TIANG 91 



female specimen, for I doubt if I should ever have shot 

 one of that sex knowingly. 



In tiang there is no apparent difference in size between 

 the sexes. On scrutinising- a herd in the open, females 

 can be distinguished by their shorter, thinner, slighter 

 horns; 1 but all stand practically the same height at 

 shoulder say 45 to 46 inches. The bulls weigh well 

 over 300 lb., live weight. 



While off-skinning this pair, the rest of the herd still 

 stood unconcerned within 400 yards awaiting their lost 

 companions ; while close around us assembled a circle 

 of marabou and vultures, the latter including both the 

 handsome white-headed species and that repulsive 

 "undertaker," the Nubian vulture; and a pair of tawny 

 eagles took post on a dead tree hard by. In their eager- 

 ness for a scrap of offal, the kites swept past within 

 arm's length, often almost brushing our faces. 



(in) PENULTIMATE 



To complete the yarn I copy two brief precis from 

 diary : " Dressed by candle-light and away before dawn. 

 Saw many oribi, reedbuck, and herds of tiang. Settled 

 to one of fifteen in thin bush and crept within range, 

 but was prevented by intervening 'detrimentals' from 

 shooting the leading bull, the best hitherto seen. Quite 

 a fine beast stood sentry on an ant-hill on our left ; but 

 he wasn't good enough and I refused him. Then by a 

 stroke of sheer luck, the leader quietly strolled into the 

 open, crossing our front at 170 yards. The bullet took 

 him fair behind the shoulder ; after a spasmodic rush of 

 30 yards he collapsed, dead a beauty, horns 22 inches 

 each, by 8 in basal circumference. This closes my 

 account with tiang." 



1 Sportsmen of experience have expressed a contrary opinion, stating 

 that they find a difficulty in distinguishing the sexes both of tiang and 

 roan ; even Sir Samuel Baker, on first encountering a herd of tiang, shot 

 a cow by mistake (Ismailia, vol. i., p. 68). I can only say that this is the 

 only cow tiang I ever shot ; and then I could not see the horns. 



