The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...

chap, xii.] THE ORIENTAL REGION. 333and of large and showy Nymphalidae, Morphidae, and Danaidae,which render it, in favoured localities, only second to SouthAmerica for a display of this form of beauty and variety ininsect life.Among the other orders of insects in which the Himalayasare remarkably rich, we may mention large and brilliant Cetoniidae,cliiefly of the genus Rhomborhima ;a magnificent Lamellicorn,Uuchirus macleayii, allied to the gigantic long-armedbeetle (E. longimanus) of Amboyna ; superb moths of thefamilies Agaristidas and Sesiidae ; elegant and remarkable Fulgoridae,and strange forms of the gigantic Phasmidae ;most ofwhich appear to be of larger size or of more brilliant coloursthan their Malayan allies.Islands of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region.—A few importantislands belong to this sub-region, the Andamans, Formosa, andHainan being themost interesting.Andamans.—The only mammalia are a few rats and mice, aParadoxurus, and a pig supposed to be a hybrid race,— all ofwhich may have been introduced by man's agency. Thebirds of the Andaman Islands have been largely collected, noless than 155 species having been obtained ; and of these 17,(all land-birds) are peculiar. The genera are all found on thecontinent, and are mostly characteristic of the Indo-Chinesefauna, to which most of the species belong. Eeptiles are alsotolerably abundant ; about 20 species are known, the majoritybeing found also on the continent, while a few are peculiar.There are also a few Batrachia, and some fresh-water fishes, closelyresembling those of Burmah. The absence of such mammaliaas monkeys and squirrels, which abound on the mainland, andwhich are easily carried over straits or narrow seas by floatingtrees, is sufficient proof that these islands have not recentlyformed part of the continent. The birds are mostly such asmay have reached the islands while in their present geographicalposition ;and the occurrence of reptiles and fresh-water fishes,said to be identical in species with those of Burmah, must bedue to the facilities, which some of these animals undoubtedly