Introductory 



Genus Rangifer. — Lateral metacarpal bones represented only by their lower 

 extremities ; antlers present in both sexes, complex. Northern part of 

 Holarctic region. 



Genus Alces. — Lateral metacarpals as in preceding ; antlers (as in the 

 following genera) present only in the male, arising at right angles to the 

 median longitudinal line of the skull, and extending at first in the plane of 

 the forehead, after which they expand into a broad palmation margined 

 with snags. Northern portion of Holarctic region. 



Genus Cervus. — Lateral metacarpals represented only by their upper ends. 

 Antlers arising at acute angles to the median line of the skull (as in the 

 following genera), at first projecting from the plane of the forehead, and 

 then continued upwards nearly in that plane, supported on short pedicles, 

 and furnished with a brow-tine, never regularly forked at first division, 

 but generally of large size, and with not less than three tines ; skull with- 

 out ridges on the frontals forming the bases of the pedicles of the antlers. 

 Upper canine teeth small, or wanting. Holarctic and Oriental regions. 



i. Sub-Genus Cervus. — Antlers rounded, usually with five or more tines, 



generally including a bez (second), and always a trez (third) ; pelage of 

 adult generally unspotted, with a large light-coloured disk surrounding 

 the tail ; young spotted. Holarctic region. 



ii. Sub-Genus Pseudaxis. — Antlers smaller and simpler, four-tined, with a 



trez (third), but no bez (second) ; pelage of adult spotted, at least 

 in summer, with a white area bordered by black in the region of the 

 tail, which is also black and white. South-eastern portion of Eastern 

 Holarctic region ; Europe in Pliocene. 



iii. Sub-Genus Dama. — Antlers without a bez, but with a trez-tine, above 



which the beam is more or less palmated, and generally furnished 

 with numerous snags ; pelage of adult spotted in summer, uniform 

 in winter, with black and white markings in the region of the tail 

 similar to those of Pseudaxis ; young, spotted. South-western portion 

 of Eastern Holarctic (Mediterranean) region, but more widely spread in 

 Europe during the Pliocene epoch. 



iv. Sub-Genus Rusa. — Antlers rounded, three-tined, with the bez- and trez- 



tines wanting, and the beam simply forked at the summit ; pelage 

 either uniform or spotted at all seasons. Oriental region. 



v. Sub-Genus Rucervus. — Antlers flattened or rounded, without bez- or 

 trez-tine, the beam dichotomously forking, and one or both branches 

 again forked, so that the number of tines is at least four, brow-tine 



