ON THE FREQUENCY OF ALBINOISM IN CUTCH, &C. 71 



ON THE FREQUENCY OF ALBINOISM IN CUTCH, &c 



By Mr. A. T. H. Newnham, S.C., ioth N. I., with 



Notes by Mr. E. H. Aitken. 



Frequent Occurrence of Albinoism in Cutch. — Within the last few months 

 the following cases of albinoism have come under my notice, which, I think, 

 are sufficiently numerous to be worthy of mention, viz., May 24, Chat- 

 torrhcea striata (the striated babbler, presented to Society's collection).; 

 July, Perdicula asialica, bush quail (presented to Sosiety's collection) ; and 

 Holpastes haemorrhous, the Madras Bulbul, partially so, the wings only 

 being white. It would seem as though the prevailing tint of the country, 

 whioh is principally composed of sandy plains, had some influence on the 

 colouring of its inhabitants, for the birds generally are of a paler colour than 

 the same species which I have noticed where the soil is darker in tone, 

 Besides these specimens which have been shot and obtained, there have 

 been other occurrences. Last year a perfectly white Sarkidiornis melano- 

 notus, more generally known among sportsmen as the Nukta, used frequently 

 to be seen on one of the sacred tanks of Bhuj, where unfortunately it is- 

 forbidden to shoot, and a second case of P. Asiatica wa3 met with out 

 shooting. The latter, strictly speaking, was of a soft fawn colour rather than 

 white. A. white squirrel also used to haunt one of the bungalows here., 



The Bhalu. — We are occasionally visited at night by one of these mysteri- 

 ous Janwar?. There are various explanations given a9 to what it really 

 is ; some asserting that it is a lynx, others a female jackal, and others that it is 

 an old worn-out jackal, which follows in the tracks of some larger animal to 

 obtain its leavings. I know the latter is the more general belief, but though 

 I have made frequent enquiries from the Shikaris and villagers here I-' 

 have not come across any one yet who has actually seen one. The cry is 

 a sort of convulsive scream ending abruptly in a hoarse crack. I never 

 hear it at night without sallying forth with a gun to try and shoot it and 

 clear up the mystery for myself, but hitherto without success. One moon- 

 light night I heard its cry quite close to me, but could distinguish nothing,. 

 Perhaps some of your correspondents can enlighten me as to what it is.* 



A. T. H. NEWNHAM. 



Note by Mr. Aitken. — Mr. Newnham's observations are supported by seve- 

 ral things that came under my notice during a year's residence at Kharaghora 

 on the borders of the Runn of Cutciu There were not many species of butter- 

 flies at the place, but th6 two commonest, Danais chrysippus and Papili siphilus, 

 were often conspicuously pale and colourless. They would have been con- 

 sidered poor specimens if caught in Bombay. I. believe that variety of the 

 former, with a dash of white on the hind wings, which has been separated 

 under the name of D. alcippoides, is only a stronger exemplification of the 

 same effect. It would probably be found to be not uncommon in this region. 



* The Kol Bhalu, Pheal, Pheeou, Phinkarr, or Sial, i3 an ordinary jackal. Several 

 have been shot in the act of howling, and there was nothing abnormal about them. 

 The subject was well ventilated in the Asian in 1381-82, and the general opinion pointed 

 to the above conclusion. Correspondents gave evidence from all parts of India,— R, A. S. 



