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86 ANNUAL REGISTER

placed more outwards or backwards.

EYES. The eyes in general are dark coloured; for all of the conjunctiva that can be commonly seen is of that complexion. In an oblique or side view, the cornea, and all that is seen through it, is blue, like burnished steel. The pupil is oval, or oblong, from side to side; and the iris is almost black.

EARS. The ears are large and beautiful, above seven inches in length, and spread to a considerable breadth near the end. They are white on their edge, and on their inside; except where two black bands mark the hollow of the ears with a zebra-like variety. 

HORNS. The horns are seven inches long; they are six inches round at their root, and growing smaller by degrees, they terminate in a blunt point. At their root they have three flatted sides, divided by so many angles: one of the angles is turned forwards, and consequently one of the sides backwards. This triangular shape is gradually less perceptible towards the extremity. At the root there are slight circular wrinkles, in proportion to the age of the animal. The body and point of the horn is smooth, and the whole of a very dark colour. They rise upwards, forwards and outwards at a very obtuse angle, with the forehead or face. They are gently bended, and the concavity is turned inwards, and a little forwards. The distance between them at the roots is three inches and a quarter, at the points six inches and a quarter, and at their most hollow middle parts less than six inches.
FOOD. It eats oats, but not greedily; is fonder of grass and hay; but is always delighted with wheat bread. When thirsty, it would drink two gallons of water. 

DUNG. Its dung is in the form of small round balls, of the size of a nutmeg; and is passes a quantity of these together, with a rushing found.

MANNERS. Though it was reported to have been exceedingly vicious, it was in reality a most gentle creature while in my custody, seemed pleased with every kind of familiarity, always licked the hand which either stroaked, or gave it bread, and never once attempted to use its horns offensively. It seemed to have much dependance on it's organs of smell, and snuffed keenly, and with a noise, whenever any person came within sight. It did so likewise when any food or drink was brought to it; and was so easily offended with a smell, or so cautious, that it would not take the bread which I offered, when my hand had touched oil of turpentine or spirits. 

General Carnac informs me, that no hay is made in India; their horses are with grass fresh cut, and a grain of the pulse king, called Gram.
General Carnac, in some observations which he favoured me with upon this subject, says, "All of the deer kind have the sense of smelling very exquisite. I have frequently observed of tame deer, to whom bread is often given, and which they are in general fond of, that if you present them a piece that has been bitten, they will not touch it. I have made the same observation of a remarkable fine she-goat, which accompanied me most of my campaigns in India; and supplied me with milk, and which, in gratitude for her services, I brought from abroad with me."

Its manner of fighting is very particular: it was observed at Lord Clive's, where two makes were in put into a little inclosure; and it was related to me by his Lordship, thus: While they were at a considerable distance from each other, the prepared for the attack, by falling down upon their fore-knees; then they shuffled towards each other with a quick pace, keeping still upon their fore-knees, and when they were come within some yards, they made a spring, and darted against each other. 

All the time that two of them were in my stable, I observed this particularity, viz. that whenever any attempt was made upon them, they immediately fell down upon their fore-knees; and sometimes they would do so when I came before them; but, as they never darted, I so little thought this posture meant hostility, that I rather supposed it expressive of a timid or obsequious humility.
FEMALE. The Female differs so much from the Male, that we should scarcely suppose them to be the same species. She is much smaller, both in height and thickness. In her shape, and her yellowish colour, she very much resembles deer; and has no horns. She has four nipples, and is supposed to go nine months with young. She commonly has one at a birth, and sometimes twins. 

The young male Nyl-ghau is like the female in colour, and therefore like a Fawn. 
SPECIES. When a new animal is presented to us, it will often be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to determine its species, by external characters alone. But when such an animal is dissected by an anatomist who is a master in comparative anatomy, the question is commonly to be decided with certainty.
From the external marks alone, I suspected, or rather believed, the Nyl-ghau to be a peculiar and distinct species. Some of my acquaintance thought it a deer. The permanent horns convinced me that it was not. Others thought it an antelope. The horns, and the size of the animal, made me suspect that it was not. It has so much of the shape of a deer, especially the female, that I could not suppose it to be of the same with our black cattle. In rutting time, one of the males was put into a paddock with a female of the red deer: but nothing like attraction or attention was observed between them. At length, in consequence of the death of one of them, I was assured by my brother, who dissected it, and who has dissected with great attention

*The intrepidity and force with which they dart against any object may be conceived from the following anecdote, of the finest and largest of those animals that has ever been seen in England. The violence which he did to himself, was supposed to have occasioned his death, which happened soon after. A poor labouring man, without knowing that the animal was near him, and therefore neither meaning to offend, nor suspecting the danger, came up near to the outside of the pails of the inclosure; the Nyl-ghau, with the quickness of lightening, darted against the wood-work, with such violence, that he broke it to pieces; and broke off one of his horns close to the root. From this piece of history and farther inquiry, I was satisfied that the animal is vicious and fierce in the rutting season, however gentle and tame at other times.

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