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

[Left page]

The soil was very dry. 200 specimens. (MOUSE STOP) _____________________________________________________________

STOP 119 - GUJARAT: 13 MI. W. DOHAD I-12-62 300 METERS

West of Dohad there is a 14-mile wide forest section consisting almost entirely of teak. The gently rolling countryside bore all the signs of the dry season; the grass was brown and the teak trees were nearly bare of leaves. Specimens were collected under stones in a thick forest near the little railroad sta-tion, MANGAL MAUDI. The ground was dry and deeply cracked 200 specimens.

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MADHAYA PRADESH [underlined]

STOP 120 -M.P.: 6 MI. N.W. BAGH I-12-62 360 METERS 100 specimens.

[Right page]

A short stop on the top of a lava plateau provided some collecting under volcanic stones (basalts, etc.). The soil cover was deep in some places and deciduous trees were scattered about the area. Conditions were extremely dry and the hard soil was deeply cracked.

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STOP 121 - M.P.: 6 MI. N.E. TANDA I-13-62 550 METERS 200 specimens.

On the road from Bagh to Sardarpur there are ghat sections composed of ancient lava flows, now worn down into small ranges and plateaus. A fair soil cover conceals much of the lava and in some places a fairly thick deciduous forest is able to grow. These specimens were collected in such a spot - where teak was the primary species.

[Left page]

The soil, like the black cotton type, was quite dry and deeply cracked. Most insects, spiders, etc. were collected under stones (lava, opal, quartz). Hot, sunny day.

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STOP 122 - M.P.: 5 MI. S.W. MANPUR I-13-62 480 METERS 150 specimens

Manpur is located on the Delhi-Bombay trunk toad between Meham and Khalghat. At this point there is a ghat or hill section consisting of a remnant of the old lava flow once continuous over an immense area. A good soil cover supports grass and a young teak forest. Specimens were taken under stones. Ground dry, grass brown.

(CAVAGNARO SNAKE UNDER STONE)

[Right page]

STOP 123 - M.P.: KHALGHAT I-13-62 200 METERS

(also seen on some maps as PHALGHAT). Camp was located in the resthouse compound on the south bank of the Narmada River. A variety of small diptera and aquatics came to the light at night; the evening was warm and slightly breezy. A number of specimens were also collected under stones on a nearby hill. The ground there was quite dry and the sparse cover of grass and herbs was entirely brown. A few large trees grew near a villaage and collecting was especially good under the stones in the shade. The black-cotton soil was hard and deeply cracked. 250 specimens.

STOP 124 - M.P.: JULWANIA I - 14 - 62 300 METERS

On the northeast side of town the Bombay-Delhi road passes through some gentlyrolling ghat country consisting of volcanic formations remnants of ancient lava flows. These specimens were collected under lava stones on a dry, grassy slope, where no trees were growing. The exposure faced the sun and the ground was very warm. The black cotton soil was deeply cracked and many insects had retreated down into more cool regions of the ground.

100 specimens.

(MOVIE OF COLLECTING ON SLOPE)

STOP 125 - M.P.: 8 MI. S.W. SENDHWA I-14-62 580 METERS

Stops 125 and 126 were located in the Satpura Range area, a series of lava flow remnants now worn down into rolling, tree-covered hills and ridges. The dry slopes here were covered with a fairly thick teak forest. The grass was brown, the trees bare of leaves. Specimens were collected under stones; black cotton soil was heavily cracked. 100 specimens. (MOVIES - WALKING THROUGH LEAVES)

STOP 126 - M.P.: 10 Mi. S.W. SENDHWA I-14-62 380 meters

Here the trunk road crosses the M.P.-Bombay State border. The forest consists of a large variety of deciduous and a few evergreen trees, most of which have reached a large

size. In spite of good shade in some parts of the forest the ground was very dry. The black-cotton sail bore deep [illegible]. Specimens were taken under stones and dry bark.

100 specimens (HURT THUMB STOP)

BOMBAY STATE

STOP 127 - BOMBAY: 17 MI. N.E. MALEGAON I-15-62 450 METERS

Here the Delhi-Bombay trunk road passes through an area of lava ghats, a series of flow remnants forming mesas and pleateaus. A layer of red soil, having the texture of the black-cotton type, supported some grass and thorny bushes. The dry, cracked ground was warm even beneath large lava rocks.

200 specimens.

STOP 128 - BOMBAY: 3 MI. N.E. CHANDOR I-15-62 820 METERS

The ghats in the Chandor area, typical Deccan lava flow plateaus, support a thicker vegetative cover than those in the Malegaon section. Collecting on the slope at the base of a lava escarpment, we turned stones among [illegible] and [illegible]. The bark blackcotton soil was dry and cracked. 100 specimens.

STOP 129 - BOMBAY: OJHAR I-15-62 600 METERS

Almost 150 specimens of [illegible] and delicate diptera were collected at the light on a warm evening. Surrounding countryside - dry, open plateau agriculture.

[Left page]

STOP 130 - BOMBAY: 3 MI. N.W. SINNAR I-16-62 700 meters 250 specimens

These specimens were collected in barren lava plateau country under stones. The soil supported a cover of grass but few bushes grew about the lava slopes. Black-cotton soil was cracked and dry. .M. ______________________________________________________

STOP 131 - BOMBAY: 15 MI. S.E. SINNAR I-16-62 700 METERS 250 specimens.

Te Nasik-Poona road passes through a lava ghat area at this point. These specimens were collected under stones on the sunny slope at the base of a lava escarpment. The countryside was typical Deccan plateau type, with hard, black-cooton soil, euphorbia bushes, and other throny plants.

[Right page]

STOP 132 - BOMBAY: 4 MI. N. KHED I-16-62 780 METERS

About 75 specimens were collected unde stones in a hot, dry canyon on the sunnside of Peth Ghat. Some thorny trees and a cover of brown grass were the chief components of the flora.

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STOP 133 - BOMBAY: KHANDALA I-19-62 500 M. 600 (crossed out) METERS (500 meters after altimeter change (see comment after STOP 136- crossed out) ( all written in red)

The pleasant hill station at Khandala is situated on a flat volcanic plateau just at the edge of the Bhor Ghat. On the west and north, where centuries of erosion have chewed through the thick lava flows, the cliffs drop off steeply to the coastal lowland strip in a series of steep cliffs and ledges.