366 



UNGULATES. 



The muntjacs are confined to India, Burma, and the Malayan region, and 

 evidently indicate a very ancient and generalised type of the Deer family. They 

 appear to be represented in the Pliocene formations of Europe, and are probably 

 nearly related to a still earlier group of extinct European deer, known as Palceomeryx, 

 in which the antlers were either totally wanting, or of very small dimensions. 



The best known representative of the group is the common 

 Indian Muntjac. _ _. ,. , , ,, , , . , j . . , 



Indian muntjac, also known as the barking deer, and in Hindustan as 



the kakar (Cervulus muntjac). This animal stands from 20 to 22 inches in height 

 at the shoulder ; and has fur of a deep chestnut colour, becoming darker on the 

 back, and paler and less brilliant below ; the chin and upper part of the throat, as 



THE INDIAN MUNTJAC 



well as the hinder portion of the under surface of the body, and the inner sides of 

 the thighs and lower surface of the tail, being white. The face and limbs are brown, 

 and there is a black line on the inner surface of the pedicles of the antlers, extend- 

 ing some distance down the ribs on the face. The antlers are generally only some 

 3 or 4 inches in length, on pedicles of some 4 or 5 inches, but sometimes reach the 

 length of 5, and, it is said, even 11 inches. 



The kakar is essentially a forest-dwelling deer, and appears to 



be restricted to hilly regions. Its range includes suitable districts 

 throughout India, Ceylon, and Burma, whence it extends through the Malay 

 Peninsula to the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Hainan. 



These deer are solitary creatures, usually found singly or in pairs ; 



the name of barking deer being derived from their peculiar cry. On 



Distribution. 



Habits. 



