ORDER RUMINANTIA. 199 



Unicorn Chiru of Bhote is, in all likelihood, the Unicorn 

 of the ancient Persians. 



According to the accounts of the natives, this species re- 

 sides in the most inaccessible pine tracts of Chandang, 

 north-west of Digurgu, in the Himalaya mountains, on the 

 verge of the snow, and evinces great activity and vigilance. 

 They associate sometimes with the Musk, and with the 

 Nervati, or Wild Sheep of Bhote. Mr. Hodgson, assistant 

 resident of the East India Company at Katmandoo, first 

 produced the documents for a description of the animal ; 

 there were, however, already some accounts of it transmitted 

 in a letter from Captain Smith, who commanded a party 

 stationed in the eastern parts of Nepaul. In the Calcutta 

 Oriental Miscellany, are the dimensions of the skin, before 

 noticed, and communicated, we believe, by Mr. Hodgson. 

 Total length of the animal five feet eight inches ; of the 

 head ten inches ; of the ears four inches and a half ; of the 

 body four feet two inches ; length of the neck one foot nine 

 inches ; of the fore-leg one foot eight inches ; of the hind-leg 

 one foot eight inches and a half ; of the tail eight inches ; 

 circumference of the head one foot eight inches and a half. 



It appears, from the information of friends, that the 

 term spiral horns, which was at first assigned to it, refers 

 to the a.nnuli, which are absolete, excepting in front ; and 

 from the figure shewn us, we are inclined to consider a 

 horn in the collection of Mr. Parkinson, attached to a part 

 of the frontal, and formerly belonging to the Leverian Mu- 

 seum, as of this species. It is about twenty-seven inches 

 long, measured upon the curves; black, slender, very 

 slightly lyrated, parallel with the face, bending outwards 

 towards the middle, and the tips turned forwards; marked 

 with twenty-one annuli, most prominent in front, striated 

 between, and with about five inches of the summit smooth. 

 It is seated on the crest of the frontals, and may have been 

 the horn which induced Mr. Pennant to describe his Cine- 



