208 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII. 



No. XXXIII.— ON VARIATIONS IN THE SIZE OF THE 

 LEAVES OF CALOTROPIS GIGANTIA, R. Br. 



Dr. Cooke in his Bombay Flora gives the leaves 4-8 by 1^-4, in., nearly- 

 sessile. The maximum limits set here were exceeded in the following two 

 specimens found within the Presidency. One was collected by me at 

 Jhund in Ahmedabad District in February 1909, which measured 11 by 8 

 inches. Another was recently collected at Dohad in Panch Mahals in 

 July 1912, which measured 9J by 7^ inches. 



H. M. CHIBBER. 

 Agkicuitural College, 



PooNA, 29^A October 1912. 



No. XXXIV.— SOME FOSSILS IN THE SOCIETY'S COLLECTION, 



It is just one year since we first started arranging our collection of 

 Indian fossils, and in that time we have got together a good and very 

 interesting number of specimens, mostly from the Jurassic formations of 

 Cutch round about Bhuj, found and presented by Mr. J. H. Smith, who 

 has been most untiring in his efforts to procure us a good selection of the 

 most characteristic fossils from the Jurassic beds of Fakirwadi, Samatra, 

 Keera Hill, Charwar Range, Hamandra and East and West Ler, and 

 he has succeeded beyond doubt ; for we can now show many very 

 fine ammonites of the following species, Oppelia, Phylloceras, Harpoceras, 

 Perisphinctes, Stephanoceras, Macrocephalites, Peltoceras, Aspidoceras, Lyto- 

 ceras, A77ialtheus and several Nautilus. Of Belemnites there are many 

 kinds, though small, none however showing the phragmocones with the 

 exception of one which is broken. We have hopes of more and better 

 specimens of this family : Of other fossils from the same beds we 

 have good Terebratula, RhyncJionella, Cleriostreon, Trigonia, Alectryonia, 

 Pholadoviya, one very fine Ceromya inflata which has been examined by 

 the British Museum : several corals and parts of a Jurassic Crinoid. 

 Mention also should be made of two specimens of Aptychus, the lid or 

 operculum, of the ammonite. Of other formations, we have a few Productus 

 from the carboniferous limestone of India, but should be glad of a few 

 other species (perfect, small specimens), if any member would send some ; 

 in fact, we also require specimens from all the older formations from 

 Cretaceous downwards to Cambrian. From Perim Island, Gulf of Cambay, 

 we have a few good fossil teeth and bones of extinct animals. From Raipur 

 some fossil plant remains. Of the Tertiary formations we have fine 

 specimens of Echinordea, Corals, Crustacea, Lamellibranchs, etc., etc. The 

 whole collection, with the exception of a few large specimens, being now 

 placed in a good dust-proof cabinet to be seen in our Museum. 



A few words on fossils may not be out of place here ; for it is extra- 

 ordinary how few people know what a fossil is or anything about them, 

 and when seen on the ground, or in the rock path, are only kicked out of 

 the way, the culprit little knowing perhaps the great scientific interest that 

 little bit of stone has. A fossil (from Latin fossilia, things dug up) is 

 really the remains or traces of remains, of the once living animals and 

 plants, which have become fossilised or petrified during the long ages they 

 have been covered up in the rocks or earth. Each successive formation 

 in the long history of the earth is characterized by fossils peculiar to 

 itself : shells, fishes and other animals, are buried in the mud or silt of the 

 lakes and estuaries, rivers carry down carcasses of land animals, the trunks 

 of trees and other vegetable drift ; and earthquakes submerge plains and 

 islands, with all their vegetable and animal inhabitants. These remains 



