95 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 

 No. I.-NUX VOMICA. 



Strychnos Nux Vomica described by Surgeon-Major Kirtikar in our Journal 

 vol. VIII, No. 3, is known in the Kolaba forests, and I suppose it to exist in 

 those of Tanna. But I have not seen it as a forest plant in the latter district, 

 and I suppose that we are at the edge of its province. 



One fine specimen grows, or did grow, in the camping ground at a village 

 about a mile from Birwadi Fort, Rohe Taluka, Kolaba District. I think the 

 name of the place is Chinere ; but it is many years since I was there, and I have 

 no map here that shows so small a place. However, it is a recognized camp 

 for District Officers, and was caUed a " shooting camp." Large game are not 

 now abundant in that country, but the forests are extensive and dense • the 

 marshes wide and much frequented by fowl. My men brought me good fresh- 

 water fish from the little river, and other men much salt-water fish from the 

 numerous back waters of the Kundalika Estuary. 



On the whole, it is the sort of place that another of our members may be 

 in some day ; and so I record the tree. This tree was covered with leaves and 

 ripe (over-ripe) fruit in April. I have not happened to get ripe fruit off any 

 other tree, nor have I seen any tree of the species leafless to my knowledge. 

 Of course a leafless tree, unless bearing the very conspicuous fruit, would be 

 apt to escape notice. 



In a thoroughly tropical country like the Konkan, where the range of 

 temperature is smaU, a little matter will put leaf, flower, or fruit of trees back 

 or forward. 



Late or unseasonable rain affects all these strongly, and soil still more, espe- 

 cially in the case of trees introduced, or at the edge (as in this case) of their 

 province. 



A Pongamia in my garden, which has been evergreen for two years, was 

 lately quite bare of leaves ; and Polyalthias in the same place are evergreen ; 

 while others within a mile are naked for weeks every year ; neither being 

 watered in any way. 



W. F. SINCLAIR. 



Tanna, April, 1894. 



No. II— STRANGE BEHAVIOUR OF A PANTHER. 



It is only by request that I send the following account of a smaU adventure 

 I had with a panther on the 17th January last. I have no desire to be 

 thought a disciple of the famed Col. Bowlong, and, therefore, have hesitated 

 about sending the account. I relate the story now with the most careful 

 accuracy it is possible for a man to give when relating the story of an episode 

 which happened to himself. It was nearly mid-day, and I had finished the 

 bit of forest inspection I had come out to do and was about to return to my 



