236 RECORDS OF BIG GAME 



Horns of Chiru. 



The CHIRU or TIBETAN ANTELOPE (Pantholops hodgsoni). 



Among several animals peculiar to the Tibetan plateau none is 

 more interesting than the chirti, whose beautiful horns form some of 

 the most cherished trophies of the sportsman. Although very unlike 

 in general appearance, the chiru is a near ally of the saiga, having the 

 nose even more swollen at the sides, at least in the male, but less bent 

 downwards at the tip. The long black horns of the bucks, which 

 are somewhat compressed, rise almost vertically from the head, and 

 are slightly divergent, nearly straight below, but evenly curving for- 

 wards above, and ridged in front. General colour of hair, which is 

 very dense and short, pale fawn above, with a pinkish suffusion, 

 but the face and part of the limbs of the males black or dark 

 brown. Height at' shoulder about 31 or 32 inches; weight from 90 

 to I 20 Ibs. 

 Distribution. The plateau of Tibet, at elevations of from 13,000 to 



16,000 feet, or even more ; the species associates in pairs or small 



parties. 



