Game Animals of India, etc. 



of the same nature. The pairing-season lasts from the 

 middle of March to the middle of May, and the fawns, 

 of which there is but one at a birth, are dropped in 

 October and November, when they find shelter among 

 wild rice. The fawn often remains with the hind till 

 its second year. In Manipur the stags begin to drop 

 their antlers in June, although in Lower Burma the 

 shedding is deferred till the latter part of August or 

 beginning of September. During the dry season, 

 which lasts from the middle of February till the latter 

 part of April, thamin betake themselves to salt- 

 swamps, and, except for dew, must apparently exist 

 without fresh water. 



In Upper Burma, where they are fairly common, 

 thamin are driven by beaters, but in Lower Burma 

 they are sometimes shot, in native fashion, with the 

 aid of lanterns at night. In addition to the sportsman 

 and his rifle-coolies, the party on such an expedition 

 includes a lantern -carrier and a man with bells and 

 rings on a stick. On arrival at the spot selected, a fire 

 is kindled after dark, 'and a kind of incantation- 

 ceremony performed, in the course of which the 

 various members of the party, together with the rifles, 

 should pass through the smoke. The lantern, which 

 consists of an earthenware pot with a hole in one side, 

 and is used as a search-light, is then lit, the bells are 

 jingled, and on the approach of a stag, the light is 

 turned full in its eyes, by which it becomes so dazed 

 as to off^er an easy shot. 



A large herd of thamin is kept at the present time 

 by the Duke of Bedford in an enclosure in the park at 

 Woburn, where these deer, like chital and barasingha, 

 have become thoroughly acclimatised. 



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