1899.] Capfc. A. li. McMahon — Fauna of the Gihjit Didiicf. 107 



iiicnts. Two returned, but the third remained in attendance, and ^vheu- 

 cver the Griffon sliowed signs of turning the crow renewed his attacks, 

 and this went on until the strange couple were lost to sight. 



Mammalia. 



Regarding mammals I can give little information not n] ready 

 collected by former observers ; I can however add to tlie fauna already 

 recorded two more animals hitherto unknown to be in the Gilgit 

 District, i.e. (1) the Bharal ( Ovis nahura). I first heard of a pair of horns 

 being picked np on the Mintaka Pass leading into the Pamirs. Sub- 

 sequently I obtained two more horns and one good specimen of the 

 entire animal. They are to be found in small numbers only in Gujhal 

 (the upper Hunza valley) near Passu. I am told they are in largo 

 numbers in Raskam on the north of the Mustagh range. (2) The 

 ermine (Putorius Erminea) not hitherto reported within tlie Gilgit 

 district. I obtained specimens which came from the forest regions 

 in the upper valleys of Chilas. 



While in the Hunza and Nagar countries I was much struck with 

 the large numbers of the Beech Marten (Mustela foina) which descend in 

 winter into the Hunza Nagar valley, to altitudes of 6,000 ft. or so and 

 take up their abode in the walls of the villages and houses. I found 

 that a small reward would obtain me any quantity in these villages, 

 and in fact I soon had to prohibit any more being brought to me. 



Before leaving the mammals, I would invite the attention of 

 zoologists to the question whether the Tibet Marmot (Arctomys 

 himalayanus), the smaller Himalayan Marmot {Arctomys liodgsoni), 

 and Longtailed Marmot {Arctomys caudatus) are not all one and the 

 same species, the tail differing in length according to age. I cannot 

 help thinking that they are one species. I have just sent home to the 

 Zoological Society of London a live specimen of a young Marmot 

 caught in the Burzil Pass, the habitat of the Arctomys caudatus. At 

 present by tail measurement he is an Arctomys liimalayanus ; I fully 

 expect he will grow into an Arctomys caudatus, or failing that by 

 reason of confinement, remain at the intermediate stage of Arctomys 

 hodgsoni. 



Heptilia and Batracliia. 



These are represented by but few kinds in this country. Those 

 that exist there have to put up with a long period of hibernation 

 amounting in the case of some to about eight months out of the twelve. 



The Himalayan Viper (Halys himalayanus) is very common in 

 wooded tracts. I was struck with the number of cobras {Nala tripii- 



