330 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



There is a second variety in Canada, but I have never met 

 with it. 



The chamois represents the European antelope (Rupicapra 

 trayw). There is also a second variety in Russia (the Antilope 

 saiga). 



We thus discover the extreme paucity of varieties in cool 

 temperatures, which suggests that the antelope is an animal better 

 suited for tropical or sub-tropical climates, in which it becomes 

 thoroughly developed. 



In India we find one variety of large size, the nilghye (Portax 

 picta). This is a curious animal, as it carries extremely short 

 horns, seldom more than 8 inches in length, although it attains the 

 large size of GOO Ibs. live weight. The bull is a bluish gray, very 

 high in the withers, and deep in the chest ; the female is devoid 

 of horns, and is smaller, also different in colour, being a russet 

 brown. There is a strong resemblance to domestic cattle in the 

 nilghye, but the animal is shy, and, in my own experience, I have 

 found it more difficult to approach than the sambur deer. All 

 antelopes have a peculiar arrangement below the eyes, a sort of 

 pit, in connection with the lachrymal duct. 



In some parts of India the nilghye commit great havoc during 

 their nightly depredations upon the natives' crops, but the Hindoos 

 will seldom destroy them, as they regard them in the same light 

 as cows, the name signifying " blue cow." All the horns of 

 antelopes are sheaths fitted upon a bony cone. I cannot see much 

 difference between the gazelle (A. dorcas) of Africa and Arabia, 

 and the chicara of India. They are graceful creatures, which 

 generally inhabit extensive plains, and are difficult to approach. 

 I do not pretend to give a description of every variety of antelope ; 

 there are several in Northern India and Thibet, also the four- 

 horned antelope (Tetracems quadricornis). This is a curious little 

 animal with four short spike horns ; the two anterior are seldom 

 more than 2 inches in length, and the posterior, which are im- 

 mediately behind, do not exceed 4 inches. The four- horned 

 antelope is not gregarious, but is found either singly or in pairs, 

 generally in high grass, where they lie close until disturbed by the 

 elephant, which almost treads upon them before they can be induced 

 to move. They dash off at full speed, and from the howdah they are 

 difficult to hit with a rifle. A Paradox gun with one barrel loaded 

 with ball, while the other contains a charge of buck-shot, is an 

 excellent weapon where small deer are objects of the day's sport. 



The antelope par excellence of India is the well-known black- 

 buck (Antilope cervicapra). This is without exception the most 



