22 



THE ANIMAL LIFE OF SIBERIA 



The habitat of the northern field-mouse (Microtias ratticeps) extends from 

 Sweden and Lapland through northern Russia over the greater part of Siberia 

 where this rodent lives in the forests and their outskirts ; its principal food consist- 

 ing of roots. The root-vole (M. ceconomus), which derives its name from its habit 

 of gathering stores of edible roots, inhabits Siberia and Kamchatka. These mice 

 live generally in pairs, and in spring migrate in vast numbers to the west, whence 

 th.-yreturn in autumn anxiously expected by the fur-hunters for the sake of the 

 valuable furs yielded by the small carnivora which follow the host in large numbers. 

 Other kinds of field-mice, or voles, also inhabit Siberia. Lemmings are repre- 

 sent-! in northern Asia and North America by the banded species (Dicrostonyx 

 torqtuitax), whose popular name appears to be derived from the black stripe down 

 the back. Among other members of the mouse tribe, the harvest-mouse is found 

 in Siberia, as is also the long-tailed field-mouse, although only in the western 

 portion of the country. The house-mouse and the brown rat are as frequent 

 in human habitations throughout this tract as they are in similar situations in 

 Europe. The Asiatic representative of the jumping-mice (Zapus) is said to reach 

 Siberia, although its main habitat is the Sze-chuan district of China. 



The lynx ranges all over Siberia; but the common wild cat 



is replaced in Asia north of the Himalaya by Pallas's cat (Felis 

 manvl), which is, however, more particularly indigenous to central Asia. The 

 Manchurian race of the tiger (Felis ticjris longipilis), which occurs in the south of 

 the area, can hardly be regarded as a true Siberian animal ; and the same is the case 

 with the snow-leopard, which ranges but little farther north than the Altai. The 

 fox ranges all through Siberia, while the wolf extends beyond the forest zone into 

 the tundra, and is even said to venture out on the ice of the Arctic Ocean as far as 

 the Kuriles, occasionally crossing to America. 



Unlike the wolf and the fox, the Siberian wild dog (Canis [Oyon] 



alpinus) does not belong to the fauna of Europe, but to an Asiatic 



group of Canidce, all the members of which have one tooth less on each side of the 



lower jaw than the true dogs. They have also a proportionately shorter muzzle, 



long hairs between the pads of their feet, and twelve to fourteen teats instead 



of ten. This group, which in some respects approaches the hunting-dog of Africa, 



ranges over Siberia and central Asia as far as Amurland, and also occurs on the 



island of Saghalin, as well as throughout India, Burma, and the Malay countries, 



far as is known, is absent from northern China and Japan. Although some 



other name than wild dogs would perhaps have been more appropriate for these 



animals, from their habit of hunting in packs, their fine and handsome appearance, 



and their courage, the Asiatic wild dogs in one way fully deserve their title. The 



Siberian wild dog, which inhabits Siberia at least to the Altai, and probably still 



farther Bouth, appears now and then on the open steppe, but prefers forests, 



especially those covering the mountains, as on the eastern shore of the Yenesei. 



It is not found everywhere within this area, but only locally; its distribution 



depending, perhaps, partly on the nature of the country, and partly on the supply 



of suitable prey, which in some parts includes even deer. The Siberian wild dog, 



which is distinguished from its Indian and Malay relatives principally by its larger 



upper tine molar teeth, varies in hue either individually, locally, or according 



