THE HUNT JAGS. 61 



underwood. . . . When first started the pace of the Thamyn is great. It commences by giving 

 three or four large bounds like the Axis or Spotted Deer, and afterwards settles down into a long 

 trot, which it will keep up for six or seven miles on end when frequently disturbed." As to the 

 means employed to hunt them, the same author informs us that " a large number of men would 

 assemble from the neighbouring villages, and gradually encircle three or four moderate-sized herds 

 with long strings, upon which plantain-leaves were tied so as to flutter in the wind. The circle, 

 originally formed at some distance, was gradually lessened as the Deer, afraid to pass the scarecrows, 

 got gradually driven together, until they were completely surrounded and at the mercy of the hunters. 

 The object was to get them into a corner near the heavy jungle, into which, if they attempted to run, 

 they either became entangled, or allowed their pursuers to get up quite close. As many as a hundred 

 and fifty to two hundred, my informant tells me, he has himself seen killed in one battue in former 

 years. To such a length was this [shameful] system earned, and such enormous havoc was thereby 

 created, that the Burmese Government, fearing the species would be utterly exterminated, wisely put 

 a stop to the practice." 



CHAPTER V. 



THE MUNTJACS THE ROEBUCK CHINESE DEER REINDEER AMERICAN DEER 

 DEERLETS CAMEL TRIBE LLAMAS. 



THE MUXTJACS Distribution Characters THE INDIAN MUNTJAC, OR KIDANG Hunting THE CHINESE MUNTJAC 

 Habits DAVID'S MUNTJAC "Shanyang" THE ROEBUCK THE CHINESE WATER DEER Peculiarity Chinese 

 Superstition regarding it THE CHINESE ELAPHURE Peculiarity of its Antlers THE REINDEER Distribution- 

 Character Colouration Antlers Canadian Breeds Food THE AMERICAN DEER THE VIRGINIAN DEER THE 

 MULE DEER THE BLACK-TAILED DEER THE GUAZUS THE BROCKETS THE VENADA, OR PUDU DEER THE 

 CHEVROTAINS, OR DEERLETS Antlerless Their Position Bones of their Feet General Form and Proportions- 

 Species THE MEMINNA, OR INDIAN DEERLET THE JAVAN DEERLET THE KANCHIL THE STANLEYAN DEERLET 

 THE WATER DEERLET THE CAMEL TRIBE Their Feet Stomach Its Peculiarity The Water Cells THE 

 (TRUE) CAMEL Description The Pads of Hardened Skin Its Endurance Its Disposition Anecdote of its Revenge- 

 ful Nature THE BACTRIAN CAMEL THE LLAMAS Description Habits Used as Beasts of Burden Wild and 

 Domesticated Species THE HUANACO THE LLAMA THE VICUNA THE ALPACA The Alpaca Industry FOSSIL 

 RUMIXAXTIA Strata in which they are io\mA.ChceropotMmusHyopotamusDichobune--XiphodonCainotherium 

 OreodonSivatherium Fossil Deer, Oxen, Goats, Sheep, Camels, Llamas, Antelopes, Giraffes The Irish Elk Its 

 huge Antlers Its Skeleton Ally Distribution. 



THE MUNTJACS.* 



THE Muntjacs form a group of small and elegant Deer found in India, Burmah, China, the 

 Malay Peninsula, and the large islands of the Indo-Malay Archipelago. They differ from all other 

 members of the family in that their diminutive antlers are supported on lengthy bony pedestals, 

 covered with a hairy skin much like the horn-processes of the Giraffe. Most, also, have a pair of 

 elongated longitudinal ridges between the eyes, within the folds of which small glands are situated, 

 at the same time that there is a dark crest of retroverted hair, tending to the shape of a horseshoe, 

 upon the forehead. In the males the upper canine teeth develop into tusks, which project ex- 

 ternally some way below the lip, though not so far as in the Musk, forming efficient instruments 

 of attack. 



The INDIAN MUNTJAC, OR KIDAXG, is the best known species. Its antlers attain a larger size 

 than those of any of the others, although they are not more than four inches long, composed of an 

 undivided beam, at the base of which there is a diminutive brow-tyne. Its size is slightly less than 

 that of the Roebuck, its colour uniformly foxy red-brown, with the throat, hind part of abdomen, and 

 under surface of tail white. A black line runs up the inner side of each antler-pedestal of the male, 

 instead of forming the frontal horseshoe of the female. 



Dr. Horsfielcl tells us that in Java, where it is much hunted, the Muntjac selects for its ret 



* The genus Cervulus. 

 103 



