THE SHOU 
(CERVUS AFFINIS) 
T HIS fine beast, sometimes called the Sikhim stag, inhabits 
the neighbourhood of the Chumbi Valley and parts of Bhutan, 
but is not found in Sikhim itself; it is reported to exist in the 
valleys on both sides of the Bramaputra River to the east and 
south-east of Lhasa, but can hardly be said to occur in Indian 
territory. 
It has coarser hair than most deer, greyish in shade, with a light 
coloured rump patch. The horns bend more forward over the face than in 
the Kashmir stag; ten seems the usual number of points for a mature 
animal, but there are sometimes more, though there is little tendency 
to cup at the tops. 
Until more satisfactory relations are established with the Tibetans, 
there is not much chance of the ordinary sportsman being able to shoot 
a specimen of this stag, as travelling near the frontier at present is not 
looked upon favourably by the officials of India. 
Wallich’s deer, which is probably a race of the above, has its habitat in 
Nepaul, to the westward of the Shou, and differs from it in having a larger 
rump patch, and being rather lighter in colour; we have at present a live 
one in the London Zoo, but until more specimens are available classifica- 
tion is difficult. 
N 
89 
