-34 THE AXIS. 



They have never been obferved, however, to 

 intermix with the fallow deer, nor with the flags, 

 which lias led us to prefume that they are not a 

 variety either of the one or of the other, but a 

 diilinct intermediate fpecies. But, as no deci- 

 experiments have been made on this iubjcdt, 

 as no neceflfary means have been ufed to oblige 

 theft animals to join, we do not affert pofitively 

 that they belong to different fpecies. 



We have already feen, under the articles flag 

 and fallow deer, how liable thefe animals arc to 

 varieties, efpeciallv in the colour of their hair. 

 The fpecies of the fallow deer and flag, without 

 being numerous in individuals, are very much 

 diflufed. Both are found in either Continent, 

 and both are fubjecl: to a great number of varie- 

 ties, which feem to form permanent races. The 

 white flags, whofe race is very ancient, fince 

 they are mentioned by the Greeks and Romans, 

 and the fmall brown flags, which we have called 

 Cor fican flags, are not the only varieties of this 

 fpecies. In Germany, there is another race, 

 known in that country under the name of Brand- 

 hirtz *, and by our hunters under that of the 

 flag of Ardennes. This Mag is larger than the 

 common kind, and differs from the others not 



only 



* Alterum cervl genus, ignotius, priore majus, pinguius, 

 turn pilo denfius et colore nigrius ; uncle Germanis a femiufu 

 ligni colore Brandhirtz nominator : Hoc in Mifenae faltibus 

 Eoemiae vicinis reperitur ; Fahricius, a pad Gcfw, Hijl. quad, 

 p. 297. 



