Chapter 95
_Ovis cycloceros_, No. 443.--I gave from 25 to 30 inches as an average size for the horns of this species, but Captain W. Cotton, F.Z.S., writes to me that he sent home a pair of ovrial horns from Cabul, 35-1/2 inches, and that there is a pair in the R.A. mess at Attock 38-1/2 inches, but very thin. They were looted in the Jowaki campaign.
This sheep has bred freely in the Zoological Society's Gardens, and two hybrids have been born there from a male of this species and the Corsican mouflon, _Ovis musimon_.
I mentioned that there is in the Gardens a specimen of _Ovis Blanfordi_. I see by the Society's list that this was presented by Captain Cotton; the habitat given is Afghanistan.
_The Wild Goat of Asia Minor_, No. 448.--Mr. Carter writes to me: "In one of your letters you mention the Scind ibex, which is a wild goat. I have a photo of a head 31 inches round curve, but Mr.
Inverarity, barrister, Bombay, says he has seen one 52-1/2. The animal is not much bigger than the black buck." This last agrees with the estimate I formed from the specimens in the Indian Museum, Calcutta.
_Tetraceros sub-quadricornutus_, No. 463.--It is doubtful whether Elliot's antelope should stand as a separate species; Blyth was against it, and Jerdon followed him, and I incline to think that it is only a variety. Dr. Sclater, to whom I mentioned the subject, appeared to me to agree in this view, but I see he includes it in his list of the Society's mammals. Being adverse to the multiplication of species, I gave it the benefit of the doubt, and included it with _T. quadricornis_; but, as I have received one or two letters from writers whose opinions are ent.i.tled to consideration, I mention them here, merely stating that I still feel inclined to doubt the propriety of promoting _sub-quadricornutus_ to the dignity of a species. Dr. Gray was certainly of opinion it was separate; but then, great naturalist as he was, his peculiar foible was minute sub-division.
The claims of Elliot's antelope to separate rank are: absence of the anterior horns, or with only a trace; smaller size; lighter colour; but even the larger, darker _quadricornis_ is sometimes without the anterior horns; and, unless some other marked difference is found in the skull, it is hardly sufficient to warrant separation. However, I will give what others say on the subject.
"I can scarcely agree with you as to Elliot's antelope not being a good species, I have therefore taken the trouble of having a most accurate and full-size sketch of the skull of one made, and if you will compare it with those of the ordinary _quadricornis_ I think you will see a well-marked difference. Dr. Gray wrote to me, and said that there was the recognised species of _sub-quadricornutus_."--Letter from Mr. H. R. P. Carter, "Smoothbore" of the _Field_.
The following is an extract from a letter signed "Bheel," addressed to the editor of _The Asian_, which appeared in that paper:--
"In the jungles of Rajputana, especially about the Arravelli Range, I have shot repeatedly very small, exceedingly shy deer, called by the Bheels and s.h.i.+karies in this part 'bhutar.' They are very much smaller than the four-horned antelope, having very sharp thin horns about two inches in length, which are perfectly smooth, as if polished, and black. The colour of the skin is light brown, somewhat like a c.h.i.n.kara, white inside the limbs and under the belly. The hair on the skin is short, smooth and glossy. The feet are exceedingly small, about one-third in size smaller than that of the four-horned antelope. They are very retiring little creatures, and very difficult to bag. They run, or, more appropriately, bound with amazing swiftness when disturbed, and disappear like some pa.s.sing shadow. These little deer live on the lower spurs of the hills, and are generally found in pairs. They are very plump, and appear to be always in good condition. The last one I shot was last year. The females are hornless.
"The four-horned antelope is described accurately by Mr. Sterndale, only that, in my humble opinion, I do not consider it to be the smallest of the ruminant species. The 'Bheel' name for this creature is 'fonkra.' It is found in the thick jungles at the foot of the hills.
It selects some secluded spot, which it does not desert when disturbed, returning invariably to its hiding-place when the coast is clear. I noticed this
is comparatively much longer than the bhutar's, and the colour is a great deal darker. Could Mr. Sterndale kindly let me know the Latin name for the 'bhutar'? I am sure it can't be _Cervulus aureus_ (kakur, or barking deer), because the colour given of this deer is a beautiful bright glossy red or chesnut, while, as I have mentioned above, the colour of the bhutar is light brown."
"Bheel's" "bhutar" is evidently Elliot's _sub-quadricornutus_.
_The Gaur_, No. 464.--Jerdon doubted the existence of this animal in the Himalayan Terai, according to Hodgson's a.s.sertion; but Hodgson was right, for I have a letter before me which I received some time back from Dr. W. Forsyth, stating that a few days previously a companion of his shot a large solitary bull (6 feet 1 inch at the shoulder) in the Terai, and he himself knocked one and lost another the day before he wrote. The local name is _gauri-gai_.
[Ill.u.s.tration: The Gaur.]
I also received a letter through the columns of _The Asian_ from "Snapshot," vouching for the existence of the _gaur_ in the Darjeeling Terai.
Another correspondent of _The Asian_ writes regarding the naming of this species:--
"In referring to Mr. Sterndale's descriptions of the gaur and gayal, in your issues of the 28th March and 11th April, I trust that that gentleman will not be offended by my making a few remarks on the subject, and that he will set me right if I am in the wrong. I see that he has perpetuated what appears to my unscientific self a mistake on the part of the old writers--Colebrooke, Buchanan, Trail, and others, who I fancy got confused, and mixed up the animals. The local name for the Central Indian ox is over a large tract of country the gayal, or gyll; and this, being the animal with the peculiar frontal development, was most probably named bos, or _Gavaeus frontalis_, whilst the mithun, or Eastern Bengal animal, was the gaur.
It seems to me, therefore, that the names should be transposed. Will Mr. Sterndale consider this, if he has not already done so; and, if I am wrong, tell me why the animal with peculiar frontal development, and called the gayal locally, should not have been named _frontalis_, whilst the animal called mithun, with nothing peculiar in his frontal development, is so called?
"Orissa, _April 15th, 1882_.
"CHAMPSE.
"P.S.--Do any of the Eastern Bengal races call this mithun gayal?"
I think Hodgson's name _Bibos cavifrons_ is a sufficient proof that _Gavaeus gaurus_ is applicable to the animal with the high frontal crest, which is the species inhabiting the Himalayan Terai, and is locally known as the _gaur_, or _gauri-gai_. It is known as _gayal_ in some parts of India, but, where the people are familiar with the _mithun_, the _gaur_ is called _asl'gayal_, from whence Horsfield's name _Bibos a.s.seel_. Probably the _mithun_ was called _frontalis_, under ignorance of a species with a still greater frontal development.
_Gavaeus frontalis_ interbreeds freely with domesticated cattle of all kinds. In the Society's Gardens are several hybrids between this and _Bos Indicus_, one of which hybrids again interbred with American bison (_Bison America.n.u.s_), the progeny being one-half bison, and one-quarter each _frontalis_ and _Indicus_.
APPENDIX D.
As many specimens are spoilt by either insufficient curing, or curing by wrong methods, I have asked Mr. Geo. F. b.u.t.t, F.Z.S., who was for many years manager to Edwin Ward, whom he has now succeeded, to give me a page or two of useful hints on the preservation of skins. The following notes are what he has kindly placed at my disposal. I know of no one I can more strongly recommend for good work than Mr. b.u.t.t.
Some of his groups are works of art, with most lifelike finish. I have just seen a bear set up by him which seems almost to breathe.
NOTES ON SKINNING THE MAMMALIA AND THE PRESERVATION OF SKINS. By GEO.
F. b.u.t.t, F.Z.S., Naturalist to the Royal Family, 49, Wigmore Street, London, W.
The quadruped killed, the first and important step is to plug up the nostrils and throat with cotton-wool or tow, as also any wound from which blood may escape. Place the animal on its back, make a longitudinal incision with the knife at the lower part of the belly (the vent), and thence in as straight a line as possible extending to the chin bone, taking particular care that during the operation the hair is carefully divided and not cut. Vertical incisions may then be made extending down the inside of each leg to the claws. The skin can then be turned back in every direction as far as the extent of the incisions will admit of--the legs may now be freed from the skin. Next make a straight incision down the under part of the tail to the tip, turn the skin back until it is free. Having executed this, there remains only to remove the skin from the back and head; to do this place the carcase on its side, and with the scalpel carefully separate the skin by drawing it towards the head, in skinning which care being taken to cut the ears as close to the skull as possible, leaving the cartilage in the skin; the eyelids, also nose and lips, should be carefully skinned without injury. The skin is now free from the carcase. Turn the ears inside out, the nostrils, lips, and feet, removing all cartilage and flesh.
Place the skin open on the ground with the fur side down, and remove the flesh and pieces of fat adhering; sc.r.a.pe the skin well, so as to get away all the loose particles of under-skin or pelt. When this has been thoroughly done, take powdered alum plentifully, and, with a _very_ small quant.i.ty of common salt, rub well into the skin, especially into the ears, nostrils, lips, and feet, so that every portion of the skin is powerfully impregnated. Allow the skin to lie in this condition for an hour or so, then place it on a line or branch to dry. The operation should be carried on in the shade, if possible.
If the specimen is not for stuffing it may be pegged out to dry on the ground, but in no one instance should a skin be unduly strained out of shape, which is often done in order to make it appear larger than it really is, a mistake which is very common.
When this operation is completed, and the skin dry, it is ready for packing, and should be folded, with the fur or hair inside, and placed in a sound box or case well protected against the visits of ants, beetles, or moth.
Where it is intended that the animal should be ultimately stuffed whole, it is necessary to preserve the leg bones. These should be separated from the trunk at the os humeri or shoulder-joint, and at the os femoris or thigh bones; these bones cleanse from flesh.
The skull in every instance should be preserved: remove the flesh and brain; to do this place the skull in boiling water for five or ten minutes--in the case of small skulls for five minutes only, care being taken that the teeth are not lost. In packing skulls each one should be tied up in paper, marked with a corresponding number to the skin to which it belongs, and packed firmly, to prevent rolling about, the result of which is often broken teeth and disappointment.
Another excellent method for the preservation of skins of mammalia, where convenience will permit, and which can be followed with confidence, is as follows: After the skin has been treated according to the directions given--viz. thoroughly sc.r.a.ped and cleansed of all adherent particles of flesh, &c.--place it entirely in a tub or cask in which a solution or pickle has been previously prepared, as follows: to every gallon of cold water add 1 lb. powdered alum, 1/2 oz. saltpetre, 2 oz. common salt; well mix. Allow the skin to remain about a couple of days, after which hang it up to dry and for packing.