686 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII. 



great many of the larger mammals are partially migratory on the 

 mountain, moving up or down as the supply of food and water 

 sends them. This is particularly noticeable with regard to pigs, 

 which during the cold weather uproot, even the bungalow compound; 

 but during my stay of nearly four weeks I saw no pigs and not the 

 slightest indication of their existence. 



Danta, Mahi Kantha, Gujerat. — This is a small State lying to 

 the East of Palanpur. The range of hills, part of which cover 

 nearly the whole of this State, almost connects with the Abu 

 Mountains. The annual rainfall averages about 40 inches, although 

 I understand 60 inches have been usual of late. The collection 

 was made on the outskirts of Danta town which is about 20 miles 

 East of Palanpur. While in Danta State I was hospitably received 

 by the Maharajah who also rendered valuable assistance. 



Danta lies almost in a circle of hills composed mostly of granite 

 with some more recent formations of limestone. The hills are 

 generally well clad with trees and bushes, but large trees, such as 

 the Fig, Mango, Pipal, etc., are generally confined to the wide open 

 /alley where Teak also flourishes in large patches. The soil is a firm 

 yellow sand, inclining to a reddish colour, and is not very fertile. 

 The Monsoon crops consist principally of Jowari, Bajri and Maize ; 

 a cold weather crop of wheat is also produced. An endeavour was 

 made to introduce cotton but without success. During the hot 

 weather all the tanks become dry and water is obtained only from 

 wells. The nearest surface water I could find was a spring, two miles 

 from Danta; there was also a second spring not less than three miles 

 distant, I visited both of these but found tracks of animals surpris- 

 ingly scarce ; this rarity of the larger mammals existed everywhere 

 in the vicinity of Danta, and the lack of water must be partly respon- 

 sible for this state of things, for, otherwise, the jungle is favourable 

 for holding animals in large niimbers. I paid particular attention 

 to a tank partly filled by recent rains, on one occasion watching 

 from sunset to sunrise; only one hare, one porcupine and one 

 civet (Faradoxurus nicjer) were observed, I also noticed tracks of 

 pigs of the previous day. The Cutch Rock Bat and most of the 

 Spiney Mice were obtained on the hills but all other Rats and Mice 

 appeared to be confined to the valley. The line separating these is 

 abruptly defined ; Meriones hurriannce, Epimys rufescens and Mus 

 hoocluga may be taken right up to the base of the hills while twenty 

 feet higher up among the rocks only Cremnomys cutchicus and 

 Leggada sadhic and phillvpsi can be obtained. A few specimens of 

 spiney mice were taken in the valley in hedgerows but they Avere 

 rare. 



Ants sw^arm here to such an extent that I lost more than half 

 of the rats and mice caught in traps, even specimens taken out of 

 the traps at 10 p. m. were ruined. 



