Natural History and the Indian Army

Natural History and the Indian Army
Author: J. C. Daniel
Publisher: Bombay Natural History Society
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2009-12-10
Genre: History
ISBN:

This collection of articles by officers of the Indian Army records the contributions of the Army to natural history over a period of more than two hundred years. It builds on the premise that the study of the Indian subcontinent's natural history was more or less the exclusive preserve of these officers. Beginning with the fading years of the eighteenth century, the natural history-inclined officers of the Indian Army studied the flora and fauna, particularly the fauna, in their leisure hours and became experts on it. Their findings were recorded in various journals in the U.K., and after 1886 mainly in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. A valuable feature of this book is a pamphlet (the twenty-fifth article in the collection) sent to the Indian Government by the Army through the Society by Lieutenant Colonel Burton, which drew the attention of the former to the dire need to conserve the country's wildlife, and in due course saw the formation of the Indian Board for Wildlife. The book is thus a tribute to this remarkable aspect of the Indian Army which, apart from fighting in the field, fought a battle to conserve the country's wonderful and almost incomparable natural heritage spread over a zoogeographical area over thirty degrees of latitude encompassing almost every type of climate met with in the world.

The Cuckoos

The Cuckoos
Author: Robert B. Payne
Publisher: Bird Families of the World
Total Pages: 682
Release: 2005-07-14
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0198502133

Publisher Description

Indian Insects

Indian Insects
Author: S Ramani
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 626
Release: 2019-10-16
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0429590075

Insects are the most interesting and diverse group of organisms on earth, many of which are useful as pollinators of crops and wild plants while others are useful as natural enemies keeping pestiferous insects in check. It is important to conserve these insects for our survival and for this the diversity of insect species inhabiting the different ecosystems of our country must be known. The cornerstone to studies of any kind of organismal diversity is their taxonomic identity. Even after over two and half centuries of studies, so little is known of the insect wealth of our country. It has contributions from taxonomists who have been studying Indian insects for long, this book offers up to date information on many important groups of Indian insects seeking to fill the lacuna of a long felt need for a comprehensive work on the taxonomy of Indian insects. Salient features: Provides an up-to-date taxonomy of major insect groups of India Presents identification keys with illustrations of several important groups of Indian insects Gives a new insight into why insects are so abundant Addresses fundamental questions in mechanoreception and cross kingdom interactions using insects as model systems Indian Insects: Diversity and Science is a festschrift to Professor C. A. Viraktamath, an insect taxonomist par excellence. It has been designed to cater to the needs of academicians, researchers and students who wish to identify insects collected from local environments and will be an invaluable aid for those working in the areas of systematics, ecology, behaviour, diversity and the conservation of insects.

Owls of the World

Owls of the World
Author: Claus König
Publisher: A&C Black
Total Pages: 529
Release: 2009-01-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1408108844

The definitive book on owls. Owls are enduringly popular birds, but due to their nocturnal habits most species are difficult to see well. The plumages of many species are cryptic and difficult to separate by plumage alone. This problem is compounded by the different morphs that many adopt. This book fully describes every known species and subspecies of owl, as well as presenting the latest evidence on owl taxonomy, based on DNA work and vocalisations. Because voice is vital in owl identification, much emphasis is placed on it in the book and sonograms are provided for many species. A CD of owl vocalisations accompanies the book.

Lepidopterorum Catalogus

Lepidopterorum Catalogus
Author: Poole
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 326
Release: 1989-01-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780916846459

The noctuidae of the world, a family with numerous important agricultural pests, comprises about a third of the entire order Lepidoptera. This new three-volume set is the first complete catalog for the world. About 38,000 named species (including known synonyms) are listed alphabetically under each genus name in over 1,000 pages of text. Genera area also listed alphabetically, but subfamily affiliations are noted for each of the valid names to enable users to segregate genera by subfamily. Valid names are noted in boldface. Synonyms are listed for each genus and species; the species synonyms are also listed alphabetically among the valid names, thus enabling users to make two kinds of searches in the text as well as in the index. The catalog provides citation data on all described names (other than infraspecific names), with references cited in the compete bibliography at the end. Reference is also made to more important papers on the biology, larvae, host plants, and illustrations for each species, again with full titles noted in the bibliography. The main host plants for each species, where known, are listed under each. Details of holotypes, where known, are also noted. The bibliography has entries for approximately 4,400 papers.