1837.] 



the Assam Tea Plant. 



443 



seldom saw the sun ; and the early part of the month was chiefly 

 wet. February, and until the middle of March, was generally wet ; 

 nor have I often witnessed even during the regular rainy season, 

 heavier or much more frequent fails of rain than took place in Assam 

 at this period. On the most moderate computation, I do not think 

 we could reckon the quantity of rain that fell during the three months 

 above mentioned, at less than 15 inches ; yet during the same period 

 in Calcutta, I find on reference to Prinsep's Journal, that only 2 

 inches of rain fell — one shower only having taken place in December, 

 January being dry throughout, and February affording but two days 

 on which any rain whatever fell. 



I have already hinted at the importance of Zoology as calculated 

 to assist in casting a light upon the peculiarity of climates, and as 

 affording data for the comparison of one with another. If we con- 

 sider how instrumental birds for instance are, in the dissemination of 

 plants, how essential certain seeds and certain flowers are to the sup- 

 port of certain animals and insects, we perceive at once rational 

 grounds for expecting to be able to trace an accordance between the 

 vegetable productions of our country, compared with those of another, 

 when the Zoology of both agree in particular features ; and hence the 

 application of these principles to the present object. 



The preponderance of Malayan over the northern forms in Assam, 

 notwithstanding the lofty range of mountains which might be sup- 

 posed to contribute to an opposite effect, and rather attract animals 

 towards the south is an interesting indication which will be at least 

 corrected, if not confirmed by my collections. But though lofty ranges 

 of mountains afford climates equal to certain proportions of higher 

 latitudes, yet animals in order to enjoy such insulated positions would 

 be confined to ridges only, without being able to indulge their natural 

 wandering propensities except under exposure to the heat of valleys. 

 On the other hand, animals of the south may extend considerably 

 beyond the strict limits of their geographical sphere, by taking ad- 

 vantage of the shelter of mountain chains, and thus experience no 

 very remarkable change of circumstances from what nature intended 

 they should bear; and in this way we may account for many of the 

 peculiarities of the natural history of Assam, which are not confined to 

 the tea plant, but. extended to other species perhaps equally restricted in 

 their habitat. In the animal kingdom the interesting genus Ciconia of 

 Cuvier presents two distinct species of crane as large as the adjutant 

 (ciconia dubius) and which are quite unknown in Bengal or any other 



