THE BROW-ANTLERED DEER 151 



the sambur. Old stags are generally dark in 

 colour, sometimes almost black. The hair is 

 coarse, and there is a thick mane about the 

 neck. They grow somewhat lighter in colour 

 with the hot weather, but do not seem to shed 

 their coat. The does are a light fawn colour, 

 and are smaller in comparison with the size 

 of the stag than most deer. In the distance 

 a group of does look just like the does of 

 black buck, and are as hard to distinguish in a 

 bright light. The young are spotted. The head 

 of a thamin stag is very handsome. It is 

 long and narrow, the horns, almost touching 

 at the base, sweep backwards and outwards, 

 coming forward again so as to form a semicircle. 

 But the chief peculiarity about the head of 

 this deer, and one from which it gets its name, 

 is that the brow antler, instead of growing at an 

 angle from the beam as in all other deer, comes 

 forward in one continuous curve; so that the 

 effect, when seen in profile, is that of an almost 

 complete circle. There is usually a false point 

 on the axle, and one or two on the brow antler, 

 which is extremely long. There is generally also 

 a point, from about six to nine inches long, close 

 to the top of each beam, which may be destitute 

 of further points, or may split up into several. 

 One of the finest thamin I ever shot had 

 only six points, including the brow antler. The 

 curved beam ended in long white tips, as sharp 



