486 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XVIII. 



"strange-looking ruminant" can hardly be expected to rank among the sought- 

 for trophies of the big game hunter, as its " head " is not imposing and there is 

 nothing specially interesting except to the naturalist in the clumsily-built form 

 of the animal. We are at last in possession of authentic photographs that have 

 been reproduced in the Field of 13th October 1906 and in our Journal (Vol. 

 xvii. p. 842) taken of a young live male which was given to Mr. J. C. White. 

 Political Officer, Sikhim. The animal, however, died very soon after these were 

 taken. Considering that its range extends from the country north of Bhutan 

 through Eastern Tibet into Szechuen there are opportunities for original 

 research on its habits, &c, by sportsmen, besides the originality of the trophy 

 awaiting them. 



A far nobler "head " awaits the sportsman who is fortunate enough to make 

 personal acquaintance with the Shou or Sikhim stag (Cervus affinis), and 

 although some interesting information as to its geographical range has lately 

 been contributed, it still presents a field for useful investigation, as "few 

 British sportsmen have seen the Shou alive." 



Of the rest of the deer and antelopes, the cats, pigs and dogs, nothing 

 remarkable is now brought before the notice of the reader, but we find some 

 interesting references to the relationships of the Panda (JElurus fulgens) of 

 the Eastern Himalayas, which was given the popular name of " The Red Cat- 

 bear or Himalayan Racoon" by Blanford and which the author describes as 

 "one of the most beautifully coloured of all mammals," and of its equally 

 puzzling and lesser-known relative of Eastern Tibet that is known as the 

 "Short-tailed Panda" (jEluropus melanoleucus). Regarding the latter it is 

 pointed out that further information is required regarding the protective 

 utility or the warning-colour nature of its conspicuous black and white pelt. 



The volume concludes with a short note on the different hares that are 

 known from the countries under consideration, but like all " small fry "that 

 provide no trophies they have hardly yet been seriously studied in India and 

 its dependencies. Hares are generally looked upon by the casual sportsman as 

 just the ordinary hare of the district and as a useful casual addition to the 

 stewpot, so that it will probably be some years yet before the necessary full 

 series of good specimens is available from all parts for proper comparison 

 This book is, however, essentially for the use of the sportsman, and he will, we 

 fear, never be persuaded to trouble his head about such animals as hares. 



We must not omit to mention the complete index that is appended of the 

 scientific and popular names, as this forms a very necessary part of any work 

 of this nature. 



