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this ' parched country. “ The ground is so dreadfully heated under the powerful glare 
of a rarely covered sky that it seems entirely to prevent the approach of moisture, 
unless the atmosphere he near the point of saturation, and this seems indeed to be of very 
rare occurrence.” In December and January the temperature after mid-day rose to 80° to 
90° in the shade, and in February to 100° ; the water supply, as might be expected, was bad. 
The simple recollection of the foul and dirty fluid that one is occasionally obliged to accept 
in order to quench his thirst is enough to make one shudder.” 
All these elements of physical condition to which I have briefly referred tend towards 
making the country a terra hospitibus ferox, an expression often repeated for want of a 
more suitable one, or, as an early traveller expressed himself, a country fit only for a 
geologist to travel in.” 
Under all the circumstances described, both the fauna and flora are poor ; the latter, in 
point of numbers, consists chiefly of plants which grow in sandy or saline soils, and as there 
are no forests, the larger Carnivora, Pachyderms, and Ruminants, and the ordinary feathered 
denizens of forests, are absent. 
Among Mammals the Rodents are most abundant ( Gerbillus, Sciurus, Lepus ), and next 
to them the Indian antelope and gazelle, all vegetable feeders. 
Of birds, 160 species were obtained, of which about 100 only were regular residents. Of 
Reptilia and Amphibia 30 species, and of fresh-water fish 18 species, which it was believed 
must be nearly the total number existing in this almost riverless region. 
Iu October of this year (1872), Dr. Stoliczka, in company with Dr. Waagen and myself, 
paid a visit to Darjiling, where he much enjoyed the relaxation from work. During this 
short trip he made a considerable collection of Cicadidce , intending to write a monograph of 
the family, but, for this he never found time. 
Early in the year 1873 an exploring tour to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was orga- 
nised by Mr. Allan Hume, who arranged with the British India Steam Navigation Company 
that one of their steamers, which were in the habit of making the monthly trip from Calcutta 
to the settlements on these islands, should, in addition to completing its ordinary course, be 
placed at his disposal for the purpose of visiting the southern islands of the Nicobar group 
a nd various outlying islands of the Andaman group, concerning the natural productions of 
w hich but little was known. Dr. Stoliczka, Mr. Wood- Mason, assistant curator of the Indian 
Museum, and the writer were invited to be of the party, and a very enjoyable month was spent 
in exploring and collecting in these islands. Both Stoliczka and I had previously visited the 
islands on separate occasions, but as our explorations had not extended far beyond the limits 
°f Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, and Camorta in the Nicobars, we gladly availed our- 
selves of the unusual facilities thus afforded for making more extended investigations. 
Me left Calcutta in the steamer “ Scotia” on the 1st of March, with a cargo of supplies 
and convicts for Port Blair. Were there space available, there are ample materials* for 
giving an extended account of the tour and its results. To these published records I would 
refer the reader, confidently believing that if he should have an opportunity of reading the 
first of them, he will derive an amount of interesting information and amusement which will 
uiake him feel grateful for the reference. 
Somewhat to my surprise, Stoliczka on this occasion gave most of his time to assisting in 
the main object of the expedition, the investigation of the ornithology, and he was among the 
* Vide “Stray Feathers, Yol. II, 1874, pp. 29-139, and ;Jungle Life in India.” De la Rue, London, 1880, 
pp. 356-412. 
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