ZOOLOCICAL SOC'IFT^' BUI. I.F.TIN 



'75 



PEOTOCKAPII 



Al.lAI WAl'irl, FROM CENTRAL ASIA. 

 The Old World counterpart of the American Klk. 



The Maral Deer, of the Caucasus Mountains, is 

 merely a big and handsome overstudy of the Euro- 

 pean red deer, — a midway step between that and 

 the Altai Wapiti. The male looks like a small elk. 



The Malay Sambar is one of the most satisfac- 

 tory deer of all the sjwcies we possess. It is large 

 and noteworthy, it is steady-nerved and good- 

 tempered, breeds persistently and grows rapidly. 

 Its antlers are .short and thick, and its heavily- 

 haired tail has brought upon it the unfortunate 

 name of " Horse-Tailed Deer." Although thinly 

 haired, it can live through our coldest winters with- 

 out a fire, provided it is housed in a good barn 

 during the severest weather. In size this species 

 quite surpasses our mule deer, and stands about 

 half way between that species and our elk. 



The .Axis, or Spotted Deer is the most delightful 

 species in our whole deer collection. While the 

 unfortunate mule deer and the miserable Colum- 

 bian black-tail droop and die, from slight causes, 

 or no cause at all, and while our white-tailed deer 



actually struggle to e.xist on the best food we can 

 possibly olTer, the .•Axis herd goes on breeding and 

 growing, with never a sign of gastro-entcritis, — 

 absolutely free from diseases of every kind. The 

 only concession required by the herd — chiefly on 

 account of the fawns that are born in midwinter — - 

 is a chea]) coal stove in the center of their barn, to 

 take the chill off tlie air in the coldest winter 

 weather. 



The Japanese Sika deer are hardy, robust, able 

 to endure any degree of cold, and certain breeders. 

 During the rutting .season our buck is very savage 

 and dangerous; but that is only an individual 

 trait. 



Our two fine ])airs of Barasingha, or Swamp 

 Deer, were imported this year, from India, and 

 form an important and welcome addition to the 

 .\siatic collection. In its horn architecture this 

 species strongly suggests our mule deer. In sum- 

 mer the bright tan-colored coat of this animal 

 renders it conspicuous from afar. 



