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Show 50 MESSRS. DANFORD AND ALSTON ON [Feb. 3, 5. On the Mammals of Asia Minor.-Part II. By CHARLES DANFORD, F.Z.S., and EDWARD R. ALSTON, F.L.S., F.Z.S. [Received February 2, 1880.] (Plate V.) Three years ago we gave an account of the species of Mammals observed and collected by Danford during a visit to Asia Minor in the winter and spring of 1875-76, incorporating the statements of the few previous writers on the fauna of that country1. The following pages contain the additional information which he obtained during another visit in the winter of 1878-79. O n this second expedition Danford spent most of his time in the extreme south-eastern provinces of Asia Minor. The principal stations where he collected were :-the island of Rhodes ; the eastern Taurus Mountains near Marash ; the valley of the river Pyramus or Jihan, in the provinces of Marash and Adana ; the Giaour- Dagh, a northern continuation of the Lebanon range ; and the valley of the river Euphrates, at Biledjik. Thence his route took him through part of the Palanga Plain near Albistan, and the Anti- Taurus Mountains, over the central tableland of Asia Minor by Kaisariyeh, Angora, Sivre-Hissar and Eski-Shehir, to Broussa, near the Sea of Marmora2. Although, as on his former trip, the time spent by Danford in the country was limited to the colder months, still we are able to add eleven species to our previous list, of which one appears to be new to science. W e believe, on the other hand, that three species of our first catalogue were wrongly identified ; and we now recognize forty-six species as being certainly represented in the fauna of Asia Minor, besides nine or ten others of which the occurrence, though recorded, is not fully authenticated. Much still remains to be done by future explorers, especially among the Bats, Insectivores, and Rodents. As in our previous communication, the species of which specimens were brought home by Danford are marked with an asterisk; while those of which the evidence of occurrence seems doubtful are not numbered and are enclosed in brackets. References are given to our former paper, and the species which were not included in it are indicated by a dagger mark. The same authorities have been consulted as to distribution of the species in the adjoining countries. W e must express our thanks to our friends Dr. Gunther and Mr. Thomas of the British Museum, where most of the specimens described have been deposited, and to Professor Alphonse Milne- Edwards of Paris for assistance ; also to Dr. Straueh of St. Peters-burgh, who has kindly given us much information as to the Wild Sheep of South-western Asia. 1. *VESPERUGO SEROTINUS (Schreb.). Danf. & Alst., no. 1. 1 P. Z. S. 1877, pp. 270-281, pl. xxxi. ? A map, showing Danford's routes in his two expeditions, is given in his " Further Contribution to the Ornithology of Asia Minor," Ibis, 1880, p. 81, pl. ii. |
