006213   Mukherjee A;Borad C K;Patel S B;Parasharya B M (AINP on Agricultural Ornithology, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand-388 110) : Selection of suitable census method for the Indian sarus crane Grus antigone antigone. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 237-41.

An estimation of the population size of the Indian sarus crane Grus antigone antigone was done in the summer of 1997 and 1998. A total of 432 and 457 cranes were counted, in the 526 sq. km area of Kheda district, Gujarat, during hot hours (1200-1600 hrs) in 1997 and 1998 respectively. Night roost count at reservoirs (548) was higher than the day roost count. Results suggested that for accurate population estimation, the night roost count is better, but time and man power requirements can be a limitation. For a large scale census, the day roost count at reservoirs and their environs could be better.

1 illus, 2 tables, 8 ref

006212   Mestri P G (NO, , C/9 Bhosale Park, Sahakar Nagar No. 2, Pune-411 009) : First (?) sighting of crab plover Dromas ardeola and pied harrier Cirus melanoleucos in Raigad district, Maharashtra. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 278-9.

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006211   Mangalaraj Johnson J (NO, , 80, Rajaram Salai, K.K. Nagar, Tiruchirapalli-620 021) : White storks Ciconia ciconia on migration. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 275-6.

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006210   Kumara H N;Chaitra M S (Biopsychology Lab, University of Mysore, Mysore-570 006) : Uropeltid snakes and their predators. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 288-9.

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006209   Himmatsinhji M K (NO, , Jubilee Ground, Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat) : Observations of squatting posture adopted by Chlamydotis undulata (Jaquin). J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 522.

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006208   Gopi Sundar K S;Kaur J (NO, Wildlife Institute of India, P.B. 18, Dehra Dun-248 001) : Distribution and nesting sites of the blacknecked stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 276-8.

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006207   Gokula V (NO, , 7/153 A, Gurumoorthy Nagar, Ammachattram (PO), Kumbakonam-612 103) : Nest-site selection of white-browed fantail Rhipidura aureola in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 179-83.

Nesting and nest-site selection of white-browed fantail (Rhipidura aureola) were studied in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), south India, during 1995-97. In addition, foraging pattern was studied as it may also explain nest-site selection. A total of 73 foraging records were obtained with no reference to age and sex. Sallying was the predominant foraging manoeuvre used to catch insect food. A total of 24 nests were located on two tree species: Anogeissus latifolia (83%) followed by Elaeodendron glaucum (17%). The results indicated that the fantail did not select nest sites randomly in Mudumalai WLS, but had specific nesting requirements. It generally selected a patch with high tree density, with less to moderate ground cover to construct the nest.

3 tables, 12 ref

006206   Gargi;Vibhu Prakash (NO, BNHS Field Station, F-23, HMT Colony, Pinjore-134 101, District Panchkula) : Unusual association between pair of Sarus cranes Grus antigone and Siberian crane Grus leucogeranus at Koeladeo National Park, Bharatpur. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 520-1.

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006205   Eric D'Cunha E P;Ali R (NO, , Village-Mocha, P.O. Kisli-481 768, Mandla, Madhya Pradesh) : Additional list of the birds of Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 283-7.

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006204   Dick G;Wurdinger I (NO, Institut fur Oko-Ethologie, Altenburg 47, A-3573 Rosenburg, Austria) : Dependency of fan-drying of Darters Anhinga rufa and little cormorants Phalacrocorax niger on incident sunlight. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 273-5.

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006203   Devare M N (NO, , Janardan Bhavan, Chabildas Road, Dadar, Mumbai-400 028) : Breeding record of the Sykes's nightjar Caprimulgus mahrattensis (Sykes) in Harike, Punjab, India. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 528-9.

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006202   De J K;Chakraborty R (NO, Zoological Survey of India, F.P.S. Building, 27, J.L. Nehru Road, Kolkata-700 016) : Identification of dorsal guard hairs of striped hyena Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus, 1758) Hyaenidae:Carnivora:Mammalia. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 502-6.

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006201   Choudhury A (NO, The Rhino Foundation for Nature in NE India, C/o The Assam Co. Ltd., Bamunimaidam, Guwahati-781 021) : Occurrence of the wild water buffalo Bubalus arnee in Mizoram and Manipur. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 512-16.

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006200   Choudhury A (NO, The Rhino Foundation for Nature in NE India, C/o The Assam Co. Ltd., Bamunimaidam, Guwahati-781 021) : Distribution and status of the Gaur, Bos gaurus in Nagaland. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 509-12.

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006199   Choudhury A (NO, The Rhino Foundation for Nature in NE India, C/o The Assam Co. Ltd, Bamunimaidam, Guwahati-781 021) : Status of Gaur, Bos gaurus in north Cachar hills district of Assam. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 506-9.

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006198   Choudhury A (NO, The Rhino Foundation, C/o The Assam Co. Ltd, Guwahati-781 021) : On the occurrence of the wild water buffalo Bubalus arnee in the Barak valley districts of Assam. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 270-2.

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006197   Choudhury A (NO, The Rhino Foundation for Nature in NE India, c/o The Assam Co. Ltd., Bamunimaidam, Guwahati-781 021) : Some Chelonian records from Mizoram. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 184-90.

During a survey in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, six species of turtles and tortoises were recorded. These are the elongated tortoise Indotestudo elongata, brown hill tortoise Manouria emys, Asian leaf turtle Cyclemys oldhamii, keeled box turtle Pyxidea mouhotii, Indian roofed turtle Kochuga tecta and the Indian tent turtle Kachuga tentoria. Unidentified softshell turtles have also been recorded. Since this was the first survey, all records are new for the area. All species of chelonians are eaten by the local tribals, making conservation efforts difficult. However, some are protected in the notified wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Expansion of human habitation, destruction of habitat for jhum (shifting cultivation as practiced by the hill tribes), and poaching for meat are the main conservation problems. The reported trade in turtle shells across the Indo-Myanmar international boundary is, however, going to become a matter of concern in the future. Recommendations have been made for conservation.

1 illus, 4 tables, 14 ref

006196   Chaturvedi N;Giri V;Hegde V (NO, Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, S.B. Singh Road, Mumbai-400 023) : Migration of the commander butterfly Limenitis procris (Cramer). J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 301.

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006195   Bhat A (Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560 012) : New report of Horabagrus brachysoma Jayaram family bagridae in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2001, 98(2), 294-6.

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006194   Barua M (NO, , Barua Bhavan, 107 M.C. Road, Uzan Bazaar, Guwahati-781 001) : Occurrence of the Indian skimmer Rhynchops albicollis Swainson in Assam. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 526.

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006193   Baral N;Tamang B;Timilsina N (NO, , P.O. Box 907, Kathmandu, Nepal) : Status of Bengal florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 413-17.

A survey for the endangered Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) was carried out in April-May 2000 in some grassland sites of the Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal. A total of 5 floricans (3 males and 2 females) were counted in 11 days. All the males had distinct territories. Though limited suitable florican habitat was available, the population seemed to be declining. To provide additional habitat for floricans, proper maintenance of grasslands in areas other than Bagaura and Lamkauli has been recommended.

2 illus, 1 table, 10 ref

006192   Andheria A P (NO, , 2, Sagar Building, V.P. Road, Andheri (West), Mumbai-400 058) : Sighting of the rock bunting Emberiza cia Linn. in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 536-7.

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006191   Allen D;Holt P I;Hornbuckle J (1158 NoGa YaCho, Machida Shi, Tokyo 195-0053, Japan, , ) : Leaf-presenting as possible courtship behaviour by pied falconets Microhierax melanoleucos. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 518-20.

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006190   Agoramoorthy G;Hsu M J (NO, S.M. Govindasamy Nayakkar Memorial Foundation, 4 Thittai Road, Thenpathy-609 111) : Sighting of the smooth Otter (Lutra perspicillata) in Nagai district along the Bay of Bengal coast, Tamil Nadu state. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2002, 99(3), 501-2.

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003109   Whitaker R;Andrews H V (NO, , P O Box 21, Chengalpattu 603 001, Chennai) : Crocodile conservation Western Asia region: an undate. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 432-5.

Crocodile conservation began in earnest in the mid 1970s when all the three South Asian species the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus, mugger (Crocodylus palustris) and saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus were near extinction. The Government of India assisted by FAO/UNDP eventually established 13 sanctuaries for crocodile conservation India and thousand of gharial, mugger and saltwater crocodiles, reared from wild collected eggs, were released in the wild. Unfortunately, the energy and enthusiasm for crocodile conservation has all but vanished. Sri Lanka has more wild mugger than the rest of South Asia combined and a small mugger population survives in Iran. Pakistan and Nepal have very few mugger and gharia left, while in Bhutan they are all but extinct. The Madras crocodile Bank houses the largest gene pool of mugger as well as breeding groups of gharial and saltwater crorodiles. Conservation of crocodiles in South Asia through sustainable use is seen as the strategy that could save the three species in the long run, since protection of paper does not appear to be working.

3 illus, 3 table, 57 ref

003108   Viswanathan M B;Ramesh N (Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Sciences, Manonmaniam Sundaranar Univ, Alwarkurichi 627 412) : Rediscovery of Aerva wightii Hook.F.( Amaranthaceae), an endemic, presumed extinct species, from Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 635-7.

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003107   Verma A;Singh B (Bombay Natural History Society, , 331 Rajendra Nagar, Bharatpur-321 001) : First record of lesser florican Sypheotides indica Miller from Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 625-6.

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003106   Varu S N;Trivedi M H (NO, , Junavas, Temple Street, Madhapar, Tal, Bhuj, dist Kutch 370 020) : Recovery of a ringed Demoiselle crane Grus virgoin Kutch. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 624-5.

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003105   Thakur M L;aliwal R;Tak P C;Mehta H S;Mattu V K (NO, Zoological Survey of India, high Altitude Zoology Field Station, Saproon, Solan-173 211) : Birds of Kalatop-Khajjiar wildlife sanctuary, Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Cheetal 2002, 41(3-4), 29-36.

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003104   Suresh Kumar R (Wildlife Institute of India, , Post Box # 18, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun 248 001) : Ring recovery from great cormorant Phalacrocorax carboin India. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 621-4.

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003103   Srivastava S (Zoology Dep, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Dayalbagh, Agra-282 005) : Butterflies of Soor Sarovar bird sanctuary. Cheetal 2002, 41(3-4), 79-81.

1 table, 10 ref

003102   Sivakumar S;Manakadan R;Giri V (Bombay Natural History Society, , Hornbill House, S B Singh Road, Mumbai 400 023) : Record of the painted kaloula Kaloula taprobanica in Andhra Pradesh. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 631.

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003101   Sivakumar K;Sankaran R (Wildlife Institute of India, , P O Box 18, Chandrabani Dehra Dun 248 001) : The incubation mound and hatching success of the nicobar megapode Megapodius nicobariensis Blyth. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 375-87.

Incubation mounds of the Nicobar megapode Megapodius nicobariensis were constructed with sand or sand with plant materials, such as leaves, twigs and bits of decomposing wood. Usually, the site selected for a new incubation mound was a fallen log, tree stump, or the decomposing roots of a tree. Mound construction begins with the birds either digging a pit at the site or by covering the decomposing log or tree stump with soil and litter. The mean egg-laying interval was 14.91 ±0.6 eggs, but it significantly varied between the years and the average clutch size of the Nicobar megapode was 2.75 ± 0.35 eggs. Moderate rainfall in the dry season enhances egg production. Microbial activity appears to be the primary source of heat within mounds. The size of the mound was positively correlated to the temperature within the mound. The average incubation temperature was 32.44 ± 0.21 °C and the average incubation period was 74.73±0.52 days. There was however, no significant relationship between the mound size and hatching success of the Nicobar megapode.

4 illus, 4 table, 22 ref

003100   Sharma R M;Talmale S S (Zoological Survey of India, High Altitude Zoology Field Station, Opp Saproon Gurudwara, Solan-173 211) : Predation of dragonfly Ictinogomphus rapax Rambur (Odonata: Anisoptera) by robberfly Stenopogon pradhan Joseph & Parui (Diptera: Asilidae). J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 632.

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003099   Santiapillai C;Wijeyamohan S;Wijesundara C; Vandercone R (Zoology Dep, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka) : Population structure, composition and abundance of elephants Elephas maximus in Minneriya National Park, Sir Lanka. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 308-21.

974 elephants were recorded and were classified according to age and sex. A quarter of the observations referred to solitary males. The most frequently observed grouping comprised 5-10 individuals that represent the family unit. The population structure appears to be equally divided between the adults and the other categories. The observed mean adult male: female sex ratio was 1:2,9, close to the national average of 1:3. Large groupings of elephant were observed when the drop in water level in the reservoir resulted in increase in the area of the grazing grounds. The largest group observed comprised 70 animals. There were also all-male groups, whose composition varied from 2-6. Most of the animals were observed emerging from the forest to feed on the grasslands between 1600-1700 hrs in the evening. During the rainy season, as the water level in the reservoir increased, flooding the grazing grounds, elephants moved to areas outside the Park, causing conflict with the farming community. The gradual build up of elephants moved to areas outside the Park, causing conflict with the farming community. The gradual build up of elephants in the Park leading the observed maximum of 319 animals, translates into a crude density of 3.6 animals per sq. km, which is among the highest densities recorded in Asia. Therefore Minneriya National Parkrepresents one of the important areas for elephant conservation in Siri Lank. But the survival of the elephant outside the protected area for elephat conservation in Sri Lanka. But the servival of the elephant outside the protected area can only be assured if appropriate measures are adopted to reduce the human elephant conflict.

6 illus, 2 table, 34 ref

003098   Santharam V (Institute of Bird Studies and Natural History, , Rishi Valley-517 352) : Foraging associations and interactions in woodpeckers. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 627-8.

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003097   Sangha H S (NO, , B-27, Gautam Marg, Hanuman Nagar, Jaipur 302 021) : Sighting of the Indian wild ass Equus onager in Rajasthan: a northward range extension. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 617-21.

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003096   Price T;Zee J;Jamdar K;Jamdar N (NO, , ) : Bird species diversity along the Himalaya: a comparison of Himachal Pradesh with Kashmit. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 394-410.

Studied variation in bird numbers along the Himalaya. There are more than twice as mang species in the east than there are in the west. Most of the decline in species numbers from east to west occurs between western Nepal and northern Pakistan, where the trend of the Himalaya follows a more northerly course. Compared the breeding birds of two sanctuaries across this region of steep decline in species numbers, Manali in Himachal Paradesh and Overa in Kashmir. Differences in species' composition are large, e.g. one third of the high elevation (c 3,000 - 3,500 m) species were recorded from only one or other sanctuary. Some of the missing species from one or other sanctuary were not a consequence of a range limit between the sanctuaries, but rather a result of a gap in the distribution. Species with patchy distributions included the estern tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus whose range was historically known to be much more extensive, and the Nepal wren-babbler Pnoepyga immaculate. Concludes that there is considerable variation in species composition along the Himalaya and this is being accentuated by local population extinctions.

4 illus, 4 table, 30 ref

003095   Neumann-Denzau G;Densau H (NO, , Im Brook 8, 24321 Panker, Germany) : Southern kiang Equus kiang polyodon. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 322-40.

Additional skulls of polyodon, collected in North Sikkim in 1938/39 by the expedition of E. Schaefer, have been discovered in the Zoological Museum in Berlin and for the first time examined. the data prove that the Sourthern kiang is indeed a separate subspecies with shorter, but relatively broader and more box shaped head. Mounted specimens show differences in colouration and about 10-20% lower withers height than other kiangs. all available sightings of kiangs south of latitude 32°N since 1774, were brought together analysed, locations determined and the extensive data used to draw a sound new kiang distribution map for Sikkim, Nepal and South Tibet. The distribution boundaries and populations of the Southern kiang, especially towards the west, need further investigation. Possibly there are not more than a few hundred Southern kiangs left, making it an endangered subspecies, which urgently requires more attention. Only better knowledge can help to protect the smallest kiang and its habitat adequately.

6 illus, 3 table, 73 ref

003094   Nayak A K (Mangrove Forest Division, , Rajanagar, Kendarapara, Orissa) : Nesting ecology of resident birds in the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary. Cheetal 2002, 41(3-4), 43-54.

Describes the nesting ecology and recruitment of eleven species of Pelicaniformes and Ciconiiformes from the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Orrisa. Maximum number of nests was recorded from Excoecaria agallocha, followed by Heritiera fomes, Hibiscus tiliaceus and Cynometra spp. The maximum number of nests belonged to Asian Open bill Anastomus oscitans followed by little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger (12.85), Large Egret Carmerodius albus, Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia, Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax and Purple Heron Ardea purpurea. Nests of Little Egret Egretta Garzetta, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, White Ibis Threskiornis melanoceophalus and Darter Anhinga melanogaster constituted 1-2% only. The mean clutch size of nesting varied considerably among species. It was greater for Asian open bill stork followed by little cormorant, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret and Cattle Egret, Large Egret Darter, Grey Heron & White Ibis. Rest of the species had mean clutch size less than three. Eggs of White Ibis are found to be the largest in size followed by Asian Openbill, Grey Heron, Purple Heron & Large Egret in that order. Of the 11 species, seven species had incubation period over 20 days. The overall nesting success varied from a low of 71.87% in the case of Asian Openbill to a high of 95.20% in Cattle Egret. The heronry is apperantly safe from human disterbance, but the changing land use pattern in the surrounding areas may affect food availability in future.

9 tables, 17 ref

003093   Nair V P (3/IV College Quarter, P O Madppally College, Vatakara 673 102, Kozhiko, , ) : Congregations of common crow butterflies Euploea core Cramer at Aralam wildlife sanctuary, Kerala. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 632-4.

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003092   Mitra S (NO, , ) : Non-human primates of India. Cheetal 2002, 41(3-4), 55-61.

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003091   King B (Ornithology Dep, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St, New York, NY 10024 USA) : The song of Ninox scutulata obscura. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 388-9.

1 illus, 2 table, 2 ref

003090   Khan M A R (Dubai Zoo, , O I Vix 67 Dubai, United Arab Emirates) : Disappearance of the white-winged duck, Cairina scutulata from the Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary: A saga of large-scale destruction of mixed evergreen forest in Bangladesh. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 363-74.

Bangladesh used to be a country with rich fauna and flora. During the rule of the British, largely after the 1850s, the first commercial exploitation of natural resources vis-a-vis the forest was introduced. This included `clear-felling' of trees in the Sal Forests of central and northwestern parts, and Semi-evergreen or Mixed Evergreen forests of north and eastern parts of present Bangladesh. The same tradition was carried forward by the Pakistani authorities who ruled the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from 1947 to 1971. After the independence of Bangladesh in December 1971, the forest officials kept following their predecessors in destroying forest. Forest destruction became more rampant as the new government had few environmental policy decisions. The situation was further aggaravated by lumber poaching, land grabbing, and settling people in the reserved forest areas leading to tribal insurgency. All this ultimately brought an end to the existence of girgin Mixed Evergreen Forest in the northeastern parts of Bangladesh. the white-winged duck Cairina scutulata is a victim of this process. Examines the process of destruction of the forests and suggests measures to save the remaining habitats of the still surviving biodiversity through the creation of a Wildlife/Biodiversity Bureau separating it completely from the Forest Department that traditionally and wrongly acted against the interest of indigenous wildlife in the past.

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003089   Karanth K U (Wildlife Conservation Society, , 26-2, Aga Abbas Ali Road (Apt: 430), Bangalore 560 042) : Tiger ecology and conservation in the Indian subcontinent. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 169-89.

The tiger has served as an effective umbrella species in conserving many forms of biodiveristy in the Indian subcontinent. During the last three decades, scientific research employing modern methods has generated reliable information on tiger ecology in a range of habitats in the Indian subcontinent. these studies show that tigers evolved as solitary predators of large ungulates, and their social organisation pivots around breeding females that try to maintain and defend home ranges. Across the Subcontinent, tiger population densities vary from a low of <60>1 tiger/100 sq. km to a high of 20 tigers/100 sq. km, depending primarily on densities of ungulate prey. Although over 300, 000 sq. km of potential tiger habitat still exists in southern Asia, breeding `source' populations for wild tigers are primarily confined to effectively protected reserves that occupy less than 2% of the overall landscape, the rest of which acts as a population `sink'. Tiger demography is characterised by both high productivity and mortality. Consequently, the depletion of their prey base due to human over hunting appears to be a major threat to tigers, besides habitat loss and poaching. After being persecuted for centuries and pushed to the verge of extirpation, tigers received official protection over the last thirty years. However, the future is still not secure because of newly emergent misplaced priorities in conservation policies. Protecting viable tiger populations in reserves and buffering them against incompatible human uses of their habitats must continue to be at the core of the conservation strategy if tigers are to survive this century and beyond.

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003088   Johnsingh A J T (NO, , ) : Bear conservation on India. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 190-201.

Of the eight bear species currently existing in the world, four are found in India: brown bear Ursus arctos isabellinus, Asiatic black bear U. thibetanus, sun bear Helarctos malayanus and sloth bear Melursus ursinus. the abundance of each species in India is determined by habitat type, its location within the global distribution range of the species, its biology, the quantum and continuity of habitat available, and the anthropogenic pressures it faces. All species are in Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, the highest legal protection status. Indian marks the southeastern end of the brown bear's distribution range; the black bear in India occupies a large portion of the southwestern part of the species' range, sun bear the western end, and sloth bear most of the species' range. Populations at the periphery of the range of the species are usually more exposed to pressures, and have greater changes of going extinct.

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003087   Jhala Y (Wildlife Institute of India, , P O Box No. 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001) : Status, ecology and conservation of the Indian wolf Canis lupus pallipes Sykes. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 293-307.

Two wolf subspecies were believed to inhabit the Indian subcontinent, the Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chance whose range extends from the trans-Himalaya into Tibet and China, and the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes that ranges over much of peninsular India. Recent genetic data shows three extent wolf lineages in the Indian subcontinent. Two of these, the Himalayan and peninsular lineages, are ancient and unique to the Subcontinent, while wolves from Kashmir belong to the widespread wolf-dog clade. The Indian wolf (peninsular clade) inhabits semi-arid agro-pastoral landscapes and scrub forest. It is considered endangered, with its numbers ranging between 2,000-3,000 individuals. Undisturbed habitat patches of 5-15 sq. km that offer good cover and water are critical for successful breeding in established packs. Wolf territories range between 150 and 300 sq. km and are a function of prey and denning habitat availability. Indian wolves whelp in December-January in an underground den excavated by the alpha pair. The mean litter size is 4.8 pups. Juvenile wolves can disperse from their natal pack after the age of 8 months. The majority of wolf populations in India survive outside protected areas, and subsist primarily on livestock. In some areas, wolves have been reported to attack children. The common factors in such areas are high human population, poverty, too few or heavily guarded livestock, and poor wold prey availability. Human-wolf conflicts are of serious magnitude over much of the wolf's range in India.

2 illus, 1 table, 52 ref

003086   Groves G (School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National Univ, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia) : Taxonomy of ungulates of the Indian subcontinent. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 341.

The ungulates of the Indian subcontinent are remarkably diverse taxonomically and, despite their conspicuous nature, much remains to be learned about them. Their diversity appears to have been considerably under stimated, at both specific and subspecific level. Here, I argue that in historic times the subcontinent has been home to 46 ungulate species. Three of these species Equus hemionus, Rhinoceros sondaicus and Bos javanicus are probably extinct, Six taxa commonly regarded as subspecies of other species, Equus khur, Moschus cupreus, Muntiacus vaginalis, Cervus wallichii, Cervus hanglu and Capricornis thar. Twenty-four species are polytepic; of these, eight are more widespread species represented by a single Subcontinental subspecies, but the remaining 16 show subspecific diversity within the Subcontinent itselt. I describe one new subspecies, Gazella bennettii salinarum and recognise three subspecies in Tetracerus quadricornis, a species previously throught to be monotypic.

3 table, 34 ref

003085   Gajbe P (Central Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India, 424, New Adarsh Colony, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Jabalpur 482 002) : Observations on the ecology of raft spiders (araneae: pisauridae) in Madhya Pradesh. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 634-5.

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003084   Fooden J (NO, , ) : Tail length in enigmatic northeast Indian macaques and probable relatives. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 2003, 100(2-3), 285-92.

Recent sightings in western Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India, of macaques with tail proportions similar to those in Macaca assamensis assamensis apparently extend the known range of this subspecies c. 400 km westward along the Lesser Himalaya, across the great bend of the Brahmaputra river. The contact zone between M. a assamensis and M.a. pelops apparently is at c. 2,000 m along the slopes of the lesser Himalaya west of the Brahmaputra river, in Arunachal Pradesh and possibly also in adjacent Bhutan.

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