529 



spots arranged longitudinally on the back ; the latter, I found, were 

 young, as all the males marked in this way had short canine teeth. 



The canine teeth of the male are from 2 to 3 inches in length 

 (rudimentary in the female). The use of these organs, unless for 

 defence, I have not been able to discover. The natives say they are 

 used to dig up the roots of plants ; then why are they so slightly 

 developed in the female ? The males attempt to use them when 

 caught. I was informed by native sportsmen, that during copulation 

 the male seizes the female by the ears ; and in many instances I have 

 found females with the ears slit or part wanting, I fancy, caused by 

 the sharp teeth of the male. A spotted fawn is born in April, which 

 remains but a short period with the parent. Bearded Vultures, 

 Eagles, Chetahs, and Leopards destroy numbers of old and young ; 

 and they are frequently found buried in avalanches. 



57. Poephagus grunniens (Linn.). , 

 A few are found during winter on the southern slopes of the Kara 



Korum Mountains, Nobra ; but they move northwards towards 

 Chinese Tartary as the snows melt in spring, where they are said to 

 abound. Two fine males were killed by Lieutenant Peyton, 87th 

 Fusileers, in March 1854, in the first-mentioned district. One of 

 his trophies measured, round the curve of the horn, 2 feet 4j inches ; 

 greatest circumference, 1 foot ; span between the points, 1 foot 8 

 inches. This may be considered a fair average of the dimensions of 

 a male's horns. The tame varieties will not live out of their native 

 country ; all the specimens brought southward died shortly after 

 arrival in the Vale of Cashmere. 



58. Cervxjs cashmeriensis (Falconer, MSS.), Gray, Cat. 

 Ung. Furc. B. M. p. 199. 



Barra Singa and Hauglu of the Cashmerees. 



May be identical with C. wallichii (Cuv.) of the Nepal forests ; 

 however, 1 have not had an opportunity of instituting a comparison 

 between the two. The Cashmere forests seem the head quarters of 

 this species on the "Western Ranges ; for it is seldom if ever met 

 with between Mussouree and the Vale of Cashmere. The dense 

 forests and fertile valleys of the latter country are particularly in- 

 viting to this species. In habits and general appearance the Cash- 

 mere Stag bears a striking resemblance to the Red Deer. Although 

 it is seldom now a-days that individuals of the latter species escape 

 the hunter so long as to attain the size and magnitude of the Barra 

 Singa, yet I think it will be found that the horns of those killed in 

 the forests of Scotland in former years are equal in size to any at 

 present met with in Cashmere. It is in the dense pine forests on 

 the Northern Pinjal, and in the many beautiful valleys among these 

 ranges, that we find the species most abundant. There are very 

 few on the Southern Ranges. In the secluded depths of these soli- 

 tudes they lie all day, to issue forth at dusk and feed on the grassy 

 hill-sides,* or descend even into the Valley of Cashmere when forced 

 No. CCCLXXX. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



