6oo DZUNGARIA 



spring, offering many sporting shots. After circling 

 round a few times they reahzed that there was no chance 

 of their getting to the water, so headed off towards some 

 quieter spring. That evening we joined the caravan- 

 route, a broad, well-trodden track, and rested for the 

 night at a small serai. There were two Chanto saiga- 

 hunters also spending the night there, from whom we 

 were able to learn more about their quarry. During 

 the winter the burkark collect into vast herds, number- 

 ing frequently from eight hundred to a thousand, and 

 retire to the lowest and most sandy and saline portions 

 of the plains, at an altitude of only from 700 ft. to 900 ft. 

 above sea-level, relying on the snow and desert shrubs 

 for their food and water. In April they split up into 

 small parties of from two to six and spread over the 

 steppes, finding abundance of food in the desert flora 

 which shoots up as the snow melts. 



They drop their young (generally two) about the 

 middle or end of May, and later in the summer again 

 collect into herds of several hundreds. From June to 

 August is the season during which they are principally 

 pursued, though a few hardy hunters brave the rigours 

 of the winter in their pursuit. It is at daybreak that 

 the hunters catch them in country sufficiently undulating 

 for a stalk, or lie concealed behind a low breastwork 

 of stones commanding a spring. In July heavy storms 

 occasionally sweep over the steppes, leaving large pools 

 standing in the hollows. At these casual drinking-places 

 the hunters dig skilfully concealed pits, and one old 

 veteran told us that at such a place on one occasion he 

 allowed a herd of several hundred to come within twenty 

 yards of him before firing. During the breeding season 

 the females utter a sheep-like bleat to call their young 



