340 On the Mammalia of Nepal. [Aug. 



Family Cheiroptera. 



The genera Galeopithecus and Phyllostoma are, I believe, wanting. 

 Of the four remaining genera of this family, viz. Noctilio, Vesper- 

 filio, Pteropus, Rhinolphus, there are abundance in the Tarai : but 

 few in the central region, and fewer still in the northern. One species 

 of Rhinolphus harbours in out-houses in the central regions, and oc- 

 casionally enters dwelling houses at night when attracted by the 

 lights. And one species of Pteropus appears in the autumn, and then 

 only, to plunder the ripe pears in gardens. It is similar in characters 

 with the great " fox bat" of the plains ; but much smaller, and of a 

 duller colour, or uniform dusky brown. 



Family Plantigrada. 



There are no hedgehogs in Nepal. Moles are found only in the 

 Kachar. Musk shrews abound in the lower and central regions, 

 wherever there are human habitations. The shrew of Nepal is a 

 smaller variety of the familiar stinking creature called ordinarily the 

 musk-rat in the plains. It is the Sorex Indicus. No such animal 

 is known to the Kachar. Bears ( Ursida?) of different kinds abound 

 in all parts of Nepal, and are very dangerous and troublesome: — in the 

 Tarai, Prochilus Labiatus and Ilelarctos Malay anus ; — in the central 

 and northern regions, Ursus Isabellinus and Ursus Tibetanus. And 

 here we may notice those interesting animals of newly proposed sub- 

 genera, which serve to connect the bears with the civets and weasels. 

 Ailurus Fulgens and Ictides Albifrons belong to the Kachar, though 

 tliey are occasionally found in the central region also. This latter 

 division is the exclusive habitat of a new species of Paradoxurus, 

 coloured, especially in youth, like the Mustela Hardwickii. It is not 

 fetid, and prefers, in confinement, vegetable to animal food. When 

 very young its tail is not convolate. 



Family Digitigrada. 



Of the genus Viverra, or Civet, the Zibet, or Indian Civet, is common 

 in the central region : but not known to the northern. It is probably 

 found likewise in the lesser hills ; but 1 am not aware of the fact. 

 We have also, in the central region, a very small variety of the In- 

 dian ichneumon or V. Mungos of Gmelin. 



The Tarai, Bhawar and lesser hills teem with all the known, large 

 Indian species of Felis, such as the royal tiger, the panther, the 

 leopard, the cheeta or hunting leopard, besides some described and 

 undescribed species of smaller cats. To the central region the tiger 

 is almost unknown, and so is the panther. But leopards abound in 

 it ; they however confine themselves almost entirely to the woods, sel- 



