521 



Note. — I saw, on two occasions, in the dense pine forests of 

 Cashmere, a Squirrel very like the S. vulgaris, I believe, found in 

 Afghanistan. 



38. Arctomys bobac, Schreb. 

 " Drun" of Cashmere. 



Red Marmot of Europeans. 



Is confined to localities at high altitudes on the W. Himalayas, 

 and prefers fertile and secluded situations, where vegetation returns 

 rapidly and is luxuriant. There this active creature spends the 

 summer months, surrounded by a plentiful supply of food, until 

 forced to its burrow by the snows of winter. In habits they are 

 social, and form their burrows in gentle slopes, or under stones, on 

 which they delight to sit, and, on the approach of danger, emit a 

 loud wailing cry, which is repeated by the others. In this way a 

 continuous wailing is heard for miles along these solitary mountain- 

 sides. On the approach of clanger, or after the wailing is over, it 

 darts into its burrow. The favourite food of the species consists of 

 roots and plants, which it would appear they store up for winter, 

 seeing that they hybernate for 4 or 5 months, and in some localities 

 for a longer period. It is seldom they are found at any great 

 distance from their burrows ; they delight in sitting erect on their 

 haunches at the entrances. During progression they leap, at times 

 running a few steps, using the tail to assist them. The Bearded 

 Vulture is a formidable enemy to this and the next species. The 

 valley of the Dras River, Ladakh, Wurdwun Pass, Cashmere, and 

 at elevations on the neighbouring ranges, from 8000 to 10,000 feet 

 above the level of the sea, are localities where they abound. 



39. Arctomys tibetanus, Hodgson. 



White Marmot of Europeans. 



On the plains of Rupshoo Ladakh this species is common, and 

 frequents suchlike situations as the last, but at higher elevations 

 and in a more barren country. I never saw it under an elevation of 

 12,000 feet, and often on ridges from 16,000 to 17,000 feet above 

 the level of the sea. It prefers the bleak and barren mountains of 

 the interior to the fertile valleys of the southern ranges. It is larger 

 than the last species. Colour a dirty yellowish-white, with the tip3 

 of the hairs black. 



40. Pantholops hodgsoni (Abel). 



" Sous" of the natives bordering on Chinese Tartary. 



Tibet Antelope of Europeans. 



Found on the borders of Chinese Tartary, N.E. of Almorah, and 

 in the northern parts of Nobra Ladakh, where it is called Sous by 

 the natives, who say it is abundant on the mountains beyond Yar- 

 kund. This fine, handsome creature wanders in large herds among the 

 bare and almost pastureless wastes of Nobra, where, in the summer 

 of 1854, my friend Lieutenant Peyton, 87th Fusileers, killed up- 



