THE AGRICULTURAL PESTS OF INDIA. 99 



almost everywhere, at the closing months of the year, 

 alike in the most exposed as in the most sheltered spots, 

 and the most bare and rocky ground. 



R 



Reptile pests of India are noticed under Crocodiles and 

 Snakes. The toad is serviceable in the kitchen garden as 

 a slug and insect destroyer, but it is a determined bee- 

 eater. The honey-laden bees returning from their foraging 

 may fall at the bottom of their hive and become the prey 

 of the watchful toad. 



Rhynchites, a genus of small weevils, very destructive 

 of the forests of Northern India. By it and the species 

 of Bruchus, in 1863, entire seed crops of the Shorea 

 robusta were destroyed. 



Rhynchophora, or the weevil family, of the order Coleo- 

 ptera. Its most destructive genera are Bruchus, Calandra, 

 Curculio, and Khyncoenus. 



Rhynchophorus palmarum attacks the palms, bananas, 

 and sugar-cane in Malacca. 



Rhyncoenus, a genus of the rhynchophora or weevil 

 family. E. T. 



Rice is the food of the well-to-do classes along the 

 coasts and in the valleys of British India. Eice, in the 

 North- Western Provinces, has most to fear from the 

 ' green fly/ called ' gandiki ' or ' tank ; ' and as they do 

 not commence their attacks until towards the end of 

 August, it is the finer varieties which suffer most. 

 Strong and healthy plants suffer much less than back- 

 ward ones ; and this is a reason for early sowing. 

 D. & F. Vern. Dhan. See Paraponyx. 



