The Meminna Chevrotain 



toes are likewise complete, whereas some of them are 

 imperfect or even wanting in true ruminants. Then, 

 again, if the ankle-joint be examined, it will be found 

 to contain one bone more than in the latter group, in 

 which two of the original elements are fused together. 

 In the structure of their cheek-teeth chevrotains 

 resemble, however, true ruminants, as they do in 

 possessing " cannon-bones," although in the African 

 genus Dorcatherium it is only in one pair of limbs that 

 the two component elements unite to form a cannon- 

 bone. 



All Oriental chevrotains are small, delicately built 

 animals, with elevated hind-quarters, and slender limbs. 

 They inhabit torests, and are of shy and skulking 

 habits. From their larger African relative they are 

 distinguished by having cannon-bones in both limbs. 

 The head is long and pointed, with comparatively 

 small and rounded ears, a large portion of the narrow 

 muzzle bare and moist, and no glands below the eyes ; 

 glands being likewise wanting between the hoofs and 

 in the groin. There are no appendages comparable 

 either to horns or antlers, but the males, as in musk- 

 deer and the Chinese water -deer, are furnished with 

 long sabre -like tusks, capable of inflicting severe 

 wounds in their combats with one another. The tail 

 is more or less short, the hair is fine and close, and 

 the females are provided with four teats. In walking, 

 chevrotains have a peculiar stilted gait, treading only 

 on the tips of the hoofs ; the legs having such a rigid 

 appearance that it is a common idea there are no joints 

 to the knees. 



The meminna is distinguished by being spotted and 

 streaked with white, as well as by the chin and throat 

 being completely covered with hair, instead of showing 

 a bare glandular area ; while the tail is shorter than in 

 other species, and there is only a small bare patch on 

 the hind-leg in the neighbourhood of the hock. In 

 height the animal stands from about lo to 12 inches 



273 T 



