1867.] Captain B. C. Beavan on Panolia eldi. 177 



nearly approaching to black, and their bodies are covered down to the 

 knee-joints with thick shaggy coats, resembling split whalebone, of 

 four to eight inches in length. 



" The hair about the neck is very thick, and just like a horse's mane, 

 and the appearance the stag presents when roused, with his shaggy 

 mane standing on end, coupled with the strong smell which at this 

 season proceeds from their bodies, perceptible at 40 and 50 yards 

 distance, is so formidable, that I have known the boldest ele- 

 phant refuse to approach them. In June the stags commence shed- 

 ding their horns, and the new ones have nearly attained their full size 

 by the end of November, but are in perfection in February and March ; 

 about this time also (June) they change their coats, which lose 

 their whalebone texture, and become of a beautiful glossy chesnut co- 

 lour, and about half an inch in length. The contour of their pecu- 

 liarly small heads, and the perfect symmetry of their forms, di- 

 vested of their long bristly coats, are now fully developed, and at 

 this season they are, in my opinion, the most beautiful and graceful of 

 the Deer species. The height of the full grown stags averages about 

 eleven and a half hands, and that of the does three or four inches less. 

 The colour of the latter is always the same — a bright bay, but more 

 glossy during the rains than at any other time. The principal dis- 

 tinction between the Surigraee and others of the Deer species consists 

 in the peculiar shape of the lower antlers, which, instead of breaking 

 off at an angle where they are set on the head, preserve the continuity 

 of curve downwards, and project over the eyes of the animal, which 

 they nearly hide, their semicircular shape giving the Deer, when at 

 gaze or in motion, the appearance of having too distinct pairs, the 

 one inclining forwards and the other backwards. The generality of the 

 stags have from six to ten branches or snags, but I have killed very 

 old ones, with no less than sixteen clearly defined branches. 



" It would be a great object gained, could any live specimens be pro- 

 cured for transmission to Europe, but it would I fear be attended 

 with much difficulty. I have known several instances of the fawns 

 being caught and thriving well for months, but at about a year old, 

 they invariably pined away and died ; nor have I known or heard of 

 a single instance of one having arrived at maturity, this too in their 

 native climate ; and I therefore think the chances of one surviving a 



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