324 



UNGULATA 



terised by retaining the distal extremities of the lateral (second 

 and fifth) metacarpals. With the exception of Alces, Capreolus, 

 and Hyclropotes (which are either partly or entirely Old World 

 types), the vomer is so much ossified as to divide the posterior 

 bony nares into two distinct orifices (Fig. 132). 



Fig. 100. — Skeleton of the Gigantic Irish Deer (Cerv-us giganteus). After Owen. 



Rangifer. 1 — The Keindeer, or Caribou as it is termed in North 

 America, is the sole representative of the genus Rangifer, which 

 is sufficiently distinguished from all its allies by the presence of 

 antlers in both sexes. The lachrymal vacuity is small. This 

 animal is distributed over the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and 

 America ; the differences which may be observable in specimens from 

 different regions not being sufficient to allow of specific distinction. 

 The Reindeer is a heavily built animal, with short limbs, in which 



1 Hamilton-Smith, in Griffith's Animal Kingdom, vol. v. p. 304 (1827). 



