The Muntjac 



tufts of bristly black hairs mark the position of the 

 antler-pedicles of the latter. The fawns are spotted. 



I have seen examples of dark-coloured muntjacs, in 

 which the back was nearly black, and the rest of the 

 hair very dark brown ; a skin of this type, obtained 

 near Darjiling, at an elevation of about 5000 feet, was 

 brought home by Mr. M. G. Jukes, and Dr. C. Hose 

 states that dark-coloured muntjacs are not uncommon 

 in some of the mountainous districts of North Borneo. 

 This abnormal coloration would therefore seem to be 

 an instance of the melanism frequently met with among 

 animals inhabiting subtropical mountain forests, and 

 cannot be regarded as indicative of a local race. 



Indian muntjac antlers seldom exceed 6|- inches in 

 length, with the brow-tine only about i^ inches ; but 

 a specimen trom Mussuri measures 7^ inches in length, 

 and an exceptionally long pair from Java rather more 

 than 10 inches. In 1899 Mr. R. E. Holding (Proc. 

 Zoo/. Soc. London^ p. 295) described and figured a large 

 pair ot muntjac antlers picked out of a cargo of horns 

 from Singapore. These are characterised by their 

 great size and massiveness, and the shortness and 

 stoutness of the supporting pedicles. The antlers 

 measure 9 inches in length, and the brow-tine 4;| inches, 

 while the pedicles have a girth of 3-|- inches. Any 

 doubt as to their being really muntjac-antlers is dis- 

 pelled by the frontlet and antlers of a muntjac from 

 Pahang, Malay Peninsula, shown in fig. 48, in which the 

 antlers measure 7 inches in length, and are remarkable 

 for their stoutness and great lateral compression, and 

 consequent great antero-posterior depth ; the pedicles 

 being also short and stout. This specimen, which was 

 collected by Dr. C. Hose, is in the British Museum. 

 It may be added that a pair of muntjac antlers from 

 Java, recorded in Records of Big Game^ measures iO;| 

 inches in length, whilst another pair from Java mentioned 

 in the same work measures 8f inches. I presume a 

 third pair in the same list from Singapore, belonging to 



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