THE BARKING DEER. l8l 



entire satisfaction, but I believe that the sound is produced either by the jaws being closed with 

 a clash, or by the tongue being struck sharply against the roof of the mouth. The sound is 

 not produced by the tusks, for I have heard it made by a female Kakur which I kept for 

 some time. The little beast was very tame, and used to sleep in our bedroom, where it would 

 frequently make a good deal of noise by champing its jaws and licking itself all over with its 

 long extensile tongue. 



The Kakur, like the Four-horned Antelope, has very upright hoofs, and it walks with 

 singular stilty action. When galloping it keeps its head low, and bounds along in a peculiar 

 springy manner. 



Many visitors to the various hill-stations of the Himalayas, who may never have seen 

 a Kakur, must probably be well acquainted with its voice, which is wonderfully powerful for 

 such a small animal. It is rather difficult to convey a correct idea of it by words, but it may 

 perhaps be best described as a hoarse, resonant bark. The cry may frequently be heard in 

 the mornings and evenings, and it is also often uttered when the deer is alarmed, when it 

 hears any loud or unusual sound, or suspects the existence of any danger. Occasionally a 

 Kakur will continue to bark, at short intervals, for an hour at a time, and advantage may be 

 taken of his thus betraying his whereabouts, to stalk him, and probably obtain an easy shot. 



Kakur inhabit any wooded hills where there is plenty of cover ; they seldom stray into 

 very open ground, but are generally to be found on the edge of thick bushes, or near shady 

 ravines, in which they instantly conceal themselves when alarmed. In the mornings and 

 evenings they move about in a stealthy manner, occasionally visiting fields of green corn in 

 the vicinity of villages. They appear to be impatient of thirst, and when I have occasionally 

 watched by pools of water in the Sewalik hills during the hot months, I have observed that 

 the Kakur were nearly always the first deer that came to drink in the afternoon. On these 

 occasions I seldom fired at them, unless I was in want of meat, as their horns were in the 

 velvet. The venison is very good if it can be kept for a few days. 



I have stalked and shot Kakur at various times, and have also had them driven out of 

 cover : many may be found in this manner, but, unless one knows their usual runs, it is diffi- 

 cult to know where to post oneself. Like many other animals, the Kakur objects to being 

 driven, and will break back through the beaters in order to make his point. As they pro- 

 bably only give a chance of a snap shot at short range, it is easier to kill them with a charge 

 of shot than with a rifle bullet : the latter method is of course the more satisfactory and 

 sportsmanlike. 



