23° 



THE FAUNA OF THE CHINESE PROVINCE 



yellow (replaced by grey in some individuals), while the face, ears, and limbs are 

 black or blackish ; and the wholly yellow phase by the Tsin-lin animal, the coat of 

 which may be likened to that of a yellow Polar bear, if such a creature existed. 



These colour-changes are paralleled by the snub-nosed monkeys (p. 225), which, 

 like takin, are peculiar to this part of Eastern Asia, although differing somewhat 

 in regard to the limits of their range. The Mekon species (Rhinopithecus bieti), 

 from the mountains bordering the valley of the upper Mekon, in Tonkin, is, for 



- 







SZE-CHUAN TAKIN. 



instance, a slate-coloured monkey, with the cheeks, under-parts, and a patch on the 

 thighs, white. On the other hand, in R. brelichi, from the mountains of Kwei- 

 Chow, in central China, a golden yellow tint appears on the forehead, inner sides 

 of the arms, and backs of the legs, while there is a tawny patch between the 

 shoulders, and the under-parts have become grey. Finally, in R. roxellance, of Sze- 

 chuan, the prevailing tint is bright golden yellow mingled with darker yellow. 

 This species lives at a height of about 1000 feet, but the other two probably dwell 

 at lower levels ; it is further characterised by the great length and silkiness of the 

 hair of the back, thereby showing another resemblance to the golden takin. 



