THE MUNTJACS 



953 



(C ruffi), from the superficial deposits of Germany, which was of somewhat infe- 

 rior dimensions to the former. In Ruff's deer the antlers are directed upward and 

 outward nearly after the fashion obtaining in the fallow deer, while the plane of the 

 palmated portion is placed in the same longitudinal direction as in the latter. More- 

 over, the terminal snags are shorter and inclined more inwardly than in the Irish 

 deer, but the flattened and expanded form of the brow-tine indicates a closer connec- 

 tion with the latter. 



THE MUNTJACS 

 Genus Cervulus 



The small Asiatic deer, commonly known as muntjacs, differ so decidedly from 

 all those hitherto noticed that they are referred to as a distinct genus. They are dis- 





THE INDIAN MUNTJAC. 



tinguished from all the members of the genus Cervus by their short, simple, two- 

 tined antlers being mounted on pedicles of the skull, which are as long or longer 

 than the antlers themselves, and diverge from the middle line of the lower part of 

 the forehead, where they commence as rib-like bars. From this feature these ani- 

 mals are often spoken of as rib-faced deer. The brow-tine of the antlers is short and 

 directed upward, while the tip of the undivided beam is more or less inclined inward. 

 The skull has a very large depression for the reception of the gland below the eye, 



