14-2 Mammalogy of the Eimahyas. [Juli 



as the Owl and the wild Goose. But if the same species of Mammals 

 cire confined to particular regions, the great question still remains, whe- 

 ther similar regions, wherever situated, or however separated from one 

 another hy intervening seas and deserts, produce kindred or analogous 

 species of r>»Iammals ? and it is the general solution of this question in the 

 affirmative, as far at least as the great continents of the globe are con- 

 cerned, which renders the Mammalogy of the Himalayas so interesting 

 in this point of view. "SVe have here an insulated territory on the con- 

 fines of the tropic, with a climate varying from the most intense heats 

 of the Equator to the greatest rigours of the Pole ; and we shall find, in 

 discussing its animal inhabitants, that it presents, as it were, an epitome 

 of the Mammalogy of the world ; an intermixture, or rather a succession 

 of species and genera similar to that which we meet in trcivelling from 

 India to Kamtschatka, or from Brazil to Lab rador. 



Having thus fully explained the objects, it now only remains for me 

 to acknowledge the sources from whence I have derived the materials of 

 the following Memoir. The principal of these has been, of course, the 

 Collection of Professor Royle himself, and the few notes, rendered par- 

 ticularly valuable, however, by containing the native names and locali- 

 ties, made by that gentleman duiing his tours. Besides which, the ex- 

 tensive Collections of the British Museum, of the JNluseums of the Zoo- 

 logical Society, the East-India Company, and various private collections 

 of less note, which are occasionally made by Oificers, and sent to their 

 friends in this country, many of which I have had the good fortune to 

 examine, have furnished me with valuable materials ; whilst the different 

 Notices and Memoirs on Indian Zoology, dispersed through the pages of 

 the Asiatic Researches, the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 

 the Zoological Proceedings, and other similar publications, have been 

 consulted with the greatest advantage. By carefully quoting my autho- 

 rities, I have invariably taken care to distinguish what I have seen or 

 know myself, from what is merely given on the faith of others. Yet with 

 all these resources at my command, I have found my m.aterials much too 

 limited to give any thing beyond a mere outline of the Mammalogy of 

 the Himalayas ; but if this Memoir should prove to be the means of in- 

 ducing future travellers, or residents, in those interesting regions, to fill 

 up the sketch thus imperfectly traced, or assist them to distinguish what 

 is already well known, from what still continue to be desiderata, in these 

 inquiries, it will not have been without its use. The present time, 

 indeed, is peculiarly favourable for such pursuits. India now contains 

 many able and zealous naturalists ; and what is not less fortunate, has a 

 Nobleman for its Supreme Governor who both understands and can ap- 



