584 



KEPORT OF EXPEDITION 



tubercle, surrounded on the inner side by a sweep of enamel. The 

 lower cheek-teeth have four tubercles at the angles, connected by longi- 

 tudinal and transvei-se low ridges. The legs are short and wrapped in 

 loose skin ; the paws large and strong, furnished below with a thick 

 elastic pad under the skin ; the toes long and distinct to the second 

 joint, the forepaws with four toes and a knobbed rudiment of a thumb, 

 the hind paws 4 inches long, with five toes ; nails stout, compressed, and 

 sliphtly curved. The tail long, equalling half the length of the head 

 and body, the fleshy part being 11|- inches, flattened and furnished 

 with long dense hair. The fur on the back and sides is long, close, and 

 rather coarse, but not harsh ; very scanty underneath on the chest and 

 belly. The rulF on the sides of the head composed of erect stiff bushy 

 hair. The eyes are large and black. 



This Marmot forms an entirely distinct species, characterized by its 

 large size, brilhant colour, and long tail. It was first observed by Mr. 

 Moorcroft in his journey from Tibet to Cashmeer, and described by 

 him as resembling a young hare. > The animal has in con.sequence been 

 conjectured to be a Lagomys. To me tliere is nothing in its appear- 

 ance or habits that convej's the idea of a young hare. I learned in 

 Cashmeer, from a person who accompanied him, that M. Jacquemont 

 shot numerous specimens at Muttayen, between Drass in Tibet and 

 Sir-i-cottul, the mountain pass Avhich separates Cashmeer from Tibet. 



The animal is entirely confined to the Tibetian region, and chiefly 

 to the northern face of the Himalayahs. Mr. Hodgson, in his Cata- 

 logue of the Nepaulese Zoology inserts an Arctomjjs Himalayams ; ^ but 

 as the notice is unaccompanied by any details, I know not whether his 

 animal is the same with the Tibetian Marmot, or whether it was found 

 on the northern or on the southern side of the Himalayahs. But cer- 

 tainly neither this nor any other species of Marmot exists on the 

 southern front of the range from the river Gogra to the Indus. Nor 

 does it appear to be found in Kunaor, which partakes of the climate 

 and productions of Tibet, and has a language in common with it. 

 Excellent observers, such as the Eev. Mr. Everest, Captain. Her- 

 bert, and many others, have ascended high up the valley of the Spiti 

 without having noticed it. In the Tibetian regions it is found all 

 along from near the lake Manasarovara to the banks of the Indus, where 

 it first bends to the south. In Cashmeer I was informed of its existence 

 towards the heads of the valleys of Du(;henparah and Shalimar, which 

 are conterminous with Ladakh, but nowhere along the Puntsal or 

 snowy range forming the moiintain boundary of Cashmeer on the side 

 of Hindostan. 



TheDrin is a beautiful anim.al, and interesting both in its habits and 

 on account of the dreary regions which it inhaljits. There, on the con- 

 fines of eternal snow, it is the almost solitary type of animated existence. 

 I first observed it on descending the northern side of the Boorzillah range, 

 which intervenes between Little Tibet and the valley of the Kishen 

 Gunga, early in the month of August, but 300 or 400 feet below the 

 belt of perpetual snow, and high above the region of the birch, the 

 rhododendron, or juniper. This is the favourite habitat of the animal, 

 where but a few grasses, the Tibetian Eiimex, Poljjgona, Fedicidares, 



' Royle, Illustrations of Botany of on wrapper of Journal of the Asiatic 

 Himalayahs, 1839, Introd. i. p. 37- Society, No. 65, for May 1837. (See 



* Catalogue of the Nepaulese Zoolop;v p. ,583, note 2. — Ed.) 



