major E. Balfe (Simla), Mr. H. A.
Hole (Cachar), and Captain J. A. Bell (Deoli).
CONTRIBUTIONS DURING JULY.
The Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. M. Phipson, then acknowledged the following
contributions to the Society's collections during the month : —
Minor contributions were also acknowledged from Mr. E. Giles, Colonel Carruthers,
and Mr. Dorabjee Dadabhoy Boottee.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIBRARY.
Memoirs of the Geological Survey, in exchange; Dictionary of Economic Products
of India, Vols. 1 to 4, from the Government of India; List of the Mammals in the
Indian Museum, Calcutta, from the Trustees; and Photograph of the Traveller's
Palm, from Mr. T. R. Fernandez.
DESIDERATA.
The Honorary Secretary stated, for the information of those members who are
willing to assist in the improvement of the Scoiety's collection of horna, that really
good specimens of the following are much wanted, those at present in the Society's
Rooms being deficient in size : — Wild buffalo (male and female), Swamp deer, Neil-
gherry wild goat, and Muntjac, or ribbed-faced deer.
426 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891
THE SOCIETY'S JOURNAL.
The Honorary Secretary stated, in reply to numerous enquiries, that all the back
numbers of the Society's Journal are still available, and could be purchased by mem-
bers at Re. 1-4 each. As in a few years a complete set of the Journal would in all
probability be of considerable value, owing to the expensive plates which they now
contained, members were recommended to see that their files are complete, and to
replace any numbers which might be missing while they are still procurable.
A MAN-KILLING BEAR. *
Mr. Reginald Gilbert read an interesting account of a she-bear which had attacked
and seriously injured four or five persons, in the State of Dharampore, during the last
year. Mr. Gilbert and Mr. E. L. Barton succeeded in killing the bear and her two
cubs on the 24th May last, on which day she had, without any provocation, attacked
and killed a man while he was lying on the ground smoking. It was found on examin-
ing the bear that the bone of her forearm had been splintered some time before, and
that the bullet was still in the flesh. The wound had closed; but as there was a good
deal of inflammation, it had probably given her much pain, and was no doubt the
cause of her man-killing proclivities.
PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCES.
Mr. "W. E. Hart read a paper by Mrs. Hart on the above subject, dwelling parti-
cularly on the similarity in appearance borne by creatures of one species to those of
another which enjoy immunity from attack by reason of some peculiar quality not
possessed by their imitators. Mr. Hart illustrated Mrs. Hart's paper with examples
taken from the Society's collection of butterflies, and demonstrated, with much clear-
ness, this curious result of evolution which exists more particularly in the insect
world.
A PANTHER EATING A PANTHER- f
The next paper was by Mr. E. L. Barton, containing an account of an incident
which occurred in Ceylon some years ago, when a female panther was eaten by
another (presumably a male) after it had been wounded by a bullet while they were
apparently engaged in fighting. The question which remained to be settled was
whether the struggle, which was observed, was a fight between two hungry animals
of the same species, with the ultimate intention of the victor making a meal off the
vanquished, or whether it was only a lover's quarrel which, ending in death, had fur-
nished the male with food.
THE MIGRATIONS OF BIRDS. J
The Honorary Secretary read a paper by Mr. E. H. Aitken, containing an important
suggestion that the Ornithological Committee of the Society should invite the co-
operation of members in different parts of the country in order that the migrations of
various birds from one part of India to another might be observed and recorded.
Several instances were given, such as the common green bea-eater (Merops viridis)
* See page 276
f See page 274
X See page 268
PROCEEDINGS.
427
which disappears from Bombay about the beginning of April, and does not return
until the end of the rains. It is not at present known where it goes.
It was resolved that the suggestion mado by Mr. Aitkeu was a valuable one, and
Bhould, if possible, be acted upon.
Surgeon-General Cates then proposed a vote of thanks to the lady aud gentlemen
who had written the papers, all of which should, it was resolved, be publis hed in the
Society's Journal.
The meeting then ended.
PROCEEDINGS OP THE MEETING HELD ON 1st SEPTEMBER, 1891.
The usual monthly meeting of the members of this Society took place on Tuesday,
1st September, Mr. W. E. Hart presiding.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society : — Mr. H. H. G.
Dunlop (Poona), Doctor W. H. Quicke (Kaira), Mr. J. J. Benson, C,E. (Porebunder),
Surgeon-Major John H. Newman (Ajmere), Mr. Andrew Johnston (Coorg), Mr. H. E.
Proctor (Bombay)-
CONTRIBUTIONS DURING AUGUST.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, the Honoi'ary Secretary, then acknowledged the following con-
tributions received during the past month : —
Contributions.
Description.
Contributor.
2 Squirrels (alive)..... Sciurus palmarum.
Porcupine Fish
Snake
Scaly Ant Eater (alive)
Black Cobra (alive)
White Crow
Snake
Hyaena (alive)
Pair deformed Cheetal
Horns.
Skink (alive) with
Snakes (alive)
Cobras (alive)
Snake
Large Centipede (alive)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
2 Black Cobras (alive) .
1 Crocodile's Skin
1 Dhaman
1 Bird-Eating Spider
1 Snake ,
1 Chameleon (alive)..
1 Cobra
A number of Insects..
1 Snake (alive)
Diodon hystrix.
Tropidonotus quincunctiatus.
Manis pentadactylus.
Naga tripudians.
Corvus splendens.
Dipsas gokool
Hyaena striata.
Axis maculatus.
a bifurcated tail.
Gongylophis conicus.
Naga tripudians.
Oligodon subpunctatus.
Scolopendra gigantea.
Naga tripudians.
Crocodilus palustris.
Ptyas mucosus
Mygale fasciatus.
Gongylophis conicus.
I 'hameleo calcaratus.
Naga tripudiaus.
&c, from Jubbulpore.
Daboia elegans.
Mr. Tribhuvandas Mun-
galdas Nuthoobhoy.
Purchased.
Mr. T. R. ltean.
Mrs. N. R. Oliver.
Mr. S. Duigan.
Mr. A. Elliott.
Mrs. Hisset.
Mr. F. Prideaux.
Mr. E. W. Moffat.
Mr. T. C. H. White.
Rev. F. Dreckmann, S. J.
Capt. W. Ross.
Uol. Baddeley.
M. G- H. Alier.
Mr. J. W. Fordham.
Mr. J. C. Anderson.
Mr. E. H. Elsworthy.
Miss A. Walke.
Capt. G. M. Porter, R. E.
Mr. Bori.
Mr. M. C. Turner.
Mr. J. A. Betham.
Mr. H. W. Barrow.
MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS.
From Captain the Hon'ble K. Tyrwhitt and Dr. L. B. Dargalker.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
Bulletin de la Soci^te de France pour Juin, 1891. In exchange.
428 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The Destructive Insects of Victoria (French). From Anthor.
The Victorian Naturalist (June to August, 1891). In exchange.
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. In exchange.
The Classification of Birds (Bowdler Sharpe). From Author.
Hesperiidse Indicas (E. Y. Watson). From Anthor.
The Indian Forester (August, 1891). In exchange.
Verhaudlung der Zoologisch botanischen Gesellschaft in Wein. In exchange.
l'asteur System of protective Vaccination for Anthrax (G. J. S. Rayment). From
the Author.
A VALUABLE PRESENT DECLINED.
The Honorary Secretary read a letter from Colonel H. L. Nutt, the Political Agent
at Savant Vadi, offering to present, through the Society, a full-grown young male
tiger to the Victoria Gardens. The Honorary Secretary stated that he had, after
consulting the Municipal Commissioner, written to Colonel Nutt, with much reluc-
tance, declining his valuable present, as there is no suitable accommodation for the
animal at the Gardens. Mr. Phipson added that the recent improvements which had
been made in the way of cages at the Victoria Gardens were principally due to the
liberality of the Bombay Tramway Company, H. H. the Thakore of Bhownuggur, and
Sir Dinshaw Maueckjee Petit ; but he trusted that before long the Municipality would
take steps to improve its zoological collections in this respect out of its own re-
sources. Another member of the Society had a short time ago offered to obtain a
pair of Kattywar lions for the Bombay Zoo, but this offer had also to be declined for
the same reason.
ON ABNORMAL HORNS.
The Honorary Secretary read an interesting paper received from Mr. A. W. Morris,
of Bangalore, entitled " On Abnormal Horns of the Indian Antelope, with some remarks
on their probable causes,"
A NEW SPECIES OF PALM CIVET.
The next paper read at the meeting was from Mr. James Taylor, of Orissa, contain-
ing a description of a new species of Palm Civet (Paradoxurus) found by him, which
he proposed to name Paradoxurus nictitatans from the fact that the nictitating mem-
brane (or third eyelid) is, in this species, most perfectly developed and constantly
made use of. The Honorary Secretary stated that a sketch of the animal received
from Mr. Taylor had been forwarded to Messrs. Mintern Brothers, London, in order
that an illustration may accompany the publication of the paper.
THE MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity read the first part of a most interesting paper on the Mammalia
of Somali Land, containing a graphic anl detailed description of all the animals
which he had met with during his two sporting tours in that country. The remain"
ing portion of the paper will be read at the next meeting, and the whole will then
be published, with numerous photographs, in the Society's Journal.
Mr. Hart, while proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Inverarity, stated that the paper
■was, in his opinion, an exceedingly valuable one, as it contained information, record-
ed by an accurate observer, respecting several animals about which very little had
been written.
JOURNAL
OF THE
BOMBAY
latiral
A
No- 4.]
BOMBAY, 1891.
[Vol. VI.
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF PALM-CIVET
(PARADOXURUS ) FOUND IN ORISSA.
By James Taylor.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on[lst September 1891.)
Received, 30 July, 1891.
( With a Plate. )
Paradoxurus nictitatans, sp. nov.
Head and Body 20
Tail 18'
Greatest length of Skull 4"
Greatest breadth, of Skull If
Muzzle blackish brown, lighter near the nose, a central white line
down the muzzle. Head grizzled black and white, a dark line through
eye to cheek, meeting another dark band from corner of mouth, en-
closing a whitish infra-orbital space. Cheek greyish-black with but
few white hairs. Forehead grizzled black and white, lighter over the
eyes, with central black line down the forehead to muzzle. Back of
neck and shoulders grizzled black and white, some hairs white, some
tipped black, others all black, forming a kind of saddle. Chin and
throat white, a broad white band passing up behind the ears, forming
55
430 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
a semi-collar. Whiskers mostly black, a few white bristles. The
rest of the body and tail white, with a yellowish tinge on the limbs
and belly.
Last May, when in the Kondmals — a Government estate in the
Gurjats of Orissa — a Kondh brought me in this new Paradoxurns.
It was a beautiful little creature, only a month or so old ; its body
and long tail a lovely, fluffy, creamy-white, relieved by the dark
markings on its shoulders and head. I recognized at once that I had
struck oil, and made every enquiry about the animal. Its mother
had been chased and killed by a party of Kondhs ; they had captured
the young one to bring to me, but alas ! had eaten its mother.
They told me it resembled the young one in appearance, but was
much larger. They called it " Markhor Berana," from its long tail,
which they likened to that of the "Markhor" or Langur monkey.
They informed me it was very rare, only met with in the deeper
forests, far away from villages, and that it nested in trees.
I named my little stranger " Raja." At first he would touch
nothing but mangoes and milk ; of the former he was very fond, and
would eat four or five a day. Subsequently I fed him on puddings
made of rice or soojee and milk sweetened, for he would not touch
it without sugar. I occasionally gave him a little meat, either raw
or cooked, as a treat. He increased rapidly in size and had an
omnivorous appetite. Rats, birds, white ants, grasshoppers, fruits of
all kinds, were eagerly devoured. He attacked and killed several
small harmless snakes, crushing in their heads with his needle-like
teeth.
I used to let him out of his cage a good deal, and he was very fond
of scampering about the house with his tail held straight out behind
him, and carefully kept from touching the ground. He was a clean
little beast, but on maturing he developed a sickly odour, caused by a
secretion from two subcaudal glands.
He became very tame and would climb up on to my knees and
shoulders for a spoonful of sweet tea, of which he was excessively
fond. On several occasions when he climbed into a tree and we were
almost fearing we should lose him, I have coaxed him back by rattling
A NEW SPECIES OF PALM- CIVET. 431
a spoon against a tea-cup. Whenever he had an opportunity he
would scramble up the wooden posts of the verandah, like a cat, and
sleep, curled into a ball, on the beams. He used to lie flat on his
back at other times, in the most human positions, with his head
resting on one arm, and was a very interesting pet. Although he
objected to have his body touched, I used to carry him about by his
tail without his struggling or attempting to get away.
The tail was much developed in bone and muscle, of equal length
to his head and body, and appeared to be a most powerful organ,
much more so than its use would, at first sight, seem to warrant, but I
noticed he used it much in balancing himself when walking on a
thin branch. Also when descending a post, head first, he would half
curl it round the wood, and by pressing hard with it would, by this
means, assist in supporting himself. Coming down a clothes-horse I
noticed he used to hook his tail over one bar when descending to a
lower. The tail was therefore decidedly semi -prehensile and of con-
siderable use to an arboreal animal like himself.
His temper was not sweet, being, without doubt, short and nasty ;
he considered his cage as his castle, and actively objected to any
trespass on his domain. He would spit and swear like a cat, and,
with his long fluffy hair all on end, looked the handsome little spit-
fire he was. A rare bully, too, he was ; he knew the dogs had been
forbidden to molest him, and he would creep up to them when sleeping,
nip their tails, and frisk off in the cheekiest manner imaginable.
The younger dogs he used to worry until they left the verandah in
disgust.
"When pleased with himself and all the world, he would roll him-
self into a ball, bury his nose in his tail, and pour forth his happiness
in a low chirruping purr which he would keep up for half an hour
at a time.
I have also heard him make strange squeaking and chattering
noises like a nestful of young mice. His front feet were rounded and
resembled those of a cat, but with semi-retractile claws ; the hind feet
were more like those of a squirrel, his gait moreover was more like
that of that animal than of any other. The chief feature that I
remarked was the great development of the nictitating membrane.
This was as perfect as in many birds, and could be easily drawn over
432 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
the pupil. It was put in action at long and varyingintervals, but was
in use throughout the day. I was so struck by this unusual develop"
ment that I have named the animal from this peculiarity. Latterly
he slept throughout the greater part of the day, being very restless at
night, pacing to and fro in his cage and not sleeping a wink until
daybreak.
After keeping in good health for some seven months, one morning
I found he was biting the hair from the root of his tail. I applied
lotions and ointments without avail, the irritation spread up his back
and down the tail, and he could not be kept from savagely biting his
flesh. Despairing, at last, of curing him, and fearing to lose the skin
as a specimen, I, with great reluctance, administered a tea-spoonful of
hydrocyanic acid. He gave two piercing screams, but nevertheless
life was not extinct until fifteen minutes had elapsed after adminis-
tering this large dose.
Up to my leaving the Kondmals, I was unable to obtain another
specimen — although I heard of one, — nor am I surprised. The retir-
ing disposition of this creature, its nocturnal habits, and the dense
forests which it inhabits, all tend to make it a very rare capture.
JAMES TAYLOR.
Orissa.
A LIST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE.
By H. S. Ferguson, f.l.s.
Before giving a list of the butterflies of the Native State of
Travancore, it is necessary to give a slight sketch of the physical
features of the country and of its climate, to explain the somewhat
peculiar constitution of its fauna.
Travancore is a narrow strip of land, more or less triangular in
shape, to the extreme south-west of the peninsula : it stretches from
Cape Comorin, in the extreme south, northwards for about 174 miles,
where it is bounded partly by the Native State of Cochin and partly
by the British district of Coimbatore. On the west it is bounded by
the sea, while on the east the water-shed of the range of hills which
runs from Cape Comorin northwards parallel to the coast is, with a
BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE. 433
few exceptions, the boundary. Its greatest breadth is 75 miles.
Zoologically it belongs to the Ceylonese sub-division of the oriental
region.
The chain of hills for the first half of its length, that is from Cape
Comorin to the Achankovil gap, rises rather abruptly from the level
of the low country, and consists merely of a single ridge with out-
lying spurs, so that, standing upon the boundary, you can, in many
places, look down on the one hand into the flat land on the British
side, and on the other into the low country of Travancore, thus afford-
ing a great contrast, for the latter is not flat but consists of a succession
of low hills divided by narrow valleys, which are usually filled with
paddy, the hills being covered with trees and undergrowth, so that
the eye is carried down over a succession of dark green ridges^
interrupted only by the bright green of the paddy lands, and the
gleam of water in the large lakes, to the light green of the belt of
cocoa-nut palms that fringes the white sand beyond, and so down to
the sea. These lakes, or " back-waters," as they are called, are close to
the sea, and, being united by canals parallel to the coast, form a water-
way throughout the whole length of the country.
This first half of the range has an average height of 4,500 feet ;
only two of the peaks reach 5,000 feet, Agasthiar being 6,800 feet
high, while Mahindragerry is 5,500. The first forty miles of the
range from Cape Comorin are known as the Ashambu hills, and
include the second of the two peaks mentioned. The next part is
not known by any general name, but includes Agasthiar (6,200 feet),
Chimmunji (4,800 feet), and Ponmudi, a grass hill, 3,500 feet high. It
ends at the Ariankavu pass, 1,210 feet high. About 8 miles further
is the Achankovil pass, about 1,470 feet high; a strong ridge 2,000
to 3,000 feet separates the two valleys.
From base to summit the hills of this part of the range are covered
with a dense growth of evergreen forest, and there is very little
grass, in fact it only grows in some of the outlying spurs and on the
more exposed ridges. From the Achank5vil pass the ridge gradually
rises and broadens, till it forms, at an elevation of 3,500 feet, a
table-land of unexplored forest, impassable by reason of its deep
ravines and heavy undergrowth ; this part stretches for about 1 5 miles,
and is known as the Panthalam hills. Its character then changes,
434 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
and we have instead of continuous forest a grass-covered plateau
with scattered patches of forest at about the same elevation, to this
the name of Pirmerd has been given on account of the presence there,
at some former period, of a "jm"" or hermit. This plateau extends
some forty miles to the Cardamom hills, when forest again takes the
place of grass, and the range gradually rises till it forms the "high
range," which has an average elevation of about 6,500 feet, while the
highest peak (Aneimudi) reaches 8,870 feet. This peak is the centre
from which spring the Aneimullay on the north and the Palni hills
on the east. One characteristic of the whole range is the presence of
a reed called irul or etah, botanically Beesha travancorica, which clothes
the sides of the hills in many places to the exclusion of all other
growth whatever.
The annual rainfall varies in different parts, but is abundant
everywhere, except in the extreme south. In Trevandrum in the low
country, about 50 miles from Cape Comorin, it averages 65 inches,
distributed as follows : — 33 inches in the south-west monsoon, 23 in the
north-east, and 9 in the dry months. Forty miles south the rainfall
is only 25 inches in all ; while 40 miles north at Quilon it is 62, 29
and 8, and some 40 miles further north still at Alleppy it is 70, 37
and 13 in the same periods.
It is this abundant rain-supply that keeps down the temperature,
for though Trevandrum is less than 10 degrees from the equator, the
temperature averages only 85°, and rarely rises above 90° in the hot
weather.
In the Ashambu hills the rainfall is from 80 to 100 inches, at
Ponmudi it is 180, at Pirmerd it is 207, and on the high range
about 104.
The average temperature on the hills at an elevation of 2,100 feet
is about 75° F.
Travancore then may be characterized as a country having a hot
moist climate, an abundant vegetation, and an even temperature. I
first began collecting butterflies in 1878, and for about two years and
a half collected almost entirely in the Ashambu range and about
Ponmudi. Since then I have collected off and on, in or about
Trevandrum, and have had no opportunity of collecting for more
than a week or two in the year on the hills. I have latterly
BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE. 435
employed a native to collect for the museum here. Trevandrum is
situated about two miles from the sea, and within 20 miles in a direct
line of the foot of the hills. At first I did not label each butterfly as
I took it, but merely kept a list and sent duplicates from time
to time to be identified. One butterfly alone I am unable to vouch
for personally, Tajuria maculata; it was given to me in 1879
by Mr. Garrett, a planter who was living on the next estate.
Mr. de Niceville, to whom I sent the specimen some years later, was
not satisfied with the evidence for its occurrence in Travancore, as
it had only been recorded from the hills of North-Eastern India,
and I had not labelled the specimen at the time I received it from
Mr. Garrett. I do not think, however, there is room for doubt, for
Mr. Garrett collected only in Travancore, and received no exchanges
from any one, and I can vouch that the specimen I received from
him was the one identified by Mr. de Niceville as T. maculata.
I have therefore included it in my list.
Family NYMPHALID^l.
Subfamilv Eupl,jEin,e, Moore.
Group LimnincE, Moore.
1. Hestia malabarica, Moore.
1,000 to 3,000 ft., fairly common. On one occasion I found numbers of
them floating about the trees in tbe forest at Pirmerd. I have not seen
them in such numbers on any other occasion.
2. Danais (Tirumala) limniace, Cramer.
Common from the foot of the hills to the summits.
3. Danais {Tirumala) septentrionis, Butler.
Fairly common.
4. Danais (Limnas) chrysippus, Linnaeus.
Abundant, especially at low elevations.
5. Danais (Salatura) genutia, Cramer.
Even more common than D. chrysippus.
6. Danais (Parantica) aglea, Cramer.
Common in the low country about Trevandrum and at low elevations in
the hills, less so in the higher ones.
7. Danais (Badacaraglin) iriensis, Moore.
Fairly common from 2,000 ft. upwards.
8. Euploea (Crastia) core, Cramer.
Common all the year round in the low country.
9. Euplaea (Pademma) kollari, Felder.
Not uncommon at low elevations.
436 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
10. Euplaia (Narmada) coreoides, Moore.
Often associated with C. core. Fairly common.
Subfamily Satyrin,e.
11. Mycalesis (Virapa) anaxlas, Hewitson.
Not uncommon, 2,000 to 4,000 ft. Always in forest.
12. Mycalesis (Orsotricend) mandate/, Moore.
Form mandosa, Butler.
Common, found in the plains and up to 3,000 ft. Mandosa is the dry-season
form.
13. Mycalesis (Calysisme) blasius, Fabricius.
Fairly common on grassy lands.
14. Mycalesis (Calysisme) mineus, Linnams.
tormjustina. Common. Found on the sides of roads in forest.
15. Mycalesis (Calysisme) perseus, Fabricius.
Form visala, Moore.
Common.
16. Mycalesis (Nissanga) oculus, Marshall.
Common in forest over 3,000 ft.
17. Mycalesis {Nissanga), junonia, Butler.
Not uncommon. I have taken it sparingly in the low country round Trevan-
drum and in forest below at 1,000 ft. It occurs commonly.
18. Lethe europa, Fabricius.
Rare ; one specimen taken in the plains near Trevandrum, another on
the high range.
19. Lethe todara, Moore.
Not common. 2,000 to 5,000.
20. Lethe neelgherriensis, Guerin.
Common. At 2,000 ft. and upwards,
21. Ypthima baklus, Fabricius.
Common on the hills from the foot to about 3,000 ft.
22. Ypthima huebneri, Kirby.
Common in the low country about Trevandrum in grass.
23. Ypthima ceylonica, Hewitson.
Rare ; I took two specimens, at about 4,000 ft., on the boundary between
Travancore and Tinnevelly, and a third in the Achancovil gap, about 800 ft.
24. Ypthima chenui, Guerin.
Not uncommon. I have taken it at about 800 ft., and it is probably to be
found on the high range, as Mr. Hampson says, it is "found on the
Anaymalai hills."
25. Ypthima ypthimoides, Moore.
Common in grass land on the hills over 3,500 ft.
26. Zipatis saitis, Hewitson.
Not uncommon, 2,000 to 3,000 ft.
BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE. -io7
27. Melanitis aswa, Moore.
Rare, found only on the hills.
i?8. Melanitis bela, Moore.
Very rare; one specimen only taken.
30. Melanitis leda, Linnaeus.
Form ismene, Cramer.
Very common, flies at dusk in the low country, Abundant in the hills in
heavy forest where there is no undergrowth.
31. Parantirrhaa marshalli, Wood-Mason.
I have taken this at the foot of the hills in July in Etah
jungle (Beesha travancorica). It is by no means common. Mr. Imray writes
to me from Pirmerd: "They appear from May to the end of October,
and only frequent thick Etah jangle ; I have taken them on the wing
only on damp drizzly days."
Subfamily Elymniinjs.
32. Elymnias caudata, Butler.
Common up to 3,000 ft.
Subfamily Morphine.
33. Amathusia phidippus, Linnams.
Rare. I have, only taken two specimens in Trevandrum. I saw a third
which settled on the ceiling cloth of the porch of a house where I was
making a call, when I caused some surprise by suddenly dashing out of
the room, into the porch, only to see A. phidippus calmly flit away.
34. Discophora lepida, Moore.
Male rare, female very rare. I have only taken one specimen of the latter.
The male I have taken always near streams in heavy forest at about
2,500 ft. elevation. The one specimen of the female I took flew from
under the overhanging bank of a stream in a belt dividing two clearings
on the Mynall coffee estate.
Subfamily Acr.ein^e.
85. Telchinia violce, Fabricius.
Common in the low country and up to 2,000 ft. in the hills.
Subfamily Nymphalin^e.
$6. Errjolis merione, Cramer.
37. Errjolis taprobana, Westwood.
88. Ergolis ariadue, Linnaeus.
39. Euripus consimilis, Westwood.
Very rare. Mr. Garrett took one specimen near Ariankave which is now
in the Indian Museum, Calcutta.
40. Cupha erymunthis, Drury.
Common up to 3,000 ft.
50
438 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
41. AteUa phalantha, Drury.
Common.
42. Cethosia mahratta, Moore.
Common from foot of hills up to 3,000 ft.
43. Cynthia saloma, Swinhoe.
Fairly common. The male more so than the female.
44. Roliana camiba, Moore.
Rare. Mr. Dohevty records it from Pirmerd. Mr. Imray has also taken it
there at an elevation of 2,400 ft,, and I have received a specimen from
the high range.
45. Precis iphita, Cramer.
Very common in the low country and in the hills up to 3,000 ft.
46. Junonia almana, Linnaeus.
Form asterie, Linnaeus.
Common in the low country ; the latter appears to he the wet-season form.
47« Junonia atlites, Linnaeus.
Very common in the low country aud at the foot of the hills.
48. Junonia lemonias, Linnaeus.
Common in the hills up to 2,500 ft.
49. Junonia hierta, Fabricius.
Common. Often found settling on the roads or in open spaces.
50. Junonia orithyia, Linnaeus.
Common in the low country ; of the same habits as the last.
51. Neptis ordonia, Stoll.
Form plagiosa, Moore.
N. hordonia is the wet-season form, and is much commoner than N. plagiosa.
52. Neptis viraja, Moore.
Rare. Two specimens taken near Trevandrum in July, 1890.
53. Neptis varmona, Moore.
Common in the hills and plains nearly all the year round.
54. Neptis kallaura, Moore.
Rare. Taken on the hills near My nail estate and also on the high range.
55. Neptis jumba ft, Moore.
Fairly common in the low country and up to 3,000 ft. in the hills.
56. Cirrhochroa relata, de Niceville.
57. Cirrhochroa thais, Fabricius.
58. Cirrhochroa swinhm, Butler.
All these are fairly common in the low country and in the hills up to
3,000 ft.
59. Hypolimnas bolina, Linneeua.
Very commo.: in the hills up to 3,000 ft.
60. hypolimnas misippur Linnaeus.
Common. Oniy one form of the femaie occurs "mimicking" L. chrysippus.
BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE. 439
61. Argynnis niphe, Linnoaus.
Found rarely at Pirmeid, common on the high range, the male more so
than the female.
62. Parthenos virens, Moore.
Common on the lower slopes up to 1,200 ft.
63. Moduza procris, Cramer.
Common at the foot of the hills.
64. Aihyma perius, Linnaeus.
Rather rare. 2,000 to 4,000 ft.
65. Athyma mahesa, Moore.
Very rare. Only one specimen taken at 2,000 ft.
66. Athyma selenophora, Kollar.
Not uncommon on the hills, the female is rarer than the male.
67. Athyma inarina, Butler.
Very rare. One specimen only taken in July, 1890, near Trevandrum.
68. Euthalia evelina, Stoll.
Rather rare. I have taken it in June and July near Trevandrum and up to
1,800 ft. in the hills.
69. Euthalia lepidea, Butler.
Common in the low country and in the hills up to 3,000 ft. It has a habit
of flying into the verandah in the low country and settling on the white
walls or ceiling cloth.
70. Euthalia garuda, Moore.
Very common both in plains and hills. A form of the male occurs in
which the discal spots are obsolete.
71. Euthalia lubentina, Cramer.
Not uncommon in the low country, not found on the hills.
72. Pyrameis cardui, Linnaeus.
Common near Trevandrum and up to 3,000 ft. in the hills.
73. Pyrameis indica, Herbst.
Rare in the south, and not under 4,000 ft. elevation. Common in the high
range.
74. Vanessa canace, Linnaeus.
Common on the hills, generally found near streams.
75. Cyrestis thyodamas, Boisduval.
Common on the hills.
76. Kallima philarchus, Westwood.
Not common. This is the Kallima having the apical process of the forewing
long, the base of the wings blue, and no hyaline discal spots.
77. Kallima wardi, Moore.
Not common. In this the base of the wings is greenish, and there are two
prominent discal hyaline spots on the forewing.
440 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
78. Doleschallia polibete, Cramer.
Rare. I have only taken two specimens, one on the hills, one near
Trevamlrum.
79. Charaxes schreiberi, Godart.
Very rare. I have only once seen what I believe to be this butterfly, and
Mr. T. F. Bourdillon sent me a single forewing that he picked up on the
hills. Mr. Imray has taken it on Pirmerd at an elevation of 3,700 ft.
80. Charaxes athumas, Drury.
Common on the hills from the foot up to about 3,000 ft.
81. Charaxes fabius, Fabricius.
Fairly common in the low country, not found in the hills.
82. Charaxes imna, Butler,
Not uncommon in the low country and at the foot of the hills.
Family LEMONIHLE.
Subfamily Libyth^einjE.
83. Libythea myrrha, Godart.
Form rama, Moore.
Common on the high range.
Subfamily Nemeobiin^s.
Si. Abisara prunosa, Moore.
Common in the hills at the sides of roads in jungle, also in the low country.
They vary a good deal, and some are quite undistinguishable from A.
suffusa of the Nilgiries.
Family LYC^NiD^).
85. Neopithecops zalmora, Butler.
Common in the low country. The dry and wet-season broods do not differ
much in the extent of the white markings.
86. Spalgis epius, Westwood.
I have taken this near Trevandrum, and up to 2,0C0 ft. on the hills. It is
fairly common.
87. Chilades laius, Cramer.
Rare.
88. Cyaniris akasa, Horsfield.
Fairly common over 3,000 ft. on the hills.
89. Cyaniris puspa, Horsfield,
I have only taken the form of the male which has no white on the disc.
90. Cyaniris albidisca, Moore.
I have not taken this, but it is recorded from the Annamalai hills.
91. Cyaniris limbatus, Moore.
Not common.
92. Zizera otis, Fabricius.
Very common in the low country in grass.
BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE. 441
93. AzamtS gamra, Leilcrer.
Rare. I have only taken one specimen near Trevandrum in March, 1888.
94. ' Talicada nyseus, Gueriii.
Very common in the low country, and up to 2,500 ft. on the hills.
95. Evercs argiades, Pallas.
Fairly common in the low country.
96. Naniduba macrophthalma, Fehler.
Fairly common.
97. Nacaduoa atrita, Horsfiehl.
Fairly common in the low country and in the hills.
98. Nacaduba ardates, Moore.
Both the tailed and tailless forms occur on the hills at low elevations.
99. Nacaduoa dana,, de Nic^ville.
I have only one specimen of this taken in January, 1890, in the low country,
which Mr. Hampson identified for me.
100. Jamides backus, Cramer.
Not common on the hills.
101. Lamp ides elpis, Godart.
Very common in the low country and in the hills.
102. Lampides alianus, Fahricius.
Equally common with the last.
103. Catochrysops strabo, Fahricius.
Common in the low country.
104. Catochrysops cnejus, Fahricius.
Not common.
105. Catochrysops pandava, Horsfiehl.
Rare. I have only taken one specimen each of the dry and wet-se;ison
forms.
106. Castalius rosimon, Fahricius.
Common in the hills.
107. Castalius ethion, Douhleday and Hewitson.
Not so common as the last.
103. Castalius decidia, Hewitson.
Not common.
109. Polyommatus bccticus, Lin me us.
Very common in the low country.
110. Amblypodia naradoides, Moore.
Male not common, female rare. I have two specimens from the hills and
two from low country.
111. Iraota timoleon, Stoll.
Fairly common in the low country in June. I have not taken Iraota tnmcenas,
which Mr. de Niceville appears to think is the dry-weather form.
442 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
112. Surendra quercetorum, Moore.
Fairly common on the hills- This agrees with the measurements of Moore's
S. discalis, but the "pale ochreous discal area" is by no means prominent
in the female.
113. Arhopala centaurus, Fabricius.
Common in the low country from December to April, i.e., throughout the
dry-season.
114. Arhopala amantes, Hewitson.
Not so common as the la9t, taken in the low country in May and June.
115. Arhopala canaraica, Moore.
Not common. I have taken three specimens, one in October, one in
November, and one in June near Trevandrum.
116. Curetis arcuata, Moore.
I have one specimen taken near Trevandrum in August, 1890.
117. Curetis lulls, Doubleday and Hewitson.
I have taken one male in the hills and two near Trevandrum, which I take
to be this species. The females of this and the last I cannot discriminate.
I have not taken the ochreous form of the female.
118. Zesius chrysomallus, Hiibner.
Fairly common about Trevandrum in June and July.
119. Camena cleolis, Godart.
I have only taken one male on the hills.
12U. Aphnceus vulcanus, Fabricius.
Common in the low country in June.
121. Aphnceus iohita, Horsfield,
Common. The markings on the underside vary considerably.
122. Aphnceus concanv.s, Moore.
Not uncommon in the low country.
123. Tajuria indra, Moore.
Fairly common in the low country from October to December.
124. Tajuria maculata, Hewitson.
I received one specimen of this from Mr. Garrett, a planter, who took it on
the hills near Ponmudi, at 1,000 ft. elevation, in 1879.
125. Tajuria longinus, Fabricius.
Fairly common in the low country in June, July and August. I have also
taken it in February.
126. Tajuria jehana, Moore.
Rare. I have only taken one specimen, a male near Trevandrum, in
June, 1888.
127. Zeltus etolus, Fabricius.
Fairly common in the low country in June and again in November.
128. Cheritra jaffra, Butler.
Not uncommon in the hills from 2,000 ft. upward.
BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE. 443
129. Rathiuila amor, Fabricius.
Common in the low country from April to July.
130. Catapcccilma ckrjans, Druce.
Rare. I have only taken one specimen near Trevandrum in February, 1890.
131. Loxura surya, Moore.
Common about the foot of the hills up to 1,000 ft.
132. Dettdorix epijarbas, Moore.
Common in the low country in the rainy season.
133. Rapala schistacea, Moore.
Common in the low country in both seasons.
134. Rapala lankana, Moore.
Rare. I have taken one specimen in October, 1889, and another in June
1880, near Trevandrum.
loo- Rapala lazulma, Moore.
Rare. I have taken one specimen in June, 1S88, and another in November,
1890, near Trevandrum.
136. Rapola melampms, Cramer.
Rare.
137. Bindahara sugriva, Horsfield.
Fairly common near Trevandrum in the wet season.
138. Virachola isocratts, Fabricius.
Not common. I have only taken it in June in the low country.
139. Virachola perse, Hewitson.
Rare. I have only taken one female and two males near Trevandrum.
140. Sinthasa chandrana, Moore.
I have taken two males on the hills in South Travancore in 1880.
Family PAPILIONID.E.
Subfamily Pierin*e.
141. Leptosia xiphia, Fabricius.
Not common. I have only taken it in the hills. — 1,000 to 4,000 ft.
142. Terias hecabe, Linnteus.
Form hecabeoides, Me'netries.
„ aslope, Me'netries.
„ excavata, Moore.
„ swinhoei, Butler.
Common both in the low country and the hills.
143. Teriui libythea, Fabricius.
Form drona, Horsfield.
„ rubella, Wallace.
Hills 2,000 to 4,000 ft.
144. Terias lata, Boisduval.
This has been sent to me from Pirmerd.
444 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
145. Catopsilia catilla, Cramer.
146. Catopsilia crocale, Cramer.
Found in abundance together in the dry-weather in the !o\v country and up
to 2,000 ft. on the hills.
147. Catopsilia glioma, Fabricius.
148. Catopsilia pyranthe, Fabricius.
Common in the low country and in the hills. These two species are doubt-
fully distinct.
149. Hebomoia glaucippe, Linnreus.
Common at the foot of the hills.
150. Callosune eucharis, Fabricius.
Form pseudevanthe, Butler.
I have only received this from the high range.
151. Colias nilagiriensis, Felder.
This is only found on the high range.
152. Hyposcritia narendra, Moore.
Very abundant from 2,000 ft. upwards.
153. Hyposcritia lalage, Moore.
Taken on the eastern slopes of the hills.
154. Catophaga paulina, Cramer.
Common on the hills in January, February and March.
155. Catophaga ivardii, Moore.
I have only received this from the high range.
156. Catophaga galme, Felder.
I have only received this from the high range.
157. Appias hippoides, Moore.
Rare, 2,000 to 4,000 ft.
158. Appias vacans, Moore.
Not uncommon in the low country, April to August.
159. Huphina nama, Moore.
Rare.
160. Huphina phryne, Fabricius.
Common in the low country and in the hills.
161. Huphina remba, Moore.
Rare. I have only two specimens, one taken in the hills, the other near
Trevandrum in July, 1S88.
162. Belenois mesentina, Cramer.
Not common. 2,000 to 4,000 ft.
163. Nepheronia fraterna, Moore.
Fairly common in the low country.
Moore records N. ceylonica and N. fraterna from Ceylon, and figures the
male and female of the latter species. The chief difference between the two
is that the male of N. fraterna has a comparatively narrow black marginal
BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE. 445
border, the underside is of a greenish-pearly-white, the hindwing is
immaculate ; it is also said to he smaller than N. ceylonica. Male, 2$ :
female, 2§. N. ceylonica is described as having the underside nacreous-
blue : {brewing with the costa and apical margin dusky cyaneous, the
veins from hase to near their end black, the median brauches crossed by
a confluent black streak: hindwing with a marginal row of very in-
distinct white spots with dusky borders- Expanse — male, 2g ; female,
3 inches.
The Travancore specimens agree with N. fraterna in having a narrow black
border; the underside of some may he described as greetiish-pearly-white,
of others as nacreous-blue.
They agree with N. ceylonica in having the underside costa and apical
margin of forewing dusky cyaneous, but the median branches are not
crossed by a confluent black streak. The hindwing is not immaculate,
but has a row of more or less distinct white spots with dusky borders.
Their size varies from 2h, to 3 inches in the male, the female 2J to 3
inches. Whether they should he called N. ceylonica or Ar. fraterna, or
whether these two are distinct species, it is beyond me to decide.
164. Nepheronia pingasa, Moore.
Not uncommon in the hills, 1,000 to 3,000 ft.
105. Nepheronia gcea, Felder.
Rare; two males and one female taken near Trevandrum.
The females of these two species can be readily discriminated, as that of the
latter has the discoidal cell in the hindwing and the submedian inter-
space for two-thirds of its length yellow on the upper side. There are two
types of male, one of which has a very broad black marginal border, the
underside white with a bluish tinge, and the veins broadly brown ; both
wings have a dusky brown border, with a marginal row of distinct bluish
spots. This I take to be N. gcea.
The other has the underside white with a yellowish tinge, the veins on the
hindwing are very narrowly marked, the marginal spots on the hindwing
are indistinct, and there are none on the forewing. Except that it is
not nacreous-blue, the underside answers to the description of that of
N. ceylonica exactly.
This is the Nepheronia that is fairly common on the hills.
166. Delias eucharis, Drury.
Very common in the low country and up to 3,000 ft. on the hills.
Subfamily Papilionin^e.
167. Papilio (Omithoptera) minos, Cramer.
Fairly common in the low country, and up to 4,000 ft. on the hills.1
168. Papilio (Pathysa) antiphates, Cramer.
Rare. I have onlv taken two specimens in open forest at the foot of the
Ashambu hills in August, 1379. Mr. Garrett took some near Ariankavu.
57
446 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
169. Papilio {Pathysa) nomius, Esper.
Rare. I have only taken one specimen at the foot of the Ashambu hills.
170. Papilio (Dalchinia) teredon, Felder.
Common in the low country, and up to 4,000 ft. in the hills on the south ;
common also on the high range.
171. Papilio (Zetides) doson, Felder.
Not common, found only on the hills from 2,000 ft. upwards.
172. Papilio (Zetides) agamemnon, Linnaeus.
Verv common in the low country and in the hills.
173. Papilio (Orpheides) erithonius, Cramer.
Common in the low country and in the hills.
174. Papilio (lliades) polymnestor, Cramer.
Common, more so in the low country than in the hills.
175. Papilio (Charus) helenus, Linnaeus.
Common in the hills from 2,000 ft. upwards.
176. Papilio (Laertias) pammon, Linnaeus.
Common in the low country and up to 2,000 ft. on the hills. The three
forms of the female occur.
177. Papilio {Menelaides) aristolochice, Fabricius.
Common in the low country and the hills.
178. Papilio [Menelaides) hector, Linnaeus.
Very common in the low country and on the lower slopes of the hills.
179. Papilio (Menelaides) pandiyana, Moore.
Abundant in the hills at about 2,000 ft., found also in the low country at
the foot, of the hills.
180. Papilio (Chilasa) dissimilis, Linnaeus.
Fairly common in the low country, less so on the hills.
181. Papilio (Chilasa) clytia, Linnaeus.
Not uncommon on the hills.
182. Papilio (Chilasa) dravidarum, Wood-Mason.
Fairly common in the low country, less so on the hills.
183. Papilio liomedon, Moore.
I have taken six specimens of this butterfly. I have seen it oftener in the
low country than on the hills ; of those taken, all but oue were more or
less damaged.
Family IIESPERIID.E.
184. Badamia exclamationis, Fabricius.
Low country, common.
185. Ismene jaina, Moore.
I have only received this from the high range, where it appears to be
common in April and May.
186. Hasora badra, Moore.
Rare. One specimen only taken near Trevandrum in November, 1889.
BUTTERFLIES OF TRAVANCORE. 441
187. Parata chromus, Cramer.
Fairly common both in the low country and on the hills.
188. Parata alexis, Fabricius.
Rare. One specimen only from Pirmerd.
189. Baracus vittatus, Felder.
One specimen received from the high range, April, 1890.
190. Astictopterus subfasciatus, Moore.
J have taken this both in the low country and on the hills in August in the
former, and in December in the latter.
191. Astictopterus salsala, Moore.
Fairly common in the low country in February, March and April.
192. Matapa aria, Moore.
Fairly common in the low country in July. One specimen I have taken in
September.
193. Gangara thyrsis, Fabricius.
Common in the low country in June and July.
194. Parnara narooa, Moore.
Not common. I have only taken it in the low country.
195. Parnara toona, Moore.
Rare. ,
196. Silastics gremius, Fabricius.
Common in the low country at all times.
197. Chapra mathias, Fabricius.
Common in the low country and up to 3,000 ft. in the hills.
198. Telicota bambusee, Moore.
Common in the low country in March and April, and up to 3,000 ft. in the
hills.
199. Padraona pseudomcRsa, Moore.
Rare.
200. Padroana meesoides, Butler.
Low country, not common.
201. A mpittia maro, Fabricius.
Fairly common in the low country in November.
202. Taractrocera mavius, Fabricius.
Not common. I have only two specimens, both taken near Trevandrum.
one in March, 1888, one in November of the 3ame year.
203. A'e'romachus jhora, de Niceville.
Only one specimen taken on the hills.
204. Aeromachus obsoleta, Moore.
Two specimens only taken on the hills.
205. Halpe ceylonica, Moore.
Rare.
448 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
206. Hyarotis adrastus, Cramer.
Rare. One specimen only taken on the hills in South Travancore.
20/. Tagiades atticus, Fahricius.
Common in the low country and up to 3,000 ft. in the hills, June, July and
August.
208. Tagiades distans, Moore.
Common in the low country in June and July.
209. Tagiades obscurus, Mabille.
Not common ; found only on the hills, 2,000 to 4,000 ft.
210. Sarangesa dasahara, Moore.
Not common, found in the low country and at the foot of the hills.
211. Udaspes folus, Cramer.
Fairly common in the low country in June and July ; found also on the
hills.
212. Notocrypta alysos, Moore.
Fairly common in the low country and on the hills up to 3,000 ft.
213. Notocrypta restricta, Moore.
Has the same distribution as the last.
214. Notocrypta basijlara, de Niceville.
The first specimen I had of this was given to me by Mr. A. Macgregor, who
took it on Pirmerd. I have since taken four specimens near Trevandriun,
one in July, 1890, and three in September of the same year.
215. Gelcenorrhinus leucocera, Kollar.
Fairly common on the hills, 2,000 to 4,000 ft.
216. Coladenia dan, Fabricius.
Low country and hills in the cold weather ; fairly common.
217. Coladenia indrani, Moore.
Fairly common in the low country in June and July. I have also taken
it in October.
218. Abaratha ransonneti, Felder.
Fairly common in the low country and on the hills.
219. Odontoptilum sura, Moore.
Not uncommon on the hills ; I have also taken it near Trevandrum rarely.
220. Hesperia galba, Fabricius.
Not uncommon in the low country in September and October.
NEW SPECIES OF LIZARD. 449
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF LIZARD OBTAINED
BY Mb. II. S. FERGUSON IN TRAVANCORE,
SOUTHERN INDIA.
By G. A. Boulexger.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on Sth December, 1891.)
Lygosoma stjisc^ruleum, Sp. n.
Section Keneuxia. Habit lacertiform ; tlic distance between the
end of the snout and the fore limb contained once and one-fourth, in
the distance between axilla and groin. Snout rather elongate,
obtusely pointed, much depressed. Lower eyelid scaly. -Nostril
pierced in the middle of a small nasal ; a supranasal, not in contact
with its fellow ; frontonasal a little broader than long, in contact
with the rostral ; prefrontals forming a median suture ; frontal only
a little larger than the interparietal, in contact with the first and
second supraoculars ; four supraoculars, second largest ; nine supra-
ciliaries ; frontoparietals and interparietal distinct, subequal, the
latter separating the parietals ; a pair of nuchals ; four labials
anterior to the subocular. Ear opening very small. 28 scales round
the middle of the body, dorsals feebly striated and a little larger
than ventrals. Digits moderately elongate, with strong sharp claws,
the basal phalanges somewhat depressed, the distal strongly com-
pressed. Subdigital lamelloe smooth, 14 under the fourth toe. Bronzy
olive above, with small whitish black-edged spots; a dark streak
from the eye to the shoulder, and a pair of black streaks on the back
of the head and nape ; lower parts blue.
Fore limb Millim. 18
Hind limb „ 23
Tail „ 60
Total length Millim. 120
Head „ 15
Width of Head... „ 8
Body „ 45
A single specimen from Bodanaikanur, Travancore, presented to
the British Museum by Mr. H. S. Ferguson.
450 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF FROG OBTAINED
BY Mr. H. S. FERGUSON IN TRAVANCORE,
SOUTHERN INDIA.
By G. A. Boulenger.
( Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 8th December, 1891.)
IXALUS TRAVANC0RICUS, Sp. M.
Snout rounded as long as the diameter of the orbit ; can thus
rostralis obtuse ; loreal region slightly concave ; nostril much nearer
the end of the snout than to the eyes ; interorbital space broader
than the upper eyelid ; tympanum hidden. Fingers free ; toes
one-third webbed ; disks well developed ; metatarsal tubercle flat,
very indistinct. The tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the eye. Skin
smooth, granular on the belly and under the thighs. Cream-colour
above, minutely dotted with black ; some larger black dots scattered on
the back and on the tibia ; a black streak from shoulder to shoulder
round the snout, passing through the eyes and the nostrils ; a blackish
streak on each side of the anterior half of the back ; a narrow band or
pigment along the upper surface of the femur ; belly white ; the other
parts colourless.
From snout to vent 31 millim.
This species is described from a single sjDecimen, a gravid female,
obtained by Mr. H. S. Ferguson at Bodanaikanur, Travancore, at
the foot of the hills on the Eastern side in May, 1891.
ON THE VALUE OF THE PLANT PANGALA
{POGOSTEMON PARVIFLORUS) IN CASES OF BITES
BY THE PHURSA SNAKE {ECHIS CARINATA).
By Brigade-Surgeon W. Dymock (Retired).
( Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 8th December, 1891.)
Pogostemon parviflorus, Benth, is a plant of the subtropical
Himalayas and Deccan Peninsula. It hardly differs from P. pur-
purascens, and is very closely related to P. plectranthoides, P. glaber,
and the variety suaveis of P. Patchouli. It does not appear to be
mentioned by Sanskrit medical writers, but has a popular reputation
VALUE OF THE PLANT PANG ALA. 451
as a styptic, and the leaves when bruised are in general use in the
Concan as an application to wounds and sores. It is a stout, erect,
branched, shrubby plant ; glabrous, pubescent, or scaberulous.
Leaves long-pctioled, ovate or ovate -lanceolate, singly or doubly
crenate-toothed or serrate, base cuneate, whorls subglobose, in dense
cylindric or one-sided softly hairy spikes, bracts elliptic-ovate,
exceeding the hirsute calyx, calyx-teeth short, triangular-lanceolate,
riliate. Nutlets very small, black, shining. The whole plant has a
strong disagreeable black currant odour. Roots woody, knotted ; bark
light brown, scabrous, with an odour like that of the plant, and a
pungent taste, benumbing the tongue and palate when chewed.
The Marathi name TfiRr (pangala), <Tfipr (pangula), or ffrpr
(pingula), which also signifies the offensive smelling brown tree-bug,
appears to have been given to it on account of its pungent odour.
In the Ratnagiri district of Western India the root has long been
in use amongst the natives as a secret remedy for the bite of the
Phursa snake, and in February, 1871, Mr. H. B. Boswell, the
Collector, addressed the Civil Surgeon in the following terms:—
" I have the honour to send you a specimen of a root which I have
reason to believe to be a cure for the bite of the Phursa snake, and I
shall feel very much obliged to you if }r0u can in any way ascertain
its medicinal properties and its effect on any one so bitten.
" It is said to stop all the after ill-effects of this poisonous bite,
which is more than Liquor ammonias will, I believe, often do. The
patient is to eat as much of it, after it has been washed, as would
make in bulk the size of the first joint of one's first finger. This he
is to do three times a day for seven days. It is also to be applied
externally to the wound. I cannot, of course, vouch for the truth
of this, or the efficacy of the cure, but one of my sepoys, who was
bitten by a Phursa a week ago, has been doctored by the Patel
(village headman) of this place,. in this manner, and is now appar-
ently well. The Patel, after much persuasion, has shewn me the root
and the plant, one I know well, but the name of which I am not at
liberty at present to mention. He also assures me that this is all
he uses."
The plant was forwarded in April 1871 to the Chemical Analyser
to Government, who identified it as species of Peri/la, and expressed
452 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
an opinion that it was highl}? improbable that a plant belonging to
the Labiates would prove to be a specific for snake-poisoning, and
suggested that some trustworthy evidence of its value should be
obtained before he undertook an analysis. In June of the same
year, Dr. C. Joynt, the Civil Surgeon, reported the following
rase: — "A sepoy, aged 27, was admitted on the night of the 29th.
Liquor ammoniae was applied to the wound after incising ; next
morning there was haemorrhage from the wound, and also free
haemorrhage from the gums and tongue, the blood escaping had a
bright arterial hue. A scruple of the root was ordered three times a
day. The first dose decidedly relieved the vertigo which he com-
plained of, and next day there was a marked diminution in the
haemorrhage from gums and tongue, which entirely ceased on the
fourth day. No other medicine was given." Dr. Joynt remarked : —
"The employment of the root in this case appears to have been
singularly beneficial, and to deserve further investigation."
Unfortunately Dr. Joynt left Ratnagiri shortly afterwards and
was unable to continue his investigations. In the Annual Report of
the Hatnagiri Police Hospital for the year 1873-74 the following
remarks by Dr. E. H. R. Langley, the Civil Surgeon, occur : —
" Snake-bites furnished two cases ; these injuries were caused by
snakes called ' Phursa' by the natives (Echis carinata of ophiologists).
A rapid cure was effected by the internal administration, together
with local application of the root of a shrub, ' the Pogostemon
purpurieaulis,' very common all over the Concan." In 1874 Dr.
Langley made the following report to the Deputy Surgeon-
General : — " Thirteen cases arising from the bites of poisonous snakes
were treated in the Civil Hospital, Ratnagiri. The only remedy
used was the pounded root of a plant called Pangala, the i Pogostemon
purpurieaulis of botanists' ; the root of this plant is given internally
as well as applied as a paste locally; all these cases did well, and were
discharged from two to four days after admission."
In 1884, Dr. H. McCalman, Civil Surgeon, Ratnagiri, forwarded
a communication, " On the treatment of Phursa bite by Pangala root,
h illustrative case," to the Bombay Medical and Physical Society,
from which I extract the following remarks : — " The Echis carinata,
a viperinc snake, is very common in the Ratnagiri District. Fayrer
VALUE OF THE PLANT PANG ALA. 453
describes it as fierce, active and aggressive, always on the defensive,
and ready to attack. The bite is eventually highly dangerous,
although the symptoms may be slow in developing. In fatal cases,
death usually occurs in from 4 to 6 days, and is preceded by giddi-
ness, great lethargy and depression, haeruorrhagic discharges, albu-
minuria, and occasionally lockjaw.
Pangala root, chewed in a fresh state, has been used for some years
by Drs. Joynt, Langley, Barker and myself in the treatment of
Phoorsa bite, and with invariable success."
The following is Dr. McCalman's illustrative case-: — Rowjee
Balsawant, Hindoo, police constable, aged 45, was admitted to
hospital on the 14th June, 1884, at 6 a. m. An hour previously he
was bitten on the dorsum of the foot by a Phoorsa snake, afterwards
recognized and killed. He was immediately given Pangala to chew
and a poultice of the leaves applied locally. At 9 a. m. there was
much pain in the part, oedematous swelling of the foot and ankle
extending half-way up the leg, giddiness, a feeling of great depression
and haemorrhage (dark- coloured) from the gums, under surface
of the tongue and buccal mucous membrane generally. The blood
expectorated did not coagulate. This bleeding had begun at 6 a. m.j
an hour after the man had been bitten. Pulse 72, temper-
ature 98 F., no dj^spnoea. Finding the haemorrhage unchecked by
the remedy, some perfectly fresh root just dug up was substituted for
that first given. The effect was soon apparent.
At 2 p. m. giddiness less, pulse 78, temperature 99, expression
tranquil, urine dark-coloured, depositing a slight flocculent sediment,
reaction acid, sp. gr. 1012, albumen to a considerable extent. Pain
of the foot less.
6 p. m., bleeding from the mouth practically stopped, giddiness
increased, pulse 72, temperature 99*4. Urine shews blood corpus-
cules under the microscope.
15th. — No haemorrhage from the mouth; urine contains a con-
siderable quantity of blood ; vertigo less. Swelling of limb less.
Pulse as yesterday and of fair volume.
16th. — No haemorrhage whatever. No giddiness. Urine pale, no
sediment, no albumen, sp. gr. 1008. Pulse 66. Stiffness of foot,
but no real pain.
58
454 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCJETY, 1801.
17th. — Swelling rapidly disappearing. No head symptoms. Urine
very pale and plentiful, sp. gr. 1004.
18th. — Pangala omitted. His convalescence was uninterrupted,
and he left the hospital on the 22nd perfectly welL
Dr. McCalman remarks : — " I do not pretend to explain the action
of Pangala, that the remedy acts generally and physiologically is
apparent from the early drying up of remote haemorrhages (e. g.,
bleeding from the urinary tract) and the relief of cerebral symptoms,
effects due to a restoration of the natural state of the blood, and,
thro\igh it, of the nervous centres. The drug may also stimulate
organs concerned in the elimination of the poison. The subject is
one which calls for further careful experimental research."
Through the courtesy of Surgeon-General Pinkerton I have been
eupplied with further extracts from the records of the Ratnagiri
Civil Hospital which shew that Pangala root is still used with the
same success in the treatment of Phursa bite. Only one fatal case
is recorded, and in that the remedy was administered in the form of
tincture instead of in the usual manner.
Mr. G. "VV. Vidal, C. S., in a letter to the Bombay Gazette, dated
January 30th, 1890, states that the bite of the Phursa-snake is
apparently fatal in about 20 per cent, of cases, and the action of the
poison is slow. He says, " In collecting materials for an account of
the snakes of Ratnagiri for the Bombay Gazetteer, I found (in 1878)
records of 62 fatal cases treated at the Civil Hospital. These cases
shewed that death occurred on an average in four and a half days,
though in some instances patients had lingered up to twenty days."
In 1855-56 Dr. Imlach, then Civil Surgeon of Shikarpur, in a
description of the 'Kapar ' {EcMs carinata), published in the Trans-
actions of the Bombay Medical and Physical Society (Vol. iii., New
Series, p. 80), wrote that " a reference to police returns will shew
that in by far the majority of cases serious injury and death have
been caused by the bite of this species/' In an article upon the
"Venomous Snakes of North Canara" (Journ., Nat. Hist. Soc. Bombay,
Vol. V., No. 1, p. 69), Mr. Vidal says:—" There is indeed no doubt
that the Echis is a far more potent factor than any other venomous
snake in swelling the mortality of the Bombay Presidency, and it is
important that this fact should be more generally known and
VALUE OF THE PLANT PANGALA.
455
recognised than it has been hitherto. It is, of course, impossible to
shew the exact percentage of the deaths from snake-bite for which
the Echis is responsible. In the returns no attempt is made to dis-
criminate the species to which the recorded deaths are attributable,
and little, if any, reliance could be placed in the statistics even if
such an attempt were made. But the conclusion stated above may,
I think, be fairly drawn from the fact, which is very clear from the
returns in their present shape, that in all those districts, where the
Echis is known to abound, the average mortality from snake-bite
is nairkedly high, while conversely, the mortality is insignificant in
other districts where the Echis is either rare or absent. The follow-
ing table, which I have compiled with some care and labour from
the official returns for the eight years, 1878 — 85, shews the population,
the actual average mortality, and the mortality^/* mille of each dis-
trict in the Bombay Presidency : —
District.
Population
by
Census of
1881.
A verage
actual
mortality
from snake
bite, 1878
to 1885.
Average
mortality
per mille,
1878 to
1885.
Hydrabad
Thar and Parkar
Karachi
Ratnagiri
Thana
Panch Mahals
Rhikarpur
Surnt i
Kaira
Bronch
Upper Sind Frontier
Kolaba
Ahmedabad
Sattara
Kanara
Belgaum
Poona
Dbarwar
Khandeish
Bijapnr
Kasik
Abmednagar
Sholapur
754,624
203,344
47^,688
997,090
908,548
255,479
852,986
614 198
804 800
32R.930
124 181
381.649
856,324
1,062,350
421,810
£64.014
900,621
882,907
1,237,231
638,493
781,206
751,228
582,487
0-
0-
0-217
0-239
0-183
•155
•119
0-119
0-085
0-067
00-586
00-584
0-053
0-052
0-046
0-038
0-037
0-034
0-020
0-019
0-018
0-017
00-138
00-137
0-003
Thus three Sind districts and Ratnagiri, in all of which the Echis
swarma in suitable localities, stand well at the top of the list with an
456. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
average mortality, taking the four districts together, of *205 per
1,000. On the other hand, in the last four districts on the list, viz.,
Bijapur, Nasik, Ahruednagar and Sholapur, the combined average
mortality per mille is only 'Oil 8. In other words, only one man dies
of snake-bite in about 100,000 in these Deccan districts, while in the
isWws-ridden tracts one man dies in every 5,000. Daboias and kraits
are probably nowhere so common in "Western India as to have much
appreciable effect on the mortality. But cobras are quite as common,
I believe, in these Deccan districts as they are in Ratnagiri or Sind.
This shews, I think, pretty conclusively that the JSchis — and not the
cobra, or any other venomous snake — is chiefly responsible for deaths
from snake-bite in Bombay."
The roots of P. parvijiorus have been examined by Dr. Warden,
Prof, of Chemistry at the Calcutta Medical College, and well known
in Europe for his important contributions to our knowledge of the
chemistry of Indian plants. The most interesting principle detected
in the root was an alkaloid, which I believe will prove to be a new
discovery, and which Dr. Warden proposes to call pogodemonine.
After repeated purification it was left as a yellow varnish with
slightly bitter and mouse-like flavour. It was more soluble in
chloroform than in ether. No special colour reactions were noted.
He also detected the presence of trimethylamine, and a volatile prin-
ciple with a cedar-wood odour. Resinous principles were also
present, with astringent matter.
The constituents of the plant, which should be used in any future
experiments, are the alkaloid pogostemonine and trimethylamine, the
amount of tannic matters present being insufficient to account for
any remarkable styptic properties. Trimethylamine (C. H.33 N.) has
been obtained from several plants, such as Beet, Arnica, and in this
country from Sahndora persica, a plant which has a reputation in
cases of Phursa-bite in Sind. Trimethylamine occurs also in herring-
pickle, which contains it in considerable quantity and owes to it its
peculiar disagreeable smell. Commercially, it is prepared from the
residue left in the manufacture of beet-sugar. It is a colourless,
strongly alkaline, caustic liquid, having a strong ammoniacal and
offensive odour ; applied to the skin it acts as an irritant like
ammonia, causing burning and redness, and, if long continued,
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND.
457
excoriation. It is said to have been given intornally in France
and Germany with some success as a remedy for rheumatism, but
its offensive odour is a great drawback to its use as a medicinal agent.
The chloride, which has no smell and little taste, has been suggested
as the most convenient form for administration.
NOTES ON THE MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND.
By J. D. IxVERARITY.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 1st
September, 1891.)
With Six Plates.
There is a considerable variety of animal life in the Somali country,,
and it is the object of these notes to give a short account of the animals
I met with in two sporting expeditions I made there. The first, in
1889, was cut short at the end of a fortnight by a misadventure, the
second, in 1890, occupied two months.
In the part of the country I was in there was no agriculture whatever.
The different tribes are nomads and wander about their respective
territories with their flocks of sheep and goats and herds of cattle and
camels to wherever they find pasture. The presence of these flocks is*
detrimental to sport among the antelopes, but on the other hand they
are a source of attraction to the lion, and I found that the best ground
for lions was in the neighbourhood of Somali encampments.
I was fortunate in getting good specimens of almost all the-
animals which are found within a hundred miles of the coast. They
comprised the following : —
English name.
1. Gazella walleri | Waller's Gazelle
2.' Gazella sosmmerringiiJ Soemmerring's Gazelle
3. Gazella naso
4. Neotragus sp.
5. Strepsiceros kudu ....
6. Strepsiceros imberbis.
7. Oryx beisa
8. Oreotragus saltatrix .
Gazelle
Sand Antelope .
Koodoo
Lesser Koodoo.
Oryx
Klipspringer
9. Equus(asinus)somalicus Wild Ass
10. Phacochoerus sp.
11. Hyaena crocuta
12. Hyaena striata...
13. Felisleo
Wart Hog
Spotted Hyaena
Striped Hyaena
Lion
Somali name.
Gerenook.
Awal.
Dhero.
Dik-Dik.
Godir.
Anderio.
•Berid.
Alakud.
Duber, Dibhuded.
Dophur.
Waraba.
Lidder.
Libah,
458 SQURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
There were three animals I did not shoot, viz., the elephant
(SomaE " Marode"), the panther (Somali " Sheybelli"), and the harte-
brest (Somali "Sik"). In the Ogadeen, further inland, the Somalia
told me there were rhinoceros (Somali "Wheal"), and giraffe (Somali
"Gbra").
The above list looks rather imposing, but with the exception of
lion, Gaze/la naso, and dik-dik, the largest number of any one
animal I shot was three, and of some I shot only one specimen.
I shot no does except of Gazella naso. All the antelopes and
gazelle were remarkably wild, and it was necessary to take much
longer shots than one has to in India. I may mention that for about
30 or 40 miles after leaving the coast at Berbera, one crosses a desert
in parts flat, thinly covered with mimosa bush, and in parts rugged
sandstone hills almost devoid of vegetation. Here and there a wady
or river bed, for the most part waterless, affords along its bank for
100 yards on either side thick cover of thorny bush. In this tract the
three gazelles, the wild ass, the lesser koodoo, the dik-dik, wart hog,
the two hyaenas and an occasional lion will be found, the last named
in the thick bush by the wadys. After about 30 or 40 miles you
come to a range of mountains running east and west called the Golis,
which are said at the highest point to be nearly 6,000 feet high.
However, when you are at the foot of them, you have nothing like this
to climb, as on your way from the coast you have, without knowing it>
been gradually ascending the whole way. These hills are very stony
and steep, and covered with thick bush, chiefly of a thorny descrip-
tion. They are broken up with deep ravines. In the hills are lion,
koodoo, klipspringer, wart hog, the ubiquitous hyaenas, and dik-dik.
Elephants also inhabit this range of mountains. The northern side of
the hills which you first reach is very precipitous. When you get
over them, the southern slope is a comparatively easy descent, and
when you are free of the hills you are on an extensive sandy plateau
said to be 2,000 or 3,000 feet above sea level. It is capital ground
for tracking. Here grows the umbrella mimosa, the branches at the
root being about 3 or 4 feet in diameter, spring out at an angle
from the ground, and at a height of 8 or 10 feet the top forms a level table
20 or more feet across, almost as smooth as if it had been trimmed by a
gardener. Dense clumps of thorny bush with long grass 12 or 1&
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND.
459
feet high afford a secure retreat for lions ; these clumps are' pvetty
thickly scattered in open sandy ground thinly covered with tborn
bush. I believe this plateau extends for about 200 miles, amd- no
doubt the character of it varies at different places. There are hardly
any trees in the Somali country. In the hills there are a few trees,
chiefly Somali pine, but elsewhere you see none, except an occasional
mimosa which looks just like the Indian babool.
The general configuration of the country is something like that of
"Western India, the flat country near the coast, the ghauts, and the
elevated plateau on the top of the ghauts.
On the plateau all the animals I have mentioned are to be found,
except elephant, koodoo, and klipspringer. I will now proceed to
describe the animals I have myself procured.
Gazella watteri
Is at once recognizable by its peculiarly long neck and upper Eip,
which gives it the appearance of a miniature giraffe. They go> in
small herds of generally less than half a dozen, of which only oneis a
buck. Solitary bucks are common. The largest herd I saw consisted
of nine individuals, including three good bucks, and this is the only
occasion I saw more than one buck with a herd. Herds of a few
does without a buck are also met with. They are very elegant
animals with long slender legs ; in colour brown, the belly and inside
of legs white, along the back runs a broad band of dark brown,
much darker than the rest of the body, 7 or 8 inches in width. As
far as I could see with the glasses this band was not so dark in> the
does as it is in the bucks. A very good coloured representation &i the
skin and head is printed in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society
of London, 1885, p. 538. The horns of the buck are strongly ringed
for about three-fourths of their length; they bend outwards and back-
wards, curving in again towards the tips, which bend forward.
The measurements of three heads I have are as follows : —
Length on curve
along upper surface
Straight line from
base to tip
Between tips
Round base .,
No. 1.
14 inches
11 inches,
3f inches
5| inches,
No. 2.
13 inches
11 inches
5 inches
b\ inches... .,
No. 3.
12£ inches.
10J inches.
2^ inches.
4f inches,
460 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The females are hornless. Except the newly discovered gazelle
hereinafter mentioned, I believe this is the only African species
of gazelle of which the females have no horns. This gazelle
is found on the flat desert and in the low hills near the coast and
also on the plateau. It is generally seen on ground where there is
plenty of bush, although I have seen it out on the open desert near
bush. It is quite common and difficult to stalk. It feeds chiefly
on the bushes, and in my opinion seldom if ever drinks. The Somalis,
although they eat all the other antelope except the klipspringer (and
I am not quite sure they don't eat that), won't eat this gazelle; the
reason given to me was a curious one and unfit for publication.
The flesh is good. As pointed out by Sir Victor Brooke in the
P. Z. S., 1878, p. 929, Gazclla walleri differs from all other species of
gazelle in the very great backward prolongation of the occiput, and
in the shortness and width of its grinding teeth. The lower jaw, too,
is more slender than one usually finds in gazelles. It has been made
the type of a distinct genus under the name of Idthocranius wallert
by Dr. Kohl. Mr. H. C. V. Hunter, who shot this gazelle on the
Tana River to the south of the Somali country, told me the horns
there were not so thick as those described above.
In the P. Z. S., 1891, p. 207, a new gazelle, recently discovered in
Somali land, is described under the name Amnwdorcas Clarkei, of
which the females are said to be hornless.
Oazella scemmerringii
Is a much stouter built animal than Gazclla walleri, and is of a
pale fawn colour with under parts white. Its rump is pure white. It
was not common in the part of the country I was in. In fact, I only
saw one herd of six and a solitary buck, the latter I shot. I was told
they were common on the Bulhar plain, a few miles west of the line I
took, and that they are found in large herds. The horns are longer
and thicker than those of Gazclla walleri. The horns curve backwards,
then outwards, and the tips curve in towards each other. The one
head I have measures —
Length on curve along upper surface, 15 £ inches.
Straight line from base to tip, 13 inches.
Between tips, 4 inches.
Round base, 5.^ inches.
\,oA*.
m i
f
8
CO
>
I — I
o
o
CO
CO
1
pq
0
o
•"3
o
O
ffl
u
01
o
N
<
Z
<
J
_!
UJ
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<
5
Si
I
3*
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAXD. 461
The owner of this head measured 2 ft. 10 in. at the shoulder. The
horns are strongly ringed for about three fourths of their length.
This gazelle I believe sticks to the flat and is found both near the
coast and on the plateau. The female has horns. My experience of
this animal is too limited to warrant any further remarks.
Gazella naso.
The buck in size and general appearance resembles the Indian
Chinkara (Gaze/la bennettii). The does have much longer and thicker
horns than the chinkara. Gazella naso takes its name from the
loose pouch of skin it has on the upper surface of the nose. The skin
is so loose that if you lay hold of it and pull it forward, it easily
covers the uj)per tip. Both bucks and does have it.
A print of a buck's head is to be found in the P. Z. S. of 1886,
evidenthr taken from a stuffed head. The stuffer apparently has
stuffed this pouch out as if it were inflated, quite unlike anything I
ever saw. I often watched Gazella naso through glasses, and never
saw them inflate their pouch. I don't believe they do so. Mr. Sclater,
in describing it in the P.Z. S., says, " I think there can be no question
«•' of it belonging to an undescribed species which I propose to call
,e Gazella naso. Gazella naso, as its name implies, is sufficiently
" distinguishable from all other known members of the genus, by hav-
" ino- the extremity of the snout above the nasal openings developed
" into a large, flabby -wrinkled mass, which is scantily covered by
" short hairs of a grey colour," a description taken from the afore-
mentioned stuffed head, which does not accord with my views. I shot
eleven of these gazelles, and in no case was there a flabby-wrinkled
mass, nor was the skin scantily covered with grey hairs. The skin
merely lies loose on the nose with no abnormal flesh or other
substance beneath it, and is as well covered with the ordinary
yellowish, hair as any other part of the face ; the skin being loose
no doubt is wrinkled, but not so as to be very noticeable. In the
photograph I took I pulled the loose skin up so as to show it, but it
does not stick up like that in the living animal. It would be
impossible I think to tell the buck's horns from those of a
chinkara. The longest pair I shot measured 10 inches in a
straight line from base to tip along the side, and 4 inches
round the base. If you measure them in a straight line
59
462 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
alono- the front they measure nearly an inch more. The longest
doe's horns were 9 inches in a straight line, and 2-§ inches round the
base. This, however, I think is unusually long, 7^ inches being
about the usual size. The horns of the female are slightly ringed
for about two-thirds of their length. Gazella naso is found close to
Berbera, and is common both near the coast and on the plateau.
Mr. Phillips, in the P. Z. S. of 1885, p. 930, says the plateau
gazelle seemed to him to differ from the one in the plains, being
lighter and wanting the black mark along the side. I think they
are exactly the same ; I saw no difference in colour. The one photo-
graphed was shot on the plateau and has a broad black stripe along
the side. On referring to two other photographs of doe gazelles shot
on the plateau, I find one has a black stripe and the other has not ;
another of a buck shot within sight of Berbera, shows the black side
mark. According to the P. Z. S„ 1891, p. 210, there seems to have
been a good deal of confusion about this gazelle, as it turns out to be
the gazelle originally named Gazella speekii. All the gazelles I got on
the plain near Berbera had the loose pouch of skin on the nose, and I
saw none of the species without the pouch said to inhabit the Berbera
plain identified in the P. Z. S. of 1891, p. 211, as Gazella pekehii.
However, I only marched straight through the Berbera plain and did
not spend any time on it.
Neotrafius -y>.
Is a small antelope 9 inches high at] the shoulder. It goes in
pairs, and is found everywhere in the desert. It is too small to shoot
with the rifle. On the forehead is a crest of long chestnut hair ; the
general colour of the body is grey ; the skins vary a good deal in
colour ; some have a good deal of light-brown in them, while others
are almost entirely silvery-grey ; the legs are a light-brown on the
outer sides, the inside of legs and belly whitish. The muzzle pro-
trudes beyond the mouth. The female has no horns, and her crest is
smaller than that of the male. The horns of the male are short,
upright spikes, usually under 3 inches in length. The best pair I
have out of 18 heads is just under 3 inches long. The lower half of
the horns are marked by strong irregular sub-reticulated annulations.
Some horns grow parallel to each other ; in other cases they
grow slightly towards each other, and then diverge again
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND. 463
towards the points. The horns are peculiar in the way they are
set on the head. The front edge of the horn, instead of directly
facing you when you look at the skull, appears on the inner side, so
that when taking a front view of the skull you really see almost a
complete side view of each horn. I havre not observed this in any
other antelope or gazelle. A peculiarity of the skull, characteristic
of this genus, is the excessive shortness of the nasal bones. They
are easily killed with No. 3 shot. If they get up out of range, and
the bushes are not too thick, you can often get a shot by running
after them, as after the first bait, they trot on, stopping at intervals.
They are almost always fouud in pairs, and appear to be of an affec-
tionate disposition, as if you shoot one, the other will often stop, reluc-
tant to leave its comrade, and let you get quite close up before it runs
away. I saw one accompanied by two young ones, so they appear to
produce two at a birth. They feed on the bushes, and no doubt eat
grass if they can get it. I don't think they drink. The meat is
said to taste of musk, but I never noticed this m}rself .
I am not sure whether the Somali dik-dik is the same as the Abys-
sinian jyeotragus saltianus, or the East African Neotragus kirkii. The
difference between the two depending on certain dental and osteologi-
cal distinctions are not very apparent to the unlearned. They are
described in the P. Z. S., 1880, p. 17. The inner side of the
horns in JSf. saltianus are said (in P. Z. S., 1891, p. 212) to be
flattened along their inner side, and therefore triangular in section,
while those of iV. kirkii are rounded and therefore circular in section .
Applying this test to the horns I have, some are flat along the inner
side, while others are more or less rounded.
Strepsiceros kudu.
This antelope, in Somali Land at all events, is only found in the hills,
though in other parts of Africa, according to Mr. Selous's book, they
are found where there are no hills. The male is a handsome beast
standing as high as a sambar, say 13 ^ hands, with long spiral horns
something like those of a markor. In colour it is an iron grey with
three white stripes down its sides and one across the quarters. A
standing mane runs along the whole length of the back, the hair of
which is longest on the neck and withers, and is of a white colour va-
riegated with black. A long fringe of black and white hair clothes the
464 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
whole length of the throat. The head is prettily marked with 3 white
spots on each cheek (very like the spots on the cheeks of a bull nielgai ) ,
and two white lines, one from the corner of each eye, meet on the
face. Mr. Selous says that the koodoo is marked with eight or
nine white stripes. In Harris's Wild Sports of Southern Africa, it is
described as having four or six lines on the side and four more
over the croup, and in the picture of one in the list of the
animals of the London Zoological Society (an uncommonly bad
likeness), it is shown as having nine white stripes down the side.
If these statements are correct, the Somali koodoo would appear to
have a less number of stripes than the koodoo in South Africa.
I shot two males, the largest of which is shown in the photograph,
on which the stripes can easily be counted. I saw a good
number of females at different times, but it was very difficult to
observe them, owing to the thick character of the bush they were found
in, but I am pretty sure that they did not have so many stripes
as eight or nine, though I am not prepared to say that none had
more than four. The females are of a yellowish-brown colour and are
hornless. The young males are of the same colour as the females,
but soon assume the grey colour. I saw one with small horns whose
fore-quarters were grey while his hind-quarters were brown. I
watched him for a long time on the bare side of a perpendicular hill,
as I was particularly struck with his peculiar colour. His horns did
not appear to be more than about a foot long.
Koodoo shooting is hard work. Owing to the precipitous character
of the ravines in which they are found, and the denseness of the
thickets, it is quite impossible to see any distance down the hill on the
side you are stalking, and the only chance of a shot is when he bolts
up the opposite side of the ravine. They go in small herds of half a
dozen or less. The largest herd I saw was a dozen, of which eleven
were females. The horns of the one photographed measure almost
3 feet from base to tip in a straight line, which is as good, I believe,
as one can expect to get in Somali Land. Mr. Selous saj^s the
largest horns he ever saw measured were 3 ft. 8| inches. The koodoo
has no suborbital sinus. It feeds on both bushes and grass and
drinks regularly, so I don't think you would ever find it at any great
distance from water. Dr. Livingstone, however, mentions the koodoo
H H
I 3
I ^
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND- 465
as one of the antelopes that can exist without water. I procured a
young male a few days old from some Somalis who had caught it. I
got it alive to Berbera, bur it died there. It was horn in November ;
so some, at all events, breed at that season. There are a large
number of ticks in the Somali country, and they appear to be
partial to koodoo, as the whole of the belly of one I shot was a mass
of ticks almost as close together as they could stick. The Somalis
prefer koodoo meat to that of any antelope. To my taste all
antelope venison is very much alike. The koodoo barks loudly
when suddenly disturbed, something like a sambar's bark. I was
stalking a small herd from below in some thick bush and they
kept constantly barking; they turned out to be females, and did
not see me until I was close on them, though their suspicions had
been aroused.
Strepsiceros imberbis
Is to my mind one of the prettiest antelopes. The buck is of a blue
grey with numerous white stripes running down the whole length
of the body (the one photographed has fourteen stripes from two
to four inches apart). A standing mane of white hair runs along
the neck and back to the tail, being shortest along the middle of the
back. It has a white patch on the lower part of its neck, and the face
is marked, like the koodoo, with white spots on the cheeks, and a
white line from the corner of' each eye across the nose. It has no
fringe of hair on the throat, and has no suborbital sinus. The horns
are spiral, of a less open twist than the koodoo's ; the one photo-
graphed measures 21 inches in a straight line from base to tip.
The piece broken out of the left horn was caused by one of my
shots unfortunately hitting the horn. A pair of horns, in the
possession of this Society, measures 24 inches from base to tip in a
straight line. The females are hornless ; they and the young males
are of a yellowish-brown colour ; the females are striped like the males,
but, as far as I could see, the stripes were not as pure a white as those
of the male. I was unable to count the stripes on the female, but they
appeared to be numerous. This antelope frequents thick bush at the
foot of the hills and in the flat desert. I don't think it is found in the
hills or in the open. "When disturbed in the thick bush they start off
4UG JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOIETY, 1891.
with a loud bark. I saw a young- fawn in December. I saw a
solitary buck, lesser koodoo, at least 30 miles from any water, which
argues that, like many other African antelopes, it can go a long time
without drinking. The Somalis told me that this and other antelope
get the water they require by eating the aloe, the spikes of which
are full of moisture, and I found in the stomach of an oryx that I
opened, plenty of aloe. I did not measure, but should say the lesser
koodoo stands about 3^ feet high.
Oryx beisa.
One objection to this animal is that the males and females have
equally good horns, so that it is difficult to distinguish the fair sex in
a stalk. The female's horns are not so stout as the males, but they
are, as a rule, longer. The only one I fired at was a solitary male.
He measured 3 feet 9 inches at the shoulder. His horns were an old
worn pair 26 1 inches long, 6f inches round at the base, and 8| inches
between the tips. A good pair, however, would be about 40 inches
long. They are cylindrical in shape and almost straight, strongly
marked with riugs for the lower-half of the horn. One horn is visually
shorter than the other. The general colour is a greyish roan, and they
are handsomely marked with a black bar along the lower part of the
side and down the throat, a black bar across the foreleg, and a dark
stripe along the back bone. The face is black and white ; a broad black
stripe runs from the root of the horn to near the corner of the mouth
(in this stripe is the eye), another black stripe runs from the root of
the ear down the cheek across the jaw giving it the appearance of
having a bridle on. A short mane stands ou the neck and withers.
The tail is long, and ends with a bushy black tuft which descends
below the hocks.
They stand higher at the withers than at the croup. The eye is
placed high in the head. Its long face, long tail, and drooping
quarters prevent it having the game-like look of some of the previ-
ously described antelopes. It is a desert antelope, and can be easily
tracked. Like all desert antelopes its hoofs are more narrow and
pointed than the hill antelopes like the koodoo. It is said to be a
favourite food of the lion, and to sometimes transfix the lion with its
long pointed horns when attacked. I once, when tracking two lions,
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND. 467
came on a place where they had stalked two Oryx, but bad failed to
catch them. The sandy ground was lorn up with the footprints
of the lions and of the fleeing Ory.v ; the lions, however, appeared from
the tracks to have given up almost immediately, as they had only
gone fast for about 40 yards. The Oryx has no suborbital sinus. Tt
is independent of water. The skin is used by the Somalis for making
their shields. I was told that they ride them down.
A single horn is also used by them as a stabbing weapon in a fray,
and I was told that one of the men of a native regiment was stabbed
and killed with one in a night attack on a zereba in an expedition
from Aden made at the end of 1889.
Oreotragiis saltatrix.
This small hill antelope is occasionally met with in the Golis
mountains. An old male I shot measures 18 inches at the shoulder,
and 3 feet from tip of nose to end of tail. The hair is coarse and long.
Each hair is tipped with yellow, a blackish- brown in the middle and
lighter at the base, producing a colour very like that of a golden
plover. The females are hornless. The horns of the males are short,
stout, round spikes, straight and slightly inclined forward, between 3
and 4 inches long, and are slightly wrinkled at the base. The head
is short and broad. The pasterns are very upright, and the cleft
between the hoofs very long ; the hoofs themselves are short and round.
Thev go in pairs, and are found at the tops of the ridges of the hills,
where the boulders of rock crop up out of the ground. When alarmed
thev utter a sound something like a loud sneeze. They seem to
frequent the same spot. I saw a pair once low down in a ravine
among the thick bush, but as a rule they keep in the neighbourhood
of rocks. As far as I could make out, the Somalis don't eat the klip-
springer. The one I shot fell dead and could not be hallaled, so they
would not have eaten it anyhow, but I understood them to say they
never eat the meat of this antelope.
Equus [asinus) somalicus.
This ass was first described in the P. Z. 8., 1884, p. 540, where a
coloured plate of one is also given. Mr. Sclater says : " The Somali ass
differs from that of the Nubian Desert in its generally paler and
more greyish colour, in the entire absence of the cross stripe over the
4f,8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
shoulders, in the very slight indication of the dorsal line, and in the
numerous black markings on both front and hindlegs; " and further
on he describes it as " griseus ; lineadorsali fere obsoleta, humerorum
nulla ; juba longiore, caduca ; pedibus distincter et frequenter
nigro fasciatis." This description, though no doubt correct for some
specimens, does not apply to a female ass I shot near Berbera, as she
had a black stripe on each shoulder, though neither stripe was complete,
not extending to the dorsal line. The stripe on the off-side was more
conspicuous than the one on the near-side. The dorsal line extended
from the tail to half-way up the back. I got a good photograph of
the ass, which clearly shows the shoulder stripe, and I have also
preserved the skin. Wild asses are very difficult to get near. I had
to take my shot at nearly 300 yards, from the top of one low hill to
the top of another. The ass fell dead. Four others that were with it
ran a short distance and then stood looking at the" dead one. As I
did not want to shoot another, I walked up without concealment, and,
strange to say, the asses did not bolt till I was within 60 yards.
The wild ass is the size of a galloway ; the legs are white, barred with
black stripes, the whole way down to the hoof. It has a short hog
mane of black hair fringed with sandy hairs. The tuft to the tail is
black. I saw them among bare rugged sandstone hills about 20 miles
from the coast, and saw the tracks of an old and young one on the
plateau. The tame Somali ass has very distinct shoulder stripes and
dorsal line, and some of them have their legs barred with black
stripes exactly like the wild one. They are much smaller than the
wild ass. The flesh of the wild ass is like very good beefsteak. I
never tasted better meat. The Somalis do not eat the flesh.
Phacochcerus sp.
Is somewhat smaller than the Indian boar, but has much finer
tusks. The best boar's tusks I have measure as follows : The upper
tusks 12 inches long round the curve, of which 10 inches on the
outer curve and 9 inches on the inner curve project beyond the
gums. The measurement in a straight line from tip to base is
8 inches. The lower tusks are 9 J inches round the curve, of which
6 inches project beyond the gums. From tip to base in a straight line
measures 7 inches. It will be seen that the tushes curve very
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND. 469
much less than those of the Indian boar. The upper tushes are
massive, being solid ivory, for about 9 inches of their length, and
4| inches in circumference at the gums. They Aveigh 10£ oz. and
1 0 oz. respectively. The two lower ones about 2 h oz. each. The lower
tushes are rather thicker than those of the Indian boar. The sow's
tushes present as good an appearance as an Indian boar's. Her upper
tushes being very like the lower tushes of the latter, and projecting
3 to 4 inches from the lip. The wart hog takes its name from the
conical protuberances of skin on its face, which in the boar are
four in number symmetrically placed, one on each side of the face
between the eye and the mouth, and one on each side of the head
behind the eye ; the latter are the longest. These so-called warts
when cut off close to the head appear to be only knobs of skin quite
devoid of blood vessels. The sow I don't think has any of these
warts. The boar has a long mane of coarse bristles from the top of
the head along the back ; those on the neck and withers measure quite
15 inches in length. The head is broad and large. The large
boars are found solitary and also with the sounders, which do not
appear to be generally composed of many individuals. Eight I think
was the largest number I saw together. They have a habit of
carrying their tails bolt upright at right angles to their bodies
when on the move. I watched a sow and a well- grown young one
that had not been disturbed for more than half a mile leisurely
proceeding across some open ground, and they never once lowered
their tails. The wart hog feeds and moves about at all times of the
day. He could be ridden and speared in a great many places, though
I believe he does not show much fight. I was told, though I did not
see it myself, that they take to holes in the ground, backing in stern
foremost. Whether they make these burrows themselves or not, I don't
know. The Somalis being staunch Mahomedans look on the wart
hog with disgust, and when you shoot one they won't touch it, so you
have to cut off the head, carry it home, and do the cleaning of it
yourself. The same prejudice prevents your having bacon for
breakfast or trying what wart hog pork is like.
Hycena crocuta
Is the commonest hyaena in Somali land. It is a much more
powerful animal than the striped hyaena. It is yellow in colour, the
60
470 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
skin thickly spotted with brown spots ; the hair is quite short, and
there is a slight ridge of hair on the neck and withers. The tail is
not bushy like that of the striped hysena. He is a great nuisance, as
you cannot tie out for lions without sitting up over the animal yourself,
the hyeenas being pretty sure to kill and eat the gara. They are
said to be cowardly, and no doubt would not dream of attacking a man,
but they are bold enough to attack and kill sheep when out grazing
in the daytime, and at night time will kill cattle or donkeys that are
left out. I was told they will also take a mouthful out of a sleeping
man. If you are sitting alongside a kill at night, the spotted hyaena
appears at sunset, and sometimes before, and eats away within a
couple of yards of you (of course you are concealed in a bush or
behind a zereba of thorns) but after you have thrown stones at
him and he knows you are there, he will return again. They
make a great variety of noises, from a deep growl to a loud
discordant howling, which it is impossible to describe. Should a
lion come to the kill the hyaenas retreat for a short distance,
but if the lion, as he often does, stops in a neighbouring bush, the
hyaenas come up again, you then hear a tremendous scurry as the
lion chases them off the kill. The hyaenas don't appear to be afraid
of a dead lion, as one night when I shot a lioness two hyaenas came,
one laid hold of it by the hind leg and the other by the root of the
tail, and dragged it away 20 yards before I knew what they were
doing, and would no doubt have eaten it, if I had not gone to the
rescue. If your camp is not within a good zereba of thorns,. these
brutes will come through the hedge and carry off anything at all eatable.
One night a hyaena carried off from close to my bedhead a leather water
chagul, which I should think could not have been very nutritious. In
the daytime also they are sometimes seen loafing about, especially if
there is a kill. The animal has the drooping quarters and slouching
gait of the hyaena. The anatom}^ of this hyaena is unique ; it being im-
possible from external examination to tell the male from- the female, a
circumstance which led to the belief among the ancients that this animal
wasbisexualinits nature. This belief, according to Burton in his " First
Footprints in Eastern Africa," still exists among the Somalis. He says :
' The Somal declare the waraba to be a hermaphrodite, so the an-
cients supposed the hyaena to be of both sexes." I regret that my
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND. 471
knowledge of the Somali language was too limited to enable me to
find out for myself whether this is so. According to other authorities,
this belief also exists in other puts of Africa. A very complete
account of the anatomy of the spotted hyaena is given in papers pub-
lished in the volumes of the P. Z. S. of London in the years 1877,
1878 and 1870, to which those interested in the subject may refer,
and I may mention that in those papers quotations will be found on
the same subject from Herodotus, Pliny and iElian.
Hycena .striata.
This is the same as the Indian hyaena, though the one I shot was
very much better clothed with hair than the hyaenas one sees in
the hot weather out here. The hair on the body of the female
I killed, for half the length of the body behind the shoulder, was
quite 9 inches long, and the rest of the animal was very hairy and
it had a fine bushy tail, as will be seen from the photograph I now
exhibit. The colour also seemed to be much clearer and brighter than
that of the Indian hyaena. This hyaena is not nearly so common as
the spotted hyaena. It does not attack the flocks, and is looked on by
the Somal as harmless, One during the daytime laboriously dug a
deep hole in the ground in its efforts to get at a carcase I had covered
with thorn bushes.
Fells leo.
The Lion is so well known that any detailed description of him
is quite unnecessary; a very good account of his ways is given in Mr.
Selous' book/' A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa," The lion in its
wild state does not grow so luxuriant a mane as adorns the menagerie
lion, but at the same time some of the old lions in Somali Land
have very handsome manes. I think, without exception, all the old
lions • in that country have black manes, the yellow maned ones
being younger lions ; that is the opinion, at all events, of the Somalis.
I never saw a lion with a line of long hair running along the belly
as one sees in a menagerie lion, and I see that Mr. Selous says he
never saw a wild lion with that fringe of hair. On the other hand, in
Harris's "Wild Sports of Africa" the lion is pictured and described as
having that ornament. There is a tuft of long hair on the elbow of
the Somali lion. Most naturalists are agreed that there is only one
472 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
species of lion, though the varieties in the colour and length of mane
lead some people to an opposite conclusion. The Somali lion has
one peculiarity that I have not observed noticed, and that is that both
lions and lionesses are spotted with pale brown spots along the
lower part of sides and belly, and on the legs. These spots are most
conspicuous if the animal is young, but they are well marked on
the old lioness, and though much fainter are discernible on the
old lion. A photograph brings them out with great distinctness.
Now if you look at the lions in the Zoological Gardens there is no
sign of these spots as far as I remember. I have a photograph here
of a 9 ft. 1 in. lion with a fine mane which brings out the spots very
clearly. The tips of the ears of some are black, in others there is a
black bar across the middle of the ear, the tip being yellow. Sir
Samuel Baker told me that the lion has a horn £ of an inch long at
the end of the tail, but as I did not know it, I did not look for it or
notice it. The black tuft at the end of the tail in old ones has
numerous white hairs in it, making it an iron grey. This the Somalis
told me was a sign of age.
Lions are much noisier than tigers ; they seldom roar, but as they
walk about at night keep up a constant singing kind of noise which
is difficult to describe. It can be heard for a long distance. It is
curious that they should do so, as one would think they would, when
on the prowl, not warn animals of their approach. I have, however,
heard them night after night for hours speaking as they went
along. Some nights they don't talk at all, although their tracks show
they are still about. Lion shooting is a very fascinating pursuit if
conducted in the proper manner, which is to track the animal till
you come up to where he is lying. Another mode not without its
attractions, but not to be compared to the former, and one I only adopted
in the hills where tracking is impossible, is to sit up at night over
a kill. The first method yields the best of sport, as at the end of
the track, which may last for several hours, your eyes suddenly fall
on a lion sitting in the dense gloom of a bush within a few feet of
you, when you can make sure of him, or, sometimes, the track leads
into a thicket of thorns that you cannot penetrate into, when the
best plan is to set fire to it and stand at the other end. I only
once found one sitting in the open ; it was a lioness with a well-
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAM). 473
grown cub. They were sitting on the open sand under a small thorn-
tree. So well docs their colour harmonize with their surroundings,
that we tracked to within I yards of them without seeing them, and
would not have seen them then if they had not got up. On another
occasion my men pointed to a lioness we were tracking crouching
in the grass a few yards off, but although I stared my eyes almost out
of my head, I could not see her till she moved her ears. Tracking up
to your game is much better fun than beating, and it has the advan-1
tage of rendering it almost certain, if 3-011 get on the tracks on
suitable ground, early enough in the day, that you will get your shot,
which ought at such close quarters to be equivalent to getting the
animal. As far as I know, like every other animal, the lion tries to
avoid you until wounded, and it is only in exceptional cases of there
being young ones to guard, or from astonishment at seeing jou so
close to them, that they charge when you are tracking them. I was
never charged by an un wounded one. To sit up for them at night I
prefer sitting alongside a natural kill. As there are no trees you
sit on the ground and render yourself secure by building a zereba
of thorns so as to enclose a circle of about 8 feet in diameter in which
you sit with a hole to fire through. It is a wrork of some time to do
this, and if you do not get news of the kill in time to build a zereba,
you can get a hole cut in a bush and put some thorns in front of you
and sit there ; the great thing is to sit almost touching the kill, as
on dark nights, which are the best, you cannot see anything 4 or 5
yards off. As soon as it gets dark, hyaenas and foxes begin to gather
to the carcase, and if you have not tied it, the hyaenas will drag it
away. The hyaenas and foxes will keep you amused for hours in
watching them even if the lion does not return to the kill. I have
also sat up over an animal tied out, but never got a kill in this wa}',
though one night the tie out, a donkey, brayed lustily as I heard the
heavy gallop of the lion rush up to it. Next moment all was silent,
and looking through my peep-hole the donkey was standing unharm-
ed. I shortly afterwards heard the lion growling close by, but he
went away without touching the donkey again. Next morning I found
the lion's foot-prints under the donkey's nose, but apparently the
donkey had not been touched. Two days later I noticed a swelling
between its forelegs, and found the lion had put its paw between
474 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
its leg and given it a slight scratch. The lion had evidently tried
to throw it over with its paw and had failed, probably because the
donkey was tied by the leg to a stone buried in the ground, and the
upward movement of the lion's paw would be in the line of resistance.
Within a few minutes of the donkey being attacked, it was calmly
eating, which showed its nerves were not affected. The donkey
lived all right afterwards. Lions generally seize their prey by
the throat, but by no means universally so. I examined the following
kills : — three camels all seized by the throat ; two goats b}>- the back
of the neck ; one donkey by the lower part of neck at the junction of
the body ; one donkey seized with claws on the face and belly but not
bitten (this animal survived); one cow by the throat; and the donkey
with the above-mentioned claw-wound between the forelegs. Most
of the above were natural kills, as one is unable to tie out much,
owing to the hysenas. The way a lion kills a camel, according to the
Somalia, is that he leaps on its quarters, the camel turns back his
head to protest against this proceeding and thus brings his throat
within reach of the lion's jaw, who takes advantage of the oppor-
tunity to close upon it, and certainly from the claw marks on
the kills of the old camels that I saw, it appeared that such
was the case. There were no marks on any of these kills of the
lion having delivered any blow with the paw. One that got hold of
me also did not strike with the paw. Sir Samuel Baker, however,
gives a number of instances of their striking with the paw. I came
across a curious instance of the limited intelligence of a lion. I
found the carcase of a camel at which three lions had been eatino-.
one at the rump, one at the stomach, and one at the forequarter and
face. Now the one that had eaten the rump had buried the raw sur-
face left after his meal by kicking up a heap of sand over it, so that it
should be concealed from the vultures, but the other places where the
others had been eating were left exposed, his instinct had not told him
it was useless to cover up one place without covering up the others.
I know these were three lions, as I had been tracking them off and on
and losing their tracks in the hills for a fortnight. I got two of them
over this camel. Once when tracking them I saw all three in the
early morning pass the sky line of the ridge of hills 300 yards above
me, but I lost the tracks. I think lions generally kill in the day-
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND. 475
time, the reason being that the flocks and herds arc all secured within
:i zereba at night. All the natural kills I heard of were in the day-
time. Ties up, when killed, were of course killed in the night.
They will eat any dead animal whether killed by themselves or
not. Lions sometimes leap over the high thorn hedges within
which the Somalis have their encampments and kill an animal, or
several, inside: in such cases they eat where they kill, and cannot
leap out again with their prey. There are a number of man-eaters.
I shot one that a short time before had leapt into a zereba and
killed and eaten a man inside. I saw the man's garment bloody and
full of holes on the hedge of the zereba when I got there. The
Somalis told me they frequently take men out of a zereba at
night. I found the remains of a porcupine inside a lioness I shot
that she had eaten the night before. She had swallowed the feet
whole and also a lot of the quills. The habit of swallowing the feet
whole is a common one with the Felidce. Lions drink pretty regularly
in the hills where there is water, but they are able to go for months
without drinking water. This is incredible to those who know how
necessary water is for the existence of tigers and panthers ; but, that
it is so, I have no doubt. I have shot them 30 miles from any water ;
and tracts of country which they inhabit are waterless for many
months of the year. They charge with the same coughing roar that
a tiger does, and come at great speed close to the ground, not bounding
in the air as you see in pictures ; their ears are pressed close to the
head, giving them the comical appearance of being without ears. So
large an animal coming at full speed against you of course knocks
you off your legs. The claws and teeth entering the flesh do not hurt
so much as you would think. The only really painful part of the
business is the squeeze given by the jaws on the bone. I felt none
of .the dreamy stupor Livingstone describes, but, on the contrary, felt
as usual. I adopted the course of lying quite still, which, I believe?
is the best thing one can do, as you are quite helpless with a heavy
animal on you, and they are inclined to make grabs at everything
that moves, and the fewer bites you can get off with the better
All the wounds are centres of inflammation and blood-poisoning, and
the more you get the less chance you have. The power of the lion's
jaw may be inferred from the fact that the lioness that seized me,
476 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
although, it had a broken jaw, scored deep grooves in the barrels of
my rifle with her teeth. Some claw wounds were mere scratches, which
I attribute to the fact that they clutch at the surface of your coat
thinking it is all solid underneath, and so reach the flesh pretty late.
In fact, my coat was torn in some places without any corresponding
wound beneath. I never felt the slightest shock. Tigers and panthers
as a rule immediately leave any one they seize in a charge, but this
lioness, having left me, went a few yards to roar at my men, returned
and stood on me growling, and then bit my arm : I got no bite the
first go off as she was occupied in biting the rifle.
Comparing the size of lions with tigers I should have been inclined
to say that tigers were the heavier of the two. But Sir Samuel Baker
in "Wild Beasts and their "Ways" expresses a contrary opinion.
Mr. Selous in his book gives the weight of one large lion in poor
condition as 376 lbs. Jerdon gives the weight of an Asiatic lion 8 ft.
9 1 inches long as 35 stone. Mr. Selous says that the largest male
he shot was nearly 10 ft. long, while of 9 lionesses the pegged out
skins measured from 8 ft. 10 in. to 9 ft. 7 in., which would make the
animal in the flesh at least a foot less in length. The largest lion I
shot measured as he lay 9 ft. 1 in. The largest lioness was 8 ft. 3 in.
Another old lion I got with a very fine long mane measured 8 ft. 8 in.
Coming to the measurements of the skulls (and I hold a strong
opinion that the size of the skull of tiger or lion gives a better idea
of the bulk and weight of the particular tiger or lion than the
measurement of its length), I have measured some skulls I have of
tiger and lion of the same or about the same length, and the result
is as follows : —
Lion (No. 1). In length 9 ft. 1. Skull length about 1U or 15
inches, width 10| inches, depth 6h inches.
Lion (No. 2). In length 8 ft. 8. Skull length 12f inches, width
9 inches, depth 6 inches.
Tiger (No. 1). In length 9 ft. 5. Skull length 14 inches, width
10 inches, depth 6^ inches.
Tiger (No. 2). In length 9 ft. 1. Skull length 12| inches, width
9^ inches, depth 6| inches.
Tiger (No. 3). In length 9 ft. Skull length 12$ inches, width
9£ inches, depth 6 inches.
MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND. 477
T have given the length of skull of Lion No. 1 as about 14| or 15
inches, as a portion of the back of the skull has been shot away ; the
actual length of what remains is 13| inches, but as the whole of the
occipital protuberance has gone, I estimate it at least 1 inch and
probably 1^ inch longer.
It will be seen that Lion No. 1 and Tiger No. 2 were exactly the
same length of carcase, but the skull of the lion is the bigger. The
skull of the lion is much natter on the top than that of the tiger, and
you can easily recognize the one from the other.
The skull of the lioness is much smaller than that of the lion. Her
measurements compare with those of a tigress as follows: —
Lioness. In length 8 ft. 3. Skull length 11 inches, width 7^
inches, depth 5 inches.
Tigress (No. 1). In length 8 ft. 1. Skull length 11| inches, width
7 1 inches, depth 5| inches.
Tigress (No. 2). In length 8 ft. 2. Skull length llf inches, width
7| inches, depth 5 f inches.
Tigress (No. 3). In lengths ft. 4. Skull length 11 1 inches, width
7^ inches, depth 5| inches.
The width of the skull of another old lioness 8 ft. 2 long, is 8
inches, but the whole of the back of the skull being shot away prevents
my giving the length.
The lioness's head is apparently smaller than that of a tigress about
the same length.
Shooting with an 8-bore solid lead bullet with 9 drams of powder
I hit an old lion in the centre of the forehead ; the ball carried away
the back part of the skull and lodged between the shoulders. A
similar ball sent through a lioness's head lodged in the foreleg. The
ball in each case was quite flattened out, but the want of penetration
with so large a charge of powder astonished me. I generally shot
with a "500 Express by Henry, and only lost one animal that was hit,
and that was a gazelle.
Of the other animals the panther appeared to be the same as the
Indian panther. I often saw their tracks, and occasionally at night
heard their harsh grating roar. I only saw one, and that got up and
stood close to me when I was shooting partridges, but by the time
I got my rifle he was off and I missed him. A skin I saw with some
61
478 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, \891.
Somalia was a very large pale-coloured one. The Somali elephant
has, I believe, as a rule, small tusks, though occasionally a good one
is procured. I was not in the part of the country they were in. Of
smaller animals there is a hare about the size and colour of the
Indian one but with longer ears. Porcupine are common, but being
nocturnal in their habits you do not see them, and the only one I"saw
was inside a lioness. Two kinds of foxes : the most common and
largest has a black back (Somali " Daman"), and a smaller kind of a
uniform brown colour : and in one place I saw a large colony of dog-
faced baboon, about 200 in number: the males have long manes; the
young ride on the backs of their mothers, and not, as in the case of
the Hanuman monkey, clutching on to the chest.
LANDSCAPE GARDENING IN NATIVE STATES.
By H. St. John Jackson.
In No. 1, Vol. VI., of the Society's Journal, Mr. G. Carstensen,
Superintendent of the Victoria Gardens, Bombay, has given a most
interesting account of the progress of landscape gardening at the
capitals of certain Native States in the Western Presidency, viz.,
Baroda, Bhownaggar and Pajkot. It has occurred to me that a
description of the gardens in some other Native States, which perhaps
Mr. Carstensen has not seen, and with which I am personally
acquainted, may prove of interest to the readers of the Journal.
Before proceeding to describe them, it may not be out of place to make
a few observations on the subject of gardening in India. Any one
who takes an intelligent interest in this idyllic subject cannot have
failed to observe the extraordinary apathy evinced by the rich and
intelligent natives of the soil in this most fascinating of pursuits.
To the average native the gainda (Marygold), Toolsee {Ocimum sanc-
tum), and a few other well known indigenous plants, represent the
sum of horticultural science. So long as they can get a few leaves of
the Toolsee for their poojaJt, and a few flowers of the gainda for
decorative purposes, they are not troubled about anything of more
aesthetic or economic value. The Mcmlseri (Mimusops elengi), the
Chumpa [Michelia champaea), a few varieties of Jasminuins, and the
GARDENING TN NATIVE STATES. 479
Harsinghar {Nyctanthes wbor tristes), afford thorn an abundant
supply of powerfully BCented flowers for the purpose of decorating
their persons by mean.'; of garlands, and that is about all tbey care
about. To find natives of India who possess any idea of landscape
gardening- is very rare ; indeed, I do not remember to have met
with a single such specimen during all my experience. It is
therefore not to be wondered at that the homes of the people of
this country do not present those features which, wc are accustomed
to look for among the residences of tlie rich and intelligent. During
the reign of the Mahomedan kings magnificent monuments of
architectural beauty were raised, which stand to this day as silent
evidences of their love of luxurious living ; but we look in vain
for any attempt at landscape gardening. Even the Taj, that " dream
in marble/' had but a poor garden around it. The grounds were simply
divided into squares, with a row of fountains going up the centre.
That certain places lend themselves naturally to the development
of high class gardening, will be readily admitted by any one who
has visited some of the capitals of the ruling chiefs in Rajputana,
notably Jeypore and Oodeypore ; in both these places are to be found
perhaps two of the finest laid-out gardens to be met with anywhere in
India. I will first of all describe that at Jeypore.
Here, the spot where now thousands of the Maharaja's subjects
spend their evenings in dreamy enjoyment, was once a dreary waste ;
a perfect e}resore, where the sewage of the town was deposited. It
was covered with prickly pear jungle, and was a sandy waste, in
which nothing, it was said, would grow. The spot lies between the
two principal gates of the city — the Ajmere and Sanganeer gates, and
running parallel with the walls of the city. In 18G9 Rajputana was
devastated by one of the worst famines on record, and the late
Maharaja, Sewai Ram Singh, hit upon the happy idea of converting
this eyesore into- a garden, which was then started as a famine relief
work, where thousands of the starving population were provided with
wrork and wages. Dr. F. W. A. DeFabeck, at present Surgeon-General,
Madras, was at that time Residency Surgeon at Jeypore, and it was
he who originally designed the now famous " Ram Newas " public
garden, which has served as a model for several other gardens in
various parts of India. But the first design had to be considerablv
480 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
modified to suit local surroundings and circumstances, the most im-
portant of which was the water-supply, which was entirely dependent
upon wells, and these were always running dry during the summer
months.
In the " Ram Newas " are to be found various styles of landscape
gardening, the Italian being the most picturesque. The natural, the
gardenesque, the geometrical, and the terraced, all finding an
appropriate place. The clumping of shrubs en masse with striking
effect forms one of the most beautiful features of the garden. The
lawns, of which there are no less than four of considerable size, (one
of them a cricket lawn 100 yards square,) with grass borders and beds,
are perhaps the chief features of the gardens. Full advantage has
been taken of every " vista point/' all of them being most skilfully
taken in. The north side of the garden, running parallel with the
city wall, and between the two gates above mentioned, is fenced in by
an ornamental cast-iron railing, which was got out from England at
considerable expense ; the other three sides having a fencing of
galvanized wire netting, the whole being studded on a stone wall 2^
feet high.
The visitor enters the garden from the Ajmere gate side, through
a pair of handsome cast-iron gates, with a fine sweep, the gate pillars
being surmounted by handsome gas lamps. He may here either get
out of his conveyance or drive round east or west. Before him is a
handsomely carved stone balustrade, each pillar having an ornamental
flow er pot of Etruscan or terra-cotta ware. In the distance, due
south, the ancient fortress of Motee Doongree (pearl mound) meets his
eye, and in the foreground is what used to be the European Head
Gardener's house, now a sort of drawing-school and store-house.
The visitor then descends an ornamental flight of stone steps, and
finds himself immediately in the midst of a beautifully laid out
flower plot, the beds being of geometrical pattern, filled with roses
and ornamental shrubs. Immediately in front are two lovely lawns,
laid down with "Doob" grass {Cynodcm dactylon), and bordered on
every side by geometrically-cut beds with a background of shrubs
planted en masse. Were the visitor to turn to the left, he would
pass through fine clumps of shrubs, by winding paths bordered with
" Doob " grass, through the lovely " Bower of sweet odours/'
GARDENING IN NATIVE STATES. 481
passing a grand fountain in red sandstone, on to a circular-stepped
rose garden. This is nothing less than a huge circle enclosed by a
carved stone wall, with steps on the outer side for potted plants.
The interior is beautifully laid out in geometrical beds filled with
choice rose plants, and in the centre is a fountain, the basin of which
is filled with water- weeds of sorts, in which ornamental fish disport
themselves, while overhead is an ornamental bower, covered with
climbing plants. On emerging from this, the visitor finds himself
amidst the terraced garden, from which he proceeds to what is
known as the " Ornamental tank." Anything more beautiful than
this tank it would be difficult to find. It is designed with consum-
mate taste, having a beautifully carved railing of red sandstone with
marble top and red sandstone fretwork, which the stonemasons of
Jeypore turn out so well. Still proceeding east, the visitor finds him-
self in the Rosarium, which was laid out by me in 1875. Originally
this plot was occupied by a maze, which it was found difficult to
maintain owing to the great prevalence of field rats, which used to
take a particular delight in destroying the roots of the Mehndi hedge,
as well as afterwards of the Inga duJcis, by which the Mehndi was
replaced. From the Rosarium the visitor, still going east, comes out
on to a kunkur carriage drive, and turning south, finds himself
facing the splendid bandstand, where the Maharaja's fine band plays
once a week ; and beyond that the magnificent Albert Hall, the
foundation stone of which was laid by the Prince of Wales in Feb-
ruary, 1876. The bandstand is in itself a promenade, lighted with
gas, and having a wide drive all round, which again is surrounded
by as fine a specimen of geometrical gardening as can be seen any-
where. Standing on the bandstand, and looking due north, the
visitor sees in the distance the picturesque fortress of JNahargarh
perched on the summit of a range of hills, in the midst of which the
modern city of Jej'pore nestles. Turning to the west, the fortress of
Hathrohi, rising abruptly out of a sandhill, meets the eye ; while
on the north-east, first the dome of the Mayo Hospital, which is im-
mediately outside the garden, and in the distance the sacred shrine
of Gulta, perched on the summit of the eastern ridge of the hills,
present themselves to view. Looking to the south from the same
* coign of vantage,' the visitor sees the Albert Hall, a magnificent
482 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
edifice in the Saracenic style of architecture, erected by the late
Maharaja in memory of the -visit of the heir to England's throne to
Jeypore. This building serves the purposes of a museum, library,
and town hall. Here may be seen collected some very rare and
choice ob/ets d'art from all parts of the country, but especially the
art ware for which Jeypore and some neighbouring towns are
famous.
Descending from the bandstand, and wending his steps south-
west, the visitor finds himself facing the beautiful Aviary ^lso designed
by Dr. De Fabeck. It is one of the finest of its kind in India, the
style of architecture being Saracenic, in conformation with the' sur-
rounding buildings. Here may be seen birds of rare and beautiful
plumage, collected from all parts of the world. Attached to the
Aviary is an idyllic Tealery, in which aquatic birds of sorts find a
congenial home. Turning due west, the visitor comes suddenly
upon the extensive Vinery, which is made up of white marble
pillars and covered with vines procured from sueh distant places
as Egypt, Portugal, France, Afghanistan, and some of the delicious
varieties of grapes grown in the Nizam's dominions, notably the famous
" Habshee," or black African variety. There is also a romantic look-
ing serpentine lake, which in my time used to be called the " Infernal
regions,'' from the thick undergrowth of trees studding its sides,
before getting to the fairy-like parterre' at the bottom, or centre of the
lake. Here deer and other wild animals of a harmless type were
allowed to roam at pleasure. There is also an extensive deer park,
and a fine collection of the carnivora of Hajputana. A vegetable
garden of considerable extent supplies the needs of the European
population in the way of European vegetables. There used to be a
separate fruit garden in my time, but this has now given place to
grass plots and the ornamental grounds surrounding the Albert
Hall. Facing the east gate, leading into the Mayo Hospital, stands
a colossal bronze statue of the late Lord Mayo, who was a close friend
of the late Maharaja. The design of the Mayo Hospital is also from
the facile pencil of Dr. De Fabeck. The whole garden is lighted with
gas ; while carriage drives twenty feet wide intersect the garden
throughout. And here I will take leave of the "Ram Newas"
Garden.
GARDENING IN NATIVE STATES. 483
I note hero with regret that this splendid garden, onwhich some
lakhs of rupees were spent is, and has been, ever since I left it,
without a trained European gardener to direct its operations ; and
I feel sure that, unless this want is supplied, there is every prospect
of the garden degenerating into a mere place of recreation in a few
years, instead of being maintained as a repository of all that is beauti-
ful and useful in the vegetable kingdom, which it was intended to be
by the late Maharaja Ham Singh.
The next garden that appears to me to deserve attention is the
"Phool Bagh" at Gwalior. It is some years since I was there,
but I remember it as possessing several natural advantages which
only required the hand of the landscape gardener to be turned to
account to render them beautiful adjuncts to a garden. Scindia's
new Palace stands in the midst of this garden, the design of which
had not then been definitely decided upon. There were several
rustic and ornamental bridges spanning a stream which had been
skilfully brought in, and flowed through the garden, and which at
some places was utilised as a waterfall. There was at that time an
attempt at landscape gardening in the most elementary meaning
of the term.. But since then the services of one of the ablest
gardeners in India (Mr. Charles Maries, F.L.S., late of Durbhunga)
have been secured, and I learn that he has succeeded in transform-
ing the Phool Bagh into a veritable paradise ; plant houses, ferneries,
orchid houses, et hoc genus omne, have sprung up as if by magic ;
parterres and flower plots, lawns and shrubberies, with winding
paths, are now prominent features. Of course, I have not seen these
myself ; but a friend of mine, who was there recently, tells me that
all the possibilities which I had seen several years ago in the
Phool Bagh have been more than realized under the able
direction of Mr. Maries. The Maharaja Scindhia has a first class
specialist in Mr. Maries, and should make the most of him.
Readers of the Pall Mall Budget have been made familiar with the
romantic and beautiful surroundings of the capital of Meywar —
Oodeypore, from the sketches and letter-press descriptions sent to
that journal by Mr. "W. S. Caine, late member for Barrow. The
" genial ruffian " has an eye for the beautiful and a facile pen. The
Maharana's Palace stands in the midst of a lake, and is surrounded by
484 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
a beautiful garden, where the landscape gardener's art can be seen
to great advantage. Mr. Storey is the presiding genius of this
sylvan retreat, and well has he turned to account every natural
advantage. The flora of Rajputana is not very rich in ornamental
trees or shrubs, that is, of indigenous species ; so that everything in
the shape of ornamental shrubs has been imported ; and being placed
in conditions most suited to their wants, have developed into their
best forms. The globe trotter cannot do better than pay a visit to
Oodeypore if he wishes to see something really unique in the way
of landscape gardening.
Among the native princes of Bengal one of the most enlightened
is the Maharaja of Durbhunga, whose rule has been marked by the
construction of some really useful works of public utility. Among
the most beautiful of these is the splendid garden, laid out and
stocked by Mr. Charles Maries, now at Gwalior. This gentleman
was for several years at Durbhunga, where he has left abundant
evidences of his skill as a landscape gardener. One of the finest
plant houses I have ever seen is that put up by Mr. Maries at Dur-
bhunga ; while in the matter of stocking it with rare and choice
plants, it will bear favourable comparison with the splendid structure
in the Royal Botanical Gardens at Seebpore, near Calcutta — the
work of Mr. Parsons, now in charge of the Anandale Gardens at
Simla. The style of gardening affected by Mr. Maries at Durbhunga
is the natural, or what may more properly be termed the " gardenes-
que," style. The clumping together of shrubs, according to their
habit of growth and size, forms a special feature of this garden; and
this is the style which, in my humble opinion, is the most suited to
Indian gardens. We out here possess a very large and varied collec-
tion of ornamental shrubs, well adapted for massing ; and grown in
this way their effect is very striking. A judicious sprinkling of
geometrically laid out beds cut out in Doob grass ; with borders
divided off into ovals and circles formed with Doob grass, seems to
me to be all that is necessary in this line in a garden of moderate
extent ; and this happy medium has been well observed at Durbhunga.
I am not aware if a successor has been found for Mr. Maries at this
place, as I was there a few years back, when he had just left.
It is out of the province of this paper to deal with gardens not
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 485
situated in Native States ; but I take this opportunity to state
that, from the landscape gardener's point of view, the finest specimen
of his art, in my opinion, is the Eden Garden at Calcutta. Anything
more perfect in harmony of outline and grouping together of
plants ; the undulations of surface ; the promontories and grottos ; the
gracefully winding paths and the equally winding course of the
serpentine, all form in themselves a perfect whole such as I have not
seen anywhere else in India. The only deficiency of this lovely
garden consists in the absence of carriage drives ; but these were, I
understand, advisedly omitted owing to the limited space within
which a perfect galaxy of beauty had to be crammed in. There
can be no doubt that the man who designed this garden must have
been a past master in the art of landscape gardening. It would be
well if some of our large Native States, possessing spare ground,
would take the Eden Grarden as a model, and have it laid out accord-
ingly.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No. I.— NOTE ON
CASSIA GRANDIS, LINN., AND C. MARGIN AT A, ROXB.
Attention may be invited to those two species of Cassia because they are
not met with in our gardens as often as their merits as ornamental trees deserve,
and because they are apt to be taken as of one species. Both are included in
the Section Fistula, of DeCandolle, named apparently from the pipe-like pods
so well shown in Cassia fistula, Linn., the Bawa, or Umaltas of this country.
Cassia grandis, Linn., is stated by DeCandolle to be a native of the' Islands
of the Caribbean Sea, of Guiana, and Brazil. In Western India there are very
few mature specimens. To one, in the garden of Lady Sassoon at Poona,
the attention of the writer of this paper was drawn by Mr. Solomon, a
student of the College of Science, Poona, and there is also one in the old
Botanic Garden at Hewra. The specimen at Poona is a handsome tree
about 25 feet in height, of open habit, with ascending branches, bearing
alternate, stipulate, distichous leaves, of from 10-20 pair of stalked leaflets,
which are oblong mucronate with entire, thickened and reflexed margins, and
attaining about li" x |" the largest leaflets being slightly below the centre. In
colour the young leaves are of a ruby tint, softened by silvery pubescence, but
ultimately become smooth and green. The petiolules are about £ inch in length
and the stipules wedge-shaped £ inch in length.
The flowers are produced during March-April, in numerous short racemes
which combined form a grand paniculate inflorescence. Both calyx and corolla
62
486 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
are rose coloured, softened by silvery pubescence, and ultimately change to
salmon colour ; they may be seen in company with the ripening fruit of the
previous year, which consists of subcylindrical woody pods 1 foot in length by
1 inch in thickness, having two thickened sutures and transverse striae and
containing a pulp between the seeds with an odour similar to that of Bawa.
Cassia marginata, Roxb., is much better known in this country ; it is a native
of Ceylon : a specimen in the Bund Garden at Poona has long attracted great
attention by its graceful foliage, which is very similar to that of the last men-
tioned tree, and its very numerous flowers, in colour, pink, marked with greenish
veins, produced during July-August. As it is fully described in Roxburgh's
Flora Indica, it is only necessary to note a few of the points of distinction
between this species and C. grandis, Linn.
Cassia grandis C. marginata.
Flowering Season March-April July-August.
Stipules cuneate ^ inch Semi-saggitate with curved points,
that is, resembling the Italic letter f.
Both species thrive at Poona with occasional irrigation. Cassia marginata
blooms from its third year, if well grown, and is natm'ally of very graceful
habit. Its erect stem clothed to the ground with slender ascending branches
may well be left untouched by the pruning knife.
G. MABSHALL WOODROW.
Poona, December, 1891.
No. II.— BRANCHING PALMS AND TREE-FERNS.
In Vol. III. of this Journal, p. 250, Mr. W. E. Hart gives a " Note on some
Branching Palms," and illustrates two of these, both Date Palms. In Vol. IV.
of the same Journal Mr. W. F. Sinclair, Bo. C.S., gives a note on a many
bi-anched Areca-Nut Palm. Lastly, in Vol. V. of the Journal the present
writer refers to certain branching Tree -Ferns seen or heard of by him in Sikkiin.
The subject is such an interesting one, that it may be of advantage to draw
attention to two papers on the subject that I have lately happened to light upon.
The first is " On Branched Palms in Southern India," by S. Pulney Andy,
M. D., F. L. S., &c, Travancore, in The Transactions of the Linnean Society of
London, Vol. XXVI., p. 661 (1867). A plate (LI) is given, and illustrates a
branched Palmyra Palm fBorassus flabelliformis J "possessing entire branches
and four abortive — two on either side ;" another Palmyra representing a ramifi-
cation "principally into two, but in one instance into three branches;" lastly,
a Cocoa-nut Palm (Coco& nuciferaj, representing a dichotonious division. The
second paper is entitled "Notes on the Tree Ferns of British Sikkim, &c," by
John Scott, Curator of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, I.e., Vol. XXX.,
p. 1 (1870). At page 16 Mr. Scott gives much interesting information
regarding the ramification of the stems.
LIONEL de NICEVILLE, F.E.S., C.M.Z.S., &c.
Calcutta, November, 1891,
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 487
No. III.— THE PROTECTION OF GAME IN SIND.
I beg to enclose copy of a circular recently issued by Mr. James, Commis-
sioner iu Sind, because I feel sure that you and other members of the Society
will be glad to hear that the difficulty of protecting birds from wholesale
destruction during the breeding season has been surmounted in Sind.
In this Province the right over " fur and feather" has always been reckoned
a strict Government monopoly, and has descended to the British Government
from the late Amirs. It is to this day exercised by selling the privilege of
catching wild fowl on the different lakes, such as the Manchar, for instance.
About half a century ago the old Amirs fell foul of the British Government
on account of the strictness of their game laws and their refusal to permit wood
being taken from their " Shikargalis" or preserves, and even now H. H. Mir Alii
Mui-ad Khan Talpur, G.C.I. E., who is the last of the reigning Amirs, enforces
very strict game laws. It seems a very great pity that former rulers through-
out India were not equally conservative of their sporting rights, and it is a
question whether Government might not now generally assert them by law.
W. S. HEXTON.
Hyderabad, Sind. 23rd October, 1891.
Circular No. 1525 or 1891.
General Department.
Commissioner' s Office,
Karachi, 23rd September, 1891.
Memorandum.
The Commissioner is informed that persons have been in the habit of snar-
ing and destroying, for the purpose of selling their plumage, the Black Franco-
line Partridge, the Blue Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensisj, and several species of
Egrets and other birds, and to so great an extent that several species, useful for
food as wlel as ornamental, have been rendered nearly extinct in some parts of
the Province. Two persons have recently applied to the Deputy Commissioner,
Thar and Parkar, for permission to destroy ornamental birds for the sake of
their feathers, on the Eastern Nara, on the ground that they have cleared the
species out of the Delta of the Indus.
2. The Commissioner desires, therefore, to remind District Officers that
the right to destroy ferce naturce as well as fish, has, in Sind, always been a
Government royalty, and the privilege is sold in certain localities. No one,
therefore, can be allowed the privilege gratis as against Government, and the
Deputy Commissioner, Thar and Parkar, has, therefore, properly refused to
grant the permission sought for.
S. Revenue and Police Officers are now directed to inform persons who
have not paid for the right that they will not be permitted to destroy birds for
the sake of their plumage, and to prevent their doing so.
488 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1391.
4. District Officers are requested to report whether there are any fresh
places where they would recommend the privilege of capturing birds being sold
annuallv, as on the Manchar Lake. The Commissioner does not mean to inter-
fere with Eurr . ;an or Native sportsmen who carry guns under the Arms Act,
or who lull game with falcons. His object is to maintain the rights of Govern-
ment, and bring the capture of game under due control, as well as to protect
various valuable and interesting species from wholesale destruction. Birds wear
their handsomest plumage in the breeding season, when they are specially
sought for by feather-hunters. It is, therefore, very necessary that they should
receive adequate protection at that time, as the destruction of the parent birds
means the death by starvation of the nestlings, and the rapid diminution of the
species. The black partridge is now extinct in many parts of Europe where it
once was common, and the Commissioner is informed that in some well-known
localities in Sind it has become very scarce. This species needs therefore
special protection from bird-snarers.
5. District Officers should remember also that game-snarers in India very
often belong to thieving and wandering tribes, who commit petty depredations
and burglaries under pretence of wandering in search of birds. Foreigners and
persons found away from their homes with the ostensible purpose of snaring
game should, therefore, be watched by the Police, and if unable to give any
other account of themselves, should be warned to leave the district or called
upon to give security. But care should be taken not to molest Mohanos, and
other well known tribes of Sind, who catch birds for food.
H. E. M. JAMES,
Acting Commissioner in Sind.
No. IV. GEOGEAPHICAL DISTEIBUTION OF THE PIN-TAIL SNIPE.
Can any one say whether it is a fact, and if so what is the cause, that the
farther South in India one goes the greater number of Pin-tail Snipe does one
meet with, as compared with Fan-tails ?
Some years ago when shooting with Mr. Doig on the Null in Guzerat I exa-
mined a bag of 30 couple, and found only 2 Pin-tail Snipes. Last month in
Guzerat I examined 3 1J couple and found no Pin-tails. The year before last
I shot 16 Snipes at Budlapur near Kalian (Bombay) and 8 of them were
Pin-tails. Yesterday near Madras I shot 17 Snipes, and there was not a single
Fan-tail among them.
At one time I used to think these variations were due to the ground on
which the birds were found, but I now doubt if that is the case. Possibly the
Pin-tail Snipe leaves its Summer quarters and starts South before the Fan-tail
and goes farther. Quien sale ?
W. St. JOHN EICHAEDSON,
Captain.
Madras, 14th December, 1891.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 489
No. V.— PROTECTION OF LARVAE.
I met with a very remarkable thing a few days ago, which I have never seen
before ; and I send you a short account of it for the favour of publication in the
Journal, in the hope that it may attract the attention of some member who
may be able to throw light on it. Walking along a disused road through forest
country, I noticed a large tree, of which the whole trunk and every branch,
up to its extreme point, was wrapped in a tissue of pure white silk. I first
thought this might be the work of spiders, but on closer inspection I found
abundant evidence that the tree had been devastated by a host of minute larvae.
Their droppings lay thick on the leaves of the bushes below, like black powder,
and in the silk itself I found a great many of their cast skins. I have examined
these with a lens, and have no doubt they were the larvae of a moth. They had
destroyed every leaf on the tree, eating the soft substance only and leaving the
skeleton. This must have happened some time ago, probably during the rains,
and in many places the silk had been torn, or blown away, but in other places
a yard of it might, with ;i little care, have been removed in a single piece. I
brought away a small piece, which I send you for inspection. In appearance
it is exactly like fine tissue paper, quite strong enough to be folded and unfolded
without injury ; but on examination you will find that it consists of two
sheets, between which the larvae probably moved, judging by the situation of
most of the skins. To carry out such a stupendous piece of work, there must
have been not thousands, but millions of larvae, and it !is difficult to imagine
how they could work together to produce a tissue so perfectly uniform. The
trunk of the tree was about three feet in circumference. The bark did not
appear to have been eaten. About the foot of the tree there were great loose
cobwebs of the same silk, embracing parts of the nearest grass and bushes.
E. H. AITKEN.
Ankola, North Canara, 7th December, 1891.
No. VI.— A NEW METHOD OF PRESERVING AND MOUNTING
ZOOLOGICAL SPECIMENS.
The following is an extract from an interesting paper read by Mr. Haly of
the Columbo Museum before the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
on .30th September, 1891 :—
"This paper ought, perhaps, to be confined to reading a simple recipe, which
would only occupy your attention a minute or two ; but in these days in which
the development of everything is so carefully studied from fans and lawn-tennis
bats to the nebulte, I have thought that, perhaps, a short history of how the
results exhibited in this room to-night have been arrived at, might not be en-
tirely devoid of interest, although of an excessively technical character. The
plot of my story may be summed up in carboUc acid : Carbolic acid as a failure
and carbolic acid as a success. On taking charge of the Museum in 1875 I had
490 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
not the slightest doubt about the success of carbolic acid, and expected at once
to be able to have a good show, easily and inexpensively prepared, of all our
reptiles and fish. My collection of English fish in London had been kept in a
covered zinc pail, in a solution of 1 in 400, and although the fish of northern
seas have, as a rule, so little colour that I had not gained much knowledge on
that point, there was no doubt about the preservation of the animals themselves.
I was very soon undeceived. A few experiments on the common fish and lizards
of the Cinnamon Gardens showed that solutions of carbolic acid in water
do not fit in Colombo as preservatives at all, whatever the strength employed.
Such an experience ought to have warned me not to cry before I was out of
the wood ; but in 1878 I reported a great success to Government by first employ-
ing alcohol for a short time, and then removing the specimens to a solution of
carbolic acid and nitrate of potassium. I may as well mention at this point
that any form of the substances known commonly as salts, whether as poisonous
as corrosive sublimate, or as harmless as alum, are all alike destructive in this
climate to any specimens prepared by them. One of the most extraordinary
instances of this was in a very fine skate most beautifully mounted for the
Museum by the American taxidermist, Mr. Hornaday. The skin had been
brought in brine from Jaffna, and soon after it was exhibited the fish began to
give trouble. It was carbolicised, it was varnished, it was dried in the sun, it
was painted ; but it slowly dissolved before our eyes, exactly as the Cheshire
cat did before Alice's, till nothing was 'left but its grin, represented by the
carious dental plates on my office table : but even these broke up at last. I need
scarcely say that whenever I saw any solutions described as being used by
other naturalists I tried them also — they were all alike absolute and complete
failures. The only approach to success was made by first pi'eparing the speci-
mens by arsenic paste, and then mounting in kerosine oil. This was, as we shall
presently see, what is called " burning " in the game of hide and seek. A row of
fish prepared in this way was exhibited, and preserved their form and colours
beautifully for about six months, until one morning I found them nearly all
broken up, and nothing left but a precipitate of muscle and bone at the bottom
of the bottles. I came unwillingly to the conclusion that there was no means
known, or likely to be discovered, that would preserve animals with a natural
look about them, and that I should have to content myself with ordinary
Museum spirit specimens. There was one branch of the animal kingdom, how-
ever, I had always been very anxious to make a good show of, and that was
spiders. I naturally looked to microscopical preparations to solve that question,
and amongst them tried an old and long abandoned one — gum and glycerine.
This had been given up because of the great difficulties experienced with the air
bubbles which formed so abundantly in it ; but that did not matter to me. There
was something about this mixture that strongly attracted my attention. Its
action was unlike anything I had seen before, and I tried our beautiful little
gold and red spotted fish in it, so abundant in the Colombo lake, and which are
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 491
always my first test for the colour — keeping properties of my preservative. I
found these little fish became semi-transparent and as hard as glass, and that
their colours seemed as if they were burnt in. My health having broken down I
was obliged to leave for England for a year, but I left behind me two rows of
fish prepared in this way, one mounted in kerosine, the other in glycerine, with
strict orders that they should not be touched till my return. I found twelve
months afterwards that the row in kerosine had broken up; but those in glycerine
were as perfect as the day I left. Specimen A, is one of them, mounted in October,
1884. It is exactly the same as the day it was put up. The first trouble was the
enormous expense of the process. HoAvever I overcome this to a certain extent
by filling up the bottles with lead vessels painted white. You will see that all
the fish bottles are furnished with a lead or tin vessel. This saved glycerine; but
it was the gum that was so costly, on account of the troubles in the Soudan.
To economize as much as possible, the fish were first dehydrated in spirit, so
that the gum and glycerine could be used over and over again. B is another
specimen of a very beautifully coloured wrasse. The spots ought to be emerald
green, and the bands on the head violet. I have no doubt they would be, but
I see by the label that it was not placed at once in pure glycerine, but seems to
have been experimented with, how I do not recollect. I suppose, seeing
the . colour fading, it was changed to pure glycerine, but too late to save the
more delicate tints. C is a star fish prepared by the same process some years
ago. But here the usefulness of this process ends. Only very scaly fish, such
as sea perches, and wrasses, and a few edimoderms can be prepared in this way.
Ordinary fish, snakes and frogs are withered up by it out of all recognition, and
rendered as hard as iron, Was there any possibility of rendering the specific
gravity of the gum and glycerine less ? This was a question to which I devoted
myself for a long time. No additions of watery solutions of any substances
were of any avail. At last I found that by gently mixing with weak spirit,
briskly stirring all the time, that the gum, at first precipitated in flocculent
mases< was redissolved, and that in that way solutions of almost any specific
gravity could be obtained. D is an extremely rare frog, presented by Mr. Green,
prepared and mounted in 1887 in gum and glycerine reduced by spirit to the
same specific gravity as milk. But it is only very small specimens that could
be mounted in this way, the medium being too opaque for any larger bottles,
nor is it a good mounting medium even for them. The specimen exhibited is in
a very soft state. I could not allow it to be handled, and hence it is useless for
scientific examination. The delicate violet tint of the large blotches on the back,
is, however, well preserved. If we attempt to mount specimens preserved in
this way in pure glycerine, they are shrivelled up quite as, or almost as, badly
as if preserved with the fidl strength of the gum and glycerine mixture. Many
attempts were made to reduce the specific gravity of the glycerine. It may
be asked why not have tried spirit ? The answer is that one of my very first
experiments in this Colony were mixtures of glycerine and spirit. They are most
492 JOURNAL,, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
powerful preservatives, and have the inestimable advantage in this hot climate
of not evaporating or at least not perceptibly, bnt they are absolutely destruc-
tive to all colour, bleaching the specimens with great rapidity. If watery solu-
tions of salts or acids were used to reduce the specific gravity a grand crop of
fungus sprung up at once. The only successful chemical was chloral, but it was
soon found that light colours faded in watery solutions, almost as soon as in
alcoholic preparations. E is an example of a chloralized glycerine solution of
about the specific gravity of milk, three years old ; but it is expensive, and has
no particular advantage, except that it does not evaporate. My next experi-
ments were solutions of gelatine in spirit. It is a very good preservative ; but
it does not keep colour. There is, perhaps, nothing better for frogs, all the
delicate folds and glandular lines so important in identifying the species of this
very difficult class of animals being preserved as in life. The mixture is made
by soaking a packet of Nelson's gelatine in a pint of cold water for 10 or 20
minutes, which is sufficient in this climate. After dissolving it by a gentle heat,
it is carefully stirred up with sufficient cold proof spirit ; the mixture should
measure about 40 degrees below proof. F is a specimen of a very young exam-
ple of a very rare species of frog, prepared in this medium, and mounted in
chloralized glycerine. G is another example of a moderately sized frog, mounted
in weak spirit, which is a better mounting medium. We have now two pro-
cesses, one a splendid colour preserver of very limited use, the other an excellent
preservative for very delicate objects, but not a preserver of any bright colours,
although for dark tints it does very well. I now come to a very difficult
subject— What is the action of the gum and glycerine ? I have long thought
and even reported in one of my administration reports, that the gum was the
colour preserver, and that the glycerine acted first by dehydrating the animal,
and then by excluding air and water. I was led to this conclusion by the fact
that the addition of water destroyed the colours, as I imagined, by again
extracting the gum from the tissues. But I am now convinced this is not
the case ; the action of the gum is to harden the tissues against the
softening influence of the glycerine ; the real colour preserver is the glycerine,
and it preserves because it excludes air and water. Amongst some fish
presented a great many years ago by Mr. Bell, was a specimen of a red
sea perch (specimen H) in arrack, which had a bit of its bright red colour
left where it was tightly pressed against the glass. This specimen had
always had a great fascination for me, as it is a species in which the colour fades
in a few hours. The idea of finding some process by which animals would be
shut up in some kind of solid led me to try hardened Canada balsam. J, a tely-
phonus, mounted in a solid glass made by evaporating Canada balsam to dry-
ness and then re-melting it, and pouring itover the animal. The heat, however,
is too great to make it an available process, and the exhibited specimen is the
only success I ever obtained. It was prepared in 18S3. Now, the fact is the
glycerine, by excluding air and water, does act as a solid glass, and the only
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 493
influence at work to bleach the specimen is light, which, curious to say as the
exhibited specimen shews, dors not seem to have much effect. A has been ex-
posed to the full influence of a tropical light ever since 1884. Reflecting on this
aotion it occurred to me, if the exclusion of air and moisture is the great ideal
to aim at, could not some substance of a lighter specific gravity than glycerine
In' found P Why not some kind of oil ? and of course in Ceylon cocoa-nut oil first
suggested itself. But cocoa-nut oil, far from being likely to be a preservative,
would require preserving itself. How was this to be done ? Would carbolic acid
mix with it ? I found on experimenting that carbolic acid mixed with it in all
proportions. There was, of course, no idea of using this as a preservative, the
specimens must be first prepared. Very fluid arsenic paste was used for silvery
fish with some success, and reduced gum and glycerine and gelatine — of which
K is an example — were also tried ; but from the very first it proved a very re-
fractory mounting medium. It was very difficult to get a sufficiently white oil
to begin with, and when I did, it always had a strong tendency to discolour.
Time has proved I need not have troubled myself; it cannot be usedas a mounting
medium as mixtures of carbolic acid and glycerine, or cocoa-nut oil, attain a deep
colour in time, irrespective of any animal matter in them. L shews the action
in the case of glycerine ; M in the case of oil. You will see in this latter case
that the toad is in splendid preservation, and the fluid bright and clear, but the
colour is very objectionable. Whole cases filled with bottles of this tint would
be very ugly, although if the animals and their colour were well preserved, they
might be more instructive than ordinary specimens. There was, however,
another difficulty ; a very fine cobra, well hardened in spirit after some months,
broke down from no apparent cause ; it was also found impossible to get a com-
mon blood-sucker mounted in this medium. Neither kgum and glycerine, nor
strong spirit, nor arsenic paste, nor anything else could keep them. In fact the
medium appeared either not to be safe or not universally applicable. In order
to study it and learn what its action really was, I preserved a blood-sucker in it
direct, without previous preparation of any kind, and found that I had a preserva-
tion of form as good as any known, and of colour' as good as gum and glycerine
itself. In this case the carbolic acid is either the dehydrater, or perhaps combines
with the tissues and preserves them, whilst the oil acts as the atmospheric ex-
cluder; and nowyou will see why difficult subjects such as cobras andblood-suckers,
previously prepared, broke down. The tissues had absorbed from the alcohol or
arsenic paste, or reduced gum and glycerine, a large proportion of water, in
addition to that naturally contained in them, and consequently -more than the
carbolic acid could extract or combine with, the result being that they had an
atmosphere, so to speak, of their own, which finally led to their more or less
speedy decay. Here is then a splendid medium for the zoologist, especially in a
hot climate. He is furnished with a powerful and easily used preservative both
for form and colour which does not evaporate. N, the leg of a fly laid on a
glass slide in a drop of oil, and just simply covered by an ordinary microscopic
63
494 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
glass cover, has remained in the same state for 18 months. I need not say what a
boon this would be to the microscopist who, whilst wishing to study some sub-
ject, did not wish to mount his specimens permanently. But with all these ad-
vantages it is of little use for public exhibition, and I need scarcely say this was
a great disappointment to me. The spider question solved my difficulties (at
least, I hope so) once more. I noticed how exceedingly hard some spiders had
become in the oil, when it occurred to me that specimens that had become so
firm would resist the dehydrating action of glycerine; and that if spiders would,
anything would. The experiment was at once tried — the large rat snake, seven
feet long, some frogs, ami the fish coloured and uncoloured, will show you
with what success. There are also a few spiders exhibited. The oil is also an
admirable preservative for large fish skins that can be mounted afterwards.
They require no varnishing and retain much of their lustre, and a large sea perch
is exhibited prepared in this way. I have now merely to read the recipe.
Add carbolic acid to cocoa-nut oil till the oil marks 10 to 20 degrees beloiu proof on
an hydrometer. The more acid the more powerful the dehydrating effect, and judg-
ment must be used. In this climate it is best, although not absolutely necessary,
to remove the entrails. Place the specimen, carefully wrapped in rag, in plenty of
this preparation. If wanted to mount for shoiv, drain off the superfluous oil and
mount in glycerine.
No. VII.— THE POISON OF THE TOAD.
Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, writing in the Field on 12th September, 1891,
says : —
A very interesting correspondence has lately taken place in the columns of
the Lancet respecting the precise action of the poisonous secretion in the glands
of the skin of the toad. Dr. T. Lauder Brunton has given some very useful
details. Passing over the snakes, in which the poison is secreted by a modified
salivary gland, he states that in the toads and salamanders, the poison is secreted
by glands in the skin, and it may be obtained for examination by scraping
them with a blunt metallic implement. In the toad the secretion is thick, yellow,
and adhesive. It retains its poisonous character when dried for at least a year,
and possibly longer. As a poison it does not appear to be particularly virulent
when it is taken into the stomach of another animal, such as a rabbit or dog ;
but injected into a wound it is very active, and causes ulceration or mortification
at the point where it is injected ; and it also produces vomiting, convulsions,
paralysis of all the voluntary muscles, and uncertain gait which follows such a
state of things.
It is noted that all toads are not equally poisonous. The Italian toad, which
closely resembles, if it is not identical with, our Natter Jack— the toad distin-
guished by a yellow line down the centre of the back — appears to be more poison-
ous than the French species, which is identical with the common English toad.
In Moquin-Tandon's "Elements of Medical Zoology " a good deal of informa-
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 495
t ion may be found regarding the poison of the toad. Pinches and linnets
inoculated with it will die in about five or six minutes. Even dogs and goats,
under whose skin small portions of the poison arc injected, usually die in less
than an hour, the excitement which is produced in the first instance being fol-
lowed by depression, vomiting, convulsions, and death. This poison is fatal to
frogs, even if only placed upon the back of these animals, but on the toads
themselves it has no action. A dog, as is known, will seldom attack a toad a
second time, and some have been known to be killed by simply biting one.
Dr. Lennard Guthrey states that the attack of his own dog on a toad was
followed instantaneously by the most profuse salivation, violent vomiting, and
subsequent collapse. He also states that the secretion has, in the case of some
persons, a powerful action on the human skin. He relates that, after carrying
a toad in his hand for some distance, he himself experienced a most disagree-
able sensation of numbness and tingling in the fingers and palms of his hands,
which became swollen, stiff, and extremely dry — a condition which remained
for some hours ; and he says he had heard that German violinists, when suffer-
ing from moist hands, are accustomed to check the perspiration by handling
live toads.
It may interest our readers to know that toads are found in all parts of the
world except Madagascar, Australia, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands. Mr.
Boulanger informs us that ninety distinct species of toads, constituting the
genus Bafo of naturalists, are known. They extend from the sea coast to an
elevation of 15,000 ft. in India, at which height the common Natter Jack was
found by Stoliczka. Mr. Boulanger, in his valuable monograph on the reptiles
of India, records that the common Indian species, B. melanostidus, ascends
the Himalayas to a height of 10,000 ft. In Europe two species are found. One
is the common toad {Bafo vulgaris), which in this country is about 3^ in. in
length, but which becomes much larger in the warm countries in the south of
Europe ; specimens from the Morea are said occasionally to measure lOin. in
length. This species is found all over Europe, in Great Britain, but not in
Ireland. The other European toad is the Natter Jack (B. halamita,); this may
generally be distinguished by* a bright yellow line running down the middle of
the back. It is found in drier situations than the common species. It occurs
in some of the heaths near London, is said to be present in a few localities in
the south-west of Ireland, and is abundant in Italy and Sardinia. I presume,
therefore, that it is the species which Dr. Brunton says is more poisonous in
Italy than in colder cbmates.
It is to be remarked that scientific men, although prone to dogmatise, are
not necessarily wiser than the rest of the world. Fleming, in his well-known
History of British Animals, maintains that the toad is destitute of any venom-
ous quality, and is only despised, hated and persecuted by the ignorant ; and
he remai-ks that it is surprising that prejudices so unjustifiable still continue to
prevail.
496 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891
No. VIII.— TIGEES IN SUMATRA.
The following letter appeared in the Field signed by Tuan Kechil on 21st
November, 1891 : —
During my residence on the north-east coast of Sumatra, in 1885-86, the
country swarmed with tigers. So far from being driven away by the settlement of
the country, they seemed more numerous about the tobacco plantations than in
the jungle ; for the reason that the tiger prefers the lallang grass and young
jungle which springs up where the tobacco fields are left fallow ; and this, now
that the tobacco industry has fallen upon evil days, is more plentiful than
ever. But, though new tracks could be found everywhere, it was rare to see
one, and still rarer to hear of one being killed.
For some reason, the tigers of this side of the Straits, though they attain a
great size, are not nearly so dangerous as those of the Malay Peninsula. I can only
remember three cases of man-eating, and a few head of cattle destroyed. They
are, however, very fond of dogs, which I have known them to carry off from a
verandah in broad daylight, as the owner sat within a few feet . I should
think (though I never saw it tried) that a noisy pariah tied up on a moonlight
night would ensure a shot in a very short time to anyone who could stand
being half eaten by mosquitoes. The natives have not much dread of the tiger,
and account the black Sundanese leopard much more dangerous; but this beast
is very scarce in the low country.
Elephants were plentiful along the coast from Langkalt to Assahan ; indeed,
at a place called Bobongan, they were a perfect nuisance, by breaking down
bridges and treading in drains ; and deer, tapir, orang-utan, pig, and the Mal-
ayan bear, besides rhinoceros, were abundant. But the fact is, that the work
of the tobacco plantations is so incessant and heavy that no one engaged in it
has leisure for sport ; and the majority are Germans, Swiss, and Dutch, who
prefer their everlasting cards, gin and bitters, and " ranch bazi."
There are, however, formidable difficulties in the way of sport in this part of
Sumatra. In the first place, a knowledge of colloquial Malay is indispensable ;
in the next, there is no such thing as a native shikari. The Malays are not
fond of anything that requires more exertion than fishing, and do not care for
going into the jungle ; besides which they have no inducement to hunt game,
most of which is unclean to Mussulmans. The Bataks have no such scruples,
but they will only hunt when they are hungry, and they are most repulsive in
their persons and customs, some being still cannibals.
The greatest obstacle to sport is ha the nature of the country itself and the
denseness of the jungle, which growing from a clay soil under drenching rain
and a vertical sun, is about as unpleasant and unhealthy a place as can be
imagined. I myself, like Mr. Hannibal Chollop, have the luck to be " fever proof,
likewise ager ;" but I retain the most unpleasant recollections of the hot, gloomy,
malaria-reeking " payas," or swamps, where you waded all day knee deep
|q filthy mud and water, except when you tumbled over head and ears in it; while
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 497
the perspiration streamed from every pore, and all things appeared through
u mosquito haze — besides leeohes which sucked, and ratan lawyers which
clawed like cats. I do not mean to say that all the country is as bad as this,
but it is the sort of place you would have to go to, and stay two or three days
in, if you wanted to get near a rhinooeros or an elephant, or an orang-utan;
and you may reckon on fever as a certainty anywhere, sooner or later.
There is, however, a good chance to get sport and reputation for anyone who
likes to run the risk of visiting the unexplored mountains of the Gayu and Allis,
in the interior, at the back of Langkat. These tribes (who in appearance and
arms much resemble the Lushais) have a very evil repute for treachery and
ferocity ; and the Dutch are (or were in my time) very much opposed to any
attempt being made to visit their country. But this probably means that the
natives will not put up with the fraud and bullying which too often characterise
Mynheer, and Meinherr, and Mossoo too, in their dealings with natives, for
a large number were employed on English-owned estates, and gave no trouble.
Some of these men have told me that their chiefs would not object to a white
man visiting their country, as long as they were certain he was not Dutch.
Their country, however, borders Acheen, which is closed to all Europeans.
They say that they have abundance of wild cattle, very large and savage, besides
plenty of tigers and elephants ; and that it is good country to walk in, not
like the " tanah busuk " (rotten country) of the coast. I suppose these
accounts must be discounted a little, for, like other Orientals, they tell you
what they think you want to hear ; but if anyone would like to try it, I will
give him all the information I have.
No. IX.— "HAS THE BAKRI A KEEN SENSE OF SMELL ?"
The following incident sent to the Journal, by Mr. H. M. Hewett, may be
■of interest to the Members.
" H. and I went out from Khandala on the 14th of December last to the
Sukkapatar jungles, with the usual number of coolies, and expecting to obtain
the usual amount of shikar.
However, luck favoured us, and one of our men brought back news of a
panther kill close by. We went up and found that it had killed a fine young
cow in calf. As beating for the panther was impossible, we rigged up a
machan on an adjacent tree, and got into it about 4-30 in the afternoon.
After we had been seated about ten minutes H. spied two bakri coming out
into the glade from the surrounding jungle. The first bakri walked up
towards the kill, and then, when about 70 yards away, lay down in the shade.
The second one fed right up to where we were sitting and then sauntered back
and disappeared. As he was leaving, the panther — a fine sturdy male-appeared,
looked round for a little and then came forward and sat down under a tree.
The bakri which had been lying down now got up and fed towards the panther,
to within 15 feet of the spot where it was crouching.
498 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
The panther let the bakri pass and as it disappeared slowly in the jungle,
he got up and looked at it, yawned, and cauie on towards the kill. He
walked past the kill simply sniffing at it and would have gone under our tree,
but H. who had the first shot planted a ball in his head, and the fun was over.
My reason for sending you this account is that I have always been led to
believe that deer and antelopes had such a keen sense of smell that it would
be impossible for them to approach within five yards of a panther without
being made aware of its presence. It is true there was little or no wind that
evening, and the bakri was between the panther and the kill.
Possibly other sportsmen have had similar experiences, and I for one should
be much indebted for any information on the subject."
No. X.— THE TEMPER OF ANIMALS.
The old theory that animal good-temper might be accounted for on the
ground that animals are sensible of pleasure and pain, but not of advantage
and disadvantage, was only a half-truth, for animals are subject to jealousy,
and jealousy is the direct result of a feeling of personal disadvantage. But it
draws attention to the fact that occasions for disagreement in the case of
most animals are rare and unusual. Questions of domicile are almost the
sole ground of discord in the animal world, with the exception of the fierce
dissensions raised at pairing-time, and even in the last case combat is only
general in the case of polygamous animals. Deer fight more fiercely than
wolves, and wild sheep than lions ; and though there is, or was, an eagle in the
Zoo which was caught locked in the talons of another eagle when fighting in
the spring, the fiercest birds are usually friendly with their own species, and
while ruffs and black-game fight like gladiators for their wives, the eagles and
the peregrines as a rule mate in peace. Proximity, the severest trial to human
temper, seldom ruffles the animal mind, and different species live in harmony
together, each seeming, as in the case of the owls and the prairie-dogs, or
rooks and starlings, rather to prefer than shun the society of the other. The
choicest spots for homes are naturally the source of warfare among birds, and
other animals frequently fight for the possession of some favourite breeding-
place. Badgers and foxes which have shared the same earth during winter
often fight for sole possession in the spring, .when the fox invariably wins, a
result which would hardly be expected from the relative physique of the two
animals. But such quarrels are only for the sake of rearing their young, not
for selfish reasons ; and even apprehended pressure on the food-supply rarely
excites ill-will, except in the case of the largest carnivorous birds and animals,"
which require a wider range for hunting, and drive their young to other
districts. The rodents and ruminants are less jealous; and that strong social
and gregarious instinct which the existence of ill-temper as a permanent
characteristic would inevitably destroy, keeps them together in peace and
MISCELLANOEUS NOTES. 499
harmony. They love society, and not the least marked difference between the
temperament of animals and men, is that animals do not by mere contact irritate
each other, — a positive and not unimportant compensation for the absence of
the gift of speech.
Since occasions of difference are so few, nothing but the assumption of an
ancient and inbred malignity in animal minds, such as the author of "Three
Men in a Boat " supposes in the case of fox-terriers to have been due to a
double dose of original sin, could justify the view so generally held that
animals are, as a rule, ferocious and ill-tempered. The exact contrary would
be nearer the truth. Animal temper is naturally pacific, equable, and mdd-
Bad temper is the privilege of more highly organised natures ; and the Tirild
resentment of the placable tiger finds its development in the apoplectic fury of
the mandril and the measured malice of mankind. Horace's suggestion, that
Prometheus added to the ill temper of man the strength of a mad lion, must be-
taken literally. The general law of good-nature in the animal world makes
the exceptions all the more remarkable. Quarrelsome species appear among a-
friendly tribe, just as an ill-tempered individual does in a kindly species. The
ruminants are a most peaceful race, yet deer are savage, and so is that hand-
some Indian antelope the nylghau. A tame stag is a very dangerous pet, and
even the beautiful roebuck has been known to kill a boy in a wild fit of rage.
But the fiercest and most vindictive of all, with the exception of the Cape
buffalo, is the South African gnu, which never loses its ill-temper when tamed,
and always remains among the few dangerous animals which the keepers at
the Zoo have to deal with. Hardly less ill-tempered are the zebras and the
wild asses, which suggests that human mismanagement is not entirely to
blame for the occasional ill-temper and obstinacy of mules and donkeys. To
the ill-tempered species we may add the camel and the two-horned black
rhinoceros. The last is really ferocious, charging down on any creature, man
or beast, without provocation, and capable of inflicting mortal wounds even
on the lion, the elephant, or its own kind. But among all the larger creatures
of the animal kingdom, it is difficult to find more than a dozen species which
are, as a class, ill-tempered, unless we include all those carnivorous animals-
which exhibit a certain ferocity in the capture of their prey. But it will be
found that, apart from this law of their being, such animals are not, as a rule,
either ill-tempered or malicious. On the contrary, their natural bias is
towards good-nature, and it may be inferred that the fierceness exhibited by
them when actually striking their prey, is rather a gradual development from
a particular necessity than an essential part of their nature. The good-humour
of the lions and other Felidce was well illustrated by a scene at the Zoo a few
weeks ago. The young lion from Sokoto was much intent on breaking in the
iron shutter which separates the house it now occupies from its former
quarters next door. Apart from the very proper wish to assert a right to its
former domicile, it had the irritating stimulus supplied by an ill- tempered and
SOn JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
decrepit old leopard which was growling on the other side of the shutter, and
even went so far as to insert one of its longest teeth into the crack between
the shutter and the wall , as a reminder to the lion of what was waiting for it
on the other side. The lion was striking constant heavy blows on the door,
and was so intent on its occupation as to disregard the call of its keeper. The
keeper quietly attracted its attention by pulling its tail ! — and the lion at once
desisted, rubbed its face against the keeper's hand, and lay down to be stroked,
patted, and have its mane caressed. A very beautiful puma close by exhibited
all the pleasure of a friendly cat at being stroked, and the tiger from Tur-
kestan allowed itself to be fondled like a big dog.
That good-tempered races contain very ill-natured individuals, raises the
difficult question of temperament. A good authority on horses, Mr. Mayhew,
endeavours to show that ill-temper among them is accidental, not innate. ' In
his work, "jibbing" is shown to be due to brain-disease, shying to defective
vision, and temper to the mismanagement of man. There is much truth, but •
: also much error here. Those best acquainted with the nature of domesticated
.animals know how greatly the temperaments of individuals differ. Take, for
ilnstance, the case of three highly bred young Jersey heifers, of which the
■writer has watched the up-bringing from their earliest days. They have
never been frightened or struck ; they have not even heard a rough word from
their earliest days, even when they jumped the garden-fence and browsed on
an apricot-tree. One is as gentle and domesticated as a well-bred cow can
be, the others are ready with their horns at any or no provocation. The same
is true of horses : some are so ill-tempered that they will luck or bite at any
living thing that comes near them. It is as impossible to trace these dislikes
to any known cause as it is to find a reason for the antipathy which cows have
for hares. However great our liking for horses, we cannot deny that some of
tht best thoroughbreds are revengeful, quarrelsome, and liable to frightfully
sudden fits of rage. Xo doubt this evil temper is often accompanied by splen-
did qualities of endurance. Chestnut horses, which have generally the most
uncertain tempers, are perhaps the most high-couraged. But courage and
temper are not always- allied ; and temper and human management are not
necessarily connected. 'Bendigo' and ' Surefoot ' were both trained in the
"Seven Barrows" stable by the late Mr. Jousiffe, who always avoided any
severity of treatment, and never ran his horses " light." Each as a three-year-
old won a great race, ' Bendigo ' the Cambridgeshire, ' Surefoot ' the Two
Thousand Guineas. Both carried off the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, worth
£10,000, later in their career. Yet ' Bendigo ' had a perfect tenrper, while
' Surefoot's ' is well-known to be ferocious. ' Bendigo ' would train himself,
and however well he ran in trials on the White Horse Hill, his trainer knew
that he would do still better on the race-course. In his last race, when he was
just beaten when carrying a crushing weight, Watts gave him one" stroke of
the whip. But the horse was doing all he could, and the jockey did not
PROCEEDINGS. 501
touch him again. In the stable, the big brown horse was almost as friendly
with strangers as he was with his devoted attendant, " Bendigo Pat," and the
writer has seen no prettier sight (ban that of his trainer's little daughter
hugging " dear old ' BendyV " nose. The horse had the courage and gentle-
ness of a knight of romance. ' Surefoot,' on the other band, under identical
treatment, was dangerous in the stable, and savage even when running. In
the actual race for the Derby, he tried to bite the jockeys on the horses in
front of him, and when being put into the horse-box for the journey, gave
more trouble than a Murcian bull. Yet this savage temper was not accom-
panied by unusual courage and endurance, and in severe races the even-tem-
pered 'Bendigo' was his undoubted superior. 'Peter,' another race-horse
noted for his stubborn obstinacy, once gave an interesting object-lesson in
temper as between man and horse, at Ascot. The horse fought with his
jockey (Archer) for twenty minutes at the post, but the indomitable good-
humour of the jockey won. When the flag fell, the horse went off with a rush,
but stopped in the middle of the race to kick. Archer neither moved nor
struck him, and ' Peter ' then went on like the wind, and won ! But horses
of this temperament are the exception, not the rule ; and the success with
which we have developed power and courage, without producing animals like
' Cruiser ' or the celebrated ' General Chasse,' of whom his owner, Mr. Kirby,
the dealer, who sold largely in Russia, used to say that " the Emperor Paul
was nothing to him," is one of the triumphs of domestication. The union of
reckless courage and habitual ferocity is rare in the animal world, and the
general law of good-nature remains absolute and unquestioned.
( The above article, which appeared originally in the " Spectator" on 12th December,
1891, has been reproduced here for the benefit of our Members who may not have
seen it, as it raises several very interesting points which are worthy of the careful
attention of all students of Animal Life, especially in this Country. — Ed.)
XL— THE CRESTED GREBE BREEDING IN INDIA.
I beg to record having found a nest of the Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
on a tank near here in August last, containing three eggs, one of which I send
for the Natural History Society's Collection. I also send the skin of the bird,
as it is, I believe, the first time the Crested Grebe has been found breeding in
India.
Kharaghora, December, 1891. H. BULKLEY.
PROCEEDINGS.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING HELD ON 8th DECEMBER, 1891.
The usual meeting of the members of this Society took place on Tuesday last, the
8th December, Doctor D. MacDonald presiding.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society : — Mr. Charles Gray-
er
502 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
(Coonoor) ; Surgeon-Major James Armstrong (Cawnpore)j Mr. 0. Wolfe Murray,
M.C.S. (Ouddapah); Doctor H. F. Cleveland (Raipur); Colonel M. Bowie (Kaipur);
Mr. F. Gr. Sly, B.C.S. (Raipur) ; Mr. Henry Wapshare (Nilgiris) ; Captain G. Carew
(Mhow); Mr. Abdullabhoy Rahimbhoy (Bombay); Mr. E. F. Allum (Bombay); Cap-
tain R. D. Pyrke (Colaba) ; Veterinary-Captain James Mills (Bombay); Captain E.
Hibbert (Mount Abu) ; Doctor JJ. McCalman (Hharvvar) ; Mr. James H. Taylor (Orissa);
Mr. H. O. Quin, C. S. (Ahmedabad) ; Mr. 4, E. Shuttlevvorth (Cachar) ; Captain E.
Lindesay (Kamptee) ; Mr. U. 0. Cnmpbell (Bombay); Mr. H. G. Gell (Bombay);
Dr. C. U. L. Meyer (Bombay); Mr. Jivanjee Jamshedjee Modi (Bombay) ; Mr. Harry
John (Bombay) ; Mr. J. C. Bergendahl (Bombay) ; Mr. S. Eardley-Wilmot (Naini Tal);
Mr. Rahimtoola Khairaz (Bombay); Mr. \V. C. Rand, C.S. (Bombay); Mr A. E. Wild
(Lahore); Mr. W. M. Fletcher (Poona) ; Mr. David P. Masson (Lahore); Lieut. H. M.
Biddulph (Barcilly) ; Mr. C. R. Cleveland, C.S. (Saugor) ; Mr. H. B. Anthony (Raipur);
Doctor A. Lankester (Amritsar) ; Lieut. F. C. L. Waller (Sehore) ; Mr. James R.
Bap ty (Bombay) ; Monsieur A. Sada (Pondichcry) ; Mr. L. A. Macaulay (Bombay);
Moulvi Syed Ali Belgrami (Hyderabad).
The following contributions, received since the last meeting, were acknowledged : —
Contributions from September to November.
Contribution.
Description.
Contributors.
Python (alive)
Palm Civet (alive)
White Booby
Chameleon (alive)
Owl (alive)
1 Snake
1 Black Lemur (alive)
3 Chameleons (alive) ..
1 Snake
1 Python's skin
Climbing Fish
2 Snakes
1 Snake
Some birds' Eggs ... ..
1 Python's skin
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
Palm Civet (alive)
Snake
Cobra
Cockatoo (alive)
Crocodile skin
Burmese Python (alive) ..
Snake
Cobra
(Hussy Ibis
Porcupine fishos
Snake
Python molurus
Paradoxurus musanga
Sula cyanops
Chameleo calcaiatus ..
Stris javanica
1 Snake
1 Ghorpad (alive)
1 Lizard (alive)
1 Largo Egret
1 Short-eared owl (alivo)
Lycodon aulicus
Lemur macaco
Chameleo calearatus
Silybnra macrolepis
Python molu'iis
Glyptosternum sp
Cyrophis helena
Dendrophis picta
from Secunderabad
Python molurus
Paradoxurus musanga
Lycodon aulicus
Naga tripudians
Plictolophus galerita
Crocodilus palustris
Python reti< ulatus
Gongylophis conicus
Naga tripudians
Falcinellus igneus
Diodou hystrix
Tropiddnotua quincunctia
tus
Ptyas mucosas
Varaims bengalensis
Oromastrix hardwickei
Herodias torra
Aslo accipitrinus ,
Col. W. S. Hore.
Mrs. M. Navin.
Mr. T. Thoiburn.
Mr. E Flower.
H. H. the Thakore of
Wn dh wan.
Mr. Pearson.
Miss Hart.
Col. W. Scott,
Mr. C. E. Kane.
Lieut. T. Woodhouse
Mr. A. Hill.
Major W. P. Kennedy.
Do.
Mr. W. Gave.
Mr. H. F. Silcock, C.S.
Mr. A. Elliott.
Mr. W. Thacker.
Col. Herewether.
Capt. Houston.
Capt. Sutton Joues.
Major C. T. Bingham.
Mr. J. S. Orton.
Mr. C. E. Kane.
Mr. Sibbold.
Miss Atkinson.
Mr. H. Buckland.
Mr. K. Ingle.
Doctor Meyer.
Do. '
Mr. N. S. Symons.
Purchasod.
VROCEEDISGS.
503
MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM: —
Mr. E. H. Elsworthy, Mr. II. Rowbotham. Mr. E. 0. Monod, Mr. II. Spooner, It. II.
the Maharaja of Dhar unpur, Mr. Chester Macnaghten, Mr. W. Webb, and Mr. J. C.
Parmenides.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Archives, Nos. 8 and 9, in
exchange ; Records of the Geological Purvey No. 3, in exchange ; The Forester, Nos. 8
and 9. in exchange; Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, in exchange;
Limucan Society of N. S. Wales, Vol. VI. , Part I., in exchange.
ACHATINA FULVA.
Mr. Chester Macnaghten exhibited a fine specimen of Achat ina fnlva which he found
in his garden at Rajkote, Kattywar, during last monsoon. This handsome land-shell
was introduced from Mauritius by the Conchologist Benson into Calcutta, whence it
has been dispersed throughout the country, probably by the agency of gardeners.
THE SOCIETY'S JOURNAL.
The Honorary Secretary explained that the publication of No. 3 of Vol. VI. of the
Society's Journal had been delayed owing to the coloured plates not having been
received from Eng'and. The illustrations for No. 4 had arrived, so that the two
numbers would both be published shortly.
AN ANTIDOTE FOR PHURSA BITE.
Dr. W. Dymock read an interesting paper on the value of the plant Pangala
(Pogustcmon parsitloms) in cases of bites from tho Phursa Snake (Ech-i-n caiinaiei),
504 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891,
giving a description of the plant, and quoting many cases in -which tha antidote had
been administered with success. Dr. Dymock stated that the roots of the plant had
been examined by Dr. Warden, the well-known Professor of Chemistry, at the Cal-
cutta Medical College, and that the most interesting principle detected in the root
was an alkaloid which D2\ Warden proposed to call Pogostemonine. He had also detect.
ed the presence of Trimethylamine, and a volatile principle with a cedarwood odour.
Eesiuous principles were also present, with astringent matter. The constituents of
the plant, which should be used in any future experiments, are the alkaloid Pogoste-
monine and Trimethylamine, the amount of tannic matters present being insufficient
to account for any remarkable styptic properties.
(The paper will be found on page 450.)
NIDIFTCATION IN KANARA.
The next paper read was by Mr. J. Davidson, of the Bombay Civil Service, con-
taining some important notes on the nesting of birds in Kanara.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
The following miscellaneous notes received from the undermentioned members
were also read : —
Snipe shooting in the neighbourhood of Secunderabad, by W. Gaye.
Taming a Heron, by Lieut-Col. W. S. Hore.
Memory versus Reason in Cats, by Col. Kenneth Mackenzie.
The Breeding of Snakes, by H. S. Ferguson.
How the Ghorpad defends itself, by Geo. Wasey.
LIST OF BOOKS*
IN THE POSSESSION OF
The Bombay Natural History Society, on 31st December, 1891.
MAMMALIA. Books.
Histoire Naturelle des Mammiferes, (Oervais) 1
Mammalia of India, (Jerdon) ,* 1
Natural History, Mammalia, (Wood) 1
The Anatomy of Vertebrates, Mammals, (Oiven) , , 1
Catalogue of the Mammalia in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, Parts I., II 2
The Amphibious Carnivora and Herbivorous Cetacea, (Hamilton) 1
History of Mammalia, Vols. 1-6 6
Wild Animals, (Notts) 1
Mammalia of India and Ceylon, (Sterndale) , 2 copies 2
DenizenB of the Jungle, (Sterndale) 1
Game and Wild Animals of South Africa, (Harris) 1
Fauna of British India, Mammalia, (Blanford), Parts I.-II., (2 copies) 4
Carried forward 22
* Additions to the Society's Library are much needed.
LIST OF BOOKS. 505
Books.
Brought forward 22
Catalogue of tho Mammals in tho Museum of the East India Co 1
Mammals, Living and Extinct, {Flower) 1
BIRDS.
Genera of Birds, (Cray) 1
Encyclopedic d' Histoire Naturello, — Oiseaux 6
Monograph of the Scansorial Barbets, (Marshall) 1
Monograph of the Sun Birds, (Shelley) 1
Manual of the Birds of New Zealand, (Butter) 1
Game Birds of India, (Jerdon), 2 copies 2
The Birds of India, (Jerdon), 2 copies 6
Birds' Nesting in India, (Marshall) 1
The Avifauna of British India, (Murray), 2 copies 4
The Game Birds of India, Burmah and Ceylon, (Hume and Marshall) 3
The Edible and Game Birds of British India, (Murray) 1
American Ornithology, (Wilson and Bonaparte) , 3
Catalogue of the Birds in the Lucknow Museum 2
Siberia in Europe, (Seebohm) 1
My Scrap Book, (Hume) 1
Fauna Japonica-Aves, (Siebold) 1
Nests and Eggs of Familiar British Birds, (Adams) 1
A Monograph of the Jacomars and Puff-Birds, (Sclater) 7
Birds of South Africa, (Layard and Sharpe) 1
Birds of British Burmah, (Oates), 2 copies 4
Canaries and Cage Birds, (Cassell) ... 1.
Parrots in Captivity, (Greene), Volls. I.-III 3
List of the Birds of India, (Hume) 1
Foreign Cage Birds, (Qedney) , Vols. I. -II 2
Monograph of the Birds of Paradise, (Elliott) 6
Catalogue of the Birds of the British Museum, Vols. I.- XII 12
The Ibis, from 1873-78 6
Fauna of British India, (Oates), Birds. Vols. I.-IL, 2 copies 4
Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the East India Company 1
Birds of Bombay, (Barnes) 1
Catalogue of the Birds in the Lucknow Museum 1
Stray Feathers, (Hume), Vols. I -XI 11
Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, (Hume), Vol. I. 1
Land Birds of the Pacific District, (Belding) 1
FISHES.
Fishes of India, (Day), Vols. I.-II 2
Malabar Fishes, (Day), 3 copies 3
Fishes of Madeira, (Lowe) 1
Fauna Japouica — Pisces, (Siebold) 1
Carried forward 13
506 JOURNAL BOMBAY XATURIL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Books,
Brought forward 130
Freshwater Fishes of India, (Beavan) 1
The Rod in India, {Thomas) 1
Notes on Fish and Fishing, (Manley) 1
Indian Fishes, (Russell), Vols. I.-II 2
Fauna of British India— Fishes, (Day), 2 copies, Vols. I., II 4
The Fishes of New Zealand, (Hector) 1
A Revision of the South American Nematognathi or Cat Fishes, (Eigenman) 1
REPTILES.
The Landmarks of Snake Poison- Literature, {Richards) 1
Destruction of Life by Snakes in Western India 1
Indian Snakes, {Nicholson) 1
Fauna Japouica— Reptilia, (Siebold) 1
The Thanatophidia of India, (Fayrer) 1
The Fauna of British India — Reptiles, (Boulenyer), two copies 3
The Uoptiles of British India, (OUnther) I
List of the Snakes in the Indian Museum, Calcutta 1
Notes ou tho Collection of Snakes in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, (Sclater) 1
OTHER INVERTEBRATES.
Tho Aquarium Naturalist, {Jones) 3
A Manual of Mollusca, (Woodward), 3 copies 3
Fauna Japonica — Crustacea, (Haan) 1
Conchology, (Crouch) 1
tnvertebrate Animals, (Owen), Vols. I.-II 2
INSEC13.
Encyclopedic d'Histoirc Natureile — Papillous 1
Papillons Exotiques, (Seligmann) I
Monograph of the Genus Callidiyas, (Butler) 1
The Aurelian. English Moths and Butterflies, (Harris) 1
The Transformation of Insects, (Duncan) 1
Insects Abroad, (Wood) 1
Beetles, British, and Foreign, (Duncan) 1
The Entomologist's Text Book, (West wood) 3
Insect Transformations • 1
cr
Exotic Moths, (Duncan), two copies
British Moths, (Duncan) 1
Natural History of Bees ... 1
Oriental Cicadidse, (Distant), Parts I. -IV 4
Description of New Lepidopterous Insects, (Hewitson and Moore) 1
The Cabinet of Oriental Entomology, (Westwood) 2
Butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon, (de Nicdville), Vols. II. -Ill 3
Catalogue of the Moths of India, (Cotes and Swinhoe) 1
Curried forward 187
LIST OF BOOKS. _ 5? 7
BooTta,
Brought forward Ib7
Tost Book of Entomology, (Kirby) -• 1
Catalogue of tho Lepidopterous Insects in the Museum of the East India
Company *■
The Destructive Insects of Victoria, {French) 1
The Insect World, (Figuer) 1
Indian Silk Culture, (Wardle), 2 copies 2
The Wild Silks of India, (Wardle) 1
The Butterflies of Great Britain, (We. <t wood) 1
The Hesperida?, (Watson) 1
Manual of New Zealand Coleoptera. (Brown) 2
Tlie Canadian Entomologist (unbound) 1
The Modern Classification of Insects, (Westwood), Vols. I., II 2
BOTANY.
The Fertilization of Flowers, (Miller) 1
The Plants and Drugs of Scind, (Murray), 2 copies , 2
The Timber Trees of India, (Balfour) 1
The Useful Plants of the Bombay Presidency, (Lisboa) 1
First Book of Indian Botany, {Oliver) 1
Indian Ferns, (Baynes) • 1
The Natural History of Plants, (Ballon) 7
The Vegetable Productions of the Bombay Presidency, (Birdwood) 1
A Glossary of the Vernacular Names of the Principal Plants in bombay,
(Dymock) 1
Catalogue of Ferns in the Government Herbarium at Saharanpur 1
Icones Plantarum India) Orientalis, Vols. IT. -VI 5
Materia Medica of Western India, (Dymock) 1
Flora of British India, (Hooker), Vols. I -V 5
Sagacity and Morality of Plants, (Taylor) 1
The Fertilization of Orchids. (Darwin) 1
Flora Porestiere de la Cochin Chine, (Pierre) 1
Lehrbuch des Pflanzen Physiologie, (Detmer) 2
Biologic der Pflanzen, (Cohn), Vols. I. IV 4
Botanische Zeituug, Vols. I.-V 5
Phor-mium Tenax 1
Ferns of British India, (Beddome) 1
The Indigenous Fodder Grasses of India, (Duthie), 1SSG-8 3
The Bombay Flora, (Dalzell and Gibson) 1
Pharmacographia Indica, (Dymock), Parts 2-4. 3
GENERAL.
Zoological Atlas, (Brehm) 1
Western Yunnan Expedition, 1SGS-75 2
Carried forward 255
503 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891.
Books.
Brought forward 255
The Museum of Natural History, (Cobbold) ... ,, 4
Large Game Shooting in Tibet, (Kinlock) 1
Atlas of Practical Elementary Biology, (Howes) 1
Rambles of a Naturalist, (Collingwood) 1
Two Years in the Jungles, (Hornaday) 1
A Dictionary of the Economic Products of India 5
The Calcutta Journal of Natural History 7
The Hand Book of New Zealand, {Hector) 1
Dictionary of Natural History, (Beeton) 1
Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 188J-S9 4
Reports of the Smithsonian Institute 5
Taxidermy and Zoological Collecting, (Hornaday) 1
Manual of New Zealand History, {Wallace) 1
Life of Frank Buckland, (Bompas), 2 copies 2
Animal Lore of Shakespeare's Time, (Pltipson) 1
The Malay Archipelago, (Wallace), 2 copies 2
Snakes, Marsupials and Birds, (Nicols) 1
Advanced Text Book of Zoology, {Nicholson) 1
The Utilization of Minute Life, (Phipson) 1
The Kashmere Hand Book, (Ince) 1
The Taxidermist's Manual, (Braiun) 1
A Manual of Indian Sport, (Mackay) 1
Notes on Collecting and Preserving Natural History Objects, (Taylor) 1
The Animal Creation, (Jones) ... , 1
Animal Locomotion, (Pettigrew) 1
Matheran Hill, its People, Animals and Plants, (Smith) 1
Chapters ou Evolution, (Wilson) 1
The Sportsman's Hand Book, (Ward), 3 copies 3
Moses and Geology, (Kinns) 1
Astor, (Liscomb) 1
Variation of Plants and Animals under Domestication, (Darwin), Vols I. -II. ... 2
In the days when we went Hog Hunting, (Brown) 1
The Animal Kingdom, (Bymer Jones) 1
Natural Historj — Reptiles, Fishes, Molusca, (Wood) 1
Treasury of Natural History, (Maunder) 1
Advanced Text Book of Geology, (Page) 1
Natural History, (Cassell), Vols I. -VI 6
The Riverside Natural History, Vols. I -VI - 6
Physiological and Pathological Researches, (Lewis) 1
Cyclopedia of India, (Balfour) Vols. I. — III 3
A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern Archipelago, (Forbes)....* 1
Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, (Darivin), Vols. I.-III 3
Carriedforward 33(J
LIST OF BOOKS. 509
Books.
Brought forward 33o'
The Wanderings of Plants and Animals' (Ueyn) 1
Odontology, (Oiven), Vols. I. & II 2
Practical Taxidermy, (Brown) 1
Studies in Auimal Life, (Lewis) 1
Life of Erasmus Darwin, (Krause) 1
Anatomy of Vertebrate Animals, (Huxley) 1
Manual of Scientific Terms, (St or month) %• 1
The Student's Darwin, (Eveling) 1
Reise in Nordosl -Africa, (Henglin) 1
The Indian Forester, 1889-91 3
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, Parts 13 — 15 3
Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, (Murray), 2 copies „ 2
Natural History, (Buffon) 1
Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1880-89 7
The Asian, Vols. I.— VI 6
Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 1859-87 .' 34
Anthropological Society of Bombay, Vol. 1 1
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1882-9 , 6
The Cruise of the Marchesa, (Qullimard), Vols. I. & II , 2
The Highlands of Central India, (Forsyth) . 1
Report of the British Association, 1881 1
List of Animals received by the Zoological Society of London, 2 copies 2
Catalogue of the Library of the Zoological Society of London 1
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1878-91 , 17
Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, 1891 5
Annali del Museo Storia Naturale de Genova, Vols- I. — IX 9
Pakeontologia Indica, {Geological Survey) 1
Records of the Geological Survey of India, 1886-91, Vols. XIX.— XXIV 5
Reports of the Geological Exploration in New Zealand 3
The Journal of Comparative Medicine and Surgery, Vols. II. — X 9
Transactions of the Linneau Society of New York 2
Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Archives, Vols. XL — XII. ... 2
La Nature. 1890-91 2
Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria, Parts I.— -XVII 17
Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 19, 20, 23, 3
Studies in Biology for New Zealand Students, Nos. 3, 4 2
Geological Survey of Victoria, 1877-80 3
Meteorological Report of New Zealand 1
Index to Reports of the Geological Survey of New Zealand 1
Report of Geological Explorations in New Zealand during 1888-89 2
Manual of New Zealand History, (Wallace) 1
Catalogue of the Colonial Museum Library, (New Zealand) ... 1
Victoria Naturalist, 1890-91 '. 2
Indian Museum Notes, Vols I. — II 8
Nature, Vols., I.— HI 3
Sy sterna Natuise, (Linneaus) 1
Total.., 510
65
Index to Volume YI*
Names of New Genera and Species have an asterisk (*) prefixed.
Specific Names are written with a small initial letter; Generic,
Sub-family, Family, and Order Names are written with a capital
initial letter.
PAGE
Abaratha 58, 394, 448
aberrans 49, 369, 370
Abisara .43, 440
abseus 48
abyssinia 196
Acanthacese 175
Acantbophippium 42:2
acaulia 172
Acesina 49, 369
Achatina 503
Acbyrantkes 260
aciculatus i 213
AcraBinaa 437
Acridium 242, 245, 416
Acridotheres 91, 105
acte 50
Adiantum < 16fi
adima 351, 352
adipala 39
Adolias 352
adrastus 58, 448
adriana 48
^5cbmea 172
iEdicnemus 25
^gialitis 21, 22, 131
segyptiacura 190
seliamis 46, 179, 366, 441
aenea 339
Aeridea 172
JEridia 422
Aeromachu3 447
^Esacus 303
aesiope 52, 319, 443
affinis 89
agallocha 400, 404
agallochum 404
agamemnon 446
Agamidaa... 102
PAGE
Agaricua 219, 222
aglea 435
agni 59, 384
agostina 51
Agrotia 233
Ailanthns 399
akasa , 440
akool 139
alba 95, 174
albicilia 391
albicollia 19, 106, 302
albidisca 440
albidus 192, 199
albifascia 380
albigena 296, 299, 301
*albipectua 389
albouotatus ,.,.... 89
albo-picta 174
album 400
albus 174
*alemou 48, 371
alexis 447
*alida 394
Allainanda 422
almana 28, 37, 438
Alocasia 170, 270
Aloexylon 404
Alophooxus, 60
Altingia 405
altisaima 347 — 310
Aluce^s 60-63
alysoa 382, 448
amabile 172
amantea......48, 180, 181, 370, 371, 442
amara 54
Ainaryllidese 171
Amaryllis 171, 42i
Amathuaia 437
u
INDEX.
PAGE
*amatrix 48> 37°
amba 35°
Amblypodia *" , 180> 4il
amboides 350
Ammodorcaa 460
amnion 18 '
ammoniacum ^00
Ammoperdix 6
amor 443
Ampittia 57, 447
Anas 94, 99, 290
Anastomus ". 151
anaxias 436
Ansectochilus 422
ansstheta... 297, 301
Andropogon 64, 127, 189, 192, 193, 197,
201, 204—206, 210—215.
androgens 53
Anemia 168
anglica 294
Angreecum 173
angulata 43, 181
angustifolius 192
angustifrons 416
angustirostris 291
anita ■ 47
anna 354, 355
annulatus 67, 69, 203, 209, 210
anops ,. 369
Antelope 184, 186
Anthericum 171
Ant.histhia 217
Anthistria 218
Anthomyia 416
Anthurium 170, 422
antigone 129
Antilope 96
antiphafces 445
antiquorum 285, 286
Apatura 36
Aphelandra 175, 422
Aphnseus 49, 182, 412
apicalis 29
Apluda 200, 218
ApocopiB li)3, 201
Apoderus. 263
eppiadeB 40, 350, 352
Appias 53, 444
Apporaaa , 47
VAQV
Aquilaria 400, 404
Arachnechthra .., 337, 338
Araclmothera 337
aratus 366
arbor-tristes 479
Arbus 274
arcesilaus 345, 346
Archontophcenix 169
arcuata 94, 99, 442
ardates 45, 178, 441
Ardea 95, 142, 143, 147
ardeola 25
Ardetta 147—149
Areca 169
Aredeola 143, 146, 147
argentea 192
argiades 45, 178, 441
argoonda ., 93, 99
argoondah ,... 8
avgun 272
Argynnis 346, 349, 439
argyrostigma 174
Arhopala ...27, 28, 47, 180, 181, 370, 442
aria 54, 447
ariadne 36, 437
*arisba 49, 369
aristata 218, 219
aristatum 197, 198
Aristida 213
aristolochise ...53, 329, 330, 414, 415, 446
aristotelis 96
arja 42
armigera 240
ami 96
Aroidera 169, 170
aromatica 400, 422
aromaticus 212
Arthraxon 190, 192, 193
Aram 270
arundinacae 171
arundinacea -. 190
AruudinaDca , 204
Arnndinella 124
asiatica 7, 93, 99, 180, 337, 338
asiaticns 89, 141
Asinus 457, 467
Asparagus 171
aspera 260
Aspidium...... ■ 168
INDEX.
m
PAGK
Aspleuium 168
, assaraeusis "v
asterie 28> 37, 438
Astictoptoras 59, 395-397, 447
astola 38
aswi* 3o, *37
Atella 36. 438
ater 105
athamas 41, 410
athertoni 333
Atbynia 40, 350, 439
atkiusoni 47
atilia 383
atlites 37, 438
atra 136
atrata 441
atrax 48, 181
atripennis 331
attenuata 39
atticus 448
atyuinus ...50, 182
angias 57
aurantia 106
aurantius 89, 33o
aureas 3/4
aureo-striata 170
aureuni loo, 173
aureus 96
aurifrons ... 62, 03
aurita 13, 94, 99
aurivittata 59
austeni 56, 383
australasica 17-1
avanta 3o
avistata 200
aval 82
Axis 96
Azanus 44, 441
azurea 91
babulus 22o
Bactris I69
Bacularia 169
bseticus 47, 179, 441
bada 55
Badacara 435
Badamia 54, 440
badra 44G
PAGE
bailloni 140
balarama 350, 352
baldus 436
Balsarnodendron 400
bambusso ■ 57, 447
Baoris 55, 390
Baracus 447
barbatulunt 1'3
basiflava 448
•basiviridia 3/3
batassiensis 89
Batrachia 100
Batratherum 192, 193
Beeska 434, 437
Begonia 155, 174, 175
beisa 457, 466
bela. 35, 36, 437
belangeri 168
Belenois 322, 324, 444
bengalense 400, 409
bengalensis 91, 130, 421
bennettii 96, 461
benzoin o 400
bergii ... 298
bernardus 42
beturia 57, 390
bevani 56
bezoartica 96, 184, 186
bhagava 58
bhinia 34
Bibos 223
biggsii «• 43
Bignonia 165
Bilbergia 172
Bindahara 443
binghami 32
binnatus 209
binotata 33
birostris 334
Bison ■ ■ 223
bladhii 209, 210
blasius 436
Blechnum 168
Bletia 173, 174
blewitti 93, 99
blumii 198
* bocbides 365—367
bocbus 46, 178, 367, 36S, 441
boisduvali 43
iv
INDEX.
PAGE
boisduvalii 50
bolina 39, 412, 413, 438
bonassus 225
bonbami 6
bononia 392
Borassns 271, 272, 486
Bos 222—225
Boswellia 399—401
Boviche 185, 222
Brachypodiiiae 60, 61, 63
Bracbypternus 336
Bracbypterus 89
bracteatum 172
brasiliensis 168
brassolis 176
Brenthis 348
Bromeliaceae 172
buasii 167
Bubalus 96
Bubulcus 143, 145, 147
buchananii 8fc3
Bufo 495
bulbiferum ,. 16S
bulig 181, 442
bullata 168, 175
bungarus 103
Bupkus 95
Burbidgeanitida 171
burrnana 38
Butea 107, 273
butleri 396
Butorides ,.146, 147, 417
Caccabis 6
*Ccere 388
caeralea 365
caerulescens , 374
cseruleus 213
Caasalpinia 71
caesium 169
caffer 225
cabira 56
Caladiam 169, 270
Calamus 77, 169, 212
Calanthis 422
Calathea 171
Calafches 173
Calliana 377
callistug 365
Callosune 324, 325, 444
PAGE
calomelanos 167
Calopteims 245
Calosoma 416
Calyptrogyne 169
Calysisme 344, 436
cambayensis 95, 99, 100
Camena 49, 442
camiba 438
camiba 4
* campbelliana 124
catnpestris 222
Campsidium 166
canace 41, 439
canaraica 388, 442
Canarium 400, 409
canaticutatnm 190
candidus 132
canidia 51
canorus 90
ca,ntianaa 2l
capillus 167
caprata 337
Caprimulgus 89, 331
carbo 304
cardamines 324
carderi 166
cardui 439
caricosus 208, 209
carinafca 103, 450, 452, 454, 503
Carludovicas 169
Carpopbaga 340
carticoides 350
caryopbyllacea 290
caryotaefolia 169
caspia 293
Cassia 321, 485
Castalius 47, 179, 441
Catapsecilma 443
catberinas . 166
catilla 51, 319, 321, 444
Catochrysops 28, 46, 179, 441
catoleucos 393
Catopbaga 52, 322, 444
Catopsilia 51, 319, 328, 444
Cattleya 172, 422
caudata 437
caudatum 167
caulesnsceamoena 168
cavatus ^ 333
INDEX.
TACK
Gedrgs 400, 407
Celtenorririnus 58, 378, 3^2, 384.
celeno 866
oelunda 307
centaurns 47, 48, 442
Centrosolcnia 175
cephala 58
oerealella 238, 230
oernanm 216
cornuums , 216
ceniuus. 216
certus 197
cerulescens , 90
Cervidse 185, 187
Cervnlus , 96
Cethosia 36, 438
ceylonica 436, 445, 447
chalybeia 375
Cbarasedorea 169
champaca 478
chandrana 443
Chapra 55, 388, 447
Chaptia 339
Cbaraxes 41, 440
Cliarns 446
Chaulelasraus 291
Cheilanthes 167
chela 43
chenui 436
Cheritra 50, 442
Chibia 269
Chiladea 44. 176, 177, 440
Chilasa 446
chirurgus 134
Chliaria 50
chlorigaster 96, 99
Chloropsis .. 59
chloropus 138
chlorosticta 172
Cboaspes .- 54
chromus 54, 447
Cbrysalidocarpus 169
Chrysididae 118
chrysippus, 29, 318,411,412 415, 435, 438
Chrysocolaptes , 89
chrysomallus 181, 442
chrysonotius 89
chrysopbyllum 167
Chrysopogon 212
PAGE
ohukor 6
Oienkowskia 170
oiliare 191, 197
ciliaris 193
ciliata 217, 219
oiliolatns 213
cilix 53
cimicina 218
cinerea 95, 142,117
cinereus 137
cinnamomca 148
Cinuamomum 400
Cissus 165
Cirrbocliroa* 438
citratiis 205
citratus Co, 211
Citrus 114
clarkei 460
cleobis 49, 442
cleodus 3G6
*clitus 378
clyfcia 413, 446
cuejus 179, 441
*coalita 363
Coccystes 90
cochin-chinensis. 194
Cocos 169, 486
ccelestis 45
Coelogynis ... 422
coeroleseens 213
cceruleus 103
colaca ... 55, 56
Coladenia 58, 448
Coleoptera 393
Colias ..., 444
Colomba 95, 99
columboides 334
Combretum 422
commersoai 169
communis 218, 219, 400
commutatus 67
compactus ■ 216
comphora 400
concanns 442
conciunnm < 167
concinnus 208
concolor -62, 63, 88, 338
confertifolia 265
conjugafcum » 197( 199
VI
INDEX.
PAGE
consimilia 437
contortns 199, 200, 201, 213
contra 91
cordatifolins 197
Cordyline 171
core 328, 412, 413, 415, 435, 436
coreoides 436
coriacea 272, 273
coromanda 143
coromandelianus 94, S9, 287
coromandelica 8, 93, 99
coromandelicus 15, 18
coromandus 95, 145, 147
coronata 89
coruscans 43, 365 — 367
coryllifolia 328
corymboa 193
corymbosus 193
Coturnix 8, 93, 99
Cotyle 8S
coulteriana 400, 408
Coura 117
courtallumensis 193
Crastia « 435
Crateropodidge 61
crenatum KJ7
cretaeeum 173
crinita , 272, 273
crino 326, 327
Crinum 172
crispum .. , 172
crispus 304
cristatus 1, 90, 92, 98, 124, 501
crocale 51, 320, 321, 444
Crocodilns 102, 108, 116, 126
Crocopus 96, 99
crocuta 457, 4G9
craciatus 245
Cryptatithus 172
Cucifera 272
Cnculus 90
cnnoatum , 1G7
cunninghamii 172
Cupha 36, 437
Cupido 3G4
Cupitha 57
ouprca 170, 340
Cnpressns 400
Curuuligo 170
PAGE
Curculionidse 263
Curetis 49, 181, 442
Curmeria 170
Cursorius 15j 16, 18
cuspidat-us 193
cyane 36
Cyaniris 44, 177, 363, 440
Cyanophyllum 175
Cyclantheracese 169
cylindricum 190
cymbaria 217
Cymbidium 173, 422
Cynodon 480
Cynthia 438
Cypripedium 173, 422
Cypselus 89
Cyrestis 41, 358
Cyrtodeira 175
Cyrtomium 168
Cyrtosperma 170
Daboia 103
dactylon 480
Dalbergia 2(14
Dalchinia 410
dalhousiaimin 173
dan 53, 448
dana 46, 441
danae 324, 325
DauaioEO 411 — 413
Danais... 27, 29, 318, 323, 328 411—
413, 415, 435.
dara 57
daruka «. 354
dasahara 57, 391, 448
dauvica 88
Davallia 168
davallioides 168
decidea 47, 179, 441
Decrmis 105
deione , 33
Delias 51, 323, 445
Demiegretta , 145, 147
Dendrobium 173, 422, 423
Deudroclielidon 89
Dendrocygua 94, 99, 288, 289
dentata 49, 181
denticulatmn 168
deodara 400, 407
INDEX.
vu
I'AUK
Deramaa 361
derma 40
descombesi 51
Deudorix 377, 443
diadema 174
diaphanuui 165
Dicseum 338
Dicbocerps 333
dioruroidea ." 90
Dicrurns 90
Dieft'enbacbia 170
digitatum 166, 170
dilectus 364
dilutus 89
Dimeria 189
dimissus 20_,
diocles 396
dioica - ^'3
dioscorea - 166
dipetala 174
Dipladeuia 422
Dipsacea? 408
dirtaBa 40
discolor 165, 172
Discophora 36, 437
dissimilis 51, 328, 413, 446
dissoiuta 354, 356
Dissura 142
distans, 64, 211, 448
distorta 50
divergens 195, 196
dobroydense' 167
Doleschallia. 440
Dorema 400
dorippus 412
doson 446
Dracaena l'l
Draco 101
dravidarnm 446
Dromas 25
drona ■- 443
druna 55
Drupadia 50
Drjuaria 108
Dryobalanops 400
Dryophis 103, 420
dubia 22
duffii 168
dulce 1-4
l'A« E
dulois 124, 481
dutyudana 36
dussumieri 10,93, 99
duvancellii yG
Dypsis 169
dyrta , 34
ccherius 43
ecbiuafcum 192
ecbinatus , 190, 192
Echis 103, 450,452, 454—456, 503
Edolius 92
edule 157
edvrardsi 11
edwardsii 93, 99
egrettoides 95
elaps 103
elata 422
elatum 198
elegans 103, 169, 196, 443
elengi 478
ellioti 117
eloBgatnm 173
elpis 46, 178, 365—367, 441
Elynmias 36, 437
Elyniuimse 437
emeria ... ^ ... 61
emolus 45
emtallica 174
Engystomidas 102
epicles 49
Epidendmin ■ 173
epijarbas 443
Episcia 1'5
episcopa 142
epius...,. ■ 440
erecta 174, 182
Ergolis 36, 437
crichsonii 29
eriopborns 210
eriopoda 192
*eripbylre <• 353
Erismatura 126
eritbonius 54, 114, 328—330, 446
erybis 50
erymantbis 36, 437
Erytbra 138
Erytbrina 274
rytbronotus 90, 269
VU1
INDEX.
PAGE
erytbrorbyncbus 8, 338
eryx • 8^6
Esacus 16, 19, 24
esculentuin 168
ethion 47, 441
etolus *-6°» 442
Equus 457, 467
Eucbaris 172
eucharis 323, 324, 444, 445
Eucbloe 324
eudamippns 41
Eugenia 157
eulophia 174
eumolphus 3/3, 374
Euplcea...27, 29, 328, 412, 413, 415, 435
Euplceinse 435
Eupoditis 93, 99
Eupodotis 11
Enripus 437
europa 27, 34, 436
Eurycles 172
euryjnene 38
eurypylus 54
Euterpe • 169
Eutbalia 40, 350, 352, 353, 439
evelina 40, 439
Everes 45, 178, 441
exaltata 194
excavata 443
excelsa 256, 405
excisum 167
exclamationis 54, 446
extranea 231
exustus 92, 98
fabius 42, 440
fsetidus 69, 71
Falcinellus 153
farinosa 168
farleyense 166
f arri 56
farquhari 374
. fasciatus 92, 98
fascicularis 202
Fasciolaria 263
fastigiatus 201
favcolatus 202
Ida; 475, 499
Felis 457, 471
ferrea 374
PAGE
ferrierense 170
ferrugineus 93, 98, 239
Ferula 401
festivus 336
Ficns 157
fijiensis 168
filicifolia 166
fllifera , 88
filiformis 189
fistula 321, 485
Fittonia 175
flabelliformia , 271, 272, 486
flammatra 233
flavala 62
flavicollis 91, 147
flavipennis 58
flaviventris 61, 62
flavocincta , 379
fleniiugii 167
*fcetidus 205—206, 207
folus 58, 448
fotans 221
formosa 194
formosum 167, 173
fovcolatus 201
fragrans 222
Francolinus 45, 93, 99
fraterna 444, 445
fraxinea 155, 168
freja 50
frivaldszkyi 374, 375
frondosa 107, 273
frontalis 224, 227—228, 229
fulgens 172, 360, 361
fulgida 175
Fulica 136
fuliginosa 299, 302
fulva 289, 50
furcans c 168
furcifer 238
fuscescens 189
fiibcicollis 305
fuscula 397
tuscus 89, 92
gcea 53, 323, 445
gaika 44, 177, 178
galanga 170
g;ilba 448
INDEX.
xx
PAGE
aurifttia 401
■'t^
Gallicrex 124, 137
gallicus 1*>
Galliuago 303
j.:illinaria, 303
Gallinula 138
Galloperdi* 3, 4, <;3, 98, 340
Gallua 2, 93, 98
jambrisiaa ...... 39
gamra 44, 441
Gangara 447
geticaa 102
gajrada 40, 353, 354, 439
gartetta... 95, 143, 144, 147
gaums 90, 222
Gavacus 223, 228
gavosua ... -*-<«>
Gavialis 1°2
Gavceus 96
Gazella 96, 457—461
Geobonidas 102
Gecinus 89
gelastea 2S31
Gelecbia »••« 233
geniculatum 197
genntia • • 29, 435
Gecnctna 169
Gesnera « 175
Gesneracias l'a
Gerydca - • 43
gibbosa 194, 195
gidarba • *"
giganteara. 174
glaber 203, 450
glabrats - 212
glabr&tas "*-u
Glareo 1°6
Glareola 17-19, 303
glaucippe 58, 444
glaucopsis 203
glomerata 157
gloriosum • 1'"
gloxinia 175
glynm.catacfeiu.ia 175
gnoma 51, 321, 322, 444
godartii 27,32, 33
goensis 89
goisakiiz3 340
TAGS
gola , » 57
gracilo 167
gracilis 190, 345
graoillirttuiH 167
graminifolius 169
granatutn 183
graudeloapeuse 124
grandinora 174
grandifolhini 270
grandis 485, 486
granella 239
granulans 196
Graucalus 90
grayi 143, 146, 147
gremius 57, 447
grewia 180
griseus 147, 149, 334
gruimiens 225
Grus 129
grylls ....... ■ 212
gryllns 218
guava .., 183
gularies .. 145, 147
gularia 335
Gymnogramme 167
Gymncpogon 204
Gymnopteis 168
Habenaria 173, 174
hackelii 71, 207
haimacephala 336, 337
halapense 214
balapensis 214, 215
Halcyon 89, 92, 333, 487
Halpe 57, 388, 447
hamada 44
Hamadoraceos 172
hampsoni 46
bardwickii 02. 63, 89, 90
harina 51, 319
barisa 54
barpax 42
Hasora 446
bierax 42
Hierococeyx 90
Hieroglpbus 238
hierta 37, 438
bierte 51
INDEX.
PAGE
Himantopns 132
Riposcritia 53
Hipparcbia 35
Hippeastrum I'l
bippia 323
hippocla 354
hippoclns 41, 354
hippoides 444
hirtns 200
Hirundo 88
Hispa 241
hispidnlum 167
Hobomoia 53, 444
hecabe 51, 318, 319, 443
hecabeoides 443
hector 329, 330, 414, 415, 446
lleilyscepe 1G9
helenore 48
helenus 54, 446
Helicoiiia 170
Heliothia 240
hellenore 374
Hemipus 339
Hemixos 62
hempricbi 292
Herodias 95, 143, 144, 147
Hesperia 59, 448
nesperiidro 54, 377, 396, 446
Hestia 435
heteroclita 217
beteroclitus 217
Hoteropterus « 393
Heterospatbe .. 1G9
Heterpogon 199, 200, 201, 208
hewitsoni 43, 361
hodsoni 335
Hoffmannia ,, 175
hobenacberi ." 189
holcus 214, 216, 217
Holeus , 216
Hologamium 199
Hiimalomenas ,... 170
hookeri 67
bopei 33
hordonia 37, 438
ifieldi 339
borsfieldii 43
hotientota , 269
Houbara 12
TAGE
Howea 169
howra 35
Hoya 422
buebneri 35, 436
*hugelii .' 69, 71
hiigelii 205, 207
humilis 202
Huphina 53, 322, 324, 444
hyacinthina 173
Hyasna 457, 469, 471
Hyarotis 58, 448
hybrida 170
hydrocotylaefolia 174
Hydrophasianus 134
liylax I ,
Hymenoptera , US
Hypauartia 354
bypatia 354, 356
Hypboena 271, 272
hy|)oleucos 131
Hypolimnas 39, 411, 412, 415, 43S
Hypolycasna 50
Hyposcritia 414
Hypotanidia 141
Hypoxidea9 170
byppoda 354, 355
hyppoclus 351
bypselis 356—358
Hypsipetes , 60 — 63*
Hymenocallis 172
* byrie 388
iapis 384
Ibis .151, 153
igneus 153
Ilerda 49
Uiades 446
imberbe 197
imberbis 457, 4H5
imna 440
Imperata 190
imperialis .- 30, 174
inachis 41
* inarime 391
inarina 439
incana 263
indica...51,96,117, 133,270,274, 324,
401, 409, 439
INDEX.
XI
PAGE
indieum 270
indicus, IS, 22, Si), 91, 96, 133, 225, 228
indigofera 30
indra 50, 442
indrani 58, 448
Inga 124, 481
Inocotis 152, 153
insignia 201, 340, 390
insulnris 305,307
intermedia 95, 99, 143, 144, 147
intermedium 107
intermedins 67—69, 202, 203
interruptus 47
Iole (>0
iphita 36, 438
Iraota 47, 180, 441
Irene *• 61
iriensis 435
irmse 358
Ischaamum 190, 197, 199; 204
ischaemum 69, 202, 209
lscilema 217
Isma 3J1
Ismene 54, 440
ismene 35, 39, 437
isocrates 183, 443
Isoteinon 57, 384
lssilema 218
iwarancusa ,.66, 211
Ixalus 450
Isias 52, 324
Ixora... , 422
jaffra 442
jahnu 40
jaina 446
jama 390
jambolaua 1°'
Jamides 46,178, 367, 441
jarbas °0
jardinea 196
Jasminum 4/8
jasoda 361
javanica 106, 146, 147, 288, 417
javanicus 303
jehana 182, 442
jerdoni 62, 339
jhora 447
johnstouii , 1'"
PAGE
jondei'a 9, 93, 9(j
jumbah .. 438
Juniperns 400
Jnnonia 28, 37,438
jnnonia 430
Jurinea 400, 407
justiua 436
jynteana 44
Kasmpferia 170
kalamita 495
kallaura 438
Eallima 4, 180, 439
kamarupa 38
bankena 365—307
Karatas 172
Keneuxia 449
Kerana 59
khamti 372
khasiana 39, 41, 58, 351, 352
khasianus 04
kinkurka 300
*kirata 344
kirkii 170, 463
klugii 29
kollari 4,35
kondulaua 305, 366, 367, 368
kudu 457, 463
kumara 389
knndoo 319
kuntzeanus 08, 69
Labiatae 452
lacbea 17, 19, 100, 303
Laolia 172, 422
laeta 51, 319, 443
laevigata 165
lahtora 90
laius ...44, 176, 440
lalage 53, 444
Lampides 46, 178, 179, 364, 441
lanceolaria 205
lanceolatus 192
lancifolius 192
langi 34
laniger 66, 210, 211
lanigora 235
Lanius 90, 105, 269
lankana 443
xia
INDEX.
PAGE
Laogona 354—357
lappa 400
lams 292, 293
Lastrasa ..... 168
Latania 169
latifolia 265
latimargus ..384—367
iatmanni . 198
Lauras 400
laxiuscula „ 190
laxmi > 382
laxnm ..199, 204, 218
laxus 215
laznlina 443
lea . 53
Lebadea «. 89
Leda 35, 437
Leguminosas 124, 264, 265, 274
Lehera 376
leitzii 171
lemonias 37, 438
Lemoniida? .„ 43
leo 457, 471
lepclia 33
lepida 437
lepidea 40, 439
Lepidoptera 393
leptopadix , 169
Leptosia 443
Lepus 96
Lethe 27, 34, 436
Leucania 231
leucocephala 128
leucocepkalua 149
leucocera 58, 59, 448
lencorodia 150
leucotes , 61
libera 43
Libythea , 43, 440
libythea ........52, 443
lilacinus 39
Liliaceae 171
limbatua 440
limborgii 41
Limeuitis 39, 350
limetta 114
Linmas 435, 438
littniace 29, 323, 328, 435
Limuinso 435
7AGIP
Jindenium ,, 170
linnaei 32
Homed on 446
Liphjra 176
liguidamber 400, 406
litbargyria 46
Litbocrauina 4QQ
Litobrocbia 108
livens 36I
lividns 67
LobipluTia 23
Lobivanellua 18, 22, 133
Lobocla 3S3
Loesa 342— 34 i
lohita 49, 442
Lohora 342
Lomariabagiba 168
iocgiflorum 172
longifolia 400, 401, 407
longiloba 170
longinns 178, 182, 442
longirostra 337
Lophopogon 201
Loricnlus..... 269
lotenia 33s
lowii..... 170
loxura 50, 182, 443
labeutina 40, 439
lacina 354, 355
luddemannii ... „ 107
luuulatum , 167
limulatus 4, 93, 98
latescens Ki9
Lycasna 374,
LycsEnestbes 45-
Lycaenidge 43, 175, 360, 440
lycaenina 45
Lycastes 172
Lycastis 422
Lycopodium 168
Lygodium 166
Lygosoma 449
lysimon 44, 178
macei 90
machaon 328
^mackinnonii , 348
macrocepbala 400, 407
niacrocercus 90
INDEX.
Mil
PAGE
mncropbthalma 441
macropbyllum 16G
ropoda 400
macrorhiza 270
maculata 171, 174, 435, 442
maculatuB 96
macqneeni ,■ 12
maculosum 173
msecenaa 180, 441
msenalis 358, 359
maDsoides 447
mseviua 57, 447
Magiria 241
magnifies 175
maha 177, 178
mahesa 40, 439
mabintba 54
mahratta , 438
mabrattensis 89
Mainsuris 195
malabai-ica 23, 336, 399, 435
malabaricus 339
malaccensis 404
Rlalacocercus 91
malacophyllum 197
malacophyllus 198
malanoleucos 90
malaya , 44
malayica 49
malcolmi 1
malsara 34
Mancipium 51
mandata 436
niandosa 436
mangala 55
mangaluricnm 197
mauicata 174
manillensis 3O4
Manisuris 196
Maranta 171
Marattia i55j 168
marginata, 485, 486
marginatum 168
marianne 324
marmorata 166
maro 57, 447
maroccannus 245
marshalli
437
ruartabana , 39
PAGE
martonsii , 168
Martinezia 169
martini 205, 211
Masdevallia 172, 422
masoni 58
Massaga 360, 361
masu 366
Matapa 54, 447
mathias 55. 447
Maxillaria 172
mecisteus 54
media 299
medica 114
meena 95, 99, 100
Megisba , 44
*meiktila 57, 386
mekara... 34
melachistos 90
melampus 50, 51, 183, 443
Melanitis 27, 35, 437
melannotus 94, 99
melanocepbala 151
melanocepbalus 153
melanocorne 244
melanogaster 153, 305, 306
melanogastra 19, 295, 303
melanoides 27 29
melanolophus 34O
melanosfcietus 495
melauotus ^ , 286
Melastornaceae ,, ... 175
Memecylun 157
Memina H7
Meminna ,.,.. 96
Menelaides 446
menaka 58
Meoschium 197
merione 36, 437
Merops 89, 269, 332, 426
mertensii 167
mesentina 322, 324, 444
mestor 53
miah 38
micans .• 193
Michelia 478
Micnopternus 335
Miconia 175
micrantbus 69
Microperdix 8, 93, 99
XIV
INDEX.
PAGE
microphyllum 106
microphyllus 192
microptera 90
TMicropus 61
microstachya 218
tnicrosticta 33
microstictum 386
migratorius 2-15
Miltonia 422
Mimusops - 478
mineus 33, 34, 344, 436
minima , 337
minor 28b", 291
minos 445
minuta , 22, 149, 393
minutus 131
*miosticta 385
misippus 39, 411, 412, 438
mitiacens 207
mnasicles 34
Moduza 439
molle 192
mollicomus 208
mollis 192
Molpastes 60, 61
moluccana 400
molurus , 424
monospevma 265
monostachyus , 201
montanus 203, 213
monteithi 380
montioola 213
monticolus 89
moreli , 172
Morina 400, 408
Moringa 219-221
*moriDganus 219, 220
morpheas 393
Morphinsa 344
multindum 167
multinora 174
mundulum 167
muuja 191
muricatus 67, 207
MuricidsB 263
Mulilla 118
Mutillidao 118
Mycalesis 33, 341, 342, 436
mycrophyilus , , 192
PAGK
mycterizans 103, 424
Myiagra 91
myrrha . 43, 440
*Myrti]us 341
*mystes 34, 342, 343
Nacadnba 45, 178, 441
Xaia 103
nama 53, 444
namouna 36
nandina 39
* nar 349
nara 47
naradoides 180, 441
Narathura 374
nardoides 212
nardus 64, 65, 205, 211
narendra 444
Narmada 436
uarooa 417
naso 457, 458, 461
uazo 461
*nea?ra 379
neelgherriensis 436
Nemeobiinse 410
neo-guinense — 167
Neope 34
neophron 43
Neopithecops 43, 440
Neotragus 457, 462, 463
nepalensis 204
Ncpheronea 53, 323, 444, 445
Nephrodium 168
Nephrolepis > 1('8
Neptis 27, 37, 349, 356, 438
nervosum 199
Netrocoryne 383
Nettapus 94. 99
Nettopus 287
Niehitonia 318
nictitatans 428, 429
nidus 168
nigra 90
nigriceps 90
nigricollis 96, 292
nigrolimbata "I
nilagiriensis 444
nilgiriensis .••• 435
niphe « ^^
INDEX.
XV
TAGE
Nissanga ... 436
nivalis 359, 300
nivea 359, 3(50
nobiJe 173
MoC Mrs 231
nomius ...54, 330, 4J6
Notocrypta 58, 379, 382, 418
notubilis 265
nucifera Ist'
nudum 193
nudua 193
nutans 200
Nychitona 51
Nyctantbea 479
Nycticorax 147, 149
Nyctiornis 333
Nymphalidaa 29, 341, 356, 413, 435
Nymphalinas 346, 413, 437
nyseus 45, 441
obliquivalvia 198
;irus 448
obsoleta 447
obtusns 210
oceia = 55
ochrocepbalus 61
Oohropleara «... 233
Ocimum 478
oculus 436
Ocyeeros „ 33i
Odontoglossum 172, 422
Odontoptilnm. 448
odorata 207
odoratum 173
odoratus 68, 69, 203— 2C5
odorus 222
GEcoplulla 124
CEdicnemns 297
officanarum 190
officinale 106
officinalis 400, 405
olbia 74
olivascens 59, 396
olivieri 210
Oncidium ... 172
onocrotalns 303
onpape 54
ophiaua 39
Ophiophagua 103
Opkiopogon 172
PAOE
Ophiurua 193
Oreotragus 457, 467
orientals 168. 416
orientalia 17, 18, 400, 406
Oriolua 61, 319
orithyia 37, 438
ornatnm 170
ornithopoda 189
Ornitboptera 53, 415
Orpheides ... 41-6
orseis 50
Orsotrisena 436
Ortygomia 7,93, 99
Oryx 457,466,467
oscitans 151
osias 305
othona 50
otis 44,178,440
Otoccmpsa 61, 63
Ovis 187, 278
pachnodes 211
pachyarfchua 202
Pachytylus 215
Paclemma 435
Fadraona 57, 417
psecilorhyncha 2'.I0
palawana 383
Paleornis 334,
Pallinea 198
palustris 102, 108, 117, 126
pammon 329, 446
Pancratium 172
Pandaneaa 169
Pandanas 169
pandava 28, 46, 179, 441
2^aniculata 265
paniculigera 172
pandiyana 446
panope 328, 413
Papilio, 53, 114, 325, 354, 413, 414, 445
Papilionid:s 51, 318, 413, 443
Papilioniuaa 53, 325, 445
papillosus 152, 153
radiseus 90
paradisi 91
Paradoxurus 428, 429
paraganeea 369
Paragerydus , ,., 43
XVI
INDEX.
PAGE
Paralitica 435
Parantirrhaea 437
Parata 54, 447
pardina I'l
paris 54
Parnara 55, 384, 388, 447
Parra 133
Parthenos 39, 439
parvata 352
parviflorus 450, 456, 503
parysatis 36
pnsithoe "1
Passer 91
Passiflora 166
patchouli 450
Pathysa 445
paalina 53, 322, 444
Pavo 1, 92, 98
pediada 360, 362
Pelecanus 303, 304
Pellaea 168
Pellionia 175
pelzelui 462
pembertoni 29
pentadactylon 166
Peperomia 175
Perdicula 7, 8, 99
peregrinum 242, 416
peregrinus 90
perforata 193
perforatus 193
perfossus 202
Pericrocotus 90
Perilla 45L
Peristeria 422
perius 40, 439
perse 443
perseus 33, 436
persica 456
pertusus 67, 69, 202, 209
peruvianum 166
petiolare 198, 199
petiolaris , 198, 199
petiolatus 199
petosiris ..., 50
Petraceros 96
Phacochoerus 457, 468
PhaBnicopterus 285, 286
phaenicura 138
PAGE
Phajus 174
Phalacrocorax 304, 305
Phalaenopsis 1?4
ptalantha 36, 438
pharyge 361
pheretia 362
pheretria 362
phidippus. , 437
philarchus 439
philatus 365, 368
philetus 368
philippensis 89
philippinua 303, 304
Philodendron 166, 170
philomela 35
phisara 58
Phlangium 171
phcsnicopterua 96, 99
Phoenix 169
phryne 53,322, 324, 444
Phyllornis 339
picatus 339
picrardi 173
pictus 5, 96, 93
Picus 89
pierirloides 377
Pierinas 51,318, 443
pillosuni 199
pilosus 199
Pinanga 169
pingasa , 445
Pinus 256, 400, 401, 407
Piperaceas 175
rithecolobium 124
Pithecops 43
Pitta 91
Placeria 263
placenta 263
placida 44
plagiosa 37, 438
Platalea 150
platanifolia 174
Platanthera 173
plectrauthoides 450
Pleopeltis 168
Plesioneura 380, 382, 384
Pleuroplitis 193
Pleurotus 219
plinius •« 47, 179
INDEX.
xvu
PAGE
Plotus 153,305, 306
pluinbea 193
plumosa 168, 109
plumosus 171
Potliceps 291,292, 501
podopkylla 108
poekilorhyncha 94, 99
Pogostemon 450, 156, 503
Poiuciana 71
Poivrea 422
poli 278
polibete .... 440
poliocephalus 135
Polliuia.. 192, 204
polymnestor. 325. 327, 446
Polyominatus 47, 79, 411
Polypkasia 90
Polypodium 168
polystachius 201
polytes 53, 329, 330,414, 415
Pomatorhinus 339
pondiceriana 7,90,93, 99
pondicerianus , 102, 339
Poritia 43, 360—362
porosus 102,116, 117
Porphyrio 135
Portax 96
portii . 170
Porzana 139, 140
Pothos 166
potina 360, 361
pratincola 17, 18
Pratincola 337
pratti ... 375
pravara 40
precatoriua , 274
Precis 36, 438
princeps , 171
procris 39, 439
prorepens 197
prostata 217
prostrata 218
proximus 211
pruuosa 440
psaroides 62
pscndelpia 365
pseudevanthe 444
pseudomsesa 447
Psidium 183
PAGE
Psilostachys 189-
Psolos 396, 397
Psoralea 328
Pteris 168
Pterocles 92, 98
pterygosperma 219-221
* pugnans 384
pugnax 93, 99
pulcherrima 71
pulligo 396, 397
pumilus ■• 202
punctatus 202, 203
puncticollis 336
punica 183
pura 46, 366
purendra 391
purpurascens 450
purpurea 95, 143, 147
purpureo-sericeum 215
purpuricaulis 452
purreea 52, 57
puspa 44, 177, 440
pygmgea 33
pygmseus 305
Pyrameis 439
pyramus 51
pyranthe 51, 321, 322, 444
pyrene 52, 324
Python 424
quadricornis 96
quartiauus 193
quercetorum 47, 442
Quercus 263
quiiiticolor 332
rahria 41
rama 48, 372, 440
raruosissimum 199
Rana 103
Ranidce 102
ransotmetii 394, 448
Rapala 50, 183, 376, 443
Raphidopliora 166
Rathinda 443
ravi 58
rectivitta 377
recurva 400
recur rata 170
'.VI 11
INDEX.
PAGE
recurvirostris 16, 19, 24, 303
* refulgens 376
regalis >> 171
regina 33
relata 438
remba 444
Eeptilia 100
restricta 58, 418
rex 174
rliadamanthus 53
Ehaphis 213
Ebinopalpa 41
rbizopborus 192
Ebodonessa 290
Ebopalostylis • 169
Ebyncbasa 130
Ebyncbopborus ... 239
Ehynchops 19, 106, 302
ricbardsiana 174
risorius 95, 99, 100
robusta 241, 400
roezlii 165
rogenboferi 29
Eobana 438
robria 34
rosimon 47,179, 441
rostrata 219
rotang 77
rotata 172
Bottbasllia 193, 195
Eottboallia 193, 194, 196
rotunda .. 170
roxburgbi 174
royleanus 212
rubella , 168, 174,319, 443
Bnbiaceffi 175
Eucervus 96
rugosum 196. 197
Buminantia 184
runeka S3
rupicola 169
Eusa 96
Eussella 221
russellii , 103
rustica 88
saccharatum , , 217
saccbaratus 217
. t in ni 7U, 190
PAGE
Saccolabium 174, 422
saitis , 436
Salatura 435
saloma 438
salsala 59, 447
saltatrix 457, 467
Salvadora 456
sanctum 478
*Sancus 395-397
sankara 350
Sautalum 400
sara , 76
Sarangesa .....57, 391, 418
Sarcidiomis, 286
sari 52
Sarkidiornis 94, 99
sarpedou 54
sasivarna. 55
Satarupa 58
*sati 391
Satsuma ... 374
sattanga 37, 38
satwa 58
Satyrinse 436
saundersi 297, 301
saundersii 172, 1/4
Saussurea 400
savara 35
scabrum 172
scandens 166, 209, 217
scaposa 170
sceptra 174
Scbajnanthuni 211
scbasnantbus 65, 66
Scbismatoglottis 170
scbistacea 50,183,443
Scbizandra , 166
Scbizocasia 170
Scbizonenra... 235
scboenantbus 211
scbreiberi 440
Scincidas 102
Scindapsus 166
Scitarnincas 170
scolopax 25, 297
scopas 393
scrofa ••• 278
secundum 173
sedeva • 350—35-
INDEX.
xix
PACK
Seena 106
seena 19, 294, 303
segetum 233
Ha 105, 168
selenophora 40, 439
selloum 170
lamora 56
Iccumbcns 190
semisngitatum 197, 199
seruperflorens 174
senegalensis 95, 99, 100
septentrionis . ••• 29, 435
serrata 400, 401
scrratus 208
serrnlatus 213
sesqnipedale 173
shal^'rama 55
Shorea 400, 409
siguata 380
silhetensi3 48
Simiskina 360
sinensis 88, 148
sitiha 36
* sinis 3d/
Sinningia 1'5
Sinthusa 443
sissoo -uo
smaragdina 124
smyrnensis 333, 487
sceinmerringii 457, 460
soma ■«= 39
somalicus 457,467
sondaicus.:.223, 224, 226, 227, 229,
230.
Sonerila 422
sonncrati 2
sonneratii 03, 98
Sorghum 214, 215
sorghum 215', 216
■liceus , 3,93, 9S, 340
Spalgis 44°
Spathiphyllum ■ 1"°
speciosa 172
specioses ^0
epeciosum 166
spectabilis 169, 1*2
speekii 4o2
Sphaarostema 1^6
spiloptera 36
PAGB
spinosa 264, 265
Spizizus 60
Spodi'opogon 192,197—199
spontaneum 190
sprengelii 213
spretus 245
Stanhopea 172
Stauronotus 245
Stegosia 194
Sterna 19, 106, 293, 294—303
Steropes 393
stocksil 265
strabo 46, 179, 411
Strepsiceros 457, 463, 465
striata 141, 457, 471
striatus 63
strictus 202
striolatus 89
Strobilanthus 338
Strymon 376
Sturnopastor 91
Styras 400, 405
squarosus 207
squarrosus 67
Suastus 57, 447
suaveis 450
* subcaernleum 419
subdita 32, 365, 366, 368
subfasciatus 395 — 397, 447
subrepens 203
subtestaceus 57
succinctum 244, 245
suffusa , 43, 233, 440
sugriva 443
suidas 365
sulcatum 199
sultaneus 89
sultianus 463
sumatrensis 358
superbiens 423
sura 448
suratensis 95, 99, 100
surculosa 171
Surendra 47, 442
surga 443
Surniculus 90
Sus 96, 278
susanna3 173
swinhoei 438, 443
XX
INDEX.
PAGE
syama 49
sykesii 90
sylvicola ... 338
Symbrenthia... 41, 354, 356
symetbus 43
sympathetica 205
Sympbaadra 40
Sypheotides 13, 94, 99
syrichtbus 58
tabnran 1
Tagetes , 182
Tagiades 58, 392, 393. 396, 397, 448
taigoor 9
Tajuria 50, 178, 435, 442
talboti 195
Talicada 45, 441
*allira 400, 409
Tanaecia 352
tanbervillaa 174
Tantalus 149
Tapena 58, 382, 384
taprobana 437
Taractrocera ...57, 447
Taraxacum 106
Taraka ,„ 44
Taramix 273
Tarncus 46; 179
tanrus 225
taylorii 394
Tchitrea 91
Tecoma ; 106
Telchinia 437
Telicota 57, 447
tenellum , 197
tenellus , 209
tenera 189
tenerum 166
Tcphrodornis 90, 338
teredon 446
teres 174
Terias 51, 318, 443
torricolor 91
tetraphyllum , 167
thais 438
fcbebaica .....272, 273
Theola 374—376
Tbelepogon 196
theophrastus 46, 179
PAGE
thetig -^g.
tbibautiana _ 179
Tbunia yiA
Thrinax jgg
Thriponax 335
thwaitesi gg 353
tbyodamas 41
tbyrsis 447
Ticberra gp
tiga
tigrina
38
103
timoleon 47 f 441
timorense
198
Tinea 900
Tirumala..., , # 435
Tockus 334
todara 436
to0na ■ 56, 447
torra.
143
torqnilla , gg
tornlosa „ 490
tounguva 49
Tracbycomns 6]
trapeziforme 160
travancorica 434 437
*travancoricus 450
tremula 217
tridentata 201
tridentatus 201
trifurcata 182
trifasciata 160
trigonocepbalus 101
Trimeresurus ■ 101
Tringoides 131
trinii 213
*tripura 392, 393
tristacbius 192
tristacbya 192, 204
tristis 91, 105
triticens , 201
trivictis 213
trocbilus 44, 177
trogon 374
Tubeea 109
Turnix 9, 10, 93, 99
Turtur 95, 99, 100
typicus 193
nbaldus 44, 45
TJdaspes 58, 448
INDEX.
XXI
PAGE
ulunda 396, 397
uncinata 165
undularis 36
unguis 124
Ungulata 184
Uitioaceae 175
utilis 169
vacans 444
Vanda 174, 422
Vanessa 41, 354, 356, 439
Vanilla 422
Yaranida? 102
Varanus 421
Variegatum 171, 215
varius 90
varmona 38, 438
vasuki 41
Vateria 401, 409
veitchii.. 173
venata 52
verecunda . 1'3
veneris 167
ventricosa 272
veratrifolia 173
vernalis 269
verrucosum 166
versicolor 65
verticillatus 213
vestita , 173
Vetiveria 207
victorias 117, 167
Vilaite '. 82
villatus 105
villosa 218
villosum 197
villosus , 69, 197
vindhya 34
vinosa ... 170
violaceum 170
violae 437
Vipera 103
Virachola 183, 443
viraja 38, 438
Virapa 436
virens , 439
PAGE
viridis 89, 269, 426
viridissima 374
visala 436
Vitis 165
vittatns 447
vogeli 168
Volvocivera 90
vulcanus 382, 442
vulgare 214, 216
vulgaris 4, 93, 99, 117, 118, 495
walleri 457, 459, 460
wallichii 174
wardi 439
wardii 444
watsonii 57, 388
wedelliana 169
wightii 193, 215, 217, 218
wilisianum 167
willdenowii 165, 168
Xanthelasma 336
Xanthosoma ... 170
Xenorhynchus , 141
xiphia 51, 318, 443
xiphiones 351, 352
Yphthima 35, 436
ypthimoides 436
Yungipicus 89
Yunx 89
zalmora 43, 440
Zarona 361
zebra 59
zebrina 171, 172
zelmira... -• 53
zelonica 337
Zeltus 50, 442
Zesius 181, 442
Zetides 446
zeylanicum 172
Zinaspa 50
Zipaetis 436
zitenius 36
Zizera ... H 177, 440
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
YOr/UXTCE: 1TX.
PAGE
Aitken, E. H; The Migrations of Birds. 268
Protection of Larvae ... 489
Anonymous; The Temper of Animals. 849
J. A. B.; The Butterflies of the
Central Provinces 175, 318
Baker, E. C. S. j The Genus Chlo-
ropsis 59
Bahnes, Lieut. H. E., F. Z. S. ;
Nesting in Western India. (With
three Plates) 1, 129, 2S5
Barton, E. L. ; A Panther eating a
Panther 274
Blanford, W.T., F.R.S., F.Z.S. ;
On the Gaur (Bos gaums) and its
allies 222
Boulenger, G. A. ; Description of a
new species of Lizard obtained by
Mr. R. L. Ferguson in Travancore,
Southern India 449
; Description of a
new species of Frog obtained by
Mr. H. S. Ferguson in Travancore,
Southern India 450
Bulkley, H. ; The Crested Grebe
breeding in India 501
Carstensen, G. ; Curious instance
of abnormal inflorescence of Caosal-
pinia, (Poinciana) pulcherrima.
(With a Plate.) 71
; Landscape Gardening
in Native States , 72
■ ; Pithecolobium ungnis ... 124
; Bombay Ferneries 153
; Doum Palms in India 271
; A Gall on Tamarix dioica 273
■ ; A variety of Butea fron-
dosa 273
Cotes, E. 0. ; Agricultural Entomo-
logy 230
■■ ; The Locust of North-
western India (Acridium pere-
gr'mum). (With a Plate.) 242
PAGE
Cotes, E. C ; The Natural Enemies of
the Locust 4is
Dalgado. D. G. ; Dalbergia spinosa... 264
DAVtDscN, J., Bo. C. S.j Notes on
Nidification in Kanara 331
Davies, C. A. W. ; A Man-eating
Panther 108
Dyhock, W., Brigade-Surgeon, Re-
tired ; Alocasia macrorhiza 270
; Substances used as
Incense in the East 399
' ; On the value of the
plant Pangala (Pogostemon parvi-
florus) in cases of bites by the Phursa
Snake (Echis carinata) 450
Ferguson, H. S. ; Distribution of
Indian Crocodiles 116
; Victoria Crown Pigeons
In- ee ding in confinement 117
; Indian Otters 117
; The breeding of Snakes ... 420
; A fasting Snake 424
; A List of the Butterflies of
Travancore 432
Gave, W. ; Snipe Shooting in the
neighbourhood of Secunderabad ... 418
Gilbert, Reginald; A Man-eating
Bear 276
Griffith, Frank ; Bombay Ferneries. 421
Haly, A; A new method of preserv-
ing and mounting Zoological speci-
mens 489
Hakt, Mrs.W.E ; Protective Mimicry. 410
Hewett, H. M. ; Has the Bakri a
keen sense of smell ? 497
Hexton, W. S. ; The protection of
Game in Sind 487
Hore, W. S.; Lieut.-Colonel; Taming
a Heron 417
Inverarity, J. D. ; Notes on the Mam-
malia of Somali Land. (With six
Plates.) 457
LIST OF C0XTR1BUT0RS.
XXUl
PAGK
Jackson, H. St. John; Bombay Fern-
eries 423
; landscape Gar-
dening in Native States 478
James, H. E. M. ; The protection of
Game in Sind 487
Sutton— Jones, Capt. G. ; Harpoon-
ing Crocodiles 107
Tuan Kechil ; Tigers in Sumatra ... 496
Kirtik ak, Surgeon-Major K.R..I.M.D.,
Notes on a rare Fungus found
groiving on the Drumstick tree.
(With a Plate.) 219
Le'vf.ille', F. H.; Concerning the
presence of the Taraxacum offici-
nale in the Nilgherries 106
Light, Captain R. ; The temerity of
Rats 2G4
Lisb^, Dr. J. C, P. Z. S. ; Bombay
Grasses , 189
Lisboa, Mrs. J. C. ; A list of the
Odoriferous Grasses of India, with
a description of a new species of
Anrtropogon 64
Mackenzie, Colonel Kenneth; Me-
mory versus Reason in Cats 419
Morris, A. W„ F. Z. S.j On abnor-
mal horns of the Indian Antelope,
with some remarks on their pro-
bablecauses. (With a Plate.) 184
Nice'ville, Lionel de, F. E. S.,
CM. Z.S.; On new and little known
Butterflies from the Indo-Malayan
region. (With two Plates.) 341
; Branching Palms and
Tree-Ferns 486
Ommanney, H. T., Bo. C. S. ; A variety
of Bntea frondosa 107
PAGK
PhipsON, H. M. ; The breeding oj
SnaJces 420
Playpair, H. A. ; Memorandum on
Wolf -killing operations in 1891 ... 266
Richardson, W. St. John, Captain;
Price of Tigers' -skins, §"c, in Eng-
land 278
*■ ; Geographical Distribution
of the Pin-tail Snipe 488
Sage, Major C. A. R.; Leaf-Wee-
vils 263
Sinclair, W. F., Bo. C. S; Shingle
and Shells from the beach at Urn-
bargaum 262
Taylor, James ; Description of a new
species of P aim-Civet (Paradoxurus)
found in Orissa. (With a Plate)... 429
Tegetmeir, W. B; The poison of the
Toad 494
Ward, Colonel, K. C. E., C. I. E ; The
destruction of life by Wolves in
the Hoshangabad and Narsinghpur
Districts 265
Wasey, George K ; How the Monitor
or Ghorapad (Varanus bengalen-
sis) defends itself 421
Watson, E. Y. ; Notes on a collection
of Butterflies made in the Chin-
Lushai Expedition of 18^9-90 26
Woodrow, G. Marshall; The Culti-
vation of Oranges, Lemons, and
Figs in India \\\
— ; Note on Cassia grandis,
Linn, and C. marginata, Roxb 485
Wright, Fred.; The sagacity of the
Langoor 424
Wroughton, Robert C. ; Our Hyme-
noptera , ,,., H8
LIST OF PLATES.
VOH.TJME VI.
To face page
Eggs of Indian Birds > 1
Inflorescence of Ccesalpinia (Poinciana) pulcherrima 71
Eggs of Indian Birds 129
Abnormal horns of the Indian Antelope (Antelope bezoartica) 184
Agaricus (Pleurotus) moringanus 219
Acridium pereginum, with its transformations , 242
Eggs of Indian Birds 285
Indo- Malayan Butterflies, PL F 341
Indo-Malayan Butterflies, PI. Gr 341
Paradoxurus nictitans (Taylor) 429
Qazella walleri 459
Scemmerring's Gazelle (Qazella scemmerringii) 460
Gazella, nazo 461
The Koodoo (Strepsiceros kudu) ■.. 463
The Lesser Koodoo (Strepsiceros imberbis) , 465
The Klipspringer (Oreotragus saltarix) 467
THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
m . m . r» he rji» s;o w ,
Honorary Secretary.
WITH TWO ILLUSTRATIONS.
No. 1— VOL. VI.
PRINTED AX THE
EDUCATION SOCIETY'S PRESS, BYCCJLLA.
1891.
CONTENTS OF THISNUMBER.
PAGE
List of Members ..« i
Nesting in Western India. {Continued) {With a Plate.) By
Lieut. H. E. Barnes, F.Z.S 1
Notes on a Collection of Butterflies made in the Chin
Lushai Expedition of 1889-90. By E. Y. Watson 2«
The Genus Chloropsh. By E. C. S. Baker 59
A List of the Odoriferous Grasses of India, with a descrip-
tion of a New Species of Andropogon. By Mrs. J. C.
Lisboa 04
Curious Instance of Abnormal Infloroscence of Cjesalpinia
(Poinciana) pulcherrima (With a Plate)... 71
Landscape Gardening in Native States. By G. Carstensen,
Superintendent, Victoria Gardens, Bombay 72
List of Birds' Eggs in the Society's Collection on 1st January,
1891 83
The Preservation of Insectivorous Birds, Birds of Plumage,
and Game in the Central Provinces 87
Reviews of New Books —
" The Reptilia and Batrachia of India" 100
" Hume's Indian Oology " ]04
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Concerning the presence of the Taraxacum officinale in the
Nilgherries , • 206
2i — A Variety of Butea Frondosa 207
:i. — Harpooning Crocodiles.. 207
4. — A Man-eating Panther \ jq^
5. — The Cultivation of Oranges, Lemons, and Figs in India . ,111
ti# — Distribution of Indian Crocodiles 2l<;
7. — Victoria Crown Pigeons breeding in Confinement 117
8. — Indian Otters , 217
9. — Our Hymenoptera 2 18
Tboceedings jj£
The Proposed Introduction of Game into the neighbourhood of
Bombay „ ll9
Pithtcolobiitm unguis . 204
|lombag Jtaiitral gistarg J&rietg.
LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS.
prcsibcnt.
H. E. the Right Honorable Lord H\kkis.
lUcc-|)rcsibcnts.
Dr. D. MacDonald, m.d., b.s.c, cm.
The Hon'ble Justice Birdwood, m.a., ll.m. (Cantab.)
Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
Pott. &tratarg.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
Hon. & wasurer.
Mr. Andrew Murray.
€btfor.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
Panaghtg (KommitttJ.
The Hon. Mr. Justice Birdwood.
Dr. G. A. Maconachie.
Dr. D. MacDonald.
Mr. G. W. Vidal, cs.
Rev. F. Dreckmann, s.J.
Dr. T. S. Weir.
Dr. Kirtikar.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Mr. W.-S. Millard.
Mr. W. F. Sinclair, cs.
Mrs. W. E. Hart,
ifrajor W. S. Bisset, R.E.
Lieut. H. E. Barnes.
Mr. J. C. Anderson.
Mr. E. L. Barton.
Mr. Reginald Gilbert.
Mr. R. M. Branson.
Mr. G. Carstensen.
Mr. Andrew Murray, ex-officio.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, ex-officio.
1st Section.. — (Mammals and Birds.)
President— Mr. J. D. Inverarity."
Secretary — Lieut. H. E. Barnes.
2nd Section. — (Beptiles and Fishes.)
President— Mr. G. W. Vidal, cs.
Secretary— Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
3rd Section. — (Insects.)
President — Mr. L. de Niceville, f.e.s.., cm.z.s.
Secretary — Mr. E. H. Aitken.
4th Section. — (Other Invertebrata.)
President— Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
Secretary— Mr. J. C. Anderson.
5th Section. — (Botanij.)
President— The Hon'ble Justice Birdwood, m.a., ll.m. (Cantab )
Secretary— Surgeon K. R. Kirtikar, p.s.m. (France), f.b.c.s.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
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BOMBAY NATURAL
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Volumes : —
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BY
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BOMBAY.
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THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
H. M. PHIPSON,
Honorary Secretary,
WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS.
No. 2— VOL. VI.
Bomtiau:
PRINTED A.T THE
EDUCATION SOCIETY'S PRESS, BYCULLA..
1891.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
PAGE
Nesting in Western India. {Continued.) By Lieut. H. E. Barnes,
F.Z.S. (With a Plate.) ,. 129
Bqmbay Ferneries. By G. H. Carstensen, Superintendent, Muni-
cipal Gardens , .... 153
Tee Butterflies of the Central Provinces. Part IV.
By J. A. B 175
On Abnormal Horns of the Indian Antelope, 'with some
Remarks on their Probable Causes. ( With a Plate.) By
A. W.Morris, F.Z.S .. 184
Bombay Grasses. (Part IV.) By Dr. J. C. Lisboa, F.L.S 189
Notes on a rare Fungus found growing on the Drumstick
Tree. By Surgeon-Major K. R. Kirtikar, I.M D. (With a
Plate) 219
On the Gaur (Bos gaurus) and its Allies. By W. T. Blanford,
F.R.S., F.Z.S 222
Agricultural Entomology. By E. C. Cotes 230
The Locust of North-Western India. By E. C. Cotes.
(With a Plate) 242
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Shingle and Shells from the Beach at Unibargaum 262
2. — Leaf Weevils 263
3. — The Temerity of Rats 264
4. — Dalbergia spinosa 264
5. — The Destruction of Life by Wolves in the Hoshangabad and
Narsinghpur Districts 265
6. — The Migrations of Birds 268
7. — Alocasia macrorhiza 270
8. — Doum Palms in India 271
9. — A Gall on Tamarix dioica 273
10. — A Variety of Butea frondosa 273
11 —A Panther Eating a Panther 274
12. — A Man -killing Bear 276
13.— Price of Tigers' Skins in England, &c 27*
Proceedings 278
The Protection of Wild Birds and Animals 281
.tsments of Accounts from 1st January, 1890, to 31st
December. 1890 „ 283
^ombaii Natural pstorg j&radg.
LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS.
presto ntf.
H. E. the Right Honorable Lord Harris.
l*kc-|)vcsibe;ris.
Dr. D. MacDonald, m.d., r.s.c, cm.
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Birdwood, m.a., ll.m. (Cantab.)
Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
pott, ^tcittarg.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, c.M.z.s.
loir, treasurer.
Mr. Andrew Murray,
Qrbifcr.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, c.M.z.s.
HTanagw0 Committee*
The Hon. Mr. Justice Birdwood,
Dr. G. A. Maconachie.
Dr. D. MacDonald.
Mr. G. W. Vim, c.s.
Rev. F. Dreckniann, s.j.
Dr. T. S. Weir.
Dr. Kirtikar.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Mr. W. S. Millard.
Mr. W. F. Sinclair, c.s.
Mrs. W. E. Hart.
Major W. S, Bisset, R.E.
Lieut. H. E. Barnes.
Mr. J. C. Anderson.
Mr. E. L. Barton.
Mr. Reginald Gilbert.
Mr. R. M. Branson.
Mr. G. Carstensen.
Mr. Andrew Murray, ex officio,
Mr. H. M. Phipson, ex officio.
1st Section. — {Mammals and Birds.)
President — Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Secretary — Lieut. H. E. Barnes.
2nd Section. — (Reptiles and Fishes.)
President—Mr. G. W. Vidal, c.s.
Secretary — Mr. H. M. Phipson, c.M.z.s.
•3rd Section. — (Insects.)
President — Mr. L. de Niceville, f.e.s., c.M.z.s.
Secretary — Mr. E. H. Aitken.
4th Section. — (Other Invertcbrata.)
President — Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
Secretary— Mr. J. C. Anderson.
oth Section. — (Botany.)
President — The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Birdwood, M.A., ll.m. (Cantab.)
Secretary — Doctor K. R. Kirtikar, f.s.m. (France), f.r.c.s.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
ARTIFICIAL EYES
For Mounting
BIRDS AND ANIMALS.
ARSENICAL SOAP
AND
OTHER PRESERVATIVES.
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AND
SPECIMEN JARS.
KEMP & Co., Ld.,
Chemists, Bombay.
THE
BIRDS OF BOMBAY,
BY
LIEUT. H. E. BARNES.
Price Ra. 7.
Apply to HON. SEC,
Nat. Hist. Soc, Bombay.
BOTANICAL
DRYINC PAPER,
Especially Prepared
FOR
PRESSING PLANTS,
20' x 16'
Apply to HON. SEC,
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BOMBAY NATURAL
HISTORY SOCIETY.
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Journal can be obtained
from the Honorary
Secretary either in sin-
gle copies or in bound
Volumes : —
Price to Members. Rs. 1-4
ARSENICAL SOAP,
NAPTHALINE, CAMPHOR.
ENTOMOLOCICAL CORK,
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Chemists,
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OF
To others.
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AND
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AP PAR ATUS.
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AND
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PHILLIPS & CO., LD.,
BOMBAY & POONA.
INDIAN FERNS,
containing coloured
Plates of 33 Species.
BY
C, B. BAYNES,
THACKFIR & CO.,
BOMBAY.
All Requisites
FOE
TAXIDERMY
AND
ENTOMOLOGY.
Furnished by
TREACHER & Co., Lo„
Chemists, Bombat.
THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
M. M . PHIPSON,
Honorary Secretary.
WITH THREE ILLUSTRATIONS.
No. 3— VOL. VI.
iSomfcag:
PRINTED AT THE
EDUCATION SOCIETY'S PRESS, BYCULLA.
1891.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
♦
PAGE
Nesting in Westeen India. (Co?itinued.) By Lieut. H. E. Barnes,
F.Z.S. f With a Plate.) 285
The Butterflies of the Central Provinces. Part V.
By J. A. B \ 318
Notes on Nidification in Kanara. By J. Davidson, Bo. C.S. ... 331
On New and Little -Known Butterflies from the Indo-
Malayan Begion. By Lionel de Niceville, F.E.S., C.M.Z.S.,
&c. (With Plates F. and G.J 341
Substances usep as Incense in the East. By W. Dyinock,
Brigade -Surgeon, Retired 399
Protective Mimicry. By Mrs. W. E. Hart 410
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — The Natural Enemies of the Locust 416
2. — Taming a Heron 417
3. — Suipe Shooting in the Neighbourhood of Secunderabad 418
4. — Memory Versus Reason in Cats 419
5. — The Breeding of Snakes 420
<5. — How the Monitor or Chorapad ( Varanus bengalensis)
defends Itself 421
7. — Bombay Ferneries 421
8.— A Fasting Snake 424
9. — The Sagacity of the Langoor , 424
Proceedings — ,,, 425
^ombau ftntuntl ||tafoTg $ot\t%
%
LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS.
|) resident.
H. B. the Right Honorable Lord Harris.
i)icc-prcstbcnts.
Dr. D. MacDonald, m.d., b.s.c, cm.
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Birdwood, m.a., ll.m. (Cantab.)
Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
Ipoir. Smetarg.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
|)on. treasurer.
Mr. Andrew Murray.
(Ebitor.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
Managing Committee.
The Hon. Mr. Justice Birdwood. I Mrs. W. E. Hart.
Dr. G. A. Maconachie.
Dr. D. MacDonald.
Mr. G. VV. Yidal, c.s.
Rev. F. Dreckmann, s.J.
Dr. T. S. Weir.
Dr. Kirtikar.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Mr. W. S. Millard. Mr. N. S. Symons.
Mr. W. F. Sinclair, c.s.
Mr. Andrew Murray, ex officio.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, ex officio.
Major "W. S. Bisset, R.E.
Lieut. H. E. Barnes, r.z.s.
Mr. J. 0. Anderson.
Mr. E. L. Barton.
Mr. Reginald Gilbert.
Mr. R. M. Branson.
Mr. G. Carstensen.
1st Section. — {Mammals and Birds.)
President — Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Secretary — Lieut. H. E. Barnes, f.z.s.
2nd Section. — (Reptiles and Fishes.)
President— Mr. G. W. Vidal, c.s.
Secretary — Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
3rd Section. — {Insects.)
President — Mr. L. de Niceville, f.e.s., cm.z.s.
Secretary — Mr. E. H. Aitken.
4th Section. — (Other Invertebrata.)
President — Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
Secretary — Mr. J. C. Andersen.
5th Section. — (Botany.)
President — The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Birdwood, m.a., ll.m. (Cantab )
Secretary — Doctor K. R. Kirtikar, f.s.m. (France), f.r.c.s.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
ARTIFICIAL EYES
For Mounting
BIRDS AND ANIMALS.
ARSENICAL SOAP
AND
OTHER PRESERVATIVES.
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AND
SPECIMEN JARS.
KEMP & Co., Ld.,
Chemists, Bombay.
THE
BIRDS OF BOMBAY,
BV
LIEUT. H. E. BARNES.
Price Rs. 7.
Apply to HON. SEC,
Nat. Hist. Soc, Bombay.
BOMBAY NATURAL
HISTORY SOCIETY.
BOTANICAL
DRYING PAPER,
Especially Prepared
FOR
PRESSING PLANTS.
20* X 16'
Apply to HON. SEC,
Nat. Hist. Soc, Bombay.
CYMKHANA
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FISHING TACKLE >
EVERY DETAIL .
TREACHER & CO., LD.,
BOMBAY & POONA
Back numbers of the
Journal can be obtained
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Secretary either in sin-
gle copies or in bound
Volumes : —
Price to Members. Rs. 1-4
To others „ 2-0
ALBUM
OF
INDIAN FERNS,
containing coloured
Plates of 33 Species.
BY
C. E. BAYNES.
ARSENICAL SOAP,
NAPTHALINE, CAMPHOR.
ENTOMOLOCICAL CORK,
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FOR
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ENTOMOLOGY
Furnished by
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Chemists, Bombay.
THE
JOURNAL
OF THK
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
H. 1W . PHIPSON,
Honorary Secretary.
WITH SEYEN ILLUSTRATIONS.
No. 4- VOL. YI.
PRINTED AT THE
EDUCATION SOCIETY'S PRESS, J BYCULLA.
1891,
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
PAGE
Description of a New Species of Palm-Civet (Paradoxurus)
found in Orissa. By James Taylor. {With a Plate.) 429
A List of the Butterflies of Travancore. By H. S. Fergu«
son, F.L.S 432
Description of a New Species of Lizard obtained by
Mr. H. S. Ferguson in Travancore, Southern India. Bv
G. A. Boulenger 449
Description of a New Species of Frog obtained by Mr. H.
S. Ferguson in Travancore, Southern India. By G. A.
Boulenger 450
On the Value of the Plant Pangala (Pogostemon parvifiorus)
in Cases of Bites by the Phursa Snake {Echis carinata).
By Brigade -Surg eon W. Dymock (Retired) 450
Notes on the Mammalia of Somali Land. By J. D. Inverarity.
[With six Plates) .. 457
Landscape Gardening in Native States. By H. St. John
Jackson ... 478
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Note on Cassia grandis, Linn., and C. marginata, Roxb 485
2. — Branching Palms and Tree-Fems 486
3. — The Protection of Game in Sind 487
4. — Geographical Distribution of the Pin-Tail Snipe 488
5. — Protection of Larvae 489
6. — A new Method of Preserving and Mounting Zoological
Specimens 489
7.— The Poison of the Toad 494
8. — Tigers in Sumatra. 496
9. — Has the Bakri a Keen Sense of Smell ? 497
10. — The Temper of Animals 498
11.— The Crested Grebe breeding in India 501
Proceedings t 501
List of Books in the Society's Library 504
iombag statural gisfvrg £«irfg.
LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS.
|)rfsibtnt.
H. E. the Right Honorable Lord Harris.
#iec-|)rcsii)ntts.
Dr. D. MacDonald, m.d., b.s.c, cm.
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Birdwood, m.a., ll.m. (Cantab.)
Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
ffoit. ^tcriterg.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
f)o»t. Creamwr.
Mr. Andrew Murray.
(Bbiior.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
Ulauaging Committrt.
The Hon. Mr. Justice Birdwood.
Dr. G. A. Maconachie.
Dr. D. MacDonald.
Mr. G. W. tidal; c.s.
Rev. F. Dreckmann, s.J.
Dr. T. S. Weir.
Dr. Kirtikar.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Mr. W. S. Millard.
Mr. W. F. Sinclair, c.s.
Mr. Andrew Murray, ex-officio.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, ex-otficio.
Mrs. W. E. Hart.
Major W. S. Bisset, R.E.
Lieut. H. E. Barnes, f.z.s.
Mr. J. C. Anderson.
Mr. E. L. Barton.
Mr. Reginald Gilbert.
Mr. R. M. Branson.
Mr. G. Carstenseu.
Mr. N. S. Syraons.
]st Section. — (Mammals and Birds.)
President — Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Secretary — Lieut. 11. E. Barnes, f.z.s.
2nd Section. — (Reptiles and Fishes.)
President— Mr. G. W. Vidal, c.s.
Secretary — Mr. H. M. Phipson, cm.z.s.
3rd Section. — (Insects.)
President — Mr. L. de Niceville, f.e.s., cm.z.s.
Secretary — Mr. E. H. Aitken.
4th Section. — (OtJier Invertebrata.)
President — Dr. G. A. Maconachie, m.d., cm.
Secretary — Mr. J. C. Andersen.
5th Section. — (Botany.)
President — The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Birdwood, m.a., ll.m. (Cantab.)
Secretary — Doctor K. R. Kirtikar, f.s.m. (France), f.r.c.s.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
ARTIFICIAL EYES
F<m Mounting
BIRDS AND ANIMALS.
ARSENICAL SOAP
AND
OTHER PRESERVATIVES.
Scalpels, Skinning Knives,
AND
SPECIMEN JARS.
KEMP & Co.. Ld-
Chemists, Bcmbay.
TUB
BIRDS OF BOMBAY,
BX
LIEUT. H. E. BARNES.
Price, Rs. 7.
Apply to HON. SEC,
Nat. Hist. Soc, Bombay.
BOTANICAL
DRYING PAPER,
Especially Prepared
fob
PRESSING PLANTS.
20' x 1C
Apply to HON. SEC,
Nat. Hist. Soc, Bombay.
BOMBAY NATURAL
HISTORY SOCIETY.
Back numbers of the
Journal can be obtained
from the Honorary
Secretary either in sin
gle copies or in bound
Volumes : —
Price to Members. Rs. 1-4
GYMKHANA
AND
SPORTING KIT,
FISHING TACKLE
EVERY DETAIL
TREACHER & CO., LD.,
BOMBAY & POONA
ALBUM
OF
INDIAN FERNS,
containing coloured
Plates of 33 Species.
BY
C. E. BAYNES.
To others
2-0
ARSENICAL SOAP,
NAPTHALINE, CAMPHOR.
ENT0M3L0GICAL CORK,
Bird Stuffing Instruments.
SPORTING KNIVES.
THOMSON & TAYLOR,
Chemists,
85, Esplanade Road,
BOMBAY.
CAMP KIT
AND
STORES.
NATURALISTS'
COLLECTING
A P PAR ATUS.
PRESERVING
AND
SETTING-UP ITEMS.
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All Requisites
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ENTOMOLOGY.
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INDEX
TO
VOLUME VI.
(Journal, Bombay Natural History Society J
Mill WHOl LIBRARY
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