460 DR. P. CHALMERS MITCHELL ON LONGEVITY AND 



potential longevity of Cerviclse differs much from that of other 

 ruminants. Within the group, there is the usual rough corre- 

 spondence between duration and size, the larger animals reaching 

 greater ages and being hardier than the smaller animals; the 

 records of average duration are lower, in some cases (e. g. Sika, 

 Axis and Red Deer), reduced by breeding, the mortality amongst 

 the young being heavy. Some kinds of Deer have a specially 

 low viability in captivity, as for instance the Moose, most 

 probably on account of the difficulty of supplying it with 

 natural food, whilst all Deer of the genus Cariacus except the 

 Mule Deer appear to be naturally delicate. The vast majority 

 of the deer have been kept under similar conditions, with 

 unwarmed shelters and free access to the open air. 



Capt. Flower's highest record is that of an Axis-deer, still alive 

 after over 9 years' duration. 



rn No. of Av. dur. Max. dur. 



iRAGULIDiE. Jiidiv. in months, in months. 



Tragulus, whole genus 28 1 1 "4 50 



T. javanicus (Javan Ohevrotain) 10 9' 9 43 



T. memioina [Indmn ,, ) 9 12 33 



T. stoiiZeya^ms (Stanley's ,, ) 9 12 50 



Hyomoschus aquaticus (Water Ohevro- 11 4 11 



tain). 



Nothing is known as to the potential longevity of Chevrotains, 

 and the record of over four years would appear to be considerably 

 lower than what might be anticipated for these animals. The 

 viability in captivity is very low, and the records of average 

 duration would be much lower if a considerable number of 

 examples that lived for less than a month had been included. 

 These animals have always been assumed to require special 

 protection from cold and have been kept in warmed houses with- 

 out access to the open air. 



p, T T> w ^^- °^ •'^^'- ^^^'- Max. dur. 



UAMELID^. IikWv. in months, in months. 



Z«7?t«, whole genus 14 69 187 



Z. ^^^.a?^.acos (Huanaco) 6 72 187 



Z. j9«cos (Alpaca) 2 9 14 



L. peruana {JAsiTa&) 6 95 156 



Cam elus dromedarms ( Dromedary) 6 44 145 



C. baciriartus {Bsictriein Csuvael) 5 110 204 



Flourens has set down the life of a Camel as reaching to 

 40 years, but the longest record amongst the Camelidse is only 

 17 years. A Llama that died at the Gardens recently, after a 

 duration of 15 years, showed plain evidence of senile degeneration. 

 The figures of average and maximum duration show that the 

 Camelidse, notwithstanding their size, and the absence of difficulty 

 in providing appropriate food and accommodation, are not long- 

 lived animals. 



