NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
280 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA [Vol. XXII, Part IV
the wet coastal area of the peninsula. Most of this part is covered with thick tropical
forests though there are many areas near the coast which have been cleared for cul-
tivation. The majority of the more important rivers flow from west to east forming
deltas on the east coast, and afford suitable breeding sites for tabanid flies. The area
has a heavy rainfall, receiving both the south-west and the north-east monsoons
during which period innumerable small rivulets spring up and the land becomes water
logged and provides ideal breeding places for Tabanus.
Ten species of Tabanus occur in the region, namely:—
(1) T. brunnipennis Ricardo
(2) T. consanguineus Macquart
(3) T. demellonis Senior-White
(4) T. ditaeniatus Macquart
(5) T. indianus Ricardo
(6) T. macer Bigot
(7) T. provincialis Ricardo
(8) T. rubidus Wiedemann
(9) T. speciosus Ricardo
(10) T. tenens Walker
Of the above, T. consanguineus and T. demellonis are specific to this region while
the remaining eight are reported from one or more other regions (Table I).
Of the seventy-five species found in the above five regions (Plate XX, Table I),
only T. rubidus Wiedemann is cosmopolitan. The species T. albocostatus Bigot,
T. nigropictus Macquart, and T. trinominatus Senior-White have also been recorded
from India but their exact geographical distribution in the country has not been
mentioned.
The distribution of the fifty-four species of the tabanid flies found in the Indian
Union has also been studied in relation to the natural physical divisions of the
country, i.e., Montane, Submontane, Pastural and Coastal, vide Table II. Of the
thirty species recorded from the Montane region, ten are specific to it while the other
twenty extend beyond its borders. In the Submontane region thirty-two species
occur, of which three are specific to the region and the other twenty-nine are found
elsewhere too. In the third region, namely Pastural, twenty-three species are re-
presented of which only seven are exclusive to it. Fifteen species are found in the
Coastal region though only three are confined to it. Only two species, namely
Tabanus rubidus Wiedemann and Tabanus striatus Fabricius are cosmopolitan to all
the four physical regions.
The distribution of insects and the diseases they transmit are not restricted by
political boundaries and since a knowledge of the occurrence of vectors in the
surrounding countries is essential in formulating control measures, these studies have
been extended to the tabanid fauna of Ceylon, Burma, and Perso-Baluchistan.
Ceylon.—About three-fourths of the land along the north and the east resemble
the main area of peninsular India and is almost plain or slightly undulating country
of no great elevation with an average annual rainfall of about fifty inches. The
rest of the southern part of Ceylon, like Malabar tract, is hilly with rich tropical
forests and an average rainfall of over hundred inches.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XX
KEY TO NUMBERS
1 Tabanus abseondong
2 T. adjacens
3 T. albocfstatus
4 T. albofasciatus
5 T. angustilimbatns
6 T. atrohirtus
7 T. auriflamma
8 T. auristriatus
9 T. bicinetus
10 T. birmanicus
11 T. brunnipennis
12 T. ceylonious
13 T. conicus
14 T. consangvineus
15 T. demellonis
16 T. discrepans
17 T. diateniatus
18 T. diversifrons
19 T. eggeri
20 T. exoelsus
21 T. explicatus
22 T. flavicinctus
23 T. flavissimus
24 T. flaviventris
25 T. fulvimediu
26 T. fuscicauda
27 T. fuscicrura
28 T. fuscomaoulatus
29 T. glaber
30 T. hirtipalris
31 T. hirtistriatus
32 T. hirtus
33 T. hybridus
34 T. indianus
35 T. indiscriminatus
36 T. joidus
37 T. jucundvs
38 T. kakhyenenais
39 T. khasiensis
40 T. leleani
41 T. leucocnematus
42 T. leucohirtus
43 T. leucopogen
44 T. macer
45 T. manipurensis
46 T. melanognathus
47 T. monotaeniatus
48 T. nemocallosus
4.9 T. nephodes
50 T. nieibarensis
51 T. nigropictus
52 T. obconicus
53 T. optatus
54 T. orientis
55 T. oxyceratus
56 T. provincialis
57 T. pulchellus
58 T. puteus
59 T. rubicundus
60 T. rubidus
61 T. rvfiventris
62 T. sexcinctus
63 T. speciosus
64 T. striatus
65 T. subcallosus
66 T. subesneraseeus
67 T. subhirtus
68 T. sufis
69 T. tenebrosus
70 T. tenens
71 T. trinominatas
72 T. tropicus
73 T. tubereulatus
74 T. virgo
75 T. wyvilled
Indian J. Vet. Sci., Vol. XXII, Part IV]
Plate XX
Map Showing Distribution Of Tabanus Species Throughout The Different Regions of India and
Adjacent Territories
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON AND C. M. S. GUPTA 281
TABLE II
Showing the distribution of Tabanus flies in the different physical divisions of India,
viz. montane, sub-montane, pastural and coastal
Different divisions of India
Montane
4
—
7
8
9
10
—
—
—
—
—
18
—
21
22
—
25
38
33
32
—
—
—
37
39
40
41
Sub-montane
—
—
7
8
9
—
11
—
—
—
17
18
20
—
22
24
—
2S
—
—
33
34
36
37
—
40
41
Pastural
—
6
—
—
—
—
11
—
—
—
17
—
—
—
—
24
—
—
—
—
33
34
—
—
39
—
—
Coastal
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
13
14
15
17
18
—
—
—
24
—
—
—
—
—
34
—
—
—
—
—
8
282 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA [Vol. XXII, Part IV
TABLE II—contd.
Showing the distribution of Tabanus flies in the different physical divisions of India,
viz. montane, sub-montane, pastural and coastal
Different divisions of India
Montane
—
43
—
—
—
47
—
49
—
—
54
55
56
59
60
61
62
—
64
65
—
-
—
—
72
—
—
75
Sub-montane
42
—
44
45
—
47
—
49
—
54
—
56
59
60
61
—
—
64
65
—
—
—
70
72
73
74
—
Pastural
42
—
44
—
46
—
48
—
52
53
—
—
—
—
60
—
—
63
64
65
67
68
69
70
—
73
74
—
Coastal
—
—
44
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
60
—
—
63
64
—
67
—
—
70
—
73
74
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON AND C. M. S. GUPTA 283
So far, fourteen species of Tabanus have been recorded from Ceylon.
(1) T. angustilimbatus Senior-White
(2) T. atrohirtus Ricardo
(3) T. ceylonicus Schiner
(4) T. discrepans Ricardo
(5) T. flavissimus Ricardo
(6) T. flaviventris Bigot
(7) T. fuscicauda Bigot
(8) T. fuscicrura Bigot
(9) T. indiscriminatus Ricardo
(10) T. jucundus Walker
(11) T. puteus Ricardo
(12) T. rubidus Wiedemann
(13) T. speciosus Ricardo
(14) T. tenens Walker
Of the above, the following nine species are exclusive to this region:—
(1) T. angustilimbatus
(3) T. ceylonicus
(5) T. flavissimus
(7) T. fuscicrura
(9) T. puteus
(2) T. atrohirtus
(4) T. discrepans
(6) T. fuscicauda
(8) T. indiscriminatus
Burma.—A long high range of hills divide Burma and India. The rivers Irawati,
Salween and Sittang are perennial and flow towards the south and fall into the bay of
Marttawan. The coastal areas have plenty of rainfall and are predominantly rice
growing specially in the deltaic areas of the Irawati. Certain tracts are also rich in
tropical forests of teak wood.
The genus Tabanus in this area is represented by nineteen species, namely:—
(1) T. abscondens Walker
(2) T. birmanicus Bigot
(3) T. brunnipennis Ricardo
(4) T. flaviventris Bigot
(5) T. fulvimedius Walker
(6) T. fuscicauda Bigot
(7) T. fuscomaculatus Ricardo
(8) T. hirtistriatus Ricardo
(9) T. hybridus Wiedemann
(10) T. kakhyenensis Senior-White
(11) T. leucocnematus Bigot
(12) T. monotaeniatus Bigot
(13) T. orientis Walker
(14) T. oxyceratus Bigot
(15) T. rubicundus Macquart
(16) T. rubidus Wiedemann
(17) T. subcallosus Ricardo
(18) T. subcinerascens Ricardo
(19) T. tenens Walker
284 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA [Vol. XXII, Part IV
Of these, the following four species are exclusive to the region:-
(1) T. abscondens
(2) T. hirtistriatus
(3) T. kakhyenensis
(4) T. subcinerascens
Perso-Baluchi-Afghanistan.—This region is separated from India by rocky
mountain ranges, certain peaks of which are covered with snow. Most of the area
is barren with sandy desert with very little vegetation. Rainfall is low, not exceeding
seven or eight inches. In Afghanistan a few small rivers help in irrigating the
surrounding plains whereas in Persia the areas near the Campean lake is fertile and
cultivated. Baluchistan has extremes of climate and the land is infertile.
Six species of Tabanus are found in this area:—
(1) T. adjacens Ricardo
(2 T. ditaeniatus Macquart
(3) T. eggeri Schiner
(4 T. glaber Bigot
(5) T. leleani Austin
(6) T. pulchellus Loew
Of these four are specific to the region:—
(1) T. adjacens
(2) T. eggeri
(3) T. glaber
(4) T. pulchellus
The species Tabanus nicobarensis Schiner has been recorded from the Nicobar
Islands only.
It may be remarked that of the seventyfive species of Tabanus recorded from
India and the surrounding countries only seven have been incriminated in the trans-
mission of surra. They are:—
(1) T. ditaeniatus Macquart
(2) T. macer Bigot
(3) T. nemocallosus Ricardo
(4) T. rubidus Wiedemann
(5) T. striata
(6) T. tropicus Panzer
(7) T. virgo Wiedemann
Of these, Tabanus rubidus Wiedemann has been incriminated as the most
notorious carrier of surra. The evidence in respect of the other species as vectors of
surra is meagre and in most cases confirmation is necessary. A thorough study of the
bionomics of these species with special reference to their breeding and preferential
feeding habits and their capacity for transmission of the disease is required.
The result of work done at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute on the
vectors other than Tabanus involved in the transmission of surra, was reported by
Basu [1947] at the Indian Science Congress.
The distribution of surra, the tabanid borne disease, in India must necessarily be
co-extensive with that of its insect vector. Basu [1945] recorded the incidence of
surra in the different States of the Indian sub-continent based on the political boun-
daries (vide Plate XXI and Table III).
Indian J. Vet. Sci., Vol. XXII, Part IV]
Plate XXI
Map showing number of cases (all species) reported during three years 1940-42. After Basu, B. C. [1945].
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON AND C. M. S. GUPTA
285
TABLE III
Surra cases (January 1940 to December 1942)
Province or State
Assam
Bengal
Bihar
Orissa
Madras
Central Provinces
Bombay
Sind
Punjab
United Provinces
N. W. Frontier Province
Ajmer
Hyderabad
Kashmir
Travancore
Rampur
Patiala
Jaipur
Bikaner
Udaipur
Jind
Mysore
Baroda
Gwalior
Alwar
Bovines
4
0
22
21
265
55
50
37
491
10
0
..
28
?
0
..
..
..
..
..
..
0
21
0
0
1,004
Equines
205
7
43
58
92
74
371
404
4,537
160
33
..
39
?
0
..
..
..
..
..
..
0
13
26
7
6,069
Camel cle.
1
0
0
0
0
3
0
67
4,343
480
0
..
0
?
0
..
..
..
..
..
..
0
0
19
0
4,913
Total
210
7
65
79
357
132
421
508
9,371
650
33
..
67
67
0
..
....
..
..
..
..
0
34
45
7
12,058
N.B.—Reprinted from Indian J. Vet. Sci., XV, 4, 278
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON AND C. M. S. GUPTA 287
Out of the seventy-five species of Tabanus recorded from India and the surround-
ing countries, the following seven has been reported to be capable of transmitting
surra: Tabanus ditaeniatus Mac., Tabanus macer Bigot, Tabanus nemocallosus Ricard.,
Tabanus rubidus Wied., Tabanus striatus Fabr., Tabanus tropicus Panzer and Tabanus
virgo Wied.
The incidence of surra has been recorded to be the heaviest in the Punjab
followed by Sind and Uttar Pradesh in its intensity. Comparatively lower incidence
of infection has been observed in Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Bombay and Madras and
the least infection has been noticed in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Hyderabad, Kashmir
and North West Frontier Province. Mysore has been reported to be free from the
disease.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The writers express their grateful thanks to Dr. S. Datta, Director, I.V.R.I.
for necessary facilities for this work.
REFERENCES
BASU, B. C. (1945). Distribution and seasonal incidence of surra in India.
Indian J. Vet. Sci. XV (IV), 277—79
BASU, B. C. (1947). Studies on the arthropod transmission of surra. Proc. 34th
Ind. Sci. Cong. Asso. (III), 172
SENIOR-WHITE, R. (1927). Catalogue of Indian Insects, Part 12 Tabanid ie.
Government of India, Central Publication Branch
288 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA [Vol. XXII, Part IV
APPENDIX
Species of Tabanus recorded from India and surrounding territories
Species
1. T. abscondens Walker
2. T. adjacens Ricardo
3. T. albocostatus Bigot
4. T. albofasciatus Ricardo
5. T. angustilimbatus Senior-White
6. T. atrohirtus Ricardo
7. T. auriflamma Walker
8. T. auristriatus Ricardo
9. T. bicinctus Ricardo
10. T. birmanicus Bigot
11. T. brunnipennis Ricardo
12. T. ceylonicus Schiner
13. T. conicus Bigot
14. T. consanguineus Macquart
15. T. demellonis Senior-White
16. T. discrepans Ricardo
17. T. ditaeniatus Macquart
Place recorded from
Burma, N. Chin Hills, Dawnat Range
(Tenasserim), China
Perso-Baluchistan Frontier
India
Shillong
Marble Valley (Ceylon)
Ceylon, Sumatra (Mount)
Sylhet, Sibsagar (Assam), Naga Hills.
Cachar
Gersoppa (N. Kanara), Coonoor
N. Kanara, Mohand (U. P.), Coonoor,
Pollibett (S. Coorg), Sampaji Ghat
(Coorg), F.M.S., Formosa
Burma, Lushai Hills, Nongpoh (Khasia),
F.M.S., Formosa
Basi (N. Kanara), Gorakhpur (U. P.),
Pusa, S. Malabar, Mbhnyin.(U. Bur-
ma), Bistupur (Bankura Dist.), Puri,
Dinapur (Coorg), Khurda, Santikoppa
(N. Coorg), Polibetta (S. Coorg),
Ranchi, Samastipur (Bihar), Kasara-
gode (S. Kanara), Siam
Ceylon, Trincomali (Ceylon), Malay
Penin., Java, Sumatra
India, Calcutta, Java, Formosa, F.M.S.,
Malabar Coast
Combarjua (Port. India)
Ceylon
N. India, Jhelum Dist., Perso-Baluchis-
tan Frontier, Pusa, Bengal, Madras
Coast, Ambala, Balighai (Orissa), Port.
India, Mohand (U. P.), Tuticorin,
Pathankot (Crosse),D. Gazipur(Crosse),
Dera Ismail
Khan,
Mianwali
(Punjab), Seistan, Tank (N. W. F.),
Coimbatore (S. India), Japan, China,
Hongkong, Africa (throughout), Mau-
ritius, Reunion
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON AND C. M. S. GUPTA 289
18. T. diversifrons Ricardo
19. T. eggeri Schiner
20. T. excelsus Ricardo
21. T. explicatus Walker
22. T. flavicinctus Ricardo
23. T. flavissimus Ricardo
24. T. flaviventris Bigot
25. T. fulvimedius Walker
26. T. fuscicauda Bigot
27. T. fuscicrura Bigot
28. T. fuscomaculatus Ricardo
29. T. glabaer Bigot
30. T, hirtipalpis Ricardo
31. T. hirtistriatus Ricardo
32. T. hirtus Walker
33. T. hybridus Wiedemann
34. T. indianus Ricardo
35. T. indiscriminatus Ricardo
36. T. joidus Bigot
37. T. jucundus Walker
38. T. kakhyenensis Senior-White
Shillong, Khasia Lower Ranges, Buxar,
Duars, Sylhet, Darjeeling Dist., Cal-
cutta
Pers. Seistan, South Europe, Asia Minor,
Egypt, Palestine
Mashobra, Mohand (U. P.), Dehra Dun,
Kangra Dist
Sikkim, Khasia Hills; Coonoor
Khasia Hills, Nilgiris, N. Kanara, Mohand
(U. P.)
Java, Pundaluoya (Ceylon)
Sibsagar (Assam), Ceylon, Calcutta, Ten-
asserim, Bihar
Nepal, N. Chin Hills, India, Formosa
Ceylon, Pundaluoya (Ceylon), Shewgu
(Burma), Perademiya (Ceylon), Anda-
man Islands
Ceylon
Myitkina Dist. (U. Burma), Sikkim,
Masuri, Kumaon, Manipur
Helmand River (Afghanistan), Kashgar,
Mesopotamia, Persian Seistan
Bichiakoh (Nepal)
Dawnat Range (Tenasserim), F.M.S.
India, Phagu (Simla D.), Nainital D.,
United Provinces, Mukteswar (Ku-
maon)
Burma, Sylhet, F.M.S., Borneo, S. China
Kadra (N. Kanara), Goa (Port. India),
Santikoppa (Coorg), Polibetta (Coorg),
Makut (Coorg,) Mercara (Coorg) Poona,
Foochow (China), Formosa, Hong-
kong
Ceylon
Sibsagar (Assam)
Pundaluoya (Ceylon), Kohat, N.W.F.
Masuri, Igatpuri (W. Ghats), Mohand
(U. P.), Hongkong
Mohnyin, N. Toungoo, Phynmana (all
U. Burma)
9
290 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA [Vol. XXII, Part IV
39. T. Khasiensis Ricardo
40. T. leleani Austin
41. T. leucocnematus Bigot
42. T. leucohirtus Ricardo
43. T. leucopogon Bigot
44. T. macer Bigot
45. T. manipurensis Bicords
46. T. melanognathus Bigot
47. T. monotaeniatus Bigot
48. T. nemocallosus Ricardo
49. T. nephodes Bigot
50. T. nicobarensis Schiner
51. T. nigropictus Macquart
52. T. obconicus Walker
53. T. optatus Walker
54. T. orientis Walker
55. T. oxyceratus Bigot
56. T. provincialis Ricardo
57. T. pulchellus Loew
58. T. puteus Ricardo
Khasia Hills, Meerut, Sinabang (Siam),
Penang
Kangra Valley, Seistan, Quetta, Attock
Near Srinagar (Kashmir), Algeria to
Mesopotamia
India, Lushai Hills, Khasia Hills Coo-
noor, Katha (U. Burma), Darjeeling.
Kanara (Bombay)
Sikkim
India, Jhelum Dist., Pusa, Goa (Port
India), Mohand (U. P.), Trichinopoly
Pathankot,
Murree, Kathgodam,
Dojaion Rawalpindi, Chamba State
(Punjab), Nagpur, Dharwar, Coimba-
tore Taliparamba (N. Malabar), In
train between Rameswaram and
Madras
Manipur
Purneah (N. Bengal), Laos (Siam)
India, N. Khasia Hills, Nongpoh
(Khasia), Sibsagar (Assam), Yunnan
Mohnyin (U. Burma)
Pusa, Jhelum District
Naga Hills, Sibsagar (Assam)
Nicobar Islands
India
Central India, Bombay, Belgatchia
(Bengal)
Belgatchia (Bengal), Bongaon (Bhagal-
pur Dist.), F.M.S., Sumatra, Borneo
Nepal, United Provinces, Nainital, Than-
diani (Himalayas), W. Bhutan,
Masuri, Dongagalli (Murree Yunnan),
Muktesar, Mohand, Sikhim Jhelum
Dist., Kangra Dist., Dalhousi
India, Cheena Forest (Himalayas), N.
Chin Hills, Masuri
Arian Kava (Travancore), Kurseong
Seistan, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, N.
Africa, Cyprus, Perso-Afghan Fron-
tier
Trincomali Dist., Colombo, Habarane,
N.C.P. (all Ceylon)
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON AND C. M. S. GUPTA 291
59. T. rubicundus Macquart
60. T. rubidus Wiedemann
61. T. rufiventris Fabricius
62. T. sexcinctus Ricardo
63. T. speciosus Ricardo
64. T. striatus Fabricius
65. T. subcallosus Ricardo
India, Chargola Valley (Sylhet), Sylhet,
Khasia Hills, Petsut, Katha (U.
Burma), Sibsagar (Assam), Java
Bengal, Moulmein, Bombay, Pusa, Sib-
sagar, Khasia Hills, Partabghar (U.P.),
Nepal, East India, Trinco. Dist.
(Ceylon), Ambala, Calcutta, Muktesar,
Matheran (W. Ghats), Goa (Port
India), Jhelum Dist., Masuri, Dharam-
sala (Crosse), Kangra (Crosse), D.
Ghazipore (Crosse), Hopin (U. Burma),
Chapra (Bihar), Buxar (Bihar), Co-
imbatore,
Rawalpindi, Taru near
Peshwar, Giridhi, Khumbala, Khurda,
Khasi Hills, Bareilly, Midnapur, Kash-
mir, Nongpoh (Assam) Manbhum,
Delhi, Cuttack, Dera Ismail Khan,
Dumraon (Bihar), Kasargode (S.
Kanara), Asia, Java, Sumatra, F.M.S.
Siam, Hongkong, Cochin China,
Annam
E. India, Assam, Karwar (N. Kanara)
Pusa, Lr. Khasia Hill, Lushai
Hills, Sumatra, F.M.S., Hongkong,
Formosa
Lushai Hills, Masuri, Formosa.
Travancore, Trinco. Dist. (Ceylon)
Madras, Hazaribagh (Bihar), An-
gul, Bombay, Cuddapah (Madras
Pres.), Chapra, Khurda, Santikoppa
(N. Coorg), Coimbatore, Dum-raon,
Buxar, Bhagalpur
Kohat, Jhelum D., E. India, Pusa,
Punjab, Bombay, Hissar (Punjab),
Belgatchia
(Bengal),
Midnapur,
Angul, Monghyr, Rawalpindi, Lahore,
Bhagalpur, Suri, Cuttack, Dal-
tonganj (Bihar), Darjeeling, Burd-
wan, purulia, Ludhiana (Punjab),
Kathgodam, Coimbatore
Masuri, Dalhousi, Muktesar, Dogaon,
Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Dera Dun
(U. P.), Pokokku (Burma), Dunera
Hills (Gurdaspur D)., Kangra (Punjab),
Amparad (near Mukteswar)
292 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF TABANUS PLIES IN INDIA [Vol. XXII, Part IV
66, T. subcinerascens Ricardo
67. T. subhirtus Ricardo
68. T. sufis Jaennicke
69. T. tenbrosus Walker
70. T. tenens Walker
71. T. trinominatus Senior-White
72. T. tropicus aucct.
73. T. tuberculatus Ricardo
74. T. virgo Wiedomann
75. T. wyvillei Ricardo
N. Chin Hills
Bengal, Bombay, Java
Punjab, N. Africa, E. Africa
Kanara
E. India, Ceylon-general, Bassein (Bom-
bay), Madras, Pusa, Bengal-general,
Burmah, Gonda D. (U. P.), E. Coast,
Sylhet, Manipur, Mohmand Pass (N.
W. F. P.) S. India-general, Goa (Port.
India), Dehra Dun, Kasargoda (S.
Kanara), Coimbatore, Berhampur,
Java, Sumatra, F.M.S., Phillippines,
China
India
Ind. nec Panzer (1794) Kathgodam,Muk-
teswar (both Himalaya), Padda Sultan
(Helmand), Java
Companiganj (Sylhet), Belgatchia (Ben-
gal), Pusa, Villupuram (S. Arcot),
Stehands (Kistna)
India, Madras, Mysore, Calcutta, Pusa,
Mohand (U. P.), Jhelum Dist.,
Vizianagram (S. W.), D. Ghazipore
(Crosse), Kangra (Crosse), Kotla
(Crosse), Chapra (Bihar), Chicacole
Road (Madras Pres.), Suri (Bihar),
Sohawa (Punjab), Hazaribagh, Rawal-
pindi, Khurda, Cuttack, Bareilly,
Purulia (Bihar), Angul, Bowrah
(Champaran)
Narkunda, Kasauli (both W. Himalayas)
BIKANER WOOL, A LEADING CARPET WOOL,
AND ITS IMPROVEMENT*
GURBAX SINGH MAHAL, ALEXANDER JOHNSTON AND ROBERT H. BURNS,WOOL
DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, LARAMIE, WYOMING
(Received for publication 1 February, 1952)
A S a result of the increasing strain to keep up with the world economy
and to raise the standards of living, serious efforts have been made to utilize
the internal resources in most Asiatic countries. The improvement in agricultural
economy has thus become of vital importnace; this includes the livestock industry,
which forms the backbone of agricultural countries like Inida and China. Closely
associated with the larger class of livestock is sheep, the importance of which has
been recognized since the earliest of times as a source of food and clothing.
The need for improving sheep and wool in India has attracted special atten-
tion in recent years and every effort is being made for the development of the
industry. The average production of wool per sheep is reported as 1.9 lbs. a year
[3], which is probably lower than that for any other sheep-raising country; the
entire yearly production of 54.33 million lbs. [5] from a quality standpoint is classed
as a coarse carpet wool, suitable only for the production of carpets and rough
blankets. In spite of producing surplus wool, with an export figure of about 41.14
million lbs. [5] every year, the country has to import 19.24 million lbs. of apparel
wools in order to meet its needs for the manufacture of clothing. The total export
goes into the international trade as carpet wool. Besides the need for increasing
the quantity of wool per sheep, it seems that improvement of quality, both for
the production of apparel wool to meet the domestic consumption and for the
development of ideal carpet wool for export, would be a befitting plan for any pro-
gressive program, with due regard to environmental and feeding conditions.
From a preliminary survey by the Marketing Department of India [3], it
appears that although the foundation stock is inferior, potentialities for improve-
ment in certain breeds are not entirely lacking. One of the promising breeds of
sheep, of country-wide importance, is the Bikaner, native to the northwestern
parts of India in the Rajasthan Union. It derives its name from its homeland,
the Bikaner State. The breed is reported to produce one of the finest carpet wools
in the world [16], and the average fleece weight is reported to be as high as 6.5 lbs.
[23]. Due to the superior quality of the sheep and its wool, the breed has found
favour in many other states of the country—Madras, United Provinces, Bihar,
Orissa, and Assam—to replace the native inferior types or for crossbreeding. In
* This report is based on G. S. Mahal's M. S. Thesis, University of Wyoming, Aug., 1949
Reproduced from Textile Research Journal, Vol. XXI, No. 2, February, 1951
Printed in U. S. A.
293
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