and acquires the brownish red colour named as above, which, if care has been taken in preparing the dye, is of a very lasting description, and stands repeated washing. Bar, or the fibre of the Fibres. Fruits of forest trees. young sindí tree, is of great strength, and The fruit of the chár tree yields a The khirni tree, which is not very common in the district (there are some at Jánephal), is held in much estimation for its fruit. This tree is very common in Guzerát, in the Bombay Presidency. The common country liquor, called mhowa, is distilled from the berry of the mhowa tree, which is very commonly found throughout the district. The fruit of the aula tree supplies a preserve much thought of. The pípal tree yields lac, whence the country sealing-wax. The fruit of the temburni tree is also edible. And last, not least, the tamarind tree contributes its well-known and much-used fruit for human consumption. Wu'n. All the usual forest produce is to be found in this district. The following are worth notice, viz., gum, lak, " chironji," "mhowa" berries," bhiláwá" or marking-nut, "bel" fruit (a powerful astringent), "behera" (a dye), "alu," " tembura," &c., and honey of a very fine description. The fibres most in use are those obtained from the "palás" tree, called "bákal," and from the stalks of sindí trees. Less used are those obtainable from the elephant grass, from a shrub called by the natives "kumbi," and from plantain trees. There are many dyes obtainable in the extensive forests of this district, such as "kusumb," &c., but the dye chiefly used is "ál," which is planted, and not found in a wild state. The same remarks applies to "san," or hemp, which is largely sown, and of which banjárás are great purchasers. Ba'sim. The gums of the trees, as per margin, are brought into the market for sale. These gums are much used as Dandu, khair, behera, bábúl. medicine. Considerable quantities find their way into the market at Hingoli; but the demand and supply is hardly sufficient to place this among the exports of the district. On these District Selections Mr. G. M. Strettell, Deputy Conser Uncultivated Produce. District Selections. Uncultivated vator of Forests, has been good enough to furnish the subjoined Produce. District Selections. note: "Flowers, tesu; gum, kumarkas. From the root-bark a kind of rope is made. The flower yields a yellow dye, and the powder used at the Holi Butea frondosa. feast; also used as a poultice. Seeds used as a purgative in veteri- as an astringent. Carthamus tinctorius. Morinda citrifolia. "This is the safflower. Besides yielding a dye, the flowers are used medicinally in diseases of the tonsils. "The root of this tree is used, not in dyeing (as in general), but as a cathartic. "Bark used in tanning, and dyeing a reddish brown. The bark from (Bábúl.) Acacia arabica. dicinally, and for the ordinary Wood-apple. the roots is much used in the manufacture of native spirits. The gum is used mepurposes to which gum arabic is put. "It is the gummy substance that exudes from the stem that is used in dyeing; it fixes. "A most useful shrub. Branches used in the manufacture of baskets Vitex negundo. “The milky juice is Epicarpus orientalis. and wattle-work. Leaves used in colic ; they are also officinal, and used in poultices. applied to sandcracks in the feet and excoriations of the skin. It is applied in decoction as a lotion to the body in fevers; and the root bruised is applied to boils.* "Hindús venerate this tree, and offer its leaves on the shrines of Siva. The pulp of the fruit, fresh or dried, is used in affections of the bowels; it is also used in lime-cement. Ægle marmelos. "This is the soapnut tree. Seeds used in washing wool and Sapindus detergens. silk; they are also officinal, and given in cases of salivation in epilepsy, and as expectorant.-(Dr. Stewart.) "To this list. of medicines may be added the Careya arborea. The flowers are officinal, being given by the Hindús after childbirth. "I was not aware that this tree yields a useful fibre. The milky (Bar.) Ficus indica. juice is used in native medicines, both externally and internally. I believe it is sometimes used to assist in the oxidation of copper. "I fancy it is an exceptional case when the Coccus indica attaches itself to the Butea. I have never seen a single instance in Berár. *Ainslie's Materia Indica. "The dhaura' is the Grislea tomentosa. Besides these there are numerous trees yielding dyes not exported to these plains, but which in other parts of India are brought into use. Gums. "The khair is the Acacia catechu. The dhaura does not yield a gum that I am aware of, neither do any of my works of reference show it does. I am inclined to regard this a mistake. Kumbi is the Careya arborea. The Kudul is only useful for rope in damp weather. Cuttah is the extract of the Acacia catechu in a dry form. Chips of the inner wood are put into an earthen pot over the fire they are then boiled, and the clean liquor is strained off. When of sufficient consistency, it is poured into clay moulds." II.-Wild Animals and Birds. Lieut.-Colonel McMaster, of the Madras Army, has kindly supplied a few Notes on the birds observed by him in the Gáwilgarh hills, whose presence there is new and interesting to ornithologists. He writes (May 1870) — "The following memoranda are from observations taken in April and May, a most unfavourable period, because during these months the grass and underwood are destroyed by fires, sometimes of considerable extent, which effectually drive most of the animals towards nearly inaccessible cliffs or deep gorges between the spurs of hills. However, the natural history of Chikalda is peculiarly valuable, as, in addition to many birds and beasts commonly found in the plains, some hitherto supposed to have been restricted to particular localities meet each other on the neutral ground of these hills. The names and numbers here given are taken from Jerdon's 'Birds and Mammals of India':: "No. 300,Ochromela Nigrorufa-The black and orange fly-catcher,' has, I think, been seen by me among the cliffs a few miles west of the station. This is interesting, as Jerdon says that this remarkably plumaged fly-catcher, the coloration of which is quite unique, has hitherto only been found on the summit of the Neilgherries and highest mountains of Ceylon.' "No. 306, Cyornis Tickellia-Tickell's blue red-breast.' Jerdon says that this bird has only as yet been procured in Central India, and by Tickell. Mr. Blanford got one at Seoní, another near Chánda (Asiatic Society's Journal, 155). He seems to think the sexes are alike in plumage; on this point I agree with Mr. Blanford. The sex of the specimen shot at Chikalda was not fixed, but the two birds seen appeared to be a pair, and were alike in plumage. "No. 342, Myiophonus Horsfieldii-The Malabar whistling thrush.' Jerdon says that this fine thrush is found throughout all the forests of Southern and Western India, from near the top of the Neilgherries (6,000 feet) to almost the level of the sea * ; but it is not found in any of the forests of the Eastern Ghats, nor in Central or * * * Uncultivated District Wild Animals and Birds. Wild Animals and Birds. Northern India. It especially delights in mountain torrents; and if there is a waterfall it is sure to be found there. I got a pair of these very handsome birds, being first attracted by their fine clear notes, in a dry bed, which in the rains must become a torrent and waterfall, & short distance beyond James' point, about three miles west of Chikalda. Others will probably be seen. The birds at this season are wary, and difficult to watch. "No. 446, Hypsipetes Ganeesa-The ghát black bulbul.' Jerdon says that this species has only yet been procured by Colonel Sykes, who says that it inhabits the Western Ghats. It is most probably found on the Máhábleshwar Hills.' On the 5th May I got it near Chikalda. Its habits are exactly those of No. 445, Hypsipetes Neilgherriensis, thẻ Neilgherry black bulbul (abundant near Ootacamand)—for it is a vivacious and quarrelsome bird, constantly on the move, and during its flight from one tree to another keeping up a lively warbling. The specimen obtained was, as in Jardine's illustration, more blackish-ashy than greybrown, as described in Jerdon; space round and behind eye paler than rest of head; wing and tail same colour as body; bill orange; legs pale yellow; irides brownish. Blanford remarks that many of the Malabár birds extend northwards along the Western Ghats. Why should not some of them follow the course of these hills into Central India?* Corvida. "No. 660, Corvus Culminatus-The Indian corby'-was the only crow observed above these gháts. C. Splendens, the familiar social pest of stations in the plains, does not seem to penetrate beyond the belt of low woodland at the foot of the hills. Both varieties abound at Bangalore, which is only 700 feet lower than Chikalda. Culminatus will probably not be found in any except the hill or well-wooded stations in Berár, while Splendens should abound everywhere except in or round the base of the mountains. The first is the crow of the Neilgherries, replacing his grey cousin at Kulla, the posting-stage at the foot of the Kúnúr Ghát.+ "Nos. 772, Crocopus Phoenicopterus; 773, Crocopus Chlorigaster, Bengal, and southern green pigeons.' "Blanford says (Asiatic Society's Journal, No. 155) that birds shot at Nágpúr were perfectly intermediate between these two races, and agrees with Jerdon in considering that when the two differ so little as in the green pigeons, the rollers, and Kálij pheasants, they breed together freely. Green pigeons are now (April and May) breeding at Chikalda. The nest is apparently very carelessly constructed of a few dead twigs placed haphazard at the end of a branch, but * Since writing this I have procured several of the Southern India and Malabár birds near Chikalda, among others "No. 473, Oriolus Ceylonensis, the southern blackheaded oriole;" Blanford mentions that it has been found at Násik and Ahmadnagar. † Since this was sent to press "Corvus Splendens" has been killed (2nd June) at Chikalda. It may come up here during the rains, or, as was probably the case in this instance, some stragglers have followed a camp. from this cause it is exceedingly well concealed, as the bough selected always appears to be a bare one, on which the dry twigs do not attract attention. Both varieties of these pigeons, and their intermediate hybrids, will probably be found on these hills. "No. 813, Gallus Sonneratii-The grey jungle fowl.' It may not perhaps be generally known that this, the finest of the jungle fowls, is to be found as far north and east as Chikalda, having doubtless made its way from Malabár and Canara along the Western Ghats, and thence perhaps across the Berár valley from the Chándor and Ajanta ranges. Chikalda must be very nearly its north-east limit, for close to this it is replaced by Gallus Ferrugineus, the well-known red jungle fowl of Northern and Eastern India, and, with a very slight difference, of Burmah. Jerdon gives the following as the limits of the two races : "Grey jungle fowl.-This handsome jungle fowl is found in Southern India only, extending on the east coast to a little north of the Godávari in Central India, to the Pachmari or Máhádeva hills north of Nágpúr, and on the west coast to the Ráj Pípla hills, where it meets the red jungle fowl. Its occurrence on the Pachmari hills is most probably its eastern extension from the Western Ghats and the Ráj Pípla hills, and it will probably be found along the Sátpura range.' "Of Gallus Ferrugineus, the red jungle fowl', he says: "This wellknown jungle fowl is found from the Himaláyás southwards, on the west of India, as far at all events as the range of Vindhia hills; and, as I have been informed by Mr. W. Blanford since the above were penned, also south of the Narbada on the Ráj Pípla hills.' The two races are so close to each other that there may be a little confusion in Central India about them-Gallus Sonneratii is the bird of Chikalda." The deer in Berár are— (1) Sámbar (Rusa Aristotelis). Of antelope we have (1) Common antelope (Bezoartica). (3) Four-horned antelope (Tetraceros Quadricornis) and (4) Chikara (Gazella Bennettii). As with the birds just mentioned, some of the mammals hitherto said to be confined to peculiar localities are probably to be found among the Central India hills. The only illustration of this sort that can be now offered is with No. 129, Herpestes Monticolus, the long-tailed mungoos, which I obtained between the hill-fort of Gáwilgarh and Chikalda; but which Jerdon (vide page 135, Mammals,) only procured from the Eastern Ghats inland from Nellore, where it inhabits forests among the hills. Wild Animals and Birds. |