774 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIV. 



proceeded to Gopaldhara where they worked for 7 weeks, under the 

 supervision of Mr. Stevens. They then moved to Pashok where 

 Mr. R, 8. Lister controlled their work for nearly 17 weeks, up to 

 the 12th of October, 1915. 



The present collection is the result. It is in actual fact a supple- 

 ment to the collection made in Sikkim by Mr. Crump. As both 

 the centres of collection are in the Darjiling District I have adopt- 

 ed that name as the most suitable and convenient for thi« Report. 



Gopaldhara is on the Nagri Ridge, almost on the Nepal Frontier, 

 17 miles west of Sonada Railway Station (D. H. Ry.)) S.W. of 

 Darjiling. 



Mr. H. Stevens has kindly furnished the following notes : — 

 " QopaldJiara. — A tea garden situated in the extreme north-west 

 corner of the Kurseong sub-division of the Darjiling district, on 

 the eastern slopes of the Mirih-Simana Ridge, in the Rungbong 

 valley and adjacent to the eastern frontier of the Native State of 

 Nepal. This portion of the ridge runs almost due north and south 

 and forms the w^atershed between the valleys of the Rungbong and 

 Mechi Rivers which have their source hereabouts. The Mechi River 

 rises at 6,000 feet, approximately on this ridge and in its course south 

 is the natural dividing line between Nepal and British Sikkim. With 

 the exception of the reserved timber land under the care of the 

 Forest Department which lies along the lower foot hills and in 

 general above 6,000 feet, the land in the intervening area is given 

 over to tea cultivation, which has led in a great measure to the dis- 

 appearance of the indigenous vegetation. The deforestation of the 

 hill sides is even more marked in the surrounding country in Nepal 

 where apparently no control has been exercised over the crude and 

 destructive methods in vogue of the " paharia. " What here 

 remains of the primitive forest is confined to the steep gullies or 

 " jhoras." A few proprietors with due foresight have realised that 

 a proportion of forest land on the grant is a valuable asset 

 apart from the fact of its utility from a commercial point of 

 view, wooded countrj^ undoubtedly exerts an influence over the 

 soil in its proximitj^ in attracting local showers of rain. For 

 our purpose they serve as a retreat for animal life. The Collection 

 under consideration was obtained unless otherwise stated on this 

 grant which fulfils all the requirements of a reserve and has a range 

 in altitude from 3,440 feet at the Rungbong river level to 6,100 feet 

 on the Nepal boundary, as it encloses a useful ratio of forest land as 

 well as cleared land for maize growing under occupation by the garden 

 labour and also well watered spare land planted with cardamoms ; it no 

 doubt supports a fauna fairly representative of this locality. The 

 Collection is unfortunately deficient in many specimens of the larger 

 mammals known to occur at these elevations, which fact is due to 

 the limited time at oxir disposal and the usual difficiilties to contend 



