On the supposed Unicorn of the Himalayas. 233 



which has afforded to the Asiatic Society the means of judging 

 of the literature, antiquities, arts, and natural productions of 

 the Himalayan region, has at length settled the question re- 

 pecting the chiru, or antelope of the Bhoteahs. The skin and 

 horns sent by Mr. Hodgson were the spoils of an animal which 

 died in the menagerie of the Rajah of Nepaul, to whom it was 

 presented by the Lama of Digurchi, whose pet it had been. 

 The persons who brought the animal to Nepaul, informed 

 Mr. Hodgson that the favourite abode of chiru is the Tingri 

 Maidan, a fine plain or valley, through which the Arrun flows, 

 and which is situated immediately beyond the snows by the 

 Kooti pass ; that in this valley beds of salt abound, to which 

 the chirus are said to resort in vast herds. They are repre- 

 sented as in the highest degree wild, and inapproachable by 

 man, flying on the least alarm ; but if opposed, assuming a 

 bold and determined front. The male and female are said to 

 present the same general appearance. 



The living subject of Mr. Hodgson's description presented 

 none of those formidable attributes with which the tales of the 

 Bhoteahs had clothed the chiru. In form and size he offered 

 the common character of the antelope tribe, lived chiefly on 

 grass, and did not seem dissatisfied with his captivity, although 

 his panting showed that even the climate of Nepaul was op- 

 pressive to him; he at length sunk under a temperature which 

 rarely exceeded 80° as a maximum, at the commencement of 

 the hot weather. Although timid, and on his guard against 

 the approach of strangers, he would, when warily laid hold of, 

 submit patiently to handling. 



The general form of the animal was graceful, like that of 

 other antelopes, and was adorned with their matchless eye. 

 His colour was reddish or fawn on the upper, and white on 

 the lower part of the body. His distinguishing characters 

 were, first, long sharp black horns, having a wavy triple cur- 

 vature, with circular rings towards their base, which projected 

 more before than behind : and, secondly, two tufts of hair 

 projecting on the outer side of each nostril, together with an 

 unusual quantity of bristles about the nose and mouth, and 

 which gave to his head a somewhat thickened appearance. 

 The hair of the animal resembled in texture that of all the 

 trans- Himalayan animals which Mr. Hodgson has had the 

 opportunity of examining, being harsh and of a hollow ap- 

 pearance; it was about two inches long, and so thick as to 

 present to the hand a sense of solidity; and beneath lay a spare 

 fleece of the softest wool. 



Dr. Abel's remarks on Mr. Hodgson's paper chiefly con- 

 cern the specific characters and dimensions of the animal, and 



Vol. 68. No. 34-1. Sept. 1826. 2 G present 



