NATURALIST IN INDIA. 149 



but does not affect tlie Himalayas. The horns of the male 

 seldom exceed 18 inches in length ; the females are smooth and 

 usually 4 inches. The ravine deer is met with singly, but 

 now and then from six to twelve may be seen together. The 

 secretion from the infra-orbital sinus of one killed by me on 

 the Salt range and rubbed on the surface of the horn, gave the 

 latter a polished appearance, which even in the dead animal 

 lasted for weeks ; possibly the use of this substance may be to 

 preserve the horn from decay. With the smaller species having 

 permanent horns, this might be the case ; but in large antlered 

 deer, and such like, with deciduous horns, the probability is 

 great that the animal could scarcely accomplish the task. I 

 have, however, often noticed deer and antelope rubbing their 

 foreheads and horns on the bark of trees ; indeed, this is a com- 

 mon occupation with deer when chewing the cud in the'forest 

 during the heat of the day, or when the far is being shed. 



The ravines in the district of Jubba have a peculiar ap- 

 pearance. Viewed from a. height, they present a series of 

 worn and angular-shaped hillocks, intersected by narrow 

 defiles, by no means inviting to the traveller, for not a blade 

 of grass is visible, and the disintegrated red sandstone and 

 marl suggest the idea of sleeping volcanic embers, which we 

 found, during the heat of mid-day, had more than a mere 

 resemblance. I do not think I have ever witnessed a scene 

 so perfect in its desolation. However, we determined to 

 descend in spite of the stewing heat, and reflection from the 

 hillocks on each side. Whilst threading our way among a 

 series of narrow lanes, we came on a young houriar just 

 dropped, and evidently abandoned by its mother on seeing us 

 approach. Several herds of rams (which separate from the 

 ewes during the breeding season) were observed dashing 

 across ravines, offering a snap-shot occasionally. As we 



