Game Animals of India, etc. 



The rucervine deer are best distinguished by the 

 form of the antlers, which are more complex than 

 those of sambar, and at the same time different from 

 those of the red-deer group. Another feature is the 

 absence or rudimentary condition of the metatarsal 

 gland and tuft. As regards the antlers, which may 

 be either rounded or flattened, they lack both bez 

 (second) and trez (third) tines, and have the beam 

 forked (often symmetrically) at a variable distance 

 above the origin of the brow-tine, and one or both 

 branches of this fork again dividing at least once, so 

 that the minimum number of points on each antler 

 is four, while there are frequently six, and in some 

 cases eight or more. Another feature is that the 

 brow-tine is either oriven off at a right angle to the 

 main beam, or forms an uninterrupted continuation 

 of the curvature of the latter. Although the fawns 

 are more or less spotted, the coat of the adults is in 

 most cases nearly uniformly coloured, and shows no 

 light rump-patch. The neck is slightly maned, the 

 face long, and the tail rather short ; while the face- 

 glands attain only moderate development. The group 

 is represented by three allied species of relatively large- 

 sized deer, one of which is restricted to India, while 

 the second (Cervus schomburgki^ inhabits northern 

 Siam, and the third is found in Burma and countries 

 lying still farther east. 



The swamp-deer is a somewhat stoutly-built species, 

 standing from about 3 feet 8 inches to 3 feet 10 inches 

 at the withers. The muzzle is rather long and narrow ; 

 and the hair of a moderate degree of fineness, with 

 a tendency towards a woolly nature. In the summer 

 coat the general colour of the upper -parts is bright 

 rufous brown, frequently, at least, with a broad brown 

 streak, bordered on each side by a line of whitish 

 spots, down the middle of the back, and with a less 

 distinct trace of spotting on other parts. The throat, 

 the inner surfaces of the thighs, and the under-parts 



248" 



