Descriptions of East Asiatic Mammals 331 
the chinese river deer 
(subfamily hydropotin^e) 
The Chinese River Deer, like the Musk Deer, exemplifies a 
subfamily that contains but a single species. Although this sub- 
family also lacks antlers in both sexes, it more nearly resembles 
the True Deer, or Cervinse, by possessing small preorbital 
and inguinal glands and by the absence of the gall bladder. It 
has no musk gland. The long canine teeth present in the males 
are broader and less compressed than those of the Musk Deer 
and are much larger than the canines of the cervine genera 
Muntiacus and Elaphodus; those of the females are very small, 
only about % inch long. The face is short. The ears are narrow 
and pointed, and look more deer-like and less hare-like than those 
of the Musk Deer. The audital bullae of the skull are much en- 
larged. 
The Chinese River Deer, Hydropotes inermis (meaning 
"unspotted water-drinker"), has harsh yellowish brown hair, 
the color effect coming from the gray bases, the dark brown 
subterminal rings, and the buff tips of each hair. The under- 
pays are buffy or whitish. Most of the head is reddish brown, 
with a whitish spot at the front upper corner of each eye. The 
chin and throat are whitish buff. The feet are clear reddish to 
the hoof, not blackish as in the Musk Deer. The young are 
marked with white spots and stripes. The length of head and 
body in adults is about 3 feet, of the tail 2% to 3 inches, of the 
hind foot 10 to 11 inches. The height at the shoulder is about 
20 inches, and the weight from 20 to 24 pounds. 
This Deer occurs among rushes and low brush on islands and 
along the shores of the Yangtse River but likes dry land quite 
as well. It rarely occurs in herds. In May large litters of 5 to 7 
young are produced at birth. There are 4 nipples. 
A Korean race, H. i. argyropus, is darker and the head is 
more reddish. Otherwise it is very similar. 
