AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUK. 367 



■these are seldom to be found, except on the northern. or sheltered 

 faces of the trees and rocks upon which they grow. 



" Throughout the jungles, both of the plains and hills, the deep 

 glossy green of the Sal, Shorea robusta, Roxb., gives a marked 

 character to the foliage. In the early part of the year the 

 white floral leaves of Combretum Roxburghii and other species 

 produce a pleasing contrast in the sea of green which meets 

 the eye in every direction. At the commencement of the 

 hot weather the greater number of the trees lose their leaves, 

 which, in some species, are soon replaced, when lovely contrasts 

 are produced by such varied hues as the deep purple of the 

 young leaves of Schliechera tre/juga, Willd., with an infinitude 

 of shades of red, white, and green on the surrounding trees. 



" While the trees remain leafless, the aspect of the jungle 

 is black and wintry ; this is intensified by the action of the 

 jungle fires which scorch up all the herbage, so that there often 

 is little shade to be found when most wanted from the hot 

 sun of April. 



" The inflorescence, as a general rule, is of a dull and subdued 

 character. That of the Sal produces a peculiar hazy appear- 

 ance over the green foliage. The most brilliant flowers are 

 those of Bombax malabaricum, Butea frondosa, and B. superba ; 

 perhaps the most beautiful are the white and delicately- 

 violet tinted blossoms of a species of Bau/iinia. ,} 



Herbaceous plants are scarce in the jungle, possibly they are 

 more abundant towards the end of the rains. 



Grigantic scandent creepers are commonly met with on the 

 hills, but they also occur in the older jungles in the flat country. 

 The principal species are Bauhinia Vahlii and Butea superba. 



Parasites and epiphytes are represented by two species of 

 Dodder belonging to the genera, Cuscuta and Cassytha, two of 

 Loranthus, two of Viscum, and a few orchids. 



It is often to be observed that some species of tree occurs in 

 such abundance throughout a limited area as almost to exclude 

 all other species ; some circumstances which it is impossible 

 to detect giving it pre-eminence in the struggle for life. 



Modification in the character of the vegetation, and the 

 occurrence of certain species, can, however, in two instances at 

 least, be traced to its prime causes, viz. the vicinity of hills 

 or rivers. 



lt The influence which clearing and cultivation exercise upon 

 the flora is marked and irradicable, and though deserted 

 village lands often .relapse into jungle, such jungle always 

 contains trees , which, never occurring- in the primitive forests, 



