FORAGE LEGUMINOS^ 3O3. 



leaves and seeds might well be used for feeding live stock, as animals 

 eat them readily. The seeds, like those of Leucsena glaiica, need to 

 be cooked. 



A record of the beetles which especially attack Alhizzia Lebhck 

 will be useful. 



An Agrilits sp. occurs in Mauritius which uj) to the present has 

 never been described. It is a Buprestid and, according to the ento- 

 mologist, M. d'Emmerez, measures 5 to 7 mm. In colour it is of a 

 uniform purplish-brown. 



The female lays her eggs under the bark of the dark wood and the 

 larva; burrow out the stems. The young larvae bore passages in the 

 stems in all directions and reduce them to powder. There is an 

 absolute network of galleries. 



Batoccra rubits. — This beetle is extremely common in the East 

 Indies and many other countries. The larvae live in the trunk of 

 Albhsia Lchheh and bore galleries. The diameter of these latter may 

 be as much as I in., a size which will give some idea of the damage 

 these galleries may cause. 



DerosfJicerus glohicolUs. — In the Comoros this beetle attacks the 

 " Boisnoir " chiefly in spots where it has been damaged. In the same 

 locality, according to Desruisseaux, Alhizzia Lehheh is also attacked 

 by Steniotoiiiis coniutor and Haflodevtis sfeniferviis. 



This plant has other enemies : Diaspis aniygdali, one of the 

 Hemiptera, and PolycLesina unibricola, one of the Lepidoptera, the 

 larva ^ of which undergoes its metamorphosis beneath the bark of 

 Albiszia Lcbbek and other trees. 



AlbJzzia procera (Tree). — In India elephants like the branches for 

 food. 



Albizzia lophanta (Tree). — The leaves of this tree and those of the 



variety .1/. basaltica are both used as fodder in Australia. 



Desmanthus virgatus (Herb). — A native of tropical America, which 

 grows wild in the fields of Mauritius. It is an herbaceous plant of 

 erect habit which may reach a height of 50 to 60 cm., and it provides 

 an excellent fodder. 



Samples analysed at the Station gave the following figures : — 



Water ... ... ... ... ... 6870 pe 



Ash ... ... ... ... ... 2-28 



Cellulose ... ... ... ... ... I3'2i 



Fat ... ... ... ... ... 077 



Non-nitrogenous matter ... ... ... 11*29 



Nitrogenous matter ... ... ... ... 375 



cent. 



I 00 '00 



Unfortunately it has not much foliage, the leaves being small and 

 delicate, but it can nevertheless be used for live stock when mixed 

 with other herbs. 



Leucaena glauca (Shrub). — This member of the Mimosese has a very 

 wide distribution, and is particularly common in Mauritius, where it 



