470 CERVUS. 



represented belonged to the round-antlered section of the 

 Cervine genus, (Elaphine group of Col. H. Smith,) and 

 to which section the subgeneric name Strongyloceros may 

 be applied. The existing species in this group which most 

 nearly approaches in size the extinct one indicated by the 

 present fossil, is the great Wapiti Deer of Canada (Cervus 

 strongyloceros, Schreber, Cervus Canadensis, Brisson); but 

 the fossil differs from those antlers of the Wapiti that have 

 come under my observation in the greater distance between 

 the brow-antler and bezantler. Cuvier, however, figures 

 some specimens which resembled the fossil in this respect. 



Such a fragment of an antler as the one from Kent's 

 Hole here described, though it be sufficient to determine 

 the great Deer, of which it once formed part, to have been 

 not only distinct from the Megaceros, but to have belonged 

 to a distinct subdivision of the cervine genus, does not 

 permit a satisfactory determination of its specific distinc- 

 tion from the largest existing species of its own subgenus : 

 but, on the other hand, it affords as little ground for as- 

 serting its specific identity with them, and, from analogy, 

 it is more probable that it was a distinct species, which, 

 therefore, I propose to indicate as the Cervus (Strongy- 

 loceros} spelaus. 



If the trunk and limbs bore the same proportions to 

 the head and antlers as in the Wapiti and Red-deer, as 

 most probably they did, the species indicated by this re- 

 markable fragment of antler must have been the most 

 gigantic of our extinct English Cervine animals. 



The fragment of the lower jaw (fig. 195) indicates 

 clearly a Cervine animal with a head larger than that of 

 the Megaceros : this fragment shows a depth of jaw of two 

 inches and a half below the second true molar, but has 

 belonged to an immature animal, which had not shed the 



