1838.] of the Tenasserim Provinces. 859 



The Cheiroptera present a great variety ; and several, I imagine, not 

 yet described species are to be met with, chiefly of the genus 

 Nyctinomus, Phyllostomus and Pteropus. Amongst the rarer species 

 Vespertilio Temminckii and Pteropus Javanicus must be enumerated. 



The Carnivora present a great number of species. To maintain the 

 equilibrium in nature, it is also necessary, that where so many species 

 are procreated unmolested by man, the number of rapacious animals 

 must increase. 



Of the Plantigrade the Ursus Malayanus seems to occupy all 

 the mountain parts, as high up as the 13th degree of latitude. 



It must be observed that the genus Canis has, so far as I know, no 

 representative in the countries, tra.ns-Burhampootur ; this genus, which 

 possesses in Hindostan several interesting and particular species, seems 

 to become obsolete, even the common jackal does not prosper in Indo- 

 China, and not one specimen is to be found in Tenasserim. Yet there 

 are several species of Viverra, and one Herpestes. 



In the same ratio as the number of species of Canis diminishes, 

 the number of the species of the genus Felts increases. 



The royal tiger is to be found in great numbers, and is very strong 

 and large ; however, its nature is very different from what it is in 

 Bengal ; for scarcely an example is known of its attacking men 

 during the day time, and the carelessness, and even contempt, with 

 which the natives treat this formidable animal, is truly astonishing. 



At Tavoy the black tiger, the Felis Nelao, is not uncommon, and a 

 specimen was caught last year, but unfortunately on its transport to 

 Maulmain, it broke through the bamboo cage, and escaped. 



I pass quickly over the Marsupialia, and the greatest part of the 

 Podentia in this cursory sketch ; the genus Sciurus presents a con- 

 siderable number of species, and of Pteromys, I found a large, and 

 probably undescribed species. 



Of the Edentata, the little Bradypus has been caught, and so also 

 the Manis Crassicaudata, 



Coming to the Pachydermata, I can not omit to mention the number 

 of elephants, which wander in herds of 10 to 30, through the un- 

 inhabited tracts, having the wide extent of primitive forests, from the 

 bay of Bengal to the Chinese seas, open to their constant peregri- 

 nations, descending during the monsoon into the plains, and returning 

 into the mountains during the hot weather. 



The hog is very common, and the Sus Barbyrussa not very rare. 



The rhinoceros is a common animal throughout the provinces, and 

 perhaps more numerous than the elephant, though its less gregarious 



