THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



reproductive system being the most prominent 

 and permanent in all forms of life, it is justly 

 selected as a basis. Ungxtlata, for instance, is 

 recognized as a generic order among animals 

 possessing non-deciduous uteri, and its name 

 further signifies that all of this class have all 

 the toes or digits protected by a case forming or 

 approaching to a hoof. Now, the possession of 

 hoofs, of itself, is not of sufficient evidence on 

 which to base an order ; but taken, with the 

 peculiarities of diffused or cotyledonary pla- 

 centa 3 , of milk teeth, absence of clavicles and 

 other concomitant, anatomical idiosyncracies, 

 it has a firm basis ; but people at large are not 

 supposed to be familiar with these, while a hoof 

 or a hoof-like tendency is patent to all— hence 

 the title. 



By dividing the order Ungulata into two 

 sub-orders,' we have, Perissodactyla (odd- 

 toed) and Artiodactyla (even-toed), and ap- 

 proach a step nearer the desired result. The 

 former is further recognized by the possession 

 of not less than twenty-two (22) dorso-lumbar 

 verteba^, a simple stomach, large caecum, 

 udders in the groin or inguinal region ; and 

 when horns are present, as being entirely 

 epidermal and devoid of bony core, and placed 

 in the centre of the skull ; there are also other 

 minor characteristics too numerous for men- 

 tion in this connection. This order embraces 

 the Equidcz, or horse family. Rhinocei otidcv, 

 or rhinoceros family, and Tapiridce or tapirs. 



The Artiodactyla, or even-toed, has two 

 sub-orders, the Rumantia, or those provided 

 with compound stomachs, and the Non- 

 Rumaniia. The former have but one pair of 

 incisor teeth in the upper jaw of the adult, and 

 those the outermost ; canine teeth may, or may 

 not be present above, they almost always exist 

 below and are frequently so approximated and 

 inclined forward as to be mistaken for true 

 incisors, which they closely resemble in form ; 

 the third and fourth digits are consolidated into 

 one, vulgarly known as the " cannon-bone," 

 and there is an extra metatarsal or ankle-bone, 

 appearing as if the detached distal end of the 



fibula ; the stomach is compound — " all chew- 

 ing the cud" — with not less than three more, 

 commonly four, divisions. Of this sub-order 

 we hold the sheep, deer, or ox as a type. 



While Rumantia might very properly be 

 held as a family instead of sub-order, for con- 

 venience sake, and greater ease of approxima- 

 tion, it is divided into the families of Tragu- 

 lidce, Coiylopliera and Camelidce, the former 

 with the false musk deer as a type, the second 

 with deer, antelope, and oxen, and the last 

 embracing camels, llamas, etc. 



In turn, Cotylopliera may be divided into 

 sub-families as Bovidce, Cervidce, etc., though 

 the anatomical differences are not sufficient to 

 absolutely warrant it ; to prevent confusion, 

 however, it is perhaps better so. Next we have 

 the genera Cervus, Bos, Ovis, Antilocapra, etc. 



As classification now prevails, we have an 

 order, Rumantia, embracing families of Cervi- 

 dae, and Cavicornse, etc. The latter is usually 

 again divided into sub-families of Ovince, 

 Bovince, Aplocerina', etc., and the former given 

 the sub-family of Cervince. The Cervinx em- 

 brace the following genera: Alces (elk or 

 moose), Rangifer (reindeer or caribou), Cervis, 

 (wapiti or stag), and Cariacus (Virginia, black- 

 tailed, mule deer, etc. The characteristics of 

 the family Cervidae are given as "Incisors, ° ; 

 canines, J;J, or wanting ; molars, " ; antlers 

 solid, deciduous not encased by horns, some- 

 times wanting. Foot bifid." 



Sub-family, Cervinie — "Horns solid, always 

 present in males, sometimes in females, not 

 covered with skin ; foot bifid, with two small 

 hoofs behind and above the large ones." 



Genus Alces — " Horns in male only, broadly 

 palmated at tip ; nose broad, hairy except 

 small spot between nostrils." 



Rangifer — " Horns in both sexes, broadh' 

 palmated at tip; nose hairy." 



Cervus — " Horns on male only, rarely sub- 

 palmate, curved backward, snags forward, 

 one immediately above the burr ; tail short ; 

 hoofs broad and rounded." 



To be Continued. 



