XX raiRODUCTION 



There is not much remarkable in the distribution of the numer- 

 ous MuridcB of India. A few are peculiar to the South of India, 

 and these are somewhat more distinct in type, viz., Gohmcla, three 

 species of Leggada, and the curious Plaiacanthomys. Arvicola only 

 occurs in the Himalayas ; and Uhizomys, an Indo-Chinese type, in 

 the most eastern Himalayas. 



One species of Hare is found in the south of the peninsula, and 

 another in Northern and Central India; whilst a very curious form, 

 the Hispid Hare, inhabits the north-eastern portion of Bengal. 

 Lagomys, a northern type, is only found on the Himalayas. 



One Elephant is found throughout India, and two species of 

 Rhinoceros occur in the north-eastern parts of Bengal, one of them 

 extending to the extreme south of the ^Malayan peninsula. One 

 Wild Pig, with some slight differences of race, occurs throughout 

 all India, and a peculiar dwarf species is found sparingly in the 

 Terai adjoining the south-eastern Himalayas. A Wild Ass is found 

 in the north-western deserts, an ex't'ension from Persia and Western 

 Asia. 



True Deer, of the type of the Red Deer, only occur, in India, 

 within the Himalayas beyond the outer snowy range, in Kashmir 

 and Sikim, and these two species extend over great part of Asia; 

 but four Rusine Deer, all peculiar to the Indian region, are found 

 throughout India, one of them that most approaches the Elaphine 

 group (Rucervus), only occurring in Northern and Central India, 

 but extending into Assam. The little Mouse-deer, Memimna, a 

 Malayan form, occurs throughout India; but the northern Musk- 

 deer only in the Himalayas. 



Four species of Antelope are found throughout India, two of 

 them, the Nylgai and the four -horned Antelope, being distinct in 

 type from any African form; whilst the Gazelles occur both in 

 Africa and Asia. Two goat-like Antelope (NemorhmdusJ are found 

 on the Himalayas, the form being peculiar to eastern Asia from 

 Japan to Burmah. Of the true Goats, one type, liemitragus, has 

 a representative on the Himalayas, and another on the Neelgherries. 

 The Siberian Ibex extends to the Himalayas, and a splendid wild 

 goat, the Markhor, quite of the type of the domestic goat, is found 



