88 • FAUNA AND 



Large animals are few by reason of their falling a 

 prey to the hunter, and the large population. How- 

 ever the musk-deer [Mosc/i7(s vioscJiiferiis ?), wild 

 sheep {Ovis pseudo-Na/ioo?^), deer [Cerviis sp.), and 

 pygargs {Cerviis pygargus), are plentiful. The last- 

 mentioned, although found in the Munnl-ula, does 

 not inhabit the Ala-shan mountains. 



Among the rodents the most remarkable are 

 the marmot {Arctomys robiistits), abounding In these 

 mountains at an elevation of more than 12,000 feet, 

 a small kind of lagomys [Lagojuys Thibetanus), very 

 plentiful in exposed places, and another species only 

 found among the rocks and detritus In the upper 

 alpine zone. Blind rats [Siphnais sp.) are also 

 plentiful on the lower ground. Here, too, may be 

 seen the little field-mouse {Arvicola sp.), hares (Z^- 

 piis sp.), and an occasional flying-squirrel [Pteroinys 

 sp.) in the forests, distinct from the Siberian species. 



We have enumerated all the ruminants and ro- 

 dents ; It only remains to describe the carnivora. 

 The only representative of the feline order Is the 

 wild cat {Fclis sp.) ; there are neither tigers nor pan- 

 thers. A small species of bear, a polecat [Mustela sp.), 

 a badger {Meles sp.), a fox {Canis vtilpcs), and two 

 kinds of wolves, the common one {Canis lupus), and 

 another of a reddish colour, are found In these 

 forests. 



Birds are far more numerous than mammals — we 

 counted 106 settled or nesting kinds and eighteen 

 migratory. The former number Is certainly large 

 if we consider that it includes only five orders, Rap- 



