8 # SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



a night-jar rising from the ground, and, as he 

 floated by in his peculiar moth-like flight, giving 

 vent to his curious, monotonous cry of ' Chukoo- 

 chukoo,' repeated and answered by his fellows 

 over and over again. 



Some half-hour had passed, and, though the 

 numerous sounds gave evidence of the presence of 

 plenty of animal life in the jungle, as yet we had 

 seen nothing. Presently there is a rustle among 

 the dead leaves close by, and, looking over the 

 screen, I see a porcupine scramble down the bank 

 near me, trot up to the water, look suspiciously 

 around, arid then, giving his i quills ' a shake, 

 drink, and slowly retire up the sandy river-bed. 

 He is shortly followed by a mungoose, or ichneu- 

 mon, and a hare ; then we see a dainty, airy little 

 form emerge from the jungle on the opposite bank, 

 and, after standing for a moment, step lightly out 

 in the bright light of the moon, which reveals the 

 delicate form and limbs of the little four-horned 

 antelope (A. quadricornis) more commonly known 

 among Indian sportsmen as the 'jungle sheep ' 

 though why he should have had this peculiar form 

 of nomenclature devoted to him, goodness only 

 knows. He is suspicious, however, and thinks it 

 better to go and slake his thirst elsewhere. 

 Shortly after his appearance a small herd of 

 cheetal, or spotted deer, saunter slowly round a 



