402 



Description of a new Deer. 



The loftiest peaks attain an elevation of from eight to 

 ten thousand feet above the sea. Thus formed under the 

 parallel of 22° to 24° North lat., partially bordering the sea 

 on the West, and the Himalaya on the East, the climate of 

 this region must be subject to many peculiar influences. 

 From a statement given by Capt. Pemberton of the quan- 

 tity of rain at Moneypore, it appears that the annual 

 fall is heavier than it is in Bengal. It amounted on an 

 average of three years to 115 inches, while in Calcutta the 

 mean fall for the same period was but 12 inches per annum. 

 The rain is also more equally diffused throughout the year, 

 particularly during the months of March, April, and May, 

 than in Bengal. During this period also, the temperature is 

 on an average 15 degrees lower at Moneypore than in Cal- 

 cutta ; and though hoar-frost is common during the months 

 of January and February, yet the thermometer rarely falls to 

 the freezing point. 



There is another circumstance which though not peculiar 

 to this region, yet deserves to be mentioned. During cold 

 weather, Capt. Pemberton states, from about the end of No- 

 vember to the beginning of January, the whole valley is enve- 

 loped until ten or eleven o'clock daily, in a dense fog which 

 ascends from the surface of the ground to an elevation of fifty 

 feet. Viewed from the summits of the surrounding heights, 

 it looks like a vast bed of snow 3 and rests perfectly motion- 

 less, until dissipated by the reflection of the sun's rays from 

 the face of the surrounding ranges which overlook the 

 valley. 



The surrounding mountains are in most instances, says 

 Capt. Pemberton, covered with the noblest forest trees, 

 common both to temperate and tropical climates. Cedars 

 of gigantic size crown the summits of the loftier ranges 

 immediately west of Moneypore; oaks of every size, from 

 the most stunted, which are confined to the lower ranges, to 

 the most majestic, which are on the loftier ones, grow in 



