CERVUS AFFINIS. 251 



somewhat perhaps exceeds the European animal in size, and it has the 

 horns less rough, and somewhat larger than those of most specimens of 

 the European deer, and the second basal tine is generally present, which 

 it is not in young stags of C. elaphus of the same age. The horns too of 

 the Kashmir stag are more divergent and bowed, converging again at 

 the crown, whilst the European animal has them conspicuously straighter 

 in the beam, and the crown generally finer and more ramifying. 



The JBarasingha of Kashmir, as it is always called by sportsmen (and 

 generally by the native shikarees also), is only found, within our limits, 

 in Kashmir, where it inhabits the magnificent pine forests, usually at a 

 height in summer of 9,000 to 12,000 feet, but descending much lower in 

 autumn and winter. Most of the individuals of this deer have shed their 

 horns before the time when Europeans are allowed to enter Kashmir, viz., 

 15th April, and many have the new horns perfect early in October, at 

 which time the rutting season commences, and the stags may be heard 

 bellowing in the woods all daylong, and they are then easily stalked. The 

 females give birth to their young in April, and the young are spotted. 



This stag is found throughout great part of Western and Central Asia, 

 and has been found as far as the eastern shores of the Euxine Sea. It is 

 common in some parts of Persia, where called Maral, and it was long ago 

 described by Pallas as the C. elaphus. He stated that it appeared to be 

 larger than the European stag, and that it was very abundant in Caucasus 

 in the woods at the foot of the Altai mountains, round Lake Baikal, and 

 on the river Lena. 



Specimens of this deer are living in the gardens of the Zoological 

 Society, London, and the female has bred there. 



218. Cervus aflmis. 

 HODGSON. BLYTH, Cat. 480. Shou, of Tibet. 



THE SIKIM STAG. 



Descr. Of very large size ; horns bifurcate at the tip in all specimens 

 yet seen ; horns pale, smooth, rounded. Colour a fine clear gray in 

 winter, with a moderately large white disk ; pale rufous in summer. 

 Length about 8 feet. 



Stands 4 J to nearly 5 feet high at the shoulder. Hodgson thus describes 

 the horns : " Pedicles elevate ; burrs rather small ; two basal antlers 

 nearly straight, so forward in direction as to overshadow the face to the 



