THE DEER OF ALL LANDS 



A HISTORY OF THE FAMILY CERVID^ 



PART I.— INTRODUCTORY 



Definition of Deer 



Popular and scientific zoology are by no means always in accord, and an 

 instance of this want of harmony is afforded by the different limitations of 

 the popular term "deer" on the one hand, and the scientific title Cervidcz on 

 the other. Both, indeed, relate to the same group of animals, and are 

 therefore to a great extent synonymous, but whereas the chevrotains, or 

 mouse-deer, are popularly ranked as members of the deer tribe, they are 

 excluded by naturalists from the family Cervidce. There is evidently, 

 therefore, some character, or characters, not apparent to the popular mind, 

 which the scientific naturalist regards of primary importance in the defini- 

 tion of the family Cervidce. And it is accordingly necessary to come to 

 a definite conclusion as to the limits of that family. In other words, we 

 have to seek, a definition of the term " deer " in its scientific sense. 



This is by no means such an easy matter as might on first thoughts 

 seem probable. The males of the more typical members of the group, 

 such as the red and fallow deer, are furnished with the graceful branch- 

 ing and deciduous appendages now generally known as antlers. And if 

 these were present in all (as they are in most) deer, there would be no 

 difficulty at all in formulating a concise and distinctive definition of the 

 family. These appendages are, however, lacking in the Chinese water- 

 deer, which is in every respect a true deer, and they are also wanting in the 

 more aberrant musk, as they likewise are in a number of species now 



B 



