308 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



naturally inhabits, where transport in winter is always a matter of 

 more or less difficulty. There seems to be plenty of evidence that this 

 formidable creature is really one of the most easily tamed of the Deer 

 tribe when taken young enough, and the experiment has been tried on 

 both sides of the Atlantic. 



Notwithstanding this, the Elk is not a common animal in captivity, 

 and at the time of writing there has been no representative of the 

 species in our Zoological Gardens for some years, though several have 

 in times past been on view there. A praiseworthy attempt is being 

 made to introduce this grand beast into New Zealand, where it certainly 

 would greatly add to the attractions already offered to sportsmen by 

 that enterprising colony. 



THE MILOU DEER 



{Cervus davidianus) 



This curious Deer is not closely related to the Moose or to any other 

 species. It is about as big as the Red-Deer, but clumsily formed, 

 with a Donkey-like appearance, especially about the tail, which is longer 

 than any other Deer's, reaching down to the hocks and ending in a 

 tuft. It carries its head low, and, according to Mr. Lydekker, trots 

 like a Mule, with an action quite unlike that of its family generally. 

 Its antlers are very ugly, and of an altogether peculiar type. There 

 is no brow-tine, but a long straight beam merely forked at the tips, 

 and sending out a long branch from the back near the base. 



This Deer is fond of water, and feeds on water-plants when it 

 can ; it has a braying call. The coat is plain brown in the adults, 

 and spotted with white in the fawns. Its native home is unknown, 

 as it has only been seen in the Imperial hunting park at Pekin, and 

 I believe it is not to be found there since the recent troubles in 

 China, so that the only known specimens of the race now living are 

 the small herd in the Duke of Bedford's park at Woburn ; specimens 

 have also been exhibited at our Zoological Gardens. Of course there 

 is a possibility that some traveller will rediscover it in a truly wild 

 state, so that it is worth while to draw attention to it here. 



