40 THE NYL-GHAU- 



nose ; the throat and legs are black ; the back, sides, and 

 tail, are of a dirty grey, mixed with black ; the legs and 

 feet are very short, strong, and thick ; each foot consists 

 of five toes ; those on the fore feet are armed with strong 

 claws, well adapted for digging its subterranean habitation. 



In walking, the Badger treads on its own heel, like the 

 Bear, which brings its belly very near the ground. 



The skin, when dressed with the hair on, is used for 

 pistol furniture. Its flesh is eaten ; the hind quarters are 

 sometimes made into hams, which, when cured, are not 

 inferior in goodness to the best bacon. The hairs are 

 made into brushes, which are used by painters to soften 

 and harmonize their shades. 



THE NYL-GHAU. 



THIS animal is a native of the interior parts of India. 

 It seems to be of a middle nature between the cow and 

 the deer, and carries the appearance of both in its form. 

 Its body, horns and tail, are not unlike those of a bull ; 

 and the head, neck, and legs, are similar to those of a 

 deer. The colour, in general, is ash or grey, from a 

 mixture of black or white hairs, having a short, thin, 

 and upright mane reaching down to the hump. Its 

 horns are seven inches long, and six inches round at 

 the root, tapering by degrees, and terminating in a blunt 

 point. The ears are large and beautiful, white on the 

 edge and on the inside, except where two black bands 

 mark the hollow of them with a Zebra- like variety. The 

 height of this animal, at the shoulder, is four feet one 

 inch ; behind the loins it measures only four feet. 



The female differs considerably from the male in shape 

 and colour, and has no horns. She is supposed to go 

 nine months with young, and has one at a birth, but 

 sometimes two. 



