Game Animals of India, etc. 



ruminants, as the four-horned antelope is one of the 

 smaller. Although it was at one time thought that 

 these two singular ruminants were near relatives, later 

 researches have shown this view to be untenable. 



As might be expected, the existence of the extra 

 pair of horns in the present species is indicated by 

 some at least of its native names ; chousingha {cha^ or 

 chou^ four, and singh, a horn) being the Hindi equivalent 

 of four-horned antelope. In the Deccan, and apparently 

 in some parts of the Madras Presidency, where the 

 front pair of horns is frequently, if not invariably 

 absent, the animal is known simply as jangli bakri^ or 

 wild goat. By sportsmen it is frequently termed the 

 chinkara^ a name properly belonging to the Indian 

 gazelle. 



Even when the front horns, which are situated 

 between the eyes of the bucks (the does being horn- 

 less), are fully developed, they are but poor affairs ; 

 being frequently little more than knobs, while at their 

 best they are not known, with one exception, to exceed 

 2^ inches in length. Neither are the back horns, which 

 are simple pointed spikes, much to boast of in the way 

 of size, the maximum recorded length being 5 inches. 

 As a rule, the length of the front horns seldom exceeds 

 a little more than half that of the hind pair, but in the 

 exception alluded to the front pair (3|- inches) slightly 

 exceeds the hind ones (3^ inches) in length. This 

 specimen, which was obtained at Mandla, in the Central 

 Provinces, is in the possession of Captain B. H. Boucher. 



Despite their small size, the presence of two pairs of 

 horns renders heads much sought after as trophies. In 

 Madras the front horns are, as mentioned above, seldom 

 developed ; and if it should turn out that in certain 

 districts they are invariably absent, and regularly 

 present in individuals from most other parts, then the 

 two-horned form would be entitled to rank as a distinct 

 local race, or sub-species. If that prove to be the case, 

 the race will have to be known as Tetraceros quadri- 



172 



