NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE CAPRINE ANTELOPES. 



The SEROW (sometimes written Surrow) of India, the CAMBIXG-OUTAN of Sumatra, with the GORAL 

 of North India, form a small group of strongly-built Goat-like Antelopes, with short, conical, upright 

 horns, ringed at the base, and of nearly equal size in both sexes. The feet are large, and the tapering 

 tail short. 



Captain Kinloch gives us the following account of the Serow. He says it " is an ungainly-looking 

 animal, combining the characteristics of the Cow, the Donkey, the Pig, and the Goat ! It is a large 

 and powerful beast. . . . The body is covered with very coarse hair, which assumes the form of a 

 bristly mane on the neck and shoulders, and gives the beast a ferocious appearance, which does not 

 belie its disposition. The colour is a dull black on the back, bright red on the sides, and white under- 

 neath, the legs also being dirty white. The ears are very large ; the muzzle is coarse. . . . The 



Serow has an awkward gait ; but in spite of this can go over the worst ground ; and it has, perhaps, 

 no superior in going down steep hills. It is a solitary animal, and is nowhere numerous ; two or 

 three may be found on one hill, four or five on another, and so on. It delights in the steepest and 

 most rocky hillsides, and its favourite resting-places are in caves, under the shelter of overhanging 

 rocks, or at the foot of shady trees." 



Of the Goral, the same author remarks that it "is an active little beast, and much resembles a 

 small Goat, but the back is more arched. The prevailing colour is a brownish-grey, with a dark stripe 

 along the back, and dark markings on the legs. Underneath the throat is a large white spot, which 

 is very conspicuotis when the animal is standing above one, and often betrays its presence when it 

 would otherwise have escaped observation. The hair is soft but rather coarse, and about two inches 

 long." In the male the horns reach nine inches in length. 



The Cambing-outan stands about two feet and a quarter at the shoulder. Its long, coarse hair is 

 brown-black in colour, the mane and throat alone being white. The horns are not more than six 

 inches in length, cylindrical, slightly annulated and curved backwards at their lips. Mountain forests,. 

 where it leads a particularly active life, are its haunts. 



