Mammals of the l'J2l Mount Everest Ewjfedifion. 179 



Voles. — This group of rodents is likely to produce quite 

 a number of furtlier iiiterestiiifi^ furuis, froui all elevations. 

 They are commonly found in lii^flihmd meadows, and wherever 

 niouse-lioles are seen traps .sliuuM be sel — or, better still, if 

 possible, attempts should be made to iii«^ some out. The 

 object of this is that as many specimens as possible sliould bii 

 obtained with unbroken skulls, as the series o£ this yeai's 

 collecting has been very unfortunate in the extent to which 

 the skulls have been broken by the traps. No effort shouM 

 be spared to avoid breaking the skulls of any ^peiwuiens 

 captured, while any dried-up derelict carcases that might be 

 iound should always be brought, as these would jtrobablj 

 possess unbroken skulls. This note applies equally to all 

 other forms of mammalian lite. 



As voles are difficult animals to induce to enter traps, it 

 may be noted that for them bulbs of all sorts, including 

 onions, are commonly a very attractive bait. 



Marmots. — Owing to an unlucky accident, Mr, Wollaston 

 did nut obain any adult marmots, and these are likely to be of 

 decided interest. Assertions have been made as to a differ- 

 ence between the marmots of the northern and southern slopes ; 

 but no specimens suitable for testing the question are as yet 

 available. Quite a number of skins from all localities and 

 altitudes woidd be acceptable. 



Hats. — Rats or rat-like rodents are stated to have been 

 seen at the very highest elevations, and to have come into 

 the tents to steal food. Unfortunately none were ca|)tured, 

 and it is certain that exauq)les of whatever animal this was 

 would be of the greatest interest. It may possibly have 

 been some form of mountain-vole, but is, in any case, nearly 

 certain to be new to science. 



We would add that, while the attention of a mountain 

 expedition is naturally fixed on the higher altitudes, our 

 knowledge of the animals of the lower levels is very far 

 from complete, so that specimens from all places at all levels, 

 whether near Darjiliug, in the Cliunibi Valley, or on the 

 elevated j)iains of I'ibet^ whether rats and mice, moles, shrews, 

 bats, har«»s, weasels, or any other mammals, are all of the 

 utmost interest to scientific workers, and are likely to include 

 many forms new to our present list of Hinuilayan mammals. 



Finally, we may note that the 1921 Expedition has just 

 not surpassed in its collection of mammals the altitude (17,900') 

 recorded for a Peruvian mouse by Thomas in 1900, and we 

 shall look to future expeditions to repair tliis omission. 

 Wollaston's Pika was seen and handled at 20,000', but no 

 specimens from that altitude were brought home. 



12* 



