THE FALLOW DEER. 



THE SUB-ELAPHIXE DEER.* 



The JAPANESE, FORMOSAN, and MAXTCHURIAN DEER are all species allied to those just described, 

 but differing in being smaller in size, at the same time that the antlers conform to the sub-elaphine 

 type, in which the bez-tyne is never present, and the sur-royals are but inconsiderably branched. 

 They are all strongly spotted in their summer dress, which, especially in the Mantchurian the 

 largest of the species is most brilliant. In the winter their coats are nearly uniform, and of a dark 

 brown colour. A fawn-red is the groundwork of the summer coat, the spots being yellowish- white, 

 whilst a black streak, in perfect contrast, runs the whole length of the middle of the back, continuing 



SAMBUR DEER. 



down the tail and expanding slightly at its base. The throat is white. The sombre winter coat 

 is a nearly uniform dark red-brown. 



The FALLOW DEER (Dama vulgaris), so well known on account of its being preserved in a semi- 

 domesticated state in so many English parks, has antlers constructed upon the same plan as those of 

 the Mantchurian Deer (sub-elaphine). These, however, present special peculiarities found in none 

 of the allied species, for they are palmated in their upper parts, in the region of the sur-royals, the 

 digitations or terminal points being developed along the convex posterior margins of the palmated 

 surface. The buck is about three feet high at the shoulder. The head is short and broad, the tail 

 between seven and eight inches long. The colour of the wild animal, both buck and doe, is a rich 

 yellowish-brown in summer, spotted with white all over. In winter the tints are more sombre and 

 greyish. Domestic varieties vary immensely, both in the distinctness of the spotting and the general 

 colouration. Until six years of age the buck receives a separate name each year from sportsmen 



* The genera Pseudaxis and Dama. 



