1869.] CERVINE ANIMALS OF HAINAN. 659 
but are stouter in the beam, while those of C. rusa of Java approxi- 
mate to those of the typical Sambur. I am led to the conclusion that 
the Hainan race is distinguishable from the Sambur of India proper 
(C. aristotelis) by the shape of its horns at their apical bifurcation 
and by its smaller size, and from the Cervus swinhoii, Sclater, of 
Formosa, by the longer and less robust beam of horn, and by the 
different coloration of the fur; and I believe it to be identical with 
the Cervus equinus, Cuv., of Sumatra and Borneo, a good figure and 
description of which are given by S. Miiller in the ‘ Verhandelingen,’ 
Zool. p. 213, pl. 42. 
Mr. Blyth was so good as to inspect my horns from Hainan, and 
has written to me the following :—‘* As for the Sambur horns, I 
consider Cervi equinus, aristotelis, and hippelaphus to be one and the 
same, though showing some local differences, as is equally the case 
with horns of C’. elaphus. Eastwards of the Bay of Bengal the animal 
seems to be smaller, and more or less nigrescent in Borneo, less so 
in Malacca and Sumatra than in Borneo, but always different from 
C. rusa of Java, of which C. moluccensis is a diminutive, and C. 
timoriensis a further diminutive. C. swinhoii of Formosa holds the 
same relation to C. hippelaphus as C. taivanus to C. mantchuricus, 
and C. moluccensis to C. rusa.”’ 
The Sambur is an abundant species on the jungly mountains of 
the southern half of Hainan; and large numbers are yearly slaugh- 
tered by the independent Le tribes, and the skins and horns bartered 
to the Chinese. The skins are carried to the capital city, where the 
hair is planed off, and are then exported as raw hides to Canton. 
The only time I saw the Hainan Sambur in its live state was on the 
19th March, at Nychow (S. Hainan). We had scrambled through 
the jungle near the shore on to an open hill. Beyond us and the 
mountain was a deep ravine, with a stream trickling through it. We 
stopped to rest on the hill-top overlooking the ravine, when, on the 
opposite side, passing up from the streamlet, we noticed a fine horn- 
less buck and two doe Sambur. They did not observe us, but con- 
tinued lazily upwards, nibbling off the leaves of bushes as they went. 
We crossed the ravine and ascended to the edge of an open green- 
sward, which the deer had already gained. At the further corner of 
the sward, about 60 yards off, with jungle in rear of them, they 
stood staring at our intrusion. My comrade bustled up behind 
with his gun, and they took alarm. The buck stamped his foot and 
uttered a loud half grunt, half scream, and they all charged into the 
thicket. After they had attained a height on the hill, the noise of 
the crushing and cracking of the brush before them ceased, as if they 
had stopped tu have another look at us; but the noise was soon re- 
sumed, until they were too far off to be heard. 
This Deer is called by the Hainanese Twabé, or Mountain Horse. 
The Chinese work has the following remarks on the species :—“ The 
ancients say it is like a Deer, but larger, and assembles in herds of a 
hundred or more. Its horns bend backward, and are without tines. 
Its hair is like that of the Mountain-Cow. Below its eyes are two 
other eyes, which close in the day and open at night. It delights 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1869, No. XLIII. 
