238 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



then dangerous to approach the herd. To the effect of con- 

 stant interbreeding may be attributed the small size of these 

 cattle, and their slow rate of increase ; and on more than one 

 occasion, when attacked by murrain, they have been in danger 

 of extermination. 



THE DEER. FAMILY CERVID^. 



The Deer tribe may be defined as Ruminants differing from 

 the Bovida in that the appendages of the head (which are al- 

 most invariably restricted to the males), when present, take the 

 form of antlers, which are usually more or less branched, and 

 are invariably shed every year; while, at least when such 

 appendages are wanting, there are well-developed canine teeth 

 in the upper jaw. The cheek-teeth may have either tall or 

 short crowns. Like the Bovid(z t the originally separate meta- 

 carpal and metatarsal bones forming the lower part of the legs, 

 and supporting the two middle toes, are each fused into a 

 single cannon-bone ; while the metacarpal and metatarsal 

 bones supporting the small lateral toes are always incomplete; 

 that is to say, they are represented only by their upper and 

 lower extremities. This feature at once serves to distinguish 

 the Deer from the Chevrotains, or so-called Mouse-Deer, in 

 which the bones in question are always complete. In all Deer 

 there is a large lachrymal gland, or " larmier," on the face ; 

 and the tail is generally short. 



Although a few species, like the Asiatic Musk- Deer, are 

 devoid of these appendages, the great peculiarity of the Deer is 

 the annual reproduction of the antlers of the males. In spite 

 of familiarity having produced the proverbial contempt, this 

 process is really one of the most wonderful physiological 

 effects to be met with in nature ; and if it had been described 

 as occurring in some previously unknown fossil animal, it 



