MAMMALIA. 185 



important for the distinction of the genera and species than those 

 derived from the form of the skull or the modifications of the 

 teeth, or the form and size of the horns, as they are not, like 

 those parts, so liable to alteration from age, local circumstances, 

 and other changes during the growth of the animal; and the 

 characters derived from these parts can be seen in the females as 

 well as the males, which is not the case with the horns, as they 

 can only be observed in the male sex. 



These examinations have shown that the form and extent of 

 the muffle, the position and presence of glands on the hind- 

 legs, the general form of the horns, and the kind of hair which 

 forms the fur, taken together, afford the best characters for the 

 arrangement of the species into natural genera, and these genera 

 into groups. And I believe that the progress of zoology, and 

 the natural arrangement and affinities of animals, are best pro- 

 moted by the general study of all the parts of the animal taken 

 together, rather than confining one's attention to any set of charac- 

 ters, and believing them as much more important than the others. 



The Deer may be thus divided : 



A. The Deer of the Snowy Regions have a very broad muzzle en- 



tirely covered with hair. The horns are expanded and pal- 

 mate ; and the fawns are not spotted. 



a. The Alcine Deer have no basal anterior snag to the horns, 



and a small bald muffle between the nostrils, as the genus 

 Aids. 



b. The Rangerine Deer have a large, basal anterior snag to the 



horns, close on the crown or bur, and no muffle, as Tarandus. 



B. The Deer of the Temperate or Warm Regions have a tapering 



muzzle ending in a bald muffle. The fawns, and sometimes 

 the adults, are spotted. 



c. The Elaphine Deer have a distinct, anterior basal snag to the 



horns, the muffle broad and separated from the lip by a 

 hairy band, and the tuft of hair on the outside of the hind 

 leg above the middle of the metatarsus, as Cervus and Dama. 



d. The Rusine Deer have a distinct, anterior basal snag to the 



horns, the muffle very high and not separate from the edge 

 of the lips, and the tuft of hair on the outside of the hind 

 leg above the middle of the metatarsus, as Recervus, Pa- 

 nolia, Rusa, Axis, HyelapJius, Cervulus. 



e. The Capreoline Deer have no basal anterior snag to the horns, 



the first branch being some distance above the bur, the cru- 

 men (and pit in the skull) generally small, as Capreolus> 

 Cariacus, Blastocerus, Furcifer, Coassus, and Pudu. 



