1921.] N. Annandale : Fauna of Barkuda I. 315 



probably two Crocodilia, and two Batrachia ; but all of these, 

 except the house-lizard Heniidaclylns frenatus and the frog Rana 

 cyauophlyciis, are scarce or rather scarce. The most remarkable 

 form is a completely limbless skink (Barkudia insularis) belonging 

 to a genus at present only known from the island, but that it does 

 not occur also on the mainland of the Gaujam district or Orissa 

 is most improbable. All the other species of Reptiles and 

 Batrachia are widely distributed forms. 



Fish Fauna. 



Strictly speaking the island has no Fish Fauna as both the 

 pond and the two wells are fish-less, but I may mention the fact 

 that when the waters of the lake (which of course has an exten- 

 sive fish-fauna') have been higher and are retreating, the small 

 Cyprinodont Panchax panchax, one of the most useful of indi- 

 genous Indian mosquito-eating fish, is often left in large numbers 

 in pools isolated on the foreshore. As these dry up, however, it 

 perishes. 



Moi^LUSCAN Fauna. 



A peculiar feature of the Chilka Lake, in which it differs 

 notablj' from the creeks of the Gangetic Delta, is the complete 

 absence of amphibious molluscs from its shores. This fact greath' 

 limits the molluscan fauna of Barkuda, which consists of five land 

 and three aquatic species, the latter found in a small pond. It is 

 noteworthy that each of these eight species belongs to a distinct 

 genus, the genera being Eniiea, Ariophanta, Rachisellus, Opeas, 

 Glessula, Limnaea , Indoplanorhis, and Gyraultis, all Pulmonata. 

 The land-snails belong to three biological categories. The Ennea 

 is a terrestrial carnivorous form, preying on the Opeas, which is 

 also terrestrial but feeds on algae and mosses. The Glessula is 

 similar in habits to the Opeas, while the Ariophanta and the 

 Rachisellus are phytophagous, the latter distinctly arboreal. 

 Most of the species have a wide range in Peninsular India or 

 beyond, but the Ennea, the Opeas and the Glessula are slightly 

 modified insular races or species of widely distributed snails.^ 



Insect Fauna. 



Comparatively poor as is the Insect Fauna of Barkuda, it 

 actually includes a large number of species and must be discussed 

 in its separate orders. 



x\PTERA. — Both Collembola and Thysanura are fairly common 

 and include species interesting as habitual incolae of the nests of 

 termites and ants. .\ small bluish-black coUembole often occurs in 

 such numbers on the surface of small pools of water among 



' Chaudhuri, Mem. Ind. Mus. \' , pp. 405, 44.3, 493. 



- See ( >od\vin-.\usten, Rec. Ind. Mus. XIII, pp. 3J()-3,=ii ''Q'?' and 

 Ann;indale and Pmshad. jAtr/.. XI\. p. 189(1020). 



