CHAP. XII.] 
THE ORIENTAL REGION. 
327 
vince. The main features of this division are, — the appearance 
of numerous animals allied to forms only found again in the 
Himalayas or in the Malayan sub-region, the possession of 
several peculiar generic types, and an unusual number of 
peculiar species. 
Mammalia. — Among Mammalia the most remarkable form 
is Loris, a genus of Lemurs altogether peculiar to the sub- 
region ; several peculiar monkeys of the genus Presbytcs ; the 
Malayan genus Tupaia ; and Platacanihomys, a peculiar genus 
of Muridse. 
Birds . — Among birds it has Ockroviela, a peculiar genus of 
flycatchers ; Phcenicophaes (Cuculidse) and Drymocataphus (Tima- 
liidae), both Malayan forms ; a species of Myiophonus whose 
nearest ally is in Java; Trochalopteron , Brachypteryx, Buceros 
and Loriculus, which are only found elsewhere in the Himalayas 
and Malayana. It also possesses about 80 peculiar species of 
birds, including a large jungle fowl, one owl and two hornbills. 
Reptiles. — It is however by its Reptiles, even more than by its 
higher vertebrates, that this sub-region is clearly characterised. 
Among snakes it possesses an entire family, Uropeltidse, consisting 
of 5 genera and 18 species altogether confined to it, — Rhinophis 
and Uropeltis in Ceylon, Silybura, P lee turns and Mclanophidiim 
in Southern India. Four other genera of snakes, Ilaplocercus , 
Cercaspis, Peltopelor , and ffypnale are also peculiar; Ohersydrus 
is only found elsewhere in Malaya; while Aspidura, Passerita, 
and Cynophis, only extend to Hiudostari ; species of Eryx, Echis , 
and Psammophis show an affinity with Ethiopian and Pakearctic 
forms. Among Uzards several genera of Agamidce are peculiar, 
such as Otocryptis, Lyricocphalus, Ceraiophora, Cophotis, Salea , 
Sitana and Charasia. In the family Acontiadae, Nessia is 
peculiar to Ceylon, while a species of the African genus Acontias 
shows an affinity for the Ethiopian region. 
Amphibia. — The genera of Amphibians that occur here are 
generally of wide range, but Nannophrys, Haplobatrachus, 
and Cacopus are confined to the sub-region ; while Megalo - 
phrys is Malayan, and the species found in Ceylon also inhabit 
Java. 
