CHAPTER XXIII. 



THE SEROW. 



Nemorhcedus Bubalinus. 



In Garhwal and Kamaon — Sardo. In the Sutlej Valley — fmil. 



In Kashmir — Rdmu — Halj—Sdldbhir. In Chamba — God—Jhangdl. In Nipal — Tdhr. 



This very curious animal, although nowhere actually plentiful, appears to have as wide a 

 range as any ruminant in India. It is found all along the hills from Assam to the western 

 frontier of Kashmir. It is perhaps most abundant in the neighbourhood of Nairn' Tal and 

 Mussourie, on the Shah' peaks near Simla, in the Sindh valley in Kashmir, and in some parts 

 of Chamba. 



The Serow is an ungainly looking animal, combining the characteristics of the cow, the 

 donkey, the pig, and the goat ! It is a large and powerful beast, considerably larger than a 

 Tahr, and longer in the leg. The body is covered with very coarse hair, which assumes the 

 form of a bristly mane on the neck and shoulders, and gives the beast a ferocious appearance, 

 which does not belie its disposition. The color is a dull black on the back, bright red on 

 the sides, and white underneath, the legs also being dirty white. The ears are very large, 

 the muzzle is coarse, and two singular circular orifices are situated two or three inches below 

 the eyes. 



The horns are stout at the base, are annulated nearly to the tips, and curve back close to 

 the neck, growing to the length of from nine to fourteen inches : they are very sharp pointed, 

 and the Serow is said to be able to make good use of them. 



The sexes differ very little, less than in any ruminating animal with which I am acquaint- 

 ed : both are furnished with horns of nearly the same size, those of an old male being rather 

 thicker than those of the female. 



The Serow has an awkward gait ; but in spite of this it can go over the worst ground ; 

 and it has, perhaps, no superior in going down steep hills. 



It is a solitary animal, and is nowhere numerous ; two or three maybe found on one hill, 

 four or five on another, and so on. It delights in the steepest and most rocky hill-sides, and 

 its favorite resting places are in caves, under the shelter of overhanging rocks, or at the foot 

 of shady trees. It constantly repairs to the same spots, as testified to by the large heaps of 

 its droppings which are to be found in the localities above alluded to. 



