THE UNKNOWN. 



probably fall under the same conditions; and, in 

 a less degree, the further peninsula of India. But 

 of this last considerable portions are mountain- 

 ous, well watered with great rivers, and covered 

 with forests; all circumstances favourable to 

 natural history. The jealousy of the native gov- 

 ernments has tended to shut up these regions 

 from Europeans, and we may reasonably expect 

 that important discoveries may yet remain in the 

 immense intertropical countries of Cochin China, 

 Cambodia, Siam, Laos, and Burmah; countries 

 where the elephant attains his most colossal 

 dimensions, where the two-horned rhinoceros 

 roams the jungle, and where the camphor and the 

 gutta-percha grow. 



Madagascar is another land of promise. Here, 

 too, mountain and forest prevail; situation is 

 favourable ; and we know almost nothing of the 

 interior. It appears to be remarkably destitute of 

 the greater Mnniinnlin, but Mr. Ellis's late re- 

 searches shew how rich it is in strange forms of 

 vegetation ; and doubtless it will prove to be the 

 home of many unknown birds, reptiles, and in- 

 sects. 



Africa is the land of wild beasts. The grandest 

 forms of the terrestrial creation have their habi- 

 tation in that continent. The elephant, the hippo- 

 found here ; and even our common English butterflies are finer 

 and more numerous than those of Ampanam in the present dry 

 season. A walk of several hours with my net will produce, 

 perhaps, two or three species of Chrysomela, and CoccineUa. 

 and a Cicimlda, and two or three Hemiptera and flies; and 

 every day the same species will occur. In an uncultivated dis- 

 trict which I have visited, in the south part of the island, I did 

 indeed find insects rather more numerous, but two months' as- 

 siduous collecting have only produced me eight species of Cole- 

 OpUra. Why, there is not a spot in England where the same 

 number could not be obtained in a few days in spring."— Zoolo- 

 gist, p. 5415. 



267 



