saw any. Kites become numerous after the rains, and
are regarded as a sign of their cessation. More
remarkable than the rarity of birds is the absence of
all animals except domestic rats, as a more suitable
country for hares and rabbits could not be found.
Reptiles, and especially snakes, are very common in
the Khasia mountains, and I procured sixteen species
and many specimens. The natives repeatedly assured
us that these were all harmless, and Dr. Grray, who has
kindly examined all my snakes, informs me of the remarkable
fact that whereas none of these are poisonous,
four out of the eleven species which I found in Sikkim
are so. One of the Khasia blind-worms belongs to a
truly American genus, a fact as important as is that of
the Sikkim skink and Agama being also American
forms.
The curious leaf-insect (Mantis) was very abundant
on the orange trees, on the leaves of which the natives
believe it to feed; nor indeed could we persuade some
of our friends that its thin sharp jaws are unsuited for
masticating leaves, and that these and its prehensile
feet indicate its predacious nature : added to which;
its singular resemblance to a leaf is no less a provision
against its being discovered by its enemies, than
an aid in deceiving its prey.
We descended rapidly for many miles through
beautiful woods, with villages nestling amongst groves
of banana and trellised climbers ; and from the brow
of a "hill looked down upon a slope covered with
vegetation and huts, which formed the mart of Chela,
and below which the Boga-panee flowed in a deep