xxii INTRODUCTION. 



Tlie Himalayan Ant-eater is the species which occurs in the high valleys of 

 Sanda and Momien ; whereas, at Bhamo, the Indo-Malayan species Manis javanica 

 is found. 



When the Avine fauna is examined, it may also be observed that the compara- 

 tively low region about Bhamd, the area of the Kakhyen hills, and the elevated 

 region beyond them to the east, is each characterized by distinct features. The 

 fauna of Bham6 and its immediate neighbourhood is essentially Burmese ; but a 

 consideration of the species reveals the existence in it of a slight intermixture of 

 species, more or less distinctive of the high country to the east, associated with 

 others which partake more of the Malayan fauna. In the same way, in the Kakhyen 

 hills, the fauna is markedly Burmese, but it, at the same time, has distinct Himalayan 

 and Khasia-hill affinities, with a much larger intermixture of Chinese species than is 

 to be found in the area about Bhamo. To the east of the Kakhyen hills, it becomes 

 more Chinese, and species are met with which are only sparsely represented in the 

 Bhamo area, while many occur which do not extend into the valley of the Irawady. 

 Some of these, however, have a considerable distribution to the western side of the 

 Irawady valley, into the mountainous region of Assam, Munipur, and the Khasia 

 hills. In this elevated region, it is found that this section of the fauna as well has 

 a strongly pronounced Palseartic aspect, e.g., one of the most characteristic birds of 

 the hills around Momien is a true pheasant, P. sladeni, with another allied form 

 Thaumalea, whereas this group of birds is represented in the Kakhyen hills and 

 around Bhamd by Euplocamus. 



The Chelonian fauna, both terrestrial and fluviatile, around Bham6, would appear 

 to be perfectly distinct from that of India. So far as the species are concerned, none 

 of those that are Indian extend into the valley of the Upper Irawady, while certain 

 Indo-Chinese and Indo-Malayan forms, such as Tyxidea and Geoem2/da,rsingGSisisLV 

 westwards as the Garo hills and Assam. That remarkable Indo-Chinese genus 

 Flaty sternum is found at some considerable distance to the south of Bhamo, viz. at 

 Tonghoo, where it is associated with Cyclemys and with the Indo-Chinese type 

 Geoemyda, which finds the western limit of its distribution in Arracan. It is there- 

 fore probable that further research about Bhamd, and in the neighbouring mountains 

 to the east, will reveal the existence of kindred forms in these regions. In the 

 Sittang valley to the south, Sylomys, which, as has been seen, occurs also in the 

 Kakhyen hills, is associated in the former locality with Tropidophorous, an Indo- 

 Malayan type of lizard which ranges northwards into the Hotha valley, to an eleva- 

 tion of 4,500 feet ; and such a fact as this goes to strengthen the anticipation which 

 has been just expressed. Not only, however, do none of the Indian species of Chelmia 

 find their way into Upper Burma, so far as is at present known, but the land-tortoise 



