THAMIN, AND THEIR QUEST* 



OF all the deer family Thamin or brow - antlered deer 

 (Cervus eldii} are among the most graceful and beau- 

 tiful, and least generally known of their species. They 

 are found in Burma from the Chindwin Valley to 

 Tenasserim in Siam and Manipur. On the immense 

 plains of Lower Burma, which lie between the hills and 

 the sea, they may be met with in considerable numbers. 

 They seem to prefer the flat country, especially those 

 plains where a dense growth of elephant grass occurs ; 

 this land affording good grazing and capital shelter. The 

 peculiarity of this grass (Saccharum spontaneum, S. 

 procereum, etc.) is its immense size, and the remarkable 

 scarcity of trees amongst it. The grass, called by the 

 Burmans " kiang," attains a height of eight feet and over, 

 and possesses thick woody stems. During the dry 

 weather fires occur, and on these clearings a short 

 succulent grass springs up when the rains come, affording 

 good pasture. In the wet season patches of low-lying 

 ground become swampy which, when the dry weather 

 comes, retain sufficient moisture for short grasses. These 

 patches, called " kwins " by the Burmans, are much 

 favoured by thamin, and it is in these localities the 

 sportsmen may expect to find them. I have not heard 

 of their being found in heavy jungle, " though in Upper 

 Burma they are frequently met with in ' open tree ' 

 jungle, but probably only resorting there for shade and 

 rest." (Evans.) In appearance a mature thamin stag is 

 of a dark russet brown, which at a distance appears 



* This article, which appeared in the Field of December 3ist, 1898,. 

 is reproduced in extenso by kind permission of the editor and the author. 



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