MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 487 



On tlie west, north-west, and south-west the boundarjT" runs 

 along the foot of the Ghats, some of the peaks of which rise to a 

 height of fi'om 5,000 to 6,000 feet, overlooking the low lands of 

 South Kanara and Malabar. The Brahmagiri Hills constitute a 

 formidable barrier between South Coorg and the wooded tracts of 

 the Wynaad. On the north and east for a short distance the 

 Oauvery and Hemavati rivers mark the boundary between Mysore 

 and Coorg, but elsewhere (to the east) the country merges imper- 

 ceptably into the general tableland of Mysore. 



Coorg lies geographical^ between north latitude 11 "-5 6' and 

 12''-50' and between east longitude 75''-22' and 76''-12'. 



Area 1,582 square miles, greatest length and breadth 60 by 40 

 miles. 



Average rainfall 124 inches. 



Population (1911) 174,976. 



General elevation between 3,000 and 3,500 feet. 



The Fort of Mercara stands about 3,800 feet above sea level and 

 this elevation is maintained for a considerable distance towards the 

 north. Eastwards the country slopes down to the bed of the 

 Cauvery (which rises in North Coorg), the elevation at Fraserpet 

 being some 1,100 feet below that of Mercara. On the west where 

 the boundar}^ extends to the foot of the Ghats the elevation sinks 

 almost down to sea level. 



Geological formation chiefly granite, syenite and mica schist. 



Coorg proper is entirely covered with heavy forest, save here and 

 there where there are coffee plantations, and rice or ragi patches. 

 Extensive evergreen forests clothe the mountain ranges almost to 

 their summits. 



In the east and south-east there are long stretches of deciduous 

 and bamboo jungle. Further north near Fraserpet where the 

 Cauvery forms its eastern boundary the country becomes slightlj' 

 more open and the jungle rather more scrubby. 



In many places, especially where the jungle is deciduous, or has 

 been partly cleared for coffee cultivation and then abandoned there 

 are stretches of dense lantana undergrowth. 



The two prominent zones may be determined as evergreen and 

 deciduous forests. The former clothing the Ghats and the latter 

 the eastern hill tracts. 



The evergreen forests in the Ghat region are so dense and tangled 

 with thorny undergrowth and creepers that they can be penetrated 

 only by beaten paths. They contain among other valuable tim- 

 bers: — Th.Q Voon (Gojlophyllum elatum'), Ebon)'' (^Biospiiros ebenas- 

 ter), Ironwood (Mesua ferrea), Cedar (^Oedrela toona) and Sampige 

 (Miclielia cham'paca). Favoured by the constantly moist atmos- 

 phere, the stems and branches of many of the trees are covered 

 with orchids, mosses and other parasites. Festoons of wild pepper 



