CHEVROTAINS. 



399 



approximated so as to form a continuous series. When we have added that the 

 three molar teeth and the last premolar tooth in the upper jaw, together with the 

 lower molars, are of a crescent-like type, the resemblances to the true Ruminants 

 cease. In the first place, the three premolar teeth, with the exception of the 

 last in the upper jaw, instead of being crescent-like, have their crowns elongated 

 and narrow, with sharp cutting edges. Then the second, or axis, vertebra of the 

 neck has a simple conical peg (odontoid process) 

 projecting in front, by which it articulates with the 

 first, or atlas, vertebra; whereas in all the true 

 Ruminants the same process is spout-like. On ex- 

 amining the limbs in the skeleton of a chevrotain, 

 it will be found that the fibula, or smaller bone of the 

 lower leg, is complete, instead of being represented 

 only by its lower end. Moreover, each foot has four 

 complete digits, that is to say, the metacarpal and 

 metatarsal bones, respectively supporting the toes of 

 the fore and hind-feet, are complete, and extend 

 alongside of the cannon-bone from the basal joints of 

 the toes to the wrist and ankle joints; whereas, as 

 we have seen, in the true Ruminants these bones are 

 represented either by their upper or lower extremities LEFT FORE - FOOT OF THE WATER- 

 alone, or are wanting. Then, again, in one of the CHEVROTAIN (A) AND INDIAN 

 chevrotains the cannon-bone of the fore -limb is 

 divided into its two component metacarpal elements ; 

 while in the other it is wider and less completely Dawkins.) 

 soldered than in the true Ruminants. These differ- 

 ences will be apparent by comparing the figures herewith given, with the one on 

 p. 213. Finally, instead of the four distinct compartments characteristic of the true 

 Ruminants, the stomach of the chevrotains has but three such chambers. 



CHEVROTAIN (B). 



2 and 5 indicate the lateral digits 

 and 3 and 4 the middle pair. (From 



THE TRUE CHEVROTAINS. 

 Genus Tragulus. 



The chevrotains are divided into two genera, the first of which is Asiatic and 

 the second African. The true or Asiatic chevrotains are represented by five species, 

 of which the range extends from India and Ceylon through the Malayan Archi- 

 pelago to the Philippines. They are characterised by the two median metacarpal 

 bones of the fore-limb being fused into a cannon-bone (B of the figure), and also the 

 small size of the lateral toes. With one exception, they are the smallest of living 

 Ungulates, and much resemble the American Rodents known as agutis in general 

 appearance and habits. 



Of the five living species of the genus, one is confined to India and Ceylon, 

 while the others are found in the regions to the eastward of the Bay of Bengal. 

 The Indian chevrotain (Tragulus meminna) differs from all the others in having 

 the body spotted with white, and the whole of the chin and throat uniformly 



