108 



MR. R. LYDEKKER ON AN ELK FROM SIBERIA. [Feh. 18, 



antlers was well developed ; but in both the pairs of antlers ex- 

 hibited there was practically no palmation. These antlers were in 

 fact very like those of young Scandinavian Elk, only with the 

 palmation still less. They showed three tines on each side on the 

 upper or hinder half of the main bifurcation, and either one or 

 two tines on the lower or front branch. Mr. Lydekker had been 

 infoi-med that other Elk-antlers from Siberia were of a similar 

 type. 



Text-%. 1(1. 



Skiill and antlers, with the upper cheek-dentition (a), of Siberian Elk. 

 Prom the type specimen in the Museum at Tring Park. 



That the specimens exhibited were not the result of senile 

 decadence was quite evident, not only from the symmetrical form 

 of the antlers themselves, but likewise from the state of wear of 

 the cheek-teeth (text-fig. 16, a) of the skull. 



The similarity of the two pairs of antlers, together with the 

 information as to this type being characteristic of all Elk-antlers 

 from the same country, induced Mr. Lydekker to regard the Elk 

 of Siberia as a distinct form. Whether it should be considered a 

 species or a variety was a somewhat difficult question ; but since 

 the antlers exhibited involved a modification in the definition of 

 the genus, it seemed advisable tp allow specific rank jn this case, 



