12 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF CHINA 



the back. In the south-west of Yunnan, on the Burmese 

 border, several species of ape and monkey occur, while in 

 the south and south-east others are to< be met with. 



While discussing the mammals mention should be made 

 of the remarkable scaled ant-eater (Manis), also called the 

 pangolin. This creature is highly valued for its supposed 

 medicinal properties. In fact, in certain parts of China 

 every wild animal that is at all uncommon is credited with 

 medicinal properties, and fetch good prices in the market. 

 Thus the blood of the serow is considered very valuable, as 

 also are the blood, bones, and claws of a tiger, the horns 

 of the serow and goral, and the antlers of the stag. The 

 pangolin is confined to the south and south-east. 



In the matter of marine mammals, the seas that wash 

 the shores of China are not very rich. Sea lions and 

 common seals occur round the coast, while various kinds 

 of whales and dolphins are to be met with further from land. 

 Some extremely interesting river dolphins occur in the 

 waters of the Yangtse basin. Some of these have not yet 

 been identified. Certain lake forms suggest that at one 

 time this part of China was under the sea, the dolphins 

 being left behind in lakes when elevation of the land took 

 place. 



Birds. 



The birds of China are better known than any other 

 branch of her fauna, apparently for the reason that they 

 have attracted more attention from competant naturalists. 

 It is probable that birds, insects, especially butterflies, and 

 shell-bearing mollusks the world over have received more 

 attention than other animals for the reason that they are 

 more attractive. Whatever the cause the fact remains that 

 there is little to be expected in the way of new species of 

 birds to> be discovered in this country, though a great deal 

 of work still remains for the ornithologist to do. For in- 

 stance, the problems of migration in this country have 

 scarcely been studied as yet, while the exact ranges of the 

 indigenous forms of bird that occur have yet to be deter- 

 mined. No country in the world offers a better field for 

 research to the ornithologist than does China. This country 

 is the headquarters of the great pheasant family, while its 

 great variety of topography offers the opportunity of study- 

 ing its avi-fauna under all kinds of conditions from open 

 desert to dense forest, high mountain ranges to swamps 

 and flat lands. Breeding operations may be watched, 

 nesting haunts and conditions noted. Bird life is so 



