The Chiru, or Tibetan Antelope 



chamber, or sac, in the latter ; this being perhaps de- 

 signed to assist respiration at high altitudes. Another 

 peculiarity" of the chiru is the great development of the 

 inguinal glands, which form tubes, running up a 

 considerable distance into the body. Glands are 

 present between the hoofs of both fore and hind feet ; 

 but there are none on the face below the eyes. The 

 horns of the bucks, which rise close together a short 

 distance above the eyes, and are remarkable for their 

 fine grain, are compressed from side to side, and carry 

 a number of bold transverse ridges on the front surface 

 for the greater part of their length, but are smooth 

 behind ; their general shape has been already mentioned, 

 but it may be added that they curve slightly forwards 

 at the tips. Chiru-horns are remarkable for their 

 constancy in size and shape ; the largest pair on record 

 are the property of Mr. A. O. Hume, and measure 

 27^ inches in length along the curve, with a basal 

 circumference of 6^ inches. 



The coat is so thick and upright as to feel almost 

 like the wool of a South Down sheep, and thus forms 

 an efficient protection against the winter cold of the 

 elevated regions to which the animal is restricted. 

 There is considerable variation in the colour of bucks. 

 In a specimen, probably from Ladak, figured by Dr. 

 Blanford in the Zoology of the Second Yarkand Expeditions 

 the whole of the upper-parts and outer sides of the 

 limbs are pale fawn-colour (light rufous brown), while 

 the under side of the head and neck is greyish white, 

 and the inner surface of the ears, a streak down each 

 buttock, the belly, and the hinder half of the inner 

 surface of the upper portion of the limbs are white. 

 The whole of the face below the horns, and the front 

 surfaces of both limbs are dark brown or black. On 

 the other hand, in a mounted buck from the north of 

 Sikhim exhibited in the British Museum the fawn- 

 colour only occupies the middle of the back, the parts 

 in front and behind this being dirty white ; while on 



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