3. For the Malayan area, which Sir Joseph Hooker describes as forming "the bulk of the flora of the perennially humid regions of India, as of the whole Malayan peninsula, Upper Assam valley, the Khasi mountains, the forests of the base of the Himalaya from the Brahmaputra to Nepal, of the Malabar coast, and of Ceylon," see ASSAM, CEYLON and MALAY PENINSULA. Western India. 4. The western India type is difficult to characterize, and is in many respects intermediate between the two just preceding. It occupies a comparatively dry area, with a rainfall under 75 in. In respect to positive affinities, Sir Joseph Hooker pointed out some relations with the flora of tropical Africa as evidenced by the prevalence of such genera as _Grewia_ and _Impatiens_, and the absence, common to both countries, of oaks and pines which abound in the Malayan archipelago. The annual vegetation which springs up in the rainy season includes numerous genera, such as _Sida_ and _Indigofera_, which are largely represented both in Africa and Hindustan. Palms also in both countries are scanty, the most notable in southern India being the wild date (_Phoenix sylvestris_); _Borassus_ and the coco-nut are cultivated. The forests, though occasionally very dense, as in the Western Ghats, are usually drier and more open than those of the Malayan type, and are often scrubby. The most important timber trees are the _tún_ (_Cedrela Toona_), _sál_ (_Shorea robusta_), the present area of which forms two belts separated by the Gangetic plain; satin wood (_Chloroxylon Swietenia_), common in the drier parts of the peninsula; sandal-wood, especially characteristic of Mysore; iron-wood (_Mesua ferrea_), and teak (_Tectona grandis_). _Fauna._ Lion. _Mammals._--First among the wild animals of India must be mentioned the lion (_Felis leo_), which is known to have been not uncommon within historical times in Hindustan proper and the Punjab. At present the lion is confined to the Gir, or rocky hill-desert and forest of Kathiawar. A peculiar variety is there found, marked by the absence of a mane; but whether this variety deserves to be classed as a distinct species, naturalists have not yet determined. These lions at one time were almost extinct, but after being preserved since about 1890 by the Nawab of Junagarh, they have once more become comparatively plentiful. A good lion, measures from 9 to 9½ ft. in length. Tiger.