ANTILOPE BEZOARTICA. 275 



Malabar, nor in lower Bengal. It abounds in the hills of the Eastern 

 Ghats from near Madras northwards, whence it extends over all the 

 wooded parts of Central India ; and on the west is found in parts of 

 Mysore, and in the jungles that border the Western Ghats. It is 

 unknown in the valley of the Ganges, but occurs at the foot of the 

 Himalayas, in the more open forests. It is said by Adams to occur, 

 though rarely, in the Western Punjab and Sindh. 



The Chousingha never frequents open plains, but may be seen in open 

 glades in the forests, and in bushy ground at the skirts of denser woods, 

 and is always found single or in pairs, being strictly monogamous. 

 Barely I have seen five or six scattered not far from each other. It 

 is not a mountain animal, but is quite at home on rocky and 

 jungly hills. When first disturbed, it sometimes bounds off in a 

 succession of short leaps, but generally runs with its neck low. It is 

 stated to rut (in Central India) during the rains, and the female to 

 bring forth her young in the cold weather. 



The specific name, Chickara, applied to this antelope by Hardwicke, 

 is quite erroneous, as that name is throughout all India applied to the 

 Indian gazelle. The venison of this antelope is rather dry, and is not 

 held in much esteem. 



Other antelopes belonging to the Tragelaphine section are the Elands, 

 Oreas canna and 0. Derbianns ; the Gnoos, Catoblepas Gnu and C. 

 Gorgon ; the Koodoo, Strepsiceros Kudu ; the harnessed antelope, the 

 Grysbok, Klipspringer, and many others, all from Africa. No other 

 Asiatic form is known. 



The next group is that of the true Antelope, or Antelope of the Desert, 

 restricted Antilopince of Blyth. They have a more or less ovine muzzle, 

 and ringed horns, generally present in the female also. They occur both 

 in Asia and Africa. The teats of the female are generally only two in 

 number. The two best known Indian antelopes belong to this group. 



Gen. ANTILOPE, Linnseus (restricted). 



Char. Horns in the males only, long, annulated with strong rings, 

 the tip smooth, spirally twisted, approximate at the base ; no muffle ; 

 eye-pits moderate, somewhat linear ; no canines ; large inguinal pits ; 

 feet-pits present ; small knee-brushes ; female with two mammae. 



228. Antilope bezoartica. 



ALDROVAND. BLYTH, Cat. 528. A. cervicapra, PALLAS, and ELLIOT, 



T 2 



