VILGIRI HILLS. 307 of former sholís. These trees are generally Elæocarpus, the fruit of which, like a plum, is eaten, while the tuberculated stones of other species of the same genus are strung up for necklaces, known as rudrak (Elæocarpus Ganitrus, Roxb.) all over India; or they belong to a genus not yet mentioned (Celtis), a deciduous tree, of which one species, the rhask of the North-west Himalayas, is important on account of its furnishing fodder for cattle. One of the commonest trees of the NorthWest Himalayas, the Rhododendron arboreum, is abundant on the Nilgiris abore an eleration of 5000 feet. It is found outside the sholís, often associated with the red myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa), also called the Nilgiri gooseberry, the fruit being eaten, and being in appearance somewhat like a gooseberry. At lower elevations, for instance near Kúnúr, the rhododendron is associated with Vaccinium Leschenaultii, which bears bunches of dark purple edible berries in summer, following after a great show of pale rose-coloured blossoms. The tree belongs to the same genus as the English whortle-berry. The shrubs and herbs of the sholís are as varied as the trees. On the edge of the forests, where there is plenty of light, there are generally masses of Leucas lancifolia, with heads of white woolly flowers. In the dark shade of the sholus the underwood consists of the small bamboo and large shrubs of Strobilanthes, which, like the bamboo, flowers only after periods of from five to fifteen years, and after flowering dies down. On rocks and among brushwood in ravines is the charming and sweet-scented Nilgiri lily (Lilium nilagiricum), with long white flowers, containing an abundance of honey. Grassy slopes are covered with a small Strobilanthes, with hard stiff leaves and masses of blue flowers, which it is said have given these hills the name of the Blue Mountains. On grassy slopes above 7000 feet, the Anaphalis nilagirica is common and often gregarious over considerable areas. It is a small shrub with twisted stems, long masses of grey tufted foliage, from which stand out numerous slender stalks bearing clusters of woolly yellowish-white flowers. One of the most characteristic herbs of the plateau is Lobelia excelsa, with thick erect stems, carrying large tufts of long narrow hairy leaves, and in spring thick cylindrical spikes of pale blue flowers. Among a great variety of shrubs, the species of brambles frequently occur. Rubus moluccanus, with round soft leaves, has pink flowers and no fruit. Rubus ellipticus, with ternate leaves and round leaflets, has white flowers and yellow berries; while Rubus lasiocarpus, with white stems and pinnate leaves, has pink flowers and black hairy berries. The first is a widely spread species found throughout Bengal, Assam, Burma, and the Indian Archipelago; the two others are common in the North-West Himalayas. Large game, especially tiger, bear, súmbhar, and ibex were once very
