QtrADRUPEDS. 51 



does are seldom seen in an advanced state of pregnancy, 

 keeping at that time in the cover ; and the bucks are then 

 very vigilant and fierce in their defence." 



Another section of horned ruminants is called the capre- 

 oline group, or roes. The common roebuck (Cervus capre- 

 olus), according to Captain Williamson, is not unknown in 

 Bengal ; but it is only found on the borders, particularly 

 among the crags and ravines of the western frontier. It 

 there frequents elevated situations, and prefers especially 

 such covers as are divided into small patches. They are 

 extremely shy, and their dimensions are said to be less than 

 those of Scotland. 



Passing over the muntjaks, which are numerous in India, 

 the next group which presents itself is that of the swift 

 and elegant antelopes. Of these, the greater proportion 

 being of African origin, a brief notice will suffice for the 

 Indian species. 



The white oryx {Antilope leucoryx) measures about three 

 feet seven inches in height at the shoulder. The body is 

 rather bulky, the legs slender, and the horns of the male 

 are horizontal, bent backwards, obliquely annulated, with 

 smooth tips, and about three feet long. There is a black 

 spot at the base of the horns passing down the face, and a 

 second which passes through the ej-es towards the mouth, 

 widening upon the cheek ; a dark band passes from the up- 

 per arm down the fore-legs ; the lower parts of the thighs 

 are rufous, darkening into black about the houghs and upon 

 the hind-legs. This species has a dark short mane, and a 

 black tuft at the end of the tail. The other parts of the 

 body are white. It inhabits sandy and desert districts, and 

 has been shot on the west side of the Indus, in the deserts 

 of the Mekran. 



We may here mention a remarkable species, called the 

 chiru {Anlilope Kemas 1 Smith), an inhabitant of the inac- 

 cessible and piny regions of Chandan}', which verge on 

 the eternal snows of the Himmaleh mountains. It is some- 

 times found with only a single horn, and that accidental 

 condition is supposed to have given rise to the belief in 

 monocerotes or unicorns, — animals which all who are ac- 

 quainted with the structure of the scull, and the position 

 of the frontal sutures, must also know to be incapable of 

 existing without a violation, we may almost term it, of the 

 laws of nature; This species is remarkable for an abuu- 



