NATURAL HISTORY OF CHINA SOWERBY 361 



pithecus roxellanae), one of the only two known monkeys that 

 possess a nasal appendage, is found. This is a very large animal 

 with a long tail and sometimes a long mane of golden hair down 

 the back. In the southwest of Yunnan, on the Burmese border, sev- 

 eral species of ape and monkey occur, while in the south and south- 

 east others are to be met with. 



While discussing the mammals mention should be made of the 

 remarkable scaled ant eater (Manis), also called the pangolin. This 

 creature is highly valued for its supposed medicinal properties. In 

 fact, in certain parts of China every wild animal that is at all un- 

 common is credited with medicinal properties, and fetches good 

 prices in the market. Thus the blood of the serow is considered 

 very valuable, as also are the blood, bones, and claws of a tiger, the 

 horns of the serow and goral, and the antlers of the stag. The 

 pangolin is confined to the south and southeast. 



In the matter of marine mammals, the seas that wash the shores 

 of China are not very rich. Sea lions and common seals occur round 

 the coast, while various kinds of whales and dolphins are to be met 

 with further from land. Some extremely interesting river dolphins 

 occur in the waters of the Yangtse basin. Some of these have not 

 yet been identified. Certain lake forms suggest that at one time this 

 part of China was under the sea, the dolphins being left behind in 

 lakes when elevation of the land took place. 



BIRDS 



The birds of China are better known than any other branch of her 

 fauna, apparently for the reason that they have attracted more at- 

 tention from competent naturalists. It is probable that birds, in- 

 sects, especially butterflies, and shell-bearing mollusks the world 

 over have received more attention than other animals for the reason 

 that they are more attractive. Whatever the cause, the fact remains 

 that there is little to be expected in the way of new species of birds 

 to be discovered in this country, though a great deal of work still 

 remains for the ornithologist to do. For instance, the problems of 

 migration in this country have scarcely been studied as yet, while the 

 exact ranges of the indigenous forms of bird that occur have yet to 

 be determined. No country in the world offers a better field for re- 

 search to the ornithologist than does China. This country is the 

 headquarters of the great pheasant family, while its great variety 

 of topography offers the opportunity of studying its avi-fauna under 

 all kinds of conditions from open desert to dense forest, high moun- 

 tain ranges to swamps and flat lands. Breeding operations may be 

 watched, nesting haunts and conditions noted. Bird life is so abun- 

 dant that the student of nature need never be at a loss, unless it be 

 through an emharras de riohesse. 



