INTRODTJCTION. xix 



tion of 4,500 feet. Associated in the Kakhyen hills with this Indo-Malayan type, 

 is that peculiar, and comparatively short-tailed, so-called Tree-shrew, Sylomys^ 

 which was first discovered in Borneo, and afterwards by Major Berdmore in 

 Tenasserim. 



The Palseartic Manchurian genus CJiimarrogale, which was first discovered in 

 Japan and afterwards in the Himalaya, occurs also in the Kakhyen mountains at 

 Ponsee. The species is closely allied to that found in Japan. It is probable that 

 in the Kakhyen hills it will be ascertained to be associated with the genus Anu- 

 rosorex, which is also a member of the same section of the Palseartic fauna, 

 and the occurrence of which on the hill ranges of Northern Assam was recently 

 established by the researches of Mr. E. S. Peal of Sibsagar. 



The genus Talpa, which is represented in the Himalayas and in the Assam region 

 by two species, one of which occurs in the valley of the Sittang, will also doubtless 

 be found in the high region to the east of Bhamo. 



Another instance of an Indian mammal extending its range to Western 

 Yunnan is to be found in Vandeleuria, a subgeneric type of Mus, occurring in 

 Southern and Central India and in the valleys of the Himalaya, and which I 

 obtained in the valley of the Nampoung, within the Chinese frontier, the animal 

 being apparently identical with the species found in Central India. The squirrels, 

 on the other hand, are peculiar in the circumstance that not only certain species of 

 the valley of the Irawady about Bhamo, but others also of the hill region to the east, 

 manifest types of coloration which do not occur to the west or to the south ; for 

 example, the squirrels which are distinguished by one or more lines on the ventral 

 aspect of the body. The squirrel with more than one line on the belly occurs, 

 as far as my observations go, only in the hills, and does not extend into the 

 valley of the Irawady ; whereas the squirrel with a single ventral line occurs not 

 only in the valley, but extends into the mountain ranges to the east ; and in con- 

 nection with this, it is noteworthy that squirrels with analogous ventral lineation 

 are found as far as the eastern sea-board of China. The large flying squirrel of 

 Western Yunnan is also specifically distinct from the Himalayan species, and 

 also from the voltant squirrels of Eastern China ; whereas the smaller form 

 P. pearsoni is found on the mountain ranges of Assam and Yunnan. 



That peculiar rodent type Bhizomys, which is allied to the Palseartic type Spalax, 

 has its maximum specific development in the Indo-Chinese region, and is represented 

 in the high area to the east of Bhamo by two species, B. pruinosus and R. badius, 

 which are also found on the mountainous region to the west of the Irawady, con- 

 stituting one of its zoological features, the former species having a further west- 

 ward extension as far as the Sikkim-Himalaya. 



