346 Major Madden on the Occurrence of Palms, ^t., 



owing to the avidity of the cUmate, is to be met with in that 

 region*. In several places in Kemaon (Dwarahat for instance) 

 I noticed its arborescent state [Phoenix sylvestris), attaining the 

 height of 40 to 50 feet at an elevation of 5000 feet above the 

 sea, surrounded at no great distance by extensive forests of Pinus 

 longifolia and Quercus incana, the inferior limit of the former 

 tree being about 2000 feet above the sea-level. 



2. Harina {Wallichiu) ohlongifolia, a very beautiful palm, first 

 described by Mr. Grifiith, and observed by him in Assam. This 

 I found in abundance in the damp and very warm valleys of the 

 Surjoo and Kalee rivers, near the Nepalese frontier at Burmdeo, 

 and for many miles up the interior, but never ascending higher 

 than 3500 or 4000 feet on the mountain sides, and only where 

 the localities afforded abundance of shade and moisture. To the 

 N.W. of the province it occurred in the Bumouree Pass, and in 

 the valleys below the recently formed station of Nynee Tal ; and 

 still further west, it just reaches the Patlee Doon, a valley in the 

 S.E. of Gurhwal, beyond which a careful examination failed to 

 detect any trace of it. This palm, the leaves of which bear a 

 great resemblance to those of Corypha or Arenga, and afford a 

 very durable thatch, forms dense thickets, and never attains the 

 arborescent form. 



3. Chameerops Khasyana (Griffith), of which a plant raised 

 from seeds sent home in 1847 is before the Meeting, was first 

 met with and described by Mr. Griffith in the Khasya (or Cos- 

 seeah) Hills between the plains of Bengal and the Burhampootra 

 river. As this eminent botanist remarks, it comes very near 

 Ch, Martiana of Wallich, a native of Nepal, at 5000 feet eleva- 

 tion ; and further researches will, in my opinion, tend to the con- 

 clusion that they are, in fact, one and the same species. 



Mr. Griffith's description as detailed in the Calcutta ' Journal 

 of Natural History ' is appended, with a few observations of my 

 own to justify the opinion which I have fomied of their identity. 



As defined by this botanist, Chamarops Khasyana occurs in 

 four localities of Kemaon, besides another (the Dhuj mountain), 

 where I was informed on good native testimony of its presence 

 in considerable quantities. Of these stations, the most remark- 

 able for its elevation and the abundance and perfection of the 

 palm is the Thakil mountain, named from it, an enormous mass 



* Advancing to the N.W. however, in the Khybnr Pass, and generally in 

 the low, arid, mountainous parts of Eastern Afghanistan and Beloochistan, 

 in north latitude 26°-35°, we find abundance of Chaviterops Ritchiana, 

 Griffith, Maizurrye of the Afghans, a dwarf species seldom above 2-3 feet 

 high, and if not identical with, closely allied to Ch. humilis, the only 

 European palm floiirishiiig in very nearly the same latitudes, and in a very 

 similar climate. 



