24 
INTRODUCTION. 
There are three distinct sub-provinces ; the dry upper 
area, the United Provinces and Behar ; the lower humid 
area, the Assam plain, Lower Bengal and Orissa ; and the 
Sundarbans. 
(5) Malabar. —The Western Ghauts from the Tapti river to 
Cape Comorin ; the Konkan, Kanara, Malabar, Cochin, 
Travancore, Laccadive Islands. This is better termed 
the West Coast. 
(6) The Deccan. —The high plateau lying between the Eastern 
and Western Ghauts, south of the Gangetic and Indus 
plains ; the Coromandel Coast on the East Coast from 
the Mahanadi to Cape Comorin is included as a sub¬ 
province. 
(7) Ceylon and the Maidive Islands. 
(8) Burmah. 
(9) The Malay Peninsula. 
With the last three, as with the first two, we have no concern here. 
If on the basis of the above divisions we omit subtropical forest hill 
areas, and we take into account the influences on the fauna of these 
neighbouring areas, we shall get divisions as follows :—- 
(1) The Indus Plain. 
(2) Desert India. 
(3) Central India, West. 
(4) Gangetic Plain, West, 
(5) Gangetic Plain, East. 
(6) Sundarbans. 
(7) Central India, East. 
(8) Deccan. 
(9) West Coast. 
(10) Coromandel Coast. 
1. The Indus Plain has a fauna containing many holarctic forms. 
The winter is cold, the hot weather is dry and intense and these two sea¬ 
sons are well marked. 
2. Desert India is similar, but with a peculiar fauna and flora, 
owing to the arid conditions. 
