1б4 ANIMALS AND BIRDS OF 



The wild animals of the Munni-ula are less 

 plentiful than one would have expected. Of the 

 larger mammalia the only representatives are the 

 stag {Ce7'V2is elaplms), the pygarg {Cervus pygargus), 

 the mountain antelope {Antilope cmidatd), the wolf 

 {Canis lupus), and the fox [Canis inilpcs), but not one 

 of the feline race, although, as we heard from the 

 inhabitants, there used to be panthers and even 

 tigers.■^ Of the class of Rodents there are probably 

 mice and weasels in the forest, hares [Leptis Toiai), 

 common throughout Mongolia and marmots [Sper- 

 mophihis sp.) in the valleys on the outskirts of the 

 mountains. The last-mentioned animal is about the 

 size of a rat, and at the sight of man, or merely 

 from fright, it sits up on its hind legs near its burrow 

 and \vhistles. 



Birds are more plentiful, yet the ornithology of 

 the Munni-ula is poor in comparison with the extent 

 of its woods. The sudden changes of temperature, 

 from calms to storms, from excessive dryness to 

 great moisture, probably prevent many of the Chi- 

 nese birds from penetrating to even the best parts of 

 the plateau of Mongolia, In the wildest and most 

 inaccessible cliffs of the alpine zone the vulture ( Viil- 

 Ыг monacJms) and lammergeier {Gypdetos barbatus) 

 build their nests, two enormous birds with a nine- 

 feet stroke of wing. Side by side with them live 

 the swifts {Cypselus Icitcopyga), the noisy red-legged 

 crow {Fregihis gracuhis), and the rock dove {Co- 



1 The Mongols assured us that there were panthers in the In-shan 

 even now, but nearer Kuku-khoto, and not in the Munni-ula. 



