ANTILOPE BEZOAETICA. 277 



thin and much curved, "gyring round like those of Ovis amnion." One 

 buck is also mentioned in which one of the horns curved round, and 

 Blyth suggested that the testis of that side had probably been injured. 



This beautiful antelope is found throughout India in suitable localities, 

 and does not occur out of our province. It is rare in Bengal, a few only 

 extending into Pumeah and Dinagepore, north of the Ganges ; and it does 

 not occur in the richly wooded Malabar coast. It is abundant in the 

 Deccan, in parts of the Doab between the Jumna and Ganges, also in 

 Hurriana, Eajpootana, and neighbouring districts. It is found in the 

 Punjab, but does not cross the Indus. I have seen larger herds in the 

 neighbourhood of Jalna, in the Deccan, than anywhere else, occasionally 

 some thousands together, with black bucks in proportion. Now and 

 then. Dr. Scott informs me, they have observed in the Government cattle 

 farm at Hissar in herds calculated at 8,000 to 10,000. Generally 

 throughout the country, smaller herds are more common, where one black 

 buck is accompanied by his harem of ten to twenty does or even more. 

 With these herds younger bucks that have not turned black are occasionally 

 seen, the lord of the herd driving off the other bucks as soon as they begin 

 to turn black. 



Mr. Elliot says, '' the rutting season commences about February or 

 March, but fawns are seen of all ages at every season. During the spring 

 months the buck often separates a particular doe from the herd, and will 

 not suffer her to join it again, cutting her off and intercepting every 

 attempt to mingle with the rest. The two are often found alone also, 

 but on being followed always rejoin the herd. 



" When a herd is met with and alarmed the does bound away for a 

 short distance and then turn round to take a look, the buck follows more 

 leisurely, and generally brings up the rear. Before they are much fright- 

 ened they always bound or spring, and a large herd going off in this way 

 is one of the finest sights imaginable. But when at speed the gallop is 

 like that of any other animal. Some of the herds are so largo that one 

 buck has from 50 to 60 does, and the young bucks driven from these large 

 flocks are found wandering in separate herds, sometimes containing as 

 many as 30 individuals of different ages. 



" They show some ingenuity in avoiding danger. In pursuing a buck 

 once into a field of toor, I suddenly lost sight of him, and found after a 

 long search that he had dropt down among the grain, and lay concealed 

 with his head close to the ground. Coming on another occasion upon a 



