SPORT IN WESTERN CHINA 175 



I assume that the Pig found in Hupeh is Sus leucomystix, 

 the species occurring all over eastern China and distinguished 

 by a pale streak on either side of the face. This animal was 

 formerly very abundant in the Lower Yangtsze delta and is 

 found there still in decreasing numbers. Examples have been 

 shot weighing over 400 lbs., but the average weight is between 

 240 and 300 lbs. In western Hupeh this species or local race, 

 as it very possibly is, ranges up to 9000 feet altitude. 



The species found in western Szechuan is 5. moupinensis, 

 which has short ears and is said to be closely allied to the Wild 

 Pig of Europe and southern Asia (S. scrofula). This animal 

 was first secured by TAbbe David in 1869, from Mupin. It 

 ranges up to 9000 feet altitude and even more, and is abundant 

 from Lungan Fu in the north to Wa shan in the south and 

 Tachienlu in the west. In towns, Mao Chou for example, 

 the flesh is often on sale in the shops. The Chinese are a pork- 

 loving people and esteem the flesh of Wild Pig above that of 

 any other of their wild animals. 



HARES 



Hares are fairly common in the neighbourhood of cultiva- 

 tion through the whole region coming within our purview, but 

 no Rabbits are found. Around Ichang Hares are fairly plenti- 

 ful, though they are getting shot out. They keep close to 

 cultivation, and I never met with one in the sparsely populated 

 mountains of western Hupeh above 5000 feet altitude. Around 

 Tachienlu, Sungpan, and other places throughout the Chino- 

 Thibetan borderland a species occurs in situations ranging 

 from 8000 to 13,000 feet elevation. For our purpose, the terms 

 " upland " and " lowland " may be conveniently used to dis- 

 tinguish these Hares. 



The upland or " Szechuan " Hare {Lepus sechuenensis) , 

 as it is called, has the body brown (winter light grey) ; belly, 

 white ; ears, large, brown and grey ; a white ring around the 

 eyes. Weight about 6 lbs. A specimen shot by Mr. Zappey 

 measured : total length, 20 inches ; tail, 2f inches ; heel, 4I 

 inches. This Hare looks much bigger than it really is, possibly 

 the long ears give this appearance. The measurements given 



