88 MOUNTAIN FAUNAS 
same regions, and has similar habits. The pacas of the 
Brazilian woods are represented on the mountains by 
a smaller type (Coelogenys taczanowskii). Some of the 
cavies also ascend to mountain regions, notably the 
Bolivian cavy (Cavia bolivensis), which lives in large 
societies in the upper part of the Andes, tunnelling the 
ground in all directions with its burrows. 
As to the hare-like rodents, we have already noted 
that the picas or tailless hares occur at great elevations 
in the Himalayas in addition to frequenting the Siberian 
steppes, thus illustrating the same conditions as the 
marmots. The mountain hare of Europe is closely 
related to the Arctic hare already discussed (p. 22). 
Tibet has several species of hares, the most interesting 
being Lepus hypsibius, which does not descend below 
14,000 or 15,000 feet. 
Among birds we find that many kinds of birds of 
prey haunt mountains, though they are not necessarily 
confined to them. Of wide distribution is the laem- 
mergeier (Gypaétus barbatus), found in the mountain 
ranges of Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia, 
which apparently feeds largely on carrion and animals 
not killed by itself. The even more widely distributed 
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaétus), on the other hand, 
kills its own prey, which consists of rodents, the young 
of ungulates and game birds. Other forms which may 
be mentioned are Bonelli’s hawk-eagle (Nisaétus fascia- 
tus), found in the Alps as well as in Asia and North 
Africa, and the magnificent condor (Sarcorhampus 
gryphusy of the Andes of South America. In tropical 
countries some of the parrots range up mountain sides, 
and in this connexion it is curious to note that the 
New Zealand kea (Nestor notabilis), which inhabits 
barren mountain sides, has become virtually a bird of 
