274 ANTILOPIN^E. 



227. Tetraceros quadricornis. 



Antilope apud BLAINVILLE. BLYTH, Cat. 513. Figured F. CUVIER, 

 Mamm. III. 99. A. chickara, HARDWICKE, Linn. Trans. XTY. pi. 15. 

 T.striaticornis, LEACH. T. iodes, HODGSON, Gale. J. N.H.VIII. 88, with 

 fig. T. paccerois, HODGSON. A. sub-quadricornutus, ELLIOT, Cat. 56, 

 variety 1 ? Chouka and Chousingha, H. Bekra, Mahr. JBhirki, at 

 Saugor. Bhirkura (the male) and Bhir (the female), of Northern 

 Gonds. Bhirul, of Bheels. Kotri, Bustar. Kurds of Bustar Conds. 

 Kond-gtiri, Can. Konda-gori, Tel. Yulgb, Jangli bakra, H., in the 

 Deccan. 



THE FOUR-HORNED ANTELOPE. 



Descr. Colour uniform brownish-bay above, lighter beneath, and 

 whitish inside the limbs and in the middle of the belly; fore-legs dark, 

 also the muzzle and edge of the ears, which are white within, with long 

 hairs ; fetlocks dark within, with more or less distinct whitish rings. 



Length from 40 to 42 inches; tail 5; ear 4 J ; height at shoulder 

 2 feet to 26 inches ; at the croup a little higher. Anterior horns up to 

 1^ inch ; posterior horns 4 to 5. 



The colour varies a good deal according to locality. Some are much 

 browner than others ; many are light fawn, with a darker shade on the back 

 and hind quarters, and some are very pale yellowish-fawn. The anterior 

 horns vary much in development. Those in the South of India generally, 

 have rarely more than a knob or corneous tip, which often falls off, leaving 

 a black callous skin. Many from the North of India have the anterior 

 horns well developed, thick, conic, and straight, not exceeding 1J inch 

 in length. The posterior horns are nearly straight, or curve very slightly 

 forwards at the tip, and have three or four wrinkles at their base. 



Hodgson separated A. Chickara from quadricornis, and named two 

 additional species, but these now are all looked on as identical. 



I was at one time strongly inclined to consider Mr. Elliot's species 

 distinct from the northern animal, as all those which I procured from the 

 Eastern Ghats had only a vestige of an anterior horn, and were very pale- 

 coloured ; but in deference to Mr. Bly th's matured opinion I have followed 

 him in uniting them. The four-horned antelope is found throughout 

 all India, to which it is exclusively limited, not being known in Ceylon 

 nor the countries to the east of the Bay of Bengal. It frequents jungly 

 hills and open forests in the plains, not occurring in the dense woods of 



