1850.] On the Tdkin of the Eastern Himdlaya. 69 



the horns, keeping the horizontal course, is divided pretty equally be- 

 tween the laterally and posteally directed parts which curve into each 

 other, so as to describe a bold lunate sweep with the pair of horns. In 

 the females, which as well as the males are armed with these weapons, 

 only of smaller size, the horns towards their points are approximated, 

 and the points themselves turn towards each other. In the males 

 however there is no such mutual inclination of the tips, but the horns, 

 throughout their terminal halves nearly, run almost parallel to each 

 other, and also in the main horizontally (in the ordinary position of 

 the head), there being but a slight rise in that portion of the horns. 

 The length of the horns is very moderate, being only twenty inches 

 along their curves ; but their robustness is great, and they are gradually 

 attenuated from their thick bases. In their thick basal portion they are 

 depressed and somewhat angular, but gradually become rounded. The 

 basal section is trigono-ovoid with the wider and rounded edge turned 

 obliquely forwards and outwards, and the narrower and cultrated edge 

 or angle directed obliquely backwards and inwards. These narrow 

 edges have the character of evanescent Caprine keels, which are turned 

 towards each other over the nape ; and the broad surfaces of the horns 

 are for the most part the superior and inferior ones, but varying ac- 

 cording to the course of the flexure. The basal depression of the horns, 

 though marked, is less excessive than in Ovibos, and is void of tumidity 

 or inflation, such as characterises the base of the horns in the Musk Ox 

 and also in the Caffrarian Buffalo. The horns tend to a point which 

 however is blunt not sharp. In their basal halves they are marked by 

 numerous crowded rings, which go uniformly all round the horns pa- 

 rallelly and independantly of each other, and with perfect distinctness 

 in youth though the annulation is apt to be more or less obscured in 

 old males, by the rough uses these weapons are put to by them. The 

 terminal halves of the horns are quite smooth. Thus, the horns of the 

 Takin are essentially Antelopine though seemingly Bovine, the com- 

 pound flexure the annulation and striation being normally Antelopine 

 characters ; and the like is true of their osseous diagnosis, as will be 

 seen in the sequel. The ears are short, narrow and pointed, with a 

 decided Ovine or rather Caprine character, as in the Musk Ox, but not 

 in the Gnoos. The neck is short and thick, being loaded with muscles 

 suited to support the large and ponderous head, and which muscles are 



