1841.] true Stag, or Elaphoidform of Cervus. 745 



The most nearly allied species to the Wapiti, I conceive to be 

 the Jerrael Stag, (C. WalUchii, Duvaucel), a splendid Asiatic ani~ 

 mal, hitherto only known in Europe from the coloured drawing 

 transmitted by M. Duvaucel, and published by Mons. F. Cuvier. The 

 following particulars are principally taken from a MS. description 

 by the late Major-General Hardwicke, which, together with a bad co- 

 loured figure of the individual, I found among his papers deposited in 

 the library of the British Museum. It doubtless refers to the identical 

 specimen which was seen by Mr. Hodgson, and figured by M. Duvau- 

 cel, and the antlers of which are now before me in the Museum of the 

 Asiatic Society : these, which are evidently the same as are figured in 

 both drawings, I am enabled to state positively belonged to an animal 

 in its third year, at which age it would by no means have attained its 

 full growth ; and the suggestion of my esteemed friend, Colonel Hamil- 

 ton Smith, therefore, that it is doubtful whether the specimen was not 

 aged, with declining antlers, I venture to negative without any hesita- 

 tion. 



This animal, according to General Hardwicke, stood four feet and a 

 quarter high at the shoulder, and from muzzle to base of tail mea- 

 sured seven feet and a quarter ; the tail five inches, surrounded by a disk 

 nine inches square ; head to vertex one foot five inches, and thence to 

 shoulder two feet five inches ; the ear, including its base, eleven inches. 

 Hair on the ridge of the neck long, thick, and bushy, standing like a 

 mane, and browner than the rest.* The prevalent colour a brownish ash, 

 darkest along the dorsal line to the rump-patch, which is pure white, con- 

 trasting strongly with a blackish border, that merges without into the 

 hue of the rest of the body. The limbs and under- parts are remarkable 

 (more particularly as shewn by M. Duvaucel's figure) for being pale, 

 whereas in other Stags these are darker than the body. Lips and chin 

 white; the ears large and ovate, with a deep-sheathed base, and co- 

 vered with whitish hairs ; and the eyes large and surrounded by a 

 whitish circle. The textufe of the coat appears, from description, to 

 ! resemble that of the Wapiti ; and General Hardwicke states, that the 

 i animal " bowed down its neck in the manner of a Camel," i. e. the 

 I Wapiti, "and, when moving, carried its head very high, bringing the 



* The whiteness of the antlers, as represented by M. Duvaucel, intimates that they 

 were then about to be shed, and consequently the season at which the animal was 

 j figured, which was probably in the month of February or March. 

 i 5 B 



