250 



T, Bentham : Budorcas taxicolor. 



[Vol.. II, 



which is not altogether surprising, since the Mishmi Takin lives in 

 jungle J where its sense of smell would be more indispensable than 

 if its habitat were on the bare plateaux of Tibet. 



The premaxilla is longer in the Tibetan skull, proportionately, 

 and more slender than in the other specimens. This is also quite 

 evident in Milne Edward's drawing of the nose-cavity in a speci- 

 men from Moupin.^ 



In the skeleton the only difference between the Assam and 

 Tibetan forms seems to lie, as far as can be judged from the same 

 author's plates, in the humerus. This difference probably is not 

 important, perhaps being due to age. The outer tuberosity of the 

 Mishmi humerus is larger and has a greater curve inwards than 

 that in the Moupin humerus figured. The bicipital groove is there- 

 fore deeper. The deltoid ridge also is more strongly marked. The 

 anterior cannon-bone is shorter and broader in proportion in the 

 Tibetan Budorcas, while with regard to the posterior cannon-bone 

 the reverse is the case. 



Comparison of Mishmi skins inter se exhibits great variation. 

 The colour in males varies from russet-brown to light straw-grey. 

 In no individuals are the dark parts pure black. In fact the 

 younger the animal is, the darker the colour of the skin. The 

 following is a list of the observations taken from skins ranging in 

 age from young to fully adirlt : — 



Budorcas taxicolor, & Skins from Assam : Age Series. 



Serial 

 No. 



lyeugth 

 uf horn. 



• 



lyength of 



anterior 



hoof, 



front face. 



Colour. 



I 



None 



1*25 in. 



Uniform dark russet-brown ; legs and a small 

 patch on the nose inclining to black ; dorsal 

 streak very faint and more marked on hind 

 quarters ; interior of ears, a patch on the loins, 

 a small patch over eye light brown. 



" 



75 in. 



2-25 in. 



Hair becoming lighter and more golden in colour 

 at the tips along the edge of the dorsal streak, 

 which is now better marked and is beginning to 

 show signs of appearing between shoulders. 

 Rest of the skin as in No. i. 



3 



2-5 in. 



2-5 in. . . 



Dorsal streak quite well marked and dark brown, 

 the hairs having black tips. More yellowish 

 colour on the back which, mingling with the 

 reddish brown hairs it is replacing, gives the 

 back in parts a greenish appearance. A light 

 patch beginning to be evident on the forehead. 



1 Recherches des Mammifeves (Paris), 1868-74, P'- Ixxvi. 



