UNOULATA. 



367 



Cervidse is the so-called Irish deer (Cervus giganteus or Mega- 

 ceros hibemicus), of which many complete skeletons have been 

 reconstructed from the well-preserved remains found in the 

 marl at the base of the Irish peat-bogs (h'g. 208). The female 



FIG. 208. 



Cervus (Megaceros) giganteus ; skeleton of male, about one-thirtieth nat. size. 

 Pleistocene or Prehistoric ; Irish Peat Bogs. (After Owen.) 



is quite hornless, but the male bears a pair of truly colossal 

 antlers, considerably expanded, and sometimes measuring more 

 than three metres across from tip to tip. These antlers are 

 very variable in shape and occur in Pleistocene deposits through- 

 out the greater part of Europe; some may belong to distinct 



