356 SCOTT. [Vol. V. 



VII. Restoration. 



With many differences of detail, the skeleton of Leptomeryx 

 is exceedingly like that of Tragulus in general character and 

 appearance. If we compare the restoration (Fig. I) with the 

 skeleton of T. stanleyanns, the following differences are apparent. 

 The head is rather smaller and, with its long cranium, small 

 open orbit, and curiously formed lower jaw, is strikingly dif- 

 ferent from that of the modern genus. The neck is rather 

 longer, the lumbar region shorter, and the back much less 

 strongly arched, owing to the greater relative length of the 

 fore limb. Except for this increased length, the less reduction 

 of the lateral digits, the smaller size and separation of the 

 median digits, the fore limb of Leptomeryx is almost a repro- 

 duction of that of Tragulus. 



Although the disproportionate length of the posterior limbs, 

 as compared with the anterior ones, is less in Leptomeryx than 

 in the existing genus, it is still very great and striking, and the 

 appearance of the hind limbs in the two genera is very similar. 

 Such differences as do occur — and, as we have seen, there are 

 some very important ones — are hardly apparent in a general 

 glance at the skeleton. The entire absence of the lateral digits 

 in the pes, and the shorter and differently shaped pelvis, are 

 the only divergences which call for mention. 



VIII. The Systematic Position of Leptomeryx. 



Very different opinions have been expressed by various writers 

 upon the position of this remarkable genus. Leidy (No. 33) 

 placed it among the Moschidcs (in which family he appears to 

 have included the chevrotains) and considered that it combined 

 characters of the tragulines and the deer. Schlosser has adopted 

 substantially the same view. " Naher kommt den Traguliden 

 die Gattung Leptomeryx aus dem Miocan von Nebrasca . . . 

 Leptomeryx selbst ist auf jeden Fall nur der Uberrest gewisser 

 Mittelformen zwischen den Traguliden und Cerviden " (No. 47, 



P- 75). 



Riitimeyer takes a very different view of the matter. "Die 

 Merkmale des Schadels mit Einschluss namentlich des Unter- 

 kiefers scheinen weit eher auf eine nahe Beziehung von Lepio- 



