88 MOUNTAIN FAUNAS 



same regions, and has similar habits. The pacas of the 

 Brazilian woods are represented on the motmtains by 

 a smaller type (Ooelogenys taczanowskii). Some of the 

 cavies also ascend to mountain regions, notably the 

 BoHvian cavy {Cavia holivensis), which lives in large 

 societies in the upper part of the Andes, timneUing the 

 groimd in aU directions with its burrows. 



As to the hare-Uke rodents, we have already noted 

 that the picas or tailless hares occur at great elevations 

 in the Himalayas in addition to frequenting the Siberian 

 steppes, thus illustrating the same conditions as the 

 marmots. The mountain hare of Europe is closely 

 related to the Arctic hare already discussed (p. 22). 

 Tibet has several species of hares, the most interesting 

 being Lefus hypsibius, which does not descend below 

 14,000 or 15,000 feet. 



Among birds we find that many Idnds of birds of 

 prey haunt mountains, though they are not necessarily 

 confined to them. Of wide distribution is the laem- 

 mergeier (Oypaetiis harhatus), found in the mountain 

 ranges of Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia, 

 which apparently feeds largely on carrion and animals 

 not killed by itself. The even more widely distributed 

 Golden Eagle {Aquila chrysaetus), on the other hand, 

 kills its own prey, which consists of rodents, the young 

 of ungulates and game birds. Other forms which may 

 be mentioned are BoneUi's hawk-eagle {Nisaetus fascia- 

 tus), found in the Alps as well as in Asia and North 

 Africa, and the magnificent condor {Sarcorhampvs 

 gryphus) of the Andes of South America. In tropical 

 countries some of the parrots range up mountain sides, 

 and in this connexion it is curious to note that the 

 New Zealand kea {Nestor notabilis), which inhabits 

 barren mountain sides, has become virtually a bird of 



