26 FIELD AND FOREST. 



Daily Tribune of New York and subsequently in an octavo extra con- 

 taining a report of the proceedings. * (p 89.) 



" The genera of deer have hitherto been distinguished almost solely 

 on account of differences in the antlers, and have been consequently 

 regarded with suspicion by some naturalists. A recent examination, 

 however, of the osteology of the genera revealed many previously un- 

 recorded differences. The most peculiar of these are inverse modifi- 

 cations and developments of the limbs of the several genera. 



The most familiar genera of our fauna afford exemplifications of 

 these modifications: e. g., on the one hand, the common deer \_Cari- 

 acus virginianus~\ has the lateral metacarpal f bones atrophied at 

 their proximal extremities, and well developed at their distal, where 

 they articulate with corresponding phalanges ; on the other hand, the 

 so-called elk or wapiti \_Cervus canadensis] has the metacarpal bones 

 developed at the proximal extremities and atrophied at the distal, the 

 corresponding phalanges being connected with the median bones. 

 The reindeer \_Rangifer tarandus~\ and moose \_Alces machlis~\ agree with 

 the common deer, while the elk in this country is sui generis , although 

 represented by numerous analogous forms elsewhere, and especially in 

 Asia. All the genera referred to are further corroborated by numerous 

 other characters co-ordinated with those described, and which are 

 found at the base of the skull, especially the auditory J bullae, par- 

 occipital-bones, the relation of the maxillary and nasal bones, the lach- 

 rymal bones, the palatine bones, &c." 



Since this communication was made, a memoir by Sir Victor Brooke 

 on the genus Cervulus § has become known to me, in which the same 

 facts respecting the metacarpal bones in the genera above mentioned 

 and several additional forms are given, but the 'publication of Sir 

 Victor Brooke was considerably anterior to my own and more detailed 

 and replete with statements of facts. It is not apparent, however, 

 what taxonomic value Sir Victor Brooke would attach to the character 

 noticed. It appears to me that, at least after the exclusion of the gen- 

 era A Ices, Rangifer, and Hydropotes, the remainder of the Cervinae may 



* American Deer. <[ Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sc., 1874, reported in New Yoik 

 Tribune, Extra, No. 21, p. 89. 



f Misprinted " metatarsal." 



\ Misprinted " ordinary." 



§ On the characteristics of the primary groups of mammals. <^ Proc. Am. Assoc- 

 for Adv. of Sc., 1871, vol. 20, pp. 288-289. 



