xxvi THE HOG-DEER 441 



(alive) from the island of Formosa, which had round horns, but I 

 could not say positively how many points. 



There is an exceedingly small deer in China, that weighs about 

 25 or 30 Ibs. I have seen several when shooting, but never 

 myself shot one. These are in very great numbers, and although 

 they are generally either single or in pairs, a large number are shot 

 annually, when the shooting season commences in Shanghai, and 

 parties with their house-boats start for the interior by river and 

 canal. In the commencement of November a charming trip may 

 be arranged from Shanghai, as the house-boats are conveniently 

 fitted, expressly for the purpose, and there is no limit to the area 

 where pheasants, wild-fowl, snipe, deer, and wild pigs may be shot, 

 without the slightest difficulty or personal exertion. 



There are several varieties of small deer both in Ceylon and 

 India. The barking deer (C. muntjac) is an exceedingly pretty 

 creature of a light red colour, which occasioned the name given to 

 it in Ceylon, " red-deer." This little animal affords some amuse- 

 ment in the low country of that island with a scratch pack of 

 native dogs, as it has a very powerful scent, which the dogs seldom 

 lose ; it never goes straight away, but runs round the numerous 

 undulating hills, across the paddy-fields in the bottoms, back again 

 over the summits, and is generally killed in the thick bush, after 

 having left its mark upon one or two of its pursuers, in some 

 awkward cuts with its sharp tusks. 



These are like boar's tusks reversed, projecting from the upper 

 jaw and turning downwards. They are very long and sharp, and 

 inflict wounds of greater extent than would be expected from so 

 small a creature. 



There is also in Ceylon a diminutive species, the mouse-deer, 

 which is not larger than a hare. The male of this variety is devoid 

 of horns. 



Although I mention this most insignificant variety, it may be 

 remarked that I have omitted the name of the largest of all the 

 Cervidse, the moose (C. Alces, Lin.) This is intentional, as I have 

 never seen the species in a wild state. The object of this work 

 was to place before my readers the experience which I myself have 

 gained, therefore I do not attempt to include every creature which 

 may be classed among wild beasts. 



Many years ago, when reviewing Mr. G. P. Sanderson's excellent 

 work, Thirteen Years with the Wild Beasts of India, in the 

 Quarterly Magazine, I wrote the following critical remarks, to 

 the spirit of which I rigidly adhere : " When we consider the 

 difficulty attendant upon the study of wild animals in their native 



