PERE DAVID'S MI LOU DEER 



97 



Antlers of Pere David's Milou Deer. From specimens at Woburn Abbey. 



PERE DAVID'S MILOU DEER (Elaphurus davidianus). 



This remarkable deer differs from all the preceding, except the elk 

 and roes, by the absence of a brow-tine to the antlers, which are large 

 and branching, the beam forking at a comparatively short distance 

 above the burr, and the front prong of the fork again dividing, while 

 the hind prong is long and straight. The bushy tail is longer than in 

 any other deer, and the neck of the male is maned. There is a gland 

 on the outer side of the upper half of the hind cannon-bone, but none 

 on the hock. In the adult the colour is uniformly tawny, but spotted 

 in the young. Height at shoulder about 3 feet 9 inches. In captivity, 

 at any rate, the antlers are shed twice a year. 



Distribution. Northern China or (?) Kashgaria ; unknown in the wild 

 state, and apparently now represented only by specimens in 

 Europe, of which the great majority are at Woburn Abbey. 



