Batt—Fossil Mammalia of Ireland. 087 
4.—Tue Rep DEER. 
Cervus elaphus. 
As the sole survivor in Ireland of the large mammals of the pleistocene period, 
the red deer is of considerable interest. Although now restricted to a small area 
in Kerry, it appears, judging from the wide-spread abundance of its remains, to 
have been formerly plentifully distributed all over the island. 
The cave of Shandon proves that it co-existed with the mammoth, and, as 
might be expected, its bones abound in the marls, underlying peat, where those of 
the Irish elk have been found. 
Various attempts have been made to prove that the fossil red deer belonged to 
a species distinguishable from the existing one ; but all that can safely be said on 
the subject simply amounts to this, as pointed out by Dr. Leith Adams, that the 
early race of Ireland, while larger than that which survives, was smaller than the 
early race of which the remains are found in the brick-earths of England. ‘‘ But 
although the horns do not attain the massive proportions of many of the latter, the 
throstle-nest termination of the antler is often well developed.” This fact will be 
amply apparent from an examination of several of the numerous specimens of 
antlers which are possessed by this Museum. 
The following dimensions of a specimen found in mud, at a depth of 5 feet, at 
Killowford Bridge, near Dungarvan, are given by Dr. Leith Adams: cranium 17 
inches, antler 31 inches, 14 tynes on each beam, expanse 35 inches, circumference 
of burr 64 inches. 
5.—Tue Irish Evk, or Gigantic Deer. 
Cervus (Megaceros) hibernicus. 
This noble representative of the extinct mammalia. of Ireland, judging from 
the number of specimens which have been discovered, must have been very 
abundant in later pleistocene and prehistoric times. The fact may perhaps be 
attributable to the comparative scarcity of its natural enemies, the larger 
carnivora, both as regards species and individuals. It was the sole survivor in 
Ireland, from pleistocene to prehistoric times, and has since become wholly 
extinct. The largest stags were probably 21 hands or 7 feet high, and the 
expanse of their antlers attained 9 to 10 feet, or even more. 
The principal evidence in favour of the view that this animal was a contem- 
porary of man has been afforded by the discovery by Mr. R. J. Ussher of its long 
