MAMMALIA— DEER. 



339 



THE MALAYAN RUSA DEERi 



Is a native of India, and of the Indian islands. "He is," says Mr Bennett, 

 "dark cinereous brown above, nearly black on the throat and breast, and 

 light fawn, intermixed with dirty white, on the inside of the limbs. His 

 eyes are surrounded by a fawn colored disc, and patches of the same color 

 occupy the fore knees, and a space above each of the hoofs in front. His 

 nose, which is black, is enveloped in an extensive muzzle ; his ears are nearly 



naked on the inside, and marked by a patch of dirty white at the base, 

 externally ; and his mane, which spreads downwards over the neck and 

 throat, is remarkably thick and heavy. His tail is black above, and light 

 fawn beneath ; and a disc of the latter color occupies the posterior part of 

 the buttocks, having on each side a blackish line which separates it from 

 the lighter tinge of the inside of the thighs. His horns, when properly 

 grown, consist of a broad burr, from which the pointed basal antler rises 

 almost perpendicularly to the extent of nine or ten inches ; of a stem, which 

 is first directed outwards, and then forms a bold curve inwards ; and of a 

 snag, or second antler of smaller size, arising from the stem near its extre- 

 mity on the posterior and internal side, and forming with it a terminal fork, 

 the branch, however, being shorter than the stem, and not exceeding five 

 or six inches in length. The entire length of the horns is about two feet; 

 they are of a dark color, very strong, and deeply furrowed throughout. 



> Cervtis equinus, Cuv. 



