860 Note on the Animal productions [Oct. 



manners, and its wilder character, do not admit an easy approach to 

 it. 



The Tenasserim Provinces seem to be a congenial place for this 

 genus, for I dare to pronounce almost positively, that the three known 

 Asiatic species, occur within their range. The Rhinoceros Jndicus 

 being found in the nothern parts of the provinces, in that high range 

 bordering on Zimmay called " the elephant tail mountain ;" the R. 

 Sondaicus of Baron Cuvier, on the contrary, occupies the southern- 

 most parts ; while the JR. hicornis Sumatrensis, or the double- 

 horned species, is to be found throughout the extent of the territories 

 from the 17° to 10° of latitude. 



In character the R. Sondaicus seems to be the mildest, and can be 

 easily domesticated ; the powerful Indian rhinoceros is the shyest, and 

 the double-horned the wildest. 



I have had the opportunity to ascertain positively the existence of the 

 Tapirus Malayanus within the British boundaries, in latitude 1 lo 37' 

 in province Mergui, though I have not been so fortunate as to obtain a 

 specimen of it. It is well known to the natives who call it the great pig. 



Finally coming to the Ruminantia, as may be expected, the number 

 of Cervidce is considerable. 



Rusa Hippelaphus, Elaphus Wallichii, Cuv. C. Aristotelis, C. Axis, 

 and C. Muntjac, besides two other species have been seen ; but there 

 is as yet no antelope known. 



Of the ox kind, the Buhalus, Arnee and Domesticus are both in 

 a wild state ; and of the Bisons, the great Gaurus rather rare, but 

 Bison Guodus very common : besides another small kind of cow, called 

 by the Burmese Fhain, of which I saw only foot prints, but never 

 the living animal ; it remains therefore undecided, to what species it 

 must be referred. 



Of birds I have made a collection of 250 species, and 600 specimens, 

 which I herewith place at the disposal of Government, presenting it 

 to-day to the inspection of the Society, and I only regret that econo- 

 mical reasons compelled me to have the birds prepared by the rude 

 hands of common Burmah coolies, previously, a short time instructed by 

 me ; and many, otherwise greatly valuable specimens, are therefore 

 more or less defective. 



The species inhabiting the provinces are highly interesting to obser- 

 vers of the geographical distribution of the feathered tribe : for they, 

 more than the Mammalia, of which the species occupy wider geogra- 

 phical ranges, prove the intimate connexion and resemblance of the 

 lower portions of the provinces with the Malayan archipelago. 



