292 ANATOMY OF DEER 



Another highly-interesting fact concerning these same antlers 

 is their gradual increase in complexity of tines and palm from 

 the Miocene Cervus matheroni to the great Irish Elk of post- 

 Tertiary times. 



Beyond the antlers there seems to be no character of universal 

 applicability which distinguishes the Cervidae from the nearly- 

 related Antelopes. There are, however, a number of structural 

 features which are nearly universally characteristic. Excepting 

 Moschus (which Professor Garrod would not allow to be a " Deer "), 

 no Cervine has a gall-bladder 1 to its liver. All Bovidae (in- 

 cluding Antelopes) have, with the exception of Cephalophus. 



A small but constant character of the Deer is the existence of 

 two orifices to the lachrymal duct. The genus Tragelaphus alone 

 among Antelopes shows this character. 



So far as is known the placenta of the Deer has but few 

 cotyledons, that of the Bovidae many. But not many types are 

 known. 



The navicular, cuboid and ectocuneiform are often united. 

 This is never the case in the Bovidae. 



The first and second phalanges of the lateral (imperfectly 

 developed) digits are always present except in the Muntjacs ; 

 they are never found in Bovidae. The Deer always present a 

 light brown to a darker brown coloration. Elaphodus michianus 

 is almost black. There is commonly white on the under parts 

 and beneath the short tail. Some Deer, such as the Fallow Deer, 

 are spotted ; and the young of others that are uniformly coloured 

 when adult are spotted. In some cases a winter coat, darker 

 than the summer coat, is developed. 



Altogether some sixty species of Deer are known, of which 

 the preponderance are Old- World forms. The Deer of the Old 

 "World are distributed among the genera 2 Cervus (all Europe and 

 Asia) ; Cervulus, the Muntjacs (India, Burmah, China, etc.) ; 

 Hydropotes (Eastern China) ; Capreolus (Europe and Central 

 Asia) ; Elaphodus (Eastern China) ; there is one American 

 Cervus, the "Wapiti. The American genera are Cariacus and 

 Pudua. The Elk (Aloes') and the Reindeer (Rangifer) are circum- 

 polar. The principal structural modification which occurs within 



1 It has been occasionally recorded in an Axis Deer, and in another species, 

 Cariacus superciliaris. 



2 It is not every one that admits so many genera. I follow Sir Victor Brooke. 



