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No. 57, Page 82. Rucer-vus Duvaucelli. 

 Swamp or Bara Singha Deer of Central India. 



Jerdon's remark that this deer is to be found in the high- 

 lands of the northern districts of the Madras Presidency, and the 

 Ganjam and Vizagapatam Collectorates, is confirmed at page 90, 

 the horns there referred to have been made over to the Madras 

 Museum. 



Jerdon thus describes this deer and calls it the " Swamp Deer 

 of many Europeans, generally Bara singha of sportsmen in 

 Bengal, Oude, &c. 



" Horns very large and moderately stout, curving well out- 

 wards ; pale, with basal antler, and a more or less branched sum- 

 mit, the lower branches sometimes simulating a median tine. Form 

 altogether lighter than that of the sambur, especially the neck and 

 fore-quarter ; hair finer and more woolly ; tail moderately short. 

 Color dull yellowish-brown in winter, bright rufous-brown or 

 chesnut in summer, paler below and inside the limbs ; white under 

 the tail. The female is lighter, of a pale dun or whity -brown 

 color. The young are spotted. 



Length, nearly 6 feet ; tail 8 to 9 inches ; height 1 1 hands to 

 11 (44 to 46 inches). Average length of horns 3 feet, or a little 

 more. Fourteen and fifteen points are not uncommon in old stags, 

 and I have seen them with seventeen. 



This fine deer is found in the forest land at the foot of the 

 Himalayas, from the Kyarda Doou to Bhotan, and is very abun- 

 dant in Assam, inhabiting the islands and ehurrs of the Berham- 

 pooter, extending down the river in suitable spots to the eastern 

 Sunderbunds. It is also stated to occur near Monghyr, and thence 

 extends sparingly through the great forest tract of Central India. 

 It is rare to the south of the Nerbudda, but it has to my know- 

 ledge been killed between the Nerbudda and Nagpore, not far 

 from Seonee, and it is tolerably abundant in the open forest land 

 between Mundlah and Omerkuntak at the source of the Nerbudda. 

 To the east of this forest tract it has been killed near Midnapore, 

 and in the highlands of Goomsoor ; but does not, as far as is known, 

 extend so far west as the road between Mirzapore and Jubbulpore." 



