845 



CEDVID.E. 



CERVIDJ3. 



SMi 



only simple horns, and whose teeth were ground down to the very 

 roots by long use. 



The reproduction of the horns is annual in the Deer of temperate 

 and cold climates ; but it has been supposed that some of the species 

 inhabiting hot climates do not cast them every year. The palmated 

 horn Beems to be more especially given to those deer which inhabit 

 the northern latitudes ; and Colonel Smith is of opinion that it is 

 a provision to enable the animals to remove the snow from their food. 



The dental formula of the deer is, generally speaking, the same as 

 in the giraffes, goats, antelopes, sheep, oxen, c. ; namely, 



Incisors, -; Canines, - -; Molars, - ; =32. 

 o o 6 



Of the molars, both in the upper and lower jaws, six are true 

 and six false. In the upper jaw the three first molars are bordered 

 ly a thick crest on their internal surface ; the three next have all 

 the characters of the molars in the dromedaries. [CAMELUS.] In the 

 lower jaw the first incisor is the longest, the second and the third 

 rather decrease, and the fourth is very small ; all have cutting edges: 

 The two first false molars are simple; the third has a process or 

 heel at its posterior part, and the three others do not differ from 

 those of the upper jaw. In the formula given above the canines are 

 noted as absent ; but this general rule is not without exception, 

 some of the species presenting canines similar to those of the Musks 

 (Mochut) in the upper jaw. The Muutjak has these teeth largely 

 developed. 



The Deer-Tribe possess the Lachrymal Sinus, or, as it is often 

 termed, the Suborbital Sinus (Larmiers of the French, Tear-Pits of the 

 English, Crumen of others), even more universally than the Antelopes. 

 [ANTILOPE.F,.] 



The late Mr. Bennett was of opinion that the use of the lachrymal 

 sinus, which has long remained a problem to zoologists, must be 

 referred to sexual relations. In support of this opinion he has 

 referred to the condition of this orgau in some old Indian Deer 

 formerly in the possession of the Zoological Society in the Gardens 

 in Regent's Park. 



Professor Owen at one time conceived it possible that the secretion 

 of these glands, when rubbed upon projecting bodies, might serve to 

 direct individuals of the same species to each other. He endeavoured 

 to test the probability of this supposition by preparing a tabular view 

 of the relations between the habits and habitats of the several species 

 of Antelopes and their suborbital, maxillary, post-auditory, and 

 inguinal glands, in order to be able to compare the presence and 

 degrees of development of these glands with the gregarious and other 

 habits of the Antelope-Tribe. He has stated however that it was evi- 

 dent from this table that there is no relation between the gregarious 

 habits of the Antelopes which frequent the plains and the presence of 

 the suborbital and maxillary sinuses ; since these, besides being alto- 

 gether wanting in some of the gregarious species, are present in many 

 of the solitary frequenters of rocky mountainous districts. The sup- 

 position therefore that the secretion might serve, when left on shrubs 

 or stones, to direct a straggler to the general herd, falls to the ground. 

 (' Zool. Proc.,' 1836.) 



The osteological structure of the Deer-Tribe is such as would be 

 expected when it was necessary that the bony framework should 

 exhibit a union of lightness and strength necessary for an animal 

 whose life is to depend on its agility and defensive powers. 



The C'ercidce are widely spread, and seem capable of being so modi- 

 fied as to withstand the extremes of heat and cold. 



The following arrangement of the Deer is proposed by Dr. J. E. Gray : 



A. The Deer of the Snowy Regions have a very broad muzzle, entirely 

 covered with hair. The horns are expanded and palmate ; and the 

 fawns are not spotted. 



a. The Alcine Deer have no basal anterior snag to the horns, and 

 a small bald muffle between the nostrils, as the genus Alcu. 



l>. The Rangerine Deer have a large basal anterior snag to the horns 

 close on the crown or burr, and no muffle, as Tarandut. 



B. The Deer of the Temperate or Warmer Regions have a tapering 

 muzzle ending in a bald muffle. The fawns, and sometimes the adults, 

 are spotted. 



c. The Elaphine Deer have a distinct anterior basal snag to the horns, 

 the muffle broad, and separated from the lip by a hairy band ; and 

 tlif tuft of hair on the outside of the hind leg, above the middle of 

 the metatarsus, as Cenui and Duma. 



d. The Rusine Deer have a distinct anterior basal snag to the horns ; 

 the muffle very high, and not separate from the edge of the lips ; and 

 the tuft of hair on the outside of the hind leg, above the middle of the 

 metatarsus, as Kucerrttt, Panolia, Rusa, Axis, HydnpJau, and Cermdta. 



f. The Capreoline Deer have no basal anterior snag to the horns, 

 the first branch being Home distance above the burr ; the crumen (and 

 pit in the skull) generally small, as C'aprcolut, Cariacuji, Bluttocerns, 



' r, Coassua, and Piidu. 



The Alcino and Rangerine Deer are confined to the northern part 

 of both continents; the Elaphine and Rusino Deer to the Eastern 

 World (the latter almost exclusively to the warmer part of Asia) ; all 

 the Capreoline Deer are peculiar to America. The only exception to 

 rules are the Wapiti Deer of the Elaphine group is found in 

 Northern America, and the Roe-Buck and Ahu of the Capreoline 

 > aro found ill Europe and Northern Asia. 



The following is an arrangement of the genera and species of the 

 tribe Cervina of Gray : 

 Sub-Tribe 1. ALCE^E. 

 Genus, Alces. 



1. A. Malcltii, the Elk. 

 Sub-Tribe 2. RANUERIS.E. 



Genus, Tarandus. 



2. T. Rangifet; the Caribou or Rein-Deer. 

 Sub-Tribe 3. ELAPHIX.K. 



Genus, Genius. 



3. C. Canadensii, the Wapiti 



4. C. Elaphus, the Stag. 



5. C. Sarbartw, the Burbary Deer. 



6. C. WaUichii, the Bara Singa. 



7. C. affinii, the Saul-Forest Stag. 



8. C. Sika, the Sika. 

 Genus, Damn. 



9. D. rulyai'is, the Fallow-Decr. 

 Sub-Tribe 4. RCSIN.E. 



Genus, Panolia. 



10. P. Eldii, the Sunguai. 

 Genus, Rucenus. 



11. R. Duvaucdlli, the Bahrainga. 

 Genus, Rusa. 



12. R. Aristotdin, the Samboo. 



13. R. Dimorphe, the Spotted Rusa. 



14. R. llippdaphus, the Mijangau Banjoe. 



15. R. equinus, the Samboe. 



16. R. Peronii, the Smaller Rusa. 



17. R. PhUippinus, the Philippine Rusa. 



18. R. lepida, the Sundevall Rusa. 

 Genus, Axil. 



19. A. maculata, the Axis. 



20. A. pseudaxia, the Spotted Axis. 

 Genus, Hyelaphue. 



21. H. porrinua, the Lugna Para. 

 Genus, Cervulut. 



22. C. voginalia, the Kijang. 



23. C. mochatu, the Kegan. 



24. C. Rcevcrii, the Chinese Muutjak. 

 Sub-Tribe 5. CAPREOLIN.E. 



Genus, Caprcotuf. 



25. C. Cajn-a;a, the Roe-Buck. 



26. C. Pyyanjus, the Ahu. 

 Genus, Blastocerut. 



27. B. p(d\ulou&, the Guazupuco. 



28. B. campestris, the Mazame. 

 Genus, Pnicifer. 



29. F. Antinicwui, the Tarush. 



30. F. Jfuamel, the GuemuL 

 Genus, Canacut. 



31. C. Virginianus, the American Doer. 



32. C. Mexicnnus, the Mexican Deer. 



33. C. leucui-ua, the White-Tailed Deer. 



34. C. naaoralit, the Cariacou Deer. 



35. C. punctulatus, the Califoruian Roe. 



36. C. Lewisii, the Black-Tailed Deer. 



37. C. macrotis, the Mule-Deer. 

 Genus, Coassus. 



38. C. iiemomagus, the Gauzu-viva. 



39. C. rufta, the Cuguacu-ete. 



40. C. supercttiaris, the Eye-Browed Brocket. 



41. C. auritus, the Large-Eared Brocket. 

 Genus, Pudu,. 



42. P. humilii, the Venada. 



In selecting a few of these animals for description we shall follow 

 the above arrangement : 



1. Alcei Malcha, the Elk or Moose. This animal is the Alces Anti- 

 quorum of Riippell ; Cereus Alces of Linmcus ; Moose Deer, Moose or 

 Elk, American Black Elk, Flat-Horned Elk, of English writers ; 

 the Eland and Orignal of Buffon and others ; Elch of the Germans ; 

 Loss of the Russians; Alces of Caesar; Alec of Pliny. 



"This animal is the largest of the genus, being higher at the 

 shoulders than the horse ; its horns weigh sometimes near 50 Ibs. 

 Accordingly, to bear this heavy weight its neck is short and strong, 

 taking away much of the elegance of proportion so generally predomi- 

 nant in the deer. But when it is asserted that the elk wants beauty or 

 majesty, the opinion can be entertained by those who have seen the 

 female only, the young, or the mere stuffed specimens ; for us, who 

 have had the opportunity of viewing the animal in all the glory of its 

 full-grown horns, amid the scenery of his own wilderness, no animal 

 could appear more majestic or more imposing. It is however the 

 aggregate of his appearance which produces this effect ; for when the 

 proportions of its structure are considered in detail they certainly 

 will seem destitute of the harmony of parts which in the imagination 

 produces the feeling of beauty. The head measuring above two feet 

 in length is narrow and clumsily shaped by the swelling upon the 

 upper part of the nose and nostrils ; the eye is proportiouably small, 



