542 CERVID^. 



points on the upper surface of the brow-antler, and generally a 

 prominent snag in the axil. The beam is uubranched for a con- 

 siderable distance, generally more than half the length, and curved 

 backwards, then outwards, and lastly forwards ; towards the end 

 it bears a number of small points from two or three to eight or ten 

 or possibly more, as figured by Blyth(P. Z. S. 1867, I. c). Curve 

 of the two horns seldom exactly corresponding ; those figured on 

 the preceding page are typical, but perhaps with fewer branches 

 than usual. BIytli shows that horns of this deer from Mergui and 

 the Malay Peninsula are shorter and have commonly two or three 

 vertical snags on the brow-antler. In the Siam form (Panolia 

 platyceros) the upper part of the beam is flattened and bears 

 several small points on its posterior edge. 



Colour. Males in winter are said to be dark brown, almost 

 black, in summer fawn-coloured ; does are paler rufous fawn. The 

 lower parts are white in summer, pale brown in winter. No 

 caudal disk. A white mark above the eye is shown in Sclater's 

 figure of the summer gai-b. The very young are spotted. 



Dimensions. (Stags about 4:5 inches, does 42, in height at the 

 shoulders. I can find no other measurements. The basal length 

 of a male skull is 11"75, extreme length 13*4, orbital breadth 5*4. 

 AA'erage horn? measure about 40 inches from the tip of the brow- 

 antler to the end of the horn ; one of a pair in the British Museum 

 is 54 long, or 35"5 from the burr to the tip ; but 3S'25 without the 

 brow- antler is said to have been measm-ed. Beavan says that males 

 weigh 210 to 245 lbs., females about 140 lbs. : this is perhaps the 

 weight of cleaned carcases. 



Distribution. The valley of Manipur, and thence southwards in 

 suitable localities throughout Burma and the Malay Peninsula 

 {Cantor), also in Cambodia and Hainan, always in flat alluvial 

 ground. 



Habits. These have been described by Lieut. Eld (the discoverer 

 of the species) and Captain Beavan. C. eldi inhabits grassy and 

 swampy plains, and is usually seen in herds of from 10 to 50 or 

 more ; occasionally much larger numbers are found associating. 

 They may enter the fringe of the forest in places for shade during 

 the day, but they generally keep in the open plain. In some 

 places in the Irra\A addy delta, and in Martaban, they are found in 

 plains where, during the dry season, no fresh water is procurable. 

 They are frequently seen in swamps, and feed on wild rice and 

 other plants growing in such places. 



The stags commence to shed their horns in June in Manipur ; in 

 Lower Burma the horns are lost about September. The rutting- 

 season in Burma lasts from March till May ; tlie young, usually 

 one at a birth, are born in October and November. Males bt>gin 

 to acquire horns in the second year, and are in their prime when 

 about seven years old. The sexes begin to breed at the age of 

 eighteen months. 



The call of tlie female is a short barking grunt, that of the male 

 is lower and more prolonged, and is most frequently heard in the 

 ruttiug-season. 



