1832.] On the Mammalia of Nepal. 343 



deep ferrugineous red ; and that of the Kachar of a wolf-like reddish 

 sandy yellow, as much larger than the wild dog of the central region, 

 as that is larger than the species or variety belonging to the lesser 

 hills and forest. 



These dogs are very numerous, but so exceedingly shy of human 

 habitations, that it is only by rusticating in the depths of the woods of 

 Nepal that you have a chance of seeing or even hearing them. 

 Through the kindness of the first minister of this state, I have obtained 

 alive, several individuals of them, especially of the variety peculiar to 

 the central region, and have kept them in confinement for many 

 months. 



They are all alike distinguished by a double, thick coat; large, 

 erect, wide, coarse, obtusely-pointed, ears ; feet with hairy soles ; 

 a straight, very bushy tail, of medial length ; and jackal-like odour, 

 form, proportions, and aspect. And, if I may trust 5 skulls, of 

 mature or old individuals, now in my possession, their dental system 

 contradistinguishes them from all their congeners : for they have only 

 six molars on either side of either jaw. The swell of the parietal por- 

 tion of the skull is very great; and, as these primitive dogs have only 

 a moderately elongated head, they must be arranged under Cuvier's 

 second section of the Caninw. 



The jackal of the plains* is very abundant in the lower and cen- 

 tral regions of Nepal, rare in the Kachar. In the Tarai, the small 

 Indian insectivorous fox* is found ; but not in the forest of lower hills - 

 nor in the central mountains, nor in those of the northern region. 

 Six years ago, I introduced it from below into the valley of Nepal ; 

 and it seems to thrive well. The Kachar has a large peculiar species 

 of fox, which I have not been so fortunate as to see. The wolf 

 of the plains is unknown beyond the limits of the level country, nor 

 is there any other species or variety peculiar to Nepal ; unless it be 

 found in the Kachar : which 1 am not aware of. The like is true of 

 the hyaena. 



Family Pedimana. 

 This family presents, as far as I know, a perfect blank. 



Family Rodentia. 

 The common species of the genus Hystrix is frequent in the cen- 

 tral and lower regions ; unknown to the Kachar, 1 believe. In the Tarai, 



* We want descriptions of both of these, which differ as varieties, from all 

 those described. 



