254 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVIII. 



used for purposes of irrigation, and probably for filling troughs for 

 cattle. Perhaps some one acquainted with the tract of country can 

 furnish information on these points." 



My query also resulted in a letter to the Asian by " G.S.R.", who 

 I think may be recognised as one of the most competent observers in 

 India. " G.S.R." wrote : — " As this particular point (whether ante- 

 lope and gazelle can exist without water) has for some time engaged 

 my attention, I made special enquiries about it during a recent visit 

 to Bikanir and Jodhpur, where the heat in the hot weather is terrific 

 and antelope with gazelle exist in numbers, and where in the former 

 State water is only obtainable from deep wells, and in the most part 

 also in the latter country. I was informed by several persons, 

 European and native officials, that during the hot season when all 

 the tanks are dried up, herds of antelope and gazelle regularly attend 

 the cattle-drinking troughs in the evenings. In several parts of 

 Jodhpur many persons are kind enough to fill troughs in the jungle 

 away from villages for the benefit of antelope, just as kind people 

 at home feed wild birds during hard winters. In addition to 

 obtaining this supply of water, antelope and gazelle eat largely of 

 the flowers of the ' Ak,' which no doubt contain moisture. Ante- 

 lope maddened by thirst have been known to jump down village 

 wells. That antelope by the help of eating flowers, etc., can exist for 

 several days without water, seems to be generally held, but not for a 

 longer period than a week during great heat ; after that time they 

 die. It has always appeared to me much easier for purely vegetable 

 feeders, like antelope and gazelle, to exist for a considerable time 

 without drinking water to keep themselves alive than it is for 

 carnivorous animals such as wolves and foxes, who frequent similar 

 hot localities as antelope. How can these get water ? Well, I 

 was also informed that these animals go for their supply of fluid to 

 the cattle water troughs by the villages, during the night time I 

 conclude. But I think this statement requires further enquiries, as 

 the amount of water left in the cattle troughs after the antelope and 

 gazelle have had sufficient must be extremely small." 



As regards the carnivora, I can confirm the statement that they 

 drink from the cattle troughs at night, for I have seen tracks of 

 panthers, jackals, and foxes at such places. 



