9 
338 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON CERTAIN SPECIES OF DEER 
Having stated thus much concerning the history of the introduction and propagation 
of this Deer, I must now say a few words concerning its proper specific name—a subject 
that has given me ro little trouble. As I have already stated, the original examples of 
this species received from Sir John McNeil were regarded by Mr. Ogilby as new to 
science, and proposed to be called Cervus maral, after their Persian name. Under this 
name they are likewise figured in the plates of the ‘ Knowsley Menagerie.’ But in the 
letterpress of the ‘ Knowsley Menagerie,’ prepared by Dr. Gray, the “ Persian Deer” 
is united with the Cashmirian Deer (Cervus cashmeerianus) and called Cervus wallichit. 
The same course is pursued in Dr. Gray’s other catalogues, and has been generally 
followed by subsequent authors, until in 1866 I convinced myself that this view was 
erroneous, and proposed to restore the specific name maral to the present species. As 
I have never published the grounds for making this change I shall now endeavour to 
explain them, and to show, first, that the Persian and Cashmirian Deer are specifically 
different, and, secondly, that the term Cervus wallichii is not applicable to the former 
animal, whatever may be the case as regards the latter. 
Fig. 4. 
Side view of head of Cervus maral. 
That the Persian and Cashmirian Deer are of different species must, I think, be 
allowed by every one who has examined the examples of these two animals now living 
