4 Megalophrys montana, Wag. Pinang.

ler, Var.

Sp. Java.

5 Limnolytes

(Schlegel.)

erythræus, Malayan Peninsula. Java, Tenasserim, Arracan.

6 Polypedates leucomystax, Pinang, Singapore, Bengal, Coromandel, Mala(Gravenhorst.)

Malayan Peninsula. bar.

7 Bufo melanostictus, Schnei. Malayan Peninsula Java, Tenasserim, Bengal, der.

and Islands,

Coromandel.

8 Hyleedactylus

Cantor.

birittatus, Malayan Peninsula.

ALTITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION OF REPTILES

IN UABITING THE MALAYAN PENINSULA AND ISLANDS, AND OTHER

LOCALITIES.

[The extra-Malayan localities have necessarily been confined to such of which the elevation has been specified by authors, the Malayan are given from personal observation.]

PRINCE OF WALES Island (Pulo PINANG), 5° 25' V. L. 100° 19' E. Valley : Mean annual temperature : 80° 03 Fahr. Average monthly range of the thermometer : 11°; greatest daily range : 13'. Annual quantity of rain : 65.5 inch. (145 days).

Hills. Granite. Highest elevation (Western Hill) 2,500 ft. Mean anmual temperature 71°. Average monthly range of the thermometer 10° ; greatest daily range 9°. Annual quantity of rain : 116.6 inch (17+ days). Vegetation even for a tropical distinguished by luxuriance, beauty and variety. Characteristic features : Filices. (Alsophila contaminans, Wal.--Schizea dichotoma,-Neuroplatyceros (Acrostichum) biforme, Desvontaine. Polypodium horsfieldii, Bennett.)

Paudanaceæ. (Freycinetia).
Taccaceæ. (Tacca cristata, Jack).

Palmaceæ. (sreca catechu, Willd. Arenga saccharifera, Labill. Nipa fruticans. Euoplus figillaria, Jack. “ Pinang Lawyer."* Calamus).

Scitamineæ. (Hedychium sumatranum, Jack. Amomum biflorum, Jack).
Orchidaceae.
Taxaceae. (Dacrydium. Podocarpus).
Guetaceæ. (Gnetum gnemon.

Gnetum brunonianum).
Artocarpeæ. (Phytocrene palmata, Wal. Phytocrene bracteatat Wal.)
Nepenthaceæ. (Nepenthes distillatoria. Nepenthes ampullaria, Jack).
Gesneraceæ. (Dilymocarpus crinitus, Jack).
Euphorbiacex.
Corylaceæ. (Quercus racemosa, Jack. Lithocarpus jarensis, Blume).

An undescribed dwarf palm, hitherto supposed to be confined to the hills of Pinang. Sir William Morris found it on Mount (pluir in 1847.

+ This species appears to be contined to the lower parts of the hills and the valleys.

Begoniaceæ. (Begonia orbiculata, Jack).
Sterculiacea. (Sterculia coccinea, Roxburgh. Durio Zibethinus, Lin.)
Dipteraceae. (Dipterocarpus).
Aurantiaceæ. (Murraya paniculata, Loar).
Anacardiacea. (Stagmaria verniciflua, Jack).
Comnaraceæ. (Eurycoma longifolia, Jack).
Garcinieæ.

Melastomaceæ. (Melastoma bracteatu, Jack. M. exigua, Jack. M. glauca, Jack. Sonerila moluccana, Rob.)

Myrtaceæ.

SINGAPORE ISLAND, 1° 24' N. L. 101° E. Mean annual temperature, 80°. Greatest daily range of thermometer: 10° Annual number of rainy days : 185. Surface gently undulating. Sand-stone hills, indicating remote convulsion ; highest hill (Bukit Timah) 530 ft, granite. In the valleys occur vegetable and animal forms which at Pinang have been observed at or near the summit of the hills, but not in the plains. Thus at Singapore, occur Alsophila, Schizaa, Tucca cristata, Gnetum, Nepenthes, Begonia, Eurycoma and others, which at Pinang appear to affect a much greater elevation. Instances of Reptiles in common to the plains of Singapore and the hills of Pinang are: Ptychozoon homalocephalum, Gymnodactylus pulchellus, Lygosoma chalcides, Pilidion lineatum, Typhlops nigro-albus, Calamaria lumbricoidea, Var. Leptophis caudalineatus, Elaps intestinalis, Elaps nigromaculatus.

MALAYAN PENINSULA. Geographically, not politically, from 12° N. L. between 98o and 104° E. computed to about 80,000 square miles, or about 4000 square miles less than Great Britain. Zoological information has hitherto been confined almost exclusively to the plains of the western part. The productions of the chain of mountains dividing the Peninsula, and terminating in Cape Romania in 1° 17' N. L. (Point Búrus in 1° 15' N. L.) are almost entirely unknown. The late Mr. Griffith on a visit in the early part of 1812 to mount Ophir (Gunong Lédang, in about 2' 30'N. L. on the eastern boundary of the district of Malacca, granite, and computed about 4000 ft.) made the interesting discovery, that from 1500 ft. and upwards the vegetation changes completely, and in many respects assumes a Polynesian or Australian character. Early in 1847 Lieutenant Colonel James Low visited Keddah Peak, (Génong Jerai,) opposite to the town of Keddah, in about 6° 5' N. L. which he observes is not granite, but stratified, abounding in minerals. According to observation of the boiling point of water, the summit, a small platform on the edge of the strata, is 5,705) ft. above the

Towards the summit the vegetation becomes very stunted and partakes of Australian character.* Colonel Low further observes that during the ascent he did not see a single animal, but found foot prints of a Rbinoceros, smaller than usual, he supposes, up to the very summit. To a casual visiter of the Malayan hill forest, during the day, the paucity of animals is a striking feature. The noonday light subdued by the dense foliage of the towering stems, gives to the scene a sombre character, heightened by the unseen denizons. Their presence is manifested in the shrill vibrations of Cicadæ, one of which on the Pinang hills is noted for its resemblance to the cavalry trumpet, the call of the Tupai, the dismal tap of the gigantic woodpecker, the creaking flight of a Buceros, or the retrent of frightened Semnopithecs.

SPECIES.

Hills.

Plains.
Varanus nebulosus, Dum. & Pinang.

Bengal.
Bibr.
Varanus flarescens. (Gray.)

Pinang, Bengal.
Varanus salrator (Laurenti.) Pinang.

Malayan Peninsula, Bengal. Bronchocela cristatella, (Kuhl ) Pinang, Malayan Pen- Mulayan Peninsula, Singa

Pinalig.

SPECIES.

Huis.

PLAINS. Senodon purpurascens, Schle- Pinang.

Java. gel. Lycodon aulicus, (Linné.)

Pinang, Malayan Peninsuli,

Bengal.
Var. A, Pinang.

Pinang, Bengal.
Var. B, Pinang.

Pinang, Malayan Peninsula.
Var. C, Pinang, Malayan Pen- Pinang, Malayan Peninsula.

insula. Var. D,

Malayan Peninsula, Bengal. Lycodin platurinus, (Shaw.) Pinang

Bengul?
Lycodon effrenis, Cantor. Pinang.
Coluber fasciolatus, Shaw.

Malayan Peninsula, Coro

mindel. Coluber radiatus, Schlegel.

Pinang, Singapore, Malayan

Peninsula. Coluber korros, Reinwardt.

Pinang, Singapore, Malayan

Peninsula. Coluber hexayonntus, Cantor. Pinang. Dipsas dendrophila, Reinwardt. Pinang, Malayan Pen. Pinang, Singapvie, Malayan