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Show 1869.] CERVINE ANIMALS OF HAINAN. 659 but are stouter in the b'eam, while those of C. rusa of Java approximate to those of the typical Sambur. I am led to the conclusion that the Hainan race is distinguishable from the Sambur of India proper (C. aristotelis) by the shape of its horns at their apical bifurcation and by its smaller size, and from the Cervus swinhoii, Sclater, of Formosa, by the longer and less robust beam of horn, and. by the different coloration of the fur; and I believe it to be identical with the Cervus equinus, Cuv., of Sumatra and Borneo, a good figure and description of which are given by S. Miiller in the ' Verhandelingen,' Zool. p. 213, pl. 42. Mr. Blyth was so good as to inspect m y horns from Hainan, and has written to me tbe following:-"As for the Sambur horns, I consider Cervi equinus, aristotelis, and hippelaphus to be one and the same, though showing some local differences, as is equally the case with horns of C. elaphus. Eastwards of the Bay of Bengal the animal seems to be smaller, and more or less nigrescent in Borneo, less so in Malacca and Sumatra than in Borneo, but always different from C. rusa oi Java, of which C. moluccensis is a diminutive, and C. timoriensis a further diminutive. C. swinhoii oi Formosa holds the same relation to C. hippelaphus as C. taivanus to C. mantchuricus, and C. moluccensis to C. rusa." The Sambur is an abundant species on the jungly mountains of the southern half of Hainan ; and large numbers are yearly slaughtered by the independent Le tribes, and the skins and horns bartered to the Chinese. The skins are carried to the capital city, where the hair is planed off, and are then exported as raw hides to Canton. The only time I saw the Hainan Sambur in its live state was on the 19th March, at Nychow (S. Hainan), W e had scrambled through the jungle near the shore on to an open hill. Beyond us and the mountain was a deep ravine, with a stream trickling through it. We stopped to rest on the hill-top overlooking the ravine, when, on the opposite side, passing up from the streamlet, we noticed a fine hornless buck and two doe Sambur. They did not observe us, but continued lazily upwards, nibbling off the leaves of bushes as they went. W e crossed the ravine and ascended to the edge of an open greensward, which the deer had already gained. At the further corner of the sward, about 60 yards off, with jungle in rear of them, they stood staring at our intrusion. M y comrade bustled up behind with his gun, and they took alarm. The buck stamped his foot and uttered a loud half gruut, half scream, and they all charged into the thicket. After they had attained a height on the hill, the noise of the crushing and cracking of the brush before them ceased, as if they had stopped to have another look at us ; but the noise was soon resumed, until they were too far off to be heard. This Deer is called by the Hainanese Twabe, or Mountain Horse. The Chinese work has the following remarks on the species : - " The ancients say it is like a Deer, but larger, and assembles in herds of a hundred or more. Its horns bend backward, and are without tines. Its hair is like that of the Mountain-Cow. Below its eyes are two other eyes, which close in the day and open at night. It delights P R O C . Z O O L . Soc-1869, No. XLIII. |
