554 



TRAGULIB.E. 



TRAGULINA. 



Family TRAGULID^. 



This being the only family of the present section, the characters 

 may be given under one heading. The dentition is i. g, c. ^, 

 pm. |^|, m. |^|, as in most Cervidce. The fibula is complete. There 

 are four toes, \vith fully developed phalanges and metapodials on 

 all feet, the middle metapodials generally confluent. Navicular, 

 cuboid, and ecto-cuneiform bones of tarsus united. The members 

 of this section are true ruminants, but the stomach is composed of 

 only three distinct compartments, the manyplies or third cavity of 

 the Pecora being rudimentary. Placenta diffused. 



Fig. 181. Skull of Tragidiis meminna J, X 



The Tragulidce are small animals with very slender limbs and 

 high hind-quarters, inhabiting forests. Of the only two living 

 genera one, Dorcaiherium (Hyomoschus), is "West- African, the other, 

 Tragulus, is Oriental. The type is less specialized than that of the 

 Pecora, and it is not surprising to find many extinct forms of 

 Tragullna in the Upper Eocene and Miocene of Europe and 

 America, whilst in India two species of Dorcaiherium (now peculiar 

 to Africa) and one of Trayulus have been described from the 

 Pliocene Siwaliks. 



Genus TRAGULUS, Brisson (1756), partim. 

 Syn. Meminna, Gray. 



Size small or very small. Metapodials confluent. A large 

 muffle occupying the terminal portion of the muzzle. ]^o infraorbital, 



