Edward S. Ross field notes

creeks, quite moist from rains the night before, were covered with evergreen forest and fairly dense undergrowth. The trees in this [grove?] are not of large stature, ranging from 15 to 25 or 30 ft. in height.

Collecting was especially good where the forest edge bordered clearings planted in tea or trails and roads leading to buildings here and there on the grounds. Sweeping met fallen leaves and herbage along the creeks in filtered forest shade proved productive for flies especially.

Peermade is spelled PIRMED on some maps, but the former spelling seems to be the one locally in vogue.

Kittikaram is located in the Peermade Hills.

STOP 224 - S. INDIA: PERIYAR LAKE, 900 METERS, III-23-62 1500 specimens

Situated in rolling hills where the southern end of the Cardamom range meets the S.W. end of the Varushanad-Andipatti Hill axis, Periyar is an old manmade lake (1895) surrounded by native forest, now a large game sanctuary for wild elephant, sambar, bison, etc. The forest type is determined by slope exposure and therefore rainfall; while the eastern exposures display open deciduous forests of teak and other species, with an understory of elephant grass and the inevitable lantana, the slopes catching the rain from the rest are clothed in dense evergreen rainforest - many species of immense trees and vines, with an understory of low herbs and small seedlings. The contact between the two biotypes is often very marked.

Collecting was definitely better in the evergreen forest. The deciduous forest areas are burned over each year so that the new grass can grow in a clean slope, with the result that these sections are rather sterile during the cool season when the trees are bare.

Though March is the beginning of the so-called "summer season" in the hills, the weather was cloudy during rest of the collecting day, though quite warm and humid. A heavy rain had soaked the forests the afternoon before.

These specimens were collected at the north end of the lake, at or within hiking distance of the P.W.D. bungalow, Thekkady. Sweeping the grassy shores of the lake, at fairly low water during March, yielded a variety of flies, etc; sweeping the herbage in the filtered shade of the jungle was also productive.

[ireal?] collecting was especially good along the edge of the evergreen forest, near the lake shore or along creek and meadow clearings. Many specimens, especially Calyptera, were taken at rest on the leaves of the forest understory.

Periyar sanctuary affords the best opportunity to sample relatively undisturbed native flora typical of the area; the forest has been largely destroyed elsewhere. The ghat [or grode?] just beyond Kumily, northeast of Periyar, is a fair deciduous forest collecting area also.

STOP 225 - S. INDIA: 5 MI. E. THENI, 350 METERS, III-24-62 100 specimens.

Rather flat countryside at the end of the Andipatti Hill axis, marked by heavily eroded, fairly barren granite hills. Sandy granite soil moist from recent rains. Specimens taken under stones,

dung, etc., at the foot of one hill. No trees. Hot, sunny day - 90° F.

Theni-Usilampatti-Madurai road. Theni is spelled Teni on some maps.

STOP 226 - S. INDIA: 2 MI. E. ANDIPATTI, 350 METERS, III-24-62

Andipatti is situated about half way between Theni and Usilampatti. East of Andipatti the road passed over a low divide between barren granite hills. This stop locality at the base of the first hill is unmistakable because of a number of flat-topped acacia planifrons trees growing there; these typuical S. Indian trees are visible from a considerable distance. About 50 specimens were collected under stones beneath the acacias. A few grasshoppers, etc. were about on the nearby bare sandy ground, but the temperature was so extreme in the open fields

during the afternoon that insect activity was reduced to a minimum 95° F (shade).

STOP 227 - S. INDIA: 5 MI. N.E. SRIVILLIPUTTUR, 200 meters, III-24-62 100 specimens.

Flat, dry plain, not far from the base of the Eastern Ghats, largely disturbed by agriculture. Specimens were collected under stones in the shade of a roadside tamarind grove. Ground moist from a recent rain.

STOP 228 - S. INDIA: 10 MI. N.W. MANUR, 120 METERS, III-25-62 150 specimens.

Fairly flat, dry plain largely disturbed by agruculture. These specimens were collected under stones in the veicinity of a roadside religious shrine surrounded by a few large trees. Soil moist from a

recent rain.

STOP 229 - S. INDIA: 5 MI. S.W. NANGUNERI, 125 METERS, III-25-62 100 specimens.

These specimens were collected in and around a mango grove on the north side of the NAMBIAR River. Hot, sunny afternoon. Surrounding countryside - rather flat plain marked by a few scattered hills; desert-like wasteland with some attempts at agriculture.

STOP 230 - S. INDIA: NAGERCOIL, 50 FEET, III-26-62 600 specimens

The large compound of the Lutheran Mission, located in the south side outskirts of town, provided a fair collecting spot. Though the garden environment was entirely

man made, fields of dry grass approached once again a natural condition. Large blossoming Peltophorum trees provided good carpenter bee collecting while other flowers attracted some butterflies.

Hot, sunny day, warm evening.

STOP 231 - S. INDIA: DOHNAVUR, TIRUNELVELI DIST., 50 METERS, III-27-62 200 specimens.

Dohnavur is nothing more than a village located on the coastal plain not far from the base of the Ashambu Hills. Because of the rain shadow effect the eastern coastal plain of S. India is quite dry, approaching semi-desert in places. Some farm land is irrigated, however.

The most notable landmark at Dohnavur is Dohnavur Fellowship, a mission orphanage of considerable size. These specimens were collected

on the extensive grounds of the orphanage, heavily planted in shrubs and many large trees. With the exception of a few watered plants, the areas was quite dry. Aquatic insects which cmae to the light must have come in from nearby small storeup ponds and open wells.

TIRUNELVELI, not far to the northeast, is spelled TINNEVELLY on some maps, but the current spelling seems to be the former, being found on recent maps and on all sign boards in town.

Dahnavur Fellowship maintains some cottages 9 miles distance on the heavily forested slopes of the hills, reached partly by motor, the rest by hiking. The deciduous forest consists of a large variety of species. Collecting there about the time of the first rains would be excellent.

STOP 231 - S. INDIA: 3 MI. S. KUNIYUR, TIRUNELVELI DIST., 50 METERS, III-28-62 50 specimens.

Dry, barren granite hill, some grass and thorny shrubs. Specimens collected primarily under stones.

Stop located 10 miles N. of Kalakad also.

*3 mi. SE. TENKASI 140 m 28-III-1962 SWARMING FICUS TREE WHERE OTHERS WERE NESTING IN TREE HOLE 300 spec.

PALNI HILLS, S. INDIA

STOP 233 - PALNI HILLS, S. INDIA: KODAIKANAL GRADE, 750 METERS, III-29-62 200 specimens.

There is one customary way of approaching Kodaikanal; the main road leaves from the NILAKKOTAI-PERIYAKULAM road and ascends a long ghat section on the Madurai side of the Palnis. Kodai

can also be approached from the crest by way of a small mountain road from Munnar which traverses hill country along its entire length (see stop 237) the Madurai approach from the eastern plains is the one which can unmistakeably be termed Kodaikanal grade.

This stop, 22 road miles down-grade from Kodai, 5 miles down-grade from Oothee to be more precise, consisted of sweeping the grass and herbs along a small creek issuing from forested slopes into a clearing near the road. The forest in this zone is composed of a variety of large-leaved evergreen trees of tall stature due to periodic rainfall and creek moisture the grass was quite green.

STOP 234 - PALNI HILLS, S. INDIA: KODAIKANAL GRADE, 1150 METERS, III-29-62 100 specimens

4 miles down-grade from a little post called PARYAT VIHAR pinpoints this locality. Specimens were collected on a sunny day in a patch of native forest near the road. The trees, evergreen, have smaller leaves than those at lower altitudes; the height of the trees decreases with increases in altitude also. Many vines festooned the trees in this grove. The forest floor, thickly covered with rotting leaves, is relatively free of understory, with the result that getting about is quite easy. Branches and trunk bark bear a thin coat of moss, but epiphyte development is not extensive. Forest conditions - rather dry. Ground beneath leaves - slightly damp.

STOP 235 - PALNI HILLS, S. INDIA: KODAIKANAL GRADE, 1600 METERS, III-30-62 1000 specimens

Tiger Shola, one of many such patches of forest surrounded by grass-covered hills in the Palni Range, will safely remain an excellent natural collecting area because it has been set aside as a reserve forest. Closely resembling the forests of the Milgisia and [Kantan?] Devan Hills, Tiger shola consists of a large variety of small, evergreen trees with rounded crowns and small leaves. The forest edges, [illegible] road and stream, are thickly tangled with vines and undergrowth due to the exposure to full lights. Moving about is quite easy within the forest, however; the understory is limited.

Tiger shola completly covers

one slope of the steep-sided canyon just below Kodaikanal. Sweeping the herbage along the stream at the bottom of the canyon, in the filtered shade of the forest, proved productive. The forest floor was quite damp from a fairly recent rain. Partially cloudy afternoon, breezy on the hill tops, calm in the sheltered Tiger Shola canyon. 65°-70° F.

Specifically we stopped near the upper end of the canyon where the creek is more easily reached. Silver Cascade is located a bit upstream.

the park-like town, ponds and a large lake should have been good aquatic collecting sports but yielded very little from their shorelines, thick with reeds and water lilies. Most specimens were collected in fields of grass, quite healthy and green from frequent showers. Camp-located in the compound of the Lutheran Lochend school.

STOP 237 - PALNI HILLS, S. INDIA: 5 MI. E. TOP STATION, 1200 METERS, III-31-62 800 specimens.

Besides the approach from the last side the MunnarKodai road is the only other serving Kodaikanal. The road winds along the wide "plateau" of gently rolling hills - downs, as the are called - S.W. of Kodaikanal,

passes by Berijam Lake where a branch road looks back to Kodai, and proceeds on to the edge of a steep ghat section. The hills are almost entirely grass-covered, though many extensive plantations of acacia and eucalyptus have recently been started. Here and there bare granite shone through the mantle of grass. The forest unit in the downs countryside is the "shola", a patch of native forest usually situated in a little valley or stream depression on the slopes. Theres sholas are scattered here and there throughout the downs. The elevation of the area varies from 6500 feet to over 8000 feet.

5 MI. E. TOP STATION marks the abrupt end of the downs at their western end. At this point the road descends 5 crooked miles of very steep cliffs and slopes, entirely covered with a dense,

tangled evergreen forest. Of all the accessible forests in the area this one is perhaps the most extensive. Indeed it would be an excellent collecting spot during the prime insect season. The little mountain road itself is a fine collecting trail through an otherwise impenetrable jungle, the top edge of the forest, where trees meet the grass of the downs, is also a good place to sample the forest fauna as well as the downs fauna. These specimens were taken at the top of the ghat, where the road first meets the forest. Sweeping the herbage at the edge of the jungle as well as in the filtered shade of the trees was especially productive.

The forest here, typical of the 6000-8000 ft. zones in the hills of S. India, consists of small-leaved, evergreen trees 10-25 ft. tall, multi-

branched and heavily twigged, with rounded crowns and moss-covered bark. Epiphyte growth is generally not extensive, however, because of a fairly long dry season. A thick understory of tall herbs (4-8 ft.) and seedling trees, while not always present in this forest type, is a particular hinderance to walking about this forest. The ground was moist when we stopped. The weather was partially cloudy, breezy on the knolls, war in sheltered spots.

Top Station itself is located at the bottom of the steep ghat section and marks an extremity of the Kannan Devan tea-growing country. A ropeway carries tea and supplies between Top Station and Munnar.

STOP 238 - S. INDIA: MARAYOOR, 27 MI. N.E. MUNNAR, 900 METERS, IV-1-62 1000 specimens

Marayoor, a small village located at the lower N.E.- side extremity of the evergreen forest of the Khannan Devan Hills, pinpoints this stop. The slopes around Marayoor are largely disturbed by agriculture and firewood cutting, but a good patch of native flora remains along the mountain stream which waters a large slope of rice terraces near Marayoor. The forest here, while evergreen, differs greatly from the forests at higher elevation. The trees are much taller and their leaves are generally larger. The forest is more open overhead, but a dense undergrowth of bushes and the usual weed, lantana, prevents easy penetration. A good collecting trail

follows the stream on the uphill side of the road, however. Sweeping the herbage in the filtered shade of the forest proved productive for diptera especially. The forest edge bordering rice paddies was also a good collecting area.

Weather - hot, sunny, and humid (due to the stream moisture and rice terreaces especially).

STOP 239 - S. INDIA: COIMBATORE, 430 METERS, IV-2-62 350 specimens.

Specimens collected in the same area as those of STOP 205. Weather partially cloudy, breezy, and hot - 90°-95° F. Some rain had fallen between the first and second stops.