RUMIWANTIA CERV1NAE CERVUS AMERICANUS. 



639 



The naked muffle, fig. 9, differs from that of the Virginia deer in being longer, and in having 

 the hairs on the side of the muzzle beneath the nostrils to come forward in front until there is 

 only a narrow naked isthmus, less than half the width of the septum, connecting this with the 

 narrow naked border to the upper lip at the extremity of the muzzle. 



Fig. 9. Cervus canadensis. End of the nose as seen obliquely from above and in front. The figure 



not strictly accurate, having been taken from a dried and distorted skin. 

 Fig. 10. The same. Under view of left front hoof. 



The larmiers are very conspicuous, their posterior extremity situated about half the diameter 

 of the eye anterior to the orbit, with which they are connected by a naked skin ; they are 

 narrowly elliptical in outline, their longitudinal axis directed a little obliquely forwards and 

 downwards, and of nearly the length of the orbit itself, certainly of the diameter of the eye. 

 This secretes a yellowish waxy substance, usually found in considerable amount in the skin. 



The upper border of the orbit is fringed with distinct eyelashes ; on the lower lids are long 

 scattered bristles. These bristles are also seen in the upper part of the muzzle, and scattered 

 over the naked muffle. 



The hoofs of the elk, fig. 10, are very different from those of the smaller deer ; instead of 

 being narrow and pointed, they are short, broad, and with the outer edge of the under surface 

 much rounded ; in fact, they bear a very close resemblance beneath to those of the buffalo. 

 They are, however, about as long as deep behind, the lateral profile, therefore, somewhat of an 

 isosceles right angle, while in the buffalo the posterior leg of the (obtuse-angled) triangle is 

 about one and a half times the superior. In the hind foot of the elk the hoof is rather longer ; 

 in both feet, however, the basal outline is a broad ellipse, emarginate behind; the length but 

 little greater than the width of both hoofs together. The anterior hoofs are rather the largest. 



The tail of the elk is very short ; in fact, almost rudimentary for so large an animal. In the 

 largest skin before me it measures only six inches, the vertebral portion only four ; in shape it 

 is very broad, and much depressed, rather uniformly coated with hairs throughout. 



There is a patch of whitish hairs on the outer edge of the hind leg, about one-third the length 

 of the metatarsus from its upper edge. This is narrow and about two inches long ; there is no naked 

 space between these hairs, as in the Virginia deer. I have not observed the bushy bunch or 

 patch of long hairs seen on the inside of the tarsal region in the Virginia deer, though it may 

 possibly exist. 



In the summer skin, the hair on the back and sides is short and compact ; that on the neck 



