296 THE GEOGRAPHY OF MAMMALS 



The true Deer (Cervus), which we come to next, 

 form the most numerous genus of the family, being about 

 twenty-two in number. They are about equally divided 

 between the Palsearctic and the Oriental Regions, with 

 one representative, the Wapiti (C. canadensis) in the 

 Nearctic Region. This occurrence is exactly in a line with 

 that of the stray species of Sheep (Ovis), Bison (Bos), and 

 Mountain Antelope (Haploceros) in the same Region, but 

 is not sufficient, supported though it may be by other 

 similar facts, to convince us of the necessity of recognizing 

 a " Holarctic " Region. It should be stated also that 

 typical Cervus is essentially characteristic of the Palsearctic 

 Region, throughout which (with the above-mentioned 

 exception of the Wapiti) the members of this splendid 

 group of animals are distributed, whilst the sub-genera 

 Axis, Rusa, and Rucervus take its place in the Oriental 

 Region. 



The Muntjacs (Cervulus) embrace about five species 

 essentially Oriental, although two of them intrude within 

 the bounds of the Palsearctic Region. 



In the curious form Elaphodus we meet with a Deer 

 with a tufted head which nearly conceals its minute 

 antlers, restricted to the northern portion of the Palrearctic 

 Region, and leading us on to the Water-Deer (Hydrelaphus) 

 of Southern China, in which the antlers are absolutely 

 wanting. 



Of the Roes (Capreolus) there seem to be three local 

 races, which are often considered as so many species. 

 These allied forms range over the whole extent of the 

 Palsearctic Region. 



We now come to that strange animal the Milou 

 (Elaphurus) which has been sometimes associated with 



