THE NILGAI ANTELOPE 119 



and throat which probably by breaking 1 up the 

 outlines of the animal render it less conspicuous in 

 the bush than a uniformly coloured beast would be. 

 Average length of horns eight or nine inches ; 

 maximum recorded length 1 1 ^ inches. 



Distributed over a limited portion of India (being 

 absent from Eastern Bengal and Ceylon) nilgai 

 inhabit thin forest or fairly open plain, going in 

 bands of from seven to twenty individuals ; they 

 keep much to the same patch of forest, and both 

 graze and browse. Like the African elephant, they 

 care little for shelter from the hot sun. Nilgai are 

 said to be good climbers ; they can break into a 

 heavy gallop if alarmed. These antelopes do 

 considerable damage by rifling sugar-cane planta- 

 tions ; in the jungle they feed on the acid douna 

 (Phyllanthus) and other fruits, and on the leaves of 

 the zizyphus or ber tree. Although much preyed on 

 by tigers, nilgai are still relatively abundant, even 

 in the midst of densely populated country. In India 

 man and beast live side by side ; no war of exter- 

 mination is permitted ; even the usages of the chase 

 are guarded by rules of etiquette. On application 

 from the villagers, duly accredited shikarris are now 

 and then permitted to thin out too destructive game; 

 but there is no wanton slaughter, no shooting 

 en battue merely to make an enormous bag. How 

 different, alas ! to South Africa, where guns of a 

 sort have been supplied to all and sundry, and the 



