vlii PREFACE 



Asia is the most fascinating hunting ground in all the world, 

 not because of the quantity of game to be found there but 

 because of its quality, and scientific importance. Central Asia 

 was the point of origin and distribution for many mammals 

 which inhabit other parts of the earth to-day and the habits 

 and relationships of some of its big game animals are almost 

 unknown. Because of unceasing native persecution, lack of 

 protection, the continued destruction of forests and the ever 

 increasing facilities for transportation to the remote districts 

 of the interior, many of China's most interesting and impor- 

 tant forms of wild life are doomed to extermination in the very 

 near future. 



Fortunately world museums are awakening to the necessity 

 of obtaining representative series of Asiatic mammals before 

 it is too late, and to the broad vision of the President and 

 Board of Trustees of the American Museum of Natural His- 

 tory my wife and I owe the exceptional opportunities which 

 have been given us to carry on zoological explorations in Asia. 



We are especially grateful to President Henry Fairfield 

 Osbom, who is ready, always, to support enthusiastically any 

 plans which tend to increase knowledge of China or to 

 strengthen cordial relations between the United States and the 

 Chinese Republic. 



Director F. A. Lucas and Assistant Secretary George H. 

 Sherwood have never failed in their attention to the needs of 

 our expeditions when in the field and to them I extend our best 

 thanks. 



Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Bemheimer, who have contributed 

 to every expedition in which I have taken part, generously 

 rendered financial aid for the Mongolian work. 



My wife, who is ever my best assistant in the field, was 

 responsible for all the photographic work of the expedition and 

 I have drawn much upon her daily "Journals" in the prepara- 

 tion of this book. 



