332 JO URNAL, BOMB A 7 NA TURAL H1ST0R Y SOCIETY, Vol. IX. 



basal or brow antler, which, instead of pointing forwards, upwards, and 

 outwards, as is generally the case with samber, cheetal, etc., those of 

 the Thamin take a direction slightly downwards, forwards, upwards, and 

 outwards, which difference gives the head its singular appearance. 

 With reference to the development of the horns my observations have 

 led me to the following conclusions, viz. : — That from a year to 

 eighteen months after birth the young males may be distinguished 

 from the hinds by the presence of very small protuberances or " knobs " 

 on the skull, known, I believe, as " bossets ; " shortly after this they 

 become longer and pointed, and in the third year the brow antler 

 appears, the beam or main horn taking a backward curve. After this 

 period the horns, at each renewal, increase in length, thickness, and 

 spread, till the animals reach their prime, when I am of opinion that 

 the horns diminish in size at each renewal, as many aged stags carry 

 most indifferent heads. The ages have been judged by the state of 

 the teeth, allowance being made for the wild state. 



The horns are cylindrical and grow from the pedestals or " bossets," 

 which are from an inch and-a-half to two inches long. The basal 

 antlers, as a rule, run out in a direction downwards and forwards for 

 some few inches, then take an upward and outward sweep, but at 

 times they run parallel to each other. The direction of the main horn 

 varies very much, but generally speaking it runs backwards and 

 upwards for several inches and then takes a somewhat sudden and 

 sweeping curve, laterally outwards, upwards, and slightly inwards. 

 The terminal portions of the main horns are slightly palmated. The 

 heads I have shot in Upper Burma are nothing like as fine as many I 

 have shot in the lower part of the Province ; though the horns were 

 long they were wanting in the lovely sweep which makes these heads 

 so beautiful. Each horn is more or less semi-circular in shape. 

 I should say the majority of good heads have ten distinct points inclu- 

 sive of the brow antler, and they are disposed as follows : — An upright 

 tine given off at the junction of the brow and beam ; a second given 

 off on the inside of the main horn about three-fourths of the way up 

 and pointing inwards ; and a third is given off on the upper surface of 

 the horn a few inches from the terminal point. The greatest number 

 I have observed on any head was fifteen — all well developed tines. 

 I believe it is the custom at home to reckon any excrescence a point if 



