1867.] Captain R. C. Beavan on Panolia ehli. 183 



north, and the creeks were filled with pelicans of several species ; 

 whilst the mud flats absolutely swarmed with stints, sandpipers, 

 egrets, and especially the rosy tantalus. Here and there, stalking 

 gravely amongst the flowering paddy, might be seen pairs of the Sarus 

 crane, (Grus antigone), or a troop of adjutants, both of which breed in 

 the neighbourhood. Occasionally the rarer Javanese adjutant was met 

 with, and the Jabiru stork, Mycteria australis. 



The rutting season commences in the middle of March and lasts 

 throughout April, to the middle of May. 



The female gestates nearly seven months, and brings forth her 

 young in October and November, amongst the jungle paddy which is 

 then flowering or in seed, and at its greatest height. The sexes 

 begin to breed at about 18 months old and the female has only a single 

 young one at a time, which frequently stays with its mother until 

 the second year.* Females have only four teats. In colour they are much 

 like the female Sambur, but perhaps a little lighter. The young are 

 at first spotted ormenilled, but this disappears with age. The females 

 are hornless. In the second year the young males first begin to 

 acquire horns which are perfectly developed in March, and shed in 

 the middle of the rainy season, that is about September. f After 

 two years they get two tines, and when about seven years old are in 

 their prime with twelve tines (including the brow antler). The na- 

 tives have a vague idea that two distinct species, the lesser and the 

 greater Thamyn, are to be found in the same herds, distinguishable 

 only by difference of size in horns, and colour ; but this of course is 

 to be accounted for by the individual distinctions common to all 

 races of animals. 



The average weight of the male is from fifty to sixty vis,'| that of a 

 female forty vis. 



Four men can carry a male with ease, when disembowelled and 

 quartered. § 



* The mother will breed a second time in 18 months after bringing forth, so 

 that the young of two seasons are not unfrequently seen with their parents. 



f As noticed above by Blyth in Major Tickell's specimen at Moulmein. 



The colour of a full grown buck is dark brown, especially about the back and 

 neck, with undei^parts lighter. As far as I can ascertain there is no trace of a 

 mane, and the texture of the coat varies considerably with the seasons ; more 

 exact information on these points is however needed. 



X A vis is equal to 140 tolahs. 



§ As noticed by Blyth, the Burmese always quarter deer with the skin on. 

 The Karens, however, will not eat the meat, because they think it will breed 

 cholera, 



