THE WATER CHEVROTAIN 283 



mediate characters between the Pigs and the Euminants ; there 

 are but three separate compartments. A highly - interesting 

 character is afforded by the placenta. This is in the present 

 family of the diffuse kind, not presenting the separated and 

 tufted cotyledons of the Ruminant placenta. This we may fairly 

 assume is a further proof of the less-specialised characters of 

 this group * as compared with the Euminantia, a view, however, 

 which is not universally accepted. While the molars have the 

 selenodont character of other Pecora, the premolars are more 

 adapted for cutting, with sharp edges. 



The genus Tragulus consists of several species (e.g. T. stanleya- 

 nus, T. napu, etc.), which have been aptly compared in external 

 appearance to certain Rodents such as the Agoutis. The legs 

 are delicate and slender, hardly " thicker than an ordinary cedar 

 pencil." These creatures have got among the Malays a consider- 

 able reputation for astuteness, embodied in the saying, " Cunning 

 as a kanchil." The male has tusks, which greatly contributed to 

 the confusion of this creature with the totally different Musk 

 Deer, Moschus moschiferus. It is even said to suspend itself by 

 their aid to the branches of trees, and so avoid danger. 



Hyomoschus (or Dorcatherium as it should properly be called) 

 is West African. Its rich brown colour, with spots and stripes, 

 is much like that of the Chevrotains, but it has shorter limbs. 

 The only species is D. aquaticum, which is sometimes called, on 

 account of its frequenting the banks of streams, the Water 

 Chevrotain. Remains of this genus occur in Miocene and Pliocene 

 strata of Europe. 



The separate metacarpals, comparatively simple stomach, absence 

 of horns, diffuse placenta, and spotted pelage are features which 

 argue the primitive position of these animals among existing 

 Artiodactyles. 



Besides the two existing genera which have just been treated 

 of, there are a number of extinct genera undoubtedly belonging 

 to the same group. 



Gelocus (Eocene and Oligocene in range) is a European 

 genus known from France. It differs from the living mem- 

 bers of the group by the fact that the second and fifth toes 

 on both hind- and fore-feet are represented, as in certain Deer, 



1 For the structure of Tragulus, see Milne-Edwards, Ann. Sci. Xat. (5) ii. 1864, 

 p. 49. 



