MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1037 



The tree remains in flower for a period of nearly two months, vis., from 

 April to June, but in Bombay has not so far yielded any seeds. The cylindri- 

 cal pods, resembling very much those of Cassia fistula , grow 1-2 feet in length. 



In Burma, where the tree is not unfrequent in the dry forests of Prome and 

 Ava, it reaches a height of 30-40 feet, and the clear stem measures 8-15 feet, 

 with a girth of 3-5 feet. I find in the Field (January 5th, 1907) a note saying 

 that "the tree has the very remarkable character, observed by Indian botanists, 

 of having pink flowers in some parts of India and yellow floioers in others.'''' 

 I shall be very thankful for any information regarding this interesting fact. 



E. BLATTER, s. J. 



St, Xavier's College, Bombay, 



March, 1907. 



No. XXXI— OCCURRENCE OF THE BITTERN (BOTADRUS 

 STELLA RIS) IN SOUTHERN INDIA. 



That the Bittern {Botaurm sUllaris) occasionally at any rate ranges 

 as far as Southern India, as recorded by Mr. Rhenius at page 247 of this 

 volume, has been confirmed by a skin of one that was shot at Madura by 

 Captain C. B. Harrison, I. M.S., lately, being sent us for identification, 



E. COMBER, p.z.s. 



Bombay, 26$ March 1907. 



No. XXXII— OCCURRENCE OF THE WAXW1NG- (AMPEL/S 

 GARRULUS) AT BANNU, N. W. F. PROVINCE. 



On the 20th March I observed a bird in my compound which from ita 

 elongated crest I felt sure was a Waxwing. Sending indoors for my gun I had 1 

 the good fortune to bag it, and sure enough it turned out to be a male Wax- 

 wing (Ampelis garrulus). The only other occurrence of this bird within 

 Indian limits, known to me, is that of the example procured by Mr. C. H. T. 

 Whitehead on the Samana in December last. The occurrence of this species 

 in India and so far south as Bannu would point to very abnormal weather 

 conditions in Central Asia and Siberia. On the date named, the weather was 

 cold and threatening, and a heavy storm from the N, E. came up in the 

 night. 



The bird was exceedingly fat and the stomach and intestines were full of 

 green seed or berry pulp. The testes were much enlarged, and by all that 

 is hitherto known of this species, he should, at this season, have been 2,000 

 miles further north. 



H. A. F. MAGRATH, Major. 

 Bannu, March 1907. 



