95 o THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



hinder branch of the antler of the swamp deer, and the terminal fork the front 

 branch of the latter. David's deer is of about the same size as the swamp deer, and 

 is clothed with long and rather shaggy hair, while the tail is of unusual length, and 

 also thickly haired. It has been stated that the fawns are uniformly colored, but 

 this requires confirmation. 



These deer are kept in the imperial hunting park at Peking, and specimens have 

 been exhibited alive in England, but we have no information as to their habits in the 

 wild state. The largest antlers on record have a length of thirty-two and three- 

 fourths inches. 



THE FALLOW-DEER GROUP (Cervus dama, etc.) 



The fallow deer is a representative of a distinct group of the genus Cervus, 

 characterized by the antlers being rounded at the base, but widening in the upper 

 part into a flattened palmate expansion. In front there is a large brow antler, form- 

 ing rather more than a right angle with the beam, above which there is a trez-tine given 

 off at some distance below the commencement of the palmation ; while the hinder edge 

 of the latter carries three or four small sharp snags, of which the lowest is longer and 

 placed considerably below the others, so that it may rank as a distinct back-tine. 



In height the fallow deer usually stands nearly three feet at the withers, and 

 has a small head, large ears, and a relatively-long tail. The general color of the fur 

 is some shade of fawn or yellowish brown, darker on the head and neck, and marked 

 on the body with a number of large white spots. The under parts, inner sides of 

 the limbs, and the under surface of the tail are white, and there is a dark line run- 

 ning down the back from the nape of the neck to the end of the tail. There is how- 

 ever, a dark brown variety in which the spots are scarcely distinguishable, or 

 wanting, and specimens may be seen exhibiting every gradation in color from pure 

 white to nearly black. The hair is comparatively short and fine, and there is no 

 mane on the neck and throat. The upper jaw has no tusks. Good antlers vary in 

 length from nineteen to twenty-seven inches, twenty -eight and one- fourth being the 

 maximum length on record. 



Distribution The ^ a ^ ow deer is a native of Northern Africa and the countries bor- 

 dering the Mediterranean, and in a wild state is still abundant in Sar- 

 dinia, Spain, and some of the islands of the Grecian Archipelago. From these countries 

 it has been introduced into Central Europe, where it flourishes well, although need- 

 ing some protection during the winter in the more northerly regions. At what period 

 this introduction took place is, however, quite uncertain, although in Britain it was 

 evidently many centuries ago. From the occurrence of antlers of the general type 

 of those of the fallow deer in some of the superficial deposits, it has been supposed 

 that this species was really an indigenous British animal. These fossil antlers belong, 

 however, to an extinct although nearly-allied species, known as C. browni, and there is 

 no evidence of the occurrence of fossil remains of the true fallow deer in this country. 



Bell observes that " fallow deer are gregarious to a great extent, associating in 

 large herds, the bucks apart from the does, except in the pairing season and early 

 winter, when the sexes consort in company. Most persons must be familiar with 



