Characters 5 1 



almost all the tines may unite to form a continuous palmation, although a 

 more or less distinct cleft remains to mark the position of the first fork. 

 The entire antler in immature specimens is not unlike that of the marsh- 

 deer in general plan, with the exception of the different direction of the 

 beam ; and it is remarkable that abnormal antlers of several of the American 

 deer frequently exhibit a tendency to palmation. Whether this structural 

 similarity between the antlers of Alces and Mazama does indicate a more or 

 less intimate relationship, I am not prepared to say. Mr. Gordon Cameron, 

 from the different direction of the beam, considers that it does not ; and the 

 structure of the molars is decidedly different in the two, but we have yet to 

 learn the morphological value of these characters. That the shortness of 

 the nasal bones and the large size of the narial aperture of the skull are 

 specialised features of comparatively modern acquisition, is evident from the 

 fact that the skull of the young elk is much less different in this respect from 

 that of an ordinary deer than is the case in the adult. This inference is also 

 confirmed by the circumstance that the extinct North American form 

 described as Cervalces has simpler antlers and longer nasal bones, thus 

 indicating a more generalised type. And, in my opinion, this type does 

 not seem worthy of more than specific distinction from the existing 

 form. 



Since the generic name Alee, from which the later Alces can scarcely be 

 regarded as distinct, was first applied to the gigantic extinct fallow deer, 

 it evidently properly belongs to the damine group of Cervus, and should 

 thus supersede Dama. If such a change be thought desirable, Cervalces will 

 apparently have to stand for the present genus, the existing species then 

 taking the name of C. alces. 



Some degree of uncertainty has existed as to the presence of a metatarsal 

 gland, but the question has been answered in the affirmative by Dr. H. 

 Nitsche, 1 who points out that this gland is similar to the corresponding one 

 in Mazama, being naked with a marginal fringe of hair, instead of fully 

 haired, as in Cervus. It must, however, apparently be very minute, as 

 it is not visible in the mounted specimens in the British Museum, which 

 exhibit the tarsal tuft very distinctly. 



Distribution. — The more northern districts of the Holarctic region. 



1 Zool. Anxeiger, vol. xiv. p. 1 8 1 (1891). 



