517 



23. Martes abietum, Ray. 



Skins of this species are brought from Afghanistan, and sold in 

 the bazars of Peshawur : the dealers have informed me the animal 

 is a native of the mountainous parts of that country. I have not 

 seen it on the Himalayas. 



24. MUSTELA SUBHEMACHALANA (Hodgson). 



I killed a fine specimen of this elegant species in the Valley of 

 Cashmere, close to a farm-yard ; the natives said it commits great 

 depredations among their poultry and eggs. 



25. Mustela erminea, Linn. 



Found in several districts on the lower and middle regions of the 

 Western Himalayas. 



26. Ursus isabellinus, Horsf. 



Brown and White Bear of Europeans. 



Reech, Baloo of the natives of the western Himalayan Ranges. 

 Harput of the Cashmerees, where it is likewise known as the 

 Reech and Baloo. 



The distribution of this species on the Western Himalayas is not 

 so general as in the case of the Black Bear {Ilelarctos tibetanus). 

 A few are found at the sources of the Ganges and Jumna, but none 

 in Little Tibet. Their head quarters are among the mountains and 

 little valleys north-west of the Vale of Cashmere, where, until 

 within the last few years, they were extremely common. In the 

 Valley of Wurdwun, about six miles long, and not more than one 

 in breadth, situated among the ranges north of Islamabad, Brown 

 Bears were so abundant, that as many as thirty were killed during 

 the spring of 1851 by one individual. They are now almost ex- 

 tinct in these regions, owing to the numbers of European sportsmen 

 annually visiting Cashmere. In size, this species is larger than the 

 next. The largest male, out of many hundreds I have examined, 

 measured 7 feet 6 inches from snout to tail ; height 3 feet 5 inches ; 

 round the body (behind the shoulders) 58| inches ; round the arm 

 24 inches ; ditto thigh 37 inches. The Brown Bear prefers high 

 and rugged mountains near the confines of persistent snow ; and 

 nowhere is his fancy in this respect better gratified than among the 

 noble mountains and valleys of the Cashmere Ranges. 



During winter they repair to caves in inaccessible rocks, and there 

 form beds of decayed plants (usually ferns), on which they lie until 

 spring, when, as soon as the snow melts and vegetation appears, they 

 issue from their retreats. They are then very lean and voracious, 

 and will attack sheep or goats ; even ponies are said to have been 

 killed by them. The fur in winter and spring is thick, long, and 

 shaggy," but becomes thinner and darker in colour as the season 

 advances ; so that towards autumn the under fur has disappeared, 

 and the white collar oh the chest (indistinct in the winter garb) is 

 now very visible. This has doubtless given rise to the many mis- 



