Game Animals of India, etc. 



between the Semipalatinsk and the Semirechinsk Altai, 

 in latitude 86^ E,, longitude 47' N., is considerably 

 larger than the typical Persian race, standing about 

 27 inches at the shoulder. The advanced age of this 

 specimen is indicated by the nearly smooth, slightly 

 wrinkled band at the base of the ridged portion of the 

 horns ; the ridges themselves being somewhat worn 

 and about twelve in number. Compared with the 

 above-mentioned Baluchi head of the Persian race, it 

 seems evident that the horns are of a perfectly distinct 

 type. In the few ridges on the horns the Altai goitred 

 gazelle comes nearer to the Yarkand race, although the 

 horns are shorter. Moreover, with the exception of a 

 pale fawn-coloured streak running from below each eye, 

 the face is devoid ot markings and nearly white ; this 

 distinguishing the Altai animal markedly from the 

 Yarkand race. Although larger than a mounted 

 specimen of the Persian race, the Altai buck has shorter 

 horns. It has also shorter hoofs, but this dijflference 

 may be due to the nature of the ground on which the 

 animals lived. 



The followinor notes on the habits of this race were 

 furnished by Mr. A. O. Hume. " In Yarkand and 

 Kashgar they are found throughout the forest belt, and 

 in the deserts bordering these for some thirty miles or 

 so on either side of these belts. Wherever there is 

 cultivation they may be found in its neighbourhood. 

 They cannot remain anywhere very far from water, for 

 they drink regularly, and their paths to the water 

 through the desert and through the jungle can always 

 be distinctly traced ; but they cross the desert north of 

 the Tarim to the high-road and the cultivation about 

 it, and so are found northwards to the base of the 

 Thian-Shan. Though often seen in the desert, where 

 they sleep out in the open in the daytime, and where 

 they spend the night, they resort to the forest or jungle 

 or the edges of cultivation morning afid evening, to 

 graze and drink. They never ascend the mountains, 



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