all the ravines and on the slopes of the mountains lying to
the north of the Brahmaputra from its source to Tra-dom.
Along this stretch of country herds may be seen daily, and
some magnificent horns found.
S h a p o o {O m s v i g n e i )
The late Mr. Dalgleish reports the existence of shapoo in
Tibet, but it is more than doubtful. We never saw any
animals, old horns or tracks, while the natives profess entire
ignorance as to their existence; Captain Bower, moreover,
saw none in his journey across Tibet, and is sceptical as to
the probability of this animal being in the country.
T h e W o l f { C a n i s l a n i g e r )
Wherever game is plentiful, the Tibetan wolf is to be
found, though on account of his shy nature he is rarely shot.
There are two varieties, the yellow and the black, of
which the former are by far the most common.
These wolves are to be found at all altitudes and in all
districts. As a rule they hunt singly or in couples, though
on one occasion I saw a pack of five together.
The hair, as might be expected, is long and close, while the
tail is of great length and thickness. They live principally
on antelope and gazelle, for the wild ass with his speed of
foot and his hoofs can mostly look after himself, and even the
cow yaks with young pay little attention to them when
prowling round a herd.
Their chief interest to the zoologist and the sportsman
lies in the question as to whether there are two distinct
breeds, or whether the litter of pups are coloured irrespective
of the colour of the mother and father.
Personally I consider that they are of the same breed, for
though the yellow variety are the more numerous, yet a
yellow and a black may often be seen together, while on two
occasions we saw a black she-wolf with two cubs, a black
and yellow, and on two other occasions a black mother with
two black young ones.
The colour of the surrounding country and the altitude
may have some effect upon them, for in the north of Tibet a
black wolf is rarely seen, while round Gartok they are by
far the more numerous.
We were unable to discover any difference in their shape
or size when placed side by side.
T h e T ib e t a n H a k e (Lepus hispidus)
This animal is to be found all over Western Tibet, its
favourite haunts being rocky mountain slopes or short scrub
jungle.
It is about the size of an English rabbit, but affords poor
sport, as a near approach is always possible—either on
account of the creature’s inquisitiveness or its extreme fear,
which causes it to become almost paralysed, so that it can
be knocked over with a stick; a small bore rifle is the best
weapon to use.
At certain places in Eudok where low scrub abounded,
these hares were found in immense numbers ; at one spot
just west of Tai Tso, I counted thirty-two in one patch of
shrubs in the space of ten minutes. They must, however,
change their haunts from time to time, as in two places,
Pamzal and Niagzu, where they had previously been reported
as very numerous, no trace could be found of them.
In speed and in the ease with which they cross steep and
rough ground I know of no annual to surpass them.
We killed very few, as the flesh is tasteless and makes
indifferent eating, and also because the Mussulman drivers
refused to touch it at all, when there was other flesh to be
had. We caught a leveret, which became quite tame in a
few days, but unfortunately came to an untimely end.
T h e T ib e t a n S a n d - G k o u s e ( Syrrhaptes tibetanus)
This is a particularly handsome, gamey-looking bird, and,
as might be expected from its living in a wind-swept plateau,
has strong and abnormally long wings and a powerful
flight.