CERVUS MUNTJAK. 



shew themselves in three distinct lines. These characters are represented with care 

 and accuracy on the Plate of Illustrations which is added to this Number : one view 

 exhibits, laterally, the naked skull, the other the anterior appearance of the head, 

 covered with the integuments : the general outline of the skull agrees with that of 

 the Cervus Elaphus, its peculiarities shew themselves in the following points. 

 Near the upper extremity of the nasal bones, about three inches from the end of the 

 muzzle, a rising commences on each side, forming a prominent ridge, rounded above, 

 compressed and somewhat irregular at the sides, having nearly the dimensions of a 

 small finger, and being continued on the outer margin of the skull, so as to constitute 

 the base of the pedestal of the horns. A depression of the nasal bones, about three- 

 fourths of an inch in breadth, intervenes between these two ridges at their origin, 

 from which they gradually diverge, following the direction of the skull. Thus they 

 continue, gradually increasing in size, until they have passed the orbits of the eye, 

 where they enlarge by a lateral swelling, constituting an outer and inferior margin. 

 Their form here is irregularly angular, being broader above, and having an even 

 outer and inferior margin. They diverge now more abruptly from each other in a 

 lateral direction, but in their ascent preserve the obliquity of the line bounding the 

 skviU above. Having passed the limits of the skull, they assume a cylindrical, some- 

 what compressed form, and constitute, on each side, a pedestal three inches in length, 

 which in its whole extent is covered with integuments and hair, and at the extremity 

 is crowned with a notched margin or burr, supporting the horns. 



The surface of the skull, between the lateral ridges, is considerably excavated. 

 The depression is deepest about an inch above the nasal bones. The frontal bones 

 are united by a middle suture, extending to the nasal suture, in the direction of 

 which, the skull has a gently rounded rising. This sviture corresponds to the middle 

 rib of the forehead, while the depressions on each side are calculated to receive the 

 two lateral folds or ridges. All the sutures appear distinct on the surface, and agree 

 with those of the other species of Cervus. The depressions for the reception of the 

 lacrymal furrows are very extensive, and correspond to the remarkable size of these 

 organs in our animal. The os unguis has a short, compressed process at the anterior 

 margin of the orbit. The entire length of the cranium is nine inches. The length 

 of the pedestal, from its origin at the orbit of the eye to the coronal margin, is five 

 inches and one-fourth. The pedestal and horns together have a length of ten inches. 

 The canine teeth are inserted into the jaw at its junction with the intermaxillary 

 bone, to which they are applied for the space of half an inch. From a large and 

 compressed base, which is obliquely fixed into the jaw, they are gradually attenuated, 

 being curved in form of an arch, and tending at the same time obliquely outward. 



