-238 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



Nagpore. It is also found in the open forest 

 between Mandla and Omarkantak. A brother- 

 officer of mine shot a fine specimen of this deer 

 in the jungles north-east of Seoni in the Satpura 

 Hills. 



From the fleeting glimpse I had of them, their 

 hides were distinctly different from sambur in 

 colour, and the rays of the setting sun, as it 

 glanced on their sleek coats, made them glisten 

 like bronze, with a golden tint pervading it. I 

 believe they do not lie up so long during the day 

 as the sambur does. 



Next in order we come to that graceful animal 

 the cheetal,* or spotted deer, whose colouring 

 much resembles the fallow deer, only that it is 

 far more vivid and brilliant, and the whole shape 

 and bearing of the animal is more game-looking. 



Its colour is a bright chestnut, tinged with red, 

 and a black, or very dark brown stripe running 

 down the back ; the belly is white, and the whole 

 body beautifully flecked horizontally with large 

 white spots. The tail is generally rather long, 

 and somewhat bushy. There is, however, a wide 

 and very marked difference between the cheetal 

 and the fallow deer, and that is in the shape of 

 their horns ; for, whilst a fallow deer's horns are 

 palmated, a cheetal's are exactly the reverse. They 



* Axis maculatus. 



