“The animal to which they belong is called Hwang-Yang, the Yellow or Imperial Sheep. It is brought into Peking from Mongolia in large numbers in a frozen state, and sold for food. The flesh is much esteemed for its fine flavour and tenderness, and is eagerly purchased both by natives and foreigners.
“The European gentlemen in Peking used to go into Mongolia on shooting-expeditions for the purpose of hunting the Hwang-Yang. The animal, however, is very wary and generally keeps a long way out of range, so that the hunters are not very successful. It is considered a great feat to kill one of them.”
Besides an adult stuffed specimen of this species in the British Museum, stated, but probably erroneously, to have come from the Kirghiz Steppes, there are several skins and skulls in the collection obtained by the late Consul R. Swinhoe at Pekin, besides the two heads and horns already spoken of as brought home by Dr. Lockhart.
Our illustration (Plate LIV.), which represents both sexes of this Antelope, was put upon the stone by Mr. Smit from a sketch drawn by Mr. Wolf for the late Sir Victor Brooke. We have no record of what were the exact specimens figured.
January, 1898.
THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. LV.
J. Smit del. et lith.
Hanhart imp.
The Persian Gazelle.