928 



NOTES ON SMALL MAMMALS IN KASHMIR AND 

 ADJACENT DISTRICTS. 



By 



Col. A. E. Wakd. 



Since my last communication, which appeared in the Journal of 

 April 23rd, 1906, a certain amount of progress has been made. Once 

 again I have sent to Ladak, and hope that a fairly thorough search has 

 brouo-ht to light what can be obtained from that district. 



No new discoveries were made amongst the Mouse-hares, but several 

 Ochotona aurita were got. One of these came from the Nubra valley. 

 Mr. Bonhote is writing a note on this rodent, and we may definitely 

 consider that it is not connected with macrotis, which is the large-eared 

 Mouse-hare. (Page 457, " Fauna of British India.") 



The specimen of aurita from the Nubra differed slightly in colour 

 from those from the shores of the Pangong, being lighter. 



A list of Mouse-hares was given in my last notes. 



Of the subfamily Cricetince, to which the voles and hamsters belong, 

 the following have been collected : — 



Microtus brachelix — Widely distributed in Kashmir. 

 „ fertilis — Apparently rarely found. 

 „ imitator — Do. 



„ Uythi — Found in Baltistan and Ladak. 

 ,, stracheyi — Found in Ladak. 



Cricetus phoeus — Found at Shushal, Ladak. 



Microtus brachelix inhabits, as a rule, the lower ranges up to about 

 9,000', and is very common at about 7,000'. 



M, fertilis and M. imitator have only been found at altitudes of 

 10,000' to 11,000'. 



M. Uythi from 13,500' to 15,000'. 



M. stracheyi lives at still higher elevations ; the specimens came 

 chiefly from about 15,000'. 



The little grey Hamster, in Ladak at any rate, does not seem to live 

 at an altitude less than about 13,000'; probably, in the Gilgit district 

 it may be found lower down. 



Amongst the rats we have — 

 Mus nitidus from Poonch. 



