MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



hollow horns). Africa, in fact, has no Deer except the Barbary 

 Deer alone, and this occurs north of the Sahara only. 



Very many species of Cervida: are known, and it is not possible to allude 

 to more than a few of the more familiar and important forms. Three species 

 occur in Britain namely, the Roebuck, Red -deer, and Fallow-deer, the 

 last being a doubtful native. The Roebuck (Capreolus caprcza) \vas once 

 very generally distributed over Britain, but is almost confined to the wilder 

 parts of Scotland at the present day. It is of small size, and ranges over 

 Northern Europe and Asia. The Red-deer or Stag (Cervus elapJius) is a 

 much larger species, with well-developed spreading antlers. The Red- 

 deer of Britain is represented in North America by a still larger species, 

 known as the Wapiti (Cervus Canadensis}. 



The third British species is the Fallow-deer (Dama platyceros], charac- 

 terised by the fact that the antlers are palmated that is, dilated towards 

 their extremities. It is a doubtful native, and is never found in a wild 

 state at the present day. Allied to the Fallow-deer is a gigantic extinct 

 species, the Megaceros Hibernicus, which inhabited Ireland, the Isle of Man, 

 Scotland, and probably the greater part of Europe, up to a comparatively 

 modern date, probably having survived into the human period. It is often, 

 but incorrectly, spoken of as the Irish ' ' Elk, " but it is really a genuine 

 Stag. The animal was of very great size, and was furnished with enor- 

 mous spreading and palmate antlers, which measure from ten to twelve 

 feet between the tips. 



Of all the Deer, the largest living form is the true Elk (A Ices palmatus), 

 which is generally distributed over the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and 

 America, being often spoken of as the Moose. The antlers in the Elk are 

 of a very large size, and are very broad, terminating in a series of points 

 along their outer edges. 



The only completely domesticated member of the Cervida; is the Rein- 

 deer (Cervus tarandus], which is remarkable for the fact that the female is 

 furnished with antlers similar to, but smaller than, those of the males. At 

 the present day the Reindeer (if the Caribou be regarded as distinct) is ex- 

 clusively confined to the extreme north of Europe and Asia, abounding 

 especially in Lapland. Remains, however, of the Reindeer are known to 

 occur over the greater part of Europe, extending as far south, at any rate, 

 as the Alps, and occurring also in Britain. From this fact, taken along 

 with many others, the existence of an extremely cold climate over the 

 greater part of Europe at a comparatively recent period may be safely in- 

 ferred. The Reindeer lives chiefly upon moss and a peculiar kind of 

 lichen (Lichen rangiferina), and they are extensively used by the Lap- 

 landers both as beasts of burden and as supplying food. The ''Caribou " 

 of North America, if not absolutely identical with the Reindeer, would 

 seem to be at most a well-marked variety of it. 



The so-called "Brockets," such as the " Guazu-pita" (Subulo rufus) of 

 South America, have simple horns in the form of a stiletto ; whilst the 

 singular Muntjak of India, Burmah, China, and the Indian Archipelago 

 has the horns supported on long bony pedicles springing from the frontal 

 bone ; and the males have large upper canines. 



The true Musk-deer (Moschtis moschiferus] possess no horns, and the 

 males have a musk-gland. There are canine teeth in both jaws, and the 

 upper canines of the males have the form of long tusks. The Musk-deer 

 are elegant little animals, which agree with the typical Deer in the fact 

 that they have spotted young, and that the placenta is cotyledonary, whilst 

 they depart from the ordinary cervine type in the absence of antlers. They 

 inhabit Central Asia. 



