Chap. XVIII.] SPOTS AND STRIPES. 289 



specify some of the steps in this series. The Mantchurian 

 deer ( Cervus Mantchuriciis) is spotted during the whole 

 year, but the spots are miich plainer, as I have seen in the 

 Zoological Gardens, during the summer, when the gen- 

 eral color of the coat is lighter than during the winter, 

 when the general color is darker and the horns are fully 

 developed. In the hog-deer {Ilyelaphus porcimcs) the 

 spots are extremely conspicuous dm-ing the summer when 

 the coat is reddish-brown, but quite disappear during the 

 winter when the coat is brown." In both these species 

 the young are spotted. In the "Virginian deer the young 

 are likewise spotted, and about five per cent, of the adult 

 animals living in Judge Caton's park, as I am informed 

 by him, temporarily exhibit at the period when the red 

 svimmer-coat is being replaced by the bluish winter-coat, 

 a row of spots on each flank, which are always the same 

 in number, though very variable in distinctness. From 

 this condition there is but a very small step to the com- 

 plete absence of spots at all seasons in the adults ; and 

 lastly, to their absence at all ages, as occurs with certain 

 species. From the existence of this perfect series, and 

 more especially from the fawns of so many species being 

 spotted, we may conclude that the now living members 

 of the deer family are the descendani,s of some ancient 

 species which, like the Axis deer, was spotted at all ages 

 and seasons. A still more ancient progenitor probably 

 resembled to a certain extent the IIyo7noschiis aquaticus 

 — for this animal is spotted, and the hornless males have 

 large exserted canine teeth, of which some few true deer 

 still retain rudiments. It offers, also, one of those inter- 

 esting cases of a form linking together two groups, as it is 



^^ Dr. Gray, ' Gleanings from the Menagerie of Knowsley,' p. 64. Mr. 

 BIyth, in speaking (' Land and Water,' 1869, p. 42) of the hog-deer of 

 Ceylon, says it is more brightly spotted with white than the common hog- 

 tleer, at the season when it renews its horns. 

 32 



