SPORT IN WESTERN CHINA 147 



systematic rank of these two varieties, but Mr. R. Lydekker 

 {Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, published 

 April 1909), summing up all the evidence before him, considers 

 them two distinct species. This arrangement seems logical, 

 and is certainly more convenient than that of regarding them 

 as forms of the Sumatran Serow {Capricornis sumatrensis), 

 as some authorities do. 



Throughout Western China this animal is common, and is 

 everywhere known as " Yeh Lau-tsze " (Wild Donkey) or " Ai 

 (Ngai) Lau-tsze " (Cliff Donkey) , the long ears being responsible 

 for the vernacular name. Between 5000 and 10,000 feet eleva- 

 tion in west Szechuan, Serow is probably the commonest 

 wild animal. Around Wa shan, Tachienlu, Lungan Fu, and 

 throughout the Upper Min Valley it occurs. I have seen 

 specimens killed in all these places, and elsewhere also. The 

 flat skins are commonly used as bed mattresses throughout 

 these regions. Mr. Zappey shot two near Wa shan, and 

 Captain M'Neill secured three specimens near Tachienlu. The 

 lamented Mr. J. W. Brooke and his companion, Mr. C. H. Mears, 

 shot a couple (at least) in the Upper Min Valley, below Wen- 

 ch'uan Hsien. The above were all killed in 1908. But previous 

 to this Messrs. Brown and Wilden, respectively of the British 

 and French Consular services in China, had shot examples of 

 this animal in the Upper Min Valley. In 1893-4 Mr. M. M. 

 Berezovski secured specimens in the mountains north-west of 

 Lungan Fu. The earliest known examples of these Serow were 

 taken by I'Abbe David in the principality of Mupin in 1869. 

 These animals are always found in wild, precipitous, brush- 

 clad country, and, in consequence, are difficult to hunt. In the 

 Upper Min Valley the mountains are mainly composed of mud 

 shales, and landslips are frequent, rendering the hunting of 

 these animals highly dangerous work. When startled, Serow 

 plunge into the thickest cover on the cliffs, and are difficult to 

 drive out into a position affording a decent shot. The natives 

 snare them, hunt them with dogs, and shoot them, and occasion- 

 ally capture them in dead-falls. The native dog is extremely 

 useful in hunting Serow, commonly hounding them into 

 positions where they cannot escape, save by rushing their 

 tormentors. Though naturally timid, dogs madden them 



