78 



RECORDS OF BIG GAME 



Skull ami AiUlers of Thameng. From a Burmese specimen. 



THAMENG or ELD'S DEEE (Cennis eldi). 



Although belonging to the same group as the two preceding 

 species, this deer is readily distinguished by the peculiar form of the 

 antlers. These are rounded and rough, with a long curved brow tine, 

 forming a continuation of the curve of the beam, which is set at right 

 angles to the pedicle ; the beam unbranched for some distance, much 

 curved, and finally forked, with the outer prong more subdivided than 

 the inner. Height at shoulder about 3 feet 9 inches ; weight from 

 210 lbs. to 245 lbs. There are two races of this species. First, the 

 Burmese thameng (C. eldi typicus), ranging from Manipur through 

 Burma to the Malay Peninsula, in which the antlers are rounded 

 throughout, and the coat is uniformly umber-brown. And, secondly, 

 the Siamese thameng {C. eldi platyceros), from Siam and Hainan, in 

 which the tips of the antlers are flattened with a number of small 

 snags, and the coat is redder, with yellowish spots. 



1 Measured on front of antler fr<jin highest tip to tip of frontal tine 56^ inches. 



