XI THE WATER CHEVROTAIN 283 
mediate characters between the Pigs and the Ruminants; there 
are but three separate compartments. A highly - interesting 
character is afforded by the placenta. This is in the present 
family of the diffuse kind, not presenting the separated and 
tufted cotyledons of the Ruminant placenta. This we may fairly 
assume is a further proof of the less-specialised characters of 
this group’ as compared with the Ruminantia, a view, however, 
which is not universally accepted. While the molars have the 
selenodont character of other Pecora, the premolars are more 
adapted for cutting, with sharp edges. 
The genus 7ragulus consists of several species (e.g. 7. stanleya- 
nus, T. napu, ete.), which have been aptly compared in external 
appearance to certain Rodents such as the Agoutis. The legs 
are delicate and slender, hardly “thicker than an ordinary cedar 
pencil.” These creatures have got among the Malays a consider- 
able reputation for astuteness, embodied in the saying, “ Cunning 
as a kanchil.” The male has tusks, which greatly contributed to 
the confusion of this creature with the totally different Musk 
Deer, Moschus moschiferus. It is even said to suspend itself by 
their aid to the branches of trees, and so avoid danger. 
Hyomoschus (or Dorcatheriwm as it should properly be called) 
is West African. Its rich brown colour, with spots and_ stripes, 
is much lke that of the Chevrotains, but it has shorter limbs. 
The only species is J. aguaticum, which is sometimes called, on 
account of its frequenting the banks of streams, the Water 
Chevrotain. Remains of this genus occur in Miocene and Phlocene 
strata of Europe. 
The separate metacarpals,comparatively simple stomach,absence 
of horns, diffuse placenta, and spotted pelage are features which 
argue the primitive position of these animals among existing 
Artiodactyles. 
Besides the two existing genera which have just been treated 
of, there are a number of extinct genera undoubtedly belonging 
to the same group. 
Gelocus (Kocene and Oligocene in range) is a European 
genus known from France. It differs from the living mem- 
bers of the group by the fact that the second and fifth toes 
on both hind- and fore-feet are represented, as in certain Deer, 
1 For the structure of Tragulus, see Milne-Edwards, Ann. Sci. Nat. (5) li. 1864, 
p. 49. 
