1848.] Anatomy of Ailurus, Porcula, and Stylocerus. 485 



rapid bendings of the spine and limbs that enable them to wend on 

 their way without kneeling or a moment's pause, where there were 

 scarcely six inches of free perpendicular passage room. It is no, their 

 speed, a quality of which they have little, but this weasel-like flexibility 

 of the spine and limbs that enables the Ratwas, amid the peculiar 

 copse-wood they inhabit, to foil their great enemy the wild dog or Cyon 

 primsevus. The Mantjacsof the genus Stylocerus or Stilthorn, though 

 strictly Cervine animals, are no doubt the most aberrant of their family; 

 and the singular habits I have just remarked on may serve, in part at 

 least, as a key to the apparent anomalies, but real adaptations, of the 

 Cervine model of structure as seen in them. Who, for instance, that 

 has observed the Ratwa, whether at rest or in motion, has failed to 

 remark the invariable and extreme low carriage of the neck and head ? 

 Now this I apprehend is as clearly referable to the length of humerus, 

 which protrudes and depresses those parts, as it is perfectly suitable to 

 the exigencies of the animal's position and its consequent comfort and 

 safety. 



I solicit the particular attention of those who have perused my 

 Essay of the Ruminants of India (Journal, No. 180) to the following 

 emendata et addenda. Character of the Cervidse, — add Gall bladder 

 wanting. Genus Rucervus, for type C. Elaphoides vel Duvaucelli, read 

 Types C. Elaphoides et Duvaucelli. Captain Hutton assures me I 

 may safely recur to my old notion that these two species are not identical, 

 for that he possesses live samples of both. I conjecture that Mr. Gray's 

 C. Smithii is but a synonyme of Duvaucelli verus. Genus Procervus ; 

 I have procured another specimen of this very rare animal, but alack ! 

 the horns were cast. It was a male and mature, and had no interdigi- 

 tal pits. Nor had the original specimen, nor my description of it, 

 though the corrector of the press was pleased to make me say other- 

 wise in print.* 



Genus Rusa, for Feet-pits in all 4 feet, read Feet-pits none? Two 

 recent specimens of the Jarai show no foot pores, and Captain Hutton 

 assures me that his samples are similarly characterised. Wherefore I 

 must presume mistake in my Nipalese memoranda, a portion only of 



* See Vol. XVII., page 690, line 2. The expression there is " Feet^its none." 

 —Eds. 



3 s 2 



