DEER-SHOOTING AND OTHER MATTERS. 97 



its mother was shot. Only one specimen of all that 

 were brought to me by the native hunters had both 

 their horns intact — always one, and often both, being 

 more or less broken. In hunting them with dogs, 

 it soon became evident why this was so generally 

 the case. The Japanese, who knew the animal's habits 

 intimately, invariably placed me near some huge bare 

 slab of rock, on which the Nigou, when pressed by 

 the dogs, was expected to appear, and on looking at 

 these slippery sloping platforms, I tried to conjecture 

 — when waiting for the animal to appear — where, 

 if I Imocked one over, it would tumble, and what 

 shape or form it would be in by the time it stopped. 

 I could then easily understand why the horns were 

 usually so damaged. I have no doubt also they often 

 caught in the bushes or trees by the slightly turned- 

 back horns, on their falling and reaching the foot 

 of these rocks, hence the origin of the story of their 

 holding on to the trees. The young one which was 

 brought to me alive was the most fierce little thing 

 I ever saw. Any dog, large or small, that approached 

 its cage, down went its head, and with a quick sudden 

 spring the creature invariably came bang up against 

 the wooden bars. Its horns were about two inches 

 long, as sharp as needles, and quite capable of inflicting 



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