Field Notes: 1961-1962 - India, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand

This page is blank

C. A. S. Expedition 1961-1962

India, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaya, Thailand

E. S. Ross & D. Cavagnaro Collectors

EAST PAKISTAN E. Pakistan: 500 specimens Chittagong IX-10-61 2 METERS

STOP 1 - E. PAKISTAN: ICHAMATI, 28 MI. E. CHITTAGONG 50 FT. IX-14-61 3000 specimens.

This forest reserve area, one of the last in the country, is situated in rolling hills just at the edge of the flatland delta rice country. The forest is mostly secondary, or disturbed scrub with tall grasses, etc.

Many pools and marshy areas close by provide good Odonata collecting. Rice fields nearby. These low hills are the first sign of the Chittagong Hill Tract, once heavily forested, now covered with residual and secondary monsoon growth or agricultural fields. Weather - hot, humid, with occasional showers. ____ STOP 2 - E. PAKISTAN: 20 MI. E. CHITTAGONG IX-15-61 20 FT. 30 specimens.

This was a quick afternoon stop in flat paddy country with small isolated "islands" of disturbed flora - trees & shrubs & grasses - near smaller villages. This vegetation pattern seems to be the most common in the Pakistan delta lowlands today. Hot, humid, and still. ____ STOP 3 - E. PAKISTAN: HARBANG FOREST 6 MI. N. CHIRINGA 50 FT. IX-18-61 3000 specimens.

Harbang Forest is situated about 50 miles roughly south from Chittagong, en route to Cox's Baxaar. Most of the natural & man-made vegetation associations typcial of the E. Pakistan lowlands are represented in this region. There is a good forest rest house situated on a little hill overlooking a meandering stream. Camp was located in the yard of this building. The surrounding countryside

is gently rolling hills webbed with small streams and marshy spots. In many placese there still exists good dense jungle with native teak, but in some areas the forest is being replaced with teak trees. Rice fields are here & there scattered among the patches of forest are plantation. Rain fell frequently in heavy downpours, followed by clear, sunny periods with high humidity. Direct collecting was good both day and night.

___ STOP 4 - E. Pakistan BARAIYADHALA FOREST RES. 150 ft. 1X-21-61 400 specimens

Baraiyadhala is one of the finest accessible natural areas we visited in East Pakistan. There is a comfortale rest home, reachable by road, at the foot of a substantial range of hills on the Burma side of the [flantlands?]

These hills are webbed with trails; one excellent collecting track leads right up into the forest from the forestry bunglalow. Most net & log material was taken alon this trail. The jungle is practically intact, excepting bamboo butting by the hill tribes, etc, and consists of a wide variety of tall trees, vines, and large bamboo, with an understory of [herbery?] or bread-leaves [strike?], cycads, ferns, wild begonia, etc. Epiphyte growth is extensive on trunks & branches. The weather was hot and humid, with frequent heavy showers, terminating the monsoon season.

Black light collecting was good; the light drew from the hills not far away, and from the flat rice paddy land on all other sides.