411 



The Baraiya, or Cervus elaphoides, Hodgson. 



We were favoured with an interesting letter sometime 

 since from R. W. G. Frith, Esq., of Islampore, detailing the 

 results of a highly successful shooting party in the Rungpore 

 district, at the foot of the Garrow hills in April last, when 

 amongst the animals killed on the occasion, there was a buck 

 such as none of the party had before seen, and which Mr. 

 Frith supposed might possibly be the Cervus frontalis, then 

 only known from the imperfect notices of it in the two first 

 volumes of the Calcutta Journal of Natural History. Since 

 then, Mr. Frith has favoured us with a sketch of the head, 

 which proves to be that of the Baraiya, or Cervus elaphoides 

 of Mr. Hodgson. Mr. Frith at the same time, forwarded a 

 sketch of the head of a young buck entering on his third 

 year, which he thinks is probably the same species as 

 the large one which was killed. Of this there can be 

 no doubt, the horns of the third year being sufficiently 

 characteristic ; the horns or dagues of the second year, 

 were slightly bent conical daggers of about seven inches 

 long, which he shed in April, when about 2§ years of age, 

 by striking them against a post. In three months, the horns 

 of the third year presented the characteristic form of the 

 species, though not so fully developed as in the adult. The 

 colour also changed from the bright yellow to brown inter- 

 mixed with yellow; about the muzzle, neck and legs, dark 

 brown. The one that was shot was anything but wild, Mr. 

 Frith remarks, trotting away before the elephants like a 

 horse. We might repeat the same injunction to Mr. Frith, 

 as we have made to Capt. Gordon, relative to live specimens 

 of this species for the Earl of Derby, and the Zoological 

 Society. 



