RUMINANTIA. 215 



of the more considerable mountains, or approaching the con- 

 fines of extensive forests." These districts, common in Java, are 

 " covered with long grass, and shrubs, and trees of moderate 

 size, growing in groups or sm-M thickets." The long grass, 

 saccharum spicatum, and a plant called Phyllanthus Emblica, 

 constitute the principal food of the Muntjak. The flesh is said 

 to afford excellent venison, and is often found on the tables of 

 European residents. Among the Mahrattas, this animal iscalled 

 Baikar. It uses its long sinuses apparently for the purpose of 

 smelling, "dilating them to a great extent, and applying them to 

 various objects." 



The SOUTH AMERICAN DEER form a beautiful group. Of 

 these we can notice only 1st, C. nemorivagus, (Lat. nemus, a 

 wood; vagus, wandering,) the GAUZU-VIVA, a delicate little 

 deer, which is but twenty-six inches in length, approaching, in 

 its aspect, that of the sheep. In this species, the lachrymal si- 

 nus, or, tear pit, is scarcely perceptible. The lower part of the 

 head and legs is whitish ; about the eyes, on the inside of the 

 fore legs and under part of the body, the color is a palish cinna- 

 mon ; the neck and other parts brownish. The horns are very 

 short. It is found in Brazil. 



2. C. rufus, (Lat. red.) The PITA. 



This is about twenty-nine inches in height; in its general 

 color reddish brown, but in some parts whiter. It lives in the 

 low marshy grounds of South America ; is found in large herds, 

 and " as ten females are seen for one male," and as the former 

 are without horns, the existence of deer on this continent, with- 

 out horns, has by some been incorrectly reported. The Pita 

 shows little power of endurance when pursued, being soon run 

 down by dogs; sometimes it is captured by the lasso and balls. 



FOSSIL CERVID^E have been discovered, the most remarkable of 

 which is the Megaceros (great horned) Hibernicus, the gigantic 

 Irish Deer, larger in size than the Moose ; the antlers over five 

 feet in length, from 'the burr to the tip, in a straight line, and 

 nearly eleven feet apart, reckoning from the extreme tip of the 

 right to that of the left antler. 



QUESTIONS. 



What is said of the internal structure of the DEER FAMILY ? Give their 

 general characters. Are the horns found in both sexes ? What is said of 

 their form ? How extensive is the range of the Deer ? What is remarked 

 of the loss and renewal of the antlers? Briefly describe the process. At 

 what time does the Common Stag shed his horns ? How soon, in the young 

 animal, do the horns appear? What determines the age of the Stag? 



