OF THE TRAVANCORE HILLS. 353 
and is replaced during the last two months of the year, by 
an almost incessant hurricane of wind, which comes sweeping 
over the hills and temporarily almost denudes of their leaves 
te coffee plantations of the Europeans who have settled on the 
ills. 
“The average temperature is at its lowest in December and 
January, rising again during February and March, till the heat 
towards the end of the latter month becomes trying to European 
and native alike, and causes a considerable amount of sickness 
and fever until. the rains carry off to the sea the large 
amount of decaying vegetable matter, which collects in the 
forest during the windy ‘and dry months. 
& Amongst birds, the winter visitors, as far as I have yet 
been able to observe, begin to arrive in September and stay 
till the end of April, the earliest to come and the latest to 
depart being the little Grey and Yellow Wagtail (Calobates me- 
lanope). In addition to the winter visitors there are other birds 
permanent residents of the plains—which only ascend the slopes 
of the hills during the two or three hot months (February to 
April). Of these, perhaps the common Coucal (C. rujipennis) 
and the Cotton-thief (2. paradisi) are the most obvious exam- 
ples. 
“ During the S. W. monsoon one hears nothing but the occa- 
sional croak of a Fruit Pigeon, and during the rare gleams of 
sunshine Mynahs and Racket Tails make an effort to appear 
lively. The only living thing, setting aside slugs and leeches, 
that seems to enjoy “the persistent rain, is the Whistling 
Thrush (Mf. Horsjieldi), who has a high old time of it, picking 
up snails and such like petits morceaux, from dreary morn to 
dismal eve. 
“Of the larger animalsindigenous to the hills, we have amongst 
quadrumana two species of black monkey (Presybtis *?) and at 
least one of grey (Macacus?), the latter being held in some 
sort of superstitious veneration by the natives, while both ef 
the former are eagerly sought foras a variation of the usual curry 
and rice diet. Of the carnivora, tigers are not uncommon, 
occasionally doing much damage when herds of cattle are 
kept, but rarely causing loss of human life. Leopards also are 
not rare, though seldom met with, an entirely black and rather 
smaller variety being somewhat more scarce. Wild dogs 
(Cuon rutilans), are numerous and are said to destroy large 
numbers of deer and pigs. The jackal (Canis aureus) on the other 
hand, rarely, if ever, ascend the hills, though common along 
the coast line. 
* ? P. jubatus, Wagner, and P. johnii, Fisher, and UW. radiatus, Kuhl.—Eb., 8. F. 
