488 Synopsis of the Thar and [Sept. 



ruminants, it might be as well, perhaps, for our general classifiers, to 

 bear in mind the Baconian adage, that " an over-early reduction of 

 knowledge into methods generates acquiescence" in misleading sys- 

 tems of nature. 



My apology for the amended indication of the subgenus N^emorhedus 

 of the English Regne Animal, now attempted, is, that the celebrity 

 of that work might fix and propagate errors which I happen to 

 possess the means of correcting ; and that, as I have an unusually 

 complete knowledge of three out of the four species comprised in this 

 group, my definition of it may perhaps stand the test of time, if the 

 group itself be allowed to remain. 



Nijpal, August 1835. 



English Regne Animal Synopsis. 



Sub-Genus XIII. Ncemorhedus, Smith. 



Subgeneric character (nobis). 



Structure assuming a caprine form, suited for heavy climbin°vor 

 for leaping ; horns in both sexes, their cores hollow*, and connected 

 with the frontal sinuses, but not porous, and only sub-cellular, inserted 

 behind the orbits, short, conical, simply bent back, annulo-wrinkled, 

 parallel to the plane of the face, and nearly so to each other, sub- 

 remote at base ; suborbital sinus, small, or wanting; no inguinal pores ; 

 tail caprine ; ears longish, pointed, and striated ; muzzle small, or none ; 

 knees callous ? maned, hair of two sorts, and thick ; or, of one sort, 

 and spare ; four teats in the females. Reside in the mountainous and 

 woody regions of the continent and islands of India, solitarily, or in 

 small groups. 



Sp. 1. A. Sumatrensis. Cambing Ootan. 



Sp. 2. A. Duvaucellii. Variety of Ghordl ! 



Sp. 3. A. Guoral. Characters — extremely caprine, being allied to 

 antelope only by its round and ringed horns. Size small, attitude 

 gathered, with back much arched, and structure adapted for 

 leaping ; limbs moderately stout and rigid ; general form of the 

 scull caprine, with the ridge line much bent, and the parietes 

 depressed at a strong angle to the frontal bones, and no indentation 

 before the orbits ; fifty inches long, exclusive of the tail, and twentv- 

 seven high ; horns seated on the crest of the frontals, six inches lonsr 

 the points inclined inwards, 20 to 25 annuli extending fids up the 



* This, as a generic character, has been used to separate Capra and Damalis 

 from Antelope ; upon which I have only to observe, that I know four species still 

 retained under Antelope, which have nevertheless hollow-cored horns. 





