Wild yak (Poëphagus grunniens, ferus)—rare.
Wild ass (Equus Kiang)—rare.
Wild pig (Sus scrofa ferus) in valleys—rare.
Besides the above a species of marmot and Hodgson's antelope are reported to frequent the Chamen-tagh range.
On comparing the above list with the mammalia of the Tarim valley, it will be seen that ten kinds inhabit the Altyn-tagh (together with the Chamen-tagh) which are absent from the Tarim valley and Lob-nor. Of these, the blue mountain sheep, wild yak, and Hodgson's antelope,[1] are peculiar to Tibet, and here find the northern limit of their range.
Of birds there are only a few in the Altyn-tagh, as in winter we found but eighteen kinds.[2]
The climate in winter is extremely rigorous, and snow falls rarely; at all events on the northern slopes. In summer, as we were told by the hunters, rains and cold winds are of frequent occurrence.
Besides hunters' tracks, there are two roads in
- ↑ [For a description of these animals see Mongolia, by the same author, English translation, vol. i. chap. vi. and vol. ii. chap. vi.—M.]
- ↑ Gypaëtus barbatus, Vultur cinereus, Gyps himalayensis, Falco æsalon, Aquila fulva, Accentor fulvescens, Leptopeiles Sophiæ, Turdus mystacinus, Linota montium, Erythrospiza mœogolica, Carpodacus rubicilla, Corvus corax, Podoces Biddulphii (up to 10,000 feet), Fregilus graculus, Otocoris albigula, Caccabis chukar, Megaloperdix sp., Scolopax hyemalis.
