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THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
AND
VOL. XIL
Consisting of Five Parts and containing
Forty-one Plates and Ttx^enty-six Woodcuts.
I'oTt I{PagcK 1^0 234)...
„ IIQPages 235 to 430) ...
„ III {Pages 4S7 to 592) ...
„ i7F(P«^ej593 to 794) ...
„ V Qlndex, dc.')
Date J of Publication.
... liJth Jiec, 1898.
... 30^/; March, 1899.
... IthJuUi^ 1899.
... Wt, Aov., 1899.
.. V>\st J\/ar. 1900.
g 0 m i a g :
PRINTED AT THE "TIMES OF INDIA STEAM I'RESS.
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giiaibaD ItatiMjiil gi^tory ^oi[!Ctii,
OFFICE-BKAREES, LIFE MEMBERS,
HONOEARY CORRESPONDING MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS
ON 1st MARCH, 7900.
LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS-
H. E. tlie Right Hononrublo Lord Northcote.
lh\ i). MacDoiiald, M.D., b.s.c, cm.
Mr. J. D. luvenirity, b.a., ll.b.
Mr. H. M. Fhipson, c.m.z.s.
mow. S^rcasuicr.
Capt. A. J. Peile, r.a.
3Stiltors.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, g.m.z.s.
Mr. W. S. Millard.
J^ianaginn aTommittcc.
Lt.-Col. C. T. Binobam, f.z.s. Mr. L. d« Niceville, f.e.s., c.m.z.s.
•Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, F.z.s. The Hon. Mr. A. Abercrombie.
Dr. 1). MacDonald. Mr. E. L. Barton.
Mr. E. H. Aitken. _ Mr. Reo-inald Gilbert.
Rev. F. Dreckraann, s. J. Mr. R. M. Branson.
Lt.-Col. T. S. Weir, i.m.s. Mr. E. Comber.
Lt.-Col. K. R. Kirtikar, I.M.S. Mr. R. C. Wronghtou, i.f.s., c.m.z.s.
Mr. J. D. Inveraritv, b.a., ll.b. Mr. T. H. D. Bell, i.f.s.
Mr. W. S. Millard. ' Capt. A. Newnliara, f.z.s.
Capt. A.J. Peile, R.A., ex-offic'io.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, c.m.z.s., ex-ojffiao»
1st SeGtion. --(JiaA/jmaZ^ and Birds.)
l*resident — Mr. J. D. Inveraritv, b.a., ll.b.
Secretary — Mr. E. Comber.
2nd Section. — (Reptiles an I F/W/^.s.)
President— -Rev. F. Dreckmann, s.j.
Secretary — Mr. H. M. Phipson, c.m.z.s.
3rd Section. — (Insects.)
Presideiit — Mr. L. de Niceville, f.e.s., c.m.z.s.
Secretary— Mr. E. H. Aitken.
4th Section. — (Other [nvertrhrates.)
President — ( Vacant.)
Secretary — Capt. A. J. Peile, r.a.
5th Section. — (Botany.)
President — ( Vacant.)
Secretary— Lt.-Col. K. R. Kirtikar, i.m.s., f.s.m. (France), m.h.c.s.
![]()
Ilambai)
Itatiiifal
ji^itory c^ocietp.
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Life Members.
Aga Khan, H. H. the ... ...
Austria, H. L H. the Archduke Frauz Ferdinand..
Baroda, Tiie (Curator, Baroda State Museum
Barton, E. L.
Bates, S. B. (f.z.s.)
Beale, H. E\
Bhowuagar, H. H. the Maharaja Bhaosingji of ...
Bhurie ISingh, Mean Saheb ...
Bikaneer. H. H. the Maharaja of
Caccia, A. M.
Cama, Dr. Maneckji D.
Cama, K. R.
Goode, J. M.
Cursetji, Khan Bahadoor 0. M.
Cutch, H. H. the Rao Saheb of
Dawson, W. H. (i.c.s.)
Drake-Brockman, Capt. H. E.
Dwarkadas, Naranji
Goc'uldas, Nurrotum Morarji
Habibuddin, S. (h.c.s.)
H3'^ain, Judah
Ichalkaranji, The Hon'ble Meherban Narayenrao
Govind, alias Babasaheb Ghorpade, Chief of ..
Inverarity, J. D. (b.a., ll.b,)...
Janjira, H. H. Sir Sidi Ahmed Khan, Nawal
of
Koihapur, H. H. the Maharaja of
Lamb, R. A. (i.c.s.)
Lathi, H. H. the Thakore Saheb of
Long, G. R. (i.F.s.)
MacDonald, Dr. D.
Manders, Major N. (r.a.m.c.) ...
Mandlik, Narayan Vishvanath
Martin, Liout.-Col. Gerald
Miraj, Shrimant Gungadharrao Ganesh, aliasB&ha-
sahib Pa twardhan. Chief of
Navanagar, H. H. Maharaja Jam Sahib of
OHvier, Lieut.-CoL H. D."(r.e.)
Partridge, Henry ...
Petit, Bomanji Dinshaw
Petit, Jehangir P>omanji
Phipson, H. M. (c.m.z.s.)
Poncins, Baron Edmond de ...
Ravenshaw, Lieut.-Col. G. W.
Scindia, H. H. the Maharaja...
Bombay.
Europe.
Baroda.
Bombay.
Mingin, Burma.
Poona.
Bhownagar.
Chamba.
Bikaneer.
DehraDun, N-W.P.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Madras.
Bombay.
Cutch.
Rangoon.
Bhurtpur.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Khamamet,
Poona.
Koihapur.
Bombay.
.lanjira,
Koihapur.
Ahmednagar.
Lathi.
Moulmein.
Bombay.
Colombo.
Bombay.
Europe.
Miraj.
Rajkote.
Bombay.
Pyinmana, Burma.
Bombay.
Bombay.
, Bombay.
, Europe.
. Oodeypur.
, Gwalior,
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Sinclair, W. F. (i.c.«.)
Spooner, T. J. (c.e.)
Standen, B. (i.c.s.) ...
Swa}'rie, Herbert C.
Tata, Dorabji J. ...
Tejpal, Goverdhundas Goculdas
Tilly, T. H. ...
Ulwar, H. H. the Maharaja Jey Singh of
Unwalla, J. N.
Viccaji, Framji R. ...
Whitworth, G. C. (i.c.s.l
Yerbury, Col. J. W.
Honorary Corresponding
Forel, Protes<enr Auguste
Heeckerenez, Le Baron Von ...
Kerkhoven, E. J. ...
Maries, Chas.
Niceville, L. de (f.e.s., c.m.z.s.)
Gates, E. W.
Members.
Abdy, Major A. J. (r.a.)
Abercrombie, Hon'ble Mr. A.
Acworth, E. C. B. ...
Acvvorth, H. A. (i.c.s.)
Adam, James (c.e) ...
Aga Khan, His Highness (Life Member)
Aga Shaha Eookh Shaha, H. H.
Ainslie, Lieut. H. P.
Aitken, E. H.
Alcock, J. B. (i.c.s.)
Aldersou, M. J.
Allan, C. W. (i.F.s.)
Allen, G. B.
Allen, P. R.
Allnm, E. F.
Almon, W.
Ameerudin Tyabjee...
Anderson, Snrg.-3Iajor A. V.
Anderson, Capt. H. R. F.
Anderson, J. C.
Andersonn, M.
AnJrade, Lancastro Pereira d'
Ajasell, E. T.
Anthony, H. B. (i.i'.s.)
Appleton, A. F. (a.v.d.)
... Kuropc.
... Mtotowa, Udi, E.
Africa.
... Betul, C. P.
.. Geylon.
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
... Mingm, Burma.
... Uhvar.
... Bhownagar.
... Bombay.
... Karachi.
... Eut'Opi'.
Members.
... Eurcpc.
... Java.
... Java.
... Gwalior.
... Calcutta.
... Europ?.
. . . South Africa Field
Force.
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
... Europe.
... Bombay,
... Bombay.
... Poena.
... Secunderabad.
... Bombay.
... Etu'ope.
... Kandy, Ceylon.
... Pegu.
... Cawnpore.
... Hyderabad, Deccau.
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
... Europe.
... Bombay.
... Em'Ope.
... Calcutta.
... Marmagoa.
... Bombay.
... Rangoon.
... Europe,
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Bruce, Chas. W. A. (i.f.s.) ...
Brunton, R. P.
Buchanan, J. G.
Buchanan, Capt. K. J.
Buck, Sir Edward (k.c.s.i.) ...
Bulkley, H
Burder, H. C.
Buru-Murdoch, Major J. (r.b.)
Burne, Mrs. A.
Burnett, Capt. S. H. (i.M.s.) ...
Burrard, Capt. C. ...
Burton, Capt. R. G.
Burton, Lieut. Richard W. ...
Butcher, L. H, (c.E.)
Butler, A. L.
Butler, Lt. H. M. ...
Byrne, C. H
Bythell, Major W. J. (r.b.) ...
Gaccia, A. M. (i.f.s.) (Life Member)
Cadell, P. R. (I.C.S.)
Caine, L. S.
Calcutta, Hon. Secretary, Zoological Gardens
Cama, K. R. (Life Member) ...
Cama, Dr. Maneckjee D. (Life Member)...
Cameron, W. L. (c.E.)
Campbell, John (c.E.)
Campbell, Sir J. M. (i.c.s.) ..
Campbell, Capt. Malcolm (r.a.)
Cane, Rev. A. G. ...
Cappel, E. L. (i.c.s.)
Cappel, S. i". L. (i.f.s.)
Capper, Lieut. A. S.
Cardew, A. G. (i.c.s.)
Carleton, Lt. H. A.
Carr, S. (i.f.s.)
Carroll, E. B. (c.E.)
Carter, Capt. J. R. B. G
Cassels, Mrs. Herbert
Cayley, Dr. C. H. (m.a.m.b.) ...
Chaldecott, Lt. W. H. (r.e.) ...
('halmers, Allan M.
Chalmers, H.
Chambers, Chas.
Channer, Lient.-Col. 0. H. (i.m.s.)
Chappel, H. E.
Charles, F. L. (i.c.s.)
Chichgar, Hormusjee M.
Chico, J. R. (c.E.) ...
, Kiudat, Burma.
Bombay.
. Epitope.
. Abbottabad.
. Europe,
, Kharaghora.
, Europe.
. Dharwar.
. Europe.
. Bombay.
. Bombay,
. Jalna.
. Bolarum.
. Khandwa.
. Selangor.
. Mhow.
. Bombay,
. Europe.
. DehraDun,N.-W.P.
. Broach.
. Mombasa.
. Calcutta.
. Bombay.
. Bombay.
. Nasik.
. Bombay.
. Eitrope.
. Quetta.
. Europe.
. Belgaum.
,. Tauugoo, Burma.
,. Agar, W. Malwa.
,. Europe.
,. Keng Tung.
,. Pakokku, Burma.
,. Europe,
,. Sadra.
,. Calcutta.
.. Bombay.
.. Umballa.
.. Cachar.
.. Europe.
.. Mozambique.
.. Bombay.
.. Arakan.
,. Europe.
.. Bombay.
.. Baroda.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Chitty, C. W.
Cholmondeley, E.G.
Christy, Dr. C.
Clabby, J. H. (i.f.s.)
Clark, J. (i.c.s.)
Clark, W. H.
Clarke, Robt. L. H. (i.c.s.) ...
Clarkson, Lt.-Col. J. W. (i.m.s.)
Clements, E. (i.c.s.)
Cleveland, C. R. (i.c.s.)
Cleveland, Capt. H. F. (i.m.s.)
Clifton, C. N. (c.e.)
Close, E. P.
Clutterbuck, P. H. (i.f.s., f.z.s.)
Coggan, R. T.
Collett, O. (f.r.m.s.)
Collie, Major M. A. T. (i.m.s.)
Collister, J. G. II. ...
Colombo, The Librarian, Colombo Museum
Comber, Edward
Conder, H.
Conley, Andrev^^
Constable, F. A. ...
Coode, J. M. (Life Member) ...
Cooke, Lieut. A. St. John
Cooke, Dr. E. H. ...
Cooke, J. V
Copleston, W. E. (i.f.s.)
Corbett, P. J. (c.e.)..,
Corbett, Capt. W. F.
Cory, Rev. C. P. ...
(losserat, L. (c.e.) ...
Cotton, Sir Geo.
Counsell, J. G.
Coventry, B. 0. (i.f.s.)
Coventry, S. M. (i.f.s.)
Covernton, J. G.
Cox, Capt. P. Z. (p.z.s., F.R.G.S.)
Cox, S. (i.f.s.)
Craddock, W. H. (i.f.s.)
Crawford, Leslie
Crofton, Chas. S. F. (i.c.s.)
Crofts, Major A. M. (i.m.s.)
Crommelin, C. A. R.
Cruddas, Lieut. H. W.
Crump, H. A.
Crump, L. C. (i.c.s.)
CufFe, T. W.
Bombay.
Indore, C. I.
Bombay.
Dharwar.
Rangpur.
Viziauagram.
Gonda, Gudh.
Europe,
Karachi.
Nagpur.
Bombay.
Karachi.
Kharaghoni.
Chakrata.
Haflong.
Ceylon.
Matheran.
Jabalpur.
Colombo.
, Bombay.
, Europe.
, Calcutta.
, New York, U.S.A.
. Jabalpur, C. P.
Europe.
, Europe.
. Shikarpur.
. Yellapur, Kanara.
. Hyderabad, Sind.
. Subatha.
. Europe.
. Raj-Pardi.
. Bombay.
. Bombay.
. Lahore.
. Jhelum.
. Karachi'
. Muscat.
. Madras.
. Taunggyi, Shan
States.
. Bombay.
. Dhulia.
. Gwalior, C. I.
. Bombay.
. Myitkyina,U. Burma.
. Europe.
,. Europe.
,. Bombay.
![]()
xii LIST OF MEMBERS.
Gumming, W. D. .. ... ... ... Bushire.
Curreembhoy Ebrahim ... ... ... Bombay.
Currey, E. 8. ... ... ... ... Europe.
Currie, R. G. ... ... ... ... Bombay.
Cursetji, Khan Bahadur C. M. (Life Memlier) .„ Bombay.
Curtis, J. H. ... ... ... ... Rangoon.
Cutch, H. H. the Rao Saheb of (Life Memher) ... Bhuj, Cutch.
Dadarkar, Dr. Bhawanishankar B.
Dadina, Dr. Ruttonji R.
Daiutrey, W. M. ...
Dalai, D. M.
Dalby, C. J. (c.E.) ...
Dalby, Lt. J. (r.a.) .,
Dalgado, Dr. D. G.
Dallaporta, J. N.
Daly, W. Mahon
Daraania, Major P. J. (i.m.s.)...
Danson, J. W. W.
Davidson, J. (i.c.s.)
Davies, H. S. (c.E.)
Dawn, W. A. W
Dawson, W. H. (i.c.s.) (Life Member) ...
Deane, Dr. A. H. ...
Deane, H. H. (c.E.)
DeCourcy, W. B. ...
Delme-Radclitte, Capt. H. ...
Delme-Radcliffe, Lieut. S.
Dempster, F. E. (c.i.e.)
Dense, Max
Dhakmarwala, Nowroji D.
Dharampur, H. H. Muharana Baldeoji of
Dhargalkar, Dr. Luxumon
Dick, J. M. ...
Dick, Capt. A. R. ...
Dimmock, Major H. P. (m.d., i.m.s.]
Dixon, R. M.
Dobbs, Lt.-Col. G. C. (i.s.c.) ...
Dodgson, C. G. (i.c.s.)
Dodgson, James (j.f.s.)
Doig, S. B. (c.E.) ...
Donald, C.
Donovan, Capt. C. (i.m.s.)
Dormer, Lord
Douglas, Mrs. Chas.
Doveton, Col. J. C.
Dadar.
Kalyau.
New York.
Bombay.
Sini.
Jabaipur.
Sawantwady.
Bombay.
Pitsunalok, via
Bangkok, Siam.
Europe.
Rangoon.
Europe.
Ghadechi.
Mouhnein.
Europe.
Bombay.
Nandurbar, Khan-
deish.
Jalpaiguri.
Exirope.
Jabaipur.
Umballa.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Dharampur.
Bombay.
Bombay,
Simla.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Poona.
Satara.
Thana,
Europe.
South Africa.
Madras.
Europe.
Europe.
Europe.
![]()
LIST 0^ 3IE3IBERS.
Drake- Brockman, C. B.
Drake- Brockm an Capt. D. H.
Drake -BroGkman,Capt. H.E. (i.M.S.) (Life Member).
Dreckmann, Rev. F. (s.J.) ...
Drury, Major M. O'C. (i.M.S.)
DuBoday, J. H. (i.c.s.)
Dudgeon, G. C. ...
Duke, Lt.-Col. J. ^^ I.M.S.)
Dumayne, F. G. ...
Dunbar-Brander A. (i.F.s.) ...
Duncan, P. ( M.i.c.E. )
Dunlop, H. H. G.
Dunn, G. \V. 0. ^
Dunsterville, Major K. S. (r.a.)
Dunsterville, Capt. L. G.
Dupuis, A. L.
Duthie, J. F. (f.l.s.)
Duxbury, G. R. (i.f.s.)
Dwane, E. H.
Dyson, Major T. E. (i.m.s.) ...
Eardley-Wilniot, S. (i.f.s.) ...
Earle, A. A.
Ebden, E. J. (i.c.s.)
Ede, F. (a M.I.C.E.)
Edgelow, Miss G.
Edie, A. G. (i.f.s.)
Edmiston, W. L.
Edulji Nusserwanji, Dr.
Edwardes, S. M. (i.c.S.)
Egerton, C. F.
Elliot, Capt. W. H. W. (f.l.s.,
Elliott, A.
Elliott, Dr. A. M. ...
Elliott, C. F. (i.f.s.)
Elsworthy, E. H.
Elwes, Major E. V. (r.a.) ...
Elwes, H. J. (f.r.s. )
English, A. E. (i.c.s.)
Euthoven, R. E. (i.c.s.)
Eunson, H. J. (c.e.)
Evans, Vetv.-Capt. G. H. ...
Evatt, C. B'.
Fairclough, J.
Farrington, H. A. (i.f.s.)
Fawcett, C. H. (i.c.s.)
Fenton, Lt.-Col. L. L.
Ferguson, H. S. (f.z.s., F.LtS.^
Fort Lungleh.
Meerut.
Bhurtpur.
Bombay.
Europe.
Bombay.
Palanpur, Punjab.
Kashmir.
Europe.
Jabalpur.
Ongole, Madras.
Hubli.
Karachi.
Simla.
Delhi.
Ceylon.
Saharanpur.
Poena.
Secunderabad.
Ahmedabad.
... Rangoon.
... Europe.
... Europe.
... Silchar, Cachar.
... Europe.
... Bandra.
... Kotagiri,
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
.. Europe.
I.M.S.) ... South Africa.
... Amraoti, Berars.
... Bombay.
... Lahore.
... Bombay.
... Europe.
... Europe.
... Mogaung, Burma.
... Nasik.
... Vizianagram.
... Rangoon.
... Delhi.
... ... Europe.
... Jalpaiguri, Bengal.
... Europe.
... Rajkote.
... Trivandrum,
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Fernandez, T. U.
Ferrand, Lt.-CoL E. (i.M.s.) ...
Ferreiru, Miss C. (l.m. & s.) •••
Ferris, Lt.-Col. W. B,
Finlay, William ...
Finny, Capt. T. G. R
Fischer, C. E. C. (i.F.s.)
Fisher, W. F. D. (i.f.s.)
Fitz-Hugh Lance, Lieut. F. ...
Fleming, W- N- ...
Flower, Lieut. S. S.
Foote, R. Bruce ...
Forbes, Capt. G. F, R.
Forbes, C.H.B
Forbes, J. D.
Forbes-Sempill, The Hon'ble R. A.
Forel, Monsieur Auguste (Hon. Correspg. Member).
Forsyth, Dr. W.
Forteath, H. H. (l.F.s.)
Foster, Capt. L. M.
Foulkes, George F. F. (i.f.s.)
Fox, C. P. (c.E.) ...
Fox, F. G. Brook (c.e.)
Fox, Col. H. C.
Eraser, Major A.
Eraser, Capt. H. A. D. (e.e.)...
Fraser, S. M. (l.c.s.)
French, Major G. B. (i.M.s.) ...
Frenchman, Major E. P. (i.M.s.)
Friedlander and Sohn, Messrs. R.
Fry, T. B. (i.f.s.) ...
Fuller, Hon'ble Mr. J. B. (i.c.s., c.i.E.)
Fulton, Hon'ble Mr. Justice E. M. (i.c.s.)
Fulton, Lt.-Col. R.
Furdoonji Jamsetji
Rajkote.
Bangalore.
Bombay.
l'>ombay.
Jalpaiguri.
Bombay.
Europe.
Thana.
Loralai.
Europe.
Cairo, Egyjjt,
Mysore.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Jabalpur.
Moulmein.
Europe.
Calcutta.
Pokokku, U.Burma.
Kirkee.
Nellore.
Gadag, S. M. Ry.
Europe.
Dharwar.
Mooltan.
Europe.
Bangalore.
Azamgarh.
Bassein, Burma.
Europe.
Belgaum.
Jabalpur.
Bombay.
Dharamsala.
Bombay.
Gabbett, E. (c.E.) ... ... ... ... Europe.
Gadsden, F. 0. (r.i.m.) ... -. ... Bombay.
Gahagan, E. G. (c.E.) ... ... ... Satara.
Gama, Dr. J. A. Da ... ... ... Bombay.
Gamble, J. S. (f.l.s.) ... ... ... Europe.
Gaye, W. C. ... ... ... ... Secunderabad.
Gebbie, E. St. J., Mailang Division, B.-N. Ry. ... N. Cachar.
Geddes, Mrs. J. G. ... ... ... ... Poena.
Gell, H. G. ... ... ... ... Bombay.
George, C. P. ... ... ... ... Secunderabad.
Gerhardt, Paul ... ... ... ... Bombay.
Ghosal, J. (i.c.s.) ... ... , ... ... Alibag.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Gibbs, H. M
Gibbs, R. T.
Gilbert, 0. F. (m.i.c.e.)
Gilbert, Reg.
Gilbert-Cooper, W. J. (l.F.S.)...
Giles, R. ...
Gill, H
Gimlette,Major G. H.S. (i.m.s.)
Giro, C. G.
Gleadow, F. (f.r.m.s., i.f.s.) ...
God win- Austin, H.
Goethals, Rev. Dr. Paul, Archbishop of Calcutta
Goldsmid, F. L. ...
Goldthorpe, Lieut. F. H.
Gompertz, Rev. F. W.
Gousalves, Dr. J. F.
Gordon, D. M.
Gore, Col. St. G. C. (r.e.)
Gr^me, Col. R. C
Graham, J. A.
Graham, W. D.
Gray, Chas.
Gray, H.
Greany, Lieut.- Col. J. P.
Greatheed, C.
Greaves, John
Green, E. Ernest (f.e.s.)
Green, Major J. S. (r.a.M.c)...
Green, W. M. (i.f.s.)
Greig, Joseph
Grubbe, Major E. A.
Guinness, Major E. (r.a.)
Gurdon, Capt. B. E. M. (d.s.o.)
Guy, G. Filmer
Gwyn, Capt. A.
Bombay.
Waltair, Madras.
Bhamo, Burma.
Bombay.
Moulmein.
Karachi.
Bombay.
Indore, C. I.
Bombay.
Dehra Dun.
EUichpur, Berar.
Europe.
Ratnagiri.
Europe.
Europe.
Baudra.
. Mone, Burma. *
. Calcutta.
. Europe.
. South Africa.
. Hongkong.
. Coonoor.
, Calcutta.
Poena.
. Europe.
. Bombay.
, Peradeniya, Ceylon.
. South Africa.
, Kurseong, Bengal.
. Cachar.
. Meerut,
. Europe.
. Chitral.
, Bombay.
, Europe.
Habibuddin, S. (c.s.)
Haig, Lt.-Col. P. de H. (i.m.s.)
Haines, H. H. (i.f.s.)
Hale, A. ... .., ...
Hall, Mitchell
Hamilton, R. E. A.... ... ...
Hampson, Sir George F. (Bart.), (f.l.S., f.e.s.)
Hankin, A. C, (c.i.E.)
Hannyngton, W. 0.
Hanson, C. 0. (i.f.s.)
Hanson, R. W.
Hardinge, D.
.. Khamamett.
.. Mean Mir.
.. Europe.
.. Selangor.
.. Jalpaiguri.
se Europe.
.. Europe.
.. Secunderabad.
.. Pyinmana, Burmn.
.. Seoni, Chapara.
.. Bombay.
.. Maubin, Burma.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Hargrave, H. J. B. (c.E.)
Harington, Lieut. E. C.
Haringtou, Major V. (i.m.s.) ...
Harold, Lt. C. F. ...
Harper, E. W. (f.z.s.)
Harris, L. T.
Harter, R. H.
Harvey, W. L. (i.c.s.)
Haslope, Rev. L. M.
Hasted, W. A.
Hatch, Capt. A. E. ...
Hatch, Lt.-Col. W. K. (i.m.s.)
Hate, Vinayek N. ...
Hatherell, Capt. W. G.
Haughton, i:?amuel (c.c.s.) ...
Hauxwell, T. A. (i.F.s.)
Hawks, Lieut. G. A.
Hearsey, T. N. (i.F.s.)
Heath, R. H. (c.E.)
Heeckerenz, Le Baron Von (Hon. Corrpg. Member)
Henderson, Capt. R. S. F. (r.a.m.c.) ...
Henderson, Lieut.-Col. W. G. H. (i.m.s.)
Herbert, Major H. (i.m.s.)
Hickman, R. St. J.
Hide, P.
Hildebrand, Lt. A. B. R. (r.e.)
Hill, F. J. ^.
Hill, H Charles ...
Hla, Maung Fo
Hodges, Capt. H. ...
Hodgson, C. M. (i.F.s.)
Hojel, Capt. J. G. (i.m.s.)
Hole, H. A
Holland, W.J.
Hollis,T.
Hooton, Capt. A. (i.m.s.)
Hope, C. W.
Hope, G. A. (R.A.) ...
Hore, Lt.-Col. W. S.
Hornidge, S. (c.E., i.f.s.)
Hoskyn, Lt. J. 0. M.
Howes, Mowbray
Hewlett, Col. A. (i.s.c.)
Hudson, Capt. C. T. (i.m.s.) ...
Hudson, C. W. M. (I.c.s.) ...
Hudson, L. S.
Hunt, C. B. Holman
Hunt, E. R.
Hunter, Lt.-Col. J. M.
Europe.
Europe.
Ulwar.
Zaila, Somali Coast.
Calcutta.
Vizagapatam.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Deesa.
Waltair, Madras.
Poona.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Quetta.
Colombo, Ceylon.
Europe.
Lucknow.
, Cuddapah, Madras.
, Bombay.
, Java.
, Deesa.
, Europe.
, Bombay.
. Cachar.
, Karachi.
. Europe.
. Yellapur, Kanara.
. Dehra Dun.
. Mingin, Burma.
. Europe.
. Europe.
. Bombay.
. Silchar, Cachar.
. Europe.
. Bombay.
. Poona.
. Europe,
. Ellichpur.
. Europe.
. Ahmednagar,
,. Baroda.
,. Selangore.
,. Bhamo, Burma.
,. Bombay.
,. Ahmednagar.
. Europe.
,. ('eylon.
,. Europe.
,. Rajkote,
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Hunter, Lt. W. J. H.
Hutchinson, Lt. C. G.
Hutchinson, F. G.
Hutchinson, F. T.
H3'am, Judah (Life Member)
Hyde- Wilcox, F.
... Poona.
... Banipon, S.
States.
... Bhaynder.
... Bombay.
... Poona.
... Calcutta.
Shan
lohalkaranji, The Hon'ble Narayenrao Govind,aZ/rt.9
Babasaheb Ghorpade, Chief of (Life Memljer)
Imray, Robt. S.
Indore, H. H. the Maharaja Holkar of ...
Inglis, Chas. M. ... "...
Inyerarity, J. D. (b.a-, ll.e.) (Life Member)
Jackson, A. B. (i.f.s.)
Jackson, Col. F. H.
Jacob, Mrs. Arthur
Jacob, G. (r.c.s.) ...
Jamrach, W.
Jam-etji, i^.. Doctor
Janjira, H. H. Sir Sidi
(Life Member)
Jardine, A. J. A.
Jardine, E. R.
Jardine, W. F.
Jayakar, Lt.-Col. A. S. G. (i.m.s.)
Jetfrey, J. A.
Jernn-n, Capt. T. ...
John,^H. C. (c.E.) ...
John, H. E.
Johnson, S. M.
Johnson, W. P. ...
Jones, Major F. W. C. (r.a.m.c.)
Jones, Major J. M. (r.a.m.c.)...
Jones, J\Iajor J. Lloyd fi.M.s.)
Jones, Capt. M. 1). Goring ...
Jowitt, John F.
Jugmohundas V. Bhaisett
Ahmed Khan, Nawab
Kolhapur.
Peermaad, Tra van-
core.
Lidore.
Darbhanga.
Bombay.
... Nilamber, Malabar.
... Europe.
... Mhow, C- 1.
...- Ahmednagar.
... Europe.
... Bombav.
of
... Janjira.
... Bangkok, Siam.
... Rangoon.
... Ratnagiri.
... Muscat.
... Bombay.
... Peshawar.
. . . Europe.
... Bombay.
... Cavvnpore.
... Bombay.
... Kandia, Crete.
.. Deolali.
... Bombay.
... Mandalay.
. . . Bandarwel la,Ceylon.
.. Bombay.
Keams, A. S.
Keary, Lt.-Coh H. D
Keene, Lt. C. W. ...
Kellie, Col. R. H. ...
Kelsall, Capt. fl. J. (r.a.)
Kemball, H. V. (c.E.)
3
... Bangalore.
... Meiktila, Burma-
... Peshawar.
... Deolali.
... Rangoon.
... Poona.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Kondall, C:ipt. C. J. (iu.m.) ..
Kenne.iy, R. M. (r.c.s.)
Kenny, S. D. (i.f.s.)
Kenyon, James
Ker, L. B.
Kerkhoven, E. J. (Hon. Correspg. Member)
Keys, H. W. (i.f.s.)
Khan, Muncherji Franiji
Kliareghat, M.
King, Alfred
Kinsman, F.
Kirtikar, Lt.-(
Knight, D.
Kolhapur, 11. H
Kotah, H. H. the Mahoraja
Knnwar Kushal Pal Singh
P. (i.c.s.)
K. R. (i.M.s.)
the Maharaja of (Life Memher)
.. Bombay.
.. Belgamn.
... Chikalda Berar.
... Karachi.
... Bombay.
... Java.
... Satara.
... Bombay.
... Jiatnagiri.
... Europe,
... Calcutta.
, .. Ratnagiri.
..-. Cawuporo.
... Kolhapur.
... Kotah.
... Narki, Agra Dist.
Lace, John H. (^i.f.s., f.l.s.) ...
Lachlan, Capt. E. M. (r.a.) ...
Laird-MaoGregor, E. G. L. (i.c.s.)
Lamb, Capt. Geo. (i.M.s.)
Lamb, R. A. (i.cs.) (Life Member)
Lambert, J. S.
Land Records and Agriculture, The Director of .
Lang, Walter
Langiey, Brig. -Surg. E. H. ...
Lathi, H. H. the Thakoro Sahib of (Life Member
La Touche, Lieut.-General CD.
Lawrence, Mr^;. E.
Leask, J.
Lee, Lieut. A. W. H.
Lee, P. Henry K. ...
Lees, John
Leggett, S. P.
Leighton, D. E. W.
Lely, Hon'ble Mr. F. S. P. (i.c.s.)
Lennox, Lt. G. M. ..
Leslie, A. K.
Lester, Oapt. CD....
Lewis, Fred ( F.L.S. )
Light, Lt -Col. R. H.
Light, Lieut. W. A...
Lightfoot, S. St. C...
Lindesay, Major E
Lindgren, 0.
Linneli, Fred.
Little, F. A.
Litrledale, Professor H,
,. Simla.
.. Kirkee.
.. Karwar.
,. Bombay.
.. Ahmednaoar.
.. Munmar.
.. Poena.
,. Bombay.
, . Europe,
). Lathi.
,. Europe.
.. Thana.
.. Bombay.
.. Sima, Upper Burma.
.. Bangalore.
.- Cachar.
,. Karachi.
,. Madras.
.. Ahmedabad. .
. Bombay.
,. Bombay.
,. Quetta District.
,. Colombo, Ceylon,
,. Europe,
.. Europe.
,. Mimbu, U. Burma.
,. Mhow, C. I.
. Europe.
.. Rangoon.
,. Europe.
.. Europe,
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERH.
Lloyd, Col. K 0. (r.e.)
Loam, Mathew
Loch, Capt. F. R. E. (i.s.u.)
Loch, Col. W. W.
Long, A. M.
Long, G. R. (lf.s.) (Life Member)
Lovegrove, W. H. (i.F.g.) ...
Lowndes, G. R. ...
Lowrie, A. E. (lf.s.)
Luard, E. S.
Lucknow, The Curator & Sec, Provincial
Lumley, Major F. D.
Lye, Rev. S. L. ...
Lynch, C. B.
Lynn, G. R. (c.e.)
Lyons, Major R. W. S. (im.s.)
... Pooua.
... Jllarope.
... Bombay.
.., Nepal. "
... Raipar.
... Moulmein.
... Kotedwara.
... Bombay.
... Coorg.
... Bombay.
Museum Lucknow.
... South Africa.
... Europe.
c. Bombay.
... Baroda.
... Bombay.
Macaulay, L. A. ...
Macanlay, R. H. ...
MacCartie, Major F. (i.ji.s) ...
MacDonahl, Dr. D. (Life Memher)
MacDonald. J.
MacDonald, K. 0....
MacDonald, \\ J. ...
MacMillan, D. A. ...
Mackenzie, Kenneth
Mackenzie, Lt. K. L. W.
Mackenzie, M. D
Mackenzie, M. M
Mackenzie, T. D. (i.c.s.)
Mackinnon, P. W. (f.e.s.) ...
Maclean, Jas.
Macleod, N. (*. ...
Maconachie, Lt.-Col. G. A. (i.M.s.) ...
Macphertson, John...
Macpherson, Col. T. R. M. ...
Mactaggart, H. B.,..
Macwood, F. M. ...
Madras, The Supdt., Govt. Central Museum
Mahaluxmiwalla, K. D.
Mair, A.
Maitland, Major C. B. ,'i.M.s.)
Mallins, Major C. (i.M.s.)
Manders, Major N. (k.a.m.c.)
Maudlik, Narayan V. (Life Member) ...
Manson, C. E. F. ,..
Manson, F. B. ;i.f.s.)
Mant, R. N.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Europe.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Myingyan, Burma.
Calcutta.
Koonjhar, Orissa.
Kurnool, Madras.
Poona.
Jaoobabad.
Chapra.
Europe.
Mussoorie.
( 'hina.
Bombay.
Europe,
Bombay.
Europe.
Negapatam,
Colombo.
Madras.
Bombay.
Calcutta.
Poona.
Europe.
Colombo.
Bombay.
Pyinmana, Burma.
Rangoon.
Bombay.
![]()
xk
LIST OP MEMBERS.
Miiries, Cba<.(Hon. Correspg. Member)...
Mavjoribanks, Lt. J. L. (i.M.s.)
Marshall, Capt. T- E. Ui.A.) ...
Marston, G. D. (c.E.)
Marten, James
]\Iartin, Lieut.-Col. Gerald (Life Member)
Massou, D. P. (o.i.E.)
Massv, Major H. S.
Matliew, Lt. C. M. (i.m.s.) ...
Maxwell, F. D. ...
Mc Arthur, Vet.-Surgu. G. W.
McClelland, W. S. (m.i.c.e.) ...
McGlushan, John (c.E.)
Mcintosh, A!es. (c.E.)
Mcintosh, H. J. (i.c.s.)
Mcintosh, R. (i.F.s.)
McKay, Lt.-Col. H. K. (i.m.s.)
McKee, J. A. (i.f.s.)
McKenzie, Alex.
McMullen. Dr. G. C.
McNair, Major J. F. A. (c.m.g.)
McNeil, J. (i.c.s.) ...
Mead, Capt. H. R. ...
Mead, P. J. (i.c.s.) ...
Meade, Lt.-Col. M. J.
Meinertzhagen, Lieut. R.
Merrony, Chas.
Merwanji Pallonji Tahiti
Messent, P. G.
Meyer, Major C. H. L. (i.m.s.)
Mover, 0.
Middleton, T. H. ...
Millard, AV. !S.
J\lillett, G. P. (i.f.s.)
Milne, Capt. O.J. fi.M.s.)
I\Iinniken, G. G- (i.f,s.)
Miraj, Shrhnant Gnngadharrao Ganesh, aiias Babt
saheb Patwardhan, Chief of (Life Member)
Mitchell, Dr. W. ...
Modi, Bomanji Edulji
Moir, E. McArthur (i.f.s.) ...
Monte, Dr. D. A. de
]\IorgHn, A.
Morgan, Lt. E. J. (i.m.S.)
Morison, A. E. F. ...
Morison, W. T. (i.c.s.)
Morris, Capt. D. 0.
Morton, Lieut. J. P. (i.m.s.) ...
Gwallor.
Erinpura,
(^netta.
Bombay.
Dehrai)un,N.-W.P.
Europe.
Lahore.
Lorulai.
Ban^jaloro.
Maubin, Burma.
Rangoon.
Europe.
Bombay.
Shenkottah P. 0.,
Mai 1 ras Presiden cy .
Cabaitta.
Madanapally.
Jabalpur, C. P.
Nagpur, C. P.
Bombay.
Kotri, »Sind.
Eurcpe.
L> bar war.
Deolali.
Ahmedabad.
Bushiie.
Nusseerabad.
Godhra.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Europe.
Bombay.
Nasik. "
( 'ulcutta.
Lahore.
... Miraj,
,.. hurojje,
.. Kaira.
.. Europe.
.. Bandora.
.. Kotagiri.
.. Bombay.
.. Kot;ioiri.
.. Bombay.
.. Ann-aoti, Berar.
,. Europe.
![]()
LIST. OF MEMBERS.
XXI
Moscardi, E. H. (i.c.s.)
Moss, Capt. C.
Mo^se, Lt. A. H. B. (i.s.c.)
Moiilvi Syed Ali Belgram
Moylau, W.
Muir, Col. H. S. (i.Ji.s.)
Muller, Professor 0. V.
Mumford, E. G.
Mure, J. 8.
Murray, W.
Surat.
Europe.
Mhow, C. I.
Hyderabad.
Calcuttii.,
Europe.
Europe.
Maubiii, Burma,
Lahore.
Bombay.
Nagpur, The Curator, Central Museum...
Nangle, Lieut. K. E.
Naranji Dwarkadas (Life Member)
Narrotumdas Morarji Guculdass (Life Member) ...
Navanagar, H. H. Maharaja Jam Saheb of
Newliiud, Major A. G. E. (i.m,s.)
Newniiam, Capt. A. (f.z.s.) ...
Niceville, L. de (f.e.s.) (Hon. Correspg. Member)
jSicholson, E. F.
Nicholson, Major R. H. (r.a.ji.c.)
Ni>bett, I.ieut VV. G.
JSorthcote, H. E., Lord
Nurse, Capt. ('. G. (f.k.g.s., f.e.s.)
Nurse, Capt. H. H.
Oakes, George
Gates, E. W. (Hon. Correspg. Member)
O'Brien, Edward ...
O'Brien, Hon'ble VV. T.
O'Callaghan, 1.
O'Connell, J.
O'Conor, J. E. (c.r.E.)
O'Leary, J. L. McCarthy (i.F.s.)
Ogilvie, Cant. E. C. (r.e.) ...
Oldham, F." T. (i;.A.)
Olivier, Lt.-Col. H. D. (k.e.) (Life Member)
Ollivant, Hon'ble Sir E. C. K. ( l.c.s., K.c.S.l. )
Ommanney, H. T. (i.c.s.)
Opiumwalla, Dorab E.
Orr, J. P. (i.c.s.) ...
Osmaston, B. B. (i.F.s.)
Osmaston, L. S. (l.F.s.)
Ozanne, E. C. (r.c.s.)
Palliser, H. G. (c.E.)
Parker, Lt.-Col. J. (i.m.s.)
Parmenides, John ...
Nagpur.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Rajkote.
Europe.
Nasi ra bad.
Calcutta.
Bombay.
Em-ope.
Bhamo.
Bombay.
Europe.
Quetta.
Ootacamund.
Europe.
Amreli, Kathiawar.
Karachi.
Eurojje.
Europe.
Calcutta.
Kurnool.
Quetta.
Europe.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Europe.
Bombay.
Poena.
Chakrata, N.-W. P.
Poona,
Europe.
Karachi.
Bombay.
Europe.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
runatt, F. E. H. ...
Parsons, Hon. Mr. Justice
Partridge, Henry (Life Member)
Pawalla, Jamsetji C
Fearless, S. H.
Pearse, Capt. A. (i.m.s.)
Pearson, E. H. M. ...
Pearson, Mrs. H. C.
Pearson, R. S. (i.F.S.)
Pecliey-Phipson, Mrs. (bi.d.) ...
Peet, A. W. (I.F.S.)
Peile, Capt. A. J. (r.a.)
Peiniger, W. G.
Pelly, C. B. N
Pemberton, E. S. ...
Penton, John E. ...
Pestonji Jivanji
Peters, Lt.-Gol. C. T. (i.m.s.)
Petit, Bomunji Dinshaw (Life Member) •••
Petit, Jehanc,nr Bomanji (Life Member)...
Petters, J.McF. (o.E.;
Plielps, E. L.
Phillips, Mrs.
Phillott, Major D. (J.
Phipson, H. M. (u.M.z.s.) (Life Member)
Pilcher, Capt. A. J. (r.e.) ...
Pilcher, Col. J. G. (i.m.s.) ...
Pilkington, H. S. H.
Pinhey, Capt. A. F.
Pink,H. F. L
Plinston, G. C.
Pollen, Dr. John (i.c.s.^
Pollock, Capt. C. E. (r.a.m.u.)
Polwhele, A. C. (c.e.)
Poncins, Baron Edmond de (Life Member)
Powell, R. M
Prain, Major D. (i.m.s.)
Prall, Capt. S. E. (i.m.s ) ...
Pratt, F. G.(i.c.s.)...
Prentis, Lt. Vt^. S. ...
Preston, F. J.
Price, Lt. E. H. (I.M.S.)
Priestley, Capt. C. E. N
Primrose, Alex. M.
Prior, Major W. ...
Proctor, H. E.
... Chiengmai.
... Bombay.
... Pyiunuma, Burma.
... Bombay.
... Ceylon.
... Europe.
... Europe.
... Castle Rock.
... Dhuliu.
... Bombay.
... Europe.
... Bombay.
... Chiengmai, via
Moulmein.
... Madras.
... Marmagoa.
... Broach.
... Karemnagur, Yol-
gundal District.
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
... Myitkyina, Bunna.
... EurojM.
... Europe.
... Kohat.
... Bombay.
... Europe.
... Europe.
... Bombay.
... Sutna.
... Dehra Dun.
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
... Bareilly.
... Naini Tal.
... Europe.
... Cudda})ali, Madras.
... Calcutta.
... Nasik.
... Ahmedabad.
. .. Fort Stedman.
... 8holaj)ur.
... Parachinar, Kuram
Valley.
... Rangoon. [Sylhot.
... ItaliholaP.O..!South
... Dilkusha, Lucknow.
... Bombay.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Pundit Jwala Prasad (i.c s.)
... Orai, N.-W. P.
Quicke, Major W. H (i.m.s.) ... ... Bombay.
Q. 0. Corps of Guides, The Mess Prasident.Mardan, Punjab.
Radcliffe, R. C. jT. ...
Rahimtoola Khairaz
Raikes, E. B.
Rambant, B. R. R. (r.a.) ...
Ranger, G. 0.
Rattray, Lieut. H. B.
Rattray, Lt-Col. R. H.
Ravenshaw, Lt.-Gol. G. W. (Life Member)
Rayment, Vet.-Major G. J. ...
Readymoney, N. J.
Rees, J. C. (c.e.) ...
Rees, W. E.
Reeve, R.
Reid, Mj^jor L. H. ...
Reid, M. F.
Renton, Capt. CO....
Reynolds, L. W. (i.c.S.)
Reynolds, P. (c.e.^ ...
Rhodes, T.M.
Rice, Lieut. B. A. ...
Richardson, Vet.-Capr. A. E. ...
Richardson, Cecil ...
Richardson, Miss E. E.
Richardson, Major W. St. John
Rivett-Carnac, L. ...
Robb, Lient.-Col. John (m.d.)
Roberts, R.
Roberts, T. L.
Robertson, B. (i.c.s.)
Robertson, Col. D. (c.s.i.)
Robinson, Capt. G. T.
Rodon, Major G. S.
Rodonachie, Ambrose
Roflfey, T. H.
Rogers, C. G. (i.f.s.)
Rogers, Henry (m.e.cv.s.)
Rogers, Rev. K. St. A.
Rogers, Capt. P. H.
Rogers, Thos.
Rome, F. J.
Roome, Capt. R. E.
Europe.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Europe.
Calcutta.
Mombasa.
Jhelnm.
Oodeypur.
Rawal Pindi.
Bombay.
Pegu, Burma.
Dinapur.
Bombay.
, Rangoon.
, Bombay.
. Hinooli, Deccan.
. Allahabad.
, Bombay.
, Haflong, Cachar.
Poona.
Allahabad.
, Broach.
Bombay.
, Poona,
Bombay.
Europe.
Secunderabad.
Bombay.
Jabalpur.
Bangalore.
Rangoon.
Dharwar.
Europe.
Sibsagar, Assam.
Darjeeling.
Bombay.
Mombasa.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Bombay.
, Quetta.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Roorkee, The Principal, Thomason College
Roosmiile Cocq, Lt. Chas. H. ...
Routli, R. S.
Rundle, Major C. S. (r.M.s.) ...
Rushton, Kenneth C.
Russell, Hon'ble Mr
Rutherford, D.
Ryan, G. M. (i.f.s.).,
Ryder, Major W. J.
Ryves, A. E.
Justice L. P.
Roorkee.
Poena.
Haflong, Cachar.
Thayetmyo, Burma.
Ahmednagar.
Europe.
Europe.
Thana.
Dharanisala.
Allahabad.
Sale, Edward L. (r.o.s.)
Sanjeli, H. H. Kumar Shri Ranjit Singh of
Saone, G. Prier De...
Sargentj H, G. F. ...
Sassoon, Mrs. S. D —
Saunders, Lt. F. W. (r.e.) ...
Savile, P. B
Scindia, H. H. the Maharaja (Life Member)
Scot, J. S. (i.f.s.) ...
Scott, Venerable Archdeacon W. E.
Seal, Dr. C. E
Sealy, Lieut. A. E. ...
Seervai, liustom F.
Sellick, Capt. J. H. (i.M.S.) ...
Sewell, Major J. H.
Sewell, Lieut. R. A. D.
tSharp, Professor W. H
Sharpe, Genl. C. F....
Shaw, F. W.
Sheppard, W. D. (i.cs.)
Shipp, W. E.
Shoubridge, H. 0. B. (c.e.) ...
Silcock, H. F. (i.c.s.)
Simcos, A. H. A. (i.c.s.)
Simpson, J. Hope (i.c.s.)
Sims, E. Proctor
Sims, R. Proctor
Sinclair, W. F. (i.c.s.) (Life Member) ...
Skev, Oapt. F. E. G. (e.e.)
Slade, H. (i.f.s.) ...
Sladen, J. (i.c.s.) ...
Slater, E. M.
Slater, J. Sanders ...
Sly, F. G. (i.c.s.)
Smale3,Chas. B. (i.f.s.)
... Poona.
... Dhulia.
... Bombay.
... Europe.
... Bombay.
... Rangoon.
... Bombay.
... Gwnlior.
... Madanapallp, Cad-
d!i])ah District
... Europe.
... Darjiling.
... Bak.'oh, Punjab.
... Bombay.
... Ranooon, Burma
... Myittha, Burma.
... Jalna, Deccan.
... Europe.
... Briti^h Columbia,
Canada.
... Bombay.
... Poona.
... Ajmir.
... Jacobabad.
... Europe.
... Malegaon.
... Banda, N.-W. P.
.. Bhavnagar.
... Bhavnagar.
... Europe.
... Roorkee.
... Bangkok, Siam.
... Karachi.
... Europe.
... Bombay.
... Europe.
... Shwebo, Burma.
i
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Smith, Lieut. F. A. (i.m.s.) ...
Smith, Capt. S. C. (r.a.)
Smith, Major Stanley (r.a.) ...
Smith, Mrs. Yorke ...
8mythies, Arthur (i.F.s.)
Snuggs, J. F.
South Wales Borderers, The Mess President
Span, Lt. fl. J. B. ...
Spence, L. H.
Spencer, F. A.
Spooner, T. J. (c.e.) (Life Member)
Loralai.
Europe.
Bombay.
Europe.
Nagpur, 0. P..
Harda, 0. P.
Chakrata.
Satara.
Ahmednagar.
Europe.
Mtotowa Udi,
East Africa.
Sprague, Capt. W. 0. (i.m.s.)...
Squire, W. W. (c.e.)
Squires, Mrs. R. A.
Stables, Major Alex. (r.a.m.C.)
Standage, Lt. R. F. (t.m.h.) ...
Standen, B. (i.c.s.) ...
Stansfeld, Lt. H. G.
Stanton, W. C.
Stebbing, E. P. (lf.s.)
Stevens, P. W.
Stewart, Lt. L
Stewart, Lt. J. Johnston
Stewart, R. B. (i.c.s.)
Stigand, Lieut. C. H.
Stirling, G. C. B
Stiven, J. ...
St. John, Lt. J. H. (r.i.m.) ...
Stone, S. J.
Storey, Thos. H.
Storr, Henry
Strachey, Hon'ble Mr. Justice
Sturrock, G. 0. (r.a.)
Sulivan, Col. G. D. F.
Summer*, Thos. (c.e.)
Sutherland, J. (c.e.)
Sutherland, W.
Sutton, F. H.
Swan, H. H.
Swayne, Herbert (Life Member)
Swinboe, Col. C. ...
Swinton, Capt. F. E. (i.m.s.) ...
Sykes, C. M. (c.e.)
Symington. J. \\. ...
Symonds, W. P. (i.c.s.)
Symons, H. S.
Symons, J. L.
i
Europe.
Europe.
Europe.
Poena.
Europe.
Betul, C. P.
Rangoon.
Rangoon.
Calcutta.
Gaya.
Lucknow.
Mauritius.
Godhra.
Aden. [Burma.
, Keng Tung, Upper
, Bombay.
Rangoon.
, MLissoorie,N.-W.P.
Oodeypur.
Europ)^.
Allahabad.
Kirkee.
Rawal Pindi.
Hyderabad^ Sindi
Thibaw, Burma.
Rangoon.
, Calcutta.
Bombay,
Ceylon.
Europe.
Poena.
Jamnagar.
Bombay.
Poona.
Bombay.
, Bombay.
![]()
XXVI
Ll^T OF MEMBERS.
Talbot, W. A. (i.F.s.)
Talyarkhan, Maneckshaw J. ...
Tanner, Capt. C. 0. 0.
Tata, Dorabji J. (Life Member)
Tata, Jamsetji N. (j.p.)
Taylor, James H. ...
Taylor, M. D.
Taylor, R. H. Bentley
Taylor, S. B
Tejpal, Goverdhundas Goculdas (Life Member) ...
Temulji B. Nariman, Dr.
Tenasserim Agri-Horticultural Society, The Hon-
orary Secretary of the
Thacker, E. B.
Thackor, AV. ... ...
Thatcher, Lieut.-Col. J. F. C
Thesiger, Hon'ble P.
Thomas, J. C.
Thomas, R. E. S. ...
Thompson, Hon'ble Mr. H. M.
Thompson, H. N. (f.z.s., i.f.s.)
Thompson, P.
Thompson, R. H. E. (i.f.s.) ,..
Thompson, R. M. (c.e.)
Thomson, D. A. (i.f.s.)
Thomson, Capt. D. B.
Thornhill, Capt. J.
Tichborne, Sir Henry TBart.)...
Tighe, Capt. M. J.
Tilly, T. H. (Life Member)
Tod, Alex. M.
Tooth, E. E.
Topham, F. D.
Tottenham, W. F. L. (i.f.s.) ...
Townsend, (^apt. E. C.(r.s.o.)
Traill, John
Traill, W.H
Travers, Q. H.
Trevithick, R. L. (a.m.i.c.e.) ...
Trevor, Sir A. C. ...
Trewby, Miss Lilian (m.d.)
Trivandrum, Hon, Sec, Government Museum and
Public Gardens ...
Trotter, W.
Troup, N. F. T.
Truninger, L.
Trydell, Vet.-Lt. A. S.
Tudball, W. (r.cs.)
Europe.
Bombay
Chaman.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Khorda, Orissa.
Europe.
Kurope.
Karachi.
Bombay.
Bombay.
Moulmein.
Daman.
Bombay.
Quetta.
Eu7'ope.
Mandalay.
Calcutta.
Kurope.
Taunggyi, Burma.
Ootaoamund.
Dehra Dun.
Dehra Dun.
Alilx-g.
Poona.
Jhansi.
Europe.
Europe.
Mingin, Burma.
Bombay
Calcutta ,
Arsikeri, S. M. Ry.
Chiengmai, Siam.
Myitkyina, Burma.
Europe.
Jhansi, N.-W. P.
Chingleput.
Bombay.
Simla.
Amraoti.
Trivandrum.
Jalpaiguri.
Kousanie P. 0.,
Almora.
Rawal Pindi.
Rawal Pindi.
Gazipur.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
xxvu
Turner, Mrs. A. F. ...
Tumor, Hon hie Mr. M. C. ...
Twopenny, CD.
Tydd, F. A.
Tyler, Major-Geueral T. B. (r.a.)
... Bombay.
... Calcutta.
... Eui'ope.
... Cachar.
... Simla.
Ulwar, H. H. Maharaja Joy Singh of (Life Member) Ulwar.
Uniacko, Lt. N. F. ... ... ... Europe.
Unwalla, J. N. (Life Member)... ... ... Bhavnagar,
Vanderzec, Capt. H. F. (r.a.)
Varley, F. J. Tlcs.)
Vaughan, J. P. (l.c.s.)
Velinker, Shrikrishna G.
Viccaji Framji R. (Life Member)
ViGk,'F. H.
Vidal, G. W. (i.c.s.)
Vincent, W. H. H. (i.c.s.) ...
Vithuldas Damodhar Thakersev
... Fort St. George,
Madras.
... Dhulia.
... Karaohi.
... Bombay.
... Bombay.
... Silchar, Cachar.
... Europe.
..^ Burdwan.
... Bombay.
Waddington, C. W.
Walker, A. C.
Wall, Capt. E. W. ...
Wall, Capt. F. (I.M.S.)
Wallace, John (c.E.)
Wallace, W. V. (i.c.s.)
Wallinger, W. A. (i.f.s.)
Walton, Lt. H. J. (i.M.s.)
Wapshare, H.
Ward, Lieut. G. H.
Ward, Rowland
Warneford, Lt. G.
Warner, W. W. B.
Wasey, G. K.
Watson, H. W. A. (i.f.s.) .
Watson, Major J. (r.a.m.c.) .
Watson, Capt. John C.
Watson, L. P.
Watts, Lieut. G. A. R.
Webb, Wm.
Weir, Lieut.-Col. T. S.(i.m.8).
Wells-Cole, Capt. H.
Wendon, H. (c.E.) ...
Rajkote.
Europe.
Mean Mir.
Rangoon.
Bombay.
Taungoo, Burma.
Dharwar.
Bombay.
Hope, Guynd.
Agra
Europe.
Sawantwady.
Mozambique, East
Africa.
Marmagoa, Goa.
Taungoo, Burma.
Darjoeling.
Baroda.
Cawnpore.
Dehra Gazi Khan.
Europe.
Bombay.
Mauritius,
Bombay.
![]()
XXVlll
LIST OF MEiMB'ER^.
Westall, J.
WestiTuioott, Geiil. Sir R.
Woiherall, Lieut. E. R.
Whately, Richard ..
Whiffin, F. D
Whitcombe, Capt. E. G. R. (i.m.s.)
White, AV. H. (c.E.)
Whitehouse, Laugford
Whiting, J. E. (c.E.)
Whitley, A. \N
Whittall, Major F. V.
Whittle, A. T
Whitworth, G. C. (i.c.s.) (Life Member)
Whyte, C. W. F
Whyte, Dr. Fredk.
Wickham, P. F. ...
Wilkieson, Lt.-Gol. C. B. (r.e.)
Wilkins,A.V.
Wilkinson, Capt. E. (i.m.s ) ...
Williams, Capt. C. E. (i.m.s.)
Williams, Capt. F. T.
Williams, W. R.
Willis, R. A.
Wilson, A. R
Wilson, Major C. L. (r.a-) ...
Wilson, Lt. H. A. ...
Wilson, Lt. N. F. T. (r.i.m.)...
Wilson, V. S. Fellowes
Wilson, W. G
Winsloe, Lt. H. E. (r.e.)
Winter, E. L. (i.c.s.)
Witt, D. 0. (I.F.S.)
Wodehouse, Lt. F. W.
Wolf-Murray, F. D. 0. (i.c.s.)
Wolseley-Smith, F.
Wood, A. (i.c.s.) ...
Wood, C. W. (c.E.)
Wood, H. F. A. ...
Woodbiirn, A. F. (i.c.s.)
Woodhouse, Lt. C.
Woodrow, G. Marshall
Woodrow, W. R. (i.F.s.)
Woods, M. V.(c.B.)
Wormold, Percy ...
Wright, Fred.
Wright, F. A. (c.E.)
Wright, H. C.
Europe.
Mhow, C. 1.
Jalna.
Broach.
, Rourkela,B.-N. Ry.
Europe.
Morvi, Kathiawar.
, Pakokku, Burma.
, Bombay.
. Europe.
. Jalna.
Wadhwan.
. Karachi.
. Fort Sandemau.
. Europe.
. Mandalay.
. Bangalore.
. Bengbari P. 0.
Mungaldi, Assam.
. Bombay.
. Taunggyi.
. Vizianagram.
. Roorkee.
. Bombay.
. Binsur, A 1 mora.
. Murree.
. Jhansi, N.-W. P.
. Mandalay.
. Trichinoj^uly.
. Bombay.
. Bangalore.
„ Europe.
. Saugor.
. Jetalsar,
. Madras.
,. Banga'ore.
,. Thana.
.. Pollachi, Madras.
. Cuddapah, Madras.
,. Bombay.
,. Loralai.
,. Europe,
,. Dharwar.
., Haflong, N. Cachar.
.. Europe.
.. Secunderabad.
.. Howrah, Bengal,
,. Bombay.
![]()
LIST OF MEMBERS.
■^Vrigbt, Major R. W. (r.a.m.c.)
Wroughtou, R. C. (i.f.s., c.m.z.s.)
Wylie, R.
Yeld, Col. J. H
Yeo, Edwin, W. ...
-Yerbuiy, Col. J. W. (r.a.) (Life Member)
Young, A. P.
Young, E. H.
Young, H. G.
Young, John
Young, W. E. ..;
Tule, Col, J. H
Jbansi, N.-W. P.
, Poona.
. Gadecbi.
. Europe.
, Bombay.
. Ezirope.
. Europe,
, Europe.
. Waltair, Madras
Presidency.
. Rangoon, Burmat
. Bombay.
, Europe,
![]()
![]()
CONTENTS OF VOLUME X//.
PAGE
STATEilEXT OF ACCOUNT FOR THE YEARS 1898-99 iii
List of Office Bearers v
List of Members vi
Indian Ducks and their Allies. Part V. {With Plate V.) By E. C.
Stuart Baker, r.z.s. 1
A Catalogue of the Heterocera ofSikhiji and Bhutan. Part IV.
By Gr. C. Dudgeon, f.e.s. With notes by H. J. Elwes, f.z.s.,
r.E.s., &c., and additions by Sir George F. Hampson, Bart., b.a.,
F.E.S., &c 32
The Birds of North Kanara. Part II. By J. Davidson, i.c.s. ... 43
The Moths of India. Supplementary Paper to the Volumes in
"The Fauna of British India." Part IV. By Sii- G. F.
Hampson, Bart., r.z.s., f.e.s. 1%
Description of a new species of Mns from South India. {With
a Plate). By J. L. Bonhote 99
The Aculeate Hymenoptera procured at Aden by Col. Yer-
bury, R.A., AND Capt. Nurse, i.s.c. {With Plate A.) ByLieut.-
Col. C. T. Bingham, F.Z.S., F.E.S 101
On some New Species of Indian Hymenoptera. (With Plate A.)
By Lieut.-Ool. C.T. Bingham, F.z.s. , F.E.S. 115
On New and Little-Known Butterflies from the Indo-Malayan,
Austro-Malayan, and Australian Regions. {With Plates A',
Y, Z, & A A.) By Lionel de Niceville, r.E.s., c.m.z.s., &c 131
The Flora of Western India. Part V. By G. Marshall Woodrovv,
Professor of Botany, College of Science, Poena 162
On some Superficial Deposits in Cutch. Part I. (With a Plate.)
By the Rev. J. F. Blake, m.a., f.g.s 177
Review. *' The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and
Burma. Birds." Vol. IV. By W. T. Blanford, f.r.s. ... 184
Indian Wild Cattle : The Tsine and the Gaur (miscalled
Bison). By Colonel Pollok 184
Fishing in Indian Waters. The Bahmin. Part I. By Fred, Ord.
Gadsden 194
52035
![]()
xxxii CONTENTS.
PAGE
MiSCELLAlTEOUS NOTES—
1^ Birds not recorded from Travancore in the *' Faima of British
India" 202
2^ Tlie -3i^thiopiau Warfc Rog {Phaeoehmnis mihiopims). {With a
Plate) 204
3^ Gome Notes on the Narcondam Hombill, etc. {Ehytidoceros
narcondami) ... ... ••• ... 212
4. _ A voracious Centipede 214
5_ "White spots on the plmnage of a "Woodpecker attacked by a
Parasite •• ... 214
6. — Parasitic Worms in Fish 215
7_ Notes on "Wildfowl in the Tiunevelly District, South India ... 2I5--
j^__Breeding of the Black-breasted fellow-backed Sunbird {/FAho-
pijga saturata) in the Cbutla Bheel, Cachar District ... 21 T
9._0oourrence of the Black-capped Kingfisher [Hakyon jnleata) and
the Black-legged Falconet {Mierolderax Jrimjillarivs) in the
Chutla Bheel, Cachar 217
]0.— Note on the Nidification of the "White-necked Stork (Dissiira
episcopus) ... •.. •.. ... ... ... 217
]1_ — " Does the Brown Bear hybernate ?" 218
12. — Hybernation of the Himalayan Black Bear {Ursus torqmtus)... 219
13.— The Breeding of Moths 219
14. — Notes on a Jackal Cnb .. 220
15^ — Occasional Notes on Nests and Eggs found in the vicinity of
Baroda 221
1 6, —Notes on Sport in Oudh 223
17. — Elephants' Ankle-joints 224
18. — Lion Cubs 225
19. — The Nesting of the K.ed-tailed Chat {Fcmcola cliryfiqiygia) .., 225
20.— Curious conduct of a Panther 226
21.— Query ... 228
22. — A brace of Tigers at one shot 228
23. — Migration of Euplma core 229
Proceedings 230
Indian Ducks AND THEIR Allies. Part YI. {With riote VI.) By
E. C. Stuart Baker, f.z.s 235
DESrRIPTIONS OF SIX NEW SPECIES OF SCOEPIONS FLOM InDIA. Ev
B. I. Pico'^k, of tlio Bviiisli 3[nf-cuin of Niitiiral History 2G2
![]()
CONTENTS. xi«iii
PAGE
A Monograph of the Pill-Millipedes {ZephroniiUa:) [Nhabiting
India, Ceylon, and Burma. By R. I. Pocock, of the British
Museum of Natural History. Part 1. {With Plate A.) 269
Birds Collected durino Five Years' Residence m the Hylakandy
District, Cachar. Part VI. By C. M. IngUs 286
A Catalogue of the Heterocera of Sikhim and Bhutan. Part V.
[With PUU I.) By C^. C. Dudgeon, f.e.s. With notes by H. J.
Elwes, F.Z.S., F.E.S., &c , and additions by Sir Cleorge F. Hampson,
Bart., B. A., F.E.S,, &G. « *^^2
The Moths of India. Supplementary Paper to the Volumes in
" The Fauna of British India." Part V. By Sir G. F. Hampson,
Bart., F.Z.S., f.r.s "''^^^
The Ferns of North-Western India, including Afghanistan, the
Trans-Indus Protected States, and Kashmir : arranged and
NAMED on the P.ASIS OF HoOKER AND BaKKR's SyNOPSIS FU.ICUM''
and other works, with new species added. Part I. — Introduc-
tory. ByC. W.Hope 315
Note on the liAND Mollusca of Bombay. By W. T. BIanff>rd, f.r s. 326
Notes on some Huttrrflies from Tenasserim in Burma. {With.
Plate BE.) By Lionel de Niceville, f.e.s., c.M.z.s., &c, ,. ... 329
Birds collected and observed at Thull during five months in
1898, AND Notes on their Nidification. By Major R. H.
Itattray 337
Descriptions of some new or rare Trees from Travancore.
( With six Plates.) By T. F. BourJillon, f.l.s., Conservator of
Forests, Travancore ... 349
The FiiORA of Western India. Part VI. By CI. Marshall Woodrow,
Professor of Botany, College of Science, Poona ... 354
On some Superficial Deposits in Cutch. Part II. (With a Plate.)
By the Rnd. J. F. Blake, m.a., f.g.S 374
The Birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Part I. By
A. L. Butler, f.z.s.. Curator, Selangor State Museum 386
Fishing in Indian Waters. The Mullet and Garfish. Part II.
By Fred. (>. (ladsden, r.i.m. .. ... ... 40+
![]()
xxxiv CONTENTS.
PAGE
MlS(^KLLA2vK0Uf^ NOTKS.
1.— A mark on tlie skin of a Msm-eatiiig Tiger 410
2. — A Bush Quail and Raiu Quail laying in the saiue nest ... 410
3. — Notes on 26 specimens of the Pohur, oi' Himalayan Viper
{Andstrodmi himalmimws) ... ... .. ...411
4. — Oco'urreuce of the Alpine Swift {Cfiimhin mplha) m the Dar-
bhanga District, Tirhoot ... ... ... ... ... 414
a. — Breeding of the Whiskered Tern {HydrorMiilon Ityhridci) in the
Darbhanga District, Tirhoot 414
fi, — ^QiQ on the Orange-headed Ground-thrush {Georichla cifrina,
Lath.) 414
7. — Birds tapping at Window-i)anes 415
8. — Early Migration of the Ruddy Sheldrake 410
i). — Bombay Eats 416
lO.—A Waspanda Fly 418
11.— Bull Terrier and Tiger 419
12, — The Nidification of some Malayan Birds 421
1 3. — Occurrence of the Black-winged Kite {Elarnns mrvlens, Desf.)
and the Short-toed Eagle {C/reaetm f/aJJm/s, Gmel), in the
Malay Peninsula 423
14, — TSfote on the White Snake {Coluier tmimrm, Cope) 424
15. — Further Notes on the Varieties of Coluber tmniurus 425
IG, — The 0)l)nifcion of the Wing-lining and Axilleriesinthe Fantail
and Pintail Snipes. ( PF//A r^ P/r/.fe) 427
17. — On an Immature Specimen of the Black-capped Purple King-
fi%\\w {Hah-jjon piUata, ^<m\) 428
X'ji,^ — Ouourrence of the Eastern Stock Pigeon {Columba eversmnnni)
iti the Madhubani Sub-division, Dharbhauga, Tirhoot ... 429
11). — Occurrence of the Clucking Teal (AMfi)fm for)iios//ni) in Guzcrat 429
Proceedings — 429
Indian Ducks AND THEIR Allies. Part VII. [WUli, Plate VTI.) By
K. C. Stuart Baker, F.z.s 437
MONOORAPH OP THE PiLL-MlLIPEDES {ZePHRON IID^) INHABITING
India, Ceylon and Burma. Part II. {With Plate B.) By R. I.
Pocock, of the British Museum of Natural History 465
The Moths oi' India, Supplementary Paper to the Volumes in
•' The Fauna of British India." Part VI. By Sir G. F. Hamp-
son, Bart., r.z.s., f.r.s ,. ... 475
![]()
CONTENTS. xxxr
PAGE
The Bieds of North Cachar. Part X. J3y E. C. 8tiuut Baker,
F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ^86
Lepidoptera taken IX CuTCH. By Capfc. 0. G. Nurse, f,r.g.«., f.e.s... 511
The Flora of Western India. Part VII. By G. Marshall Wood-
row, Professor of Botany, College of Science, Poona 515
The Ferns of North-Western India, including Afghanistan, the
Trans-Indus Pr(jtected States, and Kashmir : arranged and
NAMED on the BASIS OF HoOKER AND BaKER'S SyNOPSIS llLICUMt
AND OTHER WORKS, WITH NEW SPECIES ADDED. Part II. {With
Plates /, //, IIIA^B, IF, F, VI, VII and VIII.) By C. W. Hope 527
Fishing in Indian Waters. Aden and the Adjacent Waters.
Part III. By F. 0. Gadsden, R.I.M 539
The " Lantana bug " {Orthezia jnsignjs, Douglas). By E.
Ernest Green, Honorary Entomologist to the Government of Ceylon. 547
The Birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Isles. Part II. By A. L.
Butler, F.z.s 555
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Birds flying against window-panes 572
2.— Food of the Indian Grey Shrike 572
o. — On " Indian Ducks and their Allies " 572
4. — The Courting Dance of the Moonal Pheasant 57 o
.'). — Game in the Waltair District ... ... 574
6. — The Breeding of Moths 575
7. — Birds tapping at window-panes ... 575
6. — Hybernation of Black and Brown Bears 576
'J. — Occurrence of the Nepaul Kali j Pheasant in Kashmir ... 577
10. — Abnormal number of Eggs in a nest of the Bengal Green
Pigeon (C. phmiicopterifs, Lath.)... ... ... ... 577
11. — Note on the Himalayan Yi^v (Amistrodon himalayanm) ... 577
12. — Gecko Cacnibalism 578
13.— A Bird killed by a Mantis 578
14.— The Palm Swift 579
15. — Occurrence of the Rufous- bellied Niltava {Niltava sundara) at
Murree 579
16. — The Red-tailed Chat [Saxiwla (hrysopygia). A correction ... 579
17. — Birds tapping at window-panes ... ... ... ... 580
![]()
xxxTi CONTENTS.
PAGE
Miscellaneous Notes — contd.
]8. — Tnwluig in Indian Water-s. The Investigutor's Sucoessfnl
Cruise 580
I'j. — Note on Euiimm wmm, Fiiltr., and Mp(j(irh'de disjunda, Fabr.,
!ind their Parasites Chrz/sis fi/scipe/inis^ BruUe, and Parevmjnx
iibilominidis^ Smith ... ... ... ... ..• 585
2U.— Jungle Notes 587
21.--Food of the King- Cohra and Krait 589
22.— Nesting of the Blaok Eagle 580
2a.— A Flying Snake 589
PllOCEEDrNTiS 590
Indian Ducks AND their Allies. Pai-t VIII. {With Plate VIII.)
By E. C. Stuart Baker, e.z.s. 59a
The Feens of Noeth- Western India, including Afghanistan, the
Trans-Indus Protected States, and Kashmir : arr^inged and
named on the basis of Hooker and Baker's Synopsis filicum,
AND other WORKS, WITH new SVECIES ADDED. Part III. {With
Plates IX, J, XI, XII, XIII and XIV). By C. W. Hope ... H21
Nesting in Kashmir. By Lieut. N. F. T. Wilson, r.i.m lia4
A NEW Sea-Snake OF THE genus />/5r/7?.i, from Kubrachee. {With
a Plate.) By G. A. Boulenger, f.r.s 642
A Catalogue of the Heteroleua of Sikhim and Bhutan.
Part VI, By G. ('. Dudgeon, f.e.s. With Notes by H. J. Elwes,
F.Z.S., F.E.S., &c., and additions by Sir George F. Hampson, Bai-t.,
B.A., F.E.S., &G 64o
The Hill Forests of Western India. By H. M. Birdwood, c.s.i.,
LL.D., M.A., Late Vice-President of the Bombay Natural History
Society 659
Description of a New Amjrosace from the North-Western
Himalaya. By J. F. Duthie 675
Birds collected during five years' residence in the Hylakandy
District, Cachab. Fait VII. By C. M. Inglis 67C
The Birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Part lU. {With
' a Plate.) By A. L. Butler, f.z.s., m.b.o.U., &c., C'urator, Selangor
State Museum 684
![]()
CONTENTS. xxxvii
PAQB.
The Moths of India. Supplementaey Paper to the Volumes in
" The Fauna of British India." Parb VII. Bj Sir G. F. flamp-
son, Barfc., F.z.s., f.e.s .. 697
Some Konkan Bats. {With a Plate.) By R. C. Wroughton, c.m.z.s.,
Indian Forest Service ... ... ... ••• ••• ... 716
KisHiNG IN Indian Waters. The Andaman Islands. Part IV.
By F. 0. Gadsden, e.i.m 726
List of Indian Birds' Eggs in the Bombay Natural History
Society's Collection on 1st August, 1899 734
Diagnosis of some Indian Aracbnwa. By R. I. Pocock (Zool. Depfc.,
British Museum) 744
Review. "The Game Birds of India." Part II. By E.W. Gates. 754
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Not3 on DiatwiDiia, a pouerine genus of Ants, and on the
finding of a female of D. vagans, Smith 756
2. — A " rare " Bat— an appeal 757
3. — Food of Pprnis cr/xtatus (Cuv.), (the Crested Honey Buzzard)... 758
4. — Birds of the Syaukse District 758
5. — Notes on the HypocoUv^ ampelinus (the Bulbul Shrike) ... 760
6. — Two unusual specimens of Tropidomtus stolatus 765
7. — Duration of Parturition in the Daboia (Vipera rmsellii) ... 765
8. — Occurrence of tlie Green-billed Shear-water {Pufflnus chloro-
rki/mm) on the Mekran Coast 766
'.». — Notes on a very unusual specimen of Simotes violawm or a
possible new species ... ... ... ... ... 766
10. — Protective Powers of scent in animals ... ... ... 768
11. — Cannibalism 769
12.— Food of the Indian Wild Boar , 770
13. — Tapeworms found in a Fish ... 771
14. — The Common Indian Swift ... 771
15. — ^The Nidification of some Malayan Birds ... ... ... 772
16. — Bison, Tiger, and Wild Dogs ... 773
17, — The ^Yhiskeved Tern {Hi/drocheUdm h2/b}'ida) 774
18. — Autimmal arrivals ... ... 774
'.9. — Note on the White-eyed Duck {JVyroca ferruginia) and the
Tufted Duck (iV. >i«//«<fe) 775
![]()
xxxviii CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Miscellaneous Notes — contd.
20. — A Plague of Web-making Caterpillars on the " Silang " Tree
(Olea fragrans) 775
21.— Nesting of tlie Black Eagle 776
22.— Food of the Palm Sqiiiirel 777
23.' — Nesting of tlie Large-billed Willow Warliler {AcantlwpnmsU
maijiiirodris) ... ... ... ... ... ...Ill
24. — Occasional Notes on Birds' Nesting in the neighbonrhood of
Poena 778
25.— Wiuter Sleep of Bears 782
28. — Possible oocurreace of the G-reat Snipe {Gdlinarjo major) near
Madras 782
27. — Live Frogs in a Suake... ... ... ... 783
28. — Plumage of the vSuake-Bird { P/o^ws me/«/w//«6'^p/-) 784
21). — The effects of a bite from a Phoorsa {EcMs mrinatu) 784
30,— The Bombay Land i/o?/«sc« 785
31. — An Ovoviviparous Snail ... ^.. 785
32, — Haj'pyiocephalus tiibinaris (^cnWj) ... ... 786
33.— Bear killed by a Tiger 787
Proceedings 787
Index i
![]()
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
"VOZ-XJIVIE 2^11.
PAGE
A.ITK.EN, E.H. ; Migration (i/'Euploea
core 229
; Bombay Bata ... 416
; A Wasp and a Fly... 418
Anonymous ; Traivling in Indian
Haters. TIte Investigator'' s Suc-
cessful Cruise 580
; List of Indian Birds''
Eggs in the Bombay Natural His-
tory S'ciety''g Collection on 1st
August, 1899
: Review. The Game
734
Birds of India. ByE. W. Dates.
Part II 754
Baker, E. C. Stuaet, F.Z..^. ;
Indian Duehs and their Allies.
Parts V, VI, VII, and VIII.
(With Plates V, VI, VII and
VIII) 1, 235, 437, 593
; The Birds of North
Cachar. Part X 486
Bartlett, T.W. : Fond of the Palm-
squirrel 777
Barton, E. L. : Occurrence of the
Clucking Ttal (Nettium formosum)
in Guzerat 429
Beaumont, T.L.F. ; Early Migra-
tion of the Ruddy Sheldrake ... 416
Bedford, F. P. ; Gecko Cannibal ism. 578
Betham. Captain R.M., Eighth
Bombay Infantry ; Occasvmal
Notes on Nests and Eggs found in
the vicinity of Bar oda 221
; Occasinnal Nvtes on
Birds'' Nesting in the neighbour-
hood of Poitna 778
Bingham, Lieut.-Ool. C. T., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S., Conservator OF Forests.
The Aculeate Hymeuoptera pro-
cured at Aden' by Col. Terbury,
R.A., and Capt. Nurse, I.S.C.
(With Plate A.) 101
PAGE
Bingham, Liedt.-Col. C. T., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S., Conservator of Forests.
On some Neio Species of Indian
Hymenopteva. (^Vide Plate A,) ..
; Note on Eumenes
conica, Fabr., and Megacliile dis-
juncta, Fabr., and their paiagites,
Chrysis fuscipennis, Brulle, and
Parevastis abdominalis. Smith ...
; Note on Diacamma.
115
585
a ponerine genus of Ants, and on
the finding if a female of D.
vagans, Smith ... ... ... 756
BIRDWOOD, H. M., C.S.I., LL.D.,
M.A., Late Vice-President op
the Bombay Natural History
Society; The Hill Forests of
Western India 659
Blake, the Rev. J. F. , M. A.,F.Ct.S. ;
On some Superficial Deposits in
Cutch. Parts i and II. (V.'ith
two Plates) 177,374
BlanforDjF.E.S. ; Note on the Land
Mnllusca of Bomiay 326
Bonhote, J. L. ; Description of a
neio species of Mus from Sruth
India. (With a Plate) 99
Boulenger, G. a., F.R.S. ; A New
Sea-snake of the genus Distira, from
Kurrachee. (With a Plate) ... 642
Bourdillon, Mary W. ,• Birds tap-
ping at loiiidow-panes 57,-
Bourdillon, T. F., F.L.S., Conser-
vator of Forests, Travancoee ;
Description if some new or rare
Trees from Travancore. (With
Plates I, TI, III, IV, V and VI).... 349
Browne, Major, C. A. R., R.E, ; A
bird killed by a Mantis 579
Buchanan, Captain Kenneth ;
Nesting of the Black Eagle ... 776
![]()
xl
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
PAUE
Buchanan, Captain Kenneth ;
Nesting of the Large-billed Willoto
Warbler (Acantho{>neu8te magai-
rostris) 777
BuBTON, Captain R. G., First In-
fantry, Hyderabad Conting-
ent; Bull Terrier and Tiger ... -119
; Jwgle Notefi. ... 587
Butler, A. L. ; F.Z.S., Curator,
Selangor State Museum;
White spotis on the phiwagc of a
Woodpecker attacked by aparasite. 214
; A brace of Tigers
at one sh-t 228
; The Birds of the
Andaman and Nicobar Inlands.
Parts I, 11 and III. (With a
Plate) 386, 555, 684
; 'The nid\peation of
some Malayan Birds 421
; Occurrence of the
Black-ioing ed Kite (Elarnus cae-
rulenf=, Desf."), and the Short-toed
Eagle (Circaetus gallicus, Gmel.\
in the Malay Peninsula 423
; Note on the White
Snake (Caluber tjeniurus, Cojie) ... 424
; Further notes on
the varieties of Coluber tasniurus. 425
; The coloration of
the loing-lining and axillaries in
the Fantail and Pintail Snipes.
(With a Plate)
; On an immature
specimen of the Black-capped Pur-
ple Eingfislier (Halcyon pileata,
Bodd.) ,
; The nidificiition of
some Malayan Birds 772
■ ; Bear killed by a Tiger 787
427
428
Cholmondeley, E. C. ; DuraMnn of
parturitioji m the Bahota (Vipera
russellii) 765
Cox, Oa pt. P. Z. ; The . Ethiopian
Wart Hog (Pliacochserus aHhiopi-
cus. (VVifh a Plate) 204
Cox, Stephen, District Forest
OFFICER; Game in the JValtair
district 674
PAGE
CUMINO, E. D. ; Birds tapping at
loindotv jjanes 580
CUMMING, W. D., C. M. Z. S. ; Notes
OH the Hypocolius ampelinus (^The
Bulbul Shrike') 760
; Occurrence of the
Green-billed Shear-icater ( Pufflnus
chlororhyncus) on the MekranCoast 766
Daly, W. Mahon ; Nesting if the
Black Eagle 589
; A flying snake ... 589
Davidson, J., I.C.S. ; The Birds of
A^orth Kanara, Part II 43
Dixon, Pi. M. ; Tapevcorms found in
a Fish 770
Donald, C. H. ; ^^ Does thu Brown
Bear hybernate V 218
: Hybernation of
Black and Breton Bears ...
; Occurrence
i76
the Nejjaiil Kalij Phca,mnt in
Kashmir ... 577
Donovan, Captain C., I.M.8., M. B.
0. U. ; Possible occurrence of the
Great Snipe (Gallinago major)
near Madras 782
Dudgeon, G. C, F.E.S, ; A Cata-
logue of the Heterocera of Sikhim
and Bhutan^ with Notes by IT. J.
Ehves, F.Z.S., F.E.S., etc., and
Additions by Sir George F. Ham-
son, Bart., B.A., F.E.S., etc.
Parts IV, V and VI. (With Plate
I.) 32,292,643
; Note on a plague
of tveb-9nahing Caterpillars on the
"Silang''' tree (Olea fra grans) ... 776
DUTHIE, .1. F. ; Description of a
new Androsace ... 675
Eardley-Wilmot, S. : Notes on
Sport in Oudh 223
Ferguson, Harold S. ; Birds not
recorded from Trarancoi' in the
^* Fau)ia of Britifh India^' 202
Ferris, Lieut. -Col. W. P.. ; A
mark on the skin of a man-eating
Tiger 410
Fiss^F.: Cannibal istn 769
![]()
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
x!l
PAGE
Fleming, W. N. ; Notes on Wildfoid
■in the Tinnevelly District^ South
India 215
Gadsden, Fred. Ord., r.i.m. ; Fish-
ing in Indian Waters. Thi Bahmin.
The JMullet and Garfish. Aden
and Adjacent Waters. The Anda-
man Islands. Parts I, II, III and
IV 194,404,539,726
Gleadew, F. ; Note on the Hima-
layan Viper (Ancistrodon hima-
layauus) 577
Green, E. Ernest, Honorary En-
tomologist to THE Government
OF Ceylon ; Birds tapping at
window-panes 415
; The *' Lantana
Bug " (Orthezia insignis, Douglas') 547
Hampson, Sir G. F., Bart., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S.; The Moths of India. Supple-
mentary Paper to the Volumes in
^^The Fauna of British India:'
Parts IV^, V, VI and VII ... 73,
304, 475, 697
Harington, Lieut. E. C, K.A.,
Hyderabad Contingent ; A
Bush Quail and Rain Quail lay-
ing in the same nest 410
Heath, R. H., A.M.I.C.E. ; The
effects from a bite from a Phoorsa
(Echis carinata) 784
Hope, C. W. ; The Ferns of North-
western India, including Afghan-
istan, the Trans-Indus Protected
States, and Kashmir : arranged and
named on the basis of Hooker and
Baher''s Synopsis Filicum, and
other works, with new Species
added. Parts I (Introductory), II
and III. (With Plates I, II,
IIIA,B, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX,
X, XI, XII, XIII and XI V)315, 527, 621
INGLIS, C. M. ; Breeding of the
Blach-breasted Yellotv-backed Sun-
bird C^thopyga saturata) in the
Chutla Bheel, Cachar District ... 217
6
page
Ingles, C. M.; Occurrence of the
Blach-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon
pileata) and the Blach-legged Fal-
conet (Microhieras f ringillaiius) in
the Chutla Bheel, Cachar 217
Note on the nidifica-
tion of the White-necked Stork
(Dissura episcopus) 217
Birds collected dur-
ing five years'" residence in the
Hylakandy District, Cachar. Parts
VI and Vll 936, 67&
Occurrence of the
Alpine Swift (Cypselus melba) in
the Darbhanga District, I'irhoot... 414
• ; Breeding of the
Whiskered Ttrn (Hydrochelidou
hybrida) in the Darbhanga Dis-
trict, Tirhoot 414
Note on the Orange-
headed Grround-thrush (Geocichla
citrina, Lath.) 414
; Occurrence of the
Eastern Stock Pigron (Columba
eversmanni) in the 3fadhuhani
Sub-division, Darbhanga, Tirhoot.. 429
: Abnormal number of
eggs in a nest of the Bengal Green '
Pigeon (C. phsenicopterus. Lath. ... 577
; Food o/Pernis crista-
tus, QCuv.), (the Crested Honey-
Buzzard)
- ; The Whiskered Tern
(Hydrochelidon hybrida)^
; Autumnal arrivals ...
; Note on the White-
758
774
774
eyed Duck (Nyroca ferruginea)
and the Tufted Duck (N.fuligula). 775
Kelsall, Captain H. J., R. A. ;
Live frogs in a snake 783
Lester, Lieutenant C. D., 17th
Bombay Infantry ; Curiovs con-
duct of a Panther 226
MACLEOD, N. C. ; Protective power
of scent in animals 7G8
Nash, R. M. ; Food of the Indian
Wild Boar 770
![]()
xlii
LTST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
PAGE
Nice'villBj Lionel db, F.E.S.,
CM Z.S., &c. ; On mio and little-
knnmn BuUerfiies from, the Indo-
Malayan, Austro- Malayan, and
Australian Regions. (With Plates
X, Y.Zand AA.)
, . ; Notes on some Butter-
flies from Tenasxerim in Burma.
(With Plate BB.)
Nurse, Captain C. G., F.R.G.S.,
F.E.S., Thirteenth Bombay In-
fantry ; Lepidoptera taken in
Cutch
; Birds flying against
131
329
511
loindow-panes
572
Food of the Indian
572
785
785
262
PAGE
Rattray, Major R. H., Twenty-
second Punjab Infantry; Oc-
ritrrence of the Rufous-bellied
Niltava (Niltava sundara) at Mur-
rea 579
The Red-tailed Chat
(Saxicola chrysopygia). A correc-
tion 579
RoDON, Major G, S. ; hybernation
of the Himalayan Black Bear
(Ursus torquatus) 219
; Notes on a Jackal
cub 220
; Lion Cubs 225
Grey Shrike
Pbile, CapT. a. J., R.A. , The Bom-
bay La7id Mollusca
; An ovoviviparous
Snail ... •••
PococK, R. I., OF the British
Museum of Natural History;
Description of six New Species
of Scorpions from India
,. ; A monograph of
the Pill- Millipedes (Zephronii-
dse) inhabiting India, Ceylon, and
Burma. Parts I and II. (With
Plates A and B) 269, 463
, ; Diagnoses of seme
neio Indian Ar&Ghnida, 744
PoLLOK, Colonel ; Indian Wild
Cattle ; the Tsine and the Gaur
{miscalled Bison') 187
Primrose, A. M.; Food of the King
Cobra and Krait 589
Proceedings ... 230, 420, 590, 787
Rattray, Major R. H., Twenty-
SECOND Punjab Infantry ;
Parasitic Worms in Fish 215
— ; The Breeding of
; The courting danoe
of the Moonal Pheasant 573
; Bison, Tiger, and
Wild Dogs 773
; Winter sleep of
Bears ... 782
St. John, Lieut. J. H., Command-
ing, R.I. M.S. " Elphinstonb " ;
Some notes on the Narcondam
Hornhill, &c. (Rhytidoceros nar-
condami) 212
Sewell, Major J. H. ; Birds of the
Xyaukte District 758
Sinclair, W. F,, (late I.C.S.); Re'
view. *' The Fauna of British
India, including Ceylon and Bur-
ma.'' By W. T. Blanford, F. R. S.
Birds. Vol. IV, 1898 184
; Elephants'' anhle-
joints 224
; Query 228
Plumage of the
Moths
219
— ; The nesting of the
Red-tailed Chat (Saxicola chry-
sopygia) 225
■■■ ; Birds collected
and observed at ThuU during
flve moriths in 1898, and vnt^s
on their nidifieation ^37
Snake-bird (Plotus melanogaster) 784
Troup, Norman F. T. ; The Com-
mon Indian Swift 771
; A plague of
web-maMng Caterpillars on the
" Silang " tree (Olea fragrans) ... 775
Wall, Capt. F., I. M.S. ; Notes on
26 specimens of the Pohur, or
Himalayan Viper (Ancistrodon
himalayanus) „. ... ... 411
![]()
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
xliii
PAGE
Wall, Capt. F., I.M.S. ; The Palm
6'u}ift 579
• ; Ttco unvtval
specimens of Tropidonotus stola-
tus ... ... ... ... ... 765
; Notes on a very
unusual sjiecimen of Sinaotes vio-
laceus or a possible neio species ... 766
Wallace, W. V., Burma Commis-
sion ; The Breeding of Moths ... 575
Wells-Cole, Capt. H., Second
K. O. Yorkshire Light Infan-
try ; A voracious Centipede ... 214
Wilson, Lieut. N. F. T., R.LM. ;
Nesting in Kashmir ■ C3i
page
Woourow, G. Marshall, Peopes-
soR of Botany, College op
Science, Poona ; The Flora of
Western India. Parts V, VI and
VII 162,354,515
Wroughton, R.C, C.M.Z.S., Indian
Forest Service ; Some Konhan
Bats. With a Plate 716
; A " rare''"' Bat — An
757
apjjc
; Harpyiocephalus tubi-
nai'i^ ^Scully) , 786
Young, E. H. ; On ^ Indian Ducks
and their Allies''' 573
![]()
![]()
LIST OF PLATES.
The Crested or Bronze-capped Teal. Eunetta falcatay Plate V
New or Little-known Heterocera from Sikhim and Bhutan, Plate I ...
A New Indian Mouse. Mus famulus, Bonhote
Indo-Malayan fl^ywe»Oj?^pr«, Plate A
Eastern Butterflies, Plate X
Y
„ „ ,) i ... ... ... ... ...
„ „ )) ^ ... ... ...
V) » »> ^^ •••
The Ran of Cutch ...
The Ethiopian Wart-hog. Phacochoems ntfiiopicus
The Oceanic Teal. Nettion albigulare, Plate VI
Indian Pill Millipedes, Plate A
Teinopalpus imperatrix, Plate BB
fi^fl^'cinja mJpr^i, Bourdillon, Plate I
Dy aoxijlum purpureuWy BonTdiUon,F]a,ie II
Agalia maue, Bourdillon, „ III
Terminalia angustifolia, Roxburgh, „ IV
Canthium pergracile,Bouidillon, „ V
Diospiros humilis, Bourdillon, „ VI
Geological Plate
Plate of Snipes' Feathers
The Marhled Teal. Marmaronetta angustirottris, Plate VII
Indian Pill Millipedes, Plate B ,
Davallia heddomei, n. sp., Plate I
Cheilanthes dubia,n.fi\>., „ II
Cheilanthes albomarginata, C. B. Clarke. Cheilanthes rufa, Don., Plates
IIIA&IIIB
AspUnium tenellum, n. sp., Plate IV ,
Asplenium (§ Athyrium) rupinola, n. sp., Plate V
Aspidiuni duthiei, n. sp., Plate VI
Nephrodium gamhlei, n. sp., Plate VII
Nephrodium repeng,u.?,^.y „ VIII
Baer''s Pochard. iVyrflca Ja«r«, Plate VIII
Nephrodium kingii, n. sp., Plate IX ...
Nephrodium serrato-dentatum, n. sp., Plate X
Nephrodium blandfordii,n. &])., „ XI
Nephrodiu7n papilio,n. sp., » X.II
Nephrodium occultum, n. sp., Plate XIII
Polypod%u'm(^Phegopter%s)laterepens,TTotieT,?\2i.[.e'yilN
Distira gillespi(B. (New Sea-Snake from Kurrachee,)
Asfjur (Jicelospizias') butleri, Gurney
Indian Bats
To face
page
1
32
100
130
>131
I
)
178
204
235
270
328
(350
:i
352
.. 374
... 426
... 437
... 474
*■■ \ 528
530
j 532
(534
593
}623
624
626
628
630
642
684
716
![]()
![]()
![]()
Jo"urrL, Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc .
PlateV.
J.5 Keul&irLa.its dei.
Mirtfcei-n. Bro s . Chromo lifcli LonAo
THE CRESTED OR BRONZE-CAPPED TEAL.
Euivetta falcata .
is Nai size
![]()
Si
v^\c>i7
00 iT ♦.♦-«*^ V\ ^]
JOURNAL
OF THE
patera! listorji ^0ti%
Vol. XII.
BOMBAY.
No. I.
INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES.
By E. C. Stuart Baker, F. Z. S.
Part V, with Plate V.
(^Continued from p. 584 of Vol, XI.)
Genus ANAS.
This genus contains seventeen species, some of which are practically
cosmopolitan and others confined to comparatively small areas. India
possesses but two species, Anas boscas and A. pcecilorJiT/ncha, the
former of which is cosmopolitan, whereas the other belongs to our
local avifauna. The genus is recognized by its broad but not spatulat-
ed bill, which is about the length of its head ; moderate tail, of which
the central tail feathers are not lengthened ;
secondaries and dark grey wing coverts.
Ket/ to Species,
Speculum purple-blue or violet ; no white on
outer webs of inner secondaries ...
Speculum metallic-green ; outer web of inner
secondaries more or less white ...
(19) Anas boscas.
The Common Wild Duck or Mallard.
Anas hoschas, Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 398 ; Hume, '' Nests
and Eggs," p. 642 ; id., " Str. Feath.," I, p. 261 ; Scully, ibid, IV.,
its non-chestnut inner
(1) A. BOSCAS.
(2) A. POECILORHYNCHA,
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2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
p. 199 ; Hume, iUd^ VIII, p. 119 ; id., Cat. No. 158 ; Barnes, " Birds
of Bombay," p. 402.
Anas hoscas, Hmiie and Marshall, " Game Birds of India," III, p. 151 ;
Hmne, " Nests and Eggs " (2nd ed.), Ill, p. 288; Salvadori, "British
Museum Cat./' XXVII, p. 180 ; Blanford, " Birds of India," IV, p. 435.
Description of Adult Male. — Head and upper neck bright and very
glossy dark green ; a ring, interrupted on the nape, pure white ;
upper back and scapulars brownish-grey, changing into dark brown on
the back and lower neck ; upper back vermiculated with dark brown ;
rump and upper tail coverts and four central rectrices deep black ;
outer rectrices light grey, edged white. Wing coverts dark grey or
grey-brown, the greater coverts tipped black and sub-tipped white,
forming two distinct wing bars ; speculum glossy bluish-purple or
violet ; after this two more bars formed by the black sub-tips and
white ti})s of the outer secondaries ; exposed inner secondaries dark
brown, remaining quills dark brown ; upper breast chestnut ; lower
breast, flanks, and abdomen greyish-white, very finely barred with dark
brown ; under tail coverts rich black.
*' The colours of the soft parts vary. I have found the legs and feet
most commonly reddish-orange, but also coral and vermilion-red, and
again pure orange ; the claws are black or dusky, and more or less
of the webs are often more or less dusky ; the irides are brown, some-
times deep, sometimes comparatively light ; the nail of the bill is black ;
the rest of the bill is normally a rather dingy olive, more yellow at
base, greener at tip ; the lower mandible is generally more or less
orange at the base ; and I have killed l)ird3 (females), with the bills black
on the culmen and a considerable portion of the upper mandible and
orange-yellow elsewhere ; others with brown replacing the black, and
brownish-yellow replacing the orange ; and I killed one male with the
bill a distinct orange-green — a colour such as I never saw in any other
bird."— (Hume.)
*' Bill yellowish-green, black at tip ; under mandible reddish-yellow
at the base ; irides brown ; legs and feet reddish-orange." — (Salvadori.)
Adidi Male in non-hreeding plumage. — Similar to the female, but
usually a good deal darker.
" Length 22'3" to 24*5" ; wing 10-45" to ll'S"; tail from vent 4*2" to
4*8" ; tarsus 1*6" to 1-85" ; bill from gape 2-5" to 2-75" ; weight if in fair
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 3
condition 2 lbs. 8 oz. to 3 lbs., but I have shot them up to 4 lbs." —
(Hmne.)
" Total length about 24 inches ; wing 10'50" to 11-50"; tail 4'41"
culmen 2-2" ; tarsus 1-85"."— (Salvador!.)
Female. — ^Chin and throat pale bufF; remainder of upper and lower
parts dark brown with bufF edges ; on the lower parts the brown
centres are reduced to streaks only ; rectrices brovrn, edged with pale
bufF ; wings as in the male.
The depth of the brown and its tint vary much, as does the boldness
of the edging. In some birds the centres and edges blend into one
another, whilst in others they eonstrast very distinctly.
Length 20*0" to 21-75" ; wing 9-2" to 10-8" ; tail from vent 4*1" to 4-7" ;
tarsus 1-5" to 1*7" ; bill from gape 2-47" to 2-63" ; weight (as above)
1 lb. 10 oz. to 2 lbs. JO oz.
" Young in first plumage resembles adult female, but the male is some-
what darker in colour." — (Salvadori.)
•' Young in down has the upper parts dark brown, with nearly white
spots on the wings, scapulars, and sides of the rump ; the under parts
are pale Ijrown, palest on the belly, and shading into buff on the throat ;
it has a buff stripe over the eye, a dark brown stripe through the eye,
and a dark spot at the end of the ear coverts." — (Seebohm.) Waterton, as
quoted by Hume, describing the change of plumage in the drake
into its post-nuptial plumage, says : *' At the close of the breeding season
the drake undergoes a very remarkable change of plumage. About the
24th of May the breast and back of the drake exhibit the first appear-
ance of a change of colour. In a few days after this the curled feathers
above the tail drop out, and grey feathers begin to appear amongst the
lovely green plumage which surrounds the eyes. Every succeeding day
now brings marks of a rapid change. By the 23rd June scarce one
single green feather is to be seen on the head and neck of the bird.
By the 6th of July every feather of the former brilliant plmnage has
disappeared, and the male has received a garb like that of the female,
though of a somewhat darker tint. In the early part of August this
new plumage begins to drop off gradually ; and by the 10th of October
the drake will appear again in all his rich mag-nificence of dress."
Salvadori thus defines the habitat of the Mallard : " Northern
Hemisphere, rarely north of the Arctic circle ; in Africa extending from
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4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII .
the Azores, Madeira, and Canaries on the west to Nubia and Abyssinia
(Riippel) on the e?st ; in Asia during the winter found from Arabia,
through Persia and North India to China and Japan ; in America
extending southwards to Mexico, the West Indies ; and Central America
as far as Panama."
Narrowing ourselves to our own Indian limits, we find that A. boscas
is very conmion only in the extreme north and north-west ; it is a con-
stant but less nmnerous visitor to the whole of the North-West Provinces,
Punjab and Oudh ; and south of this is decidedly rare. It has been
shot occasionally in Rajputana ; and also in the Central Provinces and in
Bombay. It is met with at odd times and places throughout Bengal
and Assam ; and I have myself shot a pair in Jessore which were in com-
pany with a few Gadwall. They were extremely wild, as were all the
ducks, and it was only with considerable difficulty they were approached
and shot. It is not very rare in Cachar, and is occasionally to be seen in
Sylhet. I shot one out of a small flock in Gowhatty in DeGember,1886, and
have had notices of them from Dibrughur, Sadya, Tezpur, and Naogaon.
From Manipur the only record I have is that of Surgeon-Captain Woods,
who writes : " The mallard is extremely rare in Manipur ; in fact, during
the last seven years I have only seen a pair, and that was this year about
the lOth of January. These two birds were along with a large flock
of teal in a small jheel lying about eight miles due north of Imphal. I
tried hard to secure them, but they were very wild and flew away at
the first shot. I returned to the jheel next day, but could find no signs
of them. I also saw a pair on a small jheel in the Namba forest "
(Assam). Lately two notices of its appearance in Burma have been made
in the " Asian." The notices, though initialled and not signed in full,
appear to be authentic. One mallard is recorded as being part of a huge
baf of duck and teal obtained near Mandalay.
In Kashmir they are extremely common, as may be seen from the
following well- written cutting from the "Asian" of the 8th of February
by the pen of " A. E. W." :— " On January, the 18th, I was shooting at
a marsh near the big reserve, having in front of me about five or six
acres of open water and a smaller amount about five hundred yards
behind. The reserve was also being shot by four guns, so that the ducks
were being continually driven towards me. I knew if I could once get
ray punts through the ice I should be in for a good thing. For :in hour-
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 5
and a-half we laboured to get through. By dint of using two heavy poles
we reached the place, and then broke np sufficient of the ice to picket out
four decoy ducks, two mallards, and five tame ducks which were
accustomed to be shot over. The punt was hidden by some grass, and in
it I lay on my back with my shoulders propped up by a large sack of
grass ; there was not sufficient cover to enable me to hide if I had sat
up ; in fact, I had to supplement the little there was by some reeds
which a fisherman took off his roof and sold to me.
'' I could see thousands of ducks on the water in front, looking like a
black mass, whilst the edge of the ice was lined with many more.
By the aid of glasses I could make them out to be chiefly mallards and
red-crested pochards ; of course those birds which had been behind and
tolerably close had cleared off. The second punt was sent back by
the way we came, and was then carried round by land to where the open
water touched the edge of the marsh. In the middle of the pond in front
was a small island ; on to this a hardy duck shikari managed to get
and then lay hid ; his orders were to hide, and when the ducks had
settled to put them up. In addition to the advantages of my post I was
immediately in the line of flight between the Hokasai and Anchar lake.
" I had started early ; the Hokasai party were to begin at noon ; but I
had not been long in position before the fun began. Thousands stream-
ed over and many pitched on my marsh, but as they came to the right
I could not do much when reclining on my back ; soon they began to fly
backwards and forwards over my head, and this they coutinued to do for
hours I counted over-SO birds down before I sat up to eat
my lunch. They were on the ice in every direction ; two or three fell
so close that I could gather them from the boat ; one fell into my
cartridge box. "Whilst eating and having a smoke the birds were flyino-
round, but were left to their own ways ; and then I lay down again, the
ice had thawed in places, and the wounded birds wandered away. I
stopped all I could reach, but that was not many. In the afternoon the
teal began to fly round and looked for open water, but none of the bio-
flights would come near me. Single birds came at short intervals ; my
cartridges were nearly finished ; so I whistled for the men, but they could
not hear me ; the shooting on Hokasai ceased, and nearly all the ducks
left ; now and again a mallard or gadswall came flying round the decoys,
and fell an easy prey to the ... powder.
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6 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
" My men did not remember how long it would take to reach me ;
consequently it was nearly dark before I could begin to move, and then
the birds had to be gathered. We collected in all 96, but had to leave
many, for they waddled over the ice and got into pools separated from
us by thick ice and reeds frozen hard together. Curiously enough not
a single red-crested pochard came to the gun ; but 53 mallard were
amongst the slain, and very grand they looked when put in a line on
the deck of the house-boat."
In Sind, in the cold weather only of course, the Mallard is found in
as fifreat numbers as in Kashmir. Here it is said to collect in flocks of
some hundreds ; but this is not usual, and all over its vast range it will be
found more often in small than in large flocks.
About a dozen to some twenty or so is perhaps the number most often
seen together in one flock, and over forty or fifty is well above the aver-
age, whilst flights numbering a hundred will seldom be seen.
They often too are found merely in pairs, whether in the hot plains
of India or in our own cool island. Many, if not most of us, must have,
while wandering along some half-frozen brook, or wholly frozen
broad, put up a pair of wild duck from some sheltered place beneath a
tree or thick cluster of reeds. Generally, even in the depth of winter,
they keep to open water, be it a pool ever so small ; but I have seen them
disconsolately sitting on the edge of a completely ice-bound pond.
As regards their habits generally, I cannot do better than follow
Hume and quote what Macgillivray says : —
" Marshy places, the margins of lakes, pools and rivers, as well as
brooks, rills and ditches, are its principal places of resort at all seasons.
It walks with ease, even runs with considerable speed, swims and on
occasion dives, although not in search of food. Seeds of GraminecB and
other plants, fleshy and fibrous roots, worms, mollusca, insects, small
reptiles and fishes, are the principal objects of its search. In shallow
water it reaches the bottom with its bill, keeping the hind part of the body
erect by a continual motion of the feet. On the water it sits rather
lightly, with the tail considerably inclined upwards ; when searching
under the surface it keeps the tail flat on the water ; and when
paddling at the bottom with its hind part up it directs the tail
backwards. The male emits a low and rather soft cry between a
groak and a murmur, and the female a louder and clearer jabber.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 7
Both on l)eing alarmed, and especially in flying off, quack ; but the
quack of the female is much louder. When feeding they are silent, but
when satiated they often amuse themselves with various jabberings,
swim about, approach each other, move their heads backward and
forward, ' duck ' in the water, throwing it up over their backs, shoot
along its surfoce, half flying half running, and in short are quite playful
when in good humour. On being surprised or alarmed when on shore
or on water, they spring up at once with a bound, rise obliquely to a
considerable height and fly off with speed, their hard-quilled wings
whistling against the air. When in full flight their velocity is very
great, being probably a hundred miles in an hour. Like other ducks
they impel themselves by quickly repeated flaps without sailings or
undulations."
Probably some of us will not agree with what Hume says regarding
the comparative merits of a punt gun and a shoulder gun when he
declares that " There is more skill, knowledge, and endurance brought
into play, and therefore more sport, in one day's big shooting than in a
week of even such shooting as Captain Butler describes." I have had a
little experience of both, and must most emphatically dissent. Of
course a punt gun, especially one of the latest swivel-action, breech
loading, non-recoil guns, will enable a sportsman to bring birds to bao-
that he could not otherwise get ; but it is not that he uses more skill
in approaching, but that there is not the need to get so close. He does
not require a more careful aim, for he takes his shot into the brown
nearly always as they lie on the water. Nor does he require more
endurance. To this most people will agree who have stood behind some
200 shots fired from a 12-bore carrying 3^ drs. of powder. Certainly
getting some one to push you along on a punt cannot be said to
require more work than does the tramping after your birds on foot.
Mallard especially are strong fliers, and I would personally always
feel more satisfaction on hearing the thud thud of a brace of birds on
the gTound in answer to the two barrels of my 12-bore than I should
in seeing five, or even ten times that number, left on the water as the
result of a lucky shot from a punt gun.
In shooting wild duck as they rise before one, it is as well to loose
off one's piece as soon as possible, for, as Macgillivray says, they rise
straight up in the air, whether flushed from land or water, and, whilst
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8 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
thus rising, offer wluit is perhaps the easiest shot, and at the same time
they are not increasing their distance.
Mallard have qneer fancies, and often resort to places where one
could least expect them. I well remember a drake which used to
come, year after year, to a tiny pond on a large private garden ; there
were few or no weeds on the water, but it was entirely enclosed by
trees and in very deep shade. As soon as the breeding season was on
he used to go off, presumably to carry on his natural duties as a
husband and a father ; but he never brought back with him either wife
or family. There were sometimes tame duck about the place ; l)ut he
never seemed to care to associate with them, and kept them always at a
respectable distance. What renJered it more curious that he should
have chosen such a place was the fact that the garden was in the county
of Norfolk, and was surrounded by the famous broads and fens where
he might have obtained the society* of any number of his own kind.
Yet another pail- used to resort every winter to a small pond joined
to a moat which ran round an old monastery. These were never seen
ou the moat itself, nor on any of the numerous ponds close to it, but
when disturbed — they seldom were — used to fly straight away, not to
return for some days or so.
In Indian limits the Mallard breeds in vast numbers on the Kashmir
lakes and in smaller numbers on those in Tibet, probably also through-
out the Himalayas in suitable places. Hume suggests that it may also
b;) found to breed on swamps about the foot of these mountains ; but
I can find no record of their ever liaviug done so.
As far as we know, Kashmir is the breeding place par excellence
of our Indian Mallards : here they are found in such great numbers
tliat their eggs form a veritable article of commerce, boatloads at a
time being collected on the shores of those lakes which they princi-
pally affect for Ijreeding purposes.
The nest is a massive affair, composed of all and any materials^
but principally of grasses, rushes, reeds, and similar articles.
The lining of down and feathers varies much. I have seen a nest
into which one could phmge a hand to the wrist into down and feathers ;
and again I have seen others which had not a handful of these in the
whole nest. The normal ])ositi(;n of the nest is on the ground in thick
cover ; often it is pl'.iced in amongst the dense sedges, reeds, and bushes
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 9
growing at the edge of the water; but at other times it is placed at some
distance from the water; and at others again absolutely in the water
itself, amongst some thick cluster of reeds or other aquatic plants.
The nest is not alwaj-s however placed on the ground. Here in India
the natives say that they sometimes find the eggs in nests on trees; but
there seems to be no authentic record of one ever havino- been so found.
In England two such nests have come within my personal experience.
One of these was a huge construction of grass and reeds placed in the
head of a polled willow. There was a deep indentation where the nest
was placed, and the masses of twigs, then in thick foliage, quite con-
cealed the nest from any one on the ground. The duck was however
seen going in and the nest spotted. It contained eight eggs, which
were, I believe, all hatched and the ducklings reared in safety.
The second nest was quite different, A huge tree (I foroet now what
it was), which divided in three quite close to the ground, threw out great
horizontal limbs over a piece of water which lay still and dark and very
deep beneath its shade and that of many other trees equally bio- and
densely foliaged. At the end of one of these boughs, and in a most
perilous position, on a few small twigs and branches, was the deserted
nest of a magpie. It was knocked out of all shape, but still formed a
strong platform of sticks and twigs, on which the duck placed a little
down and a few feathers and laid her eggs. My brothers and I were
small boys at the time, and of course, with the usual curiosity of small
l)oys, paid constant visits to the nest, not in the least resented, as far as
we could tell, by the duck, which never quitted it, or showed any sio-ns
of fear at our presence. The drake was far wilder, and seldom let us
get a view of him. As a rule he was swimming quietly about in the
pond below whilst his mate was employed in incubation; but more than
once we frightened him from the tree itself, where he must have been
perched on one of the Ijig boughs.
The duck, we noticed, always got on one ofthe big boughs, and then
fluttered and scrambled awkwardly into the nest. We got one eo-o- out
of the water, into which slie must have knocked it; but she hatched some
of the eggs, and we once or twice got a glimpse of the ducklings on the
water.
Another curious nest I took was in Warwickshire^ and was orioinally
that of a coot, of whose eggs two still remained in the nest. It was
3
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10 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIL
placed in amongst the roots of a large tree standing at the edge of a
large piece of water and partly in it. It consisted of a huge mass of
weeds and grass, and was quite invisible from anywhere. The previous
year the coot had been seen swimming to it, and the year the duck took
possession must have again laid her eggs or two of them and then been
driven away by the Mallards : these latter had eight eggs, hard set, but
not so much so as the two coots, which were on the point of hatching :
these latter were under the duck eggs, and had evidently been laid first.
There are many other instances of Mallards taking other birds' nests,
amono'st them one where they seized on the lofty abode of a rook.
In Kashmir it is said to breed sometimes in the rice-fields.
On leaving the nest the duck is said frequently to cover her eggs
with weeds and grasses to screen them from observation. This is how-
ever, I think, the exception and not the rule. I have seen eggs so covered,
but far more often I have found them without any additional cover
at all. If hurried, the bird has not time of course to collect the neces-
sary material; but even when leaving the nest deliberately and not
disturbed in any way, I think she generally leaves her eggs as they lie.
They lay from six to twelve eggs ; the natives say sixteen. I have
never seen more than eleven; and Hume, who through his collectors must
have had records of many hundreds of nests, never knew of more than
eleven, so that anything above this number would appear to be
abnormal.
In colour the eggs when first laid are of various tints, ranging from a
very pale greyish-green to olive-grey and cafe-au-lait. As incubation
proceeds the colour continues to deepen, and the green tinge, which is
the most prevalent colour in the fresh egg, is nearly always lost. I had one
eo-g in my collection which was a deep buff colour ; it was found in East
Prussia and I cannot say how far advanced incubation was when the
eo-cr was taken; but, judging from the size of the hole, the chick could
not have been very large.
The texture is very fine, smooth, close and satiny to the touch,
like most ducks' eggs. There is a faint gloss, sometimes rather pro-
nounced, in the fresh egg, often absent in those near hatching.
They are normally shaped ducks' eggs, i.e., rather broad regular ovals,
sometimes slightly compressed towards the smaller end, sometimes
nearly equal at both ends.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 11
My eggs and those I have records of, all come within Hume's measure-
ments, in length varying between 2"1" and 2*38" and in breadth
between 1-5" and 1*72".
20. Anas tcecilorhyncha.
The Spot-bill or Grey Duck.
Anas pcecilorhynclia^ Jerdon, '* Birds of India," III, p. 799 ; Hume,
"Str. Feath." I, p. 261; Adam, /&/c?, p. 4U2 ; Hume and Davis,
ibidj IV, p. 489 ; Hume, Ihld, VII, p. 507 ; id., ibid, VIII, p. 115 ;
id.. Cat. No. 959; Hume and Marshall, " Game Birds of India," III,
p. 168 ; Legge, " Birds of Ceylon," p. 1073; Gates, " Birds of British
Burmah," II, p. 283; Barnes, «' Birds of Bombay," p. 403; Hume,
"Nests and Eggs" (Gates' ed.), Ill, p. 289; Salvadori, Cat.
" Birds of British Museum," XXVII, p. 209 ; Blanford, '' Birds of
India," IV, p. 436.
Description : Adidt Male. — Crown from forehead to nape dark brown,
a streak of the same colour covering the lores and running through the
eye to the back of the ear; coverts the same colour ; remainder of head
and neck buffy-white or white, more or less centered dusky, with the
exception of the chin and throat ; upper parts brown to brownish -black:
the scapulars paler and edged wdth pale brown, as are some of the feathers
of the back ; rump and upper tail coverts deeper brown still ; tail the
same but darker and more glossy, the feathers edged pale ; lesser and
medium wing coverts grey, the greater ones dark grey, sub -tipped with
white and tipped black ; speculum glossy green, bordered on either
side with black ; secondaries tipped white, and inner secondaries with
the outer webs more or less broadly white, remainder of wings
brown ; upper breast fulvous- white, the feathers spotted with brown ;
abdomen yet darker and browner, and the under tail coverts almost
black.
" Speculum a rich emerald-green in most lights, a lovely rich
blue or purple in others " (Hume). The amount of white on the inner
secondaries varies a good deal and the depth of coloration on the lower
surface, which is sometimes nearly white on the breast. The^ spots seem
to increase in size with age.
Legs and feet deep coral-red ; claws black ; irides light to dark brown :
bill black, terminal one-third or less of the bill varying from yellow to
reddish-yellow or orange; a spot at the base of the bill on either side nest
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12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
the forehead orjinge-red to deep coral-red ; lower mandible black
piped, the same as the maxilla.
Length '* 23*8" to 25-9" ; wing 10-6"to 11-2" ;tail from vent 4-7" to
5-8" ; tarsus 1-84" to 1-93" ; bill from gape 2'4" to 2-75" ; weight 2 lbs.
4 oz. to 3 lbs. 5 oz. " (Hume).
Female Adult. — Similar to the male, but smaller and perhaps rather
paler in coloration.
Legs and feet duller red than in the male, as also are the spots on the bill.
*' AVing alwut 10 inches " (Salvadori).
" Leng-th 22-0" to 24'0" ; wing 1-9" to 10-7" ; tail from vent 4-9" to
5'3" ; tarsus 1-7" to I'O" ; bill from gape 2-3" to 2*5" ; weight 1 lb. 14 oz.
to 2 lbs. 12 oz." ( Hume).
Young resemble the adults, but have no red spots at the base of the bill,
and have the feet coloured orange to brick-red. The general plumage is
lighter, the spots fewer in number and less in size, the breast being
unspotted white.
There appears to be no i)Ost-nuptial change in the plumage of the
drake of this species, and inquiries made on this subject elicit no evidence
to show that there is such a change.
Blanford {in loco cit.) shows that the male has 20 rectrices, whereas the
female has but eighteen. This is very remarkable, and it is to be hoped
that other observers will note the number of rectrices in both male and
female, and so ascertain whether the difference is constant.
The closely allied A. zonorhjnclia^ which is found from China to
Japan, may be recognized by the wing, which has far less white on the
inner secondaries and no white sub-tips to the greater coverts ; the specu-
kmi also is more blue than green.
Collectors in N.-E. Burma should be on the look out for this
bird.
The Spotted-billed Duck is found practically throughout the Indian
Empire on the mainland, but is absent from Southern Burma. It does
not seem to have been recorded from the South Konkan ; but as it occurs
in Ceylon, it would naturally be almost sure to ajjpear more or less fre-
quently in the South Konkan also. I have a record of this duck from
Tennasserim, but I am not sure that the identification was correct, and
confirmation of its occurrence there is still requii-ed. Outside India it has
been found in the Shan States, and might possibly, not probably, straggle
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 13
into Cliinu. In tlio Cromwell Road Museum there is a specimen said to
have been collected by Mr. J. R. Reeves in China ; but I see Salvador!
considers the locality as doubtful.
Like all our local ducks, though not strictly migratory in the true
sense of the word, yet they wander about a good deal under the influence
of the weather and the want or otherwise of water. Thus in the drier
portions of its habitat it is only a rainy-weather visitant, appearing only
when the jheels and ponds contain sufl&cient water to satisfy its wants.
In certain parts also, quite independently of the water-supply, this duck
is nuich more common than in others ; thus all round the 24-
Parganas, Nadia, Khulna, Jessore, and the Sunderbunds generally it
is decidedly rare, but gets more coimnon as one works further north or
west. It is even more rare in the extreme north and north-east,
but common all over Central India, getting more rare again towards
the south.
In Ceylon itself it does not seem at all rare, for though Legge never
met with it, he writes of others having done so not infrequently. Ho
seeins, however, to believe it to be only a winter visitant, but it will very
likely be found eventually to be a resident.
In Manipur it is very common. Surgeon -Captain Woods says {in
epistola) ; '' This (the Spotted-billed Duck) is a very common duck in
Manipur, though in the rains and in the nesting season, owing to the
dense grassy jheels to which it resorts, it is seldom seen."
Hume seems to think that it never ascends the hills to any height ; but
it is found in Manipur up to 3,000 feet. Mr. Woods records it from the
Tankul hills at heights over 3,000 feet. I have seen stragglers hero in
valleys up to about the same height ; and it has been recorded from the
Darjeeling Terai up to about 4,000 feet.
The Spotted-billed Duck is not a sociable bird, either with its own kind
or with other species of duck ; often it is found singly or in pairs, and
the flocks seldom number much over a dozen, though in rai"e instances
they run up to as much as forty. Indeed Major MacMroy, as quoted
by Hume, had frequently observed flocks of at least a hundred, and
these he had seen both on the wing and at rest.
If they ever have to associate with other ducks, Hume says that they
give the preference to teal or Shovellers ; and Woods writes to me : " 1
have often seen an old solitary Spotted 'bill piloting a flock of teal across a
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14 JOURNAL, BO}PBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
jheel und jungle." In such cases the Spotted-bill may have had the
company of the teal thrust upon him whether he desired it or not.
Their haunts seem to vary much ; but probably they prefer tanks,
jheels and small pieces of water which are well covered with weeds ;
they seldom resort to large, open pieces of water. Thus in Manipur
I am told that the Spotted-bills do not as a rule frequent any of the larger,
clearer sheets of water ; and that on the Logtak it is quite a rare duck
when compared with the others which are found on that lake. They
inhabit the smaller jheels, which are surrounded near the margin by
iuncrle and here they may be seen all asleep, except one or two which
are on sentry duty near the edge.
They are also found, though I think but rarely, on small quickly-
flowinf^ streams in forest. On the other hand, on some of the bigger
rivers they are not uncommon. Hume has " shot them several times
both on the Ganges and Jumna (on both of which however they
are rare), while on the Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus they are quite
common."
Woods has " shot numljers of them on the banks of the Irrawaddy
close to Sagaing." They are found, though not frequently, on
the Brahmaputra, but they have been reported to me as being
common on that river on the part which runs through Sadiya. I
have no record of their occurrence on the Megna,' Sunma, Barak, or
anv other of this network of rivers, though it is probable in the
extreme that they may l)e met with here and there on any of them.
It appears to be entirely a fresh-water duck, and this would be sufficient
to account for its comparative absence from the Sunderbunds and their
tidal and brackish waters. Whether it occurs on the Chulka lake, also
of brackish water, I cannot say.
The Spotted-bill is, in every sense of the word, one of the finest and
most o-ame of our ducks. Even larger on an average than the
Mallard it fully rivals that bird for the table, and is, I think, more
uniform in its o-ood condition ; this no doubt is due to the fact that it has
not to overtax its strength in long migrations.
It is a stron'T flier, though less quick in rising and not so speedy in
p-ettino- under way as is the Mallard. When it just rises Hume
compares it to an old hen, such a noise and flurry does it make, but
the pace it puts on, once it is fairly started, compensates for its
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INDIA N D UCKS A ND THEIR A LLIES. 15
slowness at first. It is perhaps an easier bird than most of its size
and weight to bring down when hit owing to its phimage being rather
less dense than that of many other ducks. Even when brought down,
however, it is not necessarily brought to bag at once, as it is a most
expert diver and is one of the ducks which dive and grasp the weeds
under the water, and so keep hidden below the surface : more often
though they rise, but only high enough to allow of the tip of the bill
protruding. Hume, Butler, and others have recovered birds quite dead,
drowned through holding on to the weeds a little too long below the
water. If winged so as to render diving either painful or impossible
(a twisted wing prevents most ducks from diving), it will make for
the nearest cover ; and Woods informs me that he has found that the
majority of those he has wounded without killing outright have taken
this means of trying to avoid capture ; at the same time he adds that
they both dive and swim well.
Most writers agree that the voice of the Spotted-bill and of the
Mallard are very much alike ; but Hume considers that the quack of the
former is the more sonorous. I cannot say that I have noticed any
difference between the two.
They are not shy birds, and can generally be approached near enough
for a shot fairly easily.
They are principally vegetable feeders, and do a good deal of damage to
rice, both when young and when in the ear, trampling down a great deal
more than they eat ; they also at times eat all sorts of miscellaneous
food, such as water mollusca, frogs, worms, insects, etc. Woods
observes that the places where they feed can generally be detected at
a glance from the state of the much-trampled blades of rice and
the numerous feathers l}ing about. He says that he has had good sport
by concealing himself in such places on bright moonlight nights and
shooting the birds as they fly over. He has also been successful in
getting capital sport with them over a decoy. The Mussalman Mani-
puris catch numbers of the flappers with spears and nets; and they
sometimes form part of the bag when the natives in other parts of India
have a duck drive into nets.
In Southern India (Mysore ?) Mr. Theobald says that the shikaris get
within easy shot of these ducks by making bundles of rushes and weeds
and pushing these along the surface of the water in front of them, the
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16 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
bundles affording a floating rest for their guns and also concealing the
approach of the shooter.
Hume says ; *' The breeding season varies a great deal with locality.
In the North-West Provinces, Oudh, and the eastern portions of Raj-
putana and the Punjab, it only In-eeds, so fur as I yet know, once a year,
paying during the latter half of July, August, and the first half of
September. In Sind it lays in April and May and again in September
and October. In Guzerat it certainly lays in October, and in Mysore
in November and December, though whether in these two last-named
provinces also it has a second spring brood I have not yet ascertained."
In Bengal, I think, it lays principally in July and August ; but a few
birds are earlier, and these may liave a second brood, for nests have been
taken as late as October.
As a rule the nest is rather a compact, well-made structure, of a broad
rather irregular cup-shape, made principally of grasses, rushes and
weeds, and lined in almost all cases with down taken from the breasts
of the ducks themselves. Sometimes there is no down at all, as
in the nests taken by Captain Butler at Langraij between Deesa and
Ahmedabad.
Captain G. F. L. Marshall gives the dunensions of a nest taken by him
as follows : " About 0 inches across, 3 inches deep, and the sides
fully 2 inches thick." This is perhaps a trifle smaller than the average
nest, as the size depends so nnich on the compactness with which it is
built.
Surgeon-Captain Woods sends me very interesting notes oa the breed-
ing of this duck. He writes : " Here the birds generally pair about
the beginning of April ; but I have found a nest in a flooded dhan khet
as late as Octolier. The nests are composed of grass and feathers, the
latter of which the parent birds pluck from their own breasts.
" I have found as many as 14 eggs in a nest, though the usual
number is 10. The parent bird sits very close when incubating, and
when alarmed feigns injury to a wing, as do others of the family.
" Towards the end of the rains both old and young birds frequent more
open water and the flooded rice-fields. A place called the Kurram path,
about 18 miles from Imphal, is a favourite breeding-ground, and towards
the end of the rains the ducks may there be seen in hundreds with flap-
pers in every stage of development."
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 17
In anothei' letter he remarks on the curious foot that though the normal
number of eggs laid is about 10, yet one never sees a family party con-
taining more than six or seven young ones, so that the percentage of
addled eggs or of accidents to the young after birth must be very great.
Mr. Doig found on one occasion that otters had been responsible for
the destruction of a nest of eggs. He found a nest at Narra in Sind
on the 1st of May which had contained 10 incubated eggs, but these,
with the exception of one, were all scattered about and broken. Before
reaching the island on which the nest was placed he had noticed a family
of otters playing about, which all bolted at his approach, and which
were doubtless the culprits concerned in the pillage of the nesi.
The greater number of nests are placed on the ground, well concealed
in rushes and grass, often at the edge of some piece of water or stream,
frequently on islands, and not seldom in patches of grass well away from
water. The ridges between rice-fields seem to be favourite places for
them to make their nests upon, the proximity of the food-sup})ly
doubtless being an incentive to the birds to make use of such spots.
Hume thus describes the first nest taken by him. It *' was [)laoed on
a drooping braiKdi of a tree which hung down from the canal bank into
a thick clump of rushes growing in a jheol that, near the bridge, fringes
the canal. The nest was about 9 inches aljove the surface of the
water, was entirely concealed in the rushes, and was firmly based on a
liorizonttd bifurcation of the bough. It was composed of dry rush,
had a good deep hollow, in which down, feathers, and fine grass were
intermingled. The nest was at least a foot in diameter, perhaps more, and
I suppose 2 inches thick in the centre and 4 inches at the sides. It
contained three fresh egos."
The number of eggs laid seeins to vary considerably ; but from about
8 to 10 may be taken as the normal number lai(l, often less, but not
often more, though they may occasionally number as many as 14.
They are much like the eggs of the Mallard in appearance, though
rather broader on an average as well as a little shorter. Hume's dimen-
sions for the eggs of this duck are, length from 2'08'' to 2*3", breadth
l-eS" to 1-18", and the average of fifteen 2-15" X I'TO".
The eggs in my collection are of two rather distinct iy\)Q9,, the one a
broad regular oval, the other a narrower egg with one end very much
smaller than the other and distinctly pointed. The texture is the
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18 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI T ,
same in botli kinds and the colour also, generally a pale buff drab, miTclx
stained as incubation progresses. The two ty}>es average respectively
2-05'' X ]-G2" and 2-18'' X 1'60".
They do fairly well in captivity, bnt are difficult to tame, and gene-
rally clear off as soon as they can fly. They have been known to breed
in confinement; those in the Calcutta Zoologioixl Gardens did so in 1885»
They will also interljreed with the domestic duck ; and there is a sj)ecimen
in the British Mnseum collection of <a hybrid between A. -pG^cllor-
hyncha and A. hoscas.
The l)irds are very good parents, the duck sits close, and both she and
the drake show the greatest consternation when tlieir nests are discovered.
Sometimes the disturber of their peace is tempted away from the vicinity
of the nest by the duck pretending to be wounded, and fluttering about;
a short distance aliead, leading him to believe capture to be aia easy
matter until the capture is really attempted. Sometimes the birds'
wheel round and round in the air just above the nest, and refuse t©
leave even after its contents have been rifled. They also show great
affection to one another, and one of a pair killed, the remainmg one has
been known to refuse to leave the spot until he or she, as the ctise may
be, has fallen a victhn to its constancy.
Genus EUNETTA.
The genus Eunetta may be at once distinguished from Anas by tlK?
sickle-shaped inner secondaries in the male, and by the remarkable-
length of lx)th upper and lower tail coverts, which extend beyond tho
rectrices.
From Chaulilasmus, Eimetta may be distingnished by the number of
rectrices, which is 16 in the former and only 14 in the latter„
The females however of C. strepevus and -E. falcata are so much alike
that these differences are given in full below. There is only one species
in this genus, E. falcata, which occurs throughout Eastern Asia. ,
21. Eunetta falcata.
The Bronze-capped Teal. ■ ■
■ Anas falcata, McLeod, " Str. Foath." X, p. 168.
Querquedula falcata^ Hmne, " Str. Feath.," IV, p, 225; id.y
fh'ul, VII, i>. 491 ; Ibhl, Vni, p. 115 ; id.^ Cat. No. DGG, l)is ; Hume
and Marshall, " Game Birds of India," 111, p. 231 ; Reid, "Str.
Feath.," X, p. 84,
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INDIAN DUCKS AND TEEIR ALLIES. 19
Eunetta falcata, Salvadori, Cat. " Birds of British Museum," XXVII,
p. 218 ; Biunford, " Birds of India," IV, p. 438.
JJescriptlon : Adult MaU. — " Crown deep oliestnut ; sides of the Lead
bronze-purple, greener posteriorly ; a long green mane on the buck of
the nape ; throat and upper part of the nape white, intersected below by a
green collar ; mantle and upper scapulars with narrow crescentic bands
grey and blackish ; rump blackish ; basal upper tail coverts grey, vermi-
oulated with black, the longer ones black and eJitirely hiding the tail ■;
upper breast w^aved with alternate crescentic bars of black and white, pro-
ducing a regular scaly appearance ; lower breast wbitish, each feather
with black bars, one of which is sub-terminal ; sides, flanks, and abdomen
waved with narrow black and greyish bands; under tail coverts black, very
long and reaching beyond the tail ; on each side of the tail coverts a distinct
buff patch, the bases of the feathers being black, showing a beautiful black
bar, which separates the bufFy patch from another silky-white band formed
by the tips of the lowest iltink feathers ; scapulars grey, narrowly edged
with black, tmd more or less distinctly whitish on the edges ; a black
patch on the outer scapulars ; wing coverts grey, the last row whitish •;
wing speculum on the secondaries dark glossy green, banded below by
a narrow whitish band at the tip of the secondaries ; tertials very long
and ntirrow, sickle-shaped, with the shafts whitish ; the webs velvety
glossy black, the edges and part of the inner webs grey ; quills dark
grey, almost blackish towards the tip ; under wing coverts wlute, but
the greater ones grey ; axillaries white ; tail feathers grey, with narrow
white edges ; bill greenish-black ] feet dull blue-grey, darker on the
web ; iris brown. Total length 19" ; wing 10" ; tail 3" ; culmen 1'8" ;
tarsus 1-35" " (Salvadori).
" Irides deep brown ; bill perfectly black ; legs and feet drab with
nn olive tinge ; the webs, except immediately alongside the toes (where
"they are unicolorous with these), and claws dusky black.
" A frontal spot ending in a point on the culmen, about O"!:" long and
O'S" wide, pure white. Of another Indian-killed male the wing also
measures 9-5"" (Hume and Marshall). "Bill from gape 2-1""
<Blanford).
Female. — " Head and neck brown, streaked with whitish, mach paler
'beneath ; back and scapulars brown with concentric pale rufous bands ;
iower back and rump blackish ; upper tail coverts browii, with con-
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20 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
centric pule bunds ; tail feathers hrown ; qnills brown ; speculum black,
slightly glossed with green ; wing coverts greyish-brown, with pale
edges, especially the greater coverts ; upper breast and sides dull rufous
with concentric brown bars ; abdomen whitish, with a few bars or spots;
under tail coverts rufescent, with brown marks " (Blanford).
*' Bill, feet, and irides as in the male " (Salvadori).
" Wings 9-85" to 10-06" ; tails 3-23" to 3'57" ; bill at front 1-75" to
VU"; tarsi 1'40" to 1-62"" (Schrenk).
" Length 16-0" ; wing 9'0" ; tail 3-4" ; tarsus 1-2"" (Dresser).
The strict habitat of this little duck is Eastern Asia, whence it ranges
occasionally west, sometimes entering Eastern Europe. It breeds
throughout Eastern Siberia, and lately I have received notes of its breed-
ing from Manchuria. In the winter it descends south, and is common
in China and Japan, and of very rare occurrence within our limits.
8eebohm says ( " Birds of the Japanese Empire " ) : " The Falcated
Teal is a winter visitor to all the Japanese islands. The Peny Expedi-
tion found it to ])e one of the most abundant of the water-birds of Japan,
and noticed it at various j)oints during the voyage."
In India few specimens have been obtained since Hume's time, more
probabl}' owuig to no notice l)eing taken of them than for any other
reason, although their occurrence is of course very rare. Hume notes
five specimens which came into his possession : of these, two were caught
liy fowlers near Lucknow, and given to him by Dr. Bonavia ; Major
C. H. T. Marshall shot a male at Kumal, 70 miles north of Delhi, in
Feliruary ; another was shot in the same month, aliout 30 miles from Delhi,
by Mr. "VY. M. Chill ; and the fifth was obtained by Hume himself in the
Calcutta bazaar, and this he says was caught in the immediate vicinity.
Sliortly aftiu- this General McLeod recorded that he had shot a female
at Feroza, Bhawalpur, in December, IfJ 79; and G. Reid in the same
volume of " Stray Feathers" as that in which this record is made states:
"Two years ago I myself saw tsvo or three in the possession of a native
fowler, who would not part with them except at a fancy price, saying he
meant to take them with a lot of others he had to the ex-King of Oudh,
wlio woukl pay him handsomely." He does not say whether the " lot
of others" were of the same species, presumably not.
Another young male, without the sickle-shaped inner secondaries, was
obtained by a friend in the ( Jalcutta Ijazaar; a specimen has been shot iu
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INDIAN DUCKS AND TIIETR ALLIES. 21
Purneah ; two specimens — an adult male and a young bird of tlie same
sex— are in the Lucknow Museum, and were, I believe, obtained near
that place. Besides these, one was lately obtained in Upper Burma, near
Bhamo, and is the only one 1 can find recorded from Burma except
Anderson's. Major Cowley, of the 4:3rd Gurkha Regiment, obtained one
in Manipur, and, as far as I can ascertain, this is the only one ever seen
in that vState.
In addition to these, recorded above, the only other specimen I have
ever heard of was one, a young male, shot by my father, E. B. Baker,
in Jessore.
There is no reason however that sportsmen in Upper Burma should
not meet with this bird more often than would seem to be the case, for
N.-E. Burma is well within the range of its annual migratioiis, and
doubtless when men wake up to the fact that records of rare ducks are
still desirable, we shall have a good many from that quarter. Anderson
obtained specimens on the Taipeng river in Upper Burma ; but I
cannot ascertain how many he got.
The Bronze- capped Teal, when found within our limits, appears always
singly or in pairs, perhaps veiy rarely in small parties. In places
where it is more numerous it collects in flocks, as a rule rather small,
consisting of about twenty to thirty individuals, but at other times in
very large flocks ; and they are said to arrive at the borders of other breed-
ing-grounds in immense flights.
It has the reputation of being a very sociable, if not highly gregarious,
bird, and their small flocks frequently, indeed generally, seem to mix much
with larger flocks of other species of teal and duck, with whom they feed
and sleep in perfect hannony.
The flight is said to be swift and teal-like, and the bird to be very
strong and active on the whig. I can find no record concerning these
birds' s^vimming and diving powers, so that we may expect to find that
these are neither aljuormally developed nor yet much less in extent than
they are in other teal.
Its cry when on the wing is noted as a " tolerably loud and piercino-
whistle" (Pejeralski) ; and it has also been heard to give vent to a chuc-
kling quack as it swims about feeding.
Its diet seems to be principally, if not wholly, vegetarian, but very
little has been written on this point.
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22 JOURNA L, BOMB A Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
The female Bronze-oapped Teal is so like the female Gadwall that
both Hume and Salvadori give the points l)y which they may be discri-
minated. They are these : The principal difference lies in the wing
speculum ; in the Gadwall " the entire visible portions of the later secon-
daries are pure white, the terminal portions of their layer coverts white.
" In fiunale falcata the visible portions of the later secondaries are
black, with more or less of metallic-green reflections, narrowly tipped
with white ; and the terminal portion of their greater coverts are black."
The maxilla also of the Gadwall is only dark along the culmen,
whereas the whole of the upper mandible of the Bronze-cap is dark ; so
also there is always more or less of an orange or yellowish tinge on the
feet and legs of the Gadwall, whereas there is no trace of this colour in
those of the other duck, in which they are more or less of a light slate
colour. These last differences however will not be very noticeable in
the dried skin, not at all in very old specimens, and can only be of use
in discriminating birds in the flesh. It should be always borne in
mind bv anyone wishing to ascertain the identity of a bird that it is
infinitely easier to do so whilst it is in the flesh than afterwards, when it
has become a dried stiff" specimen : the colours of the soft parts are then
undiscernible, more often than not small marks of feathers, such as rings
round the eyes, indistinct supereilia and similar marking's are seldom as
distinct as in the fresh bird, and often, if roughly handled in the skinning,
become totally lost. Thus if it is possible the bird sliould be identified in
the flesh as soon as ])ossi])le and, if it cannot be, the colours of the soft
parts must be carefully noted, and a rough note made also of anything
remarkable in the coloration.
The Bronze-ca])ped Teal breeds throughout Southern Siberia to the
east and centre, Ijut rarely to the west ; it has been found breeding on all
four shores of Lake Baikal, but even there more plentifully to the east
and south ; it breeds also in the Amur, and probably a good deal further
north. Middendorf says that it " breeds plentifully in the Stanaway
mountains, and nearly to the tops of the ranges," and, as Hume points
out, if it selects sites at as high an altitude as this, it is sure to extend
considerably further north in the plains.
In Manchuria, where my informant took several nests, they are said to
make them on low-lying parts, along the l)anks of the larger rivers, which
are more or les> in the condition of swamps. The nest appears to I)e a
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 23
rather well-built affiiir of rushes and reeds, rather more compactly jiut
together than are most ducks' r,ests, and lined very ))l0ntifully with
down, presumably taken from the lireasts of the jiarent birds themselves.
So thick is this down that in some of the nests, the cups of which were in
some cases as much as six inches deep, it filled them completely to the top,
hiding the eggs which were inside. The nests were placed in thick tufts
of grass, beds of sedges, or, more rarely, under and amongst bushes ; they
w^ere not very carefully hidden, and, but for the treacherous nature of the
ground in which they were found, not particularly hard to get. The duck
is a close sitter, and is assisted, at least occasionally, by the drake, which
is seldom fomid far from the nest. They lay from sis to nine eggs,
beginning to lay in the end of May, and continuing through June and
the early pai-t of July.
The eggs are said to l)e like those of the Conamon Teal, but whiter and
a great deal larger.
Dybrowski {vide Hume) says that in Western Dauria, and the country
to the south of Lake Baikal, " the Crested Teal arrives in great nimibere
during the latter half of April; but in the Darasun region it is more com-
mon. The female makes her nest among the bushes of swamps, collecting
diy reeds and grass, and lining it thickly with down. At the beginning
of June she lays eight eggs, sits closely, and only rises at your feet.
They remain in autumn as late as the 27th December.
Taczanowski in describing the eggs taken by the alx)ve naturalist
writes : "The eggs are decidedly smaller than those of the Mallard, and
in colour resemble those of the Gadwull, though the yellow tmge is
somewhat more pronounced. They vai-y from 2*1" at 2 '3" in length
and from 1*52" to nearly 1'7" in breadth."
Dresser, quoted in Hume and Marshall, describes the eggs as l>eing
of a creamy- white colour, like the eggs of the Common Widgeon, and of
a very smooth texture.
Genus CHAULELASMUS.
This genus is remarkably close to Anas^ and might almost more con-
veniently come between Anas and Eunetta rather than between Eunetta
and Mareca or Nettion. It diffei*s from Anas in having the bill propor-
tionately rather shorter and smaller, from Euneita in not having the
long inner secondaries sickle-shaped, and from Mareca and Nettion in
having the lamelhe of the maxilla or upper niaudil'le very promineuL ;
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24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII ^
it is also of oourso, as far as the Indian species is concerned, a bigger bird
tlian an}' of the two last-mentioned genera.
There are only two species of the present genus, onr bird, the Gadwall,
and Ch'ndelasmns coues'i^ a mucli snitiller bird, confined to the Washing-
ton and New York Islands and the Fanning group, a bird of which very
little is yet known.
22. Chaulelasmus strbpertts.
Tlte Gaihcall.
Chaulelasmus slrepevus. — Jerdon, "Birds of India," Ilf, p. 802;
Hume, " Str. Foath." VII, p. 115 ; id., Cat., No. 901 ; Scully,
"Str. Feath." VIII, p. 3G2 ; Hume and Marsliall, "Game
Birds," III, p. 181 ; Gates, " Birds of British Burmali," II, p. 283 ;
Barnes, "Birds of Bombay," p. 405; Salvadori, "Birds of British
Museum," XXVII, p. 221 ; Blanford, " Birds of India," IV, p. 440.
Description: Adult Male. ~ Head and neck whitish, rufous- white or dull
rufous, densely speckled with brown, except on the chin, which is almost
pure white in highly plumaged birds ; the anterior portions of the head
nearly always lighter than the posterior in ground-colour, which shades
otf' into the brown of the nape, on which the darker spots hardly show ;
lower nook, back, and scapulars deep blackish-brown to dark rufous-brown,
every feather beautifully waved with white crescentic lines ; lower back
darker, with fewer and finer venniculations, sometimes almost
unmarked, changing into the black of the rump and upper tail coverts ;
central rectrices gro}', outer ones rufous-grey with almost white edges,
generally increasing in width to the outermost ones ; breast, sides of the
body and flanks like the back, but the breast more holdhj marked with the
dark and light, an(l the vent portion flanks more finely so ; rest of the
abdomen, etc., white ; under tail coverts typically the same velvety-
black as the upper, but often splashed with patches of black and white
vermiculations ; the smallest wing coverts like the scapulars; the median
and primary greater coverts chestnut, with the bases brown and white,
sometimes showing ; greater coverts nest the secondaries black ; secon-
daries pure grey, silvery towards the tips ; a speculum formed by the
outer secondaries, four or five glossy velvety black and throe with hroad
pure white outer webs, the one next the black often with a narrow black
edge ; primaries brown-grey, darkest at the tips ; shoulder of wing and
under winii coverts white.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 25
The colours, as with nearly all ducks, vary considerably ; the abdomen
is sometimes as pure white as freshly-fallen snow, often tinged with
rufous and sometimes wholly of that colour. In the same way the c lours
of the head vary much also. 1 have a fine drake before me now in which
the rufous head contrasts strongly with the blacker })reast ; and again
another drake in which the two colours blend with one another.
Maxilla dark slaty brown, black or brown ; mandible jaler and } ellowish
or red'.Iish on the gonys and tip ; irides dark brown ; legs yellow,
browiii^li-yellow to dull orange ; claws almost black.
" Legs and toes orange-red, less bright after the smnmer moult; claws
black ; webs dusky orange-red."
Length 19-5" to 21-5 "; wing 10-5" to 11-75" ; tail 3-4" to 4'3" ; tareus
about 1-5" ; bill at front 1-90" to 2-00" and from gape 2*05" to 2*25" ;
weight from 1 lb. 7 oz. to 2 lb. 4 oz.
Female. — General colour above brown, the feathers with buff or rufous
margins, and the head and neck more or less spotted and streaked on a
light groimd ; the scapulars unmarked dark brown; rump and upper tail
coverts brownish-black ; wings as in the male, but the chestnut, if not
altogether absent, is present only on the outer webs of some of the median
coverts ; below the breasts and sides are pale rufous, sometimes rather
darker, spotted with brown ; under tail coverts and feathers about vent
the same ; remainder of lower parts white, more or less tinged with rufous.
Irides and legs the same as in the male ; bill dull orange to yellowish-
brown; the culmen and tip brown.
Length about 18" to 20-1" ; wing 9" to 10" (10-2" Hume) ; tail S'O" to
4-0" (3-7" to 4-5" Hume) ; tarsus 1-37" to 1*42" ; bill at front 1-8" to
1-95" and from gape 1*95" to 215"; weight about 1 lb. to If lb.
" Young in first plumage closely resembles the adult female, but
there is no chestnut or black on the wings ; the white on the secondaries
is dull ; and the whole of the feathers on the under parts have obscure
ill-defined brown centres." (Salvadori.)
Young in down are like those of the Mallard, " but there is a more
pronounced golden tinge on the throat and cheeks, the streak through
the eye is more defined, and there is a small dark spot at the junction of
the mandibles which the Mallard has not.'' (Yarrell.)
After the breeding season the drake assumes a plumage similar to that
of the duck, returning to his full dress attire before the winter has fairly
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23 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
set in, though a few males may stiU be fomul in the female garb as late
as the middle of November.
Outside India the range of this fine duck may roughly be said to be
the Northern Hemisphere. It breeds practically right across its habitat
in the sub-Arctic region, and in the winter ranges down to Northern and
Central Africa, and perhaps even further south, almost the whole of
Southern Asia, and again as far south as Mexico and Jamaica in America.
Within India it is easier to say where it is not found rather than to
enumerate all those places in which it does occur. Eoughly speaking,
it is found in vast ninnbers fro in the Himalayas, throughout Sind,
North Bombay, the North-West Provinces, Punjalj, and Bengal ; from
here it gets less common as it wanders south, until in Southern India,
south of Mysore, and in Madras it is not found at all.
Throughout Assam, Manipur, Tipperah, and into Burma it abounds;
and it is plentiful also in the Sunderbunds. Of course in some places
it is more exceedingly abundant than in others. Thus in 1882-83 in
Bengal we found that the Gadwalls numbered at least two to every one
of ail other kinds of ducks lumped together. Of a magnificent bag
made by three guns in the Moolna bheel (Sunderljunds), out of 140
couple of duck and teal I think at least 4U couple, if not more, must
have been Gadwall, and of the rest probably 70 or 80 couple were teal
of sorts. W oods speaks of patches of water in Manipur " looking black
with the number of Gadwall assembled on them." They begin to arrive
there, according to him, about the 1 5th October, and though in
Kashmir and along the Himalayas a few birds may arrive earlier,
this will be found to be about the earliest date for Northern
India.
In Mysore they do not arrive until the end of November as a rule,
and at intervening places will be obtained on intervening dates. In
Lower Bengal we never expected to pee many Ijefore December ; and
I think they were most common in late December and early January.
Hume says re the birds again leaving : "In the south they leave by the
end of March or early in April. Farther north they are somewhat
later (it depends a good deal on the season); and both in Sind and the
Western and North- Western Punjab they are frequently shot in the
first week of May." The dates are, I think, too late for Bengal and
Assam, where there are few birds left after the first vseek or so in March,
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INDIAN DCCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 27
When out snipe shooting in that montli on extensive jheels and
similar pieces of water, a few Gadwall may still be put up ; but nearly
all that are seen will be hurriedly making their way north.
Surgeon-Captain Woods says that even in Manipur they leave about
the end of Maroh.
An interesting fact noted by this close observer is that many, perhaps
the majority, of the ducks pair off before leaving their winter quarters.
He says most of them pair in March, but that he has noticed some
pairing as early as February. No one seems ever to have noticed these
birds arriving at their breeding-groimds in pairs, so it is to be presumed
that, their preliminary courtship completed, the pairs re-assemble in
flocks which remain together until they reach their nesting haunts.
The Gadwall ranks very high up in the table of duck precedence.
There are so many good points about it which atti-act favourable notice.
As an article of diet few ducks are better. Some people would give the
prize in this respect to the Mallard, others perhaps to the Pintail, but
take the Gadwall all round it is hard to beat on the table. Personally
I'have never known the duck to have a fishy or other unpleasant flavour,
nor have I met any Bengal sportsman who has charged it with this
crime. But the northern presidencies have held men sometimes who have
complained of this flavour when they first arrive. They ought to be all
right, as they are almost entirely vegetable feeders, subsisting much on
wild and cultivated rice, water weeds, etc., and seldom varying the diet
with animal food. A drake shot in Silchar was found to contain a mass
of small white worms in addition to some water berries and half ripe rice,
but this in no way affected the flesh.
Before cooking however he has to be shot, and though not as a
rule a very shy ])ird, yet he is quite wide awake enough to make the get-
ting within shot of him an int-eresting, if not difficult, job. Where too
he has been much shot at all, one's ingenuity and perseverance will be
required before the game bag can be made to assume the bulgy appear
ance it ought. Then, when you have got within shot, the Gadwall
proves a thoroughly sporting bird : he is quick off the water, rising
rather straight up into the air, and getting very soon well under way,
and in full flight the Gadwall is even faster than the Mallard and, as
many writers have observed, reminds one much of teal ia the manner
of flying and the swish-swish of the wings as the flock hurtles over-
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28 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
head, leaving, let ug hope, two birds in response to the right and
left with which it has been greeted.
Shooting in the old days over the vast j heels in Khulna and Jessore,
thouo-h teal might and generally did form the majority of the birds got,
yet we always hoped that Gadwall woiddj and it was certainly these
birds that gave us the most sport.
In some places the jheels themselves, vast stretches of water, shallow
in the cold weather and much overgrown all round their borders with
weeds, reeds and lilies, were surrounded with rice-fields, and through
these wandered shallow waterways, some natural and others artificially
made either for drainage or irrigation.
Daybreak would see us making our way from one of the main rivers
up such a waterway, which we might have to traverse for some two or
three miles before reaching the piece of water which formed our destina-
tion. Our boats were the light flat-bottomed kundas, or canoes, used
so universally all over North-Eastern India ; and our seats were low
momhsj or cane seats, which enabled us to swing round and get shots
to our rear as well as in front and both sides, which a seat right across
the boats would have prevented. We had not however to wait until we
got to the jheel for our shooting, for snipe constantly got up to our right
and left ; teal rose within shot in a manner far beyond what could be
hoped for later on ; moreover the feeding flocks were scattered, and one
bird down another shot might well be hoped for. Here and there too
a Gadwall would find its way within range, these only getting up from
patches of rice more than usually dense and thick. Less often a few
Pintails would flash across us, but rarely within shot ; also Pochards,
White-eyes, and Shovellers were all to be seen at intervals. Whilst
it was still cool, and a few wisps of gently quivering mist were
still lino'ering on the top of the water, loath yet to dissolve their ghostly
lives into nothingness, we were generally well into the jheel and had
scattered out into a long line. Snipe we now allowed to get up unheeded,
though as yet there were but few, for not until the sun rose high and hot
did they forsake the rice-fields and take to the deep water and the cool
shade of the lily leaves. Whistling Teal swarmed in all directions, and
kept circling round everj^where in countless myriads ; Purple Coots flus-
tered and fluttered across the tops of the reeds and through the rushes ;
the little Water-rail scurried across the surface of the water plants :
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 29
and other undesirable birds, such as "Water Hens, Jacanas, etc.,
were en evidence in every quarter ; still the continuous popping of the
guns along the line showed that all the birds were not undesirable ones.
Amongst the "Whistlers overhead there would appear a flock of swifter,
more quickly wheeling, birds, as the Blue-wing Teal came through them
roused by one of the other boats, or a flock of Common Teal, flying in
much the same manner, would rush down nearly the whole line, a splash
or two in the water marking the members of their mess whom they had
left behind. The duck however got up in front and went straight away,
seldom wheeling within reach of even the outermost boats, though now
and then a flock sweeping past high overhead would ofi^er a difficult and
often useless shot. The Gadwall, which were generally only in small
flocks, were usually found where there was a certain amount of cover
which, assimilating with the green screens on our boats, allowed us
often to get within shot. They dive and swim very well when only
wounded, and many a ten minutes was spent in retrie-\ing such, for
whose sake we generally kept a stock of No. 8 cartridges ready at hand
to use instead of the No. 4 or 7 we used for the others. About 10 a.m.
our boats all worked in towards some fixed point, and from about 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. was given up to lunch and smoke and an examination of the
bag. Between 1 and 2 p.m. we would again embark, and the same
routine was gone through, only reversed, and the shooting through the
rice-fields was the finale, not the commencement, of the afternoon's
programme. It was seldom on such days that the three guns,
who were generally out, could not get their fifty couple of game
birds, by which I mean that Whistlers, Cotton Teal, and even
snipe did not count towards the bag. As a rule the comparative
number of snipe would be small, as they were not shot at except
at the commencement and end of the day's shooting ; and we always
considered the bag good or otherwise according to the number of
Gadwall, Pintail, and other big duck contained in it.
I have no record now of what we got, but certainly we often got fifteen
couple of Gadwall, and sometimes over thirty, whilst on one occasion,
I think, the three of us got over forty couple.
The Gadwall did not seem to mind much what sort of water it was
in ; early in the mornings and late in the evenings they were to he
found in the rice-fields, generally, as I have already said, in some corner
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30 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
where the cover was denser than elsewhere : an hour after light they
left the rice-fields, and were theu found swimming about in semi-open
pieces of water, but seldom in the large open expanses in the centre
of the lake. It was very noticeable that in the rice-fields the birds
were constantly seen either singly or in pairs, yet as soon as they left
these thev were very seldom found in pairs, and practically never alone
but in flocks numbering ten to twenty, sometimes as many as forty.
They seem to put on fat quicker than any other duck, or perhaps they
feel the exertion of migration less. Of course the Mallard, which
miorates often from parts very close to us, arrives fat ; but I have noticed
early in the season, when other ducks are very poor, the Gad wall is in
quite a plump condition.
The Gadwall has not yet been found to breed within our limits in
spite of Hume's hopes to the contrary. That these are not groundless
however is shown by the fact that a duck shot in Cachar contained eggs
in the ovaries as large as a big marble ; and surely this bird could not
have meant to have migrated far for the purpose of breeding ! This bird
was shot in the end of April. Again a pair of birds were reported as
havino" been shot in Kashmir in June (date ?), but the person who shot
them, finding the ovaries " very attenuated" jumped to the conclusion
that the birds could not have been breeding. Is it possible that the
esss had been laid ?
It has been noted as breeding in the British Isles, and also in Norway
and Sweden ; indeed it has been found to nest as far north as Iceland,
and there is a doubtful record of its having been found in Greenland.
Its usnal breeding habitat is however far more south ; throughout
Southern Europe from Spain to Russia, not in Northern Africa as far
as we yet know, in North-West Asia, in the sub-Arctic regions and in
North America, where it has been found during the breeding season as
far south as Texas.
Its nest is much like that of the Mallard or of the Spotted-billed Duck,
but, unlike the former, I have never heard or read of its breeding in trees.
The nest is generally placed at the edge of the water in amongst
dense sedge, reeds or bushes, and appears to be carefully concealed as a
rule ; it is made of reeds, grass, or any similar material, or sometimes
a few twigs, and is more or less lined with down from the birds
themselves.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 31
The eggs are said by various authors to number five to fourteen ; but
probably six to eight or ten is the normal clutch.
The eggs vary much in colour, from an almost pure white to a
greenish-drab. As with most eggs of ducks, as incubation advances the
colours get duller and darker, and eggs which are white with a clean
yellow or green tinge when laid become a dull grey or drab with the green
tint dulled and sometimes quite lost. In texture and shape they do
not vary from th(;S0 of the Mallard, except in being slightly smaller.
Thirteen eggs of Hume are said to have averaged 2'62X1"'51", but
this is probably a mistake for 2"26"xl*51".
The Gadwall seems to thrive well in confinement, and has often bred
under these conditions, including several times in the Zoological
Gardens.
{To be continued.)
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32
A CATALOGUE OF THE HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND
BHUTAN.
By G. C. Dudgeon, f.e.s.,
With Notes by H. J. Elvves, f.z.s., f.e.s., &c.,
AND
Additions by Sir George F. Hampson, Babt., b.a., f.e.s., &c.
Part IV.
(^Contimied from page 634 of Vol. XT.)
Genus Notodonta, Ochsen.
289. N. albifasciaj Moore.
Sikhini. I have only two specimens. (Taken by me at Darjeeling in
July at light.—//. J. E.)
290. A\ (jlgantea, Elwes.
Sikhim, 6,800 feet. I have one specimen. It has a wide range,
apparently having been found in Kulu and also in the Klusia Hills,
(The only specimen I ever saw from Sikhini was the type, a female,
which I took at light on the 26th of August in Darjeeling. (Since then
I have received the undescribed male from the Khasia Hills. These
specimens are smaller, 85 mm., in expanse, have the hindwing much
paler, and the pectinations of the antennse extending for two-thirds
the length only. — H. J. E.)
291. N, mooi'eij Hmpsn.
Sikhim. This was taken by Mr. Knyvett in May according to Mr.
Elwes. I have one specimen, taken in Darjeeling in July at light,
292. N. sikhima, Moore.
Sikhim, 10,000 to 12,000 feet. I have a specimen, taken at Lingtu
by my collectors. The antenna of the male has the branches stiff, with
fascicles of cilia at the end of each branch. This type of antenna is
also found in Fentonia apicalis^ Moore, Antheua servula, Drury, Spatalia
argentifera, Wlk., and Hyperceschra tenehrosa, Moore (in the latter very
slightly). It is very distinct from the ordinary pectinate form. Mr.
Elwes has taken this species at light on Tongloo, 10,000 feet, in July.
Genus Hyper^schra, Butl.
294. H. pallida, Butl.
Sikhim. I have only one specimen, which is a female. The antenna3
have the branches long.
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN, 33
296. //. tenebrosa, Moore.
Sikhim. I have obtained this through my collectors in September ;
I have only seen the male.
297. H, basalis, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 7,000 feet. This is not an uncommon species in
July at light. (Occurs also in May at low elevations, I believe. — H. .7. E.)
298. H. nigribasis, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. The only specimen I have obtained is now in the British
Museiun collection ; the type is in Mr. Knyvett's collection.
300a. H. trichostricha, Hmpsn., Journ. Bo. N. H. Soc, Vol. XI,
No. 2, p. 283. (Plate I, Figs. 16 and 16a.)
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. I obtained two specimens of this, one of which
was taken in December; the type specimen was, I think, taken in
October by me and is in the British Museum. It belongs to a separate
section of the genus.
Sir George Hampson's sectional divisions on the form of the antennae
of the female should, I think, be again sub-divided thus —
Section I. — Female with antennas pectinate (this sex only being
available for study).
H. pallida, Butl.
Section II. — Female with antennae ciliate.
(a) Male loith antennce pectinate for two-thirds, terminal third
serrate; branches thick and short loith minute tufts oj cilia
at extremities.
H. tenebrosa, Moore.
(b) Male loith antennce blpectinate for two-thirds, terminal third
serrate ; branches slender loithout terminal tufts.
H. basalis, Moore.
H, nigrtbasis, Hmpsn.
Section III. — Forewing much broader ; antennae of male bipectinato,
with branches long and reaching almost to the tij:).
H. trichostricha, Hmpsn.
Genus Lophopteryx, Steph.
301. L. saturata, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 2,500 to 10,000 feet. The specimen which I
took in September at 2,5<)0 feet at Fagoo at light was probably a
straggler, its proper range is from -IjOOO feet upwards. It occurs in
5
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34 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. Xtt.
August and September in Bhutan, and is not uncommon. Mr. Elwes
has ttiken it at Darjeeling in July and August.
302. L. atroficsa, Hmpsn.
Sikhini and Bhutan. My only specimen was taken in Bhutan in
June. Mr. Elwes remarks that it has been taken in September.
303. L, Jlavistigma, Moore.
Sikhim. I have two specimens which I originally placed under this
name, but which I now believe are L. crenulata, Hmpsn., the outer
raaro-in of the forewings being deeply crenulated, especially below vein 4.
303a. L. crenulata, Hmpsn.
Yatong, Sikhim, and Bhutan. One of my specimens was taken in
July near Gipmochi in Bhutan, and the other, I believe, at a nrach lower
elevation in March. The Gipmochi specimen has the forewing uniform
pale rufous, with a waved fuscous antemedial and two postmedial lines ;
the mark at the anal angle of the hind wing obscure: the other has
the basal third of the forewing rufous, the medial third suffused with
fuscous, and the outer third beyond the postmedial line variegated with
ferruginous patches palest at the costa, a small whitish patch at the
origin of the outer postmedial line on the inner margin ; the hindwing
with the mark at the anal angle prominent and whitish.
304. L.feri'uglnosa, Moore.
Sikhim, I have never seen a specimen.
Genus Megaceramis, Hmpsn.
305. M. lamprolepis, Hmpsn.
Sikhim, 7,000 feet. I do not know this. (Two males of this small
species taken by me at light in July in Darjeeling. — H. J. E.)
Genus Spatalia, Hiibn.
307. S. argpMifera, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 3,000 feet. Mr. Elwes remarks that this occurs
in May and October at low elevations only. I do not think it goes lower
than 3,000 feet, as 1 have never taken a specimen at my lights below this,
308. S. gemm'ifera, Moore.
Sikhim. I do not know this species. (Must be very rare, as I have
only a single specimen from Mr. Kuyvett. — H. J. E.)
309. >S'. costalls, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 and 3,000 feet. This and S. alb>fasciata,
Hmpsn.j I pointed out belonged to the second section of the genus, viz.,
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 35
Male with branches of antenna) long ; but, as Mr. Elwes was inclined
to donbt the correctness of my identification, I sent a specimen of each
of my species of Spatalia to Sir George llampson, who agrees with me
that my identification and division are correct, and says that females
only were available when he had the species under examination. It
occurs in May and July.
310. S. argentata.^ Moore.
Sikhim. I do not know this species. (Not uncommon in Darjeeling
in July.—//. J. E.)
311. S, cdhifasciata, Hmpsn.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 and 3,000 feet. Two specimens only
have been taken by mo in Se])tember and October, both at light. It
was origiually described from the Nilgiris.
312. S. auritractata^ Moore.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. I have only one specimen, which I took at light in
May. It is slightly greyer than S. argentifera^ Wlk., and except for the
form of the antennae is otherwise indistinguishable. (I have never taken
it myself, but it seems to be not uncommon at low elevations. —
H. J. E.)
313. S. plusioides, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 2,500 to 3,000 feet. This is rather a variable
species. I have a male from Sikhim with the triangular silver spot in
the cell represented by a white outline only ; two females from Sikhim
and Bhutan have no marginal series of white specks, and the patagia
are yellow.
The sectional division of the genus should stand as under : —
Section I. — Antennse of male with the branches short, with a fascicle
of cilia at the end of each branch.
S. argent/fern, Wlk.
<S. gemm/feraj Moore.
S. argentata^ Moore.
Section II. — Antennae of males with branches long, with no fascicles
of cilia at their ends.
S. costalt's. Moore.
S, albifasciata, Hmpsn.
S. auritractata, Moore.
S* phsiohles, Moore,
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36 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
Genus Besaia, Wlk.
314. B. ruhiginea^ Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 6,700 feet. The only specimen in my collection
I took settled on some palings at Pasheteng in September. It is appar-
ently rare.
Genns Ichthyuea, Hiibn.
316. /. anachoreta^ Fabr.
Sikhim, 5,500 feet. 1 reared two males from pupas taken at Tukvar.
The cocoons were formed of the leaves of Salia; halnjlonlca drawn
together, on which tree the larva probably feeds. The moths emerged
in November. Mr, Elwes has specimens taken in February and May.
317a. /. trcmsecta, n. sp. (Plate I, Fig. 6.)
^. Fuscous-brown; head and medial part of collar black. Forc-
wing irrorated with fuscous ; a pale oblique sulibasal line bent outwards
en median nervure ; a pale oblique slightly sinuous antemedial line ;
a pale oblique line across the apical area angled below vein 4, then
inwardly oblique and sinuous to inner margin ; a dark brown patch on
the apical area, leaving the costa and margin pale brown, and with an
irregularly dentate edge, crossed by an obscure dark sinuous line in
continuation of the sinuous part of the postmedial line, and a submar-
ginal series of dark specks.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet (Dudgeon). Exp. 40 mm. Type in British
Museum. Sir George Hanipson has kindly allowed me to make use of
ibis description.
319. /. rcsthura, Wlk.'
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 to 5,500 feet. I have taken the larva of
this commonly feeding on the leaves of Salix Jiah/flonica, a non-indigenous
tree. It occurs in the perfect stage in June, July, August and Octo-
ber. This species is variable, two males and two females have the
medial outwardly-curved line replaced by an oblique line from the
middle of the antemedial line to the postmedial line at the inner
margin. This is possibly the form described by Mr. Moore as I.ferru-
ginea from North-east Bengal.
Genus Acidon, Hmpsn.
321a. A. paradoxa, Hmpsn.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1 ,800 to 2,500 feet. I have taken four males
only of this species ai light in May and August, It does not look like
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 37
any other species of the Notodonttdce ; the length of the third joint of
the palpus, the tufts on the proximal segments of the abdomen, and
the abnormal neuration of the forewing make its position uncertain.
Genus Cyphanta, Wlk.
322. C. .vanthochlora, Wlk.
Sikhim, 9,000 feet. This, it would appear, is not uncommon at the
elevation named, where Dr. Pilcher seems to have obtained several
specimens. I have two males taken in July. Mr. Elwes remarks that
it is probably a local insect, as his collectors never procured it.
Family CYMATOPHORIDiE.
Genus Habrosyne, Hiibn.
324. //. derasa, Linn.
Sikhim, 5,500 feet ; var. fmterna, (Moore), Yatung, 12,000 feet
(^Tayloi'), It is found in October, and does not seem to Ijc common.
I receive<l one specimen of the \[iv\eiy fraterna, (Moore), from Yatung,
which agrees exactly with Mr. Butler's figure.
325. II. pJag/osa^ Moore.
Sikhim. I have never received this species.
327. II. argeiiteipuncta, Hmpsn.
Sikhim and Bhutan. My only specimen was taken below Lingtu at
6,000 to 7,000 feet in August.
328. H. sangu'inea, Moore.
Sikhim. I have not seen a specimen.
Genus Thyatira, Hiibn.
329. T. hatJs, Linn.
Sikhim, 5,000 feet. I have taken this species at 5,000 feet in
October ; Mr. Elwes took it at Darjeeling in May and July,
329a. T. decorata^ Moore.
Sikhim. Sir George Hampson suggested that this was a distinct
species, although he included it with T. hatis, probably not having
sufficient material to determine. Mr. Elwes has four specimens which
do not show any variation, and he agrees that it is perfectly distinct
from T, balls.
Genus Gaurena, Wlk.
330. G. Jlorens, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 3,000 to 7,000 feet. My specimens were
pbtained in August, September and October, but it probably occurs
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38 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
throughout the warmer months. Mr. EUves remarks that it is one of
the commonest moths in June and July in Darjeeling.
331. G. aurofasciata, Hmpsn.
Sikhini, 10,000 feet ; Yatung, 13,000 feet. The form from Yatung
which I have called fulgurita differs from typical G. aurofasciata in
heing larger (44 mm.), the golden markings replaced by silvery-white
ones, the subbasal band on the forewing narrower, the submarginal series
of spots present though small, and the marginal series of lunules white
and complete. Typical G. aurofasciata I have from Tongloo taken in
August. (Taken on the Goompahar at light in July and August, but
not in Darjeeling itself. — H. J. E.)
332. G. prescens, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 5,500 to 8,000 feet. This is almost as common
as G. Jiorcns^ "Wlk., and occurs with it. I have spechnens taken in June,
July and October.
332«. G. tenuis^ Hmpsn.
Yatung, Sikhim, 13,000 feet. The type was obtained by Col.
Binsham and is in the British Museum collection.
3325. G. argentisparsa, Dudgn. (Plate 1, Fig. 19.)
Yatung ; Sikhim, 13,000 feet. Two specimens of this species were
obtained by Mr. Taylor of the Chinese Commission, and were given to
me hy Mr. Lister of Darjeeling. Tliey have the forewing silvery-grey
irrorated with fuscous, the markings somewhat as in G. Jlorens, but
siivery-white, not in the least yellowish. The typos are in the British
Museum and my own collection.
334. G. lichenea, Hmpsn.
Sikhim, 4,500 feet. I received a very fine specimen of what I
believe to be this species from Mr. Walter Weston, which he took below
Kurseong in September. The medial area of the forewing is somewhat
rufous as in G. solena, (Swinh.), but tlw hindwiiig is white with a broad
fuscous marginal band. Exp. 42 mm. (Apparently a very rare species.
A single specimen from Moller's collection is all I have seen from
Sikhim.— iy. J. E.)
Genus PoLYPLocA, Hiilm.
334/>. P. hifasciata^ Hmpsn.
Sikhim. I have not seen a specimen. (Taken at Jorepokri by
Ivnyvett in March.—//. .7, E)
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 39
335. P. orhiGularis^ Moore.
Sikhim. I have not received this. (Occurs in March at 7,000 to
8,000 feet.— iy. J. E.)
338. P. albidisca, Warr.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 6,400 feet. I took a single specimen of this at
Rissoom in October ; Mr, Elwes has three specimens without indication
of date or elevation from Sikhim.
339. P. cuprina, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 0,400 feet. I have one male which I took at
Rissoom in April. (Three specimens taken on August 26th at light in
Darjeeling.— ^. J. E.)
339rt. P. polt/ch?'omata, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. I do not know this species. (The type of this pretty species
is the only one I have seen ; it was procured by one of Moller's collectors,
probably in the interior. — H. J. E.)
dB%. P. re?ialisy Moore.
Sikhim (^Hampson). I do not know it.
Genus Paldipsestes, Hixbn.
340. P. albicosta, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 6,400 feet. I took a single male of this in
September at Rissoom, the costa of the forewing is white, suffused with
greenish-yellow and pink. (Not uncommon at 7,000 to 8,000 feet in
July and August. — H. J. E.)
341. P. albibasis, Hmpsn.
Sikhim {Hampson), Neither Mr. Elwes nor I have seen a specimen
from Sikhim.
Genus Nemacerota, Hmpsn.
343. N. altemata^ Moore.
Sikhim. I have not received it. (Rare at about 7,000 feet in May
and June. — H. J. E.)
Genus Toxoides, Hmpsn.
344. T. undulata, Moore.
Sikhim, 7,000 feet. I have only seen one specimen of this species,
which was taken by Dr. Pilcher at light in Darjeeling. (My only
specimen was taken on the 25th June.— ^. J. E.)
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40 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll
Family SESIID.E.
Genus Trilochana, Moore.
350. T. scoUoides^ Moore.
Sikhim. I have never seen a specimen. Sir George Hampson
remarks that there is no locality on the type speoimen in ooUection
Atkinson, and it may not be from Sikhim.
Genus Sciapteron, Staudgr.
355. S. atkinsoni, Moore.
Sikhim. This has never been brought to me. (Taken by me near
Darjeeling in July. A specimen from Moller's collection was procured
in the Terai in June. — H. J. E.)
357. S. sikkima, Moore.
Sikhim. Neither Mr. Elwes or I have seen a specimen, the type of
which is in Dr, Staudinger's collection.
Genus Sesia, Fabr.
372. *S'. tricincta, Moore.
Sikhun, 5,500 feet. I have one specimen which I took at Tukvar on
the 21st August.
373. S. Jlava, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 2,500 feet. I have two specimens taken in May,
they, however, do not correspond exactly with the description given.
The antennae are blue-black ; no yellow on vertex of thorax ; abdomen
deep blue-black, with segmental yellow bands j anal tuft yellow and blue-
black ; frons pure white ; apex of the forewiug broadly yellow, also the
outer edge of the disco-cellular bar. E.vjy. 19 millim.
Genus Melittia, Wlk.
387. M. earytion^ Westw.
Sikhim and Bhutan, up to 4,000 feet. Common ; affects ordure and
is often found on decaying animal matter. It occurs in July and
August.
388. M. indica, Butl.
Sikhim. Common in May, June, July and August, found in similar
places to the last.
389. M. grandiSf Hmpsn.
Sikhim. This is apparently the largest of the Indian species. Possibly
the specimen in my collection, identified as M. fjigantea^ Moore, by Mr.
Moore is the same. It, however, does not expand more than 44 millim.
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 41
and as the abdomen is -vranting, there is no probability of rightly
identifying it.
390. 31. neioara, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 2,500 feet. I have only one specimen of this
taken in August. It has the curious habit, in common with other
species of the genus, of rubbing its hiudlegs together when on the wing.
493. M. gigantea, Moore.
Sikhim, 5,500 feet. One specimen which 1 took in September was
identified by Mr. Moore as belonging to this species.
394. jy. chaldformis, Fabr.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 to 3,000 feet. I have six specimens which
apparently belong to this species taken in June, July and August.
395. M, nepcha, Moore.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. I have two specimens taken at light in July
and August at Punkabaree.
Key to the Sikhim species.
A. — Hindwiug with patch of blue or greenish-blue scales at the
inner margin,
(a). Hindlegs black ; tibia with tufts of pale yellow hairs on the
upper side and whitish marks beneath ; tarsus black with
whitish marks beneath.
M. indica, But!.
(b). Hindlegs black ; tibia ivith spare tufts ofivhite hairs On the upper-
side^ bhnsh-white tufts on the underside of tibia and tarsus.
M. nepcha, Moore,
(c). Hindlegs black ; hairs on the outside of the tibia and all those
clothing the tarsus fiery orange.
M. grandis^ Hmpsn.
B. — Hindwing with patch of dull golden-yellow scales at the inner
margin,
(a). Hindlegs black ; tibia and upper joint of tarsus clothed with
chocolate-brown hairs on the outside, with whitish hairs above
and whitish marks below ; tarsus black.
M. eurytion, Westw.
(b). Hindlegs black ; tibia and tarsus tufted on the outside with yellow
and fulvous hairs, bluish-iohite or yellowish marks beneath,
a\ Of large size {44 millim.) ; the costa of foi'ewlng ochreous.
6
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42 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
M. gigantea, Moore.
b\ Of smaller size (^32-36 millim.) ; the costa of the forewing
dark.
M, chalciformis, Fabr.
(c). H'mdlegs hlafh ; tuft ofjMle yellow hairs on the upper side of
tibiaj With slight reddish tuft near joint of tarsus and tibia ;
underside ivith bluish-white marks on tibia^ and slight yellow
tuft on tarsus.
M. neioara, Moore.
Genus Lenyra, Wlk.
396. L. astaroth, Westw.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 feet. I took a single male at the foot of
the Baling hills in Bhutan in July, and I have a female from Sikhim
without indication of elevation or date of capture. The antennae of the
female have the club nmch longer and more gradual than in the male.
Its flight is mueh slower than Melittia^ but it has the same habit of
rubbing the hindlegs together when flying ; I do not know, however,
that it affects ordure in the same way.
(7o be continued.^
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43
THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA.
By J. Davidson, i.c.s.
Fart II.
(^Continued from page 679, Vol. AT.)
1010. Thereiceryx viridis, Bodd.
This bird is very common everywhere in Kanara except the extreme
north-eaat corner. It breeds everywhere from the end of February to
the end of May, and is 30 common that one can find half a dozen nests
in a morning.
1019. Xanthol^ma h^macephala, P. L. S. Mull.
Common along the coast round the villages from Karwar to Bhutkul ;
also in the forests above Ghats east of Sirsi. Absent from the central
belt of forest and the sides of the Ghats. It breeds in February, March,
and the beginning of April.
1020. Xanthol.ema malabarica, Blyth.
This barbet takes the place of the preceding one in the central belt
of country and also along the ridge of the Ghats. It also overlaps it a
little to the east of Sirsi, and extends through all the heavy forests below
Ghats. It is, however, never found in or among villages, except when
in deep forest. I have taken nests with eggs in January, February
and March, but have always found the nests diflficult to find, ajid con-
sidering how common the bird is, the number of eggs I have taken is
disappointing. The nests are in very similar situations, and the eggs
similar to those of X, hcemacephala, though I think the shells are
generally stronger.
1022. CoRACiAS INDICA, Linn.
The Indian roller is very common in the cold weather, everywhere
along the coast. It, however, leaves the coast completely about March.
Above Ghats it is nowhere common, but a few breed in Supa, Sirsi,
Yellapur and Halyal in March and April.
1024. CORACIAS GAERULA, Linn.
I shot a single specimen of this bird in November, 1893, at Majali,
five miles north of Karwar. I have never seen the bird again.
1026. Merops viridis, Linn.
Very common in the cold weather, and till March below the
Ghats. It probably breeds there in the end of March and April, but
I have no record to that efi'ect, and I have not noticed it in Karwar
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44 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
during the rains till the end of September. Above Ghats I have
seen it at all seasons, and it breeds abundantly there in March and
April.
1027. Merops PHILIPPINUS, Linn.
This bee-eater appears in Karwar in the end of September, and is
fairly common in particular places below Ghats till March. It is, how-
ver, as far as I know, restricted to a few places ; one near Gokern and
another near Kutgul are almost certain to have a few about any time
during the winter. Above Ghats I only saw the bird once or twice in
March and April. They were merely passing and were gone by next
day. I do not think the bird breeds anywhere in the district.
1030. Melittophagus swinhou, Hume.
Generally distributed through the thicker forest portions of the dis-
trict both above and below Ghats. Not, however, very common any-
where. It breeds singly in March and April in the banks of the various
rivers and nullahs.
1031. Nyctiornis athertoni, Jard. & Selby.
This is a very shy bird, and were it not for its noisiness would be
constantly passed over. I have seen it however along all the roads
crossing the Ghats from Nilkund to Anshi as well as in many cases
through the forests above Ghats in western and central Kanara. I
have taken a good many nests. They are, as a rule, made in banks along
the roads (though I have seen one or two in those above streams), and
are often five or six feet deep. As soon as the bird begins to lay, the
tunnel contains fragments of bees and beetles, and the eggs are laid
among a quantity of these. The eggs are generally completely covered
with debris, and I cannot understand how the young are not suf-
focated. I have taken eggs from the end of March to the middle of
April, but the birds have commenced excavating their nests as early as
January. I took two nests on the little road between Karwar and
Godhalli on the 22nd March, 1896, just before leaving the district.
The eggs, four and three in number, were fresh, and the two females
allowed me to dig them out. The road coolies are very fond of these
birds, and habitually dig out their nests and eat old and young. Cobras
are also partial to them, and it is necessary to be cautious in putting
your hand into these deep holes. I had a fright once, a snake (not a
cobra) coming out when I had half dug into a hole.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA, 45
1033. Ceryle varia, Strickl.
By no means common in Kanara. Occasionally noticed, however,
along the rivers below Ghats from Ankola southwards ; also in the
extreme east of the district. I took a nest with five eggs near Honawar
in January.
1035. Alcedo ispida, Linn.
Common throughout the district. It breeds abundantly about Karwar
in July, and above Ghats in March and April.
1036. Alcedo BEAViNi, Wald.
I have no right to include this species as 1 have never procured a
specimen. I feel, however, certain I saw a single specimen near Nil-
kund in January, 1896. It flew out of a thick ferny bank above a
small stream bordering a supari garden, surrounded on both sides by
dense evergreen forest. It was quite close to me when it flew out, and
as I had a gun in my hand I might have shot it flying, but I was very
anxious to kill it, and did not like to risk a shot. It only flew sixty
or seventy yards and lit on the bank among the thick ferns. It sat
there till I was quite close and darted round a corner before I could
cover it. Where it went I could not discover, and though I waited
an hour or so it never came back. Its small size and bright pale
colour were very striking, and I have no doubt as to its having been
correctly identified.
1043. Pelargopsis gurial, Pears.
A fairly common bird everywhere in Kanara, except the extreme
east. I have taken eggs near Sirsi in April,
1044. Halcyon smyrnensis, Linn.
Intensely common everywhere in Kanara. It is a grasshopper
eater, and is often found breeding far away from any water. Half a
dozen nests may be taken any day in March or April almost any
place above Ghats.
1045. Halcyon pileata, Bodd.
This handsome kingfisher is rare in Kanara, and I cannot be quite
sure whether it is or is not a permanent resident. The few specimens
I have seen have all been single, but they have practically been at all
seasons but the very hot weather. I have notes of the following : —
Chitakuli (three miles north of Karwar on the coast). Two speci-
mens shot on different days and at different places in November, 1894.
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46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Karwar. — A single specimen seen once or twice in August or
September, 1889.
Amdalla (ten miles south of Karwar on the coast). — A single
specimen on 20th February, 1894.
Near Kumta on the Tudri river. — A single specimen on 25th
November, 1893.
Talan (five miles due east of Bhutkul). — A single specimen on
20th December, 1893.
At the Gairsoppa falls (at least 20 miles as the crow flies from the
sea), A single specimen on the 30th December, 1893.
1051. DiCHOCEROS BicoRNis, Linn.
Sparingly found through all the large forests immediately below the
Ghats, and occasionally in the central forests above Ghats. The bird
appears invariably to breed in the same nest ; but though I have been
told of others, I only know of one. This is about three miles from
Kutkul in the Kumta taluka ; I was first shown it on the 12th February
1890. It was in a very tall branchless tree in evergreen jungle. A
hus:e branch had been torn from the trunk about 40 or 50 feet from
the ground and had formed a ragged cavity, and in this the birds,
I was told, had bred for many years, and each year when the young
one was half grown, the villagers dug it and the mother out and
devoured them. To this circumstance they attributed the numerous
tribe of children inhabiting the village. A small stump of a branch
remained four or five feet below the hole, and after some three hours
work by tying bamboo ladders one above the other, two villagers
climbed up, and standing on the stump, after a considerable struggle
stabbed the old hen on her nest, which contained one fresh egg, and
which could not be obtained till after the old one bad been killed.
I visited the nest again on the 4th March, 1894, but it then contained
a single small young one, and in the end of January, 1895, the birds
had not laid.
1052. Anthracoceros coronatus, Bodd.
This hornbill is a good deal commoner than the last, and habitually
at all seasons goes about in considerable flocks. It is most common
in the deciduous forest in the east of Halyal, Yellapur, Mundgode
and Sirsi ; but I saw a pair at Bhutkul in January, 1889, and a flock of
some twenty near Kutgul in January, 1894. I also saw others near
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THE BIRDS OB' NORTH KANARA. 47
Arbail in February, 181'3. The only egg I obtained was taken on the
9th March, 1893, a few miles east of Sirsi, and was brought to me
with the old bird which had been caught on the nest.
1062. LOPHOCEROS BIROSTRIS, Scop.
This hornbill is found sparingly along the east of the district from
Halyal to Runwasi (east of Sirsi). It is not found, as far as I know,
further than about twelve miles from the eastern frontier. It breeds
in March and April, and I found several nests about Ekambe (east of
Sirsi), and no doubt, had I taken any trouble, I could have found them
in other places also.
1063. LoPHocEROs GRisEUs, Lath.
This is the common Kanara hornbill, and it is common everywhere
from the coast to within ten or twelve miles of the eastern border.
It there meets L. birostris^ and in some places Iioth species occur. I have
taken many nests Avith eggs from the end of February to the beginning
of April ; they generally contained three eggs, but I have found four
in a few cases.
1066. Upupa epops, Linn.
A cold weather visitor both above and below the Ghats .; noticed
occasionally from November to March.
1067. Upupa indica, Reich.
A permanent resident above the Ghats, but scarce except in the
forests of Mundgode, Yellapur, and Halyal. I took a nest with five
eggs much incubuted in the Yellapur taluka on the 6th April, 1894,
and I have seen other nests but in places it was troublesome to cut out.
1068. Cypselus melba, Linn.
A permanent resident. Enormous numbers breed in cracks in the
cliffs near the top of the Gairsoppa waterfall. They breed in Febru-
ary and probably later, and no doubt the specimens seen at all seasons
come there to roost, as in the evenings they pour in long afler dark.
1072. Cypselus leuconyx, Blyth.
This is the common Kanara swift, and may be known on the wing
from C. affinis by the tail being forked, making the bird look much larger.
It appears in large flocks occasionally at Karwar during the rains,
and all along the coast it may be found in the cold weather for two or
three evenings consecutively when it disappears for often lengthened
periods. I have seen it in considerable numbers on the ridge of the
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48 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Ghats close to the Dudsagar station on the Portuguese railway at all
seasons I have been there ; they seemed to fly in and out of some caves
in the cliffs above the station-master's house. I have never been able
to visit the place, and it is to be hoped someone at Castle Rock will
manage to do so and see if there are nests. April, I should think,
would be the most likely month.
1073. Cypselus affinis, Gray & Hardw.
Noticed occasionally about Karwar in the rains, and common about
Halyal. In the latter place large numbers breed under the bridges
near Alnawar and in the veranda of the forest bungalow in Halyal.
]075. Tachoenis batassiensis, Gray.
Found all over the district. Wherever a Borassus is found, there
are sure to be a number of these swifts. They however, I am sure,
sometimes breed on the supari palm, as I found them to do in Mysore,
as the bird is constantly seen in places where no " tar " trees are
found.
1078. Centura indica, Hume.
This fine spine-tail is, I believe, a permanent resident in Kanara,
and I have numerous notes of having seen them from January to the
end of May in many places above Ghats. During the rest of the
vear I have generally been on the coast or at all events below
Ghats, and I cannot tell whether at that season they are also to be
found above Ghats. I noticed a few flying round some castellated
rocks near Ulvi in Supa in the middle of March, and the villagers
declared they bred there in the rains. They are by far the fastest
flyino' birds I have ever seen, and must fly about twice as fast as
the Alpine swift ; indeed, sometimes a flock has passed over and is gone
before one has made up his mind to risk a shot at them. I shot four
with some twenty shots at Sirsi in April, 1894 ; all were males, and none
showed any signs of breeding.
1079. Ch-Etura SYLVATICA, Tick.
This pretty little spine-tail is distinctly local, but a few may be found
regularly in many places. They keep to the evergreen jungle and the
neighbourhood of dead " baini " palms. I have little doubt they breed
in holes in these, but I have never been able to prove it. At Manchi-
keri in the Yellapur taluka I came on a large flock flying out and in-
to the trunk of a huge tree, which divided into three large stems, two
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA. 49
of which were hollow throughout. After much labour I cut a, hole
large enough to put my head into, and could see everything between
myself and the large hole they entered, but no trace of a nest of any
description was visible. Some years afterwards I visited the tree again,
but there were no swifts about it. Again in March, 1893, I saw a
number flying round some dead palm trees near iSirsi, and striking one
of the trees with a stick, I started a swift from the second hole in it,
some thirty feet from the ground. This tree leant against a stout ban-
yan which crossed it twenty feet up, and consequently a boy easily
climbed up. He got to the hole immediately below the hole the swift
came from and some four feet below it, but though a plu'?ky youngster,
he objected to go higher, saying the tree was quite rotten, and it shook
and cracked so ominously, I did not like to press him further, and as I
had some idea of propping up a ladder, I did not cut the tree down,
a thing I now much regret, as I could not find time to come back, as
I intended, in the afternoon. However in 1896 at Kukbarada in Supa
I cut down a " baini " tree, round which two pairs habitually circled,
but there was not a trace of nest or egg shells.
1081. COLLOCALIA FUCIPIIAGA.
This swift breeds in considerable numbers on Nitrani (Pigeon
Island), off the coast of Honawar in March and April, and I have had
nests brought from tbere for me. I have seen large flocks at Mur-
deshwar and also at Gairsoppa in the cold weather.
1086. Macropteryx coronata. Tick.
Generally distributed in Kanara and really common in the opener
jungle along the coast and in the east portion of the district. I have
taken the nest with young as early as 29th January at Godhalli close
to Karwar, but as a rule eggs are not found till well on in February,
and may be got any time afterwards till near the end of April.
So common is the bird in the hills east of Ankola, that having taken
one or two eggs there in March, in an evil moment I promised one of
the villagers a rupee for each egg he could find for me. He turned up
at my camp fitty miles off in the end of April with a small basket,
which, on examination, proved to contain 46 eggs of this species. As
it only, of course, lays one egg and takes a long time to build, at the
smallest computation this represented the nests of at least 23 pairs.
The bird is common during the rains at Karwar.
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50 JOURNAL., BOSfBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
1090. Capkimulgus monticola, Frank.
This nightjar is fairly common above the Ghats from Halyal to
SidJapur, and I have obtained specimens both at Ankola and Bhutkul
It breeds in the end of March and beginning of April, and I have taken
a good many nests in the neighbourhood of Sirsi. Its cry is a long
wailing cry like an owl, and it appears at dusk and flying high, sails
up and down over the forest, occasionally alighting high up on a tree.
1091. Capkimulgus asiaticus, Lath.
This nightjar shuns the forest. It is common in the open country
about Halyal and Mundgode, and also fairly abundant in the open
parts along the coast. I have never seen it in the centre of the dis-
trict. Its note is " tuk-tuk-tuk-tookuraluk." It breeds in March.
1093. Capkimulgus mackurus, Horsf. form atripennis, Jerd.
This is the sm.all form of this bird, and the Kanara specimens do not
vary from each other in size, and look absolutely insignificant and
absurdly different from the large specimens of C. alhonotatus, Tick.,
which I have received from Mr. Stuart Baker from Cachar. This bird
is very common in Kanara, and its almost metallic cry of four notes is
heard nightly from February to May. I have taken many nests in
March, April and May. The eggs differ a good deal in size, were all
cream-coloured with round spots of black or purple, quite different from
those of any other nightjars I know, and quite different from the eggs
of the form alhonotatus which I received from Sikhim from the late
Otto M oiler.
1095. Capbimulgus indicus, Lath.
This is the rarest of the Kanara goatsuckers, but I have obtained
specimens and heard its easily distinguishable call pretty well all over
the district in the thick forest. Its call is either " tuk tuk " constant-
ly repeated, or this with an occasional " tukkoo tukkoo." I have
taken eggs in the Sirsi talnka in April.
109;). Batrachostomus moniliqek, Lay.
This bird is confined to the evergreen forests on the Ghats and just
below them, but I do not think it is very rare, as I have constantly heard
its wailing cry round my camp at Anshi, Nilkund, Kutgul, Gairsoppa,
and other places where there are evergreens. It never begins to call,
however, till it is almost quite dark, and at that time sits in the thick-
est trees or bushes. I have again and again followed it unsuccessfully
![]()
THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANAKA. 51
in the moonlight, and have only once sucoeeiled in shooting it. On
another occasion I could have killed one, but it was within sis yards,
and the shot would have blown it to pieces. I have twice come across
it in daylight, but on neither occasion had I a gun with me.
1100. Harpactbs fasciatus, Penn.
A permanent resident generally distributed over all the forest area
except the extreme eastern portion. It is common in the evergreens
at Karwar in the rains. I have taken numerous nests : the earliest
was iu March at Kutgul, but above Ghats the end of April and May
are the commonest months. The nest holes were all large openings and
generally in very rotten wood, and the heights varied from ten to
about twenty feet. The cock sits on the eggs as well as the hen, and
they are very shy at returning to a nest when any one is about, though
they keep in the neighbourhood. I remember one case at Supa when
1 had started a cock from some tree (I could not see which), I watched
him for over an hour, during which tim.e he mostly sat without mov-
ing; he then flew away. As I had seen nothing of the hen, I con-
sidered that there was no use waiting longer, and strolled on in the
direction he had come from. I noticed a broken branch on a tree
about nine feet from the ground, and as it was so low, I climbed up
and put my hand on the branch, which broke clean off the moment my
fingers touched it, and left three beautiful fresh eggs on the top of a
heap of rotted wood, which fortunately prevented their falling to the
ground. All the eggs I have found have been a rich cream colour.
llOi. CucuLus CANORUS, Linn.
The common cuckoo is a rare bird in Kanara. I have only twice
shot it ; both were in the Kumta taluka in November. I also once
heard its note at Nilkuud in February.
1107. CucuLUS MiCROPTERUS, Gould.
This cuckoo is generally distributed in the forest portion of the
district from February to May, and is probably found at all seasons.
It is however a shy bird, and would generally be passed over were it
not for its clear four-noted metallic cry, one of the finest I know, and
always connected in my mind with the long solitary wait one frequent-
ly has hid when beating for big game. In the north of the Sirsi
taluka on the 4th April, 1894, I obtained an egg I consider to belong
to this bird. It was in the nest of a malacocercus, and is clearly a
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52 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
cuckoo's. It is of a bright blue colour, not nearly so dai-k as the egg
of Hieroccoccyx varius. I was camped at the place for several days,
and though I saw and heard C , micropterus constantly, I never saw any
other cuckoo in the neighbourhood.
1109. HiEROCOCCYX VARIUS, Vahl.
A permanent resident, fairly distributed all over the district, and
not uncommon about Karwar in the rains.
1112. Cacomantis passerinus, Vahl.
Very common in the Northern portion of the district, viz., Halyal,
Supa, and Karwar and as far south as Ankola. I have only once come
across it in the cold weather at Sirsi and once at Kumta. In the rains
at Karwar across the Kalauuddi its note practically never ceases, and
there were always a couple on the little hill in which the Collector's
bungalow at Karwar is situated. I have taken many of their eggs.
They were laid in every case in the nests of Orthotomus sutorius. On
one occasion 1 noticed a pair flying about most excitedly round a bush
in which I knew there was a nest of O. sutorius^ aud on waiting till they
had left, examined the nest, which I found to contain three blue eggs of
the ordiuary type, and a white one considerably but not very strikingly
larger, and very similarly marked with brown spots. The majority
of 0. sutorius in Kanara lay eggs with a blue ground, and although
I have taken this cuckoo's eggs eight or ten times in their nests, in every
case whether the tailor-bird's eggs were blue or white, the cuckoo's
had a white ground. This is remarkable, as all the previous records
of the egg of this cuckoo are to the effect that the egg has a blue ground.
1114. Penthoceryx sonnerati, Lath.
This cuckoo is a permanent resident, but is not nearly so com-
mon as the last. In the rains it is fairly common about Karwar,
and I have noticed it occasionally at all seasons all over the distrio":. It is
a very noisy bird with a clear call somewhat resembling that of ^. varius^
but not so loud or long, and omitting the very high notes at the end.
In Augnst, 1894, I saw a young one being fed by a pair of loras, and
in April of that year I found at Sirsi a nest of 0 . fuscicauiata containing
two eggs of an ordinary bright coloured type and also a dull red Qgg of
quite a different texture. This belonged, I have no doubt, to this bird,
as it is alinc«t similar to one from the Barnes' colloctiou which was
extracted from a shot bird.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA. 53
1117. SuRNicuLUS LUGUBRis, Horsf.
This bird is a permaueut resident in Kanara, and I do not think very
rare, but it is often passed over owing to its similarity to a kingcrow.
I do not, as a rule, want to shoot kingcrows, but I have on two occasions
shot one of these birds when I intended to kill a Buchanga. It is
occasionally seen in Karwar in the rains, and has a fine clear note. I
have shot it in various places along the coast and also in the Siddapur
taluka. On one occasion (26th May, 1889), I saw three sitting on a
huge silk-cotton tree : they were calling shrilly, and spread their wings
and tails, showing the white bar distinctly.
1118. COCCYSTES JACOBINUS, Bodd.
I have only once obtained this species in Kanara. It was an im-
mature specimen shot at Gairsoppa in October, 1893. I remember see-
ing another across the river from Karwar in the beginning of the rains.
1120. EUDYNAMIS HONORATA, Linn.
Generally distributed all over the district. I have dbtained eggs
above Ghats in the month of March from nests of Corvus macrorliyncJiMs.
1122. Rhopodytes viridirostris, Jerd.
Common everywhere, both above and below the Ghats, where there
is forest. I have taken several nests about Karwar in the month of
August, and in other places (both above and below the Ghats) in x4pril.
The nests were, as a rule, built in thick low bushes some three or four
feet from the ground, but in one case I found a nest in a very thick
bamboo clump in open forest about twenty feet from the ground. The
nests are slight, composed of twigs and lined with green leaves. In one
case I obtained three eggs, but in all the others there were only two.
1129. Taccocua leschenaulti. Less.
This is a very rare bird in Kanara. Aitken obtained a specimen
north of Karwar, and I saw one near Honawar in December, 1888, or
January, 1889.
1130. Centropus sinensis, Steph.
The crow pheasant is generally distributed all over Kanara, and is
fairly common every svhere. It breeds in March and April.
1133. Centropus bengalensis, Gmel.
I have never obtained a specimen of this bird, but I saw one at Kumbar-
wada in Supa on 1 2th March, 1896, and I feel certain I have also seen it at
Anshi. Mr. Aitken also saw it at Castle Rock still furtbernorth in Supa.
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54 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
1134. PALyEORNIS EUP ATRIA, Linil.
I have never managed to shoot this bird in Kanara, so cannot be sure
whether it is this form, or, as in Khandesh, P. nipalensis, Hodgs., which
is obtained. It is very rare, and I have only seen the bird twice. They
were both in the south of the district. On the 18th December, 1889, I
saw a pair at Siddapur in tbe large evergreen grove on the Bunwasi
road, and again on the 30th December, 1895, 1 saw a single bird at
Kodkani flying over the Gairsoppa falls.
1138. Pal-eornis torqtjatus, Bodd.
By no means a common bird in Kanara. A few may be found along
the coast from near Karwjir to Bhutkul, being commoner about
Gokern and Honawar. The bird is also moderately common about
Halyal and in the east of the district as far west as Sirsi. I have found
it breeding in February along the coast.
1139. Pal^ornis gyanocbphalus, Linn.
By far the commonest parroquet in Kanara, being found everywhere
from north to south and east to west. It breeds abundantly in
February and March.
1143. Pal.eornis columboides, Vig.
Common through all the thicker forests in Kanara, both above and
below the Ghats, becoming scarce towards the east, and absent from
the extreme east of Mundgode and Halyal. It breeds in February
and March generally in a hole in the top of a pollard tree adjoining
thick forest. The eggs vary in size, but are very similar to those of
P. torquatus.
1150. LORTCULTJS VERNALIS, Blyth.
A permanent resident, but shy and silent and would be frequently
overlooked if it was not for its pretty little cry as it flies off from
some thick tree. I have found it everywhere except in the extreme
east of the district. I have taken a good many of its nests ; all were
in supari palms left dead in the gardens, and they were in holes in the
rotten wood. The eggs are very round and glossless and much dis-
coloured by the rotten wood ; they vary from two to four in number.
1152. Strix flammea, Linn.
The only specimen of this owl I have ever seen in Kanara was sent
to roe alive from the light-house opposite Karwar. It flow into this
during the rains of 1889.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA. 55
1157. ASIO ACCIPITKINTJS, Pall.
I saw a single specimen of the short-eared owl at Halyal on the
12th Februar}', 1896, among some long grass.
1160. Syrnium INDRANI, Svkos.
I have only seen this owl in the neighbourhood of Kntgul, and
while beating for game. I shot a specimen on the 1st April, 1 893, and
I have seen others in later years.
1161. Syrnium occellatum, Less.
This owl is only found in Kanara along the extreme east of the
district. There are always a pair which breed in the fine mango avenue
at Bunwasi, east of Sirsi, and I have seen others at Halyal, Mundgode,
and while beating in the forests near Dasinkop.
1161. Ketuba. ceylonensis, Gkel.
Distributed all over the district both above and below the Ghats. It
is really common along the numerous forest streams. I have taken
eggs in January and February below the Ghats.
1168. Bubo bengalensis, Frankl.
Not common in Kanara. A pair are generally to be found on the
side of the hill at Sadasheogarh, north of Karwar. I obtained a young
one unable to fly at Bunwasi. I have also heard the note of what I
took to be this owl in other places.
1170. HuHUA nipalensis, Hodgs.
I have seen a large horned owl, which was probably this bird, at
Anshi in the Supa petta, and beard its call in other places. The onlv
one that ever came within shot of me flew into a tree close to me
while I was sitting up for a panther with a rifle in my hand. It was
too dark to see the bird distinctly.
1 1 78. Scops bakhamcena, Penn.
This little owl is rare. I have only seen it in the neighbourhood of
Karwar, where I took a nest with three eggs on the 29th January,
1893. It was in a hole in a tamarind tree on the edge of the forest,
and about ten feet from the oi'ound.
1180. Athene BR AMA, Temm.
This little owlet is found occasionally on the coast from Karwar to
Bhutkul. It is a permanent resident, but not common anywhere. It
is also found in the extreme north-east of the district, but is absent from
all the central portions.
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5G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
1184, Glaucidium radiatum, Tick.
This is a common owl throughout the district wherever there is
forest. I have taken eggs from February to April in many places.
A pair used to breed every year in a hole in a small cocoanut tree in
front of the Forest bungalow at Kudra.
1187. NiNOX SCUTULATA, Raff.
This owl is, I think, by no means very uncommon throughout
Kanara, but is very shy and does not como out till it is almost quite
dark. In the breeding season it is a very noisy bird with a clear cry,
which can be heard for miles. It is generally uttered by both birds
together, and resembles " coo ooo, coo, ooo, coo ooo," repeated very
fast. It is a denizen of thick jungle generally on the hills. The
birds flit about like nightjars. I have never taken eggs in Kanara,
but they must breed in March as proved by dissecting specimens shot.
]189. Pandion HALiAETUS, Linn.
Noticed occasionally on the coast, and also on the large rivers below
the Ghats. I have only noticed it between October and February.
1191. Otogyps ualvus, Scop.
Noticed occasionally at all seasons in all parts of the district. It must
be a permanent resident, but in Kanara I have never come on a nest.
1194. Gyps indicus, Scop.
Noticed on a very few occasions in various parts of the district, but
on only one occasion were there more than two or three together.
There are many suitable cliffs in the district, but only once have I
seen the bird apparently breeding. This was on the 30th December,
1893, and a puir kept entering a sort of hollow in the cliff half way
down below the bungalow on the British side of the Gairsoppa falls.
With a glass I could discover what looked like a nest, but, of course, in
a quite unapproachable situation.
1196. PsEUDOGYPs BENGALENsis, Gm. (Syst. Nat.)
This vulture is very common everywhere in Kanara. It breeds in
December and January, sometimes singly and sometimes several to-
gether in the forest. I have seen hundreds of nests.
1197. Neophron giNginianus, Lath.
Moderately common along the east of the district, where it breeds
in February. Occurs also as a straggler along the coast occasionally
at Honawar and Kumta, and I once saw it at Nilkuud on the edge of
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA, 57
the Ghats. It is, however, absent from by far the oreateat part of the
district.
1203. Aquila yindhiana, Frankl.
I obtained a single specimen of this eagle at Dasinkop iu the
extreme east of the district on the 7th March, 1890, and have once or
twice seen specimens, I consider to have belonged to this, also in the
extreme east.
1205. Aquila maculata, Gmel. (Syst. Nat.)
I have never obtained a specimen of this eagle. I have, however,
several times in the east of the district seen a dark eagle with some
white on its back and wings. They were in the neighbourhood of
tanks, and I have noticed them from January to May. This eagle
may, however, possibly have been A. hastafa^ which I have shot from
the nest in the adjoining Mysore ten-itory.
1207. lilERATUS FASCIATUS, Vieill.
I saw a single male specimen of this bird at the Gairsoppa Falls in
December, 1895. I saw it several times and possibly its mate may
have been sitting somewhere among the cliffs around.
1208. HiERATUs PE^-NATUs, Gmel. (Syst. Nat.)
Seen occasionally along the coast in the cold weather. I have also
on three occasions seen specimens above Ghats.
1210. ICTINAETUS MALAYENSIS, EeinU.
By no means uncommon along the southern portion of the coast
about Bhutkul, and occasionally seen all along the line of Ghats.
A female I shot at Manki on the 26th January, 1890, would have laid
in a very few days, and a fine male I shot near Bhutkul in December,
1893, was also breeding. I have, however, never come across a nest.
The bird is however a cliff- builder, and in Kanam cliffs are sun'ounded
by dense jungle and difficult to get at.
1211. Spizaetus ciERHA'ius, Gmel. (Syst. Nat.)
This eagle is common in the forests below Ghats, and also in those
to the east of the district. I have taken its nest several times, generally
in silk-cotton trees, and found in every case one egg or young. The
eggs were taken in January and February.
1216. CiRCAETUS GALLicus, Gmel. (Syst. Nat.)
Noticed occasionally along the coast and in Siddapur, in the cold
weather, and about Halyal in the hot weather, I have seen no signs
of this bird breeding,
8
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58 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
1217. Spilornis cheela, Lath.
By far the commonest o£ the hawk eagles in the district and found
at all seasons in all the moist forests, never being found far from
water. Its nests are hard to find, being mostly in very thick forests
along a stream. The form we get in Kanara is the smaller form with
faint barring on the breast called by Sharpe S. melanotis. An egg
believed to belong to this species was figured in volume 3 of this
Journal by the late Mr. Barnes. I think, however, some mistake must
have occurred as the egg is indistinguishable from eggs in my col-
lection of Perms cristatus, and is not nearly large enough for the
species.
1220. BuTASTUR TEESA, Frankl.
A migrant to the district found very commonly along the coast,
and very sparingly elsewhere, from November to March when it
disappears.
1224. Hali/Etus leucogastar, Gmel. (Syst. Nat.)
The white-bellied sea-eagle is very common along the coast and
some distance up all the rivers below the Ghats at all seasons. They
seem invariably to breed in the same nest yearly. At Karwar a pair
breed in the Caserina plantation, another pair at Karwar head, another
pair on a peak beyond Godhalli, while there are generally four pairs
on the various islands in the harbour. It is the same all the way
down the coast as far as Bhutkul. I have never been able to land
at Nitrani (Pigeon Island) myself, but I have several times sent there
for eggs, and the most I have ever received at a time has been seven
pairs, and the boatmen said there were never more than a dozen pairs
breeding on the Island. I have always got my eggs from there in
October, and even at that date many were much incubated. I have,
however, got eggs at Karwar as late as the beginning of February.
The bird brings a perfectly wonderful amount of food to its young.
At Gokern, where there used to be a large nest close to the bungalow,
the birds constantly an-ived with food, and the villagers declared had
a strong partiality to their chickens, and objected to their breeding
there.
1226. POLIiETUS ICHTHY^TUS, Hoi-sf.
I have only seen this bird about the small tanks at Yellapur and to
the east of Mundgode. It is shy and I only obtained one specimen,
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANAKA, 59
but I invariably saw the bird at the Sanwalli tank near Mundgode
whenever I visited it.
1228. Haliastur indus, Bodd.
The Brahmany kite is common along the coast from north to south
and noticed occasionally thronghout the above Ghat portion. It
remains all through the rains at Karwar. I have seen the birds
building as early as the end of October, but all the eggs I have taken
have been in January.
1229. MiLVUs aoviNDA, Sykes.
The kite is generally distributed through Kanara, being a per-
manent resident above the Ghats, at all events in the east of the
district. At Karwar it leaves about the end of May, and none are
seen till September. It breeds anytime from November to March.
1230. MiLvus MELANOTis, Temm. and Schleg.
I have only seen this kite on three occasions in Kanara. I obtained
a very fine male at Halyal on the tank on the 6th February, 1896,
with a wing of 19^ inches and a total length of 24i inches. I also
twice (January, 1890, and December, 1895,) saw a single specimen on
the coast to the south of Honawar.
1232. Elanus c^ruleus, Desf.
This pretty little kite is very rare in Kanara. I saw a pair on the
25th March, 1895, at the Gangawati tank, whicli, from the way they
were chasing other birds, were apparently breeding, though I could
not find their nest. I have seen the bird singly some eight or ten
times in Halyal, Mundgode and along the coast.
1233. Circus macrurus, S. G. Gmel.
Moderately common during the cold weather from November to
March both above and below the Ghats wherever there is open
country.
1234:. Circus cineraceus, Mont.
Less common than the preceding except about Siddapur, where it
is abundant in the cold weather. Elsewhere only noticed occasionally
on the coast from Ankola to Bhutkul.
1237. Circus aeruginosus, Linn.
The marsh harrier is very common along the coast wherever there
is swampy land. Above Ghats it is occasionally seen about tankg
and rice helds.
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GO JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
1239. BuTEO FEKOx, S. G. Gmel.
I have perhaps on half-a-dozen occasions seen this bird ; they have
all been between November and April, and have been either on the
coast or in the east of the district.
1244. AsTUR DADIUS; Gmel. (Syst. Nat.)
Generally distributed through the district, but by no means
common. I have taken nests in March and April. I have no
recollection or record of having seen it at Karwar in the
rains.
1246. LopHOSPiziAS TRiviRGATUs, Temm.
Thia fine bird is not common in Kauara. It is, however, a perma-
nent resident in all the forests above Ghats from the extreme north to
the south of Siddapur. I once saw in the distance on the river below
Gairsoppa a bird, I believe, to have been this, but except this doubtful
cage I have never seen it bolow the Ghats. In 1893, I obtained
three nests ; the first was on the 7th April at Sampkund in the Sirsi
taluka, and the nest was high up on a tall, almost branchless tree in
the large evergreen " kan." It was a dreadful tree to climb and I
was much surprised to find a man casuallj' passing willing and able to
climb it. The second was on the 15th April in a village near Man-
chikeri in the Yellapur taluka. This was about 40 feet up a leafless
tree outside a " kan " of very tall trees. A villager brought me the
eggs, and hours afterwards when I went to the spot, the hen was
sittiDg on the empty nest, and refused to leave it till many stones had
been thrown at her. The nest was a massive structure of sticks, and,
the man said, was not lined with leaves. The third nest was at Birchia
in Supa, and was in bamboo jungle on a branchless tree about forty
feet from the ground, and quite unapproachable if a tall bamboo had
not crossed the tree close to the nest. It was found on the 8th May,
Each nest contained two eggs, but in that of the 8th May, the eggs
contained dead and rotten young birds which ought to have been
hatched at a much earlier date.
1249. Pernis cristatus, Cuv.
To my surprise I have always found the honey buzzard rare in
Kanara, and I have seen no signs of its In-eeding. 1 have noticed
odd specimens from December to May both above aufl below the
Ghats.
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The birds of north kanara. el
1254. Falco PEREGRiNUS, Tuustall.
A few peregrines visit the district from November to February.
I have seen them only on the coast and about the tanks in the north-
east of the district.
1255. Falco peregrinator, Sundev.
A pair of these falcons kept about the Gairsoppa falls at Christmas,
1893. I also saw a female at Sirsi on 1st May, 1889, and a male at
Ankola on the 2nd June of the same year.
1262. Erythropus amurensis, Gurney.
This pretty little falcon appears in some years in immense scattered
flocks in November and December. All seen have been along the
coast, and the years 1891 and 1895 were years of great abundance,
though I saw a pair in 1893. As a rule they do not show till the
evening, when one after another appears and flies over and over the
rice fields catching moths and beetles. They fly very fast, and continue
flying till it is almost too dark to shoot.
1265. TiNNUNcuLUs ALAUDARius, Linn.
The kestrel visits Kanara both above and below Ghats from Nov-
ember to March, but it is not common and avoids all the thick forests.
I have seen none on the cliffs in April and May, at the time they were
breeding in fair numbers in the Nassic districts further north, and I
do not think any remain in Kanara to breed.
Crocopus chlorigaster, Blyth. (Hume's Cat., No. 773.)
This pigeon is not common in Kanani, but a few are found through
the up-Ghat portion of the district towards the east and north. I
have also noticed them below the Ghats at Agsar and Kudra. I have,
above Ghats, taken their eggs from February to Mav.
OsMOTRERON BiciNCTA, Jerd. (Hume's Cat., No. 774.)
This pigeon is very local in Kanara and I have only seen it at a few
places along the coast from Ankola as far south as Murdeshwar. Its
cry is a hoarse one and not like the musical notes of C. cldorigaster and
0. malabarica. It Ijreeds in February and March. I have seen more
in the neighbourhood of Mirzan than in any other place.
OsMOTRERON MALABARICA, Jerd. (Hume's Cat., No. 775.)
This is the common green pigeon of Kanara, and is found in numbers
from the coast to about as far ea^t as Birchia. It is rare in the east
of Sirsi, and 1 have not seen it in Mundgode or Haljal. It breeds
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62 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
irom January to April, making its nest as a rule in the tops of the
pollard trees about fifteen feet from the ground.
Carphoga aenea, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 780.)
Well distributed over the central portion of the district as far north
as Yellapur and as far east as Sirsi. It is also found commonly below
the Ghats among the hills from Kutgol to Sunksal, and I have seen
numbers in Febraary iu the Arbail Ghat. As a rule, however, it avoids
the ridge of the Ghats. I obtained an egg at Siddapur in February,
1889, and I took two nests on the 12th and 13th March at Tyagli in
Sirsi. The nests were in a pollarded tree iu evergreen " betta," and
were one twenty and the other twenty-five feet from the ground. The
nests were slight and composed of thin twigs, and there was of course
only one egg in each nest. I have had other eggs brought to me.
Carpophaqa cuprea, Jerd. (Hume's Cat., No. 781, bis.)
This fruit pigeon, which has no metallic green back and is larger, is
not so generally distributed as C. aenea. It is as a rule restricted to the
face of the Ghats from Gairsoppa to Anshi. I have noticed it also
about Kutgul, but never-any distance from the crest of the Ghats
inwards. While on the wing this species much resembles the last, but
its note is quite distinct, and somewhat resembles the cry of the com-
mon Kanara monkey. It breeds in February, and I have obtained
eggs at Devimane, and on the edge of the Ghat near Manchikeri. The
egg is very similar- to that of C. aenea.
Palumbus ELPHiNSTONii, Sjkes. (Hume's Cat., No. 780.)
This pigeon is rare and I believe restricted to the north-west corner
of Supa. I have only come across the bird at Juggulbet and between
Anshi and Kumbharwada in May. Mr. Aitken however informs me
it is more common further north about Digi on the Portuguese frontier.
CoLUMBA intermedia, Strickl. (Hume's Cat., No. 788.)
The Indian blue-rock is very common at the Gairsoppa falls, where
hundreds breed on the cliffs and afford capital shooting. They are
also found on some of the islands along the coast and at Halyal.
TuRTUR MEENA, Sykcs. (Hume's Cat., No. 793.)
The large Indian turtle dove identified by me as the form ineena,
is common above Ghats from November to April. I also once saw a
small flock near Ankola. I once started one out of a thick small tree,
and ibund in it a pigeon's nest with one egg v/hicli may have belonged
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA. G3
to this bird. It is, however, larger than others I have received from
elsewhere. It certainly does not generally breed in the district.
TuRTUR suRATENSis, Gm. (Humo's Cat., No. 795.)
A very common bird everywhere, building from February to May.
TuRTUR RisoRius, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 796.)
I have only noticed this bird about Halyal in the extreme north-
east portion of the district. It was common in February, and I saw u
few specimens in April. It is absent from the rest of the district.
TuRTUR TRANQUEBARicus, Hern. (Humo's Cat., No. 797.)
On two occasions I saw this bird near Halyal in February, and Mr.
Aitken informs me he saw a small flock at Ankola in January, 1894.
Chalcophaps indica, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 798.)
Fairly common through all the forests except those in the extreme
east of the district. It has a mournful wailing call which is audible
for a long distance. I have taken eggs at Sirsi in March, and at
Karwar in the end of the rains. They may lie known from the eo-o-s
of all the other doves by their pink colour, almost the shade of a
trogon.
Pavo ceistatus, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 803.)
Peafowl are rare in Kanara and are undoubtedly disappearing. They
used to be common along the Digi Ghat, but the Custom Sepoys have
shot them out. There are still a few in the east of the Mundoode
Petta, and I have seen or heard a few at various places both above and
below the Ghats. I got some eggs near Karwar in September,
1894.
Gallus sonnerati, Tern. (Hmne's Cat., No. 813.)
Jungle fowl are still common everywhere in the forests above and
below Ghats, and v;ould increase enormously if they were not snared
round almost every patch of rice. They breed from February to May
but appear to lay very few eggs, the most I have ever found beino- five.
These, oddly enough, were laid on the top of a dead stump two or three
feet from the ground.
Galloperdix spadiceus, Gm. (Hume's Cat., No. 814.)
Very common in every portion of forest in Kanara. It breeds
from March to May, and out of some fifty nests I have never found
more than four eggs in a nest, and only on one or two occasions have
J found more than three.
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G4 JOURNAL, BO.VnJY NATTTiAL lUSTOnY SOCIETY. Vnl. XII.
Francolinus PICTU8, Jard. & Selby. (Hume's Oat., No. 819.)
Found sparingly along the extreme east of tlio district from Halyal
to i^iddapur, but I do not think thoy occur in any |)lace more than ten
miles from the border.
Ortygornis pondicerianus, Gm. (Hume's Cat., No. 822.)
A rare bird in Kanara. There are a few in the neighbourhood of
Ankola on the coast extending some five or six miles north of it, and
I once saw a single specimen at Sirsi.
Perdicula asiatica, Lath. (Hume's Cat., No. 826.)
I have shot this quail in the forests east of Halyal, and I have seen
what was either this or the next species at Bhutkul. Bush quail are,
however, very scarce in Kanara.
Microperdix erythrorhynchus, Rykes (Hume's Cat., No. 828.)
This quail I have only found in the neighbourhood of Bunwasi, in
the east of Sirsi. I obtained eggs from there taken in September.
GoTURNix COMMUNIS, Bomi. (Hume's Cat., No. 829.)
This quail visits Kanara in the cold weather, and a few may be
obtained along the whole east portion from Halyal to Siddapur.
Below Ghats it is rare. I have seen it once or twice at Karwar,
Kumta, Honawar, and both above and below the Malemane
Ghat.
CoTURNix COROMANDELICA, Gm. (Hume's Cat., No. 830.)
This quail is abundant at Halyal, where it breeds in September. I
have also obtained it occasionally in the east of the district as far south
as Siddapur. I once saw it below the Ghats at Kumta on the 10th
February, 1889.
TuRNix TAiGOOR, Sykes. (Hume's Cat., No. 832.)
A permanent resident, being occasionally seen and often heard at
Karwar during the rains. I have noticed it all over the district in
, he cold weather. I have several times obtained eggs at Hal3'al.
TuRNix JOUDERA, Hodgs. (Hume's Cat., No. 834.)
Seen once or twice in thick patches of high grass among the forests
in Supa and Halyal in April and May.
TuRNix DTissuMiERi, Tcm. (HuHie's Cat., No. 83/).)
Obtained once at Halyal in April.
Sypiieotides aurita, Lath. (Hume's Cat., No. 839.)
I have once or twice shot florican at Halyal in April.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA. 65
CuRSORius coROMANDELicus, Gm. (Hume's Cat., No. 840.)
Rare in the district. la the cold weather I have seen a few in the
bare rocky hills at Gokern and Bhutkul. Above Ghats I have seen
the bird at Halyal and Sirsi ; at the latter place I obtained fresh eggs
in April.
Squatarola helvetica, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 844.)
I saw large flocks of this bird in December, 1889, and J 895 at Hona-
war. 1 also saw some in December, 1893, at Bhutkul, and in February,
1894, at Belikeri.
Charadyius fulvus, Cuv. (Hume's Cat., No. 845.)
The eastern golden plover is fairly common all along the coast
from Karwar to Bhutkul. I have also seen flocks near Siddapur also
in the cold weather, and in April and May I have seen a few at Halyal
in nearly full summer plumage.
^GiALiTis GEOFFRovi, Wagi. (Hmne's Cat., No. 846.)
1 shot a pair of this plover out of a large flock at Honawar on the
21st December, 1895. I think I saw a flock once at Karwjir in
October, but did not obtain a specimen.
/Egialitis mongola. Pall. (Hume's Cat., No. 847.)
I shot 7 birds out of a large flock of this species at Honawar on the
8th December, 1895, and have seen flocks also at various other places
on the coast.
iEGiALiTis GANTIANA, Lath. (Hume's Cat., No. 848.)
In December, 1895, I saw a large flock of this bird at Murdeshwar,
and I obtained specimens in December, 1890, at Bona war.
^Egiaiitis Dubia, Scop. (Hume's Cat., No. 849.)
This plover I have occasionally seen on the banks of tanks and in
the marshes along the coast from December to the beginning of April.
LoBivANELLUs iNDicus, Bodd. (Humo's Cat., No. 855.)
Common all over the district, breeding abundantly in March and April.
LoBiPLUviA MALABARICA, Bodd. (Hiune's Cat., No. 846.)
This plover is, as might be expected, rather scarce in so thickly
wooded a district. I have seen a small flock in the rains in Karwar,
and a few both above and below the Ghats in the cold weather and
also in the hot. I have taken eggs in April and May on several
occasions. For two consecutive years I took a clutch at Halyal, which ,
instead of being normally coloured, were a rich pink marked with
9
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66 JOURNAL, BO^fBA Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
darker pink and reddisli-brown. They were no doubt the produce of
one pair of birds as they were obtained in the same field. I once
obtained two similarly coloured eggs at Sirsi.
OEdicnemus scolopax, S. G. Gm. (Hume's Cat., No. 859.)
This bird is found along the coast, but is rare there. In the east of
the district, especially about Halyal, it is more common. I once obtain-
ed a nest with two eggs. It was at Halyal on the 28th April, 1895.
Scolopax kusticola, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 867.)
I have only once seen a woodcock in Kanara. This was on the 11th
March, 1896, while beating for big game at Kumbharwada in tSupa.
I have heard of some four or five others being seen. It is however a
very rare visitor.
Gallinula sthenura, Kahl. (flume's Cat., No. 870.)
Gallinula c(elestis, Cuv. (Hmne's Cat., No. 871.)
Kanara is not a good district for snipe. On the coast they come
iu about the third week of October ; there are a few places from the
north of Karwar to Bhutkul where moderate bags can be made till
the middle of February. From ten to fifteen brace is considered a
very good bag.
Above Ghats they are on the whole scarcer, but a few may be got in
almost any of the late rice crops, the best time there for them
being from the middle of January to the first week of April. Pintails
are commoner on the coast and about Sirsi than fantails, and I find
107 pintails recorded against 22 fantails. About Halyal, however, In
February, 1896, I shot 25 fantails and only one pintail. The latest
date I have seen snipe in Kanara is the 25th April.
GALLiNAf^o gallinula, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 872.)
Jack snipe are much scarcer than either of the preceding. A few
are however found both on the coast antl above Ghats.
Rhynch^a capensis. (Hume's Cat., No. 873.)
The painted snipe is not common. I have, however, shot a few both
above and below the Ghats from November to February. I have
never however found them breeding in Kanara.
Terekia GiNBREA, Guld. (Hume's Cat., No. 876.)
I have only once juot with this bird. It was on the 10th Uecora-
bor, 1^95, and 1 shot one out of a small flock at Honawar. They were
on a sand bank in the Gairsoppa river.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANAKA. 67
NUMENms LiNEATUS, Cuv. (Hume's Cat., No. 877.)
I have once or twice seen the cnrlew along tne coast in the cold
weather, hut is very scarce.
NuMENius PH.EOPUS, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 878.)
Not very uncommon along the shore from Aukola to Gokern. I
have several times shot them there.
Machetes pugnax, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 880.)
A rare winter migrant. I shot one at Honawar out of a small flock
in November, 1889.
Tringa minuta, Leisl. (Hume's Cat., No. 884.)
Rare. I have however several times seen it in marshes near the
coast.
AcTiTis GLAREOLA, Liun. (Hiune's Cat., No. 891.)
A common winter migrant, being found in small numbers all ovei'
the district both above and below the Ghats. I saw one specimen at
Supa as late as the 15th May, 1893.
ToTANUs oCHROPus, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 892.)
Much less common than the last, but equally distributed.
Tringoides hypoleucus. (Hume's Cat., No. 893.)
This bird arrives in Karwar very early, and I have seen a specimen
there as early as the 3rd August. There it haunts the seashore, par-
ticularly the rocky portions. It is also generally distributed sparingly
over the whole district, and I have seen it at Karwar as late as the
15th May.
ToTANUs GLOTTIS, Liuu. (Hume's Cat., No. 894.)
Noticed only on the coast, and sparingly from November to February.
ToTANus STAGNATiLis, Becbst. (Hume's Cat., No. 895.)
Once obtained by me at Honawar on 10th November, 1889.
ToTANUs Fuscus, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 896.)
I saw three specimens of this species in the Kumta taluka in Nov-
ember, 1890.
ToTANCJS CALiDRis, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 897.)
I once noticed this species at Majali, near Karwar, in November,
1893.
Parra indica. Lath. (Hume's Cat., No. 900.)
Very abundant in all the tanks above Ghats, breeding in the latter
part of the rains.
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68 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL BISTORT SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Scop. (Hume's Cat., No. 901.)
Equally common with the last in the tanks in the east of the district
breeding also in the rains.
PoRPHYRio poLiocEPHALus, Lath. (Hume's Cat., No. 902.)
Common in some years on the tank at Halyal, and that of Mavinkop
in the same neighbourhood.
FuLiCA ATRA, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 903.)
I have only twice come across the coot in Kanara. I shot one on
the 8th December, 1893, on the river near Honawar, and I saw a pair
in January, 1896, at Siddapur.
Gallinula chloropus, Linn. (Hume^s Cat., No. 905.)
Very common in all the tanks in the Halyal taluka in the cold wea-
ther.
Erythra phcenicura, Penn. (Hume's Oat., No. 907.)
Common everywhere throughout the district. Breeds in Karwar in
the rains.
Rallina euryzonoides, Lafr. (Hume's Cat., No. 912.)
I have only noticed this bird in the neighbourhood of Karwar. A
pair used to live in the jungle there below the Collector's bmigalow.
Their note, ii very extraordinary one, was generally uttered after dark,
but occasionally in the early morning. Again and again, in the grey
morning, I have tried to stalk them, but only once managed to get a
shot and lost the bird though wounded. I obtained a single specimen
however at Sadasheogarh, which took refuge in the bungalow there on
the 6th June, 1894, during a severe thunderstorm. The bird no doubt
breeds in Kanara, and I obtained eggs at Karwar which I have little
doubt belonged to the bird, but of course useless being imauthenti-
cated.
HYPo-TiENiDiA STRIATA, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 913.)
Is common about Karwar in the rains, and I have occasionally come
across it while snipe shooting in the cold weather. Above Gliats it
breeds in the " wangan " or summer rice, and I took two nests at Supa
with seven and six incubated eggs in May. I have also taken many
nests about Karwar in July and August.
Leptoptilus argalus, Lath. (Hume's Cat., No. 915.)
I have once noticed this bird in the east of Sirsi in the cold
weather.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH EANARA. 69
DissuKA EPiscoPA, Bodd, (Hume's Cat., No. 920.)
Occasionally noticed in the east of the district from Febrnary to
April. Also once noticed at Gairsoppa (below the Ghats) in October, and
at Sant_£;al in Knmta in January. 1 do not think it breeds in the district.
Ardea cixerea, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 923.)
Noticed occasionally and generally singly at various places both
above and below the Ghats from October to April.
Adrea purpurea, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 924.)
Noticed on some seven or eight occasions singly both above and
below the Ghats.
Herodias intermedia, Hass. (Hume's Cat., No. 926.)
Occasionally noticed in the cold weather, singly at Halyal, and on
one occasion at Siddapur, and once at Gokern.
Herodias garzetta, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 927.)
Moderately common from November to April, both above and below
the Ghats.
Demiegretta gularis, Bosc. (Hume's Cat., No. 928.)
1 have noticed this bird in November and December once or twice
on the coast near Kumta and Honawar.
BUBULCUS coromandus, Bodd. (Hume's Cat., No. 929.)
Noticed in large flocks about Halyal, in February and Ai)ril, and
at that time throughout the Sapa Petta. It does not however breed
in the district.
Ardeola grayi, Sykes. (Hume's Cat., No. 930.)
Common everywhere from October to May, leaving the district in
the rains for breeding purposes.
Butorides javanica, Horsf. (Hume's Cat., No. 931.)
Sparsely distributed through all the district from October to Mav,
I have never noticed it anywhere in the district during the rains, but
I think it is probably resident then.
Ardetta flavicollis, Lath. (Hume's Cat., No. 932.)
While vainly trying to get a shot at a pair of Goisakius at Kudra
on the 2lst May, 1894, I came on a single specimen of this bittern and
shot it. I have never seen or heard of any others in the district.
Ardetta cinnamomea, Gm. (Hume's Cat., No. 933.)
This bird is generally distributed in the rice fields in Kanara. It is
a permanent resident and breeds in large numbers about Karwar in
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70 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
the rains, mfiking .1 small rough grass nest in the rice fields in July
and August and laying four or five eggs.
BoTAURUs STELLARis, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 936.)
I shot a single specimen of this bird in the Kumta taluka on the
1st December, 1890.
GoiSAKius MELANOLOPHUS, Rafil. (Hume's Oat., No. 936 pis.)
This bird is a permanent resident in Kanara and I do not consider
it an extremely rare bird. It is, however, the shyest bird I know,
keeping to small nullahs and streams surrounded by evergreen woods.
When disturbed it flits noiselessly through the thick forest, and though
alighting only a short distance off, again rises before one can get with-
in shot. For four or five days I continually endeavoured to secure a
pair at Kudra which kept to the little stream beside the bungalow
but failed to get a shot. The first time I saw one there it rose from
my feet from the little water hole close to the road and lit some eighty
yards off in a thick tree. I followed it from tree to tree without
success, and I was equally unsuccessful in trying to stalk or drive the
pair on other occasions. 1 have seen the bird at Supa, Anshi, and
Kumbharwada, all in the Supa petta and at Siddapur, all in May, and
at many places round Karwar in the rains. I have seen its nest
several times. In all cases it was placed in a small tree overhanging
a nullah (then, i.e., the rains) full of water. It is a small structure
much resembling that of Ardeola grayi and generally built of light
coloured sticks. It is not concealed at all and generally from fifteen to
twenty feet from the ground. In one case I found four eggs hatching
(indeed one egg was hatched and the shell under the tree), and in the
others two eggs or young. The eggs are white with a faint bluish shade
and slightly pointed towards the smaller end. They are laid in the end
of July or the beginning of August. When breeding the birds are
bold and come freely to the nest.
Nycticorax griseus, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 937.)
A rare visitor to Kanara. I saw a large flock one evening in April,
1894, at Yellapur, and I have seen them on the coast in November and
December, and at Halyal in April.
Tantalus leucocephalus, Forst. (Hume's Cat., No. 938.)
I have only seen the pelican ilns in the neighbourhood of Halyal in
February, and this only on two occasions.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH KANARA. Tl.
Anastocus oscitans, Bodd. (Hume's Cat., No. 940.)
I saw a single shell-eater at the tank in Halyal on 30th April, 1895.
Inocotis papillosus, Tern. (Hume's Cat., No. 942.)
I have seen this species in the Sirsi taluka in the months of Febru-
ary and April.
Falcinellus igneus, S. G. Gmel. (Hume's Cat., No. 943.)
I saw a single specimen of this bird near Siddapur on the 7tli Jan-
uary, 1894.
Phcenicopterus ANTiQUORDM. (Hume's Cat., No. 944.)
A large flock of immature birds came in October, 1893, to the
neighbourhood of Karwar. They alighted on the shore and were so
fatigued that several were captured alive, being unable to rise again.
This is the only instance of the occurrence of the flamingo in Kanara
I have ever heard of.
Nettopus coromandelianus, Gm. (Hume's Cat., No. 951.)
Common on all the tanks above Ghats ; I have only seen it in the
cold and hot weather, but it no doubt breeds there in the rains.
Dendeocygna javanica, Horsf. (Hume's Cat., No. 952.)
Common on all the tanks above Ghats and also in places along the
coast. It no doubt breeds both above and below Ghats in the rains.
Spatula clypeata, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 957.)
I saw a single specimen of this duck on the Hebatti tank (Sirsi) on
fhe 18th March, 1889, and three others on the Murkwad tank near
Halyal on the 9th February, 189G.
Anas pcecilorhyncha, Forst. (Hume's Cat., No. 959.)
Noticed once or twice on the tanks in the east of Sirsi and Mund-
gode ; probably a permanent resident there.
Chaulelasmus streperus, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 961.)
I have only twice seen Gadwall in Kanara ; a small flock on the
Murkwad tank (Halyal) in February, 1896, and a single bird near
Mundgode in March, 1895.
Dafila acuta, Linn. (Hume's Cat., No. 962.)
I saw five pintail at Honawar in November, 1889, and a single bird
at Halyal among a flock of teal on 9th February, 1896.
Mareca PENELOPE, Linn. (Hum«'s Cat., No. 963.)
I saw a single wigeon at Karwar in September, 1889, und a small
flock on the sea outside the bar at Honawar in December of that year.
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72 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTOBY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
QuERQUEDULA CRECCA, Liim. (Hume's Oat., No. 964.)
I have twice seen flocks of teal below the Ghats. They were near
Kmntti and at Honawar in November and December. I have also
seen them m some numbers at Buuwasi in the east of Sirsi in March,
1889 and 1890.
QuERQUEDUliA ciRciA, Linu. (Hume's Cat., No. 965.)
Fairly common in all the tanks to the east of the district in the
cold weather, and I have twice seen tliem near Honawar on the coast
at the same season.
FuLiGULA NYROCA, Guld. (Hmne's Cat., No. 969.)
I shot a single specimen of the white-eyed duck at Honawar on
3rd December, 1895.
PoDiCEPS MINOR, Gm. (Hume's Cat., No. 975.)
Common on all the tanks in the east of the district in the cold and
hot weathers.
Larus Brunneicephalus, Jerd. (Hume's Cat,, No. 980.)
Not uncommon in the cold weather along the coast from Karwar
down to the very south of the district.
Sterna bergii, Licht. (Hume's Cat., No. 989.)
Common in the cold weather along the coast.
Sterna an..etheta, Scop. (Hume's Cat., No. 992.)
Large numbers of these terns appeared on the coast at Karwar in
May, 1890, and many were so weak that they could be caught with
the hand. In the rains I have several times seen a larger grey tern
at the mouth of the Kalanudi, but have never managed to shoot one.
SuLA cyanops, Sund. (Hume's Cat., No. 999 bis.)
I obtained a specimen of this bird at Sadasheogarh on the 23rd
June, 1895. It was blown ashore in a great storm and captured alive.
Phalacrocorax fdscicollis, Steph. (Hume's Cat., No. 1006.)
I saw two birds of this species at Halyal in April, 1894.
Phalacrocorax ptgm^us. Pall. (Hume's Cat., No. 1007.)
Noticed at several places above GLats from January to April.
Plotus melanogaster, Penn. (Hume's Cat., No. 1008.")
1 saw two '* snake birds " on the Sanwalli tank near Mundgode on
the 29th March, 1895.
( To he continued. )
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73
THE MOTHS OF INDIA.
SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER TO THE "VOLUMES IN
" THE FAUNA OP BRITISH INDIA."
PART IV.
By Sir G. F. Hampson, Bart., f.z.s., f.e.s.
(Continued from page 124: of Vol, XT.)
Genus Proomphe.
Proomp/i^, Warr., Not. Zool., iii, p. 316(1896).
T>/pe. — P. lobata, Warr.
Range. — Sikhim.
Palpi smoothly scaled, porrect, and hardly reaching beyond the frons,
which is rounded ; antennae of male minutely ciliated ; hind tibia with
tuft of long hair from base on outer side, bent just Ijefore the medial
spurSj and with the terminal spurs minute. Forewing with the costa
lobed at middle ; outer margin crenulate ; vein 3 from before angle of
cell ; 5 from above middle of discocellular ; 6 from upper angle ;
7, 8, 9, 10 stalked from before angle, and 11 anastomosing with them to
form n single areole. Hindwing with vein 7 from upper angle of cell,
which then runs out to an acute angle at 6, then back to the angle of
discocellulars ; vein 2 short from before angle ; 3, 4, 5 from angle ; the
lower part of cell short.
3594a. Proomphe lobata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 316.
$. Pale rufous. Forewing with subbasal and antemedial chestnut
triangular spots on costa, the
latter at the lobe, and with the
pale sinuous antemedial line
arising from it ; a pale oblique
Froo^he lobata. $ {. ^^'^'o'^^ postmedial line from
below apex. Hindwing yellowish-fulvous.
Habitat. — Sikhim. E,rp. 32 mm.
Genus Emmesomia.
Emmesomla, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 113 (1896).
Palpi porrect and hardly reaching to extremity of frons, which is
smooth and rounded; antennse of female somewhat laminate ; hind
tibise with two pairs of spurs. Forewing with the costa arched, the
apex produced and acute, the outer margin deeply excised below apex
and greatly excurved at middle ; veins 3-4 from angle of cell j 10
10
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74 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
anastomosing with 11 and then with 8-9 to form a double areole. Hind-
wing with the outer margin produced to a point at vein 7 ; veins 3-4
from angle ; 6-7 stalked ; 8 connected with the cell by an oblique bar.
3597a. Emmesomia BiLmEATA, Warr., Nov. Zoo]., iii, p. 118.
$ . Yellowish-grey, thickly irrorated with pale fuscous. Forewing
with oblique olive-yellow ante-
medial line with fuscous outer
edge arising from a pink and
dark brown costal spot, which
is angled inwards ; an erect
olive-yellow postmedial line
Emmesomia Ulineata $ -|. with fuscous inner edge arising
from a pink and dark brown costal spot ; costal edge chestnut ; a
marginal black mark in the sinus below apex ; cilia chestnut at base.
Hindwing cream-colour towards outer margin ; an indistinct medial
fuscous line prominent on underside, which is rufous with the post-
medial line and veins black.
Habitat. — China; Khasis. Exp. 46 mm.
3600a. Cryptoloba olivawa, Swinh., A. M. N. H. (6) xix, p. 1G5.
$. Olive-grey. Forewing with black specks and striae on edge of
costa ; an indistinct olive-brown sinuous antemedial line with short
black line on it at costa ; a more prominent postmedial line slightly
angled beyond cell, and with bla(;lv lines on its inner edge, from costa to
vein 6 and veins 5 to 2. Hindwing with postmedial straight
fuscous line, the area beyond it suffused with fuscous. Underside of
forewing fuscous, the apical area and whole hindwing striated with
fuscous.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 16 mm.
3604a. LoBOGONiA olivata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 119.
Hindwing with the outer margin hardly produced to an angle at
vein 4. 9 . Pale olive-brown, irrorated with dark brown. Forewing
with the base and area beyond the lines suffused with darker olive ;
straight erect ante-and postmedial dark brown lines ; a discocellular
blackspeck ; a submarginal black spot below vein 6 and speck below
vein 2. Hindwing paler and more thickly irrorjited ; a curved post
medial fuscous line.
Habitat , — Khasis, Exp. 34 mm.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 75
P. 339. Under SyzeuxiS insert (syn.) Aphanloloba^ Wurr., Nov.
Zool., iii, p. 117 (1896).
3605. Syzeuxis Trinotaria, insert (syn.) Aphantoloha nigrmotatUf
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 117.
An olive-green form with the black markings stronger, especially the
triangular patches on costa of forewing.
3618a. ScoTosiA sericata, But!., A. M. N. H. (5) iv, p. 444 ;
Trijihosa corrasata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iv, p. 73.
$ . Silky gi'ey ; head and prothorax suflfused and marked with
fuscous ; abdomen with the first two and anal segment tinged with
fuscous ; paired dorsal black points on first three segments. Forewing
with two subbasal and an antemedial double black line interrupted
below cell and less prominently below costa, towards which they are
dilated, the second line with rufous middle ; traces of two pinkish
waved postmedial lines, becoming black near costa, and the outer
expanding into a large black costal patch, and followed by a series of
black points on the veins, incurved at vein 5 ; a double submargiual
black line filled in with rufous and widely interrupted below costa and
middle ; a marginal series of black lunules. Hiudwing with two
waved subbasal and two indistinct medial lines ; a postmedial crenulate
line with points on the veins ; an indistinct double-waved submar-
giual line interrupted below middle, prominent and filled in with
rufous towards inner margin ; a marginal series of black lunules.
The S from Japan has the markings slightly more connected and
distinct.
Habitat. — Japan ; Khasis. Exp. 58 mm.
3619. ScOTOSiA RUBRiDOTATA, insert (syn.) Triphosa acutipennis,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 387, and Triphosa pallescens, Warr., Nov.
Zool., iii, p. 387.
3636a. CiDARiA contortilinea, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 121.
$. Grey, suffused with fuscous ; abdomen with grey segmental lines.
Forewing with the base fuscous ; two waved and curved fuscous
antemedial lines ; a discocellular spot ; a minutely waved postmedial
line, strongly excurved beyond cell and with a broad fuscous band
beyond it, with a similar line beyond it ; outer area fuscous, narrowing
from costa to inner margin, and with the pale waved submargiual line
on it. Hiudwing with two antemedial lines ; a discocellular spot ; two
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76 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
postmedial lines slightly angled at middle and with a fuscous band
between them ; outer area fuscous with traces of a waved submargiual
line.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.cp. oO mm.
3655a. CiDARiA sub^nescens, Warr., Nov. Zoo]., iii, p. 121.
$ . Head, thorax, and abdomen ochreous and rufous. Forewing
brown ; two antemedial white lines with blue grey suffusion between
them, the inner angled in cell, the outer acutely angled on vein 2, then
incurved ; the medial area with four pale waved lines forming annular
marks towards inner nuirgin ; a curved white postmedial line emitting
some teeth inward on the veins ; the area beyond it blue-grey ; two
dark submarginal lunules below costa ; a larger dark subapical
marginal lunule defined by a white line ; a ferruginous lunule above
outer angle ; a marginal series of dark points. Hindwing whitish
suffused with fuscous ; traces of numerous waved lines ; a black
marginal line ; cilia brownish ; miderside much greyer with black cell
spot.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 3i mm.
3672. CiDAKiA FLUVlATA, insert (syn.) Ochyria incospicua. Warr.,
Nov. Zool., iii, p. 122.
3679a. CiDARiA plumbeotincta, insert (syn.) Perizoma rubri-
disca, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 386, Sikhim.
3680. CiDARIA OBFUSCATA, insert (syn.) XanthorJwe subbncnescens,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 31 5.
3704. Larentia affinis, insert var. fulvistriga, Warr,, Nov. Zool.,
iii, p. 3y6.
3715. Larentia decorata, insert (syn.) Perizoma quadrinotata,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 122.
3771a. Larentia triplagiata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 123.
Differs from L. lacernigera in the forewing having the postmedial tri-
angular patch on costa much larger and more prominent ; a distinct
crenulate white submarginal line, with the area beyond it grey, the
rest of wing ferruginous-white.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. $ 24, 9 28 mm.
3720a. Larentia tenuifascia, Warr., Nov. Zool, iii, }>. 123.
Grey ; head and thorax black-brown ; abdomen with white band at
base, followed by a black Ijiind and series of dorsal black spots. Fore-
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THE MOTH a OF INDIA. 7,7
wing with the base black-browii with oblique outer edge ; a medial
black-brown band with waved edges, wide at costa, below which its inner
edge is angled, narrow at inner margin, its outer edge angled at
middle ; a marginal series of black points. Hind wing with fuscous
medial line angled at middle.
Habitat. — Khisis. Exjy. 24 mm.
3724. Larentia tmncata, insert strigulata, Fabr., Eut. Syst.,
3, 2, p. 192 (1794), and var. albimedia, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 317 ;
and yar. Jlavifusa, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 387.
3724a. Larentia canaliculata, Wai-r., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 384.
(Pi. A, fig. 18.)
(J. Grey, irrorated with ferruginous-red ; thorax suffused with
brown. Forewing with ferruginous and brown patch at base of costa ;
the basal half with traces of highly waved lines, three at middle having
a ferruginous patch on them at costa, then acutely angled on median
nervure, where they meet some of the strong dentitions of the post-
medial lines ; a ferruginous patch on costa towards apex, crossed by
the lines of outer area, which are very oblique from costa to vein 5, then
become ferruginous and strongly dentate inwards. Hindwing white.
Habitat. — Sikhim. Exp. 36 mm.
P. 391. Under ChloroclystiS, insert (syns.) Sesquiptera, Warr.,
Nov. Zool., iii, p. 126 (1896); Gymnopera, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 126
(1896) ; yEtheolepls, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 124 (1896) ; Sijacosmia,
Warr., Nov. Zool, iv, p. 70 (1897); and ^yw/;ei/<e.i', Warr., iSov.
Zool., iii, p. 390(1896;.
3756a. ChloroclystiS nigroviridata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii,
p. 124.
$. Head and thorax green with some black markings; abdomen
fuscous, the anal tuft rufous. Forewing bright green, a maculate sub-
basal black band dilated on costa ; a medial black band defined by
white lines, expanding below vein 2 and conjoined to the postniedial
band, which is dentate on inner and outer sides beyond cell, and below
vein 4 is incurved and obsolescent ; cilia rufous, intersected with fus-
cous. Hindwing whitish, tinged with fuscous and rufous ; cilia rufous.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 26 mm.
[Syncosmia.) Hindwing of male with a spatulate valve folded over
on upper surface of wing at anal angle.
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78 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
3762a. Chloroclystls patinata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iv, p. 71.
(J. Head, thorax, and abdomen green (fading to ochreons) and black.
Forcwing green, with numerous rather indistinct waved black lines,
except on outer area ; an autemedial black bund ; a fine marginal line,
cilia pale, mixed with black. Hindwing ochreous-white.
Habitat. — K basis. Exp. 20 mm.
S76Sb. Chloroclystis griseorufa, n. sp. (PI. A., fig. 6.)
$ . Dark bluish-grey ; head and collar rufous. Forewing with the
basal half of costal area suffused with bright chestnut- red ; an
indistinct antemedial dark line acutely angled outwards on subcostal and
medial nervures ; a medial black line defined by white on outer side
and angled outwards on vein 4 ; a faint submarginal dark shade.
Hindwing irrorated with some white and black scales on the veins ; a
medial line angled outwards on vein 4, the area before it darker.
Underside streaked with white, especially beyond the medial line.
Habitat. — Sikhim, 1,800 feet (Dudgeon). Exjy. 16 mm. Type. — In
British Museum.
3763c. Chloroclystis coronata, Hiibn Samml. eur. Schmett.
(figs. 372-373). ^Eikeolepis pajnllosa, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 424,
and iv, p. 6S.
$. Yellow-green ; patagia and base and extremity of abdomen
marked with black. Forewing with numerous waved lines, the
antemedial, postmedial, and a submarginal line with a series of black
points on it ; two black marks above inner margin before the ante-
medial line ; the postmedial line more or less- strongly defined by brown
on inner side from casta to vein 4 and angled on veins 6 and 4 ; cilia
chequered green and fuscous. Hindwing pale brown. 9 • With the
outer area green ; numerous indistinct waved lines, the postmedial
and submarginal most prominent ; cilia chequered.
Habitat. — Europe j Sikhim j Khasis. Exj). 20-26 mm.
3770a. Chloroclystis lbucopygata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 389.
^. Dark brown with a reddish tinge and suffused with fuscous ;anal
tuft whitish. Forewing with numerous indistinct pale waved lines, two
forming an obscure antemedial band ; the postmedial pale waved lines
dietinot, angled inwards below costa and outwards on veins 5 and 4,
then inwardly oblique ; a black discocellular spot ; tubmarginal
blackibh blotches on costa and above middle ; the indistinct submarginal
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 79
waved line with series of white specks. Hindwing with numerous
indistinct waved lines, the postmedial rather more prominent and angled
on vein 4 ; a submarginal series of white points. Underside grey with
patches of fuscous suffusion ; prominent black cell spots and a very
highly and irregularly dentate strong postmedial line.
Habitat. — Khasis . Exp. 30 mm.
(Eriopkhex.) Antennge of male clothed above witli thick sliort hair
directed towards the base.
3771a. Chlokoclystis lanabis, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 391.
Pale brown irrorated and suflf'used with fuscous ; wings with nu-
merous indistinct waved lines. Forewing with rather more promiment
antemedial, postmedial and submarginal lines. Hindwing with disco-
cellular speck and prominent medial waved line, dentate inwards beyond
the cell.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 16 mm.
Hindwing of male with the outer area above thickened by closely
set scales.
a. (Gymnopera.) Hindwing with the discocellulars angled, vein 5
from below the angle.
Sn2a. Chlokoclystis rubroviridis, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 127.
$. Pale green. Forewing with numerous waved white lines
occupying the greater part of wing, the ante-and postmedial being
strongest ; some dark marks on inner margin before middle, and some
dark points on outer edge of antemedial line ; a pale red mark beyond
discocellulars, followed by a fuscous mark. Hindwing pale bluish-
green, the thickened outer area greyish.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 22 mm.
b. {Sesquiptera.) Hindwing with the discocellulars oblique, vein 5
from middle.
37726. Chloroclystis in^quata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 126.
$. Pale green. Forewing with traces of numerous waved lines ;
some black marks on inner margin before the middle ; the ante-and
postmedial lines black, angled, and the latter produced to an acute
point below costa, the area between them suffused with fuscous ; a
marginal series of black striae. Hindwing greyish, the outer area
dark brown.
Habitat, — Khasis. Exp. IS mm.
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80 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
3781. EupiTHECiA RAJATA, insert, (syn.) Tephroclystia tenuisquama,
Warn, Nov. Zool., iii, p. 317.
3784a. EupiTHECiA NiGRiLiNEA, Warn, Nov. Zool., iii, p. 317.
$ . Differs from E. lathnedia in having no rufous tinge. Forewing
with the postmedial line slightly excurved beyond the discocellular
spot from costa to vein 2. Hindwing with the postmedial line less
oblique from beyond middle of costa to above anal angle.
Habitat. — Kasauli. Exp. 22 mm.
37956. EUPITHECIA biviridata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 125.
Differs from E. cMorophora in the base of forewing being green to the
antemedial line ; the outer area green without any dark patches ; the
outer area of hindwing green.
//a6?'/;af.— Khasis. Exp. 16 mm.
3795(?. EuPiTHECiA SEMiFUSCA, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 123.
Head, thorax and abdomen fuscous. Forewing pale brown suffused
with fuscous to the postmedial line; subbasal, antemedial, medial and
postmedial black lines, the last defined by white on outer side, indented
beyond cell and incurved below vein 2 ; outer area pale reddish-brown
with traces of several waved lines ; an irregular submarginal fuscous
patch from costa to vein 5, and some fuscous suffusion on margin.
Hindwing yellowish-white with a rufous tinge ; traces of three medial
lines more distinct on underside ; outer area fuscous.
Habilat. — Sikhim; Khasis. Exp, 20 mm.
3799a. Trichopterygia ustimargo, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 121.
9 . Head ocbreous, palpi black. Forewing pale green ; the inner
area suffused with black ; the disk with purple and pale red scales :
traces of waved antemedial, medial and postmedial lines, the last with
an oblique black striga on it below costa, then a series of black points ;
a marginal series of fuscous points. Hindwing yellowish- white with
fine dark marginal line.
Habitat.— Khi%\s. Exp. 34 mm.
3799&. Trichopterygia nigrosculpta, Warn, Nov. Zool., iv, p. 68.
White ; palpi black at sides ; ])atagia tipped with black ; abdomen
with black dorsal line. Forewing with slight reddish tinge ; a curved
black subl)asal lino ; antemedial and medial lines highly excurved in cell
and incurved below it, with a black costal striga between them ; a black
discocellular lunulo ; a double postmedial line excurved below costa and
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 81
incurved below lower angle of cell, with ii costal striga and series of
black points on the veins beyond it ; a double submarginal line excurved
and interrupted below costa and at middle and incurved below vein 3,
and with some black marks beyond it ; a series of short streaks on the
veins before the margin ; a marginal series of pairs of points.
Habitat. — Sikhim. Exp. 44 mm.
Genus Hypocometa.
Hypocometa, Warr., Nov. ZooL, iii, p, 319 (1896).
Differs from Phthonoloba in the hindwing having vein 2 absent ;
hind tibise with the spurs absent, a large tuft of hair on lower side of
first joint of tarsus and no tuft from femero- tibial joint.
3806a. Hypocometa clauda., Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 119.
^. Differs from P. decussafa in the forewine; havinsr the black
markings rather more extensive; a
series of small V-shaped marks on
the margin.
\y Habitat. — Kha'sis. Eay. 42 mm.
Hypocometa clauda^ $ \.
38126. Saueis BicoLOR, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 12U.
$. Yellow-green ; antennae and abdomen ochreous. Forewiug with
numerous pale waved lines almost forming bands and occupying the
greater part of wing, the most distinct being a medial band from costa
to middle of discocellulars and a dentate submarginal line ; the area
below the cell and the disk up to vein 5 pale brown with a vinous
tinge. Hindwing brownish ; the medial lobe fuscous, the cilia rufous.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.tp. 4U mm.
3815a. Sauris nigrifusalis, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 120.
Hind tibiae and abdomen of male without tufts of hair. Green.
Forewing with black basal point and waved black subbasal line
excurved below costa, and with small patches of purplish-fuscous
suflPusion on its outer edge ; numerous indistinct waved lines from
middle to outer margin, the whole of this area being suffused with
purplish-fuscous, except a large apical patch and some green between
the waved submartrinal lines. Hindwing browcish-fuseous.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 38 mm,
11
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82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
3829. Hydrelia tlumbeolineata, insert (syu.) Agnibesa venvsta^
TVarr., Nov. Zool., iv, p. 65.
A form with the fulvous much more extensive on the costal area of
forewing, the outer area fuscous-hrown, leaving a white patch on costa
towards apex and the inner area white from outer margin above outer
anole to inner margin near base.
3836. AsTHENA PLURILINBARIA, insert (s}'n.) Laciniodes denigrata,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 316.
3837a. AsTHEXA livida, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 116.
$. Dark purplish grey-brown ; frons dark chocolate. Forewing
crossed by seven waved chocolate lines, the two outer more crenulate ;
a discocellular black speck. Hindwing crossed by four lines, the first
nearly straight, the second sinuous ; the two outer crenulate ; both
wings with fine marginal crenulate black line. Underside greyer, with
distinct elongate discal points to each wing.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exjj. 28 mm.
P. 419. Under CambOgia, insert (syn.) Onagrod(?s, Warr.,
Nov. Zool., iii, p. 125.
(Onagrodes.) Forewing with the apex rounded ; male with circular
patches of ochreous scales on underside of forewing at Ijase of vein 2
and on upperside of hindwing below middle of costa ; veins 3 and 4
well separated at origin.
3843a. Cambogia obscurata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 125.
$. Dark red-brown, Forewing with traces of ochreous ante- and
postmedial lines. Hindwing slightly redder, with the ochreous patch
prominent.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.vp. 20 mm.
P. 426. Under Craspedia, insert (syn.) Symmacra, Warr., Nov.
Zool, iii, p. 116 (1896).
3861. Craspedia walkeri, insert (syns.) Crasjyedia hyjyhenophora,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 310 ; Caspedia nigrldentata^ Warr., Nov.
Zool., iii, p. 310.
3862. Craspedia fluidaria, insert (syn.) Ptychopoda Inangulata^
Wan-., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 314.
3880. Craspedia aspilataria, insert (syn.) Vtycliopoda quinque-
striata^ Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 314,'
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TBE MOTHS OF INDIA. 8B
3883. Craspedia remotata, insert (syns.) Cmspedia straminea,
Warr., Nov. ZooL, iii, p. olO ; Craspedia suhcarnea, Warr., Nov. Zool.,
iii, p. 311 ; Craspedia pv.lverosa, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 311 ;
Ptychopoda albijlava, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 313 ; Ptycliopoda
complanataj Warr., Nov. Zool, iii, p. 313 ; Ptychopoda consimilata^
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 313 ; Craspedia aggravata, Warr., Nov.
Zool., iv, p. 50.
3383a. Craspedia unilineata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. ol 5.
9 . Differs from remotata in the antemedial line of forewing being
more erect ; the second line medial, diffused, and enclosing a whitish
discocellular speck ; the submarginal line bent inwards, and with dark
mark on it below vein 6, then almost straight. Hindwing with the
antemedial line less oblique ; the second line fine, evenly curved and
medial.
Habitat — Khasis. Exp. 22 mm.
{Symmacra.) Hind legs of male fully developed, with fold contain-
ing a large tuft of hair, a terminal pair of spurs.
3887a. Craspedia regularis, Warr., Nov. Zool., iv, p. 116.
<J. Reddish- brown, suffused with fuscous; frons dark-brown;
vertex of head and shaft of antennse white. Forewing with the costal
area darker fuscous ; sinuous fuscous ante- and postmedial lines ; a
discocellular black point ; a crenulate submarginal line and marginal
series of pale points. Hindwing with dark edged white discoidal point ;
a sinuous medial and crenulate postmedial line ; a marginal series of
pale points.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.ip. 24 mm.
3889. Craspedia defamataria, insert (syn.) Craspedia mollis,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 373.
3894. Acidalia chotaria, insert (syns.) Ptychopoda grisescens,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, 313 ; Arhostla persimilisj Warr., Nov. Zool.,
iii, p. 109 ; Janarda ruptifascia, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 112.
389 5a. Acidalia maculata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 311.
$ . Pale dull yellow-brown ; frons black ; abdomen marked with
black. Forewing with an antemedial baud represented by some black
scales on costa and others below the cell ; medial black marks on costa,
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84 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
at lower angle of cell, and on inner margin ; postmedial spots on costa
and inner margin and a submarginal irregular series of small spots, the
spot below vein 6 with a smaller one beyond it ; a marginal series of
specks. Hind wing with subbasal and medial black bands, the latter
dentate outwards below cell ; a postmedial band of irregularly dentate
marks and irregular submarginal and marginal series of small spots.
{Legs hroken.')
Habitat, — Khasis. Exp. 16 mm.
3900. AciDALiA ACTIOSARIA, insert (syns.) Ptycliopoda obliqui-
linea, Warr,, Nov. Zool., iii, p. 115; and Ptycliopoda semiaericea,
Warr., Nov. Zool, iv, p. 60.
3900rt. Acid ALIA semilinea, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 314.
Differs from A. actiosarla in being browner. Forewing with the
medial line obsolescent ; the postmedial reduced to a prominent
regularly curved series of black specks, with three dentate dark marks
beyond them at costa ; a marginal series of specks. Hind wing with
the antemedial line very strong and black ; the postmedial reduced
to a series of black specks ; a marginal series of specks.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 20 mm.
3901. AciDALiA LEUcozoNA, insert (syu.) Ftychopoda luteata,
Warr,, Nov. Zool., iii, p. 118, Khasis.
3906. AciDALiA TNSUAVis, insert (syn.) Eats costiguttata,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 311.
3907a. AciDALiA ptyonopoda, insert (syn.) Ptycliopoda
rubellatUj Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 115, Khasis.
3912a. AciDALiA rubridentata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 112.
$. Hind legs wanting ; forewing with the apex acute. Purplish-
pink ; vertex of head white ; antennae ochreous ; anal tuft yellow.
Forewing with the costa purple ; oblique sinuous antemedial and
medial purplish lines ; a postmedial sinuous line excurved to near
margin at middle ; a waved })urplish lino just inside the margin ; the
margin and cilia golden-yellow. Hindwing with oblique medial and
curved postmedial lines ; a waved line just inside the margin, the
margin and cilia golden-yellow.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.rp. 18 mm.
3913. Acidalia permutans, insert (syn.) Eois Jlavisinxiata,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 111. Khusis.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 85
3918a. Chrysocraspeda pbrpicta, Warn, Nov. Zool., iii, p. 109.
$. Head, thorax, and abdomen pinkish- white, suffused in parts with
red. Forewing yellow, irrorated with red ; the costal and inner areas
suffused with pinkish- white : a white discocellular speck on a reddish
patch ; traces of a red submarginal line incurved to costa. Hindwing
yellow ; the basal and costal areas strongly irrorated with red ; a promi-
nent white red-edged discoidal spot ; an obscure red medial band on
inner area ; a purple blotch on inner area before anal angle ; the margin
suffused with purplish-white ; a purple marginal lino ; cilia yellow.
Habitat. — Khasis. jEJjcp. 28 mm.
3919a. Chrysocraspeda sanguinba, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 110.
$ . Bright pink ; thorax and abdomen suffused in parts with purple.
Forewing with purple suffusion on costal and apical areas and outer
margin ; a dark discocellular spot conjoined to the purplish costal
area ; cilia golden-yellow. Hindwing with white discocellular spot ;
the margin purple ; the cilia golden-yellow.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 24 mm.
39236. Chrysocraspeda subangulata, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii.,
p. 110.
$ . Ochreous, irrorated with |)ink and suffused with purplish. Fore-
wing with obscure dark antemedial line very acutely angled below
costa : a black discocellular point ; a sinuous postmedial line excurved
below costa and ending near outer angle ; the margin purple angle
outwards into the golden-yellow cilia at middle. Hindwing with
subbasal purplish line ; a white discocellular point ; a purplish
sinuous postmedial line ; the margin purple ; cilia golden-yellow.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 9A mm.
P. 445. Under Ephyra, insert (syn.) Anisephyra^ Warr., Nov.
Zool., iii, p. 369 (1896).
3925a. Ephyra rufaria, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 370.
Head and thorax reddish-brown ; abdomen paler. Forewing pale
brown, suffused with red and mottled with fuscous ; obscure inter-
rupted fuscous ante- and postmedial lines angle inwards and stronger
at costa. Hindwing paler ; inner area suffused with reddish, the outer
area with fuscous ; an obscure fuscous postmedial line, ^ome speci-
mens are much more ochreous than others.
Habitat. — Jubbulpore ; Ajmere. Exjy. 24 nun.
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86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
P. 446. Under Anisodes, insert (syn.) Phryssosceles, Warr., Nov.
Zool., iii, p. 114 fl896).
392C)a. Anisodes mediusta, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 114.
$. Differs from A. obrinaria in being much yellower; both wings with
a diffused sinuous purplish-fuscous medial line.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 34 mm.
(Fhryssosceles.) Hind femora of male with large fringe of scales
pink at extremity, above the tibia fully developed and without the
medial spurs, frons with deep groove.
3928a. Anisodes argyromma, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 114.
(^. Yellow, irrorated with pink. Forewing with the costa fascous ;
an indistinct waved autemedial line, with two black specks on it j
dentate, medialand postmedial lines, the latter with a series of black
specks on it; a marginal series of specks. Hindwing with large
silvery-white cell-spot, edged by a fine black line ; traces of a subbasal
line ; dentate, medial and postmedial lines ; a marginal series of specks.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 44 mm.
3929. Anisodes interpulsata, insert (syn.) Perixera flavispilaj
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 312.
3932. Anisodes pallida, insert (syns.) Perixera rufidorsata^ Warr.,
Nov. Zool., iii, p. 312 ; and var. perscrip)ta, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 376.
3936. Anisodes obstataria, insert (syn.) Perixera imbuta,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iv, p. 58.
3939. Anisodes monetaria, insert (syn.) Platisodes jocosa, Warr.,
Nov. Zool., iii, p. 114.
A form with very i)rominent small black spots on all the lines ; the
black ring of annulus of hindwing broad the centre small. (Hindlegs
wanting).
3944. Organopoda carnearia, insert (syn.) Discoglypha
variostiffma, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 311.
P. 452. Under Erythrolophus, insert (syn.) Biscoghjpha, Warr.,
Nov. Zool., iii, p. 110 (1896) for Section I. B.
3950a. EuYTHROLOPHUS aureifloris, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 111.
(J. Deep purplish-red ; vertex of head whi^e. Forewing with
antemedial, postmedial, and submarginal waved fuscous lines, the second
angled on vein 4, then incurved ; a black discocollular point ; a mar-
ginal series of small white points. Hindwing with larg<5 yellowish- white
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TEE MOTHS OF INDIA. 87
discocellnlar spot, indented on both sides at middle and emitting a
small spatulate process on underside ; indistinct medial and postmedial
dentate fuscous line ; a marginal series of minute white specks.
Habitat.— ^hiii\?,. Exp. 30 mm.
39506. Erythrolophus inflammatus, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 111.
$. Head deep pink ; the vertex white ; thorax, abdomen, and wings
red-brown. Fore wing with fiery-red streaks in, beyond, and below the
cell ; the costal area fuscous ; an oblique subbasal line ; a discocellular
point ; medial and postmedial waved lines, the former angled at vein 4,
then incurved, the latter dentate inwards below vein 2. Hindwiug with
pure white black-edged triangular cell-spot : medial and postmedial
dark lines, the former angled at middle, the latter curved and dentate ;
red streaks in cell and towards outer margin.
Habitat.- -YLhkiA?,. Exp. 30 mm.
3950c. Erythrolophus sangdinatus, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 113.
$. Orange, suffused in parts with red ; head dark brown. Fore-
wing w^ith the costa dark brown ; antemedial, medial, and postmedial
waved red lines ; a black cell- spot ; the red suffusion chiefly between
end of cell and outer angle ; some submarginal patches of red, with a
black spot on one above middle. Hindwing with the red suffusion
occupying most of wing ; a black cell-spot ; an indistinct irregularly
dentate postmedial line ; both wings with marginal series of black
specks.
//aJefaf.— Khdsis. Exp. 30 mm.
3953. Erythrolophus pallivittatus, insert (syn.) Craspediopsis
incequatttj Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 109.
3963. Rhodostrophia herbicolens, insert (s\ti.) Rhodostrophia
muricolor^ Warr., Nov. Zool., iv, p. 61.
3971. TiMANDRA RESPONSARIA, insert (syn.) Timandra strigulata,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 116 ; Timandra ohsoleta, Warr., Nov.
Zool., iv, p. 63 ; and Timandra ruptilinea, Warr., Nov. Zool., iv,
p. 64.
P. 463. Under Somatiua, insert (syn.) OrtJioserica^ Warr., Nov.
Zool., iii, p. 113 (1896).
(Orthoserka.) Antennae of male bipectinate ; hind femora with
large tufts of long hair from extremity ; the tibioe shortened and with-
- out spurs ; the tarsus dilated and fringed with hair.
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88 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
3988a. SoMATiNA rufigkisea, WniT., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 113.
$. Bright red-brown ; head blackish ; collar grey ; abdomen with
grey segmental lines. Forewing with the costal area grey to beyond
middle, omitting an antemedial blotch nearly met by a blotch on
inner margin and an irregular medial blotch ; a large grey blotch
on costa before apex ; both wings with dentate postmedial line, oblique
on forewing, curved on hindwing; a sinuous submarginal line
excurved at middle and with grey spots beyond it, continuous towards
outer and anal angles. Hindwing with the base grey ; a black disco-
cellidar point.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 40 mm.
400(Ja. PsEUDOTERFNA sUBViRiDis, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 308.
$. White, mostly suffused with rather grey-green. Forewing with
highly crenulate ante- and postmedial lines, the area between them
rather whiter, and with a large discocellular green spot and darker
costal patch beyond the postmedial line ; both wings with rather
irregularly dentate white submarginal line, and some red irroration on
inner margin, and more distinct spot at anal angle of hindwing.
Underside white, suffused with yellow towards base ; forewing with
purplish disGoidal spot ; both wings with broad deep purple sub-
marginal band, running out to the margin above middle and outer
angle of forewing, below apex, and above middle and analangle of
hindwing.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 48 mm.
4015a. PsEUDOTERPNA FUNEBROSA, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 308.
$. Differs from P. apicalis in the colour being fuscous-brown, ver}'
slightly tinged with green, and not variegated with green and refons ;
the head and subbasal band of forewing greyer-green, the white patch
not extending up to apex ; the series of submarginal white specks
more complete. Underside white instead of orange ; only the ajiical
white marginal patch. Hindwing without discocellular spot, and with
the white on margin only broken at middle.
Habitat, — Khasis. Exp. 50 mm.
P. 482. Under Olllorodontopera, insert (syn.) Camptolophia,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii., p. 102 (189()); Chloromianta, Warr., Nov.
Zool., iii, p. 104, for Sect, ii B., and Ehomborista, Warr., Nov. Zool.,
iv, p. 45 (1897).
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 89
4034a. Chlorodontopera marmorata, Warr., Nov. ZooL, iii.,
p. 102. (PI. A., fig. 16.)
$. Frons pink ; antennse ochreous ; vertex of head green; thorax
green with a patch of purplish-rufous and ochreous on vertex; abdomen
greenish-ochreous with the dorsal tufts reddish. Fore wing with the
outer margin slightly crenulate and produced to small points at veins
4 and 6 ; dark green thicldy irrorated with yellowish-white ; the costa
yellowish ; a crenulate whitish antemedial line and sinuous postmediai
line ; a black speck on discocellulars ; the greater part of outer area
yellowish-white ; some dark stri?e and pale orange streaks below apex,
and some dark striae above outer angle ; an ochreous and red spot
on inner margin at postmediai line ; the veins whitish. Hindwing
dark green to the sinuous whitish postmediai line ; the discocellulars
and veins beyond the cell whitish ; the inner margin ochreous and red,
with two white striae before middle ; the outer area variegated with
purplish, red, green, black and yellow, and with fine dark striae ;
a dentate whitish line beyond the postmediai line running out to a
long point filled in with black below vein 3, and with green between
it and postmediai line below vein 4 ; blackish patches near apex
and a large yellowish patch on outer medial area. Underside white ;
two black submarginal patches on forewing, and a broad somewhat
irregular postmediai black band on hindwing.
HaUtat.—'Khi\?>\^. Exp. 42 mm.
4040a. Chlorodontopera megaspilaria, Gruen., Phal., 1, p. 371;
Comibcena uniplaga, Wlk., xxii, 578 ; Rhomhorista semipurpurea,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iv, p. 45.
Differs from C. pannosa in the blotch at outer angle of forewing being
very much larger, extending up to vein 5, and without white centre.
The form semipurpurea from Chittagong has the blotch extending
up to the costa, leaving an apical green patch ; the postmediai rufous
line of hindwing prominent.
Hahitat. — Chittagong ; Shevaroys ; Borneo ; Java. Eap. 30-38 mm.
4041a. Chlorodontopera ferruginata., Warr., Nov. Zool.,
iii, p. 104.
(J. Yellow-green, frons red; vertex of head and antennae white ;
abdomen with the dorsal tufts pink. Forewing with the costa white ;
an indistinct waved rufous antemedial band ; a large purplish
12
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90 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
submarginal blotch from vein 5 to inner margin, with yellowish strias
above it and on its edges, which are irregular, and a black patch on
inner margin ; cilia yellowish. Hind wing with rufous patch on inner
margin before middle ; a blackish apical patch crossed by a rufous
line ; a yellowish postmedial band with waved rufous edges and rufous
striae on it ; cilia yellowish.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 36 mm.
4U46. Agathia beata, insert (syn.) Agathia suldeleta^ Warr.,
Nov. Zool., iii, p. 102.
A variety with the dark markings very much reduced.
P. 497. Under Eucllloris insert (syn.) Chlorochromodes, Warr.,
Nov. Zool., iii, p. 103 (189G), and Comostolodes, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii,
p. 308 (1896), for Sect. i. C.
4078a. EucHLORis convallata, Warr., Nov, Zool., iii, p. 108.
9 . White suffused with pale rufous ( ? faded from green) ; frons
rufous ; vertex of head white. Forewing with oblique rufous anteme-
dial line slightly angled below cell ; a discocellular white-centred
lunule ; an oblique rufous postmedial line with white outer edge.
Hindwing with white-centred discocellular rufous lunule ; an oblique
medial rufous line with white outer edge.
Hahitat, — Khasis. Exp. 38 mm.
4081a. EucHLORis tenera, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 103.
Hindwing with veins 6-7 stalked. Yellow-green. Forewing with
the costa white ; an oblique antemedial white line from cell to inner
margin ; a postmedial series of white specks on the veins ; both wings
with rufous discoidal point ; a fine black marginal line and the
cilia white.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. $ 26, $ 30 mm.
4083. EucHLORis DISPANSA, insert (syn.) Comostolodes albkatena,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 309.
4086. EucROSTEs subtiliaria, insert, (syn.) Comostola mundata.
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 105.
4086a. EuCROSTES albifimbria, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 105.
$. Forewing with the discocellulars straight, veins 3, 4, and 11 from
cell. Yellow-green ; frons rufous ; vertex of head and shaft of antennae
white. Forewing with the costa rufous ; pale crenulate ante- and post-
medial lines ; a purplish-brown discocellular spot and lunulate marginal
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA.
91
w
Helkopage hirundinalis^ $
line ; cilia yellow. Hindwing with pnrplish-brown discocellular bar and
lunulate marginal line ; a pale crenulate postmedial line ; cilia yellow.
Habitat. — Kliasis. Exp. 20 mm.
4100. Eucrostes disparata, insert (syn.) Hemithea puncti fimbria,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 366.
Genus Helicopage.
Helkopage, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 106 (1896).
Type. — H. hirundinalis (Warr.).
Range. — North-east India.
Palpi with the second joint upturned to above vertex of head, and
fringed with hair on
both sides, the third
long, porrect and spa-
tulate at extremity ;
irons smooth ; antennse
bipectinate, the apex
simple ; hind tibiaj of
male with fold and tuft,
two pairs of spurs pre-
sent ; abdomen without dorsal tufts. Forewing with the outer margin
slightly crenulate ; 7 from upper angle ; 8, 9, 10, stalked. Hindwing
with the outer margin highly crenulate and produced to an angle at
vein 4 ; veins 3, 4, 6, and 7, from angles of cell ; male with a fovea
at base between costal and subcostal nervures ; the retinaculum a long
corneous bar curled round at extremity.
4104a. Helicopage hirundinalis, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 106.
$. Bright emerald-green irrorrated with pale fuscous ; palpi and
antennse pale ochreous. Forewing with fuscous patches near base of
costa and inner margin, an antemedial series, double in cell ; a spot
at upper angle of cell ; three claviform black marks beyond the cell,
with ochreous on their outer edges on a fuscous patch ; two obscure
postmedial series of lunulate marks ; a large subapical patch and a
spot above vein 2. Hindwing with basal patch ; a spot at upper
angle of cell ; medial spots on costa and inner margin ; obscure
postmedial and submarginal series of spots ending in an irregular
patch near anal angle.
Habitat. — Sikhim ; Kh^sis. Exp. 46 mm.
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^2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
4114. Thalassodbs opalaria, insert (syn.) lodis imimhmta,
Wurr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 107.
4115. Thalassodes griscoviridis, insert (syns.) lodis delicatula,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 309 ; lodis iridescens^ Warr., Nov. Zool.,
iii, p. 108 ; lodis ccerideata, Warr., Nov. Zool, iii. p. 107.
4115o. Thalassodes anxulifera, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 107.
$. Greenish-grey ; frons rufous ; vertex of head white. Forewing
with the costa ochreous ; a waved white antemedial line ; a diamond-
shaped white mark with green centre at end of cell ; a dentate white
postmedial line bent outwards between veins 3 and 4. Hindwing with
waved white antemedial line ; discocellular unnulus ; postmedial
dentate white line angled outwards at veins 3 and 4. Underside
white.
Hahitai, — Khiisis. Exp. 22 mm.
4120a. Thalassodes anomala, Warr., Nov. Zool, iii, p. 106.
(PI. A, fig. 11.)
Hind tibias of male with one pair of spurs, dilate and with tuft of
hair ; antennae ciliated. Blue-green ; frons rufous ; vertex of head
white ; abdomen white. Forewing with the costa white ; a curved
antemedial white line; a nearly straight postmedial line. Hindwing
with slightly sinuous m.edial w'hite line ; cilia white at tips.
Habited. — Hunza ; Masuri ; Kulu. E.rp. $ 32, $ 34 nnn.
4127. Thalassodes obnupta, insert (syn.) Acrortha jlexicosta,
Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 3G1.
• Al27a. Thalassodes contracta, Warr., Nov. Zool, iii, p. 107.
$. Forewing with vein 11 given off from 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and anas-
tomosing with 12 ; 3-4 from cell. Yellow-green; vertex of head and
shaft of antennai white. Forewing with waved olive-yellow ante- and
postmedial lines. Hindwing with discocellular spot and waved olive
medial line ; underside whitish, with fuscous postmedial shade deepest
near inner margin of forewing and costa of hindwing.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 20 mm.
4130a. Thalassodes discolor, Warr., Nov. Zool, iii, p. 108.
$. Forewing with the apex strongly produced and falcate, the outer
margin excised from apex to vein 4, where it is produced to a point ;
the margin of both wings slightly crenulate. Head, thorax and abdo-
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 93
men greenish-ochreous ; vertex of head white ; legs banded with
brown ; wings dull greenish suffused with opalescent-purple. Fore-
wing with traces of sinuous antemedial line ; an ochreous-white
postmedial patch between veins 1 and 3 ; cilia white at the ex-
cision. Hindwing with broad yellowish-white band of disintegrated
patches irrorated with fuscous, with a much-interrupted waved line
beyond it, and some of the patches forming an ocellus below costa.
Underside with the whitish patches more prominent.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 58 mm.
P. 514. Under Thalera, insert (syn.) Chloromma, Warr., Nov.
ZooL, iii., p. 104(1896).
{Ckloromma.) Hindwing with veins 3, 4 and 0, 7 shortly stalked, the
margin produced to a long point at vein 4.
4138a. Thalera mimica, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 105.
$. Dull-green ; frons pale brown, vertex of head white. Forewing
with indistinct sinuous antemedial line ; a black discocellular spot ; a
Granulate blackish postmedial line. Hindwing with diffused black jiost-
medial blotch and crenulate black postmedial line, bent outwards at
veins 3 and 4.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 32 mm.
4139a. Thalera rectilinea, Warr., Nov. Zool., iii, p. 309.
$. Hindwing with veins 3-4 stalked. Blue-green; frons rufous;
vertex of head white ; abdomen white, with white-spotted pink dorsal
band. Forewing with the costa white, speckled with rufous ; a fine pale
oblique antemedial line slightly bent below cell, and with crimson speck
on inner margin ; both wings with oblique postmedial line slightly bent
below vein 2 of forewing, and with crimson spot on its inner side at inner
margin, bent inwards to costa of forewing ; both wings with maculate
vi^hite marginal line defined by crimson on inner side ; the cilia
pinkish.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 30 mm.
PYRALIDiE.
Vol. iv, p. 4. Genus Stenachroia.
Stenachroia, Hmpsn, Rom. Mem., viii, ined.
Type — S. elongella (Hampson).
Range. — Assam. ,
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94 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
Palpi of male small, upturned and tufted with hair ; maxillary
palpi minute ; proboscis well deve-
loped ; frontal tuft large, truncate,
and hollowed out, below ; antennse
short, simple, the basal Joint tufted
Stenachroia elongella, $ \. ^ith hair. Forewing long and
narrow ; the costa nearly straight to near apex, which is rounded ; the
outer margin short : the cell rather long ; vein 2 from half its length ;
3 from angle ; 4-5 on a long stalk ; 6 from npper angle ; 7-8 stalked
from before angle; 9 absent ; 10-11 from cell ; male with a glandular
swelUng at base of costa below ; a fringe of upturned scales in middle
of cell above mediaa nervure. Hindwing with the cell open ; veins 3
and 5 stalked from 2 ; 4 absent ; 6-7 stalked; ; 7 anastomosing with 8.
4142a. Stenachroia elongella, Hm})sn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 54, f. 20.
^. Head, thorax, and abdomen yellowish-white. Forewing yellow-
ish-white irronited with a few black scales; a diffused whitish streak
in cell ; a point of black scales in middle of cell and another on dis-
cocellulars ; a fuint oblique fuscous postmedial band: a marginal series
af black specks. Hindwing semi-hyaline whitish, the veins and a mar-
ginal line fuscous.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 28 mm.
DoLOESSA (Zell., Isis., 1848, p. 860), has precedence over Thagora.
4143. DoLOESSA CASTANELLA. lusert (syn.) Carcinoptera ochrociliella.
Rag., Rom. Mem., vii, pi. viii, f. 24.
4144. Insert Doloessa viridis (Zell., Isis, 1848), p. 860, which
has priority ; $ without streaks of the black scales.
4144a. Doloessa constellata, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 54, f. 12.
9 . Head ochreous- white ; thorax green ; abdomen white. Fore-
wings bright apple-green ; an antemedial fine dark line angled inwards
in cell and on veia 1 and outwards below cell ; a cluster of four points
of raised white scales on fuscous spots in end of cell in the form of an
oblique letter \/ ; the postmedial line fine, dark, dentate, oblique from
costa to vein 5, then bent outwards and again oblique from vein 2 to
inner margin ; outer margin whitish. Hindwing pure white.
Habitat — Khasis. Exp. 30 mm.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 95
Genus Melissoblaptes.
Melissoblaptes, Zell., Isis., 1839, p. 180 ; Faralipsa, Butl., A. M
N. H., 1879, p. 455.
Type. — M. hipunctanus. Curt., from Europe.
Range. — Nearctic and palsearctic regions ; China ; Eastern Hima-
layas ; Ceylon ; New Guinea.
Palpi of male minute, upturned, and tufted with hair ; proboscis
small ; antennae short, ciliated,
the basal joint dilated and tufted
with hair. Forewing rather long
and narrow, the costa arched ; the
apex rounded ; the outer margin
Melissoblaptes gularis, 9 y- short ; the discoceUulars an<rled;
vein G from below upper angle,
7-8 stalked from 9 ; 10-11 from cell. Hindwing with vein 2 from
angle of cell ; 3 and 5 stalked ; 4 absent ; the discoceUulars angled
back, almost to base ; 6-7 stalked ; 7 anastomosing with 8. 9 . With
the palpi porrect, down curved, and projecting about the leno-th of
head.
Section I (ParaZ^^psa).— Forewing of male with the cell clothed below
with fine close-set scales, the lower angle produced upwards and
outwards, veins 3, 4, 5 at intervals ; female with vein 3 from well
before angle ; 4-5 from angle.
41446. Melissoblaptes gularis, Zell., Hor. Ent. Ross xiii
p. 72, pi. 1, f. 26 ; Paralipsa tenehrosus, Butl., 111. Het., iii, p. 78,
pl.60,/.l.
$. Grey-brown with a yellowish tinge and strongly irrorated with
black. Forewing with an ochreous streak from base on median
nervure expanding into a triangular patch towards end of cell and
sending three teeth outwards ; a black speck edged with ochreous in
cell ; the discocellular stigma oval, black edged with ochreous ; traces
of a postmedial ochreous line on costal area ; a marginal series of black
points. Hindwing fuscous with a yellowish tinge ; the apical area
darker ; a dark marginal line. 9 . Yellowish-brown with a purple
tinge ; an obscure antemedial sinuous line defined by pale ochreous •
the postmedial line angled outwards at middle ; no spot in cell ; the
discocellular stigma very large, black and subtriangular.
Habitat , — Japan ; Sikkim. Exp. 30-32 mm.
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96 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Section II. (Melissohlapfes).—'FoTewmg of male with the cell
normtil ; vein 3 from near angle ; 4-5 shortly stalked or from a point
in hoth sexes.
4144c. Melissoblaptes odontella, Hmpsn., Eom. Mem., viii,
ined., pi. 54,/. 18.
^. Head and thorax grey-brown ; abdomen brownish. Forewing
pale brown irro rated with black scales ; the basal half of inner area
whitish, extending into the cell beyond the antemedial lines, which is
fine dark and very strongly dentate, especially below the cell ; a large
irreo-ular brown stigma in end of cell, dentate on outer side ; the
postmedial line fine, dark and regularly dentate ; a series of black
streaks on the veins of outer area, ending in points. Hindwing fuscous-
brown, slightly darker towards outer margin.
Habitat. —Ceylon. Exp. 1 8 mm.
P. 5. Genus Mucialla, insert Tirathaba, Wlk., Cat., xxx
p, 961 (1864), which has precedence ; and Harpagoneura, Butl.,
A. M. N. H. (5), XV, p. 242 (1885).
4145. Tirathaba rufivena, insert (sj'-n.) Melissoblaptes rufovenalis,
Snell., Tijd. v. Ent, 1880, p. 243, and 1883, pi. 5, fig. 10.
4145a. Tirathaba grandinotella, Rag., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 45, f. 17.
$. Head and thorax purplish-red ; a small tuft of white scales over-
lapping base of forewing ; abdomen brownish. Forewing dark purpHsh-
red ; a small annulus in base of cell, a larger one at middle, and a
discocellular annulus with black margins and purple-red centres ; the
outer margin red, with some dark suffusion inside it at costa ; some white
points on costa towards apex and a marginal series. Hindwing fuscous.
9 . AVith a patch of grey scales in the cell between the annuli, a diffused
patch of yellowish- grey scales round the discocellular annulus, and a
series of quadrate grey marks just inside the margin. Hindwing pale
yellowish, the apical half fuscous,
//a^/<af.— Khasis; Amboyna. E.vp. 28-38 nmi.
Section II {IJarpagoneura).— 'Forewing of male with the lower angle
of cell produced to near outer margin and upwards almost to hxel of
upper angle, the discocellulars extremely oblique, veins 3, 4, 5 widely
separated, short and parallel ; the cell clothed below with fine silky hair,
the glandular swelling at base of costa very large. In the typical
species complexa from the Pacific there is also a small glandular swelling
belcw veins 6, 7, 8, and the margin of the wing is atrophied.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 97
4147a. TiRATHABA ROSELLA, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 54, f. 8.
$ . Head and thorax pale reddish-brown ; abdomen pinkish. Fore-
wing pale reddish-brown irrorated with black scales ; an indistinct
blackish autemedial line, very oblique from costa to middle of ceil, then
angled inwards below the cell ; four or five black points below subcostal
nervure towards end of cell ; a very indistinct postmedial line, oblique
from costa to vein 6, strongly angled outwards to origin of vein 4,
then bent inwards along median nervure ; a prominent marginal
series of black points. Hindwing dull reddish-pink, the cilia greyish ;
the apex produced and somewhat acute.
Habitat. — Khrfsis. JSxp. 34 mm.
P. 6. Under Lamoria, insert (syn.) Maraclea, Wlk., Cat., xxvii,
p. 88.
4149. Lamoria planallsj insert Pern pel ia adaptella Wlk., Cat.,
xxvii, p. 74, which has precedence ; and (syn.) Lamoria ohscurellus,
Saalm., Jahr. Senek. Nat. Ges., 1880, p. 308 ; Rag., Rom. Mem.,
viii, pi 45, f. 12.
4150. Delete Pempelia adaptella, and insert (syn.) Lamoria
joniams, Rag., Rom. Mem., viii, pi. 46, f. 5.
4150a. Lamoria virescbns, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined., pi.
53, f. 1.
$. Head, thorax an 1 abdomen pale brownish. Forewing pale browti
irrorated with dark br jwn, and with a slight olive tinge towards outer
margin, the costal area browner, and with ill-defined dark patches at
middle and towards apex ; the outer area more fuscous ; a black point
at base of cell and another at middle ; an ill-defined discoidal aunulus;
a very indistinct antemedial line, oblique from costa to below cell, where
it is obtusely angle!; the postmedial line strongly dentate ard
excurv'ed at middle ; a mirginal serie-i of black points. Hindwing
whitish, tinged with fu3Cou>. 9- With the base of forewing
strongly suffused with black, especially below cell ; the antemedial line
more distiuct and angled inwards on vein 1 ; the outer area more
distinctly grejnish, with the veins streaked with black.
Habitat. — Sikkim. Ex/>. $ 24, $ 27 mm.
13
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98 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
4150?;. Lamoria infumatella, Hmpsu., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 53, f. 5.
9 . Head, thorax and abdomen grey-black ; the thorax and base of
abdomen brownish. Forewiug pale brownish, almost entirely suffused
with black, which is deepest at base and in cell ; an indistinct
post medial line, strongly dentate and oxcurved at middle ; a marginal
series of black points. Hindwing brownish-fuscous, the cilia grey.
Habitat. — Sikkim. Exp. 50 mm.
4151. AcARA MOROSELLA. Insert, (syn.) Galleria macroptera, Snell.
Tyjd. V. Ent., xxiii, p. 249.
P. S. Under Galleria, insert (syn.) Vindana, Wlk., Cat., xxxv,
p. 1,706 (1866).
4152. Galleria mellonella. Insert, (syn.) Vindana ohliquella,
Wlk., Cat., xxxv, p. 1,706.
P. 9. Genus Embryoglossa.
Emhryoglossa, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6), xviii, p. 225 (1896).
Proboscis rudimentary ; palpi porrect and slender, extending about
two aad-a-half times the length of
the head; maxillary palpi extremely
minute ; frons rounded ; antennse
short, ciliated, with a large tuft of
hair on basal joint in female ; in
T7 7 7 ^^^ . ^ male minutely serrate, with tufts of
iLmbryogiossa vanegata, $ \. , ... ^ . -, ^
long ciha. i^ orewuig with the outer
margin evenly curved ; vein 3 from before angle of cell, veins 4-5 from
angle ; 6, from uj^por angle ; 7, 8, 9, stalked ; 10-11, free. Hindwing
with veins 3, 4, 5, from angle of cell ; 6-7 from upper angle ; 8 free.
4152a. Embryoglossa variegata, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6), xviii,
p. 226 ; Rom. J\Iem., viii, pi. 53, f. 8.
Head rufous ; palpi with some black above ; thorax and abdomen
rufous and black. Forewing green, suffused with rufous and black,
especially on basal area and between lower angle of cell, vein 2, and
apex ; the basal area bounded by traces of a pale, waved, antemedial
line ; a very prominent discocellular black lunule ; an indistinct pale
doiitat(i postmedial line, oxcurved from costa to near margin at vein 3,
then inwardly oblique, the area from it to outer angle rufous. Hindwing
silky fuscous ; the cilia ochreous.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. $ 28, $ 44 mm.
(To be continued.)
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99
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF MUS
FROM SOUTH INDIA.
By J. L. BoNHOTB.
iWith a Plate.']
{Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on lUli June, 1898.)
Owing to the kind intervention of Mr. E. Thurston, of the Madras
Museum, the British Museum has been presented by Mr. Charles Grey
with a specimen of a mouse which he obtained at Coonoor on the
Nilgiri Hills. Being at present interested in j^siatic mammals,
Mr. Thomas has handed it to me to work out. It proves to be a new
species, distantly allied to Mus musculus, and I would propose for it the
name
Mus FAMULUS, sp. n.
Allied to M. musculus, but larger, and with, as far as can be judged
from the skin, a proportionately shorter tail. Fur long, soft, and
close. Ears moderate and rounded, with a few short hairs on the
inner side. Colour above dark chocolate-brown, evenly sprinkled
with fulvous, below brownish-yellow, not sharply marked off from
the colour of the back. Each hair on the back is slatey-grey at
the base, shading into dark brown or ending in a light tip. Hands
and feet dark brown. Tail of the same colour as the back, rather
lighter below, and covered with short hairs.
The skull is similar in general shape above to that of M. musc\dus,
but the muzzle is more elongated, and the bony palate does not extend
so far back. The pterygoids are nearly parallel, and do not converge
anteriorly. The auditory bulla is rather more elongated. The vertical
plate of the zygoma has a straight anterior margin, and is unusually
inclined outwards, making the infra-orbital opening considerably wider
above than in the allied species. The incisors are simple and flattened
laterally ; molars as usual.
Dimensions of the type, an old specimen, probably a male, measured
in skin —
Head and body 100 mm.; tail 71 mm. ; hind foot 20 mm. ; ear 12 mm.
Skull. — Basilar length 20 mm. ; basal length 21 mm. ; breadth 12'5
mm.; interorbital constriction 4*5 mm. ; nasals 9x2 mm. ; henselion
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100 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI I.
to back of palate 11mm. ; diastema 7 mm. ; molar series 4 mm. ;
palatal foramina!5x2 mm. ; breadth of zygoma at root 2 mm.
Bahitat — Coonoor, Filgiri Hills, S. India. Altitude 5,000 feet.
Tjipe. — British Museimi 97-11-12-1. Collected and presented by
Mr. (Charles Grey.
Although, as above noted, this mouse has a skull resembling in a
general wav that of M. mvsculns and its allies, yet the detailed cranial
differences are very marked, while in colour it is absolutely different
from any species as yet known from India.
Jerdon's Mns mlagirkiis (Jerdon's " Mammals of India," p. 203, 1867),
which also has a yellow body and comes from the same district, is, as
he supposed, clearly a Vandeluria^ and is considered by Blanford
as a synonym of V. oleracea, (Sykes.)
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Joiirn..BoTnbayNat.-Hist .Soc . Vol .XII
J.Sinit deletlith.
MinternBros-Chz-orno Loivd-oii..
A NEW INDIAN MOUSE.
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101
THE ACULEATE HYMEN OP TERA PROCURED AT ADEN
BY COL. YERBURY, R.A., AND CAPT. NURSE, LS.C.
[Witli Plate J.]
By Lieut.-Col, C. T. Bingham, f. z. s., f. e. s.
{Read before the Bombay Natural History Society^ on 'dOfh Sej^t., 1897.)
The two collections kindly submitted to me for examination by
Lieut.-Col. Yerbury and Capt. Nurse contained one hundred and seven
species, of which four I believe to be previously undescribed.
The preponderance of Palreartic species is noticeable, wdiile, as
w^as to be expected, both Ethiopian and Indian forms are represented
in lesser numbers.*
Family MUIILLID.E.
1. MUTILLA CHRYSOPHTHALMA, Kluo.
Mutilla chrysophthalma, King, Symb. Phys., Dec. 1, No. 3, t. 4, f. 3.
Aden (Co/. Yerbury), one worn $. Occurs also in Egypt and
Ceylon.
2. Mutilla arabica, Oliv.
Mutilla arabica, Oliv., Encycl. Meth., viii, p. 59.
Aden (Col. Yerbury).
3. Mutilla aurea, Kluo-.
Mutilla aurea, Klug, Symb. Phys., Dec. 1, No. 13, t. 4, f. 13.
Shaikh Othman (Col. Yerbury).
4. Mutilla ^stuans, Gerst.
Mutilla cBstuans, Gerst., Pet. Reise Mozamb,, v, p. 487, pi. 31
fig. 6, $.
Aden, Lakej, Hanthaburi (Col. Yerbury), Ceylon.
The ^ has not been described in my Vol. I, " Hjmienoptera of
India. " Col. Yerbury took $ and 9 in cop. at Aden.
Desc. $» Head, thorax and abdomen closely but not strongly pmic-
tured, a space on the middle of the 2nd abdominal segment above
• close to its posterior margin highly polished and shining, impunctate ;
head not so wide as the thorax, front below the ocelli raised, almost
tuberculate, scutellum raised, produced into a sharp cone ; median
* The original M.S. of this paper was posted in London, but apparently never reached
the office of this Journal. The present list of the Hymenoptera of Aden has been compiled
from pencil notes made by me at the British Museum while 1 was working out Colonel
Yerbury's and Capt. Nurse's collections.
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102 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
segment broad, rounded above, truncate posteriorly, the face of the
truncation coarsely rugose ; abdomen long, longer than head and
thorax united, apical segment bearing a broad smooth medial longi-
tudinal carina ; basal ventral segment strongly longitudinally keeled,
the keel slightly emarginate in the middle. Head, thorax and base of
the 1st abdominal segment black, remainder of the abdomen bright
ferruginous-red, the clypeus, face checks, scape and basal joint of the
flagellum of the antennae, the pronotum above, the mesopleurse, the
median segment above and the legs covered with silvery pubescence,
which is thick and matted on the clypeus and front, and on the median
segment ; posterior margin of the 2nd and the whole of the remain-
ing abdominal segments clothed with rich glistening ferruginous
pubescence ; wings fuscous, the forewings beyond the area of the
cells much darker.
Length «-13 ; Exp. 17-27 mm.
5. MUTILLA TESTACEA, Klug.
Mutilla testacea, Klug, Symb. Phys., Dec. 1, No. 15, t. 5, f, 4.
Shaik Othman (Col. Yerhury).
Family SCOLIID^.
6. TiPHIA BREVIPENNIS, LucaS.
TipJiia hrevipennis, Lucas, Expl. Sc. Alger., iii, p. 299, t, 15, f. 9.
Aden (Capt. Nurse).
7. Myzine guerinii, Lucas.
Myzine guerinii, Lucas, Expl. Sc. Alger., iii, p. 283, t. 15, f. 5, $ .
Lahej {Capt. Nurse).
8. ScoLiA (Discolia) dispar, Klug.
Scolia dispar, Klug, Symb. Phys., Dec. iii, t. 26, f. 10 $ and 2 9 .
Shaikh Othman, Lahej {Capt. Nurse).
9. ScoLiA ( Discolia) rufipes, Smith.
Scolia rufipes. Smith, Cat. Hym. B. M., iii, p. 95, $.
Lahej {Capt, Nurse).
JO. ScoLiA (Discolia) erytheocephala, Fabr.
Scolia erythrocephala, Fabr., Ent. Syst., Suppl., p. 255, 16.
Aden {Col. Yerbury).
11. Scolia (Discolia) micromelas, Sichel,
Scolia micromelas.^ Sich., Sauss. and Lich. Cat. Scol., p. 82. 9 & 6 .
Aden {Col. Yerhury).
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THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA PROCURED AT ADEN, 103
12. Elis (Trielis) aliena, Klug.
Scolia aliena, Klug, Symb. Phys., Dec. iii, No. J 2, p. 27, fig. 3.
Lahej {Col. Yerhury').
13. Elis (Dielis) collaris, Fabr.
Tiphia collaris, Fabr., Syst. Ent., p. 354.
Aden and Lahej ( Col. Yerhury^
14. Elis (Dielis) ccelebs, Sicbel.
Elis ccelebsj Sich., Sauss. and Lich. Cat. Seal., p. iSi ; id., app., p. 297
Shaikh Othman and Lahej (Capt. Nurse).
15. Elis (Dielis) ciliata, Fabr.
Scolia ciliata, Fabr., Mantissa, ii, p. 279.
Lahej (Capt. Nurse).
16. Elis (Dielis) fasciatella, Klug.
Scolia fasciatella^ Klug, Symb. Phys., Dec. iii, t. 27, f. 8.
Shaikh Othman {Capt. Nurse).
Family POMPILID^,
17. Salius (Priocnemis) brunneus, Klug.
Pompilus brunneus, Klug, Symb. Phys., Dec. iv, No. 2, t. 38, f. 2.
Aden {Col. Yerhury).
18. Salius (Priocnemis) rubescens, Smith.
Pompilus rubescens. Smith, Cat. Hym, B. M., iii, p. 136.
Aden {Col. Yerbury).
19. Pompilus anticus, Klug.
Pompilus anticus^ King, Symb. Phys., Dec. iv, No. 10, t. 38, f. 10.
Lahej {Col. Yerhury).
20. Pompilus gracilis, Lepel.
Pompilus gracilis^ Lepel, Hymn., iii, p. 420, 6.
Lahej {Capt Nurse). One specimen which is indistinguishable from
specimens from France so labelled in the British Museum.
21. Pompilus vagabundus. Smith.
Pompilus vagabundus, Smith, Jour. Linn. Soc, 1858, p. 92.
Huswah {Capt. Nurse). Another species which I identify with
doubt. If it is really P. vagabundus, the insect has a very wide range^
from Borneo to Aden.
22. Pompilus vespiformis, Klug.
Pompilus vespiformis, Klug, Symb. Phys., Dec. iv, No. 3, t. 38, f. 3.
Aden, Lahej {Col. Yerhury and Capt. Nurse).
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104 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL niSTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
23. PoMPiLus CANDIDLS, Smith.
Pompilus candidus, Smith, New Sp. Hym. B. M., p. 142, 9. 9 .
Lahej {Col, Yerhury).
24. Pompilus unifasciatds, Smith.
Ponijnlus unifasciatus, Smith, Cat. Hym. B. M., iii, p. 145, 133.
Aden ( Col. Yerbury). A widely distributed species.
Family SPHEGID^.
25. Tachytes albocincta, Lucas.
Tachytes albocincta, Lucas, Expl. Sc. Alger., iii, p. 246, 211.
Lahej (CoZ. Yerbury), Shaikh Othman (Capt. Nurse).
26. Tachysphex filicornis, Kohl.
Tachysphex filicornis, Kohl., Deutsche Ent. Zeits., xxvii (1883),
p. 169.
Aden ( Col. Yerbury).
27. Tachysphex pygidialis, Kohl.
Tachysphex pygidalis. Kohl., Deutsche Ent. Zeits., xxvii (1883)}
p. 176. ^ and 9 •
Aden {Col. Yerbury).
28. Tachysphex panzeri. Van d. Lind.
Tachytes panzeri, Vand. Lind., Nouv. Mem. Acad. Sc. Bruxell., v
(1829), p. 20, 4. $ and 9.
Aden, Lahej {Col. Yerbury).
29. Tachysphex psilopus. Kohl.
Tachysphex psilopus, Kohl., Verh. d. k. k. Zool.-Bot. Gesellsch. Wien,
xxxiii (1883), p. 371, 3, $, pi. xvii (a), figs. 2 and 3.
Aden {Col. Yerbury).
30. Tachysphex fluctuatus, Gerst.
Lyrops fluctuatus, Gerst., Monat. Verh. d. k. Akad. d. Wissensch.,
Berlin, 1857, p. 510.
Aden, Lahej, Shaikh Othman {Col. Yerbury and Capt. Nurse).
31. Notogonia pompiliformis, Panz.
Larra pompiliformis, Panz., Faun. Ins. Germ., 1808, Heft. 17,
p. 106.
Aden {Col. Yerbury).
32. Liias HOEMORRHOiDALis, Fabr.
Pompilus hmmorrhoidalis, Fabr. Syst. Pie/-., ]). 198, 55.
Aden [Col. Yerbury).
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THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA PROCORED AT ADEN. 105
33. Ammophila incana, Dahlb,
Ammophila incana^ Dahlb., Hym. Europ., i, p. 21.
A.den (Col. Yerhury and Capt. Nurse).
34. Ammophila insignis, Smith (Var. ?).
Ammophila insignis, Smith, Cat., iii, p. 213, 30. ^ $ .
Aden {Capt. Nurse)^ Lahej (Col. Yerhury).
35. Ammophila holosericea, Fabr.
Sphex holosericea, Fabr., Ent. Syst., ii, p. 205, 27.
Aden {Col. lerbury)^ Lahej {Capt. Nurse).
36. Sceliphron spirifex, Linn.
Sphex spirifex, Linn., Syst. Nat., i, p. 942, 9.
Aden, Lahej {Col. Yerhury and Capt. Nurse).
37. Sceliphron violacbum, Fabr.
Sphex violacea, Fabr., Ent. Syst., ii, p. 201.
Aden ( Col. Yerhury and Capt. Nurse).
o8. Sphex uMbrosus, Christ.
Sphex umhrosaj Chr., Naturg. Ins., p. 293, t. xxix, f. 2 9.
Aden {Col. Yerhury and Capt. Nurse). i\.ll the specimens belong to
the variety S. metaliica, Taschenb.
39. Sphex axirulentus, Fabr.
Sphex aurulenta, Fabr., Mant. Ins., i, p. 274.
Aden ( Col. Yerhury). The one specimen in the collection belongs to
the variety S. lineola, Lepel.
40. Sphex nigropectinatus, Taschenb.
Sphex nigropectinatus, Taschb., Zeitschr. f. d. ges. Naturwiss. Holle.
xxxiv (1869), p. 409.
Aden {Col. Yerbury).
41. Sphex v^iduatus, Christ.
Sphex viduata, Chr., Naturg. Ins., p. 305, t. xxx, f. 4.
Aden {Col. Yerhury and Capt. Ntirse).
42. Nysson scalaeis, Illig.
Nysson scalarisj Illig., ed. Faun. Etrusc, ii, p. 157.
Lahej {Col. Yerbury).
43. Helioryctes assimilis, Bingh.
[Jelioryctes assimilis, Bingh., Faun. Brit. lud. Hym., i, p. 271.
Aden {Col. Yerhury).
U
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IOC JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
44. GoRYTES coARCTATUs, Spin.
rjorytes coarctatus, Spin., Ins., Lig., ii, p. 245, t. v, f. 24.
Shaikh Othman (Capt. Nurse).
45. Stizus vespoides, Walk.
Larra vespoides, Walk., List of Hym. coll. by J. K. Lord in Egypt,
fee, p. 25, 224.9.
Aden (Col. Yerhmj and Capt. Nurse).
46. Stizus discolor, Handl.
Stizus discolor, Handl., Sitz. d. k. Akad. Wissens. Wien. (1892),
p. 78, 44.
Aden (Capt. Nurse).
47. Stizus prismaticus, Smith.
Larra prismatica, Smith, Jour. Linn. Sec. (1858), p. 103.,^ $
Aden (Col. Yerhury).
48. Stizus klugii. Smith.
Larra apicalis. King (nee Guer), Symb, Phys., Dec. V, 40, p. 13.
Larra Mugii^ Smith, Cat, Hym. B. M., iv, p. 345, 33.
Aden (Col. Yerhury).
49. Bembex olivacea, Fabr.
Bemhex olivacea, Fabr., Mant. Lis., i, p. 285, A.$.
Aden (Col. Yerhury and Capt. Nurse).
50. Bembex chlorotica, Spin.
Bemhex cldoroiica, Spin., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (1838), p. 469.
Aden (Capt. Nurse), Lahej (Col. Yerhury).
51. Bembex dahlbomii, Handl.
Bemhex daldhomii^ Handl., Sitzungsb. d. k. Akad. Wissens. Wien.,
oii ; (1893), p. 806, 62.
Aden (Col. Yerhury).
52. Philanthus yerburyi, n. sp., pi. A, f. 2.
$ . Head wider than thorax, finely and closely punctured, clypeus
slightly convex, much broader than high, the anterior margin waved
and fringed with a line of dense pubescence, eyes distinctly convergent
towards the vertex below, reaching down to the base of the mandibles,
vertex broad, ocelli in a triangle situated somewhat anteriorly, cheeks
broad, well developed ; thorax shining, mesonotum with a few fine
scattered punctures, median segment above only slightly convex, almost
flat, bearing fine longitudinal striae, its sides and apex roundly
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THE ACULEATE UYMENOPTERA PROCURED AT ADEN. 107
truncate ; legs without pubescence, the intermediate and posterior tibise
and tarsi thickly spinose, claws of the tarsi simple ; abdomen longer
than the head and thorax united, smooth, pygidial area flat, elongate
triangular, the sides and apex margined, the surface very finely and
closely rugose punctate. Head and thorax black, the basal two-thirds
of the mandibles, the clypeus, a triangular mark along the inner orbits,
the posterior margin of the pronotum, an oval spot on the scutelium
and a transverse line on the post-scutellum yellowish-white, legs dull
Indian-red, the anterior femora beneath pale yellowish- white ; wings
hyaline, nervures testaceous-brown, tegulse pale yellow, the posterior
half brownish ; in the anterior wing the basal nervure is nearly
interstitial, the radial cell elongate, narrow acute at apex, the 1st
recurrent nervure is received in the 2nd cubital cell about one-third
of its length from base, the 2nd recuiTent nervure is received by the
3rd cubital cell close to its base. Abdomen dull Indian-red, segments
1 to 5 with broad transverse pale yellowish-white stripes on their poste-
rior margins, each stripe bi-marginate anteriorly.
What seems to be a variety of the same insect differs in having the
abdomen of a brighter red, and the transverse pale yellow stripes on the
segments above reduced to two spots on the 2nd and an iiTegular
medial mark on the posterior margin of the 3rd segment,
9 . Length 10-12. Exp. 19-25 mm.
Aden {Col. Yerhury).
53. Tkachypus subconcolor, n. sp., pi. A, f. I.
9 . Head wider than the thorax, finely and closely punctured,
clypeus slightly convex, its anterior margin arched in the middle, waved
at the sides, eyes slightly convergent towards the vertex, below reaching
almost to the base of the mandibles, their inner orbits emarginate, the
vertex and cheeks broad and well developed. Thorax : the pronotum'
smooth and shining, the mesonotum and sides of the thorax very
coarsely but not very closely punctured, the scutelium, post-scutellum,
and median segment shining with a few scattered coarse punctures, the
last subtriangular, above smooth, with a medial short longitudinal groove,
which, as well as the well-marked sutures between the scutelium an d
post-scutellum and between the latter and the median segment, is
densely and closely punctured ; legs sub-pilose, the anterior tibipe
ciliated with long spines, the intermediate and posterior tibise and tarsi
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108 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XlL
thickly spinose, claws of the tarsi simple ; abdomen about as long as
the head and thorax united, the posterior margin of the 1st segment
constricted, pygidial area smooth, shining, convex. Head, thorax and
abdomen dark yellowish-brown, a small crescentic spot above the base
of each antenna, an arched stripe across the vertex over the region
of the ocelli ; the mesonotum, irregular shadings on the sides of the
thorax, the sutures between the scutellum, post-scutellum and median
segment and the short longitudinal groove on the last black, the
mesonotum with two parallel, longitudinal, short, ferruginous-red
stripes; wings hyaline, tegulse and uervures pale testaceous.
9. Length 11. Exp. 18 mm.
Shaikh Othman (Col. Yerhury).
54. Trachypus nursei, u. sp., pi. A, f. 3.
9 . Head finely punctured, shining, about as broad as the thorax, cly-
peus broad, slightly convex, very slightly arched anteriorly, eyes strong-
ly converging towards the vertex, the inner orbits emarginate, front
broad, with a short shallov/ vertical furrow below the anterior ocellus,
cheeks narrow, little developed. Thorax shining, the mesonotum
coarsely punctured, the scutellum, post-scutellum and median segment
above smooth, shining, with a few scattered punctures, the sutures bet-
ween the mesonotum, scutellum, post-scutellum and median segment
deep, well marked and finely punctured, as is a medial, short, shallow
longitudinal furrow on the median segment above, the tibiae and
tarsi of the leg spinose, the claws simple. Abdomen shining, finely
punctured, about as long as the head and thorax united, the base of
the 1st segment attenuated, its posterior margin deeply constrictedj
pygidial area convex, smooth and shining. Black, the basal two-thirds
of the mandibles, the scape and basal two joints of the flagellom of the
antennae in front, an oval transverse spot on the front, two contiguous
spots on the vertex behind the ocelli, a broad line on the cheeks, the
posterior half of the pronotum, the tubercles, two spots behind them on
the mesopleurge, the scutellum and post-scutellum, a round spot on each
side at the posterior angles of the median segment, the apical half of the
anterior tibiaj, a transverse band on the upper side of the 1st abdominal
segment, and the whole of the second segment bright yellow, the apex
of the mandibles ferruginous, the clypeus, a triangular spot along the
inner orbits, the anterior tarsi, the intermediate and posterior tibiae and
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THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA PROCURED AT ADEN, 109
tarsi, the posterior margin of the 4th abdominal segment above, and the
whole of the apical segment, laoteous-white ; wings hyaline, nervures
testaceous, tegula3 yellow.
$ . Similar, the apical abdominal segment black, the 6th segment with
a narrow medially interrupted line on the apical margin above pale yellow.
9 . Length 9. E,rp. 1 7 mm.
$. „ 8. „ lb „
Lahej and Shaik Othman {Capt. Nurse).
55. Cerceris pulchella, Klug.
Cerceris pulchella^ Klug., Symb. Phys., Dec. v, t. 47, f. 14. <^.
Huswah (Capt. Burse).
56. Cerceris vidua, Klug.
Cerceris vidua^'Klng., Symb. « Phys., Dec. v, t. 47, f. 11. $.
Shaikh Othman {Capt. Nurse),
57. Cerceris spinipectus, Smith.
Cerceris spinipectus^ Smith, Cat. Hym. B. M., iv, p. 443, 30. 9 . (J,
Shaikh Othman {Capt. Nurse).
58. Cerceris insignis, Klug.
Cerceris insignis, Klug, Symb. Phys., Dec. v, t, 47, f. 12. 9.
Aden {Col. Yerburu).
59. Oxybelus ARABS, Lcpel.
Oxyhelus arahs, Lepel., Hym., iii, p. 213, 3.
Aden {Col. Yerhury and Capt. Nurse).
Family EUMENID^.
60. EuMENES TiNCTOR, Christ.
SpJiex tinctor, Christ., Naturges, p. 341, t. 31, f. 1.
Aden {Capt. Nurse), Shaik Othman {Col. Yerhury).
61. EUMENES DIMIDIATIPENNIS, SaUSS.
Eumenes dimidiatipennis, Sauss., Mon. Guep. Sol., p. 51, 23.
Aden, {Col. Yerhury), Liahej [Capt. Nurse).
62. Eumenes lepeleterii, Sauss.
Eumenes lepeleterii, Sauss., Mon. Guep. Sol.; p. 4524, t. 10, f. 3. 9
Aden, Lahej, Shaikh Othman {CoL Yerhury and Caj t. Nurse)
Common.
63. Rhynchium cyanopterum, Sauss.
Rygchium cyanopterum, Sauss., Mon. Guep. Sol., p. 108-9.
Aden {CoU Yerhury) , Lahej {Capt. Nurse).
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no JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL niSTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII .
64. Hhynchium brunnkum, Fabr.
Vespa brunnea, Fabr., Ent. Syst., ii, p. 264, 41.
Aden {Col. Verbury).
65. Rhynchium oculatum, Fabr.
Vespa oculata, Fabr., Spec. Ins., i, p. 463.
Aden {Col. Yerburij).
&&. Rhynchium synagroides, Sauss.
Rhynluum synagroides^ Sauss., Mon. Gucp. Sol., p. 103, 1. t.
14, f. 2. $
Lahej {Capt. Nurse).
67. Odyneeus chloroticijs, Spin.
Odynerus chloroticuSj Spin,, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1st ser., vii,
p. 500.
Shaikh Othman {Capt. Nurse).
68. Odynerus eumenoides, Smith.
Odynerus eumenoides, Smith, Cat. Hym. B. M., v, p. 71, lo4.
Aden {Capt. Nurse).
69. Odynerus fervidus, Sauss.
Odynerus fervidits, Sauss., Mon. Guep. Sol., SuppL, p. 288, 174.
Shaikh Othman {Capt. Nurse).
70. Odynerus fastidiosus, Sauss.
Odynerus fastidiosus, Sauss., Mon. Guep. Sol., p. 189, 85.9
Aden {Col. Yerbury and Capt. Nurse).
71. Odynerus biphaleratus, Sauss.
Odynerus Biphaleratus, Sauss.,-Mon. Sol., p. 134, 14, t. 16, f. 2.
Lahej {Col. Yerbury)^ Shaik Othman {Ca^yt. Nurse).
Family VESPIDy?^.
72. Icaria anarchic a, Sauss.
Icaria anarchica, Sauss., Mon. Guep. Sol., p. 34, 12, t. 4, f. 5.
Aden, Lahej {Col. Yerbury and Capt. Nurse).
73. Icaria cincta, Lepel.
Epipona cincta, Lopel., Hym., i, p. 541, 2.
Aden {Capt. Nurse).
74. Polistes marginalis, Fabr.
Vespa margtnalts, Fabr., Syst. Ent., p. 367, 24.
Lahej (Col. Yerbury and Capt. Nurse).
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THE ACULEATE HT3TEN0PTERA PEOCVRED AT ADEh'. 11 1
Family MASARID^.
75. Celonites fischeri, Spin.
Celonites tiscJien, Spin., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (18S8), p. 505.
Aden (Col. Yerhury and Capt, Nurse.)
No specimen in either collection is typical, all being mneh lighter
in colour than specimens of this species in the British Museum. One
$ taken by Col. Yerbury is exceedingly small, measuring only 5^ mm.
Capt, Nurse notes that he bred the insect from cylindrical mud nests.
Family COLLETID^.
76. Prosopis feateena, n. sp.
Closely allied to and resembling P. adsoluta, Cam. (Mem. Maneb.
Lit. & Phil. Soc, XLI, p. 92) ; diffprs in sculpturing and consi-
derably in colour and size.
$. Head, thorax and abdomen finely and closely, median segment
coarsely and rugosely punctured, clypeus slightly convex, vertically
oval, its anterior margin rounded : space between the antennae smooth
and shining, with a very short fine vertical furrow, mesonotnm stronojy
convex, with three abbreviated parallel longitudinal furrows on the diso
anteriorly; median segment with a smooth and shining Y-shaped furrow;
legs slightly pilose ; abdomen about as long as the head and thorax
united, the apical margin of the first segment slightly constricted
Black, the base of the mandibles, the clypeus, a spot above it, the sides
of the fixce, the scape of the antennae in front, a line on the pronotum
and the tibia? and tarsi of all the legs pale yellow ; the flagellum of the
antennae in front pale, the tubercles and tegulas dark ferruo-inous ; a
narrow line of dense grey pubescence on the posterier margin of the 1-4
abdominal segments, that on the 1st segment broadly, on the 2nd segment
narrowly, interrupted in the middle, ; wings hyaline and iridescent.
9 . Length 4. Exp, 9 mm.
Aden (Col. Yerhury).
77. Peosopis scutellata. Spin,
Prosopis scutellata^ Spin., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 'ind Ser., i, p. 506.
Aden (Col. Yerhury).
Family APTD^.
78. Halictus jucundus, Smith.
Halictiia. Jucundus^ Smith, Cat. H^tu. B. M., 1, p. 5G, Qyt, 9 ^ ^
Aden^ Lahej^ Shaikh Othman (Capt, ^urse).
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112 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
79. Halictus senescbns, Smith.
Halictus senescens. Smith, New sp. Hyra. B. M., p. 30. 9.
Lahej {Capt. Nurse).
80. NOMIA TRIDENTATA, Smith.
Nomia tridentata, Smith, Trans. Ent. Soc. (1875), p, 64, 2G. $.
Huswah {Capt. Nurse), Aden (Col. Yerbury).
81. Nomia zonaria, Walk.
Nomia zonaria^ Walk., List of Hym. Coll. by J. K. Lord in Egypt ,
&o., p. 346.
Aden (Capt. Nurse).
82, Nomia lamellata. Smith.
Nomia lamellata, Smith, Trans. Ent. Soc. (1875), p. 65, 28. 9 <?•
Aden (Col. Yerbury and Capt Nurse).
83. Nomia tegulata, Smith.
Nomia tegulata, Smith, Trans. Ent. Soc. (1875), p. 69. 9 •
Lahej, Shaikh Othman (Capt. Nurse).
84. Nomia oxybeloides, Smith.
Nomia oxybeloides. Smith, Trans. Ent. Soc, 1875, p. 42. ^ $.
Aden, Shaikh Othman (Col. Yerbury).
85. Megachile ^egyptia, Lepel.
Megachile agyptia, Lepel, Hym., ii, p. 331.
Aden (Col, Yerbury).
86. Megachile basalis. Smith.
Megachile basalis, Smith, Cat. Hym., B. M., i, p. 159. 9.
Lahej (Col. Yerbury), Shaikh Othman (Capt. Niirse),
87. Megachile eurimera. Smith.
Megachile eurimera, Smith, Cat. Hym., B. M., i, p. 163. 9.
Lahej (Capt. Nurse).
88. Megachile barbata, Smith.
Megachile barbata, Smith, Cat. Hym., B. M., i, p. 162. ^.
Lahej, Shaikh Othman (Capt. Nurse).
89. Megachile rufipes, Fahr.
Apis rufipis, Fabr., Ent. Syst., ii, p. 328, 62.
Aden, Shaikh Othman {Capt. Nurse).
90. Anthidium pulchellum, King.
Anthidium pulchellum, King., Symb. Phys., Dec. iii. No, 11, t. 28; f. 11.
Aden, Shaikh Othman (Capt. Nurse),
![]()
THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA PROCURED AT ADEN. 113
91. Anthidium cinctum, Klug.
Anthidium cinctum, Klug, Symb., Pbys., Dec. iii, No. 8, t. 28, f. 8.
Huswah [Capt. Nurse).
92. Anthidium afrum, Lepel.
Anthidium afrum, Lepel., Hym., ii, p. 387, oo.
Aden, Shaikh Othman {Col, Yerbiiry).
93. Anthidium oudinatum, Smith.
Anthidium ordinafwii, Smith, new sp. Hym., B. M., p. SQ. $ $.
Lahej {Col. Yeiimrij).
94. Ceratina viridis, Guer.
Ceratina viridis^ Guer., Icon. R. An. Ins., p. 444, t. 73, f. G.
Lahej {Capt, Nurse).
95. Crocisa scutellaris, Fabr.
Nomada scutellaris^ Fabr., Ent. Syst., ii, p. 346, 2,
Lahej, Shaikh Othman {Col, Yerlniry and Capt. Nurse).
96. Anthophoea fallax, Smith.
Anlhophora fallax. Smith, new s[). Hym., B. M., p. 120, 3. 9.
Aden {Col. Verburif).
97. Anthophora incana, Khig.
Megilla incana, Khig, Symb. Fhys., Dec. Vt. 49, f. 12. 9 .
Aden {Capt. Nurse).
^d^. Anthophora torrida. Smith.
Anthophora torrida. Smith, new sp. Hym., B. M., p. 120, 2 9.
Lahej {Capt. Nurse).
99. Anthophora nurica, Lepel.
Anthophora nuhica, Lepeb, Hym., ii, p. 33, 8. 9.
Lahej, Shail^h Othman {Col. Yerhury and Capt. Nurse),
100. Anthophora ferruginea, Lepel.
Aiithophora ferruginea^ Lepel., Hym., ii, p. 78, 45.
Aden {Col. Yerhury).
101. Anthophora quadrifasciata, de Vill.
Apis quadrifasciata, de Vill., Ent., iii, p. 349, 90.
Aden {Col. Yerhury).
102. Anthophora niveo-cincta, Smith.
Anthophora niveo-cincta^ Smith, Cat. Hym., B. M., ii, p. 337, 92.
Shaikh Othman {Col, Yerhury).
15
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114 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
103. Anthophoba fakinosa, Klug.
Megilla farinosa^ Klug, Symb. Pliys., Dec. Y, t. 50, f. 2. 5 .
Huswah {Capt. jS'ur^e).
104. Xylocopa ^estuans, Liun.
Apis tB.'^i?<6ms, Linn., Lyst. Nat., i, p. 961, 53, ^,
Aden, Shaikh Othman {Col. Yerhuryj.
105. Xylocopa hottentotta, Smith.
Xylocop>a hottentotta, Smith, Cat. Hym., B. M., ii, p. 349, 26. 9 .
Aden (Coh Yerbury).
106. Xylocopa calens, Lepel.
Xylocopa calensj Lepel., Hym., ii, p. 196, 40. <^.
Aden {Capt. Nurse).
107. Apis indica. Fabr.
Apis indica, Faur., Ent. Syst., Suppl., p. 274.
Lahej {Capt. Nurse).
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115
ON SOME NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTERA.
Br LiBUT.-CoL. C. T. Bingham, f.z.s,, f.e.s.
(Vide Plate A.)
{Read before the Bomhay Natural History Society on 28th Feb., 1898).
In the review in Nature on Volume I of my " Hymenoptera of India,"
issued as one of the " Fauna of India" series, the writer remarked that
close on one thousand species of wasps and bees are described in that
volume, and stated that probably more thjin two thousand
species would ultimately be found within the limits treated
of in my work. This forecast seems more than likely to come true.
in a collection of Hymenoptera recently made at Deesaand at Simla by
Captain C. Nurse, and kindly sent to me to work out, I find among the
bees and wasps alone no less than 23 species new to the Indian fauna,
out of which number, so far as I can make out, 22 species have not
hitherto been described.
I give below a description of these as well as of a few presumably
new species of Tenthredinidce, Ichneumonidce, and ChrysididcB , received
some from Mr. F. Moller, of Tukvar, Darjiling, and some with the bees
and wasps collected by Captain C. Nurse in Simla and Deesa. My
best thanks are due to both these gentlemen for their kind loan as well
as presents of collections.
Family TenthrediniD^e, Leach.
1. Allantus incognitus, sp. n.
$. Head above and thorax finely and closely punctured granular ;
abdomen smooth and shining ; clypeus smooth, emarginate at apex,
the emargination rounded and ending in acute teeth one on each side.
Black, the labrum, the base of the mandibles, large lateral spots on the
clypeus, the posterior angles of the pronotum, the apex of the scutel-
lum, a spot above the posterior cox?e on each side, the anterior femora
and tibi?e in front, and a broad line widening laterally at the base of the
abdomen, lacteous-white ; the apex of the posterior femora, the posterior
tibise, and the apical margins above of the 3rd to the 5th abdominal
segments ferruginous-red; wings hyaline, the front wing anteriorly
stained with dark fuscous, the tegulse and nervures brown.
$. Length 11 ; exp. 22 mm.
Hab. Simla.
Allied to Allantus simillimus, Smith, but is abundantly different.
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11 G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Family IcHXEUMONiDiE, Leach.
2. Coleocentms mollerii, sp. nov., pi. a, figs. 4, 4a, 4b.
9 . Head with a few shallow punctures on the vertex ; antennae long,
filiform, the scape swollen, deeply emarginate on the outer side, the
joints of the flagellum ol)li(]ue at their apices ; mesonetum oval, convex,
transversely plicated and rugose, scutellum punctured, postscutellum
very small, compressed ; median segment flat on the sides, rounded pos-
teriorly, and obliquely sloped to the apex ; abdomen shining, the basal
two segments impunctate above, the remainder finely punctured at
base above ; basal segments depressed, flattened, apical segments
sub-compressed ; the ovipositor long, longer than the rest of the head and
body united, emitted from the apical segment, which with the next
three segments, looked at from the ventral side, are ensheathed one
within the other. Black, the clypeus, the face below the base of the
antennse, a spot on each side above the latter, the front of the scape, the
cheeks, the pronotum in front and on its posterior lateral angles, two
abbreviated parallel longitudinal lines on the disc of the mesonotum,
the tegulse, the mesopleura?, the base of the scutellum, a spot on each
side of it, the whole of the median segment, a large spot on the
raetapleurse, the front of the coxa3, trochanters and femora, and the whole
of the tibife and tarsi of the anterior legs, a spot on the coxse, another
on the basal joint of the trochanters posteriorly, a line on the outer side
of and the apical one-third of the femora, and apical half of the tibise
of the intermediate legs, a spot on the coxas, another on the basal joint
of the trochanters posteriorly, the apical half of the femora and the
middle of the tibia3 of the posterior legs, and sub-apical bands on all
but the apical abdominal segment above, yellow ; the bands on the 4th
and 5th segments are widened laterally, while that on the 6th segment
forms a transverse diamond-shaped spot ; ovipositor and tarsi reddish-
brown ; wings deep brownish-yellow, nervuros dark brown.
9 . Length 33, of ovipositor 51 ; exp. 64 mm.
Hal), Sikhim ; Tenasserim.
3. Xylonomus elizahetlue, sp. nov., pi. A^ figs. 5, 5a.
9 . Head smooth, polished and shining ; antennae filiform ; thorax
rugose, the mesonotum long and oval, the parapsidal grooves deeply
marked ; median segment rounded posteriorly, rugose, with four irre-
gularly-waved longitudinal carinte, the inner two of these reaching the
![]()
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTERA. 117
apex of the segment and ending in a well-marked tooth ; tibige of the
anterior and intermediate legs constricted at base ; basal abdominal
segments sub-depressed, the 2nd and 3rd marked above with V-shaped
depressions, apical segment sub-compressed. Dark shining blue, a broad
stripe on each side of the face, interrupted by the scape of the antennae,
white ; the anterior four legs, the base of the coxse, the trochanters,
femora, tibise and tarsi, except at their apex, the base and a band across
the Ist abdominal segment, a band across the 2nd, and the apical margins
above narrowly of the 3-5 segments, honey-yellow ; antennae black,
the 10-16 and the apical four joints of the fiagellum white ; the apex of
the posterior coxffi, femora and tibia3, and the claw-joint of the tarsi of
all the legs black ; ovipositor black, the side sheaths with a broad
sub-apical ring white ; wings hyaline, a fuscous spot on the forewing
at the junction of the radial with the cubital cells, tegulje and nervures
testacious.
9» Length 17, of ovqjositor 13 ; ewp. 27 mm.
Hab. Sikhira, 1,000 to 4,000 feet.
Family Chrysided.e, Leach.
4. Chrysis cupreiventris, sp. nov.
9. Head, thorax, and abdomen densely and rather coarsely punctured,
granular ; eyes slightly convergent below, front broad, with a fine
T-shaped carina between the eyes ; abdomen with a medial longitudinal
carina on the 2nd and 3rd segments above, 3rd segment ending in
four well-marked dentations with a row of six sub-apical fovea above
the dentations ; head and thorax brilliant steel-blue, the face below
the base of the antennpe, the posterior margin of the pronotum, the
tegulae, borders of the thorax above, the sides beneath the wings, the
pectus and the coxse, femora and tibia3 of the leg, golden-green ; the
antennse and the tarsi black, the scape of the former golden- oreen
above ; the clypeus, front cheeks, and sides of the thorax covered with
somewhat long, soft, white pubescence ; abdomen coppery-red, the 2nd
segment above in the middle steel-l:)lue, abdomen beneath blue-green,
the 2nd segment with a large lateral rounded spot at base ; wings hyaline,
slightly fuscous on the disc of the forewing, nervures dark brown.
9. Length 10 ; e.rp. 21mm.
Hab, Simla.
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118 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Nearest to C. zoheidaj Du Buyss, of ^vhich it may be an extreme
variety; but it is apparently distinct from a specimen of C. zoleida
from Aden given me by Colonel Yerbury.
Family Mutillid^, Leach.
5. Mutilla fumipennisy sp. nov., pi. A.f. 6.
t. Head and thorax somewhat coarsely punctured, the clypeusj
front sides of the face, cheeks, sides of the pronotum and median seg-
ment above with dense matted pubescence, the front above the base of
the antenna raised, tuberculate, giving to the face close to the lower
portion of the inner orbits and the sides of the clypeus an appearance
of beino- hollowed out, a short vertical carina from the anterior ocellus
not reacbino- the base of the antenupe ; mesonotum with two medial
lono-ltudinal furrows, scutellum excavate at base, produced posteriorly
into a cone, the apex tuberculate, shining ; median segment strongly
depressed with the sides somewhat flat, above meeting along the medial
line of the segment at an angle and forming a well-marked longitudinal
carina ; legs and abdomen thinly pubescent, the 2nd segment of the latter
finely and evenly punctured above, the remaining segments obsoletely
punctured towards their apical margins, apical segment with a faintly
defined medial longitudinal carina, 1st ventral segment with a highly
raised longitudinal carina forming a thin sub-triangular plate the
anterior edge of which is deeply emarginate. Black, the pubescence
silvery forming a broad medially interrupted band on the apical
maro-in of the 2nd abdominal segment, the 1st and basal four-fifths
of the 2nd segment of the abdomen red ; wings, basal half of forewing
deep yellow, of hind wing clear hyaline, apical portions of both wings
deep fuscous, tegulre black, very large, smooth and shining, nervures
yellow on the yellow or hyaline and fuscous on the dark portions of
the wings.
$. Length 12 : crp. 21 mm.
Ilah. Deesa.
Family Pompilid^, Leach.
6. Pseiidagenia glabra, sp. nov.
9 (^ Head, thorax, and abdomen smooth, brilliantly polished and
shining, entirely impunctate ; clypeus transverse, slightly convex, its
anterior margin straight ; mesonotum wide, convex ; median segment
rounded posteriorly with a gentle slope to the apex, which is emargin-
![]()
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAX IIYMENOPTERA. ll'j
ate ; abdomen narrow, about the length of the head and thorax united.
Jet black, the clypeus and sides of the face with dense, he sides of the
thorax and of the median segment with short, thin, silvery pubescence;
wings hyaline, tegulte and nervures black.
9 . Length 9 ; exp. 18 mm.
^. Length b-^; exp. 11-20 mm.
Hah. Simla, Sikhim.
7. Ponipilus deperditusj sp. nov.
9 . Head, thorax, and abdomen smooth, shining, and entirely
impunctate in certain lights, with a fine silky pruinose look, head not
quite so wide as the thorax ; clypeus convex, transversely truncate
anteriorly, labrum extended, well marked ; eyes with the inner orbits
slightly arched outwards in the middle, front and vertex broad, i-ouuded,
steeply sloping back to the occiput, this latter emarginate posteriorly :
pronotum somewhat long, anteriorly rounded, posteriorly emar-
ginate ; median segment with the sides slightly bulging, flattened,
above rounded, the apex depressed, gently emarginate ; abdomen
massive, slightly longer than the head and thorax united. Black, the
clypeus, sides of the face, cheeks ^ sides of the thorax and of the median
segment and the base of the segments of the abdomen in certain lights
covered with a thin plumbeous bloom ; wings hyaline with light fns-
cous clouds along the basal nervure, in the radial, 2nd cubital and 2nd
discoidal cells of the fore wing, and along the apical margins broadly
of both wings, nervures and tegul^e black.
9. Length 11-12 ; expj. 22 mm.
Hab. Simla,
Somewhat resembles P. Umhatus, Smith, but apart from the colour of
the wings, it differs from the latter in the much more massive and
longer prothorax, in the median segment not bearing a medial longi-
tudinally impressed line, and in the inner calcar of the hind tibise being
short, only about half the length of the metatarsus. In P. Umbatus
this calcar- very nearly equals the metatarsus in length.
Family Sphegid^, Leach.
8. Tachytes hospes^ sp. nov., pi. A, f. 7.
9 . Head and thorax anteriorly smooth, median segment rounded
above, truncate posteriorly, not so long as the thorax, bearing a medial
slightly marked longitudinal furrow from which fine divergent strise
radiate obliquely backwards, curving over the sides ; abdomen massive,
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120 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
smooth, dull and opaque, with only n few fine scattered punctures ;
pygidial area densely pubescent ; head, thorax, the coxre and tro-
chanters of the legs, and the median segment, black ; the femora, tibiae
and tarsi, and the abdomen dull deep red ; the clypeus, the face in
front as higli nearly as the vertex, the cheeks, the prouotum, the
mesouotum, except on the disc, the sides of the thorax and pectus, the
back of the anterior femoi'a and the front of the coxffi, the sides of the
scutellum, the postscutellum, and the sides and apex of the median
seo-ment, covered with a dense matting of fine short silvery pile, the
pygidial area with golden pile ; wings fusco-hyaline, their apical
margins darker, teguloe and nervures red.
$ . Length 20 ; i\rp. 32 mm.
Hah. Deesa.
9. Cei'cet'is himala'/ensh, sp. nov.
f^ . Head, except the clypeus and the region immediately round the
ocelli, thorax and abdomen closely and somewhat coarsely punctured
and granular; clypeus smooth, shining, highly polished, convex almost
circular, its anterior margin not dentate, cordate, space at the base of
the median segment longitudinally striate, remainder of segment
coarsely punctured, the punctures running into irregular strife on the
sides ; abdomen long, longer than the head and thorax, basal segment
narrowed, 2-4 segments strongly, 5th segment slightly, constricted at
base, 5th and 6th ventral segments with prominent well-marked lateral
teeth on their apical margins. Black, the mandibles except at apex, the
clypeus and face to n. little above the base of the antenncie, the scape of
the latter in front, a large spot on each side on the posterior margin
of the pronotum, the postscutellum, the greater part of the legs, and
transverse bands emarginate in the middle above on the apical margins
of 1-6 abdominal segments, yellow, the basal three joints of the flagel-
lum of the antennae, the apical three joints of the tarsi of the inter-
mediate legs, the apex of the femora, the tibiae and tarsi of the posterior
lo<Ts, and the lateral dentate processes on the 6th abdominal segment^
ferrufrinous, the apex of the mandibles and a mark on the femora of
all the legs posteriorly l)lack; wings hyaline, fuscous at apex and
along the outer margin, the costal margin of the forewing stained deep
yellow, togulsG and nervures yellow.
$ . Length 1 1 ; e.rp. 20 mm.
IJah. Simla.
![]()
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTERA. m
10. Crabro grassator^ sp. nov.
$, Head broad, broader than the thorax front, vertex, pro- and
mesonotum finely and very closely punctured, with an opaque and
somewhat granular appearance, scutellum, postscutellum, and median
segment more coarsely punctured, the last with a medial deep trans-
versely striate and somewhat broad furrow, meeting in T-fashion a
furrow running between the postscutellum and median segment ;
abdomen smooth, polished, elongate, oval in shape, the basal segment
gradually broadening from base to apex. Black, the base of the man-
dibles, the scape of the antenn?e in front, a medially interrupted line
on the posterior margin of the pronotum, tha tubercles, the greater
part of the legs, and ovate spots at the base of the 2nd, 4th, and
5th abdominal segments above yellow, the spots on the latter two
segments having a greenish tinge ; the clypeus, which is sub-porrect, and
front of the face covered with dense silvery pile, the coxse and greater
part of the femora of the legs black, the tarsi stained ferruginous >
wings hyaline, lightly sub -fuscous, nervures and tegulai dark brown.
$. Lenylh 9; iwp. 16 mm.
Hab. kSimla.
Closely allied to C. odontopliornsi^ Cam., and C. xxnkns. Cam.,
but diffeving from both in mafkings, and vei'y conspicuously in structure
nnd sculj'ture.
Family Eumenid.e, Westro.
11. Eumenes antenriata, sp. nov., pi. A, f;, 8.
$. V^ertex of the head, the mesonotum, the petiole of the abdomen,
and 2nd abdominal segment above coarsely punctured, remahider of
the head, thorax, and abdomen smooth but dull and opaque in appearance;
clvpeus elongate scutifbrm, deeply emarginato at apex ; scape of the
antenna3 very thick and massive; petiole of abdomen narrowed at base,
sub-tubetculate on the middle laterally. Black, the mandibles, clypeus,
iiice in front, the emargination of the eyes, a line behind them, the sc5\po
of the antennrc, the pronotnm, two cresceutic spots anteriorly on the
mesonotum, two smaller quadrate spots on the same in the middle, the
scutellum, a line posteriorly on the postscutellum, the whole of the
median segment, except a small triangular spot at its base, the meso-
pleurse, the legs, two spots at the base, two laterally on the midille and
the apes broadly of the petiole, and the greater part of the rest of the
16
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122 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL IlfSTOFiY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
abdomen yellow ; the back of the femoru, apex of the tibiic, and the tarsi
of the posterior legs reddish-brown, tlie base narrowly, and a transversely
elongate diamond-shaped spot on the 2nd abdominal segment above,
with the bases of the 3-6 segment and the whole of the apical segment
black ; the apical three joints of the flagellum of the antennae reddish-
yellow j wings hyaline, tegnlojyellov;, nervures testaceous, the ciypeus
covered with silvery pile, very bright and glistening in certain lights.
$. Length 10; exp. 18 mm.
Hab. Deesa.
12. Odynenis nursei, sp. nov., pi. a, f. 9.
9 . Head .-and front above the base of the antenure veiy finely and
closely punctured ; olypeus nearly circular, very convex, smooth and
dull, with only a few scattered fine puncture?, the anterior margin bent
downwards and produced slightly into two tee'h ; thorax oval alx)ve,
on the sides somewhat finely and distantly, and on the postscutellum
and median segment above very densely and coarsely punctured ; disc
of mesonotum with two parallel longitudinally impressed lines ; median
segment posteriorly truncate, the face of the truncation smooth ; legs
smooth, shining, slightly pruinose in certain lighis ; abdomen highly
polished and shining, the basal segment and base of the 2nd coarsely
and cribrately punctured and rugose, the former narrowed at base,
anteriorly abruptly truncate, with a transversely impressed fun-ow along
the margin of the truncation, remaining abdominal segments lightly
punctured ; the 1st ventral segment coarsely reticulate, the margin
smooth ; base of the 2nd ventral segment depressed, bearing coarse
longitudinal strife with deep fuiTows between, the remainder of this and
the following ventral segments highly polished, smootli, and shining.
Black, a crescentic spot at the base of the ciypeus, a spot on each side on
the pronotum, a spot beneath the base of the wings, the apical margins
of the 1st narrowly, of the 2nd broadly alx)ve and on the sides, and of
the ord and 4th abdominal segments nan-owly in the middle above,
yellow, legs blaok ; the apex of the femora, the tibiae and tarsi testaceous-
brown, the tibias of the intermediate and posterior legs with a black
stain on the underside ; wings light fusco-hyaline, nervures and tegulse
reddish-brown.
9 . Lenfjth ] 2 ; e.qy. ZO mm.
Hub. Suula.
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NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMEN OPTERA. 123
Fuinily Apid^, Auct.
13. Spliecodes Indicus, sp. nov., pi. A, f. 10.
$. Head closely und finely punctured ; antennae elongate ; somewhat
moniliform ; thorax anteriorly shining sparsely ; the median segment
densely and very coarsely punctm-ed, the pmictures running into reticu-
lations, the segment rounded above, the apex truncate, and margined
and hearing a medial longitudinal carina ; legs and abdomen smooth,
polished and shining, rather finely and delicately punctured, a constric-
tion between the 1st and 2nd segments of the latter, with the margin
oi" the 2nd segment depressed. Jet black,, the front, the clypeus,
cheeks, sides of the thorax beneath wings, and the legs covered with a
thin silvery-white pubescence, most dense on the clypeus and front of
the head below the base of the antenme, very sparse on the legs, where
on the tarsi it turns into a ferruginous-brown colour ; wings hyaline at
base, sub-fuscous on their apical two-thirds, nervures and teguloe black.
^. Length 7 ; exp. 15 mm.
14. Halictas asperatus^ sp. nov.
9. Head above, thorax and abdomen very minutely and- densely
punctured ; the face on each side of the clypeus and along the inner
orbits to as high as the base of the antenna? rugosely striate, the strite
irregular and obliquely divergent ; clypeus finely and somewhat sparsely
punctured, anteriorly transverse ; median segment short, abruptly trun-
cate posteriorly ; the cordate space at base broad, concave, and with fine
oblique divergent strite ; abdomen massive, longer than the head and
thorax united. Black, the apical margins of the basal three abdominal
segments reddish-brown ; the head, thorax, legs and transverse narrow
bands, on the apical margins of the 1-4 segments of the abdomen,
with hoary-white pubescence ; the pubescence inclines to fuscous on the
head and face in front, is very bright and glittering with a yellow tinge
on the legs, and is snow-white on the abdomen ; anal rima reddish-brown,
with a fringe on each side of fuscous hairs ; wings hyaline, very faintly
fuscous on their apical margins, the tegdie and nervures brown.
9. Length 11 ; exp. 23 mm.
Hah. Simla.
This large and handsome species can be easily distinguished hx its
remarkablv rugose face.
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124 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCLETY, Vol. XII.
15. Ualictus (h/nasks., sp. nov.
9 . Head a1x)ve and in front to the base of the antenn.'B very finel}r
punctured, the punctures seemnig to run hito stri^ in certain lights ;
clypeus and median segment more distantly and coarsely punctured ;
al)domen above finely aciculate ; median segment roundeil posteriorly,
with the cordate space at base concave, and with fine divergent strite-.
Black, the pubescence on the head and thorax fuscous, on the legs pale
and glittering, and on the abdomen hoary- white, forming a narrow
transvei-se band at the base of the 2nd and 6th segments, and a very
broad and conspicuous one at the base of the ord segment, anal rima
reddish-brown, fringed with fuscous hairs on each side ; wings very
broad and ample, hyaline, tegute black, nervures brown.
9 . Length 10 ; e^cp. 21 mm.
IIai>. Simla.
Resembles H. ducalis, Bingh., but themedran segment is rounded, noi
truncate posteriorly, the cordate space at its base being striated, not
punctured, and the broad band of pubescence is at the base of the 3i\ly
not the 2ud abdominal segment.
16. Halictus nivTeus, sp. ncyv.
(J. Head, thorax, and abdomen polished and shining, extremely
minutely punctured, the punctures on the face in front seeming, in certain
lights, to run into very fine longitudinal strite ; median segment round-
ly truncate posteriorly, the cordate space at base reticulate; abdomen with
the apical margins of the basal two segments distinctly depressed. Jet
l)lack, thinly covered with a short pale pubescence all over, most dense-
on the femora, tibiaj, and tarsi of the logs ; the apical margins of all the
abdominal segments, and the tibise and tarsi of the legs, testaceous ;
wings hyaline, nervures and tegulse pale testaceous.
$. Length 8-9; exp. 17 mm.
Ilab, Simla.
17. Halictus himalayensis^ sp. nov., pi. A, f. 11.
$ , Head and ihoras in front closely and very finely punctured ;
median segment rounded, slightly truncate posteriorly, the cordate
space at its base depressed, bearing divergent fine oblique stria3 ; abdo-
men massive, smooth, and saining ; head and thorax black ; the greater
part of the abdomen blood-red ;. the face in front, the sides of the tho-
I'as, the sides and apex of the median segment, and tho legs covered-
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NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN BYMENOPTERA. 125
with somewhat dense glittering pale yellow pubescence, forming a tiift
on the tubercles, and specially dense on the femora and inside of the
tibial of the posterior legs ; the base of the 1st and the apical two
segments of the abdomen blackish, the anal rima pale testaceous ; wings
hyaline, tegulfe and nervures testaceous.
9. Length 7 ; exp. 14 mm.
ITab. Simla, Mussoorie, Sikhim.
18. Nonila tegulata, Smith.
Nomia tegulata. Smith, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1875, p. G9.
An Arabian and African species not previously recorded from Indir*.
Specimens vary somewhat in size and in the colour of the tegulaa, but can
be easily distinguished from all others by the remarkably laro-e
development of the latter. I give Smith's original description : —
" Female. — Length 2| to 3|- lines. Black and thinly covered with
short cinereous pubescence, that on the tarsi and posterior tibiag pale
fulvous. Head : the flagellum fulvous beneath towards the apex ;
the clypeus rather strongly and closely ])unctured. Thorax : the
metathorax smooth with the sides pimctured. Wings hyaline with their
apical margins clouded, the nervures testaceous, the tegulse laro-e and
pale testaceons, having anteriorly a rufo-fuscous spot ; the posterior
tibiag and all the tarsi pale ferruginous ; abdomen, at the basal
margins of the segments a fascia of pale pubescence, over which is a
thin fringe of pale fulvous hairs on the apical margins."
Hah. Sierra Leone, Aden, Deesa.
Specimens vary in length from 2| — 4^ lines ( 6 — 9 mm.) and in
the colour of the tegnlse from white to dark testaceous-yellow.
19. Megachile creusa, sp. no v.
9. Head, thorax, and the bases of the abdominal segm^ents strono-Iy
but finely punctured ; head very large and maasive, broader than the
thorax, emarginate posteriorly ; clypeus slightly convex, broader than
high, its anterior margin transverse ; median segment very short,
smooth, and impunctate at base : abdomen about as long as the head and
thorax united ; the apical margins of segments 2 — 5 strongly depressed
the anterior border of the depressed bands bisinuate. Black the
flagellum of the antennas, and the femora, tibiag, and tarsi of all the
legs dark blood-red ; the front and clypeus, sides of the thorax and of
the median segment, covered with long, the margins of the abdominal
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126 JOURNAL, BOMDA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XII.
seo"ineuts 1-5 with sliort, white pubescence; pollen brush fuscous-white,
wino-s hyaline, shaded with fuscous on the apical half of the forewing,
nervures and tegular brownish-red.
$ . Lenrjth 1 2 ; e.rp. 23 mm.
Hah. Deesa.
20. Megacldle ccelioxy sides, sp. nov.
9 . Head, thorax, and abdomen extremely, minutely, and closely
punctured and densely pubescent, the pubescence soft and short on the
aljdomen, forming apical bauds on segments 1 — 5 ; head about as broad
as the thorax ; clypeus broad, convex, its anterior margin transverse,
notched in the middle ; abdomen tapering sharply from base to apex, as
in the genus Coilioxjjs. Black, the pubescence snow-white, ferrugin-
ous on the inside of the metatarsus of the posterior legs, antennae
castaneous, claws pale testaceous ; pollen brush snow-white ; wings
hyaline, nervures and togulaa testaceous.
9. Length 10; e.rp. 17 mm.
Hal). Deeaa.
21. Megachile stwUosa, sp. nov.
9 . Head, thorax, and abdomen finely, evenly, and somewhat closely
punctured ; the clypeus and front, the cheeks, sides of the thorax, sides
of the median segment and legs clothed with long soft pubescence ;
clypeus much broader than high, slightly convex, its anterior margin
transverse or even slightly emarginate ; abdomen strongly convex
jibove the 3rd and 4th segments, with a conspicuous transversely-
impressed line above, posterior to which on the dth segment the
surface is smooth, shining, impunctate. Black, the pubescence snow-
white, ferruginous on the inside of the ])osterior tarsi ; pollen brush
snow-white ; wings hyaline, nervures and tegulaa black.
9. Length 9 ; exp. 17 mm.
Hab. Simla.
The latter two species somewhat resemble each other at first sight ;
but apart from the diflt'erence of the puncturing, the remarkable shape
of the abdomen of 2L cmlkvvysides distinguishes it at once from
M. sludiosa, and in fact from any species of Megachile known to me.
22. Antlddium desidiosum, sp. nov., pi. A, f. 12.
9 . Head and thorax dull o])aque, looking densely and very finely
punctured, and covered with somewhat long sparse pubescence ;
![]()
XEW SPECIES OF INDIAN ITYMEXOPTERA. 127
abdomen more finely but not quite so densely punctured, non-pubes-
cent and slightly shining ; all the abdominal segments with their
apical margins very narrowly smooth and polished. Black, the
clypeus, the sides of the face, a transverse line on the occiput broad-
ened at each end, the m.argins of the tegulse, the posterior margins
very narrowly of the scutellum, the tibiffi anteriorly, and the tarsi of
the legs, and elongate spots on each side at the base of all the
abdominal segments above yellow, the pubescence fuscous, the pollen-
brush yellowish-white ; wings hyaline, broadly fuscous along their
apical margins.
9 . Length 10 ; exp. 21 mm.
Hab. Deesa.
23. Ceratlna incognita^ ?p. nov.
$ . Head and thorax finely and closely, abdomen more coarsely,
punctured, shining ; the clypeus, the disc of the mesonotum and of the
scutellum nearly impunotate, polished ; median segment rounded pos-
teriorly ; the lunate space :it base concave, coarsely punctured and
rugose. Black, the clypeus, the tubercles, the knees and the tibiae
anteriorly of all the legs ; elongate lateral spots on abdominal
segments 2 — 4, smaller lateral spots on segments 1 and 5, and two spots
medially above on the apical margin of the 1st segment above,
reddish-yellow or orange ; tarsi testaceous-yellow ; wings hyaline ;
uervures and tegulte dark brown.
$ . Length 8 ; exp, 16 mm.
Hah. Simla.
24. Ardhophtrra l/riope^ sp. nov.
^. Head, thorax, and abdomen covered with dense long pubescence,
forming on the last broad transverse bands on the apical margins
of segments 1 — 5 ; clypeus sub-porrect, with a deep square emargina-
tion anteriorly, the v-ertex of the head and the base of all the segments
of the abdomen densely punctured. Black, the base of the mandibles,
the labrum, and the clypeus whitish-yellow ; the margins of the labrum
and of the clyjieus, and the apex of the mandibles, testaceous-brown,
the sides of the clypeus tov/ards the base black, the antenna)
castaneous, the pubescence on the vertex, on the thorax above, and
on tlie posterior lateral angles above, of the median segment,
ochiaceous, that on the clypeus, cheeks, thorax beneatb, on the
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128 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATUPxAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
outside of the anterior log?, on the outside of the cox.t, femora?,
tibise, and metatarsi of the intermediate and posterior legs, and the
transverse hands on the abdomen, snow-white ; on the inside of the legs
and on the apical joints of the intermediate and posterior tarsi is
jet black in conspicuous contrast ; wings hyaline, with an exceed-
ingly pelncid glassy look, norvures and tegul;i3 testaceous.
$. I.enrfth 10 ; e.rj?. 19 mm.
Ilab. Deesa.
25. Anthopliora iole, sp. nov.
^. Allied to and closely resembling the last but structurally
different ; head on the vertex above and the liases of all the
abdominal segments extremely, minutely, and closely punctured,
the puncturing much finer than in the preceding species ; clypeus
convex, sub-porrect, its anterior margin transverse not emarginate.
i31ack, the labrum, clypeus, the face on either side and above
below the base of the anteunap, and the scape of the last in
front, pearly-white ; two spots at the base of the labrum ; a broad
oblique line on each side of the clypeus, and the margins narrowly both
of the clypeus and labrum, black ; the back of the scape and the flagel-
lum of the antennae dark castaneous ; the head above the l)ase of the
antennas, the thorax above the median segment, and the basal abdomi-
nal seo-ments clothed with dense long ochraccous pul)escence, with the
tips of the hairs fuscous-l)]ack ;the cheeks, pectus, sides of the thorax,
le^s on the outside, and abdomen with dirty fuscous-white pubescence,
which on the abdomen forms somevvhist thin but broad transverse
bands on the apical margins of segments '2 — 5, the inside of the legs,
especially the inside of the posterior metatarsi, clothed with dense black
pubescence ; wings hyaline, nervures and tegulre brown.
$. Length 10 ; ej-p. 20 mm.
Hah. Simla.
26. Anthophora antiope, sp. nov.
9 . Head, thorax, and abdomen finely and closoly punctured, pubes-
cent ; clypeus convex, subporrect, anteriorly roundly emarginate, front
below the ocelli depressed, a conspicuous medial vertical carina from
the anterior ocellus to the apex of the clypeus; anal segment of the
abdomen raised and Hat above, compressed at the sides. Black, the
pubescenoe on the front, the sides of tho thorax, the median
![]()
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTEBA 12^
segment, and base of 1st abdominal segment, fuscous-white, on the
cheeks, pectus, legs in front, and abdomen it is snow-white, forming on
the last narrow transverse bands above and below on segments 1 — 5
pubescence on the tarsi, and the tibial calcaria and apical joints of the
tarsi, castaneous ; wings hyaline, tegute testaceous, uervures dark
brown.
$. Length l^',e:cp. 28 mm.
Hah. Simla.
27. Apis kstacea., sp. nov,
9 . H«ad, thorax, and abdomen smooth, dull, impunctate, covered on
ihe head and thorax with a very thin sparse pubescence ; clypeus very
slightly convex, its anterior margin truncate, front with a conspicuous
medial furrow from the base of the antennae to below the anterior
ocellus, where it forks and passes in Y-fashion to behind the posterior
ocelli ; median segment rounded posteriorly, with a medial longitudinal
forrow ; abdomen massive, longer than the head and thorax united; head,
flagellum of the antennae, except the basal joint, and the whole of the
thorax and median segment, castaneous brown ; the scape and basal
joint of the flagellum of the autennse, the legs and the abdomen, pule
honey-yellow, the whole insect having a pelucid semi-transparent
appearance, pubescence snow-white ; wings hyaline, vitreous, tegulaj
and nervures honey-yellow.
9. Length 9; £a'p. 8 mm.
Hah . Deesa.
Knowing the extreme variability of the three common species of
honey bees found in India, it is with no little hesitation I describe and
figure this remarkable form sent me by Captain Nurse. It is so differ-
ent from any specimen oi Apis indica or of A. florea that I have ever
come across that I venture to describe it as new. It is to be hoped
that Captain Nurse will be able to find a comb of the species, and
procure the queen and the drones.
17
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130 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
EXPLANATION OF PLATE A,
(a) Aden Hymenoptbra.
Tracfiypus suheoncolorj sp. nov. ... ... ... Fig.
Fhilanthus yerhuryl, sp; nov. ... ... .^ „
TracJiypiis nursei^ sp. nov. ... ... ... ,j
(h) Indian Hymenoptera.
Coleocenifus moUerii, sp. nov. ,„ ... ... „
„ „ view underside of last four
abdominal segments ... „
,r y, basal 4 or 5 joints of tbe
antenna
JXyhnomus elizahethcSjSp.noY. ...
„ „ foreleg showing attenuated
base
MutMa fumipennis^ sp. nov. ... ... .,.
Tachytes hospes^ sp. nov,,..
Eumenes antennata, sp. nov.
Odynerus nurse/', sp. nov. ... ,.. „,
Sphecodes indicuSy sp. nov. „. ...
Ilalictus himalayensis, sp. nov. ... ... ,,,
Aniliidiuni desidiosum, sp. nov.,,, ,,. .„
1, p. lOT,
2, p. 106.
3, p. 10^.
4, p. 116>.
4a, p. 116.
![]()
Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.
Plate A.
B.L.Dos. del. Calcutta.
V/est Newman imp
INDO- MALAYAN HYMENOPTERA.
![]()
de NICEVILLE, Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. Vol.XII.
Plate X.
C CkukrabTirtbr del
WestjNewman chromo.
EASTERN BUTTERFLIES.
![]()
L. de NTCE^vTLLE . Jcnjrn. Bomb. Nat. Hist. So c Vol. XII
Plate Y
CliukraBurtty del
West.Ke-wman ciiromo
EASTERN BUTTERFLIES.
![]()
L.de NICEVILLE, Jo-urn. Bomb- ISlat. Hist. Soc.Vol. XII
Plate Z
^hukiaburtW del.
West,Re''''TiM .
E A3 TEF ''•- H T TT TTT T^' ^-T , [V
![]()
L de' NICEVILLE , .Jo-urn. B omt, Nat. Hist. Soc. Vol. XII.
Plate AA.
1 & C. ChulcraJcur^ly oLe»
/VL.;*,,JS'evraQaii chrome.
i
EASTERN BUTTERFLIES.
![]()
131
O^ NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES FROM
THE INDO-MALAYAN, AUSTRO-MALAYAN, AND
AUSTRALIAN REGIONS.
By Lionel db Niceville, f.e.s., c.m.z.s., &c.
[With Plates 1, r, Z, <£• AA.]
{Read hefoy^ the Bomhay Natural History Society on lM,h June, 1898.jf
Family NYMPHALID.E.
Subfamily Danain.e.
1. EtrpLCEA [Crastia) core, Cramer, pi. X, figs. 1, 2, (^.
Papilio cure, Cramer, Pap. Ex., vol. iii, pi. cclxfi, figs. E, F (1780).
The specimen figured is from Sikkim, and has been kindly lent to mo
by Mr. Paul Mowis. The left-hand side of the insect is much smaller
than the right-hand side, so that at first sight it appears to be
a bilateral gynandromorphous specimen ; but on examination closely
the forelegs are found to be both masculine, and there is the usual
male brand on both forewings in the middle of t!ie submedian inter-
space, the brand on the smaller left-hand wing being only 4 mm.
in length, while that on the opposite wing is 9 mm. long, or more than
twice the length of the other. The number of spots on both pnirs of
wings on the upperside is the same, but on the underside the larger
forewing has three additional violet spots, one each in the first and second
subcostal, and the third in the lower discoidal, intei^paces. On the
larger hindwing also there are five additional violet spots, a large
apical one in the subcostal interspace, and seven instead of three,
placed one in each interspace beyond the discoidal cell. The specimen'
is altogether a very remarkable one ; it is not an ordinary aberration
or " sport," nor is it gynandromorphous, -so it is difficult to know how
to clas-sify it. Owing to the diff'orence in the size of the white markings
on the upperside of the forewing, the smaller left-hand wing may be
said to be true E. core, while the larger right-hand wing, with its dispro-
portionally larger markings, is a typical E. vermiculata, Butler, the latter
name applying in the writer's opinion to the dT3'-season form of E. core,
true E. core being the wet-season form {vide this Journal, vol xi,
p. 214, n. 7(1897).
2. EUPLCEA (Trepsichrois) LTXN.EI, Moore, pi X, figs. 3, 4, $.
Trepgichrois linntsifMooTQ, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1895, p.286, n. 1, pis. xxix»
fig. i, female ; xxx, fig. 1, male.
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1.^2 JOURNAL, BO^rn AY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
The rcmerkable aberration or " sport " here figured was taken
in Sikkim, and lias been kindly lent to me by Mr. Paul Mowis,-of Dar-
jillng. From typical specimens of the species from the same region it
differs in the shape of the forewing, wliich has the outer margin fronn
the lowest discoidal uervule to the apes produced and truncated, and
the neuration is highly abnormal, not being even the same on both
wings ; the left-hand wing has five instead of the normal two discoidal
nervules, nuinbei*s one, three, four, and five counting from behind
forwards arising from the disco-cellular nervules, and number two
arising from number ane close to its base ; in addition to this, numbers-
three and five give off anteriorly near the middle a sliort spur or
additional veinlet ; the subcostal nervure instead of reaching the outi^r
margin of the wing just below the apex of the wing stops short a little
before reaching the outer margin ; lastly the discoidal cell is abnormally
broad outwardly, with several additional disco-oellular nervnles closing
it, from which spring two (instead of the normal one) spure running a.
short distance into the ceil ; the right-hand wing also has five discoidal
nervules, but they differ froui those in the opposite wing, in that number
five does not give off a spur, while number three instead of giving off a.
spur anteriorly does so posteriorly, which spur at its apex bifurcates and
is continued a short distance right and left at right-angles^ to its basal
portion ; the subcostal nervure is the same as in the opposite wing, its
terminal portion ( often called the fifth subcostal nervule) not reaching
the outer margin. The left-hand hindwing (when the specimen is
turned once) is abnormal, as it has two instead of one discoidal nervules,
and the discoidal cell is unusually broad ; the right-hand wing also
possesses this extra veinlet, but in addition it gives off anteriorly a third
discoidal nervule. The markings also are abnormal, the forewings
on the upperside having each six bluish-white spots beyond the-
discoidal cell instead of three, the three additional spots owing their
existence to the presence of three additional internenndar interspaces,
there being three extra discoidal nervules ; these spots all reappear on
the underside of the wings, l)ut are as usual much smaller than on the
upperside. The hind wings on the upperside are normal ; but on the
underside the discoidal cell bears outwardly four bluish- white dashes ;
normally there is one or at most two such markings ; the submarginaL,
marginal, and di-cal series of dots and streaks are also more numerous-
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I
NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 133
than usual, as there is an additional discoidal interspace on one side and
two on the other.
The coloured drawing shows the upper- and undersides of the left-
hand wings only ; the unooloured drawing shows the underside of
all the wings.
Subfamily SATYRlNiE.
Genus Mycalesis, Hiibner, subgenus Physcon, nov.
Male. Forewing, costa regularly and evenly arched ; ajiex well
rounded ; outer marc/in almost straight, slightly convex only ; anal angle
rounded ; inner margin a little convex ; costal nervure swollen at the base,
ending on the costa far beyond the apex of the discoidal cell ; first sub-
costal nerviile arising about one-fourth before the end of the cell, termi-
nating on the costa about opposite to the origin of the third subcostal ;
second subcostal originating far beyond the end of the cell, ending on the
costa at about opposite to the origin of the fourth subcostal ; third
subcostal arising about midway between the second and the fourth, termi-
nating on the costa well before the apex of the wing ; fourth subcostal long,
terminating on the costa before the apex of the wing ; terminal portion of
the subcostal nervure longer that the fourth subcostal nervule, ending on
the outer margin below the apex of the wing ; upjyer disco-cellular
nervule short, straight, upright ; middle disco-oellular concave, strongly
inwardly oblique, twice as long as the upper disco-cellular ; lower
disco-ceilular very long, at first strongly inwardly oblique, then boldly
curving romad towards the outer margin, the posterior portion strongly
outwardly oblique ; median nervure swollen at the base ; tliird median
nervule arising at the lower end of the cell, strongly curved ; second
median arising long before the lower end of the cell ; first median
arising a little beyond the middle of the median nervure ; submedian
nervure swollen at the base, straight ; a large tuft of black hairs arises
from the middle of the sutural area on the upper surface of the wing ;
these hairs are directed outwards and forwards, their tips lying
on the submedian nervure. Hindwing, costa arched at base,
then slightly convex to the apex of the wing ; apex acute ;
outer margin angled at the termination of the third median nervule,
very slightly scalloped ; anal angle rounded ; abdominal margin
convex ; prop^costal nervure sin: pie, concave, directed towards
the apex of the wing ; fi'rst subcostal nervule curved, arising well
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134 JOURS AL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
before the upex of the cell, terminating on the costa far before the
apex of the wing ; second subcostal terminating at the apex of the wing ;
dlscoldal cell long, reaching to about the middle of the wing ; discocellular
7iervid-es sinuous, outwardly oblique, the upper about half the length
of the lower ; third median nervale very strongly curved throughout its
basal half ; third and second medians arising together just beyond the lower
extremity of the cell ; suhmedian and internal nervm'es straight ; a tuft of
long ochreous hairs arises at the base of the cell on the upperside of the
wing, and is projected outwards and forwards. Eyes hairy. Antennce a
little less than half the lengih of the costa of the forewing, with a lengthen-
ed rather slender club. Type, Mycalesis (Plujseon] pandcea, Hopffer.
Mr. !Moore in Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1S80, p. 155, when breaking
up the Asiatic species of Mycalesis into subgenera, was unacquainted
with M. pandcea, Hopffer, or he would probably hav3 made a new
genus for its reception. As far as I am aware, only two of his genera —
Loliora and Loesa — have the second subcostal nervule of the forcM'ing
emitted beyond the apex of the discoidal ceil as in M. pavdaa ; but I
am unacquainted with his g^enus Nasapa^* in the diagnosis of which no
reference is made to the position of this veinlet. Lohora has no
secondary sexual characters at all on the forewing, while Loesa has a
glandular patch of androconia on the underside of tbat wing, which is
entirely lacking in Physcon, while Fhysron has a tuft of hairs on the
sutural area of the forewing on the upperside, which is found in a differ-
ent form in the subgenera Virapa, Samundra, Gareris^ Satoa,
Sadarga^ Dalapa, Suralaya and Orsolricena, but not in Loesa. It would
appear therefore that Physcon has secondary sexual characters in the
male on both wings as in Mr. Moore's Group I (1. c, p. 155), while as
regards the neuration of ihe forewing it agrees with one genus in his
Group II (1. c, p. IGl), and with his Group III (1. c, p. 177).
3. Mycalesis [Physcon^ pandjra, Hopffer, ph Y, fig. 9, $.
3f. pandfsa^'SoYiSev, Stet. Ent, Zeit., vol. xxxv, p. 39, n. 116 (1874); id., Moore,
Trans. Ent. Soc. Lend., 1880, p. 177 ; 31. deianirina^ FruliBtorfer, Berl. Ent. Zeitsch.,
vol. xlii,p. ll7a89")•
HABITAT : Celebes {Hojyfcr and Moore); Toli Toli, North Celebes,
Nov. — Dec, 1895, H. Fruhstorfer (Friihstorfer and coll. de Nkeville).
* Ilerr (Jeorge Semper in Schmett. Philipp., p. 55 (1887) sinks the genus Kasapa nnder
Nebdara. The latter has the secaiid subcostal nervule of the forewing emitted before the
end of the discoidal cell.
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 135
This species hus a remarkable superficial resemblance to M. (Lohora)
ophthalmmis, Westwood, J/. (Lohora) de.vamenus^ Hewitson, M. (Lohora)
dinonj Hewitson, J/. (Lohora) deianira, Hewitson (= 21. dora, Hewitson)^
all of which occur in the same island ; but the secondary sexual
characters of the male will distinguish that sex from all these. The
female is unknown, and will probably be difficult to discriminate.
Mr. Francis A. Heron of the British Museum has kindly examined
the drawing here reproduced, and informs me that it does not quite agree
with Hopffer's description of his unique male example, but that it
certainly represents the J/, deianirina of Fruhstoi-fer, described from
Toll Toll in North Celebes. There can be but little doubt, I think,
that Hopifer's and Frohstorfer's species are one and the same. Herr
Fruhstorfer has at my request compared the types of the two species in
Berlin, and has kindlv furnished me with the followinor note regarding
them : — '' 31. deianirina is almost a synonym of M. pandcea, at best it is
only a local race. The type of the latter species bears the unsatisfactory
label ' Celebes, A. B. Meyer.' M. deianinna differs, as also does a second
specimen in my collection, from M, pandcea in having waved instead of
straight marginal and submarginal lines on the underside of the
forewing, and those lines on the hindwing are black instead of brown ;
the apex of the hindwing bears a lilac band, which is not found in
M. pandcea ; my species has eight while Hopffer's species has six ocelli
on the hindwing ; my species has broader and darker brown median
lines on both wings than J/, pandcea.^'' I do not understand M. Fruhs-
torfer's remark tbit M. pandcea has six ocelli and M. deianirina eight
on the hindwing, as my specimen has only four.
Subfamily Elyjixun.e.
4. ELYsrsTAS (Mehjnias) exclusa, de Niceville, pi. X, fig, 5, $.
E. (.l/eZy «<■«.?) (wolutay de .Niceville, Joarn, A. S, B., vol. Ixvi, pt. 2, p. 631, n. &8
(1898).
Habitat : Bali, 2,000 to 4,000 feet, March, 1896 (Doherty).
Expanse : c?, 3'0 inches.
Description : " Male. Differs from the same se^x of E, casiphone
prcetextata, Fruhstorfer, from the low country of Bali and from Lombok,
in having the UPPERSIDE of the /o/'gM;/;2^ entirely deep uniform velvety
black, without markings, in that species the ground-colour is fuscous
becoming outwardly much paler, with a submarginal series of six bluish-
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136 JOURNAL, BOMDA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
white spots. Hindioing difFor? also in hjiving the ground-colour much
darker, with a submarginal series of four prominent transversely-
elongated oohreous-white spots pl.iood between the veins, these being
obsolete in that species ; it is heavily clothed on the disc with long black
hairs. Underside, both wings much as in that species. Differs from
E. erinyes^ de Niceville,* from the Battak Mountains of North-east
Sumatra, in the forewing being shorter, less elongated, and on the
upperside of the hindwing in not having a series of perpendicularly-
elongated pale streaks between the veins. Diflfers from JL. kamara.
Moore,t from Java [Moore), and Lombok (Fruhstorfet'), only in having
on the UPPERSIDE of the hindwing a single series of narrow ochreous-
white spots, instead of a second and third series anterior to the first
extending towards the base of the wing. Female unknown."
" In de Niceville and-Elwes' collections are single males." (de Biceville,
1. c).
5. Elymnias (Mehjnias) NEOLAis, n. sp., pi. X, fig. 6, $ .
Elymnias Inis, Kheil (nee Cramer), Khop. Nias, p. 20, n. 29 (1884).
Habitat : Nias Island, near Sumatra.
Expanse : <^, 2*9 ; 9, 3*3 inches.
Description : Male. Almost exactly the same as true E. lalsy
Cramer, from Java, but on the upperside of both wings the pale
greenish-ochreous streaks between the veins are somewhat narrower
and darker. On the underside of both wings it differs from E. laisidis,
de Niceville, :{ from North-east Sumatra, in having all the dark markings
much larger and of a deeper colour, therein agreeing with E. lais.
Female. Upperside, foreioing has a large triplicate subapical white
patch divided only by the veins and sti'ongly glossed with violet, this
gloss barely extends beyond the white patch. In E. lalsidis the violet
gloss is of much greater extent, and reaches to the submedian interspace,
and is also much wider, reaching the discoidal cell. E. lais has no violet
gloss whatever. In outline it is nearest to E. lais, but the wing is rather
longer, though it is not as long as it is in E. laisides. The hindu'ing has
the pale streaks between the veins less wide than in E. laisiais, still loss
wide than in E. lais.
• Jonrn. Bomb. Xat. Hist. Soc, vol. x, p. 19, n. 5, pi. R, figs. '.), male ; 10,Jhnale (I8y5)_
t Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc, vol. x, n. 20, pi. B, fii?. II, iiKtle (IS'.io)..
: Journ. A. S. B., vol. Ixiv, pt. 2, p. 390, u. 96 (189G),
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 137
Described from five males and one female, all received from Mr. H.
Fruhstorfer. I have figured for comparison the females of E. lalsidls
and E. lais on pi. Y, figs. 7 and 8 respectively.
Subfamily AMATHUSHNiE.
fi. DiSCOPHOKA DEO, U. Sp., pi. Y, fig. 10, $,
Habitat : North Shan States, Upper Burma.
Expanse : $,c>'b\ 9> 4*0 and 4'2 inches.
Description ; Male. Uppeeside, loth ivings deep indigo-blue.
Forcioing with a broad curved disonl orange band, of nearly equal width
throughout, its edges rather irregular, commencing on the costa broadly,
and ending on the first median nervule, not reaching the outer margin,
broken posteriorly by a spot of the ground-colour which reaches from
the first median nervule to the middle of that interspace; the orange
band is continued beyond the first median nervule to the middle of the
submedian interspace by an obscure orange spot ; the costa is narrowly
orange for some distance on either side of the discal band ; the outer
margin is also very narrowl}^ orange. Hindioing with the usual velvety
rounded deep black sexual patch in the middle of the wing ; a series of
ouier-discal most obscure pale spots between the veins ; the outer margin
narrowly orange. Underside, both unngs deep ochreous, spotted, streak-
ed and mottled with black as in the Indian form of D. celiyide, Stoll
{D. contlnentalis, Staudinger). Hindwing with two small and obscure
ocelli. Female. Indistinguishable on both surfaces from the same sex
of D. continentalis from North-east India.
This species is based on the male sex alone, and is the only species of
the genus hitherto described with a broad discal orange band on the
upperside of the forewiug in that sex. In the D. celinrie group the
females possess a similar though broader band. The female of I), deo
is quite indistinguishable from the same sex of D. continentalis. It is
possible that D. deo is the dry-season form of the Upper Burmese race
of the lust-named species ; bnt in the region where J9. deo was obtained
no collections have been made in the rainy season.
Described from one male taken in January and two females in March
at Hsipaw, North Shan States, by Major F. B. Longe, R. B., to whom
I am indebted for the gift of the specimens. In the collection of
the late Captain E, Y. Watson are other examples from the same
region.
18
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138 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Subfamily Nymph ALiN.f:.
7. Cethosta narmadoides, de Niceville, pi. Y, fig. H, $.
C. narmadoiries^ de Niceville, Joi;rn. A. S. B., vol. Ixvi, pt. 2, p. 6^3, n. 85 (.1898).
Habitat : Bali {TJolierty).
Expanse : ^,2-9 and o*2 inches.
Description : " ]\Iale. Upperside, both icings differ from the same
sex of C. 77armaffa, Frnhstorfer, from Lombok, in having the oiiter-
maroinal black areas much narrower, thus leaving the discal and
basal red areas much larger, these occupying the whole of the dis-
ooidal cell in the forewing instead of the posterior half only ; and in the
hindwino- leaving quite free the outer-discal series of round black
spots, instead of extending right up to and more or less including ihem.
Forewing has the subapical oblique series of markings reddish-ochreous
instead of whitish ; they are conjoined, much larger and more numerous
than in C. narmada, in the latter the anterior of tho three subapical
spots is widely separated from the two posterior ones. Underside,
hoth icings have the ground-colour much paler, in C. narmada it is
heavily suffused with black, and the discal pale oohreous band is much
broader in the present species. Female unknown."
" The figure of C. narmada * does not agree with the specimens of
that species in my collection received from and named by Mr. H.
Fruhstorfer. Instead of having on the upperside of the forewing three
subapical spots only, there is a nearly complete series as in C, narmadoi-
des ; and on the hindwing the outer-discal series of black spots is free of
the marginal black band, thereby agreeing with C. narmadoides, instead
of being absorbed in the band. It is described from two male speci-
mens taken by Mr. W. Doherty in tho low country of Bali in
April, 1896. There are other specimens in Mr. H. J. Elwes' collection."
{de Nia'v'dle^ I. c).
8. JSote on Neptis j)raslini, Boisduval, and some species allied to it.
In the Journal of the Asititio Society of Bengal, vol. Ixvi, j)t. 2,
pp. 533 — 541 (1897), I published a short paper entitled " Description of
JS^eptis pfasllni, BoisduviU, and some species allied to it." Dr. A. G.
Butler, of tho British Museum (Natural History), has kindly examined
proofs of tliroo of the woodcuts therein published, and has given me
* Cetoaia [-.iG I] n'innidi, Eruhatori'er, Berl. Ent. Zeitsch., vol. xli, p. aSO, pi. is, fig. 2,
vwle (l!<'.»7).
![]()
NE W A ND L TTTLE-KNOWX B UTTERFLIES, ] 39
notes ou tlism, wliicli prove that my identifioations of some of the species
were iucorreGt. No. I, which I followed Dr. 0. Staudinger in consi-
dering to be the true " Limenitis'" prash'ni of Boisduval, described by
the latter from New Ireland, and redescribed and figured by me from
Northern Australia, is not that species, and reijuires a new name ; and
1 propose N. staudingereana for it, as it was figured by the learned doctor
from Northern Australia. No. 2, Neptis lactana, Butler, is correct,
Dr. Butler noting that there are exactly similar specimens in the
British Museum from N.-E. New Guinea. No. 3. Neptis nausicaay
de Nioeville, is the iV^/i^/s j;>^p?ia of Oberthiir, and there are specimens
in the British Museum from Dorey, New Guinea, says Dr. Butler, so my
name fulls as a synonym to Oberthiir's. The latter author himself
stated that he considered his N. papua had better sink to N. prasUni,
in which I followed him, but it seems to be quite distinct. No. 4, Neptis
nemeu!^, do Nicevillo, is typical N. j^t't^slini, Boisduval, so my name
falls as a synonym, Dr. Butler noting that it is in the British Museum
from New Irehmd, my specimen being from New Britain.
9. Rhinopalpa callonice, Fruhstorfer, pi. Y, fig-. 12, ^.
R. polt/'iice, Kheil Qnec Cramer), Rhop. Nias, p. 22, n. 41 (1884); B. fulvay
idem («?<;) Feltler), n. 42 ; R. pulynice callonice^ Fiuhstorf«r, Berl. Ent. Zeitsch.,
vol. xli;, p. 330 (1898).
Habitat : Nias Island, near Sumatra.
Expanse: $, 2-7 inches.
Description : Male. Nearest to R. elpinice, Fekler, * from Java,
from which it ditfers on the uppep.side of the Jorea-ing in the outer black
border being narrow, only 6 mm. wide, where it crosses the snbmedian
nervure, instead of 10 mm.; the black border is consequently outwardly
oblique instead of almost upright. Hindioing also with the outer black
border very much narrower, nearly half as wide, and of a much less
intense black colour, thereby allowing the black ocelli of the underside
to appear on the border as oval blind intensely black spots. Underside,
both ic/ngs have the ground-colour much paler, thereby allowing all the
markings to appear more prominently ; the rufous markings greatly
obliterated, entirely so on the outer margins and tail ; the violet markings
also are obsolete,
Herr Napoleon Kheil records both E. pohjnfce^ Cramer, and R.fidi-a^
Felder, from Nias ; but ihese two names represent one species, which ia
• Eurh'-ma c'ipinice, Yelder, Reifse Norara, Lep., vol. lii, p, 105, n, 606 (1807).
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140 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
found in Assam, Burma,, the IMalay Peninsula, and Sumatra. " Vanessa '
eudoxia, Guerin, from the Malay Coast, is without doubt the female of
i?. poll/nice. A third synonjon is the E. polynke hirm'xna \_slc !] of
Fruhstorfer, 1. c, p. 331, from Lower Burma (Fruhstorfer). R. dpinice^
Felder, occurs in Java aud Bali, R. megahnice, Felder, in Celebes,
and R. stratonice, Felder, in most of the islands of the Philippine
Archipelago.
Described from a single male received from Horr H. Fruhstorfer.
The above description was written long before Herr Fruhstorfer's descrip-
tion of the species appeared, but may be allowed to stand. In a copy
of his paper lately received from him he changes the name of the species
in manuscrijit to " callinicer
10. Chakaxes keianus, Rothschild, pi. Z, figs. 13, $ \ 14, 9 .
C. 2>yrrhns heiztius, Kothschild; Nov. Zool., vol. iv, p. 508, n. 2 (1897); id., de
Niceville and Knhn, Journ. A. S. B., vol. Isvii, pt. 2, p. 262, n. 42 0898).
Habitat : Ke Isles.
Expanse : (J, 3*8 ; ?, 4*3 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, foreioing differs from the same
sex of C jvpiteTj Butler,* from Port Moresby in New Guinea, Dory in
New Guinea (the type), and Duke of York Island, in the discal pale
yellow band being broader throughout ; the quadrate spot in the
second median interspace nearly twice as large, and placed much nearer
the base of the interspace ; with a considerable-sized spot anterior to
the latter in the lower discoidal interspace, touching or almost touching
the lower disco-cellular nervule, this spot in C.jupiier being reduced to
a mere dot. Ilindioing has (contrary to that of the forewing) the
discal pale yellow band very considerably narrower, almost half as wide.
Underside, both loings with tbe same differences as above. Female.
Differs only from the male in being larger; lotli lohnjs on the upper-
side with tbe submarginal series of spots more prominent.
From the male of C. attila, Grose Smith,! from Guadalcanar, the
same sex of C. keianus differs on tbe Upperside of the foreioing in the
discal band being of quite a different shape, and in the liindaing in the
discal band being far narrower, produced posteriorly to a point ; in
C aff/Za it is of the same width throughout. Dr. A. G. Butler (Journ.
^Cjuyiler, Butler, Lep. Ex., jj. 14, n. 4, pi. v, figs. 4, 7, male (180'J).
t C.nnHn, Grose Siuitli and Kivliy, Rhop. Fx., pi. Charuxi^s v, figs. 1, 2, ))i<ih (18'J1).
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NEW AXD LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 141
Linn. Soc. Lond., Zoology, vol. xxv, p. 387 (1896), reduces C. att'ila
to the rank of a '* var." of C. jupiter, but it is really more distinct from
that species than is C /;^2a?jz«. As these insular local races appear to
be constant where each occurs, they are in my opinion worthy of full
specific rank.
Described from three males and two females received from Herr
Heinrich Kiihn, after whom I had intended to name it had not Mr.
Rothschild published his description first from specimens from Kei
Toeal and Great Kei.
Family LYC.EXIDiE.
11. Gerydus longeana, n. sp., pi. Z, figs. 15, (J ; IG, $.
Habitat : Upper Burma.
Expanse : <J, 1-4: to 1-8 ; 9, 1-2 to 1'6 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, forewmg dull brown at the basej
the outer half dull fuscous ; a curved discal whitish band divided into
five parts by the dark veins, the anterior Dorcions divided by the
third median and lower discoidal nervules elongated, the two posterior
portions placed behind the outer posterior end of the portion anterior
to them small and nearly quadrate ; base of the third median nervule
swollen and bare of scales. Hindwing rounded, varying in colour,
sometimes entirely pale bro\^^^, with the costa broadly dull fuscous,
sometimes the posterior two-thirds stone-colour. Underside, both
loings ochreous-brown, with the annular markings as in specimens of
G. hoisduvali, Moore, from Sikkim. Forewing with a broad cun-ed discal
white band, of equal width throughout, extending from the upper
discoidal nervule to the inner margin, its inner and outer edges
irregular. Hindwing with a transverse discal dark brown fascia ;
the submarginal series of black dots not very conspicuous. Female.
Upperside, both icings creamv-white. Forewing with the apex broadlv,
the outer margin decreasingly, dull fuscous, sometimes with a small
black patch in the middle of the wing placed on the bases of the first and
second median nervules. Hindwing slightly angled at the termination
of the third median nervule, with the costa broadly pale fuscous ; this
fascous area is larger in those specimens with the discal black patch in
the forewing than in those without it. Underside, both loings very similar
to those of the male, but the ground-colour is more ochreous and much
paler.
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142 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Apparently uourost to (L boisdarali, uifforiiig tUerofroni in the male in
the upperside of both wings being of two shades, dull brown and black
instead of forruginous throughout, and in the discal markings of the Ibre-
wino- being much larger, whitish, and altogether more conspicuous. The
female differs from the same sex of G. boisduvall in having both wings on
the upperside mostly creamy-white instead of ferruginous. The only des-
cribed species from the Malay Peninsula and India I have not seen aro
G. hemeleionj Doherty, from Perak, which has in the male on the upper-
side of the forevving a " slaty [bluish] gloss " as in G. symetltus^ Cramer ;
the markings also differ in detail ; and 6-'. irroratus, Druce, [y^eete
G. hoisduvali, Moore, as G. Irrovatus is a synonym of G. hoisdu-
vali], var. assamensis, Doherty, from the Dhansiri Valley, Naga
Hills, but that species has only a very small longitudinal pale area around
the base of the third median nervule on the upperside of the forewing.
Taken commonly at Hsipaw, in the Northern Shan States, Upper
Burma, from December to February, by Major F. B. Longe, R.E.,
after whom I have much pleasure in naming it.
1 may note here that my remark in " The Butterflies of India, Burmah
and Ceylon," vol. iii, p. 22 (1890), that in the genus Gerydxis " The males
have no secondary sexual characters " is partially incorrect. In my
collection the following species in the male have the base of the third
median nervule of the forewing swollen and bare of scales : — Gerydus
si/mi'thus, Cramer (=Cr. panda, Horsfield), G. leos^ Guerin {-=G.
hoisdamlii, Butler, nee G. hoisduvali, Moore, and G. teos, Doherty), G.
max'nnus, Holland, G. zmdenii,Fe\dev, G. gopara, de Niceville (probably
equals G. Uggsii, Distant ), G. gigantes, de Niceville, G, ancon, Doherty,
G. hoisduvali, Moore (=G.irroratus, Druce), G. chinensis, Felder,
G.pliilippus, Staudinger, G. cemmensis, Ribbe {==G. acragas, Doherty),
G. melanion, Felder, and G. longeana, de Niceville. The following species,
which I have not seen, are said by their describers to have the same male
secondary sexual character : — Gerydus irrovatus, var. assamensis^
Dolierty, G. gigas, H. H. Druce, G. vincida, H. H. Druce, G. impro-
bus, H. H. Druce, and G. luracleion, Doherty. The following species in
my collection have the base of the third median nervule of the forewing
simple (not swollen) and covered with scales : — Gerydus croton, Doherty,
G. gcesa, de Niceville, and G. innocens, H. H. Druce. The absence or
presence of male secondary sexual characters in the following species
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 143
is unknown to the writer— (a) owing to females only having been des-
cribed : Gerydus petronius, Distant, O. gallus, de Nieeville, G. gatulus,
de Nieeville— (?^) owing to no mention by the describers of any male
sexual characters : Ger/jdus biggsii., Distant, G. dfucei, Semper, G.
lean-hus, Folder, G. stygianns^ Butler, and (?) G. plant us, Fabricius.
12. LOGANIA WATSONIANA, n. sp., pi. Z, figs. 17, $ ; 18, 9.
Habitat : Upper Burma.
Expanse : $, 1*1 to 1*4 ; 9, 1'l to I'd inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, forew'mg with the basal two-thirds
greyish-blue, the apex and outer margin broadly black ; an oval out-
wardly-oblique discal white patch just beyond the discoidal cell, crossed
by the third median nervule, which, as in some species of Gerydus, is
swollen at the base (though not quite to the same extent) and bare of
scales. Hlndifing with the costa as far as the subcostal nervure and second
subcostal nervule black, the rest of the wing greyish-blue. Underside,
forew'mg dull fuscous, the apex mottled with ferruginous, the outer
margin broadly black ; a broad discal cur\ed white fascia, of about
oijUal width throughout, connnencing about the subcostal nervure and
ending on the inner margin. Hindwing fuscous, profusely irrorated
with ferruginous. Female. Upperside, foreio'mg differs from the
male in having the discal white patch less prominent, and merged into
the oreyish-blue basal area. Otherwise much as in the male.
This species in the only Logania known to me which has a broad
discal curved white fascia on the underside of the forewing in both
sexes. L. sriica, Distant, aad L. malayica. Distant, are the only two
species in my collection which have the base of the third median
nervule in the male not swollen.
Described from six pairs in Major F. B. Longe's and my own
collection, taken at Hsipaw in the Northern Shan States, roughly
between Lat. 22° and 23° and Long. 97°. I have u'lmed this species
after the late Captain E. Y. Watson, from whom I first received it,
who had made a speciality of the butterflies of Burma.
13. Cyaniris cara, n. sp., pi. Z, figs, 19, $ ; 20, 9.
nAB]TAT : South Celebes.
Expanse : (J, 1-0 to M ; 9, 1*0 to 1*2 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, loth wings dark plumbeous-purple,
exactly the same shade as in typical species of the genus Nacaduha. Fore-
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141 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
wing with an anteciliary black thread. Hlndwing with two submarginal
subanal black dots between the veins, and a marginal black thread. Cilia
of the forowing anteriorly black, posteriorly and of the hindwing white,
at the terminations of the veins black. Underside, hoth wings pale
French-grey, with all the markings of a slightly darker grey than the
ground-colour, and outwardly defined with a narrow white line. Fore-
wing with a large quadrate spot at the end of the discoidal cell ; a discal
series of tive rounded conjoined spots, the anteriormost spot nearer the
base of the wing than the others ; a submarginal lunular band, and a mar-
ainal series of linear spots between the veins. Hindwing with the base
metallic-o-reenish ; the usnal spots across the base, a large one at the end
of the cell, a highly irregular discal series, the marginal markings as in
the forewing, except that the submarginal lunular band is more deeply
indented and is a little further removed from the margin. Cilia of both
wino-s French-grey, in the hindwing bearing a black dot at the end
of each vein. Female. Uppeeside, hoth icings shining bluish-purple,
but of a much lighter shade than in the male. Foreining with the costa,
apes and outer margin broadly black ; a prominent wedge-shaped
black spot at the end of the discoidal cell, beyond which the ground-
colour is just touched with white. Hindwing with a narrow black
disco- cellular streak ; sis marginal oval black spots between the veins,
outwardly defined with pale blue ; a prominent anteciliary black
thread. Underside, both icings marked as in the male.
Apparently nearest to C. miisina^ Snellen,* from Perak, Sumatra,
Java and Lombok, from the male of which (the female I have not seen)
it differs on the upperside of both wings in being of a still deeper plumbeous
colour, and on the underside in having none of the spots black, and the
discal series on the forewing forming a continuous chain instead of the
spots being placed in echelon. The markinris on the underside of
C. cava are highly peculiar, and are unlike those of any species of Cyaniris
known to me, in that they are all uniform in colour, pale French-grey,
none beint^ black. They are wonderfidly like those in Nacaduha
nelides, mihi, from N.-E. Sumatra and W. Java, vide 1. c, p, 280, n. 16,
pi. 0, fig. 24, male. It is also near to C. lugra, H. H. DruGe,t from
*Vid& de Miciiville, Jouvn. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc, vol. ix, p. 275, n. 12, pi O, fi?;. 19, male
(1895).
t Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud., 1895, p. 573, pi. xxxii, fig. 5, male.
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 145
Kina Balu, Borneo; but the coloration of tlie upperside is Jififerent, that
species being " dnil grepsh silvery blue," and the hindwing on the
underside in that species has some blackish spots. Mr. Henley Grose Smith
has described a Cyaniris hjce * from South Celebes, but the description
is very short, and no characteristic points are brought forward, so
without a figure the description is useless for recognition.
Described from two pairs captured by Herr H. Fruhstorfer at Bua-
Kraeng, in South Celebes, at an elevation of 5,000 feet, in February,
1896, and kindly given to me by that gentleman.
14. Lampides lunata, n. sp., pi. Z, figs. 21, ^ ; 22, 9.
Habitat : Toli Toli, North Celebes.
Expanse; $, 9, 1*2 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both icings pale milky bluish-
white, with a slight gloss ouly ; cilia black tipped with white. Face-
wing with a rather broad subm.arginal, and au equally broad marginal,
fuscous band, which are separated from one another by a narrow
band of the ground-colour. Hindwing with a S-ibmarginal series of
prominent fuscous lunules placed between the veinsj beyond which is a
series of oval fuscous spots increasing in size from the apex of the wing
to the anal angle, each spot surrounded by a fiue line of the ground-
colour ; a fine antemarginal black thread ; tail black, tipped with white.
Underside, loth icm^^pale brown; with a fine antemarginal black thread.
Forewing with two pairs of white dots on the costa ; the first and
second fine white lines on the disc counting from the base forming a Y,
the third line continuous from near the costa to the submedian
nervure, the fourth line also continuous from near the costa to the second
median nervule ; two submarginal waved white lines, enclosing a
series of prominent black spots, with a marginal series of oval black
spots between the outer of the two submarginal white lines and a fine
marginal white thread. Hhidiclng wi:h the usual basal and discal fine
white lines ; a highly irregular submarginal white line ; beyond which
is a series of large black spots, the second from the costa the largest
of all ; a marginal series of oval black spots, surrounded by a fine white
line, the black spot in the first median interspace the largest of all,
* Nov. Zoo ., vd. ii, p. oOti (1>S96)
19
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14r, JOUHNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
at its two lower corners betiring niotallic silvery-blue scales, and
crowned with u fine oi-ange line ; with another fine orange line at the
anal ano-le, outwardly marked with a few blue scales. Female,
Upperside, both icings fuliginous. Fwewlng with a large disoal bluish-
white patch. Hlndioing with the base slightly bluish- white ; the marginal
markings much as in the male, except that the inner series of black
lunules are inwardly defined by a fine white line. Underside, hoth
wings as in the male.
Apparently nearest to " Plehelus " snelleni, Rober, Iris, vol. i, p. 54,
pi. iv, fig. 9, male (1888), from Bonthain in South Celebes and
Tomboegoe in East Celebes, from which the male diffei-s in having a
submar{);inal fuscous band on the upperside of the forewing ; and both
sexes differ in the disposition of the wJiite bands on the underside of
the forewing ; in Lamp'uUs snelleni the inner pair of lines are parallel
to on^ anolher, and both are continued to the submedian nervure not
fonnuig a Y, while the outer pair of lines form a Y, instead of the third
line reaching the submedian nervure, and the fourth line the second
median nervule. The markings of the underside of L. lunata agree
better with those of L. snelleni^ var. hatjenensis^ Rober, 1. c, pi. iv,
fig. 10, female, from Batian ; but the female of the present species
has the white areas on the upperside of both wings very much
smaller.
Described from three males and two females kindly sent to me by
Heir H. Fruhstorfer.
15. LvciENESTHES TURNER!, Miskiu, pi. Z, figs. 23, (^ ; 24, 9.
L. tumeric Miskio, Proc. Linn. Soc. New 8outh Wales, second seriei?, vol. v, p. 39
CL89i) ; id,, de Niciville, Journ, A. S. B., vol. Ixvii, pt. 2, p. 267, in 5y CISTS').
Habitat ; Ke Isles ; Northern Australia.
Expanse : ^, 1"5 ; 9, 1*1: inches.
Description ; Male. Upperside, hoth lomgs shining plmnbeous-
purple, with a fine anteciliary black thread. HhuiwUig with the costa
and abdominal margin broadly pale fuscous. Underside, hoth wings
pale French-grey or stone-colour, ^^■ith bands and spots barely if at all
darker than the ground-colour, but defined by outer fine white lines.
Forewing with the disco-callular nervulos defined by a white line, with a
similar line on either side of it ; a rather broad regularly curved discal
uiil)r.)k(!n biinil from the costa to the submedian nervure, widest on the
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 147
costa, f:;niJnally tapsring posteriorly ; two submargiual lunulas lines.
Hlndw'mg orossad by tinea highly irregular bands ; two subniargintil
l'.n9S more de3ply lunular than lathe fore wing ; the usual round black
spot in the iirat median interspace crowned narrowly with dark orange ;
a fine black anteciliary thread, defined with an equally fine white line
on either side. Female. Ui'PERSIDe, hoih icings pale duU fuscous.
Forewhig with the discoidal cell and the basal half of «he wing posterior
to th') coll dull blue ; an oval discal white patch, inwardly bounded by
th'i disco-cellular nervules, anteriorly by the lower discoidal nervale,
posteriorly almost reaching tlie sulmiedian nervure. Hindaung with
streaks of dull blue between the veins not nearly reaching the margin,
the outer end of each blue streak excavated and whitish ; the margin
bears a highly lunular pale bkie line, enclosing outwardly a series of
spots of tbe ground-colour, except the one in the first median interspace,
which is deep black ; a fine anteciliary blnck thread, defined on Ijoth
sides by an equally fine white thread ; the c'dla devolojied into three
short tooth-like tails from tlie terminations of the median nervules.
Underside, forewhig with the white patch smaller than above, the
discal band more prominent than in the niaie. Otherwise as in
the male.
The male of this species is very .similar to that sex of L. emolus,
Godart, from the Ke Isles, differing, however, in its larger size, distinctly
narrower (less broad) hindwing, with no submargiual black spots on the
upperside ; in L. enwlm from Ke there are three or four. On the
underside of the forewing the discal band is continuous, evenly curved
and evenly tapering, in L. emolus it is very irregular, of the same width
throughout, its two lowest portions placed in echelon. The female is, as
far as I am aware, unique in the genus, being the only one with a large
white patch in the middle of the forewing.
Described and figured from a male and two females received from
Herr Heinrich Kiihn from the Ke Isles. I have also received a pair of
specimens from Mr. Rowland E. Turner from Mackay in Northern
Australia, with which the examples described above entirely agree. L.
turnei'i was originally described from Cape York, Cardwell and Mackay,
all in tropical North Australia. Mr, W. H. Miskin described the
female only, but called it the male. The descrif»tion of the male of
L. tasntcmlcusj Miskin (I.e., p. 401 agrees fairly well with tho male
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148 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIL
of L. turneri, except that on the underside of both wings the transverse
bands are not '' durk reddish-brown," nor are the bases of the wings
'• dark In'own." In 1891 Mr. Miskin says he received it fi-om Cairns
in Northern Australia, and doubted the recorded habitat of his type
specimen, which is said to have come from Tasmania.
16. CaMENA CAMBRIA, n. sp., pi. Z, fig. 26, S'
Habitat : South Celebes.
Expanse : ^, 1'6 inches.
Description ; Male. Very near to C. cannfnfalis, de Niceville,
from the Khasi Hills, the Shan States in Upper Burma, and Kias,* but
considerably larger. U pperside, foreicing has The blue coloration less
extensive, not reaching so near to the outer margin, of a lighter shade of
blue, and highly iridescent, in some lights being almost invisible, which
it never is in C. carmentalts. Hlndwing with the black sexual basal
patch as in that si>ecies, the blue patch beyond it of the same shade as
in the forewing, but not so iridescent and more restricted to the base of
the wing. Underside, 6oi/i -(w^^s of a paler, more silvery, shade than
in C. carmenialis, an indistinct submarginal fascia, the disco-cellular
nervules deSned by a fine dark line ; the discal line much more
prominent and further from the out«r margin, on the hlndwing out-
w^ardly defined by a white fascia. The sexual tuft of hairs on the
underside of the forewing the same as in C. carmentalls.
Described from a single specimen kindly given to me by Herr H-
Truhstorfor, taken by him in February, 1896, at Bua-Kraeng in South
Celebes at 5,000 feet elevation.
17. Deudorix g.etulia, de Niceville, pi. A A, fig. 27, $ .
If. gestulifi, de Nicdville, Jouru. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soe., vol. vii, p. 338, n. 15,
pi. H, fig. 12, male (1892).
Habitat : Kh:vsi Hills ; Burm;%.
Expanse : 9 > 1*8 inches.
Description : Female. U pperside, hoth wings glossy pale hair-
brown, becoming darker towards the margins. Forewing unmarked.
Hindicnuj with a large anal white patch divided by the dark veias from
the third median nenule to the submedian nervuro, the portion in the
seconil median interspace small, the one in the first median interspace
the largest, tlie one in the submedian int;)rspace also large ; a promi-
• Jouru. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, voL vii, p. 836, u. 12, pi. H, lig. 10, male (18tfJ).
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 149
nent anteciliary black line, which becomes lost in the ground-colour of
the wing after it has passed the anal white patch ; anal lobe black in the
middle, outwardly defined with white. Tail twice as long as in the male,
white, with a narrow black centre. Cilia of the hindwing white, very
long on the abdominal margin, becoming hair-brown towards the apex
of the wing ; of the forewing hair-brown. Underside, both wiiigs dnW
silvery-grey. Forewing with the oosta narrowly, the apex somewhat
broadly, the outer margin deoreasingly, pale cupreous. Ilindioing with
an outer-discal series of black spots outwardly dofi ned with white, the
three anterior ones small, round, slightly increasing in size, the one in the
submedian interspace crescentio, with a minute dot placed against it in
the internal interspace, with another dot anterior to it on the abdominal
margin ; an oval black spot near the margin in the first median inter-
space ; the submedian interspace near the margin sprinkled with black
scales ; the anal lobe black ; a prominent anteciliary black thread from
the anal lobe to the disooidal nersule, also extending along the abdo-
minal margin for a short distance anterior to the anal lobe.
The specimen described is in the collection of Major F. B. Longe, R.E.,
who captured it on the 8th January, 1887, at Ngokgale, near Hsipaw,
Korth Shan States, Upper Burma. Males appear to be fairly oommion in
the Khasi Hills of Assam, and vary in size from 1"5 to 1*9 inches in
expanse ; they are also very variable in the extent of the markings oil the
underside, many of those described by me in the type being frequently
obliterated. I may note here that the Deudorix calderon, Kheil, Rhop.
Nias, p. 33, m. H6, pi. iv, fig. 25, nude (1884), appears to be closely
aWied to T). gee tid la and to ^' Eapala^' hyj^argi/ria, ^Iwe'ri, Proc. Zool.
SoG. Lend., 1892, p. 64:3, pi. xliii, fig. 7, male, from the Karen Hills in
Burma ; but I have seen no specimens of D. calderon from Nias, though
the same species a[)pears to occur in Java, a male from thence in
Mr. Frubstorfer's collection having been sent to me for identification.
The three species above named are all very closely allied.
18. ZiNASPA ZANA, u. sp., pi. AA, fig. 28, ? .
Habitat : Western China.
Expanse : 9 , 1*3 and 1'5 inches.
Description ; Female. Upperside, loth icings pale brown, with a
slight vinous gloss ; cilia cinereous. Foreu'ing with a small basal
purple area reaching from the subcostal to the submedian norvure.
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150 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
occupying the wliolo of the disooidal cell. H'mdwing unmarked ; tail
very short, reduced to a mere tooth. Underside, loth wings dark grey,
with slightly darker markings outwardly defined with white. Fornviiig
•with a very irregular discal fascia, and an indistinct marginal fascia.
Hindwing with a highly irregular discal fascia, and some very indistinct
maro-inal markings ; a small round black spot in the first median inter-
space well removed from the margin, faintly surrounded with ferru-
ginous ; anal lobe bearing a small black spot.
Mr. J. H. Leech in Butt. China, vol. ii, p. 346 (1893), records this
species as Z. distoHa, de Nic^ville, from Ni-tou and Huang-mu-chang
in Western China, with these remarks : — " My collectors found this
species rather common. They differ from the Sikkim type in M oiler's
collection in being smaller, and in having the purple colour of the
upperside darker in tone, while the underside is grey intead of ferru-
ginous." My specimens differ from the same sex of Z. distorta from
Sikkim, the North Shan States and Sumatra in having the purple colour
of the upperside of the fore wing less than half as extensive, and entirely
wanting on the hindwing ; the tail a quarter as lono; ; and the ground-
colour of the underside of both wings dark grey instead of dull
ferruginous or cinnamon-coloured, with no vinous gloss ; and on the
hindwing there is no basal line.
Described from two specimens from Western China kindly sent to
me by M. C. Oberthiir. I have not seen the mrde.
19. Hypothbcla honos, n. sp., pi. Z, fig. 25, 9 .
Habitat : North Celebes.
Expanse : $, 1*65 ; 9 , 1*65 to I'SO inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, hotlt icings dull black, obscurely
glossed with purple. Forewing with the purple coloration confined to
the discal area. Bmdiving with the veins black ; a marginal series of
black spots between the veins inwardly defined by a whitish-violet line,
each sjjot produced inwardly to a point ; a fine antociliary white and
then an equally fine black line. Cilia long and white, bearing in the
middle a very fine black line. (Looked at under a magnifying glass the
margin appears to bear five lines — three white and two black.) Tail
from the termination of the first median nervule about 6 mm. in length,
fine, black, ciliated and cipned with white. Underside, hoth inings pale
brown, the markings mostly darker brown, outwardly defined with
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 151
whitish. Forew'mg with a quadrate marking at the end of the disooidal
cell ; a catenulated discal hand consisting of eight portions, broken in
the middle, the posterior moiety shifted inwardly towards the base of
the wing ; a submarginal lunulated band ; a marginal series of oval
spots between the veins j a very fine anteciliary black thread. Hind-
wing with three prominent rounded deep black spots arranged across the
base, a large one just behind the middle of the costal nervure, a smaller
one in the middle of the cell, a still smaller one in the middle of the
abdominal margin ; an elongated marking at the end of the cell ; a
much broken discal band, the anterior portion consisting of two spots,
the middle portion also of two spots, but shifted outwardly, the lower
portion of four spots, which are recurved to the abdominal margin;
a submarginal lunulated band ; a marginal series of oval spots between
the veins, the one in the first median interspace larger than the others and
crowned with orange, outwardly bearing a clump of metallic turquoise-
blue scales ; a fine anteciliary black thread. 6Wrt of both wings white
bisected by a black line. Female. Uppekside, both icings dull black
with no pm-ple gloss. Fovew'mg with an elongated discal whitish area
in the second median interspace, which in some lights apjjears of a rich
blue iridescent colour. Hindioing as in the male. Underside, loth
wings with the ground-colour whitish, paler than in the male, the
markings very similar.
The only other species known in this genus (which is an excellent one,
with only two subcostal norvules to the forewing in both sexes, no
S3Gondary male sexual characters, and allied to Thecla, as Herr Georg
Semper points out), is H>/potht'cla aslyla, Felder, from the Philippine
Islands, from which H. honos ditfi3rs in the much duller coloration of
both wings of both sexes on the upperside, that species having the
purple coloration much more developed, and specially in the markings
of the underside, in //. astyla the discal band in both wings is continuous
and unbroken, in H. honos it is once fractured in the forewing and
twice in the hindwing ; also the submarginal band in H. astyla is
straight with even edges, in H. honos it is highly lunulated.
Described from one male and five females kindly sent to me by the
capturer, Herr H. Fruhstorfer, from Toll Toll, North Celebes, Novem-
ber-December, 1895. All are in poor condition as regards the upper-
side, but the markings of the underside are in every specimen perfectly
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152 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
clear anl distinct. It appears to bo a very delicate insect, and easily
becomes abnuleJ on the upper surface.
Family PAriLIONID^.
ISubfumily PiERiNiE.
20. IxiAS PYRENE, Liuuoeus, pi. A A, figs. 29, 30, (ftjnandr amorphous
example.
Paiy'dio jjijrene, Lianaaas, Mus. LuiL Ulr., p. 211, n. GO (17G4).
The gynandromorphous specimen here ligured has been kindly lent to
me by Mr. Paul Mowis, by whose native collectors it was obtained in
Sikkim. It is not of the usual bilateral form, but the markings of the
wiufs are more or less commingled. Each wing may be thus described: — •
The forewing on the left-hand side is mostly feminine, and is larger than
that on the right-hand side ; on its upperside it is normally marked,
except that there is a short male orange streak at about the middle of
the costa on either side of the b:ise of the first subcostal nervule, but
more anterior than posterior to that vein ; (in the underside this wing is
wholly feminine, except a narrow streak of the male yellow coloration
along the basal two-thirds of the costa. The hindwing on the left-hand
side is mostly masculine, wholly so on the upperside, and is smaller than
the opposite wing ; on the underside, however, the usual uniform male
yellow coloration is broken by a wide discal streak of the sexual feminine
white coloration, which commences narrowly at the base of the vv'ing,
occupies the posterior half of the discoidal cell, and ends widely near the
outer margin. The forewing on the right-hand side is mostly masculine,
but the basal anterior quarter of the wing has the normal feminine
powdery-black coloration, and there are feminine white streaks invading
the masculine orange area ; on the underside the coloration is about two-
thirds masculine and one-third feminine, there being a very broad band
of feminine (white) coloration extending completely across the wing
from the b:ise to the outer margin on the anterior half of the wing.
The hindwing on the right-hand side is mostly feminine, on the
upperside it boars a male narrow discal yellow streak, commenc-
ing at the base of the wing in the discoidal cell, broken before the end
of the cell, reapi)earing again in the discoidal intorsj)ace for a short
distance at its middle, and placed against that vein ; on the underside
the anterior third of the wing has the ground-colour masculine
(yellow), while the posterior two-thirds has it feminine (white).
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 153
This curiously commingled gyncindromorphous specimen is the first
I have seen from Asia. Bilateral monsters seem to occur more
frequently, and I recently described such a one in the Journ. A. 8. B.,
vol. Ixvi, pt. 2, p. 552, n. 8 (1897), also from Sikkim. Dr. Adolf F ritze
in Zool. Jahr., vol. xi, p. 256, pi. xvi, figs. 5a, U> (1898), has recently
described a very remarkable commingled gynandromorphous example
of the summer generation of Hehomoia glaucippe, Tiinnasus, from Oki-
na^va in the Liu-Kiu Islands south of Japan.
Genus AoA, nov.
Male. Agrees with the genera Udaiana^ Distant, the type of which
is the " Pieris " cynis of Hewitson, and Lade, gen. nov., de Niceville,
the type of which is the *' Apjrias " lalassis of Grose Smith = ^''Pieris '*
indroides o{ Honrath, in the abdomen lacking the tuft of long and stiff
hairs on each side of the anal valves at their base Ijeneath present in the
genus Appias^ Hiibner, of which the genera Catophaga^ Hiibner,
Hiposcritia^ Geyer, Trigonkc, Geyer, and Tacliyris^ Wallace, are, in my
opinion, synonyms. Forewing, differs from Uda/ana in the coda being
straighter, the ov.ter margin being straight instead of convex ; the third
subcostal nervide longer ; the upper discoidcd uervule longer, arising from
the subcostal nervure nearer the apex of the discoidal cell ; discoidal celt
longer ; disco-celMar nervules upright instead of being strongly outwardly
oblique. IIindwing, costcd nervure much shorter. FoEEWiNG, differs
from Lade in being broader, the apex rounded instead of falcate ; third
subcostal nervide three times as long. Hindwing, costa convex instead
of straight. Nearest to Ihiphinaj Moore, differing entirely in fncies,
Forewing, disco- cellular nervules upright instead of outwardly oblique.
Antennce in proportion much longer and stouter. Palpi longer,
especially the third joint. Typo, " Pieris " c^fnis, Vollenhoven.
(]) AoA AFFiNis, Vollenhoven.
Piens aflin'i.-i, Vollenhoven, Fauna Ent. TArch. Inclo-Neer., Fierides, p. 40, n. riS,
pi. V, fig. 2, ?««?/! CI 8 C 5) ; id., Wallace, Trans. Ent, See. Load., third sericF, vol. iv,
p. .331, n. 6 (18C7) ; id., Hopffer, Stet. Ent. Zeit., vol. xxxv, p. 23, n. 35 (1874) ;
7?r;Z<??jflw rt/^Vi.<, Butler, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 187?, p. 57, n. 41; Hvphina a/finh;
Rothschild, Iris, vol, v, p. 439 (ISDS).
Habitat : Celebes.
Dr. A. R. Wallace wrote of this species ; " This insect beai-s
such a curious resemblance to the female of Pieris ilhome.
20
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154 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Felder,* that it has always been considered to be the female of a closely-
allied species. Owing to its having very small and smooth anal valves
I had always considered it to be of that sex ; bnt having heard that
Mr. Watson has found plumules [androconia] on the wing, and therefore
pronounced it to be a male, I relaxed my specimens, and by opening the
valves found that he was right, and that all the specimens in my own
and other collections are males. This being the case, it is evident that
it has no close ajjindf/ whatever with P. ithome, or with any other known
butterfly, so that its name will be a good example of ' lucus a non
lucendoy and will serve to recall the error to which its analogical
resemblance to the female of P. hliome gave rise. It must now come in
the group of true Pieris, and is nearest to P. rachel, Boisduval, though
forming a distinct subsection." From the synonomy above it will be
seen that the iy]}Q species has been placed in three genera. Wallace
correctly located it in Pieris group h, which equals Huphina of Moore,
the latter was differentiated many years after Wallace Avrote. Roths-
child's location is very nearly correct^ the present genus being very
near to Huphina. 1 have only seen males of this species.
(2) AoA ABNORMis, Wallace.
Tachyris ahnormis, Wallace, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., third series, vol. iv, p. 368,
n. 14, pi. viii, fig. 5, female (18G7) ; j\])inas ahnormis, Butler, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.,
1872, p. 48, n. 46 5 Delias (Tachyris on plate) ainormis, Gvose Smith and Kirby,
Rhop. Ex., pi. Pierincs ii, figs. 6, 7, female {nee male) (1889); Pieris ainormis^ Hagen,
Jalir. des Nass. Ver. fnr Natnr., vol. 1, p. 60, n. 34 (1897).
Habitat ; New Guinea.
Messrs. Grose Smith and Kirby in redescribing and figuring this
species say that the specimen figured is a male ; but the figure and de-
scription do not agree with a male in my collection from Humboldt
Bay, North- West New Guinea, which differs in having the black borders
to both wings on the upperside very much narrower, in the forewing
fining away to nothing before reaching the anal angle, and in the hind-
wing being almost reduced to spots between the veins. In their figure
also they show and describe two red spots on the luiderside of the hind-
wing, which are absent in my specimen. Under Tachyris enri/.nudha,
Honrath (Deltas on plate), plate Delias vi, figs. 7,8,female (189G), Messrs.
° From Celebes, placed by Wallace in the satne paper (p. 380, n. 47) in tlie genus
Tachyris.
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 155
Grose Smith and Kirby note : " The German authors regard this species
as either a local or seasonal form of Delias abnormis, Wallace (see our
figure Tachyris ahiormis, autea, vol. i, Pkmim pi. ii, figs. 6 and 7 ;
J>elias abnormis in text, which represents a female and not a male). It
may, however, be at once distinguished by the colouring of the under
surface. Herr von Mitis points out (Iris, vol. vi, p. 114) that the four-
branched [two-branched — L. de N.] subcostal nervure removes both
abnormis and euri/xardha from Uelias" There is no doubt whatever that
all the species of the genus Aoa are mimics of species of the genus
Delias, their structure being entirely different from that of Delias,
as they possess an additional subcostal nervule to the forewing.
When Dr. A. R. Wallace described Tachyris abnormis he knew
only the female ; had he known the male he would certainly have
put the species in the genus Fieris, group b.
(3) Aoa euryxantha, Honrath.
Delias abnormis, var. Gunjxantha, Honrath, Berl. Ent. Zeitocli., vol. xxxvi, p. 43.")
(1891); id., Staudinger, Iris, vol. vii, p. 117 (1894) ; Pinris e?<?'/a!«Mi/(a [sic !], Ober-
thur Etudes d'Eut., vol. xix, p. 6, pi. ii, figs. 9, male ; 7, female (1894) ; P. ahiormis,
Yivt. eur I/. vaiitka, 'Hagen,Ja,h.i\ dos Nass. Ver» fur Nafmr., vol. 1, p. 60,u. 35(1897);
Tachyris (Delias on plate) euryxanthi, Grose Smith and Sirby, llhop. Ex., pi.
Delias ^i, figs. l,i,femalc {\?:'y\').
Habitat : New Guinea.
In my separata of Honrath's paper that gentleman changed in MS.
the generic name of this species from Delias to Appias. I possess a
single female of this species from Stephausort, German New Guinea,
which agrees with the published figures. Von Mitis remarks on this
species in Iris, vol. vi, p. 114 (1893).
(4) Aoa dohertyi, Oberthiir.
Pjeris fZo/jeir;^;/*, Oberthilr, Etudes d'Eut., vol. xix, p. 6, pi. ii, fig. 2, male (1894) |
? Pieris doUcrtyana [sic I], Grose Smith [sic], Hageu, Jahr. desNass. Ver. flir Natur.,
vol. 1, p. 61, u. 36(1897).
Habitat : Ansus in the island of Jobi, Geelwink Bay, North- West
New Guinea.
I have not seen this species.
(5) Aoa discus, Honrath.
Delias discus, Honrath, Berl. Ent. Zeitsch., vol. sxx, p. 130, pi. v, fig. 4, female
0886).
Habitat : Sekar, Western New Guinea.
Not seen by me.
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\b^ JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(u) AoA QUADRICOLOK, Sulvin and Godman.
Pieris quadricolor, S.ilviu ;uul Gotlmau, Proo. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, p. 147, n. 20
1)1. xxiii, ligs, 3, 4, imle ; Pieris QBelenois') qtiadricolor, Piigenstccher, Jahr. ilus Nass.
ver. i'iir Natur., vol. xlvii, p. 71, n. 8 (181)4).
Habitat : Duke of York Island {Godman and Salvin) ; Mioko, New
Guinea {PagensfecJie?').
I have not seen this species.
(7) AoA DISCOLOR, Matliew.
Pieris discolor, Mathew, Traus. Ent. Soc. LomL, 1887, p. 47.
Habitat : Ugi, Solomon Islands.
Unknown to nie.
Subfamily Papilionin^e.
21. Papilio (Panr/erana) NYX, de Niceville, pi. AA, fig. 31, 9.
P. QPangera7ia) nyx, de Nicuville, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., sixth series,
vol. XX, p. 225 (1897).
Habitat : Bali.
Having recently described this species, I take the o[)portunity of
Hguring it here.
Family HESPERlIDiE.
22. Lotongus onaua, Butler, pi. A A, iig. 32, $.
/■/(^^7;r;vV4')?4rt?v?, Butler, Trans. Eat. Soc. Lonil., 1870, p. 498, n. 1 ; idem, id., Lcp.
Ex., p. Itif;, n. 1, pi. lis, fig, n, ? female (1874) ; id., Plotz, Stet. Ent. Zeit., vol. xliii,
■,i. 339, n. 120(1882).
Habitat : Java.
Expanse : ^,1*8 inches.
Description ; Male. Upperside, both loimjs dark hair-brown. Fore-
wiiKj with ;.ne following translucent pale yellow spots : — two in the
discoidal cell, the anterior one small and rounded, the posterior one
placed directly in the middle behind the anterior spot three times as
large and elongated ; a minute dot in the subcostal interspace ; a small
oval spot towards the base of the second median interspace ; a much
larger oval one towards the middle of the first median interspace.
Uindioing with a large basal and anal lateous area occupying about
half the surface of the wing, bearing at the extreme base of the wing
a large patch of dark brown setffi. Underside, forewiny dark brown,
but the outer and inner margins broadly perceptibly paler ; the trans-
lucent spots as on the upperside ; a costal luteous patch immediately
anterior to the spots in the cell ; the inner margin as far as the sub-
median norvure luteous. Hindwiny dark brown, crossed at the middle
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 157
by a broad even-edged luteous band, which greatly widens out pos-
teriorly. Cilia of the forewing dark brown ; of the hindwing anteriorly
dark brown, posteriorly luteous. Anienw.c dark brown, but the base
of" the club above whitish. Palpi, head, thorax and abdomen dark
brown, the apex of the latter luteous.
Dr. A. G. Butler has kindly examined the drawing liere reproduced,
and considers it to represent the hitherto tmdescribed male of his Hesperia
onara, the type of which is not in the British Museum, but is in
Dr. Butler's opinion probably a female. "When describing it he did not
state the sex of his type example. He gives the habitat as " East Indies?"
The late Herr Plotz recorded both sexes from " India." The male
differs from the figtire of the female in having five instead of three
translucent spots on the forewing, and the basal patch of dark brown
seta3 on the upperside of the hindwing is more prominent. From the
same sex of " Proteides " excellens., Standing er,* from Palawan in the
Philippines, N.-E. Sumatra, and Pulo Latit, it differs in the luteous
area on the hindwing on both surfaces being much larger, and the spots
on the forewing being smaller.
Described from a single example kindly sent to me by Herr H.
Fruhstorfer, who captured it on Mount Gede in Western Java at an
elevation of 4,000 feet in August, 1892.
23. Zea mythecoides, n. sp., pi. AA, figs. 33, ^ ; 34, 9 .
Habitat : Bantimoeroeng, South Celebes.
Expanse : $, 2'0 to 2-1 ; 9, 2*2 inches.
Description : Male. Upperside, both wimjs shining hair-brown.
Cilia cinereous. Forewing with the following translucent white spots : —
a narrow transverse one towards the end of the discoidal cell ; two or
three round subapical dots placed outwardly obliquely ; a narrow out-
wardly-oblique spot towards the base of the second median interspace ;
a similar one across the middle of the first median interspace.
Hindiuing immaculate. Underside, both icings dull hair-brown. Fore-
loing with the translucent spots as on the upperside ; an inwardly-
oblique dead white streak across the middle of the submedian inter-
space, divided into two portions by the submedian fold. Hindwing
• PJ'o^eJcZes eaxe/Ze/io.-, fcstautlinger, Irib, vol. ii, p. 141, pi. ii, tig. G, jnri/c (1889); Lotongus
<!a;c-eZ/c»(s, de Niceville and ilartin, Jouru. A. S. B , vol. Isiv, pt. 2, p. 542, n. G92 (1896) ;
id., Elwes and Edwards, Trans, Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. xiv, p. 233 (1897).
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158 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
with a large disoiil dcul white putch phicod woll outside the
discoidal cell, its inner and outer edges irregular, especially the latter,
commencing just i)ostorior to the coital nervure and ending on the sub-
median fold. Antennoi, head,pdi>/j hodij, and %.•>• dark brown. Female,
both lo'mijs broader than in the male. Upperside, forewing with the
translucent spots similar but larger; four instead of two or three
subapical dots, the two posterior ones parallel with the outer margin ;
an additional oval small opaque pale yellow spot placed anteriorly
aoain.st the middle of the submedian nervure. Hindw'mg with the base
and middle of the wing clothed with long pale ochreous setjfi between
the veins. Underside, both lo'mgs much as in the male.
Differs from " Ilesperia" mijthcca, He-.vitson, the female [ ? ] of which
is figured by Distant in Khop. Malay., p. 377, n. 1, pi. xxxv, fig. 7,
female (1886), from Malacca, but is found also in Perak and N.-E.
Sumatra, in having the translucent spots of the forewing white instead of
pale yellow (though Howitson describes them as white) and more
numerous, with an additional white streak in the sul)median interspace
on the underside of that wing ; the discal white patch on the underside
of the hindwing is also much smaller and with more irregular edges.
From the shape of the wings I should judge the type specimen
to have been a male, but Mr. Distant says it is a female. Hewitson
when describing it does not give the sex of the same specimen which
constitutes the type of the species and genus Zea, which latter Messrs.
Elwes and Edwards sink under Lotongus.
Described from three males and one female received from the
capturer, the late Herr C. Ribbe, who calls it " Pamplula taprobana,''^
a species unknown to me.
24. Iton azona, Hewitson, pi. AA, fig. 35, $.
Ucsperia azona, Hewitson, Traus. Ent. Soc. Lond., third series, vol. ii, p. 490,
n. II C1866).
Habitat : Celebes.
Expanse: ^, 2*o inches.
Description : IMale. Upperside, both icings very dark brown or
fuscous. Forewing with the following translucent lustrous white
spots: — three conjoined subapical ecjual-sized rounded dots, the
posteriormost spot nearer the outer margin than the others ; a cordate
spot towards the base of the second median interspace ; a rather
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NEW AND LITTLE'KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. 159
larger quadrate spot near the middle of the first median interspace.
Ilindwing with a large oval anal snow-white patch, anteriorly crossed
by two veins of the ground-colour. Underside, foreiolng marked as
on the upperside. Hmdioing with the anal white area considerably
larger than on the upperside, and extending a little way along the
abdominal marghi. Cilia of the forewing fuscous ; of the hindwing
anteriorly fuscous, posteriorly snow-white. Anteiince, pa^n, head,
thorax, and abdomen at the base fuscous ; posterior two-thirds of the
abdomen snow-white, tipped with fuscous.
At present there are two species only in the genus Iton* — " Hesperia"
semamora, Moore {=Hesperia barea, Hewitson), which has in
the male a tuft of hair turned forwards on the underside of the fore-
wing on the sutural area towards the base of the wing, and " Parnara "
watsonii, de Nioeville, which lacks this male secondary sexual
character. 7. azona agrees with the latter in this respect, but differs
from both species in having the antenn?e very perceptibly longer ;
the whip-like tip to the crook also longer. In markings it is nearest
to I. semamora ; on the underside, however, the ground-colour is wholly
black ; in /. semamora the costa and apex of the forewing and the
hindwing have the ground-colour ochreous ; on the hindwing also
the white area is very much smaller in I. azona. Mr. Hewitson's
description of the species is very short, being of four lines only ; he
gives its expanse as 2 inches, the habitat Macassar. Mr. Francis A.
Heron, of the British Museum, has kindly compared the drawing
here reproduced with the type, and says that it well agrees therewith.
Described from a single example sent to me by the collector, Rerr
H. Fruhstorfer, from Patoenoeang or Patanuang in South Celebes.
Genus Stimula, n. n.
I propose this name for the genus Watsonkt, Elwes and Edwards,
Trans. Zool. Soo. Lond., vol. xiv, p. 220 (1897), which is preoccupied
by the Marquis L. de Folin in the Molliisca (1879) ; type " Watsonia "
swinhoei, Elwes and Edwards. I have received a single male of
this species from the Khasi Hills from Mr. E. Svvinhoe, and two
males from Hsipaw, North Shan States, captured by Major F. B.
Longe, K.E. Superficially it hardly ditfers from Iverana diodes,
Moore, but has the wings narrower, the antennn? shorter, the lower
* JUn, tie Niceville, Jouru. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc, vol. ix, p. 399 (1895).
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160 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIL
discoidal nervule of the forewing arising slightly nearer to the upper
discoidal than to the third median nervule, in Kemna this vein arises
much nearer to the third median tlian the upper discoidal nervule, and
the second median nervule arising nearer to the third than in
K. diodes. The type species appears to be confined to the Khasi Hills
and Upper Burma. According to Captain E. Y. AVatson, this genus
would come into Section C of the suljfamily Pamphilmce, while the
genus Kemna comes into Section B, these sections being mainly based
on the position of vein 5 (the lower discoidal nervule) of the forewing,
vide ProG. Zool. Soc. Lend., 1893, p. 70.
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
Plate X.
Fig. 1. Euplosa (Crastla) core, Cramer. Upperside ... (^, p. 131.
2. „ „ „ Underside ... ^,p. 131.
„ 3. „ ( Trepsiclivois) linncei, Moore. Left-hsind
upper- andunder.'^ide $, p. 131.
„ 4. „ „ „ „ underside,
both wings, neuration ^, p. 131.
„ 5. Ehjmnias (Mel >/nias) exclusa,i\e ^iCitYiWe ... ^, p. 135.
„ ^. „ „ neolais, n. sp. ... ... 9 , p. 136.
Plate Y.
Fig. 7. Eli/nm/ds Qfeli/m'as] laisidis, de'SioexWh ... 9, p. 137.
n <^. „ „ la is, Cramer ... ... 9, p. 137.
„ 9. MijcaJesis {Phi^sco))] paiida'ajlioiif^QY ... ... ^. p. 134.
„ 10. .D/scDp/iora deo^ n. sp. ... ... ... ... $, j). 137.
,, 11. Cet]n)s!((, narmadoldes^([eWic(^\\\\(i ... ... ^, p. 138
„ 12. Phivopalpa callonice, Fruh^tori'ev ... ... (^, p. 139.
Plate Z.
Fig. 13. C//am,/w /.(f/a/mi", Rothschild <^, p. 140.
" i-^- :, „ „ 9, p. 140.
1-5. Gci'jjdiis JoiK/rana^ n. sp. ... ... .., ... (^, p. 141.
9, p. 141.
„ 15.
„ U).
„ 17. Logania ivalsoniana, n. »p. ... ... ... <^, p. 143.
» 1'"^- » » „ 9, p. 143,
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NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES. IGl
Plate Z — contd.
Fig. 19. Cyaniriii cara,n.sp.
), ^U. ,, ,, ,,
„ 21. Lampides lunata, n. sp. ...
)> ■^^« >) J) >> ••• ••• ••• •"*
„ 23. Lyccenesthes turneri, Miskin
,, z-t. ,j ,, ,,
„ 25. ILqjothecla hoiioSj n. s'p. ...
„ 2G. Camena cutneria, n. sp.
Plate AA.
„ 27. Deudoi'Lc (jcekdiayde^'iGeyiWe
„ 2<s. Zinasjjci zana, n. sp.
„ 21'. Ixlas jyyi'ene, Linueeus. Upperside. Gynandro-
inorphous example.
„ 30. „ „ „ Underside „
„ 31. Papillo (Fangemna) nyx, de Nic^ville ...
„ 32. Lotongm onaniy Butler
„ 33. Zea taythecoides, u. sp.
„ o±. „ „ „
„ 35. Iton azona, Hewitson ... ... •.• ••• Sj P- 158
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162
THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
By G. Marshall Woodrow, Professor of Botany,
College of Science, Poona.
Part V.
( Continued from page 651 of Vol. XI.)
LXXIX. — GOODENOVIE^.
1. Sccevola.
S. koenigii, Vahl., f.r.i. — 111-421. Bhadruh. Ratnagiri. June-Dec,
S. lobelia, LmH., r.B.i. — III-421. Karachi.
LXXX. — Campanulace/E.
Isotoma {Extra Indian).
I. lougiflora, PresL, prod. lob./. 42. Garden weed. Aug.-Sept.
2. Lobelia,
L. trigona, Roxb., F.B.I. — III-423. Panchgani, Narel. Aug.
L. trialata, Ham., f.b.i, — III-425. Ambeghat. Mahabl. July-Nov.
L. nicotianifolia, Heyne, f.b.i.— III-427. Dawal, Bohenul. W. Ghats. Jan.
3. Cephalostigma,
C. tSchimperi, //oc^s., F.B.I. — 111-428. Panchgani, Adur. Dharwar. Nov.-Dec.
C. flexuosum, //.-/. & T., f.b.i.— III-428. Birchi, N. Kanara. Nov.
4. Wahlenhergia.
W. gracilis, DC., F.B.I. — III-429. Kerdl. Lanauli. Khandala. Feb.
11. Splienoclea,
S. zey Ian ica, (7cc/-/., F.B.I. — III-438. Vingorla. Kalyan. Bubak, Sind,
Oct.-Dec.
13. Campanula.
C. Alphonsii, Wall., f.d.i. — III-440, Shinghad, Dang. Oct.
LXXXVI. — Plumbaginb^.
3. Statice,
tS. .Stockeii, Boiss., f.b.i. — III-480. Verawal, 8ind. Dec.
4. Plumbago.
P. zeylauica, Linn., f.b.i. — III-480. Chitrah. Deccan Hills. Aug.-Sept.
P. rosea, Z/?m., F.B.I. — III-481. Lul cldtrah. Cultivated.
P. capensis, Thunb., prod. fl. cap, — 1-83. Kala chitrah. Cult. May-Dec,
6, Vogelia.
^\ 'mdic-A, Gibson. ,¥.v,]l. — UI-48J. Abu. Porebunder. Dec.
LXXXVII.— Pkimulace/e.
7. AnagalUs.
A, arvensis, Linn,, f.b.i.— III-50(i. Deccan, widely. Sept.-Dec,
8j Ccntunculus.
U. Lcnellus, Duhg,, F.B.I.— 111-506. Poona. Aug.
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TTIE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 1C3
LXXXIII.— MYESINK.li.
1. Mcesa.
M, indica, Wall., f.b.i.— III-50t). Aitan. IMahableshwar. L>ec.-Jan.
2. Myrsinc.
M. capitellata, TFctW,, F.B.I. — III-512. Santaveri. Dec.
3. Emhella.
E. Ribes, ^MT-nt., F.B.I.— III-573. Waiwarung. W, Ghats.
E. robusta, i?oa;i., F.B.I. — III-515. Amhati. Katrir Ghat Aug-Apl.
E. vu-idifolia, Schef., f.b.i.— III-516. Ambut. Cct.-Jan.
5. Ardisia.
A. humilis, Vakl., f.b.i.— III-529. BugcU, Dihia. Castle Rock. Ambooli.
Aug.-Dec.
10. ^Egicerus,
M. majus, Gaertn., f.b.i. — III-533. Kanjala. Mombra. near Thana. Feb,
LXXXIX.-Sapotace^:.
1. ChryHophiiHuiu.
C. Roxburghii, G. Don., f.b.i.— III-538. Tarn!, Dongri viyphuJ. Khandalla.
Aug.
3. Sidei'oxylon,
S. tomentosum, Roxb., f.b.i. — III-538. KatekumhaJ. Mahabl. Matheran.
Jan.
Achras.
A. sapota, Linn., DC. Prod.— VIII-173. Chikoo. Cultivated.
5. Dichopsis.
D. elliptica,5e?t</?., f.b.i. —III-5 42, Pdnclwti palld. Bombay. Kanara. D«/si?W.
6. Bassia.
B. latifolia, i^oxJ., f.b.i.— III-544. Jiozt-Tia. Khandalla. Peint Taluk, Guzerat,
widely. Mar.-May,
B. longifolia, Linn,, f.b.i. — III-544. 2ppi, Moivha. Suligeri, N. Kanara. Jan.
B. malabarica, £ecZc^., F.B.I. — III-544. Sumpkund, N. Kanara. Feb.
8, JlimusojJs.
M. elengi, Z//i?j., F.B I.— III-548. BaJculi. Divimana Ghat. Feb.
M. Hexandra, Roxb., f.b.i. — III-549. Klrirni. Jooneer. Godra. Sept.-Oct.
XC— Ebenace.t:.
1. llaba.
M. nigrescens, Z>as?., F.B.I.— 111-551. Dolali. Ambooli Ghat, in fruit. Nov.
M, micrantha, Hiern., f.b.i. — III-552. Syhadree. Dahell.
2. Diospyros.
D. pruriens, Dalz., f.b.i. — III-553. Chorla Ghat. Dalz. Cool season.
D, montana, Roxb., f.b.i. — III-555. Govindu. Near Panwell.
D, kaki, Linn., f.b.i. — III-555. KaJc'i. Cultivated Bombay, rarely,
D. embryopteris, Pers., f.b.i. — III-556, Timhuri. 8<ilsette,
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1C4 JOUJINA L, llOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Vol. XTT.
D. ebenum, Koniig., f.b.i. — III-585.
D. jissimilis, Bedd., f.d.i, — III-558. Ahnus, Malta.
D. sylvatica, Roxh., f.k.i.— 111-551), Thana. Matheran (Telgiri, Talhot) Feb.
D, micropbylla, Bedd., f.b.i, — ITI-559, Yellapur, Mar.
D. chloroxylon, Roxh., f.1'..i. — III-560, Ninie. Peint Eoad, 6 miles N. of
Nasik, in fruit. Apl.
D. oocarpa^ Thiraiies., f.b.i,— III-560, Divimana. Thana. Feb.
D, tiipru, Buch.-Eam., f.b.i. — 111-503, Temhurni. Behar Tank, in fruit.
June.
D. paniculata, Dah., f.b.i.— III-570. Chorla Ghat and Raighur. Cool season.
Dah. Devimana. Feb.
XCI. — Styrace^e.
1. Symplocos.
S. spicata, Roxh., f.b.i. — III-573. Castle Rock. Oct-Dec.
S, Beddomei, C.B.C., f.b.i. — III-582. Lenda, Lodhra. Mahableshwar. Jan.
XCII. — Oleace.-e,
1. Jasiiiinnia.
J. sambac, Ait., f.b.i. — III-591. Mogra. Gardens.
J. pubescens, Wild., f.b.i.— III-592. Ran Mogra. Mombra, near Tliaua. Feb.
J. arborescens, Roxh., f.b.i. — III-594. Kusar, Kundi. Chaudawar. Aug.
J. Ritchiei, Clarke, f.b.i. — III-598. Castle Rock. Chandawar, N. Kanara. Aug,
J. auriculatum, F«AZ,, F,B,i,— III-600. Badami, Nov.
J. flexile .Vahl., f,b,i,— III-601, Kumpta to Sirsi Road, Mar,
.1. officinale, Z/wj!., f.b.i. — III-ii03, Jai. Cultivated,
2. Njjctanthes.
N. arbortristis, Lhm., f,b,t.— 111-003. Slrali, Farajafal'. Pal jungles, Aug,
3. Schrehcra.
S, swietenioides, Roxh,, f.b.i, — TTI-G04, Mohhi. Bliowdan, Poona. Samasgi.
Dbarwar. .Apl.-May.
G. OxiiHijitJiua.
O, fragrans, Lo«r., F.E I. — 111-000, Crardens. Cultivated,
7, Linoctpra.
L. mala])aricuni, Wall ,v.v,.i. — III-607 Haedi. Lanauli, Amba Ghat, Nov.-Apl.
L, intermedia, Wight,, f.b,i, — III-G09, Lanauli, Apl,
var, Roxburghii,
8, Olea.
O, dioica, Roo:i., f,b,i, — III-612, Parjamb, Karamhu. Khandalla, Jan,-May.
O, cuspidate, Wall., f,b,i, — 111-612, Baku, Kan, Slnmn. Planted.
9, Ligustrum.
L, neilgherriense, Wight,, f,b.t, — III-G15. Mahableshwar, Aug,-Oct.
XCIII. — Sabvadoraoe/E,
2. Salvador a.
S, persica, Z?n«., F,B.i.— III-G19. Film,, Kahhana. Gogo, Bijapur. Bulsar.
Dec-Feb,
S, oleoides, Dene., f.b,i, — III-C20, Khuhhurjjiar, Diar. Nadiad. Sind. Jan,
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN IXPTA. 165
3. Azima.
A. tetracantlm, L(H??., F.B.I.— III-620. SuJchaput, KundaU. Badami. Adur.
Dharwar.
XCIV.— APOCYNACE.E,
6. Carissa.
C. carandas, iirt«., F.B.I. — III-630. Karicand. Karavanta. Khandalla. Feb.-Mar.
C. spinarum, ^.£).C'., F.B.I. — III-631. Badami. May-June*
C. macrophylla, Wall., f.b.i. — III-631. Hills near Karwar. Jan.-Feb.
C, sauvissima, Bedd., f.b.i.— III-631. N. Kanara. Talhot. Jan.-Feb.
7. Raincolfia.
R. i-erpentina, iJe?i^/;., FB.i. — III-632. Badaki. Castle Rock. Aug.-Jan.
R. densiflora, Benth., f.b.t. — III-633. Mahableshwar.
Thevetia.
T. neriifolia, Jits.^. DC. Prod.— VIII, 343. PeoU Kunnar. Planted. Jan.-Aug.
10. Cevhera.
C, odollam, (xrter^rt., F.B.I. — lll-^ZS.Odolavi,Suhanu. Anant. ^. Konkan.
June-Jan.
13. Rhayza.
K. stricta, D.CX, F.B.I.— 111-640, Seirar, Siharisv:org, Sehwan, Sind. Dec.
14. V/nca.
V. pusilla, Mnrr., F.r..i. — III-640. SouqIIu . Scmkaphi. Poona. Guzerat,
"widely. June-Sept.
V. rosea., Limi., S2). 2^1. — 305. Sadafuli , Baromaslii . Cultivated.
14. Plumeria.
P. acutifolia, Poir,, f.b.i. — III-641. Keir champa. Cultivated.
P. alba, Linn., DC. Prod.-YIII-392. Cultivated.
16. Alstonia.
A. scholaris, Tjroirn., F.B.I. — 111-642. Satavin. Xear Lanauli,
A. macrophylla, Tro7/., f.b.i.— 111-643. Cultivated.
18. Ilolari'hena.
H. antidysenterica. Wall., F.c.i. — 111-644. Dovla huda, Indrajar. Khandala.
Mar.
19. Tahernamontana.
T. Heyneana, Wall., f.b.i.— III-646. Karjal Kudu. Sirsi. A],].
T. coronaria, Br., f.b.i,— III-646. Tagrjar. Cultivated.
T. crispa, Roxb., f.b.i. — III-448. Nag Icuda. Matheran. Castle Rock.
Marmagoa,
20. Parsonsia.
P. spiralis, PFaZ/., f.b.i.— III-650. April,
21. Fallaris.
V Heynei, iS^jr., f.b.i.— III-650, Jagalput. N. Kanara. Feb.-Mar,
2."). Wrlghtiu.
W, tinctoria, Br., f.b.i.— III-653, Kala kudu. "W. Ghats, Thana, May-June.
W, tomentosft, Roem, & Schult., f.b.i. — III-653. Dang. Sawantwady,
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166 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TFUAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
24. Ner/um.
N. odorum, /So?anf?., F.B.I. — III-555. Kanlier. Deccan. Sind, widely planted.
Apl.-Mar.
RouiiclUa.
R. grata, Wall., Bot, Mag. 4466. Gardens. Mar.
29, Beaumontia'
B. grandiflora. Wall., f.b.i.— 111-660. Cult. Dec.-Feb.
B. Jerdoniana, TV%7i<., F.B.I.— III-661. N. Eanara, Nov.-Dec.
30. Clionemorplia.
C. macrophylla, G, Do?/., F.B.I.— III-661. Divimana. May.
33. Agatiosma.
A. caryophyllata, G. Don., f.b.i, — III-664, Malati, KemettivalU. Ganesh-
khind. Gardens. Aug.
37. Anodendron.
A. paniculatum, ^1. D. C. F.B.I, — III-GG8, Lamtani. Lonauli, Dec-Mar.
38. Iclmocarpus.
I frutescens Br. f.b.i. — III-669. Kristnasarioa, hantehouri. Castle Rock.
Sirsi. Nov.-Dec.
Adeniuni.
A. obesum, Rcem. et Sch., DC. Prod.V.— III-412. Adenachalcanher. Poona.
Cult. Mar.-Apl.
XCV. — AsCLEPIADEiE.
2. Hemidesmus.
H. indicus, Br., f.b.i. — IV-5. Upalsari, Anantamul, Dudhhali. Vingoria,
Poona, Sumpkund. Oct.
3. Cryptolepis.
C, Buchanani, iZcem., F.B.I.— IV-5, Karanta. Deccan, widely, Aug,
3,* Cryptostegia.
C. grandiflora, Br., f.b.i. — IV-6. Vilayati vahundi. Naturalised, -widely.
June-Sept.
13. Periploca.
P. aphylla, JDcne., F.B.I. — IV-12. Ranslur. Thano Bullo Khan, Sind.
In fruit, Nov.
16. Genianthus.
G, laurifolius, fi^ool-,/., f.b.i,— IV-16, N. Kaiiara Ghats, Talhot. Dec,
17. Glassonema.
G. varians, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-16. Sind. Dec,
18. Oxystelma.
O. esculentum, Br., f.b.i. — IV-17. Dudhi, Dudhani. Poona. Sind. Dec.
19. Calotropis.
C, gigantea, Br., f.b.i.— IV-17. Mandar, Rui. Deccan. Guzerat, widely,
Feb.-July.
C, procera, Br., f,b.i,-IV— 18. Bandar, Rur, Poona. Sind^ widely. Dec.
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TBE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 167
19.*^ Asclepias.
A. curassavica, Linn., f.u.i.— IV-18. Kurki. Poona, Kumta. Feb.-Dec.
22. Peniatropis,
P. spiralis, Dene., f.b.i.— IV-19. Ambarcels singarstu. Lasalgaon. Hajam.
Sind, Feb. -Nov.
P. microphylla, Wight., f.b.i. — IV-20. Parparuni. Dango. Gokak.
2'6. Dcemia.
D, extensa, Br., f.b.i.— IV-2U. Utarana. Poona. Sind. Aug.-Dec.
25. Holotsemma.
H. Eheedei, TFaZ/,, F.B.I — IY-21. Tultuli sUndori. Narel. Aug.
26. CynancJmm.
C. pauciflorum, Br., f.b.i. — IV-23. Jooner. Oct.-Feb.
C. callialata, i/an»., F.B.I. — IV-24. Poona. Haveri. Apl,
27. Sarcostemma.
S. brevistigma, Wight., f.b.i. — IY-26. KonagulU. Somalata. Poona. June. July,
30, Gjjinnema.
G. sylvestre. Br., f.b.i. — IV-29. Kavali. Shiru-l'ui'unja. Mahabl. Sumpkund,
N, Kanara. Apl.
G. pergularioides, 117. & Gard., f.b.i. — IV-32. Haveri. Apl,
32. Marsdenia.
M, tenacissima, Wight. & Am,, f.b.i. — IV-34. Cliampaneer. Poona. May.
33. Pergularia.
P. pallida, Wight. & Am., f.b,i.— IV-38.
P. minor, .4 «fZr.— F.B.I. — IV-38. Cultivated.
34. Stephanotis.
S. grandiflora, DC., Prod. — VlII-620. (Madagascar.) Gardens.
36. Tglophoru .
T, fasciculata. Ham., f.b.i, — 1\'-40. Bhindodl. ^Vandra. Bank of Tansa
Canal. Aug.
T. rotundifolia, Ham., f.b.i. — IV-43. Londa. June.
T. Dalzelli, Hooh. /., f.b.i, — IV-43. Konkan, Stocks, Law.
T. asthmatica, ]r?^/(<,, F.B.I. — IV-44. Jungli pikv:an, Karaki rasna. Lanauli
Gokak. Nov.
38. Cosmostigma.
C. racemosa, Wight., f.b.i. — IV-46. Jaii, Jfarvel, Shendari. Shendvel. Konkan
& N. Kanara. Talbot. June-Aug.
39, Dregea.
D. volubilis, Beiith.,v.M.i. — IV-46. Mawal. Poona. Apl.
Do. var, augustifolia, Lohagaum. Poona. July.
42. Oianthua.
O. urceolatus, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-49. Poona, Aug.
44. Huga-
H. retusa, Dah., f,b.i. — IV-56, Yacombi, N, Kanara. July
H. Wightii, ^oo/.-. /., F.B.1.--IV-59. Sumpkund, do, do.
H. peudula, Wight., f.b.i.— IV-61. Near Nagotna. Dalzell,
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168 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL SISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
47. Leptadenia.
L. reticulata, Wt.&Arn., p.d.i.— IV-GM. Nal;sliihani. Plarandori. Deccan. Apl.
L, spartium, ll%/«<., F.B.I.— IV-G4. A';^; (Sind). Sind, Mandwee. Dec,
50. Ceropegia.
C, atteiiuata, Hook., p.b.i.— IV-tw. Hills near Jooneer. Sept.
C. Lawii, Hook, f., f.b.i. — IV-67. Kiuidtori. Khandalla. Poorundhur. Aug.-
Sept.
C. bulbosa, Roxb., f.b.i.- IV-67. 10 miles, W. Poona. Aug.
C. juncea, Roxh., f.b.i,— IV-68. Kuniml. Badami. Aug.
C. acuminata, i?OK&.,F.B.i.—IV-70, Pasham. Aug.
C. hirsuta W. & A , F.c.i. — IY-71. Var. Jacqucmontiana. Hamana. Poona.
Aug.
51. Frerea.
F. indica. Dalz., F.u.i. — IV-76. Shliulal niakudi. Hill Fort, Jeener, Sept.-
Oct,
(4 Jlesliij glabrous herb or under shrub 4" — 6". Floivers f" duavt.')
52. Caralluma.
(J. edulis, Bentli., F.u.i. — IV-76. Mulir, 6 miles from Karachi, Sept,
C, limbriata. Wall., f.b.i.— IV-77. Makadasmgi. Deccan hills, widely.
May-June,
XCVI.— LOGANIACEvK.
1. Mitreola,
M. oldenlandioides. Wall., f.b.i.— IV-79. Pali. Koiikan. In fruit, Oct.
3. Buddleia.
B, asiatica, Loji/'., F.ii.i, — IV-82. Fitzgerald Ghat. Jan.
4. Fagraea,
F. obovata. Wall., f.b.i.— IV-83. Sumpkund, N. Kanara. July
f). Stryclmos.
S, Golubrina, Linn., f.b.i.— IV-87. Kauai, Kajarbel. Tunia Ghat. Talbot.
S, Dalzellii, Clarke, f.b.i.— IV-87, Southern Ghat, Dalzell.
S. nux-vomica, Linn., f.b.i. — lV-90. Kajra, Kasarkano. Ratnagiri. Mar.
S, potatorum, Lmn., f.b.i. — IV-90. Nermali. Pal jungles. In fruit, Feb.
XC VII. — Gent iane^.
2. Exacum.
E. bicolor, /2ox6., F.B.I. — IV-96. Cowrie, Bara karait. Mawal. Poona. Sept.
E. peduuculatum, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-97. Mawal. Poena. Dharwar. Dec.
E. Lawii, Clarke, f.b.i.— IV-98. Mahableshwar. Oct_
E. petiolarc, Grisb., f.b.i. — IV-98. Matheran. Sept.
4. Hoppea.
II. faatigiata, Cittrfcf , F.n.i. — lV-100. Uavor. Kluuidcsii. Pouiia. Oct,
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 169
5. Enico sterna.
E, littorale, Bl., f,b,i. — IV-101. Choti Jcarait, Kadvanai, Sind, Guzerat.
Dharwar. Oct,
6. Erythraea.
E. Roxburghii, G. Don., f.b.i, — IV-102. Luntalc. Konkan. Deccan. Feb.-Apl.
7, Canscora.
C. diffusa, Br., f.b.i. — IV-103. Konkan. Deccan widely, Oct.
C, decurrens, Dah., f.b.i. — IV-103, Poona. Kumta. Oct.-Nov.
G. concanensia, Clarke, f.b.i. — IV-104. Narel. Aug.
C, perfoliata, Lamk., f.b.i, — IV-104. Karwar, Feb,
12. Stoertia.
S, tetragona, Clarke, f,b,i. — IV-122.
S. corymbosa, Wight., f.b.i. — ^IV-126. Hullihal. Castle Rock, Nov.
S. decusaata, Nimmo, f.b,i, — IV-127, Kadu, Kavadi. Panchgani, Nov.
Jan.
15. LimnantJiemum.
L, criatatum, Grisb., p,b,i, — IV-131, Kumudini. Ponds, Deccan, Concan.
Apl.-Sept,
L. indicum, Thwaites, f,b,i, — IV-131. Kumud. Guzerat. Mawal. Apl.-Sept.
XCIX. Hydrophyllace^.
1. Hydrolea.
H. zeylanica, Vahl., f.b.i. — IV-133. Popti, Keritl. Mahad, Bulsar. Nov.-Dec.
G. BOEAGINEiE.
1. Cordia.
C. Myxa, Linn., f.b.i,— IV-136. Bokara, Gondani. Sakkar Pathar, Deccan.
Mar.-Apl.
C. obliqua, Willd., f,b,i.— IV-137. Mota lusura. Londa, In fruit June.
C. monoica, Roxb., f.b.i. — IV-137. Badami. Aug.
0. Rotthii, Roem. Sell., f.b.i. — IV-138. Gondana. Deeaa. Deccan widely.
Nov.
C. MacLeodii, H. . & T., f.b.i. — IV-139. Dhalvana. Mawal, Mar.
2. Ehretia.
E. laavia, Roxb., F.B.l. — IV-141. Dataranga. Karwar, Malshiras, Bhowdan,
Poona. Mar.
3. Coldenia.
C. procumbana, Linn., f.b.i,— IV-1 44. TrlpahaM, Tripanki. Badami. La*
nauli. Oct.
4. Rhahdia.
R. lycioidea, Mart., f.b.i.— IV-1 4 5. Machim. Deccan. N. Kanara streams.
Oct.-Dec,
6. Heliotropium.
H. zeylanicum, Lamk., f.bj.'— IV-148. Deesa. Badami. Karachi. Nov -Jan.
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170 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
H. ophioglossum, StocJcs, f.b.i. — IV-149. Sind.
H. supinum, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-149, Singhur. Poona. Dharwar. Mar.
H, calcareum, Stochs, f.b.i. — IV-150. Sehwan. Hyderabad. Dec.
H. ovalifolium, Forsh., f.b.i. — -IV-ISO. Penn. Poona. Jan.-Feb.
H. undulatum, Valil., f.b.i. — IV-150. Karachi. Hyderabad, 8iud. Dec.
H. Rottleri, ie/i/rt., F.B.I. — IV-151, DaorfuU. Sind.
H. paniculatum, Br., f.b.i. — lY-\b\. Sind.
H. indicum, Zi2«M., f.b.i. — IV-152. Burundi. Ajeru Salt swamp, Bombay,
Oct.-Nov,
H. peruvianum, Linn., Sp. 189. Gardens,
7. TricTiodesma.
T. indicum, Br., f.b.i. — IV-153. Katha mendlia. Kalyan. Aug.-Sept.
T. amplcxicaule, Roth., f.b.i. — IV-153. Bijapur. Mulier, Sind. Aug.-Jan.
T. africanum, Br., f.b.i. — IV-154. Bulo Khan, Luki, Sind. Aug.
T. zeylanicura, Br., f.b.i. — IV-154. Badami. Baroda, Sidashyagad.
N. Kanara. Jan.
10. Cyanoglossum.
C. lanceolatum, Fors/j., F.B.I. — IV-156. Lichardi. Poona. Panchgani. Oct.
13. Parycarijii'in.
P. caelestinum, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-160. Mahableshwar. Oct.
P. malabaricum, Clarke, f.b.i. — IV-160. Kala Ucliardi. Mahableshwar. Oct.
P. Lambertianum, Clarice, f.b.i. — IV-161. Mahableshwar. Oct.
P. asperum. Stocks. Khirtur Mts. H.E.M. James.
29. Sericostoma.
S. pauciflorum, S<oc^-s, f.b.i. — IV-176. Broach. Palanpur. Veraval. Nov.-Dec.
30. Arnehla.
A. hispidissima, DC, f.b.i. — IV-176. Mulier, Sind. Palanpur. Mar.
CI. — CoNVOLVULACE^.
1. Erycihe.
E. paniculata, Roxh., var. Wightiana, f.b.i. — IV-180. Castle Rock. Nov.
Legendrea. (Canary Islands.)
L. moUissima, Webb,, DC. Prod.-^IX-328. Naturalised. Poona. Oct.
2. Rivea.
R. ornata, Chois., f.b.i. — IV-183. Mawal. Poona. Sept.
R. hypocrateriformis, Chois., f.b.i. — IV-184. Phanji. Mawal. Poona. Sept.
3. Aryyreia.
A. s^ecioaa , Siveet., F.B.I. — IV-185. Samudrasolce. Gardens, Poona, Broach . Aug,
A. involucrata, Clarke, f.b.i. — IV-187. Collem. Wadi, near Mahableshwar. Oct.
A. involucrata car. inequalis. Marmagoa. Oct.
A. sericca, Dalz., f.b.i. — IV-188. Dasgaon. Matheran. Aug.-Sept.
A. malabarica, Chois., F.n.i. — VI-189. Mahableshwar. Aug.
A. pilosa, Am., f.b.i. — IV-189. Yellapur. Sept.
A. cymosa, Sitfee/., f.b.i.— IV-189. W. Ghat.
A. cimeata, Ker., f.b.i. — IV-191. Mahalumjl. Hills near Poona. July-Aug.
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 171
4, Lettsomia.
L, aggregata, Roxh., f.b.i.— IV-191. Devikope. Samasgi, Dharwar. Dec.-Jan.
L, elliptica, Wight., f.b.i.— IV-192. Bo7idioel. Mahableshwar. Sept.
L. setosa, Roxh., f.b.i.— IV-194. Narel. Aug,
5, Ipomcea.
I. bonanox, Linn., f.b.i.— IV-197. GnlacJiandani. Cultivated.
I. muricata, Jacq., f.b.i.— IV-197. Katriz. Poona. Sept.
I. grandiflora,Zia7nZ-., F.B.I.— IV-1 98. Cultivated.
I. trichosperma, Blume, f.b.i.- IV-198. Dharumpter. Cult.? Sept.
I. coccinea, Linn, f.b.i. — IV-198. Cultivated
I. Quamoclit, Linn., f.b.i — IV-198. Ganesh Pushpa. Cultivated
I. hederacea, Jacq., f.b.i.— IV-1 99. Cultivated
I. laciniata, Clarice, f.b.i. — ^IV-200. Sawantwadi. Aug.
I, dissecta, Willcl, f.b.i.— IV-200, Panchgani. Mahableshwar. Oct.
I. calycina, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-201. Surat. Poona., Satara Rd. 25th mile, Oct.
I. barlerioides, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-201. Sirsi. Sept.
I. digitata, Liiin., f.b.i.— IV-202. Kalyan.
I. pentaphylla, Jacq., f.b.i.— IV-202. Pal jungle. Baroda. Feb.
I. batatas, Larnk., f.b.i. — IV-202. Ritala, Kanangi. Sweet potato. Cult.
I. pileata, i^oaii., f.b.i. — IV-203. Sawantwadi. Nov.
I. pestigrides, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-204. Ghat between Khad and Path. Sept.
I. eriocarpa, Br., f.b.i. — ^IV-204. KandoaMe. Kanali, Guzerat. Poona. Sept.
I, sindica, Staph., Kew Bull, Near Karachi,
I. Stocksii, Clarke, f.b.i.— IV-204, Deccan, Penil. Stocks.
I. angustifolia, Jacq., f.b.i. — IV-205. Karwar, Londa. Aug.-Dec.
I. tridentata, Roth., — f.b.i. IV-205. Morga. Sendar Kalandi. Nariad.
Shrewardan, Oct,
I. chryseides, Ker., f.b.i. — IV-206. Dakor, Guzerat. Nov
I. reniformis, Chois., f.b.i. — IV-106. Undirkani. Poona. Deccan widely.
I. rumicifolia, Chols., f.b.i. — IV-207. Karachi, Dec,
I, obscura, Ker., f,b,i. — IV-207, Pungali. Badarai. Poona, Guzerat, Oct.-Jan.
I. Clarkei, Bool'.,/., F.B.I.— IV-207. Near Jooneer, Sept.
I. sepiaria, Koen., f.b.i. — IV-209. Ambti-vel. Gokak Porebunder. Oct.
I. aquatica, Forsk., f.b.i.^ — IV-210. Nalichi haji. Takasi. Poona. Deccan.
widely. Nov.-Apl.
I, staphylina, Roem. & Sch., f.b.i. — IV-210. Byadgi, Dec.
I. carapanulata, Linn., f.b.i, — IV-211. Tambanoail. Mawal, Poona, Dharwar.
Sept .-Jan,
I. cymosa, Roem. ^ Sch., f.b.i. — IV-211. Ambeghat, Jan.
I, turpethrum, Br., f.b.i. — IV-212. Bursingali Nisottar. Phutkari. Reva-
danda, Oct,-JaD,
I, biloba, Forsk., f,b.i, — ^IV-212. Maryadvel, Guzerat shores. Feb,
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172 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BISTORT SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
I, vitifolia, Sweet, f.b.i. — IV-213, Navli. Castle Rock. Vingorla. Oct.-Nov.
I. pilosa, Sioeet, f.b.i. — IV-213. Ahmedabad. Deo,
I. sinuata, Orteg., f.b.i. — IV-214. Guzerat. Nov.
I. rhyncorhiza, Dalz., f.b.i. — IV-214. Huttigherry, N. Kanara. July.
I. palmata, Forsh., f.b.i. — IV-214. Badami.
I. dasysperma, Jacg., f.b.i. — IV-215. Garden escape. Poona. Porebunder,
Sept.-Nov.
I. tuberosa, Linn., DC. Prod., IX-362. Gardens.
I. carnea, Jacq^., Am., 26, t. 18. Cult. Gardens.
I. Horsfallise, Booh., Bot. Mag,-3S15. Cult. Gardens.
7. Bewittia.
H. bicolor, Wight., f.b.i.— IV-216. Sawantwadi. Marmagoa. Nov.
9. Convolvulus.
C. sindicus, Stocks, f.b.i. — IV-217. 12 miles east of Bullo Khan, Sind. Aug.
C. micrnphyllus, Sieb., f.b.i.~IV-218. Hyderabad, Milir, Sind, Oct.
C.rhyncospermus, J?oc^s^, F.B.I. — IV-218, Sind, Oct.
C. glomeratus, C/i02S., F.B.I.— IV-21 9. Karachi. Porebunder. Dec.
C. Rottlerianus, Chois., f.b.i.— IV-219. Lenyadri. Jooneer. Sept,
C. arvensis, Linn., f.b.i. — ^IV-219. Biranpag. Chandioel. Jeur. Poona. Karachi.
Dec.-Feb.
C. parviflorus, Vahl., f.b.i. — IV-220, Dongargaun, near Ahmednagar.
Chandod, Guzerat. Nov.
10, Evolvulus.
E. alsinoides, Linn., f.b.i.— IV-220. Visnuhrdnta, Sankaveli. July-Nov.
11. Porana.
P. paniculata, Roxh., f.b.i, — IV-222. Bridal creeper. Gardens. Sept.-Oct.
P. racemosa, Roxb., f.b.i. — IV-222. Gardens. Oct.
P. malabarica, Clarke, f.b.i. — IV-223. Near Panchgani, Oct.
12. Breweria.
B. cordata, Bl., f.b.i. — IV-223, Marmagoa. Vingorla. Nov,
B. latifolia, i?e?z<A., F.B.I.-— IV-223, Mulir, Sind. Verawal. Dec.
13, Neuropeltis.
N. racemosa. Wall., f.b.i.— IV-225. Bankeri, Honaver, N. Kanara. Feb.
14. Cressa.
C. cretica, Linn., f.b.i, — IV-225. Kardi, Lona, Luna. Konkan. Sind widely,
Nov.-Feb.
15, Cuscuta.
C, reflexa, Roxb, f,b,i. — IV-225, Akasvel. Amaryel Hangal, Dharwar, Jan.-
Feb.
C. hyalina, /2o<ft., f.b.i.— IV-226. Ambar. Sind,
C, chiuensis, Lamk., f.b.i.— IV-226. July.
CII. — SOLANACEiE.
1. Solanum.
S, nigrum, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-229. Kangoni, Koawat. Poona, Bombay.
Hyderabad, Sind, Sept,-Dec.
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 173
S. verbascifolium, Linn., f.b.i,— IV-230. Kutri. Poona. July-Oct.
S. piibescens, Willd., f.b.i. — IV-230. Badami, Aug,-Nov.
S. bigeminatum, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-231. Mahableshwar, Oct.
S. denticulatum, Blame, f.b.i. — ■IV-231. Mahableshwar.
S. giganteum, Bl., f.b.i. — •IV-233. Mahableshwar. Jan.-Mar.
S. ferox, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-233. 40 miles west of Belgaum. In fruit Dec.
S. torvum, Swartz., f.b.i.— IV-234. July.
S. indicum, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-234. Khandalla. Mahableshwar. Sept.
S. melongena, Linn., f.b.i, — IV-235. Bengan. Brinjal. Cultivated.
S. congulans, Forsk., f.b.i. — IV-236, Near Karachi. Jan.-May.
{Boringadi. ") -n a • j
Botingadi. I ^eccan. Smd.
Kandayri.y •^^°®-
S, trilobatum, Z/?in., F.B.I. — IV-236 Badamii. Dharwar. Guzerat widely. Jan,
S, gracilipes, Dene., f.b.i.— IV-237. Mulir, Karachi, Sind. Dec.-Jan,
S. tuberosum, Z/wM., The Potato, Batata. Cultivated.
1,* Lycopersicum (America).
L. esculentum. Miller, f.b.i. — IV-237. Wale wangee. The Tomato. Cult.
2. Physalis.
P. minima, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-238. Chirputi, Poona. Aug,
P. peruviana, Linn., f,b,i. — IV-238. Cape Goosberry. Cultivated.
2.° Capsicum.
C, frutescens Linn., f.b.i. — IV-239. Mirchi. Cultivated.
C. minima, Roxh., F.b.i. — IV-239. Lovungi mirchi. Cultivated.
C. grossum, Willd., f.b.i. — IV-239. Bopala mirchi. Cultivated.
3. Withania.
W. somnifera, Dunal. f.b.i. — IV-239. Godha avada. Karachi. Jooneer.
Poona. Sept.
W. coagulans, Dunal., f.b.i. — IV-240. Punirhand, KaJcnaj. Karachi. Dec.
4. Lycium.
L, barbarum, LmH., F.B.I, — IV-240. Karachi. Porebandar. Nov.
7. Datura.
D. stramonium, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-242. Datura. Deccan widely, June-Dec.
D. fastuosa, Linn., f.b.i, — IV-242. Kala datura. Deccan. Guzerat, Sept.-Dec.
D. metel, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-242. Poona. Sept.-Dec,
D. arborea, Linn., sp, 256. Mahableshwar. Poona. Planted. Oct.-Dec,
10. Hyoacyamus.
H. muticus, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-243. Khirtar Mts., Sind. Mar.
10. •Nicotiana.
N. tabacum, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-245. Tumhaco. Cult, Nov.-Feb.
GUI. — SCROPHULAEINE^.
1, Anticharis.
A, glandulosa, Asehers., f.b.i. — IV-249. Sind.
A. linearis, Hochst,, f.b.i.— IV-250. Sind,
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174 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
3. Celsia.
C. coromandeliana, Vald., f.bj. — IV-251. Bahoor Jcutaki. Deccan. Guzerat.
Jan.-May.
4. Linaria.
L. ramosissima. Wall., f.b.t. — IV-251, Deccan widely. Sept.
5. Schiceinfurthia,
S. sphaerocarpa, A. Braun., f.b.i. — IV-252. Karachi. Dec.
6. A7itirrhinum.
A. majus, Linn., sp. p., 859, Snapdragon, Gardens.
Russelia {^Mexico).
R. floribucda, Zuccar, DC., Prod, — X-332. Gardens.
R. rotundifolia, Cav., I. C. pi. — V-9. Gardens.
10, Stttera.
S. glandulosa, Roxh., f.b.i. — IV-258. Bhul. Karli. Poona. Feb.
11. Mimulus,
M, gracillis, Br., f,b,i. — IV-259, Poona, Apl.
14, Lindenhergia,
L, urticsefolia, Lehm., f.b.i. — IV-261, Dliol. Marmagoa. Baroda. Nov.
16. Stemodia,
S. viscosa, Roxh., f.b.i. — IV-265, Veraval. Ankleshwar, Nov.-Dec.
S, serrata, -Ben^/t,, F,B.i. — IV-265, Penn,«Callian, Dec.-Feb.
17. Limnophila.
L, Roxburgii, G. Don., f,b.i.— IV-265. Tulkut Ghat. DaJzell. Sept. Kumta.
L. conferta, Benth., f.b.i. — lV-266, Malwan. Dec.
L, polystachya, Benth., f.b,i, — ■IV-26. N. Kanara, Jan.
L, heterophylla, Benth,, f,b,i. — IV-270. Mahableshwar, Oct.
L. racemosa, Benth., f.b.i, — IV-271. Matheran, N. Kanara, Nov,-Jan.
L, gratioloides, Br., f,b.i, — IV-271, Mahableshwar, Dakor, Penn. Nov,-Jan.
18. Herpestes.
H. Monniera, H. B. & A'., f.b.i. — IV-272. Bama. Nirhrami. Deccan. Sind.
Oct.-Jan.
H, Haniiltoniana, Benth., f,b.i.— IV-272. Malwan. Dalzell.
H, floribunda, Br., f,h,i.— IV-273. S. Kanara. Feb.
20, Dopatrium.
D, junceum. /:?am,, f.b.i. — IV-274. Narel. N. Kanara, July-Aug,
23. Torenia.
T, cordifolia, Roxh., f.b.i,— -IV-276. Londa, Oct,
T. asiatica, Lhm., f.b.i, — IV-277, Cultivated.
24. VandeV.ia.
V. Crustacea. i?e»j</j., f.b.i. — IV-279, Narel. Matheran. Aug.
V, hirsuta, Benth., f.b.i,— IV-280, Kalyan, Sept.
25. Ilyaanthes.
I, hyssopioides, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-283. Guzerat. Mahableshwar. Nov.
I. parviflora, Benth., f.b.i, — IV-283, Narel. Belgaum. Aug.
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 175
26, Bonnaya.
B. brachiata, Linh. Jj Otto, f.b.i.— IV-284. Sawantwadi. Godra, Sept.-Nov.
B. veronicaefolia, Spreng., f.b.i,— IV-285, " Common." Dalzell.
B, reptans, Spreng., f.b.i. — lV-284. S. Konkan. Dalzell.
B. oppositifolia, Spreng., f.b.i.— IV-286. Kalyan. Sept.
29. Peplidium.
P. humifusum, Del., f.b.i. — IV-287. Bubak, Sind. Margoa. Dhurumter. Dec.
30. Glosso stigma.
G. spathulatum, Arm., f.b.i. — IV-288. Malwan. Nov.
34. Scoparla.
S. dulcis, Linn., f.b.i, — IV-289. Salt swamp, Bombay. Nov.
35. Caiiipylanthus .
C. ramosissimus, Wight., f.b.i, — IV-290. Juugadi, Sind. Nov.
39. Veronica.
V. auagallis, Linn., f.b.i. — lV-293. Deccan. Mar.
41. Buchnera.
B. hispida, Linii., f.b.i.— IV-298, Koina Valley.
42. Striga.
S. orobanchoides, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-299. Poona. Dakor. Matheran. Oct.
S. densiflora, Be?t(/i., F.B.I.— IV-299. Poona. June-Nov.
S. lutea, Lour., — 'F.b.i. — IV-299. Gadak. Badami. Nov.-Jan.
43. Ramphicarpa.
R. longiflora, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-300. Wada, near Mahableshwar.
Malwan. Nov.
44. Centranthera.
C. hispida, Br., f.b.i. — IV-301. Wada, near Mahableshwar. Malwan.
Oct.-Nov.
45. Sopubia.
S. delphinifolia, G. Don,, f.b.i. — IV-302. Dudhali. Kulthi. Guzerat. Deccan.
Aug.-Oct.
S. trifida, Ham., f.b.i. — IV-302. Panchgani. Oct.
CIV. — Orobanchace^.
1 . JEginetia.
M. indica, Roxb., f.b.i.— .IV-320, Sewree, near Bombay. Oct,
2. Christisonia.
C. Lawii, Wight., f,b.i.— IV-322, Purandhur. July.
3. Cistanche,
V, tubulosa, Wight., f.b.i — IV-324. Karachi. Dec.
4. Orobanche.
0. indica. Ham., f.b.i — IV-326. Diksal, Deccan. Oct.
CV. — LENTIBULABIEiE.
U. stellaris, L.f., f.b.i.— IV-328. Utricularia. Malwan. Nov.
U. flexuosa, Vahl., f.b.i.— IV'329. Poona.
U, exoleta, Br., f.b.i.— IV-329 Samasgi, N. Kanara. Feb.
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176 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
U, albo-ccerulea, Dah,, f.b.i. — IV-330. Mahableshwar, Sept.
U. coerulea, Linn., f.b.i — IV-331. Mahableshwar
U. reticulata, Smith, f.b.i.— IV-331. Mahad, S. Konkan. Oct.
U. orbiculata, Wall., f.b.i.— IV-334, Khandalla, Lanauli. Sept,
CVI. — GeSN EKACEyB.
1. ^schynanthus.
M. Perottetii, A.D.C., f.b.i.— IV-339 Mahableshwar. Oct.
7. Platystemma.
P. violoides, Wall., f.b.i.— IV-361. Champaneer, Guzerat. In fruit, Dec.
15. Klugia.
K. notoniana A.D.C., f.b.i.— IV-366. Malkapur. W. Ghats. Oct.
16. RhyncTioglossum.
R. obliquum, Bl., f.b.i.— IV-367. Dasgaon. VVadi. Oct.
CVII.— BlGNONIACE^.
2. Millingtonia.
M. hortensis, L.f., f.b.i.--IV-377. Cowla nim. Planted. Oct.
3. Oroxylum.
O. indicum, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-378. Tetu, Jagadala. Peint Taluk. VV. Ghats.
June.
(To be continued^
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177
ON SOME SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCH.
By the Rev. J. F. Blake, M.A., F.G.S.
[Abridged/ ]
Part I,
(WitJk a Plate.)
During a recent visit to Cutch for the purpose of studying the Jurassic ^
rocks there exposed, my attention was naturally attracted to a number of
superticial deposits, which in some cases concealed, and in others were asso-
ciated with, the solid rocks beneath, I cannot pretend to have made an
exhaustive study of them, as I have only examined such parts as may be
found in the Jurassic area ; but these have suggested certain theories of
their origin which I have not seen proposed elsewhere ; and as these theories
depend on observations which I do not find recorded, it may at least be
hoped that an account of such observations may throw light on the origin
of the deposits. The matters with which I propose to deal may be classed
under the following heads : —
(1) Subrecent concrete.
(2) The boulder-beds associated with this concrete,
(3) Infratrappean grits.
(4) Laterite.
(5) Alluvium and Ran.
Of all these, except No. 2, there are to be found brief descriptions in
Mr. A. B. Wynne's memoir on the geology of Cutch = ; but, as a rule, that author
does not venture on any suggestion as to their origin, and in no case does he
appeal to the particular causes to which I have been led to refer them.
(1) THE SUBRECENT CONCRETE.
Under this name Mr. "Wynne describes some remarkable deposits, of which
he writes as follows : — " Very generally distributed over the hilly country is
the subrecent calcareous deposit already alluded to. The white sandstones
of which it consists are sometimes sufficiently coherent to be used for build-
ing, and it is very commonly burnt for lime all over the province. No
fossils have ever been found in it, but on some slabs from the deposit in
Western Cutch tracks of Crustacea or of annelids have been observed. It is
not limited to a uniform level in its various situations, having been met with
in the low ground at the foot of the hills bordering the Runn as well as
high in their glens. Its aspect is always very much the same, though its
texture is varied, being sometimes conglomeratic or finely oolitic, and
generally it presents some oblique lamination."^
1 [By the omission of that portion of the paper in which the quartzite-reefs and their
mode of formation were discussed.]
- Throughout this memoir I use the word " Jurassic " for all the rocks so coloured on
Mr. Wynne's map without prejudging the question as to how many of themj may be, as
Bome certainly are, of Neocomian age.
^ Mem. Geol. Surv. India, vol, ix,pt. i (1872), 4 Jliij,p,8l,
23
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178 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
This description, which is the fullest in the memoir, does not in any way
indicate the author's view of their origin. Indeed he elsewhere says, " The
subrecent deposits, except in their most superficial portions, contain no
evidence as to the conditions under which they were accumulated,"*
Although in one sense it is true that they are very generally distributed,
there are only ten definite localities where these deposits are sufficiently
important to be noticed. Of these one is said to be of " quartz-gravel," and
is thus, as will be seen, of a character different from the rest. There are
also six other localities where I have noticed them, making in all fifteen to be
considered, situated as follows : — 1. The northern slopes of the Kala
Dongar in Patcham.' 2. The summit of the Gora Dongar, north of
Andhou. 3. In the glens at a considerable elevation in Bela. 4, On the
northern flanks of the Habo Hills, near Kotae. 5. Below Roha Hill.
6. High up on the Kas scarp. 7. On the south side of the Jhurio Hills.
8. In the valleys of Varar Hill. 9. At Baukha, where it is quarried.
10. On Bhujia Uill. 11. At the base of Katrod Hill. 12. In the Katrod Hills
between Ler and Jadura. 13. In a valley north-west of Godpur. 14, On
the Mandvi road, where it is quarried. 15. At the base of the trap escarp-
ment at Khedoi. It will be observed that the deposits are all very local,
and usually associated with some hill. They appear also to be absent or
inconspicuous on the western side of Cutch.
If we examine now more closely their mode of occurrence, some remark-
able peculiarities become obvious, which should be some guide as to their
origin. Thus the Kala Dongar Bills'* have a steep escarpment on their
northern side, and the slopes below have usually a direction parallel to it ;
but near the western end there is a projection of high ground forming a kind
of bay which opens on the west, and it is in the angle of this bay that the
subrecent concrete is found. In the Gora Dongar north of Andhou a broad
open valley is formed by a dome of Jurassic rocks, the eastern side of which
is bounded by an escarpment of limestone rising towards the north. Near the
summit the continuity of this escarpment is broken, and we find a narrow
recess of which the mouth faces west. It is on the two flanks of this recess
that the concrete occurs, occupying nearly the highest level in the neigh-
bourhood, which, from the figures given on the Trigonometrical Survey map
must be some 560 feet above the level of the Ran. In the glens of Bela
these deposits lie, as noted, at a high level. On the northern flanks of the
Habo Hills the principal part lies on the southern slope of an outlying scarp
' Mem. Geol. Surv. India, vol. ix., pt. i. (1872), p. 85.
- The (spelling of the naraes ia La all cases that found on the Trigonometrical Survey maps,
but the local pronunciation, as given by Mr. Wynne's names, is often very different, unaccent-
ed a being pronounced as a short u, and d, I and r being often interchangeable.
■' The Kala Dongar Hills run along the northern half of Patcham, and the Gora Dongar
HUIh alsug tbe southern half.
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCH. 179
and reaches a height of 300 feet above the Ran. In the three localities south
of the same hills the occurrence is very instructive. Here a long east-and-
west valley is bounded on the north side by gently sloping surfaces, and on
the other or south side by a long and very uniform escarpment. This, how-
ever, is broken at one place where the pass over the summit crosses, and
shows a kind of notch in the outline which is the only spot where the
subrecent concrete occurs. It here reaches its highest elevation, being not
more than 100 feet below the summit of the escarpment, and therefore about
700 feet above the level of the Ran. Towards the east the valley closes in,
and we reach the watershed below some high hills. It is on the west
side of this watershed that the greater part of these deposits of concrete
occurs, while there is very little on the east. (See fig. 10 in Mr.Wynne's memoir).
On the south side of the Jhurio Hills there is a fairly continuous encircling
scarp which faces north. The main drainage of the southern slopes of the
inner hills escapes through a gorge in this scarp, which at one time was
fairly broad, but is now nearly choked up by the concrete, while within the
scarp we find the concrete spreading out as a thick white mantle over a square
mile of the slopes beyond. Notwithstanding this, the outer slopes of the
scarp, up to within a few hundred yards of the gorge, are quite bare, the solid
rocks being everywhere visible. At Bhujia Hill tbe deposit is found in a
semicircular valley which opens on the south. Between Ler and Jadura
there is a long east-and-west valley opening to the east, and this is almost
entirely bare ; but at one place a basaltic dyke crosses the valley like a wall,
and on the west side of it the concrete is piled up in places to its summit.
A. similar phenomenon may be seen in the valley north-west of Godpur.
Where the Mandvi road crosses the Charwar range, it traverses in one place
a valley whose streams run west, and in this valley we find the concrete on the
north side resting against the Jurassic prominences as seen near the Mandvi
road. Farther east the locality Khedoi, where Mr, Wynne records this
concrete, is situated in a semicircle eroded back from the general line of the
trap-escarpment.
In structure these deposits are very uniform. Leaving out of consideration
for the present the large stones derived from the nearest solid rocks, which
they sometimes contain, they consist of fine particles very slightly agjgluti-
nated, so that a blow of the hammer shatters them to dust. Some southern
varieties however are tougher, and are used for building, while on reaching
the extreme north-east in Bela we find them scarcely consolidated at all.
They are for the most part obliquely laminated, and in this case the slope of
the laminae in the part of the deposit nearest to the sohd rock is in the
direction of that rock.
In composition the majority are mostly white sand, cemented only with cal-
careous matter. In the more southerly exposures there are calcareous particles
also, but I have not seen any that are truly oolitic. The complete rounding of
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180 JOURNAL, nOMBA t NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xlt.
the particles gives the rock that appearance, especially in the deposit near
Kotae; but on examination they appear to be organic fragments, and there
are white specks which consist of little-worn miliolines. These organisms
belong, of course, to the deposit itself ; but the concrete is in the habit of
enclosing what it linds on the spot. Thus at Bhujia Hill it is full of the
fragments of trap that have fallen from the summit ; on the Kas scarp it
encloses the little BuUminus which is now living in the district; and in Bela
it is said to enclose human bones, though it is not stated definitely that the
deposit there was undisturbed.
Such are the facts with which we have to deal in attempting to discover
the origin of these curious deposits. Their constant association with hills,
and their occurrence in the glens, might suggest at first that they are a rain-
wash, more or less transported by rapidly descending water, on account of
their lamination. But this seems impossible. In some cases no doubt the
solid rocks might yield the sand^ but it would be ferruginous, not white, and
such sandstone-rocks would yield very little calcareous matter. But in other
cases there is no sand in the neighbourhood at all. Thus in the Gora Don-
gar all the hills are of limestone, and the deposits are at the very summit.
The same may be said of the deposit in the Jhiirio Hills and in Bela, while
the miliolines at Kotae cannot possibly lie of local derivation. Moreover,
the deposits lie on a great variety of rooks, and yet have an uniform charac-
ter. We may therefore dismiss this explanation.
Another alternative is that they are marine deposits. This would involve a
depression, in quite recent times, of 700 feet or more, and would in no way
account for their peculiar local distribution nor for their lamination. One
might also expect marine shells when delicate Bulimlni and tiny miliolines
have been preserved. But greater than all other difficulties is that of their
loose porous character, 80 far as my experience goes, no deposits that have
been laid down in water are of similar character. The water invariably aids
the particles in packing together at their closest, and with such materials as
these they would form a solid rock.
There remains, so far as I can see, but one other alternative, and that is that
they are seolian in origin, and this will, I think, be found to account for all
their peculiarities. It would need, however, a strong wind to raise sand up
to 700 feet in one place and 560 feet in another, and carry the miliolines
from the nearest sea. We must therefore enquire whether there are such
winds in Cutch.
The Meteorological Office in Simla publishes every day a series of obser-
vations showing, amongst other things, the average rate per hour for the last
24 hours and the direction of the wind at 8 a.m. We cannot gather from
Mr. Wynne [op. cU. p. 103) speaks of a small patch of littoral concrete full of ehell-casta
on the norlhcm side of Patcham, about 20 feet above the Ean ; but he does not classify this
with the "flubrecent" concrete, which he says i-; unfosiliferous
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCH. 181
this "what was the direction of the wind at other times, for, if the direction
has changed, the time of the change is not recorded ; but, by assuming that
the direction at 8 a.m. is the same as that for 12 hours before and 12 hours
after, we may arrive at a rough estimate of average direction and speed.
Taking the year 1895, and treating the records in this way, it appears that
the air travels at Bhuj, in the various directions, at an average rate of 10^
miles per hour for the whole year. But at the end of this time the air is not
found to have returned upon itself. According to the records, a particle of
air which travelled constantly with the wind would find itself at the end of
the year 06,000 miles to the east and 9,600 miles to the north of its initial
position. These figures of course are merely indicative of general results,
the meaning being that there is, on the whole, a constant passage of air in
one direction, from a little to the south of west, at a rate of 7| miles per
hour.
We shall form, however, a better idea of the action and power of the wind
by examining the records in detail. There were, in the first place, only 40
occasions in the year when there was any east in the wind at all, and the
total velocity of such winds was only 12 i per cent, of that of the westerly
winds. Again, for the greater part of the year the winds are not excessive,
but, out of the 140 days between April 25th and September 11th, no less than
90 days'' gales are recorded, seven of which are specially recorded as dust-
storms. If now we confine ourselves to these dates of gale, we find that the
average velocity was 20 miles per hour, and the average direction about 20"
south of west. The velocity exceeded in six cases ?A) miles per hour. This is an
average for 24 hours, and as gales do not continue to have a constant velocity
for so long, there must have been not infrequent times when the wind was
moving at 40 miles per hour. The complete records for other years I have
not been able to consult; but there is no reason to believe that 1895 had a
maximum of wind, nor are we sure that the present winds as a whole are
equal in intensity to those of some period of the past. We have, therefore,
good reason to believe that there is adequate force available to do the work
required.
Moreover, similar work is now being done, as witness the dust-storms for
which Cutch is famous. As, however, the gales blow from the west, it is
important to know what happens in that direction, and on consulting the
meteorological reports above quoted, we find that there were no fewer than
55 dust-storms recorded at Karachi during 1895, mostly under westerly
winds, and in the other stations next north and north-east of Cutch 53 dust-
storms and 53 dust-hazes, which latter may be taken to mean the transport
of the finer particles of dust. It is obvious, therefore, that the passage of
fine sand, etc., across the country is a widespread phenomenon.
We have evidence also that the sand thus carried travels with great
velocity, for, as shown on p. 456 of the 2nd edition ^_1893) of Blanford and
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182 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
Medlicott's " Geology of India," there are in Sind two types of sandhills — one
lying transverse to the prevailing winds and the other parallel to them, the
direction here being about 30° south of west. Now it is only necessary to
study the drifting of snow to see that, while comparatively gentle winds make
transverse drift, the snow that is borne along tumultuously by the wind lies,
when the wind drops, in long straggling lines parallel to the course it has taken.
These longitudinal sand-dunes therefore indicate a great velocity of wind
in the desert north of the Ran, so that we ate not surprised to learn that
some of them, even without the aid of any inclined plane of solid rock below
are able to attain a height of 400 to 500 feet. That the same phenomena
are found in Cutch itself may be <:athered from the fact that, in speaking of
the sand-dunes along the southern coast, Mr, Wynne says that they have a
bearing of about 20° south of west, ^ which is exactly the average direction,
as seen above, of the strongest winds. From personal observation I can only
say that at Mandvi, after the close of the monsoon season, when the sea had
calmed down enough for steamers to call, the wind was constantly blinding
with sand, and the pier was all buried in a dune. That large areas of Cutch
are now covered with still drifting sand is pointed out by Mr. Wynne. -
The cause assigned being thus found adequate for the work, we must next
enquire how far it explains the special phenomena noted above. As it was
the distribution of the deposi+s that suggested the cause, this must be taken
first. Now all the localities may be described as spots where a wind coming
from the west or south would be stopped by an obstacle, or where a shelter-
spot exists in a long scarp. Thus in the Kala Dongar the wind would be
stopped by ?. projecting high land, below Koha Hill by a watershed, below
Bhujia Hill by the hill itself, between Ler and Jadura, and also North-Wes-
tern of Godpur. by projecting dykes, and on the Mandvi road by the Jurassic
escarpments. On the other hand shelter-spots occur above Andhou on the
Gora Dongar, on the flanks of Habo Hills on the Kas scarp, on the south
side of the Jhurio Hills, and at Khedoi on the trap-escarpment. In some
other places, as along the north side of the Katrod Hills, and apparently at
Baukha, the deposit makes no feature on the surface, being level with the
ground, and thus probably fills originally existing hollows. To this latter
catef^ory must also be assigned the various glens in which the deposits less
abundantly occur.
It is thus seen that ihe horizontal distribution is exactly what it ought to
be. In the vertical direction, where the deposits occur at high levels inland,
the main valleys are also high, so that there is not a great difference of level;
but in the case of the Gora Dongar, where the deposits are 560 feet above
the neighbouring Kan, there is a gradual rocky slope all the way, leading up
to the hollow where they lie. In the case of the Kas scarp the west wind
' Mem. Geol. Surv. ludi;i, vol., ix. pt. i. (1872), p. S2. - Ih'id, p. 12.
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CVTCE. 183
would be hemmed in by lofty hills into a gradually narrowing valley, so tliat
its force would be greatly increased.
The lamination may, at first sight, seem a difficulty in the way of the
proposed explanation, but it is not so. The principal dust-bearing gales
are in the hot season, and these will leave a deposit of sand or calcareous
dust upon any pre-existing surface. Then the succeeding rains, which are
not often so heavy in Cutch as to wash such deposits away, will cement the
particles together at once as they do the flood-deposits along the river-sides.
Thus each lamina will represent a season's work. That the laminai should
dip towards the rock on which the concrete rests, on the side nearest to the
rock, is what we should expect in a wind-blown deposit. For when sand is
blown against an obstacle it is thrown back again, and the wind has to pass
away on either side, so that in such places we always find an intervening
valley between the mound and the obstacle, the surface of the mound thus
sloping towards the obstacle.
The loose porous character of the deposits, as already pointed out, is
against their aqueous origin, but is what we should expect in an seolian
formation only so far subjected to water that it has been rained upon. The
uniformity of general character over a wide area, independently of the rock
below, is thus fully accounted for. The more calcareous composition of the
southern deposits is due to the fact that the materials here are mostly
derived from the sea (hence the miliolines,also), while farther north the dust
is reinforced by the breaking-up of the Jurassic sandstones. The enclosure
of the local rocks and of the local BuUminus is quite natural, the dust finding-
its way into the interstices of whatever was lying on the ground.
{To be continued.)
[From the Journal of the Geological Society.']
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184 ' ; , ..
REVIEW.*
By W. F. Sinclair (late i.c.s.).
This volume concludes the series on Indian Vertebrate animals,
begun ten years ago with a half volume on Mammalia, whereof some
of us are already wishing for a new edition or reprint, with a good full
appendix. It deals with " all the game birds, both of land and water,"
using the word " game " in the widest sense ; and if we had had it on
our mess and club tables ( to say nothing of private houses and public
institutions) ten years ago, Mr. Gates' new volume on the same groups
would be coming in handy now as a sort of second edition or successor,
instead of being a very serious competitor in the market. Mr. Blan-
ford however has necessarily much to say about birds never classed as
•' game " in English, especially the Seafowls and Herons, and may be
considered as stepping into the place long and honourably occupied by
the third volume of Jerdon's " Birds of India." This must now go " on
the shelf " with the " good-bye " due to a retiring veteran " full of
years and honours."
Like that volume, the present begins with the pigeons and doves,
taken as an order by themselves, of which all the Indian genera
are put into one family, Columhidce, with six subfamilies of admittedly
doubtful value. The first are the green pigeons, Crocopus chlorogaster
and C. phoinicopterusj of which the former is our Bombay Harial or
Pisawa. The Burmese C, viridifrons is treated as only the most
marked form of the latter. The years since Jerdon wrote do not seem
to have furnished any confirmation of his observation that these birds
come to rivers to drink ; and the practice must be very uncommon,
occurring perhaps only when they happen to be on a less juicy diet
than usual, or on some rare occasion of place or climate.
In the next genus, Osmotrerov, we seem to have only one bird, the
grey fronted green pigeon, 0. ujjinis, This has been hitherto gene-
rally called 0. malaharica ; but both the specific names are Jerdon's,
and the former the oldest. It is not very well known to Bombay
sportsmen, and the native shikaris scarcely distinguish it from the
" The Fauna of British lucha, 'including Ceylon and Burma. " Published under the autho-
rity of the Score ary of State for India in Council. Edited by W. T. Blanford, F.R.g.,
"Birds," Vol. IV, 1898.
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REVIEW. 185
" Pisawa." But it is smaller, and has red legs instead of yellow, easily
distinguished by a field-glass ; and these are distinctions that the better
ot them can make out, when a description of shades of plumage is useless.
Mr. Blant'ord gives the habitat as '" forests of the Malabar Coast from
the neighbourhood of Bombay to Cajie Comorin." What brings
Bombay into the Malabar Coast is not clear. But I have a note of one
shot in my presence in the police lines of Alibag on the 20th July^
1690 ; out of a flock. Jerdon's other localities are shown in a note to
be doubtfid, and saem not to have been confirmed by any other
observer. I suspect the species to occur along the Western Ghats,
right up to the Kondai Bari, where I saw something like this bird
myself, and heard of the like from others. But no specimens were
secured in my time (1873).
There seems to be doubt about the representation in our pro-
vince of the Imperial Pigeons or Carpophagince. The records of
Carpopliaga aenea, the green imperial pigeon, do not carry it north
of Kanara with any certainty. There is some large wood-pigeon
in ihe Tanna and Kolaba forests, with a very loud call. The late
Mr. George Gibson reported it to me from Tungar ; and 1 have
heard it in many ]>l:ices, and once had a good chance of watching a
pair on the forest plateau of Landur, near Rohe, Kolaba Di-strict, 19th
February, 1888. The natives called them Ghh-ti As they were
evidently shy, and I wanted to make sure of the call, I took the field-
glass to them instead of sacrificing the observatioji to a chance of a
shot. The call was almost a hoot. I took them for Alsocomus, Jerdon's
elpJiinstomi, the wood-pigeon or imperial pigeon of ilie Nilgiris.
Mr. Blanford puts it in the sub-family Co/i</?i6mce ; but its habits are
adjnittedly much the same as those of the last bird : and I suspect some
confusion between them in the forest, where the colours are not always
easy to observ-e, and the observer is often hampered by public duty, or
by the chase of larger gam*^. If the Ghiirti turns out to be
A. elplunstonii, Mr. Blanford's northern limit of Mahableshwar will bo.
stretched by a couple of degrees of latitude ; and it seems to be rather
the business of our Society to get at the truth about such very hand-
some neighbours. Ducnla ciijirea may occur in the Tanna and
Kolaba forests. It is an unlucky thing that all three birds have red
legs, so that the difficulty of identifying perching specimens with the
24
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186 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
field-c^kss is very great. Yen do not often get a good view of the beak
with glasses, except in the case of such large birds us the herons. If
you can see the bird he can see you, and probably looks straight at you.
The probable confusion of the " Nilgii-i Impei-ial Pigeon " with the
two true " Imperial Pigeons" mentioned has brought him into notice
somewhat before his turn and in advance of the " very ill-defined " sub-
foniily of Phabince. Of these we have the " Bronze-winged" cr Emerald
Dove, which in Mr. Blanford's phrase occurs in " forests near the Malabar
Coast to the neighbourhood of Bombay." I should not be surpri.*ed to
hear of it almost to the Tapti. It is certainly confused by natives of the
cultivated lands, and by some Eurf>peans, with Osmotreron affinis. Both
have red legs, and they are to be seen in each other's neighbourhood.
But the Bronze-wing, as might be expected, is of a rather dark metal-
lic-green, a rather solitary bird io its ways ; and a frequenter of the
ground and of rather low vegetation, especially bamboo jungles and
even gardens. The other bird's tints are soft and leafy. It is seldom
seen alone, seldom, if ever, on the ground or on small trees or bamboos,
and it whistles, while the Bronze- wing coos. Neither is often shot — and
so much the better — so these hints may come in useful for identifying
the living wild birds.
We have two " Blue Socks"—
(fl) the European C. livia in Sind, only distinguished by having
a-ather a white " back-band " than a white " coat-tail " as in
Europe ;
(b) the Indian Blue Rock, whose coat-tails are grey j all over the
Province and Peninsula.
A small stock-dove, C. eversmanni, visits Smd in winter. Our
turtle-doves are so familiar as hardly to reqnii-e notice here.
If any reader has seen any of the pigeons or doves eating winged
white-ants or locusis, a note would be of interest. At present there
seems to be little evidence of their using any animal-food at all ; but
few birds can withstand those temptations.
( To he continued.^
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187
INDIAN WILD CATTLE: THE TSINE AND THE GAUR
(MISCALLED BISON),
Yery little is known of the Tsine (Bos sand-aictis), and any detailed account
of it must be interesting to all zoologists. The account given by naturalists
of the Indian wild cattle is very meagre, for very few of them have been
personally acquainted with these beasts in their wild state. I have no preten-
sions to be considered a scientific naturalist, for I know nothing vi anatomy,
and very little on the subject of species, genera, &c. But I have observed to
ihe best of my opportunities, and havinw been a fairly successful sportsman,
I trust I may be excused for otifering the following observations. Tsine are
certainly kittle cattle. During thirteen years' wanderings in Burma I only suc-
ceeded in killing three bulls and two cows, and four of them only just before
I left India. I agree with Dr. Wood's description and remarks, with the
•exception that I never saw the warts he mentions, and that those killed by me
had the whitish rings round the eyes. Can there be two varieties ? Mine were
shot at the foot of the Yomas on the Sittang side. The bulla also were of a
•deep red, but I have seen them in the distance almost as dark as a middle-aged
gaur {Bos gaurus), that is coffee-coloured, but never could get at them ; nor
did I notice the "thickened portion of skin devoid of hair and of a gre_\ish-
black colour, the general surface smooth, but in patches Very warty, like the
skin of a rhinoceros." Could this have been caused by the animal rubbing
bis forehead to get rid of parasites, as all sambur have in May a bare spot
about the size of a shilling on the neck, caused, the Burmese said, by their
rubbing it on fallen trunks to rid themselves of parasitic pests. There is
a dorsal ridge of course as in the other wild cattle, but not nearly sa
pronounced as in the gaur or gayal and not more than in the wild buffalo.
Mr. Carter, a well-l<nown naturalist and sportsman ('* om«othbore"" of Tltt
Field) wrote as fallows : —
•' Colonel Pollok when referring to the tsine says that it has a slight dew-
Jap, which is not always apparent''; whilst Jerdon, writing of the same animal-
says " it resembles the gaur more than the gayal, and it wants the dewlap."
I do not think Jerdon had ever seen a tsine. I can ^ee no resemblance
between a tsine and a gaur, but a very great one, especially at a distance
between the gaur and the.gayiil, I am glad to see that the doctor says the
bull he shot had a slight dewlap, about three inches in its greatest breadth.
But whilst his bulls were wanting in the white patches on the buttocks,
anine had them very distinctly. The bulls are certainly savage, and attacc
most pluckily after being wounded, at least mine did. The first and only
tone I shot for years was in company with Captain Hill (now Governor of
H.M.'s Jail, Manchester), and he came at us with a will, but had no chance
as Hill used a breech-loading rifle of mine, and I had two heavy two-grooved
No, ly bore riHcs by Joseph Lang.
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183 JOURS AL, BOM DA Y XATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
The Gauk {Bos^ gaurmj.
This wild bull is found not only in Southern India and the Tir.ns-G angelic-
provinces, but it hiis been shot at the foot of the Himalaya mountains, usually
called the Terai. I have seen splendid heads brought down from theMishmee
hills. There are thirteen pairs of ribs. The chest is broad, the shoulder
deep and muscular, and the forelegs short with the joints very short and
fitrong,thearm exceedingly large and muscular. The skin on the neck, shoul-
ders and thighs is very thick— about two inches — and is very valuable for the
soles of shooting-boots.
Many old bulls have so little h?ar that they appear as if they ha,d been
shaved. When the bull arrives at maturity, which is at about six or seven
years, rings begin to form at the base of the horns; and, it is said, one is
added eich year ; if so, I must ha^e s;hot bulls thirty-five or forty years of age.
They prefer hilly ranges with flat table-land at top, at an altitude of about
2,500ft. ; but they have been killed up to 5,0C0 ft. and traced up eveniiigher.
They are wonderfully active animals for their size and bulk. They browse
on young bamboo shoots, and are also fond of grazing on the young grass
which springs up after the annual fires. They retire during the heat of the
day either to forests, or force their way into heavy patches of long elephant-
grass, and lie there to escape the gadflies, which otherwise torment them
dreadfully. As a rule they are inoffensive, but a solitary bull has been known
to charge without provocation ,• if closely followed, allgaur are Hpt to prove
pugnacious. They are not difficult to kill ; a bullet well placed behind the
shoulder, in the middle of the shoulder, or behind the ear, or a I'aking shot
forward, will account for one. I have known one paralyzed by a shot through
the dorsal ridge. When alarmed, their enormous strength and weight enable
them to crash through tree and bamboo jungle as if they were but reeds. I
have knowu them when alarmed to snort and stamp with their feet before
retiring. The tongue and marrow-bones are unexceptionable ; the only por-
tion of the beast fit to eat by Europeans is the middle layer on either side of
the dorsal side, just below the hump ; the tail makes very good ox-taii soup.
Mr. Sanderson shot a gaur in Assam and as its name and that of the gayal
is " Mithun " he came to the conclusion that there were no wild gayal ; but
although " Mithun "' is usually applied to both the gaur and gayal, yet, if
pressed, the people will own to an "Asseel Mithun," or true gaur, and a " iVlith-
un",or bastard gaur, the gayal. In a natural history lately published,* it
has been asserted that the gaur has been tamed, and that they are kept in
captivity by natives on our North-Eastern Frontier; but this is altogether
erroneous. The very old bulls are either driven away from the herds, or
retire and become solitaires, and are the best worth shooting ; but they are
* " The Boyal Natural Histdry " was evidently misled by Mr. Sanderson. Aliliough a gayal at a
distance looks very like a gaur, the heads arc totally dissimilar; the gaur's has a Bcmi-cyllndrical
ei est and a concave forehead ; the guyal I'Osses.-es neither.
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IXDIAX WILD CATTLE. 189
wary and difficult to get at. Other conditions being favourable, wherever
there are salt-licks, that is, depressions where a whitish clay impregnated with
natron is found, these wild caiule, deer, and even the felidce ■\\ill abound. It
is the gayal that are in captivity, and not the gaur. When I first went to
Burma I wrote to Mr. Blyih, the Curator of the museum in Calcutta, that
the Burmese gaur appeared to me to be larger, and to difffr somewhat from
the Indian; but he wrote back I must be mistaken, as the gayal took its place
in that country, the true gaur being absent. However, I was soon able to
correct him by sending him heads, and hs he shortly after visited the province
he convinced himself that I was right, and wrote that, not only were there
the true gaur in the cnuntry, but that the skulls and horns were superior to
those from Southern lndi;i. I pointed out to " Smoothbore," many years ago
that there were two distinct varieties of this wild bull ; but he was incredulous
until he visited Calcutta and spoke to Dr. Anderson, who said, " Pollok is
quite right ; here are skulls of both." The discrepancies may be due to cli-
matic influences and abundance of food; undoubtedly the gaur of Burma and
of our Nortb-Eastern Frontier are larger than the Indian. I have shot a
bull within an ace of 21 hands at the shoulder, and General Blake, an old
sportsman, shot a cow 19 hands, wheieas the largest bull killed by him in
India was of the same size, and the largest he ever saw killed in the Wynaad
but two inches higher. Even in India gaur vary, those of the Western Ghats
being larger, and with a profile like a ram, in that respect resembling their
Burmese brethren. Not only does the Burmese gaur stand higher, but the
dorsal ridye extends further back to within a span of the croup, the dent in
the forehead is deeper, the cylindric crest higher, the horns larger, heavier
and more truncated, and but stldom worn at the tips as in the Indian. I
fancy food is so plentiful they have no need to grub up roots. The heads of
the females are, if anything, longer than those of the males, and the nose ia
more arched.
Those in the Xorthern Circars of the Madras Presidency, where I shot a
great many, have, comparatively speaking, shorter heads and less of the ram
look, the dorsal ridge terminating about the middle of the back. Then, too
there is the dewlap. Has the gaur one or not ? Up to a few years ago the
opinion was — not. But the question cropped up about two years ago. Mr.
Bartlett, the late Superintendent of the " Zoo," wrote that the one. that lived
in the gardens had a well-developed one. Elliot, Jerdon, Campbell, Stern-
dale, all said he had none, and I too was of that opinion ; but " Smoothbore "
writes: "A planter of many years' experience in Travancore, and a keen
observant sportsman, states that in some examples the gaur have scarcely
any dewlap and that in others it is strongly developed. So marked is this
dirTerence that the natives divide them into two castes, calling one 'Katu
Madoo,' or Jungle Cow, and the other 'Katerimy,' or Jungle Buffalo. He has
shot old bulls with at least six inches of skin h-mgi-^g clear of the chest acd
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190 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL JJLSTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Nil.
throat. This seems extraordinary when mturalistH have mostly described
the gaur as having little or no dewlap. Dewlap originally meant the loose
fold descending from the chest, which, when the animal was grazing, swept
the dew: thus, in 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' hounds are described as 'dew-
lapped, like Thessalian bulls'; but in the humped Indian cattle the fold
extends from the throat downwards, and in the Mysore draught bullocks and
in the Brahmini bulls is enormous, whilst in the ordinary village cattle the
development is small."
The following notes on the gaur will be interesting to most readers. Mr.
A. F. Martin, of Travancore. writes : —
" When the Kaunan Devan hills in North Travancore were opened out for
tea and cinchona some years ago, the felling of the tea forest restricted the
wild beasts, particularly the elephants and bison, when passing across the
estate, to one or two pathways. One particular track was however left to
them for about ten years, when further cultivation led at last to the blocking
up of even this right of way. The animals were at first much puzzled, and
both elephants and gaur took to wandering about the cultivation. The
elephants accommodated themselves to the altered conditions and used the
estate paths. The gaur, more suspicious, took a straight line for their
grazing-grounds over the rotten felled timber and through the older cinchona
plantations, but were often brought up by the sight of whitewashed walls
surmounted by a corrugated iron roof.
" At last they settled down to a pathway between the old cinchona and
natural belt left between it and the new clearing,
" A pit 10 ft. long, 8 ft. wide and 8 ft. deep was dug on the boundary,
covered with a mat made of reeds and bamboos, over which earth and dry
leaves were scattered. The smell of the fresh earth however turned them
off. Once a gaur got his lore feet down the side of the pit, but made a
bold jump and cleared it.
"After some months the tracks of a large herd were found making for the
pit, and it turned out that a gaur had fallen in but managed to jump clean
out again. It was evident that 8 ft. was not deep enough, and rock in the
bottom prevented its being sunk deeper. Another pit was therefore dug
some distance away on the same boundary. The ground was on the side of a
steep hill, so that whilst the lower wall was 10 ft, the upper was 14 ft. deep.
" After a while a cow-gaur fell in, but whilst Mr. Martin was watching her
and waiting for coolies to help in putting logs across the pit she managed
to scramble out, ;ind although she followed the path to the old pit, she
avoided it and escaped. Two days afterwards a bull fell in and was secured,
Mr. Martin describes the trouble they had with this huge animal. Getting
logs across the top of the pit, with the gaur charging madly about, was
exciting work, and the feat was successfully accomplished only after the
utmost difticultv and dau'jer.
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INDIAN WILD CATTLE. 191
«'The appearance of any one near the pit always caused a furious demon-
stration on the part of the gaur, who dug big caves in the side of the pit with
his horns, and thus an approach to the edge was rendered dangerous. In
ten days' time he had become somewhat tame. He tossed about the grass
thrown in to him, and trampled it into the mnd, eating but a small quantity,
Eis only drink was water poured into the pit, and which collected in the
holes he had made in the mud with his feet. Matters were very little
improved by having bundles of grass lowered by a long piece of cane fastened
round, for he charged them furiously, and got a lot of the grass on the
ground only to trample it into the mud,
" By degrees he began to eat more and to throw less about. Water was a
great difficulty ; any attempt, too, at lowering a bucket to him was futile,
and only ended in the bucket being flattened out.
" It became imperative therefore to get him out of the pit. To attain
this end a stockade, about 30 feet square, was made round the pit
consisting of stout poles, 15 feet high at the lower, and 10 feet high on
the higher part of the ground. They were each sunk about 3 feet in the
ground, 18 inches apart, and lashed together with cross-sticks and
fibre, and formed an almost solid wall. A sheet-iron trough was fixed in
one corner. When complete, large quantities of brushwood, ferns, and grass
were thrown into the pic, until by degrees it became half full and the gaur
was enabled to jump out. His first act was to charge the corner whence he
was being watched, but the only harm done was to himself, his frontal ridge
being slightly cut. His attention was then attracted by the water-trough
which he knocked about considerably, but finding the water he took one good
long drink before finally knocking it to pieces. During his examination cf
his new quarters he once more fell into the pit, and this enabled us to repair
damages ; but before they were quite completed he jumped out again and
caused a general stampede. Having twice hurt his head against the stockade
he never again made any attempt to test its strength. The sheet-iron trough
seemed to annoy him more than anything else, and was soon rendered useless,
A three-cornered wooden trough was then inserted in a corner and protected
by stout poles across the corner of the stockade, and this having been satis-
factorily arranged the gaur soon became comparatively tame. He allowed
the measurements of his horns to be accurately taken, through a window
left in the stockade, and very fine horns they were too, measuring 34^ inches
across from outside to outside of sweep. Although the pit was filled up
level with the ground, his previous experience led him to conclude that it
was dangerous and he never crossed it. The result was that the narrow
space between the pit and the stockade became ploughed up, and he was
up to his hocks in mud. It therefore became necessary to enlarge the
enclosure for about 100 yards in length, taking a bit of jungle in for
shelter and a small ravine which would hold water, A small shed was
erected with sliding bars on the outside and inside with a view of introducing
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192 JOrRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Yol. X/T.
a domestic cow ns a companion, so that, if lie approved of her, she might be
let into the stockade.
" He took to his new quarters very kindly, and soon got to know that grass
was left for him at the inner gate of the shed. In a short time it was found
that he liked having his nose and head rubbed, and licked the clothes of the
person who rubbed him. Betook salt from the hand, but did cot at first
seem to care about it, probably because it was not mixed with earth as in salt
licks which he was accustomed to, spitting it out if he got too much in his
mouth at one time. After two months he became quite tame, and permitted
his captor to come into the enclosure, not even moving if he happened to be
lying down. After the third month he began to shed his hair, and liked it
rubbed off with a wisp of grass, allowing the operator to sit on him whilst
cleaning him ; but he did not like his hind legs or tail to be touched, kicking
out as if he were tickled when this was done.
"After four months a domestic cow was put into the shed, and the two
ate from the same bundle of grass, oue on the outside and the other from the
inside of the shed. When the cow was let into the stockade, neither of the
animals took any notice of the other, so the cow was taken out. Although
so tame with a European, the praur would never allow a native to come near
him ; and it was unsafe to be in the enclosure if a native came anywhere near^
as the bull would jump up, snort, and rush about the place in a very excited
manner. The cost of bringing grass for him (of which he ate 2 cwt. per diem)
was so considerable that it was thought advisable to put a ring through his
nose and have him led out to graze with the domestic cattle. A rope was tied
round his horns, and his head securely fastened between two bars of the
stockade ; it would then have been easy to ring his nose from the outside, and
it is a thousand pities that this was not done. His terror was however so
great that the attempt was given up for that day, and it was settled to postpone
the operation until he had become accustomed to have his head tied up. Alas !
as will be seen, the glorious golden opportunity was lost in this wise : —
" It will be remembered that there was a shed in one corner of the stock-
ade built with a view of introducing a domestic cow to bear the gaur com-
pany. In this shed was kept guinea-grass to be given to him in the mornings.
One night however he thought he would prefer having this grass, of which he
was inordinately fond, without waiting for daybreak. lie managed to push
aside one of the sliding bars of the gate, break a lower one down, and raise
the top bar sufficiently for himself to get through. He ate the bundle of
o-uinea-gtass, and when this was finished he repeated the performance with
the outer bars of the shed and walked out to freedom. We are all wise after
the event; but it was great carelessness in not pinning the bars as is done in-
all well-managed stables in India. If this plan had been adopted, this m-ngni-
ficent animal, 18 hands 1^ in fair vertical height, might by this time be
enriching the 'Zoo,' where nothing but a miserable two-year old calf has
ever been exhibited."
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INDIAN WILD CATTLE.
193
From one cause or other, no two observers agree as to the colour of a gaur,
Mr. Martin's notes on this adult bull are therefore interesting and instruc-
tive : —
" SJatey grey on the dorsal ridge, deepening to intense on the sides and
shoulders ; coffee-browu on the hind quarters, turning to bhick on the flanks;
hoofs white ; legs white to two inches above the knees and hocks on the
outside, and to one inch above the knee and hocks on the inside ; hair inside
the thiglis and armpits bright chestnut ; neck black with a large dewlap, cov-
ered with coarse black liair hanging down to a little below the level of the
knees ; head, frontal ridge, slatey grey, black down the front and sides of the
face ; the muzzle bare and dark slate. Colour of the iris of the eye mottled
light brown ; pupil slatey blue. But these dififer in colour in accordance with
age, the very old being b.r.ck, v^ith the exception of the stockings and fore-
head, which are dirty white."
In another instance a large bull gaur was caught in an elephant-pit on the
Annemallie Hills, and this animal took water freely from a bamboo spout.
The gentleman who caught it, not being in a position to keep and tame the
bull, released it ; but it was ungrateful and resented its capture by charging
down on its captor whilst the latter was taking its photograph as it emerged
from the pit, and he had to fly ignominiously ; but not before lie succeeded in
photographing the animal.
Whether the gaur would interbreed with tame cows like the gayaj remains
to be proved ; but I see no reason why it should not, I believe that there are
hybrids on the continent between the Java variety of tsine and tame cattle ;
but I do not think a tsine has ever been on show in our Zoological Gardens.
Measttbements op an Indian Bitll and a Bukmese Bull and Cow Gaur.
The ears of No. 1 werp much torn and split, and the tips of the horns had disappeared
altogether. Those of 2\os. 2 and 3 were perfect, as were their horns also,
(C-Ionel Pollok in « The ZooJoghtr)
23
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194
FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS,
Thk Bahmin.
By Fred. Ord. G-adsden.
Out here in Indian waters — and by Indian waters I must always (^except
when otherwise distinctly stated) be understood to be referring to salt waters —
there is one fish that stands pre-sminently forward as a real good sporting
fish. I refer to the Bahmin (^Polymmus tftradactyhis), and yet, though there
are many men out here who call themselves fishermen, hardly one in a
thousand has ever heard of him. Thomas in that most delightful bciok of
his " The Rod in India" speaks very highly of him, and regrets that
personally he knew so little of him. One of Thomas's correspondents
remarks sorrowfully that " Bahmin eat a surprising amount of tackle." This
is exactly what they will do if allowed.
And now for the fish himself. To begin with, his appearance is magnifi-
cent ; a large-scaled game-looking fish, he strikes one as being something of a
cross between a salmon and an English sea-bass ; more handsome than the
latter, without being quite so aristocratic-looking as the former.
Other fish have been given the high-sounding title of the Indian salmon ;
ujs., mahseer, seer-fish, and even the nairor "Cock-up,'' I have heard so
called ; but in my opinion, if there be an Indian salmon, it is the Bahmin,
Beautiful silvery scales, large strong wide-spread tail, powerful dorsal and
pectoral fins, with a most marvellously lovely sheen of flesh pink, silver and
olive-green tints in his scales ; he is, in fact, when just landed, " a sight and
a perfect picture for sore eyes,"
He lives in the sea, but seems to be very fond of running up the estuaries
partly for his food-supply and partly, I fancy, because like his prototype the
Salmo salar, he cannot do without just a taste of fresh or rather brackish
water. He is found all up and down the Malabar and Coromandel coasts.
Thomas refers in his book to several places, such as the backwaters at
Caunanore, Calicut, Mahi, and Tellichcrry and elsewhere ; and I have found
them, besides at these places, at Paumben, the backwaters off Negapatam,
Masulipatam, in nearly all the Bur man estuaries and notably in Akyab,
Good as most of these places are, not one of them, to use a common
expression, can hold a candle to Bombay Harbour,
All who know the latter place will know that numberless creeks
and small rivers empty themselves into the upper waters of this
magnificent harbour, and that these creeks are full of shrimps, prawns and
fry of several sorts of estuary fish. On these our friend feeds, and daily he
takes a run in on the flood tide and levies toll. It is a little diflicult for the
average man to get away from business and it is a long sail or pull to get
to these creeks, and if it were not that there exists one spot in the entrance
to Bombay Harbour where these fish seem daily to collect, one might never
get a chance at them at all. But an all-wise and merciful Providence has or-
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 195
dained that these shoals or packs of ravenous monsters shall collect, probably to
compare notes, on this one given spot ; and as this is fairly accessible, anyone
" in the know " and given to the gentle art, who cares to time himself and
appears at the rendezvous, will generally find that he has hit off a rea
soft thing ; and here, before going any further, I may state a curious fact
the reason for which I have never been able to solve. For the upper waters
of the harbour, at flood tide seems to be the best ; in the lower reach, to
which I have first referred, nothing can ever be got on the flood tide, and
the best time is invariably from quarter to three quarters ebb, I feel con-
vinced that the conformation of the bottom and the set of the tide have
something to do with this, probably in the distribution of their food-supply.
Such is however the fact.
In size they run from 3jlbs. to 14 lbs. Day, in his '' Fishes of India," says
that they run from 25 lbs. to 30 lbs., and on one or two occasions I have
seen natives with even heavier fish in their possession ; but they had
always been caught far out in the deeper waters and in nets. A 3^,-lb. fish
is looked upon as small ; but one very rarely comes across them more than
15 lbs. I have fished for them pretty constantly, off and on, for about 18
years, not only in Bombay, but up and down both coasts, and the largest
I have ever managed to land was 18f lbs. : next to that I got one 14;! lbs.;
then I dropped down to the common or garden weight of from 5 lbs. to
12 lbs. ; but they must not be despised because they do not run larger. A
Bahrain in good order and condition fights as hard, and partly owing to the
very heavy water in which he is always taken he is as hard to kill, as a
salmon nearly double his nominal weight, and he fights game to the very last.
Having thus described our friend, and but faintly done him justice, let us
now discuss the best means of catching him. The natives of course have
their own ways — nets, traps, &c. — but these I do not propose to discuss. As
he is a real gentleman, there is only one right and proper way of going for
him — I mean with a rod and line — and I have found that ordinary heavy
pike or salmon tackle will generally hold him.
Some years ago I used to fish with an 18 feet English-built salmon rod
with a short stiff top. I discarded that rod later on, as I found it difficult
to bring a large fish alongside the boat with so long a rod, I had built some
two years ago, by Farlow, a rod which, when I ordered it, I said must be
powerful enough to give me command over a 401b, fish, and yet supple
enough to allow me to spin. I told them at the time it was for boat work
and the result was a rod which I always maintain cannot be matched for the
class of work for which I use it. It is some 12 feet 3 inches in length, green-
hart throughout, fitted with bridge and snake-rings, and the top with .Jones'
patent roller end. It is of the very best material, and springs in one's hand
like a piece of tempered steel ; and I have now accounted for large numbers
of Bahrain and other fish (one being 73 lb. weight) with it, and it shows no
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106 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BISTORT SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
signs of stress. I keep also by me two other rods — one a 16 feet spliced
salmon rod, also by Farlow, fitted with long and short tops, which I have
only lately got, but which is quite as good as my other rod, only being
longer is not quite so handy. This rod I use for the spoon or spinning
bait, mostly keeping the first-mentioned rod for the prawn. The other
is a small trouting rod of the Bickerdyke pattern, by Walbran, of Leeds, and
I seldom use it for Bahmin, keeping it more es^pecially.for dapping, or, if you
like, dry fly-fishing for garfish with a live cockroach, of wliich more anon
some other day.
The reel may be either a Nottingham, or some modified Nottingham
pattern, such as the Bickerdyke sea reel; but the reel I generally use and am
fondest of is a heavy 5 inch narrow bronze reel, by Patstone, of Southampton,
and on it I carry some 209 to 220 yards of Manchester ('otton Spinning
Companies IG-plait Egyptian brown dressing. I have also 150 yards of plain
Derby silk twist, but I consider it too good for every-day use, and as I should
find some difficulty in renewing it out here, I keep that more for high days
and holidays. The bait may be prawn, small mullet, or what is called out
here " bomalo " fish, better known as Bombay duck.
But generally Bahmin are not particular, and they will very often take
an ordinary spoon or bright metal spinning bait as well as the natural ; and
on one occasion, when fishing from a boat, I had out three rods — one with
prawn, one with metal spoon, while I fly-fished over the pair of them with
a medium salmon-sized smoky dum, when almost simultaneously I had a
run on every rod and, sad to relate, I lost the lot. On another occasion
almost the same thing happened, three rods in use, a fish came one after
another, the smaller of the three taking the fly first, and by good luck I col-
lared the trio. Weights, 3|- lbs., 11 lbs., and 11| lbs., the latter a pair of
beauties.
About the best flight there are many opinions. I used always at one time
to use gimp with pike flights, but I came to the conclusion that the simpler
the gear the better. From that I went to gimp and ordinary prawn tackles
with the needle ; but one serious objection to this is that powerful fish
crunch up ordinary English triangles, and the needles seem somehow to
get in the way before the hooks have secured a proper hold— at least that
is my opinion ; and I can offer no other explanation for the number of
misses I experienced when using this tackle. Gimp alr>o has the fatal habit of
very quickly deteriorating in this country ; and even new gimp, after being
used once or twice in salt water, is utterly unreliable, and more especially so
because in the monsoon season on this coast (when the fishing is at its best)
and nearly all the year round on the Madras side, the climate and atmos-
plicre are more like that of a very hot and damp green-house than any-
thing else, and it is well-nigh impossible ever to get the gimp dry after
use, and the consequent deterioration is startingly rapid. All these causes
combined led me to discontinue its use, and I now never use it at all.
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 197
My traces, which I spin up myself, are of two sorts. One is four-stranded,
made of 28 or 29 S, W. G. special soft brass wire spun up in five feet lengths,
at the end nearest the line I have attached a buckle swivel and at the lower
end an ordinary box swdvel ; I then cut the trace in the middle, and insert a
swivel lead of from H oz. to 2 oz. weight, according to the size and strength of
water. Below the lower swivel I twist in one single strand of brass wire,
about G inches in length, usually 19 or 21 S, W. G., and at the end of this
piece of wire comes a 4-4/0 to 7-7/0 Limerick bend hook, and on this
hook the prawn.
The reason of the larger ^ire next the hook is that on account of its size
it is stiffer, and as the hook is inserted as low down in the prawn as possible,
the wire is available to tie the prawn up to, which I always do with some red
cotton. The prawn keeps in good order longer this way, and is kept straight
and looks more natural, and as the hook is low down, the fish is unable to get
even the slightest taste of what it looks upon as a real bonne-bouche with-
out getting the hook in its mouth.
I think this tackle the best that can be used and the percentage of misses
with it are reduced to a minimum. Looking through notes, and harking back
to good days, 1 find that I seldom lose now more than one fish for every six
to seven fish landed. Some Bahmin, and those the heaviest, rim deep and
strong ; but the lighter and smaller fish are very much given to plunging and
jumping, and a large percentage of these latter are lost. One additional
advantage of this tackle is there is nothing to spoil or rust. All the trace is
made of brass throughout, and so are the swivels, &c. The only thing is
the hook and that one can afPord to discard when worn or rusty.
I mentioned further back that my traces were of two sorts. The one
I have described ; the other is a modification of this. The length
and the general arrangements are the same, only that in this case I use
six strands of a much smaller-sized wire. No. 35 S. W. G., if I can get
it, is what I like. It makes a beautifully elastic and flexible trace, free from
all liability to kink ; and provided I could always get the size and quality
I like, which is not easy, I would myself never use any other. These traces
are suitable for nearly all sorts of general sea-fishing out here. There are
tiroes however, such as when one goes dapping for garfish, when gut, and fine
gut at that, must be used, and about which I may write some account on a
future occasion.
I have spoken of the Bahmin as a most voracious and ravenous fish, and
when he is about, you are not left long in doubt as to his intentions. He
anpears to be always in a violent and cast-iron hurry, rushing about all over
the place, and causing the smaller fish and fry to jump and fly about. One
of the first and surest signs of his presence is the jumping about of the
small razor fish, and if you have had no sport up till then, when you see this
you may cheer up, for your friend is not far away. He is, when hooked
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198 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
the most determined brute, and will fight till the last gasp for his life, and to
illustrate this trait in his character I will, with your permission, relate a true
story.
An old friend of mine, a Captain F- , was out with me one day. He was
a very keen angler and though the Bahmin gave him every chance, on that
occasion he did not manage to creel a single fish. When he came back in the
evening he was asked by a guest at dinner how it was that he had got none,
and this was how he explained it. He related in the most vivid manner, and
with the greatest detail, how he had struck and hooked a monster, and also
how he had run him up and down for I don't know how long, and
proceeded to say how, on one occasion, when he had ne irly got the iish into
his landing-net, the fish opened its mouth, and showed him very plainly
the hook, right deeply embedded in its tongue (Bahmin, by the way,
have no tongue proper), and then ruslied off and cavorted about again afresh.
Things however came to a pass eventually, and my friend led his fish up
to the net once more, this time quite certain of victory, when according to
his narrative," hey presto! " the Bahmin opened its mouth, and, showing the
hook in its tongue once more, winked his left optic and, deliberately biting
off his own tongue, left it on the hook for my friend to land, and swam
away.
The look of surprise on the guest's face when he heard his explanation
can be better imagined than described. Whether he believed him or net
I do not know, but I do not think he ever asked him again as to the cause
of his non-success.
On the Coromandel Coast, where there are numberless creeks and
backwaters, which are nearly dry every low water, they seem to run in and
out every tide all the year round, and almost invariably begin to run
very shortly after the tide has made. On both sides of these backwaters
for the most part, there are extensive mud flats, swarming with prawns
and small deer of sorts, and the fish are on these as soon as ever there is
water to float them. They work upwards and onwards until they
have satisfied their hunger, and then rusli back to the sea, knowing full well
that if they did not when the water receded in many parts, they would be
left high and dry ; and therefore, if it is intended to fish these backwaters,
the thinf is to be there by low water, as near the bar out to sea as possible
and wait there for their appearance. Should they show up, as in nine cases
out of ten they will, offer them the prawn at once, right slap on the nose if
you can, and watch and follow them up.
They will generally be found to be advancing a little slower than the tide
is making. You must lose no time and must give very little law. Remem-
ber that at the outside you will have only about three hours at the most, and
you must do all you can in that time ; else, as the creeks fill up and get
bigger, you will loose touch with them. This is the general rule with the
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FISHING IN INDIAN WA TEIiS. 1 09
small estuaries and creeks. I remember one day in February, 1893, getting
such a chance as I had never had before or am likely to get again. I had
landed on purpose at dead low water at the bar of one of these creeks,
close to Negapatam, and had no sooner got my gear together than the run
began.
For about three-and-a-half mortal hours I did nothing but tussle with
fish, every throw was accepted and I verily believe that day that they
would have run at a bajj; of scupper nads. As each successive fish was
hooked, I hung on for dear life till the shoal had passed on ; I then played
and landed the fish as quickly as I could, and then hurried on as best I
could over the half sandy and half muddy foreshore till I came up with
the shoal again, and again and again took toll. And so the game went on.
It was a frightful hot day with the burning sun. and my arms were like
to drop by my side ; but I could not resist the excitement, and the native
boatmen from the ship, who had landed with me, seemed to enjoy the fun.
After going on like this for '6-g hours, I was stopped from following them
further by a lai"ge cross creek, which we could not cross as the tide by that
time was too high, and though very tired and very thirsty, I had to turn
back. Not another fish did I see on my way back ; but I was quite satis6ed.
We picked up the fish at the different places as we went back, and the tally
at the end was 19 fish. It was on this occasion that I got the 18|lb.
fish. He was the largest, and the smallest just turned 31bs., but there was
no other so small, and the average size was about lllbs.
Only once since then have I managed to visit that creek, and though I went
as before, and fished as carefully, I only caught three. I do not suppose it will
ever be my luck to visit that place again, nor do I ever hope to have such
another take. Although, as I have here explained, it is best to catch the first
of the flood on these small creeks, it does not at all follow that the flood
is everywhere the best time. In the larger harbours, and notably in Bombay
and Karachi, the ebb is not only the best but practically the only time to get
them. The reason for this I have tried to explain elsewhere. In Bombay
the best months are the monsoon months of June, July, j^ ugust, and Septem-
ber, and the worse the weather the better the day. But a landsman will
hardly enjoy Bombay Harbour when the monsoon is on. Though I have
never had any such basket here as I have described, in the last three or four
years I have only had one or two blank trips, and my average is four to five
fish per tide. This year I have had 37 fish in eight trips (largest 121bs.) ;
bait, prawn ; time, f ebb ; bright day, with a moderately heavy sea running.
Choose, if you can, spring tides. I recommend any who intend trying to make
enquiries, and if they can only find a decent getatable place where these fish
are in the habit of congregating and running, by all means try for them.
They are the best and gamest fish we have out here, and almost the best for
the table. They have been a great source of amusement to me now for
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200 JOURNAL, BOMB AY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
many years, and have helped largely to lighten ennui and while away the
many weary hours out here in what Sir Alfred Lyall calls " this land of
regrets."
The above was written for and published hy "The Fishing Gazette''' m
1897, but since then I have been out on several occasions with varying re-
sults. On one occasion I hooked and eventually landed a fish which, at the
time, I thought was going to prove the biggest fish I had caught. The run
was felt as usual and at once I recognised I had a heavy fish. As things pro-
ceeded I mentioned to the friend who was with me my extreme desire to
get a 20 pounder, and my idea that this would turn out to be the fish. A good
half hour's desperate run backwards and forwards without a glimps'- of my
friend, strengthened me in this idea, and I was greatly disappointed when he
turned up into the net, and only turned the scle at \\i lbs. The reason for
the deception was plain. He had been foul hooked outside on the underneath
side of the throat, half way between the pectoral fins, and that accounted
for tbe very little control I was able to get over him. It was the first time for
many a long day, that 1 have had my fingers burnt, but whether through
carelessness or clumsiness, I got the two first fngers of my right hand badly
burned. I suppose he had been mouthing the bait when I first felt him, dis-
covered the danger latent therein, dropped it, and had begun to clear out
when the stroke was given which firmly fixed the hook in his throat, only out-
side instead of in. He was a good fish and paid the penalty gamely. He was
one of four killed that day— August 14th 1897— all of which were above the
average in size. Another day— September 11th, 1897— will always remain a red
letter day to me, I went out from 1-30 p.m. to 4-30 p.m., I was actually fishing
for 2 hours 10 minutes out of this time, and during that time I caught 13 fish
of the following weights :—13Ubs, 111 lbs, 11| lbs, 11 lbs, lOf lbs, lOJ lbs,
10^ lbs, lOi lbs, 10 lbs, n lbs, 8 lbs, 5 lbs, 4i lbs. Total, 127^ lbs. Tide, 4'-5".
Wind W. by S. 4. The thirteenth fish— one of the bigger ones— plunged
clean through and broke my landing net, but was eventually landed. At the
same time I had run short of bait. But for this misfortune I am convinced
that I should have caught a good many more as there seemed to be no
scarcity of fish about. In addition to the thirteen landed, I ran and lost
either seven or eight. From the fact that there were so many fish about
I realised that I could not afford to loose time over each individual fish
and therefore played them rather more roughly than I otherwise would have
done and in consequence, lost my fish. As an instance of how ravenous they
were,' I may state that the first five throws secured five fish, and once while
clearing the line, which had fouled the point of my rod, the prawn hung
down about six inches off the water. A wave surged up and at that moment
a fish took the prawn. His plunges nearly took the rod out of my hands
and as nearly as possible broke the top. Luckily the line had just been
cleared, it ran free and I got that fish. Such was my best day last year. This
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 201
monsoon for some reason or other the fish have been conspicuous by their
absence. I have had unfortunately more blanks this year than I have ever
had before, but I had one experience this year which was entirely new to
me. On Saturday, July ^Srd, 1898, 1 went down to the Sunk Rock accom-
panied by Mr, E. R. Jardine. Shortly after we had commenced fishing,
Mr. Jardine had a half offer from a very large fish, which came to the top
of the water after the prawn, but stopped short. Immediately after, pre-
sumably the same fish made a rush and took one of a small swarm of gar-
fish swimming about, and having taken this again came to the top of the
water and then deliberately swam across to where I was fishing. I threw in
where I thought he might possibly be, and at the second attempt, had a very
modest oflier. To this I struck, and then at once he shewed himself. He
began by making a series of very short sharp runs, zigzagging backwards and
forwards, and at the end of each rush he made a series of magnificent
leaps out of the water, rising out some three or four feet, but covering cer-
tainly 10 or 12 ft. in each leap. Thus he was plainly visible and all this
time he had not got more than perhaps 25 to 30 yards away. The natives
called it " Dagole " and from what I could see of it I imagine it must have
been a Cybium of some sort, probably Cylium guttatum or Thynnas pelamys.
Its apparent length was roughly some six feet, and I do not think that
I am overstating its weight when I put it down to be between 60 and 70 lbs.
However, after carrying out these tactics for some 15 minutes or so, the
fish had evidently come to the conclusion that that neighbourhood did
not suit its delicate constitution, for it turned tail and proceeded with a
fearful rush to go straight out to sea. Having run out some 100 yards or
so he again threw himself- straight up on end out of the water and then made
a further rush. He had got away some 180 yards by this time and again
he made a supreme effort, and this time while in the uir the line came
back to me, and he was off with a No. 7/° hook, about 4 ft. of steel wire
trace and U oz. lead and 3 swivels. On examining the remains of the
trace I found it kinked and twisted at the point of fracture and I wonder
now that it held out so long. But this is not. a Bahmin experience and so
I stop, but I live in hopes that I may again on some future occasion make
the acquaintance to some better purpose of my friend the " Dagole, "
Referring back for one minute to the 18| lbs, Bahmin, I intended to have
given his dimensions. Circumstances over which I had no control prevent
me now from giving any other measurement than that of his length. It
is notched oft' on my rod handle and taken from the extreme end of the
caudal ray to the tip of the nose, the length was 2 ft. Hi inches.
26
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202
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No, I— BIRDS NOT RECORDED FROM TUAVAXCORE IN THE
" FAUNA OP BRITISH INDIA."
108. Argya subrufa. — The Large Rufous Babbler.
The southern limit of distribution of this bird may be extended to the
hills of Travancore. My collector shot a female and young one fully
fledged at Ponraudi at an elevation of about 2,000 feet in April 1895.
166. Rhopocicula atriceps. The Black-headed Babbler.
Recorded from the Nilgiris, but not further south. It is found on the hills
in Travancore over 2,000 feet.
313. Micropus phceoeephalus. — The Grey-headed Bulbul.
The distribution of this bird is said to be " the Western Coast of India
from about Aujango in Travancore to the vicinity of Belgaum." I doubt its
ever being found near Anjango, which is on the sea coast, where there is no
jungle but only coco-palms. It is eminently a bird of the jungles, going
about in small parties, and frequenting thick undergrowth in heavy forest.
Oates says, '' This appears to be a rare bird," It is not so in Travancore,
where it is found in the hills of both the north and south.
499. Pericrocotus roseus. — The Rosy Minivet.
" The distribution of this species over the Peninsula of India lias not been
ascertained. with any degree of accuracy. Jerdon records it from Malabar
and Lord A. Hay appears to have procured it in the hills dividing Tinnevelly
from Travancore, as mentioned by Jerdon." I am able to confirm this
as I have two specimens, male and female, shot at Ponmudi in January 1894.
580. Stoparola sordida. — The Dusky-blue Flycatcher.
This bird is only recorded from Ceylon, where it is said to be a resident up
to 2,000 feet. It is not uncommon in the Travancore hills, but is only found
at elevations considerably over 2,000 feet.
581. Stoparola alh'icaudala. — The Nilgiri Blue Fly-catcher,
Distribution, "the Nilgiri and Palni hills.'' It is the Fly-catcher most often
met with at the higher elevations in Travancore. It has a very sweet little
song.
691. Petropliila cinclorhyncha,—-T^h.Q Blue-headed Rock Thrush,
Distribution " in winter throughout the plains of India as far south as
Coorg,the Nilgiris, and probably to Cape Comorin."' I may say certainly to
Cape Comorin,asI have several specimens from ihe hills of South Travancore.
761. Carpodaciis crythrhms. — The Common Rose Finch,
" A winter visitor to the whole of India, as far south as the Nilgiri hills."
It also visits tlio high range of North Travancore, but not further south
than this.
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MISCELLAVEOrS NOTES. 203
84-2. Anthus nilglriensis. — The Nilgiri Pipit.
" The higher parts of the Nilgiri and Falni hills." I have one specimen
from Ponmudi in South Travancore,
909. Arachnothera longirostris. — The Little Spider-hunter.
Not recorded south of the Palni hills. This bird is found in South
Travancore. I have three specimens from the hills,
916. Dicceum concolor. — The Nilgiri Flower-pecker.
Not recorded south of the Palni hills. It is fairly common throughout
the whole of the Travancore hills.
919. Dicceum erythrorhynchus. — Tickell's Flower-pecker.
Found in South Travancore, both in the plains and on the hills.
972. Liojncus mahraftensis. — Tha Yellow-fronted Pied Wood-pecker.
I have two specimens from Kuttyani, about 10 miles from Trevandrum.
1001. Picumnus innominatus. — The Speckled Piculet,
" This species has also been found very rarely in the hills of Southern India,
near the west coast in the Wynaad, by Mr, J, Darling, and by Mr, W. Davison
below Kotagiri in the Nilgiris," I may now add the Travancore hills, as
I shot a specimen at Chimunji in April last and saw another on the same
day ; both in heavy jungle, at an elevation of 4,000 feet.
1045. Halcyon plleata. — The Black-capped Kingfisher.
" A single specimen was obtained by Jerdon at Tellicherry, Malabar coast,
and another by Layard in Northern Ceylon.'' The only other known locality
in India is on the Ganges. A live specimen taken near Trevandrum was
brought to me, and it lived a short time in captivity.
1117. Surniculus luguhris. — The Drongo Cuckoo.
" Apparently very rare in the Peninsula of India, having been observed
only near Kaipur, on the Godavari below Siroucha, and perhaps at another
locality in the Southern Central Provinces (Jerdon's locality in Central
India); also in the Wynaad and Malabar coast-land." I have three specimens
from Kuttyani and another from Trevandrum,
1119. Coccystes coomandus. — The Red-winged Crested Cuckoo.
" This is a very rare bird in India." Jerdou states that he saw it in Malabar
and the Carnatic, and that it has been found in Central India (? Chutia
Nugpore). I have two specimens from Ponmudi in South Travancore shot
in 1892.
1170. Huhua nepalensis. — The Forest Eagle-Owl.
I have never shot a specimen of this grand owl but have had specimens
brought to me alive on two occasions, and have kept it in captivity for a
considerable period. I have one now in the public gardens, which was
brought to me five years ago.
HAROLD S. FERGUSON.
Trevandrum, May, 1898.
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204 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol.XII.
No. II,— THE ETHIOPIAN WART HOG,
(^PIIA COCn.ER US yE TIIIOPICUS.)
{With a Plate)
In his paper on the Mammalia of Somali Land in Vol, ^1 of the Society's
Journal, Mr, Inverarity has introduced us to the Wart Hog and given sports-
men a fund of information about his measurements and habits, which it would
be superfluous for me to repeat here ; suflice it to say, that the tushes of the
specimen figured in the plate measure, on the outside curve :
Upper Tnsh lOJ"
Lower do ^ 9"
The impressions which follow, as an accompaniment to the plate, are
recorded in the hope that some of them may prove of interest to the general
reader.
Let me first make it clear that the christian name of this Hog has no con-
nection with '' Water," I have had a couple of stuffed boars'* heads on the
walls of my dining room for some years, and my experience in the occasional
role of cicerone during that time has shewn me that it is quite a common
impression among sportsmen and others, not personally acquainted with the
animal, that the word " Wart " is the Dutch or other foreign rendering of
" Water." '' Wart " is of course the English word and refers to the four ex-
crescences or warts on the face, but I think it well to repeat the fact, even
at the risk of being accused of instructing my grandmother in the art of
preparing eggs for the cabinet. The mistake after all is not an unnatural
one, for so many of the popular names of the big game of East Africa have
a Dutch origin.
Formerly Zoologists (those of Germany at any rate) made two species of
the Wart Hog, differentiating the breed found at the Cape and in South
Africa generally from that met with further North and in Central Africa.
The former variety was classified as " yEthiopicus " and the latter as " jifn-
canus." The differences, however, such as they were, were small and unim-
portant, and it has eventually been decided, as far as I can gather, to make the
Wart Hog a single species under the name of " Phacochcerus cethioplcus." It
is probably found all over the continent of Africa, though rare now in Cape
Colony and the south generally — -it is, however, as a native of the Somali
Protectorate that I am now dealing with the animal.
In the matter of grotesque ugliness an old Wart Hog boar may, I think,
aafely aspire to "lick creation " with small fear of competition, I ask you,
gentle reader, can you conceive any living creature with a more villainously
ugly physiognomy than the subject of the accompanying plate ? Mark the
huge head, out of all proportion to the rest of the body ; the short bull-
neck ; the extraordinary development of the upper lip ; the beady, evil
looking eyes with their apoplectic expression ; the narrow forehead T'ith its
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 2C5
shaggy fringe of coarse grizzly hair ; and lastly the four uncanny warta upon
the face. Where could you find a more repulsive type of countenance ? To a
great extent however the Wart Hog's looks belie his character, and while
admitting that his style of beauty is not calculated to engender love at first
sight, my own experience of him is, that the more you see of him, the better
you like him, and that as far as character goes, the race has been much
maligned — it has been a case of give a Hog a bad name and hang him.
Eowland Ward in his " Records of Big Game " writes: — " It is an undoubted
fact that neither of the African Wild Boars — the Wart Hog and Bush Pig
exhibit anything like the pluck and determination of their Asiatic or even
European cousins " and I have seen strictures of the same kind in the writ-
ings of other sportsmen, but I am at a loss to know what has given rise to
them, I hope, and cannot help believing, that they are calumnies and that
the contempt for the grizzly boar of Africa, which has from time to time
been given expression to, is bred not of familiarity, but of the want of
it. The reasons for the want of it are not far to seek. The ground where
the Wart Hog is found is often fair hunting country enough, and though he
is mainly a night feeder, solitary boars and small sounders are often encoiyi-
tered in undisturbed jungles, either on their way home in the early morn-
ing, or when starting out to feed in the evening — in fact in cool weather I
have not infrequently seen them at all hours of the day, but the truth is
that the sportsmen who usually meet with and record their impressions of
the animal are men on long shooting expeditions of several months' duration
hampered with large caravans and having no horse flesh with them of a class
fit for a long burst after a pig, No highly bred horse accustomed to careful
grooming and feeding will stand much marching in Somali Land away from
the Coast. You cannot carry large quantities of forage for your quadru-
peds, it would largely increase the size and cost of your caravan at the
start, and the supply once exhausted could not be replenished. The pony
indigenous to the country and endowed to a great extent with the habits of
his Somali master, is the only one of any use on a long trip. His wants as
regards care and toilet are few, he lives on what grass he can pick up and
can go for much longer without food or water than his civilised brother and
when he cannot get water he has no objection to milk. On an ordinary
Shikar expedition he is probably seldom taken out of a walk and only used
when changing camp or for riding for a short spell when the sportsman is
tired of walking. He is not shod and after a time is generally more or less
footsore and tender. It will therefore be readily imagined that pursuit of
the wily boar on such a mount would be a source ■ of very little pleasure
either to the horse or his rider.
Consequently, in drawing comparisons between the Wart Hog and the
Indian or European boar, it must be remembered that the former usually falls
to the rifle and not to the spear. One can easily understand that a prod or
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20G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
even a fair thrust with a spear would be an incentive rather to courage than
to cowardice, but what animal of the Wart Hog's size would have any fight
left in him after the receipt of mh express bullet in his vitals, propelled by 4
or 5 drams of powder? Fairly ridden with a spear, is there any evidence
forthcoming to show, or evidence to suppose, that a well furnished African
boar will not acquit himself as valiantly as the congener of this continent ?
Of South Africa I have no firsthand experience in this connection, but I
have met a good many South African sportsmen and have never heard or
read of any systematic hunting of the Wart Hog with a spear in that quarter.
Captain C. J. Melliss of the Bombay Army is the only man who, to my
knowledge, has scientifically pigsticked him, and I am sure I shall have that
good sportsman with me when I essay to clear the character of the Ethio-
pian Hog from what I believe to be unmerited charges of want of pluck.
Captain Melliss has given a graphic account of his experiences while at
Zaila at the end of his book " Lion Hunting on Somali Land ", and tells of
many a good-plucked boar that has tried concjusions with him a outrance.
As I have pointed out above, sportsmen on hunting expeditions in the
interior of Somali Land are seldom in a position to tackle the Wart Hog
with a spear, but Captain. Melliss was differently situated and did not exploit
hiiu under the same conditions. He was quartered at Zaila on military
duty and had an Arab horse with him which was a "salted" Indian pigsticker ;
and, moreover, his duties being.light, he had no difficulty in occasionally
getting out for a week at a time for a quiet pigstick.
I was there six years later, but by that;time all the jungle within a day's
excursion of the coast, which used to hold pig in Captain Melliss' time, had
been grazed down or cut for fuel, and as it no longer afforded any cover,
the pig had retired to pastures new and further afield. I had in my service
his quondam shikari Abdulla who knew all the ground tliat held pig, but I
never succeeded in finding them within a day's excursion, and standing orders
prohibited my sleeping out the night, so after many unsuccessful attempts
to locate them I gave up the quest.
There is no doubt whatever about the Wart Hog retiring to holes and
burrows ; more than one sportsman has witnessed the operation. If handy,
they appropriate the earths of other animals, but if not they make use of
their tushes to dig their own. In this connection Sir John Willoughby re-
lates how he ran a wounded boar to earth, and Captain Melliss on one occa-
sion bolted two pigs from a large burrow.
Setting aside Captain Melliss, whose experiences of the Wart Hog in Somali
Land have been unique, we fiud that there are two causes which combine to
make the species at all times but a small item in the butchers' bill of shooting
expeditions to that happy hunting ground. The first exists perhaps chiefly
in the case of the sportsman from India or with Indian experience, who is
generally imbued with an instinctive reluctance to kill with the bullet an
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 207
animal which from his youth up he has been taught to look upon as fair
game for the hog-spear only. The second cause is that the Somali is a most
bigoted Mahommedan who will not lay a finger on the unclean beast for
love or money, so that if you are bent on preserving a good head you must
be prepared to carry -.what you want of your boar home and do all the
skinning and cleaning yourself. Even when you have got off the mask
and cleaned the skull to your satisfaction, your labours are by no means
ended, for not one of your dainty retainers will touch the skull or turn the
skin, and if marching you must with your own hands load them up day after
day until the objectionable items have been forgotten by your men or are
dry enough to be packed away out of sight.
Many parties, when starting from the Coast, make a point of enlisting
among their followers a man of the Midgan tribe (one of the Pariah castes of
Somali Landj on purpose for this kind of work, and there is never any
dearth of applicants for the appointment, who, in return for the Sahebs'
plentiful bawbees, are willing, according to their own account, to take any
liberties with a Wart Hog alive or dead ; and so they would, no doubt,
among their own people, but it is a very different matter when you get them
into a caravan among a lot of well-bred Somalis, strict followers of the
prophet at any time, and specially so when members of a sportsman's
caravan, where there is no concealment and where a man's every act is known
to his fellows.
Never shall I forget the life led bj' an unfortunate Midgan whom I once
had with me for such purposes on the first hunting trip that carried me far
into the interior. I was primarily on duty, my mission being to try and win
over an important tribal Chief whose country was on the confines of the
Protectorate and who though owing allegiance to us was credited with play-
ing into the hands of the emissaries of " the King of Kings " and, with a
lively sense of favours to come, conniving at the passage through his country
of raiding parties of Abyssinian soldiery from their outpost at Jigjiga. To
these he gave secret information of the whereabouts of rich nomad encamp-
ments of his fellow countrymen, and their marauding parties were thus en-
abled to nip across the border as opportunity offered. Armed as they were
with rifles, they had no difficulty in overawing the tribesmen whom they
encountered, and after taking their pick of the fat kine of some rich nomad
village, they would make tracks for Jigjiga with their spoil. Such at any
rate were the current reports. The route from Zaila to this Chief's summer
habitation lay through some good country from a sportsman's point of view
and a brother officer from Aden joined me in the hope of getting some shooting
by the way. I was anxious, among other things, to get a good specimen or
two of the "Wart Hog, and, to this end, before leaving the coast, took much
trouble to select a Midgan of the most unsophisticated type who confessed
to have no scruples whatever as regards handling Wart Hog or any other
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208 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xtt.
unclean beast. Nor had he as far as he personally was concerned, but
that was a point which unfortunately proved to have little to do with the
question. We had a good deal of wet weather on the journey out, so
much so that a few days after leaving the coast, my companion was
prostrated with a sharp attack of malarial fever and dysentery, and as we had
reached a spot where there was plenty of wood and water, we determined to
halt there for a day or two to enable him to puU round. The whole time we
were at this camp it rained almost incessantly ; our tents were saturated and
everything and everybody very wet and miserable. Our following of camel-
men, shikaries, etc., had of course no tents, but according to their custom had
rigged up two or three '' gurgies " or huts for themselves out of " herios,"
(the fibre mats used as numdahs for the baggage camels) and in these they
squatted cheek to jowl, waiting, with philosophic patience worthy of Micaw-
ber, for something to turn up. The second evening there was a little break
in the weather, and I was sitting at tea with the invalid preparatory to going
out to shoot something for the larder, when my small waiting boy Yusuf came
running up excitedly to tell me in his crude English that two " Bacon," as he
naively called them, were feeding across the river bed within sight of camp.
My Midgan was away from camp at the time tending our camels at graze and
the shikaris were out scouting, so piloted by Yusuf I started off to where he
had seen the pig. By the time we had crossed the stony river bed they had
disappeared into the jungle fringing the further bank, but, after a longish
run at my best pace parallel to the direction in which they were making, I at
last got a broad side shot and accounted for one of them — a boar with fair
tushes. Yusuf was by way of being a strict, if juvenile, Mahommedan, and
in any case was not likely to be of much assistance to me, so I sent him back
to camp to try and get hold of the Midgan. Meanwhile I started the labo-
rious job of decapitating the dead boar. It was no easy matter to worry,
through the bull neck and sever the vertebrae with an ordinary hunting knife,
and when the operation was finished it was nearly dark and as yet no sign of
the Midgan, so I had to make the best of a bad job and carry the head and
my rifle back to camp, about a mile away. By the time I got in the Midgan
had returned and I told him to get to work at once on the headskin, but in
spite of his previous protestations he at first absolutely refused to touch it
and it was only by dint of much persuasion both moral and physical and by
threatening to turn him out of camp in the morning and let him find his way
back to Zaila as best he could, that he was at last prevailed upon to obey.
Then the play began.
It came on to rain again while we were at dinner and all the men made for
their improvised huts, prepared to remain there for the night ; but the poor
Midgan who had begun to carry out his compact and by this time was
thoroughly defiled, now began to have a sorry Lime, He was expelled from
his '* mess " ; his food was thrown to him as to a dog, as he sat beside the
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 209
Wart Hog relics in the middle of our small camp, and there he remained
disconsolately eating the bread of affliction (in this case his allowance of
dates and now sodden rice), devoutly wishing, I am sure, that he had even
braved the dangers of a solitary tramp back to the Coast rather than let him-
self in for this fore-taste of purgatory. When he had disposed of his portion
he slunk about from one hut to another trying to get squatting room and
shelter, but no one would let him come within striking distance and, after
trying to insinuate himself into the several huts without success, he at last
came to us in despair and we gave him sanctuary under the outer fly of our
tent. There he curled himself among our gun cases and provision boxes and
slumber soon came to his relief ; not to ours, however, for his terrific snores
kept waking us on and off the whole night through, but we had not the heart
to turn him out and contented ourselves with heaving an occasional " brickbat "
in his direction. For about a week he led a perfect dog's life and was a
Pariah in very truth, but after the boar's skull and mask had dried and been
sewn up iu sack cloth and thus removed from sight the incident was grad-
ually forgotten, and the Midgan was in due course received back into the
fold, but I am afraid only partially so, for to the end of the chapter he
seemed to come in for more kicks than halfpence when I or my companion
were not looking.
Though he has no further connection with the heading to my note, I can-
not quit this incident without a short account of the boy Yusuf above men-
tioned, and trust I may be forgiven for the digression. He was such an
extraordinary character and had such a curious history, that it seems
worth recording.
In 1893 I was in pohtical charge at Zaila, and one day towards the end of
the hot weather an old Turk who eked out a precarious existence at a coffee
stall in the native town brought to my office a smal! fair skinned boy apparently
about 10 years old, accompanied by the headman of a coffee caravan which
had just come in from the Abyssinian outpost town of Harrar. The latter
reported that the boy was the orphan son of a Turk who had migrated to
Harrar during the Egyptian occupation and had married an Abyssinian
woman, of whom Yusuf was the offspring. Both the father and mother had
died of cholera 3 or 4 years back, since when the boy had had to shift for
himself, and as he had become a confirmed thief (having iu fact no other
means of livelihood) he had been expelled from Harrar by the Abyssinian
authorities aud my informant had been asked, when returning to the Coast
with his caravan, to take Yusuf with him and hand him over on arrival at
Zaila to the old Turk novv^ present, who was said to be a relative of the boy's
deceased father. This the latter admitted, but pleaded, and I knew with
truth, that he barely earned enough to keep himself and his wife in the
bare necessaries of life, and could not possibly maintain and look after
thia boy as well, especially as he appeared to be very ill and would not be
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210 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATtJRAL BISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
able to do any work for months. The apothecary was close at hand, so I
had the boy examined there and then and he was pronounced to be saturated
with malaria from exposure ; his spleen too was very much enlarged, I
determined therefore to hand him over to my Goanese cook and see what
could be done for him. If he recovered I thought he would make a useful
little dogboy and that my wife, whom I expected in the cold weather,
might be able to make something of him. For some weeks he was too weak
and ill to give much evidence as to how he was likely to shape, but care and
regular feeding gradually put him right and it soon became apparent that his
wits had been much sharpened by privation and that he was a very smart boy.
In the first two months he picked up Hindustani from my cook and could
talk quite fluently, and he could also speak Amharic, (i.e., Abyssinian)
Galla, Somali, and Arabic. By the time my wife arrived he was a bright, spry
little fellow, but even at his tender age he was imbued with every vice the
tiesh is heir to, and this soon became evident as his health returned. He
drank, smoked, took opium when he could get it, and was up to every sort
of devilment. I was a keen conchologist at the time and used to take him
out with me shell hunting — he soon got to know what was rare and what I
wanted — and at once made use of his knowledge at my expense. I found one
day that ho had extracted several rare specimens from a jar of shells that I
had left to clean on the roof buried in sand and had handed them over to two
local Somali urchins whom he subsequently introduced to me as having found
some shells that I badly wanted. I was delighted to get the specimens
and gave the boys liberal bucksheesh, but when making a more minute
examination of ;them I recognised one of them as being my own property
owing to its having a slight malformation. Then the cat was out of the
bag ; I went up to look at my jar on the roof and discovered the urchin's
perfidy, but by this time master Yusuf had decamped to the bazar with
his proteges to spend the result of his successful enterprise. For this
atrocity he received condign punishment, " in the .manner of school
discipline," the only form of correction which had anything but a momentary
effect on him.
For a long time it was never safe to give him any money, as the old Egyp-
tian bungalow then occupied by the Political Officer was in the middle of the
native town, and on the first opportunity he would slip out and waste it in
treating himself and any juvenile Somalis that he could find to a drink or
some tobacco. I eventually broke him, for the time at all events, of his taste
for spirituous liquors, but never succeeded in curing him of smoking. If I
stopped his supply he would collect all my cheroot ends for secret consump-
tion, and finally as I found that he got quite ill and good for nothing if he
did not smoke, I had to give him a regular ration of tobacco.
July wife took an immense deal of trouble with him and endeavoured to
instil a little elementary morality und self-respect into him. In the course
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 211
of time she made him into a very useful little table servant and for months
he would be as good as gold ; then something would happen to upset him, and
he would break out again into some rascality. With all his vices he had some-
thing attractive about him, and was possessed of one or two good qualities
which made us forget his bad ones. For instance, he was generous to a fault
and devoted to animals, and tender-hearted to a degree where they were
concerned. We banked his pay for him, only allowing him Re. 1 per month
pocket money, but occasionally he would get a windfall unknown to us in the
shape of a tip from some passing sportsman, and on such occasions he would
say nothing about it until he had spent the money ; but we always found that
he had shared it with somebody else. On one occasion I remember his
getting Rs, 3 from some guest of ours, he at once disposed of it as follows : — -
Re, 1 drink in the bazar for himself and friends,
„ 1 for a pet goat,
„ 1 to a mendicant who had befriended him in Harrar.
When I left the country on leave to England it was difficult to know
what to do with him. He was such a thief that one could not recommend him
to a stranger and yet we were loth to leave him to go back to his evil ways.
He refused to go to school in Aden and was oiiered the choice, either of
remaining in the charge of the Missionary Fathers at Berbera and being
educated at their school until I returned from leave, or else of being sent
back to Abyssinia. At first he said he would stay with the Fathers but
some one put it into his head that they would force him to become a
Christian, so he changed his mind and elected for Harrar. His deferred pay
amounting to some Rs, 50, was handed over to a responsible man travelling from
Zaila to Harrar who was to take Yusuf with him and dole out his money as
he required it. He reached Harrar safely but I heard afterwards that he
had soon wasted his substance and relapsed into evil ways. Soon afterwards
he returned (probably having been expelled from Harrar) to Berbera where
he was living by his wits when last heard of. Poor boy, I often think of
him with regret ; had he been rescued earlier he might have become a respect-
able member of society, but we got hold of him too late. If fate should
take me back to those shores on work or pleasure bent, Yusuf and I may
meet again and if he is not a hopeless criminal by then, I hope I may have
another chance of reforming him ; meanwhile his little personality remains
in my memory as the most extraordinary mixture of good and evil that I
have ever come across.
One more reference to the Wart Hog and I have done. In 1895 I was
collecting some animals for the Calcutta Zoo, and among them had a pair
of baby Wart Hog. They were the nicest little creatures imaginable — not
striped like the Indian porker but coal black with little shiny hairless skins.
Under ordinary circumstances I should have tried to make pets of them as
they were very tameable and always beautifully clean and sweet, but at the
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212 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
time I had two yonng hunting cheetahs loose m the compound and was afraid
they might bring the little strangers to grief, and as the latter were only mine
on trust, I thought it safer to keep them in a spare room, where they seemed
quite happy. Before they left for Calcutta they got to know me and my wife
quite well and whenever we walked past the window or opened the door
they would run up to greet us and see if we had anything to give them,
their dainty little feet clicking like small castanets along the cemented floor.
They arrived safely at the Calcutta Zoo, but I am grieved to hear from the
Secretary that after thriving there for 5 months they succumbed to the
climate, as did the several other specimens of Somali Mammalia that I sent
at the same time. Two Giant Tortoises are the only present survivors of
the shipment.
P. Z. COX, CArx.
Bakoda, August, 1898.
No. III.— SOME NOTES ON THE NARCONDAM HORNBILL, ETC.
( RHYTIDOCEROS NARCONDAMI).
During one of our cruises round the Andaman Islands with the present
Chief Commissioner, that gentleman expressed a wish to go to the Island of
Narcondam with the object of seeing the island, and also to obtain some
specimens of the Hornbills {^Rhytidoceros narconclami) which are found there
and which a-re quite distinct from any of the Hornbills of India ; the only
specimens recorded up to now having been a pair obtained on the island by
Mr. Hume as far back as 1873. The Island of Narcondam is quite isolated
from the Andaman Islands, and is in a direct line between Port Blair and Ran-
goon. It is 140 miles from Port Blair, and although some authorities have
stated that it is an extinct volcano, it has since been proved that the island is
not volcanic, and it is supposed that the above authorities confused it with
Barren Island, which Is about 75 miles further south, and which is a distinct
volcano. The highest part of Narcondam Island is 2,330 feet above the sea-
level, and as there is very deep water close up to the shore, it does not
provide any anchorage for ships, with the exception of a very small and
unsafe anchorage. to the north-west of the island. It is only on the rarest
occasions that :landing is possible on this island, as the seas break heavily
even in a light breeze. This difficulty of landing, and the fact of the island
being so isolated, has probably been the reason that the Narcondam Hornbill
is so rare a bird. No mercantile steamers ever call at the island ; men-of-war
seldom go near it ; and the Indian Marine station ships at Port Blair only
visit it once a year.
We proceeded to the eastern side of the island, and as we were unable to
anchor, the ship was taken in as close as possible, and our party, consisting of
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 213
the Chief Commissioner (Colonel Anson), Mr. M, V, Portman, a divisional
officer, the Chief Commis3ioner''s niece, and two ship's officers, landed in one
of the boats. As soon as the party -was landed the two members who had
guns separated, and in less than half-an-hour each one had obtained five
specimens of the birds we required. The Hornbills were plentiful, and were
comparatively speaking, tame as compared with other birds, and many more
specimens could have been obtained if we had wished. They only fly a
short distance, and make a great noise with their wings when they are flying.
The chief peculiarity about the bird is the ribbed furrows on the base of the
upper bill or casque. These ridges are not always the same in number as
they vary from two to seven or eight, and probably indicate the age of the
birds. The colours of the two male birds which I have presented to the
Society's museum are head and neck bright rufous, throat a little paler tail
white, and the rest of the plumage black, glossed with rifle green. The
feathers on the breast, abdomen, and the lower tail coverts are however black
and have hardly any of the green gloss which the upper plumage has. The
legs and feet are blackish-brown.
The casque is pale horny yellow, darkish red towards the base of the lower
bill, and brownish-red towards the base of the upper one, the base of the
casque for half-an-inch behind the ridges being dark red. The ridges on the
casque are horny yellow, a little brighter in colour than the rest of the bill.
One of the specimens has seven ridges on the casque and the other one sis.
Very few other birds were seen or heard during the short space of time we
were on shore, but the island seemed to swarm with large lizards (probably
belonging to the family Varanidce), some of them being four or even five
feet in length, and two specimens were killed for the sake of their skins.
They were as tame as pet mice, and one climbed into the lap of the Chief
Commissioner's niece and seemed to be quite at home.
After leaving Narcondam we called at the Nicobar Islands, and there
obtained some specimens of the curious Nicobar Megapodes (JlegapocUus nico-
hariensis). This bird is found in most of the islands of the Nicobar group.
Its egg is abnormally large for the size of the bird, about six eggs equalling
the bird in weight.
The nest of the Megapode consists of a large mound of sand, piled np by
one or more pair of birds in the shape of a cone, reaching to 10 feet in
height and 25 to 30 feet in circumference. The centre of the mound ib
composed of leaves and dried roots, amongst which the eggs are laid and
the heat of the leaves when decaying undoubtedly assists incubation. When
hatched the young chicks burrow out through the sand in the same way as
young turtles do.
One peculiarity of the young Megapodes is that they are fully fled«ed
when hatched, and commence to forage for themselves at once.
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214 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
We obtained some 40 eggs from different nests, and as many of them were
quite fresh we were able to blow them easily. About a dozen eggs were
brought on board the ship and carried to Port Blair with the intention of
hatching the young birds out. We kept them in some buckets of sand for
some time ; but they were forgotten, the sand was taken away, and they lay in
the open air exposed even to the rain without any protection. On our arri-
val at Port Blair the eggs were sent up to the Chief Commissioner's house
for the purpose of being blown, but one morning, about three weeks after
they had been taken from the nest, one chicken hatched out, the next day
another one appeared, and in all five or six were successfully hatched, and
when I left Port Blair a few weeks ago, there were four young Megapodes
left as healthy and lively as possible. They are fed on white-anta entirely,
and seem to flourish on this diet.
J. H. St. JOHN, Lieut.,
Commanding R.I.M.S. " Elphinstone."
Bombay, June, 1898. .,
No. IV.— A VORACIOUS CENTIPEDE.
A few days ago a toad was found on the gravel path outside the officers'
mess with a large orange and black centipede {Scolopendra gigantea) coiled
round its back. The centipede's head was just behind the toad's fore-leg
on the left side, and it had eaten a large hole in the side of the toad. Both
were captured and a photograph was taken of them. After a little time the
centipede left off eating the toad and apparently went to sleep. Eventually
vshen the centipede was removed the toad was able to hop away in spite of
the large hole which had been made in its side.
H. WELLS-COLE, Capt.,
2nd K. 0. Yorkshii-e Light Infantry.
Ahmednaqak, June, 1898.
No. v.- WHITE SPOTS ON THE PLUMAGE OF A WOODPECKER
ATTACKED BY A PARASITE.
I lately obtained two specimens of Dendrocopus andamanensis , the
Andaman Pied Woodpecker, and I should like to have an opinion as to what
it is that eats into the margins of the secondary feathers in such a
peculiar manner. Is it the work of a parasite or is it abrasion ? The curious
thing is that it is always the white spots on the secondaries which are eaten
out. It seems to me to be done by a parasite — some minu e tinea which feeds
on the plumage of the living bird, though I failed to detect any such in
examining the freshly shot birds. Whatever causes it, this ragged condition
of the secondary feathers with the white spots cut out is remarkably com-
iflon in this Woodpecker, iu which I have noticed it repeatedly.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 2l6
I think I recollect having observed the same thing in Liopicus mahrathengis
and Tingipicus gymnophtlialmus.
If it is the white spots — which alone appear to be eaten away — that only
are subject to the ravages of a parasite, surely natural selection ought to have
eliminated them long ago !
A. L. BUTLER.
Perak, Straits Settlements, March, 1898,
No. VI.— PARASITIC WORMS IN FISH.
In some fish which I recently caught in the Kurram river I noticed that
about one per cent contained parasites. At first I could not make out what
they were, but seeing them move when separated, I came to the conclusion
that they were " parasitic worms," The fish is known here as the " Chilwa '
{Asjndoparia mora?'). I should like to know if this fact is of common
occurrence, as I have mentioned it to several fishermen, none of whom have
ever noticed such a thing before.
I have examined numerous other fish, but find these parasites only in this
particular species of fish. On one occasion I opened a fish that had been
dead and in the sun for twenty-four hours, and found the parasites were
still alive.
R. H. RATTRAY, Major,
22nd Punjab Infantry,
ThDLL, KUKRAM-KOHAT FORCE, Mai/, 1898.
No, VII.— NOTES ON WILDFOWL IN THE TINNEVELLY DISTRICT,
SOUTH INDIA.
On page 207, Vol. Ill, of the " Game Birds of India " (Hume and Marshall)
there is a note by Mr. Alfred Theobald, made in 1872, apropos of the Common
Teal, somewhat as follows : — " These Teal are found in great abundance in all
the large tanks south of Palamcottah (near Tinnevelly) ; in one especially
they were so tame that I mistook them for domesticated ones . , . the
only reason I can give to account for these birds being so tame in this
district is that hardly a native possesses a gun."
Would it were so now ! The Teal are still with us in considerable numbers
but the race of "pot-hunters " has increased to such an extent, especially in
and about Tuticorin, that the ardent sportsman can scarcely bag more than
five or six duck and teal in a day, and that with much pain and trouble. I
make it worth the while of these native " sportsmen" to bring me their bags
daily, whether I buy for the table or not, so that, during the course of the
season, I see a considerable number of dead wildfowl in addition to those
observed in the not very successful attempts to obtain sport myself. (They
apparently do not snare or net wildfowl in this neighbourhood.)
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216 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
The following are some notes on the prevailing Wildfowl hereabouts : —
The Barred-headed Goose (^Anser indicus). — This bird appeared last cold
weather iu considerable numbers, and was with us from November until the end
of February. This is a regular cold-weather visitor, but does not always
occur in such numbers as last season, I saw one flock of about 50, and five
birds were bagged and brought to me in one day by a " pot-hunter,"
The Cotton Teal (^Nettopics coromandelianuH). — 'E&iv\j common during the
cold weather until the end of April, but more so near Tinnevelly (about 30
miles inland) than in this neighbourhood. Probably the inland tanks,
smaller and more overgrown with water plants, suit their habits Letter,
The Whistling Te^l {De)idrocyc7iajavanica). — Rarer than the preceding, but
apparently pretty plentiful in December, January, and February,
The Spotted-billed Duck (^Anas popcilorhyncha) occurs in small numbers,
but apparently visits us after the cold weather is over, I saw none until
March, while two specimens were brought to me on the 12th July this year,
' Thy Pintail Duck {^Dafila acuta). — By far the commonest duck in the
district, remaining with us from November to March in large flocks of 200
to 300,
The Wigeon {Marcca penelope). — Fairly common, but not nearly so numer-
ous as the last species. They seem to come later and depart earlier.
The Common Teal {Nettium crecca). — Plentiful throughout the district,
and remain with ua from November until May,
The Gavganey Teal {Querquedula circia). — Apparently more plentiful iu
this immediate neighbourhood (Tuticorin) than the Common Teal ; but this
may be due to the fact that they consort in larger flocks, and the "pot-hunter"
consequently bags more of them. They arrive here about December, and remain
until the very end of April and even into May, Two males in full plumage
Wore brought to me on the 26th April this year.
The Common Flamingo {PhcEnicopterus rosei'.s). — Fairly common through-
out the district. One large flock of quite 300 frequented a shallow piece of
water about three miles from here, all the cold weather, and remained until
the end of April, when the water dried up. This flock is still (July) in the
neighbourhood.
The Banded Crake {Rallina superciliaris). — On the 14th November, 1896
after a very severe gale from the N, E, (in fact a cyclone), a bird was brought
to me alive, but much exhausted by the wind, which I identified as a male of
this species, I allowed it to rest in my garden, and it was sufEciently recovered
to fly off the next day. This bird Avas quite strange to the local shikarrics,
and I have little doubt was blown over in the gale from the coast of Ceylon,
where {vide Hume and Marshall) this species arrives in considerable numbers
in October.
W. N. FLEMING.
TuTicoBiN, /uZ*/, 1898.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 217
No. VIII —BREEDING OF THE BLACK-BREASTED YELLOW-
BACKED SUNBIRD (jETBOPYGA SATURAT.i) IN THE
CHUTLA BHEEL, CACHAR DI>STRICT.
Mr, Primrose in epistola says : — " I found a nest of 890 ^E. saturata, the
Blackbreasted Honeysucker, on the 11th of June, attached to a bamboo,
about 3 feet from the ground. It contained two fresh eggs, broadish ovals,
of a white colour, freckled all over with greyish-pink or lilac, forming a zone
at the thicker end. Female identified and shot off nest."
The nest, which he kindly sent me, is of rather neat construction. It is pear-
shaped, and made of what seems to be the black hair-like rootlets, in which are
incorporated some dry bamboo leaves and a little moss. Within these rootlets
is a lining of fine grass stems. Again, the egg cavity is lined with down. The
opening is to the side, and overhung by a cornice which projects l'4in. above
the entrance. In length it is about Sin. ; and the circumference above the
cornice is 6^in., that of below the entrance being 9in. Inside the breadth at
entrance is 2in. ; and the egg cavity is also 2in. deep. The entrance itself
measures 1'2" x 0'7" and the cornice 2"7" x 1'2."
C, M. INGLIS.
Darbhanga, Tirhoot, July, 1898.
No, IX.— OCCURRENCE OF THE BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER
{HALCYON F'lLEATA) AND THE BLACK-LEGGED FALCONET
{MICROHIERAX FRINGILLARIUS) in the CHUTLA
BHEEL, CACHAR.
Mr, Primrose, writing from the above district, says:—" I have managed to
get, amongst other birds a couple of Black-legged Falconets (il/, fringillarius)
and a Black-capped Purple Kingfisher ( H. pileata )." The finding of this
bird in the above district, which adjoins Hylakandy, tends to confirm my
latter opinion, that the bird which I got in Hylakandy, and noticed in my
list of birds of that district, ® was that species.
C. M. INGLIS.
Darbhanga, Tirhoot, July, 1898.
No. X.— NOTE ON THE NIDIFICATION OF THE WHITE-NECKED
STORK, {DISSURA EPISCOPUS).
On the 22nd of this month I found three nests of this species. They
were all three on Simul trees, two of them being on the same tree, on the same
branch and touching one another. Both trees were close to villages and people
were continually passing beneath them. The tree on which the single nest
was, I was unable to have climbed, as even after climbing 60 feet by the help
• Vide the Society's Journal, Vol. XI, page 478.
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218 JOVENAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
of a bamboo, the trunk was too thick for a man's arms to reach round. The
other two nests were about 80 feet from the ground. One nest which T had
brought down measured on the outside, including the straggling sticks that
protruded, 52 inches ; but the nest proper was 211" x 24" and 20" deep at the
part that was in the fork, but only 9 inches, at the opposite side. The egg
cavity measured 14" x 13" and 13" deep without the lining, which was wholly
composed of green Simul leaves to a depth of 6 inches. In one nest were three
fresh eggs, measuring 2-49 x 1"84, 2*45 x 1'9, and 2"35 x 1-8 respectively.
Though the birds were sitting on both nests, only one nest contained eggs.
Dakbhanga, Tirhoot, July, 1898. C. M. INGLIS.
No. XI.—" DOES THE BEOWN BEAR HYBEENATE ? "
With reference to Major Eodon's above query on page 547 of the last
volume of this journal, I beg to state, that I too, in common with the
natives of this district, believe that the Brown Bear {Ursu? arctus) does
hybernate, and my reasons, which may be taken for what they are worth,
are the following : — After the sheep have left their summer resorts at
altitudes varying from 10,000 to 13,000 feet, it is not by any means uncommon
to see " Bhrubboo," as the hillmen call him, feeding oia the grassy plains
in the mornings and afternoons, and as for his tracks, one comes on them at
every turn. Last October I was out after Bears, and in one place found the
entire hill-side rooted up in much the same way as if a sounder of pigs had
been over it, and, as my shikari sagely remarked, " there is little use of a
plough and bullocks here when Brown Bears do all that is necessary," These
signs of " Bhrubboo's " presence however are only to be met with till the
first week in December, or in the case of a mild winter up to about the 20th
of December, If they do not hybernate, surely one would come upon fresh
tracks after that date also,
I have spent several winters in the Himalayas, and only last year was up at
an elevation of 12,000 feet odd on the 10th of December, and was eventually
driven down by a heavy fall of snow. I came upon several fresh tracks
during the latter part of November ; but they got scarcer during the first
week in December, and after the first fall of snow, which we had, I think, on
the 6th of that month, I never saw another sign of " Bhrubboo." I agree
with Major Eodon that the villagers have not much opportunity of judging
as they come down to lower altitudes ; but many a hardy shikari takes a
periodical trip up during the winter after bhurrel and snow leopard, and
they never seem to come across the Brown Bear, From the above facts I am
led to believe that the Brown Bear does hybernate ; but it is certainly very
strange " why the young in captivity should show no sign of the instinct,"
as Major Rodon remarks.
C. E. DONALD.
Bhadarwa, Kashmir State, Juli/, 1898,
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 219
No. XII.— HYBERNATION OF THE HIMALAYAN BLACK BEAR,
{UESUS TORQUATUS).
As many readers of the journal may not know the climate and country
round Drosh, it is a pity that Captain Skey, in his interesting note on the Black
Bear he found asleep in a tree, did not give some particulars as to whether
the country was covered deep in snow, and no apparent food for bears
available at the time of year he names ; also what the natives of the country
say about the winter sleep of the Black Bear. In Chamba the people living in
villages high up, told me that the Black Bear did not sleep through the cold
season like the Brown Bear, and that they saw them frequently during the
winter ; so when finding a Black Bear asleep during the day at that season, it
is necessary to be careful to ascertain that it is not only ordinary sleep the
Bear is indulging in.
It has been observed among Marmots, which usually go in for winter sleep,
that there is individual differences in hybernation— some individuals sleep-
ing longer and more deeply than others and some not at all — this shows
that the cerebral consciousness varies, and that some individuals are more
strong-minded than others : and this may be the same among Black Bears.
Although the phenomenon of hybernation has frequently been investigated,
its real nature remains unexplained. It cannot be simply due among the Bear
family to the lowering of temperatures, as the Polar Bear is seen wandering
about during the awful cold of the Arctic winter.
G, S. RODON, Major.
Dharwar, June, 1898.
No. XIII.— THE BREEDING OF MOTHS.
Could some member of the Society kindly answer the following questions
for me ?
(1) Are moths hermaphroditic ?
(2) If not, is it a usual or common occurrence for eggs laid by a moth
that has never had access to a male to be fertile and hatch out ?
Some time bask I found a chrysalis, and wishing to see what it would turn
into, brought it home and placed it in a wire meat-safe with a net cover-
This chrysalis turned into a moth some three weeks ago, and laid eggs in the
net during the night. No male could possibly have had access to the female
as it was not only in my room but inside the net. Next morning I threw
the moth out, leaving the eggs on the net. The day before yesterday I noticed
that all the eggs had hatched out, and the young caterpillars were crawling all
over the safe. I have frequently seen moths lay eggs without being
impregnated by males but I have never seen them hatch out, and always
presumed they were unfertile. Would some one interested in, and acquainted
with, moths, give me through the journal some information on this point ?
R. H. RATTRAY, Major,
22nd Punjab Infantry.
Thull, Kuebam Valley, May, 1898.
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220 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
No. XIV.— NOTES ON A JACKAL CtJB.
Some time back a jackal whelp was brought to me for sale. It appeared to
be about a month old, and had been captured a short time previously outside
a small patch of jungle. As it was fairly tame, and I was anxious to compare
its habits with those of an ordinary puppy, I purchased it, and have now had
it under constant observation for three months. The following notes regard-
ing it may possibly prove of some general interest. In about a week after
" Jacky " had arrived, she became sufficiently tame to be allowed to run about
the compound, and from the first she showed the greatest and most untiring
delight in play. She would run after a stone when thrown ; take it
up and race about with it ; often bring it back to the point from which it
was thrown, drop it, and then race after the next throw. When
tired of playing with the same stone or stick, she would roll over it
on her back several times, as dogs often do in the case of a dead rat or bad
fish : this always appeared to give her a fresh interest in the object, and the
game with it would be renewed. " Jacky " soon made friends with a young
fox-terrier nearly twice her size, and they enjoyed great games together,
constantly racing round and round over open grass, the terrier often being
the hunted one. When wishing to show pleasure she smiles and wags her
tail, and then often rolls over on her back. She is very clean in ler habits,
and her coat up to now has no disagreeable smell. Her tail is usually carried
low, but when approaching her playfellow (the fox-t?rrier) slowly, it is often
carried high up above the back, and when she sees him coming from a
distance, she will constantly crouch down and then bounce up at him as he
comes up. In one special habit she differs from dogs, which is she never
turns round and round before lying down, as is so common with dogs,
and when lying asleep she does so at full length and never curled up.
When she first arrived, she, small as she was, often treated me to the well-
known jackal yell, especially at night ; but after a short time she completely
gave up doing this, even when her kindi*ed did so close round about her at
night. When wanting food she whines exactly similar to a dog. Her manners
at meal-times are not pleasant — bolting her food, and snarling, growling and
snapping at all who may approach. She hides a bone by making a hole in
soft earth with her nose, and then pushing it in with her nose and covering it
over with earth, exactly in the same way as a small dog does. While watching
her many and engaging ways, one cannot but be struck with the certainty
that her ancestors must have largely contributed in forming the instincts of
the domestic dog,
G, S. RODON, Major.
Dhabwak, Matfy 1898.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 221
No. XV —OCCASIONAL NOTES ON NESTS AND EGGS FOUND
IN THE VICINITY OF BARODA.
The Black-throated Weaver Bird (^Ploceus hengalensis). — I found these
birds breeding near Baroda in August and September of last year. As not
much appears to be known about its niditication, I venture to add what little
I know. I first noticed these birds in large flocks in the early part of the
monsoon : they were then frequentins: large open grass birs on which the
grass had not as yet grown to any height. On the 22nd August in company
with Professor Littledale and Captain Cox I went out to Ajwa, a large lake
some 14 miles distant from Baroda, hoping to get water-birds' eggs. In this
we were rather disapoointed. However, while paddling up one ^of the many
nullahs which run into this piece of water, we came on the nests of the above
bird. The first lot were attached to some rushes or flags growing in water;
the others were built on grass along the banks of the nullah. They are
typical Weaver Birds' nests. The chief difference appears to me to be that
they are not so large as those of P. baya. The passage to the egg chamber
seemed shorter and that chamber deeper ; further, the nests were attached to
several rushes or bits of grass, and consequently are not so neat as those of
their cousins.
On the 29th August I found several nests in the grass bir referred to above.
In this case they were built on elephant-grass, but in other respects were
similar to the first lot, I would add that only two nests, as a rule, were
found in one place, apparently one for the use of the male. They were not
built in colonies, nor did the birds keep up a cheery chatter like P . baya.
Four would appear to be the full complement of eggs, though I got six
eggs out of one nest. The eggs are similar to those of P, baya, hut on the
whole, I should say, they are a trifle smaller.
Barnes in his " Birds of Bombay " states that the Bald Coot {Fulica atra)
breeds in India, as also says Oates in " Hume's Nests and Eggs," I do not
doubt the veracity of these gentlemen in the very least, This bird swarms
round Baroda in the cold weather, particularly at Ajwa, When I visited this
tank, as mentioned above, I hoped to obtain this birds eggs. Imagine my
disgust when I found not a single bird on the tank, which is some 10 miles in
perimeter, I found the same at every tank I visited, so I feel convinced
that they are migratory in Guzerat at any rate.
The Bristled Grass Warbler {ChcBtomis locustelloides).— This bird forced
itself on my notice on the same occasion at Ajwa. Oates in editing " Hume's
Nests and Eggs" describes the peculiar habit this bird has of " suddenly rising
into the air and soaring about, often for a consideralde distance, uttering a
loud note resembling the words ' chirrup, chirrup-chirrup ' repeated all the
time the bird is in the au", and then suddenly descending slowly into the
grass with outspread wings, much in the style of Mirafra erythroptera^''
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222 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(p, ?53, Vol. I, " Nests and Eggs''). I shot a bird but for some time was unable
to identify it ; it looked so much like .4. caz<c^o/a. I spent some considerable
time in wauching this bird, but was unable to discover its nest, at which I was
much disappointed. I came across the same bird on the 29th August in a large
grass bir and sat down to watch it as I was convinced it was breeding. This
habit of soaring- seemed confined to the male bird. The female seems
content to lurk among bushes and high grass. After watching a short time
I was more than pleased to observe one of these birds flying towards me with
a piece of broad dry grass in her beak, I watched where she settled, and on
her departure went to the spot. No nest could I see. I concealed myself in as
close proximity as I could and waited. Back she came with more material.
On her flying away, I again went to the spot I thought she had risen from
but could see nothing. I watched her do this several times. Finally I went
away as I could see nothing. I thought it very strange. However, I marked
the spot very carefully, and determined to revisit it later. I was able to do
this on the 7th September. I walked straight up to the spot, and thought I
was doomed to disappointtaent. Just as I had given up hope, she fluttered up
from under my very feet. I looked down, and there was the nest containing
five beautifully fresh eggs. It was on the exact spot I had seen the bird rise
from, so that she could only just have commenced her nest when I first saw
her, which accounts for my not being able to gee anything on that occa-
sion. The nest was almost on the ground and was rough and untidy, nearly
tumbling to bits when I took it. The outside consisted of broad strips of
grass, and it was lined with fine grass, in addition to which it was slightly
domed. The grass in which it was situated was from 2 to 3 feet high.
Gates in " Hume's Nests and Eggs " has notes to the effect that the Bronze-
winged Jacana {^letopidius indicus) lays more than four eggs, though it would
appear that this only occurs outside the Bombay Presidency, I took many
nests last year with my own hands ; in no case did any nest contain more than
four incubated eggs. This would appear to be the experience of others in
this presidency. It would be interesting to know whether this bird really lays
more than four eggs in other localities.
The Cattle EauET (^Bubulcus coromandus). — Last year I found many of
this species breeding without assuming the summer plumage, that is, minus
the buff feathers, I saw several birds on their nests. Captain Cox also
noticed this, I wonder if any other ornithologists have noticed it.
The Lesser Flamingo (^Phcenicopterus minor). — In the early part of Decem-
ber my shikari brought in information that some friends of his had dis-
covered a nest some 20 miles away from Baroda, Unfortunately I was unable
to go out myself, as I was just then ordered to Bombay on plague duty.
The nest was described to Captain Cox, who kindly looked after my interest
during my absence, as follows .— " Found at Badalpur on the north bank of
the Mahi, at its mouth. No nest ; eggs deposited on a mound or small island
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 223
in brackish water. Another clutch of six existed, but they were taken by
muggurs. The bird is described as a large white bird with some feathers of a
darker colour on the wings. Said to be very wary, and to leave the nest with
a cry like a goose when it sees anybody a mile off.'''' This nest contained four
fresh eggs of the size and shape of the Lesser Flamingo, but smooth and
firm, not chalky like a Flamingo's, I have shown them to Mr. Gates at the
Natural History Museum, South Kensington, who states they may be those of
P. minor, though, of course, without the bird it cannot be authenticated.
I have asked Captain Cox to keep a look-out next year in the same place
in case the birds return again. It would be interesting to establish the breed-
ing of this bird in India.
I came on the nest of the White-throated Munia {Uroloncha malaharica)
on the rifle range one day. The birds were perched just outside. I put my
index finger in to see what eggs there might be, when I received a peck. I
withdrew my finger, and on looking in I saw the head of a snake ! I imme-
diately inserted a cane, when out became — a long green beast about 3 feet in
length. I was unable to slay him, as he escaped in long grass. In future I
shall be careful not to put my finger in a nest till I am sure it has no
harmful tenant.
The Rufous Fantail-'Waebler (Cisticola cursltans). — Although this bird
is extensivelj' common round Baroda, I only found one nest containing eggs.
Strangely enough it contained six, one of which was perceptibly smaller than
the rest. I mention this as in Hume's " Nests and Eggs, "" five is given as the
corcplement,
R. M,BETHAM, Capt,,
8th Bombay Infantry.
Baroda, June, 1898.
No. XVI.— NOTES ON SPORT IN OUDH.
It is seldom one has the opportunity of observing the behaviour of wild
animals in any special circumstances, and an account of the meeting of a bear
with tigers may be worthy of record. We were sitting one evening in a
maclian overlooking a wide grassy plain, through which a narrow forest road
had been cut, when at sunset a large bear came galloping clumsily through the
grass uttering loud grunts after the manner of his kind. On reaching the
road, which passed directly under our tree, he stood up to reconnoitre, and
almost immediately a tiger appeared on the road some 50 yards lower down.
The tiger was carefully stalking the bear, stopping when the latter stopped,
and slinking along on his belly when the bear proceeded, so that when the pair
reached our tree they were not 10 feet apart. Meanwhile two other tigers
came out of the grass and lay on the road, watching events in a lazy fashion.
Apparently the bear was unaware of the number of his enemies, but he left
tjie road and secreted Jiimself in a dense patch of dry grass. Thither the
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224 JOTJBNAL^BOJ^BAY t^ATVrAL ElSKjRl SCC1E7Y, Vol. XII.
tiger followed, but on the bear rushing out with angry roars he turned away
strolled up to his kill, and remained there with a bullet through him. The
noise of firing sent the bear off into the jungle, and brought the other two
tigers to attention. They were too far ofE for effective shooting and retired
uninjured. The family of three were all of one size : the mother was perhaps
higher and thinner than the two 4-year old cubs ; the slaughtered one
measured 8' 6"; his permanent canines were just perfect. It is evident there-
fore that a tiger does not avoid a bear, and that the latter has a great dread
of the tiger. Up till now I was of opinion that their policy was based on
mutual avoidance. I supplement the list given last year by the measure-
ments of the skulls of four large tigers and a heavy tigress. If tigers of over
10' 3" exist in these provinces, I have been unfortunate in not seeing them
either dead or alive. The effects of actual perforation of the heart or serious
injury to the organ by a bullet may be noted. Four out of the five tigers
listed below were so shot, and all of them went 50 to 100 yards before
falling dead; there was ample time to do considerable damage, but probably the
sense of direction was non-existent, and the animals were practically
unconscious. In only one case did a tiger deviate from a straight course
in his dying rush ; that one returned in his tracks after going about 50 yards,
and fell dead some 20 paces from the shooter. I may be permitted to add
my testimony to that of Professor LittledaJe as to the efficacy of small-bore
rifles with smokeless powder. I used a '303 bore with rifleite, avoiding the
arclite cleaning nuisance. For long distance shooting in the open on deer of
all kinds this gives great satisfaction ; but as a forest gun for short range
shooting at more formidable game it is useless. We lost two tigers hit with
soft-nose bullets. They collapsed and then ran away like hares, leaving no
blood trail after a few yards. I know of no weapon of less calibre than '577
which can be relied on tc stop a tiger, and that even sometimes fails
unaccountably. The following skull measurements are taken between perpen-
diculars, the tigers being taped as they lay: — Length. Skull.
Tiger
Tigress
S. EARDLEY-WILMOT.
LuCKNOW, April, 1898.
No. XVII.-ELEPHANTS^ ANKLE-JOINTS.
Perhaps some of our military members can favour me with an answer to
tho following received from a friend in the United States, Professor of
Biology :—
" As to the elephants' legs and feet, oar osteologists say they are badly
constructed at the ankle (at least not so well constructed as in the horse, cow>
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 225
&c,) ; and I should like to know if they often have their ankles dislocated,
and whether in fact these joints, with bone above bone and rather flat, are
unfit for carrying their great weight,"
I have answered that, as far as I know, the elephants' ankle-joints are as
good as any other beasts, and that I never heard of an elephant with a dis-
located ankle. As for the weight, comparatively little is thrown upon this
joint.
But I am not well acquainted with elephants, which are scarce in the
Bombay Presidency ; and should be glad of the comments of members more
widely acquainted with them.
I need hardly add that the joint especially in question, is what Mr. Blanford
calls " the ankle-joint or heel in the hind leg, corresponding to the hock of
other ungulates" (" Fauna of British India " Mammalia, p, 463), the joint, in
short, next above the hind foot.
W. F. SINCLAIR (late I.C.S.).
102, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea,
London, S.W., May, 1898.
No. XVIII.-LION CUBS.
With reference to the information given by Surgeon-Captain Cleveland
regarding lion cubs being born with their eyes closed, I very much regret
I have not had the great advantage enjoyed by that officer of observing lions
in a wild state ; and I only based my statement, which appeared in the Jour-
nal on the young of the Hunting Leopard that " Lion cubs were born with
their eyes open," on what I had read in the lately published book on " Cats"
by R. Lydehker ; it forms one of the volumes of Allan's Naturalists' Library
and is edited by Mr. Bowdler Sharpe, of the British Museum. When describ-
ing the characters of the lion at page 28, line 21, he states, " Unlike the
majority of the family, lion cubs are born with their eyes open," but after
Captain Cleveland's clear evidence to the contrary, I now feel this must be a
mistake.
G. S. RODON, Majoe.
Dharwar, June, 1898.
No. XIX.— THE NESTING OF THE RED-TAILED CHAT
{SAXICOLA CHRYSOPYGIA).
I have the pleasure to record finding the nest and eggs of the Red-tailed
Chat {Saxicola chrysopygia), No. 628, Gates, at this place on 2nd June. ThuU
is a frontier outpost 60 miles from Kohat at the entrance to the Kurram
Valley,— elevation about 2,300 feet. The nest was a large, loose, straggling
structure in the centre of a dense wild olive bush about 18 inches from the
ground. A leaf of the dwarf palm-tree grew through the bush, advantage being
29
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226 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
taken of the flat surface of the palm-leaf to build the nest on. It was composed
of dry grass, straw and rubbish, and iilled the entire space round the leaf,
about 8"x4" wide, outside measurements, with a neat deep cup in the
centre 2i"x2", lined with camel hair. It was so loosely made that it fell to
pieces on being taken out. Eggs 4, broad blunt ovals, a little pointed at the
small ends, with a fair amount of gloss, of a pale greenish-grey, with numerous
dark-brown and reddish-brown spots and blotches covering the whole egg; they
also have secondary of a light purplish colour under the others. The position
of the nest in a bush and the colour of the eggs are not what I expected
in a /Sax«coZa; but I watched the birds building the nest, and shot the male
as it left the nest. I am unable to measure the eggs as I have so Uttle kit
here, but they are about the same size as, and something like, highly-coloured
large eggs of Thamnohia camhayenais. To-day I found two more nests of the
bird building, and I will send a clutch of the eggs with the birds for the
Society's collection, when I succeed in taking the eggs. The bird is now
common here, having appeared some three weeks ago,
I also found on the 1st of June one egg of Caprimulgus europceus here, and
shot the female bird.
R. H. RATTRAY, Major,
22nd Punjab Infantry.
Thull, Kuream Valley, May, 1898.
No. XX.— CURIOUS CONDUCT OF A PANTHER.
On the morning of the 19th instant, on my return from a successful stalk
after black buck, my shikaris told me they had marked a large panther into
a boulder-covered hill some four hundred yards from my camp. This hill is
full of caves and generally holds bears, but since the panther has taken up
his abode in the neighbourhood, the bears have shifted quarters to a more
congenial spot about three-quarters of a mile away. My Cutch shikari,
Ookha Bhil, said it was doubtful whether the beast was a panther or a small
tiger, the pugs were so large. So I had a macJian rigged up, and at 5-30 p.m.
went to sit up, accompanied by the above-mentioned shikari. The machan
was only screened on the side facing the hill ; between it and the hill the goat,
a beautiful speaker, was tied. There was, however, no time to add more
protection to the machan, m we sat in a most open position some 12 feet only,
off the ground. As the panther was said to be fearless of men, having several
times driven intruders away from his kills, and the goat bleated loud and
long, I trusted to his coming while there was still light enough to see by.
This he would have done, as the black-backed robin was fussing about, be-
tokening that the panther was on the move. However some men came along a
track some two hundred paces away to our left and made a great deal of noise,
80 the panther remained hidden. Just before it got too dark to see anything,
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 227
I heard a bleat and saw a flash of yellowish-white and the stroke of the
right fore leg as the panther felled the goat. No sooner was the goat seized
and shaken by the throat than the panther leaped to one side and stood
facing the machan, looking occasionally at the kill and sometimes up at the
maclian. He appeared however to have no suspicion about it. Then he
lay down, still facing us. The light was failing very rapidly, and I could now
no longer see any sign of the foresight. The brute remained ten minutes as
he was, then got up and, walking slowly round the kill, lay down alongside of
it and began sucking the blood. I put some phosphorus on the foresight,
took a steady aim at the ground-line, and fired. Up sprang the panther and,
leaping sideways, stood broadside on some five paces farther off. I gave him
the second barrel, still aiming at the ground-line. To my surprise he turned
slowly round, and walked quietly up the hill-side. I thought from the way
he carried his head close to the ground that he was badly hit and was about
to vomit ; however, it turned out that he was untouched. I waited half an
hour and was on the point of telling Ookha to whistle up the other men
when he touched my arm and whispered, "Saheb, there is some animal breath-
ing heavily underneath the machan!" I listened and heard a footfall or two ;
then all was silent for a further live minutes, when we distinctly heard the
crunching of bones. I could see a shadowy form of sorts, and it was
apparently standing broadside on, so I fired ; there was absolutely no movement,
only a temporary cessation of the crunching noise, which was almost
immediately resumed ; so I fired shot No, 4, this time aiming at the
shadowy object and not at the ground-line, A short roar and away he gal-
loped to our left. He went some ten paces, breathing hard and groaning, and
fell among a lot of dry teak leaves. He got up again, went some way, and
fell again ; then we heard no more. I gave him half an hour's time, and
then whistled up the other men. They lit several large fires, and at 8'45 p.m.
punctually, or one hour and fifteen minutes after firing the first shot, I
descended from the machan. We then went to camp. At sunrise on the
20th we went to see the result of the previous nighfs work. To my delight
we found the panther — a heavy, old male with forepaws as large as a tigress,
lying dead some eight yards to the left of the machan. But had he fallen
there? Not a bit of it. He had travelled at least a hundred yards further;
but during the night, a hyajna, following up the blood trail, had found
the corpse and dragged it back into the open. This brute, who one
would have thought would not have dared go near the carcase of a beast
of prey, had devoured the testes and viscera and torn a large piece of the
skin off the back. I cannot conceive what made the panther return to
the kill, for he was uncommonly fat and well-fed, and had lately killed
several calves and goats besides three ponies. Luckily he could not have
seen the flash of the rifle ; and the reverberation of the reports must have
put him o£E the right direction of the sound, else he would have had us out
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228 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
of that machan in less than no time. The local shikari who built the machan
got a severe talking to, for on two sides and behind it was entirely
unscreened, I may say I was using a double '577 magnum, by Jeffery, burning
6f drams — a most accurate weapon by daylight. I used solid soft lead
bullets in the righ barrel and hollow brass-tubed ones in the left. It
was one of these that finished hioQ, hitting him behind the last rib
on the left side and tearing his interior economy to smithereens. Clumsy
shooting it is true, though I fired off a rest and was quite cool. One
cartridge would have sufficed had I been able to get in a shot while there
was still light enough to see the foresight ; and the erratic shooting is not
in the least attributable to the rifle. I wetted the foresight and rubbed the
end of a sulphur match on it ; it glowed for about a second, but then went
out and left me more bewildered as to where to aim than ever. But that a
wary old panther should have returned within half an hour or so to a kill
over which he had twice been fired at, and that a hy^na should have dared
to go near the carcase of a panther, surprises me. Shot No. 1 (solid
bullet) went first over the panther's shoulder as he lay alongside the goat ;
No. 2 (hollow) struck the ground between his forelegs ; of No. 3
(solid) we could find no traces whatever ; and Mo. 4 (hollow) hit
as above related. It was lucky it did not hit a bone, but being propelled by
6J drams, it has a very fair penetration (9 inches into loose sand) before
breaking up. Still it was rather risky work on a dark night, and I should
have been happier had the solid bullets done their work. I should like to
know if any members of the Society have ever had a similar experience V
C. D. LESTER, Liedt.,
17th Bo. Infantry.
Rewa Kantha, April, 1898.
No. XXI.— QUERY.
Is any living Shark or Dog-fish called " Chagrin," or " Shagreen," or " Sagri,
in any living language, and particularly in any Oriental language ? Their
skins and those of rays, and of horses and asses dressed to imitate them, are
so called from Persia to Portugal and further. But I want an instance
of the name being applied to the fish itself.
W. F. SINCLAIR (late I.C.S.).
102, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea,
London, S.W., May, 1898,
No, XXII.— A BRACE OF TIGERS AT ONE SHOT.
For a really appalling fluke I think the following will be hard to beat :—
On July 25th, a Malay, named Said, went into the jungle at a place called
Kepong, near Lue, to cut firewood. He took with him an old single-barrel
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 229
muzzle-loader, which, on the chance of getting a deer, he loaded with a bullet
and four buckshot. Moving quietly through the jungle he came suddenly on
a tiger feeding on the carcase of a dead sambur. He fired at about 20
paces, and the tiger rolled over. On going up to it he found, to his utter
amazement, not one but two tigers lying dead within a few feet of each
other !
I subsequently superintended the skinning of these tigers, and made a
post-mortem examination of the bodies. The shot which killed them must
indeed have been a marvellously lucky one.
In one case a single buckshot, no larger than a pea, had struck the beast
low down behind the shoulder, gone through the centre of the heart, and
lodged under the skin on the opposite side. There was no other wound.
This was a tigress 7 feet 10 inch in length, fair measurement.
The second tiger was a young male, 7 feet 3 inches in length, and had also
been killed by one'of these insignificant pellets, which had entered under
the elbow, cut through the heart, and passed on down the body. Another
slug had struck the animal on the head, but this wound was trifling.
Both beasts had their stomachs full of pieces of the deer's flesh and hair.
The tigress had also eaten a quantity of green grass. The Malay's story was
told with every appearance of truth ; indeed he seemed to see nothing
surprising in it at all.
The gods send me such luck if ever I meet a brace of tigers in jungle with
nothing but a charge of buckshot !
A. L. BUTLER, F.Z.S.,
Selangor State Museum,
Kuala Ldmpor,
Federated Malay States, July, 1898.
No. XXIII,— MIGRATION OF EUFLCEA CORE.
I daresay other members of the Society, as well as myself, noticed the
remarkable migration of Euplcea core over Bombay on the 26th and 27th of
last month. I noticed it first about 4 o'clock on the former date ; it was
resumed early on the following morning, and continued till the afternoon at
least. The habit which this butterfly has of migrating northwards annually
about the first week of June has been noticed before in our journal, and I have
observed it for many years past ; but this movement in a contrary direction
two months later is a new thing to me and is very interesting. I do not think
that jB. core is a long-lived butterfly, and it is very unlikely that the individuals
which came from the north last week were the same as those which passed
in the opposite direction last June. More probably they were the first off-
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230 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
spring of the latter just emerged. Allowing four or five days for the eggs to
hatch, and about three weeks for the larva to grow to maturity, and ten days
more for the pupa state, or about forty days for the whole, which I believe
is a good average estimate, and supposing that those which went northward
laid their eggs about the 10th of June, the next generation of butterfies would
begin to appear about the 20th of July, which fits the facts very well. I am
inclined to think that the object of the northward journey is simply to escape
the very hoivy rain with which the monsoon opens on the Southern Coast ;
but I have always been puzzled to imagine what became of those that went
north, and how the population of the south was kept up. This return to the
south about Cocoanut Day explains all, for, though I never observed it
before, I have no doubt it is an annual event.
E. H. AITKEN.
Uran, August, 1898.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MEETING HELD ON THE Urn JUNE
A meeting of the members took place on Tuesday, the 14th June 1898, when
Lieutenant-Colonel H. D. Olivier, R.E„ presided.
NEW MEMBERS,
The election of the following new members was announced :--Mr, W. R,
Williams (Roorkee) ; Mr, R. H. Harter (Bombay) ; Mrs. Arthur Jacob
(Mhow) ; Mean Saheb Bhurie Singh (Chamba) ; Mr. F. A. Tydd (Cachar) ;
Surgeon-Captain C. J. Milne, I.M.S. (Bakloh) ; Lieutenant A. E. Sealy
(Bakloh) ; Mr. William Trotter (Jalpaiguri) ; Mr. C. Donald (Wazirabad) ;
Dr. W. Forsyth (Calcutta) ; Lieutenant C. J, Kendall, R,I.M. (Commanding
R. I. M. S. Lawrence) ; Mr. E. L. Winter, I.C.S. (Saharanpore) ; Mr. Edward
O'Brien (Amreli) ; Mr. R. C. J. Radcliffe (Hyderabad, Sind) ; Surgeon-Major
J. Watson, M.D. (Agra) ; Mr.. G. C. B. Sterling (Upper Burma) ; Mr, G. St. C,
Lightfoot (Upper Burma) ; Mr, E, L, Sale, I.C.S. (Poena) ; Mr. A, St.
Vincent Beechey (Sambalpore, C. P.) ; Surgeon-Captain C. E. Pollock,
I. M. S. (Ranikhet) ; Mr. P. Duncan, M.I.C.E. (Bezwada) ; Captain
K. J. Buchanan (Changla Gali) ; Mr. Alexander M. Primrose (Cachar) ;
Miss (Dr.) 0. F. Ferreira, L.M. & S, (Bombay) ; Mr. W. A. Benson
(Khandeish) ; and Lieutenant J. H. St. John, R.I.M. (Commanding R. I. M. S.
Elphinstone).
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PROCEEDINGS.
231
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM.
The Honorary Secretary acknowledged receipt of the following contributions
to the Society's museum since the last meeting : —
Contribution.
Description.
Strix javaniea
Caecahis chrilor ,
Felis Pardvs ,
Tropidonctus Piscator..
Galloperdix lunvlatus
Canons rlioviheatus
1 Crested Serpent 'E'Ag\&\Spilornis cTieela
Some Shells, &c., from, the
Seychelles Islands.
1 Screech Owl (alive)
Chukor Partridges (alive) ...
1 Panther Cab(alive)
1 Checquered Water Snake
1 Skin of the Painted Spur
Fowl.
1 Cape Viper
A number of Shells from
South Africa.
8 Skins of the Narcondam
Hornbill.
1 Snake
1 Large Python''s Skin
Skins of the large Malay
Squirrel, Pallas''s Squirrel,
and the Indian Marten.
Nest and young of the Mad-
ras Eufons Woodpecker.
1 Red-headed Merlin (alive).
1 Panther's Skull
Eggs of the larger Racket-
tailed Drongo.
Skins of the Bonelir
Eagle, Red-headed Merlin,
Brahminy Kite, Indian
Koel and Painted Snipe.
Pied-crested Cuckoos
(alive).
A number of Shells from the
Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
2 Andaman Teal
Contributor.
Rhytidoceros nar^'ondami ...
Polyodonto2)liis sulpunctattis
Python reticulatv s
Sciurus hicolor^ Sciurus
erytJiraus, JMustela flavi-
gula.
Muscropternus gularis.
^J^salon cMqucra
Felis Pardui
Dis-iemurus Paradigeus
Eieratus fasciatns, ^salor
chiequira, Tlaliaster iridus,
Eudynnmes honorata,
MhynchcBa caensls.
Coccystes jacoMnus
Nettium alhigulare
Capt. P. Z. Cox.
Dr. Sinclair.
Mr. R. Maidment.
Mrs. Waghorn.
Mr. R. P. Barrow, I.C.S.
Surg.-Capt. Hojel.
Mr. E. Roberts.
Mr. Queckett.
Lieut. N. F. Wilson, R.I.M.
Lieut. Commdr. J. St
John, R.I.M.
Mr. W. F. Biscoe.
Mr. H. Tilley.
Do.
Lieut. N. F. Wilson, R.I.M.
Mr. J. P. Brand.
Mr. F. Gleadowe.
Mr. Patten.
Mr. C. Donald.
Mrs. W. George.
Lieut. Commdr.
John, R.I.M.
Major H. Graham.
St,
MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM
Mr. L. Morgan, Dr. E. H, Brown, Mr. J. A. Betham, Mr. P. Newnham,
Mr. A. Leslie, Mr. W. Gaye, Miss George, Mrs. Acklom, Mr. A- J. Taylor,
Mr. H. Bulkley, and Surgeon-Major R. H. Nicholson, A. M.S.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
Game Birds of India (Gates), Vol. I, from the Author ; Memoirs of the
Geological Survey of India, Himalayan Fossils, Vol. I., Part 3, from the
Government of India ; Mitteilungen aus der Zoologischen Sammlung des
Museums fiir Maturkunde in Berlin, in exchange ; Nature, Vol. 57
Nos, 1,479— 1,488, Vol. 58, Nos. 1,488 and 1,490, from Mr. W. F. Sinclair;
![]()
232 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
The Irish Naturalist, Vol, VII, Nos, 3, 4, and 5, from Mr. W. F. Sinclair ; The
Transactions of the Entomological Society of London for 1897, in exchange ;
The Indian Forester, Vol. XXIV, Nos. 3, 4, and 5 ; The Canadian Entomo-
logist, Vol. XXX, Nos. 3, 4, and 5 ; Fauna of British India, Vol. IV, Birds
(Blanford), from the Author ; Journal of the Marine Biological Association,
Vol, V, No. 2, from Mr. W, F. Sinclair ; The Embryology of Crepidula ; The
Avicultural Magazine, Vol. IV, No. 42 ; Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de
France, Tome XXII, Nos. 1 to 9 ; Memoires de la Societe Zoologique de
France, Annee X, Nos, 1 to 4 ; Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale
di Geneva, Vol. XVIII ; The Agricultural Ledger, Nos. 18 to 20 ; Proceed-
ings of the California Academy of Science, Third Series, Zoology, Vol. I, No. 4;
Proceedings of the California Academy of Science, Third Series, Geology,
Vol. I, No. 2 ; Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel-
phia, Part II, 1897 ; The Reptiles of the Pacific Coast and Great Basin (I
Van Denbourgh) ; Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, Vol, VIII,
Parts 1 to 4 ; Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. LXVI, Part II.
No, 4 ; Report of the Provincial Museum of the N,-W.P. and Oudh for
1894-96 ; Perak Museum Notes, Vol, II, Part 2 ; Proceedings of the Nova
Scotian Institute of Science, Vol, IX, Part 3 ; Report of the Entomological
Society of Ontario for 1897,
PAPERS READ.
The following papers were then read and discussed : —
1. Description of six new species of scorpions from India, by R, I. Pocock
(British Museum of Natural History),
2. A Monograph of the Pill-Millipedes inhabiting India, Ceylon, and
Burma, by R,I, Pocock,
3. On the zoological division of Sikkim, by H, J. Elwes, F.R.S,
4. Species of Western Peninsular trees, shrubs, &c,, from North Kanara,
by W. A, Talbot.
6. Some cases of caudal abnormality in Mabuia carinata and other lizards
by H, H. Brindley, M.A.
6. On new and little known Butterflies from the Indo-Malayan, Austro-
Malayan and Australian regions, by L. de Niceville, F,E.S,
7. Description of a new species of Mus from S. India, by J, L. Bonhote
(British Museum of Natural Uistory),
8. On A/ridia, a new genus of Labiatse from the N,-W, Frontier of India,
by J, F, Duthie, F.L.S.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
(a) The Baira Antelope, by Captain P, Z, Cox.
(b) Bahmeen fishing in Bombay Harbour, by E. L. Barton.
(c) A Panther with twenty toes, by S. Eardley-Wilmot.
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PROCEEDINGS. 233
(jT) Note on two specimens of Hypsirliina sieholdii, by Surgeon-Captain
F. Wall, I.M.S.
(e) Distribution of the Slender Loris, by A. M. Kinloch.
(/) Nesting of the Malabar Rufous Woodpecker, by Lieutenant N. F. T
Wilson, R.I.M.
{g) Panthers and their ways, by W. A. Wallinger.
(Ji) Reasoning power in Bees, by S. Eardley-Wilmot,
(/) Notes on a Jackal cub, by Major G. S. Rodon,
(;■) The young of the Hunting Leopard, by Surgeon- Captain H. F
Cleveland, I.M.S.
(Jc) Hybernating of Indian Bears, by Captain F, E. G. Skey, R.E,
( I) Protective power of scent in animals, by S, Eardley-Wilmot,
(m) Nidification of the Indian Lorikeets, by A. L, Butler.
(ji) The Narcondam Hornbill, by Lieutenant J. H. St. John, R.I.M,
EXHIBITS.
Lieutenant N. F. T. Wilson, R.I.M , exhibited the nest of the Madras
Rufous Woodpecker found at Tanna, from which he had taken the young bird.
When found, the nest was swarming with the small black ants to whom it
properly belonged, thus conclusively proving that the bird does not wait for
the orifjioal occupants to vacate the nest before laying her eggs in it.
Mr. F. Gleadow, I.F.S., exhibited the skull of a panther shot last year at
about 8,000 feet in the hills north of Chakrata. The skull has a large cavity
on one side and a projection on the other side, which are apparently the results
of an old wound, and may possibly have been caused by a bullet glancing off
the top of the skull.
Lieutenant J. H. St, John, R.I.M,, exhibited a num.bcr of beautiful shells
which he had brought up for the Society from the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, and also several skins of the rare Narcondam Hornbill {Rhytidoceros
narcondami) which he had obtained for the Society from the small Island of
Narcondam, where these birds are only known to occur. The only previous
specimens recorded are a pair which were obtained by Hume as far back as
1873, so that these specimens are a valuable addition to the Society's collection.
Captain F. E. G Skey, R.B., exhibited son-.e photographs illustrating the
great extrt-mes in the shape of the Markhor horns obtained near Drosh,
some being quite a straight spiral (Cabul variety), whilst others in the same
hird had the wide s-pread of the Pir-Panj;d variety (Blanford).
A vote of thanks was passed to the members who had contriiuxted papers
&c., and the meeting then terminated.
30
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Journ.Bora'bay NaL.Hist. Soc.
Plate VI.
^^
J.G.Keulem.an-s del.
THE OCEANIC TEAL
Nettiorv albigulare .
i«Ira-cen\Bros Ckrorao lifcK Londoii.
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-QGiC^T-
JOURNAL
OF THE
B O l^ZC B .A. "Y
Natural gi^jtorg §ocietir.
Vol. XII. BOMBAY. No. 2.
INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES.
By E. C. Stuart Baker, F.Z. S.
Part VI, with Plate VI.
(^Continued from p. 31 of Vol. XI T.)
Genus MARECA.
Tha geniis Marcca differs principally from Nettion in having a
smaller bill, which is distinctly narrower and rather tapering towards
the tip ; from Chuulelasmus it differs in not having the camillae of
the upper mandible so prominent, and the tail feathers are more pointed,
the central rectrices extending beyond the others.
There are only three species in the genus, of which but one, M.penelopey
reaches our limits ; of the other two, one, il/. americana^ is a North
American form, whilst the other, M, sib'ditris, is a South American bird.
All three are much the same in size.
23. MaUECA PENELOPE.
The W'lgeon.
Mareca penelope, Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 804 ; Hume,
"Str. Feath.," I, p. 271 ; Butler, ibid, IV, p. 30; Hume, ibid, id.,
ibid, VII, p. 491 ; Davis and Wendon, ibid, p. 93 ; Scully, ibi(/,
VIII, p. ()3 ; Hume, Cat., No. 963 ; Hume and Marshall, " Game
Birds of India," III, p. 197; Vidal, "Str. Feath.," IX, p. 92; Butler,
ibid, p. 438 ; Reid, idk/, X, p. 82 ; Hume, ibid, p. 245 ; Davidson, ibid.
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'23G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
p. 32«j ; Oatos, " Birds of British Burmuli," IT, p. 278 ; Barnos,
"Birds of Boml.ay," i). 408 ; Humo, " Str. Foatli.," XI, p. 345;
Salvadori, British Museum Cat..^ XXVII, p. 227 ; Blanford, "Birds
of India," IV, p. 445.
Vescriptio7i : Adult Male. — Forehead, crown and anterior nape pale
buff, sometimes with a tow black dots on the nape, remainder of head
and neck dull chestnut, much speckled anteriorly with black, and
the chin and throat more or less black also ; back, sides of neck
and upper br<?ast, flanks, scapulars, rump and shorter upper tail coverts
vermiculated blackish- Ijrown and white, the rump and upper tail
coverts with the white predominating, longer upper tail coverts black ;
central rectrices brownish-l)lack getting paler on the each succeeding
pair, the outer pairs being also tipped white ; upper breast and lower
neck and sides of lower breast vinous-red, under tail coverts black,
rest of lower i>lumage white ; smallest wing coverts greyish-brown,
more or less vermiculated white, primary coverts vinous-grey, remain-
ing coverts white, the greater secondary coverts tipped black, primaries
brown, pale-shafted except at the tips ; outermost secondaries brilliant
metallic green, broadly edged and tipped black ; outer web of next
secondary pure white, edged black ; inner secondaries black, edged
white and greyish on the inner webs.
"Irides deep red-brown ; bill grey- blue, livid blue, or bluish-plum-
beous, the tip black ; logs dusky lead, lead-grey or, rarely, greenish-
load colour, dusky on the joints and webs, and with the claws dark.
''3Iah's (adults).— heucrth 19-0" to lO-.V; expanse 32-75" to 34*5" ;
wing 10" to 10-5" ; tail from vent 4-0" to 4-G" ; tarsus 1-4" to I'G" ;
bill from gape, 1-7" to 1-82"; weight lib. 5oz. to lib. IGoz." (Hume).
During the early part of the cold weather the feathers of the breast
have grey edges which make the whole breast a pale gre}'ish-vinous,
as the season progresses the edges wear off and the breast gets richer
in colour in consequence.
Adult Female. — Head and nock pale reddish-brown, richer posteri-
orly and paler below, speckled with very dark brown ; rest of plumage
above lirown with j)alo edges to the leathers varying from almost white
to rufous, the scapulars and interscapulars more or less barred with the
same ; smaller wing coverts like the back, median the same but wilh
broader edges, greater coverts with still i)roader paler edges, quills plain
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IND IAN n rCKS A ND THEIR A L L lES. 237
i)ro\vn, a dull Ijl;ic'ki?>h- brown .speouliiin edged by the outer secondaries
more or less tipped white, and with the secondary next; tlie speouluni
having the outer web broadly white. Innermost secondaries edged
with fulvous. Lower neck and breast reddish-biown, sometimes
speckled with darker ; lower breast, abdomen and vent varying from
white to uniform pale, rather bright rufous-bufF, the flanks and axillaries
darker and often more or less spotted brown. Under-tail coverts the
same as the abdomen but with the feathers centred dark.
Bill slaty-blue, nail black, the base of the maxilla often darker, the
mandible with the commissure, base and often the tip darker and
nearly black. Irides from light dull to deep bright brown ; legs
grey or drab marked with dusky as in the male.
" Length 17-b" to 19-25" ; expanse 81-5" to 34'0" ; wing 9-8" to 10-2";
tail from vent 3-5" to 5" ; tarsus 1-4" to I'G" ; bill from gape I'G.S" to
1*8"; weight lib. ooz. to lib. lOoz. (Note that only one female
out of 27 weighed more than lib. Ooz.) " (Hume).
Young Male. — Much like the female, l)ut the upper parts, especially
on the rump and upper tail coverts, more grey than brown, and soon
assuming the vermiculated appearance of the adult m:de ; white about
the speculum for more develojied, as is the speculum itself, and the
breast and fore neck are a richer brown.
Male in the first nuptial state or cliamjing from the yovncf into advlt
stage. — Head rich brown, boldly spotted with black, less so below
upper back and adjoining parts as in the female but gradually changing
to grey on the lower back and rump, where it is beautifully vermiculated
and stippled with white ; upper tail coverts, scapulars and innermost
secondaries like the upper back, wing like the adult male btit the
s])ecnlum inconspicuous ; lower parts as in the female but with the
breast a very rich rufous contrasting both with fore neck and abdomen.
Nestling. — " May be distinguished by the warm rufous tint of the
cheeks and throat and the alienee of any loval streak ; the upper parts
are, moreover, of an almost uniform brown, with hardly any signs of
bars on the pinions " (Yarrell).
The Wigeon is found throughout Europe at different seasons, being
a permanent resident in some of the noi-therc countries ; jiractically
throughotit Asia, though rare to the East. Breeding in the North and
wintering iSouth ; in Northern Africa in the cold weather as far South
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238 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
as Abyssinia, Southern Egypt and to Madeira. It also wanders as far
as North-Easteru America.
Within oiii- limits it is found practicnlly everywhere except in the
extreme South and in Coylcn. It is decidedly common in Cachar and
Sylhet to my own knowledge, not rare in Goalpara and Kamrup, in
w^hich districts I have shot it, and is found throughout the province of
Assam, whilst in Burma it has been recorded from N. Tenasserim. It
will be noticed that in certain localities one person records this teal os
being very plentiful, whilst another, who may be equally good an
observer and naturalist, says it is never found. This is due to the fact
tliat the Wigeon is most irregular in its visits, and whilst it comes one
year in hundreds and even thousands to certain parts, yet these loca-
lities may be hunted in vain the following season for a single specimen.
Notes recorded by various ornithologists and sportsmen would seem
to shew tha*. in years of heavy rainfall the Wigeon does not visit India
in the same numbers as it does in drier years.
Thus Reid writes of Oudh : " The Wigeon is by no moans uncommon,
though it is, I think, rather erratic, in its wanderings, being much
more common in some seasons than in others. During the past cold
weather, for instance, when the jhils were much below their average
size and many of the smaller ones altogether dry, 1 did not expect to
meet with it ; but as a matter of fact, it was much more common than
1 had ever known it to be before."
Again Vidal : " Wigeon in some years are very abundant on the
A^ashishti River, congregating in large flocks of five hundred birds or
more, but they are not like Common Tesd, widely distributed. In
1.S78-79, after the highest rainfall on record, not a Wigeon was to
be found in the district ; but in 1879-80 after a year of moderate rain-
fall, they reappeared in their usual strength on the Vashishti."
Davidson notes it as rare in Mysore, but Major Mclnroy says that
a fair number may be met with in parts. The only way I can at all
account for the Wigeon being more common in drj^ than in wet seasons
is because it is very much of a shallow water or bottom feeder.
In very wet seasons the lakes, jhils, ponds, etc., all overflow their
normal limits, and thus the edges and the shallow water covers ground
on which no water weeds grow and on which the natural dry
land vegetation has been killed by the water. On the other hand,
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 239
in dry seasons the water recedes and much jhil vegetation, which,
under ordinary circumstances would be in a few feet of water, is
within a few inches of the top and well within grasp of the teal as
it feeds with only its tail-end out of water. They are of course
strong and expert divers, but do not feed, 1 think, on any stuff which
necessitates their going completely under water. Of two birds shot
in Silohar the stomachs contained nothing but the white tendril-!ike
roots of a small water plant which grows profusely when the water
is only a few inches deep, and these the birds could obtain by
merely standing . ou their heads, as it were, in the water. They graze
a good deal like geese on young grass and also young crops, and in
addition to various other vegetable substances eat water-snails, worms,
insects and shell-fish of sorts, this more particularly near the sea coast,
where they are often found in brackish estuaries or back waters."
Morris writes ; " This species feeds principally on water insects and
their larva?, small moilusca, wonns, the fry of fish, and frogs ; as also the
buls, shoots', and leaves of plants and grass ; and these it browses on in
the day time, but it chiefly seeks its food in the mornings and evenings,
and also at times in the night."
All ducks it should be noted, whether as a rule day or night feeders,
are inclined to feed freely during moonlight nigiits, and this is perhaps
mora especially the case with such as graze on grass an<l young crops.
I never myself obtained a single specimen in the Sunderbands, but have
often been assured that they are common there. Hume says that they
are as quick in rising as is the Gad wall. I should have given the palm
to the Gadwall for quickness in getting off the water, but once up, the
Wigeon is quite as fast in getting away. On the wing they are
C3rtainly not as fast ws either the Gargany or Common Teal, nor are
they as hard to bring down, for they arc less densely i)lumaged and can
carry far less lead.
They vaiy very much in being wild or the reverse, but taking them
everywhere, in comparison with other ducks, they may be said to be
cute, wary birds, but falling short in this respect of many of their kind.
W^hat adds, too, to the ease in obtaining shots at th^m is their habit
of feeding almost throughout the day, their feeding taking
them much to the edges of the jhils and lakes where they
remain amongst the reods and vegetation. This, of course, hides the
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240 JOrnyAL, bom ha Y XA TI^RA L ///story HOC/ETY, VoI. xji.
stalker and tlio stnlkixl, and many shots may Iw obtained at \Vi;40on
by walking round the borders of a lake whilst most of the other duck
are away in tlie middle of the water, nnapproaehable except by a boat
and often not by that. They collect in very large flocks, sometimes
num])ering as much as seven or eight hundred individuals, but more
often will be found in flocks of a hundred or so, and, of course, when
they are less common in small flocks of a dozen or loss, often in pairs or
singly, but in the latter case always vvith some other duck.
Of their voice Hume writes : " They are on the whole, neitlior
loquacious birds, and both when feeding and at rest, when wallving,
swimming and flying often utter a shrill 'whew, ' a sort of whistle by
which you may know them at any distance ; it is not a clear full
whistle like the Curlews, but a whistled cry rather discordant when
heard by day, but not without its charm when uttered by night by
large numbers mingled with the call of many other species and
mellowed by the distance and the multitudinous voices of winds and
water."
They fly with a swift powerful flight, generally in line formation, the
line nearly always irregular and altering much in sha[)e as the birds
fly ; the two ends are generally thin, whilst towards the centre the
birds are more numerous. When flying from one jhil to another or
when put up by shots they do not, ] think, take any particular
formation.
Meversavs : " The Wigeon fly in the usual manner of ducks following
one another ; but these birds fly so very close upon the heels of their
leader that it formed a distingaisliing peculiarity."
Hume notes the peculiar rustle nnide by the "Wigeon in flying ; this
is very dist'ncti-. e, and when close at hand soimds very different to the
swish of the IMallard or the sound of other ducks' flight.
In England they are caught in large numbers by decoys which
induce the wild birds to enter small waterways which are roofed in
with wire netting and which gradually lead to a largo drop-net in
which they are entangled. The placing of th) pipes, as the loading
tunnel-nets are called, is the main feature of the trap, as these have to
be so made that they are quite inconspicuous and the enti-ances must
be natural ones. Sometimes a small dog is trained to dodge about, the
]»ipos, continually sh-r.ving its'df higher u[» the pipe for an instant or
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THE IB ALLIES. 241
two and attracting the curiosity whicli is a strong trait in all
chicks.
In Goldsmith's '''Natural History," a httle volnma dated 1830, it is
said that : " In only ten decoys in the neighboui-hood of Wainfleet, so
many as thirty-one thousand two hundred have teen cauglit in a season."
This, of course, refers to all kinds of ducks, not to Wigeons only.
To eat, the Wigeon is sometimes first rate, sometimes decidedly fishy
and rank. At home it is considered quite one of the higher class of
ducks for eating, but out in India it is often not of a higher class ;
Hume says of some he got on the sea coast that they had such a distinct
" odour of brine from the ocean " about them that they were quite
unpalatable. Those shot in Cachar I have always found very good
indeed.
The Wigeon breeds throughout the greater part of its Northern
hiibitat, but probal>ly nowhere within the Arctic Circle. It is common
in Iceland and still more so in Lapland, breeds throughout Northern
Europe and also, I am told, in East Prussia, and it also breeds in North-
A\'est Asia, less commonly to the East. In Great Britain it has often
been found breeding in Scotland and also in Ireland, and just lately
Mr. W. J. Clarke recorded the finding of a AVigeon's nest in Yorkshire,
this being the first record of its breeding within the limits of England
itself.
Its nest may be placed either close to water, in amongst the growth
on the banks or shores, or it is sometimes placed a good distance from
it. In Scotland it is frequently found well hidden in amongst heather
well away from the nearest water. As a rule, it is very well hidden,
but at other times is very conspicuous and can be seen from a few
yards away. The duck sits very close indeed, and flying up at one's
feet usually shows the whereabouts of the nest, however uell it may be
hidden. The drake would seem to take little interest in the nest or
eggs, and leaves the duck not only to do all the incubation, but also
to look after the young until they are some days old.
The nest would appear to differ from other ducks' nests in beino-
better put together in most cases. In some nests the materials, moss,
leaves, grasses, and weeds are well intermingled and interwoven with
one another and with down, which not only forms the lining but is
also incorporated in the body of the nest itself. Frequently on the
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242 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI I.
other hand the nost is very prhnitive and consists of only a few of the
materials mentioned, just loosely placed in some hollow in the
ground.
Dresser, as quoted by Hume, says : *' The eggs are deposited late in
lilay or early in June, the locality selected for the purpose of nidifi-
cation being sometimes close to the water's edge and at others some
distance from it ; for Mr. Colley informs me that he found a nest on
the foils, not far from the town of Lillebammer, which was under a
juniper bush, at least 8C'0 yards from the water. The nest is a mere
depression or hole scratched in the ground and well Tmed with down
and a few feathers, intermixed with a little moss or a few grass bents.
A nest which I possess consists of a little moss matted together with
down, the latter being of a dark sooty brown colour, the centre of the
down being rather lighter or a dark sooty grey, and a few feathers of
the bird are interspersed here and there."
'•* The eofcrs are creamy white in colour and oval in shape, tapering
slightly towards the smaller end."
In rather strong contrast to the above " mere depression or hole " is
Mr. Wolley's description of a Wigeon's nest : "A nest is an extremely
pretty sight, even when separated from its native bank and all the
accompaniments of flowers, roots, moss and lichen."
The number of eggs is normally six to eight or sometimes ten.
Morris says five to eight, Meyer ten to twelve. In colour they vary from
a pale cream so faint as to appear white to a rather warm cream or
buff, generally the former. Hume's eggs measured 2-1''' to 2-3" in lenj;th
and 1'5" to 1*6" in breadth. The texture is, of course, fine and fairly
close, with the surface inclined to be glossy. Incubation is said to last
about 24 days.
Two eggs in my own collection, which come from Lapland, are
smallerthanany of Hume's, measuring 2-05" X 1*5" and 2-00" X 1'45".
Both these eggs are also unusually glossy.
Genus NETTION.
Th^ o-enus JVettium or Nettion is one of the largest in the order
Che)i.omoi'ph<x. As restricted by Salvadori, there are seventeen species
contained in it, of which throe only are found in India. The range of
the (Tonus is cosmopolitan, and it contains species both resident and
migratory, both of which are represented in India.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND TUEIR ALLIES. 243
Tho diffoM-ODcos l)otween Nettlon and Anas, ChanleUwnus and M<u-eca
have lieon already pointed out.
Key to the Species.
Speculum, secondaries bronze-green at base, then
black and tipped white, and with their coverts
tipped rufous (I) N. formosum.
Speculum. Outermost secondaries black witli white
tips, those next them brilliant metal-green, next
again to them one black, the remainder like
back (2) N. CRECCA.
Speculum. Outer secondaries black exGe]>t two or
three in the centre, 7" to 9" which are bronze-
green (3) N. ALBIGDLARK.
24. Nettion formosum.
The Baikal or Cluching Teal.
Querquednla glocitaus, Jerdon, *' Birds of India," III, p. 808 ; Hume,
'*Str. Feath,"VIlI, p. 412.
Querquedula formosa, Hume, *' Str. Feath.," VII, p. 494 ; id.,
VIII, pp. 115, 404 ; id., iyA., No. 9G0 ; Hume and Marsball, " Game
Birds," III, p. 225 ; Barnes, *' Birds of Bombay," p. 411.
JSettion formosum^ Blanford, " Birds of India," IV, p. 442.
Description : Adult Male. — " Crown of the head, back of the neck,
entire throat, and a band extending from the eye across the face to the
throat, black; face and neck on the sides and under the throat buff, tho
butF parts narrowly margined with white ; also the black crown
from behind the eye is bordered on each side with a white band, which
runs down the sides of the black nape, and spreads on the sides of the
neck ; from behind the eye a broad glossy green band, of a crescentic
shape, passes along the sides of the head and inforiorly changes into
black, between the buff colour anteriorly and white band posteriorly ;
back and scapulars grey, somewhat tinged with brown, minutely
vermiculated with black, the inner scapulars elongated lanceolate,
on the outer web black, edged with cinnamon, silky buff, edged
with brown oa the inner web ; lower back and rmnp greyish-brown ;
the upper tail coverts brown, edged with rufous ; lower neck and
upper l)reast vinous, marked with small oval black spots ; on tho
sides of the breast, just before the liond of the wing, a crescentic white
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244 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
band ; lower breast and belly white ; flanks grey, minutely vermicn-
latod with blacik ; under tail coverts black, but marked with bay on the
sidos, the longer ones whitish-buff at the tips, with slight vermiculations
on the lower flanks, just at the base of the tail a band of silky white,
formed b/ the tip of the feathers ; wings pale greyish-brown ; the last
row of the upper wing coverts tipped with cinnamon, forming a band
which borders anteriorly the wing speculum ; the latter is glossy green
anteriorly with a sub-apical velvety black band, and bordered by a
white band at the tip of the secondaries ; the longer tertiaries marked
with velvety black on the outer webs ; quills pale brown ;, under wing
coverts brown -grey ; the greater ones pale grey, the centre ones and
axilluries whitish, minutely spotted with brown-grey; bill dark bluish-
brown ; feet light greyish-blue, darker on the web ; irides chestnut
brown. Total length 18 inches, wing 8*5", tail 4'2", cuhnen 1"5",
tarsus 1" " (Salva<lori).
''Length 15 -8"; wing 8-15"; tail 3-9"; tarsus I'S"; bill at front I'S";
from gape, 1-92"" (Hume).
" The tareus . , . in a fine male from China is 1'4:" "
(Hume).
Agam Temmonck and Bchlegel give the dimensions of the tarsus as
1-28".
Of the four specimens in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, the measure-
ments of the tarsus of the males are 1*2" to 1'3" ; the moasuromonts
viere kindly supplied to me by Mr, F. Finn.
Female, — " Qpper parts, wings and tail brown, with paler edges to the
feathers ; crown darkest ; speculum as in the male, but the rufous and
bronze-green bands duller ; a bulf spot on each side of the head in front
of the lores ; another under each eye ; sidos of the head and neck buff
or pale rufous, speckled with brown ; lower parts white, except lower
fore neck and upper breast, which are light rufous-brown with dark spots."
" Length 15-0" ; culmen 1-45" ; wing 7-8" ; tail 3-5" ; tarsus O'O""
(Dresser).
" The only female in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, has a tarsus
measuring 1*3"" (Hume).
'' The male assumes, after breeding, a plumage very similar to that
of the female, from which he is only to be distinguished by the darker
brownish-red tint of the upper breast, and the comparatively uniform
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 245
colour of the upper back, the feathers of which, in the female, are darker
and very conspicuously bordered with reddish-buff. " (Hume).
Roughly speaking, the habitat of the Clucking Teal may be said
to be the Eastern portion of Asia, south of the 70th degree, north
latitude, and east of longitude 80°. To the south its boundary
may be taken as the 20th degree latitude. It is extremely common
in many parts of Southern China, Central East China, Formosa and
the South of Japan in the winter, but it has at no time been reported
from Yezzo, or elsewhere to the North of Japan. The extreme North
of China, Mongolia, Manchuria, and perhaps Corea, it seems only to
visit on migration, its summer home being Northern Asiatic Russia and
Siberia.
Salvador! says that it straggles into the " Western Palsearctic region
(Italy and France)," and again in Latham's " General Synopsis of Birds"
(1780), I find the following under the -heading of Anas glochans : —
'' Taken in a decoy in England. Has also been met with along the
Lena and about the lake Baikal. Has a singular note somewhat
like clucking."
Within Indian limits its occurrence has been of the rarest and can
bo counted on one's fingers. Blyth got a male in the Calcutta bazjuir.
Col. McMaster says that he believed that he got what was a specimen
of this species in the Upper Ciicars. Mr. E. James had a painting of
the head of a teal, said to have been shot in Sind, which was undoubt-
edly— the painting — that of this species. In November, 1879, Mr.
Chill got a male Clucking Teal about 30 miles south of Delhi ; this he
preserved and sent to Hume. Thus up to Hume's time the records of
its actual occurrence are but two in number and of its possible occur-
rence two more.
On 16th December, 1898, Mr. E. L. Barton, of Bombay, shot a
male Clucking Teal about 20 miles from Ahmedabad, in Guzerat.
Information of this duck's habits is meagre in the extreme, and I
can find practically nothing of interest.
Its flight is said to be swift and teal-like, but instead of, like the
Common Teal, flying at great heights when on migration, they fly
low and close to the surface of the country. This habit of flight, how-
ever, is probably only a distinctive feature as the Clucking Teal ap-
proach their destination, for Prejevalsky writes : '' When migrating
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24G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY^ Vol. XTI.
these ducks fly very low, following the plains . which abound with
lakes, and as soon as one is perceived whio'h is not frozen, they at
once settle down on it."
Most notiueahle of all their characteristics is their voice. They are,
especially the draives, noisy birds, constantly uttering a strident,
clucking call like the syllable *' mok," repeated very quickly. 1 have
heard their cry likened to that of the Cotton Teal as uttered by the latter
bird when flying, but far louder and more distinctly syilableized.
As a rule, it would appear that they are inland birds, keeping much to
swamps and morasses or to rivers, and less often to large open sheets of
water. In Japan and Formosa it has been seen on the sea coast in tidal
creeks and, I believe, even en the seashoi-e itself.
They are shy birds and difl&cult of approach as a rule, but appear to
become less so during the breeding season. Sociable birds, they consort
with ahnost any kind of duck. Thus Ruddle says that he saw in
Gompnny "in a small morass above the Udir rivulet. Anas hoschas,
A, crecca, A. (jlvcitans, A. cli/peata, A. acuta and a few of A.penehps
sitting quietly close together after a meal, resting."
As regards their breeding, the two notes quoted by Hume are all
there are on record.
Middendorf says : " Although the commonest duck on the Boganida
(70° North liititude) it did not occur as i'ar North as the Taimyr
river. It was not observed before the 12th of Juno on the Boganida.
On the 3rd July we found a nest on the river bank under a willow- bush
containing 7 fresh eggs. On the 24th July, the young in down began
to exhibit feathers on the head, shoulder and wings, but were still unable
to fl.y on the 4th August. On the 28th July a male was shot which had
lost its perfect plumage. The latest birds were seen on the 23rd.
August on the Boganida. This bird was similarly plentiful on the
Standvvay mountains (Aim River) and at Udskoj-Ostrog, where it
arrived during the first week of May , . . The eggs are bluish-
yellow in colour and small — the smallest was 1'98" long by 1*4" greatest
breadth."
Of course, Middendorf meant largest, not smallest as he gives the
greatest breadth, and l'9b" seems big for the egg, not small.
In the lines above quoted the point which will be most quickly noted
is the extremely brief breeding season. Thus, although the .12tli of
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 247
June is the earliest date on which the bird was seen, yet the last dis-
appeared on the 23vd of August, giving little over two months for the
whole business of making the nest, laying the eggs, hatching— which,
we may presume, would take from 20 to 25 days— and bringing up the
young. As it would take some 10 days to lay the normal clutch of eggs
and about five at least to make the nest, the only conclusion is that once
hatched the young take well under the month to arrive at their full
powers of flight. As this is not quite likely, it is probable that though
no birds were seen before the date mentioned, yet many must have arrived
in late May, and when we look at the dates they arrive elsewhere, this
is the most probable solution.
In the Amur they arrive and breed very much earlier. Tlie only egg
of this duck in my collection is one of many I owe to the generosity of
Herr M. Kuschel of Broslau, who has given me one bearing the date
" 28th April, 18^»5." The early date of this egg supports the idea that
they must breed earlier than in June in Northern Siberia also.
The egg is a typical Teal's Qg^, the texture very smooth and fine but
without any gloss ; the shape oval with one end decidedly smaller than
the other, though obtuse ; the colour is a very pale, creamy cafe-au-
lad. In size it is 2" long by 1'37" broad, which makes it a rather
longer, yet, at the same time, a rather narrower, egg than those hitherto
described.
Taezanowski thus describes a clutch of eggs sent him from Darasan,
where they breed in numbers, by DyboAvski :— They are somewhat
larger than those of the Garganey ; their colour is a pale greyish-
green, very like that of the eggs of the Mallard. They vary from about
1-8" to 1-0" in length and from about To" to 1'4" in breadth.
25. Nettion crecca.
Tlie Common Teal.
Anas crecca, Legge, " Birds of Ceylon," p. 1083.
Querquedula crecca, Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 806 ; Hume
" Str. Feath,," I, p. 262 : Adam, Hid, p. 402 ; Butler, ihid, IV, p. 30 ;
Hume and Davis, lUd, VI, p. 489 ; Davids, and "Wend., ihid, VII, p. 93 ;
Ball, ihid, p. 232 ; Hume, ihid, p. 494 ; id.. Cat., ^o. 964 ; Scully, " Str,
Feath.," VIII, p. 363 ; Hume and Marshall, " Game Birds," III, p.
2uri ; Vidal, " Str. Feath.," IX, p. 03 ; Butler, ibid, p. 438 ; lleid, ihid,
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248 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATCH AL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
X, p. 88 ; Davids., ihkl, p. 413 ; Taylor, ihid, p. 467 ; Gates, " Birds
of British Bunnah," II, p. 285 ; Barnes, " Birds of Bombay," p. 401) ;
Hume, " Sir. Featli.," XI, p. 346.
Netl'ion crecca, Salvadori, Cat. " Birds of British Museum," XXVI I»
p. 243.
Nettium crecca, Blanford, " Birds of British India," IV, p. 443.
Description : Adult Male.- — *' A broad band from the back of the eye
down the nape and upper neck, metallic green, sometimes glossy blaok
posteriorly ; a narrow white line from the base of the maxilla rmming
upwards to over the eye and the green band, and another from the fore
corner of the eye running under the green band ; remainder of the head
and neck rich, rather dark chestnut ; the point of chin or whole chin and
edge of lores more or kss black ; lower neck, upper back, inner scapu-
lars, sides of vent and flanks vermiculatod dark brown and white ; the
vermioulation on the upper parts increasing in breadth towards the
breast, on the sides of which they become bold Idack and white bars and
in the middle of the breast merely round black centres to the feathers.
Remainder of back brown, sometimes slightly vermiculatod at the sides,
rump brown, the feathers edged paler ; up})er tail coveris rich brown,
edged buff' ; rectrices brown, edged paler ; lower surface white .
under tail coverts buff' at the sides, black in the centre ; greater coverts
broadly edged white or buffy-white ; remaiuder of coverts and
ijrimaries grey-brown ; outermost secondaries black, edged narrowly
white, the next three or four metallic green and the one next again
to them black with a very narrow white margin ; remaining innermost
secondaries a beautiful silvery brown, and the outermost bcai)ular.s
buff with broad velvety black diagonal edges.
" In the adult tiie bill is black or blackish, brownish on rami of
lower mandible.
" Irides are brown, varying in shade from light hazel to almost black.
" The legs and feet are commonly grey with a faint olive tinge (^thc
webs and claws in all cases dusky), but they vary in shade a little and
ut times are bluish-grey with a brown shade, and at others a distinctly
dark slatey-grey, sepia grey, brown, greyish-brown, olive, greenish-
olive, dirty greenish-plumbeous, or even plumbeous." (Hume).
I have found a green tinge on the tarsus and toes very eunnnou
indeed, more so than a pure grey or pUuubeoua.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 240
" Length U'S" to 15-85" ; expanse 23-0" to 25-25" ; wing 7-2" to
8-0" ; tail from vent 3-D" to 3-6" ; tarsus 1" to 1-2" ; bill from gape 1-5"
to 1-77" ; weight 7-7 oz. to 12-0 oz." (Hume).
" Total length 14-5" wing 7-25" ; tail 3" ; culmon 1*0" ; tarsus I'l" "
(Salvador!).
Adult Female. — Upper head dark brown, the feathers edged rufescent-
white ; lores, throat and neok rufescent-white ; with speohlj brown
centres to the feathers, larger and more distinct en the neck ; chin and
fore throat the same but unspotted ; flanks and breast more or less witii
dark centres to the feathers, always pretty plain on i\\Q former, but
sometimes practically non-existent on the latter, though, on the other
hand, they sometimes shew up as distinct, dark Ijrown drops ; the
ground-colour of the lower parts may be anything from almost pure
white to a distinct rufous or buff ; scapulars like the back but generally
more richly coloured ; remainder of wing like tbat of the male but with
the speculunt usually duller.
" Length 13-5" to 14-9" ; expanse 22-5" to 25" ; wing ()-5" to I'A" ;
tail from vent 2-9" to 3-5" ; tarsus I'O" to 1-2" ; bill from gape 1-5" to
1-77" ; weight 7-7 oz. to 12 oz." (Hume).
In young males and females the lower mandible, though sometimes
only brown, commonly varies from brownish-yellow to dull orange,
and is generally brownish at tip. The upper mandible also in females
is usually rather paler coloured than that of the male, and is often tinged
with green or plumbeous-green" (Hume).
The legs and feet also are more often tinged strongly with sienna than
are those of the male. The irides are the same light to dark brown.
After the breeding season, or when the eggs have been laid,
the males assume a plumage similar to that of the female but have the
upper parts more a uniform brown.
Morris says : '' The male assumes the plumage of the female in
summer by the end of July or beginning of August, and this he retains
until the general moult."
The young are like the female, perhaps rather darker in general
hue, but have the pale edgings to the upper feathers more pronounced,
and the spots and bars on the lower plumage more numerous and
distinct, the former showing often in the centre of the abdomen and the
latter on the under tail coverts.
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S50 JOUnXAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Tlte nesil'ing " is yollowish-wliite on tlie under parts, bnfF on tlie
forehead and throat ; a dark brown streak from the forehead to the
crown : which with the ujtper parts is brown ; a dark hjcal streak and
two other streaks from behind the eye to the nape on each side"
(Yarrell).
The drakes when the}' arrive in India are often in a beautiful transi-
tion staoo and few will be found in perfect male plumage before
January. I have a most handsome young male in my collection
which is a very good example of the changing plumage ; above it is
like the female but without the broad edging to the feathers, and on
the rump and upper tail coverts are a few feathers shewing the beauti-
ful black and white vermiculations. The head is dark brown with the
merest trace only of the l)l:ick eye-streak ; the under plun^age is pure
white, but all along the flanks, vent and under tail coverts and here and
there on the abdomen are still left feathers of the old plumage which
are a bright rufous-buflf. The new feathers of the flanks are like
those of the adult male, and the breast is beautifully spotted
with distinct oval drops ; the upper breast and neck is a dull
rufous.
From the above description it may be seen that it does not follow
that because one year a bird has rufous or rufescent plumage he
will have the same again after the next moult. In the bird just
described the new plumage is a very pure white, but the
old patches are exceptionally bright rufous. From this we might
infer that the habitat and its water has much to do with the
coloration of the lower parts, yet a female in new plumage shot
with this young male is very rufous indeed.
The Common Teal extends throughout the Palroarctic region in the
summer, breeding as far south, according to Hume, as the 40°
Korth Latitude, and migrating south during the cold weather into
Northern Africa as far as Abyssinia on the east and Wad an on the
west, practically the whole of Southern Asia, and the Atlantic coast of
Morth America. It occurs, though rarely, in Greenland.
In British ludia it is found everywhere with very few exceptions.
From the extreme north down to Cape Comorin it is very abundant,
though perhaps more so to the north than to the south, but even there
it is spoken of as appearing in flocks of hundreds.
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INDIA N D UCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 251
Hume giv(3S the exceptions to its habitat as follows: '' The Laccadives^
the Andamans and Nicobars, Teuasserim, southern, central and north-
east of the Salwoin, and possibly Malabar."
From these places must now be struck oft" the Andamans, Nicobars
and Malabar, in the latter place having been found frequently since
** Game Birds " was written.
In L?oge's " Birds of Ceylon " it is said not to CGCur in the Philli-
pines, but lately I have heard that it has been met with there also.
Hum© seems to think that Querquedala clrcia arrives in India
earlier, if anything, tlian tlie present Teal, Init further observations have
shewn them to arrive at much the same time, though one year
the Garganey nay be first and the next year the Common Teal.
In 18y8, I have had quite numerous records of their arrival in
Northern India and Assam in August, the earliest being that of a small
flock seen on the 22nd of that month. Hume says: " In the more
Northern Plains portion of the Empire, though a f«w are seen during
the latter half of September and exc!.>j)tional cases have been reported of
their appearance some weeks earlier even than this, I think we may
say tliat tlie first heavy 'flights arrive during the first week of October."
Hume, I thiLk, refers in this j)aragraph mainly to North-Eastern and
Centnd India, and it would therefore really seem as if the Connnon
Teal were earlier in Northern Bengal than in those parts, reversing
what is the usual rule with most, if not all, other migratory ducks.
By this I do not mean to say that the Teal are all with us by September
oven in the northern parts of Assam, but I do mean to say that by the
middle of that month they are quite common in many parts and in
some are fairly numerous by the second week.
It is possible, indeed probable, that our Eastern birds are those wliich
come from China, and as they breed there as far south at least as the
40° latitude, ihey have not nearly so far to come as those wh;ch travel
from the West, few of whom really come from further south than
about the 50th degree.
Teal are extremely variable in the numbers in which they collect.
Often they may be seen singly or in pairs, and at the same place
flocks may bo seen numbering their hundreds, even thou^ands. Tlio
largest flocks appear to bo mot with in Siiul and the north of
the North- West Provinces and the Puujal) and perhaps Northern
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2ri2 JOVRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol. XII.
llujputnna. In these places tliey arc to be seen literally in flocks of
many hundreds and frequently of thousands. On the Sunder bands I
think I have seen as many as five hundred in a flock ; in the famous
Chill;a Lake I have been told of their rishig in vast flocks which nmst
liavo been nearly a thousand strong, and from other parts of India
reports are given of" flocks numbering hundreds.
The most common sized flock all over their range may be some-
where between twenty and forty, and in Southern India, u'., from Mysore
t« Ceylon, anything over the latter number is rare, though even in the
island Mr. G. Simjison, as quoted by Legge, says : " In the Island of
Delft and at the Palverainkadoo lagoon, on the north-west coast, it
appears yearly in thousands in November, leaving at the end of
February."
The Common Teal is one of the most attractive of the duck tribe
to the sportsman, both from its being so numerous and from its habits*
Although mainly a night feeder, yet in places, where its food-supi)ly
lies in the flooded rice fields and the edge of swamps, bhils, etc., it will
continue to feed for an hour or so after daylight and even when it has
finished feeding it remains in amongst the weeds^ reeds and other cover
near the shores. It thus affords excellent sport whether with a dog or
two or a few beaters, or Irom some small dag out, poled quietly along
by a single nuin in the stern. The Teal often lay cTose enough to allow
of constant shots at from twenty-five to forty vards and, as they otten
scatter a good deal even when resting, two or three shots may be
obtained at the same flock. In this way on large sheets a good bag-
may bo made before the birds get scored and leave altogether or els«
rise far out of shot.
Nowhere in Bengal have I found Teal to be of a very confiding nature,
but that they are so in some i)arts of their Inditui habitats is well
known. Hume writes: " They are, as a rule, when met with near villages
or in densely-populated portions of the country, excessively tame — too
ttime to render shooting them possilde unless you really require them
for tbo(l. Not only will they let you walk up to them when thoy are on
a village pond — as close as you jdease — but when you have fired at thetn
ajid killed two or three, the remainder, after a short flight, will again
Fettle, as often as not, well within shot. Nay, at times, though flutter-
ing a good deal, and looking about as if ivstonished, they will not rise
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I
INDIA N D UCKS A ND THEIR A LUES. 253
at !ill at the first shot, despite the fact of some of their comrades floatiug
dead before them."
Ill open waters such us rivers, &c., and when on the winf(, Teal often
fly nnich bimclied and close together, and form shots which much en-
courage the bad habit of shooting into the broum, quite small flocks often
providing from half a dozen to a dozen teal to a couple of Itarrels of an
ordinary smooth bore. Qf course even into the hrouii one nmst hold
fairly straight as the Teal yields to no duck in the speed of its flight, in
addition to which the sudden sweops and turns they take often discon-
cert the gunner.
They stand a fair amount of shot unless hit well forward, when a
single pellet of No. 6 or 7, or even of No. 8 may suffice to bring the-
bird to bag.
Hume says that they swim easily but not very rajtidly and that they
cannot dive to much purpose. ^Vhilst agreeing with his estimate of their
swimming powers, I can hardly, however, do so with that of their
diving. If shot in open water thej' can be brought to hand easily, for
they do not dive for long and not patticidarly quickly, but if shot
among-st weeds, they are wonderfully smart in hiding and in dodging
in and out amongst them, as also in secreting themselves by holding on
to the weeds so that the}^ lie entirel}' under the water except the tips
of their bills. I found that in the Sunderbands they nearly always
made for the water lillies, hiding under one of the huge loaves.
They walk well and can even run if nocessary, but they do not care for
the land, nor do they rest on it but on the water where there is cover.
They rarely feed on really dry land but frequently in paddy fields, etc.,
where there are a few inches only of mud and water. As already said,
they are principally night feeders, but where quite undisturbed they
feed during all but the hottest hours of the day, say from 11 a.mi. to
about 3 p.m. Their food is undoubtedly maiuly vegetable, but they
do not despise worms, insects, etc., which may come in their way. For
the purpose of obtaining food their diving is said not to extend
beyond the peculiar semi-dive so much indulged in by the domestic
duck which leaves the tail-end well out of water.
They are excellent eating and, however poor in condition they may
be, never seem to get any objectionable flavour ; so good are they to
eat, indeed, that they are often kept in Toaleries in Western and
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254 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Nortliern India so as to 1)0 avuilable during the Lot weather and rains.
1 have no personal knowledge of such Tealeries, and as Hume's account
of what they should be is abont as full and good a one a? it is possible
to have, I must again indent on that much-quoted author. He says :
" Fresh water, and plenty of it, is the first requisite, and to ensure
this, the tealery should always be located near the well, and every drop
of water drawn thence for irrigaiing the garden made to pass through
it. The site should be, if possible, under some large umbrageous
trees, such as we so commonly find near garden wells, and to the east
of the trunk, so that the building may be completely protected from
the noontide and afternoon sun. You first make a shallow masonry
tank, — twelve feet by eight and ten inches in depth is amply
large. Four feet distant from this all round you build a thick mud
wall to a height of three feet from the interior. The whole interior
surface of this wall and the flat space between it and the tank must be
lined with pukka masonry, and finished oflF with well worked chunani.
The great points to bo aimed at are to have the whole lower parts so
finished off as to be on the one hand impregnable to rats, ichneumans
and snakes ; on the other to present no crevice in which dirt, ticks and
other insects can lurk. Outside the walls must be quite smooth so
that no snakes can crawl up them. On the wall you build stout
square pillars, four feet high, on which you place a thick pent thatch
roof. At the spring of the roof you stretch inside a thin, rather loose,
ceiling-cloth to prevent the birds hurting their heads when tbey start
up suddenly, as they will, at first, on any alarm, and especially when
the sweeper goes in to wash out the place. The inters[iace3 between
the pillars you fill in with well-made cross- work ijaffri') of split
bamboo, except one of them in which you place a door of similar work
made with slips of wood. You must arrange that all the water both
enters and leaves the building through gratings im[)orvious to snakes
and like marauders. Two or three feet outside the walls run
a little groove, a ditchlet, in which plant early in the year mulberry
cuttings, vvhi(;h will form a good hedge round the place, and
keej) the sun and hot winds off the building ; but this
must be kept neatly trimmed inside, or it would interfere with
veiitik.tion, and must not bo allowed to get higher than the
cftves.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THE Hi ALLIES. 255
" Into such n l)uilding in February or March, you may turn 200 Teal,
some Common some Garganey, as you can get them. A few Gad wall
and Pintail will also do no harm, but they do not thrive so certainly
as the Teal ; and the Garganey, though very good, is not equal for
the table to its smaller congener."
Teal have on so many occasions been found at different times between
Juue and August in India that ornithologists have lieen always kept in a
state of semi-expectation that their nests would be found somewhere
wiihin our Indian Ihnits, either in Kashmir or some of the Himalayan
lakes. Still time lias gone on and no such nest has yet been taken and,
personally, I think, it is unlikely one ever will be. Amongst the many
thousands shot annually, it would be strange if some few, whilst escap-
ing death and even severe wounds, did not receive internal injuries, in-
visible themselves after a brief period, yet quite sufficient to incapacitate
the bird from migration. This would be quite enough to account for
the few birds met with atabnoimal times, and though these might appear
strong and robust on the wing, yet it does not follow that they were
equally so a week or ten days before they were noticed. They
breed practically over the Avholo of their Northern habitat as for
south as the 40th degree, but in the southern portion of this range
they only breed here and there in very small numbers. They breed
freely in Northern England and in Scotland though seldom in the
southern countries, yet they have been -recorded at this season and
their eggs have been taken in Spain, Greece, North Italy and South
Russia.
They breed very rarely in Greenland, plentifully in Iceland, bat not
much in the extreme north of Europe and probably not at all in the
extreme north of Asia. Throughout Southern Siberia, Manchuria and
the Amur a great number breed, and a few also in the north of
Japan.
They generally make their nests at the edge of swamps and other
pieces of water, often where there is actually a little water standing and,
oven where they make them at a distance from any wafer, the site
chosen is nearly always a wet and boggy one. Thus in Scotland they
sometimes breed on the moors in amongst the heather, but they always
select some dip which keeps more or less damp and where the water
may occasionally collect.
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iJ5G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Tlie nost is a large unshapely mass of veoetalile stv.ft', nislies, weeds
and sucli-like lumped together in a mass, with a depression in the centre
containing a little down.
\n Finland Dresser found the nests placed under bushes or in tufts
of grass, and often at some distance fi'om the water.
Legge's note on the nesting of this Teal is so complete yet short that
I reproduce it. He writes : " This species breeds in May and June,
resorting to extensive marshes, heaths near water and largo peat bogs.
The nest is made on the ground among grass or rushes, or in thick
heather, in which latter case it is placed sometimes in the nnddle of a
clump. The nest is made of dead flags, rushes, grass, reeds, etc., w ith
a capacious interior, which is amply lined with down plucked from the
binl's breast. The number of eggs varies from eight to fourteen, and
occasionally as many as twenty have been found in a nest ; they
are small for the size of the bird, oval, but slightly more obtuse at one
end than the other, of a uniform creamy white or pale butf. There is
a greenish variety sometimes found, very like a Pintail's egg. A series
before me from Petchora, taken by Mr. Seebohm, varies in length
from 1-58" to 1-7" and in breadth from MG" to 1-27". The old
birds are said to manifest great affection for their }oung. Macgillivray
relates an instance of his finding a brood of young with their mother
on a road ; and when he took them up to put them to a pond close by,
whither he thought the old bird was leading them, she followed him,
fluttering round within reach of his whip."
" The ' nest-down ' is dark brown, M'ith pale whitish centres, but
no pale tippings."
It is said to be a resident in i^^gypt according to Capt. Shelly, and
on Heuglin, and to be very plentiful there.
I have two clutches of eggs which seem to average a great
deal larger than most. The two clutches, twelve eggs, average
1-76"X 1-31", the longest being 1-83" and the broadest 1-32". In
sha])e they are broad ovals, very regular, yet all perceptibly smaller
one end than at the other. A few eggs are rather longer comparatively,
and these generally have the smaller end rather more compressed. The
texture is fine, close and smooth, and in some cases has a faint glois.
All my eggs are a pale buff, and sary hardly at all in depth of
colouring,
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 257
26. Nettion albigulare.
T/te Oceanic or Amlaman 'real.*
Mareca jmnctatu, Bail, " 8tr. Foatlu", I, p. 88.
Mareca alh/gularis, Hume, " Str. Feath.", I, p. 303.
AJareca (jihher'/frons, Hume, " Nosts and Eggs", p. G44 ; /V/., Cat., No.
^d^i'o, ter ; Hume and Marshall, '^ Game Birds of India", III, p. 243 ;
Hums, " Nosts and Eggs ", (Gates' edition), III, p. 290.
Nettion albi(jidan% iSalvadori, Cat., " Bird of British Museum",
XXVII., p. 257,
Nettiam albigulare, Blanford, "Avifauna of British India", IV, p. 444.
Description : Adult Male. — " U])per part of the head brown ; this
colour also covers the up[)er parts of the cheeks and gradutdly changes
into the white of the lower parts of the cheeks and throat ; the brown
of the cheeks with obsolete dusky streaks ; round the eye there is a
ring of white feathers ; in some specimens on the lores and at the base of
the bill there are some white feathers ; upper parts brown, the edges
of the feathers of the back and scapulars pale brown ; nnnp uniform,
the feathers of the breast and abdomen pale brown in the centre, and
broadly margined with brownish fawn-colour, producing a mottled ap-
pearance ; under tail coverts brown, almost unifonn ; upper wing
coverts dark brown, greater or last row of wing coverts white, forming
a band, diminishing in breadth and tinged with brown inwardly ;
speculum velvety black, with a longitudinal, coppery-green band in
the middle, from the seventh to the ninth secondaiy, and bounded on the
tip with a buff baud ; the first secondary broadly white on the outer
web ; tertials broadly velvety black on the outer web ; primari^^s brown
with an olive lustre ; under wing coverts brown, the median ones
tipped with white ; axillaries white ; tail brown" (Salvadori).
" Legs and feet greenish- blue to plumbeous ; webs usually darker ;
claw^s horny ; bill greenish-blue, plumbeous or plumboous-blue, nail
black ; in some the lower mandible tinged with, in one the terminal
two-thirds of this, pink ; irides reddish-brown to deep brownish-red."
*' Length 16" to 18" ; expanse 24-5" to 27" ; tail from vent 4" to
4-2" ; wing 7-5" to 8" ; tarsus I'S" to 1'4" ; bill at front 1-4" to 1-5" ;
* As the trivial Dame for N. glhbi-rifiom will probably remain THE OCEANiC Teal,
it may be as well that B'aDford'd t'erm, the Andaman Teai> be accepted finally for
this fi>rm of Nvttion.
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258 JOURNAL, DOMDA Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
from gnpe 1*7" to r<S" : wings wlien closed reach from 2" to 2*2" from
end of tail ; weight 1 11). " (Hume.)
" Kectrices 16" " (Blanford). This refers to male and female.
Female. — Similar to the male hut smaller, and the lower surface
duller and the centering of the feathers less marked, the greeii Land
on the wing-speouhun less coppery, l^otal length IS'.V to 16" ; wing
7-25" to 7-4" ; culmen I'S" to 1-35" " (Salvadori).
" Length 15" to 16"; expanse 24" to 25'b"; tail from vent 3-2.5" to S-"/;
wing 7-1" to 7--1"; tarsus 1-25" to I'O.')"; hill at front I'S" to 1-4"; wings
when closed reach to within from 1" to 1*75" of the end of the tail ;
weight 12 oz. " (Hume).
" young hinb arc similar to the females, hut the dusky markings to
the underparts are even less distinct" (Salvadori).
A young bird caught by Mr. Butler and described by him in a letter
to me was '' Similar to the adult, except that the ring round the eye
was very narrow and tinged with fulvous. Bill and feet as in adults;
eye dark brown instead of reddish-brown."
This teal is confined to the Audnman islands, hut Mr. C. W. Allan
shot a specimen of this species at Bassein, Burma, which was found
amongst a flock of AVhistling Teal on the 15th April, 1^1)8. This bird
was recorded in the Asian, and Mr. F. Finn wrote tome that he identified
the skin himself, and witlu'ut any doubt it was that of an Andaman
Teal. Nothing was noted as to whether the specimen was a drake or
a duck. It was probably driven on to the Burmese coast during
some storm, having ventured too far out to sea from the
Andamans.
Nettion gibber /J rons, iV. castancum and N. alihigulare are very
closely allied; for a long time the first and the last were confounded with
one another, and even now it is by no means settled that A', cmtaneuui
and N. gibherifrons are not one and the same bird. The young males and
females are absolutely indistinguishabh^- but the adult male N.giljberifrons
has been found to attain a further jdumage, which, hitherto, no N. casta-
neum has been found to acquire. xV. albigulare differs from both these
Itirds in having the sides of the head darkcu- and more uniforni in colour,
and the darker streaks to the feathers ob.solete, but the main difference
lies in the Andaman Teal having the white ring round the eye, and the
first scconi'ary broadly edged with white.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 259
There is a good plate of Nettion alhigulare in the British Museum Cata-
logue, and on the same plate is shown the head of N. gibberifrons,
thus giving a comparison between the two birds.
There is very little on record about this teal, and it is to be hoped
that observers will soon add to our knowledge of it. By far the most
important note on its habits is that contributed by Mr. A. L. Butler
to this journal. Lately as this interesting note has appeared, I feel that
there is no apology needed, except to Mr. Butler, for again producing
it here, nor would any account of the Andaman Teal be up to date were
it omitted : —
" When I arrived at Port Blair in May, these teal were in good sized
flocks, resorting principally, at low tide, to two little rocky islets, up
the harbour, known as Bird Island and Oyster Island. I did not go
after them at that time myself, not having a boat ; a fair, though not
large, number were killed by some of the officers stationed here. I
believe eleven was the result of four barrels on one occasion ! As the
monsoon commenced and the harbour become rougher, at the beginning
of June, these flocks of teal broke up into smaller parties of five or six to
a dozen or so, and retired to the creeks and dyke-intersected marshes, a
little inland, near Bamboo flat and Port Monatt. Towards the end of
June these small parties beg^an to break up into pairs, about this time 1
shot several, and in the paired birds I found the testes of the males
enlarged, but the ovaries of the females were as yet in ordinary condi-
tion. In the ' Game Birds of India ' Mr. Hume mentions a single
nest found in August, and I should think that August or the end of
July would be the usual time of laying. I am afraid I am not likely to
find a nest, as there are so many hundreds of acres of suitable breeding
ground, and the birds are comparatively few."
*' The Oceanic Teal feed a good deal in the paddy fields at night;
under cover of darkness, too, a few birds often drop into small tanks at
Aberdeen within a few yards of bungalows and buildings. "When ia
flocks they are very wild, but in pairs, in the small channels among
the marshes, I found them very tame. I have often been able to creep
up to the water's edge and watch a pair swimming quietly about within
ten yards of me for some time. On one occasion I crane right on to a
pair under an overhanging bush, and they only fluttered, like water hens,
along the surface for twenty yards or so, then pitched and connnenced
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260 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
swiuiining awjiy, so that I was able to kill one on the water and the other
as it rose, from where I stood. Of course birds that have been shot at a
bit go clean away at the first alarm. On these creeks they associate
with the Common AVhistling Teal, and 1 have watched the two species
in close company on the water, though the Oceanic Teal separate from
the others when put up. The only thing I noticed about them, which
I do not think has been recorded, is that they have a ' quacking '
note as well as a low whistle. One day a party of eight or ten, at
■which some shots had been fired, after wheeling round and round for
some time, pitched on a narrow channel, within thirty yards of me, as
I stood concealed in the bushes on the bank. I watched them for
some minutes, when another pair, frightened by some distant shots
came scurrying over ; the birds on the water all twisted their heads
up and set up a loud, rapid quacking call note which they kept up
for some minutes. The new comers circled round several times, but
probably seeing the top of my topee, concluded not to join their
companions in their fancied security. The flight of this teal is fairly fast.
Occasionally, when they have been kept on the wing for some time
a ])arty will stoop down to the surface of a creek as if they meant to
pitch, and then change their minds and rise again. When exercising
this manoeuvre they fly past at a tremendous pace. The white wing
bar, in this species, is most conspicuous when the bird is on the wing."
'* Winged birds promptly swim for the nearest cover, into which
thoy scuttle off" at a great pace and are generally lost without a dog.
One I shot swam steadily along in front of a Pathan convict, who
was swimming after it, in the capacity of a retrievfir, and though
hard pressed made no attempt to dive until it reached the bank, where
it was caught. One of the officers stationed here li'^^ a live bird in
ca))tivity which was pinioned by a shot some months ago. It thrives
well on paddy, but has not become very tame. It spends most of the day
asleep with its head resting in the plumage of the back. The local
sportsmen have christened thom Gibberi«s."
*' Thoy are rather difficult birds to skin, being very fat, and having,
for a duck, rather a tender skin. They seem to average about 15 oz.
in weight."
To this note Mr. Butler adds the following information which he
has kindly sent mo in a lottor : '' On December the 2nd I was snipe-
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 251
shooting at a village called ' Onikhet.' Walking down a hand which
was over-grown with rank grass, I almost put my foot on an Oceanic
Teal, which fluttered away in front of me, trailing its wings and feigning
lameness. Of course I thought I had got a nest at last, but a rippling
movement in the grass in different directions showed me that it was
a brood of young ones that I had come across. I instituted a most
careful search, but only came upon one youngster which I caught.
All this time the duck was flying round and round within twenty yards,
uttering a low double quack. The drake also appeared on the scene,
but kept further off and was silent."
Davison writing of the Andaman Teal says : "It appears to frequent
alike both fresh and salt water. During the day it either perches
among the mangroves, or settles down on some shady spot on the
banks of a stream, when wounded it does not attempt at first to dive,
but when hard pressed it dives, but does not remain long under water,
and appears soon to get exhausted. It feeds by night in the fresh-
water ponds, and I was informed that it is to be seen during the rains
in small flocks in the paddy fields about Aberdeen in the mornings and
evenings. Sometimes, in going up the creeks, a pair will slip off the
bank, into the water, and keep swimming about twenty yards ahead of
the boat, only rising when hard pressed, but they are more wary when in
flocks. I could learn nothing about the breeding of this species. The
only note I have heard them utter is a low whistle, and this apparently
only at night when they are feeding."
The only note on the nidification of the Andaman Teal that I can find
is the one in " Nests and Eggs " quoted in all other works. It is : —
" Very little is yet known of the breeding of this species. I have
only one note of its nidification and one egg, both of which I owe to
Capt. Wimberly."
'' The nest was found in August : it was composed of grass, and was
placed in a paddy field near Port Monatt, the only locality with which
we are yet acquainted in the group, where this species is always to be
met with."
" The egg is typical, a very perfect broad oval in shape, with a very
close-grained, smooth, shell, devoid of gloss, and of an uniform delicate
cream colour."
" It measures l-9o" by 1-43"."
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202
DES(;iUPTlONS OF .^IX NEW SPECIES OF
SCOltnONS FPtOM INDIA.
By 11. I. PococK, OF THE BuiTisii Museum of Natural History.
{Head before the Bombay Natural History SoclHy on lAtfi JnnCy 181)8.)
Tlic spocios ol'sooritioiis here doscribod liavo eitlior come to liand or
boon recognized as now since the |»ublicalion oi' my paper dealin<:; with
some new species oftliese animals in No. 1, A^ol. XI, of this Jonrnal.
The sjiocies of LsonwlrKs and Archisometnis were received thronfjh
Mr. R. (I Wron^hton from Ihe P)0mbay Natural History Soiiiety ; those
belon<2;in<2; io ('/i(xir/!iis anil K^corpiojts form part of tho collection in the
British Museum.
Family BUTlIlDil^].
Sknochirns polllns, sj). n.
Cob>ur. — A tloep shining blackish-brown on iho lailand the ujiperside
of the trunk ; lower surface of trunk, le^s, mandibles, and palpi not
ijuite so ihirk as the tail, and the three dislal sef^ments of the legs
quite pale ; digits also pale, brownish at the base.
Carapace granular in the depressions laterally and ]>osteriorly ;
tergal plates granular laterally ami on each side of the median keel,
smooth elsewhere ; 5th tergal jdato idosely granular throughout in its
posterior half. Tail granular above in the median groove, the rest of it
smooth and polished above and below, without crests and without
granules, but distinctly though not coarsely punctured, tail very slightly
increasing in wiitth to the middle of tho Uh segment, which is a little
longer than broail (oX 2 j), the length of tho 2nd segment equal to
tho width of the 4th ; vesicle of tail punctured ; aculeus thick at
the base.
i'((//'/ sliMuler and elongate ; humerus weakly crested and granular
in front ; brachium smooth, without crests or graiuiles ; two conspicuous
setal {lores on its \ipper side ; hand also smooth, narrower than
brachium ; digits long, the movable more than twice the length of the
hand-back, and armed with 10 rows of tooth.
roctinal teeth 15.
Measiirevients in inill inu't res.— Tohi\ length oli, length of cara[iace 3,
of tail 20 ; width of 1st segment 2','i, of Itli 2i;.
Localil'j. — Kauara (7'. Li. J). InU . A single exanq'le.
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NEW SPECIES OF SCOliriONS FROM INDIA. 263
Tho ;;(Muis Slonochirus is now to tlio fauna of Hindustan. Ilitliorto
it lias been represented by a single speoies {S. sarasinorum)^ described by
Karsch, from Coylou (Berlin Eiit. Zoitschr., XXXVI, ]). 305, pi. xii,
fig. 80, 181)2). Tho last-named spooios is unknown to me, but judging
from Karsch's dosoripticn and figure, it may be distinguished from
S. politus by its shorter fingers and broader hand, the movable digit
being, according to the figure, less than twice the length of tho hand-
back, and the hand is wider than, or at least as wide as, the brachium.
Again, in the tail of S. sarasinorum tho length of tho 2nd sogmont is
much less than the width of the 4:th. Moreover, nothing is said in
tlio description given by Karsch of tho granulation of the carajjace
and dorsal plates of tho abdomen which is so noticeable in S. poliiuts.
Isometrus brachi/centrus, sp. n.
Colour of trunk a deep blackish-brown, obscurely variegated witli
brownish-yellow ; the interocular triangle on the canipaco black ; tho
terga with a clear spot on each side of the middle line, from which an
obscure but irregular brovn band is traceable forward : thickened edge
of terga black, but just within the edge is a paler band ; tail reddish-
brown, with the median ini'erior intorcarinal space ornamented with a
black stripe, which behind fuses on each side with a black patch occupying
the lateral inferior interoarinal space : this blaok is more developed on
the posterior than on the anterior segments ; tho 5th segment, with tho
exception of its anterior part, entirely fuscous below, above, and at tho
sides; vesicle reddish-brown, with part of tho spine and of the aculeus
black ; palpi mostly a uniform reddish-brown, with merely a few black
patches on the outer side of tho hand and braohium ; fingoi-s, except then'
tips and tho area of the hand at the base of the immovable digit, black ;
logs very strongly infuscate externally; on the posterior leg the femur and
tibia almost wholly black with only one or two yellow spots ; abdominal
sterna not distinctly varicigated with black, the 3rd and 4th slighily
infuscate at tho sides, tho 5th more strongly so at the bides and
behind.
Trunk entirely covered above with fine gnmulation. Tail also finely
but not quite so closely granular ; the crests all distincitly granular; the
vesicle also granular al the sides and below, with a strongish mediait
crest ; the spine large with a bluntly rounded point, armed on the front
edge with three granules; aculeus short and strongly cursed; 2ud
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2G4 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
caudal segment with eight keels ; tail about five times the length of the
carapace, slender ; the 1st segment a little longer than wide ; 4th
segment, more than twice as long as wide, as wide as the brachium.
Palpi with hand granularlj crested above, denticulate internally, its
width a little greater than that of the brachium and nearly two-thirds as
long as the hand-back; hand-back three-quarters the length of the
movable digit, which is armed with six rows of teeth, the external
series consisting of seven,
Pectinal teeth 12.
Measurements in viilUmetres. — Total length 42, of carapace ■J, of
tail 23-5.
Zoca^%. — Mangalore (Battie)^ and Kanara (T. R, D. Bell).
This species is related to Isometrus hasilkus, described by Karsch,
from Ceylon, of which the British Museum possesses male and female
examples obtained by Mr. E. E. Green at Haldumullah in this island.
The resemblance lies in the form of the vesicle and aculeus of the
tail, size of hand, pectinal teeth, etc., but this new form differs in
being more strongly granular with a narrower tail, etc. ; the colouring
also is different, the palpi in /. hasUicus being much more s])otted with
black, while the upper side of the trunk and legs are much more
noticeably spotted with yellow ; the tail too is yellow and spotted, and
blotched throughout with bkck.
Isometrus acanthurus, sp. n.
Colour variegated yellow and black ; carapace lined with black, its
anteocular area infuscate, spotted with yellow ; tergal plates ornamented
with fine black lines separated by yellow patches ; 4th and 5th
sternal plates lined with black ; tail mostly yellow, delicately lined with
black ; the 5th segment blacker posteriorly ; vesicle also lined with
black; legs and palpi spotted ; hand slightly spotted externally ; fingers
pale, spotted externally.
Trunk and tail finely granular ; terga with a median keel ; sterna
smooth, the 4th laterally granular, the 5th granular throughout,
with four keels. Tall long and slender, about seven times the length
of the carapace ; the 2nd segment with only eight keels ; terminal
granule of superior keels on 2nd and 3rd segments long, erect, and
spinifonn ; vesicle elongate, granularly crested below ; the aculeus short
strongly curved ; spine triangular, but with blunt apex.
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NEW SPECIES OP SCORPIONS FROM INDIA. 265
ChelcB with band smooth, large, wider than brachium, its width about
half the length of the hand-back ; digits short, the moveable only as
long as the hand-back, armed with seven (eight) rows of teeth.
Pectinal teeth 16.
Measurements in millimetres. — Total length 39, length of carapace 4,
of tail 27.
A single $ example from JMatheran, received from Mr. H. M. Phip-
son. In tbe thickness of the hand and shortness of the digits this
species, as well as in tbe form of the vesicle, shortness of the aculeus,
etc., resembles /. hasilicus of Karsch from Ceylon ; but in the latter the
spine on the vesicle is not triangular but has a rounded edge ; the tail
too is much less coarsely granular, being almost smooth ; and the
superior keels of the 2nd and 3rd segments terminate posteriorly,
not in a slender upstauding spine, but in a low triangular
tubercle.
Arclnsometrus mgr/sternis, sp. n.
Colour varieg"ated black and yellow ; anteocular area of carapace
and mandibles black, rest of the carapace lined with l^lack ; dorsal plates
of abdomen with three interrupted black bands, separated by interrupted
yellow bands ; tail spotted and lined with black, the 4th and 5th
segments blacker posteriorly ; sterna of abdomen marbled with black,
tbe posterior more strongly than the anterior ; legs spotted with black ;
palpi (chelse) with femora spotted ; brachium entirely black, band
spotted externally ; fingers pale.
Trunk coarsely granular ; tergal plates with only one keel, sternal
plates smooth and polished, except the last, which is finely granular,
and is provided with four distinct keels, l^ail about five times the
length of the carapace, of medium strength, the intercarinal spaces
finely granular, the crests strong and serrulate ; the apical granule of
the superior keels of tbe first four segments and of the superior lateral
keel of the first three a little enlarged ; the 1st segment only with ten
keels ; the medial lateral keel represented on the 2nd segment by
merely a few granules ; vesicle coarsely and serially granular below ;
the spine pointed.
CJielce slender, brachium and humerus granular and normally
crested, hand without crests, scarcely toothed internally, narrower than
the brachium ; digits long and contiguous, the movable a little more
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266 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
than twice the length of the hand-back and supplied with seven (six)
rows ot" teeth.
Pectinal teeth 15-16.
Measurements in millimetres. — Total length 37 ; carapace 4 ; tail 21.
Locality. — Dehra Dun, Western Himalayas (8,01)0 feet). A single
specimen obtained by Mr. F. Gleadow.
Differs from the previously described Indian species in having only
eight keels on the second caudal segment, and the sterna strongly
infuscate. With the Indo-Malayan forms, A. scutilus, Koch, A.
flavimanus, Thor., etc , which have the same number of keels in this
segment, there is no occasion to compare this species here.
Family V^jovid.e.
Chcerilus tricostatus^ sp. n.
Colour (dry specimen) tolerably uniform reddish-brown, mottled
with black, paler below.
Carapace closely granular laterally below the longitudinal keels ;
groove behind tubercle also granular, at least the anterior half of the
area in front of the tubercle gnmular, with sometimes scattered granules
extending almost back to the tubercle ; carapace shorter than the 1st
and 2nd caudal segments, about equal to the 2nd and 3rd, also
equal to the 5th. Terga finely granular throughout, a few coarser
granules along the posterior margin and a few more in front of these ;
the lateral keels distinct and granular, though short, on segments 3-7.
Tail rather less than four times as long as the carapace, the 2nd
segment about as wide as long ; the keels normal, granular ; the upper
surface nearly smooth, at most finely granular, lateral and inferior
surface more coarsely granular ; vesicle normal in form, weakly gra-
nular behind on its lower side ; length of vesicle and uculeus a little
excelling that of the carapace.
Sterna of abdomen smooth, except the last, which has a pair of
obsolete granular crests on each side.
ChelcB. — Humerus smooth behind, granular elsewhere, the two
superior crests granular ; brachium with weakly granular crests, its
anterior surface smooth, with a few granules above ; hands rather
long and narrow, the length of the hand-back exceeding that of the
carapace, but not twice as great at the width of the hand, finely
granular, but provided with only three distinct wealdy granular keels
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NEW SPECIES OF SCORPIONS FRQM INDIA. 261
in addition to the two that border the hand-back externally and
internally ; movable digit not lobate, a little shorter than the hand-
back, just about equal to the carapace in length, with 11 rows of teeth
along its inner edge.
Pectines with 5-6 teeth.
Measurements in millimetres. — Total length 48 ; length of carapace
7'5, of tail 29 ; length of brachiuui 8, of hand-back 8*5, of movable
digit 7'5 ; width of hand 5.
Zoca?%.— Sadi, in the Khasia Hills (Colonel Godwin Austin).
Two male examples.
Differing from all the known species of the genus in possessing but
three keels on the upper and outer surface of the hand.
SeoTqnops crassimanus, sp. n.
Colour a uniform deep blackish-brown, variegated with dull reddish-
brown.
Carapace granular in front and laterally ; ocular tubercle smooth
sulcate ; carapace as lon.g as the 1st ana 2nd tail segments and about
one-third of the 3rd ; dorsal plates of abdomen granular throughout,
the last weakly crested. Tail about three-and-a-half times the length
of the carapace, moderately robust ; the keels normal in number and
granular, the superior keels of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4:th segments a
little enlarged posteriorly, the intercarinal spaces granular, the superior
more finely so than the lateral and inferior ; vesicle also finely granular,
its width a little greater than its height, and about equal to the width
of the 5th caudal segment. Sternal plates of abdomen smooth
and polished, except the last, which is granular and weakly
crested.
Chelce rather coarsely granular ; upper and lower crest on humerus
and brachium granular ; the brachium with a couple of small teeth in
front and eight setiferous pores below ; hand wide and high, its width a
little exceeding the length of the hand-back, and only a little less than
the length of the movable digit ; its upper surface lightly convex and,
like the outer surface, somewhat coarsely granular, the finger-keel of the
hand as well as its inner edge and the keels of the hand- back coarsely
granular, a supernumerary granular keel upon the middle of the outer
surface of the hand ; inner surface of hand finely granular, with a
granular crest close to its upper edge ; movable digit lightly sinuate,
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268 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
immovable correspondingly broadly lobate. Legs finely granular
externally.
Pectinal teeth 5-6.
Measurements in millimetres. — Total length 48 ; length of carapace
7-5, of tail 28 ; width of brachium 3, of hand 6; length of hand-back
5-8, of movable digit 7.
Locality. — No doubt India or Burma, but unfortunately the history
of the typical example preserved in the Natural History Museum is
unknown.
In the small number of its brachial pores and structure of the superior
caudal kesls this species falls into the same category as Sc. Hardwickei,
Gervais, Sc. Peterst, Poc, and Sc. le^ytochirus^ Poc. From the firat
it may be recognised by having the upper crest on the brachium
and hand weaker and granular, and from the last two in having the
width of the hand greater than the length of the hand-back, and the
last abdominal sternal plate weakly crested.
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269
A MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES
{ZEPHRONTID/E) INHABITING INDIA,
CEYLON, AND BURMA.
By R. I. PococK, OF the British Museum of Natural History.
Part I. (With Plate A. )
{Read before the Bomhaij Natural History Society on 14^/i of June, 1898.)
The Millipedes, wliich form the subject of the present paper, are so
striking in appearance, and occupy so unique a position amongst terres-
trial ai-thropoda, that they must he familiar objects to all who have paid
any attention to the Indian invertebrate fauna. It is consequently not
necessary for me here to occupy any time and si)ace in pointing out
the chief characters of the class to which they belong. Suffice it to say
that the only group with which the Pill-Millipedes are likely to be con-
founded are the Woodlice, and although the resemblance between a Pill-
Millipede and a Woodlouse is at first sight striking enough on account
of the peculiar formation of the body, which renders it capable of being
rolled up in a ball, there can in reality be no difficulty in distinguishing
the two if the underside of the segments be examined. For it
will bo apparent at once that whereas in the Woodlouse, which
belongs to the class Crustacea^ there is only one pair of legs to each
segment, in the Millipedes most of the segments are provided with
two pairs of limbs. Moreover, the hinder end of the body in the
crustacean is composed of a number of small segments more or less
closely crowded together, but in the Pill-Millipede the last seg-
ment is much enlarged, and acts as a kind of protective cover to the
lower side of the body when it is spherically rolled. Of course there
are other differential characters between the two not less striking than
that already mentioned ; but it is needless to enter into them here.
The Pill-Millipedes of India, Ceylon, and Burma are referable to
two genera belonging to the family Zephroniidcc. These genera are
Arthrosphoira and Zephvonia. They may be easily recognized by the
following characters : — ■
a. — ^Apex of the legs broad and truncate, the upper angle bearing a
long spine, above the claw, there being a considerable space between the
claw and the spine (PI. a, fig. 11). In the female the vulva is compos-
ed of three distinct pieces placed together in the form of a cone. In the
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270 JOURNAL, BOMnAY NATURAL JIISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI 1.
male the movable digit of the hhider pair of oopulatory feet is composed
of a single segment Arthrosphccra.
h. — Apex of the legs narrowed and pointed, the spine and the claw
nearly contiguous ( PI. A, fig. 11a ); vulva in the female composed of
onlj two pieces, a basal which bears the aperture, and a distal,
the so-called cap, which -is smooth and polished ; in the male the
posterior pair of oopulatory organs have the movaljle digit distinctly
bi-segmented Zephronia.
These two genera also appear to be distinct in their geographical
distribution, Arthrosphcera being known so far only from C-eylou ai\d
the more southern parts of India, whereas Zephnmla occurs only in
Burma and the north-eastern parts of India, ejj.^ Assam.
It may be added that the vulva mentioned in the above diagnosis is
the generative plate of the female, which is found attached to the basal
segments of the second pair of legs, and that in the male there are two
pairs of copulatory feet, both being pincer-like, situated beneath the
last or anal segment. The males further differ from the females in
having the apical segment of the antenna? enlarged.
Genus ARTHROsrn^RA, Pocock.
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (G), XVI., p. 410 (1895).
Artlirosphcera pib'fera (Butler). (PI. B, fig. 7.)
Syn. Zephronia pilifera, Butler, Ann. N. H. (4), X., p. 357 (1872);
id., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 180, pl.xix, fig. 7.
Colow dark ochraceous, dull ; head and nuchal-plate polished and
black.
Tergites thickly and closely punctured throughout and clothed with
short hairs.
Head and -} inched- pi ate coarsely and more sparsely punctured than the
teroitos ; nuchal-plate with the sinuate inferior border not marked with
a sulcus or fine ridge.
2nd tergite with abruptly sloped, smooth, shining anterior portion,
and bearing aliove this portion an almost obsolete sulcus ; lamina small,
originating gradually, and with thicikened rounded margin.
Anal tergite ( 9 ) rounded, with small single inner ridge on each
side, and a scarcely perceptible marginal notch.
The three basal segments of the legs with their inferior edges armed
with a series of sharp spines.
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A MONOGRAPn OF THE PILL-.VTLLIPEDES. 271
Vulva like that of Z. hrandti.
Length about 19 mm.
Locality. — Ceylon {R. Templeton],
This species differs from all yet kno^^•n in the spinous character of
its legs — a character overlooked by Mr. Butler in bis descrij)tion of the
type specimen.
Arth^osphcEra notkeps (Butler). (PI. B, figs. 2-2a.)
Syn. Zephroma notkeps, Butler, Ann. N. H. (4), X, p. 355 (1872) ;
id., ProG. Zool. Soc. Lend., 1873, p. 179, pi. xix, fig. 4.
Colour pale brownish-green.
Head shining, punctured somewhat sparsely, armed with about
three teeth on each side ; the ridge that bears these teeth not continu-
ous across the head, but divided in the middle line by a wide excava-
tion.
Nuchal-plate sparsel}' punctured ; inferior border strongly sinnate
and with upturned margin ; not marked with a fine groove or fine
ridge.
27id tergite thickly and very finely punctured, dull ; in front
smooth and shining ; marked close before its front margin with a
very faint sulcus, gently rounded off in front and with slightly up-
turned edge ; anterior border evenly rounded from above downwards ;
the lamina very slightly developed and with thickened margin ;
the infei'ior portion of the tergite, above the base of the lamina, faintly
ridged.
TergHes thickly and very finely punctured throughout.
Anal tergite ( 9 ) rounded from above downwards and from side to
side ; punctured like the rest ; furnished below in front on its inner
surface with a distincL black ridge, behind and below which the edge
of the tergite distinctly notched.
Vtdva mucb more quadrate and less elongate than in A. heterostida,
more resembling that of A . versicolor, but less oval.
Locality. — Ceylon, A single female example without history.
Length about 20 ram.
This species resembles Z. versicolor in the sinuate inferior border of
the nuchal-plate ; but it may easily be distinguished by the evenly
arched anterior edge of the first tergite, and by the difference in colour,
A, versicolor being beautifully marbled with yellow and black.
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272 JOUBNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL niSTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Arthrosphcera versicolor (White). (PI. B, figs, l-ld.)
Syn. Zephronia versicolor, White, Ann. N. H. (3), III, p. 405, pi. vii,
fig. 3 (1859). Humbert, Mem. Soc. Geneve, XVIII, p. 41. pi. iii,
fig. 17 (1865) ; Butlor, Proo. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 181.
This species is so unmistakable on account of its colours that a very
few words will suflBce to describe it.
Colour marbled, shining black and yellow.
Bead and nuchal-plate resembling those of Z, notkeps.
1st tergite smooth above ; rounded off in front ; lamina larger, and
rising somewhat sibruptly on a level with the eye as a forward expansion
of the anterior border.
Teryites smooth behind, punctured in front.
Anal tergite resembling that of Z. notkeps in presenting the small
ridore and marginal notch.
$. Anal tergite not saddle-shapod.
Forceps — 1st pair differing from those of Z. hrandti in that the
distal segment is distinctly divided into two by a joint which separates
a SHiall proximal from a larger distal segment ; the small proximal
jtortion furnished externally with a conspicuous prominence ; the larger
distal portion furnished below with a single backwardly directed tooth,
and internally at the apex with a second tooth. 2nd pair, with second
segment much shorter than in Z. hrandti ; its dactylar prolongation inter-
nally concave and denticulate, its external border evenly convex, its apex
slender and curved ; the distal segment less blade-like than in Z, hrandti,
inner surface hollowed and posteriorly denticulated, apex rounded.
Vulva formed on same plan as that of Z. hrandti^ but less elongate,
the internal lamina being stouter.
Length 26-40 mm.
Locality. — Ceylon, Peradenia (Tkwaltes coll.).
This species is most nearly related to i/. noticeps, but, apart from its
coloration, differs from it in the abrupt mode of origin of the lamina
of the Ist tergite.
Arthrosphcera Brandti (Humbert).
Sphceropaus Brandti, Humbert, Mem. Soc. Phys., Geneve, XVIII,
p. 38, pi. iii., fig. 15 (1865) ; Pocock, J'ourn. Bombay Nat. Hist.
Soc, VII., p. 143(1892).
Zephronia chitonoides, Butler, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4). X, p. 354,
pi. xviii, fig. 2 (1872).
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A MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL'.VILLIPEDES. 273
This species, which is of not infrequent occurrence in Ceylon, 1 have
described at some length in the pages of this journal as cited above.
It may be without difl&culty identified by the key to the species of the
genus published below.
The Museum has examples ticketed merely Ceylon (Dr. A. Smith
and R. Templeton), and others from Punduloya (E, E. Green). The
examples named Z. chitonoides, are labelled Madras (Dr. A. Smith) ; but
I suspect this is an error for Ceylon.
Arthrosphctra rugulosa (Butler).
Zephron'ta rugulosa, Butler, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4), X, p. 855,
pi. xviii, fig. 1 (1872).
This species was based upon a small and probably immature specimen
from Ceylon (R. Templeton). It seems to diflFer from A. Brandti only
in the characters pointed out in the synoptical table (pp. 281, 282).
ArthrosphcBra inermis (Humbert).
SpilicBropcBus inermis, Humbert, Mem. Soc. Phys., Geneve, XVIII,
p. 37, pi. iii, fig. 17 (1865).
Occurring in Ceylon, Pundaloya, &g. This species seems to differ
from the preceding merely in the absence of the tooth-bearing rid o-e
on the back of the head.
The Museum has examples ticketed Ceylon (Templeton), Pundaloya
(E. E. Green) ; also examples ticketed Madras (Dr. A. Smith), which,
like the specimen of A. Brandti mentioned above, are probably errone-
ously labelled.
Arihrosphoera corrugata (Butler).
Zephronia corrugata, Butler, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4), X, p. 355,
(1872) ; id., Proc. Zool. Soc- Lend., 1873, p. 180, pi. xxi, fig. 8.
Differs form Z. inermis, Humbert, in having the second tergite and
those that succeed it coarsely sculptured to the posterior border.
Perhaps it will prove to be merely a variety of A. inermis, in which the
extent to which the sculpturing spreads over the tergal plates appears
to be variable.
Locality. — Ceylon (R. Templeton).
Arthrosphcera lieterostida (Newp,). (PI. A, figs. 3-3b.)
Zephronia heterosticta, Newport, Ann. Nat. Hist. (1), XIII, p. 265
(1844) ; Pocock, Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, VII, p. 145, pl. i,
fig. 1 (1892). (Excluding synonymy.)
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274 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
This species I have also described in this journal as cited above.
The type specimen of this species is simply labelled India. But
examples sent from Madras by Mr. Thurston appear to be co-specific
with it.
ArthorsYihcGra hdescens (Butler). (Pi. B, figs, 4-4a.)
Zephronia lutescens, Butler, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4), X, p. 356
(1872) ; also Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 179, pi. xix, fig. 9.
In the Bombay Nat. Hist, Soc, VIL p. 145, 1892, I added this
species to the synonymy of A. heterosticta of Newport. But until we
have more conclusive evidence of the identity of the two forms, it is
wiser to regard them as distinct, though the two are undoubtedly
closely allied.
There is no locality nearer than India known for the t}^e,
Arthrosphcera atrisparsa (Butler). (PI. B, fig. 5.)
Zephronia atrlsp>arsa, Butler, Trans. Ent. Soc., 1878, p. 302.
This species also was regarded by myself as identical with
A. heterosticta, from which, however, it differs in possessing the secondary
arched groove on the second tergite, a character in which it resembles
A . lutescens, of which it will perhaps prove to be the male when
freshly preserved and numerous examples come to hand for examina-
iion.
Locality. — Bombay District. A single male example,
Arthrosphcera leopardina (Butler).
Zephronia leopardina, Butler, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4), X, p. 356
(1872) ; id., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lend., 1873, p. 181, pi. xix, fig. 10.
I previously added this species to the synonymy oi A. inermis. It
may however be recognised from A. inerinis at least by the presence of
the crest on the inner side of the anal tergite. The type specimen
is small and possibly immature, and the value that is to be attached to
the colouring is, 1 think, doubtful.
Locality. — Ceylon {R. Templeton),
Arthrosphcera marmorata (Butler). (PI. B, figs. 6-Ga.)
Zephronia marmorata, Butler, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5), IX, p.
197 (1882).
llie characters of this species, based upon badly preserved speci-
mens, without record of exact locality in India, are set forth in the
subjoined synoptical table of species.
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A MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 275
Arthrosphcera zehraica (Butler). (PI. B, figs. 3-3 a.)
Zephronia zehraica, Butler, Aun. Nat. Hist. (4), X, p. 356,
pi. xviii, fig. 4 (1872).
Colour. — Head and uuclial-plate deep blackish- brown, the latter with
a narrowly fulvous hinder border ; 2ud tergite almost entirely palo
yellow, its lamina and front Ijorder alone pioeous ; terga 3 to 10 piceous,
with lateral portions and posterior border broadly yellow ; anal tergite
almost wholely yellow, with a pair of irregularly triangular, brown
patches in its upper half.
Head and nuchal-plate and 2nd tergite sparsely punctured.
Lamina of 2nd tergite very small, with its margin evenly thickened ;
rest of the tergites smooth behind, closely punctured in front.
Anal tergite finely punctured throughout, evenly convex, its
border not grooved nor notched, the inner crest double, the anterior
piece as large as the posterior.
Vulva as in figure.
Length 48 mm. Width 26.
Locality. — -Bombay. A single typical ^ example.
Arthrosphcera Wroughtoni (Pocock). (PI. A, figs. 1-lc.)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), XVI, p. 411 (1S95).
Colour. — Head, nuchal-plate, and second tergite mostly a deep rich
blackish-brown ; the upper border of the head and the lamina of the
2ad tergite as well as its posterior border reddish-yellow ; rest of
the tergites deep green, with a pale golden-green baud crossing
from side to side just in front of the posterior border, which is
narrowly black ; anal tergite yellow ia its lower third, black above,
its margin deep brownish-black ; antennae black, with pale sensory
area at apex ; legs rich reddish-yellow.
Headf nuchal-plate, and 2nd tergite as in ^4. zehraica^ but the latter
minutely punctulate ; the rest of the terga minutely punctulate through-
out, but more coarsely so and partially striolate in front j anal tergite
evenly convex, its margin grooved, the groove extending on each side
from the notch, which with a faint ridge marks the point of fusion of
one of the terga with that of the anal segment ; the inner crest
double, a short anterior piece corresponding with the fused tergite and
a longer posterior piece.
Legs rarely with two spines aboye the claw.
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276 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xlt.
Length about 39 mm. Width about 19.
Locality. — Kanara. A single $ example collected by Mr. R. C
Wronghton.
Diifors from A. zehraica, which it somewhat approaches in colour, in
being puuctulate throughout, in having the margin of the anal tergite
grooved, and the posterior half of the inner ridge mu<'h longer ; the
colours on the 2nd tergite moreover are reversed, the lamina being
yellow and the rest black.
Arthrosphcera aurocincta, sp. n. (PI. A, figs. 10-lOa.)
9 . Colour an olive-brown or green, mottled or clouded irregularly
with black spots ; posterior border of all the tergites marked with a
sharply defined brownish-red stripe.
Head and nuchal-plate only sparsely punctured, smooth ; 2nd
isergite very sparsely and weakly punctured ; its margin evenly
thickened throughout ; succeeding tergites coarsely and densely
sculptured with punctures in front, with smooth posterior border, the
intervening area finely coriaceous ; anal tergite covered all over with
a dense sculpturing of coarse anastamosing punctures, with a marginal
groove, a small inferior anterior notch and a long double inner crest,
the posterior part of which is about twice the length of the anterior.
Vulva of much the same form as in A. zehraica, but with the
inner skeletal piece longer and surpassing the outer almost as in
A. versicolor.
$. With apical antennal segment larger than in ? , anal tergite slight-
ly saddle-shaped belov/ ; copulatory feet almost as in A. Wroughioni,
Length of $ G5 nun. (2i inches). Width 32 mm.
Locality. — E. Indies (received from the East Lidian Museum).
There is unfortunately no definite locality for these specimens.
There is little doubt however that they were from some part of India.
They are noticeable as being the largest known specimens of the
genus.
Arthrosphaira Thurstonl, Pocock. (PI. A, figs. 2-2d.)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (G), XVI, p. 411 (189.5).
Colour varying from pale olive- greeii to yellowish-brown ; terga
thickly or sparsely spotted with black, with a narrow but distinct black
stripe along the posterior border of terga 2 to 12; the 2nd tergite
and the anal generally of a redder tint than tne others ; head and
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A MONOGRAPH OF TEE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 277
nuohal-plato olive-green or brown ; antennse und legs olive-green ;
basal segments of the latter pale.
Resembling A. heterostlcta in strncture of head, nuchal-plate, and
2nd tergite, but the margin of the lamina gradually becoming thicker
from below up to the level of the eyes, although not abruptly
thicker at this point. Terga smooth and polished, sparsely marked
with shallow punctures, anal tergite entirely smooth, not saddle-
shaped, without marginal sulcus, but notch distinct and continued on
the inner surface by a fine sulcus which divides the inner crest into
two ; the anterior portion of the crest short, only as long as the crest on
the tergite in front ; the part behind it about three times the length.
Vulva with largo, nearly semicircular movable digit of first pair of
copnlatory forceps long and distinctly hooked at the apex (for the rest,
see figure).
Length 9 34, width 18-5 ; of $ length 27, width 13-5.
Locality. — Nilgiri Hills [E. Thurston).
Also four specimens, too badly preserved to bo certainly determinable,
from Dimhutti, near Kotagiri, Nilghiri Hills, 1,000 feet, and others
belonging to this or a closely-allied species from Yercaud in the
Sheveroy Hills {J. R. Henderson),
This species differs from A. heterosticta in many characters, of which
not the least striking are those connected with the generative organs.
But in addition the margin of the lamina is evenly thickened in
^4. heterosticta, and the crest on the inner border of the anal tergite is
represented merely by a single anterior tubercle.
Arthrosphcera Ilendersoni (Pocock). (PI. A, figs. 4:-4d.)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), XVI., p. 411 (1895).
^,9. Colour deep olive-brown with irregular black blotches over
the segments ; head and nuchal-plate piceous ; autennre and legs
green ; basal segments of the latter fulvous.
Head and nuchal-plate polished, sparsely punctured ; 2nd tergite
densely punctured above, smoother in front ; lamina small, margin
evenly arched, but with a conspicuous nodular thickening opposite the
eye ; rest of the terga, namely 3 to 10, with hinder border smooth, the
rest densely corrugated and punctured, pubescent in front; the
inferior angles of the 8th to the 10th considerably thickened and pro-
duced both posteriorly and externally.
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278 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Anal tergite lightly saddle-shaped in both sexoa, without a marginal
groove, with a distinct notch ; inner crest short, single, and corre-
sponding nearly to the fused tergite defined by the notch. Copulatory
feet : first pair with ridge on second segment close to inner edge ; basal
segment of movable digit produced into a strong quadrate tooth ; dista]
segment deeply grooved below, with a single apical tooth on its pos-
terior surfaces ; second pair as in figure.
Length 46 mn.; width 23.
Locality. — Kodaikanal, Paluai Hills, 7,000 feet (J. R. Henderson).
Arthrosphcera disticta (Pocock). (PI. A, figs. 5- 5b.)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), XVL, p. 411 (1895).
Co/ouj' much like that of A. htterosticta ; head, antennae and logs
deep green ; nuchal-plate with a large double patch of deep green nearly
covering it ; the rest of the terga a deep olive-yellow, variegated with
black spots, and bearing on each Bide in their anterior half a large
irregular black patch ; these patches, however, almost absent on the
anal tergite.
Head densely punctured below. Nuchal-plate nearly smooth. 2nd
tergite with the lamina small, the margin a little thickened opposite
the eye, crossed above by a faint arched groove, densely punctulate
and pubescent ; the crest of the tergite densely and very finely punc-
tulate throughout ; covered with fine pubescence. Anal tergite evenly
convex, its margin not sulcate, weakly notched on each side in front ;
the inner crest double, its anterior portion longish, twice the length of
the posterior portion. Copulatory feet very like those of A, fumosa^
but with the ridge on the second segment of the first pair farther from
the inner margin, and the tooth-like projection on the basal segment of
the movable digit longer.
Length 26 mm. ; width 14.
Locality.— Yeroaud, Sheveroy Hills (/. R. Henderson).
Arthrosphcera hicolor (Pocock). (PI. A, figs. G-6b.)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), XVI, p. 411 (1805).
$, Colour, — Antennae deep green, head and nuchal plate chestnut-
brown, the former oohre-yellow below, pale green above ; 2nd tergite
mostly cheatnut-brown, its anterior portion above, its lateral portion
l)ehiud ; and the lamina, with the exception of its thickened edge, flavous ;
the rest of the tergites flavous, but the 3rd to 7th with their posterior
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A MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 279
margins bearing a chestnut stripe which gradually fades away laterally ;
the extreme inferior angles of the terga and the hinder border of the
anal tergite also chestnut-brown.
Legi pale green, with coxa and apices of tarsi yellow.
Head densely punctured below ; smooth, like the nuclial "plate, above.
2nd tergite smooth, punctured in front ; lamina small, its margin strong-
ly thickened opposite the eye ; the rest of the terga densely punctulate
and pubescent throughout, except for the chestnut-brown border on
segments 3 — 7, which is polished.
Anal tergite very slightly saddle-shaped, its edge not sulcata, weakly
notched, with only the posterior half sf the inner crest developed.
Copulatori) feet much lil^e those of A. Ilendersoni, but with the tooth of
the basal segment of the movable digit of the first pair shorter, and the
distal segment longer ; the apical tooth farther from the extremity.
Length, 38 mm. ; width 21.
Locality. — Salem, Sheveroy Hills {J. R. Henderson).
Arthrosphara JDavisoni (Pocock). (PI. A, figs. 7-7b.)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), XYI, p. 412 (1895).
Colour brown or olivaceous, sometimes mottled with large pale
patches, the posterior portion of the tergites a little darker than the
anterior ; antennae olivaceous with yellow apical sensory area ; legs pale
olivaceous, with brightish yellow basal segments.
Head and vuchal-plate-polished, the former coarsely and closely
punctured below ; 2nd tergite finely coriaceous, with distinct punctua-
tion along the anterior and posterior borders ; lamina small, its margin
strongly and abruptly thickened opposite the eye ; the rest of the terga
lightly wrinkled in front, finely coriaceous ; the middle of the upper sur-
face densely punctured in the middle, less densely in front and behind ;
some of the segments, i.e., the posterior, pubescent in front.
Anal tergite only very slightly saddle-shaped, densely punctured
throughout ; the border not sulcate and distinctly or indistinctly notched ;
the inferior lateral angle marked externally with a distinct pit ; the
posterior half of the inferior lateral crest very small or absent, the
anterior half as long as that upon the preceding tergite.
Generative organs much like those of A. Eendersoni ; the proximal
portion of the vulva smaller as compared with the distal portions, with
its angles sharper.
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280 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
In the first pair of copulatory feet the crest upon the second segment
runs, along the inner edge, and in the second pair the immovable digit
is wider and has no deep notch at its base.
Length of 9 31 mm. ; of $ 22.
Locality.— Coimbatore, Animallai Hills, 4,700 feet {W. Davison),
Arthrosphcera fumosa, Pocock. (PI. A, fig. 8.)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) XVI, p. 412 (1895).
Colour pale olivaceous, the posterior half of the tergites, except of the
second and anal, smoky black ; head, nuchal-plate, and 2nd tergite,
piceous, the latter and the rest of the segments mottled with pale
blotches and black spots ; legs and antennae deep olive-green, basal seg-
ment of former pale.
$. Resembling A, Davisoni, but differing as follows: — Anterior
portion of tergites rugose and punctured ; posterior portion smooth and
highly polished. Second tergite polished, at most minutely punctu-
late ; lamina as in A, Davidsonij but the marginal thickening much
smaller. A7ial tergite densely and closely punctured, with anterior
angular pit.
Vulva as in figure. -
Length 35 mm.; width 16.
Locality.— Goimbatore, 4,700 feet ( W. Davison).
ArthrosphcBra Dalyi^ Pocock. (PI. A, figs. 9-9a.)
Ann. Nat. Hist. (6), XVI, p. 412 (1895).
Colour a deep olive-brown or green, the posterior border of the
tergites sometimes reddish ; head, nuchal-plate and 2nd tergite
piceous ; antennae and legs green, the former with the two basal seg-
ments ochraceous.
Head., nuchal-plate^ and 2nd tergite polished, smooth, the first
densely punctured below ; lamina of second as in A, Ilendersoni, but
the marginal thickening smaller. The other terga pubescent and punc-
tulate in front as in A. Henderson!^ perfectly, smooth and polished in
their hinder half ; anal tergite punctured and pubescent above ; margin
not grooved but furnished with a small notch ; the inner crest single,
and rather longer than that on the tergite in front of it.
Length 3Gmm., width 29.
Locality. — Lone Cottage, Palnai Hills, 6,000 feet (J. R. Henderson);
also some smaller ( ? younger) specimens perhaps of the same species,
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A MONOGttAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 281
but more extensively hairy and punctured, from Rodaikanal in the
Palnai Hills, 7,000 feet altitude.
Arthrosphcera nit/da^ sp. n.
Nearly allied to A. Daly!.
A uniform deep olive-green, lightly mottled with paler spots ; borders
of terga not distinctly redder, terga much smoother, only the anterior
third of them punctured, the rest exceedingly smooth and polished ;
anal iergite entirely smooth and polished, without marginal notch ; the
inner crest longer, at least twice the length of the one on the tergite
in front, and not bounded behind by a fine vertical groove.
/ Length 27mm., width 14*5.
Locality. — Kodaikanal, Palnai Hills, 7,000 feet {J. R. Henderson).
Key to the Species of Arthrosphcera.
a. Basal segments of legs with strongly toothed inferior edges.
(Body pimctured and rugose throughout ; no teeth on
head) ,,, pilifera (Butl.)
b. Basal segments of legs with lower edges not toothed.
a\ A prominent ridge armed with spines running along the top
of the head from side to side above the eyes.
a^. Ridge on head mesially interrupted by a downwarc^ pro-
longation of the lower border of the nuchal-plate, which
is deeply bisinuate.
a'. Anterior border of second tergal plate strongly
produced on a level with the eye ; smooth,
polished, marbled black and yellow ^...versicolor
(White).
b . Anterior border of 2nd tergite not produced ;
densely punctured, not poHshed, dull greenish
tint noticeps (Butl.).
K'. Ridge on head continued from side to side without
interruption ; lower edge of nuchal-plate scarcely
bisinuate.
a*. Anal tergite with a small tuberculiform inner
crest ; tergal plates including the second
punctured and roughened to the very maro-in
rugulosa (Butl.).
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282 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCit:TY, Vol. XI t.
h . Anal tergitc without inner crest ; second tergite and
posterior border of the rest smooth Brandti (Humb.).
b ' . Head furnished neither with ridge nor with teeth.
a^. 2ud tergite witliout an abrupt tuberculiform
thickening on a level with the eye.
a*. Anal tergite without an inner lateral,
marginal crest.
a'. 2nd tergite and posterior half of the rest
smooth and polished.,. zWrmz's (Humb.).
6'. 2nd tergite and the following coarsely
sculptured to the posterior margin.
corrugata (Butl.).
W'. Anal tergite with a conspicuous inner lateral
orest.
If'. 2nd tergite with a conspicuous arched
groove running behind and parallel
to its front border.
a^. Green, marbled with black
atrisparsa (Butl.).
a*. Green, not marbled with black
lutescens (Butl.).
If. 2nd tergite without a conspicuous
secondary grove.
c^^. Body very conspicuously
striped yellow and black,
a yellow stripe running
along the posterior
border,
a^^ 2nd tergite yellow
with black anterior
border ; anal ter-
gite sparsely punc-
tured, without
distinct marginal
groove ...zehraica
(Butl.).
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A MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 283
6^\ 2nd tergite dark,
with yellow hinder
border; anal tergite
densely punctured
and reticulated with
marginal groove.
a^2. Only the lower edge of
the anal tergite nar-
rowly flavous...ai<ro-
cinda^ Poc.
512. At least the lower third
of the anal tergite
broadly flavous
Wroughtord, Poc.
^10 Body spotted, not distinctly striped.
'a}^ Spots having the form of large irregular blotches.
a^^ 2nd tergite and posterior border of the rest smooth
and polished leopardlna (Butl.)
ju. 2nd tergite and those succeeding it entirely
coriaceous ; of large size marmorata (Butl.).
613. Spots smaller, irregularly arranged, and black.
ai5 Antero-lateral portion of the margni ot the
lamina of the 2nd tergite thicker than the part
above and below it ; anal tergite with long
, • ^ ^vosf TJiurstoni, Poc.
posterior crest
&15 Edo-e of lamina evenly thickened ; anal tergite
^•ith short posterior crest heterosttcta (Newp.)
^5 Margin of 2nd tergite with a large or small but abrupt thickening
* onl level with the eye; lower edge of anal tergite not grooved.
a'«. Mostlv pale yellow; 2nd segment chestnut-brown,
a stripe of the same colour on the hinder border
of segments 3 to 7 ^^^olor, Po°-
£i«. Colour various, mostly a uniform dark green or
browuj often mottled.
al^ Posterior inferior angles of terga 8 to 10
thickened and out-turned ; terga densely
con-ugated ; mottled Hemlersoni, Poc,
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284 JOURNAL, B02IBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
6'^ Posterior inferior tingles not thickened and
out-turned ; posterior half of terga finely
punctured or smooth.
a}^. Colour a deep olive-yellow spotted with
black ; a large black patch on each side
of the terga , distida, Poc.
P*. Colour a deep olive-green or brown, often
variegated, but without a large lateral
patch on the terga.
a^*. Anal tergite and posterior two-thirds of
the others perfectly smooth and
polished ; colour deep olive-green,
mottled nltida, Poc.
i". Anal tergite punctured throughout or at
least above.
a^^. Anterior half of the terga densely
pubescent in the adult (terga entirely
pubesoent in young) Dalyi, Poc.
6'°. Terga not pubescent,
a^^. Posterior half of terga (excepting
the anal) smooth and polished; anal
tergite without impression on its
anteriorinferior angle. /wwosa, Poc.
t'^ Posterior half of terga not polished,
dull, punctulate ; anal tergite with
a pitlike impression on its anterior
inferior angle, Davisoniy Poc.
Explanation of Plate A. ■ - '
Fig. 1 ArthrosphcBra Wroughtoni : iiatural size.
, \a „ „ lateral view of second tergite.
^^ \h „ „ posterior forceps of copnlatory
organ.
Ic „ anterior forceps of copnlatory
organ.
,j 2 „ Thurstoni : natural size.
2a ,, ,» lateral view of 2nd tergite.
21) „ anterior foroepB of copnlatory
organ.
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A .MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 285
Fig. 2c Arthrosphcera Thurstoni : posterior forceps of copulatorj
organ.
„ 2d „ „ vulva.
3 , heterostida : vulva of specimen labelled
" ' *' Madras."
3a jj anterior forceps of copulatory
organ.
35 „ „ posterior forceps of copulatory
organ.
4, „ Ilendersoni : natural size.
4a „ „ lateral view of 2nd segment.
45 jj „ anterior foroeps of copulatory
organ.
4c „ „ posterior forceps of copulatory
organ.
„ vulva.
distida : natural size.
„ lateral view of 2nd tergite.
„ basal segment of anterior forceps.
hicolor : natural size.
„ lateral view of 2ud tergite.
bicolor : anterior forceps of copulatory
organ.
Davisoni: anterior forceps cf copulatory
organ.
,, posterior forceps of copulatory
organ.
,j vulva.
fumosa : ^Tllva.
Dalyi : anterior forceps of copulatory organ
„ vulva.
aurocinda : natural size.
„ lateral view of 2nd tergite.
11 Apes of the foot in ArthrosphcEra.
,',' 11a „ „ Zephronia.
[_To he continued.'l
"mc -Dmin^ the passage of this paper th.ough the press, two alleged new species
of Arthrn,ohrerl have been described by F. Silvestri (Am. See. Ent. Belgique XLI,
pp 359-360' November, 1897), namely, Arthr^spycpra corrugata and A margmella. For
neither of these species is the locality known ; fnc name given to the first is already
in us> aid m-Tsfc therefore in any case be discarded, and the descriptions of both are
not of a nature to make it possible for me to assign to these species iheir position .n
the foregoing claBsification.
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286
BIRDS COLLECTED DURING FIVE YEARS' RESIDENCE
IN TPIE HYLAKANDY DISTRICT, CACHAR.
Paet VI.
By C. M. Inglis.
(Continued from p. 481, Vol. J I.)
Order Striges.
Family Strigidce.
Genus Strix (Linn., 1766).
Hume, No. 60; Blanf.^ No. 1152. Strix flammea (Linn.). — The
Barn Owl.
I have never shot this species here ; but it is found in Silchar, and
I dare say will be found in Hylakandy as well.
Subfamily Buhonincc.
Genus j^<?^Mj9a (Less., 1831).
201 Hume, No. 72; Blanf., No. 1164:. Ketupa zeylonensis (Gmel.). —
name- The Brown Fish Owl.
np^hi^'' ^^^ ^^^y ^"^^® here, its loud cry being often heard at night. It
is also, like Striv Jiammea, considered a bird of evil omen by the
natives.
200
pecha.
Genus Bubo (Dumeril, 1806).
202 Hume ^ No. 70; Blanf.^ iVo. 1169. Bubo COROMANDUS (Lath.). —
The Dusky Horned Owl.
. Fairly common. Often met with in the patches of jungle found
near the Bengali busties. It breeds in December. A coolie brought
me a young bird of this species which he took from a hollow in a tree.
Ho showed me the place next day ; there was practically no lining to it,
only a handful of leaves. However I did not examine it very carefully,
as it was not very sweet smelling. I kept the young one alive a long
time. When an}' one approached its cage, it would make a clapping
noise with its bill and utter a sound like hoo hoo, hoo hoo, at the same
time bending its h(ud forward and puffing out its neok-feathors. It
was very partial to Bulbuls, but w^ould scarcely look at a Myna.
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BIRDS COLLECTED IN THE HYLAKANDY DISTRICT. 287
Genus /Scops (Savigny, 1810).
Hume, No.Id; Blanf., No. illS. ScoPS bakkam(Ena (Forst.).— The 203
Collared Scops Owl.
The variety found here is htiia, and is rather scarce. The only
specimens I got were in thin bamboo jungle. It breeds here, as
I have found eggs in the oviduct of the female nearly ready for
ejection.
Genus Athene (Boie, 1822).
Hume, No. 76 ; Blan/.^ No. 1180. Athene beama (Temm.).— The 204
Spotted Owlet.
Exceedingly common. They breed here about March in the holes of
"trees, as many as three or four pairs sometimes in the same tree.
Genus Glaucidium (Boie, 1826).
Hume, No. 79 ; Blanf.^ No. 1183. Glaucidium cuculoides jos
(Vigors).— The Large-barred Owlet.
Rather common. It frequents both thin tree and bamboo jungle.
It may be often seen in the day-time perched on a bamboo at the edge
of the jungle.
Hume, No. 77 i Blanf.^ No. 1181. Glaucidium radiatum (Tick). — 206
The Jungle Owlet.
Like the former species, this is also sometimes met with in daylight.
Genus Nino.v (RoQ\gi>., 1837).
Hume^ No. 81 his; Blanf., No. 1187. Ninox scutulata (Raffl.). — 207
The Brown Hawk Owl.
A rare bird here. I have never heard its cry. The only specimen*
. got was shot at dusk whilst hawking along the edge of the jungle.
Order Accipitres.
Family Vulturidce.
Genus Otogijps (Gray, 1841).
Hume, No. 2 \ Blanf., No. 1191. Otogyps galvUS (Scop.). — The 208
Black Vulture.
Not very common, but a pair or two are generally to be seen Native
wherever there is a dead carcase. Lall'^r Rai-
" I have two specimens which Mr. Inglis very kindly gave me some years ago ; tbey
were amongst a number sent me to identify and which were afterwards made over to me
and are now in my collections. (E.C.S.B.)
gidh.
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288 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
209
210
Native
name—
Gidh.
211
212
316
Native
name —
Mohar.
2H
Genus Gyps (Savigny, 1810).
Hume, No. 4 ter ; Blanf., No. 1195. Gyps tenuieostris (Hodgs.). —
The Himalayan Long-billed Vulture.
I have never shot this Vulture, but it is, I expect, this species and
not G. indicus that is found here.*
Genus Pseudogyps (Sharpe, 1873).
Hume, No. 5 ; Blanf., No. 1190. Pseudogyps bengalensis
(Gmel.).— The Indian White-backed Vulture.
This is our commonest Vulture. They are very quarrelsome,
and keep up an incessant noiso the whole time whilst feeding.
Family Falconidce.
Genus Aquila (Brisson, 1760).
Hume, No. 29; Blanf.^ No. 1203. Aquila vindhiana (Frank.) —
The Indian Tawny Eagle.
I have got a single specimen of this Eagle. It is the only one 1
have ever seen, and must be very rare here. It was shot in December.
The plumage is the same as that of A. fidvescens.
Genus Sjn-cetus (ViGilL, 1816).
Hume^ No. 34 ; Blanf., No. 1212. Spiz^etus limn^tus (Horsf.). —
The Changeable Hawk Eagle.
I have a single specimen, a female, which was shot by one of my
men whilst crossing a clearance in the jungle, and kindly identified for
me by Mr. Hole.
Genus Spllornis (G. R. Gray, 1840).
Hume, No. 39, Bla7if., No. 1217. Spilornis cheela (Lath.).— The
Crested Serpent Eagle.
Exceedingly common. A favourite perch of this species is on the
top of a dead tree, from which it soars when disturbed, uttering every
few minutes its querulous note. I have shot young birds, so expect it
breeds here.
Genus PoUocrIus (Kaup., 1847).
Hume, No. 41 j Blanf., No. 1226. Polio iETUS ichtht^tus
(Horsf.).— The Large Grey-headed Fishing Eagle.
Fairly common. Generally found either on trees near bheels, or else
sitting on a stump in the water watching for fish.
• ' In this Mr. Inglia is probably right, but no doubt, O. indicut is also to be found some-
timea in Hylakandy.' (B. C. S. B.)
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218
BIRDS COLLECTED IN TBE E7LAKAND7 DISTRICT. 289
Genus Haliastur (Selby, 1840).
Hume, No. 55 ; Blanf., No. 1228. Haliastdr Indus (Bodd.).— The 216
Brahminy Kite.
Common. Frequents marshes and paddy-fields. After a shower of naro'e—
rain numbers congregate to feed on the termites which fly from the Lall or
ground. They breed here.
Genus Milvus (Cuvier, 1800).
216
Hume^ No. 56 ; Blanf.j No. 1229. Milvus govinda (Sykes.). — Native
The Common Pariah Kite. Exceedingly common. °Chi~
Hume, No. 56 bis ; Blanf., No. 1230. Milvus melanotis (Temm. 217
and Schleg.). — The Large Indian Kite.
Only found, I think, during the cold weather. *
Genus Elanus (Savigny, 1810).
Hume, No. 59 ; Blanf., No. 1232. Elanus CiERULEUS (Desf.). —
The Black-winged Kite.
Kather rare. The only one I got was shot whilst hovering like a
Kestrel. A few generally seen each year.
Genus Circus (Lacepede, 1801).
Hume, No. 51 ; Blanf., No. 1233. Circus macrurus (Gmel.). — sit
The Pale Harrier.
Ratier scarce. I shot one once flying over the tea in the cold season.
Hume, No. 50 ; Blanf.^ No. 1235. Circus cyaneus (Linn.).— 220
The Hen Harrier.
Decidedly rare. I have only seen one since collecting.
Hume, No. 53 ; Blanf., No. 1236. Circus melanolkocus (Forst.). — 221
The Pied Harrier.
Very oommon during the cold season, adult males predominating, f
Humcj No. 54 ; Blanf., No. 1237. Circus acruginosus (Linn.). — 222
The Marsh Harrier.
Fairly common near the jheels during the cold weather.
* *•■ This is interesting; the local movements of kites are very peculiar in the hilly portion
of the district ; this kite is a permanent inhabitant, whereas M, govinda seems to be the
Winter visitant." (E. C, S. B.)
t " I think this note may probably be due to an oversight on Mr. Inglis' part. I have
collected Harriers very carefully and constantly for twelve years in Cachar and there is no
doubt whatsoever that females and non-adult males number at least ten to every adult
male. Of course Harriers are not at all easy birds to discriminate, and it is possible that
immature males may have been ascribed to other species." (K. C. S, B.)
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290 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Genus Astur (Lacepede, 1801).
223
Hume, No. 23 ; Blanf.^ No. 1244. Astur BADips (Gmel.).---
. The Shikra.
Native
name— Very common. I have often snared them and flown them at small
Shikra. , , ^
birds.
Genus Accipiter (Brisson, 1760).
224
Hume, No. 24 ; Dlayif., No. 1247. Accipiter nisus (Linn.).—
The Sparrow Hawk.
Very rare. I have only got a single specimen.
Hume., No. 25 ; Blanf.., No. 1248. Accipiter virgatus (Reinw.).—
The Besra Sparrow Hawk.
Commoner than the last. I have found it both in the jungle and the
open.
Genus Falco (Linn., 1766).
^^^ Hume, No. 8 ; Blar.f., No. 1254. Falco peregrinus (Tunst.).—
The Peregrine Falcon.
Native *
name— Rare here. I have seen it pursue and strike an Imperial Pigeon.
^ Another time some coolies rescued the remains of a Pheasant {E. Jwrs-
fieldi) which this species had killed.
Hume., No. 14; Blanf., No. 12GI. Falco severus (Horsf.).—
The Indian Hobby.
A single specimen shot whilst swooping at something on the ground.
They have rather a swift flight.
Genus Erythropus (Brehen, 1828).
228 Hume, No. 19 his ; Blanf., No. 1262. Erythbopus amurensis
(Gurncy). — The Eastern Red-leggfid Falcon.
Latterly I found this species rather plentiful, flocks passing over
my bungalow in the evening. I have several times brought down two
or three at one shot whilst roosting. Their flight is rather swift, and
much resembles that of i^. severus.
Genus jEsalon (Kaup., 1829).
-2^ Hume., No. 16 ; Blanf., No. 1264. iEsALON chicquera (Daud.). —
The Turumti.
Native Very rare. I have only a single specimen, a female, shot on
Turumuti.the wing.
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niRDS COLLECTED IN TEE HYLAKANDY DISTRICT. 291
Genus Tinnunculus (Vicill., 1807).
Hume, No, 17 ; Blanf., No. 1265. TiXisUNCULUs alaodarius (Linn.). 230
— Tlie Kestrel.
Very common. Often seen hovering over grass and paddy lands.
Genus Micwhierax (Sharpe, 1874).
Hume, No. 20 his ; Blanf. ^ No. 1268. Microhierax melanoleocus 231
(Blyth).— The White-legged Falconet.
Exceedingly rare, I have only shot a single specimen. *
* "I have a pair from Hylakandy and lately Mr. Primrose also recorded a pair, I think,
from the same part of the district; from their flight, so mucli resembling that of a Swallow-
fhrike, I fancy tlrat, though they are decidedl}' r-.re anyhow, they are sometimes
overlooked." (B.C. S. B.)
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292
A CATALOGUE OF THE HETFAWCERA OF SIKHIM AND
BHUTAN.
Bt G. C. Dudgeon, f.e.s.
With Notes by H. J. Elwes, f.z.s., f.e.s., &c.,
AND
Additions by Sir George F. Hampson, Bart., b.a., f.e.s., &c.
Part V.
{Continued from jjage 42, Vol. XII.)
Family TINiEGERIID^^.
Genus Snellenia, Wlsm.
397. S. coccinea, Wlsm.
Sikhim, 5,000 foot. (The type of this species, which is now in Lord
Walsingham'a collection, was taken hy me in July bolow Uarjeeling. —
H. J. E.)
398. S. tarsellaj Wlsin.
Sikhim. I have not seen a specimen.
Genus Eretmoceka, Zell.
400. E. impactella, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,500 feet. I have several specimens which I
took during the day at flowers in May and July.
Family SYNTOMIDiE.
Genus Ceryx, Wllgrn.
401. C. imaon, Cram.
Sikhim and Bhutan up to 4,000 feet. This is perhaps the com-
monest species of the genus within these limits, it occurs from March to
September. I have never seen a specimen with a hyaline streak be-
tween veins 5 and 6 of the forowing. The daikest form is black with
a small triangular hyaline patch in the cell, a similar one below it, two
submarginal spots on either side of vein 4, the lower one the smaller, and
a small oval spot below vein 7 with a smaller one above it ; the hind-
wing has the costal margin and the whole outer two-thirds black.
402. C. godarti, Boisd.
Sikhim and Bhutan up to 4,000 feet. This occurs with C. imaon,
and is at once distinguished by the very narrow border of the hiudwing.
404. C. hyalina, Moore.
Sikhim {Hampson). I have not seen a specimen, nor has Mr. Elwes,
from thifi locality.
![]()
![]()
HETEROCERA OF SIKEIIM AND BHUTAN.
Explanation^ of Plate I.
Fig. 1. Pf/diia albistrig a, M.oove $.
„ 2. Phalera hilineata, Hampson 9
„ 3. Gargetta viridifjrisea, n. sp., 9 .
,, 4. Pgdiia tenebralis, Hampson, $.
„ 5. Gargetta Uthosidia,Jlgkm]^son, $.
„ 6. Ichthyiira transecta, n. sp., 9 .
„ 7. Malachitls mdanocldora^ HMmpson, ^ ,
„ 8. Farasa herbifem, WaWiQv, ^.
., 1). Farasa herbifera, Wtilker, 9 .
„ 10. Ceratoiiema albidivisum, Rumpzon, {imd.) ^.
,, 11. Fentonia viridmota,'H.Am-p?,on^ ^.
„ 12. R/iodoneura argentalis, Wa,\kei\ $.
„ 13. Dafigchira angii^ata, Kcimiison, $.
„ 14. Acanthopsgche gigantea, n. s]^.^ (^.
,, 15. Fheosia centristida, Hampson, $.
„ 16 & ]6r/. Hgperccsclira trichosticka^ Hamijson, $.
„ 17. Duomitus pardaiis, n. sp,, (J.
„ 18. Raimsa dociliSj\yi\[keY, 9-
,, 19. Gaurena ar(jenttsparsa, Dadgeon, $.
„ 20. ilf(/«e/72a rar^/mo:, Dudgeon, ^.
„ 21» Brepana ejrcisa,lili\mi)Soay $.
„ 22. Brepana Imcostida, B.am-j^'ion, $.
„ 23. Porthesia stlgmatijera^ Hampson, 9 •
,, 24. Sgntomis compta, Walker, $,
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DUDGEG¥. Journ.Bom'b.Nat.fliist.Soc
PI. I
West.We'wm.an dararao.
MEW OR LITTLE KNOWN HETEROCERA FROM SIKHIMAND BHUTAM,
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 293
Genus Syntomis, Oohsen.
409. S. unifasciaj Hmpsn.
Rikhim (Hampson). 1 have never received this.
410. S. sperhia, Fahr., Mant. Mo., 2, p. 103 (17S7).
S. atkinsoni, Moore (syn).
Sikhim and Bhutan, 2,500 feet to 3,000 feet. This is not uncommon
in May and September. (Taken by Moller in the Terai in June. —
//. J. E.)
411. ^S'. hicincta, Koll.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. I have three specimens taken in May and July ;
it is rather rare. Mr. Ehves records it as occurring rarely in April at
about 5,000 feet.
412. S. cyssea^ Stoll.
Sikhim. I have never seen a specimen from this locality. (Rare
iu April at low elevations. — H. J. E.)
419. S. lucina, Butl.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 4,500 to 5,000 feet. This is extremely common
in May and September at Kurseong, Tukvar, and Gangtok.
423. S. divisa, Wlk.
Sikhim. (Not uncommon at low elevations in April. — H. J. E)
426. S. melcena, Wlk.
Sikhim, 5,000 feet. Occurs in August. The male has seven yellow
bands on the abdomen, and the female only six buff ones.
429a. S. compta, Wlk. (Plate I, Fig. 24.)
Bhutan, 1,500 feet. I described this species under the name of
S. ceratina, but Sir George Hampson writes that he has examined
the type of »S. compta, Wlk., in the Exeter Museum and finds that
my specimen is referable to it. Differs from S. fervida, Wlk., in
the abdominal bands being complete and broad, the terminal segment
indigo blue and rather thicker than the otliers. Forewing yellowish
hyaline with a dark yellow band along the costa and another sub-
marginal to the inner margin ; veins 5 and 6 joined by a black
band between them. Hindwiiig with the inner margin dark
yellow. Legs with the femora yellow, tibia blue-black, and the
first joint of the tarsi white. This seems intermediate between
S. fervida Viwdi S. newara, neither of which I have seen. Exp.3'6
millimetres.
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294 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
430. S. newara, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan. (A specimen in Muller's collection was taken
in Bhutan in September. — H. J. E.)
435. S. suhmargi.nalis, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 to 2,500 feet. Occurs in September and
October. (Taken in April and May. — H. J. E.)
Genus Eressa, Wlk.
431. E. lepchaj Moore.
Sikhim, (A single specimen from Moller's collection. — H. J. E.)
446. E. multigutta, Wlk.
Sikhim, 5,000 feet. Four specimens taken at Tukvar in May, 1887.
Hampson makes E, hlancliardi^ Pouj., a synonym of this species.
450. E. a^jeriens, Wlk.
Bhutan, 1,200 feet. 1 took a single male of this species in Aug., 1894.
455. E. confinh. Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 to 2,500 feet. I have seven specimens
taken in May, July, August and November, in three specimens the
hindwing is entirely black.
Genus Callitomis, Butl.
464. C. mult/fasciata, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. (The only specimen I have seen from Sikhim was from
Colonel Swinhoe's collection and marked " Sikhim, Mowis." I do not
consider this at all a reliable authority. — H. J. E.)
Genus Trich^ta, Swinh.
465. T. teneiformis, Wlk.
Sikhim. The only specimen I have seen was one from this locality
from my collection, now in the British Museum.
Family ZYGJ^NID^.
Subfamily Zyq^enin^.
Genus Chrysartona, Swinh.
477. C. st'ipata, Wlk.
Sikhim. 1 only obtained one specimen of this through my collec-
tors taken in August.
Genus Artona, Wlk.
482. A. jiottv/ita, Moore.
Sikhim. (A very rare species. Taken in Darjceling in March. —
B. J. E.)
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 295
483. A. postalba, Elwes.
Sikhim. (A single specimeu only taken on the Nepal frontier at
12,000 feet in July.— iJ. J. E.)
485. A. zebraica, Biitl.
Sikhira and Bhutan, at 3,000 feet. Common from Ma}-- to July*
It is a variable species iu the colour of the abdomen.
486. A. zebra, Elwes.
Sikhim. (Taken in the ?ame locality as A. j)ostvkta. Two speci-
mens only. — H. J. E.)
487. A, sikkimensis, Elwes.
Sikhim. (One specimen only taken at the same time and place as
the last two. These three species are allied to A. zebraica, but seem
perfectly distinct. — H. J. E.)
488. A. confusa, Buth
Sikhim, 5,500 feet. I have only taken a single specimen of this
at Tukvar iu May.
Genus LoPHOSOjiiA, Swinh.
493. L. ctipreum, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 feet. This occurs rarely in the outer
hills iu July.
Genus Clelea, Wlk.
498. C. sajyphirina, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 to 5,000 feet. I have taken this in May,
Juno and July.
499. C. discrim/nisj Swinh.
Sikhim. (Taken in June in the interior. — B. J. E.)
5Ul. C. plumbeola, Hmpsn.
Bhutan, 6,700, feet. I found this extremely common at lioht at
Rissoom and Pashiteng in September. My specimens were identified
by Sir George Hampson, but the plumbeous bands mentioned in his
description are not plainly visible in my specimens. I have another
specimen which I took at 5,500 feet in June, 188S, which was identified by
Mr. Moore as Tasemafuliginosa, Moore; this is not in good condition now.
Genus Phacusa, Wlk.
503. P. properta, Swinh.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,500 to 2,500 feet. I have two males and
three females, which I took at Fagoo and Punkabaree in May.
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296 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
506. P. khasiana, Moore.
Sikhhn, 1,800 feot. I took a single male at Potong in May, and
saw two or threo others in the same month.
Genus Platj-zyg^na, Swinh.
511. P. molleri, Elwos.
Sikhim. (This must be a very local species as it has only been
obtained by Holler's collectors on one occasion. — H. J, E.)
Genus Ar.eocera, Hmpsn.
513. A. poslhi/almaj Hmpsn.
Sikhim. (I have only two specimens taken in April by Holler's
collectors. — IJ. J. E.)
Genus Aeachotia, Moore.
514. A. jlaviplaga^ Moore.
Sikhim. I have only one specimen without intimation of date
or elevation.
Subfamily Chalcosiin^.
Genus Trypanophora, Koll.
519. T, seniiliyalina^ Koll.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 to 2,0U0 feet. This is a common species
at low elevations. I have often seen both sexes settled on the leaves of
Cedrela toona and other trees. It is easily taken. It occurs in
January, March, June and July.
Genus Phlebohecta, Hmpsn.
522. P. fuscescens, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan. My only specimen, a male, was obtained in the
latter locality in June.
523. P. /aWcosia, Elwes.
Sikhim. I Lave not taken this species.
Genus Soritia, Wlk.
524. S. mhrivitta, Wlk.
Sikhim. This must bo very rare in this locality. I have never seen
a specimen.
525. S. kjytalina, Koll.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 4,000 to- 5,000 feot. This is an extremely
common spooios at this elevation, and both soxos show considerable
variation. The hindwings in both soxes may be deep ochre or white,
those of the males with broad marginal bands. The larva is yellow-brown
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EETEROCERA OF SIKH I M AND BHUTAN. 297
with lateral and dorsal narrow black lines, and foods on roso and tea
bushes besides the leaves of Polygonum nepalense and other plants. The
perfect insect occurs in April, May, August and October.
5 20. S. sJiahama, Moore.
Sikhim. Not procured ])y me.
527. S. hkolor, Moore.
Sikhim. I have one female wliich was taken at about 4,000 feet
in October.
528. S, nigribasalis, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. One male taken in June, 1888.
529. S. circinata, Herr.-Schaff.
Sikhim, 5,000 feet. This occurs rather rarely in October.
Genus Pidorus, Wlk.
531. P. circumdatus, Wlk.
Sikhim. One specimen taken in July. (Rare in Sikhim at low
elevations in May. — II. J. E.)
532. P. gemmus, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 7,000 feet. The Bhutan specimen has the baud
on the forewing yellow, and the Sikhim one, which was taken in
Darjeeliug in May, paler yellow.
535. P. glaucopis, Drury.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 to 5,000 feet. The width of the band
ofi the forewing is variable. I have taken it in May, June, and July
chiefly at about 2,500 feet elevation.
536. P. miles, Butler.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I have only one specimen from Bhutan taken
in May, (Rare in Sikbim, my only specimens are dated September. —
H. J. E.)
Genus Arbudas, Moore,
541. A. bicolor, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan. Rare in the latter locality in September.
Genus Herpa, Wlk.
543. H. suhhyalina, Moore.
Sikhim. I have never seen this species. (I believe that the types
of this species in the Atkinson Collection were taken by myself in
1870 in the Lachoong Valley at about 6,000 feet in September, but at
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208 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
thafc thno I had no coilectiou of insects tind I liuve never seen the
species since. — //. J. E.)
Genus Pinta, Wlk.
545. P. fcrrea, Wlk.
Sikhim. Occnrs at Sivoke in March at abont 1,000 feet. (Com-
mon in March and April at 2,500 feet.—//. J. E.)
Genus, Heterusia, Hope.
548. H. raja, Moore.
Sikhim, 5,000 feet. I took ten specimens in September at Tukvar
in 1887 but have never seen a specimen since.
549. a. alompra, Moore.
Sikhim snd Bhutan. I have not seen this. (The only specimens
from Sikhim I have seen are in my own collection, one of them was
obtained by Mr. Lister in British Bhutan at about 2,000 feet. Sir
George Hampson has united with this species, of which I have a
typical specimen from Sibsagar, II. iirania, Schaus., which is a Sikhim
form of //. suhniargmalis, Swinhoe, which I have from the Ruby Mine
district, Upper Burma. As they stand in my collection they are easily
separable as species, but it is quite probable that intermediate forms
may occur v.^hich will connect them, — //. J. E.)
550. H. lativitta^ Moore.
Sikhim. (A rare species which I have from Moller's collection.--
H. J. E.)
551. //. tricolor., Hope.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 3,000 to 5,000 feet. Three specimens in my
collection were taken by me at Tukvar and two in Bhutan. The larva
is very similar to that of Sorltia lepfalka, Koll., but differs in being
duller brown and without the black lateral and dorsal lines ; the pupa is
formed in the usual cocoon made of a papery covering over the hollow
of a leaf. The perfect insects are found on the wing in March, May,
June, August and September. The male has black segmental bands
on all but the second abdominal segment.
552. H. edocla, Doubl.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 to 5,000 feet. The larva is found com-
monly on tea and other plants, it differs very slightly from that of
B. tricolor, Hope. The perfect insect is found from March until
August or September. I have one specimen with the submarginal
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 299
band of spots on the forewing wanting. (Occurs commonly at about
2,000 to 4,000 feet. I have small specimens taken as late as the end of
November. — H. J. E)
553. H. magnifica^ Butl.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 to 4,000 feet. This occurs all through the
year, and is found with H. edocla, Doubl. I have one male with the
band on the hindwing white which compares well with Butler's figure
of H. vlrescens, Butl., but I do not think it can be other than a variety
of H, magnijica, Butl.
Genus Milleria, Herr.-Schaff.
558. M. rirghialis, Herr.-SchatF.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I have four taken in April in the latter
locality, one of which is the variety fvliginosa, but without the inner
area of the hindwing yellow, and with the basal third of the hind-
wing and all the veins shot with blue ; the next two are a male and
female almost exactly alike, having the submarginal band slightly
more pronounced than that of the specimen figured by Hampson ;
the fourth is a female with no trace of any bands whatever on either
wing, the veins on the forewing being slightly defined with fuscous
and those of the hindwing pale blue. Mr. Elwes says he is not at all
sure whether M. fuliginosa, Wlk., is not a distinct species. I am
inclined to think that the species is a very variable one, and that Sir
George Hampson is right in including it only as a variety.
561. M. cardinalis, Moore.
Sikhim. I have not seen a specimen. Mr. Elwes thinks that
from the description it might be a small variety of M. virginalis (var.
fuliginosa).
Genus Chalcosia, Hiibn.
564. C. argentata, Moore.
Sikhim. (I have a small specimen of this from Moller's collection
taken in March, but it is evidently very rare in Sikhim. It occurs at
Ranchi in Western Bengal and also in Burma near the Ruby Mines. —
H. J. E.)
568. C. corusca, Boisd.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 3,000 to 4,500 feet. This is a common species
in May, July and September,
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300 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
569. C. thalloj Linn.
Sikhim. I have one specimen without date received through my
collectors.
Genus Corma, Wlk.
573. C. maculata, Hmpsn.
Bhutan, 2,500 feet. I took one specimen at light in July at Fagoo.
It is a male, and the abdomen is yellow with black spots.
Genus Oyclosia, Hiibn.
577. C. papilionaris, Drury.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 to 3,000 feet. This is a variable species
in size and the extent of blue to be found on the forewing. In one
specimen the costa is light blue, and there is a submarginal
band of eight light blue quadrate spots to the forewing, and a
similar band of eight to the hind wing. It occurs from May to
September.
579. C. pa7ithora, Cram.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 feet. I have five specimens from Sivoke
which show no variation.
Genus Amesia, Duncan.
582. A. sanguijlua, Drury.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 3,000 to 4,500 feet. Is found not uncommonly
in May, June and August.
583. A. aliris, Doubl.
Sikhim and Bhutan. This is found with the preceding species but
is not so common.
584. A. hyala, Druce.
Sikhim. I have never seen a specimen.
Genus Erasmia, Hope.
585. E. pulchella, Hope.
Sikhim and Bhutan, from 2,500 to 4,000 feet. This is extremely
common in May between Bamesbeg and Singla in the Rungeet Valley.
I have taken it less commonly at 3,000 feet in Bhutan. The larva is
velvety-black with pink tubercles, and a rectangular pale yellow dorsal
patch covering two somites. It feeds on a plant generally known as
wild coffee. The pupa is formed on the surface of a leaf in a papery
cocoon. (Common at Kalimpong in September and October ; I have
taken it also in December, and as low as 1,000 feet. — H. J. E. )
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 301
Genus Camplyotes, Westw.
586. C. histrionieus, Westw.
Sikhim, 3,000 to 5,000 feet {histrionieus, 2 forms) ; Sikhim and
Bhutan, 9,000 to 10,000 feet, {sikhimensisj 2 forms). Of the two
forms of hiatrionicusj one has the red markings on both wings pro-
nounced and bright, the other having them pale and dull. I think
that sikhimensis, Elwes, is a good species and I have never seen
intermediate forms. Mr. Elwes records histrionieus, var. altissima
from 10,000 feet, which seems to me to show that sikhimensis, which
also occurs there, is not a mere high elevation fonii of histrionieus.
Sir George Hampson also includes a var. excelsa, Oberthur, which I
have not seen. (C. sikhimensis, C. altissima and C. excelsa I continue
to regard as good species as I have seen no specimens from Sikhim or
elsewhere which are intermediate between either of these forms and
C, histrionieus, and as they appear to be confined to much higher
altitudes.— £?. J, E. )
588. C. athinsoni, Moore.
Sikhim, 8,000 feet. May. (This species seems to be local but com-
mon where it occurs, which, as far as I know, is only in the interior
of Sikhim.— ZT. J. E.)
Genus Cadphises, Moore.
589. C. maciilata, Moore.
Sikhim. I have only seen two specimens of this species in Dr.
PiJcher's collection. It seems to me to be quite distinct from the next
species, the inner margin of the hindwing being yellow or buflf,
unmarked with white spots.
590. C. moorei, Butl.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I have only one male from Bhutan, which is
easily distinguishable from the two specimens of C. maculata I have
seen, in that the spots are fewer, round and obsolescent towards the
outer margins, the inner margin of the hindwing is spotted with white,
and the ground-colour is brownish-fuscous.
Genus Isbarta, Wlk.
592. /. imitans, Butl.
Sikhim and Bhutan. Occurs at low elevations in the hot valleys
pf the larger rivers in April and May,
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302 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Genus Callamesia, Butl.
594. C. midama, Herr.-ScliafF.
Sikhim and Bhutan. This species I have taken commonly at Fagoo,
2,500 foet, in British Bhutan. The female is more often seen than the
male, I think, and when flying is easily mistaken for that sex of
Eupicea linncei, Moore. It occurs from May to August.
Genus Gynautocera, Guer.
595. G. papiiionai'ia, Guer.
Sikhim and Bhutan, at 2,500 feet. Common in June and July. (I
have taken this at Kalimpong at 4,000 to 5,000 feet in August— H.J. E.)
Genus Histia, Hiibn.
596. H. JlabeUicornis, Fabr.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 to 3,U00 feet. This occurs commonly at
Sivoke and the lower portions of Badamtam in the Rungeet and Teesta
Valleys. My specimens were taken from May to August. I have
found the larvae at 2,000 feet feeding on the leaves of tree called
locally " Kainjel." It is brown with pink lateral tubercles.
Genus Caneeces, Moore.
600. C. euschemoides, Moore.
Sikhim. One specimen obtained by my collectors in March, it is
distinctly scarce, and I have never seen another specimen.
Genus Philopator, Moore.
601. F. has/maculata^ Moore.
Sikhim. The female of this species has the wings much shorter and
rounder than those of the male. (Not uncommon at 3,000 to 4,000 feet
in May.— i?. J. E.)
601 a. P. rotunda, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. This species, which I have not seen, seems to be near the
last but with even shorter wings. The sex described is not stated so
that it must be taken that both sexes have shorter and rounder wings
than those of P. basimaculata, Moore. (This species seems to be com-
moner in the Naga and Khasia Hills than in Sikhim, from whence I
have only one female. — H. J. E.)
Genus Agalope, Wlk.
602. A. hyalina, KoU.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 2,000 to 5,000 feet. I have taken this at 2,000
feet in Bhutan in January and May, and at 5,000 feet in Sikhim in July.
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HETEROCERA OF SIKEIM AND BHUTAN. 303
(Occurs at 7,000 to 9,000 feet, where it is not uncommon in May and
June.— ^. J. E.)
Genus Achelura.
603. A. bifasciata, Hope.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 to 4,500 feet. This species seems to fly
more than other species of the genus. I have constantly remarked it at
Punkabaree flying out of reach in company with Delias, and I have
only managed to take it on one occasion.
C04. A. eronioides, Moore.
Sikhim. I have never seen this. (Apparently very rare in Sikhim.
I have only one from Lidderdale's collection.—^. J, E.)
()05. A. hasifiava^ Moore.
Sikhim. I have not seen this species either.
606. A. glacialisj Moore.
Sikhim. I have one specimen which I took in May at 3,000 feet.
It must be rare as I have never seen another.
Sub family PHAUDIN^.
Genus Phauda, Wlk.
611. jP. flammans^ Wlk.
Sikhim. Rare at 5,000 feet. I have one specimen which has the
fuscous patch on the outer margins of the forewing and hindwing
suffused with reddish, and the scarlet of the forewing replaced by dull
reddish. It is probably only a variety and not distinct.
612. P. fuscalisj Swinh.
Sikhim. My only specimen is in the British Museum collection.
A species of the genus HIMA^"TOPTERUS is recorded to have been
taken at Punkabaree by Mr. Farr, This is said by Mr. Moore to have
been No. 614, //. caudatus^ Moore. It must be extremely rare if
found within these limits, as it has not again been procured.
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304
THE MOTHS OF INDIA.
SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER TO THE VOLUMES IN
" THE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA."
PART V.
By Sir G. F. Hampson, Bart., f.z.s,, f.r.s.
(Continued from page 98 in this Vol,)
Genus Megarthria.
Megartlir'ia, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii., ined.
Type, — M. vdutineila, Hmpsn.
Range. — Assam.
Proboscis short ; palpi straight, porrect, the 2nd joint extending about
twice the length of head and moderately
hairy, the ord well developed j maxil-
lary palpi small and filiform ; frons
rounded ; antennae with the 1st joint very
long and curved, the shaft strongly
pubescent. Forewing with the costa
Meqarthria velutlnella. ^,\ j j. i u i xi j. i
^ ^ ' ^ moderately arched, the apex rectangular ;
vein 3 from well before angle of cell ; 4 , 5 very shortly stalked ;
the disGocellulars curved; 6 from upper angle; 7, 8, 9 stalked;
10, 11 from cell : male with a glandular swelling at base of costa below
fringed with hair met by a tuft of hair from below median nervuro ; the
retinaculum bar-shaped and hairy. Hindwing with vein 3 from close to
ano-le of cell ; 4, 5 very shortly stalked ; the discocellulars curved ; 6, 7
stalked, 7 anastomosing very slightly with 8.
41526. Megarthria velutinella, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii,
ined., pi 53, f. 12.
Head and thorax blackish-ljrown with a fulvous patch on -collar;
abdomen brownish. Forewing purplish-brown irrorated with black
scales ; the base, costa, and veins of outer area strongly tinged with
ferruginous-red ; the antemedial line diffused blackish, curved and bent
inwards to costa, with a similar line beyond it; a red discocellular mark
with a blackish lunule on it ; the postmedial line regularly dentate and
obliquely curved from costa to vein 4, where it is obtusely angled ; an
evenly dentate submarginal dark line and a series of large marginal
black points ; cilia fulvous. Hindwing fuscous with a yellowish tinge;
cilia fulvous, underside with indistinct dentate postmedial line.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 305
Habitat. — Khasis, E.cp. 28 mm.
4156a. Crambus coeticbllus^ n. sp.
$. Head aud thorax dark aud golden-brown; abdomen fuscous.
Forewing coppery golden-brown, the veins and interno-median fold
irrorated with white scales ; the costal area suffused with blackish ; a
black point in end of cell ; a marginal series of black points surrounded
by white scales ; cilia paler. Hindwing fuscous- grey. 9 . With the
ground-colour miiform dull brown ; hindwing grey-brown.
Habitat. — Khasis ; Calcutta. E.vp. $ 24, 9 4U mm. Type — $ in
British Museum ; 9 iu coH- Rothschild.
4159. Crambus parvellus=4178, C. ochridrigellus.
4202a. Chilo steniellus, n. sp.
$. Head and thorax pule grey-brown ; abdomen whitish, dorsally
ochreous towards base. Forewing long and narrow ; pale grey-brown
irrorated with fuscous and suffused with fuscous in the interspaces,
especially the cell and discal fold, leaving the veins slightly paler;
traces of two very oblique lines from below apex to middle of inner
margin ; a marginal series of black points, Hindwing pure white.
Habitat. — Tezpore, Assam, ^.rp. 30 mm. Type — In coll. Rothschild,
Genus Diatr^a.
JDiatrcea^ Lands. Guild. Trans. ISoc. Encom. Arts, xlvi, 143 (1832).
Type. — -I), saccharalis^ Fabr.
Range. — Nearctic and Neotropical regions ; Mauritius ; Ceylon ;
Borneo ; Java.
Palpi extending about three times the length of head and thickly clothed
with hair; maxillary palpi triangularly dilated with hair; proboscis
absent ; frons with a tuft of hair ; antennse of male minutely serrate
and fasciculate ; tibise somewhat hairy, the spurs well developed. Fore-
wing with. the apex somewhat acute ; vein 3 from before angle of cell;
4, 5 from angle ; 6, 7 from near upper angle j 8, 9 stalked ; 10 free ;
H anastomosing with 12. Hindwing with vein 3 from before angle of
cell ; 4, 5- from angle ; 6, 7 from upper angle.
4202a. DiATR^A saccbaralis, Fabr., Eat. Syst., iii, 2, 238.
Chilp oUiteratellus, Zell., Mon. Chil. and Cramb., p. 8.
Crambus leucaniellus, Wlk., Cat., xxvii, p. 161.
•„: lineoselluS) Wlk., Cat., sxvii, p. 162.
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Diatrcea saecJiaralis, $
306 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUKAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Chilo companellus, Feld., Reis. Nov., pi. 137, f. 5.
„ cramlldoides, Grote, Can. Eut., xii, p. 15.
S. Head and thorax oclireons-brown ; abdomen whitish with
fulvous band on 1st two segments.
Forewing oehreous; the veins
and interspaces streaked with
fuscous ; a black speck on disco-
cellulars ;an obscure dark minute-
ly dentate Hue from costa near
apex to inner margin before
middle : a similar but more prominent line from the same point on
costa to inner margin half-way between 1st line and outer angle ; a
marginal series of black specks. Hindwing whitish, slightly oehreous
towards outer margin, and often with a marginal series of black specks.
9 . Paler and clearer oehreous ; the hindwing almost pure white.
The larva bores in the sugarcanes, and is very destructive.
Habitat. — N. and S. America; W. Indies ; Ceylon. Exp. $ 22, 28 ;
9 28, 40 mm.
4218a. Mesolia rectilineella, n. sp.
9 . Dark reddish-brown irrorated with fuscous. Forewing with the
apical area slightly produced ; fine black streaks below basal half of costa
and median nervure, the latter continued as a black and white streak
below vein 2 ; no trace of antemedial line ; a white spot with curved
black streak below it, and black point beyond it at upper angle of cell ; a
white subraarginal line curved below costa, then straight and oblique ;
a white-edged black subapical spot with similar speok below it ; fine
black streaks on extremities of median veins crossing a white line ; a
black line through base of cilia, which are whitish. Hindwing dark
fuscous ; cilia whitish with a fuscous line through them.
Habitat. — Ajmere, Punjab. Exp. 16 mm. Type — In coll. Rothschild.
421 b?>. Mesolia margistrigella, n. sp.
$. Forewing with vein 3 from before angle of cell ; 4, 5 from
angle ; 7 absent ; the apical area slightly produced ; antennas serrate.
Head and thorax ochreous-brown ; antenna3 blackish ; abdomen grey,
Forewing pale ochreous-brown suffused with white and irrorated with
black scales, except on costal and marginal areas ; the black scales form-
ing a diffused patch below middle of cell, a spot on vein 2 and a streak
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 307
in end of cell ending in a discocellular spot ; an indistinct submarginal
white line angled sharply outwards on vein 6 and inwards on vein 2 ;
a marginal series of short black vittae on whitish marks ; cilia whitish,
with a fine brown line through them. Hindwing pale fuscous; cilia
white with a fuscous line through them.
Habitat. — Ajmere, Punjab. Exp. $ 18 mm. Type — In coll.
Rothschild.
4255a. Patissa interfusoalis, n. sp.
9. White, palpi black at sides; thorax and abdomen tinged with
brown. Forewing with rather broad black costal fascia, tapering to
apex; all the interspaces broadly striped with fuscous-brown. Palpi
slightly extending beyond the frons.
Habitat. — Tezpore, Assam. Exp. 30 mm. Type — In coll. Rothschild.
4256a. Patissa ^.nealis, n. sp.
$. Head, thorax and abdomen white, slightly tinged with golden-
brown. Forewing white, the cell and area below it suffused with
golden-brown ; the costal area golden-brown ; an oblique blackish
line with a golden-brown band on its outer edge from costa near
apex bent inwards at vein 3 and reaching inner margin at middle.
Hindwing silvery-white ; both wings with a blackish line just inside
the margin, and very fine marginal line.
Habitat. — Dimbula, Ceylon (Pole). Exp. 24 mm. Type. — In British
Museum.
P. 52. For Menuthia insert Tinerastia, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem,, viii,
ined.
For Calera insert Mesodiphlebia, Zell., Hor. Ent. Ross, xvi, p. 251
(1881).
Type. — M. crassivenia, Zell., from Colombia.
4281. Hypsotropha heterocerella. Antennae of type with the
medial branches eaten off by some insect.
4282. Hypsotropha laterculella. Maxillary palpi of $ fih-
form ; antennse laminate with sinus and tuft.
4282a. HypsoTBoPHA quadripunctella, Rag., Rom. Mem., viii
ined., pi. 39, f. 16.
9. Head and thorax pinkish-brown ; abdomen paler, dorsally
ochreoug towards base. Forewing pinkish-brown ; the veins pale ; an
antemedial black point on vein 1, postmedial points on veins 6, 3, and
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308 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
1 ; cilia black-brown. Hindwing white or pale brownisb, darker
towards costa ; a fine dark marginal line.
Habitat. — Ceylon ; Pulo Lant ; Borneo ; Teuiniber. Exp.
14-20 mm.
4283. Hypsotropha tenuinervella. Palpi of $ hollowed out to
receive the maxillary palpi ; antennte laminate with sinus and tuft.
P. 55. Under Anerastia, insert Ampijcodes, Rag., Rom. Mem.,
viii, ined., for Sect. It, A.
4292a. Patna tricolorella, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined., pi.
52, f. 15.
$, Antenna) serrate, with sinus and tuft at base. Palpi blackish,
antenna) ochreous, vertex of head and thorax red, abdomen
ochreous. Forewing with whitish costal fascia narrowing to base
and apex, irrorated with purplish-fuscous scales and becoming
purplish-fuscous at costa, defined below by a broad purplish-fuscous
fascia narrov/ing to apex, the veins and interspaces of outer area
streaked with fuscous ; inner area bright crimson-red. Hindwing
yellowish suffused with fuscous, especially towards costa and outer
margin.
Habitat. — Kh^sis. E.vp. 24 mm.
P. 58. For Foujadia insert Saluria, Kag., Ann. Soo. Ent. Fr.
(1887), p, 259. Ttjp^—^mamliv'dteUa, Rag., and Fedinigeria, Rag.
Nouv. Gen., p. 43, for Sect. Ill, A.
4298. Foujadia. pa7'viplumella=4:29d. Saluria erodella, the
branohes of antennas of the type of parvlplumella appear to have been
eaten off by some insect.
Sect. III. Maxillary palpi of male filiform ; antennae with uniserrate
branches.
A. {Pectinigeria). Antennae of male with sinus and tuft of scale
at base.
4300. Saluria opifioblla.
4300a. Saluria rrevigulella, Rag., Rom. Mem., viii, ined., pi. 37,
f. 14.
$. Head, thorax and abdomen yellowish- white ; the antennal tuft
black. Forewing ochreous-whito, sparsely irrorated with fuscous scales,
a short black antemodial streak on subcostal nervure and a speck on
vein 1 ; a prominent speck at upper angle of cell ; an oblicjue slightly
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 309
sinuous postmediftl series of specks on the veins ; a marginal series of
black specks. Hindwing yellowish-white tinged with fuscous towards
apex.
Habitat. — Mhow. Exp. 16 mm.
B. (Salurla). Antennse of male without sinus and tuft.
4302. Saluria pulverosa, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, pi. 38, f. 3.
4302(1!. Saluhia maculivittella, Rag., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (1887),
p. 258. Rom. Mem., viii, pi. 3S, f. 7, and pi. 42, f. 2b'.
Saluria armeniella, Rag., Nouv. Gen,, p. 44.
Head, thorax and abdomen ochreous. Forewing ochreous, with
white streaks below median nervure and nervules, and or, vein 1 ;
the costal area, median interspaces and inner area irrorated with black,
leaving ochreous fascia3 below costa and in subniedian fold ; antemedial
black points on median nervure and vein 1 ; an oblique post-
medial series of pohits on median nervules and vein 1. Hindwing
white.
Habitat. — Caucasus ; Central Asia ; Ceylon. E.vp. 25, 26 mm,
P. 60. Under Critonia, insert Singhalia^ Hmpsn., Rom. Mom.,
viii, ined.
Sect. I {Singhalia). — Palpi of male upturned, the 3rd joint porrect
and very long ; maxillary palpi filiform ; antennae laminate, without
sinus and tuft.
4303. Critonia sarcoglauca, Rom. Mem., viii, pi. 51, f. 4.
Ssct. 11. — Palpi of male with the 2nd joint hollowed out to receive
the brush-like maxillary palpi ; antennaa with the shaft thickened and
ciliated, the tuft large and black.
4304. Critonia purpureotincta, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, pi. 51,
f. 22.
4304a. Critonia promel^na, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined., pi.
51, f. 23.
$. Differs from C. 'purpureotincta in the head and prothorax being
suffused with black. Forewing vei-y narrow, the costa less arched, the
apex produced and acute ; a black and rufous streak below the purplish
costal area from base to apex. Hindwing narrow.
Habitat.— ^\k\\m\, 1800 ft. (Dudgeon). Exp. 26 mm. Tupe—lrx
British Museum.
Sect. III. typical.
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310 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol.ktt.
4305. CpvITonia roseistrigella, Rom. Mem., viii, pi. 51, f. 21.
4306. Critonia subconcinella, Rag., Bull. Soc. Erst. Fr. (1890),
p. Gcxiv ; id., Rom. Mom., vii, pi. G, f. 20.
P. 61. Under PolyOCha insert Monoctenocera,''R-Ag., Rom. Mem.,
viii, ined., for Sect. III.
Polyocha sang ulnar ella, ZelL, is from S. Africa.
4307. Polyocha leucocincta insert (Syn.) Emmalocera crenatella,
Rag., Nouv. Gen., p. 38. This species is confined to Borneo, and has short
uniserrate branches to the antennae, whilst the Indian species LUCIDI-
costblla, Rag., has the antennae serrate.
4 SOP. Polyocha aurifusella. Palpi of male upturned.
4312. Delete Polyocha vareigatella, Rag.
4312a. Polyocha STBIGIVENELLA, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 51, f. 19.
$ . Head, thorax, and abdomen pale pink. Forewing rose-pink ; the
veins white ; two white streaks in cell defined by pink lines ; white
stripes in discal and submedian folds ; a deeper pink fascia below median
nervure. Hindwing pure white.
Habitat. — Thayetmyo, Lower Burma. Exp. 22 mm.
43126. Polyocha vesculella, Rag., Nouv. Gen., p. 39 ; Rom.
Mem., viii, pi. 3fi, f. 11.
9. Head and thorax pink: abdomen fascous-brown. Forewine:
pale rose-pink ; a narrow white costal fascia with a broader brown
fascia below it ; the subcostal and median veins white defined by fine
brown lines ; the discoidal and submedian folds and vein 1 streaked
with white. Hindwing fuscous -brown.
Ilah'dat. — India. Exp. 38 mm.
4312c. Polyocha diversblla. Rag., Rom. Mem., viii, ined., pi. vi,
f. 21,
$. Head and thorax reddish-brown ; abdomen pale brownish.
Forewing dull pink ; a pinkish-white costal fascia narrowing to base
and apex defined on lower side by a broad area of fuscous-brown
suffusion ; the veins strongly streaked with fuscous. Hindwing
whitish.
//a6za«.— Nilgiris. Exp. 31 mm.
4314a. Polyocha variegatella, Rag., Nouv. Gen., p. 39; Rom.
Mem., viii, pi. 36, f. 16.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 3ll
$ . Head and thorax bright red ; abdomen brownish, ochreous
towards extremity. Forewing yellowish-white suffused with pink ; a
white costal fascia narrowing to base and apex, defined by a broad
brown fascia becoming black towards base, the basal two-thirds of
costa red ; median nervure and uervules striped with bright red ;
a stripe in submedian fold ; vein 1 white defined by bright
red stripes. Hindwing yellowish-white, the apex tinged with
fuscous.
Habitat. — Kangra ; Sikhim. Exp. 24-32 mm.
4315. Insert Monocfenocera bmch/ella, Rug., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 36, f. 6, for the form with the branches of anteunje short, which is a
distinct species.
Eahitat. — Sikhim, Calcutta. Kvp. 22-84 mm.
Delete Polyocha vesculella, Rag.
4323a. HoM-EOSOMA Fuscella, Rag., Rom. Mem., viii, ined., pi.
34, f. 3.
$. Head and thorax fuscous-brown ; abdomen paler. Forewing pale
brown thickly irrorated with fuscous-brown ; an obscure diffused fus-
cous fascia from base along median nervure, widening towards outer
margin ; no trace of transverse lines or discoidal and marginal points.
Hindwing very pale brown.
Habitat. — KolgaoUj Kolaba District, Bombay. Exp. 22 mm.
4324a. HoM^osoMA elongatella, Rag., Rom. Mem., viii, ined,,
pi. 34, f. 4.
$ . Brown. Forewing pale brown slightly suffused with gray ; a
darker shade at base ; the first line in the form of a broad dark band
diffused outwardly and obtusely angled on median nervure ; the second
line gray obscurely defined on each side by fuscous and angled below
costa ; discoidal and marginal points obscure. Hindwing whitish
slightly suffused with brown ; the veins and a marginal line
brown.
Habitat. — Bengal. Exp. 26 mm.
Genus EccopiDiA.
Eccopidia, Hampson, Rom. Mem., viii, ined.
Type. — E. strigata, Hmpsn.
Mange. — Ceylon.
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312 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
EcGopidia stngata^ $ ^.
ed, 10 from cell. Hindwiiw
?. Palpi upturned, slender, cylindrical, the 2nd joint reaching
vertex of head, the 3rd as long as 2nd.
Maxillary palpi filiform ; irons round-
ed ; antennae of female almost simple.
Forewing rather long and narrow ;
vein 2 from near angle of cell ; 3 and
5 from angle, 4 absent ; 8, 9 and stalk-
with the cell about one-third length of
wing, vein 2 from before angle ; 3 and 5 on long stalk ; 4 absent,
6, 7 stalked ; 8 free.
4325a. EccoPiDiA strigata, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 48, f. 6.
9. Hendand thorax pinkish-rufous ; abdomen brownish. Forewing
pale pinkish, with about six fasciee from base to outer margin which are
dark pink irrorated with black, the costa pale. Hindwing pale brown.
RaUtat.—A.xi^m\^, Ceylon (J. Pole). Exp. 18 rnm. Type.— In
British Museum.
Genus Psokosa.
Psorosa. — i^ell., Isis, 1846, p. 749.
Type. — P. dahl/dla, Frr., from Europe,
i^an^rg.— Europe ; Syria ; Kashmir ; Australia ; Brazil.
Palpi upturned, thickly scaled and reaclimg above vertex of head,
maxillary palpi typically fiilifonr, in
the ornatdla group brush-like, and
contained in a fo'd of the palpi ;
frons with slight tuft of scales ; an-
tenua) of male minutely serrate and
ciliated, the shaft with a sinus and
Forewing rather narrow, the apex
S\
Psorosa ornatella,
large tuft of scales at base,
rounded ; vein 3 from near angle of cell ; 4, 5 from angle and not in
line with median nervure ; 8 and 9 stalked, 10 from cell. Hind-
wing with vein 2 from close to angle of cell ; 3 and 5 on a long stalk ;
4 absent ; 6, 7 shortly stalked ; 8 free or anastomosing with 7.
4:'d25h. Psorosa ornatella, SchiflF., S. V., 319 ; Dup., Lup. Fr.,
X. 1. pp. 189 and 279.
Head and thorax pale rufous; abdomen pale fuscous with the
anal tuft ochreous. Forewing pale brown with a reddish tinge ;
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 313
the costal half of wing vather dark ; the vems clothed with dark
scales ; the 1st line represented by an oblique white line from
costa to median nervure diffused inwards, and with a dark
sj^eck on its onter edge at median nervure, and by a white and
dark speck on vein 1 ; two prominent black discoidal points on
a diffused whitish triangular patch on costa, the 2nd line oblique,
white, and straight, except for a slight curve outwards at median
nervules ; some whitish suffusion on margin, broad below apex, and
with a prominent series of black marginal points on it. Hindwing
suffused with pale fuscous ; a fine marginal line ; cilia white with a
fine line through them.
Habitat, — Europe ; Armenia ; Gourais Valley, Kashmir. Exp.
22 mm.
Vol. iv, p. 68. The Type of Heterographis is convexella, Led., from
Europe.
4325c. Heterographis umbrilimbblla, Eag., Rom. Mem., viii,
ined., pi. vi, f. 19.
^. Head reddish ; thorax and abdomen ochreous-white. Forewing
ochreous-white with pure white costal fascia ; a pink margmal band not
reaching costa or outer angle ; cilia pale fulvous. Hindwing pure
white.
Habitat. — Multan, Ajmere. E.vp. 14 mm.
4:325(1. Heterographis octella, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii, ined.,
pi. 48, f. 20.
Head blackish ; thorax and abdomen ochreous. Forewing ochreous,
some pink streaks on basal area ; an oblique antemedial white line,
with some black scales on it near median nervure, and pink marks on
its inner and outer edges ; two black discoidal points on a figure of
eight-shaped white patch ; an oblique white postmedial line defined
by fuscous on its inner edge, and with the area beyond it fuscous.
Hindwing pale brownish. Antennas of male with a sinus at base of
shaft containing scale-teeth.
Habitat.— Futtahiri and Hambantota, Ceylon (J. Pole). E.vjj. 10 mm.
T^jpe — In British Museum.
4334. Heterographis bengalella. Forewing with veins 4, 6
approximated for half their length ; 10 from cell.
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314 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
4335a. Heterogbaphis veksicolorella, Rag., Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr.,
(1887), p. 249.
$. Antennae with the shaft curved at base and with shght black
scale teeth in the sinus. Differs from //. suhoblitella in being paler ; the
forewing more fulvous and much less suffused with black ; a distinct
almost pure white costal fascia from base to second line ; the first line
whiter : the second more oblique towards costa, less excnrved at middle,
and whiter. Hindwing paler ; the cilia pure white.
^a^ito^— Krasnovodsk, Siberia ; Ajmere, Punjab. Exp. 18 mm.
Genus Nyctegritis.
Nijctegritis.—ZeW., Isis, 1848, p. G50.
Type. — N. achat'inella, H.S., from Europe.
Range. — Palrearctic region ; Japan ; Bengal ; W. Africa.
Proboscis well developed ; palpi upturned widely in front of frons,
thickly scaled, the third joint as long
as the second, and reaching above
vertex of head ; maxillary palpi fili-
form : frons rounded and somewhat
prominent ; vertex of head with rough
Nyctegritis resticula, $ -f- . j^^j^. . antenna simple. Forewing
rather narrow, the costa evenly curved, the apex rounded ; vein 2 from
well before angle of cell ; 3 from angle ; 4, 5 stalked ; 8, 9 stalked.
Hindwing with the cell about half the length of wing ; 2 from well
before angle ; 3 and 5 stalked ; 4 absent ; 6,7 from upper angle ; 7
anastomosing with 8 to two-thirds of wing.
In the typical section vein lU of forewing arises from the cell.
Sect. II. Forewing with vein 10 absent.
4333. Nyctegritis resticula.
Under AncylOSiS insert AncylodeSy Rag., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr.,
(1887), p. 250.
4336a. Ancylosis pallens, Rag., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (1887), p. 250.
Ochreous-white. Forewing slightly irrorated with black scales, espe-
cially on the veins. Hindwing with pale brown marginal line.
Habitat.— ^\)vCm ; Syria ; Karachi. Exp. 20 mm.
4341. Ancylosis MVEicosTPJLLA.
Antennae of male with a sinus at base of shaft containing scale-teeth.
(2o he continued.^
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315
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA,
Including Afghanistan, the Trans-Indus Protected States, and Kashmir :
arranged and named on the basis of Hooker and Baker's Synopsis Filicum,
and other works, with new Species added.
By C. W. Hope.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society, on 28th of Feb., 1899.)
PART I.— INTRODUCTORY.
The object of this paper is to bring into one view the information
regarding the ferns of the North- West Indian region which is to be
found in the standard English works on ferns, and to add to that the
results of my own observation and study, acquired during a long
residence in India and since I left that country.
I have limited my review to the regions named in the title, because
my observations and study have been chiefly so limited.
Collections were made by me in parts of Kumaon in 1861, and
again in 1890 ; in the Dehra Dun district— at various levels — at inter-
vals from 1879 to 1895 ; in Simla in 1871, and again there and along
the Thibet Road eastward for some 50 miles in 1886. The late
Mr. H. C. Levinge began the study of ferns after seeing what
I collected at Simla in 1871 ; and he collected diligently at Darjeeling
and in other parts of Sikkim, in Bengal, and also in Kashmir and parts
of the North- West Himalaya, until he left India in 1883, and he never
failed to give me a share of what he got, even when I had nothing to give
him in exchange. Mr. C. B. Clarke also has several times given me
generous contributions of ferns collected in Sikkim, Assam, and other
parts of India. And Mr. Gustav Mann, whose fame as a botanist and
collector has been so often signalised by plants being named after him,
has given me in exchange for North- West Indian ferns about 150 species
collected by himself in Assam, where he was Conservator of Forests for
many years. Since the year 1881 I have from time to time seen and
examined all the ferns collected in the North -Western Himalaya,
Kashmir, and the Trans-Indus Protected States by Mr. J. F. Duthie,
the Director of the Botanical Department, Northern India, and his
collectors, and have generally shared in the distribution made by him ;
and 1 have several times studied the ferns in the herbarium at Saharan-
pur, which, under Mr. Duthie's charge, have increased from one small
bundle to a very considerable collection. Since the year 1880 the
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316 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
ferns collected in and iiround Mussoorie, the hill station in the Dehra
Dun district, by Mr. P. W. Mackinnon and Mr. V. A. Mackinnon of
that place, have from time to time been studied by me ; and during
the same period extensive collections made in the Chamba and Kash-
mir States by Mr. J. C. McDonell, of the Imperial Forest Department,
now on deputation as Conservator of Forests in Kashmir, have been
at my disposal for study. I have to thank the Messrs. Mackinnon
and Mr. McDonell for many fine specimens. 1 frequently exchanged
views and specimens with the late Mr. H. F. Blanford, F.R.S., who
collected for some years in the Simla region, and embodied the results of
his study in a paper published in the " Journal of the Asiatic Society of
Bengal " in 1888. Probably every specimen of many hundreds
collected in the Punjab and Kashmir, and also in Kumaon,
by Mr. E. W. Trotter, of Rawalpindi and Murree, in the
years 1887 to 1892, has been scrutinised by me, and my collection has
been greatly increased by his gifts. Major R. W. MacLeod, I.S.C,
showed me collections made by him in Western Kashmir in 1891, and
in Kumaon in 1893, and gave me many fine specimens. I have seen
the collections made in the Simla region by Mr. T. Bliss, of Lahore
and Simla, an enthusiastic collector and horticulturist, and I possess
many fine specimens given to me by him. And, lastly, for several
years before I left India, the extensive collections made by Mr. J. S.
Gamble (Director of the Imperial Forest School at Dehra Dun) in the
Simla region of the Punjab, the Dehra Dun district of the North- Western
Provinces (which includes the Himalayan tract — Jaunsar-Bawar), the
Tehri-Garhwal Hill State, Sikkim and Bhutan, in the North-Eastern
Himalaya, the Chittagong and Chutia-Nagpur divisions of Bengal, and
the Madras Presidency, were available ; and Mr. Gamble has given me
many specimens collected by him in the Dehra Dun district and Tehri-
Garhwal in places which I have never been able to visit. Early in
1896, I spent some busy days in the herbarium of the Calcutta Bota-
nic Garden, taking notes of the North- West Indian ferns there, and
verifying conclusions as to the species included in this paper. I desire
to record my grateful thanks to Sir George King, the late Director
of the Botanical Survey of India, and to Dr. D. Prain,
who has lately succeeded him, for the help they then gave me. Finally
it may be mentioned that in 1872, and again in 1888-89, I studied th©
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TEE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 317
North Indian ferns in the herbarium of the Royal Gardens, Kew,
where views were interchanged not only with Mr. J. G. Baker, F.B.S.,
but with Mr. C. B. Clarke, F.li.S., past President of the Linnean
Society, and Colonel R. H. Beddome, F.L.S., the author of various
works on Indian ferns. And, while preparing this paper, I unexpect-
edly found myself able to leave India and to settle at Kew ; and on
resuming the study of ferns there — a work which was at first
much hindered by ill-health — I soon found it advisable to refrain
from publication until I could again carefully go through the whole
material, and also that in the herbarium of the British Museum
and the Wallichian Collection belonging to the Linnean Society,
at both of which institutions I was made welcome. During this final
period of study I have had the advantage of free access to Colonel
Beddome's valuable collection, and of discussion with him as to critical
plants common to both Northern and Southern India.
Following the example set by Mr. C. B. Clarke in his " Review ot
the Ferns of Northern India,"* I have not attempted to make
this paper a complete account of the species enumerated in it. I
may say, as Mr. Clarke said of his, that my paper is meant to be an
appendix to Hooker and Baker's Synopsis FiUcum ; but it is also
an appendix to Mr. Clarke's " Review," so fiir as the species found west
of Nepal are concerned, and the remarks on the species are in part
additions to, and corrective of, those works. They are also, and
necessarily so, largely corrective of Colonel Beddome's " Handbook of
the Ferns of British India, &c.," including the Supplement of 1892, so
far as it deals with the ferns found within my limits, for his de-
scriptions of them, and remarks, were chiefly taken from the Synopsis
Filicum and Mr. Clarke's " Review." I have, as a rule, given
no diagnoses of the species which have already been described in
those works, but have merely corrected or supplemented them where
it seemed necessary to do so. I have written full descriptions of the
new species I propose, and also in some cases of the plants I have raised
from the rank of variety to that of species.
References are given to three books only, namely, Hooker and
Baker's Sy?iopsis Filicum, Clarke's " Review of the Ferns of Northern
India, &c.," and Beddome's " Handbook of the Ferns of British India,
* Transactions of the Linnean Society, 2ncl Series, Botany, Vol. I (1880).
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.318 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
&c.," with its Supplement of 1892 ; a,nd I have quoted the name given
to each of my species in each of those works ; though in some cases
I have found it difficult to identify them. As a rule, no further attempt
has been made to give the synonymy of the species : that will be
found sufficiently given in the books I refer to ; and as this paper is
merely a supplement to these, and not a complete treatise, I see no
necessity for repeating what is already in print. Mr. Clarke said in
his ^' Review:" " No person is likely to undertake the study of Indian
ferns without this book " [the Synopsis Filicum] " at his elbow ; and
I have not wished to print more repetition than the large quantity
always absolutely necessary in work of this kind." So I would
say of Mr. Clarke's " Review" — though the price of the " Transactions
of the Linnean Society," in which it appeared, is somewhat prohibitory.
Beddome's " Handbook " also must be kept at hand and the Supplement
of 1892. A third edition of the Si/nopsis Filicum is much wanted,
though Mr. Baker, in 1891 and since, has contributed summaries of
new ferns discovered or described since 1874 to the "Annals of
Botany."'
The system of classification and nomenclature followed in this paper
is that of Hooker and Baker's Synojysis Filicum. Specific names used
in the Synojysisj in Clarke's " Review," and in Beddome's *' Handbook,"
with its Supplement, are adhered to so far as is possible. And in
reviving some species which, though originally proposed and named
by competent authorities, have been dro])ped by recent authors, and
in raising so-called varieties to the rank of species, I have
adopted the names originally given by the collectors or describers
of them.
The present list admits 212 species : of these 16 are new, including
3 which have before been described by other authors as varieties of old
species; 45 are new to the regions dealt with, and 6 old species are
new to the Indian region. 20 are old species revived, or so-called
varieties erected into species. In his " Review " Mr. Clarke
admitted 363 species of ferns, besides many varieties, in Northern
India, of which 16 were new. 142 species were, he said, found in
the Himalaya west of Nepal, including Afghanistan apparently.
No place is given in this list to so-called varieties, though in a few
instances " forms " are noted where there seems to be a divergence
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 319
from the normal, due probably to difference of altitude or climate, but
insufficient to prevent identification or to warrant separation as a species.
To such "forms " separate numbers are not given. So-called varieties,
when distinct enough from the so-called types to be separately describ-
ed, and, so far as I know, constant as to characters, are given as species
in the absence of any good reason why they should be given any less
important a position. Most of these were originally named or described
CORRECTIONS.
Vol. XII., page 319, bottom line, for '' Naphrodium " read "Nephro-
dium."
„ „ 323, 20th line from top, for " West " „ "East."
„ „ 411,17th „ „ bottom, for "holes" „ " boles."
„ „ ., 20th „ „ „ ,, "general" „ "genial."
„ „ 412, 8th „ „ top, for " Bifosoma " „ ''Ligosoma."
9th „ „ „ „ "digested" „ "ingested."
?> « 55 ^^^•^ }> J> 5) 3> ^^g
by authors as growing in India, the types of which are expressly stated
as not having been found in that region. Thus, after giving an elabo-
rate description of Aspleniuni (Athi/rmm) Filix-foimina, Bernh. [forma
europcea), apparently by himself, Mr. Clarke goes on to say that
the typical form has not exactly been got in the Himalaja, and to give
no less than seven varieties of ft, which have been got there, with a
short description of each. In this case Colonel Beddome, in his
" Handbook," follows Mr. Clarke almost verbathn, giving all seven
varieties. At least two of these, A. Schimperi, A. Br., &ud A. pedi-
nalum, Wall., which have widely creeping and branching rhizomes or
sarmenta and distantly springing fronds instead of the erect caudex and
fasciculate vernation of A. Filix-fcemina, have been recognised as good
species by Colonel Beddome in the Supplement to his " Handbook."
In the other instance, that of Naphrodium {Lastrea) FilLv-mas, Rich.,
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.318 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
&c.," with its Supplement of 1892 ; and I have quoted the name given
to each of my species in each of those works ; though in some cases
I have found it difiB.cult to identify them. As a rule, no further attempt
has been made to give the synonymy of the species : that will be
found sufficiently given in the books I refer to ; and as this paper is
•" " cnnnlmnent to these, and not a complete treatise, I see no
reviving some species which, though originally proposeu -aim ^^
by competent authorities, have been dropped by recent authors, and
in raising so-called varieties to the rank of species, I have
adopted the names originally given by the collectors or describers
of them.
The present list admits 212 species : of these 16 are new, including
3 which have before been described by other authors as varieties of old
species; 45 are new to the regions dealt with, and 6 old species are
new to the Indian region. 20 are old species revived, or so-called
varieties erected into species. In his *' Review " Mr. Clarke
admitted 363 species of ferns, besides many varieties, in Northern
India, of which 16 were new. 142 species were, he said, found in
the Himalaya we^t of Nepal, including Afghanistan apparently.
No place is given in this list to so-called varieties, though in a few
instances " forms " are noted where there seems to be a divergence
![]()
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 319
from the normal, clue probably to difference of altitude or climate, but
insufficient to prevent identification or to warrant separation as a species.
To such "forms '' separate numbers are not given. So-called varieties,
when distinct enough from the so-called types to be separately describ-
ed, and, so far as I know, constant as to characters, are given as species
in the absence of any good reason why they should be given any less
important a position. Most of these were originally named or described
as good species by the collectors of them, but have afterwards been
reduced by authors who have never seen them growing in their native
habitats. In no such instance does there appear any evidence of
origination by variation from another hnown species ; and the place as
a variety seems in most cases to have been assigned either from a fancied
resemblance to an old species, or merely because the plant, being of the
same genus,has been observed or discovered, and described, subsequently
to the date of the description of the so-called type plant. Such plants
have been ranked as varieties long enough, and, having successfully
passed a period of probation, may now be promoted to specific rank.
As to most of them, the difhcultv seems to me— not how to distinguish
them from their so-called prototypes, but — how to think and write of
them as being near these. Admitting, for the sake of argument, their
origin by variation, they have become good and permanent species
showing no tendency to revert, and ought to be treated as species.
In two notable instances numerous varieties of plants have been setup
by authors as growing in India, the types of which are expressly stated
as not having been found in that region. Thus, after giving an elabo-
rate description of Asplenium {Athyrium) Fili.v-fcemina, Bernh. [forma
europcBo), apparently by himself, Mr. Clarke goes on to say that
the typical form has not exactly been got in the Himalaja, and to give
no less than seven varieties of ft, which have been got there, with a
short description of each. In this case Colonel Beddome, in his
" Handbook," follows Mr. Clarke almost verbatim, giving all seven
varieties. At least two of these, A. Schimperi, A. Br., &nd A . pedi-
natum, Wall., which have widely creeping and branching rhizomes or
sarmenta and distantly springing fronds instead of the erect caudex and
fasciculate vernation of A. FilLv-fcemina, have been recognised as good
species by Colonel Beddome in the Supplement to his " Handbook."
In the other instance, that of Naphrodium (Lastrea) Filix-mas, Rich.,
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320 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Mr. Clarke wrote a diagnosis, which, he said, was "designed to inckide
various North Indian ferns diflBcult to separate from the ordinary
European N. Fili.v-mas, i.e., the first four varieties following " ; and he
then gave nearly as long diagnoses of each of these four, with
figures of three of them, and diagnoses of three more varieties,
with figures of them. Colonel Beddome gave in his " Handbook " a
description of N. Fillx-mas entirely different from that written by
Mr. Clarke, and said the plant was found " throughout the Indian
reoion, but generally confined to considerable elevations on the
mountains" ; and he then gave four varieties, in the first of w^hich —
var. 3. pamllelogramma, he combined two of Mr. Clarke's varieties
and three other plants which had previously been described as species.
Another of these varieties Colonel Beddome gave — N. cochleatum,
Don., — Mr. Clarke had given as a distinct species, hesitating to give it
feneric rank, though it had previously been made a new genus by two
different authors. In his Supplement of 1 892, Beddome says the Euro-
pean type of Lastrca Filix-mas does not occur in India! But he
repeats the four varieties given in the" Handbook," including L. cocldeata
(sp.), Don, and adds six new ones, two of which — Nepkrodium subtrian-
gidare and N. assaniense—are sub-tropical, low-level species, which had
been described by me in the " Journal of Botany" for November, 1890,
and included by Mr. Baker as described new species in his " Summary
of New Ferns" published in 1801. Here, then, are in India ten
varieties of a fern which itself is said not to occur in India, only two or
three of which Colonel Beddome can, I think, have seen growing.
In other cases authors have not hesitated to place common North-
West Indian ferns as mere varieties of species not found at all in
North-West India, e.g., Pterls stenophi/lla, Hk. & Gr., Ic. Fil., t. 30,
was placed by Hooker, in his Species Filicum, as a mere variety of
Fteris cretica, L., and this reduction has been perpetuated by
Mr. Baker. But Mr. Clarke in his " Review " altered this reduction,
and placed P. slenophylla as a variety of F. pellucida, Presl. ; and
Colonel Beddome followed suit. F. pellucida has never been got in
North-West India. F. stenopihylla is wholly unlike it, and it is very
plentiful in some localities round Mussoorie — exactly Hooker and
Greville's plant. After long and intimate acquaintance vith this fern,
1 have no hesitation in calling it a species.
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 321
The theory underlying all this restriction or reduction of speciea
seems to be that recently observed plants, however apparently
distinct, are likely to be mere varieties of previously kno\^Tl and
described species. But a variety must surely be a variation proved to
have originated from a known plant, and not merely a different plant
which botanists think resembles a well-known plant, and, from dislike
to increase the number of species, choose to call a mere variety of it.
I am well aware that there are hundreds of cultural varieties of
ferns — European chiefly — and that these, having been propao-ated
from plants found wild, retain their characters permanently when
cultivated, or diverge even further from the type. But such
varieties are for the most part sports, or monsters in appearance, and
no one thinks of setting them up as species ; and botanists do not even
enumerate them under the species from which they are known or are
supposed to have originated. Fern-fanciers, on the other hand, would
probably cease to take an interest in them if they were recognised by
botanists as species. Such sports are rarely found in India, and when
met with are treated as sports not named as varieties. The so-called
varieties of Indian ferns are serious entities, with no eccentricities of
form or habit, and, were it not for slight or fancied resemblances in
them to previously described species, there seem to be no good reasons
why they also should not be favoured with full descriptions and specific
names. Differences of mode of growth and venation are surely good
specific distinctions ; and yet we find plants so differing grouped under
the same specific name, and one called a variety of the other on merely
fanciful grounds. There is sometimes doubt as to the separate entity of
species described in the books, because the nature of the rhizome has
not been observed and described. For this collectors are of course
partly to blame ; but in many cases authors are silent as to the rhizome,
and seem to think it a feature of no importance. An isolated i)lant with
a woody root-stock, perhaps nearly as thick as one's wrist, of slow and
almost secular grovv'th, and which is erect, or merely decumbent, and
throws up fronds from the apes in a tuft, and, if decumbent,
dies off behind, while it continues to grow slowly forwards, is of a
totally different nature from a fern vvhich has a thin, perhaps succulent
quickly growing and widely-creeping and branching rhizome or aar-
mentum^ which throws up fronds singly at greater or less intervals
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322 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
over a large surface of ground ; and it seems impossible that the
same species of fern can ever have habits so widely differing as those
I have just described. I think I may challenge fern-fanciers to produce
on instance of variation between such habits. It is, though there are
others, mainly on this ground that Mr. E. W. Trotter and I have
separated Poly podium (^Pheg.), late repens, Trotter MS., from P. distans,
Don, which has an erect caudex, and that I am now proposing Neph-
rodium {Laslrea) repens as a new species, distinct from Aspidium
ocJdhodes, Kze. {Nephrodlum proUxum^ Baker).
Some pains have been taken to give the habitats of the species in
regular order from West to East,* and in sufficient detail to show the
distribution in India ; and the distribution in other parts of the world
has been carefully arranged by continents, which is not always satisfac-
torily done in the three works here followed and reviewed. And, except
in the cases of the long recognised and common species, the authorities for
the habitats or the names of collectors whose specimens have been seen
and are known to have been gathered in the habitats named, have been
quoted. I have not used the mark *' ! " ; but it must be understood that I
have either seen the specimens on which I found, or have satisfied myself
that my authority for their existence is trustworthy. This mark (!) is not
used in the books I make reference to. As to the new or rarer species,
the year of collection, in other cases the names of collectors — at least
those of the more modern of them — are arranged, under the geo-
graphical areas, in the order of date of collection. This much
seems due to those who have done so much of late years, and have
helped to make the present list so full ; and in many cases it is an
acknowledgment of specimens given to myself. And such full citation
seems to give authority which might otherwise be thought wanting.
Such an entry as — " Himalal^'as, ascending to 10,000 feet "• — docs not
seem at all snfficient, or even useful. Taken literally, this would
mean — " throughout the Himalaya, from west to east, and at all alti-
tudes from the plains up to 10,000 feet " ; but in many such instances it
turns out that the plant has been got only in the Eastern Himalaya,
and not below (say) 5,000 feet. Again: " Himalayas, from Garhwal to
Bhotan," not only involves the assumption that the plant grows from
* The Hazdra District of the Pnnjab lies to the westward of Kaf-hmir, but is given
along with the other districts of the Punjab for convenience sake.
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 323
west to east of Nepal, a country of many hundreds of miles in length
that has not been open to explorers for the last 70 years or so, but
it leaves in doubt in what part of Garhwal — a tract extending from the
Tons to the Ramganga — the plant has been gathered. Especially in
the cases of new species, or species new to India, or to the limits dealt
with in this paper, does it seem proper to give full authority for state-
ments as to habitat. Colonel Beddome, in the Supplement to his " Hand-
book," enters Ci/stopterh viontana. Link., as a species new to India ; but
he gives " Cashmir " as the habitat, and does not give the name of the
person who found it there. Until recently, when I found in the Kew
Herbarium a specimen of this fern collected in Kashmir in 1877 bv the
late Dr. Aitchison, I was unaware of the authority for this habitat, and
before I read of it I had believed that the plant had not been found in
Asia, except in Kamschatka, until 1884, when it was found in Kumaun,
in the North-West Himalaya, at an altitude of 12,000 to 13,000 feet,
by Mr. Duthie. Other stations for the plant were discovered by
Mr. Duthie over the west border of Nepal in 1886 ; but he never
found it in Kashmir. So far as I know, no one besides Dr. Aitchison and
]\Ir. Duthie has ever found this plant between the Carpathians in Europe
and the extreme west of Asia. In the case of another entry in Beddome's
Supplement — Asplenium germanicum, Weiss — said to have been got
in Kashmir, and therefore to be new to the Indian region —
the collector's name ought to have been stated. Mr. J. C. McDonell did
find a scrap of this species in Kashmir early in 1891; but he did not
know he had got it until sometime after Colonel Beddome's Supplement
had been published. As will be seen, recorded in the proper place,
A. germanicum had been got previously in Afghanistan and Chamba.
For reasons which will be obvious, when it is considered that this
paper is being published in instalments, all the new species are given
first, as Part 1 1. ; and Plates of all of them will be issued along with
the descriptions, or thereafter, as may be found possible. Not being
a draughtsman, I am at a disadvantage in attempting to give illustra-
tions ; but Mr. N. E. Brown, the well-known botanist, has carried out
my ideas and wishes very correctly as well as artistically. The
details and enlargements and arrangement of the Plates are entirely
J\[r. Brown's ; but as he could not spare time for making the finished
drawings of fronds, these have been dor.e, from his sketches and the
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324 JOURNAL, BOJIBAY NATUEAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
specimens we selected from my herbavium, in Calcutta, by Bengal
artists, under the supervision of Dr. D. Praiu, the Superintendent
of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, who also kindly adopted
the undertaking by his predecessor, Sir George King, to have the Plates
lithographed for me (and the Bombay Natural History Society) in Cal-
cutta where, as is well known from the numerous examples in the
" Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta/' such work is very eflfi-
ciently done. My very best thanks are due to Dr. Plain for having
thus so materially contributed to the preparation of this paper, 1 am
also greatly indebted to him, as well as to Sir George King and Mr. J.
F. Duthie, for their help in securing the co-operation of the Bombay
Natural History Society for the publication of my paper in their
valuable Journal. To Mr. Duthie I must also ei' press my grateful
thanks for having passed the final proofs for the press at Bombay,
which has saved many weeks of time. Additional Plates will, 1 hope,
be given from time to time, as I may be able to get them prepared ;
the Society in Bombay is not wanting in liberality in that respect.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
BoTAXicAL Terms.
Caud. : caudcx, from which arises the frond or stipes.
llUiz. : rhizome, a creepiug or climbing stem, taking the place of a caudex.
St. : stipes, or stipites, the stallc of the frond.
Fr. : Frond, or fronds, exclusive of the stipes.
Jlh. : rhachis, the continuation of the stipes up the middle of the frond to the ter-
minal point.
Ser. Ilk. : secondary rhachis, or rhachises, the main branch or branches of the
rha^iis.
Finn. : pinnae, the primary complete divisions of a frond.
Finnl. : pinnule or pinnule", the secondary complete divisions of a frond, or com-
plete divisions of a pinna.
,Si'{jm, : segments, the divisions of a pinna, or ox a pinnule, when more than mere
teeth, lobes, or crenations.
r<!?j. : venation, the system of veins in a frond, pinna, pinnule, or segment. '
Costa : the main vein of a group proceeding from a rhachis.
Iiivol. : involucre, the covering (cup or cap) which incloses and protects the sorus.
Measures of Lexgth.
Ft. : foot or feet.
In. : inch or inches.
X. : long, thus 1 in. 1., 1 ft. 1.
IF : wide ] ^jjyg J .^ ^^ ,^j. ^ jj^_ ^^
Br. : br(iad I '
5-7000' : 5000 to 7000 feet altitude. 5.".-7000' : 5600' lo 7000'.
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 325
AuTHOKs'' Names and their Works.
Ilooh. Sj}. Fll. : Sir W. J. Hooker''s Species Filicuni.
Syn. t'il. : Hooker and Baker'.-^ S//nopsis Filicunf.
C. R. : Mr. C. B. Clarke's " Review ot the Ferns of Northern India."
Bedd. H. B. : Colonel E. H. Beddome's " Handbook of the Ferns of British India''^
and Supplement.
Wall. : Wallich in Catalogue of Plants.
(Besides other abbreviations already in general use.)
Names of Habitats.
Afghan. : Afghanistan.
Trans-Ind. States : Trans-Indus Protected States.
Simla Reg. : Simla Region.
N.-W. P. : The North-Western Provinces of the Bengal Presidency.
(^Tliin.'j: The Himalaya Range of Mountains.
n. B. Bist. : The Dehra Dun District of the N.-W. Provinces.
T. Gar'i. : The Tehri Garhwal State in the N.-W. Himalaya.
Brit. Garli. : District of British Garhwal.
iV. Ind. : Northern India.
Cnitr. Ind. : Central India.
Centr. Prov. : The Central Provinces of India.
S. Ind. : Southern India.
Malay. Renins. : The Malayan Peninsula.
3Iasc. Isles. : Madagascar, Mauritius, Bourbon, etc.
Vy. : Valley.
(Besides other usual and obvious abbreviations.)
Collectors"' Names.
Aitch. : the late Dr. J. E. T. Aitchisou.
Beddome : Colonel R. H. Beddcme.
Blanf. : the late Mr. H. F. Blanford.
Bliss : Mr. T. Bliss.
C. B. Clarlte : Mr. C. B. Clarke.
Davidson : Colonel Davidson.
Buthie : Mr. J. F. Duthie and his collectors.
Bdjeio. : the late Mr. M. P. Edgeworth.
Gamb'e : Mr. J. Sykes Gamble.
Ganii ie : Mr. G. A. Gammie.
Hook. Jil. : Sir J. D. Hooker.
J/ojifi : Mr. C. W. Hope.
Jacquem. : Jacquemont.
King : Sir George King.
Lace : Mr. J. H. Lace.
lev. : the late Mr. H. C. Levinge and his collectors.
3Iackinnons : Mr. P. W. Mackinnon and Mr. V. A. Mackiunon, and their collecto s.
JlacLeod : Colonel R. W. MacLeod.
M'Done'l : Mr. J. C. M'Donell.
3Iann : Mr. Gustav Mann.
R. Blinli. : Mr. R. Blinkworth.
S. <)'• W. : Strachey and Winterbottom.
Trotter : Mr. E. W. Trotter.
T. T. : Dr. T. Thomson.
Watt : Dr. George Watt.
{To he continued.)
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3-JG
NOTE ON THE LAND MOLLUSOA OF BOMBAY.
By W. T. Blanford, E.R.S.
{Read before lite BomhaTj NoJural Historjj Society on 2Sth of Feb., 1899.)
In llio Journ.'il of tlio Boinbii}'' Ntitaral History Society, Vol. XI, p.
131, is a very good account of (ho terrestrial Mollusca found in Bombay
Island by Mr. A. J. Poilo, II. A. The list given contaius all tlie
kinds known to occur in the island, and comprises the following
15 species : —
Bnlifninus (Mastus) insuhiris.
B. abyssinicus var. nioussoni-
anus.
B. (Rhachis) bengalensis.
B. (R) punctatus.
Stenogyra gracilis.
Glessula sp.
Suocinoa vitrea.
Cyclophorus indicus.
Ario[thanta Irovipes.
A. bajadera.
^'anina pelina.
N. (Microcystina) temiicula.
N.(M.) perrottoti.
Helix (Trichochloritis) pro-
pinqua.
Pupa (Leucochila) ca^nopicta.
With one exception I believe the species are correctly identified,
though I cannot always concur in tho generic names. But genera
among Pulmoniferous Mollusca are, and aro likely to remain for a long
time to come, either guesses (when the animal has not been criticnliy
examined) or else mere expressions of i), dividual views. Species are
far more definite, at all events when those of one locality come under
consideration. The particular species as to the name of wdiich I would
suggest further consideration is that Avhicli Mr. Peile (p. lo4) identi-
fies as Naniiid [Microci/stina) peri'oUetu 1 am well acquainted with the
Bombay Mollusk, which is pretty common (or was some thirty years
ago) on Malabar Hill, and which attracted my attention by having,
instead of the pointed, narrow shell-lobes (or as Mr. Peile very a})tly
crills them shell-polishing lobes) of Macroclilamr/s, (the genus to m hich
I refer both M. ^v^^ma and M. tenuicula, although neither is a typical
form) broad spatulate lobes which, in the height of the monsoon, when
the mantle and its lobes are fully developed, completely cover the
shell.
The name i/^-Z/a-^jen-of/lC'/;? was applied by Pleiifer to a species inha-
biting the Nilgiri Hills. It was described as " spim brevissime subturb-
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NOTE ON THE LAND MOLLUSC A OF BOMBAY. 327
inata^ ap'ice amt'mscul a^ anfr. 5 5, Dkan. maj, 8, m/n. 7, alt. 4 mill."
Tlie Bombay shell lins neither a snbtnrbinnte spire nor a sharpish apex ;
it has but 5 whorls, and the measurement of an average specimen is
about 11 milleraetros in major diameter, 9i in minor, and 5| in altifuile.
I have collected in some numbers on the Nilgiris, at Pykara and
Avalanche, a shell that precisely corresponds to Pleiflfer's description of
H. pen'oiteti both in form and measurements, Ijut which is not the same
as the Bombay species. B'or the latter, in 1880 (Joun. As. Soc. Bono-.
Vol. XLIX, Pt. 2, p. 195, pi. ii, fio-. 9) I proposed the name" f
Macrocfdamijs (?) 'platiiehlamys,'^' and I mentioned that I had obtained
this species, or a shell which I was unable to distinguish from ii
from (Jhampanir near Broach to the North, and from the Wynaad to
the South.
Specimens of this Mollusk and of other Bombay species laave recently,
by the kindness of Mr. Phipson (and I believe of Mr. Peile) been
sent to me, and the aninnil has Ijeen dissected by Col. Godwin-Austen,
to whom we are indebted for many additions to our knowledoe of
Ind'an snails. The result, I hope, will shortly be published. I he
animal proves to be somewhat diiferent in several respects from typical
forms of MacrochlamijS, such as the Bengal shell conmionlv, but
incorrectly, known as M. vitrinoides ( M. indlca of Benson, M.
pseudoviinnoides of Nevill), and must be placed in a separate
sub-genus. M. pedina also exhibits striking peculiarities of its
own.
I do not think that either MacrocJdamys tenulcula or J/. Platy-
chlamys can be referred to Mlcrocystina, a sub-generic group founded
on M. rinkii^ an Andaman snail with a peculiar notch in the columella.
It is true that Mr. G. Nevill, in his Hand-h'st of Mollusca in the
Indian Museum, Calc':tta, referred numerous small forms of Macro-
chlamrjs, and amongst them M. perrottetl and M. tenuicvla to Micro-
cystis of Beck, but in this he was certainly in error, and moreover
Microcystis and Microcyslina are by no means the same. I think it
possible that Mr. Peile has taken his nomenclature in part from Nevill's
Hand-list, because he adopts the specific name tennicola, which was a
mistake or misprint of Nevili's, instead of tenuicula, the term originally
applied by A. Adams.
* ■nXoir-j!^ broad ; Xxa^vj^ a cloak or mantle.
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:j28 journal, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Tho only species of Glessvla thut I luive certainly from Bombay
Island is G. noiigena (Bs.)' some specimens of wliicli were obtained l)y
myself. I have . another species marked " Island of Bombay," but I
did not procm-e it myself, and it h possible there may be a mistake
about the origin of the only specimen I possess.
iiVmc/iw p<ndrt/'(« is found throughout a large area iu the Bombay
Presidency, but the occurrence in Bomljay Island of E. hengalensis,
the representative Bengal form, is, I strongly suspect, dne to that
species having been introduced. The ova or young might easily have
been broucrht with plants. It is not improbable that Bidiminits insidaris
which, as Mr. Pelle points out, is an inhabitant of a drier climate than
that of Bombay Island, may also have been unintentionally imported
by man.
![]()
L de NICEVILLE, Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist, Soc.
Plate BE-
"West.lTewniaxi chroTno.
TEINOPALPUS IMPERATRIX.
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320
NOTES ON SOME BUTTERFLIES FROM TENASSERIM
IN BURMA.
By Lionel de Nickville, f.e.s., c.m.z.s., &c.
With Plate BB.
{Readhefore the Bombay Natural Histonj Society on 2Sth of Feb., 1899.)
In October and November, 189(S, I visited Mandalaj and other
places in Upper Bnrnia, and at Taungoo, on the northern borders of
Tenasserim, esannned the collection of butterflies made by Mr. T. A,
Hauxwell, Deputy Conservator of Forests, during the last few years
in Tenasserim, with that gentleman. As the collection contains many-
rare and interesting species, I made notes regarding all such which
notes are embodied below, together with some field notes by Mr.
Hauxwell, the latter being given in quotation marks.
Family NYMPHALID^.
S ul ifamily Satyrin.e.
1. Anadebis himachala, Moore.
Occurs rarely in the Chin Hills, Upper Burma, in April. The usual
pale outer marginal area in these specimens is " almost obsolete "
Mr. Hauxwell notes.
2. Neorixa crishna, West.vood.
This species was described from Java and Northern India. Mr.
Moore in " Lep. Ind.," vol. i, p. 227 (1892), says that the type specimen
is from Java and is now in tlie British Museum. N. crisJuia is quite
distinct from iV. loestivooJii, Moore, from Assam. N. crishna occurs in
the Ye Valley, Lower Tenasserim, in February and March, and in the
Ataran Valley, Middle Tenasserim. " Found in high bamboo juno-Je
only. Rests chiefly on the ground, occasionally settles low down on
bamboo sprays. Is very rare." Tenasserim specimens agree absolutely
with Javau ones in my collection.
3. Ccelites binghami, Moore.
" Crepuscular, flies only in the evening along open [lalhs throuo-h
evergreen jungle."
4. Zophobssa sura, Doubleday and Hewitson.
One male from the Daunat Range, Middle Tenasserim, taken
in March.
5. Blanaida bhadra, Moore,
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330 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol NIL
TiUin<2;oo Hills, Upper Tonasserim, 4,00'.» feet, February.
(). Blanaida ruLAiiA, Moore.
Taunf'Go Hills, 4.000 feet, November.
7. Okinoma damaris, G. R. Gray.
Taiiiigoo Hills, 4,000 feet, May.
Subfamily Elymnhn.E.
8. Elymnias {Bruasa) chklrnsis, de Niccville.
Taungoo, December ; Daunat Range, February ; luales only.
Subfamily AMA'rnusiiN.E.
d. Zeuxidia douuf-edaii, Wostwood.
Ora^ male, Ataran Vallej', IMarcth. I possess anotber iViale from
Tavoy in Lower liurma, taken in Ajtril. IMr. Moore does not include
this species from India in his " Lep. Ind."
10. STlClIOrilTlIALMA CAMADEVOIDES, n. sp.
Occurs rarely in the Chin Hills, Upper Burma., in April. The ocelli
on the undersi(l(^ in these specimens are all comjdete and are much
more distinct than in examples from Sikkim and Assam, and the
outer-discal blue band on the ujiperside of the lundwing has each
component si)ot of eijual breadth throughout, instead of being cone-
shaped ; cojiseqnently the band is continuous instead of being formed
of jiairs of spots, eaeh pair being anteriorly ^Yell separated froai the ])air
on either side of it. 1 have u specimen (the type) from the Katlia
District of Upper l)urnia.
11. iEMONA LENA, AtkiusOU.
One pair of this exceedingly rare species taken in the Taungoo Kills,
4,000 feet, in May.
Subfamily Nymphalin.e.
12. CiiAUAXKs (Ilavidi'a) niciiolii, Grose Smith.
One male taken in the Daunat Range in March.
13. Charaxes (Eul('j)/s) SCHREI15ERI, Godart.
One female taken in the compound of ]\Ir. IlauxwolTs btmgalow,
at Taungoo, in November. J\[r. W. Dohorty picked up otV the ground
a male also in Taungoo. This species seems never to occur
commonly.
14. Hei.cvua iiEMiNA, Hewitson.
One male, Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet, October,
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NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM TENASSERIM. 331
15. Apatura ambica, Kollar.
Males only, from the Taungoo Hills, taken in March, and the
Thaungyin Valley, Middle Tenasserim, in January and February.
16. Apatura sordida, Moore.
One male from the Ataran Valley taken in March. This species has
hitherto been known only from Sikkim.
17. EuLACURA OSTEUIA, Westwood.
Thaungyin Valley, March. One male. I possess another male from
the Daunat Range.
18. Sephisa CHANDRA, Moore.
Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet, October.
19. DiCHORRHAGIA NBSIMACHUS, Boisduval.
Daunat Range, March and April.
20. Stibochiona nicea, G. R. Gray.
Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet, Octoiior. Specimens from Burma and the
Malay Peninsula have the marginal white baud on both sides of the
hindwing more or loss developed, in e:!i:trome specimens very greatly
so, but every intergrado exists l)otween these voi'y white examples and
the normal form. The white form has been named S. nicea suhucula
by Herr H. Fruhstorfer, from Malacca (Berl. Ent. Zeitsch., vol.
xlii, p. 329 ( 1897 ).
21. Neurosigma nonius, de Niceville.
Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet, April and May, several examples, all males.
This species was described in "Ann. and Mag. of Natural History," sixth
series, vol. xvii, p. 396 (May, 1896), from Karenni, Burma, but is not
mentioned by Mr. Moore, though described a year before
part xxviii of his " Lep. Ind. " was published. I think
Mr. Moore in '* Lep. Ind., " vol. iii, p. 79, &c., (1897), has confused
the species of this genus. N. doudledaii, Westwood, was described
from a female from Sylhet. I have both sexes from this locality, and
they agree with others in my collection from kSikkim, Bhutan, Joreh^t
in Assam, and Katha in Upjier Burma. Mr. Moore has figured the
female of this correctly on pi. coxviii, fig. 13, but its male he describes
as a new species under the name of N.fraterna, and figures it on the
same plate, figs. 2, 2a. My N. nonius is accurately figured on the
same plate, figs. 1, la, as the male of N. douhledayi \jic\. He gives
Bhotan [=Bhutan], the Khasia Hills, and the Chittagong Hills for
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332 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
N. fvaterna, while for N. douUedayi he gives Sikkim, Assam, the
Khasia and Naga Hills, and Burma. These localities are strangely
mingled, and as far as my experience goes N. douhledaii is confined to
Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam and Upper Burma, while N. nonius occurs to
the southwards, in Karenni and Upper Tenasserim. The female of
N, nonius has yet to be discovered.
22. EuTHALiA {Zalapia) taooana, Moore.
One male of this very rare species from the Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet,
taken in May. Colonel C. T. Bingham has given me a single male
captured on the ascent from the Tbaungyin Valley to the Taoo
Plateau at about 2,000 feet, taken 1st March, 1890.
23. EuTHALiA (Chucapa) fkanci^, G. R. Gray.
Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet, one male in October.
24. LiMENiTis (Sumalia) zulema, Doubleday and Hewitson.
Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet, October, one male.
25. Athyma kanga, Moore.
As A. rauga, Moore, and A. mahesa, Moore, are seasonal forms of one
and the same species, buc as the former name occurs earlier than the
latter in the work in which both are described, it must stand for the
species. A. ranga is found in the Daunat Range in December, the
Thaungyin Valley in May and December, and in the Taungoo Hills,
4,000 feet, in November.
26. Athyma selenophora, KoUar.
Daunat Range, February. Males only met with.
27. Calinaga sudassana, Melvill.
Originally described from Siam. I have specimens from the
Kunlon Ferry, Salween River, N. Shan States, taken on 11th March,
1895, and Mr. Hauswell obtained three males on the Taungoo Hills,
at about 2,000 to 2,500 feet elevation, also in March.
28. Penthema binghami, Wood-Mason.
I have a single male taken in the Yunzalin Valley, Middle
Tenasserim, in April, Mr. Hauxwell has obtained one male in the
Daunat Range, and another in the Thaungyin Valley, both in
April. F. lisarda, Doubleday, occurs in the Chin Hills very rarely in
February, while P. darlisa, Moore, is fairly common in high forest
throughout Burma ; hence all the known species of the genus occur
in the province.
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NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM TENASSERIM. 333
29. Kallima alompra, Moore.
Mr. Hauxwell obtained a single male in the Daunat Range in March,
1895. For me it is a most interesting discovery, as amongst the very
many thousands of butterflies from all parts of Burma that have passed
through my hands, — and I have always been looking uut for a blue-
banded Kallima from Burma, — this is the first specimen 1 have seen
of the species from thence. Mr. Hauxwell had overlooked it, as it was in
a paper envelope. On setting it I find that it agrees absolutely with
males of K. knyvettii, mihi, from Sikkim and Bhutan, so that species falls
as a synonym of K, alompra., as Mr. H. J. Elwes thought it would do,
vide his remarks on K. hvjvetti [sic] in Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1891,
p. 283, when writing about it from the Naga Hills, 5,000 feet.
30. Prothob angelica, Butler.
Mr. Hauxwell notes that this species '' Flies low, and settles low down
on the trunks of trees with closed wings only two or three feet from
the ground. Once frightened it never returns to the same spot."
31. Prothoe belisama, Crowley.
Originally described from " Tonghou." It occurs rarely in the
Ataran Valley in March, and in the Taungoo Hills, 3,000 feet, in
April, Mav and June. "As stated by Mr. A. K. Wallace in 'The
Malay Archipelago ' with regard lo the very closely-allied Prothoe
calydonia, Hewitson, this species flies high and settles high up on
tree trunks with closed wings, very rarely descending to the ground.
It invariably returns to the same Sj)ot when frightened off, so if its
resting place is within rej;ch, the butterfly with patience can be secured
with certainty. To capture one specimen my men and I had to
construct three high platforms of bamboos adjoining three trees
between which a P. helisama continually flew backwards and forwards.
After some while we managed to secure the specimen."
Family LEMONIlDiE.
Subfamily LiBYTmEiK^.
32. Libythea geoffroyi, God art.
I redescribed and figured this species in the Journal of tha Bombay
Natural History Society, vol. v, p. 205, n. 6, pi. D, flg. 5, male
(1890), from Syinbyudine, on the Tavoy-Siam Frontier. The form
figured is the most variegated as regards coloration and markings, bnt
every gradation exists between it and one with no markings whatever
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334 JOURNAC, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
on the upperside of the forewing in the male, this plainly-marked form
agreeing exactly with some I have from the island of Wetter. From
my Burmese collection of this species alone it is obvious that
L. geoffroyi is exceedingly variable. It occurs in the Ataran Valley in
February and March, also in the Daunat Range ; in Upper Burma
it is found at Myittha in January, and in Lower Burma in Tavoy in
January and March. Mr. Hauxwell notes : " Males only seen. Found
always on the sand at the edge of the water sucking up the moisture.
Where L. geoffroyi occurs the otherwise common L. myrrha, Godart,
is never seen."
Family LYC^NID^.
33. Zarona jasoda, de Niceville.
Three males of this rare species in the Daunat Range in March.
34. MoTA MASSYLA, Hewitson.
Daunat Range, March, one pair.
35. Tajuria maculata, Hewitson.
Taungoo, one male.
36. Charana mandarinus, Hewitson.
Taungoo Hills, 4,UC0 feet, April, one female.
37. Cheritrella truncipennis, de Niceville.
Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet, April, one male. It is very common at
Lwe Long near Bhamo in Upper Burma at about 5,000 feet, in
March.
38. Deudorix GiETULiA, de Niceville.
Taungoo, April, one male.
Family PAPILIONID^.
Subfamily PiERiNiE.
39. Dercas verhuelli, van der Hoeven.
In a recent revision by me of this genus (Ann. and Mag. of Nat.
Hist., seventh series, vol. ii, p. 470 (1898), I stated that no species
of Dercas is known to occur in Central or Southern Burma. Mr. Haux-
well possesses a single male taken on the Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet,
in May, and since this another from the Chindwin Valley.
Subfamily Papilionin-^.
40. Papilio adamsoni, Grose Smith.
This species occurs apparently throughout Tenasserim, but is always
rare. I have specimens from the Ataran Valley taken in March, the
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NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM TENASSERIM. 335
Thanngyin Valley taken in the same month, and the Daunat Range
taken in January. ,
41. Papilio noblei, de Niceville.
in my collection from the Katha district of Upper Burma, and in
Mr. Hauxwell's from Taungoo taken in March.
42. Papilio rhetenor, Westwood.
Daunat Range, February, males only.
43. Papilio arcturus, Westwood.
The Taoo Plateau, Middle Tenasserim, 4,000 feet, December.
44. Papilio palinurus, Fabricius.
Better known to Indian collectors as P. hrama, Guerin. Widely
distributed in Burma, but is always rare. Mr. Hauxwell notes : " The
butterfly has the habit of bathing in shallow water in hill streams. It
akims over the surface of the water like a swallow, and dips its body
into the water, giving itself a shake as it comos out and then flies on
again." Amongst moths, many of the Sphingidce in India have a
similar habit.
45. Papilio pateni evan, Doubleday.
Daunat Range, March. Not hitherto recorded south of Assam.
46. Papilio gyas, Westwood.
Mooleyit Mountain, 6,000 feet, February. Not hitherto recorded
south of Assam.
47. Teinopalpus imperatrix, n. sp. Plate BB.
Habitat : Taungoo Hills, 4,000 feet. Upper Tenasserim, Burma.
Expanse : ^, 4'4 ; $ , 5*7 inches.
Description : Male. Differs from T. imperialis, Hope, from
Sikkim, Bhutan, the Khasi Hills, and Chang-yang in Central China, in
the following particulars : — Upperside, forewing darker green, the
black ground-colour shewing through the green scales more prominently.
Hindioing with the rich chrome-yellow discal fascia with its inner edge
not encroaching on the discoidal cell, instead of reaching well into it,
that portion of the fascia in the second subcostal interspace consider-
ably longer ; all the tooth-like projections on the outer margin much
longer, especially those at the terminations of the second subcostal and
first median nervules. Underside, forewing with the five black fascise
crossing the wing much broader, especially the middle one. Hindwing
with the discal yellow fascia broader. Female. Considerably larger
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336 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
than that sex of T. imperialls. UrPERSlDE, loth wings much darker,
all the black coloration much more prominent. Hindivmg has the pale
violet black-irrorated discal area of T. imperialis almost entirely
replaced by a black sulFused area, the black line closing the cell
entirely obliterated ; the chrome-yellow subanal area at least twice as
broad, the outer-discal lunnlated black fiiscia consequently placed much
nearer to the outer margin ; all the tails very much longer. Under-
side, holh wings with much the same differences as on the upperside.
The male of T. impenalis has been figured by Hope, Westwood
and Staudinger, the female (as T. parrycb*) by Hope and Westwood,
and as T, imperialls by Doubleday and Hewitson. A reference to
all these figures will bear out the distinctions between these two species
detailed above. Mr. T. A. Hauxwell obtained a male in January
and a female in March, and the types are in his collection.
Family HESPERIIDiE.
48. Odina decoeatus, Hewitson.
Taungoo, February, one male. I possess males of this rare species
from the Garo Hills of Assam tub-n in March, tlie Katha District of
Upper Burma, Taungoo taken in April, and the Meple Valley in Middle
Tenasserim taken in Ootol^'r.
49. Tagiades pin WILLI, Butler.
Taungoo, April and May; Diiuna' Range, April; AtaranY alley, March.
50. Caprona SYRicHTHi;s, Felder.
Taung-.o, June, one male. It appears to occur throughout Burma.
51. AcERBAS ANTHEA, Hewitson.
Thaungyin Valley, April, one male. I possess a male from the
Daunat Range.
52. PiRDANA RUDOLPHii, Elwes and de Nic^ville.
Taungoo, April, one male (striped below). This species is placed by
Elwes and Edwards as a synonym of F. hyela, Hewitson, but is appa-
rently distinct in both sexes, I have it from Sikkim and the Khasi Hills.
53. PiRDANA DisTANTi, Staudinger.
Taungoo, February', one male (plain below).
54. LoTONGUs CALATHUS, Hewitson.
Taungoo, February, one male agreeing with Distant's figure of
the species. 1 have another male from the Daunat Range.
• This name is spelt parryia by Doubleday and porryia by Kirby and Leech.
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337
BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED AT TBULL DURING
FIVE MONTHS IN 1898, AND NOTES 0?^ THEIR NIDIFICATION.
By Major R. H. Rattkay.
(^Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 28«A of February, 1899).
Having been stationed at Thull during the months February to June of
this year, I have made notes of the birds observed and collected there. It
may be of interest to many readers to hear from this out-of-the-way corner
of India.
Thull is situated at the junction of the Kurram and Miranzai valleys, and
is about 2,500 feet high. The Kurram river runs past the Fort, and a small
stream joins it about a mile and- a-half below the Fort. Tbe surrounding
country is one mass of hills and broken ravines, covered with dry hill grass
and stunted bushes and trees. Once away from the river there is little water.
I have added notes on the nidification of some birds that have n.it apparently
been before found, and others little known. I have followed Oates and
Blanfurd as the latest work, in classification and names.
1. CoRVUa CORAX (Linn.) — The Raven.
Common at all seasons. It breeds freely on the hills on ledges of rock and
trees.
4. CoRVUS MACRORHYNCHUS (Wag.) -The Jungle Crow.
Very common and to a great extent takes the place of the common crow
of India. Breeds on trees in the hills.
7. CoRVDS SPLENDENS (Vieill.)— The Indian House Crow.
Not common ; a few birds were to be seen in the vicinity of the fort and
village.
9. CoRVCS MONEDDLA (Linn.)— The Jackdaw.
Rare, I only saw one bird. This bird was feeding in amongst a number
of C. machrorhynchus in newly ploughed fields.
16. Dendrocitta rufa (Scop,)— The Indian Tree-pie.
One or two birds at the base of the hills about 7 miles from Thull and
only during February. I do not think the birds breed there but migrate to the
hills.
24. Gaerulus lanceolatus (Vigors.) — The Black-throated Jay.
I saw these birds on the higher hills near Thull, they were common on the
Dargai hill during November and December, 1897.
99. Troghalopterum lineatum (Vig.)— The Himalayan Streaked
Laughing Thrush,
Common during the winter on the hills up to about 7,000 feet ; they breed
on the hills round the neighbouring station of Parachinar, I found one nest
with young there on 30th July, 1898.
105. Argya caudata (Dum.) — The Common Babbler.
Very common all the year, and breed freely.
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338 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
187. Myiophonedb temmincki (;Vigors.)-— The Himalayan Whistling
Thrush.
Common along the river bed during February and March, about which
time they disappear,
285 MoLPASTES LEUCOTis (Gould.) — The White-eared Bulbul.
Common during February and March, a few pairs remained to breed.
I found some half a dozen nests, but the greater number leave during
April.
327. DiCRURUS ATER (Herm.) — The Black Drongo.
This bird is hardly seen during the cdd weather, but in the beginning of
April appears in large numbers, and at once set about nesting operations.
I noticed the same thing at Kohat during 1896.
402. Sylvia affinis (Blyth). — The Indian Lesser White-throated
Warbler.
A cold weather visitant but not numerous. I shot one bird in the begin-
ning of March.
445. SCOTOCERCA INQUIETA (Cretz.)— The Streaked Scrub-Warbler.
Common on all the hills and breed freely. These birds do not come down
at all into the plains, but keep entirely to the foot of the hills.
466. Prinia INORNATA (Sykes,)— The Indian Wren-warbler.
A few birds in the reeds along the river bed. I left before they began
breeding, but from their being there in the middle of June I presume they
do 80.
469. Lanius lahtora (Sykes.)— The Indian Grey Shrike.
Thifl bird, like D. ater, only appears in the beginning of April. I did not
find it nesting but saw young birds before I left. It is not common.
473. Lanius vittatus. — The Bay-backed Shrike,
Very common in both the cold and hot weather, and breeds freely.
476. Lanids erythronotus (Vigors.)— The Rufous-backed Shrike.
This is the commonest shrike, and pairs are to be seen in every group of
trees ; breeds freely.
518. Oriolus kundoo (Sykes.) -The Indian Oriole.
The birds only pass through Thull. They were fairly numerous during
the end of March, but by the beginning of April all had gone. They are
shot in numbers by the villagers for food.
528. Pastor roseus (Linn.) -The Rose-coloured Pastor.
Pass through in vast numbers during the end of March and the first
half of April. They are shot and snared in numbers by the Pathans
and fetch high prices for food. Their flesh is excellent.
529. Stdrnds humii (Brooks.)— The Himalayan Starling,
Not common, but a fair number may be seen any day during April and
May. I searched most carefully for their nesta but could not find any tracea,
nor do I think any breed near.
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BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED AT THULL. 339
532. Sturnus menzbieri (Sharpe.)— The Common Indian Starling.
This is our commonest starling all through the cold season. It was found
at Shinowari about 25 miles from Thull, and at the latter place till the end
of April.
549, AcRiDOTHERES TRiSTis (Linu.)— The Common Myna.
Common at all seasons, and breeds eVerj'where in houses and holes in
trees.
608, Pratincola caprata (Linn.)— The Common Piod Bush-Chat.
Not common, but a pair or two maybe met with in a day, it stays to
breed in patches of reeds near the river bed.
610, Pratincola maura (Pall.)— -The Indian Bush-Chat.
These birds appeared in great numbers, at the end of March ; during
April it was the commonest bird at Thull, but by the beginning of May
every bird had gone. They, however, breed freely at Parachinar, 54 miles off,
at an elevation of about 6,000 feet,
619, Saxicola capistrata (Gould,)— The White-headed Chat,
Common winter visitant, I notice that Mr. Gates says it is a constant
resident in the plains of the Punjab, but I have most carefully watched this
bird during the last eight or nine years at various Punjab stations but have
never seen a single specimen during the hot season. My experience is they
disappear in the beginning of May and return to their usual places in October.
I searched all the hill sides round Thull during May and could not find them.
In July at Parachinar they were common and breed freely. I saw numerous
young birds about.
625. Saxicola isabellina (Cretz.)— The Isabelline Chat,
Common in winter ; a few birds however remain to breed. I was lucky
enough on 7th June, 1898, to find a nest with two eggs ; unfortunately the
native with me handled the nest rather roughly, before I could stop him. I
left the nest three days in hopes of more eggs being laid, but I found it
deserted ; I, however, saw the bird originally fly off the nest. Ihe nest was
a neat cup of grass under a stone with a deep egg cavity lined with finer
grasses ; eggs, two, of a clear pale blue, marked all over with rusty red spots
like dried blood ; shape, long narrow ovals slightly pointed at the small end ;
elevation about 4,000 feet. These birds breed freely at Parachinar about
5,700 feet. I found a second nest in a similar situation with young ready to
fly on 24th July, 1898.
628. Saxicola chrysopygia (De Fil.)— The Red-tailed Chat.
Appears in Thull about the middle of May and is fairly common. On 25th
May, 1898, 1 saw a pair of birds building, and on 2Ed June I visited the nest,
and found four fresh eggs, which I took, shooting the female. I have already
described nest and eggs in a note in this journal. I subsequently found other
nests. These birds do not seem particular as to situations. The first nest was
in a dense wild olive bush, about 18 inches from the ground ; another, on the
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340 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XII.
6tli June, 1898, was on a stump of a thorny bush about 2 feet from the ground,
a third, on 12th June, was on a flat bough of a thorny tree about 4 feet from
the ground, while three nests were on the ground under roots of the dwarf
palm — all the nests were similar, the general number of eggs three, the
greatest number being four,
638. CniMARimoRNis leucocephalus (Vig.)-The White-capped Redstart.
I did not find this bird at Thull itself, but saw one specimen at Shino-
wari, 26 miles distant, and about the same elevation, in January. It was in a
nulla with a small stream running through it, the sides covered with ferns.
661. TiiAMNOP.iA CAMBAVENSis (Lath.) — The Brown-backed Indian Robin.
Common at all seasons and breeds freely. The eggs found were all very
highly coloured, one clutch being a distinct green with large reddish-brown
blotches, especially at large end.
722. Ploceus bengalensis (Linn.)— The Black-throated Weaver-bird.
Appeared suddenly about beginning of June, in all the reed patches on river
banks ; they fly about in flocks of 20 to 30 birds. On 25th June, 1898, 1 found
a nest containing three eggs much incubated. There were at the same place
numerous nests in various state of completion, all attached to reeds.
734. Uroloncua malabarica (Linn.)— The White-throated Munia.
Not common, but a few birds are occasionally met with ; they breed at Thull,
I found one nest with four eggs incubated in the beginning of May.
738. Spor^eginthus amandava (Linn.)— The Indian Red Munia.
A few flocks of these birds are to be met with on the jheels near the river,
also in the high grass on clifl's above the river. I did not see any after the
beginning of April.
775. Gymnorhis ^lavicollis (Frunkl.)— The Yellow-throated Sparrow.
Rather rare. I only saw 3 pairs, and those during May. They were
evidently breeding, as I saw a female with some cotton in her bill but could
not see where she went.
776. Passer domesticus (Linn.) — The House Sparrow.
As common and as great a nuisance as in the rest of India.
779. Passer montanus (Linn.)— The Tree Sparrow.
During March these birds passed through in thousands, and all from these
parts appear to go to the Upper Kurram Valley to breed. I found 20 and 30
nests in every house and verandah in Parachinar in July.
804. CiiEUDON URBiCA (Linn.)— The Martin.
Rare. On the eveningof 14th May, 1898, 1 saw some 7 or 8 birds flying round
the edge of a jhecl near the Kurram river. I shot one, a male, testes much
enlarged ; they probably breed in some of the higher hills near. On the 17th
all birds had gone.
809. CoTiLE SINENSIS (J. E. Gr.)— The Indian Sand Martin.
Very common and breed in hundreds along the river bank. By 10th March
almost all nosts I opened out had young, in one or two very hard-set eggs.
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BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED AT TEULL. 341
811. Ptyonoprogne concolor (Sykes.)— The Dusky Crag Martin,
Common at all seasons and breed in hills near. I did not get their eggs,
owing to the hills they retire to being across the river and border, thus for-
bidden ground.
813, HiRUNDO RUSTiCA (Linn.)— The Swallow.
This is the commonest swallow here, and is a permanent resident ; breeds
freely in houses and buildings in the village of Thull during April. I obtained
numerous eggs.
818, HiRUNDO SMiTHii (_Leach.) — The Wire-tailed Swallow.
Common all the year, and breeds.
823, HiRUNDO ERYTHROPVGiA (Sykes,)— Sykes's Striated Swallow.
Great numbers arrived about 10th May, and remained till about 20th May;
all seem to go to Upper Kurram to breed. During their stay the whole
country seemed alive with this bird, H. rustica and Cypselus apus.
831, MoTACiLLA MADERASPATENSis (Gmel,) — The Large Pied-wagtail.
Common, in winter a good number of birds remain to breed.
832. MoTACiLLA MELANOPE (Pall,) — The Grey Wagtail.
Rare. I saw some four birds during April apparently passing through.
847. Anthus rufulus (Vieill.) — The Indian Pipit,
Common during the cold weather, I did not observe any breeding or about
later on in the year.
871. MiRAFRA ERYTHROPTERA (Jud,) — The Red-winged Bush-lark,
Rare. I only saw one pair in the end of April. They evidently had a neat
near, but I failed to find it.
874. Galerita cristata (Linn.) — The Crested Lark,
Very common. During March great numbers arrived and commenced
pairing. I took numerous nests with eggs during April and the early part of
May, This part of India appears to be a great breeding ground, as there
were not very many birds during January and February.
878. Ammomanes ph(ENICDBOIDES (Blyth.) — The Desert Finch-Lark.
Rather rare. I only saw some 8 or 9 birds in a rather extended search
for them. I failed to find a nest.
895, Arachnechthra asiatica (Lath.) — The Purple Sun-bird,
Common all through the hot weather ; arrived in May ; breed freely,
933. Dendrocopus sindianus (Blanf.) — The Sind Pied Woodpecker.
This is the only woodpecker found near Thull ; in the hills saw one other
species, but was unable to identify it. The bird is numerically not rare, but
few birds were seen, I obtained 2 eggs, on point of hatching out from a hole
in a mulberry tree on 20th April, 1898, shooting the female.
1024. CoRACiAS GARRULA (Linn.) — The European Roller.
This bird is decidedly migratory in these parts. There was not a single
bird to be seen during the cold season. About 10th May they began to
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342 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
arrive in large numbers and remained to breed, I found nests in holes in
cliffs during June.
102G. Merops viridis (Linn.) — The Common Indian Bee-eater.
Not by any means a common bird near Thull, A few couples were
observed breeding in May and young birds were about by the end of June.
1027. Merops philippinus (Linn.) — The Blue-tailed Bee-eater.
Very rare here. I only saw one pair in the beginning of June. I do not
know whether they remained to breed, as I did not see them again, but think
they were merely passing through.
1033. Geryle varia (Strickl.)— The Indian Pied Kingfisher.
Common and breeds freely on river banks in March ; at the end of April
young birds were numerous.
1035, Alcedo ispida (Linn.) — The Common Kingfisher.
Not common here, as far as I observed there were five pairs near Thull. 1
found one nest-hole containing five young birds in the end of May. The
others were also breeding. Permanent residents.
1044. Halcyon smyrnensis (Linn.) — The White-breasted Kingfisher.
This is the common Kingfisher in these parts. They were found on every
part of the river, are permanent residents, I obtained eggs at end of April.
1067. Upupa indica (Reich.) — The Indian Hoopoe.
Common everywhere where there were trees, and near villages. Perma-
nent resident, breeds during April.
10G8, Cypselds .MELBA (Linn.) — The Alpine Swift.
A rare bird, I only saw 3 birds at the beginning of May, of which I shot
one,
1069, Cypselus apus (Linn.) — The European Swift.
On the 12th May I observed these birds in large numbers flying with
swallows over cornfields near the river — they kept very high, I with difficulty
obtained two specimens — by the 15th of the month all had disappeared. They
undoubtedly breed in higher hills near as occasionally of an evening, up to end
of June, I saw one or two birds fly rapidly over. They are numerous now
in the high Safedkoh range near Parachinar at the end of July,
1073, Cy'pselus affinis (G-ray and Hardw.) — The Common Indian Swift,
Rare, I only saw one pair early in May. This pair kept near the Fort
three or four days and then disappeared. Breeding here doubtful.
1089. Caprimulgus mahrattbnsis (Sykes.) — Sykes's Nightjar.
Fairly numerous. The birds are not permanent residents, but arrive about
middle of May with C. europaus, I always found this species on the open
hill sides and not amongst jungle. They breed in the more open nullas
during June and July. I obtained four nests with eggs, the female in each case
being shot on leaving the eggs, I notice that the eggs of this species can
readily be distinguished from those of C. europcRus by being more spotted,
not marbled, each spot being distinct, and having less gloss.
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BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED AT THULL. 343
1090, Caprimulgus monticola (Franklin.) — Franklin's Nightjar.
Common and a permanent resident. I found it breeding plentifully ; all
the eggs I procured, from five nests, were laid without any depression and
extremely highly coloured, all being almost a brick-red,
1092. Caprimulgus edrop.eus (Linn.)— The European Nightjar.
Very common. They arrive about the middle of May, and almost every
wooded nulla contained a pair— this is the commonest nightjar here. Breed
freely during June and July ; I obtained 10 nests with eggs all laid under
a bush in a depression scraped by the bird. The eggs are all much mottled
and marbled with two shades of brown, a light sepia overlaying the dark mark-
ings and being equally numerous, I find all the nightjars lay much later
here than in other parts; I did not find a single egg until the beginning of June,
and most were found at the end of June and beginning of July,
1168. Bubo bengalensis (Blyth.) — The Rock Horned Owl.
Rare, I only saw one pair in June, A nearly fully fledged young one was
brought in for sale about the same time,
1182. Athene bactriana (Blyth.)— Hutton's Owlet.
Not uncommon. I saw several pairs living in holes in cliffs, shooting one
male. A pair was brought in for sale, but as they would not eat in confine-
ment, I released them. In one hole I found some broken egg shells, so know
they breed here about March I think.
1192. Gyps fulvus (Gm,) — The Griffon Vulture.
Common in the hills, I did not see any in the lowlands. On the Dargai
hill they were very numerous and breed on the cliffs there and the Samana
range.
1196. PsEUDOGYPS bengalensis (Gm.)— The Indian White-backed Vulture.
Common on the plains round Thull, they were feeding on the dead trans-
port animals all along the road from Kohat to Thull.
1198. Neophrom percnoptertjs (Linn.) — The Egyptian Vulture,
This is the common scavenger vulture up here. It is found round every
camp and village as in other parts ; breeds in the hills on ledges of rock in
May,
1199. Gyp^tus BARBATUS (Linn.) — The Bearded Vulture or Lammergeyer.
Very common, the birds round here grow to a very large size — a female
I measured was just under 7 feet across the wings and body. Breed during
January on inaccessible cliffs. I notice that Blanf ord remarks that it is doubt-
ful Avhether it attacks living prej' or not. I myself saw a pair, some years
ago, at Kajuri l^ach, trying to knock a young Markhov off a ledge on a deep
precipice. One or other bird repeatedly swooped down on the young one
which was protected by the females of the herd.
1203, Aquila viNDniANA (Franklin.) — The Indian Tawny Eagle.
Common. I saw it frequently feeding on the bodies of dead ponies and
camels in company with vultures.
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344 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL H I STORY SOCIETY, Vol. XU.
1227. PoLio^TUS nuMiLis (Brooks.) — Hodgson's Fishing Eagle.
Rare, I only snw one bird, it was daily fishing in the Kurram river. It is
a permanent resident ; one pair breed annually at Hangu about 30 miles
distant. A large white egg was brought in to me that can only belong to
this species. I saw it daily at Thull working up and down the river
but never once saw it catch a fish.
1229. MiLVUS GOViNDA (Sykes.)— The Common Kite.
Exceedingly common at all times round the Fort and villages near.
1230. MiLTUS MELANOTis (Temm.) — The large Indian Kite.
Rare. I only saw one pair on a hill about five miles off. I shot the
female off a nest with two partly incubated eggs on the 5th May. Nest like
that of M. govinda, but larger.
1247. AcciPiTER Nisus (Linn.J — The Sparrow-Hawk,
A bird or two occasionally came down from the hills, it is not a resident
as far as I could see. It breeds on the cliffs of the Safedkoh range not far
distant, one young bird in down was brought in to the Political Officer,
Kurram, at Parachinar, early in July.
1255. Falco peregrinator (Sundw.)— The Shahin Falcon.
Common along the foot of the hills, and are often seen hawking doves in
pairs. They breed in the near hills, one pair nnnually having its nest on a
precipice near Dargai, and a second on a hill called Mir Quali about 15 miles
distant. I have not been able to procure the eggs.
1265. TiNNUNCULUS ALAUDAEius (Linn.) — The Kestrel.
Common and a permanent resident, one pair had their nest and hatched
their yourg on a high cliff about a mile from the Fort, and a young one was
brought in to me at the end of May.
1292. CoLUMBA INTERMEDIA (Strickl.) — The Indian Blue Bock-pigeon.
Common during the cold weather. They were breeding in hundreds on
a hio'h cliff near the Fort. About the middle of April they all disappeared
suddenly. I did not know before that this pigeon was in any way migratory,
but here it seems to be so.
129.'^. CoLUMTA LiviA (Bonnatent.) — The Blue Rock-pigeon.
During January and February these birds were in large numbers, flying
about the fields in large flocks. I cannot say when they left, as I did not
go in the direction they were to be found between Februnry and the end of
March.
1309. TuRTUR CAMBAYENSis (Gm.) — The Little Brown Dove.
This is our commonest dove and found all over the country, breeds freely
in low stunted trees and bushes from March to June.
1310. TiiRTUR RisoRiDS (Linn,)— The Indian Ring Dove.
Common but not so much so as the last, it is found in the same places, is a
permanent resident, and breorls freely.
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BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED AT TUULL. 345
1311. (Enopotelia teanquebanca (Herm.) — The Eed Turtle Dove.
Decidedly a rare bird here, I only saw four birds during the five months,
but more may have escaped my notice mixed up with other doves.
1316 Pterocles arenarius (Pallas.)— The Large or Black-bellied
Sand-grouse.
A bird of passage only. They arrived at the end of March and passed on
immediately. We only shot a few birds. They all went up the Kurram
Valley into Afghanistan.
1355. CoTURNix COMMUNIS (Bonn.)— The Grey Quail.
These birds do not arrive in the usual large numbers in spring and
autumn. The greatest number shot by one gun in April was twenty birds. A
few are to be found at all times of the year and breed. I procured a nest
with four eggs slightly incubated on 21st April. The nest was in a wheat
field under a tuft of grass.
1370. Caccaris chukor (Gray.)— The Chuker.
Very common all round, are permanent residents and breed. This year,
owing to early heat, they began breeding very early and many eggs were
spoiled, three addled eggs were brought to me on 6th March. The natives
here have a curious method of catching them. A call bird (a cock) is placed
in the centre of a patch of grass in a cage, all round ai"e placed numerous horse-
hair nooses. On shaking the cage the decoy commences calling ; the chal-
lenge is taken up and other birds run iu towards him, and are caught in nooses.
1371, Ammoperdix bonhami (Gould.) — The Seesee.
Common, but not very, in all the low hills and ravines round. It is a
permanent resident. I procured one nest with seven slightly incubated, and a
second with four, fresh eggs in May. I consider them the best partridge we
have for eating, the flesh is not so dry and tasteless as the others.
1372. Francolinus vulgaris (Steph.)- The Black Partridge.
Very common all round and breed freely in the dwarf palm patches. They
afford excellent sport as the jungle is not too high.
1375. Francolinus pondicerianus (Steph.)- The Grey Partridge,
Very common and breed freely with Ji". vulgaris. Out of about twenty nests
I examined, only two contained nine eggs, all the remainder without a single
exception contained eight. Most of the nests were found in May ; at the end
of June all old birds had fairly grown chicks larger than the quail running
with them,
1393, Porzana pusilla (Pallus.) — The Eastern Baillon's Crake.
These birds arrived in great numbers during the end of May and the first
week in June, but all seemed to pass on, as before I left I frequently searched
the reed beds and did not flush a single bird.
1407. Grus communis (Bechst.) — The Common Crane,
During April this bird with No. 1411 passed over Thull in countless
numbers going up the Kurram "Valley. They flew high and did not as a
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346 JOURNA L._ BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
rule rest near. Often after a severe storm up the Valley they were
driven back.
1411. Antiiropoides virgo (Vieill.)— The Demoiselle Crane.
Passed through in great numbers in April. I shot one out of a flock early
in the month, but usually they flew too high.
1427. Glareola lactea (Temm.) — The Small Indian
Swallow-Plover.
Common at all seasons along the river. Bred freely on the stony islands
in the river during April, In May I found numerous unfledged young ones
unable to fly, they all possessed a remarkable facility for concealing
themselves, and in many instances I only found them through my dogs.
1431. Sarcogrammus indicus (Sharpe.) — The Red-wattled Lapwing.
Very common everywhere along the river, but more seem to come in
durinw April and breed freely. One nest I found was in rather a curious
place : it was on the highest point of a hill, a good 300 feet above the water,
and was made of a lot of small pieces of stone put together,
143C. Vanillus vulgaris (Bechst.'^ — The Lapwing or Peewit.
Not common and only found when passing through. During heavy
wind and rain in February I saw one flock ( about twenty birds ), and
shot two.
1437. CiiETTUSiA GREGARiA (I3onap.) — The Sociable Lapwing.
During April large flocks of these birds passed up the Kurram Valley.
They usually stayed a day or two near the river before passing up, I
must have seen about 300 passing one day,
1447. yEaiALiTis Dur.iA CBlyth.) — The Little ringed Plover.
Very common, and a permanent resident. These birds are generally found in
small flocks of five to eight birds all along the river, but separate at the begin-
ning of May. On 21st May I shot a female with an egg ready for expulsion,
and a few days later found a nest with four eggs. Nest —a small depression
scraped among the pebbles in the bed of the river. This year owing to the
numerous floods many nests must have been destroyed. Eggs were of two
distinct types : one a pale sea-green profusely speckled with dark purple, and
the second a stone-colour speckled with almost black-purple,
14G0. ToTANUS HVPOLEUCUS (Temm.) — The Common Sandpiper.
A common cold weather visitant everywhere near water. All had left
by the end of May, about which date I shot one or two, but they showed no
signs of breeding.
1482. Scoi.oPAX RUSTicoLA (Linn.) — The Woodcock.
A rare winter visitant. One was shot a few miles up the Kurram river
about Christmas time,
1484. Gallinago cielestis (Dresser.)— The Common Snipe.
Common on the marshes near the river during March. They are then
passing up the Kurram Valley,
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BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED AT THOLL. 347
1487. Gallinago gallindla (Bljth.)— The Jack Snipe.
Commou at the same time and the same places as the last. These birds, if
anything, arrive slightly earlier,
14S8. RosTRATOLA CAPENSis (Veill.)— The Painted Snipe.
Very rare. I was in the marshes daily during February and ?tTarch and
only saw one bird, which we shot — a female. This was about the middle of
March. One bird was also shot higher up the Kurram Valley.
1498. HvDKOPROGNE CASPIA (Kaup.)— The Caspian Tern.
Very rare. I only saw one party of seven birds on the 22nd May, 1898,
and shot one. They had evidently been blown down by a severe rain and
wind storm,
1499, Sterna anglica (Mont.)— The Gull-billed Tern.
A bird of passage during March, They were common during that month
all along the river, but ail had left before the end of the month.
1527. Phalacrocorax fdscicollis (Steph.) — The Indian Sbag.
Very rare. I shot one bird, the only one I saw, in February. It was diving
and feeding in a small back-water after severe rain up the Kurram
Valley.
1545. Platalea leucorodia (Linn.)— The Spoonbill,
Rare. I only saw them on one occasion, a flock of, perhaps, fifty birds flew
over me while I was fishing at the end of May. I followed them up and
shot one bird,
1555. Ardea cinerea (Linn.)~The Common Heron.
Not numerous, but a bird or two was to be seen at all seasons near the
river ; they were there at the end of June, so I presume they breed some-
where near.
1559, Herodias alba (Blyth,) — The Large Egret.
Rare and only a passenger, A few birds appeared about the middle of May
for a day or two ; one was shot and brought in to me, it was in splendid
breeding plumage.
1568, Nycticorax grisens (Blyth,)— The Night Heron,
A rare but, I presume, permanent resident. A party of five or six birds
used to fly over the Fort every evening about sunset the whole time
I was there.
1574, BoTAURDS STELLARis (Blyth.)— The Bittern.
A very rare winter visitor. One was shot while we were snipe-shooting at
the end of March, it was in a dense bed of reeds six feet high.
1588. Casarca rutila (Bonap.)— The Ruddy Sheldrake.
A rare visitor ; I only saw six birds the whole time. Four of them stayed
over a week on the river during April.
1592. Anas boscas (Linn.)— The Mallard.
Common during March, on the river ; they were then oa their way to their
breeding-grounds.
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348 J0UENAL,B02fBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
1595. Chaulelasmus streperus (Bonap.^l — The Gadwall.
Common during passage with other ducks during March, one male was
shot out of a party of three in Ju:ie and brought in to me.
l?/97. Netium crecca (Kaup.)— The Common Teal.
Very common during February and March, numbers were shot daily on
the river.
1600. Dafila acuta (Biyth.)— The Pintail.
I saw only one flock of about a dozen of these ducks in March, they were
flying too far for a shot. They seem to be a rare duck in these parts.
1602. Spatula clypeata (Roie.) — The Shoveller.
Common during February and March with other duck. Many were shot
by the natives.
1604 Netta rufina (Kaup.) — The Hed-crested Pochard.
A few of these pochard were occasionally to be seen in March with other
duck, but not common.
1612. Mergus albellus (Linn.)— The Smew.
Eare. I saw two birds in the beginning of February, of which I shot one, a
female. They were in a small back-water of the river.
The above list is of course very incomplete owing to the small amount of
time I could devote to collecting, also the disturbed state of the country, I
saw numerous Warblers which I was unable to satisfactorily identify, as well
as many water birds. It was most interesting to watch the migration of the
various birds, and the time of their stay. The various duck only stayed a
very short time, and owing to every man being armed, and continuous firing
all day long, I undoubtedly missed seeing many species. The number of
Weai^rn species found here was also interesting, more so as I was fortunate
enough on one or two occasions to find their nests and eggs.
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349
DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW OR RARE TREES
FROM TRAVANCORE.
By T. F, Bourdillon, f.l.s., Conservator of Forests, Travancore.
[With 6 Plates.]
[Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 1th December, 1898.]
GUTTIFER^.
Garcmia Imberti, sp. nov. Plate I.
A medium sized tree. Leaves simple, opposite, entire, dark green,
elliptic or lanceolate, acuminate, base narrowed, 1-^ to 3 inches long by
I to 1^ broad. Petiole -it) inch. Inflorescence dioecious, terminal,
the male flowers 3, 6 or 9 together at the ends of brauchlets : the female
flowers borne singly or in pairs. Male flowers ^ inch diameter : female
flowers i inch, yellow, succulent, and sessile. Calj'x and corolla of both
sexes 4-lobed, much imbricated. Stamens of the male flowers in a
globose central mass, about 16. Staminodes in the female flowers
about 16 in a ring surrounding the ovary. Stigma broad, sessile,
convex. Ovary 2-celled, ovules solitary in each cell. Fruit about 1
inch long and broad and 2 iwcli thick, consisting of one or two seeds
enclosed in a leathery covering.
An evergreen tree 30 to 40 feet hish with a stem 1 foot in diameter.
Bark brown and white, smooth, j inch thick. Juice thin, sweet-scented.
Wood yellowish-grey, very hard, but liable to split. Pores medium to
small, scanty, evenly distributed. Medullary rays indistinct, annual
rings not visible. No heart. Weight 56 lbs. to the cubic foot. Value
of P.= 685.
Fairly common in the evergreen forests of South Travancore above
3,000 foet elevation, but very local.
Description of Plate I —
1. Branch of male tree,
2. Branch of female tree.
3. Column of stamens in male flower X 4.
4. Ovary of the female flower X 4.
5. Fruit — natural size.
Meliacb^.
Dysoxylum purpureum, sp. nov. " Kar agil." Plate II.
A very large tree. Leaves pinnate, about 15 inches long : leaflets 7
to 11, subopposite or alternate, narrowly ellliptic, dark green, acuminate,
5 to 8 inches long by 1| to 3 broad, glossy, veins 9 to 10 pair, conspic-
uous beneath: petiolules ^ inch. Inflorescence in terminal and leaf
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350 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
opposed, small pn nicies or spikes appearing in February to April. Flow-
ers about f inch long, hermaphrodite, pedicels \ inch. Calyx d-lobed,
green fleshy, lobes obtuse. Petals 4, fleshy, buff- coloured. Staminal
column tubular, mouth crenulate : anthers 8, large, included. Style
equalling'the column, thick, fleshy. Stigma large, appearing above the
column. Disk cup-shaped, toothed. Ovary 4-Gelled. Fruit, a smooth
round capsule 2 to 3 inches in diameter, ripening about October, seeds
3 to 4, large. A very large evergreen tree, up to 100 feet high and
3 feet in diameter, fairly common in the forests of the Ravi river from
1,000 to 2,000 feet, but very local, somewhat resembling D. malaharicum
but leaves darker, broader and softer.
Bark pale, smooth, wood reddish-brown, hard, not scented. Pores
small, evenly distributed. Medulary rays crossed by irregular bands of
white tissue. Annual rings marked by dark lines, but not distinct,
6 to an inch.
Weight 52 lbs. per cubic foot. P.-=708.
Description of Plate II —
1. Flowering branch with leaves.
2. Flowering branch.
3. Fruit — natural size.
4. Flower X 4.
Aqlaia mai(c, sp. nov. Plate III.
A medium-sized tree. Leaves alternate, pinnate, from ] to 2 feet
long. Leaflets 9 to 13, opposite and alternate, pale when young, very
glossy and dark green when old, elliptic, acuminate, quite entire, sides
often unequal, obscurely penniveined with about 1 5 pairs of veins,
4 to 9 inches by ^ to 2^. Petiolules ^ to | inch. Inflorescence in terminal
lax panicles, 8 to 15 inches long. I lowers polygamo dioecious, small,
globose, honey-scented, about ^ inch long by /^- inch broad, almost
sessile, j^ellowish. Calyx 5-lobed, imbricate. Petals 5, concave, imbri-
cate. Staminal tube subglobose, obscurely 5-toothed : anthers 5, large,
sessile, included. Ovary 2-celled, style very short. Fruit, a fleshy
berry, buff-coloured, downy, globose, | inch in diameter, containing one
large seed.
An evergreen tree found in the forests about Ariyaukam and
Colatoorpolay from 500 to 1,500 feet. Flowers in May and June. Fruit
ripens in August and September.
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Journal Borotay Na.* Hist, Soc Vol XE.
PLATE
I
I
:s:fe^:^:::-
^
\ \
•ife2^'<^;^.
--^'^
m"
M M. BourQi-Fion. delt.
\ 1 'o
¥
n
P
GARLTiNIA I\ffiERTI, Bouraill
Lith.ivChiti-a bilpi C^-
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^""^
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DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW OR RARE TREES. 351
Bark mottled brown and white, rather smooth, \ inch thick.
Wood moderately hard, very fragrant, pale brown, very strong, medul-
lary rays fine, numerous. Pores medium-sized. Annual rings indis-
tinct. No heart.
Weight 70 lbs. per cubic foot. P.=1061.
Description of Plate HI —
1. Flowering branch with leaves.
2. Fruit — natural size.
3. Section of fruit — natural size.
4. Seed — natural size.
5. Staminal tube X 4.
6. Do. showing stamens X 4.
COMBRETACE^.
Terminalia angustijolia, Roxh. *' Pei kadakkay " " Sula maruthu. "
Plate IV.
Leaves simple, alternate, or snbopposite, entire, narrowly elliptic
to lanceolate, accuminate, glabrous, pale green, 2 to 4 inches by 1| inch.
Venation pellucid. Petiole ^ to f inch. Flowers small in terminal
and axillary panicles, hermaphrodite ; each flower about | inch diameter,
cream-coloured, sessile. Calyx 5-cleft, tomentose. Petals none.
Stamens 10, much exserted, filaments long. Style simple. Ovary
l-celled with 2 or 3 ovules. Fruit a drupe about | inch long and 2
inch broad, brown mottled with w^hite, containing one 5-angled stone.
A very large tree found in the evergreen forests about Colatoorpolay,
Ariyaukam and Acchankovil, ailied to T. chehula^ but very different
to it in appearance, and found in evergreen forests, whereas T.
chehula occurs only in the deciduous grass forests. The fruit also is
very much smaller. Flowers in May and June. Fruit ripens in
January.
Barli pale brow^n, smooth, ^ inch thick. Heart- wood small, hrowri,
sap-wood yellowish-white, thick. Wood moderately hard, very good ;
fibre long, fine, and straight.
Weight 51 lbs. per cubic foot. P.== 1012.
This tree w^as seen by Roxburgh, who found it in Travancore, but
C. B. Clarke in " Flora Britannica ludica," ii, 449, regards it as a
doubtful species, which it certainly is not.
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362 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII-
Description of Plate IV —
1. Flowering branch with leaves.
2. Panicle of flowers — natural size.
3. A flower X 4.
4. The ovary X 4.
5. Fruit — natural size.
RUABICE^.
Canthium psrgracile, sp. nov. *' Palaga." Plate V.
Leaves opposite, simple, entire, narrowly elliptic, acuminate,
narrowed to tha base, dark green, very glossy ; veins conspicuous
bnt distant ; size 2 to 3 inches by | to 1 inch ; petiole ^ to | inch ;
stipules small, acute. Flowers hermaphrodite, small, in axillary
cymes, ]0to20 together, yellowish-green, j inch long and broad,
pedicels slender, ^ inch loug. Calyx 5-lobed, lobes very short,
corolla campauulate, lobes 5, valvate ; reflexed ; throat villous. Stamens
5, alternate, with petal inserted between them, filaments short, anthers
large. Style very long, stigma large, capitate. Ovary 2-celled, with 1
ovule in each cell. Fruit a drupe, dark green and smooth, from | to 1
inch long and broad, and containing 2 hard pyrenes.
A very graceful tall tree ; up to 80 feet high and 1| foot in diameter,
unarmed, found in the evergreen forests near Colatoorpolay at an
elevation of 500 feet or so. Flowers in February : fruit ripens in
August and September.
Bark light brown, rather rough, J inch thick. No heart, wood pale
brown, straight grained, moderately hard. Pores small and numerous.
Medullary rays fine. Annual rings marked by dark lines about 16 to inch.
Weight 48 lbs. per cubic foot. P. =- 870.
Description of Plate V —
1. Flowering branch— natural size.
2. Flower X 4.
3. Ovary X 4.
4. Section of fruit — natural size.
5. Fruit — natural size.
Ebenace^.
Diospyros hnmllis, sp. nov. " Velloi thuvarei." Plate VI.
Leaves simple, alternate, entire, narrowly elliptic, acuminate.
1 to 3 inches by | to 1 inch, glabrous above, veins indistinct. Petiole
![]()
![]()
![]()
Jo-arjial. Bomta/ lla.t. Hist.. Soc.Yol.Sl.
.PL^TE V.
\
/
id
/
/ /■
/ : ;
'%
/ ^
/
5^
't4
ft
/
v-
' ii
"^v^
^'^
If 2
M.T/i.Bo'aT'clir.on.a.alt.
^■1
-e^
^""■^^
i
Litll: tj CLltrsL Sipi C?
CAl^TTHIUM PEHGRACJLE, Bcmrdillon.
![]()
Journal. Boml>ay ITat. Hist. Soc.Vol Xil-
rLA-_ h VI
. if--/ !M$
.-^^•^s^
^-
^i.'^"
,>^'
/
ffP
^3^'
lyl.M. Baiardillon. delt .
DIOSPYROS HUMILIS, Som-dillc
Litli: l-^r Cjiitra Silpi C?
![]()
![]()
DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW OR RARE TREES. 353
y^ iuch. Brauchlets and undersides of leaves downy. Flowers dioeci-
ous, small, numerous, sessile, white, turning black in drying, solitary
or in fascicles. Male flowers ^ inch, with a long tube to the corolla.
Calyx and corolla 4-lobed. Stamens 16 to 20, of unequal length and
connected at their bases. Female flowers J inch long. Calyx cleft
half way, downy, 4-lobed, not accrescent in fruit. Corolla 4-lobed,
white, glabrous. Ovary 4-Gelled, with one ovule in each cell. Stami-
nodes about 4. Stigmas 4, black. Fruit globose, succulent, green,
smooth, about g to | inch in diameter, containing 3 to 4 seeds. Albu-
men equable (?).
A small tree of the evergreen forests at elevations about 2,000 feet,
near Merchiston estate. Height 30 feet. Diameter 10 inches. Flowers
in March and April. Fruit in June.
Bark J inch thick, green and black-mottled. No heart. Wood
hard, dull greyish-brown tinged with purple, with small patches of black
near the centre, coarse and rough. Medullary rays extremely fine. Pores
very small, arranged in radial lines. Annual rings none. Weight 54
lbs. per cubic f jot. P.=579.
Description of Plate VI —
1. Flowering branch with flowers — female tree.
2. Part of female branch.
'6. Part of male branch.
4. Ovary X 4.
5. Stamens X 4.
6. Fruit — natural size.
7. Section of fruit — natural size.
![]()
354
THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
By G. MAiiyHALL Woodrow, Professor of Botany,
College of Science, Poona.
Part VL.
( Continued from page 176 of this Volume?}
CVII. — BlGNONJACE^,
2. MilUngtonia.
M. hortensis, L.-/., F.B.I. — IV-378, Cowla Nlm. Planted widely. Oct.-Nov.
3. Uroxylum.
0. indiciim, Vent., f.b.i.— IV-378. Tetu. Peiut Taluka. W. Ghats. M ly, July.
4. Tecoma.
T. stans, Jiiss., D. C, Prod.— IX-224. Planted widely.
T. undulata, G. Don., f.b.i. — IV-378, Rahta rolikla. Lohero. W. Kandeish,
Bunass River. Gujerat, Dalzell. Mar.-Apl.
5. Doltchandrone.
D. falcata, Seem., f.b.i.— IV-380. Morslung, Mershing. Poona. May.
D. Lawii, Seem., F.B.I, — IV-380. iledashingi. Konkan. N. Kanara. Mar,
May,
6. Heterophragma.
H, Eoxburghii, DC., f.b.i. — IV-381, Warns, Varasa. Poona. W. Ghats. Dec,
8, Stereos perm um.
S, chelonoides, DC., f.b,i. — IV-382. Pddal. Ginsingmara, Khandalla,
Bankot, Apl.-May,
S. sauveoleus, DC, f,b,i. — IV-382. Parul, Patala, Kdlgari. Poona, planted Apl,
S. xylocarpum, TFij/ii, f.b.i. — IV-383. Kadashinga,Kursing. Peint Apl.
9, Panjanelia.
P. Rheedii, Z)6'., f.b.i.— IV-384, Yellapm- Taluka. Talbot. Cold Season,
Parmentiera (Tropical America),
P. cerifera, Candle tree of Panama. W. I. Club Garden, Poona.
C VIII. — Pedalin e^,
1. Pedalium.
P. murex, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-386. Malvi gokharu. Badami. Shrivardhan. Oct.
2. Sesamum..
S. indicum, DC., f.b.i,— IV-387. Ted. Cult. Aug.-Sept,
S, laciniatum, Klein., f.b,i,— IV-387, Badami. Oct,
CIX— Acanthacb^,
1. Thunbergia.
T. fmgrans, Roxb., f.b,i.— IV-390. Chimine. Panchgani. Oct,
T, alata, 5o;er, f,b.i,— I V-391. Cult.
T. liawlayneana, T-FaW., f.b.i.— IV-391. Dharwar,
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN TNDTA. 355
T. grandiflora, Roxb., k.b.i— IV-392. Cult, Gardens.
T. mysorensis, T. Anders., f.b.i.— IV-393. Planted Mahabl. Poona. Near
Gairsoppa, Talbot. Nov .-Jan.
2. Eli/traria.
B. crenata, Vahl., f.b.i. -IV-394. Das7norl. Ahmedabad. Oct.
3. Nelsonia.
N. campestris, Br., f.b.i.— IV-394. 23 miles East of Rutnagiri. Jan.
4. Ebermaiera.
E. glauca, Nees., f.b.i.— IV-395. S, Konkan, Dahell.
E. zeylaniea, Nees., f.b.i.— IV-397. Warree Jungles, Dahell.
6. Cardanthera.
C. balsamica, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-404. Siddapur, A. P. Young. Mar.
C. pinnatitida, >Be«<^., F.B.I.— IV-405. Divimana, N. Kanara. Feb.
7. Hygrophila.
H. polysperma, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV-406. Verawal. Rajkot.
H. serphyllum, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV-406. W. Ghats, widely. Sept.-Jan.
H. spinosa, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV-408. Kolista Kolasundd Talimkhana,
Ekara, Deccan, widely. June- Jan.
9, Calophanes.
C. Nagchana, Nees., f.b.i.— IV-410. Dang. Nasik. Apr,
C. Dalzellii, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV-411. Dang. Poena. May.
10. Ruellia.
R, patula, Jacq.^ f.b.i. — IV-412. Katmora. Deccan. June-Nov.
R. longifolia, T. .4«(Zers , F.B.I, — IV-412, Scind, Stocks.
12. Petalidium.
P. barlerioides, iV^ees., F.B.I. — IV-416. Bansda, Dang. Feb.-April.
13. Phaylopsis.
P. parviflora, V/illd., f.b.i. — IV-417. Akkinachori . Badami. Jan.
1 4. Dcednlacanthus.
D, nervosus, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV.-419. 12 miles west "f Poena. Dec.
D. roseus, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV-419. Dasamuli. Konkan. Nov.-Jan,
D. purpurescens, T. Anders., F.B.I. — IV-420. Konkan. Nov.-Jan.
D. montanus, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV-421. Ghats near Dhirwar. Dahell^
] 5. Hemigraphis.
H. dura, T. Anders., f.b.i.— IV-422. Gantelbu. Surat, Gadak, Jan.
H. latebrosa, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-422. Rewadanda. Marmagoa, Dec.
H. elegans, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-424. Nasik, Jan.
18, Strobilanthes.
S. barbatus, Nees., f,b.i, — IV-437. Castle Rock, Matheran, Oct.-Nov.
S. warreensis, Dak., f.b.i. — IV-439. Nilkund Ghat. Feb.
S. ciliatus, Nees , f,b,i. — IV-439. Sawantwadi, Nov.
S. lupulinus, Nees., p,b,i.— IV-443. Ram Ghclt, Belgaum, Ritchie.
S, Heynean us, iVees., F.B.i, — IV-443, Castle Eock. Matheran. Oct.-Nov,
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356 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
S. ixiocephalus, 5«ni/*., F.R.I. — TV-444. Waiti.\\r\got\&. M'war. Dec.-Jan.
S. scrobiculatus, Dtilz., f.b.i, — IV-445. Mahableshwar. Nov.
S. callosus, iV«-es., F.B.I. — lV-451. Karw!,Kara, Karoica. Mahableshwar. Oct.
S. leticulatus, Staph., Kew Bull., IS94, tol.Sil. Mahableshwar, Oct.
S. asper, Wgt., F.n.i, — IV-452. Santaveri. Dec.
S. sessilis, Nees., var. b'essiloides, Wt., f.b.i, — IV-452. Ambooli. Jan.
S. perfoliatus, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV-458. Matheran, Kadgal, N. Kanara.
Jan.-Feb.
19. Calacanthus.
C, Dalzelliana, T. Atidem., f.h.i. — IV-478. Matheran. Lonauli. Oct.-Jan.
20. BlepJiaris.
B. asperrima, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-478. AJcada. M'war. Rewadanda. Oct.
B. boerhaavifolia, Pers., f.b.i. — IV-478. Surat. Ahmd. Eajkot. Oct.-Dec.
B. molluginifolia, Pei-s., f.b.i.— IV-479. Kanti Maha. Badami. Karnalee.
Guzerat. Sept.-Oct.
B. sindica, StocJcs., f.b.i. — IV-479. Jasad. Bulokhan, Sind. Aug.
21. Acanthus.
A. ilicifolius, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-481. Marandi. Thana Creek. Karwar.
Apl.-May,
22. Barleria.
B. Prionitis, Zv"«n., f.b.i.— IV-482. Pivala Koranti. Kalsunda. Matheran.
Deccan, widely. Nov.
B. Hochstettari, Nees., f.b.i.— IV-483. Sind.
B. acanthoides, Vahl., f.b.i. — IV-484. Sind, Oct,
B. tomentosa, 5o<^., F.B.I.— IV-485. Badami. Nov.
B. involucrata, Nees,, f.b.i, — IV-485. Ambooli Ghat. Oct.
B. Lawii, r. /l7;fZe7-s., F.B.I. ,-lV-486. Shinvaghad. Oct.
B. sepalosa, Chirhe, f.b.i. — IV-417. Konkan. Gibson,
B, montana,i\^ees„ F.B.I.— IV- 487. W. Ghats, Oct.
B, Gibsoni, Dalz., f,b.i.— IV-487.
B. grandiflora, Dalz., f.b.i.— IV-488. W. Ghats. Oct.
B. cristata, Linn , f.b.i. — IV-488. Gokran. W. Ghats and Deccan Hills. Dec.
B. courtallica, Nees., f.b.i.— IV-489. Arbail Ghats, N. Kanara. Feb.
B. Stocksii, T. Anders., f.b.i,— IV-489. Bababiidan Hills, Stocht.
B. strigosa, Willd., f.b.i.— IV-489.
var. terminalis, f.b.i, — IV. Kali Koranta, M^ahii. Vingorla.Marmagoa. Dec.
B. lupulina, Ldl. D.C., Prod. XI-237. Gardens.
23, Neuracanthus.
N, trinerviua, IFf., F,B,i.~IV-4ijl. Khandalla. Dec.-Jan.
N. spuerostachys, Dalz., f.b.i.— IV-491. Khandalla. Pen. Sept.-Oct.
24. Crossandra.
C. undulifolia, SaZisi&., f.b.i.— IV-492. Aboli. Kumpta. June-Jan.
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
357
25. Asy stasia,
A. coromandeliana, Nees., f.b.i.— IV-493. W. Ghats. Nov.-Dec.
A. violacea, Dalz., f.b.i.— IV-493. Mathersn. Bassein. Nov,
A, Lawiana, Dalz., f.b.i.— IV-496. Belgaum. Poona. Aug.-Oct.
26, Eranthemum.
E. malabaricum, Clarke, f.b.i. — IV-497.
E. bicolor.
28. Andrographis.
A, paniculata, ^ees., F.B.I. — IV-501. Oleikaryet.
A. Neesiana, Wgt., f.b.i. — IV-504.
A. echioides, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-505. Guz. Karnala,
29. Haplanihus.
H. verticillaris, iVees., F.B.I.— I V-506. ^aferi.: Mahableshwar. Sinvaghad. Dec.
H. tentaculatus, Nees., f.b.i.— IV-507. Surat. Marmagoa. Dec.
30. Gymnostachyum.
Gr. glabrum, T. Anders., f.b.i.— IV-509.
G. canescens, T. Anders., f.b.i.— IV-50S.
G. latifolium, T. Anders., f.b.i.— IV-509.
31. Phlogacanthus.
P. curviflorus, Nees., f.b.i. — lV-511.
34. Lepidagathis,
L. criatata, Willd., f.b.i.— IY-516. Bat Gend.
L. mitis, Dah., f.b.i, — IV-516.
Marmagoa. Dec.
Gardens.
Honawar. Dec,
Badami. Sept.-Nov.
Castle Rock. Jan.
Kanara Ghats, Law.
Castle Rock. Dec.
Cult. Gardens.
Deccan. Oct.-March.
Belgaum, Dalzsll.
L. trinervius, iVees,, f.b.i.— IV-517. Pahlanpur. Perim, Kathiawad, Nov. -Feb.
L. lutea, Dalz., f.b.i,— IV-517.
L. clavata, Dalz., f.b.i. — IV-518.
L. prostrata, Dalz., f.b.i. — IV-518.
L. rigida, Dalz., f,b,i.— IV-518.
L. cuspidata, Neea., f.b.i. — IV-519. Akhara.
L. calycina, Hochst., f.b.i. — rV-519.
L. scariosa, Nees., t.b.i, — IV-520.
L. hyalina, lYeea., f.b.i. — IV-521.
L. faaciculata, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-522.
38. Justicia,
J. montaua, Wall., f.b.i. — IV-525.
J, Betonica, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-525.
var. ramosissima.
J. trinervia, Vahl., f.b.i. — IV-525.
J. glauca, Roth., f.b.i.— IV-529.
J. heterocarpa, T. Anders., f.b.i. — IV-531,
J. Gendarussa, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-532. Tew.
Ji. wynadenais, Wall., f.b.i. — IV-533.
Jaighur. Dec.
Marmagoa. Dec.
Scind, T. Anderson.
W. Ghats. Dec-Mar.
Sind, Stocks.
N. Kanara. May.
Yacombi, N. Kanara. Feb.
Sangameshwar. Dec.
Mahableshwar.
Badami. Aug.-Occ.
Porebunder, Nov.
Cult. Nov.-Jan.
Marmagoa. Dec.
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358 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, Xll.
J. micrantha, Wall., f.b.i. — IV-536. Vingorla, Dalzell. Aug.
J. quinquangularis, Koen., f.b.i. — IV-636. Badami.
J. quinquangularis, var. peploides. Poona. Oct.- Apr.
J. diflEusa, TriVW., f.b.i.— IV-538. Pooua. Oct-Dec.
J. simplex, Don., f.b.t. — IV-539. Pahlanpore. Rajkote. Dec.
J. simplex, var. serpyllifolia, Benth. Badami, N. Kanara. Noy.-Dec.
J, procumbens, Linn. Karambal Kalmashi. Deccan. Oct.-Mar,
39. Adhatoda.
A. yasica, Neex.,v.u.i. — ■IV-540. Adulsa, Karav. Guzerat to N. Kanara. Aug.
40. Rhinacanthus.
R. communis, iVees., F.B.I. — IV-541. Gajaharni. M'war. Gardens. Oct.-J an.
Dianthera. {West Indies).
D. secunda (Rhytiglossa), DC, Prod.— XI-340. Bot. Mag. 2060. Gardens. Oct.-
Nov.
Jacobinia {Central America).
J. (Drejera) boliviensis, Z?C'., Prod.— XI-334. Gardens,
44. Echolium.
E.Linneanum, Kurs,, f.b.i. — IV-544. RanaboU. Dahhtvaduha. Matheran.
Nov.-Dec.
E. Linneanum var. dentata. Karanja. Sept.
45. Graptoj/hyllum.
G. horfcense,iVees., F.B.I.— IV-545. Gardens.
46. Rungia.
R. crenata, r. .l?jc?ers., F.B.I.— IV-547. Kanara. Lflio. Konkan, S^oc^s,
Belgaum, Ritchie.
R. linifolia, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-548. Banks of Kala Nadi.
R. repens. Nees., f.b.i. — IV-549. Dandali, N. Kanara. Jan.
R. elegans, Dalz., f.b.i.— IV-549. Dharwar. Poona. Sept.
R. parviflora, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-550. Kalinachi, Turmura. W. Ghats. Jan.-Feb.
R. parviflora, var. pectinata. Turbura. Pauvel. Marmagoa. Dec.-Feb,
47. Dicliptera.
D. zeylanica, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-552. W. Ghats. Dec.-Jan.
D. cuneata, Nees., f.b.i. — IV-552. Mawal. Jaronda Hill. Jan.
D. micranthos, Nees., f.b.i. — lV-553. Amaphutavani. Sahkpur, Sind. Oct.
48. Peristrophe.
P. bicalyculata, Ncs., f.i.b. — IV-5o4. Poona. Surat. Sind. Nov.
49. Uypoestes.
H. lanata, Dalz., f.c.i.,— IV-557. Konkan.
CXI. — Verbenace^.
2. Lantana.
L. indica, i^x6., f.b.i.— lV-56i, Jamnager. Jooncr. Sep.-Jan.
L. oamara, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-562. Tantani. Spread widely. All the Year.
![]()
THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 359
3. Lippia.
L. nodiflora, Rich., f.b.i. — IV-563. Boolean (Siudj. Deccan. Guzerat.
Sind. All the Year.
4. Bouchea.
B. marrubifolia, Sc^auer, F.B.I.— I"V-564. Siad.
5. Stachytarpheta.
S. indica, Vahl,, f.b.j. — IV-5o4. Weed in Gardens. Aug.-Nov.
S. mutabilis, Vahl., DC, Prod. — XI-565. Gardens. Aug.-Nov.
6. Priva.
P. leptostachya, Juss., f.b.i. — IY-565. Bijapur. Sind. Dec. -Jan.
7. Fcr6ett<r,
V. venosa, Gill, DC., Prod.— XI-541. Planted. Sinvaghad.
V. officinalis, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-565. A weed in gardens. Sept,
Citliarexylum.
C. subserratutn, Swartz., DC, Prod.— XI-614. Gardens. Nov -Dec.
Duranla.
D. Plumieri, Jao^., DC, Prod.-XI-615. Planted. June-Dec,
- " - 9. Callicarpa.
C. lanata, Z-mn., f.b.i.— IV-567. Aisur. Khandalla. Castle Rock. Nov.-Feb.
10. Tectona.
T. grandis,//./., f.b.i.— lV-578. Saga.Sagnvan. Deccan Hills and Konkan.Aug,
11. Premna.
P. scandens, Roxh., f.b.i.- lV-573. Guradwel. Matheran. Oct.
P. coriacea, Clarice, F.B.I.— IV-573. Khandalla.
P. integrifolia, Linn., f.b.i,— lV-574.
P. latifolia, Roxh., f b.i.— lV-577.
12. Gmeltna.
0, ^Thorea,Linn., F.B.^.-iy-bSl. Sievan,Bothee. Dang. Mawal. Feb.-Mar.
G asiatica, £m«., F.B I.-IV-582. Lahan Shivan. Poena,
G. Hyxttix, Kurz., f.b.i.- IV-582. Gardens.
13. Vitex.
V. negundo, Linn., f.b.i.— IV-583. Nirguri, Nagocla. W. Ghats. Konkan. Jan.
V. altissima, Linn, f.b.i,-IV-584. Banalgay. Yacumbi, N. Kanara. July-Feb.
V alata,J/e2/ne,F.B.l.-lV-584. Limbagaon. Sattara. May.
V. leucoxylon, Linn., F3.I-IV-587. Atgaon, Thana. Limbagaon. Mar.
14. Clerodtndrnn.
C inerme, Ga^rin., r.B.l.-IV-589. Koirrale, Wanjai, Nurwale. Konkan.
Guzerat, Nov.-Jan.
• C. pblomoides, Li.n., f.b.i.- IV-590. Airan, Takle. Surat. Broach.^Thana.
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360 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
c.
c.
c.
c.
H.
s.
s.
c.
A.
A.
M.
0.
0.
0.
P.
P.
P.
calamitosura, Linn,, f.b.i. — IV-591. Gardens. Bombay. Sep .-Oct.
nutans, Wall., f.b.i.— IV-591. Gardens. Aug.-Sept.
serratum, tS/jr., F.B.I. — IV-592. Bhdrangi. W. Ghats. Purandhur. Aug,
infortunatunijG'opriK., f.b.i. — IV-594. Kuri,Bhandira. W. Ghats. Aug.-Sept.
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens.
June-Dec.
Sept. -Oct.
Oct.
Sept.-Oct.
Sept.-Nov.
Sept.-Dec,
Sept.
Washind, Thana. Mar,
Belgaum.
Gardens.
Buchanani, Ro.rb., f.b.i.— IV-596.
Siphonanthus, Br., f.b.i.— IV-595.
aculeatum, Linn., DC, Prod. — X[-656.
emirense, Bojor., DC., Prod.— XI-66I.
fragrans, Vent., DC, Prod.— XI-666.
Thomsonae, Bot. Mag., 5313.
15. Holmskioldia.
sanguinea, Retz., f.b.i. — IV-596.
20. Si/mphorema.
involucratum, Roxh., f.b.i. — IV-599,
polyandrum, Wight, f.b.i.— IV-599.
22. Gongea.
tomentosa, var. azurea, Roxb., f.b.i. — IV-.604.
23. A vicennia.
officinalis, Linn,, f.b.i. — IV-604. Tivar. Bombay, Seashore. May-June.
CXII. — LABIATEif,
1. Ocimum.
canum, Sipis., f.b.i. — IV-607. Rantulasa. Eeccan, widely. July-Nov.
Basilicum, Linn., P.u.i. — IV-608. Sahja Kama-Kasturi. Cultivated,
gratissimum, Linn., f.b.i.— IV-608. Malitulas, Ramtulas.
adscendens, WilUK, f.b.i. — IV-608. Common, Dalzell.
sanctum, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-608. Cultivated.
2. Geniosporum.
prostratum, Benth., f.b.i. — ^IV-610. S. Konkan, Nimmo.
4. Plalysoma.
flaccidum, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-611. Konkan on the Kala Nudi, Dahell.
5. Acrocephalm.
capitatus, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-61].
6. Moschosma.
polystachyum, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-612.
7. Orthosiphon.
pallidus, Boyle, f.b.i.— IV-61 3.
tomentosum, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-613.
tomentosum, var. glabratum
8. Plectraiithu&.
Stocksii, Hooh. f., f.b.i.— IV-618.
Wightii, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-61 9,
menthoides, Benth^ f.b.i.— lV-620.
Poladpur, Vingorla. Oct.
Nadiad, Ahmedabad. Not.
Deccan, widely.
Narel, Pali. July.
Konk»D, Stocks.
Mahableahwar, Londa. Oct.
Fancbgani, Siaghur. Dec.
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TEE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 361
P. incanus, ii'nifc., F.B.I. — IV-621. Lal-agadha. Poona, Khandalla. Sept.
P. subinciaus, 5en<A., P.B.I. — IV-621. Poona. 8ept.
9. Coleus.
C. spicatns, Benih., f.b.i. — IV-624. Gokak Coast, North of Bassein. Feb.
C. barbatus, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-625. Mdin'tnool, Garmal, Mawal. Guzerat. Sept.
C. aromaticus, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-625. Fathur-chur, Oioa. Cult. Gardens.
C. Blamei. Garden Coleus. Gardens. Dec.-Feb,
10. Anisochilus.
A. carHosns, Wall., f.b.i. — lV-6"27. Kapurli, Pan-jiray. Mawal. Sept.
A, eriocephalus, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-627. Konkan Ghats, Sward, Dalzell.
A. adenanthus, Dalz. & Gibs., f.b.i. — IV-630. Panchgani. Oct.
10.« Hi/ptis.
H. sauYeolens, Poit., f.b.i. — IV-630. Marmagoa.
11. Lavandula.
L. Gibsoni, Grah., f.b.i. — IV-631. Niwali. Sinvagad. Jan.-May.
L. Bnrmanni, 5cni^, f.b.i. — lV-631. Gor'ea. Deccan, widely.
12. Pogostemon,
P. paniculatus, Benth., f.b.i. — IV-631. Halyal. N. Kanara. Dec.
P. plectranthoides, Desf., f.b.i. — IV-632. Poona. Jan.-Feb.
P. purpurascens, Dalz., f.b.i. — IV-632. Pangala. W. Ghats.
P. parviflorus, Benth., f.b.i, — ^IV-632. Pangala. Sulgeri, N. Kanara. Dec.-Jan.
P. Patchouli, Pell., f.b.i.— IV-633. Pach. Gardens.
13. Dysophylla,
I>. myauroides, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-638. Mahableshwar. Jan.
D. salicifolia, Bah., f.b.i.— IV-638. Mahableshwar Hills, Gihion.
D. auricularia, Bl., f.b.i.— IV-638. Belgaum, Ritchie.
D. quadrifolia, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-639, Malwan., Dahell.
D. stellata, Bmth., f.b.i.— IV-640. Belgaum, Law.
D. tomentosa, Dalz., f.b.i.— IV-641. Malwan, Dalzell.
D. gracilis, Dalz., f.b.i.— IV-641. Phonda Ghat, Ritchie.
D. erecta, Dalz., f.b.i.— IV-641. Walwan, Dahell.
D. Stockaii, Booh. /., F.B.I.-IV-641. Konkan, StiicJcs.
14. Colehrookia.
C. oppositifolia, Sm., f.b.i.— IV-642. Bahmini. W. Ghats, widely. Jan.-May.
18. Mentha.
M. viridis, L., DC, Prod.-XIT-168. Spearmint. Gardens.
M. piperita, L., DC, Prod.— XII-1 69. Peppermint. Gardens.
M. arvensis, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-648. Pudina.
20. Origanum,
0. Vulgare,Zinn., F.B.I.— IV-648. Murwa, Marjoram. Gttltifated.
21. Thymm.
T. SerpylluiB., Linn., f.b.i.-^IV-648. Thyme-. Gardens
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362 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
M. capitellata. Benth,, f.b.i
M,
Mahableshwar. May.
Gardens.
Kinro.
S.
s.
s.
N.
N.
S.
A.
A.
A.
L.
L.
L.
L.
L.
L.
L.
L.
L.
L.
L.
L,
L.
L.
L.
L.
23. Micromeria.
-IV-549.
27. Meriandra.
bengalensis, Benth., f.r.i.— IV-653. Kafurkapatta.
28. Salvia,
lanata, Roxb., f.b.i. — IV-654.
plebeia, Br., f.b.i.— IV-655. Thorla Aginthamba.
regyptiaca, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-656. Tulcra.
segyptiaca, var. pumile. TuTchm Malanga. Jooneer. Karachi. Rajkot. Not.
Dec.
coccinea, Linn., DC., Prod.— XII-343.
involucrata, Cav., DC, Prod.— XII-333.
farinacea, Benth., DC, Prod.— XII-302.
29. Nepeta..
ruderalis, Ham., f.b.i. — lV-661.
bombaiensis, Dalz., f.b.i. — IV-661.
32. Scutellaria.
discolor, Coleh., f.b.i.— IV-G67.
36. Anisomeles.
Heynean!*, Benth., p.b.i. — IV-672. Sambarboradu
Sinvagad.
Gardens.
8ept.-Feb.
Malanffa.
GardenSi
Gardens.
Konkan.
Aug.-Sept.
Castle Rock. Oct.
Badami, Deccan.
Konkan. Jan.
Sinvagad. Aug.
Katriz Ghat. Oct.-Nov.
Santaveri. Bombay. Sept.
ovata, Br., f.b.i.— IV-672. Gopali.
malabarica, Br., f.b.i. — IV-673. Mugbir.
41. Leonurus.
sibiricus, Linn., f.b.i, — IV-678.
45. Leucas.
urticsefolia, Br., f.b.i. — IV-680. Koomba. Ahmedabad. Deccan, widely. Nov.
montana, Spr., f.b.i. — IV-682. Purandhur. Bhor. Dec.-May.
mollisima, Wall., f.b.i.— IV-682. Sinvaghad. Juggal Peit. N. Kanara. Nov.
procumbens, Desf., f.b.i. — IV-683. Kanara, Ritchie.
biflora, 5r., f.b.i. — IV-683. Bala. Guzerat. Deccan, widely. Nov.
longifolia, 5en</i., F.B.I. — lY-QSi. Shetwad, Dudani Goma. Deccan, widely.
July-Jan.
stelligera, Wall., f.b.i. — IV-686. Burumbi.
vestita, Benth., f.b.i.— IV-686.
ciliata, Benth., f.b.i — IV-687.
stricta, Benth., f.b.i,— TV-688.
nutans, Spr., f.b.i.— IV-688,
martinicensis, Br., f.b.i. — IV-688.
Cephalotes, Spr., f.b.i.- IV-689. Tumba.
diffusa, Benth., P,B,i.— IV-G89. Borang.
Mahableshwar. Jan.
Badami. Aug.
Mahableshwar. Jan.-Mar.
Karlimati, Dharwar. Aug.
Karlimati. Aug.
Karli, Poona, Oct.- Feb.
Chandod, Guzerat. Nov.
Badami. Oct.
aapera, Spr.^ f.b.i, — ^IV-690, Thurdari baji, Tamba,
Deccan, Oct.
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 303
46. Leonotis.
L. nepotaefolia, Br., f.b.i. — IV-691, Dipmal, Matiml. Deccan, Konkan,
widely. Sept.-Oct,
CXIII. — Plantagin/E.
1 . Plantago.
P. major, Lhm., f.b.i. — IV-70J. Bdrtang. Poona. Sept.-Feb.
P. Stocksii, Boiss., f.b.i. — IV-706. Khirtar Mountains, .7. E. M. James. Mar.
P. amplexicaulis, Cav., f.b.i. — IV-70G, Gajpipali. Boogta ITills, S-ind, Vicary .
P. ovata, f'ors/t., F.B.I. — IV-707. Isabghol. Sind, Stocks.
P. oiliata, D^sf., f.b.i.— IV-707. Khirtar Mts., J. E. M. James. Mar.
CXXVIII.— Nyctagine^.
2. Boerhaavia,
B. repens, Z,2u«., F.B.I. — ^I'V-709. Vasu, GhetuU. Deccan, Guzerat. Sind, Nov.
B. repanda, Willd., f.b.i. — IV-709. Pungali. Deccan. Oot.-Nov.
B. verticillata, Poir., f.b.i. — IV-710. Sutura. Deccan, Konkan, Kathywar.
Aug.-Dec.
B. fruticosa, Dalz., f.b.i. — IV-710. Joonneer Fort, Dalzell.
B. elegans, Chois., f.b.i. — IV-710. Sind, Stocks.
3. Pisonia.
P. alba, Span., f.b.i. — IV-711. Chinai Salit. Gardens.
3Iirahilis.
M. jalapa, L., DC, Prod. — Xin-426. Gulbas, Guldbash. Gardens. Aug.-Dec.
CXXIX. — Illecebeace^.
2. Comet es.
C. surattensis, Burm., p.b.i. — IV-712. Sind. Jan.
CXXX. — Amarantace^.
2. Celosia.
C. argentea, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-714. Kurdu, Very widely. Oct.-Dec.
C. criatata, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-715. Cockscomb. Cult, and as an escape, Oct.-
Dec.
C. pulchella, 3Iog., f.b.i. — IV-715. Santavori, Talbot. Dec.
C. polygonoides, Retz., f.b.i. — IV-715. Badami. Nov.
5. Allmania.
A. nodiflora, Br., f.b.i. — IV-717. Purandhar. Badami. Nov.
6. Digera.
D. arvensis, Forsk., f.b.i. — IV-717. Lulir, Kanjaro. Deccan, Guzerat, Sind.
Oct.-Nov.
7. Amarantus.
A. spinosus, Zmn,, F.B.I. — ^IV-718. Katematha. Widely. Sept_
A. paniculatus, Linn., f.b.i — IV-718. Rdjagird. Cult,
A. caudatus, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-719. Love lies bleeding. Cult
A, gangeticus, Lmn., f,b,i. — ^IV-719, Math. Cult.
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3G4 JOURNAL, B03JBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII-
A. mangostanus, Lfnn., f.b.i, — IV-720, Pokala. Gardens. Cult.
A. viridis, Linn., f.B.i. — IV-720.
A, Blitum, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-721. Tandulza.
A, polygamus, Linn,, F.n.i. — IV-721. Tandulza, Chauli. Poona. Dec. -Mar.
A. tenuifolius, Willd,, f.b.i. — IV-722. Tandulza, Choivlia.
9. Pupalia,
P. atropurpurea, Mog., f.b.i. — IV-723. Gardens.
P. orbiculata, Wight., f.b.i. — IV-724, Sind.
P. lappacea, Mog., f.b.i. — IV-724. Daliya^ Antrihi. Badami. Champaner.
Sept.- Jan.
11. Psilostachys.
P. sericea, floo7i'. /., f.b.i.— IV-726. Perim. Katiawad. Jan.
12. Nothoscerua.
N. brachiata, Wight, f.b.i.— IV-726. Surat, Nov.
13. j3^erua.
M. javanica, /i^ss., F.B.I. — IV-727. Buh-wado (Sind). Shikarpur, Sind.
Deccan. Dec.
JF. scandens, Wall., f.b.i. — IV-727. Marmagoa. Sinvagad, Dec.
M. lanata, Juss., f.b.i. — IV-728. Kapuri-Maduri. Deccan. Aug.-?ept,
M. Monsonia, Mart., f.b.i. — IV-728. Badami. Oct.-Dec.
15. Achyranthes.
A. aspera, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-730. Uhat Khandi, Agada. Deccan. Sind.
A. bidentata, Blume, f.b.i. — IV-730, Not yet found.
16. Alternanthera.
A. sessilis, Br., f.b.i. — IV-731. Kanchrl, Jaljamba. Deccan, Konkan. July-Dec«
17. Gomphrena.
G. globosa, Linn., f,b,i.— IV-732. Cult. Aug.-Mar.
CXVII. — Chenopodiace^e.
2. Chenopiodium.
C. album, Linn., f.b.i. — V-3. ChaJcravat. Poona, widely. Nov.
C. murale, Linn., f.b.i.— V-4, Dharwar. Poona. Aug.
C. ambrosioides, Linn., f.b.i. — V-4. Sherui. Poona. / ug.-Apr.
3. Beta.
B. vulgaris, Linn., f.b.i. — V-5. Beet. Cult.
4. Spinacia.
S. oleracea, Linn., f.b.i. — IV-6. PdlaJc. Cult'.
5. Atrijilex.
A. hortensis, ZeHw., F.B.I.— V-8. Karake, Suraha, Oraehe. Cult.
A. Stocksii, Boiss., f.b.i. — V-7. Sind. Verawal. Jan.
11. Kochia.
K. scoparia, Sc/iracZ,, F,B,i, — V-11. Sibi. Sept.
K. indica,, Wight., F.B.I.— Y-11. Sibi. Sept.
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 365
12. Anthrocnemum.
A. indicum, Mog., f.b.i. — V-12, Ulachur, Macliola. Chil. Karachi, Dec.
A- glaucum, Mog., f.b.i, — V-12. Machola, Chil. Karachi, Dec,
13. Salicornia,
S. brachiata, Roxh., f.b.i. — V-12. Machul. Nowsaree. Porebandar, Nov.-Dec.
14. Suceda.
S, fruticosa, ForsA:., F.B.I. — V-13. Jforasa, Ushuk-lani. By? avka. Bhownuggar.
Nov.-Dec.
S. monoica, ForsJc, f.b.i. — V-13- Kurrachee. Dharampter. Nov.-Dec.
S. mudiflora, Mog., f.b.i. — V-14. Morasa.
S. maritima, Duraort, f.b.i, — V-14. Khari-lani, Laua. Sind. May.
15. Haloxylon.
H. recurvum, Bunge., f.b.i, — V-15. Khari-lani. Sukkur. Nov.
H. salicornicum, Bunge., f,b,i. — V-16- Sibi. Oct.
ft
16. Sal sola.
S. fcetida, Del., f,b,i, — V-18. Lanan, Ellahura.
18. Halocharis.
H. sulphurea, Mog., f.b.i. — V-19. Sibi, Sind. Sept.
20. Basella.
B. rubra, Linn., F.B.I, — V-20, Tamhadi-velhondi, Myal-ke-haji. Gardens, Oct.-
Dec.
B. rubra, var. alba, Velbondi, Myal-he-laji. Gardens- Oct.-Dec.
CXVIII. — Phytolacce^.
1. Rivina.
R. Isevis, Liim., DC., Prod.— XIII-10. Gardens. Aug.-Dec.
CXIX, — POLYGONACE^.
1. CalUgonum.
C. polygonoides, Linn., f.b.i, — V-22, Sind, Stocks.
2. Pteropyrum.
P. Oliveri, Jauh. and Spach., f.b.i. — •V-23. Laki, Sind, Oct,
3. Polygonum.
P. plebejum, Br., f.b.i, —V-27. Deccan, Siud, Dec, -Mar,
P. tomentosum, Willd., f.b.i. — V, 30. Kumpta. Samusgi. Dec-May.
P. limbatum, Meissn., f.b.i, — V-30. Konkan, Law.
P. glabrum, Willd f b.i.— .V-34. Dongar-rketa, Parala. Deccan, widely, Oct.-
Mar.
P. lapathifolium, Linn., f.b,i, — V-35. Konkan.
P. barbatum, Linn., f.b.i, — V-37. Alur- Dbarwar Coll, Mar.
P. Hydropiper, Linn., f.b.i. — V-39-
P. flaccidum, Meissn., f.b.i. — V-39.
P. alatum, Ham., f.b.i. — V-41. Mahableshwar. Aug.-Oct.
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3G3 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
chinense, Linn., f.b.i. — V-44.
pedunculare, Wall., f.b.i. — V-48,
pedunculare, var. angustissima,
4. Fagopyrum.
esculentum, MoencJi., f.b.i. — V-55. Buchoheat.
7. Ruviex.
dentatus, Linn., f.b.i.— V-59. Sind. Konkan. Lan
nepalensis, <S/?r. f.b.i.— V-60. Poona. Gardens. Sept.-Oct
vesicarius, Limi., f.b.i, — V-61. Chuha.
CXX. — PEDOSTEMONACEiE.
1. Terniola.
[ulchella, To/., f.b.i.— V- 62. Karalc-ful.
Lawii^ Wedd., f.b.i.' — V-63,
longipes, Tul., f.b.i. — V-63.
pedunculosa., f.b.i. ^V-63.
foliosa, Wedd., f.b.i. — V-63.
2. Podostemon.
dicotomus. Gerdn., f.b.i.— V-64,
Hookerianus, Wedd., f.b.i. — V-65. Karal-ful.
CXXIII. — Aristolochiace^.
2. Bragantia.
Rutnagiri. Missar. Oct.
Gardens. Jan.
Cult.
W. Gbats. Oct.
W. Ghats. Oct.
VY. Ghats, Dalz.
W. Ghats, Dalz.
W. Ghats, Dalz,
Mawal. Oct.
B.
B,
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
Wallichii, Br., f.b.i.— V-73.
Dalzellii, H. /., f.b.i.— V-73.
Nalkund Ghat. Nov.
Konkan, Dalzell.
Arisiolochia.
Kalipat, Kidamar, Ghandata.
Sapsanda.
bracteata, Retz., f.b.i. — V-75.
indica, Linn., f.b.i. — V-75.
fimbriata, Cham., DC., Prod.~~XY—S. I. 454.
ornithocephala, Hort.
elegans. Bot. Mag. 6909.
OXXXIX.— PlPERACE^.
1. Piper.
trichostachyon, Cos., f.b.i. — V-80. Konkan
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens,
Cult.
Cult.
Cult.
longum, Lirm., f.b.i. — V-83.
Betle, Linn., f.b.i. — V-85.
nigrum, Linn., f.b.i. — V-90.
Hookeri, Mig., f.b.i. — V-88.
Pipli.
Nagwail, Betlc'Vine
Merewail.
Kanara.
Gardens.
Khandala.
Oct.-Nov.
Gardens. Oct.
3. Peperomia.
Wightiana, Mig., f.b.i. — V-98.
portulacoides, A. Dietr., f.b.i.— V-yO.
pellucida, H. B. & E.
Konkan on trees, Stoclca.
Mahableshwar. Aug.
Bombay, common. Oct.
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 367
CXXVI. — Myristice^e.
1, Myristica.
M. laiirifolia, £r,/ & T., f.b.i. — V-103. Jayai)hal,Jajikai. Chandawar.
N. Kanara, Feb.
M. malabarica, LamJc., f.b.i.— V-103, Ranjaiphal, Kaiphal. Chandawar.
N. Kanara.
M attenuata, Wall., f.b.i. — V-110. Ruhl-mara. Divimana Ghat. Feb.
CXXVIII.— Laurine^.
1. Cryptocarya.
C. Wightiana, T/(w., F.B.I.— Y-120. Gulmur, Matheran. Apl.-May.
3. BeilscTimiedia.
B. fagifolia, Necs., f.b.i. — V-122. Matheran. Ainshi Ghat. Dec.
B. Wightii, Benth., f.b.i.— V-124. Matheran. Sept.
7. C'lnnamomum.
C. zeylauicum, Breyn., f.b.i. — V-131. Dalchinl, Ohez, Bojevar. Lanauli. Londa.
Nov.-Mar.
C. macrocarpum, Hook., f.b.i. — V-133. Supa, N, Kanara. Jan.
8. Machilus.
M. macrantha, Nees, f.b.i. — V-140. Gulum. Lanauli. Kumtha. Dec.-Mar,
10. Alseodaphne.
A. semicarpifolia, Nees, f.b.i. — V-144. Phudgus. Yacombi, N. Kanara. Dec.
11. A ctinodaphne.
A. Hookeri, J/ezssw., F.B.I — V-149. Pisha. Mahableshwar.
11a. LitscBa.
L, tomentosa, Herb., f.b.i.— V-157. Chilcna. Castle Rock. Nov.
L. sebifera, Pers., f.b.i. — V-157. Maidalahdi. Yacombi. Feb.-May.
L. Stocksii, Hook.,/., f.b.i. — V-176. Mahableshwar. Oct.
L. Wightiana, Wall., f.b.i.— V-177. Ghats, W. In^ia., DeCrespigny.
Near Gairsoppa, Talbot. Oct.-Noy.
L. zeylanica, C. & Fr., f.b.i. — V-178. Kanvel, Chirchira. Mahableshwar.
N. Kanara. Nov.
l4. Cassytha.
C. filiformis, Linn., f.b.i. — V-188. Amarwela, Kotan. Konkan. Sept.
CXXIX. — Pboteace^.
Jlacadamia {Eastern Australia").
M. ternifolia, Gard, Chron., 1870—1181. Planted.
Grev'dlea {Australia).
G. robusta, A. Cunn., DC., Prod. Silver Oah. Planted.
CXXX. — THYMETJi:ACE.S;,
7. Lasiosiphon.
L. eriocephalus, Dene., f.b.i.— V-107. Rametha. Mahableshwar. Dec-May.
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358 JOUhNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIBTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xtl.
CXXXI.— ELTiEAGNACEJ5.
1. Eltcearjnus.
E. latifolia, Linn.^ v.b.i. — V-202. Amhagula. Mahableshwar.
CXXXII. — LORANTHACE.'E.
1, Loranthus.
The naires Bhangul, Vonda, Vundo, are generally applied in this genus and
to other parasites and epiphytes.
L. Wallichianus, Schultz, f.b.i. — V-204. Karwar. Aug,
L, obtusatus, Wall,, f.b.i. — V-205. Mahableshwar. April.
L. scurrula, Linn., f.b.i. — V-208. Panchgani. Wada. Oct.-Feb.
L. pulverulentus, TFaZ/., F.B.I. — V-211. Konkan, S<ocA;s.
L. tomentosa, flf)/?ie, F.B.I. — V-212. On Phyllanthus einblica. Near Gairsoppa.
L. Stocksii, //^oo/c. /., F.B.I. — V-213. Sawantwadi. Nov.
L. cuneatus, 5e?/»e, F.B.I.— V-214. Mahableshwar. May.
L. longiflorus, DessoMss,, F.B.I. — V-214. Deccan. Feb.-Mar.
L. elasticus, Z)essoMs, F.B.I. — Y-216. Mahableshwar.
L. lageniferua, Wight, f.b.i.— V-218. Lanauli. Castle Rock. June-July.
L. trigonus, W. & G., P.B.i. — V-219. Banda. Dang, Aug.-Nov,
L. loniceroides, Linn., f.b.i. — V-221. Mahableshwar. Matheran. Mar.-Apl.
L. capitellatus, W. & A., f.b.i.— V-221.
2. Viscum.
V. monoicum, Rovh., f.b.i. — V-224. Londa. Sept.
V. orientale, Wild.jY.ii.i — V-224. On Terminalia paniculata. Nilkand, N.
Kanara. Nov.
V. capitellatum, Sni., f.b.i — V-224. Yellapur. Aug.
V. ramosissimum, Wall., f.b.i. — V-225. Mahableshwar. Feb.-May.
V. angulatum, Heyne., f.b.i. — V-225.
V. articulatum, Burm., f.b.i. — V-226. Lanauli, July.
CXXXIII. — SANTALACEiE.
S. album, Linn., f.b.i. — V-231. Chundana. Gardens widely. June.
4. Osyris.
0. arborea, Wall., f.b.i.— V-232. Lotali Popli. Deccan Hills, widely.
CXXXIV. — Balanophore^.
3. Santalum.
B. sp. inc. On roots of Acacia arah'ca. Poona. Oct.
,, ,, Carissa carandas. KhandaUa. Oct.
B, indica, Wall. Mahableshwar.
CXXXV. — EUPIIOBBIACE.E.
Pedilanbhus (Tropical America).
P. tithymaloides, Poit., DC, Prod. XV.— 5. Planted. Jan.
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
369
E.
E.
E,
E.
E,
E,
E.
E.
E,
E.
K.
E.
E.
E.
E,
E,
E.
E.
E,
E
E,
E.
E,
E.
E.
S.
B.
B.
B.
1. Eupliorhia.
pycnostegia, Boiss., p.b.i. — V-246.
zornioides, Boiss., f.bj. — V-246.
elegans, Spr., f.b,i,>— V-246.
notoptera, Boiss., f.b.i. — V-240.
erythroclada, Boiss., f.b.i. — V-247.
Hullihul. Khandalla. Nov.
Matheran. Nov.
Badami. Aug.-Nov.
Vingorla. Nov.
Mawal. Aug.-Sept.
coccinea, Roth., f.b.i. — V-248. Diksal. Poena. Rajewadi. July-Dec.
Atoto, For St., v.B.i. — .V-248. N. Kanara, Seashore. Feb.
linearifolia, Roth., f.b.i. — V-249. Diggi Ghat. N. Kanara. May.
hypericifolia, Linn., f.b.i. — V-249. Guzerat. Deccan. Sind. Aug.-Nov.
pilulifera, Linn., f.b.i. — V-250, Nayati. Deccan. All the year,
rosea, Betz., f.b.i. — V-251. Badami. Aug.
thymifolia, Burn., f.b.i. — iV-252. Dhahati dudhi. Lahana nayati. Deccan.
Sind. All the year,
microphylla, Heyne., f.b.i. — .V-252. Deccan widely,
clarkeana, HooTc.f., f.b.i.— V-253. Sind,
Tirucalli, Linn., f.b.i. — V-254. Shcra. Planted widely.
Neriifolia, Linn., f.b.i. — V-255. Sabur.
Nivulia, Ham., f.b.i. — V-255.
antiquorum, Linn., f.b.i. — V-255.
trigona, Ham., f.b.i.— T-256. Planted,
fusiformis, Ham., f.b.i. — V-257. Poona Hills. April-May.
dracunculoides, I/om6., f.b.i. — V-2G2. Kandi, Sabur.
Rothiana, Spr., f.b.i.— V-263. Dudhi.
geaiculata, Orteg., DC, Prod. — XV-72. Poona, a weed. Oct. -Mar.
pulcherrima, Wild., DC, Prod. — XV-71. Poinsettia. Gardens,
heterophylla, Jacq., DC, Prod. — XV-72. Gardens, Sept. -Mar.
Synadenium {C. Africa.)
Grantii, fl./., B. M., 5G33.
4. Bridelia.
retusa, Spr., f.b.i. — V-268. Kathi, A sun,
montana, Willd., f.b.i. — V-269. Patharphoda.
Hamiltoniana, Wall., f.b.i.— V-271.
5. Cleistanthus.
malabaricus, Muell., f.b.i. — V-27t3. Konkan.
Gardens. Nov.-Feb.
Khandalla. Aug.
Amba Ghat. Oct.-Dec.
Matheran. Aug.-Nov.
Banks of the Shirawah,
Law, Stocks.
6. Actephila,
A. excelsa, Muell, f.b.i. — V-282
A.
P.
7.
Castle Rock. Sept.
Laki Sind. Aug.
Andrachne.
aspera, Spr., f.b.i. — V-284.
10. Phyllanthus,
reticulatus, Pair., f.b.i. — V-288. Nilumbi, Holi, Kamboi, Kalapisaroot,
Datwan, Pavan, Kali-madh-ke-Jhar, Dharwar to Sicd. Mar.-Apr.
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370 JOURNAL, BOMBAY N ATORAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
P. Emblica, Linn., f.r.i,— V-289. Avali, Nelli. W. Ghats. Mar.-Apr.
P, Lawii, Grahm., f.b.i.— V-290, Castle Rock. Oct.
P. madraspatensis, Linn., f.b.i. — ^V-292. Badami. July-Aug.
P. Rheedii, Wight, f.b.i. — V-293. Gadak. Sind. Aug.-Jan.
P. urinaria, Linn., f.b.i. — V-293, Matheraii. Khaiidalla. Aug.
P. simplex, Betz., f.b.i. — ¥-29;'). Dharwar. Konkan, Oct.-Nov.
P. Niruri, Linn., f.b.i. — V-298. Deccan. July.
P. debili:^, Ham., f.b.i.— V-299. Sind.
P. scabrifolius, Hooh.f., f.b.i. — V-299. Dongar Ganj, Ahmednagar, Oct.
P. distich us, MuelL, f.b.i. — V-304. Harparaa-ri, Raiavala. Gardens.
P. indicus, Muell, f.b.i. — V-305. Pattagudda, N. Kanara. May.
P. falcatus
11. Glochidion.
G. lanceolarium, Da'z., f.b.i. — Y-308. Bhoma. W. Ghats. Jan.-Mar.
G. tomentosum, Dah., f.b.i.— V-309.
G. Talboti, HooTc., f.b.i. — V-310. N. [\anara, Stocks.
G. zeylanicum, .1. J?«s., F.B.I. — V-310. Yelapiir. Juggalpet. Mar.-Apr.
G. Hohenackeri, Bedd., f.b.i. — V-314. N. Kanara. Dec.
G Ralphii Hooh.f., f.b.i. — V-314. Mwar., near Gairsoppa, raZfto^Feb.-June.
G. malabaricum, Bedd., f.b.i. — V-319. N. Kanara Ghats.
G ellipticum, Wight, f.b.i. — V-321. Ainshi Ghats, N. Kanara. Dec.
G. velutinum, Wig'^t, f.b.i.— V-322. Londa. Aug.
12. Flueggia.
F microcarpa, Bl., f.b.i. — V-328. Pandarphali. May-June.
F Leucopyrus, Willd., f.b.i. — V-328. Pandriphali. May-June.
13. Breynia.
B. patens, Benth., f.b.i.— V-329. Khandalla, Yellapur. July-Aug.
B.' rhamnoides, Muell, f.b.i.— V-330. Devimana. N. Kanara. Dec.
14. Sauropus.
S. quadrangularis, Muell., f.b.i.— V-335. Chihli. Vingorla. Aryl Ghat. July.
15. Pulranjiva.
P. Koxburgbii, Wall, f.b.i.— Y-33G. Putranjiva. N. Kanara. Deccan.
Planted. Mar.-Apr_
16. Hemicyclia.
H. sepiaria, W. V. G., f.b.i.— V-337. Konkan southwards.
17. Cyclostemon.
0. confertiflorus, Ilook.f., f.b.i— V-341. Katgal. N. Kanara, Talbot. Dec.
20, Bischojia.
B. javanica, BL, f.b.i.— V-345. Boke. Sup a Ghats, N. Kanara. Mar.-Apr.
21. Aporosa.
A. Lindleyaua, BuilL, f.b.i.— V-349. Arbyl Ghat, N. Kanara,
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
371
23. Antklesma.
A. Ghaesembilla, Gaertn., f.b.i.— V-357. Papada-Khatamhdi. Londa. Dang,
July.
A. Bunius, SjJr., F.B.i, — V-358. Noar Gairsoppa. Apl,
A. Menasu, Mig., f.b.i. — V-364.
A. Menaau, var. linearifolia. Ainshi. N. Kanara. Feb,
31. Jatropha.
J. glandulifera, Roxb., f.b.i. — V-382, Undirhihi. Pandarptir, Ang.-Nov,
J, nana, DaZs., F.B.I,— V-382. Poona Hills, May-July.
J. gossypifolia, Limi., f.b.i. — V-383. Vilayati, Ratanjok. Naturalised widely.
J, multifida, -LzVm., F.B.I. — ^ V-383. Coral Plant. Gardens.
J. curcas, L?«;?., F.B.I, — V-383. Mogli Yerendi, Ratanjok. Planted,
J, podagrica, Hook., DC, Prod. — XV-1093. SivoUen JatropJia. Gardens.
June-Jan.
Planted.
Arabe Ghat. Oct.
Nasik, Dulz.
Near Gairsoppa. Nov.
33. Aleurites.
A. molnccana, WtUd., f.b.i.— V-384, Akrot.
34. Croton.
C. reticulatus, Heyne., f.b.i. — 'V-SSS. Panduray.
C, oblongifolius, Roxh., f,b,i, — V-386, Ganasur.
C, aromaticus, Linn,, F B.l, — V-388.
C, Gibsoniauus, Nim., f,b,i, — V-392.
35. Givotia,
G, rottleriformis, Griff., f.b.i, — V-395, Katriz Ghat. Diggi. Aug.-Sept.
37. Codiaeum.
C, variegatum, i?Z,, f,b,i. — V-399. Croton. Cultivated. Gardens,
The garden " Orotons," infinitely variable in form and colour, are varieties
of this plant.
39. Blackia,
B. umbellata, Baill., f.b.i.— V-402,
13, denudata, Benth.
40, Dimorpliocalyx
D. glabellus, Tlno., f.b.i.— V-403.
D. Lawianus, Hook., /., f.b.i.— V-404.
42. Agrosiistachys.
A. indica, Dalz., f.b.i. — V-406.
A. longif oUa, Benth., f.b.i.— V-407.
44. Chrozophora.
C, tinctoria,^. Jmss,, F.B.I. — V-408. Okharada. Deccan, Guzerat widely, Nov,
C. obliqua, A. Jiiss., f.b.i. — V-40S Sind, Stocks.
C, plicata, A, Juss., f.b.i. — V-i09, Suryavarti. Poona. Baroda, Ap],
Gairsoppa. Nov.
Karwar. Potelli. Jan.
Matherau, Jan.
Konkan, Law, Stocks.
Tulkut Ghat, Dahell.
N, Kanara. Feb.
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372 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Manihot.
M. utilitissima, DC., Prod. 1064 Gardens.
M. Glaziovii. ? Gardens.
45. Claoxylon.
C. Mercurialis, Thw., f.b.i.— V-412, Barda Hills, Pore bunder.
46. Acalypha.
A. Dalzellii, Hook.,/., f.b.i.— V-414. Konkan ?
A. indica, Linn., f.b.i. — ^V-416. Kupi, Khohali. Deccan. Dharwar. June-July.
A, brachystachya, Horn., f.b.i — V-416. Panchgany. Aug
A. fallax, AIuelL, f.b.i.— V-416. Badami. Aug.
A. ciliata, Forsh., f.b.i.— V-417. Jooneer. Ilallihal. N. Kanara. Sept.
A. Lispida, Bwrm., f.b.i, — V-417. Syn. A. Sandfiri. Gardens. Sept.-Dec.
A. Wilkesiana, DC., Prod.— XVI-817.
47. Adenochlcpna.
A. indica, Bedd., f.b.i, — V-418, N. Kanara. Gairsoppa, Talbot. Oct,-Dec.
51. Trewiii.
T. nudiflora, Linn., f.b.i,— V-423. Petari. Banda Warree, Konkan. Dec.-Feb,
T. polycarpa, Benth., F.B.I.— V-424. Konkan, Law.
53. Mallotus.
M. albus, Muell., f,b.i.— V-429. Castlerock. Nov.
M. stenanthus, Muell., f.b.i.— V-437, N. Kanara, Yellapur. Talbot. Sept.
M. Lawii, Muell., f.b.i.— V-438. Khandalla. N. Kanara. Jan.-Feb. ,
M. philippinensis, Muell., f.b.i. — V-442. Kunkum-fali. Kunhosaya, Kamala,
Sendr. Guzerat. N. Kanara. Nov.-Feb.
55. Cleidion.
C, javanicum, Bl., F.B.I.— V-444. Ainshi Ghat. Yacombi.
56, Macarangt.
M. Roxburghii, Wgt., f.b.i. — V-448, Chanda, Chandada. Matheran,
N. Kanara. Jan,-Mar.
58. Homonoia.
H. riparia, Lour., f.b.i. — V-455. Scrayii. Dang. Karwar, Ambi-Ghat. Jan.
n, retusa, Muell., f.b.i, — V-456. Mach/m. Deccan river beds, April.
60, Ricinus.
R. communis, L/wH., f,b.i. — V-457. Erendi, Castor-oil plant. Cult,
64. Baliospermuni.
B. axillare, Bl., f.b.i. — V-461. Danti- Hareshwar. Konkan. Dec.
67. Tragia.
T. involucrata, Linn., f,b,i. — V-465, Khajaholati, Kolati. Matheran. Nov.
70. Dalechampia.
D, indica, Wgt., f.b.i,— V-467, Katiawad, Dec,
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THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA. 373
71. Hippomane (West Indies).
H. manchinella, L., DC, Proc?.— XV-1200. Manchineel. Victoria Garden,
Bombay. May.
72. Sdjnum.
S. sebiferum, Roxb., P.B.I.— V-470. Pimpalpala. Gardens. June.
S. indicum, Willd., f.b.i.— V-471. Hurna. Planted.
S. insigne, Benth., f.b.i.— V-471. Ura^ Dmlla. Lanauli. Konkan, Dec.-Feb.
7?t. Exccecaria.
E, agallocha, Lmn., f.b.i.— V-472. Geva, Surund Phungcdi. Tidal marshes.
July- Aug.
E. robusta, Hook./., f.b.i.— V-474. Konkan, Stocks.
74. Sebastiana.
S. chamaelea, MueL,¥.B.i. — V-475. fi/iWf-ereMf^J.Rutnagiri. Vingorla. Oct.-Dec.
Hura (Trop. America).
H. crepitcons, Z)C., Prof?.- XV-1229. Poona. Khandalla. Planted,
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374
ON SOME SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN OUTOH.
By the Revd. J. F. Blake, M.A., F.G.S.
Part II.
(With a Plate.)
(Continued Jrojn page 18^ of this Volume.)
THE ASSOCIATED BOULDER BEDS.
These are not mentioned by Mr, Wynne, unless he refers to them in the
passage quoted above when he writes of the concrete that it is " sometimes
conglomeratic" {ojh cit p, 81). As no asolian deposit can be in itself conglo-
meratic, these boulder-beds require explanation.
I will first describe the three localities where I have observed these beds.
The first is in the banks of a river running out from the Habo Hills at
Fulae near Kotae, where the subrecent concrete has been above recorded.
Here we find the following section (see fig. 1) : —
Fig. I. — Section on stream loest of Kotae.
A— Oxfordian, 1 C — False-bedded concrete,
B— Boulder-bed, ! D— Smaller boulder-bed.
The bed of the river and about 4 to 0 feet of the vertical sides are
composed of Oxfordian shales dipping at a very high angle. Their surface,
except for the river-erosion, is nearly flat, and immediately on the top lies a
5-foot bed of rounded and subangular stones, from the size of a quarto book
downwards, embedded in a fine loamy material without any stratification.
The boulders lie irregularly jumbled together, with a tendency however for
the long axes to lie horizontally, so that the deposit has very much the aspect
of a boulder-clay. Over this comes 7 to 8 feet of false-bedded concrete, and
then follows another boulder-bed 5 to 12 feet thick up to the top of the clifi',
in which the boulders are smaller, about the usual size of coals in a scuttle.
All the boulders, so far as observed, can be matched in the neighbouring hills.
The stratification is approximately horizontal ; but the boulders only
commence some way down stream, away from the outer slopes of the hills
and below the spot where the Miliola-heaving concrete is seen resting direct-
ly on the Jurassic rocks.
The second locality is on the south side of the Jhurio Hills, in the con-
crete-filled gorge and beyond. The description of these deposits would be
practically a repetition of the last— only the thicknesses are somewhat
greater, and the bed-rock is not reached in the stream-lottom, where the
boulders are seen in the aides.
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Journal Bombay IVal.IRst. Soc-
VolXII
Fig. 1. Section on stream west of Kot/w.
A= QxfordiaTi.
B= Boulder jjed.
C ^ False Ledded concrete.
I) = Smaller lioTiIder-ied
Fig. 2. Soulder-hecLs m the north/ of Tatdicmv.
A= Boulder-teds
B= Subrecent concrete.
C=- Jurassic rocks.
D = Hypothetical former extension of
concrete with boulders.
Jig. 3. InfraXrap-pean grits at Bhajia Hill .
A= Jurassic rocks.
^ = Infratrappean grits.
C^Trfip.
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCE. 375
The third locality is a more remarkable one, namely, that on the north
side of the Kala Dongar in Patcham. It was here that the boulder-beds
were tirst noticed, and called loudly for some explanation. At this spot
there are marked on the map of the Trigonometrical Survey two long
projecting elevations running out at right angles from the Jurassic escarp-
ment, where it is coated with the subrecent concrete. These no doubt
were originally one, the end having been eroded along the dividing water-
course. Their length is f^ mile, the united breadth ^ mile,;and their eleva-
tion (not marked on the map) is perhaps 100 to IPO feet above the plain.
They have the general aspect of the tip-heaps of a cyclopean railway
embankment in course of construction. As seen weathered on the surface
they are covered with large fragments of rock from 5- cwt. downwards, more
or less rounded, but not scratched, and all to be apparently matched in the
neighbouring Jurassic hills. Where a section is seen the matrix is rubbly
more or less tufaceous, and tough enough to form a cliff. At the base of
the valley laterite isfound, and the long mounds appear to rest
upon it.
In the first two localities the stratification in alternate boulder and non-
boulder-bearing beds may be without discussion assigned to the action of the
streams when they were depositing and not eroding ; but in all three cases
the diPBculty is to account for the carriage of the large stones and their pro-
miscuous heaping together. The principal agents that have been supposed to
possess sufficient transporting power are ice, torrents, and sea-waves. In a
place where the present range of temperature is between 70° and 120° it
is scarcely feasible to call in the aid of ice, and certainly sea-waves are out of
the question. In the first two, and localities where the boulder-beds
filled up the bottom of valleys at the end of gorges leading out from
lofty domes, the bottom beds may be fairly ascribed to the force of
the water, with or without further aid ; but those which overlie the
soft concrete could scarcely, one would think, be borne along in so rapid a
torrent that they could not even be sorted without that torrent eroding
the surface below.
For the third locality, however, there seems no possibility of calling in
the aid of a torrent, as there is no gathering-ground for the water. The
whole history of the deposit must at the outside be confined within an area of
If square miles, on which a line no longer than 21 miles can be drawn with
a maximum difference of elevation of 1,150 feet. But the mounds
point in the direction of the scarp only 1:^ miles distant, and whose highest
point is only 640 feet above their surface, and for three-quarters of this dis-
tance the boulders occur. Nor do they fill up a valley, but form mounds on a
ilat surface. The only area whence the water could be obtained to form a
torrent would thus be the slopes of the bills opposite the mounds with an
average fall of only 320 feet. This appears to me quite inadequate to pro-
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316 JOURNAL, SOMSAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(luce ii torrent sufficient to carry large stones over a nearly level surface for
^% mile. If we take the longer oblique line and greater height, the difficulty
is found to be not lessened but increased.
In the 29th volume (1873) of the Journal of the Geological Society, p. 493,
Dr. W. T. Blanford describes similar deposits en a far larger scale in Persia.
Here there are boulder- ridges extending for 5 to 10 miles from the foot of
the hills, with a fall of their upper surface in that distance of 1 ,000 to 2,000
feet. He says that the large fragments are commonest near places where
small streams issue from the higher ranges, but the mounds increase in
quantity towards the north and east, where the rainfall is less. I thought that
this last fact would have led the author to enunciate the theory which I am
about to expound, but he argues only that there must have been a greater
rainfall in past times, and that lakes were thus produced— without saying
how even then these boulders could have been transported for 5 to 10 miles
with so little fall.
In Cutch these boulder-beds occur only where there are deposits of a^olian
origin ; and in Persia they are most abundant where there is less rain and
therefore presumably more dry sand to be blown about, so that some con-
nection between the two is suggested. It appears to me that if we suppose
that at one time there was more blown sand present so as to make a greater
slope, the weathered blocks which fell on it from the hills would, under the
influence of the rains saturating the sand below, slip gently forward along the
slope, supported by the underlying sand, till they reached their farthest
destination without sinking to the bottom. Thus the aeolian deposits have
served as the carrier (see fig. 2 ).
Fig. 2. — Boulder-beds in the north of Patcham.
A^Boulder-beds,
B:=Subrecent concrete.
C^Jurassic rocks,
D=Hypothetical former extension of
concrete with boulders.
This explanation is analogous to that made use of by Sir Wyville Thomson to
account for the forward motion of the stone-river in the Falkland Islands*;
and, if it be a true one, it is possible that it may in some cases account for
deposits of loose blocks which have been referred to glacial action. There
will always be antagonism between this process and the running away of the
water in definite channels, and at last, when the slope of the ajolian deposit
became too low, the growth of the mounds would cease and the streams would
begin to sensibly denude the deposits, and even cut channels in the bed-rock
It might be thought that all along the rain would wash the sand away and
let the boulders drop, but we see that as a matter of fact it does not ; besides
which, the boulder itself protects the sand below it, as in the case of earth-
pillars, and what is washed away above or below will be replaced by the next
dust-storm.
Nature," vol xv (1876), p, 359,
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCH. dll
(3) INFRATRAPPEAN GRITS.
These deposits, lying as they do below the traps, cannot in strictness be called
superficial, but it will be seen that they were probably of that character —
that is, deposited on the land before the traps were poured on the top of
them. This is what Mr. Wynne says of them: — " These form a peculiar, soft,
loosely granular, and obscurely stratified group of earthy and sandy rocks,
largely composed of trappean materials . , [they] are frequently associated
with the base of the stratified traps, but they also occur in separate patches
over the country, and sometimes at a considerable distance from them. They
are clearly beneath the trap in some localities ; in others they fill up hollows
in the Jurassic beds, the planes of stratification not being conformable even
to the surfaces of the hollows which they occupy,"!
In the detailed description, however, I can find only eight places where
they are recorded, namely, west of Bhachau, Bhujia Hill, two places north of
Katrod, Rhojla Bill, " Khirgreea," Rampur, and Lakhapur, The letter d by
which they are indicated is also marked on the map at Sanosra and west of
Mundhan, Of these, one of the localities obviously represents, by the descrip-
tion, some fault-rock only ; that at Lakhapur and west of Mundhan is related
to an intrusive mass of igneous rock which the deposits do not underlie, but
merely abut against, so that they may possibly belong to the subrecent
concrete. Of the deposit at Rampur, it is stated that " it may have been the
basal portion of the trap series," It is not connected with the trap of the
neighbourhood, and consists of " scoriaceous lumps of trap mixed with sand "
etc., so that this also may be an old variety of subrecent concrete. Of the
other deposit north of Katrod, we read that beneath the trap is " a hard bed
of black ferruginous grit ;" it therefore contains no trap-fragments, and may
perhaps be dismissed as doubtful. There remain therefore five spots where
peculiar deposits are actually found below the traps, with a sixth
at Artara, unrecorded by Mr. Wynne, and in no case are they large
enough to map .2
These six may also be grouped together, for those at Artara and at Sanosra
are of the same character, and those at Khirgreea and Bhojla Hills are
described as similar to that at Bhujia Hill. There are thus, with that west of
Bhachau, three types of such deposits,
I have thought it necessary to thus analyse the evidence on account of the
statement that they are " largely composed of trappean materials," which
is difficult to understand if they are infra and therefore presumably
pre-trappean.
1. Mem. Geol. Surr. India, vol. ix. 1 1. i ( 1872) , p. 56,
?. On Mr. Wynne's map there is marked a considerable expanse of iufratrappean rocks in
the neighbourhood of Bhachau, but there is evidently something wrong here. A distinct
unexplained colour is inserted, and the details do not correspond with the text. Moreover'
the deposits are not overlain by the traps.
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378 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol.XII.
We will first examine the deposits on Bhujia Hill. The following are the
only two sentences in Mr. Wynne's memoir which give us his description of
them : — " To the eastward from beneath the highest summits, the basalt is
underlaid by, and intercalated with, a rapidly increasing mass of soft (?),
ashy, sandy rock of greenish-yellow colour, passing in places into a hard sili-
ceous trappoid sandstone of coarse texture, containing fragments of woody
plants From Bhujia to the conical sandstone hill on which Soorul
temple stands, and near the latter, the subtrappean grits are occasionally seen ;
the trai)pean blotches and interstitial portions weathered out into little
cavities on the surface of the rock, which sometimes occupies pockets or
wide fissure-like spaces in the underlying Jurassic"! With this description I
am in perfect agreement ; but tie accompanying map and section do not
correspond to it, and I am at a loss to understand them. It will be seen that,
beyond calling some of the rocks " ? ashy " and " trappoid" and speaking of
" trappean blotches," the author speaks of nothing but grits. It is true that
in some parts they are so much and so irregularly discoloured, apparently
by infiltration, that they then bear a superficial resemblance to some rocks
of volcanic origin, but their essentially gritty nature is unaltered.
The best exposure is on the northern slope of the hill, where the section
shown in fig, 3 is seen. Here the bulk of the hill is composed of the Jurassic
sandstones, which on the western side rise up and meet the capping of basalt.
East of this junction there comes in rapidly a series of thick beds of very
porous character, all of which are laminated, but not conformably to the
base on which they lie. Their porous character gives them a very "ashy"
appearance — that is, the appearance of fine debris deposited in the open air ;
but they are almost entirely composed of sand-grains lying in a loose matrix
of finer dust, and are so like some of the samples of subrecent concrete that
without labels they can scarcely be distinguished in hand-specimens. The
larainfe run up to and meet the basalt above, and as we pass eastward the
deposit becomes thinner till the basalt and Jurassic sandstones come together
a^ain. The other patches referred to as lying in the open hollows are gene-
rally darker and more compact, but they are still sandy. The isolation of
this and similar deposits at Khirgreea and Rhojla, its occurrence in a shelter-
spot on an old Jurassic hill, its porous character and sandy composition, — all
point to an ;volian origin, representing as they do the same (onditions as
those represented by the subrecent concrete.
The second type of deposit at Sanosra,due south of Bhuj, and at Artara,
between the .Jurassic rocks and the trap, is simply a collection of stones
derived from the rocks below, cemented by finer material, and lying in
hollows over which the trap passes ; that is to say, it is the surface-debris of
the land on which the lava was poured out.
1 Ob. cit. 1 . 168.
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCH. 379
The section west of Bhachau, which appears to show a third type, I have
not seen, as at the place where alone I was able, from lack of more time, to
examine the trap, it was lying directly on the Jurassic rocks, showing, as
pointed out by Mr. Wynne, the very local character of the subtrappean
group, I therefore copy here the description in the memoir (p. 13G) of the
beds referred with a query to this group, as taken from Mr. Fedden's note-
book : —
Feet.
"7. Brecciated and conglomeratic bed, lower part almost wholly of pink
lava(?) ... ... ... ... ... ... 3
6. Yellow sandstone ... ... .. ... ... 2
0. Conglomeratic and concretionary bed of pale lavender and piok lava (?J,
with large pebbles of hornstone, fragments of yellow clay, and tine
sandstone ... ... ... ... ... ... 1-4
4. Hard, yellow and pinkish, gritty sandstone ... ... ... o"
It will be seen from this description that the only ingredients which could
not be derived from the Jurassic^rocks are the fragments of " pale lavender
and pink lava (?) " I think it is very doubtful whether these are really
volcanic fragments, Even Mr, Fedden queries them, and as the large area
south of Bhachau, mapped as trap, is now seen in the cuttings of the new
road to be entirely lateritic, it is more probable that the fragments here noted
are also of that character. Perhaps, however, it comes to the same thing if
laterite is derived from trap, in which case the basalt of Bhachau must be
one of the later flows. The stratification also of these deposits indicates the
agency of water, so that we may perhaps sum up as follows : —
The subtrappean rocks are all superficial deposits on the pretrappean land-
surface, those at Artara and Sanosra, being the ordinary results of weather-
ing ; those at Bhachau, the washing-down of similar debris on to a lower
water-covered level j and those of Bhujia Hill, etc., ^i^olian drift.
Taking this last in connection with the subrecent concrete, we have thus a
record of the constancy of the meteorological conditions in Cutch from
recent times as far back as the Cretaceous epoch.
(4) THE LA.TERITK.
The deposits hitherto dealt with are on a small scale and more or less
peculiar to Cutch, but those which remain to be discussed are widely dis-
tributed in this part of India.
The various deposits which in different parts of India have gone by the
name of laterite are, with exceptions, superficial in origin. As however the
term has been so widely applied that the only definition which will cover all
the varieties is that it is a very ferruginous rock of peculiar character, it
follows that the rocks included under this definition may be of many
origins and of many ages. All the laterites of Cutch are classed and mapped
by Mr. Wynne, as " sub-Nummulitic," so that they stand, with those of
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380 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
the Nerbudda Valley near Surat, as the only laterites which lie below well-
defined marine deposits.
That there are lateritic beds below and associated with the Nummulitic
series in Cutch admits of no dispute; but those whose age can thus be prov-
ed all lie on the south side of the trap-escarpment and rest immediately on
the trap itself, where there can be little doubt that the lower red earthy
varieties are the products of decomposition in situ. It is with an entirely
distinct area that I am concerned, where the laterite is separated from the
trap by miles of intervening Jurassic rocks and Ran, and is overlain by
nothing but alluvium. That these also are sub-Nummulitic depends on the
assumption that all the lateritic deposits in a province as large as Cutch must
necessarily be of the same age — an assumption which does not appear to
me to be warranted.
The superficial group of laterite is found only on the southern and west-
ern margins of the Ean islands and along the northern border (and eastern
also according to Mr. Wynne) of Wagir. In the course of this range it is
found lying on various members of the Jurassic series. In the north of
Patcham it lies on the oldest, in the north of Wagir on the youngest, and on
intervening members at other places.
This distribution indicates, I think, a later age than the Nummulitic rocks,
for these latter rest upon the decomposition products of the trap, which do
not require long to form, and they nowhere extend to the Jurassic rocks, as
they surely must have done, if these had been already denuded to any great
extent. Whereas, before these laterites were produced, not only must the
lowest Jurassics have been exposed by denudation, but the general contour of
the country have been not far different from what it is at present. The
only indication of age that I can quote is that they underlie the boulder-beds
in Patcham,
The laterite here is a sort of gravelly deposit, the pieces being of fantastic
shapes with a crinkly surface. They arc dark red or black, in colour, and
consist of concretionary and stringy ferruginous matter, more or less closely
sprinkled with sand-grains. The several pieces often interosculate into a
vacuous spongy mass, in which case the rock so closely resembles some of the
higher members of the Jurassic series as to be undistinguishable in hand-
specimens. In certain well-defined spots the surface of the ground is cover-
ed with small,irregularly-shaped, and obviously detrital agates , sometimes white
and sometimes tinged yellow and red. These ferruginous beds are frequent-
ly seen to overlie well-stratified, soft, white sandstones and earthy beds, which
are tinged with pink and purple by the infiltration from the laterite, as seen
by the stalactitic form of the coloured parts (see fig. 1, p. 69 of Mr, Wynne's
memoir).
Deposits of this kind are mostly found at levels relatively low as com-
pared with the surrounding Jurassics, and they seem to be limited to a level
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCH. 381
lower than about 120 feet above the Ran. They are only found inland at
spots which would become lakes if the water-level were restored to that
height.
From the preceding observations we may safely conclude that
(i) this laterite and its associates were formed in water ;
(ii) they are not the result of the decomposition of any rock in situ ;
(iii) they are detrital in origin ;
(iv) they were formed at a time when the surface of the country was
not very different from what it is at the present day, but
when the water-level was 120 feet or more higher than now.
As to the source of the detritus, the materials of the sandstones, etc., might
easily be procured from the higher Jurassic rocks, and the iron of the laterite
itself could be found abundantly in the same beds or in the lower Jurassics —
though possibly not in a state suited for solution. But we cannot derive the
agates thence, and agates and iron probably came together. Agates are
abundant in certain of the lower flows of trap, and to such rocks we must
look for the source of the laterite. Now, as the " stratified traps" are flows
without pipes, and in the Jurassic area to the north of them there are several
pipes without flows, it has been natural to connect the one with the other ;
and if the southern traps were emitted from these pipes, there must have
been flows also to the north. Here, however, is a sharp anticlinal visibly
bringing in the higher Jurassics, so that the relics of such flows would now be
hidden beneath the Ean ; and it is from the degradation of these flows that
we may best seek the source of the laterites. This would account for their
occurrence on the north side, but not on the south side, of the inner Ran,
In the absence of any organic remains, it is impossible to say whether they
are marine or lacustrine deposits. Their resemblance to the higher Jurassic
rocks which have associated plant-beds points to the latter, in which case we
may call in the aid of vegetation, as suggested by McGee and by MaUet ; but
as there are other deposits which have a similar distribution, and yet contain
remains of apparently marine shells, and as moreover a depression is easier
to imagine than a barrier, the former becomes at least equally probable.
(5) THE ALLUVIUM AND RAN,
The area marked as alluvium on Mr. Wynne's map is a very large one. It
occupies no less than 800 square miles. A large portion of it, however, lies
along the southern margin of the province, overlying fossiliferous Tertiary
rocks, and it is to this portion that I think Mr. Wynne's description must
especially apply when he says that " it is the result of the degradation of
the local rocks, consisting largely of materials derived from the Tertiary beds
frequently mingled with travelled fragments brought by rivers from the hills.
On this part of the alluvial area I have nothing to say, but of those parts
which are in relation to the Jurassic rocks the above is scarcely a suitable
description. In these I have found no evidence that the materials are specially
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382 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
of local origin or of Tertiary derivation, and no travelled fragments have
been anywhere seen by me. The history, in fact, of these portions must be
somewhat exceptional and instructive.
The alluvium comes into relation with the Jurassic rocks (except in the
lateritic and a few other, possibly marine, patches of similar age, which have
contributed no recognizable elements to it ) in the broad flat area which joins
the mainland of Cutch, north of Bhachau, to Wagir, continues round the
western and northern sides of that district and unites it to Bela, skirts the
south-western sides of the islands of Kharir and Patcham, and forms patches
here and there along the northern coast of Cutch proper. "With the deposits
of this area must be classed about 650 square miles of lower-lying land, still
occasionally flooded, known as the Bani, which lies in the middle of the area
between the mainland and Patcham., and the deposits on the floor of the Ran,
which may be divided into the inner Ean, south of the islands, and the outer
or Great Ran, north of them. All these areas pass insensibly into each other,
being merely distinguished by the relative heights of an undulating surface
above the general level of the sea.
In the area mapped as alluvium there are parts which become muddy in the
rains, and these pass gradually into Ran ; but a larger portion is sandy soil,
which soon becomes dry, including vast tracts where the sand is all loose and
where no amount of rain can remain for an hour on the surface.
The characteristic deposit of the Bani is a very fine micaceous silt, and the
surface is dotted over with groups of trees which stand round the margins of
artificial tanks, or near the wells which are known to be abundant here. The
surface of the Ran, in the wet season, is everywhere covered with the slimes
of muds, on which the camels can scarce maintain a foothold ; but this is
probably underlain by a firmer, perhaps sandier deposit, as below the first two
or three inches the ground is firm and may be easily traversed while covered
with water.
Before attempting the history of this strange area, attention must be drawn
to the further features which may help to elucidate it. One of the most
important of these is the aspect of the Ran where the alluvial deposits are,
absent. It has been shown long ago by Dr. Blanford i that both the Ran and
the sandy desert on the north of it may be reasonably concluded to have been
formerly occupied by the sea, and the latter to have been since more or less
choked by blown sand. Mr, Wynne^ quotes the numerous statements that
have been made that the Ran was navigable and provided with various ports
within the period covered by native traditions, though in describing the
Kharir clifl"s ( p. 106) he appears to be doubtful of the geological evidences.
In one place in Patcham ( op. at. p. 27 ) he quotes a deposit with " marine
shells nearly 20 feet above the Runn'' as " traces of this old sea" ; but elsewhere
1 Jonrn. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. xlv, pt. ii { 1S7G ), p. 86.
2 Mem, Geol. Surv, India, vol. ix., pt. i ( 1 872 ), p. 2(J
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCH. 383
he states that these " shells " are casts and may be " very new Tertiary."
They are therefore no evidence that before the sea left in comparatively
recent times, it stood 20 feet higher than the present surface of the
Ean.
Standing by the edge of the Great Ran, on the northern shore of Patcham,
Kharir, or Bela, one might fancy oneself looking over flats which have just
been deserted by the tide. Save for the absence of the scraps of sea-wrack
and the greater firmness of the mud, there is little to distinguish the
appearance from that which might be seen along the coast of Britanny and
Normandy between St. Malo and Mont St. Michel. Here, too, are the clean
swept foreshore, the low cliffs on its landward margin, i the broken tumbled
masses on the slopes, and the frowning scarps above — all recalling the aspect,
though wilder in type, of the Undercliff of the Isle of Wight, where the lie
of the strata also is the same as it is here. But, since the formation of the
laterites and other minor deposits, there is no evidence that the sea has stood
at a higher level than when it washed the low cliifs that now edge the Ran,
Why then has the sea departed, as it were yesterday, and left its bed to be
dried up by the sun ? Two explanations are possible : either the sea has
been dammed out of the area by deposits on its surface, or the land has
relatively risen. If the former were the solo explanation, the level of the
borders of the Rm would still be uniform. But, according to the figures on
the Trigonometrical Survey maps, it would require a depression of about 30
feet to bring the sea-water to the edge of the inner Ran along the northern
shores of the mainland, whereas on the edge of the eastern side of Kharir it
would require no more than 5 or 6 feet. The land therefore must have risen
unequally, which is not an improbable counterpoise to the depression that has
taken place over the Sindree basin.
But that deposits also have taken place and that the peculiarities of the
Ran results from these will, I think, appear probable from what follows: —
In the first place the Ran proper is extraordinarily level ; this may be seen
from the figures on the Trigonometrical Survey map, where, over wide areas,
we find 1, 3, 5, 4, 8, 11, 12 feet, showing a difi'erence of very few feet, and I
have myself ridden over 10 miles of it in the rainy season with water on it
almost all the way of never greater depth than the knees of the coolies.
Yet, beneath the lofty scarps of Patcham and Kharir with their broken
undercliff, the shores are swept quite clean, and the debris must have been
carried away when these shores were in the making, and when the small
cliffs, sometimes 30 feet in height, were being worn away. Now, in such a
shallow sea as the Kan would be if the water returned no waves or currents
1 I do not specially qaote in this connection the curiously worn cliff figured by Mr.
Wynne a? " ? sea-cliff," because it happens to be composed of irregularly hardened sandstone
which even inland weathers into similar fantastic shapes, as near Mundhan.
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384 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
could originate, nor would the harbours, of which tradition tells, be restored,
and I conclude that in former times the bottom must have been deeper and
have been since filled up.
Again, the Ran is traversed by no rivers ; some of those from the northern
side of the mainland reach its edge, and the projecting higher alluvial land
in their neighbourhood may be taken to represent their deltas. But the great
majority begin and end without reaching it. At the lower end they break
up into constantly sub-dividing branches, which dwindle away to nothing.
In this latter case all the water which runs even during the heaviest rains is
absorbed by the porous soil, and sinks Un before it can reach the Ran ; in
the former case the quantity and velocity of the water are too great for this
to be entirely effected, and the remaining water spreads out in a broad sheet
on the surface, and so helps to flood the Ran. In the higher parts of the Bani
and in the alluvial area west of Wagir, there are a number of short nullahs,
which begin and end in the middle of a flat surface, and sometimes follow
each other in a broken line. They indicate the course of underground
streams, the roofs of which have fallen in and exposed them in places.
Such an underground course must be due to the original valley being filled
in with loose and porous material, into which the water sinks. This it may
be actually seen to do with great rapidity. I have known 4 inches of rain
to fall in the course of a night, and the rivers to be torrential in the morning,
but before evening to be all dry again ; and one can watch the water sinking
in on the bottom of their beds.
The nature and origin of these deposits can also, I think, be determined.
With regard to the Bani, as it is separated both from the mainland (except
at the two extremities) and from Patcham by an area of Ran, it can hardly
be " a bank formed. ..by the discharge of the Cutch streams," while the fine
micaceous sUt of which it is composed could scarcely be obtained from thence.
Its composition and the power which it has of retaining water indicate
rather that it is a relic of the sea-bottom, corresponding perhaps to a higher
level of the submerged bed-rocks. The highest part of the alluvial area
between Wagir and the mainland lies in the direct line of an anticlinal which
passes from one area to the other, and is doubtless continuous. This may
have originated the higher level here.
With these two exceptions, the whole of the features may be put down to
the wind and rain. The importance of the former may be argued from the
wide sheets of loose sand that lie to the west of Wagir and on the south-
western edges of the islands. These are comparatively scarce on the margin
of the mainland, and entirely absent along the northern island-coasts ; that is,
these sands occur where the prevailing strong winds will be stopped, and are
lacking on the lee of high grounds. Moreover, the rivers that reach the
Ran on the north side of the mainland (with one exception where there is
higher Tertiary ground to the west) are deflected to the west by the accu-
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SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS IN CUTCH. 385
mulation of sand, etc., on the east ; hence the distribution of this sand may
be assigned to the wind. Nevertheless, much of the dust that is carried by
the gales must fall en route and beyond the lee of the hills. Here, however,
it will be covered by water during the rains, and the finer particles will come
to the surface and form the mud, but the ground as a whole will be fairly
firm.
The amount of deposit from rivers must be comparatively, if not very,
small. Doubtless much of the material is brought down in the first instance
by the Indus and other rivers, but from the neighbourhood of their mouths
this has been blown about in an easterly and northerly direction, and has
thus afforded a constantly renewed source of fresh fertility.
(-Froffi tlie Journal of the Geological Society.')
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386
THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR
ISLANDS.
By a. L. Butler, f.z.s.,
Curator, Selangor State Museum.
{Read before the Bomhay Natural History Society on 2dih Fehy. 1899.)
Part I.
The publication of Mr, Blanford's long-expected fourth volume of the
" Birds of India" enables me to contribute to the tSociety's Journal, arranged
in accordance with the latest classification of Indian Birds, the notes on the
avifauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which I made during a recent
stay of nine months in those groups.
Mr, Hume's long papers on the ornithology of the islands (" Stray Feathers,"
Vols. II and IV, 1874-76) being now exceedingly difficult to obtain, I have
done my best to make this as far as possible a complete list of the birds
hitherto recorded as occurring in the islands. Not having access, however,
to any large ornithological library— the great difficulty of a field naturalist—
I have had to do my best with Vols. II and IV of " Stray Feathers," the
invaluable Bird Volumes in the " Fauna of India," and my own field notes.
Hence I fear that I may have omitted a few species through having been un-
able to search the back volumes of the " Ibis " and the remaining volumes of
*' Stray Feathers " for scattered notes on Andaman and Nicobar ornithology.
The gleanings from a field worked by men like Hume and Davison are
necessarily small, but I believe that some species are here recorded from
the islands for the first time, and that the notes on some of the birds
peculiar to these two groups, such as Rallina canninrji, Sturnia erythropygia,
etc, will be of interest to naturalists. The discovery of a beautiful new
Goshawk on Car Nicobar, probably peculiar to that one small island, is
noteworthy and was quite unexpected.
I was at Port Blair from May, 1897, to February, 1898, and worked that
locality very thoroughly, but the other parts of the Andamans I was
unable to visit : these islands, however, lie so close together that the same
birds are met with throughout the group.
In the Nicobars I visited the central islands of Camorta, Nancowry,
Teressa, and Katchall, and on Car Nicobar, the most northerly, I collected
for six weeks.
To my great disappointment I was unable to visit the Great Nicobar, the
interior of which still remains unexplored, and on which, from the large
size of the island, it is probable that some new species will in time be
found.
It is impossible to work these islands properly without a boat of one's
own. Port Blair being a convict settlement no shipping is allowed in the
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 387
vicinity, while the Nicobars are only visited, besides the short official visits
of the R. I. M. steamer stationed at Port Blair, by a few Burmese and
Chinese buggalows and junks trading in cocoanuts, and these do little travel-
ling about, but lie for months off the same island until they have got
together a full cargo.
The best plan for a collector would be to hire a small sailing ship and
visit the islands in the fine months of February and March.
Ornithological collecting in the Andamans is not very easy ; the rainfall
is excessive ; the trackless jungles are the most abominably dense and
thorny that I ever saw, and the atmosphere inside them is so intensely
steamy that forcing one's way through the tangled undergrowth is fatiguing
in the extreme. I know no place where nests are more difficult to find.
To a casual observer the most noticeable feature in these Andaman forests
is the abundance of the Gurgeon trees, whose straight and lofty stems rise
like countless tall white masts among the dark greea cover of luxuriant
vegetation which clothes the hills. Inside the jungles the almost entire
absence of mosses (excepting some small and inconspicuous kinds) is very
remarkable. The absence of monkeys and squirrels, &c., is very
striking.
The geographical position and physical aspects of the islands have been so
often described that no remarks on these are necessary here.
Port Blair is, as Mr. Hume remarked twenty-four years ago, as well-
known as Southampton Water ; the Nicobars, however, are further from
the beaten-track, so I give a few notes on my stay among the islanders
whom I found most friendly and hospitable though very lazy and apathetic
when I tried to get any assistance from them. At whatever villages I
visited I was always made welcome, and received with offers of young
cocoanuts, cigarettes, etc. The latter are not a strong form of smoke, being
composed of a little China tobacco rolled up in a long strip of Pandanus
leaf, the tobacco being in about the same proportion to the Pandanus as the
lead to the wood in an ordinary pencil.
The manner in which some of the Nicobarese have, with hardly any
iutercourse with Europeans since the abandonment of the settlement at
Camorta, kept up their curious pidgin English does them great credit. The
more intelligent of them have an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and some of
their questions are decidedly amusing. For instance, it was rather startling
to be asked in the year of Jubilee 1897 " Who got England Chief Commiss' ?
Colonel Temple brother ? I think so !''
Many of their enquiries are personal in the extreme. They nearly all want
to know whether you are married, and if not why not, and so on. My name
they rendered with every imaginable variation from " Buttala" to '* Pot-
luck," and they absolutely declined to accept my plea of impecuniosity as a
satisfactory explanation of my state of single blessedness.
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388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
The pride of the Nicobarese in English names is well known. The ugliest
man on Car Nicobar, with hideous projecting teeth covered with horrible
incrustations of betel, rejoices in the name of " Sweet William," and many
other names testify to the delicate irony of the officers of the Andaman
Commission.
There is a tale of a ship-wrecked crew, who, huddled together at night on
the beach of one of the Nicobars, heard the sound of paddles and then voices
and approaching footsteps. Fully expecting to be attacked they sang out to
the newcomers in good nervous Anglo-Saxon to keep their distance. History
hath it, that the reassuring reply received was " What for you fraid me !
I not eat man ! My name Lady-killer !"
I lived for a week with one Kingfisher, headman of a village called Perka,
where I got the new hawk. I found him by far the most intelligent man on
the island, and he gave me a great deal of help, besides most hospitably mov-
ing out of his house to make room for me, and bringing me fowls, yams, &c.;
his willingness to assist, unlike that of his neighbours, outlasting my stock of
rum.
One day a deputation from the village of Kakana came to a?k me to come
with my gun and capture or shoot a man who had run amok, which seemed
to promise a little excitement. They complained that he had fired a house
and killed a lot of pigs with his dah and threatened to cut down the first
man who interfered with him. On enquiry as to whose house he had burnt,
they said his own. Further questioned, they admitted that the deceased pigs
also were his own property. I came to the conclusion that a punitive expedi-
tion was unnecessary.
The Nicobarese ought to be among the most contented people in the world.
Every one lives on terms of perfect equality with his neighbours. Beyond
occasional illness they have no cares or troubles, and there is absolutely no
straggle for existence, cocoanuts and pandanus, their staple foods, being in
such profusion that a child old enough to climb a tree could support himself
without exertion.
The marriage relations are very loose, but for all that seem to work very
smoothly. As long as a couple are fond of each other and agree they live
together ; if they get tired of each other they separate and marry again.
There seems to be no objection to an unmarried girl having as many lovers
as she likes. The place would interest Mr. Grant Allen immensely.
There is generally some sort of festivity going on,- principally canoe racing
and dancing. A pair of the large racing canoes from Chowra manned by
twenty-five or thirty men make a fine sight, but their pace suggests unfavour-
able comparison with the speed of an English racing eight. The course is
generally long, and as every one sings at the top of his voice throughout the
race, the performers are pretty well exhausted at the finish. Both canoes
keep nearly parallel, and no one seems to mind much which comes in first.
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 389
Dancing is carried on every fine night, the performers making a large ring
with their hands on each other's shoulders, the men on one side and the girls
opposite them on the other. They do not dance round, but take two or three
paces and a stamp to one side and then to the other. If the dancers are few
in number the ring is left one-third open rather than made smaller.
Toddy goes round freely and by midnight every one is more or less intoxi-
cated and consequently fuddled and stupid next morning. When heavy
rain prevents dancing the Nicobarese make the best of it and lie beside
their nectar inside their huts.
Wrestling is rather a favourite sport between the lad.s. The rounds are
very short, one or the other going down at once.
The Nicobarese did not seem to me very good fishermen, and I did not see
a single fish of any size captured during my stay. I noticed four methods of
fishing— by hook and line, netting with a small casting net, spearing fish by
torch-light, and killing the small fry left in the pools at low tide with an
intoxicant made by nrashing up some jungle fruit which I could not
name.
Mr. Hume's account gives one a capital idea of the islanders excepting on
one point. Mr. Hume gives one the impression that the Nicobarese are partly
amphibious, diving from their canoes and catching large fish, sometimes two
at a time, in their hands. The Nicobarese of the present day certainly are
unable to do anything of the sort, I questioned many Nicobarese on this
point, and none of them seemed at all familiar with this method of fishing;
in fact, the idea rather tickled them. The officer in charge of the Nicobars,
who knows more about the islanders than any other man living, had never
heard of it either ; and when I found Captain London, still hale and hearty,
though growing old, the very man whom Mr. Hume describes as " diving
stark naked from his canoe and bringing up fish in his hands" — and he too
had never heard of this style of angling — well, it did occur to me that
Mr. Hume had for once been enlivening his ornithology with a touch of
romance, but I dismissed the thought at once as disloyal to the greatest of
Indian ornithologists ; tempora mutoAitur, and perhaps the Nicobarese are
changing with them.
I have to thank Col. R, C, Temple, C.I.E., Chief Commissioner of the
Islands, for much assistance kindly rendered, and I am, I think, indebted to
nearly every Officer in the settlement for kindness and hospitality shown me
during my visit.
I will now proceed with the ornithological part of this paper, which, it will
be seen, is chiefly a comparison of my observations with those of Messrs.
Hume and Davison in 1873.
The numbers prefixed to the names of species are those employed in the
Bird volumes in the " Fauna of India " series.
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390 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
4, CoRVUS MACRORHYNCHU?, Wagl, Oates, I, p. 17; " Str. Feath.," II, p. 243.
Very numerous in the Andamaus ; it has apparently disappeared from
the deserted settlement at Camorta in the Nicobars, where it was
introduced from Port Blair,
Corvus splendens was introduced in Colonel Tytler's time, but gradually
entirely disappeared.
20, Dendrocitta bayleyi, Tytler. Oates, I, p. 34; " Str. Feath.," IT, p. 245.
Fairly common in the jungles in the neighbourhood of Port Blair. The
habits are those of the genus. The bird has a harsh call-note constantly
repeated when a party is broken up by being fired at. It seems rather an
inquisitive bird. I have often, when standing still in thick jungle, noticed
it hopping about in the branches overhead peering down to try and make
me out. On one occasion I noticed a party of three on a bare tree rising
from thick jungle, drying their plumage after a heavy shower. On my reach-
ing the tree I fired at one and missed, the birds flying off in different direc-
tions. In a couple of minutes one came back to look for the others, which I
shot; a minute later the other two returned to the tree and I shot another.
It breeds apparently in April and May, as young birds were common in
June. These differ from the adult in having the black of the head duller,
the brown of the back less rufescent, the reddish-brown of the under parts
duller, and the chest browner. The young bird seeuis to start in life with
an olive-green iris, changing in a short time to bright green. An inner
circle of golden yellow then appears and gradually encroaches on the green ,
until the beautiful clear yellow eye of the adult bird is attained. These
changes were very conspicuous in young birds shot in June and July.
226. ZosTEROPS PALPEBROSA, Temm. Oates, I, p. 213; " Str, Feath.," II, p.224.
The Andaman and Nicobar White-eyes differ only from continental birds
in having a lurger bill. They are, as Davison remarks, commoner in the
Nicobars than in the Andamans, but in neither group are they as numerous
as I have seen them elsewhere. Breeds in the earher months of the year.
Davison found young birds in February,
254. Irena puella, Lath, Oates, I, p. 240 ; "Str. Feath.," II., p. 226.
Occurs in both groups. At Port Blair it is certainly much more numerous
in the N.-E. monsoon than at other seasons. When I arrived in May hardly
a bird was to be seen ; I came across a few in June and July, and on my
return from the Nicobars in September found them numerous everywhere
adult males, however, being hardly one in twenty. Davison says the young
are about in April, Two old males which I shot on June 9th were obviously
breeding.
This lovely bird is by no means so conspicuous as one VAould imagine.
Indeed, in shady forest the male generally looks as black as a drongo, only now
and again showing its satin-blue back as it flutters across some sunlit piece
of open jungle. It is a tame bird, allowing a very close approach, and feed-
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TllE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 391
ing quietly upon berries regardless of an observer. The old males are some-
what shier, though far from wild. I usually met with it in small parties
of five or six to twenty or thirty, often without a single old cock bird
among them.
288. Otocompsa emeria, Linn. Gates, I., p. 276 ; " Str, Feath.," II., p. 225.
The Red-Whiskered Bulbul is extremely plentiful in the Andamans, where
it is one of the commonest birds. Davison mentions meeting with it at
Camorta and Car Nicobar, where it had just been indroduced, but I saw
nothing of it at either of these localities, from which it may have since
disappeared. I found a nest or two in June.
297. loLE KicoBAKiENsrs, Moore. Gates, I., p. 285 ; " Str. Feath,'' 11^ p. 223.
A forest bulbul, peculiar to the Nicobars. It has been recorded from the
islands of Teressa, Bompoka, Tillangchong, Camorta, Nancowry, Trinkut
Katchall and Pilu Milu. Mr. Hume says that he did not observe it on Great
or Car Nicobar. Gccurring as it does on Pilu Milu, it is pretty sure to
extend to both the Little and Great Nicobars, but from Car Nicobar lying by
itself to the north of the other groups, it is certainly absent.
312. MicROPUS FUSCiFLAVESCEN?, Hume. Gates, I, p. 295 j "Str.
Feath.," I, p. 297, and II, p. 224.
This species has only apparently been obtained on the South Andaman
where Mr. Gates says '• it appears to be abundant." It appeared to me very far
from being so; indeed, I do not think I saw the bird more than a dozen times
during a stay of eight months. Davison's experience seems to have been
similar ; he only collected eight specimens in six months, and remarks that it
is "comparatively rare." It is a quiet, unobtrusive little bird, keeping to thick
jungle, and is almost always in pairs.
326. DiGEBRUs ANNECTENS, Hodgs. Gates, I, p. 312; "Str. Feath,," II, p, 209.
Mr. Hume says that Blyth received a specimen caught at sea by Captain
Lewis when nearing the Nicobars. Mr, Gates gives no later record cf its
occurrence in either group.
332. DiCRURUS LEUCOGENYP, Wald. Gates, I, p. 317 ; " Str. Feath. " II
p. 210.
Is, like the last, only a straggler to the islands. Captain Wimberley sent
Mr. Hume a specimen procured on November 5th, 1873.
336. DissEMDROiDES ANDAMANENSis, Tytler. Gates, I, p. 321- "Str.
Feath.," II, p. 211,
The small Andamanese Drongo is very common in the Andamans. Mr.
Gates says :" Habits, apparently, the same as those of D. ater." It is much more
of a forest bird than D. ater, being seldom met with outside the jungles. It is
highly gregarious, flocks of half a dozen to twenty travelling through the
forest together in search of food, either by themselves or in company with
Irena pudla, Sturnia andaraanensis, Graucalus dohsani, Pericrocotus anda-
manensis, etc.
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392 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol Xtl.
337. DissEMUROiDES DicRURiFOEMis, Ilume, Oates, I, p. 322 ; " Str.
Feath.;'II,p.211.
Occurs only on the Great Coco and Table Island, where it is numerous. I
did not visit the Cocos and know nothing of the bird myself. Its habits
are said to be those of the Dicruri.
340. DissEJiuRDS PARADiSEUS, Linn. Gates, I, p. 325 ; " Str, Feath.," II,
p. 212.
The Large Racket-tailed Drongo is fairly common in both groups, and its
sharp lively call of five notes is constantly heard in the jungles. Sometimes
in the evening they rise above the tree tops to capture termites and other
insects, following them to some elevation, and their flight is then graceful
in the extreme.
3G0. LocusTELLA CERTiiiOLA, Pall. Oates, I, p. 352 ; " Str. Feath., " II.,
p. 235.
Fallas's Grasshopper Warbler is a winter visitor to the Andamans, appa-
rently scarce, though from its skulking habits doubtless often overlooked. I
only saw it once, when it rose from some grass right under my feet. I
failed to flush it again, but am certain of its identity, as I could see the
white on the tail which distinguishes it from the next species.
361. LocusTELLA LANCEOLATA, Temm. Oates, I, p. 353 ; " Str. Feath.,"
I, p. 409.
This Locustelle is fairly common in the Andamans in winter. Between
November and January I flushed it constantly in paddy fields, high grass, &c.
It is hard to flush — very hard to put up a second time, and probably for
every one seen a dozen are passed over. I found it very hard to i^rocure
specimens without knocking them to pieces. Its jerky flights are so short
that one has to fire at it at under twenty yards or it drops into the grass
again. It is extremely annoying after missing a dodgy little bird like this
once or twice through giving it too much law to see a perfect cloud of
feathers drift away after a shot, and to know before picking your little
victim up that it will be utterly useless as a specimen and has been destroyed
to no end.
381. CiSTicOLA CURSITANS, Frankl. Oates, I, p. 374; "Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 235.
This little Grass-Watbler is extremely numerous on the open grass-covered
plains and hills that are a feature of the Nicobar Islands j I am not aware
that it has been obtained in the Andamans, where the only open hills are
covered with short spear-grass, and not the rank coarse growth in which this
bird delights.
393. Arunoinax aedon. Pall. Oates, I., p. 390; "Str. Feath.," II, p. 234.
The Thick-billed Warbler is a common winter migrant to the Andamans ;
in the Nicobars it appears to be somewhat scarcer. When approached it
usually utters a loud " click-cliok-click, " which Davison aptly likens to the
![]()
THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 393
cocking and uncocking of an old musket lock. It is found in any sort of
cover, but is particularly partial to a kind of herbage which grows to a
height of two or three feet in and around ponds of standing water. In this
thick cover it works its way about like a reed warbler, hopping from stem to
stem low down near the water, its presence being only apparent from the
jerking movement of the herbage and its incessant clicking note. On the
wing between one patch of cover and another when disturbed, owing to a
certain similarity in size and colour, it is not unlike one of the small
Shrikes, Lanius lucionensis or L. cristaius.
410, Phylloscopus fuscatus, Blyth, Gates, I, p. 405; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 236.
A winter visitant to the Andamans 5 scarce,
424. AcANTHOPKEUSTE MAGNiROSTRie, Blyth, Oates, I, p. 415 ; " Str.
Feath.," II, p, 236,
Mr. Hume procured a single specimen at Mount Harriet in the Andamans,
42C, AcANTHOPNEUSTE LUGDBRis, Blyth. Oates, I, p. 417; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p, 236.
Not uncommon in the Andamans in winter, but very far from being
numerous.
451. HoRORNis PALLIDIPES, Blanf. Oates, I, p. 437.
I procured a single specimen of this tiny Bush Warbler on June 26th
in dense undergrowth in jungle on the very summit of Mount Harriet.
Unfortunately I had no choice but to shoot it at very short range with a
12 bore and No. 8 shot, the result being that it was terribly knocked about
a portion of the breast being shot away altogether. However the head
wings, tail, and legs are perfect and the back view of the specimen is all
right. Its action and a low rattling note reminded me rather of Rhopocicha
Length, 4^%", wing l\i", tail 1^", tarsus |", bill at gape ~i|". Bill brown, basal
half of lower mandible and gape yellow. Legs and claws pallid whitish-
fleshy.
481. Lanius cristatds, Linn. Oates, I, p. 468; " Str, Feath,," II, p. i^g
Occurs in the Andamans in most months of the year, its numbers being
augmented by an influx of young birds in the summer. At no time is it
nearly as numerous as the next species, which is the Shrike of the Andamans
and seldom out of sight in the cold weather,
482. Lanius lucionensip, Linn. Oates, I, p. 469; "Str. Feath.." II
p. 199,
The Philippine Shrike is extremely common in the Andamans in the cold
season. Mr. Oates says it appears to be a permanent resident, as the Hume
collection contains specimens killed in these islands in almost every month
of the year. The bulk of the birds certainly are not residents ; personally
I never saw it at all until September, after which one might have shot any
number. I do not think that the stragglers left in the hot weather breed
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394 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIl .
in the islands. It is curious how many of the winter migrants to the
Andamans leave a certain percentage of their number to remain throughout
the year.
This shrike is also found in the Nicobars, but is less numerous there than
in the Andaman group.
492. Perickocotus andamanensis, Tytler. Gates, I., p. 481 j " Str.
Feath.," II, p. 208.
Common in the Andamans, to which it is confined. Habits the same as
those of P. sjyeciosus, of which it is little more than an insular race.
500. Perickocotds peregrinus, Linn. Gates, I, p. 487 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 209.
The Little Minivet is common in the Andamans but does not extend to
the Nicobars. Parties of this bird are extremely regular in their habits,
working their way to their roosting place along the same line of trees
night after night. This Minivet is sociable to a degree ; I have several times
known a whole party to flutter down after a shot bird (dead or living) and
for several seconds remain by it on the ground, moving with very short hops.
Their concern, however, seems short-lived, and in a minute they are playing
their usual game of follow-my-leader among the trees as gaily and light-
heartedly as if nothing had happened. These are the only occasions on
which I have ever seen a Perlcrocotus of any sort on the ground.
I think May to July is the breeding season in the Andamans. On the 15th
of the latter month I watched a pair building for some time. The hen bird
was doing all the work, but the male never went a yard from her side,
accompanying her on every journey to and from the nest, and watching her
lovingly and admiringly as she added each tiny piece of material. I left
them to the enjoyment of love's j'oung dream and they eventually reared
two young safely.
503. Perickocotus cinereus, Lafr. Gates, I, p. 489.
I killed a single specimen, an adult male, near Port Blair on the 19th
November. It was associating with a party of P. andamanensis to which
it had attached itself. From its entirely grey back and whitish breast I
recognized it at a glance before I shot it,
Mr. Gates says he procured one near the town of Pegu in February, and
that it has not been recorded from any other part of the Empire. Unfor-
tunately the specimen I obtained was so disfigured by shot — the whole bill
being blown away — that I did not preserve it, but as to its identity I have
not the slightest doubt, having since had an opportunity of examining
several examples of the species.
509, Campopuaga TERAT, Bodd. Gates, I, p. 495 ; "Str. Feath,," II,
p. 202.
The Pied Cuckoo Shrike was obtained by Davison at Camorta in the
Central group of the Nicobar Islands ; it probably occurs also on the Little
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THE BIRDS OF TEE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 395
and Great Nicobars, as a single specimen was obtained at Acheen. It does
not occur on Car Nicobar, I did not come across this bird at all. Davison
found it not uncommon at Camorta ; from his account it appears to be a
rather tame bird, associating in small parties and feeding in thick under-
growth near the ground. In the Malay Peninsula I have generally found
it singly or in pairs.
510. GRAUCALrs MAcn, Less. Oates, I, p. 496; " Str. Feath,," II., p. 204,
The Large Cuckoo Shrike is a very common species in the neighbourhood
of Port Blair, where clearing and cultivation have made the country open
enough for its liking. Unlike the next species it is not found in thick
forest, keeping to gardens, clearings, or trees standing in the open,
511. Gradcalds dobsoni, Ball. Oates, I, p., 497; "Str. Feath.," II,
p. 206.
This species is common enough in forest, out of which it is never met
with. It is a quiet bird without the noisy whistling cry of G. macii,
associating with the Mynas, Mini vets, Drongos, etc., which roam through the
Andaman jungles in company. It has a rather pleasing, though short, song.
513. Artamus LEUCOGASTER, Val. Oates, I, p. 499,- "Str. Feath.," II, p. 214.
The White-rumped Swallow Shrike is very common in the Andamans,
especially so in the opened and cultivated country round Port Blair. It is a
charmingly fearless little bird, often allowing one to watch it from as short
a distance as six feet. It is sociable in the extreme, a party frequently
settling on a bare branch or other suitable perch and nestling closer
and closer to each other until they form a regular feathery ball. Any
one who cared to shoot at them then might kill a dozen at a shot.
A pair alone nenrly always sit touching each other, and should one dart ofE
after a passing insect its companion utters a rather harsh little chirp of
encouragement ; with a few rapid wing-strokes and a graceful pkimming
swoop the prey is captured and the pursuer settles at the side of his mate
again. They seem to have a great affection for each other, and if one is
shot its companion circles backwards and forwards round the head of the
slayer in the most obvious distress. Davison remarks that it is an exceed-
ingly easy bird to shoot on the wing, its flight, though very graceful, being
slow and steady ; so much is this the case that I have frequently killed it
flying with a catapult.
This Artamus settles freely on the ground, on which it moves with very
short hops. I have noticed it following a plough, and alighting among
the newly turned clods of earth in search of the insects exposed. I have
also noticed it perching on roofs of buildings and bungalows, which I do
not recollect having seen Artamus fuscus do. A. leucogaster is by far the more
familiar bird of the two.
Very little is known of its nidification, Davison found a nest in May in
which the bird had not then laid. It was placed about twenty feet from
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396 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
the ground in a rotten mangrove stump. April and May are certainly the
principal breeding months, I found no end of newly fledged young sitting
about the trees in May, but a careful search only resulted in my finding
one nest. This was placed on the bracket formed by a parasitic " oak-leaf "
fern {Poly podium quercifolium) which was growing against the stem of
a jak-tree some fifteen feet from the ground. The nest was composed
almost entirely of dry grass, and contained one young one large enough
to fly when my fingers touched it as I felt for eggs. I fancy these birds
breed in fairly close company where there are suitable trees, as I saw several
very young birds in one clump of jak-trees where they, were probably
hatched.
516. Oriolus macrueus, Blyth. Gates, I, p. 503; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 228.
The Nicobar Oriole is extremely abundant throughout the islands of that
group. Its habits in no way differ from those of its congeners. Its note
is a long drawn modulated whistle, sounding like " pee-u,"
Car Nicobarese name — " macheon."
517. Oeiolus andamanensis, Tytler. Gates, I, p. 504; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 226.
Extremely common throughout the Andamans. I believe the nest has
not been described ; I found two, the first, found on May 19th, situated about
eight feet from the ground in a small rain-tree {Pithecolobium sp. ?) by the
roadside, was a very small and slight nest of the usual Oriole type, and
contained one large young one only. The other nest, taken on June 1st,
was some fifteen feet from the ground in a Hibiscus of sorts standing some
forty yards from the jungle edge, and contained three hard-set eggs. This
nest was much larger and more solid than the first, almost double the size ;
it was lined with fine roots and fibres, under which was a layer of strips of
dead plantain leaf (one of these pieces as large as 6 ins. by 2 ins.) j then came
the foundation of dead and skeleton leaves held together and suspended
to the fork of the branch by fibres of the cocoanut palm.
Eggs. — Ground-colour white with a strong pinkish-brown tinge, spotted at
the large end with madder-brown, with a few underlying purplish-grey spots.
Some of the larger spots have a pinkish-brown nimbus round them, giving
them the appearance of having been put on a wet surface and having " run."
521. Oriolus melanocephalus, Linn. Oates, I, p. 506 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 230.
Davison seemed to think the Black-headed Oriole only a migrant to the
islands, as he did not meet with it at all until April, after which it was
not uncommon. My experience was exactly the same ; I shot two in May,
and saw several between May and July, after which I neither saw nor
heard it. Mr. Hume, however, doubts its being only a seasonal visitant,
and as Mr. Oates remarks that it is " everywhere a resident in well wooded
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 397
parts," it is probably a permanent resident in the Andamans, though for
some reason undoubtedly more in evidence in the summer months. Not
recorded from the Nicobars.
524. EuLABES INTERMEDIA, Hay. Gates, I, p. 511 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 254.
This Grackle is extremely common in both groups. Mr. Gates says that
typical Andaman and Nicobar birds have a longer wing and a larger white
wing patch than true E. intermedia, but he does not recognize E. andamanensis
as a species.
527. Calornis CHALYBETUS, Horsf, Gates, I, p. 514 J " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 253.
The Glossy Tree-Stare is very numerous in both groups, especially in the
Nicobars. According to Mr. Gates, the Andaman race of this bird is, " in
addition to being somewhat larger, of a much darker green, almost a black in
some lights."
These starlings appear to grip the bough on which they are seated very
tightly. Gn one occasion I fired up into a flock which were feeding among
the foliage of a huge Ficus high over my head. The flock left the tree with
a whirr of wings, and somewhat to my surprise nothing fell ; then after
quite half a minute's interval, and with several seconds between each, four
birds fell one after another at my feet.
I once saw half a dozen feeding on the ground below a Ficus on the berries
which the remainder of the flock were dropping from above.
Car Nicobarese name — " tukkuliv."
528. Pastor koseus, Linn. Gates, I, p. 518 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 252.
At most only a rare accidental 7isitant to the Andamans, where it has
not, apparently been procured, its claim to a place on our list resting only
on Colonel Tytlers statement that several arrive in flocks in January
Mr. Hume says that Colonel Tytler knew the bird well and was not likely to
have been mistaken,
540. Sturnia andamanensis, Tytler. Gates, I, p. 529 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 248.
This Myna is one of the commonest birds in the Andamans, where it
literally swarms when attracted by any extra abundance of food supply. It
feeds a great deal on the ground in paddy fields, on open grass-land, &c., and
also frequents heavy forest, flocka travelling in ^jearch of fruits and insects in
company with Z)2SsewiMro2(?es andamanensis, Graucalusdobsoni, and Pericro-
cotus andamanensis. It is particularly partial to a small caterpillar which
rolls itself up in the narrow leaves of the bamboo, and flocks may be seen
hanging in all sorts of tit-like attitudes diligently opening every rolled up
leaf they can detect, with varying results, the little shelter not being always
tenanted.
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'in JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HtSTOR'^ SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
I believe both this and the next species differ from the genus Sturnia in
having the young not brown but very similar to the adults (see remarks on
next speciesj. Mr, Hume says that his party preserved nearly fifty old and
young, and shot altogether nearly a hundred. He then proceeds to give a
very careful description of the adult, but says nothing whatever about any
brown young birds. His collection was made too in the earlier part of the
year when these would be about.
541. Sturnia erythkopygia, Blyth. Gates, I, p. 529j "Str. Feath." II,
p. 248.
This species was described by Blyth in 1846 ; in 1873 Mr. Hume's party
obtained a specimen, now in the British Museum, on Car Nicobar island.
Mr. Gates says that no other specimen has been procured by any naturalist
since.
The fact is that this extremely little-known Myna is peculiar to the one
island of Car Nicobar, which lies by itself to the north of the other groups,
and on this island it is quite a common bird. I brought away 27
skins, some very good and some indifferent specimens. In action, habits,
notes, etc., it exactly resembles the common S. andamanensis , except that it is^
from the nature of the island it inhabits, entirely arboreal, while S. andama-
nensis feeds as much on the ground as Acridotheres tristis. There is not a
yard of open grass on Car Nicobar, except the savannahs covered with rank
grass three feet in height, so that a Myna cannot possibly find the smallest
piece of turf to walk on. The Nicobar Myna feeds almost entirely on berries
and fruits, though I once or twice saw it capture an insect on the wing.
During the day these Mynas disperse in pairs and small parties to feed, col-
lecting in large flocks in the evening to return to roost. These large flocks,
often of three or four hundred birds, invariably used to pitch on some tall
and gnarled old Casuarina trees, growing at the edge of a low cliff beneath
tvhich the surf was breaking in great sheets of white spray. Many of the
birds shot on these trees dropped into the sea and were lost.
I am inclined to think they breed chiefly at the beginning of the year,
probably from February to May. I saw a pair frequenting a hole in a
pandanus which contained an old nest, composed of pieces of grass and
cocoanut fibre. They must breed chiefly in holes in the pandanus and
Casuarina trees.
The chesnut on the plumage of this bird shows very conspicuously in
flight, and it could be distinguished from S. andamanensis, did the two occur
in the same locality, at a considerable distance.
It is rather a shy bird, and flocks after being once or twice fired at
become very wary indeed.
The following description is from my series of twenty-seven birds : —
Adult (nine males and five females), — Entire head, neck, breast and abdomen
cream-colour, with a pale yellowish tinge, moat pronounced on crown and neck,
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAE ISLANDS. 399
tliis cream-colour becoming pure white on the upper back ; middle back and
scapulars smoke-grey or brownish-grey. (In four males out of nine the
scapulars are distinctly tinged with chesnut, and have chesnut shaft stripes.)
Rump and upper tail coverts bright chesnut. Wings black, strongly glossed
with rifle green ; tail black with a green gloss, the central pair of feathers very
narrowly tipped with chesnut, the tips becoming succesaively broader on
each pair of feathers until, in the outer pair, nearly the whole of the outer
and about an inch of the inner web is chesnut. Lower abdomen from a
little above the vent and lower tail coverts deep chesnut, with which the
flanks also are more or less suffused. Wing-lining white, generally mingled
with a few black and chesnut feathers.
Four adult females out of five differ distinctly from the males in having the
chesnut of the vent shading up into the white of the abdomen, so as to tinge
the whole of it with creamy-chesnut or fawn-colour ( in one right
up to the shoulders;. None of the females have any chesnut on the
scapulars.
Soft parts. — Bill, lemon-yellow, with upper mandible behind nostril and
base of lower mandible smalt-blue ifeet, dirty lemon-yellow. Iris, opalescent
white to pale Cambridge-blue ; nis»(/e of mouth smalt-blue; in apparently a
very old bird, blackish-blue.
Young birds (eight males and five females).— Mr. Gates, says (■'Birds," J,
p. 525) : " In Sturnia the young are brown till the first autumn." I can hardly
believe that this is correct with regard to these two species. In the Anda-
mans and Nicobars, from May to March, I saw certainly two or three
thousand of S. erythropygia and tens of thousands of S. andamanensis, and in no
case did I ever see a bird with any traces of brown, although I killed one
iS. andamanensis with the gape still soft [and yellow and the old birds
feeding it.
The young of Sturnia erythropygia differ only from adults in having the
feathers of the crown with narrow brownish-grey shaft-stripes (very faint
in some) ; the upper wing coverts, secondaries, and tertiaries narrowly edged
with fulvous, except the innermost tertiary feather which is broadly edged
with grey ; and the abdomen more tinged with creamy-fawn than in adults.
Sexes alike, except that the oldest immature female (which has dropped all
rufous edgings to the feathers and only differs from an adult in retaining
the pink at the base of the bill) has the abdomen more strongly tinged with
chesnut than any male.
I am of opinion that the young leave the nest in the plumage above
described, and are never brown.
The immature bird has the iris pale grey ; bill yellow, inclined to dull
greenish above ; base of the lower mandible (blue in adults) fleshy-pink or
rosy-pink; legs and feet yellow, claws dusky yellow. Inside of mouth fleshy
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400 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XII.
pink. Both sexes are similar in size, though varying inter se ; as the bird
is ?o little known I give the naeasurements of a dozen examples: —
Mr. Blyth's type specimen is stiil in the Calcutta Museum, where I lately
examined it.
Car Nicobarese name — " halue " or " haroitch."
542. Agkopsar sturninus, Pall, Gates, I, p, 530 ; " Str. Feath,," II,
p, 249,
The Daurian Myna occurs in the Nicobars ; Mr. Davison met with a flock
of seventy or eighty together at Camorta. I did not come across it ; I do not
think it can be common in the Nicobars, to which it is only a winter
migrant,
549. AcRiDOTHERES TEiSTis, Linn. Gates, I, p, 537 ; " Str. Feath,," II,,
p. 246.
Mr. Hume writing in 1873 says that this species, introduced by
Col. Tytler, though exceedingly numerous on lloss Island, had not then
extended to the main land.
It is now one of the commonest birds at Port Blair, being very abundant
wherever there is cultivation, and roosting in hundreds in the clumps of
bamboos with which the Settlement roads are shaded. I also saw a few
frequenting the old guard house at the abandoned settlement at Camorta in
the Nicobars, where they were introduced from Port Blair,
582. MusciTREA GRISOLA, Blyth. Gates, II, p. 31; "Str, Feath,,"
II, p, 201,
Gccurs on the Andamans and Cocos. It appears to be rare ; Mr. Hume's
party only obtained four specimens, and I only saw the bird once, oddly
enough the first morning I was at Port Blair, It was hopping about in some
mangroves near the sea j I watched it closely for some minutes, but having
other specimens to skin, and naturally concluding that a bird I met with
on my first morning I should be sure to see again, I did not shoot it — ^an
unfortunate mistake, as I did not have another chance of securing an
example.
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 401
587. Anthipes sp. V (olivacbus ?), Hume. Gates, II, p. 34.
I can only make a guess at the identity of a flycatcher I met with
near Port Blair during the first week in October. It flew out of a clump
of bamboos overhanging a stream, captured an insect, and returned to its
perch. My attention being attracted by its reddish-brown tail and rump,
I crept close up to it and had a good view of it sitting not more than
ten feet ofP. In colour it was brown above, the rump and tail conspicuously
reddish when it was on the wing ; below pale buff or whitish. In size
it was similar to, or perhaps a trifle larger than, A. latirostris. I had only a
12 bore gun with me at the time, and, the bird being so tame, I thought
I could knock it over with a catapult I had in my pocket, and with this
rather uncertain weapon I managed to miss it. The next day I went after
it with a '410 bore gun, but though I saw the bird again it darted off
among the bamboos and dodged me somehow, nor could I find it a third
time. Looking through the flycatchers in Mr, Oates's work it struck me
this might have been the above species, which he says occurs in Tenasserim,
Java and Borneo. At any rate one species of flycatcher must be added to
those already known to occur ia the group.
588. ALSEONAX LATIROSTRIS, Raffl. Oates, II, p. 35i "Str. Feath.," II, p. 219.
A fairly common winter migrant to the Andamans.
600. Terpsiphone nicobarica, Oates. Oates, II, p. 48 ;" Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 216.
This form of Paradise Flycatcher occurs in both groups. Davison says
it is " exceedingly rare at both the Andamans and Nicobars." At the
Andamans it is certainly rare — I only saw it twice in eight months— but
. on the Nicobars young birds seemed to me fairly numerous. I did not see
a single specimen in the white plumage of the adult male.
601. Hypothymis AZUREA, Bodd. Oates, 11, p. 49; "Str. Feath.," II, p. 217.
The Azure Flycatcher is exceedingly common on the Nicobars, but in the
Andamans is replaced by the next species. Mr. Oates says he has not seen
a nestling ; noting this, I tried to get one on Car Nicobar during my stay
there, where the bird was very plentiful. I failed to get a very young bird,
but from the number of birds in female plumage, I suspect the nestling
much resembles the adult female.
Mr. Oates is quite correct in considering that the alleged difference
between //. azurea and H. ceyloneusis does not hold good. I have seen
and shot numbers of the Ceylon bird, and in adult males the black-throat
bar is, I think, always present.
Car Nicobarese name — "Kalong tesa. "
602. Hypothymis tytleri, Beavan. Oates, II, p. 50; "Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 217.
This species — or race ? — replaces H. azurea in the Andamans, where, how-
ever, it is much scarcer than tbat bird is in the Nicobars, Mr, Hume got
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402 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
forty-two specimens : it would take a long time to get as big a series near
Port Blair. I don't think I saw half as many all told, I only shot three, and only
preserved one, so am rather chary of making any remarks on the bird. All
three of mine, however, had some white on the lower surface. Mr, Hume says:
"The typical adult //, tytleri has not a particle of whiteabout the abdomen,
vent, and lower tail coverts"; and Mr. Gates in his key to the species says :
" Abdomen, vent and under tail coverts white:=//. azurea ; abdomen, vent
and under tail coverts blue=://. tytleri.'' Mr. Hume says, however, that a
Teressa bird (//. azurea) could not be separated as regards coloration from one
of the least typical H. tytleri. Mr. Gates says : " Such birds are not often met
with, and do not, in my opinion, affect the question," It seems to me that
adult males of //. tytleri with some white on the lower parts cannot be uncom-
mon, and I cannot see why these do not affect the question.
My three birds were :
(1) $ adult (breeding), — Lower abdomen and vent white, under tail
coverts greyish-blue.
(2) $ adult (breeding — nest taken). — Centre of abdomen white, vent
and lower tail coverts dull whitish-blue.
(3) $ — apparently adult. Similar to last.
Certainly none of these had anything like the amount of white on the
lower surface that a typical //. azurea has, but a beginner in ornithology —
myself, for instance — would have been puzzled, not knowing the locality
from which the birds came, to identify No. 1 by Mr. Gates' key,
A nest and three eggs I took were exactly similar to those of //, azurea.
610. Pkatincola MAURA, Pall. Gates, II, p. Gl ; " Str, Feath,, " II,
p. 233.
Gnly a rare winter visitant to the Andamans.
647, Cyanecula suecica, Linn, Gates, II, p. 99; "Str, Feath.," II,
p. 234.
A scarce winter visitant to the Andamans, Mr, Gates considers it
probably also reaches the Nicobars,
663, CoPSYCHUS SAULARis, Linn. Gates, II, p. 116; "Str, Feath,," II,
p. 230.
An extremely common bird near the Settlement in the Andamans, probably
absent from the wilder parts of the islands, and not extending to the
Nicobars.
I found numerous nests in the early part of the year.
G65. CiT'iociNCLA ALBivENTRis, Blyth. Gates, II, p. 120; "Str. Feath.,"
p. 232.
This Shama is common throughout the dense jungle of the Andamans ;
its habits are much the same as those of C. macrura, excepting that
it keeps lower down in .the dense cover it frequents ; even when einging it
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THE BIRDS OF TEE A NDA MAN A ND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 403
seldom perches more than five or six feet from the ground. It is a shy
bird, and, in thick jungle, very difficult to shoot, flitting off at the least
crack of a stick.
It is very lively at dusk, and is late in going to roost, after which it con-
stantly utters a long-drawn note like " chee-ee" from the bush in which it
has taken up its quarters for the night before finally settling down to sleep.
I never heard it utter this note in the day.
Mr. Hume says this bird " Has no voice, no ear, and not the faintest
conception of singing." This seems to me a most undeserved libel on our
little Andaman Shama ; it certainly has a large and varied repertoire of
harsh notes and most unmusical cat-calls, but it can and does sing well, its
song being very like that of the Indian bird, though never so sustained and
not so varied. It sings mostly during the first half of the 3 ear — the breed-
ing season. I found a nest in June, from which the young bad apparently
just flown ; it was in a crevice in a rotten stump in thick jungle, composed
of grass and dead bamboo leaves, and very like a nest of Copsyckus saularis.
I have known one of these Shamas enter a house : but this was quite unusual,
it being strictly a forest bird and seldom venturing into the open.
(To he continued.)
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404
FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS.
Part II.
The Mullet and Gaefish.
By Fred. O. Gadsden, R. I. M.
In a former article (p. 194 ante) I have spoken of the bahmin or Indian
salmon as standing pre-eminently forward as the sporting fish that we get out
here ; but it is not to be inferred from this that we really have no other.
As the bahmin has been compared, and in my opinion justly so, to the salmon,
so the fishes mentioned above may be likened in many ways to a fish which
has always been a great favourite with all who follow the gentle art, viz.,
the grayling. This may appear a very far-fetched idea, but any one who
knows them both will, I am sure, agree with me in this matter.
The Mullet {^Mugil ceur. Murjll cceruleus macuJatus). — In appearance he is
not really unlike the grayling — in fact, he is as like as it is possible for two
fish of absolutely difEerent species and inhabiting different waters to be.
In their niggling, fiddling way of feeding they greatly resemble each other,
and when once hooked, in their manner of playing or, perhaps, one should say
of fighting for their lives, there is a strong resemblance.
I cannot quite remember now where I once saw the remark that if the
trout was a gentleman and lord of the stream, the grayling was as certainly a
lady and queen of fresh-waters ; but no one can fish often for mullet and
catch them, without feeling, involuntarily, what a really nice lady-like, well-
behaved fish he is, and any one acquainted with dear old Izaak Walton must
recall to mind what he says about this fish : '* And therefore, I pray you,
barken what Du Bartas says of the mullet : —
" But for chaste love the mullet hath no peer ;
For if the fisher hath surprised her pheer,
As mad with wo to shore she (oUoweth,
Prest to consort him both in life and death."
Such const incy as this is more often an attribute of the female than of the
male, I fear.
I do not know that we have any really fresh-water mullet in English
waters, though there are several fresh-water species out here ; so I presume
that our old friend was referring to the sea mullet. And I have often
noticed myself, when a fish has been hooked, and is being slowly drawn in,
that it is very often accompanied by its companions, and not seldom you may
catch nearly the whole school before those that are left will leave. I know
this, that I have never caught mullet without having forcibly brought back
to me the memory of many, many happy days spent on the banks of the Wye,
the Lugg, and the Munnow after grayling j and often during the heat of a
really hot Aden day for instance (mullet bite best in the midday without a
breath of wind), have I thought of the pleasant days spent at home when
the country was looking simply gorgeous with the meridian splendour of its
autumnal hues, and when to loaf along the river banks, to drink in the fresh
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS, 405
and creamy air, to enjoy the scenery, listen to the song of the birds, to expe-
rience the life blood racing through your veins — in short, to feel young and
fit, and strong, was to live indeed. Such feelings come back upon me very
often when growing old out here in exile, and one yearns for the time that
has gone, for the days that will not return.
But to return to our friends the mullet, I know that at home he is consi-
dered difficult to catch, and is always looked upon as a very shy and a very
wary fish. That very wariness seems to be a part and parcel of his very
nature, for even out here, where he is not often troubled by the flash of the
green heart wand, he is still almost, if not quite, the most difficult fish to get
on even terms with, I have every reason to suppose that he enjoys a variety
in his diet, and yet after many years I have come to the conclusion that
there is but one bait which is worth trying, and to which he will generally
succumb -a very simple bait, and one easily obtained and 5\s easily applied,
viz., the light-brown crust of a loaf of bread.
There are, I believe, some six-and-twenty species of Mugilklce in Indian
water?, but many of these are fresh water species, and some are naturally
pigmies, and never attain very considerable size ; but in some places, and
notably in Aden and in the Andaman Islands, there are some really fine,
portly, aldermanicapecimens of the species noted above, and, granted you
can drop across them, they are well worth the trouble of catching. In Aden
the mullet is fairly common and grows up to a length of about 3 ft., and
weighs anything from lib. to 51bs. and even 71bs. and 81bs.; I have never been
able to get one over S^^lbs. though. In Port Blair several species are repre-
sented, but there is one that is especially handsome. This fish, when first
caught, has a lovely blue sheen on the back and shoulders, and though never
so large as the Aden lot, running up to about 15ins. in length, is a particularly
delicate fish for the table. The models operandi of catching them is de-
lightfully simple. Send some one down to the pier or rocks, and if they see
the fish about, well and good. If not, then you must try and induce them to
show up. To do so, get your loaf of bread, and having bored a hole through
it, make fast a good long line to it (linen thread is the best), and heave it out
as far as possible— 30 yds. or 40 yds. or further if you can — and then wait
a while. With any luck, in a short time yoa will see the loaf agitated and
you will hear a sort of " suck suck " noise. Your friends are there, and they
are quietly and quickly chewing away at the undercrust.
Now comes in the delicacy of the operation, for you have to try
and induce them to come within your reach, without frightening or dis-
turbing them. Little by little — in fact, inch by inch— you gather in your
thread and you will find, if you are not in too great a hurry, that you will
eventually get them to within an easy casting distance of where you are.
You will, of course, be ready, rigged up with a very long and a light trace
made of the finest gut, certainly not less than 4 yds. long, armed with a small
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406 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
crystal hook, baited with a piece of this self-same light brown crust, and sup-
ported by very small pieces of cork fastened at intervals up the trace to
prevent it sinking. When you find them well within your reach, cast lightly
and carefully close to the loaf and then ten to one if you have made a good
clean cast, you will get your reward. The mullet, as I have remarked, is a
" niggly'' feeder, and many times you will see your bait apparently in his
mouth, and yet when you come to taughten up he will quietly let go and you
will find that all this time he has simply been " pulling your leg.'' But there
comes a time when you have the " bulge" on your side. He may, perhaj'S,
have closed his lips a little harder than usual upon the crumb, and the hook
has responded to your gentle twitch, the barb has gone home, and you find
yourself making the acquaintance of your finny friend.
I have not specifically mentioned, but I take it for granted that my
readers have understood that this game can only be played with the finest
lackle-rod, reel, line, cast and hook all on a par ; and when once hooked you
can easily understand how delicate must be the manipulation if you and your
friend are not to part company. For this game I nearly always use a light
single-handed trout rod, made for me by F. M. Walbran of Leeds of the
pattern known as the " Bickerdyke." It has a long and a short butt, and is a
beautifully handy little rod and just the very thing. Keel to suit the rod.
Line, an 11 sized American dressed taper line, GO yds. Trace of ordinary fine
gut, and the hook — well, generally a round bend, size from 16-20 Milward's
scale, tinned, No, 13G1, are what I like best. This may not sound very exciting,
but it is surprising what vicissitudes can be experiei ced even in fishing for
mullet, and how very absorbed one can become, and alack and alas ! how very
often one manages to Irse one's fish. A good large landing net is distinctly a
nne qua non, and the larger the better, and as this sort of fishing is generally
carried on from a pier or landing stage, your net should have a good long
handle so that you may e>perience to the full the benefit of not having to
bring the fish too close to the pillars or supports. Pier supports seem to
exercise an irresistible attraction for a hooked fish, they rush to them as a
needle to a magnet, and when once there it is generally a case of '' Good-bye
dear, see you again soon," as your line comes home, clean cut by the minute
shells and rough sea growth which is invariably found in these situations.
Unlike the bahmin, which loves the rushing, tumbling, broken water,
mullet affect the still and quieter waters and are more often found in quiet
bays near rocks, and also in docks and wet basins among the shipping. The
best places I know are Aden, and Port Blair in the Andamans, Perim
Harbour, nearly all the bays and inlets about Bombay Harbour, while Suez
Roads and the Suez Canal are simply full of them. Favourite spots in Aden
Harbour are off the Post Office Pier and the Gunner's landing stage. There
used to be two officers stationed in Aden who were adepts at this class of
fishing, one especially so, who used always to be very successful among the
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FISBING IN INDIAN WATERS. 407
lar<^er tish, and who uow has turned his attention of later years to theliahmin,
chiefly through having gone out with rao ; and I know of one occasion when,
one day, a 5-lb. fish was caught from the verandah of the present Aden Club.
In Perim they arc to be had round the landing pier by the lighthouse. In
Bombay you will nearly always see men and boys fishing for them in the
Prince's Dock, off the Dock walls, and in the hot weather there are a good
many to be had in the wet basins inside the Government dockyard.
The Gar Fish. {Belone stronrjylurus, Eemiramphun far'). — I have no
doubt that most of your readers have seen and know what the Garfish is like
as he is not at all an unknown quantity ia English waters, but to those who
know him not I may here remark that he more resembles a pike than any
other fish with his long tapering snout and well-armed jaws. I have at the
head of this paper named two species, the one Belone, the other Ilemiram-
phus. The former is orthodox in every way, possesses a pair of jaws and has
nothing very odd about him ; but the latter dispenses altogether with an
upper mandible, and goes about this wicked world with only an underlip
sticking out, and moreover seems, like the wicked, to thrive exceedingly. It
is rather a peculiar sight and slightly disconcerting to the beginner to see the
fish sail up to the bait, and then when you expect to see him take it between
his jaws, lo and behold only a gap appears above his projecting snout and the
top of his head seems to disappear and your bait vanishes from view. It is
as if this most polite fish had taken ofl: his hut, put his dinner therein and
replaced his head gear, and before you have time to realize that he has simply
opened his mouth, he is off with a rush — and such a rusli. I always think that
garfish of both sorts, size for size, make the most brilliant play on a Ught rod
of any fish I know, the only fish to be compared with them being a well-fed
lusty English trout in full season. In their runs they dart about all over the
place, and being of a long, lithe build, their struggles are acrobatic to a degree,
and one requires to be very tender with them. I have said that tliey resem-
ble pike, but it is only in their outward and visible form. In their way of
sporting, in the habit they have of lying close behind piles, rocks, basements
of piers or lighthousen, by dock gates, or under a ship's stern — in fact any-
where where they can find shelter, and provided it is in a good tideway with a
rush of water, they much more resemble trout. Here they will lie for hours
keeping stationary with occasionally just one lazy wag of their tail, until
perchance they perceive some tit-bit passing, and then, with a movement like a
lightning flush, they are out and have seized their prey and are back again
waiting and watching for more. Ever on the alert, eyes lifting all around
for what they can seize, they remind one involuntarily of the enemy of
mankind who is said " to go about seeking whom he may devour."
. Like trout, too, they feed on the top as well as in mid water, and very often
when nothing else will tempt them, an ordinary large sized English trout fly
thrown deftly and quietly in front of them will tempt them to their doom.
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408 OURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUliAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
This is by far tlie prettiest sea-fishing there is to be had, and many an hour
have I spent over it. Ordinarily, however, one fishes for garfish with a small
fish for bait, varying the size of the bait to suit the size of the fish about, but
in every case it must be fine and far off. I have found that it is always best
when possible to use the fish-bait alive, just keeping it on to the hook, either
by passing the hook through its lip, or better still, just under the skin behind
the dorsal fin, and then simply letting it roam. In hot weather it is very
difficult to keep the fry alive, and if used dead, they should be spun. Under
these circumstances a small spinner of sorts is most useful. I personally
like the Chapman best, and I use the smallest size I can get, and have had
many and many a run and lost many and many a fish.
However much garfish like the fry, there is one thing that they like much
better, and I know of no bait that comes up to it for downright dea'iliness.
It is the common cockroach — not the insect that runs about the kitchen at
home which is more of the nature of the black beetle, but the luscious full-
powered odoriferous "janwa"that is always to be found roaming about
ships that have been in the Eastern trade and which are so common and, I
think, peculiar to Oriental and tropical countries. Every one who has ever
sailed out here knows them well. They possess a peculiarly strong pungent
and disagreeable smell and. are perfectly fiendish in their capacity for des-
troying one's boots, books, clothes, &c., and their activity is such that it takes
a smart boy indeed to kill one even in the open, while in a ship's cabin full of
nooks and crannies, he seems to carry out his own wicked will and go his
own aggravating way with absolute impunity. You may catch him in
flagrante delicto and carefully raise your slipper and determine in your own
mind that in one second more his blood shall stain the heather — or your best
counterpane — and crash, bang down comes the slipper, as yon think, on his
devoted head; but nothing of the sort j he has executed most neatly a strategic
movement towards his own particular corner, and the cnly thing you will see
will be his long antennai waving as he disappears down some chink probably
between the boards of your bunk, only to appear shortly in some other place,
from which he will watch his chanee as soon as he feels assured that the
coast is clear, to be up to his trices again. With such a brute to deal with, it
can easily be imagined that it is almost as difficult to catch your bait as it is
to catch your lish, and truly so have I found it. While on the subject of the
cockroach I may tell you that the only satisfactory way I know of catching
them is to get a few open gallipots or large-mouthed pickle bottles and put a
small quantity of a mixture of beer and sugar in the bottom and place these
in the cupboards and store rooms which they frequent. If you are in a ship
blessed with cockroaches you will scon get as many as you may want. It is
almost incredible how many can be caught in this way even in a ship where,
as a general rule, they are not much in evidence, and when, if you were asked
if there were any, you would probably indignantly deny their existence.
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 409
Now taking for granted that all these obstacles have been overcome there is
still one last and great difficulty. This is the absolute and invincible repug-
nance that ninety-nine men out of every hundred have to touch the creature at
all. Cold-blooded and case-hardened as T am and have become by years of
worming, daping, &c., with all sorts of baits alive and dead, it was a long time
before I could make up my mind to seize the creature and hold him sufficiently
tight to put him upon a hook. But it had to Ve done, and eventually I got
over that difficulty ; but even to this day there are many unpleasant thincrs I
would much rather do. The stench he leaves behind on one's fingers hangs
about them for days in spite of even "Sunlight Soap," but once on, the effect is
simply magical. If the fish are anywhere about you have only to dape in their
neighbourhood. They appear simply rampant, and you can see them darting
forward for this particularly tasty morsel, nothing will keep them off it. I
remember one afternoon, with the ship anchored in the outer harbour at Port
Mahe, Seychelles, when a shoal of Hemiram2)hus came round under the stern.
Several of the fellows on board were trying to coax them but to no effect. I
had been rather busy all day and could not spare the time, but later on in the
afternoon having secured a bottle full of really lively, high and evil-smolling
cockroaches, I got into a small boat under the ship's stern and began operations
Nearly every cockroach accounted for a fish, and in about one and-a-half hours
I had landed into the small boat some twenty-seven of these fish — and a very
fine and even lot they were, from about 1 J to Iflbs. apiece. Of course there
was a general cry for cockroaches, but very few could be obtained off-hand
and even when they had been procured, few were thf re among the ano-lers who
cared to handle the loathsome beast. I know no better place for Hemiramphus
than the Seychelles and Andaman Islands. In Aden the Belone appear laro-ely
to predominate. For this a light single-handed rod only is required. Here
again I use my " Bickerdyke" with ordinary fine trout tackle, and best of all
for cockroach baiting is a very fine 3 hook " Stewart" tackle. Upper hook in-
serted in the thorax, middle in abdomen, leaving the lower hook loose hangino-
just clear and below the bait. No fish, as I have said, can resist this bait and
few escape the Stewart tackle.
The one drawback to mullet and garfish fishing, as I have described it is
that the best of it is to be had during the hottest and stUlest hours of the day
and a breathless day with a burning sun usually produces the best result from
the fisherman's point of view. You ought to be careful in going out that you
are properly protected from the sun. It does not add to one's enjoyment to
feel a splitting headache coming on, or to feel one's neck, lips and nose smarting
under the effects of sunstroke. If it were not for this, or if perchance it could
be carried out in cool places and breezy weather instead of off the burnino-
rocks or from an open boat, then indeed would it be the dolce far niente of
sea fishing.
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410
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No. I.— A MARK ON THE SKIN OF A MAN-EATING TIGER.
In 1894 a tigress with a three-quarter grown male cub was the scourge of
the valleys at the foot of the western slope of the Amboli Gh/it in the Sawant-
vadi State. The tigress killed and mauled many men and women, but, instead
of eating, used to toss them over to the cub, who always preferred human
to animal flesh. I went out several times after the pair, and though my
anxiety was naturally to bag the tigress, that of the villagers was that I should
kill the cub, for, they said, the mottier will not attack human beings if there
is no one to eat them. The villagers declared that the cub was born
with the propensity for man-eating, and assured me that when it was killed,
I should find the " man-enting mark" upon it. I asked what this might be,
and was told a distinct cross on one side of the body, generally the left side.
I laughed at this iden, but found that it obtained universal credence.
On the 1st January, 1895, I shot the cub, and as the beaters came up, the
headmea Slid to me, " Now, Saheb, we shall see if the inen-eater's mark is
there or not." The cub was lying on his left side, where he had fallen to
one bullet. We turned him over, and, sure enough, there was the mark. I
send you herewith a photograph in which it is distinctly visible. It will be
interesting to know if any of your readers have had experience of similar
marking, or a similar belief ; the villagers could not have saen the mark, yet
six weeks before I killed the beast they told me I should find it. Is it possible
that the superstition is confined to the jungle country bordering upon Roman
Catholic Goa ? The villagers were Hindus and not Christians.
1 shot the tigress afterwards, but that is another story,
W, B. FERRIS, LiEUT,-C0L.
Sadea, lOth October, 1898.
No. II.— A BUSH QUAIL AND RAIN QUAIL LAYING IN THE
SAME NEST.
On the 12th August I found a quail's nest containing twelve eggs. Six were
white and oval and six were pointed and yellowish-brown, evidently a Jungle
Bush Quail {PercUcula asiaiica) and a Rain Quail {Coturnix coromandelica),
laying in the same nest. I have since then visited the nest and have on
three occasions seen the bush quail leave it. The nest was fairly well made
of grass, under a dried-up piece of indigo about a foot in height. There
were often a pair of rain quail near the nest, that is to say, about twenty or
thirty yards away ; but I never saw any at the nest itself. This fact of two
different species of quail lajing in the same nest must be unusual.
B. C. HARINOTON, Lieut., R.A.,
Hyderabad Contingent,
BoLARUM, Deccan, September, 1898,
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 411
No. III.— NOTES ON 26 SPECIMENS OF THE POHUR, OR
HIMALAYAN VIPER (ANCISTRODON HIMALAYAN US).
During my two months leave in Cashmere (Jukc and Julyj, I had the good
fortune to obtain thirty-nine specimens of the Ancistrodon himalayanus
all captured in the Lidda Valley around Pahlgam at an altitude of
7,500 ft.
This snake is exceedingly common here, where it is called by the Cash-
merees "pohur, '' and is report-
ed by them to be very fatal, not
that native evidence in this
direction is of much value.
The poison fang is well deve-
loped, and enjoys a good range
of movement, about 90 degrees,
but the poison gland is very
small.
Most of the specimens were broug-ht to me by natives, thirteen in such a
state of mutilation that I took no notes upon them. A few were, however,
found and captured unhurt by me. The
following characteristics I was able to
glean of their habits, &c : —
Like many of the snates in tem-
perate climates, they enjoy bas'-ing in
the general warmth of the sun, lying
out on the grassy slopes or in the sunny patches of the chequered sylvan
shade. When disturbed, they move cautiously, and not over-quicbly, to the
nearest cover, long grass, a bush, or beneath holes or rocky recesses.
In the evening they retire to these haunts, and apparently do not inhabit
holes in the earth in these situations.
Their movements in locomotion and when on the defensive are compara-
tively sluggish, and they avoid, rather than strike at, a stick or
other menacing agent until repeated molestation. One peculiar characteristic
which fascinated me considerably, and which I observed in all my living
specimens, and which I pointed out to several of my friends camping around,
is the way that this species, whan molested, coil themselves ready for defence
and vibrate their tails vigorously. This is very interesting when one considers
that this species belongs to the rattle-snake subfamily, not that this behaviour
would appear limited to the " CrotoZiwce, " for I have noted tLis in at least
one specimen of Tropidonotus stolatus, and others have recorded similar
instances occasionally regarding species outside this subfamily.
Many of my specimens were pregnant females, and I found usually five to
seven eggs in various stages of maturity. The more highly developed showed
on their dorsal aspects a transparent window (part of the egg envelope) cover-
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412 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
ing an oval chamber with clear fluid contents, in which was suspended an
embryo, coiled upon itself in a spiral manner, each spiral consisting of some
three to four coils. The aqueous chamber was itself embedded in the homo-
geneous yolk-contents of the egg, which material decreased in amount as the
aqueous chamber increased in size to accommodate the growing embryo within.
These immature embryos measured about 2 to 2^ inches unravelled. The
A ncistrodon himalayanus (in that locality) appears to subsist exclusively on
the Bifosoma himalayanus. I found as many as three adult specimens in the
intestine of one specimen, but I never found any other creatures digested,
either reptile, insect or worm.
Description, — Length of longest specimen 2 ft. 1^ ins, ; tail li ins.
Scales.— Anterior corporeal (one to two inches behind head) — 21, all strongly
keeled except last row, where keels are distinct, faint or absent ; present, 14 ;
absent, 12,
Mid corporeal — 21, all strongly keeled except last row, where keels are dis-
tinct faint, or absent ; present, 17; absent, 9.
Post corporeal (one to two inches before vent) — 17, all keeled, last row
keels present, 25 ; absent, 1.
Ventral — (149 — 164) evenly rounded on to flanks.
Anal — Single.
Suhcaudals — (34 — -52) double.
Rostral — Broad as high,
Internasals — 2,, obliquely placed, diverging backwards.
Prefrontals — 2, larger than internasals.
Frontal and supraoculars. — Subequal, latter not divided,
Parietals — 2, larger than frontal.
Nasals — Variable. Usually semi-divided, a suture running from nostril to
first labial.
(o) A more or less developed furrow, )tot a svture running upward to
internasals. Thus in (16).
(6) Less commonly quite divided (6), In three specimens divided
completely on one side and incompletely on opposite. In one
specimen semi-divided on one side and undivided wholly on
opposite.
Nogtril — Almost entirely situated in the anterior and larger half of the
semi-divided or divided nasals ; equidistant from internasals above and first
labial below.
Loreal pit — Placed between 3 scales —
(a) one anterior large and concave, wedged between a supraloreal and
1st or 1st and 2nd labial ;
(h) one superior, fillet-like, and forming the 2nd preocular scale ; and
(c) one inferior and fillet-like, forming the 3rd or lowermost preocular
scale (though it does not actually reach the eye). The two latter
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 413
converge to meet at an angle in front of the eye, hence the loreal
pit is triangular with its apex backwards. (This is the invariable
arrangement.)
Suprahreal — Placed between 1st or superior preocular and the nasals.
Preoculars — 3. ist, superior largest ; 2nd and 3rd, fillet-like, converging
towards eye ; 3rd, not actually in contact with eye.
Postoculars — Usually 2, occasionally 3, the inferior passing well beneath
the eye, separating the 3rd or 4th labials from the orbital ring.
Temporals — 2 and 2, or 2 and 3. The anterior inferior, one very large and
labial-like. Not keeled.
Labials — 'Usually 7, 3rd entering the eye.
{a) 2nd, smallest ; 3rd and 4th, large ; 5th, very small ; 6th, largest. (17
specimens.) Less frequently 6, 2nd entering the eye.
(h) 4th, small ; 5th, largest. (5 specimens.) In 2 specimens (a) arrange-
ment on one side, (6) arrangement on the opposite. In 1 specimen
8, 3rd entering the eye on one side.
In 1 specimen this last arrangement only on one side ; (a) arrangement
on the opposite.
Eije — Moderate, lateral inclined slightly forwards.
Iris — Black, dusted with golden specks.
Pupil — Vertical.
Ante'ior chin shields — In contact with 3 or 4 lower labials.
Post chin shields — Absent.
3 to 7 gular rows separate ; anterior chin shields from 1st ventral.
Tail — Suddenly and rapidly tapers after vent. Last caudal scale long
equals about 3 of last subcaudals.
Very frequently a small scale is wedged into one or more of the angles
between the head scales.
Coloration — Dorsum — Variable shades of olive-brown form the ground-
colour, upon which is arranged a Very handsome and irregular series of
markings picked out with deep sepia, and with centres of the ground-colour,
so as to give an effect very similar to a carpet pattern, and so arranging
themselves in the middle of the back as to have a more or less well-defined
zigzag line of the ground-colour centrally.
The flanks are beautifully mottled with pale sepia-grey, deep sepia, and
olive-brown, with enamel-white dapplings at the side of the neck.
Head a darker shade of the ground-colour, with dark markings on the pre-
frontals, f rontals, supraorbitals, and parietals. A dark streak from the eye
to the gape picked out boldly with enamel-white.
Lips, chin and throat whitish or pale pink, usually the fourth and fifth
lower labial sutures are pigmented. In dark specimens all the sutures ar^
pigmented, and in light specimens none ^re sometimes,
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414 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
The underparts consist of a very fine mottling of red, dirty white, and
sepia-brown, like a mixture of pepper, salt, and red pepper, on a dull plum-
beous ground-colour.
It is worth while remarking the semi-divided condition of the nasals, and
the fact that one labial invariably enters the eye, usually the third, sometimes
the second, also the absence of post chin shields. Boulanger's work does not
mention these characteristics.
F. WALL, Ca.pt., I.M.S.
Malakand, ZOth October, 1898.
No. IV.— OCCURRENCE OP THE ALPINE SWIFT {CYPSELUS
MELBA) IN THE DARBHANGA DISTRICT, TIRHOOT.
On the 9th and 10th of last month I saw four or five of the above species
flyino; near my indigo vats. They were quite close to me, and I could plainly
see that there was no white on the rump, and that the underparts were white.
Unfortunately, I had run out of ammunition, and so was unable to secure
specimens. I am, however, certain that I identified them correctly.
C. M, INGLIS.
Darbhanga, August, 1898.
No. v.— BREEDING OF THE WHISKERED TERN (HYDROCHELI-
DON HYBRIDA) IN THE DARBHANGA DISTRICT,
TIRHOOT.
I found numbers of these birds breeding here in one tank on the 2nd of
this month. My attention was first drawn to them by the birds flying down
at me, some of them nearly striking my hat. I sent in my syce, and he got
several eggs, an* found a number of nests in which there werenofggs.
Although there were two other tanks only a few yards away, no birds seemed
to b- breeding in them. The:nests were made of young paddy shoots with a
lining of dry straw. In one nest there was a sz^g-Ze very highly incubated
egg.
C. M. INGLIS.
Dabbhanga, August, 1898.
No. VI.— NOTE ON THE ORANGE-HEADED GROUND THRUSH
{GEOCICELA CITRINA, LATH.).
This mornins; I shot a male of the above species, and, on examining it,
noticed several long hairs springing from the nape, in much the same way as
they do in the white-throated Bulbul (Crimger faveolus). Also the feathers on
the cheeks and sides of the chin have lengthened shafts of a black colour. I
can find no mention of either of the above facts in Oates' Vol. II of the " Fauna
of British India " series. Under Family Turclidce he mentions that in some
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 415
genera the shafts of the forehead are somewhat elongated, but there is no
mention of the long hairs from the nape, nor of the lengthened shafts of the
cheeks and chin. Is this a characteristic of the whole genus Geocichla or
only of the above species ?
C. M. INGLIS.
N'arhar, Madhup.ani, 28th November, 1898.
No. VII.— BIRDS TAPPING AT WINDOW-PANES.
The European species of Yellow Wagtails are well known to have the
habit of tapping at window-panes. Our common Ceylonese wagtail {^Buty-
des viridis) has the same habit strongly developed, and is often a great
nuisance by its incessant tapping at the bungalow windows. Another bird
has just now commenced the same trick. The window-tapper in this case
is the common Indian Tailor-bird {Orthotomus fiutorius). This (presum-
ably) same individual has been persistently attacking the windows on one
side of my bungalow for the last two or three months. It perches on
the sill, apparently takes aim, and then gives a rapid series of prods against
the pane, varying the performance occasionally by fluttering and scrabbling
against the glass,
I caught one of the wagtails in a butterfly net, as it was going through
this performance. I found the end of its beak quite blunted and worn down
by long continued indulgence in this extraordinary habit.
Has any really satisfactory explanation been brought forward ? I have
heard it suggested that the birds are pecking at flies; but there have been
no flies on the windows in the cases that I have observed. They certainly
do not want to get into the room, as, when that particular window is opened
to admit the tapper, it only flies off and attacks another window. Another
suggestion is, that the bird is attacking its own reflection under the impres-
sion that it is a rival. Its attitude and action is certainly more in accord-
ance with this idea. But when once commenced, it seems to become
a craze, impelling the bird to return to the attack agnin and again. The
wagtail that is at present on duty at my bungalow always goes through
the same tactics. It parades along the guttering for a short time then
laimches itself downwards against the bottom pane of the glass, getting in
three or four rapid pecks before it gravitates to the sill. Then it returns to
its promenade on the gutter, and repeats the motion until it has exhausted
the patience of the occupants and been driven away. From its position
on the gutter it can scarcely, if at all, see its reflection in the glass.
It would be interesting to know if any other birds indulge in this habit
— or madness,
E. ERNEST GREEN.
Pdndalnoya, Ceylon, August, 1898,
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416 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
No. YIII.-EAKLY MIGRATION OF THE RUDDY
SHELDRAKE.
It may interest you to know that, on the loth July this year, two Ruddy
Sheldrakes {Casarca rutila) settled down on the piece of artificial water we
have in the Zoological Gardens here. We have four or live of these birds in
our collection, and the wanderers made themselves quite at home for the
space of twenty-four hours ; thev disappeared again during the night. The
fact of these two birds passing over us so early in the year seems worthy of
notice.
T. L. F. BEAUMONT.
Karachi, August, 1898.
No. IX.— BOMBAY RATS.
To kill rats is the duty of every good citizen of a great city like Bombay,
and the probability of a recrudescence of the plague this cold season makes
the duty more imperative. I am writing in the hope of inducing members of
this Society to turn their attention ti the rats killed in their houses. We are
apt to regard all rats as simply rats, belonging to the genus pest, and lying
almost outside the domain of natural history; but there is a great deal to be
cleared up yet about the rats of Bombay, and the publication of " The Fauna
of British India" seems to me only to h iVe added to the perplexity with
which the subject was invested before. During the last two months I have
caught eighteen rats in my bung^dow at Uran. Seventeen of these belonged
to the form which I have known for years as the common house rat of the
Bombay Presidency. They differed in no respect from each other except a
little in size, for some were young and some old. The colour was brown,
made up of tawny and grey, with a sprinkling of black hairs, princi-
pally along the line of the back. The under-parts were scarcely lighter
than the upper, but were more purely gray. Till a few years ago the
thought had never risen in my mind that this was anything else than
Mus decumnnus, the too-well-known Brown Rat of Europe. But when I
met Mr. Oldfield Thomas at the British Museum, he assured me that it was
nothing of the sort, but only one of the many forms of Mus rattus, the Black
Rat of Europe. When I asked him the difference between them, he said that
the essential difference was in the shape of the skuJl, but that the Brown Rat
might easily be distinguished by its coarser hair and shorter tail. In the
" Fauna of British India, '' Mr. Blanford has followed Mr. Thomas. He says
that the so-called Black Rat varies very much in size and colour, and he
describes three of the principal varieties or races of it ; but one mark by
which, according to him, the true Brown Rat that may be distinguished from
them all is, that its tail is never so long as the liead and body. By this mark
seventeen were undoubtedly Black Rats, though not black. One specimen^
7 inches long, had a tail 8^" ; another, 6 inches long, had 9, tail 7", and
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 4i7
so on. Their fur also was too fine for Mus decumanus. My eighteenth
rat was quite a different creature. On the upper parts its colour was
a richer and more reddish-brown, while all the under-parts were pure white,
and the feet were pink. But there were other differences also, besides those
of colour. Its face was much rounder, its snout not so long, and its eyes
very large and beautiful. In fact, it looked quite a different animal. This
form has also been familiar to one for many years as a species of jungle,
or tree, rat, only coming into houses occasionally ; but while we had only
Jerdon's and Sterndale's books to go by, it was impossible to identify it
with certainty. I put it down as probably JIus brunnens. The ''Fauna of
British India" lias swept away all doubt. It is another form of Mus rattus,
the Black Rat. In fact, it would seem that Mus rattus may be regarded as
a semi-domesticated animal, like the pariah dog, in the case of which
colour and size count for nothing. But, in this view there is still a
difficulty to be explained. Why did I get seventeen of one form and one of
the other, instead of three or four of each and half-a-dozen inter-
mediate ? And this argument does not rest on these eighteen speci-
mens, for, as I have said, both forms have been familiar to me for
many years, and are as distinct in my mind as the two species of crowa.
If they refuse to intermix, and so keep up their distinctness, and yet
are the same species, then what constitutes a species V It is rather
significant that in the same museum where Mr, Thomas is classing
rats by the measurements of the skull, and treating colour and out-
ward appearance as of no account, the pillars of the entomological
department are splitting our most familiar butterflies into a multipli-
city of species distinguished by the brightness of a spot, or the
breadth of a "fascia," However, it was not to dispute Mr, Thomas'
conclusions that I took up my pen ; but I think that, in view
of them, it would be interesting to collect more information than we
yet possess about the dift'erent varieties which make up the rat population
of Bombay, and the numerical importance of each variety. It would be
particularly interesting to know to what extent the real Brown Eat {M. decu-
manus') has settled among us and dispossessed the other. This question
has a practical bearing in connecticn with the plague, for the Brown Eat
I believe, like the Bandicoot, lives mostly on the ground, and is very much
at home in sewers, though it can climb well when it hkes, which the
Bandicoot cannot do ; while the Black Eat is by nature an inhabitant
of trees, and, when it comes into a house, always lives in the
roof.
1 may mention that all my eighteen rats were males. This throws a sad
light on the social life of the rat. The significance of it is, I believe, that
the in other has to seek remote and secluded places to bring up her family
lest their own parent should find them and eat them. Eabbit fanciers know
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418 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
that the buck must be kept in a separate hutch till the young are able to
I'un about for tiie same reason. This trait appears to be characteristic of
the Rodeuha generally. Nearly all the squirrels that came about our houses
and gardens are males.
E. H. AITKEN.
Uran,29<A September, 1898.
No. X.— A WASP AND A FLY.
The following incident, bearing on the most interesting of all questions in
Natural History, namely, animal intelligence, seems worth recording. I hope
it may stimulate entomological members to collect more evidence, joro or con.
About the beginning of September a large reddish-brown wasp {Eumenes conica,
I think) having built a chatty-shaped clay cell on my bed-room door and
stocked it with caterpillars and closed it, began another. As it flew in with a
pellet of clay, I noticed that it was closely pursued by a fly not much larger
than a common house-fly, but curiously marked with longitudinal gray stripes.
When it commenced work, the fly alighted, at a distance of four or five
inches, and waited. When it finished and went off for more clay, the fly
instantly flew up to the cell, but after a moment's examination, retired again
to a distance of four or five inches and waited, facing the cell. Again the
wasp came with a pellet of clay, worked it in, and went off for more. This
time the fly did not examine the cell, but waited where it was. Just at this
point the Boy announced breakfast, and I went away, supposing the wasp
would take balf-a-day to finish the cell. What was my disgust when I
came back to find the cell finished and the fly gone. In ordinary course I
believe the cell should have been stocked with caterpillars in the course of the
next day ; but as I went to Bombay, I did not see this being done. When
I returned, however, the cell was sealed up. No morn were made at that
place which seemed strange, for they are generally built in clusters of six or
seven.
A week later I broke open the cells and found in the first a pupa, evidently,
from the size, a wasp pupa, enclosed in a loose bag of silk. In the second cell
there was nothing. The larvae of some flies develop with remarkable rapidity,
and it is conceivable that in this case the egg laid by the fly might have
produced a voracious larva, which might have cleared the larder, devoured its
richtful owner, passed through a rapid pupa stage and escaped by some hole
which escaped my notice, all in the course of ten days. But in that case there
must have been remains, pupa case, excreta, &c. There was nothing of the
kind.
It was clear that the wasp had sealed the cell without stocking it. Had it
discovered that it was being cuckolded ? The thing is not impossible. It may
have caught the fly in the cell, in the act of depositing its egg, or it may
have observed the foreign egg as it was about to lay its own ; and it may have
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 419
at once closed the cell and abandoned the place. Every one who has watched
these parasite flies knows how warily they follow their victims, keeping some
inches behind them. A curious circumstance is that another lot of five cells
was begun and finished soon after thii^, at another place in the same room.
The builder may not have been the same \vasp, but I could not distinguish
them from one another.
Another feature in this case, almost more interesting, is the behaviour of
the fly in examining the cell immediately after the wasp left it the first
time, and not doinrj so the second time. A naturalist ought not to assume
anything, but he must be a captious man who will object to the assumption
that, when the fly examined the cell the first time, it saw that it was just
begun and knew that it must take some time to finish. They never lay their
egg, I believe, until the cell is actually finished and ready to be stocked.
E. H. AITKEN.
Camp Oolwa, 1th November, 1898.
No. XI.— BULL TERRIER AND TIGER.
I believe it is well known that a tiger will retreat before a pack of dogs,
but that a single bull-terrier will put a tiger to flight, drive it from cover
when wounded, and finally attack the beast, appears to me to be an occur-
rence sufficiently rsmarkable to be worth recording, even were not the other
circumstances in connection with the encounter I am about to describe
of a most unusual nature.
On November 18th last, a gardener came to tell me, at about five o'clock
in the evening, that a panther was in the compound of an unoccupied
bungalow in this station (Jalna), where he was employed. I received his
statement with reservation, knowing that the native is prone to exaggerate.
However, I took my rifle, and accompanied by Lieut. A. R. Burton of my
regiment, together with my orderly and a few native servants, proceeded to
the spot, which was about fifty yards from my bungalow. The compound
where the animal was said to be located contained several thickest hedges,
disposed in parallel lines, and a large patch of long grass. We looked in all
likely places but could see nothing. We then went to the far side of the
patch of grass telling the men to walk through it, and drive any animal that
night be there in front of us. Then there was a rush and a roar, and in a
moment not a panther but a tiger cleared the hedge and road in front oE us,
and disappeared be'^^ind the hedge of the next compound. Here was a
hard case. AVe could not see where the tiger wa«. Beyond the com-
pound in which he had disappeared the band was playing, and the ladies
were playing tennis, whilst a party of ofiicera and men was engaged at hockey
close by. Bungalows surrounded us on three sides. A cry was raised that
a tiger was afoot, and there followed a hurrying to and fro. People rushed
in all directions, some looking for rifles, others for safety. Then one of my
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420 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
servants came np and said that my orderly had been mauled. I was
astounded. The rush and roar of the tiger had seemed to be almost
simultaneous with his disappearance over the hedge. The catastrophe
must have happened all in a moment. The man was badly wounded, and
was carried into a neighbouring bungalow. Evening was now drawing on.
The greater number of officers appeared on the scene with rifles, and were
with some difficulty assembled. We cleared the front as far as possible : a
5;uu was posted in a tree ahead, and we proceeded to walk up the tiger accom-
panied by the bull-terrier Pal. Soon Sal commenced barking at the corner of
the hedge, and shortly she put up the tiger, which gallop ped across our front
followed by the dog and a general fusillade. It was so dark that sights could
not be seen, but the tiger appeared to have been struck by at least one bullet.
We all gave chase, and the brute now squatted in a thick part of the hedge, as
was evident by the dog's barking, but we could not see it in the darkness, and
it refused to move, although we advanced to within five yards of it. Eeluc-
tantly we had to abandon the chase for the night. Next morning blood was
found, proving that the tiger was wounded, and its tracks were discovered in
a grass-filled nullah about a mile from the cantonment. Here all trace of the
animal was lost, and we failed to find it although we went through the grass
in line.
For five days nothing was heard of the tiger. On the afternoon of
November 23rd I was riding through a village some five miles from
Jalna, when I heard that a villager had been seized and wounded in a
jowari (millet) field close by. I saw the man, who was badly mauled
and died two days later. I then went to the field and found marks of
the tiger. The crops were very long and thick, and we tried in vain
to find the animal. Next day we organised a beat, and I tracked the
tiger about half a mile, when the spoor was lost owing to the nature of
the ground. A dragging hind leg showed that the animal was wounded
severely. On November 26th I pitched my camp, in company with Lieut,
Lane of my regiment, seven miles out from Jalna, near the place where
the last tracks had been found. That day I discovered tracks two days old,
showing the direction the tiger had taken. Next day I tracked some miles
farther, and after a hard day's work we came upon fresh pugs leading up
a small deep ravine, branching from a large nullah. The nullahs were in
places filled with thick bushes, but the country generally was open, and con-
tained no trees. There were with us about 8 or 10 sepoys and villagers^ and
the good dog Sal, I posted Lane and myself at two branches at the head of
the ravine, and put in the men to drive the beast towards us, three of them
armed with rifles and accompanied by Sal. About half-way up the nuliah
they came upon the tiger, which Sal drove from cover. The animal broke
about fifty yards from Lane, who got a snap shot. Whether he hit or not
cannot be known. We then ran after the tiger, and finally headed it into
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. ih
the main nallah, where it took refuge in some thick bushes. Again Sal
went in and this time went straight for the tiejer, receiving some nasty
wounds in the encounter. However the plucky beast went in again, and by
continuous barking revealed the position of the tiger. The latter was
now crouched in the bushes, which the bleeding and exhausted dog had left.
Showers of stones failed to move the tiger. It was now getting late,
the beast was a danger to the country and must be killed. The only thing
possible was to go in and look for it. A long search ensued, and we at length
discovered it crouching in the bushes, where a few shots put an end to its
existence. That the dog Sal was greatly instrumental in securing a success-
ful issue to the hunt cannot be denied, whilst it may also be conjectured
that her presence saved one or more men from a severe mauling, and she
at least deserves such immortality as this journal can confer.
The place where we eventually brought the tiger to the bag was some twelve
or thirteen miles from Jalna, a fact which shows what a long distance an
animal will travel, although severely wounded. A bullet fired when the
beast was first found in cantonments had passed through and broken
the hind leg about half way between paw and hock, whilst another bullet was
imbedded in the off fore-paw.
Perhaps the most remarkable part of the occurrence was that a tiger
should have been found in such a locality. Jalna is a remote station, before
the mutiny it was occupied by a large garrison, situated oasis-like in the midst
of a comparatively desert country. As far as I know there are no tiger-
haunted jungles within fifty or sixty miles. Whence, then, did the animal
come, and why did he leave the seclusion of his native jungles ?
E. G. BURTON, Captain,
1st Infantry, Hyderabad Contingent.
Jalna, November 22th, 1898.
No. XII.— THE NIDIFICATION OF SOME MALAYAN BIRDS.
The Dusky Broadbill {Corydon sumatranus, Raffles).
Mr. Blanford (" Birds,'' III, p. 6) says that the nest of this Broadbill does
not appear to have been recorded.
I found a nest on June 20th this year, suspended from a single hanging
shoot of thorny rattan, and hsnging some 20 feet above the steaming mud
at the edge of a boiling spring in the thick jungle.
The nest was an enormously long trailing mass (just short of 7 feet in
total length) of roots, fiU-es, creeper, moss, twigs, pieces of dead wood and
bark, dead and green leaves, etc., bulging out in the middle to form a
chamber about 10 inches external diameter, the entrance at the side pro-
tected by a small portico. It contained four very young birds, blind and
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422 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
naked, bnt easily recognized by the very broad and overhanging upper
mandible, and by the yellowish colour of the skin, the young of the black
and red Broadbill being pinkish flesh-colour at the same age.
The Duksy Broadbill is a sluggish bird of rather crepuscular habits ; the
one or two I have shot had been feeding on a very evil-smelling beetle
until they positively stank.
The hot springs which are not uncommon in the Malay Peninsula are a
great attraction to many denizens of the forest, and are excellent spots
for collecting. The hot mud round them is often cut up with the foot-
prints of sambur, crossed here and there by the deep heart-shaped track
of that grandest of living bovines, the bison — the ' Seladang ' of the Malays ;
the little brown Cuckoo Doves {M. tusalia) crowd and flutter in the sur-
rounding trees, while circling slowly round and round in the sulphurous
steam, glittering in the chequered light that filters through the foliage, flies
that prince of butterflies, the Omithoptera hrooheana. But this note was to
have been on the nest of the Broadbill — not the fauna of a hot spring.
The Cuesnut-backed FoRKrAii. {HydmcicUa ruficapilla, Temm.)
I do not remember to have seen an account of the nidificatinn of this
species. I took a nest in May this year on the Larut Hills, Perak, at
2,500 ft, elevation. The nest, very robin-like in external appearance, was
placed in a crevice in a moss-covered rock at the edge of a bridle path, and
being covered with green moss harmonized well with its surroundings.
It was coniDOsed of dead leaves, moss, and clay, the large amount of the
latter material employed, making the nest remarkably heavy. There were
two eggs measuring 1 in, X"75 in., glossy China white spotted with rufous,
principally in a zone round the larger end, with a few pale purplish-grey
markings underlying the spots.
Blyth's Frogmouth {Batrachostomus affinis, Tilyth.j
A nest in the Selangor Museum is a most beautiful little piece of bird
work, a tiny pad (measuring only \h long, 1^ in, broad, and y% in, deep at
the sides) composed entirely of the whitish-grey powder-down of the bird,
woven into a beautifully elastic felt. Not a particle of any other material
has been employed as seems to be usual with B. hoclgsoni and B. moniUgrir.
The nest, too, is much smaller in proportion to the size of the bird. The
single egg rests in a fairly deep cavity and completely fills the nest, the
under surface of which is deeply grooved by the impression of the thin
branch on which it was placed.
The egg is as usual glossless white, and appears to be a good deal smaller
than the egg of B. hodgsom, but is unfortunately so broken that accurate
rceasurements cannot be taken.
The date on which this nest was obtained has not been noted.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 423
Butlek's Fly-Catcher- Wakblee {Cryptolopha hutleri, Hartert.)
(Described Bull. B. 0. C, No. LIV, p. 50.)
This new fly-catcher is not uncommon on the Larut Hills, Perak, from
3,500 ft. to the summit of Gunong Ijau — about 5,000 ft. The nests, of
which I found several in May, are generally placed in the small caves
formed in banks where the soil has been washed away under the overhanging
roots of some large tree. They are composed principally of moss, and very
closely resemble nests of the little European Wren. One nest contained
three eggs, which I now have, pure white and of the usual Crj/ptolopha type.
In another nest were three young, which the old birds were feeding with
insects regardless of my presence within a few feet. From other nests examin-
ed the young had apparently recently flown.
Horsfield's Nightjar (Caprlmalgus laacrunis, Horfs.}.
I find Capri malgus macrurus in the Malay Peninsula lays an egg entirely
different from that of the Ceylonese race of the same species (C. atriponus).
A pair of eggs taken in June (bird obtained) have the ground-colour warm
bufl: : one egg is marked evenly all over with marblings of very pale brown
and very pale grey ; the other is marked with stronger shades of the same
two colours, but in this the markings are almost entirely confined to a broad
ring round the larger end. The Ceylonese bird lays a buff-coloured Qgg
sparingly marked with a few round sepia dots.
The Ceylon C. atrip^nnls differs, too, in its call-note from C, macrurus. The
note of the former is invariably a low liquid chuckle of three or four notes •
the voice of the latter is a monosyllable which has been compared to the
sound made by striking a plank with a hairmer.
C. atripennis is certainly only a race of C. macrurus, and the above peculiar-
ities are noteworthy, as this Nightjar, by laying two totally different types of
eggs in different localities, has caused a little confusion.
A. L. BUTLER, F.Z.S,
Selangoe, Oct., 1898,
No. XIII.— OCCURRENCE OF THE BUACK-WINGED KITE
(ELAENUS C.ERULENS), DESF., AND THE SHORT-TOED EAGLE
{CIRCAETUS GALLICVS), GMEL,, IN THE MALAY PENINSULA.
There are one or two specimens of the Black-winged Kite in the Perak
Museum, shot in that State, and a single specimen in the Selangor Museum
killed here; Blanford ('■' Birds,'' Hi., p. 380) says that it has not been
recorded East of Burma nor in Southern Tenasserim.
Looking through some old skins in this Museum I found a Very mutilated
aud moth-eaten specimen of Circaetus gaUicus, shot at Ampang near here
two years ago. I measured the bird at the time and compared the foot care-
fully with the figure given in the''Birds of India"(III., p. 85i5). I intended to
have sent it home for the sake of the locality, but unfortunately my taxidermist
burnt it by a mistake while destroying some old and valueless specimens.
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424 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
According to Blanford it had not been recorded East of Bengal up to
1895.
This locality is far out of its range, and the species is not migratory, but I
believe I identified the bird correctly, and, after Butastui- teesa turning up in
Australia lately, I venture to send the note for what it is worth, the bird
being no longer available for examination.
A. L. BUTLEK, F.Z.S.
Selangor, Oct., 1898,
No. XIV.— NOTE ON THE WHITE SNAKE (COLUBER TyENIURUS),
COPE.
Boulenger, " Reptilia " in "Fauna of India," p. 333,
Ridley, "Jour. Straits Branch, R. A. S.," No. 31, p. 99.
I have just seen, in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Asiatic
Society, a very interesting account of this snake, coinciding with and anti-
cipating some observations on the species which I was going to send in for
our Journal. However, Mr. Ridley has given a much better account than
I should have done, so I will content myself with a very brief note.
Coluber taeniurus has a very wide range (" Mantchuria, China, Darjeeling,
Cochin China, Siam, Borneo, and Sumatra" — Boulenger), but has only
been comparatively lately recorded from the Malay Peninsula. Nowhere
can I find any information as to its habits and haunts in the other local-
ities from which it has been recorded, and in this Mr. Ridley seems to
have been equally unsuccessful. Mr. Boulenger, hampered by limited
space, is silent on the subject, only giving the description and distribution.
Here the White Snake occurs only in the limestone caves at Batu, and
in similar caves in Perak, living in the dark and damp passages often
hundreds of yards from the light of day, and feeding on the bats which
inhabit the caverns. It appears to live on good terms with the large
toads {Bufo asper) which are numerous in the same gloomy tunnels.
When seen by torchlight upon the black deposit of guano which carpets
the caves, this snake is a distinctly weird and ghostly-looking creature,
appearing pure white by the contrast, and being very conspicuous ; at rest
on a ledge of limestone, however, as Mr, Ridley has pointed out, its pale
ochreous and grey colouring harmonises perfectly with its surroundings,
and it is extremely difficult to detect. Mr. Ridley shows, too, that our
Batu cave snakes are much paler in colour than the species usually is
as described by Mr. Boulenger. Is it entirely a cave-dweller in other parts
of its wide range ? Can any member of the Society give any information
on this point ? Should this not prove to be the case, then our pale-
coloured local variety must be a specialized form, admirably adapted to
assimilate wuth its subterranean surroundings.
Boulenger says it grows to 5i feet; Mr. Ridley mentions one 6 feet
7 inches long, and I recently captured a specimen? feet 5^ inches in length.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 425
In the caves where it occurs the snake is common, I have captured
three in a morning, and seen one or two every time I have visited the
caves.
I am sending for the Society's Museum a specimen of the local variety.
A. L. BUTLER., F.Z.S.
Selangor, Oct., 1898.
Ko. XV.— FURTHER NOTES ON THE VARIETIES OF
COLUBER T^ENIURUS.
Only the other day I contributed to this Journal a note on the highly
specialized form of Coluber tceniurun, which dwells in the Stygian darkness of
the great limestone caves near Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, When I wrote, the
snake had only been obtained in the Malay Peninsula in this pale-coloured and
exclusively cave-dwelling variety. The much darker typical coloration
described by Mr, Boalenger, however, induced me to doubt whether the
species was similarly a cave-dweller in other parts of its wide range, and to
ask in the Society's Journal for information on this puint. I imagine now that
the typically coloured snakes are not cave-dwelleis, as since writing I have
obtained a single C. tceniurus in the jungle, and find it quite different from the
pale cave-form. I believe this is the only time it has been taken in the jungle
in the Peninsula, and the specimen seems to me noteworthy, as it also differs
very considerably from I\Ir. Boulenger's description.
The circumstances under which my specimen was procured were as follows :
On the night of October 6tli being on a collecting trip, I arrived at a small
halting bungalow on the Pahang Road, 8 miles from Kuala Lumpur. There
was no light in the bungalow, and I went iuto the bed-room and felt in the
dressing-table drawer for some matches which I remembered to have been there
on my last visit. In doing this I put my hand on to a large snake lying coiled
up ; I felt the coils slide into motion, and as I jerked my hand away, heard
the soft thud of the beast's nose against the side of the drawer as it struck at
me, I procured a light at once — needless to say elsewhere ! — and found the
snake to be a large Coluber tceniurus, which must have found its way in from
the surrounding jungle and been attracted by the rats, of which the drawer
contained abundant traces.
The halting bungalow is surrounded for miles by dense jungle ; the nearest
hills, moreover, are quartz and not limestone, and, as far as I saw — and I
explored one of them very thoroughly — have no caves in them at all. The
place is exactly 4| miles distant from the big limestone caves at Batu as the
crow flies, but far more as a snake would crawl, the intervening country
being rough, hilly, and densely wooded. It seemed, therefore, reasonable to
conclude that this particular snake was a jungle and not a cave-dweller, and
I promptly boxed it alive for comparison with cave specimens, subsequently
finding, as I expected, that it belongs to a much darker-coloured type, For
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426 JOUnNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
convenience of comparison I give in tabulated form descriptions of (1) the
pale Malayan cave variety, (2) the typical coloration in other parts of its range,
and (3) the jungle vaiiety of the dark race obtained as described above.
The cave-dwelling form, of which Mr. Ridley's description is a very accurate
one, seems to be remarkably constant to one type. In this instance, too, the
variation in colour, which usually counts for little or nothing in the case of
snakes, seems deserving of consideration when associated with, and apf arently
adapted to, the snake's exceptional habitat and surroundings. It appears to
me that this is one of the cases for which the trinomial system of nomencla-
ture is so suitable, and tViat, though hardly entitled to specific rank, this very
marked form might well be indicated as Coluber tceniurus ricUeyi, subsp, n.
While on the subject of these snakes I may mention that a friend recently
came upon one, in the Batu caves, coiled into a cone round a much-crushed
but still living bat, from which it appears th:it they occasionally kill the'r prey
by constriction.
Colour Varieties of Coluber Taniurus.
(1)
Description of Batu Cave
BpecimeDs. (H.N. Ridlev, ''Jour.
S.B.R.A.S."No. 31.,p.99).
(2) .
Description of typical examples
in Brit. Miis. (B.tulenger,
"Fauna of India, Kep.," p. 333).
(3)
Description of Pel.ingor
jungle example. (A. L.
Butler).
Head: Bluish-grey; a black
line through the eye.
Neck : Pale ochreous, each
scale being tipped with
isabelline.
Back : Do. getting paler
tow.irds the tail.
(_No tranavflrae lines or
nct-uorW).
Belly : Pale yellowish-
white
Tail : Has a white bar
along the back line, and
the under part is also pure
white ; along the sides
runs a purplish-urey bar,
becominir darker towards
the tip, where it becomes
black.
Head: Grey-brown or olive;
a black line through the
eye.
Neck: Grey-brown or olive.
(Head and necJi uniforin).
Back: Interior portion grey-
brown or olive with black
transverse lines or net-
work ; posterior portion
with a pale vertebral
stripe between two broad
black ones.
Belly: Yellowish anterior-
ly, greyish behind.
Tail : A black stripe along
each side of the posterior
part of the belly and
along each side of the
tail, separated from the
upper lateral stripe by a
whitish streak.
Head : Centre greyish-
brown ; sides above eye-
stripe bluish-grey; a black
li[ie through the eye.
NECK:For 6 inches* behind
head light olive-brown
with a strong reddish
tinge (caused by two
small red dots on the
point of each scale).
Back: Greenish-olive, pal-
ing towards the tail into
olivaceous-white between
the lateral stripes.
Belly: Creamy white.
Tail: The lateral stripes at
their commencenaent on
the bo<ly warm brown,
gradually shading into
blackish on the tail ; an
indistinct bluish-grey
line along each side of
the belly, separating the
creamy white of the ven-
trals from the olive of the
upper surface.
■■' The specimen seemea about 6 feet in length.
A. L. BUTLER, F.Z.S.
Selangor, 1th Novemhtr, 1898,
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![]()
Journal, Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Vol. XII.
1. Axillary of a Pintail. S. Ditto darkly marked Fantail.
3 Feaihcr "f iujhtly marked Fantail. i. Greater and median secondary eovertf of dark Fantail.
5. Ditto of Pintail.
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MISCEL LA NEO US NO TES. 427
No. XVI— THE COLORATION OF THE WING-LINING AND AXIL-
LARIES IN THE FANTAIL AND PINTAIL SNIPES.
(With a Plate.)
Two specimens of GaUinago ccdestls, lately obtained here, represent such
very opposite extremes in the amount of grey barring on the wing-lining
and axillaries that they are perhaps worth noticing,
Mr. Blanford says of G. ccelestis ( " Birds," Vol. IV., p. 287) : " Underwing
coverts and axillaries barred with brown, but never evenly. The median
secondary lower coverts are never barred, and the white on the axillaries in
Indian birds always exceeds the brown in amount." Of G. stenura he says
(p. 289) that it can be distinguished " (2) by the wing coverts and axillaries
being regularly and evenly barred throughout with blackish-brown and
white, the bars of the two colours about equally broad,"
Legge ("'Birds of Ceylon," p. 822) says G. ccelestis differs from G. stenura "in
having the axillaries barred with paler, narrower, and much more distant
bars ; in having the under wing coverts along the edge of the wing much less
barred, and the greater secondary series more on less uniform white, the
brown bars being chietly confined to the base."
Of young birds he sajs: " The axillaries are more barred, approaching those
of the 'Pintail' in character, but the white interspaces are broader than the
dark bars, and the reverse is the case in the last named species." (Not invari-
ably.—A. L. B.)
No doubt the above distinctions almost always hold good, but one of my
specimens of G. ccelestis shows that the " never" once or twice used above
might be modified into ' well, hardly ever ' !
The darker of my two birds, shot here a week ago by Dr. Lucy of Kuala
Lumpur, who kindly sent it to me for the Museum, has the small under
coverts along the edge of the wing very heavily barred with blackish-grey
the black much exceeding the white, and being also darker than in the three
or four G. stenura with which I have compared the bird j the greater second-
ary coverts are gray for about two-thirds of their length, then have a gray
bar much broader than the white interspace, and a broad white tip. The
median secondary lower coverts, though conspicuously whiter than any
other feathers in the wing, are all barred, most of them with a blackish
blotch at the base and two long slanting bars on the outer web. The longer
tertiary wing coverts have the gray far exceeding the white, and the
bars on the axillaries are practically of the same breadth as the inter-
spaces J some being slightly narrower and some slightly broader ; the
feathers on the whole being quite as heavily marked as in an average
G. stenura.
The coloration of the axillaries in these species has always seemed to me
the most easily seen distinction, and my usual plan when looking for 'Tantails"
in a bag of snipe is to lift the birds by the tip of the wing and just glance
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428 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
at the lining and axillaries ; in this case I should certainly have passed the
bird over as a "Pintail," looking only at the under wing.
My other specimen of G. ccdestis, shot here by me on October 21st, is
very different, having the wing-lining mostly white except just along the
edge of the wing. The median secondary coverts are in this case pure
white, the larger axillaries mostly white, the lower web only barred, the bars
much narrower than the interspaces, and becoming mere small blots towards
the end of the feather, the smaller axillaries are white only just mottled
with gray, and with a narrow dark shaft stripe near the tip,
Mr. Blanford tells us that the more broadly barred specimens of G, ccehiUs
are, as a rule, European ones.
Of course in the vast majority of birds the difference in the axillaries is
most conspicuous, and I mention my heavily barred bird not to throw doubt
on the value of the rule, but as an interesting and perhaps rather rare excep-
tion to it.
I have noticed that the bars on the axillaries of the "Fantail " often have a
tendency to unite at the edges of the feather, sometimes forming a narrow
interrupted submarginal line. I have never observed this in the " Pintail."
Another difference given by Mr. Blanford is not always very distinct ;
" the outer web of the first primary brown in G. stenura, white or whitish in
G. ccelestis." In both the Fantails mentioned above, this web was brownish
along the quill, and entirely dark gray for the last H inch or so ; in some
specimens of G. stenura I have seen it a very whitish-brown.
While on the subject of snipe I see that Rostratula capensis is said in the
" Fauna of India " to be " rare in Tenasserim and the Malay Peninsula." It
is by no means rare in Perak or Selangor, the only two States in the Peninsula
in which I have yet collected.
I send drawings of axillary feathers of a Pintail, and of the lightly and
heavily barred Fantails, and of the greater and median lower secondary
coverts of the darkly marked Fantail and the Pintail.
A. L. BUTLER, F.Z.S.
Selangor, 2n(l'Dec., 1898.
No. XVII.— ON AN IMMATURE SPECIMEN OF THE BLACK-
CAPPED PURPLE KINGFISHER {HALCYON PILEATA, BODD.)
On November 4th, I shot a specimen of the Black-capped Purple King-
fisher, which, though obviously little more than a nestling, being very small
(bill at gape 2^ in., wing 4f in., tail 3 in.,) with the upper plumage dull in
colour and the bill short and dark, curiously enough shows hardly any traces
of immaturity on the lower plumage.
The bird has a few narrow black strlce on the sides of the neck, but the
usual crescontic markings so characteristic of birds of the year are altogether
absent except for one or two very narrow edges to the feathers on the sides
![]()
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 429
of the breast. This seems singular, as these markings are usually retained
until the bird has been for some time fully adult j six fine specimens all show
them more or less, in every case more so than in this very young bird, pro-
bably only a few weeks out of the nest, and in which one would expect to
find all the breast feathers tipped with a blackish crescent.
A. L. BUTLER, F.Z.S.
Sblangor, Dec, 1898.
No. XVIII.— OCCURRENCE OF THE EASTERN STOCK PIGEON
(COLUMBA EVERSMANNI) IN THE MADHUBANI SUB-
DIVISION, DHARBHANGA, TIRHOOT,
Yesterday evening my shikari brought me in a single specimen of the
above bird. It was one of a large flock which had come to roost in a large
mango tope through which he was passing at the time. The only places
where this Pigeon has been recorded from, as mentioned by Blanford, are the
Punjab, Sind, the North-Western Provinces, and Oudh. I have told my
man to shoot me a number of specimens, as coming from a locality, so far as
I am aware, unrecorded as yet, they will be worth keeping.
C. M. INGLIS.
DiiAKBHANGA, 12tli Jan., 1899.
No. XIX.— OCCURRENCE OF THE CLUCKING TEAL {NETTIUM
FORMOSUM) IN GUZERAT.
On 16th December, 1898, while shooting near Juhar, about 20 miles from
Ahmedabad, I killed a fine specimen of the Clucking Teal (a drake) and
send the skin for the Society's collection . I cannot say whether this was a
solitary individual or whether there were more about, as I never noticed,
until picking it up with other teal and duck that I had killed, that it was
something out of the ordinary. As I have never heard of the Clucking Teal
being shot in Guzerat, this may be of interest and worth recording in the
Journal.
E. L. BARTON.
Bombay, 10i!7i Jan., 1899.
(It is well worth recording, and there is no doubt whatever as to the identification
of the specimen procured by Mr. Barton,— E. Comber .)
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MEETING HELD ON ISni SEPTEMBER, 1898.
A meeting of the members took place on Tuesday, the 13th September,
when Mr. John Wallace, C.E., presided.
NEW MEMBEKS.
The election of the following new members was announced : —Lieutenant
F, FitzH ugh Lance (Loralai) ; Captain J. R. B. G. Carter, I.S.C. (Sadra) ;
Mr. Frank Atley (Mogok, Upper Burma) ; Surgeon-Captain S, H. Burnet,
I.M.S (Bombay) ; Mr. C. B .N. Pelly (Ganjam, Madras) ; Mr. L. T. Harris
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430 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(Vizagapatam) ; Mr. Frederick Lewis, F.L.S. (Ceylon) ; Mr. Narayen Vishva-
nath Mandlik (Bombay) ; Mr, W. H, Clark (Vizianagram) ; Mr. John F.
Jowitt (Ceylon) ; Lieutenant C, W, Keene (Peshawar) j Lieutenant-Colonel
C. W. Ravenshaw (Oodeypore) ; Ven'ble Archdeacon W. E, Scott (Bombay) ;
the Hcn'ble Meherban Narayenrao Govind alias Babasaheb Ghorpade, Chief
of Ichalkaranji (Kolhapore); Shrimant Gungadharrao Ganesh alias Babasaheb
Patwardhan, Chief of Miraj (Miraj) ; Mr. L. Cosserat (Raj-pardi) ; Lieute-
nant E. C, Harington, R.A. (Bolarum) ; Lieutenant-Colonel W. B, Ferris
(Mahikantha) ; and Mr. A. E. F. Morison (Kotagiri),
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM.
Mr. W. S. Millard, the Honorary Secretary, acknowledged receipt of the
following contributions to the Society's Museum since the last meeting: —
Contribution.
Description.
CoDtributor.
1 Skin of the large Brown
Flying Squirrel.
Python, juv. (alive)
Chama3lcou (alive)
Specimens of Fish
Skin of the Crested Ser-
pent Eagle.
Skin of the Indian Pitta,
Snake
Skin of the Black-crested
Baza.
Snakes ,
Pteromys oral.
i Black Cobra (alive)
1 Phoorsa
Some Scorpions and Centi-
pedes.
1 Snake (alive)
1 Snake
1 Botanical Cabinet
1 Crocodile, juv. (alive)
1 Tiger's Skull
1 Bhama (alive)
2 Eggs of the Himalayan
Suow-Cock.
1 Photograph of large Sind
Ibex.— (Length of horn?,
55^ in.)
I Chamssleon (alive)
1 Pair Chinkara horns, male
cm in.)-
1 Pair Chinkara horns, male
(]1 in.).
1 Pair Chinkara horns, male
(lOJ in.\.
1 Pair Chinkara horns, male
ClOi in.) 1 I
1 Pair Chinkara horns,i |
female (5 in.). }J
Python molurvs
Chanifelcon calcaratus
A sjiido'pa ria vi orar
Sinlornis chccla
Fitta iraohyura....
Callo2}his nigrescem
Ba:a lojiltotes
GongylopJiis conicvs and
Iro'pklonotus stolatus
Naja trip u (Hans
Echis car mat a
Lycodon auUeus
Simotes arnensis
Crocodllu.tpaliistru
Fclis tigris
Cittoclncla luacrura
Tetraogallus h imalaycnds
Capra (Pgagrvs
Chamcdcon calcaratus
^
I
i
^ Gazdla henncttl ...
Lieut. J. H. Vanderzee.
Mr, W. C. Clements.
Mr. C. E,. Jeflries.
Major R. H. Rattray.
Capt. P. Z. Cox.
Do.
Mr. A. M. Kinloch.
Capt. H. C. Copeman,
Suig.-Capt. G. Birdwood.
Mr. W. C. Clemerts.
M*!. H. Bulk ley.
Do.
Mr. \\\ C. Clements.
Mr. J. P. Brand.
Presented by Mr. G. M.
Wood row.
Lieut. K. E. Nangle.
Do.
Major. W. J. Bythell, R E.
Capt. A. MacMahon, C. S. I.,
C.I, B.
Mr. J. Strip.
Mr. W. Shipp.
Lieut.-Col. C. W.
shaw.
Raven-
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PROCEEDINGS.
431
Contribution.
Description.
Contributor.
r
Some specimens of Fishes
from Aden and Persian -
Gulf.
L
1 Snake
Eggs of the Indian Bustard
and Lesser Florican.
1 Chamjeleon Cali^e^
1 Earth Snake (alive)
1 Lizard (alive)
1 White-winged Grosbeak...
2 Specimens of Fish
3 Black Cobras (alive) ■
^
! Dr. P. W. Bassett-Smith,
Exocelvs evnlans
Serramis stohczai
Lutjanvs johni
Lutjanus lunulatus
Scolopsls vesmeri
Baliates viricleseons...
JEIectris sj) ,
Lltonna sp
Lycodnn aulieus
Et/podotus edicardsi
Sii2)heotides aurlta..
ChauKsleon calcaraUis SMr. F. A
Silyhura macrohpu JMr. J. Cunningham
Jlemidncfylvs friedrus .JMr. F. Dundas Whiffin
' Pycm rhamplius carncipes.. JMi^-ior R. H. Rattray.
\Orelnus qinuatvs Col. T. Freeman.
R.N
i
!
)
Mr. G. H. Townsend
Mr. A. H
A. Simcox, I.C.S.
G. Simpson.
7 Snakes
1 Lizard ••
1 Indian Monitor
22 Birds' Skins from Aden.
^Naja trip'idkms
'■Zamcnis gracilis |"j
i^Oligodori suhgrigpus | |
'Dri/nphis viycterlzans | !
ITro/iidiinotus stolatus | \
Silybura hreris. ! |
; Lycfldon aulieus | J
C'alotes rersidlnr
. Varamis hengalensis...
Mr. W. C. Clements.
Capt.
Cocq.
C. A. Roosmale
Do.
Do.
Capt. A. Newnham, F.Z.S.
MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM
Veterinary Major Jas, Mills, Captain H. Wells-Cole, Mr. E. U. Young, Mr.
W. Gonsalves, Mr. W, Gaye, Mr. Collett, and Mr. W. P. Cleary.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
" Nature," Vol. 58, Nos. 1492-1504, from Mr, W. F. Sinclair ; The Irish
Naturalist, Vol. VII., Nos. 6-8, from Mr. W. F. Sinclair ; The Indian Forester,
Vol. XXIV,, Nos. 6-8 ; The Agricultural Ledger for 1898, Nos. 1-7 ; The
Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XXX., Nos. 6-8 ; The Record of the Botanic il
Survey of India, Vol. I., Nos. 9-11 ; Year-Book of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture for 1897 ; Proceedings of the United States National
Museum, No, 19 ; Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia for 1897-98 j The Transactions of the Meriden, Conn., U. S. A.
Scientific Association, Vol. VIII. for 1897-98 ; Bulletin of the Geological
Institution of the University of Upsala, Vol. III., Parts 2-6 ; The Transactions
of the South African Philological Society, Vol. IX., Part 2, for 1896-97 ; The
Transactions of the Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, Vol. XXX.,
for 1897 5 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. LXVII., Part II.,
No. 1 ; The Annual Report of the Working of the Lucknovf Provincial
Museum for 1898 ; The Indian Museum Annual Report for 1895-97; Flora
de Goa e Savantvadi, by Dr. D. G. Dalgado, from the Author ; General
![]()
432 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Report of the Geological Survey of India for 1897-98; Report of the
Director of the Botanical Survey of India for the Year 1897-98.
PAPERS READ.
The following papers were then read and discussed : —
(1) The J^thiopian Wart Hog {Phacochcerus ccthiojncus), by Captain P. Z.
Cox, F.Z.S.,F.R.G.S.
(2) Notes on Wild Fowl in the Tinnevelly District, by Mr. W. N.Fleming.
(3) Does the Brown Bear Ilybernate ? by Mr. C. Donald.
(4) Hybernation of the Himalayan Black Bear (JJrsus torquatus), by Major
G. S. Rodon.
(5) Birds not recorded from Travancore in the "Fauna of British India —
Birds," by Mr. H. S. Ferguson, F.Z.S., F.L.S.
(6) Notes on Sport in Oudh, by Mr. S. Eardley-Wilmot.
(7) Lion Cubs, by Major G. S. Eodon.
(8) Migration of Eiiplcea core, by Mr. E. H. Aitken.
(9) A Brace of Tigers with one Shot, by Mr. A. L. Butler.
(10) Notes on the Caju nut tree (Anacardium occidentale) and the various
uses which can be made of the fruit and nut, by Dr. J.A. da Gama, L.M., M.A.B,
A vote of thanks was passed to the authors of the various papers, all of
which will duly appear in the Society's Journal, and the meeting then ter-
minated.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MEETING HELD ON 7th DECEMBER, 1898.
A meeting of the members took place at the Society's Rooms on Wednes-
day, the 7th December, 1898, Doctor D. Macdonald presiding.
NEW MEMBERS.
The election of the following new members was announced: — Major N.
Manders, R. A. M. C. (F. E. S.), Colombo ; Mr. Arthur H. M. Jones (Bom-
bay), Mr. F. M. Mackwood (Colombo), Mr. M. J. Alderson (Kalutara, Ceylon),
Dr. Frederick Whyte (Cachar), Mr. W. V. Wallace, I.C.S. (Burma), Mr-
W. H. Craddock (Burma), Captain B. E. M. Gurdon, D.S.O. (Chitral),
Major C. L. Wilson, R.A. (Murree), Mr. R. W. Hanson (Persian Gulf),.Mr.
A. Hale (Straits Settlements), Lieutenant J. C. M. Hoskyn (Neemuch),
Lieutenant Ernest Earnest (Indore), Mr. S. H. Bergersen (Cachar), Mr. F. H.
Vick (Cachar), Mr. F. Hyde-Wilcox (Calcutta), Mr. R.S. Houth (Cachar), Mr.
E. St. J. Gebbie (Cachar), Mr. C. B. Holman Hunt (Ceylon), Mr. David A.
Macmillan (Orissa), Mr. J. W. W. Danson (Rangoon), Lieutenant J. Dalby,
E.A. (Jubbulpore), Colonel J, Duke, I.M.S. (Kashmir). Lieutenant H. M.
Butler (Ahmedabad), Mr. Lionel E. Caine (Mombasa), Captain R. G. Burton
(Jalna), Mr. R. M. Kennedy, I.C.S. (Bombay), Major F. D. Lumley
(Wellington), Lieutenant George H. R. Watts (Kohat), Mr. J. L. MacCarthy
O'Leary (Kurnool), and Major E. A. Grubbe (Mcerut).
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PROCEEDINGS.
43
CONTEIBUTIONS TO TEE SOCIETY'S MUSEUM.
The Honorary Secretary acknowledged having received the following
contributions to the Society's collections since the last meeting: —
Contribution.
Description
Contributor.
2 Snakes (alive) ' Tropidonotus pluvihlcolor
1 Tree Mouse (alive) Vandelurla olcracea
1 Earth Snake (alive) Gongylophig conicus
1 Small Indian Civet (alive) Viverricula malaecensig ...
1 Chamaileon (alive) Chamaleon calcaratus
1 Skin of the ludian V&lm. Paradoxurvs niger
Civet. I
2 Russell's Vipers (alive) ...\Vipera ruxselli ,
Eggs of Spotted Dove Turtur si/ratensis.
Eggs of White-cheeked
Bulbul.
Skins of Rock Chat ,
1 Long-armed Sheath Bat
8 Snakes.
1 Phoorsa
1 Snake
1 African ChamffiIeon(alive).
1 Peregrine Falcon (alive).
1 Grey Lag Goose (alive).
Photos of Animals
A number of beetles ,
Otooompm lencogenys.
Mont'icdla saxatiUs .
Taphvzous lonyimaua
olor
Tfopidonotus pluml
Dipsas trigonata
Butigarus cervleus
Oligndon suigrlseus
Eehis carinata
/amenis ventrimaculatus
Falco peregrinus
Anser ferus
Dlpms trigonata
Bystrix leucura
Hy2)i<citlius ampelhms.
Grux antigonc
Chameleon calraratus
Prinia inornata
Feliii 2)ardus
Zanthdcema lioemacephala...
Charagia nrnata
Prozana imsilla
Mr. A. M. Kinloch.
Mr. R. Roberts.
Mr. W. E. Clements.
Do.
Mr. E. MacDonald.
Mr. J. Dundas Whiffin.
Mr. S. Armstrong.
Mr. C. Donald.
Do.
Lievit, W. Beadon.
Capt. W. R. Scroggie, [. S.,
M. D.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Lieut-Colonel W. B. Ferris,
Capt. J. L. Paratt.
Capt. A. J. Peile, R. A.
Mr. S. B. Bates.
Capt. C. E. Williams.
Mr. R. Proctor Sims.
Mr. E. L. Barton.
Lieut. K. E. Nangle.
Mr. W. D. Gumming.
Mr. C. Merrony.
Do.
Mr. A. H. Simcox, LC.S.
1 Snake
1 Porcupine Skull
1 Grey Hypocollius (alive).
1 Sar us Crane (alive)
1 Chameeleon (alive)
Nest and Eggs of the common
Wren Warbler.
1 Panther cub (alive)
1 Crimson-breasted Barbet
(alive).
2 Lizards (alive)
Nests of Paradise Fly-cat-
cher and Golden Oriole
1 Eastern Ballon ''s Crake
(alive).
Eggs of India monitor.
14 Nests of the
weaver bird on
palm leaf. I I
1 Sand snake ^Eryxjolinu Mr. C. Hudson, I.C.S.
Spiders and Scorpions | Mr. T. N. Hearsey.
2 Chamseleons (alive) CJtama-leon calcaratus Mr. E. MacDonald.
A collection of sea shells fromi Capt. P. Z. Cox.
theGulf of Aden. |
Skin of Common Starling ...Sturnus menzbleri iMr. H. Bulkley.
1 Foetal monstrosity Capva hircus Major V. Harrington, I.M.S.
Mr. W. H. Wolff, C.E.
Mr. G. Phillips.
Mr. C. Merrony.
Major K. A. Dunsterville.
Mr. J. P. Brand.
, Mr. G. E. Wasey.
. Varamis hengalcnsis ..
Gommon.^ Plcccus haya Mr. Isaac Benjamin.
single 1
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434 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
I;ist of Bombay Grasses and their uses, from Goverament; Catalogue of
the Fishes in the British Museum (second edition), Vol. I, from Government;
Anales del Museo Nacional de Montevideo; Nature, Vol. 58, Nos. 1505-
1513, from Mr. W, F. Sinclair; Irish Naturalist, Vol. VII., Nos, 9 and 10,
from Mr. Sinclair ; Indian Forester, Vol. XXIV, Nos. 9 and 10, in exchange;
Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XXX, Nos. 9, 10, 11; Agricultural Ledger, Nos.
9, 10, 11, 12, from Government; A Manual of the Geology of India, Part
I,, from Government; Annals and Magazine of Natural History ; Vol, II.
Nos, 9, 10 ; Annuaire du Musee Zoologique de 1' Academic Imperiale des
Sciences de St. Petersbourg, 1898, No. 1 ; Illustrations of the Zoology of
R. I. M. S. Investigator, from Government.
FISHING IN BOMBAY WATERS.
Mr. F. 0. Gadsden read an interesting paper on this subject, describing his
experiences with the well-known sporting fish the '' Bahmin " {Polynemus
tetradactylus) in Bombay Harbour.
BOMBAY RATS,
A short piiper received from Mr. E. H. Aitken on the different species and
sub-species of rats to be found in Bombay was read and discussed. Mr.
Aitken dealt upon the conspicuous part played by rats during the present
epidemic, and pointed out the importance of acquiring a thorough knowledge
of the different species which inhabit the city.
BULL- TERRIER AND TIGER.
Captain R. G, Burton of the Hyderabad Contingent contributed a graphic
description of the excitement caused by the sudden appearance of a tiger
in the Cantonment of Jalna on the 18th ultimo about five o'clock while the
band was playing. As there are no forests or heavy jungles within fifty
miles of the station the presence of such iin animal in the bungalow gardens
was, to say the least, unexpected. The important part played by a bull-
terrier, in driving the tiger out of cover and attacking it, formed an interest-
ing feature of an exciting episode, which ended with the destruction of the
tiger, but not before it had killed one man and mauled another.
NEW OR RARE TREES.
Mr. T. F. Bourdillon, F.L.S., Conservator of Forests, contributed an
important paper describing six trees, which he had found in Travancore, five
of which appeared to be new. Excellent drawings of these trees were
exhibited, and will be reproduced in the Society's Journal when the paper
is published.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
The following short papers were also read: — a White Spots on the Plumage
of a Woodpecker attacked by Parasites, by A. L, Butler; h. A Voracious
Centipede, by Captain H, Wells-Cole ; c. Breeding of the Black-breasted
Houeysucker in the Cachar District, by C. M. Inglis ; d. Parasitic Worms
![]()
PR 0 CEEDING S. 4 35
in Fish, by Major R. H. Rattray j e. On the Kidincation of the White-
Necked Stork, by C. M. luglis ;/. On Nests and Eggs fovmd in the vicinity
of Baroda, by Captain R, M. Betham ; ^, Elephant's Ankle Joints, byTV-
F. Sinclair ; h, Nesting of the Red-tailed Chat, by Major R. H. Rattray ;
i. Curious conduct of a Panther, by Lieutenant C. D. Lester.
THE SOCIETY'S JOUEXAL.
Mr. H. M, Phipsou stated that the publication of the Society's Journal
had been unavoidably delayed owing to the non-receipt of proofs from
Contributors in Europe, but that Parts No. 5 of Yol. XI and No.l of
Yol. XII -were now being printed off and would be issued to members in the
course of a few days.
FLORA OF BOMBAY,
The honorary secretary announced that Mr. G. Marshall Woodrow, of the
College of Science, Poona, had now placed in the Society's herbarium a
complete collection of the plants of Bombay, and had also presented to the
Society a cabinet to contain the same. A special vote of thanks was passed
to Mr. TVoodrow for his valuable contribution.
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Joiirn. . B omt ay Na.t . Hist . S o c
PlateVII.
J G.KeulemaTLS del.
THE MARBLED TEAL.
Marraaronetta arLtfiistirostris.
W
\
\
Mirtterri3ros ClLrcm.o lifh Lcrvdort.
![]()
JOURNAL
OF THE
patornl gistorir ^^cWft
(4'
Vol. Xll.
BOMBAY.
No. 3,
INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES.
By E. 0. Stuart Bakee, F.Z.S.
Part VII, with Plate VII.
(^Continued from page 261.)
Genus Dafila.
The general appearance of the genus Dafila is more elongate than
any other of our Indian Ducks, in both sexes the tail is pointed and
that of the Kiale has the central rectrices considerably lengthened, when
in good plumage. The bill is slightly wider at the end than at the
base.
Of the five species of Dafila, India has but one, the very widespread
species — D. acuta. The genus is almost cosmopolitan, Australia alone
being unrepresented by any form.
(27) Dafila acuta.
The Pintail.
Anas acuta, Legge, " Birds of Ceylon," p. 1096.
Dafila acuta, Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 803; Hume,
^' Str. Feath.," I, p. 261 ; Adams, ihkl, II, p. 338 ; Hume, ilid^ III, p.
193; Butler, ibid, IV, p. 29 ; Hume and Davison, ibid, VI, p. 489 ;
Ball, ibid, VII, p. 232 ; Cripps, ibid, p. 312 ; Hume, ibid, p. 412 ; id.,
ibid.Ylll, ^. lib; ibid, Q^i. No. 962; Scully, "Str. Feath.," VIII,
p. 362 ; Hume and Marshall, " Game Birds of India," III, p. 189 ;
Vidal, " Str. Feath.," IX, p. 92 ; Butler, ibid, p. 438 ; Reid, ibid, p. 82 ;
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438 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
ibid, p. 245 ; id. " Birds of British Burma," II, p. 298 ; Barnes,
" Birds of Bombay," p. 407 ; Hume, " Sir. Featli.," XI, p. 345 ; Salva-
dori, Cat. *• Birds of British Museum," XXV I [, p. 270; Blanford
" Avifauna— Birds of India," IV, p. 447.
Description : Adidl Male. — Whole head brown, varying from a rather
pale dingy to a rich dark umber, glossed on the upper parts with
purple or copper, more especiall}^ on the sides of the sinciput and nape ;
chin and throat sometimes rather paler than the upper parts ; nape
almost black, grading on the one hand into the rich brown of the
head and on the other into the grey oi' the hind-neck ; the grey of
the hind neck, formed by the most minute stipplings of brown and
pale grey gradually changing into the more pronounced stipplings and
bars of the upper plumage, which retain the same colours ; a white
band on either side of the nape joining the white of the neck ; rump
like the back ; upper tail coverts black, edged grey ; neck and breast
white ; abdomen the same but more or loss stippled with grey on the
lower parts ; flanks and sides like back. Longer scapulars velvety
black edged with silver grey ; shorter scapulars like the back but often
with dark centres ; wing coverts brownish-grey, the greater tipped
with rufous chestnut ; secondaries forming the s[)eculum bronze green,
tipped white, sub tipped black, the feather next the speculum black, on
the outer web narrowly tipped white and with a line of the same next
the quill, inner web bro\^■nish-g•rey ; remaining inner secondaries grey
on the outer web, black edged with grey on the inner webs. The
central rectrices black, the other rectrices grey-brown ; lower tail
coverts black except the ulterior ones, which are white ; the flanks next
the tail coverts are white, more or less tinged buff and with vermicula-
tions fainter than those on the rest of the flanks.
Length about 26" depending on length of tail feathers, which vary
from 4*5" to full length ; central rectrices 9" long ; wing 10*5" to 1V5",
tarsus 1*5" to 1'75" ; bill from gape and from front about 2*25".
" Length of male 22" to 29" : tail 5" to 8-5" ; wing 11, tarsus 1*6" ;
bill from gape 2'25"" (Blanford).
" The drake moults all feathers except the primaries, secondaries wing-
coverts and six pairs of outer rectrices at the end of June, and assumes
plumage very like that of the female, the usual male plumage being
resumed by a complete moult in October" (Blanford).
![]()
INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 439
'' Expanse 32*0" to 3775" ; wing 10'3" to 11-75 ; tail from vent
4-8" to 9-4 ; tarsus l'5"to 1-8", bill from gape 2-0" to 2-4" ; weight
1 lb. 10 ozs. to 2 lbs. 12 ozs." (Hume).
Irides dark brown, often tinged reddish ; bill light to dark plum-
beous, the Gulmen, lower mandible and base darker, almost black.
Legs and feet dark plumbeous grey or blackish ; webs, claws and
joints darker.
'' In the adult male the bill is plumbeous, light plumbeous or laven-
der blue, with the entire lower mandible a broad band along the entire
culmen, the angle at the base of the upper mandible, and a strip along
the margin of its terminal half, black.
" In some apparently adult males I have noted Ihe feet as brownish-
black, blackish -grey, and uniform dusky" (Hume).
" Legs blue ; irides brown, bill black, blue at sides" (Vidul).
" TiCgs very pale yellowish flesh color, variegated with shades of
purplish brown, darker tint of last on the nail and web membranes"
(Swinhoe).
Female. — Head brownish-buflp with dark centres to the feathers ;
throat and chin pale ; neck the same, speckled brown, upjie.r parts
brown, the feathers edged white, or buffy-wbite and scapulars w^ith
a few bars of the same ; the white tips of the greater secondaries and
greater coverts form two distinct bars, but there is no speculum ;
quills dark brown, the inner ones narrowly edged white and al! paler
on the inner webs; lower parts d'ugy white more or less tinged
buff or even rufous and streaked and centred brown.
Irides brown, bill and legs like the male but duller and, as far as
I know, the bill never has a blue tinge. I have one female with a
distinctly orange tinge to her legs, shewing as a sort of mottling on
the shanks.
Length about 20" ; wing 9'75" to 10*25" ; tarsus about I'S" ; tail
about 4" to 5-25" ; bill at front 2*0" to 2'1" from gape about the
same.
" Length 20" to 22*5" ; wing 9-3" to 10*2" ; tail from vent 4*2" to
5-5^ ; tarsus 1'45" to 1-7" ; bill from gape 2-1" to 2*35", weight lib. 2ozs.
to lib. !14ozs." (Hume). .
Young Mule. — Has the wing like that of the adult, but is otherwise
coloured like the female. The first male plumage to be assumed is that
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440 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
of the back which may often, be seen in a transition state, between the
mottled coloration of the female and the fine stipplino; of the male ;
the lower plumage is the next to change, though the broad mottled
plumage of the lower flanks is often retained for some time and finally
the dark head and white neck of the adult male is assumed.
Young females are very thickly speckled and mottled on the lower
surface.
Young birds of both sexes appear to have legs and bills a uniform-
dark dusky.
" Young in doion have the same pale spots on the upjier parts as those
of the Mallard, but the white on the throat and belly is slightly sufiused
with grey instead of bui^, and in addition to the dark line passing
through the eye, a second line passes from the lores below the eye to
the nape" (Seebohm).
Salvadori gives the habitat thus : " Northern Hemisphere, breeding
in the Northern parts and migrating Southwards to Northern Africa,
India, Ceylon, China, and Japan and in America as far as Panama
and Cuba."
There is practically no portion of the Indian Empire which the
Pintail does not visit, Hume excluded it from South Tenasserim, but it
has now been recorded thence more than once though it appears to be
very rare thei'e. Davidson reported it as rare in the Deccan (some
writers have found it less rare than he did), and Vidal says : "Pintails are
to be seen in some years in small parties in the large Duck ground at
the junction of the Vashishti and Fagbudi rivers (South Konkan), but
the}' come late and go early."
Taken all round the Pintail is one of the most common of Indian
ducks, occurring sometimes in huge flocks but more often in such as
nun)ber forty to sixty individuals. It is but rarely very small flocks
are seen and solitary birds or pairs hardly ever.
Where they are least common, flocks of only twenty or so may be
met with frequently, but this is about the minimum number. As
regards the maximum number, it is hard to give figures, but Hume talks
of thousands in a flock ; other writer's of many hundreds. I have
myself, both in Bengal and Assam, seen flocks. which must have con-
tained three to five hundred birds, although such are not of common
occurrence. G. Keid in his " Birds of the Lucknow Civil Division"
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 441
('' Str. Feath.") speaks of them being " generally met with hi mmiense
numbers/' but he does not define what he means by immense.
Most sportsmen would place the Pintail before all other Ducks. As
a rale they are extremely shy, wary birds and are very hard to
approach witbin gun shot, but one or two people have found them to
be quite the contrary ! Captain Baldwin says that he found it an easy
bird to approach even when feeding on open pieces of water. This
is somewhat confirmed by the fact that in Cachar the natives tell me
that they can get at Pintails far more easily than at other ducks, and
it is true that they do bring in more Pintails in proportion than they
do Gad walls, Teal, etc. ; at the same time I have personally found them
to be the hardest to get at of all the ducks, and such of my friends as
have given me their experience have found the same.
In the day time they frequent large lakes and, jheels and rest in the
centre of wide, comparatively open pieces of water shunning such as
have thick cover of reeds or similar heavy jungle, yet resorting always
to those which have the surfiico covered with lilies aiul the smaller
water plants, amongst which they can lie, well concealed yet able to
discern at once the approach of anything to their vicinity. During the
night — they do not leave tbeir day quarters until very late — they visit
the smaller jheels and tanks, the rushy banks of nullahs and canals and
similar places where they feed, but the first glimmer of dawn finds
them on the wing once more en route to the larger waters. Big rivers
they do not seem to like; all down the Surma Valley the Pintail is very
common, but though found in numbers on the vast expanses of water,
quite close to the Barak, iSurma, Megna, etc., and often seen evenino-
and morning crossing the river high up out of range, yet I have never
heard of their haunting any of these rivers.
In the same way I believe they are practically non-existent on the
Ganges, Indus and other large rivers. Small rivers, if of clear and quick
running waters, are no more pleasing to the Pintail, but small creeks of
almost still water, canals which have vegetation about them, are visited
for the purpose of food and occasionally a flock may be put up from
such places in the day time.
Their food seems mainly to consist of small and fragile shellfish, but they
also eat a large variety of other animal matter, and also are to a certain
extent vegetarians. Unlike, however, the majority of the ducks, which
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442 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
are more animal than vegetable feeders, the Pintail is amongst the very
best of birds for the table. Sometimes, it is said, it becomes rank, fishy
and almost uneatable, but as a rule it is excellent and nearly always good.
Many others must have noted the peculiarity of the Pintail to
which Hume alludes. He writes : " It is worth noting because it is a
peculiarity almost confined to this species that during the cold season
one continually comes across large flocks consisting entirely of males.
I cannot say that I have ever noticed similar ilocks of females ; but
this may be because the females do not attract the eye similarly, and aro
not equally readily discriminated at a distance, but ' bull picnics ' I
have noted times without number, as a specialty of the Pintail."
They are decidedly good swimmers, sitting light and very high on
the water, their long necks and rather raised tails giving them a very
o-raceful appearance ; as divers, however, they are failures, they cannot
stay any time under water nor can I find any observer giving them
credit for being -able to hide under water, amongst the weeds, or of
holding on to submerged weeds, etc., with their feet. Getting off the
water they are less quick than some ducks, " skittering " along
the surface for a few feet ; they rise less abruptly also, but once on
the win CI" they sliew to the greatest advantage ; their flight is exceedingly
swift, probably faster than that of any other duck, and is very easily
recognizable. They fly in very regular formation, changing position
less than do most ducks and when close to the hearer the sound of their
flio-ht is quite unmistakable. Less noisy and whirring than that of
most of their near relations, their flight has a soft swish, swish about it
of a very distinctive character. Hume says, speaking of their flight,
that it is a " low, soft, hissing swish " and this describes it very exactly.
Their voice is like that of the Mallard a distinct quack, but is far
softer and also less loud than that of the Mallard, Gadwall or Spot
bill ; they are, however, silent birds and one seldom hears them emit
any other sound beyond the low colloquial chuckle they sometimes
indulo-e in when resting. I have not heard them calling when on the
wing, except when about to settle or just after rising or when suddenly
frightened by a shot or other cause.
On the land they walk easily but slowly, as might be expected from
their configuration, nor will they often be found resorting to it though
Hume records having seen them on the land.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 443
In the autumn the male bird assumes a plumage similar to that of
the female, but can of course always be distinguished at a glance by the
presence of the speculum which is wanting in the female. Hume says
that he has never obtained any birds in this stage of plumage in India,
but in my very small series I have two and have seen several others.
Yarrel, speaking of this change of plumage, says that it commences in
July and is affected partly by change of plumage and partly by actual
change of colouration in the feathers. As regards the reassumption of
the male plumage he says : '' At the annual autumn moult the mnles
again assume with their new plumage the colours peculiar to their sex,
but the assumption is gradual. White spots first appear among the
brown feathers on the front of the neck, by the end of the second week
in October the front of the neck and breast is mottled with brown and
white ; at the end of the third week in October a few brown spots only
remain on the white."
Both my birds were obtained in the third week of October, and are
in the plumage ascribed by Yarrel to that of the second week, the
heads are entirely like those of the female.
The breeding range of the Pintail is practically that of the Gadwall,
but it reacb.es further north, and on the other hand does not reach so
far south, for wdiereas the Gadwall breeds as far south as the 46th
degree, Hume places the limit for the Pintail 10 degrees higher up.
It breeds in Northern Europe and eggs and young have been found in
the north of the British Isles themselves, and extends thence throughout
Northern Asia.
The nest is a rather rough, loose structure of grasses, flags, rushes and
similar material, lined, not very thickly as a rule, with down and feathers,
and the eggs are generally laid in early May, though the date depends
a great deal on locality ; in its southern limits the eggs may be laid as
early as the end of April and in its northern from April to August.
During the breeding season, i.e., April to August, the Pintail haunts
swamps and marshes which are more or less covered with vegetation ;
the pools, such as there are of open water, being contined to patches here
and there, surrounded with bush, forest or other cover. Open waters such
as lakes, rivers or similar pieces of water it avoids altogether, nor is it
any use hunting the banks and margins of such for the nests which will
almost invariably be found in the places first mentioned.
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444 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Morris in " Nests and Eggs of British Birds'' says : " Of this species
also, the nost is placed by the margin of, or at no great distance from,
water, lakes, ponds, and seas, and is composed of grass and reeds, with
a little lining of down. Some have been found in ditches and even
in standing corn ; it is always well concealed.
" These ducks pair in April.
" From six to eight or nine eggs are laid. The young are hatched
in about twenty-three days. They at once repair to the water."
The nest is usually well concealed amidst the scrub and coarse
weeds and grass and takes a considerable amount of searching to
discover, but the duck sits very close and often rises at one's feet almost,
thus disclosing the position which might otherwise escape detection.
The eggs vary from sis to ten in number being usually six to eight
and occasionally only five are laid.
In colour they are a dull pale greenish stone colour, in a few, yellow-
ish stone, but all dull and all pale with no very definite colour such
as some ducks' eggs have. There is a slight gloss, sometimes rather
pronounced, and I have seen none entirely glossless. The texture is
extremely fine and close and the shell perhaps rather thinner in pro-
portion to the size of the eggs than are the majority of eggs of the
Anatinoe.
My eggs seem to average rather large ; I have a clutch given me by
Herr. M. Kuschel, and collected. I believe, in East Prussia, which
averages 2*24" x 1'6", the biggest is 2-27"xl-62". A number of other
eggs I have measured have been well over 2 "20" and I bave seen
none under 2*1".
The eggs collected in Finland both by Wolley and Dresser had
their measurements recorded as 2"xl'5", but the eggs Golleeted by the
latter in Jutland measured 2"22"xl'4".
Genus QUERQUEDULA.
The distinctive feature of the Genus Querqiiedvla is the bright blue-
grey colour of the wing coverts which in two species, Discors and
Cyanoplera, are a bright smalt blue. The Common Teal, Nettion
crecca, used to be placed in this genus, but Nettion differs from Quer-
quedida in the shape of the bill, which is equal in breadth throughout
its length, whereas in the latter it is slightly broader at the tip and
also has the nail somewhat larger in proportion.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 445
The internal structure is also different, the laljA-rinth of the trachea
being differently formed, being enlarged on both sides downwards in
Querguedula but on one side only and upwards in Nettion.
There are five species of which four are confined to America, the
fifth alone visiting India in winter. All five are birds of much the
same size.
(28) QUERQUEDULA CIRCIA.
The Garganey or Blue-iving Teal.
Anas circia, Legge, " Birds of Ceylon," p. 1080.
Querqved\ila circia, Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 807 ; Hume,
"Nests and Eggs," p. 644; Hume, "Str. Feath.," I, p. 202 ; Adam, ibid,
p. 402 ; Hume, ibid, III, p. 193 ; LeMes, Ibid^ p. 382 ; Butler, Ibid^
IV, p. 30 ; Scully, ibid, p. 201 ; Butler, ibid, Y, p. 234 ; Hume and
Davison, ibid, VI, p. 489 ; Butler, VII, p. 1S8 ; Ball, ibid, p. 232 ;
Oripps, ibid, p. 312 ; Hume, ibid, p. 494 ; id., Uat. No. 965 ; " Str.
Feath.," VIII, p. 115; Scully, ibid, p.-::i63 ; Hume and Marshall,
'♦ Game Birds of India," III, p 215 ; Vidal, " Str. Feath.," IX, p. 93;
'Bnthv,ibkl, p. 438 ; Beid, ibid, p. 83 ; Hume, ibid, p. 418 ; Gates, "Birds
of British Burmah," II, p. 286 ; Barnes, " Birds of Bombay," p. 410 ;
Hume, " Str. Feath.," XI, p. 346 ; id. " Nests and Eggs," (Gate's edi-
tion), III, p.291; Salvadori, Oat. "Birds of British I.iuseum," XXVII,
p. 293 ; Blanford, Avifauna, IV, p. 449.
Description : Adult Male. — Crown and nape deep brown, lighter on
the forehead, where it is more or less streaked with white, and some-
times with a faint gloss at the sides. A broad superciliary stripe
from in front of the eye down the sides of the nape white ; chin
black ; remainder of the head and neck rich bright chocolate
streaked with white ; back, rump, upper tail covei-ts and tail brown,
the feathers all edged paler or greyish-brow-n, inner scapulars black
glossed green with broad wide central streaks and narrow white
margins, outer scapulars the same but with the outer webs broadly
blue-grey ; wing coverts bright pale french-grey, the greater ones
broadly edged white forming a wing bar ; outer secondaries brown-
grey glossed green and tipped white ; quills brown, the inner prima-
ries greyish broadly edged greyish white ; breast brown with black
or dark brown markings, concentric on the upper breast, in the form
of bars on the lower breast, gradually changing one into the other ;
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446 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
abdomen white more or less speckled with brown towards the vent ;
thigh coverts brown and white ; flanks white, finely barred with
black, the feathers nearest the tail with two hroad bars of >vhite and
grev divided by a narrower black line ; under tail coverts white, or
buffy-white, the shorter with brown drops. Under wing ccverts
mainly dark grey, the central ones and asillaries white.
Irides dark brown, bill brownish-black, nail black, margins of
maxilla and lower mandible paler ; legs and feet dark grey.
I have a bird which had the feet bright orange, this must bo some-
thing very unusual.
'' In the adult male the bill is normally blackish above, brownish on
the lower mandible, except at the tip, often reddish-brown at the gape."
"The legs and feet are grey, pale greenish-brown, grey with an
olive shade, grey slate colour, purplish slate colour, bluish ...in all
cases the webs being more or less dusky and the claws darker still."
(Hume.)
Length 15" to 17'' ; tail about 2-8" ; wing 7-G" to 8'0" ; tarsus 1" to
1-2", bill from gape I'S".
" Length 15-9" to 16-25" ; expanse 25" to 27'25" ; wing 7-4" to S'l";
tail from vent 3-3" to 3-8" ; tarsus 1" to 1'3" ; bill from gape 1-75" to
1*92" ; weight 10 ozs., to lib. (commonly about 13 ozs.)." (Hume.)
Width of bill at gape '52 " at tip -62".
Female. — Above dark brown, all the feathers with pale margins
except the crown, which is rather richer than elsewhere and centered
darker; chin and throat white ; neck greyish or buffy-white with all
the feathers minutely streaked with dark brown; a superciliary stripe
from above the eye and a spot on the front of the lores white or
buffy-white; wings greyish-brown, in old females more grey, especially
on the smaller coverts ; speculum as in the male but very blurred
and indistinct ; fore-neck and upper breast dark brown with broad
pale edges to the feathers, lower breast, abdomen and vent white,
buffy-white or buff; the flanks, sides and under tail coverts the same
splotched, barred and spotted with brown.
Colours of soft parts the same as in the male.
" In some females the bill is similar" (to the males), " in somo
apparently adult, it is blackish plumbeous above, dull plumbeous
below" (Hume.)
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 447
Length about 15"; wing about V-25"; tail 2'6"; bill from gape 1-7":
tarsus 1" ; bill at base '51" broad, at tip '60".
"Length 14-8" to U'b"; expanse 23-0" to 25-5"; wing 7" to 7-3"j
tail from vent 2-9" to 3*5"; tarsus 1*0" to I'lo"; bill from gape 1*7" to
1'85"; weight 9 ozs. to 14*75 ozs. (commonly about 12 ozs,)" (Hume.)
I have a female in my collection which weighed 1 lb. 1 oz. and has
a wing of 7*65".
The young males are similar to the female but are darker, have
more brown on the under parts, the speculum is more defined and the
coverts a purer grey.
Males in moulting ^ or post nuptial plumage resemble the females,
but have the wing, not the scapulars and innermost secondaries, of thfl
usual colour.
'^Tlie downy nestling resembles that of the Mallard, but is gmaller and
has a In-oad unbroken buff streak above the eye ai.d a well-defined
dark streak through the eye" (Yarrell).
The general habitat of the Garganey may be said to be the Palse-
artic Region, an Eastern not Western form ; it has been obtained in
North America and Greenland but its home is Northern Europe and
Asia in the summer and Southern Europe, Northern Africa, as far
south as Shoa and Somali land, and south Asia in the cold
weather.
Outside India in the winter it is found throughout Southern Europe
and Northern Africa, very common in Egypt through i^sia Minor
and Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan, Southern China, Japan, the Philip-
pines, Borneo, Java, etc.
In Japan Seebohm says ; " The Garganey is a winter visitant to all
the Japanese Islands, but appears to be nowhere common." Hose and
Everett both obtained specimens in the Bornean Islands, but it would
appear to be a rare straggler there.
In India it occurs practically everywhere from the extreme north
to the extreme south. As regards its distribution in Ceylon, Legge
says :" Found in the extreme north in the Jaffna peninsular, on the
swamps of the island of Delft, and on the West Coast down to Manaar
in the cool season fronx November to March. Layard speaks of its
occurring in " vast flocks at the head of the Jaffna estuary ; but 1
do not think it is so common nowadays,"
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448 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
It extends throughout Burmah, but is absent in certain portions.
Hume saja that it is not obtained in Tennasserim, but it has now been
frequently recorded thence. It is common in parts between the
Sithang and Salween and extends west of the former river. It does
occur in Cashmere and has been, since Hume wrote " Stray Feathers,"
recorded from that state on various occasions.
It would seem that in the extreme North and North-West the Gar-
ganey is perhaps the earliest of the ducks to arrive in India, but
further East it is quite a toss up as to whether the Common Teal or the
Garganey first puts in an appearance ; on tbe whole I should think the
Common Teol is tbe earlier of the two.
Even in the West the Garganey is not always the first, the Common
Teal being sometimes the first recorded.
It is very noticeable that, though in migrating South the birds once
in India take long to work further down the Peninsular, yet they work
North very speedily.
In Northern India they arrive in September, but according to
Theobald and others they do not get to Southern India before Decem-
ber. Leaving, however, they delay until March and April much the
same time that they leave all portions of their winter home, though
everywhere a few stay through May and even into June.
As regards the numbers they arrive in, Hume's note on his enormous
bag at one time shews what may be sometimes seen. He writes: " I
have a special note of having found a flock which I estimated to con-
tain twenty thousand individuals at Rahun in the Etawah district, on
the 28th of August 1865. Never before or since have I seen so huge
a body of fowl of one kind, and I have noted that I have bagged forty-
seven of them, besides losing at the time many wounded birds (I had no
dogs with me) in the rushes, I had sent my gun punt (built exactly
on the lines of one of our Norfolk boats) a few days previously out there
to see that it was all right for the coming season, and I had taken
with me a small but heavy Monghyr made swivel gun carrying only
8 ozs. to try. To my surprise I found the thickest body of fowl on
the open part of the jhil I bad ever seen. I loaded the swivel with
No. 4 shot and worked up quite close to some of them, and within some
fifty yards of the main body, when seeing they wore all about to start,
I fired and knocked over at least sixty, I actually secured forty seven.
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INDIAN DVGKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 449
This was thirt3--five years ago and I fear that flocks like this one are
things of the past though they may now and then be met with in very
vast flocks. All through the Simderbunds and again on the Chilka lake
they are often to be seen in flocks of thousands, and in Oudh, the
North- West and Scinde such flocks are by no means rare.
As a rule over most of its North and North-Western range the flock
may roughly be said to average somewhere about and between one to
two hundred. To the East, I think, they average smaller and would
put it somewhere between fifty and a hundred. Small flocks of five or
six or even ten or twelve are not, I think, at all commonlj' met with
while pairs and single individuals are hardly ever seen.
The Gargauey haunts almost any kind of water, not as a rule fre-
quenting small quick running streams or small clean tanks and ponds
and being specially partial to wide stretches of fen or bheel, well
covered over their greater extent with weeds, yet having fairly extensive
patches of clear water dotted here and there over their surface.
During the day they keep almost entirely to the larger sheets of
water or, sometimes, to the large rivers, such as Indus, Ganges, etc.,
where they float in the centre in dense closely packed masses. This
manner of packing is very characteristic of the Garganey and they
keep more closely together than does almost any other kind of duck*
even when flying they do not straggle much.
They feed in the smaller tanks and jhils and also in the paddy fields
and on various young land crops. Hume says that in some parts of
India they visit the paddy fields in such numbers that on one visit
acres of paddy are destroyed. Their staple diet is vegetarian and of
vegetable matter, the staple articles are rice, both cultivated and wild
and the young leaves and shoots of various water plants. They also
eat various kinds of reeds, roots, etc., and such animal matter in the
shape of worms, snails and shellfish, etc., which force themselves oq
their notice.
Hume describes well the sound of their flight thus : '^ Whether it is
only because one habitually meets them in such large flocks or whether
it is really peculiar to them, I do not know, but certainly one associates
the overhead flight of this species with a surging hiss, more even
sustained and rushing than that of any of our other ducks. Any one
who has stood under heavy round shot fire knows the way in which
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450 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
shot hurtle up to you crescendo, and die away as they pass ; and just in
this way (though the sounds are iu a wholly different key) does the
swish of a large flock of Garganey surge up to you in the middle of the
night, and die away as they pass."
I do not think that it is because the birds are numerous or familiar
that we think the sound distinct from that made by other birds' flight.
I remember when first introduced to the Garganey how I was struck
with the pattering swish of their flight and then noticed how like a
whistle it rose and fell as it approached and vanished. Their flight is
but little, if at all, inferior to that of the Common Teal though more
direct, the flights seldom indulging in the swift dodgings and swervings
of that bird . Shooting over the vast Jessore bheels in boats, which
went in a thinly scattered line through them, the difterence between the
flight of the two species was well shown. The Garganeys rose far
aheadj swept round but once in a wide semi-circle and then went
straight ahead, whereas the Coiumon Teal often dodged in and out
down the whole line, circled about two, three or more times and then
disappeared but often only to settle ludf a mile or so further on. The
Garganey also rose quicker off the water, getting up obliquely and
were quicker away ; again when wounded they swam faster than the
common Teal and though by no means first class divers yet they were
good enough to be able often to escape us.
As to whether they are wild or tame, opinions seem to differ very
much. Theobald says : ^' They are not very hard to shoot and are
easily approached behind a small screen of green boughs. Sometimes
a paper kite, made in the shape of a hawk, and flown over the tanksj
keeps the Teal together and they will not leave the tank though fired at
often." Dresser talking of the Garganey in Europe and quoting Baron
Droste actually says : " They are very tame and soon get accustomed
to the sight of human beings." Reed says that they are shy and wild
when they first arrive (in Lucknow) but afterwards become tamer.
Hume says that they are never tame and generally decidedly wild.
As far as my expereince goes I have found that the Garganey is
one of the wildest of the duck tribe. Even behind screens, etc., they
seem to be very cute and to be able to discern what comes behind the
screen quicker than many others of their kind and they are not slow
to profit by what they can discern.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 451
Then too they keep much to fairly open water when resting and
the sudden appearance of a detached clump of weeds floating towards
them at once puts them on the qici vive long before the clump gets
within shooting distance two out of three times, they leave for safer
abodes.
I once, however, came on a ilock of these little birds who stuck more
persistently to their ground, or water, than any other flock of ducks
it has been my fortune to meet. This was in the district of Hazari-
bagh, and I was going from Giridi to Hazaribagh in a jyiish-push a
sort of four-wheeled, inferior, springless brougham, when I saw a flock
of about forty Teal on a tank close by the road. I got out of the rush-
push, walked up to the tank and got two birds with a rio-bt and left
as they rose, the birds wheeled round and I got a third, they then
went to another tank about 600 yards away, and as I followed them
up again rose and returned to the first piece of water lea vino- a fourth
bird with me. I too went back and got yet another brace, and after
these yet another bird on the second piece of water, and when I left
with seven Teal the rest were already hack on the tank bv the roacl.
This was of course in a badly watered part of the countrv, but on no
other occasion, whether there was water in abundance or not have I
ever known Garganey remain to have more than a rio-ht and left
fired at them.
They are very silent birds as a rule. Hume speaks of them chat-
tering like all other ducks in confinement on the slightest provocation
but their ordinary note, a loud strident quack, is very seldom used
when the birds are in a state of nature.
As regards the breeding of the Garganey within Indian limits there
is practically no evidence of any value.
Colonel Irby told Hume that when in Oudh he caught some young
half fledged, in the month of September. This shows, of course, that
once upon a time a pair of Teals did remain in India and breed, but it
does not at all show- that Teal ever stay of their own accord to breed.
This unfortunate pair had very likely been slightly damaoed bv shot or
accident and so were unable to take the exertion of mioration, and this
doubtless, is the reason for the mauy Teal staying in India and beino-
seen in various months when they should have been far away
and breeding in other climates and countries. They have been seen
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452 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
in practically every month in the year and such records are many, but
as I have said elsewhere, every year millions are killed, and it would be
strange indeed if a few did not get injuries from which they recovered
yet not sufficiently soon to allow of their migrating.
Colonel Tickell writing from Moulmein mentions a young bird just
fledged, which had been caught on a small pond in the vicinity. This
may have been a young bird, backward and rather weak and conse-
quently so exhausled with its long journey as to be caught and pro-
duced as a specimen locally bred, or it may have been one bred under
the circumstances already suggested.
Blyth wrote in reference to this statement of Tickell's : " The Gar-
ganey breeds sparingly no doubt in India, as well as in Bunnah and
Tenuasserim," but from what this deduction was made I cannot tell nor
can I find any perfectly authentic record of the Garganey bi'eeding in
India beyond the circumstantial evidence given by Colonel Irby's
young birds.
They breed throughout the North Temperate Zone in Europe
and Asia. In the former continent they breed as far South as
France, north Italy, Greece and throughout the Balkan States and
Russia into Asia. In parts of Asia Minor, South Siberia, Manchuria,
Amoor and Northern China, but not in Japan as far as is yet known.
They desert the larger open pieces of water during the breeding
season and resort to smaller pools and ponds, fens and bogs, rarely
the mossy and weed-covered borders of streams and yet more rarely
the reed-fringed shores of lakes, etc.
Although so commonly found on the sea coast and on salt water
creeks and tidal waters yet the Garganey seems always to breed inland
and I can find no record of their nest or eggs being taken in such
places.
The nest is the usual mass of reeds, weeds and soft vegetation
made by most ducks and it is said that occasionally the}' are made of
sticks and twigs, but this I imagine is very exceptional.
The lining of down and feathers varies much, in some it is very
dense and copious, in others very scanty; normally it is neither the one
nor the other, rather scanty however than otherwise.
It is most often placed in some thick tuft of coarse grass, bed of
reeds or tangle of shrubs and grass in fenland or on the borders of
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 453
some vegetation-covered piece of water. The eggs vary in number from
six to thirteen, the number most often found being from eight to ten.
Morris gives the number laid as eight to ten or even fourteen.
According to him incubation lasts twenty-one days and the young
birds follow their mother to the water as soon as hatched.
The eggs, at least all I have seen, were quite indistinguishable from
those of the Common Teal, in shape, texture and size, and I think in
colour. Hume says that they have perhaps a more yellow creamy
tinge, but though a few may be more buff or yellow in tone than any
of that bird, many are no deeper at all.
Dresser gives the average as 1*87" by 1"35" ; those in my collection
average 1'82" by I'oG", making them out to be rather shorter and
broader.
Genus SPATULA.
The genus Spatula is distinguished from all other genera except the
Australian Malacorliinclms by the shape of the bill which is broadly
spatulate, the sub tip being about twice as broad as it is at the base.
There are four species whose range is practically cosmopolitan, but
only one is represented in India, viz., the Comnaon Shoveller.
The lamellaB are very long, thin and prominent, and the edges of the
upper mandible are much turned down on the terminal quarter.
The tail feathers number fourteen in both sexes.
(29) Spatula clypeata.
The Shoveller,
Spatula clypeata., Jerdon, '' Birds of India," III, p. 796; Hume, "Str.
Feath.," 1., p. 260 ; M^m.iUd^^. 402; Butler, ibid, 17, p. 28;
Scully, ibid, p. 199 ; Fairbank, ibidj p. 264 ; Ball, ibid, VII, p. 232 ;
Hume, ibid, p. 492 ; ibid.^ Cat., No. 957 ; id, "Str. Feath.," VIII,
p. 115 ; Scully, ibid, p. 362 ; Legge, "Birds of Ceylon," p. 1086.
Hume and Marshall, Game Birds, III, p. 141 ; Vidal, "Str. Feath.,"
IX, p. 92 ; Butler, ibid., p. 437 ; Reid, ibid, p. 80 ; Davidson, ibid^ p.
325; Hume, ibid, p. 417 ; Macgregor, ibid, p. 472 ; Barnes, " Birds
of Bombay,'"' p. 401 ; Hume, "Str. Feath.," XI, p. 343 ; Salvadori,
"Cat., Birds of British Museum," XXVII, p. 306 ; Blanford, "Avifauna
of Birds of India," IV, p. 452.
Description : Adult Male. — Whole head and neck glossy green,
shewing a purple tinge in certain lights, especially on the upper parts :
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454 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
upper breast, lower neck, outer scapulars and outer portions of upper
back mauve wliite ; a narrow centre patch from the neck brown, the
feathers edged pale, in fine specimens with broad white edges ; back
brown the feathers pale edged ; rump and upper tail coverts black,
o'lossed with peacock green and blue, the former tint predominating ;
rectrices brown, edged white, increasingly broader on the outer ones ;
lower breast, flanks and abdomen rich rufous chestnut, some of the
feathers on the posterior and interior flanks lighter and vermiculated
with brown ; thighs the same but duller, sometimes a few black spots
on the breast ; wing coverts a beautiful blue grey, some of those next
the iuner secondaries glossed Prussian blue on the terminal quarter of the
outer web; greater coverts more brown and edged with white forming
a wing bar next the speculum ; one of the outer scapulars brilliant
grey blue, others black glossed with green and with white centres,
tertiaries deep brown black, glossed with green turning to blue at the
tips, quills dark brown ; speculum a brilliant metallic green ; under tail
coverts black, glossed with blue green ; flanks next tail coverts white.
Bill black ; legs orange, claws horny brown, irides yellow, orange
or orange red.
'' In the male in winter the bill is black, usually with a greyish
shade ; in some it may be called leaden dusky. In November when
they first arrive, and in the case of birds of the year until much later,
the bills of the males are like those of the females.
" The irides vary, as a rule, in the male from yellow to reddish
orano^e, but I have recorded them as brown in two or three males.
" The legs and feet vary from orange to Indian or tile red and are
usually brighter coloured in both sexes in the spring, and at the same
season in the male than in the female. The webs are often dusky
towards their margins." (Hume).
Length about 2" ; wing 9-3" to 9-8" ; tail about o'S" : bill from gape
about 3" ; tarsus 1'4".
" Length 19-7" to 21-75"; expanse 29-75" to 32*5" ; wing 9" to 9-8";
tail from vent 3'6" to 4" ; tarsus 1-2" to 1-5"; bill from gape 2*95" to
3-05"; weight lib. 3 oz. to 1 lb. 14 oz." (Hiune).
After the breeding season the male assumes the plumage of the female
but may always be distinguished by the speculum on the wing, generally
darker, less marked upper parts, and the ])lain dark upper tail coverts.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 455
Blanford says " it is rare in India, so far as my experience goes, to
see a male in full plumage before the end of February," but I should
note that I have a male in splendid plumage shot in November.
Female. — The whole upper plumage brown, each feather edged with
pale rufous or dirty rufous white ; wing coverts grey : quills brown
with faint traces of the speculum and the white terminal bar to the
wing coverts well defined. Lower parts dull brownish buff varying a
good deal in depth and tint, the brown bases to the feathers showing
through in dark crescentic bauds on breast, flanks and sides, but not at
all, or only slightly on the abdomen ; chin immaculate ; neck and sides
of head speckled with dark brown.
Most ducks, but not all, have a well defined white loreal spot speckled
brown.
Irides brown or orange brown ; legs like those of the male, but duller
at all seasons ; bill dull brown, the lower mandible dull orange or orange
brown.
" In the female, the upper mandible is dark brown, tinged reddish
along the commissure and on the nail, while the lower mandible is dull
orange, brownish towards the tip.
'' The irides vary in the female from brown to reddish brown,
but I have recorded them as light yellow in one female, so that
there is only a general, and not a constant, sexual difference in the
colour." (Hume).
Length about 18-5"; wing S'l" to 9-2"; tail about 3-5" or less ;
tarsus 1-2" to 1-4" ; bill from gape 2-8".
*' Length IS'O" to 19-0" ; expanse 27-0" to 29-5" ; \\ ing 8-0" to
8-9" ; tail from vent 3'5" to 3-85" > tarsus 1*2" to 1-4"; bill irom gape
2-65" to 2-87" ; weight I lb. to 1 lb. 7 ozs." (Hume).
Male in first plumage resembles the female, but the wings are
brighter coloured ; bill pale reddish brown ; legs and feet flesh colour.
Males in their post nuptial plumage have the white of the breast
with a few dark crescentic bands, the lower belly with dark bars, and
the rich black of the under tail coverts mottled with chestnut and white.
'' Young in doivn resemble those of the Wigeon in having the upper
parts almost uniform, with indistinct pale spots, but they possess the
dark brown stripe through the eye as in the young Mallard. The
bill is not widened at the tip but it grows very rapidly " (Salvadori.)
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456 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
The Shoveller is to be met with at different times throughout the
whole of the Northern hemisphere, in till four Continents. Found over
practically the whole of Europe and Asia at the various seasons, it
extends in winter as far south as Somali land in Africa and in
America to the 18th degree latitude north, in the West Indies, and
even further south in Guatamala.
The references made to its occurrence in Australia and South
America apply to allied species and not to the Common Shoveller.
In India proper the Shoveller is a winter visitant to all parts from the
extreme north to the extreme south, but though it surely must occur
there at times it has not yet been recorded from Pegu and Tennasserim.
In Ceylon it is also fairly common, Legge writes : " This remarkable
and almost cosmopolitan Duck is a not unfrequent winter visitor to
Ceylon. 1 have not met with it myself, but Mr. G. Simpson informs
me that it comes in large numbers to Delft and the Palverainkados
and MuHaittiva lagoons, remaining during the same periods as the
Teal and Pintail."
The Shoveller is not one of the earliest ducks to arrive, as a rule
it comes into the more northern portions of India in the latter end
of October or even early November and is later still in the southern
parts of its range. In Bengal I think few are seen until November ;
in Assam, especially in the extreme north-east, I have seen them in
October. It leaves, as well as arrives, later than many other ducks
and may often be met with in Cachar during April, and Hume says
that some remain in the Peshawar Valley until May and that in
Cashmir they remain until quite the end of that month.
In the extreme north of its range and in the Himalayas it is only
seen whilst on migration during the months of late September and
October and early November and again in March and April as the
birds go north. In Kashmir, however, a good number pass the whole
winter. Adams says that it is found throughout the whole year there,
but this statement has never yet been confirmed.
Although common over the major part of the country it visits, it
does not seem anywhere to be found in very large numbers and may
often be seen in pairs or even singly. I do not remember ever seeing
a flock which numbered over forty and should imagine such a flock
to be rare anywhere.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 457
As regards its haunts, these ure everywhere and anywhere, but it
does not care for open, deep water and it prefers small creeks, ponds,
jheels and tanks which are well covered with vegetation, and also
stretches of shallow water with plentiful cover and a muddy bottom.
Hume says : " To the shores they stick, into the open water they
never seem to straggle by choice, and if you watch them they are for
the most part either dozing on the brink or paddling slowly in the
shallows, with their entire bills and moro or less of their heads under
water, their heads working from side to side all the while like a
Flamingo's or Spoonbill's."
I have, however, seen the Shoveller in open water, but this only
rarely and only during the heat of the day, when the birds wish to sleep.
As noted above by Hume they feed with bills and heads under water,
running the former through the shallows in the mud and so collecting
the numerous small forms of animal life which there abo;*nd and which,
when the bill is lifted, are retained whilst the water filters out. They
are omnivorous and will eat almost anything, but at the same time
animal food undoubtedly forms the major portion of their diet.
Except for the very handsome appearance of the full plumaged
drake, the Shoveller is worth little from any point of view. As an
edible they are one of the worst of the duck tribe ; coarse, oily and
fishy in taste and ranking equal to the white-eye and inferior to the
whistling teal.
As regards their feeding and its quality Hume writes : " Doubtless,
in more savoury localities, such as the more aristocratic ducks frequent,
insects and their larvse, worms, small frogs, shells, tiny fish and all
kinds of reeds and shoots of water grasses, rushes and the like, con-
stitute their food ; but where they take up their abode on one of the
village ponds, and the pond is a real dirty one, I can assert, from the
examination of many recently killed birds, that it is impossible to
say what these birds will not eat.
" All ducks are more or less omnivorous, but no other duck will
as a rule, frequent the dirty holes in which a pair of Shovellers often
pass the entire winter."
A curious note on its food, etc., is that in Lathom's " Synopsis of
Birds," in which he states : " Its chief food is insects for which it is
continually muddling in the water with its bill. It is also said to dex-
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458 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
terously catch flies which pass m its way over the water. Shrimps
among other things^, have been found in its stomach on dissection."
It is a bad swimmer and a worse diver and once shot takes little
trouble to bring to hand, if only wounded. It flies however very well
and strongly and in this respect it holds its own with teal and other
swift ducks, though it is slow to rise, getting up heavily and awkwardly
off the water and taking time to get up its speed.
They are very sociable birds and consort with Teal, Gadwall and
other ducks. As a rule they are very tame and can be easily approach-
ed if the least caution is taken and they have the reputation of
allowing repeated shots to be fired at them before a flock will leave the
piece of water they are frequenting.
Blanford remarks that it never appears to feed like other ducks
with its head and breast immersed and its tail sticking up vertically.
It is said to walk well, with a carriage similar to that of the Gadwall
and Hume says it can even run if sufl&cient inducement be held out for
it to do so.
Newton remarks on a peculiarity of this duck of " swimming round
in circles with its bill in the water above the spot where Pochards are
diving and feeding beneath and sifting out the substances that float up
when disturbed by the operation of the diving ducks."
As regards their breeding in Indian limits all I can find is Layard's
record noted by Legge : " Layard not only discovered it one year near
Jaffna, but found it breeding there at the Chawagacherry lagoon in
March. He then met with a female with twelve young ones, most of
which he captured, and in the month of November he obtained speci-
mens from native shooters."
This of course was an abnormal breeding incident in every way, time
as well as locality, and it is very hard to give any reason for such a
queer occurrence.
They breed throughout their Northern habitat, Asia, America, Europe
and also in parts of Northern Africa. They are said to breed very
extensively in Abyssinia and also in Algeria. In Asia it breeds i^a
Turkistan, Northern Persia, and in the whole of its Northern Asiatic
range.
In Europe it breeds over the greater part of the continent though
absent in some countries and present in others quite as far South.
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INDIAN DOCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 459
It makes a rather large, loose and untidy nest of soft reeds and
rushes, &c., lined with down and places it on the ground in swampy land
or by the edge of some piece of water in fen land. It does not ap-
pear to frequent open water even for the purposes of breeding and
selects places well away from observation and interference and conceals
its nest with great care. Hume says that the nest is a shallow depres-
sion in the soil made by the birds and thinly or thickly lined with
down or dry grass.
The description of the down with which the nest is lined and which
is of course taken from the bird itself is said by Legge to be " small,
dark brown, with small plainly defined whitish centres."
The eggs vary in number from seven to sixteen, eight or nine beino-
perhaps the number most often laid.
The colour is a pale, but rather clear tinted, yellow stone colour, some
have a creamy tinge and others are slightly greenish, but a yellow-
grey is imdoubtedly the most common colour.
The texture is extremely fine and close with a surface slightlv or
decidedly glossed. My eggs average 2*06" X 1*4" and are in shape
rather long ovals distinctly pointed at the smaller end.
Hume's series measured from 2*0" to 2*2" in length and from 1-83"
to 1"55" in breadth.
Genus MARMARONETTA.
The genus Marmaronetta contains a single species only with a bill
similar to that of Nettion, but differing from that genus in havino- no
wing speculum. Its coloration, which gives a silvery grey tone to
the plumage when taken as a whole effect, is quite sufficient to at
once distinguish it from all other ducks, either Indian or otherwise.
Marmaronetta angustirostris.
The Marbled Duck.
Querquedula angustirostris. — Hume, " Str. Feath.," I, p. 262 ; Ander-
son, il'd, III, p. 278; Butler, ibid, IV, p. SO ; id., ibid, V,p. 234; Hume
and Marshall, " Game Birds of India," III, p. 237; Reid, " Str. Feath.",
X, p. 82; McLeod, ibid. p. 168; Hume, ibid, p. 174.
Chaulelasmus angustirostris, — Hume, "Str. Feath.", VII, p. 493; (bid
Cat. No. 961 bis ; Barnes, " Birds of Bombay," p. 405 ; Hume's " Nests,
and Eggs," 2nd ed., Ill, p. 291 ; Barnes, Journal, Bombay Natural
History Society, VI, p. 291.
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460 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Marmaronetta angustiros;tris.— ^2.hv.Aov\ " Cat., British Mnsenm,"
XXVII, p. 321 ; Blanford, " Avifauna, Birds of India," IV,
p. 454.
Description. Adult Male. — Whole upper parts a silvery grey, each
feather having the central portion darker and brownish and the tip and
terminal edge ppler ; the head and nape is more buff in tint and has
each feather centred brown, giving it a barred appearance ; the parts
surrounding the eye brown, forming a distinct dark brown eye patch ;
chin, throat and under part of the neck paler, almost white, with the
dark centres much reduced and forming only a stippling ; lower parts
white, more or less tinged with buff and grey, and also barred with dark
o-rey-brown on the breast, flanks and sides, and, less distinctly, on the
lower tail-coverts. Tail a silvery brown-grey, edged paler; wings silver
orey, the outer secondaries a purer, paler colour and the inside of the
primary quills darker and brown ; all the feathers, coverts and quills,
have the shafts brown distinctly shewing against the grey.
" Length 18-3" to 19" ; expanse 28-5" to 29-5" ; tail from vent 3-6"
to 4"0"; wing 8*J" to 8'5" ; wings when closed reach to 0*7" to 1'5" of
end of tail; bill at front, including nail 1-77" to 1-85"; tarsus 1-44" to
1-52" ; weight lib. 3ozs. to lib. 5ozs."
" The legs and feet are dusky olive or dark horny brown, with the
claws and webs black ; or horny green with the webs and claws dark
grey ; the bill bluish grey, black on the culmen and tip ; or dusky,
bounded at the margins of the feathers of the forehead and cheeks
with a pale leaden blue line, continued along the margins of both man-
dibles to near the tij), and a spot of the same colour just above the
nail, the irides are brown." (Hume).
Female. — Only differs from the male in being smaller, having the
eye patch less pronounced and the general plumage duller and more
uniform in colour and the crest also is less developed.
" Length 16-9" to 17*5" ; expanse 27" to 28" ; tail from vent 2'8" to
B'7" ; wing 7*9" to 8-1" ; wings when closed reach to within 0*5" to 1*0"
of the end of the tail; bill at front TG" to 1*75"; tarsus 1*4" to Vb" ;
weight lib. to lib. 3ozs." (Hume).
" Length 15-75" ; expanse 26*5" ; wing 7-G2" ; tail from vent 2*75"."
" Legs and feet greenish plumbeous ; irides dark brown ; bill dusky
plumbeous, darkest on the culmen." (Butler).
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INDIA N D UCKS A ND THE IE A LLIES. 48 1
" Young. — Similar to the female but all the markings and tints still
duller, the lower pai-ts almost uniform dull pale creyish." (iSalvadori).
A young female obtained by Major Olivier and now in this Society's
collection has the wing only 7'42" but at the same time has the bill
about 1-8".
The range of the Marbled Teal extends from the countries to the
West of the Mediterranean Sea, through those bordering it North and
South into Western Asia, India being its Eastern limit. It is also
found in the Canaries.
As regards India little has been recorded about its habitat since Hume
wrote in " Game Birds '' : —
" Its normal range with us (it is presumably only a cold weather
visitant) appears to be the whole of Sindh (from every CoUectorate in which
it has been recorded, and where it is extremely common) and Northern
Guzerat, the Southern pai-t of the Dehra Gazi Khan district, and of
Bhawalpur, in all three of which it is a regular but less abundant visitant.
No doubt it will be met with in Kutch and Kathiawar, but it has not
been thence recorded as yet.
" But outside these limits, it occurs much further east as a straggler.
I have had specimens from Western Oodeypore, and fron; near Delhi.
The late Mr. A. Anderson procured it in the North- West Provinces
at Futtehgarh, and in Oudh near Hurdui ; and I myself procured two
freshly killed specimens in the Calcutta Market, the one in December
and the other in February, which had been captured about 22 miles
south-west, and some 18 miles west, respectively of the metropolis."
Since this was wi'itten the Marbled Teal has been obtained in Kutch,
several times again about Delhi and more than once also in the
Calcutta Market, but nothing has been recorded that I can find which
in any way extends the original area as given by Hume. A specimen,
lent me from this Society's collection, has no locality given on its
ticket, but was presumably collected in one of the places above men-
tioned.
I should note that once when showing this specimen to a friend he at
once said that he had shot two birds of the same kind in Gowhatty,
Assam; he said that neither he nor any of the men to whom he showed
them had ever seen the duck before and could not name it. He was
very sure of its being the same species.
4
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462 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
In its arrival it appears to be later than most ducks, even in its
extreme North West point of entry it does not appear to be seen in
any numbers until late in October or early November and as it works
South and East it of course gets later and later. Its departure would,
on the other baud, seem to take place at much the same time as that of
other birds of its order, i.e., in April, a few remaining until the last few
days of May in very late years.
Little has been added to our knowledge of the habits of this Teal
since Hume wrote concerning it as follows : —
" In Sindh where I had abundant opportunities of observing it, I
found the Marbled Teal invariably associated in large parties. Its
favourite haunts were broads, thickly grown with rush, in which it fed
and sported, Gom])aratively seldom showing itself in the open water.
As a rule it does not at once rise when guns are fired as the other
ducks do, but if by chance, it is at the moment outside of the rushes or
similar cover in the open water, it scuttles into concealment, as a coot
would do, and if in cover already, remains there perfectly quiet, until
the boats push within 60 or 70 yards of it ; then it rises, generally one
at a time, and even though fired aL, not unfrequently again drops into
the rushes within a couple of hundred yards. When there has been
a good deal of shooting on a lake and almost all the other dncks, and
with them of course &ome of these are circling round and round, high
in the air, you still keep, as you push through the reeds and rushes,
continually flushing the Marbled Teal, and the broad must be small, or
the hunting very close and long continued to induce all the Marbled
Teal to take wing. Of course where there is a little cover (though
there you never meet with this dack in large numbers) they rise and
fly about with the other ducks, but their tendency in these resjiects
is rather coot-like than duck-like. Individuals may take wing at the
first near shot, but the great majority of them stick to cover as long as
this is possible ; and on two occasion I saw very pretty shooting, boats
in line pushing up a wide extent of rush-grown water, and the Marbled
Teal rising every minute in front of us at distances of sixty or seventy
yards, like Partridges out of some of our great Norfolk turnip fields ;
here and there a Shoveller or a White-eyed Pochard, both of which
when disturbed, cling a good leal to cover, would be flushed, but there
was not one of these to te i of the Marbled Teal
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 463
The flight of this species, though Teal-hke, is less rapid and flexible
(if I may coin an expression to represent the extreme facility
with which that species turns and twists in the air) than that of
the Common Teal. It more nearly resembles that of the Garganey,
but is less powerful and less rapid even than that of this latter species.
There is something of the Gadwall in it, but it wants the ease of this.
It flies much lower too, and as already mentioned much more readily
resettles after being disturbed. I have hardly ever seen them swim-
ming in the open, and in the rushes they make of course slow progress.
When wounded they dive, but for no great distance, and then persist-
ently hold on under water in any clump of rush or weed, with only
their bills above water. I have never seen them on land in a wild state,
but some captured birds, whose wings had been clipped, walked very
lightly and easily ; and though they had been but a few days in con-
finement, they were very tame and could, I should imagine, be easily
domesticated.
" In Spain they are described as very wary, and there they seem to
frequent open water ; here they avoid this latter as a rule, and are, I
should say, amongst the tamer of our ducks.
" Their food is very varied here. Favier says that in Tangiers they
feed on winged insects ; in Sindh the major portion of their food
consist of leaves, shoots, rootlets, corns and seeds of aquatic plants,
intermingled with M'orms, fresh-water shells, insects of all kinds, and
their larvse. I believe I found a small frog in the stomach of one,
but it is not noted on the tickets of any of the specimens now in the
Museum, and I cannot be quite sure."
Its voice has been variously described as a whistling croak, a low
croaking whistle, a rather hoarse quack, and a quack like that of the
domestic duck but very harsh and abrupt. It is probable that these
descriptions apply to two notes, and that this duck, like some others,
has two distinct calls, one more or less of a whistle, the other somewhat
of the nature of a quack.
Its food Is practically omnivorous, and as an article of diet itself it
is not first class.
Mr. B. Alexander found it breeding plentifully in the Cape Verd
Islands, and it appears to breed on the greater portions of its habitat
round the Mediterranean. Although breeding in latitudes so far sotith,
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464 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
it is an unusually late breeder, May and June being the months in
which the eggs are laid. It is said to make a rough nest much like
that of the Common Teal, and to place it amongst rushes on land sur-
rounding swamps and various kinds of water and also on the sea-shore,
this last more especially in Spain. Of this latter country Colonel
Irby thus records their nesting in Andalusia : — " The Marbled Duck
breeds during the last week in May, nesting in patches of rushes. The
nest is like that of a Teal, containing a good deal of the down from
the breast of the female, and eleven eggs appear to be the usual com-
plement. The latter much resemble those of the Common Teal, being
of a yellowish white colour. Favier states that (near Tangiers) they
also nest in rushes during May and June, and that incubation lasts
from twenty-five to twenty-seven days."
The eggs which Colonel Butler received from the Mekran coast
are in all probability rightly identified by him as being those of the
Marbled Teal. He says : " I received some small ducks' eggs from the
Mekran coast, which are in my opinion those of the Marbled Duck.
The nest was on the ground under a solitary babool bush, growing
on an extensive tract of salt marsh, some seven or eight miles north of
Ormarra, called Moorputty, and consisted, according to the account of
the native who foutul it, of a collection of fine twigs formed into a
solid pad with a few pieces of down as a lining and measuring eight or
nine inches in diameter.
" The egos eioht in number, and of a delicafe cream colour were taken
on the 19th June, 1878. I have carefully compared them with eggs of
the Marbled Teal and find that they agree exactly, both in size, colour
and texture. They are certainly not Garganey's eggs, being too large ;
I know of no other duck inhabiting that district they could possibly
belong to except the present species.
" They vary in size from .1*8" to 1*9" in length, and from 1*35" to
1-.13" in breadth."
Barnes in his article on '' Nesting in Western India " noted that he
too had received some eggs from the Frere IVl useum which had come
from the Mekran Coast about the same time as those received by Colonel
Butler. He describes them as being of a creamy white, much soiled
and dulled by lapse of time, but he does not give their dimensions.
( Jb he continued).
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465
MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES
(ZEPHRONIID^)
INHABITING INDIA, CEYLON AND BURMA.
By R. I. PococK, OF THE British Museum of Natural History.
Part II (ivith Plate B.)
Read before the Bombay Natural Hlstor}) Society on l^th June, 1898.
( Continued from page 285 in this Volume. )
Genus Zephronia, Gray.
Griffith's Animal Kingdom, XIV, pi. cxxxv, fig. 5 ; also XV, p. 796
(1832).
Zephronia tumida (Butler), pi. B., fig. 8-8 b.
Zephronia tumida, Butler, Ann. Nat. Hist. ( 5 ) IX, p. 196, fig. 1
(1882).
Colour. — Head and nuchal-plate black ; anterior half of tergites
testaceous ; posterior half black ; striped very much as in Z. tigrina.
Tergites. — Anterior half, except of first, thickly granular ; posterior
half thickly and finely punctured.
Head thickly punctured below, less thickly above.
Nuchal-plate sparsely punctured above, thickly below, where it is
marked by a nearly straight fine ridge.
2nd tergite with anterior border vertical ; lamina scarcely developed,
represented almost wholly by the slightly thickened edge of the
tergite.
Anal tergite {$) very slightly hollowed towards its free margin,
without marginal notch, and with inner ridge represented merely by two
black tubercles. AntenncR with apical segment considerably dilated.
Legs as in Z. nigrinota. Forceps almost exactly like those of Z,
nigrlnota ; in the first pair the immovable dactylus is more cur\-ed and
bears a tooth at the base, and the distal segment of the movable
dactylus is much smaller; in the second pair the distal segment of the
movable dactylus is slightly dentate at the apex.
Length 42 mm.
A single male specimen from Coremia, North Assam (E, W. P. Cam-
bridge). In sculpturing this species resembles those allied to Z. oralis
(Gray), but the form of the forceps seems to indicate greater affinity
with Z. nigrlnota.
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466 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Zephroma tigrina (Butler), pi. B., fig. 10.
Syn. Zephroma tigrina, Butler, Ann. Nat. Hist. (4), X, p. 356,
pi. xviii, fig. 7 (1872).
Colour, — Mostly striped black and yellow, the anterior portion of the
tergites being ocbraceous, the posterior border black ; head and nuchal-
plate black.
Tergites. — Anterior and posterior portions smooth, middle portion
rugulose, very closely and somewhat deeply punctured ; anal tergite
thickly punctured.
Head deeply punctured, thickly below, sparsely above.
Nuchal-plate deeply and sparsely punctured, crossed by a fine
nearly straight groove and with sinuate inferior border.
Second tergite with abruptly sloped anterior border and upturned
edo-e ; lamina scarcely developed, represented almost wholly by the
slightly thickened border of the tergite, evenly arched.
Anal tergite without marginal notch, and with inner ridge
represented by a fine piece.
Claws as in Z. 7iigrinota.
$ Apical antennal segment short, stout, piriform. Anal tergite
with border produced downwards and backwards ; lightly saddle-
shaped. Forceps so closely resembling those of Z. excavata as to need
no description.
9 Apical antennal segment much less dilated than in male ;
sub-cylindrical. Anal tergite with edge feebly produced behind, and
very feebly saddle-shaped. Vulva as in Z. excavata.
Length up to nearly 40 nnn.
Type specimen and others labelled E. Indies ; also several from
Darjeeling presented to the British Museum by M. Adrien Dollfus.
This species bears almost the same relationship to Z. e.vcavata that
Z. tumida does to Z. nigrinota. It differs in being striped black and
yellow, and in being punctured whereas Z. excavata is nearly of a
uniform tint and smooth.
Zephronia excavata (Butler), pi. B., fig. 12-12 b.
Syn. Zephronia excavata^ Butler, Ann. Nat. Hist. (4), XIV., p. 185,
pi. xvi, fig. 1 $ (1874).
Colour olivaceous ; hind margins of tergites reddish.
Tergites smooth, polished, without punctures or granules.
/
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A MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 467
Head very sparsely punctured. Nuchal-plate -without punctures
with a fine and nearly straight groove before its sinuate anterior border.
1st tergite somewhat abruptly sloped in front, but not sulcate ;
lamina small, rising gradually, with evenly thickened edge.
Anal tergite without marginal notch, but with a distinct inner ridge.
Legs attenuate at the apex, with a single spine above claw.
$ Apical segment of antennte distally expanded. Anal tergite
markedly saddle-shaped. Forceps. — 1st pair with immovable dactylus a
little shorter than the movable, lightly incurved ; movable dactylus stout,
externally convex, internally concave, with rounded apex, not dentate,
the distal end indistinctly separated by a suture. Second pair with
immovable dactylus blade-like, wider at base than apex, with nearly
straight outer and inner edges and truncate apex, not dentate ; movable
dactylus with its distal third separated as a distinct segment, wider at
base than apex, with very convex outer surface and correspondingly
concave inner surface.
9 Apical antennal segment almost cylindrical, very slightly dilated
at its distal end. Anal tergite not saddle-shaped, evenly roiuided.
Vulva with proximal portion much the larger of the two and some-
what quadrate, with straight inner border and convex outer border ; the
distal portion or cap very short, as in Z. impressa, with rounded outer
and inner angles and lightly concave distal margin.
Length less than 20 mm.
Several specimens of both sexes from Sikkim [Dr. Hooher').
This species is most nearly related to Z. tigrina. It differs from it,
however, in being wholly smooth and differently coloured. The
difference exhibited by the sexes in the form of the apical antennal
segment led Mr. Butler to refer them to two distinct genera.
Zephronia mamdata (Butler), pi. B., fig. 13.
Sphcerotherium maculatum, Butler, Ann. Mag. Nat, Hist. (4), XIV,
p. 186 (1874).
This species, of which only the female is known, is closely allied to the
preceding, Z. excavata, Butler. It is kept, however, separate from the
latter on account of the characters mentioned in the key to the species
published on p. 471.
Length about 35 mm.
Locality. — Sikkim (Dr. Hooker).
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468 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XH.
Zephronia nigrinota (Butler.), pi. B., fig. 11-11 b.
Syn. Zephronia nigrinota, Butler, Ann. Nat. Hist. (4), X, p. 356,
pi. xviii, fig. 9 (1872).
!Syn. Zephronia Icevissima, id., Ann. Nat. Hist. (4) XIV, p. 185,
pl.xvi., fig.4 <J(1874).
Syn. SphcBroth. politum, id., torn, eit., p. 186, pi. xvi, fig. 2 $ (1874).
Colour varying from ochraceous to piceous.
Tergites with hinder half smooth and polished ; anterior half
exceedingly finely granular ; anal tergite very smooth and shining.
Head sparsely punctured above, more thickly below. Nuchal plate
mostly wholly smooth, with sinuate lower margin marked by a nearly
straight fine groove.
Second tergite with somewhat vertical but not sulcate anterior portion ;
lamina small, rising gradually, with evenly arched front border and
evenly thickened anterior edge.
Anal tergite evenly rounded in both sexes, without marginal notch,
and with inner ridge represented by two pieces.
Legs attenuate at distal end with a single spine above and behiod
the claw ; claw less arched.
$ Anal tergite evenly rounded. Apex of antenucB larger than in
female. Forceps. — Ist pair with immovable dactylus crescentic, exceed-
ingly incurved; movable dactylus composed of two segments, whereof
the proximal is furnished distally with a series of denticles, and is much
longer and stouter than the distal, and separated from it by a constric-
tion. 2nd pair with immovable dactylus slender, nearly parallel-sided,
rounded apex, and bearing on its inner surface a bifid membranous tooth ;
movable dactylus, with its distal third distinctly segmented, furnished
behind, as also is the immovable dactylus, with a row of denticles.
9 Anal tergite like that of the male. Apical segment of antennfe
conical, but less dilated distally than in the male. Vulva with
proximal portion with convex infero-external border, straight internal
border ; distal portion or cap internally produced into a conspicuous
more or less blunted process ; external angle very convex ; concave
between the external and internal angles.
Length between 30 to 40 mm.
Locality. — Type specimens of IcBvissima and politum from Sikkim, of
nigrinota from Assam, others from Darjeeling (Miss Dendy).
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A MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 4G9
This species is related to Z. e.vcavata, but diHTers in the particulars
pointed out imder that species.
The type of Z. Icevissima does not apparently differ in any specific
character from the type of Z. nlgrinota. The type of Sphcerotheriwn
politum, although referred to as another genus by Mr. Butler, is merely
a female specimen of ntgrinota.
Zephronia dor ice (Pocock).
Ann. Mus. Geneva (2), IX, p. 79, fig. 1(1890) ; also op. cit. (2), X,
p. 394 (1890).
In this species the colour of the segments is chestnut-brown, with
the posterior border black, but the black stripe is not sharply defined
in front.
In front the segments are thickly granular, and behind the granular
area are a small number of scattered punctures. Head, nuchal-plate,
and 2nd tergite distinctly punctured ; anal tergite much more closely
punctured throughout, without marginal groove, but longish undivided
inner crest.
Length 37 nun. (nearly 1 ^ inch).
Locality. — Kachin Hills, east of Bhamo, Upper Burma (L. Fea).
Zephronia fece (Pocock).
Ann. Mus. Geneva (2), IX, p. 80, fig. 2 (1890) \ also op. cit. (2),
X, p. 394 (1890).
This species is easily recognisable from Z, dorice by being of a dark
yellow or rather green colour, indistinctly clouded with paler yellow,
and by having all the segments densely and closely punctured through-
out above. It is also of much smaller size, measuring a little less than
one inch in length.
Locality. — Teinzo on the Moolay River, north-east of Bhamo, and
Kachin Cauri to the east of Bhamo, Upper Burma (L. Fea).
Zejjhronia clivicola (Pocock),
Ann. Mus. Genova (2), X, p. 386, fig. 1 (1890).
This species is very closely related to Z. fea in colour and in the
majority of its structural character. The first pair of forceps of the
Gopulatory organ however are rather differently formed, and the colouring
is less mottled, the anal tergite being a uniform yellowish brown. It is
also- a little larger, measuring about 1^ inch in length.
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470 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURA L HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Locality. — Villages of Puepoli and Meteleo, about 3,000 feet altitude,
in Upper Burma {L. Fea).
Zephronia formosa (Pocock), pi. B., fig. 9.
Ann. Mus. Genova (2), X, p. 387, fig. 2 (1890).
This handsome species may be readily distinguished from the rest of
the Burmese species by its beautiful colouring, being a rich black
with a brigh''^ yellowish-red stripe on each segment in front of the posterior
border. The anal tergite moreover is strongly saddle-shaped, very much
as in tigrina (Butler), that is to say, is concave from above downwards,
and convex from sidd to side, with the inferior border produced. The
tergites are granular iti froat and striate throughout.
Locality. — Village of Thao, about 3,000 feet, and villages of Puepoli
and Meteleo, about 3,000 feet, in Upper Burma (L. Fea).
Zephronia semilcevis (Pooook), pi. B., fig. 14.
Ann. Mus. Genova (2), X, p. 138, fig. 3 (1890).
The segments in this species are ochre-yellow, smooth and densely
pubescent in front, black and polished behind, the anal segment l^eiug
ochre-yellow and polished and having no inner crest. There are two
spines above the claw on the legs.
Leng-th nearly an inch and a half.
Locality. — Tenasserim. Specimens were taken by Mr. E. W. Gates iq
the southern portion of this country and by Signer L. Fea at
Malewoon,
Easily distinguishable from all the forms in the characters mentioned
in the diagnosis.
Zepliron'/a gestri (Pocock).
Ann. Mus. Genova (2), X, p. 390, fig. 4 (1890).
A small green species, with the hinder border of its tergites reddish.
Tero-ites smooth in front, minutely punctured throughout. The form in
size and general appearance resembles Z, excavata (Butler) but may be
recognised from it by having the 2nd tergite crossed by a distinct
groove behind its anterior border, and by having the anal tergite of the
male convex from above downwards and not strongly saddle-
shaped.
Tjength a little over half an inch.
Locality.— Thagata on Mount Mooleyit, about 1,400 feet (VO. Fea).
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A PONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 471
Zeplironla comotti^ (Vooook).
Ann. Mus. Genova (2), X, p. 391, fig. 5 (1890).
This species is smaller than gestri^ which it much resembles iu colour
and sculpture. The laminate portion of the 2n(l tergite is however
considerably larger, and the copulatory forceps are differently shaped.
Length about one-third of an inch.
Locality. — Minhla, in Burma {G. B. Comotto),
Zephronia ere pilaris (Pocock).
Ann. Mus. Genova (2) X, p. 392, fig. 6 (1890).
In size, colour, and ornamentation the species very' closely approaches
Z. comotti and Z. gestri, of which only the males are at present known. It
may however be at once recognized from these two by the fact that the
anal legs of the male are very long with strongly curved femur ; and the
second pair of forceps of the copukitory apparatus are peculiarly
modified, having short stout digits, with a stridulating plate attached to
the basal segment of the movable.
Length half an inch.
Locality. — Rangoon (E. W. Gates).
Key to the Indian and Burmese Species of Zephronia.
a. Tergal plates granular in front.
a^ . Anal tergite strongly saddle-shaped in both sexes;
striped red and black formosa Poc.
h^. Anal tergite evenly convex in both sexes.
a-. Anal tergite and posterior portion of the others
exceedingly smooth and polished ; crest on anal
tergite divided nigrinota (Butl.)
h-. Anal tergite at least finely punctured ; crest on
anal tergite undivided.
a^. Crest on anal tergite small and tubercular,
the posterior portion of it practically obso-
lete ; conspicuously striped... i!'«m2(Za (Butl.)
h^. Crest on anal tergite very long and entire ;
less conspicuously striped.
a'^. Posterior half of tergites almost
wholly smooth, at most finely
punctured dorlmVoit.
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472 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATVEAL HISTORY SOCIETY, VoLXll.
h^, Tergites conspicuously punctured to
the very margin.
a^. Colour redder with black pos-
terior margin to the tergites ;
anal tergite pale, concolor-
ous cUvicola Poc.
^•J. Colour greener, clouded all over
black and dark green.. fece Poc.
h Tergal plates not granular in front.
a*-". With more than one spine above the cliiw on
the legs ; terga anteriorly pubescent ; ridge
on anal tergite absent ..sem'hev/s Poc.
d^. "With one spine above the claw on the legs ;
tergal plates not pubescent in front ; crest on
anal tergite present.
a^. Crest on anal tergite smaller ; tergites
sculptured with a coarse network of
punctures, margins smooth ; of large size,
conspicuously striped tlgrina (Butl.)
h"^ . Crest on anal tergite larger ; tergites
smooth, minutely punctured throughout.
a^. Second tergite crossed in front by
a fine groove behind the border;
of small size, green, terga banded
posteriorly with red ; anal tergite
convex in both sexes.
«■'. Male, with long posterior legs
and stridulating organ on the
posterior forceps of the copula-
tory organ ...crepitans Poc.
h'\ Male, with posterior legs nor-
mal ; no stridulating organ,
a'". Ijamina of 2nd
tergite larger ; digits
of first pair of forcej)8
of copulatory organ
sub-equal and strongly
![]()
.1 MONOGRAPH OF THE PILL-MILLIPEDES. 473
curved comolti Poc
b^". Lamina of 2nd
tergite smaller ; digits
of first pair of forceps
straight and very
unequal gestri Poc.
(i^. Second tergite not crossed in front
by a supernumerary groove,
a". Of small size (19 mm.) ; vulva
longer than wide ; anal ridge
longer e.icavata (Bntl.)
b^\ Of larger size (30 mm.); vulva
broader than long, anal
crest shovtev,..7nacuIata(But[.)
Explanation of Plate B.
Fio". 1 ArthrosphcBi'a versicolor : natural size.
,1 i-t) t. 1*
lateral view of 2nd tergite.
posterior forceps of copulatory
'J
11
J?
noticeps ;
zehraica
organ,
anterior forceps of copulatory
organ.
voiva.
anterior view of head,
vulva.
natural size.
„ vulva.
lutescens : lateral view of head and 2ud
tergite.
„ vulva.
atrisparsa: anterior forceps of copulatory
organ.
marmorata : side view.
„ vulva.
piUfera : leg to show spine armature.
8 Zephronia tumida : natural size.
8a „ „ anterior forceps of copulatory organ.
Ic
Id
2
2a
3
4a
5
6
6a
7
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474 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Fig. 86 Zephronia tum'uld : posterior forceps of copulatory organ.
J 9 ,, formosa : natural size.
,, 10 „ iignna: 1 st forceps of copiilatory organ.
11 „ y4,''^/7"y;o^a : 1st forceps of copnlatory organ.
11a „ ,, 2nd forceps of copulatory organ.
„ lU) „ „ vulva,
^j 12 „ excavata : 1st forceps of copulatory organ.
1 2a „ „ second forceps of copulatory organ.
„ 12^* „ „ vulva.
„ 13 „ rnaculata : vulva.
14 ,, sernilcevis : natural size.
,, 15 ArthrosphcBra aurocinda ; inner view of posterior tergites
to show double crest on tlie
anal plate.
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CO -y
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475
THE MOTHS OF INDIA.
SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER TO THE YOLUMES IN
"THE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA."
PART YI.
By Sir G. F. Hampson, Bart., f.z.s., f.r.s.
{Continued from page 314 of this Volume.')
Genus Euzopherodes.
Euzopherodes. — Rag., Rom. Mem., viii. iued.
Type. — E. albicans. — Rag.
Range. — Bengal ; Ceylon.
Palpi uptin-ned, the second joint ojlindrical, the third short ; maxillary
palpi filifor.ii ; frons rounded ; untennse
of male almost simple. Forewing with
the costa nearly straight, the apex
rectangular ; veins 3 and .5 stalked ; 4
absent ; 8, 9 stalked, 10 from cell. Hind
Euzo p/ierodes albicans $ \. wing with the coll long ; vein 2 from
well before angle ; o and 5 on a long stalk ; 4 absent ; 6, 7 from upper
angle ; 7 anastomosing with 8.
4341a. Euzopherodes albicans, Rag., Rom. Mem., viii. ined., pi.
xxxi, f. 23.
$. Head, thorax and abdomen greyish white with a brown tinge.
Forewing greyish white, irrorated with brown ; the base brown ; the
first line brown, broad, prominent and erect, bent outwards at median
nervure ; the second line oblique from f'osta to vein 6, then excurved to
vein 2 with a second line beyond and parallel to it ; a prominent discoidal
point at lower angle of cell; a marginal series of points. Hindwing
suffused with pale brown ; the cilia white.
Habitat. — Calcutta ; Ceylon. Exp. 16mm.
4343a. EuzoPHERA hemicautella, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii. ined.,
pi. 47, f. 25.
(J. Maxillary palpi filiform ; antennae with slight sinus at base of
shaft ; mid and hind tibise fringed with long hair on both sides ;
forewing with a costal fold below, extending to two-thirds of wino-;
hindwing with veins 3 and 5 stalked.
Head and thorax fuscous brown ; abdomen paler. Forewino- dark
brown, the cell suffused with ferruginous-red with a purplish tino-e ; a
postmedial pale brown curved line strongly defined by a blackish line
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476 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY „Vol, XII.
on inner side and sliglitly by fuscous on outer side. Hindwing semi-
liyaline slightly tinged \\\t\\ fuscous ; the veins, Ji margina] line, and line
through cilia fuscous.
Tlahital. — Puttalani, Ceylon (Pole). Exp. 16mm. Type — In British
Museum.
4351. Nephopteeyx basisignella, belongs to Sect. Ill, D. A.
$ . Forewing with sufifused black scales along median nervure below ;
hindwing with streaks of black scales along median nervure and
nervules, and a few on subcostal veins.
Sect. I., 4382a. Myelois strigivenella, Hmpsu., Rom. Mem., viii.
ined., pi. 55, f. 13.
$. liead and thorax brown slightly 'tinged with grey; abdomen
ochreous suffused with grey-brown. Forewing grey ; the veins strongly
streaked with dark brown ; the whole inner area suffused with
dark brown : cilia grey-brown with a pale line at base. Hindwing
semi-hyaline silky white ; the veins slightly darker ; the costa brown ;
a fine brown marginal line and line through the cilia.
i^a6i^a^.— K basis. Eccp. 26mm.
4387a. Phycita symphokiella, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii. ined.,
pi. 56, f. 16.
Head, horax and abdomen grey-brown slightly irroraled with fuscous.
Forewing variegated with grey, red-brown, dark-brown and black
shades; an oblique dark-edged white line from cell to inner margin,
with a tuft of raised dark scales on its inner edge and a triangular
rufous patch beyond it on the inner side of the sinuous dark edged white
medial line, which has diffused black beyond its costal portion ; two
prominent black discocellular specks ; a submarginal whitish line angled
outwards on vein G and defined by a black line on its inner edge, some
rufoUs 8uff"usion beyond it; the margin grey with a series of black
specks. Hindwing pale fuscous, rather darker towards margin ; cilia
paler with a fine dark line through them.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 24mm.
4389a. AntennJi) of male with the shaft slightly curved near base
with scale-teeth in the sinus.
Phycita polyptychella, Bag., Rom. Mem., vii. p. 244, pi. 16, f. 34.
5 . Head, thorax and abdomen greyish-brown mixed with dark
brown and ochreous scales. Forewing grey, thickly irrorated with
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 477
dark brown; a, pale antemedial angulate mark from submedian fold to
imwr margin ; two discocellular black specks ; a submarginal pale line
defined on eacb side towards costa bj fuscouSj oblique from costa to
vein 6, then bent outwards and minutely dentate; a marginal series of
dark points. Hindwing semi-hyaline brownish with fine marginal
brown lino.
Bahitat. — Persia ; Goorais Valley, Kashmir. E.vp. 30mm.
Sect. III. A. 4391. Phycita chloropterella.
Palpi of male with the second joint hollowed out to receive the brush-
like maxillaiy palpi ; frons with tuft of hair ; antennse thickened and
flattened with sinus and ridge of scales at base.
P. 93. 'i392a. — Peycita semiusta, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., viii.
ined., pi. 5G, f. 7.
9 . Head and thorax ochreous brown; abdomen ochreous -with black
dorsal tufts on first two segments. Forewing with the basal half
ochreous; an almost medial line of raised scales with a few dark scales on
its inner edge, and a prominent black patch on inner margin; the outer
half of wing dark rufous with a broad postmedial band of dark grey-
brovrn; the margin grey with a series of black specks. Hindwing pale
fuscous ; the fringe on median nervure ochreous ; the cilia
whitish.
Habitat. — Gambia; Sikhim ; 1,800' (Dudgeon). Ej-p. 22mm. Tt/j^e —
In British Museum.
4393. Phycita steniella belongs to Sect. I. c, except that the
antennae have the shaft laminate instead of ciliated.
4394. Phycita alhilacah's ^= Phycita (FTi/alospila) leuconeu-
RELLA, Rag., Rom. Mem. vii, p. 170.
Antennae of male with slight ridge of scales at base of shaft and loug
uniseriate pectinations.
440U. Phycita Itemixanthella = 4401. Phycita translugidella.
4410a. RHODOPH.EA bndoleucella. Hmpsn, Ron. Mem. viii.
ined. pi. 56, f. l.
$. Antenna Avith a large sinus at base of shaft with a scale-tooth
before it on upperside, and a series of spines in the sinus ; collar with
a large tbft of hair at middle, mid and hind tibiae fringed with long
hair ; forewing with the inner area on underside clothed with yellow
6
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478 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIJ,
scales, and with an elongate oval patch of leaden grey scales at
middle.
Head, thorax ond abdomen olive brown ; vertex of head whitish ;
metathorax purplish grey. Forewings moss green, olive yellow
towards base ; a medial dark line oblique from costa to below cell and
augled inwards on vein 1, with a large rounded yellowish white patch
on its inner side from middle of cell to inner margin, and an elongate
patch beyond it, extending along inner margin io the postmedial line,
which is nearly straight from costa to vein 6, then dentate, the teeth
endino- in white points, then angled outwards and with two white
marks on it on vein 1 ; a iar^e obscure black disflocellular ocellus ; the
outer area purplish fuscous, except towards costa ; a large white patch
on the margin below apex. Hindwing purplish fuscous, suffused with
olive yellow towards costa ; cilia tipped with white.
Habitat. — Kh^sis. Exp. 30mm.
44105. Rhodoph^ea FLA.VICOLLARELLA, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem. viii.
ined,, pi. 56, f. 3.
$. Palpi orange ; vertex of head white ; antennte blackish; collar
orange, black at throat ; thorax green and black, with white scales on
metathorax ; abdomen blackish, dorsally banded with orange towards
base. Forewing with the basal area orange with some green at base
of costa, and green irrorated with white on costa, before the antemedial
broad, very irregular, shining white band edged by black lines, enclosing
a black spot on costa, dentate inwards below costa and on median
nervure, contracting in cell and at inner inargin, and with a white spot
beyond it above vein 1 ; the discal area moss green, with some orange
marks on and below costa and, an obscure black discoidal ocellus with
duffusod black below and beyond it : the outer half of inner area pur-
plish with an orange patch beyond lower angle of cell, and a postmedial
patch on vein 1 ; the postmedial line white arising from a spot on costa,
then dentate, and angled inwards below vein 2 ; a large white patch
on outer margin bolovv apex ; a marginal series of black points. Hind-
wing pale brownish with fine brown marginal line and line through
the cilia.
Structural chai-actors as in endoleucella, except that the antennal
scale-tooth is larger, and the yellow scales and oval patch on forewing
obsolete.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 4t'J
Hiibitat. — Khasis. Exp. 24mm.
4415a. Rhodoph.ea nigralbella, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem. viii. ined.
pi, 55, f. 14.
$. Head and thorax black brown; abdomen paler brown. Fore-
win^s deep blaok brown ; a triangular white patch on basal area extending
along Gosta almost to middle ; a medial white line from below cell to
inner margin ; a large postmedial triangular white patch on costa with
its apex at lower angle of cell, and with the discocellular black points on
it ; a postmedial oblique white line slightly bent outwards at middle ;
some white on the margin below apex and a niarginal series of blaok
points. Hindwing dark fuscous.
Habitat, — Khasis. Exp. 16mm.
4419a. Spatdlipalpia lophopterella, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem.
viii. ined. pi. 52, f. 27.
$ . Head and thorax black brown ; abdomen fuscous with pale anal
tuft. Forewing deep red brown irrorated with a few white scales ; the
costal area deep black ; the tuft in cell black and grey ; b^ack streaks
between the veins of outer area ; a fine postmedial line of white scales
strongly angled inwards on vein 1; cilia grey at tips. Hindwing
semi-hyaline white, the veins, a marginal line and the base of cilia
fuscous.
Hahitat. — Khasis. Exp. 18 mm.
This species belongs to Sect, III., but has the fold and fan of scales on
forewing as in jlabelUfera.
Genus Omphalota, nov.
Type. — 0. chlorobasisj Hmpsn.
Range. — N.-W. Himalayas.
Palpi upturned, slender, the 2nd joint reaching vertex of head, th^
3rd well developed and acuminate ; maxillary palpi filiform ; antennas
with long cilia. Forewing with the cell short ; vein Z from close to
angle ; 4, 5 stalked and curved downwards near base in male ; 6 down
curved ; 7, 8, 9 on a long stalk and curved ; 10 curved with a large
o-landular swelling on costa above it. Hindwing with vein 3 from close
to angle of cell ; 4, 5 shortly stalked ; 6, 7 from upper angle ; 8 free ;
the inner area clothed with long rough hair.
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480 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
44o8a. Ohphalota chlorobasis, n. sp.
^. Head, thorax and abdomen olive green variegated with hkck^
Forewing with the basal half olive green
irroratcd with a few black scales ;. the
outer half fuscous brown with a reddish
tinge : a tuft of black scales below cell
near, base an oblique sinuous antemedial
Omphalota chlorobasis. $ {-. ^j^^j, ^.^^^ . ^ postniedial minutely dentate
line highly excurved from below costa to vein 2, where it is bent inwards
and bounds the olive green area, its outer side defined by ochreous ; cilia
reddish and fuscous. Hindwing fuscous with traces of a pale curved
postmedial line.
Bab Hat. -^^imh. Ktj). 21 mm. Tyj^e.—ln coll. Rothschild.
Sect. I (bis), (Maealla). Palpi of male with the 2nd joint hollowed out
to receive the brush-like maxillary palpi, the ord joint short ; antennae
with very long thickly scaled process from basal joint.
44:38^. Macalla hypoxantha, Hmpsn., Trans. Ent. Soo., 1896,
p. 465.
(J. Head and thorax blnck with a few ochreous scales; abdomen
wholly black. Forewing fuscous, the areas below basal part of median
nervure, at apex and outer angle, tinged with rufous; an indistinct
obliquely sinuous antemedial black line ; large tufts of black scales in end
ofoellandon discocellulars ; a minutely dentate black postmedial line
oblique and defined by grey from costa to vein 4, where it is strongly
aucled, and angled inwards below vein 2. Hindwing ochreous, suffused
with fuscous, especially on outer half; brownish ochreous below, the
costa suffused with black.
Habitat.-Sikhim, 1,800'. E.vp. 26mm.
4445a. Macalla hypnonalis, n. sp.
<J. Maxillary }»alpi tiliform ; antenna with short process from
basal joint ; forewing with glandular swelling on costa.
Head and thorax olive green and black ; abdomen pale red-brown.
Forewing with the basal costal and outer areas olive green and black ;
the medial area pale red-brown irrorated with dark red-brown and
fuscous scales ; an obscure pale waved antemedial line bounding the dark
basal area ; a dentate black postmedial line incurved below vein 2 ; a
marginal series of black points ; cilia vinous red, Hindwing pale,
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 481
tinged with vinous I'ed ; an obilqnely curved fuscous postmudial line,
retracted at vein 2, then obsolescent ; apical area black to vein 2 ; cilia
vinous red.
: Habitat, — Sikhim, 1,800' (Dudgeon). Exp. o2mm. Type. — In
British Museum.
Genus Epitamyra. ■= J'
Epitamyra. — Kag. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1890, }». 50>5.
Provopem.— \Y'Mi\ A. M. N. H. (6) xvii., p. 453 (1896).
Type. — E. albomaculalis. Mosehl. from the West Indies.
Range. — W. Indies ; Assam.
Palpi rostriform, down curved, smoothly scaled and extending about
twice the length of head ; antennse ciliated ; tibiae smoothly scaled.
Forewing with the apex somewhat produced ; the outer margin angled
and falcate at vein 4 ; vein 3 from before angle of cell ; 4, 5, from
angle ; 6 from upper angle ; 7, 8, 9 stalked ; 10, 11 free ; male with
a glandular swelling fringed with long hair on base of costa below.
Hindwing with the outer margin slightly angled at vein 2 ; vein 2
from before angle of cell ; 4, 5 from angle ; 6, 7 from upper angle, 7
anastomosing with 8.
In the Typical species vein 10 of the forewing is stalked with
7,8,^9.
4482a. Epitamyra vikosalis, Warr. A. M. N. (6) xvii, p. 454. -
o. Head and thorax purplish red mixed with darker purple ;
abdomen fuscous, purplish red above.
Forewing })urplish red slightly irro-
rated with black and crossed by two
irregularly waved ante and two similar
postmedial red lines, with a white
speck on costa ; some fuscous suffusion
Epitamyra v'mosalk $\. fVoj^ middle of cell to middle of outer
margin ; a prominent black discocellular spot ; a series of black marginal
specks .; cilia whitish at tijjs. Hindwing fuscous with traces of dark post-
medial and submarginal lines termimiting at vein 2, where there is a
pinkish patch on outer area ; cilia pink from apex to vein 2.
Habitat. — Khasis. Eccp. 22mm. ^
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482 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol.Xll.
4492. Endrotuicha ruminalis.
Hindwing of male with a fold on inner area containing
androGonia.
4497a. Endotricha rufoterminalis. Chirst BuII-Mosc, Ivi, p. 34 ;
Cangetta, venustalis Wan*., A. M. N. H. (6) xvii, p. 464.
5 . Head, thorax and abdomen whitish tinged with fuscons and
brown. Forewing with the base pure white ; the medial area fuscons
grey, a triangular white postmedial patch from costa to vein 2 with a
riifoiis line on its outer edge, the apical area beyond it being fuscous
and bright rufous traversed by a series of dark rufous specks. Hind-
wing with the base \\hite ; the inner area fuscous; the outer part of
cell and area beyond it bright rufous with a hyaline speck in the ceil
and bounded by a rufous line sharply angled on vein 2 ; some fuscous
suffusion on postmedial area ; the margin white.
Ilahitat, — Amur ; Khasis. Exp. 16mm.
4499a. Cangetta homoperalis, n. sp.
9 . Fuscous grey. Forewing with indistinct dark anteraedial line
angled on median nervure ; a postmedial line with white mark inside
in on costa and obtusely angled at middle ; a dark marginal line. Hind-
wing with indistinct dark curved ante-and post- medial lines ; a dark
marginal line.
HahitaL—Fnii^Xmn, Ceylon (J Pole). Exp. 12mm. Type, — In
British Musemn.
Genus Diplopsbustis.
Diplopseustis, Meyr. Trans. Ent. Soc. 18^4, p. 284.
T;t^pe. — 1). perkresalisy Wlk.
liange. — Formosa ; India ; Perak ; Australia ; N. Zealand ; Fiji.
Palpi porrect, the 2nd joint extending about twice the length of head
and thickly scaled, the 3rd obliquely
upturned and set on before the apex of
the 2nd joint ; maxillary palpi large
and triangularly scaled ; frons oblique ;
antennge of male somewhat thickened
Diplopseustisperkresalis $\ '^^^ A^ittened ; tibicie with the outer
spurs about half the length of inner.
Forewing with the apex somewhat acute ; the outer margin excised
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 483
below apex ; vein 3 from close to angle of cell ; 4, 5 stalked ; 6 from
upper augle ; 7, 8, 9 stalked; 10, 11 free. Hindwiug with the outer
margin excised below apex ; vein o from angle of cell ; 4, 5 stalked ; 6,
7 from upper angle.
4502a. DiPLOPSEusTis perieresalis, Wlk. Cat. xix, p. 958.
Cymorixa minima, Butl. P. Z. S. 1880, p. 684.
Diplopseitstls constellata, Warr. A. M. N. H. (6) xvii, p. 464.
Diplopseustis jyallidalisj Warr., A. M. N. H., (6) xvii, p. 465.
Sufetula nana, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6), xviii, p. 225.
$. Head, thorax and abdomen brown variegates with grey; palpi
blackish at sides. Forewing fuscous brown with short dark stria; ; some
ochreous on basal half of inner area ; a series of white specks on costa
two beyond middle forming semicircles ; and sinuous white antimedial
line defined by dark on outer side ; a white discocellular spot with some
specks beyond it ; a submarginal white line excurved between veins 6
and 3 ; cilia with white tips ; white lunules on margin above and below
the excurved portion. Hindwing pale at base, fuscous towards maroin ;
a sinuous white submarginal line from vein 5 to above anal
angle,
^. Much more uniform grey-brown with the white markino-s
obscured.
Habitat. — Formosa; Khusis; Bombay; Ceylon; Perak ; Australia ;
N. Zealand; Fiji. Eap. ,^,14, 9, 22mm.
Genus Trieropis.
Triero pi&.— Meyr. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1886, p. 218.
Tijpe. — T. 7ies'ias, Meyr.
Range. — Ceylon. Australian region.
Palpi porrect, rostriforin, down curved, in male extending about four
times length of head and hollowed out to receive the long tufted
maxillary palpi, in female extending about three times length of head,
the maxillary palpi triangularly scaled ; frons produced to a flattened
projection in male ; antennae thickened and annulate ; tibias with the
spurs long and even. Forewing with the apex produced to a ])oint, the
outer margin excurved at middle ; veins 3, 4, 5 from angle of cell ; 6
from upper angle ; 7, 8, 9, 10, stalked ; 11 free. Hindwing with veins
3, 4 from angle of cell ; 5 from above angle ; 6, 7 from upper
angle.
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484 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
4502//. Trieropis nesias, Meyr. Trans, Ent. Soc. 1886, p. 218.
Cretaceous white slightly tinged with fuscous. Forewing witli in-
diaLiuct curved fuscous subbasal lino ;
a minutely waved antemedial curved
line defined by clearer white on
inner side ; a white discocellular spot;
a line double curved postmedial line
™ . . • * 1 hiohlv exGurved beyond cell and
Irieropis nesias. $ \ '=' •-
oblique towards costa ; traces of a
fuscous submarginal line parallel to the postmedial line ; a chestnut
brown marginal band from apex to vein 3 defined by a fine black line
on inner side. Hind wing with ante-and post- medi-.d slightly curved and
waved black lines, the area between them purer white ; an indistinct
line beyond the postmedial line and sinuous submarginal line ending at
anal angle ; a fine black marginal line.
Habitat. — Ceylon ; Queensland ; Tonga. Exp. 16 Mill.
450401. Trichophysetis metamelalis, n. sp.
,9. Head black ;■ thorax whitish; abdomen ochreous. Forewing
whitish suffused with golden yellow and with a cupreous tinge towards-
outer margin ; traces of ante-and post-medial curved yellow lines. Hind-
wing with the base yellowish white ; the medial area cupreous, the outer'
fuscous ; indistinct fuscous antemedial and medial lines ; cilia of both
wings whitish with fuscous lines at base and middle.
Hahkat. — Khasis. Exp..'20 W\\\. Type. In British Museum.
4D0(ia. Trichophysetis fumilauta, Warr., a. M. N. H. (6) xvii, p. 465.
"White slightly suffused with fuscous ; palpi blackish at sides ; both
wings with indistinct double ante- and post-medial fuscous lines, the latter
slightly excurved beyond cell of forewing ; forewing with large fuscous
apical patch slightly tinged with fulvous at costa and with a fuscous-
edged fulvous marginal band from costa to vein 5.
Habitat.- — Khasis. Exp., 14 mm.
4521. Hypsopygla olivalis, insert (.si/?^) Ulotriclwdes novalis, Warr.,
M. N. H., (6) xvii, p. 463, and transfer to genus Lepkiogma of which it
will form a section with no tuft on basal joint of antennge ; forevving
with vein 7 from 8 after. y.
^. Forewing more; ochreous, the black suffusion confined to the''
area near lower part of postmedial line ; hindwing whitish.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 485
4546 a. Stemmatophora rectisectalis, Warn, A. M. N, H. (6 J
xvii, p. 460.
$. Purplish flesh color slightly irrorated with black. Forewiug
with the base chocolate ; a black cliscocelliilar speck ; an almost straight
indistinct pale postmedial line with the area beyond it rather darker ; a
marginal series of black spots. Hindwing with the base chocolate; a
disGocellular black speck; a pale curved postmedial line with black
marks on its inner edge towards costa and two towards inner margin ; a
marginal series of black spots.
Habitat, — Pirmad, Travancore. Exp. 28, mm.
4574a. Triphassa zonalis, n. sp.
^. Head, thorax and abdomen ochreous mixed with black scales, or
mostly black with the base of abdomen ochreous. Forewing with the
basal and outer areas ochreous irrorated with black, the medial area
black, or almost entirely black ; pale ante- and post- medial lines, the
former obtusely angled on median nervuro, the latter minutely waved
and bent inwards below vein 2 ; a deep black discocellular lunule ; a
series of white specks on medial part of costa ; a marginal series of
prominent black points. Hindwing ochreous with minutely waved
curved postmedial line ; a marginal series of prominent black points
and line through the cilia ; the dark specimen with the veins of outer
area streaked with black and a complete marginal line.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. hO, mm. T^2^e. — In British Museum.
P. 167. Under Byboloma, insert Fohjcampsis, Warr. A. M. N. H.
(6) xvii. p. 457.
Sect. II. (^Polycampsis). Forewing of male with a glandular swel-
ling at base of costa below.
4579a. Hyboloma LOXGiNASUS, Warr. A. M. N. H. (6) xvii, p. 458.
$. Head and thorax rnfous and grey ; abdomen fuscous black,
greyish at extremity. Forewing with the basal and costal areas rufous,
the rest of the wing fuscous suffased with purplish red ; very obliquely
curved pale lines from costa at middle and near apex to near base and
middle of inner margin. Hindwing fuscous black ; the outer area
greyer.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp.^ 28, mm.
( To he continued. )
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486
THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR.
Part X.
Br E. C. Stuart Baker, f.z.s., m.b.o.u.
{Continued from Page 405 of Vol. XI.)
Order— GALLINiE XII.
Sub-Order— Alectoropodes.
Family Phasianhim,
(542) Pavo cf.istatus. — The Common Peafowl.
Hume, No. 803 ; Blanford, No. 1324.
1 see that Blanford says that there are no peafowl in Sylhet, Cachar
or Manipur. On the extreme north and far up the Kopili on the
north-east, the peafowl is very common and the young are often
caught and domesticated by the Mikirs, and yet even more frequently
the eggs are taken and hatched under hens. They are domesticated
with the greatest ease, as long as both sexes are kept, and become
extremely tame.
(543; Pavo muticus. — The Burmese Peafowl.
Hiime, No. 804 ; Blanford, No. 1325.
In 18^8, five eggs were brought to me by a Mikir who said they
were the eggs of a peafowl different to the common sort. He described
the birds as having straight horns, and said that the Mozedar had some
of the same kind tame. I went to see this man, Jeng Mikir, who was
the head of the Mikirs in North Cachar, and saw his peafowl which were
undoubted specimens of the Burmese birds. I then went after the
owners of the eggs which had been brought to me and succeeded in
shooting the male, a fine specimen of muticus. This is the only speci-
men I have ever shot ; all others being the common cristatus. Jeng
could give me no details as to where his were caught ; but says that
they belonged originally to his grandfather and had been caught at
a time when peafowl were common all over Cachar and Manipur,
wherever the ground was suitable. I have heard of peafowl being seen
on the high grass up lands north of Imphal, but cannot say whether
the reports were true or not.
(544) PoLYPLBCTRUM CHiNQUis. — The Grey Peacock-Pheasant.
Hume^ No. 803 quat ; Blanford, No. 1327.
Common all over the lower hills and well into the plains. They breed
in March, April and May, laying from two to six eggs, generally four
![]()
THE BIRDS OF NORTH C A CHAR. 487
or five, just like those of the common fowl but more rich in hue.
Many I have taken could have been paired with richly coloured eo-o-s of
the Cochin-China fowl. As a rule they are much pitted and in some
eggs these pits are filled up with a chalky stuff, giving the egg a look
as if freckled with white. During the breeding season it may be heard
constantly uttering a deep chuckle as it runs about in the undergrowth,
from which it is very difficult to dislodge even with the help of doo-s. It
is a slow heavy flier until it gets some distance on the wing, when its pace
increases and it swoops down the sides of the hills with no little velocity.
My eggs vary from 1-92" to 2-17" in length and from 1-44" to 1-52"
in breadth. They are laid on a few leaves and rubbish, collected in
some small hollow in a ravine, and are always placed where the under-
growth is very dense.
(545) Gallus ferruqineds. — The Red Jungle Fowl.
Hume, No. 812 ; Blanford, No. 1328.
Very common indeed. Here they lay from four to eight eggs,
generally four or five, rarely more than six.
(546) Gennaeus horsfieldi. — The Black-breasted Kalij-Pheasaut.
Hume, No. 810 ter ; Blanford, No. 1339.
Very common all over the hills up to about 3,500 feet^ above which
they are rare, though they may occasionally be foand on the highest
peaks. They breed from the end of March up to the middle of May
and lay four or five eggs, sometimes six or seven.
(547) Tragopan blythi.— The Grey-bellied Horned Pheasant.
Hwve, No. 806 his; Blanford^ No. 1346.
Only once have I seen this fine pheasant in North Cachar, when I
had the pleasure of watching two feeding for some time. It was early
in April and the cock bird was busy courting the hen who refused all
advances, They behaved exactly like domestic fowls and the cock
kept running round the female with trailing wing.
This pheasant extends right through Manipur into the Lushai and
Northern Burmese hills and again up to Debrughur on the other side.
It keeps to high ranges and is very rarsly met with below 5,000 feet.
Last March, after numerous fruitless attempts I at last succeeded
in obtaining nine fine specimens of this beautiful pheasant. I am now
therefore able to give descriptions of the young male and female, the
which have hitherto been desiderata.
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488 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol Xll.
Young male.^lAkQ tho female, changing in the spring to a plumage
half way between that of tho adult male and that of the female.
A fine young male in my collection has the forehead to nape deep
glossy black, the lores covered with feathers, white near the eye, black
next the forehead edged with reddish ; a broad supercilium from above
the eye red ; nape and hind neck vermiculated brown and black ; a
broad band from behind the eje and below the supercilium black ; ear
covert.? dark brown with a few white specks ; chin and throat thinly
covered with mottled white and brown feathers ; lower throat and
upper breast as in the adult ; lower breast and under plumage like that
of the female but with many feathers having the centres turning grey ;
the upper plumage is like that of the female, but darker and more
boldly speckled, many of the feathers of the scapulars and interscapu-
lars having dull chestnut-brown eyes and these are scattered here and
there, also, over the whole surface.
Irides dark brown ; legs dull reddish, the rudiments of spurs paler.
Gular skin dull orange shewing through the feathers; round the lids
livid, livid fleshy above the eye. Bill horny, cuhnen darker, gape
and maxilla paler and rather fleshy in tint.
Female.— '^Yho\Q upper plumage mottled black and rufous, the black
being in broad bold bars and patches, the rufous in narrow bars and
minute stippling; in addition nearly all the feathers have a V shaped
or crescentio central mark of buff, a few feathers have two such marks
and a few also have longitudinal marks of the same colour. The tail is
lighter in general effect and has the black replaced to a great extent by
rich rufors ; chin and throat white, with brown spots, the former almost
or quite immaculate ; whole lower surface and flanks, mottled and
stippled very dark brown, dull rufous and greyish white, the latter
colour forming distinct spoison many feathers; the centre of the abdo-
men and the vent are more grey and uniform in colour, the under tail
coverts rather more rich and deep coloured.
Bill dark horny, commissure and gape paler; legs dull fleshy homy ;
claws darker and browner; irides brown.
(548) Bambusicola fytchii. — Tho Western Bamboo-Partridge.
Hume, No. 825 quint ; Blanford, No. 1352.
This is a common partridge all over tho North Cachar Hills at
elevations of 2,500 feet and over, descending to 2,000 feet, but seldom
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TEE BIRDS OF NORTH C AC EAR. 489
below that. It does not keep to tree and bush jungle as does arhoricola
and is seldom found far from open land of sorts, preferring bamboo
and scrub jungle on the borders of rice-fields or patches of grass.
Early in the morning it is one of the first birds to rise ; it comes into the
open to feed, scratching for seeds and insects like other partridges.
Except during the breeding season it is found in coveys consisting of
the old birds and the last brood of young. About March the young go
off on their own hook and the cock bird begins to get extremely noisy.
The very earliest glimmer of dawn sees him perched on so2ne stump or
bush crowing away for all he knows, his cry being much like that of
the black partridge, only less shrill and high pitched. It might be
syllableized — Che-chirree — che-chirree, chirree chirree chirree. Before
laying her eggs the female also sometimes attempts to call. I watched
a pair for some time once on the peak of a hillock close to my house.
There were a few young trees and some bushes standing in long grass
and every few minutes the cock bird would fly on to one of these,
making a tremendous commotion with his wangs, crow two or three
times and then drop to the ground, where after a little " walk round"
he would subside into the grass. After every two or three of these
exhibitions the hen would jump up, give utterance to a few discordant
squawks and retire again to give place to her husband.
They fly very well and get up quickly and are at once away ; are
much easier to flush than are the partridges of the genus a'^horlcola, and
sometimes give quite good shooting when the hill rice has been cut and
the birds frequent the edges of the jhums.
They lay principally in x\pril, but I have had eggs brought to me in
March and again as late as July. The nest is placed in high grass, the
birds collecting a good deal of rubbish and leaves together and placing
them in some natural hollow. Now and then the nest may be taken
in bush jungle and more often in bamboo.
The eggs number from four to six or seven, five being, I think, the
number most often found. In colour they vary from a pale, dull buff
to buff of a warm tint, nearly always dull and brownish but sometimes
with rather a pink tinge. In shape they are normally rather broad
ovals decidedly compressed towards the smaller end which is often
pointed, some eggs are rather longer and narrower, and a few are broad
blunt ovals. The texture is coarse and very hard, the surface rather
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490 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
rough and sometimes pimply and the shell wonderfully strong, quite as
hard as that of a jungle fowl and less brittle. I have one clutch which
shows a slight gloss ; this is less rough than the others and closer and
finer in texture.
Mv esfss are on an average ]*67" X I'lO", the longest and shortest
being respectively 1*?2" and 1'50", whilst the broadest and narrowest
measure 1'25" and 1'02".
(549) ExcAL FACTORiA CHiNENSis. — The Blue-broasted Quail.
Hume, No. 831 ; Blanford, No. 1354.
Common in the cold weather in the plains, less so in the rains,
though a good number breed in the district. Does not ascend the
hills.
(550) CoTURNix COMMUNIS.— Tho Common Quail.
Hume, No. 829 ; Blanford, No. 1355.
A decidedly rare bird only occurring now and then as a straggler.
(551) C. coRoMANDELiCA. — The Black-breasted or Rain-Quail.
Hume, No. 830 ; BJanford No. 1356.
Decidedly less rare than the Grey Quail, but still by no means
common. 1 have seen three or four, perhaps even more than this, in a
day's snipe shooting about the Regimental and Police firing ranges in
Silchar. Nowhere else have I seen more than one or two at a time.
(552) Perdicula asiatica. — The Jungle Bush-Quail.
Hume, No. 326 ; Blanford, No. 1357.
By no means rare during the cold weather and perhaps no more so
during the rains though less seen.
(553) Arboricola torqueola. — The Common Hill Partridge.
Hume, No. 824 ; Blanford, No. 1362.
This Hill Partridge is decidedly rare ; a few specimens may be found
on the higher parts of the Burail Range close to tho Naga Hills and
Manipur.
The eggs are generally five in number, sometimes six.
(554) A. RUFiGULARis. — Blyth's Hill Partridge.
Hume, No. 825 ; Blanford, No. 1363.
It is almost impossible to say what birds are rufigidar/s and what
intermedia. I have a pair in my collection of which the male is a
typical intermedia, the female an equally typical rvfigularis and has
the throat and chin rufous to tho extreme point, thougli heavily
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 491
spotted with black. Birds, however, with the black border below
the rufous throat are very rare, and I have only seen two
such.
The nestling in down is rather bright chestnut brown above, dingy
white below ; supercilium and cheeks paler, a dark brown line behind
the eye dividing into two.
The next plumage has the upper parts as in the adult, but duller, with
the crown vermiculated, not spotted, with black. The sides vermiculat-
ed brown and black and the centre of breast and abdomen paler and
whitish.
The adult bird has the soft parts coloured. Irides brown ; orbital
skin, gular skin and gape red ; bill black ; legs red, claws paler. The
female has the legs a yellower red than the male.
On the higher peaks over 4,500 feet this partridge is fairly common,
but I have seen it nowhe re below 3,800 feet, and it is very rare even there.
At Hungrmn on the peaks at about 5,000 to 6,000 feet, its cheerful call
may be heard regularly in the early mornings during the breeding
season, but it keeps so much to bush and scrub jungle in forest that it is
not easy to procure specimens.
The only three eggs I possess were taken on the second of July, 1888,
and are probably rather abnormally small ;they measure 1*48" X 1'14",
1-45" X M4"and 1-41" X I'll". They are of the usual character,
broad ovals, coosiderably compressed towards the smaller end which is
pointed in two, blunter in the third. The pure white shell is smooth
and very close in texture with a decided gloss.
(555) A. INTERMEDIA. — The Arrakan Hill Partridge.
Hume, No. 825 ter ; Blanford, No. 1364.
I possess one clutch of eggs of this species taken at Laisung in
mixed bramble and bamboo jungle, on the steep banks of a stream run-
ning through a very deep valley at an altitude of over 4,000 feet. The
eggs, five in number, are larger than any others I have ever seen of the
genus Arhericola. Except in measurements they resemble those of A.
rufigularls just described, perhaps being rather longer in proportion to
their breadth. They measure 1-70" X 1'23" ; 1*68" X 1*25 ; 1-66'' X
1-22" ; 1-65" X 1-25" and 1-61" X 1-22".
The nest consisted merely of a mound of leaves, &c., with a small
noUow in the centre.
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492 JOURNAL, B02IBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(556) A. ATRiGULARis.— The White-cheeked Hill Partridge.
Hume, No. 824 ter; Blanford, No. 1365.
Extremely coinnion from the plains up to 3,000 feet, above which it
is much less common, and over 4,000 feet it is rare.
It should be noted also that in the breeding season the skin of the
head, neck and throat is far more vivid than at other times. Again,
the males can be told at a glance from the females by the color of the
legs, which in the former varies from dull orange to a bright red orange
whereas in the latter the color is a pale dull wax yellow to a rather dark
wax yellow, never very bright. A series of 80 eggs averaged 1'45" x
l"r2". The longest and widest being 1*51" and I'lS" respectively,
and the shortest and narrowest 1*38" and 1*08". All eggs have a certain
amount of gloss, some are very glossy, and the texture is fine and
close.
The number laid is most often five, frequently only four, sometimes
six and very rarely more, though I have taken seven.
(557) Francolinus vulgaris. — The Black Partridge.
Hume, No. 815; Blanford No. 1372.
Common in north-east of I^orth Cacbar, not found in the south
plains at all.
(t'58) F. GULARis. — The Kyah or Swamp Partridge.
Hume, No. 823 ; Blanford, No. 1376.
The Kyah is very common throughout the plains of Cachar in suitable
localities, but does not ascend the hills at all.
Order XIII-HEMIPODII.
Family Turniddce.
(559) TuRNix PUGNAX. — The Bustard Quail.
Hume, JSos. 832 and 833 ; Blanford, No. 1382.
One of the most common birds in N. Cachar ; it is hardly possible to
walk along the less frequented paths without putting up two or three
pairs.
The female utters a loud booming call which can be heard at a very
great distance.
I must have taken five hundred nests of this quail and not in four
cases have I found more than four eggs — I twice took five and once
had six brought to me — so that in N. Cachar at least four may be put
down as the almost invariable number.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH C A CHAR. 493
(560) T. DUSSUMiEPJ. — The Little Buttou-Quail.
Hitme, No. 835 ; Blanford, No. 1383.
Less common than the last, still very far from rare.
(561) T. BLANFOBDi. — The Bm-mese Button-Quail.
Hums, No. 834 bis; Blanford, No. 1386.
Fairly common. The eggs, of which I have many, are undistinguish-
able from those of T. piignax and like them alioays four in
number.
Order XIV— GRALL^.
Sub-order — Fulicaei^.
Family Rallidce.
(562) Hypot^nidia strla.ta. — The Blue-breasted Banded Rail.
Hume, No. 913; Blanford, No. 1389.
One of the most common of Cachar water-birds. It ascends the
hills up to nearly 3,000 feet.
(5 Go) PoRzANA PUSiLLA. — The Eastern Baillon's Crake.
Hume, No. 910 ; Blanford, No. 1393.
I have not seen many specimens of this little crake in Cachar, but
am told that it is very common in some localities.
(564) Raluna superciliaris. — The Banded Crake.
Hume, No. 912 ; Blanford, No. 1395.
Rare and such a skulker th-at it appears even more so than it really
is. It breeds in N. Cachar and I captured a hen bird with one young
one on the nest, a pile of loose grass with a deep cup in the
centre.
(565) R. FASCIATA. — The Malayan Banded Crake.
Hume, Mo. 912 his ; Blanford, No. 1396.
I have one female which must, I think, be put down to this species.
It was caught in my bearer's house in which it had taken I'efuge during
a very high wind.
(566) Amaurornis fuscus. — The Ruddy Crake.
Hume, No. 911 ; Blanford No. 1398.
Common in Cachar and ascends the hills up to 3,000 feet.
(567) A. AKOOL. — The Brown Crake.
Hnme, No. 908 ; Blanford, No. 1400.
I have two skins of this bird which were obtained on the Chutia
bheel, a large swamp quite close to Silchar.
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494 JOVRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(568) A. PHCENICURUS. — The White-breasted Water-hen.
Hume, No. 907 ; Blanford, No. 1401.
Very common indeed.
(569) Gallinula chloropus. — The Moor-hen.
Hume, No. 905 ; Blanford, No. 1402.
Equally common in the rains, but many move to Sylhet in the end
of the cold weather when the swamps dry up.
(570) Gallicrex cinerba. — The Water-cock.
Hume, No. 904 ; Blanford No. 1403.
Common on all the larger pieces of bheel or swamp. Lays as many
as nine or even ten eggs.
(571) PoRPHYRio POLiocEPHALUS. — The Purplc Coot.
Hume, No. 902 ; Blanford, No. 1404.
Only found on the larger pieces of water and is very local even on
these. Most birds wander away to Sylhet at the end of the cold wea-
ther for two months or so.
Family Heliornhh idee.
(572) Heliopais personata. — The Masked Finfoot.
Hume, No. 903 bis; Blanford, No. 1406.
Extremely rare. I have never seen it.
Family GruIdcG.
(573) Grus ANTIGONE. — The Sarus.
Hume J No. 863 ; Blanford, No. 1409.
I once saw a pair of these cranes near Hailakandy during the cold
weather of 1894. They settled in a field for a few minutes and then
sailed away out of sight towards the south. I have never heard of any
others being seen.
(574) G. MONARCHUS. — The King Crane.
In December of 1880 whilst fishing in the Mahar River, seven huge
cranes flapped overhead down the stream and settled in a shallow pool
some four hundred yards away. They at once struck me as being
something I had not seen before, and I followed them up, and though
I failed to bring my bird down with the first barrel I knocked one over
as they rose with the socond. He half fluttered and half ran down the
stream, and it took a third barrel to bring him to bag; but when it was
at lust brought to hand I found myself in possession of an undoubted G.
monarchus. The anterior crown was black, otherwise the whole head
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 495
and neck were white. The brown margins to the feathers of the upper
part made the pkimage appear to be a brown-grey.
The wing measured full 20". The lengthened inner secondaries were
not very long or drooping and the bird conveyed the impression that it
was a young one. The skin has not been kept. I was three days from
head-quarters, but I thought special messengers would get it in in
time to skin, but alas when I arrived three days later I foimd it had not
been brought in, and the messenger, when questioned, said, " Oh, it
began to smell, so I threw it away." I do not think, however, that
there was, or is, any doubt whatsoever as to the identification being cor-
rect, and G. monarclms must be added to our Indian avifauna. Humes'
surmise as to the identity of the birds he saw ( " Stray Feathers," XI)
was very likely correct. The most striking thing about those I saw
was the white head and brown-toned upper parts.
Sub-Order — Otides.
Family Otitidce.
(575) Sypheotis bengalensis. — The Florican.
Hume, J^o. 858 ; Blanford, No, U17.
Only occurs as a straggler. I flushed a hen once about five miles
from Silohar and have seen two or three on the borders of the Naogaon
District in the mustard fields bordering the KhopiU.
Order XV— LIMICOL^.
Family CEdicnemidcB.
(576) CEdicnemus scolopax. — The Stone-Curlew.
Hume, No. 859 ; Blanford, No. 1418.
A very rare bird I believe in Cachar, but rather less so in the nest
district, Sylhet.
(577) EsAcus RECUR viROSTRis. — The Great Stone -Plover.
Hume, No. 858 ; Blanjm^d, No. 1419.
Kecorded from the plains of Cachar. I have never met with it.
Family GlareoUdce.
Sub-Family Cur.soriince.
(578) CuRSORirjs coromandelicus. — The Indian Courser.
Hume, No. 840 ; Blanford, No. 1422.
I saw half-a-dozen of these coursers once when shooting on the
Chutia bheel, about six miles from the station of Silchar.
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4% JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Sub-Fjimily Glareolidce,
(579) Glarbola okientalis. — The Large Indian Swallow-Plover.
Hume, No. 842 ; Blanford, No. 1425.
I luive soen but one specimen of this Swallow-Plover, ti female shot
by one of my collectors in Cachar, in December, 1897.
(580) Glareola lactea. — The Small Indian Swallow-Plover.
Hume, No. 843 ; Blanford, No. 1427.
Occasionally met with in the plains of Cachar, but never, I think,
at all common.
Family Parridce,
(581) Metopidius indicus. — The Bronze-winged Jacana.
Huwe, No. 900 ; Blanford, No. 1428.
Extremely common throughout Cachar, and may also be found
sometimes at considerable elevations. I saw two birds at Kurrangma,
an artificial lake at an altitude of over 3,000 feet, and I have also seen
one or two about the swamps on the high uplands about the Hot Springs.
This bird is credited by different observers with laying from four to
ten eggs. Out of some hundred nests I have taken the vast majority
contained four eggs, very rarely five only, once or twice sis. I bad
one nest taken from bushes about twenty yards from the nearest tank.
(582) Hydrophasianus chirurgus. — The Pheasant-tailed Jacana.
Hume, No. 901 ; Blanford, No. 1429.
Far less common than the last bird and, undoubtedly, locally migra-
tory. A good many are met with on the larger bheels during the
rains, but nearly all leave during the cold weather, most I expect to
Sylhet, where they are common all the year round.
The eggs are almost invarial)ly four in number. A very fine series
I possessed before the earthquake of 1896 showed almost every shade
of color between a pale stone green to a deep, almost black, bronze-
brown. The commonest color was a bronze-brown, rather dark and
often more so at the larger end than at the other.
Family Charadriid,^.
Sub-Family Charadriince.
(583) Strepsilas interpres. — The Turnstone.
Hume, No. 860 ; Blanford, No. 1430.
A friend from Cachar bus reported this bird as having been shot by
him. I have never met with it, and he has seen it on no other occasion.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 497
(584) Sakcogrammus indicus. — The Red-wattlod Lupwino-.
Hume, A'o. 855 ; Blanford JSo, 1431.
Not uncommon in the plains of Cuchar.
(585) S. ATEiNUCHALis. — The Burmese \V;itfcleJ Ijapvving.
Hume, No. 855 his ; Blanfonl, No. 1432.
I have one specimen of a Wattled Lapwing in my collection which
has a black collar round the neck, but it is very dilapidated and the
nape much injured. It however belongs, 1 think, to this species and
not the last. Its occurrence in Cachar is of course very probable as
the Burmese form is the one fonnd in Manipur,' and intermediate
specimens are almost sure to occur now and then.
(5 86) Sarciophorus malabaricus. — The Yellow- wattled Lapwing.
Htime, No. 856 ; Blanford, No. 1433.
This Lapwing has been reported to me from the extreme north of
the district where it debouches on the Brahmaputra Valley.
(587) MiCROSARCOPS cinereus. — The Grey-headed Lapwing.
Hume, No. 854 ; Blanford, No. 1484.
Not uncommon during the cold weather.
(588) HoPLOPTERUS VENTRALis. — ^The Indian Spur-winged Plover.
Hume, No. 857 ; Blanford, No. 1435.
An extremely common bird everywhere and also an extremely
objectionable one. Going down streams in boats the would-be sports-
man is constantly having shots spoilt by their noisy cries, which alarm
everj-thing within two or three hundred yards. They breed here in
February or early March.
(589) Charadrius fulvus. — The Eastern Golden Plover.
Hume, No. 845 ; Blanford, No. 1439.
Very common indeed.
(590) Squatarola helvetica. — The Grey Plover.
Hume, No. 844 ; Blanford, No. 1441.
I shot one of these birds once out of a flock of Golden Plover
killing two of the latter by the same shot. This is the only time I
have met with the Grey Plover in Assam, nor have I any other record
of its having occurred anywhere else in the Province.
(591) tEgialitis mongolica. — The Lesser Sand-Plover.
Hume, No. 847 ; Blanford, No. 1443.
A decidedly rare visitor to Cachar.
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498 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol. XII.
(592) M. ALEXANDRiNA. — The Kentish Plover.
Ilurne, No. 848 ; Blanford, No. 144G.
I have seen hut one specimen of this little Plover, hut should
imagine it must oggui* fairly often.
(593) M. DUBiA.— The Little Ringed Plover.
Hume, Ncs. 849, 850 ; Blanford, No. 1447.
Common.
'in my collection there is a tiny Swallow Plover which differs from
duhia in having no signs of any ring on the nape of the neck, either
white or dark. This is prohably only an abnormally coloured speci-
men. Young birds of coarse often show very little signs of the ring,
but this bird appears adult and there is absolutely no trace of it.
(594) M. I'LAGIDA. — The Long-billed Ring Plover.
Hume, No. 848 his ; Blanford, No. 1449.
Recorded Irom Assam and Cachar. I have never come across any.
Sub-Family Hoimatopodince.
(595) HiMANTOPUS CANDIDUS. — Tho Black-winged Stilt.
Hume, No. 898 ; Blanford, No. 1451.
Very common. I found some of these birds on the river Kopili in
April, and believe they were breeding. The testes of the males were
fully enlarged and the ovaries of one female contained eggs the size of
a thrush's.
(596) Ibidorhynohus struthersi. — The Ibis-bill.
Hume, No. 879 ; Blanford, No. 1453.
I have a specimen of this rather rare bird shot by one of my collec-
tors in the plains of Cacbar. Have shot two in the highest waters in
N. Cachar and seen two or three others.
Sub-Family Totanince.
(597) NuMENius ARQUATA. — The Curlew.
Hume, No.Sn-, Blanford, No. 1454.
I once heard a flock of these birds flying overhead, appearing to
have come from Manipur. I have never seen any other birds, nor have
I heard of any being obtained in Cachar, but I have records of their
being shot both in Manipur and in Sylhet.
(598) LiMOSA BELGicA. — The Black-tailed Godwit.
Hume, No. 875 ; Blanford, No. 145G.
A very rare visitor to Cachar. I have never seen a living specimen
thence.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH C A CHAR. 499
(599) ToTANus HYPOLEUcus. — The common Sandpiper.
Hume, No. 893 : Blanford, No. 1460.
Very common.
(600) T. GLAREOLA. — The Wood Sandpiper.
Hme, No. 891 ; Blanford, No. 1461.
Common, but not nearly as numerous as the last.
(601) T. ocHKOPus. — The Green Sandpiper.
Hume, No. 892 ; Blanford, No. 1462.
Common.
(602) T. STAGNATiLis.— The Little Green Shank.
Hume, No. 895 ; Blanford, No. 1463.
This is, I think, a rather rare sandpiper in Cachar. I have only one
specimen in my collection, but have doubtless overlooked very mauy
when shooting snipe.
(603) T. CALiDRis.— The Rod Shank.
Hume, No. 897 ; Blanford, No. 1464.
A not rare visitor to Cachar, where a few may nearly always be o-ot
by any one wanting them.
(604) T. Fuscus.— The Spotted Red Shank.
Hume, No. 896 ; Blanford, No. 1465.
I have several specimens of this Red Shank shot by my collectors in
Cachar, but have, strange to say, come across none myself. I do not
think it can be at all rare.
(605) T. GLOTTIS.— The Green Shank.
Hume, No. 894 ; Blanford, No. 1466.
Very common indeed.
(606) Pavoncella PUGNAX. — The RufF^, Reeve 9.
Hume, No. 880 ; Blanford, No. 1468.
I once saw^ three Reeves on the Masimpore bheel in Cachar. I saw
no Rufif ; and these three Reeves were not seen again.
(607) Tbinga minuta.— The Little Stint.
Hume, No. 884 ; Blanford, No. 1471.
Common.
(608) T. TEMMiNCKi. — Tennninck's Stint.
Hume, No. 885 ; Blanford, No. 1474.
This is the most common form of Stint found in Sylhet and Cachar
and is often seen in very considerable flocks, as well as in pairs and singly.
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500 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLSTORY SOCLETY, Vol. XII.
Sub-Family Scolopacince.
(609) ScoLOPAX RUSTicuLA. — The Woodcock.
Hume, No. 867 ; Blanford, No. 1482.
I have obtained nearly a dozen Woodcock in the N. Cachar Hills,
but even there they are not common, far less so than in the adjoining
Nao-a Hills and Khasia Hills. Mr. St. J. Hickman shot a Woodcock
in the plains near Silcoorie ; two were shot by natives in a small bheel
just behind the station, I missed one near the rifle butts, and another was
shot by a planter, I forget whom, near Silcoorie.
(610) Gallinago ccelestis — The Common Snipe.
Hvme, No. 871 ; Blanford, No. 1484.
Common.
(611) G. STENURA — The Pintail Snipe.
Hume, No. 810 i Blanford, No. 1485.
As might be imagined from their breedmg distribation, the first snipe to
arrive are the Pintails. The first few of these are in by August the 15th
about, where as few Fantail will be shot before the end of September and
even then in far less numbers than the Pintail. In comparison with
other provinces Assam is a bad place for snipe, and any bag of over 20
couple is good for one gun and anything over forty very exceptional.
As regards their breeding, I am afraid that my notes on the subject
must have conveyed rather a wrong impression, for Mr. Blanford
writes : — '' Both Mr. Baker and Mr. Hole state that snipes breed
regularly in Cachar." I certainly do not think that they do so
regidarly, but at the same time I, equally certainly, think that very
often an odd couple or two remain in the plains to breed. Mr. Hole
sent mo the eggs he collected, and the greater number of these were
oo-o-s of the painted snipe, but one clutch of three and one odd egg
were without doul>t snipes' eggs, whether ccelest/s or stemira, I cannot
say. Of the Pintail snipe I have one authenticated clutch taken
behind the butts on the Silchar Military range and one taken by
myself in the ditch of the abandoned stockade at Guilang. In this
latter case two Pintail snipe wore trapped by some Nagas and a
search in the ditch where they had been trapped soon brought a nest
and four eggs to light. A hen Pintail with a fully-formed egg in her
ovary was shot on the Silchar Rifle Range and dissected by the lato Dr.
Evans, then attached to the regiment stationed there.
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TEE BIRDS OF NORTH C AG EAR. 501
As regards Fantail, I have no authenticated ckitches from Cachar,
but I have two from the Santhal Parganas in Bengal.
(612) G. SOLITARIA. — The Himalayan Solitary Snipe.
Hume, No. S69 ; Blanfonl, No. 1486.
I shot a pair of these birds in July 1888 on a small bheei near the
source of the Mahor river. I am sure they had a nest, but a most
patient and careful search failed to find it. I have had two or three
reports of its having been shot at the foot of the hills in winter, but
cannot be sure that the birds were correctly identified and they may
have been G. nemoricola.
(613) G. GALLINULA. — The Jack Snipe.
Huim, No. 812; Blanfonl, No. 1487.
Sometimes very common, at other seasons very rare. I have shot all
through a season and only got two or three birds ; yet another, the next
year, I have shot eight in one day. Captain Melville, of the 4th Raj-
poots, and I shooting on the Sileoorie bheels on three consecutive days
must have got an average of 10 a day between us, amongst the 94
couple we obtained.
I have never noticed the Jack Snipe on these hills during migration,
whereas the Pintail is almost common at times.
(614) RosTBATULA CAPENSis. — The Painted Snipe.
Hume, No. 873 ; Blanford, No. 1488.
Very common. Mr. A. H. Hole found this snipe breeding in July
and August and laying their eggs in ploughed fields. I have had
their eggs brought to me in December and often as late as October ; as
on the other hand, I have often got them in May and June ; it would
seem certain that they must have at least two broods in the
year.
Order XVI— GAVI^.
Family Larid^,
Sub-Family Larince,
(615) Larus ridibundus. — The Laughing Gull.
Hume, No. 981 ; Blanjord, No. 1490.
I have a single specimen of this gull shot in Hailakandy and given
to me by Mr. Inglis. I have seen no others, and it must be
very rare.
9
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502 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(616) Larus brunneicephalus. — The Brown-headed Gull.
Hume, No. 980 ; Blanford, No. 1491.
A decidedly rare gull in Cachar, though common enough in Syihet
on the one side and Manipur on the other.
Sub-Family Sterninoe.
(617) Hydrochelidon hybrida. — The Whiskered Tern.
Hume, No. 984 ; Blanford, No. 1496.
Very common indeed ; breeds in the larger jheels and waters of
Cachar.
(618) Sterna seena. — The Indian Eiver-Tern.
Hume, No. 985 ; Blanford, No. 1503.
Very numerous on the larger rivers and open pieces of water during
the rains, less so during the cold weather after December.
(619) S. MELANOGASTBR. — The Black-bellied Tern.
Hume, No. 987 ; Blanford, iVo. 1504.
A rare bird, much more common in the adjoining district of Syihet.
Sub-Family RhT/nchojnnoi.
(620) Ehynchops albicollis. — The Skimmer.
Hume, No. 994 ; Blanford^ No. 1517.
In most years very rare, but in 1897 very numerous and in 1896
almost equally so. In these two years my collectors obtained a great
number, and they seem to have been distributed freely over the whole
of the Surma Valley.
Order XVII— STEGANOPODES.
Family Pelicanid^e.
(621) Pelecanus ROSEUt?. — The Eastern White Pelican.
Hu7ne, No. 1003 ; Blanford, No. 1520.
A very rare visitor as a rule to Cachar, sometimes however appearing
in small numbers.
(622) P. PHILIPPENSIS. — The Spotted-billed Pelican.
Hume, No. 1004 ; Blanford, No. 1523.
A regular visitor in large, sometimes immense, flocks.
Family PHALACROCORACIDyE.
Sub-Family Phalacrocoracince,
(623) Phalacrocorax carbo. — The Large Cormorant.
Hume, No. 1005 ; Blanford, No. 1526.
Fairly common.
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TEE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 503
(624) Ph. fuscicollis. — The Indian Shag.
Bume, No. 1006 ; Blanfonl, No. 1527.
Rather more common than the last in the plains, but less so in the
hills.
(625) Ph. javanicus. — The Little Cormorant.
Hume, No. 1007 ; Blanford, No. 1528.
This is the common kind of Cormorant everywhere from the plains
to the sources of the highest streams. Here it is almost always met
with in flocks, often numbering as many as two hundred and some-
times even more than that.
Sub-Family Plotince.
(626) Plotus melanogaster. — The Snake-bird or Darter.
Hume, No. 1008 ; Blanford, No. 1529.
Nowhere very numerous, is distributed alike over hills and plains
everywhere where there is water, still or running, in small numbers.
No author seems to have noticed the peculiar wavy appearance of the
scapulars and inner secondaries, which gives them a look as if they
had been crinkled. This is not noticeable in birds in inferior plumage
but is very conspicuous in newly-moulted birds during the breeding
season.
Family Phaethonid^.
(627) Phaethon flavirostris. — The White Tropic-bird.
Hume, No. 997 : Blanford, No. 1534.
A single straggler of this species caught by Inglis on the Barak in
Cachar is the sole record of a Tropic-bird occurring in Assam, nor is it
likely to ever occur again.
Order XVIII— HERODIONES.
Sub-Order— Platale^.
Family Ihididce.
(628) Ibis melanocephala. — The White Ibis.
Hume, No. 941 ; Blanford, No. 1541.
Rather an uncommon bird, and I h3,ve obtained very few, either
myself or through my collectors.
(629) Plegadis falcinellus. — The Glossy Ibis.
Hume, No. 943 ; Blanford, No. 1544.
Fairly common, resident and breeds. In the extreme south of the
district I am told it is very common.
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504 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
Sub-Order — Ciconi^.
Family Ciconudce.
(630) CicoNiA NiGEA.— The Black Stork.
Hume, No. 918 ; Blanford, No. 1547.
1 have one specimon, a fino male, shot by my collectors on the Chutla
bheel and said to have been one of a flock of seven. I have not seen
any of this species in Cachar myself.
(631) DissuRA Enscopus. — The White-necked Stork.
Hume, No. 1)20 ; Bianford, No. 1548.
This Stork is not very rare in Cachar, where yearly a few individuals
may be met with. In this district it seems generally to be found eitlier
singly or in pairs. I have seen no flocks.
(632) Xenorhynchus asiaticus.— The Black-necked Stork.
Hume, No. 917 ; Blanford, No. 1549.
Occun-ing, much like the last, in suitable localities in Cachar.
(633) Leptoptilus dubius. — The Adjutant.
Hume, No. 915 ; Blanford^ No. 1550.
By no means uncommon, and some years occurs in very large numbers.
(634) Leptoptilus javanicum. — The Lesser Adjutant.
Hume, No. 910 ; Blanford, No. 1551.
This is the common Adjutant of Cachar and is resident and breeds.
The site selected seems generally to be some cluster of large trees on one
of the " tilas " in the broken ground at the foot of the hills. Here they
build in company and a dozen or twenty nests may be found together,
huge platforms of sticks and branches, often placed at groat heights
from the ground. The normal number of eggs appears to be twoj
rarely three and sometimes only one. I have a fine series of eggs,
nearly all of which I owe to the generosity of Mr. H. A. Hole, who
had a colony of tliese birds breeding on the estate he was managing.
These eggs are much the same as those of L. dubius in texture, i.e.,
coarse and rough with a surface much pitted and rather inclined
to be chalky. Originally white, they are all much stained and smeared.
The shape is generally a very regular broad oval ; one I have is almost
spherical, two rather long and compressed towards the smaller end and
one is quite pointed.
My smallest egg is 2"28"Xl*9" and they run in length up to
3-32" and in b:cadth up to 2-38", and 20 average 2-y4"x2'2". All the
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACBAR. 505
eggs sent me by Mr. Hole were taken on the 5th November and 6th
December 1893 and 6th November 1892. Mr. Hole informed me that a
large number of the eggs were destroyed by the parent birds before
they could be taken. As soon as the Mikir he employed began to
ascend the tree the birds deliberately jabbed their beaks through the
egg, in some cases going through both sides, but in the majority only
smashing a large piece out of one. A large number of these eggs also
were sent me and bore out the description given me by Mr. Hole.
(635) FsEUDOTANTALUs LEUCOCEPHALUS. — The Painted Stork.
Hume, No. 938 ; Blanford, No. 1552.
Occurs sparingly at odd times throughout Cachar, but is never any
thing but very rare.
(636) Anastomus oscitans — The Open-bill.
Flume, No. 640 ; Blanford, No. 1553.
Very common, often occurring in really huge flocks. The greater
number of the birds remove to Sylhet to breed, but gi-eat numbers still
st:;y in Cachar. It occasionally builds a solitary nest and sometimes
only two or three build in company.
Sub-Order — Ardese.
Family Ai'deidce.
(637) Ahdba manillensis. — The Eastern Purple Heron.
Hume, No. 921 ; Blanford, No. 1554.
Very little seen, yet by no means rare. Breeds in the district, for
though I have never taken nests or eggs I have had young nestlings
brought to me.
(638) Ardea cinerea. — The Common Heron.
Hume, No. 923 ; Blanford, No. 1 555.
Decidedly rare. This species is more often met with fishing in the
higher streams than is A. purpurea; but is on the whole far less often
seen than is that bird.
(639) Herodias alba. — The Large Egret.
Hume, No. 925 ; Blanford, No. 1559.
Scattered here and there throughout the district but only in very
small numbers.
(640) H. intermedia. — The Lesser Egret.
Hume, No. 926 ; Blanford, No. 1560.
Even less commoq than the last.
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506 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(641) H. GARZETTA. — The Little Egret.
Hume, No. 927-927 bis; Blanford, No. 1561.
Very common.
(642) BuBULCUs coRAMANDUS. — The Cattle Egret.
Hume, No. 929 ; Blanford, No. 1562.
Still more common ; ascends the hills occasionally up to 2,200 feet,
above which I have not met with it.
(643) Lepterodius sacee. — The Eastern Reef Heron.
Hume, No. 928 bis ; Blanford, No. 1564.
Must be a very rare bird in the Surma Valley. I have two specimens,
neither quite adult, which were shot in the Chutta bheel, Cachar, but I
can find no other record of their appearance in Assam, nor have any
of my co-respondents ever met with it.
(644) Ardeola grayi. — The Pond Heron.
Hume, No. 929 ; Blanford, No. 1565.
As common in Cachar as everywhere else ; I do not know how
Hume failed to notice it more often ; it ascends the streams up to
3,000 feet.
(645) BuTOROiDEs javanica.— The Little Green Heron.
Hu7ne, No. 931 ; Blanford, No. 1567.
Extremely common in the hills on all of the streams, but less so in
the plains. Far from the hills it appears seldom to wander. It is a
silent, solitary bird, seeking darkness and shade and venturing as little
as possible into bright sunlight.
(646) Nycticorax griseus. — The Night Heron.
Hime, No. 937 ; Blanford, No. 1568.
Rare in Cachar, but, of course, where it does occur it assembles in
large flocks. I have heard its cry at elevations of over 3,000 feet but
never saw the bird, and whether it lived at these heights or merely
crossed the ridges working from one stream to another, I cannot
say.
(647) Gorsachids melanolophus. — The Malay Bittern.
Hume, No. 936 bis ; Blatiford, No. 1569.
Recorded by Hume from North- Eastern Cachar. I have not met
with it. Mr. Primrose has also obtained a specimen.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTH C A CHAR. 507
(648) Ardbtta sinensis. — The Yellow Bittern.
Hume, No. 934 ; Blanford, JSo. 1571.
A rare bird and from its skulking habits but little noticed. I have
put them up on the borders of streams at over 1,000 feet elevation,
but they are more plains than hill birds.
(649) A. ciNNAMOMEA. — The Chestnut Bittern.
Hume, No. 933 ; Blanford, No. 1572.
Very common.
(650) DuPETOR FLAVicoLLis. — The Black Bittern.
Hume, No. 932 ; Blanford, No. 1573.
Quite common but, I think, the most strictly crepuscular of all the
small bitterns.
(651) BoTAURrs stbllaris.— The Bittern.
Huim, No. 936 ; Blanford, No. 1574.
I have only once come across the Bittern in C/achar, but it was
under very remarkable circumstances. Once when out shooting at a
place called Bandho on the river Diyung, which there ran at about
750 feet elevation, I came on a nest in a tree which puzzled me
greatly. It was high up, fully 50 feet from the ground, and was made
mainly of branches and twigs, but on this was a kind of superstructure
of v/eeds and leaves and one long strip of Cachari cloth. It contained
two young birds which I kept, but before taking them I awaited the
arrival of the old birds and shot the female which proved to be a
Bittern. What it was doing building such a nest in such a place I
cannot say, but there w-as no doubt as to the identity.
OrderXIX— ANSERES.
For the sake of uniformity I adopt Blanford's classification in this
article, but this does not mean that I think it better than Salvadori's,
which, but for the reason mentioned, I should have made use of. As
I am in the course of writing separately on Indian ducks, the notes here
will be only such as have reference to matters newly ascertained.
Family Anatid^.
Sub-Family Anserince.
(652) Anser ferus. — The Grey Lag Goose.
Hume, No. 945 ; Blanford, No. 1579.
No geese can be said to be common in Cachar, though in some years
both this and A, indicus may be found in fair numbers.
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5 08 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURA L IIISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(653) A. BEACH YRHYNCHUS. — The Pink-footod Goose.
Hume, No. 940 ; Blanford, No. 1582.
Extromely rare.
(654) A. iNDicus. — The Barred-headed Goose.
Hume, No. 949 ; Blanford, No. 1583.
The Barred-headed Goose seems to be more common in Cachar and
Sylhefc than I imagined when writing of that species in my article on
Indian Ducks. Some years they are doubtless to be found in consider-
able numbers, though never in the countless flocks to be found in their
favourite haunts.
Sub-Family Anatin^.
(655) Sakcidiornis melanonotus. — The Comb Duck.
Hume, No. 950 ; Blanford, No. 1584.
(1)56) AsARCORNis SCUTULATUS. — The White-winged Wood-Duck.
Hum£, No. 955 j Blanford, No. 1585.
There is, I think, little doubt that the Wood-Duck grows a comb
during the breeding season, so that the main, almost the only reason for
sep.irating the two species, the Comb Duck and Wood-Duck, into
separate genera is done away with. The late Mr. M. G. Peddie, a
most keen and careful observer and a fair ornithologist, wrote to me
saying that he had had several opportunities of observing the Wood-
Duck in the north of N. Cachar. From inquiries made be asceiiained
that two or three pairs frequented a small stream which runs into the
Diyung ; he accordingly visited the spot and soon came on a pair ; he
had a shot at them with his collector's gun, but the tiny weapon was of
no use on such powerful birds. He, however, noticed most distinctly
that the drake had a large comb, and this he thought was not much
inferior in size to that of the Comb Duck. He again twice saw a pair
and each time saw the comb on the male quite plainly. Again, talking
to Mr. Scott about the bird he had seen, he said that the most notice-
able thing about the bird was a huge knob on the bill. He has again
seen either this bird or the pair to it, but noticed no knob. As this
latter time the bird was seen in November, the comb would have
naturally disappeared again.
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THE BIRDS OF NORTE CACHAR. 509
(657) Rhodonessa caryophyllacea.— Tho Pink-headed Dno-k.
Hume, No. 96U ; Blanford, No. 158(3.
(658) Casakca rutila. — The Ruddy Sheldrake or
Brahminv Duck.
Hume, No. 954 ; Blanford, No. 1588.
(659) Denprocycna javanica.— The Whistling Teal.
Hume, No. 952 ; Blanford, No. 1589.
(660) D. FULVA.— The r>aroe Whistling Teal.
Hume, No. 953 ; Blanford, No. 1590.
(u61) Nettopus coromandelianus. — The Cotton Teal.
Hume J No. 951 ; Blanford, No. 1591.
(Q6•^) Anas boscas.— The Mallard.
Hume, No. 958 ; Blanford, No. 1592.
(663) A. PCECILORHYNCHA. — The Spoited-billed Duck.
Hume, No. 959 ; Blanford, No. 1593.
{f)Q-k) Chaulelasjius streperus. — The Gadwull.
Hume, No. 961 ; Blanford, No. 1595.
(665) Nettium crecca.-— The Common Teal.
Hume, No. 964 ; Blanford.^ No. 1597.
{^Q^) Mareca PENELOPE. — The Wigeon.
Hume, No. 963; Blanford, No. 1599.
(667) Dafila acuta — The Pintail.
Hume, No. 962 ; Blanford, No. 1600.
(06^) QuERQUBDULA ciRCiA. — The Garganev or Blue-
winged Teal.
Hume, No. 965 ; Blanford, No. 1601.
(669) Spatula clypeata. — The Shoveller.
Hume, No. 957 ; Blanford, No. 1602.
(670) Netta rufina. — The Red-crested Pochard.
Hume, No. 967 ; Blanford, No. 1604.
(671) Nyroca ferina. — The Pochard or Dun-bird.
Hume, No. 968 ; Blanford, No. 1605.
(672) N. ferruginea. — The AVhite-eyed Duck.
Hume, No. 969 ; Blanford, No. 1606.
(673) N. BAERL' — The Eastern White-eyed Duck.
Blanford, No. 1607.
JO
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510 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(674) N. FULIGULA.— The Tufted Duck.
Hume, No. 971; Blanford, No. 1609.
Two birds, both males, were shot by ^Ir. R. S. Routh on a hirge
tank in Haflong, on the 5th November. There is another young female
from Cachar in my collection.
Order XX.— PYGOPODES.
Family Podicepedid.^.
(675) PoDiciPES ALBiPENNis. — The Dabohick.
Hume, No. 975; Blanford, No. 1617.
The Little Grebe or Dabchick is found in no great numbers
throughout Cachar, and I have obtained them in a solitary pool on the
crest of a ridge over 3,000 feet altitude.
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511
LEPIDOPTERA TAKEN IN CUTCH.
By Capt. C. G. Nurse, F.R.G.S., F.E.S.
My stay in Cutch only extended from December 1891 to March 1893, and
I cannot therefore hope that the following list contains nearly all the
species of Lepidoptera which occur there. I do not think however that
many more species of Butterflies will be added to my list, though as far as
the Moths are concerned, an assiduous collector might probably in a few years
almost dciuble the number of species enumerated below. But the following
list ma bo of interest in showing the chief species of Lepidoptera that occur
in such a dry locality, and I hope that it may induce the next entomologist
who may be stationed tliere to place on record the result of his labours.
My collecting was done chiefly round Bhuj, the capital, and it is almost
needless to remark that most of my specimens were obtained during and
immediately after the rains.
With regard to nomenclature : I have, except where otherwise mentioned,
followed Mr. De Niceville so far as the three published volumes of the
Butterflies of India go. In the Fierince I follow the late Capt. E. Y. Watson
in his '' Notes on the synonymy of some species of Indian Pierince " (J. Bo.
Nat. Hist. Society, Vol. VIII, No. 4): also as regards the Hesperidce I
follow him in Hesperidaj Indicce, as modified by his article in Vol. IX No. 4
of this journal.
In the Moths I follow Sir Gr. F. Hamp^^on in his Volumes on Moths in the
Fauna of India series. I also desire to acknowledge his kindness in assisting
me to identify my specimens at the British Museum. Whenever I was in
doubt as to the identification of a specimen, he was good enough to put me
right, and I therefore feel far more confidence in the accuracy of the follow-
ing list than I should had it been the result of my own unaided efforts.
In thus following recognised authorities, I have not thought it necessary
to quote in brackets after each species the name of the describer, which can
easily be ascertained by reference to the above-quoted works.
RHOPALOCERA.
Danais liminiace — Common during the rains.
Dauais chrysipms — 'Abundant everywhere at all seasons.
Danu'S genutia — Not uncommon in the rains.
EupTcea core — One of the commonest butterflies in the rains,
Melanitis leda — I saw a specimen of this species on one occasion when I
had no net.
Errjolis ariadne — One specimen at Charwah, about 12 miles from Bhuj,
Byhlia ilUthyia — Very common at Charwah, and occasionally seen near Bhui.
Junonia lemonias^ , „ , . ,
r . 7 . . All very common during the rams, but occasional
JtiHoiua hierta y . ,
^ . 7 . ' specimens were to be seen all the vear round.
Jimoma orithyia j
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512 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURA L HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XII.
HupoVnnna, hoUna 1 Common during tbe rains.
H Uponmnas misipjnis )
P//raineis eardui— Abundant, especially during October.
Chelndes laius — I obtained several specimens among orange trees in H. H.
the Rao's garden, but did not see it elsewhere.
Ch'dades put!/ — Swarms among low herbage during the rains, I follow Col.
Yerbury (Jour. Bo. Natural Hist. Society, Vol. VII, p. 211, in keeping this
species distinct from C. trochilus.
f Both these species were very common, but I did not
Zizera lysimon ) r^-y-r^j-ij-i, \ -i.
<; come acrosa Z. maha m Cutch, though it occurs com-
Zizeru (jniha ] ^ ^w ^ t j-
( monly m most piirts of Western India.
Azanus ubaldus. — A single specimen,
Azcmus icranus.— Common among babul trees, on which the larva presum-
ably feeds,
C'Jitochrijsops straho. — A single specimen in T^ebruary.
Catoclirysiim coniracta. — Swarms all the year round. Mr. De Niceville
considers this only a form of C cnejus. I have taken a large number of
specimens of C. coniracta, both in Cutch and at Aden, and they appear to
me to be prefectly distinct from C. cnejus. The Aden females of C. con-
iracta, however, differ from the Cutch females in having more blue on the
upper side. C\ coniracta, which occurs in dry localities^, is generally to be
found near small thorn bushes, whereas C. cnejus is found chiefly in culti-
vation, I have taken both species at the same time of the year at Poona,
I never took typical C. cwjus in Cutch.
'larucus theophrastus. - Ahund?int all the year round,
Tai ucus pllnius. —'Noi unoommon during the rains.
Polijommatus bcetictis. — Very common,
Aphmeus ictis. — Six specimens taken at Charwah appear from compa-
rison with those In the British Museum to be of this species, but the species
of this genus run into one another, and are very confusing.
AphncEus hypargyrus. — Not uncommon at the beginning of the rains ,• a
very quick flser, and difficult to obtain in good condition.
Rapala melampus. — Rare.
V'lrachoh: isocrates. — Too common, but not often seen on the wing, I bred
a fair number of this species from pomegranates, I think that more than
half this fruit never comes to maturity in Cutch owing to the ravages of
the larvtL' of this insect,
Catopsilia pyranthe. — Very common.
Appias lihyihea. — Two specimens only.
Belenois viesentina. — Swarms round thorn bushes, on which the larva feeds,
I have often seen over a dozen pupa3 on one twig.
Terias liecabe. ')
I
Terias Iceta. >A11 very common.
I
Terias venaia. J
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LEPIDOPTERA TAKEN IN COTCH.
513
Teracolus fausius — Common during the hot weather and rains.
Teracolus amah-.s- — Common nearly all the year.
Teracolus protractus — Fairly common at the beginning of the rains.
Teracolus vestalis — Three specimens onlj'.
Teracolus imellaris.'\
Teracolus dunce. yAW common.
Teracolus etrida. J
Badamia exclamationis — A few during the rains.
Gegenes Jcarsana — Not uncommon.
Suastus gremius — Two specimens.
Parata chrormis — Common during the rains.
Chupra mat Idas — Abundant,
Sarangcsa sail — This pretty little species was described by Mr. De Niceville
in Jour. Bo. Nat. Hist. Society, Vol. VIII, p. 391, I found it very common
in Cutch during August, September, and October. Like other species of the
genus it has the habit of settling on the ground with the wings spread out,
Pijrgus galha — Common.
HETEROCERA,
Acherontia styx — Common.
Chcerocampa oldenlandke — A sin-
gle specimen.
Chcerocampa theylia — Two.
Chcerocampa celerio — Common.
Deilephila livornica — Common,
Protoparce convolvuli — Common.
Macro glossa stellatarum — A single
s2Jecime7i.
Macroglossa hells — ^oi uncom-
mon.
Macroglossa a^ditia — Common.
Ceplionodes hylas — Fairly common.
Chile7ia strigula — Two specimens.
Thiacidas postica — One.
Euprociis latifascia — One.
Euproctis varia — One.
Hypsa ficus — One.
Arctia ricini — One.
Crecitonotus moorci — Common.
Creatonotus insolatus — One.
Deiopeia pulchella — Abundant.
Earias msulana — Two specimens.
yEgocera venuliu — Very common.
Atlisura athinsoni — One,
ffeVothis nuhigera. | Both fairly
HeUothis hi/alost'icia. \ common.
Chariclea margi7ialis — One.
Euplexia conducta — 'Jne.
A myna octo — .Very common.
Caradrina exigua — One.
Tathorhynchus vinctale — Three.
Leucania loreyi — Three.
Leucania irregularis - One.
Tarache hasife>a — Common.
Tarache crocata — -One.
Tarache flavonigra — Four.
Tarache catena — One.
Tcirachs nigritula — A new species
described by Hampson from my
specimens.
Xanthoptera opella — Two".
Xanthoptera nigripalpis — One,
Xanthoptera veprecola — Four.
Metachro^tis ilicarra — -One.
Meiachi'osti^ vena fa — One,
Jfetachrjstis hadia — .One.
Metachiostii alhimarginata — A new
species described by Hampson
from my specimens.
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514 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
HeTEROGICRA'
Eublemma anwhllis — One.
Hyhlcea puera — Common.
IiiQura Kuhaiiic:iU< — Common.
Eutelis dixclstriffd — Two,
Cosmophlla sahuHfera — One.
Cosmophila erosa — One.
Polydesma qupnavadi— Common.
Puli/drsina vetuda— Two,
fBoth new
MeUpo>hlidioth!dia. I species de-
J scribed by
I Hamps 0 n
Lyncestis melaleura. \ from m y
L specimens.
Pseudophia indecisia — Common.
Ophhisa alrjira — One.
OpMusa serva — Four.
Ophiusa tirrhaca — Two.
Plecoptera reflexa — Two.
AcanthriUpi'S clrcmndattts—ThrQe.
Remigia arcliemi — One.
Trigonodes hyppnsia— Common.
Trigonodes ino — One.
Grammodes stolida — Common.
Ophideres niiternci — Common.
Plusi'i limbei'ena —Thvee .
Plusia erisoma — One,
Plusia ni — One.
Plusia loblfera— One.
Calesia satellitia — One,
Raparna digramma — I'wo.
Raparna im partita — Oommon.
Hypena abyssinialis — Common.
Macaria frugidiata — One.
Macaria fidoniata — One.
- contd.
Orsonoha clel'ia — Three.
Tephrina disputaria — Common.
Tephrina catalaunaria — Common.
Tephrina p'rciaric — Two.
Boarinia acaclaria Three.
Sterrha sacraria — One.
Craspedia addictai hi — Three,
Crasppdia idearia — Common .
Craspedia Jihuluta — Two,
Craspedia actuaria — Common,
Craspedia jacta — Common.
Timandra ntundissima — Three.
Nemoria solldaria — ' ne,
Thallatsodcs ohuupta — Two,
Stirailha alhipeniiis — Common.
Aneraslia ahlutella — One.
Ancylusis fuscospari-eUa — One.
Neplioptevyx ahhareUa — Two,
Stenia spodiiiopa — One.
Zlnchenla fascia lis — Very common,
Bocchoris onychinalis — Two.
Lygropia <l)rinnsalis — •Common,
Pygosplla lyres — Three.
Lepyrodes geomefralis — Two,
Leucinodes orhonalis — One,
Crocidrdomia binofalis' — 'Two.
Sameodes canceUalis — One,
P/i 'ycUenodeH rmdalis — Common,
PldyGtamodes brevifascialis — Three,
Ardigastra catalaunalis — One.
Noorda hliteahs — One.
Tegosti'ina coniparella -Common,
Polyochu cinerclla — One,
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515
THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
By G. Marshall Woodrow, Professor of Botany,
College of Science, Poona.
Part VII.
{Continued from page oTo of this volume.)
CXXXVI.— Urticace^.
2. HdloplpJea.
H. integrifolia, Planch., f.c.i, — V-481. Wavxili, Papada, Keul. I'oona. Feb.-
Mar.
3. Celtis,
C, Wightii, Planch. Khandala. ,
4. Trema.
T, orientalis, Bl., f.b.i. — V-484. GoU, Khargoli, Khandala. Mar.-Apr.
T. politoria, Planch., f.b.t. — .V-484, Gadar. Pal jungles. Feb.
6. Cannabis.
C. sativa, Linn., f.b.i. — V-487, Ganje-acha-jhod. Poona, Cult. Nov.-Dec.
10. Sfreblus.
S. asper, Lour., f.b.t. — V-489, Karera, Khasota, KhasoU, Dharwar. Guzerat.
Feb -Mar,
1 4, Morns.
M. alba, Linn., f.b.i.— V-402. Toot. Poona. Planted. Dec.
M. indica, Linn., f.b.t. — V-492. Poona, Dbarwar. Planted. Dec.
17. Ficus.
F. gibbosa, J5Z., F.B.I.— V-497. Datira,Dantira. Peint. W. Ghats. Nov.-Mar.
F, bengalensis, Linn., f.b.i.— V-499. Wad. Banyan, Widely, All the year,
F, mysurensis, i7e^we,F.B.i, — Y-500. Burali Wad. Peint. Dharwar. Nov.-Jan.
F. elastica, i?o.'c6,, F,B,i, — V-508. India-rubber Tr^e. Poona, Bombay, Gardens.
F. retusa, Linn., f.b.i. — V-51], Kadgal, N, Kanara.
F, Talboti, King., f.b.t.— Y-512, N, Kanara,
F, nervosa, Roth, f.b.t. — V-512. Lanauli. Apl,
F, Rumphii, i?Z,,F.B,i, — V-572, Ashta. Pijer. Kurah-pjar. W, Ghats,
F, religiosa, Linn., f,b,t. — V-513, Pepal. Widely,
F, Arnottiana, Mig., f.b,i,— V-513. W. Ghats,
F, Tjakela, Biirm., f,b.i. — V-514, Sirs), N, Kanara,
F. Tseibi, Rox6., f.b.t. — V-515, Planted widely.
F, infectoria, Roxb., f.b.i.— V-515. Pyer (Peint.) Planted widely.
F. callosa, Willd, f.b.i.— V-516, N. Kanara.
F. heterophylla, Linn., f,b,i, — V-518. Poona,
F. asperrima, Roxb., f.b.i.^V-522, Kuricat N, Kanara.
F. hispida, Linn., f,b,i. — ■V-522. Gavotri, Kal-Umbar, Ghaiidya, Umbar.
Konkan.
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516 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI f.
F. scandens, Roxb., f.b.i. — ^V-526, Gardens.
F, palmata, ForsJc, f.b.i. — V-530. Dhulia. Dinduri.
F. glomerata, Roxb., f.b.i. — V-535. Umhar, Gular. "Widely. Nov.- Feb.
F. carica, Linn. Angir, Fiij. Gardens.
18. Antiaiis.
A. toxicaria, Lesc^eM, f.b.i.— V-537. Jamnd, Chandul. The Upas Tree.
W. Ghats. Konkan.
20. Artocarpus.
A. hirsuta, ZamJt., F.B.I. — ^V-54]. AnjaU, Ayani. Divimana N. Kanara.
A. integrifolia, iwm., F.B.I. — V-541. Plmnnus. W. Ghats. Planted widely.
A. Lakoocha, i?oa;&., F.B.I. — V-543. Onda, Bundal. Dharwar, Planted. March.
A. incisa, Lmn., i?ox&., F.I III.., 527. Gardens, Poona. Bombay. Honawer.
22, Conocephalus.
C. sauveolens, Bl., f.b.i, — V-545. Gardens. Nov.- Dec.
C. sp, Yacombi, N. Kanara. Feb.
26. Fhcerija,
F. interrupta, Gaud., f.b.i. — V-548. KhajahuU. W. Ghats. Aug.
Laportea.
L. Scbomburghii. Nich. Dist. Gard. II. 235. Gardens.
L. crenulata, Gaud., f.b.i. — V-550. Konkan Slocks.
28. Girardinia.
G. heterophyllaj Dene., f.b.i. — V-550. Motha Klwjati. W. Ghats. Oct.
29. Pilea.
P. muscosa, L'mdl. Gunpowder Plant. Poona, Bombay Gardens. Oct.
30. Lecanthus.
L. Wightii, TFfcZJ., f.b.i.— V-559.
32. Elatostema.
E. lineolatum, Wight, f.b.i. — V-565.
E. cuneatum, Wight, f.b.i.— V-568
34. Boehmeria.
B. malabarica, Wec^rf., f.b.i.— V-575.
B. nivea. Hooh. and Am., f.b.i. — ^V-576. Rhea.
B. platyphylla, Dene., f.b.i.— V-578.
36. Pouzolzia,
P. indica, (7ai<fZ., F.n.i. — ^V-581. Hills, near Junir, Sept.
P. pentandra, Benn., f.b.i.— V-583. Var. integrifolia, 23 Miles. W. of
Kolhapur. Jan.
Badami. Oct.
Santawari. Sept.
Matheran. Sept.-Oct.
Castle Rock.
W. Ghats, Sept.-Oct.
Karwar. Jam
Gardens. Nov.-Jan,
Pen. Konkan. Oct.
P. Bennettiana, Wight., f.b.i.— V-585.
P. Wightii, Benn., f.b.i. — V-584.
41. Dehregeasia.
D. velutina, Gaud., f.b.i. — V-590.
43. Parietarla.
P. debilis. Font., f.b.i.— V-593. Konkan,
Ambeghat. Jan.
![]()
TBE FLOMA of western INDIA.
517
Dec,
44, ForsJcohleu.
F. tenacissima, Litm.,v.B.i. — V-953. Kharsan. Shahadpur, Sind« Feb.
CXXXIX.— UASUARINEiE,
1. Casuarina.
C, equisitifolia, Font, d.c. Prod. XVI, 338. Kasumi. Planted widely
CXLI. — Salicine^e,
1. SaHx.
S, tetrasperma, i?'^a;Z;., F.B.I, — V-026. Wallung. Poona. M.war. Sep,-Oct
2. Pupulus.
P. euphratica, OUv., f,b,i, — '¥-638.
CLXII. — Ceratophylle^.
C. demersum, Linn., f.b.i. — V-639,
CXLIII.— Gnetace/h;.
1. Ephedra.
E, peduncularis, Boiis., f.b.i. — V-64].
2. Gneturn.
G. scandens, Rvxh., f.b.i. — V-642. Komhal.
CXLIV.— C'onifer.e,
1. Cupressus.
C. torulosa, Don , f.b.i. — V-645.
C. glauca, Lunik. D.C, Proc. XVI. — 470. Siroo.
C, sempervirens, TJnn., f.b.i. — V-C45,
C. funibris, Eiull D.c. Prod XVI— 471,
2. Juniperus.
J, communis, Linn., f.b.i. — V-646.
J. chinensis, Linn., D.c, Prod. XVI, — 487,
CXLV, — CVCADACE.E,
1 , Cijcas.
C. circinalis, Linn., f.b.i. — V-656.
C. revoluta. Thun., D.c. Prod, XVI — 527.
Monocotyledons.
CXLVI — HYDROCHARlDEJi,
1, Hi/drilla.
IT. verticillata, Casp., f.b.i. — V-659,
2, Lagarosiphon.
h Roxburghii, Benth,, f,b,i. — V-659.
3. ValUstieria.
V, spiralis, Linn., f.b.i, — V-660. Saivala.
4, Bhjxa.
B, Roxburghii, Rich., f.b,i.— V-669.
B, echinosperma, HooJc.f. y.B.i. — V-661.
B, Talboti, ^oo/j,/, L.B.I.— V-G62.
11
Sind,
Poona. Apr,
Sind,
Lanauli.
Gardens,
Gardens,
Gardens,
Gardens'.
Gardens.
Gardens.
Garden.s,
Gardens,
Poona. Dec.
Lanauli. Aug,-Feb,
Poona. Apr. -May,
Lanauli, Feb.
Mahableshwar.
N. Kanara, Talbot.
![]()
Konkan, Bombay, Laio.
Mahableshwar. Feb.-Apr.
Mahableshwar. July
S. Konkan, Dalz.
518 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISfORy SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
6. Oitelia.
0. alismoides, Pers., f.b.i. — V-662. Poena. Apr.
CXLYII. — BURMANNIACE.^.
1. Burmanma,
B, coelestis, Don., f.c.i. — V-665. Mahableshwar. Sep.
B. pusilla, Thw., f.k.i. — V-665. Supa, N. Kanara,
CXLVIII.— Orchide/e.
1. Oberonia.
O. Falconeri, Ilooh., f.h.i.— V-678.
0. recurva, Lindl., F.B.I. — V-680.
2. Microstylis
M. Rheedii, Wight, f.b.i.— V-690.
3. Liparis.
L. Dalzellii, Hooh. f. f.b.i.— V-698.
8. Dendrohium.
D. Macraei, Lindl., f.b.i. — V-714. Joivamd. Sumpkund, N. Kanara, Jaly.-
Mar.
D. microbulbon, A. Rich., f.b.i. — V-716. Lanauli. Dec.
D. chlorops, Lindl., F.n.i.— Y-719. Konkan Ghats.
D. barbatulum, Z/«cZ^., f.b.i. — V-719. Jadhia Lusan. Matheran. May.
D. herbaceum^ Lindl., f.b.i. — Y-719. Mahableshwar.
D. Piorardi, Roxh., f.b i. — V-720. Gardens,
9. Bulhophyllum.
B. nilgherrense, Wight., f.b.i. — V-7G1, Sumpkund, N. Kanara. Dec.
11. Cirrhopetalum.
C. fimbriatum, Lindl., f.b,i, — V-774. Koina Valley. April.
12. Trias.
T. Stocksii, Benth., f.b.i.— V-781. Kanara, N. and S. Konkan. Law, Stocks.
19. Eria.
E, reticulata, Beuth., f.b.i. — V-787.
E. Lichenora, Lindl., f.b.i. — V-787.
E. reticosa, Wgt., f.b.i.— V-787.
E. Dalzellii, Lindl., f.b.i.— V-789.
E. mysorensis, Lindl., f.b.i. — V-793.
24. Phajus.
P. Waliichii, Lindl., f.b.i.— V-816.
P. albus, Li7idl., f.b.i.— V-818.
28. Josephia,
J. lanceolata, Wgt., F.B.r.— V-823.
36. PlioUdota.
P. imbricata, Lindl., f.b.i.' — Y-iii6,
Chandway, Kanara. Ritchie.
Sampkund. July.
Konkan.
Mahableshwar. May.
Koina Valley. July,
Gardens. Sept.-Jan.
Lanauli. Aug.
Konkan. Ghats, Stocks.
N. Kanara. July.
![]()
THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
39. EulopJiia.
519
Louda. June.
Sii'si, N. Kanara. -May.
Warree. Dalz.
B. herbacea, Limll., f.b.i. — VI-2. Dohad. Panch Mahals. July
E. pratensis, Lmc^Z., F. c.r. — VI-4. Saimcari Poona. Dec.-Jan
E. nuda, Lindl., P.B.. — VI-5, Amherlcund .
40. CymbkHuiii,
C. bicolor, LmfZ/., f.b.i. — VI-11. Amherkund
42, Geodoruvi.
G. purpureum, Br., f.b.i. — VI-16.
49. Luisia.
L. tereti folia, Gaud., f.b.i.— VI-22. W. Ghats.
L. tenuifolia, Bl., f.b.i, — YI-24. Bomenhali, N. Kanara. Aug.
50. Cottonia.
C. macro stachya, Wgf., f.b.i. — ^VI-26.
55. Rhynchostijhs.
R. retusa, Bl.. f.b.i,— VI-32,
58, Mrkles.
JE. maculosum, Lindl., f,b.i. — VI-45,
M. crispum, Lmdl., f,b,i, — VI-45.
M. ladicosum, A. Rich., f.b.i. — VI-46.
M. odoratum, Lour., f.b.i. — ^VI-47.
60. Vanda.
V. parviflora, Lindl., f.b.i,— VI-50,
V. Roxburghii, 5/-., f.b.i. — VI-50,
61. Saccoldbiuni.
S. maculatum, Hooh,f., f.b.i. — VI-64. 0 mil. W. Divimana. May.
70. Di[)locentruin.
D. sp, inc. Sirsi-Kumpta Road, N. Kanara, June
87. Spiranthes.
S. australis, Lindl., f.b.i. — VI-102. Not found.
90. Cheirostijlii^.
C. flabellata, Wgt., f.b.i.— VI-105.
91. Zeuxine.
Z, sulcata, Lindl, f,b,i,— VI-106.
98, Pogonia.
P, plicata, Lindl., f.b.i.— VI-1 19
P. flabelliformis, Lindl., f.b.i. — V-121.
106. Habenaria.
H. stenopetala, Lindl., f.b.i. — ^VI-134. Konkan, Stocks
H, digitata, Lindl., f,b,i,— VI-134. Lanauli, Khandala, July.
H, Gibsoni, SooZ:./. f.b.i.— VI-135. W. Ghats. July.
H. grandiflora, Hooh.f. f.b.i.' — VI-1 36. Finvaghad. Poorundhur. July.
H. rariflora, A. Rich,, f.b.i. — VI-136. Poorundhur. Kharkhalla. July-Aug.
H, Sussannaj, £/■., f.b.i, — VI-136, Warjchora, Khandala. Sept,
N. Kanara. May
Kalyan. May.
Mahableshwar. May.
Mahableshwar. May.
Mahableshwar. May
Konkan. June.
Mawal, Konkan. May.
Konkan, Guzerat. July.
Kumta-Sirsi, Rd. Mar.
Deccan. Jan.
Lanauli. May-June.
Lanauli. May-June.
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520 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL IIJSTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
H.
H,
H.
H.
H.
H.
H.
H.
H.
H.
H.
H.
H.
H
H.
H.
H.
H.
B,
G.
C.
C.
c,
c.
c.
c,
c
c.
K.
K.
K.
K.
H.
H.
A.
platypliylla, Spreng., f.b.i. — VI-140.
sauveolens, Dalz , f.b.i, — VI-140.
longicalcarata, A. Rich., f.b.i. — VI-141,
crinifera, Lindl., f.b.i, — VI-142.
commelinifolia, Wall., f.b.i. — VI-143.
Heyneana, Lindl., f.b.i. — VI-148.
subpubens, A. Rich., f.b.i. — ^VI-148.
affinis, Wgt., f.b.i,— VI- 14 9,
marginata, Coleb., f.b.i.— VI-150.
flavescens, Hooh.f, f.b.i. — VI-150.
viridiflora, Br., f.b.i. — VI-150.
ciassifolia, A. Rich., f.b.i. — VI-151.
diphylla, Dalz., F.B.I. — VI-151.
Stocksii, Hoolc. f, f.b.i.— VI-1 58.
torta, Hooh. f, f.b.i.— VI-159.
goodyeroides, Don., f.b.i. — VI-161.
Wightii, Trimen., f.b.i.— VI-1 62,
Belgaum, Dharwar. Lmo,
Vingurla, Malwan. Dalz.
Deccau. Sept.-Oct.
Vingurla. Dah.
Khandala. Sept.
Lanauli. Sept.
S. Konkan. Dalzell.
Konkan and Kanara. Law.
Poorundhur. Aug.
Konkan, Laic.
Malwan. Dalz.
M. war, Poorundhur, Sept.
S, Konkan, Dalzell.
Konkan, Stocks. Ritchie.
W. Ghat, Southward.
S. Konkan, Dalzell.
Malwan, Dalzell,
Konkan, Law.
Lawii, ZToo/w/, F.B.I.— VI-1 62.
Bletia. Tropical America,
verecunda, B. M. 930. Gardens
CXLIX. — SCITAMINB.E.
2. Globba.
marautina, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-206. Yelapur, N, Kanara.
6, Curcuma.
neilgherrensis, Wgt., f.b.i, — 1V-2I0.
Ranadei, Prain, Jour. Bombay Nat, His, Soc.
aromatica, Salisb.,i\3.i. — VI-210. Ambe Halad.
Jan,
Aug,
Zedoaria, Rose, f.b.i. — VI-210.
Amada, Roxb., f.b.i. — •VI-213.
longa, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-214.
montana. Rose., f.b.i. — VI-214.
decipiens, Dalz., f.b.i. — VI-215.
8. Kiempferia.
Galanga, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-219. Chandamula,
pandurata, Roxb., f.b.i. — V[-220.
rotunda, Lmw., f.b.i.— VI-222. Bhuichampa
scaposa, Benth., f.b.i. — VI-224, Choholce.
9. Hitchenia.
caulina. Baker, f.b.i. — IV-224. CJiuvara.
10. Iledychium.
coronarium, ir«w/(7, f.b.i. — VI-225. Sontaha.
11. Amomum.
microstephanum, Baker, f.b.i. — VI-239.
Kachora.
Konkan and Guzerat
Halad.
Shinvagadh.
Lanauli.
Konkan. May.
Cult.
Nimmo.
Cult.
Konkan. Dalzell.,
Konkan, Dalzell.
Mawal, June-July
S. Konkan, Nimmo.
Gardens. Apl,
Lanauli. Aug,-Dec.
Panchgani, Sept.
Lanauli. Aug.-Sept.
Konkan, Stocks,
![]()
THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
5k I
12. Zingiber.
Z. Nimmonii, Dah., F.B.l. — VI-244. Konkan, Dalz.
Z, cerneum, Dais., f.b.i.— VI-245, Ram Ghat, Dalz.
Z. officinale, Roxb., f.b.i. — VI-246. Surit. Alai. Cult.
Z. Zerumbet, Sm., f.b.i, — VI-247. S. Konkan, Dalz.
Z. macrostachyum, Dalz., f.b.i, — VI-247. Konkan, Graham.
Z. Casumunar, Roxb., f.b.i. — VI-248. Malbari Halad. Londa, W. Ghat. July.
13. Costus,
C, speciosus, Sm., f.b.i. — VI-249, Kosht, Khambari. Castle Rock, W, Ghats,
Oct,
15, Elettaria.
E, Cardamomura, il/a^, F,B,i, — .VI-251, TFF«eZc/// Cardamum. Gardens. Jan.
18. Alpinia.
A. Galanga, Sw., f.b.i,— VI-253.
A, Allughas, Rox., f.b.i. — VI-253.
A, nutans, Rox,, f.b.i. — VI-254.
21, Phrynium,
P, spicatum, Roxb., f,b.i, — VI-2r)9,
22. Canna.
C, indica, Zm«., f.b.i,— VI-260, Kurdali.
Heliconia.
H, buccinata, Roxb., F.i., CI. Ed., 225.
23, Mma.
M. superba, Roxb., f.b.i.— VI-261. Choiouni. Coivdar. W. Ghats, widely.
M ensete, Bot. Mag, t. 5223. Gardens.
M. sapientum, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-262. Gardens.
Sub-species and varieties of M, Sapientum,
Warree Country, May.
Konkan, Graham,
Gardens.
Konkan, Law.
Gardens.
Gardens.
M. Dacca, Horan. M/iaisi. Kale,
M. Champa, Hort. Sonkale.
M. paradisiaca, Linn.
M. textihs, ^Vee, Manilla Hemp.
M, zebrina. Striped-leaved.
M, vittata.
M. Cavendishii,
M. sumatrana, IIlus. Hort. — 375.
Bromeliace^,
Ananasa sativa. Ananas, Pine Apple.
CL. — H^MODORACE^.
2. Peliosanthes.
P. neilgherriensis. Wgt., f.b.i.— VI-266, Kanara higld,
3. Ophiopogon.
O, intermedins, Don., f.b.i.— Vl-269, Mahableshwar. Sept,
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens.
Gardens,
Gardens.
Cult. Jan .-Mar,
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522 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
4. Sansevieria.
S. Zeylanica, Willd., f.b.t. — VI-271. Moorva. Naglnn. Bow String Hemp.
Gardens. Jan.
S. cylindrica, Bojer, Bot, Mag. 5093. Garders,
CLI. — Iride^i:.
Belamcauda.
B. chinonsis, Leman., f.b.t.— VI-276. Gardens.
CLII. — AMARYLLIDEyE.
1, Hypoxis.
H. aurea, Lowr. F.P..I, — VI-277. Khandala,
2. Curculigo.
C. recurvata, Dryand., f.b.i. — Vr-278, Gardens.
C. orchioides, Gdertn., f.b.i. — VI-279.
3, Crinum.
C. asiaticum, Linn., f.b.i. — VI- 280. Nagdami. Gardens.
C. ensifolium, i?oj^6., F.B.I. — VI-281. SampJcanda. Poona. Oct.-Dec.
C. latifolium, Lzrt/^, F.B.I. — VI-283. DaJch. Lanauli. Panchgani. May-June.
G. brachynema, Herb., f.b.i. — Vl-284. Mulmlla. Mahableshwar. May-June.
C. Woodrowii i?rt/(;<^/', Bot. Mag. Mahableshwar. May -June.
4. Pancratium.
P. triflorum, i?o«&., f.b.i.' — .VI-285. Mahableshwar, Poona. May-June.
P. parvum, Dalz., f.b.i, — "VI-286. Purandhar. July.
A gave, Central and South America.
A. americana, Linn., Latia Guial. Phmted.
A. „ variegata.
A. vivipara, Linn., Wgt., Icon, 2024. Guial, KaiJcal. Planted. Jan.-June.
A. ,, short leaved form, Chota Guial. Planted. Jan.-June.
A. „ „ variegated. Gardens.
A. „ „ Cookei. Gardens.
A. rigida sisaliana. Sisal Hemp. Planted. Jan.-Ma.
Furcrcea, Trop. America.
F, gigantea, Vent., Wgt., Icon, 2025. Natal Hemp. Planted.
CLIII.— Taccace^:.
1. Tacca.
T. pinnatitida, Forst., f,b.i. — VI-287. Deva-lcanda. Tovdcirachajhad. Kalyan.
Sept.
T. tevis, Roxh., f.b.i. — VI-2S8. S. Konkan, Nimmo.
CLIV,— DlOSCOREACE^,
Dioscorea.
D. diif?.va.onz, Roxh., f,b.i. — .Y 1-289, Castle Rock. Oct.
D. pentaphylla, Linn., f.b.i.- — ^VI-289. Shendicail. Shinvagadh, Sept.
D. Jacquemontii, Hooic.f., f.b.i. — YI-290. Between Poona & Karli. J((cq,
D. spinosa, Ro-eb., f.b.i, — VI-291. Garden^.
![]()
THE FLORA OP WESTERN INDIA.
523
D. oppositifolia, Linn., f.b.i.— YI-292. Paspoli. Gardens.
D. glabra, Roxb., f.b.i. — VI-294. Konkan.
D. sativa, L//m., F.B.I. -^V 1-295. Gorkan. Poona. Aug.
D. alata, Lin7i., f.b.i.— VI-296. Goraclu. Cult. Poona.
Aug.
S.
A.
A.
A.
A.
A,
A.
A.
Y.
Y.
D.
C.
A.
C.
C.
C.
C.
c.
0.
c.
CLVI. — Liliaceye.
1. Stnilax.
macrophylla, Roxb., f.b.i.— VI-310. Ghotwail. Mahableshwar. Aug.
3. A sparagtis.
dumosus, BaTcer, f.b.i. — VI-315. Karachi. Stocks.
Jacquemontii, Baker, f.b.i. — VI-316. Between Poona & Karli. Jacq.
racemosus, Willd., f.b.t.— VI-316. Satavari. Caslle Kock. Poona. June-
Sept.
Isevissimus, Steud,, f.b.i. — V 1-3 17,
gonoclados, Baker, f.b.i. — Vl-318.
Alee,
vera. YelUu.
variegata.
Western Ghats.
Siddapur, N. Kanara. Jany.
S. Africa.
Planted.
Chatia Yellia. Gardens.
Yucca, N, and Cent. America,
gloriosa — Bot. Mag. 1260, Yucca. Gardens,
aloefolia— Bot. Magt. 1700. Gardens.
11. Dracaena,
terniflora, Roxb., f.b.l.— VI-328.
12. Cordyline.
terminalis, Kunth. F.B.I.— VI-331.
13. AspJwdeh/s.
tenuifolius, Cavan., f.b.i.— VI-332. Paiji.
15. Chlorophytum.
Heyneanum, Wall, f.b.i.— VI-333,
glaucum, Dalz.^ f.b.i. — VI-334.
tuberosum, Baker, f.b.t. — VI-334-.
attenuatum, Baker, f.b.i, — VI-335.
malabaricum, Baker., f.b.i.— YI-835.
orchidastruT, Lindl., f.b.i. — VI-336.
laxum, Br., f.b.i.— VI-336.
16. Dianella.
ensifolia, Bed., f.b.i. — VI-337. Gardens.
Agapanthus, S. Afi'ica.
Kirkee. Guzerat. Feb.
Kulai, Poona June-July.
A. umbellatus,
A. ascalonicum, Linn., f.b.i.—
A. ampeloporasum,
A. cepa, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-337
A. sativum.
African Lily. Gardens. May.
17. Allium.
.VI-337. The Shallot. Gardens.
Linn. The Leek. Gardens.
Paiz. The Onion. Gardens.
Luzan. The Garlic. Gardens.
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524 JOtrRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XI 1.
D.
D.
D.
D.
U.
S.
I.
I.
G.
D.
P.
a.
Gloria sa,
Kalalavi.
Dispot'Uin.
Poona.
M, war.
C.
C.
C.
C.
c.
c.
c.
c.
c.
c.
c.
c.
A,
A,
A
1 8, Dlpcadi.
montanum. Baker, p.b.i. — VI-346.
minor, Hook, f., F.n.i,— VI-346,
concanense, Dalz., f.b.i. — VI-346,
unicolor, Baker, f.b.i. — VI-347,
19. Urglnea.
'mAic2,, Kunth. , f.b.i. — VI-347.
20. Scilla.
indica, Baker, f.b.i.— VI-348.
28.
indica, Kunth.. f.b.i. — V 1-357.
pallida, BaUr, f.b.l. — 357.
30,
superba, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-358.
32.
Leschenaultianum, Don , f.b.i.— VI-360. Santaveri
Poliaiithes.
tuberosa, Gulchahu.
GLVII. — PONTEDERIACE.E.
3Ionochoria.
hastififolia, PreaL, f.b.i.— VI-362.
vaginalis, PresK, f.b.i.— VI-363.
CLIX. — Xyride^.
1. Xyris.
indica, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-364.
CLX. — COMMELINACEiE.
2. Commelina.
nudiflora, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-SGQ.
subulata, Roth., f.b.i— VI-3G9.
salicifolia, Roxb., f.b.i.- VI-370.
Hasskarlii, Clarke, f.b.i.- -VI-370.
benghalensis, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-370. Kena.
hirsuta, Clarke, f.b.i. — VI-371.
Forskalffii, VaJil., f.b.i.— VI-371.
clavata, Clarke., f.b.i. — VI-371.
attenuata, Kotn, F.B.I. — VI-372.
obliqua, Ham., f.b.i. — VI-372.
paleata, Hassk., f.b.i. — VI-372.
albescens, Hassk., f.b.i. — VI-373.
3. Aneilema.
scapiflorum, Wgt., f.b.i. — VI-375.
lineolatum, Kunth., f.b.i. — V 1-376.
, dimorphum, Dalz., f.b.i. — VI-377.
J unit. J uly.
Mulwan, Dalzpll,
Hewra, Dalzell
Sind, Stocks.
Junuli Pais. Kolkanda.
Paharikanda. Alundi. July.
June.
Belgaum.
Ritchie.
Poona. July-Aug.
Talbot.
Gardens.
Sholapur,
Mai wan.
Dec.
Dec.
Londa. Dec.
Poena. Kohlapur. Dec,
Konkan, Dalzell.
![]()
THE FLORA OF WESTERN INDIA.
525
A. spiratum, Br., f.b.i. — VI-377.
A. pauciflorum, Wgt., f.b.i. — VI-378.
A. versicolor, Dalz., f.b.i. — YI-378.
A. nudiflorum, Br., F.c.i.— ¥1-378.
A. sinicum, Lindl,, f.b.t. — VI-379.
A. ochraceum, Dalz., f.b.i. — VI-380.
A. lannginosuin, Wall., f.b.i. — VI-380.
A. Koenigii, Wall, f.b.i.— VI-381.
A. paniculatum, Wall., f.b.i. — VI-381.
A. vaginatum, Br., f.b.i. — V-381.
5, Cyanotis
C. papilionacea, SchuUes, f.b.i, — VI-384.
C. cristata, Schultes, f.b.i, — VI-385,
C. tuberosa, Schultes, f.b.i. — VI-386.
C. Wightii, Clarke, f.b.i.— VI-386.
C. tasciculata, Schultes, f.b.i. r-V 1-387.
C, vivipara, Dalz., f.b.i.— VI-388.
C. axillaris, Boem. and Sch., f.b.i. — VI-388.
7, Floscopa.
F, scandens. Lour, f.b.i. — VI-393, Castle Rock,
CLXI. — Flagellarie/E,
1. Flagellar ia,
F, indica, Linn., f.b i. — VI-391,
CLXII. — JONCACEiE,
1, Juncus,
J. maritimus, Lamh., f.b.i. — VI-393.
J. punctoiius, Linn., F.n.i.^VI-395.
CLXIIL— Palmes.
1. Arecii.
A. Catechu, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-405.
Actiyiorhytis.
A. capparia, Wetidl. ct Drude Linnaia — XXXIX-184.
10. Wallichia.
W. caryotoides, Roxh., f.b.i, — VI-419,
12. Arenga.
A. Wightii, Griff., f.b.i.— VI-422,
13. Caryota.
C. urens, Linn., f,e.i. — VI-422. Mhdr. Birly mhdr
16, Phcenix.
P, sylvestris, Roxh., f.b.i.— VI-425. Shindi. Planted.
P. rupicola, T. Anders., f.b.i. — VI-425. Gardens.
P. acaulis. Buck., f.b.i.— VI-426.
12
Syhahri. Hills. Dalzell.
Poena, Baroda, Aug.-Sept,
N, Kanara. Oct. -Nov.
S, Konkan. Dalzell.
Sind.
Sind.
April.
StocJcs.
Cult.
Gardens.
Ram Sttpari. Cult.
Gardens.
Divimana, N. Kanara.
Baini.
Feb.
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526 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIl.
P. humilis, Royle., f.b.i. — VI-426. var. peduncalata. N. Kanara Ghats.
W robusta, Ilook.f., f.b.i.— VI-427. Shaelu. Nandgaon, W. Ghats. Feb,
17. Corypha.
C. umbraculifera, Linn., f.b.i. — VI-428. Planted.
18. Nannorliops.
N, Ritchieana, H. Wend., f.b.i. — VI-429. Pharra. Sind. Aug.-Nov.
20. Livistona.
Hyphcene, N. Africa.
II. thebiaca. The Doum Palm. Planted, Nowsari. Bombay.
L. chinensis, Br., f.b.i.— VI-434. Gardens.
21. Calamus.
Mr. Talbot, who has had special facilities for the study of this genus,
says C. Thwaitesii I3ecc. and C. pseudotenuis Becc. and probably several
other species occur in N. Kanara, but they are specially difficult to collect
and determine.
![]()
527
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA,
Including Afghanistan, the Trans-Indus Protected States, and Kashmir:
arranged and named on the basis of Hooker and Baker's Synopsis Filicum
and other works, with New Species added.
By C. W. Hope.
{Continued from page 325.)
Part II.
NEW SPECIES.*
Genus 8— DAVALLIA, Smith.
Subgenus — Leucostegia, Presl.
5. Davallia Beddomei^ u. sp. — llMz. creeping on trees, hard, woody,
branching, densely clothed with light-brown, large, broadly lanceolate-acuminate
scales, peltately attached near the free base, thickly overlapping each other, not
adpressed, persistent; st. articulated on rhizome, and clothed like it for a
short way up, and with a few large scales scattered higher ; fr. lanceolate-
acuminate, sometimes much attenuate at apex, lowest prir of pinnae hardly
shorter than next two pau'S above, 5 — 14 in. 1., and up to 6 in. br., bi-tripinnate
and sometimes deeply quadripiimatifid; pinn 15 — 20 pairs besides the pimiati-
fid apex, distant, lowest pair subopposite, others increasingly alternate until all are
equi-distant, lanceolate and sometimes much acummate, subeqnal-sided, lowest
pair broadest and sometimes with inferior pinnules next the stipe enlarged ;
rhachis of pinna slightly winged ; pinnl. up to 12 pairs besides the pinnatifid
apex, those on superior side of pinna slightly longest except sometimes on lowest
pair of pinnfe, in fully fertile fronds cut down to a winged rhachis, leaving up to
6 pail's of tertiary segments free, which again are deeply cut down into three or
more unequal-sided lobes either simple and non-soriferous, or cleft into unequal
horns and then soriferous ; texture herbaceous ; colour of fronds olive green,
— of stipes and rhachises more or less pink ; veins of tertiary divisions pinnate
in the lobes : veinlets of lobes simple or abruptly branched into two parts curv-
ing round into the hooked horns of the ultimate soriferous lobes ; &ori one at
the base of each cleft lobe across -the forked veinlet ; invol. persistent, nearly
as wide as the cleft lobes. (Plate I.)
Punjab : Kullu 9-10,000', Trotter ; Simla Beg. 8-10,000', Collett, Blanf., Hope,
Bliss, Lace : coramon at these elevations.
N.-W. P. : D. D. Dlst.—Jaunsar 7-9000', Herschel, Duthie, Gamble, Mrs. StansSeld ;
r.Garli. 8-10,000', Lev., Mackinnons, Gamble; Brit. Garh/val 8-10,000', Dufchie;
K u maun 8-l'2 fiW, Duthie, Trotter, MacLeod.
DiSTEiB.— .(4««a : N. Ind (Him.)— Nepal ; Sikkim ; Bhotan.
* The serial numbers prefixed to the New Species show their place under each
genus in the GeneraLList (Part III), where the names only will be repeated.
![]()
528 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
I dedicate this beautiful species to Colonel Beddomc, who has done so much
for ferns, and who has shown me that it is undesciibed. It is the high-level
plant which is not got in the parts of the Himalaya most frequented by Euro-
peans, and consequently has been seen growing, or noticed, by few collectors.
It can never be mistaken, in growth at least, for the low-level plants, so com-
mon in the outer range of the Himalaya, be these D. pulchra, or D. psendo-
cystopteris, or D. Delavmji. Ihe fronds are never deltoid, or even subdeltoid, in
shape, as are those of D. pulchra and D. jjseudoojstopteris^ and the stipes
are generally comparatively short, and, like the rhachis, pinkish in colom',
which tinge gives a character to the plant. The large, broad scales of
the rhizome, suggesting pale-coloured raisin skins, are very characteristic.
It is sometimes difficult to separate the members of this group by their
ultimate cutting, as that seems to vary with age of fronds and degree of their
fertility; but I consider the difference in shape of fronds, m scales, in colour, and
in habitats to be quite sufficient distinction. Blanford, who called this plant
D. pulchrn^ Don, said — " The typical form, distinguished by its red rhachis,
obtuse segments and ovate scales of tho rhizome, is abundant on trees on
Kamalhuri and Hatu (Mts.) above 8,500 ft., but does not occur lower."
Genus 12— CHEII-ANTHES, Sw.
6. Clieilanthes duMa, n. sp.—Caud. erect, undistingiiishable — hidden
by the numerous stipes ; st. densely tufted, stout, round, about as long as the
fronds, when young — thickly covered with linear-lanceolate hah-pointed scales
with dark centres, which diminish in size and become paler in colour upwards,
and are there mixed with small, pale-brown, chaffy scales and tomentum ; when
old, less densely clothed, and then appearing glabrous and almost black be-
tween the scales; fr. lanceolate, sometimes 1 ft. and upwards in length, puanate ;
pinn. piimatifid nearly to the rhachis, lower pinase as long as or longer than
those next above, and with lower sides enlarged ;//., of two sorts, (1) — the broader
herbaceous in texture, with pinnse and segments broad, destitute of powder
beneath, secondary rhachises and costse with a few, narrow, pale-brown scales,
but no tomentum ; invol. distinctly separate at tips of veins, often not
extending to apices of segments, and often without sori, (2) — the naiTower
coriaceous iji texture, with pinnsfi and segments shorter and narrow ; rhachises
and costse densely clothed with pale-brown to nearly white broad and also long
chaffy scales, and tomentum, and under surface of lamina completely covered with
white powder ; invol broad, confluent, all round the segments, much lacerate
i>ud ciliated. (Plate. II.)
N.-W. P. : V. D. Did.— On tlic cnrt road fiom Rajpur to Mussoorce, at about 4,000
ft. altitude.
![]()
PLATE I.
-m.
W''4C5a^ .
^ --f"
.*
CO
^
'^>,^fl
^^
-'-'4"'<*i '4^'
f/ c
-=^^ ^ ,, Chitra SapiC?lil.li.
DAVALLIA BKDDOMEI, n.sp
i. ?.hizame aTidyart of a tfrond, -natural size 5. Tortion of a pinnule from t>iep"inna^^ 2 magnified
2 ':: 3 Eiitire pinna iromike miWle of two other 3 diameters.
fconds .natural size. 6 • Sotus w^tll indusiuni, magmfiei lO diajneters
4 PcrtiOT of a pinnule -from t>.eiror.afig.l.niagni 7& 7a. Scales ftomxhizome magnified 5 iaraeters
iieds diaumelers.
8. Cells froTT. the -middle of a scale. ma.gnified 30 diametei-s.
![]()
PLATE 11.
I /,/ ir.
i^^^^ fr/ Ir ^^'
/? V ^
," 4-
5 d!
N.t Brown del'*:
CHEILAl.'THES DUBIA, n.sp.
A.C. Sin^ha lith.
1. Portion oi" plant she-Ann^ tlie two kinds of fruads, A3cB
2 Piniuile of seiiii-l>a,rren frond, X 3.
3. " )i fsriile Irond, X3.
4. Lxdusium from fertile frond, A 10.
5. Scales from, stipes, X 5.
6. Portion of scale ft-oin stipes, X 30.
![]()
![]()
J HE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 529
This fern gTOWs nttvr the highest range of C. rufa^ Don, and at about
the lowest range of C. albo-marginata^ Clarke, which two species are very
unlike each other in general appearance and habit, perhaps agreeing only in
having two sorts of fronds, differing as above described. It is much larger
than C. nifa, and has the general appearance of very large plants of G. albo-
marginata, except that none of its fronds are deltoid as some of those of the
other species are ; but it bears fronds some of which might be refeiTcd to one
species and some to the other, and, as I cannot refer it as a whole clearly to
either, I give it an independent name. It may be a hybrid between C. albo-
marginata and G, rufa.
Colonel Beddome says (Handbook, p. 94), under C, nifa — " Very near the
last species" {C. allo-marginata) " only tomentose. I have some specimens
from Garhwal. I hardly know which to refer to, the tomentiun being present ,
but very sparse ; the difference between the two is only a question of the
tomentum, and both may well be varieties of farimsa.^' I lived for sixteen
years in Dehra and Mussooree in the midst of these species of Cheilanthes
and I must say I know of no three species of any genus which are more
markedly separate in character and general appearance than these three are.
G.farinosa^ in those parts at least, never varies, and is as typical when growing
in the Easpana Valley at Eajpur alongside of G. rufa as it is many miles south
of any known habitat of that fern. G. alho-marginata looks quite a different
pbnt when growing in exposed rock crevices, or on walls, from itself growino-
in soil and shade, but it is always clearly distinguishable from G. rufa. G. rufa
is always spread out flat on the face of the rock in which it is rooted, thoucrh
occasionally it grows in soil above or below rocks. I think I have never seen
C./arawsa rooted in rock. I do not think Colonel Beddome has ever seen
G. rufa growing. He has probably b^en misled by the fact that both that
species and C. aWo-marginata are somewhat dimorphous, though where the
resemblance of either to G.jarinosi is I cannot see.
Genus 20— ASPLENIUM, Uim.
Subgenus — Athyeium, Roth.
22. Asplenium tenellum, n. sp.—AUantodia ienella, "Wall, in Herb.
1821, under Asplenium teauifrons, Wall. Cat. No. 206. Plcmts isolated
10 — 22 in. high, according to age ; caud., erect, small : st. tufted ;
or, if constrained, procumbent, and stipes springing in close longitudinal
sequence : a few lanceolate-acDminate brown scales on base of stipes ; st.
except close to base, naked, slender, sometimes nearly equalling the
frond In length ; fr. broadest at middle or below it, narrowing slightly
towards the base and rapidly towards the acuminate apex, bipinnate, 6 — 13 in.
![]()
530 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol.^XJI.
1. rarely longer, 3— G in. br. ; pinn. 10—18 paii-s (according to size of frond)
besides the acuminate apex, well apart, stalked, ovate-acuminate, 1| — 3 in. l,
J 1 in, br., sometimes broadest at base, generally like the frond m miniature •
secondary rhachis flat above, keeled below, becoming winged above the lowest
few pairs of pinnules ; pinnl. 6 — 12 pairs below the acuminate apex of
the pinna, oblong and blunt to falcate, unequal-sided, lower side cut away,
divided more or less deeply into 4—6 pairs of blunt toothed lobes or segments •
upper surface furnished with long weak setm springing from the sides of the
secondary rhachis and the costa of the pinnule, and in large fronds also from the
veins ; texture herbaceous ; ven. pinnate in the pimiules, and forking in the
ultimate segments ; sori in a double ro\v close to the costa along the vein and
the superior veinlet of each lobe, sometimes one, or a pair, away from the costa
in the anterior lowest segment ; invol. persistent, opening towards the costa or
the main vein of the enbrged lowest segment. (Plate lY.)
HA.B. :— Kash. : Kishtioar, T. T. 14-1148. Punjab :—SimlaB eg. —Simla. 6-7000',
Blanf 1883 Blis3l891. N.-W. P.: Z). 1>. Disf.— Sowarna Ndia 4500', Mackinnons
1878-79 P. W. Mackinnon and Hope 1881 ; Kumami— J ngesav and Phurki 6000',
S. and W. 1848 ; near Naini Tal 5500', Hope 1861 ; Kalam Valley 7-8000', Duthie
No. 3C21, 21-8-84 ; Khuti to Dwali 70-7500', Trotter No. 817, 1891 ; Gori Valley
above Bugdiar 9000', MacLeod 1893.
BlST-Rl-B.—Asia : N. Tnd. (Him.) W. NEPAL : Nampa Gadh 12-13,000', J. R. Eeid
1886, com. Dnthie No. 6244 : very long. Nepal, Wallioh, Buthie.
A small and elegant plant, found on wet rocks, or by the side of small
streams in forests on the Hunalaya. Intermediate between A. niriripes and
A. tmuifrons, Wall. Distmguishable from the foimer by the shorter stipes, more
delicate habit and more elegant cutting, and distinguishable from A. temifrons
by the smaller size of the plant, slender stipes, generally more attenuate pinnaB,
and by not being proliferous towards the apex of the fronds.
A. tenellum Wall., is given in Hooker and Baker's Synopsis Filkum as
merely a form of A. FiHx-fcpjnina, Bernh., " with the midiib of the pinnte
and pinnules beset with firm yellow spines or strigiU^ ;" but m the living
state the two plants are altogether unlike. In the WalUchian collection m
the Herbarium of the Linnean Society, there is only one frond ticketed by
Wallioh, Allantodia tmrlla. Wall., " Legi in Napalia 1821" : it is long and
j^j^n-ow— 11^ in. 1., 4 hi, br., with sori very costal, like the Sikldm high-
level plant which Mr. Clarke called iw: alpina of A. m'gripes, and the Khasi
Hill specimens alluded to in this paper under A. nt gripes : the pinmu are distant
and very uaiTow— about ^m. br. only, and just enough of the upper surface
is visible to show that it is setulosc. In tbe British Musemn Herbarium
there are two sheets marked " AUmtodia iendla. Wall, in Herb. 131 " (possibly
![]()
s^
:r/>-^
:.y?W^^W^^^
^^s^>^^v^^ii^^^^s*i^--
^'
0?rv^^
p
g
CO
o
o
■--5::&>l
^ 0) 43 ^ aO P
S t; o f >- c
PM <! py «/ fe M
_; c» «' ^ >o <£>'
![]()
' ^-^^01 k(^:^y
-^^A-^ ^v
't ^^'^l'
^\\
'^^
'^' -A-.^^. r<,\\y
^'1
^
v.A'v'^C
PLATE IV,
1
5;,
'' ^.
>X
L_il
N)
■-^>^
^^[^E.Bl•o^^^l.deI
CLitraSjlpiC^Kth.
ASPLENIUM TEl^ELLUM, n.sp,
1. TlliizcTne and part of -frond, na-tural size. 4* , Fannole trom a. troai iro-ncl, -uTiier side, x s.
2. Upper, and 3,\mde-r side of pmnule rfrom an 5 Pra^mant of a pinnule sTio-wmrf iristle on upper
ordma'ry frond, x 3. siirface, x 10 .
6. Fragment 01 a pinnule showing' sorias 'wilK its inatisnirn, x jo .
![]()
![]()
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 531
Celt. No. 231 is meant, aa A. pectinatum. Wall. Cat. 231, with some A. nigripes,
is mixed).
Moore, in the Index Filicum, gives Allcmtodia (?) tenella, Wall, as a synonym
of Athyrium tenuifrons^ Moore.
26. A. rupicola, n. sp., — Plants isolated; ccmd. snberect or procumbent,
slow-growing ; st. densely tafted, sprinsing from all ronnd the caudex, short and
thick and curving towards the vertical, the bases persistent, clothed with
narrow hair-pointed dull brown scales, above glabrous ; //•. narrow lanceolate,
acuminate at apex, simply pinnate, deeply pinnatifid, naked except for a few
fibrillffi on main rhachis, herbaceous to subooriaceous, generally curving
laterally near the base reversely from the dh-ection of the stipes, the lower
piimre becoming distant and dwindling in size ; up to 15 ui. 1. and probably
more, by 3 — 4 iia. br,, rarely broader ; pinn. 20 or more paii"s besides apex,
becoming distant towards the base of the frond, sessile and decuiTent both
ways on rhachis which becomes winged towards apex, f — f in. br., falcate,
broadest at base and anterior lowest segment longest cut down sometimes
nearly to the secondary rhaclns into broad falcate segments spinulosely toothed
at point and on both sides, or, in large specimens, lobed, and then the lobes
spinulosely toothed in con-espondence with the veinlets ; ven. pmnate in the
segments ; vmilets one to each tooth or lobe, and forked in the lobes ; vena-
tion distinct on the lower surface ; sori one to each vein, on the anterior
veinlet of each lobe, or in the fork of the veinlets, short, straight, or some-
times hippocrepiform, looking large and roundish when ripe ; invoL brown,
persistent at least till sori ripen. (Plate V.)
The above description has been written from fifteen sheets in my possession:
there is no other description, except that Beddome gives A. rupicola^ Edgew., as
a synonym of A. Filix-fcBmina, var. retusa, Clarke, which he describes briefly.
Some at least of Clarke's rdusa is quite different from the present species.
Hab.— Kashmie, Pir Punjal, so nth slope 9000', Lev. 1875. Punjab— CA«/hJ«
8000', Baden-Powell 1879, 9000' McDonell ; Kullu 7-8000', Trotter ; Mandi State
9-10,000', Trotter ; Simla i^e*/.— Simla, Edgew., and Nagkanda 29-9-31, Lady Dal-
housle, Herb. Wight, in Herb. Hort. Kew, 7800', Bliss ; Ridge east of Simla from
Mahasu to Baghi 8-10,000', Gamble, Collett, Blanf ., Hope, Trotter, Bliss.
N.-W. P. : D. B. i?i5f.— Jaunsar 7500', Gamble; Mnssooree 7000', Hope (once feen).
B. Garh.—ne^x Kuari Pass. 11-12,000', Dutbie No. 5150 ; Eumaun—Eaim Tal
Davidson 1875, China Mt. 8500', Trotter ; Byans— Palang Gadh 9-10,000', Duthie ;
Pindar Gorge 9-10,000', Trotter No. 885 (whole plant 5 in. high, fronds fertile,
1 in. br.); Gori Ganga Valley— Bugdiar 8600', MacLeod.
This is a very distinct species, both in structure and habit. It gTOWs in
the crevices of dry exposed rocks, and, late in the season at least, always has
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532 JOVHNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
stump'^ remainiiif; of stipes representing fronds larger than any then existing.
Probably the longer fronds get broken off by the wind, or cropped by cattle
or floats, during the rainy season. Blanford had been calling the plant
A. Schimperi^ A. Br., narrow form ; but when I collected it in 1886 I
thought it distinct and new, and proposed to call it A. nipestre. On going
to Kew in 1888 I found a specimen collected by Edgeworth, and named by him
A. rupkola. Meanwhile, Mr. Blanford seems to have entered the fern in his
list of the Ferns of Simla (Journ. Asiat. See, Beng. 1888) as A. Filix-fmmina,
var. retusUy Deene., subvar. e^ow^rfrfc, Clarke, from sheets at Kew so marked by
Clarke. This subvariation is too metaphysical for me, and, as the plant is
unlike A. FiUx-fcemina in eveiy respect, I give it as a species, and adopt
Edgeworth's name as being very appropriate. I disagree with Beddome when he
says that the frouds are very similar to those of A. tSchimperi, A. Br., but almost
always only bipinnatifid. A. rupicola is very gradually narrowed towards the
base, whereas A. Scliimperi is hardly narrowed at all ; and I have never
seen the first-named species with fronds even nearly bipiunate ; but probably
Beddome, as Clarke does, includes in the variety retusa of A. FiUx-famina
other plants which I do not know. In the Calcutta Herbarium I found, and
separated, a good many specimens of A. rupicola, but I omitted to note par-
ticulars regarding them.
Genus 22— ASPIDIUM, Sir. (in part). R. Br.
Subgenus — Polystichum, Roth.
3. Aspidium Duthiei, n. sp. — Plants with erect caudices in dense
tufts ; St. short, ?tout, 1 — 2 in. long, densely clothed with large jjale-di-ab,
almost straw-coloured, scales, which extend up the rliachis to the apex of the
frond, dimhiishing in size upward, and along the costtfi on both surfaces, imder-
ueath protruding from among the sori ; fr. 2 — 4, 5 in. l, narrow, linear,
simply pinnate ; pinn. short, blunt, hardly auricled, broadened at base on both
sides, merely lobed or crenate above, markedly alternate ; upper surface covered
with small white glands or setro ; texture subcoriaceous ; sori about 4 pairs to
a pinna near the costa. (Plate VI.)
N.-W. P. : T. Oar^.— Dudu Glacier 14-15,000', Duthie Ko. 396, 19-8-83; Kutti
Valley, above Napalcha, 13,300', Duthie No. 3708 (in part) ; ZMwmMw— Lebong Pass
16-17,000', Duthie No. 6284, 1886.
Nepal, West— Nampa GMh 13-14,000', Duthie No. 6233, 1886.
I have felt obliged to separate this plant from A . lachmimse^ Hook., both
because it differs from that plant in appearance, and because Hooker's description
of A. lachenmse cannot be made to cover it. Nor is that description correct for
even the type plant, especially as to the cutting of the pinnae, which can hardly
![]()
PLATE V.
fei^?'
S.E Brown Mi AgpLEHlUM ( § ATHYRllMlRUPICOLA, n.sp^
L RhizomeS frond, natura.1 s:2p..
2.Ea,se of apinaa., stiowin^ four pinnules -with nature son, enlarged 3 diams.
3. Pragment of a pinnule witk S^tootKei lobes & sori with their mdusia, eiilargei 3 diams
■t Youn^ sorus "witkinlusiam, enlarged 10 diams.
5. Indusium. flattened out.^tlithe sporangia removed, enlarged 10 diams.
6. Scale firom the apex of the rhizome.
A.C. Smgha lith
![]()
PLATE \^
Vi'lP
W
A*
,/ .;'
-?^^
^1 -^t^^
.1
/
1
:4
$.
'a
^;
i/N
l\i.E Brovyr.. dsk
A — Plant . -natural siz el
B 1)5
D5
ASPIDIUM EUTHIEI, n. sp
1 Pinnule and part of stipes, mrper siirface , x 3 .
2 n •' " vinder '» ;< s .
3 Indusium. x iz .
4 Scales from stipes x S
5 Portion of scale irom stipes, x 30.
6 Scale fi-oTn upper surfiice of pinnule , >< 6
![]()
![]()
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 533
b3 called serrate, much less " spinoso-seiTated " (Syn. Fil.), or " spiuosoly-
seiTafced or crenate-sm-ate " (Budd.). Clarke says—'' Margin cr^^nate-seiTate,
scarcely spinulose." I should say certainly not spinnlose. The pinna of
neither plant are aui-iculate, as those of most Polystichunis are. The distinguish-
ing features of A. Duthiei are — the short and stiff stipes and stout rhachis ; the
dense covering of disproportionately large, very pale, scales ; and the white
set(B on the upper surface, and the coriaceous textui'e. Judging from the
few plants which have been gathered, some with few fronds left on them, but
with numerous stumps of tliick stipes, this species produces larger fionds than
CORRECTION.
Vol. XIT, jiage 533, fourUi line from tlio top, /or Polys^ichurns, read
Polysticliums.
^„„.„, ..... ...w.-xx J — yuu uuvTriias SBC. rn. mio numerous segments, one for each
main vein with margins rounded upwards from the sinus, the lov^'er afterwards
running parallel with the sec. rli. to an ogival mucronate point, margin some-
times undulate and slightly toothed ; tcsture coriaceous, brittle when di'ied ; ven.
pinnate in the segments, lowest pair of veinlets taking off at or near costa of
pinna and curving upwards to near the sinus, but sometimes stopping much short
of it and then often not soriferous, others rumiing into the lobes, and all stopping
short of the margin and having thickened ends ; sori small, 2 —3 to a segment,
on lowest pair of veinlets and next veinlet above, appearing grouped in triplets —
two sori belonging to one segment and the third to the next superior segment ,•
invol. shrivelling on top of ripe sori, but often persistent. (Plate VII — drawn
from a Darjeeling specimen.)
Punjab: S'm/r/j i?e.(7.— " Above Simla, Col. Batep," fide Hooker in Herb. Hort.
Kew. " Lastrea atrata ?? Wall." N.-W. P. : " Garhical "—P. W. Mackinnon 1881 ;
Kumaun—^. and W. 1848, No. 3.
DiSTRiB.— ^s«« : N. Ind. (Him,) Sikkim— Darjeeling 6-7000', Gamble 1879, Nos.
6968 and 7075, Lev. 1899, 7000' ; Bhotan— Dhumsong 6000', Gamble 1876, No. 254 ;
Assam— Shillong, Clarke 4-1635, 1886.
13
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![]()
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 533
ba called serrate, much less " spiuoso-sen-ated " (Syn. Fil.), oi" " spluoscly-
seiTated or crenate-serrate " (Bedd.). Clarke says — '' Margin crenate-sen'ate,
scarcely spiuulose." I should say cerfcaiiily uot spiuulose. The piimse of
neither plant are auiiculate, as those of most Polystichimis are. The distinguLsh-
ing features of A. Duthiei are — the short and stiff stipes and stout rhacbis ; the
dense covering of disproportionately large, very pale, scales ; and the white
setce. on the upper surface, and the coriaceous textm'e. Judging from the
few plants which have been gt^thered, some with few fronds left on them, but
with numerous stumps of tliick stipes, this species produces larger fronds than
have yet been seen.
Genus23-NEPHRODIUM, i?/c^.
Subgenus — Lastrea, PrcsL
4. Nephrodium Gamblei, n. sp. — Plants isolated ; caud. erect or
suberect ; st. stout, 9 — 24 m. l, densely clothed throughout with long dull-brown
scales up to 1^ in. 1. by y\ m. br., which diminish in size rapidly and get
darker in colour above two or tln-ee mches from the rhizome ; r/i. similarly
clothed throughout with dark brown or black hair-like scales which extend a
short way along the sec. rli. ; fr. simply pinnate, H — 3 ft. 1. by 9 — 13 m.
br. ; pinn. up to 30 — 35 pairs, very shortly stalked, cordate with bases some-
times overlapping the prim, rh., narrow, generally broadest at base owing to
enlargement of lowest pair of segments, above that ^ — | m. br., hardly nar-
rowed below middle of length, and above that gradually to a not very acuminate
point, cut down J — Jth towards sec. rh. uato numerous segments, one for each
main vein with margins rounded upwards from the sinus, the lo^^■er afterwards
runiaing ]jarailel with the sec. rh. to an ogival mucronate point, margin some-
times undulate and slightly toothed ; tcsture coriaceous, brittle when di'ied ; ven.
pinnate in the segments, lowest pair of veinlets taking off at or near costa of
pinna and curvmg upwards to near the sinus, but sometunes stoppiiag much short
of it and then often not soriferous, others rumiing into the lobes, and all stopping
short of the margin and having thickened ends ; sori small, 2— S to a segment,
on lowest pair of veiialets and next veinlet above, appearing grouped in triplets —
two sori belonging to one segment and the third to the next superior segment ^
invol. sh.rivelling on top of ripe sori, but often persistent. (Plate YII — di'awn
from a DarjeeUng specimen.)
Punjab : Simla Beg.—^^ Above Simla, Col. Bates," fide Hooker in Herb. Hort.
Kew. « Lastrea atrata ?? V^all." N.-W. P. : " Garhwal "—P. W. Mackiunon 1881 ;
Kumaun—S. and W. 1848, No. 3.
DiSTRiB. — Asia : N. Irni. (Him,) Sikkim— Darjeeling 6-700O', Gamble 1879, Nos.
6968 and 7075, Lev. 1899, 7000' ; Bhotan— Dhiimsong 6000', Gamble 1676, No. 264 ;
Assam— Shillong, Clarke 4-)635, 1886.
13
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534 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST DRY SOCIETY, Vol. XI L
Many years ago I separated, from among Nephrodium F. mas, var,
paralleloijrammum, Kze. in Limifea, Hoolc, in the collection of the Messi's.
Mackinnon, several specimens as differing in cutting and venation. And more
recently I observed in Mr. Gamble's collection, in the N. hirtipes wrapper, the
specimens above enumerated from Darjeeling, Bhotan, and Shillong, the two
latter sets having been marked by Mr. Clarke Lastrea hirtipes. On the ticket
of No. 7075 ]Mr. Gamble had written — " This seems to be placed by Clarke
together with what we have usually considered true ' hiitipes ' {see my No.
7154:), but the tw'o ferns are quite disthict in locality and habit. No one
gathering them together in Darjeeling could say they were the same !" When I
told him I agreed as to this specific difference, and that I proposed to describe
the plant as a new species, Mr. Gamble gave me this specimen. Except that the
frond and piunte are narrower, and that the scales on it are paler, I cannot see
that the North- West Indian plant is different. The venation is like that of
N. hirtipes, but with perhaps more veinlets in a group. I have not seen either
plant growing ; but even without the support of Mr. Gamble, who has gathered
both, I should have no hesitation in describing the present as a new species,
distinct from N. hirtipes — the prmcipal points of difference being (1) the
stouter stipes and rhachis ; (2) the more numerous and naiTower pinnffi — the
lower ones deflexed ; and (3) the fewer sori. The free portion of a segment
resembles in outline the head of a bii*d with a small beak.
I observed some specimens of N. Gamhhi in the Calcutta Herbarium, but
had not time to note particulars of them. In Mr. Levinge's collection in the
Dublin Museum I have lately seen a very fine specimen of this fern, named
N. hirtipes, which I noted as having a thick stipe 1 9 J in. 1. with a frond
28 in. 1. by 13 in. br. below the middle, and almost 12 in. at the base
measured along the deflexed pinnas. There are about 35 pairs of puuiae, besides
the abruptly narrowed apex. The texture is coriaceous. And in the Edinburgh
Herbarium — which has lately been greatly enriched by the acquisition of the
late Colonel F. Henderson's collection of ferns — I found a still larger, though
imperfect, frond which must have been 3 ft. in length, besides the incomplete
stipes "which is 22 inches. This is the Bhotan specimen cited above, and Mr.
Gamble's ticket bears — " Nephrodiuin hirtipes, Hook., es C. B. Clarke, but in
my opinion a different species." With this specimen, which is unmounted, is a
loose slip, in Mr. Levinge's writing, as follows : — " We ahvays called this fern
L. cuspidata here ; but it clearly is not. It differs from the typical L. hirtipes
considerably, especially in habit, growing in great tufts like L. patentissima. I
think it should be considered a variety (initialed) H. C. L. 14-11-80."
Another slip in Colonel Henderson's writing bears : — '* These specimens are
![]()
.^^mTT^/^-.-^-AT-M:
PLATE YH.
2 • /^S^t?-..'^^^
/;^'?:^:r4-i^
/^'
^-
*~;.^fo-. :5
\rfe-.f
4iuL::
7^?^^-i'^
>'
\y^
■M^
^.
/■;; ,y{ ' :.->:•-■ -■-s''^' --/n ' n-
'M \ ^
V ; y^
^^
u 1^^
it_^ '-^' -^ "'<■ xV V-^^'
^^
if
\ .;; ffiif fii r,
. . I
A^
:ki.TaSiipiC?iit}i
"S.S.Sro^■m. del.
NEPHROraUM GAMBLE I, n. sp
1. STnajlfrohA, natural sizs. 4. Seale fi-om laase of sUpes, magr.itlea 2 aia-jjieters
2 "Base of a pm^a nndei- surfaee, ina^n^fied = diameters. 5. Cells from Ine centr-e of a scale, ma^gmfied 80 diam.tel-s.
3. Sorus with mdusav.n,i..agt>;fied 10 diameters . (^.Marginal cells of a scale, magn.fted 30 diameters .
![]()
fiMM T^^l
PLATE YIIl.
N.E. Brown ieu l^iEPHRODIlJM E.EPENS, n.sp.
lEhizome S portion of a- frond, naXural size.
2. Till' ee lobes of a piima, under surface, X 3. ,
3. Lolje of a, pinna, appsr sxirla-ce, X 3.
4.Lote of s. ■pinna from a lal^e frond, -under surface X3.
5. Ira^m&nt of a, pinna with sorus S indusiuTn, X15.
omolia litli
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 535
from the Himalayas, and though I suppose you will call them L. hirtipfs, they
seem to pass on and ran into Lastrea mspidata.'^ I need not here consider
whether N. cuspidatum and N. MrUpp.s are distinct species ; but I may say that
I think-iV. Gamblei is the farther removed from N. cuspidatum. I have seen
one or more specimens named N. hirtipes in Colonel Beddome's collection,
which I should name JSF. Gamblei.
6. N. repens, n. sp. — Rhiz. widely creeping and branching, and throw-
ing up fronds h iu. to 1 in. or more apart (sometimes forming dense beds)
^ in. thick ; stiff and ligneous when dried ; st. naked or with a few deciduous
scales at base only, upwards becoming downy or villose, as are the rhachises,
3 — 6 in. long below the am'icles of the frond, rarely longer ; fr. ovate with an
acuminate apex, but suddenly reduced below and contmued by almost linear-
auricles down the stipe, which dwindle in size until scarcely visible, auricles
sometimes bipartite with segments pointing up — and downwards, simply pinnate,
2 — 4 ft. long including auricled base, by 6 — 12 in, br. ; pinn. numerous,
close, not generally more distant towards base (but the am-icles increasingly so),
acuminate, width from ^ to 1 in., rarely more, generally under f in., cut down
nearly to the sec. rh. into very numerous narrow parallel-sided round-pointed
segments wliich are closely set — though always separated by a narrow sinus,
slightly curved upwards at apices ; texture herbaceous or sometimes subcoriaceous,
the costa thickly and the veins sparsely clothed on both surfaces with short hairs
or down ; ven. of segments simply pinnate, attached to or abutting upon, but not
branching from, the rhachis of the pinna ; i.'en. 6 — 18 pairs of veins, runniog out
to the edge, the lowest pair just above the sinus ; sori small, one on each vein
except near apices of pinnse and segments, where they are wanting, medial or
sometimes ratfner nearer the margin ; i?ivol. glabrous, persistent, sometimes
shrivehing. (Plate VIII.)
Punjab : Chaviba—Ghao (or Sao) 6000', C. B. Clarke 23605, 7-10-74 (?) ; Eavi
Valley 5000', Blanf.; Chamba 6-7000', J. Marten 1897; Mandi State SOW, iTotter ;
Eullu 6-7000', Trotter ; Simla Reg.—^imld. 5000', Collett ; the Glen 6000', Gamble;
Usan Valley 4300', Blanf.: " Common in ravines below 6000'," Blanf. in List (under
iV. ^roZ«a;M??t) ; Bliss 1 890, several stations. N.-W.iP.: D. D. Dist. — Jaunsar : Eupin
Valley 4500', C. G. Eogers ; Tons Valley 3000', Gamble ; "Dhoon" (in the Dehra Dun)
Vicary ; Suarna Nala 4506', P. W. Mackinnon and Hope 1881 ; Sahasradhara 2000./
Hope ; Mnssooree — in Herb. Dalzel, King-, Herschel, Mackinnons, Hope ; T. Garh. —
Phedi 4-5000', Duthie ; Ku7)iaun—Ka,nm 6300', S. and W. ; Naini Tal, Hope 1861
Chippleghat and Koonoor, Davidson 1871 ; near Askot 4-5000', (Duthie 1884 ; Nalena
Valley 47-5000', Hope 1890 ; near Bans 6500', Trotter 1891 ; Kaini Valley— Shama
4200', MacLeod 1893.
Di3TRiB.—^«j« : N. Ind. (Him.) Nepal— TFflZ^ic/j 349. Aspid. No, 29; « Legi in
Napalia 1821 " ; Sikkim and Bhotan (?) ; Assam— Shilloug 6000', C. B, Clarke. W.
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530 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
^y?'. : Sierra Leone — near Free Town, TI. H. Johnston. S. Afr.; Madagascar ? (iV.
Inngicmpe^ Baker).
In giving habitats for this fern I am obliged greatly to assnme from their
other characters what sort of rliizome many herbariimi specunens must have had.
As ahx'ady said, under N. prolixicm, Baker, I have seen no plants of this section
from North- West India with an erect caudex and tufted stipes. I should now
add — except of the next species i\^ xi/Iodes^ Kze. In the Synopsis nothing is
said as to the rhizome of N. prolixum, Baker, though that is sometimes the most
important part of a fern ; nor does Willdenow mention that of his Aspidium
proUxum. Nor does Clarke say anything as to rhizomo, but says — '' tufted, "
meaning stipes in tufts, which I consider to imply that the caudex is tliick
and erect or suberect. Beddome is bolder, and m givuig Lastrea ockihodes,
of which he says N. prolixiim, Baker, is a synonym, he writes — " Caudex erect,
stipes tufted." And among all the specimens in the Kew \\ erbariiun, named
N. ochthodes and N. prolixum, there is not one with an erect caudex, and I
think only one with a creeping one, namely, Mr. Clarke's No. 44652, collected
at Shillong GlOO', 6-9-8G ; and to the fact of the creeping rhizome Mr.
Clarke has called attention, as though it were an abnormality.
On referring to Kunze's description of Aspiiiium ochthodes, I find he
says — " Ehizoma jvvmile tanivm observavi" and of A. xylodes he says only —
" rhizomate. . . . •" As to the shape of the frond, Kunze says A.
ochthodes ditTers from A. xylodes among other particulars in having " lad
sensim altenuatci^^ \ and A. xylodes from the other, thus — " bayl ahrvpia con-
tmcta." Kunze's N'. ochthodes, therefore, has a frond gradually attenuated at the
base and not suddenly reduced to mere auricles as in iV. repms and N. xtjodes
Hooker in the Species Filicum, IV, p. 109, gives No. 87 N. {Lastrea)
ochthodes, Hook., and for description a verbatim copy of Kunze's ; and then —
*' var. a, frond much attenuated at the base by the dwarfing of the pinnae.
Aspidium ochthodes, Kze. in Linuffia, XXIV, p. 282. Mett, Aspid., p. 82 ;
var. 3., the lowest pah- (several pahs) suddenly abortive, reduced to large
tuberculated glands. Aspid. tylodes, Kze., in &g. ; Mett. Aspid., p. 82, vix ab
Aspid. ochthode diversum videtur. Aspidium ylanduliferum. Wall. Cat. 347."
Wallich's tyiie sheet of No. 347, As^nd. ylamiidiferum, Wall. " Napalia 1821,"
is the plant I take to be N. prolixom, Baker, with pinnae gradually reduced
in length below and broadening into butterfly-shaped auricles : there is no
rhizome : the stipe, though incomplete, is 30-|- in. 1. ; and there are about 19
pairs of auricles diminishing in size to a mere trace only. Baker's N. pro-
Uxum is said to have a prominent gland at the base of the pimise. I can see
no glands on any specimens of N. repens.
![]()
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 537
No. 340, A. a^pendiculatum, Wall, in the Linnean Society's Herbarium —
" Aspid. No. 29 : Legi in Napalia 1821," named by Mr. Clarke — A", canujn
Baker, v. proUxum. Baker, is iV. repens ; there is no rhizome, but the frond is
suddenly diminished to mere short linear auricles, not butterfly-shaped : one
frond is auricled for 2 If in.
Mr. Blanford never gave N. caniim, Baker, as other than a synonym of
jy. proUxum, and io his published paper (Joum. Asiat. Soc. Bengnl, 1888) he
said — " I include herewith the forms from Simla that have been refen-ed to
N. canum, the type of which is a specimen of unknown origin, gi'own at Kew,
and having sub-margmal sori." (I may here remark that there are several
pot plants in the Kew Temperate Fern-house ticketed A^. canum, which are
downy enough, but they have not creeping rhizomes and have stipes densely
tufted as Baker's description says.) But m theu- joint " Supplementary Note on
tlie Ferns of Northern India," read before the Lmn. Soc, 3rd November 1887,
Mr. Clarke and Mr. Baker gave " 28. JVephrodium canum, Hook and
Baker ; C, B. Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc, ser. 2, Bot,, Vol. I, p. 515.
Simla, H. Blanford ; rhizomate horizontale brevi : sed in A^. prolixo type.
C. B. Clarke No.44652 rhizoma omnino simile videri potest." This shows
that the Simla specimen from Blanford had a creeping rhizome, because
Clarke's No. 44652 has ; though the entry seems mtended to confirm the
remarks made by Mr. Clarke in his " Review," 1880, m Avliich he gave
N. canum as a distinct species (No, 6) with tufted stipes — " I fear this Ls only
a variety of N. proUxum.'^ "I can find no good distinction."
Mr. Clarke then gave AspkUum appmdicvJatum, Wall, as a synonym of
A^. canum, and remarked — " Of A. nppendicidatnm, "Wallich collected
a large series ; the type sheet in his Herbariiun is N. canum. Baker
type."
Of N. proUxum, Baker, to which he attributed N. canum Baker, and
A^. ochthodes^ Kze., as synonyms, Mr. Blanfoi'd wrote in an early paper, which
was only privately distributed : —
" Not micommon in ravines below 6,000 feet." ..." It differs in some
respects from the descriptions of Clarke and Beddome. The caudex is
decumbent, or shortly creeping, not erect." ..." The lowest pair of
pinuffi (sometimes two or tlu-ee paire) shorter, then suddenly reduced to
auricles." ..." What the A^. canum may be, collected by Thomson
and Edgeworth m the neighboiuhood of Simla, unless herbaceous,
glandless specimens of A^. proUxum, I will not venture to surmise." . . .
" I think it probable then that the Simla specimens of A'', canum are
sunply A^. prciluum"
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538 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
It is improbable that Mr. Blauford, at the time the remarks above extracted
were -^Titten, had ever seen a specimen of the N.-E. ludiau N. prolixum with
a rhizome attached ; and I conclude that, though nothiiag was said in the
" Synopsis " about the rhizome, he believed with Mr. Clarke that the caudex
was erect and the stipes tufted, and yet held that the Simla fem, with a caudex
decumbent or shortly creeping, and with other differences, varied only slightly
from JV. prolixum. He does not say that it gi-ows in isolated plants, with
decumbent or shortly creepmg caudices, and stipes iia a tuft ; and I am
confident that bad he carried his investigation farther he would have found the
widely creeping and branchmg rhizome of JSF. npens throwing up fronds at
intervals, and fonning a more or less extensive bed.
N. longicmpe, Baker, from Madagascar, seems to be N. repens, but the
rhizome is wanting. The West African specimeti cited above is, or was, in the
Nephrodmm molU bundle at Kew. The largest frond of N. repens I have is 4 ft.
long, including the auricled base, by 10 in. br.; but a specimen in Mr. Gamble's
collection, his No. 17824, from Sikkim I think, mounted on three sheets, is
6 ft. 1. by 1|- ft. br., 2 ft. of that length being merely auricled, the
auricles not papUionate ; the stipe is wanting. The fern is probably rare in
Eastern India : Clarke's No. 44G52, from Shillong, is perhaps the only
representative from Assam. I have seen a few specimens of a plant, with
glands at base of pinnae and papilionate aiu"icles on the stipe, from Sikkim and
the Madras Presidency, which have portions of an erect caudex, and these I
think ought to be called N. ochtJiodes, Kze. (under Aspidhim). Beddome's
figure m F.S.I., t. 106, seems to be a representative of this last-mentioned plant,
and it t^hows the papilionate auricles, though only two pairs of them. N. repens
loves moisture, and grows by the sides of water-com'ses and on swampy groimd
below springs.
( To ie continued. )
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539
FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS.
Part III.
Aden and the Adjacent Waters.
By F. 0. Gadsden, R. I, M.
{Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 28th June 1899).
I find that in the course of the preceding articles, I have had so repeatedly
to refer to different places, when speaking of certain fish, that I regret now
that instead of dealing with individual species of fish I did not devote the
chapters to the different places instead of to the different fish. Uence, I
propose now instead of caliing your attention to a fish to describe to you in
detail the sport to be had in and about Aden, and thus I cannot escape
linking with the places the sorts of fish that are to be caught about them.
In speaking of Aden and its adjacent waters, I shall include Little Aden
Perim, B«rbera, and Zeila, the two latter on the African Coast, and a better
stretch of water — one with greater possibilities of sport — no man need ever
wish to have the run of.
Aden bears a very bad name j but, take my word for it, Aden is a very
much maligned place. To passengers who on a Mail steamer are only
going to stop for two or three hours, perhaps only to coal, to them, I have
no doubt, it appears a ghastly hole ; and as it is always more or less hot
there, and as these aforesaid passengers are cramped up on the steamer
perhaps even not in the best of tempers, and from the fact that the
ship is at anchor miss the cool sea breeze that they have probably got
accustomed to, they naturally curse the place, and go away with a very
wrong impression.
To the sojourner in the land, Aden is very different. Aden, with its
social gaieties ; Aden, with its tennis courts ; Aden with its cricket and golf
Hnks ; Aden, with its polo ground ; Aden, with its easy chances for the
energetic and vigorous to cross over to the African Coast, where they can
shoot lion, several sorts of deer, and game of all sorts ; Aden, with its thirst-
producing capabilities and its delightful and convivial club, where you may
do your level best to quench the same, and where you can get a really good
rubber of whist every evening : and, above all, Aden, with its magnificent
fishing, free to all right under your nose ; Aden, I say, in spite of the heat,
which its rocks throw oft' and which has a peculiar grip about it, this Aden
is not half such a bad place after all. One thing more while I am about it.
The rocks of Aden, and more especially Jebel Shum Shum, in the early morn-
ing sunlight as you approach it from the eastward, with the full glow of
a glorious eastern sunrise shining on it, is a sight difficult to equal, and not
easily forgotten. There is a legend that there used to be one tree growing
in the Gold Mohar Valley, but I believe that it has now gone, and on the
rocks themselves there is apparently no vegetation ; but in the early morning
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540 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
glow the whole hillsides look transformed and as if they were clothed with
the most luxuriant growth of glorious heather ; such purple tints as I have
never seen elsowhere away from the Upper Highlands of Scotland ; and
Shum Shura in the morning rivals Ben-y-gloe at its best. I have casually
remarked that there is apparently no vegetation, I am not a botanist, but
I believe I am correct in stating that there are about 120 different flora
indigenous to this cinder heap, many of them being really remarkable ; as,
for instance, the Aden lily, of which two sorts are to be found high up on
the mountains only — one a yellow and one a white species {Alberca yerhuv
ghii aad A. alba). These are much sought after and appreciated, and in
addition there is a great deal of bird and insect life on the high slopes. But
this is not fishing in Indian Waters, and it was to that more particularly
that I proposed to draw your attention ; but even now, when I come to
think of it and to look back on the many hours spent, I am swamped with
the floods of old memories and am almost at a loss to know where to begin,
I have in a former ai'ticle referred in detail to the mullet and garfish fishing
that is to be obtained there, so that I do not propose to touch on it here
again further than that in the list of fish which I shall give. I shall simply
mention their names.
Besides these, viz., the mullet and garfish, there are seer fish, bonito,
tunnies, albacore, dolphin, horse-mackerel, several sorts of rock cod (grey,
green and red) and dozers of other smaller sorts, the best of which belong
to the Lutianus and i-'ciuna families ; while, if you work into the shallower
waters near the rocks, fish of most wonderful colours, resembling parrots,
jays and macaws, literally gleaming with all the most brilliant colours of the
rainbow, are to be had. Fish with green bodies and yellow stripes, fish with
heliotrope or lilac bodies and blue fins, with scarlet bodies, with black bodies
and blue spots are common ; but one seldom goes out for them unless one
wants them for bait, wherewithal to tempt the mighty rock cod as they are
perfectly useless for the table, give no sport, and curiously enough, most of
these brilliantly-coloured rock fish emit a very disagreeable odoiir. Their
brilliant colours, and I think also their strong smell, are given to them as a
means of protection, the former in order to harmonise with their surround-
ings, which consist of rocks and the brilliant coral growths, and the latter
because with the exception of the rock cod, the fishermen all say that
nothing else will eat them. The Arab and the Somali fishermen, who will
eat almost anything, won't look at them, and I have only once come across
a man who would. Years ago I served with an Italian and one day I caught
a particularly evil-smelling specimen, with a black leathery skin studded
with blue spots, and was going to throw it away when B. reproved me by
saying that " God made all things good, and he was going to eat that fish,"
Eat it he did, too, in spite of an aroma which would have sickened a hog
or choked off a Burman, in spite of his being accustomed to his national
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 541
delicacy of " Ngapee " (rotten fish paste) and wliich nearly turned us all up ;
but it did him no harm apparently, for he lived to take, and still lives to
draw his pension, but I don't fancy that he liked it ,• and I do not remember
his ever repeating the experiment.
But, though there is most excellent fishing all the year round in nearly
every part of the inner harbour, the two great features are the fishing for
bonJto, seer fish, dolphin, and albacore, which come on about the end of
April, and last on to about July or August., and the rock cod fishing, which
I have always found to be best during the cold weather months, say from the
end of October until the beginning of March. In April, either on account of
approaching clircatic disturbances, due to the monsotn, or peihaps from
some other natural causes connected with their growth, there suddenly
appear in the harbour countless niillions of small fry of several sorts of fish,
from 2 in, to 6 in. in length, and these shoals are followed up and accompa-
nied by troops of large ravenous fish, chiefly of the tunny and seer fish
tribes, and all day long these can be seen chasing and breasting in the shoals.
On an occasion of this sort, when the shoal is seen to be thus pursued, the
thing to do is, to get a boat at once and quietly row off and get into such a
position that the shoal shall pass close by and in front of you. Having
baited with a small live fish, you wait your chance, and then when the
commotion is at its height, pitch lightly into the middle of this arena, and
then see all clear for a run. The smaller fry, when pursued thus, seem to
dive for a short time, and you will probably help on this manuoevre by your
presence and by your throw : but your bait will not be able to disappear
with equal rapidity, being handicapped by your line, &c., and it will at once
attract the attention of some of the larger fish below. The consequence
being that a course of action is taken by the larger fish which you highly
approve of, which course of action is most likely to lead to your better
acquaintance. Hour after hour and day after day have I followed out these
tactics, and, I must say, that I have been very fairly successful. The very
largest fish I have ever killed on a rod, was hooked and killed in this
manner, I had been watching from the ship's deck a shoal quite close by,
which was being rapidly thinned out by the vigorous measures taken by
what I thought was a couple of large fish. The rod was rapidly put
together, and I was waiting for the boat to come round, when just
then, under the stern of the ship, appeared a fisherman's canoe with a couple
of Arabs in her whom I knew well, and with whom I had been out before.
They were after the same game, and same shoal. I waved them over, and
got into their boat, and they in a minute or so had planted me beautifully
in front of the shoal. A moment more and the two monsters were at their
larks again ; a heave, and my bait fell right close up to where I had just
seen one of them disappear, and the next second a furious plunge, and my
line went straight away with the reel simply shrieking.
14
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542 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
For two and-a-lialf mortal hours that fish dragged the boat all over the
place. I had hooked him well up in the inner harbour, but he went straight
out to sea, took us down past the light-ship, then changing his mind, crossed
over towards Little Aden anri finally turned sharp round and went back up
the harbour.
Never once did he stop for a breather, but went straight on from start to
finish, and it was only at last in sheer desperation I butted him severely and
got him for a moment alongside the canoe. That moment was enough
though for the Arab ; he leaned over, and in another second tJie steel was
entered, he was dragged bodily in board, and the fish, so far, of my life was
safely landed. Two hours after when weighed he scaled 73 lbs. He was a
bonito, a well-shaped fish, not long for his weight, and I remember at the
time being struck by his extreme breadth and depth. Furthermore, that
day I got three more fish in the same way before knocking off, but none of
them were to be compared with my first, all three of them being under 131b.
apiece. On this occasion I was using an 18 ft. 6 in. Salmon rod, 5 in. reel
(ship made, by the bye, which 1 have hardly ever used since that season),
220 yards of Arab-made cotton line, dressed with fish oil, brass wire
twisted trace, with single wire end, and a 3/0 Limerick hook ; bait, a young
mackerel, about 7 in. in length and 4 oz. in weight. I believe I could have
killed my fish much more quickly, but I found myself sadly handicapped in
a narrow crank canoe with so long a rod ; and it was chiefly this that deter-
mined me not to use a longer than 13 ft. rod for boat work, for at the last,
when it comes to gaffing, a long rod is terribly in the way.
Once since that day have I found myself fast in a bigger fish, but on that
occasion I got worsted, and the fish got off. In Berbera Harbour, on the
African Coast, I was trolling one day, also from an Arab Somali canoe, when
I got an offer, struck to it promptly, and very nearly got pulled out of the
boat in consequence. The fish went straight away at right angles, causing
the boat to heel over, and it took us some time to get strnightoned and
tidied up, and to realize that we were in for something out of the common.
I have never fished for tarpon, nor have I ever hooked by accident a Mark
II, 18in. torpedo going at thirty knots ; but I don't believe that either of
these could have beaten the first rush of that brute. He, like my former
friend, took us all over the shop, and at the end of one and-a-half hours
he seemed quite as fresh as when he first started, which was a great deal
more than I was. I had canght sight of him once or twice, and had dis-
covered that I had hold of a shark, apparently about 8ft, long, and also had
made up my mind that I should eventually have to cut myself free, but I was
loth to do so until I could do it with the least possible loss .of line. It did
not come to that however. In one of his mad rushes he turned round, and,
coming to the top of the water shot ahead close to the boat. The Arab in
the bows saw him coming, and stood ready with a heavy paddle, and as it
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 543
went past made a beautiful stroke, and caught the brute fair and square
on the back behind the dorsal. The blow doubled him up completely for the
moment, and had the boatman then stopped, I firmly believe we could have
killed him, or, at any rate have secured him to the boat for the time being
and towed him away j but the native got very excited, and recommenced
hammering hira with the paddle about the head, and in one of his wild strokes
came down on the nose of the beast, and the paddle glancing off from the
obliquity of the blow, cut my line clean out of the shark's mouth, and I had
the mortification of seeing my fish j^radu ally sinking out of sight. However
it may have been all for the best. I sometimes doubt now whether we could
have killed him alongside, and it would have been a very risky affair to have
gaffed and dragged him into the canoe unless and until he was really dead,
and even if we had got him we could have done nothing with him ; but at the
time I felt rather savage at the loss, and I am afraid that, in company with
my Arab Somali boatmen, I freely cursed him " for the son of a thousand
dead dogs."
Such are some of the more exciting adventures to which one is liable
when engaged in this class of fishing ; but on the other hand, I have the
recollections of many a good day, when fish of medium weight came freely,
and when the basket, after four or five hours' fishing, contained, say, five or
six fish, ranging from 151bs. to 201bs. apiece. It is, as I said, at its height
only during the time that the so-called sardines are about.
It is not necessary to go hunting the shoals ; take a boat and row or sail
quietly about, towing out a long line and stopping occasionally to let your
bait roam, and you will, at almost any time of tide, get a run, and my impres-
sion is that the prizes were many and the blanks few and far between.
This only lasts on, however, to about August 5 after that I don't say that
you would not get them, but the cream of the season is gone by that time.
Later on, in October, you will see the Arab boats foregathering near the rocky
patches which lie in the harbour off Ras Marbut, Steamer Point, Ras Tarshein
and Ras Marshag, and if you go out to them you will find that all their
energies are being devoted to the rock cod. There is a large amount of
satisfaction in catching them. They run pretty heavy, and although they do
not sport anything like so well as the other fish, still, they generally make
one good short, sharp rush, to get back to their own particular haunt I
fancy ; and then after you have landed them, they, like their prototypes at
home, are most excellent eating. The seer fish is fairly good for the table,
but the same can hardly be said of the bonito, albacore, and dolphin, or even
of the tunnies. They have a very coarse-grained flesh, and are rank in
flavour, and rather oily, a fish cake of bonito is like a compressed cake of
saw-dust and fish oil. The cod, however, is really good, the red ones espe-
cially. They are baited for with live bait deep down, and here it is that one
often uses the smaller rock fish for bait ; very often you will find the same
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544 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
man Bshing with two lines, with the smaller of which he is catching his bait —
the same gaudy, coloured rock fish ; and, having caught them, he simply
transfers them to his hook, returns them to their native element after having
spat on them for luck, utters the well-known prayer " Bismillah " and hopes
for the best. These rock cod run very heavy at times, seldom less than 91bs.
or lOlbs., and I have seen them up to 651bs, and have heard of much heavier
fish beiuf^ taken. One evening, off Ras Tarshein, at the entrance to the
inner harbour, not so -sery long ago between the hours of 3-30 and 7-30 p.m.
I <^ot seven fish, all red rock cod, and three of them scaled 1321bs. between
them, the other four accounting for only 37*lbs. It is almost a pity to use a
oood rod at this fishing ; they, after their first run, are so given to sulk and
cling to the rocks, and in order to induce them to move you have to put on
such a strain, that you are very apt to spoil your rod, or give it a nasty
permanent set.
But I love the rod, and as hand-lining is unto me as " the abomination of
desolation" so, straining or no straining, I always use the rod, and I always
advise others to do so. It is marvellous the strain you can put upon a fish
with a good rod. Few fish can stand it long, and when once you move them
the line generally shortens in somehow ; of course you will kill more quickly
with a hand line.
But I must get on. Up to now I have only dealt with the two classes of
fish that form, as I say, the distinctive features of the fishing to be had in
and about Aden ; but this class of fishing is 2}J'imd facie comparatively deep
sea fishing. Before closing, I want to deal with another fish, which inhabits
much shallower water, and is seldom found in more than two or three
fathoms. Off the entrance to Zeila there are several coral reefs, to navigate
a ship among which is both difficult and dangerous, and although these reefs
are clearly defined, and marked off by buoys, ships of any considerable draft
do not generally go in nearer than about two miles from the landing place.
Again in Perim Harbour, on the right hand side as you enter and about 80
yards from the pier leading up to the lighthouse and troops' quarters, there
are si me beautiful patches, and it is to these I wish to direct your steps.
On all these coral and sandy patches is found the Lntianus roseus, a thick,
broad, heavy built fish, with a hump like a camel, and a coat of the most
beautiful scarlet hue. At times they congregate in preat schools, and when
in the humour they bite magnificently. They resemble a perch in many
respects, and though they have a thick, leathery skin, they are really first-
rate on the table if well-boiled and taken fresh. I have before me as I write
the details of two days' sport among the Lutianus, one at Zeila in 1893, when
the ships had anchored, and I had pushed off in a -sniall boat, made my way
over to the Fairway buoy, secured the boat to the buoy, and commenced
operations. Time from 2-20 to 6-30 p.m., single handed, except for two men
to work the boat. Basket ninety-seven fish, largest 11 lbs., smallest 21bs, Among
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 545
these were five grey cod, but all the rest were Lutianus, Another day,
Friday (if you please), Sept. 9th, 1887, was as follows. This is taken from
the diary of one who was in the boat : — " Arrived at Perim 0 a.m. Went
ashore. In the afternoon went fishing with Mac A. and S. and G. Returned
after having had grand sport. All a red fish species, 123 in number. One
weighed 19 Iba. Many of us were unfortunate in losing hooks and several
good fish. Left Perim at 9-15 p.m. for Zeila,— Signed E. C."
This speaks for itself. We were four of us in a large cutter, and when we
left off, the centre of the boat was nothing but a heaving mass of fish. The
total aggregate weight I kr.ow not as it was never weighed. The fish were
distributed among the ship's crew, and were most welcome, but I am sure that
I am well within the mark when I say that there was close upon 9001bs. of
fish. These were taken in some four hours or so by four of us, only one of
which used a rod, but I will never admit that the rod was one whit behind
the hand lines in the long run, and at any rate it accounted for the heaviest
fish. It was a glorious afternoon's sport. Bait to begin with was shrimps
and the soft parts of hermit crabs, but long before the end came we had run
out of bait, and were cutting up fish to bait with. The gear used was simple
ledger with a snood of two hooks. On the rod I used a paternoster, also with
two hooks one above another.
And now before closing I would like to refer just once again to baits. Far
and away before everything else is the live sardine. Put carefully on the
hook, he will live a long time and roam well, and as it is the natural food of
the larger voracious fish, no wonder that it takes so well. But it is not
always to be had, and next to it I like a Blue Phantom, but they seldom make
them large enough, and besides that the triangles with which they are mounted
are for the most part worse than useless, A decent sized sea fish will crunch
up the average triangle as easily as a girl will eat a meringue, and I have
long given up triangles in favour of single hooks. At one time I used a
" Sarcelle" arrangement with very fair success, and after all the india rubber
bands I could lay my hands upon .vere used up, we used to carry on with
small strips of white cotton tape, tied on loosely enough to enable it to
" wobble " in the water. Almost any bright thing will attract the fish when
they are about, and it does not require any great ingenuity to dress up a lure.
For bottom fishing you can get shrimp, hermit crab, cuttle fish, or squid
and many other sorts of shell fish, and if you are fishing off the steamer's side
in the evening, for anything you can get, and can induce the Chief Engineer
to give you an electric light over the side, you will find it will be a great help
to you in making a bag. It seems to wake up and attract the fish, and often
in the evenings after dinner when I have been too lazy to go further afield I
have had it rigged up and the result has been satisfactory. It is, of course
impossible in the course of an article like this to tell you exactly where to go
aud what to do, Only the general outlines can be laid down. If ever any of
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546 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
your readers find themselves in Aden or the neighbourhood, the best advice
I can give them is to place themselves first of all in the hands of some native
fishermen, and be guided by them in all things. You will probably not alto-
gether approve of many of the native's ways and his tackle, &c., but until you
have gained a bit of experience it is much better to put your pride in your
pocket and don't be too proud to learn. If you do this for a very small
amount of current coin judiciously expended, you will be taught a lot, and
then when you have learnt the different places, &c., where the best fish are to
be found, you may, if you like, cut yourself adrift and paddle your own canoe ;
and I can wish you no better luck than I have on very many occasions
enjoyed myself.
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547
THE " LANTANA BUG. "
{Orthezla insignis, Douglas.)
By E. Ernest Green, Honorary Entomologist to the Government of
Ceylon.
History of the Pest in Ceylon.
It is now more than five years since this insect was first noticed in Ceylon.
In January, 1893) specimens were received from the late Dr. Trimen, then
Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. Dr. Trimen, in for-
warding the insects, wrote : — " We are afflicted by an abominable pest now
in the Gardens, which I do not recollect to have seen before. It bids fair to
be the worst thing of the sort I have had here, and attacks especially
Acajithacece, which includes our showiest shrubs. I never saw any pest here
that increased so rapidly ; the Garden is quite disfigured by it." In the
following April Dr. Trimen wrote that after cutting down and burning all
the affected bushes they had seen nothing of the pest for some time ; but
that, at the time of writing, it had re-appeared and was rapidly increasing.
The next report from the Gardens was not until September 1894, when the
pest was said to be very bad and covering everything. About the same time
a very large brood of the male insects suddenly appeared in the Gardens ;
and in this same year it was observed that the pest had extended its range
outside the Gardens and had established itself firmly upon Lantana in the
neighbourhood.
Thinking that the time had now come to Wt'rn the planting community of
the danger, an illustrated article on the insect was published in the '' Tropi-
cal Agriculturist " for January, 1895.
Though the pest has been steadily increasing in strength and extending its
range, it does not appear to have attracted any general attention or created
any alarm until early in the present year, by which time it had spread within
a radius of about 20 miles around Kandy. The question then arose as to
whether the insect would attack any of our cultivated products. It has
since been observed, in one or two localities, upon tea plants growing in the
immediate neighbourhood of infested Lantana bushes.
Present Range of the Pest in Cey'lon.
Though at first confined to the Kandy district, the pest has now spread
to other parts. To the north-east it has been recorded from Rangalla. It
extends southwards throughout the Gampola and Nawalapitiya districts.
An outbreak has been observed in Pundalu-oya. The Director of the
Botanic Gardens reports the occurrence of the insect on the Badulla side of
the country. No doubt if careful observations were made all over the Island,
the pest would be found to have a still wider range.
Distribution in other Countries,
The original home of Orthezla hisignis is still rather doubtful. It has been
reported from various countries. The insect was first described from speci-
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548 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
mens collected in the plant houses at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew,
where it found a congenial home. It must have been received there from
some other country. Dr. Morris, late Assistant Director of the Gardens,
considered that they owfd its introduction to British Guiana. It occurs in
the West Indies (Trinidad, Jamaica, and Antigua being specially mentioned)
and in various districts of Mexico. In South America it has been recorded
from British Guiana. In the United States it has become a common green-
house pest. Quite recently Mr. C. P. Lounsbury has drawn attention to his
appearance in South Africa (Cape Town, Natal, Port Elizabeth, and East
London ar ! mentioned as localities), where it is a troublesome pest both in
greenhouses and gardens. It is said to have been known in Natal for the
last five years ; and specimens — supposed to date back ten years — exist in
the South African Museum, labelled " Durban, Natal."
Description of the Pest.
As with most scale-insect pests, the resulting injury is more conspicuous
than is the insect itself. In the present instance, though most travellers on
our railway have observed the unhealthy appearance of the Lantana on the
sides of the track, — with its leaves blackened by the sooty fungus that
accompanies the pest,— very few of them have any idea of the actual form
and appearance of the bug that is responsible for this effect. A closer
examination of the diseased bushes would show that all the younger shoots
and braiiches are thickly covered with what they would probably describe
as a " mealy bug." This species, however, differs from the ordinary " mealy
bug " in the firm — almost shelly — nature of the waxy appendages, and in
the fact that a large part of the back of the insect is exposed.
It will be as well to describe first the adult female, as this is the most
conspicuous stage and the one in which the Orthezla may be most easily
recognized. The insect itself is of a dull olive-green or olive-brown colour,
with a fringe of short stout opaque-white waxy processes, and a double row
of similar projections down the middle of the back. But the most striking
feature is the long white cylindrical appendage springing from the extremity
of the body. This is the ovisac, and contains the numerous eggs. When
fully developed this ovisac is four times as long as the body of the insect.
It tapers very slightly, is fluted above and smooth below, and has an upward
curve to the extremity, where there is an opening for the exit of the young
larva?. The legs and antennjB of the insect are well developed and project
beyond the margins of the body. The mouth parts consist of a conical
tubercle springing from between the bases of the first pair of legs, and from
its extremity the long bair-Iike sucking tube can be extended into the tissues
of the plant. The length of the insect and ovisac together is very little
short of a quarter of an inch.
The half -grown female is in all respects similar in external appearance to
the adult insect, except for the absence of the ovisac. It is therefore a much
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THE LAN TAN A BUG. 549
less conspicuous insect, and measures only about one twenty-fourth part of
an inch in diameter.
The young larva again does not differ very mucli from the half-grown
insect, except in point of size. It is however of a paler colour, and the mar-
ginal fringe is only very slightly developed.
The eggs, which are carried within the ovisac packed in a cottony material,
are at first almost white. They soon deepen to yellow, then orange, and,
just before the emergence of the larva, become of a greenish tint.
Tl e male insect, after the first moult, is readily distinguishable from the
other sex. It becomes more elongate and, instead of secreting compact waxy
processes, envelops itself in a loose woolly secretion. Rudimentary wings
be;.;into api ear towards the end of this stage. The pupal (or nymphal")
stage is only distinguished by the presence of rather longer wing pads, and
in the greater length of the antenna, which are then folded back along the
sides of the body, extending nearly to its extremity. The pupa has long,
well-developed legs which it can use when disturbed, though it usually
remains quiescent beneath its woolly covering.
The adult male is a very graceful little insect, of a totally different appear-
ance to the female. It is of a slatey grey colour, with very long slender
antennse, a single pair of greyish wings, and a tuft of long white silky
filaments at the end of the body. The eyes are black and divided into
numerous facets. It has no mouth, and consequently takes no food in this
stage, having laid in a sufficient store during the larval period.
Life History and Habits.
There appears to be a constant succession of broods, I have examined
infected plants at all times of the year, and have always found the insects in
all stages, from the neuly hatched larva to the adult female. I have kept
individual females under observation. After the first commencement of the
formation of the ovisac a period of three weeks elapses before the emergence
of the first larva, after which the young insects hatch out at the rate of
about five a day for a period of six weeks or more ; by which time the parent
is exhausted and dies, and the earliest hatched larvse are mature and com-
mence ovipositing on their own account. The length of life of a single insect
is therefore about fifteen weeks ; but as it commences to produce larv^ at the
ninth week, there may be five generations in the course of the year.
This fecundity is more or lefS independent of the attentions of the male
insects, which appear only at irregular intervals. It is doubtful whether a
generation of males is produced even once a year. It is remarkable that ihe
true male of Orthezia insignis has been recorded only from Ceylon. Supposed
males have been described and figured both in England and America ; but in
both these cases the male of a totally different insect has been erroneously
associated with this female. Since the appearance of the pest in Ceylon two
male broods only have come under my personal observation — in July, 1894,
16
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550 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xtl-
and May, 1898. On both these occasions the male insects occurred in
enormous numbers, hovering in the air like gnats, the silky tufts on their
taUs glistening in the sunlight. In May of the present year (1898) myriads
of these little Hies might be seen floating in the air in certain parts of " Lady
Hortan's Walk " and other roads about Kandy.
It is the female that is responsible for the chief damage, as she continues
to pump up sap from the plant during the whole period of her existence.
Unlike most scale-bugs, the Orthesia is quite an active insect and able to
change its position at will. It prefers the young shoots to the older stems,
and moves upward with the growth of the plant.
Food Plants.
Although the Orthezia is popularly known in Ceylon as the '' Lantana Bug,"
this is by no means the only plant which it affects. It is more particularly
a garden pest, and it was upon the ornamental shrubs and plants in the
Peradeniya Gardens that it first attracted attention. Its adoption of the
Lantana plant is quite an acquired habit.
It was only noticed that Orthezia had a special taste for certain natural
orders of plants, Acanfhacece, Ruhiacece, and Vei-hanacece being particularly
appreciated by the insect. Since its residence with us it has very largely
increased its list of food plants. It would be difficult to give a full catalogue
but the following plants have been noted : —
Acanthacm ;— Crossandra, Ju-ticia, Thunbergia, Meyenia, Strobilanthes.
^Mi/acecj;— Cinchona, " Coffee" (Arabian and Libarian), Gardenia, Hamelia,
Ixora, and many common weeds.
Verbanacece : — Verbena citriodora ( " Scented Verbena " ), Lantana,
Stachytarpheta, Duranta.
Composites ;— Tithonia (' Wild Sunflower "), Chrysanthemum, Achillea,
Vernonia, Ageratum (" Goatweed "), and many common weeds,
SolanacecB : — Habrothamnus, Capsicum, " Tomato."
LahlatoR : — Coleus, Salvia.
Rutacece : — " Orange " and various kinds of Citrus.
Leguminosce . — Clitoria.
CaprifoUaceae. : — Lonicera (" Honeysuckle ").
Bignoniacecp. : — Tecoma.
Rosacecp : —" Strawberry."
Amaronthacece : — Iresnie.
Temstrot)nacece : — " Tea."
Convolvulaceae : — Ipomea.
LythracecR : — Cuphea.
The above names are chiefly those of ornamental shrubs, garden plants,
and common weeds. We have, so far, no very serious reports of injury to
any of our more important economic plants. It will be noticed that both the
tea and the coffee plant figure on the list. Of the latter I have seen abau-
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TEE L ANT AN A BUG. 551
doned plants in waste land thickly colonized by the bug. Superintendants
of coffee estates should be on their guard against the introduction of this
pest.
The tea plant fortunately does not appear to be a favourite food of the
Orthezia, though, failing more favoured plants, it can subsist and breed on
our staple product, and the subsequent generations might very readily ac-
quire the taste for Ceylon tea. The danger arises from the enormous and
rapid reproductive powers of the insect. When it finds a congenial food
plant — such as Lantana — it multiplies till every shoot is thickly tenanted, and
the later broods are simply crowd(.d off and compelled to seek fresh pastures.
The several instances of the establishment of the pest upon tea have mani-
festly arisen in this manner,
Eemedial Measures.
The Orthezia is one of, if not the most resistent of all scale-bugs towards
insecticides. It is therefore a useful subject upon which to test various
treatments. An insecticide that will kill Orthezia can be almost guaranteed
against any scale pest. It is remarkable that the half-grown insects will
often survive treatment that has successfully destroyed the younger and older
individuals.
In the case of isolated trees attacked by this pest, the gas treatment is
really the most effective and complete. This consists in covering the tree
with a tent or sheet of some closely woven material, beneath which hydro-
cyanic acid gas is generated. The deadly gas will penetrate to every part of
the tree and reach every single insect, I have recently ascertained by experi-
ment that an extra strength of the gas with a shorter exposure (tlian usually
prescribed) is the most certainly fatal to the insects and the least injurious
to the plants. The gas treatment however, though really very simple, re-
quires considerable care in application, and is subject to certain dangers. It
cannot therefore be recommended for general use without previous demon-
stration bv a trained operator.
Spraying is the next best measure. But however thoroughly this work
may be done, a certain proportion of the insects is bound to escape, and the
process must be repeated at intervals until the pest has finally disappeared,
I have found that mixtures of which soap is the principal component are
aiore efficacious against Orthezia than any other form of insecticide. Besides
killing the insect, the soapy matter blocks the aperture of the ovisac, and so
prevents the emergence of the you ig larvae. Kerosine-snap-emulsion is a
useful and inexpensive mixture, but requires careful preparation. The for-
mula is : —
Kerosine 2 gallons.
Common Soap ... ^ lb.
Water ] gallon.
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552 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Dissolve the soap in water heated to boiling. Add the kerosine to the hot
mixture, and churn till it forms a thick cream on cooling. The churning is
the most important part of the process. If this is not done thoroughly, the
oil separates out on cooling', and will not then mix with water. A pr"perly
compiiunded emulsion may be subsequently diluted to any extent. The
churning may be effected either by stirring vigorously with a bunch of twigs,
or the liquid may be repeatedly drawn up and expelled through a garden
syringe. To test the a-ixture, put a drop on to a piece of glass. If it ad-
heres without separating into oil globules, the process is complete. For
application, dilute with nine or ten times the bulk of water. Kerosine emul-
sion should not be applied duiing sunshine, or serious injury to the plants
may result.
Strawson's "Red Spider Insecticide'' and McDougall's ''Insecticide Wash"
are very convenient forms of soap mixtures, and are both very effective
against Orthezia in the proportion of Hlb. of the mixture to 4 gallons of
water.
The insects will remain attached to the plant for a long time (sometimes
two or three weeks) after they are dead. An examination with a hand lens
is necessary to determine whether the application has been successful or not.
If the legs remain rigid and do not move when the insect is disturbed, it
may be presumed to be dead.
After spraying it will be advisable — ^where possible — to prune the bush
and burn the piunings.
Where the pest has become widely distributed, — as on Lantana in waste
land, --any treatment of the above nature will be quite impracticable. In
such a case all we can do is to endeavour to keep it in check by periodically
cutting back and burning the Lantana and other weeds that lodge the insect.
In districts where Orthezia is prevalent all boundaries should be kept care-
fully cleared back. If Lantana is allowed to encroach upon the tea, the
latter is bound to become affected sooner or later.
Natural Enemies.
Natural enemies may possibly exist in the native country of Orthezia
insignis. But, so far, the career of the pest in Ceylon has been unchecked
by any such causes. Birds do not feed upon it, and I have not found a
single insect parasite — external or internal — preying upon it. I have tried
to induce various species of lady-birds to eat this insect, but they have one
and all absolutely ref used^preferring to die of starvation.
A writer in the " Kew Bulletin" (June-July, 1895^^ quotes from the
" Timehri " (a Demerara Journal) in which Mr. R. Ward gives some account
of the habits of the Orthezia (in Demerara ?). He says : " Although com-
mon, it is not nearly so destructive or troublesome as many of its allies. In
the young state it is very abundant; after it becomes fully developed
it is more easily preyed upon by its natural enemies, which play an im-
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THE LAN TAN A BUG. 553
portant part in limiting its ravages. In this respect no insects are more
assiduous than the grubs of the difEerent species of Cocclnella (lady-birds),
Syrphus, the various Hemerohidce, of which the different species of Chrympa
act a chief part." It would be interesting to know if Mr. Ward is speaking
of his personal observation of the natural enemies of the Orthezia, or whe-
ther he is alluding in general terms to the acknowledged work of such
natural enemies.
Mode of Distribution.
The young larvae of all scale-insects are very easily transported from one
place to another. They are minute and active, and can exist for sevei'al days
without food. They may crawl on to the feet of birds, cr even on to larger
insects that may be resting on the bug-infested plant, and may be conveyed
in this manner to a considerable distance before being dislodged. They
may be brushed off the plant and carried away on the clothing of
passers by.
The rough cumblies used by Tamil coolies are particularly liable to carry
the infection. "Wandering cattle are also unconscious distributors of the pest.
The young insects are so light that they may be transported by wind. The
conspicuous way in which the pest is spreading along the sides of the railway
track points to the supposition that they are carried along by the draught of
passing trains. Running water is another fertile source of distribution. An
infested plant growing on the banks of a stream or river is sure to shed some
of the insect into the water. Individuals may be floated clown for miles
before effecting a landing.
The interchange of garden plants is also a great source of danger. It was
in this way that the pest obtained a footing in Ceylon.
Bibliography.
References to Orthezia insignis may be found in the following papers and
publications : —
(1) Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club, Ser. II., Vol, III., No. 20
(Dec, 1887), p. 169 eis(:^(7.; 2 plates. " Notes on a Species of Orthezia found
in Kew Gardens," by Edward T. Browne.
(2) Entomologists' Monthly iMagazine (Jan., 1888), p. 169, with several
figures (A Description of the species, by Mr. J. W. Douglas).
(3) Thirty-Second Annual Report of the Massachusetts Agricultural Col-
lege, for 1894. " A New Greenhouse Pest,'' by C. P. Lounsbury.
(In the three papers quoted above, the male of a species of Dactylopms is
erroneously described and figured as that of 0. insigms).
(4) Annual Report on the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, for 1893, by
Dr. H. Trimen. (Mention of injury by the pest.)
(5) Indian Museum Notes, Vol. Ill,, No. III. { 1894), p. 103. " A New Coc-
cid from Ceylon," by G. B, Buckton, F.R.S. (0. nacrea is here a synonym of
0, insignis).
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554 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(6) Tropical Agriculturist (Jan., 1895), p. 437 : 1 plate, " An Important
Insect Enemy," by Mr. E. E. Green, F.E.S. (Giving a description of the pest
and its ravages in Ceylon.) [Afterwards reprinttd in pamphlet form.]
(7) Timehri, Vol. III., New Series (1889), p. 3o8, with figures. (Reference
to the occurrence of the insect at Kew, by Mr. S. J. Mclntyre).
(8) Timehri, Vol. IV. (1890), p. 304. (An account of the Habits of the
Orthezia, by Mr. R. Ward).
(9) Kew Bulletin (June-July, 1895), p. 162. (Reference to the pest at Kew
and elsewhere),
(lOj Entomologists" Monthly Magazine (June, 1895), p. 137. "On the
Male of Orthezia insignis^' by Mr. J, W. Douglas, F.E,S.
(11) Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Vol. XVI. (July, 1895).
" On some Coccidse obtained by Mr. C. A. Barber in the Island of Antigua,
W. I.," by Professor T. D. A. Cockerell.
(12) Bulletin of tlie United States Department of Agriculture, Division of
Entomology. Technical Series No. 4 (1896), pp. 10, 21, 23. " On some
Mexican and Japanese Injurious Insects," by Professor T. D. A. Cockerell.
(13) Insect Life, Vol. V. (1892-93) : Page 89, " Orthezia inslgais as a Gar-
den Pest," by Professor T. D. A, Cockerell ; page 121, "Notes on Plant
Faunae," by Professor T. D. A. Cockerell ; pages 159, 247, " Food Plants of
some Jamaican Coccida3," by Professor T. D. A. Cockerell.
C14) Bulletin of the Cape of Good Hope Department of Agriculture, Nos, 6
and 12 (1898), " Another introduced Scale Pest," byC. P. Lounsbury. (Re-
printed from Agricultural Journal, March 31 and June 23, 1898.)
(^Reprinted from the circular of the Boyal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, iSeries 7, No. 10.)
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555
THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR
ISLAJsDS.
By a. L. Butler, f.z.s.,
Curator^ Selangor State Museum.
(^Continued from jJage 403.)
Part II.
680. Merula obscura, Gemel, Gates, II, p. 134 ; " Str. Feath,," II, p, 223.
I only came across this thrush once, a female which I shot on May 14th.
It was feeding on the dead leaves under a bamboo by the roadside and
flew up into a tree with a squeak very much like that of a redwing, which,
from its size and colour and conspicuous superciliary streak, it very much
reminded me of.
Mr. Hume did not meet with it, and includes it in his list on the strength
of a specimen received by Blyth. Mr, Dates says it is '' a winter visitor,
more or less abundant to the whole of Burma, the Andamans, Manipur,
Shillong, Sikkim and Nepal." In the Andamans it is decidedly rare,
684, Geocichla sibirica, Pall. Gates, II, p. 138 : " Str. Feath ," II,
p. 223.
Has only been recorded from the Andamans once, Mr. Blyth having
received a specimen from Port Blair in 1860.
688. Geocichla albigul.4Eis, Blyth, Gates, II, p. 142 ; " Str. Feath.,"
p. 221.
NOTICE.
This plate of Moths, with the explanations of the figures, should face
page 292 when this volume is bound up.
Editor.
somer species of the two. Car Nicobarese name, " chook-chyong,"
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554 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
(6) Tropical Agriculturist (Jan., 1805), p. 437 ; 1 plate, " An Important
Insect Enemy," by Mr. E, E. Green, F.E.S. (Giving a description of the post
and its ravages in Ceylon,) [Afterwards reprinted in pamphlet form.]
(7) Tiraehri, Vol, III,, New Series (1880), p. 3o8, with figures. (Reference
to the occurrence of the insect at Kew, by Mr, S. J. Mclntyre).
(8} Timehri, Vol.IV. (1800), p, 304, (An account of the Habits of the
Orthezia, by Mr. R, Ward).
(9) Kew Bulletin (June-July, 1895), p. IG2, (Reference to the pest at Kew
and elsewhere),
(10) Entomologists' Monthly Magazine (June, 1895), p. 137. "On the
Male of Orthezia ins'gnis^' by Mr. J. W. Douglas, F.E,S.
(11) Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Vol. XVI. (July, 1805),
" On some Coccidse obtained by Mr. C. A, Barber in the Island of Antigua,
W. I.," by Professor T. D. A. Cockerell.
(12) Bulletin of the United States Department of Agriculture, Division of
Entomology. Technical Series No. 4 (1896), pp. 10, 21, 23. " On some
Mexican and Japanese Injurious Insects," by Professor T. D. A. Cockerell.
(13) Insect Life, Vol. V. (1892-03) : Page SO, " Orthezia insig.iis as a Gar-
den Pest," by Professor T. D. A, Cockerell ; page 121, "Notes on Plant
Faunae," by Professor T. D, A. Cockerell ; pages 159, 247, " Food Plants of
some Jamaican Coccida3," by Professor T. D. A. Cockerell,
C14) Bulletin of the Cape of Good Hope Department of Agriculture, Nos. 6
and 12 (1898). " Another introduced Scale Pest," by C, P. Lounsbury. (Re-
printed from Agricultural Journal, March 31 and June 23, 1898.)
{Re printed from the circular of the Royal Botanic Gardens ^ Ceylon^ Series /, No. 10.)
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555
THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR
ISLANDS.
By a. L. Butler, f.z.s.,
Curator^ Selangor State Museum.
{Continued from page 403.)
Part II.
680. Merula obscuka, Gemel. Gates, II, p. 134 ; " Str. Feath,," II, p, 223.
I only came across this thrush once, a female which I shot on May 14th.
It was feeding on the dead leaves under a bamboo by the roadside and
flew up into a tree with a squeak .very much like that of a redwing, which,
from its size and colour and conspicuous superciliary streak, it very much
reminded me of.
Mr. Hume did not meet with it, and includes it in his list on the strength
of a specimen received by Blyth. Mr. Gates says it is " a winter visitor,
more or less abundant to the whole of Burma, the Andamans, Manipur,
Shillong, Sikkim and Nepal." In the Andamans it is decidedly rare,
684. Geocichla sibirica, Pall. Gates, II, p. 138 ; " Str. Feath ," II,
p. 223.
Has only been recorded from the Andamans once, Mr. Blyth having
received a specimen from Port Blair in 1860.
688. Geocichla ALBiGULARis, Blyth, Gates, II, p. 142; " Str. Feath.,"
p. 221.
Fairly common throughout the Nicobars, but shy and diGScult to procure.
One or two usually frequent the heaps of old cocoanut husks and other
refuse thrown into the jungle edge near every Nicobarese village. Mr.
Gates mentions as one of the differences between this bird and CHrina that
" the under tail coverts are much tipped and otherwise marked with
greenish or slaty brown " ; this difference does not, I think, hold good ; one
adult bird I killed (out of four only) having the under tail coverts pure
white with only the faintest greyish tips on two of the feathers. Mr. Gates
says the colour of the bill, &c., have not been recorded. My notes are : — Bill,
black, lower mandible horny grey at base; iris, brown ; legs a.nd feet, dark
brownish fleshy.
The nest and eggs are similar to those of the next species. I obtained
one egg, but it was unfortunately broken.
In the young bird the two cheek-stripes are dark and blackish brown and
very conspicuous. In freshly killed specimens the crown of the head is a parti-
cularly rich reddish chestnut, quite different from the dull brown tinged
orange chestnut in Andamaiiensis, making the Nicobar bird by far the hand-
somer species of the two. Car Nicobarese name, '* chook-chyong,"
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556 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XU.
689. Geociciila andamanensis, Wald. Dates, II, p, 142 ; " Str.
Feath.," II pp. 221 and 495.
This handsome ground thrush is fairly common near Port Blair.'^ It is
most often met with feeding among dead leaves on the ground in jungle.
When approached quietly it does not fly, but works away from the intruder
with long bounding hops and soon vanishes in the undergrowth. If startled
suddenly it dashes up with a loud flutter and pitches agaiu a short dis-
tance further on ; if flushed two or three times it probably takes refuge in a
thick tree. It does not, however, by any means confine itself (o forest
and is often seen on roads, manure-heaps, &.G., far from any jungle. It is
tlien tame and easy to shoot, often flying up into a tree by the roadside
and allowing one to approach it within a few feet. It often goes in small
parties ; I have counted as many as seven feeding together, and all looked
like old males, which I think collect together more or less when the hens
are engaged in the duties of incubation.
They very often breed, if not in a colony, at least in very close proximity.
On May 16th I found the following nests, all within 100 yards of each other,
in a young clearing of padonk saplings : —
(1) Nest 15 feet from ground on bamboo boughs, bending down hori-
zontally ; one fresh egg.
(23 8 feet from ground in fork of padonk sapling ; two young,
{?,) Ditto,
(4) 10 feet from ground ; 3 eggs.
(5) 5 feet from ground in a soft, fleshy-stemmed plant ; one broken fresh
egg.
(6 and 7) Apparently new nests in padonk sapling, but in which the birds
never laid.
(8) 8 feet from ground in a teak sapling ; 2 fresh eggs. This last nest
was about 200 yards away from the others.
There seemed to be no other nests anywhere near the spot, though there
was a lot of similar cover.
I have another note of three nests within about twenty yards of each
other.
Besides these I found many single nests, mostly with young, some of
them in small trees in the open at some distance from jungle.
The nests are composed of a foundation of dead and skeleton leaves
mixed with a good deal of earth or mud and a lining of roots and black
hair-like fibres. They are as a rule fairly conspicuous at twenty yards ;
much easier to find than the bird is to shoot. The bird is very shy when
nesting ; slipping away off eggs or young before you are near the nest, and
not putting in an appearance again as long as you are in the neighbourhood.
When you catch a fledged young bird, however, their natural shyness ig
forgotton in their distress and both parents flutter round and round you
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ftiE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 557
within a few feet until their offspring is restored to them. The fledgling
is olive grey above the head, neck and back streaked with buff, most broadly
on the neck ; the two stripes below the eye almost blac'c and very distinct j
upper breast with the buff feathers edged with olivaceous 5 remaining lower
parts buff.
I shot one specimen with the legs and feet dark brown ; they are as a rule
pale whitish flesh colour.
692. Petrophila solitaeia, Mull. Gates, II, p. 145; '' Str. Feath,,"
II, p. 220.
A rare winter visitant to the Andamans. The Xovara Expedition killed a
single bird on Car Nicobar in February.
729. Uroi.oncha SEMiSTRiATA, Hume. Gates, II, p. 186 ;" Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 257.
The comraon munia of the Nicobars. I saw very young birds in August.
730. Uroloncha fumigata, Wald. Gates, II, p. 186 , " Str. Feath.,"
II, 257,
Very common in the Andamans.
776. Passer domesticus, Linn. Gates, II, p. 236.
The Andamans have no longer the distinction of being one of the few
places where this ubiquitous bird is not. In 1882 Mr. G. H. Brookes of the
Settlement turned out about half a dozen on Ross, where they hung about
for some time and then disappeared, apparently going over to the main land.
In 1895 Mr. Brookes imported about 20 more, which he let go at Middle
Point Barracks, Aberdeen, where there is now a thriving colony of them.
They have also bred at Gara Cherama.
791, Emberiza pusilla. Pall. Gates, II, p. 254 ; " Str. Feath.," II, p. 497.
A rare winter migrant to the An lamans.
797. Emberiza aureola, Pall. Gates, II, p. 259 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 258.
Has been obtained in the Nicobars in winter.
813, HiRUNDO RUSTiCA, Linn. Gates, II, p. 277 ; " Str. Feath.," II, p. 154.
The swallow is common in the Andamans and Nicobars from September
to May, young birds being far more numerous than adults. It does not breed
in the islands,
817. HiRUNDO JAVANICA, Sparrm. Gates, II, p. 279 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 155.
A common resident in the Andamans, breeding in verandahs and out-
houses. Ithas not been recorded from the Nicobars, but I believe a swallow
which I saw on Car Nicobar in August was this species. A pied variety
at Port Blair will be found described in this Journal, Vol. XI, p. 736.
827, MoTACiLLA LEOCOPSis, Gould. Gates, 11, p. 288 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 237.
A winter migrant to the Andamans, apparently rare.
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558 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIT
832. MoTAciLLA MFXANOPE, Pall. Oates, II. p. 293 ; '' Str. Feath.," II,
p. 237.
The Grey wagtail must be a far more common winter visitant to the
island than it was in 1873. Davison notes that he only saw it six times
in the Andamans and once in the Nicobars. It is now quite a common bird
during the winter months remaining in the island from September to March.
833. MoTACiLLA BOREALis, Sundcv. Oates, II, p. 294 ; " Str, Feath.,"
II, p. 237.
A regular winter migrant to both groups, not uncommon, but far out-
numbered by the next species, from which it is hard to distinguish it unless
very close. Arrives in the islands with flava in October.
83i. MoTACiLLA FLAVA, Linn. Oates, II, p. 295; "■ Str. Feath.," II, p. 238.
Extremely plentiful in paddy fields, grass land, &c., in both groups from
October to late in May.
839. LiMONiDKOMUs iNDicus, Genel. Oates, II, p. 300 ; "Str. Feath,,"
II, p. 239.
The tame and prettily marked little wood wagtail is a winter visitor to
the island, not uncommon, but far from numerous. I met with it half a dozen
times only, always singly on forest-bordered roads or on the muddj' tracks
made by elephants dragging timber through jungle. It frequents the same
spot day after day.
845. Anthus richardi, Vieill. Oates, II, p. 307 ; " Str. Feath.," IT,
p. 239,
Davison found Richard's pipit common in the Andamans in April. I did
not come across it, but I was not in the islands during that month. I did not
see a pipit of any sort in the islands.
849. Anthds cervinus. Pall, Oates, II, p. 310; "Str. Feath.," II,
p. 239.
Anthus cervinus is a winter visitant to both groups, apparently not un-
common. Mr, Oates says A. rufulus has not been recorded from these islands,
but " probably occurs."
885. ^thopyga nicobarica, Hume. Oates, II, p. 350 ; "Str. Feath.,"
I, p. 412.
Tliis honey-sucker is, I think, confined to the central and southern groups
of the Nicobars. Of Car Nicobar Mr. Hume notes, " two of our party said
they saw our new honey-sucker," but I do not think it occurs on that island
which 1 worked most thoroughly. A mistake may have been made, as some
of Mr. Hume's party were " not practised observers."
897. Arachnechtiira pegtoealis, Horsf. Oates, II, p. 361; "Str.
Feath.," II, p. 196.
The Malay yellow-breasted sun-bird is very plentiful in the Nicobars.
Mr. Oates says " there are two distinct races of this bird in the Nicobar
Islands. Those found in Gar, Nicobar, Bompoka, Trinkat, Camosta and
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TEE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLA ADS. 559
Katchal have the culmen short as in birds from the Malay Peninsula and
islands ; those found in Condul have the bill extremely long, the culmen
measuring about ■85."
I take it this race inhabits all the islands of the southern group — the
great and little Nicobars, Pilu Milu, &g.
Car Nicobarese: " roycha."
899, Arachnechthra andamanica, Hume. Gates, IF, p. 363 ; " Str,
Feath.," I, p. 404.
Common in the Andamans ; very partial to the flowers of the cocoanut
palm and to those of the Shoe Flower (Hibiscus).
I took one nest with 2 fresh eggs at Gopla Kabung on May 30th. It -nas
suspended over the surface of a stream, about 3ft. above the water which was
eight or nine feet deep, so that I had to swim out and tread water while
taking the nest. This was very similar to a nest of Asiatica composed of
fibres, flakes of bark, bits of dead leaves, seed heads of fine grass, spider's
webs, &c. The actual nest itself was about 4 in. by 3 in., but with a suspend-
ing store above and a trailing adornment of dead leaves, &c., below, it mea-
sured 12 in. altogether. The portico projected one inch. The eggs are very
different to those of Asiatica; dull white, sprinkled sparingly at the small end
and plentifully at the larger with littla lines, dots, and blots of dark blackish
brown, under which are a few faint marblings of pale greyish brown. Many
of the dark marks have the appearance of having been made with a pen on a
wet surface and having " run" slightly. The male of this nest was not in full
plumage, having the breast only speckled with metallic feathers, Mr. Gates
mentions a nest taken in March and 1 shot a breeding bird on January 20th
and July 7th.
918. Dictum virescens, Hume. Oates, II, p. 380; " Str. Feather." II,
p. 198,
This flower-pecker seemed to me remarkably scarce in the Andamans, to
which it is peculiar. Mr, Hume in his notes on the Birds of the Islands of the
Bay of Bengal ("Str, Feath.," II., p, 198) mentions receiving four specimens
but he did not notice it himself and says that Davison, though he saw it at
Port Monat, failed to procure an example. I only saw the bird once, near Port
Blair; it settled on a trailing spray of Thunhergia within three or four feet
of me, but as I backed away to shoot it, darted ofl: through the jungle and
disappeared,
931. Pitta CiVNOPTERA, Temm,(?) Gates, II, p, 392 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
pp. 75, 22.'>
Mr. Hume saw a Pitta which he took to be this species on the Great Nico-
bars. It may as he suggests possibly have been a new species.
971. Dendrocopus andamanensis, Blyth. Blanf., Ill, p. 42; " Str
Feath.," II, p. 187.
This small Wood-^ ccker is fairly common near Port Blair ; it is usually
met with singly or in pairs. Like many small Wood-peckers, it is more
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5G0 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
partial to the branches of trees than the trunks. I have two or three times
noticed it clinging motionless to the extreme top of some tall dead stump
in jungle, looking out over the tree tops, and occasionally,
giving a rattle on the wood, apparently as a call note or mere
amusement.
1000. Thriponex hodgei, Blyth. Blanf., Ill, p. 75 ; *'Str. Feath.," II,
p. 189.
This fine black wood-pecker is fairly common in the Andamans, but rather
shy, and from the thickness of the jungles not easy to shoot. Each individual
has two or three favourite dead stumps, to which it repairs two or three
tines daily, and clinging motionless to this look out post for half an hour
at a time, it gives out at intervals a most extraordinarily loud jarring rattle
on the dead wood, which can be heard for a mile or more, and is usually
answered from two or three other parts of the forest.
I once flushed this bird from the ground. It seems always to be more or
less ragged and moulting, and I did not succeed in getting a really good
specimen.
1025. EuRYSTOMUS ORiENTALis, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p. 107 " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 164.
The broad-billed roller occurs in the Andamans but does not extend . to
the Nicobars. Davison notes it as " comparatively common about Mount
Harriet and other well-wooded places." The bird seems to be scarcer now ;
I only saw it some seven or eight times altogether, and to anyone acquainted
with it it is a conspicuous bird at any distance. The flight of this bird
is very graceful. I have seen it follow a flight of termites to a great eleva-
tion, hawliing in wide circles, taking a few slow strokes with its wings and
then sailing on outspread pinions for a considerable distance. It brings
the wing very far down in flight, so much so that the tips appear to
point straight downwards at the end of a stroke.
This is a very difficult bird to procure in the Andamans, Many of the
tallest trees have their topmost branches bared and dead, blasted by the force
of some of the terriflc cyclones to which the islands are subject. On these
dead topmost branches the roller rests motionless watching for its prey_
You proceed to stalk him and, after forcing your way to the base of the tree
through a horrible undergrowth of rattan, pandanus and other detestable
prickly abominations, you see — if indeed you can see anything through the
dense thicket in which you are standing — the roller in the same position
somewhere between 90 and 120 feet over your head. Now this roller is, like
other rollers, extremely tough and tenacious of life, and at this great
height the shot you have taken so much trouble to obtain usually
resulted in Eurystoinus flying lazily off to a perch a quarter of a mile further
into the forest, leaving a very ruffled and exasperated naturalist to work
his way through the thorns into the open again.
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 561
1027. Merops phiuppinus, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p. Ill ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 162.
The blue-tailed bee-eater is common in the Nicobars, where it maj- be seen
hawking over the grassy track almost everywhere. It is replaced in the
Andamans by the next species,
1030. Melittopuagus swinhoii, Hume. Blanf., Ill, p. 114 ; " Str.
Feath.," II, p. 163.
Fairly common in the Andamans, where it is a permanent resident breed-
ing in May. In the hot weather they keep nearly always to the vicinity
of streams, over which they capture an insect or two with gliding easy
flight and then return to rest often with their bills agape on some con-
venient bamboo or plaintain leaf.
I shot one bird in December feeding on the ground on a sandy bank to
which it was clinging. Seeing it in this position I naturally thought it was
choosing a site for a nest hole, but as I noticed it kept picking something
from the bank. I promptly shot it, and found to my surprise that it was
feeding on some small blackish beetles which were running about sunning
themselves on the sand. This must have been an individual eccentricity as
numerous others of the species were around it, all capturing their prey in
the usual bee-eater fashion.
1035. Alcedo ispida, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p. 122 ; " Str. Feath.," II.
p. 173.
Occurs in both groups. I generally saw it on salt or brackish creeks
fringed with mangroves. Mr. Davison said it was not so common in the
Andamans as the next species, on which Mr. Hume remarks "m?/ experience
is that at the Andamans it is decidedly more common than Asiatica." My
experience, again, was the same as Davison's ; for every ispida I saw I must
have seen at least three of heavani.
1036. Alcedo beavani, Wald. Blanf., III., p. 124 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 174.
Fairly common in the Andamans. I generally came across it on small
fresh water streams, but Mr. Davison notes " keeps exclusively (as far as
I have observed) to the -salt water creeks,"
To get a series of this bird in the Andamans entails a good deal of wading
as most of the streams it frequents are so thickly edged with jungle that
walking along the banks is quite impossible. While wading thus up these
narrow streams I have several times seen one of these king-fishers flitting
down stream towards me ; in such cases they generally held on their course
darting past me within a few feet in preference to turning,
1040. Ueyx tridactyla, Pall. Blanf., Ill, p. 127 j "Str. Feath.," II,
p. 173.
Scarce in the Andamans. I got one beautiful little specimen which had
flown into a tea factory near Port Blair, but though I searched the most
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562 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
likely little streams and backwaters in the jungle I never saw another, Mr.
Blanford says it also occurs in tlic Nicobars.
Mr. Hume's party did not meet with it ; Mr. Davison only saw one during
his stay in the islands, which too, had flown into a building.
1042. Pelargopsis leucocephala, Gm. Blanf., Ill, p. 129 5 "Str.
Feath.," II, p. 166.
Occurs on the southern islands of the Nicobar group, frequenting the
seashore and tidal creeks. Mr. Hume says that even Avhere it does occur
it is rare, and appears to be excessively wary and difficult to procure. Mr.
Blanford considers Nicobar and Borneo birds identical.
1043. Pelargopsis guarial, Pearson. Blanf., Ill, p. 129; '• Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 165.
Not uncommon on the mangrove bordered tidal creeks of the Andaman
but wild and hard to shoot. It does not appear to occur in the Nicobars.
1044. Halcyon smyrnensis, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p. 132 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 167.
This Kingfisher is excessively common in the Andamans. It would hardly
be exaggerating to say that anywhere in the open, one is seldom out of
sight of two or three, while one can often count seven or eight in ^ight at
once. I have sometimes seen it hover over water for some seconds, like
Ceryle rudis, and then dart obliquely into the water and catch a fish.
Being so numerous it often happens that when one leaves his perch to
pick up a crab or an insect, he finds it occupied on his return by another,
who evidently coveted his neighbour's post of observation and took
the first opportunity to obtain it. The new comer receives the
rightful owner with threatening open bill and a harsh note of defiance,
and, being hampered by the mouthful he wants to swallow the original
occupant of the coveted stump always gives way, the usurper remaining
in possession.
1045. Halcyon pileata, Bodd. Blanf., Ill, p. 133; " Str. Feath.," II, p. 168.
The beautiful Black-capped Purple Kingfisher occurs, though very rare
in the Andamans and Nicobars and on Narcondam. I did not meet with a
single specimen.
1046. Callialcyon lilacina, Swains. Blanf., Ill, p. 1 34 ; " Str. Feath.", II,
p. 169.
Less rare perhaps than the last, but very uncommon. I did not come
across this Kingfisher either. Mr. Hume says that it affects the gloom of the
mangrove swamps.
1047. Sauropatis chloris, Bodd. Blanf., Ill, p. 135; *' Str. Feath ," II,
p. 170.
Extremely common along the seashore and up the tidal creeks in the
Andamans. Mr. Blanford says the nests are said to be made under a stone
or bush, but Davison found one at Mergui in a deserted ants' nest occupied
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THE BIRDS OF TBE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 563
by hornets — a pile of hard clay against a tree trunk, Wardlaw Ramsay saw
a pair going in and out of a hole in a tree at Mount Harriet and thought they
had young in the hole,
1048, Sauropatis occipitatis, Blyth. Blanf., Ill, p. 137 ; " Str, Feath,,"
II, p. 171.
Extremely common throughout the Nicobars, where it is one of the first
birds met with on landing on the snow-white coral beach. Habits similar to
those of the last species. Davison found them nesting in clay ants' nests
built against trunks of trees, but only succeeded in obtaining a single egg
from a shot bird which measured 1*16 x *98. Car Nicobarese : "sukkar,"
1056, Rhytidoceros narcondami, Hume. Blanf,, III, p. 149 ; " Str.
Feath.," I, p, 411, Finn. Jour. A. S. B. Vol. LXVI., p. 523.
Peculiar to the island of Narcondam, a steep jungle covered hill rising
abruptly from the deep sea about 80 miles East of the North Andaman. I
tried hard to get myself landed on Narcondam by the mail steamer * Shah-
jehan, ' which passes close to the island on the Rangoon run, and repasses
two days later. Owing to the difficulty of landing on the island the Company
objected to this plan, pointing out that if the sea were rough on the return
of the ship either she would have to lie off till the sea moderated — possibly
entailing an infringement of the mail contract — or the company would be held
responsible for leaving me on an uninhabited island without water. Mr.
Blauford says it is only known from the pair obtained by Mr, Hume in 1873.
There are three or four specimens in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, lately
presented by Colonel Temple,®
1069. Cypselus apus, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p. 165 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 156.
A single specimen was killed at Port Blair on July 30th, 1873.
1074. Cypselus sDbfdrcatus, Blyth, Blanf,, III, p. 168.
On the 24th July I watched for ten minutes a small white-rumped Swift
hawking round one of the bungalows on Ross Island in company with a num-
ber of Collocalias. It passed me several times within a few yards, I took
it at the time for affinls, but from the distribution of the two species it
was more probably subfurcatus.
1078. Ch^tura indica, Hume, Blanf., Ill, p. 173 ; "Str. Feath." II,
p, 155.
Common at Port Blair throughout the year, though sometimes one does
not notice it for a week or two together. Scores of these splendid Swifts
used to assemble every evening round a bungalow on Mount Harriet in which
I lived for some time and I never tired of watching their marvellous
flight. Marvellous it always is, but round this particular hill top they seem-
ed to love to put forth their full powers. Bird after bird would rush past
*I have since heard that some mora specimens were obtained this year by the officers of
the R. I. M. S. " Elphiastone."
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564 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xlt.
one, within a few feet, with a sound like the twang of a struck harp string ;
with rigid motionless wings and only a slight rocking or swaying motion
of the body they would glide at lightning speed down the mountain side
and ten seconds later be lost to sight far away over the water of the magni-
ficent harbour lying below.
1 note that Mr. Daker says " legs and feet pale fleshy pink''; in all the
Andaman birds I examined, fifteen or so — they were either livid purple or
brownish purple, as also they are, I find, in Malayan examples.
Some of these Swifts are infested with a large flat lick, nearly ^ of an
inch in length : from one bird I took over thirty which were clinging in
rows to the bases of the stiff tail feathers under the lower tail coverts j there
were no others on the bird and it struck me that the parasites possibly took
up this position to be as much as possible protected from the rush of air
during the hours when the bird was on the wing.
Where the Spine-tails, which hawk over Port Blair in the evenings till dusk,
roost or breed, it is difficult to conjecture. Birds bhot in February, May,
and June, showed no signs of breeding.
When winged this Swift utters a shrill squealing cry. Only one of ray
birds had the spot in front of the eye white, in the others it was mouse
colour.
1083. CoLLOCALiA INNOMINATA, Hume, Blanf., Ill, p. 177 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 160.
Occurs in the Andamans, but must be fcarce. Mr. Hume's party only ob-
tained one example during their visit in 1873.
1084. COLLOCALIA FKANCiCA, Gmel. Blanf., Ill, p. 178 ; "Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 160.
Very common in the Andamans, breeding in various caves on the coasts.
It also occurs more rarely in the Nicobars, though Mr. Hume says he did not
see it at all there. I did not see any in the Nicobars either, though linchi was
simply swarming.
1085. CoLLOCALiA LINCHI, Horsf . and M. Blanf., Ill, p. 178 ; "Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 157.
This tiny little Swiftlet is extremely abundant in both groups, breeding
in caves along the coast and also at Port Blair nesting freely in occupied
barracks, buildings, etc. The nests are composed of moss glued together
with brownish white saliva.
Davison has given a capital account of their actions when building ('' Str.
Feath,," II, p. 159).
They have one rather curious trick which I have not seen noticed. Often
when one bird is clinging to the commencement of a nest its mate flutters
round unable to End a foothold. In this case the sitting bird catches the
other by the tips of the primaries and holds him suspended thus for some
little time. In a cluster of these birds at work building, I have sometimes
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 565
seen three or four at the same time hanging downwards in this way, their
mates holding them by the tips of their outspread wings.
When at roost they cling together like a swarm of bees.
They breed at least twice a year, Mr. Hume found them breeding in
March ; they were breeding m the Nicobars during my stay in August and
September, and in Port Blair in December and January.
Car Nicobarese.: " tulikoop."
1094. Caprimalgus andamanicgs, Hume. Blanf., Ill, p. l?Oj " Str.
Feath,,"' II, p. 162.
This Xightjar seemed to me very scarce in the Andamans. The first time
I saw it was in May, when a bird rose from some dead leaves at my feet in
thick jungle and disappeared among the trees before I cculd fire. I did not
come across it again till January, then I foimd a few at Bamboo Flat, Port
Blair, and shot a couple of males. The note is a liquid monosyllabic ' clook !
clook ! clook ! ' The bird is not so n<isy as most Nightjars. It keeps almost
entirely to jungle, being in habits very like C. laicrurua (atiij^mni.i'). I have
seen it perch transversely on slender t\iigs in jungle. Eggs were obtained by
Davison in April. Mr. E. M. Buchanan of the Forest Department told mo
he once found, but did nut take, two eggs in March. My birds shot in
January were not breeding.
1096. Lyncornis cerviniceps, Gould. Blauf., Ill, p. 192 ; " Str. Feath.,"
p. 162.
Mr, Hume thinks that a large Nightjar seen by several of his party on the
Southern Jolly Boy in March 1873 may have belonged to this species. The
claim of a Lyncornis to a place in the Andaman list seems to be very doubt-
ful. BatracJtostomtis auritus seems to me as likely to occur in the islands
and far more likely to escape observation than a Lyncornia.
1104. Cdculus canorus, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p, 205 ; " Str. Feath.," IV,
p. 288,
Hume received a specimen of this Cuckoo from the Andamans killed on
October 16th, 1876,
1105, CucuLUS SATURATUS, Hodgs. Blanf., Ill, p. 207 ; " Str. I'eath.," II,
p. 190.
Not uncommon in both groups during the summer months. Davison says
that he first met with ic on March 14th. He remarks that the bird is much
more often heard than seen — -like so many other Indian cuckoos,
1107. CucuLDS MrcROPTERU.s, Gould. Blanf,, III, p, 210 ; " otr, Feath.,'' II,
p. 191,
What I took to be this cuckoo, judging by its call — a loud musical whistle
of four syllables — was extre:i]ely common in the Andamans during the
summer months, being especially noisy in June and July, when its melodious
notes are ringing through the forests all day, and when there is any moon
throuijhout the night as well. Mr. Hume siys that Lord Walden
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56G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
somewhat doubtfully identified four cuckoos shot in January as this
species.
Nothing seems known as to what birds are chosen as foster mothers in the
Andamans by the cuckoos which breed there.
lllri, Chrysococcyx XANTHORiiYCHUs, Horsf. Blanf., Ill, p. 221 ; " Str.
Feath.," p. 191.
The lovely Violet Cuckoo occurs in both groups, but is apparently very rare.
I never saw the bird, though I was particularly anxious to obtain it and kept
a keen look out for the species. Apparently it breeds in the islands.
1116. Chrysococcyx maculatus, Gmel. Blanf., Ill, p. 222.
The same remarks apply to this species.
1120. EuDYNAMis HONOKATA, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p. 228 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 192.
Common both in the Andamans and Nicobars. It is difficult to guess what
nest they lay in in the Nicjbars,wht nee the few imported crows have apparently
quite disappeared. The Nicobars, by the way, did not approve of the crows
at all, black and ominous the cute old corbie seemed to the superstitious
islanders a truly fearsome fowl, an evil spirit whose presence must certainly
devastate their villages with fever, if it brought no more terrible disaster,
in its train.
1130. Centropus eurycercus, Hay. Blanf., Ill,, p. 239 ; "Str. Feath.
II, p. 196.
Mr. Hume's party saw a large jungle crow of the rufipcnnls type on Condul
in the Nicobars and at Macpherson's Straits. In Mr. Hume's opinion, the
birds, which were not obtained, belonged to this species, Blanford says he
considers eurycercus to be distinct from sinensis, with which Shelley unites it.
It seeins to me possible that this bird will be found to be a not uncommon
species in the Great Nicobar, as it is in Sumatra, the former island being still
almost untouched by ornithologists.
1132. Centropus andamanensis, Tytler. Blanf., Ill, p. 242 ; "Str, Feath.,"
II, p, 194,
This brown-bodied jungle crow is a common bird throughout the Anda-
mans, occurring also on the Cocos. Its habits and voice are exactly the
same as those of the Indian bird, though I have heard it when startled
utter a curious chuckle unlike any sound made by sinensis.
The Andaman Coucal is rather partial to frogs and crabs, in search of
which it may be seen walking about on the mud of newly ploughed paddy-
fields or the ooze of the mangrove swamps.
Frogs are killed by a few violent pecks on the head, I was once rather
amused at seeing one of these birds suddenly drop a frog it had killed and
was about to swallow, to pounce on a second which it had caught sight of.
Having duly caught, executed and eaten No. 2 it proceeded to swallow No. 1.
The frogs are bolted whole.
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 567
It is difficult to get really fine skins of this species ; the broad tail
feathers are almost always in a more or less ragged condition. I caught one
of these jungle crows by hand which bad moulted neurly all its primaries
at the same time and was quite incapable of flight. A number used to get
caught in the snares (unbaited) which I set on the ground in jungle for the
Eed Rails (Canningi) ; when handled they fought fiercely, pecking extremely
hard and uttering a most crow-like cawing. At these times they erect the
whole of the plumage of the head and face to a remarkable extent, their
beautiful red eyes gleaming like rubies under the ruffled bristly feathers.
The iris is usually of a shade between scarlet and crimson ; Mr. Hume
mentions an example in which they were buffy white.
A pair of eggs taken by Captain Wimberley in June from a tolerably high
tree in secondary jungle, are described as "broad ovals, very obtuse at
both ends ; in color a dull much-soiled white with very little gloss, and
measuring 1-32 x ri2, and 1 '33 x I'l." (Hume.)
1137. Pal^ornis magnirostris, Ball, Blanf., Ill, p. 249 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 176.
Plentiful in the Andamans and Cocos, The habits in no way differ from
those of its allies. The biU of this parrot is simply enormous.
1145. Palj.ornis fasciatus (Miill.) Blanf., Ill, p. 256 ;" Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 180.
Common in the neighbourhood of Port Blair : from Davison's remarks
it appeal's to be scarce in the other parts of Ihe groups, the cultivation round
the settlement probably making that part of the islands its head-quarters.
1146. Pal.eornis caniceps, Blyth, Blanf., Ill, p. 258,- "Str, Feath.,"
II, p. 178.
This fine large parrot apparently only occurs in the southern groups of
the Nicobars, as Mr. Hume only met with them on Condal Montschsill and
the Great Nicobar, According to Davison it frequents the highest trees
has a peculiar long screeching note, and is very partial to the ripe fruit of
the pandanus. Nothing else is known of its habits.
1147. Pal.eoexis erythrogenys, Blyth. Blanf., Ill, p. 258 ; " Str.
Feath.," II, p. 181.
The Nicobar Eed-cheeked Paroquet is extremely plentiful throughout the
islands of that group. Davison found them breeding in February and March.
Car Nicobarese ; " talaka" or " talahi."
1148, Palj^ornis tytleri, Hume. Blanf., Ill, p. 259 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 184.
Occurs throughout the Andamans, including Barren Island, Narcondam, the
Cocos, and Preparis. In the Andamans it seemed to me by far the commonest
parrot occurring there ; in December, I saw it in vast flocks of thousands
about the fields of ripe paddy, which it would utterly destroy except for the
watch kept by the convict cultivators. I was told most positively by one of
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508 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol. XII.
the officers of the settlement that he once saw an entireh/ light blue bird among
a large flock of this species. Both he and his wife watched this bird for a
consiHe>a!)le time while an orderly was despatched, fr a gun, before the
arrival of which the rara avis and its companions had dei arted to fresh fields
and pastures new,
1150. L iiRicT Lus VERNALis, Sparrm. Blanf., Ill, p. 2GI ; " Str. Feath.,"
TI, p. 185 ; Butler, Journ. "Bom. N. H. S., XI. p. 736."
The little Loriquet is very common in the Andamans, but according to
Blanf ord, ' has not been observed in the Nicobars.' I see, however, that Mr,
Hume notes (" >tr. Feath,," ii, p. 186) — "on thp nurrhern shores of the
Great Nicobiir, Mr. Wood-Mason saw and watched, but failed to secure,
a LoriculuH which may have belonged to this species or to the Malayan
galgulus.'"'
1 have seen them caught by a bird-limed twig l osely fitted into a hole in
the end of a long tapering bambo", which is gradually pushed up among the
foliage in which the, love-bird is feeding until the limed twig touches the bird's
wing, to which it instantly adheres, sticking the primaries together and pre-
venting its esc ipe. This method of capture requires considerable dexterity ;
unless there is plenty of leaf on the tree the bird sees the stick and when there
was any foliage I inv.iriably ■• anaged to stick the twig gracefully to a leaf
half-way between myself and the Lorik' et !
Davison found a nest at Port Blair on the lUih o April, Apparently this
species does not line its nest h h- j the Ceylon biid, Loriculus imlicus does, the
only two or three nests I have seen being lined with a thick pad of green
leaves and halves of leaves. I have since found and described in this journal
a nest which was lined with leaves.
1152. S IRIX FLAMMEA, Linn, ' lanf.,111, p. 264 ; "Str. Feath." Ill, p. 390.
Very scarce in the Andamans, the specimens which have been obtained
being mostly captured in buildings, I heard of one which had for months
been living in the roof of a bungalow on the small island of Viper in Port
Blair harbour, sallying out regularly every evening at dusk.
Mr, Blanford says " <S/r2a; cZ<'rfPyj.'</or/)5 is founded on a very small tawny
specimen from the Andaman Islands, with the wing only 9"8, the face
suHused with ferruginous, and even the spots on the back durk tawny
instead of white. No other skin of this race has been obtained, but all
the points of difference are repeated in other insular races of S. flnmmea.
There are. however, two skins of this Andaman race in the Indian Museum,
where I lately examined them. The race is a vorv well marked one, but
all races of SlHx flammea are now included under the one species.
Since writing the above I have been fortunate in shooting a fine specimen
of this rare race. Measurements. — Length 1.;^, wing 10^, tail 4^, tarsus
2?, bill, gape to tip of upper mandible If, expanse 36 inches. I also heard
another on several occasions, and after many attempts got a long snapshot
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 569
at it at night, which had no effect — or rather not the rZes^VerZ effect what
it did do was to turn out the g .ard at the neighbouring police harrack !
The note is the usual Barn-Owl screech : and, from numerous pellets
which I found below a hollow tree where I shot my specimen the food
consists entirely of rats and mice.
Mr. F. ' inn kindly gives me the wing measurements of the two birds in
the Calcutta Museum as about 9'1 and 9-6. Ho adds "'both nave the rufous
facial disk and tawny spots on the upper surface, and look much like the
Barn-Owl from the Cape Verde Islands (variety ins'ilaris) figured ly
Sharpe, Brit. Mus. Cat., Vol. II, Striges, plate XIV, a fthe left hand
fijure).
lir>2. SvRNiUM SP? SELOPUTO, Horsf. Blanf., in, p 278 ; ' 3tr. Feath "
11, p. 150.
■ Mr. Blmford says "the reported occurrence of this Owl (seloputn) in the
Nicobar Islands is probably due to error." Mr. Hume held the same view-
not admitting the bird into his list.
A sijrnium of sorts most certainly occurs in the Andamans : I have mv-
self heard, seen, and horrible dictn^ missed it ! I did my utmost to get a
specimen, but failed.
The first time I met with it was one night in June. There was only faint
moo' light and a little mist about rendered this even dimmer. From about
fifty yards within the black shadow of dark for st an owl was hooting re-
peatedly, the note being a regular Siirnh'.m^n *• tc-wlioo !" I could not work
my w-ay into the jungle in the dark, so as a foilorn hope i imitated the
" to-whoo!" to the best of my ability, the rather startling result being that the
shadow form cf a large owl swooped almost into : y face a few seconds
later, and then shied off in the dim moonlight. I fired a snap shot at the
disappearing shadow, and thinking I was 'on' him listened intently for the
• thud' of his fR,ll. Alas, there was none.
The next day I searched the whole neigh onrhood on the chance of
finding the owl ia some tree. Failing in this I cleared away the undergrowth
near where he had been ht oting, so that in the event of his being in the
same spot next night I could at least work my way to the place. The
owl obligingly fell in with this arrangement, and at dark commenced to
hoot away vigorously. I first tried to decoy him again, but he was not to
be 'had' twice. I then worked my way gradually into the jungle, which
was dark as pitch, until I was right under the bird, in fact he could not
have been irore than twenty feet immediately over my head. The hoot
heaid at this short distance was of three syllables, the first bein^ a loud
snoring croak, inaudible at a distance. In exactly the same m;inner the
note of Sijrnntm indrani is a two-syllabled hoot heard at a hundre'l vards and
yet consists really oi four notes. \^ ell, I waited and waited and nothing could
I see, so adopting a plan by which I once killed a Ninox ohscura, I waited for
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570 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xli.
the next hoot, flung up the gun and /ire(? at the sound. The result was a
shower of leaves and twigs — only !
For several nights the owl continued to hoot near the same spot, but
though I took infinite trouble to get a shot at him I never succeeded. I also
heard this same hoot on another occasion, at a place about two miles off. I
called the attention of Mr. Buchanan of -the Forest Department to this call
and he at once said he had seen the bird — ^a large round shaped owl over a
foot high, I have gone rather fully into my unsuccessful attempts to gat this
bird partly to show the trouble and difficulty a collector has in securing a
a particularly desired specimen, and partly, as I think, the bird may possibly
turn out to be a new species of Syrnium, peculiar to the islands.
1166. Ketupasp? JAVANENSis? Less, Blanf., Ill, p. 283.
I am inclined to think the list of Andaman owls is not at all complete. I
was repeatedly told of a large owl with horns, frequenting the desolate man-
grove swamps bordering many of the salt-water creeks, The bird was seen
and shot at by others two or three times during my stay. This would most
probably be Ketiipa javauensis.
1173. Scops giu. Scop. Blanf., Ill, p. 291 ; " Str. Feath.," II, p. 151,
A dark rufous form of this owl occurs in the Nicobars, (S. nicoharicus ,
Hume.)
Blanford unites the little Scops minutus of Ceylon with giu, remarking that
it is the most distinctly marked of the different races of the bird. The note of
Scops giu is, according to Blanford, a "peculiar monotonous monosyllabic hoot"
now the ordinary note of Scojis minutus of Ceylon is exactly the same as that
of Scops balli of the Andamans — a jerked out ' hoot-coorroo !' with ' r '
very distinctly toned. This is the only note I have heard it utter, but Bligh
noted a monosyllabic hoot. It is not easy to identify a small and scarce owl
with its note in thick jungle at night at all, and when owls go and hoot in two
distinct ways to add to the difficulty they ought to be abolished.
In the cases of two races of the same bird hooting in a totally different
style ( as with Ninox scutulata, and N. affinis, I have often wondered — the
question being quite beyond my knowledge of the subject — whether the
difference in voice results from any structural difference in the larynx, which
would I suppose establish the races as distinct species,
117G, Scops balli, Hume. Blanf., Ill, p. 29G ; " Str. Feath,," II, p. 151.
Very couHnon in the Andamans, but from its nocturnal habits and small
size is very difficult to procure. Its note resembles the syllables " hoot ! hoot-
coorroo ! " jerked out very rapidly, the rolling " r" in the last note being
very distinct. This, by the way, is exactly the same note as that of the
Ceylonese Scops minutus, which Mr. Blanford unites with Scojjs giu. It has
also a low clucking note. The Andamanese Scops owl seems to feed to a
considerable extent on caterpillars ; in searching for these it sidles up and
down the boughs of small trees in a very parrot-like manner. It is rather
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THE BIRDS OF TEE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 571
given to coming into bungalows, two of my specimens being captured in
this manner. A female shot in May had apparently just incubated,
1187. NiNOX AFFiNis, Tytler. Blanf,, III, p. 309 ; " Str. Feoth," II, p 152.
Common in the Andamans ; I am inclined to think less so in the Nicobars
where during my short visit I did not hear it.
I have headed this note affinis, as I consider this a good species. Mr.
Blanford unites it with the continental bird scutulata treating it merely as
an insular race, but he writes me that he is open to conviction as to its dis-
tinctness. I am well acquainted with N. scutulata of which I have shot
numbers in Ceylon, and aflnis seems to me an entirely different bird. Besides
being a mere pigmy in comparison with scutulata it is far more rufous below
and has an absolutely diiferent note. The call of N, scutulata is a soft,
flute-like 'coowhoop' or 'whoo-wuk,' while the hoot of a^nis is a sharp, quick
little sound like ''kraw!" or " krow,'' reminding me of the note of Glaucidium
castanonotum more than any other owl that I can remember. I twice shot
the bird uttering this note, which may be heard every evening among the
chorus of N. ohscura and Scops halU with which the forests resound at dusk
affinis seems to be a shier bird than ohscura ; it feeds chiefly on moths and
beetles.
N. ohscura, curiously enough, as the birds are so different in plumage, has
exactly the same note as scutulata proper.
(To he continued^
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572
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No. I.— BIRDS PLYING AGAINST WINDOW-PANES.
Is the Purple Honeysucker {Cinwjnn aslaUca) a pugnacious bird '? I have
frequently seen the male in February and March, when in breeding plumage,
tly furiously at a window, against which he k' eps himself suspended in the
air by a rapid motion of the wings, and pecks repeatedly with his beak against
the glass. The easiest explanation appears to be that he is attacking his
own reliection. I have, however, never noticed the males of this species
fighting, as the males of so many species do at the commencement of the
breeding season ; possibly they do fight, thoui^h 1 do not happen to have
seen them. Perhaps some readers o^ the Journal can suggest some other
reason for the bird's flying against the window as above described. I have
noticed it fully a dozen times, and not only ai Deesa but also when I was
stationed in Cutch. The only other birds I have seen act in a similar
manner, were the common Madras Bulbul {Pycnonotus hcemorrhous) and
common Sparrow {Passer domesticus), but both these birds seemed to re-
cognise their mistake much sooner than the Purple Honeysucker.
0. G. NURSE, Capt.,
Deesa, li)//i February, 1899. 13th Bombay Infantry.
No. II.— FOOD OF THE INDIAN GREY SHRIKE.
What is the limit of the voracity of the Indian Orey Shrike {Lanius lahtora) ?
I was once driving aL ng a road when I saw a bird of this species drop down
rapidly from a branch on which he was sitting, much in the same manner
as the Pied Kingfisher {Cerijle rucUs) drops into the water when catching a
fi.sh. I was curious t > see what his prey had been, and was much astonished
to find it was a young squirrel, fully three parts grown, still warm and
quivering. The beak of the bird had penetrated the back of the skull.
C.G. NURSE, Capt.,
Deesa, Mth February, 1899, 13th Bombay Infantky.
No. III.— ON "INDfAN DU(JKS AND THEIR ALLIES."
1. Nukhta (Sitrcidlornis melanonotus). — I have seen these birds often in
flocks in the cold weather, both in the N.-W. P. and in the Panch Mahals, but
they appear to keep their pairs even in the flocks, for when one has been shot
and the flock has flown away I have observed one remain behind flying round
and round searching for its mate.
2. White-winged Wood-Duck {A sciU/i^alus). — I once shot a duck in the
Bilas[.ur district of the 0. P., which from the plate in Hume's "Game Birds
of India " appeared to be this species. It was on a tank situated only a few
miles from forest-covered hills.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 573
3. Cotton Teal (Nettapus coram andelianus). This is said to be rare in the
western part of the empire, but I have found it in fair numbers in the
Dohad district, Panch Mahals.
4. Sheldrake {Tadorna cornutd). I have seen this bird once in Central
India, on a tank about 40 miles south of Neemuch, in the cold weather of
1891-92. Two were walking about on the shore at the edge of the tank,
which is a very large one, and one was on the water. I was unable to get a
shot, but I examined the birds carefully with a field glass, and I do not
think there can be any mistake. I could distinguish a large duck, about the
size of a Brahminy, with a bright red bill and face (they were looking to-
wards me), colours chiefly black or dark brown and white, the bird standing
much more like a goose than an ordinary duck. The red knob at the base of
the bill would account for the appearance of the face.
E. H. YOUNG.
RUTLAM, 2ist February, 1899.
No. IV.— THE COURTING DANCE OF THE :\IOONAL PHEASANT.
When shooting in the Himalayas this April I noticed early one morning,
while sitting behind a tree, a pair of Moonal pheasants feeding a short dis-
tance from me, on a flat terrace on the open hill side. They were so close
that i was able to see their every movement distinctly. After being busily
engaged some time in their usual digging operations, the hen bird stopped
work, and uttered her call note several times, upon which the cock, who was
at the time some little distance away, ran up to her with his wings raised high
above the back, tail spread, and neck and body feathers distended. He then
moved quickly to and fro for a few seconds in front of the hen who stood
quietly looking on at his performance ; he then abruptly closed his wings and
tail, turned about and ran back to his feeding ground while the hen went on
with her breakfast. As the early morning sun was shining on the birds, the
sudden appearance of the cock in the above performance, was most splendid
to look upon ; the beautiful metallic hues of the wings and throat, with the
pure white of the back and chestnut coloured tail, spread like a fan behind,
shone out most gorgeously. But it is not for the mere pleasure given by the
exhibition, that I write this note, but to direct attention to the unusual
behaviour shown by the hen. As I believe in all courting displays among
birds of fine coloured plumage the hen takes a most passive part, and dees
not in any way call the performance up ; but the male birds themselves of
their own accord go through the ceremony of showing off their fine feathers
in front of their lady loves. But in this case the lady love, by her calls, ap-
peared to have directly invited or encouraged the display, as the lover was
digging out his breakfast until he heard the call sounded. While on the
subject of Moonal pheasants, I should much like to ask any of the members
of the Society, who may have had opportunitiea of seeing many cock Moonals,
18
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74 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xtl.
whether they have noticed any distinct difference in the colours of the plum-
age, as according to a recently published book on "Game Birds" compiled by
Mr. Ogilvie Grant, of the British Museum, there is described and figured a
Moonal pheasant, found in Chamba, which in colouring differs from the
ordinary Moonal so much that it is named as a distinct species. So far only
three or four skins of this particular bird have been obtained in Chamba, and
the appearance of the female is at present not known. Mr. Grant asks
sportsmen, who may be shooting in Chamba, to try and obtain a specimen of
the female bird if possible. I have for some time made numerous enquiries
from villagers and shikaries in Chambn, as well as from the Prime Minister of
the State, who is a very keen and observant sportsman, about this particular
Moonal, and have so far ascertained that its appearance is generally known,
but everyone declares that it is only a chance variety of the common cock
Moonal, which has been hatched out in a nest of eggs by the common hen
Moonal. Consequently there cannot be any special hen bird belonging to the
so-called separate species. The cock birds would appear to have a tendency
to vary at times, and the Mian Saheb Bhurie Singh, the Prime Minister, told
me of a white cock Moonal being observed by his Shikari a short time ago.
For the benefit of those who have not a copy of Mr. Grant's " Game Birds"'
I add a description from it, showing the differences between the KO-called
Chamba Moonal and the common kind.
Common Moonal pheasant. Lower back pure white, under parts black
with no green gloss except on throat ; tail light rufous chestnut.
Chamba Moonal pheasant. Lower back golden green, shadiug into purplish
blue ; under parts entirely glossed with metallic s^olden green ; tail chestnut
tipped with golden green.
G. S. ROD ON,
Major.
Chamba State, N,-W. Himalayas, April, 1899.
No. v.— GAME IN THE WALTAIR DISTRICT,
It may be of some interest to record the result of a season's duck shooting
in this district, so far as I have been able to record it. The bag is not a
large one, us it represents the result of promiscuous shooting by four district
officers, but it gives a good idea of the distribution of duck here. We have
been anxious to shoot several varieties not mentioned in the list, such as the
Pink-head, the White-eye, Mallard ;md othe3s said to have been recorded
from the Northern Circars, but although pains have been taken to identify
the species during the last two years, I cannot record their occurrence, and
they must be rare stragglers. The Pin-tail has migrated here in fewer num-
bers than usual, although they are reported as common in Ganjam, the
neighbouring district. A curious fact is that the Gadwall, noted as an
ex'-ellent bird for the table, has been usually very poor eating and frequently
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MISCELL A NEO US NOTES.
575
nasty, I can offer no esplanntion for this, as last year they were as usual one
of the best. I have not included the Cotton or Whistling-Teal in the list.
While on the subject of shooting I would report the occurrence of the
lesser Florican or Likh and the Wood-Snipe. The former I saw shot at
Razan, and the latter I shot myself on the Palhonda Hills. I have not heard
of their occurrence here before, although I have known the former shot iu
the Godavari district,
STEPHEN COX,
District Forest Officer.
Waltair, 13^^ March, 1899.
List of Ducks referred to.
Pin-tail {T)afila acuta') 15
Grey duck { Anas iKecilorhyncha) ... ... ... 57
Red-crested pochard {Netta rufina) ... ,, ... 223
Tufted pochard {Nyroca fulicjula) 35
Common pochard (Nyroca ferlna') ... ... ... ... ... 26
Gadwall (C/(OM^e/as/K2<s streperus) .. .,, ... 260
YfigQon \^Mare.ca penelope) ... ,., ... ... ... ... 25
Common Teal (NetHum crscca) 53
Garganey (Querquedula cirsia) 54
Others, including Comb-duck, Shovellers and Brahminy ducks... 27
Total .. 775
No. VI.— THE BREEDING OF MOTHS.
With reference to Major R. H. Rattray's note on page 219 of this Volume
I think it is very probable that the explanation of the hatching of the eggs
of an unimpregnated moth is that moths, like female (or queen) bees, are
capable of laying fertile male-produc/ng eggs only when they have been com-
pletely isolated. Even an ordinary worker or imperfect female bee will
sometimes lay eggs, but these eggs, like those of the virgin queen, produce
nothing but drones.
If Major Rattray reared a few moths from the caterpillars, he will be able
to verify this.
W. V. WALLACE,
Burma Commission.
TouNGoo, bih May, 1899.
No. VII.— BIRDS TAPPING AT WINDOW-PANES.
With reference to Mr. Green's interesting note on this subject (on page 415
of this volume), we have had two very persistent " tappers " in our house at
Bankipore. Last year a female Honey-sucker {Arachnechdira asiatica) nsei
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576 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII-
to hover against the oBBce window, tapping with her beak and flapping with
her wings. This year, for months, an ordinary cr(;w has presented himself
at a small window at 4 a.m. every morning, cawing and pecking alternately,
and this has been repeated at intervals during the day. In neither case
could wc discover any reason for the birds acting in this curious manner.
On several occasions we have tried to shoot this crow and so lengthen our
morning slumber, but he is very wary and so far we have failed to kill him,
I once caught the Honey-sucker in my hand when she had succeeded in get-
ting inside her favourite window, but I noticed nothing peculiar about her
beak.
MAEY W. BOURDILLOiN'.
Dakjeeling, 2th May, 1809.
No- VIII.— HYBERNATION OF BLACK AND BROWN BEARS.
With reference to my article on this subject, which appeared in our Jour-
nal on page 218 of this volume, I beg to add the following account I receiv-
ed from a very reliable source a few days ago, clearly proving that the brown
hQ?kv {^Ursus arc tus) does hybernato. The man in question has a lot to do
with forest life, both during winter and summer, so may be considered a
pretty good authority.
He informed me that he found a brown bear last March, in the hollow
trunk of a tosh tree in the Koti. The forest is about three miles from the
Rotung Pass, in Kulu, at an elevation of about 11,000 feet. The country was
a couple of feet under snow, but he could not find any foot-prints to show
that the bear had been in or out of the tree of late, so presumably it had
spent the winter rhere. A little later he came upon a black bear which had
been killed by the fall of the tree in which it must have been asleep. It was
in very poor condition, but it possessed a magnificent coat.
On the 19th of April this year while out after bara-sing in Kashmir I came
upon the perfectly fresh tracks of a brown bear in the snow and which came
out of an enormous hollow tosh tree. There were plenty of dry leaves inside
the hollow and every indication of a bear having made its home there, but I
could see no sign or foot-print showing that it had only lately come into the
tree, so my natural conclusion was that it had spent the winter there.
As for black bears {U. torquatus) I believe it entirly depends on where the
winter finds them. Those that have gone up to higher altitudes after the
Indian corn crops have been cut and are caught there by the December
snows hybernate, while those tliat are able to make their way down to the
oak forests, at about 15 or 4,000 feet above the sea-level do not hybernate, as
I have seen and shot black bears below Mussoorie in January and February.
C. H. DONALD.
BUADARWAR, KASHMIR STATE, May, 1899,
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MISCELLA NEO US NO TES. 577
No. IX,— OCCURRENCE OF THE NEPAUL KALIJ PHEASANT
IN KASHMIR.
I have much pleasure in reporting the appearance of the Nepaul Kalij
(GenncKus leucomelanus) in Kashmir. In the '"Fauna of British India," Birds.Vol.
IV, page 91,ihe distribution of this species is given as from the "Western limits
of Nepaul to the Arun River. I found and shot one cock in the Kashmir State
on the banks of the Chenab River, elevation about 3,0C0 feet. Unfortunately
the skin was damaged by my fox-terrier, but I had no difficulty in identifying
it. Its total length was just below 23 inches, wing 8 inches, tarsus 2'5". The
crest was shorter than the ordinary Kalij (G. albicrisiatus), being only 3*4",
whereas the crest of the common Kalij is often as much as 4'2". It was shot
on the 18th of January last and was in company with a covey of the common
Kalij.
C. H. DONALD.
Dhakamsala, May, 1899.
No. X.— ABNORMAL NUMBER OF EGGS IN A NEST OF THE
BENGAL GREEN PIGEON (C. PII.ENICOPTERUS, LATH.).
Two is of course the usual complement of tggs of this species, but I find on
looking up a list of nests taken in 1896 that on the 7th of May I got a neat
containing //tree fresh eggs. The nest was situated in t be fork of a young
jack tree (^4, integrifoUa), and the eggs were taken in my i^resenee. I could not
have been mistaken as to the owner of the eggs, for the bird sat very close
allowing the boy to reach the nest before it flew off. This was the only nest
on that tree ; had there been others I should have noticeJ them as the tree
was quite a small one. The tail of the green pigeon was noticeable from
below, projecting over the side of the nest. To-day I took another nest
containing a single incubated egg.
C. M. INGLIS.
Narhar, Madhubani, Tirhut, \^th May, 1899.
No. XI.— NOTE ON THE HIMALAYAN VIPER {ANCISTRODON
EIMALAYANUS).
The interesting article by Capt. Wall, I.M.S,, on the above snake publish-
ed on page 411 of this Volume induces me to mention a peculiarity that may
or may not be recorded elsewhere, viz., the power of flattening its whole body
as the cobra flattens its hood. The habit is by no means universal, probably
for the reason that vipers are generally killed first and tried afterwards, and
the killing takes place in circumstances that do not lead to the display of this
accomplishment. My last but one victim of this species was the first that I
particularly noted as showing anything special in this line. He was coiled up
in a hollow under the curving bole of a tree, and seemed quite happy. Jt
seemed a pity to disturb so pretty and little dangerous a creature, but venom
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578 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI 1.
ia venom, so down I went on my knees and gave him a dab with the end of a
stick by way of inviting him to come out and fight. Instead of doing so, or
trying to escape, he ilattened out his body from head to tail, not so much as
a cobra's hood, because there were organs below the vertebral column which
caused it to project, but still in a very striking manner. The object seemed
to be to get a firmer hold of the ground by extending and flattening the
ventral surface, and the faculty would often be useful in steep places.
F. GLEADOW.
Chakkata, Mai/, 1899.
No. XII.— GECKO CANNIBALISM.
A few days ago, on opening the stomach of a young female gecko (GecJco
monarchus, a species which occurs fairly commonly in the compound outside
our bungalow here), it was found to contain, in addition to a caterpillar and
some other remains which I could not identify, a smaller gecko of the same
species ; this, judging from its position in the stomach, had evidently been
eaten head foremost, and was quite entire.
The lengths of the two individuals were :
. ,. .J 1 C Tip of snout to cloaca, 57 mm.
Larger mdividual | ^^^-^ ^^,^^^^ ^^.^_
„ ,.,, C Tip of snout to cloaca, B2 ram.
Smaller ditto . | ^.j^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^,^ ^-^ ^^ ^.^^ ^^ ^^^^
Gimthev, in his" Reptiles of British India," alludes to geckos as being
known to destroy " the younger and weaker members of their own species,"
and he describes the individuals of Gecko monarchus as '• pugnacious among
themselves" ; but the fact that an animal will prey upon another of its own
species while living under completely natural conditions and with an abundant
supply of its normal insect food, seems worth recording.
F. P. BEDFORD.
Singapore, March, 1899.
(The above appeared in Nature.)
No. XIII.— A BIRD KILLED BY A MANTIS.
I send you in spirits a specimen of the Small Sunbird (Arachnechthra
minima) and a large Praying-Mantis 9 (probably Ilierodula Upapilla).
The history attached to them is as follows : —
The sunbird happened to come hovering round a branch on which the
mantis was, and the mantis, whether in fright or otherwise, struck out at the
bird with his forelegs and scalped it, and the bird dropped dead. The
mantis was secured alive and both it and the bird were sent to me by Mr,
T.J. McCloughin in whose compound the occurrence happened and from
whom I obtained an account of it. This was nearly two years ago, and at
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 579
that time we were both living in Dharwar. Considering the way in which
the mantis' forelegs are armed, and that it weighs considerably more than the
bird, there is nothing inherently improbable in what occurred.
C. A. R, BROWNE, Major, R.E.
Bombay, May, 1899.
No. XIV.-THE PALM SWIFT.
I noticed specimens of the Palm Swift (Tachornis hatassiensis) that were
circling round on the evening of the 13th instant, copulating in the air, so that
these Swifts behave in the same manner as the English Swift which Gilbert
White of Selbourne observed engendering during flight.
F. WALL, Captain, I.M.S.
Rangoon, IQth May 1899.
No. XV.— OCCURRENCE OF THE RUFOUS-BELLIED NILTAVA
(NILTAVA SUNDAE A) AT MURREE.
In the "Fauna of British India'' CBirds), Vol.11, the distribution of No. 594,
Niltava sundara, the Rufous -bellied Niltava, is given as the Himalayas, from
Simla to Assam, but I have found it breeding here in Murree. It is fairly
common, but only in one place and in dense jungle at about 6,000 feet. I
found one nest with 4 fresh eggs on the 20th instant, and shot the female
ofE the nest and also saw another nest about 150 yards up the same nullah
ready for eggs. I also shot a male near the nest from which I took the eggs
so as to be sure of its identification. It did not belong to the nest but the
female did. Major C. L. Wilson, R.A., was with me and helped to identify
the bird.
R. H. RATTRAY, Major,
22nd Punjab Infantry.
Murree, 2oth May 1899.
No. XVI.— THE RED-TAILED CHAT iSAXICOLA CHRYSOPYGIA).
A CORRECTION.
With reference to my note on page 225 of this Volume, regarding the Red-
taile ^ Chat, and to my list on page 330, in which I included it as occurring at
Thull, I should like to explain that I shot a number of birds and after a long
search in Oates and Blanf ord, came to the conclusion that they were Saxicola
chrysopygia. I sent one specimen to Mr. Cardew of Ootacamund, mentioning
my doubts as to its correct identification. He agreed with me, but as he
could find no other bird it could be, he came to the same conclusion as I had
done. I subsequently sent one of the birds to Mr. J. Davidson who being
unable to identify it sent it to Mr. Bowdler Sharpe of the British Museum
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580 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
who identified it as No. 359, Aedo7i familiaris, the Grey-backed Warbler. Mr.
Gates remarks that it is not likely to be found breeding in any part of the
Empire, but it was so commonly at Thull.
R. H. EATTRAY, Major,
22nd Punjab Infantry.
MuEKEE, 2bth May, 1899.
No. XVII.— BIRDS TAPPING AT WINDOW PANES.
I have read Mr. Ernest Green's letter in the Miscellaneous Notes, page 415,
of this Volume with much interest. A couple of years ago a brother of mine
had the same experience with a magpie. The bird used to come regularly every
morning after sunrise, perch on the window-sill and peck industriously at the
glass, if " shoo'd " away it returned after a brief interval and began tapping
again until frightened off. It became such a nuisance to a man who disap-
proved of early rising that it was destroyed after turning my brother out of
bed about 5 o'clock every morning for a fortnight. The house where this
occurred stands alone amid a surrounding of forest trees on the shores of
Lough Sheelin, Co. Cavan.
E. D. CUMING.
20, Pembroke Road,
London, \Qth May, 1899.
No, XVIIL—TRAWLING IN INDIAN WATERS.
The Investigator's Successful Cruise,
After a careful inspection of the personnel and detention ashore of those
few of the crew who were at all feverish, the R.I.M.S. Investigator put
to Sea from Bombay, on October 10th, on her seven months' surveying
cruise. The programme for the season comprised for the first three to
four months the survey of Moulmein River from its mouth to the town of
Moulmein as well as the approaches to the river, and for the remainder of
the season the Western Coast of the northern part of the Andaman Islands.
As the Investigator was obliged to take in coal and some other necessaries
in Colombo, and as the Ceylon quarantine authorities have ordained that
no ship be given free entry into their porta within ten days of departure
from Bombay, this necessary period of probation was most usefully and
successfully employed in deep sea trawling off the West coast of India and
Ceylon at varying depths of from 40 to 1,000 fathoms. When the bottom
of the sea is suitable for trawling — sand or mud — the method adopted on
the Investigator is very simple. The trawl for dragging along the bottom
and capturing the dwellers thereon consists of a stout iron frame work, to
which is attached a bag-net some fifteen feet long with an oblong open
mouth of ten feet wide by about 2| feet deep. From this net animals are
prevented from escaping, once they have entered, by a second smaller bag-
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 581
net attached to about the middle of the inner side of the outer net, with
its rather small open mouth hanging freely about two foet from the bottom
of the outer net. The iron framework for the support of the net consists
of two stout and broad U-shaped pieces of iron, held rigidly apart at a dis-
tance of ten to twelve feet by a very strong iron bar passing between the
curved part of the U's, To the extremities of this bar ropes are attached 5
these unite in an eye to which the wira rope for trawling is shackled. The
mouth of the trawling net is firmly bound to a light chain, which in turn is
strongly tied to the extremities of the limbs of the U pieces. Round
the margin of the bag-net passes a stout rope to which the net is fixed on
one side, and at intervals on the other side, hemp swabs. The end of the
bag-net is tied up, made fast to this rope, and weighted with a couple of
iron sinkers. The trawling rope is a wire rope, thin and flexilile, but very
strong, and is kept coiled on a heavy iron drum bedded in the lower par
of the ship aft. From this the wire passes, when in use, up a hatch way,
through a series of blocks to the fore-part of the ship where it makes several
turns round the drum of a winch, passes through the hawse-hole, through
a block attached near the bowsprit end, and so to the trawl. Alongside the
bowsprit is suspended a strong spring consisting of a series of rubber discs
in an iron framework, so arranged that when the ends of the framework
are separated the rubber discs become compressed. One end of this spring
is firmly fixed to the bows of the ship, while to the other is attached the
last block through which the trawling wire passes. Consequently, any strain
put on this wire is at once indicated on the spring by the compression of the
rubber discs.
Before trawling, the positions, depth, and character of the bottom have to
be ascertained. The first is obtained by the customary sea methods, the last
two by the deep-sea sounding apparatus, the one commonly used consisting
of a hollow iron tube furnished inside at its lower end with a pair of butter-
fly valves, opening up wards and suspended from a galvanized iron piano wire.
This wire is kept coiled on a drum fixed on the fo'castle, and, when running
(ut, passes over a second drum, the circumference and number of revolutions
of which are accurately known, and recorded on a dial. To cause the sound-
ing tube to sink in deep water a couple of iron weights, with cylindrical holes
bored in the centre for the tube to pass through, are suspended near the
bottom of the tube by a wire loop passing over a tumbling apparatus above
the tube. Immediately on striking the bottom the tumbling apparatus, only
kept in position -by the weight of the sinkers, is released and liberates the
sinkers which are left on the bottom when the sounding tube is
reeled in. The velocity with which the tube descends causes it to
sink into the mud or sand of the bottom, which rises up and partly fills the
tube. On its withdrawal from the bottom the butterfly valves falling back
close the tube, and retain the contents for examination and record on the
19
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582 JO URN A L, BOMB A Y NA TURAL HISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
charts. A deep-sea thermometer, specially constructed to withstand the
great pressure, is usually sent down with the sounding tube and records the
minimum temperature obtained. This, in the greatest depths of the Indian
seas, north of 6 deg, N. —a little over 2,000 fathoms — only slightly exceeds
freezing point. When a suitable bottom for trawling has been found, a
tackle hanging from the end of a derrick is attached by a slip knot to the
eye above the trawl, which is then raised from the deck and lowered into
the water by means of the tackle. On reaching the water the tackle is released
and the trawl, now only attached to the wire rope, is allowed to sink by
its own weight. When it arrives at the bottom surplus wire to the extent
of half to one-third the ascertained depth is paid out. From the structure
of the trawl it is indifferent on which side it falls. The ship now very
slowly steams astern, dragging the trawl along the bottom. After a suitable
interval the wire rope is reeled in by the winch, the trawl again hoisted on
deck by means of the derrick and tackle, and the contents of the net re-
moved. If the bottom has been stony or rocky the swabs probably will
contain a large assortment of animal life, but from muddy bottoms they
seldom contain much. On bottoms that have been ascertained to be rocky,
instead of the large trawl a much smaller dredge, in which the net is
suspended within and protected by a stout iron frame, is used.
Off the west coast of India on two or three occasions, at about 1,000
fathoms, hermit-crabs inhabiting a very interesting abode have been obtained
by the Investigator. The usual practice of most species of these animals is,
of course, to thrust the soft parts of their body into an empty mollusk shell
into which they can withdraw entirely in case of alarm. Here, however, the
hermit-crab grows to a considerable size, and the supply of a correspondingly
large shell is scanty. It has accordingly come about that on the back of the
shells inhabited by the crabs grows a budding cluster of deep-sea anemones,
united at their base by a thick cartilaginous-like material. At first these
anemones are supported by the shell, but as the crab grows too Ir.rge to be
contained in this, the anemone grows out pari pasfiu from the mouth of the
shell and secretes a thin, flexible but tough horny-looking covering for the
crab to dwell in, at the same time gradually absorbing the shell which first
supported them. It finally results that large hermit-crabs are found living
in a spiral chamber entirely secreted and covered by a compound anemone,
while the shell- the original habitation— exists as a mere ghost of its former
self. It is small, almost invisible, thrust to the margin of the anemone,
partly absorbed and the remaining fragment so soft as to be easily cut with
a knife. A still more curious custom was observed in some hermit-crabs
obtained from about 100 fathoms off the west coast. These animals have
largely given up the practice of living in shells ; instead, they carry about
over their abdomens a flexible, thin, soft sheet of anemones, retaining it in
position by means of their third pair of claws, and on occasions drawing the
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-MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 583
sheet with these claws right up over theii" backs to the root of their eyes, so
that they are nearly hidden under the sheet. They were observed hiding in
this way when brought aboard alive.
Bat -veau Colombo and Rangoon the passage was uneventful and beautifully
smooth, and the occasion was utilised to observe the flight of the flying fish,
about which so many erroneous notions prevail. The opportunities for
observing its flight were almost ideal — plenty of fish, a calm sea, a not very
fast ship and a coign of vantage — the paddle-box— to observe from. By far the
commonest flying fish of these seas — Exoccefua eiiolans — is rather small, averag-
ing between six and seven inches in extreme length, but growing somewhat
larger. They are stout, muscular fish, very dainty to eat, .md feeding mostly
on the small forms (if surface-swimming Crustacea. They are protectively
coloured — dark blue above fading into lighter shades below. Like their
near allies the gar fish, hemiramphus, which have a very similar habit
of leaping from the water and rushing at great speed along the surface
with merely the lower part of the tail and the hinder fins immersed,
the flying fish, exocoetus, have the lower surface of the body flattened —
evidently to make immersion more difficult and the act of springing from
the water easier — and in both fish the lower lobe of the tail is consi-
derably prolonged downwards. The anterior pair of fins of the flying
fish are greatly enlarged and fan-like, and attached to the body by fairly
strong, well-developed muscles, easily seen on pulling off the fish's skin. If
their flight be followed witb a pair of l>inoculars, it will be seen that, as they
leave the water, the wings are for a second or two very rapidly vibrated ;
that the fish, having thus acquired a considerable impetus, soars along on its
outspread wings, sometimes altering its direction of Pight even to a right
angle or more without touching the water ; that when its speed diminishes
it descends and either flops back into the water with a splash, or renews its
flight by curving its body, so that the lower lobe of the tail and the hinder
pair of fins rest on the water, steady it, and allow it to again vibrate its
wings sufficiently rapidly to regain speed and its soaring flight. On one
occasion a fish was observed to renew its flight, by alighting for a second on
the water, no fewer than seven times. The speed at which Hying fish can
travel is considerable — certainly over ten miles an hour, probably nearly
fifteen. The distance to which they can fly by alternately alighting on the
water and then soaring along, may considerably exceed one hundred and
fifty yards, and it appears to make little difference to them whether they sail
up a light wind, down or across it, or whether it be a calm.
After entering the Andaman Sea, to the east of the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, a line of soundings and observations of deep-sea temperatures was
made. It was stated that the temperature of the deepest parts of the Indian
seas, a little over 2,0u0 fathoms, was only slightly over freezing point. In the
Andaman Sea, however, at a depth of 1,500 to 1,700 fathoms, the temperature
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534 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol. XII.
was found to be the same as at about 800 fathoms, viz., 41 deg. F. The
explanation of this curious but well recognised state of affairs is that the
coldness of the deep-sea water is solely due to a flow influx of the cold
heavy Antarctic waters creeping along the bed of the ocean from the polar
to the tropical regions. Should any barrier be encountered by this moving
mass of water, it would obviously either stop the movement, or force the
water up into the warmer water corresponding to the depth of tlie top of the
barrier below the surface. And this is actually the state of affairs in the
Andaman Sea, The only very deep channel affording communication
between the depths of this sea and the Bay of Bengal is the channel between
Sumatra and the Nicobars. The survey of this channel is incomplete, but
what soundings there are show that there is probably a ridge uniting the
opposite sides of the channel at a depth not exceeding 900 fathoms, roughly.
Hence, all the water below the depth of 900 fathoms within the enclosed
Andaman Sea is at the uniform temperature of 41° F. — the temperature of
water at about the same depth in the Bay of Bengal; while outside, in
the open Bay of Bengal, the temperature gradually diminishes as the depth
increases.
After coaling and provisioning, the InvesUgator at once left for Moulmein,
The preliminary work for the survey of the river was of an arduous descrip-
tion, involving long tramps across the steaming paddy fields to the low hills
on either side of but a few miles distant from the river, Moulmein itself is
a most picturesquely situated town, viewed from the river. On a bright cold-
weather morning few scenes could exceed the beauty of the green foliage,
with the most graceful, glittering, and slender spires of pagodas overtopping
the trees and the pagoda-crowned ridge -overshadowing the long struggling
town. To the east and up tlie Salween are the high hills close to the borders
of Siam, while to the north and west lies the fertile Bruxe Island with its
range of low-wooded hills. The rumerous hills rising to the eastwards of
Moulmein have a most curious appearance as they rise straight out of the
perfectly level surrounding country, often to a height of a thousand or more
feet. They are mostly of limestone formation, and are often locally celebrat-
ed for their large caves, ornamented with stalactites and stalag-
mites and frequently forming the roosting places of enormous numbers of
bats, the guano of which is collected and sold, A similar hill to these near
Kollado, the nearest outport to Karennee, actually has a small stream running
right through its base. On the top of many of these limestone hills lives the
Burmese serow, an animal seldom obtained by English sportsmen although
often trapped and killed by the Karens, While lying at anchor off the town
of Moulmein the high spring November tides brought down quantities of
drift-wood and on threesuccessive mornings there were taken from the paddle
box snakes, which had journeyed down as passengers on the drift-wood and
been checked in their downward course by our paddle floats. On another
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 585
morning a leopard was discovered by the coolies, when they went to work,
on a lighter just ahead of the ship. They attacked and drove it overboard,
and followed it up in a boat, making numerous very badly aimed blows at
its bobbing head. Up the E. I. M. S. Ncmcoimjs anchor chain it tried to
scamble, but failed, swam ashore, and was shot, sinking and being carried by
the strong tide below a pontoon, whence it was subsequently dragged wuth
long poles.
The Marine Survey had the good fortune to be present in Moulmein at the
time of Lord Elgin's visit, and to admire the decorations, which were of
the most lavish description, and thoroughly appreciate a posture dance given
by some twenty young Burmese girls in honour of the visit. The lights, the
flashing jewels, the prettily shaded pale blue and pink silk dresses, the most
infectious music, and the graceful and harmonious poses of the girls, alto-
gether made up a charming picture which it will be impossible to forget.
At the mouth of the Moulmein river lies the small town of Araherst, and
on tbe coast slightly to the south of this on several occasions a landing was
effected. Here the country becomes undulating, with hills rising to a few
hundred feet and densely wooded to their summits, but at their bases the
trees have been cleared in places to make durian, raangosteen, and sugar-cane
gardens. Unfortunately these gardens are said to be extremelj unhealthy
during the rainy season, but inhabitable at other times of the year. In these
hills and in the scrub jungle near Amherst live large numbers of jungle fowl
barking deer, mouse-deer and pig, and a few leopards, tiger, and sambhur.
They are also inhabited by more undesirable animals in the form of minute
ticks, so small and so numerous that one's hands often look as if peppered •
by large numbers of both the large dark green and the small straw-coloured
scorj)ions : and by many snakes — the last, fortunately, usually of a harmless
species. One of the most vividly coloured of the Indian snakes. Coluber
oxycephalus, was caught here, and afterwards deposited in the Calcutta
Zoological Gardens, where it is probably still being exhibited.
(The above appeared in the Times of India on 30th May, 1899.)
NO. XIX.— NOTE ON EUMENES CONICA,¥XBR, AND MEGA-
CHILE DISJUNCTA, FABR, AND THEIR PARASITES
GHRYSIS FUSCIPENNIS, BRULLE, AND PAREVASPIS
ABDOMINALIS, SMITH.
Mr. Aitken's note on " A Wasp and a Fly" in Vol. XII, No. 2 of the
Magazine, recalls some observations I made some eight or nine years ago on
the abovementioned Fossorial wasp and bee and their parasites. I noted
down the details of the incidents at the time and here they are :
Moulmein,, April 2^ih. — Noticed a half-finished mud cell of Eumenes bein^
made on the woodwork of a window in my study. While examining it
closely with a lens, the wasp returned with a pellet of mud and buzzed rather
angrily round my head. I moved away a little and watched her. After
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586 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TORAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Hying round for a while she alighted close to the half-finished cell and
walking up to it stuck the mud she was carrying on to one side of it and
proceeded to work it into the wall of the cell hneading it^ so far as I could
see without approaching too close and frightening her, with both jaws and
forelegs. Then she retreated a little as if to take a view of her work, and in
a few seconds flew away to return with more mud. It was easy enough to
recognize the species, it was E. conica, the commonest of the Fossorial wasps
in Burma, I watched for nearly an hour while the nest was being com-
pleted. It then formed the half of a hemispherical shell, somewhat smaller in
circumference than a rupee, with a circular opening at the top. When the cell
walls were so far finished the wasp flew off and was absent fully half an hour.
During hec absence one of those metallic green cuckoo wasps, subsequently
identified as Chrysls fuscipemiis alighted near the nest, approached it cauti-
ously, examined it quickly, both inside and out, and then retreated behind
the edge of the wooden framework where it remained motionless,
apparently on the watch. Presently the Eumenes returned carrying a green
caterpillar. She alighted on the window and after some preliminary
inspection of her nest, and hauling and dragging of the caterpillar, crammed
it into the cell. She took quite a long time over it, with sometimes, her head
and thorax inside, and sometimes her abdomen. All this time the Cuckoo-
wasp remained perfectly still watching. As soon, however, as the Eumenes
had flown away, the Chrysia approached the nest again, slowly and apparently
with great caution. She walked round it then up the side, and peeped in,
withdrew her head, seemed to give a final good look all round and popped in.
She could not have been more than a few seconds inside, when a loud buz
announced the return of the rightful owner of the nest. I had barely time
to glance at the Eumenes, which alighted, as before, on the window, when my
attention was attracted by the darting out of the cell of the burglarious
Cuckoo-wasp. The Eumenes saw it, too, and, with what sounded very like an
angry buz, dashed after it in pursuit, overtook it, and then the two dropped to
the ground. I ran out but I had to go round by a veranda too high to jump,
to the steps, and by the time I arrived on the ground the fight was over and
the Eumenes had disappeared. The Chnjsis, however, lay on the ground
crippled and crawling painfully with all its wings torn off close to the roots.
I have the specimen and one torn forewing which was all I could find, in
my collection still. Returning to the nest, I sat.and worked at a table near it
for more than an hour, and inspected it at intervals through that day, but
the Eumenes never returned, and nest morning the cell was still open and
unsealed. I tried to take it off with care but it broke to pieces. Inside was
one green caterpillar, and two semi-transparent white fggs, one much
smaller than the other; of these eg<;s the larger one was stuck against
the wall of the cell, the other deposited on the caterpillar. I may mention
that the caterpillar was quite dead.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 587
Kawkareilc, Jtme llih. — A bundle of bamboos, collected as specimens, stands
in the corner of the centre room of the Forest bungalow, A leaf-cutter
bee {Megachile dlsjuncta, Fabr.) has been industriously carrying in, for
the last tTvo hours, little circular pieces culled from ihe leaves ot' a rose
bush in the garden. Of course she is constructing a nest in the hollow end
of one of the bamboos aforesaid. I watched her as she flew in with her
load CO the corner and saw her disappear down the lioUow end of one of
the outermost bamboos in the bundle. When she flew out again, 1
approached to see whether I could examine the nest. As I neared the
corner I noticed another bee (Parevaspis ahdominalis, Smith) walking up the
identical b:imboo in which the Megachile had her nest. It scrambled up
the bamboo, looked in at the hollow and disappeared. Expecting ructions
yihen the Megachile returned, I watched M.x%. Parevaspis remained out of
sight for some time, then put her great broad head out, gave a \> ok round
and again retreated. Presently, the Megachile returned carrying building
material as before, and alighted on the very edge of the hollow in the Lamboo
preparatory to descending inside. The hollow was small, just big enough
perhaps to let an insect slip through, about twice the Megachihs's size, but
not auftic'ently large for the Parevaspis to get past the Megachile, because of
the former's huge head. As I said the Megachile halted on the edge of the
hollow in the bamboo. Suddenly the bit of leaf she was carrying was
knocked out of her hold, and she herself pushed off the edge of the bamloo.
It was Mrs. Parevaspis, of course, who had rushed up and thrust her great
head out of the hollow. And there she stayed on the defensive with her jaws
widely expanded und threatened. Poor Megachile, she seemed greatly taken
aback, buzzed around angrily, but could not make up her mind to attack and
dispossess the intruder of her nest. For about an hour aflPairs remained in
this condition, then I was obliged to go out on work, and when I returned in
the afternoon the Megachile had peaceful possession of her nest again, but
what became of the Parevaspis or how she was ejected I have no idea. Next
day the Megachile had finished her nest and I took the bamboo as it stood.
I kept it for over six months, but nothing hatched out, and when I opened
the hollow, I found ants had got at the nest and entirely destroyed it.
C. T. BINGHAM, Colonel,
Conservator of Forests,
Camp Maymyo, Upper Burma, 'Mth May, 1899.
No. XX,— JUNGLE NOTES.
Chital. -On the 24th of March last I had just beaten out and killed a tiger
when a spotted stag with fairly good antlers came galloping along the bank
of a nullah I shot the atiimal as it was descending the bank, and it dropped
dead into a pool of water. I was then surprised to find that both the horns
had fallen off, and were lying beside the dead stag. This would not have
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588 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
been remarkable but for the fact that at this season of the year the horns of
the chital are just mature, and not ready for casting.
Although as a rule a shy animal, the spotted deer is sometimes very bold,
or rather, 1 should say perhaps, foolish. A few days before the occurvence
described above T came across a herd of chital, and at once sat down to try
and distinguish the stag. The herd, however, consisted entirely of hinds,
one of which saw me, and came walking in my direction, gazing intently,
and barking at intervals, until within about 40 yards. I then moved on, and
the herd followed me for some time, some of its members barking continu-
ally. No wonder these animals fall an easy prey to tigers.
Bison. — I have frequently heard it said, and seen it stated in books, that
bison never feod in cultivation, I know a village, however, surrounded by
jungle, in the vicinity of which is a considerable area of rice fields, where
bison are in the habit of feeding every night during the hot weather. The
Gond shikaris take advantage of this and pot the animals from trees on
moonlight nights, or when they are leaving the cultivation at dawn, T.ast
year an old Gond shikari whom I used to employ was killed by a bison which
he had wounded in this manner. I have always found the bison to be a
very mild animal, but this old Gond had had a diii'erent experience, for he
had been tossed by a wounded bull some years before, and I saw the scars of
the injuries he had received on that occasion. Another Gond, a veritable
wild man of the woods who was with me this year, told me of an encounter
he had seen between a tiger and a great solitary bull bison, in which the
latter managed to beat off his antagonist. In a similar encounter, of which
I heard some years ago, the bison, a very large bull whose head was shown
to me, was killed and partly devoured. His assailant, however, did not
escape scot-free, for when subsequently killed by a friend of mine (who, by
tlie way, met him one morning, and shot him with a single-barrelled *450
express rifle) he was found to have sustained considerable injuries about
the head, and I think had one eye gouged out.
Wild Dogs. — These pests appear to bo growing more numerous every year.
This year two of my buffaloes, tied up for tigers, were killed by them. On
another occasion one of my buffaloes was killed by a panther. After passing
the kill next morning, my shikaries saw the panther going oft' over the hills
with a pack of about thirty wild dogs in full cry after him. In the evening
I found a wild dog with a small pup feeding on the carcase of the buffalo,
but unfortunately made a bad shot and missed the vermin. The same pack
of dogs had cleared the whole valley of game, including three tigers which I
had hoped to have brought to bag. They kept to the lower end of the valley
where the tigers had previously been living and not a mark was to be found,
but after some days the biggest of the tigers fortunately came down to the
head of the valley, eight miles oft, beyond the range of the red dogs, atid
there I shot him.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 589
Another year I shall certainly take a supply of strychnine, and try and
poison some of these destructive animals, which not only kill a great number
of deer, but drive away game of all kinds.
R. G. BURTON, Captain,
1st Infantry, Hyderabad Contingent.
Jalna, 31si May, 1899.
No. XXI.— FOOD OF THE KING COBRA AND KRAIT.
On the 26th March, 1898, while working on the Bagho Bahar tea estate,
one of the coolies brtught me a fair sized Hamadryad which he had killed.
He said that he had watched it killing and eating another snake. On examin-
ing the specimen and the contents of its stomach, I found that it contained
a fine Banded-Krait (^Bvngurus fasciatus) vhich it must have killed while
feeding on a grass snake which was half way down the Krait's throat.
Measurements of the three snakes were as follows : —
The Hamadryad 7' 5i"
The Krait ... 3' li"
The Grass Snake 2' 9"
A. M. PRIMROSE.
SiLCHAR, 3Iay, 18?9.
No. XXII.— NESTING OF THE BLACK EAGLE.
There are few that have had the good fortune to take a nest of the Black
Eagle {Neopus malalenses) and its nidification in South India has not been
authenticated as far as I know.
Davison and Margan, both ardent naturalists, failed to discover a nest of
this fairly common bird o-i the Nilgiris, but Mr. Lawson Margan has taken a
nest of this Eagle in the Wynaad early in January,
It would be interesting to know where this handsome bird breeds and
where the eggs have been taken.
W. MAHON DALY.
Lakon, Siam, 20i/i May, 1899.
No. XXIIL-A FLYING SNAKE,
On the 4th February last when I was marching to my camp atThinganny-
inaung, with my Kareen interpreter, we both clearly saw a snake, about
2i feet long, sail from a very high tree on one side of the road to a lower
one the opposite side.
I have related this fact to men who have spent many years in Burma
and Siiim, but it is astonishing to say not one of them will believe it. I can
find no record of a flying snake, so this note, I hope, will be interesting.
The ''fljing" lizards (Draco) and flying squirrels are common here, so why
no-t a so-called flying snake ?
W. MAHON DALY,
Lakon, Siam, 20th May, 1899,
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590 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
PROCEEDINGS
OF TBE MEETING HELD ON 28th FEBRUARY, 1899.
A meeting of the members was held at the Society's Rooms on
28th February 1899, Dr. D, MacDonald presiding.
NEW MEMBEllS.
The election of the following new members was announced : — Mr. S, D.
Keany (Berars), Mr, Herbert Swayne (Ceylon), Mr. Edmund W. Harper,
F.Z.S. (Bombay), Rev, Father Mathew Loehle, S,J, (Bombay), Captain E. M.
Lachlan, R.A. (Kirkee), Mr, E. G. L. Laird-Macgregor, I.C.S. (Belgaum),
Mr. Charles A. R, Crommelin (Bombay), Captain D. H. Drake-Brockman
(Meerut), Mr. Hugh M. Hannay (Wiridih), Lieutenant George A. Hawks
(Cuddapah District), Lieutenant Henry Storr (Wellington), Mr. Oliver
CoUett, F. R, M, S. (Watawala, Ceylon), Mr, Ivor C. Thomas (Mandalay),
Lieutenant H. H. Price, I.M.S. (Kurram Valley), Captain L. C. Dunsterville
(Delhi), Captain R. W. Falcon (Peshawur), Mr. W. A. W. Dawn (Moulmein)
Captain A. R. Dick (Calcutta), Major H. S. Massy (Loralai), Lieutenant
F. Smith, I.M.S, (Loralai), Mr. Sidney B. Taylor (Kurraehee), Pundit
Jewala Prasada, I.C.S. (Orai), Mr. H.W. A. Watson, I.F.S. (Toungoo), Mr.
E. L. Phelps (Ireland), and Mr. F. G. Hutchinson (Kharaghora).
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, acknowledged receipt of the
following contributions to the Society's Museum since the last meeting: —
Contribution.
Description.
Contributor.
A Collection of Bird's Eggs..; j Capt. P. Z. Cox.
1 Chameleon (alive) CJiamo'lcmt calraratnit ... Mr. C. Merroney.
1 Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes auro-punctatus. Do.
(alive). I I
1 Stoliczka''s Hedgeho g Erinaceus pictus Do.
(alive). I j
2 Black Bears'' skins Ursits forquafitu Mr. C. Donald.
1 Musk Deer's skin lUoschus muxchiferus Do.
1 GoraPs skin ^ Cemas goral Do.
Eggs of the Ring-tailed Sea Ilaliatus leucoryphus. ... Do.
Eagle.
1 Hawk-Cuckoo ^ Eierococcyx variug.
Do.
1 Ibex head ' Capra Mc/a/jri'K Deposited by Capt. P. Z. Cox.
Eggs of the Roseate Tern ... Sti-rna (hync/aUi Mr. E. H. Aitken.
1 Duck-billeil Platypus OrnithorhyncJiv s anatinu.s Mrs. Evans.
1 Barn Owl (alive) Strix javanicus Mr. S. V.Bhandakar.
1 Rat (alive), with curious 1 Capt. J. C. Milne, I.M.S.
skin disease. j I
2 Eggs of the Rock Homed Buio lengahnsh Mr. A. H. Simcox, I.C.S.
Owl. I j
1 Flamingo ' ' Jirrniroptcri'S mgevs ' Vety. Capt. W. D. Gunn.
1 Cluckin'; Teal • Ncttiuviforniosinn ' Mr. E. L. Barton.
] Large Shell from Mom- ^wrSo ip .Lieut. H. B. Rattray.
bassa. ' I
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PROCEEDINGS. 591
Contribution.
Description. f Contributor.
1 White-eyed Duck IVj^roca ferruginia Mr. P. E. Allen.
1 Black Lemur (alive) Lenmv macaco Mr. Goverdhundas G. Tejpal.
2 Snakes Drynphis mycterlzans Mrs. Oliver.
1 Snake Dendrophis pictus ..j Do.
1 Snake Dipsas ceyloiiensls Do.
1 Snake Lijcodon striatus Do.
1 Snake Typhlnps aeuUos Do.
Orchids Eulophia prateasu Mr. A. H. Simcox, I.C.S.
Egarsof Common Sandgrouse. Pterocles exustus Do.
1 Tree Snake Dendrophis pictus Mr. J. E. Whiting, C.E.
1 Young Jackal (alive) Canis aureus Mr. W. George.
1 Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis Mr. G. Watts.
2 Bats Scoti>2)hilus wrouglitoni ... Mr. E. C. Wronghton.
1 Bat PipistreUus dormeri ...... Do.
1 Bat Pipistrelli's indiciis Do.
1 Chamseleon (alive) Chamcpleon calcaratus Mr. H. Knight.
1 Stoliczka''s Hedgehog Erinaceus pictus Mr. J. W. Hind.
(alive). I
1 Eed-Crested Pochard Netta rufna Mr. P. Snow, I.C.S.
1 Bittern '^ Botaurus stellaris Mr. A. H. Simcox, I.C.S.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRAE Y.
On the Nomenclature of the Whalebone Whales (True), in exchange :
" The Irish Naturalist," from Mr. W. F. Sinclair ; "Nature," from Mr, W. F.
Sinclair ; Journal of the Marine Biological Association, from Mr. W, F.
Sinclair ; Mammals of the Kaskill Mountains (Mearns), in exchange : Cata-
logue of the Birds in the British Museum, Vol. XXVI., in exchange ; Insects
injurious to Stored Paddy (E. Ernest Green), from the author ; Birds of the
Larut Hills, Perak (A. L. Butler), from the author.
THE ACCOUNTS FOE 1898.
Mr. N. C. Macleod, the late Honorary Treasurer, placed before the meeting
a statement of accounts for the year ending 31st December, 18-8, showing an
income of Ks. 14,216-3-5 ; expenditure, Es. 1 2,812-8-8 ; and a balance at
credit of Rs. 1,403-10-9. It was resolved that the accounts be passed^
subject to the usual audit.
ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE.
The President, Vice-Presidents, and Members of the Managing Committee
for 1898 were re-elected for the present year.
PAPERS READ.
The following papei-s were read and discussed . — 1. Fishing in Indian
Waters. Part II, The Mullet and Garfish, by F. 0. Gadsden, E.I.M, 2. Ihe
Ferns of North -Western India, by C.W.Hope. 3. On the Land Mollusca
of Bombay, by W, T. Blanford, F.R.S. 4. Notes on some Butterflies from
Tonasserim in Burmah, by Lionel de Niceville, C.M.Z.S. 5, Birds collected
and observed at Thull during 5 months in 1898, and Notes on their Nidifica-
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592 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
tion, by Major R. H. Kattray. 6. Birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
by A. L. Butler, F.Z.S. 7. Notes on the Himalayan Viper or Pohur, by
Captain F. Wall, I.M.S. 8. On the Colouration of the Wing-lining and
Axillaries in the Fantail and Pintail Snipes , by A. L. Butler, F.Z.S. 9. The
White Snake {Coluber taeniurus), by A. L, Butler, F.Z.S.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
{a) A Wasp and a Fly, by E. H. Aitken. (h) A Mark on the skin of a
Man-Eating Tiger, by Lieut.-Col, W. B, Ferris, (c) A Bush-Quail and Eain-
Quail la)ing in the same nest, by Lieut. E. C. Harrington, R.A. {d) Birds
tapping at Window-panes, by E. Ernest Green, (e) Occurrence of the Alpine
Swift in rirhoot, by C. M. Inglis. {f) Early Migration of the Euddy Shel-
drake, by T. F. L. Beaumount. {g) Occurrence of the Clucking Teal in
Guzerat, by E. L. Barton, {h) Notes from Zhob, by Captain C. D. Lester.
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Journ. BomlDayNat.Hist.Soc.
Plate VIII.
T-K
\
JG.Keulemaivs del.
BAER'S POCHARD.
N_yToca "baeri.
MnvtemBros Chroirvo litKLoT-don-J
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JOURNAL
OF THE
Natural gistaru ^mttii
Vol. XII. BOMBAY. No. 4.
INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES.
By E. C. Stuart Baker, F.Z.S.
Part VIII, with Plate VIII.
{Continued fr om page 464 of this Volume.)
Sub-Family Fdligulin^.
This sub-family is divided from those already written about by
having the hind-toe broadly lobed ; wher«as the latter have the hind-
toe either with no lobe at all, or else with only a very narrow one.
Blanford does not divide the FuUgulinm from the Anatince, but the
division seems to be a very natural one, the members of the sub-family
differing from those of others, not only in construction, but also, con-
siderably, in habits as well.
The separation of Erismatura is by no means so distinct, and the
genus is not, in my opinion, worthy of separation from the FuUguUncK
and the honour of a sub-family to itself. Having however followed
Salvadori in his classification throughout so many numbers of this
article, it is better, perhaps, for the sake of uniformity, not to differ
from it now.
Erismatura differs from those ducks included by Salvadori in his
sub-family FuUgulince in certain external structural particulars^
principally in the swollen base to the upper mandible and in its
remarkable tail, the which, as Blanford remarks, looks as if it might
be that of a woodpecker.
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594 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
The MergincB are separated from all other ducks by the shape of
their bill, which is long, narrow, and pointed, altogether most un-duck-
like in its appearance.
The FulignUnce contain thirteen genera, of which four only are
represented in India ; but it is worthy of notice that whilst Netta is
one of our most common forms and Clangula one of the most rare,
both Nyroca and Fuligula contain forms which are extremely common,
and others again of the greatest rarity.
Key to the Genera,
a. Primaries with the bases more or less white.
a'. Lamellee long and prominent Netta.
h'. Lamellae short, well apart, not very prominent.
a". Bill very nearly the same width throughout ...Nyroca.
h". Bill distinctly wider at the tip than at the huse.. Fuligula.
h. Primaries without any white or whitish on the bases.. C/a?z^w/a.
Genus NETTA.
The genus Netta contains but one species, distinguished by its bill,
which tapers very gradually throughout its length and has the lamellae
very stout and prominent.
The male bird also has a full bushy crest, which has, however, no
existence in the female.
The name Pochard should be pronounced Pokard, not with the soft
ch with which I have heard many sportsmen sound it. In many parts
of England these ducks are known as Pokers or Poke Ducks, and it is
from this the name is derived.
(30.) Netta kufina.
The Red-crested Pochard.
Branta rufina. — Jerdon, ''Birds of India," III, p. 811 ; Butler,
" Str. Foath.," IV, p. 30 ; ihid, V, p. 203 ; Fairbank, ihid, IV, p. 264.
Fuligula rufina. — Hume, " Str. Feath.," I, p. 264 ; Adam, ibid, p.
402 ; Hume, iUd, VII, pp. 98 and 493 ; Ball, ibid, p. 232 ; Crips, ibid^
p. 402 ; flume. Cat., No. 967 ; Hume and Marshall, Game Birds, III,
p. 253 ; Legge, '* Birds of Ceylon," p. 1087; Butler, " Str. Feath.,"
IX, p. 438; Reid, iZ'/tZ, X, p. 84; Taylor, ihid, pp. 528 and 531;
Barnes, '' Birds of Bombay," p. 412 ; Hume, " Str. Feath.," XI, p. 346.
Netta rufina, — Salvadori, " Cat. of British Museum," XXVII,
p. 328 ; Blanford, " Avifauna of Birds— India," IV, p. 456.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 595
Description : Adult Male. — Whole head reddish-bay, richest and
darkest on the under surface and sides, paling from the forehead to
the end of the crest where it is reddish-buff. Neck blackish-brown ;
upper back dark brown, getting more and more pale towards the rump,
the bases of the feathers next the scapulars shewing in a white band ;
rump and upper tail-coverts blackish-brown, more or less glossed green ;
tail silvery-grey brown ; breast blackish-brown paling on the lower
breast and abdomen ; under tail-coverts dark brown ; flanks, ascillaries
and under wing-coverts white ; coverts bordering the wing and run-
ning into the scapulars white ; other coverts greyish-brown ; secondaries
white, sometimes tinged grey or creamy, with a sub-terminal band of
brown from 25" to 4" wide ; inner secondaries like the coverts ; outer-
most primary brown on the outer web and inside of the inner web
and tip, the remainder white, this white gradually increasing in extent
on each primary until the innermost primaries are all white with a
broad brown tip.
Bill vermilion-red ; the nail whitish tinged pink or sometimes yel-
lowish, the base next the feathers of the forehead, and the gape
more or less dusky brown except in the oldest birds ; legs and feet
orange, orange-red or dull fleshy-red ; irides deep or light or reddish-
brown to bright light red.
" In the adult male, the bill is a brilliant crimson, sometimes inclin-
ing to vermilion ; the nail brown or white, tinged with brownish horn,
or pink horny brown or yellow at tip. There is ofien a dusky shade
round the nostrils ; the gape is often blackish as is likewise the base of
the lower mandible and the basal portion of the membrane between its
rami ; but these are all traces, 1 think, of immaturity."
" The legs and feet are dingy salmon-colour or reddish-orange, dusky
on the joints and blackish on the webs ; but in slightly younger but full
plumaged birds, the legs and feet will be olivaceous-orange, or lastly,
dusky with a reddish tinge."
" The irides vary from brown to red (this latter being the colour in the
old adult) and are at different ages, brown, brownish-yellow, reddish-
brown, orange, orange-red and bright red."
" Length 20-5" to 22-1" ; expanse 34-0" to 38-2"; wing 10*0" to
10-75" ; tail from vent 3*0" to 4-2" ; tarsus 1'5" to 1-7" ; bill from gape
2*3" to 2-42" ; weight 1 lb. 12 ozs. to 2 lbs. 14 ozs." (Hume).
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59(5 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Female. — Above pale grejash-brown distinctly tinged with ochre ;
the crown rather darker ; scapulars paler ; the feathers of the upper
surface with pale margins, practically absent in the oldest birds ; the
wings paler and duller but otherwise like those of the male, the white
being replaced by pale (.rey or dusky white ; whole lower jjlumage,
under wing-coverts and axillaries, pale greyish-white, yellowish-white
or greyish-ochre, darker on the flanks.
Bill dusky black, becoming red towards the tip and with the nail
still paler, the lower mandible only dark at the base and up the fleshy
part in the centre ; irides brown or reddish-brown ; legs and feet
dusky orange, orange-brown or reddish-brown, the webs and joints
darker, often dusky black.
" In the female the bill is black, reddish or orange towards the tip
and more or less along the sides of the lower, and edges of the upper
mandible" (Hume).
" Iris yellow ; bill brownish-red above, fleshy beneath, nail brown ;
legs and feet murky yellow" (Legge).
" Length 20-1" to 22'0" ; expanse 33*75" to 37-0" ; wing 9-0" to
10-25" ; tail from vent 3-5" to 3-8"; tarsus 1-5" to 1'75" ; bill from gape,
2-25" to 2-4" ; weight lib. lOozs. to 21bs. 6ozs." (Hume).
" Young male similar to the female, but the darker centres of the
feathers of the underparts are brown instead of grey ; back and breast
darker brown and more indications of a crest" (Seebohm).
The colours of the soft parts are those of the female, the legs and feet
being less tinged with red or orange, often of a uniform dull brown,
barely tinged on the shanks with reddish ; the irides are plain brown.
The bill becomes redder before the full plumage is assumed, but does
not become really red or crimson-red until the bird is pratically
adult.
" Males in first nuptial dress have the under parts more sufirised with
brown, the white not suffused with pink, and the bill much paler"
(Seebohm).
" Males in moulting plumage very closely resemble the adult females,
but may be distinguished by the brighter colour of their bills and eyelids,
by the greater development of their crests, by the darker brown of the
belly and under tail-coverts, and by the rodder colours of the feet"
(Salvadori).
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 597
'' Young in down are described by Bfildamns as having the upper
parts dull olive-grey, with a buff spot on each shoulder, and the under-
parts buff, a buff stripe jmsses over each eye, and through the eye runs
a dark stripe, which divides into two behind the eye " (Salvadori).
The habitat of the Red-crested Pochard may roughly be said to be the
countries surrounding the Mediterranean and (.^entral-Western India.
It is common in South Russia, Turkestan, Persia, Afghanistan,
Beluchistan, and thence in winter into India. Throughout the coun-
tries of Southern Europe it is common, and it ascends North as a fre-
quent straggler to Northern France, England, occasionally as far as
Scotland, North Germany, where it breeds, and Central Russia.
On the South coast of the Mediterranean it is much less common.
It is rare in Egypt and Tangiers, more common in Algiers and West of
Algiers, after which it has not been recorded further West.
In India, the Red-crested Pochard occurs practically throughout the
whole of the North and Central India. It is common in the North-
West Provinces, the Punjab, Sind, Rajputana and Oudh, Central
India, and tlie Central Provinces, except in the South and the
greater part of Bengal. In Assam it is less common, but by no means
at all rare. Hume found it in Manipur in small numbers, and I have
myself seen, shot, or had it recorded tor me from Cachar, Sylhet and
Dacca. In the Sunderbunds I found it decidedly rare, but have had
it recorded as common by other sportsmen. In Southern India it
must be rare everywhere, and it seems also to be rare in the extreme
West, in Cutch, etc. There seem to be hardly any records of the bird
in Southern India, but Layard was certain he had met whh it in
Ceylon, and it doubtless, therefore, must occur at odd times throughout
the whole of the Indian Peninsula.
I can find no signed records of its occurrence in Burma, but there
are anonymous, though apparently authentic, notes of its having been
occasionally found there.
I have had it recorded from Chittagong, where, however, it is said
to be very rare.
Although so many of these ducks have their homes quite close to
India, yet, they are, on the whole, rather late arrivals, coming into the
North and North-West India in the latter part of October and into
Bengal and further South, not until well into November. In Assam
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598 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
and Manipur, however, I think they generally come in by October, and
I have seen a pair about the lOtb of that month.
In some parts of India they arrive in flocks of thousands ; Hume
writes in one place of " flocks of many thousands and acres of water
paved with them," again " I rowed into a flock of this species, several
thousands in number." Reid also, after saying that though (in the
Lucknow division) he has come across them in small parties, as a rule,
of a dozen or so, yet " one morning in December, I came across countless
numbers on a jheel in the Fyzabad district closely packed and cover-
ing the whole surface of the water, with their red heads moving in-
dependently, while the breeze kept their crests in motion ; a distant
spectator might have mistaken them for a vast expanse of beautiful
aquatic flowers."
As a general thing, therefore, it would seem that the Red-crested
Pochard likes to congregate in very large flocks, and it is only when
the country is not very well suited to their wants that they split up
into small parties, and under these circumstances, very small flocks and
even pairs and single birds may sometimes be seen.
They are open water birds by choice, frequenting large sheets of
water, unobstructed by surface weeds, reeds, or water plants, except about
the shores or banks. Of course, where they are most common, a few
birds may be met with in almost any kind of water, but it is rare for
any large flock to be found on vegetation-covered swamps, small dirty
jheels, etc.
They are splendid swimmers, and regularly play about on the water
with one another where undisturbed, and as divers, they are even better
than as swimmers, though the White-eye may excel them in this
respect.
Legge says : " This handsome Pochard, though belonging to the
family of diving ducks, which are mainly characterized by their webb-
ed or lobed hind-toes, is said by those who have observed its habits,
not to dive for its food, but to feed, like ordinary ducks, in shallow
water, with its neck stretched down and its body turned up."
This, too, is what Dresser says, but would appear to be distinctly con-
trary to what most observers have noted ; what Hume records is what
most of us have taken to be the habits of this bird : he writes thus after
quoting Dresser's remarks : " I should like to know where he obtained
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 599
this valuable information. The faot is, that though you may, at times,
see it dibbling about in the water like Teal and Shovellers, or again
feeding as he describes, its normal habit and practice is to dive, and
I have watched flocks of them, scores of times, di\ang, for an hour at a
time, with pertinacity and energy unsurpassed by any other wild fowl.
Examine closely their favourite haunts, and you will find these to be
almost invariably just those waters in which they must dive for their
food. Deep broads,- where the feathery water-weed beds do not
reach within several feet of the surface, not the comparatively shallow
ones, where the same weeds (the character of their leaves changed
however by emergency) lie in thick masses coiled along the sur-
face."
This is certainly my experience, and I noted in the Sunderbunds
how very much this duck kept to the open, central portions of the
huge bheels, feeding there on and amongst the aquatic plants,
especially on a long, trailing, moss-like weed which grew several feet
under water. Moreover, I have found in their stomachs the roots of
plants which do not grow except in fairly deep water. They not only
dive well and for long periods, but they also dive to no inconsiderable
depths ; and that it is a pleasure to them to dive is shown by their
constant diving when at play, chasing one another both above and
below the surface.
They feed both by day and night, but mainly in the early mornincr
and evening ; and though the very much greater portion of their diet is
undoubtedly aquatic, yet they have been known to feed on young
crops on dry land. Of course, like all or nearly all ducks, they rest
during the hottest hours of the day, selecting quite open, deep water
for that purpose, when it is available. They have the credit of beino-
awkward and feeble on land, but that very close observer, Mr. F. Finn,
says that it comes ashore more often than the other Pochards and walks
better also.
No duck varies much more than does this one in the qualit}^ of its
flesh, when at its best very few ducks indeed are better for the table
but at its worst the "White-eye itself is but little more rank and coarse.
This variability is, undoubtedly, due to its wide range of feedino-.
Naturally they are principally vegetable feeders, and when feedino- on
water plants and young crops, their flesh is naturally excellent ; but
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600 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
when, as is sometimes the case, they feed on fish, shell-fish, water-
insects, &c., they at once assume a rank fishy taste which no amount of
seasoting will obscure.
Hume found one which had gorged itself on small fish about an
inch in length, aud I dissected one which bad eaten, as far as I could
see, nothing but the tiny red crabs which swarm in such countless
myriads along the shores of rivers, swamps and back waters in the
Sunderbunds, the waters of which are brackish. This was the only
specimen, the contents of whose stomach I noted whilst shooting in
Je?sore and Khulna; but all we shot and tried to eat tasted the same, and
I have no doubt that they too had been feeding on crabs.
Here in Cuchar and Sylhet I should call the Red-crested Pochard one
of the very best of ducks for the table.
They are strong fliers and go at a good pace, but they are very slow
in o-ettino" up oflF the water, and take some time to get their pace up.
Finn says that their note is a harsh croak sounding like " kurr,"
This is the same syllable as that used by Hume to represent their note, he
calling their cry a " deep grating kurr." He also adds : " Occasionally
the males only, I think, emit a sharp sibilant note— a sort of whistle
quite different from that of the Wigeon and yet somewhat reminding
one of that."
From a sporting point of view, the Red-crested Pochard is all that
can be desired. About as smart as they make them, he seems to have
special aptitude for judging the length of range of different guns ; and
a flock mav be caught once, but seldom twice, whatever distance the
gun may reach.
They swim so fast that they can by this means alone generally escape,
and they are often very loath to rise when they can thus get out of
shot. Their swimming powers, manner of packing, and capacitude for
diving are so well shown by Hume's account of his shooting in the
Etawah district that yet again I indent on him wholesale:—" All night
long ... I had heard water-fowl coming in, and the next morn-
ing, before dawn, I was out in my punt, working softly round the
margin to the western side, so as to have the fowl, when twilight broke^
against the daylight sky. I soon made out by their cries that the
mass of the fowls were Pochards, that there were a vast number of them,
and that a great number of them belonged to the present species. Day
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INDIAN DOCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. ^ ' 6.01
dawned, an^i 1 could soon seo a dense m:tss of fowl . . . probahh
fully a quarter of a mile ott' . . . Lving down I puddled towards
them. Very soon a fresh north-east wind sprang uj) agaiust nu'; ijuitc a
sea rose. I wjis perpetually grounding, and they were swinmiinjj away
steadily against the wind, so that it was bright su light before I got
within i!OU yards, and then I could see they were all rod-cro^ts. I
had now got into deeper wafer, and went as bard as I could without
sjdashing ; but they swam steadih away, and I must have gone
fully h.t If a mile before I had gained 100 yards on them. 8till they
had not shown the slightest signs of suspicion (and T knew their ways
well), but were swimming gaily on en masse-, head to wind, as
they often will on windy mornings. On 1 s\ent. I had a long
heavy English swivel, carrying a pound of shot (No. 1 I had in);
there were between two and three thousand of them as closely
packed as they could swim. I was certairly within seventy yards of
the hindermost birds ; I calculated to get within about forty yards of
these and fire over their heads into the centre of the flock. They
were close-packed and backs to me, so there was little to gain, and
possibly a great deal to lose by flushing them. I was within fifty _\ards,
when again I grounded : bad I even then fired at once, 1 must have
made a very large bai2, but I thought I kiiew that this was only tlie
point of a mound, and I \vasted some precious niomen's struggling to
get over it with the paddles. The nearest birds mn.'^t have been
seventy yards distant before, seeing I was hard and last, I snapped
an ammunition cap on a little pi^-toj 1 always carried for the purjiose,
and raked them as they rose. The next instant there was a whole
line of birds fluttering on the water, seven dead and twentv -one winoed.
I recovered everyone of them, but it was noon before I bagged the
last ; and if I had had a desperate hard six hours' work, I hardly
remember any six hours which I more thoroughly enjoyed."
This duck breeds throughout the southern countries of Europe, in
parts also of Northern Africa and in the more northern parts of its
Asiatic habitat, as far south as Shiraz in Persia. In Europe it is found
breeding occasionally in Northern Germany, France, &c. ; but its true
breeding haunts are further south. In Central Germany it is common.
Hume, referring to the nests taken by Dr. Baldamus remarks : —
" Dr. Baldamus who has taken many nests in Central Germany, all
3
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602 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIL
however, on ' a pond over-grown with reeds, flags, and other aquatic
plants, close to the Mansfelder Salt Lake,' tells us that they are * always
placed in the rushes or flags, usually in a small island in the pond or
on the flags ; and, like all ducks' nests, they have a foundation of rotten
stems, plucked rushes or dead leaves, on which a warm bed of down,
plucked from the breast of the female, is placed. When the female
leaves the nest quietly, she covers her eggs, as do all ducks. The eggs
vary from eight to nine, ten being the exception, and seven only in
late sittings.' Alibis nests were taken between the 12th June and
1st July, the later nests being much incubated, so that in this locality
they probably lay from 1st May to the 15th June. The eggs are only
moderately broad ovals, without gloss, a bright, somewhat olive-
green when fre^h and unblown (fading to a dull greyish -olive or
greenish-grey when blown), and measure about 2*3 by 1*6."
Salvin writes : — " In the open pools at the upper end of the marsh
at Zana, I used to see several pair of the red-crested duck. Two nests
only were obtained. The second lot, consisting of seven eggs, were of
a brilliant fresh green colour when unblown ; the contents were no
sooner expelled and the eggs dry, than the delicate tints were gone
and their beauty sadly diminished."
The nf^st is a large, coarsely-made structure which seems to be made
almost iovariably of practically nothing but rushes and soft water-
plants. Twigs, dry grass and other materials got from land are but
little used, and it is probable that much of what is used is subaquatic
stuff and is got by diving. The lining of down and feathers is usually
very dense and thick, completely covering the eggs.
As a rule, the duck selects as a site for her nest some small pond well
covered with weeds and vegetation, or some patch of water in fen or
marsh land, well isolated and free from observation and interference. I
Lave come across no notes on their nidification to show that they ever
breed on the edges of larger or more open pieces of water, and these
they seem, as a rule, to avoid during the breeding season, unless, perhaps,
for purposes of feeding. Wide marshes and fens, with pools scattered
here and there in amongst the bog and scrub-covered land, would
appear to be their favourite resorts.
When fresh, the eggs are a beautiful clear green stone-colour, and
have a decided gloss, but lose both their bright tints and gloss soon after
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 603
being blown. The texture is smooth, fine and close, but the shell is
rather fragile for the size of the egg, and this would appear to be the
case with most pochards' eggs.
In shape they are either rather long or rather broad ovals, very
regular in shape, and with both ends practically the same in size.
The majority of birds breed in May and early June : very few, it
would seem, as early as the end of April. The number of eggs is most
often eight to ten, but they vary from only six to at least fourteen on a
few occasions.
Genus NYROCA.
The genus Nyroca, according to Salvador! who divides Fuligula from
Nyroca, contains ten species, of which three are found in India. Nyroca
differs from Netta in the formation of the bill and lamellse, the latter
having them larger, more prominent and closer together than the
former.
The genus is a cosmopolitun one, and amongst its ten species con-
tains what is, perhaps, our most common duck, namely, Nyroca
africana (or ferruginea), the White-eye.
Key to the Species,
(a) Back and scapulars distinctly barred or vermiculated.../mwa ^
{b) Back and scapulars merely speckled.
a'. Head and ueok dull chestnut or bay africana
b'. Head and neck almost black baen$
(c) Upper back and head rufous-brown, scapulars slightly
vermiculated, no white speculum .ferina^
(d) No vermiculations on upper plumage : a white
speculum.
a". Head and neck rufous-brown africanaQ
b". Head and neck more or less mixed with
blackish on the sides ..baeri9
In addition, baeri may be discriminated from africana by its larger
size and proportionately larger bill.
31. Nyroca b^erina.
The Pochard or Dun-bird.
Aythya ferina, Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 812 ; Hume, *' Str.
Feath.," I, p. 264 ; Adams, ibid, p. 409 ; ibid, II, p. 341 ; Butler*
ibid, IV, p. 30 ; V, p. 234; Ball, ibid, VII, p. 232.
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60'4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Faligula jerina, David and Wend., " Str. Featli.," VII, p. 93; Hume,
ibid, p. 49(5 ; ibid, Catalogue, No. 9ii8 ; Hume and Marshall, " Game
Birds," III, p. 247 ; Legge, " Birds of Ceylon," p. 1,090 ; Butler, " Str.
Feath.," IX, p. 438 ; Reid, ibid, X, p. 84 ; David, ibid^ p. 326 ;
Taylor, ibid^ p. 531 ; Barnes, " Birds of Bombay," p. 412 ; Hume,
*'Str. Feath., " XI, p. 346.
Nyroca Jerina, JSalvadori, Cat., " Birds of British Museum," XXVII,
p. 335 ; Blanford, " Avifauna of British India," IV, p. 458.
Description : Adult Male. — Whole head and neck rich deep chestnut,
changing rather abruptly into the black of the U))per back and breast ;
rum[) and upper-tail coverts dull black ; remainder of upper plumage
extremely pale clear grey, very finely vermiculated with black
bars ; wing coverts dark grey, more or less vermiculated with white ;
priniiiries dark grey, edged outwardly and tipped blackish ; secondaries
forming a dull grey speculum, the feathers narrowly tipped whitish
and divided from the inner secondaries by narrow black borders to
two or three of these feathers ; lower breast blackish, the feathers more
or less fringed white ; remainder of lower plumage white, or very
pale grey, sparsely stippled with black, the stipplings more numerous
towards the vent and flanks ; under-tail coverts dull black ; tail dull
greyish-brown, tipped paler.
Occasionall}- the male has a pure white spot at the apex of the
shin, a skin lent me by this Society having the ?pot more highly
developed than in any other specimen I have ever seen.
Irides yellow or reddish-yellow ; base and end of bill bhick, inter-
mf^diate portion varying from pale, clear plumbeous-blue to rather didl
dark pl'iml)eous ; the legs vary through the same shades of grey or
plumbeous-blue, darker and blackish on the joints and webs.
" 'Ww irides vary ; they are generally orange-yellow, hut I have noted
them brown in one aj)parently adult female and lac- red in an old male,"
''The legs and feet are pale bluish or slatey-grey, or dull leaden,
often darker on the joints, and with the webs black or nearly so. The
bills are black and bluish-grey or leaden, in var\ing proportions. In
some the whole bill is black, with only a Laden-coloured crescentic bar
on the upper mandible towards the tip. In others only the tip and the
basal portion ol the uf)per mandible to a lit'le beyond the nostrils are
black, and the whole intervening portion of the upper mandible is
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 605
leaden-blue ; and between these two extremes the breadth of the blue
band or bar varies."
" Length 18" to 20*5" ; expanse 29-4" to 32-2"; wing 8-5" to S'S";
tail from vent 2-35" to 3'2" ; tarsus 1'4" to 1-5"; bill from gape 2-15" to
2-29" ; weight 1 lb. 13 oz. to 2 lbs. 5 oz." (Hume).
Adult Female. — Forehead and crown dark brown, fading to dull
fulvous-brown on the hind neck, sides of the head and neck, and
thence to pale fulvous-grey, or greyish-white, on chin, throat and fore-
neck ; back and scapulars greyish-brown, with greyish vermiculations
mixed with black, the vermiculations varying very much in extent
and being sometimes almost wanting ; lower back, rump and upper-
tail coverts blackish, the external feathers of the rump with a few fine
white bars ; tails and wings as in the male, but the latter much duller
and less vermiculated ; whole lower parts pale dull grey, tinged with
rufous-browa on the breast and sides, and darker brown towards the
vent and under-tail coverts.
Irides dull yellow, rarely brown ; bill as in the male, but generally
with the blue more restricted in extent and of a duller shade : legs
and feet similar to those of the male, but duller on an average.
" Length 17-25" to 18" ; expanse 28-75" to 31-5" ; wing 7-9" to
8-3" ; tail from vent 2-2" to 3-1"; tarsus 1-4" to I'S" ; bill from gape
2" to 2-19" ; weight 1 lb. 5 oz. to 2 lbs. 4 oz." (Hume).
Young males resemble the females, but have the head much more
reddish and also paler, and, according to Finn, are usually browner.
below.
" The male la undresa retains much of his full colour, merely getting
a browner head, a dark-pencilled grey breast and duller tail-coverts."
(Finn, " Asian.")
" Males in first nvptial dress differ from the adults in having the
chestnut of the head and neck paler, and the black of the breast and
upper back replaced by durk-brown."
*' Young in down, according to Naumann, are dark brown on the
upper parts, shading into rusty-brown on the head and neck, under-
parts dirty yellowish white ; bill and feet light bluish ; iris grey"
(Salvadori).
The Pochard, Red -headed Pochard, or Dun-bird, as it is variously
called, has a very wide distribution, practically throughout the Palffiarctic
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GOG JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
region from Iceland to Japan. It breeds almost throughout the more
sorthern portions of this area, but very rarely to the East, not at alj
to the extreme East, and it winters throughout Southern Europe and
Asia and also in Northern Africa. Seobohm (" Birds of the Japanese
Empire ") says : " The Pochard occurs both in Yezzo and the more
southerly Japanese islands, but whether it be resident or only a
winter resident there soems to be no evidence to determiue."
Nyroca ferina is separated by Salvadori from the American forms
to which the names americana and vallisneria are applied. Many orni-
thologists unite americana and ferina, and in this case the whole of
North America must be added to its habitat ; and, consequently, also its
breeding range would then become circumpolar with the exceptions
already noted. The American bird is larger, has more and clearer
blue on the bill, a purer white to the under-parts, and a purple glos s
on the head and neck.
Finn in his popular article on ducks in the Asian thus defines its
Indian area : " It visits Northern India in large numbers ; further
South it is less common, but occurs as far as Bellary. It has not been
obtained in Mysore or further South, nor in Ceylon ; but it is not un-
common in Assam and Manipur, and has recently been recorded from
the neighbourhood of Mantlalay."
It is probable that it visits North Burma and the independent
Burmese States in considerable numbers, for it is common in Manipur,
whence a large proportion migrates towards Burma, and not through
Caohar and Sylhct.
I have had it now reported to mo from Mysore, where, however, it
would only appear to be met with on very rare occasions. Hume
notes that it has not been recorded from Cachar or Sylhet, but it is
fairly common in both districts.
From Kashmir it has also been recorded as forming an item in a
large bag made by three guns in that State, and again in the Asian
of the 8th of February, 1898, two Dun-birds are said to have formed
part of a bag of 508 duck and teal shot by A. E. W. in the same
State.
The Pochard is one of the later ducks to arrive in India. In its
northern limits it is scon first in the latter half of October, but it does
not, I think, extend South until well on into November. In Bengal
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INDIAN DVCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 607
to the East and South the end of November is as early as one may
expect to get them in any numbers, though a few will alwajs be seen
in the beginning of that month — stragglers, perhaps even earlier. I
should not, however, call it a-very common duck anywhere to the East
of the Bengal Presidency, and I remember when shooting in the Sundor-
bunds this Pochard was never in any but very small numbers, although
the country all about there is so admirably suited to all its requirements.
As regards the flocks it collects in, this would seem to depend almost
entirely on the country it visits and its accommodation in the way of water.
Thus where there are huge jheols, morasses and lakes covered in part
with jungle and in part having open expanses of water of some depth,
free of vegetation of a heavy character, they will be found in thousands ;
elsewhere they will bo found in small flocks, pairs and rarely single birds.
There is practically no kind of water that they will not visit sometimes in
greater or smaller numbers, but, preferentially, they leave alone shallow
jheels and waters, and also such as have the vegetation everywhere
very dense ; on the other hand, they do not care for (juite open water
■without vegetation of any kind whatsoever.
Even as to this last, however, there is no absolutely fixed rule, for
they sometimes visit the sea itself, keeping, as a rule, then to harbours,
estuaries, &g. When shot in such places, they, like most other ducks
got under the same circumstances, will bo found to have a very rank
and fishy taste, though, when shot inland on their more ordinary haunts,
they are very uniformly excellent in flavour. Their bad flavour is, of
course, due to their own food which, when they take to the seashore
consists of tiny marine shell-fish, fishes, &c.; whereas, when in fresh
water, their food consists mainly of a vegetable diet, though, like all
ducks, they are more or less omnivorous.
A near relation to this bird is the famous canvas-back of America,
so dear to the epicures of that continent, differing little from our bird
in coloration, though it is rather larger and also slightly paler below^.
So close are the two birds in appearance, however, that, as Finn relates,
a wretched poulterer in England, who had received, and was selling, a
consignment of canvas-backs from America in ice, was prosecuted for
selling pochards out of season. Most of us would probably think it
was a very good thing, too, if such prosecutions helped to enforce a
close time in America, as well as in England.
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608 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XU.
It is a fine, rapid and graceful swimmer, the water — not land or air —
being its real element. Finn notes : " This Pochard swims particularly
low in the water, and very much down by the stern." The notes of
this ornithologist on duck habits and manners are in great part made
not only from wild birds, viewed of necessity from some distance, but
also from close observation of birds in captivity, and are, in conse-
quence, worthy of careful attention.
They are, of course, like all other Pochards, wonderful divers, and
the greater part of their food is obtained by diving ; but they will
also dive and swim after one another in play, and Hume remarks that
when thus playing they seem to sit far more lightly on the water than at
other times.
Their powers of flight are not equal to those of swimming and diving ;
once on the wing, they go away at a good pace, but they are slow off
the water and awkward as well.
Hume noticed that when there is a wind, they always, if possible,
rise against it. This is not, however, I think, typical any more of these
ducks than it is of most, if not nearly all water-birds, as well as many
land ones. In the old days, when adjutants were so common in Cal-
cutta, one could, during the rains, watch one or more any day getting up
off the maidan there, first expanding its huge wings and then going off
in ungainly strides until the wind worked against and under its broad
sails when a lusty kick or two shot it off the ground.
On land, too. Pochards are very clumsy and slow, though they can
walk well enough when pushed to it.
Principally night-feeders, they also feed throughout the day, ex-
cept in the hottest hours, where they are not interfered with. Hume
once or twice caught them feeding on wild rice on land, but their feeding
thus is, I should think, quite exceptional, and nearly all their diet is one
obtained from fairly deep water amongst roots and similar things.
Normally they would appear to be neither very shy nor yet very
tame, but it takes very little shooting to make them most decidedly the
former ; and then, owing to their keeping so much to the centre of the
water they frequent, thoy are by no means easy to get within shot of.
I do not remember ever to have heard the Pochard utter any sound
other than that characterized by Hume and other writers as ''^kurr-kurrJ'
It is like that of the White-eye, but harsher and louder.
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INDIAN DVCKS AND THEIR ALLIES: 609
Lathom in his " Synopsis of Birds " says that it " has a hissing voice.
The flight is rapid and strong : the flocks have no particular shape in
flying, but are indiscriminate." This flying en masse and not in line or
V-shape would appear to be typical of all the true Pochards.
The Pochard breeds extensively over Europe and even in Northern
Africa, in Algiers. It has also been reported as breeding in Egypt, but
probably by mistake. It also breeds in the western half of North-
Central Asia.
They make their nest beside the water, generally right at the edge
in amongst long grass, reeds or bushes, and sometimes actually in the
water itself. Any piece of water would seem to serve the bird's pm-pose
as long as there is sufl&cient cover — it requires this fairly thick and
plentiful — nor would it seem to mind whether the water is fresh, salt,
or brackish.
The nest itself is a very slight structure composed of the usual mate-
rials employed by ducks, i.e., grass, rushes, weeds, &c. ; when placed
actually in the water, it is of necessity somewhat more bulky and better
put together than at other times, but even then it is more flimsy and
rough than that of most ducks.
When placed, as it often is, in some hollow or depression of the
ground, or amongst roots, &c., it consists merely of a couple of handfuls
of materials lined with feathers and down.
Morris says : " The nest of the Pochard is made among rushes or other
coarse herbage, and is lined with feathers. Many nests are placed near
each other, in suitable localities, such as osier beds or grassy places."
" The eggs are from eight or ten to twelve or thirteen in number
and of a buff-white colour."
Dr. Leverkuhn sends me the following interesting note from Sophia,
which confirms what other observers have said as to the high qualities
of the Pochard as a mother : — " Nyrocaferina is a regular breeder in
different lakes in Germany, where I have sometimes taken its nest, and
I also ascertained the fact of its breeding on a swampy lake near Varna.
The female shows great anxiety concerning the safety of her eggs, and
covers the clutch before leaving with some feathers from tho bottom
of the nest. I found eight and ten eggs in a nest."
Hume describes the eggs thus : — " The eggs are very regular, broad
ovals ; the shell smooth, but dull and glossless. In colour they are a
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610 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
pale, dingy, greenish-drab, more or less, in most cases, tinged with
yellow. They average about 2*4: in length by 1'7 in breadth."
The eggs in my collection are dull, rather dark, brownish-drab, but
have little or no trace of either green or yellow in them, though they
may have had when fresh. In shape and texture they agree with
Hume's description, but one egg has a decided, though faint, gloss.
My eggs average about 2'25" by 1*7". As with other Pochards' eggs,
they have a rather fragile shell.
32. Nyroca baeri.
The Eastern Wliite-eye,
Fuligula haeri, Finn, P. A. S. B., 96, p. 61 ; tbid, Jour., A. S. B.,
LXVI, pt. 2, p. 525 ; ibid, " Indian Ducks," Asian, 1899.
Nyroca baeri, Salvadori, Cat., " Birds of British Museum " XXVII,
p. 344 ; Blanford, " Avifauna of British India," IV, p. 461.
Description : Adult Male, — A large spot at the angle of the chin, pure
white ; the remainder of the head and neck black, glossed with green ;
breast rufous-chestnut, that colour merging into the black of the head,
but sharply defined from the white of the abdomen and under-tail
coverts ; the feathers of the vent brownish at the base; flanks rufous-
brown ; upper parts dark brown ; the scapulars and interscapulars very
finely covered with narrow bars of lighter brown ; rump and upper-
tail coverts brownish-black, a few of the feathers at the side finely
vermiculated with white ; tail brown ; wing coverts dark brown, the
outer secondaries white, with a broad subterminal black band ; quills
brown, the inner webs of the primaries greyish-brown; the inner
secondaries very dark brown, in good specimens very narrowly margined
black on nearly the whole of the outer web and glossed with olive-green.
Bill dull slate-blue, the basal third, tip and nail nearly black ; irides
white ; legs and feet greyish-lead, joints and webs darker.
" Feet lead-grey, with the joints darker ; irides white or pale yellow "
(Salvadori).
Length 1«" to 20" ; wing 8*2" to 9-5" ; bill from point of forehead
1*75", from extreme base 2*2", from gape 2'1", breadth at base '73" and
at broadest part "86" ; tarsus 1*4".
Adult Female. — Like the male, but the head is blackish-brown, un-
glossedwith green, and has the anterior part rufous ; the spot on the chin
appears to be smaller, and the throat and lower part of the neck are
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES, 611
more rufescent and paler ; the whole tone of the bird is duller, and
the definition between the breast and abdomen is blurred and
indistinct, whilst the abdomen itself appears to be a sullied, not pure,
white.
Irides grey or brown, perhaps white in very old females ; bill and
feet as in the male, but still duller.
*' The eyes of the female are brown, rarely grey or whitish " (Finn).
Length about 16" ; wing about 7*5"; tail 2'3" ; bill from point of
forehead l"?", from extreme base 1'98", from gape 1*9", in breadth at
base '61" and at widest part 85" ; tarsus about 1'4".
'' The female is smaller than the male, especially about the bill, but
females in this species appear to vary in size much more than the males, .
and, as in the Tufted Pochard, some are much duller and less like the
male than others " (Finn).
A young male in my possession has the whole head mottled brown
and black, the new black feathers showing the sheen of the usual green
gloss, the breast is a queer mixture of dirty yellowish-brown and the
deep rufous or bay of the ;^dult bird ; the lower abdomen and vent
is mixed brown and white.
Another young male exactly answers to the description above given
for the female but that the definition between breast and abdomen is
very sharp, and the olive gloss on the wing is highly developed.
Baer's Pochard is the Eastern form of the common White-eyed
Pochard, to which it is very closely allied, yet, as far as fully adult birds
are concerned, from which it is very easily distinguishable. It would
appear to average a much heavier, bulkier bird, and all the birds in my
collection, amongst them two received from Mr. Finn, have propor-
tionately the bill much larger, both longer and wider. Neither Blan-
ford, Salvadori or any one else, as far as I can gather, seems to have
noticed this ; but to me, when specimens of the two species lie side by
side, this vast difference in the bills is what would first draw
attention.
Of course, my series is a very small one, and it is quite possible that
large series might show intermediate sizes in both species.
Its range extends, according to Salvadori, from Kamtschatka to
Shanghai and Japan, descending South in winter into India, and
almost certainly into South China and Burma.
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612 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, Xll.
Mr. F. Finn, who has kindly given me carte hlanclie to use his notes,
thus sums up the records of its appearance in India : —
" It was apj^arently obtained in Bengal in 1825, and Blyth, certainly,
got one female in the Calcutta bazaar in 1842 or 1843, but did not
identify it, which is not surprising, seeing that it had not been recog-
nized as a species. Then at the end of February, 1896, I got eleven
full-plumaged birds, and since then the species has come in greater or
less numbers every cold weather. I have got three males and a female
this month (the former from a dealer), and saw what was either a small
dull female or a hybrid with the common white-eye about the middle
of January. We have other birds in plumage intermediate between
|;he White-eyes, and I, therefore, now think that they interbreed."
It seems probable from Mr. Finn's observations in Calcutta that the
Eastern White-eye will prove to be a regular and not uncommon
visitor to the north-eastern parts of India and, almost equally surely,
to Northern Burma. My own collectors on two occasions obtained a
young male in Cachar ; they seemed to know the bird, and called it the
" boro lalbigra " or " Larger White-eye." When questioned, they said
it was a rare, but regular, visitor to Cachar and a more common one
in Sylhet, whence they offered to procure me specimens.*
. Again, indenting on Finn, I quote from the Asian: — "No one seems to
have had much opportunity of observing this duck in a wild state, and my
own observations have been restricted to captives. It is a better walker
than most Pochards, and I have fancied, hardly so fine a diver. It certain-
ly, judging from the birds in the fine water-aviary in the Alipore Zoologi-
cal Gardens, rises more easily on the wing, and flies with less effort than
other Pochards. I notice that at Alipore our birds can rise well up into the
roof, and fly round and round like the surface-feeding ducks. The species
appear to stand the heat less well than the Common White-eye, and pro-
bably breeds in a higher latitude. I am ashamed to say that, having had
more to do with this species than any one, I do not know how it tastes.'
I ate part of the flesh of one of my birds, and it was not at all good,
not good enough to finish even.
* Mr. Finn does not think that Baer's Pochard has been a common form, merely over'
looked. Certainly, as he says to me in epistola, Baer's Pochard when adult cannot well be
mistaken for the Common White-eye. Blyth's bird was a young female and therefore
of course, very much like a Common White-eye. It may be therefore that there is just a
temporary, unaccountable rush of this species to India, and that it will again cease.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 613
I remember some eight or nine years ago Mr. J. Kennedy, then
Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, shot a White-eye up in the North Cachar
Hills, which aroused my interest from its great weight and very dark,
glossy head. I was not then at all interested in ducks, except when on
the table, and put the bird down as an abnormally coloured and very
large common White-eye ; but now I have no doubt that it was a good
specimen of the Eastern White-eye.
This bird was one of a flock of about a dozen or less, which we
sighted flying up-stream on the river Diyung, a mountain stream,
consisting of rushing rapids and deep, still pools of water in alternation.
We followed thera up and found the birds in a deep, but very rapid
narrow, which in one place widened out and made an eddying pool on
either side, in which the ducks were swimming.
On our approach they got np, but Mr. Kennedy fired and knocked one
over ; it was only winged and fell into the torrent, leading us a pretty
dance before we eventually secured it. The great pace of the water
seemed to have no appreciable effect on it, either in diving or swim-
ming, for it dashed backwards and forwards with the greatest ease, kept
long under water, and turned and twisted with great agility. At last a
snap-shot, as it showed itself for a moment, brought it to hand.
1 remember this duck, though it must have been a very fully adult
male, had bright pale yellow irides. The bird was so rank and fishy
that we could not stand it on the table.
Two of my collectors (Mahouiedans) who have lived all their lives
in Cachar and Sylhet, say that this White-eye is a faster, stronger bird
on the wing than the common White-eye, an equally good diver and
swimmer and much more shy and wary.
Seebohm in his " Birds of the Japanese Empire" says that " the
Siberian White-eyed duck breeds in the valley of the Amoor." This is
the only note of its breeding which I can find.
It is probable that in nidification it will differ in no way from the
common White-eye, though we may expect to find its eggs to average
somewhat larger.
33. Nyeoca africana.
Tlie White-eyed Pochard or White-eye.
Aythya nyroca, Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 813 ; Hnme,
" Nests and Eggs," p. 645 ; iUdy " Str. Feath.," I, p. 265 ; Adam, ibid
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614 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
p. 402; Butler, ibid, IV, p. 30 ; V, p. 234; Davids, and Wend.,
ihid^ VII, p. 93 ; Ball, ibid, p. 232.
Fuligula nyroca, Hume, " Str. Feath.," VII, p. 493 ; ii^c^, Cat.,
No. 969 ; Scully, " Str. Feath," VIII, p. 363 ; Hume and Mars.,
" Game Birds, " III, p. 263 ; Vidal, " Str. Feath," IX, p. 93 ; Hume,
ibid, p. 259 ; Butler, ibid, p. 439 ; Reid, ibid, X, p. 84 ; Davidson,
ibid, p. 326 ; Taylor, ibid, pp. 528, 531 ; Gates, " Birds of British
Burmah," II, p. 287 ; ibid, " Nests and Eggs" (2nd edition). III,
p. 292 ; Barnes, " Birds of Bombay," p. 413 ; Hume, " Str. Feath.,"
XI, p. 347.
Ntjroca ferniginea. Blanford, " Avifauna of B. India," IV, p. 460.
Nyroca africana, Salvador!, Cat., " Birds of British Museum,"
XXVII, p. 345.
Description : Male. — Whole head, neck and breast rich rufous or
bay-brown, the nape somewhat darker, a dark collar of brownish-black
round the neck and thence behind to the back the same colour, a
small white spot on the chin, whole upper parts dark blackish-brown or
dull black, the feathers of the scapulars and upper back more or less
vermiculated with rufous, the vermiculations often almost entirely
absent ; wings as in N. baeri, but are said, as a rule, to have the white
purer. I have, however, specimens of both species quite inseparable
in this respect. Lower plumage the same as in N. baeri. Iride
white ; bill dull slatey ; legs dull dark slate, tinged either with grey
or green ; and sometimes mottled about the joints.
Length about 17" ; wing 7*1"; tail 3-3" ; tarsus 1*2" ; bill from front
1-56", from extreme base 1'96"; width at front '78" and at base '64".
" Length 16" to 17-1" ; expanse 24-5" to 27-3" ; wing 6'8" to 7*45" ;
tail from vent 3'1" to S'S" ; tarsus 1*1" to I'S" ; bill from gape 1-9" to
2-1" ; weight 1 lb. 2 ozs. to 1 lb. 9 ozs."
" The bill is black, bluish-black and dark leaden, often browner
below ; the irides white or greyish- white; the legs and toes slate-colour,
leaden or dusky-grey ; the tarsi often with a greenish tinge ; the
claws and webs dusky to black" (Hume).
Adult Female, — Similar to the male, but with the whole plumage
duller, the head and breast more brown than rufous and ill-defined
from the abdomen, which is itself much sullied, except in very old
females.
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 615
Length about 16", wing about 7", tail about 3*3", bill generally
rather smaller than that of the male, but sometimes reaching the full
dimensions given above.
Legs, feet and bill as in the male ; irides, grey or brownish-grov,
sometimes white in very old females.
"Length 15-9" to 16-5" ; expanse 24" to 26*5" ; wing 6-8" to 7*4" ;
tail from vent 3" to 3-4" ; tarsus 1" to 1-25" ; bill from gape 1'9" to
2-5"; weight 1 lb. 3 ozs. to 1 lb. 6 ozs." (Hume.)
Young Male. — Similar to the female, but with the whole head and
breast much suffused with ochraceous, and the centre of the abdomen
with the broad brown bases to the feathers showing prominently ; the
back is lighter also than in the old females, with the pale borders to the
feathers well defined.
Scully, quoted by Hume, thus describes two young birds : —
" $ Juv. oOth July. —Lengih 16'1" ; expanse 21"; wing 5'1"; tail
2"4''; tarsus I'l"; bill from gape 1*75"; weight lo'o ozs.; bill dusky, livid
below ; irides dark brown ; legs and feet mottled dusky; claws
black."
" $ Juv. 18th July.— Length 15-1" ; expanse 26-2"; wing 7-5"; tail
2*1"; tarsus 1*2"; bill from gape 1*9"; weight 15"4 ozs.; bill black above,
grey-slatey below; irides brownish-grey; legs and toes dusky plumbeous •
webs greyish-black ; claws black."
" Young in first plumage. — Head and neck brown, with scarcely a
chestnut tinge on the sides of the head ; breast and under-parts brown
paler, almost whitish, on the abdomen ; under-tail coverts dull whitish"
(Salvadori).
*' Young in doion are dark brown on the upper parts, with pale spot
on wings and scapulars ; under parts bufF, shading into brown on the.
flanks " (Seebohm).
Salvadori thus defines the limits of the White-eye : — " Western palje-
arctic region, as far East as the valley of the Obb ; breeds in the
basin of the Mediterranean, in Central and Eastern Europe, and in
Western Asia as far as Kashmir ; in winter it extends in Africa as far
South as the Canaries on the West and Abyssinia on the East, in Asia
as far South as India and Arrakan."
In India the White-eye is extremely common over the whole of the
northern portion, though it becomes less so to the East of longitude 9°,
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616 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SCIETY, Vol. XII.
being still found, however, in considerable numbers throughout Assam,
Manipur, Cachar, Sylhet, Chittagong and Southern Burma.
As it wanders South, it appears to get more and more rare ; but it is
not easy to trace its extreme southern limit. To the extreme West
Vidal got it at a place called Khed, in Ratnagiri, about latitude 17°-4'.
Mr- P. M. Allen records having shot a pair of White-eyes in the
Nizam's territory at Nalgonda, latitude 17°-22'. Then to the East coast
Hume says, " I have failed to trace it ; it is not recorded from . . .
one of the Madras districts south of Mysore and the town of Madras."
This would infer that he has had records of it as far South as Madras,
but I cannot find any traces of them. In Burma it has only been
recorded as far South as Arrakan.
The kind of water preferred by the Pochard is that also which
forms the favourite resorts of the AVhite-eyed Pochard. I have, how-
ever, found them in all and any sort of water. Wandering up and
down the hill streams, clear deep pools and rushing torrents of shallow
water following one another in rapid succession, I have often disturbed
small flocks of the White-eye, and I have equally often found a pair or
a small flock in the very dirtiest and smallest pools of stagnant water.
Where there are wide stretches of water, clear here and there in
patches, but for the most part covered with water-plant and with shores
thickly lined with reeds, &c., the White-eye assembles in vast numbers,
but not in very large flocks. These (the flocks) may number anything
between half-a-dozen and over fifty, but even of the latter number
there will be but few. Then, again, the birds lie so scattered and far
apart that they keep rising in ones and twos, giving the impression that
they are only consorting in pairs or a very small flock and, of course,
many single birds and pairs are really met with.
As showing the numbers in which these ducks are found in suitable
localities, it is worth notice that, in the Asian, a bag of ducks was re-
corded as having been shot in Chapra, which contained 385 duck; but
out of this no less than 187 were White-eyes.
No doubt, their manner of rising is a very admirable trait for any
duck to possess, and the White-eye has other good points as well. As a
rule, it is a decidedly tame bird, still lingering in amongst the reeds and
other jungle long after nearly all other ducks have left, rising well within
shot when disturbed and often not going far before again seeking the
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INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 617
water. It gets off the water badly, fluttering about and rising very oblique-
ly; nor does it rise high when well on the wing, but generally flies with-
in a few yards of the surface of the water, getting on considerable pace
when once fairly away. It requires straight shooting to kill outright,
for it is a hardy, close-pbimaged little bird, and will take a lot of shot.
Hit, but not killed, it is very far from caught, for it is a wonderful
diver ; quick and strong under water, it makes for the dense under-
growth m the water, where it hides, or, if dropped in the open, dives for
such long periods and goes so far and fast that the gunner never knows
where to expect it and when he may get his second barrel into it. All
his good qualities are, however, quite over-shadowed by the ftict that
when shot and caught it is no longer worth anything, for so rank and
coarse is the flesh that it is quite uneatable. The condemnation of the
White-eye as an article of food is not, however, universal ; thus Colonel
Irby speaks of the bird as found in Spain : *' Its flesh is not only like
that of the Red-headed and Red-crested Pochards, excellent eatino-,
but far surpasses either in that respect." Even here in India Captain
Baldwin once wrote : — " It is only a tolerable bird for the table." But
Mr. F. Finn goes one better than tolerable, and writes in the Askm :—
" It is said to be very poor eating, but I have found it to be palatable
enough." Tastes differ, however, and there may be others to agree with
Messrs. Finn and Baldwin, but personally 1 have found them unpalata-
ble in the extreme, fishy, oily and rank.
Omnivorous like all ducks, this species probably makes its diet fully
three-quarters animal. Those birds which I shot in the Diyang and
other hill streams had all, in addition to the caddis-grubs, dragon-fly
larv£e and similar articles, quite a number of small fish, some of them
3" in length. These were all or nearly all, of the small " Millers'
thumb'' species so common in every hill stream. Doubtless, these
from their sluggish disposition and their ostrich-like habit of hiding
their heads under a stone and then resting in fancied security, fell a
very easy prey to the active White -eye.
On land this little Pochard is quite out of his element ; he can
walk all right and get along well enough for purposes of slow progres-
sion, but he is very awkward and shuffling in his movements and
incapable of any appreciable increase in the speed of them even under
the impulse of fear,
i
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ei8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
It is, on the whole, a very silent bird. Hume says that '' their
quack or note is peculiar, though something like that of the pochard,
a harsh ' koor, kirr, kirr,' with which one soon becomes acquainted as
they invariably utter it ' stuccato' as they bustle up from the rushes,
often within a few yards of the boat."
It is in reference to this bird and Captain Baldwin's note on the
frequency he has shot it without any feet, not without one only but
without either, that Hume raises the point as to how their feet have
been lost, &c., and says that he himself has killed more than fifty birds
thus maimed. Frost bite he dismisses from the list of probable causes,
and in this most of us will join him ; but what then is the cause ?
Crocodiles would not, as a rule, take a foot at a time ; traps are shown
to be very unlikely agents, and one is thrown back on the fish theory.
This is an extremely likely one, for I have myself known domestic
ducks to lose their limbs from the attacks of a huge pike ; indeed, when
the birds were young and weak, they often lost not their feet only,
but their lives also. Ducklings constantly disappeared in this manner.
As there are many other fish quite as voracious as the pike in other
climates, this would account very reasonably for so many birds losing
one or more limbs.
This is one of the very few migratory ducks which breed regularly
within our limits. As to its breeding in the plains Hume writes : — " The
White-eye breeds possibly in some localities in the plains of India and
in Sind, where it swarms during the cold weather, and where I
was informed that in some broads it remains during the whole year.
1 have never, however, succeeded in finding a nest, or obtaining any
reliable information as to one being found in the plains."
This was written more than eighteen years ago, and the reliable
information is still wanting, so that it is only fair to presume that the
duck does not breed in the plains.
In Kashmir it breeds regularly and in very great numbers, so large,
indeed, that the collecting of the eggs and bringing them into Sirinagar
by boats for sale, forms a regular and profitable profession with a num-
ber of the people living in the vicinity of their favourite breeding
haunts.
The nest is an ordinary structure of fair dimensions, made in the usual
duck fashion of reeds, grasses, &c., and is, in India at least, nearly
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I
INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 619
always placed either very close to the water or in the water itself amongst
the vegetation growing in the shallows. Inside the nest there are, of
course, feathers and down in greater or smaller amounts, frequently
not much ; but, in addition to this, there appears generally to he a sort of
subsidiary lining composed of finer grasses and weeds than are used
in the body of the nest. This characteristic of the nest is rather
marked in contrast to the majority of other ducks' nests, but it is well
authenticated and worthy of notice.
Where the birds are most numerous, several nests may be found in
close proximity to one another ; and as the birds are close sitters, finding
them is a matter of little diflB-Culty.
In Kashmir the first few birds breed in the end of April, but not
many till the beginning of June, and it is in this month that the re-
gular trade in their eggs commences. They appear to lay from six to
ten eggs, possibly one or two more occasionally ; but such occasions
cannot be frequent, as Hume's collectors never succeeded in finding
more than ten.
In the basin of the Mediterranean they would seem sometimes to
place their nests in cover some little distance from the water, for Lord
Lilford who found their nests in Southern Spain writes : — " We obtained
a nest of nine eggs, from which I shot the female bird. The nest was
at a short distance from the water, in high rushes, and was composed
of dead, dry-water plants, flags, &c., and lined with thick brownish-
white down, and a few white feathers."
In Europe also it is said to sometimes lay twelve eggs, and I have one
record from Turkey of fourteen eggs having been laid in a nest.
This nest also, I may add, was placed a considerable distance from
water, in amongst bushes.
The colour of the egg varies from pale drab to a quite deep cafS au
laitj the latter colour being unusual. In a few eggs there is a faint
yellow or greenish tinge, but the greatly predominating tint is a brown
or cafe au lait, and nine out of ten will be found to be of this.
The shape is, jis a rule, rather a long oval, very regular, and they vary
but little. Hume says : — " They are commonly very regular and perfect
ovals, moderately broad as a rule, but occasionally considerably elon-
gated and f-lightly compressed towards one end." In my small series I
have no eggs thus compressed ; all are just about the same at either end.
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620 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIl,
The texture is fine jind close, but distinctly more porous than the
uverags duck's egg ; and the eggs, in consequence, are very liable to
discdloration. The surface is smooth, but has no gloss.
Hume's eggs varied in length between 1'9" and 2'2" and in breadth
between 1'4" anl 1'54''. I have two eggs 2-25" long, but in all others
both breadth and length come within these extremes ; on the other
hand, whereas Hume's series averaged 2*1" by 1-49", mine average
2'12" by 1'45" showing them, as I have already said, to be rather
narrower and long proportionately.
(To be continued,)
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621
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA,
Including Afghanistan, the Trans-Indus Protected States, and Kashmir:
arranged and name I on the basis of Hooker and Baker's Synopsis Fillcum,
and other works, with New Species added.
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA.
Corrections in third instalment , fuhliahed in Vol, XI I,
On p. 621, line 7— for " Part III," read " Part II concluded "
In 14th line of p. 621, after "pair," insert " of segments. "
On p. 622, 3rd line — for " chesnut, coloured," read "chesnut-coloured."
On p. 622, 5th line — for ' elliptic, oblong," read " elliptic-oblong/'
Vn p. 622, 8th line, for 'V read "n."
On p, 622, r2th line, insert a spacs between "55" and " Plate X" — Plate X
is mine in this paper, not .Beddome's.
On p. 622, in last line of small print, " Hopeh'' should ( I think ) be
" Hupeh."
€n p. 622, 17th line from bottom, after " average," insert " frond."
On 2^. 623, in 2nd line from top, the letter "o'" has dropped from the word
" Beddome."
Un p. 624, in 6th line, at beginning of the parenthesis, insert — "A. Braun sub
Asp'dium.^'
tn p. 625, 13th line from bottom, insert "(iV. nemofale)'' after "species,"
On p_627, 9th line, the semicolon after " speak'' should be a "comma."
On p. 628, ia 10th line from bottom, " Subgems" should be " Subgenus."
On p. 630, in 9th line from bottom, delete the comma after " species."
C. W. HOPE.
segments are not nearly so much incised as those of ihe last mentioned plant- —
merely shortly toothed ; the stipes are shorter and not so ihick, though stiffer ;
and the rhaohises are inconspicuous below, contrasting with the dark-coloured
secondary rhaohises of N. nerrato-dmtatum. The pinnae are blunter, and are
never nearly bipinnafce ; and the venation is not so distinct.
The serial numbers prefixed to the New Species showthar place nnder each
genus in the General List (Part III), where the names only will be repeated.
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620 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIl.
The texture is fine und close, but distinctly more porous than the
jiverags duck's egg ; and the eggs, in consequence, are very liable to
disc<doration. The surface is smooth, but has no gloss.
Hume's ewo's varied in length between 1*9" and 2'2" and in breadth
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621
THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN TNDIA,
Including Afghanistan, the Trans-Ixdus Protected States, and Kashmir:
arranged and name I on the basis of Hooker and Baker's Synopsis Filicum,
and other works, with New Species added.
By C. W. Hope.
(^Continued from page 538).
Part III.
NEW SPECIES.
11, Nephr odium Kingii, n. sp. — Plants isolated ? ; caud. erect? ; st.
short' — about quarter the length of the frond, clothed with dark brown aourci-
nate hair-pointed scales, trancated at base ; /r. small — 6 — 10 inches 1, 2 — 3
inches br., lanueolate-acummate, rhachises clothed with scales similar to those
on stipes, bat smaller ; pinn. up to about 18 pairs, subdeltoid, but with the
inferior of the lowest pair generally rather the shorter, almost sessile, and de-
cumbent on the main rhachis, gradually narrowing to a not acuminate apex,
cut down to a broadly winged rhachis into upwards of 10 distinct rectangular
bluntly-rounded segments, which are toothed round the apex and lobed on
both sides — the lobes more or less toothed according to size of plant ; texture
herbaceous ; ven. pinnate in the segments, veinlets in triplets in the lobes
and running into the teeth ; sori small, subcostal, one to each lobe on the
lower veinlet ; invol, entire or irregularly lacerate, not fimbriate, persistent.
(Plate IX.)
Panjab : Ghamha—.—Vi3.vi Valley, below Salrundi 95-10,000', McDonell 1882 ;
Chenab Valley— Cheni Pass (Pangi side 10,000', McDonell : in Herb.-Hort. Calc.
Simla Reg.— %hovQ Simla, Colonel Bates. N.-W.P.: T. C^arA.— moraine of Dudu
Glacier under Srikanta 14-15,000', Duthie 1883, Nos. 386 and 394.
DiSTRiB.— J.«»a : N. E, Ind. (Him.) Sikkim, Lachen 11-12,000', Hooler K. 1849 ;
Sundukphoo 92,000', Levinge 1880 ; Jongri 13,000', Gammie 1892, No. 187 ; Thibet—
Dungboo, and Do-tho, King's Collector 1877, No. 4693.
This elegant little plant was, if 1 remember rightly, put up by Mr.
McDonell among specimens which he' sent me of my next species— jV. serrato-
dentatwn ; and specimens sent by him to Gamble were named by Levinge
N. Filix-mas, near odontoloma (meaning, I believe, N. serrato-dentatvm). The
segments are not nearly so much incised as those of the last mentioned plant- —
merely shortly toothed ; the stipes are shorter and not so ihick, though stiffer ;
and the rhachises arc; inconspicuous below, contrasting with the dark-coloured
secondary rhachises of N. serrato-dentatum. The pinnse are blunter, and are
never nearly bipinnate ; and the venation is not so distinct.
The serial numbers prefixed to the New Species showthar place under each
genus in the Geueral List (Part III), where the names only will be repeated.
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622 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
IS. Nephrodium serrato-dentatum, n. ^^.— Plants isolated ; caud,
crecfc ; St. in a dense tuft which attams IJ m. diam. ; " Stipes 6 in., soft, thick,
chesnut, coloiu'ed, with scattered, deciduous, lax, lanceolate, black pales ; frond
10 by 6 — 8 in., oblong-lanceolate, tnmcate at the base ; pinn^ often widened at
the base — 2-pinnate ; secondary pmn[e elliptic, oblong, obtuse, piimatifid (some-
times deeply) ; segments rounded, sharply serrate ; textm'e thin, becoming
hyaline towards the margin ; venation sub-flabellate ; involucre fimbriate."
Lastrea Filix-mas var. /x, odonioloma, Moore, Bedd. F. B. I., Suppt, t.
373. ; Nephrodium Filix-mas, var. odontoloma CBedd.), Syn. Fil, (2nd
Ed.), 498 ; iV. odontoloma. Hook, and Baker, C. R. 521. Lastrea odontoloma
(Moore), Bedd. H. B. 248. Lastrea Filix-mas, var. serrato-dentata, Bedd.
Suppt. H. B. 55. (Plate X.)
Kashmir : Liddar FaZ/ey.— Chatponsal Nala 12-13,000', Duthie 1893, No. 13221 ;
Sind FaZZe2/,nearBaItal, 10-11,000', Duthie 1892, No. 11613 (probably so).
Punjab : Chamba—Rawi Valley— Salrundi 11,000', and Chenab Valley—Cheni
Pass, McDoaell 1882.
N,-W. P. : T. Garh.—Gangotn 12-13,000', Duthie 1881 ; Damdar Valley 11-12,000',
moraine of Dudu Glacier, under Srikanta Mt. 14-15,000'; Gam bar Pass 11-12,000',
Duthie 1883. B. GarJi., above Bhawani 13-14,000', Duthie 1885. ZMw^aww— Pinsara
Pass 10,000', Davidson 1875 ; Ealam Valley 11-13,000', Duthie 1884 ; By^ns—
Piilang Gadh 11,000', Duthie 1886.
DiSTEiB.-- -^sia : N. E. Ind. (Him.).— Sikkim and Bhotan 11-16,000', " common"
{Clarke in i2e«.)— China — Hopeh Prov., Dr. Henry 1889.
The quoted part of the description given above is Mr. Clarke's, represent-
ing, as he says, the fairly developed average, though he had examples much
larger. The plate in Beddome's Suppt. to F. B. I., t. 373, was, Mr. Clarke
says, di'awn from a high-level scrap, and the description in the Si/nopsis^ 2nd
Ed. p. 498; seems to have been written from that scrap, which is even more
unlike TV. F.-mas. than are the fairly developed fronds which Mr. Clarke
afterwards (?) contributed to the Kew Herbarium, some of wliich run to
fully 13 inches in length ; 6 — 7 inches is, however, the greatest breadth I see
there. I have incomplete fronds coljeoted by Dr. T. Thomson in Sikkim (?)
which measure 16 — 17 in. 1., but they are not more than 6 — 7 in. br. These
and some smaller fronds were named by Dr. Thomson (?) Nfphrcdivm Bnmonia-
num var., but are unlike that species. I would modify Mr. Clarke's descrip-
tion by saying that the pales are dark to pale chestnut ; that the segments are
not serrate— only toothed so as to enclose the veinlets ; that the venation is
very distinct ; that the son are one to each of several of the lower lobes of the
segments or pinnules, placed near the costa. Also that the seconf^aiy pinnas
are never stalked, but have a broad base getting narrower near the maii. rhachis.
The upper half or more of each pinnae is only bipinnatifid. Many small,
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PLA.TE IX.
N. E.BrovrtL ieL
A, C. Mukeriei lilt.
NEPHRODIUM KINGK, n. sp.
1. Frond, natural size. i. Sorus with indusiuni, x 10.
3. Base of another frond, natiiral size. 5. Two indusia, x 10.
3. Base of a pinna, x 3. 6. Scale from the stipe, x 5,
7. Part of a scale from, the stipe, x 30.
![]()
)4$-M'i'.'Mf^^
N.E Brown & A.L, Sin^ del
NEPHBODIUMSERR^TO-DENTATUM n-
. oi r,a pmna from «
A-C.Mukei;jei lith.
1 Rhiiorae of a large plant, natural sizi
3. I'ortion of a small plant, natural size. , _. ,. „,,
3. Basal part of a pmca of another frcnd underEiie, x a « ^ ^^ <-. x . diQ,
4 Twoindusia, x 10 11. Scaj ''^^' ** '" J'^m.
5, Scales from '.be base of tbe stipes, x 3 diam '^°™^<i<iie part of the frond, x 3 diam.
6 Scales from Upper part of the Blipe and frond x 3 oi
'■ PerLil ""'""^'^'"® ^"^""^^'^^Ke Iron-l, upperside, natural 6
*• PuiDulf^^" 1"-°"^ ^^^ ^^^^ *^''^"^' "^'derside. natural s
Scales
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TEE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 623
yoimg(?) fronds are not even deeply pinnatifid, e.^,, the frond figured by
Bedd me.
In his Handbook Colonel Bedi^ome followed Mr. Clarke and separated this
fern from N. FiUx-mas. Mr. Clarke did not think it ran into any form of
N. F.-mas^ and pointed out that the venation was very unlike the forked venation
of that species. But Colonel Beddome, in his latest Supplement, says —
" This is certainly only a variety of FiJix-mas." As no reasons are given
for this raling, and as it is against the evidence of my senses, I must consider
it as an oiifer dictum, and decline to be bound by it. In a preliminary list,
drawn up in 1891, but not published, I re-named this fern as Nephrodium
incisum ; but I must now adopt Beddome's specific name.
15. Nephrodium pandum, n. sp.— " Stipes round, firm " (long :
sometimes longer than the frond) ; " frond nearly glabrous beneath, the main
rhachis with a few ovate scales ; frond nan-owly oblong, the lowest pair of
pinnae but one often as long as any above, the lowest pinnae usually but little
shorter ; pinnse pinnatifid | — f the way to the midi'ib ; segments subspinulose,
serrulate." N. FiUx-^nas, Eichd., var. 1 panda^ C. B. Clarke." Plate 68,
C. E. 519, fig. 1. Lastrea FiUx-mas, var. panda^ Bedd. H. B. 251, and
Suppt., p. 56.
Punjab : Kangra Valley Z)3«f.— Dharmsala 10-11,000', C. B. Clarke. N.-W. P.: T.
fi'ar/t.— Kidarkanta Mt. 8000', Herschel 1879 ; Ganges Valley, above Jhala 11-12,000',
Duthie 1881. -B/«Y. fi^ar/t.— East of Dhakwani 11-12,000', Duthie 1885. Kumaun—
Gori Valley between Paton and Saba 7-8000', Duthie 1884.
DiSTEiB.— N. E. Ind. CHiin.).~Sikkim 9-10,000', /. D. Hooker.
Mr. Clarke says — " Some of the European var. cristata approach this." It
does not appear whether he refers to the cultural variety of N. F.-mas, or to
N. cristatum, Michx. Beddome's first thought was — " This has much the
aspect of odontoloma " (meaning, evidently, L. odontoloma^ Moore), " and it will
probably prove to be a luxuriant form of that plant." His second thought
expressed in the Supplement of 1892, was — '' There are specimens at Kew which
are intermediate between this variety and Schimperiana" Second thoughts are
proverbially the best. I can find no good distinction between N. pandum
and N. Schimperia?iimi, and retain N. pandum chiefly out of deference
to Mr. Clarke who has gathered both plants. I have not gathered the first
named. iV. pandum might be called a long-stiped and comparatively glabrous
form of the Indian plant which is called iV. ScMmperianum, Hochst., and
Mr. Clarke says that the less compound forms of var. Schimperiana run near
var. 1 panda. Perhaps the best reason for retaining N. pandum as a species is
that it is more unlike N. FiUx-mas than N. Schimperianum is. Mr. Bliss's
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624 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
specimen of the last-mentioned fern, from below Haripur, near Simla, at a
low level I think, might almost be transferred to N. pandum.
I give the " distribution " to Sikkim with hesitation, as the stipes of Sir
Joseph Hooker's specimens are incomplete, and there are more veins in a
segment than the N.-W. Indian specimens have. Of these (?) Mr. Clarke
gays — " Sir J. D. Hooker collected at Lachen in Sikkim, alt. 9- J 0,000', a
fern which seems a luxuriant form of panda.''
18. Nephrodium Blanfordii, n. sp. — Plants isolated ; caud.
suberect ; st. in a tuft, generally short, wiry, densely clothed at 1 ase with
long narrow bright chestnut scales, and higher up with broadly, ovate, acumi-
nate and lanceolate-acummate, particoloured scales, both sorts trancate at
base ; fr. 1 — 2 ft. 1., 6" — 12" br., lanceolate, truncate though somewhat
narrowed at the base, bipinnate ; main I'hachis clothed with lanceolate-acumi-
nate, particoloured scales, mixed with fibrillse : secondary rhachises fibrillose ;
pinn. about 25 pairs, distant, but not more so towards base of frond, patent,
linear-acuminate, broadest at base, cut down to a narrowly winged rhachis into
12 14 pairs of sessile broad-based pinnules set widely apart, having a conflu-
ent acuminate toothed apes ; pinnl. oblong, bkmtly rounded, divided more or
less deeply into 4 — 6 slightly-toothed lobes ; texture herbaceous ; ven. costa of
pinnule undulating and branching mto the lobes ; veins branching into 3 — 4
veinlets in the lobes ; sori — one on each lowest superior veinlet of a group, near
the costa confined to upper part of the frond. (Plate XI.) Nephrodium
{Lastrea) remotum, Blanf. in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Vol. LVII, Part II,
No. 4, 1888.
Kashmir : Nagmarg and Sonamarg, 85-9000', Trotter 1888. Punjab: Hazara Ditt.
—Kagan Valley 94-10,200', Duthie's collector 1896-97; Dunga Gali 7-7500', Trotter
1889 • Chamba 6000', J. Marten 1897 ; Simla /?«</.— Ridge east of Simla, Kamalhori
Mt 9500' Blanf ord 1885 ; " Common about N^gkanda at elevations between 8300'
and 9500'; NAgkanda to Bagi 82-8500', Hope 1886 ; Biealur— Sdeeling 9000'
Lace. N.-W. P. : T. ffar A.— Ganges Valley above Jhala 11-12,000', Duthie 1891.
I give the fern entered in Blanford's List as Nephrodium remotimi as a
synonym of N. Blanfordii^ because, having received from him specimens named
remotum which are exactly the same as those I coUected m the same locahty,
at about the same time, I know that in his paper of 1888 he wrote of the same
fern as I now do. But the plant is in no way near N. remotum, Hook, (not of
Clarke as Mr. Blanford quotes it), and must therefore be re-named. Mr. Blanf ord,
who, when he wrote, had not, I believe, much studied Euiopean ferns, said —
" I adopt Mr. Clarke's name for this fern, without implying acquiescence in
the view that it is identical with the European prototype." He had
previously, under his No. 66, iV^ Filix-mas^ var. marginata^ Wall., said that
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Bi-o'Am delt
NEFHUODIIIM" BLANDFORDIU. sr
Litli: by K. D. Cna-ndra.
1. Port/lon of a rhizOTne & pert of .a frond.
2. Part 3f a pinna, undersurface, enlarged 3 diain.
3. Pinnule vntKout acri, enlarg,ed 3 diam.
4. Scales from tlie stipes, enlarged 3 diam.
5. Cells of ulie central part of a scale enlaried 35 diam.
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 625
there was an interval of 2,500 feet between the upper Umit of tliat species
and the lower limit of what he called N. remotvm^ and discussed the diflferences
between those two ferns, arriving at the conclusion that alt 02 ether they
indicated specific distinction. I caiuiot see even the remotest resemblances
between them. N. Elanfordii^ though there may be thor.ght to be some
similarity in the details of cutting, does not, as a whole, suggest the European
plant, the pinnte of v.hich, as its name denotes, increase in distance down-
wards until they are three inches apart at the base ; \\hereas in the Himalayan
plant the lowest pinnse are not more " remote," and it is smaller than the
British plant which, like the Continental European one, is believed to be a
hybrid between N. F.-mas. and K. sjnnulosum, Desv. Mr. Barnes, of Beeth-
waite Green, Westmoreland, who long ago gave me a frond of K. remotmn
from an original plant received from Mr. Clowes, of WindeiTQere, the dis-
coverer of the so-called species, told me he beheved it to be the above
indicated hybrid, and that he had found that its spores produced typical F.-mas.
I demur entirely to Mr. Clarke's statement that the typical plant figured by
Hooker, Brit. Ferns, t. 22, is frequent in the West Himalaya, as I cannot
find that it at all exists there. When gathering the two plants in the Simla
Region I did not at first separate, except by size, K. Elanfordii from
N. mmosum, Hope (in Journ. Bof., M'-irch 1896) ; but I afterwards saw that
they differed m share and cutting of the fronds. N. Blanfmrlii is near H.
F.-mas ; but it has no affinity to N. spinulosvni^ Desv., which has not been
got in the Indian Region. In the Journal of Botany, under N. ramosum
I said — *' Perhaps the nearest congener of this species is iA^. mmor lis
(a slip or misprint for N. nemorale)^ n. sp., Hope MS., a fern with a more
limited range, hitherto called N. spinwosum Desv., var. remota ; but that
species is never truly bipinnate, and it has always a short stipe and dark-
coloured scales," When I thus wrote (m Incha), I was imperfectly informed
as to the accepted meaning of the term " bipinnate." Also I have, in
pubhshing, altered the specific name of this fern, because "nemorale'' was
thought to be too near that of a previously described species : and I can find
none more appropriate to it than one that will commemorate the name of
the late Mr. H. F. Blanford.
Subgenus — Eunephrodidm.
29. Nephrodium PapiliO, n. sp. — Plants isolated ; cattd. erect :
in old plants subarborescent t st. numerous, stout, rising regularly from round the
apex of the caudex, very short, ahnost glabrous ; jr. lanceolate, generally suddenly
contracted to a long deeply pinnatifid apex or terminal pinna and always
prolonged downwards, with shorter and shorter auricled pinnae, nearly to the
5
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626 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
oaudex ; 1^ — 5fb. L, 4i — 14in. br,, the auricled short pinnai occupying the lower
4 — 20in. ;i}inn. 15 — 40 and more pairs (inclndiDg those auricled) according to
size of frond, naiTow, rarely more than |in. broad, not much diminished in
lower half, above gradually narrowing and ending in a very acuminate apex ;
cut doTvn I to nearly I way towards the rhachis, increasingly distant and
becoming more opposite towards the base of the lanceolate portion of the
frond where they suddenly shorten, become almost exactly opposite and de-
flexed, and throw out auricles upwards, which lengthen as the pinnse shorten
and become pinoatifid lower down, with separate costas ; serim. of pinnse
curving upwards, broadly falcate, subentire, connected at the sinus by a
hyaline web which extends towards the rhacliis of the pinna over one or
even two inter-venal spaces ; texture papyraceous ; siirlaces practically glabrous :
rhachises sometimes slightly villose or pubescent above, and occasionally
with a few white hairs or seta? on the veins above ; ven. shnply
pinnate — veins 7 — 8 pairs to a segment, H — 3 pairs muting with those
of contmuous segments : an excuiTent veinlet from the lowest pair free or
sometimes joming only one of the next upper pair, and occasionally also another
one or two before it reaches the smus ; veins of the amides branching in the
shallow lobes, and uniting with those of the contif>,uous lobes when the
auricles are more deeply pinnatifid ; sm. small, medial on the veins, absent from
the apices; invol. fugacious or shrivellii\g on top of the ripe soras. (Plate XII). —
N. mo//e, Desv., var. major ^ Bedd. Suppt. H. B. 7(5, in part.
Puj^JAB : Chainba, McDonell (in list of Ohamba Feras identified at Kew, named
N. atiboinense') S'nla Re^.— Simla,, 5th Waterfall, Collett 1883, Samala Nala 4500
Blauf. 1884: (under iV pennlgeriim. Hook. var. midtillnmta. Wall.: it " occurs, together
with N. moUc, at the lowest levels visited below Simla (4500'), and I have it also from
Mixssooree, collected by Mr. C. W. Hope, and from below Chakrata ;"" Simla — between
2nd Waterfall and Boileauginj, Bliss 1890.
N.-W. P. : D, D. Dist — In the Dun, near Malsi, and in the Song Valley near its exit
from the Himalaya 26-2800', Hope 1887-89 ; Mussooree— Duthie 1887, below Khiarkuii
4700,' Hope 1880, Colonel Herschell 187 8 or 1879, Mossy Falls. 5600, Hope (with
Duthie) 1882, below Arnigadh 5000', Duthie 1882; T. <?flrA.— Surkunda Mt. 9300
Lev. 1872 ; north of Mussooree 30^ 0', Mackinnons 1879; near Bhatauli 4500', Hope
1886; Thadiar 3500', Gamble 1894. X"?nfl?iM— S. and W. No. 2 ; Gola Valley : seen
in 1890 in cultivation at " Douglas Dale'" 4500,' brought from neighbour-
hood.
DiSTEiB.— 4s«fl : N. Ind. ( Him. )— Nepal, Wallich, 1829. Sikkim — Poobsering
below Darjeeliiig 4000', Lev. 1880. Ceylon, Thwaites C. P 2498 (named K. Hoolierf)
and Ambuwala (or Ambawella), G. Wall. " Indian Archipelago," Seemann^
" B. Brown, iter Austral. ISOO-B."
I long ago named this species N. papyracmm, but that name has since
been given by Colonel Beddome, in his Supplement of 1892, to a
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PLATE XII.
N. E.Browu del
A. C. Muke-riei litb.
NEPHRODIUM PAPILIO, n. sp
1. Part of a rhizome, natural size.
2. Part of a frond, natural size.
S. Part of a pinna, under surface, x 3.
4. Fragment of a pinna, showing a sorus with the
indusium, x 15.
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. (327
species of his own making, some of which, I have good reason to beUeve, Ls
only N. aridum. Baker (q. v.). The only resemblance it has to iV. moJle^
Desv., of which Becldome says it is a variety, is in cutting and venation ; in
every other character it is different. It is a very handsome plant, with fronds
rising in a rmg romid the apex " of the snl»rborescent candex, fonning an
inverted hollow cone hke that produced in t^truthioptms germanica. N. molle
does not grow so regularly. Other distinguishing characters are — the thin
papyraceous textm'e ; the ahnost glabrous surfaces ; the prolongation of the frond
down the shaft below the lance-head, so to speak ; in short, broadened and
auricled pinnte, in almost exactly opposite pairs, wliich UTesistibly suggest butter-
flies head downwards — the main rhachis representing ihe body ; and, finally
the fugacious or uiconspicuous involucres. 1 have seen this fern in cultivation
in the uTigated garden at " Douglas Dale," below Naini Tal, and consider it
a strikingly beautiful plant. It seems to require wet, or occasioDaUj flooded,
ground for its full development, and consequently the caudex and stipes are
naked, or nearly so. Mr. Levinge noted, regarding the specimens he collected
below Darjeelmg, and which he incorrectly named i\\ truncatim^ Presl., that tl;e
plant grows 6 — ^ ft. high. Mr. Duthie and I got it more than 5 ft. high in a
swampy patch in forest near Mussooree in 1882 ; but I could never find the
spot again. N. molle is one of the conuuonest ferns ua the Dehra Dun, and
the outer N.-W. Himalaya at low levels, and it, too, likes water ; but it is
never glabrous, and never has the butterfly-amicled pumaB extending down the
shaft of the lance.
Colonel Beddome, in his Supplement of }.892, says — " Mr. Hope considei-s
tliis a well-marked fem, and says that it is subarborescent, and of a brilliant
green colour " (I don't recollect giving it the latter-mentioned character) ;
" his specimens have quite an erect caudex ; Mr. Wall's Ceylon specimens
however, have a decidedly creeping root" '• it is a most
marked fern when fully auricled nearly down to the base of the stipe, but I find
this is not always constant, as I have specimens which iiui moV6 rather close."
I have suice seen the Ceylon specimens Colonel Beddome refeiTed to — ;two
fronds wiih creeping rhizomes : the fronds are similar, though they have only
5 pau's of auricled pinnae ; but the creeping rhizome I consider quite enough to
separate them, not only from N. Fapilio, but also from N. molle. Thwaites's
and Wall's specimens in Kew, cited above, have not a scrap of rhizome : other-
wise they are N. Papilio.
30. Nephrodium OCCUltum, n. ^\—Caud. (or Ehiz.) not seen ;
5^. 14^ — 36 in. (incomplete) in length, slightly palaceous at base, as shown by
sjars of fallen scales ; fr, — of small specimen 19 J in. 1., 10 m. br. ; of larger
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628 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XII.
specimens — 34 J — 36 in. ]., 15 iii. br., truncate at base — lowest pinnae being
almost as long as any, pinnatifid ; pinn. 13 — 21 pairs with a large pimrdtifid
and slightly toothed terminal pmna, sessile, up to 9? m. 1., f— U in. (nearly)
br, linear, acuminate, cuivrng upwards, lowest 2 — 3 pairs which are patent or
deflexed, cut down half-way into numerous (35 — 45) naiTow curved falcate
entire or slightly crenate, segments of irregular length with a terminal tooth —
the superior basal segment generally much longer, and the inferior much
shorter than those above ; texture papyraceous but not membranous, whole
plant perfectly glabrous, except for a slight pubescence on upper side of sec. rh. ;
colour of lamina brown-green ; of stipes and prim. rh. pale brown tinged with
pink, cf sec. rh., perhaps pinker ; ven. obscm-e on upper side ,• on under side
distmct, costEe of segments coloured like sec. rh., veins very slender, 8 — 13
pairs, according to size of frond ; sometimes 15 pairs in superior basal segment
and only 5 pairs m corresponding inferior segments, lowest pan- uniting at an
obtuse angle with the lowest veins of the contiguous segments, whence an
excurrent venule arises, sometimes free, or, if ascending to the sinus, joined by
1 2 more pairs of veins curving upwards from the adjacent segments ; sori
not seen. (Plate XIII).
N.-W. P. : Tehri Garhwal (?) Found by me, m 1890, in the Mackinnons'
Golleotion, without tickets : 2 large and 2 small fronds.
The Mackinnons could give no account of tliis fern, and it may have been
gathered by their collector when apart from them — probably fifteen years
before I saw the specimens. None of the fronds were fertile ; there was no
caudex or rhizome, and the stipes of the larger fronds were not complete ; but I
have no doubt the genus is Nephrodium. This must be a striking looking fern,
standing at least 6 ft. high, with a stipes as long as the frond.
Genus 26— POLYPODIUM, L.
Subgems — Phegopteeis, Fee.
5. Polypodium late-repens, n. sp.— Trotter MS.— " i?^/^. widely
creeping and branching, dark purple, furnished with numerous fibrous rootlets
and acute light brown scales. St. 1 — 2 ft. long, scattered, dark purple and
curved at the base, becoming light brown or straw-coloured above ; stipe and
rhachis more or less scalv, glossy, furrowed when dry. Fr. lanceolate, 20 — 30
in. 1., 8 — 12 in. br. at widest part, subbipiimate. Finn. 20 — 30 pau's, distant
below, but approximate towards apex of frond, lowest pair often reduced,
sessile, 4 — 6 in. 1., 1 — li in. br. at base, tapering to a point, patent to erect,
cut down nearly or quite to the midrib into decuri'eut, oblong, blunt pinnules
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^^^W^7^
PLATE XII
JJ.E. Brown, del
Cliitra aip C?Hlh.
IJEPHRODIUM OCCULTUM, n.sp.
1. Portion, of tLe ta.se ofa small sizecl irond, natrural size.
2. Portion of tke apex of ditto, showing" the airupt termmatioii m alarge pinna, natural size.
3. Basal parts of two pinn6e"froin tlie middle of a large frond, natural size.
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THE FERNS OP NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 629
i in. wide, margin acutely or crenately lobed ; texture herbaceous ; under
surface hairy ; ven. pinnate in segments, fi'ee. tSori naked, medial, orbicidar,
terminal on veinlets, usually one, sometimes two or three to each lobe." (Plate
XIV.)
EemarJcs lij Mr. Trotter.
" This fern Ls not uncommon in the Western Himalaya, at an elevation of
7-9,000'. I have specimens from Kumauu and Garhwal, and have person-
ally collected it at mtervals from Simla to Hazara, where it is abimdant, forming
extensive patches. It seems to connect Folypodiiim distans, Don, with G 1/771-
nogramme aurita^ Hook., combining the frond and sori of the former with
the rootstock and stipes of the latter ; and when collected without rhizome it
has frequently been mistaken for P. distans^ from which in that mutilated con-
dition it is not easily distinguishable.
'' Its wide-reaching rootstock and scattered stipes, bent round at the base, are
such well-marked characters as to entitle it, I thmk, to rank as a good species."
Kashmie : Chittapani Valley and Rattan Pir, 75-8000', Trotter, 1888 ; Dardpura
4-6000', MacLeod 1891.
Punjab : Hazara iJi*-^— Thandiana and Dungagali 75-8500', Trotter 1890-92 ;
Kagan and Siran Valleys 9000', Duthie's collector 1896. 67tfl7«Ja— 5-8000', J. Marten
1897. Kangra Valley i)««!f.— Dharmsala 80<.0', Trotter 18^7 ; Simla iie^.— below
Simla 5500', and Jako Mt. 7700', Blanf., 1886 ; ridge east of Simla, Maihisu (Mahasu),
7500' and spur north-west of IS'agkanda, 8200', Hope 1886 ; Hattu Mt. 9-10,000',
Gamble 1878, Collett 1885 ; Bagi 9400', Bliss 1891.
N.-W. P. : D. D. i)i6-?.— Jaunsar, (or T. Garh. : ticket incomplete). Gamble ; Seal's
Hill— East of Landour, 700u', Hope 1887 and 1895 ; T. Garh,— ^ag Tiba Mt. 7500',
Mackinnons 1879 ; nearBhatauli 4500', Hope 1886 ; Phedi— East of Landour— 5-6000',
Duthie 1881. Kumaun 7000', S. and W. ; Durasu 6000', Davidson 1875; forest
above Shankala 9-10,000'; Duthie No. 3712 ; Sarju Valley 3-4000', and Dhanknri
9,000', Trotter 1891.
DisTEiB.— J.s8a : N. Ind. (Him,).— Nepal ; Sikkim (.')•
The only previously described plant which may possibly be this is Pol //podium
paludosum, Bl. Fil, Jav., p. 102, t. 90 ; but Bin 'die's plate shows only the upper
part of a frond — 14 pimite, a short tip, and an enlarged pinnule. Blume saj-s —
" Frond, 4-5ft. ; caudex," so far as he recollects, " repens, stipites efferens
plures remotos."
Beddome, in his " Ferns of S. India,"' p. 55, t. 168, said of P. ijaludoimi—
" Caudex short, erect, covered v^ith scales at apex." He did not give P. distans
as a synonym ; but m his Handbook, p. 292, he dropped P. paludoswn as
a species, and gave it as a synonym of P. distans, Ton — referimg to his F. S. I.
t. 168. For P. distans he wrote a new and elaborate description (Don's being,
as usual, short and mcomplete), and said of it — " Stipe tufted." Don did not
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630 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
mention the nature of the candex or rhizome. As synonyms, Beddome gave in
the H. B. the three names he had given for P. paludosum, namely, P.
Irunmum, Wall. Cat. 333, P. longipes^ Wall, Cat. 316, and P. adnatum. Wall.
Cat. 328 ; and he added a fourth, P. GriffitMi, Hook. Sp. Fil.
IV, 236. Mr. Clarke gives paludosiim and hngipes as synonyms of
P. distaiis^ and resuscitates P. adnahmi as a variety of it, and he
gives P. hnmneiim as a synonym of var. adnata (sp.), Wall., besides creating two
other new varieties. Of P. distcms he said — " Stipts tufted."
Hooker, in Sp. Fil. IV, p. 244, did not give P, distcms either as a species
or as a synonym of P. paludosum^ and as to the caudex of the last named
plant merely said — " caudex ? ". The Si/nopsts Filicum says nothing as to
the caudex of P. distcms, for which it gives P. paludosum^ Bl,, as a synonym
along "with P. GrifjithU^ Hook., of which it is said that it appears to be a form
with subeutire lobes. Clarke said of P. distans — *' Veiy difficult to distinguish
from Gijnmogramme aurifa. Hook." (winch has an extensively creeping rhizome)
. . . '' the rhizome is rarely present in herbaria ;" and he noted thnt Beddome,
in his Suppt. F. B. I. of 1876, p. 24, doubts if G. aurita is more than a form
of P. distans. And Clarke went on to say — '' the rhizome is very different,"
which I tliink may be taken to imply that he knew that P. distans had an
erect caudex or rhizome. By the time he published his Handbook, Beddome
seems to have become satisfied of the generic distinctness of the two plants.
So much for the books I am reviewing. I will now deal with the specimens
in the principal public herbariums in the United Kingdom. In the Kew Her-
barium, a specimen, named -P. distans, collected by Jacquemont, which otherwise
is P. late-repens, has no rhizome, but the base of the stipes is curved upwards,
as if it sprung from a horizontal rhizome. Other specimens in Kew with erect
caudices will be found referred to above under P. distans. Some of them
collected by Mr. Clarke show well the erect caudex and tufted stipes of
P. distans, and his var. minor.
In Wallich's collection, in the Linnean Society's Herbarium, there are
specunens of the tlnee species, which have been treated by our authors as
synonyms for P. distans. Of P. Irwmeum Wall. Cat. 333, specimens from
Kumaun, R. B. 1827, and Wallich, Napalia 1821, though they are without
caudices, I should from their cutting put under P. distans. The next sheet, I
should say, is certainly large P. late-r^ens ; the stipe is nearly complete,
but there is no rhizome : it is ticketed '' Pol i/podium donhtM," but has
been numbered in pencil 333. Pohjpodiiim longipes, Wall. Cat. 316,
Napalia 1821, though there is no rliizome, is certainly P. /f/^e-rt'^ws. "P.
adnatum^ Wall, in Herb. 1823, Napalia 1821," is very large ?ai;e-rej?ms.
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PLATE Zrv.
Ik
I
vA t* ^ '''^ /.I •'■ n'l /l ^
N. E
11 A. C. ilukeriei lith.
5rown del. -J
POLYPODIUM (PHEGOPTEKIS) LATEREPENS, Trotter,
B.hizome and part of frond, nattora! size, ■!. One lobe of a pmnnle, x 10.
Two pmnules, under surface, x 2, 5. Pinnule of a more finely divided frond, >: %
A pmuule.upper surface, x 2. 6. Scale from stipes, x 6.
7. Fragment of a scale from sV.ces, x 20.
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 631
The specimens in the British Museum, South Kensington, confinn the ahoVe
generall7, and a specimen on a sheet marked P. distans^ E. Ind. Coll H, and
T., Sikkim, No, 17^, has a bit of creeping rhizome attached to the frond, which
of course I call P. Jate-rqmif<. Another sheet, vpith ticket — " 61 Pohj-
podiwn pahulosum, Bl, collected by Mr. Eichard Oldliam, 1564, Yamsay
Formosa, reed. Apl. 66" — shovrs moderate sized fronds, 9 — 10 stipes in a
fascicle, with the base of one thicker stipe ; but the cutting is of P. late-rppms.
The specimens on other sheets, named "P. Joinjipes, Wall. 316, Napalia
1824," " f . ^nomeww, Wall., Kumaun E. Blinkworth," and" P. adnatim,
Wall., Napalia " (liis ov\n ticket), are, in my belief, P. lote-rept>7is. Pinned
to a sheet of " Plmopterin hrimea^ J. Smith (Wall.): synoym — Pohjpodnmi
palvdosum, Bl, Hook. Sp. Fil. 4, p. 244 ; Ind. Coll H. and T„ Nilgheri Mts.,
in. 15," is a note by J. Smith as follows : —
Obs.— With regard to PoJypodium hrunneum, Wall. : P. adnatum. Wall.,
P. Imgipes, Wall, I never could satisfy myself as to whether
they were distinct species, or only states of one species. I have
seen no specimen showing their mode of vernation. I am inclmed
to consider that there are at least two species. In the Sp. Fil. Sir W.
J. Hooker has placed them as synonyms of Polypodiwn paludosum of
Blume. It is, however, probable that Blume's plant will be found.
distinct ; but this must depend upon future observers in collecting the
specimens, and to particularly note their mode of growth {sic). Sir
W. J. Hooker has described a new species which he calls Eeplirodivm
{Ladreci) microstegii/m ; consequently an indusiate species, of which he
has seen only one specimen of H. and T.'s from India. This appeare to
be the same as the two sheets here marked* ; and what is singular, no
indusiuui is shown on the plate. And as Wallich and myself have seen no
iudusium, I am inclined to believe it is a mistake ; but at the same time
it is quite possible that in a young state seen alive indusife may be detected.
" If all are one, the synonymy will be thus — that is, supposing that
Blume's name has the priority.
Phegopteris paludosum, J. Smith.
Polypodium paludosum, Bliune, Fil. Jav., t. 90,
Polypodium § Pheg. paludosum, Hk. Sp. Fil 4, p. 244.
Aspidium paludosum, Bl. En. Fil Jav., p. 168, according to Mett.
Polypodium lougipes. Wall Cat. 314 (316 ?).
Polypodium adnatum. Wall. Cat. 328.
Polypodium bmnneiun, Wall. Cat. 333,
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632 JOURNAL, BOAlBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
■ ? Nephrodium microstegium, Hk. Sp. Fil. IV., 119, t. 250. Ceylon,
Gardner, No. 1151, V. S. Throughout India, Wall,, Hook, and
Thorns.
" What can Griffithii be ? " (This qviery is added in pencil.)
Finally, in the Levinge collection, in the Museum of Science and Art,
Dubhn, I have fiamd a specimen, named P. didansy Don, from Garhwal,
Levino-e 1872, but on the ticket of which Mr. Levinge has M^ritten — " rootstock
creeping Nvidely." The frond of this specimen measures 4 ft. by Ih^ in., but
no stipes has been preserved. On the other hand, see Mr. Levinge's specimen
with '' tufted rootstock," cited by me under P. distans.
Mr. Trotter and I, after coiresponding m India on the subject of this fern
(see his rcanarks above), in the end agreed that it was a Polypodium, and, from
its peculiar rhizo.ne, entitled tr. specific rank. I asked Mr. Trotter to describe it,
and in June 1891 he sent me the description given at the outset of this article.
He said the description had been prepared, after repeated examination, to
cover every single specimen in liis collection. I have given it almost
verbatim.
P. late-repens^ like Nephrcdium rfpens^ Hope, is a lover of water, and I
collected it first from swampy ground near Simha, where it was flourishing on a
muddy, shaly talus. The rhizome and stipes were very succulent and brittle,
and, with the scales, beautifully coloured— rather, perhaps, mauve than dark
purple, as Mr. Trotter has it. The size and cutting of the fronds depend, of
course on the degree and luxuriance of growth of the plant. The sori are often
oval. Hooker's remark that the frond of P. paludosum is invariably bipinnate
does not apply to P. late-repens, the segments (or pinnules) of which are almost
invariably united at the base, or decurrent on a winged rhachis (only in one of
my numerous specimens does the wing appear to be intemipted); but at first
si^ht some other specimens seem bipinnate. Blanford seems to have known the
two plants, but yet to have placed them both as P. distans. He
said : —
" Common in ravines, down to my lowest level (4500'), and up to nearly
10,000'. At the former limit the fronds are small and narrow, with
short, distant pinnae, and the rootstock decumbent, hardly crcepmg.
Above 7500' tlie fronds grow to 3 and 4 feet in length, broadly lanceo-
late, and with close-set pinnas 2 inches broad ; the pinnre cut down
square to a winged rhachis, segments deeply pinnatifid. Some speci-
mens of these latter have a creeping rhizome,"
Something might be infeiTed as to the nature of the plant named by Don,
P. distans, if we knew with certainty what the specific name meant — whether
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THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 633
ifc applied to the distance between the pinnae or to the distance between
the fronds ; but, as Don does not mention the venation, and says —
" pinnis distantibus" I think it may be concluded that the name refers to the
pinnae. Whether the present fern ought to be called P. paliulosum, or by one
of Wallich's three or four names, is a point that perhaps may never be settled ;
but that it is distinct from P. distans, Don, cannot, I think, be questioned.
In the difficulty Wallich created by not attending to the nature of the rhizome,
and by giving so many names to his specimens, it seems advisable
to give a new name to those that caunot reasonably be put under
P. distans.
{To be coniimied.)
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634
NESTING IN KASHMIR.*
By Lieut. N. F. T. Wilson, R.I.M.
{Read before the Bombay Natural History Society, on 18th SepU 1899).
Having but lately returned from a visit to the dominions of His
Highness the Maharajah of Kashmir, I think it may perhaps be of
interest to your readers if I give a short account of some of the birds
whose nesting habits we were able to observe there. At the outset, I
must plead guilty to having unwittingly committed a breach of the
local game laws, as we, on three occasions, took clutches of the eggs of
birds protected under those laws ; but, inasmuch as they are presum-
ably framed to prevent the wholesale destruction of eggs, of which the
natives were, till lately, guilty, we felt that only the letter and not the
spirit of the law had been broken, and anyhow, it was too late to repair
the mischief. But it would be as well to warn any collector who pro-
posed to follow our example, that such laws exist, and that a permit
from the State Council is necessary to enable any one to take the eggs
of game birds between the 15th March and 15th September.
A few birds whose nesting habits have not previously been recorded
will be found amongst our list, otherwise it contains nothing new, and
is chiefly interesting from the way our notes corroborate the remarks
of observers who have worked the country befora. The period of ob-
servation extended from early in May to the 13th August, but nothing
was done by us after 12th July, on which date we heard that stringent
orders had been issued to the village headmen to prevent any eggs from
being taken. The numbers and names are those used by Gates and
Blanford in the Fauna of British India.
9. Corvus monedula. — The Jackdaw. — Very common, nesting in
holes in high banks of the Jhelum and also in the walls of old forts at
Sopur and Uri. Eggs during the early part of May.
99. Trochalopteram Ureatum. — Himalayan Streaked Laughing-
Thrush. — Common in the low bushes and jungle which cloth emany of
the sides of the hills. Eggs during May, June and July.
187. Myophoneus temmincki. — The Himalayan Whistling Thrush. —
Birds common, but nests hard to find. Nest and 2 fresh eggs
wei*e taken from underneath an enormous boulder in the bed of
* Note. — This article was written before I saw Mr. Davidson's description of a
similar expedition in the " Ibis."
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NESTING IN KASHMIR. 635
the Rewal Nullah, Siud Valley, on 6th June. The bird flew out and
was shot, otherwise the nest would certainly have escaped observation.
199. Hodgsonius phcenicuroides. — Hodgson's Short Wino'. — The nest
of this bird (not described by Gates) was found by my brother on 13th
June at Sonamerg. I found another nest on the 18th, but unfortunately
empty. The female was shot off the first nest and the male laler. The
nest was placed in some low brushwood, on the side of the hill linino-
the Sind Valley. It was situated about l|ft. above the ground, and
consisted of a massive cup-shaped structure, the cup measuring 2^"
across and 2" in depth. It was built of coarse grass and leaves, lined
with fine grass or vegetable fibre and a little hair and feathers. The
eggs, 3 in number, slightly incubated, were of a deep greenish-blue
colour, in texture firm, and with a slight gloss. They averaged 'Si" X
•64".
We saw several pairs of these birds about Sonamerg. They were
not very shy, but kept to undergrowth, dodging and skulking about
in it, and seldom remaining still for more than a few seconds.
284. Molpastes leucogenys.~ysh.\iQ Cheeked Bulbul.— Common.
Eggs during May in the Sind Valley.
341. Certhia himalayana. — Himalayan Tree Creeper. — This bird
was common at Sonamerg in June. We found several nests mostly with
young, in that month, in holes in trees, and one nest with 3 incubated
eggs on the 11th June. The normal number of eggs seems to be 3.
352. Anorthura neglecta. — The Kashmir Wren. — Found 3 nests of
this bird in June at Sonamerg, one with young, one empty, and on the
20th one with 5 fresh eggs. This nest was built in the roots of a ireQ
overhanging the Sind River. It was of the usual Wren type and
consisted chiefly of moss lined with hair and feathers. The bird was
sitting at the time and hovered around whilst we were there. The
eggs were white, finely spotted with brick red.
363. Acrocephalics stentoreus. — The Indian Great Reed Warbler.
Numerous in the reeds which cover some of the lakes and jheels in
Kashmir. Numbers of eggs were taken in June and July.
367. Acrocephahis agricola. — Paddy-field Reed Warbler. — This bird
was found breeding by us on a large marsh near Sumbul on July 11th.
The nest differs considerably from the description given on page 360 of
Blanford, and the eggs do not appear to have been previously recorded.
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636 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Five nests were found altogether (one forwarded to the Society's collec-
tion), one containing 3 eggs, slightly incubated, one, X egg fresh, and
another nest had a perfectly fresh egg lying broken beside it. The others
were empty. All the nests were beautiful cups of moss, lined with grass
and a few feathers, and were placed about 2 feet off the ground sup-
ported on two or three reed stems, with which, the nests were inter-
woven. The measurements of the nest cups were about 1'8" deep
and 2" across. This species were the only small birds on the marsh
with the exception of the yellow head wagtail, M, ckreoloides. We
shot one with some difficulty, having only a shot gun and large car-
tridges. The specimen has been presented to the Society's collection.
The eo-gs were exact miniatures of the large reed warbler, A. sientoreus^
The o-round-colour is pale green, and the eggs are spotted and blotched
with black and purple spots. The texture is fine, and there is little
gloss. The average of 3 eggs was "62" X "50".
402. Sylvia affinis. — Indian Lesser White Throat Warbler. — Com
mon in the* low scrub jungle clothing the hill sides. Numerous nests
and eggs in the Sind Valley, May and June. One nest added to
Society's collection.
418. Phylloscopus Jmmii. — Hume's Willow Warbler. — Fairly com-
mon at Souamerg, found several nests with eggs, one on 11th June
contained an egg of presumably No. 1105, the Himalayan Cuckoo. The
nest was built in a hole in the stump of an old tree close to the ground
and contained 4 eggs, all white faintly speckled with red spots. The
average measurement of 3 eggs was •5X'32". The fourth egg measured
•87" X "61". Supposing this is to be the egg of a Cuckoo, it must have
been carried to and placed in the nest in the bird's bill, the nest
aperture being too small to admit of the entrance of so large
a bird.
429. Acanthopneuste trochiloides. — Blyth's Crowned Willow War-
bler.— The nesting of this species has not been previously described. We
found two nests on 19th June at Sonamerg, and on each occasion shot
the [)arent bird. Both nests were built in the hollow spaces of decayed
fallen trees. They were dome-shaped structures, consisting chiefly of
moss lined with hair and feathers. Both contained fresh eggs,
1 and 4 respectively. The eggs were pure white, and measured
•63"x-45".
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NESTING IN KASHMIR. 637
428. A. occipitalis. — Large Crowned Willow Warbler. — Fairly
common at Sonamerg, where v/e took 4 nests on ] 4th, 15th and 17th
June.
476. Lanius erythronotus. — Rufous Backed Shrike, — Very common
all over the Valleys of Kashmir. Eggs in May and June.
518. Oi'iolus kundoo. — Indian Oriole. — Very common all over the
Valleys. Eggs in May and June.
529. Stiirnus humii. — The Himalayan Starling. — Common everywhere
in the Valley. Eggs in May.
589. Alseonax ruficaudus. — The Rufous Tailed Flycatcher. — The
nest of the bird does not appear to have been found before. We found
one nest on the i8th June on a pine branch at Sonamorg, situated
about 10 feet from the ground, it was very well concealed, and had the
bird not flown off, it would certainly have escaped observation. It
was a small cup-shaped nest of moss and lined with hair and feathers.
It contained 2 slightly incubated eggs. The ground-colour was
buff with a rufous clouding and a few brown spots on the laroer end.
They measured "72" X "52". We shot the bird aiid, though we made
careful search, saw no others during our stay.
598. Terpsiphone paradisi. — Indian Paradise Flycatcher. — Not very-
common. Only found one nest on 9th July with 3 fresh egos.
610. Pratincolamaura. — Indian Bush Chat. — Birds common, but
only found one nest with 4 eggs at end of May.
638. Chimarrhornis leucoceplialus. — White-capped Redstart. Verv
common about Sind River, at Sonamerg, but could find no nests.
646. Rhyacornis fuliginosus, — Plumbeous Redstart. — Common at
Sonamerg, where we found several nests in June with fresh eo-o-s,
654. lanthia rulata. — Red-flanked Bush Robin. — Not very com-
mon, but we got two nests, each with 4 eggs, on the I2th June.
678. Merula Mnecc/or. — Tickell's ouzel, or in the descriptive words
of Jerdon, the dusky ground-thrush, was very common, and we took
numbers of eggs in May and June.
691. Petrophila cimlorhyncha. — Blue-head Rock Thrush. Com-
mon. Eggs numerous in June.
719. Tharrhaleus jerdoni. — Jerdon's Accentor, — Not very common
but found two nests at Sonamerg, each containing 3 eo-os on i2th
and 15th June, respectively. The eggs averaged '76'' X '5Q",
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638 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
116. Gymnorhis flavicollis. — -Yellow-throated Sparrow. — Common.
Several nests -with eggs iu June and Jul}'.
779. Passer montaniis. — Tree Sparrow. — Common ; numerous
nests and eggs in May and June.
780. Passer cinnamomeiis. — Cinnamon Tree Sparrow. — Common.
Three nests with 4 eggs in June.
790. Emheriza fxicata. — Grey-headed Bunting. — My brother found
one nest with 3 eggs on 30th May.
794. Emheriza stracheyi. — Eastern Meadow Bunting. — Very com-
mon in the Sind Valley, where we found number of nests in June,
generally with 4 eggs.
813, Hirundo rustica. — Swallow. — Common, but we did not take
any eggs.
830. Motacilla liodgsoni, — Hodgson's Pied Wagtail. — This was the
commonest wagtail in the valley, and we found numbers of nests in
May and June.
832. M. melanope. — Grey Wagtail. — Fairly common. Found three
nests in the Sind Valley in May and June.
838. M. ciireoloides. — Hodgson's Yellow-headed Wagtail. — As little
is known of the nesting habits of this bird, it may be as well to
describe the only absolutely authentic nest I found. It was situated
on the same marsh as the nest of A. agricola described above, and con-
tained but one egg. The nest was built of grass and vegetable fibre,
well constructed and lined with fine hair, and was placed under
a clump of some foxglove-like plant which formed little clumps
all over the marsh. Numbers of empty nests were found of
similar construction, but we were too late for the eggs. The birds
were fairly numerous, and I regret we did not shoot some specimens.
However, we had ample opportunities of examining them closely ;
the black upper plumage effectually distinguished them from
M. citreola^ the only birds for which they could be mistaken, and
which, moreover are only winter visitors. My egg, which exactly
tallies with Blanford's description as regards colour, measures
•8" X *62", and my brother, who found a nest of this species at
Sonamerg, gives the measurement of the two eggs he got as the
same. From some native collectors we obtained several other
eggs exactly similar to those described, and they pointed
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NESTING IN KASHMIR. 689
out these birds to us when asked what species the eggs
belonged to.
860. Alauda arvensis, — The Skylark. — Common. Found foux' nests
in June, each containing 3 eggs.
100.^. lynx torquilla. — Common Wryneck. — The nest of this bird
has been found before in Kashmir, and we were fortunate enough to
find one nest in a hole in an old tree, about 10 ft. from the ground, at
Sonamerg. It contained 8 fresh eggs, and the female was shot off the
nest.
1024. Comcias garrula. — European Roller. — This bird was quite
one of the commonest met with. We were, however, very unlucky in
nearly always finding young birds in the nest holes. The only eggs
procured were from a native collector.
1029. Meroijs apiaster. — European Bee-eater. — Like the previous
species, this was the common bee-eater of Kashmir. We never found
eggs, though on several occasions we dug out the old bird and found
young in the nest-hole. They appear to be more solitary in their
nesting habits than M. veridis, as on no occasion did we find more than
one nest occupied, though the river bank was often riddled with nest-
holes.
1035. Alcedo ispida, — Common King-fisher. — Very common.
Eggs in May, June and July.
1066. Upupa epops. — European Hoopoo. — Common. Eggs in May
and June.
1310. Tictur risorius. — Indian Ring-dove. — Veiy common in the
valleys. Eggs in May and June.
1305, Tutur ferrago. — Indian Turtle-dove. — Common. Eggs in
May and June.
1393. Porzana pw527?a.— Eastern Baillon's Crake. — This is a bird
seldom seen, but from the numbers of nests we found on the Sumbul
marsh it must be far from uncommon. The nests were as described
by Blanford, Vol. IV, page 166. The normal number of eggs is 7.
In several nests we found eggs broken by crows or rats, most of
the eggs having but a small round hole in them, as though made
by a bird's beak.
1398. Amaurornis fuscus, — Ruddy Crake. — Another bird hard to
find and whose nest eluded all our searching. The villagers used to
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640 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
briDg in quantities of these eggs, and though we supposed them to
belong to this species, we had a bird shot to make certain. Fortunate-
ly, a female was shot with a fully-formed egg in her, so all doubts were
satisfactorily settled.
1402. Gallmulla chloropus. — Moor Hen. — The commonest of the
water birds of Kashmir. Eggs in June and July.
1429. llt/drophasianus cJiirugus. — The Pheasant-Tailed Jacana. —
Very common on the large Kashmir lakes where we got eggs in June
a ad July.
1431. Sarcogrammus indlcus. — Red Wattled Lapwing. — Fairly
common. Eggs in May and June.-
1447. j^gialitls dubea. — Little Ringed Plover. — This bird was com-
mon on the islands of the Jhelum River where we got eggs in May
and June. As noticed by Blanford, page 243, we found two distinct
types of these eggs.
1460. Totanus hypoleucus, — Common Sandpiper. — Fairly common.
On the islands sand banks of the Sind River, we found several nests
in May and June. They generally contained 4 eggs, the nests con-
sisting of slightly built and shallow cups of grass and roots usually
placed in the centre of grass clumps.
1454. Gallinago coelestis, — Common Snipe. — We came across about
6 couple of these birds on the SumbuJ marsh. We found several of
the nests, but only two contained eggs. The nests placed in the centre
of a clump of thick grass or bracken, were shallow cups of dried coarse
grass without lining of any kind. We put the bird off the nest on two
occasions. The first nest contained four beautifully fresh eggs and the
second two. One of these eggs was fresh and the other broken
and badly addled ! Though the snipe never left the marsh during our
search, we heard nothing of the drumming noise, but on several
occasions noticed a bird hovering over its nest before settling.
1488. Rostratida cajyensis. — Painted Snipe. — Very common. Eggs
in May and June.
1496. Hydrochaledon hyhrida. — Whiskered Tern. — Very common.
We raided a colony of these birds on 22nd June, taking a few
eggs.
1570. Ardetta minuta. — Little Bittern. — Common on the Anchar and
Woolar Lakes. We found several nests in June on the former, usually
![]()
NESTING IN KASHMIR. 641
placed in long reeds, they were shallow saucer-shaped nests, of dried
reeds and grass. Eggs white, rather long ovals, 5 or 6 in number.
1606. Nyroca ferruginea, — White-eyed Duck. — A few of these
birds were breeding on the Anchar Lake in June, and on the 21st we
were lucky enough to get one nest containing 10 eggs slightly incubated.
A peculiar thing about this nest, off which the bird rose when I
was about 20 yards off, was that all the eggs were carefully covered
up with reed, as those of the Grebe are found ; the nest was in a clump
of thick reeds, and I saw the bird over them as she rose and found the
eggs covered up as described. I do not remember seeing this noted
before, except in the well known case of the Little Grebe.
This completes the list of eggs found by us in Kashmir. Of course
our trip was not wholely devoted to egg collecting, and except at
Sonamerg and Sumbul, we spent very little time in searching for
nests, most of our finds occurring on the line of march or when mov-
ing up or down the river by boat. But it shows that it is a country
that will well repay the efforts of collectors : and in the high camping
grounds at Sonamerg and otiier places, really splendid eggs are to be
found, and in many of these camps there is so little to employ one's
time, that it is well to have some such hobby to follow. The want of
a collecting gun was sorely felt by us, as our 12 bore usually destroy-
ed the small birds we shot as specimens.
![]()
642
A NEW SEA-SNAKE OF THE GENUS DISTIRA, FROM
KURRACHEE.
By G. a. Boulenger, F.R.S.
[With a Plate.)
(Read before the Bombay Natural Historv Society on 28th June, 1899.)
DiSTIRA GiLLESPLE, Sp. IIOV.
Head small ; body much elongated ; neck slender ; its diameter two-
sevenths the greatest depth of the body. Rostral slightly deeper than
broad ; nasals as long as the frontal, three times as long as the suture
between the prefrontals ; frontal once and two-thirds as long as broad,
as long as its distance from tlie rostral, scarcely more than half the
length of the parietals ; one prije-and one postocular ; a single, large,
anterior temporal ; six upper labials, fifth largest, third and fourth
entering the eye ; two pairs of chin-shields, in contact with each other,
23 feebly imbricate, smooth scales round the neck, 44 hexagonal, juxta-
posed, feebly keeled scales round the thickest part of the body. Ventra
feebly enlarged but distinct, 372. Greyish-olive above, yellowish below,
the darker colour forming very indistinct bars down the sides ; these
bars accompanied by deep black spots on the anterior half of the body ;
black spots confluent into an irregular stripe along the belly, confluent
with the black bars of the sides, and disappearing on the hinder
part of the body ; snout and upper lip yellowish, crown dark olive.
Total length 1,035 ; tail 120 millim.
A single female specimen formed part of a small collection brought
together by Mr. F. W. Townsend with the assistance of Lieut. R. St.
John Gillispie, R.E., and his wife, as a compliment to the latter 1 have
ventured to name the species. The snake was caught on the surface of
the water in Kurrachee harbour in August, 1898.
Distira gillespice is nearest allied to D. subcincta, Gray, from which
it difters in the deeper rostral, the single postocular, the number of
upper labials, and the juxtaposed scales on the body.
The same collection contained a large female of Distira stohesii,
Gray, measuring 4 ft. 10 in., caught in August last floating on the
surface in Kurrachee harbour, and entirely covered with a thick growth
of green weeds referable to 2 or 3 species of Ulva and 2 or 3 species of
Enter omorpha^ both common genera of green Algte, as I am inform-
ed by Mr. Vernon H. Black man. The specimen, on being cut open
by Mr. Townsend, was found to contain 12 well-developed young,
measuring from 12 to 16 inches, in addition to two undeveloped ova
forming part of the same chain and situated between the fertile ova.
![]()
Joiirr^-BoTTLbay Nat. Hist Soc.
>j
JGreei. del ex litr
iiin.t-eTTi-Bros imp. Lonclor
DISTIRA GILLESPI/E.
(^Vevr Sea SnaJte n-rm Kv?-rarfiee ■ I
![]()
![]()
643
A CATALOGUE OF THE HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM
AND BHUTAN.
By G. C. Dudgeon, f.e.s.
With Notes by H. J. Elwes, f.z.s., f.e.s., &c.,
AND
Additions by Sir George F. Hampson, Bart., b.a., f.e.s., &c.
Part VI.
(^Continued from page 303 of this Volume?)
Family PSYCHID^.
Sub-Family (ECETICIN^.
Gemis Clania, Wlk.
617. C. cmmerij Westw.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. 1 took several hundreds of pupgs and larvse
from China tea bushes on the Punkabaree Estate in November, and
obtained 25 perfect males from them. As soon as the insects have
fully developed their wings they batter themselves to pieces iu a very
short time. The larva forms a case of the small twigs taken from the
tea bushes, and feeds on the Lard leaves and bark. The latter seems
to be eaten as much as the former. My specimens emerged in
January, February and March.
618. C, variegata, Snell.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,000 to 3,000 feet. I took quantities of larvae
of this species at Badamtam in the sal forests, on the leaves of which I
found it feeding. I afterwards took it sparingly on tea, especially
Assam and Manipuri plants. I gave its life history in a paper published
in the Indian Museum Notes, in which it was named for me by Mr.
Moore as Ewwefa 52Mm^, Moore (sunk as a synonym by Hampson). The
larvae are not found in quantities together as are those of C. crarneri,
Westw. The specimens in my collection were taken or emeroed in
February, March and September. I have only once obtained it at
light.
Genus Amatissa, Wlk.
619. A. consorta^ Tempi.
Bhutan, 2,500 feet. I reared one female taken as a pupa
in August, and placed it on a tree-trunk not far from my
house, visiting it every ten minutes. In half-an-hour I had taken
two males from it, one, unfortunately, having been there too lono- -. the
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644 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
result was that no more males approached the female. I have invari-
ably found that, as soon as a male Psychid has had connection with a
female, the latter ceases to attract other males, hut so long as this can be
prevented males can be taken one after the other with great facility.
Sub-Family PSYCHING.
Genus Acanthopsyche, Heyl.
Sub-genus (Eceticoides, Heyl.
621. (E.bipars^^lk,
Sikhim, 5,500 feet. This is a destructive insect to tea at higher
elevations. I obtained a pupa at Tukvar from a bush which was com-
pletely stripped of leaves and bark. This emerged as a female in
November and I was fortunate enough to obtain 7 males from it before
connection was made, when, although I saw a few more males flying
around, I was not able to induce them to settle. The abdomen of the
male in the Psychidce is capable of great elongation, and this is neces-
sary, as it is required to be forced between the body of the female and
the pupa shell, in which the female remains until she has completed her
oviposition, in order to effect copulation. In the only specimen of a
male now remaining in my collection, veins Ic and Ih do not appear
to anastomose, but Sir George Hampson assures me that the specimen
which I gave Mr. Moore, and which was taken from the same female,
is normal.
Sub-genus Metisa, Wlk.
630a. M. canifrons, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. This is a small species, the pupa of which is formed in a
case similar to that figured by Hampson of Psyche {HeT/lcertsia) fusca,
Hampson, The type is in the British Museum.
Q'60h. M. gigantea^ n. sp. (Plate I, Fig. 14, $),
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. Differs from typical Metisa in the forewing
havin cr veins 4 and 5 stalked ; 7, 8, 9 and 10 stalked : hindwing with
4 and 5 from a point, and a spur from the middle of 8 towards the
costa.
$ . AntennsB strongly bipectinated to the tip ; thorax pale
brownish ; abdomen covered with long hair. Forewing fuscous-brown,
the area below vein 2 and the median nervnre dusky ochreous. Hind-
wing with the outer margin slightly excised from vein Ic to vein 3,
fuscous throughout. Three specimens taken at light at Punkabareej
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HETEROCERA OF SIKEIM AND BHUTAN, 645
two in August (Dudgeon). Exp. 52 millim. Type in British
Museum.
There are several other species of this family found in Sikhim judg-
ing by the larva cases constantly being found, but they are extremely
difficult to rear.
Family COSSIDiE.
Genus Cossus, Fabr.
651. C. acronyctoides., Moore.
Sikhim. I have only received two specimens, one of which was
taken in May.
655. C. palhdalce^ Hmpsn.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 to 3,U00 feet. A family common species
in April and May, especially at Punkabaree at light. Perfect speci-
mens are, however, difficult to obtain.
Genus DuoMiTus, Butl.
658. D. ceramicys^ Wlk.
Sikhim. I took two males of this species at light at Punkabaree in
July and August. It must be rare, as I have never seen others.
659. D. strix, Cram.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,500 to 2,500 feet. I took two specimens in
May, both females. It seems rather rarer than the last.
660. D. leuconotus, Wlk.
Sikhim. I have not seen this from the locality.
661. D. mineus^ Cram.
Sikhim. I have seen six specimens of this species only ; one a female
in Dr. Pilcher's collection, another female taken, I believe, by Dr.
Seale near Darjeeling, two males which I took at light at Punkabaree
in September, and two females taken by me in August and September
in the same locality.
662. D. fuscipars^ Hmpsn.
Sikhim. (The type which was taken by one of Moller's native col-
lectors is the only specimen I have ever seen. — H. J. E.)
662a. D. pardalis, n. sp. (Plate I, Fig. 17, (^).
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. Neuration as in Duomitus stigmaticus, Moore,
veins 4 and 5 of the hindwing being given off separately.
$. Antennae brown ; head white ; thorax brownish- white, with a
narrow dark dorsal stripe with a row of three rather large black spots
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646 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
on either sido of it and another single spot just above the origin of the
forewing ; abdomen brownish-white, each segment ringed with black,
interrupted dorsally by a pale brownish band throughout. Forewing dull
white with the veins brownish, reticulated with large black strigje and
forming a row of oval spots beyond the cell ; a large round black
spot just beyond the disco-cellulars. Hind wing fuscous, paler at inner
margin ; a sub-marginal row of white striations ; veins brownish.
Punkabaree at light {Dudgeon). Exp. 46 millim. Type in the
British Museum collection.
656. D. stigmaticus, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,800 to 3,000 feet. This was originally des-
cribed as a Cossus, and was subsequently placed by Hampson in
AzygopUeps. Hampson now agrees that, on account of the neuration,
it should be placed in this genus. It is a common species attracted to
light, flying in September and November.
Genus DuDGEONEA, Hmpsn., ined.
656(«. D. leucostida^ Hmpsn., Joun. Bom. N. H. Soc, ined.
Sikhim, Punkabaree, 1,800 feet. 1$. (A slight local race of this
species occurs at Sierra Leone. — G. F. H.)
Genus AzYGopHLEPS, Hmpsn.
663. A. albofasciataj Moore.
Sikhim. I have not procured this.
Genus Zeuzera, Latr.
667. Z. indica, Herr.-Schaff.
Sikhim. I have not seen a specimen from this locality.
&&'d. Z, multhtrigata, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan. 4,000 to 7,000 feet. This is not uncommon in
August, and may be taken at light in Darjeeling and Kurseong. (Com-
mon at light at Darjeeling in July and August. — H. J. E.)
670. Z. cofece, Neitn.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. I took 4 males at light in the Balasun valley
in May, June and September.
Genus PHRAGMATiEciA, Newm.
671. F. castanece^ Hiibn.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,500 to 2,500 feet. This is an extremely vari-
able species, both in size and markings. In 6 or 7 specimens taken in
March in Bhutan the bodies were shorter and more robust and the wings
![]()
HETEROCERA OF HIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 647
broader. I have specimens taken in March, -June, July, September
and October.
Family AEBELIDiE.
Genus Aebela, Moore.
675. A. tetracnis, Moore.
Sikhim. I took a single specimen, which is now in the British
Museum collection. I have not seen another.
Genus Encaumaptbra, Hmpsn.
677. E. stigmata, Hmpsn.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. I have two specimens of this, which were taken
by me in May and June in the Balasun valley at light.
Family HEPIALID^.
Genus Palpifer, Hmpsn.
678. P. se.xnotatus, Moore.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. Five specimens taken at light in May and
June, one only has the basal area of the hindwing fulvous-yellow, there
is also a pale buff marginal mark on the outer margin of the hindwing
below the apex. ( I took this myself at light at Darjeeling on
July 20th, and have specimens from the Naga hills taken at from
5,000 to 6,000 feet. It is a rare species, however, in both localities. — *
H.J.E.)
Genus Hepialiscus, Hmpsn.
680. H. nepalensis, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I have only two specimens, both of which had
pink hindwings when fresh, but this colour soon fades out. (I think I
have two species under this name, but it is impossible to describe any
of the Hepialids properly, unless the specimens are fresh. The
insect is rare in June. — H. J. E.)
Genus Phassds, "Wlk.
681. P. aboe, Moore.
Sikhim. I have only one specimen in my collection.
682. P. punctimargo, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. One male taken in June. (I have one male from Atkin-
son's collection which was there under the name of P. oboe, but which
Sir. G. Hampson calls P. pundimargo. I confess that I think the
Indian species of this family are, for want of good material, imperfectly
worked out at present. — H. J. E.)
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648 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
683. P. damor, Moore.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. My only specimen, taken in sSeptember, has
more silvery spots than are given in the description and figure in Butler's
III. Hec., Vol. VI. The thorax, legs, head and some of the markings
of the forewing are sap-green. It may be P. viridis, Hmpsn., of which
I have not seen the type specimen.
685. P. signifer, Wlk.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet ; Bhutan, 2,500 feet. I have specimens taken
in March and April only. The abdomen and hiudwings are pink when
fresh, which colour however fades quickly. I have never seen a speci-
men coloured like Butler's figure, though the markings of my specimens
are identical. (What Sir G. Hampson has identified io my collection
as P. signifer, Walker, from the Khasias, has the hindwing dark
brown, almost black towards the base, and is almost certainly
distinct from a Sikhim specimen, which is little more than half the
size, and which has the hindwing uniform pale brown. — H. J. E.)
Family CALLIDULIDiE.
Genus Cleosiris, Boisd.
690. C. catamita, Geyer.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 1,500 to 3,000 feet. This insect is common at
Badamtam in shady roadways, and resembles the butterfly Symbrenthia
hippoclus when settled with its wings closed. I have also taken it at
light in May, although the family is essentially a day flying one. It
occurs from May to August.
Genus Callidula, Hiibn.
692. C, erycinoides, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan. This occurs at higher elevations than the last.
I have never seen it alive^ but believe that my collectors procured it at
about 6,000 feet. (Taken by me at Pashok at 6,000 feet on June I6tb,
but is not a common species — H. J. E.)
693. C. attenuata, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan. It is found at 3,000 feet in the latter locality
in April and May.
Genus Pterodecta, Butl.
694. P. anchora, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I have 3 specimens from Tongloo, 10,000
feet, and one marked 2,000 feet, this latter elevation is probably wrong.
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. G40
I have however seen it alive at Rissoom, 6,400 feet. (Taken at
Tongioo in July— ^. J. E.)
Family DREPANULID^.
Genus Euchera, Hiibn.
696. E. suhstigmarla, Hiibn.
Sikhim and Bhutan. It is found from the plains' level up to 3,000
leet, and is a most conspicuous object, setting with outspread wmgs on
the under surface of a leaf or on the upper surface in the shade ; it is
easily disturbed. It is not often attracted to light. The larvae are
velvety black, with the under surface greyish-white ; there is a sublateral
white line and a lateral row of quadrate elongated yellow and white
streaks throughout. It is found in May, June, October and November,
in the perfect stage. (Taken at Mongpoo, 3,000 feet, in June — H,
J. E.)
697. E. rectijicata, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I took several hundreds of this at Rissoom,
6,400 feet, in August, attracted to light, and indeed had great difficulty
in preventing them putting my lamp out. Both this and the last species
have a most disagreeable smell, caused by a scent gland on the
underside of the 1st abdominal segment, the scent of which is diffused
by a long fan-like brush which is constantly being expanded. I have
also taken specimens at 2,500 feet and 5,500 feet. (One of the com-
monest moths at light at Darjeeling. I have pIso taken it on the top of
Tongioo. I should not have called the scent of the insect disagreeable.
—B. J. E.)
Genus Macrocilix, Butl.
699. M. myaticata, Wlk.
Sikhim. 1 have only one specimen of this in my collection, which I
believe was obtained in Darjeeling station. (I found this not uncommon
in July and August at Darjeeling and have specimens from Moller
dated April.— ^. J. E.)
700. M. orblferata, Wlk.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I took this on one occasion but have never seen
another specimen ; mine is now in the British Museum. (I have specimens
taken at Darjeeling in May, and in Bhutan in September by Moller's
collectors. It occurs also in the Khasia Hills in October, coll.
Atkinson.—^. J. E.)
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650 JOVRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Genus Macrauzata, Butl.
701. M. fenestraria., Moore.
ISilshiin. I htive taken this as low as 1,800 feet in January, but it
probably occurs at about 15,000 feet more commonly ; my other
snecimen bein^r from Tukvav, taken in M?rch. ( I never saw or frot this
mysi'lf, and have one only from Moller, which is much larger than
Kliasia specimens.— jST. J. E.)
Genus x\uzATA, Wlk.
702. A. semipavonaria, Wlk.
Sikhim. I have never seen this. (Two specimens only from Moller's
collection.—//. /. E.)
Genus Ditrigona, Moore.
703. D. Irian gularla^ Moore.
Sikhim. T have not seen this species. (Taken at I'ght by me at
Da i-ji el: ng in June and July. — //. ./. E.)
Genus Teiuenia. Moore.
704. T. vesiivafn^ Bntl.
Sikhim and Bhutan from 1,000 to 2,500 Itet. TLui i^ i (t ■ n<rni-
mon from June to September.
Genus LFUCODRErANA, Hmpsa.
7()5. /. idceokies, Hm})sn.
Sikhim, 10,000 feet. I have not procured this. (Though I have the
type of this and the next two species in my collection, I am not at all
sure that 1 can separate them by the characters given by Hainpsbn.
1 took this species and L. obliqnilinea, Hmpsn., on Tongloo with
Drepana qniaaria, Moore, which they much resemble, unless examined
minutely. — H. J. E.)
706. L. iiivea, Hmpsn.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I have one specimen taken in the latter locali-
ty in June. (The type of this comes from the Khasias, where I took it
in September ; by some error Sir G. ILampson has published it as from
Sikhim.-^/T. J. E.)
707. L. obliguilinea, Hmpsn.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I have one specimen from the latter locality,
taken in May. -
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HETEROGERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. Gol
Genus Emodesa, Moore.
7076. E. sinuosa. Moore.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. I took one specimen in December in the Baki'
sun valley beaten from dry grass.
Genus Drepana, K>chr.
708. D. pallida, Moore.
Sikhim and Bhutan. I only possess one male of this species taken
in April. (I have three females of this, one of which I identified with
Moore's specimen (? type) which are very different from the male
which Hampson figures as D. pallida. He has labeled one of these
femnles D. pallida, var. ; they have two round dusky marks larger than
thft single one in his figurp, and [daced on the two outer angles ot the
ce'l ; thpv have, though quite fresh, none of the yellowish tinge of
tlvm-.l). One from Moller is dated 12th December, another from
Knyvett tlio ^nd ^la.r(;h - H. J. E.)
VOy I. D. und'iiiferii. Hmpsn. Jour. Bo. Nat. His. Soc. ined.
Yatung 10,500 feet {Hnlmn).
710. D. nifofasc/afa, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. I have one specimen taken at high elevation in -Uily wh'.ch
is probably referable to this species, its condition is however poor. (The
type male is from Moller's collection, the fema'e, which is precisely
similar, was taken by me on Tongloo in July. — H. J. E.)
711. D. ochreipennis, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. I have never received this. (Three specimens of this small
very distinct insect from Moller's collection, probably from the interior.
—B. J. E.)
712. D. quinaria, Moore.
Sikhim 7,000— 10,000 feet (Elwes); Bhutan 3,000 feet (Dudgeon).
I took three specimens in October at Fagoo which I described as a
new species, and which Sir George Hampson says is idenfical with
this species. It differs from the other species of the section in both selves
having the antennce pectinated on one side only, the branches in the female
being short and the hindicing in both sexes being anuled at vein 4. The
neuration corresponds with that of D. pallida, Moore. (I took this
myself at light on Tongloo in July, and have one from Atkinson's
collection marked Darjeeling. This latter named by Moore may be a
different species, but is not fresh enough to decide. — H. J. E.)
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652 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
712a. D. fulvicosta, n. sp.
$. White; frons and anteunsB brownish, the former pectinated on
both sides with the branches not very long. Forewing with costal edge
pale fulvous, white, crossed by two very indistinct ante-medial, two
post-medial and one sub-marginal fuscous waved lines. Bindwing with
crenulate indistinct lines in continuation of those of the forewing, the
inner ante-medial obsolete and the post-medial slightly angled at vein 4 ;
outer margin angled slightly at vein 4.
9 . Only differs from the male in the antennae being ciliated.
This species I originally placed under D. innotata, Hmpsn., but both
Sir George Hampson and Mr. Elwes say that it does not belong to that
species. Mr. BIwos remarks that D. innotata is pure hyaline white with-
out a trace of markings, and that the antennae of the female are simple.
Bhutan, 3,000 feet {Dudgeoii). Two specimens taken by me in Octo-
ber, 1894, at Fagoo. Exr., $ 32, 9 34 mm. This species super-
ficially resembles Leucodrepana nivea, Hmpsn.
714. D. fasciata, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. I have not seen this species. (I am doubtful whether this
is a Drepana at all, but having only a female it is not easy to decide the
question.— i?. J. E.)
715. D. specularia, Wlk.
Sikhim, 7,000—10,000 feet. Occurs in July and August. Dr.
Pilcher obtained several at light in Darjeeling. (Common at Darjeeling
in July and August. — H. J. E.)
716. D. discispilaria, Moore.
Sikhim, 7,000 feet ; Bhutan, 6,400 feet. I have taken this species at
light at Rissoom in April, it occurs at Darjeeling in August also.
(Rare at light in July at Darjeeling. — H. J. E.)
718. IK muscularia, Wlk.
Sikhim, 6,800 feet. Appears to be rather scarce. I have one speci-
men taken at Darjeeling in June. (Commoner than the last. I took
several at Darjeeling at light in July and August, and have others
from Moller's collection. — H. J. E.)
720. D. Ulaclna, Moore.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet. I have one female which I took at Punkabaree
in June ; the apex of the forewing is extremely falcate, the lines are
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHUl AND BHUTAN. 653
brownish -fuscous. (A specimen dated April 4tli from Knyvett, and
another from Moller. — H. J. E.)
721. D. orphnina, Hmpsn.
Sikhim and Bhutan, 2,500 feet. I have two specimens which I think
may belong to this species, they are purplish-grey with several indistinct
waved lines on both wings, one ante-medial and one post-medial being
most distinct. (This may be D. j?ru7iicolor, Moore. I do not know
whether Sir George Hampson had identified D. miiscularia, Wlk.,
when he described D. orphnina^ but except by the lattor's smaller size,
I cannot distinguish it. — H. J. E.)
722. I), prunicolor, Moore.
Sikhim. I have not received this.
723. D. postica, Moore.
Sikhim. I have never taken a specimen. (This, which looks a very
distinct species as figured, is almost the only species out of 28 recorded
from Sikhim which I do not possess. — H. J. E.)
724. D. vinacea, Moore.
Sikhim. ' Rare at Darjeeling where I took one specimen at light in
July, I have it also from the Khasia Hills. — H. J. E.)
724a. D. leticr>sticia, Hmpsn. (Plate I, Fig. 22, $).
Sikhim ; Bhutan, 3,000 feet. This very distinct little species is not
uncommon in the Chel valley, and occurs in June and November.
725. D. fenestraria, Moore.
Sikhim ; Bhutan, 6,000 feet. I took a single male below Labah in
September. I have never seen another specimen. (A single specimen
from Moller agreeing with others from the Khasia Hills. —
H. J. E.)
726. 1). trilinearia, Moore.
Sikhim. Two specimens in my collection which I had put under
this species upon examination prove to belong to Section III, vein 11
arising from the middle of the areole. I cannot identify these with any
species described. (A specimen taken by me on the boundary of
Nepal towards Sundakphoo, agrees with the type in collection
Moore, and with two others from Moller. A specimen named by Sir
George Hampson is either a variety with much more purple on the
forewing or a different species. — H. J. E.)
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654 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
727. D. excisa, Hmpsn. (Plate I, Fig. 21, $).
Sikhim ; Bhutan, 2,500 feet. I took a male at Fagoo in August at
light. (This beautiful species is rare in Sikhim. I have it also from
the Naga and Khasia Hills.— ^. J. E.)
728. D. argenteola, Moore.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet ; Bhutan, 2,500 feet. The. Sikhim specimen is
pale ochreous with a conspicuous chocolate bar on the disco-cellulars of
the forewiug ; the Bhutan one is darker, with two parallel lines across
' the cell at right angles to the post-medial double line. (lam almost
sure that there are two or three sj)ecies united mider this name in the
" Moths of India,"' one which 1 have named D. orqoiteol from Moore's
collection, and wliich has 4 or 5 distinct bands i'rom the costa to the
transverse band, vvhich are not mentioned in Sir Ge irgn Hntnpson's des-
cription or se^n in D. d/ocular's, M^ore. I liavc t from Sikh in and the
K'las'iis. Tiie other, a sm-d'er iuseot, lik ■ M . d's ^dafe >'' l>. fiiocniaris
but pain* in colour, ha-^ a d'stinctdark pitch wiili outer si)ot in tlie cell,
ot which there is no trace in D. argentiola, Modv, au'! the transverse
hand ol the him'wiiig not cuniing near the costa. wliicli it t( uches in
D. argenteola. 1 bave this from Gammie's and Moll^r's collections, also
from the Khasia^ and Nagas. A single specimen from Sikhim which
to some extent combines the characters of botli may be a tbird species.
I cannot identify D. patmna, Moore.— ^. J. E.)
731. B. duple.v, Moore.
Sikhim, 6,800 feet. One female taken at the electric lamps in
Darjeeling in June. (1 have a single female taken by Knyvett on
May 5th.—//. J. E.)
732. D. specular isj Moore.
Sikhim. Not received by me. (Also a very rare species. I have one
only from M oiler.— /?. J. E.)
733. D. flava, Moore.
Sikhim. Not known to me. (I have only one from an old Darjee-
ling collection, others from the Khasia Hills. — H. J, E.)
734. D, alhonotata, Moore.
Sikhim, 7,600 feet ; Bhutan, 2,r.00 feet. Two males and one female
of this species, the two former procured at the lower elevation in July,
the female in December at tbe higher one. One male is the variety
septempundata, Warr. (A pair only. from Moller's collection. — HJ.E.)
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HETEROCERA OF SIKHIM AND BHUTAN. 655
735. D. sadana, Moore.
Sikhim ; Yatung, 10,000 feet. I received one specimen which seems
referable to this species from the latter locality collected by Mr.
Taylor of the Chinese Commission. (I am almost sure I have two
species from Sikhim under the name of D. sadana. Two males and a
female taken by me on Tonrjloo which have the outer part of the fore-
wing from the sipex to the two discal spots and hind-margin chestnut,
whilst the others, of which I have a pair taken by MoUer's collectors in
Bhutan in September, have only a well defined pnrplish mark on the
outer margin below the apex. The antennge in this form seem to be
much less pectinate. — IJ. J. E.)
739. D. viva, Moore.
Sikhim. I have not seen a specimen. (I have four from Sikhim
and three from the Khasias which agree with Moore's description. I
have also two females of what I am almost suth is a cistinct species,
having no band on the hindwing, no group oi' silver spots on tlie fore-
wing, a muc'i more falcate forewing and no tr.msvers) bands on either
wing below. One of fh^se is marked October lotb bv ^ioller, the
ot.-.er, from Kuy\ ett has been named D. inra by Hampson —
B J. E.)
7jO. D. fulva, Hmpsn.
Sikhim ; Bhutan. I have one nude from high elevation in Bhutan.
(The type of this came from near Jongri. aljout 13,000 feet, Knyvett
sent me two others from Gnatoug, about 12,000 feet. These are all I
have seen. — //. J. E.)
741. D. htjalinata, Moore.
Sikhim, 6,800 feet. My specimen which was taken at the electric
light in Darjeeling in Jtme is not good enough to identify with cer-
tainty. (Two specimens only from Moller's collectors, one has been
identified with the type in Atkinson's collection. Moore described it
as a Geometrid, and it certainly is aberrant in form and markings, and
does not go well with D.fidva. — H, J. E.)
Genus Problbpsidis, Hmpsn.
741?). P. albidescensj Hmpsn.
Sikhim. I have never received another besides the type which is
now in the British Museum. ^ _ „ .
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656 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Genus Spica, Swinhoe.
742. /iS. luteola, Swinh.
Sikhim ; Yatung, 12,000 feet. I have one specimen from the last
locality taken by Mr. Taylor which appears to be a female, the antenna?
are flattened and toothed or lamellate, the extremity of the abdomen
has a whitish tuft. (I took both sexes at light at Darjeeling in July
and August, and there were many in Holler's collection. I very much
doubt whether it is rightly placed after Drepana^ the claspers of the
male furnished with great widespread tufts of down are quite unlike
any Drepana I know. — H. J. E.)
Genus Thymistada, Wlk.
743. T. tripunctata, Wlk.
Sikhim. I have one specimen without a label which I probably
received from a collector in Darjeeling. (This is quite common at
light at Darjeeling and at Tongloo in July and August. — H. J. E.)
Genus Deroca, Wlk.
744. D. hjallna, Wlk.
Sikhim. I have not seen a specimen. (I expect this is only got in
the interior. Sikhim specimens like those from the Naga Hills and
Manipur are much smaller than those from the N.-W. Himalayas —
//. J.E.)
Genus Phalacra, Wlk.
747. P. eaxisa, Hmpsn.
Sikhim. I do not know this.
Genus Drapetodes, Guen.
748. D. mitaria^ Guen.
Sikhim, 1,800 feet ; Bhutan, 2,500 — 3,000 feet. Specimens from
these localities would appear to be larger than those examined by Sir
Geo. Hampson. The smallest of six specimens in my collection mea-
sures 31 millimetres, and the largest 37 millimetres, I have taken it in
February, June, October, November and December.
Genus Oreta, Wlk.
750. O. extensa, Wlk.
Sikhim, 1,800 — 7,000 feet. Occurs, but not commonly, in Darjeeling
in June. I took a single female at 1,800 feet in November at Punka-
baree. (1 never got it in Darjeeling. Specimens from Moller are dated
March.— £r. J. E.)
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HETEROCERA OF SIR HIM AND BHUTAN. 657
751. 0. sanguinea, Moore.
Sikhim. I have not seen this. (I have it from Mciller and Knyvett,
dated April, but never took it myself. I believe it is a low-level moth.
—H. J. E.)
758. 0. oblusa, Wlk.
Sikhim. This seems to be a common species at light in Darjeeling,
1 have specimens taken there in May and August. (Common at light
in July and August. — H. J. E.)
754. 0. obliquUinea, Hmpsn.
Sikhim, I have not seen a specimen. (A pair from Moller agree
with Mussoorie specimens. — H. J. E.)
758. 0. pavaca, Moore.
Sikhim, 0,800 feet. This occurs at light in Darjeeling in June and
July. (Rarer than 0. ohtusa. — H. J. E.)
758a. 0. oUvacea, n. sp. (Plate II, Fig. 20, <?.)
(J. Head purplish ; palpi and legs scarlet and grey; hind tibise with
prominent black stripe ; thorax and abdomen olive-browTi, the latter
tinged with pinkish towards the end. Both wings olive-brown, slightly
but evenly striated with silvery-grey scales ; an almost medial waved
reddish line bent outwardly above the cell and inwardly near the inner
margin of the forewing, continued as an indistinct sub-basal line on the
hindwing ; some reddish suffusion below the costa of the forewing
beyond the medial line ; a grey lunulato mark on the costa of the fore-
wing before the apex, continued as a very indistinct sub-marginal line
as far as vein 5 ; a black spot near the outer angle of the forewing,
cilia of both wings pinkish-brown.
Larva smooth, with the anal somite triangular, with a long single
terminal process, and the anal prologs wanting ; ord somite with a
short curved dorsal hump. Purplish-brown, paler dorsally from the
4th somite to the end ; a dark oblique line from the sub-lateral area of
the 4th to an indistinct dorsal line on the 7th somite, angled and again
oblique down to the sub-lateral area of the 10th somite. Head bifid,
produced to two conical points. Food plant, a species of EryUirina
called in Nepalese " Phalleta."
Pupa, formed in a rolled-up leaf bound with pinkish silk, red-
brown with some pinkish powdery excrescences on the head and
thorax.
9
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658 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol.XII.
Sikhim, 1.800 feet (Dudgeon). Exp. 40mm. Types in Brit. Mus.
collection and collection Dudgeon. Sir George Hampson remarks that
this is allied to 0. griseotincta, Hmpsn., and 0. herenice^ Swinh., from
Singapore.
759. 0. griseotincta^ Hmpsn.
Sikhim, 1,000 feet. I took a single male of this species in Septem-
ber near Punkabaree in the Balasun valley. (Besides the type 1 have
only one male from Darjeeling. — //. J. E.)
[To he continued.)
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659
THE HILL FORESTS OF WESTERN INDIA.
By H. M. Birdwood, C.S.I. , LL.D., M.A., late Vice-President
OF THE Bombay Natural History Society.
Notes of a paper read at the Lecture Hall, Greater Britain Exhibition,
Earl's Court, London, on the 4cth July 1899, under the Presidency of
General Michael, C.S.T.
I trust that the following notes of a paper [ lately read at the Earl's
Court Exhibition will be of interest to the Members of the Bombay
Natural History Society. My object was to direct attention to a limited
area only in Western India, where the operations of the Indian Forest
Department may be regarded as more or less typical of its general
work. But, first, I referred to some considerations which determine
the applicability of a system of scientific forestry to any particular
country, and attempted to trace, in outline, the history of the measures
adopted by the Government of India for the Conservancy of Forests
in districts where scientific forestry is likely to secure permanent ad-
vantages to the people. I also adduced some statistical iufonnation
which gave an idea of the progress so far made.
It is obvious that, in some parts of the globe, it would be of no
advantage at all to increase the existing forest areas or to try to grow
forests where no forests have ever yet grown. The increase of vegeta-
tion in some countries might indeed be a positive evil to the inhabitants.
It might reduce the temperature of the air and of the soil where it is
already cold enough for human comfort ; or it might increase the rain-
fall in sea-bound regions which are damp enough already ; or it might
unduly reduce the area of cultivation in thickly populated countries
where people are mainly dependent on their own lands and crops for
sustenance. Or, again, the afforestation of new lands might not be
required for the production of fuel or of materials for building ships
or houses, or for railways or machinery, in countries already well
supplied with peat or coal or iron or other substitutes for firewood and
timber. And, lastly, employment on forest industries might not be
a matter of public concern in places where other industries sufficiently
occupy the time and intelligence of the people.
But India is not a country where such considerations prevail.
Dr. Schlich, in his admirable " Manual of Forestry," tells us that,
as a rule, the nearer we are to the Equator, the more important
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6G0 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
becomes the Forest question. In a hot country, with distinct wet and
dry seasons, forests may be necessary for the mitigation of extreme
heat and dryness during a part of the year, and for the regulation of
the flow of water in springs and rivers. The climate of a Continental
country may be improved by forests ; and a mountainous region is,
according to the same authority, more in need of forests than a low-
lying country, because forests tend to prevent landslips and avalanches
and the washing away of soil from hill sides and the consequent silting
up of rivers. Also they check the force and suddenness of destructive
floods. In hilly countries, as elsewhere, forests provide protection
from storms for men and beasts and birds.
Now India is distinctly a hot country, though in the Northern pro-
vinces extreme cold is also felt in winter. It possesses, over a great part
of its area, well defined wet and dry seasons, dependent on constant
causes recurring from year to year with the process of the sun above
and below the equator. Except on the sea- coast, it possesses a contin-
ental climate, or rather several types of continental climate ; and
though there are vast plains within its boundaries, it is intersected by
many mountain ranges, and even its plains and table-lands are broken
by isolated hills and hilly tracts. It is a land in which it would be
suicidal to neglect the great question of Forest Conservancy.
And yet it is only during the past 50 years that the vital importance
of the question has been realized in British India. Early in the pre-
sent century, a timber agency was indeed established on the West coast ;
and, in 1839-40 the Government of Bombay prohibited the cutting of
teak trees on State lauds. In 1843, Mr. Conolly, the Collector of
Malabar, made extensive plantations of teak at Nilambur ; but no sys-
tematic plan for the maintenance of wooded lands for the supply of
timber and other produce, or on account of their beneficial influence
on the climate and public health, or for the protection of the soil or
human dwellings from the violence of storms, and, in short, no plan
for the regular administration of forests on well ascertained principles
was adopted till several years afterwards, when the danger of con-
tinued neglect could no longer be concealed.
There can be no question that, at one time, a very large part of the
earth's surface was covered by forest growth, the destruction of which
has been followed by momentous consequences to the drainage of the
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TEE HILL FORESTS OF WESTERN INDIA. 661
soil and its external configuration. Local climates have probably
also been affected, though such causes as the drainage of marshes and
the operations of husbandry are also believed to have contributed to
such a result, by altering the hygrometric, thermometric, electric and
chemical conditions of the atmosphere. As observed by Mr. George
Marsh, in his suggestive treatise on " The Earth as modified by human
action," it is but recently, even in the most populous parts of Europe,
that public attention has been directed to the necessity for restoring
the disturbed harmonies of Nature, whose well-balanced inflluences are
propitious to ali her organic oflfspring, and of repaying to our great
Mother the debt which the prodigality of former generations has im-
posed on their successors. As regards India, the evidence disclosed by
ancient writings seems to show that it was covered, to a great extent,
at one time by forests. Dr. Schlich thinks that the country was more
fertile then than it is now and the climate less fierce ; and he refers
to the testimony of the great Chinese traveller, Fa-Hiati, who described
the climate as neither cold nor hot. Subsequently, as settlers began
to occupy fertile valleys, forest lands along the banks of the great
rivers were more and more cleared for cultivation. Such a proceeding
was inevitable ; and it would be idle to regard it as an interference
with the order of Nature ; for so long as it met the actual needs of
human beings, it was in aid of those harmonious methods by which
during the countless centuries, the Earth has been fitted for human habi-
tation. But man must now take his part in the further development of
those methods, if the great end in view is not to be defeated and if
successive generations of men are to pass on the inheritance they have
enjoyed, not unimpaired merely, but improved to the best of their power.
Such a conception of human duty was, however, uuknown to the noma-
dic tribes, who, according to Dr. Schlich, for a period of more than 750
years, carried on the work of destruction, not only in fertile valleys,
but alike on hills and plains, as they moved from one pasture o-round
to another. In his Preface to the Catalogue of the Indian exhibit at
the Internationa] Forestry Exhibition held at Edinburgh in 1884, Sir
George Birdwood says that it was the destruction of vegetation over wide
extended areas, at the time of the troubles following the decline of the
Moghal Empire, which thenceforward rendered India liable to desolat-
ing droughts and the consequent calamity of recurring famines. '* In
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662 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Vol. Xlh
the course of time," says Lt.-Col. F. Bailey, formerly Superintendent
of Forest Surveys and Acting Inspector- General of Forests in India,
and now Lecturer on Forestry in the University of Edinburgh, " not
only were large areas entirely cleared for cultivation and for village
sites, but more numerous flocks and herds, driven for their daily food
into the jungles, led to the impoverishment of a forest belt of ever
increasing width around the occupied tracts." During the hot season,
dry grass, fallen leaves and dead wood were set on fire in order to
clear the ground for a fresh growth of grass for cattle and also to
simplify the pursuit of game. But such practices, with those of
over cutting and digging up roots for fuel, soon destroyed the pro-
tective forest growth, and heavy rains then washed away the soil.
Cows and bullocks could no longer be kept in good condition on the
scanty herbage that remained, and the villagers began to keep large
flocks of goats, " against whose hoofs and teeth" as Lt.-Col. Bailey
remarks, " it is well known that forest growth cannot contend." The
village goats are still formidable foes to young plantations, though,
in the estimation of Sir Clements Markham, " the uneducated man,"
in his dealings witb forests, goes far beyond the goat in his capacity
for mischief.
It would be satisfactory to be able to say that a wiser policy pre-
vailed after the establishment of British Rule. But unhappily that
was not the case for many years. " With the advent of British Rule,"
says Dr. Schlich, '' the destruction of the forests became more fierce
than ever." The extension of cultivation " at the cost of the still
existing forests" was carried out I'or many years " without any enquiry
as to the ultimate effects." With the introduction of railways, a fur-
ther impetus was given to cultivation in the immediate neighbour-
hood of railway lines and stations, and with the steady increase of
prosperity under a settled Government, the demands for timber and
firewood increased enormously throughout the country. And thus the
reduction of forest areas went on with all its attendant evils.
Lt.-Col. Bailey cites the case of the outer Himalayan spurs in the
Eoshiarpur district of the Panjab, where, as the rock is very friable,
serious damage has been caused by denudation. Within the memory of
living men, these hills were well covered with forests or tall grass,
and the hill streams ran evenly in well-defined channels. But the
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THE HILL FORESTS OF WESTERN INDtA. 663
natural vegetation has now almost entirely disappeared, the hills are
crnmbling away and loose rocks and stones are carried down by the
streams, which are often several hundreds of yards wide and deposited
in the plains below. " Thus, not only have the hills themselves become
a dismal and profitless waste, but the fertility of extensive areas of
cultivation near their base has been completely destroyed by ihe stony
deposits laid on them." (Lt.-Col. Bailey on "Forestry in India."
The Scottish Geographical Magazine for 1897, p. 576.) Similar causes
have produced similar effects in other parts of India. The tbllowing
instance is probably familiar to many members of the Society. Be-
tween that great Western ramp of the table-land of the Dekhan — the
range of the Sahyadri Ghats — and the sea, there is the narrow hilly tract
of the Konkan. Many of the hills of the Southern Konkan were at
one time well wooded, and some of the streams were navigable by
larger craft than any that can now make their way to the towns and
villages on their banks. Here, as elsewhere, disastrous results have
followed the destruction of forests. The mould which, in the shelter of
the jungle, had been formed, during centuries, on the rocky surface of
the hills, to which it had been bound by a living network of fibrous
roots, became exposed to the full force of the monsoon rains. The
average annual rainfall near the sea amounts to about 80 inches and
gradually increases, till about 30 miles inland, at the ridge of the
Ghats, which forms the water-shed of the rivers flowing eastwards and
westwards, it reaches an average of about 280 inches in the year. A
wide view of these Konkan hills is obtained from the Hill Station of
Mahableshwar, and I well remember a conversation I once had there
with Mr. Shuttleworth, who, like other officers of his Department, was
always full of zeal for his work. He spoke in indignant terms of the
folly and the mischief of which the evidence lay before us in sun-baked
summits and barren sides of hills which, not so very long ago, were
clothed with all the glory of tropical vegetation. It is not easy to
appreciate all the mischief that has been done. The silting up of
water-ways alone means commercial loss to the whole country-
side. It means agricultural loss to those from whose possession
the soil itself has slid away, past recovery ; and the whole
community must suffer from the increased cost of fuel and
timber.
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664 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
It was not until the increasing difl&culty of meeting demands for
public works indicated the existence of a timber-famine, that the Indian
Government realized the gravity of the situation. According to
Dr. Schlich, the remedial measures at first adopted were only " half-
hearted." But when their insufficiency was made clear, a special
State Department was organized. The efforts which preceded that
event were not, however, unimportant or without effect on subsequent
arrangements. Indian Botanists had long urged on the Government
the necessity for establishing a regular system of forest administra-
tion and preventing the continued destruction of public property of
enormous value. The dawning of a new era was marked by the
appointment, in 1847, of the late Dr. Gibson to bo Conservator of
Forests in the Bombay Presidency. The most important duty assigned
to him was the maintenance of the supply of teak for ship building to
the Government Dockyard in Bombay ; and his work as a pioneer of
practical forestry was of special value in Western India, where he was
familiarly known as *' Daddy Gibson" and is still remembered, with
affection, by the people of the Junar district above the Ghats, where he
had his head quarters. As early as in 1847, the well known name of
the late Dr. Hugh Cleghorn, who has been described as the father of
the scientific forestry in India, appears in a report on the proposed
conservation of forests in Mysore. In the following year, General
Michael, C.S.T., who was then Lieut. Michael of the 39th Madras
Infantry, and has been described by Sir Joseph Fayrer as the father
and pioneer of practical forestry in India, was entrusted by the
Government of Madras with the organization of an establishment
for working and conserving the public forests near Coimbatore and
Cochin. He opened out forest roads and timber slips down the
mountain passes and cleared belts of brushwood to preserve young
saplings from fire. In the Anamalai teak forests, he made " the first
recorded attempt to protect Indian Forests from injury by annual
jungle fires." (Lt.-Col. Bailey on " Forestry in India." The Scottish
Geographical Magazine for 1897, p. 576.) Also by giving employment
to the Hill tribes he secured their co-operation in his plans. In the
discussion on the paper on Forestry read by General Michael before
the Society of Arts in December, 1894, Sir George Birdwood referred
to certain attempts in the same direction made about the same time in
![]()
THE HILL FORESTS OF WESTERN INDIA. 665
Bombay and Tennaserini, which, however, met with no success, partly
because they were on too ambitious a scale, and partly because the
ancient forest rights of the people were not sujEficiently considered.
" General Michael," he said, " set to work in a more modest manner
and in a far more conciliatory spirit, and after six years his exertions,
which completely broke down his health, were crowned with such
success that the Court of Directors in London at once took up the
subject warmly, and rapidly extended the Madras system of conser-
vancy all over India." In the same discussion General Michael was
referred to by Sir Joseph Fayrer as " certainly one of the great bene-
factors of India."
No account of Indian Forestry, however summary, would be satis-
factory without a reference to his services. It was the enthusiasm,
born of a love of woodland life, innate in such men as Dr. Gibson and
himself, and the out-of-door experience acquired by them and others,
whether as foresters or sportsmen, and interested as such in every phase
of forest craft, which really prepared a firm foundation for the stately
fabric of scientific forestry raised by their successors.
It was from the City of Edinburgh, with its grand Botanic Gardens
and its long array of men of science, prominent among them, in our
own time, in connection with much that relates to the science of Fores-
try being Professors James Hutton Balfour and Bayley Balfour, that
the effective impulse was received which determined the further deve-
lopment of the Forest Department. In 1850 the British Association
met in Edinburgh and appointed a Committee to consider the probable
effects, from an economic and physical point of view, of the destruction
of tropical forests. In the following year, the Committee presented at
Ipswich a report which embodied the general conclusions and recom-
mendations arrived at, and demonstrated the importance of preserving
every condition tending to maintain an equilibrium of temperature and
humidity, of preventing the disappearance of indigenous forests, and of
taking the requisite steps for extending forest conservancy and en-
suring the due and continued supply of valuable forest produce. The
weighty evidence adduced by the Committee and the broad views enun-
ciated by them so impressed the Court of Directors that, within a few
years, regular establishments were sanctioned for the Madras Presi-
dency and British Burma. In 1856, Dr. Cleghorn took up General
10
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666 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCLETT, Vol. XII.
Michael's work, and was appointed Conservator of Forests in Madras,
with Capt. Douglas and Lieut. Beddome as his Assistants, who in turn
succeeded him in the office of Conservator, after his transfer, first to
Bengal, where he gave most efficient aid to Dr. Brandis in carrying out
forest conservanc}', and afterwards to the Panjab. According to Col.
Bailey, Dr. Cleghorn checked the destructive practice of temporary cul-
tivation in the Madras forests, notwithstanding the opposition he
encountered. He was ultimately successful "because his well known
desire to promote native interests inspired the rulers of the country
with confidence in his proposal." In the year 1856 also, Dr. Brandis,
( now Sir Dietrich Brandis, K.C.I.E. ), was appointed Superintendent
of Forests in Pegu, and six years afterwards was placed on special duty
with the Government of India. He was the first Inspector General of
Forests to the Government of India, and held the office till 1881, when
he went on special duty to Madras. His book on " The Forest Flora of
North-Western and Central India" is a standard work, greatly prized
by Indian botanists and foresters. " From the time of his appointment
the successful future of Forest Conservancy in India was assured."
( Sir George Birdwood. Preface to the Catalogue of the Indian Exhibit
at the International Forestry Exhibition, Edinburgh.)
We owe to Dr. Brandis, among other important services, the sugges-
tions for the various Indian Forest Acts, " which, while strengthening
the hands of the Government, have secured to the people the mainte-
nance of all the ancient rights and privileges inherited by them from
time immemorial," and also the inauguration^ in 1866, of arrangements
for the annual supply of trained officers to discharge the duties of Assis-
tant Conservators of Forests in India. At first these officers were edu-
cated in France and Germany. In 1876, the student candidates were
withdrawn from Germany and stationed at Nancy, under an English
officer. In 1885, Dr. Schlich (who had succeeded Dr. Brandis on his
retirement) organized the Forest Branch of the Royal Indian Engineer-
ino- College on its present footing at Cooper's Hill.
While candidates with special qualification for the higher grades of
the Forest Department are, with some exceptions, now recruited from
Eno-land,it is obvious that there must be much important work connected
with the executive charge of the Forest ''Ranges" comprised in the lar-
o-er " Divisions", the disposal of which the Government of India must
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TBE HILL FORESTS OF WESTERN INDIA. 667
entrust to officers trained in India itself. The class of E'orest Rangers
has been described as the " back-bone " of the Department. Candi-
dates for this branch of the service are trained at the Imperial School
at Dehra-Dun, which is attended by students from all parts of India. A
certain number of Forest appointments has also been guaranteed annu-
ally by the Government to the students of the College of Science at
Poona. A Protective Service of Forest Guards is also employed for the
purpose of patrolling forests and ensuring compliance with Forest regu-
lations. The members of this branch of the Service receive no profes-
sional training.
The Indian Forest Service, thus organized, has been^able not only to
meet the demands of India but to help other countries also. Ceylon,
New South Wales, New Zealand, the Cape, Mauritius, Jamaica and
Cyprus, as General Michael in his paper on Forestry tells us with just
pride, have all borrowed officers from India to put them in tbe way of
organizing conservancy and working their forests economically. The
Head of the Forest Department at the Cape and the Conservator in
Ceylon are both Indian Forest Officers. The United States of America
have also recognized the value of the work in India by lately de-
puting an expert to study the methods there in force.
The forests to which the Indian Forest Act of 1878 is applicable
include " Reserved Forests", which are State property or over which
the State has certain rights ; " Village Forest " assigned or yet to be
assigned by the Government to Village communities from Reserved
Forest areas ; " Protected Forests ", which, as regards the proprietary
rights of the State, are on the same footing as ''Reserved Forests", but
are subject to less stringent supervision, — only certain kinds of timber
being protected and all private rights of cultivation, pasturage and
wood-cutting within the protected area being respected ; and lastly,
" Private Forests ", which are controlled only to such an extent as
is necessary for their regulation or protection for certain special
purposes. The Forest Department has also the control of State
plantations of timber trees.
The area of British India, exclusive of the Native States, is about
960,000 square miles, and of this area more than 79,000 square miles
had been constituted as Reserved Forests before the end of the year
1896-97. About 9,000 square miles were "Protected" and nearly 26,000
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G68 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll .
square miles were tabulated as " uuclassecl." The total area under
the control of the Forest Department amounted, therefore, to about
114,000 square miles, inclusive of about 1,100 square miles leased
from Native States. Of this area, which is only about 7,000 square
miles less than that of the British Isles — about 32,000 square miles
are closed to ail animals, and about 4], 000 square miles are closed
to browsing animals only. I am unable to give any exact statistics
as to Village Forests and Private Forests, but it has been estimated
that the area of Private Forests and Forests belonging to Corporations,
Endowments, etc., is about equal to that of the State Forests, and
that the total area of Forests of all kinds is about 25 per cent, of the
total area of British India. In Great Britain and Ireland the corre-
sponding percentage is only 4. The corresponding figures for Europe
and the United States of North America are 31 and 17, respectively.
In European countries the highest percentage is reached in Servia,
where it is 43. In Russia and Sweden it is 42 : in Austria 33 ; in
Hungary 29 ; in Germany 26; in Norway 25; and in Turkey, including
Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also in Roumania and Italy, 22.
In Switzerland, Spain, France, Greece, and Belgium it lies between
19 and 15. In Holland it falls to 7, in Denmark to 6, and in Portugal
to 5, Great Britain and Ireland thus show the lowest percentage
of all the countries named, while India comes seventh in the list,
being bracketed with Norway. (Schlich's Manual of Forestry, Vol.
I., p. 54.)
The area of plantations directly under the Government of India and
the Government of Madras is said to extend to 41,000 acres. In the
Bombay Presidency, the afforestation of waste tracts has been pushed
with vigour, but I am unable to give the acreage. One of the plans
adopted by Mr. Shuttleworth, in the Central Division, as he has
personally explained to me on the site of some of his operations, on the
hills near Poena, has been to sow the seeds of all kinds of forest
trees and shrubs broadcast on the ground. The results of the annual
sowings have been satisfactory except in seasons when the rainfall has
failed at the close of the monsoon. Hill- tops and stony valleys which
20 years ago were bare and unsightly are now well covered with
innumerable saplings and most refreshing verdure. Similar results
have been obtained on many of the rocky hills of the Dekhan.
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THE HILL FORESTS OF WESTERN INDIA. 669
The review of Forest Administration in British India for the year
1896-97, by Mr. B. Ribbentrop, C. I. E., Inspector-General of Forests,
shows that, in that year, which is the latest for which I have any
report, the State forests yielded more than 47 millions of cnbio feet of
timber, nearly 100 millions of cubic feet of firewood, nearly 135 mil-
lions of bamboos, and minor produce to the value of nearly 3^ millions
of rupees.
In the same year, the exports from British India to foreign ports
included 64,221 tons of teak wood, valued at nearly 7 millions of
rupees ; sandal-wood, ebony and other ornamental woods, worth
nearly 6,00,000 of rupees ; and such minor produce as Caoutchouc, Lac,
Lac-dye, Cutch and Gambier, Myrabolams, and Cardamoms, worth
about 21 millions of rupees.
The total value of exports, which reached nearly 28i millions of
rupees, was less by Q\ millions than the totul value for the precedino-
year ; the decrease being due almost entirely to the disastrous effects
of plague and famine.
The gross revenue realized from forests during the year 1896-97
amounting to nearly 18 millions of rupees, the surplus over expendi-
ture having been 8 millions. More than 1 7 per cent, of the gross revenue
represented the estimated value of forest produce given away free or
at reduced rates to right-holders and free grantees. When it is re-
membered that, before 1848, the forest revenue, which was treated as
a branch of the land revenue, was very trifling, the progress made
in the past 50 years is very remarkable. But, as most truly observed
by Sir George Birdwood, in the paper from which I have already
quoted, " the annual revenue which forest conservancy has as yet
provided is utterly insignificant when compared with the capital value
of the Indian forests redeemed by the British Government from cer-
tain destruction."
It would be strange if such results had been achieved without
opposition. I have already spoken of the conciliatory course adopted
by some forest administrators towards those whose privileo-es were
affected by the stringency of the new regulations. Villagers on the
outskirts of forests had for generations cut firewood and grazed cattle
therein and cleared patches for cultivation without hindrance. The
policy aimed at has been to stop the exercise of privileges incompatible
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670 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
with the continued existence of forests, and to allow others as far
as possible. But the necessity for a restrictive policy at all, while
necessarily distasteful to right-holders, was not readily accepted as
right by the local officers of the Indian Civil Administration, with
whom it has always been an honourable tradition to seek above all
things the happiness and contentment of the people. They were un-
able to look with favour on measures which seemed to indicate an
exceess of zeal on behalf of the State and to be in needless derogation
of privileges long enjoyed without much apparent injury to public in-
terests. It has been suggested that, though the accumulated mischief
caused by neglect of conservancy during a long series of years is in-
calculable, yet it is not possible always to detect any appreciable damage
done in a particular locality during a short period. Such a consider-
ation alone might partly explain the tendency to reject as idle the fears
of experts and to recent measures savouring of harshness and productive
of discontent. In course of time, as forest management became stif-
fened and matured, friction was undoubtedly developed and gave rise
to diflficulties. One of the purposes of the Forest Act of 1890 was to
give effect to recommendations made by Lord Reay's Government for
reconciling legitimate local demands with State requirements. The
principle is now recognized that the central authority in forest matters,
so far as the interests of the people are concerned, must be the Com-
missioner of the Civil Administrative Division, and that no rivalry
between two great State Departments is possible. The Forest Admi-
nistration has thus been brought into closer union with the general Civil
Administration of the country, many causes of complaint have been
removed and forest work has been placed on a sounder footing.
The particular area of which I spoke at the beginning of my paper
includes the hilly tracts of country on either side of the range of West-
ern Ghats, in the Dekhan and Konkan, respectively, between the
latitudes, roughly speaking, of Bombay and Satara. As compared
with other forest areas elsewhere in the Presidency it is by no means
remarkable, so far as the production of valuable timber is concerned ;
but it is of interest as illustrating generally the methods of the Forest
Department ; and it is of special interests to the inhabitants of Bombay
and many other cities in the plains, as it includes the two popular Hill
stations of Matheran and Mahableshwar, which owe much of their
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TEE BILL FORESTS OF WESTERN INDIA. 671
value as health-resorts to their pleasant woods and abounding under-
growth of beautiful shrubs and flowering plants and ferns which
everywhere keep the ground cool and the air sweet and fresh. Both in
climate and in splendour of wild woodland scenery they furnish an in-
structive contrast with those hills of the same tract' which have suffered
from the destruction of forests in the manner I have already described.
An account of the Forest Flora of Matheran and Mahableshwar will
apply generally to similarly preserved portions of the Western Ghats
and the adjoining regions. Their vegetation is not indeed identical.
Dr. Theodore Cooke, in his valuable note on my Catalogue on the Hill
Flora of Matheran and Mahableshwar, published in Vol. X of the
Society's Journal, has estimated that, exclusive of grasses, about 140
flowering plants are found at Matheran, which have not been seen at
Mahableshwar, and 130 at Mahableshwar which have not been seen at
Matheran. In the preface to the Catalogue I have shown that some of
the conditions which regulate the distribution of plants are not equally
operative at both places, and will not here repeat what I have there
said. I have also there pointed out that, after full account is taken of
all divergences, many plants are found to be common to the two hills,
and that such a coincidence is favoured by the practical indentity of
their geological formation and by the circumstance that there
is no great difference in the range of their mean temperature
at different seasons and in their rainfall. A marked similarity is indeed
apparent in the general outward forms of vegetation on the two hills
due to the frequent presence of the same characteristic plants on both.
Everywhere at Mahableshwar as at Matheran, we find the Myrtle
tribe represented by endless woods of the beautiful Jambul tree,
LEugenia jambulana), the Melastomas by the Anjan or Ironwood
{Memecylon edule), the Laurels by the Pisa (Lifsce Stocksii), and the
Madder tribe by the thorny Gela (Randia dumdonim). There is the
same undergrowth of shrubs and herbaceous plants, the natural orders
of" Leguminosae," *' Acanthacese" and " Compositae " being specially
and numerously represented, and there are many showy climbers, trail-
ers and creepers, and orchids and ferns common to both hills.
It is interesting to note that, of the 733 names included in the
Catalogue, about 125 are the names of trees or sub-trees, as distinguish-
ed from shrubs, creepers, grasses, ferns and undergrowth generally. Of
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672 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol.XII.
the trees, probably not more than 10 species have been introduced, and
about 115 species are probably indigenous. These constitute but a small
proportion of the indigenous trees found throughout India, the number
of which exceeds 2,000 species, but they give some idea of diversity of
forest vegetation in the limited area under consideration, if we bear in
mind that the number of species of indigenous trees in Great Britain
is only forty. (Lt.-Col. Bailey on " Forestry in India." The Scottish
Geographical Magazine for 1897, p. 572.)
The trees which have been distinctly introduced are the Peach,
which is cultivated at the hill station of Panchgani, the Stringy Bark
{Eucalyptus oUiqua)^ which does not take kindly to Mahableshwar,
the rainfall there being evidently too heavy for it, but does better at
Panchgani, though not nearly so well as on the Nilgiri Hills ; the
Cinchona succirubra, which again has not been a success, as on the
Nilgiri hills and elsewhere ; the Cassowary tree or Beefwood {Casaanna
eqitisetifolia) which has been extensively planted at Panchgani, but
much prefers the lower lands nearer the sea and especially the sandy
beaches of the Konkan coast ; the Oak (Querciis rohur) of which, how-
ever there are very few well grown trees ; and the Mulberry (Morus
alba) which was probably brought from China.
Among the more important or more conspicuous trees which may be
regarded as indigenous are tvi'o species of (rar^^mza— the wild Mango-
steen {Garcinia imhca) and the Gamboge tree (Garcinia ovalifolia) ; the
{Sterculia urens), from the wood of which native guitars are made ; the
Goldar (Sterculia guttata), conspicuous by its large peach-shaped fruit,
covered with scarlet down ; the Silk-cotton tree (Bombax malabarica)
which attains a great size and is a tree of strange beauty, when in full
bloom, with its large showy, rosy-red flowers ; the K^su (Elcecarpus
ohlongus), with leaves turning red in autumn and clusters of flowers with
white fringed petals, and reddish l)rown sepals ; the Frankincense tree
(BoswelUa sermta), which is plentiful on the Ghat roads between Poena
and Mahableshwar ; and another Balsamiferous tree, the Canarium
strictum yielding a gum, burnt as incense by the hill people, at their re-
ligious services, and much sought after on account of the rarity of the
tree, of which I have found only one specimen at Matheran, — to
my lasting w^ondor at its presence there, in a thick wood, far from
its congeners and hemmed in by countless aliens ; the Garuga
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THE HILL FORESTS OF WESTERN INDIA. 073
pinnata ( belonging also to the same natural order, Burseraeece )
the bark of which is used in tanning ; the Indian Satin-wood (Chlo-
rovylon Sweitenia), an excellent wood for cabinet work of the better
kind, the Indian Red-wood or Bastard Cedar {Soymida fehrifuga), the
bitter bark of which is used as a substitute for Cinchona bark ; two
species of the Jujube tree {Zi-yphis) ; the Koshimb tree {Schleichera tri-
juga). on the young branches of which lac is produced iu many parts of
India ; the well-known Mango-tree (Mangifera indica), wliich is found
wild on many hills though sometimes said to have been introduced by
tbe Portuguese monks from Brazil ; the '' Flame of the Forest" {Butea
frondosa), which gives its name — (" Palas" in the vernacular ) — to the
memorable plains of Palasi, commonly known as Plassey ; the Blaclc-
wood tree ( Dalhergia latifolia ) of which is made the elaborately
carved furniture, at one ti^ne so much prized in Bombay ; the beauti-
ful Indian Laburnum. {Cassia fistula) ; the Acacia Suma, from the
wood of which Catechu is manufactured ; the AIn (Terminalia tomcn-
fosa). a valuable timber tree ; the Myrobolam tree ( Terminalia Che-
hda), which is found in gre^t abundance on MahableshM-ar, the fruit —
the Chebulic Myrobolam of commerce — being largely exported,
coming indeed, for the whole of India, third on the list of exports of
forest produce, as regards valuation, and second as regards quantity ;
the Jambul tree {Eugenia Jamholana\ already referred to, which may
be regarded as the most characteristic tree of both Matheran and
Mahableshwar, impressing, as it does most effectually, its grace of form
and beauty of colour on all the landscape, and shading the ground
everywhere with a cocl canopy of sweet-scented leaves ; the Benteak
tree (Lagerstrcemia parvijlora), which yields a wood of excellent grain
for the cabinet maker ; the Kanta Kumbal {Sideroxylon tomenfosum\
a tough, hard-grained tree, as its name implies ; the Bassia latifolia
or Mowrah tree, from wdiich Mowrah liquor is made in other parts of
India ; and yet a third tree of the Sapodilla order, the Bokul (Mimu-
sops e>engi). with dark green foliage and honey-scented flower : the
D'ospyros as.sim/lis, one of the Indian Ebonies ; the Kaola (Si/m-
plocos Beddome'i)^ with blossoms scented like hawthorn and blue berries;
the wild Olive {Olea dioica) ; the Teak tree (Tectona grand!s), the most
important of all the forest trees ; the Shewan (Gmelina arhorea)^ the
pale yellow, close grained w'ood of which is used for planking, furniture
U
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074 JOURNAL^ BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Vol. XII .
the panels of doors, etc. ; the wild Nutmeg {J\Iyristica attenuata) ; and
fifteen species of trees of the Laurel order, all notable and some of them
very beautiful trees, the most notable being Lilscea StocksH, a laurel of
pyramidal form with whorls of pale bluish-green leaves and frequent
everywhere, and a species of Cinnamon ( Cinnamonum Tamala ) — of
which I liave found only four specimens, all at Matheran— a striking
and handsome tree, though of no great size, with tufts, when £rst burst-
ing into leaf, of small, p'nk, transjjarent leaves, which afterwards
lengthen and become poiuted at both ends and have marked ribs or
nerves, and are dark and shining above, and when dried, turn to a rich
brown, and yield a spicy scent, when crushed. These, with several
sppcies of trees of the Spurge-wort order {EupJiorbiacece), which is
well represented on both hills and includes the Macar'anga Roochurgliii^
a tree conspicuous at Maiheran by its large ovate and peltate leaves, and
the Hasana (Bridelia retusa), a good timber tree ; and of the genus
Ficus, which includes the well known Banyan tree, the sacred Pij'al,
the Sycamore tree of the Bible, and other Figs not so well known ; the
stately and fine foliaged Jack tree {Artocarpus integnifotia)^ with its
enormous fruit, allied to the Kigs, the Willow (Salix tetrasperma), and
the Fish-tail palm (Cargota urens)^ — the only palm included in my
Catalogue— make up a fairly full list of the more conspicuous of the
forest trees on the two hills.
I wished I could have conveyed to my audience something more
than a dim conception of the beauty and peiennial charm of these
Indian woods. But that was beyond my power. It was enough for
me, if, by my narrative, however imperfect and meagre, I had helped
in any degree, to induce a right appreciation of the value of the great
work done by those who had preserved and improved the Forest areas of
British India to the lasting benefit of the State and the people.
My piper was illustrated with lantern slides prepared mostly from
some beautiful photographs taken many years ago by Dr. Theodore
Cooke. I was also able, through the kindness of Mr. Playford Rey-
nolds, to exhibit some specimens of forest woods, which had been select-
ed and polished by Messrs. John Roberts and Company of Bombay
being woods in common use for cabmet work.
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675
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW AN BROS ACE.
From the North-Western Himalaya.
By J. F. DuTHiE.
{Read before the Bombay Natural History Society, on l%th Sept., 1899.)
ANDROSACE FRAGILIS, n. sp.
Pereunial. Whole plant excessivel}' glaDdular, viscid. Petioles,
peduncles and pedicels very slender and brittle. Leaves all radical ;
petioles f to 2^ in. in length ; blade usually broader than long, ^ to 1|
in. wide and fo to | in. from base to apex, sub-orbicular or reniform
cordate, deeply lobed, thinly cartilaginous, dark green above, the lower
surface reddish-brown turning to bright red, glistening on both surfaces ;
veins prominent ; lobes extending almost to the centre of the blade, over-
Japping at their apiees, usually 3-crenate. Peduncles far exceeding the
leaves, 3| to 4| in. long, usually curving upwards from the base, densely
clothed with short silky hairs and shorter glandular ones ; pedicels | to
1\: in., spreading. Bracts obovate or spathulate, cuneate, often trifid at
the apex; veins distinct. Calyx broa'Uy campanulate, deeply lobed,
enlarging in fruit ; lobes oblong or obovate, cuspidate, prominently
veined. Corolla slightly exceeding the calyx when in flower, deeply lobed,
limb at first pure white, turring pink and afterwards to bright crimson,
lobes obovate, bifid : tube short, globular, greenish. Stamens on
very short filaments, attached to the corolla-tube about half way up.
Ovary turbinate ; style very short. Capsule subglobose. Seeds about
20, ovate, flattened at the sides, minutely granular.
Jaunsar and Tehri-Garhwal, in the Valley of the Tons and its
tributaries, growing in crevices of rocks at elevations between o,000 and
7,000 feet.
I was at first disposed to look upon this plant as a well-marked
variety of the polymorphous A. rot undi folia of Hardwioke ; subse-
quent observations, liowever, a«! to its structural characteristics, and
its peculiar mode of growth, have convinced me that it should be
regarded as a distinct species. At all elevations it maintains its habit
of confining itself to the crevices of overhanging rocks, and usually out
of the reach of direct sunlight. At the higher elevation, where
A» rotundifolia becomes abundant, 1 failed to detect anything at all re-
sembling an intermediate form. It is at once recognized by its small
glistening leaves, its minute pure white, pink, and ultimately erinison
flowers, its long slender petitles and peduncles, and th-e spreading
pedicels. It is also a very much more viscid plant than any of the
known varieties of A. rotundifolia.
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676
BIRDS COLLECTED DURIISG FIVE YEARS' RESIDENCE IN THE
HYLAKANDY DISTRICT, CACHAR.
PART VII.
By C. M. Inglis.
[Continved from iMge 291 uf thh Volume-)
Order GalUnce.
Family Pliasianidcp .
(jienns PGlyplectrum ( remm., 1813,)
232 Hume, Cat. No, 803 quat.; Blanf. No. 1327. Polyplectrum chikquis
(Miiller). — 'The Grey I'eacock-Pheasant..
Native nam'^ Not very common here. 1 have (inly found it in dense jungle, generally on
— ejoor. ^^g summits of teeLihs. During the live years I was in Hylakandy I seldom
secured specimens, but whilst on a visit to Roopacherra in April, 1895, I
shot on an average one every morning, during the ten days I was there.
Every one I got took me several hours to secure, as the only way I managed
to shoot any was by patiently following up its call. They were all killed
perching on creepers a few feet from the ground. Out of s >me twenty or
so shot, a single male had on the right leg one spur and on the left two ; all
three being of the same size.
Sub-Family Gallhvx.
Genus Gallus (Brisson, 1760,)
233 Hume Cat. No. 812 j Blanf. No. 1328. Gallus feerugineus (Gmel.), — The
Red- J ungle-f owl,
Nat'vename— Very common indeed. I have often flushed small parties of them from the
'^ * tea, in the early morning and evening. Several of the Roopacherra coolies
used to snare a few every year by the mi ans of decoys, I have hatched
numbers of eggs under hens, fed the chicks on white ants, but never succeed-
ed in rearing a single bird.
Genus Gennceus (Wagler, 1832,)
234 Hume, Cai. No.S^O lev \ Blanf. No, 1339. Genn^us horsfieldi (G. A.
Gray). — The Black-breasted Kali] Pheasant.
Xatiyp tnme Fairly common. At Roopacherra, there was a plice where one or two could
~ " ^'^''^' generally be found. It was a patch of young tea surrounded on three
sides by a jungle and through it flowed a stream. In ' ense jungle I have
generally come acros^ it in the moist land bordering on the streams. They
are ^ ery pugnacious. Once I winged a female, she got into the jungle on
the slope of a teelah. It was very steep and I sent a man to catch the bird.
No souner had he caught her than ohe cock came rushing at him, he made a
thrust at it but couldn't hit it, the bird then retired, but only to renew the
attack a second time. It did this three or four times whilst the man was
bringing down its mate, in the end I shot it also. The Bengalis here keep
decoy birds, but though on one occasion I offered ten or fifteen rupees for
a ti.'aincd one, thfc man would not part with it. They breed htie in April.
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BIRDS COLLECTED IN THE HYLAKANDY DISTRICT. 677
Genas Excalfactona (Bonap., 1856.)
Hume, Cat. No. 831 ; Blaiif. No. 1354, Excai-factoria chinensis (Linn.). 235
— The Blue-breasted Quail.
Common bere. I iiave had its eggs brought to me, several times, but not
collecting at that time I did not keep any and cannot find any record of the
dates on which they were brought.
Genus Coturnix (Bonn., 1790.)
Hume, Cat. No. 830 ; Blanf. No. 1350. Coturnix coromandelica (Gm.). — 236
The Black-breasted Quail.
Scarce. I have only seen it occasionally.
Genus Arhoriola (Hodgson, 1844.)
Hume,Cat. No.2>20; Blmf. No.\?>'cih. Arboricola atrigularis (Blyth). 237
—The White-Choeked Hill-Partridge.
I have not founi this partridge common here, nud hnve never seen more Nat -ve name
than a couple of pairs together. It is generally found in deep jungle, but ~J^"'r-
I have flushed a Mngle bird on several occasions in thin jungle that had an
undergrowth. Here it breeds in April.
Genus Francolinus (Stephens, 1819.)
Hume, Cat. No. 823 ; Blanf. No. 1376. Francolinus gularis (Temm.) — 238
The Swamp Partridge.
1 never secured this species myself, but Mr. Ross got several in eki-e and Naf ve name
uall jungle near the Lallamukh lea Estate. Mr. Hole found it breeding in ~-^'^" •^^"'*
March m Western Cachar.
Order Hemlpodil.
Family Turnickkc.
Genus Turnlx (Bonn,, 1790.)
Hume, Cat. No. 832 : Blanf. No. rAi2. TuRNix pdgnax (Temm.)— The 239
Bustard-Quail.
This species is resident here.
Order Grallce.
Sub-order Full car la.
Family RalUclce.
Genus H i/potcenicha (Ueich., l''^52,)
Hume, Cat. No. 913 ; Blanf. No. 1389. Hypot.enidia striata (Linn.)— 240
The rlue-breasted Banded Rail.
Rather common. Mr. Hole has found it breeding in Western Cachar.
Genus Amaurornis (Reich., 1852.)
Hume, Cat. No. dl\ ; Blanf Ao. 1398. Amauornis fuscus (Linn.)— The 241
Ruddy Crake.
Rather uncommon I fancy ; but as both Rails and Crakes arc such skulkers
numbers must be overlooked.
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678 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL EISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
242
Nat ve name
— Dauk.
243
Nat've name
— Kaim.
244
245
Naf vc r-.ame
— Pipi.
246
Kativ name
— Kam Meko.'
247
248
Hume, Cat. ^o. 907 ; Blanf. No. 1401. Amaurounis phienicurus (Penn.)—
Tbe Wbite-bre.isted Water-hen.
Exceedingly common.
Genus Porphyrio (Brisson, 1760.)
Hume, Cat. No. 902 ; Blanf. No. 1404. Porphyrio poliocephai-us (Lath.)
—The Purple Moorhen,
Near the Bengali busties, on the opposite side of the river, at the Roopa-
cherra ghat, there is a stretch of land which during the rains has a good
deal of water in it ; here, I have several times flushed and shot this species
in the thick reeds and paddy that surrounded the place. I had a pair of
tame birds which used to roam about near my bungalow. They would jump
up at the women who came lo pluck the tea bushes that surrounded the
bungalow and chase them for a good distance, every now and then flying
up at them.
Family Grvidcp.
Genus Grus (Pallas, 17ti6,)
Hume, Cat. No. 863 ; Blanf. No. 1409. Grus antigone (Linn.)— The Sarus.
Mr. Stuart Baker in Vol. XII, No. 3 of this Journal, on page 494, mentions
having once seen a pair of these cranes near Hylakandy during the cold
weather of 1 894.
Order Limicolce.
Family Parridce.
Genus Metopidius (Wagler, 1832.)
Hume, Cat. No. 900 ; Blanf. No. 1428. Motopidius indicus (Lath.)~The
Bronze-Winged Jacana.
Exceedingly common.
Genus Hydrophasianus (Wagl , 1832.)
Hume, Cat. No. 901 ; Blunf. No. 1429. Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Scop.)
— The I'hea^ant-Tailed Jacana.
Rather scarce and only found in the rains. My few specimens were secured
' where I got those of Porphyrio i^oUocephalus.
Family Charadriidce.
Sub-Family Charadriince.
Genus Sarcogrammus (Reich., 1852.)
Hume, Cat. No. Sbb ; Blanf . No. 1431. Sarcogrammos INDICUS (Bodd.) —
The Red wattled Lapwing.
I have sten several of this species in the district.
Genus Microsarcops (Sharpe, 1896.)
Hume, Cat. No. 854 ; Blanf. No. 1434. MicuosaRCop.s cinereus (BIyth).—
The Gr' y-headed Lapwing.
I have not secured any specimens, but Mr. Primrose has got several in the
adjoining district and it is pretty sure to be found here.
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BIEDS COLLECTED IN THE HYLAKANDY DISTRICT. 679
Genus Hoplopterus (Bonap., 1831.)
HoPLOPTERUS VENTRALis (Wagl.) — The Spur-winged Lapwing. 249
Hume, Cat, No. 857 ; Blanf. No. 1435. I have found this species rather
rare here.
Genus Charadrius (Linn,, 17(i6.)
Hump., Cat. No. 845 ; Blanf. No. 1439. Charadkics fulvus (Gmel.).— 250
The Eastern Golden Plover.
One year they were exceedingly common here. On some damp ground
between Outleecherra-Kookicherra I ca ae across a lar^e flock. They were
very tame, and on being disturbed, the whole flock rose together, giving a
very easy shot in the brown.
Genus yEgialitis (Boie, 1822.)
Hume, Cat. No. 849 j Blanf. No. 1447. ^gialitis dubia (Scop.).— The 251
Little Ringed Plover.
I did not secure many specimens ; they were all got at the same place where
those of H. chirurgus were secured.
Sub- Family Hcematopodince.
Genus Himantopus (Brisson, HfiO.)
Hurii'i, Cat. No. 8dS; Blanf. No. lid I. Himantopus candidds (Bonn.).— 252
The Black-winged Stilt.
Not very uncommon here.
Genus Totanus (Bech., 1803.)
Hume, Cat. No.82S; Blanf. No. 1460. Totanus hypoleucus (Linn.).— The 253
Common Sandpiper.
Very common.
Hume, Cat. Vo. 891 ; Bla^if. No. 1461, Totanus glareola (Gmel,).— The 254
Wood i"'andpiper.
Also very common.
Hume, Cat. No. 892; Blanf. No. 1462. Totanus ochropus (Linn.).— The 255
Green Sandpiper.
Very common.
Hume, Cat. No. 894 ; Blanf. No. 1466. Totanus glottis (Linn.),— The 256
Green Shank.
Exceedingly common.
Genus Tringa (Linn., 1766 )
Hume, Cat. No. 885 ; Blanf. No. 1474. Tbinga temmincki (Leister), — 257
Temminck's Stint.
Very common in the cold weather.
Sub-Family Scolopacincp.
Genus Sco opax (Linn., 1766.)
Hum£, Cat. No. 867 ; Blanf, No. 1482. Scolopax rusticula (Linn.), — The 258
Woodcock.
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mo JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIET'/, Vol. XII.
Exceedingly rare, Mr. Ross, of the Lallamukh Tea Estate, has flushed and
shot them several times in shady corners of the tea. He also shot an ther I
believe at Jringraara, in the Bheel, which specimen is now in Mr. Primrose's
collection.
Genus GalUnago (Leach., 1816.)
259 Hume Cat. No. S71 : Blanf. No. 1484. Uallinago ccelestis (Frenzl.). —
The Common Snipe.
N tivfi name— Very common. In North Cachar, near Dooloo, a wisp of snipe was annihi-
Kha-a-Kiuhi. j^^^^ ^^ ^ hailstorm. It was rumoured that as much as two mnunds of dead
birds were collected next morning by the coolies' andbustie-wallahs and sold
in the neighbi'uring bazaars. An account of this Avas given in " The English-
man " at the time of the occurrence.
200 Hum", Cat. No. 870 ; Blanf. No 1485. Gallinago stendra (Kuhl.),— The
Pintail Snipe.
In March and April good shooting can be had with comfort on grass lands.
Mr. Laing, of Rupacherra, told me that he had several times seen young
snipe, so I da'e say some breed here.
261 Hu,ne, Cat. No. 872 j Blanf. No. 1487, CtALLINAGO galunula (Linn.).—
The Jack Snipe.
My friend Mr. Ross told me that he had once shot a jack snipe at
Lallamukh,
Genus Rostratula (Vicill., 1816,)
262 Hume, Cat. No. 873 ; Blanf. No. 1488, Rosteatula capensis (Linn.).— The
Paiiitfd Snipe,
Very common. Both Mr, Baker and Mr, Hole have kindly given me eggs
of this species taken in Cachar,
Order Gaviae.
Family Laridoe.
Sub-Family Larince.
Genus Larus (Linn,, 176G,)
263 Hume, Cat. No. 981; Bianf. No. 1490. Larus ridibundus (Linn.).— The
Laughing Gull.
Mr. leaker, in Vol XII, No, 3, p. 501, of this J- urnal, mentions a gull of
this species procured by me in Hy'akandy. I never got a second one.
Sub-Family Sternince.
Genus Hydrochlidon (Boie, 1822.)
264 Hu»'e, Cat. No. 984 ; Bla7if. No. 1496. Hydrochelidon hverida (Pall.).—
The Whiskered Tern.
Exceedingly common here.
265 Hume, Cat. No. 984 bis.; Blanf. No. 1497. Hydrochelidon ledcoptera
(Mei>ner and Schinz.). — The White-winged Black Tern.
I find I have identified a Tern as this species, but will re-examine the skin
to see whether it is correct or not.
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BIRDS COLLECTED IN THE HYLAKANDY DISTRICT. 681
Genus S<erw« (Linn., 1766,)
Hume, Cat. No. 985 ; Blanf. No. 1503. Sterna jjeena (Sykes). — The ^cc
Indian River Tern.
Not so common as H. hybrida.
Order Steganopodes.
Family Phalacrocoi acidce.
Genus Phalacrocorax (Brisson, 1760.)
Hume, Cat. No. 1005 ; Blanf. No. 1526. PhalaOROCORAX carbo (Linn.). — 267
The Large Cormorant.
Very rare here. A single specimen was shot by a collector near NaMve name—
Rupacherra. Fan-K<.wa or
Kown.
Hu-y^e, Cat. No. 1007 i Blanf. No. 1528. Phalacrocorax pygm^us (Pall.). gfis
— The Little Cormorant.
Exceedingly common. I have always found them vary tame.
Sub-Fa'uily Plotinrp.
Genus PZ'./w.s (Linn., 1766).
Hume, Cat. No. 1008 ; Blanf. No. 1529. Plotus melanogaster (Penn.) 269
—The Snake Bird.
Rather scarce. I shot one at Rupacherra during a flood.
Order Het'Odiones.
Sub-Order Ciconice.
Family Cicomidce.
Genus Leptoptilus (I esson., 1831 )
Hume, Cat. No. 915; Blanf. No. 1551. Leptoptilds javanicus (Horsf.). — . 070
The Le-ser Adjutant.
Fairly common in certain parts of the district. I used to see numbers of j^a'ive f-ame—
them between Lallamukh and Kalacherra in any marshy land. I have (^ariir.
always found them very wary birds.
Genus Anastomus (B nnaterre, 1790.)
Hume, Cat. No. 640 ; Blanf. No. 1553. Anastomds oscitans (Bodd.). — 271
The Open-bill.
I have found this species rare here.
Sub-Order Ardeoe,
Family Ardeidce.
Genus Ardea (Linn , 1766.)
Hume, Cat. No. 924 ; Blanf. No 1554. Ardea manillensis (Sharpe). —
The Eastern Purple Heron.
Common here during the rains, but very difficult to get a shot at, except „
.,.„,, ' r Native name—
on the wing. Breeds here. ](-ra-khariii.
Genus Herodias (Boie, 1822.)
Hume, Cat. Nos. 927, 927 Us ; Blanf. No. 1561, Herodias garzetta
(Linn.).-The Little Egret. 273
Common.
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G82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll
Genus Bubidcus (Bonap,, 1854.)
274 Hume, Cat. No. 929 ; Blanf. No. 1562, BuBULCUS coromandus (Bodd.).~
The Cattle Egret.
Exceedingly common.
Genus Ardeola (Boie, 1822.)
Native name- Hume, Cat. No. 929 ,• Bhmf. No. 1565. Ardeola grayi (Sykes).— The
Gai-bogla. Po„j Heron,
275 The commonest species of this family.
Genus B utor ides {Bljth, 1849,)
^^ . Hume Cat. No. 931 : Blanf. No. 1567. Butorides javanica (Horsf.). —
Native name — ^, • • ./ \ j
Kana-bogla. 'J he Little Green Bittern,
276 Fairly common near well-wooded streams. I have several tinifs shot it
far in dense jungle.
Genus Nycticorax (Rafin,, 1815,)
Hume, Cat. No. 937 ; Blanf .J^o. 1568. Nycticorax griseus (Linn,), — The
Night Heron.
277 Very rare here, I once shot a couple at dusk, but that is the only time I
ever saw any, Mr, Primrose came across a colony of them either near the
Bagh-o'-Bjhar or Iringmara Tea Estates in the Chutla Bheel.
Genus Ardetta (Gray, 1842.)
278 Hume, Cat. No. 934 ; Blanf., No. 1571. Ardetta sinensis (Gmel.). — The
Yellow Bittern,
A rare bird. A single specimen shot at Rupacherra during a flood, I have
had a pair sent to me by Mr. Primrose from the adjoining district, the
Chutla Bheel,
279 Hwne, Cat. No. 933 ; Blanf. , No. 1572. Ardetta cinnamomea (Gmel.).
— The Chestnut Bittern,
Nat'vp namF— Very common. It is often flushed from the drain that runs through the
Li(l-bo2;.a. ^^.^ j have taken its eggs in July,
Genus Dupetor (Heine and Reuhen,, 1890,)
280 Hume, Cat. Nj. 962 ; Blanf., No. 1513. DapEroR flavicollis. (Lath,). —
The Black Bittern,
Rather uncommon, I have shot it during the day in a stream, on one bank
of which was dense jungle and on the other cultivated land. iMcst of the birds
I have seen, however, have been in dense jungle, far away from the open.
Order Anserrs.
Family Anatidae.
Sub-Family Anserince.
Genus Anser (Brisson, 1760,)
281 Hume, Cat. No. 945 ; Blanf., No. 1579. Anser ferus (Schaefl:,),— The
Grey Lag Goose,
Native name— A female was shot by my collectmg coolie, with a charge of S. G., in a
]- ana. pjj^fiy ggjfi near our polo ground at Rupacherra.
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BIRDS COLLECTED IN THE HYLAKANDY DISTRICT. (583
Genua Casarca (Bonap., 1838.)
Hume, Cat. .Vo. 954 ,• Blanf., No. \5S8. Ca?arca rutila (Pallas.).— The •282
Ruddy Sheldrake.
Very rare here. I only once saw a few birds. They came to the jheel, Naive narne-
. , . Balou-Hans,
where /E. duhia were got, at dusk, and were always away again before sunrise.
Genus Dendrocycna (Swainson, 1837.)
Hume, Cat. No. 952 : Blanf., No. 1589. Dendrocycna javanica (Horsf,). -^^
—The Whistling Teal.
Exceedingly common. Young birds reared by hand get exceedingly tame. Native name-
Genus Netto[ius (Brandt, 1836.) ales Hi. rati
Hume, Cat. No. 951; Blanf., No. 1591. Nettopus coromandelianu? 284
(Gmel.).— The Cotton Teal.
I have not shot many of this Teal in the district.
"28S
Genus ChauUlasmus (Gray and Bonap., 1838.)
Chadlelasmus streperus (Linn.), — The Gadwall.
Probably found in suitable places.
Genus Netiium (Kaup=, 1829.) -*^'^
Hume, Cat. No. 964; Blanf., No. 1597. Nettium crecca (Linn.). — The
Common Teal.
Have seen a few birds in the cold weather.
Genus Dafila (Leach., 1824.)
Hume, Cut. No. 962 ; Blanf., No. 1600. Dafila acuta (Linn.).— The Pintail. "^^^
I have never shot any of this species here, but have seen them flying ever.
Genus Querqvedula (iStephens, 1824.)
Hume, Cat. No.965 ; Bla)if., No. 1601. Qcerquedula circia (Linn) —
2f>8
The Garganey Teal.
I have shot several birds of this spenies whilst in Hylakand)'. 1 have
no records of any other ducks or teal from the district, but expect
most of such species, d,?, M. pewlope, S. clypeata, N. rufina, and N. ferrtiginea
are to be found here at times.
Order Pygopodes.
Family Podicipedtdcp.
Genus Podicipes (Lath.. 1790.)
Hume, Cat. No. 975 : Blanf., No, 1617. Pddicipe? alkipennis ^^
(Sharpe). — The Dabchick.
I have very seldom this species here, but I find J have recorded a pair seen
in a stagnant pool in the district.
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684
THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR
ISLANDS.
By a. L. Butler, f.z.s., m.b.o.u., etc.
Curator, Selangor State Museum.
(Continued from page 571 of this Volume.)
Part III. ( With a Plate).
1188. NiNOX OBSCURA, Hume. Blanf., Ill, p. iJU ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 153.
Hume's brown hawk-owl is extremely plentiful in the Audamans,
thous^h, like most nocturnal birds, difficult to procure. On fine still nights
I often heard as many as a dozen hooting at the same time. The note is a
low " whoo-wuk" or " coo-whoop," a soft clear flute-like sound, precisely
the same as the note of Ninox scutuJata in Ceylon, {A/fJnls, the Andaman
race of scutulata, has an entirely different call.)
They frequent the same trees night after night, and are especially vociferous
just after dusk and before dawn. They are generally met with singly ; I
only once saw two together on tho same tree. They are not very shy birds ;
once or twice I walked up to within three or four yards of one sitting on a
low post before it flew. Their food seems to consist principally of beetles, I
got a fair series of this hawk-owl, six good specimens being the result of
numerous mooolight stalks.
It has also been obtained in the Nicobars.
1212. Spizaetus limnaetus, Horsf . Blanf , III, p, 351; " Str, Feath,," II,
p. 1 12.
The insular race of this hawk-eagle (S, andamanensis, Tytler) is met with
throughout tho Andaman**, but is not common, though hardly rare. Mr.
Hume only obtained a single specimen during bis collecting trip in the islands,
and I only succeeded in getting one example, being unlucky in two or three
times getting easy shots at the bird quite unexpectedly when I had only No.
8 or dust shot in my gun.
It is a bold bird, frequently taking a chicken or a pigeon close to a bun-
galow. I saw one capture a myna (A. tristis) and came on another, making
a meal ofP a Koel,
1217. Spiloknis CHEELA, Latham. Blanf.. Ill, p. .357 ; *' Str, Feath.,"
II, p. 147.
This snake-eagle is a conimoii bird in the Andamans, and has been met
with also in the Nicobars. According to Mr, Hume, it is much less cotnmon
than »S'. elgiui, to which >t is quite similar in habits. It seemed to me, if any-
thing rather more numerous than S. elgini, and I found that snake-eagles shot
along the mangrove creeks feeding on crabs were nearly always S. c/iceZa, while
birds shot on clearings, &c,, more inland were usually S. elgini. In this species,
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Journ.Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc Vol. XII.
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TBE BIRDS OF TBE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 685
too, Andaman birds belong to a small race, S. davisoni of Hume, with wing 14
to 15*5 inches.
1218. Spiloenis MINIMUS, Hume. Blanf,, III, p. 361; " Str. Feath.," I,
p, 464.
A miniature snai%e-eagle, with wing of 11 "5 only, occurring only in the
Nicobars, where it does not seem to be numerous. Mr, Hume procured two
specimens during his trip in 1873. I saw the bird twice, on Terossa and
Katchall, but failed to get a shot at it.
1219. Spilornis ELGiNi, Tytler. Blanf., Ill, p. 361; " Str. Feath." II,
p. 144.
Common in the Andamans. It frequents clearings in the forest, hill sides
with scattered trees, &c., and is less often met with in the mangrove swamps
than Spilornis cheela, being much less partial to crabs than that species.
Mr. Hume's party did not meet with this bird in the NJcobars, but Blauford
says a specimen from that locality is in the British Museum.
1'224. HA.LIAETUS LEUCOGASTER, Gmel. Blanf., Ill, p. 368; " Str. Feath.,
II, p. 149.
Common all along the coasts of the Andamans, Nicobars, and Coco?, but
wary ai d hard to get within shot of. Immature birds are noticeably less
shy than adults. One or two old birds round Ross, however, having become
used to people and boats, were comparatively fearless, f ying low over the
bungalows and jetty, and sitting on a buoy or flagstafl: until closely
approached.
One of these birds twice swooped down on a tish being trailed thirty yards
behind a boat as a bait for cocari, lifting the fish and line ciear of the water
and then dropping it,
I was told that some years ago one seized a white duck from the garden of a
bungalow on Viper Island and flew off over the harbour with it. On its pass-
ing a boat in which some one was returning from snipe-shooting, a fhot was
fired at it, which caused it to drop the duck some four hundred yards from
land, the intended victim promptly swimming for home which it reached un-
noticed by sharks and little the worse for its adventure. Car Nicobarese —
"muttayeja.
1229. MiLvcs GOViNUA, Sykes. Blanf,, III, p. 374; '• Str. Feath." II, p. 150.
Mr. Hume includes the kite in his list, as two were once shot at Port Blair,
though, as he points out, these were doubtless brought down on the rigging
of a ship from Madras or Calcutta,
1234. Circus cineraceus, Montagu. Blanf., Ill, p, 383,
Early in May I watched for some time an immature harrier, which, I think,
belonged to this species, beating backwards and forwards over a piece of
swampy ground near Port Blair, It passed me two or three times within
seventy yards, but would not come near enough to allow me to shoot it and
identify it with certainty. About the same time I found a skeleton of a
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686 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
harrier, which must, I think, have been that of a Montagu's or a Pale Harrier,
the feet being far too small for Circus ceruginoKus.
1?37. Circus ^RUGiNosus, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p. 387^ " Str, Feath.," II,
p. 150.
The marsh harrier is scarce in the neighbourhood of Port Blair, without
being exactly rare. I saw it about half-a-dozen times in September and
October, and shot a fine adult male on February 2nd. Davison says it
remains as late as May. It is not likely to occur in other parts of the
islands away from the paddy land.
1245. AsTUR soLoENsis, Horsf. Blanf., Ill, p. 400 ; " Str. Feath.," II,
p. 141.
The " Novara " Expedition obtained a single example of this bird on Car
Nicobar. I can find no other record of its occurrence in the islands.
Mr. Hume did not meet with it ; I kept a keen look-out for it, especially on
Car Nicobar, which I worked very thoroughly, but I saw nothing
of it. My search, however, resulted in the discovery of the next
species.
AsTDR BUTLERi, Gumey. Bull. B, 0. C, Vol. VII, p. xxvli ; Blanf,,
Birds, IV, p. 486.
I obtained four specimens of this beautiful new species on Car Nicobar in
September. The following notes, taken from my diary, were written when
I had the bii'ds under observation daily.
Af<lur, sp. n.? Not uncommon in forest on Car Nicobar, but extremely
shy and difficult to shoot. It keeps almost exclusively to the topmost
brunches of the tallest trees, contiiiually uttering a shrill little double cry,
exactly like Astur badius. The first two birds that I shot (including the only
female) lodged dead on the tops of inaccessible trees. Subsequently I shot
four more, two adult and two immature males. Young birds are extremely
chesnut in colour, looking on the wing as red as, or redder than, kestrels.
One or two filaments of nest-down adhering to the feathers of one of the
immature birds show that this chesnut plumage is the first acquired. Young
birds have a trick o£ fluttering on a bough exactly like a broken-legged bird,
probably a trick practised when they are just out of the nest to first catch
the eye of the old bird biint;ing food.
This hawk probably breeds twice in the year ; in September numerous
chesnut-coloured birds, bred probably in February or March, were about,
while both adult miles were in a state of breeding ; and I found one nest,
about 40 feet from the ground, at the end of a horizontal branch of a
huge Ficus, in which the birds were apparently just about to lay, as one or
both were always seated on the branch near it. Had I remained a few days
longer on the island I should probably have obtained the eggs. The stomach
of one of the males contained a lizard.
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 687
Measurements taken in the flesh : —
^ ad., Length, llf ; wing, 6| ; tail 5^ : tars. If : Bill at g. ^.
$ ad., „ llf; „ 7 ; „ 5^: „ l^ ; „ \h
i juv., „ llf 5 „ 6A; „ 5i5 „ m; „ h
$ juv., „ 12i ; „ 6i.
Iris, bright orange ; feet, yellow : cere, pale greenish : bill, pale bluish
horny, tip dusky.
$ Juv., Iris, greyish-white : feet, pale lemon : bill, black, base bluish :
cere, pale green ; eyelid, greenish. Car Niccbarese name "Kadeva."
1247. AcciPiTEK Nisus. Blanf., Ill, p. 402; " Str. Feath.," IV, p. 280.
A male was obtained by Captain Wimberley in the Andanians in October,
1876. With regard to the distribution of this species I may here mention
that I have seen a specimen killed in Perak, preserved in the State Museum
at Taiping. Mr. Blanford does not mention its occurrence in the Malay
countries.
1248. AcciPiTKR viRGATUS (Reinw.) Blanf., Ill, p. 404 j " Str. Feath.,'
II, p. 141.
Both in the Andamans and Nicobars the Besra is extraordinarily scarce.
I saw it about three times only during my stay ; Mr. Hume's party in 1875
secured only one specimen.
1254. Falco PEREGEINUS, Tunst. Blanf., Ill, p. 413; "Str. Feath,,"
II., p. 140.
The Peregrine only occurs in the Andamans as a rare straggler. I only
saw it once, in Port Blair harbour in January, when a falcon passed over me
in the evening just out of shot.
1265. TiNNUNCULUS ALANDARiDS, Gmel. Blanf., HE, p. 248.
Captain Orchard told me that he watched an unmistakeable kestrel hover-
ing over some grassy hills at Port Blair in October.
MicitoHiERAX LATiFRONS, Sharpe. Blanf, II., p. 434.
This falconet is said to have occurred in the Nicobars, but Blanford says
the evidence is at second hand, and the record can hardly be accepted
without further proof.
1276. OsMOTRKRON CHLOROPTERA, Blyth. Blanf., IV, p. 10; "Str,
Feath.,II,"p. 258.
Abundant in both groups. Davison saw a bird building in May, and a bird
which I shot during that month was apparently breeding.
1284. CarpophaGA ^nea, Linn. Blanf., IV, p. 19 ; " Str, Feath,, II,"
p. 260,
Common in the Andamans, but not so abundant as the next species is in the
Nicobars, Breeds about May,
1285. Carpophaga insularis, Blyth. Blanf., IV, p. 20 ; " Str. Feath."
II, p. 262.
Very numerous in the Nicobars, on some islands simply swarming
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088 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
1289. Myristicivora BicoLOB, Scop, Blanf,, IV^, p. 23 ; " Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 264.
A common resident in the Nicobnrs : to the Andamans, the Great Cocos^
Barren Island and Narcondam, according to Hume, a seasonal visitant. As
Davison remarks, it is not so generally distributed throughout the Nicobars as
C. i'luularin. Davison also remarks that where the birds had a choice they
seemed to prefer the mangrove swamps to the thick forest, A strikingly
handsome bird, it associates in large flocks, and fifty or sixty dashing with a
clatter of wings out of a tall tree, their black and white plumage showing
up vividly against the background of green foliage, are a sight to gladden
the eyes of a naturalist wandering in these steamy jungles. Though one
would hardly think it, their boldly pied coloring of jetty black and cream-
colour is more or less protective. On the wing they are, of course, conspi-
cuous, but iimong the shifting lights and shadows of a thickly leaved tree on
which the sunlight is falling, they are extremely hard to make out. Often I
have known a flock were in the branches above me, and yet perhaps only one
bird on the outside of the tree with the light shining on its white breast
would be visible.
Their noi'e is a chuckling ' hu-hu-hu !'
In his paragraph on its distribution, I see Mr. Planford quotes Dr. Maingay
as stating that this pigeon only occurs on the islands down the coast of the
M day Peninsula. This is incorrect ; it certainly keeps principally to the
small islets oif the coast, but only this week I shot three and saw several
more at Kua'a Selangor on the mainland of the Peninsula.
Car Nicobarese — " Kaluia.''
1290. Calcenas nicobarica, Linn. Blanf, IV, p. 24 ; "Str. Feath.," II,
p. 271.
Occurs throughout the Nicobars, and is also a rare straggler to the
Andamans and Cocos.
These pigeons breed in thousands on the small uninhabited and rarely
visited island of Batti Malve, south of Car Nicobar. Mr. Hume's party
landed on the island on March 16th, 1873, and he gives a most interesting ac-
count of the breeding colony ("Str. Feath.,"" ii, 95 and 271). Mr. Hume was
unfortunately too late for eggs, all the nests at that date containing young,
in some cases only just hatched and in some fully fledged. One egg was
obtained, but apparentl\ not much of a specimen, as it was preserved by
cuttiug a hiile at the side and placing it near an ant's nest. Nearly every
thick tree contained several nests ; on one Mr. Davison counted as many as
thirteen. He describes them as regular pigeon's nests, merely a platform of
sticks very closely (loosely ?) and carelessly put together and with no lining
of any kind.
My own experience of the Nicobar Pigeon is confined to the island of Car
Nicobar, where I came across it pretty often in August and September. I
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THE BIRDS OF THE AND A .UA N' A ND N J COB A R ISLANDS. 089
found it very shy and difficult to shoot. It is quite silent so that you have
no means of knowing of its whereabouts : creeping through the jungle you
are startled by a tremendous flutter of wings overhead and get just a glimpse
of a large dark bird with a short white tail disappearing on the wrong side
of at least two thick trees. You may have time to get in the snappiest of
snapshots and it may be effective ; mine generally were not, though occa-
sionally the report would be followed by a cheery thud. Fortunately one
does sometimes get easy sitting shots and opportunities of observing the
birds fairly closely, but these are not often.
I usually came across them singly or in parties of three or four to a dozen
or so. When feeding on the ground the Cakenas walks about much like a
large Emerald Dove, but carries its wings much lower, often, indeed, drooping
them so much as to give one the idea of their being injured at the shoulder.
When not feeding they sit silent and alert on some bare horizontal bough
about thirty or forty feet from the ground ; seen thus they look very dark
in colour, almost blackish, as, indeed, they generally do when seen in the
shade.
Their flight is swift and very strong, though heavy-looking ; the flutter
they make in leaving a tree is peculiarly loud and characteristic, so that I
could always tell by ear whether a bird flying out over my head was a
Caloenas or one of the common Imperial pigeons.
When settling in a tree above one the clumsy way in which they pitch and
commence slowly walking along a thick bough has something rather fowl-
like about it; an impression which their large, heavy bodies and long legs
tend to increase.
From the crops of the birds I killed on Car Nicobar I took quantities of
small seeds, but only of two kinds, one rather like a small prune stone, so
hard as to be almost unbreakable, and one much resembling a sunflower
seed.
There was a large proportion of very young birds on Car Nicobar in
August, many with the head still covered with tiny quills : as they do not
breed on Car these must have left the nesting place on Batti Malve, and
crossed the nineteen miles of sea which separate the two islands, at a very
early age.
The hackles of this pigeon are so long and delicate that when a freshly
killed bird is carried by the legs they reverse and droop downwards around
its head in a shining canopy of feathery curves.
Words fail to describe the beauty of this glorious pigeon. The lean, game-
looking, iron-grey head and neck, the streaming rufl: of long glittering
hackles, the heavy body and strong broad wings of lustrous metallic green,
changing in every light and set off by the square snow-white tail, all combine
to make it one of the loveliest of known birds.
Nefer shall I forget my first Cakenas !
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(i90 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HrSTORY SOCIETY, Vol,XTL
1291, Chalcopiiaps indica, Linn. Blanf,, IV, p. 26 j "Str. Feath.,"
II, p. 269.
The beautiful little bronxe-wing is common in both groups of islands.
In the Nicobai'S, Davison found it breeding in February and March.
1303. Alsocomfs palumboides, Hume. Blanf., IV, p. 39 : " Str. Feath.."
II, p. 263.
This fine pigeon is comparatively scarce in both groups. Mr. Hume seems
to have observed it in considerable numbers at Macpherson's Straits,
I only shot it once on Car Nicobar, and unfortunately the bird went bad
before I couid preserve it. It seemed to me more of a Wood Pigeon
than a Fruit Pigeon : my bird rose either from the ground or from a low
branch within a foot or two of it — far lower than I have seen a C'lrpophafja
settle.
1308. TuRTUR TiGRiNus, Temm. Blanf., IV. p. 44; "Str. Feath.," II,
p. 269.
Mr. Hume includes the Malayan Spotted Dove in his list on the strength
of a specimen brought to Blyth from the Nicobars by Captain Lewis. Mr.
Hume, however, in another place suggests the possibility of some of Captain
Lewis's Burmese and Nicobar specimens liaving got intermixed. The Nicobar
locality seems to me unreliable.
1309. TiTRTUR CAMBAYENSis, Gm. Blanf.. IV. p. 45,
I found the Little Brown Dove not uncommon at Port Blair on cultivated
ground. It may have been introduced at some time after Hume's visit, but
I could obtain no information on this subject.
1311. ^NOPOPEiJA TRANQUEBARICA, Herm. Blanf.. IV, p. 47 : "Str.
Feath,,'" I, p. 269.
Davison notes this dove as 'exceedingly rare' in the Andamans twenty-five
years ago. It is now quite common, and I have seen scores collected together
in a iield where grain was lying about. I took a nest with two eg^s in May.
1313. Macropygia rufipennip, Blyth. Blanf., IV, j). 50 : '' Str.
Feath.," II, p. 260.
Common in both groups. One ^ten Hushes it from the ground in clearings,
gardens, and even thick jungle. I have often seen it passing over head at a
great height on the way to its feeding or roosting grounds.
Davison says that they appeared to liina to live * f^xclusively on the small
Nepal, or bird's-eye, chilli.' I examined the crops of about a dozen, but
never found a chilli in any one of them. I noted the contents of the crops
of four, as follows :—
(1). Crop full of a small hard round black seed, about the size of a No. 1
shot. I bit open one or two of these and they had a white nutty kernel,
which caused a slight, but distinct, irritation in the mouth, lasting for some
minutes.
(2). Crop contained 39 green berries, looking very like large boiled peas.
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THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. G91
(3), Had been feeding on a long green fruit an inch in length with
another inch of stalk attached,
(4). Same as (2).
It is curious that all Davison's birds, and 7ione of mine, contained chillies.
1354. ExcALFACTORiA ciiiNENSis, Linn. Blanf,, Birds, IV, p. 112.
The Blue-breasted Quail does not seem to have been recorded pre-
viously from the islands, but I found it fairly common on one or two small
grassy plains on Car Nicobar. As usual, they were very hard to flush in the
long grass, and I found the best way of securing specimens was shooting
over a rope dragged by two boys. Nicobarese specimens of this quail have
the back much suffused with the blue-grey of the bieast, and have the pale
haft stripes on the back entirely, or almost entirely, wanting. Dr. Hartert
and Mr. Blanford refer themto the Sumatran subspecies, E. lineata. If this
species ranges to the islands from Sumatra, it is curious that it should be
comparatively common on the northern island of Car Nicobar, while in the
central group neither Mr. Hume's party nor I ever met with it. Soft parts
and measurements of a pair of Nicobarese specimens,
(J. Length, 5i ; wing, 2U ; tail, i ; tarsus, ^ ; bill at g., U, at f., §.
Iris, crimson ; legs, orange ; claws, black ; hill, black, base bluish horny.
9 . Length, 5f ; wing, 2f ; tail, it ", tarsus, It ; bill at g., ^|, at f. i.
Iris, brownish-red ; legs, orange ; clatcs, brown ; Bill, dusky bluish.
Car Nicobare&e '' mul."
1375, Francolinus pondicerianus, Gm. Blanf., IV, p. 189.
Indian Grey Partridges were turned out near Aberdeen about ten years
ago J though not yet very numerous, they have established themselves well,
and one can be sure of flushing a few near Aberdeen and Navy Bay. They
breed in May.
1381. Megapodius nicobariensis, Blyth. Blanf., IV, p. 147 ; " Str.
Feath.," II, p. 27G.
Davison says that the Megapod is found on all the islands of the Nicobar
group, appearing to be more numerous on those islands where the soil
is somewhat sandy, and consequently the undergrowth less dense, as on
Trinkut, Treis, etc.
I am inclined to think that ou Car Nicobar, on which 1 spent six weeks,
and which I worked very thoroughly it does not occur now-a-days, Avhatever
it may have done five and twenty years ago. I found no traces of any
mounds, and the Nicobarese declared that it was not met with on Car,
though it occurs on Batti Malve within twenty miles.
Mr. Hume saw what he took to be mounds of this bird un Table Island
otf the Great Cocos, and the light-house keeper had apparently shot them
there.
They appear to breed throughout the greater part of the year ; Mr. Hume
obtained a large scries of eggs in March, and the birds ware breeding when
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692 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
I -visited the Nicobars in August and on a subsequent visit of the ' Elphin-
stone' in February.
The mounds of this bird are almost always placed near the shore» a few
yards inside the edge of the jungle. The object of this is to obtain a
mixture <i the rich leaf mould of the forest with the fine pulverised coral
of the beach.
All sorts of vegetable rubbish are accumulated, some of the mounds in time
reaching an enormous size ; Davison says that on the coast they average
5 feet high ard 30 feet in circumference, but that he saw one which must
have been at least 8 feet high and 60 feet in circumference.
Davison found that the eggs are laid at considerable intervals, the next
egg in the ovary of a bird which had just laid being no bigger than a pea.
The egg laid might have been the last of the clutch, but the enormous size
of the eggs in proportion to that of the bird, and the fact that they are found
some fresh and some on the point of hatching in the same mound, quite
bear out Davison's opinion.
The eggs when laid are clayey pink ; as incubation progresses they
become a buft'y stone-colour, and before hatching pale brown or dirty
coffee-colour. Mr. Hume gives the average measurements of 62 as
3-25 X 2-07.
Apparently sometimes one pair of birds and sometimes two or three
use the same mound, 20 eggs having been taken together from a large
heap.
The small mound that 1 examined was made in the hollow centre of a
large tree between the roots, which divided into four large buttresses. It
was not more than 2 feet high and 4 feet in diameter, and jrobably belonged
to only one pair of birds. It contained one fresh pink egg, bnried at about
two feet below the surface. Fermentation in this mound had hardly com-
menced, the temperature inside being hardly higher than that of any of the
surrounding sand. The heap looked more like a lot of rubbish drifted in
Ijctween the tree roots than the usual nest of the bird.
Davison says : "The eggs are usually buried from oh to 4 feet deep, and
how the young manage to extricate themse'ves from the superincumbent
mass of soil and rubbish seems a mystery ; most probably they are assisted
by their parents, if not entirely freed by them."
I think that the young always work their way to the surface quite unaided.
For one thing the birds could never know — ■with eggs in different stages of
incubation in the same mound — when to dig down to save u newly hatched
young one from suffocation ; further the eggs can be hatched by packing
them in a box in the material of the mound in which they are found, and
Mr. E. H. Man, who hatclied a chick in his verandah by this means, told me
that it not only extricated itself from the sand, hnijlew up on to the verandah
railing directly it was approached.
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THE BIRDS OF TEE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 693
Old birds take to trees like jungle fowl. Mr, Hume describes their note as a
cackling ' kuk-a-kuk-kuk ' quickly repeated. A few have been turned out
in the Andamans, but nothing more was seen of them.
It is surprising that the Megapod seems to hold its owa in spite of the
regular destruction of its eggs, the breeding places being mostly known to
the Nicobarese and regularly plundered ; yet the birds are from all accounts
not much less numerous than formerly.
I have not included the Peafowl in my list. Mr. Hume has it as an
introduced species, but though numerous at some of the farms and villages
in the settlement, they are all more or less domesticated and appear neither
to spread nor increase greatly.
Note. — Since I wrote the above Lieut. St John. Comnaauding R. I. M. S. Elphinttune,
has published in this Journal some interesting notes on the Megapnd, (Vol. XII, No. 1,
p. 212), and in the same paper gives the fullest account yet published of the Narcondam
Hornbill.— [A. L. B.]
1385. TuRXix ALBiVENTRis, Hume. Blanf,, IV, p. 154; '" Str, Feath., "
II, p. 281.
The Nicobar Button Quail is common on those of the Nicobar Islands that
have undulating plains of grass land. On Teressa I saw more than any-
where else, and on Camotta it is fairly numerous. On Car Nicobar, where
there are only a few large open patches of grass, it is not plentiful, being
considerably out-numbered by the little Blue-breasted Quail.
Its habits are those of other small button quails. I procured a young bird
in August that was probably bred in June or July. It is difl&cult to get good
specimens of this quail, as they rise within a few feet from the rank waist-
high grass, whirr along for twenty-five yards or so only, and then drop again
to be seen no more unless you have a dog. However after some trouble I
managed to get some perfect skins.
It has been obtained in the Andamans, but there it is extremely rare.
1390. HYroTCENiDiA OBSCURIOR, Hume. Blanf., IV, p. 162 j "Str. Feath,,"'
II, p. 302,
Common in both groups, but a very skulking bird and seldom flushed. It
frequents forest a good deal, as well as paddy-land, marshes, S:c., and I
caught several in thick jungle in traps set for for Euryzona canninrj'f. The
power of hiding themselves which these rails have is extraordinary ; en one
occasion I saw one fly -to, and settle in, a small patch of tussocky grass not
ten yards square and surrounded by bare dried mud, with no other cover
for thirty yards. Making sure of this bird I beat the little patch over and
over again j I then searched most carefully among the roots until I had
trodden the whole patch completely flat, but never a sign of that rail did I
see again. There were a lot of crab holes among the tussocks, and I imagine
he must have got down one of these. The note of this rail is a deep croak
very like that of the Chesnut Rail. One often hears tins deep croak in the
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694 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
grass or paddy within a few feet, but it is only now and again that one can
without a dog, put up a bird.
This rail breeds more or less throughout the year. I have kn,own of nest-s
in June, July and November in the Andamans, and took a nest on Car
Nicobar on August 30th. I also caught several very small chicks of this
species in September and October. The nest is a mere pad of grass, &c.,
placed anywhere in thick grass or herbage, either in the open or in jungle ;
the eggs, 7 or 8 in number, are pinkish stone-colour, spotted and blotched
with brownish-red of two shades, dark and light, with a few underlying
markings of greyish-purple. One egg, among a normally marked clutch, was
white, sparingly spotted with pale purplish-grey and a few spots of purplish-
brown, all the markings on this rather handsome variety being very small.
Five eggs measured ItVx lA ; l^X IjV i ^l X ItV ; l^X l^v ; If X Ixe-
The chick is covered with black down ; iris greyish-brown ; bill blackish ;
legs and feet dark brown. The first feathers which appear are the grey
feathers of the breast. When caught the chick keeps up an incessant plain-
tive call note, half whisper and half whistle.
1393. PoRZANA I'USILLA, Pall. Blanf.,IV, p. 165 ; •' Str. Feath.," II, p. 301.
The pretty httle Baillon's Crake is very rarely met with in the Andamans,
though, perhaps, it is not really uncommon. I only came across it once, when
I found a pair frequenting the rank herbage growing round a stagnant pool
near some cattle sheds. One of the birds was swimming along on the filthy
ink-black water, jerking its tail like a little water-hen. I beat the cover
through and shot one, a beautiful little specimen, but the other gave rather
a long shot and with a "410 bore only I managed to miss it. Their flight is
more quail-like than that of any other small rail I know.
Davison only met with it once, at Port Mouat.
1397. Rallina canningi, Tytler. Blanf., IV, p. 169 ; "Str. Feath.," II
pp. 302 and 500 ; Hume and Marsh., ' Game Birds,' II, p. 241.
In 1874 Mr. Hume wrote : " This large and handsome rail is either excess-
ively rare or else conceals itself so elt'ectually as to be very seldom seen.
. . . We never saw the bird, and Davison, who made special exertions
to secure a specimen, only once caught sight of it,''
I did my best to learn all I could about this lovely rail while I was in
the Andamans. For six weeks after my arrival I saw nothing of the bird,
though I kept the keenest look-out for it. Then one morning I was standing
on a narrow muddy track in thick jungle and had just changed my gun for
a butterfly net, when I saw one of the much-sought rails standing in the path
not more than eight yards off, looking at me intently. I stretched my hand
out to the convict behind me and clicked my lingers for my gun, but just as
I got hold of it the rail was off into cover. And the right barrel was
loaded with the lightest charge of dust shot, that would have killed him
beautifully at the distance ! Next morning I revisited the same place, but
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THE BIRDS OF TEE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. G95
saw nothing of my friend ; however I noticed some footprints on the mud
which struck me as too small for Erj/thra jjJiccmatj-a^ so I spent the mornintj
in running a long low barrier of sticks and branches through the jungle
for fifty yards, leaving open four or five small arches, in each of
which I suspended a noose. Feeling pretty confident that if RalUna
cannivgi came against this fence in his morning's walk he would follow
it along looking for an opening and get into the nearest noose, I then
went of! to breakfast. It rained heavily all the afternoon, and I was
feeling very seedy with a touch of fever, but I dragged myself off to
look at the nooses, and there, to my delight, drownt d and draggled in
the mud was R. canniiigi at last, with a noose so tight round his neck
that I had to cut it to get it ofi'. He certainly looked very disreput-
able indeed, but clean water and plaster of Paris worked wonders and he
turned out a beauty. After this success I lengthened ihe fence and put in a
few more nooses : I at once caught a second specimen, but after this I was
constantly finding the nooses bro' en, the beaten down mud and leaves and a
few rich chesnut feathers showing that a rail had been trapped, but had
presumably effected its escape. On these occasions I noticed other foot-
mark's about the place, too large for R. canningi or E. phcmiaira, and with five
toes — made in short by the Bur" ese convict mahouts in charge of the Forest
Department elephants working nenr the spot. As there was not much use
in snaring birds for convicts to eat, I had to give up this particular spot.
On my return from the Nicobars in September I set myself to work to try
to get a good series of this rail. At every likely spot in the jungles for
some distance round I put down one of these fences with nooses, and a most
killing trap they proved. Altogether in about two months I captured about
80 of these splendid rails, the only big series ever obtained, excepting a
dozen specimens which Mr. Hume received subsequent to his visit from
Captain Wimberley. All these birds were killed within one square mile,
showing how numerous the species really is. During this time the nooses
also caught about ir»0 white-breasted waterhens ; blue-breasted rails. If* (in-
cluding two chicks in down) ; jungle-crows, 23 5 bronze-winged doves, about
30 ; — and 1 large toad. Many other birds were also taken from the traps by
pigs and jungle-cats {Parado:rums amlamanpnsis), and a number were destroy-
ed by ants in spite of my going the rounds twice a day, I found that
thin water-cord fishing-line, waxed stiff to keep the required position and
then oiled slightly to make it run well, made the most excellent nooses ex-
ceedingly strong, and very quickly made.
I kept two or three of these rails in captivitj' for some time. With their
rich glossy chesnut upper plumage, contrasting with the broad black-and-
white bands of the flanks and lower parts, their bright green bills and
beautiful ruby eyes, they are certainly the handsomest bird of the family
in Asia. They carry themselves rather high on their legs, the head generally
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r.9r, JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
rather drawn in, the feathers nearly always more or less ruffled up, the
barred Hank plumes over and outside the wings, their whole outline being
very round and ball-like. When not alarmed they pace about in a very
slow and deliberate fashion, now and then picking up a morsel of food with
a quick peck. One bird was so tame that within an hour of its capture it
came and took grasshoppers and worms quite fearlessly from my fingers,
and pecked and nibbled at my hands when the insects were finished. But
as a rule they are shier, though they feed well from the first. They drink
a great deal and require plenty of water. In drinking they seemed to me to
raise the head much less than most birds, drinking steadily for many seconds
without lifting the bill at all. The call note of this bird is a curious deep
croak, sounding something as if a man were trying to say " kroop ! kroop ! "
with his mouth under water ! I have often heard it within twenty or thirty
yards of me in tangled thickets of rattan and ixmdanufi, but never have I had
a glimpse of the bird, except on the one occasion above mentioned, and once
when one fluttered across a path in front of me in the dusk of the evening.
The alarm note uttered by a snared bird when approached is a sharp " chick !
chick !" and when caught it sometimes utters a cry rather like that of a
wounded rabbit.
The Eed Rail feeds principally on beetles, grasshoppers, worms, small
snails, caterpillars, &c. In the case of large grasshoppers the prey is held
in the bill and shaken as a terrier would do a rat, flung down, pounced on,
and worried again until nearly dead and then swallowed. This treatment
seems specially meted out to grasshoppers ; the bird apparently considering
that a lively grasshopper vigorously ' flicking ' its hind legs after being
swallowed might not be very comfortable for the swallower !
The young bird, which I have not seen described, difl:ers from the adult in
having the chesnut parts duller, and the lower parts dark grey with a ches-
nvitimg&, narrowly hanried ami siri'alced vi'iih dirty white, instead of black
broadly barred with pure white as in the adults.
Bill dusky olive, legs and feet olive-green, iris reddish-brown or orange-
brown.
The chicks, judging from fragments of nestling down which I noticed all
over a very young bird, must be beautiful little things, covered all over with
rich chesnut down, slightly greyish under the wings ; iris probably brown ;
bill dusky olive.
In adult birds the bill is bright apple-green, turning to whitish at the tip ;
this green colour is so delicate that it gives the bill, which is hard and strong,
the appearance of being soft and weak ; the legs are olive-green ; the iris is
beautiful clear scarlet, in some just mottled with the smallest specks of gold
round the pupil.
This rail, as far as is known, does not occur in the Nicobars.
(2'o be coritinned.)
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697
THE MOTHS OF INDIA.
SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER TO THE VOLUMES IX
'• THE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA."
PARt VII.
By iSiK G. F. Hampson, Bart., f.z.s., f.e.s.
{Continued from page 485 of this Volume.)
Genus Omphalobasis.
Omphalobasis. — Hmpsn. Trans. Ent. Soc, 1896, p. 525.
Ti/pe. — 0. chalyhopkta, Warr.
Palpi down-curved, about two and a half times length of head, the
2nd and 3rd joints thickly
fringed with hair above
^ and below; maxillary palpi
'^ triangularly scaled ; frons
rounded; anteiinajof male
somewhat thickened and
Omphalobasis chulyboplcta $ \, flattened ; tibiae frinoed
with rough hair. Forewing with the costa arched at base, then straio-ht,
the apes produced and acute ; the outer margin highly excurved from
below apex to vein 3 ; vein 3 from before angle of cell ; 4'5 from anole ;
6 from upper angle ; 7, 8, 9, 10 stalked ; male with a glandular
swelling at base of costa below fringed with longhair. Hindwing with
the outer margin nearly straight from apex to vein 2 ; veins o, 4, o
from angle of cell ; 6, 7 stalked.
45796. Omphalobasis chalybopicta. Warr., A. M. X. H. (Gj, xvii,
p. 452.
$. Dark olive-brow u, slightly mixed with ochreous, and with a
jiurplish tinge. Forewing thickly irrorated with chalybeous scales ; an
obscure slightly curved oblique antemedial band without metalic scales
on it, and obscure patches at upper and lower angles of cell ; a sub-
marginal band with chalybeous edges, slightly excurved at middle, and
with a large rufous patch on its inner side below costa ; a chalybeous
marginal line. Hindwing ochreous ; the basal and inner areas suffused
with fuscous ; a large triangular olive-brown patch on medial outer
area irrorated with chalybeous scales and traversed by metallic-edged
14
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608 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
submarginal tind marginal rufous lines. Underside with the outer half
of both wings suffused with fiery red.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 36 mm.
Genus Xenomilia.
A'gnom///a.— Warr., A. M. N. H. (G), xvii, p. 458 (1806).
Type. — A^ Itumeralis, Warr.
Hange. — Assam.
Palpi down-curved, extending about twioe the length of head, and
y fringed with scales above
and below ; maxillary palpi
filiform ; frons with sharp
tuft ; antenna? laminate, with
the basal joint long ; tibise
Xenomilia humeralis $ -^ smoothly scaled. Forewing
of male with the costa very strongly lobed at base, then nearly straight ;
the apex produced and acute ; the outer margin strongly falcate at vein
3, female with the costa and outer margin evenly curved ; vein 3 from
before angle of cell ; 4"5 from angle ; the discocellulars highly angled;
t), 7, 8, 9 stalked, 7 being given oU' nearer the apex than 9 ; 10, 11
free. Hindwing with vein 3 from near angle of cell ; 4*5 from angle;
6, 7 stalked.
4579('. Xenomilia humesalis, Warr., A. M. H. N. (6), xvii,
p. 459.
$. Dull yellowish-rufous ; abdomen ochreous and fuscous. Fore-
wing with two waved fuscous antemedial and two similar submarginal
lines, Hindwing yellowish with the inner and outer area fuscous.
9 . With the ground-colour of forewing pale ochreous ; the two
antemedial lines rufous ; the outer half of wing dark rufous obscuring
the ])03tmcdial linos, the inner edge of this area excurved l^etween veins
5 and 2 ; hindwing uniform fuscous.
Habitat. — Khdsis. Exp. 34 mm.
Genus Heterocrasa.
Heierocrasa.—\Wv\'., A.M.N.ll. (G), xvii, p. 459.
Tijpe. — H. expansalis, Warr.
Range. — Assam.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 699
9 . Palpi down-curved, extending about three times length of head and
thickh' scaled ; maxil-
lary ]ialpi minute ;
irons with a sharp
tuft ; antennre of fe-
male almost simple ;
Heterocrasa e.vpansalis 9 \ tibire and tarsi moder-
ately scaled ; vein 3 from liefore angle of cell ; 4*5 from angle ; 6, 7,
8, 9 stalked, 7 being given oflP just beyond 9 ; 10, 11 free. Hindwing
with veins 3 from w^ell before angle of cell ; 4, 5 separate ; G, 7 stalked.
4579f^. Heterocrasa expaksalis, AVarr., A. M. N. H. (6), xvii, p.
459.
9 . Flesh pink irrorated with darker red and fuscous. Forewing with
the costa ochreoiis ; indistinct dark ante- and postmedial nearly straight
lines, and a dark discocellular speck. Hindwing paler, with indistinct
curved ante- and postmedial fuscous lines approaching each other tow-ards
anal ayle.
Habitat , — Khasis. Evp. 34 mm.
4595a. Paractenia pellucidalis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (G), xvii,
p. 460.
$. Olive-grey ; head and collar tinged with ochreous. Forewing with
broad medial whitish band edged by the sinuous white ante- and post-
medial lines, with three black and white costal specks on it, a black
discocellular speck, and a patch of olive and fuscous suft'v.sion below the
cell. Hindwing with similar narrower band rather before the middle ;
both wings with prominent marginal series of black specks.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 20 mm.
4614a. Bostra ferrifusalis, n. sp.
$. Head and thorax dark ferruginous-red ; abdomen pale reddish.
Forewing pale reddish ; the basal half suffused with dark ferruginous ;
the outer half irrorated and the veins streaked with dark ferruginous ;
the outer half of costa with a series of pale specks ; an incurved dark
medial line bounding the dark area ; a black discocellular lunule ; an
oblique postmedial dark line obtusely angled outsvards on veins 4 and 1
and inwards on vein 2 : a dark line at base of cilia which are purplish-pink.
Hindwing pale, the inner half suffused with red, and with a slightly
waved dark postmedial line; cilia purplish-pink, with a dark line at ijitse,
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lOy) JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETi", Vol. XI 1.
Habitat.- Klvdsk. Exp. 20 mm. Type— In Coll Rothschild.
4627a. Tynuis erebalis, u. sji.
9 . Bhick-browu ; palpi, vertex of head, nnd base of ciLdomen tinged
with fulvous. Forewiug miiform. Hindwing slightly paler. Underside
of fore wing with the costal fold a. d extremity of veins streaised with
rufous ; both wings with fine pale marginal line.
ffabltat. — Khvii^ls. Erp. 2d mm. Type— In British Museum.
4G31a. MixoPHiLA xanthocasis, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc, 1897,
p. 81. ( PI. A, fig, 8 ).
Differs from M. renatvsaJis in the male having a small tuft of red scales
in the ciHa of hindwing near anal angle ; the inner area suffused with
ochreous scales below. Forewing with the medial line not expanding
into a spot on inner margin ; the apical part of submarginal line runn-
ino- almost to outer margin, with a yellow line above it and almost
disconnected from the rest of the submarginal line which is yellow.
Habitat — Dharmsala ; Pulo Laut : New Guinea. E.vp. 14 mm.
4633a. Nymphula nigra, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6), xviii, p. 220.
Black-brown. Forowing with obscure medial grey band with waved
edges, and an indistinct discoeellular black lunule on its outer edge ;
a postmedial grey line excurved from costa to vein 2, where it is retract-
ed to the medial band ; slight grey streaks on the reins towards the
margin. Hindwing fuscous.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.vju 18 mm.
P. 202. Under Ambia, insert /jeucogepht/ra, Warr., A. M. N. H.
(G , xviii, p. 219 (1896).
4663a. Ambta complicata, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6), xviii, p. 222.
9 . Head, thorax and abdomen fuscous mixed with white scales.
Forewing with the basal and innei" areas grey, almost entirely suffused
with black, the costal area beyond the antemedial line fulvous, traces of
a pale subbasal line ; the antemedial line whitish defined by black and
obtusely angled on median nervuro ; a black speck at middle of costa ;
a white discoeellular lunule on a black patch ; the postmedial line
whitish defined by black, oblique from costa, then excurved to vein 3, and
with a slight tooth inwards on vein 5, retracted along vein 2 to below
angle of cell, then erect ; a nearly straight submarginal ill-defined
black and white line ; a black and white mark at the excision below
apex : a fine black marginal line with white line inside it. Hindwing
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 701
almost entirely suffused with black ; ill-defined black-edged ante- and
postmedial lines almoat meeting on iuner margin, with a pole patch
between them below lower angle of cell ; slight submai-ginal white
marks near apex and ana! anole : the margin greush Wiih a fii.e bhick
marginal line.
Hahitat. — Kh>isis. Exp. ^2 mm.
LeiicogepliyrcL' — Furewiug of male v\ith no glandular swelling on
costa.
4(]66a. Ambia sbmifascialis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (G), sviii,
p. -219.
$. Pure white ; j)alpi and Irons black; abdoiiien with a broad Hack
band near extremity. Forewing with black speck at base of inner
margin ; an aiitemedial black line somewhat interrupted and slightly
angled in cell ; a speck at h'wer angle of cell ; a postmedial line, in
places represented by specks, excurved from costa to vein 2, along which
it is retracted to below end of cell ; a large black spot on middle of
margin and cilia ; some specks on the margin. Hindwing with traces
of a subbasal line ; medial and postmedial sinuous black lines, the
spaces between them filled in with black from lower angle of cell to
inner margin ; some specks on the margin.
i/a/'/^a^.— Khasis. Exp. 11> mm.
4682r«. Oligostigma ARiEALF, Hmpsn., Trans. Ent. Soc, 1897,
p. 170.
Male with the hind tiM^e an J spurs tufted with long hair ; short tufts
at base of mid and hind femora. $. ^Vhite ; head, thorax
and abdomen slightly tinged with fulvous and fuscous. Forewing
with streaks of diffused fuscous scales below costa, from base
of inner margin to cell and along vein 2, and from inner margin
before niiddle along vein 1 ; slight yellow sjiots at base of vein 2 and
on discocellulars, tlie latter with a dark speck above it on costa ;
an ill -defined yellow submarginal band with some dark scales on its
edges ; a marginal yellow band defined on inner side by a fine
black line, and with a marginal series of minute black pomts. Hindwing
with slight oblique fuscous line across end of cell ; two diffused sinuous
fuscous submarginal lines with some yellow between them at middle ; a
yellowish marginal band defined on inner side by a waved black line and
with three marginal black spots with orange between them on the lobe.
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702 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
Habitat. — Kandy, Ceylou ; Exp. 16 mm.
P. 210. Under Parthenodes, insert Gethosyue, Warr., A. M. N. H.
(6), xviii, p. 221 (1896).
4698«. Parthenodes latifasialis, Warr.,A..M.N.H.(6),xviu, p. 220.
Head and thorax dark rufous suffused with bhick ; abdomen pale
rufous. Forewiug dark rufous, ahnost wholly suffused with black ;
traces of a subbasal line ; an indistinct ochreous antemedial line slightly
angled on median nervnre ; a sliglitly darker discocellular patch ; an
obscure postmedial line slightly sinuous below costa, then curved to
vein 2, along which it is retracted to below angle of cell ; a series of
dark specks just inside the margin ; cilia ochreous below apex and above
outer angle, llindwing fuscous, with obscure pale discocellular lunule and
traces of postmedial line obliquely sinuous from costa to vein 2, along
which it is retracted, traces of a series of dark specks inside the margiu.
Habitat. — Khasis. Ewjj. 20 mm.
4695a. Parthenodes .equivocalis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6),
xviii, p. 221.
^. Black-brown, tinged in parts with rufous. Forewing with the
costal area marked with rufous ; traces of an antemedial black line, an
obscure rufous mark in end of cell, traces of a postmedial line, its costal
portion defined by a wedge-shaped fulvous mark beyond it ; a
fulvous spot on the margin below the apex, a smaller spot at middle
and elongate spot above outer angle. Hindwing with obscure fulvous
discocellular spot on iuner margin above anal angle, and three
marginal spots between middle and anal angle. 9 • Vertex
of head and dorsum marked with orange. Forewing with the
costal markings orange, some spots on basal area, and a prominent
spot in end of cell ; the postmedial line prominent, sharply angled
inwards at vein 5 and connected with the margin by black
streaks at veins 6 and 4, the area beyond it pale golden-yellow with
an oblique rufous line from costa to the streak at vein 4 ; cilia golden
intersected by three black m.arks at middle. Hindwing with orange
discocellular spot ; a series of orange specks inside tne black postmedial
line, which is sharply bent inwards at vein 5, then outwards again and
irregularly dentate to inner margin ; the outer area golden-yellow with
a rufous line parallel to the postmedial line ; a marginal black line ; the
cilia solden intersected with black from middle to anal angle.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 703
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. $ 20, $ 24 mm.
P. 222. Genus Margarochroma.
Margarochroma, Warr., A.*M. N. H (6), xviii, p. 164 (18y6j.
Type. — M. pictalis, Warr.
Range. — A ssam.
Palpi porrect, extending about one-and-a-half times length of head,
the 2nd joint fringed with hair below, the ord well developed, naked and
bent downward; maxillary pal])i filiform, frons with a conical prominence,
antennae of male ciliated : tibioe with the outer spurs about two-
thirds length of inner. Forewing with veins 3, 4, 5 from angle of cell ;
7 shortly approximated to 8, 9, 10 near base. Hindvving with veins
3, 4, 5 from angle of cell, which is about half the length of wing ; 6, 7
from upper angle, 7 anastomosing with 8.
4702a. Margarochroma pictalis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6), xviii,
p. 165.
$ . Pale silky straw-colour ; palpi and sides of frons black ; abdomen
with paired black basal spots, the anal
tuft jet-black. Forewing with the basal
^ area brownish towards the obliquely sin-
1>C ous an temedial dark line, the area beyond
,^ , / ,. ^ 1 it grey-brown in the form of a triangle
Margarochroma pidaks Of.,., , ,.
with its apex on costa and extending to
outer angle ; a dark-edged orbicular spot in cell and a black lunule on
discocellulars ; a black spot on middle of inner margin ; a fine dark
postmedial line curved froui costa to vein 2, then strongly dentate, with
traces of another line beyond it. Hindwing with the basal area suf-
fused with grey, the disk with ferruginous, and with an orange spot
beyond lower angle of cell ; traces of a sinuous submarginal line.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 22 mm.
4719a. Luma ornatalis, Leech, Entom., xxii, p. 71, pi. 4, f. 12.
$. Pure white ; a black spot on anal tuft. Forewing with black
spot at liase of costa ; a straight slightly oblique antemedial black line ;
a prominent discocellular spot, and spot below origin of vein 2; both
wings with slightly curved postmedial line and fine submarginal and
marginal lines. Hindwing with discocellular spot produced towards
inner margin as a short line.
Habitat. — China, Khasis. Exp. 20 mm.
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704 JO VENA L, B 0MB A Y NA TURA L IIISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol XI 1 .
4721a. LuMA monomma, Wan-., A. M. N. H. (6), xviii, p. 173.
$. Heiul and collar golden yellow ; thorax and abdomen suffused
above with fusoous-black, the latter with the extremity yellow. Fore-
win t'' oolden-yellow, the inner area from the base through the cell and
thence to outer angle suffused with fuscous; a large round deep black dis-
coceUular spot ; traces of ante- and postmedial waved lines on the fuscous
area. Hindwing fuscous, with dark di.-oocellular speck and sinuous
postmedial line angled inwards below the cell ; the outer area yellow.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 20 mm.
4732a. DiATHRAUSTA PLUMBEALis, Wavr., A. M. N. H. (6), xviii,
p. 174.
Head, thorax and abdomen pale fulvous tinged with fuscous ; wing
leaden-orey. Forewing with the costa ochreous ; a straight dark
antemedial hne ; the postmedial line with a large yellowish- white
triant'ular patch from costa on its inner edge, sinuous and excurved
from costa to vein 2, then retracted to below angle of cell. Hindwing
with sinuous postmedial line retracted at vein 2 to below angle of cell ;
cilia of both wings ochreous.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 24 mm.
4745a. PiLETOCERA NUDicoRNis, Hmpsu., Trans. Ent. Soc, 1897,
p. ^14.
Antennse of jnale normal and shorter than the forewing. ^.
Head, thorax and abdomen yellowish-white ; palpi black, white
below ; wings silky yellowish -white, the outer half tinged with pale
rufous on forewing with a fuscous tinge towards margin ; obscure white
discocellular spots ; a dark postmedial line well-marked on forewing,
arising I'roni a black spot on costa, angled on vein 6, then oblique, on
hindwing indistinct, angled on vein 5 and ending at anal angle ; cilia
dark at middle of forewing.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exjy. 20 mm.
4751a. Mahra fauculalis, Wlk., Cat. xix, p. d62.
iJiffers from M. uiiji'iavnpta in the tbrewing having two i)ostmedial
black annuli on costa, and a whitish apical i)atch ; both wings with
prominent submarginal series of black points.
Habitat. — Sikhim ; Borneo. Exp. 16 mm.
47516. Mabra FUscipennalis, Hmpsn., Trans. Knt. Soc, 1897,
p. 221.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 705
9 . Fuscous ; vertex of head greyish ; autenuse with black and white
rings : wiugs ivrorated with gi'ey. Forewing with indistinct dark ante-
medial line and discocellular lunule ; the dark postniedial line arising
from a v/edge-shaped white mark on costa, escurved to vein 2, then
retracted to below angle of cell. Hindwing with indistinct discocellular
speck and dilFused oblique medial line ; both wings with line marginal
dark line. Underside jxilc. Antennae of male laminate.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 14 mm.
4751o. Mabra daulialis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6), xvii , p. 464.
$. Orange -fulvous ; abdomen with two black specks on anal seg-
ment. Forewing with dififused oblique rufous antemedial band ; a dark
speck in cell, a postniedial pale line incurved from costa to lower angle
of cell, and with the dark discocellular lunule on its inner edge, strong-
ly dentate inwards, and with a dark mark on the tooth below the cell;
dark rufous streak on the veins beyond the cell, and a rufous patch on
inner margin towards outer angle. Hindwing with rufous-edged post-
medial line from costa to outer margiri at vein 2, then retracted to
below end of a cell, and terminating on inner margin above anal angle ;
two pairs of marginal black specks near anal angle.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.q). 14 mm.
4752a. MiCRAGLOSSA '/i^nealis, Hmpsn., Trans. Ent. v'^oc, 1897,
p. 224.
Head, thorax and abdomen brassy-yellow, 3rd joint of palpi tinged
with black, thorax spotted vi'ith black. Forewing brassy-yellow irrorated
with black scales ; an irregular black })atch from near base of costa, an
irregularly sinuous antemedial l)lack ])and conjoined to a spot below
the cell, the discocelkilur patch tigure-of-eight-shapetl, with l)road black
outline extending up to cosla ; traces of a postmedial line with an inward
cm'vo from costa to vein 2, then erect ; large submarginal black
patches on costa and inner margin and a smaller marginal patch below
apex. Hindwung whitish suffused with fuscous towards margin.
Habitat. — Khasis. H,cp. 10 mm.
476o«. ORTHORArHIS METASTICTA, n. sp.
^", Pale ochreous-brown ; palpi blackish at sides. Forewing with
series of pale semicircular marks with dark centres on medial part ot
costa ; an ill-defined oblique dark antemedial band from cell to inner
margin ; a ?peck in cell ami prominent discocellular spot; an interrupted
15
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706 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL lIISrORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
postmedial Uuck -edged white lino, strongly incurved below vein 5
and bent outwards again to vein 1 ; a tine marginal black line ; the
base of cilia whitish. Hindwing whitish, a discocellular black speck, a
short postmedial line between veins 5 and 2 ; the outer area fuscous,
with a marginal black spot on vein 2 ; a deep black patch on anal lobe
crossed by a white bar ; cilia with a white line at base, at anal lobe white
with black tips.
Habitat. — Khtisis, Borneo. E.cp. 18 mm. Ti/pe. — In coll. Rothschild.
4:7 Ida. Pyonarmon radiata, Warn, A. M. N. H. (6), xviii., p. 169.
White with a slight ochreons tinge ; patagia, motathorax and first
segment of abdomen with j-aired black sjjots. Forewing with black
speck at base and subbasal spot on innsr margin ; a fine straight ante-
medial line arising from a black spot on costa ; a speck in cell and
prominent discocellular spot ; an oblique line from median nervure
before end of cell to inner margin near outer angle; an oblique fine
line from lower angle of cell to outer margin at vein 2 ; a curved band
from costa beyond middle to outer margin at vein 3 ; a marginal series
of black specks ; the apex white. Hindwing with discocellular black
speck ; a fine sinuous postmedial line ending in a black spot on inner
margin, the area beyond it more ochreous, a fine marginal line.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.vp. 28 mm.
4787a. Tabidia candiualis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) xviii, p. IG'J.
9 . White, head and thorax slightly tinged with brown ;
abdomen with some black on basal and anal segments, the three
medial segments deep black aljove. Forewing with a subbasal fuscous
shade : a fine antemedial line expanding into a black iiatch below
costa ; the imier medial area suffused with rufous ; a black discocellu-
lar spot ; a ])0stmedial black patch on costa, with a lino arising
from it very sharply angled on vein 2 ; an apical fuscous spot.
Hindwing with a postmedial black band, bent outwards and diifused
ahnost to the margin at middle and terminating in a large black
patch at anal angle ; apex with some fuscous streaks.
Habitat.— Ivhiisi^. Exp. 16 mm.
4789a. EUERHYPARODES rLUMBEMAKGlNALIS, n. sp.
$. Forewing of male with the glandular swelling on costa very
large, oval, and extending nearly to apex ; veins 8'9 bent downwards ;
10*11 stalked ; hindwing with the outer margin deeply excised below
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 707
apex ; fore tibicT thickly fringed with hair. Head fuscous and
ochreoiis ; thorax and abdomen Cusgous, the latter obscurely ochreous
towards base. Forewing fusoous-brown with metallic reflections ;
an obscure yellow subbasal Hue and another yellow line on inner
side of the sinuous black antemedial line which is angled at middle ;
a yellow mark on discocellulars, with a Iilack spot on it ; a large
yellow patch below end of cell, bounded by the yellow postmedial line
which is angled inwards below costa and sharply outwards on vein
3, then retracted to below end of cell ; diflt'used leaden-grey on
marginal area ; cilia yellowish. Hindwing with the base dark, followed
by a large very irregular yellow area with the black discocellular
spot on it, and conjoined below the cell to the yellow postmedial
line which is defined on inner side by a black line and bent outwards
between veins 5 and 2, with a wedge-shaped dark patch in its sinus ;
diffused leaden-grey on marginal area ; cilia yellowish.
Habitat. — Khasis. Ei'p. 22 mm. Tyj^e. — In coll. Rothschild.
4804a. Pagyda argyritis, n. sp. (pi. A, f. 26).
$. Silvery white, sometimes tinged with i)alo yellow ; abdomen
barred with orange, a fine black line before anai segment. Forewing
with orange spot on base of inner area ; a curved orange antemedial
line ; a black speck at upper angle of cell and orange discocellular
line ; a postmedial orange line sending a tooth inwards above vein 5,
at vein 2 retracted to below end of cell and expanding into a spot
below vein 2 ; a highly dentate orange submarginal band and fine black
marginal line. Hindwing with obliquely-curved medial orange line
expanding into a spot below the cell ; a postmedial orange patch
between veins 6 and 2 ; a submarginal line commencing with a spot at
vein 6 and ending with a spot at vein 2 ; a fine marginal black line.
Hahkat. — Sikhim (Pilcher); Bhutan (Dudgeon). E.vp, 22 n\m.
Type. — In British Museum.
48046. Pagyda amphisalis, Wlk., Cat., xviii, p. 661,
Differs from P. discolov in being bright orange-yellow as in P. hoty-
dalis ; the transverse lines rather broader.
riab'dat. — Japan ; China ; Khasis. Exp. 24 nma.
485 1«. NosoPHORA DisPiLALis, Hmpsn., Moths. Ind., iv, p. 288.
Nosophora chironalis, Led., Wiener Ent. Mon., 1863, p. 407, pi. 14,
f. 12 {7iec. Wlk.).
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708 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATUBAL fflSTOBY SOCIETY. Vol. XII.
Differs from N. conjunctalis in the liindwino- of male having a tnft of
liair in cell and a short ridge beyond the cell on imderside ; the hind
tibia', the inner terminal spur, and the whole tarsus fringed with hair.
Much greyer brown without any ochreous tinge ; forewhig with the
spot pur(^ silvery-white and deeply indented on upper part of outerside.
Habitat. — Khdsis ; Borneo ; Pulo Lunt : Amboina. Exp. 30 mm.
48G<Srt. Tysi'ANODES hypsalis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (G) vii, p. 42R.
(PI. A, Fig, 9.)
Head, thorax, and abdomen yellow. Forewing grey ; the basal
inner area yellowish ; two black spots below base of median nervure,
and three on basal half of inner margin ; the veins from cell to outer
margin and the interne-median interspace with i)rominent; black
streaks ; cilia fuscous. Hindwing fuscous ; the inner area yellowish ;
a whitish streak from base below median nervure expanding into a
large patch towards outer margin, but not reaching the margin.
Hahitat. — China ; Sikhim. ExiJ. 86 mm.
P. 300. Genus Proconica, nov.
Type. — P. v,i(jroci/an.'disj Hmpsn.
Ramjp. — Assam.
Palpi upturned, short, and not reaching vertex of head, the 2nd and
3rd joints conically scaled and tapering to apex ; maxillary palpi fili-
form ; frons with a large rounded prominence ; antennae of male min-
utely ciliated and not as long as the forewing; raid and hind tibire thickly
scaled, the outer medial spurs about one-fourth length of inner. Fore-
wing with veins 3, 4, 5 from angle of cell, 7 straight and well separated
from 8, 0. Hindwing with the cell less than half the length cf wing;
veins 3, 4, 5 from angle, 0, 7 from upper angle, 7 anastomosing with 8.
4874a. Proconica nigrocyanalis, n. sp.
(J. Black with a purplish tinge, palpi below, pectus, legs, and
abdomen below, Avhite. Forewing
/ with very prominent c[uatlrate white
spot in cell ; three postmedial white
striae between vein 3 and inner
margin, and two specks below costa
Proeon/ca nigrocyanalts $1. towards apex ; cilia white above
outer angle. Hindwing with straight medial white line interrupted at
vein 5 ; cilia white al)ovo anal angle.
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THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 709
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 30 mm. Tijpe. — In coll. Rothscliikl.
4895a. Dtchochrosis pbiinutiva, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) sviii,
p. 168.
Orange ; thorax with some black on vertex : abdomen with pair-
ed black spots on 1st segment, dorsal and paired lateral sjiots on fonr
medial segments, the anal tuft black. Forewing with a reddish
tinge ; black snbbasal spots on median nervure and inner margin ;
an autemedial oblique siriga from costa, a spot in cell and discocel-
liilar spot ; an irregnlar double series of spots from costa beyond
middle curving round below the cell to middle of inner margin,
some of the spots below the cell conjoined into streaks, two sub-
marginal spots between veins 3 and 5. Hindwing with two con-
joined spots at middle of inner area ; an irregular medial series
running towards anal angle with a curved series beyond it from costa
to vein 5.
Habitat. — Khasis. E,vp. 18 mm.
4896a. DicHocHROcis actinialis, n. sp.
$. Bright yellow ; thorax and patagia spotted with black ; abdo-
men with a pair of black spots on basal segments, dorsal black bands
on medial segments, and a black patch on anal segment. Forewing
Avith four black spots on basal area ; a straight erect antemedial
black line ; a spot in cell, a medial line slightly angled on median ner-
vure ; an oblique postmedial line from costa to vein f) ; three sub-
marginal streaks above vein 5, the middle one long, a line below them
between veins 5 and 2, where it is retracted to the black spot at lower
angle of cell, wnth three streaks beyond it between veins 5 and 2, and
one below it above vein 1. Hindwing with slightly sinuous oblique
medial line ending near anal angle and widening at middle ; postmedial
and submarginal broad lines coalescing at vein 2 and ending at ami
angle.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 22 mm. Type. — In coll. Rothschild.
4936a. Nacoleta pedicialis, Snell. Tijd. v. Ent., xxxviii, p. 49,
pi. 6, f. 11.
Metasciodes apical/s, Warr. A. M. N. H. (6) xviii, p. 216.
$. Brown ; head, collar, and abdomen suffused with fnscons. Fore-
wing long and narrow, the outer margin oblique, slightly irro-
rated with fuscous, the base suffused with fuscous ; a '^inuous dark
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710 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
antemedial line ; a line across the cell continned to vein 1 ; a black-
edged reniform discooellular spot ; an indistinct fine bisinuate post-
medial line arising from a speck on costa and ending in a spot near
outer angle ; a subapical black patch just inside the margin extending
down to vein 5 ; a series of specks just inside the inargin. llindwing
with black-edged discoidal reniform spot with obscure sinuous lino
from it to a black spot on inner margin near anal angle ; a sinuous
postmedial line ending at anal angle ; a series of specks just inside the
margin.
Habitat. — Khi'isis ; Java. Ewp. 22 mm.
4953a. BoTYODES crocopteralis, n. sp. (PI. A, Fig. 17).
9 . Bright golden-yellow ; palpi black, white below ; throat pure
white ; thorax and abdomen below black ; tarsi ringed with white :
a white spot on fore tibia. Forewing with black antemedial spot on
median nervure ; a reniform discooellular spot ; a postmedial spot
below vein 2 ; the whole apical area black with rounded inner edge.
Hindwing with postmedial black spot above vein 5, with specks above
and below it ; a spot below vein 2, with speck below it. Undereide
of forewing with the basal part of costal area suffused with black.
Hahitat.—S'ikhim (Pilcher). Exp. 40 nun. 2)/pe. — In coll. Roths-
child.
P. o28. Under Si'Lepta insert HaliotPjris, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6)
xviii, p. 163 (1896\
4960a. Sylepta cometa, Warr., A. M. N. H. (G) xviii, p. 1G3.
(PI. A, Fig. 15.)
$ . Head and thorax golden yellow, some black hair above the eyes,
and a black patch on vertex of thorax ; abdomen white, the 1st segment
black, a slight fuscous dorsal line. Forewing with the base golden-
yellow ; sinuous black basal and antemedial lines, the medial costal area
white ; fulvous orbicular raid reniform stigmata slightly outlined with
])lack and conjoined to the fulvous inner area which is irrorated with
black, has a blackish spot and luuule on it, and becomes greyish at
inner margin ; a proiuinent postniedial black band obli(iue from costa to
vein 2, then retracted to below angle of cell ; the outer area whitish, the
veins streaked with black, and a large slate-grey patch occupying the
apical half of margin. Hindwing white with diffused black subbasal
baud ; a blackish discooellular patch emitting a streak to the margin
![]()
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 711
on vein 2 and sliort streak on vein o ; the veins of outer area slightly
streaked with fuscous, and slight fuscous suffusion on apical and anal
areas. Underside with the orbicular and reuifonn stigmata black.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 46 mm.
4969a. Sylepta nigriscriptalis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) xviii,
]). lOO.
Notarcha paucinotalis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) xviii, p. 166.
^. Brown with a slight fnscous tinge. Forewing with black speck
below middle of cell with traces of a line between it and inner margin ;
a black speck in end of cell and disoocellular lunule ; the postmedial
line minutely dentate, indistinct, escurved between veins 5 and 2 then
retracted, and with two black marks on it above inner margin ; a
marginal series of black specks. Hindwing more suffused w-ith fusco us
the postmedial line obscurely dentate, obliquely sinuous from costa to
vein 2, then retracted and obsolescent.
Hahitat. — Khasis ; Queensland. E,Tp. 34 nun.
5090. Archernis fulvalis, n. sp.
Antennse of male serrate for a short distance, a tuft of scales on
inner side at one-third from base. Orange -fulvous ; palpi white
below. Forewing with the costa tinged with fuscous; a fuscous
antemedial line angled outwards below cell and inwards on vein 1 :
a disoocellular spot ; a minutely dentate postmedial line, angled
inwards above vein 5, recurved on vein 2 to below end of cell, then
excurved again. Hindwing with disoocellular speck; a postmedial
line highly excurved between veins 5 and 2 ; both wings with some
fuscous on margin, the cilia black at base, white at tijis.
Habitat. — Sikhim, 1,<S00' (Dudgeon); Hambantota, Ceylon (Pole).
Exp. 24 mm. Type. — In British Museum.
509 Irt. Archernis lugens, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) xviii, p. 110.
Dark fuscous ; palpi white below at base ; legs and miderside of
thorax and abdomen white. Forewing with traces of erect dark
antemedial line : a discocellular spot ; an obscure diffused postmedial
line bent outwards and minutely waved between veins 5 and 2, then
retracted to below angle of cell ; cilia white at outer angle. Hindwing
with traces of yostmedial line excurved between veins 5 and 2; cilia
white in places towards anal angle, underside whitish.
Habitat.—KMi^i?,. Exp. $ 20, $ 26 mm.
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712 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
oll2a. CiiOCiDOPHORA AURiMAKGO; WaiT., A. M. N. H. (6)xviii,
p. 10l>.
$. Differs from C. Ilmbata in tlie hetid, thorax and abdomen being
fulvous. Forewing lighter brown ; the costa orange throughout ; the
outer margin yellow, narrowing to apex and outer angle. Hindwing
semihyaline yellow, with a fuscous brown patch just inside medial part
of outer margin.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 28 mm.
514Ga. Sect. III. Antennae of male ciliated ; tibiae fringed with
long hair.
Pachynoa SPISSALI8, Guen=, Delt. and P5'r., p. o27.
White, suffused with pale red-brown ; collar fringed with pure white.
Forewing with pure white at base of inner margin ; a white disoocellu-
lar spot ; an indistinct curved and minutely crouulate submarginal line,
with rather darker brown suffusion beyond it ; some diffused white
below apex. Hindwing whiter, with the brown suffusion chiefly on
inner and marginal areas ; a minutely crenulate line from costa beyond
middle to vein 2 near outer margin.
Habitat. — Khasis ; Java. Eccp. 42 mm,
514ya. DiSGOTllYRIS MEGALOPHALIS, U. Sp.
S. Dull ferruginous-brown ; palpi white below at base. Forewing
with discocellular black luuule ; a postmedial series of black specks,
most prominent towards costa and forming a larger s})ot on costa,
excurved from below costa to vein 4, then inwardly obliijuo. Hindwing
with the tuft very large, extending along vein 2. and blackish ; a post-
medial sinuous black line somewhat maculate between veins 5 and 2 ;
both wings with black line at base of cilia.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. lb mm. V'/y/jt'. — In coll. Ivothschild.
5150a. rACUYZANCLA CtTTuBASALlE!, n. Sp. ( Fl A, Fig. 25. )
$. Antenucc with a curved tuft of hair on basal joint, the base of
shuft excised. Deep fuscous ; pal])i brown, white below ; frons whitish ;
underside of thorax and abdomen white, the latter ringed with white
above. Forewing rather narrow ; a very indistirct antcmedial lire ; traces
of a discocellular point ; both wings with an indistinct postmedial lino
![]()
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 713
excurved from costa to vein 5, then retracted to below anj^le of coll ;
a very fine pale marginal line.
Habitat. — Bhutan, 2,500' (Dudgeon). Evp. 24 mm. Type. — In
British Museum.
5159«. Pachyzancla latifuscalis, n. sp.
$. Ochreous ; head and thorax suffused with fuscous; abdomen
with two pairs of black dorsal points on 2nd and 3rd segments, the
distal half fuscous ; anal tuft whitish. Forewing with the base suf-
fused with fuscous ; the costa suffused with fuscous to beyond middle,
expanding beyond the cell ; a sinuous black antemedial line ; a black
point in cell anddiscocellularlunnle; a sinuous postmedial line, expand-
ing into a spot on costa, excurved and minutely dentate between veins
5 and 2, then retracted to below angle of cell and excurved again ; outer
area broadlv fuscous. Hindwing with discocellular spot ; a postmedial
line excurved and minutely dentate between veins 5 and 2 ; outer area
broadly fuscous.
Habitat. — Bhutan 2,500'. (Dudgeon). Exp. 22 mm. Type. — In
British Museum.
P. 407. Under PHLYCTiENODES insert Flateopsis, "Warr., A. M
N. H. (6) xviii, p. 170 (1896).
5l64a. Phlict^nodes vespertilio, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) x-viii,
p. 171.
$. Dark fuscous ; palpi white below at base ; legs and underside of
thorax and abdomen white. Forewing with erect somewhat diffused
antemedial dark line : a prominent discocellular spot ; the postmedial
line minutely waved, bent outside between veins 5 and 3, then retracted
to below angle of cell ; a dark marginal line ; cilia white at outer angle.
Hindwing with indistinct postmedial line bent outwards between veins
5 and 2, then retracted to below angle of cell ; a dark marginal line ;
cilia white in places towards anal angle. Underside whitish.
Habitat. — Khasis. E.rp. 18 mm.
5185a. Phlyct^enodes decoloralis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) xviii,
p. 111.
9 . Head, thorax, and abdomen rufous, suffused with fuscous. Fore-
wing rufous, suffused to middle with fuscous; traces of an oblique
sinuous antemedial line ; an obscure speck in cell and discocellular
16
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714 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
lunule ; both wings with a diffused dark spot at lower angle of cell ;
a minutely dentate postmedial line excurved between veins 6 and 2,
then retracted to lower angle of cell and erent to inner margin ; a fine
marginal line; the cilia dark. Underside pale, ^^ith some fuscous
suffusion in cell of forewing.
Habitat.— ]k\\o?A'A. £'.fp. 26 mm.
P. 429. Under Pyrausta insert Elndeodes, Warr., A. M. N. H.
(6)xviii, p. 112(1896).
5224a. Pyrausta triplagalts, Warr., A. M. N. H. (0) xviii,
p. 114.
9 . Fuscous suffused with leaden-grey ; palpi black, white below at
base ; legs and outside of thorax and abdomen white, the end of fore
tibiae banded with black. Forewing with the costa tinged with fulvous;
a bright yellow quadrate spot at middle of cell, and large discocellular
reniforra spot extending down to vein 3, both conjoined to the fulvous
costal area. Hindwing with large yellow discocellular lunulate spot,
the lower part of its outer edge dentate.
Habitat. — Kh^sis. Erp. 24 mm.
5236a Pv RAUSTA FUSCALis, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) xviii,
p. 217.
9 . Dark brown. Forewing with faint traces of annuli at middle of
cell and on discocellulars, with lines from them meeting on innermargin;
faint traces of a postmedial line excurved below costa. Hindwing
rather paler, greyish below. Underside of thorax and abdomen
whitish.
Habitat. — Bombay. Ea'p. 20 mm.
5252a. Pyrausta simplex, Warr., A. M. N. H. (6) xviii,
p. 112.
^. Oclireous ; palpi white below at base. Forewing with traces of
obliquely curved antemedial line, of a speck in coll, and line on disco-
cellulars ; some very slight dark suffusion beyond lower angle of cell ;
a rather more prominent postmedial line curved from costa to vein 3,
ther inwardly oblique. Hindwing with very slight dark suffusion at
end of cell ; and indistinct curved postmedial line.
Habitat, — K basis. E.vp, 26 mm.
![]()
THE MOTHS OF INDIA.
715
Explanation
1. Rhodoneura dohertyi.
2. Selea plagiola.
3. Rivula barbipennis.
4. Eutelia hannonica.
5. Falcimala sagittifera.
6. Chloroclystis griseorufa.
7. Macalla iiypoxautha.
8. Mixophyla xanthocasis.
9. Tyspanodes hypsalis.
10. Parj'.sa pseera.
11. Tlialassodes anomala.
12. Chserocampa grisio-margiuata
13. Rliouoneura mollis.
14. Urapterys convergens.
OF Plate A.
15. Sylepta comalis.
16. Chlorodontopera marmorata.
17. Botyodes crocopteralis.
18. Larentia canaliculata.
19. Sadarsa arcnata.
20. Gyrtoua camptobasis.
21. Lethes pectiiiifer.
22. Leucania laniata,
23. Capnodes lucteicosta.
24. Gathynia pernigrata.
25. Pachyzaucla coptobasalis.
26. Pagyda argyritis.
27. Macalla hypnonalis.
( To he continued. )
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716
SOME KONKAN BATS.
By R. C. Wroughton, C.M.Z.S.,
Indian Forest Service.
[with a plate.]
{Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on \%th Sept., 1899.)
This paper Joes not profess to be an exhaustive list of the bats of
even the limited area with which it deals. In the present state of
our knowledge of systematic zoology in India, there can be no doubt
that authentic lists of any group, iu any definite area, are of the great-
est value. The incompleteness of a list, though it undoubtedly reduces
its value, is very far from making it useless, so long as that incom-
pleteness is recognized. As I do not expect to have further oppor-
tunities of collecting in the area with which this paper deals, I offer
this record of the species I have been able to obtain in it, in the hope
^hat members, who have the chance, will either add to it or help
towards its completion by sending in specimens. Properly " made "
skins, with their skulls, are the best form in which to send in specimens,
and any one willing to help in this way — whether in this or any other
definite area — can always obtain printed instructions for guidance on
application to the Honorary Secretary of this Society. There are
many, however, who have no taste or no leisure for such work, who
yet can help by putting any bats they may be able to obtain into spirits
and sending them to the Society.
I wish to record here my grateful thanks to Mr. Oldfiold Thomas, of
the British Museum, for his kind help and encouragement, without
which I should never have plucked up courage to make this, my
maiden excursion into systematic zoology, and also my thanks to
Mr. F. 0. Pickard Cambridge, for the excellent plate which he has
drawn for this paper.
In the hot weather of 1897 1 made a small collection of bats in the
Surat District north of tho River Tapti. These were sent by the
Society to the British Museum, where they were studied by Mr. Old-
fiold Thomas, who published the result of his examination in our Journal
(Vol. XI, pt. 2). I continued collecting during the remainder of 1897
and up to April 1898, iu the North Konkan and in South Guzerat,
i.e., in the Thana and Surat Districts, which embrace roughly the strip
of country lying between the Ghats and the Sea, from Bombay
![]()
JoixrrL.Boir.'ba^^Nai.lLst . Soc
E-ed'^O Picixtrd Cam'briiige.pmx.lith..
MuiiernEros. ChrojriD London..
![]()
![]()
SOME KONKAN BATS. 717
northward to the Tapti River (and including a narrow belt of jungle
country, from 10 to 20 miles wide, on the north bank of that river).
A few specimens were also contributed by Mr. J. Dodgson, Indian
Forest Service, collected by him in the Thana District.
I have adopted the classification followed in Blanford's Mammalia
subject to certain alterations in nomenclature, rendered necessary by
more recent publications, which I shall indicate in due course. I give
all measurements in miliimetres, including those given by Blanford in
indies. One inch is very anproximately equal to 25 millimetres. The
numbers in brackets refer to Blanford's '' Mammalia."
The sub-order MEGACHIROPTERA, which comprises the fruit-
eating bats, contains the single family PTEROPODID^ which is
represented in our area by two genera, viz : —
Ptebopus.
The flying-fox, partly because it was so common, a ad partly because
I could not spare leisure to prepare such largo specimens, is not re-
presented in my collection. Our local species is no doubt Ptewpus
medius^ Temminck (No. 134 in the Mammalia) ; but, in view of the
number of synonyms recorded by Blanford, it would not be safe to say
that the species will not again have to be split up wdien series of speci-
mens from various localities are available for study. Such series
especially if they also represent the seasonal changes (if any), are a
great desideratum.
Cynopterus.
I have only collected C. marginatus, Geoff. (No. 138) at Bandra,
but have seen it at various places throughout our area. It is quite
common and of considerable size, but it flies very low and swiftly,
dodging about amongst bushes and low trees in search of fruit,
and hence escapes notice unless looked for. Any one who chooses to
watch a plantain tree in flower, about half an hour after sunset, is
pretty certain to get a chance of making its acquaintance. I ha\e
found it feeding on wild tigs, but it seems to be especially fonil of
plantain flowers, and must do much damage in the gardens along the
coast.
The white margin to the ears, noted by Blanford, is most charac-
teristic ; the only specimen in the British Museum in which it is
missing is an immature female sent by Mr. Dodgson from Bandra.
![]()
718 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Of the second sub-order, i.e., the MICROCHIROPTERA, or insect-
eaters, the first family (RHINOLOPHID^) is, so far as I know, not
represented in our area, and the second, NY( -TERIDiE, is so by one
species only, viz: —
Megaderma.
Meciaderma lyra, Geoff. (No. lo9).
The Indian Tampire is a very common and widely distributed bat
throughout the Konkan. I took specimens at Kim and at Bandra, the
two extreme north and south points of our are;), but have found it
everywhere. It flies very low and swiftly, skimmir.g o\er the open
ground in search of food, and so does not attract notice on the wing.
Almost every old dry well r.nd cave, however, will be found to har-
bour a roosting colony of this bat. In L'andra, where probablv no
such places were available, I got it roosting in the gable roof of a
bungalow.
The next family, VESPERTILIONIDiE, (ontains the bulk of cur
bats, and it is here that correction is required in the nomenclature of
Blanford's Manual. As already partly pointed out by Mr. Thomas
in his paper in our Journal, Vespenigo as a genus (p. 296) dis-
appears, and its sub-genera (p. 302) are raised to generic value, their
names however being changed as follows : — Vespertilio, Pipistrellus and
Hespero ptenus are substituted respectively for Vesperus, Vesperugo and
Ilesperoptenus as given by Blandford. Further (p. 296) Scotophilus
must be used for Nyctkejus. Finally Vespertilio having been taken for
Vesperus must be replaced (p. 296) by Myotis. This last change, how-
ever, does not affect this paper, for no representative of the genus Myotis
occurs in our area. The same is true of VespeHilio (late Vesperus) ; on
the other hand Pipislrellus (late Vesperugo) is the best represented
genus we have, there being three known species, all of which are
common, if local, and to these I am adding two new ones.
Pipistrellus.
Pipistrellus dormeri, Dobs. (No. 19o).
Blanford knew of only three specimens of this bat, and when Mr.
Thomas found another in my first collection, he had still to write of it, as
"this rare bat." In 1898 I found it quite common in the Mandvi Taluka
of Surat, where 1 collected 16 specimens (viz., 11 males and 5 females).
Later I got a male at Bulsar and Mr. Dodgson shot another at Pareli,
![]()
SOME KONKAN BATS. 719
on the hills north of the Tansu Lake, in the Thana Distriofc. This
seems to show that it is distributed through the two Districts, though
it is urduubtodly more common along the north bank ot the Tapti
River.
My measurements taken from fresh specimens run rather larger than
those given by Blauford. They compare as follows : —
Hea ! and Body. Tail. Forearm.
Blanford's 44 31 35
Average of 1 1 males ... 51*5 39 35
Average of 5 females .. 51"8 38'8 35'2
The minute outer incisor (see Plate, fig.U) distinguishes it at once from
all our other Pipistrelles. In fresh specimens this is so buried in the gum
that it is easily overlooked, and P. dormeri then seems to have only one
incisor on each side. The ashy tips of the hairs give this bat, especially
when freshly killed, a silvery lustre. This silvery look, which is especi-
ally noticeable on the breast and belly, is also very characteristic.
P. dormeri is not a bat of the cities. It seems to prefer a large solitary
tree, standing in cultivation as a roosting place. Only a small number
share a tree, round which they hawk, rarely leaving its immediate neigh-
bourhood. They are on the wing shortly after sunset.
Plpistrellus ceylonicus, Kelaart (^o. 18^).
The type specimen of this bat is lost, but I think Blanford was amply
justified in identifying it with P, md/cus, Dobson. At the same time I
think he is wrong in taking his measurements from the Wynaad speci-
men, which is too bleached to give any reliable indication of its real
colour, and at the same time, too damaged for identification by its
dentition. Blanford's measurements compare with mine as follows ( I
add Dobson's measurements of P. indicus) : —
Head and Body. Tail. Forearm.
Blanford 60 40 41-3
Average of 4 males ... 50 37 37*5
Average of 11 females. 51-5 39-5 37-5
Dobson's P. enrf2CMs ...52-5 42*5 37-5
The measurement of the forearm, being that of a bone, is the most
important, for there can be only one way of measuring it. I may add
that the British Museum has specimens from Ceylon (in spirits), which
are undoubtedly the same species as mine, and which give the same
forearm measurement.
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720 JOURNAL, BOMBAY N A TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Though after examining a series of each of onr three common
Fipistrelles it is not difficult to distinguish P. ceylonicus by its colour, yet
it is difficult to put the difference into "vvords. T can onh' say that the
jDaie tips of the hairs give the impression of a very dark brown — almost
black — bat, with a reddish or brown ' bloom ' in certain lights
( Plate, fig. 4). The dentition ( Plate, fig. 4a ), however, is markedly
different from that of P. ahramns.
This bat is ossentiall}' a town-dweller. I shot two at Bulsar, but all
the rest I got at Bandra, and most of them were brought to me by
native boj's, who took them roosting in the tiles of houses in the
bazaar. One was shot by Mr. Dodgson in Bassein. This may point
to its being a seaside bat, but it may more probably be due to the fact
that large villages with tiled roofs are mostly found along the coast.
From a pregnant female shot at Bandra on the 7th September I
took two fully formed young ones ; while on the 10th October, two
immature specimens, fully two-thirds the size of adults, were brought
to me.
Pipistrellus chri/sothriv, n. sp.
The specimen being a dried skin, the ears have shrunk and become
distorted, so that detailed characterization of their shape is impossible,
but generally they are of the same type as in P. ceylonicus. Fur
long aud loose of a golden brown (Plate, fig. 5). Were it not for the
lustreless appearance, caused b}' the long loose fur, the colour might
well be described as ' old gold.' The under parts are paler, i. e.,
more golden, than the upper. At first sight, it appears that the
individual hairs are the same colour from base to tip, but this is dis-
proved by the fact that, when the fur is smoothed down, narrow
transverse dark bands—faint, it is true, but quite distinct — can, in cer-
tain lights, be seen crossing the back, especially towards the tail. Tail
and membranes black.
The dentition (Plate, fig. 5a) is most characteristic. The secondary
cusp of the upper, inner incisor is posterior to the main cusp, so that,
though well developed, only its extreme tip can be seen between the
two incisors. The outer incisor has two sub-equal cusps, only slightly
shorter than the mtiin cusp of the inner, and almost in the same plane
with it (the inner cusp is very slightly behind the outer), so that, at
first sight, this species seems to have three upper incisors on each side.
![]()
SOME KONKAN BATS. 721
The dimensious are : Head" uud body 5G ; tail 42 ; forearm 38.
Thus showing it to ho markedly larger tliau P. ceylonicus.
A single specimen of this bat was shot by Mr. Fry, Indian Forest
Service, at Mheskatri, in the extreme north-west cornej* of the Dangs,
and is now in the British Museum, as the type of this species.
On almost the same day and at the same place I shot a female ba^
which I thought was P. ceylonicus. Its dimensions are — head and body
54, tail 39, forearm 39. It was a curious place in which to find
P. ceijloniciis, for there was not a tiled roof within many miles, except that
of the Forest Best House, from which this specimen had certainly not
come. Unfortunately it is a very aged specimen, so much so that the
incisors are worn right down to the jaw, and thus afford no indication
for its identification which consequently must wait until more speci-
mens of P. cht'i/sot/u'iv are available for comparison.
On the whole the species is nearest to P. cei/loulciis, from which,
however, it is easy to distinguish it by the length and colour of the fur,
and by the peculiar shape of the outer incisor of the upper juw.
Plpistrellus abramusi Tem. (No. 187).
The specimens which I identify as P. abramus (Plate, figs. 2, 2a)
correspond very fairly with Blanford's description except i\\ the
measurements, whicli compare as follows : —
Heai and Bod)',
Blanford 45
Average of '.' males... ... ... 44
Average of 5 females 46
The discrepancy in the length of the forearm will be noted, and it
is all the more curious because, in my series of 15 specimens, in only
one very large one is 31 recorded for the forearm ; all the reist are
between 28 and 30. There are two other specimens (a pair), however,
whicli show 33, but, though somewhat resembling" P. ahramusin general
facies, their dimensions, other than that of the forearm, are so abnormally
small (head and body 39, tail 34"5), that I have excluded them from my
identification, and left them for further study, when more specimens
shall be available for comparison ; the list of synonyms recorded for
P. abmmus is too long to lightly risk providing another. Either P.
abramusis a species varying considerably in difl'erent localities, or several
species, having a certain amount of resemblance to one another, have
17
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722 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII,
been lumped togetlier, and these are questions which can only be
set! led by the comparison of series of s^pecimens from many different
localities.
P.ahramus^ as defined by Blanford, is admittedly the commonest, and
most generally distributed, of all the Pipistrelles ; and the series of
specimens (which I identify as P. alramus) represents a species, which
is undoubtedly the commonest of the Pipistrelles throughout the two
districts embraced by this pa})er. I have taken it wherever 1 have
collected throughout our area.
I believe that Blanford is mistaken in styling it " especially a house-
bat." In my experience that title undoubtedly belongs to 7\ ce^loiikus.
\Vhile frequenting the neighbourhood of human habitations, as well as
jun^^lo.-!, P. ahramus roosts almost invariably in trees, if they are
available. The native boys, who constantly searched the roofs of their
houses at Bandra, and brought me the bats they found roosting there,
invariably brought me P. cei/lonicus, and never P. ahramus^ and yet I
shot many more of the latter than of the former in the immediate
neighbourhood of these same houses.
Piplstrellus ynimics, n. sj).
Among the specimens of P. ahnvnus collected by me, Mr. Thomas
called my attention to a certain number of evidently adult but very
small individuals.
In general shape these specimens are exactly like P. ahramus, and
after careful examination I have been unable to find a single charac-
teristic difference between them except size.
From series of the two s]:)ecics individuals can be picked out which
closely resemble each other in coloration, but in P. ahramvs there is
always a suggestion of red or brown, which is absent in P. mimus, the
colour of which is " consequently colder, the bases of the hairs in
P. mimus are black, while the tips are slate -coloured — darker or lighter
in different individuals. The fur in P. laimus is also somewhat longer
and looser, i e., less sleek, than in P. ahramus. (Plate, fig. 3.)
The dentition is of the same tjpe as in P. ahramus. In the latter the
inner and outer incisor do not touch and are stouter, while in P. mimus
they are close together, and more linear ; but the dift'erenco is small.
(Plato, fig. 3a.)
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SO.ME KONKAN BATS. 723
As already said, P. m/mus is markedly smaller than P. ahramus. The
dimensions of 7 specimens, unfortunately all males, collected by me are
as follows : —
Head and Body, Tail. Forearm.
35 31 27
39 ij.5 28
38 33 27
40 32 28
40 30 28
41 30 28
36 33 27
Of seven skulls of P. ahramus (raa\Q\ six are 12*5 in greatest length
(the 7th is 12*3) ; while in greatest breadth, four are 7*5 and three are
7'o. The corresponding measurements for P. mimus give 11*5 as
greatest length in all cases ; while the greatest breadth is, 7 in three
cases and 6*5 in two others (two skulls are missing).
The first two specimens in the above table were obtained in the
Mandvi Taluka of Surat (north of the Tapti River), while the rest were
taken at various places (Mheskatri, Jhaura. &c.) in the north-west
corner of the Dangs.
As far as can be judged from so small a collection, P. mimus is a bat
of the heavy jungles. It resembles P. ahramus in its habits, as it does in
shape, but it does not ' represent ' it, to the exclusion of the latter, for
I have shot both at the same place on the same evening.
The genus Hesperoptenus is represented in our area by one of its
two species only.
Hesperoptenus tickelli, Blyth (No. J 91).
This appears to be a comparatively rare bat. I obtained only two
specimens, both males, one in the centre of the Surat and the other of
the Thana District.
Either this is a bat which varies immensely in size or the measure-
ments quoted by Blanford are those of an immature specimen.
Htad and Body. Tail. Forearm
Blanford 65 ' 50 52-5
Thana specimen 71 56 58
Surat specimen 61 49 50
The last of these is certainly immature.
Hesperoptenus appears on the wing much later than the Pip/strelles.
Both specimens I got when it was almost dark. Perhaps this and not
its rareness is answerable for the few specimens I obtained.
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724 JOUPiNAL, BO.VBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Finally the genus Scotophilus (late Vesperugo) of this family is
reprcsontofl in onr nrea by two specie?.
Scotophilus kuhlii, Leach (No. 94).
BlanforJ mentions a form (S. heathi^ Horsf.) ranked by Dobson as a
variety, the forearm of which varies between 60 and 07. It is probab-
ly to this variety or species that our local form belongs. The average
length of forearm in eight specimens (5 male ;ind 3 female} collected
b}' me is ')^d (varying between 57 and 61).
This is a common bat with ns, and is well distributed. I have taken
it in all parts of the 8urat and Thana Districts. The bright canary
yellow belly is a very noticeable feature in -S. hihlii.
Blanford speaks of S. Imldii as '' the first to appear in the evening,"
but in my experience it never appears until the Pipistrelles have been
some time on the wing. I have never seen it * hawking ' like these
latter, but always starting off steadily, apparently making in a bee line
for some distant but definite point.
Scotophilus xoroughtoni, Thomas..
This species (Plate, fig. 1) was described by Mr. Thomas in his paper in
our Journal (to which I have referred above) on a single female speci-
men which I obtained at Mandvi (Surat District). He quotes the tail
dimension as 40 ; this is an error for 49 or 50. The mistake was made
by myself in writing out the ticket of what is now the type specimen.
I have since obtained another female at Bulsar, of much the same size,
whose tail is recorded as 51. I have also taken a series of 10 males,
whose average tail measurement is 49*5 (varying between 46 and 54).
The male forearm seems to run a little shorter than the female ; the
average of 10 specimens being 47*5 (varying on'y between 47 and 49),
Except by its size it cannot be distinguished from S. kuhlii on the
wing ; wherever I have found it, it has been associated with that species.
Like S. kuMii, it almost certainly roosts in crevices in masonry ; it also
appear about the same time in the evening and flies in the same way.
On one occasion only I found it ' hawking' about some large trees, on
the outskirts of a village.
Bulsar is the most southerly point at which I have taken S. wroughtoni^
but I expect it will be found to occur in Tliana, especially in the
neighbourhood of some of the old forts, in which roosting places, such
as it frequents, abound.
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SOME KONKA N BA TS. 725
The last family of the bats, the EMBALLONUEIDiE, is represented
with ns by one gemis nnd species only.
Taphozous.
Taphozous longimanus, Hardwicke (No. 220).
This species is most easily recognised by its gular sack and its long
fi-ee tail. It is a species which apparently varies very little, for my
specimens differ in no appreciable way from Blanford's description.
It is very common and generally distributed, and I have met with in
everywhere in our area, but have never succeeded in finding a roosting
place. It is a strong flier, but moves steadily when hawking its food
and does not jerk about as do the Pipistrelles. It generally appeared
just before dark.
Description of Plate.
Note.' — The illustrations of the dentition represent in each case the
canine and incisors of the upper jaw (right side).
1. Scotophilus wroughtoni, Thomas, p. 724.
2. Pipistrellus ahramus, Temminck, p. 721.
2a. Do. do. (dentition).
3. Pipistrellus mimus, n. sp., p. 722.
3a. Do. do. (dentition).
4. Pipistrellus ceylonicus, Kelaart, p. 719.
4a. Do. do. (dentition.)
5. Pijnstrellus chri/sothri.v, n. sp., p. 720.
5a. Do. do. (dentition.)
Ci. Pipistrellus dormeri, Dobson (dentition), p. 718.
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726
FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS.
Paet IV.
The Andaman Islands.
By F. 0. Gadsden, R. I. M,
{Bead before the Bomlay Natural Hlstor>i Society on \%tJi Sept., 1899).
" 'Tis a, fill- «i'y to Lock Awe,'' is a well-known Highland proverb, and a far
cry it no doubt is, from Aden to Port Blair, from the spot which I last
iutroduced to the members of this Society, to that to which I would now
draw their attention. The one is also a complete contrast to the other.
While the ragged and barren outlines of the Aden rocks at first sight tend
to repel, the first -view that one gets of the Andamans, coming in from the
sea, is almost fairy-like in its fascination, A group of islands wooded down
to its water's edge (except when the settlement clearances have been
effected) with a luxuriant growth of tropical foliage, and set in a sea of
brilliant cperulean hue, they are indeed a picture of surpassing loveliness,
and besides that they give one the impression of perfect peace and calm.
Not that the sea liere is always calm j far from it, for these islands are the
cradle of those terrific cyclones, which often form and sweep with irre-
sistible violence up the Bay of Bengal, and breaking upon different parts
of the Indian and Burraan coasts, cause infinite devastation to the distiicts
over which they sweep. Curiously the islands do not always escape. In
November, 1891, a terrible cyclone swept over them, and the effects were
such, that many of the hill sides were swept bare of trees and vegetation,
and twfenty years will certainly not suffice to repair the damage done in less
than half as many hours.
Lying as they do in the fair-way of the traffic up the Bay of Bengal, they
have of course been known for many centuries, and at one time were, to-
gether with the lesser group, the Nicobars, in the possession of the Danes,
who established certain Missionary settlements in them, but of these settle-
ments there are no traces, unless it be in the curious blue eyes and fair hair
which are occasionally seen in individuals of tlie Joruas, a negroid tribe who
run wild in the Nicobars, and also in the straiu of wild cattle which are to
be found there. Malays and Chinese have traded with these islands from
time immemorial, but the islands -tv ere never seriously taken in hand until
somewhere in the early fifties, when they were cho!^en by the Indian Govern-
ment as a lit and proper place in which to establish their penal settlement.
They are administered by a Chief Commissioner and a t-taff of settlement
officers, and rule and order is maintained by a body of about 800 Sikh Police,
a small number of European troops (two companies generally from the Regi-
ment stationed at Rangoon are detailed for this duty), and half a native
regiment of Madras Infantry, The criminal population is about 15,000,
Many of these latter, the better behaved ones, are allowed to marry and have
plots of ground allotted to them, and settle down on these clearances and
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FISHING [N INDIAN WATERS. Til
cultivate the soil ; but by far the larger number are kept in durance vile,
all their lives in immense prison buildings erected indifferent parts, and their
labour is utilized for the benefit of Government.
The aborigines are unique. A negroid race utterly unlike the inhabitants
of the neighbouring countries^ their very existence is an ethnological puzzle.
Where they came from, and who and what they are, is a problem which has
not yet been satisfactorily solved. An adult male Andamanese stands from
4'-3'' to 4'-7" high and a female from 4'-0" to 4'-3". Though so small, they
are perfectly formed miniature men and women. The men are pleasant to
look upon, and very strong and muscular, but the women as a rule are
singularly ill-favoured. They live in small communities in the jungles,
exist almost entirely by the chase, and as hunters are extremely expert with
their primitive weapons ; while their dexterity with the bow and arrow both
on land and on the water, where they hunt, shoot, and spear the fish, is simply
incredible. Like most aboriginal savage races, since coming in contact with
a higher civilization, they have deteriorated physically, and are rapidly
dying out, and before very many years will probably have disappeared leav-
ing behind them absolutely no trace of their existence. There is one officer
of the settlement who has been placed specially in charge of them, and he is
devoting his whole life and energies to the task of recording their history,
and in future days his voluminous notes, his most excellent collection of
photographs, and his wonderful museum of their instruments, both of war
and of peace of all sorts, will be all that future students will have to enable
them to form an idea of what this most interesting and curious race was like.
The headquarters of the settlement are on Eoss Island, better known
perhaps as Port Blair, and there are also considerable settlements at Aber-
deen and Viper Islands, and also at Port Mowatt and Hope Town, This
latter place was the scene of the assassination of the then Viceroy of India,
Lord Mayo, who met his death at the hands of a fanatic Mussulman convict
in 1872, There is a small pier or landing stage here, and it is the landing
place for and on the way to Mount Harriet, the Government Sanatorium,
It was here on returning from a visit to Mount Harriet, that the tragedy took
place. As a fishing resort it is, however, that I would draw your attention
to it, and from this point of view it is unsurpassed. As in the case of Bombay
and Aden, in each of which places, as I have before noted, one fish is found
to engross the Angler's attention, so here is it much the same. However
good the general fishing may be, and very often is, either with the mullet,
garfish, seer, barraconta, and horse mackerel, still the mainstay of the fishing
and the fish for which the angler generally looks, is what is locally known
as " Khokhari."
Cavanx carangus and C. malahariciis are the two species which are common-
est and most often got, but there are altogether nearly thirty sorts of Caranx
and sometimes one may come across others of the genus than those named
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728 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Xll.
above. It is somewhat difficult, without illuatrations, to describe our friend.
A deep full-bodied fish, something like a perch, body oblong, and more or less
compressed, with resplendent scales, high shoulders, a small and shapely
head, provided with very powerful tail and tins, lateral line in some species
wholly and in others only partially formed, of plate-like scales, each of
which is armed with a lateral spirate keen edge, and two dorsals. Ee is of a
distinctly pugnacious and omnivorous nature, appears always ready to be
booked, and like the Irishman always spoiling for a fight, and what is better
still, there is no trouble in finding him ; he is nearly always all over the place-
There are times and seasons just as at Aden, when the waters swarm with
the small sardines or fry of many sorts of fish, chiefly I believe of the Atheri-
nides, large quantities of which are caught in the nets, and are eaten by the
European and called "white bait," and then the "Khokhari" is at his busiest.
He will follow the shoals of small fish into the shallowest water, and a
very favourite place to angle from, and one of the best when the fry were
about, is the principal pier or landing place for Koss Island, b^tanding there
and looking down into the pellucid waters, one can see and almost count
every fish that comes near. Then a time comes when you see the ordinarily
white sandy bottom riouded and darkened in colour, and unless you were
prepared for it, you would hardly realise that the darknews was caused by
a dense mass of small fish. Such, however, is the case, and where these are,
our friend the Caranx is sure to be.
Naturally also it follows that the very best bait for him at such
seasons is the sardine or smelt, and it should be just lightly hooked and
allowed to roam. Such a bait is irresistible, and many and many a good fish
have I had in this way. Of the two species noted above, the Caranx
carangus is by far the better. He grows much bigger, and is also the hand-
somer fish. In colour he ranges from a bluibh silvery sheen on the back, to
a golden colour below, and in season his fins appear to be of beaten gold.
Scales not particularly large, are inclined to be loose and come off easily,
while curiously enough at times they disappear altogether along the anterior
portion of the abdomen, and up to and around the pectoral fins ; and on
the smaller and immature fish are four or five vertical bands very like what
are seen on a perch. His size may be anything from 31bs. to 701bs, Very
ordinary fish run from IGlbs. to 2olbs. The record " Khokhari" was
killed, 1 believe, in 1893 or 1894 by Lieut, A. of the 14th Madras
Native Infantry while stationed there, and weighed T'Jlbs. This fish was
not caught from the pier, but a little further out, where the small station
steamer was lying at anchor. The officers on board were at breakfast. A
rod had been left over the side, when the bait was suddenly taken. Even-
tually Lieut. A, had to take to a dinghy and follow the fish about,
but it was landed in the long run, after a contest lasting considerably over
an hour. Bait, 1 believe — but of this I am not quite sure now — was a half
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 729
boiled potatoe. The other species, viz., Caranx malaharicus, is also a good
fish, and a handsome fish, but is said never to grow anything like as large
as his confrere, nor is he so brilliantly coloured. His back is a dull bluish-
grey, sides silvery shot with purple, while his fins are a pale yellow, dorsal fins
and tail grey with spots. Both species, however, give very good sport. When
hooked there is just a whisk of their tail and they are off, and their first run
is grand, any check and you will lose your fish, but they do not figt t brilliantly
up to the end. After the first run or two they are given to boring heavily
round anil round, and if you have a heavy fish on, your rod is likely to suffer
a great deal more from them than from any other fish I know, for towards
the end it is a case of '• Pull Devil, Pull Baker " to get them within reach of
net or gaff. But the Caranx is by no means the only fish that the angler has
to depend on. As in Aden, so here, when the sardines appear large numbers
of Barraconta, seer fish, and large gar fish and horse makerel appear also, and
you may vary your sport considerably bv taking a boat and towing a live
bait about slowly — a form of fishing very similar in fact to what is known
in Scotland as "' harling.'' Then again on the outlying reefs you will, if you
fancy it, get the red rock cod, known locally as "gobra.'' These often run
very large and very heavy. One big fish for a long time took up his quarters
among the piles of the landing stage at Port Blair, and though often hooked,
always eluded capture by breaking away in among the piles. Apparently
his favourite amusement was to lie " dog o ! " and as soon as he saw any
other fish in difficulties, struggling at the end of a line for instance, as he
often did, he just used to open a huge carpet bag of a mouth and closing it
on his unfortunate victim, to clear out with the best part of a fish and leave
only the head to the angler, I have known of his taking fish up to 61bs. in
weight thus, when they were hooked, and the curses that were launched at
his devoted head were many and deep. He fell a victim himself eventually,
I believe, to a havildar or sergeant in the Police who inveigled him into
taking a bait about 21bs, in weight, upon what was practically a small shark
hook mounted upon stiff wire, and he weighed somewhere about 651bs. It
ia not easy within the limits of a short paper to enumerate all the different
fish that can be got here, and to specify also the different means adopted for
" sarcumventing " the same, but to your angling readers this will not be at
all necessary. Any man who is a keen angler, on findinoj himself in such a
place, will most certainly very soon find out for himself all that is really
necessary, and thereafter his innate power of inventiveness will lead him
on until he will probably become a great deal more expert than I am, and
will know more than ever I can hope to teach him. Of the fishing for mullet
and gar fish, I have written in detail on a former occasion, so will not refer to
it. It is generally only necessary to give hints, &c., but I do not think that
any mention of Port Blair fishing would be complete without a passing
reference to the atherine or smelt fishing that ia occasionally to be obtained.
18
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no JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
Whether or not the fish I refer to be a true smelt I know not, but all I know
is that they are very like them ; and also that as a change from the heavy
coarse fishing I have been describing, it is a real treat to turn away at times
from the large sea rod, reel, and lines, which are so necessary for Caranx,
barraconta, seerfish and gobra — and taking down one's 10ft, toy to go down and
have a turn at something smaller and more delicate. From my own personal
knowledge, there is only one place where these fish are to be had, though I
have no doubt there are many other quiet nooks which these fish affect ; but
the place I refer to is not far from the landing place on Aberdeen Island.
The tide or surf breaks very quietly in there, and there is a fringe of semi-
submerged rocks and sand upon which the wavelets break, and here some-
times the smelt are found in great numbers. I always used the soft tail part of
a hermit crab for bait, a two-hook Stewart tackle, an ordinary trout gut cast,
and cast for them as one would do when clear water worming, just outside
where the line of foam — caused by the break and wash of the tide — ap-
peared, and if they were there one could very soon fill one's creel, and they were
excellent for the table. They seldom exceed 6 to 6^ inches in length. It is,
I believe, the Atherina for skalH oi Day. Great numbers are caught in the
nets about the coasts and bays, but they are not as a rule so large, seldom more
than 3 to 3|- inches, and are always spoken of as " Whitebait." It is unnecessary
for me to lay down times and places here for the Port Blair fishing. The
place is naturally such a harbour of refuge, and happy hunting ground, that its
waters seem always to teem with fish life. Any time will do for a trial, but
of course as I have said the best times are when the fry are about ; the fish
then are more in evidence, and one need lose no time in looking for them.
Then the pier or jetty is as good a place as any. At other times out near the
station steamer buoy, used in my day (now some years ago) to be considered
a very good place indeed, and for harling most of us trailed about a bait,
whenever we went anywhere, just as a matter o£ course, and on the off
chance of a fish. Again near the sunken wreck of the Indian Marine
Steamer " Enterprise," which was blown ashore in the great cyclone in 1891,
there is a reef which used to be good for the golden Caranx, and off the
rocks, near the Post Office, was a favourite resort for catching the rock and
coral fish which we often wanted for bait when sardines were scarce or
unobtainable, but in fact most places are good down there, and one need not
bother much where to go. The rule always was to go out and trust to luck.
With regard to bait ; far away the best bait for any or all of these pre-
dacious fish is the fry, or sardine so called ; and you may vary the size to
suit the fish you are after ; but ordinarily a 4 oz. bait would be found large
enough. Often however sardines are not procurable, and then you must go and
catch your bait upon the rocks. As in Aden so here you will find that an hour
or two's angling will produce the most curious collection of brilliantly
coloured, but rather evil smelling, rock fish, and these are excellent in their
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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 731
way, and are not despised by the larger fish. At times you may try our old friend
" Sarcelle'' with advantage, or even make a weird and curious representation
of a flying fish with cotton wool, sUver or tin foil, and a white or red rag, and
drag the whole skipping along on the top of the w^ater. This is best done
when sailing along with a brisk breeze, and to your counterfeits flying fish
shall be taken with such a splash and a rush, that shall make your heart
flutter, and after a grand fight you will find that you have got a " barra-
couta," Here again the inventiveness of the angler will have full scope,
and many a man has his own particular lure, which he fondly believes is
better than any other. I had a very good arrangement once, A deadly
scheme of triangles something like a Thames pike flight, and from each hook
depended a strip of cotton tape, each cut to diflerent lengths, and they all
wobbled and waved when being towed in a manner that fascinated many a
tish.
For the smelt nothing is so good as the soft tail of a hermit crab. The
crab itself is easily got. They swarm on the beach, and if you will only sit
still, you will see the old shells lying on the beach begin to move, and
then walk about : rather embarrassing to a stranger sometimes, who begins
to wonder whether he is seeing right or not, but a little investigation soon
shews him the cause. In each of these shells a crab has taken up his abode.
You have got your crab now but the question is how to remove him. Pull
him out you cannot, while if you break the shell (in itself not such an easy
job), you generally mash up the occupant. I give you a tip for what it is
worth. Perchance you may be smoking ; well, if so, take the shell, and hold
it quietly for a minute or so with the back or closed end of the shell near
the business end of your cheeroot, and in a short time the hermit will,
begin to wonder what is up with his hind quarters, and as the heat increases
he will very quickly and suddenly evacuate his fortress, and then you have
him at your mercy.
While on the subject of hermit crabs and shells, I would remark that any
one with a taste for conchology would here be in his element, for he can
gather here with very little trouble a wonderful collection. Some of the
reefs here about abound with beautifully marked tiger-cowries, and curious
and spikey specimens of all sorts and sizes are to be had, I say of all sorts
and sizes advisedly. In the one case I know a reverend gentleman who sorted
out 1,500 complete shells and for safety stowed them away with cotton wool
in an ordinary small homeopathic medicine bottle ; while down in the
Nicobars in a quiet bay, on a shallow reef which is very nearly dry at low
water, I know of the existence of a huge tridacne, or clam, each half of
which would make a very decent bath for a man, and I moreover tried one
day for hours, with a crowbar and six men to detach him from the ledge
where he had anchored himself. When we commenced operations, he simply
shut himself up, tightened his hold on the rocks, and utterly defeated me.
I
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732 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI J.
I have however at different times obtained some very decent specimens of
tridacne, and at one time possessed a set of desert dishes, which were simply
the half shell. All the miscellaneous marine growth which was on them ori-
ginally had been allowed to dry up and remain ; and as desert dishes they
were certainly unique, I was very sorry when, through no fault of my own,
I lost them.
And now for the gear required. I have on one or two occasions be-
fore fully described the class of rod, reel, line and trace required for
general sea-fishing, so that I will not long detain you. What 1 have said
before regarding rods and reels here holds good, but in the case of Port
Blair fishing, there is one alteration in the way of traces, that is imperative.
In Bombay the water never pretends to be very clear ; in Aden though it
is much clearer, still when compared with the absolutely clear and pellucid
waters about the Andamans, it is as " muddy tub swipes " to a glass of
Perrier Jouet : hence the twisted brass vvire traces which are so suitable for
the two first named places are entirely out of it here. Nothing but the very
finest gear will do, and when you come to consider the class of fish you are
likely to get, you will understand that it has been no easy task to get a trace
that shall be sufficiently invisible, and yet sufficiently strong. Gut is of no
use at all. There is a metal worker out here in Delhi, who makes a perfectly
lovely steel wire. Originally intended for the strings of some native musical
instrument, it was taken up by some keen fisherman, and it is to be had
occasionally, but only in limited quantities. Men who use this, use it triple,
as it if! less likely to kink. I only once managed to get any, but since then
I have used a very decent nice wire, supplied by Eobertson of Bothwell
Street, Glasgow, who, I understand, has sent out several lots since then, to the
Andamans, direct to order. I don't know the gauge, but in thickness it ia
about the size of linen thread, and costs 3s. a pound. I have found this
suitable in every respect, finely tempered, and put up in large coils. When
a piece is cut off, it springs out quite straight, and as long as it is kept free
from kinks, it is amply strong enough for anything. These traces must be
well mounted with swivels blackened or bronzed to suit the colour of the
■wire. On the other hand the disadvantages of using these traces are, that
the action of the salt water affects the steel to such an extent that they only
last for a few hours ; can certainly not be used a second time ; in fact, I have
felt them roughened and pitted, after a couple of hours' immersion, and I
change at once as soon as I feel this ; and secondly, if perchance a kinl> should
occur, they part with the first strain. However as one gets several thousand
feet for about 5s. and as each trace is as a rule not more than 6 ft. long, it is
not ruinous to discard them when once they become doubtful.
To wind up with ; it is not very likely that many of my readers will ever
have an opportunity, or perhaps even the wish, to visit these places, but in case
any one should wish to go, I must point out, not with any idea of damping
![]()
FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 733
his ardour, that on account of its being a penal settlement, that it is not
easy to obtain permission to stay there, unless with friends. All the house
accommodation is the property of Government, and no more is provided than
is necessary for the requirements of the settlement officers, and all Europeans
there resident are officials. In fact, it is a pretty close preserve. One can of
course visit the place by taking a passage for the round voyage either from
Madras or Calcutta ; but in doing this, though one sees tho beauties of the
Islands one gets no time to loaf about, enjoy the place, or fish. Once the
steamer has left, it is entirely cut off from the world. As there is no tele-
graphic communication acd until the steamer again comes round, they may
truly be said to be in, but not of the world. This old world state of atfairs
constitutes one of the chief charms of Port Blair, and the Andamans, in
these days of rush and skurry to the older generation, though the younger
and more ardent spirits often find that time hangs heavy on their hands.
![]()
734
LIST OF INDIAN BIRDS' EGGS
IN THE Bombay Natural History Society's Collection
on \st August^ 1899.
No. in
F.Brit,
India.
4
7
14
16
18
19
31
34
61
62
69
72
73
74
80
84
87
91
98
103
104
105
107
110
116
121
122
134
135
139
142
144
148
151
163
164
165
169
170
172
187
189
191
198
No. in
Jerdon.
Scientific Name.
English Name.
660
663
673
674
676
677
645
374
410
4U7
412
413
409 ter.
421
415 bis.
422
425 bis.
413 bis.
439
438
436
432
402
404 ter.
401
396
397
385
399 bis.
399
399 ter.
39ft ter.A.
388
389
388 bis.
391
394
893
343
342
336"
Order— Passebes.
Family— CORViu.ffi.
Corvus macrorhynchus ...
„ splent'ens .m
Cissa chinensis ... ...
Dendrocitta rufa,.,
„ himalayanus
„ frontalis ...
Parus atriceps
„ monticola
Sc<Borhynchus gularis ...
Family— Ckateropodid^.
Dryonastes ruficollis
Garrulax leucolopkus
„ pectoralis
„ monUiger ...
„ gularis
lanthocinda rtifigularis
Trochalopterum chrysopterum
„ phaniceum
„ simile ...
,) virgatum
Stactocichla merulina
Argya earlii ...
„ caudata
I, ma'colmi ...
C'rateropus canorus ...
Pomatorhinus schisticeps
„ obscwus ...
„ ferruginosus
Timelia pUeata
Dumetia hyperythra
Pyctorhis sinensis ...
Pellorneum mandellii
,, ruficeps ...
), ignotum
Drymocataphus tickelli ,m
Alcippc nepalensis
„ phceocephala
„ i^hayrli
Slachyrkis nigiiceps ...
,, chryscea
Stachyrhidopsis ruficeps..
Myiophoneus temmincki ...
„ horsfieldi ...
Larvioo'u briinnea
Drymochares nepalensis ...
The Jungle Crow ... ...
The Indian House Crow ...
The Green Magpie ... ...
The Indian Tree-pie ... .m
The Himalayan Tree-pie
Thf Black-browtd Tite-pie ...
The Indian Grey Tit
The Green-backed Tit
The Hoary -headed Crow-Tit...
The Rufous-necked LaughingThrnsh
The Himalayan White-c rested
Laughing Thrush
The Black-gorgeted LaughingThrush
The Necklaced Laughing Thrush ...
McCelland's Laughing 'I'hrush
TheRufous-chinned LaughingThrnsh
The Eastern Yellow-winced Laugh-
ing Thrush
The Crimson-wingedLaughingTbrusb
The Western Variegated Laughing
Thrtsh
The M anipur Streaked La u g h i n g
Thrush
The Spotted-breasted Laughing
I'hrush
The >triated Babbler
The Commnn Babbler
The Large Grev Babbler ... ...
The J' ngle Ba'iller
The Slaty-headed Scimitar Babbler...
Hume's Scmitar Bab'ler ... ,„
The Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler...
The Red-capped Babbler ...
The Rufous-tiellied Babbler
The Yellow-eyed Babbler
Mandelli's Spi'tted Babbler
The Sp tted Babbler
The Assam Babbler
Tiokell's Babbler
The Nepal Babbler
The Nilgiri Babbler
The Burmese Babbler
The Black-throated "Babbler
The Golden-headed Babbler
The Red- hearted Babbler
The Himalayan Whistling Thrush...
The Malabar Whistling Thrush ...
The Indian Blue Chat
The Nepal Short-wing
![]()
LIST OF INDIAN BIRDS EGGS.
735
No. in
F.Brit. I
Lidia.j
Xo. in
Jerdon.
Scientific Name.
English Name.
201
211
226
228
232
243
245
257
262
263
269
272
278
279
284
288
289
290
305
327
328
333
334-
335
339
340-
257
363
328
427
631
H31 B.
623
4-^8
468 bis,
615
269 qaat.
451
444
448
462
461
453
460
460 bis,
456
452
Thesia cyaniventris
Actinodura egertoni ...
Zosterops palpebrosa ...
,. simplex ...
Ixulus fiavicoUis ..,
^Egithina tiphia ...
„ nigrilutea
Mesia argentauris
Ht/pocoliua ampelinus ...
Criniger Jiaveolus
Hypsipetes psaroides
Hemixus favala
Mulpasies k'emorrhous ...
., burmanicus
., leiicogenys
Otocompsa emeria ...
„ fuscicaudata ...
,, flaviventrls ...
Pycnonotus luteolus
Family — Dicrurid.e.
278 Dicrurus aier
280 „ longicaudatus ,.
280 bis.' „ c'tneracem
280 I »
i Chaptia cenea ...
(-'hibia hottentotta
Bringa remifer ...
> Dissemurus paradiseus
280 bis,
28G
283
284
285
330
Family— Cesthiid.e.
Pnoepyga pusilla
Acrncephalus stent oreus ...
374
381
383
3€4
402
448 I
458 <
463
464 ^
r 541 bis. \
]\bh9 \\
(.: 539 bis. '
( 536 I }
^H I 538 i \
t 536 ter. ^
(. 536 bis. ]
< 1 538 bis. j
( i 635 bis.
Family — Sylviid^.
Orthotkomus sutorius ...
Cisticola cursitan!'
Frankl'nna gracili!i
552 bis.
526
548
549 quat
547
532
534
535
535
riifescens ...
I buchanani ...
Sylcia affinis
[ Ilororn's /ortipes
Suya criniger
Prinla flaviventrig
The eiaiy-Viellied Sbort-wing
The Rufous Bar-wing
The Indian White-eye
The Swiuhoe's Wuite-eye
The Yellow-naped Ixulus ...
The Common lora
Marshall's lora
The Silver-eared Mesia
The Grey HypocoliuB
The White-throated Bulbul
The Himalayan Black Bulbul
The Brown-e ired Bulbul
The Madras Hed-vented Bulbul .,
The Burmese Red-ven'ed Bulbul .,
The White-cheeUed Rulbul
The Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul.
The ^^outhern ReJ-whiskered Bulbul
The B'ack-cre^ted Yellow Bulbul
The White-browed Bulbul ...
The Black Drongo -
The Indian Ashy Drongo
The Grey Drongo
The Bronzed Drongo
The Hair-crested Drongo
The Lesser Kacket-tailed Drongo ..
The Larger Racket-tailed Drongo ..
The Brown Wren
The Indian Great Keed-warbler
The Indian Tailor-bird
The Rufous FantaU-warbler ...
Franklin's Wren-warbler
Beavan's Wren-warbler
The Rufous-fronted Wren-warbler...
The Indian Lesser W^hite-throated
W^arbler
The Strong-footed Bush-warbler ...
The Brown Hill-warbler ... ...
The Yellow-bellied Wren-warbler ...
The Ashy Wren-warbler
11
12
![]()
T36 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
No.
F.Hrit.
India
465.
466'
469
473
475
476-
488
501
610
612
518
No. in
Jerdon.
Scientific Name.
English Name.
576
576 •
579
581
688
590
596
598
599
601
604
544 bis.
545
545 bis.
546 ter
546
543
543 bia.
544
256
:;UU
'Ibl
257
265
277
270
287
bia
470
304
305
306
301
3(2
297
299 ter.
307 bis.
304
288
289
290
292
1
!
)-Prinia gylvatica
i
J
inornata
Family— LanIID^.
Lanius lahtora ... ...
,, vlttatus
„ nigriteps
f „ erythrcnotus ...
Tephrodornii poni^icerianiis
Perecrocotus erythropyg ui
Grau^alus macii ^. ...
Artamus fuscus
Fam'ly — Oriolid^.
Oriolus kundoo
Family— Sturnid^.
S'urnus humti .„ ,^
Sturn'ia mafa^nrira
Teme"U' hus p"(joriarum ...
Acridotheres t'-istis
" ffinffinianus
^thopsar fusrus
Stur lopastor contra
Cyornis superciliaris
Family— ^MUSCIGAPID^.
Cyornis rubiculoides
y ,, tkkelli
Stoparola melanops ...
., iloicaudata
Aheonax latirustris ,,.
„ muttui
Niltava niacgrigoria>
Terpsiphone paradtsi
, , affmis
Uyptithymis neurea
Rliipidura albijrontata
The Jungle Wren-warbler ...
The Indian Wren-warbler ...
The Indian f^rey Shrike
The Bay-backed Shrike
The Black-headtd Shrike
The iiulous-backed Shrike
The CoTnmon Wood-shrike
The White-bellied Minivt-t
The 1 arge Cuckoo-slirike
The Ashy Swallow Shrike
The Indian Oriole
The Himalayan Starling
'I he Grev-headed Myna
The BhicU-hi-aded M^na
'I he Common Myna ...
The Bank Jlyna
'1 he .lungle Myna
The 1 led Mvna
The White-browed Blue Flycatcher..
The Blue-throated Flycatcher ...
Tickell'a Blue Flycatcher
The Verditer Flycatcher
'1 he Nilgiri Hlue Flycatcher
1 he Brown Flycatcher
Layard's Flycatcher
The Small NiUava
The Indian Paradise Flycatcher ...
I he Burmese I'aradise F.ycatche'-.,.
The Indian Hlaci>-naped Hyca.cl'er.
The White-browed Fantail ily-
catcher
![]()
LIST OF INDIAN BIRDS' EGGS.
737
No. in
P.Brit.
India.
No. in
Jerdon.
Scientific Name.
English Name.
o ba
605
607
608
609
629
631
632
633
659
661
662
663
671
673
676
678
685
686
691
6y5
705
720
721-
722
723
726
727
734
735
776
779
780
803
809
811
813
814
818
819
823
291 lihipidura alh'icoUis
293 „ pzctoralls
481
482
194
584 bis.
586
585
477
480
479
475
359
063
361
35*5
354
355
353
368
350 bis,
694
694 bis.
694 ter.
696
695
698
702
703
699
706
710
708
724
89
90
82
82 bis.
84
86
85
830 ' 589 bis.
831
-.81
Family— TURDID^.
Pratnicola cnprata
„ atrata
Cercomela fusca
Henlcurus guttatus
,, schistaceus
„ immaculatus
Notodela leucura
Thamnohia cambaiensis
„ fidicata
Copsiichus saularls
Merula nigripdeus ...
,, castanea ...
„ boulboul ...
„ unicolor ...
Geocichla cyanonotus
„ citrina ...
Petrophila cinclorhyncha
Tiirdus viscirorus ...
Zootheramarglnata
Family —Pl OCEiD.a:.
Ploceus baya
> ,, megarhynchm
„ bengaknsis
„ manyar ...
^[nnla atricapilla ...
Uroloncha acut'icauda
„ malabarica
,, punctulata ...
Family — Fringillid.-i:.
Passer domest'icus ...
„ montanus
„ cinnainomeus ...
Melophus melanicierus ...
Family— H1RUNDINID.E.
Cottle sinensis
Ptyimophrogne rupestris...
Hirundo rustica
,, guttwalis
„ smithii ... ...
„ Jiuvicola ...
,, erythropygia
Family— MoTACiLLiD^.
Motacillci hodgsoni ...
„ maderaspatensis
The White-throated Fantail Fly
catcher
The White-spotted Fantail Fly-
catcher
The Common Pied Bush-chat ..,
The Southern Pied Bush-chat
The Brown Eock-chat
The Eastern Spotted Forktail
The Slaty-backed Forktail ,
The Black-backed Forktail ...
The White-tailed Blue Robin
The Brown-backed Indian Robin ..,
The Black-backed Indian Robin ...
The Magpie Robin ,
The Black-capped Blackbird
The Grey-headed Ouzel ,
The Grey-winged Ouzel
The Tickell's Ouzel ,
The White-throated Ground Thrush.
The Orange-headel Ground Thrush,
The Blue-headed Rock Thrush
TheMisel-Thrush
The Lesser Brown Thrush ...
The Baya
The Eastern Baya
The Black-throated Weaver-bird
The Striated Weaver-bird .„
The Chestnut-bellied Munia
Hodgson's Munia
The White-throated Munia ...
The Spotted Mania
The House Sparrow
The Tr e Sparrow
The Cinnamon Tree Sparrow
The Crested Bunting
I The Indian Sand-Martin
I The Crag-Martin
The SwaUow
I The Eastern Swallow...
I The Wire-ta led Swallow
' The Indian Cliff-swallow
■ Syke's Striated Swallow
Hodgson's Pied Wagtail
The Large Pied Wagtail
![]()
738 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
No. in
F.Brit.
India.
No. in
Jerdon.
Scientific Name.
EngliBh Name.
847
871
875
877
879
895
90G
921
927
933
942
943
944
950
951
972
986
992
600
756
765
758
700
234
223
240
344
345
139 bis.
139
138
172
174
160
180
160
166 bie.
Family — ALAUDiBiE.
Anthus rufulus
Mirafra eryihroptera ...
Gnlerita deva
Ammomanes phcenicura ...
Fhi/rrulauda cjrisea
Family— NECTARiNiiDiE.
Arachnechthra aslatica ...
Family— l^ic^iD.^:.
Araclinothera magna ...
Piprii<oma squalidum
Family— PiTTiD^.
Pitta nepalensts
„ brachyura
Sei'ilophus lunulaius
„ litbripyffius ...
Order.— EuETLiEMi.
Family — Euryl.emid^.
Psarlsomus daUiousice
Order. -PiCl.
Family— PiClD^.
Gcciiius occipital'is
„ chlorolophus ,,,
Liopicus mohrattensis ...
Bi uchypternus aurantius
Chrysocolaptts gutt'icrhtatus
Order.— Zygodactyli.
Family— Capitonid-i;.
Megal(Ema virens
Thereiceryx zeylonicvs ...
Cyanops aslatica ... ...
,, Jrankllni
Xaiitholeema hemacephala
The Indian Pipit
'J he Reii-wmged Bush Lark
Sykes s Crested Lark ...
The Hufous-t ailed Finch Lark
The Ashy-crowned Finch Lark
The Purple Sun-bird
The Large Streaked Spider-hunter
The Thick-billed Flower-pecker
The Blue-naped Pitta ...
The Indian Pitta
Gould's Broadbill
Hodofson's Broadbill ...
o M
The Long-tailed Broadbill ...
The Black-naped Green Woodpecker
The Sri all Himalayan Yellow-naptd
Wood-pecker ...
The Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker
The Golden-backed Woodpecker ...
Tick ell's Golden- backed Woodpecker
The Great Chinese Barbet
The Common Indian Green Bari et ..
The Blue-throated Barbet
The Golden-throated Barbet.
The Crimson-breasted Barbet
![]()
LIST OF INDIAN BIRDS' EGGS.
739
No .in
F.Brit.
India.
No. in
Jerdon. I
Scientific Name.
English Name.
aw
1022
1024
102G
1027
1029
1033
1035
1044
1062
1065
1066
1073
1075
1076
1090
1091
1093
1097
1101
123
125
117
118
121
136
134
129
144
146quint
254
100
102
102 bis,
114
112
109
106
116
Order.— Anisodactyli.
Family— CORACIAD.E.
Coracias indira.,,.
)) ffarrtila ...
Family— MeROPIDj!.
Merops vlrtdiy ...
,, pkiUipinus
„ aplaster ... ...
Family — Alcedisid.e.
Ceryle varia
Alcedo ispida ... -.-.^
Halcyon srayrnensis
Lophoceros hirostris
Rhinoplax vigil ...
Family— Upupid^.
Upupa epops
Order.— MaCROCHIRES.
Famil}-— Cypselid^.
Cypselus affinis
Tackornis batassienis ...
„ infumatus
Family— CaPRIMULGId.e.
Caprimulffi'yS monticola ...
J, asiatica
„ macrurus
Family— PoDARGiD^".
Batrachostoinus liodgsoni
Order.— TBOGONEg.
Family— Trogon I D^.
Harpactes erifhrocephalas
Order. — COCCYGES.
F amily— Cttculoid^.
Coccysfes jacohinus ...
Eudynamis honorata
Rhopodytes tristis
Taccogua lesclienaulti ...
Centropris sinensis
„ hengalensis
The Indian Roller
The European Roller
The Common Indian Bee-eater
The Bine-tailed Bee-eater
i'he European Bee-eater
iThe Indian Pied Kingfisher ...
The Common Kingfisher
The White-breasted Kingfisher
The Common i^rey HornbiiJ...
The Helmeted Hornbill
The European Hoopoe
The Common Indian Swift ...
The Palm Swift
The Eastern Palm Swift ...
Franklin's Nightjar
The Common Indian Nightjar
Horsfield's Nightjar
Hodgson's Frognaouth
TheRed-headed Trogan
The Pied-crested Cuckoo ...
The Indian Knel ...
iThe Large Green-billed Malkoha
The Sirketr Cnckoo
The Crow Pheasant
The Lesser Coucal
![]()
(40 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
No. in
F.Brit.
India,
No. in
Jerdon.
Scientitic Name.
English Name.
^^
1138
1139
1141
1168
1169
1180
1184
1191
1194
1196
1197
l48
149
150
60
70
76
77
Order.— PsiTTACI.
Family — Psittacid.e.
Palwornis torquatus
„ cyanocephalus...
,, scJiisticeps ...
Order.— Striges.
Family — StrigiD-i:.
Bubo hengalensis
,, coromandus
Athene brama ...
Glaucidium radiatum ...
Order.— ACCIPITEES.
Family — VultdRID.e.
Otogyps cah'us
Gyps indicus
I'seudogyps hengalensis ...
Neophron gingtnianus ...
Family— Falconid.e.
Aquila vindhlana...
HtcraStusfasclatus
Circaetus gallicus...
Butaster teesa
Baliaetus Icuchoryphus ...
,, leucogaster
Pol'waetus ichthyaetus ...
Haliastur indus ... ...
Milvus govindah
Elanus cceruleus ...
Astur badius
Accipiter nisus ... ...
Falco jugger
yEsalon ch'icqiiera ...
Order— COLUMB^.
Family— COLUMBiDvK
Osmot reran j)hayrei ...
„ bicincta
Treron nepalensis
Spenocercus apicicaudata
,, sphenurus ...
Calroj)ha2]S indica ...
Columbia inlermcdia ...
Turtur suratensig
,, camhayens'iH
Macropygia tusalia ...
The Rose-ringed Paroquet
TheWesteriiBlossom-headedPartquet
The Slaty-headed Paroquet
The Rock-horned Owl...
The Dusky-horned Owl
The iSpotted Owlet ...
The Jungle Owlet
The Black Vulture
The Indian Long-billed Vulture ..
The Indinn White-backed Vulture ..
The SmallerWhito ScavengerVultur
The Indian Tawny Eagle ...
Bonelli's Kagle
I'he Short-toed Eagle
The White-eyed Buzzard Eagle
Palias's Fishing Eagie ...
The White-bellied Sea Eagle
The Large Grey-headedFishingEag
The Brahminy Kite
The I'ariah Kite ... ...
The Black-winged Kite
The Shikra
The Sparrow Hawk ... ...
The Laggar Falcon
I'he Red-headed Merlin ...
The Ashy-headed Green Pigeon
The Orange-headed Green Pigeon ...
The Thick-billed Green Pigeon
The Pin-taUed Green Pigeon
The Kokla Green Pigeon
The Bronze-winged Dove
The Indian Blue Eock Pigeon ...
The Spotted Dove
The Little Brown Dove ,
The Bur-tailed Cuckoo Dove ...
![]()
LIST OF INDIAN BIRDS' EGGS.
741
No. in 1
F.Brit.
Lidia.
1321
1324
1328
1330
1339
1342
1349
1351
1352
1356
1357
1363
1365
1370
1372
1373
1375
1377
1378
1381
1382
lo89
1398
1400
1401
1402
1404
1105
1409
1413
14.4
UI6
No. in
Jerdon,
Scientitic Name.
English Name.
j^«
' Order — Pterocletes.
Family— Pteuoclid.i;.
802 I Pf erodes exustus
Order— Galling.
803
812 i
slo
810 ter.'
804
814
815 bis.
S25quiQt
830
826
825
824 bis.
8:^0
818
819
822
823 bis.
816
803 oct
83-2
833
913
911
908
907
905
902
903
863
836 ter,
836
839
Pamilj- — Phasianid.e .
Pavo c) htata
Gallus ferruginous
,, sonerali
Gennceiis horsfieldt
Lophophorus rej'ulgeus ..
Galloperdix spad'iccus ...
,, bicalcarata ...
Bamhusicola flytcliii
Coturnix coromandelica ■•■
„ asiatica ...
Arboricola riifigularis ...
,, alrigularis ...
Caccabls chucar ... ...
Francolinm vulgaris
f, pictus
„ pondicerianus
Perdix liodgsonice
Tetraogalius himalayensis
Family— MEGAPoDiir.K
Megapodius nicobariensis
Order— HemipODii,
Family— TuRNiciD-E.
Turnix pugnax
Order — Gkall^.
Family— Rallid^e.
Hypotcenidla striata
Amaurornis fiiscus
;y akool
„ pheenicurtcs ..
Gallinula chloropus
Porphyrlo polioccphalus...
Fulica ati'a
Family— Gkuid^.
Grus antlgone ... ...
Family— Oti did^.
Otis ietrax ... •.-,
Eupodotis edwardsi
Sypheotis aurita ... ...
The Common Sand Grouse ...
The Common Pea Fowl ...
The Red Jungle Fowl
The Grey Jungle Fowl
The Black-breasted Kalij Pheasant ,
The Monal
The Red Spur Fowl
The Ceylon Spur Fowl
The Western Bamboo Partridge
The Black-breasttd or Rain Qua^l .,
The Jungle Bush Quail
Blyth's Hill Partridge
'1 he White-cheeked Jdill Partridge
'Ihe Chukor
Ihe Black Partridge
The Painted Partridge ... .
I he Grey Partridge
The 'I ibetau Partridge ...
The Himalayan Snow-cock ...
The Nicobar Megapode
The Bustard Quail
The Blue-breasted Banded Rail
The Ruddy Crake
The Brown Crake
The White Breasted Wat-r-hen
The Moor-hen
The Purple JMoor-hen
The Coot
! The Sarus
The Little Bustard ...
The Great Indian Bustard
The Lesser Florican ...
![]()
742 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. NIL
No. in
F.Brit.
India.
No in
Jerdou.
Scientific Name,
English Name,
H
Order — LimicOL^.
Family— CE DICNEMID/E .
(Edicnemus scolopax
Family— Dbomadid^.
Dromas ardcola ...
Family — GlAHEOLiu/E.
Cursorius coromandclicw ..,
Glareola lactea
Family — PAErid.e.
Melopidlus mdicus ... ...
Hydrophasianus chlrurgus
Family — CharadrtiD/K,
Sarcogrammus mdicus ...
Sarciophorus malabaricus ,„
Hoplot>te>uf veiitr<ilis
yEffialitis mongolica ... ...
t, alexandrina
„ duh'ia ... ...
Bhnantopus cmididus ... ...
Pavoncella pugnax
Tringa crassii ostTis ... ...
Trinya alptna .,. ...
Rostratula capcnsls
Order— GAVI.a:.
Family— L 4 EID^.
Larus hemprlcJii „, ...
HydrocheLidon hyhrida ..^
Hydi oprogne caspia ... ...
Sterna media ... ... ...
„ bergii ... ... —
„ seena ... •••
„ melanogaster
„ alh'tgena
5, dougalii ... ... ..,
{ „ minula
,, saundersl
„ anmtheta ...
Order— Stkganopodes.
Family— Phalacrocoracid^.
Phalacrocorax carlo
„ J'uscicoUis
J, javanicus ..
Plotus mdanogasttr ...
The Stone Curlew
The Crab Plover
I The Indian Courrer
'The Small Indian
I Swallow Plover
Partincole oi
The Bronze-wioged Jacana
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana
The Ked-wattled Lapwing ...
The Yellow-W"ttled Lapwing
'Ihe lud an Spur- Winged Plover
'J he Lesser Sand Plover
The Kentish Plover
The Little Kinged Plover ...
The Black- winged Stilt
1 he Kuffi
The Eastern Knot
i'be Duulm ... ...
ihe Painted Snipe
The Sf-oty Gull
The Whiskered Tern ...
The Caspian Tern
1 he Smaller Crested Tern
The Larger Crested Tern
The Indian Kiver Tern
The Black-bellied Tern
Ihe VVhite-cheeked Tern
The Koseate Tern
The Little Tern
The Black Shafted Ternlet
The Pauyan Tern
The Large Cormoract
The Indian Shag
The Little C' rmorant
■J he Indian Darter or Snake Bird
![]()
LIST OF INDIAN BIRDS' EGGS.
743
No, in
F.Brit.j
India.
No. in j
Jerdor.l
Scientific Name.
1541
154^
1548
1552
1553
1554
1555
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1565
1568
1570
1572
1575
1584
1589
1590
1593
16(t6
1614
1015
1617
English Name.
941
939
920
938
940
924
923
924
926
927
929
928
930
937
935
933
bis.
944
950
954
953
959
969
974
975
Order — HbrodioneS.
Family— Ibidid.^:.
Ibis melanocepkala ... ,
Family— Platalei d.k.
Platalea leucorodia
Family— CiCONi I D,E.
Dissura episcopus...
Pseudotantalus leucocephaliis .
Anastomus oscitans ...
Family— Ardei d.k.
Ardea manillensix ...
„ cinerea
Herodiaa alba
,, intermedia ...
„ garzetta
Bubulcus coromandus
Lepterodius asha
Ardevla ffrayl
Nycticorax griseuf ...
Ardetta minuta
,, cinnamomea
Order— Phcenioopteki.
Family— PhcenicOPTERID.B.
Phcenicopterus roseus
Order — Anseres.
Family— An ATI d jk .
Sarcidiornis melanonoius
Dendrocycna javanica ...
„ fulm
Anas pcecilorhyncha
Nyroca fe'ruginea
Mergus serrator
Order— PYGOPODEt".
Family— PoDiciPBDiDiE,
Podiceps cristaius
„ alb'ipennh
The White Ibis
The Spoon-bill
The White-necked Stork i 1
The Painteil Stork i 4
The Open-bill i'.i 3
The Eastern Purple Heron
The Common Heron ...
The Large Kgret
The S . aller ■ gret ...
The Little Egret
The Cattle Egret
The Indian Reef H( ron
The Pond Heron
The Nigi^t Heron
The Little Bittern ...
The Chestnut Bittern ...
The Common Flamingo
The Comb Duck or Nukta
The Whistling Teal ...
The Larger Whistling Teal
The Spot-billed Duck
The White-eyed Dnck
The Eed-breasted Mergarser
The G-i eat-crested Grebe ,
The Indian Little Grebe or Dabchick.
![]()
744
DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW INDIAN ARACHNTDA.
By R. I. PococK (ZooL. Dept., Bretish Museum).
Tlie following paper contaius brief diagnoses of some new Indian
Arachnida^ kindly obtained for me by various members of the Natural
History Society of Bombay. I gladly avail myself of the opportunity
to thank all those who have been good enough to interest themselves in
the way of procuring material for me, but especially must acknow-
ledge my great indebtedness in this particular to Messrs. Phipson,
Millard and Wroughton.
The species here diagnosed will be more fully described and dealt
with at greater length in a volume on the Scorpions, Pedipalpi, &c., of
British India, now in course of publication as part of the series on the
Fauna of India, edited by Dr. W. T. Blanford ; and I hope at some
future time to have the honour of laying before the Natural History
Society of Bombay a series of papers in which these and other Indian
species will be re-described, their habits discussed, and their more im-
portant structural details carefully illustrated, so that facilities may be
provided to naturalists resident in India for a further study of this
most interesting branch of the fauna.
Order SCORPIONES.
Genus Chiromachetes, nov.
Allied to the tropical African and Madagascar genus OpistJiacaJitlnis,
but recognisable by having the median eyes far in advance of the
middle of the carapace, the lateral eyes marginal.
Chiromachetes fergusoni^ sp. n.
Colour. — A tolerably uniform greenish-black above, with the tarsi and
vesicle ferruginous ; ventral surface yellowish-red.
Carapace and tergiles smooth, closely punctured ; the former deeply
excised in the middle of its frontal border. Tail slender, punctulate,
not granular, and not keeled. ChelcB densely punctulate and granular
above, long ; hand-back nearly twice as long as the width of the hand,
longer than the moveable digit, Avhich is strongly lobate and
longer than the carapace. Legs punctured ; femora and tibiae
finely granular; tarsi with 2 posterior and 1 anterior spine
beneath.
Total length 100 mm., length of carapace 14.
Xoca^%.— Trivandrum in Travancore (//. Ferguson)^
![]()
DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW INDIAN ARACHNIDA. 745
Gemis Palamn^ds, Thor.
Falamnceus wroughtoni, sp. a.
Allied to F. fulvipes, C. Koch, with the upper surface of the hand
of the pincer similarly crested externally, but with tho inner border
of the hand much more strongly produced below the base of the immove-
COmiEOTTON.
Vol. XII, page 745, the last species describod at bottom of page
should be
Labochirus tauricornis, sp. n.,
instead of
Lahochirus cen'imis, sp. n.,
which is the name of the previous species described above.
the anterior border of the tibial apophysis produced into an obtusely
angular prominence instead of being lightly sinuous asinL. prodoscideus.
Total length of body 30 mm., carapace 11.
Locality. — Mangtdore (T. BcMie).
Lahochirus cerviniis, sp. n.
^. Allied both to L. prohoscideus and L. cervinuSy but distinguish-
able by having the inner border of the hand bebiad the digit more
inflated than in L, cervinus and less so than in L. prohoscideus.
Moreover, the posterior border of the tibial apophysis ia straight ; the
anterior border is also straighter than in the other species, not sinuous
as in L. prohoscideus and not inflated aa in L. cervinus ; the extremity
of the anterior border convexly rounded.
Total length 28 mm., carapace 11.
Locality. —Kmo-Tv^ {T. H. D. Bell).
![]()
744
DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW INDIAN ARACHNTDA.
By R. I. PococK (ZooL. Dept., British Museum).
The following paper contains brief diagnoses of some new Indian
Arachnida, kindly obtained for me by various members of the Natural
History Society of Bombay. I gladly avail myself of the opportunity
-.„j -.,^,-,nrii fr, miiAvest themselves in
UtlU lKJ\j\j^
middle of the carapace, the lateral eyes marginal.
Chiromachetes fergusoni^ sp. n.
Colour. — A tolerably uniform greenish-black above, with the tarsi and
vesicle ferruginous ; ventral surface yellowish-red.
Carapace and tergites smooth, closely punctured ; the former deeply
excised in the middle of its frontal border. Tail slender, punctulate,
not granular, and not keeled. Chelae densely punctulate and granular
above, long ; hand-back nearly twice as long as the width of the hand,
longer than the moveable digit, which is strongly lobate and
longer than the carapace. Legs punctured ; femora and tibise
finely granular ; tarsi with 2 posterior and 1 anterior spine
beneath.
Total length 100 mm., length of carapace 14.
Locality^' — Trivandrum in Travancore {H, Ferguson)^
![]()
DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW INDIAN ARACHNID A. 745
Genus Palamn^ds, Thor.
Palamnceiis wroughtoni, sp. a.
Allied to P. fuhipes, C. Koch, with the upper surface of the hand
of the pincer similarly crested externally, but with the inner border
of the hand much more strongly produced below the base of the immove-
able digit, and with the legs deep brown in colour instead of reddish-
yellow.
Total length 100 mm., carapace 15.
Locality.— ^dgSLwm ( W. A, Talbot), and Gadingal in Kolhapur ( (7oZ.
Wray).
Order PEDIPALPI.
Genus Thelyphonus, Latr.
Thelyphonus murtcola, sp. n.
^. Nearly allied to the Ceylonese and commoner Indian form
7\ sepiaris, Butler, but with the lower side of the abdomen polished,
finely sculptured instead of being coarsely corrugated and rugose.
Total length 32 mm., carapace 12*5.
Locality, — Trivandrum in Travancore (H. Ferguson),
Genus Labochirus, Poc.
Labochirus cerviuui, sp. n.
$ . Allied to the Ceylonese L. proboscideus, Butl., but with the
chelai tliinner and longer and scarcely a trace of the large blunt obtusely
angular prominence at the base of the hand on the inner side, but with
the anterior border of the tibial apophysis produced into an obtusely
angular prominence instead of being lightly sinuous as in L. proboscideus.
Total length of body 30 mm., carapace 11.
Locality, — Mangulore (T. Bailie).
Labochirus cervinus, sp. n.
^. Allied both to L. proboscideus and L. cervinus, but distinguish-
able by having the inner border of the hand behind the digit more
inflated than in L. cervinus and less so than in L, proboscideus.
Moreover, the posterior border of the tibial apophysis is straight ; the
anterior border is also straighter than in the other species, not sinuous
as in L, proboscideus and not inflated aa in L. cervinus ; the extremity
of the anterior border convexly rounded.
Total length 28 mm., carapace 11.
Locality.— KanskTa. {T. R. D. Bell),
![]()
746 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Order SOLIFUG^.
Genus Rhagodes, Poc.
(== EAar, Koch, Simon, Focock, &c., not Rhax^ Hermann.)
Rhagodes vittatus, sp. n.
Closely allied to E. semiflavus, Poc, but differing in having a broad
pale band extending throughout the upper surface of the abdomen and
including the last or anal segment. In R. semijlavus the pale band
only extends over the posterior half of the upper side of the abdomen,
and the anal segment is black.
Total length of body and mandibles 30 mm.
Locality, — Karaghora in Kathiawar {Bombay Nat, Hist, Soc).
Order ARANE.E (Spiders).
Family THERAPHOSID^,
Genus Selbnocasmia, Auss.
Selenocasmia himalayana, sp. n.
Colour. — Carapace covered with yellowish-grey pubescence ;
abdomen brownish- black, with olive-green pubescence above, blackish
below ; legs nearly black, with the exception of the patellae and the
upper side of the trocanter and coxsa which are yellowish-grey and the
same colour as the carapace.
Total length 35 mm., length of carapace 15.
Locality. — Dehra Dun (F, Gleadow).
Genus Chilobrachys, Karsch.
Chilobraehys Jimbriatus, sp. n.
Colon?' of upper side a tolerably uniform yellowish-brown ; velvety-
black below. Carapace as long as patella plus tibia of 1st leg, much
longer than those of 4th. Legs of first pair considerably longer than
of 4th ; femora of palpi and of anterior two pairs furnished externally
with a thick fringe of hairs.
Total length about 50 mm., carapace 26.
Locality. — Khandalla {Bombay Nat. Hist, Soc),
Genus Pcecilotheria, Sim.
Pcecilotheria rufilata, sp. n.
$ . Colour of dorsal side of body and limbs a tolerably uniform
greyish-red, only obscurely mottled ; sternum, coxae and trochanter
velvety-black ; femur of palpi black below in the basal two-thirds of
its length, with metallic lustre, paler in the distal third of its length ;
![]()
DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW INDIAN ARACHNID A. 747
patella and tibia yellowish-grey below, and furnished with long red
bristles ; femur of 1st and 2nd leg with the anterior surface ornamented
with a large yellow patch which occupies nearly the basal half of its
length ; the rest of the surface black with metallic blue reflections ;
patella yellowish-brown, tibia coloured like femur ; underside of 3rd
and 4th legs a tolerably uniform 3'ellowish-brown, clothed like the
anterior legs with long greyish or reddish bristles ; lower side of
abdomen velvety-black.
Length 32 mm., carapace 17.
Locality. — Trivandrum in Travancore {II. Ferguson).
Genus Haploclastds, Sim.
Haploclastus nilgirinus, sp. n.
At least differing from H. cervinus, Sim., according to the descrip-
tion, in being much larger, in having the 4th leg much shorter than the
1st and shorter even than the 2nd.
Total length 52 mm., carapace 24, 1st leg 62, 4th 58.
Locality. — Nilgiri Hills (Mahon Daly).
H. cervinus from Kodaikanal has the following dimensions : — Total
length 30 mm., carapace 15, 1st leg 39^ 4th 38*8.
Genus Thrigmop(EUS, gen. nov.
Allied to the genus here identified as Haploclastus of Simon, but the
stridulating area on the mandible, consisting of a large semicircular
cluster of many-curved, thickened, but pointed, bristles ; on the maxilla
the aciculate bristles below the suture arranged in a curved vertical
series on a slightly elevated ridge near the middle of the segTiient'
Protarsi of 3rd and 4th legs adorned apically, with spines both above
and below.
Type. — T. insignis.
Thrigmopoeus insignis^ sp. n.
9 . Colour blackish, clothed above with yellowish-brown hair and
below with velvety-black pubescence. Carapace longer than patella,
and tibia of 2nd leg and protarsus and tarsus of 4th equal to
patella and tibia of 4th ; fovea large, as wide as the ocular tubercle,
Z^^s of medium length, 2nd about tvvice-and-a-half times the length of
the carapace ; 1st leg longer than 4th.
Total length 55 mm., carapace 27, 1st leg 76, 4th 73.
Locality. — Kanara Ghats {Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc).
![]()
748 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XIT.
Thrigmopceus truculentnsj sp. n.
Smaller and paler in colour than the preceding species ; carapace
lower ; fovea smaller, less than width of ocular tubercle ; length of
carapace less than patella plus tibia and than protarsus plus tarsus of 4th
leg. Legs longer, ] st nearly three-and-a-half times as long as the
carapace, 2nd about three times as long.
Total length 40 mm., carapace 10, 1st leg 65, 4th (i2.
Localitij, — Karwar (Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc).
Genus Phlogiodes, gen. nov.
Thoracic fovea deep and strongly procurvod ; eyes of anterior line a
little procurved. Legs strong, tibice unspined ; protarsi of 1st and 2nd
spined at apex, and of 3rd and 4th with superior spines as well. Tarsal
scopula of 1st, 2nd and 3rd pairs undivided, of 4th narrowly divided
in male. Posterior sternal sigilla large and remote from the margin.
No tibial spur on anterior leg of male.
Type. — P. valid^is.
Phlogiodes validus, sp. n.
^. Colour. — Carapace covered with a thick coating of silky yellowish
hairs ; femora of legs covered above with golden -brown hairs, the rest
of the appendages with hoary-grey hairs contrasting strongly with the
ruddy tint of the femora ; upper side of abdomen covered with long
rich golden-brown hairs. Carapace with cephalic region low and
narrow ; shorter than patella plus tibia of 1st and 4th legs. Legs 4, 1,
2, 3 in length, long and strong, with stout femora ; 4th a little less
than four times as long as carapace. Bulb of palpal organ but
little inflated ; spine broad and spatulate at base, pointed at its
distal end.
Total length 25mm., carapace 12*2, 1st leg 41, 4th leg 46.
Locality. — Matheran {Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.)
Phlogiodes rohustus, sp. n.
^. Too strikingly difftrent from the foregoing to be regarded as the
female of the same species. Carapace and limbs scantily clothed with
short, greyish-red hairs ; abdomen blackish above. Carapace long,
almost as long as the patella plus tibia ])lus ^ protarsus and to tibia plus
protarsus plus tarsus of 1st leg ; cephalic region high. Legs short and
thick ; patella of 1st as long as its tibia and longer than its protarsus :
protarsal scopula of 2nd divided by broad band of setas ; no protarsal
![]()
DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW INDIAN ARACHNIDA. 749
pad on 3rd ; tarsal pads of 2nd, 3rd and 4tli divided by a very broad
band of setae and present only at the sides of the segments.
Total length '11 mm., carapace 13, 1st leg 29, 4:th 33.
Locality, — Matheran {Bomhay Nat. Hist. Soc.^.
Genus Plesiophrictus, gen. nov.
Thoracic fovea transverse, straight ; eyes of anterior line slightly
procurved. Sternal sigilla marginal. Legs spined, a few on the
anterior tibi^ and protarsi ; many on the posterior pairs ; protarsal
scopulae scanty on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd legs, absent on 4th ; tarsal scopulas
of 3rd and 4th divided by band of setse. Tibia of anterior leg armed
v?ith a strong inferior spur and a smaller tuberculifonn spur above it on
the inner side.
Tyj:)e. — P, millardi.
Plesiophrictus millardi, sp. n.
Colour of carapace and legs a tolerably uniform mouse-brown,
except those clothing the upperside of the protarsus of the 1st leg,
which are snow-white. Carapace about as long as patella plus tibia of
1st and of 4th legs. Legs 4, 1 , 2, 3 in lengih, 4th a little longer than
1st, tibia of Ist incrassate distajly. Spine of palpal organ broad at
base, filiform apically a^d spirally twisted.
Total length 12 mm., carapace 6.
Locality, — Matheran {W. S. Millard).
Plesiophrictus tenuipes, sp. n.
9 . Colour as in the foregoing, but anterior protarsi not white above.
Carapace slightly less in length than patella plus tibia of 4th, and
slightly exceeding those of 1st ; its width about equal to protarsus of
4th. Legs 4, 1, 2 and 3 in length, 4th much longer than 1st and
scarcely thinner, nearly three times as long as carapace.
Total length 16 mm., carapace 7, 1st leg 16, 4th 20.
Locality. — Kandy in Ceylon (CoZ. Yerhury).
Plesiophrictus CGllinus, sp. n.
$ . Eesembling P. tenuipes in colour, but differing in the pro-
portionate length and strength of the legs, the 1st leg being considerably
stouter than the 4th and only a little shorter than it ; the 2nd consider-
ably longer than the 3rd, and the 4th less than twice-aud-a-half times as
long as the carapace.
Total length 18 ima,-> carapace 8"5, 1st leg 19, 4th 20.
Locality, — Yercaud in the Shevaroy Hills (J. R. Henderson).
![]()
750 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Family CTENIYID^.
Genus Acanthodon.
Acanthodon opifexj sp. n.
Nearly allied to A. crassus, Sim., but darker in colour, the head-
palpi and front legs being deep fuscous, and no red tint observable
upon the appendages. Area of carapace behind ocular tubercle more
elevated than in A. crassus ; but with the median ocular tubercle flat
along the top, not higher in front than behind as in A. crassus; anterior
laterals more prominent than in the latter species.
Total length 20 mm., carapace 10.
Localitfj. — Bombay (H. M. Phipson).
The only known specimen of this species was received alive in its
trap-door nest.
Family ERESID^.
Genus Stegodyphus, Sim.
Stegodyplius mirandus, sp. n.
$. Colour. — Carapace, mandible, palpi, legs and mouth-parts black,
clothed with olive-black hairs ; sternum with narrow dark border and
marked with two parallel bands of yellowish-grey hairs ; abdomen testa-
ceous, clothed with yellowish hairs ; spinners and anal tubercle black.
Total length 20 mm., carapace 8.
$. Colour. — Abdomen black ; tibia, protarsus and tarsus of 1st leg
and the whole of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th legs bright red, the coxa and
trochanters alone being blackish-brown.
Total length 12 mm, carapace 6.
Locality, — Bombay (Bombay Nat. Hist. tSoc).
Family PSECHRID^..
Genus Feoenia, Thor.
Fecenia travancoria, sp. n.
Closely related to the Burmese species F. cylindrata, Thorell, but
with the eyes more widely spaced, those of the posterior line being
straight or slightly procurved. Depression of vulva completely divided
by a high longitudinal keel, the posterior border deeply and angularly
emarginate. (In F. cylindrata the depression of the vulva is undivided.)
Total length 13 mm., carapace 5'3.
Locality. — Madatory in Travancoro (H. Ferguson).
First record of the genus Fecenia from India.
![]()
DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW INDIAN ARACENIDA. 751
Genus Psechrus, Thor.
Psechrus alticeps, sp. n.
9 . Easily recognisable from the Ceylon species P. torvus, by having
the cephalic region of the carapace narrower, more sharply defined and
much higher, and the anterior line of eyes much more strongly pro-
curved. The legs are also much longer.
Total length 15 mm., carapace 6*5, 1st leg 49.
Locality. — Ponraudi in Travancore {H. Ferguson).
First record of genus Psechrus from India.
Family HERSILIID^.
Genus Tama, Sim.
Tama variata, sp. n.
9 . Colour. — Carapace brown in middle, blacker at sides, clothed
with grey and black hairs ; pale mark on head, red hairs about the eyes,
edge of clypeus testaceous, clothed with white hairs ; upper side of
abdomen blackish, variegated. Posterior border of vulva produced into
a median convex lobe. ^. Smaller than 9, with patellu and tibia of
palp unmodified : tibia twice as long as patella.
Total length ( 9) 10 mm., (<J) 6.
Locality. — Kandy {E. E. Green).
Family LYCOSID^.
Genus Lycosa, Latr.
Lycosa phipsoni, sp . n.
Allied to the Burmese species L. nigrotihialis, Sim., but with stouter
legs and a little differently coloured, the femora of the legs being scarcely
paler than the coxse and without an apical fuscous band beneath. More-
over, in the female the carapace is longer than the patella and tibia of the
4:th leg, and in the male the carapace is equal to the protarsus of the 4tb.
Total length 9 20 mm., carapace 10. Total length of $ 19 mm.,
carapace 10.
Locality. — Bombay {H. M. Phipson).
Lycosa wrougJitoni, sp. n.
$ . Closely allied to the Ceylonese and Indian species L. indugatrix,
Walck., in having the mandible clothed in front with red hairs and in
general colour and structure, but differing in the darker colour of the
anterior femora, the absence of a median white band on the anterior
![]()
752 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XII.
tibiae, and in having the red coating of hairs upon the front of the
mandible not extending to the extremity of the segment.
Total length 25 mm., carapace 8' 5.
Locality, — Bulsar in Guzerat (/^. C. WrougJiton).
Gemis HippASA.
Hippasa pantherina^ sp. n.
9 . Coloured much as in the other species of the genus ; differing
from H. olivana and H. agahnoides in having the carapace as long as
the 4th protarsus and longer than the patella and tibia of the 3rd leg,
and in possessing a third fringe of long hairs on each side of the lower
surface of the abdomen. In ^ the carapace is as long as the patella
and tibia of the 3rd, and longer than the tibia of the 1st.
Total length $ 16 mm., carapace 7'8. Total length of $ 15 mm.
Localitij. — 'Trivandrum in Travancore (H. Ferguson).
Family HETEROPODIDJG.
Genus Sparassus.
Sparassus phipsoni, sp. n.
$ . Larger than S. lamarckii and/S. wroughtoni, and in general
coloration approaching the latter ; but the mandibles black, and the
tibise of the legs furnished with a basal dark patch which extends on
to the patellse. Palpus much resembling that of S. lamafckii, but with
the inner side of the tibial apophysis lightly concave, and the process
on the tarsus shorter and less claw-like.
Total length 19 mm.
Locality.— Bombay {H. M. Phipson).
Genus Heteropoda, Lat.
Ileteropoda kandiana, sp. n.
9 . Much darker in colour than is li. venatoria, the clypeal band
narrow and arched, the lower half of the clypeas black. Carapace less
than length of 3rd tibia, and less than half length of patella and tibia
of 2nd leg ; eyes of anterior line more strongly procurved than in
H. venatoria, the medians only a little more than half the diameter of
the laterals. Logs longer, the 2nd about five-and-a-half times the
length of the carapace, the 4th as long as the 1st. Vidva, with its lateral
lobes separated by a broad linguiform process.
Total length 24 mm., carapace 11.
Locality, — Kandy in Ceylon (Col. Yerhury).
![]()
DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW INDIAN ARACHNIDA. 753
Genus Pandercetes, L. Koch.
Pandercetes decipiensj sp, n.
Coloured above so as to match the lichen-covered bark of trees,
greyish and mottled Nvith brown ; sides of legs strongly tufted with
hairs; coxa, maxilla, labium and sternum shining black; femora of 1st
and 2nd legs orange-yellow below.
Total length 16 mm., carapace 7.
Locality. — Punduloya in Ceylon (E. E. Green),
Pandercetes celatus, sp, n.
9 , Dorsal surface covered with hairs of a greyish tint, forming
whitish plumes on the sides of the legs, as in P. decipiens ; but the
undersides of the femora of the anterior two pairs of legs a rich blackish-
brown, tinged with bronze, the underside of the tibise of the 3rd and
4th legs similarly coloured.
Total length about 22 mm., carapace 8.
Locality. — Trivandrum in Travancore {H. Ferguson).
Genus Stasina.
Stasina nigropiata, sp. n.
$ . Closely allied to S. nalandica, Karsch, but differing at least in the
form of the tibial apophysis of the palp, which is large, long and blade-
like, and furnished with an inferior lobate expansion. In S. nalandica the
apophysis is thick, and has its apex produced inwards into a sharp tooth.
Total length 9*5 mm., carapace 4-5.
Locality. — Punduloya in Ceylon {E. E. Greeii).
Family PLATORID^.
Genus Plator, Sim.
Plator ixodinus, sp. n.
9 . Resembling P. indicus, Simon, from Poena, in having a narrow
black line bordering the carapace, and a longitudinal black stripe
running down the posterior legs, but differing essentially in the
disposition of the eyes of the anterior Hue, which in P. indicus are said
to be almost in contact, whereas in P» ixodinus they are separated by
a very appreciable distance.
Total length 10 mm.
Locality.— Kon^m, 7,800 ft., and Mundali, 8,000 ft., in the Himalayas
[F. Gleadoio).
21
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754
REVIEW,
o THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA.— PART II.
Knowledge so extensive and accurate as Mr. Oates's knowledge of Indian
ornithology often untits a man for the work of helping beginners and smatter-
ers, but " The Game Birds of India" shows that Mr. Gates can be popnlar
as well as scientific. It is in almost every respect a model of what a
popular vade mecum should be. Technical terms and technical matter alike
are absent, and even those detailed descriptions which are apt to be more
irksome than helpful to the ordinary reader are successfully dispensed with.
In dealing with the Ducks and Geese, which take up more than four-fifths
of this volume, Mr. Gates has first divided them into certain groups, such as
True Geese, True Ducks, Pochards, indicating a few external characters by
which each group may be distinguished ; and then he has headed the account
of each species with a brief note of those features in which it differs from
all the others of its group. In the Introduction, he states that the primary
character of importance among the waterfowl is undoubtedly the pattern
of colour presented by the primaries. Unless the point of this remark is
the play upon the word " Primary, " it is unfortunately expressed. Whether
the quill feathers of a bird are black, or grey, or a little of both, is
only a primary character by way cf a pun. Intrinsically it can scarcely be
a character of any importance at all. But it chances, in the case of the
Ducks and Geese, to be a very useful mark of distinction, as insignificant
features often are, and Mr. Gates has made much use of it. Whether his
signs will prove infallible in the working <jan only be decided by practical
experience, for the proverb that the proof of a pudding is in the eating of
it applies to nothing more than to books on natural history. But much con-
fidence may be placed in so accurate a naturalist as Mr. Gates. And when
the sportsman has by these simple methods identified his bird, he will not
only have got a name for it, but he will know almost everything that is
known about it. This is the most attractive feature of the book. A surprising
amount of information about each species bas been gathered together from
many sources. We learn in what parts of India it has been found, when it
comes and when it goes, how it behaves itself here, what it eats and how it
quacks and how it flies ; then we follow it to its home in Spain, or Norway,
or England, or the arctic regions, and learn all about the manner in which it
makes its nest and brings up its young. Altogether 37 species of SvFans and
Geese and Ducks are described. Three species, namely, the Whooper and
Bewick's Swans and the Bean Goose, which are included in Hume and Mar-
shall's book, are left out here, the evidence for their occurrence in India
being doubtful. Short notices are added of the species which the author
considers not unlikely to wander into India from neighbouring regions, a
* " A Manual of the Game Birds of India." Part II. By E. W. Gates. A. J. Combridge
& Co., Bombay, 1899.
![]()
REVIBW. 755
wise provision which will help sportsmen to keep on the look-out. The
Woodcock and five species of Snipes follow, and the book closes with an ap-
pendix describing two species of Pheasants which have been found within
Indian limits for the first time, since Part I was published.
Where so much is excellent it is unpleasant to find fault, but there is what
we cannot help characterising as an inexcusable fault in this book, and it
springs from Mr. Oates's unbridled originality. He has attained a position
in his subject which entitles him to be original and his views will always
command respect ; but there is a time and a place for everything, and a little
reflection ought surely to have convinced him that this book did not offer a
suitable occasion for innovation. It is not addressed to specialists in orni-
thology, but to intelligent sportsmen who like to identify the birds they
shoot. Those who wish to do more than this are recommended by Mr. Gates
himself, in the Introduction, to study Dr. Blanford's volume in " The Fauna
of British India." Then how did he faiJ to see the propriety of sinking his
personal opinions and following the nomenclature and arrangement adopted
by Dr. Blanford, whose book, whether we agree with it in all points or not,
must, for years to come, be the text book of all ornithologists in India ? Of
the forty-three species in this little volume, no less than ten appear under
names different from those given to them in " The Fauna of British India."
Even the trivial English names to which we have all got accustomed are
changed to suit Mr. Oates's personal notions. The Mallard is the Wild Duck,
the Whistling Teal the Small Whistling Duck, and so on. But the worst
example is the Spotted-billed Duck, which is put by Blanford, as by all
previous writers, into the genus Anas, with the Mallard. Mr. Oates separates
it altogether, brackets it with Hume's Oceanic Teal (which he calls The
Andaman Duck) and invents a new <7c?m« for the accommodation of these
two. But in his group of True Ducks he includes, with the Mallard, such dis-
similar birds as the common Teal, the Pintail and even the Shoveller.
![]()
766
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No. I —NOTE ON DIACAMMA, A PONERINE GENUS OF ANTS, AND
OF THE FINDING OF A FEMALE OF D. VAGANS, SMITH.
Of the hunting ants, Poneridcs, belonging to the genus Diacamma, Mayr,
I am personally acquainted with only two species in Burma, D. vagans,
Smith, and D. scalpratum, Smith. The former is smaller and less common
than the latter, and so far as my experience goes, has the entrance to its nest-
tunnels under a stone or fallen log, while the latter species makes its nests
boldly in the open, like many of the Camponotidce, It is curious to note
what a difference there is between the outside look of the entrance of a nest
of D. scalpratum, and of that of some species of Camponoius. C. rufoglaucus, for
instance, carries out the earth-debris of its nest and piles it so close to the
entrance that half its time is taken up in clearing out stuff that has tumbled
back into the nest. Not so with D, scalpratum, a self-possessed and very
clever ant, whose nests can be distinguished at a glance. The grains of earth
dug out and carried to the surface are always thrown well away from the
entrance to the nest. There is one curious point of resemblance, however,
between the nests of Camponotus and the nests of Diacamma. The earth-
debris when carried out is always piled to cne side of the nest, never round
it, as in the nests of some of the Pheidole.
If you push a twig into the entrance to the nest of D. scalpratum, a com-
motion ensues, the workers swarm out in numbers, jaws open, and stings ready,
but there is no haste and no rushing about in a vulgar flurry as is seen when a
nest of Camponotus is disturbed. Leave the twig in and the nearest D. scal-
pratum will seize it in her jaws, and after trying to sting it, will tug and tug till
she either drags or carries it out, when it is taken to the rubbish heap and
chucked down with every look of disgust and scorn. I once weighed a $ of
D. scalpratum and the little piece of stick it had carried out of its nest and
calculated that, had I proportionate strength and dexterity, I ought to be
able to walk off with a three-ton teak log. \Yhat a very useful Forest
officer I would be under such circumstances. Diacamma $ has been for
years a desideratum to Myrmecologists. It makes me sad to think of the
many nests I have ruined, the hours of hard labour I have spent, and the
language that I have used in the futile search for 9 Diacamma. I had
given up all hope of finding her when I chanced on two taking a walk. It
happened in this wise. On the 19th June, 1898, I was inspecting the
boundaries of a Forest reserve in the Taungoo district. I was passing over a
cleared fire trace when my attention was attracted by a number of
D. vagans, which were quartering the ground in a rather more hurried and
aimless way than is usual with that very self-possessed species. The nest
seemed to be under one end of a felled tree which had evidently been cut
down in clearing the fire-trace. Imagine my delight when, as I stood
![]()
MISCELL A NEOOS NOTES. 757
watching, I observed a winged ant larger than any of the workers creeping
out from underneath the fallen tree. Close to her were three or four tf the
workers following with every demonstration of vigilance. On my seizing the
9 with my forceps, two of the workers gave battle, holding on to and stinging
the forceps with all their might. I had to bottle them along with the 9- I
then had the log turned over. There were swarms of workers, but not another
winged specimen, nor any pupae, nor eggs. I searched and searched but could
find no more, and was just going on when I caught sight of another 9
walking all by herself fully ten feet from the nest. I bottled her promptly
and then a few more of the workers.
9 Diacamma closely resembles the ^ , but apart from the fact of being
winged, it is larger and heavier with a broader mesothorax, and a larger
abdomen. The striations are similar, but as in Odontoponcra 9 compared with
Odontoponera ^ the scutellum is larger and more developed and longitudi-
nally striated.
Diacamma 9 "L. 14 mm.
Do. ^ L. 11 mm.
C, T, BINGHAM, Colonel.
Mandalay, hth June^ 1899.
No. II.— A " RAEE " BAT— AN APPEAL.
Mr, T. B. Fry recently sent me a pair of bats shot by him on the Belgaum-
Kanara boundary (Lat. 15. 30' N., Long. 74. 40' E). I can distinguish them in
no way from Vespertilio pachyotis, Dobson — Vesperugo pachjotis, No. 177 of
Blanford's " Mammals,"
This species was founded on a pair obtained in the Khasi Hills of Assam
(Lat. 25 to 26-N., Long. 91 to 92-E.) nearly 30 years ago, since which its
existence has not again been recorded.
Two years ago I shot a bat in the Surat District which was identified by
Mr. Thomas of the British Museum as Pipistrellus dormeri, Dobson {Nycticejus
dormeri, No. 193 of Blanford). Mr. Thomas wrote of it in this Journal as
"this rare bat," while Blanford records only three known specimens,- yet,
later on, I was able to obtain any number of specimens, and found it to be
quite one of the commonest local bats.
I think these examples show how little is known of the distribution of our
bats, and emboldens me to ask members all over the country to shoot
and send in bats, which I shall be happy to do my best to identify for the
Society.
The British Museum is badly in want of skins and skulls of bats, and I
shall be delighted to explain to any one willing to take up this work how
the skins should be " made up."
![]()
758 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
There are, however, many members who have no taste or leisure for such
work, but who could easily spare an hour about sunset occasionally to shoot a
few bats. To such I appeal to do so, and to put them in spirits and send them
to me for the Society or to the Society direct.
The only precaution required is to force open the mouth of the specimen
to its widest extent with a piece of cork before dropping it into spirits so
that it may stiifen with the mouth wide open and so facilitate the examina-
tion of the dentition. The locality and approximate date should be recorded.
There is no necessity to send heavy jars or bottles. When the specimens
have been thoroughly soaked in spirit, they may be taken out and packed
in cotton wool damped with spirits and will take no harm in the two or
three days necessary for transit.
All bats will be welcome, but it is especially the smallest of which least
is known. They usually fly immediately after sunset.
R. C. WROUGHTON.
POONA, mil May, 1899.
No. III.— FOOD OF PERNIS CRIST AT US QCVY.),
(THE CRESTED HONEY-BUZZARD.)
A friend of mine in this district, a keen ornithologist, sends me the follow-
ing interesting communication : — '' I saw a Pernis cristalus devouring an
oviole {7nelanocephalus) on May 14th." Blanford, in his 3rd Vol, of Birds,
writing about the food of this species, states that it is also said to feed on
*' the eggs and young of small birds." My correspondent also mentions, " that
of course the oriole might have been newly fledged, but there was no mistak-
ing either species.'"'
CHAS. M. INGLIS.
Madhubani, Tirhut, 19^^ June, 1899.
No. IV.— BIRDS OF THE KYAUKSE DISTRICT.
I send you a list of certain birds obtained in the Kyaukse District, Upper
Burma, between January, 1898 and April, 1899. This district lies between
22° 15' and 22° 45' N. and 95° 55' and 96'' 15' E., and is weU watered^
irrigated, and highly cultivated, except in the extreme West and South. The
reasons for my drawing attention to these birds will be seen from the
" remarks."
The numbers refer to the " Fauna of British India (Birds)."
J. H. SEWELL, Major.
Rangoon, June, 1899.
![]()
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
759
Remarks.
22
106
117
261
306
502
515
579
601
781
818
895
935
948
1091
1152
1180
1187
1404
1484
1485
1488
1543
1583
]5y8
1602
1555
1571
1574
Hooded racket-tailed Magpie
White-throated Babbler
Tweedale''s Scimitar Babbler
Spotted Wing
Blanford's Bulbul
Jerdon'^s Minivet
Burmese black-naped Oriole.
Verditer Flycatcher
Indian black-naped Flycatcher.
Pegu House Sparrow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Purple Sun-bird
Green-breasted Pitta
Little Scaly-bellied Woodpecker
Night Jar
Barn Owl .
Spotted Owlet,
Brown Hawk Owl
Purple Moorhen ..
Snipe — Fantail ..
Snipe— Pintail
Painted Snipe
Davison''s Ibis
Barred-headed Goose
Spotted bill Duck ...
Shoveller
Common Heron
Yellow Bittern.
The Bittern ....
Not noted as occurring so far North of Tha-
yetmyo. Local name is " Na upa gyee."
Very common. Not noted as occurring East
of the Irrawaddy.
Not noted as found in Upper Burma. Nest-
ing in November and several seen later.
Not noted as occurring between Manipur and
Pegu. Common in January and Feliruary.
Lateral limit not defined. Very common.
Not noted as occurring North of Pegu. One
specimen obtained in February.
Not noted as occurring between Manipur and
Pegu. The specimen obtained was in length
as No. 518, and yellow in the tail as in
No. 514, as given in the " Fauna of India."
Burmese name " Sa nwin wa '"'
J These were the only two kinds.
Common about March. Noted as occuiring
I at Mingun near Mandalay.
I think I saw 2 of these in March of this year.
I The lower plumage was absolutely white.
Commonly called " Nan pyi sot."
One bird obtained. Not recorded between
I Manipur and Pegu.
Fairly common. Not noted as occurring in
I Upper Burma.
Burmese name "Myay Wot." This is given in
•' Fauna" Vol. IV, as the name of the
Fantail Snipe !
I had a good opportunity of watching this
bird. A nest of 6 yoang birds was in an
old Mango tree, easily accessible, and the
birds were visible from the ground. The
parent birds remained by day in a tree
close by, and came out to feed the young at
dusk, one sitting on the watch while the
other went for food. The young birds flew
away one by one, as they grew up.
Common. Noted by Gates as ♦' probably oc-
curring throughout the drier parts of
Burma.""
Burmese name " Men young."
Burmese name " May nyo."
Local name — "Pazim bon."
The earliest date I saw one was 19th August
and the latest date 28th April. They are
recorded from Mandalay in May.
Local name " Pazimbon kya"" (or ja).
Reported from the Irrawaddy. They are also
common on and near the Chindwin River.
Nests in cotton trees in the Kyaukse district ,
I have seen 30 nests in one tree.
Burmese name " Hmaw taw."
I shot one on 22nd April. Was not this late
for the bird to be so far South ?
![]()
760 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
No. v.— NOTES ON THE HYPOCOLIUS AMPELINUS (THE
BULBUL SHRIKE).
Since Dr. Bowdler Shavpe's paper in the "Ibis," — 1886, page ,476, — " On the
Birds from Fao," nothing has been written about the Hijpocolius, andMr. Gates
in his " Avifauna of India," f age 250, states : " The position of the present
genus is somewhat uncertain owing to want of information regarding the
plumage of the nestling ;'' this information is supplied in the following notes.
These notes being a record of the breeding seasons of this little-known
bird, necessarily repeat themselves, but those of one year go to confirm those
of another, and as all the information we can get referring to the Z/^/i^o-
colucs is valuable, I have not attempted to condense them.
The adolescent stage of plumage has never before been described. The
descriptions given were taken from living specimens — nestlings and imma-
ture— and are correct for each individual bird to which it refers.
The measurements where given are from freshly killed birds before
skinning.
Von Henglin, in his "Ornithologie Nordost-Afrika's" describes an adult
bird of the second year, while Mr. Blanford had before him a bird of the
first year, the dusky markings on the primaries being a sign of immaturity.
In nestlings — a fortnight to three weeks old, the first primary is almost entirely
sooty, all the others being graded with the same, gradually decreasing to-
wards the secondaries, till the last primary is only broadly tipped with it.
By the time the birds leave Fao, this has worn off all the primaries except
the first two, where it is confined only to their tips, as in Mr. Blanford's bird.
The nestlings take after the female in coloration except that the white
patch in the male is always present. In the immature female the secondaries
are tipped white, as is also the half -grown feather of the adult , this disap-
pears as the feathers grow to full size. The barring, so characteristic of the
nestling and immature Laniidce, is never present.
In the breeding season the plumage of the male is decidedly brighter than at
any other time. The bill is flesh-coloured with blackish tip in immature and
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 761-
adult alike, except in the breeding season, when it is black in the adult. The
legs, feet and claws are flesh-colour, Mr, Oates' description iu his Avifauna,
page 251, is evidently from the dried skin.
A young male I reared began to show the black on the head in the second
month, those at the base of the culmen first appearing, later a few odd black
feathers appeared under the eye and ear coverts ; it was quite three mocths
old before the circle round the head was completed,
, These birds arrive in Bushire in March, occasionally they are to be seen
towards the end of the same month iu Fao, but usually in April,
They breed in June and July, nests have been rarely taken towards the end
of May. The male assists the female in building the nest and sitting on the
eggs.
The nest is completed in three to four days ; one egg is laid daily till the
full number is completed, i.e., four to five, and about fourteen days are taken
in incubating.
The female has only tbe one call j the m.ile has a different call, but very
often imitates the female, especially when alarmed ; he has also the habit of
erecting the feathers on the bead, similar to Otocompsa leucotis, when excit-
ed.
The call of these bij.-ds is a very pleasing liquid note, nothing like the
harsh cry of the Shrikes. They are more arboreal, at least in Fao, than the
last-named. They live chiefly on fruit, but also indulge in a little insect
diet, as several stomachs I have examined contained legs and wings of
beetles, &c. They appear to hunt for their food among the trees, not
descending to the ground, nor taking insects on the wing as is usual with
the Shrikes.
They become very tame if reared from the nest, but are difficult to bring
up, requiring constant care and attention. Those that I haVe reared
were fed with fruits, bread — chowpatti — steeped in water slightly
sweetened with sugar or in milk' slightly sweetened, flies and cockroaches,
and now and again a little raw meat chopped finely. They were fond of
picking at wet clay, not sand, which they eat evidently as a digestive.
15th June, 1886. — Morning. — One nest with four fresh eggs marked down.
Male seated on nest.
16th June, 1886. — ^Morning. — Two nests marked down to west of Telegraph
buildings, one contained three fresh eggs, the other two young just
hatched and one egg highly incubated.
Evening. — Visited nest marked down on 15th, the female was seated on nest,
while male was on watch close at hand. I tried to catch the female on
the nest, she flew off and got pinned through the carpal joint, by a date
thorn and was secured alive. Also visited nests marked down this
morning, male was seated on nest with the young ones, while the
female was seated on the other.
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762 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
17th June, 1886.— Evening. — Nest containing three eggs yesterday, had four
this evening, the female was seated on them when we approached. The
nest which had the young ones was found empty, the strong wind that
had been blowing all day had caused them to fall out. One young one
was found dead transfixed by date thorn, the others had evidently been
carried off by the crabs that abound everywhere in Fao.
18th June, 1886. — One nest being built was seen to-day.
20th June, 1886. — Morning, — Found a freshly completed nest, no birds
observed anywhere near. Further on came across a second empty nest,
but on ground underneath were the remains of four fresh eggs, evidently
blown out by the breeze. Returning homewards visited first nest found
this morning ; it now contained one egg.
21st June, 1886, — Morning, — Nest of 18th found completed but empty.
Three others were marked down, two being built, the third containing
four eggs on which male was seated. Nest of 20th contained two eggs.
22nd Jane, 1886. — Nest of 2Gth contained three eggs. Set nooses on nest
found yesterday which contained four eggs and noosed male, did not
remove nest or eggs hoping to noose female.
23rd June, 1886. — Nest of 18th completed on 21st contained one egg.
Removed nest and eggs of 21st as female had deserted it,
24th June, 1886. — ^Morning, — Nest of 18th contained two eggs, one nest of
21st which was being built was found completed and contained one egg.
Evening. — Nest marked down on 20th contained four eggs.
26th June, 1886, — Morning. — Found one nest under construction. Nest of
21st which was completed on 24th and contained one egg, contained four
this morning. The one of the 18th had also four eggs.
27th June, 1886.— Evening. — One nest containing four eggs found.
28th June, 1886. — Nest of 18th contained five eggs to-day. This number is
seldom found.
30th June, 1886. — Nest of 21st removed by Arab lads.
1st July, 1886. — One empty nest found.
2nd July, 1886.— Two found destroyed by Arab lads.
20th July, 1886. — Morning. — Five nests marked down. The first contained
two young just fledged. Second was an old, empty nest. Third was a
new one, empty. Fourth and fifth were under construction.
21st July, 1886. — One young bird fully fledged found dead in date tree, a
second well able to fly was seen.
22nd to 31st July, 1886. — Young birds of season with parent birds observed
in small flights in fields at back of date plantations.
30th March, 1891.— Two males and one female shot by my collector. Six were
seen. Each bird shot weighed 2oz. Length of male 10'4" x 13.
Female— Length 10" x 13".
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 763
31st May, 1891, — One nest containing three highly incubated eggs found.
Female seated on nest, which was about 5 feet from ground.
2nd June, 1891, — Marked down one nest being built.
3rd June, 1891. — Came across one nest being built, both birds at work,
watched them for some time with my Vnnoculars.
4th June, 1891. — Nest of 31st destroyed by Arab lads.
7th June, 1891. — Three nests found, one contained two eggs, the second
three, and third one egg. Females seated on each. Nest of 3rd June
contained three eggs, nest of 4th contained four.
10th June, 1891. — Two of the three nests found on 7th contained four eggs
each.
19th June, 1891. — A nest with four young marked down. They had a little
down of soiled white colour on their heads, the sheaths of the feathers
were just showing. Further on came across a second nest just begun.
21st June, 1891.— Last mentioned nest completed.
3rd June, 1891. — Above nest contained one egg.
28th June, 1891. — Nest containing four eggs found. I removed them as one
was marked with the zone at the smaller end, the other three were
marked as usual. Unfortunately they were highly incubated and broke
whilst blowing.
N.B. — All nests found since 19th were built near pathway, that of 21st
overhung main roadway.
8th August, 1891. — One young female brought to me to-day fully fledged.
Forehead isabellincj ear-coverts light brown; a dark spot in front of eyes;
chin and throat light isabelline 5 gape yellowish-white; nape slightly
lighter in shade than crown ; remainder upper parts reddish-isabelline.
29th August, 1891. — Young male brought to me to-day, black spot in front of
eyes. Forehead isabelline : rictal bristles minute and black.
8th September, 1891. — One adult female noosed, a young male fully fledged
brought to me.
12th September, 1891. — Adults with birds of season in small flights in fields
at back of date gardens.
7th June, 1892. — One nest containing four fresh eggs, and another with three
young — eyes not opened — brought to me by my collector, who said he
took them from an Arab lad.
29th May, 1896. — My collector reported having seen one nest to-day con-
taining 3 eggs.
30th May, 1896. — Yisited nest of yesterday, it contained four eggs. It was
placed on date leaf about 6ft, from ground and close to pathway.
31st May, 1896.— Nest found to-day containing two young ones, sheaths
of feathers just appearing. A little white down on heads. Nest placed
in centre of small date bush about 3 feet from ground near the bund
at back of date gardens.
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764 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
nth JiiJy, 189G. — Came across a nest containing two young^ birds, their
feathers just appearing from sheaths, wing feathers more developed
than any of the othfers, a little down still adhering to tips, especially on
the head. The grey sheaths give birds a greyish-isabelline appearance.
The isabelline on the forehead shows plainly, under-parts soiled white.
Primaries, secondaries dark grey-brown, white wing patch conspicuous
in male. Secondaries in female not tipped white. Bill and legs light
bluish (?) flesh.
15th July, 1896. — One nest found with one very young bird.
27th March, 1807. — Bmhire. A pair of HyjyocoUus arnjjd'mus seen to-day
on Konar {Zizyphus jujtiha) bush in the Telegraph garden.
14th April, 1897. — Bushire. Mr, E. Isaacson shot a male bird in his garden.
28th June, 1897, — Fao. First nest seen to-day, had two half-fledged nestlings.
2nd July, 1897. — Fao. Two young, about a fortnight old, taken from another
nest for rearing.
5th July, 1897, — An Arab lad brought me two young birds to-day.
16th July, 1897, — The young ones of 3rd died suddenly.
18th July, 1897, — Female of the two taken on 2nd died this morning,
25th July, 1897.— Male of 2nd doing well. The following is a description
of it :—
Head, neck, mantle, back, light grey-isabelline, forehead and ear-coverts
purer isabelline. Primaries and coverts black, terminal third of primaries
white, each tipped sooty, the first three more broadly than the others ,• this
gradually wears away as birds grow older. Secondaries ashy on outer web,
black on inner, under-parts soiled white ; a narrow nude circle round each
eye bluish ; rictal bristles black. Eyes dark brown. Beak, both mandibles
fleshy with horn-brown tip ; gape white, legs, feet, claws, fleshy. Tail, only
about If inches have burst from their sheaths and this is black.
27th July, 1897. — One young female well fledged brought to me to-day by an
Arab lad^ who took it from a nest three days ago,
4th August, 1897,— Male of 25th and female of 27th doing well. The fore-
head and ear-coverts of female are of light isabelline colour, wings grey-
drab, but there is a lighter patch shewing across primaries corresponding
to the white in wing of male.
27th September, 1897. — Both above birds shewing signs of moult. Top of
head of male is a light isabelline throughout. I have shot immature
males in this phase of plumage, and the Tring Museum has a skin or two. It
may be a sign of a weakly bird as mine appears to droop frequently, an-d
does not pick up till allowed to fly about the garden each day for a few
hours. The black circle round head is shewing in patches, the change
from isabelline to grey in the male is caused by the wearing away of the
feathers, especially on mantle and back, and not by shedding
themo
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 765
11th November, 1897. — Black circle is now complete, entire top of head is
grey, the isabelline is confined to very narrow streak at base of bill.
1898. — The above two were brought alive to Karachi, and were kept together
in a large cage. In the hopes of getting them to breed, I placed twigs
and straw in the cage, the female as the breeding season commenced,
began to pick these up in her bill and carry them about the cage
apparently desirous to build, but unfortunately the male was accidentally
killed. The female I sent to the Bombay Natural History Society in
■ whose charge I trust it is still living.
' In 1890 I presented a male of this species to the Lon^lon Zoological Society
it died in 1894 or 1895. The opportunity io study the anatomy of these birds
was no doubt taken advantage of, the information thus obtained together
with my notes, will, I hope, lead to their correct position being determined.
W. D. GUMMING, C.M.Z.S.
Karachi, 20;!^ June, 1899.
' No. VI.— TWO UNUSUAL SPECIMENS OF TROPIDONOTUS
STOLA TUS.
A specimen of the above was brought to me on 15th April, 1899, killed
in a crevice of rock, where it was lying basking outside Chakdara fort. It is
singular in having only 7 labials, the 3rd and 4th entering the eye on one
side, and 8 on the other, with 4th and oth entering the eye. In addition it
has 4 postoculars on the right side, 3 on the left, and I have just got another
specimen in Eangoon, 15th June, 1899, with 4 postoculars on the left side and
'd on the right.
F. WALL, Capt., I.M.S.
Rangoon, 22ncl June, 1899.
No. VII.— DURATION OF PARTURITION IN THE DABOIA.
(_Vipej-a russdlii.')
Yesterday there was brought to me a female Daboia, which measured 4 ft.
6 inches, which for this part of India is large.
As the snake was of great girth, I opened her and took out 63 young ones.
Some of these, though quite perfect and fully coloured, were still coiled in
egg shape, and surrounded by a very thin membrane or the remains of it ;
others were absolutely at liberty, and I cannot help thinking that if the
snake had been brought to me as soon as she was killed, instead of four
hours after, a number of the young ones would have emerged alive. I
measured five or six of them taken at haphazard ; the longest was 10 inches
and the smallest 9 inches. What I want to ask is this, whether, in the case
of viviparous snakes, all the young ones, amounting in this instance to be-
tween 60 and 70, are born at one time, or whether, having regard to the fact
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766 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XU.
that a large number of them were clear of the egg membrane, while others
were not, the maturer young come out an appreciable time, say 24 hours,
before their immaturer brethren.
Is it possible that some of the young might have emerged even before the
snake was killed ?
E. C. CHOLMONDELEY.
Indoke, \st July, 1899,
The point raised by Mr. Cholmondeley is an interesting one, as very little
appears to be known regarding the duration of parturition. Some years ago
a Daboia, kept in one of the glass cases in our museum, gave birth to a
number of young ones, and I remember that on the following days several
others were born, but the actual time over which parturition extended was
unfortunately not recorded,
EDITOR.
No, VIII.— OCCURRENCE OF THE GREEN-BILLED SHEAR-WATER
{Puffinus chlororhyncus) ON THE MEKRAN COAST.
A specimen of the Green-billed Shear-water (^Puffinus chlororhyncus) was
shot last month (May) at Ormara on the Mekran coast, about 125 miles west
of Karachi, and as I am not aware that this bird has been noted from these
parts before, it may be of interest to record its occurrence.
In the dried skin, which has been sent to me, the bill is dusky-brown ; middle
and inner toe and inner side of tarsus light drab ; outer toe and outer side
of tarsus dark brown.
The bird is a sooty colour throughout, very dark on the upper parts from
the base of the bill to the tail inclusive, the latter is nearly black ; under-
parts more ashy, gradually darkening towards under tail coverts ; chin
greyish ; wings, sooty brown above, light colour underneath.
Length— from dried skin— 14-5" ; wing l(l'4" ; bill, front r25," gape 1-75";
tarsus 1'75" ; middle and outer toe including claws 2'4" each ; inner toe and
claw 1*9" ; tail about 4" from vent,
W. D, GUMMING, C,M.Z,S.
Karachi, JwZy, 1899,
No. IX.— NOTES ON A VERY UNUSUAL SPECIMEN OF SI MOTES
VIOLACEUS OR A POSSIBLE NEW SPECIES,
This snake is one of five specimens given to me by Vety.-Capt. F. H.
Evans, A.V.D,
They were all killed whilst clearing a patch of grass where he intended
camping at Minglegon near Rangoon, Of these, two turned out to be
S. cruentatus and two S. violaceus. Capt. Evans tells me there were
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 767
several other specimens killed at the same time which being mutilated were
not worth keeping.
Spirit specimen —
Length~-V-&1" , tail 2^".
Scales — mid-body, 17, smooth,
Ventrals—{1Q9) rounded in front, angulate behind.
^MaZ— single.
Subcaudals — (31) double.
Roatral — breadth same as height,
Internasals — suture nearly as long as prefrontal.
Frontal — distinctly longer than distance to end of snout. Equal parietals,
Nasals — divided.
Loreal — single, longer than high,
Preocular — 2 R., 3 L., upper not reaching crown.
Temporals — 2 and 2.
Labials — 7 (3 and 4 enter the eye). 3-7 deep, subequal.
Anterior chin shields — larger than posterior, contact with four lower
labials.
Colour — olive-brown above, a few scales irregularly outlined darker.
Dark chevron-
shaped collar di-
rected forwards,
and broad streak
from parietals to
behind gape. Pre-
ocular transverse
streak continued
through eyes to
become a sub-
ocular between
4th and 5th la-
bials. Belly yel-
lowish , with large ,
irregularly outlined, plumbe-
ous, spots scarce in front,
more numerous behind.
Beneath tail uniform yellow-
ish-white. No spots.
(JSimotes violaceus X 4.)
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768 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. J II.
Remarhs: — It seems singular that so many snakes were found so close
together at the same time. This specimen differs from an ordinary
S. violaceus in the following ways : —
(1) Frontal being decidedly longer than distance to end of snout.
(2) 7 labials (3rd and 4th entering eye).
(3) 2 anterior temporals.
(4) 31 subcaudals.
It is also remarkable in having 3 preoculars on the left side.
F. WALL, Capt., I.1I.S.
Rangoon, 7th July, 1899.
No. X.-* PROTECTIVE POWERS OF SCENT IN ANIMALS.
I regret that my endeavours to solve the difficulty that Mr. Eardley
Wilmot is labouring under have not been successful. I shall now offer
another solution, namely, that the difficulty has arisen solely out of Mr.
Eardley Wilmot's own imagination, and that his premises are not based on
solid proof. I am not by any means satisfied that deer, admitting that
they can smell, do not notice, i.e., wind, a man in a tree, that a man can
smell a tiger or that a tiger cannot smell a man. Mr. Eardley Wilmot
assumes that all these are facts, and then complains that his assumptions
have landed him in a difficulty which is insoluble, I think, too, he has some-
what lost sight (if the topic which we are discussing, it is not whether
animals have powers of scent, but whether animals have developed powers
of scent as a means of protection against their enemies and use them as
such. No doubt most animals can smell, but what impression does smell
convey to their minds, does it cause them pleasure, awaken their curiosity or
create alarm. It is only the latter impression that we have to deal with.
Mr. Eardley Wilmot's cow buffalo apparently felt no alarm at scenting the
tiger's tracks, so that, admitting that she was following up the track, the
incident does not help us. So far from protecting hei", the power of scent
might have led her into the tiger's jaws. No doubt buffaloes are very
useful in following up a wounded tiger, but then they are driven towards
where the tiger is supposed to be lying up so as to prevent a sudden
charge in long grass, and I have seen them pass a tiger which had been
dead some hours and was a little high, without showing the slightest emotion
of any land. However, this is really a digression, and it is necessary again
to bear in mind the distinction between winding and scenting. I am open to
conviction, but I am not aware of any game animal in this country which
has developed protective powers of scenting. I mean that the instinct of
an animal that can scent a track is generally to follow it, if this instinct is
absent, whatever impression is conveyed by the track is one of curiosity.
It is therefore off the point in discussing our subject to talk about tigers
» Notes on this subject Will be found in Vol. XI, pages 314j 526 and 745.— Editor.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 769
tracking, but does Mr. Eardley Wilmot seriously believe that a tiger which
has left a kill in the early ujorning and retired into the hill several miles
away to lie up for the day, scents out its early morning track when return-
ing to the kill probably at le;ist twelve hours after V Granting that an
animal can scent its own track, scent in this, country is proverbially bad,
and especially so in the hot weather. As soon as the sun gets powerful and
the dew is oflf the ground, hounds can do nothing, and even at the blood-
hound trials which were held last year in England, the hounds were let
loose as soon as the hunted object bad reached the sanctuary. A tiger does
not wander about the jungles in an aimless sort of way, without knowing where
it is or where it is going. A tiger knows the particular track of country
which it frequents as well as a man knows his native town, and will tind
its way back to a kill as easily as a man finds his way to his club. Return-
ing to the main point, what proof have we that sambhur would wind a man
standing behind a tree but not a man sitting in a tree, Mr. Eardley Wilmot
seems to think that a mere assertion on his part that this is so, is sufficient
proof, but I certainly should not jump to this conclusion without a very
exhaustive series of experiments. If at a sambhur drive the guns are placed
in trees, it is to escape being seen just as much as to escape being winded,
as it is far more difficult than one thinks for a man to conceal himself
behind a tree, especially if he wants to keep an eye on what is coming. The
slightest excrescence of an unusual nature will excite suspicion. As a matter
of fact I fancy most deer drives would be arranged to be made down wind,
and if there are deer in a beat for tiger they are too distracted by the
sliouts of the beaters to think of anything else but flight in the opposite
direction. I confess to feeling rather sceptical about a man being able to
smell a tiger, at any rate at a sufficient distance for practical purposes. I
once winded one a considerable way off, but it happened to have died three
days before, and cannot, therefore, be taken into account. I have never yet
heard of a mia being warned by his nose that a tiger was in the beat, but
even admitting that a man can smell a tiger, it does not follow from that
that a tiger can smell a man, at any rate at a sufficient distance to warn him
of danger. The questiou really to be solved, is, at what distance is au ani-
mal's sense of smeU eifective so as to afford it protection. Supposing
that a tiger can smell a man at twenty paces, that is not much use to it
if it is knocked over at thirty.
N. C. MACLEOD,
Bombay, July, 1899,
No, XI.— CANNIBALISM.
The other day I was accidentally enabled to throw some light on the process
by which the exuberant population of youthful toads, now so conspicuous
is kept within limits. 1 happened to see a toad about as big as one's thumb
looking in that attitude of rapt attention which characterizes a batrachian
28
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770 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIl
about to feed, at a very tiny member of his own species which had climbed a
little way up a yate-post and was resting there. Expecting some interesting
development, I waited, and ere long saw another minute toadling, which I
had not noticed before, inuke one hop close by the bigger toad, and then
disappear completely. Suspecting foul play in. this sudden evanishment, I
incontinently captured, killed, and dissected the presumed swallower, and
extracted the tiny one from his interior, somewhat faint indeed, but quite
alive and active enough after a wash. Of course, he had only been swallowed
a very few minutes. Whether he would have been digested is another matter,
for a toad is insufferable food to many animals, and has been seen to be
ejected by a frog. But very likely a toad's stomach is more tolerant of its
own kin, and, if that be so, the decrease in the number of youthful specimens
of Bufo melanostictus, as the season wears on, is largely accounted for.
House-lizards also are known to devour the young of their species, and
probably cannibalism is far more common than is usually suspected. The
proverbs " Dog won't eat dog" and "Hawks don't pick out each other's eyes"
mply a popular belief to the contrary ; but if we allow that the devouring
by one species of a near ally is cannibalism they are totally unfounded; for
the peregrine falcon frequently preys on the Kestrel, and the wolf on dogs
and foxes, while, here in Calcutta, the late Edward Blyth established the
reputation of the India Vampire {Megaderma lyra) as a blood-sucker by
finding one in the act of extracting the vital fluid from a 8n,aller bat which
it was carrying as it flew, and afteiwards devoured when placed in a cage with
it. Indeed, cases of cannibalism more or less flagrant are quite common
among wild animals, and not unnaturally occur still oftener in captivity.
F. FINN.
Calcutta, July, 1899.
(The above appeared in the Asian on 18th July, 1899).
No. XII.— FOOD OF THE INDIAN WILD BOAR.
Much has been written on the subject of the food of the Indian Wild
Boar, but I have recently come across a fact, which may be worth recording,
showing what extraordinary activity these heavy animals are capable of
when in search of highly appreciated food. I recently visited some friends
at Jelwaree (?), and found that all the apple trees on the estate, including
those close to the house, had the lower branches broken off to a height of
about 5' 6" from the ground, and it was ev^ident from the foot-prints that
the mischief had been done by pigs and not bears.
R. M. NASH.
Garhwal, July, 1899.
No. XIII.— TAPEWORMS FOFND IN A FISH.
Some time ago Major R. H. Rattray forwarded to this Society a species
of Tapeworm which he had found in a small fish {Aspiaoparia morax) which
is known in the Punjab as the Chilwa. The paraeite appears to be Ligula
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 771
inqjUcissima, and its presence in a fish is curious, as none of the authorities
mention the fact that tapeworms occur in Indian fishes. As this genus is
however frequently found in birds, I presume that the fish must have swal-
lowed the ova expelled from some water-bird.
In England and other European countries those whn eat the whiting and
the bream are not infested with the worm Ligula. In fact there is no case
on record in which the Ligula was ever known to have attacked man. Pro-
bably the gastric juice in the human stomach is strong enough to digest the
ova. In India, therefore, those who get the Chilwa for the table need not
be afraid of being infested with the parasitic worm Ligula.
K. M. DIXON.
Bombay, August, 1899.
No. XIV.- THE COMMON INDIAN SWIFT.
The Common Indian Swift {Cupaelm affiiih), JNo. 1073, Blfd., taking pos-
session of Rkd-rumped Swallow's {Hirundo erythropygia. 823.) Blfd., nest
whilst occupied by the latter,
I am no ornithologist, I am sorry to say, and so am not sure that I am
giving these birds their correct names, but that they are not of the same spe-
cies, habits, and appearance I am certain ; and I give the circumstances in
connection with them, as they seem to me to be sufficiently unusual and
interesting.
In the spring of 1897 a pair of Red-rumped Swallows — or what
I take to be these birds — fthey are in their ways, general appear-
ance, note and song, close connections of the Wire-tailed Swallow,
but very much more soberly coloured)— came and built their half -gourd
shaped mud nest at the upper end of one of the rafters of my verandah
and reared several broods in it, that year and the next. This spring they
again took up their residence in it, and had been occupying it for about a
week or so when a pair of the Common Indian Swifts appeared. I believe
they are the Common Indian Swifts, as they build their nests in the same
situations as the above-mentioned Swallows hut en'irely of feathers, instead
of mud, and are noisy and dirty birds about their nests, neither of which
the Swallows are. For these reasons I have not allowed the Swifts to build
in my verandah for some years past, though until last spring they have
persistently returned and endeavoured to do so. The Swifts came back
again this year, and one evening whilst I was sitting in this verandah, some
half-a-dozen yards from the Swallow's nest, one of the Swifts suddenly
darted into the Swallows' nest, and was followed by the other one. The
Swallows were in the nest at the time and after a few piteous cries they flew
out, leaving the Swifts in possession. The Swallows returned the next day,
and for a day or two afterwards tried, at intervals, to repossess them-
selves of their nest, but without success, for the Swifts have remained
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772 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
in possession and have brought up one or more broods of young in it
The Swallows have built themselves another nest in a building some 200 yards
removed froui this. I was curi' us to know if the Swalh ws had left any
eggs in the nest when r^ispos^■essed of it, and whether the Swifts had hatched
them, but I could not see into the nest, owing tn its position, without break-
ing it open 5 nor did I see any broken eggs thrown out under the nest or any
young ones about, as I did in the previous two seasons when the Swallows
were there.
Is it not curious that a bird should take possession of the nest of another
when occupied, and more especially th;it nest of another species, and quite
different in material, if not in make, from its own nest ?
NORMAN F. T. TROUP.
Kausaxie, KoMAUN, Sth August, 189'c.
No. XV.— THE NIDIFICATION OF SOME MALAYAN BIRDS.
The Thick-billfd Spider-huntee (Arachnothera crasszVos^ns, Seichb). —
I obtained the eggs of this Spider-hunter on March 17th this year at
Kenong, in Selangor. The nest was an oval structure, about 11 inches long
and 5^ inches in diameter, sewn to the underside of a large plantain leaf,
(Jtlusa), and composed entirely of dried plantain fibre. The entrance was at
the side against the leaf, which formed part of the back wall of the nest.
There were two fresh eggs, beautiful little things, pure white with a broad
zone formed by a tangled confusion of the slenderest lines scrawled in a
dark blackish-brown pigment, the fantastic and delicate tracery reminding
one of the wizard Merlin's book with " the text no bigger than the limbs
of fleas."
The eggs measured Hx^ and tIxH.
The Cinnamon-headed Geeen Pigeon {Osmotreron fulvicolUs, Wa"!.), —
I took a pair of eggs of this handsome pigeon in Pahang in May, The nidi-
fication, which is of course exactly similar to that of other green pigeons of
the genus, is not described in Vol. IV of the Birds in the " Fauna of British
India,'' so perhaps it may be worth while to record the dimensions of the
eggs. They are rather short and broad, both measuring IsVxfl, the shell
of the usual Osmotreron texture and gloss.
The nest was placed on a low tree in a little sandy island in the Pahang
River, on which I landed to try for a jungle-fowl ; the male bird flew out
of the tree from close to the nest, and I shot him before I noticed it.
The Buemese Wattled Lapwing (Sarcor/ramHi?/,? atrinuchalis , Blyth) was
breeding along the Pahang River in May, and I obtained two clutches of 4
and 3 eggs, the clutch of three being considerably incubated.
The Black and Red Bkoadlill {Cijmhorhynchus macrorhynchus, Gm.)
was also breeding in May, and I took two or three nests with eggs, one of
the pieces of material used, in one of them being the entire nest of a
small Sun-bird !
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 773
The Malayan Bee-eater (Merops sumatranus). — Great quantities of these
bee-eaters were breeding alont; the banks of the Pahang River when I
travelled down it in May, large or small nesting colonies being passed all
down I he two hundred and odd miles of river from Lipis to Kuala Pahang
on the East Coast.
The nest-holes are almost always made in flat sandy ground, nests in
vertical banks being quite the exception.
The burrows descend at a slant at first, and then run horizontally about
18 inches or 2 feet below the surface. They are of considerable length, the
egg chamber often being 7 or 8 feet from the entrance. Clutches genarally
contain 4 or 5 eggs of the usual Merops type.
The flat sandy " padangs," or plains on the East Coast were full of the nest
holes of these bee-eaters, from which the brilliantly coloured birds kept
flashing out into the sunlight as one approached. Scarcely less numerous
than the bee-eaters on these sandy flats were the beautiful sand lizards
{Liohpis helliana), by which all the old bee-eaters' burrows seemed to be
occupied. Very quick and wary they were, basking motionless with the bright
blue and orange skin of their sides expanded to the hot sun, but scurrying off
with rabbit-like celerity at the approach of danger, and vanishing down the
nearest burrow in a little whirlwind of dust.
The half-dozen specimens which I wanted I had to shoot ; catching them
was out of the question.
Wounded ones when handled expanded the beautifully coloured skin of
the sides as much as possible, but seemed very gentle and made no attempt
to bite.
Selangor, Juhj, 1899. A. L. BUTLER.
No. XVI.— BISON, TIGER, AND WILD DOGS.
1 can, from personal observation, folly confirm Captain Burton's statement,
— as mentioned in his Jungle Notes in the last number of this Journal — that
Bison will enter cultivation when near jungle. In a portion of the hill
part of the Kanara district there are a number of rice-felds, surrounded by
thorny fences with thick forest close up. I have noticed on several occasions,
when passing by these fields early in the morning, large gaps in the fences
and the rice much trampled over from Bison forcing their way through
at night, attracted by the crop. I have followed their tracks from the
fields far back into the jungle. The field watcher used to ask me to sit up
for a shot ; but the nights, while I was staying in the neighbourhood were
too dark. The Bison visited the fields late and retired from them in the dusk
of dawn.
Bison, mostly cows and young animals, are of ten killed by tigers in the
Kanara forests. Early one morning, during the hot weather, a lady, who
was stalking a herd of Bison, saw two tigers engaged in the same operation
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774 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
as herself, but before either party could complete their plan of attack the
herd galloped off. I imagine it is only seldom one tiger tackles a big bull
smaller animals in a herd h&hwj so much easier to overcome, but two tigers
working together would be more than a match for a solitary bull. Cap-
tain Burton incidentally mentions that a pack of wild dogs was seen by his
shikaries in " full cry " after a panther. Now, as the act of giving tonj^ue
by wild dogs when hunting their j.ame has 1 een denied by eeverwl very com-
petent naturalists and sportsmen, it is much to be regretted that such a
capable observer as Captain Burton was not present when this occurrence
took place.
G. S. RODON, Major.
Dharvs'ak, August, 1899.
No. XVn.— THE WHISKERED TERN {IIYDROCHELIDON
HYBRID A).
This time last year 1 recorded in this Journal having found a breeding
haunt of this Tern. Most of the eggs at that time were highly incubated
and some had already been hatched off ; so this year I sent a man a month
earlier to see wheth. r the birds had commenced breeding yet. He returned,
having found five nests but without eggs. I sent him again ten days later,
but this time he reported no Tern to be seen. I could not understand this,
so about the end of the month, happening to be near the place, I visited it
myself, but besides a few River Terns {^Sterna seena) there were no others
to be seen. Since then I have had diligent searches made in all the likely
nesting resorts, but have failed to tind a single nest. What can account for
their deserting their breeding places this year ? Can the excessive rainfall
have anything to do with it ?
CHAS. M. INGLIS.
Madhubani, August, 1899.
No. XVIII.— AUTUMNAL ARRIVALS.
The following species have already arrived here : —
The Small Indian Pratincole {Glareola lactea). — This species is not a
resident here, at least not in the north of the district. The first small
flocii was noticed on the lOth instant.
The Greenshank ( Totanus glottis).— A solitary bird was seen by me on
the 17th of last month, but by the end of the month numbers had arrived,
TuE Green Sandpiper {Totanus ochropns).— A few stray birds were
noticed about the middle of last month, a few days earlier than T. glottis.
The Pintail Snipe {GalUnago stenura).—! flushed my first snipe of the
season on the morning of 18th whilst riding through some damp land.
There were only two birds, and they probably belonged to this species. Last
year the first snipe was seen on the 13th, thus five days earlier than this
year's.
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
As yet no Stints {Tringa) have put in an appearance.
This morning a small party of Garganey Teal {Q. circia) flew over my head;
they had come from the east, and went away westwards. Last year the first
arrivals were only noticed on the 6th of September, twelve days later than
this year's.
CHAS. M. INGLIS.
Madhubani, 2bth August, 1899.
No. XIX.— NOTE ON THE WHITE-EYED DUCK ^NYROCA
FERRUGJNEA) AND THE T UFTED DUCK {N. FULIGULA).
On reading an article by Mr. F. Finn, of the Indian Museum, entitled
" On a third invasion of India by Baer's Pochard (Nyroca baeri),'" published
in the P. A. S. B. for April, 1898, in which he mentions brown as being the
usual colour in the iris of the females of that species, I examined the labels
of the few female skins I possess of N.ferruginea, and fii:d that I have
noted the irides of that species (females) as being dark grey, dark purplish-
grey and brown, with one exception, in which it was white. Blanford in
Vol. IV, Birds (Fauna of British India series), makes no mention of the iris
in the female, whether adult or young, being else than white,
Nyroca fuligula. — On the 17th Farch a duck of this species was brought
me along with some other ducks. It had a fair-sized spot of pure white on
the throat, otherwise it was as described by Blanford. I may remark that
out of over 100 ducks, not including teal, brought me last cold weather, this
was the sole specimen of this species procured.
I add a list of the duck and teal brought me last cold weather, all snared
on one jheel in the west of the sub-division :—
Gadwall (C. streperus) 50
Common Teal (iV^. crecca) 48
W ige on (JI. penelope) ... ... g
Pintail (D. acuta) 25
Garganey Teal ((). drcm) ... 100
Shovellers (S. chjpeata') ... 10
Red-crested Pochards {N. rufina') 7
White-eyes (N.ferruginea) 10
Tufted Duck (A^. /M%2<?a) ... 1
CHAS. M. INGLIS.
Madhubani, August, 1899,
No. XX.— A PLAGUE OF WEB-MAKING CATERPILLARS ON
THE "SILANG'' TREE [OLEA FRAGRANS).
Some four or five years ago a horde of white Moths (two of which I am
sending to you for identification) came here, and seemingly laid their eggs on
the above mentioned trees — and apparently no others, though the Silangs are
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776 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
KUiTounded by Walnuts, Oaks (jQuercusjucancC) and Deodars — and the following
spring these were full of hundreds of thousunds of a medium-sized somewhat
hairy caterpillar, that covered the whole tree with a net-work of very strong
web, like that of a spider's, making the tree look as though it were in a mist.
They eat otf all the leaves and keep them eaten down— till they have
killed some of the trees, by such treatment, year after year.
Birds cannot get at them, the web is so plentiful and strong — (some of it
when twisted into a strand of, say g" thick, is too strong to break) — and all my
efforts to collect and burn them ; cover the trees with dry pine needles and
set fire to them, &c., &c,, have been of no use in getting rid of them. Is there
anything practicable, that will do so ?
NORMAN F. T. TROUP.
Kausanie, Kumaun, Silt August, 1899.
NOTE ON THE ABOVE BY G. C. DUDGEON, F.E.S.
The two moths which were sent to me for identification by jVIr. Phipson
are both females of Naxa textilis, Wlk., var hiigeli, Feld. I should much like
to receive specimens of the larva. As far as I can find out, the latter has
never been described. The species belongs to an abnormal sub-family of
the Geomelridce called Orthostixince, which is near the primitive stock of the
family. In another sub-family, CEnochromince, belonging to the same family,
a few ancestral forms are said to have larvae with a tendency to develop
additional prolegs and a consequent different mode of progression from the
typical one. It would be interesting to know whether the caterpillar here
mentioned ' loops ' in walking, this being the normal method of progression
among larvtB of the family.
Caterpillars can be easily preserved in a bottle of spirits of wine or glycerine,
and do not suffer much in transit. To eradicate them, spraying the web with
a solution of saltpetre and igniting the same when dry, should effectually
reduce their numbers, but it will probably be found that they wiU not recur
in following seasons in such large quantities even if not interfered with, as
their parasites will probably increase in like proportion.
G. C. DUDGEON, F.E.S.
Mr. E. H. AitWen published iu this Journal a graphic account of a somewhat similar
phenomenon observed by him in N. Oanara (vide Vol. VI, page 489)— [Editor].
No. XXI.— NESTING OF THE BLACK EAGLE.
On page 589, in the last number of this Journal Mr. Mahon Daly asks for
information on the nesting of the Blask Eagle (1210, Ictinaetus inalayens,
Blf., Fauna of B. India).
I took the nest of this bird on the 29th April this year, about 10 miles
from Murrec. It was situated 60 feet from the ground, in a large Hill Oak,
the tree being about 100 feet high, growing on a thickly wooded and steep
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Ill
hill slope, between 7,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level. The nest was a large
platform, 3 to 4 feet across, consisting of sticks, and was built on a branch
where it bifurcated from the main trunk. There was one fresh egg in the
nest, which measures 2'5 inches in length and 2*05 inches in breadth. The
surface is coarse and rough, and is greyish-white in colour, plentifully speckled
and blotched with pale brown and pale mauve. According to Blanford,the
Black Eagle has not been observed west of Chamba, but I have seen it
more than once in these parts, and in the present instance shot the bird o£E
the nest and identified it. I send the foot of the bird, which is sufiBcient for
identification.
KENNETH BUCHANAN, Captain,
Changla Gali, August, 1899.
No. XXII.— FOOD OF THE PALM-SQUIRREL,
When walking in an upper verandah this morning I noticed on an adja-
cent Hat-terraced roof, that was still wet after several hours of quiet rain,
a common grey squirrel (^Sciurus palmarum) eating some kind of small
beetles, which surprised me, as I had always understood that squirrels were
purely vegetable feeders.
T. W. BARTLETT.
Waltair, Madras Presidency, Augmt, 1899,
It is well known that the Palm Squirrel will eat small insects when pressed for food, and
it has bs'-n aeen, by the writer, scratching the red eartb ofiE the trunk of a tree and seizing
the Termites that were underneath.
EDiToa.
No. XXIII.— NESTING OF THE LARGE-BILLED WILLOW
WARBLER (ACANTHOPNtUSTE MAGNIROSTRIS).
I beg to record having taken the nest of the above-mentioned bird on the
15th of this month at Changla Gali, about ten miles from Murree, at an
elevation of about 8,500 feet.
I send two specimens of the bird and one egg for the Society's collection.
The fen ale was shot off the nest, which was a large loosely-made domed
structure of moss and maiden-hair stems, lined with fine grass. It was
situated under an overhanging bank, on the side of a steep wooded hill,
supported by the projecting root of a tree. The nest contained 4 fresh pure
white eggs, average length •72" and breadth 'b\.
KENNETH BUCHANAN, Captain.
Murree Hills, July^ 1899.
The idfntification of the bird has been verified by l^r. B. Comber and also Mr. E. C S,
Bak^T, who describe the find as an important one. The bird has long been known to
breed in Kashmir, but the nest has not been found before.
Editor.
24
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778 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
No. XXIV.— OCCASIONAL NOTES ON BIRDS' NESTING
IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF POONA.
Though probably of no scieutiBc value, a few rough notes on Birds' Nest-
ing round Poona may prove of interest to some, this tempts me to record
my experience.
Returning from leave from England in March of the current year, I "was
posted to this station. As soon as 1 was comfortably settled in, I began adding
to my collection of eggs. Unfortunately the species in this vicinity do not
vary, in any great degree, from those I have come across in other places
where I have happened to be quartered, still, I have been enabled to more or
less complete my collection in some species in which I was weak.
The Yellow-thkoated Sparrow {^GymiiorMs flavicola). — Though this bird
breeds freely here, I was only able to add one clutch to my collection. I
found many nests, as a rule, tenanted by a family. Holes in trees seem to
be the favourite nesting site. They also teem to follow the practice of their
genus in Hyderabad, Sinde, and occupy hollow lamp posts. The late Lieute-
nant Barnes drew attention to this peculiarity.
The Indian Black Robin (ThamnoUa fuUcata). — The common Robin of
Poona, every house in Cantonments having a pair or two in its compound.
This bird is not over particular in the selection of a site for its nest, in the
eaves of a house, a hole in a bank, on the ground in a hedge, in fact any-
where. The site par excellence, however, is an old tin pot or article of
similar character ; should such exist, especially in some out-of-the-way or
secluded spot, it is sure to be seized upon as a home wherein the young
Robin can be brought up. There is an old kerosine tin in my compound
with a little rubbish at the bottom, in one corner of which these birds builL
their home. One brood was successfully reared. As soon as it was old
enough to shift for itself, the nest was put in order again, and fresh eggs laid.
In due course, a second family was hatched but misfortune overtook its mem-
bers, for one night they disappeared. I hoped they would try a third time,
if they did, they selected some other site, for this one was not requisitioned
again. I have found several nests in tin pots, which must prove very .warm
places to raise a family in, especially as the breeding season extends from the
end of March to July, the heat, at times, must be terrific, I find these birds
very wary, they seem to understand instinctively when you are on the look
out for their nests and at once assume a most unconscious air.
The King Crow {Dicrurus ater). — The only remark I wish to make about
this bird is that a pair commenced a nest in my compound towards the end of
April : four eggs were laid but only one bird was successfully reared. On
the r2th July, I found a second had been built on exactly the same site, and
that again only one youngster had been raised.
The Bay-backed Shrike {Lanius vittatus).— Very common here, found many
nests mostly in May. One pair of these birds selected a most public site
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 779
for their nest at the junctions of Elphinstone and Lothian Roads on a milk
burh overhanging the public way, constantly occupied by carriages and
people, passing to and fro. I watched the nest but it came to an untimely
end; after the bird had been sitting some little while, the road was pulled
up for repairs, when I niesume some coolie did for it.
The Common Pigd Bu:^H Ghat {Pratincola caprata). — I first noticed this
bird, early in May, at Karad, in the South of the Satara District, whero I
found it breeding. I discovered a pair bi ilding foi the second time, although
the first brood was stiL with them. The nest was situated on the banks of
the Yenna-Krishna, on the ground among some prickly pear. I obtained
two fresh eggs from it a few days afterwards. Since then I have noticed
this bird in Poona, so it probably bretds here. I shall keep a watch on it
next year.
The Magpie Robin (Copsychus s^/wZfim).— Is very plentiful. I found
several nests mostly in May and June, It is not very particular in its choice
of site, any hole either in tree, wall, house, bank, etc,, suiting it, I found
one nest in the hole of a loose box, where the poles, for keeping a horse in
are inserted, it contained 5 eggs. Another nest was built in the iron chimney
of an ordinary stove for warming a room or conservatory. This was in
May, so probably no fire was lighted while the operation of raising a family
was in process, otherwise it could hardly have proved a pleasant home.
The White-browed Fantail Flycatcher, CRhipidura allifrontata), is
very common here. I have come across a few pairs, and have observed them
nesting in June and July. I obtained no eggs as the nests were invariably
destroyed on or before completion by some unknown marauder.
The White-spotted Fan-iail Flycatcher (7?/«/j2(ZMra pectoralis) is the com-
mon Fantail Flycatcher, and may be seen where thickets and jungle exist.
1 have found numerous nests,— in fact, I could not enumerate the number, but
have only obtained a few clutches of eggs. The number of nests that are
destroyed or deserted prior to completion is simply marvellous. This, I
think, is attributable to their fussy habits, one cannot help finding a nest
during building operations, they court attention by their fussy proceedings ;
however, they St^em gifted with the utmost cheerfulness and energy, for no
sooner is one nest destroyed than a second is promptly started.
The Pdbplk-rumpkd S in-bird {Arachneohthra zeyvlonica ). — 'The common
Sun-bird in these parts. They begin to breed in June, when numberless
nests can be found. A pair selected a curious site, no other than one of the
wires used in opening and shutting a window in one of the Bund Garden
Ferneries. There was absolutely no attempt at concealment, the nest being
visible to every one who entered. Needless to say it was destroyed.
The Indian Grey Tit (Parus utriceps). — Although this bird is very common
here, I have been most unsuccessful in obtaining its eggs. On the 20th June
I saw a pair building in a hole in a babul tree. I gave them 10 days law and
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780 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
then proceeded to inspect it. My shikari climbed the tree and commenced
opening up the hole, he told ine the bitd was on the nest. However,
when she flew ofE I found it was a Brahminy Mynah {Temenuchu»
pagidarum) whic^ had ousted these Ittle birds and taken possession. On the
26th June, T found a nest in a Casuarina trie about 8 feet fri m the ground.
As the bird was on the nest, I cut it open and was disappointed to find
only one egg. Early in July, I saw one of these birds flying ott' with some
material. I followed it into a Babul tree but before I came up, the bird
had been into its nest and flew away as I arrived: though I waited and
watched, the bird never returned. I visited the tree on several occasions
after this, but never saw the birds anywhere near. Being convinced that
there must be a nest somewhere, on the 12th July I climbed the tree and
searched but no sign of a nest could I see ; I however persevered and finally
came on a natural hole, on looking into which I saw a nest containing 5 eggs.
Next day I climbed the tree again, when I found the hen bird at home and
cut open the nest. I had the greatest difficulty in getting her off the nest,
she sat so close, in fact was quite covered by the debris found from the chips.
Though I have watched very carefully I have not succeeded in obtaining
another nest. They seem very wary birds. Since writing tiie above I have
seen many birds followed by a flock of young ones. Next year I shall pay
them much attention.
Iickell's Fly-catcher {Cyornis tichelU). — I do oot think the nest of this
bird has been taktn in Poena, though Mr. Davidson found it breeding at
Basils. It is not surprising, therefore, that I should have had the luck to obtain
a nest here. In Mny, I began watching two pairs, one in the Empress Gardens
and the other along the banks of the canal. Tl e former pair disappeared, but
I sient many an hour wati hing the latter, for ] knew that if they did not
migrate they must breed where they were. I was rewarded for my patience.
On the 7ih July, I visited their h;.unt to see what they were up to, sure
enough I saw the hen building. I watched her and in due time the nest was
betrayed. Being afraid lest she should desert, I did not approach but took
my departure. On the 16th July, having given her what I considered suffi-
cient time, I again visited the spot in trepidation and was relieved to S' e the
hen slip ofE as I approached. It contained 4 beautid Uj fresh eggs (f a cream
or cafi au lait colour. I then proceeded to take the nest. For those who are
unable to see the nest, I will endeavour to describe it, and must ask my
readers to pardon my shortcomings. It was about 3 or 4ft. fr m the gioimd
placed in what I term " parasitic bamboo" that is a s< rt of bunch of bamboo
leaves and twigs ; the bamboo branch, instead of growing as usual, seems to
throw out a lot of small twigs and shoots, which form a dense ma^s, the nest
was wedged into the bottom of all this and so well assimilated to its sur-
roundings that it looked a portiqn of the mass. It consisted of dead leaves,
twigs, roots, etc., in which a lot of earth was incorporated ; the interior ia
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 781
lined with fine twigs and roots, the whole being firmly wedged into the site-
Had I not seen the nest building, I certainly should never have discovered
it. During the breeding season the cock keeps up a continual concert, his
notes are very pretty and low. I hope to get another nest or two next
year.
The Cliff Swallow {Hir-undo ftavicola). — T am very much interested in a
coloay of these birds, which are building under a low bridge over the liver,
the arches of which are only some 4 or 5 feet above water level ; in case of
flood they must be submerged ; as these birds are building now, I conclude we
shall have no more heavy rains, instinct would teach them to postpone their
operations otherwise. The ne'^ts are attached to the down stream side of 3
or 4 arches and must number several hundred. It is wonderful to watch
their methodical ways. They all come out the up stream side of the arches,
fly low over the water to a spot some 200 yards or more distant, collect
pellets of mud for their houses, and return but fly at least 10:or 12 feet
above the water and all enter on the down stream side of the arches. Those
birds, whose nests are sufficiently far advanced, go to another spot to collect
straw and feathers, but they observe the same rule of the road regarding
entrance ; nd exit to the arches and their flittiugs to and from them. Talk
of regulating traffic in Town after this !
The Indian Red Munia {Sporcpginthus amandava).— This favourite little cage
bird, more commonly known as the Amandavat^ is said to be rare in the
Dekhan. I was therefore very pleased at coming acrosa a colony of them at
the beginning of the month along the banks of the river. Previous to this
I had never seen them in a wild state. They have taken up their abode
among some coarse rank grass, from 3 to 4 feet high, growing in thick tus-
socks. As the males were resplendent in bridal costume, I knew they must
be breeding, so watched them. Before long two couple betrayed their nests
by building. About a week after I visited tbem and found one contained
one egg and the other three, out of the latter I took two, in the hopes that
more may be laid and also to guard against the whole not being destroyed.
The eggs are the most diminutive little things, measuring roughly 'Six 42.
The nests are of the usual Munia type, that is carefully built and domed
with a small entrance on one side. They are composed of coarse grass lined
with finer grass, feathers and flowering grasses, situated in the above mention-
ed grass tussocks from 2 to 3 feet from the ground and very well concealed.
So far as I have observed, the male does the nest building. Although there
are some 20 odd pairs in the small patch of grass, I have only noticed two
pairs building. I intend going out and searching the whole place thorough-
ly with a view to obtaining several nests, if these are not already made, the
birds must soon commence, as they are all in breeding plumage. The males
keep up a continual low song, pleasant to the ear. The eggs are of the usual
white colour of the Munia tribe,
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782 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
I think I have written quite enough for the present, so will cloae my paper.
Should I obtain sufficient material, I may be tempted to write more on an-
other occasion.
R.M. BETHAM, Capt.,
PooNA, Uh Sept. 1899. 8th Bombay Infantry.
No. XXV— WINTER SLEEP OF BEARS.
With reference to Mr. Donald's note on the hibernation of brown and
black bears in the last namber of the Journal, it is to be regretted that he
omitted to state whether his informant from Kulu was a European or a
native ; and also whetber he went quite close up to the biown bear, which
he noticed in a hollow tree. If the bear was in a real state of hibernation
it could have been touched without a'ly danger of its awaking, for in true
hibernation the body is quite cold — rigid— and with but slight sign of respira-
tion. Of course all hill bears may be found asleep in hollow trees durin',' the
day at all times of the year, but whether they truly hibernate has yet, I think,
to be proved. This special state I b«lieve must greatly depend on the exact
amount of fat they put on during the autumn, and much more on these cir-
cumstances than on the elevation they may find themselves as winter sets in.
I have shot a brown bear in late autumn with but little fat on his body, and
before the heavy snow commenced to fall it would have been scarcely possi-
ble for him to have accumulated enough for real hibernation during some
four months. Black Himalayan bears haVc frequently been seen and shot in
mid-winter by Europeans ; and the hill people of Chamba have told me that
black bears usually come down to the lower valleys as winter approaches, but
occasionally they have also been noticed prowling about the high situated
valleys in January, sometimes breaking their v. ay into houses in search of
grain, I belifive hill bears eat a great deal of soft dead wood, and this would
be procurable in the upper forests for the bears during the winter months.
The brown bear of Russia does not truly hibernate during the winter,
although the cold is intense and the whole country is deep in snow. The
bears remain often for a long time sleeping in brushwood shelters, from which
they move out now and then in search of food. While dozing in the shelter
very little noise disturbs them j on the other hand the black bear of North
America can scarcely be roused from his torpid condition during winter,
which points to a true state of hibernation in his case.
G, S. RODON, Major.
Dharwar, Ath September, 1899.
No. XXVI.— POSSIBLE OCCURRENCE OF THE GREAT SNIPE
{GALLIN AGO MAJOR) NEAR MADRAS.
On the evening of the 5th instant, a local shikari brought in four snipes for
sale, one of these was a large bird, more than twice the size of the others ((r.
atenura), I considered it to be G. solitaria after a hasty examination, length
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 783
12 inches, wing just 6 inches, weight a little over 8 oz. ; as I had only a few
minutes to spare, I put the snipe away for a fuller examination on the
morrow. The first thing the next morning I had my bird out, but, alas ! it
was in a high state of putrefacMon, so I deemed it necessary to send it off at
once to the Superintendent of the Museum here for preservation.
Before doing so, I consulted the books I possessed on the subject 'Blanford,
Jerdon, LeMessurier, Sharpe, Gates, Saunders, Yarrell and Seebohm), and
found my bird was not G. nemoricola, G. soUtaria or a giant G. ccelesUs.
I came to the conclusion thus : The lateral tail feathers were not attenuat-
ed or stiff, hence G. nemoricola and G. solitaria weve excluded. The lateral
tail feathers were soft, nearly as broad as the others, white, crossed with two
or three bars on the outer webs only near the base, thus excluding G. ccplestis
which has these feathers chestnut-buff with subterminal dark brown bars.
The wing coverts of my snipe had conspicuous white tips.
From the above characteristics, arrived at by a process of exclusion, I con-
sider I am justified in verifying my bird as GalUnago major.
I sent the snipe to the Museum, and had a reply from Mr. Thurston the
Superintendent, to ihe effect that the bird was G. nemoricola ; but this I am
positive it was not. I have shot a dozen G. nemoricola and had my first
specimen identified by Gates, who subsequently obtained the verification of
his diagnosis from Bowdler Sharpe. Unfortunately, I have never met G. soli'
taria, and have rather a hazy idea of G. major, two or three specimens of
which I procured in Ireland now 10 or 12 years ago. The other Indian Scolo-
pacidce I am familiarly acquainted with. Mr. Thurston threw away my bird
as being too far gone for preserving, hence the occurrence of G. major near
Madras must remain in doubt to my unspeakable regret.
Gates in his recently published booklet " The Game Birds of India," Part 2,
page 467, says : — " Allied to the common snipe is the Great or Double snipe
(^GalUnago major), which is not unlikely to be found to occur within our
limits as a chance visitor : " and as this snipe's distribution is said to be " as
far east as the Yenesei (where it exceeds the common snipe in numbers)
and southwards to the Tianshan Range" (Saunder's Manual) its very casual
occurrence here is possible.
C. DGNGVAN, Captain, I. M. S.,
Member, British Ornithologists' Union.
Madras, 7th September, 1899.
No. XXVII.— LIVE FEGGS IN A SNAKE.
A few days ago a large rat-snake {Zamenis vtuco&us), about 6 ft. long, was
killed in my compound. I saw it just after it bad been killed, and seeing
that it had had a feed, I cut it open to see what it had beep eating. On open-
ing it I foimd a large frog about 4 or 5 inches long in its stomach, which at
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784 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
first appeared to be dead, but after about two minutes in the air it began to
move, and in about ten minutes it was sufiRciently recovered to hop away.
Meanwhile the stake had bf en lying on the ground and a second smaller frog
crawled out and hopped away, apparently none the worse 'or its temporary
living interment. The frogs were taken from the body of the snake about
two feet behind the head, so I fancy they must have been some little time
inside the snake.
H. J. KELSALL, Capt., R. A.
Rangoon, September, 1899.
No. XXVIII.— PLUMAGE OF THE SNAKE-BIRD {PLOTUS
MEL A NOG ASTER).
Mr. E, C. Stuart Baker, in Vol. XII, page 503 of our Journal, says that
"no author seems to have noticed the peculiar wavy appearance of the
scapulars and inner secondaries '' of Plotus melanoiaster. It is certainly very
odd that Jerdon only noticfs this appearance on the tail-f<atl era, and Blan-
ford (apparently) on tail-feathers and tertiaries. But, if Mr. Baker will
refer to Vol. I, page 113 of this Journal, he will find notice of the same
appearance in the scapulars ; which alone are in question there. So, amongst
hands, the record is complete to that of the next compiler,
Mr. Baker's remark that the " crinkled " appearance " is very conspicuous
in newly-moulted birds " agrees with my own observation. I cannot, how-
ever, say anything about the breeding season ; as I have never been able to
observe this bird breeding. The moult is so complete as often to disable the
bird from flight for many days. This period is passed upon some deep water
with good perches easily accessible. After it the (probably) nuptial plum-
age grows apace ; and I have noticed that the " crinkled "' appearance seems
to reproduce the fold of the webs in their sheaths, before these burst and
fall off, or are preened away.
W. F. SINCLAIR,
Late I. C. S.
No. XXIX.— THE EFFECTS OF A BITE FROM A PHOORSA
{EC HIS CARINATA.)
By to-day's dak I send you a small snake in spirits of wine, which I believe
to be an Echis carinata ; the length, when alive, having been about 14
inches. As I have just recovered from a bite from this same snake it may
interest you and the readers of the Society's Journal to hear some of the
details which, summed up, go to prove that the bite of an Echis carinata,
if taken in time, can be confidently dealt with.
On the morning of 21st I was trollying along the line, when I saw and tried
to capture the above-named snake, which, however, inflicted a bite just above
the left hand thumb nail. I at once sucked out what blood and poison I
could, but having only a large and blunt shikar knife I was unable to incise
the bitten part. However, after trollying back home, 6 miles, I was met by
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 785
the Doctor, to ■whom I had telegraphed, and he opened the place in a scien-
tific manner and allowed it to bleed freely for some time. The swelling of
the arm set in almost immediately after the bite, and with corresponding
pain running up to the armpit. Bleeding, with downward rubbing, reduced
this and gave great relief .
On reaching the bungalow shortly afterwards, I at once lay down and then
commenced a long and very trying vomiting of large quantities of blood, which
lasted, with intervals of about two hours until 3 a.m. the next morning, keep-
ing me awake all night with accompanying fever. This was stopped by
injecting ergotine hypodermically in the right arm, and from that time,
although I experienced one more vomit (without blood), I began to recover
and was able to sit up next day and carry on office work, although feeling
very weak from the effect of the vomiting. During the time I was pros-
trate ammonia and other drugs were administered by the Doctor with more
or less effect.
R. H, HEATE, A.M.I.C.E.
RuTLAM State, 2Uh Sept., 1899.
The specimen above referred to was duly received and turned out to be an undoubted
Phoorsa {Echis carinata).
H. M. PHIPSOX, Hon. '^ec.
No. XXX.— THE BOMBAY LAND MOLLUSC A.
I have to add to the list of Bombay Land Mollusca, published in the
Society's Journal, Vol. XI, page 131, a shell by name Stenogyra octona (Chem-
nitz). This is a shell of somewhat the same character as S. gracilis (Hutton)
described in that paper, but is larger (nearly an inch in length), and more
cylindrical in shape and more blunted at the apex. It can also be distinguished
from S. graciliff by the absence of an umbilicus.
Mr. Fulton of Kew, to whom I sent the shell for identification, says it
is a very widespread species. There are specimens from Ceylon in the
Society's collection.
Neither Mr. Phipson nor myself have ever collected it here till this season,
when we both obtained it in some quantities. The specimens 1 found were
nearly all in flower pots and on a peculiar sort of garden mould.
la it possible that it has only recently been introduced with some plant or
with some sort of mould from elsewhere ? Such methods of dispersal of
land shells are well known.
A. J. PEILE, Capt., R.A.
Bombay, 27th Sept., 1899.
No. XXXI.— AN OVOVIVIPAROUS SNAIL.
The following note of an ovoviviparous pulmonate Mollusc may be of
interest, as it raises some curious questions. This snail is a Glessula from
Mahableshwar, which I could not identify in the British Museum, but which
may be 6r. arthuri, Benson.
25
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786 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII
■ My attention was first drawn to it in i^fay, when I found some dead
specimens containing young shells, I found, about the same time, some
live specimens sealed up mth a chalky epiphragm. These I killed in June
before they had been roused by the monsoon, and the oviducts were full of
young shells. The young, therefore, appear to develope during the asstiva-
tion of the parent.
Do the young find their first food in the body of the parent when they
are awakened by the monsoon ?
Empty shells of Glessula chessonl, Benson, another Mahableshwar
apecies, were found before the commencement of the monsoon, con-
taining eggs, 1 regret that I did not keep these to see whether the eggs
were alive.
It is curious that two similar species in the same place should adopt such
different means of propogation.
A. J. PEILE, Capt., R.A.
Bombay, iS^e/><., 1899.
No. XXXll.-HARPYIOCEPHALUS TUBINARIS (SCULLY).
The -Society has received from Col. Fulton, 1st Ghurkas,a specimen
in spirits, of a most interesting bat. The specimen has the peculiarly long
thumb and strong claw, tubular nostrils, and other characters of the genus
Harpyiocephalus. The specific characters agree generally with those record-
ed by Blanford (No, 198) for H. tuhinaris. This agreement is specially marked
in the details of the shape of the ear and tragus, so that there can be little
doubt that the specimen is B. tubinaris, Scully.
The only specimen hitherto recorded was obtained by Dr. J. Fcully at
Gilgit, and described by him in 1881. Col. Fulton took this specimen at
Dharmsala (6,000 feet), Punjab.
Our specimen is considerably larger than the type. Translating the
measurements of the latter, as given in inches by Blanford, into milli-
metres, the two compare as follows : —
Type Dharmsala
Specimen. Specimen.
Head and body 45 52
Tail 35 42
Forearm 35 45
The sex of the type is not given by Blanford ; our specimen is an adult
(even aged) male, and the upper incisors, especially the outer ones, are much
worn.
The colour is much as given by Blanford who, however, does not mention
the wings. In our specimen the wing membrane is black except (and the
exception comprises at least half of the total membrane area) next to the
body, within a line drawn from the thumb to the ankle, and narrow lines
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PROCEEDINGS. 787
along the fingers ; these areas are a pale rufous. The interfemoral mem-
brane is similarly pale rufous. The hair on the proximal part of the
interfemoral membrane is distinctly rufous,
I would take this opportunity to ask members sending in spirit specimens
of bats to gag each specimen (with the jaws as wide open as possible j with
a piece of cork before putting it into spirits, and to take special care that
every part cf the specimen is immersed in the spirit ; neglect cf this latter
precaution lesnlts almost certainly in the spoiling of the specimen, for the
hair on the portion which floated above the surface of the spirit comes off
in patches at the slightest touch.
R. C. WROUGHTON.
PooNA, 2n(l October, 1899.
No. XXXIII.— BEAR KILLED BY A TIGER.
It is well known that tigers will attack and eat bears on occasion ; both
Blanford and Sterndale give instances, while in Vol. IX of the Society's
Journal may be found two later records by Mr, T. J. Campbell (p. 101) and
Mr. P. H. Clutterbuck (p. 229j. It may be worth while to note one more
such occurrence. Mr. C. E. Spooner, State Engineer, Selangor, tells me that
when shooting in Perak, about a month ago, he came upon the body of a full-
grown Malay bear which had been killed and half eaten by a tiger. The
latter was disturbed at the carcase, and made oflE with a loud " wo(.f ! " escap-
ing unseen. The whole of the bear's hind quarters up to the middle of the
body had been devoured, giving the beast the appearance of having been
roughly cut in two.
A. L. BUTLER.
Selangor Museum, September, 1899.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MEETING HELD ON 28th JUNE, 1899.
A meeting of the members t' ok place on 28th of June, 1899, at the Society's
Rooms, at vshich Mr, Amee'-udin Tyebjee presided.
New Members.
The election of the following new members was announce! : — Mr. P. Hide
(Karachi), Mr, J. M. Dick (Bombay), Major C, R. Bartlett, R.A.M.C., F.Z.S.
(Jubbulpur), Mr. W. J. Gilbert Cooper, I.F.S. (Moulmein), Major A. J. Abdy,
R. A.CDtesa) Mr. Vithaldas Damodar Thakursey (Bombay), Mr. C. W. Wood
P. W. D. (Coimbatore),M--. J. A. Bourdillon, I.C.S., C.S.I. (Bankipur), Mr. W.
E. Rees (Dinapur), Mr. H. F. L. Pink (Dehra Dun ), Mr. A. C. Polwhele
(Naini Tal), Lieutenant H. A. Carlton (Burma), Lieutenant C. G. Hutchinson
(Burma), Mr. John Vernon Cooke (Shikarpur), Mr. R. S. Pearson, I. F. S.
(Khaudeish), Sir Henry Tichborne, Bart. (Loudon), Mr. L. W.Reynolds,
I. 0. S. (Allahabad), Mr. A. E. English, I. C. S. (Upper Burma), Mr. J.
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788 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
McF. Fetters (Upper Burma), Dr. William Mitchell (London), Lieutenant
G. M. Lennox (Deesa), Lieutenant B. A. Bice (Poena), Captain E. W, Wall
(Jhelum), Mr. S. Carr, I. F. S. (Dehra Dim), Lieutenant R, Meinertzhagen
(Nusseerabad), Captain T, E, Marshall, R. A. (Quetta), Mr. D. A. Thomson,
1. F. S. (Alibag), Mr, S. F. L. Cappel, I. F. S. (Burma), Mess President, 1st
South Wales Boiderers (Chakrata), Captain P. H.Rogers (Bombay), Dr. C. H.
Cgley (Bombay), Rev. K, t^t. A. Rogers (Mombasa), Captain C. Hudson, I. M. S.
(Na-ik), Mr. Percy Worni^.ld (London), Lieutenant W. H. Chaldecott,
R. E. (Sukkur), Mr. Henry Gray (Bombay), Mr. E. W. Beveridge, C. E.
(Sirud), Mr, W. G. Peini<jer (Chiengmai), Mr. C. W. Hoje (London), Mrs.
Herbert Cass, lis (Calcutta), and Mr. L, 0, Bowles, C, E. Shillong).
Contributions to the Society's Museum.
Jlr, H, M. Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, acknowledged receipt of the
folio > ing contributions, since the last meeting : —
Contribution. i Description.
Contributor.
1 Snake ^ Tropldvnotus plumbicoUr.. Col. H. J. W. Barrow, R.A.
i I M.C.
1 Snak*" Callophis trimacvlatvs Do.
1 tcetali'ig Major C. Bartleit, R.A. M.C.
1 haiuan Oilive) Zamenis tnud'sus Mr. \V. Ptgge.
5? Hi'duehojs (aliv ) Ertnareus pint s Mr. F. G Hutchinson.
2 S'vu Is f Gail "'s Gazelle. Gazella gra ti Mr. T. J. Spooner.
1 skill of harteb' este. ... Bu alu coke-i Do.
2 Feet of Rhinoceros I^hin n-V'S bicomis Do.
1 Leaf Mantis Phyllhim scijihf Dr Pearse.
1 Large R icket-t a i 1 ed Lis eiiiuru? 2^aradue(is Miss A. M. Hewett,
Proago (alive). |
1 Common Grey Hornbill. L"phoceri>s birostiis.. Mr. W Plunkett.
1 S.'Otted Owlet Athene bnina Mr. W. D. Cumming.
1 Snake Sinotes arvenns Mr. W. P. Clerv.
A number of Bats - Mr. T.B Fry, I.F.S.
1 ChHmeleon (alive) Chameleon calcaratus Mrs. Barrett.
5 Jackals (alive) I Canis aureus Do.
Egg of shuri.-toed Eagle j Circrftus galUcus Lieut. W. A. Payne.
1 Barn Owl ^ Stnx /tanimeus Mr. W. G. Wilson.
1 Snake j Zamenis mvco.''Uii Mr, F. G. Hutchinson.
1 Snake V pera lusselli Do.
1 Snake \ Sihibura p ipsonii Do.
1 Snake Oliodon subgriseus Do.
1 Snake T. piscatur Do.
A number of Scorpions,' Do.
Centipedes, Beetle--, &c. I
1 Porcupiue (alive) ' Ifystrix leucura Do.
1 Snake ' Noga fripudians Qcar') Major R. H. Rattray.
2 Lizards Calote* versic'dcr (var) | Do.
1 Himal yan Pigmy Shrew.' rrncidura hi'dgsoni Do.
Skin and Skull of the Sleu-I Lcris gracilis ' Lieut. H. P. Ainslie.
der Loris.
12 C'OC 'diles'' Egfjs Cmcodih's palustris Capt. C. J. R.Milne, I.M.S,
3 Flyiag Lizards \ Dracn blanf rdii Mi. H Fortt ath. .
2 Snakes ' Psa-nmophis leithii Capt. C. G. Nurse.
2 Snakes Zl. ventrimaculatus ' Do.
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PROCEEDINGS.
789
Contribution.
Description.
Contributor.
3 Geckos
1 SuHke
1 Black-Crested Baza
1 Snake
1 Snake
1 Snake
1 snake
1 Snake
1 Snake
1 Snake
1 Snake
1 Batrachian
M^irine Specimens from
Bay of Bengal.
1 S ake
Foetal Specimen of Croco-
dile.
1 L'zard (alive)
] Snake with abnormal
plates.
A collection of Eggs, on de-
posit.
1 Starred Tortoise (alive)...
1 Yellow-breasted Ground
Thrush.
2 Bats
Photograph of a Monstro-
sity.
1 Common Fora
A num'ier of S dders
1 Bat with vounu^ (»live).
1 Hill Mynah (alive)
1 Tree ^ip^r (alive)
1 Bear (alive)
n. lexchenaultii
Typhlops sp
B(iz I lophote
Silyhura ocellata
S. brevis
Trhih returns anaviallfn'^is.
Ci'luber helena
Xyloplng perro eti
Cal'phis K'igrescens
PI rtruru.1 daV'isonii
Plectrurus jjerrittti
Ichthyophis glutinosus
Gongylophis conicus.
Croccdilus palustris.
Enblrphans wanulariug.
Tropidonotus stolatus ...
Testudn elegai'S..
Pitt I brachynra
Vespertilio pachoytis.
JFgithina tipMa
3Iyqale sp
Ni/cfirrjiis kuhli
EulaheK reUgi»a
TrimereniirnK grainineux.
Melursus ursinus
Capt. C. G. Nurse.
Do.
Mr. Cbas. Gray.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Capt. A. R. Anderson,!. M.S
Maj. F. Jenckf'n.R.A.M.C.
Capt. C. J. Milne, I. M.S.
Mr. C. Glover- Wright.
Capt. F. Wall, I.M.S.
Capt. N F. Wilson, R.I.M.
Mr. F G. Hutchinson.
Mr. Noel Paton
iv^r. T. B. Fry. I. F. S.
Vet.-Major Mills.
Lieut. W. A. Payne.
Mr Hugh \'nrvay, I.F.S.
Mr. J. Brand.
Mr. F. 0. Gadi^d^n.
Mr P. Girhardt.
Col. W. B. Ferris.
Minor Contributions : — From Major Hyde-Cates, Colonel Macpherson,
Mr. W. J. Little, Mrs. C. Merrony, Mr. E. C, Cholmondely, Mr. T.H. Storey,
Mr. W. Tudball, Mr, H, E. John, Mr. Isaac Benjamin, Mr. E. Cox, Mr. F. D,
Topham, Captain Phillips, R. X., Mr, C. M. Cur-etjee, Dr, C. H. Cayley, Mr.
James Marten, Mr. C. H, Donald, Mr. J. Elliott, Major St. J,Rich^.^d-on, Mr.
J. W. Hind, Mrs, F. Hutchinson, Mr. G. Watts, Mr. C, F. S.Stevens, Dr.
Pearse, Mr. W. Gonsalves. Mr. H. M, Alexander, Mr. E. C. B. Acworth,
Miss Underwood, and Mr. Rivers Currie,
CoNTRiBnTiONS TO THE LIBRARY :— The Deep Sea Madrepores collected
by the R. I. M. S. Investigator (from the Trustees, Indian Museum) ; Notes
on the Therapeutics of Indigenous Vegetables and Frogs, by Dr, B. Dharwal-
ker 'from the Author) ; Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, Vol.
XXVIII Part I (from Government) ; Nature, Nos. 1529-.S7, from Mr. W. F.
S nclair ; Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de France, Vol, XXIII (in
exchange) ; Handbook of the Flora of Ceylon, Part IV and plates (Tri-
nen) from the Government of Ceylon ; iransactions of the Entomolo-
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790 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
gical Society of London for 1898 (in exchange); The Hymenoptera of
the Khasia Hills, by P. Cameron (from the Author) ; Illustrations de la
Flore du Congo (from the Belgian Government) ; Deep Sea Ophiuroidea
(Kochler) ; (Indian Museum) j Indian Museum Notes, Vol, IV, No. 3 (in
exchange). The Coccidae of Ceylon, Part II. (Ernest Green), (from the
Author); The North American Fauna, No. 14 (in exchange); The Game
Birds rf India, Part II, E. W. Gates, (from the Author) ; and the Journal,
of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (from Mr. W.
F. Sinclair),
Papers read.
The following papers were then read and discussed: —
1. Fishing in Indian Waters, Part III, by Fred, 0. Gadsden, R. I. M.
2. A New Sea Snake, by G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S. 3. Miscellaneous
Notes: — '(n) Food of the Indian Grey Shrike, by Capi,. C. G. Nurse, (6)
Notes on Indian Ducks, by E. H, Young, (e) The f ourti^^g Dance of the
Moonal Pheasant, by Major G. S. Rodon, {d) Game in the Waltair District,
by Stephen Cox, I.F.S. (e) Birds Tapping at Window Panes, by Mrs,
Bourdillon. (/) Hibernation of Bl ck a' d Brown Bears, by ( . H. Donald.
{g) Niite on the Himalayan Viper, bv F. Gleadow, I F.S. [h) A bird
killed by a Mantis, by Major C, A, R. Browne, R. E, {i) The Palm-swift, by
Cap'. F. Wall. I, M. S, {j ) The lied-tailed Chat, by Major R. H, Rattray,
(Jc) Note on Eumfnes conica and Megachile dhjuncta and their parasites, by
Col. C. T, Bingham, I, F, S, {I) Jungle Notes, by Capt, R, G. Burton.
{m) Food of the Hamadryad and Krait, by A. M. Primrose, (n) Nesting
of the Black Eagle, by W.Muhon Daly,
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MEETING HELD ON 18th SEPTEMBER, 1899.
A meeting of the members was held on Monday, the 18th September, 1899,
at the Society's Rooms, Mr. E. H, Aitken presiding.
NEW MEMBERS.
The election of the following new members was announced : — Mr. A. L.
Dupuis (Ceylon) ; Lieutenant W. J. H. Hunter (Poona) ; H. H. the Thakore
Sahib of Lathi (Life Member) ; Capt. H. J. Kelsall, R.A. (Rangoon^ , Lieu-
tenant C. H. Stigaud (Rangoon); Captain G, F. R, Forbes ( Bombay) ; Mr.
John McGlashan, C, E. (Bombay); Mr. C. E. F. Mausin iPyinmana,
Burma); Colonel R, 0. Lloyd, R.E. (Poona); Mr. Kenneth C. Macdonald
(Myingyan, Burma) ; Mr. J. S. Lambert (Manmar) ; Miss E, E. Richardson
(Bombay) ; Mrs. C. E. Arthur (Alibag) ; Major R. W. Wright, R, A. M. C.
(Jhansi) ; Captain C. E. N. Priestley (Rangoon) ; Captain H, R. Brown,
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PROCEEDINGS.
791,
I.M.S. (Chakdara) ; Mr. A. C. Hankin, C.I.E. (Secunderabad; ; Mr. C. B.
Drake- Brockmau (,Fort Lungleh, South Lushai Hills); Mr. J. Ghosal, I.C.S.
(Alibag); Major Alex. Stables, R.A.M.C. (Poona) j Mr. F. A. Constable
(New York) ; Major-General T. B. Tyler, R. A. (Simla) ; Mr. S H. Fearless
(Ceylon) ; and Mr. Horatio Blair (Hazaribagh, Bengal).
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM.
Mr. H, M. Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, acknowledged receipt of the
following contributions : —
Contribution.
Description.
Contributor.
Eggs and skin of the Bui-
bul-Shrike.
1 Green Tree- Viper (alive).
1 Grass Snake (alive)
1 Brown Tree Snake
(alive).
1 Water Snake (alive)
1 Lemur (alive)
1 Indian Katel (alive)
1 White-breasted Kingtisher
(alive>
1 Skin and skull of the
Jungle Cat.
1 Himalayan Viper
Hypocolivs ampehnus. I Mr. W. D. Camming.
Trimeresurus gramineus..
Triipidonutus stolatus ....
Dip»as trigonata .......
Tropidoivotns piscator
Galaga sp
3Jtll%cora indica ....
Halcyon smyrnensis.
Felis chaus (_m e I a n o i d
spei-imeii).
Vipera lebitina
1 W h J t e-cheeked Bulbul Molpastes leucotis.
(alive).
1 European Bee-eater Merops aplaster .
1 Cobra (alive) Naia tripadians
1 Flamingo ' Phoenicopterus antiquorum.
1 Indian Monitor (aliv^-). ' Vara/^us bengalensis
1 B 1 u e-breasted Banded; Hypctctnidia striata
Rail (alive).
1 Young Cobra (alive) Naia tripudians
1 Indian Monitor ■ Varanus hengalensis.
1 Hawk (alive) ■ Erytfiropu* amurensis
3 Grass Snakes Tnpidonotus stolatus
2 Green Snakes Po. plumlicolor
1 Phoorsa Echis cirinota
1 Fossil Tooth of the three-
toed Horse, found in
Bombay.
1 Pheasant-tailed Jacana
(alive J.
1 Nest of Tickells Flycat-
cher.
1 Cobra (alive)
1 Albino Sparrow (alive).
Idipparion sp
Bydrophasianus chirurgug,
Cyoinis tickelli
Naia tripudians
Passer domesticut,.,.,,
Mr. Paul Girhardt.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Mr. Sinclair.
Col. W B. Ferris.
Dewan Bahadur V. M.
Samarth.
Mr. W. D. Camming.
Do.
Lieut. C. J. Kendal, E.LM.
Do.
Mr. L. Laker.
Mr. Ch Ties Merrony.
Do.
Mr. Joe Brand.
Mr. L. Fraser.
Mr. E. W. Beveridge.
Mr. David Williamson.
Mr. W. C. Clements.
Do.
Do.
Mr. Fred Swynnerton.
Mr. W.H.Wolff.
Capt. E. M. Betham.
H. H. the Thakore Sahib
of Lathi.
Mr. A. E. A. Simcox, I.C.S.
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792 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII.
Contribution.
Description.
Contributor.
1 Dhaman or Rat Snake
Calive). j
2 Chamseleons from Africal
(alive). I
1 Flamingo !
1 Krait
1 Grey-faced Buzzard
Eagle (alive). j
1 CheetaJ or Spotted Deer
(alive). I
1 Cobra (alive) '
1 Snake fr^ m Aden
1 Snake
A collection of Birds' EggS;
from Kashmir —
Green-backed Tit '
Western variegated Laugh-,
itig-Thrush. j
Indian Blue Chat '
Indian Great Reed-War-
Ller. i
Rufous-backed Shrike j
Himalayan Starling
Wliite-browed Blue Flycat-,
cher. I
Grey-headed Ouzel ;
Til kell's Ouzel ''■
The Blue-headed Rock-;
Thrush. j
Hodgson''s Pied Wagtail ;
The European Hoopoe !
The Rudly Crake |
The Little Ringed Plover. ..|
The Little Bittern
Zamems mucosus
Chamceleon sp
Phoenicnpterus antiquorum
Bunqarns cerruleus
Butastur indicus
Mr. N. V. Mandlik.
Lieut. H. Harrison.
Mr. Harrington Bulkley.
Mr. J. D. !■ eld- White.
Mr. F. H. Fitzroy.
Cervus axis I Mr. A. H. A. Simcox, I.C.
Nala tripiidians
Za'nenis ladaccensis
Callophig nigrescens.
Parus rtiflnticola ,
Troohalopterum simile ,
Larvivnra hrunnea
Acrocephalus stentoreus
Lanius erythronotvs..
Sturnus hii-^ii
C'yi rnis superciliaris
Merula castanea
Do, nnic-'lor
Petrophila cmelorhyncha.
Motacilla hodgsoni
Upupa epiips
Aiiiaurornis juscus
JSgialitis dubia
Ardetta minuta
C'pt. Pobertson-Milne.
Mr. C. Baglihole.
Mis. N. C. Pearson.
"Lt. N. F. Wilson, E.LM.
MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS.
Mr. H, Birkeuahaw, Mr. J. Sanders-Slater, Master E.Oliver, Mr. N. C.
Macleod, Mr. J. B. Neubert/, Mr. H. Brady, Mr, E. W. Beveridge, Mr. C.
Hudson, I.C.i^., Captain K. F. Standage, I.M.S., Mr. Ardesir B. Kotval.
It was announced that the Indian Ratal from Colonel W. B, Ferria and
the Spotted Ueer from Mr. A. H. A. Simcox, I.C S., had been forwarded
to the Victoria Gardens.
PAPERS READ.
The following papers were read or discussed : —
1. Some Konkan Bats, by Robt. C. Wroughton, C.M.Z.S., Indian Forest
Service.
2. Nesting in Cashmere, by Lieut. N. F. T. Wilson, R.I.M.
3. Description of a new Androsace, by J. F. Duthie, F.L.S.
4. Fishing in Indian Waters, Part IV, by F. 0. Gadsden, R.I.M.
5. A new Hawk {Astur butleri, Gurney), by A. L. Butler, F.Z.S.
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PROCEEDINGS. 793
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES,
(a) Food of the Crested Honey Buzzard, by C. M. 'nj^lia.
(&) Birda of the Kyaukss District, by Major J. H. Sewell.
(c) Notes on tlie Bulbul-Shrike, by W. i.>, Cumniing.
{(I) D'lration of Parturition in tha D;iboia, by E. C. Cholmondeley.
(e) Occui-reuce of the Green-billed Shearwater on the Mokraii Coast, by
W. D. Cumiiiing.
(f) The Protective Power of Scent in Animals, by N. C. M&cleod.
((/) Food of the Indian Wild Boat, by H. M. Nash.
{h) Tape Worras found in Fish, by R. M. Dixon.
(i) Bison, I iger. and Wild I'ogs, by Msijor G, S, Rodon.
(/) Notes on the White eyod 1 U3k and the 'I'ufted Duck, by C. M. Ingl'S.
(fc) A Plague of Web-making Caterpillars, by W. F. T. Troup.
{I) Nesting' of the Black Eagle, by Capt, Kenneth Buchanan.
(m) Bird-ner.ting near Poena, by Capt. B. M. Betham.
(«) Winter Sleep of Bears, by Major G. S. Rudon.
![]()
If
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'c^/o
'*<•
LIBRARYl aol
^
Xzi.cl.e3K t^o "^iroXxLax!.!
:xx.
•
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.
abdominaliB
ablutella ...
abnormis
aboe
abramus
absoluta
abjssinialis
abyssinicus
Acacia
acaciaria
AcanthacesB ...
Acanthodon ...
Acantholipes ...
Aeanthopneuste
Acanthopsyche
•acanthurus
Acara
Accipiter
Accipitres
accipitrinus
Acerbas
achatinella
Achelura ...
Acherontia
Achillea ...
Acidalia
Acidon
acragas
Acridotheres ...
AcrocepbaluB ...
acronyctoides ...
Acrortha
acruginosns
•actinialis
actiosaria
ActitiB
PAGE
585, 587
514
154, 155
647
720, 721, 722, 723, 725
Ill
514
326
673
514
547, 550, 671
750
514
393, 636, 777
644
264
98
290, 344, 687
287
55
386
314
303
513
550
83
36
142
339, 398, 899
685
645
92
289
709
84
67
actuaria
acuta 71, 216, 246,
acutipennis
adam»oni
adaptella
addictaria
Adisura
adnata
adnatam
Aedon
aedon
^gialitis
^gocera
aegyptia
^ikeolepis
Mraorx&
£enea
aenea
aenea
•senealis
fenealis
^nopopelia ...
seqnivocalis
seruginosus
aeiuginosus
iEsalon
astuans
jEtheolepis ...
aethiopicus ...
^thopyga
affictitia
affinis ... 47, 48,
342, 422, 563,
africana
africauus
PAGE
514
348, 437, 509, 575, 683,
775
75
334
97
514
513
630
630, 631
580
392
65, 340, 497, 640, 679
513
112
78
330
687
62
185
307
705
690
702
686
59
290
101,114
77
204,432
217, 558
513
76, 153,184,186,338,
570, 571, 636, 684, 771
603,613,614
204
![]()
INDEX.
•Afridia
afrum
agalenoides
Agalope
Agathla
Ageratum
aggravata ••
Aglaia
Agnibesa
agricola
Agropsar
akbarella
akool ... ..
alandarius
alaodaiius ..
Alauda
alaudarius
alba
albellus
Alberca
albibasis
albicans
alblcatena
albicaudata
alblcollis
albicosta ..
albicristatus ...
albidesceas ..,
albidisca
albifascia
albifasciata
albifimbria
albiflava
albifrontata ..
albigulare ..
albigularis
albilavalis
albimarginata ..
albimedia
albipennis
albiventris
albocincta
albofasciata
albomaculalis ..
albo-marginata
albonotota
albonotatus
Alcedo ...
Alectoropodes „
PAGE
232
113
752
302
90
550
8;s
350
82
... 635, 638
400
514
493
087
291
639
61, 344
, 347, 505, 541, 672
348
540
39
475
90
202
502
39
577
655
39
S2
84,35
90
83
779
243,257,258
... 257, 555
477
513
77
510, 514, 683
... 402, 693
104
64G
481
529
654
50
45, 342, 561, 639
486
alexandrina
Algce
algira
aliena ,
aliris
Allantodia
AllantuB
alompra
alpina
Alseonax
Alsocomus
alternata
•alticeps
altissima
amabilis
amandava
Amaranthaceae
Amathusiiate ...
Amatissa
amatus
Amaurornis ,
Ambia
ambica
americana
Amesia
Ammomanes
Amnioperdix
Ammophila
ampelinus
amphisalis
Ampycodes
amurensis
Amyna
Anacardium
anachoreta
Anadebis
aneetheta
anarchica ,
Anas 1,2, 11, 18, 23, 71,
247,347,437,
Anastocus
Anastomus
AnatidEQ
Anatime »
anchora
Ancistrodon
ancon
ancylodes
Ancylosis ... ...
PAGE
498
642
514
103.
300
529, 530, 581
115
... 298, 333
530
... 401, 637
... 185, 690
39
751
301
514
... 340,781
550
... 137, 330
643
513
493, 639, 677
... 700, 701
... 331
... 235, 606
300
341
345
105
760
707
808
CI, 290
513
432
38
329
72
110
210,243,245,246,
445, 509, 575, 755
71
... 505, 681
... 507, 682
... 508, 593
648
... 411,775
142
314
... 314, 514
![]()
INDEX.
audamanensis ...214,
398, 399, 555, 556
andamanica
andamanicus
Androsace
Anerastia...
angelica
anglica
angustifolia
angustirostris
Anisephyra
Anisodes ...
annectens ..•
annulifera
anomala
Anorthura
Anser
Anseres
Anserinas
*aiitennata
anthea
Antheua
Anthidium
Anthipes
Anthophora
Antbracoceros ...
Anthropoides
Anthus
anticus
Antigastra
af.tigone
*antiope
antiquonim
*Aoa
Apatura
aperiens
Aphantoloba
Aphnfeus
apiaster
apicalis
Apida3
Apis
appendiculatum ...
Appias
apus
Aquila
arabica
arabs
Arachnechthra ...
7
PAGE
891,394.890,397,
, .559, 566, 684, 695
559
565
.. 675,792
308. 514
333
347
351
459, 460
85
8G
391
92
92, 715
635
... 216,507,682
507,682
507, 682
121,130
336
32
... 112, 126, 130
401
118,127
46
346
... 203, 341, 558
103
514
494,678
128
71
153
331
294
75
512
639
...32, 88, 106, 709
111,123
114,129
537
... 153, 154, 512
... 341, 342, 563
57,388,343
101
109
341, 558, 575, 779
Arachnida
Arachnothera
Arachotia ...
arjeale
Arseocera
AraneEB
Arbela
Ai'belidfe
arborea
Arboricola
Arbudas
Ai'chernis
archesia ..
Archisometrus ...
Arctia
arcturus
arctus
arcuata
Ardea
Ardese
Ardeidse
ardens
Ardeola
Ardetta
arenarius
argalus
argentata
argenteipuncta ...
argenteola ...
argentifera
argeutisparsa
Argya
•argyritis
argyromma
Arhostia
ariadne
aridum
Ariophanta ...
armeniella
arquata
Artamus
Arthrosphfera 269,
Arthrospyjera
arthnri
artiosaria
Artocarpus
Artona
Arundinax
PAGE
744
203,772
296
701
296
746
647
647
673
490, 677
297
711
514
2tJ5
613
335
... 218, 676
715
69, 347, 505, 681
505,681
505, 681
121
... 69, 70, 506, 682
69, 507, 640, 682
346
68
35, 299
37
654
32, 34
38
202, 337
707, 715
86
83
511
627
336
309
498
895
270, 284, 285, 473, 474
286
785
8i
674
294
392
![]()
INDEX.
arvensis ...
Asarcornis...
aaiatica 64,
asiatieuB . . .
Asio
asper
*aspei"atus...
Aspiaoparia
AspicUum ...
Aspidoparia
aspilataria
Asplenium...
assamense...
assamensis...
assimilis ...
aytaroth ...
Asthena
Astur
astyla
ater
Athene
Atberina ...
Atheriuides
athertoai ...
Athyma ...
Athyrium...
atkinsoni ...
atra
atrata
atriceps ...
atrigularis
atrinuchalis
atripennis
atrisparsa ...
atrofusa ...
attenuata ...
attila
aurea
aureifloris
aureola ...
aurifusella
aurim^rgo...
anrita
auritractata
auritus
•aurocincta
aurofasciata
aurulenta ...
PAGE
6S9
508
341, 410, 490, 559, 561, 572,
575
50,504
... 55
424
123
770
332, 532, 586, 537, 538, 631
215
82
319, 323, 529
320
142
105, 673
42
82
60, 290, 686, 792
151
338,391,778
55,287,343
730
728
44
332
... 319,529,531
40,293,301,513
, 68, 221
, 533
202, 779
492, 677
497,772
50, 423, 566
274,282,473
34
648,674
140, 141
101
86
557
310
712
64, 639, 630
35
565
276, 283, 285, 474
, 38
105
aurnlcntus
Auzata
Aylhya ...
Azanus
azona
azurea
Azygophleps
babylonica
bactriana ...
Badamia ...
badia
badius
baerl
bseticus
bajadera ...
bakham'rna
bakkamcena
balli
Bambusicola
barbata
barbatus ...
barbipennis
barea
basalis
basifera ...
basitiava ...
basilicus ...
basimaculata
basisignella
Bassia
batassiensis
batis
batjeuensis
Batrachostom us
baya
bayleyi
beata
beavani
beavini
*beddomei
beddomei ...
Belenois ...
belgica
belis
belif-ama ...
belliana ...
Belonc
Bembcx ...
PAGE
105
650
603,613
512
... 158,159,160
401,402
646
36
343
513
513
290, 686
509, 603, 610, 775
512
326
55
287
570, 571
488
112
348
715
159
33,112
513
303
264, 265
302
476
673
48,579
37
146
50, 422, 565
221
390
90
561
45
527
673
... 153, 156, 512
498
513
333
773
407, 409
106
![]()
INDEX.
bengalella
hengaleasis o3, 3o,
berenice
bergii
Besaia ...
bhadra
bicincta
bicolor ... 81,
bicornis
bifasciata
Bifosoma
biggsii
BignoniacesB ...
bilineata
binghami
binotalis
biocularis
bipapilla
bipurs
biphaleratus ...
bipuactanus
birmana
birostris
biviridata
Blanaida
blanchardi
blanfordi
*blaafordu
blitealis
blythi
Boarmia
Bocchoris
boisduvali
boisduvalii
boiioa
Bombax
bonhami
borealis
Bos
boscas
boschas
Bosrra
Boswellia
Botaurus
botydalia
Botyodes
brachiella
•brachycentrus
PAGE
313
.-jfi, 221, 288. 326, 328,
340, 343, 495
658
72
36
829
61, 2^(3
278, 283, 285, 297, 688
46
38. 303
412
142, 143
550
74
329, 332
514
654
578
644
110
95
140
47
80
329, 330
294
493
624
614
487
514
514
141, 142
142
512
672
345
o58
187, 188
... 1, 2, 18, 347,509
246
699
672
70, 347, 507
707
710. 715
311
263
brachyrhynchus
brama
brandti
Branta
brevifascialis ...
breviculella
brevipennis
Bridelia
brookeana
Bruasa ...
brunea .
brunnea
brunueicephahis
brunneum ...
bruuneus
brunoniauum ...
Bubo
Bubonin^
Biibulcus
Bufo ..
Buliminus
Buu^arus
Burseracea'
Butastur
Butea
Buteo
Buthidfe
butleri ...
Butorides
Butoroides
Butydes
Byblia
Cacomantis
Cadphises
cselestis
•c£elioxysides ...
caenopicta
cseruleata
CEeruleus
calatbus
calderon
calens
Calera
Calesia
calidris
Calinaga ...
Callamesia
PAGE
508
55. 287, 335
271, 272, 273, 282
594
514
308
102
674
422
330
631
110
... 72, 502
110,630, 631
... 103, 417
622
55,286, 343
286
69, 222, 506, 682
424
180, 183, 326, 328
589
673
68, 424
673
60
262
423, 686, 792
69, 682
506
415
511
52
301
... 783
126
326
92
59, 289, 404, 428
336
149
... 114
307
514
67, 499
332
.r 302
![]()
VI
INDEX.
Callialeyon
Callidula
Callidulidfe ...
callinice
Callitomis
Caloenas
callonice
Calornis
calvus
calydonia
•camadevoides
cambayensis ...
Cambogia
Camena
•cameria
campancllus ...
Camplyotes
Camponotida3 ...
Camponotus ...
Campophaga ...
camptobasis ...
Camptolophia ...
canal icalata ...
Canarium ...
cancellalis
candldalis
candldus ...
Canerces
Cangetta
caniceps
canifrons
eanningi
canorus
Canthium
cantiana
caniim ^
capensis
capistrata
ciprata ...
Capiifoliacese .
Capnmalgus .
CaprimmguB .
CapToaa
CapBicum
*cara
Caradrina
carangus
Caranx...
earbo
66,
PAGE
562
648
648
140
294
688
139, 160
... 397
56, 287
333
330
226, 340, 844, 690
82
148, 160
148, 160
306
301
756
756
394
715
88
77, 715
672
514
706
104,498, 679
302
482
567
644
386, 567, 693, 694
51, 565
352
... 65
537
347, 428, 501, 640, G80
339
339, 779
550
423
50,226,342, 423, 565
336
550
143, ]60
513
727, 728
...727,728, 729, 730
502, 681
Carcinia
cardinalis
cardui
carinata
carmentalis
carnearia
Carnicoptera ..
Carphoga
Carpodaciis
Carpophaga
Carpophaginfe ..
Carrabis
caryophyllacea
Caryota
Casarca
casiphone
caspia
Cassia
castanese
castanella
castaneum
castanouotura ..
Casuarina
catalaunalis
catalaunaria ..
catamita
catena
Catochrysops ..
Catophaga
Catopsilia
caudata...
caudatus
Cedrela
*celatus
celerio
celinde
Celonites
Centropus
Cephonodes
ceramensis
ceramicus
Ceratina
ceratina
Cerceris
Certhia
certhiola
cervinicejis
•cervinus
cervinus .
PAGE
672
299
512
... 232, 784
148
86
94
62
202
...62,185,687
185
345
509
674
.347, 416, 509, 683
135
347
673
646
94
258
571
398, 672
... 514
514
648
513
512
153
512
... 222, 337
303
296
753
513
187
Ill
53, 566
513
142
645
... 113, 127
293
109, 120
635
392
565
745
,.. 685,747
![]()
INDEX.
y\\
Ceryle ...
Ceryx ...
Cethosia
Cetosia ...
ceylonensis
ceylonicus
Chferilus
Chcerocampa
Chsetornis
Chsetura
chalciform's
Chalcophaps
Chalcosia
ChalcosiinsB
chalybefcus
chalybopicta
Chandra
Chapra ...
Charadriii^se
Charadriinje
Charadrius
Charadvius
Charana
Charaxes
Chariclea
Chaulelasmus .
Chaulilasmus
chebula ...
cheela ...
Cheilanthes
Chflades
chelensis
Chelidon
Chenomorphse .
Cheritrella
chessoni
Chettusia
chicquera
Chilades
Chilena...
Chilo ...
Chilobrachys .
Chimarrhornis.
chinensis
cbinquis
Chiromachetes.
chironalis
chirugus
PAGE
45, 562, 572
292, 561
138, 160
138
55, 401
. 719, 720, 721, 722, 725
266
513,715
221
48,563
41,42
63, 69U
299
296
397
697
331
513
496, 678
496, 678
497,679
65
334
140,160,330
513
23, 24, 71, 235, 243, 348,
459, 509, 575, 683
18
351 673
... 58, 288, 684, 685
528
512
330
340
242
334
786
346
290
512
513
305. 30i:
746
340,637
...142, 190, 677,691
486, 676
744
707
640
chiriirgus
chitonoides
chlorigaster
chloris
*cbloiobasis ...
Chlorochromodes
Chloroclystis ...
Chlorodontopera
chlorogaster
Chloromianta ...
Chloromma
chlorophora ...
chloroptera
chloropterella ...
chloropus
cblororhyncus ...
chlorotica
chlorotious
Chloroxylon ...
chotaria
chromus
ChrysantheEuum
Chrysartona ...
Chrysidedffi
Chrysidid^
chrysippus
Chrysis
Chrysococcyx ...
Chrysocraspeda
ChrysDpa
chrysophthalma
cbrysopygia
*chr3S0thrix ...
Chucapa
chukor ...
Ciconia
Ciconia3
Ciconiidfe
Oidaria
ciliata
Cinchona
cinclorbyncha
cincta
cinctiim
cineraceus
ciaerea ...
cinerella
cinereus
cinnamomea ...
PAGE
... 68,496, 678,679
278
61
562
479, 480
90
77,715
88, 715
184
88
93
80
687
477
68, 494, 640
766
106
... 110
673
83
513
... 550
294
117
115
5!1
117, 585, 586
566
85
553
101
225,339,579
730, 725
332
345
504
504, 681
504,681
75
103
672
202
110
113
59,685
66, 69, 347, 494, 505
514
394, 497, 678
69, 507, 682
![]()
INDEX.
PAGE
715
351
710
89
64, 345, 490
... 90
90
471,473
514
83
700
550, 671
293
203, 341
513
24
294
295
...418, .585, 686, 790.
708
83
643
94,483
137
75
112, 512
90
715
313
550
513
203
402, 403, 779
712
715
43, 341, 6.39
337
131,160, 229,432,511
300
... 573
71,216,-509, .573, C83
... 64.410.490.677
71,216,-509, .573, C83
... 64,410,490,677
65, 495
69, 222, 286, 506, 682
49, 78
,682
49,78
46
75
273, 282, 285
305
![]()
INDEX.
corasca...
Corvus ...
Corydon
Cosmophila
Cossidae ...
Cossus ...
costalis ...
costigattata
Cotile ...
Coturnix
Crabro ...
crambidoides
Crambus
crameri
Craspedia
Craspediopsi.-;
'crassimanus
crassirostris
crassivenia
crassus ...
Crastia ...
Creatonotus
crecca ... 72,
crenatella
crenulata
crepitans
cretica ...
•creusa ...
Criniger...
crishna ...
cristata ...
cristatum
cristatus
Critonia
crocata ...
Crocidolomia
Crooidophora
Crocisa ...
•crocopteralis
Crocopus
Crossandra
Crotalinje
croton ...
cruentatus
Crustacea
Crypto] oba
Cryptolopha
CtcniyidaB
PAGE
, 299
, 53, 337, 390, 634
421
514
645
645, 646
34, 35
84
340
... 64, 345, 410, 490, 677
121
806
305
643
82, 514
87
267
772
307
750
131, 160
rl3
216,243,246,247,248,348,
444, 509, 575, 683, 775
310
34
471, 472
320
125
, 414
329
341, 623
623
... 58,60,63,393,486, 757
309
513
514
712
113
... 710, 715
61, 184
, .. 550
411
142
766
269
74
423
750
cuculoides
Cuculus
cnprea ...
♦cupreiventris
cupreum
cuprina
cursitans
CursoriiiiEe
Cursorius
cuspidata
cuspidatum
Cyanecula
cyaneos
Cyaniris
cyanocephalus
cyanops
cyanoptera
cyanopterum
Cybium
Cyclophorus
Cyclosia
cylindrata ,
Cymatophoridai
Cymborhyncbus
Cymorixa ,
cynis
Gynopterus
Cyornis
Cyphanta
Cypselus 47, 341,
cyssea ...
Cystopteris
PAGE
287
51, 565
62, 185
117
295
39
... 223, 392
495
65, 495
... 534, 535
535
402
289
... 143, 160
54
72
... 444, 559
109
201
326
300
750
37
772
483
153
717
780
37
342, 414, 563, 771
293
3£3
Dactylopius 553
dadius 60
Dafila ... 71, 216, 348, 437, 509, 575, 688
dahlbomii
dahliella
Dalapa ...
Dalbergia
dalyi
damaris
damor ...
danse ...
Dauainge
Danais ...
darlisa...
daulialis
Davallia
, 106
312
134
, 673
280, 281, 284, 285
330
648
513
131
, 511
332
705
51
![]()
INDEX.
davisoni
•decipiens
decoloralis
decorata
decoratus
decuraaaus
decussata
deffkHiataria
deianira
deiauiriua
Deilephila
Deiopeia
delavayi
Delias
delicatula
Demiegretta ...
Dendrocitta ...
Dendrocopns ...
Dendrocycna ...
Dendrocygna ...
denigrata
*deo
*deperditu8
derasa
Dercas
Deroca
deroepstorffi
•desidiosum
Detrigona
Dei;doris
dexameuus
Diacamma
Diathrausta
Diatrasa ...
Dicseum
Dichoceros
Dichochrosis ...
Dichorrhagia ...
dicruriformis ...
Dicrurus
Dielis
digramma
dimidiatipennis
diminutiva
dinon
diodes
dioica
Diospyros
Diplopseustis ...
322, 629,
65, 346,
![]()
INDEX.
duplex ...
Duranta
(iussnmieri
•duthiei
•dynastes
Dysoxylum
Earias
Ebenacese
Ebuleodes
Eccopidia
Echis
edocla
edule
Kliecarpns
Elanus
Elarnus
elengi ,
elgini
Elis
*elizabethcB
elongata
elongatella
elongella
elphinstonii ...
elpinice
Elymnias
Elymniinfe
Emballouuridae
Emberiza
Embryoglossa ..,
emeria
Emmalocera ..
Emmesomia ..
Emodesa
emolus
Encaumaptera...
eudoleucella ...
Eudotricha
Endrotricha ..,
Entercmorpha...
Eois
Ephyra ...
EpipoDa
episcopa
episcopus
Epitamyra
epops
equisetifolia ..
PAGE
654
550
64, 493
532
124
349
513
352
714
... 311, 312
784
.. 298, 299
657
672
59, 289
423
673
... 684, 685
103
... 116,130
532
311
93
62, 185
... 139, 140
185, 136, 160, 330
... 135,339
... 725
... 557, 638
98
- 391
310
73
651
147
647
... 477, 478
482
482
642
84
85
110
69
... 217, 604
481
47, 639
672
Erasmia
*ere balls
Eresidfe ... „.
Eressa
Eretmocera
Ergolis
erinyes ,.
Eriopethex
Ei'ismatura
erisoma
erodella
eronioides
erosa
erycinoides
Erythra
erythrinos
ei'ythrocephala
erythrogenys
Erythrolophus
erythronotus
erythroptera ...
Erythropus
erythror'ysria ... 341,
erythrorhynchus
Esacus
elrida
Eublemma
Eucalyptus
Euchera
Euchlorls
Eucrostes
exidoxia... ... ...
Eudynamis
Eugenia
Eiilabes
Eulacura
Eulepis
Eumenes 109,121,130,
Enmenidse
eumenoides
Eumeta
Eunephrodium
Ennetta
eupatria
Eupborbiacefe
Eupithecia
Euplexia
Euploja... 131, 160,
£uproctis
PAGE
300
700
750
294
292
511
136
77, 79
593
... ... 514
808
303
514
648
68, 695
202
102
567
86
... 338,637
... 221, 341
61,290
386, 398, 399, 771
64, 203
495
... 513
514
672
649
90
90
140
53, 5C6
671,673
397
331
330
418, 585, 586, 790
... 109, 121
110
643
625
... 18,19,23
54
674
80
513
229, 302, 432, 511
513
![]()
INDEX.
Eiirhinia
eurimora
eurixantba
cni'opsea
europaeus
Enrrhyparofios
enryeercuR
Eurystomiis
eurytion
euryxantha
Euryzoua
euryzouoirles ...
euschemoides ...
Eutelia
Eutelis
Euthalia
Euzophera
Euzophorodes ...
evan
eversmanni
evolans
Excalfactoria ...
excavata... 460.
excellens
excelsa
excisa
exclamationis ...
exclnsa ...
exigua
ExocsetuR
exocoetus
expansalis
extensa ...
foeera
falcata
Falcimala
Falcinellus
falcinelluR
Fako
FalconidJB
fallax
fauiiliariR
*famulns
far
farinosa
fasoialis
fasciata ...
fasciatella .f.
PAGE
139
112
155
319
226, 342, 343
TOG
56G
560
40,41
154, 155
693
(18
302
715
514
332
475
475
335
186, 429
583
490, 677, 691
467, 469,470,473,474
157
301
654, 656
513
135, 160
513
583
5S3
698, 699
656
715
18
715
71
503
... 61, 290, 344, 687
28S
lis
579
99
407
114,529
514
493, 652
lo:)
fasciatus
fastidiosus
fauculalk
faustna ...
fea
feaj
febrifuga
Fecenia...
Fclidte ...
felis-fjemina
felix-mas
fenestraria
Fentouia
*fergusoui
ferina ...
ferox
ferrago ...
ferrea ...
*ferrifusalis
ferruginata
ferrngiDea
ferrugiaens
feiTuginosa
ferns
fervida ...
fervidiis
fibulata ...
FicuR ...
fiCUR
fidoniata
filicorniR
lilis-f^mina
filix-mas 319,
♦fimbriatus
fisclieri ...
fistula ...
flabellicoinis
fiabellifera
flam mans
Hammea
flava
flaveolus
fiavicola
ilavicollarella .
Ilavicollis
flavicosta
flavifasa
flaviplaga
PAGE
51, 57, 567, 589
110
704
513
469
469, 472
673
750
189
530, ^^\, 532
634
650, 653
32
744
509,575,603,606
60
639
298
699
' 89
36,113, 509,603,614, 641,
683, 775
487, 676
34
507,682
293
110
514
397, 674, 686
513
514
104
319
320, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625
746
,. Ill
673
302
479
... 303
54,286,568
40, 558, 654
, 414
778,781
478
.. 69,340,507,638,682
296
296
![]()
INDEX.
tlavirostris
flavisinuata
flavispila
flavistigma
flavonigra
flexicosta
fiorea
florens -..
lloi'escens
lluctuatus
fluidaria
iiuviata
formosa.c.
i'ormosum
forskalii
*l'ragilis
fragrans
francife...
francica
Francollnus
*fraterna
fraterna...
fi'ingillarius
frondosa
frugialiata
fucata
fuciphaga
f ulgurita
Kulica
FulicaricB
falicata ...
fuliginosa
fuliginosus
Fuligula...
fuligula...
Fuligulinse
fulva
*f nivalis
fulvescens
fulvicollis
fulvicosta
fulvipes...
fulvistriga
fulvus ...
fumigata
fumilauta
•fumipeanis
fumosa ...
funebrosa
72
PAGE
503
84
86
U
513
1)2
129
37, 38
88
104
82
76
470, 471, 474
243, 429
730
G75
775
332
564
64, 345, 492, 677, 691
Ill
37,331,332
217
673
514
638
49
38
68,221
493,677
778
295,291)
637
594, 603, 604, 610, 614
510, 575, 775
593, 594
139, 509, 655
711
288
772
652
745
76
... 65,843,497,679
537
484
118,130
...278,280,284,285
fusca
fuscalis ...
fuscatus...
fuscella
fuscescens
fuscicaudata .
fuscicoUis
fusciflavescens.,
fuscipars
fuscipennalis .
fuscipennis
fuscosparsella .
fascus ...
fytchii ...
gassa
ggetulia ...
ggetulus ...
gaika ...
galba
Galerita...
galgulus
Galleria
Gallicrex
gallicus...
Gallinae...
Gallinago 66,
Gallinula
galliaula
Galloperdix
G alius ...
gallus ...
♦gamble;
Garcinia
Gardenia
Gareris ...
garrula ...
Garrulus
Garuga ...
garzetta...
Gathynia
Gaurena
gaurus ...
Gaviffi ...
Gecko ...
Gegenes
gemimis
gemmifera
PAGE
644
303,714
393
311
296
52
347,503
391
645
704
585,586
514
67, 395, 493, 499, 639, 677
488
142
148,160,334
143
512
513
341
568
98
494
57, 423
486,676
346, 427, 500, 640, 680,776,
782, 783
66, 68, 494, 640
66,347,501,680
63
63, 487, 676
143
5B3
.. 349
550
134
43,341,639
337
672
69, 506, 681
715
37
187,188
501,680
578
613
397
34,35
![]()
INDEX.
Gennasus
Gennaeus
genutia ...
Geocichla
geoffrovi
geoflEroyi
geometralis
Geometridse
germanica
germanicum
Gerydus
Geryle ...
Gethosyne
gibbeiifrons ..
gigantea
gigantes
gigas
*gillespia3
ginginianus ..
giu
•glabra
glacialis
glarjduliferum
Glareola
glareola..,
Glareolidffi
Glaucidium
glancippe
glaucopis
Glessiila
glocitans
glottis ...
Gmelina
godarti ...
Goisakius
gopara ...
Gorsachius
Gorytes
govinda
gracilis...
Grallae ...
Gramiaese
Grammodes
grandinotella .
grandis ...
*grassator
Graucalus
grayi ...
PAGE
577, 676
487
511
414,555
65
333, 334
514
776
627
323
...141,142,143, 160
342
470, 471, 473
702
257, 258, 259
82, 40, 41, 42, 214, 644
142
142
642
56
570
lis
303
530
346, 496, 774
67,499, 679
495, 496
56,287,571
153
297
326, 328, 785
243, 245, 246
... 67, 499, 679, 774
673
292
69, 70
142
506
106
... 59, 289, 344, 685
103, 326, 785
493, 677
6
... 514
96
40, 41, 673
121
39], 395, 397
... 69, 70, 500, 682
gregaria
gremins
griffithii
grisens
♦griseorufa
1,'riseoiincta
griseoviridis ...
grisescens
griseus
grisio-marginata
grisola
Gruidae
Grus
guarial
guei'inii
gularis ...
gurial ...
guttata
guttatum
Guttiferaj
gyas
Gymnogramme
Gymnopera
gymnophthalmus
Gymnorhis
Gynautocera ...
Gypsetus
Gyps
Gyrtona
Habrosyne
Habrothamnus
hsemacephala ..
Hfematopodinte
hfeinorrhous ..
Halcyon
Haliffitus
Haliaetus
haliaetns
Haliastur
Halictus
Haliotigris
Halliastus
Hamelia
Haploclastus
hardwickei
Haridra
harmonica
Harpactes
45, 208, 217, 342,
111,
PAGE
... 346
513
... 630, 632
347
78, 715
658
92
83
47, 70, 506, 682
715
400
... 494, 678
345, 494, 678
562
102
69, 95, 492, 677
45
672
201
349
335
629
77, 79
215
340, 638, 778
302
343
56, 288, 343
715
... 37
... 550
... 43
498, 679
... 572
428, 562
... 58
... 685
... 56
... 289
123, 130
... 710
... 59
... 550
... 747
... 268
... 330
... 715
... 61
![]()
INDEX.
Harpagoneura ...
Harpyiocephalus
hastata
heathi
Hebomoia
hecabe
Helcyra
H'elicopage
Heliopais
HeliornithidsB...
Helioryctes
heliothidia
Heliothis
Helix
helvetica
Hemerobidie ...
hemicautella ...
hemina
Hemipodii
Hemimmphus «••
hemiramphus ...
Hemithea
hemixauthella...
Hendersoni
HepialidiB
Hepialiscus
heracleion
herbicolens
Herodias
Herodioncs
Herpa
HersiliidEe
Hesperia
Hesperidse
Hesperiidse
Hesperoptenus
Heterocera
heterocerella ...
Heterocrasa
Heterograpliis ...
Heteropoda
Heteropodidaa ...
heterosticta 271,
Heterusia
Heyl^rtsia
Hibiscus
Hieratus
Hieroccoccyx ...
PAGE
9(!
78(3
57
72-1
153
512
330
91
494
494
105
514
513
326
65, 497
553
475
330
492, 677
407, 409
583
91
477
277, 279, 280, 283, 285
647
647
142
87
... 69, 347, 505, 681
503, 681
297
751
.. 156, 157, 158, 159
511
156, 336
718,723
.. 32, 392, 513, 643
307
698, 699
313
752
752
273, 274, 277, 278, 283,
285
298
644
396
57
52
Hierococcyx
Hierodula
hierta
himachala
*himalayana
himalayana
himalayanuB
*himalayensis ...
Himantopteriis
Himantopus
Hiposcritia
Hippasa
hippoclus
hirtipes
hirundinalis
Hirando 341,
Histia
histrionicus
hodgei ...
hodgsoni
Hodgsonius
hoemorrhoidalis
holosericea
Homffiosoma .,.
♦homoperalis
honorata
*honos
Hoplopterus
Horornis
horsfieldi
*hospes
liottentotta
hiigeli ... ,
Huhua
humeralis
humii
•hamilis
humilis
Huphina
hyala
hyalina
hyalinata ,
Hyalospila
hyalosticta
Hyblfea
Hyboloma
hybrida ... 414, 502,
Hydrelia
Hydrochaledon
PAGE
52
578
511
329
746
635
... 411,577
120,124, 130
303
... 498, 679
153
752
648
... 534, 535
91
557,638,771,781
302
301
560
... 422,638
635
104
105
311
482
53, 566
... 150, 160
... 497, 679
393
290, 487, 676
... 119, 130
114
776
55, 203
698
338, 636, 637
352
344
... 153, 154
300
292,302,656
655
477
513
514
485
640, 680, 681, 774
82
640
![]()
xVi
INDEX.
Hydrochelidon
Hydrocicbla ...
Hydrophasianus
Hydroprogne ...
hyela
hylas
Hymenoptera ..
hypargyna
hypargyrus ..
Hypena
Hypeneschra ...
hyphenophera ..,
*hypnonalis
hypnonalis
Hypocolius
Hypocometa ..
hypoleucus
Hypolimnas ...
Hypotsenidia ...
Hypothecla
Ilypotcenidia ...
hyposantha
hyppasia
Hypsa
liypsalis
Hypsirhina
Hypsopygia ..
Hypsotropha ..
Hythothymis .;,
lanthia ...
Ibididfe
Ibidorhynchus...
Ibis
Icaria
Ichneumonida'..
ichtliyajtus
Ichthyura
Ictinaetus
Ictinaetns
ictis
idiEoidcs
idearia .^
igneus
illithyia
iinaon
•imberti
imbuta
imitans
...4:14, 502, (180, 774
422
... 08,496,640, 678
347
336
513
101,115,130
149
512
514
32
82
480
715
760
81
07, 340, 499, 640, 679
512
68,493,677
150,151,160
098
... 480,715
514
513
708,715
233
484
307
401
... 037
503
498
503
110
11.5,110
58,288
36
57
770
512
650
514
71
511
292
349
86
301
PAGE
impactella 292
imparata 514
*imperatrix 335
iruperialis 335, 336
implicis.sima 771
impressa 467
improbns 142
inajquata 79, 87
inangulata 82
incana 105, 113
*inc(ignita 127
*incognitus 115
inconspicua 70
imiecisia 614
indica ... 40, 41, 43, 47, 48, 63,07, IJ 4,
129, 327, 563, 342, 646, 072, 673, 690
indicus ... 50, 56, 05,216, L'22, 288, 320,
340, 490, 497, 507, 508, 558, 568, 640,
078,719,753
*iadicus 123, 130
indrani 55, 569
iudi'oides 153
indiigati'ix ... 751
indus 59,289
inermis , 275, 274, 28iS
inflammatvis 87
infumatella 98
Ingura 514
innocens 142
innomiuata ... ... 504
innominatus ... ... 208
inuotata 652
ino 514
Inocotis ... ... 71
inornata 338
inquieta ... ... 338
•iusignis 747
in?ignis 105,109,-547
insolatus 513
insuavis 84
insulana 513
insularis ... 320,328,569,087,688
intogrifolia 577, 074
*interfuscalis ... 307
intermedia 62, 69,344, 397, 490,491, .505
interpres 490
intorpulsata 8(i
imimbrata <•• 92
Inyx 639
![]()
INDEX.
xvii
lodis
lole
*iole
lora
Ipomen ...
Irena
Iresine ...
iriclepcens
irregularis
irroratus
isabellina
Isbarta ...
isocrates
Isometnis
ispida ...
ithome ...
Iton
itwarra ...
Ixias
•ixodinus
Ixora ...
jacobimis
jacta
jambolana
jambiilana
Janarda...
jasoda ...
javanensis
javanica 69, 71,
javanicum
javanicus
jerdoni ...
jocosa ...
jordanis...
joiidera ...
jucana ...
jucundus
jnjuba ...
Junonia...
Jupiter ...
Justicia...
Kallima...
kamara ...
♦kandiana
karsana ...
keianus ...
216,
PAGE
92
391
128
52
550
S90, 391
550
92
513
112
339
301
512
263
... 45, 342, 561, 639
163,154
158, 159, 160
513
152, 160
753
550
53
514
673
657
83
334
570
506, 509, 557, 682, 683
504
503,681
637
86
97
64
776
Ill
764
51]
140,141
550
333
136
752
513
140,141,160
Kerana
Ketuba
Ketupa
khasiana
*kir)gii
klugii ...
knyvctti
knyvettii
kuhlii
kundoo
Labiatae
Labochirus
lacernigeia
lachenense
Laciniodes
lactaria
lactea ...
*Lade
laeta
IfBvipea ...
lEevissima
Lagerstrfemia ...
lahtora
lais
laisidis
laius
lalassis ...
lamarckii
lamellata
Lamoria
Lampides
lamprolepis
lanaris
lanceolata
lanceolatus
laniata ...
Laniidfe
Lanius ...
Lau'ana
Larentia
Laridaj
Larinte
Larra
Larus
Lastrea ... 319,
laterculella
*late-repens
PAGE
... 159, 160
55
... 286,570
296
621
106
333
33S
724
... 338, 637
... 232, 550
745
76
532
82
139
346, 496, 774
153
512
326
... 468,469
678
... 338,572
136, 137, 160
,160
512
153
752
112
97
145,160
34
79
392
337
715
760
338, 393, 572, 637, 778
547, 550
76,715
501,680
501,680
104,106
72, 501,
136, 137,
'•• I ^, aui, 680
320, 322, 533, 534, 535,
536, 622, 623, 624
631
... 307
... 628
![]()
INDEX.
late-repens
latifascia
latifasialis
latifolia
latifrouB
*latifuscalis
latimedia
latirostria
lativitta...
learchus
leda
LeguminosEe ,
lemonias
Lemoniida;
lena
Lenyra ...
leopardina
leos
lepcha ...
lepeleterii
Lepidogma
Lepidoptera
leptalina
Lepterodius
leptochirus
Leptoptilus
Lepyrodes
leschenaulti
Lethes ...
lettia ...
Leucania
leucaniellus
Leucdnodes
leucocephala
leucocephalus .
Leucochila
leucocincta
Leucodrepana
leiiciigastar
Icucogaster
leucogen J s
Leucogephyra
leucomelamis
leucoueurella
leuconotus
leuconyx
leucopsis
leucoptera
leucopygata
PAGE
322
513
702
673
687
713
80
401
298
143
511
... 550, 671
51!
383
330
42
... 274, 283
142
29i
109
484
511
... 296, 298
... 506
268
68, 504, 681
514
53
715
287
... 513,715
305
514
562
70, 340, 605, 637
.,.,. 326
..o 310
... 650, 652
58
... 395, 685
... 391,635
... 700,701
577
477
615
47
557
680
78
leucorodia
Leucostegia
leucosticia
leucosticta
leucotis
leucozona
Lialepis
LibythEeiuse .
Libythea
lichenea
Ligula
lilacina ...
limbatus
limberena
Limenitis
Limicolfe
liminiace
limnsetus
limnaefcus
T.iimomdromus
Limosa...
linchi
liueata
lineatum
lineatus...
liueosellus
linnffii ...
Liopicus
lireatum
*liriope
Liria
lisarda ...
Litssea ...
llvia
livida
livornica
lobata ...
lob if era...
Lobipluvia
Lobivanellus .
Lobogonia
Locustella
locustelloides .
Loesa ...
Logania
Lohora
•longeana
longicuspe
PAGE
347
515
653
646
.. 338,761
84
773
333
... 333, 512
38
... 770, 771
... 562,652
119
.514
... 139, 332
... 495, 678
511
288
684
558
498
564
691
337
67
305
131, 160,302
... 203,215
634
127
... 104
332
674
... 186, 344
82
51B
73
514
65
65
74
392
221
134
... 143, 160
134,135
141, 142, 100
... 536, 537
![]()
INDEX.
longimanus
longiuasus
longipes
longirostris
Lonicera
Lophoceros
lophopterella .
Lophopteryx .
Lophosoma
Lophospizias .
loreyi ...
Loriculus
Lotongua
luciiiicostella .
lucina ...
lucionensis
lugens ...
lugra
lugubris
Luma ...
•lunata ...
luteata ...
luteola ...
lutescens
Lutianua
Lycjenesthes
Lycffiuidse
lyce
Lycosa ... .
Lycosidas
Lygropia
Lyncestis
Lyucorais
lyra
Lyrops ...
lysimon
Lythraceaj
Mabina ...
Mabra ...
Macalla...
Macaranga
Macaria...
Machetes
macii ...
Macrauzata
Macrochlamys
Macrocilix
Macroglossa
9
PAGE
725
485
630, 631
203
560
47
479
33
295
60
518
54, 568
156, 157, 158, 160, 336
310
293
393
711
144
53,203,393
703
145,160
84
656
274,282,47;^
544
146, 160
141, 334
144
751
751
514
514
56
718, 770
104
512
550
232
704
480,715
674
514
67
395
650
326, 327
649
•• 513
macroptera
Macropteryx ..
Macropygia
macrorhynchus
ma crura
PAGE
98
49
690
53, 337, 390, 772
402
macrurus ...50, 59, 289, 396, 423, 565
maculata 57, 83, 300, 801, 834, 467, 478,
474
maculatum 467
maculatus 404, 566
maculivitella 308, 309
maderaspatensis ... 341
Mangifera 673
magnifica 299
magnirostris 893, 567, 777
inaha 512
mahesa 332
mahrathensis 216
mahrattensis 342
mahrettensis 203
*mai£e 350
major 626,782,783
malabarica 43, 61, 65, 184, 223, 340, 672
malabaricum ...
malabaricns ...
MaJacorhinchus
malaiensis
malayens
malayensis
malayica
mandarinus
manillensis
Maraclea
350
497, 727, 729
453
589
776
57
143
334
... 505, 681
... 97
Mareca 23, 71, 216, 235, 24R, 257,509, 575
Margarochroma
marginalis
marginata
marginatus
marginella
•margistrigella
Maimaronetta ..
marmorata
Masarida3
massyla
Mastus
materna ,
mathias
maura
maximus
70S
110,513
624
717
285
306
459, 460
89, 274, 283, 473, 715
Ill
334
826
514
518
339,402,637
143
![]()
INDEX.
medius
mediusta
meena
Megaceramis ...
Megachik'
Megacniroptora
Megadeima
megalonice
•megalophalis...
Megapodius ...
Megarthria
megaspilaria ...
Megilla
melacocercus ...
melitna
melampus
melanion
Melanitis
uiclanocephala
melanocephalus
melanogaster ...
melanoleocus ...
tnelanolophus ...
melanonotus ...
melauope
melanotis
melba
Meliaceas
Melipotis
Melissoblaptes ...
Melittia
Melittopbagus ...
mellonella
Melynias
Memecylon
menzbieri
Merginse
Mergus
Merops
Merula ,
Meruthia
mesentina
Mesodiphlebia ...
Mesolia
Metachrostis ...
metaleuca
•metamelalis ...
Metasciodes
*metaBUcta ».
PAGE
717
86
62
34
112,125,585,587,790
717
718, 770
140
712
213,691
304
89
113,114
51
293
512
142
511
503
396, 758
72, 502, 503, 681, 784
289, 291
W, 506
508, 672
341,558,638
... 58, 59, 289, 344
47,342,414
;!49
514
95, 96
40,42
44,561
135,
43, 342,
136, 160
.. 657
, 339
594
348
561, 639, 773
... 555, 637
307
512
307
306
513
514
484
709
705
Metisa
Metopidius
Meyeuia
Micraglossa
Microchiroptera
Microcystina ...
Microcystis
Microhierax
micromelas
Microperdix ...
micropterus
Micropus
Microsarcops ...
microstegium ...
midama
miles
Miliola
Miliolincs
*iuillardi ...
Milleria
Millipedes
Milvus
mimica
•raimus ...
Mimusops
mineus
minima
minimus
minor
minuta
minutus
Miraf ra
mirandus
misippuB
mitaria
Mixophila
Mixophyla
molle
mollevi
•mollerii
mollis
Mollusca
Mol pastes
monarchus
monedula
monetaria
mongola
mongolica
moniliger
PAGE
644
222,496,678
550
705
718
326, 327
327
217,291,687
102
64
51,52,565
202, 391
497, 678
631,632
302
297
374
180
749
299
269
... 59,289,344,685
93
722, 725
673
646
483, 578
685
72, 222, 630
67,499,640
570
22], 341
750
512
656
700
715
538, 626, 627
296
116,130
83, 715
159, 326, 785
338, 635
494, 577
337, fi34
86
... 65
497
50, 422
![]()
INDEX.
Monoctenocera.,
monomma
montaaa
montauus
monticola
moorei
morar ...
morax
morosella
Morus
Mota ,
Motacilla
moussonianus ..
Mucialla
mucosus
Magil
multifasciata ..
multigutta
multistrigata ..
mnndata
mundissima
Munia
•muricola
muricolor
Mas
Muscitrea
muscularia
muscalus
musina
maticus
Mutilla . .
Mutillidag
Mycalesis
Myelois
Myiophoneus ..,
Myophoneus ..
Myotis
Myristica
Myristieivora ..
myrrha
mysticata
mytheca
•mythecoides ...
Myzine
Nacaduba
Nacoleia
nacrea
nalaadlca
PAGB
... 310, 311
704
323
... 340,688
50,343
...82,301,513
215
770
98
672
334
341, 557, 638
326
96
783
404
294
294
646
90
514
781
745
87
99, 232, 416, 417
400
... 652, 653
... 99, 10(1
144
486
101, 118, 130
... 101, 118
133,134, 160
476
338
634
718
674
688
334
649
158
... 157, 160
102
... 143, 144
709
553
.. 753
nana
Nanina ...
Naphrodium
narcondami
narmada
narmadoides
Xasapa ...
nausicaa
Naxa
neglecta
nelides ...
Nemacerota
nemeus ...
nemorale
nemoralis
Nemoria
nemoricola
•neolais
Neophron
Neopus ...
Neorina...
nepalense
nepalensis
nepcha ...
Nephopteryx
Nephrodium
Neptis ...
nesias ...
nesimachus
N'etium...
Netta ...
Nettapus
Nettion ...23,
Nettium
Nettopus
Neurosigma
newara ...
ni
nicea
nicholli...
nicobarica
n'cobaricus
nicobariensis
nigra
nigralbella
nigribasalis
nigribasis
235,
216,
PAGE
483
326
319, 320, 322
212, 233, 563
138
138, 160
134
139
776
635
144
89
139
625
625
514
501, 783
136,160
56, 343
589
329
297
203, 647
... 41
476, 514
533, 537, 621
138
483, 484
331
348
348, 509, 575, 694, 603
573
242,243,247,248,257,
258, 259, 444, 445, 459
242, 248, 257, 429, 509,
575, 683
683
331
41, 42, 293, 294
514
331
330
401, 558, 688
570
213, 391, 691
... 504, 700
479
297
33
... 71, 216, 509,
![]()
X£U
INDEX.
nigridentata ...
nigrifuBalis
nigrilinea
uigrinota ...465,
nlgrinotata
nigripalpis
nigripes
nigriscripta
nigriscriptalis ...
*nigristeruis ...
nigritula
•nigrocyanalis...
nigropectinatus
•Digropiata
nigrosculpta ...
nlgrotibialis ...
nigroviridata ...
nilagiricus
nilgiriensis
*nilgirinus
Niltava
Ninox
nipaleusis
*uireu9
nisus
•nltida
nivea
niveicostella ...
niveo-cincta ...
noblei
Nomada
Nomia
nonius
Noorda
Nosophora
Notarcha
noticeps
notigena
Notodonta
Notogonia
novalis
nvibica ...
nubigera
nudalis
nudicoruis ...
Numenius ...
•nursel
Nyctegritis
Nycteridaj
PAGE
82
81
80
466, 468, 469, 471, 474
75
513
530, 531
704
711
265
513
708
105
753
80
751
77
100
203
747
579
56, 287, 569, 570, 684
54, 55
124
290, 344, 687
281,284
650, 652
314
113
334
113
112, 125
... 331,332
514
707
711
... 271, 272, 281, 473
328
32
104
484
113
513
514
704
67,498
108, 122, 130
314
718
PAGE
Nycticejus 718, 757
Nycticorax 70,847,506,682
Nyctiornis 44
NymphalidiB 131,329
Nymphaliuce 138,330
Nymphula ... 700
Nyroca ... 509, 575, 694, 603, 604, 610,
613, 641, 775
nyroca 72,613,614
Nysson ... 105
nyx 156,160
obfuscafca
obliqua ...
obliquella
obliquilinea ...
obliteratellus ...
oblongus
obnupta
obrinaria
obrinusalis
obscura
obscurata
obscurellus
obscurior
obsoleta
obstataria
obtusa ...
occidentale ...
occipitalis
ocoipitatjs
♦occult um
ocellatum
ochreipennis ...
ochristrigellus...
ochrooiliella ...
ochropus
ochtbodes
C'chyria
cctella
octo
octona
oculata ...
oculatum
Odina
odontella
odontoloma
odontophorus ...
I Odontoponera ...
76
672
98
84, 650, 657
305
672
92, 514
86
... 514
555, 569, 571, 684
82
97
693
87
86
657
432
637
563
627
55
651
305
94
. 67,499,679,776
. 322, 536, 537, 538
76
313
513
785
110
110
336
96
621,622,628
121
757
![]()
INDEX.
XXllI
Odynerus
(Eceticime
CEceticoides ...
(Edicaemid^ ..
CEdicnemus
CEnochromiusa..,
(Enopopelia ...
ceur ,
oldenlandi» ...
Olea
oleracea
Oligostigma
•olivacea
olivacea
olivaceus
olivalis
olivana
olivaria
olivata
Omithoptera ..
Oraphalobasis ..
*Omphalota
Onagrodes
onara
oaychinalis
opalaria
opella
Ophideres
Ophiusa
ophthalmicus ..
•opifex
opificella
Opisthacanthus
orbicularis
orbiferata
orbonalis
ordinatum
Oreta
Organopoda
orientalis
Oriaoma
Oriolus ...
orithyia
ornatalis
ornatella
orphnina
Orsonoba
Orsotriajua
Orthezia .
PAGE
no, 122, 130
613
641
195
66, 495
776
315
101
513
... 673, 775
100
701
657
IOC
101
484
752
74
74
422
.697
179
82
156,157,160
514
92
513
514
514
135
750
308
744
39
649
514
113
656
86
... 496, 560
330
338, 396, 637
511
703
312
663
514
1?4
547
Orthoraphis
Orthoserica
Orthostixinae .
Orthotomus
Ortygornia
oscitans
Osmotreron
osteria
Otides ...
Otitidas ...
Otocompsa
Otogyps
ovalifolia
ovalis
oxybeloides
Oxybelus
Pachyaca
pachyotis
Pachyzancla .
Padyda ...
psecilorhyncha ,
pagodarum
Palajornis
Palamn;eus
Palimpsestes .
palinurus
pallens ...
pallescens
pallida ...
pallidalge
pallidalis
pallidipes
pallivittatus
palmarum
palpebrosa
Palpifer
paludosum
palumboides .
Palumbus
Panaphila
PamphiliufB .
panda ...
pandasa...
Pandanus
Pandercetes .
Pandiou
pandu ...
*pandum
PAGE
705
87
776
52, 415
64
71,505,681
61, 184, 186, 687,772
331
495
495
391, 7S1
56, 287
... 672
465
112
... 109
712
757
712, 715
707,715
...1, 11,18,216,573
780
54, 567
745
39
335
314
75
32, 33, 86, 651
645
483
393
87
777
390
647
629, 630, 631, 632, 633
690
62
158
160
623
134,135,160
... 387, 388, 398, 696
753
56
142
623
![]()
XXIV
INDEX.
Pangerana
pannosa
•pantherina
panthora
panzeri ...
Papilio ...
•papilio...
papilionaria ...
papilionaris
Papilionuloe ...
Papilioninfe ...
papillosa
papillosus
papua
papyraceum -.
paradiseus
paradisi
paradoxa
Paradoxurus ...
Paralipsa
parallelogi-amma
paralle]ogrammnm
Parasa
Parata
pardal7S
Parevaspis
Parnara
Parra ...
Parrid^
parry^
parryiffi
Partheaodes ...
Parus
parvellus
parviflora
parviplumella ...
Passer
passerinas
Pastor
patentissima ...
patinata
Patissa
Patna
Patractenia
patrana ... ...
paucinotalis
pavaca
Pavo
Pavoncella
131,
PAGE
... 156, 160
89
752
800
104
152, 156, 160, 334
625
302
300
... 152, 334
... 156,334
73
71
139
626
392
637
36
695
95
320
534
715
513
645
... 585, 587
159
67
... 496, 678
336
336
702
779
305
673
308
.340, 537, 572, 638
52
... 338, 397
534
78
307
, 308
, 699
654
711
657
68, 486
... 499
payeni
pectinatum
pectinifer
Pecciaigeria ...
pectoralis
pedicialis
pedina
Pedipalpi
pelamys
Pelargopsis
Pelecanus
Pelicanid£e
pellucida
pellucidalis
Pempelia
penelope...71, 216,
penelops
pennatus
Penthema
Penthoceryx ...
percuopterus ...
Perdicola
Perdicula
peregrinator ...
pcregrinus
•pergracile
pericresalis
Pericrocotus ...
Perixera
Perizoma
permntans
pernigrata
Pernis
perpicta
ptTrotteti
perscripta
persimilif;
personata
perviaria
petersi ..'.
peti'onius
Petrophila
PhabinsB
Phacochjerus ...
phacusa ...
Phgenicopterus
pha3aicopterus..,
phsenicura
phaenicuroides ...
PAGE
335
319, 531
715
308
558, 779
709
326, 327
745
201
45, 562
502
502
320
699
97
235, 509, 575, 683, 775
... 246
57
332
52
343
410
64, 490
61, 344
... 61,290,394, 687
352
482, 483
202, 394, 397
86
76
84
715
58,60,757
85
326, 327
86
83
494
514
268
148
202, 537, 637
186
204, 432
295
216,222
184,577
695
635
![]()
INDEX.
loeV
phaeocephalus ...
ph^opus
Phaethon
Phacthonidfe ...
Phalacra ...
Phalacrocoracidaa
Phalacrocoracinfe
Phalacrocorax...
PhasianidEe
Phassus
Phauda
Phaudinas
Phegopteris
Pheidole
Philanthus
philippensis ...
philippinas ...
philippus
Philopator
•phipsoni
Phlebohecta ...
♦Phlogiodes ...
PhlycttBDodes ...
Phoenicopterus
phcenicura
phcEnicuroides...
phccnicurus ...
Phragmataacia...
Phryssosceles ...
Phthonoloba ...
Phycita
Phylloscopus ...
•Physcon
pictalis
pictus...
Picumnus
Pidorus
Pierinse
Pieris
pileata
Piletocera
pilifera
pinnata
Pinta
pinwilli
Pipistrellus
Pirdana
Pithecolobium...
Pitta
PAGE
202
67
503
503
656
.502,681
502
... 72, 347, 602, 686
486,671
647
303
303
628, 631
756
106, 130
-.. 502
44, 342, 561
142
302
751, 752
296
748
... 514, 713
71
68
341
4!)4, 678
646
86
81
476
393, 636
133, 1S4, 160
703
64
203
297
152, 334, 511
... 153, 154, 155, 156
45,203,217,428, 562
704
270, 281, 473
673'
298
336
718, 723, 724, 725, 757
336
396
559
placida
plagiola
plagiosa
planalis
Platalea
I'lataleiB
Plateopsis
Platisodes
Plator
Platoridaa
platycblamys ...
Platyzyg^na ...
plautas
Plebeius
Plecoptera
Plegadis
*Plesiophrictus
plioius
Ploceus
Plotinje
Plotus
plumbealis
•plumbemai'ginalis
plumbeola
plumbeolineata
plumbeotincta...
pluriliuearia ...
Pliisia ...
plusioides
Podicepedidje ..
Podicipedidje ...
Podiceps
pcecilorhyncha
Poecilotheria ...
Pollsetus
Poliofetus
poliocephalus ...
Polistes
politum
*pC'litus
Polycampsis ...
polychromata ...
Polydesma
Polygonum
Polynemus
polyuice
Polyocha
Polyommatu^ ...
Polyplectrum ...
PAOB
498
715
37
y7
347
503
713
86
753
753
327
296
143
146
514
503
749
.512
... 221,340
... 503, 681
72, 503, 681, 784
704
. . 706
.=. 295
82
76
82
514
35
510
. 683
72,510,683
71, 509
746
58
... 288,344
68, 494, 678
110
... 468, 469
262
485
• 39
.514
297
... 194,434
... 139,140
... 310,514
512
... 486, 676
![]()
rNDEX.
Polyploca
Pol.vpod'um ...
polypt3'chella ...
Polystichum ...
PompilidEB
pompiliformis...
Pompilus
pondicerianus,..
Ponerida;
Ponzana
Porphyrio
porryiee...
Porzana...
postalba
posthyaliaa
postica
postvitta
Poujadia
prsetexlata
prasliai
Pratincola
Prinia
Priocnemis
prismatica
prismaticus
Problepsidis
proboscideus ...
♦Proconica
piolixum
promelsena
Prooniphe
properta
propinqua
Prosopis
Proteides
Prothoe
Protoparce
protractus
Provopera
prunicolor
Psecbrid3B
Psechrus
Pseudagenia ...
pscudocystoptetis
Pseadogyps ...
Pseudophia
Pseudotantalus
Pseudoterpna ...
PAGE
38
...322,396, 628,631
476
532
103,118
104
103,104,119
64, 345, (;91
756
345
68, 494, 678
336
493,639,694
295
296
513,653
294, 295
308
135
138, 139
... 339, 402, 637, 779
338
103
106
10;;
655
745
708
322, 535, 536, 587, 538
309
73
295
326
Ill
157
333
513
513
481
653
750
751
118
528
.56,288,343
514
.506
88
pseudovitrinoides
psilopus
Psorosa
Psyche
Psychidse
Psychinje
Pteris
Pterocles
Pterodecta
PteropodidaB ...
Pteropus
Ptychopoda
ptyonopoda
Ptyonoprogne ...
puella
puellarig
puera
Puffinus
pugnax
pulaha
pulchella
pulchellum
pulchia
pulverosa
punctata ...
punctatus
punctifimbria ...
punctimargo ...
Pupa
purpurea
purpureotincta
♦purpureum ...
pusilla
putli
Pyciionotus
pygidalis
pygidialis
pygmseus
Pygopodes
Pygospila
Pyonarmon
Pyralidae
Pyrameis
pyranthe
Pyiausta
pyran«
Pyrgus „
pyrrhute...
PAGE
327
104
812
644
643, 644
644
320
345
648
717
717
82,83,84
84
341
390, 891
513
514
766
67, 492, 493, 499, 677
330
109, 300, 513
112
528
83,309
257, 328
326
91
647
326
69
309
349
345, 493, 557, 689, 694
513
572
104
104
72,681
510,683
514
706
93
512
512
714
152, 160
513
140
![]()
INDEX.
XXVll
quadricolor
quadrifasciata...
quadrinotafca ..
quadripunctella
quenavadi
quercifolium ..
Quercus
Querquedula ..
PAGE
156
113
76
307
514
396
672,776
18,72, 216,243,247,
251, 444, 445, 459, 509, 575, 683
quinaria 650, ('51
quinquestriata 82
rachel...
radiata
radiatum
raja
rajata
Rallidse
Rallina
ramcsum
Eandia
ranga ...
Rapala
Raparna
rattus
rectificata
rectilinea
•rectilineella ...
rectisectalis .,.
recurvirostris ...
reflexa
regularis
Remigia
remota
remotata
reraotum
renalis
renatusalis
•repens
repens
responsaria
resticula
restitura
retusa ...
Rhachis
Rhagodes
Rhax
rhetenor
Rhiuolophidae ...
10
... 154
706
.50,287
, 298
, 80
493,677
J, 216, 386,493, i;94
625
657
332
'49,512
514
416,417
(349
93
306
485
495
514
83
514
025
)<?,
624,625
39
7C0
535
322, 632
87
314
36
531, 5;!2, 674
326, 32S
746
746
335
718
Ehinopalpa
Rhipidura
Rhodonessa
Rhodoneura ...
Rhodophfea
Ehodostrophia...
Rhomborista ...
Ehopalocera ...
Ehopocicha
Ehopocicula ...
Ehopodytes
Ehyacornis
Ehynchaea
Ehynchium ...
Ehyuchopinaj ...
Ehynchops
Ehyuhium
Ehytidoceros ...
richardi
ricini
ridibundus
*rid]eyi...
rinkii
ri?orius
Rivula
robur
*robustu8
Rodentia
Rosacese
roseistrigella ...
rosella
roseus ... 202,
Eostratula
rotunda
rotundifolia
I'oxburghii
RuabiceJB
rubellata
rubescens
Eiibiaceffi
rnbiginea
rubridentata
rubridisca
rubridotata
rubrivitta
rubroviridis
rndis
rudolphii
rufa
PAOE
139,160
... 779
... 509
... 715
... 477
... 87
88,89
... 511
... 393
.. 202
... 53
... 637
... 66
... 109
... 502
... 502
... IJO
2, 233, 563
... 5.58
... 513
501, 680
... 426
... 327
63, 344, 639
... 715
... 672
... 748
... 418
... 550
... 310
... 97
216, D38, 397, 502, 544
347,428,501,640,680
... 302
... 675
... G74
... 352
... SI
... 103
... 550
... 35
... 84
... 76
... 75
... 296
... 79
562, 572
... 336
337, 529
![]()
xxvm
INDEX.
rafaria
ruficapilla
ruiicaudus
rufidorsata
rufigrisea
rufigularis
*rufilata
rufina ... 348,
rufipennis ...
n^fipeB
rufipis
rnfivena
rufofasciata ...
rufoglaucus
rufoterminalis
rufovenalis
rufulus
rugulosa
rulata
ruminalis
rupestre
•rupicola
ruptifascia
ruptilinea
russellii
rnstica
rusticola
rueticula
Rutaceaa
rutila
Rygchium
sabulifera
saccharalis
sacer
sacraria
sadana
Sadarga
Badarsa
uagittifera
Balar
(jalius
Balis
Salmo
Salnria
Salvia
Sameodes
Bamundra
sanguifiua ...
PAGE
85
422
637
86
88
490
746
509, 575, 594, 683, 775
560,690
102,112
112
96
651
750
482
96
341, 558
273, 281
637
482
532
531, 532
83
87
765
341, 557, 638
66, 346
500, 679
550
347, 416, 509, 683
109
514
305, 306
506
514
655
134
715
715
194
103
36, 074
194
308, 309
550
••• ... 514
134
300
sanguinarella .,
sanguinatns ..
san guinea
sapphirina
Sarangesa
sarasinorum .,
Sarcidiornis .
Sarciophorus .
Sarcoglanca
Sarcogratutnus.
satellitia
i=ati
Satoa
saturata
satiiratus
Satyrinse
saularis
Sauris ...
Sauropatis
Saxicola
scalaris ...
scalpratum
Sceliphron
schimperi
sciiimpcriana .
Sehleicbera
schreiberi
Sciapteron
Sciurus...
Scolia ...
ScoliidiB
scoHoides
Scolopacin* ■
Scolopax
scolopnx
Scolopendra
Scops ...
Scorpiones
Scorpiops
Scotocerca
Scotophilus
Scotosla
scutellaris
scixtellata
scutulata
scutulatus
scena
Selea
Selenocasmia
PAGE
310
87
37,85, 657
295
513
263
508, 572
497
309
346, 497, 640, 678, 772
514
513
134
S3, 217
565
133
402, 403, 779
81
562
225, 339, 579
105
756
105
319, 532
623
673
330
40
777
102, 103
102
40
500, 679
... 66, 346, 500, 679
66,495
214
5.5,287, 570
744
267
338
718, 724, 725
75
113
Ill
50, 287, 684
508, 572
502, 681 . 774
715
746
![]()
INDEX.
XXIX
selenophora
seloputo
semamora
semifascialis ...
semiflavus
semifusca
semihyalina ...
semilEevis ...
semilinea
semipavonaria ...
semipnrpurea ...
semisericea
semistriata
semiusta
senescens
scutulata
Sephisa
sepiaris
septempunctata
sericata
scrrata
serrato-dentata...
*seriato-dentatuia
serva
servula
Sesia
Sesiidie ...
Sesquiptera
Beverus
sexnotatus
shahama
sibilitiis
sibirica
Sideroxylou ...
sieboldii
sientoreus
signifer
sikbima
sikkima
Sikkimensis
simillimus
Simotes
simplex
siudianus
sinensis
Singhalia
sinnosa
smithii
smjrnensis
PAGE
332
_ 569
' 159
701
746
80
296
470, 472, 474
84
650
89
84
557
477
112
570, 571
331
745
654
75
672
622
621,622
514
32
40
40
77, 79
290
647
297
235
555
673
233
636
648
32,643
40
295, 301
115
766,767
714
341
53, 340, 507, 566, 682
309
651
341
45, 342, 562
suelleni...
Snellenia
Solanacefe
solena
solidaria
Solifugfe
solitaria ...
soloensis
Somatina
sondaicus
sonnerati
serdida
Soritia
Soymida
spadiceus
Sparassus
Spatalia
Spatula
Spatulipalpia ...
speciosus
specularia
specularis
sperbia
Sphferopaus
Sphierotherium
Sphecodes
Sphegidaj
Sphex
Sphingidse
Spica
Spilornis
spinipectus
spinulosum
spirifex
spissalis
Spizaetus
Spizaetus
Spizffitus
splendens
spodinopa
Sporseginthus ...
Squatarola
Biiwa
Stacbytarpheta
stagnatilis „.
Stasiua
*staudingeieana
Steganopodes ...
Stegodyphus ...
501,
PAGE
... 146
... 292
... 550
... 38
... 514
... 746
, 537, 782
686
87
187
52, 63
... 202,331
... 296, 298
673
63
752
... 32,34,35
71, 348, 453, 509
479
394
652
654
293
... 272, 273
467, 468, 469
... 123,130
... 104,119
... 1U5, 109
335
666
58, 288, 684
1G9
625
105
712
57
684
288
... 337,390
514
... 340, 781
65, 497
143
, 550
67, 499
753
139
... 502, 681
750
![]()
INDEX.
stellaris
stellatarum
Stemmatophora,
Stenachroia
Stenagyra
Stenia
steniella
*steniellus
Stenochirns ..
Stenogyra
stenophylla
stentoi'eus
stenura ..
Sterculia
[sterna
Sterninse
Sterrha
bthenura
Stibochiona
Stichophthalnia
stigmata
stigma tic us
•Stimula
gtipata ...
Stizus ...
stocksii ...
stokesii ...
stolatus ...
gtolida ...
Stoparola
strabo ...
t-tracheyi
straminea
stratonicc
PA(iE
70, 347, 507
513
485
93
326
... 514
477
:5uo
L'(i2, 2ii3
785
320
<;35
427, 428, .MJO, (iSO, 776, 782
672
72,347, GSl, 774
502, 680
... 514
... 66
... 331
... 330
... 647
615, 646
... 150
... 294
... 10(j
... 674
... 642
111,765
... 514
... 202
... 512
... 638
... 83
... 140
streperus 18, 21, 71, :J48, 509, 57.5, 683, 775
Strepsilas
striata ...
strict iim
strigata ...
Striges ...
Strigidpe
strigivenella
strigula ...
strigulata
Strix ...
strix
fitrobilantlics
strongylurns
struthersi
496
.68, 49.-!, 677
... 672
. 311,312
... 286
... 286
. 310,476
... 513
77,87
54, 286,568
... 645
... 550
... 407
... 498
Struthiopterit^ ..
•studiosa
Sturnia
sturninu*^
Sturnus
stygianus
Styx
Suastus ...
subpenescens
subangulata
subapicalis
subbruDescens .
subcarnea
subcincta
snbconcinella ,
*subconcolor .
subdeleta
subfuscatus
subhyalina
submarginalis .
suboblitella
subrufa ...
substigmaria .
subtil iaria
subtriangularo
subucula
subviridis
Succinea
succirubra
sudassana
suecica ...
Sufetula
Sula
suma
Sum alia
sumatranus
sundara...
superciliaris
sura
Suralaya
suratensis
Surattha
Suruiculus
sutoriiis
sweitcnia
swinhoei
swinhoii
Sylepta ...
sylvatica
PAGE
627
126
386,391,397,398,399
400
.338, 6S7
143
513
513
76
85
514
76
83
642
310
107, 130
90
503
... 297
294, 298
314
202
649
90
320
331
88
326
672
332
402
... 483
72
673
332
421,773
579
216,493
329
134
63
514
53,203
52, 415
673
159
44, 561
710, 715
48
![]()
INDEX.
Sylvia ...
Symbrenthia
symethus
Symmacra
symphoniella
Symplocos
synagroicles
Syncosmia
SyntomidjB
Syntomis
Sypheotides .
Sypheotis
syrichthus
Syrnium
Syrphus
Syzeuxis
Tabidia ...
Taccocua
Tachomis
Tachyris
Tachysphex
Tachytes
Tadorna
tasniurns
taeniurns
Tagiades
taigoor
Tajuria ...
Tama
tamala ...
taninrus
TantalDS
taooana
Taphozous
taprobana
Tarache...
tarsella
Tarucus...
Tasema...
tasmanicus
Tathorhynclius
Tecoma
Tectoua
teesa ... .,
Tegostoma
tegulata
Teinopalpus ..
Teldenia
PAGE
780
.338, J99, 634, 679
32, 33
95
294
529,530, 531
529
90
115
327
-. 326, 327
76
••■ 529, 531
308
749
288
38
80
142
514
80
513
... 394
66
512
••• 351, 673
• •• 560, 777
550
... 401, 637
129
102
... 194. 434
647
674
776
94
92, 514, 715
93
300
226, 340, 778
637
151
..» ... 745
512
746
43
513
513
103
![]()
xxxu
INDEX..
•Tlirigmopa'us
Thripones
Thnnhergia
thurstoni
Thyatira
Thymistada
Thynuas
tichelli
tigrina
tigrinus,..
Timandra
Tinaegeriidie ..
tinctor
Tinea
Tincrastia
Tingipicus
Tinnunculus ..
Tiphia
Tirathaba
tirrhaca
Tithonia
tomentosa
tomentosum ..
toona
torquatus
torqueola
torqiiilla
torrida
torvus ...
TotaniUcB
Totanus...
Toxoides
Trachypus .<
Tragopon
tianquebanca .
trauquebarica .
tranquebaricus
transecta
translncidella .
*travancoria .
Trepsichroia .
triangalaria .,
Trichajta
Trichochloi'itis
Trichophysetis
Trichopterygia
trichostridia .
Iricincta
tricolor
PAKE
747
r,6(i
550, 559
...27(;, 283, 284, 285
37
656
201
723,780
. 465, 466, 467, 472, 474
690
87, 514
292
100
214
307
215
... 61, 291,344,687
... 102,103
.-. 96
514
550
673
673
296
... 54, 219, 432, 576
490
639
, 113
, 751
, 498
67, 346, 499, 640, 679, 774
39
, 107, 130
.. 487
345
690
63
36
477
750
131, 160
, 650
294
326
484
80
33
... 40
298
tricolorella
•tricostatus ...
tridacfcyla
trideutata
Trieropis
Trigonia
Trigonodes
trijuga
trilinearia
Trilochana
Tringa
Tringoides
trinotaria
Triphassa
Triphosa
triplagalis
triplagiata
tripunctata
tvistis ...
trivirgatus
Trochalopteium
trochiloides
trocliilus
Tropidonotus ...
truncata
truncatum
truucipeunis ...
*tniculentu8 ...
Trypanophora...
tubinaris ...
tumida ...
Turdid;e
turneri
Turnicidio ..,
Turnix
Turtur
tusalia
Ttitur ,
ty lodes
Tyndis
tyres
Tyspanodes ...
tytlori
ubaldus
Udaiana
IJlotrichodos ..,
umbvilimbella..
umbroHa ..
PAGE
,.. 308
266
561
112
483,484
153
514
673
653
40
... 67, 499, 679, 775
67
75
485
75
714
... ' 76
656
...339,393,399,684
60
337, 634
636
612
411,765
77
627
334
748
296
786
465, 466, 471, 473, 474
414
146, 160
492,677
... 64, 492, 677, 693
62, 344, 690
422
639
536
... 700
514
708,715
401, 567
512
153
484
313
105
![]()
INDEX.
umbrosus
undulata
undulifera
unicolor
unifascia
unifasciatus
unilineata
uniplaga
Upupa ...
urania ...
uranus ...
Urapteryx
urbica ...
urens ...
Uroloncha
Ursus ...
ustimargo
Vtejovidas
vagabundus
vagans ...
*validus
vallisneria
Vandelnria
Vanessa
Vanillus
Varaaidfe
varia
*variata...
variegata
variegatella
variostigma
varius .,.
velutineila
velutinella
venata ...
venatoria
veatralis
veuulia ...
venusta
venustalis
ve pre cola
Verbanacese
Verbeaa...
verhuelli
veridis ...
varmiculata
vernalis ...
Vernonia
PAGE
105
39
651
637
293
104
83
89
...47, 3^2,639
298
512
715
.340
... 672,674
223,340,537
218, 219, 432, 576
SO
266
103
756
748
606
100
... 140
346
213
45, 342, 513
751
98, 643
310
86
52
304
304
.. 512, 513
752
... 497,679
513
S3
482
■ 513
550
550
334
639
131
54, 568
550
versicolor
versicolorella ...
vesculella
Vespa
Vespertillo
vespertilio
Vespertilionidse
Vesperugo
Vesperus
Vespidfe
vespiformis
vespoides
vestalis
vestigiata
vetusta
vidua ...
vidnata
viiliiatus
vinacea
viuctale
vincula
Vindana
vindhiana
vinosalis
violacea
violaceum
violaceus
Vipera
vira
Virachola
Virapa
virescens
virgatus
virginalis
virgo
viridifrons
viridirostris
viridis ...
vitrea
vitrinoides
*vittatus
vittatus...
vulgaris...
ViilturidfB
walkeri
Watsonia
PAGE
271, 272, 276, 281, 47.3
314
310,311
110
718, 757
713
718
718,757
718
110
103
106
513
650
514
109
lOf)
105
653
513
142
98
57,288,343
481
105
105
766, 767
765
655
512
134
97, 299, 559
290, 687
299
346
184
53
43,94,113,342,415,648
326
327
746
338, 778
345,346,492
287
82
159
![]()
INDEX.
•watsoniana
watsonii
westwoocUi
*wioughtoni
wroughtoni .
PAGE
143, 160
159
329
745,751,752
.275, 276, 283, 284, 724, 725
santhocasis
xanthochlora ...
Xantholfema ...
Xanthoptera ...
Xanthorhoe
xanthorhyntbus
Xenomilia
Xenorhynchus...
Xylocopa
xylodes
Xylonomus
yerburghii
•yerbuyi
Zalapia
Zamenis
*zai>a ...
Zaiona
700,715
... 37
... 43
... 513
... 76
... 566
... 698
... 504
... 114
... 536
116, 130
... 540
106, 130
... 332
... 783
149, 160
... 334
Zea
zebra
zebraica
Zephronia
Zephroniida3
Zeuxidia
Zenzera...
zeylonensis
zeyvlonica
Zinaspa...
Ziuchenia
zinckenii
Zizei'a ...
Zizyphus
zobeiila ...
*zonalis
zonaria ...
zonarhyncha
Zophoessa
Zosterops
zuloma ...
Zygcenid.e
Zygfeninft^
PACK
157, 158, 160
295
275, 276, 282, 295, 473
269,270, 271,272,273,
274, 275, 285, 465, 473
269, 465
330
646
286
779
149,160
514
142
512
673, 764
118
486
112
12
329
390
332
294
294
T
![]()
THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society,
EDITED BY
H . aVE . I»II I I» S O 3M, C.3VI.Z.S.,
Honorary Secretanj-
VOL. XII, No. 1.
Date of publication, lOtli December, 1898.
Price to Non-Memhers... Bs. 6-0,
FEINTED AT THE " TIMES OP INDIA" STEAM PEESS.
BOMBAY.
2S82-98
![]()
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
PAGE
Indian Dgcks and theie Allies. By E. 0. Stuart Baker, r.z.s.
Party. (With Plate V.) 1
A Catalog^ue of the Heterocera of Sikeim and Bhutan. By G. C.
DQd2:eon, e.e.s.; with Notes by H. J. Elwes, r.z.s., and Additions
by Sir George F. Hampson, Bart., b.a., f.e.s., &c. Part IV 32
The Birds of North Kanaea. By J. Davidson, i.c.s. Part II 4,3
The IMoths of India (Supplementary Paper to the volumes in
the " Fauna of British India"). By Sir Geori^e F. Hampson,
Bart., F.z.s,, f.e s. Part IV 73
Description op a New Species of Mus from South India. By J. L.
Bonhoto, {With a Plate) 99
The Aculeate Hymenoptera procured at Aden by Col. Yerbury,
R.A., AND CAPr. Nurse, i.s.c. By Lieiib.-Coloael Bingham,
F.Z.S., P.E.S. {With Plate A) 101
On Some New Species of Indian Hymenoptera. By Lieut.-Col C.
T. Bingham, r.z.s., f.e.s 115
On New and Little- Known Butterflies from the Indo-Malayan,
Austro-Malayan and Australian Eegions. By Lionel de
Nic6ville, f.e.s., c.m.z.s., &c. {With Plates X, F, Z, and AA.) 13I
The Flora OF Western India. By G. Marshall Woodrow. Part V... 162
On Some Superficial Deposits in Cutch. By the Kev. J. F. Blake,
M.A., F.G.s. Parti. {With a Plate.) 177
Review. — The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and
Burma. "Birds," Vol. I V^. By W. F. Sinclair (late i.c.s.) 184
Indian Wild Cattle. — The Tsine and the Gaur (Miscalled
Bison) < «. 187
Fishing in Indian Waters : The Bahmin. By Fred. Ord. Gadsden... 194
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. Birds not recorded from Travancore in the Fauna of British India. By
Harold S. Ferguson , .'..«. 202
2. The Ethiopian Wart Hog (_Phacohcerus JEthopicus'). By Capt. P. Z.
Cos. QWich a Flate.) 204
3. Some Notes on the Narcondam Hornbill, etc. (^Rhytidoeeros narcon-
dami). By Lieut. J. H. St. John, Commanding R. I. M. S. " Elphin-
stone" 212
4. A Voracious Centipede. By Capt. H. Wells-Cole, 2nd K. 0. Y. L. I. ... 214
5. White Snots on the Plumage of a Woodpecker attacked by a Parasite.
By A^L. Butler 214
f>. Parasitic Worms in Fish. By Major R. H. Rattray, 32nd P. 1 215
7. Notes on Wild Fowl in the Tinnevelly District, South India. By W.
N. Fleming , 215
8. Breeding of the Black-Breasted Yellow-Backed Sunbird C^Et/injjygd
saturata') in the Chutla Bheel, Cachar District. By C. M. Inglis.... 217
9. Occurrence of the Black-capped King-fisher (^Halcyon pileata) and
the Black-legged Falconet QMlrruhierax fringillariui') in the
Chutla Bheel, Cachar. By C. M. Inglis ." 2l7
10. Note on the Nidification of the White-Necked Stork (_Disaura epiteo-
^us). By C. M. Inglis 217
{.Continued on third page of the cover.) ^
![]()
CONTENTS OF THIS N U M B E R — (concld.).
-♦-
PAGE.
^IlSCELLANEOUS NOTES — COncM.
11. "Does the Brown Bear Hybernate ? " By C. H. Conald 218
12. Hybernation of the Himalayan Black Bear {Ursus torquatui). By
Major G.S. Eodon 219
13. The Breeding of Moths. By Major R. H. Rattray, 22ud P. 1 219
14. Notes on a Jackal Cub. By Major G. S. Rodon 220
15. Occasional Notes on Nests and Esrsrs found in the Vicinity of
Baroda. By Capt. R. M. Betham, 8th Bo. 1 221
16. Notes on Sport in Ondh. By S. Eardly-Wilmot 223
17. Elephants' Ankle-Joints. By W. F. Sinclair (late i.CS.) ^^"^
18. Lion Cubs. By Major G. S. Rodon 225
19. The Nesting of the Red-Tailed Chat QSaxicola chrysopygia). Bv
Major a. H. Rattray, 22nd P. I .'. 225
20. Curious Conduct of a Panther. By Lieut. C. D. Lester, 17th Bo. I. ... 226
2L A Query. By W. F. Sinclair (late i.e.?.) 228
22. A Brace of Tigers at one Shot. By A. L. Batler, F. z. s., Selango State
Museum 228
23. ^Ugi&tionot i:u2)lcsa core. By E. H. Aitken 229
Proceedings OF THE MEETDJa held on the 14th June, 1898 2,30
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THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay I^atueal History Society,
EDITED BY
H . avE . r> H I r» s o 3Nr , cnvt.z.s..
Honorary Secretainj-
VOL. XII, No. 2.
Date of ■piCblication, SOtli March, 1S99.
Price to Non-Memlers j.^ ... Bs. 6-0,
FEINTED AT THE " TIMES OF IXDJA" STEAII PRESS.
BOMBAY.
![]()
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER,
PAGE.
Indian Ducks and their Allies. By E. 0. Stuarb Baker, f.z.s.
Part VI. (^With Plate VI.) .. 235
Descriptions op Six New Species op Scorpions from India. By E. I.
Pocock, of the British Museum 2G2
A Monograph of the Pill-]\Iillipedes ( Zephroniid.i3 ) inhabiting
India, Ceylon and Burma, By R. I. Pocock, of the British
Museum of Natural History. Parti. (With Plate A.) 269
Birds Collected dueing Five Years' residence in the Hylakandy
District, Cachar. By C. M. Inglis. Part VI. 286
A Catalogue op the Heterocera of Sikhdi and Bhutan. By G. C.
Dudgeon, f.e.s.; with Notes by H. J. Ehves, f.z.s., f.e.s., &c., and
Additions hy Sir George F. Hampson, Bart., b.a., f.e.s., &c. Part V. 292
The Moths of India (Supplementary Paper to the volumes in
the " Fauma of British India"). By Sir George F. Hampson,
Bart., F.Z.S., F.R.S. Part V. '. 304
The Ferns of North- Western India. By C. W. Hope 315
Note on the Land Mollusca of Bombay. By W. T. Blanford, f.e.s. 326
Notes on Some Butterflies from Tenasserim in Burma. By
Lionel de NiceviUe, f.e.s., c.m.z.s., &c. ( With Plate BB.) 329
Birds Collected and Observed at Thull during Five ]\Ionths in
1898, AND Notes on their Nidification, By Major E. H. Rattray 337
Descriptions of some New or Eaee Trees from Travancore. By
T. F. Bourdillon, f.l.s., Conservator of Forests, Travancore.
[With Six Plates.) , 349
The Flora of Western India. By G. Marshall Woodrow, Professor
of Botany, College of Scieuoe, Poona. Part VI 354
On Some Superficial Deposits in Cutch. By the Eev. J. F. Blake,
M.A., F.G.s. Part II. [With a Plate.) 374
The Birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. By A. L.
Butler, f.z.s.. Curator, Selangor State Museum 386
Fishing in Indian Waters, By Fred. 0. Gadsden, r.i.m. Part IL 404
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. A Mark on the Skin of a Man-eating Tiger. By Lieut.-Col. W. B. Ferris 410
2. A Bush Quail and Rain Quail laying in the same Nest. By Lieut. E. C.
Harington, K.A 410
3. Notes on 2G Specimens oi the Pohur, or Himalayan Viper (^Anoistrodon
himalayanusy By Capt. F. Wall, I. M. S 411
4. Occurrence of the Alpine-Swift (jCypsehis melba) in the Darbhanga
District, Tirhoot. By C. M. Inglis 414
5. Breeding of the Whiskered Tern (JHydrochelidon hylrida) in the
Darbhanga District, Tirhoot. By C. M. Inglis 414
G. Note on the Orange-headed Ground Thrush (C'eof'ic/iZa citrina, Lath").
By 0. M. Inglis 4I4
7. Birds Tapping at Window-panes. By E. Ernest Green 415
8. Early Migration of the Ruddy Sheldrake. By T. L. F. Beaumont 416
9. Bombay Eats. By E. H. Aitken 416
(.Continued on third page of the covet'.)
![]()
CONTENTS OF THIS N U M B E R—{condcl).
PAGE.
Miscellaneous Notes— cowM.
10. A Wasp and a Fly. By E. H. Aitken • *^0
11. Bull.terrier and Tiger. By Capt. R. G. Burton............. •• ^^
12. The Nidification of seme Malayan Birds. ^7 A. L Butler f^s ..... 4-1
,o r. .,..,,.« nf T^lflok-win^ed Kite (Marnus ccerulens, Desf.) and the
"• ^^rhX:e?E^SfcS-1.t. ,.^^L,., GmelO, in the Malay Peninsula. ^^^
By A. L. Butler, f.z.s ......-••
1 i. Note on the White Snake CColuder tceniurns, Cope).^^ -^f...^... ;..__! 424
15. Fur^therNotes'onrhyvrrieties of ^"^''^'' ^fj';]'^''^^^^^^^^^ 425
16 ThlcoiourauJrorthe Wing-lining and Axi^llaries in the Fantail and
Pintail Snipes. By A. L. Butler, F.z.s. (IPu/i a PZ«.^<?.) 427
17 On an Immature Si^ecimen of the Black-capped Purple Kingfisher
''• ''\ZlcylTpileatarBoM.y By A. L. Butler F.z.s ...... 428
IR Occurrence of the Eastern Stock Pigeon CColumhaeversmanni-)m the
Shubani Sub-division, I)arbhanga,Tirhoot. By C. M. Inghs 429
19 Occurrence of the Clucking Teal Oyettinm formosuni) in Guzerat. By
E. L.Barton
Peoceedings of the Meetings held on the 13th September and the 7th
December 1898 " '^^9 & 432
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THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
B03IBAY Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
H . 3VE . I> H I E* S O PJ , C.JVr.Z.S.,
AND
VOL. XII, No. 3.
Date of -piCblication, 7th July, 1S99.
Price to Non-Memhers e.* ... lis. 6-0,
FEINTED AT THE '• T[MES OF INDIA" STEA:SI PRESS,
BOMBAY.
![]()
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
PAGE.
Ikdian Ducks and their Allies. By E. 0. Stuart Baker, f.z.s.
Part VII. (With Plate VII.) 437
A Monograph of the Pill-Millipedes ( Zephroniid^ ) inhabiting
India, Okylon and Burma. By E. I. Pocock, of the British
Museum of Natural History, Part II. {With Plate B.) 405
The Moths op India (Supplementary Paper to the volumes in
THE " Fauna of British India"). By Sir George F. Hampsou,
Bart., F.Z.S., F.R.s. Part YI. 475
The Birds of North Cachar. By E. C. Stuart Baker, f.z.s.,m.b.o.u.
PartX 486
Lepidoptera Taken in Cutch. By Capt. C. G. Nurse, f.r.g.s,, f.e.s. 511
The Flora of Western India. By G. Marshall Woodrow, Professor
of Botany, College of Scieuoe, Poona. Part VII 515
The Ferns of"^ North- Western India. By C. W. Hope. Part II 527
Fishing in Indian Waters. By F. 0. Gadsden, r.i.m. Part III,... 539
The " Lantana Bug." By E. Ernest Green, Honorary Entomologist
to the Government of Ceylou 547
The Birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. By A. L.
Butler, F.Z.S., Curator, Selangor State Museum.. 555
^Miscellaneous Notes^
1. Birds Flying at Window- Panes. By Capt. C. G. Nnrse 572
2. Food of the Indian Grey Shrike. By Capt. C. G. Nurse 572
S. On " Indian Ducks and their Alliep." By E. H. Young .^72
■i. The Courting Dance of the Moonal Pheasant. By Major G. S. Kcdon... 573
5. Game in the Waltair District. By Stephen Cox, Dittrict Forest Officer. 574
6. The Breeding of Moths, By W; V. Wallace, Burma Commission 575
7. Birds Tapping at Window-Panes. By Mavy W. Bourdillou 575
8. Hybernation of Black and Brown Bears. By C. H. Donald 576
9. Occurrence of the Nepaul Kalij Pheasant in Kashmir. By C. H. Donald 577
10. Abnormal Number of Eggs in a Nest of the Bengal Green-Pigeon
(_C. phoeyiicoijterus, Lath.'). By C. M. luglis 577
11. Note on the Himalayan Viper {Ancistrodon Uimalayantis'). By F.
Gleadow 577
12. Gecko Cannibalism. By F. P. Bedford 578
13. A Bird Killed by a Mantis. By Major C. A. R. Browne, E.E 578
14. The Palm Swift. By Capt. F. Wall., I.M.S 579
15. Occurrence of the Eufous-Bellied Niltava QNiltava sundara) at Murree-
By Major R. H. Rattray 579
16. The Red-tailed Chat (^Saxicola chrysoj>ygui). By Major R. H.
Rattray 579
17. Birds tapping at Window-Pancs. By E. D. Cuming , 580
18. Trawling in Indian Waters 580
19. Note on Eumenes conica Fabr, and Aler/achile disjurcta Fahr, and
their Parasites Chrynis fuscipennis Brulie, and Fure.vasjng ahdomi-
M^/w, Smith. By Col. C. T. Bingham 585
20. Jungle Notes. By Capt. R. G. Burton 587
21. Food of tlie King Cobra and Krait. By A. M. Primrose 589
12. Nesting of the Black Eagle. By W. Mahon Daly 589
23. A Flying Snake. By W. Mahon Daly 589
Proceedings of the Meetings held on the 28th February 1899 590
![]()
Iffnihji |l;itin;:il ^isforg ^ocji^fg.
LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS.
IJrrsitifnt.
H. E. the Right Honorable Lord Sandhurst.
Dr. D. MacDomtld, m.d., b.s.c, cm.
Mr. J. D. Inveraritj, B.A., ll.b.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, c.Ji.z.s.
Capt. A. J. Peile, r.a.
Mr. H. M. Phipson, c.m.z s.
and
Mr. W. S. Millard.
iifianaging aTommittfr.
Lt.-Col, C. T. Bingtam, f.z.s. | Mr. T. R. D. Bell.
Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, f.z.s. | Mr. L. de Niceville, f.e.s., cii.z >i
Dr. D. MacDonald. | j^j,, ^^ Abercrombie.
The Hon. Mr. G. W. Yidal, i.c.s. j^^^. ^^ j^ j,^^^^^^^^
Rev. F. Dreckman, s.J. ; j^e^inald Gilbert
Snrg.-Lt.-Col. T. S. Weir. i ^' ■"®°^'^'^^^ uubert.
Surg.-MajorK.R.Kirtikar.F.s.M. ^^'- ^' ^i- Branson.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity. ; ^^'*- E. Comber.
Mr. W. S. ]\Iillard. i Capt. A. Newuham, f.z.s.
Dr. P. W. Bassetfc-Smith, R.N. 1 Mr. R. C. Wronghton.
Capt. A. J. Peile, E.A., ex-officio.
Mr. H. M. Pbipson, c.m.z.s. ejc-offi.cio.
1st Section. — (Mammals and Birds.)
President — Mr. J. D. Inverarity.
Secretary — Mr. E. Comber.
2nd ^eGtion.—(ReptiIe!i and Fishes.)
President-The Hon. Mr. G. W. Vidal, i.c.s.
Secretary— Mr. H. M. Pbipson, c.jj.z.s.
ord Section. — (Insects.)
President — l\Ir. L. de Xiceville, f.e.s., c.m.z.s.
Secretary— Mr. E. H. Aitken.
4tb Section. — (Other Invertehrates.)
President — (V^acant.)
Secretary— Dr. P. W. Bassett-Smitb, R.X.
5th Section.— (^o^a?2j/.)
President— (Vacant.)
Secretary — Surgeon-Major K. R. Klrtikar, f.s.m. (Franc*^), m.r c.s.
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THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
IX. XS/T . PHZPSOPJ, c.n^.z.s.,
AND
VOL. XII, No. 4.
Date of publication, 8th JVovemberf 1899.
Price to Non-Members ^.^ ... Bs. 6-0.
FEINTED AT THE «« TIMES OF INDIA" STEAM PRESS,
BOMBAY.
![]()
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
PAGE.
Indian Ducks and their Allies. By E. 0. Stuart Baker, f.z.s.
Part VIII. (With Plate VIIL) 593
The Ferns of North-Westeen India. By C. W. Hope. Part II coutd.
{With Plates IX to XIV) 621
Nesting in Kashmir. By Lieut. N. F. T. Wilson, r.i.m 634
A NEW Sea-Snake of the Genus Distira., frosi Kuerachee. By
G. A. Boalenger, F.R.S. {With a Plate) 642
A Catalogue of the Heterocera of Sikhim and Bhutan. By G. C.
Dudgeon, f.e.s., Part VI 643
The Hill Forests op Westeen India. By H. M. Bird wood, c.s.i.,
ll.d., M.A., late Vice-President of the Bombay Nat. Hist. Society... 659
Description of a new Androsace from the North-Western
Himalaya. By J. F. Duthie 675
BlEDS COLLECTED IN THE HyLAKANDY DiSTEICT, CaCHAR. By
0. M. Inglis. Part VII 676
Birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. By A. L. Butler,
F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., ETC., Curator, Selangor State Museum. Part III.
{With a Plate) 684
The Moths op India (Supplementaey Paper to the volumes in
THE " Fauna of Beitish India"). By Sir George F. Hampson,
Bart., F.Z.S., F.E.S. Part VII.,. , 697
Some Konkan Bats. By R. 0. Wroughton, c.m.z.s., Indian Forest
Service. {With a Plate) 716
Fishing in Indian Waters. By F. 0. Gadsden, r.i.m. Part IV. ... 726
List of Indian Bieds' Eggs in the Bombay Natural History
Society's Collection 734
Diagnoses of some new Indian Arachnida. By E. I. Pocock,
Zool. Dept., British Museum 744
Review — The Game Birds of India, Part II 754
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. Note on Diacamma^ a Pouerine Genus of Ants, and of the finding of a
female of D. vagans^ Smith. By Col. C. T. Bingham 756
2. A " Rare " Bat— An Appeal. By R. C. Wroughton 757
3. Food of Pernis Cristatus Cuv (The Crested Honey-Bazzard> By
0. M. Inglis 758
4. List of Birds of the Kyaukse District. By Major J. H. Sewell 758
5. Notes on the IlypoooUus Ampelnius, (The Bulbul Shrike). By W. D.
Gumming, c.m.z.s 760
6. Two unusual Specimens of Tropidonotus stolatus. By Capt. F. Wall,
I.M.S , 765
7. Duration of Parturition in the Daboia (^Vipera russellii). By E. C.
Cholmondeley 765
8. Occurrence of the Green-billed Shearwater QPitffinut chlororhyncvs') on
the Mekran Coast. By W. D. Gumming 766
9. Notes on a very unusual Specimen of Simotes violaceous or a Possible
now Species. By Capt. F. Wall, I.M.S 766
{Continued on third page of the cov&r.)
![]()
CONTENTS OF THIS N U M B E H-{concId.),
PAGE.
MiscELLAiTEOUs NoTEs — cmcM,
10. Protective Powers of Scent in Animals. By N. C. Macleod 7G8
11. Cannibalism. By F. Finn yfiy
12. Food of the Indian Wild Boar. By R. M. Nash 77O
13. Tapeworms found in a Fish. By E. M. Dixon 77(>
14. The Common Indian Swift. By N. F. T. Troup 77 1
15. The Nidification of some Malayan Birds. By A. L, Butler 772
16. Bison, Tiger and Wild Dogs. By Major G. S. Eodon 77g
17. The Whiskered Tern (Bydrochelidon hyiricla.') By C. M. Inglis 774
18. Autumnal Arrivals. By C. M. Inglis 774
19. Note on the White-eyed Duck (_Nyrocc ferruginia") and the Tufted Duck
^N.fuligula). By C. M. Inglis 775
20. A Plague of Web-making Caterpillars on the '' Silang" Tree. (^Olea
fragrans). By N. F. T. Troup 775
Note on the above. By G. C. Dudgeon, F.E.S 776
21. Nesting of the Black Eagle. By Capt. Kenneth Buchanan 776
22. Food of the Palm-Squirrel. By T. W. Bartlett 777
23. Nesting of the Large-billed Willow Warbler (^Aeanthopneuste wagniros-
tris). By Capt. Kenneth Buchanan 777
24- Occasional notes on Birds' nesting in the neighbourhood of Poona.
By Capt. R. M. Betham 778
25. Winter sleep of Beai's. By Major G. S. Eodon 782
26. Possible occurrence of the Great Snipe (^Gallinago major) near Madras.
By Capt. C. Donovan, I.M.S 782
27. Live Frogs in a Snake. By Capt. H. J. Kelsall, R.A 783.
28. Plumage of the Snake-Bird (_Plotus melanogastery By W. F. Sinclair,
late I.C.S 784
29. The Effects of a bite from a Phoorsa (_Uchis carinatd). By R. H . Heath
A.M.I.C.E 784
80. The Bombay Land Mollu sea. By Capt. A. J. Peile, R.A, 78&
31. An ovoviviparous Snail. By Capt. A. J. Peile, R.A , 785
'32. Earpyiocephalui Tubinarig (Scully). By R. C. Wroughton, I.F.S 7SG
33. Bear killed by a Tiger. By A. L. Butler , 787
Proceedings of the Meetings held on the 28th June 1899 and 18th
September 1899 787
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THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
H. 3VI. P XI X P S O ra , C.3VE.Z.S.
AND
VOL. XII, No. 5.
Containing Title Page, Accounts for 1899, List of /[Members,
Contents, List of Contributors, List of Plates,
Index to Vol. XII, and three Plates.
Date of publication, olst March, 1900-
Price to Non-Mem hers. . . ... ... ... Rs. 2.
PRINTED AT THE « TIMES OP INDIA" STEAM PRESS,
BOMBAY.
£04S'99
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NOTICE TO BINDER.
Tlie Contents of this Number should be arranged as follows when
Vol. XII. is being bound : —
Title Page
Accounts for 1899...
List of Members ...
List of Contents ...
Do. Contributors
Do. Plates
. Frontispiece.
. To follow Frontispiece.
. To follow List of Members.
I
>To follow List of Members.
I
J
Plate of Moths No. 1 (with Explanations) to be removed from page
555 to face page 32.
Plates X and Y to be removed from page 576 and to face
page 131.
Do. Z and A A To face page 131.
Do. BB To face page 321).
Index ... ... ... ... At end of Volume,
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