MOUNTAIN FAUNAS 81 
another remarkable form in the parti-coloured bear 
(Aeluropus melanoleucus). It iscuriously marked in black 
and white, has a very thick close fur, and enormously 
powerful jaws. The latter feature is remarkable in view 
of the fact that the animal seems to be purely vegetarian 
in tastes. Itis said to inhabit the bamboo thickets which 
in this region ascend the damp valleys up to a height 
of nearly 10,000 feet. The young shoots of bamboos 
form the greater part of its food, and it is stated to be 
an excellent climber. 
A curious little animal called the panda (Aelurus 
fulgens), once believed to be related to Aeluropus, occurs 
at considerable elevations in the south-eastern Himalayas 
and feeds chiefly on vegetable matter, especially bamboo 
shoots. The panda is an arboreal animal, somewhat 
fox-like in appearance, and is now believed to be most 
nearly related to the carnivorous raccoons of America, 
which are forest animals, sometimes, as in the case of 
the forms called coatis (Nasua), ascending to a consider- 
able elevation above sea-level. 
The comparative rarity of large and fierce carnivores 
helps to explain, as we have seen, the abundance of 
ungulates in mountain regions. Beginning with the 
cattle, we may note that just as one form—the musk- 
ox—is admirably adapted for life on the tundra, so 
another—the yak of Tibet—is perfectly fitted for life 
at a great elevation. This animal, the Bos grunniens 
of zoologists, is characterized by its long hair, and by 
its great agility and hardiness. It ascends to a height 
of 20,000 feet above sea-level, and while impatient of 
heat, is extraordinarily resistant to cold, and is capable 
of thriving on the coarsest of herbage. As is well known, 
the animal is used as a beast of burden in Tibet, on 
account of its great endurance. Travellers have often 
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