The Swamp-Deer, or Barasingha 



certain degree from the normal in the direction ot the 

 aberrant type. 



A length of 41 inches, with a basal circumference 

 of 5^ inches, is the " record " for swamp-deer antlers. 



As already mentioned, the swamp-deer is restricted 

 to the Indian mainland, being unknown in Ceylon 

 as well as in the countries lying to the south of the 

 Assam valley, which forms its limit in this direction. 

 Westward the range of the species is continued along 

 the foot of the Himalaya to the Kyarda Dun, beyond 

 the Jumna. From the eastern Sandarbans ot Bengal 

 the swamp-deer is met with in a few localities in the 

 Indo-Gangetic plain as far as Bahawalpur and Rohri 

 in Sind, as well as locally through the great tract 

 between the valleys of the Ganges and the Godaveri, 

 as far eastwards as the Mandla district. It is likewise 

 numerous in the upper portion ot the valley of the 

 Narbada, as well as southwards to the neighbourhood 

 of Bastar. In the Central Provinces the limits of the 

 areas inhabited by this deer correspond to the tracts 

 of sal-forest. 



Avoiding thick forest, swamp-deer, which subsist 

 by grazing, affect the outskirts of woods and grassy 

 plains with scattered trees ; the vicinity of water being 

 essential. In such localities they are found during the 

 cooler months of the year in herds, which in some 

 instances are of great extent. In the spring the 

 members of these herds disperse ; single stags being 

 met with on the grass plains of Assam during March 

 with their antlers in velvet. These deer are at least 

 as diurnal in their habits as chital ; and the pairing- 

 season appears to take place in the latter part of 

 October. 



Where the ground on which they are found, as in 

 parts of Central India, is open, swamp-deer may be 

 stalked ; but in the high grass of the Nepal Terai and 

 Assam they are commonly shot from elephants. 



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