206 MK. R. I. rOCOCK ON THE EXTERNAL 



on the fore foot *. It is to the remavkable shallowness of the 

 integumental fold between the digits and the depth of the 

 depression on the back of the pastei-n that the wide separability 

 of the hoofs in Eangifer is due. The skin of the interdigital 

 depressions is everywhere covered with long thick hair. In the 

 hind foot, the posterior depression of the pastern is not so deep 

 as on the fore foot, but the integumental fold is very similar, 

 although even shallower proximally. On the front of the 

 pastern the depression is deeper and forms a deep glandular 

 pocket very like that of Odocoilcus. (Text-fig. 16, A. B.) 



A species which even surpasses Eangifer in the extreme 

 shallowness of the heel-tie and the depth of the depressions 

 between the digits is the j\Iusk-Deer (Jloschxs)^ which has the 

 hoofs similaily separable for progression on soft snow and for the 

 sure-footed descent of steep slopes. (Text-fig. 12, E.") 



Classification of the Oervidse. 



In 1910 I divided the Oervidfe into two subfamilies, Capreo- 

 linse and Cervinfe, corresponding I'espectively to (Sir Victor 

 Brooke's divisions Telemetacarpalia and Plesiometacarpalia. It 

 appears to me that we must adopt Brooke's primary grouping of 

 the family ; but that the genera of both groups, more particularly 

 of the Telemetacarpalia, are too diversified to be assigned to the 

 two subfamilies proposed. It may be claimed at all events, 

 I think, that the subfamilies tabulated below are as well defined 

 as the subfamilies of the Bovidse : — 



rt. Di*tal ends of lateral metacarpals retained, proximal end aborted 

 (Telemetacarpalia). 

 b. Vomer dividing the posterior iiares. 

 <?. Naviculo-cuboid and external cuneiform bones of tarsus 

 united ; pedal glands a deep long cleft, with shallow heel- 

 tie Fndhtfe. 



c'. Naviculo-cuboid and external cirneiform bones separated ; 

 feet with pouch-lite pedal glands and deep heel-tie. 

 d. Antlers present in males only ; prepuce long, scrotal in 

 position ; feet compact, tightly tied at the heels ; rhi- 



navium large and normal OdocoUeinx. 



d'. Antlers in both sexes ; prepuce short, abdominal ; feet 

 widely separated at the heels ; only the labial portion of 



the rhinarium retained HangiferincB. 



v. Vomer not dividing the posterior nares. 



e. Antlers absent, male with large upper canine tusts ; inguinal 

 glands present ; tarsal andmetatarsal glands ab=ent ; pedal 



glands deep long clefts Siidrapotince. 



e' . Antlers present in males ; upper canine teeth absent or 

 minute : no inguinal glands ; tarsal oi metatarsal glands 

 present ; pedal elands a deeper shallow pouch on hind 

 foot. 



* Caton put on record the very interesting fact that in reindeer calves there are 

 traces of a glandular pouch on the fore foot. This suggests that the pedal glands 

 in Banffifer were originally present on both fore and hind feet, as they are in 

 Odoeoileus. 



