02 Proceedwgs oflhe Asiatic Society of Bengal. [No. 1, 



beam is trifid, the first or lovvest snag being external and inclining 

 fonvard (representing the ' royal-antler'), beyond wbich the final divi- 

 sión is transverse to the axis of the body. Extreme length of horn 

 (measured by callipers) 13 in. ; greatest distance of pair apart (mea- 

 sured externally) 11 in. ; tips apart *7\ in. ; girth of beam, above 

 frontal snag, 2f in. ; length of skull, inclusive of lower jaw in situ, 

 lOf in. ; extreme breadth of orbits (posteriorly) 4f in. : upper series 

 of molars 3 in. 



There is a C. sika, Schlegel (Fauna Japónica, t. 17), from Japan, 

 cited by Dr. J. E. Gray (P. Z. S. 1850, p. 228), and thus briefly 

 noticed by him. " Dark brown ; cheeks and throat rather paler ; 

 rump brown, without any palé spot ; tail palé, white beneath ; hair 

 harsh ; horas rather slender, with a basal and a medial snag, and a 

 subapical internal one." This description of the horn suits very well 

 the Eormosan animal ; but the size is unnoticed, which could hardly 

 be vvere C. sika to be comparatively so small an animal as C. taoua- 

 iíus, and it may be, judging from Dr. Gray's mode of describing the 

 horn, that the Elaphine type of ramification is a degree more deve- 

 loped in the Japanese species. He does not, however, mention the 

 age of the animal he describes ; and it is quite possible that it may 

 temporarily represent, at a certain age, the particular develcpment of 

 horn which in C. taouanus is characteristic of maturity. The 

 colouring described may very well be that of the winter coat of the 

 little Stag of Formosa* 



* Mr. Swinhoe since writes — " A Stag lias just arrived liere from the north, 

 and is in the possession of a gentleman next door to me. It stands nearly 3 ft. 

 at the shoulder, has a short head, and horns about 10 or 11 in. long, shaped 

 thus *** Its face and over the eyes are black, neck and ears blackish-grey. 

 Median line of back black, blending on the sides with blackish chesnut. Lega 

 black, getting grey towards the hoof. Tail and buttocks white." Pretty clearly 

 the Siberian Roe, Capeeolus pygargus, (Pallas). But what is the so called 

 * Roebuck' of the Amür territory, noticed in the ' Journal of the Royal Greogra- 

 phical Society,' Vol. XX Vil I, 397 (1858) ?— Ceevus Wallichii, or a kindred spe- 

 cies ? " The Roe-buek," we are tolcl, " is an animal resembling the Elk, but has 

 a smaller body, although the head is comparatively larger [!] Its flesh is savoury 

 and nutritious ; but the principal valué of this animal lies in its horns, which 

 contain at a certain period of the year — I think in March — a marrow [!], of 

 peculiar medicinal properties, which is higbly prized by the Chinese, who at the 

 best season of the year, pay as much as sixty roubles (91. lOs.) for a pair of good 

 horns," &c. &c. This animal is mentioned in addition to " the Elk," the common 

 Roe, and others. 



Further particulars of the Chinese Deerhave again since been received from Mr. 

 Swinhoe, dated Dec. 8th, 1859. " Tlie skull I sent you," he remarks, " was that 

 of an elderly buck, one of a pair in the possession of a gentleman here. It died 



