NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK HOLLISTER. 551 



States which were, years ago, inhabited by the species. The elk 

 range in the Zoological Park is situated along the eastern border, 

 between Rock Creek and the boundary fence. The animals breed 

 freely in this place and are maintained in splendid condition. 



Near relatives of the American elk are the Bedford, or Man- 

 churian stag (Cervus xanthopygus) , the Kashmir deer {C. hanglu), 

 and the red deer of Europe (O. elaphus). These are all represented 

 in the park by fine breeding herds. The Bedford deer and the 

 Kashmir deer were presented to the park by the Duke of Bedford 

 from his herds at Woburn Abbey, England. Three fawns were born 

 to the Kashmir deer while in transit from England and while in 

 quarantine and these have grown to be fine animals. The European 

 red deer breed in the park. 



The common white-tailed, or Virginia deer (Odocoileus ameri- 

 canus) ; the mule deer (O. hemionus) of the Rocky Mountain region; 

 and the black-tailed deer of the Pacific coast (O. colurribmnus) all 

 do well in the park and breeding herds are shown in large, open 

 yards. The Virginia deer is probably the best known big game 

 animal in the United States. It ranges, in some of its geographical 

 forms, from New Brunswick to South America. It is greatly to be 

 regretted that the quarantine regulations now in force against 

 hoofed mammals from South America make it virtually impossible 

 to import and exhibit any of the remarkable and characteristic 

 species of deer native to that country. These are of types very 

 different from the deer of other lands and should be shown in the 

 park. 



Among the Old World kinds none are more beautiful and attrac- 

 tive than the fallow deer {Dama dama). These deer are spotted in 

 summer but the winter coat is of uniform color ; the antlers are com- 

 paratively large and somewhat flattened or palmate. This species 

 is a native of the Mediterranean region, but has long been introduced 

 in western Europe where it lives in a wild or semidomestic state. 

 Blackish and light colored varieties have been bred, and specimens 

 of the former are usually to be seen in the park herd. 



The axis deer or chital {Axis axis) is spotted at all seasons. It 

 is a native of India and a closely related form is known from Ceylon. 

 The antlers of this deer are long, slender, and of three tines — a promi- 

 nent brow tine and one fork above. Another spotted oriental species 

 shown is the hog deer (Hy elaphus porcinus). This is a more sturdy 

 species than the axis but is only about 26 inches high at the shoulder. 



The large group of oriental deer known as the rusine species are 

 represented in the park by the sambar {Rusa unicolor) and the Luzon 

 deer {R. philippinus) . Numerous species of Rusa occur throughout 

 southeastern Asia and on many of the East Indian Islands. Most 

 of the larger islands of the Philippine Archipelago have their dis- 



