70 On the TdJcin of the Eastern Himalaya. [Jan. 



no doubt aided in that office by tendinous ligaments attached to a high 

 interscapular ridge, such as distinguishes Bibos, Bison, Damalis and 

 no doubt also Catoblepas and Ovibos, though I do not find it specified 

 by Ogilby or Smith or Swainson in regard to the two last forms. In 

 the Takin, which is our type of Budorcas, the true dorsal ridge is, I am 

 assured, forthcoming ; but not being possessed of a perfect skeleton, 

 I cannot positively assert the fact, especially as this ridge, when re- 

 garded in the light of a generic character, results, not absolutely from 

 the presence or absence of elongated spinous processes (for in that 

 sense it is universal among the Ruminants), but only from the ordinary 

 or extraordinary development of those processes. The barrel of the 

 Takin is elongated and deep, and the chest still deeper with elevated 

 shoulders but not a slouching croup. The lusty limbs which exhibit 

 the usual equality of length before and behind, are short, stout, rigid, 

 bovine and terminate in broad hoofs, not less clearly modelled on the 

 Ox type, but devoid of the several peculiarities distinguishing the Musk 

 Ox's hoofs. The false hoofs are well developed and obtusely conical in 

 shape. The short depressed triangular tail, has an entirely caprine 

 character, and in this respect our animal differs remarkably from all its 

 Damaline and Catoblepine allies, save only the Musk Oxen. 



The hide is extremely thick and is pretty and uniformly covered 

 with harsh straight adpressed hair similar to that of the Arna, and also 

 of the Thar. It is of equable moderate length, save upon the pectoral 

 surface of the neck whence depends a longer and mane-like fringe ex- 

 tending from the gullet to the chest, both inclusive, as in so many of 

 the Damalines and Catoblepines, which, however, also exhibit a true or 

 dorsal mane, as well as sundry facial tufts and vibrissee, all of which 

 are wanting in the Takin. There is no peculiar disposition of the hair 

 on the chaffron of the Takin, nor are its lips or orbits any way specially 

 bristley, as are those of the Gnoo. The females, as already noticed, 

 are furnished with horns. The teats are four and are placed on an ud- 

 der. There are no suborbital or other facial, nor any inguinal or inter- 

 digital glands or sacs ; all important structural particulars whereby 

 the Takin manifests its departure from the Antelopine to join the 

 Bovine group of animals. " 



We must now proceed to the osteology of our subject by describing 

 its scull with as much care as we have employed in the above detail 



