1074 Catalogue of Reptiles inhabiting the [Oct. 



Begoniacese. {Begonia orbiculata, Jack). 



Sterculiacese. (Sterculia coccinea, Roxburgh. Durio Zibetldnus, Lin.) 



Dipteracese. {'Dipt erocar pus). 



Aurantiaceae. {Murray a paniculata, Loar). 



Anacardiacere. {Siagmaria vemiciflua, Jack). 



Connaracea?. {Etirycoma longifolia. Jack). 



Garciniea:. 



Melastoinacere. {Melastoma bracteata, Jack. M. exigua, Jack. M. glauca, 

 Jack. Sonerila molticcana, Rob.) 



Myrtaceae. 



Singapore Island, 1° 24' N. L. 104° E. Mean annual temperature, 

 80°. Greatest daily range of thermometer : 10°. Annual number of rainy 

 days : 185 Surface gently undulating. Sand-stone hills, indicating remote 

 convulsion ; highest hill (Bukit Timah) 530 ft , granite. In the valleys occur 

 vegetable and animal forms which at Pinang have been observed at or near 

 the summit of the hills, but not in the plains. Thus at Singapore, occur 

 Alsophila, Schizeea, Tacca cristata, Gnehim, Nepenthes, Begonia, Eurycoma 

 and others, which at Pinang appear to affect a much greater elevation. In- 

 stances of Reptiles in common to the plains of Singapore and the hills of 

 Pinang are : Ptychozoon homalocephalum, Gymnodactylus pulchellus, Lygoso- 

 ma chotlcides, Pilidion lineatmn, Typhlops nigro-albus, Calamaria lumbricoi- 

 dca, Var. Leptophis caudalineatus, Elaps intestinalis, Elajjs nigromaculatus. 



Malayan Peninsula. Geographically, not politically, from 12° N. L. 

 between 98° and 104° E. computed to about 80,000 square miles, or about 

 4000 square miles less than Great Britain. Zoological information has 

 hitherto been confined almost exclusively to the plains of the western part. 

 The productions of the chain of mountains dividing the Peninsula, and ter- 

 minating in Cape Romania in 1° 1/' N. L. (Point Bums in 1° 15' N. L.) 

 are almost entirely unknown. The late Mr. Griffith on a visit in the early- 

 part of 1842 to mount Ophir {Gunong Ledang, in about 2° 30' N. L. on the 

 eastern boundary of the district of Malacca, granite, and computed about 

 4000 ft.) made the interesting discoveiy, that from 1500 ft. and upwards the 

 vegetation changes completely, and in many respects assumes a Polynesian 

 or Australian character. Early in 1847 Lieutenant Colonel James Low 

 visited Keddah Peak, {Gunong Jerai,) opposite to the town of Keddah, in 

 about 6° 5' N. L. which he observes is not granite, but stratified, abounding 

 in minerals. According to observation of the boiling point of water, the 

 summit, a small platform on the edge of the strata, is 5,705^ ft. above the 

 sea. Towards the summit the vegetation becomes very stunted and par- 

 takes of Australian character.* Colonel Low further observes that during 

 the ascent he did not see a single animal, but found foot prints of a Rhino- 

 ceros, smaller than usual, he supposes, up to the very summit. To a casual 

 visiter of the Malayan hill forest, during the day, the paucity of animals is 

 a striking feature. The noonday light subdued by the dense foliage of the 

 towering stems, gives to the scene a sombre character, heightened by the 

 unseen denizons. Their presence is manifested in the shrill vibrations of 

 Cicadas, one of which on the Pinang hills is noted for its resemblance to the 

 cavalry trumpet, the call of the Tupai, the dismal tap of the gigantic wood- 

 pecker, tjie creaking flight of a Buccros, or the retreat of frightened Semno- 

 pithecs. 



* A collection of plants from the summit of the mountain, with which Colonel Low 

 favoured me, were examined by Cant. Munro, H. M. 39th Regiment, the only botanist 

 al present in Calcutta, previously to their being- despatched to the Royal Gardens, Kew. 



