128 Rev. E. M. Gordon — Notes concerning the people ofMungeli Tehsil. [Not. 



The insect commits serious damage to Cassia nodosa, Ham., a tree of 

 this species in the Indian Museum compound having been killed this 

 year by the larvae, between 30 and 40 moths being obtained from 

 it. 



The President asked whether the presence of immature larvae 

 at the time when the moths were maturing and issuing indicated that 

 the larvae spent more than one year in that stage of their existence. 

 Mr. Stebbing replied that although this would not be so in the case of 

 an insect which passed through several generations in the year, which 

 generations might overlap so that at any one time eggs, larvae pupae, 

 and mature insects would be found together; yet in the case of an insect 

 of which adults only appeared once in the year the presence of half- 

 grown larvae would indicate the probability of more than a year being 

 passed in that stage. 



The Rev. Fr. Francotte asked whether the larvae depicted in the 

 coloured illustrations were natural size or enlarged. He pointed out that 

 the larvae of the Goat moth which riddled willow trees in England were 

 4 inches in length. Mr. Stebbing explained that the larvae illustrated 

 were half-grown ones enlarged. That it was probable that they exceeded 

 the Goat moth larva in size when fullgrown. In reply to a query from 

 Rev. Fr. Francotte as to whether this was the largest Indian Cossid known, 

 Mr. Stebbing replied that there was one other, a closely allied species 

 Duomitus strix, Cram, which was usually larger. 



6. Some notes concerning the people of Mungeli Tehsil, Bilaspur District. — 



By The Rev. E. M. Gordon. 



(Abstract.) 



These notes are a continuation of a series of similar notes by the same 

 author which were published in the Society's Journal, Part III, No. 2, of 

 1902. 



They give a number of interesting examples of the Folklore and 

 Customs of the people of the Mungeli Tehsil, also one of their songs, and 

 a number of stories. 



Some of the items of folklore, such as their aversion to spilling or 

 passing salt, and their beliefs about the howling of dogs are interesting 

 on account of their counterpart to current beliefs elsewhere. 



Mr. McMinn pointed out that though not so stated in the paper, 

 these beliefs and customs were probably those of particular castes, and 

 must not be taken as generally prevalent throughout the Mungeli Tehsil 

 with which he was well acquainted. 



