897 



On a new species of Cervus, Cervus Dimorphe'. By B. H. 

 Hodgson, Esq. Resident, Kathmandoo. With a Plate. 



In January last, I procured from the Saul forest of the Morung, 

 a young Stag rising two years, having horns of an unique character, 

 and a stature and other attributes seeming to place him between the 

 Axines and Rusans. I considered this animal to belong to a new 

 species, but, as he was young and had the horns imperfect, I deter- 

 mined to wait awhile before noticing him to the Society. The 

 animal since his arrival has lived and flourished in my stable. He is 

 now nearly three years old, and his horns are perfect ; but his pelage in 

 course of moult or change. I will not not, however, longer defer 

 giving you a summary description and sketch of what I apprehend to 

 be an undescribed, though large and handsome species of Deer. This 

 animal, like Cervus Wallichii, and Cervus Elaphoides vel Duvancellii, 

 possesses a mixed character, so that I hesitate to class it with any 

 known group at present, and shall merely indicate this attribute by 

 assigning to it the trivial name of Dimorphe. My specimen has been 

 reared in confinement : yet it approaches the Rusans in size and 

 stature, but retains in youth at least a good deal of the graceful 

 Axine type. Its horns are small, owing to confinement perhaps, and it 

 is possible that maturer age may develope more snags or antlers. At 

 present there is but one on each beam, and it has a very forward 

 direction, as in Elaphus and our Afhnis, species to which the present 

 one is also allied by its short tail and moderate suborbitar sinus. 



Cervus Dimorphe, Mihi, new. Deer with moderate pale smooth 

 horns, Axine in the general style, but more bent in the middle of the 

 beam, more divergent and possessed of only one basal antler, which is 

 directed very forward ; small, or moderate, and vertical suborbital 

 sinuses ; interdigital pores ; broad spreading ears and short stag-like tail. 

 Stature and aspect mediate between the Axines and Rusans. In 

 youth bright fawn-red, spotted with white ; in age nigrescent bay with 

 blackish neck and belly ; a dark list round the muzzle, and white 

 chin : limbs pale. Habitat the Saul forest. 



Nepal, October, 1843. 



6c 



