1836.] Note on the Cervus Duvaucelii of Cuvier. 241 



" II est fort a desire r que Ton obtienne promptement une description 

 du pelage de ce beau cerf; mais en attendant nous croyons devoir iui 

 donner le nom du naturaliste qui l'a fait connoitre, et nous l'appelerons 

 Cervus Duvaucelii." 



Copies of Cuvibr's figures are annexed, (see PI. VI. figs. 6, 7, 8) whieh 

 differ only from Mr. Hodgson's to the extent within which varieties 

 dependent on age and individuals range. 



The designation of Cervus Elaphoides, must therefore give place to 

 that of C. Duvaucelii. 



The chief anatomical peculiarities of the head, as compared with the 

 Jarao of the Himalayahs, taken as the type of the Rusas, are these. The 

 head is narrower for its length, and more elegant in its proportions, than 

 in the Jarao. The pediciles of the horns are shorter, and more approxi- 

 mated on the brow. The muzzle is longer and more slender. The inter-: 

 maxillaries are broad, as in the Rusas, and their ascending apophysis joins 

 on to the nasals by a wide base. The nasals are slender, and run up into 

 the frontal in a line with the anterior margin of the orbits: in the Jarao, 

 the point of union is considerably lower, their lower extremity projects 

 a little way beyond the intermaxillaries, and a re-entering angle is left 

 between them at their tips. The nasolachrymary figure is a wide trape- 

 zium, whereas in the Himalayan Jarao, it is a lung triangular slit. The 

 depression for the suborbitary sinus occupies less space than in the Jarao, 

 but it is deep and well defined. The lachrymal bone, at the upper angle 

 of the depression in the C. Duvaucelii, is perforated by a very large oval 

 hole ; whereas in the Jarao it is imperforate. The chaffron has a slight 

 rise on the nasals, sinks considerably in a transverse hollow between the 

 orbits, and then starts with great prominence in the ridge which runs 

 along the suture of the frontals, so that the plane of this ridge cuts that 

 of the parietals nearly at a right angle. In the Jarao, the sink between 

 the orbits is shallower, the ridge less salient on the frontals, and the 

 angle more obtuse. 



"With regard to the indigenous names of the C. Duvaucelii, Mr. 

 Hodgson gives the Nipalese name of Bahraiya, and says it is known in 

 the western tarai as the Mahd. To C. Elaphus of the Nipalese sal forest, 

 he gives the name of Bdra sinha. 



There is great confusion in the Indian designations of the deer tribe. 

 Bara Sinha is a notable example. Hamilton Smith applies it (his Baren- 

 sing'ha) to the C. Hippelaphus, one of the Rusas ; Mr. Hodgson to one of 

 the Elaphine group ; and in the Tarais to the west of the Ganges, so 

 far as our experience goes, it is given to the Cervus Duvaucelii or Ela- 

 phoides, of Hodgso.v. That it is inapplicable to the C. Elaphus, it is perhaps 

 sufficient to mention, that the name of Bdra Sinha is very common in th e 

 Tarai westward of the Ganges, whereas the Cervus Elaphus is quite 

 unknown in this tract, so far as we happen to know. Sportsmen westward 

 from the Ganges, call the C. Duvaucelii, the Bara Sinha, from the snags 

 and antlers being frequently twelve in number, in the adult animal, anj 

 this seems a very good reason for the name, Mahd, which Mr. Hodgson 

 2 i 



