CHAPTER XX. 

 THE TRUE DEER. 



THE TRUE DEER — THE WAPITI — THE RED DEER OF EUROPE — THE VIRGINIA DEER OR CARCAJOU 

 — THE PERSIAN DEER — THE INDIAN SPECIES — THE BARASINGA — THE AXIS DEER — THE SAM- 

 BUR — THE MANED STAG — THE HOG DEER — THE SOUTH AMERICAN SPECIES — THE PAMPAS 

 DEER — THE RED DEER OR GUASUPITA. 



THE True Deer range over the whole of the great continents, 

 except that they do not go beyond 57° north in America, and a 

 little further in Europe and Asia. In South America they 

 extend over Patagonia, and even to Tierra del Fuego. They are found 

 in the north of Africa, and over the whole of the Oriental region and 

 beyond it, as far as the Moluccas and Timor. 



GENUS CERVUS. 



In this genus it is onl}' the male animals which carry antlers. These 

 antlers are round, and bear more or less numerous tines. The lachrymal 

 grooves attain a considerable size. Many of the/(';7j' species comprised 

 in this genus differ from each other so slightly that we give only those 

 in which the difference is strikingly marked. 



THE WAPITI. 



The W.VPITI, Ccrvus Canadensis [VX^X.^ XLl), is the largest of all the 

 true Deer. The adult male measures nearl}' five feet in height at the 

 :shoulders, and about eight feet from the nose to the tail. It is very 

 commonly known by the name of Elk. 



The lierds of Wapiti vary in number from ten or twent\- to three or 

 four hundrcfl ; but cacli one is always under the command of an old 

 leader. Wlien it halts, the herd halts ; when it mo\es on, the herd lol- 

 lows; *'hey all wheel right or left, advance and ictreat witli almost 



