330 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



Chittagong, and the Himalayan slopes is, to my thinking, the 

 same grand beast as the last, differing in some minor points r 

 as it may reasonably be expected to do, under dissimilar 

 conditions as to soil, climate, and food. In form, colour r 

 and habits, they are exactly the same, but the native of 

 Central and Western India is somewhat superior in height 

 and bulk. ISTaturalists pretend to the discovery of a marked 

 dissimilarity in the frontal bones of the two, but probably 

 not so great as that in the skulls of Caucasians and Mon- 

 golians, let alone that of negroes. Be the learned in such 

 niceties right or wrong, to the sportsman the animals are 

 practically identical as regards disposition and habits. Un- 

 like the buffalo, this noble beast is extremely shy and 

 intolerant of the vicinity of man ; but unless goaded ta 

 anger by wounds, or disabled beyond its powers of flight, 

 it is not to be compared for ferocity and fearlessness with 

 the former. 



From its great scarcity the gour or gayal is not much 

 sought in the Lower Provinces, its pursuit demanding more 

 time, toil, and patience than will be devoted to a very un- 

 certain end; but to the enthusiastic Nimrod, with ample 

 leisure and a good stock of temper and endurance, it presents- 

 the noblest object on which the sight of his trusty rifle can 

 be brought to bear. 



The destruction of deer without regard to age, sex, or 

 season, has completely cleared the greatest portion of the 

 Lower Provinces of this beautiful animal, which otherwise 

 might still be providing an occasional meal of meat to 

 thousands who now never taste it, and would also supply 

 food to tigers and panthers which, in their absence, prey 

 upon the domestic flocks and herds. The herds of axis, which 

 used to be found all over the country (trans-Megna excepted) 

 wherever trees or bushes afforded them shelter from the noon- 

 tide sun, must now be sought in the " Soonderbuns ;" there 

 are a few still in the Gya and Hazaribagh districts, along^ 

 the sea coast of Orissa, and among the hills in the interior, 

 but in no great numbers ; lastly, one or two small herds may 



