272 



horns ; muzzle bovine ; four teats j usually white ringed markings above 

 the hoofs, and many with white spots en the face and body. 



There are two types of this group in India, and many in Africa, the 

 white markings being most highly developed in an African antelope, 

 Tragelaphus scriptus. The Indian species both frequent jungly ground. 



Gen. PORTAX, C. H. Smith. 



Syn. Damalis. 



Char. Horns only in males, short, recurved, distant, smooth ; eye- 

 pit rather small ; upper lip broad, ample ; nostrils approximate ; tail 

 long, tufted ; a short erect mane, and a tuft of hairs on the throat of the 

 male. Of large size. 



There is a slight pit in front of the orbit, and anterior to this a small 

 longitudinal fold, in the middle of which there is a pore, through which 

 exudes a yellow secretion from the gland beneath. In the only species 

 of this genus the back is rather short, and slopes downwards from the 

 high withers, and the neck is deep and compressed like that of a horse. 



226. Portax pictns. 



Antilope apud PALLAS. Figured F. CUVIER, Mamm. III. 100-101. 

 A. tragocamelus, PALLAS BLYTH, Cat. 512. Damalis risia,IL. SMITH. 

 ELLIOT, Cat. 57. Tragelaphus hippelaphus, OGILBY. Roz orTfo/A, H., 

 in Northern India. Ru-i, Mahr. and H., in the south. Nil-gai, gene- 

 rally ; the male often called simply Nil or Lil. Gurayi and Guriya, of 

 Gonds. Maravi, Can. Mdnu-potu, Tel. 



THE NIL-GAL 



Descr. Male of an iron-gray colour ; lips, chin, lower surface of the 

 tail, stripes inside the ears, rings on the fetlocks, and abdomen, white ; 

 head and limbs tinged with sepia-brown j mane, throat-tuft, and tip of 

 tail, b]ack. 



The female is a good deal smaller than the male, and tawny or light 

 brown. 



Length of a male about 6 J to 7 feet ; height at the shoulder 4 feet 

 4 inches to 4| feet ; horns 8 to 9 inches, rarely 1 j ear 7, very broad ; 

 tail 18 to 21 inches, 



The Nil-gai is found throughout India, from near the foot of the Hima- 

 layas to the extreme south of Mysore, but is rare to the north of the 



