EUROPEAN MIOCENE AND PLIOCENE STRATA. 419 



however, much smaller, and possesses a brow-tyne which rises at a 

 distance from the base and at acute angles to the beam, and is dif- 

 ferent in other respects. From the comparison I should infer that 

 the antler of Cervvs tetraceros was curved forwards, and that the 

 tynes were erect. 



VI. General Conclusions. 



We may gather from the study of the fossil Cervidae the impor- 

 tant fact that in the Middle Miocene age the Cervine antler con- 

 sisted of a simple forked crown only. In the Upper Miocenes it 

 becomes more complex, but is still small and erect, like that of the 

 Roe. In the Pliocene it becomes larger and longer, and altogether 

 more complex and differentiated, some forms, such as the Cervus 

 dicranios of Nesti, being the most complicated antlers known either 

 in the living or fossil state. These successive changes are analogous 

 to those which are to be observed in the development of the antlers 

 in the living Deer, which begin with a simple point and increase 

 their number of tynes until their limit be reached. It is obvious 

 from the progressive diminution in size and complexity of the 

 antlers in tracing them back from the Pliocenes into the Upper and 

 Middle Miocenes of Europe, that in the latter period we are approach- 

 ing the zero of antler development. In the Lower Miocenes I have 

 failed to meet with evidence that the Deer possessed any antlers. 



It is further evident from the preceding remarks that the Capreo- 

 line type of antler is older than any other. 



It is also a point of singular interest to observe that the nearest 

 living analogue of the Miocene Deer is the Muntjak, now found only 

 in the Oriental region of Asia along with the tapir. Cervus dicrano- 

 ceros also coexisted with that animal in the Upper Miocene forests 

 of Germany. 



With one exception all the Pliocene Deer which can be brought 

 into relation with living forms are closely allied to the Axes, JRusce, 

 or others, which also are dwellers in the Oriental Region. They 

 belong to a fauna now met with only in the forests of India, China, 

 Japan, and the Malay archipelago. The exception is the Cervus 

 cusanus, which possessed an antler not very far removed from that of 

 the Roe, an animal now so widely spread over Europe and Northern 

 and Central Asia. I should infer from this that the Oriental Region 

 has offered a secure place of refuge to the Axeidse, so abundant in 

 the Pliocenes of France and Italy, from those changes in their envi- 

 ronment which compelled them to retreat from Europe. The fact 

 of the presence in this quarter of the world of a group of animals 

 now met with only in warm regions, confirms the conclusions as to 

 the warm climate of Pliocene Europe which M. le Yicomte de Saporta 

 has recently arrived at from a study of the vegetation. 



