78 JO UA'NAL, BO.UBA Y NA TUBA L HI8T0R Y SOCIETY, Vol Z. 



NOTES ON THE TSAING OR BANTING, BOS SONDAICUS. 



By Vbtekinary- Captain G. H. Evans. 



( With a Plate, ) 



{Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on l^th Sept. 1895.) 



These creatures may be found in most parts of this province (Burma) 

 whei'e suitable cover and grazing exist. They collect in small herds of 

 from eight to a dozen individuals, occasionally, however, as many as 

 twenty may be seen together, and I have no doubt that under certain 

 circumstances this number may be exceeded. Each herd is governed 

 by a bull, but it is by no means rare to find two or three in a herd ; 

 these are, however, younger animals. As bulls advance in years the}^ 

 are frequently turned out by younger and stronger rivals, and are 

 thus forced to lead solitary lives. In their habits tsaing are 

 very shy and retiring, and bound off immediately on the approach of 

 man. As a rule they avoid the vicinity of villages, and, as far as I 

 am aware, do not enter open cultivation, but I have several times 

 found fresh tracks near jungle hamlets, and have known them to do 

 considerable damage in the Toungyas (clearings in the forest for 

 cultivation). Their food consists principally of grass, bamboo leaves 

 and shoots ; the latter are much relished by them, as also is a largish 

 fruit* about the size of an apple which, when ripe, drops from the trees 

 in quantities. They feed from early morning till nine or ten o'clock, 

 but sometimes in cloudy weather and in the rains to a much 

 later hour, after which they retire to lie up in the shade. These 

 creatures wander about a great deal visiting different grounds at 

 certain seasons of the year, their migrations being greatly influenced 

 by the pasturage. During the early rains they are attracted to the 

 bamboo jungle by the young shoots. At this time also they are fre- 

 quently driven into the open by the flies which are then intolerable, 

 whilst during the hot weather the shade of the heavy jungle and 

 cane brakes is sought. Generally speaking, tsaing prefer the lighter 

 kinds of forest, such as Eng tree forest, where the principal species 

 is the Dipterocarpus tuberculatis and the cover is light. I have not 



* The fntit or rather fruits referred to are the baa-bwe-thi, fruit of the Cureya 

 arliorea, and the zyn or zyra-byun-thi, fruit of the IHllenia 'penfngyna. 



