333 THE A X I S. 



the flag of Ardennes--, and that the axis of Pliny 

 is the animal commonly denominated the Ganges 

 flag. Though names have no influence upon 

 nature, the explication of them is of great ufe to 

 thofe who Andy her productions. 



SUPPLEMENT. 



In the year 1765, the Duke of Richmond had 

 in his parks a number of that fpecies of the fal- 

 low deer, commonly known by the name of 

 Ganges flags, and which I have called axis. Mr 

 Colinion a flu res me, that they propagated with 

 the ordinary kind of fallow deer. 



' They live fpontaneoufly,' he remarks, ' with 

 the fallow deer, and form not feparate flocks. 

 It is more than iixty years imce this fpecies 

 exided in England, where they had been tranf- 

 ported before the white and black fallow deer, 

 and even beiore the flag, which laft, I fuppofe, 

 was brought from France ; becaufe, previous 

 to that period, there were in England only the 

 common fallow deer y and the Scottifh roebuck. 

 But, befide this firit fpecies, we have now the 

 axis, the black, the yellow, and the white fal- 

 low deer. The mixture of all thefc -colours 

 has produced moft beautiful varieties *.' 

 - In the year 1764, we had a male and female 

 Chinefe fallow deer at the raenaccrv of Verfailles. 



In 



* Lettre de M. Colinfon a M. de Ballon. 



