1917.] The Fourth Indian Science Cotf/ress. clxxxvii 



are two forms, one typical the other for some time regarded as a sub- 

 species, but recently given specific rank. In Java there are two forms, 

 one round, the other long — both showing loop more or less but with 8 an- 

 tennal segments instead of 7. These therefore are structurally nearer 

 P. psidii. The specimen from Lagos is said to agree with the typical 



form. 



Similar antennal variability in P. psidii specimens showing loop, 



without ovisac but with the eggs laid directly beneath the body have 

 been found. The variability in the same direction is explicable only on 

 the hypothesis that the forms of green bug are derived from P. psidii. 

 This hypothesis waa discussed. 



Section of Botany. 



President— Rao Bahadur K. Ranga Achari, MA., L.T.. 



Government Lecturing Botanist, Agricultural College, Coimbatorc. 



Tinnevelly Fauna.— By K. Ranga Achari. 



The flora of the Tinnevelly District may be considered to be an epi- 

 tome of the whole of the Madras Presidency, as almost every feature of 

 which is represented within this area. There are two distinct botanical 

 regions in this district — the eastern and the western. 



The eastern region is a vast plain extending from about the base of 

 the hills to the shore, and it supports a vegetation more or less similar to 

 the plants growing on the eastern side of the Presidency from Gan jam to 

 Cape Comorin, although there may be well defined areas with different 

 sets of plants, and hence distinguishable one from the other, while at the 

 same time we meet with plants of very wide and even distribution. The 

 sea-coast abounds in sea-weeds, littoral species and sand-binding plants, 

 and the vegetation towards the inland is of the stunted type, as this 

 region is very dry and hot on account of its peculiar geographical position. 



The western region consists of the southernmost end of the Western 

 Ghauts separated from the long chain by the Palghat gap. This region 

 is botanically the most interesting. The vegetation at the foot of the 

 hills and at the lower elevations consists of mostly scrubby jungles 

 characteristic of the Madras Presidency. Amidst these, however, occur 

 species of plants peculiar to these regions, such as Eugenia rubtcunda. 

 Anogeissus pendula, Alphonsea sclerocarpa, etc. In certain places near 

 Mundanthurai , Anonaceous species predominate, showing Malayan affini- 

 ties. Four new species of plants, Diospyroa Barben, Qrewia pandaica, 

 Aglaia Barberi and Farmeria indica, were found flourishing here. 



Viewed from a broad standpoint, the higher elevations of the hills in 

 this district present the same characteristics as those of the Anamalais, 

 Pulneys and Nilgiris, but as we proceed southwards we notice features 

 peculikr to this district. The forests are evergreen and moist for the 

 greater portion of the year. The species of plants Dtotocanthu* gran- 

 dis, Hedyotis purpurascens and Orthosiphon comosus, that are confined to 

 these hills lend a charm to the landscape. There are over thirty specie 

 of plants endemic to this region and most of them are found in the 

 southern part of the Western Ghauts. Recently two new species of Com- 

 positae, Senecio Calcadensis and Vernonia Ramaswami, were discovered. 

 One species of Crotalaria and two species of Vernonia are awaiting deter- 

 mination. 



The Indian .Species of Iseilema Hack. 1 — By R S. Mole. 



1 . Existing confusion regarding the definition of the species. 



2. Revision of existing definitions and key to the species. 



i This paper will be published in extenso in the Congress number of 

 the Agricultural Journal of India. 



