1878.] CLASSIFICATION OF THE CERV1D.E. 891 



to compeusate for the extra development of some other part ; (-1) 

 The transmission and fixation of such variations by heredity. 



(1) The gradual evolution of the antlers from very simple to more 

 complex forms. 



The earliest Cervine animal of which we have any knowledge is 

 Bremotherium from the early Miocene of Europe. This species was, 

 so far as is at present known, without antlers. In the middle Mio- 

 cene of France and Germany, and in a somewhat similar horizon in 

 North America, the earliest antlered Deer as yet discovered have 

 been found. These species, belonging to the very closely allied 

 genera Bicrocerus and Cosoryx, possessed very short antlers with a 

 single tine projecting forwards ; in fact they closely resembled the 

 antlers of the existing species of Fvrcifer (fig. 17, p. 923). 



From this period to recent times a gradual increase in the luxu- 

 riance of growth and diversity in the form of the antlers is evidenced 

 even by the miserably imperfect materials as yet at the command of 

 naturalists. Of this the following forms bear witness : — 



Cervus matheroni, Gerv. 



Cervus matheroni, Gaudr. An. foss. Mont Leb. p. 66, pi. 13. 



Horizon. Upper Miocene. 



Cervus cusanus, Croiz. & Job. 



Cervus cusanus, Bovd Dawk. Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. 1878, p. 405, 

 fig. 2. 



Horizon. Pliocene (Lower ?) 



Cervus perrieri, Croiz. & Job. 



Cervus perrieri, Boyd Dawk. Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. 1878, p. 488, 

 figs. 3-5. 



Horizon. Pliocene. 



Cervus cylindricornis, Boyd Dawk. Vide loc. cit. p. 415, 

 figs. 11, 12. 



Horizon. Upper Pliocene. 



Cervus tetracerus, Boyd Dawk. he. cit. p. 417, figs. 13-17. 

 Horizon. Upper Pliocene. 



Megaceros hiberntcus. 

 Horizon. Post-tertiary Deposits. 



Cervus elaphus. 



Horizon. Post-tertiary deposits, and existing epoch. 



I need hardly say that these species have no direct affinity to each 

 other ; they are simply chosen as illustrating the general fact that the 

 antlers of the Cervidse have gradually increased in complexity from 

 the Upper Miocene period to recent times. 



It might at first sight appear as though the occurrence of existing 

 species with very simple antlers militated against the more compre- 



