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NOTES ON SOME MAMMALS FOUND IN THE SIMLA 



DISTRICT, THE SIMLA HILL STATES, AND 



KALKA AND ADJACENT COUNTRY. 



BY 



P. T. L. DODSWORTH, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



While working the Ornithology of the Simla District, N. W. 

 Himalayas, I have, during the last eighteen months or so, taken the 

 opportunity of devoting some of my time to the study of the 

 Mammalian fauna of these tracts, and the results of my observations 

 are embodied in the following notes. It must not for a moment be 

 supposed that, the areas to which these observations relate have 

 either been searched systematically, or explored thoroughly and in a 

 business-like manner ; for to do so would requ.ire a great deal of 

 time and means, neither of which it is my happy lot to possess. 

 As a matter of fact, I have collected only those animals, which have 

 actually come in my way in my wanderings after birds, and with- 

 out making any special search for them. I hope, therefore, that 

 due allowance will be made for these disjointed notes, which have 

 been hastily strung together at odd moments of leisure. Should they 

 prove of any interest — Mr. Kinnear flatters me that they will be of 

 considerable interest — it may act as an inducement for the publica- 

 tion hereafter of further notes on some more of the animals in- 

 habiting these regions. 



Before entering into particulars, it seems desirable to notice, in as 

 brief a manner as possible, the extent and geographical positions of 

 the territories to which the subsequent remarks apply ; their physi- 

 cal aspects, and their climatological conditions. Moreover, as the 

 fauna and flora of a country are not only connected with, but to 

 a great measure dependent on, each other, a few references 

 to the vegetation of these hills will not be irrelevant to our 

 subject. 



The districts under notice lie yevj roughly between the 30th and 

 the 32nd degree of North latitude, and between the 77th and 79th 

 degree of East longitude. They comprise — (a) the Simla District ;. 

 (&) the Simla Hill States ; (c) a small portion of the Patiala State, 

 which lies in the Himalayan area ; and (d) the town of Kalka and 

 adjacent country, including the Western Dun of the Sirmur State. 



The Simla District consists of nine detached tracts in the lower 

 Himalayas, between 38° 58' and 31° 22' N. and 77° 7' and 

 77° 43' E., with a total area of 101 square miles. It is completely 

 surrounded by territories of independent chiefs, and these terri- 

 tories are known as the Simla Hill States. 



The Simla Hill States consist of 28 in number, and occupy an 

 area of about 4,800 square miles. The largest of these States is. 



