CHAPTER X. 

 THE SAMBUR AND OTHER DEER. 



STALKING THE SAMBUR — ITS ENEMIES — ITS HABITS — ALARM NOTE — SIZE — 

 TENACITY OF LIFE — HORNS — THEIR VARIABILITY — DEATH OF THE BIG 

 ANTLER STAG— THE PULNEY STAG — TOM SAYERS— THE CROW STAG— THE 

 STAG OF KERENAIG MUND— HIS LAST LEAP — CHECKMATED — DEATH OF THE 

 BLACK CHEETA ROCK STAG — SNOB AND THE STAG — AN EXCITING STALK 

 AND A SAD FINISH — DEATH OF THE BROW ANTLERED STAG — MY LAST 

 STAG— THE AXIS OR SPOTTED DEER — THE JUNGLE SHEEP. 



he Satnbur or Sambar, Cervus aristotelis^ is the 

 largest of all the varieties or species of Indian 

 deer. The sight of this grand beast on the 

 mountain side in the early morning before the sun is up 

 makes the pulse beat quicker and intensifies the desire to 

 get within shot and secure the prize ; yet patience and per- 

 severance must be the watch words. Look at him crop- 

 ping the sweet grass at his feet, he hardly takes a mouthful 

 without raising his head and looking around, so wary is he; 

 and well he may be ; his enemies are all around him, 

 always on the alert to deprive him of his life; not only has 

 he the native hillman and the English sportsman after him, 

 the one to get him for food in any way he can, the other 



1 Blandford (I.e.) says, " why the name Cervus aristotelis given to an 

 abnormal horn, has been preferred for the Indian Sambar, it is difficult 

 to say. The name C. unicolor employed by Hamilton Smith is prefer- 

 able, on account both of priority and suitability, being an appropriate 

 term for the only Indian deer with unspotted young." 



