314 ON THE GORAL FOUND IN BURMA. [NoV. 14, 



DistribvMon . — So far as is at present known to me, in the 

 localities noted, and at elevations above 3500 feet. These Goral 

 appear to be rather localised, and I should say are uncommon. It 

 is reasonable to expect, however, that when a more intimate 

 knowledge of the higher ranges is gained, the disti-ibution of 

 these animals may be found to be more extensive. 



These Goral, I believe, extend into Siam and are to be found in 

 suitable places on the Siamese side of the Thaungyin River, and 

 also occur, but are more scarce, about the hills at the headwaters 

 of the Me-Ping. 



Habits. — As has been recorded in the case of the Indian 

 form, these Goral live in parties of four, six, or even a dozen. 

 They inhabit very steep ground and the more precipitous it is the 

 better they seem to like it. They are never to be found at any 

 distance from rugged, rocky ground, even though there may be 

 forest near by. The only time they may be found away from 

 dangerous ground is during the early hours of the morning and 

 late in the evening, when they graze on the grassy patches close 

 by. No doubt when the sky ia overcast, as is the case dinging the 

 rains, or in the cold weather when there is a heavy mist, they feed 

 much later. Apparently they are inclined to remain always about 

 any favourite locality. Their sight seems to be extraordinarily 

 good, and they appear to rely more on this sense than on smell or 

 hearing. The day is usually passed lying on inaccessible ledges 

 of rock about precipices. 



If a Goral is startled it jumps up and makes a short sharp 

 hissing or sneezing noise, very often repeated at short intervals. 

 It may be a note of alarm or a call to its mates, for as sui-e as 

 one calls, if there are any others about (and this is generally the 

 case), it is immediately answered. In Burma, at least, these Goats 

 are not easily followed, unless by expert cragsmen ; and in this 

 category I do not include myself. 



Goral, when standing about these crags, afford fairly easy 

 shots with high- velocity rifles, but the recovery of a carcase is, as 

 a rule, by no means an easy matter. The shikaris and followers 

 are generally anything but keen on a trip down one of these 

 precipices, and I for one do not blame them. Though they may 

 be adepts in woodcraft, they cannot be anything like the cragsmen 

 (hill- shikaris) met with in the Himalayas. Goral-flesh is not at all 

 bad. From December till May is the best season to hunt these 

 animals, and morning and evening is the best time to find them, 

 as they are then grazing or lying down in places more accessible. 



I sent specimens of the skin l^c. of this Goral to Mr. Lydekker, 

 by whom the animal has been named after myself, Urotragus 

 evansi. 



I have to thank Captains Blakeway and Wood, R.E., and 

 Mr. W. B. Tydd, of the Bunna Civil Service, for their kindness in 

 helping me in this matter. 



Eangooi), 1st June, 1905. 



