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Show 890.] MOUNTAIN-ANTELOPES OF CENTRAL CHINA. 93 4. Notes on two Mountain-Antelopes of Central China. By Dr. AUGUSTINE HENRY1. [Received February 3, 1890.] During my residence at Ichang on the Yang-tze and journeys in its vicinity I met with indications of two species of Mountain- Antelopes. The larger of these is known by the natives as the " Bright-maned Antelope," " Mingtsunggang." North-west of Ichangthe mountain-range, which divides the basins of the rivers Yang-tze and Han, attains an altitude of over 9000 feet, and in parts is clad for the upper 3000 feet with coniferous forests. The Antelope roams in these woods in small herds. Often when collecting plants we startled the animals and could hear them on in front breaking through the brambles and shrubs, and followed their freshly made tracks. I was never lucky enough to see one, but I procured a skin, which measured 5 feet long by 3! feet broad. In colour it is a darkish grey, and on the neck there is a bristly mane, composed of greyish-white hairs about 5 inches long. The horns are about 8 inches long, curved backwards. The animal is said to stand as high as a cow, and to yield, when killed, about 100 to 150 lbs. of flesh. It is so large and strong that occasionally when one is caught and tamed it is used for riding on. I brought the skin to Pere Heude of Sikanei, who identified it as his Capricornis argyrochcetus2. The second, smaller Antelope occurs on the precipices of the gorges and glens near Ichang. It is known as the " Shan-yang " or « Yhe-yang- tzu," i. e. " Mountain-Goat " or " Wild Goat." Pere Heude received a skull and skin from me, and has described it as Kemas henryanus. A live specimen from the Ichang gorge was obtained by one of the steamer captains, and is now in the gardens at Zikawei near Shanghai, i. e. at Pere Heude's establishment. This particular Antelope (or forms akin to it) occurs in nearly all the mountains of the west and north of China; i. e. in Szechueu, Hupeh, Shansi, Kansuh, Chihli, & c , and doubtless the Ichang one is a marked variety of the species. The Ichang animal stands as high as a sheep. It occurs only on precipices, and the obtaining of a live specimen in the case mentioned 1 Extracted from letters received from Dr. Henry and communicated by the Secretary. 2 [Capricornis argyrochcetus,Reude,Mem. cone. l'Hist. Nat. de l'Emp. Chinois, ii. p. 4 (note). " Animal plus petit que le C. edwardsi. Face rousse, criniere epaisse, blanc sale ; pelage noir seme de blanc. Tete osseuse compriniee lateralement: pre-molaire anterieure d'en bas mince, a talon eleve et bien degag6. Oette espece est des montagnes du Tche-kiang." In the same note is described another species from Tonquin, Capricornis maritimus.-P. L. S.]- PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1890, No. VIII. 8 # |
