Pere David's Deer 265 



are present on the outer side of the upper part of the hind cannon-bone ; 

 but, unhke the American deer, there is no such ghind on the inner side 

 ot the hock. Another feature by which this species differs from the 

 American deer is the conformation of the bones of the lower part of the 

 tore-leg, which have the same structure as in the red deer and its allies. 

 The coat is of moderate length, but the hair on the neck and throat of the 

 old stags is elongated to form a mane and fringe. 



Although the new-born fawns are fully spotted, the adults of this 

 species are in the main uniformly coloured, the general tint of the coat 

 at all seasons of the year being a reddish tawny with a more or less marked 

 tendency to grey. The lower part of the limbs is, however, paler, 

 and the monotony of the coloration is relieved by white or whitish 

 on the muzzle, round the eyes, inside the ears, and on the buttocks 

 and under- parts; as well as by the black tail-tip and the stripe 

 down the middle of the neck, back, and throat. A well-grown stag may 

 be compared in size to a red deer, standing about 3 teet i 1 inches at the 

 withers. 



The general carriage of the animal is, however, very unlike that of a 

 red deer, and the same holds good with regard to its gait, which recalls 

 that of a donkey, and is quite unlike the graceful movements of the more 

 typical deer. In tact, like many other things Chinese, Pere David's deer 

 is an altogether peculiar creature, with ways and habits distinctively its 

 own. 



It is very unfortunate that we have no account of the habits of these 

 deer in the Imperial Park at Pekin, where they probably existed in a 

 practically wild condition. In England during summer they are very 

 partial to water, often wading out as tar as they can go, and sometimes 

 swimming ; at this season they feed largely upon water-plants, especially 

 rushes. The long and widely-expanding hoofs, which form one ot the 

 characteristic features of this species, are evidently adapted for walking on 



2 M 



