Ixxn MAMMALOGY OF THE HIMALAYAS. 
important characters, we have no means of ascertaining, that Naturalist not having yet published his 
observations. 
Of the genus Cervus, the Chittra or Spotted Axis (C. aais), and the Laguna or Para and Stigoriah, 
called also Jhou Laghuna and Khar Laguna, or spotted and brown varieties of the Hog-deer (C. por- 
cinus) are common in the lower hills and forests, but do not ascend the mountains. The specific distinc- 
tion or identity of the two latter animals has long been a subject of dispute among naturalists; Lieut. 
Smith believes that the spotted variety is only the young; but I have myself seen animals at least three 
or four years old, with a row of spots on each side of the spine, though, at the same time, I do not 
believe them to be distinct from the plain coloured or common brown variety, with which they perfectly 
agreed in every other respect. The subject is worth the attention of those who have an opportunity of 
settling the question. Three other species of the Axine group of deer are mentioned by Mr. Hodgson, 
under the collective name of Jarai, but individually distinguished by the Nepalese as the Phiisro, Rato, 
and Kalo, or hoary, red, and black Jarais respectively. The two former have been identified with the 
Cervus Hippelaphus and Cervus equinus of Cuvier, the latter certainly without foundation, and the 
former at least very doubtful ; the third, said to be undescribed, is probably the C. Aristotelis of Cuvier ; 
but the truth is, that we know very little about them, nor are these different species mentioned 
by any other author besides Mr. Hodgson. The Cervus Hippelaphus, indeed, called Sawmer or 
Sambre in the Plains, is well known in this country, where he has long existed in our menageries, and 
is probably the C. Aristotelis, which is familiarly called Ek in the Hills, and of which the native name 
in the British hill provinces is Jerow for the male, and Maha for the female, names which have been not 
unfrequently applied to different species ; of the Phisro, or Hoary Jarai of Mr. Hodgson, which, what- 
ever else it may be, is certainly not the C. equinus, since that species does not inhabit Continental India, 
nothing is known but the name, if, indeed, it be not a mere variety of sex or age. Lieut. Smith describes 
the Jerow of the Hills as a larger and heavier animal, and with finer horns, than the Saumer of the 
Plains: the tan and black colours of these two species appears to identify them with the Rato and Kalo 
Jarais of Mr. Hodgson. 
No fewer than three species of deer, with characters approaching to those of the common stag (C. 
Elaphus) of Europe, have been mentioned as inhabitants of Nepal. T'wo of these, the Cervus Wallichii 
and Cervus Duvaucellii of Cuvier, are known, though not so perfectly as could be wished; the third, 
which has been identified with the common stag, appears to be founded upon error. Mr. Hodgson has 
briefly described the Cervus Duvaucellii under the name of C. Elaphoides, and I have seen a full-grown 
male in the Zoological Gardens ; the comparison of the skull figured by Mr. Hodgson* with the horns in 
the Ossemens Fossiles leaves no doubt as to the identity of the species. It is called in Nepal Baraiya, 
and, according to Mr. Hodgson, Maha in the Western Hills, a name which, as observed above, Licut. 
Smith applies to the female Jerow. Cervus Wallichii, called Bérah Singha, is mentioned by Mr. Waltert+ 
as an inhabitant of the mountains of Silhet, and by Mr. Hodgson,+ who confounds it with the common 
stag, as found in the Saul Forest, which skirts the foot of the Nepal Mountains, whence it was originally 
sent to Calcutta by Dr. Wallich. _ There is no grounds for supposing the existence of a third species of 
_ this group in the Himalayas, identical with the Red Deer of Europe (C. Elaphus), though the fact is 
distinctly stated both by Duvaucel and Mr. Hodgson :§ these authors appear to have mistaken the C. 
| Wallichii. for that animal, though the specific distinction was afterwards well known to Duvaucel, who 
sent to Baron Cuvier the description published in the “ Ossemens Fossiles.” Dr. Falconer mentions the 
discovery of a new species of deer in the Report of his recent Journey to Cashmere and Little Thibet,|| 
| and 
. Journ. Roy. As. Sees IV., 648. E: T Asiat. Res., xvii, 499. t Loe. Cit. 
§ Asiat. Reg., xv., 120. | Journ, Asiat. Soc., iv., 710. 
