388 Mr. J. Scull J on Mammals from Afghanistan. 



13. Cervus cashmirianus^ Falconer. 



This is a cast left antler of an elaphine stag, about which 

 Capt. Yate gives the following information : — " This was a 

 horn fi'om the banks of the Oxus, near Balkh, and will help 

 to determine the identity of the deer found in the jungles 

 along that river." The antler is not perfect, as the beam is 

 broken above the royal, so that the form of the crown cannot 

 be ascertained ; the following are the measurements : — 



in. 

 Length from burr to broken end of beam along curve 



inside 17-8 



„ of brow tine, about 4'0 



,, of bez tine, about 7'0 



,, of royal tine along curve, about . . ' 7 "7 



„ of beam above upper angle of royal 6"9 



Viewed in front, the beam is nearly straight (though of 

 course inclined outwards) as far as the royal, where it begins 

 to curve inwards. Viewed from the outer side, it curves 

 slightly back from the bez and forwards to the origin of tlie 

 royal ; above the royal it curves gently back, and then for- 

 wards and inwards. The brow tine is straight and directed 

 somewhat upwards : the much lono;er bez is directed outwards 

 and upwards, and towards its tip it has a slight curve inwards ; 

 the royal is directed first outwards, then it curves at about 

 3 inches from the beam strongly upwards and inwards, the 

 point being well inside the line of the broken end of the beam. 

 Without measurement the bez looks longer than the royal, 

 and the middles of the bez and brow tines, measured along 

 the middle line of the beam, are 2*5 inches apart, or from 

 upper margin of brow to lower margin of bez at junction with 

 beam about VI inches. 



It is quite clear, I think, that this antler agrees better with 

 that of 0. cashminatius than with that of any other deer to 

 which it could be referred. It is quite distinct from C. maralj 

 as figured by Sclater in Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. vii. I may 

 mention that Mr. Wood-Mason, who examined this horn 

 before I saw it. came to the conclusion that it must be referred 

 to C. cashiiirianus. Of course the evidence of such a frag- 

 ment is not conclusive proof that the stag of the Oxus basin 

 is really identical with the Kashmir species ; complete speci- 

 mens are necessary for the settlement of that point. 



1. Banks of Oxus, near Balkh, Afghan Turkestan. 



