THE TRUE CHEVROTAINS 



987 



proximated so as to form a continuous series. When we have added that the three 

 molar teeth and the last premolar tooth in the upper jaw, together with the lower 

 molars, are of a cresent-like type, the resemblances to the true Ruminants cease. 

 In the first place, the three premolar teeth, with the exception of the last in the 

 upper jaw, instead of being cresent like* have their crowns elongated and narrow, 

 with sharp, cutting edges. Then the second, or axis, vertebra of the neck has a 

 simple, conical peg (odontoid process) projecting in 

 front, by which it articulates with the first, or atlas, 

 vertebra; whereas in all the true Ruminants the same 

 process is spout like. On examining the limbs in the 

 skeleton of a chevrotain, it will be found that the 

 fibula, or smaller bone of the lower leg, is complete, 

 instead of being represented only by its lower end. 

 Moreover, each foot has four complete digits, that is 

 to say, the metacarpal and metatarsal bones, respect- 

 ively supporting the toes of the fore and hind-feet, 

 are complete, and extend alongside of the canon bone 

 from the basal joints of the toes to the wrist and 

 ankle joints; whereas, as we have seen, in the true 

 Ruminants these bones are represented either by their 

 upper or lower extremities alone, or are wanting. 

 Then, again, in one of the chevrotains the canon 

 bone of the fore-limb is divided into its two compo- 

 nent metacarpal elements; while in the other it is 

 wider and less completely soldered than in the true 

 Ruminants. These differences will be apparent by 



comparing the figures herewith given, with the one on p. 802. Finally, instead of 

 the four distinct compartments characteristic of the true Ruminants, the stomach of 

 the chevrotains has but three such chambers. 



A B 



FORE-FOOT OF THE WATER 

 CHEVROTAIN (^4) AND INDIAN 

 CHEVROTAIN (B). 



2 and 5 indicate the lateral digits 



and 3 and 4 the middle pair. (From 



THE TRUE CHEVROTAINS 

 Genus Tragulus 



The chevrotains are divided into two genera, the first of which is Asiatic and 

 the second African. The true or Asiatic chevrotains are represented by five species, 

 of which the range extends from India and Ceylon through the Malayan Archi- 

 pelago to the Philippines. They are characterized by the two median metacarpal 

 bones of the fore-limb being fused into a canon bone (B of the figure), and also 

 the small size of the lateral toes. With one exception, they are the smallest of liv- 

 ing Ungulates, and much resemble the American Rodents known as agutis in general 

 appearance and habits. 



Of the five living species of the genus, one is confined to India and Ceylon, 

 while the others are found in the regions to the eastward of the Bay of Bengal. 



