The Takin 



were right in their behef as to the existence of some kind 

 of kinship between the takin and the musk-ox, although 

 it is impossible to formulate the nature of the affinity. 

 Possibly the fact that both animals dwell on or near the 

 snow may be additional evidence of their relationship. 

 By means of the Rocky Mountain goat, the takin is 

 probably connected in some way with serows, which are 

 themselves relations of the goats and sheep. This 

 whole assemblage of ruminants once inhabited north- 

 eastern Asia, whence the Rocky Mountain goat, the 

 musk-ox, and the two extinct genera referred to above 

 wandered into the New World, while the takin and 

 serows remained in the old family home. 



In 1906, Mr. J. Claude White, Commissioner of 

 Sikhim, had a young takin in his camp which it was 

 hoped might be transported alive to England, although 

 the fates willed it otherwise. Of this specimen a 

 photograph appeared in the Field for nth October 

 1906. Apart from this and one or two other immature 

 examples, the takin in a living state apparently still 

 remains unknown to Europeans, at all events in the 

 territories bordering British India. Since, however, 

 the range of the takin extends from the country north 

 of Bhutan and the Mishmi Hills through Eastern Tibet 

 into Szechuen and not improbably still farther eastward 

 in China, it is possible that Europeans may have seen 

 the animal in some part of its Chinese habitat. 



The little known concerning the habits of the 

 creature is derived from native reports. The small 

 size of the ears is sufficient to indicate that takin, unlike 

 serow, do not live in jungle. Mr. John Cockburn, in 

 Sterndale's Mammalia of India^ has stated that when 

 at Sadya he was shown by a Mishmi the open spurs 

 inhabited by these animals, and also that their range 

 extends from about 8000 feet to the Alpine region 

 which forms their true habitat. This is confirmed by 

 Mr. White, who has recently stated in the Field that 

 takin inhabit the zone immediately below the snow-line ; 



161 M 



