Field Notes: 1961-1962 - India, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand

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WEST BENGAL [underlined]

STOP 37 - WEST BENGAL: LATAGURI X-21-61

A short early morning stop along the main trunk road to Siliguri. Plantation forest, mostly of Sal trees, with some undergrowth. Temperature warm, humidity low. 110 meters elevation. 100 specimens. Collected as well in some patches of virgin forest.

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STOP 38 - WEST BENGAL: CHUNBATI X-21-61

Driving up the mountains from Siliguri to Darjeeling there is a small hill village 12 miles from Siliguri. Stopped along the road just below Chunbati at el. 560 meters and collected in the grass and shrubs along the road. Very steep countryside covered with trees. Conditions fairly dry. Clear, sunny day, warm in the sun, cool in the shade- 100 specimens.

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STOP 39 - WEST BENGAL: DILARAM X-21-61

Just Beyond Kurseong on the Darjeeling road is the above village and a patch of reserve forest in the Kurseong District. Stopping for a few munutes late in the afternoon, we collected 150 specimens in the very cool, wet cloud forest at 1710 meters elevation.

STOP 40 - WEST BENGAL: DEBREPANI, 10 MI. W. GHUM X-22-61

A one day, 2 night stop at the Debrepani forest rest house at 2010 meters elevation. The place was reached by means of a main road from Ghum (also spelled Ghoom) to Sukhaipolshari and by a branch road from the latter town. The collecting area consisted of very steep hillsides covered by secondary forests primarily. Some patches of Cryptomeria forest had

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been planted as early as 1890. Collecting trails passed through some natural regeneration cloud forest of maples, alders, etc and in other areas through old hardwood plantations. The undergrowth in the cloud forest types consisted of grasses and small flowering sages and shrubs. Nothing grew under the stands of Cryptomeria and collecting was productive only at the fringes of such forests. Here and there small grassy clearings provided good collecting. The weather remained clear; the sun was quite warm, though the shaddows remained cool. Both nights were "chilly" (54*-56* F) and the black light attracted almost nothing. A full moon shone as well. 700 specimens.

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NOTE - ALL ALTITUDES PREVIOUS TO THAT OF STOP 41 SHOULD BE INCREASED BY ABOUT 8 METERS (ALTIMETER HAD [written in red; crossed out with an x]

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BEEN READING LOW) [written in red]

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STOP 41 - WEST BENGAL: BADAMTAM FOREST, DARJEELING DIST. X-24-61

At 1800 ft [underlined twice] elevation, an the Darjeeling side of the Rangit River canyon, a ridge of well-drained schists provides the right conditions to support an isolated population of Chir pines (PINUS ROXBURGHII). The ridge is quite dry and rocky and primarily a stunted type of Sal, some date palms (Phoenix), Vernonia (a tree Compositae), and grasses (primarily citronella grass) grow there, the pines being scattered here and there among the cover of Sal. Weather was clear and warm during our short afternoon stop. 150 specimens

[arrow pointed toward left page] (HAS BEEN DONE) [written in pencil]

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STOP 42 - WEST BENGAL: 5 MI. W. GHUM X-25-61

A night and morning stop in the compound of the Lepchajagat Rest House (forest bungalow) just off the Ghum-Sukhiapokhri Road. Marigolds, goldenrod, and other flowers had been planted in the garden, and some large rhodadendron trees grew about the grounds. The whole place was surrounded with forest much like that of Stop 40, farther down the ridge. The night was chilly and little came to the lights. The morning sun was very warm and insects began flying early. 150 specimens. El 7250 feet [a short underline; underlined twice].

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STOP 43 - W. BENGAL: KALIMPONG X-26-61

A night and morning stop on the top of a ridge just above

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town. Area somewhat residential and entirely disturbed - with planted flowers and grayed grass. Many large trees around camp - pines, magnolias, and others. Night slightly cool, morning warm but breezy. 150 specimens - el. 1275 meters.

STOP 44 - W. BENGAL 4 MI. SW KALIMPONG X-27-61

Stopped briefly at the top of a ridge overlooking the Tista Valley and collected in a village area on Santara, Hybiscus, and various crops. Forests had been completely cut away and scrubby bushes covered the steep slopes where crops were nat being grown. Large bamboo nearby. Windy, warm morning. 50 specimens El. 1375 meters.

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STOP 45 - WEST BENGAL: 6 MI. S. KALIMPONG X-37-61

Stopped briefly on the main road from the Tista Bridge to Kalimpong and collected in a forest of Sal and Ficus. There was an understory of scattered Pandanus and a ground cover of ferns and small herbs in the shade of the tall forest trees. Some sunny, grassy spots along the road proved productive. 50 specimens Elevation 500 meters. A very small stream ran through the area; the condition of the forest soil was fairly moist.

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STOP 46 - WEST BENGAL: 5 MI. S. RONGPO X-27-61

The compound of the Tarkhola Forest office on the Tista Bridge-Gangtok road, provided a representive fauna similar to the

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plains fauna. The campsite was a large grassy area on level ground; steep hills of the Tista River canyon covered primarily with Sal trees, formed the backdrop of the camp. A small stream flowed past camp on one side. The weather in the afternoon was warm and sunny; the nigh was pleasantly cool and very dewy. Elevation 375 meters. 300 specimens.

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STOP 47- WEST BENGAL: MALDA X-28-61

Stopped for one night in a grassy spot on the outskirts of the town. Area entirely disturbed with houses & planted trees; grass heavily grazed. Camp located on the bank ot the Mahananda River. Weather partially cloudy, temperature during collection hours about 73*F. Elevation 110 meters 5000 specimens

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STOP 48 - 6 MI. NE BORIO, W. BENGAL X-30-61

Driving generally S.W. from Rajmahal, on the south bank of the Ganges, one soon climbs into a range of low, rocky hills. We camped for a day and 2 nights in a grassy clearing 220 meters in elevation, surrounded by rolling brush- and tree-covered hills among many other species of trees and shrubs. The weather remained rainy during our entire stay; collecting therefore was rather restricted to stone turning and barking. Temperature averaged 75. 500 specimens (Borio is a mud and tiled village on the western side of the hills.)

RAJMAHAL HILLS [vertically written and underlined on left side of page]

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STOP 49 - W. BENGAL 40 MI. NE. DUMKA X-31-61

A short embiid stop in the "stop 48 range" of hills. Collected

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under stones on a very rocky slope under a sparse cover of trees (Sal and others). Surrounding countryside rolling hills and valleys. The grass cover was good in the treeless areas. the ground was quite moist (though well-drained) from a recent rain. Temperature 75, sky clear. El. 100 meters 200 specimens.

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STOP 50 - W. BENGAL: 12 MI. NE DUMKA X-31-61

Stopped briefly for embioptera in a open, flat, grassy field, some of which is used for crops during part of the year. Collected under scattered outcrops 75 - sky clear El. 200 meters 100 specimens