TAKIN 349 
Skull and Horns of Takin. 
The TAKIN (Budorcas taxicolor). 
Probably also akin to the musk-ox, this ruminant is a relative of 
the serows. It is heavily built, with stout limbs, large lateral hoofs, a 
short tail, a convex profile, and an almost completely hairy muzzle. 
The horns, which are large, massive, and bent somewhat after the 
fashion of those of the gnu, curve at first outwards and somewhat 
downwards, and then bend abruptly upwards about the middle of 
their length. Height at shoulder about 34 feet. Horns are present 
in both sexes, as in the serows and gorals, those of females being 
smaller than those of males. The general colour is cigar-brown, with 
a light saddle, and passing into blackish on the head, limbs, and under- 
parts, with a continuous dark dorsal streak. 
Distribution—Typically the Mishmi Hills on the northern frontier of 
Assam, but represented by the small-horned B. 4 whyter in 
Bhutan. 
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