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THE
JOURNAL
OF THE
Bombay Natural History Society.
EDITED BY
IMC. FHXPS O 3SB" , CIME.Z.3S.,
AND
VOL. XV.
Consisting of Five Parts and containing Twelve Coloured Plates, Eighteen Lithographs, Two Photographs and Sixty -two Blocks,
Dates of Publication,
Part I(Pages 1 to 16}) 10th June, 1903.
„ II (Pages 162 to S7 4) 28th Oct., 1903.
„ III (Pages 375 to 536) 15th Feb., 1904.
„ IV (Pages 537 to 735) ... ... ... ... ,. 27th June, 1904.
„ V (Index t &cl) ... ... ... IQth Oct., 1904.
D oilt'a g:
PRINTED AT THE TIMES PRESS, BOMBAY. 1
ERR A T A.
Page 304, liae 21, after the figure 26 read " Driqiadia:'
Page 306, line 15, for '* Xeronia ,1 read " ETonta."
Page 414, in the figure, the letterings " pt " and " pal " should be transposed.
Page 415, line 5, for " Wope" read " Hope."
Page 511, last line, for " rubescens " read " erubescent."1'1'
Page 510, line 26,
Page 513, line 17,
Page 514, line, 30 for " rink,*'' read " ring.
, line 26, ")
Y for « Tonglie" read "Touglv,:' Page 513, line 17, J
CONTENTS OF VOLUME XV.
V
PA.GE.
New Species of Indian Hymenoptera. By Major C. G. Nurse,
13tb Bombay Infantry 1
The Moths of India. Supplementary Paper to the Volumes in " The Fauna of British India." Series II, Part IX. By Sir G. F. Hampson, Bart., f.z.s., f.e.s 19
On Two Cetaceans from Travancore. By H. S. Ferguson. With a Note on the same. By R. Lydekker, b.a., f.r.s., f.g.s., Ac. (With Plates A $ B) 38
A List of the Butterflies of the Konean. By E. H. Aitken
and E. Comber , 42
The Poisonous Plants of Bombay. By Lt.-Col. K. R. Kirtikar, I.M.S., f.l.s., Member, Association Internationale des Bota- nistes, Holland, Civil Surgeon, Ratnagiri. Part XX. (With Plate V) 56
The Birds of the Madhubani Sub-division of the Darbhanga District, Tirhot, with Notes on Species noticed else- where in the District. By C. M. Inglis. Part VI 70
The Ferns of North- Western India. By C. W. Hope. Part • III— The General List 78
Snake-Bites and Poisonous Fishes. By P. W. Bassett-Smith,
M.R.C.S., r.n 112
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Size of remarkable Trees. By G. Marshall Woodrow... 131 2. — Nesting notes from Kashmir. By Kenneth Buchanan,
Major, 4th Sikhs 131
3. — Notes on a few Caterpillars of Indian Sphingidtfi. By
A. H. Mosse, Lieut., i.s.c 133
4. — Number of eggs of the Daboia ( Vipera Eusselli). By
A. H. Mosse, Lieut., i.s.c 134
5. — The incubation of a Cuckoo's egg. By A. H. Mosse,
Lieu ., i.s.c, Assist. Political Agent, Mahi Kantha... 134 6. — A Centipede eating a Snake. ( With a Photograph.)
By W. P. Okeden 135
7. — A Man-eating Panther. By L. S. Osmaston, Deputy
Conservator of Forests ,.... 135
8. — Note on the Breeding of certain Herons, etc., in Southern
India. By H. N. Packard, C, R. Apta t, 138
52038
vi CONTENTS.
TAGS.
Miscellaneous Notes — contd.
9. — Queer find of a Painted Snipe's egg. By H. N. Packard,
Capt., R.A • , 139
10. — Bird's nesting in Southern Shan States of Burma. By
H. H. Harrington, Capt 140
11.— Rare Ducks. By E. C. Stuart Baker 141
12.— Gazelle taking to Water. By G. S. Rodon, Major 142
13.— The Crested Grebe. By E. C. Stuart Baker ...- 142
14. Food of the Hamadryad or King Cobra. By W. H.
Craddock 143
15. — Occurrence of the Cotton Tea] (Nettapus Coromandelia-
nus) in Sind. By J. W. Parrington, Lieut., 47th
1 hi L I 0 1 \ • I V • i * £1.* ■•*•••••••••••■ «o* «••••• !•■«••••*•••••••••••• It"*-
16. — Food of Melursus ur sinus (The Sloth-Bear or Indian
Bear). By H. R. G. Hasted 144
17. — Felis Bengalensis (The Leopard Cat.) By H. R. G.
Hasted 144
18. — Notes on Birds near Quetta. By J. W. Watson, Capt.,
i.m.s 144
19. — Note on Hiercctus fascialus. By W. D. dimming 145
20. — Prehistoric-Man-Hunting in India. By H. W. Seton-
Karr ....„ , 14G
21. — Drought-resisting Fodder Plants for India. By W.
Wedderburn 148
Proceedings of the Meetings held on the 5th February, 5th
March and 16th April 1903 156
Insect Life in India and How to Study it, being a Simple Account of the more important Families of Insects, with Examples of the Damage they do to Crops, Tea, Coffee and Indigo Concerns, Fruit and Forest Trees in India. (With a Plate.) By E. P. Stebbing, f.l.s., f.e.s.... 163
A List of the Batrachians known to inhabit the Malay Peninsula, with some Remarks on their Habits, Distri- bution, &c. By A. L. Butler, f.z.s., m.b.o.u., &c. (Director of Game Preservation, Soudan Government) 193
The Moths of India. Supplementary Paper to the Volumes in " The Fauna of British India." Series II, Part X. (With Plate C.) By Sir G. F. Hampson, Bart., f.z.s., f.e.s.. 206
CONTENTS. vii
PAGE.
The Gaur and the Gayal (Bos gaurus and Bos frontalis). By
E. C. Stuart Baker, p.z.s 227
The Birds of Travancore. By H. S. Ferguson, f.l.s., with Notes on their Nidification. By T. F. Bourdillon, f.l.s. (With a Plate) 249
Notes on the Anopheles in Ceylon and on the Life History of Anopheles fuliginosus. Giles. By Major N. Man- ders, r.a.m.c., f e.s. (With Remarks and Drawings — Plates A and B — by E. E. Green, f.e.s., Entomologist to ihe Government of Ceylon) , 265
The Trees and Shrubs of the Lonavla and Karl a Groves. By G. A. Gammie, f.l.s., Professor of Botany and Agri- culture, College of Science, Poona 279
The Classification of the Lepidoptera papilionina. By L. C. H. Young, Entomological Hony. Secy, to the Bombay Natural History Society 294
" Kills " by Carnivorous Animals, being some Remarks on the Method of their Identification. By W. A. Wal- Hnger, Divisional Forest Officer, Dharwar 312
A Catalogue of the Heterocera of Sikhim and Bhutan. By G. C. Dudgeon, f.e.s., with Notes by H. J. Elwes, f.r.s., &c, and Additions by Sir George Hampson, Bart, b.a., f.e.s., &c. Part XV 319
The Anopheles of Karwar (North Kanara). (With a Plate.) By H. Cogill, m.r.c.s., l.r.c.p., Acting Civil Surgeon, Sholapur 327
The Birds of the Madhubani Sub-division of the Dar- bhanga District, Tirhut, with Notes on Species noticed elsewhere in the District. By C. M. Inglis. Part VII... 337
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Late Stay of Snipe. By C. D. Lester, Captain 344
2.— A Panther Experience. By T. R. D. Bell 344
3. — The Four-horned Antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), By
G. S. Rodon, Major 34G
4. — The Nesting of the Yellow-browed Bulbul (Iole icterica) and the Spotted Babbler (Pellorneum ruficeps). By
R. M. Betham, Major, 8th Bombay Infantry 346
5.— Eood of Dry o plus my cterizans. By A. M. Primrose ... 347
viii CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Miscellaneous Notes — concld.
6. — Note on Clangula glaucion (The Golden-Eye). By E.
C. Stuart Baker, f.z.s 348
7. — The Enemies of Butterflies. By C. G. Nurse, Major,
13th Bombay Infantry 349
8. — Curious accident to a Kingfisher. By E. C. Cholmon-
deley 350
9. — Late Stay of the Sheldrake (Tadorna cornuta) in Tirhut
and peculiar form of Albinism in the Common Heron
(Ardea cinerea). By Chas. M. Inglis 350
10. — Notes on Birds near Quetta. By T. E. Marshall, Capt.,
R.A 351
11. — Sambar killed by Wild Dogs. By Reginald H.
Heath 355
12.— Further Notes on Konkan Butterflies. By E. Comber. 356 13. — The Golden Cat (Feh's temmincklii). By L. 0. Clarke,
i.c.s 357
14. — Dr. Calmette's Antitoxic Serum and the Poison of the
Daboia ( Vipera Russelli). By G. S. Rodon, Major. 358 15. — Ferocity of the Hamadryad or King-Cobra (Naia
bungarus). By W. Raby Noble 358
16.— Notes on the Insects of Quetta. By C. G. Nurse,
Major, 13th Bombay Infantry 359
17. — Curious accident to the Common Swift (Cypselus
affinis). By M. D. Mackenzie 362
18. — Four interesting Bombay Plants. [With 3 Plates.)
By G. Marshall Woodrow 363
19. — Rat killed by Lead-poisoning. By A. C. Yate, Lieut.-
Col., 2nd Baluch Battn , 364
20.— The Food and Poison of Centipedes. By W. D.
dimming 364
21. — Jatropha enrcas. By F. Gleadow „ 365
22. — Parasites in Peregrine Falcons. By S. Delme Rad-
clifFe, Capt., Meywar Bhil Corps 365
23. — Dioscorea dcemona. Roxb. By G. M. Ryan, i.f.s.,
f.l.s „ 366
Proceedings of the Meetings held on the 23rd July and 24th
September 1903 368
CONTENTS. ix
PAGE.
Insect Life in India and How to Study it, being a Simple Account of the more important Families of Insects, with Examples of the Damage they do to Crops, Tea, Coffee and Indigo Concerns, Fruit and Forest Trees in India. Part II. By E. P. Stebbing, f.l.s., f.e.s 375
A List of the Batrachians known to inhabit the Malay Peninsula, with some Remarks on their Habits, Distribu- tion, &c. By A. L. Butler, f.z.s., m.b.o.u., &c. (Director of Game Preservation, Soudan Government) 387
The Use of Calmette's Antivenine in Snake-Bite in India. By Lt.-Col. W. B. Bannerman, m.d., b.sc, f.r.s.e., Indian ' Medical Service 483
On two Dolphins from Madras. {With Plates C and D). By
R. Lydekker 408
The Ferns of North-Western India. By C. W. Hope 415
Descriptions of Three New Frogs from Southern India and Ceylon. (With a Plate). By G. A. Boulenger, f.r.s., v.p.z.s , 430
The Present Position of Economic Entomology in India. By H. Maswell-Lefroy, m.a., f.e.s., f.z.s., Entomologist to the Government of India 432
A New Termite from India. Described by J. Desneux (Brussels) 445
The Colouration of Birds' Eggs. By D. Dewar, i.c.s 447
The Birds of Travancore. By H. S. Ferguson, f.l.s., with Notes on their Nidification. By T. F. Bourdillon, f.l.s. {With a Plate.) P Art II 455
The Collections in the Society's Museum. By E. Comber,
f.z.s. . 475
Synonymic Catalogue of the Lepidoptera papilionina in the Society's Collection. By L. C. H. Young, Hon. Secy., Insect Section of the Bombay Natural History Society 483
Further Notes on the Classification of Indian Butterflies.
By L. C. H. Young, F.E.S. 498
A List of Travancore Batrachians. ( With Plates A, B and C.)
By H. S. Ferguson, f.l.s 499
Miscellaneous Notes —
1. — Notes on the Breeding of Certain Birds near Darjeeling.
By B. B. Osmaston, i.f.s , , 510
x CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Miscellaneous Notes — contd.
2. — Occurrence of the Cotton Teal in Guzerat. By A. H.
Mosse , , 515
3(a). Some Panther Notes. By A. H. Mosse 516
3(6). Some Panther Notes. By W. D. Gumming 517
4. — Notes on the Nidification of the Indian Black-breasted Rain-quail (Corturnix Coromandelica.) By R. H. Heath 518
5. — The Nesting of Lanius collurioides (The Burmese Shrike) and Artamus fnscus (The Ashy Swallow Shrike) in Upper Burma. By H. H. Harington, Capt. ... 519
6. — The Nesting of Pomatorlmws nuchalis (The Tweeddate
Scimitar Babbler). By H. H. Harington, Capt. .. 519
7. — The Koel laying in the Nest of Pica rustica (The Magpie).
By H. H. Harington, Capt 520
8. — Birds Nesting in Garwhal. By S. L. Whymper. 520
9. — Sand-grouse and Locusts. By R. H. Heath 522
10. — Occurrence of the Dwarf Goose (Anser erythropus) in
Assam. By E. C. Stuart-Baker 524
11. — Cannibalism in Snakes. By F. Wall, Capt., i.m.s 524
12. — The Oceanic or Andaman Teal (Nettium alUgulare).
By Chas. M. Inglis « 525
12(6). The Oceanic or Andaman Teal (Nettium albigulare).
By N. F. Wilson, Commander, R.I.M.S. "Canning." 525 13.— On the Penis of Russell's Viper. By F. Wall, Capt.,
i.m.s 526
14. — Note on Young Fishing Cat (Felis viverrina ). By F.
Wall, Capt., i.m.s 526
15. — The Manipur Bush-quail, or Hume's Bush-quail (Micro-
perdix Manipur ensis). By H. B. Thornhill, Lt.-Col.. 527
16. — Locusts in Gujarat. By A. H. Mosse 528
17. — Extraordinary Courage of a Panther. By L. C. Brodie. 529 18. — Occurrence of Sarcogrammus indicus (the Red-wattled
Lapwing) in the Dibrugarh District, Upper Assam.
By H. Stevens 529
19. — Occurrence of Horeites brunneifrons (the Rufous-capped
Bush-warblcr). By H. Stevens , 530
CONTENTS. xi
PAGE.
Miscellaneous Notes — concld.
20.— Butterflies of the Konkan District. By L. C. H.
Young v 530
21. — Enemies of Insects. By L. C.H.Young 530
22. — Occurrence of the Common Indian Bee-eater (Merops viridis) in Baluchistan. By C. G. Nurse, Major, 1.18th
Infantry 530
23. — The Enemies of Butterflies. By H. Maxwell Lefroy ... 531 24. — A Note on the Habits of Chlorion (Sphex) lobatus. By
H. Maxwell Lefroy 531
25.— Abnormal Growth of Trees. By C. E. C. Fischer, i.f.s. 532 26. — Some Notes on Harrier Hawks in Uva, Ceylon. By F.
Sikes 529
Proceedings of the Meetings held on the 5th November
and 17th December 1903 , 534
Notes on the Flora of Northern Ganjam. By Cecil E. C.
Fischer, i.f.s 537
New Species of Indian Hymenoptera, apid^e. By Major
C. G. Nurse, 113th Infantry 557
The Wild Plantain (Musa superba, Roxb.). By G. M.
Ryan, i.f.s., f.l.s. {With a Photograph) .= 586
The Distribution of Butterflies in India. By L. C. H.
Young, b a., f.e.s 594
A Catalogue of the Heterocera of Sikhim and Bhutan. By G. C. Dudgeon, f.e.s. With Notes by H. J. Elwes, f.r.s., &c, and Additions by Sir George Hampson, Bart., b.a., f.e.s., &c. Part XVI 602
The Origin of the English Names of Plants. By the late
Thomas Comber, f.l.s 614
The Moths of India (Supplementary Paper to the Volumes in " The Fauna of British India "). By Sir G. F. Hamp- son, Bart., f.z.s., f.e.s. Series III, Part I 630
The Birds of Travancore. By H.S. Fergusson, f.l.s. With Notes on their Nidification by T. F. Bourdillon, f.l.s. Part II 654
Notes on some of the Plants introduced into the Victoria Gardens, Bombay, during the past 8 Years. By Cavasji
D. Mahaluxmivala. Part IV 674
2
xii CONTENTS.
PAGE,
Two Notorious Insect Pests. By R. S. Hole, i.f.s., f.c.h., f.e.s., Officiating Deputy Conservator of Forests. {With
Plates A to E) 679
On the Original Home of the Tiger. By Col. C. F. Stewart,
C.B., C.M.G., c.i.e „ 698
Notes on the Habits of the Hoolock. By Geo. Candler, m.b.
(Cantab.) 700
The Ancestry of the Horse. By R. L 703
Miscellaneous Notes —
1, — The Measurements of the Largest Pair of Indian Bison's Horns (Bos gaums) in the Possession of the Bombay Natural History Society. By W. S. Millard, Bony.
Secretary, Bombay Natural History Society 706
2. — The Food of the Common Krait (Bungariss candid us).
By F. Wall, Capt., i.m.s 706
3. — The Flamingo (Phcenicopterus roseus) Breeding on the
Runn of Cutch. ( With a Plate.) By Rao Khengarji... 706 4. — Tiger versus Bear. By W. H. Lane, Capt., Indian Army. 707 5. — Late Stay of Snipe. By W. H. Lane, Capt., la., Burma
Military Police 708
6.— Late Stay of Snipe. By E. H. Aitken 709
7. — Notes on Birds' Nesting from Poona. By R. M. Betham,
Major 709
8. — The Himalayan Nut-cracker (Nucifraga hemispila) and other Walnut-eating Birds. By W. Osborn, Lt.-
General 712
V. — Nesting of the Hornbills. By W. Osborn, Lt.-General.. 715 10. — The Black and Yellow Grosbeak (Hesperiphona icter hides).
By W. Osborn, Lt.-General 716
11. — Occurrence of the Whooper Swan (Cygnus musicus) in
Sind. By J. Crerar, i.cs 716
12. — The Crested Hawk-Eagle (Spizoetus cirrhatus). By
C. E. C. Fischer, i. f.s 716
13. — Birds Bathing in Cloudy Weather. By A. Newnham,
Major 717
14. — Natural Checks on Over-increase. By A. Newnham,
Major 717
15. — The Occurrence of Rare Birds in India. By E. C.
Stuart Baker, F.z.s , - 718
CONTENTS. xiii
PAGE.
Miscellaneous Notes — concld.
16. — A Large Baobab Tree. By W. B. Bannerman, Lt.-Col.,
i.m.s 718
17.— Doves at Jullundnr. By H. A. F. Magrath, Major 719
18. — Tbe Occurrence of the Malay Fish-Owl (Ketupa javanen-
sis) in Assam. By H. N. Ooltart 719
19. — Fly-Fishing in the Bombay Presidency (Megalops cyprino- ides) as a Fly- taker. With a plate copied from Thomas'
" Rod in India." By W. A. Wallinger 719
20. — The Large Brown Flying-Squirrel [Pteromys oral). By
A. F. Piuhey, Major, Resident, Meywar 721
21. — Indian Yams (Dioscorea doemona), Roxb. By G. M.
Ryan, i.f.s 721
22. — Shooting Notes in Oannanore. By F. Wall, Capt., I.M.S. 722 23. — The Lapwing or Peewit {Vanellus vulgaris). By H. H.
Harrington, Capt. 723
24. — Melanism amongst Panthers. By T. A. Hauxwell,
Conservator of Forests ...0 723
25 — Papilo Machaon in Baluchistan. By C. G. Nurse, Major,
113th Infantry 723
26. — Occurrence of a Rare Sea Snake (Distira g tile spice) on
the Malabar Coast. By F. Wall, c.m.z.s., Capt., i.m.s. 723 27. — The Eggs of the Small Sun-Bird (Arachnecihra minima).
By J. Davidson 726
28. — Occurrence of the Ceylon White-ej^e (Zosterops Ceylonen-
sis) in the Nilgherries. By D. G. Hatchwell 726
29. — Occurrence of the White-throated Rock-Thrush, Petro- phila (Monticola) gularis, in Burma. By K. C.
Macdonald. D. S. Police 727
30. — The Indian Edible-nest Svviftlet (Collocalia fuciphaga) in
the Pulney Hills. By R, Foulkes 727
31.— The Boldness of Panthers. By M. Young, York and
Lancashire Regiment 727
32. — A Viperine Snake which is Oviparous. By G. A. Miller. 729 Proceedings of the Meetings held on the 21st January, 25th
February, and 31st March 1904 731
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
VOH.TTJVEE :XV.
PAGE
Aitken, E. H., and K. Combeb, F.Z.S. ; A List of the Butterflies of the Konkan 42
; Late Stay of Snipe. 709
Baker, E. C. Stewart, F.Z.S. ; Rare Ducks 141
; The Crested Grebe,.. 142
— ; The Gaur and the Ga-
yal (Bosgaurus and Bos frontalis'). 227 ; Note on Clangula
glawcion (The Golden-Eye) ... 348
- ; Occurrence of the
Dwarf Goose {Anser erythropus) in Assam 624
The Occurrence of
Rare Birds in India 718
Bannerman, Lt.-Col. W. B., M.D., B. Sc, F.R.S.B., I. M.S. ; The Use of Calmette's Antivenine in Snake- bite in India 403
; A large Baobab Tree. 718
Bassett-Smith, P. W., M.R.C.S., R.N ; Snake-bites and Poisonous Fishes 112
Bell, T. R. D., I.F.S. ; A Panther Experience 344
Beth am, Major K. M ; The Nesting of the Yellow browed Bulbul (Iole ieteriea) and the Spotted Babler Pellomeum ruficeps) 346
— — ■ ; Notes on Birds-Nesting
from Poona 709
Boulexger, G. A., F.R.S., V.P.Z.S. ; Description of Three New Frogs from Southern India and Ceylon. (With a Plate) ... 430
Brodie,L. C. j Extraordinary Cour- age of a PaDther 529
Buchanan, Major K., 4th Sikhs ; Nesting Notes from Kashmir ... 131
Butler, A. L., F.Z.S., M.B.0 U , etc. (Director of Game Preservation to the Soudan Government); A List of the Batrachians known to in- habit the Malay Peninsular, with some Remarks on their Habits, Dis- tribution, etc 193j 387
PAGE.
Candler, G., M.B. (Cantab.) ; NoteB on the Habits of the Hoolock „. 700
Cholmondeley, E. C. ; Curious Accident to a Kingfisher 350
Clarke, L. O., I.C.S. ; The Golden Cat QFelis temminclti) 357
Cogill, H., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. (Acting Civil Surgeon, Sholapur) ; The Anopheles of Karwar, North Kanara 327
Colt ART, H.N. ; The Occurrence of the Malay FiBh Owl (Ketupa jxi- anensis) in Assam 719
Comber, E., F.Z.S., and E. H. Aitken; A List of the Butterflies of the Konkan 42
; Further Notes on
Konkan Butterflies 356
5 The Collections in the
Society's Museum 475
Comber, T., F.L.S. (The late) ; The Origin of the English Names of Plants 614
Craddock, W. H. ; The Food of the Hamadryad or King Cobra ... 143
Crerar, J., I.C.S; Occurrence of the Whooper Swan (jCygnus mu- sicuO 716
Cumming, W. D. ; Note on Hiercetus fasciatus ... ._ li5
; The Food and Poison
of Centipedes 364
J Some Panther Notes. 517
Davidson, J. ; The Egjrs of the Small Sun-bird (Arachnechthra minima) 726
Dfsneux, J. (Brussels); A New Termite from India 445
Dewar, D., I,C8.j The Colouration of Birds1 Eggs 447
Dudgeon, G. C., F.E.S. ; A Cata- logue of the Heterocera cf Sikkim ard Bhutan, with Notes by H. J. Elwes, F.R.S., etc., and Additions by Sir George Hampson, Bart,, BA, F.E.S., etc. Part XV-
XVI,
-319, 602
XVI
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
PAGE.
Ferguson, H. S., F.L.S ; On Two Cetaceans from Travancore, with a Note od the same, by R. Lydek- ker, B.A., F.R S., F.G.S., etc. (With Plates A. and B.) 38
. ; The Birds
of Travancore, with Notes on their Nidification, by T. F. Bourdillon, F.L.S. Part I. (With a Plate) ... 249
; Part II.
(With a Plate) 455, 654
; A List of Travancore
Batrachians, (With Plates A, B and
Oj ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• toV
Fischer, C. E.G., I.F.S.; Abnormal Growth of Trees -. 532
; Notes on the Flora of
Northern Ganjam 537
; The Crested Hawk- Eagle (_Spizaetus cirrhattts) ... 716
Foulkes, R. ; The Indian Edible Swiftlet (jColloealia, fuciphaga) in the Pulney Hills 727
Gammie, G. A., F.L.S. (Professor of Botany and Agriculture, College of Science, Poona) ; The Trees and Shrubs of the Lonavla and Karla Groves ... 279
GiuEADOW, F. ; Jatropha cnreas ... 3G5
Hampsok, Sir G. F., Bart., F.Z.S., F.E.S. ; The Moths of India. Supplementary Paper to the Volumes in "The Fauna of British India." Series II, Part IX.. 19
; Series II, Part X.
(With Plate.) ... 206
. ; Series III, Part I ... 630
Harrington, Capt. H. H. ; Birds Nesting in the Southern Shan States of Burma ... 140
; The Nesting of Lanius
colluroides (The Burmese Shrike) and Artamns fuscut (The Ashy Swallow Shrike) in Upper Burma 519 ■ ; The Nesting of Poma-
torrhinus nuchalis (The Tweeddale Scimitar Babbler) 519
• ; The Koel laying in the
Ne9t of Plea rustica (The Magpie). 520
page- Harrington, The Lapwing or Pee- wit ( Vanellus vulgaris') 723
Hasted, H.R. G. ; The Food of Melursus ursinus (The Sloth-Bear
or Indian Bear) 144
■ ; Felis bengalen-
sis (The Leopard Cat) 144
Hatchwell, D. G. ; Occurrence of the Ceylon White-eye QZosterops ceylonensis) in the Nilgherries ... 726 Hauxwell, T. A. (Conservator of Forests) ; Melanism among Pan- thers 723
Heath, R. H. ; Sambur killed by
Wild Dogs 355
; Notes on the Nidifi- cation of the Indian Black- breasted Rain Quail {Coturnix coroviandelica) 518
Sand-grouse and
Locusts 522
Hole, R. S., I.F.S., F.C.H., F.E.S. (Officiating Deputy Conservator of Forests) ; Two Notorious Insect Pests. (With Plates A to E) ... 679 Hope, C. W. ; The Ferns of North- western India. Part III. The
General List
...78,415
Inglis, C. M. ; The Birds of the Madhubani Sub-division of the Darbhanga District, Tirhut, with Notes on Species noticed elsewhere in the District. Parts VI & VII. 70, 337
; Late Stay of Shel- drake {Tadorna cornuta) in Tir- hut, and peculiar Form of Albin- ism in the Common Heron QAr- dea cinerea) ... 350
; The Oceanic or An-
daman Teal QNettium albigulare). 525
EACH, H.H. the Maharao Rhen- garji of ; The Flamingo (Plucni- copterus rosevs') breeding in the Rann of Each. (With a Plate) ... 706
Kirtikar, Lt.-Col. E. R., I.M.S., F.L.S. (Member of the Associa- tion Internationale des Botanistes, Holland, Civil Surgeon, Ratnagiri); The Poisonous Plants of Bombay. Part XX. (With Plate. V)
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
XTil
PAGE.
Kirtikar, R. L. ; The Ancestry of the Borse ... ■. 703
Lane, Capt. W. H., I. A. ; Tiger versus Bear ... ... 707
; Late Stay of Snipe. 708
Lefroy, H. Maxwell., M.A., F.E.S., F.Z S.f Entomologist to the Government of India; The Present Position of Economic Entomology in India ... ... ... ••• 432
. . ; The Enemies of But- terflies ... 531
— ■ ; A Note on the Habits
of Chlorion (Sphex)lobatus ... 531
Lester, Capt., C. D. Late Stay of Snipe ••• 344
Lydekker, R., B.A., F.R.S , etc. ; On Two Dolphins from Madras. (With Plates C & D) 408
MacdonAld, K. C. ; Occurrence of the White- throated Bock-thrush {Petrophila [Mmticola'] gularis") in Burma ... 727
Mackenzie, M. D.; Curious accident to the Common Swift (jOypselus ajjinis'). ... ... ... ... 363
Magrath, Major j H. A. F. Doves at Jullunder 719
Maeuluxmivala, C. D. Notes on some of the Plants introduced into the Victoria Gardens, Bora- bay, during the past 8 years. Part IV 674
Manders, Major N., B.A.M.C., F.E.S ; Notes on the Anopheles in Ceylon and on the Life History of Anopheles fuliginosus (Giles). With Remarks and Drawings (Plates A and B) by E. E. Green, F.E.S. (Entomologist to the Gov- ernment of Ceylon) 265
Marshall, Capt. T. E., R.A.; Notes on Birds near Quetta ... 351
Millard, W. S. (Honorary Secre- tary , Bombay Natural History Society) ; The Measurements of the largest Pair of Indian Bison's Horns (Bns gaums") in the Pos- session of the Society 706
PAGE Miller, G. A.; A. Viperine Snake
which is Oviparous 729
Mosse, Lieut., A. H., I.S.C.; Notes
on a few Caterpillars of the Indian
Sphingidas 133
; Number of Eggs of
the Daboia (Viper a russelli) ... 134 ■ ; The
Incubation of a Cuckoo's Egg ... 134
; Occurrence of the Cot- ton Teal in Guzerat 515
;Some Panther Notes 5)6
• ; Locusts in Guzerat .. 528
Newnham, Major A.; Birds Bath- ing in Cloudy Weather 717
— — ; Natural
Checks on Over-increase 717
Noble, W. Raby ; Ferocity of the Hamadryad or King Cobra (Naia tungarus") 358
Nurse, Major C. G.; New Species of Indian Hymenoptera 1, 557
; The Enemies of But- terflies 349
' ; Notes on the Insects of Quetta 359
; Occurrence of the
Common Indian Bee-eater (Merops viridis) in Baluchistan 530
i Papilio machaon in
Baluchistan 723
Okeden, W. P. ;• A Centipede Eat- isg a Snake. (With a Photo- graph) 135
Osborn, Lt.-Genl. W. The Hima- layan Nutcracker (Nucifraga hemispila) and other Walnut- eating Birds 712
; Nesting of the
Hornbills 715
■ ; The Black and Yellow
Grosbeak (Hesperiphona icterioi- desj ... ... ... ... ... 716
Osmaston, B. B., I.F.S. ; Notes on the Breeding of certain Birds near Darjeeling 510
■ L. S. (Deputy Conser- vator of Forests) ; A Man-eating Fanther 135
XV1U
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
PAGE.
Packard, Capt. H. N., R.A.; Note oq the Breeding of ceitain Herons, etc , in Southern India 138
; Queer Find of a
Painted Snipers Egg 139
Parrington, Lieut. J. W., R.F.A. ; Occurrence of the Cotton Teal {Nettaput coromandelianus') in Sind ... ... ••• ••• ••• 1*«
Pinhey, Major A. F (Resident at Mey war) ; TheLarge Brown Flying Squirrel ... 721
Peimrose, A. M.; Food of JDryophis mycterizaus ... ... ••• 347
Radcliffe, Capt. S. Delme ; Para- sites in Peregrine Falcons ... 3C5
Rodon, Major G. S. ; Gazelle Taking to Water 142
; The Four-horned
Antelope {Tetracerus quadricor- ni&) ... ... 349
Radclife, Capt. S. Delme ; Doctor Calmette^ Antitoxic Serum and the Poison of the Daboia (Vipera russelli) ... ••• ••• ••• 358
Ryan, G. M., I.F.S., F.L.S.; Dioseo- rea acemona ... 366
; The Wild Plantain
(Musa superba, Rox.) (With a
Photograph) 586
; Indian Yams (JDios-
oorea dcemona) ... 721
Seton-Karr, H. W. ; Prehistoric Man-hunting in India 146
Sikes, F. ; Some Notes on Harrier Hawks in Uva, Ceylon 529
Stevens, H. ; Occurrence of Sarco- grammus indious (The Rod-wat- tled Lapwing) in the Dibrugarh District, Upper Assam 529
; Occurrence of Ho-
reites irunneifrons (The Rufous- capped Bush Warbler) 530
Stewart, Col. C. F., C. B., C M.G., CLE. ; On the Original Home of the Tiger C98
PAGE. Stebbing, E. P., F.L.S , F.E.S.; In- sect Life in India and how to study it, being a simple Account of the more impoitant Families of Insects, with Examples of the Damage they do to Crops, Tea, Coffee and Indigo Concerns, Fruit and Forest Frees in India. Parts I and II 163, 375
Thornhill, Lt.-Col. H. B., The Manipur Bush-Quail or Hume's Bush-Quail (_Microperdix niani- purensis) 527
Wall, Capt. F.,)I.M.S., C.M.Z.S.;
Cannibalism in Snakes 524
; On the Penis of
Russell's Viper 526
; Note on Young
Fishing Cat QFelis viverrina) ... 52 6 ; The Food of the
Common Krait QBungarus can- didus) 706
„. ■ ; Shooting
Notes in Cannanore 722
; Occurrence of a Par s
Sea-snake QDistira gilletpicB) on the Malabar Coast 723
Wallinger, W. A. Divisional Forest Officer) ; " Kills " by Car- nivorous Animals, being some Remarks on their Method of Iden- tification 312
- ; Fly-fishing in the
Bombay Presidency {Megalaps cyprinoides as a fly-taker), with a Plate copied from Thomas1 " Rod in India " 719
Watson, Capt. J. W., I.M.S.; Notes on Birds near Quetta 144
Wedderburn, W. ; Drought-resist- ing Fodder Plants for India ... 118
Whymper, S. L. ; Birds Nesting in Garwhal 520
Wilson, Commander N. F., R.I. M.S. "Canning11 ; The Oceanic or Andaman Teal QNettium albi-
gulare")
525
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
xix
Page Woodkow, G. Marshall; Size of
remarkable Trees 131
, — ; Four Interesting
Bombay Plants (with Three Plates) S63
Yate, Lt.-Col. A. C. ; Pal killed by Lead-poisoning 364
Young,L.C.H., B.A. (Oson.), F.E.S. (Entomological Hon. Secy, to the B.N.H.SO; The Classification of the Indian Lepi&optera Papilionina... 294
Page
Young, L.C.H., B.A. (Oxon.), F.E.S.
(Entomological Hon. Secy, to the
B.N.H.S); Synonymic Catalogue
of the Lepidoptera Papilionina in
the Society's Collection 483
; Further Notes on the
Classification of Indian Butterflies 498
; Butterflies of the
Konkan District 530
; Enemies of Insects... 530
; The Distribution of
Butterflies in India 594
Young, M.; The Boldness of Pan- thers 727
LIST OF PLATES.
"VOI-XT3VTES
The Common Wild Duck or Mallard (Anas boscas)
Pseudorca crassidens
Tursiops fergusoni
Jhatropa curcas, Linn. Nat. Ord. Euphorbiacese
Gymnogramme levingei, Baker, Plate XXXV
A Centipede eating a Snake
The Spot Bill or Grey Duck QA nas pcecilorliyncha')
Acridimn peregrinum, Oliv. — The North-West or Migratory Locust
Indian Moths, Plate C
Anopheles fuliginosus , Giles
}i 51 ) ) ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
The Anopheles of Karwar
Agaricus ivoodrowii, Massee, Poona Brown Mushroom
Lepiota altissima, Massee, Vern. alini ...
Jatropha glandvlifera, Roxb., Vern. Underbibi
Frerea indiea, Dalz
The Red-crested Pochard {Netf-a rufi.no)
Tursiops catalania, ...
Sotalia fergusoni
Pana aurantiaca
1
Rliaeojyhorus pleurotcenia. \ New frogs from Southern India and Ceylon
Jxalus halyi J
Trochalopterum meridionale, Blanford's Laughing Thrush
Bhopocichla bourdilloni^ Bourdillon's Babbler
Travancore Batrachians, Plate A
,. .. %.j ±y ••# ••• ••• #•• ••• •••
.. u •• o «•• ••• ••• ••• ••• ■••
The Tufted Pochard, Fuligula fuligula
Muta superba (The Wild Plantain)
Notorious Insect Pests, Plate A ... ...
|
» |
» |
» |
» |
B |
|
» |
» |
11 |
» |
0 |
|
»1 |
1> |
» |
)> |
D |
|
» |
» |
11 |
>l |
E |
Nests and Egg3 of the Com -non Flamingo {PhrcnicoiJterus roscus) Megalops ryprinoides ... ... ... ... ...
To face page
1
*•• oo
... 40
... 56
... 135
... 163
... 163
... 206
... 270
... 272
... 328
... 363
... 363
... 364
... 364
... 375
... 408
... 412
... 430
... 456
... 456
... 500
... 500
... 500
... 537
... 586
... 680
... 682
... 684
... 686
... 690
... 706
... 720
ERRATA in No. 1, Vol. XV.
In page 78, after line 1— insert as line 8, " Tribe XI, Polypodmm." In „ 90, in 16th line from foot— for " Thum," read " Thun." In „ 102, in line 13 from foot — close up the "* •" and
the word " Fronds.'' In „ 103, inline 19 from top -for "Tribe B," read "Tribe
XIII" In „ 106, before 14th line from foot— insert "Sub-order VI,"
Ophioglossacese. u Geuus 33, Ophioglossum." In „ 106, in 2nd line from foot— for " Ophisoglossum," read
il Ophioglossum." In „ 107, in 7th line from top — after " Mr. Clarke," insert
''also." In „ 108, in top line for " five," read " fine." In „ 109, 7th line from top -for " Walliches," read "Wal-
lich's. " In „ 111, at foot of page add—;, " End of Part III, The
General List."
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Vol. XV.
JOURNAL
OF THE
BOMBAY"
BOMBAY.
No. i.
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTERA.
By Major C. G. Nurse, 13th Bombay Infantry.
The following new species belong to the family Sphegidre. The most interesting are two species of the little known genus Homogam- brus, of which the 9 has not previously been described. Three species of the genus Palarus have also been included below ; in the Indian region this genus has hitherto only been recorded from Ceylon. Two species in the following paper were sent me by Mr. G. C. Dudgeon, who also forwarded their descriptions in M.S. Bis notes on Stigmus cnculus are particularly interesting, as his observations confirm those of Geraud that certain species of this genus store their nests with Aphidre.
A STAT A QUETTJ3 n. sp.
9 Smooth and shining, except the median segment, which is finely longitudinally striate ; front very convex, pronotum somewhat long, median segment gradually narrowed and rounded posteriorly. Black ; the apices of the femora, and the whole of the tibia?, and tarsi bright red ; abdomen red, the 3rd and 4th segments reddish black ; pubescence sparse, greyish black ; wings hyaline, infuscatecl at apex, radial cell very short, its apex not reaching beyond the apex of the 3rd cubital cell, stigma dark testaceous, nervures and teguue pale testaceous.
$ Differs from the 9 as follows : less conspicuously shining, front and mesonotum minutely but sparsely punctured, pubescence grey, longer and denser, abdomen often reddish black ; wings clear hyaline, their apices not infuscated, stigma less dark.
Long. 9 5-5 mm. $ 7 mm.
Habitat: Quetta. l
2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
This species is nearest to A. lubricata (Nurse) described from Deesa, but differs in the sculpturing, and in the greater part of the femora being black, and not red. I have several specimens of the $, but only one of the $, and as it is much smaller than the other sex, it may be an unusually small specimen.
HOMOGAMBEUS CREON, n. Sp.
$ Clypeus and front smooth and shining, rnesonotum, scutellum, and post scutellum sparsely punctured, median segment striate, the striations longitudinal at base, oblique at the sides, almost semicircular at apex in the centre, abdomen minutely punctured ; front above the base of antennas raised almost tuberculate, median segment roundly truncate posteriorly, abdomen scarcely as long as thorax. Black; the mandibles, legs, and apical abdominal segment red ; the apical margins of the abdominal segments very narrowly reddish ; pubescence silvery, in some lights with a golden tinge, especially on the clypeus and front; the bases of 1st and 2nd abdominal segments more or less pruinose ; wings hyaline, nervures and tegulea pale testaceous.
Long. 6-7 mm.
Habitat : Deesa, five specimens : Quetta, one specimen. The latter has the whole abdomen red, but does not appear to differ in other respects from the Deesa specimens, and I conclude it must be the same species.
This genus has not previously been recorded from India, in fact only a few species are known.
HOMOGAMBRUS MENELAUS, U. Sp.
$ Front minutely but not very regularly, vertex and thorax more coarsely punctured, median segment finely reticulate, abdomen minutely punctured ; head broader than the thorax, clypeus very prominent and convex, its apical margin nearly transverse, with two notches in the centre ; the portion of the front above the base of antennae raised, smooth and shining; eyes convergent towards tho vertex, but not meeting, their distance apart at vertex being about half as much again as the distance of the anterior ocellus from the margin of the eyes ; posterior ocelli flattened, but not obsolete ; antenna? with the scape as long as the 2nd and 3rd joiuts of the flagellum united, the second being slightly the longer ; median segment with a semicircular portion at base reticulate ; abdomen scarcely longer than thorax, apical segment with a smooth and not very clearly defined pygidium.
NEW SP3CIES OF INDIAN I7YMEN0PTERA. 3
Black and shining 5 the apical margins of the abdominal segments, the tibias and tarsi, testaceous: a little short, golden, pubescence on the ctypeus and front ; wings hyaline, nervures and teguke pale testaceous.
Long. 4 — 5-5 mm.
Habitat : Peshin, Baluchistan, three specimens ; Deesa, one speci- men. The latter, however, differs from the Peshin specimen in having the whole of the legs red, and the apical margins of the abdo- minal segments not testaceous. The appendicular nervure is also more clearly defined. But the sculpture does not appear to differ from that of the other specimens, and I think that it is the same species.
No 9 of this genus has, I believe, been hitherto described, but, although 1 have not obtained a $ of this species, I have little doubt that I have correctly placed it. It is too small to be the other sex of H. creon above.
TA.CHYTES DILWARA, n. Sp.
9 Head and thorax extremely minutely and closely punctured, ab- domen minutely aciculate ; clypeus convex, transverse anteriorly ; an impressed line from between bases of antennas through anterior ocellus to vertex ; median segment with a median longitudinal furrow. Black ; the greater part of tho femora, and the whole of the tibias and tarsi red ; pubescence on clypeus, front, and legs golden, on the thorax and base of first abdominal segment greyish and somewhat sparse, except on the median segment ; pile on abdomen silvery, a few stiff, black hairs on apical abdominal segments, pygidium with stiff golden-red and black hairs intermingled, appearing golden-red when viewed obliquely ; wings flavo-hyaline, nervures pale testaceous, tegulje red ; third cubital <eell much narrowed, narrower than the second both above and below.
Long. 12-16 mm.
Habitat : Mount Abu.
Nearest to T. modesta, from which it can be distinguished by the hairs on the pygidial area being black and golden-red, not silvery.
Tachytes shiva, n. sp.
9 Differs from T. dilwara above only in the median segment being shorter and the whole of the legs being black, not red ; the legs are covered with golden pile, and the spines are testaceous red, as in T, dilwara.
Long. 16 mm.
Habitat. Deesa ; Mount Abu.
4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
Larra netera, n. sp. 9 Head shining, the clypeus and vertex minutely and closely punc- tured, the extreme apex of the clypeus impunctate ; mesonotum, scutel- lum, and postscutellum rather more deeply and less finely punctured than the head, median segment finely transversely striate, with punc- tures between the striae ; abdomen shining, the bases of the segments extremely minutely punctured, their apices impunctate ; apex of clypeus waved, scarcely emarginate ; front above the antenna3 with three sol- cations, impunctate and very shining ; ocellus situated in a hollow, ano- ther and slighter hollow whore the posterior ocelli should be ; mesono- tum with a slight impressed median longitudinal line at base ; median segment roundly truncate posteriorly, with a trace of a longitudinal carina ; pygidium with a few scattered punctures. Black ; the greater part of the mandibles, the intermediate and posterior femora and tibiae red ; all the spines of the legs more or lessrufo-testaceous ; scarcely any pubescence except on the thorax below, where it is short and greyish ; wings fusco-hyaline, the hind wing at base hyaline, nervures dark tes- taceous, tegulse rufo-testaceous. Long. 13-17 mm. Habitat : Quetta.
Allied to L. erratka, but may be distinguished from it by having the intermediate femora and tibiae, and the posterior tibia?, red and not black.
Palarus indicus, n. sp. $ Clypeus with a few shallow punctures, front, vertex, and prono- tum impunctate, mesonotum and scutellum sparsely punctured, post- scutellum impunctate, median segment with oblique, almost semicircular, striations, abdomen sparsely and shallowly punctured ; mandibles Avith a wide incision on their outer margin, eyes at vertex about as far apart as the length of the third joint of the antennre ; clypeus small, very convex, nearly semicircular, its apex rounded ; front with the portion between the base of antennae and the ocelli much raised, almost iubercu- late, with a median longitudinal impressed line ; anterior ocellus large and round, situated in a deep hollow ; posterior ocelli elongate-oval, with a fovea between them ; antennae with the scape short and stout, the third joint the longest, fourth and fifth subequal ; pronotum moder- ately wide, depressed in tha centre ; median segment rounded in the middle posteriorly, with a wide median depression, deepest posteriorly,
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN TIYMENOPTERA. 5
the lateral angles slightly raised and very conspicuous ; abdomen long- er than the head and thorax united, first ventral segment with two conspicuous tubercles, third ventral segment very much produced be- low, seventh ventral segment with two small tubercles, pygidium elon- gate, with a deep median groove, its apex notched; a little short, sparse, silvery pubescence on the front, cheeks, legs, and apical abdo- minal segments. Head with the clypeus, anterior portion of front, ver- tex, and occiput black ; antennse yellow at base, gradually becoming red at apex ; thorax black, the pronotum yellow, tubercles and a spot above them yellowish red, scutellum and postscutellum red ; abdomen yellow, the first segment and the depressed portions of the remaining segments, including the pygidium, light red; the margins of all the segments when extended very narrowly black ; legs red. Forewing flavo-hyaiine, its apical margin lighter, the portion about tli3 appen- dicular cell infuscated ; hindwing lighter flavo-hyaliue, its margin hya- line ; nervures testaceous, tegulpe reddish yellow ; second cubital cell very slightly stalked, third cubital cell reaching just beyond the apex of the radial cell ; both recurrent nervures received into the second cubital cell, the first just within its inner angle, the second one-third the length of the cell on the cubital nervure from its outer angle.
Long. 16 mm.
Haritat : Deesa ; a single specimen.
Palarus quiescens, n. sp.
9 Clypeus with a few shallow punctures, front im punctate ; meso- notum minutely and closely punctured at the sides, sparsely and coarse- ly in the centre, scutellum with a few scattered punctures; median segment striate, the striae longitudinal at base, oblique at the sides, transverse at apex ; abdomen finely and closely, but somewhat irregu- larly, punctured; the distance apart of the eyes at vertex is about the length of the third joint of the antennse, which is the longest ; clypeus small, convex, its anterior margin rounded, from its posterior margin to the anterior ocellus runs a conspicuous ridge ; anterior ocellus the largest, the posterior ones oval ; pronotum narrow, and depressed be- low the level of the mesonotum ; median segment below the level of the posts cmtellum, its posterior lateral angles raised and conspicuous ; pygi- dium long and narrow, impunctate, with its margins raised \ ventral segments not produced below. Yellow ;. the tips of the mandibles, two irregular marks on the front between the base of , antennae and the
6 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV,
vertex, the mesonotum, except a U-shaped marked, a spot-behind the tegulae, the base and median furrow of the median segment, the base and apex of the abdominal segments, and small round lateral spots on the latter, black ; antenna? and the bases and apices of some of the ab- dominal segments more or less red ; pygidium yellow at base, red at apex ; a little silvery pile on the front ; wings hyaline, nervures tes- taceous, tegulas yellow ; the appendicular cell is not very clearly marked, tri9 third cubital cell reaches considerably beyoud the radial cell, the third cubital nervure being received near the apex of the radial cell, which is broadly rounded ; the second cubital cell, which is only very slightly stalked, receives both recurrent nervures, the first well within its inner angle, and the second at a slightly greater distance from its outer angle.
$ Differs from the 9 as follows : first ventral segment with two small tubercles, second ventral segment much produced below, pygidium shorter, much broader, tridentate at apex, the middle tooth slightly, but not much, longer than the lateral ones ; the third cubital nervure is received farther from the apex of the radial cell and the first recurrent nervure is interstitial, or nearly so, with the first transverse cubital nervure.
Long. 8-10 mm.
Habitat : Deesa ; five specimens. One 9 has the yellow markings much less developed than the others, and the greater part of the thorax, especially below, is black.
Palarus fabius, n. sp.
9 Allied to P. quiescens above, but differs as follows : smaller and less robustly built comparatively, mesonotum impunctate, abdomen more sparsely punctured, thorax with long silvery pubescence, no U-shaped mark on mesonotum, and less yellow on the thorax gene- rally ; wings with the nervures paler testaceous, the first recurrent nervure interstitial with the first transverse cubital nervure j all the femora and sometimes the tarsi more or less red.
9 Smaller than the same sex of P. quiescens ; the front, except the clypeus, black, thorax darker and withont the U-shaped mark on the mesonotum ; the black markings of the abdomen more developed, pygidium with the central tooth much longer than the lateral ones, all the femora more or less black.
Long, 6-8 m«e.
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTEPA. 7
Habitat : Deesa.
The above three species are easily distinguished from P. orientalis, the only speeies previously recorded from the Indian region, by the much greater convergence of the eyes.
MlSCOPHUS QUETTAENSIS, n. Sp.
9 Head, thorax, and abdomen very minutely and closely punctur- ed, median segment finely obliquely striate ; clypeus slightly raised in the centre, its apex almost transverse ; front with a median longitudinal impressed line ; abdomen scarcely longer than thorax. Black, with bronzy reflections ; basal two abdominal segments dark red ; head, thorax, apical portions of abdominal segments, and legs with sparse, short, silvery pile ; wings hyaline, their apices slightly infuscated.
$ Similar, slightly smaller, abdomen longer in proportion, the segments slightly constricted, front with golden pile.
Long. 5 mm.
Habitat : Quetta ; two specimens.
This species may be easily known from both M. rothneyi, and from M. difficilis described below, by its being punctured.
MlSCOPHUS DIFFICILIS, 11. Sp.
9 $ Head, thorax, and abdomen smooth and shining ; clypeus much broader than long, rounded anteriorly ; front between base of antennae and anterior ocellus with a longitudinal impressed line • median segment rounded posteriorly, with a trace of a median longi- tudinal furrow, the segment microscopically striate at base, the stria? oblique at the sides, transverse in the centre. Black ; the scape of the antennae, the tibiae, and tarsi red ; wings hyaline, forewing fuscescent along the costal margin, nervures and tegulee black.
Long. 3-4 mm.
Habitat : Peshin, Baluchistan ; six specimen?.
This lSj I believe, the smallest species yet dpscribed. Gastrosericits electus, n. sp.
9 Head and thorax minutely aciculate, abdomen smooth ; clypeus much broader than long, emargiuate anteriorly ; median segment rounded posteriorly ; pygidium with a few scattered punctures. Head and thorax black ; the base of the mandibles, clypeus, the greater part of the soape and sometimes the flagellum of the antennae, the abdomen, the greater part of the femora, and the whole of the tibiae and tarsi, red ; head, thorax, and abdomen covered with a short, silvery pile,
8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV,
which in some lights has a golden tinge ; pygidium without pubescence (possibly abraded) ; wings hyaline, nervures testaceous, tegulae red.
Long. 5-6 mm.
Habitat : Deesa ; three specimens.
Of the four Indian species hitherto described, three, viz., G. rothneyij G. wrougldoni, and G. nifitarsis can be at once distinguished from the present species by their much larger size ; G. binghami has the legs more or less yellow ; G. Waltlii from Egypt has the abdomen chiefly black, and is much larger.
Trypoxylon mediator, n. sp,
$ Head, thorax, and abdomen impunctate, median segment with the basal half somewhat coarsely reticulate ; clypeus much produced an- teriorly, its margin rounded, and reaching well below the lower mar- gin of the eyes ; anteunae close together at base, inserted some distance above the posterior margin of clypeus ; the second joint of thoflagellum the longest, slightly longer than the apical joint ; emargination of the eyes deep but narrow, distance of eyes apart at posterior margin of cly- peus only half their distance apart at vertex ; a deep furrow from an- terior ocellus to base of antennae, the portion of the front on either side of it and just in front of anterior ocellus much raised ; median furrow of median segment not conspicuous, no lateral furrows ; first abdomi- nal segment very long, slightly longer than second and third united, the two latter subequal. Black; the mandibles, base of the tibiae, cal- caria, and the tarsi more or less rufo-testaceous ; pubescence silvery, very thick on clypeus and front ; wings hyaline, nervures black, tegu- l?e testaceous ; the radial cell conspicuously long.
$ Similar, smaller, the antennas longer, their apical joint curved and pointed ; the intermediate and posterior tarsi rufo-testaceous only at the bases of the joints.
Long. 7-LO mm.
Habitat : Quetta ; several males and one female. The latter I found nesting in a hole in the trellis work of my verandah.
Of the ludian species the present is nearest to T. cognatum, but may be distinguished by the median segment being reticulate and not striate.
Ammophila bolanica, n. sp. 9 Head, prouotnm, mesonotum, and scutellum posteriorly some- what sparsely punctured, scutellum posteriorly finely but obscurely
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTEHA. 9
striate, median segment finely and regularly rugose, abdomen smooth and shining; eyes with their inner orbits nearly parallel, elypeus broader than long, arched anteriorly ; posterior ocelli nearer to one another than to the margin of eyes ; antennae with the third joint the longest, but not so long as the fourth and fifth united ; pronotum rather long, mesonotum with a median longitudinal line at base ; median segment gradually sloping for about two-thirds of its length, then perpendicular, its posterior margin rounded : petiole short, formed of the first seg- ment only, second segment gradually widening to apex, about the same length as tho first, and rather longer than* the third abdominal segment. Black ; the abdomen very shining ; front, scape of the antennse, cheeks, thorax, and femora covered with long but not very dense black pubes- cence; legs very spinose ; forewing subfuscous, hindwing rather lighter, the first discoidal nervure is received nearly in the middle of the second cubital coll.
Long. 16-17 mr.i.
Habitat : Quetta ; four specimens.
I first saw this insect in the Bolan Pass on my way to Quetta. It is allied both to A. Iceta described from Chaman, South Afghanistan, and to the European spacies A. ebenina, which extends into Persia, hut it differs from both in being smaller and in the sculpture of the median segment.,
Ammophila funerea, n. sp.
$ Olypeus almost impunctate, vertex of head sparsely punctured, pronotum impunctate, mesonotum obliquely, seutellum and post scutellum longitudinally, and median segment transversely striate ; abdomen impunctate, the first two segments shining; elypeus much produced, its anterior margin transverse, a con picuous median longi- tudinal carina not reaching the anterior margin ; distance of eyes apart at vertex about half as much again as at elypeus ; posterior ocelli rather closer together than their distance from margin of eyes ; antennae with the second joint of the flagellum the longest, apical five joints widest in the middle ; pronotum wide, not or scarcely notched ; the striatum of the median segment much coarser at the sides than above ; petiole formed of the first abdominal segment only, second seg- ment gradually widened towards apes, where, however, it is much narrower than t,he base of the third segment ; less stout, tarsal claws bidentate. Black ; antennae, abdomen, and legs pruinose ; front with
10 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV,
a very little whitish pile, cheeks and thorax in front and at the sides with a little greyish to fuscous pubescence ; wings hyaline.
Long. 23 mm.
Habitat ; Deesa ; a single specimen.
This species, having the tarsal claws bid en Kite, belongs to the sub» genus Parapsammophila, of which the only other Indian representative is A. erytlirocephala. The latter species has, however, the wings fuscous and the legs. red.
Sphex fraoilis, n. sp.
9 Head and thorax with thick but rather short white pubescence, hiding the sculpturing, except on the median segment, which is finely transversely striate ; clypeus broader than long, its anterior margin rounded, with a very slight emargination in the centre ; inner margins of e} 03 parallel, oheeks and occiput moderately developed, mandibles very long, simple at apex ; second joint of flagellum of antennae half na long again as the third ; pronotum rather long, mesonotum with an impressed line at base, scutellum notched, but not postscutellum ; median segment rather long, gradually sloping, rounded posteriorly, without any longitudinal furrow ; petiole of abdomen rather shorter than second and third segments united, remaining segments forming an elongated oval ; ventral plates of abdomen not pubescent or punctured ; legs long, slender, the tarsi strongly spinose, claws bideniate. Black ; the mandibles in the centre, tegulee, second and following abdominal segments, apex of femora, tibia?, and tarsi, rather light red ; the ab- dominal segments have at apex bisinuate bands of lighter colour; many of the spines of the legs are white ; wings hyaline, nervures testaceous \ second cubital cell higher than long, rhomhoidal, third much narrowed above, sub-triangular \ the first recurrent nervure is interstitial with the first transverse cubital nervure, the second recurrent nervure is receiv- ed into the third cubital cell near the inner angle.
$ Smaller, clypeus more produced, eyes very slightly divergent at vertex, all the legs, and the second and basal half of the third abdominal segments blaok ; the second abdominal segment with thick white pubes- cence.'
Long. 9 17 mm. $ 13 mm.
Habitat : Deesa ; Quetta.
This species looks like a miniature S. nhosvst but it is less than half the size, and differs in other respects.
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN IIYMENOPTERA. li
Sphex p.etractus, n, sp.
$ Head and thorax with rather thick but short pubescence^ which hides the sculpturing, abdomen pruinose ; clypeus longer than broad> Very convex, its anterior margin nearly transverse in the centre^ rounded at the sides; eyes slightly divergent towards vertex, occiput and cheeks not much developed ; mandibles simple, rather long and slen- der ; second joint of flagellum of antennse longer than third ; pronotum short, not notched ; scutellum notched, but not postscutellum ; median segment long, gradually sloping, narrowed and rounded at apex, without a furrow, coarsely but obscurely transversely striate ; petiole rather longer than the second segment, which is suhequal to the third in length ; ventral segments not pubescent or punctured : legs long> slender, rather feebly spined, the claws bideiitate, the inner calcar of posterior tibia? pectinated. Black ; the apical margins of the abdominal seg- ments sometimes very narrowly testaceous, the abdomen below red ; pubescence and pile greyish white ; wings hyaline, their apical mar- gins very slightly infttscated.
Long. 15-17 mm.
Habitat : Qnetta ; three specimens.
In Bingham's key this species would cortle next to S. nivosus, biit it is not very nearly allied to that species. Of the European species if appears to come nearest to S. argentulus (Fabr.), but it is much smaller, the wings are not dark at base, and the pubescence is greyish white$ not black.
PSEN REFPvACTUS, 11. Spj,
9 Clypeus and front with the sculpturing hidden by the pubes- cence, vertex of head impunctate, mesonotum finely, sparsely, and shal- iowly punctured, abdomen smooth and shiniilg ; clypeus broader than long, its anterior margin rounded, with a very slight incision in the centre ; inner margin of eyes rounded, the width apart of eyes at Ver- tex being slightly greater than below ; antenna? inserted about the length of the third joint of the flagelltlm above the posterior margin of the clypeus, strongly clavate, the second joint of the flagellum half as long again as tho third, front with a carina between the antennse ; cheeks strongly developed ; pronotum short, below the level of the me- sonotum, the latter broader than long, rounded anteriorly ; median segment with a triangular portion tit base depressed, the depressed por- tion longitudinally striate, and produced into a somewhat narrow
12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
median furrow, the sides of the median segment rounded, obscurely reticulate ; petiole shorter than thorax, remainder of abdomen as long as head, thorax, and petiole united ; pygidium punctured. Black; the mandibles in the centre, the second and third abdominal segments, and sometimes the margins of the remaining segments, dark red ; tibiee at base and the whole of the tarsi' more or less testaceous, calcaria pale ; clypeus and front covered with short, silvery pubescence ; thorax, femora below, and apical two or throe segments of abdomen with longer, sparse, greyish pubescence ; wings hyaline, the first recurrent nervure is received into the second cubital cell before the middle, the second recurrent nervure into the third cubital cell just beyond its inner angle.
Long. 12 mm.
Habitat : Mount Abu ; throe specimens.
This species belongs to Cameron's Annulipes group. Of the Indian species it comes next to P. re/iventr/s, but can easily be distinguished from it by the petiole being shorter than the thorax, whereas in rufi- ventris it is as long as head and thorax united.
Stigmus cuculus, n. sp. (Dudgeon M. S.)
" 5 Differs from S. eongruus (Walk.) in being less than half the " size, in the whole of the antenn?e being testaceous, clypeus subtrian- " gular and slightly produced ; tubercles not white.
" Long. 3-5 mm.
"Habitat : Holta, Kangra Valley.
" This small insect nests in the holes bored in soft pine by a minute " species of beetle. It stores its nest with aphidas, and lives in colonies " of thirty or forty together. My specimens were procured from a table " in my verandah, where I had many opportunities of watching their "habits. It is much smaller than the other two Indian species of the " genus."
Passalckcus dtjdgeoni, n. sp.
9 Head and mesonotum finely and closely punctured, median segment finely reticulate, abdomen imptmctate or nearly so ; clypeus broader than long, subtriangular, its anterior margin rounded, labrum triangular, mandibles blunt at apex ; eyes divergent towards the vertex, their distance apart there being half as much again as at the base of antennae ; front without tubercles, scape of antennas as long as the first four joints of the flagellum united, these latter joints being subequal. apical join' of flagellum the longest ; mesopleur;e with a
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTERA. 18
single furrow 5 median segment rounded posteriorly, abdomen rather longer than thorax, petiole very short, second segment the longest, second and third segments constricted at apex. Black ; the scape of the antennae, tubercles, apex of all the femora, the greater part of the tibia*, and all the tarsi more or less yellow ■ the first two joints of the flagellum testaceous ; wings hyaline and iridescent, nervures dark brown, ■tegulse yellowish ; clypeus, front, and cheeks with short, stiff, silvery pubescence.
Long, 5 mm.
Habitat : Kangra Valley, Punjab, 4,500ft ; two specimens sent me by Mr. G. C. Dudgeon.
This species is easily distinguished from P. levipes by its smaller size, and by the median segment being reticulate. It is near to P. rdiculatus (Cam.), but has no keels on the head.
DlODONTUS TENUIS, K. Sp.
9 S Head with a few scattered punctures, mesonotum and abdo- men smooth and shining, median segment finely rugose ; clypeus with the anterior margin rounded, with a deep notch in the centre, eyes slightly divergent towards the vertex, cheeks strongly developed ; posterior ocelli further apart from one another than from the margin of eyes ; antennae short, stout, the third joint of the flagellum slightly the longest, remainder subequal ; median segment narrowed and round- ed posteriorly. Black ; the mandibles, except their tips, the scape of the antennae, apex of the femora, and the whole of the tibiae and tarsi pale yellow ; the flagellum of the antennae red ; clypeus and front (#) with short, thick, silvery pubescence ; wings hyaline and iridescent, nervures black, tegulae pale testaceous.
Long. 3 — 3-5 mm.
Habitat : Quetta ; Peshin ; five specimens.
Two species of this genus have been described from India by Mr. Cameron, viz. D. geniculatus and D. striolatus. From the former the present species may be distinguished by the tibiae and tarsi beino- yellow : from the latter by the antennae being red, not black. The only European species with yellow mandibles, D. minutus (Fabr.) has also the antennae black.
DlODONTUS SELECTUS, 11. Sp.
9 Head, thorax, and abdomen almost smooth, with a few scattered punctures, median segment finely reticulate : clypeus with three
14 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
minute teeth anteriorly ; eyes with their inner orbits parallel, cheeks strongly developed, as broad as the eyes or nearly so ; anterior ocellus closer to the posterior ones than the latter are to one another ; median segment laterally with a small tubercle. Black ; the mandibles and the tibia? and tarsi yellow, the tibiae darker in the centre ; wings hyaline, nervures and tegula? testaceous.
$ Similar ; olypeus and front with silvery pubescence, flagellum of antenna? pale below, eyes divergent towards vertex.
Long. 4-5 mm.
Habitat : Deesa ; Quetta ; Peshin ; six specimens.
This species is nearest to D. geniculates, but may be separated from it by the lateral tubercles on the median segment.
DlODONTUS RUSTICUS 11. sp.
$ Head rather closely and coarsely punctured, the punctures on the front running into stria*, thorax sparsely punctured, median segment reticulate abdomen microscopically witb minute and not very close punctures ; clypeus with the anterior margin rounded, labrum notched ; eyes divergent towards the vertex, cheeks well developed ; antenna? long, filiform, the apical joint the longest. Black ; the tibia? and tarsi more or less pale testaceous, the latter darker in the middle ; front with thick silvery pubescence ; wings hyaline, nervures black, tegula? pale testaceous.
Long. 5 mm.
Habitat : Quetta ; Peshin ; six specimens.
The only Indian species hitherto described which has black man- dibles.
GORYTBS INTRtJDENS, n. Sp.
9 Impunctate, or nearly so, except the scutellum and median segment, which are somewhat sparsely and shallowly punctured ; eyes convergent below, their width apart at vertex being about twice that at base of antenna1, their facetting fine and regular ; ocelli very small, the distance apart of the posterior ones being greater than their distance from the margin of eyes ; clypeus broader than long, its anterior margin produced and almost transverse; antenna? long, filiform^ inserted not much above the posterior margin of clypeus, the second joint of flagellum the longest, third and following joints gradually decreasing in length to apex; cheeks well developed, their width being more than half the width of the eyes; pronotam narrow, mesosteinum
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTERA. 15
sharply defined laterally, almost carinate ; median Segment gradually sloping towards apex, with a triangular sharply dofined enclosed space, the latter with outwardly divergent striae ; anterior tarsi with long spines ; abdomen longer than head and thorax united, first segment not petiolate, but gradually widening towards apex, where it is as wide as the base of the second segment ; second segment about as long as the first, with a deep transverse furrow at base ventrally ; pygidium shaped like an isosoeles triangle, sparsely punotured. Dark red; the front, vertex, and apical two or three joints of the antennae black ; scutelluin, posfsoutellum, and a broad apical band on second abdominal segment yellow ; the enclosed space at the base of median segment, the femora above, a median narrow band on second, and the base of the third abdo- minal segments blackish ; slightly prninose, with a little sparse silver pile on clypeus and median segment ; wings sub-hyaline, with a dark fuscous oloud covering the whole of the radial and the greater part of the second and third cubital cells, stigma very light testaceous, norvures testaceous, tegulas red ; the first recurrent nervure is received into the second cubital cell near the middle, the second near its outer angle ♦ medial cell of hindwing very long, nearly twice the length of anal cell.
$ Similar, the antennae longer, anterior tibiae and tarsi yellow,
Long. 8 mm.
Habitat : Mount Abu ; five specimens.
Having the eyes convergent below, this species would come into Bingham's key under " A," but it is not very near any of the other species in that section. Superficially it somewhat resembles G. cajyi- tatus (Niu-se), but the yellow markings are fewer, and the eyes are much more strongly convergent below. The very small ocelli serve to distinguish it at once from G. capitatus, in which species the ocelli are quite three times as large as in the present species.
GORYTES IMPUDENT, D. Sp.
$ Smooth and impunctate, covered with some sparse, white pubescence ; eyes with their inner margins parallel, the facetting fine and regular ; ocelli large, the posterior ones distant from the margin of eyes about half as much as their width apart; clypeus very short and broad, its interior margin slightly arched ; antennae long, inserted close above the posterior margin of clypeus, apical joint the longest, curved and pointed, the three joints preceding it somewhat thickened ; cheeks moderately developed ; median segment with a well-defined
16 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
triangular enclosed space, produced at apex into a longitudinal furrow, the enclosed space reticulate, sides of the segment well rounded ; first abdominal segment not petiolate, about as long as second, the latter has no transverse ventral furrow ; pygidium small, with a few punc- tures. Head black, the clypeus and front to just above the base of antennae and the scape pale yellow ; mandibles and flagellum of antennae more or less red ; thorax red, the enclosed space of median segment and its furrow black ; abdomen black, first segment with two oval sublateral apical spots, second with an apical band much nar- rowed in the middle, and fifth segment pale yellowish white, ventrally entirely black ; legs black, the anterior and intermediate femora red below, and the anterior tarsi reddish ; a yellow or yellowish white line on all fhe tibiae above ; wings subhyaline, first cubital nervure re- ceived into second cubital cell just before its middle ; median cell of hind wing about twice as long as anal cell.
Long. 6 mm.
Habitat : Mount Abu ; a single specimen.
Nearest to G. pietus, but may easily bo distinguished from it by the absence of the fuscous patch in the forewing.
Ckabro balucha, n. sp.
9 Head finely and closely, thorax less finely, abdomen extremely, minutely and closely punctured ; eyes widely divergent towards vertex, their distance apart there being at least four times that near base of antennae ; facetting of eyes not regular, being coarser towards their inner margin below ; mandibles without a notch on their outer margin, bident- ate at apex ; clypeus much broader than long, convex in the centre, with a conspicuous longitudinal carina, its anterior margin bi-omarginate ; flagellum of antennae with all the joints subequal, first and second nar- rowed at base ; cheeks nearly as broad as eyes ; posterior ocelli about as far apart as their distance from inner margin of eyes ; pronotum comparatively broad, notched in the centre, raised above the level of anterior margin of mesonotum ; median segment small, somewhat narrowed posteriorly, rather steeply sloped, rugose at the sides and apex, with no enclosed space at base, but with a narrow median longitudinal furrow, which becomes slightly broader at apex ; abdomen with the first segment not petiolate, but narrowed at base, becoming gradually wider towards apex, about equal in length to the second and third segments united ; pygidium long, narrow, pointed, bare,
NEW SPECIES OF INDIAN HYMENOPTERA. 17
with a few scattered punctures. Black ; the abdomen shining ; the mandibles, except their tips, the scape and the first one or two joints of the flagellum of antenna?, the pronotum, tubercles, scutellum, post- scutellum, a spot on the coxa? below (frequently obsolete), all the femora, tibia?, and tarsi, broad bands on the second, fourth, and fifth abdominal segments, and sometimes also on the third segment bright yellow ; the tarsi at apex more or less inclining to ferruginous ; cly- peus wifch-short, thick, silvery pubescence, remainder of head, thorax, and apical abdominal segments with short, sparse, greyish pile ; wings subhyaline, nervures and tegulae testaceous, cubital nervure received into the radial cell just before its middle.
$ Similar ; antenna? 12-jointed as in the 9, but with joints 2-6 of the flagellum very much thickened, being about three times as wide as the scape ; anterior tarsi slightly thickened, whitish ; scutellum and postscutellum black, not yellow ; abdomen with yellow bands on second to sixth segments, apical abdominal segment when extended smooth, emarginate at base, with stiff greyish hairs at apex.
Long. 6-S mm.
Habitant : Quetta ; common.
This species belongs to the Thyreopus group, and having no enclosed space at base of median segment, it is not very near to any of the In- dian species. It makes its nest in hollow reed-stems, and stores common house flies for its progeny. I saw a $ go into a reed-stem, which I then cut off, and bred several specimens of both sexes from it.
Crabro prosopiformis, n. sp.
9 Smooth and shining, with a few scattered punctures on the
head and mesonotum ; eyes at vertex more than twice their width apart
near base of antenna? ; facetting of eyes coarser near inner margin
below than elsewhere ; mandibles not notched below, their apices
simple ; clypeus with the anterior margin produced and rounded in
the middle ; antenna? with the joints of flagellum subequal, not
thickened ; posterior ocelli much further apart from one another than
from inner margin of eyes ; cheeks strongly developed, nearly as w^ide
as eyes ; pronotum narrow, notched, below the level of mesonotum ;
median segment with a narrow triangular space at base depressed and
longitudinally striate, its apex produced into a median furrow, into
which two lateral furrows join ; abdomen slightly longer than thorax, not
petiolate, the first segment only slightly longer than the second ; pygi- 3
18 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
dium shaped like an isosceles triangle. Black ; the mandibles, except their tips, scape of antennse, pronotum, tubercles, scutellum usually, apex of anterior and intermediate femora, and the whole of the tibiae and tarsi yellow ; flagellum of antennse below ferruginous, pygidium red ; clypeus with rather long silvery pubescence, remainder of head, thorax, and abdomen with a little sparse, greyish pile ; wings hyaline, stigma dark, nearly black ; nervures dark testaceous, tegulse light testaceous ; the cubital nervure is received into the radial cell before the centre.
$ Similar, smaller, the apical segment more blunt at apex.
Long. 4 — 4-5 mm.
Habitat : Quetta ; Peshin ; fairly common.
This species belongs to the Lindenius group. In Bingham's key it would come next to C. nanus, from which it differs in sculpturing. It bears a strong resemblance, superfioially, to a Prosopis.
Crabro elongatus, n. sp. {Dudgeon MS).
" 9 Head, thorax, and abdomen smooth, the former opaque, the " latter shining ; an impressed line from base of antennae to anterior " ocellos ; median segment convex, narrowed posteriorly, with some 11 longitudinal striae at base, and a median longitudinal furrow ; " abdomen petiolate, first segment as long as the rest of the abdomen, " very narrow, with the apex rather abruptly nodose ; posterior tibiae " dilated ; clypeus with silvery pile, cheeks obscurely pilose. Black ; 1 the scape of antennae, anterior and intermediate tarsi, anterior tibiae, " apex of the anterior femora, and a spot on each side of the pronotum " pale yellow.
" Long. 8-9 mm.
" Habitat : Holta, Kangra Valley, 4,500ft.
" Nearest to 0. petiolatus (Nurse), but larger, the petiole narrower " and the yellow markings as mentioned. "
19
THE MOTHS OF INDIA.
SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER TO THE VOLUMES IN " THE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA."
SERIES II. PART IX.
By Sir G. F. Hampson, Bart., f.z.s., f.e s.
(Continued from page 659 of Vol. XIV.)
♦
Moths of India — 5a.
Schcenobian^e.
Genus Goniopalpia, nov.
Proboscis absent ; palpi with the 2nd joint porrect and extending about twice the length of head, the 3rd upturned and dilated at extremity :
maxillary palpi filiform ; antennas
laminate ; tibiae with the spurs long.
Forewing with vein 3 from before
angle of cell ; 4*5 from angle ; 6 from
below upper angle ; 7 from angle,
straight ; 8'9*10 stalked ; 11 free ; the
Goniopalpia delicatalis $ f termen somewhat excised from apex
to middle. Hindwing with veins 3 and 5 from close to angle of cell ; 6*7 from
upper angle, 7 anastomosing with 8 ; the termen strongly excised from apex
to middle and again towards tornus.
4240a. Goniopalpia delicatalis, n. sp.
$. White; palpi with the 1st and 2nd joints black at sides and the 3rd joint near extremity ; fore tibiae blackish above, the tarsal joints ringed with black. Forewing with the base of costal area tinged with fulvous ; traces of a curved antemedial line ; a slight fuscous discoidal lunule ; the veins beyond the cell streaked with fulvous yellow and the interspaces suffused with fuscous ; a subterminal white line from costa to vein 2, incurved at lower extremity, slightly edged by black on inner side and strongly on outer side and with some fulvous yellow suffusion beyond it ; the termen yellow with fine black line on its inner side ; cilia white with fine blackish line through them and the tips blackish. Hindwing with the terminal half slightly tinged with fulvous yellow.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 14 mill. Type— In Coll. Rothschild.
4254a. Patissa fulvidorsalis, n. sp.
$. Palpi not extending beyond the frons ; silvery white ; legs tinged with golden fulvous on inner side ; abdomen dorsally fulvous yellow except the 1st two and terminal segments.
Habitat,— Sikhim, 1800' (Dudgeon). Exp. 36 mill. Type— In B. M.
20 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
4269a. Schcenobios atjrivena, n. sp.
£. White ; palpi at sides and stripes on shoulders and legs orange. Fore- wing with the costa and interspaces streaked with orange ; a subterminal orange line ; a terminal series of orange red points ; cilia orange.
Habitat.— Khasis. Exp. 22 mill. Type^-hx B. M.
Anerastian^:. Genus Statina.
Statina, Rag. N. Am. Phyc.and Gall., p. 19 (1887).
Type — S. roseotinctella, Rag.
Range— N. and S. America ; Kashmir ; New Guinea.
Proboscis aborted, minute ; palpi downcurved, extending about four times length of head; irons with tuft of hair ; antenna? of male ciliated. Forewing with vein 2 frons towards angle of cell ; 3 and 5 on a long stalk. 4 absent ; 6 from below upper angle; 8"9-l0 stalked ; 11 from angle. Hindwing with vein 2 from close to angle of cell; 3"4 absent; 6"7 from upper angle, 8 anastomosing strongly with 7.
4275a. Statina cashmiralis, n. sp.
9. Head and thorax whitish, strongly tinged with red ; abdomen dorsally ochreous. Forewing ochreous-white, suffused with rufous ; the median nervure and base of veins 3'5, streaked with white. Hindwing semihyaline ochreous-white.
Habitat.— Kashmir, Dras (Leech). Exp. 22 mill. Type— In B. M.
4302&. Saluria minutella, n. sp.
A. Antenna? with short branches extending to near apex.
Head and thorax fuscous-grey ; abdomen white, dorsally ochreous towards base. Forewing fuscous-grey ; the costal area broadly whitish, extending to median nervure and vein 5 in and beyond end of cell ; traces of an antemedial line and discal point. Hindwing white, slightly tinged with fuscous.
Habitat.— Deesa (Nurse) ; Ceylon (Pole.) Exp. 14 mill. Type — In B. M.
4314a. Polyocha tricoloralis, n, n.
„ variegatella, Hmpsn., Journ., Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc., XII.
p. 310, nee Rag.
Habitat. — Sikhim.
4314a. Polyocha variegatella, Rag. Nouv. Gen., p. 39 ; id., Rom. Mem., VIII,, pi. 36, f. 16.
9 . Head and thorax deep flesh-pink ; pectus and legs paler, the fore tibise and tarsi streaked with white above ; abdomen ochreous-white. Forewing with narrow white costal fascia, ending in a point, just before apex ; the rest of wing deep flesh-pink, suffused with brown down to median nervure and vein 3 ; the veins with slight pale streaks. Hindwing semihyaline yellowish-white , tinged with fuscous towards costa.
Habitat. — Kangra Valley. Exp. 34 mill.
4315a. Polyocha pulverealis, n. sp.
2. Antenna? with long uniseriate branches ; forewing with veins 4'5 and 10 from cell ; hindwing with veins 3"4"5 stalked.
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 21
Head, thorax and abdomen pale grey-brown, mixed with black. Forewing pale grsy-brown, irrorated with black, thickly on costal half, a diffused black discoidal spot ; a terminal series of points. Hindwing pale, tinged with brownish, especially towards costa ; a fine terminal line.
Habitat.— Khasis. Exp. 30 mill. Type— In B. M.
2315&. POLYOCHA ORNATELLA, n. Sp.
$. Antenna? of male with long uniseriate branches; forewing with veins 4'5, approximated for some distance ; 10 from cell ; hindwing with vein 3 from cell.
Head and thorax pale yellowish-brown ; abdomen ochreons. Forewing with the costal area crimson, suffused with purplish-fuscous ; a white sub- costal stripe ending on costa at apex ; the inner area yellow with antemedial and medial crimson bands and a broad terminal band slightly tinged with grey ; cilia ochreous with two crimson lines through them, dark at apex. Hind wing fuscous ; cilia yellow with a dark line through their bases towards apex.
Habitat.— Kangra Valley, 4500' (Dudgeon). Exp. 26 mill. Type—In B. M.
Phycitin.e.
4320a. Homoj:osoma nimbella, Zell Isis, 1839, p. 178.
., Saxicola, Vaughan Month. Mag., VII., p. 132 (1870).
„ Caniusella, Bag. Rom. Mem., VIII., p. 248, pi. 33, f. 16
(1901).
Head and thorax white, irrorated with brown ; abdomen white, obscurely banded with fuscous. Forewing whitish, tinged with brown and thickly irro- rated with fuscous ; the area from costa to median nervure whiter to the postmedial line ; an indistinct dark subbasal spot on median nervure ; a curved medial series of three spots on the veins ; the two discoidal points large ; a rather indistinct oblique postmedial line. Hindwing semihyaline white ; the veins, a fine terminal line and a line at base of cilia brownish.
Habitat. — Europe ; Canaries ; W. Asia ; Kashmir, Dras. Exp. 18-24 mill.
43246. Homceosoma nigrimedialis, n. sp.
£. Pale reddish-brown ; forewing with some black irroration on costal area ; a prominent black streak on median nervure and base3 of veins 2-3'4 • a black streak on vein 1, most prominent on medial area ; slight black streaks on veins of terminal area ; the lines pale, the 1st line medial, sinuous the 2nd oblique and slightly bent inward below costa ; a terminal series of black stria?. Hindwing semihyaline white ; the veins and costal area fuscous • a fuscous terminal line and line through the cilia.
Habitat. — Khasis. Exp. 22 mill. Type — In Coll. Rothschild.
4325e. Eccopidia oinistis, n. sp.
9. Head, thorax and abdomen grey, irrorated with fuscous; the anal tuft fulvous. Forewing grey, irrorated with fuscous ; an indistinct curved medial Hue interrupted at median nervure ; two discoidal points ; the ter- minal area suffused with purple-red, forming a diffused darker band. Hind- wing semihyaline, tinged with brown.
Habitat— Ceylon, Kandy (Pole). Exp. 16 mill. Type— In B. M.
22 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
4325/. PSOROSA PROLEUCALIS, tl. sp.
$. Head and thorax ochreous ; antenna? fuscous, the tuft of scales in sinus black ; abdomen ochreous, dorsally tinged with fuscous. Forewing ochreous ; the costal area broadly white to the 2nd line and slightly irrorated with red ; the basal area suffused with fuscous to the antemedial line except on costal area and base of inner margin ; the antemedial line represented by a red spot on subcostal nervure and black spots on white patches on median nervure and vein 1 ; the discoidal black points prominent, the lower large ; the subter- minal line white, rather punctiform, oblique from costa to vein 6, excurved at middle and slightly angled inwards on vein 1 ; defined on each side by an oblique black streak from apex, then by short black streak on the veins; some white on termen and a prominent series of black points ; cilia brown with two white lines through them. Hindwing pale ochreous, the veins and costal area tinged with brown ; a fine terminal line and line at base of cilia.
Habitat.— Simla (Nurse). Exp. 22 mill. Type—In. "B. M.
4325a. PSOROSA BIFILIFERALIS, n. Sp.
ft. Antennas with slight sinus at base of shaft with scale teeth in it.
Head and thorax white ; antennae brownish ; tarsi banded with black ; abdomen whitish, dorsally banded with black. Forewing pale brownish- ochreous, the costal half white, irrorated with brown, the costal edge blackish ; an antemedial diffused black patch on vein 1 ; an indistinct medial line ; discoidal points prominent, black, the lower largest ; postmedial line whitish, de- fined by diffused black on each side ; a terminal black patch with white patch on it, broad at costa, narrowing to a point at vein 1. Hindwing semihyaline white, tinged with fuscous towards termen ; a fine dark line at base of cilia.
Habitat.— Sikhim, 2000' (Pilcher). Exp. 16 mill. Type— In B. M.
4327a. Heterographis bellenica, Stgr. Hor. Ent. Boss, 1870, p. 209, pi. II, f. 18.
Head, thorax and abdomen white, tinged with ochreous above. Forewing bright yellow ; the costa white, broad, rather diffused ; oblique purplish-pink sub-basal and medial bands from subcostal nervure to inner margin ; a postmedial band, with irregularly sinuous edges, bent outwards to costa, where it joins the terminal band which runs round the apex. Hindwing pale ochreous, the cilia white except at base.
Habitat. — Greece ; Syria ; Deesa. Exp. 16 mill.
4328a. Heterographis deserticola, Stgr. Stett. Ent. Zeit., 1870, p. 201 ; Rag. Rom. Mem., VIII., p. 148, pi. XXVIII., f. 17.
Head, thorax and abdomen white, tinged with pale yellow-brown above; the 3rd joint of palpi and frontal tuft blackish in the Indian, yellowish in the European, specimens. Forewing pale yellow-brown, with white costal fascia, narrowing to apex ; slight traces of discoidal points ; the termen blackish. Hindwing hyaline white, the veins, terminal area and base of cilia tinged with brown.
Habitat. — Armenia, Sarepta ; Transcaucasia. Iskabad ; Punjab, Ferozpur. Exp. 14-20 Mill.
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 23
43286. Heterographis niveicostella, Rag. Rom. Mem., VIII., p. 149, pi. XXXIX, f. 7.
$. Pale reddish-brown. Forewing slightly irrorated with darker scales ; a white costal fascia, irrorated with brown and narrowing to apex ; traces of discoidal points. Hindwing semihyaline white, the terminal half and base of cilia tinged with brown.
Habitat.— Transcaucasia, Askabad ; Deesa. Exp. 18 mill.
4329a. Heterographis microstictella, n. sp.
g. Maxillary palpi flattened against the frons.
Ochreous-white, tinged with pale rufous ; abdomen white. Forewing with white costal fascia irrorated with ochreous and narrowing to apex ; traces of a sinuous white antemedial line, with a fuscous point on its outer side on vein 1 ; the discoidal points very obscure and pale rufous ; an obscure sinuous whitish subterminal line, with slight dark shade on inner side. Hindwing semihyaline white, tinged with fuscous towards termen.
Habitat.— Deesa (Nurse). Exp. 20 mill. Type—In B. M.
4329J. Heterographis fulvimarginella, n. sp.
$. Head, thorax and abdomen whitish, marked with patches of fulvous and black scales above. Forewing whitish, thickly suffused with fulvous and black scales, leaving a white costal fascia slightly irrorated with black and narrowing to apex ; an oblique dentate whitish antemedial line ; the sub- terminal line whitish, angled inwards in discal fold and with fulvous band on outer side ; cilia whitish. Hindwing semihyaline white, the veins and ter- men tinged with brown.
Habitat. — Deesa (Nurse). Exp. 24 mill. Type— -In B. M.
4331a. Heterographis obscuralis, n. sp.
Head, thorax and abdomen brownish-grey, mixed with pale grey. Forewing pale grey and grey-brown ; an indistinct pale almost medial line defined by grey, excurved from below costa to submedian fold where it is slightly angled inwards ; two obscure dark discoidal points ; a pale subterminal line, defined on each side by grey, slightly angled inwards at vein 6, then excurved to submedian fold, where it is again angled inwards ; an obscure terminal series of dark points. Hindwing pale brownish-grey ; cilia white at tips.
Habitat. — Ceylon, Hambantota, Matale (Pole). Exp. 16 mill. Type — In B. M.
4332a. Heterographis craticulella, Rag. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1887, p. 251.
Antenna? of male with slight sinus at base of shaft with scale teeth in it.
$. Head and thorax ochreous-brown, mixed with white ; abdomen white dorsally, tinged with ochreous. Forewing ochreous-brown ; a broad white fascia just below costa from base to near the postmedial line ; an oblique white antemedial band diffused on outer side ; a wedge-shaped white fascia on median nervure from beyond the antemedial band, enclosing a short brown streak at lower angle of cell and expanding towards the oblique postmedial
24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
line which expands on costa ; a white fascia on vein 1 between the ante- and postmedial lines ; an oblique white subterminal band not reaching costa towards which it expands, somewhat diffused on inner side ; all the white markings with some dark-brown scales on their edges. Hindwing semihyaline ochreous ; a fine terminal line ; cilia white with a fine line at baae. Habitat. — C. Asia, Marghilan ; Kashmir (Dras). Exp. 24 mill.
4341&. EUZOPHERODES IRRORALIS, n. sp.
Head and thorax pale brownish-ochreous ; abdomen ochreous-white. Forewing pale brownish-ochreous, irrorated with black and with black points on middle of median nervure and vein 1, at upper angle of cell and postmedial points just below costa, in discal fold and on vein 1 and a terminal series. Hindwing ochreous-white.
Habitat. — Ceylon, Hambantota, Puttalam (Pole). Exp. 10 mill. Type — In B. M.
4341c. EOZOPHERODES EPHESTIALIS, n. Sp.
$. Forewing with veins 3-5 from angle of cell ; 8' 9'10 stalked.
Head and thorax greyish-brown, mixed with black ; abdomen pale brown. Forewing grey-brown, irrorated with black ; the costal area black, irrorated with grey ; a black streak on base of inner margin ; a diffused black streak on vein 1 from before middle to the diffused medial black band ; discoidal points large, almost conjoined ; postmedial line strong, erect and angled outwards at middle ; an indistinct dentate subterminal line ; a terminal series of black points. Hindwing pale brown, with rather darker terminal line and line at base of cilia.
Habitat— Sikhim, 7000' (Pilcher). Exp. 22 mill. Type— In B. M.
43436. Euzophera albicostalis, n. sp.
£. Head, thorax and abdomen fuscous-brown, the head and thorax suffused with black. Forewing pale brown, thickly irrorated with fuscous ; the costal area white, tapering to a point before apex ; a whitish discoidal point and an indistinct series of dark points on termen. Hindwing pale brown, tinged with fuscous towards costa ; a fine dark terminal line and line at base of cilia.
Habitat. — Kashmir, Scind Valley (Leech). Exp. 26 mill. Type — In B. M.
4343c. Euzophera cedrella, n. sp.
Forewing with veins 4'5 and 10 from cell ; hindwing with veins 3'5 from cell.
Fuscous-brown, irrorated with grey and with a slight olive tinge. Forewing with rather narrow antemedial white band, dentate on outer side below costa and in submedian fold and bent outwards to inner margin ; a black discoidal lunule ; a more or less prominent minutely dentate white postmedial line, bent inwards below costa and outwards between veins 5 and 2 ; a terminal series of black points. Hindwing uniform golden-brown ; the- cilia paler, with a brown line near base.
The larva destroys the cones of the Deodar Cedar.
Habitat. — Simla (Pilcher) ; Punjab, Jaunsar. Exp. 22 mill.
THE MOTHS OF INDIA.
25
Genus Mesginia. Mescinia, Rag. Rom. Mem., VIII., p. 83 (1901). Type — .¥. commatella, Zell., from Colombia.
Proboscis well developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching above vertex of head, the 3rd long ; antennae ciliated. Forewing with veins 2"3 stalked,
4*5 from angle ; 6 from upper angle ; 8 and 10 stalked ; 9 absent ; 11 from ceil. Hindwing with vein 2 from before angle of cell ; 3*5 stalked ; 4 absent ; 7 becom- ing coincident with 8. Mescinia micans £ §. 4346. Mescinia micans. 4346a. Mescinia olivescalis, n, sp.
9. Very pale olive-brown ; palpi blackish towards tips ; abdomen dorsally suffused with fuscous. Forewing irrorated with fuscous; an obscure dark discoidal spot. Hindwing hyaline, the veins and a terminal line brown. Habitat— Ceylon, Kandy. Exp. 12 mill. Type—In B. M. Sect. II. Maxillary palpi of male, minute, triangularly scaled ; frons with- out tuft. 4348a. Sandrabatis ph^eella, n. sp.
<J. Head, thorax and abdomen deep fuscous-brown ; palpi in front and anal tuft ochreous. Forewing deep fuscous-brown ; a black spot on vein 1 on traces of the antemedial line ; the two discoidal black points prominent ; the postmedial line very indistinct, angled inwards below costa, outwards on vein 5 ; traces of a dentate subterminal line ; a terminal series of black points. Hindwing of pale-brown with dark terminal line and line through the cilia which are yellowish. Habitat— Sikhim, 1800' (Dudgeon). Exp. 28 mill. Type— In B. M.
Genus Blajbioides, nov. Palpi upturned to above vertex of head with a hollow containing the brush-like maxillary palpi ; antennas of male with the basal joint dilated ; the shaft laminate with a large sinus and tuft at base. Forewing loDg and narrow ; veins 4*5 from a point ; 8*9'10 stalked. Hindwing with the cell about one-fourth of wing; vein 2 from angle ; 3 approximated for some distance to 4*5 which are stalked ; 7 anastomosing strongly with 8. 4348J. Blabioides strigerella, n. sp.
$. Head and thorax bright rufous, slightly streaked with black ; maxil- lary palpi ochreous ; abdomen ochreous. Forewing bright rufous, the veins
streaked with blackish ; a whitish streak above median nervure ; a pale curved subcostal streak from before middle to apex ; a pale streak from inner margin near base, oblique to vein 1 along which it Blabioides strigerella $ f runs to the subterminal line which
26 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
is oblique, angled inwards below apex and pale ; a fine dark terminal line. Hindwing pale brownish, with fine dark terminal and cilial lines. Habitat.— Ceylon, Nawalapittya. Exp. 20 mill. Type— la. B. M.
Genus Ptyomaxia, nov. Type — P. trigoniphora, Hmpsn. Range — Ceylon.
Palpi upturned, reaching just above vertex of head, the third joiut well developed ,• maxillary palpi small, dilated with scales, flattened against the
frons ; antennas of male laminate with large sinus and tuft at base. Forewing with costal fold ; veins 3'4'5 from angle of cell ; 8'9'10 stalked. Hindwing with the cell about one-third of wing ; vein 2 from angle ; 3"4'5 stalked ; 6"7 Ptyomaxia trigonifera $ I stalked ; 7 anastomosing with 8.
4349a. Ptyomaxia trigonifera, n. sp.
£. Pale yeilowish-brown ; antennae with the tuft red-brown. Forewing with oblique diffused medial whitish line with large dark red-brown patch beyond it, its base on costa extending almost to apex, its apex on vein 1. Hindwing suffused with fuscous, the cilia pale.
Habitat.— Ceylon, Puttalaro (J. Pole). Exp. 16 mill. Type— In B. M.
4351a. Nephopteryx hypocautella, n. sp.
£ . Maxillary palpi flattened against the frons ; antennas without sinus and tuft ; forewing with the cell on underside clothed with ferruginous red scales.
Head, thorax and abdomen clothed with white and grey-brown scales. Forewing irrorated brown and white ; a brownish-ochreous band just before middle with two tufts of vinous red scales on its inner side below the cell, with a fine white line on their inner side, a purplish spot on costa on outer edge of band ; traces of the discoidal points and of a sinuous subterminal line. Hindwing semihyaline white, the terminal half tinged with brown.
Habitat. — Deesa (Nurse). Exp. 14 mill. Type — In B. M.
4359a. Nephopteryx rivdlella, Bag. Nov. Gen., p. 18; id., Rom. Mem., VII.,p.294,pl.XLI.,f. 14.
Head white ; thorax purplish-brown, mixed with white ; abdomen brown with segmental white lines. Forewing cupreous-brown with a purplish gloss ; some ochreous at base of inner margin ; the 1st line almost medial, fine sinuous and placed on a broad somewhat diffused white band ; the post- medial line very indistinct, white, sinuous. Hindwing semihyaline white, the costa and termen brown ; a brown line through the cilia.
Habitat— W. Africa, Accra ; Deesa ; Ceylou ; Penang. Exp. 16 mill.
4359&. Nephopteryx fumosella, Bag. AnD. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1887, p. 229 ; id., Bom. Mem., VII., p. 246, pi. IX, f. 4.
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 27
Antennae of male with slight sinus at base of shaft with scaly teeth in it. Head and thorax ochreous, strongly irrorated with fuscous-brown ; abdomen ochreous, tinged with fuscous. Forewing ochreous-grey, strongly irrorated with fuscous-brown ; the autimedial line indistinct, whitish, oblique from costa to median nervure, interrupted below cell and angled inwards on vein 1 ; two dark discoidal points ; the subterminal line indistinct, whitish, inwardly oblique from costa to vein 5, minutely dentate on veins 5 to 2 and angled inwards in submedian fold ; a terminal series of dark points. Hind wing semihyaline, tinged with pale-brown ; a darker terminal line and fine line at base of cilia.
Habitat. — C. Asia, Samarkand ; Kashmir, Goorais Valley. Exp. 30 mill. 4359c. Nephopteryx myrmidonella, Rag. Rom. Mem., VIII., p. 103, pi. XLIV, f. 7.
Antennae of male with a slight sinus at base of shaft with tuft of black scales in it, maxillary palpi flattened against the frons.
Head, thorax and abdomen grey-brown and white, tbe head and thorax irror- ated with some black scales. Forewing grey-brown, with fine white streaks defining the subcostal and median nervures, the discal fold in cell and the veins beyond the medial line which have dark streaks on them ; some black irroration, especially on basal half of inner area ; a slightly sinuous medial yellow line defined by rough black scales, forming a large tuft on inner side below the ceil ; a black point at lower angle of cell. Hindwing, semihyaline white, with fine brownish terminal line, diffused inwards in female.
Habitat.— W. Africa, Old Calabar, Nigeria Borgu, E. Africa, Teita (Jackson) ; Deesa (Nurse) ; Ceylon, Puttalam (Pole). Exp. $ 14, $ 10 mill. 4408. Phycita hyemalis transfer to Nephopteryx sect. PaUbothra 4360a and re-name the species with uniseriate branches to antennae Phycita monopecten. n.n. ; the former occurs in Formosa, Simla, Sikhim, Ceylon and Sierra Leone, the latter in Ceylon.
4362a. Nephopteryx {PaUbothra) tumidella, n. sp. Mid-femora of male with a tuft of long hair in a groove. Head and thorax dark-brown, slightly mixed with grey ; abdomen grey- brown. Forewing dark-brown, slightly irrorated with grey ; the antemedial band with its inner part olive-yellow, its outer pure white and defined on each side by ridges of leaden scales ; the discoidal points obliquely placed on a white patch which extends to costa and along it to the subterminal line which is white defined by dark-brown, its medial part excurved ; a terminal series of black points. Hindwing semihyaline white, the veins and termen tinged with brown.
Habitat— Ceylon, Puttalam (Pole). Exp. 16 mill. Type—In B. M. 4363a. Nephopteryx (Thylocojrtila) atrisquamella, Hmpsn., Rom. Mem., VIII., p. 551, pi. 57, f. 19.
$. Fore and hindwings with streaks of black scales below costa on under- side. Head and thorax black, slightly mixed with pale-brown ; abdomen grey
28 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
with black subdorsal patches, the ventral surface irrorated with black. Fore- wing black, irrorated with leaden grey scales ; the inner and terminal areas obscurely tinged with brown ; faint traces of a black medial line and discoidal series of points ; a more distinct subterminal greyish line, defined on each side by black and excurved at middle ; a terminal series of black points. Hindwing hyaline white, the termen tinged with brown.
$. Rather browner.
Habitat. — Ceylon, Puttalam, Matale ; Queensland, Cooktown. Exp. 21-26 mill.
4363&. Nephofteryx albifascialis, n. sp.
ft. Legs and hindwing normal.
Head white and brown with some purple-red scales ; the brush-like maxillary palpi fulvous ; thorax and legs purplish black-brown with whitish patches on tibiae ; abdomen brownish-ochreous, tinged with dark-brown at base and extremity. Forewing black-brown ; the inner and terminal areas mixed with grey and red-brown scales ; a pure white slightly curved fascia from below costa near base to apex. Hindwing semihyaline ochreous-white, the costa and termen tinged with brown ; cilia white, brown at base.
Habitat.— Ceylon, Matale (Pole). Exp. 20 mill. Type —In B. M.
4364a. Nephofteryx striginervella, n. sp.
Palpi of male hollowed out to receive the brush-like maxillary palpi ; antennae with slight ridge of scales at base, ending in a projecting point, the shaft serrate and fasciculate.
ft. White, with an ochreous-brown tinge ; antennae with the shaft black- ish ; palpi with dark streaks ; thorax with a few dark scales. Forewing irrorated with some red-brown scales ; an oblique antemedial series of reddish and black streaks lengthening towards inner margin and with an obscure line beyond them ; raised bosses of pale and black scales at and below lower angle of cell ; the veins of outer area streaked with dark red and black. Hindwing yellowish semihyaline white.
Habitat.— Ceylon (J. Pole). Exp. 18 mill. Type— In B. M.
4370a. Nefhopteryx rubralis, n. sp.
ft . With streaks of black scales on underside below basal half of costa of forewing and subcostal nervure of hindwing.
Head and thorax ocbreous, strongly tinged with red-brown ; abdomen ochreous. Forewing ochreous, tinged with red-brown, the inner and terminal areas irrorated with fuscous ; the 1st line medial, whitish, diffused, enclosing a black point on vein 1 and with diffused dark scales on its edges; lower discoidal point prominent, black, the upper indistinct ; the 2nd line subter- minal, formed of small dentate white marks on blackish streaks on the veins ; an indistinct terminal series of dark points. Hindwing yellowish-white.
5 . Head, thorax and forewing redder, the last with hardly a trace of the blackish markings.
Habitat.— Madras (Watson). Exp. 20 mill. Type— In B. M.
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 29
±370b. Nephopteryx calamalis, n. sp.
g. With streaks of black scales on underside below basal half of costa ot forewing and subcostal nervure of hindwing.
Head and thorax pale-ochreous, slightly irrorated with black ; abdomen ochreous. Forewing pale-ochreous, irrorated with black ; more thickly on inner and terminal areas ; the 1st line medial represented by a black point on median nervure and a black-defined whitish line f rom submedian fold to inner margin, angled inwards on vein 1 ; a prominent black point at lower angle of cell ; the subterminal line whitish, defined by black, angled inwards and interrupted in discal and submedian folds and minutely dentate on median nervules ; a distinct terminal series of black points. Hindwing semihyaline yellowish-white, with some fuscous suffusion on costal area ; a dark terminal line and line at base of cilia.
Habitat.— Ceylon, Puttalam (Pole). Exp. 20 mill. Type— In B. M.
4370c. Nephopteryx asbolalis, n. sp.
Forewing of male with patch of black scales at base of costa on underside, the anal tuft more or less black.
Head, thorax and abdomen ochreous : palpi and fore and mid legs with patches of black ; mid and hind tibial spurs and tarsi black. Forewing och- reous, with more or less blackish suffusion on inner half and on terminal area ; the antemedial line whitish, oblique and indistinct from costa to median nervure, where there is a black point beyond it, angled inwards on vein 1, where there is a more or less developed black patch before it and black point with pale patch beyond it on its outer side ; two black discoidal point3 ; the subterminal line whitish defined by black, oblique from costa to vein 6 ; excurved at middle and angled inwards in submedian fold ; a termi- nal series of black points. Hindwing semihyaline yellowish-white, with some fuscous suffusion on costa and fine dark lines on termen and at base of cilia.
Ab. 1. Forewing with the ground color grey ; hindwing with streaks of black scales on base of costa and subcostal nervure on underside.
Habitat. — Sierra Leone (Clements) ; Simla (Pilcher) ; Deesa (Nurse) ; Bel- gaum (Watson) ; Bali (Doherty). Exp. 20 mill.
4383. Myelois pectinicornella. The larva bores in the pods of cocao in Ceylon and is very destructive.
4383a. Myelois ephestxalis, n. sp.
Antenna? of male ciliated.
Head and thorax grey, mixed with fuscous ; tarsi with pale rings ; abdomen ochreous with fuscous dorsal bands. Forewing grey, thickly irrorated with fuscous ; an oblique antemedial black line, slightly angled outwards in sub- median fold, defined by whitish on inner side and diffused on outer; a more or less prominent dark discoidal lunule ; a pale subterminal line, defined by blackish on inner side and excurved at middle. Hindwing semihyaline, tinged with fuscous ; cilia of both wings white at base, fuscous at tips.
Habitat.— Simla (Pilcher) ; Sikhim (Dudgeon). Exp. 16 mill. Type—In B. M.
30 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
4384a. Hypsipyla psarella, n. sp.
Head, thorax and abdomen grey, mixed with brown ; abdomen with segmental white lines. Forewing gvey, thickly irrorated with brown ; an antemedial white line oblique from costa to below cell, where it is acutely angled, then angled inwards on vein 1 ; a dark discocellular lunule ; a minutely dentate white subterminal line, slightly bent outwards at middle ; a series of dark terminal points. Hindwing semibyaline white, the termen and costa tinged with fuscous.
Habitat— Sikhim, 1800' (Dudgeon) ; Puttalam, Ceylon (Pole). Exp. 26 mill. Type— In B. M.
4384&. Hypsipyla elachistalis, n. sp.
ft. Maxillary palpi dilated and flattened against frons which is conical and prominent.
Head and thorax grey, mixed with fuscous, the shoulders tinged with olive- yellow ; abdomen grey. Forewing grey ; the costal area tinged with olive- yellow ; the basal area suffused with fuscous and vinous scales ; a medial black line with an ochreous band on its inner side oblique from costa to discal fold, then erect ; two fuscous and vinous discoidal points ; the terminal area suffused with fuscous and vinous scales obliquely from apex to middle of inner margin ; a pale subterminal line defined on each side by black and slightly bent outwards at vein 6 ; an ill-defined terminal series of black points. Hindwing white, tinged with fuscous ; cilia of both wings with a dark line through them.
Habitat. — Ceylon, Hambantota (Pole). Exp. 16 mill. Type— In B. M.
4384c. Hypsipyla rotundipex, n. sp. (PI. C, f. 26.)
Antennas of male laminate ; forewing with the basal half of costa fringed with long hair, the apex rounded.
ft. Head and thorax black-brown ; abdomen reddish-brown. Forewing black-brown, with rufous streaks below submedian fold and vein 1 and between veins of outer area. Hindwing semibyaline brown with a rufous tinge, the veins and fine terminal line and line through the cilia darker.
Habitat .— Sikhim, 2600' (Pilcher). Exp. 36 mill. Type— -In B. M.
4386a. Phycita hemipexella, n. sp.
ft. Antennas of male with large sinus and tuft ; the basal half of shaft bipectinate with diminishing branches ; maxillary palpi triangular, flattened against the frons.
Head, thorax and abdomen ochreous ; thorax suffused with purplish- fuscous, except the front of tegulas and shoulders ; abdomen irrorated with purplish-fuscous. Forewing ochreous, the costal area and cell suffused with black, leaving an ochreous discoidal spot ; a blackish antemedial patch below the cell ; the postmedial line indistinct, angled beyond the cell, then very oblique and ending at vein 1 ; traces of a waved subterminal line •, the inner area irrorated with purplish-red. Hindwing semihyaline whitish, the costal area tinged with fuscous ; a fine brownish terminal line and a line through the cilia
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 31
Habitat— Sikhim, 1800' (Dudgeon). Exp. 18 mill. Type— In B. M.
43866. Phycita ph^eella, n. sp.
$ . Maxillary palpi flattened against the frons ; antenna) with a large sinus and tuft at base.
Head and thorax dark-brown, tinged with grey and irrorated with a few blackish scales ; abdomen brown. Forewing dark-brown, suffused with grey and irrorated with blackish scales ; a slight medial dark streak on vein 1, a series of postmedial streaks and some dark points on termen. Hindwing hyaline white ; the fringes of hair on median nervure and base of vein 1 brown ; the termen and base of cilia brown.
Habitat.— Deesa (Nurse). Exp. 22 mill. Type— In B. M.
4393. Phycita steniella.
$ . Maxillary palpi filiform ; antennae with the basal joint dilated and angled behind, the shaft with large sinus ending with a tuft of scales.
4403a. Phycita erythrolophia, n. sp.
Maxillary palpi of male brush-like in hollow of labial palpi ; antennae laminate, ciliated with large hollowed out tuft at base of shaft ; mid-tibiae with fold containing a tuft of vinous hair ; claspers and anal tuft very large, the latter tinged with vinous ; hindwing with the base streaked with vinous scales on underside, a small hyaline streak above base of vein 2.
£. Grey, tinged with brown; head blackish. Forewing irrorated with brown ; an oblique antemedial ridge of large black scales across cell and submedian interspace ; a medial whitish line, slightly defined by brown, oblique from costa to below cell where it is angled ; the discoidal points black and obliquely placed ; the subterminal line white, defined by brown, dentate, augled outwards on vein 6 ; a terminal series of black points. Hindwing semihyaline, the veins and margins brownish.
9. Head not blackish.
Habitat— Ceylon, Matale (Pole). Exp: $ 24, $ 20 mill. Tijpe— -In B. M.
4497a. Phycita ardentia, n. sp.
$ . Head and thorax dark-rufous ; abdomen pale yellow-brown. Forewing purplish red-brown ; a pinkish white medial line angled inwards on vein 1 and with some purplish grey on its outer edge ; a dark discoidal lunule ; a whitish subterminal line obtusely angled on vein 5 ; a fine dark terminal line. Hindwing whitish semihyaline, the apical area tinged with fuscous ; a fine dark terminal line and line through the cilia.
Habitat— Sikhim, 7000' (Pilcher). Exp. 20 mill. Type— In B. M.
4407/'. Phycita ochralis, n. sp.
Autennae of male with slight sinus at base of shaft with black scale teeth in it.
£. Head, thorax and abdomen ochreous ; palpi and legs irrorated with fuscous. Forewing ochreous ; the costal edge black, the costal area suffused with black and white scales towards apex ; a diffused patch of rufous and black scales on inner area before middle; the cilia fuscous and white.
32 JO URN A L} BOMB A Y NAT UFA L HIS TOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. X V.
Hindwing semihyaline tinged with fuscous, especially on costal area ; cilia white with fuscous line at base.
Habitat. — Kashmir, Goorais Valley (Leech). Exp. 22 mill. Type — In B. M.
4427a. Cryptoblabes ephestialis, n. sp.
9. Head and thorax dark-brown ; pectus, legs and abdomen grey-brown. Forewing dark-brown, the inner half suffused with red-brown ; the lines represented by a few silvery grey scales. Hindwing hyaline, the veins and margins brown.
Habitat— Ceylon, Matale (Pole). Exp. 14-16 mill. Type— In B. M.
Genus Epischnia.
Epischnia. Zell. Isis 1839, p. 178.
Type — E. prodromella, Hiibn.
Range — X. America ; Europe ; S. Africa ; Madagascar ; W. C. and X. Asia to Kashmir.
Proboscis fully developed ; palpi thickly scaled, the 2nd joint oblique, the 3rd porrect ; maxillary palpi dilated with hair ; frons with tuft of hair ; antennas of male laminate with sinus at base of shaft, ending in some scale teeth and a slight tuft of hair ; a large tuft of hair and large scales below shoulders. Forewing with veins 3#4'5 well separated ; 6 from below upper angle ; 8*9 stalked ; lO'll from cell. Hindwing with vein 3 approximated to 4*5, for nearly half their length ; 6"7 stalked ; 8 free.
4433a. Epischnia cretaciella, Mann. Ver. Zool. Bot. Wien 18G9, p. 380 ; Rag. Rom. Mem,, VII., p. 504, pi. XX., f. 1.
Head, thorax and abdomen white, tinged with pale-brown and irrorated with fuscous. Forewing white, irrorated with black and the interspaces tinged with pale-brown, the veins with streaks of black scales, defined on each side by white, the antemedial line represented by a slight oblique striga from costa and a slight striga on vein 1 ; a black point at lower angle of cell ; traces of a postmedial line oblique from costa near apex to submedian fold where it is angled inwards ; a subterminal series of short diffused streaks. Hindwing semihyaline whitish ; the veins brown ; the costal and terminal areas suffused with brown, especially in female ; a fine terminal line and a line at base of cilia.
Habitat.— E. Europe; W.Asia; Kashmir (Dras). Exp. 28-30 mill.
Genus Selagia.
Selagia — Hiibn. Verz., p. 37 (1827).
Type — S. argyrella, Schiff.
Range — X. America ; Europe ; X. and Central Asia to Kashmir ; Japan.
Proboscis fully developed ; palpi thickly scaled, extending about the length of head, the 2nd joint oblique, the 3rd porrect ; maxillary palpi somewhat dilated with scales ; frons rounded ; antennas of male laminate, the shaft with sinus and tuft at base, Forewing with vein 3 from near angle of cell :
THE MOTHS OF INDIA* 33
4*5 approximated for some distance ; 6 from below upper angle ; 8"9 stalked ; 10*11 from cell. Hindwing with the lower angle of cell produced, vein 3 from augle, 4'5 stalked ; 6*7 stalked ; 8 free.
44336. Selagia spadicella— Hiibn. Eur. Schmett Tin., p. 31, f. 225 (1827) ; Rag. Rom. Mem., VII., p. 472.
Tinea janthiwlla—nubn. Eur. Schmett Tin., ff. 374-375 (1827).
Nephopteryx saltuella — Mann. Wien. Mori. 18G2, p. 392.
Head and thorax rufous, mixed with fuscous and grey ; legs fuscous and grey ; abdomen ochreous. Forewing rufous, the costal area and veins with diffused fuscous and grey streaks ; the antemedial line represented by slight dark streaks on the veiDS, or greyish, oblique from costa to median nervure and angled inwards on vein 1 ; discoidal points obscure ; the postmedial line obsolete or greyish, oblique, and angled inwards in submedian fold. Hind- wing semihyaline ochreous ; the costal area suffused with fuscous ; a fine terminal line and a line at base of cilia.
Habitat.— Europe ; C. Asia ; Kashmir, Goorais Valley, Exp. 30 mill,
4434a. Etiella grisea, n. sp.
$. Head and thorax grey ; maxillary palpi ochreous ; abdomen whitish. Forewing pale grey,irrorated with fuscous ; three obliquely placed antemedial bosses of leaden-coloured scales below the cell, with obscure yellow band beyond them, followed by durk points on median nervure and vein 1 ; two dark discoidal points and a diffused patch below end of cell ; traces of a subterminal line excurved at middle ; a fine terminal line. Hindwing yellow- ish semihyaline white with pale brownish terminal line.
<{>. With ill-defined white subcostal fascia to forewing.
Habitat.— Ceylon, Puttalam (J. Pole). Exp. 18-24 mill. Type—In B. M.
44346. Etiella myosticta, n. sp.
£. Maxillary palpi filiform, slightly dilated at extremity.
Head and thorax ochreous, tinged with rufous ; abdomen ochreous. Forewing ochreous, tinged with rufous, sparsely irrorated with fuscous ; a fine whitish streak on median nervure ; the costal area greyish, slightly defined with fuscous below ; a black point at lower angle of cell ; a curved postmedial series of slight blackish streaks on the veins ; a terminal series of black points. Hindwing semihyaline ochreous, tinged with brown towards costa and termen ; a fine terminal line and a line at base of cilia.
Habitat— Simla (Pilcher). Exp. 22 mill. Type.— In B. M.
4134c. Etiella uniformalis, n. sp.
£. Head and thorax ochreous, tinged with rufous and mixed with fuscous ; abdomen ochreous. Forewing ochreous-grey, thickly irrorated and suffused with fuscous-brown ; a more ochreous streak in submedian fold. Hindwing ochreous-grey, tinged with fuscous-brown.
Habitat. — Kashmir, Goorais Valley (Leech). Exp. 28 mill. — Type — In 8, M
34 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
EPIPASCHIANyE.
Genus Odontopaschia, nov.
Palpi obliquely upturned, the 3rd joint porrect ; maxillary palpi strongly
dilated with scales ; antennae of male with tufts of scales at extremity of basal joint ; the shaft laminate, ex- cised at base. Forewing with vein 3 from close to angle of cell ; 4'5 stalked ; 7*8 stalked, 9 absent ; 10
from cell ; a large tooth of scales Odontopaschia virescens ^ j. .-,,,„. . ?,
^ on middle of inner margin ; turts
of large erect scales at middle of cell and on discocellulars, bearing a few long thick hairs. Hindwing with vein 3 from close to angle of cell ; 4 absent ; 7 anastomosing with 8. 4435a. Odontopaschia virescens, n. sp.
Head and thorax brown ; abdomen fuscous and grey. Forewing with the inner half brown, the costal half white, irrorated with green and with a large medial patch of dark-green ; the antemedial line defined by fuscous, oblique, curved above inner margin and with a patch of diffused black scales before it on inner area ; the tufts of scales in cell black and brown ; some blackish scales below end of cell ; the postmedial line dark, bent outwards at vein 5, dentate to vein 2, then excurved ; a terminal series of black points. Hindwing fuscous-brown.
Habitat— Khasis. Exp. $ 22, $ 26 mill. Type— -In B. M. 4438c. Macella eufibarbalis, n. sp. (PI. C, f. 31.)
Maxillary palpi of male free, strongly tufted with hair ; palpi with the 2nd joint very long ; a very large tuft of hair on inner side of 2nd and 3rd joints ; antennse ciliated, the basal joint dilated ; tufts of scales behind antenna?; hindwing with long fringes of hair on inner margin.
ft . Head, thorax and abdomen clothed with olive-green, white, pinkish and fuscous scales ; palpi whitish, dark towards extremity; the tufts on inner side of 2nd joint red ; abdomen with some black dorsal marks, the extremity brown and black. Forewing clothed with whitish and green scales, irrorated with black ; a blackish mark at base of inner margin ; an obliquely curved antemedial black band from cell to inner margin, with some brownish suffusion on its inner side ; a tuft of brown scales in end of cell with dark mark on coata above it ; the black postmedial line oblique from costa to vein 3, then strongly incurved and dentate •, the apical area rufous ; a terminal series of black spots. Hindwing fuscous, pale towards base ; a pale sub- terminal mark on vein 2 ; the fringes of hair on inner area red. Underside with the apical area of forewing and whole of hindwing clothed with pale- brown scales.
9. Much more green and fuscous with hardly any white scales ; the thorax, base and apical areas of forewing especially green ; underside purplish-
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 35
fuscous with pale patches towards base of wings ; the discoidal iunules distinct.
Habitat.— Sikhim, 1800' (Dudgeon). Exp. 30 mill. Type— In B. M.
4442a. Macalla plicatalis, n. sp.
£. Palpi with the 2nd joint short, the 3rd very long and hollowed out to contain the brush-like maxillary palpi ; antennae ciliated with no tuft of scales behind them. Hindwing with the inner area dilated, forming a large fold containing rough fulvous scales on underside.
Head and thorax pale olive-brown ; abdomen with the basal half yellow on dorsum, the terminal half and ventral surface ochreous, irrorated with fuscous. Forewing pale olive-brown with a thinly scaled patch on disk ; some black scales on costa before middle and small tufts at middle and end of cell ; an indistinct diffused dentate black line curved from costa to vein 2, then retracted to below end of cell ; cilia pinkish with a series of black points. Hindwing seraihyaline white ; the terminal area tinged with fuscous ; tha inner area ochreous ; cilia pinkish with a series of black points.
Habitat— Ceylon, Matale (J. Pole). Exp. 32 mill. Type— In B. M.
4446a. Macalla metasarcia, n. sp. (PI. C, f . 32.)
9- Head and thorax ochreous, mixed with black; abdomen pinkish- ochreous, banded with black. ForewiDg pinkish-ochreous, almost entirely suffused with olive-black ; prominent tufts of raised scales at middle and end of cell; an indistinct pale antemedial line; a postmedial line, highly excurved at middle, defined on inner sides by a black line, with a diffused pinkish-ochreous area on its inner side ; a terminal series of black points ; cilia pinkish with a black line through them. Hindwing flesh-color ; a curved black postmedial line obsolescent towards costa and inner margin and with black not on vein 2 ; a terminal band, wide at apex, tapering to a point at anal angle ; cilia with a fuscous line through them.
Habitat.— Sikhim, 1800' ( Dudgeon). Exp. 22 mill. Type— In B. M.
4449. Macalla Margarita.
$. Palpi with the extremity of 2nd and the 3rd joint fringed with long scales, the 3rd joint curved forward into a hook ; maxillary palpi triangular and flattened against the frons ; vertex of head hollowed out between an- tenna?, with tufts of scales from above eyes meeting over vertex ; antennas with long cilia for half their length, then with short cilia.
Habitat. — Ceylon, Hambantota (J. Pole).
4453a. CjENC-domus fumosalis, n. sp. (PI. C, f. 30.)
Dull olive-brown and fuscous. Forewing with obscure antemedial, medial and postmedial dark bands ; a streak of black and white hair in submedian fold, another streak from middle of cell to near termen and a shorter streak above vein 6, the postmedial line excurved at middle. Hindwing with medial ridge of black and white hair and streaks in the interspaces towards apax- ; an obscure pale postmedial line excurved and dentate at middle.
Habitat.— Khasis. Exp. $ 32, $ 40 mill. Tyves—ln Coll. Rothschild and B.M.
36 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
4464a. Stericta rubrescens, n. sp.
ft. Head, thorax and abdomen olive-green, the last with segmental black lines. Forewing olive-green with black patches at base below the cell and on inner margin ; a tuft of black hair in ;middle of cell ; a medial line oblique from costa to submedian fold, where it is slightly angled ; the post- medial line oblique from costa to just below vein 3, then strongly incurved ; some pink suffusion beyond it and a large patch in submedian interspace towards tornus. Hindwing suffused with pink ; some black suffusion at base and a patch below end of cell ; the postmedial Hue indistinct, oblique from costa to vein 3, where it is angled ; traces of a curved subterminal line.
Habitat.— Sikhim, 7000' (Pilcher). Exp. 22 mill. Type— In B. M.
4464*. Stericta suspensalis, Wlk. Cat. XXXIV, p. 1217.
ft. Head and thorax olive ; abdomen whitish, tinged with olive ; the basal segments with some black dorsal suffusion. Forewing whitish, the costal and antemedial areas tinged with olive ; a blackish patch at base of inner area ; traces of an antemedial white line ; a prominent postmedial slightly curved white line, slightly angled inwards above inner margin, the area beyond it fuscous ; the ridges of raised scales black and white. Hindwing whitish, tinged with olive before and beyond the curved postmedial line which is white denned by black on inner side towards inner margin and with black point below costa and three short streaks beyond its medial part.
In one specimen the whole hindwing is blackish to the postmedial line, and a large patch replaces the streaks beyond it.
Habitat. — Khasis ; Ceylon ; Borneo ; Bali. Exp. 20 mill.
4464c. Stericta olivialis, n. sp.
Antennae of male with the basal joint dilated, but without process ; maxil- lary palpi brush-like in fold of labial palpi.
ft. Head and thorax white and olive-green ; abdomen white and olive- green with dark dorsal bands. Forewing white, thickly irrorated with olive- green ; the costa with olive-green patches at base and middle ; obliquely placed subbasal blackish spots below cell and on inner margin ; an ante- medial blackish line from cell to inner margin, interrupted at vein 1 ; a similar medial line angled outwards below cell, then inwards to near antemedial line ; a black spot at upper angle of cell and short streaks above bases of veins 3, 4 ; the postmedial line aentate, oblique from costa to vein 4 and in- curved in submedian interspace, defined by white on outer side, followed by a large apical olive patch and another towards tornus ; a terminal series of small black spots. Hindwing whitish, tinged with brown ; the terminal area fuscous ; a dark terminal line and line at base of cilia.
Habitat.— Bhutan (Dudgeon) ; Khasis. Exp. 30 mill. Type — In B. M.
4i74a. Orthaga mixtams, Wlk. Cat. XXVII, p. 104 (1863).
Forowing of male without glandular swelling on costa ; maxillary palpi dilated with scales and flattened against the frons ; antennas with the basal joint dilated.
THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 37
Head and thorax clothed with golden-green and white scales ; ahdomen white and fuscous, tinged with brown towards extremity. Forewing white, irrorated and the basal area suffused with golden-green ; a more or less developed antemedial patch of black suffusion on median nervure, sometimes extending to costa and inner margin ; a curved medial black line from cell to inner margin ; a discoidal tuft of black scales ; the terminal third of wing suffused with golden-green and more or less with black, from vein 6 to inner margin extending as a broad band to inner side of postmedial line which is dentate, oblique from costa to vein 4, then somewhat inwardly oblique and angled inwards in submedian fold, defined by white on outer side ; a termi- nal series of black striae. Hindwingpale fuscous-brown, with fine dark termi- nal line and line at base of cilia.
Habitat. — Bhutan ; Borneo, Sarawak ; Java. Exp. 26 mill.
38 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV,
ON TWO CETACEANS FROM TRAVANCORE,
By H. S. Ferguson.
WITH A NOTE ON THE SAME,
By R. Lydekker, b.a., f.r.s., f.g.s., &c.
( With plates A <y B.)
(Bead before the Bombay Natural History Society on 5th February 1903.)
On the 14th of February, 1901, word was brought to ine that a whale had been stranded on the beach in the neighbourhood of Trivandrum, I at once sent Mr. Shaukara Narayana Pillay, the head taxidermist of the Museum, with men to secure the animal and make the necessary arrangements for skinniug it and obtaining its skeleton. He made the following measurements and notes on the spot : —
Length, taken in a straight line from tip of snout
to the bottom of the notch in the flukes Greatest circumference
Do. do. at genital.
Do. do. at anus
Caudal fin from tip to tip ... Dorsal fin (falcate)
Do. vertical height... Flippers (falcate) ... Blow-hole on the top of the head situated a little to the left of the middle line 21 inches from the tip of the snout. Head not distinct from neck. Beak not distinct, colour smooth glistening black through- out. After skinning it, he made the following notes on the internal organs : —
Heart from root of aorta to apex ... ... ... 1ft. 4in.
Do. circumference ...u ... ... ... 2ft. 5in.
Liver lobe (a) 2ft. 2in., (6) 2ft. lin. Kidneys, right 1ft. 6in., left 1ft. 2im
Stomach resembling a wide sack 32im long and 15in. broad. Intestines 109ft. 4in. long. The stomach contained two fish, one 4ft. lin., the other 1ft. tun. long, in a half-digested state.
To enable the skin to be set up and at the same time to retain the skeleton complete, a cast of the skull was taken and was utilisod in set-
|
.6ft. |
lOin. |
|
7ft. |
lin. |
|
6ft. |
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|
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6in. |
|
3ft. |
7£in. |
|
2ft. |
2in. |
|
1ft. |
4in. |
|
2ft. |
lin. |
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TWO CETACEANS FROM TRAVANCORE. 39
ting up the skin instead of using the skull. Subsequent examination of the skeleton brought out the following points : —
Vertebral column. — Cervical vertebrae 7. Dorsal 10. Lumbar 10. Caudal 20.— Total 47. The first four cervieals fused together. Epi- physes fused with the centra.
Ribs 10. Sternal G. Costal 4. All ossified, the first 6 ribs two- headed.
The sternum composed of an ossified presternum and two mesosterna, with a cartilaginous xiphisternum.
The scapula fan-shaped with the external surface concave. Phalanges I 1, II 2, III 5, IV 7, V 1. Skull length 1ft. 10in., breadth between the orbits 1ft. 2in. Teeth T°T stout, 2in. in length and from \ to fin. in diameter. Ramis of mandible 21in., symphysis 3fin. Pterygoids divergent posteriorly.
The anterior portion of the premaxilla broader than that of the maxilla.
Length of rostrum taken from an imaginary line joining the angles of the mouth 1ft. 2iD.
From the size of the teeth it is evident that the animal is a " Killer " or tl Grampus." The only genus mentioned by Blanford is Orca and the only species 0. gladiator. It differs from this in colour, in having the dorsal fiu of moderate size and falcate, the pectoral fins also of moderate size and falcate in the number of vertebras, and the number of ribs. It approaches more nearly to the genus Pseudorca, a meagre description of which is given by Beddard in his Book of Whales, but differs in the number of vertebrae (not an important point however) and in the divergence of the pterygoids.
Curiously enough on the same day the fishermen brought me another cetacean, which they had that morning caught in their nets. Its description is as follows : —
Colour uniform shining black, passing gradually into a fleshy plum- heous tinge on the sides and under surface. Pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins present. Beak distinct. Lower jaw slightly longer than the upper. Length from tip of snout to notch in centre of
caudal fin ... 8ft. lin. Do. do. to origin of pectoral fin ... 1ft. lin.
Do. do. to origin of dorsal fin ... 3ft. 8in.
|
1ft. |
3|in. |
|
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5in. |
|
Oft. |
8in. |
|
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lin. |
|
3 ft. |
6-|in. |
|
4ft. |
lin. |
|
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llin. |
40 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XK
Length of pectoral fin which is falcate Do. dorsal fin which is falcate...
Height of dorsal fin ...
Width of gape
Greatest height
Do. circumference
Smallest circumference at root of tail
A single nasal aperture or blow hole on the top of the head. A prenaria adipose elevation marked off by a V-shape groove.
Vertebroe column. — Cervical 7, all fused together. Dorsal 13. Lumbar 17. Caudal 24. — Total 61. Epiphyses distinct. Vertebrse centra rather short. Sternum composed of presternum and two mesos- terna ossified, with a cartilaginous xiphisternum.
Ribs 13. Costal 7. Sternal 6, all ossified. The first four ribs two- headed.
Phalanges I 1, II 6, III 8, IV 1, V 1. II and III well developed.
Skull. — Rostrum from anterior of the prenarial projection 4£in.
Mandible 17|in., symphysis barely 2in.
Teeth moderate |f and ||=51. Length of skull 20in.
Breadth 8iin. between orbits. Pterygoids not meeting in the middle line, borders divergent posteriorly.
This is a slightly immature specimen. According to Blanford's synopsis of the Indian Genera, it can only belong to the genus Tursiops, but it differs from the genus in having the pterygoids separate, and it differs in many respects from the only species Tursiops tursio described by him.
NOTES ON THE TRIVANDRUM CETACEANS, By R. Lydekker, b.a., f.r.s., f.g.s., &c.
The first of the two specimens referred to by Mr. Ferguson (PI. A) is undoubtedly referable to the genus Pseudorca, and presents no characters by which it can be distinguished from the widely distributed False Killer (P. crassidens). As that species, which is new to the Indian Fauna, never appears to have been properly figured, I have thought it well to reproduce the excellent sketch sent by Mr. Fer- guson. I do not attach any importance to the difference with regard to the divergence of the pterygoid bones, nor in the number of verte- bra (17 instead of 50).
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TWO CETACEANS PROM TRAVANCORE. 41
With regard to the second specimen (PI. B), I agree with Mr. Fer- guson in assigning it to the genus Tursiops, in spite of the fact that it differs from all the other species in the separation of the pterygoid hones of the skull. Externally it agrees with Tursiops in the form of the beak and fins, as well as in the general outline of the body, and the number and characters of the teeth. The number of vertebra (61) is also that of Tursiops (61 — 64), and of no other of the allied genera.
Of the four species of Tursiops recognised by Mr. True,* the typical T. tursio, in addition to the united pterygoids, differs by the colour of the under-parts, which is either pale-grey or white, and the smaller number of teeth (§§), the number of vertebrae being 64. The smaller T. parvimanus, of the Adriatic, in which the teeth number §£ and the vertebra 62, has also greyish-white under-parts. In the Australian T. catalania the under-parts are likewise white. On the other hand, Tursiops abusalam of the Red Sea comes nearer to the Trivandrum dolphin, having |^ teeth and 61 vertebra, and showing flesh-coloured markings mixed with green on the under-parts. The dark sea-green of the upper-parts does not, however, accord with Mr. Ferguson's de- scription ; and there is the aforesaid difference in the pterygoids. The Pacific T. gilli is too imperfectly known to admit of comparison.
On the whole, I think it advisable to regard the Trivandrum dolphin as a new species of Tursiops, allied to T. abusalam (of which I have no specimens for comparison), but distinguished by the divided pterygoids, the blacker colour of the upper-parts and the more decided plumbeous flesh-colour of the under-surface, which is marked with streaks instead of spots. It may be appropriately named l\fergusoni%
Mr. Ferguson has promised to present the skull to the British Museum. When it arrives, I might publish a notice of its characters.
Bull. IT. S. Mus., No. 3G; p. 158 (1889).
42 JO URN A L, B OMB A Y NA TURA L HIS TOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. XV,
A LIST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE KONKAN.
By E. H. Aitken and E. Comber.
Since the first and second volumes of the Society's journal wero- published no attempt has been made to compile a list of our Bombay Batterflies and the references to local species in the later volumes have been few and far between. As there must be, in one way or another, a considerable number of our 7uembers who collect, or have collected, butterflies in the neighbourhood of Bombay in a more or less serious fashion, and who would be greatly assisted in their work if such a list were available for reference, we have gathered together the names, with a few short notes, of all those species that we have either personal know- ledge of, or reliable information about, as occurring in the district.
One difficulty that confronted us was that of deciding as to what the limits of the local district should be, but, rejecting the idea of confining the list to those species that have been found on Bombay island itself on the ground that so largo a portion of its area is now-a-days no longer suitable for the production and support of insect life, we decided to include the whole of the Konkan in the area dealt with, as being in itself a definite and characteristic district and as including most of the localities where those who attempt a collection are likely to find themselves in the field with net and killing bottle.
Taking the description of the district given by the late Mr. W. F. Sinclair in his papers on " The Waters of Western India," the Konkan may, reughly speaking, be defined as follows : — " Between the lGth and 21st degrees of North latitude ( i.e., from Vingorla to Surat) and between the watershed of the Sahyadri range (Western Ghats), with an average elevation of about 3,000 feet (rising in places to 4,500 ft.), and the coast. " Any species found within this district may not unnaturally be expected to occur at any other sttitable locality within its boundaries.
The list compiled by Mr. E. H. Aitken and published in the first and second volumes of our journal was based on the specimens then in the Society's collection from all parts of the Bombay Presidency with the exception of Sind and Canara. This list, besides being necessarily very incomplete, is not in the hands of many of our present local members, and is of course now largely out of date so far as the names- attached to the species are concerned, owing to the constant changes
A LTST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE KONKAN. 43
that have been made since its publication, as species, previously de- scribed under new names, have been found to be only local or geogra- phical varieties of others and as the present practice of priority in nomenclature has been carried to an extreme.
For the Nymphalidce and Lycccnidce we have followed Marshall and de Niceville's book and we give their reference numbers in brackets for each species. In the absence of any up-to-date list of the Pierinm and PapilionincG we have adopted the arrangement and nomenclature of Messrs. Bell, Davidson and Aitken's paper on the Butterflies of North Canara, which appeared in Vols. X. and XI. of our journal, in conjunction with Capt. Watson's paper in Vol. VIII. of our journal on certain genera of Pierinoe. In the case of the Hesperiidm wo follow Capt. Watson's paper in Vol. IX. of our journal.
The number of species in our list only totals 130, and there are un- doubtedly many more that can be added to it, but perhaps, with the present as a basis, others will be encouraged to add their experiences by 'Communicating to the Society additions, which have not come our way.
FAMILY— NYMPHALID.E. Sub-Family — Danain^.
1 ( 16 ). Danais aglea (Cramer) [==/?. grammica (Boisduval)
in Marshall and de Niccville].
Common at Matheran and on the hills after the rains, but not usually found below the Ghats. It has however been taken in Salsette.
2 ( 26 ). Do. limniace (Cramer). Common everywhere.
3 ( 28 ). Do. chrt/sippus (Linnseus). Common everywhere.
The variety or " sport," which wants the black on the apex of the forewing and has been named D. Uugii, occurs occasionally throughout the district.
4 (31). Do. genutia (Cramer). Common everywhere.
5 (17). Euplcea Jcollari (Felder) [ = E, sinhala (Moore) in
Marshall and de Niceville].
We took a specimen of this at Pali Hill, Salsette, in July last year. Probably fairly common throughout the district but often overlooked.
6 ( 61 ). Do., core (Cramer), Common everywhere.
44 JOURNA L, BOMBA ¥ NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
7 ( 75 ). Euplma coreta (Godart) [= E. coreoides (Moore) in
Marshall and de Niceville]. Dr. Smith in- cludes this species in his list of Matheran butterflies, and it may be found to occur in the district. Sub-Family — Satyrinje.
8 ( 97 ). Myodesis mineus (Linureus). Common everywhere.
The dry season form replaces the other about November. 9(99). Do. persons (Fabr;). Mr. J. A. Betham included
this species in his list of Matheran Species in Vol. VIII of the Society's journal.
10 (135). Lethe europa (Fabr:). This species may probably be
found anywhere on the hills. Mr. J. Davidson records it in the Society's journal (Vol. VIII., p. 556) at Matheran.
11 (140). Do. neelgherriensis (Guerin). Common on the hills
before the rains, but not confined to them. It has been taken in the neighbourhood of Bombay.
12 (204).* Ypthima philomela (Johansseu). This species is probably
often passed over, being mistaken for the next as they are indistinguishable in flight. The only definite records we have are from Andheri in Salsette and by Mr. J. A. Betham from Matheran.
13 (217). Do. huebneri (Kirby). Common everywhere.
14 (243). Melanitis leda (Linnaeus). This species and its rain-
season form M. ismene (Cramer) is common everywhere. Just after the rains in certain years they invade the whole town of Bombay in swarms and are to be seen in almost every room in the Fort. Sub-Family — Acr.ein^e.
15 (2i)8). Telchinia violce. This is apparently not a common
species everywhere ; but it no doubt occurs throughout the district, and it becomes very common in some places about March.
* Specimens marked with an asterisk will be acceptable if sent to the Bombay Natural History Soeioty's museum.
A LIST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE KONKAN. 45
Sub-Family— Nymphalinye, 1G (300). Ergolis taprobana (Westwood). In Marshall and de
Niceville, Major Yerbury is quoted as having taken this at Khandala. As a matter of fact it is very common there and at Matheran after the rains.
17 (301). Do. ariadne (Linn re us). This, if distinct from the
preceding species, is only doubtfully record- ed from the district. It was included by Mr. J. A. Betham in his Matheran list,
18 (303). Bijblia illthjia (Drnrv). Comparatively common at
Nandurbar in the Tapti Valley after the rains and probably to be found in other suitable localities also.
19 (314). Afella phalantha (Drury). Common everywhere.
20 (335). Apatura camiba (Moore). This has been taken at
Matheran, as recorded by Mr. J, Davidson in Vol. VIII of the Society's journal, and by Mr. Oliver. We have also found it at Khandala.
21 (343). Precis iphita (Cramer). Occurs throughout the dis-
trict.
22 (344). Junonia asterie (Linnaeus) and its dry season form
J. almana (Linnaeus). A common species, especially after the rains.
23 (347). Do. lemonias (Linnaeus), Common throughout the
district.
24 (349). Do. hierta (Fabr :) Common in all suitable localities.
25 (350). Do. orithjia (Linnaeus). Common in all suitable
localities.
26 (379). Neptis lencothoe (Cramer). This species, which for
many years was known as N. varmona (Moore), is the common one of the genus throughout the district, being very numerous from October till February.
27 (400). Do. opluana (Moore). Generally distributed through-
out the district.
28 (402). Do. jumbah (Moore). Occurs in Salsette and at
Matheran.
46 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TVRAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
29 (419). Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus). A common species.
30 (420). Do. misippus (Linmeus). Also a common
species. The " dorippus " form of the female has been taken several times in different parts.
31 (440). Parthenos vircns (Moore). We have seen this once at
Vingorla.
32 (454). Athyma perius (Linnseus). Common on the ghats and
at Matheran. We know of no actual instance of it near the coast, but it may no doubt be found to occur.
33 (474). Symphoedra nais (Forster). This is a common species
in Salsette and round about Bombay, but it does not appear to be found on the hills. 454 (513). Euthalia garuda (Moore). Common wherever there are
mango trees about. This species is peculiarly susceptible to baits such as overripe fruit or a little toddy.
35 (517). Do. htbentina (Cramer). Not very rare on the hills
including Matheran. It occurs occasionally in Bombay.
36 (520). Pyrantels cardui (Linnseus). Common in all suitable
localities.
37 (544). Cyrestls tJiycdamas (Boisduval). Mr. E. H. Aitken
found this " very common at Mahable^hwar " during the cold weather of 1885-86. Dr. Smith includes a species of this genus as found at Matheran.
38 (556). Kallima horsfieldii (Kollar) [ = K. wardi (Moore) ].
Fairly common on all well-wooded hills,
39 (568). Charaxes athamas (Drury). Common enough on the
ghats and at Matheran.
40 (570). Do. fabius (Fabr :). Not so common as the pre-
ceding species, but also found on the plains. There are specimens in the Society's collection from the Tanna district.
41 (577). Do, imna (Butler). By no means very rare on the
ghats and at Matheran.
A LIST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE RON KAN. 47
FAMILY— LEM0N1ID.E.
S UB-FAMILY — LlBYTHiEINiE.
42 (615). Abisara echerius (Stoll). After the rains very common
on the hills and in the low jungles of the Tanna district. The local form was for many- years distinguished as A.fraterna (Moore). Sub-Family — Lyclenid.e.
43 (C42). Spalgis epius (Westwood). Not a common species,
hut it occurs in Bombay and Salsette and at Karanja across the harbour.
44 (673). Chilades trochilus (Freyer). Common enough after
the rains in Bombay and the Tanna district.
45 (G81). Cyaniris puspa (Horsfield) Occurs on the ghats and
at Matheran. We have no record of it near the coast.
46 (G94). Zizera malia (Kollar). A very common butterfly,
especially after the rains. The closely allied Z. harsandra (Moore) has been recorded, but all our specimens would be referred to Z. maha.
47 (702). Do. gaika (Trimon). Occurs in Bombay and
Salsette.
48 (703). Do. otis (Fabr :). The specimens from Bombay
and Salsette that we have been able to examine would no doubt be placed by some in Z. sangra (704) or Z, indica (705), but there appears to be little doubt that they are merely synonyms of Z. otis.
49 (712).* Lyccenesthes lyccenitia (Felder). Since Mr. E. H.
Aitken wrote in Voh I of our journal that he had a strong impression that he had caught this in Bombay, we have no definite record of its occurrence.
50 (715). Talicada nyseus (Guorin). This peculiarly distributed
species is found at Mahableshwar, sometimes in swarms at some particular spot. It occurs also at Karanja across the harbour.
51 (733). J amides bochus (Cramer). Not uncommon in Bombay
and Salsette, especially after the rains.
48 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BISTORT SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
52 (738). Lampides cvlianus (Fabr :). Very common in Bombay
and Salsette and more so on the hills.
53 (743). Catochrysops strabo (Fabr:). This species is to bo found
regularly in Bombay and Salsette.
54 (745). Do. enejus (Fabr:). A commoner species than
the preceding.
55 (750).* Do. pandava (Horsfield). Our only definite re-
cord of this species is from Nandurbar in the Tapti Valley, but it doubtless occurs in other parts of the district.
56 (752). Tarucus theophrastus (Fabr :). A common species.
57 (758). Do. plinius (Fabr :). Occurs throughout the dis-
trict, but is apparently nowhere very common.
58 (759). Castilius rosimon (Fabr :). Very common from August
to the end of the year both on the hills and the plains.
59 (706). Do. decidea (Hewitson). This is apparently not a-
common species. It occurs occasionally in Salsette and Matheran. CO (767). Polyommatus bceticus (Linnaeus). Common every- where.
61 (775).* Iraota timoleon (Stnll). This is found at Matheran,
and Marshall and de Niceville mention both Khandala and Ratnagiri as places where it oc- curs.
62 (776). Do. moecenas (Fabr :). There are specimens in the
Society's collection from the Tanna district, and it is also found occasionally in Bombay, though it is more common on the hills than near the coast.
63 (791). Arhopala amantes (Hewitson). This species occurs in
Salsette and also across the harbour at Ka- ranja, in fact in all hilly jnngles. Further investigation should disclose other species of this handsome genus as occurring in this district.
64 (850). Curetis thetis (Fabr :). Occurs regularly, probably
throughout the district.
A LIST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE KONKAN. 49
65 (890). Zesius chrysomalius (Hiibner). Marshall and de Nice-
ville record this species from " Alibagh in January, and March," and also at "Hasvira Kolaba district, in January."
6Q (903). Aphiceus vukanus (Fabr. ). Fairly numerous in
Salsette and on grassy hills everywhere : also at Nandurbar in the Tapti Valley.
67 (907). Bo. lilacinus (Moore). Marshall and de Niceville
record a strongly marked specimen labelled 11 Bombay," received from the B. N. H. Society.
6S (910). Bo. lohita (liorsfield). This has been taken at
Pali Hill in SaL-ette. Dr. Smith includes it in his Matheran list.
69 (931). Tajuria longinus (Fabr,). This is not a common species,
but it is found in Bombay, Salsette, and also on the hills.
70 (959). Rathinda amor (Fabr.). Occurs almost everywhere,
but is nowhere confmon.
71 (967). Catapoecilma elegans (Druce). This species has been
taken at Bassoin in the Tanna district and at Janjira.
72 (977). Loxurj, atymnus (Cramer). This is evidently rare.
Mr. "W. E. Hart recorded the capture of one " about half a mile beyond the upper end of Vehar lake " in the Society's journal (Vol. IV, p. 69) and we took one at Andheri in Salsette in September 1901.
73 (986). Deudorix epijarbas (Moore). This is generally distri-
buted, but nowhere common. Mr. J. A. Betham records it at Matheran in the Society's journal (Vol. VIII, p. 423), and it is also found occasionally in Salsette.
74 (995). Rapala schistacea (Moore). A specimen of this species-
is included amongst the few of Mr. Oliver's specimens from Matheran that we have been able to examine.
75 (1006). Do. melampus (Cramer). We have found this about
Bombay, but it does not seem to be common. 7
50 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XT.
76 (1012). Virachola isocrates (Fabr.). This is common enough
near the coast wherever there are pomegranate trees, in the fruit of which the larv?e feed.
77 (1013). Do. perse (Hewitson). This apparently is not found
near the coast, but occurs on the hills. It ia common at Matheran.
FAMILY.— PAPILIONID2E.
Sub-Family — Pierin^e.
78 Niehitona xipliia (Fabr.). Common everywhere.
79 Delias eucharis (Drury). Quite common all the year round.
80 Catopsilia pyranthe (Linn*). Common ; sometimes to be seen
in swarms.
81 Do. crocale (Cramer). This species, and the equally vari-
able C. calilla (Cramer), which it is impossible to separate, is by no means an uncommon butter fly, especially during and after the rains, but at times for months together none are to be seen. At times too they migrate towards the south or south-west in countless numbers.
82 Terias hecabe (Linn.). Very common everywhere, after the
rains appearing in swarms.
83 Do. libythea (Fabr.). This species occurs near the coast,
and we have specimens from Rewa Danda, but it is apparently not by any means common, though it mav often be overlooked amongst the far larger number of the other two representatives of the genus.
84 Do. Icela (Boisduval). At times this is very common,
especially during the cold weather, but at other times none are to be seen.
85 Teracolus Calais (Cramer). The formerly recognised local species
T. cyprceus (Fabr.) has now been sunk as an inconstant variety of the above. It is an ex- tremely local species, as it never wanders far from the food-plant of the larva {Sahadora persica) which is a very eccentrically distributed tree. Near the tree the butterfly generally swarms. We have no record of it from the hills.
A LIST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE KONKAN. 51
86 Teracolus puellaris (Butler). This common Gujerat species
occurs at the northern limits of the Konkan. We have never heard of it in the neighbour- hood or south of Bombay or on the hills.
87 Do. diViaii (Fabr.). This is also a local speGies. Col.
Swinhoe took it in Bombay during a famine year, and we found it lately in great numbers on Worli Hill, Bombay. It occurs — probably more or less regularly — in the Tapti Valley, being a common Gujerat species.
88 Do. eucharis (Fabr.). Cap. Watson considers this a
distinct species from the next, viz.,
89 Do. etrkla (Boisduvul). They both occur commonly in
Bombay and everywhere in the district, but no doubt are to be found locally all along the coast.
90 Ixtas marianne (Cramer). Common everywhere.
91 Do, pi/rene (Linn.) Common everywhere.
92 Hebemoia glancippe (Linn.) This is a local species according
as the food-plant of the larva (a kind of caper) is plentiful or not. It occurs all over the hills and is not at all uncommon in Salsette, while it has been seen occasionally in Bombay Island.
93 Nepluronla gcea (Felder). Quite common in Bombay and
Salsette, especially after the rains, and every- where throughout the district.
94 Appias llbythea (Fabr.). Very common in Bombay and
Salsette at times, especially before the rains.
95 IlapMna phryw (Fabr.). This in its various seasonal forms
is ver}r common everywhere.
$Q Belenois mesentina (Cramer). More or less common every- where. Sub-Family — Papilionin^e.
97 Omdhoptcra minos [Cramer). Mr. E. H. Aitken records this
from Karanja, across the Harbour, and also from Ratnagiri. It is probably carried great distances by the wind.
52 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
98 Papilio hector (Linn.). Occurs regularly about Bombay' and;
Salsette. And also on the hills, and is very abundant in some years.
99 Do. aristolochioe (Fabr.). Certainly more common than
P. hector, occurring throughout the district.
100 Do. agamemnon (Linn.). Quite common all over the
district, particularly about gardens.
101 Do. sarpedon (Linn.). Confined entirely to the hills,
where it is common from October till the end of the year. 102* Do. nomius (Esper). In the Society's journal (Vol. I)„
Mr. E. H. Aitken mentioned specimens iu the collection from " the ghats which lie be- tween the Tanna and Nasik districts." Besides this our only record is a single but unquestion- able specimen observed by himself on Malabar Hill.
103 Do. erithonius (Cramer). Common everywhere.
104 Do. pammon (Linnseus). Quite common all over the dis-
trict. Of the several forms of females tbe poly- tes type, which resembles P. aristolochice, is the commonest and the romulus type is not rare* but we have no record of the form that is simi- lar to the male.
105 Do. pdymnestor (Cramer). Quite common on the hills
above 2,000 feet and occasionally found even in Bombay.
106 Do\ helenus (Linnaeus). This also oceurs on the hills-. It
has been recognised beyond doubt by Mr. E. H. Aitken on Malabar Hill.
107 Do. dissimilis (Linnams). This occurs in Bombay and
Salsette, but is never to be seen in any num- bers. It is also found at Matheran and on the ghats. Sub-Family — HesperiidvE.
108 Celcenerrhinus ambareesa (Moore). Found all over the
district in suitable localities, but especially common on the hills.
A LIST OF TEE BUTTERFLIES OF THE KONKAN. &3
109 Celcenorrliinvs leucocera (Kollar). In Capt. Watson's book
on the Indian Hesperiidce, Col. Swinhoe is mentioned as having obtained this species in Bombay. We have not seen it within our limits ourselves.
110 Sarangesa purendra (Moore). Mr. J. A. Betham records
this species in his Matheran list in the Society's? journal (Vol. VIII).
111 Do. dasaliara (Moore). Mr. R. C. Wroughton
took this species at Bassein, Tanna district, as mentioned in the list in the Society's journal (Vol. I). We have taken it lately in Salsette.
112 Coladenia tissa (Moore). Mr. Aifcken records two specimens
taken " by Mr. R. C. Wroughton at Bansda,
between the Surat and Tanna districts,"
in the second volume of the Society's journal.
113 Hesperia galha (Fabr.). This is not uncommon anywhere
throughout the district.
114 Suastus gremias (Fabr.). Not uncommon in Bombay and
Salsette. We have no record of it from the bills.
115 Iambrix salsala (Moore). Col. Swinhoe took this species in
Bombay, and we have found it occasionally in Salsette lately. 116* Taractrocera mcevius (Fabr.). Our only record of this
species in the district is from one specimen taken last year by Mr. N. Marryat at Nandurbar in the Tapti Valley.
117 Do. nhevillei. This species, which was formerly
known as Ampittia coras (Cramer), swarms in the grass in Bombay and Salsette during the hot weather and early part of the mon- soon.
118 Arnetta vindliiana (Moore). To this species that formerly
known as Isoteinon nilghiriana (Moore) is now sunk. It has been recorded by both Col. Swinhoe and Mr. Betham from Matheran.
54 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
119 Matapa ana (Moore). This species is probably more
common than our records would appear to indicate. It is included by Dr. Smith in his Matheran list, but we have no definite instance of its occurrence since. It may be easily recognised by its bright red eyes.
120 Gangara thyrsis (Fabr.). About Bombay and Salsette this is
by no means uncommon in certain localities, but as it does not come out till sun-down it may often be overlooked.
121 Udaspes folus (Cramer). This very conspicuous species is quite
common in all suitable localities, including both the hills and the neighbourhood of Bom- bay.
122 Telicota bambusce (Moore). Occurs in Bombay neighbour-
hood as well as on the hills, wherever bamboos grow.
123 Baoru (Parnara) bevani (Moore). Common about Bombay
and Salsette.
124 Do. do. guttatus (Bremer and Grey). This species,
which is closely allied to the preceding, is named by Capt. Watson as having been taken by Col. Swinhoe at Bombay.
125 Do. (Chopra) sinensis (Moore). = C. prominens,
(Moore)]. Not uncommon in Salsette, Bom- bay, and across the harbour.
126 Do. do. mathias (Fabr.). The commonest of the
whole family all about the neighbourhood of Bombay, especially during the rains. The doubtfully distinct B. agna (Moore) has been recorded by Col. Swinhoa from Bombay.
127 Hasora (Parata) chromus (Cramer). Found everywhere
throughout the district.
128 Do. do. chdbrona (Fabr.). This species is recorded
from Bombay by Col. Swinhoe under the name of alexia.
A LIST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE KONKAN. 55
129* Bibasis sena (Moore). Mr. J. A. Betham records this in
his Matheran list in the Society's journal (Vol. VIII.), having taken it in the "Mar-rai."
130 Badamia exclamationis (Fabr.). Common everywhere both
on the hills and near the coast. At times hundreds may be seen migrating across the harbour at Bombay.
5G JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.
By Lieut.-Colonel K. R. Kirtikar, i.m.s., f.l.s.,
Member, Association Internationale des Botanistes,
Holland,
Civil Surgeon, Ratnagiri.
Part XX.
(With Plate V.)
{Continued from page 45, Vol. XIV.)
JATROPHA CITRCAS, Linn.
Natural Order — Eufhorbiace.$:.
Marathi : — ^Tr55=( Jepal ), *rr*Tc5f V^=(Mogli Erand).
A large, low-branching, irregular, scraggy shrub.
BRANCHES — irregular ; younger ones with close-packed leaves and green bark.
BARK — of older branches from one to two lines thick, light-green, covered with a thin pellucid or translucent paper-like epidermis which cracks and falls off in irregularly-shaped pieces. The bark on section with a penknife pours out copiously a thin translucent whitish juice which on exposure to air turns brown or even blood-red, and dries up in opaque tears or irregular masses. The bark of the oldest branches is light-ash-coloured, and has here and there innumerable yellowish spots of the size of a millet-seed.
WOOD — white, very soft and spongy ; pith well marked and dense in young and topmost branches. The wood, says Dymock, is loaded with starch.
LEAVES — scattered on the older branches ; closely packed at the top of youngest branches ; alternate ; the youngest leaves of a reddish tinge, with a tomentose under-surface, the tomentum disappearing as the leaf grows old and assumes a green color. Upper surface smooth. Shape broad-cordate, or orbicular-cordate ; 5-angled. Hence called " Angular-leaved Physic-nut" Hooker says the leaves are 8 — 5 lobed, but as generally observed they are distinctly 5-lobed. Lobes 4 — 6 inches in diameter.
Nerves — otherwise called VEINS, well marked and prominent on the under-surface.
HJ Budl-.a-varkfiLT del Miniern.BT-os Ckromo litK.Lon.dor..
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.
Jatropha e^irca-s ,Xi:nrL .Na.t.0rd.Eu-ph.or\bi<5Lceae .
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 57
Petioles — as long as the blade ; round ; smooth ; inserted on a kid- ney-shaped projection of the bark and surrounded at the insertion by a thin expansion of the epidermis. Stipules absent.
INFLORESCENCE.
Flowers monoecious, yellow, or yellowish-green ; pubescent ; in ter- minal corymbose cymes bearing many small flowers ; the central flower in the cjme or in its forks being always female. The flowers are scentless absolutely. The peduncle is often seen arising from exterior axils. Bracts, entire small, one below each sub-division of the cyme, and generally one pressing on the calyx.
I.— MALE FLOWERS.
Found at the extremities of the ramifications of the main flower stalk, on short articulated pedicels ; deciduous.
CALYX — greenish ; sepals five, lanceolate, imbricate.
PiU2FLORATion, convoluted.
COROLLA — yellow; J inch in diameter; petals five, ovafe-ob- Jong ; villous within. Hooker soys that the corolla is salver-shaped. ; Roxburgh says it is campanulate. It is the female corolla that is campanulate, as will be seen from my Plate V accompanying.
Pr<efloration, contorted.
STAMENS — many, says Hooker ; 8 — 10, says A. de Jussieu * 6 says Roxburgh.
Filaments — connate, says Hooker. A. de Jnssieu describes them thus: — " Inferiorly connate, of which 3 — 5 are interior and larger than the outer ones. " (Euphorbiacearum Genera, p. 37, Paris, 1824). Roxburgh, on the other hand, describes the arrangement of the fila- ments thus : — " Filaments six, the central one very thick and columnar ; the five external ones filiform, towards the base adhering to the central one ; all erect and a little longer than the calvx." The central masa of filamentous column represents the abortive Gynoecium.
Anthers — yellow ; often tinged brown. Says Roxburgh — u Ten, sagittate, equal ; five supported by the long central filament, and one by each of the others." Hooker describes the anthers as erect, 2-celled. The anther-lobes dehisce longitudinally from above downward. Anthers, says Baillon, are extrorse, dehiscing marginally. Pollen — large, spherical. Disk — always present but varies in form. It is either a yellow entire ring, or is made up of five yellow glandules or squamules " The glands of the hypogynous disk are free or united " (Baillon),
58 JO URN A L, BOMB A T NA TUBA L HISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
II.— FEMALE FLOWERS.
Seated in the divisions of the male pedicels, " with their own pedicels not articulated" (Roxb.).
CALYX — as in the male flowers, but persistent.
COROLLA — as in the male flowers, but more substantial, and dis- tinctly companulate.
Disk — not so well-marked as that of the male flowers.
STYLES— 3 ; bifid or bi-lobed (A. de Jussieu); short. '< Connate below or united in a slender column ; glabrous ' (Hooker).
STIGMAS— 3 ; bifid, pubescent.
OVARY. — 3-carpelled, each carpel containing one ovule ; superior - " glabrous" says Hooker. Note that the ovary and styles are said to be pubescent in Jatropha cuxcas of Wallich (Syu., — J. Wightianus), — Hooker. It may be noted here that at times only one ovule, or two, mature into seed. Very seldom have I seen the three ovules yielding three seeds. But that the three ovules do so yield three seeds will be seen from my illustrative plate accompanying this paper. The ovule is pendulous from the inner angle of the central column.
FRUIT — A tricoccous capsule ; oval, or globosely oblong ; 1 — 1£ inch long ; f inch broad, or even 1 inch ; green when first formed ; yellow when mature ; brownish or black when dry. Hooker says there are 2 — 4 cocci, but 1 have never seen the fourth coccus.
Exocabp — thick and succulent ; fully of milky or pellucid white juice ; 2 lines thick. Black or brownish, and easily removable when dry.
Endocakp — " crustaceous or bony " says Hooker.
SEEDS — \— | inch long; ■§ inch broad; oblong; laterally at- tached about the middle of the cell, with a distinct white aril at the hilum ; convex on the outer or dorsal side ; angular on the inner or ven- tral side.* There is a well-marked ridge on the ventral surface
(Dymock).
Testa — smooth, black, crustaceous.
" The lorka and legmen" says O'Shaughnessey, il are separable. The internal tegmen is hard, brittle, with resinous and brownish frac- ture ; the almond is white, foliaceous, covered with a thin white mem- brane." This membrane is like tissue-paper and easily separable. The almond is inodorous, of agreeable ta?te, but slightly acrid after * Footnote. — O'Shaughnesscy's Bengal Dispensatory, p. 558, Calcutta, 1841.
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 59
chewing. It renders the saliva emulsive, and irritates the fauces (O'Shaughnessey).
Albumen—" Fleshy " says Hooker j " Copious and oily " says Dymock (Pharmaeographia Indica, Vol. III., p. 276, Bombay 1893). It is best to speak of the " Albumen " as Endosperm*
Cotyledons — broad ; flat ; foliaceous ; adhering closely to the large mass of endosperm. The endosperm cells contain a net-work of proto- plasm saturated with oil. This oil does not exist in the form of globules or drops, though it can be extracted by pressing the endos- perm-tissue as in the case of the seeds of the castor-oil plant.
Radicle— superior, short, thick.
Embryo — straight, central.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Jatropha curcas is an exotic, naturalized in India. It appears to be a free and rapid grower in this country, not wanting much care. It is a hardy plant, which has taken quite kindly to the soil of Western India whether it be in the Konkan or in the Dekkan. In both these divisions of Western India, I have seen it grow profusely as a hedge- plant, where no human hand has watered it. It evidently takes its nourishment from the air, and from the soil in which it grows, depend- ing mainly on the rain-water and dew, whenever it can get it. Id. the Konkan it gets its water-supply from the monsoon rains from June to October. Hooker says that the plant is ever-green. It is not so in tho Konkan. I have seen that in the Thana and Ratnagiri dis- tricts it is leafless, though in inflorescence during April and May. Nay, in 1898 in Satara (Dekkan) I found the plant leafless in January and February. The plant is a native of Brazil and of the West Indies. From Brazil it is said to have been introduced here by the Portuguese (Dymock). It may be so ; it is probably introduced here from Northern Africa also, by way of Arabia. No mention appears to have been made of this plant by Henrique Van Rheede in his elaborate work entitled Hortus Indkus Malabaricus published at Amsterdam in 1678 in six folio volumes, fully illustrated with the aid of three local Pandits — Rango Bhat, Vinayak Pandit, and Appa Bhat. The Marathi or quasi-- Marathi letterpress of the preface these three Pandits then wrote is. very characteristic of the Marathi spoken and written in Malabar in, the seventeenth century.
60 JOURNA L, BOMB A Y NA TUBA L HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XY.
Jatropha curcas, however, appears to Lave been mentioned in Bhav- Prakash, a Sanskrit work describing several Indian plants. "Its author, Bkav Misra," says Dattaram Chobhe, " flourished in Madras about 350 years ago." Surgeon- Goneral Balfour of Madras says that Bhav Misra flourished so far back as 1550 A. D. It is possible then that the Portu- guese must have introduced the plant into India. Sir George Bird wood says that ''Jatropha cnrcas was first mentioned by Monardes" (Veg. Products, Bombay Presidency, page 77 and page 308, 2nd ed. Bombay, 1865). Monardes is evidently a misprint for Monardus, for no such name as Monardes is mentioned by Professor Sachs in his History of Botany (1530 — 1860), published at Wurzburg in 1875, and translated into English by Garnsey and Professor Balfour in 1890 (Oxford). I find, however, from John Gerarde's Herb all that Thomas Johnson, an Apothecary of London who re-edited Gerarde's Herball in 1663 A.D., mentions an American writer named Nicolas Monardus. Johnson, in addressing his readers in a prefatory note, speaks of Nicolas Monardus as being a writer on the simple medicines of the West Indies. Evi- dently Monardus flourished about the middle or end of the sixteenth century. From Johnson's remarks in Gerarde, I find that the works of Monardus, originally written in Spanish, were translated into Latin by Carolus Clusius between 1583 and 1601. " Carolus Clusius," says Johnson, il was a learned, diligent, and laborious HerharistP Carolus Clusius, a Frenchman by birth, was otherwise named Charles de l'^oluse. He was born in Arras in 1526. His family suffered from religious persecution in France, and he spent the greater part of his life in Germany and the Netherlands. In 1573 he was invited to the Imperial Court of Vienna by Maximilian II. Clusius accepted the invitation and removed to Vienna. Subsequently in 1593 he became Professor of Botany in Leyden and died there in 1609 (Sachs).
O'Shaughnessey notes that Jatropha curcas is a native of New Anda- lusia and Havana (in the Island of Cuba). A. de Jussieu says that it is also a native of North Africa. Now, it is a well-kuown fact that India, especially its Western Coast, and North Africa, through Arabia, have for several centuries past been in close mercantile intercourse with each other. It is, therefore, just possible that Jatropha curcas was intro- duced into India by the mercantile Arab and Afric visitants of the shores of Western India. But I have no authentic information on this point. It is a mere surmise of mine. The Afric coast has given to the
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 61
Batna^iri Coast a class of fishermen called the Ddldis who are dis- tinctly of Afric blood and origin. Possibly their progenitors brought the plant with them. Why not ?
In English parlance the plant is known as the Physic-nut or the Purging-nut. It must be noted that it is quite different from the plant known as Poison-nut which is Strychnes Nux- Vomica. The seeds of Jatropba curcas are known as Pignons cCInde (Dymock). The oil obtained from the seed is spoken of as Oleum infernale by Professor Dr. L. Lowin of Berlin (page 374, Lehrbuch der Toxikologie, 1897). The oil is similarly spoken of by Dymock thus : — " It was formerly employed as a purgative by European physicians under the names of Oleum Ricini majovis and Oleum infernale." Roxburgh says that the plant is one of the most common on the Coromandel Coast, and in flower and fruit all throughout the year. This fact is worth noting, as showing the effects of local influences on the growth of plants. Talbot of Cunura fixes a definite time for flowering and fruiting. That of flowering from April to May • that of fruiting during the rainy season. I must note here one important remark which Roxburgh makes regard- ing the wood of the plant. In observing that the wood of Jatropha curcas is too soft and spongy to be of any use he cogently adds that the wood " will not even burn freely."
With regard to the oil expressed from the seeds, O'Shaughnessy and Roxburgh say that it is used to burn in lamps by the poorer classes of the natives of Bengal. I am not aware that it is used on this side of India for any such purpose. But in America it appears to be so used freely.
In noticing this plant as an exotic in his Flora of Ceylon (Vol. IV. p. 16, London 1898), Dr. Trimen says that it is very commonly planted as a fence round native gardens, and that it is a violent purgative.
Dymock says that » Jatropha curcas is said to have been introduced from Brazil by the Portuguese. Sir George Birdwood gives South America as the habitat of the plant. The plant seems to be well-known in China, as the Chinese turn out a fine black varnish by boilino- the seed-oil with Oxide of Iron. Dr. Dymock observes that the juice of the plant, when dried in the sun, forms a bright reddish-brown, brittle substance like shell-lac, which may yet be put to some useful technical purpose (Pharmacogr. Ind., Vol. III., p. 275). A similar remark is made by Dalzell and Gibson : — " The fresh juice of the stem when
62 JO URN A L, BOMB A Y NA TDRAL HISTOR 7 SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
dried forms an elegant lac-like substance, which may yet be applied in the Arts" (p. 77, Supplement, Bombay Flora, Ed. Soc. Press, 1861).
Though the oil of the seeds of Jatropha curcas is largely used in lamps in the different parts of India mentioned above, it is known in European commerce as the " seed-oil " (G. Birdwood). No such oil that I am aware of is exported from India. So says Sir George Bird- wood also.
In a work entitled ll A General System of Botany " by Emm Le Maout and J. Decaisne, translated by Mrs. Hooker in 1873, London, Longmans, Green & Co., at page 698, I find the following remark which is well worthy of the consideration of Indian soap-makers. The re- mark runs thus : — " The seeds of Jatropha curcas [Physic-nut], a shrub growing throughout the hot countries of America, yield a plenti- ful supply of an oil of which soap is made."
Garcias de Orta, in his Colloquies on Indian Plants, mentions a plant named Jatropha (see p. 79, 2nd Edition, Lisbon, 1872). Whether it is the same as Jatropha curcas or not I am not able to determine.
The following are the Synonyms of Jatropha curcas, Linn., as given in Hooker's Index Kewensis (pages 1251-1252, Part II, 1893, Claren- don Press, Oxford) : —
1. Jatropha acerifolia, Salisb. Prod. 389.
2. J. condor, Wall. Cat. N. 7799.
3. J. curcas, Wall. Cat. N. 7799 D=Wightiana.
Note that there is a plant called Jatropha peltata, figured by Wight in his plate 1 169 in the Icones Plantarum which is the same as Jatro- pha Wightiana, referred to above under synonym No. 3. Note again that what Wight depicts as Jatropha villosa in plate 1359 of his Icones is said by the Compiler of the Index Kewensis to be nothing but Jatropha Wightiana. The older writers speak of this plant as Curcas purgans. Beck says it is the Tuva tree of the Philippine Islands. It is also known as Indian nut.
In a list of five hundred Indian plants published in Canarese at Mangalore by the Basel Mission Book and Tract Depository under the authorship of C. Stolz, the following synonyms are given : — (1). Castiglionia lobata, R. B. (2). Ricinus aroericanus, Mill.
(Page 11, 2nd Ed., 1891).
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 63
It may be noted here that like the leaves of the Castor-oil plant (Rici- nus communis, Linn.') the leaves of Jatropha ourcas have galactagogue properties. A. decoction of the leaves is used in the Cape de Verd Islands to excite secretion of milk in women (A. A. B. in Maunder's Treasury of Botany, Part I, page 363, Edition 1870). Dr. Bennett of Sydney (Australia) is credited with having made the following observation in his work entitled The Gatherings of a Naturalist : —
'; The milky acrid glutinous juice, when dropped on white linen, produces an indelible stain, at first of a light-blue colour, but after being washed changes to a permanent brown : it might, therefore, form a very excellent marking ink." I have not been able to obtain such a stain- Will any of my readers help me in settling this point ? The oil of Jatropha ourcas seeds is said to be of a light colour, and used as a substitute for Linseed oil, as well as for dressing cloth (Maunder's Treasury of Botany). It is also said to form a basis for the red dye of the cotton fabric known as Turkey red.
The following remarks are made with the object of engaging the attention of those earnest students of plant-life who are interested in the investigation of the question as to hew the environment of a plant in the Eastern and Western hemispheres respectively affect the exist- ence and growth of any particular genus or species of this or that plant. It is well-known that several members of the Euphorbiacese, like several members of the Cactacete, are succulent plants. Strictly speaking, Jatropha curcas is not a succulent plant, but at all times of the year in Tropical East India, especially on the coast of Western India, in the Konkan and in the Dekkan, it is rich in a milky juice. Such plants, rich in milky juice all throughout the year, may during their existence in the hot weather be aptly compared to camels — as the "ships of the desert." Indeed, they provide for themselves a large quantity of water and are then able to dispense with further supplies for a long time without injury. " The cells of the aqueous tissue are comparatively large, and their walls thin ; the active protoplasm within forms a delicate layer round the walls — that is to say, a sac whose cavity is filled with watery, often mucilaginous fluid." These remarks of Kemer Von Marilaun's (Oliver's Translation, History of Plants, p. 328, Vol. I., 1894, London) may well apply to Jatropha curcas.
It may be noted here that the flowers of Jatropha curcas besides being odourless don't appear to be invaded by insects. Cattle wont touch
64 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XV.
its leaves. Hence as a hedge-plant it is very serviceable as already noted in ray foregoing remarks. I may here emphasiza the fact that Jatropha curcas is one of the Euphorbiaceous plants in which each plant without exception develops both true staminate and pistillate flowers on one and the same flower stalk. Jt must be further observed that the members of the Euphorbiales, not to speak of the genera only but also of the specimens of the species and varieties locally obtained, differ at times very widely in individual, development of parts of the plant under local influences of soil and climate. But what I have noted abovo is the result of ray personal observation of this plant in its living condition in Bombay, Thana, Satara, and Ratnagiri.
I have noted above that Dr. Dymock speaks of the seed of Jatropha curcas as Pignon d'lnde. Just a word of warning to my readers. 1 find from Baillon's Natural History of Plants, translated from his elaborate French work by Marcus Hartog, that there are two kinds of Pignon d'lnde, viz. — the large and the small. The large one is the seed of Jatropha curcas, otherwise called by Baillon as the Jatropha of Barbadoes (Castiglionia lobata, R. el Pav.). The small Pignon of India is the seed of Croton Tiglium, the oil of which is much more deadly (p. 162, Vol. V., 1878, London. Baillon's Translation into English by M. Hartog.)
From Paxton's Botanical Dictionary it appears that Jatropha curcas was introduced into England from South America in 1731. It is noted as an ever-green plant ( p. 310, Edition by IS. Hereman, 1868, London).
Baillon remarks that the wood of Jatropha curcas is " soft, easily decaying ; palisades are however made in the Indies" (West — K. R. K.). Baillon further adds that Jatropha curcas is used for hedge rows in the Antilles (Marcus Hartog's English Translation of Baillon, Vol. V., p. 175).
POISONOUS PROPERTIES.
The seeds of Jatropha curcas are poisonous. They produce, when taken internally, vomiting and drastic purging. The oil obtained from the seeds has similar effects. " The seeds are employed by the native doctors of the Philippine Islands and considered excellent and mild purgatives in doses of from one to four seeds. The effects which result from an overdose are vomiting, purging, a burning sensation in the
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 65
stomach, with a determination of blood to the head. Dr. Bennett, the well-known naturalist of Sydney, has himself adminis- tered these seeds to Europeans, but has found their effects very irregular, and occasioning, in all cases, a burning sensation in the bowels followed with nausea and vomiting " \_A. A. B. in Maunder's Treasury of Botany],
Beck says that the effects of seeds are at times so great that in addition to vomiting and purging there is insensibility, and great weak- ness followed by death. Violent inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines has also been noted (p. 832, Medical Jurisprudence, 5th Edition, London, 1836).
The following is an extract from Dr. Hilton-Fagge's Report on
Toxicology and Materia Medica (p. 347, New Sydenham Society's
Year-Book, 1865, London) : — " In the Medical Times and Gazette —
(London, 1864, I. 703) — are recorded several cases of poisoning1' by
the seeds of Jatropha curcas, " which occurred at Birmingham, where
three or four sacks of the nuts were sold by auction. These nuts were
left on the floor, and some boys, getting access to them, put some into
their pockets, and finding their taste pleasant not only ate some of
them themselves, but gave others to their friends. In consequence
thirty-three persons were taken so ill as to be obliged to be carried
to the General Hospital. Some of them had only eaten three or
four of the nuts, but others ate as many as fifty. Symptoms came on
in some cases in ten minutes ; in others not until two to two hours
and a half had elapsed. The chief effects were pain and burning in
the throat, pain and distension of the abdomen, giddiness, vomiting
and drowsiness; and after an interval, purging— the evacuations
being copious, mucous, and not unlike the rice-watery stools of cholera.
In some cases the depression was very great ; in many there was
dysuria ; fever was always present as an after-effect. Dilatation of the
pupils was believed to exist in those who took a large quantity of the
poison. It is doubtful whether the drowsiness—from which the patients
were easily roused — was a narcotic effect of the nuts or whether it was
caused by the great prostration." [N.B. — lam inclined to think the
latter caused drowsiness— K. II. A".] Strangely enough, all the cases
recovered 1 The treatment consisted of the administration of emetics
and purgatives. Will not the Homoeopaths say " Similia similibus
curantur ? "
66 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
Dr. Norman Ohevers* quotes a case reported by Morrett of Salem (Madras Presidency), and fully detailed in the Madras Quarterly Journal of Medical Science, p. 37, July 1861. The case was that " of a healthy young English gentleman, who ate fifteen or twenty nuts of Jatropha curcas. The taste did not arouse suspicion. In an hour and-a-half burning sensations in the throat and stomach were felt, attended with great restlessness. There was profuse purging, with great pain and vomiting, by which portions of the nut were rejected. In another hour and-a-half there were severe cramps of the lower limbs. The purging now ceased. The cramps were so violent that frequently the patient sprang in agony out of bed, and stamped his feet with all his force upon the ground as if to flatten them, the cramps distorting them. The cramps affected, with less severity, the muscles of the arms, abdomen and back. Occasionally there were convulsive twitches of the back, almost like those in tetanus. He gradually became perfectly deaf. There was also impairment of sight. The pulse was very small, thready and weak. Skin cold, damp, and clammy. Features sunken and contracted. Treatment — Hot brandy and water, warm bath, anodyne frictions, and hot bottles. In about seven hours reaction set in and he slowly improved. Throughout the following day he remained totally deaf, and had slight cramps. Next day he was awakened by the church bell, and was quite convalescent. Although during his illness he had appeared quito conscious, he had no recollection whatever of what happened later than the profuse purging. Several other young gentlemen were in like manner affected in a less alarm- ing degree, having taken fewer of the nuts, but in none of them was there deafness or loss of memory." In giving this long extract from Chevers my only apology is that his work is out of print now. My quotation, therefore, is likely to be of use to those who do not happen ;to have his work in their library.
So far as I know, the seeds of Jatropha curcas have never been ixsod for criminal poisoning. Brigade-Surgeon Lyon, CLE., in his Medical Jurisprudence (p. 205, Ed., 1889, Calcutta) says that several cases of accidental poisoning are recorded. My foregoing observations will amply bear him out in his assertion.
* Xedical Jurisprudence for India, p, 275, Calcutta, 1870. Thacker, Spink it Co.
F1IE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BO MBA Y. 67
To add further evidence with regard to the poisonous nature of Jatropha curcas I quote Sir Robert Christison of Edinburgh. He observes that the seeds of the physic-nut of the West Indies, " when applied in the form of powder to a wound, produce violent spreading inflammation of the subcutaneous cellular tissue ; and when introduced into the stomach they inflame that organ and the intestines. Four seeds will act on man as a powerful cathartic. I have known violent vomiting and purging occasioned by a few grains of tho cake left after the expression of the fixed oil from the bruised seeds ; and in some experiments, I performed a few years ago, I found that from twelve to fifteen drops of the oil produced exactly the same effects as an ounce of castor oil, though not with such certainty " as that of castor oil, I presume. [K. R. K.*~],
I offer to my readers the following quotation from A. S. Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence (2nd Ed., Vol. I., p. 328) : —
"In August 1858, 139 children in Dublin suffered severely from eating some of these nuts, namely, of Jatropha curcas {Medical Times and Gazette, August 1858). They all recovered." * *
" M. Chevalier refers to a case in which thirty-three persons were poisoned by eating these seeds. The symptoms which they suffered from were nausea, vomiting, and general depression. Twenty were so ill that they were placed in the beds of an hospital ; the remaining thirteen soon recovered."
In 1871, when a student in Grant Medical College, Bombay, I ate two seed-almonds of Jatropha curcas which was then growing near the Vehar water-pipe in the College garden in front of the Clock- tower. I suffered from the effects of the almonds for fully six hour3, though the nuts were pleasant to eat. My friend and fellow-student Khan Bahadur Dr. K. B. Cooper, now Civil Surgeon of Shikarpur, also ate some with me. Perhaps he will remember the incident. I remember it very well, as the emssis it produced was very trying. My medical attendant, Dr. Sakharam Arjun, of sacred and loving memory, then living in the same house with mo, gave me a word of warning not to play pranks with my life in the course of my botanical studies by tasting unknown plants, merely for the sake of experiment. Such foolhardiness, I know, has often destroyed valuable lives. There is a saying in Marathi ^TrST^T Tl^T II fepCr ^f^T, * Christiaon's Treatise on Poisonw, p. 591, '1th Edition. Edinburgh., 1^46.
68 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL I11ST0RY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
which means that if jepal is recklessly used, death is the result (Mr. G. S. Bhide, Jailor, Ratnagiri Prison).
As regards the seat of the poisonous element, O'Shaughnessy says that it is the embryo which is the source of the acridity of the seed and its poisonous nature. I doubt this very much. I feel almost sure, that the acridity and the poisonous principles lie in the once so-called albumen, and now called the endosperm. I do not at all believe, as suggested by O'Shaughnessy. that the removal of the little, insignificant embryo rids the nut of its poisonous property and makes it " bland and alimentary." Although this statement is made by O'Sbaughnessy on the high authority of M.M. Fee and Humboldt, I must set my face humbly against it.
I find myself " all at sea ' with regard to the chemical nature of the poisonous element of Jatropha curcas.
The active principle of the oil of Jatropha curcas, says Rai Bahadur Kanny Lull Dey, F.C.S. of Calcutta, has been named Jairoplu'c acid. A recent research (A. Siegel, 1894) attributes the activity of the seeds to a poisonous toxalbumen analogous to Ricin and named Curciu (p. 169, Indian Drugs, 2nd Edition, 1896, Calcutta). Ricin, says J. Charles E. Sobn, F.C.S., a member of the Society of Public Analysts of London, is a poisonous principle of castor seed of the albuminous kind (p. 191, Index to a Dictionary of the Active Principles of Plants, 1894, London). Dymock observes that Dr. H. Stillmark has discovered in the seeds of Ricinus communis an albuminoid body which has been named Ricin. This, however, says Dymock, does not appear to be the purgative principle (p. 277, Ph. Ind., Vol. 111.), It may be noted that Ricin appears to have a peculiar effect on blood, causing a rapid conglomeration of the red corpuscles, together with the formation of a substance like fibrin.
The oil of Jatropha curcas is said to contain an active principle simi- lar to that of the castor seeds. It is known as Ricinoleic acid. Its formula is C1SH3403. It occurs as a glyceride in castor oil together with tripalmatin and tristearin. It also occurs in Jatropha curcas. It is a thick oily liquid which solidifies below 0° C, and mixes in every proportion with alcohol and ether. Its alcoholic solution has an acid reaction, an unpleasant persistent acrid taste, and does not oxidize in the air (Roscoo and Schorlemmer's Treatise on Chemistry, Vol. Ill ; Organic Chemistry, Part II, p. 484, Edition, 1890, Macmillan).
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 69
I must not omit to mention here what Professor Schmiedebero- of the University of Strassburg says regarding the active principle of Cas- tor oil. He says : — " It is soluble in the intestinal fluids only ; here alone it meets with the conditions necessary to its efficiency after it gets into the bowels. Like Croton oil, Gamboge and Jalap resin, Castor oil is insoluble in watery fluids, and consequently passes the stomach unchanged. In the intestines it is dissolved by the alkalies of the bile and pancreatic juice." These remarks may well apply to the seed-oil of Jatropha curcas.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE V. Fig. No. 1. Jatropha curcas, ^ natural size sprig with diminutive inflorescence and tender red leaf. „ 2. Natural size inflorescence, with the companulate
female flower. „ 3. Fruit natural size.
,, 4. Transverse section of natural sized fruit with tricoccous
arrangement, showing a seed in each coccus. „ 5. Seed. Natural size, showing the white aril at the top.
* Elements of Pharmacology, translated by Dixon of the University of Sydney, pp. 108 and 109, Edinburgh, 1887.
70 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
THE BIRDS OF THE MADHUBANI SUB-DIVISION OF THE DAE-
BHANGA DISTRICT, TIRHUT, WITH NOTES ON SPECIES
NOTICED ELSEWHERE IN THE DISTRICT.
By C. M. Inglis.
Part VI.
{Continued from page 111 of Vol. NIV.)
Order— GAVLE.
Family Laridw.
(254) Larus ichthyaetus.— The Great Black-headed Gull.
Blanford, No. 1489 ; Hume, No. 979.
A rare gull in the district. Though I heard from one of my men about a large gull several times it was not till the 18th of last December that I obtained one. A mir-shikar in my employ brought me a live one -which had got snared in a noose at the Maiser Chaur. I kept it for several days in my water aviary, but it died. All gulls are known here as " Kheir." (255) L. ridieundus. — The Laughing Gull. Blanford, No. 1490 ; Hume, No. 981. This species is also rather rare. I have only succeeded in getting three specimens, one being in breeding plumage which was got on the 11th March. They were obtained from November to March. I have never seen more than one of this species ou the same marsh.
(25G) L. brunneicephalus. — The Brown-headed Gull. Blanford, No. 1491 ; Hume, No. 980.
This is the common gull on the marshes in the vicinity of Baghownie and a few are also met with on the Keray River. I never came across any gulls in the sub-division though they are certain to occur on the Minti and Sum da chaurs. On the Maiser Chaur these gulls are, I believe, to be found in fair numbers throughout the co!d weather. It was some time before I procured specimens, as on the marsh which I shot over they were rather wary. These gulls settle a lot on the water and nearly always where cormorants (P# javanicus) are feeding, and for many days my man used to hit the latter birds instead of the gulls. They seemed to have a charmed life and it was not till the 31st January 1902 that the spell was broken. All my specimens were got from November to the middle of March and none had assumed the breeding plumage. The stomachs of all the gulls I have examined have contained nothing but fish.
(257) L. CACHINNAKS. — The Yellow-legged Herring-Gull. Blanford, No. 1495 ; Hume, No. 978 bis.
Rare. A single immature specimen was procured on the Kokoron Chaur on the 4th March 1902 and brought to me by a mir-shikar. He had caught it with birdlime.
THE BIRDS OF THE MADHVBANI SUB-DIVISION. 71
Sub-family Sternince.
(258) Hydrochelidon hyerida. — The Whiskered Tern.
Blanford, No. 1496 ; Hume, No. 984. Very common. They occasionally breed here during July and August in tanks, I sent a note on their breeding here, to this Journal some time ago. Native name for all terns Tehari,
(259) Hydroprogne caspia. — The Caspian Tern, Blanford, No. 1498 ; Hume, No. 982. A rather scarce-oold weather visitant. I have only four specimens. I got one in November, two in February and one on the 16th of March. They are rather wary birds. The one shot in November was a perfect specimen, but with no white on the lower lores. This bird, which was only wounded when hit, uttered the harsh cry as recorded by Hume.
(260) Sterna anglica.— The Gull-billed Tern. Blanford, No. 1499 ; Hume, No. 983. This species is also rather scarce and is seldom seen after February. I saw one in breeding plumage on the 28th March flying over the indigo fields at Baghownie.
(261) S. seena. — The Indian River-Tern. blanford, No. 1503 ; Hume, No. 985.
Yery common. It breeds on the sand banks of the Kamla in March and April.
(262) S. melanogaster.— The Black-bellied Tern. Blanford, No. 1504 ; Hume, No. 987. Not quite as common as the former species. They breed at the same time and place as seena.
(263) S. fuliginosa.— The Sooty Tern. Blanford, No. 1514 ; Hume, No. 992 Us. I have nothing further to add to my note on this species already sent to our Journal.
Sub-family Rliynchopinoe.
(264) Rhynchops albicollis.— The Indian Scissors-bill.
Blanford, No. 1517; Hume, No. 995. Rather scarce. A few are however generally seen on tho banks of the Kamla near Jainagar daring July and August.
Order STEGANOPODES. Family Pehcanidce.
(265) Pelecanus roseus. — The Eastern White Pelican.
Blanford, No. 1520 ; Hume, No. 1003. A fine female caught by a mir-shikar with birdlime in the Benoa Ohaur on the 17th July 1901. It was alone preening its feathers near the edge of the water. This is the only one that either I, or my men have ever seen in the district. Native name Ganggoya,
72 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
(266) Pelecanus onocrotalus. — The Roseate Pelican. Blandford, No. 1521 ; Hume, No. 1001. I have just received on the 17th March a female of this species or rather what I should say was intermediate betwean onocrotalus and roseus. It is a fine bird very deeply suffused with pink. It has got the 24 rec- trices of onocrotalus but the bill is too small for that species, being only 14"*8. The frontal region is also much swollen. The measure- ments taken in the flesh are as follows: — length, 63""5 ; wing, 27"; tail, 7"'5 ; tarsus, 5" ; bill at gape, 14"'8 and expanse 108"-25. A female of roseus was also brought in from the same place, viz., the Maiser Chaur. Native name Jalasind.
(267) Pelecanus philippensis. — The Spotted-billed Pelican. Blanford, No. 1523 ; Hume, No. 1004. Rather common. This species is met with from the end of June to the beginning of October. They frequent tanks, rivers and marshes. Native name Koorair.
Family Phalacrocoracidce.
(268) Phalacrocorax carbo — The Large Cormorant.
Blanford, No. 1526 ; Hume, No. 1005. Not very common, only found during the cold weather. I have never seen many together, but Mr. Scroope wrote me that he had seen consider- able numbers at Awari on the 21st February. Native names Gandil and
Kurruk.
(269) P. fdscicollis. — The Indian Shag.
Blanford, No. 1527 ; Hume, No. 1006. This species is, I believe, to be obtained on the Maiser Chaur. The mir-shilcars know it well and say they have seen it there. Native name Ganowli.
(270) P. javanicus.— The Little Cormorant. Blanford, No. 1528; Hume, No. 1007. Uncommon in the north of the district but common elsewhere. I have never found it breeding, though I have seen it all the year round near Baghownie. Near that Factory and about the end of July a large number frequented a piece of water near which there were some mango trees. I hoped they would breed, but they left the neighbourhood without doing so. I am certain they must breed somewhere near here. Native name Ghogur.
Sub-family Plotinae.
(271) Plotus melanogaster. — The Indian Darter.
Blanford, No. 1529 ; Hume, No. 1008. Mr. Scroope met this species near Jhanjiarpur and Mamgachi, at the latter place on the 9th January. I have never come across it, but received specimens snared by a mir-slulcar somewhere in the district. Native name Banwa,
THE BIRDS OF THE MADHUBANI SUB-DIVISION. 73
Order— HERODIONES.
Sub-order Platale<e.
Family Ibididce.
(272) Ibis melanocephala. — The White Ibis. Blanford, No. 1541 ; Hume, No. 941.
Scarce in the sub-division except near Minti, where a flock of about fifty was seen in February. The 27th May is the latest date on which I have got this species ; a fine male in breeding plumage being secured on that date. The testes were greatly enlarged. The skin of the win^ in the young bird is fleshy. I have not found this species breeding here. Nntive name Hasoo dahil,
(273) Inocotis papillosus. — The Black Ibis. Blanford, No. 1542 ; Hume, No. 942.
Very common. I have taken eggs from March to August. A pair com- menced building on the 23rd September, but deserted the nest. Most of the nests were on Simul (Bombax sp.), generally single, though I have found two nests close to each other. One nest with two fresh eggs was found on a pipal (F% religiosa). It was an old nest of O.calvus, but the Ibises had lined it with mango leaves and grass. This is called the " Planter's Friend " by many Europeans on account of the number of crickets they kill in the indigo fields ; some people also call it the curlew. Native name Karankal.
(274) Plegadis falcinellus.— The Glossy Ibis. Blanford, No. 1544 ; Hume, No. 943. I never came across this species in the sub-division, but it is fairly common at some distance from Baghownie, on the Chilwara Chaur from March to May. I have not found it breeding here. The head is the last to change into breed- ing plumage. I have a bird with the back and wings in breeding plumage, and also getting some chestnut feathen in the lower plumage, but the head is in winter plumage. Native name Kavaira.
Family Plataleklo?. (275) Platalea leucorodia. — The Spoonbill. Blanford, No. 1545 ; Hume, No. 939. I have seen few spoonbills near Jainagar and Narhar, but Scroope saw a big flock containing 42 birds at Kolwahi, a village a few miles from Narhar. One of my men says he saw about a couple of hundred on the Minti Chaur in February. I have got specimens from November to the middle of April. Native name Koorpia dabil.
Sub-order Ciconi^e. Family Ciconiidce.. (276) Ciconia alba.— The White Stork. Blanford, No. 1546 ; Hume, No. 919. Very common during the cold weather. They arrive about the end of October and remain to the end of March. Numbers are snared by the mir- shikar with birdlime. Sometimes they are very tame and I have shot them dead with No. 6 shot. Native names Ghybur and Burra Eehva, 10
74 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV,
(277) C. nigra.— The Black Stork. Blanford, No. 1547 ; Hume, No. 918.
A scarce winter visitant. They also remain till March. My men generally come across one or two every cold weather and have several times fired at them but never succeeded in getting one yet. Once I had a shot at one as it flew over my bungalow at Narhar but it was rather far off for the cartridges I had. I think this is the species the mir-shikars call Mullaik but cannot be certain till they bring me one in.
(278) Dissura episcopus.— The White-necked Stork. Blanford, No. 1548 ; Hume, No. 920.
"Very common. Simul trees are the favourite sitss for their nests ; one nest was taken on a pipal. Usually only a single neist is found on the one tree but I have found two touching each other. The earliest nest with eggs was taken on the 15th July, and the latest on the 28th October. They do lay earlier, as a female shot by Mr. G. Dalgliesh on the 3rd June had in the oviduct an egg ready for ejection. This bird had a nest on.the tree on which she was shot ; on going there a month later I found the cock-bird had paired again. I took some young in down from a nest on the 15th August. Feathers com- menced to appear on the head, back and wings on the 20th, and by the 13th September the whole body was covered with them. These birds had perfect liberty and flew away on the 8th October. Most of the day they rested on their tarsus and when about to be fed used to emit a peculiar guttei al sound which seemed to come from far down in the throat. A young bird whilst feeding in a field at Narhar began to stagger and fell. There was some seet water in the field and it must have imbibed some of this which evidently had an intoxicating effect on it. Native names Lag lag and Retwa.
(279) Xenorhynchus asiaticus. — The Black-necked Stork. Blanford, No. 1549 ; Hume, No. 917. I have found this species decidedly rare here, but Mr. G-. Dalgliesh writes in the Zoologist " a not uncommon resident." I got one, a young female at Narhar in December 1898, and Mr. Scroope sent me the following note on the 19th January 1900 : — " What interested me beyond anything was the diccovery of the black-necked stork at the latter place (Kachara). I got quite close to a pair which were wading .... I saw several huge storks at Minti also which I feel sure were this species." Some mir-shikars saw some at the Benoa Chaur about the end of July but failed to snare any. I have a couple of fine adult birds got in August. Native name Loha sarang. (280) Leptoptilus dubius.' — The Adjutant. Blanford, No. \bb0 • Hume, No. 915. Rather scarce. They arrive in June and I have seen them up to December, one being brought me on the 21st of that month. It is very seldom, how- ever, that they are seen so late as that. I do not think they breed here and the late birds probably go to the Gorakhpur District, The mir-shikars snare them in nooses fastened on small but strong bamboo pegs which are stuck in
THE BIRDS OF THE MADHOBANI SUB-DIVISION. 75
the ground. The nooses; which are all close together, are put down on three sides near where the bird is feeding and the meu gradually make it edge up to them. If it steps into them well and good, if not they take them up and put them down further on. It is generally a very lengthy proceeding but that is immaterial to the native. Mahomedans eat its flesh. A fine male measured 60|- inches in length, had a pouch of 14" and a wing expanse of 8'- 11". Native name Garur.
(281) L. javanicus. — The Smaller Adjutant.
Blanford, No. 1551 ; Hume, No. 916.
On the 24th November I saw a pair feeding in some shallow water at
Narhar. I got another one in the Darbhanga District on the 8th June 1902.
I have also heard this species make the same guttural noise as D. episcopus.
Native name Chandiari.
(382) Pseodotantalus leucocephalus. — The Painted Stork. Blanford, No. 1552 ; Hume, No. 938. I only obtained a single specimen in the sub-division but got numbers, both young and adults, brought me at Baghownie by mir-shikars from May to September. Native name Kanharrl.
(283) Anastomus oscitans. — The Open-bill. Blanford, No. 1553; Hume, No. 940. I once missed one in a tank near Jainagar in December 1890. I saw none in 1897, 1898 and 1899. One of my men came across a flock of about 125 at Minti in February 1900. I have got them from October to June but have never seen any during the other months. I do not think they breed with us. A few are in the white plumage by April but the majority seem to assume it in the following month. Native name Dohar.
Sub-order Ardej:. Family Arde/dce. (284) Ardea manillensis. — The Eastern Purple Heron. Blanford, No. 1554 ; Hump, No. 924. I have not found this species common here and have only got one adult. Some, most of them young birds, are to be seen on most of the chaurs. Native name Khyra.
(285) A. cinerea. — The Common Heron, Blanford, No. 1555 ; Hume, No. 923,
This is a common species. I have noticed them up to May but doubt whether they breed with us. I have a falcon which flies at this species and brings them down in nice style. On the ground he fastens on to the neck just below the head and the heron appears to be quite helpless. Native name Kabud.
(286) Herodias alba.— The Large Egret. Blanford, No. 1559 ; Hume „T$o*. 924 Us & 925.
This is the only egret I have personally seen in this district. I have always found them most wary. A very fine specimen in breeding plumage was
76 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV.
brought me from Fureckeer in the Monghyr District on the 11th March. It measured, length to etui of train 47"; wing 17"; tail 7"'5: tarsus 8""5 ; bill at gape, 6" 5 ; expanse 07". Bill yellow with tip dusky ; legs and, feet black, tibia greenish. Three specimens all in full breeding dress had the bills yellow, though Blanford gives it as black in that plumage. Another one also in breeding plumage brought me measured, length 36"*5 ; wing 14" "25; tail 5"6 ; tarsus 7"; bill at gape 5"'5 ; expanse 54"'2. The larger ones the mir-shikars call Mallang bogla and the smaller ones Torra bogla. They find no difficulty in distinguishing the two varieties, but I have seen too few to