NOTES UPON THE RODENTS. 67 



the rear, and on the flanks of the main host, so as to watch over 

 their security. 



Another kind of gazelle, the Dseren, is peculiar to the Mongolian 

 Deserts, and named by the inhabitants the yelloiu stag. His stature 

 is little inferior to that of the deer. The female is without horns. 



The Moufflon* the original of our domestic sheep, sometimes 

 strays into the plains of Central Asia, but prefers the solitude of the 

 mountains. His general size is that of a small fallow deer, but 

 though clothed with hair instead of wool, he bears a closer resemblance 

 to the ram than to any other animal. In summer his hair is close, 

 but in winter it becomes rough, wavy, and slightly curled. On the 

 upper part of the body it is brown, but the under part and insides 

 of the limbs are whitish. The hair is considerably longer under the 

 throat, and about the neck and shoulders, than elsewhere. 



We may refer, in this connection, to the Egagra, or wild goat, 

 which Cuvier considers to have been the original stock of the numer- 

 ous races of goats spread over various regions of the globe. 



The Steppes nourish two species of Rodents : the Varying Hare 

 (Lepus variabilis), so called because he changes from tawny gray in 

 summer to white in winter ; and a gray squirrel, which is probably 

 only a variety of our common European squirrel. He is not a climber 

 and a "haunter of the woods," like his congener. He abounds in the 

 Mongolian Steppes, where he lives in holes excavated under the earth, 

 like the rats and rabbits. He is, however, much more ingenious 

 than the other troglodyte-rodents ; he shelters the entrance to his 

 abode under a domed roof, skilfully constructed of dry herbs woven 

 together, and covered with clay. These works closely resemble the 

 mounds upheaved by moles. 



The Carnaria of the Felidce, or feline family, are wanting, or 

 * Also called the Musmon (Ovis Mitsmon), 



