252 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
- Q deer, once they are shot at, 
exhibit extraordinary wariness 
and cunning, so much so that 
curious tricks and disguises 
have often to be resorted to 
when a fat buck has to be 
shot for venison. 
The beautiful MESopo- 
TAMIAN FALLOW DEER, found 
in the mountains of Luristan, 
in Mesopotamian Persia, is 
somewhat larger than the 
common species, while its 
coat is much more brightly 
coloured. The antlers bear 
little resemblance to those 
seen in the park-deer of 
this country, being far less 
palmated and spreading, and 
more vertical. 
The enormous horns of 
the extinct deer once known 
as IRISH ELK are now con- 
sidered by naturalists to be 
those of a gigantic species * 
of fallow deer. By the kind- 
ness of Mr. J. G. Millais, 
I am enabled to give the 
dimensions of a pair of antlers 
of one of these wonderful 
beasts from his museum. 
These antlers measure in 
spread, from tip to tip, 9 feet 
4 inches; length round inside 
A SAMBAR STAG of right horn, 6 feet; round 
left horn, 5 feet 8 inches, — 
a marvellous trophy, truly. 
This specimen was dug up 
in County Waterford. These colossal fallow deer, which roamed the wastes of Ireland in 
prehistoric times, must have afforded fairly exciting sport to the feebly armed human beings 
who then existed. 
The only Indian deer of which the fawns are unspotted 
THE SAMBAR, OR RUSINE DEER 
SAMBAR may be shortly described as large deer, having rough, shaggy coats, and big, 
rugged antlers of simple type, usually displaying but three tines. They belong to the group 
known as Typical Deer, although they are but distantly connected with the red deer. The colour 
of the coat is usually dark umber-brown, marked with chestnut about the rump and under-parts. 
The well-known sambar of India stands as much as 5 feet 4 inches at the withers, and weighs, 
before being cleaned, some 600 Ibs. The longest pair of antlers yet recorded (Rowland Ward’s 
“Records of Big Game”) measure 48 inches in length over the outer curve. Usually to be 
found among jungly, wooded hills and mountains in many parts of India and Ceylon, this fine stag 
affords first-rate sport, and is much sought after by shikaris. It is to be met with in small 
