Manchurian Roe 255 



THE MANCHURIAN ROE 



( Capreoliis nuuichuriciis) 

 (Plate IV. Fig. 8) 



Although the Manchurian roe was described by Professor Noack in 

 1889 as a local variety of the Siberian species, it really appears, both as 

 regards stature, hairiness, and the black and white marking on the muzzle, 

 much more nearly related to the European animal. This is the more 

 remarkable seeing that the habitats of the two are separated by an 

 enormous tract of country. 



The mounted head and neck of a young buck of this species, presented 

 to the British Museum by the Duke of Bedford, show that the general 

 arrangement of the markings on the muzzle is of the same type as in 

 the European species. The moustache-mark on the upper lip is, however, 

 larger, so that there is scarcely any white between it and the bare portion 

 of the muzzle in front ; there is also a somewhat larger area of black on 

 each side of the lower jaw. This description, it must be confessed, does 

 not accord with the one given by Professor Noack (quoted on pp. 231 

 and 232 oi Deer of All Lands), but it may be that the comparison should 

 have been with the Siberian rather than with the European species. 



The ears and antlers in the British Museum specimen are very similar 

 to the same parts in the European roe ; but the general colour of the 

 hair on the head and neck of this specimen, which appears to be in 

 the winter dress, is more rufous than in the common roe during winter. 

 And it is mentioned that a pair of this species formerly living at Woburn 

 Abbey were distinctly red in mid -winter. Further information with 

 regard to the coloration of the Manchurian roe is, however, much wanted. 



As confirming the relationship of the present species to the European 



