THE HOG DEER 163 



diate zones, along the banks of rivers, wherever 

 there is longish grass and bush jungle suited to 

 their requirements. The cover they affect is 

 generally too thick to allow of their being 

 stalked, and they are consequently either shot 

 from elephant back or driven out by a line of 

 beaters. They are not at all shy, and when 

 occasionally found out in the open a stag will 

 often stop to have a good stare, just as a sambur 

 will under similar circumstances. It is rather 

 pretty to see a hog deer coming towards one in 

 a beat. He gallops along with his nose in the 

 grass, and his horns sticking up over his back 

 like pieces of dry twigs. Suddenly he pulls up, 

 wheels round, and stands for a moment or two 

 looking towards the advancing line behind him. 

 Before he can make up his mind to canter off 

 again, he is on his back kicking in his death 

 throes. The venison is, to my mind, more 

 delicate than that of any other deer. 



The barking deer ought to feel proud : he 

 has so many names for his diminutive size. 

 Barking deer, rib-faced deer, muntjac, jungle 

 sheep, and red deer in Ceylon. He is quite the 

 commonest deer in Burma, and is found every- 

 where. Hills or plain, wet, dry or intermediate 

 zone, all come alike to this sporting little chap. 

 And what fun he affords to the man who is 

 debarred from hunting bigger game ; or to any- 

 one, for that matter ! He can be stalked, shot 



