COMMENTS ON AND CORRECTIONS OF VARIOUS ARTICLES. 1121 
I also noted the author’s remarks on the Baluchistan Gazelle, and returned 
to this subject in the Journal for Vol. XVIII, No. 2, 1908. Dr. Lydekker ques- 
tioned whether the Baluchi chikara is entitled to rank as a distinct race, but he 
gave it sub-specific nomenclature. The grounds for this were that the horns of 
the female were distinctly ringed, the dark portions of the face dark brown 
instead of rufous ; and that the horns of the male are a little more curved back- 
wards, and slightly more lyrate when viewed from the front. These reasons 
were combated in my Note in the Journal above referred to. I have observed 
that the chinkara of the Deccan has distinctly annulated horns, while the colour 
of the face varies wth age, and the degree to which the horns of the chinkara are 
lyrate varies in individuals. So far as I am aware this question as to the Balu- 
chistan animal being a separate race has never been cleared up. 
But the most important question of controversy in “ The Game Animals of 
India ” was the statement that it was doubtful whether the Black Buck 
ever drinks, while it was stated that the Gazelle was believed by some observers, 
including Dr. Blanford, never to drink. On this I gave evidence in my Notes 
in the Asian to show that both these animals are addicted to drink, and this 
led to a controversy which lasted many years, although Dr. Lydekker in the end 
(vide Indian Field, August, 1910) acknowledged the correctness of my views, 
and said that if his “Game Animals of Lidia ” ever reached a third edition, 
he would modify his opinions on the subject. It is to be regretted that this 
distinguished naturalist did not survive to produce his third edition. An 
exhaustive monograph which I contributed to the Journal on “ The drinking 
habits of wild animals,” dealing -with these questions, will be found in the 
Journal, Vol. XVIII, No. 2, 1908. 
My experience as to the length of tigers and bears agrees with that of Major 
Stockley. The subject of the length of tigers has been discussed dovTi to the last 
stripe, and there appears to be little more to say about it. I find that skins 
in my possession, which have not been unduly stretched, measure from 14 to 20 
inches more than the animal measured immediately after death, when measure- 
ments were taken between uprights and not along the curves. I have shot some 
very large tigers, but none exceeding 9 feet 8 inches in length, including three 
feet of tflil. 
\st June 1922. 
R. G. BURTON. 
TO CONTRIBUTORS. 
Will contributors when sending articles for insertion in th« Journal help the 
Editors to prevent mistakes ? The most fruitful source of “ clerical” errors lies 
in the original “copy.’’ If this were type VTitten — and type written only on 
one side— and not sent in manuscript, many mistakes would be avoided. This 
is not a counsel of perfection ; it is not meant to imply that if you do not 
possess a Wpewriter or the means of getting your articles typed you are not 
to send them in. Far from it — If you cannot send them in type, send 
them in in good plain legible script and then you can blame the editors for 
any mistakes. — Editoes. 
