10 
SECOND YARKAND MISSION. 
would have been far greater. During Colonel Godwin-Austen’s absence from England in 
1876-77, Mr. E. R. Alston very obligingly looked after the work. 
This description of the mammalia collected by Dr. Stoliczka was originally written in 
1875 — nearly four years ago. The numerous additions since made to our knowledge of 
the mammalian fauna of Central Asia haye rendered it necessary to rewrite a considerable 
proportion of the letter-press. The delay in publication has been caused by the time neces- 
sary for the preparation of plates. 
