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Show 762 LIEUT. R. C. BEAVAN ON THE TANOLIA DEER. [June 27, for large herds of tame Buffaloes, which are during the rains pastured here by the Karens, but withdrawn into the heavy jungles near the hills when in Apriland May the whole of the vegetation on the plain becomes parched up and devoured by jungle-fires. At the time of m y visit vast flocks of waders and other water-birds were arriving from the north, and the creeks were filled with Pele-cans of several species, whilst the mud-flats absolutely swarmed with Stints, Sandpipers, Egrets, and especially the Rosy Tantalus. Here and there, stalking gravely amongst the flowering paddy, might be seen pairs of the Siris Crane (Grus antigone), or a troop of Adjutants, both of which birds breed in the neighbourhood. Occasionally the rarer Javan Adjutant was met with, and the Jabiru Stork (Mycteria australis). The rutting-season of this Deer commences in the middle of March, and lasts throughout April to the middle of May. The female gestates nearly seven months, and brings forth her young amongst the jungle-paddy in October and November, the paddy being then flowering or in seed and at its greatest height. The female has only one young one at a time, which frequently stays with its mother until the second year*. The females have only four teats. In colour they are much like the female Sambur, but perhaps a little lighter. The young are at first spotted or menilled, but these markings disappear with age. The females are hornless. Both sexes begin to breed at about eighteen months old. The young males first begin to acquire horns in the second year*f. After two years they get two tines, and when about seven years old are in their prime, with twelve tines (including the brow-antler). The colour of a full-grown buck is dark brown, especially about the back and neck, with underparts lighter. As far as I can ascertain there is no trace of a mane; and the texture of the coat varies considerably with the seasons. More exact information on these points is, however, needed. The natives have a vague idea that two distinct species, " the lesser and the greater Thamyn," are to be found in the same herds, distinguishable only by differences of the size of the horns and of colour ; but this of course is to be accounted for by the individual distinctions common to all races of animals. The horns are perfectly developed in March, and shed in the middle of the rainy season-that is, about September. The average weight of the male is from 50 to 60 viss J, that of a female 40 viss. Four men can carry a male with ease when disembowelled and quartered§. The male averages 3| feet in height at the shoulder; the female a little less. The very largest males do not exceed 4\ feet in height. The flesh is much liked by the Burmese, and always finds a ready sale in the neighbouring villages. The Karens, however, will not * The mother will breed a second time eighteen months after bringing forth, so that the young of two seasons are not unfrequently seen with their parent. t As noticed above by Blyth, on Major Tickell's specimen at Moulmein. % A viss is equal to 140 tolahs. § As noticed hy Blyth, the Burmese always quarter deer with the skin on. |