ANIMALS. 517 



it seoms to be of a middle nature, between the co« and the deer, 

 and carries the appearance of both in its form. In its size, it is 

 as much smaller than the one, as it is larger than the other ; its 

 body, horns, and tail, arc not unlike those of a bull ; and the 



hrown, ami their tips dusky black. A thin mane of long black anil wliito 

 hairs extends along- the middle line of the neck and part of the back. The 

 head, legs, and under parts of the body are of a much deeper shade than the 

 upper, tlie general tint being grayish black with a slight mixture of brown. 

 On the forehead a few darker lines pass obliquely above and between tho 

 eyes. The muzzle, lips, inside of the moutli, and tongue are dusky brown. 

 Along the outer edges of the lips and on the fore part of the chin, the hairs 

 are pure white ; two roundish spots of white also occiu- on either side of the 

 face behind the angle of the mouth, and a third, less distinctly marked, above 

 the inner angle of the eye. A narrow band of white passes along the centre 

 of the throat, and terminates on the upper part of the neck in a broad patclu 

 The legs are also most commonly marked by a transverse «hite band inune- 

 (liately above the hoofs in front, and by a second patch of the same opposite 

 to the accessory hoofs on the inner side. Beneath the fore part of tlie uecJc 

 is a tuft of long pendulous black hairs ; and those wliich terminate the tail 

 are of the same colour. The under side ol the latter, the loug hairs by wliich 

 it is fringed, and the adjacent parts, are nearly white. 



The female is much smaller than the male, and at the same time lighter 

 and more slender in her proportions. .She is entirely destitute of horns, has 

 a less liiunp on the shoulders, and her hind quarters are more nearly on a 

 level with her fore. Her general colour, as also that of the yoiuig male, is 

 a pale reddish browTi, marked with precisely the same spots and patches of 

 white as appear upon the full grown male. 



The nyl-ghaus appear to be by no means generally spread over the penin- 

 sula of Hindostau, but to be confined to its north-western provinces and 

 tho countries situated between them and Persia, Bernier, who alone of all 

 the older travellers mentions the animal by name, or in such a manner as to 

 admit of its being recognised, introduces it incidentally as one of the beasts 

 which were hunted by the Mogul Emperor Auruiig-zebe during liis progress 

 from Delhi to liis summer retreat in Cashmere. It would seem from the 

 numbers of which he speaks as being sometimes taken on those occasions, 

 to bo very abimdant ; but we have not, up to the present time, any particu- 

 lar account of its habits in a state of nature. In captivity it is gentle and 

 familiar, licking the hands of those who offer it bread, and suffering itself to 

 be played with, not only without shyness, but with evident pleasure. There 

 are, however, seasons in which it becomes capricious in its temper. ^Vllen 

 meditating an attack it falls suddenly vipon its fore knees, shuffles onwards 

 in that posture until it has advanced to within a few paces of the object of 

 its irritation, and then darts forward with a powerful spring, and butts 

 with its head in the most determined mamier. Its walk is awkward in con- 

 sequence of the comparative shortness of its hind legs, and the width to 

 which it extends them ; but in ruimiug this defect is scarcely perceptible. 

 Lord Clivu's original specimens several times produced yoiuig; but we are 

 not aware that the breed has been cont-nued, or that tho same success lias 

 attended their introduction in other quarters. 



II. 2 X 



