332 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIOXAL MUSEUM. 



Measurements of adult skulls of Rusa harandanus and R. frandanus. 



RUSA BASIL ANENSIS (Heude), 



1888. Melanaxis hasilanensis Heude, Mem. Hist. Nat. Emp. Chinois, vol. 2, pt. 1, 

 p. 49. 



Specimen, — One pair of antlers with frontals f rom Basilan : Isabela 

 (Mearns) . 



There are evidently two species of deer on Basilan. One, Rusa 

 nigricans (Cervus steerii Elliot), is fairly well known. It is a much 

 smaller species than is represented by the frontals and antlere col- 

 lected by Doctor Mearns at Isabela. The species described by Heude 

 was based on a mutilated skuU, which was doubtfully supposed to 

 represent a species related to R. alfredi of the more northern islands. 

 From the excellent figure of this skull and the antlers, I judge Doctor 

 Mearns's specimen to be the same. If this is so, the species is a mem- 

 ber of the group of larger PhUippme deer, including pMlippinus of 

 Luzon a,nd frandanus of Mindanao. 



RUSA NIGELLUS, new species. 



Type. — From Mount Malindang at 8,000 feet, Mindanao. Skin 

 and skuU of adult male (permanent teeth hi place, but little worn), 

 Cat. No. 144711, U.S.N.M. Collected May 30, 1906, by Dr. Edgar A. 

 Mearns. Orig. No. 6193. 



Diagnosis. — A small deer apparently related to Rusa nigricans, but 

 with prominent facial markings, smaller skull, and much smaller 

 teeth. Very much less in size than the common deer of Mindanao, 

 Rusa frandanus . 



Color of type. — Face brownish-black, marked by two transverse 

 bands of golden-browTi, the first over muzzle 10 mm. above nose pad; 

 the second across forehead, bowing to each horn. Lower lip whitish; 

 chm blackish; throat dark bro\ni with median longitudinal stripe of 

 pale cinnamon. Nape and back of ears black; lining of eai-s buffy- 

 white. Neck and body dark blackish-brown, the mummy-brown of 



