95 4 THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



and the bucks are furnished with long projecting tusks in the upper jaw. The lat- 

 eral toes are peculiar in that they consist of only the hoofs, without any trace of the 

 bones of the digits themselves. 



The muntjacs are confined to India, Burma, and the Malayan region, and evi- 

 dently indicate a very ancient and generalized type of the Deer family. They appear 

 to be represented in the Pliocene formations of Europe, and are probably nearly re- 

 lated to a still earlier group of extinct European deer, known as Pal&omeryx, in 

 which the antlers were either totally wanting, or of very small dimensions. 



The best-known representative of the group is the common Indian 

 Indian muntjac, also known as the barking deer, and in Hindustan as the ka- 



kar (Cervulus muntjac}. This animal stands from twenty to twenty- 

 two inches in height at the shoulder, and has fur of a deep chestnut color, becoming 

 darker on the back, and paler and less brilliant below; the chin and upper part of the 

 throat, as well as the hinder portion of the under surface of the body, and the inner 

 sides of the thighs and lower surface of the tail, being white. The face and limbs 

 are brown, and there is a black line on the inner surface of the pedicles of the ant- 

 lers, extending some distance down the ribs on the face. The antlers are generally 

 only some three or four inches in length, on pedicles of some four or five inches, but 

 sometimes reach the length of five, and, it is said, even eleven inches. 



The kakar is essentially a forest-dwelling deer, and appears to be re- 

 stricted to hilly regions. Its range includes suitable districts through- 

 out India, Ceylon, and Burma, whence it extends through the Malay Peninsula to 

 the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Hainan. 



These deer are solitary creatures, usually found singly or in pairs; 

 the name of barking deer being derived from their peculiar cry. On 

 this point General Kinloch observes that many visitors to the various hill stations 

 of the Himalayas, who may never have seen a kakar, must probably be well ac- 

 quainted with its voice, which is wonderfully powerful for such a small animal. It 

 is rather difficult to convey a correct idea of it by words, but it may perhaps be best 

 described as a hoarse resonant bark. The cry may frequently be heard in the 

 mornings and evenings, and it is also often uttered when the deer is alarmed, when 

 it hears any loud or unusual sound, or suspects the existence of any danger. 

 Occasionally a kakar will continue to bark, at short intervals, for an hour at 

 a time, and advantage may be taken of his betraying his whereabouts to stalk 

 him. 



Kakar are adepts at making their way at speed through the most dense jungle, 

 and run with their head low and their hind-quarters elevated. When running, a 

 peculiar rattling sound is produced by these animals, which is thought to originate 

 in the mouth, although in what manner is still . unknown. The bucks, when at- 

 tacked by dogs, appear to use their tusks, which curve outward in a peculiar manner, 

 as their chief weapons of defense, and are able with them to inflict gashes of con- 

 siderable depth. Although young kakar are apparently to be met with at all sea- 

 sons of the year, the chief pairing time in Northern India is during the months of 

 January and February; the fawns, which may be one or two in number, being born 

 in the following June or July. The bucks shed their antlers in May, and their 



