2IO Game of pAirope, W. & N. Asia & America 



considerable portion ot the muzzle is moist and devoid of hair. In 

 coin}nirison with certain other deer, the tace is long, the ears are generally 

 large, and the tail is either very short indeed or moderately so. A gland, 

 the position of v\'hich is indicated by a tuft t)f long hair of lighter tint than 

 that covering the rest of the limb, is situated high up on the outer side of 

 the hinder cannon-bone, or metatarsus ; hence known as the metatarsal 

 gland and tutt. There is, however, no such gland or tuft on the inner side 

 oi the hock. The coat, the colour of which differs to a great extent 

 according to season in the majority of the species, may he either uniformly 

 coloured or ornamented with light spots. 



In the red deer itselt the antlers are suh-cyclindrical and complex, 

 showing, when most fully developed, a bez-tine, and always a trez-tine ; 

 the total number of their points exceeding hve a side, and those of the 

 summit, or crown, so arranged as to form what is known as a "cup." 

 Compared to that of some other members of the group, such as the 

 wapiti, the tail, which ends in a point, is relatively long. In summer the 

 general colour of the coat of adult animals is imiformly reddish brown, 

 with an incomplete dark dorsal stripe, and a dark brown streak bordering 

 the large light-coloured patch on the buttocks, which includes the tail and 

 is of a pale rufous-orange tint. The under-parts are huffish. In the 

 winter dress the general colour is greyish brown. Fawns are profusely 

 spotted with white or pale straw-colour ; but, as a rule, such spotting 

 becomes completely obliterated in adult individuals of the typical western 

 race, although occasionally persisting in the hinds. 



The range of the species includes Europe, Northern Africa, Asia 

 Minor, and tlie north of Persia ; but the typical race appears to be 

 restricted to Western, Northern, and Central Europe, although, as it 

 apparently passes by imperceptible degrees into the Caspian race of Eastern 

 Europe and Western Asia, its limits cannot be ascertained with precision. 

 It is apparently in the typical western race that the antlers attain their 



