150 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



except during misty, rainy weather, when they are not 

 particular. 



The limestone crags and cliffs of the Yangtsze Gorges and 

 the glens leading therefrom are favourite haunts of the Hupeh 

 species. In the Ichang Gorge itself this animal is quite common, 

 and anywhere in the limestone regions in western Hupeh up to 

 4000 feet altitude it is to be found. 



The natives assert that Goral are found even up to 7000 

 feet altitude. There is a precipitous range near the tiny 

 hamlet of Kuan-pao in Changyang Hsien, four days' journey 

 south-west of Ichang, where they may be found. This range 

 reaches 7000 feet altitude in its higher parts, and a variety of 

 game occurs there. Quite a number of foreigners have enjoyed 

 good sport after Goral in the glens around Ichang. Probably 

 the first to shoot one hereabouts was Dr. Aldridge in the 

 early 'eighties of last century. The late Pere Heude named 

 this animal Kemas aldridgeanus ^ in his Les Memoires concernant 

 I'Histoire Naturelle de V Empire Chinois (pub. 1880-1901). 

 This naturalist made a great study of Eastern Asian mammals, 

 and his specimens went chiefly to the Museum at Sicawei, 

 just outside Shanghai. Unfortunately these specimens have 

 been sadly neglected. The author above quoted was not 

 sufficiently careful in the matter of defining his species, in 

 publishing good descriptions, and in preserving his types. 

 The consequence is, that much animal life has been wasted and 

 the nomenclature of Chinese mammals rendered exceedingly 

 difficult to later systematic zoologists. Anyone who has seen 

 the collections at SicaWei must regret that the types were not 

 sent to Paris or some other western centre where they would 

 have been properly looked after, and accessible for comparative 

 study. 



The Chinese who hunt Goral usually study their runs and 

 snare them, or occasionally they shoot them. The method of 

 hunting them for shooting is as follows : The man with his 

 rifle (matchlock in case of natives) is posted on one side of a 



^ In accordance with modern nomenclature this name becomes Ncemor' 

 hedus aldridgeanus. The specific name, henryanus, had been earlier applied 

 by Sclater to this same animal. Milne-Edward's specific name, griseus, 

 was published in 1871, and has priority over the above names if it be accepted 

 that the Ichang and Mupin Goral represent the same species. 



