CERVID^E 51 



iusides of ears, under-parts, inner surfaces of limbs, and under 

 side of the tail white ; head uniformly brownisli, darker on 

 the face ; antlers (fig. 14) supported on short pedicles, long, 

 slender, and moderately rugose ; the brow-tine long and 

 making nearly a right angle with the beam ; the front, or 

 outer, tine of the terminal fork much longer than the hind, or 

 inner, one, and forming the continuation of the beam, from the 

 inner side of which the hind-tine arises ; spa,ce enclosed by 

 the two antlers more or less distinctly lyrate ; irregular snags 

 near the base of the brow-tine frequently developed; ears 

 moderate ; tail long, pointed, and evenly haired throughout ; 

 face-glands not excessively large ; neck and throat smooth. 



A dark phase {G. nudipalpebra) is occasionally met with, 

 and shows scarcely any indications of spotting, but it has no 

 claim to rank as a subspecies. The largest individuals occur 

 in northern and central India, where the height of tlie stags 

 commonly reaches to between 36 and 38 inches ; in southern 

 India the height is less, usually varying from 30 to 34 inches, 

 although 36 has been recorded. It was to this small south 

 Indian form that the name of Axis minor was applied. Fine 

 antlers measure from 35 to 39 inches along the outer curve, 

 with a basal girth of from 'i\ to 4f inches, and a tip-to-tip 

 interval of from 12| to 25^ inches. 



The following two races are recognised : — 



A. Antlers stouter; spots larger; forehead usually 



with dark chevron and a few white spots C. a. axis. 



B. Antlers lighter ; spots smaller ; f oreliead uniformly 



brown C. a. ceylonensis. 



A. — Cervus axis axis. 



Typical locality Peninsular India. 



Characters as above. 



677, a. Skin, female, formerly mounted. India. 



No history. 



693, i. Head, melanistic, mounted. Ganges Khadir. 

 From an animal formerly in the Tower Menagerie, and pre- 

 sented by H.M. King William IV. to the Zoological Society. 

 Type of Cerviis nitdipalpebra. Purchased {Zoological Society). 



697, «, 6, c,j, h. Five frontlets, with antlers. Probably 

 India. No history. 



E 2 



