240 IJ.OYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



canine teeth relatively small ; lateral metacarpal and metatarsal 

 bones of the feet represented by their upper extremities only, 

 Muzzle narrow and naked; and tail of medium shortness. 

 In most cases the young are spotted. 



This large and widely-spread genus may be divided into a 

 number of groups, mainly distinguished by the characters of 

 the antlers of the males ; such groups being regarded by some 

 naturalists as entitled to rank as distinct genera. 



I. THE RED DEER. CERVUS ELAPHUS. 



Cerviis elaphiis, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 93 (1766); 



Bell, British Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 348 (1874). 



Cervics ba7'barus, Bennett, List An. Gard. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 31. 



Strongyloceros spelcetts, Owen, Brit. Foss. Mamm. p. 469 



(1846). 



(Plate XXX.'). 



Characters.— Antlers rounded, and generally with a brow-, bez-, 

 and trez-tine, above which are the cup-shaped sur-royals ; tail 

 short; general colour dark reddish-brown in summer, and 

 greyish-brown in winter, with a large whitish patch on the 

 rump including the tail. Height of adult male 48 inches, or 

 more, at the withers. 



As regards general form, the body is moderately full and 

 rounded, the neck of moderate length, and the graceful head 

 tapering to the obtuse muzzle ; the liquid eyes are large and 

 full ; the ears rather long and pointed ; and the limbs slender ; 

 while the tail does not exceed half the length of the ear. The 

 fur comprises both bristly and woolly hairs ; the former, which 

 are much the more numerous, being moderately long and close, 

 while the latter are short and fine. The fur is thinnest on the 

 under-parts, longest on the rump and back, and more especially 

 on the fore-part of the neck, while on the feet and face it is 

 very short. The young are prettily spotted with white ; and 



