84 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Aprin, 
subgenus Paratelphusa, occurring in Eastern Bengal, which province 
possess a decided Malayan character in its fauna. Some remarks on 
the distribution of the various species were also made, 
Dr. Stoliczka observed that the results at which Mr. Wood-Mason 
arrived regarding the geographical distribution of the Indian land- 
crabs are particularly interesting, because they were obtained inde- 
pendently of the examination of other groups of animals. This was 
chiefly due to Mr. W. T. Blanford in having pointed the distinc- 
tions existing between the Indian and Malayan fauna within the 
geographical area which we usually designate India. Many of the 
details on the subject are given in Mr. Blanford’s paper on the 
Central Indian Reptiles, published in last year’s Journal. It is, Dr. 
Stoliczka stated, natural enough that Burma, Eastern Bengal, 
stretching along the slopes of the Himalayas up to Nepal, should 
possess a fauna very closely allied to that of the Malayan peninsula 
and the neighbouring islands, but it is difficult to explain how the 
same Malayan forms have come into existence on nearly all the 
higher ranges of hills in South India, along the Malabar coast, and 
even on some perfectly isolated hills, while the intervening part of 
the lower country possesses an Indian fauna with a prevalence of 
African types. Reliable data regarding the distribution of the 
animals, particularly in India, are as yet very scanty, and carefully 
drawn up lists of those observed in various districts are much 
needed, that we may be able to explain the peculiar phenomenon of 
the isolation of the Malayan fauna in some parts of Southern India. 
It does not appear improbable that the fauna of India was at 
some remote period chiefly, or altogether, Malayan, and that it had 
been more or less destroyed in those parts which were affected by 
the enormous volcanic eruptions, characterized as the trappean 
formation of Central and N. W. India. It must have been some- 
where about that time when a communication was established be- 
tween India and Africa, and when African forms were enabled to 
travel eastwards and attain a firm hold in India. The immigration 
from the West must have been considerable, for it seems to have 
greatly checked the further development of the Malayan fauna, 
which remained preserved only on the more elevated hills, chiefly 
_ those consisting of gneissous and other metamorphic rocks. It is also 
