TAKIN. 



259 



Habits. 



numerous rings, are marked by a number of longitudinal stria?. The two sexes 

 are very similar. 



The Burmese serow (N. sumatrensis), which inhabits hilly districts from the 

 Eastern Himalaya to Yunnan and Eastern Tibet, and thence to Siam, Burma, the 

 Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra, is only distinguished by its redder colour, and 

 perhaps rather smaller size. The other two species are the Japanese serow (N. 

 crispus) from Japan, and Swinhoe's serow (N. swinhoei) from the island of 

 Formosa; both of which are distinguished by their smaller size, which is about 

 equal to that of the goral. 



The habits of all the serows are probably very similar. Writing 

 of the Himalayan species, General Kinloch observes that it " has an 

 awkward gait, but, in spite of this, it 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. Although 

 very shy and difficult to find, the serow is a 

 fierce and dangerous animal when brought to 

 bay. I have even heard of an unwounded 

 male charging when his mate had been shot. 

 It is said that a serow will sometimes beat 

 oft' a pack of wild dogs, and I believe that 

 serow and dogs have been found lying dead 

 together. When disturbed, the serow utters a 

 most singular sound, something between a 

 snort and a screaming whistle, and I have 

 heard them screaming loudly when they had 

 apparently not been alarmed." General Mac- 

 intyre relates that on one occasion " a female 



serow had been shot by a sportsman, when, on his native follower approaching 

 to secure it, a male companion rushed out from the dense cover hard by, and, 

 going for the man, sent him rolling downhill with a butt from its horns." 



HOKNS OF HIMALAYAN SEROW. 



The Takin. 



Genus Budorcas. 



One of the most remarkable members of this group is the little-known takin 

 (Budorcas taxicolor), from Eastern Tibet and the Mishmi Hills, which is evidently 

 allied to the serow, although with very differently shaped horns. The takin is a 

 heavily-built and comparatively large animal, standing 3J feet at the shoulder, 

 with stout limbs, large lateral hoofs, and a small goat-like tail. The muzzle is 



