THE PAL^ARCTIC REGION 191 



Section VI. — The Chinese Sub-region 



The Chinese Sub-region bears the same relation to 

 the Oriental Region as the Desert Sub-region does to 

 the Ethiopian Region, and the number of genera of 

 Mammals that are common to it and the Oriental Region 

 is considerable. 



On the whole, too, this is the most specialized of all 

 the Pakearctic Sub-regions ; six genera out of a total 

 number of sixty being endemic, and several others only 

 just crossing its borders. This Sub-region contains within 

 its limits the highest tableland on the face of the globe, 

 that of Tibet, the zoology of which is not so well known 

 as it should be, owing to the persistent exclusion of 

 European travellers from its limits. What knowledge 

 we have of the Tibetan fauna relates chiefly to the 

 larger animals, and among these are several very in- 

 teresting and peculiar forms. It is, therefore, probable 

 that when more about this Region is known, many 

 novelties will be discovered among the smaller animals 

 as well. 



The Ungulates of the Chinese Sub-region show no 

 genera which are absolutely confined to it, but a curious 

 little deer with short straight antlers (Elaphodus) is 

 highly characteristic of it, although it extends into the 

 outskirts of the Oriental Region. Another peculiar 

 genus is the Tibetan antelope {Pantholops), well known 

 to Indian sportsmen, which is found only at great 

 heights on the Tibetan plateau. A third genus, also 

 of great interest, is the Takin (Budorcas), a large bovine 

 animal with horns somewhat resembling those of the 



