76 MOUNTAIN FAUNAS 



by sheep, and they have apparently even greater 

 powers of chmbing and leaping. 



As will be explained later, other types of ungulates 

 also show adaptations to mountain life, especially in 

 those regions which have no wild goats or sheep. Just 

 as the two latter types of animals are of relatively 

 recent origin, so it is probable are the adaptations to 

 mountain life shown by other mountain ungulates. 

 Indeed the fleeing to the mountains appears to be the 

 latest phase in the long struggle between herbivores 

 and carnivores. There is evidence that the herbivores 

 acquired swiftness as the carnivores acquired intelli- 

 gence and strength. As a general rule the latter seek 

 to capture their prey by ruse rather than by direct 

 pursuit, and in the open steppes and plains their task 

 is relatively easy. To escape them, apparently, no less 

 than to utilize the rich mountain pastures, some herbi- 

 vores sought the heights, and there the carnivores can 

 hardly be said to have followed them, there being few 

 large flesh-eaters at great elevations. Indeed the chief 

 flesh-eating animals of the mountain ranges of the 

 globe are the vultures and their allies, always con- 

 spicuous in such regions. 



For convenience' sake we shall take a rapid syste- 

 matic survey of the animal kingdom in studying moun- 

 tain animals, but it may be noted first that as forest, 

 steppe, and tundra are all represented on mountains, 

 it is natural that animals from aU these regions should 

 occur there. 



For example, in the Himalayas we find that those 

 truly arboreal animals, the Primates or monkeys, are 

 represented high up in the region of coniferous forests, 

 where, doubtless, Mke the ungulates, they find relative 

 security from the great carnivores. The characteristic 



