TIGER SLAYER BY ORDER 



in Khandesh, herds of these deer used often to come down 

 to drink close to our tents, but were seldom molested for 

 fear of disturbing more important game. 



A much smaller member of the deer tribe is the ribbed 

 face or barking deer,* an extraordinary little creature of 

 a reddish-brown colour, the longitudinal creased ridges on 

 the face and hoarse bark giving to it the names it bears. 

 It stands about two feet high and is very low in the shoulder. 

 The antlers, which are supported on long, skin-covered 

 pedicles, divide at the top into two small trees, the tops 

 curving curiously backwards and are from two to five inches 

 long. Another peculiarity of this animal is the length of 

 its tongue ; its teeth, too, are extremely long. 



Another curious animal is the mouse deer,f or pisdi, 

 about the size of a hare. It is of a dirty yellow grey colour, 

 white underneath, with long rows of spots running length- 

 ways along the side, and large brown ears. The tiny foot- 

 prints of these animals — V-shaped and split at the points — 

 are often seen along the jungle paths. They are excellent 

 eating and remind one of the Sakaro or Dik-Dik of Africa. 



In Central India and Sind, also in parts of Lower Bengal, 

 are found the hog deer J or para. I have shot many in 

 Sind, where they are very common. They stand about 

 twenty-five inches at the shoulder and are of a rufous or 

 yellowish-brown colour. Their horns resemble those of 

 a sambar or chetul in shape, though naturally much smaller, 

 rarely exceeding sixteen inches in length ; the hide, like 

 that of sambar, is soft and pliant yet thorn-proof, and is 

 much used for making saddle covers, gaiters, etc. 



This, to the best of my belief, completes the list of all 

 the known varieties of the deer tribe to be found in the 

 Indian jungles. There are some other animals closely 

 resembling deer, but which in fact are really antelopes, 

 an account of which, together with the wild goat or ibex, 

 will be found in the next chapter. 



* Invua Aurtus, t Memimna Indica. % Axis Porcenus. 



94 



