582 



KEPOKT OP EXPEDITION 



The Gurmoh is smaller than the Bsoh ; each of these crosses takes after 

 the sire in the Bisonic form of the head, but has shorter hair, and the 

 characteristic chowry tail much less bushy. The Bsoh shows some- 

 thing of the dewlap, and has longer limbs and is of less compact build 

 than the Ox. The temper improves, and the eye, which is fiery and 

 restless in the Yak, becomes quieter. 



One reason of the breed is perhaps that the cross affords an animal 

 more tolerant of heat on the one hand than the Yak, which suffers ex- 

 tremely at a low altitude in summer, and on the other hand hardier than 

 tlie common Cow, and able to sustain the severest cold, partaking thus 

 of the good qualities of both originals. The Yak browses freely on 

 species of Artemisia, which are abundant on the dry hills of Tibet, form- 

 ing in many instances the only vegetable coat which the soil has. 



The Yak is chiefly used as a beast of burthen, and in the upper parts 

 of Tibet it is ridden, but travels at a very slow pace. The mules are 

 kept for draught or the plough, and the common cattle for their milk. 



The above particulars are from notes taken at the time in the country. 



v. — The Cashmeer Martin. 



3 g 



Mtistela. — Sub-genus Mai-tes ' ' 



-Incis. 



teeth 

 =38. 



5—5 



3—3 



3—3' 

 1—1 



canine 



1—1 



g g (viz. false mol. ^ . , camass. t^^t, tubercular 



1—1' 

 1—1 



cheek 



1—1 



A — 18 

 ) —TU 



Maries Macroura (Falc), Long-tailed Cashmeer Martin —Head, face, 

 and back of neck, blackish brown ; lower jaw and a salient cheek patch 

 under the ear, dirty white ; throat, sides of neck and breast, yellowish ; 

 body dirty yellow, graduating backwards into dirty brown ; crupper, 

 flanks, hind legs, and lower portion of forearms, dark sepia, passing 

 downwards into blackish brown: ears blunt, concolorous with the 

 head ; tail black ; body vermiform. Length of head and body 25 inches ; 

 tail 17 inches (fleshy portion 16). 



Described from a full grown female, March 28, 1838. 



VI. — The Tibetian Hare. 



Extreme lengtli from tip of fleshy tail to muzzle, 1 ft. 11 in. Length of fleshy- 

 tail, 4 in. Length of hairy tail, 5 in. Length of ears, Sin. Width of leaf of 

 ears, 3 in. 



General coloiu- mixed grey, rather light, with a lead-bluish tinge on 

 buttocks, and slightly rusty on neck ; head greyish brown ; ears long, 

 tipped on the outside with black ; tail very long, black above, white 

 underneath and at sides; breast, belly, and inner side of the legs white; 

 mamma;, 4, ventral. It is a rusty red, long-legged, lanky hare, weighing 

 about 4 Ibs.i 



' Dr. Hooker, in his account of the 

 Cholamoo Lakes in Tibet, observes : 

 ' There were also many slate-coloured 



hares with white rumps {Lepus oiosto- 

 hcs.)' — Himalayan Joiu-nals, ii. 157. 



