UNGULATA. 523 



to the wilder parts of Scotland at the present day. It is of 

 small size, and the horns are without brow-tynes, and are 

 of small size, with three terminal branches. The Red-deer, 

 or Stag (Cervus elephus] is a much larger species, with well- 

 developed spreading antlers. It is still found in the Lake- 

 district and in Scotland, but it is gradually in process of exter- 

 mination. The Red-deer of this country is represented in 

 NortrriAmerica by a still larger species, known as the Wapiti 

 (Cervus Canadensis). 



The third British species is the Fallow-deer (Dama platyceros), 

 characterised by the fact that the antlers are palmated that 

 is, dilated towards their extremities. It is a doubtful native, 

 and is never found in a wild state at the present day. Allied 

 to the Fallow-deer is a gigantic extinct species, the Megaceros 

 Hibernicus, which inhabited Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland, 

 and probably the greater part of Europe, up to a comparatively 

 modern date, probably having survived into the human period. 

 It is often, but incorrectly, spoken of as the Irish " Elk," but 

 it is really a genuine Stag. The animal was of very great 

 size, and was furnished with enormous spreading and palmate 

 antlers, which measure from ten to twelve feet between the tips. 



Of all the Deer, the largest living form is the true Elk (Alces 

 palmatus\ which is generally distributed over the northern 

 parts of Europe, Asia, and America, being often spoken of as 

 the Moose. The antlers in the Elk are of very large size, and 

 are very broad, terminating in a series of points along their 

 outer edges. 



The only completely domesticated member of the Cervidce 

 is the Reindeer (Cervus tarandus], which is remarkable for 

 the fact that the female is furnished with antlers similar to, but 

 smaller than, those of the males. At the present day the Rein- 

 deer is exclusively confined to the extreme north of Europe and 

 Asia, abounding especially in Lapland. Remains, however, of the 

 Reindeer are known to occur over the greater part of Europe, 

 extending as far south, at any rate, as the Alps, and occurring 

 also in Britain. From this fact, taken along with many others, 

 the existence of an extremely cold climate over the greater 

 part of Europe at a comparatively recent period may be safely 

 inferred. The Reindeer lives chiefly upon moss and a pecu- 

 liar kind of lichen (Lichen rangiferind), and they are extensively 

 used by the Laplanders both as beasts of burden and as sup- 

 plying food. 



d. Camelopardalidcz. This family includes only a single 

 living animal the Camelopardalis Giraffa, or Giraffe some- 

 times called the Camelopard, from the fact that the skin is 



