436 ORDERS OF MAMMALIA. 



palmation digitated on its outer side only. Antlers of a 

 species undistinguishable from the existing Moose have been 

 found not uncommonly in Post-Pliocene deposits in various 

 parts of Europe, but this animal does not make its appearance 

 till after the close of the Glacial period. 



The Reindeer (Cervus tarandus] of Northern Europe and 

 North America is remarkable for being the only member of 

 the Cervidce. in which both sexes have horns. The horns are 

 of large size, cylindrical, divided, with basilar and median 

 tynes. Remains of the Reindeer are 'found, often in con- 

 siderable abundance, in various Post - Pliocene deposits in 

 Europe, extending as far south as the Pyrenees. 



Intermediate between the Reindeer and the Fallow-deer 

 is the celebrated Post-Pliocene species, which is commonly 

 known as the "Irish Elk" (Cervus megaceros, or Megaceros 

 Hibernicus}. This extinct form (fig. 356) is remarkable for its 

 great size and for the enormous dimensions of the spreading 

 antlers, which are expanded towards their extremities, and 

 attain an expanse of as much as ten feet from tip to tip. The 

 Cervus megaceros is exclusively Post-Tertiary, but does not 

 appear, so far as is known with certainty, to have survived into 

 the Prehistoric period. 



The true Stags (Cervus), to which the Irish Elk seems pro- 

 perly to belong, are typified by such species as the Red Deer 

 ( Cervus elaphus] of Europe, and the Wapiti ( Cervus Canadensis] 

 of North America. The former of these occurs in a fossil 

 state in Post-Pliocene and* Recent deposits in Europe, and the 

 latter is represented in accumulations of the same age in 

 America by a closely-allied or identical form. 



The Roebuck (Cervus capreolus], distinguished by its 

 branched antlers, with a median, but without a basilar, tyne, 

 is also known in a fossil condition in Post-Pliocene deposits 

 in Europe, appearing before the commencement of the Glacial 

 period. 



The Miocene and Pliocene deposits, lastly, have yielded 

 remains of Cervidce, which have been referred to various 

 species ; but none of these are sufficiently important to merit 

 especial mention. 



d. Camelopardalida. This family includes only a single 

 living animal the Camelopardalis Giraffa, or Giraffe some- 

 times called the Camelopard, from the fact that the skin is 

 spotted like that of the Leopard, whilst the neck is long, and 

 gives it some distant resemblance to a Camel. There are no 

 upper canines in the Giraffe, and both sexes possess two small 

 frontal horns, which, however, are persistent, and remain per- 



