JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 1891. 



would keep their eyes upon the Kite population about them, and at the end of 

 the monsoon collate their observations, we should soon know where the 

 nuisances go. The same thing might be done with other common birds. This 

 is a work which I think the B. 1ST. H. Society is peculiarly qualified to carry 

 out. Let the Ornithological Committee invite the co-operation of all members 

 who are known to take an interest in birds, and make out a short list of species 

 to be kept under observation. I am sure there would be a hearty response 

 from many quarters, and the result would be of value to the whole ornitholo- 

 gical world. 



E. H. AITKEK 

 Karwar, 20th June. 1891. 



VII.— ALOCASIA MACBORHIZA . 



(Bead at the Meeting held on 1st July, 1891.) 



The specimen on the table is the infloresence of the large Aroid so common 

 in our gardens, generally called in Bombay Alocasia macrorhiza, and described 

 by Graham as Caladium grandi folium. Graham remarks that it seems never 

 to flower. Being uncertain whether it might not have changed its habit of 

 not flowering since Graham's time, I consulted Mr. Carstensen, who informs 

 me that he has never seen it flower in the Victoria Gardens where there must 

 be thousands of plants. A plant in my garden growing under the shade of 

 a mango tree and left to itself has formed a thick stock about 18 inches in 

 length and has flowered several times. If you examine the infloresence you 

 will find that it agrees exactly with that of Alocasia indica, Schott., which is 

 the plant which Roxburgh describes as Arum indicam, Lour., the Man-kachoo 

 of Bengal, where the starch obtained from the stem is much valued as an 

 article of diet for invalids, and the stems and small tubers which grow upon 

 the rootlets are eaten by all classes. In Bombay the economic value of this 

 plant appears not to be generally known, though I have met with some Brah- 

 mins who use it. Of course it requires to be cooked with the same precautions 

 as other aroids owing to the irritating action of the numerous needle-shaped 

 crystals of oxalate of lime which are present in all parts of these plants. 

 Cooking and the addition of vegetable acids changes the f onu of the lime salts, 

 and thus removes their irritating property. x The method of cultivation 

 followed in our gardens is probably the only reason that the plant does not 

 flower ; the long-naked stalk being unsightly is not allowed to develop. Rox- 

 burgh says it will grow from 6 to 8 feet in height, though seldom allowed to 

 reach mure than 18 inches in Bengal. 



W. DYMOCK, 



Bomhay, 1st July, 1R91. Brigade-Surgeon, Retired. 



