sides, where their burrows are made conspicuous by the quantity of new earth 
thrown up at the mouths. A single specimen of the molerat (Myospalax 
cansus) was bought from a native (Plate 48). This specimen presents some 
peculiarities of its own, and, further, is the only one of the species hitherto 
recorded from Shansi. The type locality of this species is in Kansu. 
I noticed evidences of the existence of some form of pika, a small rabbit- 
like rodent, on the rocky summit of Mo-érh Shan ; but although I climbed this 
peak three times, in my endeavour to secure specimens, I failed to do so. 
I have always found members of this genus (Ochotona) most difficult to trap. 
Some more chipmunks were shot in the mountains and valleys. The only 
other mammal secured in the district was a much decomposed shrew (probably 
Crociaura corez). The specimen was too far gone to identify properly. 
Other mammals seen in the district were the roedeer (Capreolus bedfordt), 
the wild pig (Sus moupinensis), the wolf (Canis lupus), the fox (Vulpes vulpes), 
and the hare (Lepus swinhoei subluteus). The country is known to contain musk- 
deer, and many musk-hunters live in the district. Leopards have frequently 
been shot in these mountains, and the natives say that tigers also exist. 
There are quite a number of birds in the vicinity. Those noticed were 
eagles, vultures, hawks, nutcrackers, timelines, accentors, woodpeckers, tits, 
and finches. I was too busy with the mammals to spend time on these. We 
found pheasants and partridges very common, while I noticed the feathers of 
the Manchurian eared pheasant lying about. The season was too far advanced 
for collecting reptiles, but Captain Douglas secured a few flies and spiders. 
The forests consisted mainly of spruce, larch, and pine, whilst some of 
the slopes and ravines were thickly overgrown with scrub-oak, birch, and 
hazel. Close to the summit of Mo-érh Shan I found some red-currant bushes, 
with the half-dried fruit still hanging. In the valleys there were a very thorny 
variety of gooseberry and also some raspberry canes. Along the banks of the 
streams, numerous late flowering herbs were noticed, including several varieties 
of anemones and gentians. Some of the unwooded slopes were covered with low 
bushes of a thorny leguminus shrub, whilst elsewhere rich grass was abundant. 
On the journey between this rich and fertile district, and the sandy 
country round Yii-lin Fu, in North Shensi, very little collecting was done. I 
shot a few more chipmunks, and also secured a few specimens of a small 
species of frog. The latter were found in the little streams, which ran along 
the ravine-bottoms in the loess country near the Yellow River. At one place 
a magnificent golden eagle was shot, and some ibis-billed curlews were 
secured near the Chiao-ch'éng Shan. 
