FOSSIL RHINOCEROS OF TIBET. 181 



whicli, on the siTpposition that the Rhinoceros was not a 

 migratory visitor but a permanent resident of Tibet, and 

 elotlied in a warm fur, is perhaps the utmost limit that 

 eoukl safely be conceded for its habitat. The plain of the 

 Hioondes would require to have been not higher than 7,000 

 or 8,000 feet above the level of the sea. The mean level of 

 the Hioondes which is known atDhapa to be 15,000 feet, and 

 estimated to be not much less than 1 7,000 near Manasarovara, 

 may be considered as 16,000 feet. To reduce it, therefore, to 

 the circumstances above inferred vv-ould mvolve the con- 

 sequence that the northern face of the Himalayahs and (as 

 elevating movements are nowhere known to be confined to 

 narrow belts), probably a considerable portion of the chain 

 itself, have been elevated 7,000 to 8,000 feet since the tract 

 was tenanted by a species of Rhinoceros and several rumi- 

 nants allied to existing species. 



There are unquestionable proofs on the southern side of 

 the chain that important elevations have taken place within 

 a very late period, geologically speaking. The Sewalik for- 

 mations are continuous with the Himalayahs, constituting in 

 physical confirmation but the outermost belt of the chain. 

 They bear, in fact, the same relation to the southern face 

 that the Steppe of Hioondes does to the northern. The fos- 

 siliferous strata attain a height of about 3,500 feet above the 

 sea, and some parts of the belt about 5,000, the plains at their 

 foot being about 1,000. These strata have not only yielded 

 numerous extinct mammalia, but, besides Quadrumana and 

 Camels, they have been shown to contain the remains of at 

 least two existmg species of Crocodile, viz. the Magar and 

 Gharial, so common all over India; and the fluviatile shells (to 

 which the testaceous remains are limited) have been pro- 

 nounced by Mr. Benson not to differ specifically from recent 

 types, common in the northern part of Hindostan.* This 

 would show the upheavement, beyond all question, to date, 

 geologically speaking, since the commencement of the present 

 order of things ; and if so grand a movement has occurred on 

 the southern side of the chain within a late period, there is 

 no reason why a similar upheavement should not have taken 

 place on the I^orthern face. 



Mr. McClelland has found proofs that a raovement of ele- 

 vation has taken place in the opposite prolongation of the 

 chain in the valley of the Brahmapootra, in a marine deposit 

 of considerable height abounding in shells on the Kasia 

 hills. We are not informed what proportion of recent species 

 has been foiind in these shells, and consequently, as to the 

 age of the formation. 



' Stated on the aiithoi-ity of Mr. Everest. 

 *N 3 



