1851.] On the Shou or Tibetan Stag. . 393 



the Shou. The Bhotiahs, who brought this horn, say it belonged to 

 a very young animal, and that the species which is proper to Gnari or 

 "Western Tibet, is larger than the Shou. 



This horn is figured herewith. (Plate ix). It as little agrees with 

 Wallichii as with Shou, though borne by an animal of precisely the 

 alleged age (3rd year) of the only sample extant of Wallichii. One of 

 the six mature samples of the male Shou now before me agrees with 

 this anomalous and immature horn, pretty nearly, in the great separation 

 of the pair of basal antlers, so that we may perhaps have in this young 

 Stag of Ladak only an unusual specimen of a young Shou ; and, 

 should that prove to be the case, we might reasonably become more 

 inclined to admit that no specific distinction between the Gyana (Wal- 

 lichii) and the Shou is maintainable. At present I think otherwise, 

 and apprehend that the alleged identity of species between the Shou 

 and Wallichii (as well as the Ladak Stag now spoken of) is more than 

 doubtful, and, at all events is neither demonstrated nor demonstrable 

 from existing materials.* 



Capt. Cunningham tells me that the Cashmir Stag has sometimes a 

 double fork at the top of his horns, thus making that animal a twelve 

 tiner or Bara-singha. The like is sometimes true of the Wapiti and 

 is alleged to be so of the Shou, though the normal form in Wapiti is 

 the same (I conceive) as in Shou, viz. a simply and singly forked sum- 

 mit. Relative to the manners and habitat of the Shou the folio wing- 

 is the substance of my information. 



The spoils sent in were procured in the beginning of February at 

 Lingmii, which lies beyond the snows and a little south of Phari, be- 

 tween it and Chumbi. The species is said to be very generally spread 

 over the wide extent of Tibet, particularly Utsang and Kham. Of its 

 existence in Gnari or Western Tibet my informants cannot speak so 

 confidently, nor from personal knowledge, though they believe it to be 

 found in that province also. Its existence on this side of the Hima- 



* It may surprise those who hear so much inconsistency upon the species called 

 Wallichii by Cuvier to learn that this species was established solely upon a native 

 drawing, and that it neither has been nor can be further confirmed than by refer- 

 ence to a single pair of horns declaredly not exhibiting the character of the spe- 

 cies, whether from old age or youth, as is diversely affirmed. Nat. Libr. III. 161, 

 and Regne Animal of Griffith IV. 104. 



