721 



Note on the Cervus Elaphus (?) of the Sal Forest of Nepal. Hodie, 

 C. AffiniSf nob. By B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 



Many years ago, I announced the existence of the true Stag of 

 Europe in the saul forest of Nepal, upon the strength of a skull and 

 horns in my possession, of which I afterwards published an illustra- 

 tive sketch in the Journal, giving those of the Sambur or Jarai, and 

 of the Baraiya or Elaphotdes, for comparison ; and observing that 

 the latter species and Wallichii seemed to form two distinct links 

 in the chain of connexion between what H. Smith regarded as typi- 

 cal Stags of Europe and of Asia, (Elaphus and Hippelaphus. ) It has 

 lately been asserted, however, that I have confounded the common 

 Stag of Europe, of which there is alleged to be no analogue in India, 

 with C- Wallichii ;^ and, again, f that C. Wallichii is really no other 

 than that analogue ; there being no grounds for supposing the existence 

 of a third species liker to the Red Deer of Europe than either Wallich's 

 Stag or the Baraiya, which last is pertinaciously called Du Vaucellii^ 

 despite the explanation afforded long ago in the Journal. I will 

 not enter into discussion with my critics : and I must admit that 

 I have never been able to obtain, or to see, a second specimen of 

 Wallich's, or of the true Stag. Neither do I profess to have lately ob- 

 tained any new lights as to the leading principle upon which, following 

 H. Smith, I distinguished the several species of Cervus^ viz. the 

 number and position of the antlers,| especially the inferior ones. I 

 too, therefore, may still have my doubts, though they are not precisely 

 those of my critics ; for I feel satisfied that there is a Stag in India 

 distinct from the Sambur or Rusa, from Wallich's, and from Du 

 Vaucel's, and nearer allied to the Red Deer of Europe than any of 

 them ; and the accompanying sketch and dimensions will, I think, 

 satisfy most persons that such is the fact : — 



* Ogilby, apud Royle. 

 t Blyth, apud Proc. Zool. Soc, 1840, p. 79. 

 X That is, the basal and median, for the upper are said to be more liable to mutabi- 

 lity. The true Stag has three of them (directed forward) on each beam, two of which 

 are basal, and the third a median, or royal. Wallich's has two basal and no median: 

 the Baraiya one basal, and no median, but a crown of many snags at the summit, like 

 our Red Deer, but like no other Indian Deer : the Sambur and Axis have one basal, no 

 median, and one subterminal antler. 



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