199 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. IV. 



The following report has been furnished by the Scientific 

 Secretary : — 



"On Sunday, the I sth August last, I bought some specimens of the fruit 

 •Kankrol,' what attracted me in buying them were the warty growths on the 

 epicafp of the fruits. 1 subsequently found holes on the epicarp. The fruits were 

 placed within a stoppered phial and allowed to remain in this condition for a 

 week. After the expiration of the week I had to remove one finding it very rotten, 

 and while removing it I marked two larvae come out of it. They were of brownish 

 colour and possessed the power of leaping, which feat they accomplished by bring- 

 ing the both ends of the body together. They leapt over spaces of i| feet. These 

 specimens, however, were unfortunately lost. I dissected the remaining fruits and 

 succeeded in securing one good specimen which is exhibited in the phial XXX 20, 

 with the portion of the fruit where it was found. 



" Pushing the enquiry further and examining several specimens of the fruit 

 from time to time, I have fortunately succeeded in securing some full-fed larvse, 

 some immature ones and three eggs, all of which will be found in the phial 

 XXX 21 



" Now a word about the disease itself. These fruits, as far as I can conclude 

 from the existing data, were possibly diseased after the maturation of the ovary. 

 In any case they were not diseased during the maturation of the ovary in which 

 case the larvse would have bored their way from inside outwards ; while in the 

 present instance, the structure of the holes show that the insects laid their eggs 

 on the epicarp, and the larvae after coming out of the eggs ruptured the hypo- 

 dernal vessels and found theijr way to the endocarp ; next, the placental regions 

 were attacked. In this stage decomposition set in. The putrefaction is in part 

 caused by some fungal element the conidia of which may be seen on the fruit. 



"The fruit itself has some economic importance. It is largely used by the 

 poorer classes who deem it a delicacy. The local markets supply them in large 

 quantity from which it can be inferred that the fruits at least are in moderate 

 demand." 



6. Sugar-cane pest. — In October 1897, samples of sugar- 

 cane said to be affected by insects were forv^arded to the Museum by 

 the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Cocanada, who re- 

 ported : — 



" Although season favourable sugar-canes are dying largely from previously 

 unknown cause. Dissection shows caterpillar and earwig in heart of canes. 

 Can you send expert to advise." 



" This message speaks for itself, and contains, I regret to say, all the informa- 

 ion I am able to give on the subject. 



" About three weeks ago I first learned that the canes in the Godavary Delta 

 were 'withering' in a manner never before seen by the cultivators, and for which 

 they could furnish no explanation. These cultivators are entirely natives, and 

 the crop had, up till then, been reported to be thrivingf well. Within the last 



