HISTORY OK QUADRUPEDS. 



141 



THE AXIS, OR GANGES STAG. 

 (L'Axis^ Buff.) 



THIS animal is an inhabitant of those immense 

 plains of India watered by the river Ganges. M. 

 Buffon considers it as a variety or shade between 

 the Stag and the Fallow-Deer. It is of the size of 

 the latter; but its horns are round, like those of the 

 Stag; and it has no brow antlers. Its whole body 

 is marked with white spots, elegantly disposed, and 

 distinct from each other: the belly, inside of the 

 thighs, and legs, are white; along the back there 

 are two rows of spots, parallel to each other ; those 

 on the other parts of the body are irregular; the 

 head and neck are grey ; and the tail, which is red 

 above and white beneath, is as long as that of the 

 Fallow-Deer. 



