1840.] 



Mammalogy of the Himalaijas. 



167 



knowledge is entirely due to Mr. Hodgson's researches, is confined to 

 Bhot, Thibet, and the surrounding countries ; it appears to be altogether 

 unknown on the southern face of the Mountains, except from an occa- 

 sional specimen imported by the traders, either for presents or barter. 

 The common Indian antelope, called Hirn^ and the Cliicknrra, or four- 

 horned species {A. cervicapra and qiiadricornis), are confined to the 

 lower hills and forests, and the iV<?£?%A«M (J. principally to the 



plains and jungles of the north-western districts, Mr. Colebrooke says 

 that, in the opinion of the Hindoos, the resort of the Antelope sanctfiies 

 the countries graced by his presence, while his absence degrades the 

 regions which he avoids. This seems more connected vnth physical ob- 

 servation than with popular prejudice. The v\'ide and open range in 

 /hich the Antelope delights is equally denied by the forests of the 

 mountain and by the inundation of the fens.* These are the only ante- 

 lopes of which we have any precise knowledge, as inhabitants of this 

 part of India ; but it is probable that others still remain undescribed. 

 Captain Ilerbert.f in his " Tour to the Sutlej," mentions two animals 

 by the names of Skin and War, the accounts of which do not agree with 

 any known species, and which are therefore well worth the attention of 

 future observers. The PFar, according to Capt. Herbert, is somewhat 

 like the Musk Deer (Moschus MoscMferus), but with a face more like 

 that of a sheep, divided hoofs, and horns more nearly resembling those 

 of a buffalo than of any other animal ; a description which, in spite of the 

 similarity of names, is inapplicable either to the Thar or Jharal, though 

 indeed, little dependence is to be placed in the descriptions of unscien- 

 tific observers. 



The ^eel-ghau deserves a more particular notice, for the purpose of 

 clearing up a point in its history, equally interesting to the Classical 

 Scholar and to the Zoologist. It has been already observed that Modern 

 Naturalists, after the example of Baron Cuvier, have identified the 

 great Saumer Deer of India with the animal which Aristotle describes 

 by the name oi Hippelaphus. " The Hippelaphus,'^ says the Greek phi- 

 losopher,:]: " has also a mane, (he is talking of the mane of the Horse), 

 above the shoulders, but from this to the head along the top of the neck 



it is very thin; it has likewise a leard on the larynx; it is about the 



size of the Stag the female has no horns those of the male re- 

 semble the horns of the Dorcas (J.. Gazelle) it inhabits Arachosia." 



• Colebrooke on Benjjal Husbandry. + Asiat. Res., x.r,, 397. 



t Hist. lib. II. c. 5. 



