110 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



A few are grown as standards, the branches proceeding from the central 

 stem at a height of six feet and spreading out horizontally. 



(10.) Picking. — The picking is done when the fruit is full grown, and shows 

 a slight yellowing of the stalk. Early in the morning is preferred, because if 

 protected from the sun, fruit so picked retains a delicious coolness. For local 

 use each fig is wrapped up in a leaf when it has attained this stage, to protect 

 it from birds, and is left on the tree a week longer. This improves the quality 

 greatly, but carriage to a distance is impracticable in such a case. No boxing 

 or curing is done in India. 



(11.) The trees are planted 10 — 12 feet apart. 



(12.) By cuttings of 1 year old wood planted in a shady bed in February. 



(13.) Orchards are about 2 — 3 acres in extent only, because the situation 

 on a hill slope does not admit of large level spaces fit for irrigation. 



(14.) Trees attain 1 5 years ; are fruitful about 12. 



(15.) Eed spider is a serious enemy. No futile attempts are made against 

 it by the cultivators ; they think sacrifices to idols effectual. 



(16.) I have never sent cuttings of figs so far as to America, but I think 

 that if cut in February, packed in moist sand in a tin-box, and sent by post, a 

 few would survive the journey. 



(17.) Government of India does not issue such matter regarding fruit. The 

 latest edition of my book, "Gardening in India", gives the fullest account 

 available, but it is not as full regarding figs as this report. 



G. H. WOODROW. 



Poena, 1890. 



VI.— DISTRIBUTION OF INDIAN CROCODILES. 



In the latest volume of the Fauna of British India, that on the Reptilia 

 and Batrachia, Mr. Boulenger mentions that Crocodilus porosus has not been 

 recorded from the West Coast. I can now say that it does undoubtedly occur in 

 North Travancore. I was first led to take up the question of the distribution 

 of the two species by my friend "Smoothbore" of Madras, and on examining the 

 skulls in the Trevandrum Museum, I found one that appeared to me to be a 

 specimen of Crocodilus porosus ; it had been presented on the 3rd November, 

 1857 by the then Resident, General Cullen, who sent the following note 

 with it : — 



' ' The animal was killed several r years ago in the backwater between Alleppy 

 and Cochin, at a place called Tunneermookum. It had killed several natives, 

 and on the last occasion seized a woman, far advanced in pregnancy, as she 

 was washing ; she died of the injuries she received, and the husband and others, 

 vowing vengeance against the brute, at last caught and killed it. They brought 

 it with another one and left it for me at Cochin. It was about 10 feet long. 

 I have records, however, of crocodiles up the river at Cochin near Verapoly of 

 18 to 22 feet hi length. I will look for the reports and send them to you." 



