Typical Deer 



61 



III. The Typical Deer — Genus Cervus 



Cervus, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 92 (1766). 



Lateral metacarpals represented only by their upper (proximal) 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 arising close to or a short distance above 



Fig. 15. — Antlers of Red Deer. From a German specimen in the collection 

 of Viscount Powerscourt. 



the burr, never regularly forked at first division, but generally of large size 

 and more or less complex structure ; skull without frontal ridges forming 

 the bases of the pedicles of the antlers. Muzzle with a considerable naked 

 area surrounding the nostrils ; ears generally large ; tail moderately or 

 very short ; face long. Pelage variable ; main hoofs long and pointed ; 

 lateral hoofs moderate. A metatarsal gland and tuft, 1 situated (except in 

 C. albirostris) high up on the cannon-bone, present, but no tarsal gland or 

 tuft. In the skull the nasal bones (as in the following genera) well 



1 Absent in C duvauceli. 



