56 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



the hunter so long as to attain the size and magnitude of the Barasingha [twelve points], yet I think 

 it will be found that the horns of those killed in the forests of Scotland in former years are equal in 

 size to any at present met with in Cashmere. It is in the dense pine forests on the Northern Piiijal, 

 and in the many beautiful valleys among these ranges, that we find the species most abundant. 

 There are very few on the southern ranges. In the secluded depths of these solitudes they lie all 

 day, to issue forth at dusk and feed on the grassy hill-sides, or descend even into the Valley of 

 Cashmere when forced by the snows of winter. An adult Stag averages thirteen hands in height. 



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vr^? 

 FALLOW DEER. 



The colour of the coat varies but little in the sexes or the seasons of the year ; dark liver-colour, with 

 reddish patches on the inner sides of the hips ; belly and lower parts white, or a dirty white. The 

 male has the hair on the lower part of the neck long and shaggy (wanting in the female) ; the horns 

 large, and usually very massive, with from ten to fifteen or more points, according to age (the largest 

 pair of horns I have measured were four feet round the curves, with six and seven points). They are 

 shed in March ; and the new horn is not completely formed until the end of October, when the 

 rutting season commences, and the loud bellowings of the Stags are heard all over the mountains. 

 During vigorous winters they are frequently driven to seek for shelter and food around the villages in 

 the valleys, when many are destroyed by natives, who hunt them with Dogs. The Cheetahs, Wild 

 Dogs, and Bears are said to kill the young." 



The very similar Barbary Deer is most interesting, in that it is the only member of the Cervine 

 group which is found in Africa. 



