CHAPTER XVII 
THE DEER TRIBE 
BY H. A. BRYDEN 
EER represent as a family the non-domesticated class of ruminants. Generally speaking, 
the males are distinguished by antlers, which are shed periodically, usually once a year, 
and again renewed. Comprising as it does some of the noblest mammals to be found 
on the face of the earth, this large and important tribe is to be found distributed over a large 
portion of the world’s surface, from the Arctic North, the home of the wild reindeer, to 
Patagonia, in Southern South America. Deer are, however, not found in the continent of 
Africa south of the Sahara, nor in Madagascar or Australia. They are not indigenous to New 
Zealand; but the red deer, introduced there some years ago for purposes. of sport, have thriven 
wonderfully well, and are now completely acclimatised. 
From the earliest times deer, especially those species known as the true or typical deer, 
of which red deer may be said to be a type, have been animals of considerable importance 
to mankind. Their flesh has been always eagerly sought after; deer-skin is still, even in 
these days of high civilisation, 
useful for many purposes; and 
the antlers are almost equally 
in request. 
It is more than probable 
that, in the vast and still little- 
explored regions of Central, 
East, and Northern Asia, new 
species of deer remain to be 
discovered. At the present time 
there are known to exist, in 
various parts of the world, close 
ona hundred species and varieties. 
Within the space allotted to 
these animals it is, of course, 
manifestly impossible to notice 
all these in anything like detail. 
Many of the varieties or sub- 
species closely resemble one 
another, so much so that the 
differences between them are only 
apparent to the eyes of naturalists 
or acute observers. 
THE REINDEER 
REINDEER are distinguished 
from all other kinds of deer by Photo by Valentine & Sons, Ltd.] [Dundee 
the fact that antlers are borne SCANDINAVIAN REINDEER 
by both males and females. The The spreading hoofs enable the reindeer to traverse snow and swamps without sinking 
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