CHAP. XII.] THE ORIENTAL REGION. 333 



and of large and showy ISTymplialidae, Morphidte, and I)anaida3, 

 which render it, in favoured localities, only second to South 

 America for a display of this form of beauty and variety in 

 insect life. 



Among the other orders of insects in which the Himalayas 

 are remarkably rich, we may mention large and brilliant Ce- 

 toniidse, chiefly of the genus Bhomborhima ; a magnificent Lamel- 

 licorn, Euchirus madeayii, allied to the gigantic long-armed 

 beetle {E. lovgimamis) of Amboyna ; superb moths of the 

 families Agaristidse and Sesiidpe ; elegant and remarkable Ful- 

 goridaj, and strange forms of the gigantic Phasmid?e ; most of 

 which appear to be of larger size or of more brilliant colours 

 than their Malayan allies. 



Islands of the Indo-Chinese Suh-rcgion. — A few important 

 islands belong to this sub-region, the Andamans, Formosa, and 

 Hainan being the most interesting. 



Andamans. — The only mammalia are a few rats and mice, a 

 Paradoxurus, and a pig supposed to be a hybrid race, — all of 

 which may have been introduced by man's agency. The 

 birds of the Andaman Islands have been largely collected, no 

 less than 155 species having been obtained ; and of these 17, 

 (all land-birds) are peculiar. The genera are aU found on the 

 continent, and are mostly characteristic of the Indo-Chinese 

 fauna, to which most of the species belong. Eeptiles are also 

 tolerably abundant ; about 20 species are known, the majority 

 being found also on the continent, while a few are peculiar. 

 There are also a few Batrachia, and some fresh-water fishes, closely 

 resembling those of Burmah. The absence of such mammalia 

 as monkeys and squirrels, which abound on the mainland, and 

 which are easily carried over straits or narrow seas by floating 

 trees, is sufficient proof that these islands have not recently 

 formed part of the continent. Tlie birds are mostly such as 

 may have reached the islands while in their present geographical 

 position ; and the occurrence of reptiles and fresh-water fishes, 

 said to be identical in species with those of Bm-mah, must be 

 due to the facilities, which some of these animals undoubtedly 



