360 UNGULATES. 



ranges from Assam to the Punjab and Sind, and is quite unknown in the peninsula, 

 though a small colony has been introduced into Ceylon. It occurs along the Terai 

 at the foot of the Himalaya ; and from Assam its range extends into Burma and 

 Tenasserim. 



The para swarms on many of the low alluvial plains of India, to which 

 situations it is mainly, if not exclusively, restricted. Here it frequents the grass- 

 jungles of moderate height, avoiding the taller ones which give shelter to the 

 buffalo and rhinoceros. Sometimes, however, they may be met with among trees. 

 As a rule, hog-deer are solitary creatures, and it is but seldom that more than two 

 or three are found together, although several may inhabit one patch of jungle. 

 The pairing-season is said to be in September and October ; and the antlers are 

 generally shed in April. 



The hog-deer is an ungainly animal when moving, and General Kinloch states 

 that both " its English and specific names have been derived from the hog-like 

 manner in which it rushes through the long grass when disturbed ; keeping its 

 head low down, and galloping without that bounding action which characterises 

 most deer." Hog-deer are generally shot from elephants and afford good sport, 

 although they are difficult to hit, since as a rule the only indication of their 

 presence is a sudden rush in the long grass, in the direction of which the sportsman 

 must fire. General Kinloch says, that " hog-deer may be speared on favourable 

 ground, and give splendid runs; they are very fast, and usually give a much 

 longer chase than a boar. I have heard of instances of their deliberately charging 

 a horse ; and with their sharp horns they can inflict a very severe wound." 



The Swamp-Deer Group (Cervus duvauceli, etc.). 



The swamp-deer, of which the antlers are figured in the woodcuts on pp. 340 

 and 353, differs from all the Indian deer hitherto noticed, in that the antlers 

 carry more than three tines. This distinctive character of the swamp-deer has not 

 escaped the notice of the natives of India, by whom it is designated barasingha, 

 that is, " twelve-tined." This deer is a rather large species, the bucks standing 

 from 3 feet 8 inches to 3 feet 10 inches at the withers. The neck is maned, the 

 tail of moderate length, the muzzle long, and the hair rather fine and rather woolly. 

 The antlers are smooth and somewhat flattened, and give off the brow-tine nearly 

 at right angles to the beam ; after which the beam continues without branching 

 for a considerable distance, finally dividing into a fork, of which the two prongs 

 again branch. Generally, as in the figure on p. 353, the inner branch of the main 

 fork has two, and the outer three tines, but the number of points is often much 

 greater, reaching from sixteen to twenty, or even more. In its winter dress the 

 colour of the swamp-deer is yellowish brown above and paler underneath ; but 

 in summer the upper-parts are reddish brown, generally more or less spotted 

 with white, while the under-parts and the lower surface of the tail are pure white. 

 The young are spotted. 



Average-sized antlers of the barasingha measure about 30 inches along the 

 curve ; but a length of 38 inches has been recorded. Large stags have weighed 

 from 460 to 570 lbs. (32 stone 12 lbs. to 40 stone 10 lbs.). 



