( 27 ) 
Therefore* reference cannot be made with confidence to Burmese names 
I have giren; moreover the Burmese convicts* the only men I had to consult* 
appeared to me very unwilling and ignorant. I have* however, tried to correct 
the names as much as possible according to Dr. Mason’s List of Burmese plants. 
31. It would be of great interest to compare the flora of the Andamans 
Some zoological remarks as far as with its fauna; but we are at present nearly as 
connected with the flora. ignorant about its fauna as we were a short time 
ago about its flora. So far as I am able to judge* there exists great harmony 
in the peculiarities of both kingdoms. 
The mammals are confined to Cynopterus marginatus * Taradoxurus 
Andamctnicus , Mus Andamanensis and Sus Andamanensis. A wild species of 
cat is said by Colonel Tytler to occur* but it has never been found. 
Birds appear to be numerous, but are little known. Amongst the fifteen or 
twenty kinds of reptiles hitherto found on these islands, two species of toads are 
common during the rainy season,—one of these is introduced, the other really 
indigenous. Their occurrence is easily explained, as they can live a long time 
without water. 
Marine fishes are plentiful* but fresh water fishes seemed to me not to 
exist. Amongst mollusca, no fresh water shells or any Limacida occur, and 
also the few land shells are frequent only during the rains. In this period 
Helicina Andamanica and Cyclophorus foliaceus are exceedingly common on 
wet stems and on leaves. 
Amongst insects the absence or scarcity of beetles, living in excrement* 
of Hydrocanthara , and other water beetles, is remarkable. Also the rapacious 
Carabici and Staphylinidae appeared to me exceedingly scarce. 
I also saw no crabs peculiar to fresh water. A more careful examination 
of the fauna would surely increase the number of similar facts relating to 
the absence of water-loving animals. 
32. I cannot conclude without directing full attention to the great 
Importance of exploring the Ancla- importance of exploring the Andaman Islands 
man Islands scientifically. Scientifically. 
These islands are the only masses of land at present known in India* 
which, owing to the low scale of their inhabitants and their living isolated 
from all communication with the surrounding countries, have never been 
influenced by the agency of men, and, therefore, the type of its natural produc¬ 
tions is still a most peculiar one. 
We do not possess information about a really unmixed or original flora or 
fauna of any part of British India, the fauna and flora of every district being 
mixed by foreign immigrations and importations, owing to the frequent com¬ 
munication which the inhabitants have possessed for many ages with various 
other countries. 
The knowledge of the flora of the Andamans is, therefore* as import¬ 
ant as has been shown to be that of the Galopagos Archipelago, St. 
Helena* and other isolated islands. 
By the present rapid extension of the Penal Settlements around Port 
Blair and Port Mouat, the real type of the vegetation of these islands will 
be lost in the course of a few years, or made unintelligible by the many impor¬ 
tations of weeds and other plants (and even of animals) which even now 
are rapidly spreading over the land by means of cultivation, birds, winds, &c. 
