i66 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



Muntjac are solitary animals, though several may be 

 found within the same square mile. In their haunts they 

 have well-defined tracts which they usually make for when 

 roused. In running they carry the head and neck low and have 

 a rather ungainly motion. They are not fast, though at a 

 pinch they can get through cover at a good speed, wriggling 

 through and attempting to slink out at the bottom in the least- 

 expected place. 



The Crying Muntjac stands i8 to 20 inches at shoulder, and 

 the total length is 38 to 40 inches. The body is reddish-brown ; 

 top of tail bright chestnut, under-side white ; belly and inside of 

 hind-legs white, front and outside of fore-legs brownish, inside 

 buff ; the head and neck is yellowish-brown, with blackish 

 lines down face ; the whole pelt is smooth and glossy. The 

 horns of the bucks are 5 to 6 inches long, erect, curving slightly 

 outwards, with the apex sharply curved inwards ; in adult 

 males a small basal tine is developed. The antlers are shed 

 annually, though in old animals they are occasionally retained 

 over two seasons. The upper canine teeth in the males are 

 protruded downwards, forming two sharp tusks about 2 inches 

 long. The does are of the same colour as the bucks, slightly 

 smaller, with no tusks or antlers. The young are spotted with 

 white. Munt j ac-hunting is quite good sport, and the flesh is 

 most excellent eating. A 12-bore, using large shot (A. A. or 

 B.B.), is the best weapon to use after these and other small 

 Deer, it being safer than a rifle. 



Muntjac are found scattered through the hilly country 

 all over the province of Szechuan, and are quite common in 

 regions bordering the western limit of the Red Basin up to 

 7000 feet elevation. Being almost nocturnal in habit they are 

 seldom seen in the daytime, but on wet, foggy days they are 

 occasionally met with. How far south they range I have no 

 knowledge, but I have seen them to the south-east of Tachienlu 

 and around Fulin. 



Mupin is the type-locality for M. lacrymans, but our speci- 

 mens all came from western Hupeh, and the town of Ichang may 

 be put down as roughly marking the eastern limits of this species. 



The late F. W. Styan, in Wade's With Boat and Gun in the 

 Yangtsze Valley, p. 126, reports the killing of M. lacrymans 



