The antelope tribe is represented by comparatively few species, as compared with the great number peculiar to Africa. The antelope proper (_Antilope_), the "black buck" of sportsmen, is very generally distributed. Its special habitat is salt plains, as on the coast-line of Gujarat and Orissa, where herds of fifty does may be seen, accompanied by a single buck. The doe is of a light fawn colour and has no horns. The colour of the buck is a deep brown-black above, sharply marked off from the white of the belly. His spiral horns, twisted for three or four turns like a corkscrew, often reach the length of 30 in. The flesh is dry and unsavoury, but is permitted meat for Hindus, even of the Brahman caste. The _nílgai_, or blue cow (_Boselaephus tragocamelus_) is also widely distributed, but specially abounds in Hindustan Proper and Gujarat. As with the antelope, the male alone has the dark-blue colour. The _nílgai_ is held peculiarly sacred by Hindus, from its fancied kinship to the cow, and on this account its destructive inroads upon the crops are tolerated. The four-horned antelope (_Tetracerus quadricornis_) and the gazelle (_Gazella bennetti_), the chinkara or "ravine deer" of sportsmen, are also found in India. Deer. The king of the deer tribe is the _sámbhar_ or _jarau_ (_Cervus unicolor_), erroneously called "elk" by sportsmen. It is found on the forest-clad hills in all parts of the country. It is of a deep-brown colour, with hair on its neck almost like a mane; and it stands nearly 5 ft. high, with spreading antlers nearly 3 ft. in length. Next in size is the swamp deer or _bara-singha_, signifying "twelve points" (_C. duvauceli_), which is common in Lower Bengal and Assam. The _chitál_ or spotted deer (_C. axis_) is generally admitted to be the most beautiful inhabitant of the Indian jungles. Other species include the hog deer (_C. porcinus_), the barking deer or muntjac (_Cervulus muntjac_), and the chevrotain or mouse deer (_Tragulus meminna_). The musk deer (_Moschus moschiferus_) is confined to Tibet. Bison. Buffalo.