350 On the Chiru. or Antilope Hodgsonii. [Nov. 
The general surface of the horns is smooth and polished ; but its uniformity 
is broken by a series of from 15 to 20 rings, extending from the base, to within 6 
inches of the tip of each horn. Upon the lateral and dorsal surfaces of the 
horns these rings are little elevated, and present a wavy rather than a ridgy 
appearance : but upon the frontal surface, the rings exhibit a succession of heavy, 
large ridges, with furrows between. The annulation is no where acutely edged. 
The horns have a very considerable lateral compression towards the base, where 
their extent, fore and aft, is nearly double of that from side to side. Upwards, 
from the base, the lateral compression becomes gradually less, and towards their 
tips the horns are nearly rounded. Compared with their length the thickness of the 
horns is as nothing — in other words, they are slender, but not, therefore, by 
any means weak. The tips are acute rather than otherwise. The divergency 
at the points is from one-third to one-half of the length. At the base a finger can 
hardly be passed between the horns. Throughout five- sixths of their length from 
the base, the horns describe an uniform slight inward curve, and at the top angle 
of the curve, where it returns towards 2 the perpendicular of the base, they turn in- 
wards again, more suddenly, but still slightly - the points of the horns being thus 
directed inward, and the two horns exhibiting, when seen from the front, the 
outline delineated in the accompanying sketch. The lateral view of the horns 
shews a considerable conciive arcuation forwards, but chiefly derived from the 
upper part of the horns. The genitalia of the male are exceedingly small, and not 
at all pendant. In size the testicles exceed not a pigeon’s egg : they are perfectly 
hairless, and black. 
Close to the outer margin of either nostril is a singular, soft, fleshy, 'or 
rather skinny, tumour or tuft, about the size and shape of the half of a do- 
mestic fowl’s egg. The purpose of these tufts I cannot discover : but the 
above is an accurate description of their appearance and feel; and as they 
would seem to be peculiar to this species, the mention of them may serve to 
characterise it. 
The mouth and nostrils (as already noted) are unusually hairy and bristly, and 
from the lower lip depend a few hairs, but not in the fashion of a beard. There 
are, (of course,) 8 front teeth in the lower jaw. — The lateral ones, in the specimen 
I examined, were worse formed than the rest, and leaned inwards against them. 
The coat or covering of the Chiru is very peculiar, and like that of all the other 
Trans -himalayan animals I have seen, distinctly indicative of the extreme cold- 
ness of his habitat. It consists of two parts — an external or hairy (so to 
speak) and an internal or woolly, substance. The hair is about 2 inches long, and 
so thickly set on as to present to the touch an impression of solidity. It is 
straight, nearly erect from its close set, rather harsh, and feeble, being for the most 
part hollow, like a quill. Beneath this hairy coat lies, closely applied to the 
skin, a spare fleece of the softest and finest wool — a remarkable provision against 
the cold with which nature has furnished all the hairy animals of Tibet, without 
exception, not merely its goats and sheep, hut its dogs, horses and kine. 
The Chiru Antelope is one of the most gregarious species of the genus — being 
usually found in herds of several scores, and even hundreds. It inhabits, 1 
am informed, the plains of Tibet generally — but, as others acquaint me, only 
such plains as are within sight of mountains, and preferentially of the Himachal 
mountains. It is extremely addicted to the use of salt in the summer months, 
and at that season vast herds of Chirus are often seen at some of the rock-salt 
beds, which so much abound in Tibet, licking the salt. The Chirus are 
said to come to the salt-beds under the conduct of a leader, and to post sentinels, 
ere they advance to feed, all around the beds ; which sentinels, upon the least 
unusual appearance, give the alarm, when the herd immediately retires, as 
it had advanced, under the master buck. 
The Chiru is universally said to be in the highest degree wild, and unapproach- 
able by man — shy to the last degree, hut not therefore timid. To avoid man he is 
wont to rely chiefly on his wariness and speed ; but if these fail him, he meets dan- 
ger with a gallant bearing ; and but few indeed of the inhabitants of Tibet have 
eiilier courage enough to push him to extremity, or weapons adequate to slay him 
at sale advantage. The one we had alive at the Residency, though tamed in iufan- 
c ^’ "(. as thoroughly fearless, and could only be approached with caution. The male 
urn female ot the species are said to resemble each other almost entirely. Ours 
was a well grown young male, and I have not myself seen a female. This species 
on ^ t0 ' vards the perpendicular : the divergency of the horns pre- 
venting a return to the true vertical line. 
