Dec. IDlo. ZOO-OEOGEAPHIGAL DIVISIONS FOR SIAM. 251 



plains — we general!}^ find a change in the fauna also, and this is 

 particularly notable in a contrast between the life of the two latter 

 kinds, and is perhaps always best illustrated b}^ the mammals. Siam 

 shows some of these orograpliical and vegetational differences, and it is 

 in accordance with them that I have attempted to distinguish a 

 number of divisions, about which, however, it is quite impossible to 

 draw sharp boundaries. 



Nortliern Siam, as I have defined it is, on the whole, a moun- 

 tainous area, and Western Siam is the same. Eastern Siam is, 

 speaking broadly, a sub-montane division of a different formation 

 from the rest of the country, and with a different vegetation. In 

 Central Siam I have endeavoured to include the whole riverine plain, 

 and that only. South-eastern Siam contains both mountains and coastal 

 lowlands ; as does Peninsular Siam, which, from the present point of 

 view, forms naturally a geographical sub-division. I have considered 

 it here, as starting from the gap in the mountains between Koh Lak 

 and Tenasserim, though it might with equal propriety be regarded as 

 commencing at Muang Kra or Pakchan. Thougli 1 should have pre- 

 ferred, with the classical instance of Egjqjt as precedent, to have 

 divided the Menam country into Upper and Lower Siam, I have ( in 

 deference to the wishes of several members of the society) used the 

 terms Northern and Central for this area, though the latter name 

 seems scarcely logical since the periphery is incomplete. The other 

 titles require no explanation except that of Peninsular Siam about 

 which a word or two ixiiiy be said. 



American zoologists in reporting on collections from Trang, 

 etc., set the fashion, and are still in the habit of referring to that area 

 as Lower Siam. This practice has been the cause of misunderstand- 

 ing on the part of other naturalists, and has resulted in a good deal of 

 confusion. For this outlying province I have, therefore, proposed the 

 name of Peninsular Siam, as being especially descriptive, and, of all 

 alternatives, the only one which is absolutely devoid of ambiguity ; 

 which is not the case unfortunately with "southern" — a geographical 

 term of the same class as the others, and complementary to the two 

 names for the river area. If collectors would refer to the above 

 divisions, the stations from which their material came, a very good 

 idea of the provenenance of their specimens would be obtained, even 

 though the exact positions could not be located. 



