TO JIAMMALS. Xvil 



Edentata; and the separation of the porfeet-teethed Bats and Shrewa 

 from the Monkeys and Camivora, does not appear to be felicitous, 

 or so natural as the system of Linnaeus. The Gyrencephala have 

 more or less convolutions on the surface of the brain, and are divid« 

 ed into three groups — Mutilata, the Cetacea and Sirenia ; Ungu- 

 LATA, the PacAj/dermata and Ruminantia ; and Unguiculata, the 

 Camivora and Quadrumana. 



But few naturalists in India have recorded their observations on 

 the class of Mammals. Colonel Sykes v?as the first who published 

 a list of the animals observed by him in the Deccan, in which he 

 described several of the common animals of the country. Sir 

 Walter Elliot followed in 1839, with a Catalogue of the Mammalia 

 of the Southern Mahratta country, and this excellent observer 

 was the first to distinguish many of the smaller mammals, of which 

 he has given an admirable account. He has not published since, 

 but has continued his researches, and discovered several novelties, 

 amongst others the Ttcpaia of Southern India. That indefatigable 

 observer and collector, Mr. Hodgson, has published several lists of 

 the Mammals of Nepal, and has described many species, giving de- 

 tailed accounts of the habits and structure of a few. Colonel 

 Tickell has published a detailed history of a few animals in such a 

 full and interesting manner, as to lead one to wish he had written 

 much more. Major Hutton has also recorded some interesting facts 

 on the Mammals of Afghanistan, and has largely collected, especi- 

 ally the Bats and smaller animals of the Himalayas. I understand 

 that he is at present engaged on a popular natural history of the 

 Himalayan animals, and I can only express my regret that it had 

 not been published previously to the appearance of this work. Other 

 scattered notices will be referred to in their proper place. 



It only remains to make a few observations on the geographical 

 distribution of the Mammals of India. 



The Lungoors (Gen. Preslytis) form a well-marked group of Mon- 

 keys in India, and are still further developed in the Indo-Chinese 

 provinces and Malayana. Out of five species found on the continent, 

 there is only one spread through all the plains of Central and Nor- 

 thern India, and one through the Himalayas, whilst there are three 



