316 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART lll. 
more allied to the bears, forming a distinct family of Carnivora, 
and confined to the high forest-districts of the Eastern Hima- 
layas and East Thibet ; Melwrsus and Helarctos, peculiar forms of 
bears ; Platanista, a dolphin peculiar to the Ganges and Indus. 
Among Ruminants it has the beautiful chevrotain, forming 
the genus Tragulus in the family Tragulide ; with one peculiar 
genus and three peculiar sub-genera of true deer, The Antilo- 
pine and Caprinz are few, confined to limited districts and not 
characteristic of the region ; but there are everywhere wild cattle 
of the genera Bibos and Bubalus, which, with species of Rhinoceros 
and Elephas, form a prominent feature in the fauna. The Rodents 
are less developed than in the Ethiopian region, but several forms 
of squirrels everywhere abound, together with some species of 
porcupine ; and the Edentata are represented by the scaly manis. 
Birds,—The families and genera of birds which give a cha- 
racter to Oriental lands, are so numerous and varied, that we 
can here only notice the more prominent and more remarkable. 
The Timaliide, represented by the babblers (Garrulax, Pomator- 
hinus, Timalia, &c.), are almost everywhere to be met with, and 
no less than 21 genera are peculiar to the region; the elegant 
fork-tailed Hnicurus and rich blue Myiophonus, though com- 
paratively scarce, are characteristic of the Malayan and Indo- 
Chinese faunas; the elegant little “hill-tits” (Liotrichide) 
abound in the same part of the region; the green bulbuls (Phy/- 
lornis) are found everywhere ; as are various forms of Pycnono- 
tide, the black and crimson “ minivets” (Pericrocotus), and the 
glossy “king-crows ” (Dicrwrus) ; Urocissa, Platylophus and Den- 
drocitta are some of the interesting and characteristic forms 
of the crow family; sun-birds (Netariniidz) of at least three 
genera are found throughout the region, as are the beautiful little 
flower-peckers (Diczide), and some peculiar forms of weaver- 
birds (Ploceus and Munia). Of the starling family, the most 
conspicuous are the glossy mynahs (Huwlabes). The swallow- 
shrikes (Artamus) are very peculiar, as are the exquisitely 
coloured pittas (Pittide), and the gaudy broad-bills (Eury- 
lemid). Leaving the true Passeres, we find woodpeckers, 
barbets, and cuckoos everywhere, often of peculiar and re- 
