84 Captain Munro on the Timber Trees of Bengal. 



which consists in supposing one or more great waves coming from the 

 north, caused by earthquakes. In this theory it is necessary to ad- 

 mit many of these waves at different times. This forms a great dif- 

 ficulty. 



2dly, The theory of floating ice defended by M. Redfield. As 

 pohshed surfaces are found at a height of 5000 feet, we are obliged, 

 by this theory, to sink this Continent 5000 feet below its present 

 level. Besides, there are striated and polished valleys so narrow that 

 it is impossible that icebergs could have passed through them. 



3c?Zy, The theory of glaciers, which finds here, as everywhere else, 

 advocates and opponents. These last object to it, the absence of high 

 mountains; but the recent investigations of M. Agassiz have shewn 

 that glaciers move forward, not in consequence of declivities, but in 

 consequence of their mass. It must be admitted that it is glaciers of 

 the nature of those of the northern zone, and not alpine glaciers, which 

 have produced the phenomena in question. 



M. Desor then devotes a few words to the succession of faunas 

 since the erratic epoch, founding his observations on this, that it has 

 been proved that, at this period, a great part of the American Con- 

 tinent was under water, and that the chains of mountains only, such 

 as the Allegannies, the Rocky Mountains, the White Mountains, &c., 

 rose like islands above the waters. At this period, the fresh-water 

 fauna, and particularly the families of fishes which form part of it, 

 could not be developed like those of our own day ; and M. Desor here 

 endeavours to shew that these lacustrine populations have a more re- 

 cent origin than the marine populations, — (^Bib. Universelle, June 

 1848.) 



Beport on the Timber Trees of Bengal.* 

 By Captain MuifRO, F.L.S. 



I know of no better mode of supplying, as far as may be in 

 my power, the information required relative to the timber 

 trees of India, than by making a catalogue of the best of 

 them, appending such remarks to each as my own experience 

 and reading may enable me to supply. 



1. Teak — Tectona grandis^^dii.YdiXXi. Verbenacece. — Gene- 

 rally known to the natives as Saguan or Segoon, although in 

 Central India two or three other trees are also called by the 

 same name. The Teak when in flower is very pretty ; and, 



* Drawn up by Captain Munro, at the request of the Asiatic Society, for 

 the information of the Military Board. 



