HOOFED ANIMALS 



Barasingha (Cervus duvuacelli), Plate XXXV. Fig. 2, 

 though there is a difference in the antlers. The brow tine, 



about a foot in length, extends 

 almost at right angles instead of 

 sharply upwards, and the prongs 

 of the bifurcation again divide. 

 The bucks attain a weight of from 

 thirty to forty stone. 



In Schomburgk's Deer (Cervus 

 schomburgki) the antlers are very 

 similar in formation, except that 

 the beam is shorter and the for- 

 ward prong considerably smaller 

 than the hind one. 



Eld's Deer (Cervus eldi) pos- 

 sesses a very distinctive antler. 

 The brow tine bends down over 

 the forehead and then upwards to 

 form a well curved hook. The 

 beam does not bifurcate until very 

 near the top, where the short fork 



breaks out into perhaps eight or even more points. The 

 length of the antler may be anything from forty inches to 

 very nearly five feet. 



The food of Eld's Deer is mainly grass, but if a herd 

 finds its way into the paddy fields the agriculturist is left 

 lamenting. In habits these Deer 'are very wary and 

 difficult to approach, especially the males. They are also 

 very timid and easily startled ; the males, however, when 

 wounded and brought to bay with dogs, get very savage 

 and charge vigorously. On being disturbed they invariably 

 make for the open. ... It commences by giving three or 

 four bounds like the Axis, or Spotted Deer, and afterwards 

 settles down into a long trot, which it will keep up for six 

 or seven miles on end.' 



The Burmese formerly hunted Eld's Deer on a large 

 scale, the men of neighbouring villages combining to 

 'encircle three or four moderate-sized herds with long 

 strings, upon which plantain leaves were tied so as to 

 flutter in the wind. . . . The Deer, afraid to pass the scare- 



ANTLERS OF 



SCHOMBURGK'S DEER. 



