636 



EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



mils of the volcanoes, where neither tigers nor men the two most 

 formidable of all beasts of prey can get at it." 



Dammerman (in Skottsberg, 1934, p. 422) considers the animal 

 "threatened with extinction." 



Heynsius-Viruly and Van Heurn (1936, pp. 52-53) give the fol- 

 lowing account: 



Although serows still occur in many places in Sumatra, their number de- 

 creases rapidly, especially in the vicinity of population centers. . . . They 



FIG. 58. Sumatran Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis sumatraensis). 

 After Mohr, 1934. 



are very shy, but with the aid of dogs they are easily shot. They are fre- 

 quently caught in snares .... This method of catching them is so successful 

 that in the last ten years the mountain antelope has been exterminated on 

 Merapi, Singalang, and Tandikat. In contrast with past years, live mountain 

 antelope or their horns are no longer offered for sale at Fort de Kock. 



Small herds are yet to be found on the steep slopes of Sarogodoeng. from 

 Sipirok to Hoeta Gadoeng (Baringin), Saroloengoen, Bangko, the Doeabelas 

 Mountains and Korintjih. . . . This animal occurs in the reserve of the 

 Gajo and Alas districts. Let us hope that it will hold its own also in the 

 other above-mentioned localities. 



A number of Government foresters in Sumatra have kindly con- 

 tributed (in litt., February to June, 1937) the following information: 

 The Serow seems to vary from rare to common on steep, rocky 

 mountains over a considerable part of the island; among these are 



