Classification 17 



when leading characteristics are alone taken as the ground of important 

 divisions, and minor differences are reckoned of comparatively small moment. 

 Neglecting earlier writers, three important syllabic classifications of the 

 familv have been published in comparatively modern times ; the first two 

 of which followed the plan of making as many divisions as possible, while the 

 third relegated a large number of such divisions to a much lower grade of 

 importance. The first of these is one by the late Dr. J. E. Gray of the 

 British Museum, which appeared in the Scientific Proceedings of the Zoologi- 

 cal Society of London for the year 1850, and was expanded and otherwise 

 modified in two Catalogues subsequently published by the British Museum. 

 The second is that of the late Professor L. Fitzinger, which was published 

 in the Sitzungsberichte of the Vienna Academy of Sciences at intervals 

 ranging from 1873 to 1879. The third was written by the late Sir Victor 

 Brooke, and appeared in the Proceedings of the London Zoological Society 

 for 1878. Although it was published after the appearance of most of 

 Fitzinger's memoir, the author does not appear to have seen the latter ; and 

 hence while it professes to give a complete synonymy of the various genera 

 and species, many names are omitted which ought to have appeared. It 

 also contains a rather high average of serious errors ; and as it has been 

 copied by nearly all subsequent writers, such errors have not only been 

 perpetuated, but widely disseminated. Nevertheless, in spite of these 

 deficiencies, the paper is one of a high order of merit ; and its general 

 scheme of classification is the one followed in the present work, with such 

 modifications and amendments as seemed necessary or advisable. In the 

 case of genera, sub-genera, and species, numerous alterations in nomenclature 

 have been rendered necessary by the revolution which has of late years 

 taken place in this branch of zoological science ; and, in the opinion of 

 advanced advocates for such changes, there are doubtless others that might 

 have been made. The author is, however, a strict conservative in such 

 matters, and very loath to insert changes in names now in current use. 



The following table exhibits the generic and sub-generic groups into 

 which the existing and some nearly allied extinct deer may be divided, with 

 their leading distinctive characters : — 



A. Sub-Family Cervine. — Antlers, with one existing and some extinct exceptions, 

 present in the male; liver without a gall-bladder ; a face-gland and gland-pit. 



D 



